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A review by luminous
Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler
4.0
There was one major, major plot point that required complete suspension of disbelief. And that is when we discover that the humans and Oankali from Low (sorry, I listened to the audiobook so I'm not sure of spelling) didn't rescue Akin from Phoenix...because they couldn't find him?!?
So disappointing. I was expecting an intriguing explanation, like maybe they wanted him to really experience the resisters, or something. I started getting confused when Akin missed bonding with his sibling, because it was of utmost importance. And my concern grew as the cavalry still didn't show up, because I couldn't imagine the Oankali allowing that to happen, and I was thinking they were surely much crueler than the series had yet led us to believe. Just that thought was so out of character.
But it's also out of character that they would never look for him in the one resister village that they were most familiar with. What the hell! And they seem really good at finding their way around. Based on every characterization of Oankali up to that point, they would have zero trouble tracking down Akin.
I think I'm going to go down to four stars on this book. It was great, but I do not appreciate such a terrible plot hole. It's like Butler knew there was no way Akin would be left that long, so she tried to handwave it away.
Still highly recommended.
So disappointing. I was expecting an intriguing explanation, like maybe they wanted him to really experience the resisters, or something. I started getting confused when Akin missed bonding with his sibling, because it was of utmost importance. And my concern grew as the cavalry still didn't show up, because I couldn't imagine the Oankali allowing that to happen, and I was thinking they were surely much crueler than the series had yet led us to believe. Just that thought was so out of character.
But it's also out of character that they would never look for him in the one resister village that they were most familiar with. What the hell! And they seem really good at finding their way around. Based on every characterization of Oankali up to that point, they would have zero trouble tracking down Akin.
I think I'm going to go down to four stars on this book. It was great, but I do not appreciate such a terrible plot hole. It's like Butler knew there was no way Akin would be left that long, so she tried to handwave it away.
Still highly recommended.