Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

8 reviews

badbadwolf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, Slavery, Abandonment, Classism, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Racism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Blood, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Confinement, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, and Trafficking

bass_clarinet's review

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-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

4.0

Beautiful and spiritual. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Genocide, Kidnapping, Death, Police brutality, Violence, Torture, Slavery, and Trafficking

Moderate: Misogyny, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Gun violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Cursing, War, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Classism, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Confinement, Pregnancy, Death, and Sexual violence

rosemarykiessling's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gore, Kidnapping, Rape, War, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Racism, Pedophilia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Mass/school shootings, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Death

derik_rochlitzer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Classism, Death, Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Drug use, Genocide, Grief, Abandonment, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Misogyny, Rape, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Trafficking, and War

kemrick19's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Murder, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Child death, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, and Rape

Minor: Grief, Abandonment, Car accident, Drug use, Suicide, Addiction, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Abortion

astridrv's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

I almost gave up halfway through because of how horrific and depressing it got - much more so than the first book, which is really saying something. But I loved the complexity of that too, where I am used to saga's going "upwards", Butler made the brave choice of having someone who's arc is to build see everything destroyed and go through worse than ever before. I'm not sold on the second perspective we get in the book, and I would have loved the last chapters to last way longer (there is a slight pacing problem between micro and macro story there) but otherwise this is definitely the most remarkable work of fiction I read this year. I will never forget Earthseed, and the claustrophobic,terrifying, hopeful, strong, heart wrenching, generous, crushing journey it was to share this story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Murder, and Homophobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Misogyny

amelreads's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Religious bigotry, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Confinement, Sexism, Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Hate crime, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Child abuse, Child death, and Vomit

Minor: Transphobia, Drug use, and Drug abuse

emhunsber's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thought-provoking and complex, Talents continues the story of Lauren and her Earthseed community, following the struggles and triumphs of establishing both a physical community and a religious movement. Striking a balance between macro- and micro-focused storytelling, Butler's prophetic writing speaks to the struggles of racism, sexism, and economic inequality intertwining with a politician who thrives on polarization inflamed by fear and instability, and examines the downfall and rebuilding of a nation quick to scapegoat for survival. Both introspective and acutely perceptive, Talents invites readers to imagine a future in which a grassroots movement can create lasting and effective change, while depicting characters and storylines that are realistic and loveable.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Sexism, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Gun violence, Genocide, Emotional abuse, and Death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts