Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Summary: Parable of the Talents is told in the voice of Lauren Olamina’s daughter, Asha Vere—from whom she has been separated for most of the girl’s life—interspersed with sections in the form of Lauren’s own journals. Asha searches for answers about her past while struggling to reconcile with her mother’s legacy—caught between her duty to her chosen family and her calling to lead humankind into a better future among the stars.

What I Thought:

I had enjoyed the Parable of the Sower: Graphic Novel Adaptation, so this was an instant click for me as I wanted to continue reading about this dystopian world. However, I don't believe it is a prerequisite to read the first book because the narrative helps situate the reader in the correct time and place of the story. I liked the illustrations, and I took my time reading a bit at a time. As a user of the platform, I read my graphic novel in NetGalley Reader, which was the perfect format to experience the book.




Expected Publication 22/04/25
Goodreads Review 08/04/25
#ParableoftheTalents #NetGalley.

This adaptation was well done and matched level of the previously adapted book, Parable of the Sower. Color was used to convey energy and emotion as the characters navigated hope and horror through their journey. While there is a lot of violence and destruction depicted on the pages, I believe Duffy did a great job of illustrating the soul of this book. This graphic novel is definitely for mature readers, but it provides another gateway into Octavia Butler's writing that is valuable. Today's readers will be stunned and horrified to find that this book was not written recently and it will be an interesting catalyst for reflection in conversations.

This book was beautifully done and took real care to pay homage to the original work. I would highly recommend.

In the conclusion to the Earthseed duology, Butler's work comes to life with unflinching social commentary that is ripe with parallels of our time.

There was SO many passages I wanted to highlight. So many scenes that I see and feel mirror the reality of our time. My heart was heavy while my mind raced with how dangerously close we are in a religious fascist regime. Lauren is fierce fmc. Unforgettable, resolute, and strong. She is unlike anyone you'll ever meet, and be the blueprint to finding solace in one's belief in the goodness and partnership of community.

Beautifully illustrated, if you find yourself wanting to read the text and can't, this is the perfect supplement to start your journey of reading Butler's work.

This perfectly captured the original text, maintaining the story, tone, author's voice, etc. The graphics added more to the story, bringing to life the Octavia Butler's world. I particularly enjoyed the graphics dealing with the religion our main character was writing/creating. The graphic novel is quite long and expansive and doesn't try to condense the story (which I appreciate).

I would recommend reading Butler's duology first if you haven't already, then pick up the graphic novel adaptation of Parable of the Sower, then pick up this final adaptation. You could read just the graphic novel adaptions, but I personally think they're best looked at as an addition to and way of re-experiencing the duology and not as a replacement for it.

Recommended for fans of dystopian literature, climate change, apocalyptic-esque stories, sci-fi-ish stories. This is a heavy read that deals with some serious and uncomfortable topics, so check out trigger warnings if needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy for review

I have not yet read Parable of the Sower or Talents, but have been curious about them for a while after reading Octavia Butler's Patternist books. I figured a graphic novel adaptation would be a good way to become more familiar with the story, particularly as it's very relevant to current events and a topic of discussion among plenty of readers in my own life. I borrowed the Sower graphic novel from the library before reading Talents. Both books feature an intense art style that really amps up the darker elements of the story. There is a lot of visual noise, texture, and variety on top of an already grim plot. At times I found this combination to be quite a lot. Effective, but a lot. I also found the style misleading in terms of characters ages; children seemed to be portrayed as much older sometimes. It was also difficult to read portions of this book on a tablet or phone, as you had to flip back and forth between panels that spanned two pages and were confusing if accidentally read page by page. Narrative wise, they managed to fit a lot of story into these graphic novels. There are some time jumps, but as I haven't read the original books yet I can't really compare. I'm glad these stories were adapted. I think Butler is an important author with many insights and lessons on our world, so I hope this format means it will reach other audiences. The art style combined with the story may be off putting to some, while others will find it unique from a lot of other styles being published today.

Another wonderful adaptation of the "Earthseed" series. The authors did an excellent job of "translating" the second novel into this format. It is a great way to visualize the story on a deeper level. Highly recommend for any fans of this series and Octavia E. Butler.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the perfect compaion to the novel which i've read a couple of times already i felt like this was a refreshing for a graphic novel Parable of the sowers graphic novel was fantasic, so i wondered if this would be as good or better and I tell you it did not disappoint. I will most certainly be adding to my library!!!

Parable of the Talents is the Graphic Novel adaptation of Butler's sequel to Parable of the Sower. The story is the continuation of Lauren Olamina and her followers. As they prepare to flee California, they are confronted with a much changed world in the 2030s. This dystopian novel is enhanced by the fantastic graphics and stark illustrations of a world in chaos. The lack of color in the illustrations further enhance the bleakness of the future. Although the boxes used to advance the plot are a bit wordier than one expects in a graphic novel, they are needed to advance the plot. This book is for a more patient reader, who enjoys the illustrations of a graphic novel but is also interested in a more complex plot.

The e-reader version was extremely difficult to read on my Kindle, and I had to read it on a laptop. I would recommend if this was used in a classroom, it should be the hardcopy.

A must buy, beautiful, prophetic, and necessary. Olamida has brought her community to a safe place, and begins to grow her family. Just after the birth of her daughter Larkin, through, soldiers under the solgan of Make America Great Again turn her safe home into a concentration camp, kill her husband, and try to break her and her community. Interspersed with the narration from a now-adult larkin, Olamida's story is one of hope and tragedy. The art only enhances the incredible work by Butler. This is a volume that should be added to every library, for as long as Americans are allowed to keep libraries at all.

Octavia E. Butler reignited my passion for reading and quickly became my favorite author. After falling in love with the graphic novel adaptation of *Parable of the Sower*, I was eagerly anticipating this new adaptation—and it did not disappoint. It faithfully captures the essence of the story and brings it to life with stunning visuals. I highly recommend this graphic novel and can’t wait to add a copy to my collection when it’s released.

Parable of the Talents: A Graphic Novel Adaptation is a striking and powerful reimagining of Octavia E. Butler’s classic novel. Damian Duffy masterfully adapts Butler’s visionary work, capturing its raw intensity and poignant social commentary in a visually compelling format. The artwork complements Butler’s text beautifully, with its expressive style bringing the characters and their struggles to life in a way that feels immediate and visceral.

This adaptation preserves the depth and complexity of Butler’s narrative, diving into themes of resilience, community, and the power of belief in a fractured world. Duffy’s adaptation doesn’t shy away from the story’s darker moments, presenting them with an unflinching honesty that makes the message resonate all the more powerfully.

The graphic novel format is particularly effective here, making Butler’s challenging and vital themes more accessible to a broader audience. Fans of the original novel will appreciate how faithfully it captures the spirit of Butler’s work, while new readers may find it a perfect gateway into her world.

Parable of the Talents is a must-read for both graphic novel enthusiasts and fans of speculative fiction. It’s a timely, thought-provoking work that continues to feel relevant, now brought to life in a bold and visually stunning adaptation.

The genius of Octavia Butler as a graphic novel? Yes, please!

Damian Duffy, John Jennings, and David Brame did a phenomenal job helping transform a complex piece of fiction into a perfect graphic novel. Gorgeous artwork, haunting prose, and a fear of watching this come to pass on our current trajectory.

Thank you to Net Galley and Abrams Comic Arts for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

This is a masterful adaptation of Octavia Butler’s work. A striking arrangement of visuals and design, and a story well worth exploring in prose and comics form.