Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler

43 reviews

leahrosereads's review

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

3.75

When stories span centuries, much like this one did, there's going to be some disjointed parts, and some areas that just can't be as fleshed out as others.

That said, Wild Seed, was so good. It must have been totally revolutionary for its time. The plot,  topics around privilege, slavery, and eugenics, and the dichotomy of Anyanwu and Doro were stellar. It was tough seeing the gentle and kind be killed, but I think that was also a part of the topic that Ms. Butler wanted to explore. I think I'll see more of that in the future stories.

While Anyanwu is the healer to Doro's killing nature, both have a sense of immortal entitlement that I think Anyanwu doesn't believe she has. She's young in her immortality compared to Doro, and I'm not sure if that means she'll overcome her immortal nature or become more like Doro than she ever could imagine.

Only time and continuing the series will give me the answers. I'm on this journey now to the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence

tawallah's review

challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.5

This is a type of creation myth where an amoral being, Doro, finds his “Eve” in 17th Century Africa. With the background setting of the slave trading, essentially this is the beginning of a story of an immortal being   Doro is seeking to create special powers among his seed.  But Anyawu, Sun Woman is anything but tractable. She is a shapeshifter and healer. She is his equal and only possible companion.  He wants absolute dominion and obedience as he fulfills his dream. 

Butler tackles her constant themes in this series. Here, eugenics, power dynamics and gender clash.  Slavery is forever the undercurrent in her books. But it is unclear from this entry, the true purpose of Doro dream. He has no ability to predict the future, his arrogance and pride makes him slow to gain wisdom. Anyawu is the stereotypical woman - healer and builder of family. She is determined to be free and yet submits repeatedly to Doro. Often, reminding me of a woman suffering from abuse. But I fail to comprehend the purpose of this story. It is dark, repulsive and has moments of sublime irony.  But its purpose - remains elusive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Racial slurs, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation

caligula1241's review

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Rape and Suicide attempt

arkiwi88's review

challenging dark emotional slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Colonisation

kenrya's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I love the writing, but I hate one of the main characters. I am eager to finish this series and move on to a new world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bilal_shumuus's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Colonisation

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and War

bonriki's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Minor: Cannibalism

sp0resdruid's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.75

Amazing. Once again using the lens of horror to examine issues of race and consent and ownership while setting the story among one of the hardest periods in human history.

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Content Warnings

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

caitgreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation

catsbreadbikes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

What can i say about this book that hasn't been said by people way more qualified than me? Octavia Butler simply doesn't miss. Read all of her books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Colonisation

Moderate: Incest and Pedophilia

Minor: Rape and Pregnancy