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Brother's Keeper
A post-apocalyptic novella
Growing up, Jason and Marcus Grant were close as only brothers can be. As they reached adolescence, they started to drift apart, taking opposite paths into adulthood. Jason went to college before getting a job at for the local newspaper. Marcus chose a path littered wi...th drugs, violence, and self-destruction.
Now adults, Jason has cut Marcus from his life and considers himself an only child.
Clean and sober, Marcus finds his true calling when he joins the Arkadium, a secret society dating back millennia. They plan on setting history back ten thousand years by unleashing a world-wide calamity that will destroy modern man's domination of the planet. As the Arkadium set their plan in motion, Marcus reaches out to his brother, wanting him by his side to record the new prehistoric era. Jason is forced to make a choice, join his brother in the time of humanity's descent, or die like so many others.
A 16k word novella that introduces the forthcoming Brother's Keeper trilogy of novels. Book 1 is due Winter 2012.
Growing up, Jason and Marcus Grant were close as only brothers can be. As they reached adolescence, they started to drift apart, taking opposite paths into adulthood. Jason went to college before getting a job at for the local newspaper. Marcus chose a path littered wi...th drugs, violence, and self-destruction.
Now adults, Jason has cut Marcus from his life and considers himself an only child.
Clean and sober, Marcus finds his true calling when he joins the Arkadium, a secret society dating back millennia. They plan on setting history back ten thousand years by unleashing a world-wide calamity that will destroy modern man's domination of the planet. As the Arkadium set their plan in motion, Marcus reaches out to his brother, wanting him by his side to record the new prehistoric era. Jason is forced to make a choice, join his brother in the time of humanity's descent, or die like so many others.
A 16k word novella that introduces the forthcoming Brother's Keeper trilogy of novels. Book 1 is due Winter 2012.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
21 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Glen R. Krisch
35 books522 followersA native of the Chicago suburbs, Glen Krisch hopes to add to his list of ghosts he's witnessed (two), as well as develop his rather pedestrian telekinetic and precognitive skills.
His novels include Amazon Bestseller WHERE DARKNESS DWELLS, THE NIGHTMARE WITHIN, NOTHING LASTING, ARKADIUM RISING, ECHOES OF VIOLENCE, and LITTLE WHISPERS.
His novels include Amazon Bestseller WHERE DARKNESS DWELLS, THE NIGHTMARE WITHIN, NOTHING LASTING, ARKADIUM RISING, ECHOES OF VIOLENCE, and LITTLE WHISPERS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 23, 2013
This review also appears at Shelf Inflicted.
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: Growing up, Jason and Marcus Grant were close as only brothers can be. As they reached adolescence, they started to drift apart, taking opposite paths into adulthood. Jason went to college before getting a job at for the local newspaper. Marcus chose a path littered with drugs, violence, and self-destruction.
Now adults, Jason has cut Marcus from his life and considers himself an only child.
Clean and sober, Marcus finds his true calling when he joins the Arkadium, a secret society dating back millennia. They plan on setting history back ten thousand years by unleashing a world-wide calamity that will destroy modern man's domination of the planet. As the Arkadium set their plan in motion, Marcus reaches out to his brother, wanting him by his side to record the new prehistoric era. Jason is forced to make a choice, join his brother in the time of humanity's descent, or die like so many others.
A 16,000-word novella that introduces the forthcoming Brother's Keeper trilogy of novels. Book 1 is due Winter 2012.
My Review: Jason and Marcus are dysfunctional brothers from a dysfunctional family. Mom's a cold fish, borderline sociopath; dad's a dishrag, cries easily, and clearly dissociates from his life with a cold woman whose affections he simply can't engage. Neither "parent" spares much time for their sons, and Jason, the elder and the family fixer/achiever, tries to make it all work...until the day Marcus basically kills himself with a heroin overdose the same time as Jason's full scholarship to Washington University is announced.
So Marcus sinks into a self-destructive spiral, Jason struggles with his emotional scars, and the story opens with Jason reconnecting with one of Marcus's few good efforts: His girlfriend Delaney, an ex-goth chick and cutie who convinces Jason to go with her in a search for a new, improved Marcus, who has found God.
Boy howdy, has he found God. God has told Marcus what to do, and he's setting out to do it: End the world, one dam at a time. Jason is unwillingly roped into Marcus's millennarian plans, with a secret and unorthodox role to play in the Brave New World that Marcus is calling into being. Whether he wants to play that role or not.
This novella is a very quick read, and it's far more assured and well-made than much of its competition. It's clearly only a small piece of a larger mythos, which the author's promotional materials suggest will be coming online soon.
The pace is brisk; the characters are quickly and efficiently limned; the plot is firmly and boldly erected.
This is a solid effort from a writer to watch. Get your Kindle edition and pass a pleasant hour in the company of Krisch's creation.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: Growing up, Jason and Marcus Grant were close as only brothers can be. As they reached adolescence, they started to drift apart, taking opposite paths into adulthood. Jason went to college before getting a job at for the local newspaper. Marcus chose a path littered with drugs, violence, and self-destruction.
Now adults, Jason has cut Marcus from his life and considers himself an only child.
Clean and sober, Marcus finds his true calling when he joins the Arkadium, a secret society dating back millennia. They plan on setting history back ten thousand years by unleashing a world-wide calamity that will destroy modern man's domination of the planet. As the Arkadium set their plan in motion, Marcus reaches out to his brother, wanting him by his side to record the new prehistoric era. Jason is forced to make a choice, join his brother in the time of humanity's descent, or die like so many others.
A 16,000-word novella that introduces the forthcoming Brother's Keeper trilogy of novels. Book 1 is due Winter 2012.
My Review: Jason and Marcus are dysfunctional brothers from a dysfunctional family. Mom's a cold fish, borderline sociopath; dad's a dishrag, cries easily, and clearly dissociates from his life with a cold woman whose affections he simply can't engage. Neither "parent" spares much time for their sons, and Jason, the elder and the family fixer/achiever, tries to make it all work...until the day Marcus basically kills himself with a heroin overdose the same time as Jason's full scholarship to Washington University is announced.
So Marcus sinks into a self-destructive spiral, Jason struggles with his emotional scars, and the story opens with Jason reconnecting with one of Marcus's few good efforts: His girlfriend Delaney, an ex-goth chick and cutie who convinces Jason to go with her in a search for a new, improved Marcus, who has found God.
Boy howdy, has he found God. God has told Marcus what to do, and he's setting out to do it: End the world, one dam at a time. Jason is unwillingly roped into Marcus's millennarian plans, with a secret and unorthodox role to play in the Brave New World that Marcus is calling into being. Whether he wants to play that role or not.
This novella is a very quick read, and it's far more assured and well-made than much of its competition. It's clearly only a small piece of a larger mythos, which the author's promotional materials suggest will be coming online soon.
The pace is brisk; the characters are quickly and efficiently limned; the plot is firmly and boldly erected.
This is a solid effort from a writer to watch. Get your Kindle edition and pass a pleasant hour in the company of Krisch's creation.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
February 5, 2012
Some times the less you hear from family members the better. Imagine the notorious Bundies, Dahmers, Masons and Oswalds of this world the trail of fire and damage they leave behind for their families. This main protagonist of this story has a brother he would rather not hear off he has done bad in the past and is about to bring the unimaginable to fruition and make himself a mark in history. He receives knowledge, via an unexpected visit from his brothers ex-girlfriend, of his rebirth she speaks of new clean slate in life and finding of God. Living in a little no-name town in the middle of nowhere. One thing he knows is a Leopard doesn't change his spots.
His sociopath brother is about to make history in the biblical way of things.
The girl manages to get him out into meeting his brother and bizarrely finds himself included his brothers cult plan.
His brothers talk of nature, rebirth, destruction and Cain and Abel.
The story hooks you from the offset and does not let up in momentum and page-turningness. It's short a novella that leaves you eagerly in expectation of Book 1 of the saga with The Grant Brothers.
I had been meaning to read this authors other previous novels as there has been some good praise out there. His novels have nice artwork on the cover and good titles. This is another lesser known writer that should be up on the shelves in the main local bookstores.
Are you your brothers keeper?
Review also up over here.
His sociopath brother is about to make history in the biblical way of things.
The girl manages to get him out into meeting his brother and bizarrely finds himself included his brothers cult plan.
His brothers talk of nature, rebirth, destruction and Cain and Abel.
The story hooks you from the offset and does not let up in momentum and page-turningness. It's short a novella that leaves you eagerly in expectation of Book 1 of the saga with The Grant Brothers.
I had been meaning to read this authors other previous novels as there has been some good praise out there. His novels have nice artwork on the cover and good titles. This is another lesser known writer that should be up on the shelves in the main local bookstores.
Are you your brothers keeper?
Review also up over here.
February 21, 2012
5 Stars
"And in the end, there is a beginning."
I am not a fan of novellas as I have said many times before, but as a perfect setup,it will whet your appetite, and a tease you with the direction that this series will be heading. I enjoyed Glen Krisch's full length novel The Nightmare Within, and have been looking forward to reading more of his works. This novella, a free Kindle download was a great way to read more of his, and as a result, I am now eagerly anticipating book 1 in this series.
This is a post apocalyptic story that centers on two estranged brothers. The dutiful, older, journalist brother named Jason, and the dead to the family, drugged out junkie named Marcus. The plot revolves around the lives of the two brothers as they come crashing together after a long time apart. Without giving anything away, this is a book that is about secret cults, betrayal, and megalomania. It is about a group called the Arkadium with plans on restoring nature and the balance of the world.
"...One small impact rippling outward, one small impact birthing larger and larger calamity until the sun rose and fell upon the damage meted out by his people.
And then the world would begin again."
This is a fast paced novella that gives us enough characterization and world building to leave you excited for the future of the series. Glen Krisch can write a good horror novel, now I look forward to his take on my favorite genre at the moment, the post apocalyptic one.
"And in the end, there is a beginning."
I am not a fan of novellas as I have said many times before, but as a perfect setup,it will whet your appetite, and a tease you with the direction that this series will be heading. I enjoyed Glen Krisch's full length novel The Nightmare Within, and have been looking forward to reading more of his works. This novella, a free Kindle download was a great way to read more of his, and as a result, I am now eagerly anticipating book 1 in this series.
This is a post apocalyptic story that centers on two estranged brothers. The dutiful, older, journalist brother named Jason, and the dead to the family, drugged out junkie named Marcus. The plot revolves around the lives of the two brothers as they come crashing together after a long time apart. Without giving anything away, this is a book that is about secret cults, betrayal, and megalomania. It is about a group called the Arkadium with plans on restoring nature and the balance of the world.
"...One small impact rippling outward, one small impact birthing larger and larger calamity until the sun rose and fell upon the damage meted out by his people.
And then the world would begin again."
This is a fast paced novella that gives us enough characterization and world building to leave you excited for the future of the series. Glen Krisch can write a good horror novel, now I look forward to his take on my favorite genre at the moment, the post apocalyptic one.
January 17, 2012
This tale of the blood bond between brothers, and where it leads them is a thrill ride that sinks it's hooks in and doesn't let go!
Krisch's writing is addictive, and I'm off to get another fix!
Krisch's writing is addictive, and I'm off to get another fix!
January 14, 2012
I got this free novella from Glen Krisch's newsletter and started reading it the same day and basically could not tear myself away from it, I almost finished it in one sitting which is almost unheard of for me. Brother's Keeper is a stand alone story but one which I gather Glen plans on using as a springboard for a full Brother's Keeper Novel and maybe a trilogy. It begins with two brothers, Marcus and Jason divided by crime and drug taking. Marcus is abandoned by his brother Jason and his family after serial drug taking and nearly dying in the process. Unknown to Jason, Marcus has been recruited by the Arkadium, a strange quasi-religious group hell bent on destroying man's global technology and restoring the link with nature and hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Jason is persuaded after some bad news at home concerning his mother to follow Delaney (Marcus ex- girlfriend) to Concord, Illinois, where Marcus is apparently living. When they arrive at Concord, they discover a ghost town, all the inhabitants have disappeared, Marcus and his Arkadium cronies are on top of the nearby dam planning to dynamite it as one of a series of planned events across the world to cause devastation and globally the Arkadium have imminent plans to set off an EMP (electro magnetic pulse weapon) to disable all electronic devices worldwide. The dam explodes, the EMP weapon shortly explodes in the atmosphere afterwards. Mankind's technological existence comes to an abrupt end and Marcus persuades Jason to come along with him to record the start of a new world order. Absolutely amazing novella, I'm hooked already and was quite sad when it came to a short end and can't wait to see where this story goes with the luxury of a full novel. Glen Krisch really knows how to hook you in with a rip roaring story and pull you along by your shirt collar!
February 13, 2012
I'm not normally a fan of apocalyptic-type fiction, but I loved this book. The story revolves around a cult/religious group and two estranged brothers. What truly creeped me out is how easily this fictitious plot could become reality.
The plot has all the things I love in a story - mystery, suspense, danger, and unexpected twists. But the characters are what pulled me in. They feel real, with both good qualities and faults. This, for me, is Glen Krisch's strength. In just a few pages, he makes me care about the characters and, at that point, I will follow them anywhere.
The plot has all the things I love in a story - mystery, suspense, danger, and unexpected twists. But the characters are what pulled me in. They feel real, with both good qualities and faults. This, for me, is Glen Krisch's strength. In just a few pages, he makes me care about the characters and, at that point, I will follow them anywhere.
February 1, 2012
The start of the end of the world as a great manmade flood and the takeover of life as we know it by militia/religic type clans is alway the precursor to a great read!This novella released January 31st is just the beginning of a planned trillogy that appears to be an apocolyptic novel of sorts. This enterance into the story is energy driven and thought provoking and stops just in time to leave you wanting more from the next book. I can't wait for the series to start!
January 16, 2012
This book is a difficult one to review, because there is no way I can summarize it without spoiling it - every line, every idea, is an integral part of the whole, and to try to snip out any little bit ... well, it just won't work. Suffice it to say that this is an end-of-the-world idea, going into the relationships between brothers all the way back to Cain and Abel, and involving a secret society that has existed for at least that long as well. It's fascinating and, to a certain degree, makes some sense of that ancient story and why their god was so offended at the offering of fruits of the field over the blood of an innocent animal. You'll see what I mean - you really need to read this, whether you love horror, psychological suspense, end-of-the-world scenarios or just really beautifully clean writing, you will enjoy it.
March 9, 2012
I am a fan of Krisch's work, with Where Darkness Dwells being my favorite so far, and I can see that this novel is an appetizer to what may be a magnum opus (thinking something like The Stand or Swan Song). An evil organization has an ingenious plot for world devastation that is probably only the beginning of their malicious plan. Add to that the classic Cain and Abel dynamic (as the name implies) with the difference being that this particular Cain isn't interested in killing his brother---he wants to exterminate the world. Krisch is a very good writer and I know that I am going to be riveted to this story and impatiently awaiting each installment.
December 22, 2012
I thought it would be another carbon copy of "the world is ending" but this is an excellent story. I'm almost sad that it's over.
February 5, 2012
More. Now. Please.
Krisch's novella is obviously the set-up for a full length novel about two brothers and the apocalypse. Jason is a mild-mannered newspaper writer; Marcus is one of the masterminds of the destruction. Lots of interesting conflict, there. I am fascinated by the mythology Krisch presents about the reasons for the event and how it was planned for many, many years. I am curious as to how the new civilization will emerge and organize. The quasi-religious nature of this group is effective and sounds logical, which makes it even scarier, because you can imagine this actually happening. Marcus' brutality in achieving his ends is gut-wrenching. I am very, very interested in more from this author, and cannot wait for the rest of Marcus and Jason's story!
Krisch's novella is obviously the set-up for a full length novel about two brothers and the apocalypse. Jason is a mild-mannered newspaper writer; Marcus is one of the masterminds of the destruction. Lots of interesting conflict, there. I am fascinated by the mythology Krisch presents about the reasons for the event and how it was planned for many, many years. I am curious as to how the new civilization will emerge and organize. The quasi-religious nature of this group is effective and sounds logical, which makes it even scarier, because you can imagine this actually happening. Marcus' brutality in achieving his ends is gut-wrenching. I am very, very interested in more from this author, and cannot wait for the rest of Marcus and Jason's story!
February 27, 2012
This novella is a relatively short read. It is a preview to the full novel to come later this year.
This is the tale of estranged brothers reunited, insanity, and an orchestrated world wide attempt to end the world as we know it. How could you go wrong?
This novella convinced me that I need the full book. As soon as possible. In fact, right now would work for me!
This is the tale of estranged brothers reunited, insanity, and an orchestrated world wide attempt to end the world as we know it. How could you go wrong?
This novella convinced me that I need the full book. As soon as possible. In fact, right now would work for me!
June 16, 2012
This story immediately hooked me. I won't give anything away but there were twists that kept me wanting more. I couldn't put my Kindle down until I finished. The only bad thing about this book is how short it is...I can't wait to read more. I would love to see this played out on TV, right before the Walking Dead.
June 15, 2012
What a joy to read something so well written, so well put together and with such a great plot. Two brothers on a path set towards apocalyptic destruction, one powerless to stop it and one determined to see it through.
This is the first story I have read, but it will not be the last. Awesome ride.
This is the first story I have read, but it will not be the last. Awesome ride.
December 23, 2012
I think that it's a mercy that this was short. There were no surprises here -- just a madman bent on his cult destoying the world and the hope that someone would spin it properly for the future. The brother rivalry and references to Cain and Abel were not as interesting as I'd thought.
March 24, 2012
Brother's Keeper is a great novella, offering us a bird's eye view of the beginning of the end of the world. It is well written, fast-paced and interesting and I can't wait to read what follows.
August 10, 2016
Pretty good story with believable premise. Like usual, very good character development in a short span of time. Enjoyed reading.
June 5, 2013
I thought I had found another piece of inspired fiction when I read the first few pages Brother’s Keeper. Keeper has a great premise and, initially, the plot moves with the required speed that makes short fiction so satisfying. I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, not far into the story it all fell apart.
A third of the book dwells on unnecessary, overdone backstory and character development. The plot completely grinds to a halt. Even if this was a full-length novel it would have been too much. This forces the reader to slog through the book, hoping it will deliver on the promise of the first few pages.
Kirsh is a promising writer. I saw real talent in Keeper, even with its faults. Keeper didn’t necessarily falter due to lack of skill or talent – Kirsch has those. Keeper could have been a great page turner if it had been properly edited.
Read the rest of this review at Underground Book Reviews: http://www.undergroundbookreviews.com...
A third of the book dwells on unnecessary, overdone backstory and character development. The plot completely grinds to a halt. Even if this was a full-length novel it would have been too much. This forces the reader to slog through the book, hoping it will deliver on the promise of the first few pages.
Kirsh is a promising writer. I saw real talent in Keeper, even with its faults. Keeper didn’t necessarily falter due to lack of skill or talent – Kirsch has those. Keeper could have been a great page turner if it had been properly edited.
Read the rest of this review at Underground Book Reviews: http://www.undergroundbookreviews.com...
June 14, 2012
I did not realize this was a novella - ok didn't really understand what a novella was till i read some of the other reviews.
I'm not the best at writing reviews because I either like something or I don't - don't know why....it's just me.
This was a good story but it left me hanging. I did have a hard time putting it down. It's the bad thing that all of us think about Cults. I didn't like Delany (which is actually a good thing) because she was soooo brainwashed - and isn't that what we all think of the Cult follower.
The fight between the 2 brothers is believable.
I will keep my eyes open for the full book to come out.
I'm not the best at writing reviews because I either like something or I don't - don't know why....it's just me.
This was a good story but it left me hanging. I did have a hard time putting it down. It's the bad thing that all of us think about Cults. I didn't like Delany (which is actually a good thing) because she was soooo brainwashed - and isn't that what we all think of the Cult follower.
The fight between the 2 brothers is believable.
I will keep my eyes open for the full book to come out.
April 26, 2012
Got this as a free download and read it while waiting for a friend. It is a fast-paced, fun and well-written short story. Hopefully, it is just a teaser to a soon-to-come full length novel, because there is great potential to develop the story further and judging from his other work, Glen is more than capable to do so. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed when it ended so soon, but I definitely do not regret reading it. I can't say I liked James much, but I am looking forward to reading more about Marcus and Arcadia.
March 29, 2012
The more I think about this novella, the less I like it. While it is a short story intro to a longer tale about 2 brothers, the basic story is disturbing and unrealistic. I was unable to appreciate any part of this story and have no intention of picking up the book that is to follow.
I will, however, continue to read works by this author, who generally presents wonderfully written stories with wicked little twists that make me smile to myself as I visualize the story unfolding. I'm chalking this one up to a whoops and leaving it at that.
I will, however, continue to read works by this author, who generally presents wonderfully written stories with wicked little twists that make me smile to myself as I visualize the story unfolding. I'm chalking this one up to a whoops and leaving it at that.
March 1, 2012
What lives in the minds of authors who write thrillers, scare me to death. How do they think of this stuff??
This was a good read but not my type of reading being as how it's a little far-fetched. It's a story about 2 brothers, Marcus and Jason, who don't get along and haven't even spoken in some time. They are reunited in weirdest and scariest circumstances and Jason learns that Marcus is someone that, even though he's his brother, is someone he doesn't know at all.
This was a good read but not my type of reading being as how it's a little far-fetched. It's a story about 2 brothers, Marcus and Jason, who don't get along and haven't even spoken in some time. They are reunited in weirdest and scariest circumstances and Jason learns that Marcus is someone that, even though he's his brother, is someone he doesn't know at all.
December 23, 2012
I really didn't connect with any of the characters: Jason, the writer, mowing his parent's lawn. Delaney, the now do-able ex junkie who dated Marcus, Justin's brother, and Marcus, the rehabilitated and potential new apocalyptic "Adam" from the bible who wants to set the world free. I found this read to be overly simple and kind of boring as the pacing was very sedate. The ending is pretty much a cliffhanger or stay tuned scenario. Just an alright read.
March 23, 2012
Alright, I must say that I preferred the another book by this author over this one. I thought Loss was just a deep, dark, creepy novella...this one..not so much. I almost thought there was some predictablility to it. I will still continue to read more by this author cuz he can write some awesome short stories.
August 18, 2013
Really interesting - a short novella that just gives a peek into the plans the author has for his "post-apocalyptic" story line. Even in such a short piece, Krisch does an excellent job of giving his characters background and depth. The post-apocalyptic genre is not one of my primary areas of interest, but the author shows promise in this novella that the rest of his story will be well written and fascinating.
June 15, 2012
A great short read, one that hooked me into the world that has been created. I really want to know what happens next, not just between the two brothers, but with the world itself. I will also be reading more by Mr. Krisch. He can tell a story. Also, though it may look like it took me two days to read this based on the reading dates displayed, it really was just one sitting since I added it the night before. That single sitting could have easily lasted all day if the story had continued.
December 21, 2012
Really intense apocalyptic novella from one of the best new (to me) authors I have discovered this year. Strong interesting characters made a particularly compelling read. It read like a set up for a series, sort of like an extended prologue and as such it leaves the reader eagerly awaiting to see what happens next. Recommended.
March 28, 2012
This was really just a teaser for a book that will be released later. I liked the premise and this sampler was just enough to make me want to know what happens to the brothers. Most of it was predictable but still entertaining.
April 14, 2012
Good little novella that follows two brothers in the lead up to the apocalypse. The story centers around a strange religious cult who wish to redress the balance of the world in the most heinous of ways. Interesting characters and written in a brisk style.
December 23, 2012
It wasn't as great as The Nightmare Within, tho they are completely different books. I wouldn't want to start the world over from the beginning. We could probably stand to go back a ways, fix what is now broken, but to go back to "Adam and Eve", don't think so.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews