A review by ashleysbookthoughts
Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler

dark hopeful tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Again, the nuance with which Butler tells this story is incredible. She never takes sides or provides clear answers regarding what is the best path forward for humans and oankali. 

It would have been easy for her to paint the human resisters as stupid or evil, but she doesn’t. The characters are complex, and as we get to know them through the eyes of half human half oankali child Akin, we understand why they make the choices they do. 

In this second installment, Butler introduces another big question: when two cultures with very different ideas of morality collide, who’s morality is right? It takes someone who is a part of both worlds to try to bridge that gap, though true success remains impossible.