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shaun_dh's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I really only read this in the first place bc it was listed as a book for the Queer Lit Readathon and I was under the impression that the MC is bisexual. She talks an awful lot about interest in boys/men and only a mere two sentences about her having kissed a girl, so idk that I would call this queer representation
The author’s note about Indigenous boarding schools was appreciated bc Idk if that is being taught in schools and if the young audience would know about that otherwise
Overall, this was a good read. I liked it enough to want to pick up the sequel. Almost every content warning you can think up for how Black people were treated during that time is applicable, so heed that
Graphic: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Slavery, Torture, Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gore, Murder, Cannibalism, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Gun violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death and Confinement
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Abortion, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
centurylore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Sexism, Slavery, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racial slurs, Child death, Medical content, Murder, Kidnapping, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent
leafhead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Classism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Death, Racism, Religious bigotry, Gore, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Police brutality, Trafficking, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Medical content, Blood, and Slavery
onalark's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Slavery, Hate crime, Body horror, Racial slurs, Violence, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, and Murder
Minor: War
directorpurry's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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.
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Slavery, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, and Kidnapping
lim's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Classism, Racism, and Religious bigotry
beccaand's review
- 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
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Slavery, Death, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Body horror, and Sexism
Minor: Child death and Child abuse
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review
- 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
4.5
I love love love the main character Jane with all of her attitude. It is not often that I read a book with a character that makes decisions or acts in a way that has me going "Yeeeeeeeah I would have done that too.". She is someone that I liked reading as she plans and strategies her way through the story. It's always great to read these sorts of characters but with Jane's passion and gentle side to those people who deserve it, made her a really compelling character.
I especially liked her relationship with Katherine. I loved seeing it slowly grow and the two slowly trusting one another and getting to know each other. Katherine is also a nice balance to Jane when reading. She is the well behaved and level headed of the two, and normally the rule follower.
As for the storyline itself, I didn't find it overly scary for a horror book. It has the undead and they do pop up through out the story, but it is not at the forefront of the plot. Instead the story is focused on the racism and the society of the late 1800's. The undead are used as a tool to further highlights these main focuses.
I cannot wait for to read the second book. I have lingering questions about characters and what will happen to them in the next book.
I recommend giving this book a read. If you are not a huge horror fan and/or a scaredy cat like me, I think this is a good read to dip your toe into the genre and see if it is for you or not.
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Slavery, Sexism, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Colonisation, War, Child death, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Domestic abuse
wogslandwriter's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Trafficking, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Child abuse, and Slavery
The details of zombie deaths and how the zombies look are not skimped on. They are described in sometimes gruesome detail.