Series: Dread Nation
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville—derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations.
But that’s not a life Jane wants. Almost finished with her education at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home and doesn’t pay much mind to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning America to the glory of its days before the dead rose. But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.
• Plot – Cliffhanger
• Character – HFN
• Black biracial (white passing) supporting character
• Black side characters
• Bisexual main character
• Asexual supporting character
• Lenape side character
• Torture (whipping)
• Corporal punishment (of children)
• Allusion to sexual violence and assault
• Racial slurs
• Unwanted experimentation (“vaccination”)
• Allusions to drug use
• Discussion of prostitution
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 4.25/5 stars
I am generally not a fan of alt-historical fiction novels like Dread Nation–I prefer to stick to sweeping historical romance if the genre has to have “history” in its title. And, despite my love of paranormal romance, zombies are usually a miss for me. But, Dread Nation managed to pull me into its story mostly because of its knowledgeable, kickass and sassy heroine, Jane.
Jane is at the top of her class at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore. The school trains Black girls on how to kill shamblers while protecting their white charges. The definition of achievement in this alt-post civil war America for Black girls is to gain employment in a wealthy household as an Attendant. But, all Jane wants to do is go back to her mother’s plantation and to finally see the mother she has not heard from in a year.
Jane’s family background is slowly revealed throughout the book. She has a tumultuous relationship with her mother as her mother is the lady of the plantation while it’s evident Jane is Black biracial. Therefore, Jane’s childhood was marked by having the same skin colour as the children of the Black workers yet being treated differently because of her white relations.
I appreciated how Ireland’s decision to have shamblers rise up during the battles of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville didn’t alter the real-life changes to the constitution after the civil war. In Jane’s alt-history, slavery is also illegal, but society is still institutionally racist and discriminatory towards non-white people. To kill the shamblers, the government created the Native and Negro Reeducation Act, which required children to attend combat schools. However, what initially started as a way to offer Black and Native American people a way to make a living wage without discrimination was soon insidiously twisted to ensure white supremacy.
Jane’s narration is very frank about the blatant and subtle racism and sexism she faces in her everyday life. But, I also appreciated that Ireland touched upon the horror that Native American children had to endure in their reeducation schools. Ireland includes a reading list at the end of her book for furthering reading if you want to educate yourself on the genuine horrors the American government committed against Native Americans.
I’ve found in past fantasy/paranormal books that oppressive and discriminatory behaviour is stated but rarely demonstrated the nuanced way such behaviour presents in real life. Dread Nation emphatically shows how racism permeates all aspects of America’s history – it’s not just politicians who were interested in keeping the narrative of white supremacy… doctors and scientists joined in as well.
If you appreciate character-driven books – with a bit of action – I think you’ll enjoy Dread Nation. Much of the plot is Jane slowly recognizing the system is much more corrupt than she initially assumed. She is also slowly coming to terms that no matter how much she wishes, her past cannot be her future.
My favourite part of Dread Nation was that I loved how Jane’s badassery was shown. She’s spent hours developing her skills with her sickles and has accumulated some experience against shamblers from her misadventures. And, despite her being an excellent warrior, she’s not perfect at everything–which is something many heroine warriors are described as but then cannot live up to. Jane is a teenager and experiences petty jealousies. Her relationship with her classmate, Katherine, can very much so be categorized as ‘frenemies.’ But I like how the girls learn to work together and trust each other as they face their tribulations. I also really appreciated that Jane was aware that her insecurities were about herself and not indicative of Katherine as a person.
The foundation of Dread Nation was the developing friendship between Jane and Katherine. But, I felt that because Jane was so obviously the smartest person in the room, I didn’t connect with any of the other characters. For example, Daniel Redfern saves Jane’s life early on in the book from shamblers. I sat up and paid attention because he captured Jane’s attention. But, when they met again, he said:
“I don’t like you because you’re arrogant and self-important. You could be so much better than you are, but you’re too selfish to see it.”
Mr. Redfern to Jane ~ Dread Nation
He shamed Jane. But, I’m like:
- How the hell is she selfish? She literally risks her life to save people from shamblers?
- Also, how could she be better? What does this even mean – you don’t know her!
- Finally, the expectation that a Black woman who is already oppressed and discriminated against for her skin and sex has to do more or else she’s selfish? Just no.
For the reasons listed above, I do not like, nor respect, Mr. Redfern (there are more, but I don’t want to mention spoilers).
And, even though I liked Katherine–her backstory was super compelling–there were times where I was like, you can’t be that obtuse. Example: she seems interested in the attention she receives from Jane’s ex-beau, Red Jack. Katherine knows that Jane and Red Jack didn’t break up on good terms, yet she continues to banter with him and act as if there’s more tying them together than Jane as a mutual acquaintance. I wanted more solidarity between Jane and Katherine and less competition–I wanted: Red Jack, who? I acknowledge that Katherine’s behaviour could be a case of unreliable narration–a manifestation of Jane’s insecurities.
What stopped Dread Nation from becoming a 5-star read was that, for the most part, Jane was reacting rather than acting. Also, while I liked the bisexual (Jane) and asexual (Katherine) representation, I wanted both to be a bit more fleshed out. It was just stated that Jane had a dalliance with an old schoolmate, and Katherine confides she’s never felt sexually attracted to anyone before. The moment was the kind of bonding I was waiting so long to read, but it was so fleeting. And, especially with Katherine… there’s a difference between not having met someone you’re sexually interested in yet and asexual. So, to be honest, I’m not sure if Katherine identifies as asexual. Hopefully, Ireland expands this part of Katherine’s character in the sequel.
On the romance front, I’m a huge fan of romance in my novels. But, if the plot’s engaging, I don’t mind when romance takes a backseat. I, therefore, didn’t mind that romance wasn’t a focus in Dread Nation. Honestly, I would’ve preferred there was no romance as I really didn’t like Red Jack–Jane’s ex-beau (and maybe love interest?). Although, the fact that Jane’s still a bit in love with him (despite him breaking up with her/betraying her) added a unique dimensionality to her character. So rarely do authors let their readers experience the heroine actively working through her heartbreak. It was so refreshing. But, to be clear, I am not advocating for Red Jack being a love interest in the sequel–I’m even okay with there being no love interest. Even the other love interest (maybe) introduced later on in the novel, upon reflection, is giving me “off” vibes.
I’m definitely going to read the sequel, Deathless Divide, but I’m going to take a break between the books. I want some time to ruminate.
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