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gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.5
This had me hooked from start to finish. The plot and character development was something that I thought was done very well, and without spoiling everything I appreciate it felt realistic for the development to backtrack and then go forward again with the events of the book.
This is the second and final book in the Dread Nation duology, which picks up right where the last book left off. This book hits the ground running and doesn't hold back on moments that will shock or hurt at all. It is a ride that I loved it. The characters all feel real when reading too. They have their wants and needs and they are all the same, but it doesn't mean they are against one another.
This time the book had dual prospectives of Jane and Katherine which is changed up from the first book. I really liked this change up at it felt like it gave the whole story better and also really lets us see the world that the girls are living in.
This was perfect to read during spooky season.
This is the second and final book in the Dread Nation duology, which picks up right where the last book left off. This book hits the ground running and doesn't hold back on moments that will shock or hurt at all. It is a ride that I loved it. The characters all feel real when reading too. They have their wants and needs and they are all the same, but it doesn't mean they are against one another.
This time the book had dual prospectives of Jane and Katherine which is changed up from the first book. I really liked this change up at it felt like it gave the whole story better and also really lets us see the world that the girls are living in.
This was perfect to read during spooky season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, and Murder
outtoexist's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was amazing!! It has some pacing issues, as any fantasy book pushing 700pg is going to, but overall I loved it. I loved the explicit aro/ace representation, and I appreciated that the only Indigenous representation got his own redemption arc. I also just adored the genuine love between the main characters, and having a chance to see behind Katherine's eyes. I feel like the first book of this duology get so much love, but this sequel deserves just as much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Abandonment and Suicidal thoughts
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
DEATHLESS DIVIDE is a strong sequel, briefly echoing some of the events of DREAD NATION in a new town before things take a grimly foreseen turn, setting the characters on a new, even bloodier path on their way to California.
The emotional core of the story is the friendship between Katherine and Jane, as this tests how far Jane will go for vengeance and how far Katherine is willing and able to follow her. They began the first book as social rivals and ended it scarred by the same waves of zombies and death, as well as a myriad of more individualized heartaches and wounds. DEATHLESS DIVIDE continues their dangerous trek as they try to keep the other members of their traveling party alive.
This wraps up several things left hanging from the previous book. The main storyline starts here and mostly wasn’t present before, with several big things that are both introduced and resolved within DEATHLESS DIVIDE. This appears to be the end of the duology, and while the world of these stories is grand enough to contain more tales it does feel complete for these particular characters. There was a particular goal expressed early in DREAD NATION which ends up resolved, and that in particular helps this to feel like the end of the story. Jane is a returning narrator and her voice is consistent with the first book. Katherine is a welcome addition as narrator, and her view of herself and of Jane is very different from Jane’s perception of them. They're a fine pair of narrators, seeing each of them through the other one’s eyes is a great way to explore their personalities.
I like a lot of the secondary characters, both the new ones and the returning minor characters who get more of a role this time around. There was a tendency for the book to feel like it picked them up and then just shoved them to the background as they stopped being relevant to some emotional beat in Jane and Katherine's journey. Sue is consistently present, which was nice, and the very dangerous journey meant that the very large cast was necessary as people kept dying and getting replaced by new people to keep safe. Part of that is because the plot isn't about them and it isn't trying to be, but it did make for a strange feeling every time a new person was introduced as I waited to find out whether they were going to get killed or just fade into the background. Lily in particular faded, she was so important as a person to find and keep safe in DREAD NATION and then she just is around but mostly stops being relevant less than halfway through DEATHLESS DIVIDE. I know how she ends up, the story doesn't lose track of her so this isn't a plot hole or something, but it felt odd, and she wasn't the only one this happened to. It might be a reflection of how much Jane and Katherine are surrounded by death and it makes Jane in particular pretty numb to other people's feelings, so anyone that only Jane was keeping track of is prone to fade from the story.
This is a great finish to a solid duology with vibrant main characters and a very memorable setting. I had a great time reading it and I like how it ended, it was open enough to imply possibilities while also addressing the whole reason for their quest for California in the first place.
The emotional core of the story is the friendship between Katherine and Jane, as this tests how far Jane will go for vengeance and how far Katherine is willing and able to follow her. They began the first book as social rivals and ended it scarred by the same waves of zombies and death, as well as a myriad of more individualized heartaches and wounds. DEATHLESS DIVIDE continues their dangerous trek as they try to keep the other members of their traveling party alive.
This wraps up several things left hanging from the previous book. The main storyline starts here and mostly wasn’t present before, with several big things that are both introduced and resolved within DEATHLESS DIVIDE. This appears to be the end of the duology, and while the world of these stories is grand enough to contain more tales it does feel complete for these particular characters. There was a particular goal expressed early in DREAD NATION which ends up resolved, and that in particular helps this to feel like the end of the story. Jane is a returning narrator and her voice is consistent with the first book. Katherine is a welcome addition as narrator, and her view of herself and of Jane is very different from Jane’s perception of them. They're a fine pair of narrators, seeing each of them through the other one’s eyes is a great way to explore their personalities.
I like a lot of the secondary characters, both the new ones and the returning minor characters who get more of a role this time around. There was a tendency for the book to feel like it picked them up and then just shoved them to the background as they stopped being relevant to some emotional beat in Jane and Katherine's journey. Sue is consistently present, which was nice, and the very dangerous journey meant that the very large cast was necessary as people kept dying and getting replaced by new people to keep safe. Part of that is because the plot isn't about them and it isn't trying to be, but it did make for a strange feeling every time a new person was introduced as I waited to find out whether they were going to get killed or just fade into the background. Lily in particular faded, she was so important as a person to find and keep safe in DREAD NATION and then she just is around but mostly stops being relevant less than halfway through DEATHLESS DIVIDE. I know how she ends up, the story doesn't lose track of her so this isn't a plot hole or something, but it felt odd, and she wasn't the only one this happened to. It might be a reflection of how much Jane and Katherine are surrounded by death and it makes Jane in particular pretty numb to other people's feelings, so anyone that only Jane was keeping track of is prone to fade from the story.
This is a great finish to a solid duology with vibrant main characters and a very memorable setting. I had a great time reading it and I like how it ended, it was open enough to imply possibilities while also addressing the whole reason for their quest for California in the first place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Ableism and Child abuse
tieflingkisser's review
dark
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Slavery, Grief, and Torture
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-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
4.5
What a follow up to Dread Nation! We pick up right where that book left off, with our favorite characters out fighting zombies once again. What I love about Ireland's books is that they're so infused with history, yet they have this twist that pulls you in: the zombies. However, a lot of the issues that Jane and Katherine face are very real, especially when it comes to race.
While there were times where the story felt like it dragged a bit, the rest of it definitely makes up for it.
While there were times where the story felt like it dragged a bit, the rest of it definitely makes up for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Animal cruelty
angelbabe_cj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
5.0
I think this might have been even better than the first book in the duology. I really enjoyed it. And the ending was very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Trafficking
The majority of these warnings are covered by the fact the book deals with zombies and primarily black people in the 19th Century. For the most part current racial slurs are used in an historical context, although there are also a fair number of specifically racist uses of these words.malloryfitz's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- 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
Moderate: Death, Torture, Slavery, Violence, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, and Gore
Minor: Blood and Cursing
ehmannky's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A fantastic sequel full of all of the witty and endearing characters, zombie horror, and fast-paced action that Dread Nation held, with a lot more western tropes and vengeance sprinkled in. I was impressed that Ireland was so ready to pull the rug out from under the reader with who dies in the story (some of whom I was truly surprised over) and with the double-crosses and betrayals. And yet, despite these twists, I think that nothing felt forced or put in just for the shock value. Every tragedy that befalls our heroes felt like a natural outgrowth of the terrible situations and people that Jane and Katherine find themselves up against. Speaking of Katherine, I loved that we got her perspective, because she's such a rare kind of character and I love her.
I thought that the whole book is an interesting look at the ways that grief can consume us when we're not looked out for and cared for by a community. About the ways in which grief is compounded for those at the bottom of a social hierarchy, while those at the top often get off completely free. I also thought that Ireland made a really great point of highlighting how racial hierarchies are not only upheld by a handful of white people at the top of the social standing, but by people of many races buying into the idea of white supremacy. This comes through in both the theoretically "good" town of Nicodemus and in the "promised land" of California.
Just a wonderfully complex, zombie-filled good time.
I thought that the whole book is an interesting look at the ways that grief can consume us when we're not looked out for and cared for by a community. About the ways in which grief is compounded for those at the bottom of a social hierarchy, while those at the top often get off completely free. I also thought that Ireland made a really great point of highlighting how racial hierarchies are not only upheld by a handful of white people at the top of the social standing, but by people of many races buying into the idea of white supremacy. This comes through in both the theoretically "good" town of Nicodemus and in the "promised land" of California.
Just a wonderfully complex, zombie-filled good time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Animal death and Xenophobia
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