Book Review: The Dark and Hollow Places

The Dark and Hollow Places
The Forest of Hands and Teeth #3
Author: Carrie Ryan
Pages: 377 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Published: March 22nd 2011
Review Source: Purchased
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders

Summary: (from goodreads) There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters. Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again.
But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

From the Hardcover edition.

To me there are two things that define a great author, one, create a magnificent book with intriguing characters and two do it consistently. That’s what Carrie Ryan has done with The Forest of Hands and Teeth series. With her third installment (which is a direct sequel to the second book) Carrie Ryan adds new characters and setting, making a rich plot.

The story starts off with a young girl named Annah trying to survive in the Dark City by herself. Annah wasn’t always alone, she left her village at a young age with her sister and friend, Elias. On the path, Annah’s sister is cut causing the unsecrated (zombies) to come after them. Annah and Elias leave her and go to Dark City with guilt, forever in their hearts. As you can see, this book is an emotional rollercoaster with plenty of action which will make you beg for more.