Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

74 reviews

orizenda's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Honestly this book is so good and just as relevant now as when it was written. Octavia E Butler is a genius like this book is actually terrifying and seeing Dana have to deal with so many different aspects of the story at once… I don’t even have the words to talk about it right now. The layers of this story are really incredible and I would highly recommend it. I’m not typically one for science fiction, but this I can 100% get on board with

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt

sundayfever's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Stunning, chilling. Took a long time to digest this one. Really makes you think and feel, about power, racism and internalized racism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, and Medical content

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Vomit

Minor: Child death and Pregnancy

celeris's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

this book made me feel physically ill by the middle part

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Slavery

tinysierra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use

magnus_iskander_reim's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

One of the brand of classics that is actually as good as everyone says. 
Isn't manichaeans, does not feature pity-parties for anyone, except to make you immediately deeply uncomfortable about it. The handling of themes is stellar. 
Octavia Butler was a genius and it shows.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Body horror and Rape

simareading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

geekmom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book pulls you in and doesn’t let you look away. An incredible story that is all too credible in many difficult ways.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, and Vomit

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

brooketreads's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wow! I loved this! I didn’t see the end coming, but reflecting jt really made the most sense. This was a wild ride. 

I loved Dana and Kevin’s dynamic and getting the backstory to their relationship.

And Kevin running for Dana. Being stuck in the past for 5 years!!!

I liked Dana and Rufus developing a friendship-ish relationship. I desperately wanted him to be good.

Alice!!!! 😭

Time jumping. I loved Dana trying to explain some history to Rufus before it has even happened. That felt trippy.

The ending was a perfect summation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcohol

signeskov's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Abandonment

amarachi's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Im still a bit uneasy. I enjoyed Butler's writing style. Dana's inner monologue was as captivating to me as the plot. I felt a bit rushed as the end approached. I couldn't believe the final page was that....the FINAL page, but I don't feel like the rug was pulled from under my feet. I feel as though the reactions to time travel weren't as earnest as realism would call for because the book wouldn't work if they were but that didn't hinder my overall enjoyment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual violence