Scan barcode
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 consentislandbookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Animal death
moonlitemuseum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Fledgling is unflinching. Sometimes it feels like it might be a mercy to forget the reality within the book, not least its main character's incredibly young-looking body, but Butler never relents. You will see everything. You will learn about the strange, almost human nature of Butler's vampires and accept them. And in spite of yourself, you will enjoy it.
There were some moments I felt uncomfortable and disturbed, but they made the tale all the more satisfying when it reached its end. The characters that form Shori's unlikely pack have strong voices and interesting bonds, and the vampires—the Ina—are fascinating, thoroughly convinced of their own moral purity in a way that feels all too resonant many years on. A great book that would have made a great series.
There were some moments I felt uncomfortable and disturbed, but they made the tale all the more satisfying when it reached its end. The characters that form Shori's unlikely pack have strong voices and interesting bonds, and the vampires—the Ina—are fascinating, thoroughly convinced of their own moral purity in a way that feels all too resonant many years on. A great book that would have made a great series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship
Shori is actually much older than many of the adult men she "couples" with but has a child's body. This is framed as horror, and is very effective!mwass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
5.0
I love how Butler explores morally grey relationships and uses the reader’s uncomfortablity as a tool to do so! She effortlessly builds a fleshed out believable world that sucks you in, while also tackling issues such as racism and consent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Death, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Sexual content
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
readingphoebe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: 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