melliott23's review against another edition
5.0
This book makes you uncomfortable and makes you think about what really makes us human. It is absolutely with the read even if it makes you feel things you don't want to feel. Feel free to be angry and disgusted with what you are reading.
This book is officially one of my new favorite with it's original take on vampires and relevance still today.
This book is officially one of my new favorite with it's original take on vampires and relevance still today.
chrissymcbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very different kind of vampire story... but one that is wonderful and beautiful nonetheless. No, this is no Twilight... this is a novel that will have you thinking on the real social issues surrounding you...
raenovels's review against another edition
2.0
Read this review and others on my blog: https://thriftybibliophile.com
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler is the story of a young vampire who loses her memory in a horrific murder attempt. The book follows Shori as she tries to piece her life together, stay alive, and bring her family’s murderers to justice.
I wanted to like this book. It’s been on my to-be-read shelf for years, but there was a lot about the book that turned me off.
First off, Shori is a young vampire who has the body of a child. In the vampire world, she’s considered a child even though she’s in her 50s. In the human world, she appears to be around 12. As Shori collects symbionts (humans who form her family), most of the ones she chooses are ones she’s intimately attracted to. She has sexual relationships with these human symbionts. Ick. She looks 12 and hasn’t hit puberty. This is not okay. I couldn’t read this and not think, “Pedophiles, ew. Yuck.” I don’t think glamorizing pedophilia was the author’s intent, but I couldn’t move past it.
Second, the writing was just mediocre. It didn’t suck me in. I didn’t grow attached to any of the characters. It felt very basic.
The plot itself was interesting. The author did a great job of making you care about solving the murder mystery. Tragedy after tragedy struck Shori, so it was nice to see justice brought to the wrong-doers in the end.
I also appreciated the author’s different spin on vampirism. Some of the same nuances existed–sleep during the day, needs blood–but they were sympathetic vampires. They co-habited with humans, forming symbiotic relationships and caring for the humans as though they were family members. I thought this was neat, and I liked this spin.
Overall, this book wasn’t for me, but if you enjoy vampire novels, check it out. You might like it.
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler is the story of a young vampire who loses her memory in a horrific murder attempt. The book follows Shori as she tries to piece her life together, stay alive, and bring her family’s murderers to justice.
I wanted to like this book. It’s been on my to-be-read shelf for years, but there was a lot about the book that turned me off.
First off, Shori is a young vampire who has the body of a child. In the vampire world, she’s considered a child even though she’s in her 50s. In the human world, she appears to be around 12. As Shori collects symbionts (humans who form her family), most of the ones she chooses are ones she’s intimately attracted to. She has sexual relationships with these human symbionts. Ick. She looks 12 and hasn’t hit puberty. This is not okay. I couldn’t read this and not think, “Pedophiles, ew. Yuck.” I don’t think glamorizing pedophilia was the author’s intent, but I couldn’t move past it.
Second, the writing was just mediocre. It didn’t suck me in. I didn’t grow attached to any of the characters. It felt very basic.
The plot itself was interesting. The author did a great job of making you care about solving the murder mystery. Tragedy after tragedy struck Shori, so it was nice to see justice brought to the wrong-doers in the end.
I also appreciated the author’s different spin on vampirism. Some of the same nuances existed–sleep during the day, needs blood–but they were sympathetic vampires. They co-habited with humans, forming symbiotic relationships and caring for the humans as though they were family members. I thought this was neat, and I liked this spin.
Overall, this book wasn’t for me, but if you enjoy vampire novels, check it out. You might like it.
ninj's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty much races off the starting line with a child vampire rediscovering herself after waking up alone, with little memory.
First person discovery works quite well, though at the same time ... I don't know, the story is somewhat straightforward with an ending that just ... happened. Which sounds more lacklustre than it was, because there was a lot of interesting development and exposition, and memorable events suddenly occurring. Quite readable.
First person discovery works quite well, though at the same time ... I don't know, the story is somewhat straightforward with an ending that just ... happened. Which sounds more lacklustre than it was, because there was a lot of interesting development and exposition, and memorable events suddenly occurring. Quite readable.
triciasreadings's review against another edition
5.0
AWESOME!! Loved this all the way!
Vampire stories are my favourite, but they do tend to be a bit droll and the same explanations/lore come up again and again. Not this time!! So good.
The Shori character did gross me out cause of her size/ age was very confronting, but the story really fascinated me and I loved the community/ symbionts arrangements.
Wow, a truely great vampire book that I am still really amazed that I only found this 6month ago by mistake. I was searching for The Kindred (the tv series and game) when I came across Octavia’s other books.
I would highly recommend this book to any vampire fiend
Vampire stories are my favourite, but they do tend to be a bit droll and the same explanations/lore come up again and again. Not this time!! So good.
The Shori character did gross me out cause of her size/ age was very confronting, but the story really fascinated me and I loved the community/ symbionts arrangements.
Wow, a truely great vampire book that I am still really amazed that I only found this 6month ago by mistake. I was searching for The Kindred (the tv series and game) when I came across Octavia’s other books.
I would highly recommend this book to any vampire fiend
mitchell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Hmmm, interesting story, it kept me reading. Maybe not her best written book? and the pedophilia-adjacent stuff was... hard to get behind.
rawry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Extremely good and something that led me to wanting to read more of Octavia Butler’s books. She really roped me in and held on tight, I almost wasn’t ready to let go.
drmelreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
With @kindred_fx coming out I felt the need to revisit some other works by Butler. Fledgling is a vampire story that starts in the middle. I want a prequel and a sequel. A dark skin 50 something year old vampire who looks like a child is the focus of hatred for being different. Her melanin protects her from the sun so she can wake and walk during the day, unlike all other fair skin vampires. Her blackness is hated, but her blackness is part of her strength. Whew! Isn’t that a story that will pass the test of time? I love the inclusion of diverse symbionts and their relationship with the Ina and human world. One ever feels his twoness… Check it out. It’s a good one that leaves you yearning for more.