Fledgling

By: Octavia E. Butler

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted - and still wants - to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself.

©2005 Octavia E. Butler (P)2020 Recorded Books

Don’t pay attention to some of these reviews

I almost didn’t get this book because of these ridiculously hyperbolic reviews about the fact that the main character is said to look like a child yet still engages in adult activities, particularly sex. There are no explicit details surrounding the sexual acts, it occurs very early in the novel, and it has little to no bearing on the actual story and plot, which is entertaining. A good, simple alternative vampire story for anyone who enjoys the genre.

Butler us all about Transformation

Not the typical Vampire read but still good for Halloween. An introduction to readers on her take on transformation.

My take

Overall, this is one to take on a long train trip. The narrator is hypnotizing as she pulls you into the story and places you into the community. If you like this type of developing storyline then you'll like this. Kind of a Victorian Flare about it for me.

Interesting subversion of teen vampire, distracting narrator

The book is worth it but the repetitive falling tone thing the narrator does detracts from it

Plot sinks what could have been great

What makes this novel interesting is how it deconstructs taboo vampire tropes. Instead of a dusty predator that hunts young women, we're given a child which amnesia that seduces people older than her. Though she has lived 50+ years, she possesses the body of a child and has graphic sex with her "victims".

What holds this novel back from being great is that halfway through, the story slams on its breaks to trade its thrilling plot for a dry court case that is the focus for the rest of the book. Characters are overall very weak with few exceptions. Family histories and vampires apart from the main cast are often indistinguishable.

I can't really recommend this book to people that like a good story but if you're interested in a meta reading of vampires or something a little more cerebral than this might be your jam.

Love it

At first I was like,uummm this is weird with the little girl. I couldn’t stop reading! Amazing, hope there is a part 2.

Struggled to finish

I really disliked the actor's voice. It took away from the story. The main character's voice was annoying.

I’m not sure how I feel about main character looking like a child

The story was good at times. Fell flat at the end. It was worth a read. I really wish the main character would have looked like a woman. Not a child. I don’t want to think about a child like vampire having sex with adults. I feel like the story would have been just as good if she looked 20. Her looking like a child did not add to the story in any way.

Pick me-esque but in the best way

An interesting take on vampires. A lot of interesting twists on vampire lore, with a healthy smattering of tried and true tropes.

One of Octavia’s Best

Octavia Butler is the gold standard, and this is one of her most unique. I only wish she had made this a series!