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A review by sdsmith80
Brother by Ania Ahlborn
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
<strong>My #1 pick for 2022! ***Spoilers***</strong>
After a year filled with amazing horror, this book just topped my best of 2022 list. I'm so glad I hadn't finished putting it together until I read it. This book hit so many tropes that make me excited to read horror. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is my favorite horror movie of all time, and I came to this book based on a recommendation that said it was for fans of TCM.
Michael is such a flawed protagonist. Through the whole book I had to question, is he evil like Reb and Momma, or is he simply a victim of circumstance? <Spoiler> He was taken from his home as little more than a toddler, all due to Reb's selfishness and Wade's indulgence in Reb's whims, and finds himself stuck. He becomes a product of his adopted "family", but when did he actually have choices to make, and did he even know he could make them? I think he was good overall, but at the same time I don't believe could have been saved either. What he did damned him in the end.
Reb was twisted though, although nature vs nurture is a much bigger argument in his case. Where it's implied that Momma became a murderer after her abuse of Lauralynn went too far (but really, what abuse isn't too far to begin with), it's also implied that Reb had that love of killing inside of him. No, he didn't start showing it until he knew what happened to Lauralynn, but the way he took to it says it was there all along.
I will say that the choice Michael made with Snowball puzzles me in a couple of ways though. First, it doesn't seem like something he would have done at all, even if he was feeling the pressure off putting food on the table at age 7. Second, it seems obvious to me that Michael didn't know the consequences to that choice, and surely Reb could see that as well. So why set all of this elaborate master revenge plan in motion over something Michael did by accident when he was little.
Misty Dawn's death was also a gut punch, especially knowing that Reb set everything in motion. Why get her killed as well? Maybe that answer will come to me in a few days.
Seriously though, cannibalism, serial killers, and all of the darkest of the dark plot elements possible makes this book my #1 choice for 2022. Can someone pick this up to make a movie already?
After a year filled with amazing horror, this book just topped my best of 2022 list. I'm so glad I hadn't finished putting it together until I read it. This book hit so many tropes that make me excited to read horror. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is my favorite horror movie of all time, and I came to this book based on a recommendation that said it was for fans of TCM.
Michael is such a flawed protagonist. Through the whole book I had to question, is he evil like Reb and Momma, or is he simply a victim of circumstance? <Spoiler> He was taken from his home as little more than a toddler, all due to Reb's selfishness and Wade's indulgence in Reb's whims, and finds himself stuck. He becomes a product of his adopted "family", but when did he actually have choices to make, and did he even know he could make them? I think he was good overall, but at the same time I don't believe could have been saved either. What he did damned him in the end.
Reb was twisted though, although nature vs nurture is a much bigger argument in his case. Where it's implied that Momma became a murderer after her abuse of Lauralynn went too far (but really, what abuse isn't too far to begin with), it's also implied that Reb had that love of killing inside of him. No, he didn't start showing it until he knew what happened to Lauralynn, but the way he took to it says it was there all along.
I will say that the choice Michael made with Snowball puzzles me in a couple of ways though. First, it doesn't seem like something he would have done at all, even if he was feeling the pressure off putting food on the table at age 7. Second, it seems obvious to me that Michael didn't know the consequences to that choice, and surely Reb could see that as well. So why set all of this elaborate master revenge plan in motion over something Michael did by accident when he was little.
Misty Dawn's death was also a gut punch, especially knowing that Reb set everything in motion. Why get her killed as well? Maybe that answer will come to me in a few days.
Seriously though, cannibalism, serial killers, and all of the darkest of the dark plot elements possible makes this book my #1 choice for 2022. Can someone pick this up to make a movie already?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Incest and Vomit