thatbookishwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
sunny_afternoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
kaydanai's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bobbysays's review against another edition
3.0
I just wasn’t as impressed as some have claimed. The characters never fully developed for me. I didn’t truly feel anything for any of them and was more annoyed that anything. Romance isn’t necessary, but in both the first book and this second one, there were promises of romanced that never came to fruition and that was frustrating. The hint of romance could have been left out altogether and I think it would have made for a better book. The end seemed hurried as well and was definitely anti-climactic with some mysterious left unresolved - perhaps to leave room for another book. It would definitely make for a good movie though and I love that the slavery trope was exchanged for free black people navigating a territory that was new in more ways than one.
dragoninwinterfell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Deathless Divide had so much potential to be as amazing as its predecessor, Dread Nation. Justina Ireland's skill in writing characters and developing a gritty world is still very strong. There's so much about this novel that I love. But that only made the parts of the book that weren't so great feel that much worse. Alongside strong characters and solid world-building, the story felt incredibly disjointed and the overall message seemed unrealistically preachy.
The Good: Again, the characters were very well-written. Jane continued to be a deeply complex and loveable heroine. The choice to make Katherine a co-lead alongside Jane was an excellent one. They're both unique and fascinating characters who can stand independently and complement each other well. Both narrators, Bahni Turpin and Jordan Cobb, brought each character to life beautifully. The supporting characters, especially Sue, were intriguing as well. Unfortunately...
The Bad: The story didn't hold up to the quality of the characters. The plot felt weirdly disjointed. The beginning of this book was very strong, but once a monumental incident happens, there is a year-and-a-half time jump that requires periodic info dumps that hint at stories much more interesting than the one told in the second portion of the novel. Both Jane and Katherine are forced to grow in different ways that would have benefited from being told through the actual narrative rather than just summarized here and there. The info dumps removed any emotional resonance that should have resulted from all that character and relationship development they went through. For instance, Jane has a romance during that year and a half that ends immediately after the jump. The ending of this relationship should be tragic. Rather than tragic, the situation is just incidental since we never got to see that relationship play out other than the ending of it.
The story also became very strangely preachy. Mild spoilers, but Jane becomes a bounty hunter while also hunting down the main villain of the series. This job involves killing terrible people who have done terrible things to others while forcing information out of them that will help her stop a man who is responsible for killing thousands if not millions of people. Somehow, Jane doing this is treated as her supposedly becoming as bad as the people she is executing. While she becomes a folk heroine who is seen as administering justice (which is what's happening), Jane and those around her are judging her to a very bizarre degree. I can't comprehend the idea that there's something wrong with her killing terrible people who will continue to do terrible things to others if they aren't stopped.
As amazing as Ireland's characters were, the story and the preachiness that seemed to support villainy continuing made this sequel fall flat for me, which is a real shame given the strength of the first novel.
The Good: Again, the characters were very well-written. Jane continued to be a deeply complex and loveable heroine. The choice to make Katherine a co-lead alongside Jane was an excellent one. They're both unique and fascinating characters who can stand independently and complement each other well. Both narrators, Bahni Turpin and Jordan Cobb, brought each character to life beautifully. The supporting characters, especially Sue, were intriguing as well. Unfortunately...
The Bad: The story didn't hold up to the quality of the characters. The plot felt weirdly disjointed. The beginning of this book was very strong, but once a monumental incident happens, there is a year-and-a-half time jump that requires periodic info dumps that hint at stories much more interesting than the one told in the second portion of the novel. Both Jane and Katherine are forced to grow in different ways that would have benefited from being told through the actual narrative rather than just summarized here and there. The info dumps removed any emotional resonance that should have resulted from all that character and relationship development they went through. For instance, Jane has a romance during that year and a half that ends immediately after the jump. The ending of this relationship should be tragic. Rather than tragic, the situation is just incidental since we never got to see that relationship play out other than the ending of it.
The story also became very strangely preachy. Mild spoilers, but Jane becomes a bounty hunter while also hunting down the main villain of the series. This job involves killing terrible people who have done terrible things to others while forcing information out of them that will help her stop a man who is responsible for killing thousands if not millions of people. Somehow, Jane doing this is treated as her supposedly becoming as bad as the people she is executing. While she becomes a folk heroine who is seen as administering justice (which is what's happening), Jane and those around her are judging her to a very bizarre degree. I can't comprehend the idea that there's something wrong with her killing terrible people who will continue to do terrible things to others if they aren't stopped.
As amazing as Ireland's characters were, the story and the preachiness that seemed to support villainy continuing made this sequel fall flat for me, which is a real shame given the strength of the first novel.
tangiblereads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Great sequel. It is not as funny/sarcastic but still highly entertaining. You get to hear about Katherine’s background amid all the devastation these girls continue to experience. So much trauma and heartbreak that I wanted to cry at times, and kill at others. Although this world is different from our actual history, it is sad the injustices that befall brown/black skin folk are just transformed into a new terror. I am in awe of this book and the world Justina Ireland has created. Unlikely allies bound together by a common enemy in a world that was never safe and has always been cruel. All they can do is try to survive by whatever means. That changes people, and you are left questioning if you are a survivalist or a killer. There is morally gray or black and then there is wrong. Some folk will never get it. Who’s gonna do something about it.
jiaojiao's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My rating system:
★☆☆☆☆ - DNF.
★★☆☆☆ - I really wish I’d read something else.
★★★☆☆ - Glad I finished, but I’m probably not re-reading this.
★★★★☆ - I really enjoyed reading this! Would probably rec/re-read.
★★★★★ - OMG.
★☆☆☆☆ - DNF.
★★☆☆☆ - I really wish I’d read something else.
★★★☆☆ - Glad I finished, but I’m probably not re-reading this.
★★★★☆ - I really enjoyed reading this! Would probably rec/re-read.
★★★★★ - OMG.
emco_0's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gemgem18's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
anonymous_blobfish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Solid sequel to an excellent duology.
Deathless Divide picks up immediately after the conclusion of Dread Nation with Jane and Katherine in the thick of it. Right out the gate there were twists I hadn’t seen coming and heartbreak aplenty. Filled with the same charm, humour and emotional depth as it’s predecessor, this was a really enjoyable story.
I will say, I found this book inferior to book 1 for two main reasons: the second act time skip, and the lack of plot cohesion. I’m not opposed to a time skip but it felt like it came at a really odd place in this story. I also think it could have been more effective if it was longer (and at a different point). Related to this was how disjointed this book felt. It seemed like Ireland had found herself with multiple ideas as to the direction of the plot and instead of choosing one tried to accommodate them all. I’m don’t think this was a bad story by any means, I just think that it could have either been 100 pages short (off the front end of things) or be two books.
Regardless of these criticisms, this really was an immensely enjoyable book and a great conclusion to the duology. I have huge soft spots for the characters in these books and loved their respective conclusions. I don’t think there are plans for a 3rd book but the ending certainly left room for it which is always fun. Definitely recommend this to fans of TWD.
Deathless Divide picks up immediately after the conclusion of Dread Nation with Jane and Katherine in the thick of it. Right out the gate there were twists I hadn’t seen coming and heartbreak aplenty. Filled with the same charm, humour and emotional depth as it’s predecessor, this was a really enjoyable story.
I will say, I found this book inferior to book 1 for two main reasons: the second act time skip, and the lack of plot cohesion. I’m not opposed to a time skip but it felt like it came at a really odd place in this story. I also think it could have been more effective if it was longer (and at a different point). Related to this was how disjointed this book felt. It seemed like Ireland had found herself with multiple ideas as to the direction of the plot and instead of choosing one tried to accommodate them all. I’m don’t think this was a bad story by any means, I just think that it could have either been 100 pages short (off the front end of things) or be two books.
Regardless of these criticisms, this really was an immensely enjoyable book and a great conclusion to the duology. I have huge soft spots for the characters in these books and loved their respective conclusions. I don’t think there are plans for a 3rd book but the ending certainly left room for it which is always fun. Definitely recommend this to fans of TWD.