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Fledgling

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Fledgling

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo
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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 Fantasy Fiction Genetic Engineering Paranormal Paranormal Romance Romance Science Fiction
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One of the worst readers I've had to listen to. That coupled with the unnecessary pedofilia undertones of the first few chapters almost made me stop listening. Truth be told I used it this book mostly as background noise. That being said the second half of the book wasn't God awful so I don't regret giving it the complete listen.

First hour of the book unnecessary

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Wonderful story and I loved the narrator. Can’t get enough of Octavia Butler’s words - the best story writer

Amazing as always

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I have really enjoyed everything of Octavia Butler’s work I have read so far but there was one thing that I was very uncomfortable about with this book - there was a huge issue for me with themes of paedophilia. I feel like in her work she explores power and sexuality a fair bit, and I generally have found that to be done in a very original way, but when it came to this book there was a personal boundary that was crossed in what was described. Particularly the initial interactions between two of the main characters - although the character is 53 years old, the physical appearance is that of a ten year old child and therefore the sexual elements are just not ok to me. I found that confronting. It’s a shame as the other elements of race and power were being explored in such an original and interesting way. I also feel that Octavia Butler had a really interesting way of exploring themes that I was disappointed that it didn’t feel morally explored.

Some uncomfortable elements

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The story is definitely interesting and kept me engaged, although it is uncomfortable in parts. This narrator was so slow though. I don't usually speed audiobooks up because I find it difficult to keep up with the story but this was the opposite. 1x speed was so sleep-inducing I just started thinking about other things and not listening. Plus the accents... yikes. However she does give a good voice to Shori and expresses emotions very well. I think I would have preferred reading the physical book in this case.

sleepy narrator

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Butler has crafted another excellent novel. She expertly deconstructs the vampire mythos and crafts an original tale. Ojo's narration is by and large superb, however, her English accent needs some work.

Vampire sci-fi

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