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    The Dark and Hollow Places: A Forest of Hands and Teeth Book
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    The Dark and Hollow Places: A Forest of Hands and Teeth Book
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    The Dark and Hollow Places: A Forest of Hands and Teeth Book
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Dark and Hollow Places: A Forest of Hands and Teeth Book

    Written by Carrie Ryan

    Narrated by Allyson Ryan

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

    Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again.

    But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 22, 2011
    ISBN9780307747259
    Unavailable
    The Dark and Hollow Places: A Forest of Hands and Teeth Book

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    Reviews for The Dark and Hollow Places

    4/5

    344 ratings54 reviews

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    • 4/5
      In being an avid reader of YA I am often frustrated by these modern fiction endings that leave everything open for me to 'choose my own adventure' kind of situation. So when I read a series I want to have a certain level of closure at the end of everything. I want to know that my time over the 3 book series was not wasted by a book that ends with me having to figure out what might have could have probably possibly happened to these characters I have grown attached to. That being said I am not always looking for a series to be wrapped up and perfectly ended all things tied with a bow (read into this as a HP reference).

      IF you have continued reading- My point is, thank you Carrie Ryan. I really enjoyed this series of books, they were a lose kind of series, where it was almost more like companion books with ties to one another. Ultimately this final book in the trio really worked for me. I loved the new characters we were introduced to. I really appreciated the duality of Annah as a strong young woman who is beset by the weakness of insecurity but still managing to present an image that girls can relate to and find strength in. Bravo. The zombie action continued to keep me on the edge of my seat as things really came to a head (that might have been zombie humor) and so the build up to the end had me really addicted, I ended up staying up half the night reading the last of this book. If you haven't started this series I really recommend it. Start with The Forest of Hands and Teeth though.
    • 2/5
      Well, at least that series is over with.

      The first two books in the Forest of Hands and Teeth series were interesting and fun. This book just felt tired. Tired and bored, like the author didn't even care all that much and just wrote it out of obligation. The "love triangle" really wasn't (which, honestly, is good), the angst was weak, the bad guys were all pretty boring and one dimensional, and even the good guys bored me.

      For the ending of a trilogy it was rather unsatisfying. It could almost be a standalone novel (if there weren't some minor back story from the first two), and it didn't answer any questions or give any benefits to those who made it through the whole series. Meh.
    • 3/5
      I think I would have enjoyed this book even more if I had reread the second one just before reading this one. It's interesting to see how the stories are connected, especially because they aren't strict sequels.

    • 3/5
      UGH. this series was so frustrating. and i absolutely hated the ending of this book.
    • 5/5
      Living in the Dark City, infested with zombies and beginning to collapse, Annah only tries to survive and wait for her friend Elias to return from his tenure as a Recruiter. Realizing that he might never come back, Annah decides to head out on her own in search of her sister left behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Only to find Catcher, who has his own dark secrets and may be a link to her past. I think this third book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth series is my favorite, though I've enjoyed them all. Annah is a character roughed up around the edges, scarred both literally and figuratively, wracked with guilt about once leaving her sister behind. It takes her a while to warm up to people, to trust them, but this is understandable and despite this, she is willing to stick her neck out when its called for. She's strong in a survivors way and learns along the way to be strong in other ways, too, in spirit and friendship and in love. I'm also fond of the rest of the characters. Gabry, who was the narrator of book two and is Annah's lost twin is strong in entirely different ways. Elias is flawed, but loves with his whole heart and does what he can for those he loves despite impossible odds. Catcher is practically broken by his past, but he refuses to collapse completely into despair while his friends need him. Even Ox, the head of the Recruiters, is fascinating in is refusal to see how his own choices have caused evil. I love this book, especially so for the ending, which is kind of beautiful and miraculous.
    • 4/5
      Death is such a prevalent theme in these books and the author continues to pose questions about the nature of humanity and death. What is the meaning of life? To love, to be remembered? Do you ever think about what you wanted you life to be like? What would you do if you knew you were dying? I'm still in love with the emotions of these books; the author has infused the characters with a lot of passion and humanity. I am almost wishing for a fourth book!!! I don't want it to end!
    • 5/5
      Here is the sequel. While The Dead Tossed Waves was more of a series book, The Dark and Hollow Places was really a continuation. There are parts to this story that I found to be better than the first two books, mainly that Annah felt more believable and more beaten down. While Mary and Gabry carried their scars on the inside, Annah is forced to carry them inside and out. She feels guilt from leaving her sister in the forest, and despair and anger from being abandoned by Elias. When she glimpses Gabry entering the Dark City, she finally has a piece of hope. the hope builds when she meets Catcher, starts to think that someone can see past her scars. Annah's story is the more typical romance angle. Girl falls for boy, boy finds another girl, girl finds another boy, but that boy wants the other girl too. That did keep me interest because I really felt that Ryan worked hard on developing the characters more. In the previous book, Elias is show only through the worshiping eyes of Gabry, and while Annah initially does the same thing, his flaws start to come out and it's sad to see how she realizes that the only person she's loved for years would be willing to sacrifice her for Gabry's life. What I didn't like was that some of the actions sequences, especially near the end seemed to be over done and drawn out. Ryan seemed to have sacrificed some of her beautiful visuals in favor of trying to adhere to some Zombie movie scenarios.The ending was still left open ended to a certain degree, but there was hope, not necessarily the human race, but at least for the characters left. I can't wait to read more by Ryan!
    • 4/5
      This was my favorite book in the trilogy. The characters were VERY likeable and the author did a good job at describing the Dark City and at showing the emotions of the characters. It reminded a little bit of The Hunger Games trilogy, especially the ending.Overall, this is a good series. I would recommend it to people who like YA books.
    • 5/5
      This series is always my Halloween go-to. There are a few scenes that are so completely unnerving, it's impossible not to be sucked in and a little spooked out. Ms. Ryan wrapped up the series beautiuflly, but I'm still hoping for a sequel since I enjoyed it so much. However, I did find myself wishing they had focused a little more on the horror aspect of the story rather than human interactions and romance which got a little old after a while. I've spent my entire life with that moment crowding my nightmares. Remembering the sound of the Unconsecrated thrashing at the fence for her... It's haunted me. Tormented me. It's who I am: the girl who left her sister behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth.
    • 5/5
      The third and final book in the Forest of Hands and Teeth series. I just decided to read all three, one after another. I couldn't wait to read the last one anyway. This continues with the characters we've gotten to know, especially in book two (The Dead Tossed Waves). Everything in this book feels more intense, more urgent. Ms. Ryan's writing is taut as ever. The thirst of the characters to survive is more desperate than ever. I loved this book and felt it was a terrific wrap-up to the series. Full of action but the love stories so central in the plot as well. Another 5 smooch-erific zombified story!
    • 5/5
      The Dark and Hollow Places had me intrigued from page 1. Yes, it is a zombie book, but if you are like me, you don't really like zombies. This book is so wonderful I completely overlook that they are zombies. Ryan writes in a way that they do not seem like zombies. She writes everything very detailed and explains everything wonderfully. It is written in a way where you completely connect to the character. You feel what they feel, and you think what they think. It has a very complex plot, many conflicts going on at once, and there are many twists throughout the story. That is what makes a good book. Being unpredictable, and "The Dark and Hollow Places" is just that. I give this book 5/5 stars. Delightful!
    • 5/5
      I've spent my entire life with that moment crowding my nightmares. Remembering the sound of the Unconsecrated thrashing at the fence for her... It's haunted me. Tormented me. It's who I am: the girl who left her sister behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth.Zombies, zombies and more zombies... but it turns out they are not the only life-threatening evil in the world that is teetering on the brink of utter destruction. Sometimes the violence and cruelty of people can be far, far worse than what a zombie would do to you. Annah has been waiting for Elias to return from his two-year assignment with the Recruiters, but it's been three years. And only one in seven who join the Recruiters lives to return home. In the Dark City where Annah has been fighting for survival, things are getting worse, and she decides she must leave. As she is making her way across the heavily guarded and barricaded bridge, she sees herself walking into the city, on the opposite side... but not herself -- someone with her face, but without disfiguring scars. It is her sister, Abigail, now called Gabry, and she is not dead as Annah has feared. Catcher is with her, and though he is infected, he still lives, and thus can move between the living and the Unconsecrated hordes of zombies. The news they bring is far worse than anything yet -- there is a horde coming, millions upon millions, and the Dark City is doomed. The Recruiters in charge have an island fortress out in the river, and it is their only hope. But imminent doom can bring out the worst in people, and Catcher, Gabry and Annah soon discover just how monstrous the living can be. Horror for those with strong stomachs! Grade 7 and up.
    • 5/5
      Annah is haunted by many memories: the memory of leaving her sister when they were young in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, the painful memory of getting caught in barbed wire and being forever scarred, and lastly, the memory of Elias leaving for the recruiters. Elias hasn't come home even though the requisite 2 years is up and her sister was as good as dead left alone as a child in the Forest. Annah is utterly alone and struggling to keep her hope alive in her dilapidated, empty apartment, but loses the battle. Armed with resolve to leave and start anew, Annah sees her sister at the gates to the Dark City with an infected young man. She turns back to find her sister, alleviate her own guilt, and reconnect with her twin. Unfortunately, forces outside of their control seek to keep them from finding a new life, namely the Recruiters (corrupt and brutal military men) and the walking dead.The Dark and Hollow Places is told through the eyes of Annah, Gabry's twin introduced in the previous book. The change in perspective is at first a little strange and then a welcome experience. Annah is completely different than both Gabry and Mary. Her hard life has taken a toll on her and made her more hardened and callous than the others. Her outlook on life is bleak, which isn't surprising considering the world in which she lives: one without hope or love. The scars on her face are just a fraction of the actual scars she has, both physical and emotional. She is strong and self sufficient or she wouldn't have survived very long in the Dark City. Her journey to freedom from the Dark City is paralleled by her journey to self acceptance. Her guilt and hatred for herself has consumed her for so long that she sees herself as a horrible and broken person, unworthy of any real relationship. As the story goes along, she learns to feel comfortable in her own skin and embrace her identity. This aspect of the story is one I think everyone can relate to. The story is really about a girl struggling to find her place in the world and learning to accept herself.The change in perspective is especially interesting because the characters and places all look different through Annah's eyes. The Dark City that Gabry's friends so long to live in is actually not somewhere anyone in their right mind would want to live in. The recruiters that rule it are brutal and violent, stealing from and abusing its citizens. The city is broken and horrible, just as it seems the whole world is. It isn't long before that city is also overrun with the Unconsecrated. The view of Elias is also very different. I remembered liking him in The Dead Tossed Waves, but now I really don't like him. He abandoned Annah to join the Recruiters, which was noble at the time. What really angered me was that he chose to stay with the Recruiters even though he knew Annah was out there on her own, waiting for him. He also leads her on and then acts as if nothing happened. To Gabry, he's amazing, but to Annah, he is an insensitive jerk.The dystopian aspects of the story are still intact and work very well. The Recruiters are awful, but also realistic. They do what they have to in order to survive and lord their power over those who are weaker for entertainment. They prove to be even more monstrous than the zombies and the characters fear them about as much. A wider view of the world is shown as well, but most of it is unfortunately overrun with zombies, dampening the hope that there is some sanctuary still in existence against the undead. This installment is the darkest and best of the trilogy. I recommend this to any zombie or dystopia fan.
    • 3/5
      It was almost a very good book - all it needed was for the author to provide some plot and tension and some story around the Infected. That's what the story is supposed to be about, isn't it?It is advertised as an apocalyptic novel but it's really about a young girl "finding herself" and learning that beauty is only skin deep. That, and there's a huge component of angst around "is life really worth it". Oh yeah, there's also numerous attempted rape scenes (another thing I find annoying in post-apocalyptic novels is that authors lose their creativity and assume that all men turn into violent rapists).It's more mature than the middle book of the series which had a very young adult feel to it, but it's not really a zombie novel at all - it must be meant for teenage girls who are struggling with identity and for people in general who can't see the meaning or value in their lives. For that it's not bad, but for what I was expecting - a zombie novel - it's not even close.
    • 3/5
      I took a few days after finishing The Dark and Hollow Places to collect my thoughts before writing this review, because I'm conflicted about it. I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and while I wasn't a huge fan of The Dead-Tossed Waves, I still had faith in Carrie Ryan and the world she's created in these books - because there is so much that is fantastic about it.I think, though, that the problem is there is so much focus on love, falling in love and desperate emotions that it makes the actual terror take a back seat. Yes, it's still there and prominent, but as a reader, I was so caught up in who loves who and how they are going to be together that it was easy to discount.It wasn't that way in The Forest of Hands and Teeth - there was actual DEATH in that book to a main character, there was heartbreak, there were circumstances that molded Mary into a strong woman who pursued what she dreamed of. Between Gabry (who plays a secondary part in The Dark and Hollow Places) and Annah, I did not find much of that strength at all.I appreciate the message that Carrie Ryan was trying to impart, beauty is not just skin deep, and the emotional issues that can result due to guilt and betrayal, but it just didn't work for me the way the first book did. That is disappointing - because I had such incredibly high hopes. I just felt that this and the previous book went a little too far off the probability (well, as probable as a zombie book could be) with immunity, hot air balloons and several "near-death" circumstances.
    • 5/5
      In The Forest of Hands and Teeth we follow Mary and her friends as they escape their village after the fence keeping the Unconsecrated (zombies) out falls. In Dead Tossed Waves, Mary's 'daughter' Gabry, also has to fight her way through the Forest in search of the family she lost... and never knew she had.The end of Dead Tossed Waves leaves off with Gabry and Catcher making their way to the Dark City to find Annah- Gabry's long lost twin sister. This is where The Dark and Hollow Places begins...Carrie Ryan wastes NO TIME dragging us into the dark desperation that has become everyday life since the Return (when the dead started rising instead of staying dead). Annah, having spent three years alone since Elias left her to join the Recruiters, has decided to leave the Dark City and return 'home' to her village inside the Forest of Hands and Teeth.Annah is crossing the bridge that will take her out of the Dark City, when she SEES Gabry for the first time since they were children... when she and Elias had left Gabry alone, crying and bleeding in the middle of the Forest. Annah tried to get to her sister, but she's on the bridge going the opposite direction... taking her INTO the Dark City.Annah learned long ago not to draw the attention of the Recruiters, but she tries to reach her anyway. She fails... She is attacked by the Unconsecrated, by the Recruiters, by men who are evil by nature and then she meets Catcher.I have to say... I LOVED this book. I read it in the span of a day, and while I wasn't a HUGE fan of the first two Forest of Hands and Teeth books- I could NOT put The Dark and Hollow Places down! Carrie Ryan's writing is hard to rival- period. catcher and Annah will remain one of my favorite couples in YA fiction forever! This is an unbelievably fabulous read, and an AWESOME end to the series!
    • 4/5
      This trilogy has not been my cup of tea, but I was so captivated by the characters that I overcame my fear and finished all three books! I loved the character development among the three books. I thought that I could predict what would happen in this book, but to my surprise, I was happily reading the unimagined. Glad to know that hope still exists no matter the time and love begets sacrifice that strengthens those around you.I would suggest reading Dead Tossed Waves prior to this read; it will cement the plot line much better.
    • 3/5
      Though I found this to be a satisfying end to The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, I didn't find it a satisfying book on its own. There's no build-up or development of Annah's relationship with Catcher, which makes it less believable, and Gabry doesn't seem to be the same character as she was in The Dead-Tossed Waves. The book was a page-turner, though, and the resolution leaves me wishing Ryan would write just one more.
    • 4/5
      Easily the darkest installment of the series, but possibly the best. You know more about the world (unlike the first), and the characters are better and more believable (unlike the second). The biggest problem I had with this novel *****possible spoilers***** is that no one is trying to solve the zombie problem with science. Catcher has immunity, so he's used to gather supplies. Why not study the disease and try to stop it?? Maybe Ryan is saving that for another book. Otherwise, the action and suspense are great. Zombies are scary.
    • 5/5
      Reason for Reading: Next and (last?) book in the series.This series has always been referred to as a trilogy and still is on the back flap of this book, so I'm assuming this is the last book in the series. I say this as it has one of those endings that doesn't quite satisfy, that could leave room for a sequel. But if this is indeed the final book, then I'm still mulling over whether I actually like how the book ends.Otherwise, this was a terrific book that brings back all former major characters, except one who is spoken of often so we know where they are in the story and introduces one (sort of) new character. The story is a page-turner from beginning to end; was a book I couldn't put down and I loved the characters, though I found my opinion of them had changed from the previous book. A favourite character from before became less liked and was replaced by someone else as the plot progressed and the characters responses brought them either closer or further from my heart. The year wait between books does fade my memory a bit but I remembered everyone and what was going on pretty quickly as the story progressed. This story is very violent, certainly not for the squeamish. Of course, there is lots of zombie violence but humans are maimed and killed as well. Reader beware. I love the direction the story went. It is a bit over the top in believability but hey, so are zombies! The plot is dark and this is a story with not many bright spots. There are glimmers of hope that keep the characters from giving up and ultimately reaching the climax but the book ends on an unknown note, with only visions of what the future will hold. The ending may bother some readers who like there books to tell them how everything is all neatly wrapped up at the end. Myself, I'm still not quite sure about it. I still see another book in what comes next. But this is the third book of a trilogy, so I'll ponder their fates until I see what Carrie Ryan has for us with her next book. Love the series. Makes for great zombie reading!
    • 4/5
      Hilarious to see Gabry from someone else's point of view, she seems far less whiny, and more, well perfect, through her sister's eyes. Luckily, I liked Annah a lot more than Gabry, and so I enjoyed this book more. Again, Ryan brings us a new facet of this world - this time the remain of an urban environment. The Recruiters play the evil baddies - as opposed to the dead, who are mere mindless baddies. Annah's relationships with Gabry, Catcher, and Elias are believable, and while the ending was a bit stretched, I was willing to go with it.
    • 5/5
      In the third and final installment in her Forest of Hands and Teeth series, Carrie Ryan, introduces you to Annah. Annah has been living on her own in the Dark City since Elias left to join the protectorate. With scars that mar her face and body, Annah is more of a recluse. She uses her street smarts - bowing her head, not making eye contact and blending into the shadows as a weapon. Without any friends or family she has used these skills as a way to survive the dangers of the Dark City. Waiting for Elias, her life has become as lifeless as that of the Unconsecrated but then she meets Catcher. Catcher who brings with him memories of a past that she has longed to forget.Out of the three leading ladies you will find in this series, Annah was hands down my favorite. She wasn't a whiner like Mary, and Gabry annoyed me with all her boy drama... but Annah was phenomenal. She was tough as nails, brave, strong and courageous. Her will to live was a breath of fresh air. Even though she's scarred, feels alone and even broken at times - she still was not willing to give up. Out of the three books I believe this was the darkest one. Their struggle for survival was the most intense. I went through a slew of emotions from sadness, hopelessness, and even found myself choked up more than once. I can't even imagine a life this bleak where the unconsecrated are a threat but humans can be just as dangerous. Yet through it all I found myself hopeful. I found myself waiting for and really savoring the moments that weren't as dark... moments of light. Especially when those moments dealt with Annah and Catcher's relationship. The fact that they are both so broken and flawed really makes you hope that they can find a way to make it work in a world infested by the living dead. Originally, I was worried that I wouldn't like this final installment since I was so focused on Gabry and Elias's story (The Dead-Tossed Waves) but I think Ms. Ryan did a wonderful job in connecting everything together. Overall this book was incredible. The whole series is amazing. Full of tension, suspense, nail-biting action and Unconsecrated... lots and lots of Unconsecrated. I can't recommend it enough!
    • 5/5
      I loved this first two books,this last one was no exception. The main character, Annah, was terrific with all of her sharp edges and a warm interior. I could really relate to and love Annah, she was warm, caring, and intelligent throughout the book. I liked how the author paralleled Annah with Catcher, her love interest. He seemed to be in the book to showcase Annah's great qualities, those same qualities made her a very memorable character. The concept of a future world filled with "Mudo" or zombies, is oddly intriguing. I loved how the author integrated the scenes with Annah and her newfound sister with the horror scenes where the reader bites his/her nails, waiting to see if Annah would make it out alive. The ending of this novel was both satisfying and frustrating. I really wanted this series to tell me how the characters' lives played out, but I was also glad that both Annah and Abigails aka Gabry's lives play out well. The author is terrific with descriptive, intricate scenes and the interweaving of strong characters playing off each other. I finished this book in less than two days and am ecstatic that I received a copy so quickly.
    • 5/5
      Thank God for eBooks, which allowed me to read this immediately after I finished the second in the series without a physical trip to the bookstore.
    • 5/5
      Picking up right where we left off at the end of "The Dead-Tossed Waves", "The Dark and Hollow Places" ups the pace of the story, making us feel just as desperate as the rest of the main characters thus far.This last third book in the trilogy (though I really, really hope there are others!) unites all of the characters we've met since the first book together in a frenetic union of panic and love, lust and hurt. Annah's love of her sister combined with the hate that springs forth once she learns how Abagail/Gabry grew up is a tasty treat, sweet and sour, to be enjoyed slowly as it simmers to a head near the middle of the book. Just as the first book was Mary's story and the second was Gabry's, make no mistake that this last story in the trilogy belongs to Annah and Ryan never lets us forget that. We're deeply immersed in Annah and her psyche the entire time, and how she fights with herself on whether she loves or hates her sister, Catcher, and Elias.Between this and the panic spurred on by the actions of Catcher, Elias, and Gabry at the end of the previous book, it feels like you're on a marathon - heart pounding, lactic acid in your legs the entire time. And it burns - teenage love in the middle of a world that's ending. But it burns so, so good. Ryan has only honed and perfected her craft of agonized teenage affection throughout all three books, which is really well represented in this last story. And then there's the generational aspect as well; Mary's story was the first story, somewhere around 20 years previous to the second book. By the end of this third book, you get the feeling that things have come full circle, that there is hope, another generation to be born, and even though they may have to fight for their lives, they WILL live.That, ultimately, I think is Ryan's message: if there's life there's hope, and if there's hope, there's love. And that's what makes us different from the dead, just as Annah says in the book - the fact that we're aware and fight for these emotions makes us alive, makes us fallible, but makes us human. This is the line that separates us from the dead.I really hope there are more books in the world of "Hands and Teeth" - "Hare Moon", a novella just released online (which I haven't had a chance to read yet), apparently also takes place in the same universe. But I'd like a prequel, maybe something to answer what happened to cause the Return, or a sequel/separate trilogy of what happened after this last book. I won't take no for an answer.This one's in my top five for 2011 so far, and the year's not even over yet. Simply gorgeous.(crossposted to librarything, goodreads, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
    • 5/5
      Wow. Who would have thought a lover of contemporary fiction would fall in love with a post apocalyptic trilogy of books so much? I preordered this book. Which is big. I NEVER preorder books. I never pay for than $10 bucks for a book. Even Sarah Dessen books, and she is my favorite author in the entire world. And yet, I won a $50 dollar amazon gift card and I preordered this book without a second thought. That is how much I wanted to read it. And man, did it live up to expectations.I don't know what it is about this trilogy but it's so believable. And in reading this book in particular, it made me take a look around the city where I live and wonder how well my area would fare when and if The Return were to hit. It's a scary thought.In this book, the final in the series *tear*, Annah has been living in The Dark City for three years waiting for Elias to return. She lives her days just hoping for survival until she meets a boy named Catcher. Catcher makes her feel things she has not felt since the morning Elias left. But Annah is scarred by her past and she does not trust easily. When The Horde hits the city and there is no where to run but to the recruiters, who are known for their sadistic nature, will Annah be able to continue her path of survival?I hated closing this book. I hated putting it down. I regretted getting to the last page. I wanted it to last forever. I want to keep these characters with me. I would gladly read a fourth book, although I know there will not be one. I secretly hope for one. I am not ready to let go of this series yet. Even if you are not a fan of zombies and post apocalyptic books, READ THIS TRILOGY. Give it a chance! You will love it!
    • 4/5
      As soon as I finished The Dead Tossed Waves, I craved for The Dark and Hollow Places. So as soon as it showed up on my doorstep, I dove right into it. I absolutely love Carrie Ryan's writing style. It evokes the deepest of emotions and conjures the clearest of images. There are very few books in which I can feel and see so much. I have to say, though Carrie Ryan's books are unbelievable in every sense, I feel like her upcoming one didn't live up to the standards of Ryan's first two books. So why didn't I like this book as much? The Forest of Hands and Teeth was narrated by Mary, The Dead Tossed Waves by Gabry (Mary's daughter), and The Dark and Hollow Places was narrated by Annah (Gabry's twin sister). For some reason, I just couldn't find myself connecting with Annah as much as I wanted to, and I didn't like the way she viewed her twin sister, especially because Annah's twin is the one who narrated the previous book. Annah pretty much hates herself. She thinks of herself as ugly and worth nothing, where as Gabry is perfect. If you've read The Dead Tossed Waves, you'll know that Gabry is far from perfect and that she's been through more than Annah can even imagine. So is the book worth it? Are you kidding me? This book is worth every single breath of air. You just have to pick it up. Pain, happiness, sorrow, and hardship, in a world where the human race is burning out - The Dark and Hollow Places is definitely stunning. -Would I recommend this to anyone? Probably ages 14 and up
    • 5/5
      This series just keeps amazing me! When I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I was shocked by the completely different and terrifying world Carrie Ryan had created. Now I am shocked by how much each new addition exceeds the previous one. The Dark and Hollow Places takes place in the same generation as The Dead Tossed Waves, except instead of being from Gabry's point of view, it is from the point of view of her twin sister, Annah. Since Elias, whom she's been living with in the Dark City, left for the recruiters three years ago, Annah has been used to taking care of herself and trusting no one. That is until Catcher; good-looking, mysterious and reserved, shows up looking for her. He claims that Elias sent him to find her, but at this point she doesn't know what to believe. As the hoard, a massive group of unconsecrated, threaten to overtake the city, Annah finds herself running for her life once again and fighting through the dark and hollow places within herself. I loved this book! I don't know if love is quite the word though... It tore my heart out and had me looking for shadows behind me. Each page had me on end and I couldn't even guess what was coming next. And, whew! It was dark. Simply said, this one the best book in the series so far (am not sure if there is going to be more). If you've read the first two, you should definitely go out and buy this one- you will be speechless. If you haven't read the series, I honestly don't know what you're waiting for- this series is incredible. At this point, I honestly don't know what else to say. Except go get it! I do not have a single complaint or anything negative at all to say. This book is one of the few that has made my list of absolute favorites (and that is saying something!)
    • 5/5
      This is one heck of a series. If anything it just keeps better and better. This is a continuation from the second book in Annah's point of view. And I admit, it was one good POV. Annah is waiting. Waiting for Elias to come back to her. It's been year and he is still not there. She is determined to get back to her sister and begins looking for her. What Annah finds is not what she expected.Let me tell you that Ms. Ryan did a great job describing the emotions off Annah. If one thing I enjoy in a book is being able to feel the characters as if my own. I like to read the story and walk in their feet. I felt Annah hearts in my hand. Annah is a strong girl and knows her place. She believes herself to be ugly and keeps all the guilt and hurt inside.The reunion was...well mind blowing. Ms. Ryan did an excellent job describing and detailing everything. The hurt, the pain, the betrayal and most of the all, the jealousy. Even I was jealous at what I was reading! Ms. Ryan had a way of writing her characters to life. They felt so real, I felt them.Catcher is a guy who is also broken like Annah. I knew they had a instant connection it was just a matter of time of which would fall first. Catcher held Annah and gave her strength. They have both been hurt the same ways. They had a bond and shared the same pain. I am happy that they were able to confide in each other.Overall this book is just AMAZING! Simply amazing and beautiful. I can't even began to describe how much this book is a page turner. A magical page turner that will turn your life upside down.
    • 4/5
      This book was good, but it wasn't as good as the first 2. There was just something lacking. Maybe I just couldn't relate to Annah 100% or maybe it was the fact that the plot wasn't as fast-paced as the first books.

      I found Annah to be a tad bit annoying. She was too much of a do-gooder & I found it frustrating.

      I liked the fact that Gabry, Catcher and Elias were featured in this book though. I just wish Mary would've been in it if only for a brief appearance.

      Overall, this is a great book (as well as a great series). Even though the plot wasn't as fast paced as the first 2 books, it was still good. It does convey human emotion very well.

      Fans of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series won't be disappointed.