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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book inspired me to rewatch The Walking Dead tv show. The zombie apocalypse occurring during Gettysburg was very creative! The adventures, challenges, and emotional turmoil that the FMC and her friend went through were crazy. Very action packed. Only reason I didn’t give 5 ⭐️ is because at times it felt a little slow or to be dragging out the detail. I’m assuming the reason being that there is a part 2. Not sure if I’ll read it though.
Heart rending
If there is ever a time when a book sent in an alternative timeline where the dead rise during the Civil War, this is it. We see Jane not only learn how to fight the dead but fight to be seen as more than her skin color. I would highly recommend this book and I hope more will be written. If not, this is a good place to end.
If there is ever a time when a book sent in an alternative timeline where the dead rise during the Civil War, this is it. We see Jane not only learn how to fight the dead but fight to be seen as more than her skin color. I would highly recommend this book and I hope more will be written. If not, this is a good place to end.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a fantastic alternate history story, with a plethora of stronge female characters, and zombies. The audible version is very well performed, the narrator easily switching very discernible voices for different characters.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Dread Nation
By Justine Ireland
🍷🍷🍷🍷
Zombies and the Civil War. That plot line alone should make you read this book. Jane McKeene lives in an America where the Civil War was stopped to fight the undead that arose during the battle of Gettysburg. Under the Native and Negro Education Act, children are required to go to combat schools. The best Jane can hope for is to become an Attendant, protecting rich white women. However, Jane soon comes to realize that most people want to return to the old ways and society isn’t as free as they show themselves.
Justina Ireland combines both real life events with well zombies. I appreciate that Jane and Katherine, both black woman, are the main focus of this story. Both of these girls at the beginning of the novel greatly disliked each other but then come to realize they have much more in common. Yes the undead is the common enemy that they are trained to fight but they also have to deal with racism and prejudice in everyday life. Ireland writes this story so vividly that I could honestly believe that this had happened. I already borrowed the sequel (thank you Libby!) and cannot wait to see how Jane and Katherine end up, especially with that ending. Let me know your thoughts!
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love the world of this book. I think it is such and interesting take on a zombie story set in an already tumultuous time in American history. I loved the satire of the zombie story line that in many ways is an exaggerated idea of the reconstruction period when southern democrats were still doing everything they could to maintain white supremacy and uphold slavery. This is shown in the combat schools in this book as well as the “survivalists” ideologies. Really interesting set up and I liked the characters a lot. I wish we saw more of Kate and Jackson in the middle third of the books but there was a lot to cover. I also found the end a tad unsatisfactory. I just wish more was resolved but it does a good job setting up the next book. I think I will continue with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Gore
This is just a well done historical fiction mixed with zombie horror. The fact that the combat schools are based on industrialized schools for native children and the fact that the institutions are paramount in showing that the real horror were the people in power. This thread is further elaborated on when Jane, Jack, and Kate get to Summerland and the utter atrocities and mismanagement that occurs there and further solidifies the fact that no one is safe when people with their own selfish agenda are in charge. I honestly loved that thorough line in the midst of this zombie horror historical fiction.
Then there is Jane. She is nothing short of incredible and I love her narration. She is an absolute badass(excuse my french) and does what she needs to do to survive. I love her humor, her sarcasm, stubbornness, and opinions throughout the whole book. And the reveal about her mother and her mother's husband was so unexpected and a great device in this story. She is perhaps one of my favorite characters in fiction, probably because I could see a bit of myself in her.
Kate is also incredible and the author beautifully demonstrates the toll of pretending and assimilating and that even after all of that you will still be mistreated and turned on. I also loved the fact that she didn't want to get married and didn't have crushes, it was refreshing. Kate is also incredibly amazing and bad ass and I love the fact she wants to look good while defeating zombies, as one should. Beauty is a weapon after all.
Needless to say, this was a great way to start off spooky season.
Then there is Jane. She is nothing short of incredible and I love her narration. She is an absolute badass(excuse my french) and does what she needs to do to survive. I love her humor, her sarcasm, stubbornness, and opinions throughout the whole book. And the reveal about her mother and her mother's husband was so unexpected and a great device in this story. She is perhaps one of my favorite characters in fiction, probably because I could see a bit of myself in her.
Kate is also incredible and the author beautifully demonstrates the toll of pretending and assimilating and that even after all of that you will still be mistreated and turned on. I also loved the fact that she didn't want to get married and didn't have crushes, it was refreshing. Kate is also incredibly amazing and bad ass and I love the fact she wants to look good while defeating zombies, as one should. Beauty is a weapon after all.
Needless to say, this was a great way to start off spooky season.