Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Anna Dressed in Blood knows exactly what it is: a blood-soaked paranormal romance for teens who want genuine scares. Blake delivers creative world-building (ghost-hunting lineage, cursed athames, kitchen witches) and doesn't skimp on the horror—people get graphically murdered, Anna's dress drips blood, and Common Sense Media straight-up warns you'll have nightmares.

But beneath the gore, there's real substance. Cas is processing his father's brutal death while isolating himself from normal teen life. Anna is trapped by trauma, literally frozen in her murder. Their connection explores empathy, redemption, and whether monsters can be saved. It's not just jump scares.

The catch: this is ONLY for mature 14+ readers who already seek out horror content. If your teen watches scary movies without flinching, they'll probably love this. If they're sensitive to violence or easily spooked, this will wreck their sleep for weeks. It's well-written horror with heart, but horror nonetheless. Know your kid.

Age Fit

This is squarely for mature teens 14+ who actively enjoy horror movies and books. The graphic violence, gore, and nightmare-inducing scares make it inappropriate for middle schoolers or anyone squeamish about blood. Horror fans will love it; everyone else should steer clear.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

45

This is a dark paranormal romance with gore, violence, and horror elements. The protagonist hunts and kills ghosts, including graphic descriptions of murders and blood. While there are positive themes of courage and protecting others, the overall tone is violent and macabre. Common Sense Media warns to 'expect nightmares' and notes it's best for 'mature readers who are avid watchers of scary movies.' Not emotionally healthy for younger teens.

Imaginative

78

Blake creates an original paranormal world with a ghost-hunting protagonist who inherited his father's supernatural calling. The concept of a cursed ghost trapped in her death dress, the athame weapon, and the kitchen-witch mother with a spirit-sniffing cat show creative world-building. The twist that Anna spares Cas's life subverts typical ghost-story expectations. Strong horror-fantasy imagination that will engage genre fans.

Safe

35

With 'blood' literally in the title, this delivers on gore and violence. Common Sense Media explicitly warns about 'lots of blood' and 'ghost scares' that could cause nightmares. The book depicts graphic murder scenes (Anna's brutal 1958 death, subsequent victims torn apart), supernatural violence, and horror imagery. A 12-year-old reviewer recommended 14+ due to 'dark-and-gory themes.' This is not content you want a younger child stumbling into unexpectedly.

Enriching

62

Beyond the scares, there's substance: themes of grief (Cas processing his father's death), isolation vs. connection (keeping 'friends at bay'), moral complexity (Anna as both victim and killer), and breaking cycles of violence. The romance element explores empathy for the monstrous. Readers will think about revenge, redemption, and what it means to be trapped by trauma. However, the primary appeal is entertainment-driven horror rather than deep insight.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Original paranormal world with a ghost-hunter protagonist, his kitchen-witch mom, and a spirit-sniffing cat—it's weird and creative
Subverts typical ghost-story tropes: Anna is both terrifying killer and tragic victim, creating moral complexity
Strong character development around grief, isolation, and learning to connect with others despite danger
Fast-paced horror that fans of scary movies will devour—it's genuinely creepy and unpredictable
Explores deeper themes of trauma, revenge, and redemption beneath the blood-soaked surface

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What to Watch For

Graphic violence and gore—people get torn apart by a vengeful ghost, and the descriptions don't hold back
Horror imagery that Common Sense Media explicitly warns may cause nightmares in less mature readers
Dark tone throughout: murder, death, supernatural violence, and a protagonist who 'kills the dead' for a living
Best for teens who already seek out horror content and won't be traumatized by scary, violent scenes

Conversation Starters

"Cas keeps people at a distance because of his dangerous job. When is isolation protective vs. lonely?"
"Anna kills anyone who enters her house, but she spares Cas. What do you think makes someone irredeemable vs. worth saving?"
"The book shows how trauma (Anna's murder) can trap someone in cycles of violence. How do people break free from that?"
"If you inherited a supernatural calling like Cas did, would you accept it or try to live a normal life?"

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