thatjasonpace's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn... there was a lot I like about the book, the unique style of vampires and the central story, but the main character, despite being 53 years old is depicted as looking like a 10 or 11 year old girl, and there is sex, with her, by older men. Yes, they are thralls somewhat trapped by her power, but it was extremely uncomfortable reading sensually written love making scenes involving a "child". It was an interesting read, but one I'm unlikely to ever pick up again.
thegr8estangell's review against another edition
sad
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? Yes
3.75
I really enjoy butlers style of writing. It’s so immersive and interesting. Her version of vampires were so unique and issues they were speaking on were so well done. BUT. there was 0 reason for her to have an 11yo body and to have sex with grown ass folk. That was fucked up. It honestly, wasn’t crucial to the plot and I really wish she would’ve made her 18.
ksraines217's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
m4tr1m0ny's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
I just slammed right through this one, Octavia Butler wrote just the most amazing SFF. The Ina read very, very similarly to the Oankali of Lilith's Brood.
Spoiler
Super fascinating to see her continuing obsession with sex essentialism/dimorphism in alien species.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
kyrajanson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
direton1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
3.0
leslielikesthings's review against another edition
4.0
I know we're all tired of vampires, but there are lots of different versions to imagine, and I really enjoyed Octavia Butler's take on the myth. Because of the plot point/storytelling device of the narrator's amnesia, there were a few times during the book where I felt like we were getting a fairly clunky exposition dump, but that's a fairly minor quibble. Try not to visualize the sex scenes too much or you'll wig yourself out - I am by no means puritanical when it comes to that kind of thing, and it all makes perfect sense in context, but the visual without the context would be problematic and pretty damn disturbing. I appreciated Butler's examinations of race and gender, but some might find them a bit heavy handed.
greergreer's review against another edition
2.0
this was not the vampire book for me. A bit slow and first person. Did I say a bit slow?
composed's review against another edition
5.0
Hot damn. One of my favorite sci-fi novels I've read. And while I'm not young enough to be super into the vampire thing, this made them (her) really sexy, despite other things that would normally put me off... Great way to work in race without it feeling at all overbearing. Wow.