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redrockhoney's review
I don't know about this one Octavia Butler!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Adult/minor relationship
charrlee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
Octavia Butler's work in this novel makes you squirm --- it is meant to, and her writing here has been one of the most uncomfortable reading experiences I've had. I'm unsure how to accurately summarize the journey Fledgling has put me through, but I will say Butler has yet to fail in her deliveries.
This is a text that will have you traversing the themes of blackness & fugitivity and hybridity & "naturalness" while questioning who assumes the role of monsters. Humanity is found in unexpected places as Butler subverts, complicates, and rewrites the expectations and rules of the common Western vampire trope. There is much to discuss about the moral quandaries this book offers. It was a challenging read and probably one of the more horrific books I've read to date.
This is a text that will have you traversing the themes of blackness & fugitivity and hybridity & "naturalness" while questioning who assumes the role of monsters. Humanity is found in unexpected places as Butler subverts, complicates, and rewrites the expectations and rules of the common Western vampire trope. There is much to discuss about the moral quandaries this book offers. It was a challenging read and probably one of the more horrific books I've read to date.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Body horror, Child abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Racism, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Hate crime
Moderate: Blood, Genocide, Classism, Gore, Torture, Physical abuse, Addiction, Slavery, Colonisation, and Racial slurs
libraryofcalliope's review
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Involves adults expressing sexual desire/arousal for a vampire in a ten year old's bodyforemmarightnow's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
mghope's review
Didn't like how she was described as having a child body and sleeping with adults. She could've been an adult and it wouldn't change the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Child abuse
3119fangirl's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I only marked it as finished so it counts towards my goal. I DNF’d it about a third of the way in. I tried to give it a fair chance, but a lot of the things happening made me super uncomfy (i.e., pedophilia, suggested incest, etc).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
saint_eleanor's review
adventurous
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Octavia missed me w this one i fear. It almost felled like a vampire bridgerton-style polyamorous legal drama, which i almost liked except i couldn’t get passed the whole 53 yr old who looks 11 who bangs adults vibe i really did not enjoy having to imagine that part. But! Sick concept. I think dark fantasy lovers would eat this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
calamitymeat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It's such a shame Octavia Butler died so suddenly and tragically almost immediately after writing this :( I really would have loved for this series to continue.
I was having an AWFUL time reading it however. Damn she sure does know how to make people uncomfortable.
I was having an AWFUL time reading it however. Damn she sure does know how to make people uncomfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Its not TECHNICALLY pedophilia, but she is graphically describing sex between two characters when one has the body of a 10 year old. And she goes out of her way to describe how small and tiny and young and petite the character is. It's kind of gross but you also have to understand that's kind of the pointamberleefowler's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
I was really disappointed with this book. I have heard incredible things about the author, but despite the writing style pulling me in, and the interesting vampire lore and culture, I would not read this book again and struggled to finish in the first place.
I could not get over the appearance of Shori and despite understanding that Butler was attempting to discuss the shift of power dynamics in this book (age, race, sex), the level of description of Shori's prepubescent body and her sexual encounters with other characters is revolting. I think this aim could have been achieved without the outright and glaring pedophilia throughout the entire book.
There were also some other disappointments where the book did not live up to the hype, including the plot and dialogue.
I did love the unique take of vampire families and symbiotes as well as the discussion around race and identity but yeah pretty disappointing for how eager I was to read this book.
I could not get over the appearance of Shori and despite understanding that Butler was attempting to discuss the shift of power dynamics in this book (age, race, sex), the level of description of Shori's prepubescent body and her sexual encounters with other characters is revolting. I think this aim could have been achieved without the outright and glaring pedophilia throughout the entire book.
There were also some other disappointments where the book did not live up to the hype, including the plot and dialogue.
I did love the unique take of vampire families and symbiotes as well as the discussion around race and identity but yeah pretty disappointing for how eager I was to read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Animal death