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pran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
Lilith Iyapo is awoken to find she has been taken from Earth by an alien race who want to form a new race of alien-human hybrids.
This book was excellently written and I really got a sense of the unsettling, weird feeling of contact with an alien race whose intentions we are not fully sure of.
Lilith's character was well thought-out and constructed with flaws that made her compelling and at times unpredictable.
Something I was particularly impressed by was how Butler implicitly spoke about race and colonialism. Especially in the parts where Lilith is placed in a leadership role- how much does her identity as a Black woman impact the others' trust and perceptions of her?
And of course also the main narrative and what it says about colonialism.
Even as a woman of colour, I found myself taken in by what the Oankali were saying, and it was only when we discussed it in my book club that I realised what a coloniser narrative this was and how I'd been bamboozled! I myself thought, well, if the humans have nuked themselves then maybe they do need someone else to take control. But how do we know that this is true? And is that really fair?
I had been reading it through the lens of how humans have treated animals, as the Oankali infantilise Lilith and other humans, see them as pets sometimes, and seem to be trying to basically selectively breed them, but this further demonstrates how toxic and manipulative the Oankali and coloniser rhetoric is.
I would honestly recommend this to anyone, even people who do not like sci-fi, because of how much it says about our world, and human nature.
This book was excellently written and I really got a sense of the unsettling, weird feeling of contact with an alien race whose intentions we are not fully sure of.
Lilith's character was well thought-out and constructed with flaws that made her compelling and at times unpredictable.
Something I was particularly impressed by was how Butler implicitly spoke about race and colonialism. Especially in the parts where Lilith is placed in a leadership role- how much does her identity as a Black woman impact the others' trust and perceptions of her?
And of course also the main narrative and what it says about colonialism.
Even as a woman of colour, I found myself taken in by what the Oankali were saying, and it was only when we discussed it in my book club that I realised what a coloniser narrative this was and how I'd been bamboozled! I myself thought, well, if the humans have nuked themselves then maybe they do need someone else to take control. But how do we know that this is true? And is that really fair?
I had been reading it through the lens of how humans have treated animals, as the Oankali infantilise Lilith and other humans, see them as pets sometimes, and seem to be trying to basically selectively breed them, but this further demonstrates how toxic and manipulative the Oankali and coloniser rhetoric is.
I would honestly recommend this to anyone, even people who do not like sci-fi, because of how much it says about our world, and human nature.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
ryster3000's review
dark
informative
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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Suicide
belovedsnail's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
5.0
Fascinating and compelling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
tigerbalmbby's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Murder, Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Confinement
blazingquill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
This is a disturbing read that creates a horrific story about breaches in consent and the abuse of colonization. It asks the question, “what are you able to do when you’re helpless?” then weaves a complex answer considering love, hate, and resistance. It’s a story that could not have come from another author, and I think is an important read.
That being said, despite its discussion of gender, it maintains a very cis and straight perspective throughout, which effected my reading of the book. There is also a very complex relationship that edges into both abuse and pedophilia that I think was intended to be read as disturbing but I know could be interpreted differently. Heavy content warnings as well for: nonconsensual procedures, noncon relationships, rape, forced sterilization, and sensory deprivation torture.
That being said, despite its discussion of gender, it maintains a very cis and straight perspective throughout, which effected my reading of the book. There is also a very complex relationship that edges into both abuse and pedophilia that I think was intended to be read as disturbing but I know could be interpreted differently. Heavy content warnings as well for: nonconsensual procedures, noncon relationships, rape, forced sterilization, and sensory deprivation torture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Rape, Xenophobia, Cancer, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, Violence, and Cancer
Minor: Genocide, Incest, War, Child death, Car accident, Infertility, and Torture
knkoch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Another splendid adventure in the Octavia E. Butler canon! I’ve been increasingly curious and tempted by science fiction, and easing into that genre through Butler’s works (I read Parable of the Sower a few months ago) has been a solid path so far for me. I received this as a gift this past Christmas, and it’s the first in the Xenogenesis/Lillith’s Brood series. I looked up buying the next two books immediately after finishing Dawn.
The action was propulsive and riveting. The stakes felt high and I was easily invested in the fate of the characters and their various goals. The minimal premise/setting (especially initially) was a great way to introduce Lillith as a character and watch her react to her situation. I liked her just as much as Lauren from Parable. I love watching smart, pragmatic characters work their way through problems. Can’t wait to tackle the next book soon!
The action was propulsive and riveting. The stakes felt high and I was easily invested in the fate of the characters and their various goals. The minimal premise/setting (especially initially) was a great way to introduce Lillith as a character and watch her react to her situation. I liked her just as much as Lauren from Parable. I love watching smart, pragmatic characters work their way through problems. Can’t wait to tackle the next book soon!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual content
britreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.5
This was a hard book to read because of the subject matter. I absolutely despised the Oankali and how manipulative they were. The humans were also difficult to root for, though I certainly sympathized with them on some level. They're actions and anxieties felt reasonable given the situation they were in. I also empathized with Lilith. I truly felt bad for her by the end and wished for a better ending, though given Butler's close examination of the real world, it's clear Lilith was never going to have a 'good' ending.
I wish more time was spent developing the emotional connection between the humans. Once they were introduced, it felt like everyone immediately paired with someone of the opposite gender. (It seemed convenient that all of the humans were straight...though given the Oakali's tendency to deeply interrogate the surviving humans, I wouldn't be surprised if they intentionally selected people who were straight.) Even though Butler focused on a few reoccurring human characters, they seemed to run together.
This was a HEAVY read. It was one of the heaviest reads so far this year and while I want to read the entire trilogy, I will pace myself and recommend other people who are interested in this series spread out their reading as well.
I wish more time was spent developing the emotional connection between the humans. Once they were introduced, it felt like everyone immediately paired with someone of the opposite gender. (It seemed convenient that all of the humans were straight...though given the Oakali's tendency to deeply interrogate the surviving humans, I wouldn't be surprised if they intentionally selected people who were straight.) Even though Butler focused on a few reoccurring human characters, they seemed to run together.
This was a HEAVY read. It was one of the heaviest reads so far this year and while I want to read the entire trilogy, I will pace myself and recommend other people who are interested in this series spread out their reading as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Confinement, and Rape
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, War, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
crowcollected's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Amazing book. It talks a lot about consent, and blurs the lines between consensual and nonconsensual. The line is not clear-cut, and you have to figure out where some actions fall on your own, not just based on the objective facts of the situation but also the environment the actions are made in. It also talks a lot about choice, and the choices people make even when they've been stripped of all their choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Confinement
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, and Violence
raccooonhands's review against another edition
challenging
dark
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Xenophobia, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Colonisation
Minor: Homophobia
taroroot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.0
i don't normally read sci-fi so this was an interesting departure from my usual reading. i think the world and the aliens Butler created were absolutely fascinating. i wish we as readers could understand more about the Oankali's physiology as well as how they communicate amongst each other. i dislike the way consent was portrayed in this novel which made me absolutely hate the ending. "you told me 'no' but your body told me you were ready" is not proper consent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Racism