However, Butler obviously chose to be extremely provocative in her choice of characters. Shori is physically a twelve-year old child. Meaning that she is the same build and size as a human pre-teen. In actual years, she’s 53, they even then she’s counted as being young among the vampire culture.

I struggled with some of the graphic sex scenes that were written in the book. Although Butler dismissed the age and size difference between Shori and her human lover, I found I could not for a time. It just jarred too much, and felt wrong. Gradually, I distanced myself from that feeling and concentrated on the mystery and the threat that surrounded Shori and the vampire culture that was at risk.

Butler’s tendency was to acknowledge that the events she was writing about were world-shaking, but she always seems to choose to reveal that story on a small stage rather than a large one. Fledgling could have been epic in scope, sweeping from Shori to several other characters that were involved in different actions. A choice of multiple narrators to tell all the story instead of just Shori’s piece of it would have been welcome. I would have liked to have seen more of the worldview. However, Shori’s story is immediately compelling and draws the reader in almost effortlessly.

The book was a fast read despite the number of pages involved. Shori is one of those characters readers can identify with almost immediately. There are some rough edges -- regarding the age issue and a few other things -- but Shori feels human and real.

Butler’s fans will have to take this one to complete their collection, and vampire junkies will definitely want another, fresher look at their favorite species.