My mother used to tell me about the ocean. She said there was a place where there was nothing but water as far as you could see and that it was always moving, rushing toward you and then away.
Maria's father is missing and her mom is now dead. They live in a small village that is surrounded by a deadly forest, the Forest of Hands and Teeth. The village is surrounded by fence, protecting the inhabitants from the Forest, which is filled with Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead. The Unconsecrated are driven by the desire for human flesh, spreading the infection. Maria's village is an enclave of hundreds of survivors in the middle of the vast Forest. Lost to them is who they are and why they're here. Life before the Return is a mystery.
The Sisterhood governs the village, the Guardians protect the village, and the Unconsecrated are insatiable. The secrets the Sisters hold abound.
Unmarried women don't have a lot of freedoms in the village. They can live with their family. A man may speak for her, court her, and marry her in the spring ceremonies. Or she can join the Sisterhood. But the village is about survival, and all healthy young adults are encouraged to marry. After their mother dies, her older brother rejects her and Maria is forced to live with the Sisters in the Cathedral.
"I hear you are to join the Sisterhood," he says. His words hit me like a slap. I don't know what I was expecting - anger, pain, regret, but not for him to turn me away. Not for him to cast me out and leave me to the Sisters before I've even had a chance to speak with him.
While Maria lives in the Cathedral, she notices a gate that leads to a path stretching into the Forest, forbidden by the Sisters and the Guardians. She notices a set of footprints.
Someone from Outside has come to our village.
Which means that there is an Outside - something beyond the Forest.
Maria begins to ask questions, to wonder about what else is out there. Her mother always told her stories of life before the Return, especially about the ocean. Maria's curiosity turns into a desire to know the truth.
There is a breach in the village and Maria is forced to use the forbidden gate to leave the village. Unconsecrated are everywhere, infecting hundreds of friends and family members. Can Maria find the truth?
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a fascinating read, but I was disappointed with the ending. There is a lot about religion and Maria rejects God. The premise of the book is interesting, but I was dissatisfied with the resolution of the story. The imagery, however, is gorgeous.
Rating: 6 out of 10 stars
*Mild language, sexual references, violence, religion
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