Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Brother by Ania Ahlborn

46 reviews

killmoore_'s review

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

magic_multicolored_miracle's review

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?

Spoiler

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

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Content Warnings

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

stardustvein'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Physical abuse, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Addiction, Incest, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Stalking, Rape, and Sexual violence

vitalfeels's review against another edition

dark 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

2.5

This book fell flat for me. Kind of disappointing since because of all the good things I had heard about the book. The twists weren’t a shocker to me as everything that happened I predicted which was good because of the foreshadowing but I shouldn’t find myself guessing every twist. :/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Incest, and Sexual assault

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

clareokd's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

caseyf's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence

rosie114384's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Physical abuse

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

graysawyer's review

medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Pedophilia and Incest