Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Patternmaster by Octavia E. Butler

6 reviews

almirareads's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Gore

Moderate: Biphobia

Minor: Cannibalism and Incest

scifi_rat's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Incest, Pregnancy, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Xenophobia, Body horror, Chronic illness, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Biphobia, Sexism, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit

gellyreads's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Classism, Murder, Death, Rape, Incest, Violence, and Slavery

jessthanthree's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, and War

thenonbinaryc's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Vomit, Violence, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

caseythereader's review

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Biphobia