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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
DREAD NATION was my IRL book club’s pick for April. I was really excited to read it as I’ve wanted to ever since I first heard about it. A zombie apocalypse during the Civil War? Yes, please. A strong black female character fighting to not only survive the dead, but also for freedom from the oppression during Reconstruction Era America? I say again, yes, please!
DREAD NATION is the first zombie novel I’ve ever read and I loved it. I loved how the “Shamblers” worked and how they changed the outcome of the Civil War and society in general. The Shamblers were so much fun to read about. I especially loved reading the fight scenes with all the different weaponry used against the dead.
The thing I liked the most about DREAD NATION, however, was the time period and how Ireland used the setting to discuss the oppression of black people not only during Civil War era United States, but in general. Even though the themes are blunt, DREAD NATION isn’t preachy. Ireland skillfully addresses issues of racism and inequality while delivering a complex, enthralling story.
Reading DREAD NATION was very eye-opening. I know I’ve lived a very sheltered and safe life (and I’m not talking about a life free of Shamblers). I felt like DREAD NATION wonderfully illustrates the perseverance and strength black people have while enduring horrific abuse at the hands of those who see them as lesser.
I’m glad I finally got a chance to read DREAD NATION. It was a powerful, entertaining story. I look forward to reading the sequel DEATHLESS DIVIDE.
DREAD NATION is the first zombie novel I’ve ever read and I loved it. I loved how the “Shamblers” worked and how they changed the outcome of the Civil War and society in general. The Shamblers were so much fun to read about. I especially loved reading the fight scenes with all the different weaponry used against the dead.
The thing I liked the most about DREAD NATION, however, was the time period and how Ireland used the setting to discuss the oppression of black people not only during Civil War era United States, but in general. Even though the themes are blunt, DREAD NATION isn’t preachy. Ireland skillfully addresses issues of racism and inequality while delivering a complex, enthralling story.
Reading DREAD NATION was very eye-opening. I know I’ve lived a very sheltered and safe life (and I’m not talking about a life free of Shamblers). I felt like DREAD NATION wonderfully illustrates the perseverance and strength black people have while enduring horrific abuse at the hands of those who see them as lesser.
I’m glad I finally got a chance to read DREAD NATION. It was a powerful, entertaining story. I look forward to reading the sequel DEATHLESS DIVIDE.
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The corset misinformation really pulled me out of the story. As Jane constantly complains about them multiple times in every chapter.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tbh when i first chose to read this book, i simply decided on it because of the tags LGBT and zombies, and while yes i was kinda disappointed i didn't get my sapphic couple fighting zombies action i expected, it was still a surprisingly good book, i really loved seeing the parallel between the life black people lived in this world and the ones from real life, thought I really wanted a bit more zombie slaying then i got, at least the characters made up for it by being witty, fun and overall menaces to each other and the world around them.
I'm not really fond of zombies, and this is in large part a zombie novel. There are also elements of the worldbuilding that left me with questions, but overall the setting is an interesting piece of alternate history.
I did find it got off to a slow start for me, but it does a very good job of painting a narrator who has a lot of the elements that make a standard YA protagonist, presented in a way I (not typically a YA reader) found actually engaging.
But I remain not a huge fan of zombies, and not a huge fan of YA. This is more a matter of my own tastes than it is a criticism of the actual book.
I did find it got off to a slow start for me, but it does a very good job of painting a narrator who has a lot of the elements that make a standard YA protagonist, presented in a way I (not typically a YA reader) found actually engaging.
But I remain not a huge fan of zombies, and not a huge fan of YA. This is more a matter of my own tastes than it is a criticism of the actual book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Jane McKenne is an easy heroine to root for and Katherine, her sidekick, is definitely one that grows on you. The world was easy to get into and understand and it has the right amount of action for it to be a zombie book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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:
No
YA is not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed this! Books from this time period are hard for me bc I’d rather read books about Black joy than Black resilience, but the twist of zombies drew me in
I really only read this in the first place bc it was listed as a book for the Queer Lit Readathon and I was under the impression that the MC is bisexual. She talks an awful lot about interest in boys/men and only a mere two sentences about her having kissed a girl, so idk that I would call this queer representation
The author’s note about Indigenous boarding schools was appreciated bc Idk if that is being taught in schools and if the young audience would know about that otherwise
Overall, this was a good read. Jane is a fantastic MC. I love a young woman who takes no shit from men—especially when it’s so subversive for the time. It would make a killer movie. I liked it enough to want to pick up the sequel. Almost every content warning you can think up for how Black people were treated during that time is applicable, so heed that
I really only read this in the first place bc it was listed as a book for the Queer Lit Readathon and I was under the impression that the MC is bisexual. She talks an awful lot about interest in boys/men and only a mere two sentences about her having kissed a girl, so idk that I would call this queer representation
The author’s note about Indigenous boarding schools was appreciated bc Idk if that is being taught in schools and if the young audience would know about that otherwise
Overall, this was a good read. Jane is a fantastic MC. I love a young woman who takes no shit from men—especially when it’s so subversive for the time. It would make a killer movie. I liked it enough to want to pick up the sequel. Almost every content warning you can think up for how Black people were treated during that time is applicable, so heed that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Alcohol
can we please add the US military complex as Trigger/Content warnings!