A review by annasorr
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Octavia Butler is absolutely brilliant. The novel is deceptively straightforward, choosing to eschew usual sci-fi plot jargon to get straight to the point. It’s tense, compact, dark, and philosophical— basically everything this novel needs to be to tell this story effectively and truthfully, lingering in darkness without stewing in it longer than necessary. Then, when the novel reaches its necessary conclusion, it leaves reader to make sense of Dana’s experiences, bringing history ever closer to the present. Certainly a difficult read, but also a riveting one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail