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