2¢ Worth: Girl of Nightmares picks up six months later when Cas starts seeing Anna and she is totally not at peace. What unravels is one of the best follow-up novels I have ever encountered. In fact, if I was given one word to convince all Anna Dressed in Blood readers and listeners to grab this book it would be: more. Girl of Nightmares is more complex, layered, in depth, difficult to turn off, and has more at stake. It asks and answers more questions and introduces more characters. Girl of Nightmares is a thrilling, occasionally gruesome and chilling, journey with a brutal battle ending that left me breathless, awed, and thoroughly impressed. In short, Girl of Nightmares is SO whoa!
Words aloud: Having met and adapted to August Ross with Anna Dressed in Blood, I was ready for his "deliberate" and "almost breathy narration style". There was only one point that I wanted him to hurry (that brutal battle ending I told you about) but I am SO glad I listened, rather than read, this one. I know for a fact I would have raced through that ending. August helped me picture and experience all the details and tension I would have cruised right by otherwise. August again manages some great accents.
Writing: Can I get an AMEN for Kendare Blake? She wrote a story that rocks in only two books! Kudos and thank you Kendare. We really do not need another trilogy. Thanks for shattering the mold.
Whippersnappers: Profanity, death, ghosts, witchcraft, voodoo, tortured souls, and more blood make this one something I would recommend to older teens and adults.
Wind-up: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (published by AudioGo) is read by August Ross and is 10 hours and 3 minutes long. Audiobook rating: 5 stars. Narrator rating: 4 stars.
Review Copyright © of Tales of Whimsy.com
Ooooh, a sequel that rocks this much is a must read (er...or listen)! YAY!!!
ReplyDelete:0)
Alright, Anna Dressed in Blood has to be next on my TBR list. Sounds so fun!
ReplyDeleteYay :)
DeleteI love this series :) Word about Kendare
ReplyDeleteRight?! *high five*
DeleteWow...such high praises! Additional tidbit....saw the print edition of this on the shelf this weekend and I gotta say, I love the font choice. It's not your typical black and white, but a fetching maroon that matches the cover color scheme. Pretty cool.... ^_^
ReplyDeleteSO true!
DeleteI think it's that hint of red that alludes to blood.
I still need to read the first one though I am going too :) I think I have it on Audio (I know don't die of shock--not LOL)
ReplyDeleteOh girl! You must try it! :)
DeleteSounds great and I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteOnly two books? Wow, that's rare these days.
ReplyDeleteRight? I love it.
DeleteCan I say how much I appreciate your concise reviews! I'm slowly thinking about looking into audiobooks ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks :) GG!
DeleteYou should so try them.
Totally addictive and great for busy people.
Granted I read the book and didn't listen to the audio... But I enjoyed Girl of Nightmares too! And Kendare Blake is utterly PHENOMINAL isn't she? I didn't LOVE Girl of Nightmares with the ferocity that I loved Anna, but it was still really good!!!
ReplyDeleteShe so is!
DeleteI can not wait to see what she comes up with next.
Whoa! 2 instead of 3? It's a good trend.
ReplyDeleteRight! That's a trend I hope takes. :)
DeleteOh...only two books??! Awesome. I can't wait to get this one though I don't think I can take his "breathy" style for another book...I may have to read this one old school.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandable ;)
DeleteGah! I need to read the first book soon!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, it sounds even more amazing than I expected! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteYay :)
DeleteAwesome words!
ReplyDeleteI picked up the books at the Girls' Nightmare Out Tour but I'm sort of tempted to get them on audio. Like you I have been really hooked on audio lately. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDelete:) SO addictive isn't it? :)
Deletei have been conflicted about getting this. i enjoyed the first half of the first book immensely, the second half not so much. but i'm glad that you had a good time with this one. i like the creepy moments :)
ReplyDeleteThat's what I like about audios. They help you push through slow spots. :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
DeleteSee, and I totally disagree. For me, the book was really slow through the first section, then picked up toward the end :)
DeleteAwesome! I will have to see if I can get this from my library.
ReplyDelete:) Yay!
DeleteAmen! & I haven't read it yet. Say what? :) I love the sound of this book and it looks so creepy.
ReplyDeleteIt's got great creep factor.
DeleteFor Christmas I got my daughter Anna Dressed In Blood, and I thought it sounded good, now I'll get this : )
ReplyDeletePaula
Tomes Devotee
Wahoo! Glad to hear. I know I look for creepy stuff around Halloween too.
DeleteYay, I'm glad you loved this one, too! Anna rocks my socks.
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
I say the same thing! ;)
Delete*high five*
Ok well I had to skim this one just in case, since I still haven't grabbed the first one. I do like that the sequel is a good follow-up!
ReplyDeleteI understand.
DeleteI'm the same way.
But no worries I work on always being spoiler free.
:)
Wonderful review! I haven't read Anna Dressed in Blood yet. I must get on that...
ReplyDeleteSo should. Especially for Halloween :)
DeleteOh so there is only two? I think I'll pick up this series on audio. Great review.
ReplyDeleteRight? Don't you love that? :)
Deletei just got the novel version a couple of days ago and i'm excited!!! loved anna dressed in blood!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy :)
DeleteI ADORE these books, and think I many have to go back and re-experience them on audiobook! Great review!
ReplyDeleteI love them too!
DeleteI'm thinking some day I should go back and read them.
So we're are definitely on the same page.
;)
I'm so glad that the follow-up doesn't disappoint. I read the first book but now, thanks to your wonderful review, I want to listen to the second. I'm also glad there's not a third book - I recently read Variant (a book I've had for a while) and I completely forgot it was the first in a series, so I was surprised and a little upset when it ended with a huge cliffhanger.
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteDon't you get sick of trilogies? It gets so old sometimes.
The thing I admired the most in Anna Dressed in Blood was the gore and the gruesome battles. Thanks for this review, I know now that I should listen to audiobook rather than read the book. :]
ReplyDeleteI did love those battles too! :)
DeleteI just finished this one Juju! I didn't love it quite as much as Anna Dressed in Blood, I think primarily because Anna was absent for so much of it. I thought she was such a fascinating character in book one and I missed her in this book. I adore Kendare Blake's writing though, she has a lifelong fan in me!
ReplyDeleteI feel ya! ;)
DeleteBut I love how she haunted him this time.
That one scene in the warehouse.
Wowzers.
I'm loving Kendare too.
I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Sounds like a winner! I have got to get onto audios. Soon. And I like the 2-book series idea, too. There are a lot of trils out there.
ReplyDeleteYou sooo should.
DeleteCheck your library.
It's a great place to start.
My library has an impressive CF audio section.
They also have tons of great CF audios on Overdrive.
And yeah wayyyy to many trils. :)
I like that term. ;)
I'm impressed! I can't remember the last time I read a book that was on equal footing with its predecessor.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely lived up imo ;)
DeleteOne of the best follow-up novels you've read (or, um, listened to)? Nice! I'm glad that it lives up to the first book, because that does not always happen when it comes to a sequel. I've definitely got this book on my wishlist :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous review!
Amen.
DeleteIt sure doesn't.
Thank you :)
I still haven't read the first book, but I DID take the important step of buying it for my Kindle so that it would be ready at a moment's notice! Now I just need time... (don't we all?!)
ReplyDeleteWhoot!
Delete*high five*
Oh, and I wanted to add (like a week after my first comment *grin*) that I agree with everyone on the coolness of it being a 2 book series rather than a trilogy. Rare. And a nice change. :0)
ReplyDeleteRight? *high five*
DeleteI love this series. I have the first one set to start listening in the next week and now that you've made mention of the only two book series I'm definitely starting it ASAP. Love the creepiness aspect too, especially with the spooky season coming up! Fabulous review! ;o)
ReplyDeleteYes! Me too. I can't wait to read more creepy stuff.
DeleteI was ambivalent about picking up Anna Dressed In Blood because I've read some conflicting reviews, but, I think I will be downloading this doulogy! :)
ReplyDeleteYayyyyy! *fingers crossed* that you love it.
DeleteGirl I haven't had time to get Anna Dressed in Blood yet! At least I know there's a follow-up available Thanks Ju Ju!
ReplyDeleteNo prob ;)
DeleteI'm so darn disappointed in myself for not reading Anna #1 yet. I have it on my book shelf, in physical copy, maybe that's my hang up. I do much better with digital on my Kindle. Yeah, I'm going with that fall back excuse....
ReplyDeleteHa! Well definitely try it for Halloween.
DeleteIt won't disappoint and it's worth carrying around a book.
I'm happy you liked it! I've seen some mixed reviews so I was kind of bummed. I loved the first one, even if I couldn't read it late at night without getting scared. :)
ReplyDeleteHa! Me too!
DeleteOn both counts (loving, not being able to listen late, and hearing mixed reviews)
Cool! I loved Anna Dressed in Blood. Glad to hear the follow-up rocks :)
ReplyDeleteIt sure does.
DeletePssst I've missed ya Julie!
I picked up this book and can't wait to read it! Stupid school and life drama are getting in the way of my reading. :(
ReplyDeleteStupid life! ;) *hug*
DeleteI hope you get a lazy eventless day soon so you can read.
Awesome review! I love how your excitement for the book really comes through. I loved this book too! I do agree that it's nice she managed to avoid a trilogy, but this is one instance where I'm also pretty bummed that we're not going to get another book about these characters.
ReplyDeleteThanks doll! :)
DeleteAnd I know what you mean.
They are really great characters.
I saw this one at Barnes and said, not for me, too many scary things! But I'm glad you liked it. :)
ReplyDeleteTotally understandable ;)
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