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Book Review: Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

Deathless Divide (Dread Nation #2) by Justina Ireland

Balzer + Bray, 2020

ISBN-13: 9780062570635

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook, MP3 CD

 

Deathless Divide is the sequel to Dread Nation (reviewed here).  The story is told through both Jane and Katherine’s points of view.

After the fall of the Survivalists’ community of Summerland, Jane McKeene thought her journey would be easier—  better somehow– but nothing is ever easy for a Miss Preston’s girl. She prepares to leave the ruins of Summerland behind and head west to California. However, she doesn’t go alone. She is joined by her friend Jackson, his sister Lily, the Duchess and her girls, and Katherine Deveraux.

The first half of the book focuses on the journey to Nicodemus,  a community where Black and Native American peoples are not seen as less than. Before the group arrives in Nicodemus, Jane is faced with a loss that is more than she can bear, and one that will haunt her throughout her new path. Nicodemus also is not what it seems. It appears to have a well-protected wall, with some kind of railgun contraption that runs continuously, and was clearly created by someone scientifically minded. Upon their arrival, the team is met with survivors from Summerland who recognize Jane, and call for her to hang for the murder of a prominent figure in their former community. Jane is taken into custody by Daniel Redfern, now sheriff, and what follows helps Jane determine her next move, for good or ill.

Katherine and Jane have always had a contentious relationship, so when it comes to joining Jane and the others, she strives to do her best to be cordial and ladylike. However, Jane’s decision-making causes Katherine some worry, and their verbal sparring between them takes its toll. At one point, Jane’s mood becomes so unbearable to Katherine that she encourages the wagons to move on ahead while Kate and Jane trade fisticuffs to help Jane work out her emotions. It is clear that the women need each other now more than ever. Their relationship is tested, however, on more than one occasion.

I am loathe to discuss more of the content as it will give away a lot of the twists and turns this novel takes, and there are quite a few. Thankfully, they don’t feel forced or cheap. Ireland weaves a great tale and has a way of writing that keeps the reader’s attention from the first page. This book evoked so many emotions. Jane and Katherine were incredible characters in Dread Nation, but they seem to have so much more depth in this book. Seeing the story from both points of view provided an excellent way to establish them further as their own characters and see how they each handle difficult situations and process emotions and hardships. The development of their friendship throughout the book is beautiful and realistically portrayed. Of course, the scenes where they both put down the shamblers are fantastic.

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed the first book. I would recommend both books for anyone who likes alternative historical fiction and a good zombie story. Anyone looking for #ownvoices stories should pick this one up. We also see LGBTQ+ themes as Jane is involved a loving relationship with another female character, and Katherine is a great depiction of an ace character. Deathless Divide is suitable for young adult audiences.

Contains: blood, gore, murder, racial slurs, slavery, torture, violence

Highly recommended

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Book Review: Cryptozoology for Beginners (Codex Arcanum, Book 2) by Euphemia Whitmore with Matt Harry, illustrated by Juliane Crumb

Cryptozoology for Beginners by Euphemia Whitmore with Matt Harry, illustrated by Juliane Crumb

Inkshares, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1947848825

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

The first thing you should know is that I have a cryptid-loving kid whose interest goes way back to when he was very little, so I am always on the lookout for books about cryptids. Usually those end up being some kind of nonfiction guide (such as Tales of the Cryptids by Kelly Milner Halls), maybe paired with a little background or local legend, or an adventure novel with kids either hunting for (or being hunted by) a particular creature (such as Roland Smith’s Chupacabra). In Cryptozoology for Beginners, we get a little of both, with the added element of a dash of magic.

That’s right, magic. Cryptozoology for Beginners is the second book in the Codex Arcanum series. The first book, Sorcery for Beginners,  which I have not had the opportunity to read, follows  Owen Macready and his friends Perry and Trish through adventures in magic that begin with bookseller and sorceress Euphemia Whitmore giving Owen the book Sorcery for Beginners when he ducks into her shop to escape from a bully, Brian Ferreti whose millionaire father turns out to be the book’s evil nemesis. This book is told in third person from Owen’s point of view and includes illustrated pages from his new grimoire, so that the reader is going through the learning process with Owen.

Cryptozoology for Beginners picks up in time for the teens’ summer vacation.  Owen and Perry have become a couple, and the book is told in third person from Trish’s point of view. An organization called the Euclideans, who seek to destroy magic, which is in direct conflict with the sorcerers, has started kidnapping cryptids for scientific experimentation. Euphemia Whitmore returns to ask for their help in collecting (or capturing) the remaining cryptids for a “zoo” that will be a safe haven for them, away from the Euclideans. They are in a race to preserve these rare, frequently legendary creatures before the Euclideans can capture them for their own nefarious purposes.

Perry, Owen, and Trish are joined by Brian, the bully from the previous book, who wants to redeem himself, under the supervision of slightly older Jacinda Greyeyes (who is very clear that she is a member of the Flying Dust First Nation), for an adventure in an RV that leads them all over the country tracking down and capturing such creatures as jackalopes, the altamaha-ha, and the chupacabra, with the help of an illustrated, informative guide to cryptids provided by Euphemia Whitmore, Cryptozoology for Beginners. As in the first book, fully illustrated pages from the guide are included at strategic points in the book, so the reader learns about the appearance and habits of the jackalope as the group is chasing after one. As the Euclideans gain ground on the sorcerers, Trish, Perry, Owen, Brian, and Jacinda find themselves also traveling across the Atlantic to help save the Loch Ness Monster, the sphinx, and many others. They finally find themselves in the heart of the Euclideans’ headquarters, where they see some of the results of the experimentation firsthand, and it’s heartbreaking. The plot moves fairly quickly, and we see a fair amount of character development in the prickly Trish and the obnoxious Brian.

Trish, feeling somewhat like a third wheel at the beginning of the book, starts falling for Jacinda and discovers her feelings are returned. She gains confidence and becomes more of a leader. Brian, who’s pretty rough around the edges, strained my ability to believe he could be redeemed, as he made a number of racist and dismissive comments about Jacinda’s indigenous identity, but he did commit some selfless acts, and become slightly more bearable. There was definitely growth to his character, but I hope there’s a third book that gives him opportunities to continue to change. Owen and Perry don’t have a lot of character development going on, although Owen makes a discovery about his mother that requires him to make some uncomfortable decisions.

But what I love most about this book is the cryptids and the seriousness they’re taken with in the story, even though it’s fiction. The pages devoted to the various creatures are well designed and illustrated, and readers who haven’t encountered cryptids before will be pulled into the story as the learn something about them at the same time as the kids.

While the romance might not appeal to all middle-grade readers, many will enjoy the adventure. For cryptid-loving kids, it can stand alone, but it’s better if read after Sorcery for Beginners.  Recommended for middle-grade readers who enjoy creature guides and adventure with some fantasy in the mix.

Graphic Novel Review: Abbott by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivela

Abbott by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä

BOOM! Studios, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1684152452

Available:  Paperback, Kindle, comiXology

Hugo Award-nominated novelist Saladin Ahmed gives us the story of journalist Elena Abbott, who is investigating police brutality and corruption in 1972 Detroit. There are crimes being committed by the very people sworn to protect and serve. Elena doesn’t shy away from controversy, and isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers. One of her recent reports, however, has received the attention of some racist white men who own the paper, and she’s been ordered to work on other, less interesting, cases. Instead, she discovers supernatural forces controlled by a secret society made up of the city’s elite. However, these forces are not unknown to her. After all, her husband was taken by the shadowy Umbra. When she’s chased down by masked men and creatures that are stitched together from remains of animals and Black citizens, things get messier for our intrepid reporter.

Abbott doesn’t just face the Umbra (the raised and stitched creatures), and the dark society that cultivates them, but also racism, sexism, and, to some degree, homophobia, in this dark tale. Looking at other reviewers’ words to describe Abbott, one rings out clear: badass. She really is. She is the only Black reporter on staff at her paper, she loves her brandy, and smokes incessantly. While she exhibits a healthy fear of the shadows closing in on her, she never backs down in moments of stress, especially when it comes to her convictions. The social and historical commentary is important for us to read today. For the other strong readers out there, do yourself a favour and pick up Abbott. Ahmed pens an excellent story, and artist Sami Kivelä provides incredible illustrations. They make an excellent team for this book. I need to search out other work both of them have created. Highly recommended.

Contains: blood, gore, misogyny, police brutality, racism

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 

Editor’s note: Abbott is a nominee on the final ballot for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel.