I absolutely love Octavia Butler. She is by far one of the most captivating novelists I've experienced. And I say experience because each world she creates in her novel is like a mini-vacation -- a trip elsewhere, someplace fascinating, interesting, unbelievable and likely at the same time.

"Fledgling" is the story of a young, African American vampire hybrid with human qualities that morphs into a story about race, age, and sexism in this underground and unknown society in America, at least that's how I interpreted the story.

The sex scenes were in unbearable and made me very, very uncomfortable. I understand Butler's connection between the pleasure individuals feel from being bitten by vampires and sexual pleasure, though I'm not certain that this is typical because this is the first vampire novel I've ever read.

I give "Fledgling" 5 stars because the story is captivating and the characters are intriguing. I encourage everyone to read this novel or any novel by Octavia Butler. Don't miss out on the sci-fi literary experience of a lifetime.