A review by chloseencounter
Brother by Ania Ahlborn

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Brother was my second novel by Ania Ahlborn and I always find myself enjoying her narrative voice. To be as vague as possible this book is about a very twisted family and one child who finds himself doubting his capacity for evil. Ania Ahlborn’s books are always so bleak and this was not a departure from that theme, if you want to read a story that’ll ruin your week and an ending that’ll make your stomach drop, this is it. I will say, that in my own personal opinion, I liked The Devil Crept In more even though this is her most talked about novel. Either way this was a solid read. I’m excited to read The Shuddering next.

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Content Warnings

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