A review by talesoffay
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

We often ask, where would you go if you could travel through time and space? but not as often do we consider where we couldn’t go.

Octavia E. Butler flips a well known trope on its head when Dana is inexplicably pulled to 19th-century Maryland where she faces the cruel realities of slavery and life as a black woman. ‘Kindred’ is steeped in symbolism. The sci-fi elements feel like a visual representation of inherited pain and the pull history has on people’s present lives. The depictions are vivid and confronting, this is a must read but is emotionally taxing. 

Butler is celebrated for her cultural impact in science fiction and has made many feel seen in a genre not always known for its inclusivity.
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