***Review** The Forest Of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Goodreads Synopsis:

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:

I read this book about a year ago, it is one of my all time favourite books.  The story has stayed with me - which is the sign of a great book.  I have raved about this book to my friends and none of them have said they didn't like it.  It may have taken some convincing for them to read a book with zombies in.  I too was very sceptical.  But this is not a gore fest book.  This book mainly looks upon the people who are trapped inside their world, with the zombies on the outside.

I must say when I first picked up this book I was a bit put off with the zombie theme. Zombies just freak me out, something to do with the rotting flesh and mindless moaning urrrggghh. But I have to say this book blew me away.   Totally absorbing and I read this in record time.  I will definitely read this book again and again.

The story follows Mary a girl who is part of a village fenced away from the unconsecrated - zombies. Mary's mother tells stories of an ocean far away where there is so much water it is beyond belief. Throughout her life Mary has dreamed of seeing this ocean. But the one thing that comes between her dreams is the Forest of Hands and Teeth which is full of the unconsecrated. Maybe there is no life in the world other than her own secured village, which is run by the Guardians and the Sisterhood. They are a poweful force who stop at nothing to secure the villages safety. But all is not as it seems............ 

I can highly recommend this book.  I have now read all of the books in the series and they are all just as good.  My only niggle is that a few loose ends were left between the first book and the second book Dead Tossed Waves.   

Cover: 5/5 - This is a simple but effective cover.  I love the contrasting colours.

Story: 5/5 - Top marks from me.  I can't rave enough about this book.