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A review by elderlingfool
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
I can't do it. I just can't and it pains me to write this because Octavia E. Butler is one of my favourite authors. I read six of her books and rated them all 5 stars (except for one that was 4 stars) so to say that this was a disappointment is an understatement.
To start with, the Ina, the "vampires" in this book, are really similar in power to the ooloi from the Xenogenesis/Lilith's Brood trilogy and, as far as I read, that trilogy addressed the issues better, which the initial perspective of a human woman also helped to ease in into the narrative and problematic aspects.
However, the main reason why I am giving up is because I visualize and create movies in my head while reading. It was extremely uncomfortable to picture a child having sex with a grown man no matter how much the author tells me she is actually 50 years old. She still has the body of a 10 year old and whether the man is into her because of the initial bite or not it is still too much for me to keep reading. I still managed to get past the sex scene that happened in the first pages, but on the second one I bailed and I didn't even finish reading. If I had known this had graphic sex and the main character appeared to be 10 years old I would have never even attempted it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Xenogenesis trilogy that also seemed to have elements I hate in the synopsis and ended up being one of my favourite trilogies. I can't say the same for this one.
I watched a video in which a reviewer mentioned that Butler wrote this for fun while trying to come up with the third Earthseed book and I do believe it because it does feel less polished than her other works I've read. I am used to Butler repeating themes in her books, but there is always some originality that was lacking in this one. Maybe something new happens in the pages I haven't read, but I don't care enough to find out.
To start with, the Ina, the "vampires" in this book, are really similar in power to the ooloi from the Xenogenesis/Lilith's Brood trilogy and, as far as I read, that trilogy addressed the issues better, which the initial perspective of a human woman also helped to ease in into the narrative and problematic aspects.
However, the main reason why I am giving up is because I visualize and create movies in my head while reading. It was extremely uncomfortable to picture a child having sex with a grown man no matter how much the author tells me she is actually 50 years old. She still has the body of a 10 year old and whether the man is into her because of the initial bite or not it is still too much for me to keep reading. I still managed to get past the sex scene that happened in the first pages, but on the second one I bailed and I didn't even finish reading. If I had known this had graphic sex and the main character appeared to be 10 years old I would have never even attempted it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Xenogenesis trilogy that also seemed to have elements I hate in the synopsis and ended up being one of my favourite trilogies. I can't say the same for this one.
I watched a video in which a reviewer mentioned that Butler wrote this for fun while trying to come up with the third Earthseed book and I do believe it because it does feel less polished than her other works I've read. I am used to Butler repeating themes in her books, but there is always some originality that was lacking in this one. Maybe something new happens in the pages I haven't read, but I don't care enough to find out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship