Fledgling

By: Octavia E. Butler

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

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

Great novel from a great author

This has to be one of the most common-sensical, tragic, and heart-warming approaches to the vampire legend I've ever read or listened to. I really wish the author hadn't passed away not long after publishing this, as I'd really like to read more stories based on the premise. This story seems to have many layers which appealed to me. It addressed and portrayed unusual relationships, cultural baggage, loss, triumph--often loss and triumph were intermixed--love, difficulties in getting past appearances and personal paradigms, courage under immense pressure, evil, complacence, duty, and sense of duty. It is a complex story from a complex author, but without the author talking down to the reader, and well worth the read. There were a number of social and psychological lessons to be appreciated here, though the story does not appear to be written primarily as a message-novel. In addition, the narrator was excellent. I enjoyed her voice(s) and her narration was fluid enough and passionate enough that I often forgot I was listening to someone read the story. I'll be looking for more of her work. :)

Not my favorite

A slightly new twist on the vampire story but extremely uncomfortable pedophilia undertones and long drawn out explanations of procedures.

I really liked this book

I liked it but I knew (guessed) that one of the symbionts would die so it took me a while to finish it

Compelling

I find all of Octavia butler’s writing to be compelling. I love that her characters are compelled to learn to survive

Incredible book

This story had several twists and turns that kept me eagerly engaged! I would recommend this book!

Not my fave but still a worthwhile read

This is so far my least favorite Octavia Butler novel, but it is still good, thought provoking and worth a read, especially if you are a Butler fan. The opening is unforgettable and there are a few parts that made a deep impression on me. Like her books tend to do.

Regarding another reviewer’s disgust at what appears to be a sexual encounter with a child and older man, all I can say is that person stopped reading too soon. I believe are supposed to be challenged by the sexual nature of the characters but — this is a vampire story AND the main character is not exactly what she first seems.

As usual Butler reveals overarching social structures we may take for a given — by scrambling or discarding them.

Another wonderful read by Ms. Butler

Wonderful read, filled with mystery and adventure. Ms. Bulter's writing just wows me with ever word. May she be spreading Wildseeds around the universe for those who know. Grateful!

interesting metaphors

Really interesting story with deep parallels to life as a POC in the US. Beautifully written, so that the parallels are subtle. So much depth to the story if you can understand what you are looking at. And if not, still an engaging, entertaining story for a mature reader (meaning older than YA target audience).

It's not a confortable read, but it's good.

If you read other reviews for this book, you probably know why it's contraversial, there is a character with a childlike body in adult situations. From my standpoint it's supposed to be a little gross to read to enforce the in-human nature of things, although I'm still a little torn about using this method.

Aside from that it's a pretty good book, some things aren't wrapped up as I would hope, and the plot itself isn't incredible. But the world building on display was a delight to read, I felt like the characters all had distinct lives, personalities, and histories.

My second time reading this and I loved it twice!

I think the first time I had some difficulty with the image of a child (despite the age being 53) having these strange intimate relationships. But I listened without the shock that I had the first time I read the book and I enjoyed it much more.