plainpaige 's review for:

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I think I liked this book more than its predecessor, despite the often disturbing, challenging storyline. Butler again made predictions that seem to be coming true to some degree. I enjoyed this book's foray into the politics of a crumbling society, though I suspect it may be difficult for some people who endorse Christianity to swallow. I love a good cautionary tale, though, and if you can struggle through the hard concepts, you will be rewarded with a beautiful story of the human experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Excrement, Car accident, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism