Notes

* JustFollowingOrders: Inverted. Gordon is devastated, because he ''doesn't'' issue any orders for his men to follow - they choose by themselves to conduct many barbaric acts to later blame Holnists for them.
* KeystoneArmy: Given how Holnists' ranks work, [[spoiler: [[DecapitatedArmy killing all of their high command in final chapter]]]] inavetably leads to their demise as an organised force. Without that unity they not only become easier targets, but it's also heavily implied [[EnemyCivilWar they start fighting each other for the command]], every gorilla for himself.
* KnightInSourArmor: Both Gordon and George Powhatan, who are so sour that it gives them wrinkles. The overarching motive in the story is their realisation that the lofty ideas of pre-war world are all that's left worth living and standing for.
* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler: Roger Septien, the robber from the very first pages of the book, is eventually killed by Johnny when he and Gordon are escaping Holnists [=HQ=]]], as he is unlucky enough to stand on guard in vital spot.
* LifeWillKillYou: It's never clearly stated, but apparently sizable chunk of [[spoiler: militia unit Gordon was serving in]] died out of malnutrition and dental infections caused by low higiene. In fact, the death toll from those was bigger than from attacks they repelled. [note]this happend many years before the proper story, hence past tense - it's already a distant past within the book[/note]
* MadeASlave: Anyone captured alive by Holnists. This also includes {{Sex Slave}}s.
* {{Matriarchy}}: And a noble one - Pine View is guided by elderly Mrs Thompson. First chapter is much more prone to use tribalistic references and thus even narration calls her a matriarch few times.
* MedalOfDishonor: Johnny is very thankful for Gordon's sharp mind and that little whistle... while Gordon was busy contemplating abandoning the whole unit and wasted a lot of time on thinking about it instead of acting and thus providing some real advantage.
* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: The two slaves that [[spoiler: release Gordon and Johnny and help them escape]].