i’m a little disappointed i didn’t like this book more. from what i’ve read, fledgling is a mixed bag in terms of reviews, but it seems as though most agree that this isn’t butlers best work. 

i really enjoyed the premise of the book! exploring topics of race and sexuality through the mythology and folklore of vampires resulted in a captivating and exciting story. i did enjoy the book, though mostly at surface level for the spec fic elements and the pacing. 

although i think that expressing vampirism through a more overtly erotic lens is important, especially in emphasizing the queerness of the mythology, i really despised that butler chose to use adult/minor relationships to illustrate this. for me, i think that the more sexual aspects could’ve been written with more complexity. i also just wasn’t really drawn in by butlers language. i prefer prose that cuts deeper, has more density and complexity. i think it’s hard to navigate complex issues like race and sexuality without writing with and eliciting more emotion. 

i’m not sure i would recommend this book, mostly because of the adult/minor relationships.