The Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth Series #2)

Zombie Ocean

Four or five? FOUR OR FIVE? FOUR OR FIVE? Let's see how I'm feeling by the end of the review.

Okay, this book kinda takes place where the last one left off. Give or take twenty to thirty years. Instead of the lovely Mary, the narrator this time is Mary's daughter, Gabry. Now, I understand most of you are like "OMG, who's the father?" I know I was. But I can't say for threat of being flagged as a spoiler.

Anyway, Gabry has a very different upbringing from her mother. She lives in a ligthouse on the outskirts of a little town called Vista. She has a best friend and a crush on her best friend's brother. But most of all, she grows up safe and secure, without all that moaning in the background. But then, of course, it all goes wrong......dun dun DUN. Gabry and her friends take a little midnight hike over the Barrier and zombie hell breaks loose. The night ends with death, betrayals, and with half of her generation gone or imprisoned, life will never be the same for poor, sweet Gabry.

I have to say, this was a hell of a sequel. I thought it was actually much better than The Forest of Hands and Teeth aaaaaand all my questions were answered (well, about 88%). There were even some guest appearances and moments when I felt smarter than the narrator because I knew what something was and she didn't. What more can I gall ask for?

The writing was very much the same. It was beautiful in places, mostly sad, but hope shined through. I managed to read this in a period of 24 hours, which is no small feat when you have school and homework and yada yada yada. My point is that it's compelling and unputdownable (which is officially a word).

The world that Ryan sets up is just incredible, honestly. I find it completely convincing. It's mysterious and dark and scary. Just normal life with fewer good parts....and it has zombies.

I found Gabry more likable than her predcessor, but I don't feel fair comparing the two because they have totally different personalities.

Once again, the weakest part for me was the love triangle. I'm sick of those things. I always choose the wrong guy, then have a grudge against the author for having different taste in men. But this time I think I routing for the right guy.....I think. I have to wait and see if he dies first. Even though Gabry bounced back and forth between the two contestants, she never seemed ho-ish. Just confused.

But once again I could never tell if the couple was kissing. Does that make me weird, or does anyone else have that problem with these books? I don't know, there would be pages of getting close and comfy with one of her man-friends then they would get pissed or something, storm off, and Gabry would try to relive their "almost-kiss". And I would be like "Man, I though for SURE they were lipsmacking that time!"

Overall, I really liked this book. And if you want this book to be a stand-alone, go ahead. This book could do well without it's predecessor, although it's cliffhanger ending may be too much for someone with poor will power (aka me). I recommend this book to everyone, except those who like fairy-tale endings, "perfect" narrators, or can't handle flesh-eating corpses.

I've decided to go with five stars.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

A MUST READ BOOK FOR EVERYONE!!!!

This was a magnificent book espicially with all of the action happening in the atmosphere. Gabry is teenage girl who always had a fear of beyond the forest of hands and teeth ( what her mother called the forest ) but on a fateful day she jumps over the barrier with her friends and only crush Catcher, but on that fateful day her world would be changed forever. She then has to go over the barrier and to the forest of hands and teeth to find her mother and survive with her true love catcher, follow gabry and catcher as they battle through mudo ( Undead ) having true friends die for each other, listening in the darkness for any sign or sound of mudo, and to fight for survival . This book should be read to everybody and for people who love romance, horror, and action.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Gabry, quit your whining already!

I wasn't that big of a fan of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and when this book, its sequel, finally came out, I decided I wasn't going to bother. But there is was, staring at me from the library shelves, and I had to grab it. TFoHaT left me with lots of questions about the Sisterhood, life after the return, and the survival of Mary and crew. And I wanted answers! The Dead-Tossed Waves held the possibility of answers and a story about the new generation of folks post-return besides. On some level it delivered, but on another, not so much.

All of my leftover questions from TFoHaT were answered, kind of, all in about 5 pages towards the end, and those answers were satisfying, I guess. Buuut those answers did not justify the rest of the book for me. There was less monotony and repetition in this book than in the last; really and truly a lot happened. Buuut it still didn't do it for me. A lot of the book was Gabry's reactions to what was going on around her, especially what went on between her and Catcher and her and new guy Elias. And, well, I didn't like being in Gabry's head. There were SO MANY TIMES that I wanted to shake her because she would read a situation as completely opposite of how I read it and/or completely opposite of how it actually happened. It helped to build tensions and intrigue the first couple of times she thought one of the boys was disregarding her or brushing her off when in actuality they were trying to profess their undying love, but when it happened EVERY TIME THEY TALKED, it got a little old.

And I have lingering questions. Again. These questions might convince me to pick up The Dark and Hollow Places when it comes out next March, but little else will.


Book source: Philly Free Library

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

great!!!!

The characters in this book i thought were well rounded, It had everything a reader could possible want, love, horror, friendship, loss, it was all very very great. The only thing that kinda made me mad was how it didn't give very much detail as to where Gabriel really comes from. i don't have anything bad to say.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Didn't like it.

I'm really, really sad to have to give Carrie Ryan a two on one of her books because I just loved THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, but I found myself struggling to get through the companion. For many of reasons I did not like this book, one, being that Gabry was a character I felt any hope towards. Who doesn't love the strong heroin? and it seemed that all Gabry could say or think was how she messed everything up, everything's her fault, ect. Major pity party... I never was able to feel the emotions of the character and she seemed quite ditsy to be honest. Secondly, I didn't like the potential romances. At first glance, I wanted to punch Catcher for bringing Gabry into trouble and then kissing her, after he's known her for his whole life. He seemed like a major jerk right off the bat. As for Elias, he was okay, I did like him more than Catcher. But he was a little too touchy-feely and grabby for just meeting Gabry, a stranger. Third, the adventure was boring! I was so tired of reading this book, I was skimming over the last 20 pages, so I really don't know how it ended. I'm trying to find it online somewhere.... no luck so far. Anyway, the adventure was also a little boring in THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, but the companion was about 3 times worse. There was nothing to be excited about. I had no idea why they were on this mission in the first place. Four, It was very sad to see Mary as an old lady and how she never found anyone. I also found it odd that she never mention Travis to her "daughter" but told her about everything else. I was waiting for when it would come up, but never did. Five, Ryan's writing style got very old to me by the time I had read about 700 pages of her writing (both books put together). She always had the same, "I wanted to...." and you know she's going to say next what she did instead and how she felt about it. This is an entire paragraph in itself. I was so tired of hearing about how everyone's life in the Forest was due to dooms day and depression and the Unconsecrated. What's the point of writing a set of three companion books when there is no light at the end? Every page of the book is talking about how to question life and what's next, ect. Not much fun for a teen like me. She also had the exact same plot technique of 1) layout 2) start of story 3) boring nothingness...filler of space 4) falling of character, giving up hope 5) something good happens to character, fills her with hope and energy 6) tragedy occurs, climax, testing of strength! 7) falling actions, everyone dies/ leaves her 8) main character left all alone. All that's gained is wisdom, strength, and knowledge. So it was very similar to F.O.H.A.T. Now, for the positives (!): I do like Ryan's descriptions, they're very nice and like you're living out the story. I was also about to connect a little more with Gabry since she seemed more like the typical teenager than Mary (besides the annoying, "I ruin everything, I can't do this, I'm not strong enough" talk). Since I extremely loved FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, I would recommend to just sticking with that, don't read this, so you don't lose what you first loved about FOREST.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

eh,

So, the first book was great! But the ending was crap. So I gave the sequel a chance....the book was SUPER GOOD. Then at the ending I was like WHAT THE HECK? So dumb. Disappointed. Oh well.

Creepy!

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Gabry is satisfied with her life by the ocean. Sure she has to deal with the zombie bodies coming upon shore and sure she has friends that test her patience by going beyond the barriers, but overall - she has a Mother, a best friend, a boy she sees a future with, and a community that embraces her. All is okay . . . until one night when everything changes. Now her future is not as bright as she had hoped, friends/family are leaving, and the village is starting to ask questions she doesn't want to answer. She soon realizes that to find the truth, she must face her fears and go outside into a world she has ever known.

Being part of the millions who devoured The Forest of Hands & Teeth in one sitting, I couldn't wait to begin The Dead-Tossed Waves. Though I would have liked to not have such a time jump in between the two stories, it was enjoyable to see past characters emerge and witness that life really does carry on, even in post-apocalyptic times. Gabry was a brave soul (since their are many scary moments) and I was heartbroken right along with her throughout all her pit-falls. Unfortunately, since the audience is already use to the world that is barricades, curfews, religious freaks, and crazy zombies - the book doesn't make you cling to it as the first one did. Yet, it definitely makes you interested in what's to come . . .

Likes: Carrie Ryan's spook factor and how she can make your heart beat rapidly.

Dislikes: The time gap. The readers had to get to know all NEW characters before getting back into the setting again.

Must read!

This is a great book! I coudn't put it down. First and third are great as well.

Please!!!!!!

I love the first book. And I read the sample for this and am love with this book too, just from the sample. My parents wont let my buy this yet, because I am going though books to fast. I am dieing to read this book and I'm sure you will love it too. IMPOTANT: MAKE SURE YOU READ THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH BEFORE YOU READ THIS

Best book

This is the best seariese i have ever read. Zombies or not,this book is number 1

The second in a great series.

I enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy. I wonder if I could or would want to survive in this futuristic world. You should read it for yourself and decide where you would stand.

I LOVED this book

The second book in the Hands and Teeth series, The Dead-Tossed Waves follows the daughter of Mary, our main character from book one. Gabry, is afraid and confused and always plays it safe, until the most "unlikely" event happens... she falls in love with a boy. Catcher (Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome) convinces Gabry to climb the border fence that protects her town from the Mundo and to go into unsafe ground, setting into motion a series of the most unpredictable and unfortunate events. A great, fast read that will leave you wanting more (there is a 3rd book) and having PG-13 nightmares.

Must Read! Just as good as the first

Despite the thought the Forest of Hands and Teeth could never be outdone Carrie Ryan out did herself once again. In the companion novel, the Dead Tossed Waves, Ryan opens the adventure even farther in the dystopian world you began to love in the first novel. However, in this adventure new characters are brought into the mix, where our last protagonist, Mary, becomes the mother of our newest character Gabry. In Vista, Gabry has only known the fear of being unsafe, being bitten by the Mudo, infected humans whose only objective is to infect everyone around them. To take a chance for the boy she¿s loved her whole life, Gabry tests the boundaries, and just when she thought the world was peaceful beyond the tall fences that keep the Mudo out, one bite changes her fate forever. Gabry thought her one bad decision couldn¿t get worse, but it did; she faces the fact that her life isn¿t the one she thought it was. And if that wasn¿t enough for Gabry, a new and fascinating boy comes into her life, and with him she finds a mix of indescribable emotions, but also the strength in herself to discover the truth of her past. With this mysterious boy, Elias, she gathers her lost friends, and they begin their journey on the run from the Recruiters, from the Soulers, and from everything they once thought a real life was. The only life for them. One of the most amazing books out there, with a writing style that makes you think you¿re part of the story. Every emotion is real in the characters, and at the same time it is real in you. You will find yourself attempting to read through laughter, tears, and the fear Ryan masterfully describes. Like the Forest itself, the book throws wild twists and turns, an onslaught of emotions, and an outcome that will leave you breathless. The Dead Tossed Waves tells the story of Gabry¿s gut-wrenching adventure with a surprising team, through an unpredictable forest, to find themselves and the place where they can stop running, and find peace.

:)

Loved the book! One of the best books i have ever read!

awesome

this was the first book i read in 2 days and i stayed up all night reading it and then i read the hunnger games series and read the first hunger games book in 2 days also the second and third one in 2 days and those books where my faviret books so this is my 4th FAVORIT book
{ps.im 10}.

Awesome book

I highly recommend this book. it's a very suspenseful and exciting book :D

An okay read, not as good as the first in the series

I was a little disappointed to find that Carrie Ryan's follow-up to The Forest of Hands and Teeth didn't pick up where the last one left off, but instead the story skips to a new generation. Perhaps because of this, I felt it was hard for me to care about Gabry because she didn't have much of a personality. Or rather, she didn't have the passion and fire in her like her mother, Mary did in the first book. Granted, as the story goes along she does find her voice, but I actually found myself liking the other characters more than her.

One of the best parts of this book is the love triangle between Gabry, Elias and Catcher. I must say, Carrie Ryan knows how to create drama! Catcher is the boy-next-door all around good guy and Elias is the mysterious, tortured soul. Who to pick? I really liked both of them for a lot of different reasons. Catcher really changes throughout the book so I felt like he was the most developed character.

The zombies are still here and just as bad as ever. We do find out a little bit of information about them, however so that's appreciated. One thing that I didn't like about this book is that the characters are forced to go through the forest by way of the narrow fenced-in paths and I thought that was a little redundant since a lot of the first book is spent there as well.

Overall, I liked this book almost as much as the first, there were just a few things lacking for me.

(On a side note I just want to say I think the covers in this series are beautiful!)

A good continuation of the story

While Mary, in the 1st book struggles to believe there is life outside if their village and escapes to find the ocean, her daughter is forced to leave the safety of her lighthouse and village to walk a similar path backwards. The path leads to her discover not only who she really is, but, she struggles with love, friendships and commitments. The story is not only a story of zombies from a virus breakout across the country, but about 2 young womens journey of the life they want and what they have to do to achieve what they want. The author does a great job describing the turmoils they go through and the emotional journey each must take.

JUST AS GOOD AS THE FIRST!

The second book to the Forest of Hands and Teeth Series is in the point of view of Mary's "daughter" Gabrielle. I found myself relating to Gabry more than Mary this time around. She is forced to face her fears whether she likes it or not and comes to realize how strong she really is in a "Mudo" filled dystopia. There were some moments where Carrie had me frustrated at how many times she had Gabry go back and forth with Elias and Catcher as well as her memory of the night that changed everything for Gabry. It seemed as if every chapter had to mention this terrifying night. Even though that annoyed me I still like the second more than the first. I love how book 1 and 2 come together towards the end and we finally get some answers from the questions the first book had us asking. There are definitely some surprises in this book! !

could not put it down!

just like i said i could not put this one down it is my favorite book in the series so far, i hope the next one is just as good. it kinda sucks having to switch characters in each book but they are all connected so its cool. this one was, i think, intense i seriously could not wait to find out what was around the corner about who everyone was and what was to happen next!