Audiobook Review – Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, Narrated by Bahni Turpin (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Length: 11 hours 56 minutes
Publisher: HarperAudio
Release Date: April 03, 2018
ASIN: B077MRFMXQ
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Dread Nation series
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
“Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever.
In this new America, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Education 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.”
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Dread Nation series. I got this as an audiobook through my Audible membership.
Audiobook Quality (5/5): The audiobook was really well done and was a joy to listen to. I definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy them.
Story (5/5): I loved this story set in an alternate America, it was fast paced and action packed with a lot of intriguing nuances. Jane is a Negro studying at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore and wants to return home after her education is complete (she was practically forced to enter the school like many other Negros). Then things go south when Jane and one of her fellow classmates gets caught up in a conspiracy that could threaten mankind’s survival.
Characters (5/5): The story focuses mainly on Jane, who I adored. She has a practical and forthright nature that gets her in trouble sometimes but is incredibly entertaining to read about. All the characters are really well done and very fun and easy to engage with.
Setting (5/5): This whole book is set in an alternate historical US, where the dead began to rise during the battle of Gettysburg. Now what is left of the country is set up in structured walled cities and, while the Negroes are no longer enslaved, they are pressed into service to fight against the undead. The world-building here is amazing and unique and incredibly well done, I loved it!
Writing Style (5/5): This was a fun and easy read while still providing a complex story. I looked forward to listening to this every time I got into the car and kept finding reasons to keep listening. I loved the writing style and really look forward to reading more books by Ireland.
Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this book. January was a slow month for me (just not reading books I really enjoyed) and this broke that streak for me. This is a fast-paced story with a lot of action, engaging characters, excellent world-building, and a mysterious conspiracy….it’s just a perfect blend of so many things. I loved it and cannot wait to pick up “Deathless Divide”!
