A review by toastranger
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Oof. This book was compelling and horrifying. It hit waaayyyy too close on several topics, and has inspired a few new nightmares for me. I enjoyed it immensely, but could have done without the constant addition of new characters in the second half. They felt more like padding/added plot than necessary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail