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A review by charliauthor
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Dag nabbit! I found a goodun! 😄
I was a little apprehensive about going into a novel set in post Civil War America but despite the setting, this was a very enjoyable read. Good pacing, great characters, a solid plot and digestibly written.
Jane McKeene is mixed though on the darker shade but her mother white so shes grown up in relative comfort despite the circumstances of her birth. Like most Negro children, she is sent to a boarding school where attendees are trained to fight the undead who are raging the new united states since the Battle of Gettysburg.
Jane is headstrong and rash but not unlikeable and i enjoyed following her through her time at the school alongside white passing Katherine and sweet-boy Red Jack. When Jane discovers some sinister goings on involving the shady mayor and the undead, what follows is a bit of an adventure with action and heart. It was funny at times though there is a whipping scene that i skimmed over because absolutely not 😑 i really respected that not once was the n-word used despite being historically accurate to have done so. That didnt stop it being racially charged and upsetting in many places but was handled well.
Im excited to get into the second book as im so happy to have found a Black Fantasy that feels fresh, original, authentic and fun.
I was a little apprehensive about going into a novel set in post Civil War America but despite the setting, this was a very enjoyable read. Good pacing, great characters, a solid plot and digestibly written.
Jane McKeene is mixed though on the darker shade but her mother white so shes grown up in relative comfort despite the circumstances of her birth. Like most Negro children, she is sent to a boarding school where attendees are trained to fight the undead who are raging the new united states since the Battle of Gettysburg.
Jane is headstrong and rash but not unlikeable and i enjoyed following her through her time at the school alongside white passing Katherine and sweet-boy Red Jack. When Jane discovers some sinister goings on involving the shady mayor and the undead, what follows is a bit of an adventure with action and heart. It was funny at times though there is a whipping scene that i skimmed over because absolutely not 😑 i really respected that not once was the n-word used despite being historically accurate to have done so. That didnt stop it being racially charged and upsetting in many places but was handled well.
Im excited to get into the second book as im so happy to have found a Black Fantasy that feels fresh, original, authentic and fun.