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alexareads27's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? No
2.0
This is a tough one to rate. The premise of a Black vampire with amnesia was really intriguing to me and there were many points where I was invested in the storyline. But, I couldn’t really get past the basically pedophilic content of Shori looking like an 11 year old with an adult brain. Some parts were very disturbing to read and I only kept going because this was a pick for my book club. The writing felt really off in a lot of parts.
It’s very heavy on description and felt very slow in the last third of the novel. I think I understand what Butler was trying to do here and in some sections it was successful but it ultimately didn’t work for me.
It’s very heavy on description and felt very slow in the last third of the novel. I think I understand what Butler was trying to do here and in some sections it was successful but it ultimately didn’t work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Violence
camerondeja's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Honestly I wish there was a sequel. I want to read more about the Ina and Shori
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
peachani's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
- This is about vampires, but
they work much like the aliens in Butler's other books. - Again, I struggle with understanding why Butler includes taboo sex acts. I don't think it's for shock value.
- The
trial and detective work were the most interesting parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Murder
chrobin's review against another edition
challenging
fast-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? No
4.0
While clear and simple in style, the convoluted mess of power dynamics will twist around inside you. Occasionally the prose will lull you into a sense of safety, only for you to round the corner on extreme discomfort.
As someone who has been obsessed with vampire stories since I was a pre-teen, raised on Anne Rice, I always knew that vampire stories were allegories for sexual desire, lust, consent, etc. Many vampire stories are written as romantic fantasies of women losing agency, but wanting it so badly… romanticizing age gaps, enthrallment, violent acts of all natures, always coming back to pleasure, repressed sexuality. Just look at Twilight... Butler takes all of these themes, flips them around, and makes you look hard at them, very plainly - which for me adds to the discomfort. And while many claim she didn’t address the pedophilia appropriately, I think that her ability to make you so very uncomfortable in so few words is a part of this matter-of-fact horror.
As someone who has been obsessed with vampire stories since I was a pre-teen, raised on Anne Rice, I always knew that vampire stories were allegories for sexual desire, lust, consent, etc. Many vampire stories are written as romantic fantasies of women losing agency, but wanting it so badly… romanticizing age gaps, enthrallment, violent acts of all natures, always coming back to pleasure, repressed sexuality. Just look at Twilight... Butler takes all of these themes, flips them around, and makes you look hard at them, very plainly - which for me adds to the discomfort. And while many claim she didn’t address the pedophilia appropriately, I think that her ability to make you so very uncomfortable in so few words is a part of this matter-of-fact horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Fire/Fire injury
dclaw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Pedophilia, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
existential_crisis3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
francyfrancy's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
owl_in_tra1ning's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Racial slurs and Blood
crimehaver's review against another edition
Lolita was easier to read than this. The internal justification for pedophillic acts was extremely triggering for me. From the other reviews, it's good that I did, because it's apparently a major theme of the work. Strongly advise proceeding with caution and knowing content warnings ahead of time. I love everything else I've read of Butler's and am dissapointed that this book, which came as a recommendation, was an exception.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
cossmo's review against another edition
As much as I love Octavia's E. Butler work - this one is simply not my cup of tea.
Main action revolves around an 11 year all (physically looking) girl involved in all sorts of relationships with all sorts of people - that felt wrong to me.
It does bring a new perspective on the "vampire" theme -and I appreciate the originality, but it is a few steps too far for my taste...
Main action revolves around an 11 year all (physically looking) girl involved in all sorts of relationships with all sorts of people - that felt wrong to me.
It does bring a new perspective on the "vampire" theme -and I appreciate the originality, but it is a few steps too far for my taste...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia