--- title: "Reading Everywhere" url: https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-anna-dressed-in-blood-by description: "Read the latest information and articles from Reading Everywhere." --- # Reading Everywhere Children's and YA book reviews. Library stuff. Possible overuse of the word AWESOME! ## Thursday, December 1, 2011 ### Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood . 316 p. Tor. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780765328656. For whatever reason, I ignored the buzz about this book, even though there was a LOT of it. But once my library’s copy came across my desk, I found myself absolutely hooked from the first page. I love it when a book takes me by surprise like that! The premise is awesome: a creepy Victorian house haunted by the wrathful spirit of a murdered teenage girl who kills anyone who enters the house... except our ghost-hunting main character, who’s there to put an end to her slaying spree? HELLO, SIGN ME UP. And the book delivers on that awesome premise, making for a fast-paced, genuinely engaging read. Really, I have no idea why I didn’t pick it up sooner. Anna Dressed in Blood reads like a really awesome episode of the TV show, Supernatural -- before the show got all convoluted with demons and angels, back when it was just monster-hunting, I mean. There’s lots of legends and lore, and the horror is pitch perfect in this book. There are some genuinely chilling scenes and really creepy, gruesome imagery-- things I’d cover my eyes to avoid watching on a screen, but don’t traumatize me in print. Scary, but fun! It’s kind of unfortunate that this book has a girl on the cover and a girl’s name in the title, because it's not just for girls-- guys will totally dig it too. It’s got a gruff, street-smart male protagonist who delivers some truly great hilarious one-liners. It’s light on the romance and heavy on the action and suspense. It’s got gore. I know, I know-- the cover and title shouldn’t matter, guys should transcend stereotypes and read it anyway… but I can tell you from experience pitching books to teen guys, most of them are pretty self-conscious about reading a potential “girl” book. Alas! So it might take some convincing, but I would definitely recommend this title to girls and guys. But speaking of the cover… BONUS! There’s a dead girl depicted, but unlike so many other [dead girls on book covers](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/10/wee-rant-for-halloween-i-see-dead.html) , she’s clearly not a victim. She looks strong and imposing. Dead girl empowerment! It’s about time. I enthusiastically recommend Anna Dressed in Blood to anyone looking for a slightly scary story to curl up with on a chilly Fall night. Posted by [Allison](http://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [8:00 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-anna-dressed-in-blood-by.html) Labels: [paranormal](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/paranormal) , [review](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/review) [Newer Post](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-inside-out-and-back-again.html) [Older Post](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday.html) [Home](https://readingeverywhere.com/) Subscribe to: [Post Comments (Atom)](https://readingeverywhere.com/feeds/1052012628068722692/comments/default) ## About Me **[Allison](http://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832)**: I'm a teen services librarian and mom of two, reading anywhere and everywhere when I can grab a spare moment! I love connecting kids and teens to awesome books, and enjoy keeping up with the latest titles so I can pass along my favorite recommendations to young readers. I also review books and apps for School Library Journal. Contact me at alli.librarian @ gmail (dot) com [View my complete profile](http://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) ## Blog Archive - ► [2012](https://readingeverywhere.com/search?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=8) (8) - ► [January](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012_01_01_archive.html) (8) - [Book Review: Martha Doesn't Say Sorry, by Samantha...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-martha-doesnt-say-sorry-by.html) - [Graphic Novel Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender -...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/graphic-novel-review-avatar-last.html) - [Book Review: The Dead of Winter, by Chris Priestle...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-dead-of-winter-by-chris.html) - [Adventures in Butterbeer](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/adventures-in-butterbeer.html) - [Book Review: Across the Universe Series, by Beth R...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-across-universe-series-by.html) - 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