31 Reads of Terror: 'Anna Dressed in Blood' by Kendare Blake

Kendare Blake has carved out quite the niche in the YA literary landscape, and it seems she has more adult fans than the target demographic of teenagers. I’ve had the pleasure of venturing into her work, having read one of her Buffy the Vampire Slayer tie-in novels, and I recently picked up Anna Dressed in Blood—a book I impulsively bought a couple of years ago, lured in by its hauntingly beautiful cover art. Seriously, look at it! It practically screams gothic allure and whispers, “Read me!” from the shelf.

Now, let’s unravel Anna Dressed in Blood, shall we? Enter Cas Lowood, an unassuming teen armed with an extraordinary legacy: he kills the dead. Following in the footsteps of his father, a ghost hunter whose life ended unnaturally at the hands of a vengeful spirit, Cas roams the country alongside his quirky kitchen-witch mother and their psychic feline companion. They chase after legends and local horror stories, dispatching malevolent spirits while trying to navigate the complicated mess of teenage life—or at least keeping things like friendships and the future at a safe distance.

When Cas sets out to confront a ghost known as Anna Dressed in Blood, he anticipates a classic hunt: track, ambush, eliminate. But what he encounters is far more complex than he ever expected. Anna, still clad in the dress she wore on the fateful day of her brutal murder back in 1958—once white, now a saturated crimson, dripping with the weight of her tragic history—is a ghost with a twist. She’s taken down every fool who dared to enter her desolate Victorian home, yet somehow, she spares Cas. And that’s merely the prologue.

There’s a whole generation out there that grew up in the shadow of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Some readers dove into those tie-in novels—yours truly among them—and the ones who emerged as authors have been undoubtedly influenced by the likes of Joss Whedon and his merry band of writers. Kendare Blake is no exception; her narrative style gleams with that familiar Buffy flair. It’s no surprise she was tapped to contribute to the Buffy legacy, although I can’t help but wonder if her work will soon gather dust in favor of a newly greenlit television sequel pilot that may or may not be related to our beloved Scooby Gang. Nonetheless, Kendare Blake has permanently woven herself into the tapestry of Buffy lore.

Now, let’s return to the unique story of Anna Dressed in Blood. While there’s a certain familiarity to it that I can’t quite put my finger on, it only adds to the intrigue. I found Cas, our protagonist, to be refreshing—even if, being a little more "seasoned," I struggled to relate to him and his teenage tribulations fully. The supernatural elements, however, captivated me completely. The gothic atmosphere in the book is palpable, although I wish it had been cranked up another notch, but then again, who’s counting?

As for the plot itself? It’s solid—actually, I rather enjoyed it! The idea of a murderous ghost trapped in her own grisly mausoleum, surrounded by every soul she’s claimed, is a deliciously twisted premise. When you throw in a male ghost hunter, you’ve got the makings of a hauntingly unique boy-meets-girl romance that kept my pages turning late into the night. Overall, it was a delightful reading experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. ╌★★★★✰

〜B.J. Burgess