Shadows and Smoke

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Anna Dressed in Blood was really good. Hah! Short and sweet. Cas Lowood is a teenager who follows in his late father's footsteps as a ghost hunter and moves to Thunder Bay, Ontario with a mission. That mission is to send Anna Korlov (the Anna dressed in blood) to wherever ghosts go once he stabs them with his athame (the knife he inherited from his father). But...

Spoiler...
Anna ends up saving Cas, while killing one of his tormentors. Cas doesn't know why (and really, it's not really explained either. I guess it's just love at first sight). Cas finds that he can't kill Anna as he falling in love with her (and btw, her story of how she was killed is heartbreaking). He finds himself protective of her. Even more so when it's revealed that the ghost that killed Cas's father (well, at his father, really) is attached to Cas's athame and wants to eat Anna and become even stronger.

The story is told through Cas's POV and, at first, he comes off as a cocky, detached teenager. It's understandable. What Cas does doesn't exactly make for polite date conversation. He has some good one-liners but he also has a habit of jumping to conclusions about people. He chalks Carmen off as just a pretty face and is actually surprised when she reveals some spunk. He also feels protective of Thomas, who he thinks has been bullied, but he doesn't really act on that either. His friends come to him, rather him going to his friends, which makes sense since he's been on his own (with his mom) with no real friends before them.

I guess I've watched too much Supernatural but I didn't understand how ghosts could bleed. Or how could seem so corporeal. She could sit in a car! She could help Cas's Mom with the potions! She could kiss Cas!

But in the end, that didn't matter. If you're a fan of Supernatural but want a little love story along with the ghost busting, I think you'll like this one. I've already read the sequel, Girl of Nightmares, and had to re-read Anna Dressed in Blood so I could post a review. Even a pitiful one.





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There has been so much unfair and unwarranted comparisons that have been made between Twilight and The Hunger Games. I, personally, hate that Bella is dismissed as not being a strong female character or that the choices she makes are to serve her man, Edward. This article Mendelson's Memos: Question of the day: Why *isn't* Twilight's Bella Swan a feminist creation? does a good job of arguing that Bella is indeed a strong female character because she is making and following her own choices, even when those choices seem to be at odds what everyone else thinks.

This is a really good article about Robert Pattinson's Bel Ami and the prejudiced reviews by some critics. Is he really the one unable to shed the Edward Cullen persona or are the critics the ones who can't let go of the Twilight baggage? PS You wouldn't believe the trouble I've had posting this link.

I love how honest Rob is...he is genuinely self-effacing. Er, at least I think he is. I don't know him for realz or anything.

Robert Pattinson Says Stuff Sometimes, I was doing progressively smaller movies in...

Updating this with my new kobo tablet. Love it!!!
BTW
Happy New Year!!!

Sweet! Whether or Rob fan or a Kristen fan, this look back is all kinds of awesome!

Robstenation and all things Twilight: Rob and Kristen - Look Back 2011. Part 1

Next Movie has a post of classic movie posters starring Edward and Bella. Love My Best Friend's Wedding! Had to lol at the When Harry Met Sally one though.

8 Classic Romance Movies Now Starring ‘Twilight’ Characters | NextMovie

Great praise for Rob from director David Cronenberg. I cannot wait to see this movie!

Robert Pattinson Life: David Cronenberg talks casting Rob, Twilight, fans and more with NY Mag

It's about time I updated this. These are two stories that are currently owning me.

Unexpected Circumstances by Savage7289. This is the author's summary: When a knight from another kingdom wins his choice of bride, he claims the handmaid instead of the princess. Isabella finds herself married and tossed into the middle of political schemes. What happens when she can't give him the one thing he must have?

I admit, I first heard about this one from Twitter when Michael Sheen was on VH1 promoting Midnight in Paris and they had him read Twilight fan fiction. It was unintentionally hilarious, especially when he did Isabella's voice. I had seen the summary of the story around and about and it never really interested me. Then, as I sometimes do when I'm unsure of a story, I read the last chapter posted.

I know that's kind of a bass akwards kind of doing it but for me, sometimes, it works. It tells me if the story is interesting. I find out if the characters are likeable and whether I'm interested in seeing what happens to them or how they got into whatever predicament they are in. This is one of those stories. I was so interested, I went back to the beginning. Read it.

The second story I'm recommending is Kiss Me, I'm Irish by IrishTwiFicster. This is her summary: Bella travels to Dublin to catch up with an old childhood friend. While there, she meets cheeky Irish Edward who can't resist every opportunity to charm her right out of her knickers! AH Fic - Rated M for horizontal Irish dancing and good craic!

I was supposed to take trip to Ireland several years ago with my sister and one of my friends. We had all saved up and even put a deposit on the tickets. Then, something happened and we didn't go. And we haven't been able to go since. Oh how we wanted to travel Ireland, experience it's culture, it's music, and it's beautiful country-side. 'Twas not to be, though.

This story is a great way to almost feel like you're there. At last Edward Cullen is an Irishman. Not only that, but he owns a pub or two and, when coaxed, sings!!! Needless to say, Bella is melting pool of vaginal fluids in his hands. (Okay, eww!) But really, what more could anyone want? Well, there's humour too for those that need more. Do yourself a favour and check it out. That's all for now. Ta ta!