This book was difficult to get through. The plot revolves around two nearly-immortal beings in a power struggle over a centuries-long human breeding project to produce people with paranormal abilities. Almost every scene includes themes of either rape, incest, eugenics, mental and physically slavery or murder. Considering all this it's very unlikely I'll read the rest of the series or recommend this book to anyone.

That being said, it in no way lessened my respected for Octavia Butler as an author. I've read three of her other novels, Kindred, The Parable of the Sower, The Parable of the Talents and a short story collection, Bloodchild. Of these Bloodchild is my favorite, with several of the stories standing out as some of my very favorite short stories. I hope to read more Butler in the future. But I'm going to be need a bit of a mental break after this last one.