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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well, I finished this book. Normally I speed through books but I could not bring myself to do it this time. I was captivated and enthralled the entire time. I’m so embarrassed to say that this was the first book I read by Butler. I don’t say this often but I think I found a new favorite author. The way she wrote and handled Lauren’s emotions was just powerful—there’s no other way to say it.
The world in this book is in absolute chaos. There are fires, brutal crimes, and harsh lands. People have lost their humanity. And in the midst of that, there is Lauren. I think it’s powerful that Lauren is able to “share” with people’s pain and pleasure in a world where animosity and suspicion prevails. In this world, people are taught to kill, or be killed. Be skeptical. Don’t help strangers. And although Lauren sees the world for what it is, she still has it in her heart to trust and envision a world where people can unite once again. There are so many layers to this book (like the fact that I can definitely seeing the world going to hell like this) and I can spend DAYS talking about them.
This book earned its 5 ⭐️ rating. If I could, I would give it even more.
If you’re looking for a well-written book, this is for you. If you want a book that has remarkable and unique characters, this is for you. If your heart breaks for current injustices experienced around the world, this is for you. If you want a book that you can return to again and again and again, this is for you.
The world in this book is in absolute chaos. There are fires, brutal crimes, and harsh lands. People have lost their humanity. And in the midst of that, there is Lauren. I think it’s powerful that Lauren is able to “share” with people’s pain and pleasure in a world where animosity and suspicion prevails. In this world, people are taught to kill, or be killed. Be skeptical. Don’t help strangers. And although Lauren sees the world for what it is, she still has it in her heart to trust and envision a world where people can unite once again. There are so many layers to this book (like the fact that I can definitely seeing the world going to hell like this) and I can spend DAYS talking about them.
This book earned its 5 ⭐️ rating. If I could, I would give it even more.
If you’re looking for a well-written book, this is for you. If you want a book that has remarkable and unique characters, this is for you. If your heart breaks for current injustices experienced around the world, this is for you. If you want a book that you can return to again and again and again, this is for you.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of those books that is hard to assign a rating to. Extremely readable, captivating from start to finish.
After Stephen Markley’s The Deluge (2023) earlier this year which began taking place in 2024 and which society overall quickly outpaced in its decline, it was somewhat refreshing to see that we in 2025 are doing measurably better than Octavia Butler predicted in 1993. It certainly doesn’t seem far off however - it’s believable that she missed the mark by only a few years. It still feels unfortunately prophetic.
I had some personal issues with Lauren as a character. I was humbled by the afterward written by N. K. Jemisin wherein she reports on her experience reading this book thrice through three very different periods of her life. Reflecting on her first read in her mid-twenties, she’s describes Lauren as “a know-it-all,” “an older woman’s idea of what a smart teenager should be, rather than a realistic rendering of what smart teenagers are actually like. Naturally, I like her better the older I get.” I happen to be in my mid-twenties, so I’ll stop myself here.
This same afterward led immediately into massive spoilers for the sequel to Parable Of The Sower. This would’ve been terrific at the end of a box set perhaps, but not here. Come on. I guess read the afterword but only the first half.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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