Book Review: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CW: Mention of racism

This is the first time I’ve ever read a Justine Ireland book. And I have to say, this has moved up to one of my favorite books of 2021. At first, it was going to be a three out of five because I thought it wasn’t going anywhere, and that everyone was going to die because of the shamblers, but then holy hell it picked up, and it turned into a five star for me. I loved the fact that it handled racism very well, and the black queer POC characters were my absolute favorites, though that scene when Katherine said that she’s not going to find someone to love, for a minute, I felt like it was inappropriate (in my mind, but then once I understood) to call her out, that she was asexual, but then I understand it (had to look it up) and I was proud of her for saying what she said.

Now Jane is now one of my favorite characters of all time. She is smart, sassy, can take the lead when she needs to, and also she comes up with very intricate plans to try and get out of Summerland, and investigate what’s going on and why the town isn’t properly equipped to handle the shamblers. It turns out that the town is run by a racist sheriff and his ignorant father, Pastor Snyder, who thinks that Summerland is a place where they will be delivered or something like that. The town is separate (of course it is) and it’s like Jane had to go in secret trying to get through the damn place, but there was that one time that she got caught and had to get whipped-about twenty lashes-all for being out late at night. Like people can’t go out at night and do whatever they want.

Yes, there is racism in this book, but I felt like it was dealt pretty well in my book. I was triggered at some parts of the book, but I did take a small break before I continued on, and I have to say, I had feelings for this book. One of them was the heartbreaking BETRAYAL I felt when the nice indigenous man, Mr. Redfern, and Miss Preston, OF ALL PEOPLE, just give up Katherine and Jane like that. Like, TF my dude? That betrayal hurts me...the MOST. But other than that, I really enjoyed it. From the shocking betrayal to going to Summerland, and living and learning and trying to figure out what’s going on in Summerland, to the shocking ending, when Jane learns what happens to her momma and the only home she knows, Rose Hill.

I do also like the excerpt of the letters between Jane and her momma-it makes it feel real and it hit home, because that’s the most beautiful thing between a mother and a daughter. Though Jane’s backstory is tough, and I hated that she had to kill her own daddy to survive. But you know what? It’s gonna be okay. Because I do have Deathless Divide (the second and last book of the Dread Nation series) and I’ll be done. Because this has to be my favorite book of 2021 hands down.

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Book Review: Reawakened: A Once Upon a Time Tale by Odette Beane

Reawakened by Odette Beane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reawakened is basically a summary of season one of Once Upon a Time, and reading and remembering what happened in season one was a joy and a delight to read. You read about Regina being all sneaky and trying to keep Emma away from Henry, being a Karen and the Mayor the whole time you’re reading it, Mr. Gold being sneaky, Henry doing “Operation Cobra” to get Emma to believe the stories...like you see the growth in Emma in the book and the show and finding out where she came from and how she became an orphan till what she is today.

I have to say, the more I read this book, the more I felt like Regina was acting like a Karen when it came to Henry, and it completely went over my head, but honestly, as I read it, the more I just said it: Regina was acting like a damn Karen whenever Emma was around Henry. But I can see how fiercely protective Regina and Emma was to Henry and how the both of them want whats right for Henry.

And Mary Margaret and David Nolan...oooof their relationship in the beginning. Oof, oof, oof. It was almost painful to read, but I’m glad that I saw how that relationship turned out, through them getting their memories back and her calling out “My prince!” when she saw him after thinking of her name made me smile, because honestly, I thought they weren’t gonna get together, but I’m glad they did at the end.

Four out of five stars for me, truly enjoyed this book.

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Book Review: World of Warcraft: Stormrage by Richard A. Knaak

Stormrage by Richard A. Knaak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Picture this: you have been dreaming in the Emerald Dream for a long time. One day, while you were in the Emerald Dream, you become a prisoner to the Nightmare Lord and everyday you’re being tortured by false memories by the Nightmare Lord. Your partner on the outside of the Emerald Dream wants to save you desperately, and they ask the Druids of your circle to help them save you and also save your world of Azeroth. Alongside an orc with a magical ax who wants your head on a spike and a human with odd powers, these are the heroes that will save you and help you stop the Nightmare Lord from killing your family and friends. This is basically the premise of Stormrage, which is the story of Malfurion Stomrage and Tyrande Whisperwind, fighting side by side so they can stop the Nightmare Lord from taking over Azeroth for good.

This was a really good book, I must say, BUT...did this book stress me out or did it stress me out?? Like...parts of this book just stressed me out that I had to sit the book down and gather my thoughts. I’m happy to see people like Varian Wrynn, Shandris Feathermoon, Alexstrasza, Ysera, Thrall, hell, even Sylvanas. But I have to say, I don’t think I’ll ever survive the Nightmare Lord. Nope, can’t survive him. I want to curl up in bed somewhere in my little home in Teldrassil and never, ever wake again...though if I do that, I’ll be caught up in the thrall of the Nightmare Lord and show me my greatest nightmare. But the more I read this book and see how Malfurion devised a plan to basically bring together people to help him escape the Nightmare Lord and then defeat him with the help of nearly everyone in Azeroth, the more I...actually...started...to...like...him. Shockingly. Because I really didn’t like him that much in the beginning, but the more I read, the more I started to actually like this man. Because he basically outsmarted the Nightmare Lord and brought a war to the Nightmare Lord and won, even though it took a lot out of him.

The side stories were actually pretty fun too. My favorite would have to be Broll Bearmantle and the Circle of Druids. He was actually one of my favorites out of the book, mostly because he was true to himself and knew that Fandral was acting quite sus. He had a friend, Hamuul Runetotem, a tauren druid, help him figure out what the heck was going on with Fandral..only to find out that he was working with the Nightmare Lord, and is taking to a evil spirit of his son, who died a long time ago. Sadly Malfurion had to face him in a fight, but he’s dead and gone now (or he’s completely knocked out) but other than that I liked Broll’s part in the battle with the Nightmare Lord.

But the part that stressed me out the most was Ysera’s part in it. She was CAUGHT by the Nightmare Lord himself, taking out the Eye of Ysera and I got worried for her. I thought Ysera was dead and we’ll never see her again, but then we see she’s in a golden dome, her power being used to fuel the Nightmare Lord’s power. I had to put the book down after that so I won’t read it for a moment, then I picked it up and finished reading it, and I found myself loving this book, even though some parts of it made me want to never go to sleep again, but then realize I can fight this thing no matter what. I gave this book a four out of five stars because of the stress I had while reading this book, and also because Tyrande just...got on my last damn nerves trying to be Miss Superwoman when she could just sit down and let other people help.

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