killmoore_'s review against another edition
- 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 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.
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
magic_multicolored_miracle's review against another edition
- 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
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?
Spoiler
The absolutely infuriating and abrupt non-ending.</spoilers>Graphic: Incest, Abandonment, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gore, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Stalking, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail
shysheepys's review against another edition
- 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
Spoiler
I feel so bad for Michael!! And Alice too!! I wanted nothing but the best for the two poor kids.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
markc64's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- 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
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
elonn's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Stalking, Torture, and Violence
lovelydeadgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Child death, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
bxtskr's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Gun violence, Incest, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Violence, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
maggotea's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Gore, Stalking, Animal death, and Child death