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alicelalicon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Torture, Hate crime, Alcohol, Classism, Sexism, Blood, Sexual violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Racism
aksmith92's review against another edition
- 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
When all is said and done, this book may be sci-fi/fantasy (I believe Butler noted that she would call it "grim fantasy" in an interview since there was nothing scientific about it), but it's more real than we would like it to be. It's about race and an incredibly dark time in American history. Butler manages to intersect historical records and research with the time-traveling trope in a fascinating and beautiful (but, as most books about this time, horrible) way. It is incredibly well-written and emotional. It pained me to read this, but it was so important to read it at the same time.
As a note, Butler has decided to forgo a lot of explanation around this somewhat science fiction novel and has instead relied on metaphor and allegory during the more "fantastical" times of the novel. We don't get intense descriptions of the time travel or the "science" behind it - we just know it happens and its impacts. This is no spoiler and won't take away from the story, but those who are itching for more detail may find themselves frustrated. But, for a book of this caliber, I don't think it was at all needed.
I loved it and yet hated it so much because America at this time was awful. I had all the feels reading this book, but I thought it was incredibly well done. I'm sure excited to read more of Octavia Butler's stuff in the future.
Graphic: Slavery, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Racial slurs, Gore, Medical trauma, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
em815ily's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Self harm, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
karapatdapat's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Racial slurs, Blood, Physical abuse, Racism, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
kelseyr713's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Death of parent, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Blood, Racism, Child abuse, Medical content, Gore, Self harm, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol
jessewritecase's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism
moonlitemuseum's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Deportation, Hate crime, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Self harm, Child death, Grief, Toxic friendship, Violence, Body horror, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Classism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Bullying, Colonisation, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Gore, Abandonment, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Vomit
Moderate: Rape, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
apaolillo24's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Self harm, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Gore, Torture, Body horror, Child abuse, Grief, Hate crime, and Blood
yaoipaddle's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Child abuse, Self harm, Police brutality, Confinement, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Ableism