Reviews with content warning for Violence - Patternmaster

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Patternmaster by Octavia E. Butler

12 reviews

aloy's review against another edition

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challenging reflective fast-paced

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? Yes

3.75

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almirareads's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Yo…in less than 200 pages, Octavia Butler created suchhhh an action-packed novel with exquisite world and creature building, and made the reader ponder the concept of doing anything by any means to get to “the top”, even if it soils your morals and ethics. Throughout the book, Butler is also begging the question: “what are you willing to do for your freedom?” in ways that challenge not only Teray, our protagonist, but also us as readers. Through the book, as “freedom” is dangled in his face, you can see how Teray’s thought process changes and stays the same.

Patternmaster also delves into the concept of the importance of community - of unifying a people toward one specific goal. With the ending of the Vietnam war, African countries fighting for liberation, and the rise (and fall) of a Black consciousness movement during the era in which this book was being written and published, I wonder whose philosophies and methods inspired the way Butler wrote this book…like who influenced her so that i could read into them as well.

Because even though in the end, someone had to die, the question of whether this truly has to be the case is brought up throughout the entire book.

You see, as well, ways in which opposing bodies of people view each other as less than and WHY. And how propaganda and brainwashing from schools does this to us.

The book was incredibly written and i WILL BE COMING BACK TO HER after i finish the rest of the patternist series. Only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5, is because some things that were put in there were just…very unnecessary like

why did Rayal and Jansee have to be married instead of just in alliance like i understand and it isn’t talked about except for in the beginning of the book but it’s just unnecessary. AND AMBER EATING HER OWN HAND?! WHY ARE WE DOING THATTTTT

. But yes, good book by an amazing author.

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scifi_rat's review

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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? Yes

4.25

Plot: 3.75★
Prose: 4★
Pace: 3.5★
Concept/Execution: 3.75★/4★
Characters: 4★
Worldbuilding:4★
Ending: 4.25★

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jeanbpdx's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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jacobshere's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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gellyreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark fast-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

3.0

Only a whole star higher because of the bi, harem-wanting queen known as Amber! This book was so confusing. I feel like the first two in the series were so much stronger. I didn't care for this protagonist either.

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sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Patternmaster is Octavia E. Butler's first book, I think it's amazing how she wrote Patternmaster and from it she was able to "go backwards" and create Clay's Ark, Mind of My Mind, and Wildseed. Out of the series, Patternmaster is my least favorite and it's also my lowest rated Octavia E. Butler title.

I really enjoyed the final action sequence and that's why I bumped up my rating this time around.

The first time I read this book (which was last year in 2022) I gave it 3 stars, this time
I'm giving this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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