The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
mar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ever read something so exceptionally well crafted and nuanced it makes everything you've ever read before worse in retrospect? that's what reading octavia butler feels like to me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Gun violence, and Infertility
Minor: Racism and Rape
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler is book two in the Xenogenesis series, it's a direct sequel to the first book in the series, Dawn. Adulthood Rites takes place almost 30 years after Dawn and although Lilith, the main character from Dawn, is in Adulthood Rites, the main character of this book is not Lilith.
This story was really interesting, it followsLilith's first son . I really loved the world building and the character development.
There was only one part that I didn't like in this book and that was part three. It just wasn't as exciting as the rest of the book so I'm going to knock off .5 stars. I plan on reading every piece of work Butler has written at least 10 times each, so I might appreciate part three of this book during a later read.
Overall this was an amazing sequel to Dawn, I can't wait to finish the trilogy! I'm giving this 4.5 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5 Stars
I read this for free on [Libbyapp.com]
This story was really interesting, it follows
There was only one part that I didn't like in this book and that was part three. It just wasn't as exciting as the rest of the book so I'm going to knock off .5 stars. I plan on reading every piece of work Butler has written at least 10 times each, so I might appreciate part three of this book during a later read.
Overall this was an amazing sequel to Dawn, I can't wait to finish the trilogy! I'm giving this 4.5 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5 Stars
I read this for free on [Libbyapp.com]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Alcohol, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Grief, and Cursing
bbpettry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
4.0
Butler is an expert at what smart people call 'thinkin' about shit...at length' - this trilogy exemplifies that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Body horror
Moderate: Rape
bucklace27's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Chronic illness and Gun violence
Minor: Rape
sebrittainclark's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
The second book in the Xenogenesis series, this is such a fascinating book about what it is to be human and what is necessary to survive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Minor: Rape and War
belovedsnail's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Still very interesting workd building, but this was the weakest of the 3 for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Child abuse
cupidcove's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
This story has a fascinating way of dealing with sex and gender that offers really interesting criticism of both genetic essentialism and human conception of self. While I did think it was a bit too fast-paced at times and wished there wasn't such a big time jump between books one and two, I think the story that was meant to be told in this book was conveyed well. Overall a great installment to the series and I can't wait to read the final book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Body horror, Body shaming, Slavery, Sexism, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Racism, and Rape
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, and Alcohol
justinlife's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Octavia Butler's second in the Xeongenesis/Lilith's Brood series does not disappoint. The series itself, about humanity's last hope for survival is to join with the alien species that rescues it, continues to show humanity at its best and worst. Great sci-fi/speculative fiction uses the genre to explore modern issues. Here Butler succeeds. What's even better, she doesn't choose sides. Well, not really. People who resist the aliens and those who join them are both shown in as compassionate a way as possible. We are merely spectators in their struggle. We don't get to decide, we get to watch.
The people she gives compassion to are people I wouldn't think deserve it. As the resistors continue to live long lives, they increasingly become violent against each other and the aliens, kidnapping their children, other resistor villages' women and supplies. The story follows Akin, Lilith's human born son, as he tries to find a solution for them. These people aren't painted as monsters for the most part. Some are, but the majority of the people who want to stay human and be human and do cruel things are given more layers and are more complex than I expected.
Overall, the writing is wonderful. It flows and makes sense. Whether we can see what happens coming or not, it's fun to live in the prose. What's hard is the view that having children is what keeps humans going and give them purpose. Like I get it, but it would have been interesting to see some of the resistor villages explore creativity, plays, music, etc. Would that have changed? If humans who resist the alien assistance aren't able to reproduce, what life would people make? What would society be without kids, in general? Are humans designed to self-destruct?
All great things here to explore. Other topics for future justin to think about: Gender spectrum with the Oankali; polyamorous relationships only in the construct/alien culture; Does it matter that some form of humanity would continue? How would queer people fair in this world?
Looking forward to finishing this series and seeing where Ms. Butler takes it.
The people she gives compassion to are people I wouldn't think deserve it. As the resistors continue to live long lives, they increasingly become violent against each other and the aliens, kidnapping their children, other resistor villages' women and supplies. The story follows Akin, Lilith's human born son, as he tries to find a solution for them. These people aren't painted as monsters for the most part. Some are, but the majority of the people who want to stay human and be human and do cruel things are given more layers and are more complex than I expected.
Overall, the writing is wonderful. It flows and makes sense. Whether we can see what happens coming or not, it's fun to live in the prose. What's hard is the view that having children is what keeps humans going and give them purpose. Like I get it, but it would have been interesting to see some of the resistor villages explore creativity, plays, music, etc. Would that have changed? If humans who resist the alien assistance aren't able to reproduce, what life would people make? What would society be without kids, in general? Are humans designed to self-destruct?
All great things here to explore. Other topics for future justin to think about: Gender spectrum with the Oankali; polyamorous relationships only in the construct/alien culture; Does it matter that some form of humanity would continue? How would queer people fair in this world?
Looking forward to finishing this series and seeing where Ms. Butler takes it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, and Infertility
Minor: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Violence, and War
sunbathingturtle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
There is just so much to chew on in this world! I really appreciated the reprise of a couple characters from Dawn.
The story starts a bit slow but quickly hits pace once the narrator grows.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only disappointment I’ll note is that we don’t hear much from Lilith in this book. But Akin is a superb character as well.
And there is so much to grab onto besides past characters; from Oankali-Human constructs to life back on Earth, this book hits enough untied plot points from Dawn to stay satisfying.
Not only was this an enjoyable read, but it also pushed me to interrogate and widen my paradigms about humanity and our collective future. Thank you Octavia Butler.
The story starts a bit slow but quickly hits pace once the narrator grows.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only disappointment I’ll note is that we don’t hear much from Lilith in this book. But Akin is a superb character as well.
And there is so much to grab onto besides past characters; from Oankali-Human constructs to life back on Earth, this book hits enough untied plot points from Dawn to stay satisfying.
Not only was this an enjoyable read, but it also pushed me to interrogate and widen my paradigms about humanity and our collective future. Thank you Octavia Butler.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Xenophobia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Rape and Trafficking
whirl's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Body shaming
Moderate: Murder, Infertility, Genocide, Gun violence, Death, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Fire/Fire injury