THE PLOT: ‘Adulthood Rites’ by Octavia Butler is a sci-fi novel about aliens taking over the world. After a devastating nuclear war, the Oankali rescued the human race and detoxified Earth. But the Oankali have made humans sterile unless they mate together to produce a hybrid species. Akin looks like an ordinary human boy. But, as the first hybrid-male born to a human woman, he is an experiment with super-human powers. Despite being raised Oankali, he is drawn to separatist humans who resist alien interference. While balancing desire for humanity’s independence and fear humanity will destroy itself again, Akin must make an impossible choice between two halves of himself.

SUMMARY: This is the second novel in the ‘Lilith’s Brood’ trilogy and it’s just as compelling as the first. This series is set apart by its sheer creativity and originality. Reading about an alien society may be a step too far for some booklovers. However, those open to science-fiction will be fascinated by the detailed world-building and compelling plot. Through the alien and human characters, the author makes a powerful comment on racism, feminism and power. And, with such an extreme premise, Butler explores the darkest and most beautiful sides of human nature.

GOOD BITS: My favourite sections were set in the separatist settlement of Phoenix, watching the characters adapt to lives without the Oankali and their fight for ‘freedom’. These sections were high-stakes and had a compelling narrative about the meaning of purpose. Without being able to produce children, the human settlements showcased the optimism, ingenuity and cruelty of human nature.

NOT SO GOOD BITS: There are moments when the story feels too alien. For example, the section on the Oankali ship was hard to visualise because it was so strange. It also felt less interesting because the Oankali are, by and large, rational creatures who don’t lie. The lack of subterfuge and agreement to cooperate amongst themselves was nice but inherently less entertaining.

OVERALL: I’d recommend this book to fans of ‘The 100’ by Kass Morgan, ‘The Fifth Season’ by N.K. Jemisin, ‘The Three Body Problem’ by Liu Cixin. I would only recommend this to fans of sci-fi and definitely don’t read it as your first Octavia Butler. But if you’re open to the concept then it is, in every sense of the word, fantastic.

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