Young Adult Fiction: Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

Of course I had to follow up last week's post with Deathless Divide, the sequel to Justina Ireland's Dread Nation. After the craziness of the undead terrorizing a post-Civil War America, chasing people out of cities, while racism and injustice still ran rampant among the living, I had to know where Ireland was going to take the story next. And as always, a spoiler alert must be issued for anyone who has not read the first book.

The Situation: Jane McKeene and Katherine Deveraux have managed to escape the Survivalists of Summerland, but with the undead seemingly a threat everywhere they go, Jane is less than optimistic about the new city they have found of Nicodemus, even if it does have a black mayor. This city has also placed its faith in a high wall, while adding the technology and questionable science of Gideon Carr, the man who was busy injecting the black people of Summerland with a serum he believes is a vaccine against the dead. Jane and Katherine are pleased to have been reunited with some of their old friends from both Summerland and Baltimore, but with some wanting to see Jane hanged for her crimes in the former, Katherine must navigate this new city, where it is clear that something is not right. Even worse, despite everything they have been through together, Jane and Katherine's friendship is still tenuous, mostly due to Jane's hurt feelings over a hard loss. Fortunately, Katherine is stubborn and refuses to give up on what they have.

The Problem: Turns out Nicodemus is doomed, much like Summerland, and everyone is either on the run, or they fall to the horde of undead. Even more upsetting is that Gideon Carr seems to be at the root of things. For the first time since they left Baltimore, Jane and Katherine are separated and must make their own way. Katherine uses the cleverness no one ever believes she has to travel throughout North and Central America, while Jane makes a name for herself as a ruthless bounty hunter. A discovery she made back in Nicodemus makes her both fearless and wreckless, while every bounty she collects takes a little bit more of her humanity. When she and Katherine are reunited, Katherine quickly realizes that it is not only the undead that people have to fear in this country. Traveling from city to city, dangers of all sort either follow or greet them. Jane has one focus, and that is to kill the man who may be responsible for the hordes. But Katherine also has one focus, and that is to save her friend from herself.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel, and the sequel to Dread Nation, a story set in post-Civil War America. Slavery is no longer legal, but racism and prejudice remain as steady as ever. While Dread Nation laid the groundwork for a world where black and Native American kids are sent off to schools to learn how to defend white people against the undead, this book eliminates the schools altogether as the hordes of zombies go from town to town, destroying everything and killing anyone who does not run in time. This book is much more of a classic western, but with black people at the forefront, and the threat of zombies always constant. Both Jane and Katherine get equal billing in this book, with chapters alternating between the two. And when their paths separate from one another, hidden traits and talents emerge for the both of them, though they were always there for those readers who paid attention. It becomes an adventure where it is once again unclear exactly who are the villains and who are the heroes, and a horde of the undead can appear at any time.

My Verdict: I do like this book even more than its predecessor. Sequels are always a gamble, and I feel like this one paid off. Granted, the first book laid all of the groundwork and built the world, leaving this one free to go a little bit wild. So for me, this one was more of an adventure. Plus, I was thrilled to have more focus on Katherine, my favorite character from the first book. I always found Jane a bit tiresome - and she is even more so in this book - so having her share the stage with Katherine was nice, allowing for a break in the angst every other chapter. The girls embark on a true wild west journey, each approaching the adventures in their own stubborn and headstrong way. The danger never lets up, and there is no end to the wonderful, though often dangerous, characters the two meet along the way. If I had one criticism, it is that the ending feels a little bit rushed, but it is satisfying all the same.

Favorite Moment: When Daniel Redfern once again proves he is not quite what he seems.

Favorite Character: Still Katherine. She does not waiver much from the clever, headstrong, and resourceful girl from the first book.

Favorite Quote: "I smile tightly, but say nothing. He is trying to protect me, in the simple way men are always trying to protect women: by stealing away their freedom." Katherine Deveraux 

Recommended Reading: Fledgling by Octavia B. Spencer might be good for some who enjoy Ireland's books, though I had a hard time with it.