breesbookmark's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Gore, Colonisation, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, War, Torture, Police brutality, Misogyny, and Grief
The book delves into very important issues, both from a modern and a historical perspective. The author handles them with respect, but does not sugarcoat them.readlexread's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
But definitely know, it’s also angering because it’s post-Civil War, not quite Reconstruction so the racism, misogynoir, and just the violence of as well as irrational commitment to white supremacy is on fuull display. All I will say is that I wasn’t sad to see that some of the antagonists did not live to see the end of the book.
Like the undead are obviously scary and unpredictable but the scariest folks in this book are definitely the living — the white supremacists.
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gore
breadwitchery'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Gun violence
Minor: Child death, Slavery, War, Colonisation, Racial slurs, and Torture
gattolinos_nerdy_nook'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
4.5
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.
Spoiler
Did MR Gideon get out? Will the Duchess and her girls, Red Jack, and Lily follow Jane and Katherine toI 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
admunro20'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
4.25
Graphic: Slavery, Misogyny, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Classism
wogslandwriter's review
- 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
Spoiler
I also love the surprise of Summerland and the extreme setting shift that comes with it. Summerland allows Dread Nation to be both a western and a Victorian drama, which are two of my favorite things.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.Spoiler
For child death, there is graphic description of the death and consumption by zombies of one of Jane's childhood friends. Jane and her friend are also kidnapped and shipped on a train to the west where they are put to work in slave-like conditions.thesecretlibraryghost's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Slavery
helia_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, and Torture
monilib's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, and Misogyny
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
- 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
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