gellyreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Only a whole star higher because of the bi, harem-wanting queen known as Amber! This book was so confusing. I feel like the first two in the series were so much stronger. I didn't care for this protagonist either.
Graphic: War, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Classism, Murder, Death, Rape, Incest, Violence, and Slavery
becksusername's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Trafficking, and Torture
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Gun violence, Biphobia, Terminal illness, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Pregnancy, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
lottiegasp's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked but did not love this series. I did really love Wild Seed when I read it a few years ago (maybe because I hadn't read much fantasy/scifi to develop my tastes or Butler's writing improved as the first in the series was the last published?) But I read the 2nd-4th recently and found them all just okay. Sometimes the writing is disjointed, like the dialogue is unconvincing or the characters will act or speak in seemingly contradictory ways. But the ideas are quite interesting, I.e. the mind-reading "pattern" and the virus that creates the new species Clayarks, and the ways that power hierarchies manifest across gender, race (it's not so specific in Patternmaster but plays a bigger role in the other 3 books) and I guess you could call it "sub-species"/ability/neurotype (that is, the 3 fictional types of humans or human-like species, the Patternists, Clayarks and so-called mutes who have no powers and haven't caught the virus)
Moderate: War, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Incest
erikawynn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Death of parent, Incest, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Minor: Miscarriage
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