Reviews with content warning for Blood - Dread Nation

I really loved how ludicrous the whole concept was. An apocalyptic historical fiction about a bisexual biracial zombie killer ? Yes. All of the yes. While sometimes this book felt a bit clunky, I overall loved the story and the characters are really what keeps you in it. Even though the setting seems so unrealistic, it does such a great job of discussing the issues of the past (that are still relevant in our present) in such an honest way despite the dystopian background. This book brings up a lot of interesting conversations I think surrounding both rave and sexuality. There were moments of suspense that kept you on the edge of your seat; but the moments in between I felt were the most impactful. I took a star off because I kind of saw the ending coming but overall I really love what this story represents and I am excited to see where the sequel goes.

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cleo_wylde's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

I don't usually go for zombie/horror books, especially the historical kind, but this was so good and super gripping!

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bluejayreads's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I read this as an audiobook, and Bahni Turpin is fast becoming my favorite audiobook narrator. She did such a good job. A hint of a Southern accent (Jane grew up in Kentucky) that got stronger when Jane was emotional, and a very vibrant storytelling all around. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this.

The book itself is also very good. It's an alternate history where the Civil War ended because the dead started coming back to life and the Union and Confederate soldiers had to stop fighting each other to fight zombies. It seemed a little unrealistic to me that they would train Black and Native people to do the zombie killing, since I doubted former slave owners would want to see those slaves given weapons and trained to use them, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief because I thoroughly enjoyed watching Jane kick ass. And Black people being trained in the art of killing somehow didn't really change the extremely racist dynamic. Even though Jane - and most of the other Black characters - could have killed the white people treating them badly without breaking a sweat, she still feels the boot of racist oppression on her neck and limiting her entire life.

Whatever you think the main plot is, you're wrong. The back cover barely even alludes to it. All Jane wants to do is finish up her mandatory zombie-killing education at Miss Preston's and go back home to her mother on their plantation in Kentucky. But things do not go according to plan, and attempting to help a former friend find his sister, who went missing with one of the Baltimore families, lands her in more trouble than she is prepared for. Jane isn't always great at making safe decisions, but she is good at thinking on her feet.

And, of course, there are zombies. A lot of zombies. They're a growing threat throughout the book, giving the whole story a distinct horror edge that meshed very well with the horrors of the racist treatment of non-white folks.

This book is very, very good, especially if you like alternate history and growing existential dread. I think it ended well enough that I don't feel a need to read a sequel, but I may pick up book two anyway, just to see what happens next.

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