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elizabethlo's review against another edition
Ugh. I'm talking myself out of pushing through this one, because life is too short, you know?
I am only a fairly recent fan of Octavia Butler's, having discovered her in the last few years. I've loved everything I've read so far and am feeling so conflicted about disliking this book so much. I made it 45% of the way there, but just don't feel like I can drag myself through the rest of it.
I'm sure it was intentional, but the sexualization of the main character (who is a child both in physical appearance as well as by Butler's vampire universe standards) is really uncomfortable. Sex scenes are introduced very early and there is little to no moral dilemma to be found between any of the adult characters who become her sexual partners. Obviously she's done this for a reason, but she absolutely does not let you forget that this is a 10-12 year old girl's body (and a vampire child in mind) who is participating in these sexual acts. Very difficult to push past, but that's not even the reason I'm giving up on this.
Fledgling focuses on a lot of the same issues that Butler covers in her other stories - racism, sexuality, non-monogamous relationships, consent - so that was familiar for me. What was unfamiliar was how much this dragged. The dialogue between characters was stiff and unnatural, and the exposition was repetitive and dull. I can't stress enough how bored I was before throwing in the towel, which I find shocking for an Octavia Butler novel.
Definitely a tough one to set aside, but I'd rather spend my time on finding new favourites. This ain't it.
I am only a fairly recent fan of Octavia Butler's, having discovered her in the last few years. I've loved everything I've read so far and am feeling so conflicted about disliking this book so much. I made it 45% of the way there, but just don't feel like I can drag myself through the rest of it.
I'm sure it was intentional, but the sexualization of the main character (who is a child both in physical appearance as well as by Butler's vampire universe standards) is really uncomfortable. Sex scenes are introduced very early and there is little to no moral dilemma to be found between any of the adult characters who become her sexual partners. Obviously she's done this for a reason, but she absolutely does not let you forget that this is a 10-12 year old girl's body (and a vampire child in mind) who is participating in these sexual acts. Very difficult to push past, but that's not even the reason I'm giving up on this.
Fledgling focuses on a lot of the same issues that Butler covers in her other stories - racism, sexuality, non-monogamous relationships, consent - so that was familiar for me. What was unfamiliar was how much this dragged. The dialogue between characters was stiff and unnatural, and the exposition was repetitive and dull. I can't stress enough how bored I was before throwing in the towel, which I find shocking for an Octavia Butler novel.
Definitely a tough one to set aside, but I'd rather spend my time on finding new favourites. This ain't it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Moderate: Cannibalism
songbiirds's review against another edition
Graphic pedophilia within the first 3 chapters. I cant do that at all, going to try a different book by Butler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Pedophilia
momoney_moproblems's review against another edition
I wanted to love it because I love Octavia butler. Could not get over the constant pedophila and the very detailed sex scenes between a grown man and a woman “in a child’s body”. I could maybe finish if these scenes were treated as gruesome (which they are). Instead it seemed more like it was normalizing this behavior, emphasizing the child’s pleasure and arousal. I pushed through initially cause I thought the scenes would stop but it’s a continuing theme through the book and I don’t see any good reason for it. Couldn’t continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
kisara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, Violence, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
dubious consentbookswithgeorge's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This book is good but it was really hard for me to get into it. It’s not the fault of the book it’s just very different to what I was expecting and not the typical style of vampire story I enjoy. It was also really really hard for me to get over the fact the main character is described as looking prepubescent and then was so sexualised.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
dinahwinah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
kitastrophic's review against another edition
the adult/minor relationship made me feel so icky !!! :(((
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
dontfretd's review against another edition
I’m just not okay with adult minor sexual relationships. I don’t care how good the book is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Adult/minor relationship
aine001's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Hated this book. So sad it wasn't till nearly half way I realised how awful it was. The fact that the main character physically appears as an 11 year old yet has sex with multiple partners in the book is foul and I don't understand why the author decided that. The symbiot partners are all one note and lack dept. The main character felt flat and had no personality besides always being right and slightly having a temper (only is completely in control of her temper ...).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia