Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Bruder by Ania Ahlborn

46 reviews

randeerebecca's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

The ending had me screaming. Would NOT recommend to anyone who doesn’t like horror. Messed up and gory, but still a good storyline.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Alcohol

Minor: Confinement, Incest, and Death of parent

eusteph's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I had extremely low expectations for this book because I've been having the *worst* luck with books I find through tiktok, but I'm happy to say this book is the outlier.

This book was fast-paced, despite its dark and gory contents. I couldn't see the major twist coming, so that's also good. I also liked that the story didn't have a cookie-cutter ending. This is the type of book that leaves you on the edge of your seat. While I wouldn't say the story was necessarily scary it is anxiety-inducing enough to be compared to a blockbuster horror movie. 

For obvious reasons I don't think I would want to re-read this, but I definitely want to read more from this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Rape

rebekahmccubbins's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

Every time you think you've read the most fucked up thing, you find out something even more horrible. Ania Ahlborn is a truly magnificent writer - a master of foreshadowing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Minor: Alcoholism

pullingthorns's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

This is so Ethel cain coded 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Incest, Rape, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: War

anastasiabeth's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Extremely dark and twisted but what a gripping and entertaining read. SA trigger warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Sexual harassment

sarah_mcmullan_nz's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Dark & super disturbing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

aleen_elizabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

ryankaybee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

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

magic_multicolored_miracle's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

A true horror novel.
Not for the faint of heart, this book is frighteningly realistic, with suspense and tension keeping you hovering on the edge of your seat the whole time. 

Probably the only reason I wouldn't call it 5 stars?

The absolutely infuriating and abrupt non-ending.</spoilers>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail