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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A brutal, dark horror-thriller about a family in West Virginia; specifically about two Michael, and his relationship with his brother Reb, and a girl he meets named Alice. This book has a lot of strong violent content and sexual content, not for the faint of heart. I enjoyed the book but definitely would have enjoyed more character depth about Reb and the parents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Incest, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape
Review – Brother by Ania Ahlborn
Brother was one of those books that left me feeling unsettled in the best way. It’s gritty, strange, and deeply uncomfortable, but I think that’s exactly what Ahlborn wanted to deliver. I didn’t quite get the full “horror” atmosphere I was expecting, but what I did get was a chilling mix of dysfunctional family drama, small-town decay, and a steady string of brutal, haunting moments.
The pacing worked well—I never felt like it dragged, even though the story wasn’t a breakneck thriller. Instead, it gave just enough space for the dread to sink in before pulling the rug out from under me again. I’ll admit, some of the twists I saw coming (probably a side effect of reading a lot of thrillers), but there were still moments that genuinely shocked me.
Alice stabbing Michael at the end really surprised me. I was convinced she might forgive him, even after everything, so that moment hit hard.
Character-wise, I couldn’t stop thinking about Rebel. His presence is menacing, but also layered in a way that made me wonder how differently things might have unfolded if certain choices had never been made. That “what if” kept nagging at me. Michael, meanwhile, is a tragic figure—someone trapped in cycles he can’t escape, making choices that only pull him deeper.
The overall vibe of the book is unsettling and eerie, rather than pure horror. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel like you need a shower after reading, but you also can’t quite look away.
I’d recommend Brother to readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric thrillers with heavy psychological undertones—something more disturbing than scary, but with enough grit to leave a lasting impression.
⭐ 3.5/5 stars – Some twists felt predictable, but the execution was still strong, and the atmosphere kept me turning pages.
Brother was one of those books that left me feeling unsettled in the best way. It’s gritty, strange, and deeply uncomfortable, but I think that’s exactly what Ahlborn wanted to deliver. I didn’t quite get the full “horror” atmosphere I was expecting, but what I did get was a chilling mix of dysfunctional family drama, small-town decay, and a steady string of brutal, haunting moments.
The pacing worked well—I never felt like it dragged, even though the story wasn’t a breakneck thriller. Instead, it gave just enough space for the dread to sink in before pulling the rug out from under me again. I’ll admit, some of the twists I saw coming (probably a side effect of reading a lot of thrillers), but there were still moments that genuinely shocked me.
Character-wise, I couldn’t stop thinking about Rebel. His presence is menacing, but also layered in a way that made me wonder how differently things might have unfolded if certain choices had never been made. That “what if” kept nagging at me. Michael, meanwhile, is a tragic figure—someone trapped in cycles he can’t escape, making choices that only pull him deeper.
The overall vibe of the book is unsettling and eerie, rather than pure horror. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel like you need a shower after reading, but you also can’t quite look away.
I’d recommend Brother to readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric thrillers with heavy psychological undertones—something more disturbing than scary, but with enough grit to leave a lasting impression.
⭐ 3.5/5 stars – Some twists felt predictable, but the execution was still strong, and the atmosphere kept me turning pages.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes