killmoore_'s review
- 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
- 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
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
aj176's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Child abuse, Child death, Body horror, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Torture, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Suicidal thoughts
ashlyreadsevrythg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Incest, Body horror, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Gore, Murder, Child death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Blood, Rape, Self harm, Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual assault, Vomit, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Grief, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts
abbeyhuffine94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Reb was one of the most evil characters I've ever read about. Michael was one of the most infuriating. I understand he was living in horribly abusive circumstances but his cowardice irritated me throughout.
I do think this novel was extremely far fetched. I also think that horror has to have some reaches at times to make for a truly scary story. I guess if everyone was reasonable, horrible things would happen less.
One more observation: this book was way tamer in terms of graphic violence than I anticipated. On a horror scale of, say Haunting of Hill House to American Psycho (non-graphic horror to very graphic horror), it's about a 5-6.
The vibes were very cool though.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Stalking, Child death, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Rape, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Gore, Incest, and Sexual violence
erica_reads_things's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Animal cruelty, Murder, Physical abuse, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Animal death, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Incest, Sexual content, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Stalking, and Drug use
Minor: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts
shannananahey's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, Stalking, Sexual violence, and Incest
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
ccpetrikas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gore, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape