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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. 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
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death and Confinement
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Abortion, and Alcohol
midnightstory'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: Child death, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent
leafhead's review
- 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: Child death, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Trafficking
Minor: Slavery, Blood, and Medical content
onalark'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexism, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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: Confinement, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, 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: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Murder
lim'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
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Classism
beccaand'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
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.
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: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Colonisation, and War
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
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Classism
The details of zombie deaths and how the zombies look are not skimped on. They are described in sometimes gruesome detail.