Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

TITLE: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
PART OF SERIES: One of Two so far (two will be released later this year I believe)
AUTHOR: Carrie Ryan
GENRE: Young adult, horror
PREMISE: Mary lives in a village run by the Sisterhood and overrun by creatures known as the unconsecreted. Events force her to leave her home and discover what is beyond the village walls.
MY REVIEW: Wow. Is all I have to say about this book. I normally don't care for present tense written books, mostly because authors don't use it correctly and it ends up not flowing well. Luckily Ryan is one of the authors out there who does present tense WELL and this is such an intense story that I really wasn't paying attention to it in the first place.
I will warn you guys though: this is not a happy, sappy romance story that happens to have danger element to it. If you want romance books, there are plenty out there. This book is dark and a scary vision of the future and many powerful emotions going on and romantic feelings just happen to be thrown in there. But don't expect a happy sappy ending. Also, there is questioning of God (and abuse of power in God's name), so the super religious may not care for it either.
But if you don't mind that, then this book is an intense one from beginning to end. It also one of those rare young adult novels that actually will make you think as well as keep you riveted. It was a nice change from all the fluff that pretty much dominates the young adult shelves nowadays. Not that there's anything wrong with fluff, I'm just saying it's nice to find a book that challenges teens to think beyond omg!who's going to end up with who! for a change. Spectacular book, I am now going to have to check out Ryan's other works and will definitely be reading the next one when it comes out. On a completely unrelated note...I have my hands on the Twilight Parody known as Nightlight ;rubs hands in glee;. Sad how I'm more eager to read this then finish up New Moon.
WHO SHOULD READ: Anyone who is inclined to take a look
MY RATING: Four and a half out of Five zombies

FOR THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:
12 by 12 in March
One Hundred Plus Books
YA Challenge