Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

30 reviews

cleo_wylde's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence

alicelalicon's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Hate crime, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexism, Slavery, and Torture

margotnelson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny 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

4.5

While the beginning felt a little slow, this book ended up flying by! Really cool premise, a great look into alternative history, and a reflection on racism, classism, and colonialism (but also zombies). Special shout-out to the second-to-last battle in the book because the escalation of tension was beautiful and so gripping. Really loved this one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, Murder, Body horror, Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse

kalmed22's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This story is what happens when you mix historical fiction and science fiction and it is awesome!  Loved the great characters--we have a sassy heroine alongside an interesting cast of characters, plenty of action, mixed with a dynamic plot.  Narrator, Bahni Turpin, is phenomenal.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

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

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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

ohkmurr's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring mysterious 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

4.25

I will start by saying the premise is genius on its own: the Civil War and zombies in a brilliant retelling of Thelma & Louise. I was surprised how well Ireland was able to use a zombie apocalypse to depict the history and experience of Black Americans, from general prejudice to institutional racism to mass incarceration (especially in the way the Thirteenth Amendment is presented). Though set in Civil War-era America, the themes in this book are current and relevant. As I read, I found myself thinking, "Wow, yeah, that's exactly what's happening right now," particularly in terms of the politics. 

I love Jane's snarky first-person narration; she's a fun character to read. She's flawed and funny and smart and brave, and I had such a blast getting to know her (and her backstory, which we get in bits and pieces throughout). 

I'm also utterly obsessed with the asexual and bisexual representation. It adds a richness to the story I didn't realize I wanted or needed (for one character in particular, especially, but I won't say who). Seeing this world through the eyes of characters who aren't white or straight allows readers to look at these situations from a different lens, which is so important in literature. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

mollymahli's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping

alreads13's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, and Violence

alexandrapaul's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This was a really interesting alternate history of post civil war American during a zombie outbreak. Jane was a really likeable character and I liked how action packed this story was. Some very horrific things happened as a result of the racism and dehumanization of Black people at the time, and was balanced out by some of the humour that came with Jane’s personality and her dynamic with Katherine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence

Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism

sweetmusic22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I loved that Jane McKeene is a black bisexual woman, and her supporting character Katherine is Ace. I loved the concept of the dead rising and walking the streets of Gettysburg. Justina Ireland did such a good job of making sure that we don't forget the racism and sexism that was going on during this time. The only thing I had to pick on was the indigenous representation in Dread Nation. Red Jack's character was definitely flawed, and I feel like he was portrayed as a stereotype. Other than that, I still think this is a good book to read during October, and if you want to read a horror, that deals with social issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Slavery

Just be aware of the flawed indigenous rep when picking up this book