Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Book One)
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Delacorte Press - Random House
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Description (from goodreads):

In Mary's world there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

My Review:

Whoa.

This book was fascinating! From the very beginning I was sucked in and couldn't put it down. The words flowed effortlessly and I enjoyed every moment.

Mary's world is bleak. Her life falls apart, and yet she still has hope. Is there a life for her? Is there more out there for her, past the Forest of Hands and Teeth? Can she be happy living in her village as others demand her to?

I really enjoy stories that delve into what would happen if a sort of sickness was to take over humankind. The people in this book are taken over by something (a disease? virus?) that makes them zombie like; something that makes them crave human flesh. They were terrifying! There was tension at almost every moment in this book - just enough to keep you wanting more without it being too overbearing.

I just devoured this book and I cannot wait to read the next book, The Dead-Tossed Waves!