Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves

by Carrie Ryan publisher: Delacorte BFYR date of publication: March 9, 2010 format: hardcover pages: 407 source: purchased Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
From Goodreads:

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

What I Thought
The Dead-Tossed Waved is the second book in Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth series. The story picks up several years after the events of The Forest of Hands and Teeth and, as such, includes a slightly different atmosphere. Mary, who is now grown and living by the shore where she earns a living by maintaining the lighthouse and decapitating any undead that wash ashore, now has a daughter, Gabry. Gabry is to be our heroine throughout this book and, as you will find out, she is a different girl than her mother was. This along with the change in scenery and a few added elements make for a good continuation of the story at hand.

Gabry is, as previously mentioned, a much different girl than her mother, Mary, was. She is shy, fearful, and wary of change. She has no desire to leave her village, nor does she wonder what else is out there in her dangerous world. She simply wants to fall in love and live her life in the village. However, events transpire that will make Gabry re-think all of her reservations and lead her to discover some rather surprising things about herself. This made her a phenomenally growth-filled character. Watching her transition throughout the book was one of its most enjoyable aspects. I found myself becoming more and more drawn into her development as a character, as well as the journeys she became involved in.

The setting is just as vivid as that of FOHAT, though it starts out with slightly less melancholy and just the right amount of menace. As things progress, the level of fear increases at just the right pace so that the feeling doesn't fizzle out too soon. Each setting Gabry finds herself in has its own particular characteristic that makes it so very intriguing to read about. Carrie Ryan definitely has a way with settings, which leads to a very engrossing reading experience.

The pacing of the plot is where I struggled with The Dead-Tossed Waves. It was a little too meandering for my taste. While there wasn't a sensation of rushing to cram in as much action as possible, it also wasn't quite quick enough. I felt a bit mired down as I read my way through the many vocalizations of Gabry's fears and reservations. Even when action did begin to happen, I found it difficult to become fully sucked into the story. I just couldn't feel the right level of suspense, panic, and worry for the characters. I really wanted to get sucked into this story, but it just never really happened, which is unfortunate since I preferred Gabry over Mary so much more.

Overall, The Dead-Tossed Waves is an intriguing idea set against an excellent backdrop. The concept is spectacular and the characterization kept me very pleased. Had it not been for the pacing, I would have absolutely loved this book. As such, I did enjoy it and can definitely see myself continuing with the series.