What do you think?
Rate this book
Brother Red
From one of the most exciting voices in dark fantasy comes a sweeping story of a soldier on a brutal quest to preserve her kingdom’s future.
She was their hope, their martyr, their brother.…
Driwna Marghoster, a soldier for the powerful merchant guild known as the Post, is defending her trade caravan from a vicious bandit attack when she discovers a dead body hidden in one of her wagons. Born of the elusive Oskoro people, the body is a rare and priceless find, the center of a tragic tale, and the key to a larger mystery.
As she investigates who the body was meant for, Driwna finds herself on a path paved by deceit and corruption…and it will lead her to an evil more powerful than she can possibly imagine.
Also by Adrian Selby:
Snakewood
The Winter Road
She was their hope, their martyr, their brother.…
Driwna Marghoster, a soldier for the powerful merchant guild known as the Post, is defending her trade caravan from a vicious bandit attack when she discovers a dead body hidden in one of her wagons. Born of the elusive Oskoro people, the body is a rare and priceless find, the center of a tragic tale, and the key to a larger mystery.
As she investigates who the body was meant for, Driwna finds herself on a path paved by deceit and corruption…and it will lead her to an evil more powerful than she can possibly imagine.
Also by Adrian Selby:
Snakewood
The Winter Road
513 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2021
54 people are currently reading
1713 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Selby
9 books312 followersI studied Creative Writing and Philosophy at university before going on to do a variety of jobs including teaching and running my own business before I got into videogames as a Producer for most of my career since.
Snakewood is my debut and is the first novel I've written!
I live in the southeast of England, though I grew up in Barry, South Wales.
Snakewood is my debut and is the first novel I've written!
I live in the southeast of England, though I grew up in Barry, South Wales.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 19, 2021
AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH ADRIAN SELBY - Author Interview: ADRIAN SELBY talks GRIMDARK, PUBLISHING and UP
Brother Red is a tale with a fantastic concept, fleshed out characters, brilliant action sequences and a unique world. With warriors who take drugs before a fight, to gain strength and speed, but with major side effects and consequences, alongside a mystery and conflicts between factions, Adrian Selby inserts the reader into a world and time that is intriguing and engaging and compelling.
It took me a while to adapt to Selby's present tense prose, and probably doubly so as this was basically my initiation into Grimdark, but I imagine most will be immediately engrossed and will enjoy this tale from the beginning. Despite being thrown a bit by the beginning, I loved it, and this initial reaction was not to the detriment to the story. It showed that Brother Red is something different. Something fresh. And that is never a bad thing.
“Help the helpless. Honour the purse. Peace through trade. This is the Farlsgrad Creed and all the Post will be bound to it.”
We are thrust into the perspective of Driwna Marghoster, a member of The Post who guides caravan across dangerous routes. A dangerous life where death acts as a constant companion to herself and those she values. Then she uncovers something out of the ordinary. Driwna follows a dangerous journey investigating the potential corruption of the behemoth that is The Post, which in many ways appears to mirror the historical East India Company. We as the reader view this company as it is hinging between becoming an oppressive force across a huge expanse of land, or whether it can continue to exhibit virtues and deliver safety. A really cool balance of mystery, action and enlightenment.
Whilst I said earlier that this acted almost like an initiation into Grimdark, in a way it wasn’t. Adrian Selby adopts a dark, gritty tone in a dangerous and brutal world. But is that different to reality? We have laughter, happiness and moments of joy to accompany and combat the evils of the world. I loved that throughout this story there is the prevalence of hope, which acted to drive the story forward. Driwna was a great central figure, who is fundamentally a good person who has viewed more than her fair share of horrors.
“He’s trying to find words, but love fills years, not words.”
One of the many distinctive features that makes Adrian Selby so individualistic is his implementation of ‘fight brews’. These are awesome. Basically, they are drugs. Drugs that can physically enhance people’s strength and speed for a limited period of time, making people almost unbeatable in combat. However, there is the lovely nuance of a risk/reward system. These fight brews can cause mental and physical damage after the effects wear off, to such an extent must people sane of mind will only use the brews as a last reward. This is just one example of the unique, distinct parts of Brother Red that separates it from other fantasy out there.
Overall then, Brother Red is great. My dad adored The Winter Road, and The Broken Binding kindly sent me a signed edition of Brother Red, so I was hyped for this read. It delivered! If you find the beginning somewhat difficult, I urge you to persevere. It will click and you will suddenly find yourself immersed in a world of such thought out depth, with characters that stand out from the page. I look forward to reading more from Adrian Selby.
Brother Red is a tale with a fantastic concept, fleshed out characters, brilliant action sequences and a unique world. With warriors who take drugs before a fight, to gain strength and speed, but with major side effects and consequences, alongside a mystery and conflicts between factions, Adrian Selby inserts the reader into a world and time that is intriguing and engaging and compelling.
It took me a while to adapt to Selby's present tense prose, and probably doubly so as this was basically my initiation into Grimdark, but I imagine most will be immediately engrossed and will enjoy this tale from the beginning. Despite being thrown a bit by the beginning, I loved it, and this initial reaction was not to the detriment to the story. It showed that Brother Red is something different. Something fresh. And that is never a bad thing.
“Help the helpless. Honour the purse. Peace through trade. This is the Farlsgrad Creed and all the Post will be bound to it.”
We are thrust into the perspective of Driwna Marghoster, a member of The Post who guides caravan across dangerous routes. A dangerous life where death acts as a constant companion to herself and those she values. Then she uncovers something out of the ordinary. Driwna follows a dangerous journey investigating the potential corruption of the behemoth that is The Post, which in many ways appears to mirror the historical East India Company. We as the reader view this company as it is hinging between becoming an oppressive force across a huge expanse of land, or whether it can continue to exhibit virtues and deliver safety. A really cool balance of mystery, action and enlightenment.
Whilst I said earlier that this acted almost like an initiation into Grimdark, in a way it wasn’t. Adrian Selby adopts a dark, gritty tone in a dangerous and brutal world. But is that different to reality? We have laughter, happiness and moments of joy to accompany and combat the evils of the world. I loved that throughout this story there is the prevalence of hope, which acted to drive the story forward. Driwna was a great central figure, who is fundamentally a good person who has viewed more than her fair share of horrors.
“He’s trying to find words, but love fills years, not words.”
One of the many distinctive features that makes Adrian Selby so individualistic is his implementation of ‘fight brews’. These are awesome. Basically, they are drugs. Drugs that can physically enhance people’s strength and speed for a limited period of time, making people almost unbeatable in combat. However, there is the lovely nuance of a risk/reward system. These fight brews can cause mental and physical damage after the effects wear off, to such an extent must people sane of mind will only use the brews as a last reward. This is just one example of the unique, distinct parts of Brother Red that separates it from other fantasy out there.
Overall then, Brother Red is great. My dad adored The Winter Road, and The Broken Binding kindly sent me a signed edition of Brother Red, so I was hyped for this read. It delivered! If you find the beginning somewhat difficult, I urge you to persevere. It will click and you will suddenly find yourself immersed in a world of such thought out depth, with characters that stand out from the page. I look forward to reading more from Adrian Selby.
dnf
February 16, 2021I’ll be honest, I’ve been dreading marking this as dnf because I know many of you were excited to hear my thoughts and are excited about the book itself but as someone who will always be honest about my feelings towards a book, I just need to rip the band aid. I got to the 100 page mark early in the month and have not wanted to pick it back up. The writing style is really hard to get used to for me. I’m not invested in the story and I don’t feel anything for the characters. Everyone feels like a grayed out mannequin. I’ll definitely be giving Selby another chance and just hope this was a one off for me.
February 21, 2021
“I turn and walk away from the carnage, look back to the burning camp and lodge. There are no cries of battle there, just the howling of dogs and mothers and fathers. Now I feel the torment of the Flower of Fates; the vastness of the plains, the weight of the lake. There is no end to the thirst of all life, all stone and flesh, wood and leaf. The dead here will be drunk dry in their turn and the land will still take more. I can’t bear this truth.”
Brother Red is grimheart poetry.
That’s it. That’s the review.
Fine. Let me blather on for a bit, because this book is fucking bonkers & deserves ALL THE READERS!!
While this may only be the second Adrian Selby novel I’ve read, I cannot help but want to enthusiastically yell (respectfully) at everyone to read his work because he is a fantastically unique writer with such a distinct voice.
“He’s trying to find words, but love fills years, not words.”
Selby’s novels are threaded within the same world, although they stand on their own. From what I understand, you can absolutely read them in any order. However, if you’re interested in reading the three like I’m doing, the chronological order is The Winter Road, Brother Red & then Snakewood. Each take place roughly a century apart. You better believe I’ll be reading Snakewood *very* soon!
Brother Red follows Driwna Marghoster, who has recently been promoted as marshal of a group of merchants called the Post. After discovering the body of an Oskoro in a barrel of alcohol, Driw & her partner Cal find themselves uncovering a much larger mystery than they ever expected.
Along the way, the investigation leads them to Ufra, a mystical warrior of the Ososi people. The Oskoro & Ososi embed plants & herbs into their bodies through seeds, oils, potions & even blood. Much like Sanderson’s allomancy, the user is able to enhance their physical abilities once the plant brew has been consumed, like a powerful drug.
The magic concept is rad as hell & executed in this brilliantly odd, fascinating way. There are few magic systems that I find myself getting obsessed with like this one, wanting to know EVERY SINGLE DETAIL & just.. being blown away by something so completely original.
Selby has this undeniable ability to write such authentic relationships. Relationships that are raw & real & passionate & full of laughter & history. They are multilayered, because that’s real life. The partnership between Cal & Driw is one such relationship. I just really appreciated having such a nuanced perspective, something we don’t often see in SFF, especially. A relationship like this where they have each other’s backs in such a profound way. However, on the flipside, there is a touch of insta-love that takes place with Driw & Ufra. I was concerned at first, because fucking hell. The insta-love trope just.. is not my favorite. BUT HAVE NO FEAR!! Selby twists & weaves the characterizations in his own original style & it ends up being an achingly beautiful relationship that I couldn’t love more. Oof.
Unique, moving, brutally cinematic, near-frenetic action sequences. Brother Red is this glorious amalgamation of grimdark, epic-low fantasy, horror & western.
The Winter Road was my favorite book of 2018 & I won’t hesitate to include Brother Red at the top of my list this year!
CW: Slavery, torture, intense violence, death.
(Endless thanks for sending me a copy, Orbit Books!)
Brother Red is grimheart poetry.
That’s it. That’s the review.
Fine. Let me blather on for a bit, because this book is fucking bonkers & deserves ALL THE READERS!!
While this may only be the second Adrian Selby novel I’ve read, I cannot help but want to enthusiastically yell (respectfully) at everyone to read his work because he is a fantastically unique writer with such a distinct voice.
“He’s trying to find words, but love fills years, not words.”
Selby’s novels are threaded within the same world, although they stand on their own. From what I understand, you can absolutely read them in any order. However, if you’re interested in reading the three like I’m doing, the chronological order is The Winter Road, Brother Red & then Snakewood. Each take place roughly a century apart. You better believe I’ll be reading Snakewood *very* soon!
Brother Red follows Driwna Marghoster, who has recently been promoted as marshal of a group of merchants called the Post. After discovering the body of an Oskoro in a barrel of alcohol, Driw & her partner Cal find themselves uncovering a much larger mystery than they ever expected.
Along the way, the investigation leads them to Ufra, a mystical warrior of the Ososi people. The Oskoro & Ososi embed plants & herbs into their bodies through seeds, oils, potions & even blood. Much like Sanderson’s allomancy, the user is able to enhance their physical abilities once the plant brew has been consumed, like a powerful drug.
The magic concept is rad as hell & executed in this brilliantly odd, fascinating way. There are few magic systems that I find myself getting obsessed with like this one, wanting to know EVERY SINGLE DETAIL & just.. being blown away by something so completely original.
Selby has this undeniable ability to write such authentic relationships. Relationships that are raw & real & passionate & full of laughter & history. They are multilayered, because that’s real life. The partnership between Cal & Driw is one such relationship. I just really appreciated having such a nuanced perspective, something we don’t often see in SFF, especially. A relationship like this where they have each other’s backs in such a profound way. However, on the flipside, there is a touch of insta-love that takes place with Driw & Ufra. I was concerned at first, because fucking hell. The insta-love trope just.. is not my favorite. BUT HAVE NO FEAR!! Selby twists & weaves the characterizations in his own original style & it ends up being an achingly beautiful relationship that I couldn’t love more. Oof.
Unique, moving, brutally cinematic, near-frenetic action sequences. Brother Red is this glorious amalgamation of grimdark, epic-low fantasy, horror & western.
The Winter Road was my favorite book of 2018 & I won’t hesitate to include Brother Red at the top of my list this year!
CW: Slavery, torture, intense violence, death.
(Endless thanks for sending me a copy, Orbit Books!)
January 24, 2021
I'm a huge endings guy. They make or break a book for me.
I was ready to give this 4 stars right up until the final third. But somewhere along the way I got really fucking attached to these characters, to their plight. Something I didn't really expect to happen in a dark fantasy novel. The way everything came together... I can't form the words at the minute. Fuck me, but I feel emotionally drained in the best possible way.
It made me feel all of the emotions. Fuck you, Adrian Selby. And thank you.
I was ready to give this 4 stars right up until the final third. But somewhere along the way I got really fucking attached to these characters, to their plight. Something I didn't really expect to happen in a dark fantasy novel. The way everything came together... I can't form the words at the minute. Fuck me, but I feel emotionally drained in the best possible way.
It made me feel all of the emotions. Fuck you, Adrian Selby. And thank you.
February 21, 2021
"The end of autumn bites into the trees now, as though a whetstone’s been taken to the air itself, keen and clear, perfected by a cold wind from the north."
Another amazing book by Selby. His books are never an easy read, always rough and brutal, but that's exactly what I love about them.
The characters and their relationships really come to life for me, I hated some and loved others with a passion. The relationship with her parents is beautifully described and had me crying.
I will definitly reread all the books in chronological order!
“I have seen death, Dreis. There’s no Leif there, not my own mun or pa, or yours, just a quiet we take nothing into and where we forget all that has gone."
Another amazing book by Selby. His books are never an easy read, always rough and brutal, but that's exactly what I love about them.
The characters and their relationships really come to life for me, I hated some and loved others with a passion. The relationship with her parents is beautifully described and had me crying.
I will definitly reread all the books in chronological order!
“I have seen death, Dreis. There’s no Leif there, not my own mun or pa, or yours, just a quiet we take nothing into and where we forget all that has gone."
February 4, 2021
5⭐️
Brother Red is another thrilling, heartbreaking read from Adrian Selby, who is one of my favorite authors, even with only 3 published novels. Set in the same world as Snakewood and The Winter Road, this one can be read as a stand alone although names and events from the two previous books are sprinkled throughout.
Brother Red is, amongst other things, a love story and a mystery. Driwna is a soldier and a member of The Post, which is a merchant guild/ delivery service kind of like FedEx but with horses and wagons. Early on she discovers a baby’s body from a reclusive and mysterious people hidden in a barrel and she decides to find out what the hell happened.
At first Driwna appears to be kind of an ordinary person who is a good soldier and who is dedicated to the Post. By the end of the book, and with her tragic past revealed, it becomes clear she is an imperfect badass and a true heir to the legacy of Teyr Amondsen, the heroine of The Winter Road.
I can’t say I liked Brother Red better than that previous book. That would be tough as The Winter Road was my favorite read from 2019, but Selby yet again creates an impressive gallery of characters-heroes and villains- and made me care deeply about what happens to them. The plot for this one is kind of meandering and some events were too coincidental, but I flew through this book in a couple days and was extremely emotional by the end of yet another brilliant epilogue.
The fighting system and scenes in Selbys books are unique, brutal and mesmerizing. Warriors and soldiers drink plant mixtures called Fightbrews which temporarily
give them heightened senses and strength followed by a debilitating comedown. The brews change a person inside and out, including turning their skin different colors.
Selby’s prose is tough to acclimate to for some. I have to re-read some sentences that roll off the tongue strangely. It’s also poetic and there are a number of beautiful and sad passages that just left me feeling wrung out. I consider any book that I get so emotional about to be an absolute gem. Without giving too much away, there are certain people and events in this one that suggest there is much more going on in this world than I previously thought. I’m looking forward to seeing what direction the author goes next.
I hope Selby continues to write books like this. They are unique enough that not everyone will like them but for me, his style works and I’ll be waiting impatiently for the next one.
Brother Red is another thrilling, heartbreaking read from Adrian Selby, who is one of my favorite authors, even with only 3 published novels. Set in the same world as Snakewood and The Winter Road, this one can be read as a stand alone although names and events from the two previous books are sprinkled throughout.
Brother Red is, amongst other things, a love story and a mystery. Driwna is a soldier and a member of The Post, which is a merchant guild/ delivery service kind of like FedEx but with horses and wagons. Early on she discovers a baby’s body from a reclusive and mysterious people hidden in a barrel and she decides to find out what the hell happened.
At first Driwna appears to be kind of an ordinary person who is a good soldier and who is dedicated to the Post. By the end of the book, and with her tragic past revealed, it becomes clear she is an imperfect badass and a true heir to the legacy of Teyr Amondsen, the heroine of The Winter Road.
I can’t say I liked Brother Red better than that previous book. That would be tough as The Winter Road was my favorite read from 2019, but Selby yet again creates an impressive gallery of characters-heroes and villains- and made me care deeply about what happens to them. The plot for this one is kind of meandering and some events were too coincidental, but I flew through this book in a couple days and was extremely emotional by the end of yet another brilliant epilogue.
The fighting system and scenes in Selbys books are unique, brutal and mesmerizing. Warriors and soldiers drink plant mixtures called Fightbrews which temporarily
give them heightened senses and strength followed by a debilitating comedown. The brews change a person inside and out, including turning their skin different colors.
Selby’s prose is tough to acclimate to for some. I have to re-read some sentences that roll off the tongue strangely. It’s also poetic and there are a number of beautiful and sad passages that just left me feeling wrung out. I consider any book that I get so emotional about to be an absolute gem. Without giving too much away, there are certain people and events in this one that suggest there is much more going on in this world than I previously thought. I’m looking forward to seeing what direction the author goes next.
I hope Selby continues to write books like this. They are unique enough that not everyone will like them but for me, his style works and I’ll be waiting impatiently for the next one.
March 9, 2021
Glorious bit of storytelling epic fantasy in standalone form and an amazing lead character highly recommended!
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
March 30, 2022
Ahoy there me mateys! This author has written three novels in the world of Sarun that can be read independently from each other. The other book I read was
the winter road
which was awesome. This one was pretty darn good too.
The highlight continued to be the use of plants as a major resource. Plants are a type of currency and have many uses. One is for battle brews that enrich a warrior's sight, strength, and other attributes based on what is in them. Each war band has it's own secret recipes and fiercely guard them. What was awesome is that ye have to "pay the colour" for their use. Besides causing the user to be violently ill and face potential death, the mixes also ruin the user's skin and cause a period of complete defenselessness. I love it.
This installment follows Driwna Marghoster who works for the Post. The Post is a guild that provides trade caravans and protection on the road. Her latest trip did not go as planned when she find a dead body hidden in a barrel in a wagon. This goes against Post tradition and Driwna is overwhelmed by the discovery. She is determined to get closure for the dead and figure out who is breaking the rules. It turns out to be a bigger problem then she thought and Driwna is given a huge undertaking that is rough.
I loved Driwna. She is all the things I love in this type of character. She is a good friend, intelligent, principled, fierce, and awesome. I also loved her friend Cal and their history and love for each other. I wish he would have been in the book more. I was rooting for Driwna the entire time. This story was so engrossing that I barely put it down. And the ending was so very unexpected. It hurt me soul but also fit the rest of the book.
The only small problem was the big bad was a bit flat at times and because the reader knew about him it was hard to not understand how no one else seemed to be aware of his existence. That said, it was minor. Oh and a bit of insta-love but I didn't really mind that either.
I know this doesn't really get into the plot much but the story is a hard one to simplify even if it wasn't hard at all to read. I still have not read the author's debut book. I am glad I have more to read in this world. Arrr!
Side note: While these books can be read in any order, the chronological order is the winter road, brother red & then snakewood. I didn't intend to read them in this order but it entertains me that it panned out that way!
The highlight continued to be the use of plants as a major resource. Plants are a type of currency and have many uses. One is for battle brews that enrich a warrior's sight, strength, and other attributes based on what is in them. Each war band has it's own secret recipes and fiercely guard them. What was awesome is that ye have to "pay the colour" for their use. Besides causing the user to be violently ill and face potential death, the mixes also ruin the user's skin and cause a period of complete defenselessness. I love it.
This installment follows Driwna Marghoster who works for the Post. The Post is a guild that provides trade caravans and protection on the road. Her latest trip did not go as planned when she find a dead body hidden in a barrel in a wagon. This goes against Post tradition and Driwna is overwhelmed by the discovery. She is determined to get closure for the dead and figure out who is breaking the rules. It turns out to be a bigger problem then she thought and Driwna is given a huge undertaking that is rough.
I loved Driwna. She is all the things I love in this type of character. She is a good friend, intelligent, principled, fierce, and awesome. I also loved her friend Cal and their history and love for each other. I wish he would have been in the book more. I was rooting for Driwna the entire time. This story was so engrossing that I barely put it down. And the ending was so very unexpected. It hurt me soul but also fit the rest of the book.
The only small problem was the big bad was a bit flat at times and because the reader knew about him it was hard to not understand how no one else seemed to be aware of his existence. That said, it was minor. Oh and a bit of insta-love but I didn't really mind that either.
I know this doesn't really get into the plot much but the story is a hard one to simplify even if it wasn't hard at all to read. I still have not read the author's debut book. I am glad I have more to read in this world. Arrr!
Side note: While these books can be read in any order, the chronological order is the winter road, brother red & then snakewood. I didn't intend to read them in this order but it entertains me that it panned out that way!
January 30, 2021
“Brother Red“ by Adrian Selby [5/5]
Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Important things first: this book takes place in the same world as Selby's Snakewood and The Winter Road. I have not read any of those, and I don't think one needs to. The plot is fine on its own and there were no points where I thought I needed to have read the other two books beforehand. This is very much a standalone.
Wearing the Red
The main character in this book is a woman called Driwna Marghoster and she is part of the Post, a group, or merchant guild, who protects the trade caravans to the different parts of the world. Their uniform is red which explains a part of the title. Driwna is an interesting main character and I loved experiencing the story from her POV. She comes with her own package and has strong opinions about what she thinks is the right thing to do – even if the people around her might disagree with her. Her involvement in the book's plot begins with her discovering a dead body inside a barrel. This body is also a point of motivation for her and I think the reader can emphasize with her in this regard.
Most of the other important characters in this book are connected to the Post in some way or another – there is Driwna's best friend who likes to sing songs and seems to be a really nice guy everyone would love to befriend. There is also a former warrior now working for the Post, and he is one of the characters the reader learns more about throughout the novel and he grew on me the more he was in the book. There are also characters from different tribes and one, a woman called Ufra, becomes important to Driwna as both fall in love with each other. I think I like all the characters Driwna associates with in a friendly way and I became quite attached to them.
Of Magic and Darkness
Even though I am a bit reluctant to call this Grimdark Fantasy as the main character is – in my opinion – a bit too heroic, but I can see why other people would consider it as Grimdark Fantasy. I really liked the world-building with the different factions both inside the Post and the political elite in this world. I was very interested in reading about the Post and the very different people that work for it. While it is clear that there must be a lot of corruption sometimes it is not clear if a certain character is part of it or not (even though the main antagonists are most of the time clear to both Driwna and the reader once they meet them).
For all the people who need hard-magic systems in the books they read: this book is not really focused on magic – there is such a thing as magic, but the book focuses more on the abilities the biology of the Oskoro and Ososi grant, and a system of alchemy. It is also mostly focused on how those two types of "magic" influence fighting and healing – and the side effects of using those. I can tell you, they are not pretty.
Going with the Flow
The plot is – if the blurb intrigues you – always interesting. There is a bit of a mystery going on – mainly in the beginning when both Driwna and the reader have no real idea of what exactly is going on. She does not really know who tries to smuggle the dead body she found or why would they do it. It becomes a lot clearer once she meets the tribes of Oskoro and Ososi people and then its more of a race to spoil the villains' plans.
As this is all mainly presented through Driwna's POV Selby uses a very distinct voice for her and all the other characters have different ways of articulating, and you always know who speaks in a dialogue even without the author telling you. Mind you, it took me a lot of time to become accustomed to the writing style and how some characters speak. I would advise trying out a sample of this book if you are able to, to see if you like the writing style or if it is unbearable. I liked it after becoming accustomed to it.
Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Important things first: this book takes place in the same world as Selby's Snakewood and The Winter Road. I have not read any of those, and I don't think one needs to. The plot is fine on its own and there were no points where I thought I needed to have read the other two books beforehand. This is very much a standalone.
Wearing the Red
The main character in this book is a woman called Driwna Marghoster and she is part of the Post, a group, or merchant guild, who protects the trade caravans to the different parts of the world. Their uniform is red which explains a part of the title. Driwna is an interesting main character and I loved experiencing the story from her POV. She comes with her own package and has strong opinions about what she thinks is the right thing to do – even if the people around her might disagree with her. Her involvement in the book's plot begins with her discovering a dead body inside a barrel. This body is also a point of motivation for her and I think the reader can emphasize with her in this regard.
Most of the other important characters in this book are connected to the Post in some way or another – there is Driwna's best friend who likes to sing songs and seems to be a really nice guy everyone would love to befriend. There is also a former warrior now working for the Post, and he is one of the characters the reader learns more about throughout the novel and he grew on me the more he was in the book. There are also characters from different tribes and one, a woman called Ufra, becomes important to Driwna as both fall in love with each other. I think I like all the characters Driwna associates with in a friendly way and I became quite attached to them.
Of Magic and Darkness
Even though I am a bit reluctant to call this Grimdark Fantasy as the main character is – in my opinion – a bit too heroic, but I can see why other people would consider it as Grimdark Fantasy. I really liked the world-building with the different factions both inside the Post and the political elite in this world. I was very interested in reading about the Post and the very different people that work for it. While it is clear that there must be a lot of corruption sometimes it is not clear if a certain character is part of it or not (even though the main antagonists are most of the time clear to both Driwna and the reader once they meet them).
For all the people who need hard-magic systems in the books they read: this book is not really focused on magic – there is such a thing as magic, but the book focuses more on the abilities the biology of the Oskoro and Ososi grant, and a system of alchemy. It is also mostly focused on how those two types of "magic" influence fighting and healing – and the side effects of using those. I can tell you, they are not pretty.
Going with the Flow
The plot is – if the blurb intrigues you – always interesting. There is a bit of a mystery going on – mainly in the beginning when both Driwna and the reader have no real idea of what exactly is going on. She does not really know who tries to smuggle the dead body she found or why would they do it. It becomes a lot clearer once she meets the tribes of Oskoro and Ososi people and then its more of a race to spoil the villains' plans.
As this is all mainly presented through Driwna's POV Selby uses a very distinct voice for her and all the other characters have different ways of articulating, and you always know who speaks in a dialogue even without the author telling you. Mind you, it took me a lot of time to become accustomed to the writing style and how some characters speak. I would advise trying out a sample of this book if you are able to, to see if you like the writing style or if it is unbearable. I liked it after becoming accustomed to it.
February 7, 2021
Actually giving this 5 stars, Goodreads only showing 1.
Another amazing book by Selby with another tale of The Post and its riders and a bit more detail about the Oskoro and the Ososi.
Exciting, emotional and extremely powerful read
Another amazing book by Selby with another tale of The Post and its riders and a bit more detail about the Oskoro and the Ososi.
Exciting, emotional and extremely powerful read
January 11, 2021
And so we come full circle at last. I hope that's not the end of it. Full review to follow, when I get done paying the colour...
March 17, 2022
4.25.
Driwna is a great character. This has cemented Selby as one of the best female character writers I’ve read so far. I’ll be doing a full review of this soon.
Driwna is a great character. This has cemented Selby as one of the best female character writers I’ve read so far. I’ll be doing a full review of this soon.
April 8, 2024
Reading this book was like being dropped into a conversation spoken by people from a country you've never been to or even heard of while they expected you to understand and follow along.
dnf
April 22, 2021I really tried my best to make my way through this book, but after the third try I had to accept that this just wasn't the book for me. I took a long time to get used to the writing style and while it was definitely unique it quickly became too much for me to keep up with. But the main reason I never ended up finishing this book is because of how really grimdark this book really was. I know it's stupid of me to expect anything less from a grimdark book written by a very famous grimdark author (please don't come at this epic fantasy reader who only ever reads a grimdark book once in a few years) but I encountered too many triggers for me to continue with this one.
Definitely a "me" problem and not the book's fault.
Definitely a "me" problem and not the book's fault.
December 25, 2021
(2.5)
Rep: sapphic mc & li, sapphic side character
CWs: gore, violence
Rep: sapphic mc & li, sapphic side character
CWs: gore, violence
October 17, 2025
Brother Red is the exciting, nail-biting, throw-a-spore-bag-and-hope-it-hits new standalone set in the world of Sarun that it shares with Snakewood and The Winter Road before it; a book that carves its own bloody path through the history of the Post, but also brings its story arc from the previous books full-circle. It is a story that takes the other two books in the series, and threads them into a wholesome, complete arc – if you’re a fan of Selby, or gritty, fast-paced fantasy in general, and you also don’t mind a cry, this is certainly a book you don’t want to miss.
In short – and spoiler free – the plot sees Driwna Marghoster, fieldsman in the Post on a journey to discover what’s happening to the Oskoro – the tribe we saw in the Winter Road that had disappeared – and Ososi, as their numbers are dwindling, there’s word of kidnap. A fearsome Ososi cast-out behind it, a mythical Magist rumoured at work and a dead Ososi baby found, with the legendary Flower of Fates sprouted into her brain. While that may not be a great summary, I’ve tried to entice you without ruining any of the plot – trust me, there’s a lot more than that above which you know up front. It’s every bit as mysterious as the last two – and holds its card until right at the end. And even then, there’s a good lot of questions. But that’s the magic. The continuing mystery throughout the entire rise-and-fall-of-the-Post arc is what keeps me coming back to Adrian’s works. Again, there’s well-realised fight scenes, and plenty twists that you only find out when the knife’s in. I’m not afraid to say that – by the end – this series had tears in my eyes.
That last bit is down to how much a master Adrian is when it comes to character relationship. You have to really care about what happens to a character to be moved to tears – something that he’s a dab-hand at. Immediately – with Cal and Driw – you get a feel for the character’s deep-connection within a few lines of shared history. A life well-spent in knowing each other. This start is what scares me the most, because you know that when an author can build that instant connection, in a book like this, it means that it’ll most likely be used against you. But in the most original, unpredictable ways. You just can’t help but care about Driwna and get behind her cause. She’s one of those characters that knows what’s right, knows what she has to do despite everything against her and just gets on with it. I admire her fervour, her steel. She’s formidable, not only in battle. She’s got a strong heart and knows how to pick those who follow her. A character that builds up those around her and loves uncontrollably because that’s what her heart tells her to do.
The fights are always a favourite of mine in Selby novels – they’re a well-oiled machine, a well-rehearsed dance, a visceral, on-the-edge of your seat experience that won’t relent. Won’t let go. It paints a vivid image of fights that are a storm of spore bags flying, kaltrops dropping, swords clashing, bodies falling and much more. And wonderfully described sword forms to say the least.
Fieldbelts and fightbrews are very much an integral part of the fights and are the ‘magic system’ of Sarun – though, not really magic at all. It’s a science of mixed herbs and plants that have differing purposes – some give you night vision, others cripple enemies, there’s all sort of fun. The pinnacle of these are fightbrews, those mixtures whose recipes are closely guarded secrets – the brew of the Post is one that people are tortured and killed for. But the secret remains. These brews afford the user super-human strength. Undeniable, forces of nature. If you can stone the brew, and rise to it properly. The consequences are brutal. ‘Paying the Colour’ is hours of sickness on the comedown which makes for intriguing and unpredictable scenes – if you chose to drop a fightbrew at the wrong time, you might end up on the run from the enemy when you start to come off it. A weaker form of these are ‘dayers’ brews that are weaker but more forgiving. The end all and be all of the flora of Sarun is, of course, the Flower of Fates, a flower that affords the user power above and beyond any brew … at great cost, and I love that Brother Red featured this once more as did the other two.
Now … that epilogue! I mean, wow. This is the part in particular when the series comes full circle and as a fan of the rest of the series, this is what made the entire book worth it. I mean, I absolutely loved the book, but there’s nothing quite like that in a well-loved series. If for anything but the enjoyment of the end of this book, I personally would say read them in publishing order. It makes it all the more emotional ‘coming home.’
Overall, my rating for this book is buy it now, please – the more people we can get that are fans of this series, the more sway we’d have in forcing Adrian to relent and write more and more. But all joking aside, buy this book. It is phenomenal, you won’t be disappointed.
In short – and spoiler free – the plot sees Driwna Marghoster, fieldsman in the Post on a journey to discover what’s happening to the Oskoro – the tribe we saw in the Winter Road that had disappeared – and Ososi, as their numbers are dwindling, there’s word of kidnap. A fearsome Ososi cast-out behind it, a mythical Magist rumoured at work and a dead Ososi baby found, with the legendary Flower of Fates sprouted into her brain. While that may not be a great summary, I’ve tried to entice you without ruining any of the plot – trust me, there’s a lot more than that above which you know up front. It’s every bit as mysterious as the last two – and holds its card until right at the end. And even then, there’s a good lot of questions. But that’s the magic. The continuing mystery throughout the entire rise-and-fall-of-the-Post arc is what keeps me coming back to Adrian’s works. Again, there’s well-realised fight scenes, and plenty twists that you only find out when the knife’s in. I’m not afraid to say that – by the end – this series had tears in my eyes.
That last bit is down to how much a master Adrian is when it comes to character relationship. You have to really care about what happens to a character to be moved to tears – something that he’s a dab-hand at. Immediately – with Cal and Driw – you get a feel for the character’s deep-connection within a few lines of shared history. A life well-spent in knowing each other. This start is what scares me the most, because you know that when an author can build that instant connection, in a book like this, it means that it’ll most likely be used against you. But in the most original, unpredictable ways. You just can’t help but care about Driwna and get behind her cause. She’s one of those characters that knows what’s right, knows what she has to do despite everything against her and just gets on with it. I admire her fervour, her steel. She’s formidable, not only in battle. She’s got a strong heart and knows how to pick those who follow her. A character that builds up those around her and loves uncontrollably because that’s what her heart tells her to do.
The fights are always a favourite of mine in Selby novels – they’re a well-oiled machine, a well-rehearsed dance, a visceral, on-the-edge of your seat experience that won’t relent. Won’t let go. It paints a vivid image of fights that are a storm of spore bags flying, kaltrops dropping, swords clashing, bodies falling and much more. And wonderfully described sword forms to say the least.
Fieldbelts and fightbrews are very much an integral part of the fights and are the ‘magic system’ of Sarun – though, not really magic at all. It’s a science of mixed herbs and plants that have differing purposes – some give you night vision, others cripple enemies, there’s all sort of fun. The pinnacle of these are fightbrews, those mixtures whose recipes are closely guarded secrets – the brew of the Post is one that people are tortured and killed for. But the secret remains. These brews afford the user super-human strength. Undeniable, forces of nature. If you can stone the brew, and rise to it properly. The consequences are brutal. ‘Paying the Colour’ is hours of sickness on the comedown which makes for intriguing and unpredictable scenes – if you chose to drop a fightbrew at the wrong time, you might end up on the run from the enemy when you start to come off it. A weaker form of these are ‘dayers’ brews that are weaker but more forgiving. The end all and be all of the flora of Sarun is, of course, the Flower of Fates, a flower that affords the user power above and beyond any brew … at great cost, and I love that Brother Red featured this once more as did the other two.
Now … that epilogue! I mean, wow. This is the part in particular when the series comes full circle and as a fan of the rest of the series, this is what made the entire book worth it. I mean, I absolutely loved the book, but there’s nothing quite like that in a well-loved series. If for anything but the enjoyment of the end of this book, I personally would say read them in publishing order. It makes it all the more emotional ‘coming home.’
Overall, my rating for this book is buy it now, please – the more people we can get that are fans of this series, the more sway we’d have in forcing Adrian to relent and write more and more. But all joking aside, buy this book. It is phenomenal, you won’t be disappointed.
February 3, 2021
Loved this even though the ending broke me.
read the full review here
https://allopinionsarenotequal.wordpr...
read the full review here
https://allopinionsarenotequal.wordpr...
January 27, 2021
BROTHER RED is a brutal & gorgeous novel. Utterly heartbreaking & uplifting in equal measure. It’s also weird as fuck at times, that can’t be overlooked. Adrian Selby has a really unique approach to writing fantasy, and the end result is something that’s so different, and so fucking compelling. I’m not sure what else to say. BROTHER RED is amazing, and I’m gonna read anything Adrian Selby writes.
Full review:
https://grimdarkdad.wordpress.com/202...
Full review:
https://grimdarkdad.wordpress.com/202...
April 8, 2022
Sadly, a book I could not finish. I would not normally give feedback on a book I haven’t battled my way through, but, honestly, I can’t face going back to this one.
Some books fail in very specific ways, some are deeply flawed in a particular respect and some are just don’t make the grade in various ways. Sadly, this falls into the latter category.
The writing style appears to be deliberately designed to alienate the reader, forcing us to work hard to get into the world. That’s a valid technique but possibly not best employed in a fantasy where the reader already has to grapple with new concepts and certainly not when the rest of the book is poor.
Part of the problem is that we are treated to some passages of lengthy fantasy world politics, presented without context, that are both boring and confusing:
“Your objective eye is most needed here at Autumn’s Gate, Administrator. King Hildmir complains of being cheated out of taxes, he’s raised our tithes twice this last year on our lands and crops, while berths and the sheds all now cost us more. The merchants lobby against us and the agreements we have worked hard to maintain since Crusica Hildmir signed them off with Brekeuel’s mentor Thornsen a century or more ago. With Reeve Crejda’s reports from the Spike of the border tribes acting up and how much more dangerous it’s suddenly become to move vans through to the Lakes, I believe Fieldsman Marghoster can help ease Crejda’s worries and investigate freely their causes while you maintain a view on all that goes on in and around court and the guilds. Rogus will see Driwna is provided with the best of fieldbelts, horse, leathers and chain. Rolls will also be dispatched with the Farlsgrad Creed that shall inform all of her seal and authority. We can talk more of Hildmir shortly.”
I promise this impenetrable info dump makes no more sense when it appears in the book.
Dialogue generally sounds like it has been run through Google translate on a bad day:
“A purity of purpose intended to elicit trust. A high seriousness. This is what we feel when the administrator rises to greet us, his robes and his desk luxurious. This is the Post, eh Amaris? This is tenure, history, status.”
As the book goes on, other new flaws become apparent. Ambiguity in characters, or moral complexity, are utterly unknown here. I don’t wish to give spoilers but we have an enemy of our central characters who appears to be a corrupt official - only it turns out he isn’t, he is actually the big bad in disguise. Complexity and interest instantly squandered.
There are a couple of nice concepts - the use of plants as magic, a people who have a symbiotic relationship with parasitic plants - but these are thoroughly squandered by everything else that surrounds them. I am glad others enjoyed this more but I struggled with this book for longer than I wish I had.
Advance proof given in exchange for an honest review
Some books fail in very specific ways, some are deeply flawed in a particular respect and some are just don’t make the grade in various ways. Sadly, this falls into the latter category.
The writing style appears to be deliberately designed to alienate the reader, forcing us to work hard to get into the world. That’s a valid technique but possibly not best employed in a fantasy where the reader already has to grapple with new concepts and certainly not when the rest of the book is poor.
Part of the problem is that we are treated to some passages of lengthy fantasy world politics, presented without context, that are both boring and confusing:
“Your objective eye is most needed here at Autumn’s Gate, Administrator. King Hildmir complains of being cheated out of taxes, he’s raised our tithes twice this last year on our lands and crops, while berths and the sheds all now cost us more. The merchants lobby against us and the agreements we have worked hard to maintain since Crusica Hildmir signed them off with Brekeuel’s mentor Thornsen a century or more ago. With Reeve Crejda’s reports from the Spike of the border tribes acting up and how much more dangerous it’s suddenly become to move vans through to the Lakes, I believe Fieldsman Marghoster can help ease Crejda’s worries and investigate freely their causes while you maintain a view on all that goes on in and around court and the guilds. Rogus will see Driwna is provided with the best of fieldbelts, horse, leathers and chain. Rolls will also be dispatched with the Farlsgrad Creed that shall inform all of her seal and authority. We can talk more of Hildmir shortly.”
I promise this impenetrable info dump makes no more sense when it appears in the book.
Dialogue generally sounds like it has been run through Google translate on a bad day:
“A purity of purpose intended to elicit trust. A high seriousness. This is what we feel when the administrator rises to greet us, his robes and his desk luxurious. This is the Post, eh Amaris? This is tenure, history, status.”
As the book goes on, other new flaws become apparent. Ambiguity in characters, or moral complexity, are utterly unknown here. I don’t wish to give spoilers but we have an enemy of our central characters who appears to be a corrupt official - only it turns out he isn’t, he is actually the big bad in disguise. Complexity and interest instantly squandered.
There are a couple of nice concepts - the use of plants as magic, a people who have a symbiotic relationship with parasitic plants - but these are thoroughly squandered by everything else that surrounds them. I am glad others enjoyed this more but I struggled with this book for longer than I wish I had.
Advance proof given in exchange for an honest review
June 25, 2021
4.5 stars
“𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚. 𝙋𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
Brother Red follows Driwna Marghoster, a member of the militaristic arm of The Post, a merchant guild that holds a powerful place in her world where ingesting plants endows temporary magical properties. She holds to the Creed and uncovers a plot from within that is corrupting her guild and a conspiracy that will overthrow her king. Driwna is a great character, drawn to and conflicted between her loyalty to her duty, her love, and her family. She is also surrounded by a great cast of characters that bring their own personalities to contrast hers.
“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰?”
This is the first book of Adrian Selby’s that I’ve read, and it certainly took some getting used to with his strange sentence structure and wordings sprinkled throughout. The story was really engaging and the world he created feels whole although we only see a few parts of it (likely because this was apparently the third book set in the same world). And that ending was unexpected, giving a satisfying conclusion while leaving us feeling that we are still not seeing the entire picture of the plots and powers at play. It certainly made me want to read his other books.
“𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.”
“𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚. 𝙋𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
Brother Red follows Driwna Marghoster, a member of the militaristic arm of The Post, a merchant guild that holds a powerful place in her world where ingesting plants endows temporary magical properties. She holds to the Creed and uncovers a plot from within that is corrupting her guild and a conspiracy that will overthrow her king. Driwna is a great character, drawn to and conflicted between her loyalty to her duty, her love, and her family. She is also surrounded by a great cast of characters that bring their own personalities to contrast hers.
“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰?”
This is the first book of Adrian Selby’s that I’ve read, and it certainly took some getting used to with his strange sentence structure and wordings sprinkled throughout. The story was really engaging and the world he created feels whole although we only see a few parts of it (likely because this was apparently the third book set in the same world). And that ending was unexpected, giving a satisfying conclusion while leaving us feeling that we are still not seeing the entire picture of the plots and powers at play. It certainly made me want to read his other books.
“𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.”
May 5, 2021
This is the second Adrian Selby book I’ve read, the other being Winter Road and while they are set within the same world and ‘trilogy’ this is very much a standalone and can be read without the other books in the series, there are threads that come with a shared world and I will be reading Snakewood in the near future – which as I have since discovered is actually the chronological order for the stories so I’ve accidentally done it the right way. First off, I have to say how much I love the cover – it is simple and stunning and immediately catches your attention.
As with The Winter Road, it took me a little while to get into Brother Red, but once I did, I was completely hooked. This is exactly the kind of fantasy that I like, dark and gritty, and with characters that you can’t help but come to care for. Selby takes that to another level, and even with the characters like Driwna that you like from the beginning, it is only at the end that you realise just how deeply you’ve come to care for the characters which is why this book has so much impact.
The worldbuilding is well developed and fascinating, with the use of herbs and plants adding an interesting twist to the story, but in Brother Red, it was really the characters that were my favourite part and that ending! A fantastic book on its own, and another great instalment in this world and one I would highly recommend.
As with The Winter Road, it took me a little while to get into Brother Red, but once I did, I was completely hooked. This is exactly the kind of fantasy that I like, dark and gritty, and with characters that you can’t help but come to care for. Selby takes that to another level, and even with the characters like Driwna that you like from the beginning, it is only at the end that you realise just how deeply you’ve come to care for the characters which is why this book has so much impact.
The worldbuilding is well developed and fascinating, with the use of herbs and plants adding an interesting twist to the story, but in Brother Red, it was really the characters that were my favourite part and that ending! A fantastic book on its own, and another great instalment in this world and one I would highly recommend.
February 11, 2021
Brother Red by Adrian Selby was a thrilling, bloody, unforgiving, and emotional read. This was the first Adrian Selby novel I have read and most likely not the last.
The story is told from the POV of Driwna Marghoster who is part of a guild known as "The Post". Essentially, The Post are a guild made up of individuals who protect trade caravans that travel across the world to various locations. What makes members of the guild stand out from others is their red uniform, hence the name of the title. On one particular job, the trade caravan Driwna is protecting is ambushed and attacked by mercenaries. Although Driwna and Cal who is her best friend and fellow Red are able to kill the attackers, they discover a dead body of a baby within one of the containers. The significance of this is that the baby is from the Oskoro tribe which is a very rare find due these people keeping to themselves. What also makes the Oskoro tribe intriguing is the fact that they use seeds and plants to somewhat enhance their body and mind. Thus, we follow Driwna as she begins her investigation into where the body was headed and who was going to take it. Driwna's journey will uncover deceit and betrayal that goes all the way to the top of the hierarchy.
For me this was an absolutely fantastic read and the fact that their are two books that connects within the same world really has me excited to read them! The world of Brother Red his phenomenal and reminded me a lot of Assassins Creed and The Witcher due to how rich it was. I loved the whole idea of The Post and their creeds motto "Help the helpless. Honour the purse. peace through trade. this is the creed." really hits you. The Post consists of different departments from agents to fieldsman (basically spies). What i also loved was how Adrian Selby describes the places Driwna visits. Everything is so detailed that you can picture it in your mind. I also absolutely loved the political elements. The novel was definitely part grimdark fantasy part thriller for me. Driwna leaves no stone unturned as she attempts to discover why the Ososi clan and Oskoro are going missing. The more she uncovers the more intense things became and to be honest, the more worried i became for Driwna. There are those within The Post itself that wish to see its downfall and when you discover why you can't help but feel sad about it.
What i also loved were the bloody, brutal, and highly intense fight sequences. If you've ever played Dark Souls, The Witcher Three, and Assassins Creed you'll know what i am talking about. It is basically an art that requires precision and awareness of staying a step ahead of your enemy. One thing that blew me away was the fact that at the beginning of the story when Cal and Driw are scouting they use sign language so they aren't detected. As well as that, there are special potions or in the case of Brother Red, brews that increase strength, agility, and making one more aware of their surroundings. Also, like The Witcher and Assassins Creed, it is not just the mighty sword that is ones primary weapon, there are bows, throwing knives, and even throwing objects known as "spores" that release a gas that can posion or blind enemies.
When considering the writing, i did like the writing as it was very detailed and you could picture everything in your mind. I do feel however that it took a while to get accustomed to some of the wording and phrasing. I did feel as well that some of the chapters were so dense at times which made me a bit annoyed. But honestly after finishing the book this was just a mediocre matter for me. I think a book like this requires a lot of detail and density to get to grips of what was going on in the world.
Finally, when considering the characters, i really loved the character of Driwna. She was highly likable and you can't help but want her to push on and discover the secrets and lies that are occurring. But you end up having such a strong bond with her that you don't want her to uncover anything because it is a matter of life and death. But this is why i loved her because doesn't give a shit which beast she wakes up, she is all about doing the right thing for The Post and the Ososi and Oskoro clans. She is driven and has so much heart that you just want her to succeed. Driwna meets many side characters and each has a distinct voice that allows you tell each of them apart. Driwna meets many allies and foes throughout her journey and i would say favourites were Cal, Bray, and Ufra. Cal has basically grown with Driwna within The Post and their bond was just so wholesome. I loved their banter and when they cussed each other. You can really tell they have been through thick and thin together.
"Come on, let's get you in that bath. I'm sick of seeing your bare arse."
I felt this bond with Ufra and Driwna as well and they inevitably fall in love. Ufra was such a badass and I love her overall vibe. They end up having this strong body and soul connection which was just beautiful. I also felt Bray was a phenomenal side character as he grows as a person in the novel. I can't say too much without spoiling, but think Rocky Balboa coming out of retirement.
"I thought you strong! I thought you fast! Who is this *****!" He shouts this to all watching. "A fat old man, I's beatin' you without sword or spear!
Overall, a phenomenal and unique standalone fantasy story that I really enjoyed. I loved the world and characters so much and hope i can read the other two books so i can return to it and hopefully learn more. Adrian Selby is a phenomenal writer who grips you with the way he writes and makes you want to keep reading until you're shattered. Also, the ending was so unexpected and very impactful as a reader. My heart genuinely sank after finishing the book. Thank you so much to Angela and Orbit for gifting me a copy. I can't wait to read more books by Adrian Selby now 😊
The story is told from the POV of Driwna Marghoster who is part of a guild known as "The Post". Essentially, The Post are a guild made up of individuals who protect trade caravans that travel across the world to various locations. What makes members of the guild stand out from others is their red uniform, hence the name of the title. On one particular job, the trade caravan Driwna is protecting is ambushed and attacked by mercenaries. Although Driwna and Cal who is her best friend and fellow Red are able to kill the attackers, they discover a dead body of a baby within one of the containers. The significance of this is that the baby is from the Oskoro tribe which is a very rare find due these people keeping to themselves. What also makes the Oskoro tribe intriguing is the fact that they use seeds and plants to somewhat enhance their body and mind. Thus, we follow Driwna as she begins her investigation into where the body was headed and who was going to take it. Driwna's journey will uncover deceit and betrayal that goes all the way to the top of the hierarchy.
For me this was an absolutely fantastic read and the fact that their are two books that connects within the same world really has me excited to read them! The world of Brother Red his phenomenal and reminded me a lot of Assassins Creed and The Witcher due to how rich it was. I loved the whole idea of The Post and their creeds motto "Help the helpless. Honour the purse. peace through trade. this is the creed." really hits you. The Post consists of different departments from agents to fieldsman (basically spies). What i also loved was how Adrian Selby describes the places Driwna visits. Everything is so detailed that you can picture it in your mind. I also absolutely loved the political elements. The novel was definitely part grimdark fantasy part thriller for me. Driwna leaves no stone unturned as she attempts to discover why the Ososi clan and Oskoro are going missing. The more she uncovers the more intense things became and to be honest, the more worried i became for Driwna. There are those within The Post itself that wish to see its downfall and when you discover why you can't help but feel sad about it.
What i also loved were the bloody, brutal, and highly intense fight sequences. If you've ever played Dark Souls, The Witcher Three, and Assassins Creed you'll know what i am talking about. It is basically an art that requires precision and awareness of staying a step ahead of your enemy. One thing that blew me away was the fact that at the beginning of the story when Cal and Driw are scouting they use sign language so they aren't detected. As well as that, there are special potions or in the case of Brother Red, brews that increase strength, agility, and making one more aware of their surroundings. Also, like The Witcher and Assassins Creed, it is not just the mighty sword that is ones primary weapon, there are bows, throwing knives, and even throwing objects known as "spores" that release a gas that can posion or blind enemies.
When considering the writing, i did like the writing as it was very detailed and you could picture everything in your mind. I do feel however that it took a while to get accustomed to some of the wording and phrasing. I did feel as well that some of the chapters were so dense at times which made me a bit annoyed. But honestly after finishing the book this was just a mediocre matter for me. I think a book like this requires a lot of detail and density to get to grips of what was going on in the world.
Finally, when considering the characters, i really loved the character of Driwna. She was highly likable and you can't help but want her to push on and discover the secrets and lies that are occurring. But you end up having such a strong bond with her that you don't want her to uncover anything because it is a matter of life and death. But this is why i loved her because doesn't give a shit which beast she wakes up, she is all about doing the right thing for The Post and the Ososi and Oskoro clans. She is driven and has so much heart that you just want her to succeed. Driwna meets many side characters and each has a distinct voice that allows you tell each of them apart. Driwna meets many allies and foes throughout her journey and i would say favourites were Cal, Bray, and Ufra. Cal has basically grown with Driwna within The Post and their bond was just so wholesome. I loved their banter and when they cussed each other. You can really tell they have been through thick and thin together.
"Come on, let's get you in that bath. I'm sick of seeing your bare arse."
I felt this bond with Ufra and Driwna as well and they inevitably fall in love. Ufra was such a badass and I love her overall vibe. They end up having this strong body and soul connection which was just beautiful. I also felt Bray was a phenomenal side character as he grows as a person in the novel. I can't say too much without spoiling, but think Rocky Balboa coming out of retirement.
"I thought you strong! I thought you fast! Who is this *****!" He shouts this to all watching. "A fat old man, I's beatin' you without sword or spear!
Overall, a phenomenal and unique standalone fantasy story that I really enjoyed. I loved the world and characters so much and hope i can read the other two books so i can return to it and hopefully learn more. Adrian Selby is a phenomenal writer who grips you with the way he writes and makes you want to keep reading until you're shattered. Also, the ending was so unexpected and very impactful as a reader. My heart genuinely sank after finishing the book. Thank you so much to Angela and Orbit for gifting me a copy. I can't wait to read more books by Adrian Selby now 😊
July 30, 2021
3.5
Realllly difficult for me to get into at first, mostly due to the language and heavy use of in world slang and terms with no explanation, but well worth it when you get over the hump.
The world is unique and super interesting, the poisons and potions system of magic (there's more to it than that, but that's what most people have access to) was super cool, and I really loved the relationships. Such a good portrayal of what human interaction could (and should) be, if our culture hadn't been poisoned by prudishness. More physical affection that isn't entirely based around fucking, while still embedded in a sex positive culture please!
(Which, side note, consent-based sex positive cultures make non-sexual physical affection easier, because no one needs to sweat too hard about people misreading their intentions when they offer it. Worst you're gonna get is a "flattered, but i'm not feeling the vibe". So...can we do that? Can we make one of those please? Thank you.)
Realllly difficult for me to get into at first, mostly due to the language and heavy use of in world slang and terms with no explanation, but well worth it when you get over the hump.
The world is unique and super interesting, the poisons and potions system of magic (there's more to it than that, but that's what most people have access to) was super cool, and I really loved the relationships. Such a good portrayal of what human interaction could (and should) be, if our culture hadn't been poisoned by prudishness. More physical affection that isn't entirely based around fucking, while still embedded in a sex positive culture please!
(Which, side note, consent-based sex positive cultures make non-sexual physical affection easier, because no one needs to sweat too hard about people misreading their intentions when they offer it. Worst you're gonna get is a "flattered, but i'm not feeling the vibe". So...can we do that? Can we make one of those please? Thank you.)
September 5, 2025
Adrian Selby only went upwards in terms of his writing. It was so cool to see how the Post evolved throughout this book from its origins in the last book into what it eventually became in Snakewood. The characters were definitely one of the strongest parts of the book, as I fell in love with Driwna's struggle to do right by her clan while also being the best Fieldsman possible, Cal's overall demeanor as a privileged young man who actually wants to use it for good, and Bray's reclamation of confidence in himself as an old and out of shape soldier well past his glory days. I greatly appreciate the fact that Adrian learned from one of the common complaints from the first book with how the women were written in it. There were various types of female characters in this book who were strong in their own right without every single one of them having to be a great fighter. The relationship between Utha and Dwina was portrayed so well, and their final fate was equal parts tragic as well as beautiful. It's a pipe dream, but if he ever decided to go back to this world and do a whole continuous series or even another standalone, I would read it in a heartbeat because the sky is the limit for this man with this setting he's so wonderfully crafted.
9.5/10
9.5/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2025
The world this book is set in was interesting and imaginative. The employment of various plants to enhance battle prowess, use as teargas, poisons, and the more usual healing, spiced things up a little, but it was the idea of plants growing inside people that really set the book apart.
As others have said, the prose is particularly difficult to penetrate, and even after repeatedly re-reading some sentences, they still did not make sense. Dialogue sounding different is excusable if creating an alien world, but when the rest is also strangely written, with multiples of strange names, it makes comprehension uncertain. I also thought the evil character so poorly described that I still do not understand why they were doing their coup (if they are so powerful, why are they bothering?).
As others have said, the prose is particularly difficult to penetrate, and even after repeatedly re-reading some sentences, they still did not make sense. Dialogue sounding different is excusable if creating an alien world, but when the rest is also strangely written, with multiples of strange names, it makes comprehension uncertain. I also thought the evil character so poorly described that I still do not understand why they were doing their coup (if they are so powerful, why are they bothering?).
July 29, 2022
2.5/5
Interesting ideas lacking in execution
This was fine, but didn’t really work for me. There are a bunch of tiny reasons why this didn’t grab me, but the biggest issue was that the characters just fell flat. The action is fun, the Ososi are a really interesting people, but the villain(s) were incredibly weak.
This isn’t a bad book, but I was mostly bored and uninterested the whole way through.
Interesting ideas lacking in execution
This was fine, but didn’t really work for me. There are a bunch of tiny reasons why this didn’t grab me, but the biggest issue was that the characters just fell flat. The action is fun, the Ososi are a really interesting people, but the villain(s) were incredibly weak.
This isn’t a bad book, but I was mostly bored and uninterested the whole way through.
March 12, 2022
Loved this so much - Stunning epic fantasy with a hugely engaging and layered main protagonist.
The writing is literary in style, quirky in its descriptive sense and you dig yourself deep into this world which is intelligent in its nuance and setting.
The vibe between the two characters Driw and Cal really absorbed me and this is fantastic storytelling.
Recommended
The writing is literary in style, quirky in its descriptive sense and you dig yourself deep into this world which is intelligent in its nuance and setting.
The vibe between the two characters Driw and Cal really absorbed me and this is fantastic storytelling.
Recommended
October 17, 2024
A masterpiece, honestly I expected Driw and Cal to just get together like a typical story but I was completely surprised by Driw with Ufra, love the lesbian representation! The writing was superb and plot was awesomeee! Really thought this was gonna be another average book but the romance and writing just made this book stand out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2021
Brother Red is the latest in a series of standalone novels by Adrian Selby, all set in the same world across differing time periods and all interwoven with the fate of The Post. A vast mercantile empire spreading its influence across the lands. I love this approach of jumping around to different regions, characters, and times throughout the history of this fascinating world Selby has created.
The book follows Driwna, the first member of The Post to be granted the position of Fieldsman which by the time of the later set Snakewood is an established position within The Post. Tasked to route out corruption within the organisation she quickly becomes tangled in a tragic mystery that draws her towards lands of the West.
There's something of True Grit about Driwna striking out into the Western trails and wilderness with Bray, an old soldier gone to fat and vice but perhaps seeking his pride once more, and I do wish we'd gotten just a little more of that.
I've raved about Selby's plant based magic system previously for Winter Road and Snakewood because it's just so damn good and this book gets to show off even more of it. I love the range of plants, day brews, fight brews etc used throughout to treat certain conditions, provide an edge in combat, or simply to boost sense for tracking or locating plant. It feels so organic and the inbuilt need for the best soldiers to understand plants and their uses is great. The tradeoff of 'paying the colour', having to deal with the comedown and consequences of taking these various brews and the toll they exert over the years is really well done.
I'm a sucker for Selby's world and writing, his fight scenes are outstanding and made particularly unique as they're combined with the plants, fieldbelts, and various brews utilised. It's his characters that really make the whole thing work however and Brother Red features a wonderful supporting cast along with a protagonist in Driwna Bridche that is every bit the worthy heir to Teyr Amondsen.
The book follows Driwna, the first member of The Post to be granted the position of Fieldsman which by the time of the later set Snakewood is an established position within The Post. Tasked to route out corruption within the organisation she quickly becomes tangled in a tragic mystery that draws her towards lands of the West.
There's something of True Grit about Driwna striking out into the Western trails and wilderness with Bray, an old soldier gone to fat and vice but perhaps seeking his pride once more, and I do wish we'd gotten just a little more of that.
I've raved about Selby's plant based magic system previously for Winter Road and Snakewood because it's just so damn good and this book gets to show off even more of it. I love the range of plants, day brews, fight brews etc used throughout to treat certain conditions, provide an edge in combat, or simply to boost sense for tracking or locating plant. It feels so organic and the inbuilt need for the best soldiers to understand plants and their uses is great. The tradeoff of 'paying the colour', having to deal with the comedown and consequences of taking these various brews and the toll they exert over the years is really well done.
I'm a sucker for Selby's world and writing, his fight scenes are outstanding and made particularly unique as they're combined with the plants, fieldbelts, and various brews utilised. It's his characters that really make the whole thing work however and Brother Red features a wonderful supporting cast along with a protagonist in Driwna Bridche that is every bit the worthy heir to Teyr Amondsen.
Read
October 15, 20257 out of 10
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews