Reviews tagging 'Grief'

La Parabole du semeur by Octavia E. Butler

246 reviews

specklecommittee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Trafficking, Grief, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail

cadence99's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

4.25

This would be a five star read for me if not for the relationship with Bankole. The power dynamic felt INCREDIBLY gross, not just because of the age difference (he is apparently old enough to be her grandfather) but because of his ownership of (potentially) safe land and his skill as a doctor. In addition, I really didn’t appreciate the weird dismissive way he treated her views surrounding earthseed. 

HOWEVER, moving on from that whole mess- this was a fantastic book overall. The world felt so rich and uncomfortably real, tackling huge questions on human nature and morality. I think my favorite part of the book was the lens of mercy and understanding that our MC gave even to the people who displayed the most reprehensible, violent behavior. Despite being victim to the same dystopia as every one of our characters, Lauren brings with her a unique understanding of human nature, and a compassion towards even those who have the potential to do her harm. I think her wisdom in that realm is what allows her to begin developing Earthseed, and ultimately, allows her to survive. I look forward to reading the second book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Slavery, Rape, Sexual content, Classism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Blood, Murder, Grief, and Domestic abuse

romanticmelody's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Classism, Police brutality, Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Slavery, Cannibalism, Sexual content, and Rape

doramag's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Child death, Cannibalism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

djeanine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Animal death, Body horror, Abandonment, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Violence, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Child death, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Torture

ksuazo94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Cannibalism, Addiction, Gore, Grief, Rape, Blood, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Child death, Police brutality, Slavery, and Murder

arayo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Murder, and Rape

Moderate: Grief, Cannibalism, Child death, Animal death, and Blood

cheyison's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Slavery, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual assault, Animal death, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Kidnapping, and Blood

emisabelleruby's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

There was so much duality to this book. It was slow, but also fast paced. It was desolate, but uplifting. It was painful, yet beautiful. Some of my favorite moments were when Lauren would notice the little pockets of beauty, like when she saw the water sparkling through the trees out of the corner of her eye. Somehow I expected more to happen plot wise, even though thinking about it now sooo much did happen…I guess all that I can add now is that I really enjoyed being in Lauren’s head. The 3.5 stars is because though this book was great, it didn’t particularly move me enough to get into the four star range. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Violence, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death, Grief, Child death, Physical abuse, and Trafficking

danajoy's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Grief, and Animal death

Moderate: Death of parent, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Gore, Rape, and Cannibalism