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sirbebop's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
tishtashohmygosh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.0
Octavia Butler expertly explores themes of racism and ageism—among others—in a take on vampires that I haven’t encountered before. The novel follows a young Ina named Shori who awakens in a cave heavily injured and with no memories. She learns of the history and culture of the Ina, the political ties between Ina families, and the conspiracy that led to her being injured in the first place.
Things I Liked:
The characters feel like authentic people rather than tropes or caricatures and the relationships they build with each other are engaging. There is LGBTQ+ representation in the cast of characters which is something I'm always seeking out. The pacing is consistent and at no point did it feel too fast or too slow to me. The world building is thorough and in depth and feels naturally integrated into the modern setting. It has the found family trope, which I am always on board for.
Disliked:
My primary dislike/discomfort with the novel comes from the explicit sexual scenes between a person who has the physical appearance of a 10-year-old (even though she is said to be 53 years old) and multiple adults. I know that this is an intentional discomfort, but it is something I wanted to mention also as a potential trigger warning.
Overall, I very much enjoyed Fledgling as much I have enjoyed reading some of Butler’s other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence and Blood
galaxyelfjess's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Good book for the first half, second half wasn't as good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Death of parent
The main character (who is a 53-yearbook vampire in the body of a 10 year old) engages in a relationship with a 23-year-old and has sex with him. There is racism towards the end of the book with the use of insults and racial slurs from a white character to the black MCdanibee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Loved the world-building! And the found family overarching themes.
That being said, Shori’s childlike state made me really uncomfortable, especially when sexualized. I realize the author was trying to examine the parameters consent, but I found those descriptions disturbing/off-putting. I almost stopped reading it several times because of this and had to skip a few sections. Definitely worth being aware of if you’re considering wearing this book.
That being said, Shori’s childlike state made me really uncomfortable, especially when sexualized. I realize the author was trying to examine the parameters consent, but I found those descriptions disturbing/off-putting. I almost stopped reading it several times because of this and had to skip a few sections. Definitely worth being aware of if you’re considering wearing this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
d0505's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
kisara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
dubious consenttaroroot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
i don't read much vampire or sci-fi stuff but i like Octavia Butler so i read this. i enjoyed her unique take on vampires. the apparent age of the main character is difficult to accept and uncomfortable to deal with in many parts of the book. Shori is placed in a lot of sexual contexts while appearing as a 10 year old child (idc if she's really 53, she's still considered a child by her own peoples' standards ) i'm sure this was intentional on the behalf of the author however i really struggled with not thinking of every character as a perv.
Wright is lesbophobic as fuck for saying that Shori's relationships with women didn't affect him as much but when she gets a male symbiont suddenly polyamory is a big deal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Lesbophobia
mwass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love how Butler explores morally grey relationships and uses the reader’s uncomfortablity as a tool to do so! She effortlessly builds a fleshed out believable world that sucks you in, while also tackling issues such as racism and consent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
maurareads13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
2.5
⭐️2.5⭐️ I went into this book not having any idea what to expect. I’ve never read an Octavia Butler work, so this was new territory. I’m also not a vampire aficionado, having only read Twilight & ADOW, so I decided to take a step outside of my comfort zone.
What I liked- Ms Butler’s writing style. It did keep me hooked the entire time. )My lower rating was definitely not for lack of interest, but I’ll get to that later.). Her world building for the vampiric culture & society was intricate but I could understand it. It was a totally different take on vampires, or Ina, as they call themselves. Even with quite a few characters, the story was easy to follow & it was intriguing. I was also thankful it wasn’t as “horror” as I anticipated.
What I didn’t like- there was too much pedo-type things throughout. The MC, Shori, is a young 53-year-old Ina, but looks like an 11-year-old girl. She seduces a 23-year-old human to “feed” her and then have sex with her. I thought that once her true age was revealed & discussed, the pedo feel to the narrative would leave as the story progressed, but no. It was referenced & used to describe her often, from her flat-chested appearance to her height being that of a 10/11 year old. Also- everything with her feeding off of humans was sexualized, and coupled with the childlike references, I just didn’t like it.
I will for sure try another one of Octavia Butler’s books, as not all of them are this storyline.
What I liked- Ms Butler’s writing style. It did keep me hooked the entire time. )My lower rating was definitely not for lack of interest, but I’ll get to that later.). Her world building for the vampiric culture & society was intricate but I could understand it. It was a totally different take on vampires, or Ina, as they call themselves. Even with quite a few characters, the story was easy to follow & it was intriguing. I was also thankful it wasn’t as “horror” as I anticipated.
What I didn’t like- there was too much pedo-type things throughout. The MC, Shori, is a young 53-year-old Ina, but looks like an 11-year-old girl. She seduces a 23-year-old human to “feed” her and then have sex with her. I thought that once her true age was revealed & discussed, the pedo feel to the narrative would leave as the story progressed, but no. It was referenced & used to describe her often, from her flat-chested appearance to her height being that of a 10/11 year old. Also- everything with her feeding off of humans was sexualized, and coupled with the childlike references, I just didn’t like it.
I will for sure try another one of Octavia Butler’s books, as not all of them are this storyline.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Racism
gingerale06's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence