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beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Slavery, and Xenophobia
Minor: Genocide
eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
5.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ the book is narrated by the main character Jane; she is equal parts kick-butt, sarcastic, and tender
⁕ the story focuses more on the development of Jane’s friendship with her classmate Katherine and their navigation of the world they live in than it does on romantic relationships... a breath of fresh air from your usual YA fiction!
⁕ Ireland beautifully blends fantasy, horror, and historical fiction to make important commentary on the long lasting impacts of racism and white supremacy in the United States
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ the book is narrated by the main character Jane; she is equal parts kick-butt, sarcastic, and tender
⁕ the story focuses more on the development of Jane’s friendship with her classmate Katherine and their navigation of the world they live in than it does on romantic relationships... a breath of fresh air from your usual YA fiction!
⁕ Ireland beautifully blends fantasy, horror, and historical fiction to make important commentary on the long lasting impacts of racism and white supremacy in the United States
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Slavery, Racism, Sexism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gun violence, and Gore
Moderate: Child death and Torture
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dread Nation is fantastic alternate history; refined, resourceful and kick-ass. The zombies are a backdrop for explorations of racism, colorism, cultural genocide, religious zealotry, and sexism, shot through with a mystery thriller/escape story.
The characters are amazing. Jane is calculatedly blunt and extremely savvy, I hope to get more of Jackson in the sequels. The gradual unveiling of Jane's backstory is satisfying, making me think I know what's happening, repeatedly, then showing just one more thing. Jane makes a lot of snap judgement about people as part of her survival strategy and I appreciate how she isn't always right, but she's close enough often enough to get by and keep going.
This whole book needs cws/tws for racism, sexism, colorism, genocide, murder... It manages to be pretty upbeat overall, but it definitely isn't light reading. YMMV on whether it'll be a relaxing read, but it's very well done.
I like zombie stories, the best ones are more about the people left alive than about the actual undead, and this one lives up to that legacy. It's smart social critique, including extrapolating from the very real existence of schools for carrying out cultural genocide of Native Americans to assume that, given the hypothetical existence of zombies in the late 19th century, America might take the opportunity to try and "reeducate" former slaves and their children in a similar manner.
The characters are amazing. Jane is calculatedly blunt and extremely savvy, I hope to get more of Jackson in the sequels. The gradual unveiling of Jane's backstory is satisfying, making me think I know what's happening, repeatedly, then showing just one more thing. Jane makes a lot of snap judgement about people as part of her survival strategy and I appreciate how she isn't always right, but she's close enough often enough to get by and keep going.
This whole book needs cws/tws for racism, sexism, colorism, genocide, murder... It manages to be pretty upbeat overall, but it definitely isn't light reading. YMMV on whether it'll be a relaxing read, but it's very well done.
I like zombie stories, the best ones are more about the people left alive than about the actual undead, and this one lives up to that legacy. It's smart social critique, including extrapolating from the very real existence of schools for carrying out cultural genocide of Native Americans to assume that, given the hypothetical existence of zombies in the late 19th century, America might take the opportunity to try and "reeducate" former slaves and their children in a similar manner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Gore
CW for racism, sexism, murder, gore, death.
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