A review by outsmartyourshelf
My Brother's Keeper by Tim Powers
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Howarth Parsonage, 1846 & the Brontë family - father Patrick & his four remaining children, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, & Anne - are once more all living under one roof. Emily loves to take long walks on the Yorkshire moors with her dog Keeper, & on one such walk she meets a wounded man at a place called Ponden Kirk. Emily goes to fetch help from the nearest farm, but the man has disappeared when they return. This is not the only time that the man's path will cross with the Brontës though & it all leads back to a silly game of their youth when following a dream that Branwell had, he, Emily, & Anne made a blood offering in the fairy cave at Ponden Kirk in a vain attempt to see their dead sister, Maria, again. There were dark forces behind the dream & they haven't finished with Branwell yet, & the rest of the family will be drawn into a supernatural nightmare where the highest price may have to be paid.
The Brontes & werewolves - even before starting it, I knew this would be either a triumph or a disaster. It's definitely going to polarise opinion as it's a required taste, but I loved it. I particularly like the way that the author wove actual events into the supernatural narrative, such as when Branwell paints over himself in the portrait of himself & his three sisters. As for the title for me there are two ways of viewing it - there's the Biblical quote in Genesis when Cain kills Abel & God asks Cain where his brother is, Cain replies "Am I my brother's keeper?". The original sibling rivalry which the Brontës also have as they are led into disaster by their brother. There's also the name of Emily's dog, Keeper, & I'm pleased to say that he features quite a lot in the book.
Branwell comes off the worst here as he comes across as petulant, cowardly, & self-centered & I really didn't like him. The others were as you would expect & I felt the author got Emily's character just right. Read it with no preconceptions & no expectations of what a book featuring the Brontës should be like & you may be pleasantly surprised. I thought it was extremely entertaining. 4.5 stars (rounded up).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Head of Zeus/AdAstra Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
The Brontes & werewolves - even before starting it, I knew this would be either a triumph or a disaster. It's definitely going to polarise opinion as it's a required taste, but I loved it. I particularly like the way that the author wove actual events into the supernatural narrative, such as when Branwell paints over himself in the portrait of himself & his three sisters. As for the title for me there are two ways of viewing it - there's the Biblical quote in Genesis when Cain kills Abel & God asks Cain where his brother is, Cain replies "Am I my brother's keeper?". The original sibling rivalry which the Brontës also have as they are led into disaster by their brother. There's also the name of Emily's dog, Keeper, & I'm pleased to say that he features quite a lot in the book.
Branwell comes off the worst here as he comes across as petulant, cowardly, & self-centered & I really didn't like him. The others were as you would expect & I felt the author got Emily's character just right. Read it with no preconceptions & no expectations of what a book featuring the Brontës should be like & you may be pleasantly surprised. I thought it was extremely entertaining. 4.5 stars (rounded up).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Head of Zeus/AdAstra Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.