Dread Nation

Title:  Dread Nation

Author:  Justina Ireland

Series:  Dread Nation #1

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Date Published:  April 3, 2018

Genre:  Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Zombies

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-    What if the fallen soldiers of Gettysburg became zombies? Jane is a "freed" slave, but she has very few choices in life. She gets sent to a school where black girls get trained to be "companions." Basically, they protect rich white ladies from zombies. Jane is very good at what she does, and when she catches the attention of certain people, she gets shipped off to a town that is run by some really backwards/stupid guys. 

-    When I found out that this book was about zombies during the civil war, I knew I had to read it. I wanted to love the book, but I ended up just liking it. I'm glad I read it, but it was lacking a certain something. 

-    I loved Jane. She had major attitude and the snark to go with it. Her mouth got her in trouble a few times, and it was hilarious. She is also a kick butt fighter and an amazing leader. Despite not being "allowed" to take charge, she does anyway. 

-    The story had a few lulls in it. I wasn't as engrossed in the story as I wanted to be. I liked how the story handled race, sexism, and other hot topics, but I wasn't invested in the plot. 

-    The fighting scenes were great. 

My Thoughts in a GIF: 

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Goodreads Says:    “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”
 
So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

My Thoughts:

-    This book was really fun, but it was also a bit cheesy. While I enjoyed the cheese, it got old towards the end.

-    I loved the Pride and Prejudice setting for a zombie book. I want to read more zombie books set in regency times.

-    I was really bugged that the author kept mixing up the different martial arts. I feel like there was NO research done on this part. The Bennet family was trained in Shaolin and Chinese arts cause their father doesn't like the Japanese, but the family has katanas and a dojo!?!? What the heck!? First of all the Bennet sisters would not know how to use katanas, secondly, they probably couldn't even afford katanas! Why do they have a dojo? That is also Japanese! It bugs me so much! I wish martial arts had been left out entirely and everyone were just skilled fighters. They could have used sabers which would have suited the setting a lot better. 

-    The heart eating was SO gross!! EW!

-    The book needs more zombies. I loved when the zombies invaded the ball at the beginning, and the sisters made a pentagon of death! That was so much fun! I wanted more stuff like that. I wanted to see more of the sisters fighting off zombies. The book mentions fighting zombies, and there are a few run in with zombies, but not a ton of action.

-    I liked how zombies were integrated into the classic Pride and Prejudice story, but I wish it had done more. A lot of the book is still the classic story, and there weren't as many twists and zombie fights as I wanted. 

-    There were a few mentions of the male anatomy that were supposed to be funny, and I just thought it was dumb and immature. 

-    Despite my complaints, I still thought it was a fun book, and I really want to see the movie. 

Fire & Ash

Goodreads Description:    In the gripping conclusion to the action-packed “standard bearer” (Booklist) of zombie series, the threat of death is given new life.

Benny Imura and his friends have found the jet and Sanctuary—but neither is what they expected. Instead of a refuge, Sanctuary is a hospice, and the soldiers who flew the plane seem to be little more than bureaucrats who have given up hope for humanity’s future. With Chong hovering between life and death, clinging to his humanity by a thread, Benny makes a startling discovery: A scientist may have discovered a cure for the zombie plague. Desperate to save Chong, Benny and his friends mount a search and rescue mission. But they’re not the only ones on the hunt. The reapers are after the cure too, and they want to use it turn all the zombies into superfast shock troops—and wipe humanity off the face of the earth.

In this riveting conclusion to the Rot & Ruin series, the battle to end all battles is just beginning.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a wonderful and thrilling end to the Benny Imura series! I've been waiting for this book for a long time, and it didn't disappoint!

-    The characters, especially Benny, has grown A LOT throughout these books, and I like how Benny and other characters reflect on that. They know that their experiences have changed them, and they are no long the same child they used to be. They have become hardened warriors, they've matured in so many ways, and they've seen things no teen should. I feel sad for the characters, but I also feel proud of them. 

-    The author must have done a lot of research for this, or he is very smart in a few sciences. The plague and the cure are very technical, and I didn't fully understand all the science talk and terms. It sounded smart though.

-    The beginning and a few other parts were kinda slow for me, but it was still entertaining, and the it set up a crazy and thrilling ending!

-    I had a feeling Morgie would make a come back! I wish he had done more, but I'm glad that the whole Morgie thing was resolved. I think there are a lot more Morgies in the world than Bennys, and I like how it showed not everyone is willing to run off on an adventure.

-    Go Lilah, Riot, and Nix!! Girl power! Woo!! These ladies really steal the show in a lot of scenes! They were ferocious and didn't hesitate in a fight. It was awesome!

-    It is amazing that the whole series takes place within a year! So much happens, and the characters grow so much. It felt like a lifetime to me and the characters!

-    Even through all the horror and chaos, I love how the author incorporates a bit a humor. I like that the characters can still banter with each other and make jokes. 

Previous books in the series

(click on the covers to see my thoughts)

  

Dust & Decay

Goodreads Synopsis:    Six months have passed since the terrifying battle with Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer in the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot & Ruin. It’s also six months since Benny Imura and Nix Riley saw something in the air that changed their lives. Now, after months of rigorous training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother Tom, Benny and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. Lilah the Lost Girl and Benny’s best friend Lou Chong are going with them. Sounds easy. Sounds wonderful. Except that everything that can go wrong does. Before they can even leave there is a shocking zombie attack in town. But as soon as they step into the Rot & Ruin they are pursued by the living dead, wild animals, insane murderers and the horrors of Gameland –where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits. Worst of all…could the evil Charlie Pink-eye still be alive?

In the great Rot & Ruin everything wants to kill you. Everything…and not everyone in Benny’s small band of travelers will make it out alive.

My Thoughts:

-    This book has a lot more action and horror than the first one.  It is a rush!  The characters go from bad to worse to chaos really fast.  It is amazing that this whole story takes place in only a couple of days. 

-    I think Benny might be going schizo on us.

-    There is a lot of swearing in these books, and it isn't too light.

-    I love that Lilah, Benny, Nix, and especially Chong learn more about who they are and what they're made of.  The character development for these 4 characters is amazing.  They each have to face their own personal demons at some point, and they are some tough decisions!

-    I'm not trying to give anything away, but the ending is sad.  Justice is served, but it is sad.  I'm a little mad about it.

-    If the trading cards for these books ever become a real thing, I want to collect!!

-    There were places in the book that were kind of thought provoking.  Some dialogue and situations just  made me stop and think about them for a minute.  

-    It was fun to get to meet some more of the bounty hunters.  Each one was unique, fun, and creative.  I hope we get to see more of them in the remaining books.

-    Overall this was a wonderful read.  The story, the characters, and even the writing are all really well done!  

Series Info:

Dust and Decay is the 2nd book in the Benny Imura series. Click on the picture to read my review on the first book:

Rot & Ruin

Goodreads Synopsis:    In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.










My Thoughts:

-    This was a wonderful story!!  I'm so excited there are 3 more books, cause I am craving more!!  

-    Benny was SO whiny at the beginning!  I wanted to slap him.  He was a little punk.  It was so neat to see his transformation from a whiny brat to a more mature teen.  I loved his character development.  

-    I did not expect a freakin' zombie book to make me almost cry.  The tears never fell, but they were close.  There is so much emotion in this book!  There are some very heartfelt moments.  It didn't help that my daughter was watching Lilo and Stitch during the letter reading part.  Lilo was saying the whole Ohana thing, and I about lost it.  

-    The story is intense and very sad.  There is a wide arrange of emotions, sadness being in the forefront, but there is also hope.

-    I loved the Japanese references!!  I really want a Katana for the zombie apocalypse.  Those babies were meant to slice through humans in the first place.

-    The story brought zombies and humanity into a whole new light.  The whole idea is so simple, but so original.  I've never thought about zombies this way.

-    This book was amazing from beginning to end.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!!  It is one of those books you can't wait to see the end, but you hate when it is over.  SO GOOD!!

Enclave

From Goodreads:   WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

My Thoughts:

-    This was pretty good for the first zombie apocalypse book!  I might try some more later.

-    The underground society was like an ant or bee colony.  Everyone had a job.  Even the names were similar, like builder or hunter.

-    The above ground stuff reminded me a lot of I am Legend.  I liked this book better though.  I wasn't a fan of that movie.  I feel like the zombies/freaks were close to same in both.

-    Between reading segments, I felt like I needed to ration food and check my back a lot.  Crazy what some books will do to you!

-    I liked the relationship between Fade and Deuce most of the time.  I'm not a fan of Stalker.  I would not associate with him EVER!  Tegen just pulled at my heartstrings.  I felt so bad for her.  

-    I really want to know what happened to the College Enclave, and I'm eager to read the next book.