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asparagusisreading's review against another edition
FMC is supposed to be 50 something in her species years but is often described as young, innocent, and adolescent with “no hair, no breasts,” “tiny,” etc. Also, they have no memory or full understanding of things going on around them, similar to a child. The constant reminders that the FMC is a child but an adult, their sexual relationships with adults without full consent, and their childlike but sexual power over others is not for me. I was uncomfortable and disgusted with the story, pausing and skipping ahead whenever she was described as young or engaging in sex. If the intention was to dive deep into messy power dynamics in relationships through a science fiction/fantasy lens, I can see it but the execution did not engage me. Instead of the story feeling thought provoking, it felt gross. I could not get my past discomfort so I am DNFing at 39%.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Sexual content
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
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5
I found this to be interesting and an engaging, intriguing story. I am glad I made my way through it.
But I do need to say that having the protagonist being called a “child” the entire time and looking like she was 10 years old is unsettling, even knowing she is an over half century old vampire. Vampire adults completely acknowledged their attraction to her and only being able to not act yet since she is still a child!
But I do need to say that having the protagonist being called a “child” the entire time and looking like she was 10 years old is unsettling, even knowing she is an over half century old vampire. Vampire adults completely acknowledged their attraction to her and only being able to not act yet since she is still a child!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Biphobia, and Slavery
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
hannahhank13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Death of parent
smaber23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is not a book I will recommend. I love Octavia Butler but this was disappointing to say the least.
CSA is a major part of the novel as other reviewers have pointed out. This is always a controversial variable to include in a vampire novel: adult living inside of a child's body. Though it is nothing new to those of of us who read vampire novels (CSA is frequently depicted in Anne Rice's IWTV), it's nonetheless shocking and disturbing.
Additionally, vampire books must have rules spelled out for the reader: do they burn or sparkle in the sun? Where do they source their blood? What are their morals, if they have any? How does one become a vampire or destroy one? The main character in this novel has amnesia as well as the novel being written from a first person POV. It quickly became a story being told to the reader instead of showing the story unfolding.
The final act of the book was the best in my opinion. If this hasn't been the author's final book, I do believe it would have more flesh and better storytelling. Overall, I will not be rereading or recommending.
CSA is a major part of the novel as other reviewers have pointed out. This is always a controversial variable to include in a vampire novel: adult living inside of a child's body. Though it is nothing new to those of of us who read vampire novels (CSA is frequently depicted in Anne Rice's IWTV), it's nonetheless shocking and disturbing.
Additionally, vampire books must have rules spelled out for the reader: do they burn or sparkle in the sun? Where do they source their blood? What are their morals, if they have any? How does one become a vampire or destroy one? The main character in this novel has amnesia as well as the novel being written from a first person POV. It quickly became a story being told to the reader instead of showing the story unfolding.
The final act of the book was the best in my opinion. If this hasn't been the author's final book, I do believe it would have more flesh and better storytelling. Overall, I will not be rereading or recommending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Blood
fannylaine's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal death
franklloydweft's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
I gave this a worse review on fable, but after reading Anne Rice it gets a higher rating from me now!
Copied from fable:
The only reason this isn’t getting a higher rating from me is for things that I think Butler totally intended, but I just couldn’t get past. The idea of Shori having the appearance of a 10 year old child without her memory, despite her not being human, and still behaving sexually with adult human beings really icked me out. I felt better and better about it as I read, but I cannot get past the sheer discomfort it gave me in the beginning. I also thought that particular element took away from my enjoyment more than enhancing it. I understand what Butler was doing with that particular detail; it’s deliberately uncomfortable to our human sensibilities and further *others* the Ina from us in a subtle way. However, I think for me personally it detracted from this overall very interesting take on vampire lore. The idea of symbionts having an almost exclusively sexual relationship towards feeding was a little off-putting for me too. I think I would have liked it better if that relationship was more ambiguous. No matter, I still really enjoyed this book!
Copied from fable:
The only reason this isn’t getting a higher rating from me is for things that I think Butler totally intended, but I just couldn’t get past. The idea of Shori having the appearance of a 10 year old child without her memory, despite her not being human, and still behaving sexually with adult human beings really icked me out. I felt better and better about it as I read, but I cannot get past the sheer discomfort it gave me in the beginning. I also thought that particular element took away from my enjoyment more than enhancing it. I understand what Butler was doing with that particular detail; it’s deliberately uncomfortable to our human sensibilities and further *others* the Ina from us in a subtle way. However, I think for me personally it detracted from this overall very interesting take on vampire lore. The idea of symbionts having an almost exclusively sexual relationship towards feeding was a little off-putting for me too. I think I would have liked it better if that relationship was more ambiguous. No matter, I still really enjoyed this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Racism, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gun violence
kemrick19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail