Reviews - Dread Nation | The StoryGraph

3.73k reviews for:

Dread Nation

Justina Ireland

4.15 AVERAGE

princessaurora's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

karinapplesauce's review against another edition

4.0

For a while, I was concerned that I wasn't going to be able to finish the book. It wasn't drawing me in the way I had expected to. The concept was intriguing enough, otherwise I would not have picked it up, but the execution was misfiring. I often complain here about slow starts, but I usually mean the first third of the book. This was a solid first half of the book that felt like it wasn't going anywhere.

Once they, well, change locations for lack of spoilers, this is where it gets good. It took me nearly two weeks to get through the first half and only a night to finish it up. I'm giving this 4 stars purely for the "stay up late and finish." I'll ignore the fact that the fireworks were already keeping me up.

The good:
>>Black zombie-fighting heroine with a "sass issue"
>>Interesting world building with civil war era zombies. Sure it's a revisionist history, but the same issues are there with the treatment of African Americans. They are the ones who are sent in the fray when zombies attack.

The not great:
>>Red Jack/Jackson and Jane's chemistry. They have a history, we're told, and the details are revealed in chunks but frankly, I don't think it was done well.
>>The appearance and disappearance of characters, plot lines that were immediately dropped (are Red Jack and Katherine going to get together?), felt a little Voltaire-ish and not in a good way. Voltaire was trying to be ridiculous.
>>There was an air of mystery about "Summerland" and technically it was explained at the climax...but I'm still not sure I understand what was going on. Maybe she was saving more explanation for book 2. Maybe I skimmed too many parts.

That being said...I wish there was a book two right now. Mainly because I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get into it if she waits too long?

whatd0reads's review against another edition

3.0

3,25 stars!

jasminedaria's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

Started off a bit slow, but this was overall a great read. Dread Nation was such a creative approach to historical fiction. I really loved the characters, each had their own personality and backstory that advanced the story line. I don’t think there were any major holes or things I was left wanting answers to, and the cliff hanger at the end set the story up perfectly for a sequel. I will definitely be reading more by Justina Ireland.

operaghost5's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

roanfrancis's review against another edition

4.0

I’m so glad I just read an alternative timeline civil war era zombie apocalypse Western starring Black women. It’s good! It’s not super deep, but it’s an inventive, clever adventure story with themes about slavery, passing, American Indian Boarding schools, and abolition.