Reviews

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

gothamballer39's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I had high hopes for this book and it didn't quite live up to that hope. I enjoyed the overall premise and the exploration of what a zombie apocalypse during the Civil War would look like, but this was very much a YA story and a little too juvenile too completely lose myself in it. Jane has the common teen character protagonist issue where she's both a little too bold and a little too cinematic in her speeches. The story moves pretty quickly and keeps things interesting

I totally did not see the plot twist of Jane's mom's secret!

, so I will still be checking out the conclusion to this duology. 

Side note:

I did not fall for Jane/Jackson or Jane/Gideon, but I wholeheartedly shipped Jane/Katherine and am disappointed that hope was crushed pretty firmly. Though Jane mentioned learning kissing from a different girl?? Um, okay where did that lil queer nugget come from & then disappear to???

readmorgbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

3.5

halieghkai's review against another edition

5.0

Dread Nation journeys into the volatile, colonial era where the Oppressed are the Heroes in defeating the 'undead' on battlefields (a reinstitution of the plantation system). Justina Ireland portrays parallels of real-life, historical events —The Wall, Colourism, Racism, Misogyny, all under the unnerving Supremacy— there are so much dots that connect to reality that on several occasions, you'll forget its a zombie-apocalyptic book and not another newspaper article of disappointment.

“It seems strange that in these very fraught times folks would be more concerned about hardworking people trying to find a better life than the monsters that actually want to eat them.” — Jane McKeene

Jane McKeene has to be my latest favorite heroines of all time. An inspiring force of nature that will have you gripping your seat belts while confiding into all the rocky routes she'll take you along with the other characters she cares deeply for. Each person in this book has a distraught root they grew from and it challenges us to see compassion in and embrace them. There wasn't a dull moment in this book, the dialogues were golden (I've learned a plethora of new words lol) in these dusty scenarios that Justina Ireland painted effortlessly. But the heart of this book educates you about History that some of us may not know much of especially the Native American boarding schools in America which was the foundation the story was based upon. Reading Dread Nation is an utmost adventure you won't want to experience personally but learn something of importance from.

kivt's review against another edition

2.0

i wanted to like this. i kept waiting for the author to do something interesting with the origins of the zombie myth and the setting of her story, but she didn’t. it turns out zombie stories are boring even when they aren’t white supremacist dog whistling. too bad.

gspear's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.25

ajudeholbert87's review against another edition

5.0

I actually put this book down about a year ago. A co-worker convinced me to pick it back up and finish it. I’m so glad I did, because Ireland’s book recaptured me. I hope there is a part 2, and maybe a movie!

msrcreation's review against another edition

2.5

 I wanted to like this so badly. It sounded amazing. But it just missed the mark for me. Black queer girls fighting zombies is how this book was described to me and the queer relationship I was expecting was barely there. Though I did love the bi and ace representation I think I went into this expecting more of a queer relationship. Also for a book about zombies we barely see zombies. It sucks because I loved the zombie scenes we do get but there was just a small hand full of those scenes. It made the story a bit boring and I kept forgetting it was supposed to be about zombies. I wanted more action there. Especially to see more of Janes skill with fighting. There was tons I really liked about the main character and some of the side characters. They really were the best part of the story. I think I went into this with completely different expectations and just ended up disappointed in the end. 

sockielady's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

4.5

musen_henning's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Violence, War, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, Torture, Physical abuse, and Slavery

Minor: Child death, Cannibalism, and Cursing

alex_johnson_2021's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0