Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Brother by Ania Ahlborn

22 reviews

killmoore_'s review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am devastated that I'll never get to experience this book for the first time again. 

I went into Brother thinking that I had the big twist spoiled for me, and woo was I wrong. The characters are so well written that it made me physically uncomfortable at times - and the duel point of view is both disturbing and truly heart breaking. We have the birth of a serial killer on one side, explaining the world through his trauma and perception, then we have Michael and his battle against his own morality and the bonds of blood. Phenomenal writing, and an absolutely devastating story. I'm honestly glad that it didn't end with a pretty bow - it couldn't have ended in a better way.

While this is gruesome and pretty bloody at points, I would not consider it over the top or anywhere near splatterpunk territory. Check your trigger warnings and you should be fine. This is mainly a story of love and loss, and what it means to be family - kind of. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death of parent, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

ids100's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Blood, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism

Minor: Alcohol, Rape, Alcoholism, and Incest

shysheepys's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A twist I didn't expect. This is scary, tense, depressing, and I couldn't put it down. I appreciate the shift of point-of-views to keep you on your toes as well as to break up the really stressful parts.

Spoiler

I feel so bad for Michael!! And Alice too!! I wanted nothing but the best for the two poor kids.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Cannibalism, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Death of parent, Incest, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

snapeygan's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I was genuinely surprised by the way this book was written. Unlike a lot of thrillers, I found this one to be beautifully written, focusing more in depth on the characters and their feelings. It was dark, gore, disgusting, but I couldn’t put it down. It’s the type of book where you love to hate the characters. The end was chef kiss

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Torture, Animal death, Murder, Violence, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Death, Physical abuse, and Stalking

Moderate: Death of parent, Incest, Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual violence

markc64's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This booked is F*****

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Vomit, Incest, Grief, Rape, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Violence, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Child death, Body horror, Blood, Murder, Confinement, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Cursing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death of parent, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Gore, Mental illness, Death, Chronic illness, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, and Kidnapping

nicole_cob_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Gore, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Stalking, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, and Death of parent

autumnwhite's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Body horror, Gore, Incest, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Rape, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

kkalicky94's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Incest, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i would recommend that almost nobody reads this book. maybe i am just a wimp when it comes to horror but i felt like this was so unnecessarily gross and stomach-churning. i do have to say the plot was so well thought out, the characters were very well-rounded, and the writing was incredible. that is why the rating is so high. please please check content warnings!!!!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Addiction, Rape, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Incest, Toxic friendship, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, Animal death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Stalking, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit

toofondofbooks_'s review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This one hurt. It really really hurt. I wasn't so sure about it for the first 50 pages but once I got to the 100 mark I was super invested. The dynamics in this fucked up, evil family were really interesting and heartbreaking to read about and the book presents you with a complicated but believable protagonist that you really want to see win.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Rape, Bullying, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Grief, Incest, Murder, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Excrement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Stalking