Deathless Divide: An Unforgettable YA Epic of Black Heroines, Zombies, and Hope in Post-Civil War America (Dread Nation)

The sequel to the New York Times bestselling epic Dread Nation is an unforgettable journey of revenge and salvation across a divided America.

After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler: Get out of town, stay alive, and head west to California to find her mother.

But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to a protected village called Nicodemus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880s America.

What’s more, this safe haven is not what it appears—as Jane discovers when she sees familiar faces from Summerland amid this new society. Caught between mysteries and lies, the undead, and her own inner demons, Jane soon finds herself on a dark path of blood and violence that threatens to consume her.

But she won’t be in it alone.

Katherine Deveraux never expected to be allied with Jane McKeene. But after the hell she has endured, she knows friends are hard to come by—and that Jane needs her too, whether Jane wants to admit it or not.

Watching Jane’s back, however, is more than she bargained for, and when they both reach a breaking point, it’s up to Katherine to keep hope alive—even as she begins to fear that there is no happily-ever-after for girls like her.

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Published Apr 6, 2021

560 pages

Average rating: 8.05

22 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

DilonW87
Dec 26, 2025
Definitely was looking forward to reading this sequel. This is the second book I’ve read that Justina has written and I loved this one more than the first. I love how the author balances the historical fiction with the science fiction part. The characters Jane and Kate continue to show growth through their growing relationship, even Jackson in his own way shows some depth. Overall I loved it!
Briars Books
Jul 01, 2022
10/10 stars
“The world naturally trends toward injustice, and it is colored folks who bear the brunt of that. The moment it looks like a Negro will break out of those chains, both real and metaphorical, the faster folks are going to arrive with their torches. First, they will try to offer helpful advice; next, they will try to burn you out for your own good.” . . When I tell y’all I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was everything I could’ve possibly hoped for because the ending of Dread Nation left me with so many questions. The devotion of Katherine to her friendship with Jane, Jane’s own remarkable character development left me in awe. . . Justina Ireland did her research, seamlessly blending historical accuracy with fantasy. Her unapologetic views on slavery, race relations, the complexity of passing, folklore, and more were integral to the story’s success. Do yourself a favor and read it!

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