Review Detail

Annah just survives day to day. She's haunted by the look on her twin sister's face after she left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth. She also can't forget the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City. But even more than all this is how much she misses Elias after he left her three years ago to join the Recruiters.

Just when she decides to go on with her life and tries to leave the city she catches a glimpse of her twin sister and everything changes. But with her joy there's also another emotion. She's embarrassed to be around her twin who's 'perfect' while she still carries the scars of the barbed wire. Someone else is with her sister, Catcher, an Immune. Around Catcher Annah feels something she hasn't felt for a long time. She feels alive again.

But is it all too late? Can Annah forget her own demons or will death be the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Wow. This third book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth series packs a big punch. Where do I even begin? The writing is powerful with the vivid descriptions of the city and those who still live there. You can feel Annah's emotions right when she first sees her long lost sister and the pain and emptiness when she encounters Elias again. I love how Ryan arcs Annah's journey in this book. The emotion is the strength of this story. Annah has waited three long years for Elias, hoping he'll return. When he does, things don't turn out the way she'd wished.

One passage in the book kind of sums up the struggle and emotions that go through Annah. When she talks to her sister she finds her sister has her own scars. But hers are deep within. Her sister admits to Annah that she killed a man and carries this with her. Annah wonders if her own scars are proof that she put herself back together again.

Also Catcher and Annah's relationship has all the trademarks of being forbidden. He's an Immune meaning he's been bit but hasn't made the Return as a zombie. He fears for any physical contact with Annah. The final choice they both take makes me hope for another book. But if not, the ending is filled with hope. That's one of the beauties of this book. The emotions are heartfelt and gut wrecking with a character who's journey comes full circle.

A must read and a very satisfying conclusion to The Forest of Hands and Teeth books.