Furnace Series --- Alexander Gordon Smith

Ratings:
Book 1: Lockdown ----- 5 Stars
Book 2: Solitary ----- 4.5 Stars
Book 3: Death Sentence ----- 5 Stars

Genre: Futuristic, Science Fiction, Horror, Young Adult

Official Summary:
Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison. Together with a bunch of inmates—some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers—Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world.

Review:
As I have said earlier.... I love freaky, weird, messed up books! And let me tell you.... These books fit that description. They totally rock! Ah! :) Really they are disturbing, but very exciting. These books have vivid characters. The books are told from the perspective of the main character, Alex Sawyer. Alex is very likable and brave. You will be cheering for him the entire series! These books are totally unique and the author writes them in a fun, personable way.
If you know a teenage boy who doesn't like to read, try out the Furnace Series. If you like to read, read these books ASAP!!

PLUS....I just found out that Alexander Gordon Smith will be releasing book 4, Fugitives, in October. Yay!

By the way, I think only book 1 of the series has been released in the U.S. My friend ordered the other 2 online for me. (Thanks, Jordan!) These books are worth buying, though! SO you can wait until they are released in the U.S. or buy them online. :)
Audience 14+

The Dead-Tossed Waves --- Carrie Ryan

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Futuristic
Pages: 407

Official Summary:
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.

Review:
I liked this book better than The Forest of Hands and Teeth. The plot was more enjoyable and.... just better. Plus we learn more about the disease that caused humans to become Uncosecrated/Mudo/Infected. I am fascinated by it! (I have said previously that I enjoy messed up stories, I wasn't kidding!)

The main character, Gabry, is slightly less annoying than her mother, Mary, but not by much.
Like the first book, there is love triangle in this book, but it is a good one. :)

I don't wan to say too much more.... it's better to find out for yourself! Read it!

AND there is supposed to be a third book released in 2011. My bank account = Borders Bookstore income. Haha!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth --- Carrie Ryan

Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Futuristic
Pages: 308

Official Summary:
In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Review:
This book is basically a mix between the movies "I Am Legend" and "The Village." If you like creepy zombies, this will be a treat for you. The zombies are called the 'Unconsecrated.' They were once humans but have been infected by a disease that causes them to change in to flesh seeking zombies. Awesome, huh?

I love the title, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. It gets your attention, doesn't it?
I like the idea for the book, but the story itself could have been better.
Unfortunately, the main character, Mary, is very difficult to like. Throughout the book I was constantly questioning her reasoning. Her logic just did not make sense. Although that aspect was frustrating, the book is good.

A good trait of the book was that the author, Carrie Ryan, does not focus the entire book on the Unconsecrated. Instead she focuses on the living characters, their lives, and the impact of the Unconsecrated, rather than the Unconsecrated themselves. Does that make sense? But don't get me wrong, there are still lots of interactions with the Unconsecrated!

This is a fun, creepy read. I recommend it all the time! Plus it has a companion/sequel book called The Dead Tossed Waves.... and it's even better! I will post about that next.
Audience 14+