Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

29 reviews

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

stardust_heidi's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious 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

5.0

I love nothing more than a strong, sassy as fuck FMC who has no patience for men in power. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Physical abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Gore, Gun violence, Confinement, Racism, Misogyny, and Violence

unequivocallyerica's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have been an avid reader for a little over a year and this has been the first book where I've actually seen myself in the characters. The book was a little daunting at first because of the number of pages, but as soon a I started reading the pages flew by. I will say that some of the surprises were predictable but I was anxiously waiting for the characters to find out. There are some minor things that happen that don't get addressed. Its still a great book and I can't wait to read the second book in the series and hopefully get some answers to some of my question.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Violence

Minor: Physical abuse

moxiemin's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Racism

sunny_afternoon's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Physical abuse

directorpurry's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Gun violence, Slavery, Classism, Racism, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, Child abuse, and Murder

dragoninwinterfell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-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

5.0

It has been years since I was so fully captured by a book that I couldn't stop reading/listening to it until I reached the end. Straight from the first couple of lines, I was drawn in by Jane McKeene and her story. Justina Ireland has created a gritty alternate history where the Civil War ended when soldiers began turning into zombies, forcing both sides to come to terms to deal with the greater threat. Slavery has technically ended, yet Black Americans are still being exploited and racism is still normalized. Black and Native American teens are forced to attend schools where they are taught to fight zombies in preparation for jobs where they will protect people of European descent. 

Jane attends one of these schools where she has to learn etiquette (so as to be tolerable company for the people she will serve) alongside combat training with other teenage girls. As the story is told through her first-person POV, her dry wit, well-earned pessimism, practicality, and care for others are at the forefront. Jane is such a fascinating character full of acknowledged flaws alongside rarely acknowledged virtues. Had this been a book where she was just narrating her boring day at home in a world with no zombies, I still would have been attached enough to her to be enthralled. But this is a world with zombies as well as common human atrocities. So it was fascinating following along as she navigated the horrors of both zombies and racism, which equally threatened her life and the lives of those she loves.

I'm awed by Ireland's skill in creating a character and a world that felt so real and immersive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Slavery, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, and Kidnapping

whimsicalish's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Let me start off with the good: the main character and her friend are interesting and well written. They have a great relationship and both grow individually. I was surprised how much I really enjoyed the friend by the end of the book. She did not flop into a dull character. Also, bonus for bi and ace representation.

While I'm not interested in historical fantasy, this book does add more interest with zombie apocalypse and racial/political discussion.

Not so great: my main disappointment might be the little direction in the second half of the book. The first half is interesting in a large city with schools teaching teen girls to fight zombies. We know the main character wants to go back home but she doesn't actively do much to follow that through. She's bossed around.

In the second half, there's a shock reveal but it never goes anywhere past that. I don't remember if it's even mentioned much after. Sadly the plot falls more disjointed with the climax leaving you underwhelmed and puzzled. I'm left with many questions and no answers. I was much more interested in the previous city any time it was mentioned.

Great characters and I love to see them grow. I only wish the plot was more fleshed out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Violence

Minor: War

emmehooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Blood

Minor: Physical abuse

abby271's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Confinement, Racism, and War

Minor: Slavery