Reviews

Tbh when i first chose to read this book, i simply decided on it because of the tags LGBT and zombies, and while yes i was kinda disappointed i didn't get my sapphic couple fighting zombies action i expected, it was still a surprisingly good book, i really loved seeing the parallel between the life black people lived in this world and the ones from real life, thought I really wanted a bit more zombie slaying then i got, at least the characters made up for it by being witty, fun and overall menaces to each other and the world around them.

fallona's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I'm not really fond of zombies, and this is in large part a zombie novel. There are also elements of the worldbuilding that left me with questions, but overall the setting is an interesting piece of alternate history.

I did find it got off to a slow start for me, but it does a very good job of painting a narrator who has a lot of the elements that make a standard YA protagonist, presented in a way I (not typically a YA reader) found actually engaging.

But I remain not a huge fan of zombies, and not a huge fan of YA. This is more a matter of my own tastes than it is a criticism of the actual book.

literaryleftie's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

100% one of the best books I have read all year. Top 5 for sure.

reddreadds's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Jane McKenne is an easy heroine to root for and Katherine, her sidekick, is definitely one that grows on you. The world was easy to get into and understand and it has the right amount of action for it to be a zombie book.

shaun_dh's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

YA is not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed this! Books from this time period are hard for me bc I’d rather read books about Black joy than Black resilience, but the twist of zombies drew me in

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. Jane is a fantastic MC. I love a young woman who takes no shit from men—especially when it’s so subversive for the time. It would make a killer movie. 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

Content Warnings

nurlogy's review against another edition

Go to review page

can we please add the US military complex as Trigger/Content warnings!

midnightstory's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

More...