Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

467 reviews

thislibrarianisreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

samanthabreading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

“Not now,” I said. “I can’t see how anything is going to work out now. Everything’s too crazy.” 

“And what? Do you think it’s going to get sane? It’s never been sane. You just have to go ahead and live, no matter what.”

I struggled to review this book. There was SO much to think about, and it all continues to linger. Reading about climate change burning California in 2025 as California was and is actively burning is a heartbreaking foreshadowing (still in awe she wrote this in the early 90s but set the story in 2024 onward) on Butler’s part. She did not miss on the other aspects of this book either. Her exploration of the metaphysical aspects of change and belief, discussions around preparedness, and collective survival. 

At one point, the FMC states “It was a terrifying, looming, moving wall.” What a striking and horrifying symbol to what it feels the reality America is really moving towards. That is the biggest gut punch. I have not felt this reading other dystopian novels. This world does not feel very far off, especially when looking at the boundaries and interactions between governmental institutions and its society and interpersonal relationships in dire times. I had to know what happened next so I immediately jumped into book two. 

A final note, this book includes ALL the heaviness one can probably think of so please take care. Reading a lighter book in conjunction helped me. 💕

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Rape, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Cannibalism

Minor: Trafficking

mollison's review

dark tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

maryellen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

jad15215's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Abandonment

Minor: Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Classism

mintyr's review

adventurous challenging inspiring medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Grief

tfaydoyle's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Riveting science fiction, though now seems more real than fiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

syreetam's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury

thegillbird's review

dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Sexual violence

vegankat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail