The Dead-Tossed Waves

Nearly a year after I first read the companion book, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I decided to pick up The Dead-Tossed Waves. I'm so grateful to commenters that said the second book was much better than the first, and my friends that literally forced me to sit down and read this. I ended up enjoying it much more than I'd expected. It even kept me reading late into the night at some moments!

Carrie Ryan definitely has a gift with plot twists. She can take a simple situation in the book, make it look like the characters will move along with no problem, and all of a sudden drop an unexpected literary bomb that shatters what you thought was going to happen and adds a whole new set of complications to the mix. I loved that, and it definitely kept me hooked. The only thing I didn't like about it was that there wasn't a chance to breath, or a spot to stop for the night! Continuous action can be both awesome and exhausting.

The characters still fell a little flat. I'm not sure if Gabry is supposed to really, really annoy me throughout most of the book, but she did. I ended up looking forward to reading about Elias or Catcher, any of the minor characters, really, just to get out of her head for a bit. Her emotions seemed exaggerated, her reactions odd. One thing I did like characterization-wise was how the adults were portrayed. Usually, a main character's parents aren't thought of as having their own fears, wants, worries, and dreams. Gabry's mother is seen in both vulnerable and strong times, much different from most YA books.

I loved how I found out things that were left up in the air in the first book. It was hard to remember details, after so long, but piecing it together was half of the fun. Seeing how the stories ran together was cool. And now I'll definitely have to pick up the third book, especially with an ending like this. Must I always be left hanging? The final scene annoyed me to no end.

All in all, I give The Dead-Tossed Waves 4/5 stars. It was twice as good as the first, really kept me interested, and made me want to read more. Very good read, especially for zombie-lovers. (:

Gabrielle (Gabry) lives a safe quiet life behind the barriers of the town she grew up in called Vista. But her dream of a safe existence is threatened. Mary (Gabry's mom) thought she had left behind the terror of her past behind in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. One night of Gabry's brief rebellion of the rules with her friends changes their lives forever.
Gabry finds out that leaving her friends behind when the Mundo(or Unconsentrated, the living dead) was the worst decision she has ever made in her life. When her friends get attacked by the Mundo Gabrielle realizes that her first love(Catcher) has been bitten, her best friend caught up in the aftermath of the attack. She runs away knowing the consequences of being caught may lead to death by the council. When she realizes her best friend Cira is captive and is dying of grief for her brother she goes after Catcher to be with him before he turns into a mundo, she had to save him some how so that he can free his sister and live out his life with her. Catcher hides away in a lost city beyond the barrier Gabry is forced to face her fears once more and go after him. She soon runs into a boy named Elias who is also looking for someone from his past. He helps her past the mundo that are after her and stirs feelings in her that she never thought she could feel again. She goes back to the light house where she grew up her mom tells her a secrete that shakes the foundation of her existence. She soon finds out her mom can't hide from her past any more and decides to return to the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Gabry has to face the council without her mother and the ever treating way Daniel (a member of the recruiters) treats her. She makes a mistake and finds herself on the run to the Forest of Hands and Teeth back to the past that was still a mystery to her.

This story is full of suspense and action that keeps you wanting to know more. The story does have some strong language and suggestive sexual feelings in it which is the reason I decided to recommend it for high school students and up. I'm not one for zombies eating flesh and things like that but the storyline was so great that i couldn't put it down and had to read the rest of the series. Very very good book.

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan chronicles the journey of Gabrielle who is Mary's (the main character in The Forest of Hands and Teeth's) Daughter. Gabrielle has grown up inside the beach city surrounded on three sides by the ocean and one side by the Forest. Living within the barriers has allowed Gabrielle to be safe but it has also taught her to be scared. When Gabry's friends go down to the old fairgrounds and cross the barrier she reluctantly goes and from then on her life is never the same.

I really admire the fact that Ryan can create such a different atmosphere and different characters set within the same world as The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Many times authors will try to set new characters in the same world and it is just not done well. Ryan masterfully executes this transition.

Gabrielle is a completely different narrator then Mary was in the first novel. Gabrielle has her own distinct personality, her own worries, and fears. But while the characters have many differences it is clear that Gabrielle is Mary's daughter. Both women are strong, independent, and willing to do anything for the people around them. They also both grew up with secrets surrounding them and must come to terms with what that means and how it changes them.

The love triangle in The Dead Tossed Waves was also very well done. I kept switching between who I liked more, Catcher or Elias. Both had their own personalities and there was something in each of them the Gabrielle loved and that made me love each of them too. Catcher is the boy that Gabry grew up with who knows all of her secrets and has been her best friends brother. Elias is the distant stranger who is somehow connected to her distant past. Even by the end of the book I hadn't necessarily made up my mind on whom I liked more, but I think Gabry had.

I'm actually upset that I waited so long to read this book! I will be the first to admit The Forest of Hands and Teeth really scared me. I don't do Zombie horror well and put off reading this book so that I wouldn't have nightmares again (I may or may not have hidden this book on the bottom shelf to try and put it out of my mind). Surprisingly, for some reason, I found The Dead Tossed Waves to be less scary then The Forest of Hands and Teeth. So if you are like me and are putting off reading the rest of the series, dust off your books and start again, it is definitely worth it!

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan is the second book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth series. This book is told from the point of view of Gabrielle or Gabry. Gabry is the daughter of Mary, from the first book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth. I wanted to know what happened to Mary, so I glad you can find out through Gabry's eyes. At the beginning, Gabry's friends want to cross the safety of the barrier to explore the old, crumbling amusement park from before the Return. Gabry does not want to cross, but her best friend Cira, and her older brother, Catcher convince her too.

On the other side, they begin to explore and have fun, and as anyone should know THERE IS NO FUN in zombie novels. Sensing children having a fun, a Breaker attacks. Gabry runs for the safety of Vista and the barrier, leaving her friends behind. This choice leads her down a path; she never thought she would cross. While trying to help her crush, Catcher, she meets Elias. Elias befriends Gabry, and Gabry begins to have mixed feelings. A series of events causes Gabry to escape into the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

I really loved the first book, Forest of Hands and Teeth, even though at times Mary drove me crazy. I have to say, I did like Gabry better. There is just something about the Dead-Tossed Waves, that drew me in, and made me obsessed with finding out what happens. I really love the world Carrie Ryan has created, and the amazing tales of survival she comes up with for readers to enjoy. Gabry at first seems weak and scared, but grows into a strong survivor. There are many similarities between the Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead-Tossed Waves, but it is the differences that I loved.

There are many new characters to learn about, like Elias, Catcher, Cira, and of course Gabry. There are a few old ones from the first book that pop up whether in person or discussion, you will have to read to find out. Anyone who loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth will enjoy this one, and it is also a great read for dystopia and zombie fans. I just finished the third and final book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dark and Hollow Places, so look for that review soon.

**Unabridged Bookshelf borrow this book from the local library**

After a late night adventure with friends beyond the Barrier, Gabry's whole life is changed in a way she could never imagine. While the teenagers race to the roller coaster, a Breaker attacks them. Several of the teens are bitten, including Gabry's crush. And if the children being bitten is bad enough, the teens that do survive are forced into a ranks of the Recruiters. Without giving anything away, Gabry is forced onto the trails that leads into the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Mary's book of Shakespeare's sonnets help guide her and her companions.

The first lines of the book drew me into the book in a different way. I felt fully immersed in this book! The talk about the roller coaster made me think of Zombieland. At first, I wasn't sure whether I liked Gabry/ Mary was spunky and always yearned for something more. She had a wild spirit that could not be sated. Gabry, however, is drastically different. Where Mary desired for freedom, Gabry was content to live out her life in Vista and the lighthouse. I wasn't sure whether I would like Gabry as the narrator; however, I couldn't imagine the story any other way! It helped the reader grow along with her.

Even though I adored the first book, this one is my favorite . . . So far! The characters are engaging, and I loved the element of the zombie cult. As disturbing as it was, it was nice to show that people reacting differently to the Return. Also, the history behind the villages in the forest and on the coast added a nice history. I am really curious to see how Ryan plays on this in the next book.

If you enjoyed the first book, I would definitely recommend this one! It is a fast paced, engaging, and action packed read.

Gabrielle or 'Gabry' of The Dead Tossed Waves irked me although not as much as her mother in The Forrest of Hands and Teeth. The whole 'poor me' thing is seriously a pebble in my path while wearing 4 inch stilettos! Was it just me or was it almost the exact replication of FoHT? Two awesome guys are hopelessly in love with Gabry and she just can't help but be drawn to both of them... all while running for her life from the Recruiters (the army basically).

Honestly dude, if I fear for my life enough to brave a forest full of brain eating zombies- the LAST thing I'm going to concern myself with is is which boy I like the most! Even when she found out that her mother wasn't her actual mother, that her best friend was trying to kill herself and she had a TWIN that was MIA... she was mostly concerned with how the men in her life were making her feel. Gabry=fail.

On the positive side (What? You mean to tell me you thought I was going to trash the book a little more?) The Dead Tossed Waves was so fabulously written, the thoughts and feelings (although entirely misplaced) were gut wrenchingly real and heart felt. Once Gabry makes the decision about who she loves, I was unable to put this book down!

Twists and turns are aplenty in this book that I was completely engrossed after they finally came to find her old village... and the few surprises that were awaiting her there... Carrie Ryan is so wonderful at putting me right there in the story as if I'm walking down the narrow, fenced path to my ultimate demise right along with them!

3.5 stars! Of course I'll be reading The Dark and Hallow Places, which is suppose to follow Gabry's twin sister Annah on her journey though the zombie infested wasteland... I have to know what happens to all these hopelessly romantic people!!!

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan is a companion novel to her debut, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Let me put this out there right now, I think it was a spectacular follow-up. Plot in a nutshell, Mary from FoHT has a daughter named Gabry in the coastal town. Gabry is kind of a chicken. However, hot boy named Catcher convinces her to jump the barrier and go to the abandoned amusement park with him. Zombie mayhem ensues.

Honestly, at first I thought I would hate Gabry because she's not as courageous as Mary. Rather, she spends much of her time being scared. She's sort of like Chuckie Finster, in that everyone wants to go do something fun and she's all GUYZ this isn't a good idea! However, the at first should signify to you that I changed my mind. Gabry, I think has a normal reaction. Sorry ya'll I don't want to tangle with zombies, I've seen Dawn of The Dead (until I got too scared and had to turn it off) and 28 Days Later. I know zombies are scary and you are best off just staying where it's safe, so it's completely unfair of me to judge her for being a weakling, cuz guess what, I am one too! The cool thing about Gabry is that she is given room to grow, she's not an immediate B.A., but she becomes one and exhibits some extreme courage.

Aside from Gabry, there are BOYS. There is a love triangle, of course. Unlike a lot of triangles I sometimes see in books, there's actually chemistry between Gabry and both boys, neither was haphazardly inserted just to move the plot forward. Also, I couldn't decide which team I wanted to bat for, Team Elias or Team Catcher. Team Elias because Catcher is a weird name, or Team Catcher because he's a good kisser. Choices, choices. Usually, it's very easy for me to pick a team, i.e. yes I am team boy with the bread. So kudos Ms. Ryan for making a love triangle palpable.

As for pacing, I thought this book was fast-moving. I recall flipping ahead just a little bit because I was so on edge to find out what would happen to the characters I felt attached to. Although, there were some parts when I was like just get on with it, little bits were thrown like teaser-bones and I just wanted to know more, like with the Souler cult. If you are like me, you will gobble that stuff right up, because cults are super interesting.

I had one quote that I really loved from the ARC:

"I realize that life is risks. It's acknowledging the past but looking forward. It's taking a chance that we will make mistakes but believing that we all deserve to be forgiven." pg. 324

I suppose that really resonates with me, as broad, sweeping statements about life tend to. It rings true to me, and I like when a book about zombies makes poignant remarks on life.

I really enjoyed The Forest of Hands and Teeth, so I went into The Dead-Tossed Waves expecting something very similar. Instead, it was kind of a let down. Where I liked Mary, even though she was detached, I found Gabry to be whiny and repetitive. Yes, it was clear the first 50 times you said it that you wished you could take everything back. No need to rehash it over and over again.

Other than Gabry's weaker character, there were some other problems with The Dead-Tossed Waves as well. Where The Forest of Hands and Teeth moved through several locations, the bulk of The Dead-Tossed Waves is set in Vista. And then the main characters end up back on the path in the Forest for a repeat of Mary's story in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. And while I enjoyed the trek down the path not knowing what was around the corner or if the fence would hold, the excitement the second time through wasn't there.

As a companion to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead-Tossed Waves does answer some nagging questions left in the open ending of the previous book. And there are characters that I really liked (Catcher and Elias), also like the first book. Ryan further develops the world so that the evil the characters have to face is not just the undead, but the Recruiters and the Militia as well. No one is as safe as they make themselves appear and the everyday worries are more than just surviving zombie apocalypse.

Overall, The Dead-Tossed Waves wasn't as good as The Forest of Hands and Teeth. But it is worth it as a piece of the entire puzzle and a good read. It's probably got a space on my bookshelf only because it's part of the series.

**Spoiler Free**
My thoughts:
I absolutely loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth so I was very excited to begin The Dead Tossed Waves. Although, not as good as book 1 in my opinion, I still very much enjoyed it. A zombie story with raw emotion driving the characters forward.

Have to say, Gabry was a little annoying. She seemed very disconnected to her world and to her life. Everything for her is so 'very' and 'never' and 'always' - she 'tries' and she 'can't' and she never really seems to DO anything. Rather, she lets circumstance guide her actions. At times she was very weak, which didn't make sense because her mother, Mary is so strong.

My general problem with Gabry? Too much 'I' - 'I need', 'I want', 'I can't', 'I won't' -- gets old fast. It was told from her point of view but still. I really wanted to see more of Mary. I loved her character in The Forest of Hands and Teeth and I didn't feel like she got enough page time in The Dead Tossed Waves. However, once Catcher and Elias come onto the scene and the action starts moving forward a little more, I really got into the story and stopped being so hard on Gabry.

Audio critique:
Not too bad but it was a little hard to distinguish Gabry's inter monologue from her spoken word. I was confused, at times, as to whether she was talking to herself or speaking out loud. Not a problem if you read the book.

Final verdict:
The Dead Tossed Waves is toted as a companion novel rather then a straight out sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth but I would have to disagree. While although book 2 does take place many years after book 1, the timeline is still intact, the same characters make appearances and we learn more of the overall story. So yeah, defiantly a sequel in my book. AND a good one at that!

If you enjoy zombies and dystopian novels, you'll like this series. The series ends with The Dark and Hallow Places (book 3) but I wish it didn't because I love this zombie invested world Carrie has created and I don't think I'll get tired of it any time soon.

Acquisition: Library

The Dead-Tossed Waves takes place about ten to fifteen years after the ending of The Forest of Hands and Teeth. All we know is that Mary has a daughter that she named Gabrielle, strangely after the fast one she found in her village and May has now become the keeper of the lighthouse, responsible for killing the Unconsecrated that wash up on the beach. Nothing is ever said about Gabry's father or what happened to Mary after she was found washed up on the shore. Well, not until the end, at least.

Gabry life parallels her mother in so many different aspects and the readers are presented with the sames themes in the Dead-Tossed Waves as in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Both Mary and Gabry are very quiet but feel confined by the barriers that the authorities have set upon them. They are both well-intentioned individuals, led by their curiosity of the forest. And in the end, they are both forced into the forest to seek refuge by those who wish to end their lives or take away their freedom.

The Dead-Tossed Waves shows a lot more aspects of the Forest of Hands and Teeth that was not seen in the first book. We see the people who worship the Unconsecrated, make them their pets and even sacrifice their family members to them. Gross, right? And it's the first we see of someone being immune after being bitten. So, you're definitely going to get more side of the story of the forest and more to Gabry and Mary's story as well.

As much as I love young adult books and I'm completely addicted to the genre, I wonder why the main character of the book always starts off by being the one who never does anything right or doesn't think she has what it takes to be the one to save everyone. But in the end she always does and all the guys are in love with her. What about the characters who are super smart, have been studying their whole lives to be doctors and then they find the cure for cancer! Not that I want to read a book about someone who cures cancer cause that would be kind of boring. But what about the person who has been looking for the cure for the zombie disease? What about their story? Lately I feel like I've been reading the same base story over and over again with slight variations.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this series so far and I'm excited about getting my hands on The Dark and Hallow Places!

This sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth takes place a generation after the events of the first novel. Timid Gabrielle has grown up in the lighthouse at the edge of town of Vista. Her mother Mary has always been an outsider. As teens are often wont to do, Gabry's friends Cira and Catcher like to tempt fate by slipping past the town's protective wall into the edge of the woods near an old abandoned amusement park. On the one night that Gabry finally gives in to peer pressure and breaks the rules, they are attacked by zombies called Mudo. Catcher is infected, and after a harrowing escape, Cira is taken in to face trial. Sentenced to join The Recruiters, the town's protective guard, with no possibility of emigrating to the larger city up the shore, Cira loses all hope. Gabry feels wracked with guilt.

In such a grim post-apocolyptic world, you have to wonder how people manage to go on. The book addresses that, with Cira becoming determinedly suicidal. The plot thickens when it turns out that Catcher has a super-rare immunity, allowing him to walk amongst the normally murderous Mudo with ease. In the meantime, Gabry meets Elias, a mysterious young man who has been living on the edge of what is left of civilization, with a bizarre religious cult of zombie-worshippers, people who believe that allowing themselves to become infected is their ticket to immortality.

Gabry struggles with her doubts, as she wonders if the infected retain any of their humanity, or if they can be cured. She is also stunned to learn that she's adopted -- a secret that her adoptive mother Mary has kept from her. She's torn between Catcher and Elias, who each offer completely different opportunities for her. A terrifying return to Mary's village raises the stakes (if that were possible!) with a buffalo-stampede horde of zombies in pursuit.

Scary, grim, and fast-paced, this is a solid return to the world of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, which unearths a few more tantalizing clues on how the post-apocolyptic world order came to be shaped after the devastating zombie invasion.

This was a fantastic read. I found it immensely more enjoyable than the first Forest of Hands and Teeth book. I'll assume anyone reading this review has already read the first one, so I'll compare this one to that one.

In this second installment, we are in a world 30 years past the first book. This one centers around Mary's daughter Gabrielle. I find Gabrielle to be a much more realistic and engaging character than Mary was in the first book. Mary began to grate on my nerves with her constant willingness to sacrifice everyone around her and leave those who care about her, while proclaiming her love for them. A little too much confliction in a character for me.

Gabrielle is constantly tested, doubting herself, and exploring herself and her feelings. I really liked that Gabrielle was more flexible a character than Mary, and I found the other characters to be far more engaging as well. I fell in love with Catcher and Elias along with Gabry. I understood her doubts and fears, and rallied in the strength she found in herself.

In this book, you learn so much more about Gabry and Mary's world and new doors and new possibilities in the world keep opening up. The writing style of this book was very similar to the first, but it seems like Ms. Ryan is more comfortable with herself the more she writes and this one flows beautifully.

Highly recommended. If you liked the first one, you'll love this one. If you disliked/hated the first one, give this one a try--I'm sure glad I did.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a companion novel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. It's not quite a sequel, but it is a continuation of sorts. The main character, Gabry, is the daughter of Mary, the heroine of the previous book. You could read this book without having read the first one, but it will be more meaningful if you have. The books take place at an undetermined time in the future. Many years before, there was a zombie outbreak. Humanity has tenaciously hung on to their world, but the zombie threat is ever present.

It's this fragile world that teenage Gabry inhabits. She and her mother live in a lighthouse, and Mary is responsible for clearing the beach of the zombies (known as the Unconsecrated or Mudo) that float in at high tide. Their town is surrounded by a Barrier that no one is allowed to cross. It's a rough life, but Gabry is a fairly normal teenager. She has a best friend and a secret crush on her best friend's brother. Gabry is a bit timid, but one night, her best friend and her crush convince her to come with a group of teens across the Barrier. Yes, it's not a smart thing to do, but it feels very real, the kind of risk that teenagers might take. The Mudo attack, and although Gabry escapes, the rest of the teens are arrested or turned into Mudo. What happens from there will turn Gabry's life upside down. She learns that not everything she's been told by the authorities is true, and she as her relationship with her mother fractures, she goes on a journey into her mother's shadowy past.

I couldn't help but compare this book to the first one, which I really enjoyed. Generally, The Dead-Tossed Waves lives up to its predecessor. It's equally well written as the first book, and the story is very compelling. Unfortunately, Gabry isn't quite as interesting a heroine as Mary. Where Mary was strong, Gabry is a bit passive. I didn't dislike her, but I found her a little annoying at times. However, she does grow as a character, much as Mary did in the original novel, and I liked her more as the story went on. One area where I thought The Dead-Tossed Waves was more successful than the original book was the romance angle. Gabry has two potential love interests, Catcher, the crush she's known for years, and Elias, a mysterious stranger. Her interactions with both of them felt more compelling to me than the Travis/Mary/Harry love triangle from the first book, which never really grabbed me. The Dead-Tossed Waves is a gripping, entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to the third book in the trilogy.

I honestly think that Ms. Ryan has outdone herself with this book. It is masterfully written with likable characters, vivid scenes, and stong emotions that just tear through you. Though it is a companion book to The Forsest of Hands and Teeth, I highly recommend reading TFHT first so that you know that background story.

I absolutely understood Gabry as I myself can be shy, quiet and hesitant with breaking rules. Her fears of doing something that would break the rules she has grown up with, especially ones that she knows could hurt others if something goes wrong, make her that much more endearing. She wants to be like the others, but is afraid to be the srtongwilled, confident person that her mother is. She is afraid of everything, afraid of change, until her life takes a path she did not expect. She suddenly finds herself being the strong, brave person she always wanted to be, yet still with a touch of timidness when it comes to the Mudo/Unconsecrated and with love. Gabry is learning about who she really is, how she came into this world, and who she wants to be.

...about who I am and where I'm from. It's that I always thought I could be like her. That something in her - what made her so sure and strong - could be in me as well. I just had to find it.

The writing is so compelling that you can't help but feel for all of the characters. You want to laugh with them when they find a tiny piece of happiness, cry with them when the Mudo attack or something happens to a loved one, and mope around with them during the rainy days of trying to escape and make a new start in life. Sometimes it's so depressing as everytime they seem to get ahead or things look up, something bad happens and challenges them... yet there is always hope.

I startle when arms wrap around me but I don't bother protesting. I'm too ready to give up on everything, willing to let whatever happen to me happen. But then I can tell by the way he pulls me to himself, by the way he holds me as if he could push the pieces of me back together again.... I can tell by his smell and his strength and the way he leans his cheek against my hair...

I don't know how he found me - how he knew I was here - and I don't care. I want to hate him; I should hate him for who he is and what he's done... But for just a moment I allow myself to soak in his comfort because I need his strength. To fall into the feeling of him against me, another heartbeat with mine.

The story is about more than just zombies taking over most of the world and people trying to survive through it all. It's about love, loss, hope and coping with the lot that life has dealt you. It's just a truly amazing story about a crazy messed up world.

"I don't know what the difference between surviving and existing is anymore. What are the Mudos? They exist. I think life has to be about more than that - or else what separates us from them?"

"What about love? That's something that separates us. That's what life is about."

From the back cover:
One night beyond the barrier. One boy she's known forever. One veiled in mystery. One reckless moment...and half of her generation is dead. Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known and all she needs for happiness. But life after the Return is never safe and there are threats even the barrier can't hold back. Gabry's mother thought she'd left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth but now, to save the one she loves, Gabry must face the Forest of her mother's past.

Review:
I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth. It was the first zombie book I had ever read and I was impressed. I think it is a pretty difficult thing to do - to write a book about zombies and not have it be a kind of trashy laughable farce (which don't get me wrong, I do enjoy from time to time!), but Carrie Ryan created a story that was believable, terrifying and moving. When I finished reading it I was surprised that a book with this theme could be real literature.

So it was with great anticipation that I read The Dead Tossed Waves. And let me start out by saying that I'm not disappointed exactly. I think that is the wrong word, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I think I was expecting something a little more like TFOHAT in that the story would be more like children's literature, instead of a book for children - if you know what I mean by the difference in these two things. It isn't a bad book by any means, but it is different in its tone and cadence. For me, this one felt more like a lot of other series for young adults, and lacks the finesse of TFOHAT. Interestingly, I thought that when Mary (Gabry's mother and the protagonist from TFOHAT) is in the story, it picks up that same kind of cadence, but when Mary is out of the picture it looses it again.

What I did like is that the reader discovers more of the story of what has happened to the world and what it looks like post the Return. The characters are well written and interesting and the journey they take kept me intrigued and wanting to read more. I did find it hard to put this book down. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am eagerly anticipating reading the third book, The Dark and Hollow Places, which will be released in March 2011.

Gabrielle has grown up in the relative safety of the town of Vista. But everyone knows that death, danger and disaster await just beyond the barriers, and though the soldiers constantly patrol and guard the area, the chance of a breach is all too real. Gabry is terrified of the outside, specifically of the Mudo, the monsters who lurk there.

Gabry's mother came from a tiny village hidden away deep in the forest. Her people call them the Unconsecrated. By either name, they equal a fate worse than death. The infection ravaged the planet, burning through almost every human, killing them, and turning them into the undead who ceaselessly wander hunting for blood. One bite is all it takes to pass the infection, which leads to certain demise.

Then one night, Gabry finds herself on the brink of breaking the ultimate rule --- crossing the barrier. A group of friends dares to climb the fence to explore the abandoned amusement park and expose themselves to the dangers of the Mudo. Gabry's friend, Cira, begs her to join in, but Gabry is terrified of what lies beyond. She has heard the warnings, her mother's terrifying stories and the endless moaning of the Mudo, yet she can't help but long for the courage others seem to have. But it's Cira's older brother, Catcher, who gives Gabry the extra incentive. Gabry has known Catcher forever, but lately he's been a bit more enticing than just another friend for a game of tag. Does Catcher feel the same way? Maybe if Gabry crosses over with everyone for a night of fun and danger, she'll have the chance to find out.

But this one night of bad choices changes everyone's lives forever. An undead discovers their forbidden party and attacks. Chaos ensues as friends are infected, killed and drafted into the army for punishment. Gabry manages to escape but not untouched; guilt from her actions tears at her soul, worry for her friends breaks her heart, and fear for what she now must do consumes her every pore. It's Gabry's turn to face the terrifying forest and the hidden secrets of her past.

Carrie Ryan is an amazing storyteller. Prepare to clamp onto these pages for a deliciously terrifying journey. Not only does Ryan know how to keep readers hooked and on the edge of their seats with held breath and horrified curiosity peaked, she also has a truly unique voice. Her characters feel so much and share it all completely with the audience. She also delves into some deep ideas about right and wrong, life and death, forgiveness and hope. THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES will linger in the minds of readers minds long after the last page is turned. A third book in the series will be released in spring 2011. Too bad it can't be available sooner; I'm ready for it!

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Summary: Gabry lives a safe, secure life in a village beside the ocean and behind a Barrier to protect them from the Mudo (zombies). She lives in the lighthouse with her mother who is the lighthouse keeper whose main job is to kill the occasional Mudo who washes ashore each morning. Gabry loves her life and has no wish to ever leave the safety, as from what she has learned in school, the stories her mother has told her and what she can see with her own eyes from the top of the lighthouse the world beyond is anything but safe. But one night a group of her friends bring her along with them as they breach the Barrier and go to the old amusement park. It is there that all there lives will forever change and Gabry will ultimately leave the village never to return.

Comments: I loved this book! Contrary to early reports that Carrie Ryan was writing a parallel novel and the misleading "a companion novel" printed on the front cover of the book this is indeed a direct sequel to the first book, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. The book takes place many years later, with a new generation of teens, in a different village but there are a couple of return characters from book one. It's difficult to review without giving away anything from either book but the main character, Gabry, in Dead-Tossed Waves is a complete contrast to the first books' main character, Mary. In fact, I'd say that the two books themselves are contrasts.

Gabry's village is part of the Protectorate: the group of surviving villages. Gabry's world is real; she knows what is out there beyond the barrier; she knows how likely it would be to become infected by the Mudo and become one herself. Gabry's mother has knowledge of the outside world and she helps Gabry feel safe in her village by reinforcing in her how deadly it is out there. This turns Gabry into a scared, weak character that must grow as the book progresses as she is thrown into that world and must deal with the challenges she faces. From one who has read the first book, we can see this is all in contrast to the circumstances and the personal character of that book's main protagonist, Mary.

I must say I deeply felt for Gabry as a character. Her whole world is turned upside down and it is a pleasure to watch her grow from the reluctant, scared girl to a worthy, decision-making, fighting member of her group. There are some twists which were fun as I did not guess them. In fact from early on, I had figured one thing out in my mind as being so obvious I wished the book would hurry up and reveal it, but when it finally did I was sooo wrong! Ha on me! I love it when that happens! Great book, I loved it just as much as the first one. Lots of zombie action, though not as violent as the first book, but certainly a very dark plot, characters die and characters do bad things. Don't expect any happy endings for anyone. The next book, which I'm presuming will be the last, trilogy anyone?, should prove to be very intriguing in whether the author gets the characters together for the best and one wonders how it will all finish in the end. Eagerly awaiting the next volume!

Gabry has always been cautious and smart. She lives inside the barrier of Vista, protected from the Mudo (the "Unconsecrated" as they're called in Book One which are basically zombies), with her mother. They're in charge of the lighthouse and killing Mudo that wash up on shore from the ocean. One night, her friends want to jump the barrier and explore the abandoned amusement park on the other side. Gabry reluctantly gives in to peer pressure, but only because her best friend's brother, Catcher, is there - who she likes. But something goes terribly wrong and the life that Gabry had before is completely shattered. She learns secrets from her mother's past; meets a boy who seems to already know her, and have feelings for her; and is constantly on the run from the Recruiters who want to capture her.

I'll just start out saying that I liked this book a whole lot more than the first one. The story introduces many new characters, and the author developed them wonderfully. Gabry alone is such a strong and courageous character - I really liked her. Even though she constantly reminds herself that everything is her fault, rolls in self-pity, blah blah blah...she's a really tough chick and I loved her. I liked how the book was a mix of genres, too. There was the suspense, of course, since Gabry lives in a world full of flesh-eating dead zombies. But there was also romance! With the inevitable love triangle - which kept my attention because I could never predict which guy Gabry would choose to be with. Catcher, her bestfriend's brother who she has grown up with her whole life? Or Elias, a stranger who seems to know her but truly cares about her?

The writing in this book was so deep and raw. I got to really dig in to Gabry's inner feelings and understand what she was going through so well. She changed a lot through the course of the novel. She's constantly surrounded by pain and death, yet is still able to find hope and happiness in light of it all.

The book overall really held my attention. The action-packed journey that Gabry experiences is nail-biting and suspenseful. Carrie Ryan did a fantastic job of describing the Mudo, I was practically living in Gabry's world with the scary zombies. One night after staying up late reading, I actually had a nightmare about them! I did have a lot of questions when the book kind of ended abruptly, but hopefully those will be answered in the third book, The Dark and Hollow Places.

Gabry has lived her entire life behind the Barrier of Vista, a small protected town by the ocean, along with her mother, Mary. She's always followed the rules and played it safe, too terrified of the Mudo to even think about going over the Barrier. But then one night a group of teens, including her best friend's brother Catcher (whom Gabry has always liked), sneak out over the Barrier...with tragic consequences. Propelled by guilt and a sense of duty, Gabry is forced to push aside her fears and venture once more past the Barrier. There she meets Elias, a mysterious young man traveling outside of the protected areas, and their friendship will lead her to surprising discoveries that will forever alter her life.

Carrie Ryan's latest zombie book is, like its prequel The Forest of Hands and Teeth, just as thrilling and adventurous as it is pensive and philosophical. Picking up twenty-some years after the heart-pounding conclusion of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Ryan reveals another sliver of the world overrun by relentless zombies, called Mudo. Readers learn of a loose government and a string of protected towns, guarded by Recruiters, an army whose job it is to protect the people, and recapture land and supplies from the Mudo. Gabry's world is quite sheltered--she only knows about the outside from stories told by her mother and other adults, and so much of the story is about how she gathers up the courage to venture out into the unknown, trusting those she doesn't know, and learning from the past to try and create a better future, sometimes at a great cost.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is very well paced as well. Ryan keeps readers on edge, wondering what will happen next and where the characters will go, and there is always plenty of action. Gabry's feelings about the two young men in her life are always changing as well, which provides for romantic tension and drama to keep the novel from being overly dark. Once again, Ryan has written an elegant, high-stakes, and utterly fascinating novel that will keep readers rapt.

This book picks up several years after the first one ended. Mary's daughter, Gabry, struggles with her fear; she wants to be brave like her mother. I found that the use of certain phrases when Gabry is thinking to herself to be extremely overused. She always wants to be buried in the ground, to disappear, to forget, to sink into the waves, to give up, to stay safe, all of which are said or thought about a thousand times throughout the book. I was going crazy. I wanted to give her a good slap and tell her to snap out of it. Either do it or don't, make up your mind! The love triangle bothered me as well. The relationships go back and for and so on until Gabry finally makes a choice. By the end of the book I didn't care if she was in love or not because she didn't even know if she was in love or not. Beneath the irritating surface of this book is a reasonably good story. I suppose that most of us would be as afraid as Gabry were we actually in her shoes. With that in mind, I could look past her flaws and see how she was really trying to conquer her fears and save the people she loved. I found that I could come to like her and really get involved in the story, especially by the end. The last section of the book is by far the best part; it's where most of the action takes place, as well as the most sadness and sacrifice. The book is good, but it takes patience, or at least for me it did, to finish it. I am excited to read the next book in the trilogy.

This book was well written and the concept of the society and zombies have me hooked. This book explores the question of what makes humans different from the Mudo, and if you really get down to it, it is hard to define and draw that line, especially with what happens to one of the secondary characters.
The Dead Tossed waves brings back Mary from Forest and revolves around her daughter (WHO IS THE FATHER plagued me- but I can't give it away). I didn't feel much attachment to Gabry-- I of ...more This book was well written and the concept of the society and zombies have me hooked. This book explores the question of what makes humans different from the Mudo, and if you really get down to it, it is hard to define and draw that line, especially with what happens to one of the secondary characters.
The Dead Tossed waves brings back Mary from Forest and revolves around her daughter (WHO IS THE FATHER plagued me- but I can't give it away). I didn't feel much attachment to Gabry-- I of course wanted her to survive, love and be loved, but I just didn't connect with her like I have some other main characters.
There is another love triangle, and for much of the story it was well written so that I didn't have a clear choice. I still just wanted her to chose and not lead the other on any more than she did.
The story is well written, and she has really thought out her universe and characters to weave us a haunting tale. I am eagerly awaiting the next book which will follow Annah and Catcher.

book description from the store:

"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."

Review:
Like The Forest of Hands and Teeth before it .. this book was heart stirring. A mix of learning about ones self and the will to survive and the courage to choose what you really want . Gabry blooms into a strong courageous girl that draws you in with her vulnerability and innocence. through Garby you learn how situations in life change us , and teach us . Once you go into the Forest, you will never come out the way you went in .

Another Zombie Thrill Ride matching The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Gabry's mother escaped the Forest of Hands and Teeth and lives in a light house, over looking the dead tossed waves. Her job is to patrol the beaches at high tide and decapitate the Mudo who have washed ashore. Gabry has always known a safe life, sequestered behind the barricades in a town guarded by the Protectorate. Her fragile existence all changes one night she takes a dare and ventures into the ruins of an amusement park with the boy whom she loves.

My Review:

I inhaled this book in less than twenty four hours. I could not put it down until I knew the end. The tension is high throughout, and her situation is constantly precarious, making for great reading. I love the high stakes of zombie tales, and this book really delivers. The setting is vivid and the writing pure poetry. Gabry's world is desolate with tiny fires of pure passion that make it all worth it. The chemistry sizzles with her, her childhood love, and the new mysterious boy that enters her life.

That said, Carrie Ryan's conclusions are not satisfying ones, and her heroines are often frustrating in their inability to cope with change and carve their destinies. Gabry can't make up her mind. Who does she love? Where does she want to go? These questions plague her every thought, and it's hard for me to read without yelling at her which decision I'd make for myself.

Will I buy the next one in the series? You bet.

Carrie Ryan's notable debut novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, garnered buzz in the young adult genre for tackling big issues like feminism, dystopia, and conformity while engaging young readers in an easily digestible horror story. In a genre full of fluffy supernatural romances, Ryan's original perspective and distinct writing style roused anticipation for a sequel. This year's follow-up, The Dead-Tossed Waves, continues in the same post-apocalyptic setting as its forerunner, but dull characters and a lack of provocative themes make the book frustrating and pointless.

Why did Ryan abandon the themes of hope and survival that she introduced in The Forest of Hands and Teeth, as well as the much more interesting political conspiracy and dystopian elements? In fact, why did she write this sequel at all? If, by focusing on uninspired teen drama, she intends to replace Twilight as the new teen horror series of choice, Ryan has failed the readers she first captivated in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. By breaking away from the trajectory of the original story and leaving readers with nothing new to ponder, The Dead-Tossed Waves is all the more disappointing.

Why read: Attempting to read the series

What impressed me: Um, I like zombies? The book had zombies. And it was very well written, especially for a book I could barely get into at all.

What disappointed me: People rave about this series. I don't get it. I didn't really enjoy the first book, but I gave it another shot with The Dead-Tossed Waves. It took me forever to get through and for the life of me, I just can't understand the draw to this series. Even as a companion book, rather than a sequel, with the same world but different characters, I just couldn't find anything I liked going on with the story itself. Gabry is annoying, the love triangle is annoying, her mother is annoying, her best friend is annoying. Overall, there is just nothing going on with these characters that I cared about at all.

Recommended: Not really, no.

Continue series: I don't think so.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a companion novel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Its set in the same world only a few years later and is narrated by Gabry, which is the daughter of Mary (the main character from The Forest of Hands and Teeth). Many questions I had from Ryan's first novel were answered in The Dead-Tossed Waves, which I was ever so happy about.

Ryan doesn't disappoint and has definitely outdone herself with this novel. It was suspenseful and utterly breathtaking...literally. I love how Ryan combined the two novels, how all the characters where somehow connected. I didn't see that coming. The writing was phenomenal. Her ability to take one's emotions on a roller coaster with just a simple sentence completely amazes me.

Everything about this novel, from the plot to the characters, was exciting from start to finish and even afterwards. Plain and simple, this was a spectacular novel. I can't wait to see where Ryan will take us next. I can't recommend this series enough!!

What can you say about zombies? Except that THEY ROCK!

Carrie Ryan is brilliant. Seriously. It's easy to make a zombie movie intense, because you're always lookin' at 'em. It's much harder to make a book intense like this one. Just like in The Forest of Hands and Teeth you had the constant presence of the Unconsecrated (now called Mudo) in this book that just gave me chills! (especially at 1 in the morning)

I didn't like this book as much as Hands and Teeth, probably because I wanted to know more about Mary! This book takes place something like 30 years after Hands and Teeth ends. I wanted to know what happened to Mary! The book did briefly summarize what she'd gone through, but not enough! Not enough!

Gabry was a delightful character, just as conflicted as her mother was in H&T but just as brave deep inside.

*sigh* I love these books. They're intensely horrific, while not being inappropriate.

Way to go Carrie Ryan, you've done it again. I sit on pins and needles for your next book in the series and your 3 short stories.

Readers are returned to the futuristic world where a disease has taken over the world causing it's victims to become infected with a single bite, die, and return as a zombie whose sole purpose is to infect as many people as they could find. Many years after Mary washed up near the lighthouse, after escaping the Forest of Hands and Teeth, we discover that she has raised a daughter of her own. Gabry is of age to marry and is talked into crossing the boarder by her beau. Of course, the worst happens and the characters are pulled into a dangerous adventure where they are running from the unconsecrated, as well as, the Protectorate.

I thought this was a great companion to the previous novel. It is a dark story, especially at the thought of adults and children turned into these zombie-like creatures. Yet, the dialogue and plot is well written enough to really draw the reader in and keep them reading. The ending is not concluded and there will have to be a continuation. Hopefully there will not be a long wait for it.

Gabry has lived with her mother in the lighthouse for years. She is content with her friends, her quiet world, and dreaming of life in the Dark City where people enjoy more comforts than she is used to.

Gabry's friends are more adventurous than she is. They like to sneak out of town and explore the unsafe areas where Mudo roam. They particular enjoy going to the abandoned and dangerous amusement park on the other side of the fence. Gabry doesn't want to go where the Mudo wander - she wants to stay safe, but Catcher is going and she wants to be with him. The thought of spending time with Catcher alone and in the dark overpowers her thoughts of safety.

Gabry's trip to the amusement part quickly turns into a disaster. She is forced to grow up fast with very little information. The little she learns from her mother sends her on the biggest adventure of her life. One she never even considered a possibility. The only thing that keeps her going is the desire to learn the truth about her family and save the people she loves.

My first reaction when I started reading THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES was disappointment. I wanted more about Mary. Also, there were several times when Gabry got on my nerves.

But, after thinking about the book for a while, I have come to the conclusion that continuing the story of the people surviving life among the Unconsecrated/Mudo several years after THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH was okay. How much more could we have seen Mary do? She'd already survived the trip through the forest and found the ocean. What could she do that was more exciting than that? Plus, Gabry provides a whole new perspective on life after the Return.

I now can't wait to read the third novel in this wonderful series. Keep up the good work, Ms. Ryan.

Reviewed by: Karin Librarian

The circular logic of a teenaged girl once again stuck out to me in this, the second book of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series. Once more, a main character was torn, attempting to decide between two unbelievably gorgeous young men. These are the issues that grated on my nerves, but I understand that relationships are an important part of young adult literature. The continued plot was good, and I was surprised at the connection between the first and second novels. However, the second novel left off at more of a cliffhanger than the first one.

I really loved "The Forest of Hands and Teeth". Now Ms. Ryan doesn't disappoint with her newest book. It was fascinating, seeing what happened with Mary, the story of Gabry, and the other characters. It is hard to imagine just what it must be like, to be surrounded by the undead, living within walls and fences, shoved back into a time when lights come from candles and transportation is your own two feet. I can hardly wait for her next edition to come out.

As I read these books, I can't help be see lines of coexistence --- the rampant consumerism of the average American 'eating away' at us all. But then, that's just me (*wink*). Overall, as much as I wanted to throttle a couple of the characters a few times, I wouldn't trade the experience of the books. Wonderful.

I enjoyed the prequel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, as a horror-movie-turned-book. Yes, it had flaws aplenty, but I was more than willing to overlook them because in my eyes the pros had outweighed the cons. It had all the thrills and chills such movies tend to display, and the world was bleak and terrifying. THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES is no different. If I were to compare, I'd say it's even better. A few days ago I cracked open the book and within a few pages I was transported back to that harsh world so devoid of happiness and so full of despair. In this sense the book entranced; the world I entered into was so fully realized I felt despair seep into me as I read; Ryan succeeds in creating a future that is frightening in its desolation. But amongst the pain and sadness and loss lies an underlying spark of hope that, like the lighthouse in the story, is always there and is constant, although at times it may dim to near nothing. Did that make sense? I'm not quite sure but it's how I felt about the story.

I really must say, the cover of THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES is gorgeous. It captures the bleakness of Gabry's world in an eerie yet beautiful tone. Loved it! And the story itself...well, it's depressing. There are quite a few twists that I half saw coming and half didn't that made the story enjoyable, psychic that I am or not.

THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES tells the story of Gabry, the daughter of Mary (protagonist of the first book). It takes place an unspecified amount of time after The Forest of Hands and Teeth, yet alludes to several events that took place in the first book. This doesn't detract from the story but will satisfy the readers' need for "closure" from the first book because it did leave off on a cliffhanger of sorts.

And my favorite part of the story was very well done- the zombies! Or in this case, the "Mudo" aka the "Unconsecrated". There were several bonechilling scenes involving these zombies and which I can very clearly imagine taking place in a horror movie. I loved this; in fact I was reading this late at night and became VERY paranoid...I kept imagining there would be zombies in the corner of my eyes and kept expecting to hear their moans. In essence the book is not a typical "zombie" story; I get the feeling it's more about humans and their will to survive in a world gone bad; despite this more realistic theme however, I admit that the zombies were what I enjoyed the most. Ryan has a beautiful prose that lets the story flow; it lends eloquence and compassion to Gabry's voice, makes scary scenes that much more heart pounding, and conveys the atmosphere perfectly.

One thing in particular that I disliked was that every few pages or so, there has to be a paragraph where Gabry goes off on a tirade of sorts where she laments the "what ifs" of her actions and what she wants to do but can't for some reason or another, as follows: "I want to ____. I want to ____. I want to _____. But instead I don't. I can't. Because ______.". Now this particular way of thinking is acceptable if voiced once or twice or even three times, but when it happens every few pages it gets tiring and I get irritated. But aside from this complaint I liked THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES and found it to be a page-turner (zombies!) that will satisfy fans of the first book and new readers alike. I am quite excited for the third book in the series, THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES! Recommended for fans of dystopian and paranormal lit. And zombie fans.

This series is building on itself in a completely new way. Instead of just picking up where book one left off, you don't find out all the details of Mary's story right away. You are taken a several years down the road. At first I was worried, because I wanted to know what happened to Mary and her friends, and this book skips to Gabry, but through the story you find out what happened or didn't happen. You have some of the same characters as the first book only now they are older, plus you have the new generation.

The Goods: This story interlocks with The Forest of Hands and Teeth but it's about Gabry, not Mary. I found that different intriguing and then it worked because Mary eventually met Gabry and it's a side of the story that's an absolute perfect companion to the first book. Also, the writing still takes my breath away.

The Not So Goods: The plot is slow again, and while there's no Sisterhood there's still a lot of talk about protection and survival. I can see how it's an important factor in this book, but I felt like it was overdone.

[...]

The Dead-Tossed Waves is Ryan's companion book to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. The story begins a generation later, in a more complicated setting. Amy is now mother to the protagonist Gabry (aptly named for the character who became the first novel's tipping point). She is not the same strong willed girl that her mother was. Instead, Gabry finds contentment in the city limits and wouldn't think to breach the safety of her home. That is until she is coaxed beyond the barriers by a boy, or rather The Boy, Catcher, around whom her future dreams revolve.

Gabry's world is shattered when she and her friends encounter infection beyond the walls, and when her mother reveals that she is not the girl she grew up believing she was. Gabry is not Amy, and therefore she is not an instant heroine. She waffles, she doubts, but she hesitantly pushes forward. Forced to mature due to the changes in her circumstance, Gabry evolves from a fearful child to a young woman who fights for herself and her loved ones. Although she may not be as easily likable as Amy, she resonates with a true adolescent angst. Her fears about survival and her fears regarding the opposite sex equally affect her inner monologue, and ultimately create a realistic depth in her character.

This second book about the world, post- zombie apocalypse, is driven somewhat by plot, but not at the expense of character development. While some may find plot details, such as the "love-triangle" or journeying beyond the borders repetitive and unoriginal, I chose to see them as an illusion to the similarities in Gabry's and Amy's lives, despite their distinct personalities. The subtle shift in dialogue and social interactions, serve to expand upon the world building of the original story. The aperture is widened, and a more complete picture appears of what has happened to the world since The Return. The remaining survivors live in a loosely organized system, that would seemingly offer protection, but also preys on society's weakest to serve the needs of those in power. A new perspective on the zombie plague is served by the introduction of Elias. He throws a wrench into Gabry's (and the reader's) belief system that the Unconsecrated are more than the shells of humanity. Shades of grey penetrate the black and white world in which we started.

If you enjoyed the mood and the elegant writing of the first novel, then I would recommend you continue the journey with The Dead-Tossed Waves.

Synopsis from back cover: In Mary's world, there are simple truth. 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, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.
Now 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 by so much death?

My Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed it for the most part, but I can't say that I loved it. In fact, I'm a little disappointed. I have been reading so many raves about this series, that I just knew it would be great. And the first half of the book was great. Then, I spent 100 pages feeling as if I was reading the same story over again. It was too repetitive for me. I almost put the book back on my bookshelf to finish at a later time because I had lost interest. Luckily, the last 50 pages or so were interesting enough to make me want to finish reading.
Since I have mixed reviews, I should tell what I liked and disliked about the book. On a positive note, there was ample character development. More than ample, actually. I really felt like I knew Mary. She was a complicated character, constantly changing throughout the story. I loved that she was conflicted for almost the entire book. She did not have a simple life or easy choices to make, and the author made sure we understood that. The love triangle that she found herself was very complicated. (Complicated is an understatement, actually.) I also liked the fact that Mary knew what she wanted for her life (for the most part). She never gave up on wanting to see the ocean, even when everyone around no longer believed it existed. That really shows her commitment and courage. She holds the hope that the others do not have.
Another character that I liked was Travis. He was the broody male figure throughout most of the book. While he didn't say much, he shows that actions speak louder than words. It's easy to see how Mary fell deeply in love with him. What really makes me appreciate Travis's role is that fact that he is a broken man. He's not the typical strong, healthy hero. He has a lame leg that limits much of what he can do, even the simple things like climbing stairs. If he were strong and healthy like the others I don't think his character would have worked as well. There needed to be something physically wrong with him to help illustrate Mary's strong and dedicated character. They were the perfect support--in many ways--for one another.
Along with the characters, the idea behind the story was decent. I'm not much of a fan of postapocalyptic literature, but I bought in to this book. The "zombies" walking around trying to kill the humans held my interest. It was an original take on zombies, at least with my reading experience. Also, I enjoyed looking for the subtle hints of our civilization while I read (i.e. references to New York, Coney Island, roman numerals, Shakespeare). It helped me understand just how far into the future the events in the book were supposed to occur. But that's pretty much where my fondness ends. The plot (for me) was only so-so. It started strong, but it fizzled in the middle. I began feeling like I was reading the same thing over and over again: "Oh, the Unconsecrated are coming!" "We have to turn back." "Why?!" I can only read those lines so many times before they become stale. I understand the purpose--the characters' questioning of themselves and their situation is crucial to the theme in the book--but I really feel like it was over done. In fact, what started as a quick paced plot began to lag in the middle of the book because of all the repetitiveness. As I said earlier, I almost gave up on the book. Luckily things do turn around and the plot picks back up. As soon as Mary makes her final decision, the plot picked back up. Unfortunately, that was the end of the book. There were only around 20 pages remaining in the book at that point.
Overall, it was a decent book. I've read many reviews that scream of how great this book is, but I'm not as quick to call it awesome. I feel a little guilty about pushing this book to my students based on the awesome book trailer we watched on YouTube. I know I am going to have to help the kids that bought the book from our book fair make it through the book. As a reader, if I struggled and wanted to give up, I'm certain my kids will feel the same way. It's not as fast paced as I thought it would be, which I know will present a problem for kids that don't typically like to read. On a positive note... I did start reading the sequel which seems pretty good so far. (I wasn't ready to dismiss the other books in the series.)

After reading "The Forest Of Hands And Teeth," I was very excited to read the next book in the series. But "The Dead-Tossed Waves" leans much more heavily toward a teen readers and romance fans, where the first novel had much broader appeal.

Over the course of this story, many of the tantilizing questions raised in the first book are answered: what happened after the first book, how the paths came to be, what the numbering of them meant, who created the Sisterhood, etc.

The difference in setting affects the tone, of course. While "The Forest Of Hands And Teeth" took place in a cloistered society more like that of two hundred years ago, "The Dead-Tossed Waves" is set in a coastal village next to an abandoned (zombie-infested) amusement park. The skeleton of modernity is right next door, always a reminder of what used to be, back Before.

But the first book was more about zombies and the bewilderment of whether oceans were real and what was on the other side of the barrier fences. The second book includes those elements, but too often returns to themes such as "Which boy do I like? Does he like me? Will he _ever_ like me?"

For many readers, that aspect of the story really diminishes its appeal in comparison to the first book.

I'm hoping the third story will be more like the first, and be less teen-romance oriented. The first book was fascinating, and really hard to put down!

After reading the final lines in The Forest of Hands and Teeth I cried... I know what a baby right? But the ending really got to me, after all the hope the tears the death... there was nothing but more bodies in the sand waiting to rise and devour the living. I wasn't sure how I felt about a sequel. I almost felt like if Mary's story was continued it would some how mar that perfect esoteric ending of despair and survival.

Like humanity and life though the story continues, with the younger generations. Gabrielle, Gabry, isn't like her mother. She is afraid of what's outside the fences; the fences protect her, keep the Mudo out. Gabry joins her friends in a night of `teenage escapades' which leaves her would be boyfriend infected, her best friend captured and her lying about where she was. The world changes again and Gabry will have to find the will to survive or to just `exist'. Mary is back but she is older, wiser and the story is not focused on her. What is the difference between the living and the Unconsecrated? And those that are immune, Infected yet still there... where do they stand? What is the difference between existence and survival?

Carrie Ryan has created a sequel that could stand on it's own. Mary's history makes it richer, but the character is all Gabrielle. It is perfect in it's unique wretchedness. Unlike Mary's book readers are left with an epilogue that opens new paths to a sequel with the same characters... the ones who survived...

I enjoyed Forest of Hands and Teeth even though I was haunted by the conclusion for several days afterward. I was able to accept the ending because I was expecting the next book to be more uplifting.I expected Dead Tossed Waves to continue in the same eerie style but I also expected there to be some hope and some resolution of the the fundamental questions continuously asked through both books: What does it mean to be human? What is there to live for when everything one knows and loves is stripped away? Is survival worth it if there seems to be nothing left to survive for?
In Dead Tossed Waves, hope seemed to be just around the corner, but it was destroyed over and over again. There was no real resolution to the questions we desperately want some small answer to.The best quality these novels have is a sense of grief after the conclusion that forces you to continue asking the questions for yourself. This is not a book that you forget right away. I am hoping that Ryan's next book provides some lasting hope and a resolution that never comes in Dead Tossed Waves. Obviously there is enough offered in this book that I am willing to read the next.

Following on from The forest of hands and teeth is no mean feat and this book delivers. I love the way this book skips ahead in time and follows the next generation of characters, but still gives you some info about the fate of characters from the first book.

Without giving any clues away, what happens to one of the secondary characters - catcher - in this is one of the things that made the book for me. imagine what he could do!

If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be disapointed.

After reading Carrie Ryan's debut novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I couldn't wait for the release of her next book. The Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth, Book 2) did not disappoint. Gabry, the daughter of Mary, has grown up in the sheltered sea town of Vista, watching her mother take care of the lighthouse and dispose of the undead Mudo (Unconsecrated) that wash up on the beach. Gabry's life has been about fear of the Mudo and staying safe. After she takes a risk by following her friends and her crush over the Barrier one night, her entire world unravels. Her web of friends and family are missing, dead, or infected, and the only answers and hope seem to lie beyond the Barrier. Despite her fear, Gabry must decide what risks are worth it to survive, both emotionally and physically.

In some ways, this book excels its predecessor. Ryan's writing was strong in the first novel, but it's even better this time. First-person, present-tense can be a difficult style to use, but Ryan does it well with writing that is descriptive and evocative. The protagonist, Gabry, is very relatable, and characters are more well-defined in this book. Sense of place is strong, as is pacing; Ryan doesn't hesitate to take the reader into dark action in the first 30 pages and doesn't ease up after that. Relationships between characters feel real, and the romantic/sexual tension is palpable and aching. The story also allows the reader to know what happened to Mary, even if it's decades later, and questions are answered about the mythology of the Mudo/Unconsecrated. Like the first book, the novel explores complex issues, including the purpose of life, the repercussions of one's actions, and the selflessness of real love. Differently, though, the reader is left with more hope for the characters.

In other ways, however, the book wasn't as good as the first. Some plot points felt recycled, like the repetition of dangers, the need to flee, and the love triangle. Having read the first book, there was also a certain predictability that nothing would turn out well. There's a lot of death and destruction, and some of the main characters engage in or silently condone some very bothersome or violent actions. The story finished with little closure and an obvious cliffhanger ending to set up the sequel.

All in all, though, this was another dark, gripping read from Ryan, and I look forward to the continuation of Gabry's story in the next installment. Though it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH first. There are a few clues and poignant moments along the way that won't resonate unless you've read the first book.

I downloaded this straight after reading the Forest of Hands and Teeth and must say that I really enjoyed this story a lot more than the first. One thing that was really annoying was Gabry repeating the same thoughts and also the fact that there was not much dialogue (even when there was dialogue there it was sketchy at best and only seemed to be there to break up Gabry's thoughts) I did feel that some of what happened was a little bit hard to swallow (not wanting to give any spoilers away) but all in all felt this story moved along better than the first.