Parable of the Talents (Parable, 2)

From a celebrated author, the thrilling sequel to The Parable of the Sower--a cautionary novel ahead of its time, perfect for fans of The Broken Earth trilogy.

In 2032, Lauren Olamina has survived the destruction and ruin of everything she knew. Her peaceful community based on her newly founded faith, Earthseed, provides refuge for outcasts facing persecution after the election of an ultra-conservative president. Under his rule, Lauren's colony--a minority religious faction led by a young Black woman--becomes a target for the president's reign of terror and oppression.

Years later, Asha Vere reads the journals of a mother she never knew. As she searches for answers, she struggles to reconcile with the legacy of a mother caught between her duty to her chosen family and her calling to lead humankind into a better future.

"In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time, Octavia Butler's 'Parable' books may be unmatched."--The New Yorker

BUY THE BOOK

Published Aug 20, 2019

448 pages

Average rating: 8.71

95 RATINGS

|

Community Reviews

jimbat.628
Feb 11, 2025
4/10 stars
You can skip this sequel. The main character fell flat, I didn't understand her marriage, I lost care for the project she was creating, and there's way too much SA to the point where it becomes unreadable. I understand that Butler is writing a dystopian novel, but it's excessive and has no point narratively or for character development.
elijahklayne
Jan 24, 2025
6/10 stars
Compared to the first in this series, while the story is still stellar, it’s slightly cumbrous in writing and feels quite rushed at the end.
Shawn💜Reads
Jul 15, 2023
4/10 stars
I couldn't get into this book no matter how hard I tried. And I really tried because I truly enjoyed the first one. This one felt... drawn out or something. Idk. It took me months to finish. I'm not a fast reader at all, but I usually finish books within a week.
PaigePink11
Mar 31, 2023
10/10 stars
Must Read

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.