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peachani's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Child death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Slavery, Mental illness, Death, Racism, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death, Abortion, Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, and Racial slurs
antimonium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Infertility, Incest, and Racism
yomireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
But God was I uncomfortable the entirety of this novel. I'm positive the discomfort is intentional, the fear, rage, and overall frustration simmering just below boiling from the start is intentional, but the obstinate refusal of the clearly villainous Doro to have any sort of real character growth for literal centuries made me want to chuck this book into an ocean.
The incest was obscene. Eugenics at its finest (most disturbing). And the strange pervasive nature of misogyny in characters who can shift their sex at will wildly frustrating.
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Cannibalism, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
rlgreen91's review against another edition
- 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
So...a month or so later, what thoughts continue to elbow their way to the front when I think of this book? For one, I really liked how Butler depicted Doro and Anyanwu as these nigh immortal, long-lived beings, especially in moments of boredom, without the depiction itself being boring and repetitive. It's hard to put my finger on it, but something about the characterization of Doro and Anyanwu seems more "lively" than your typical characterization of a god, or vampire, or person who accidentally becomes immortal, or what have you. And again, this perception exists, even in moments where Doro or Anyanwu are reflecting on the boredom and fatigue that accompanies living for so long. It's fascinating because it's so skillful.
The other thought that continues to come to the forefront of my mind is my appreciation for Anyanwu as a lead character whose skills and personality focus on healing and nurturing. This is partly due to a personal preference for shifting away from achievement as domination and competition to collaboration and care. But I also appreciate that, for all Doro could not see or imagine it, Anyanwu's efforts to heal, nurture, and care for the people around her was a choice. After all, it wasn't like Anyanwu wasn't capable of killing anyone or inflicting pain; we see her do just that a number of times in the book. There's no reason why Anyanwu couldn't have been more ruthless, more dangerous, more deadly, especially in societies that would assume she was powerless by default. But Anyanwu chose to do what she could to care, nurture, and heal the people around her and that is no small thing.
Overall, I really enjoyed Wild Seed, but I say that about everything I ready by Butler, so not that surprising. :) Looking forward to getting to Mind of My Mind soon-ish. 5 stars.
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Incest, Suicide, Body horror, Colonisation, and Slavery
rachbake's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Child death, Murder, Grief, Trafficking, and Slavery
amerily123's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Death, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Body horror
abmochapman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Racism, Abandonment, Blood, Murder, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, and Slavery
nexusgoblin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love the deep dive into ways people try to fill the loneliness, what hard lines they set (if any), and where they begin to bend under the weight of eternity. What loneliness without empathy and compassion can lead a person to do, to believe. This of course is not the only theme, but it's the one that stood out to me the most as I turned the last page.
This is no easier a read than any of other Butler's novels, and so much of it had my stomach in knots. But I'm glad I finally got a copy and it's going to stick with me for a long time.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Racism
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Incest, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia
tenderbench's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Incest, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Racism and Rape