Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I borrowed this book on the recommendation of a coworker who knew that I liked Harry Potter and Twilight but was tired of vampires. Anna Dressed in Blood fit the bill. Judging by the cover alone, I wanted to read this book. The paranormal adventures are intense and involve ghosts, witches, and black magic. I found it fascinating, much the way I did when the students were conjuring spells in HP. The violence is more graphic and the language is saltier so be forewarned. Though it may have witches and ghosts, it isn’t as tame as Harry Potter. It is a very quick read with all the elements one looks for in a good story: interesting characters, unique premise, action and adventure, and romance. I could’ve done without the foul language, but it wasn’t so prevalent that it distracted me from the story. Frankly, if I found myself in the situations that these teens did, I might have used a few choice words myself. Still because of that and the graphic violence, I would recommend this book for older teens (9th grade and up). And, I do recommend it. Not only was it a great read, but there is more to come.