Review of Girl of Nightmares
My Review of Girl of Nightmares discusses this sequel to the YA horror novel Anne Dressed in Blood.
Girl of Nightmares
by Kendare Blake
Published on August 7, 2012
By Tor Teen
Source: library
My summary: This is book two in a series. In book one, Anna Dressed In Blood, ghost hunter Cas Lowood arrives in Thunder Bay, Ontario with his mother and their cat. Since the untimely death of his father at the hands of a ghost, Cas has traveled around the country, killing them. In Thunder Bay, his target is the ghost of Anna Karlov. Anna was murdered as a teenager, and for sixty years has stalked around her Victorian mansion, ripping apart (literally!) anyone who crosses her threshhold. Anna’s scary, all right, but things get complicated as Cas finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her…
In Girl of Nightmares, Anna’s gone, Cas is in a deep funk and his Scooby Gang of ghost hunters seems to be drifting apart. But Cas has nightmares of Anna being tortured and he’s determined to find a way to help her.
My take: I love ghost stories, and I LOVE these two books. I mean, a dark and spooky guy-meets-ghost story? Sign me up! There’s so much to love about these books.
I love these characters. I know that some ADIB reviewers found Cas overly cocky, but I thought that was part of his special charm. I mean, you can’t be a timid ghost hunter. Thomas, Cas’s telepath friend, is also a huge favorite of mine. Then there’s Carmel, the queen bee with hidden depths. In book one, they meld into a solid team, in book two, they seem to fall apart a little, which made me chew my fingernails.
I loved the fact that the plots of these books are surprisingly simple. Book one story goal: kill Anna. Book two: save Anna. Cool how those two goals are totally reversed, right?
Scariness level: perfection! These books are dark and do contain some bloody, horrific stuff at times, but that never felt gratuitous to me, just deliciously creepy.
I was thrilled that some of the action in Girl of Nightmares moves to London. My absolute favorite parts were the scene at the Tower of London and Cas’s descent into the underworld. I really love a good underworld scene!
For me, the saddest part of Girl of Nightmares was the moment when I realized I’d come to the end. Not just the end of the book, but the end of Cas and Anna’s story. While I loved the ending, I could have used one more book – and I hardly ever say stuff like that!
If you haven’t read these, what are you waiting for? Halloween’s coming soon, and these two books would make a perfect October read.
I adore Cas's cocky demeanor. He wouldn't be Cas without it. I'm so glad you agree…I knew I liked you for a reason. 🙂 I agree that I could have used another book in this series, but I really do love that ending. I mean, I'm always complaining that if a series could be wrapped up in two, why stretch it to three? And Kendare Blake is my new hero for doing the opposite of what most would do. 🙂
Also, you're reading The Crown of Embers!!! I just got it and can't decide whether to read it or The Raven Boys first. Decisions, decisions! Also, have you finished The Diviners? I had to switch to the audio so I can finish it sometime in the near future, and it is AWESOME!!! (Maybe I should have emailed you all of this. Oh, well. What's done is done. :P)
I know, right? On the one hand, I'm like, "please, no more series." Then there I go contradicting myself…
Emailing you about all the other stuff 🙂
Oh cool-I didn't realize they went to London! That makes me even more excited to check out this second book as if enjoying the first book wasn't enough incentive.
Well, that was about my favorite part of the book. Going to the Tower of London was one of the highlights of my entire life so I was incredibly excited about that part.
I've seen that a lot of people think Cas was cocky but I didn't think so either. He's confident imo as he should be considering his job.
I loved this book and was kind of shocked at the finality of the ending. I wasn't ready lol
I know. I felt exactly the same way!
I really loved the first book in this series, but this one was just so-so for me. I wish it had been scarier! I do really love the cover, though!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jen!
Ha ha– I know from your posts this month that you do love the scary stuff!
Fabulous review!! I really enjoyed this book. It was a much different feel from the first one, but still really great!!
I agree — I liked that about it!
I love Cas! I can't wait to get to this one! I'm glad you really enjoyed it. I've heard some reviews that it is rather slow without Anna. And yes I think a ghost hunter needs an ego! LOL It makes him funny and I never found it overly obnoxious myself. I'm glad it has a great ending. Hopefully Anna comes out of the Underworld human and they live HEA?! You know how I love my HEAs!!!
I didn't think it was slow, but then I love angsty characters and there was plenty of that.
NO spoilers. You will have to read it and find out.
I can't wait to read this one! I've been putting it off so I can read it at Halloween, but your review has me reconsidering. I want to read it NOW!
Halloween is coming pretty soon… Anna Dressed In Blood would make such a great costume, though you'd have to explain it to everyone.
Yaay I'm glad you loved this one! xD I have to agree, it was so sad to see Cas and Anna end like that. :[ I will be looking forward to more of Kendare's books though. x]
Well, that is a good point.
I like ghost stories too & that is one creepy cover.
That's why I made it so large in the post!
I loved Cas' cockiness! In fact, I was very sad when he lost his edge for a while in GoN. I'm happy you loved this!
I love it too. Boo to everyone who said he was conceited.
So it appears that I can't comment on my phone at all now! Grrrr. I totally left a comment on this. But here it is again. 🙂
I freaking love Cas and I'm not sure that I'll EVER be able to camping ever again. I'm pretty sure that scene scarred me for life.
That's weird — I thought your first comment showed up!
Yeah, that forest was super-creepy!
I thought that this was a great ending for the story! And I really loved these books, so I'm glad you were happy with the ending. I didn't realize when I was reading it that this was it, but I knew when I finished that it was the best ending for it. Also, Suicuide Forest.. CREEPY!!!
Thanks for the review Jen!
Yes, that forest was the creepiest!!!!
I would LOVE one more book, but I don't want one, because that end was perfect. LOVE Anna, dressed in blood or not.
I know. I'm torn. I want to read more, but it ended well.
I was really happy with the end of Anna's story, but I seem to be in the minority when I say that I would LOVE to read more about Cas, Thomas and Carmel. I could do without that British chick though. Hated her!
I did not like her at all!!!!!
Then Anna would come and rip her apart! That could have been kind of awesome, actually….
I guess most of us are in agreement about that. I'm still sad to see this end!