Reviews with content warning for Violence - Ritus de l'edat adulta

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.

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justinlife's review against another edition

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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.

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whirl's review against another edition

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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

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feralbookwife's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective sad tense fast-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

4.25

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biblio_jordyn's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.5

What could have been better?

So, this is the second book in the series of 3! I felt like parts of it was a lot of world building and teaching us more about the world, so it felt really filler in some parts which made it harder for me to get into in comparison to the first novel, but that just may be a me thing.

What I enjoyed?

I loved seeing the world expand and seeing familiar characters but also meeting new ones.

The 👏 social 👏 commentary 👏 It is so relevant even thought it was written over 30 years ago. From our violent ideas and hierarchical nature to gender and sexuality, it has so much.

This book explores humanity, our flaws, and how they make us who we are.

The Xenogenis series spans generations and I think that’s one of the coolest things about it and I’m so looking forward to the reprint of the final book in the series!

😍Phenomenal Quotes😍
“Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them to give themselves definition and status”

“That’s what humans are too, don’t forget. People who poison each other, the disclaim all responsibility.”

Content Warnings

rainforest's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

Content Warnings

doug_benton's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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