Reviews

Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler

tibbarasden's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

Both loved and hated this. That said, it was so well written, and I found the story very engaging. I had to give it five stars. I also loved the narrator. It was a hard read as Doro is basically enslaving and using people who have supernatural abilities as breeding stock. Slavery itself is also throughout the background of the story. The women (and men) are forced to sleep with different partners to create offspring. Anyanwu has the ability to shape-shift and can reverse aging in herself along with being able to heal herself and others. She is also very strong. Doro covets her and keeps her in line by threatening her offspring. Doro needs to kill people and take over their bodies, but tends to kill those who no longer are useful. He has no remorse about what he does. What I hated is the lovestory aspect of this. Anyanwu sticks to her guns for the most part, but it is still frustrating due to the toxicity of Doro. That said as horrible as some of the things were, it made sense and worked for the story. It didn't feel like it was just added for shock value.

girlraging's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

3.25

jzarrow's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

There is no author I find more compelling and less pleasurable to read than Butler. 

valeriaolsson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

willow1113's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

bookishnorth's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

charlienicole8's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

mooncake98's review against another edition

dark emotional

4.5

What an intriguing story. Very smooth and beautiful. 

smitha_r's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

meandmymonkey's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5