Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Wilde Saat by Octavia E. Butler

97 reviews

laurensilva's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

5.0

It's always interesting to read an origin story, but Wild Seed hits different. It's fascinating to see the beginnings of what we were introduced to in Patternmaster and then what we got more information about in Mind of My Mind. Wild Seed desperately makes me want to reread all the previous books to grapple with all its new information.

It's also impressive how Octavia Butler can write Doro and Anyanwu, two very different characters with two very different philosophies. And yet we find ourselves siding with Doro at times, despite his heinous motives and actions, because Butler writes him so convincingly. His seduction is described several times throughout the series and Butler is able to seduce her readers with him as well. It's incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Violence

nstew16's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Classism, Racism, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, Slavery, Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Murder, and Self harm

amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I can't even with this book. This was my first Octavia Butler book, and it was INTENSE. It's like Butler looked at every possible taboo and was like let's do this.  Slavery, yes. Eugenics, yes. Murder for compliance, yes. Incest, yes. 

 Anyanwu is a woman in Africa who can shapeshift and heal her self and others. Doro is an ancient "something" that can inhabit other bodies he kills. This book explores their dynamic as two people outside of time. 

Doro is one of darkest, nastiest villains in any book I have ever read. Check the trigger warnings. If you decided to read, go with god/the gods/your own convictions.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Stalking, Violence, Murder, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, and Xenophobia

lasafica_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Incest, and Sexual harassment

nurseamandarose's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death, Slavery, Violence, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Blood, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, and Rape

wasabipopsicle's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Slavery, and Sexual assault

Minor: Body horror

storyorc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

As much and as often as I wanted to condemn characters in this book, they're written with such rich humanity that it would feel hypocritical. Butler holds your eyelids open, Clockwork Orange style, to the ugliness of a soul under impossible strain until you admit you feel for them. Wild Seed does not sidestep the racial tensions of 1600s-1800s Africa and America either, but rather lets it inform and enrich the more insular struggles of these little communities of enhanced humans. Our main characters, Anyanwu and Doro, are immortal shapeshifters (though in thematically very different ways) and therefore make for an incredible vehicle to grasp at the ever-shifting, ever-evolving nature of humanity with all its flaws and spirit. Many side characters tug on the heartstrings as well.

Wild Seed does take its time but the effect is mesmerising rather than dull. I read it in two sittings, faster than I've read much shorter novels. It's also a world apart from the usual sci-fi novels I read from this era in terms of queer acceptance (and obviously feminism and anti-fascism). These shapeshifters are practical enough to be mostly unfazed by sex between all kinds of different bodies.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicide, and Incest

Minor: Pedophilia and Ableism

These topics are not presented uncritically at all.

elenaakers's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicide attempt, Murder, Incest, and Violence

Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, and Rape

Minor: Pedophilia

anice's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

4.5

As always, Butler is challenging and questioning everything you might think about power, sex and community. Amazing in both its imagination and its wretchedness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Alcoholism

chilliam_mc's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

I absolutely love the way Octavia Butler creates characters and tells stories. This one is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Absolutely perfect. 

I fell in love with Anyanwu - I just love everything about her. And I honestly love Doro too? He’s def evil and I hate him, but one of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever met.

I’m slowly reading Octavia Butler’s entire collection and very much enjoying it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, and Suicide