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That's What Brothers Do
To save his family, he sold his innocence.
To save his sisters, he sold his body.
To save his love, he sold his soul.
Why?
That's what brothers do...
To save his sisters, he sold his body.
To save his love, he sold his soul.
Why?
That's what brothers do...
167 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2009
46 people are currently reading
1994 people want to read
About the author
Derekica Snake
24 books404 followersGreetings, gentle readers. My name is Derekica Snake aka kiix. This is the part where I write about myself. It is harder than it looks. It is so much easier to write about fictional characters…hummm. Wait. I have a light blub moment.
On a dark and quiet evening in the month of April, a little girl child came into the world in St. Joesph General Hospital. Upon seeing the little girl with the little curl in the middle of her forehead, the father was heard to remark…why does she have red hair? At that moment I’ve been known as the milkman’s kid, oops, I meant she’s been known as the milkman’s kid. See, this is why I write in first person. If it works for you, stick with it.
My favorite book was “Green eggs and ham”. Apparently my mother got so annoyed with me reciting it that it accidently on purpose got tossed out the window of a moving car. So I guess I started writing my own stories once I was taught to print. I’ve always loved writing fiction. In elementary and secondary school we were required to keep a journal. I didn’t want to. I love to write but not about myself. I just wrote little ideas down and handed them in. I graduated so I guess it was good.
I thought I was in deep fascination with a boy in grade seven who was very into Star Trek. I had no clue what he was talking about so I started learning about Star Trek and now it was what was his name? Sci-fi segued into Fantasy and from there I never looked back. I was a big Star Wars geek (pre-episode 1) and wrote pastiche Han Solo adventures as a teenager.
My writing began to lean towards my current selection of offerings. I initially was a little distressed. I thought I was off – way off. I was uncomfortable with the content and toned it down or cut it out completely on second draft attempts. However, it kept cropping back up and I thought I was going to have to pull my hair out to make it stop but then…on May 6, 2006 at 9:15 a.m. I discovered “Ai No Kusabi” on youtube.
That was also the same time that I realized that what I had been writing and hiding away for years had a name. Yaoi. If it had a name others were reading and writing it so I wasn’t the lone pervert out in the world. I took my hands out of my hair and put my fingers on the keyboard and embraced the world of Yaoi.
It only took me six months to figure out how to start posting stories on the Internet on www.adultfanfiction.net. It wasn’t long before I moved from writing AnK fan fiction to posting my own original Yaoi writing under the pseudonym kiix.
I started writing daily. I found a continuing education course on Professional Creative Writing in a local city and started taking courses. There were some tips and facts that were good but the social networking was the key. It was after this that I started actively exploring getting my works published. That expensive piece of paper honed my confidence enough to start sending out queries and posting my first drafts right to the net.
While I had to pony up time and money to self publish once the rejection e-mails came in, I didn’t mind. I think it was the start of something good. I think? I know it was the start of something good.
Welcome to my version of the world of Yaoi. I look forward to leaving my touch in your mind.
On a dark and quiet evening in the month of April, a little girl child came into the world in St. Joesph General Hospital. Upon seeing the little girl with the little curl in the middle of her forehead, the father was heard to remark…why does she have red hair? At that moment I’ve been known as the milkman’s kid, oops, I meant she’s been known as the milkman’s kid. See, this is why I write in first person. If it works for you, stick with it.
My favorite book was “Green eggs and ham”. Apparently my mother got so annoyed with me reciting it that it accidently on purpose got tossed out the window of a moving car. So I guess I started writing my own stories once I was taught to print. I’ve always loved writing fiction. In elementary and secondary school we were required to keep a journal. I didn’t want to. I love to write but not about myself. I just wrote little ideas down and handed them in. I graduated so I guess it was good.
I thought I was in deep fascination with a boy in grade seven who was very into Star Trek. I had no clue what he was talking about so I started learning about Star Trek and now it was what was his name? Sci-fi segued into Fantasy and from there I never looked back. I was a big Star Wars geek (pre-episode 1) and wrote pastiche Han Solo adventures as a teenager.
My writing began to lean towards my current selection of offerings. I initially was a little distressed. I thought I was off – way off. I was uncomfortable with the content and toned it down or cut it out completely on second draft attempts. However, it kept cropping back up and I thought I was going to have to pull my hair out to make it stop but then…on May 6, 2006 at 9:15 a.m. I discovered “Ai No Kusabi” on youtube.
That was also the same time that I realized that what I had been writing and hiding away for years had a name. Yaoi. If it had a name others were reading and writing it so I wasn’t the lone pervert out in the world. I took my hands out of my hair and put my fingers on the keyboard and embraced the world of Yaoi.
It only took me six months to figure out how to start posting stories on the Internet on www.adultfanfiction.net. It wasn’t long before I moved from writing AnK fan fiction to posting my own original Yaoi writing under the pseudonym kiix.
I started writing daily. I found a continuing education course on Professional Creative Writing in a local city and started taking courses. There were some tips and facts that were good but the social networking was the key. It was after this that I started actively exploring getting my works published. That expensive piece of paper honed my confidence enough to start sending out queries and posting my first drafts right to the net.
While I had to pony up time and money to self publish once the rejection e-mails came in, I didn’t mind. I think it was the start of something good. I think? I know it was the start of something good.
Welcome to my version of the world of Yaoi. I look forward to leaving my touch in your mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
July 27, 2016
DNF at 26%
What the coño is this shit? If you complain about Mr. Grey DO NOT touch this book! This is Ebola for you!!!
Because, really. Wilber is an asshole. But Brant has no personality at all.
The synopsis says nothing of the story. It's mysterious at best. I began the book thinking it was about prostitution and I was right. But I kept reading and reading and the other MC didn't enter the scene. Then I was aware who the hero was. And it was a mind-blowing moment but no the good one. This relationship is sick and disgusting. The book is sick and disgusting. That's not enough to quit but the writing is so caricature like I can't put up with it anymore. Too ridiculous and drama llama for me. Pretentious and absurd.
This is leaking like a sieve.
I'll tell what happens in the part I read.
1. The characters are unlikeable. All of them. We have a fourteen-year-old whose sisters are in danger of being exploited in prostitution, so he decides to offer himself in their place because "That's What Brothers Do". After years and years of prostitution, he falls for his owner, Wilber, which surprise surprise, LOVES him! Oh yeah, he loves him so much he lets Brant to be fucked again and again every night and then he takes advantage of it and finishes the business day and lets Brant come (because Brant can only come when Wilber touches him lalala). So romantic, all of this.
Wilber cares for Brant but he hurts him in every way possible. He controls Brant and when and by whom he is fucked, what he eats, how and how long he makes exercise, how to have his hair... He is driven to the doctor but the doctor is punished when he explores Brant. It seems Brant can't make any kind of decision without his command. He is even taken to university to be educated as Wilder wishes. He is a Bratz to be put clothes on as you please, and you can even pull his feet off if you feel like it. But not because he's a submissive. But because he has no character in him. He's a lettuce, I tell you.
This is Brant:
I'm sure he uses velcro in shoes, because he is too silly to use laces.
So yeah, it was quite exciting to read about him being pushed around.
2. His abuse is drama-drama-drama. It induces eye rolling all the way. The poor Brant who sacrificed himself for his sisters. The poor Brant who was used in porn and sex slavery for years. The poor Brant who is such a martyr! The poor Brant who accepts being a sex slave for Wilber only after he finishes his debt at last! No, poor Brant no, stupid Brant is better defined.
3. The premise is good, the idea sounds awesome. I know it's dub-con or even non-con. I know moral compasses are broken. I've read great books with psychos and assassins and the like and I loved them. So the problem here was not the restriction of freedom and the pain. The problem is that it was just so ridiculous and cartoon like I couldn't believe it all. In fact, I wanted to laugh because it's so exaggerated and forced I was unquestionably wasting my time. If I want to read a Tarantino style book, it better be awesome. I'm very trained in having a poker face. But here? It melted.
So DNF it is.
What the coño is this shit? If you complain about Mr. Grey DO NOT touch this book! This is Ebola for you!!!
Because, really. Wilber is an asshole. But Brant has no personality at all.
The synopsis says nothing of the story. It's mysterious at best. I began the book thinking it was about prostitution and I was right. But I kept reading and reading and the other MC didn't enter the scene. Then I was aware who the hero was. And it was a mind-blowing moment but no the good one. This relationship is sick and disgusting. The book is sick and disgusting. That's not enough to quit but the writing is so caricature like I can't put up with it anymore. Too ridiculous and drama llama for me. Pretentious and absurd.
This is leaking like a sieve.
I'll tell what happens in the part I read.
1. The characters are unlikeable. All of them. We have a fourteen-year-old whose sisters are in danger of being exploited in prostitution, so he decides to offer himself in their place because "That's What Brothers Do". After years and years of prostitution, he falls for his owner, Wilber, which surprise surprise, LOVES him! Oh yeah, he loves him so much he lets Brant to be fucked again and again every night and then he takes advantage of it and finishes the business day and lets Brant come (because Brant can only come when Wilber touches him lalala). So romantic, all of this.
Wilber cares for Brant but he hurts him in every way possible. He controls Brant and when and by whom he is fucked, what he eats, how and how long he makes exercise, how to have his hair... He is driven to the doctor but the doctor is punished when he explores Brant. It seems Brant can't make any kind of decision without his command. He is even taken to university to be educated as Wilder wishes. He is a Bratz to be put clothes on as you please, and you can even pull his feet off if you feel like it. But not because he's a submissive. But because he has no character in him. He's a lettuce, I tell you.
This is Brant:
I'm sure he uses velcro in shoes, because he is too silly to use laces.
So yeah, it was quite exciting to read about him being pushed around.
2. His abuse is drama-drama-drama. It induces eye rolling all the way. The poor Brant who sacrificed himself for his sisters. The poor Brant who was used in porn and sex slavery for years. The poor Brant who is such a martyr! The poor Brant who accepts being a sex slave for Wilber only after he finishes his debt at last! No, poor Brant no, stupid Brant is better defined.
3. The premise is good, the idea sounds awesome. I know it's dub-con or even non-con. I know moral compasses are broken. I've read great books with psychos and assassins and the like and I loved them. So the problem here was not the restriction of freedom and the pain. The problem is that it was just so ridiculous and cartoon like I couldn't believe it all. In fact, I wanted to laugh because it's so exaggerated and forced I was unquestionably wasting my time. If I want to read a Tarantino style book, it better be awesome. I'm very trained in having a poker face. But here? It melted.
So DNF it is.
February 18, 2018
At the age of 14, Brant offers himself up to 32-year-old loan shark, Wilber Brawden, when his father can’t keep up with the payments. He does this to save his sisters from a life of prostitution. Wilber accepts the offer. He rapes 14-year-old Brant and video tapes it. This is the background. The events of the rape are not on page.
The book starts with Brant as a 24-year-old prostitute. He has 6 months left to complete his deal and pay off his father’s debt. Once the debt is paid off, Wilber offers him another deal. A deal that would make him exclusively Wilber’s.
After 10 years of submitting to prostitution, Brant is broken, and Wilber wants to build him back up and make him whole again. At times Wilber seemed frustrated by how broken Brant was. That really amazed me. WTF did he expect!!?? Brant was repeatedly raped and forced to prostitute himself for 10 years!!! Of course, he’s going to be all kinds of messed up! Since only Brant’s pov is given, there was no telling what Wilber’s thought process was.
Anyway, cutting this short, Brant and Wilber fall in love but they are met with several obstacles that make getting their HEA challenging. It takes years, but they eventually get it.
You can expect editing issues, a lot of repetitive internal musings, and flash backs that made the story at times confusing.
The book starts with Brant as a 24-year-old prostitute. He has 6 months left to complete his deal and pay off his father’s debt. Once the debt is paid off, Wilber offers him another deal. A deal that would make him exclusively Wilber’s.
After 10 years of submitting to prostitution, Brant is broken, and Wilber wants to build him back up and make him whole again. At times Wilber seemed frustrated by how broken Brant was. That really amazed me. WTF did he expect!!?? Brant was repeatedly raped and forced to prostitute himself for 10 years!!! Of course, he’s going to be all kinds of messed up! Since only Brant’s pov is given, there was no telling what Wilber’s thought process was.
Anyway, cutting this short, Brant and Wilber fall in love but they are met with several obstacles that make getting their HEA challenging. It takes years, but they eventually get it.
You can expect editing issues, a lot of repetitive internal musings, and flash backs that made the story at times confusing.
April 21, 2020
3 Stars
Told in single POV, 1st Person. It’s a standalone novella. It contains so much inner thought and that was my first issue. My other complaint is that the story should have had Wilber’s POV as well. Because I myself as a reader really couldn’t understand him, that after 10 years using Brant as a whore, boy toy, slave and even after raping him himself, what happened that changed his mind, to try and made Brant love him! I really would like to know his thoughts and not having my answers was a bit frustrating! Another thing the story dragged at some places and became repetitive. Overall, it was an okay read and hope you enjoy it as well!
Told in single POV, 1st Person. It’s a standalone novella. It contains so much inner thought and that was my first issue. My other complaint is that the story should have had Wilber’s POV as well. Because I myself as a reader really couldn’t understand him, that after 10 years using Brant as a whore, boy toy, slave and even after raping him himself, what happened that changed his mind, to try and made Brant love him! I really would like to know his thoughts and not having my answers was a bit frustrating! Another thing the story dragged at some places and became repetitive. Overall, it was an okay read and hope you enjoy it as well!
November 7, 2010
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The lesser evil or lesser of two evils principle is the idea in politics and political science that of two bad choices, one isn't as bad as the other, and should be chosen over the one that is a greater threat.
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So, please before you read this book answer this quick 3 questions
1) Will you be disturbed reading about sexual intercourse without consent? (yeah, I'm talking about rape)
2) Would you freak out about minors as prostitutes?
3) To you is impossible accept master/slave relationships?
So, in my modest opinion, if you said "yes" to ANY of those questions DON'T read this book.
About this book (without spoilers)
It's all Brant point of view.... so it's a cruel book. At the age of fourteen Brant's became a whore... his father has a debt with an organization, and to solve that debt the only mean is to give one of his daughters, but Brant, the oldest of the house, take his sister place... Why? That's what brothers do... that's why.
My feeling reading the story
I was confused... a lot... I love the sensual scenes, hate the non consensual sex, adore the BDSM... but, as I said only Brant will talk, and his voice is of a frightened prostitute that never knew love... so is hard to say, if I think his owner, Wilber, is really the love of his life. He is the one that broken the body of the boy that became the adult whore that narrate the book... and he is the one Brant love with all of his heart.
But, there will be more... and you start to think if you, in that terrible position would do like Brant... in my view Wilber is a sick bastard and deserve nothing but despise from the reader, but I couldn't hate him. That's why I must applause the writer! It's the concept that in real world Brants do that all the time! In real world and in life/death situations anyone would chose the lesser of two evils. I appreciated how the writer affront such terrible and true topic.
BUT this review is not a spoiler... so you must read to know not only if there is a HEA, but also if Brant will find peace, and happiness.
I hope I help you decide to read it or not... I read it for a challenge, and I'm very glad I "was obligated" to read it. Maybe I would avoid such polemic book, so I'm very glad that someone made me read it.
5 stars, and I can't decide if I would or not recommend this book to someone...
September 9, 2011
I really loved this book but it has to be one of the hardest books I have ever read. It was shocking and horrific and disgusting. I never cried but I did gag a few times. I think I was in too much shock to cry! Also, my chest was tight and I was nauseous throughout the entire book.
The story is about Brant, who sold himself at the age of 14 to protect his sister and pay off his father's debt. He is immediately raped by Wilbur and then pimped out by him for the next 10 and a half years. Somehow, during this time, Wilbur becomes Brant's saviour, protector, and provider. He ensures that Brant is safe and provides him with training and an education. So, by the time Brant's debt is paid, he and Wilbur have become family and lovers. Yeah, its pretty fucked up and neither of them know how a relationship is supposed to work. By this point I was thinking the rest of the story would be about them working at their relationship. NOT!!! Whenever I thought it couldn't get any worse for Brant, something more horrible and more shocking would happen. There were non-stop twists and turns. I won't say anymore because I've already shared enough spoilers.
In the end, Brant does finally get a HEA, but it is totally twisted and not at all how I expected it to end. But I did love how it ended. I guess what I got from this story is that true love isn't always pretty, but it can be beautiful even when it is ugly. Even pimps and killers and whores deserve happiness and love.
I don't think I can recommend this book to anyone. If you are curious about it, just know that it does have many scenes of graphic rape and bdsm. There are very few happy moments.
The story is about Brant, who sold himself at the age of 14 to protect his sister and pay off his father's debt. He is immediately raped by Wilbur and then pimped out by him for the next 10 and a half years. Somehow, during this time, Wilbur becomes Brant's saviour, protector, and provider. He ensures that Brant is safe and provides him with training and an education. So, by the time Brant's debt is paid, he and Wilbur have become family and lovers. Yeah, its pretty fucked up and neither of them know how a relationship is supposed to work. By this point I was thinking the rest of the story would be about them working at their relationship. NOT!!! Whenever I thought it couldn't get any worse for Brant, something more horrible and more shocking would happen. There were non-stop twists and turns. I won't say anymore because I've already shared enough spoilers.
In the end, Brant does finally get a HEA, but it is totally twisted and not at all how I expected it to end. But I did love how it ended. I guess what I got from this story is that true love isn't always pretty, but it can be beautiful even when it is ugly. Even pimps and killers and whores deserve happiness and love.
I don't think I can recommend this book to anyone. If you are curious about it, just know that it does have many scenes of graphic rape and bdsm. There are very few happy moments.
September 4, 2012
I tend to give M/M books with consistently high ratings a chance, because if all those people who love the same genre as I loved the book, then surely there must be something to it. But, sadly, I'm often bitterly disappointed. This was the case here. This book fell so far short of my expectations that I've gone past not really liking it to actively hating it. I won't go into the plot in any great detail, but let's just say if I were the FBI, I'd be pretty suspicious of the author. All of the characters were tremendously unlikable, even the main guy (who, for me, had the personality of a wet sock, if wet socks could be obnoxiously selfless martyrs). The writing was pretty wooden, too. So, I'm not sure if the awful subject matter was what drew readers or what, but I think it's safe to say that I did not like this book.
November 2, 2010
Great book!! Not your typical romance but awesome!! Violent, no values, no morality!! Wouldn't recommend it for the light-hearted, but everybody else ... just read it!!
November 6, 2011
Wow. I finished this in one sitting, which is rare for me, but for this book I was up reading until morning. Annoyed at first with the, at times, very sloppy writing and lack of editing (typos, bad grammar). Disappointed with some stylistic choices (like using flashbacks or just skimming very important scenes). All in all: technically speaking there was a lot of room for improvement.
But the book got to me on an emotional level. I had a constant knot in my stomach while reading. I was engrossed, touched, disturbed. I felt for Brant, was scared for him, got sad over him. Brant, who sacrificed so much for others. Brant (as another reader so aptly put it) whose strength is his weakness. Brant, whose life is filled with manipulation and who can't differentiate between love and loyalty and fear and conditioning.
This book is certainly not for everyone. It's dark, sad and brutal at times and there are no magic solutions, no Disney endings.
And that's what I admired most about the story. We see Brant grow and get stronger
This story touched me. And it made really think about right and wrong, love, strength, freedom of choice, loyalty and family.
A well deserved 4,5 stars.
But the book got to me on an emotional level. I had a constant knot in my stomach while reading. I was engrossed, touched, disturbed. I felt for Brant, was scared for him, got sad over him. Brant, who sacrificed so much for others. Brant (as another reader so aptly put it) whose strength is his weakness. Brant, whose life is filled with manipulation and who can't differentiate between love and loyalty and fear and conditioning.
This book is certainly not for everyone. It's dark, sad and brutal at times and there are no magic solutions, no Disney endings.
And that's what I admired most about the story. We see Brant grow and get stronger
This story touched me. And it made really think about right and wrong, love, strength, freedom of choice, loyalty and family.
A well deserved 4,5 stars.
November 6, 2011
Originally a 3 star. But the author was a bit unhappy with the 3 star so I give it a 1 star to make the author happy. See, I'm a nice person. If anyone wants a 1 star, just ask.
Oh dear...I don't know how to rate this book. somewhere between a 3 and a 5. It's very very.....uhhhh irritating. His submissive nature and his domination personality doesn't fit well. But then again, I suppose it's not one of those love heals all and love at first sight stuff. It's, in a sense, more realistic. Love requires time and effort and so on.
It does invoke strong emotion, and sympathy for the main character, Goth Boy nick named. This is a BDSM themed book. You can't judge the book by parts, you need to read all of it. Once I read a single paragraph and decided it was crap, but then i read the next and the next until the end and it becomes a well written coherent work. Everything is eventually explained and you go: "OHHHHH that's why he or she did that". So just have patience and ride it out.
I don't recommend reading it if you aren't looking for a tragic cloudy dark genre.
------------------
Update: This is a terrible book in retrospective. I don't understand this abusive relationship. Dom: "I love you so I'll rape you when you are young and force you to be a slutty prostitute. And I'll tie you up and have all kinds of people fuck you in the ass and then I'll break your wrist because that's all you do."
The sub is sweet but really.....honestly? "that's what brothers do..."
No it ain't. No one in their right mind says that after his family calls him a slut.
Oh dear...I don't know how to rate this book. somewhere between a 3 and a 5. It's very very.....uhhhh irritating. His submissive nature and his domination personality doesn't fit well. But then again, I suppose it's not one of those love heals all and love at first sight stuff. It's, in a sense, more realistic. Love requires time and effort and so on.
It does invoke strong emotion, and sympathy for the main character, Goth Boy nick named. This is a BDSM themed book. You can't judge the book by parts, you need to read all of it. Once I read a single paragraph and decided it was crap, but then i read the next and the next until the end and it becomes a well written coherent work. Everything is eventually explained and you go: "OHHHHH that's why he or she did that". So just have patience and ride it out.
I don't recommend reading it if you aren't looking for a tragic cloudy dark genre.
------------------
Update: This is a terrible book in retrospective. I don't understand this abusive relationship. Dom: "I love you so I'll rape you when you are young and force you to be a slutty prostitute. And I'll tie you up and have all kinds of people fuck you in the ass and then I'll break your wrist because that's all you do."
The sub is sweet but really.....honestly? "that's what brothers do..."
No it ain't. No one in their right mind says that after his family calls him a slut.
October 5, 2012
Aw, that was suprisingly sweet! Kind of like a cross between Pain and . . . pain?, Forgotten, and Muffin, if you imagine that Traxie had just gone on holiday to a tropical island, and arrived to find endless free coffee gelato, a houseboy dedicated to giving foot rubs, and Maru i.e. in a very happy mood.
So, although this is a about a 14 year old boy raped and forced into prostitution, followed by a life as a courtesan in the mob, it is not a dark fic.
I read one version of the original story, and not the professionally-edited to-be-published version. As a story it has a lot of flaws, but I think you need to take it as it was written: an early fic by a beginning author, done as a serial. The writing isn't great, the structure is all over the show, but at base the MC is someone you want to keep reading about. I'm sure the upcoming version will be greatly improved.
So, although this is a about a 14 year old boy raped and forced into prostitution, followed by a life as a courtesan in the mob, it is not a dark fic.
I read one version of the original story, and not the professionally-edited to-be-published version. As a story it has a lot of flaws, but I think you need to take it as it was written: an early fic by a beginning author, done as a serial. The writing isn't great, the structure is all over the show, but at base the MC is someone you want to keep reading about. I'm sure the upcoming version will be greatly improved.
November 6, 2011
This is really one of the weirdest books I've ever read. If you consider every single theme and try to see it under the light of your ordinary life, there's not a single behavior that can be condoned. How can you rape a boy for years and take care of him at the same time? How can you love the man that has taken your innocence away? And when you're given a way out, how can you be loyal to the man that abused you and killed your inner light?
But if you consider all these things in the world depicted by the author, everything falls into place and what seemed unacceptable becomes logical and almost admirable. This is disturbing, because my moral sense screams at what happens in the story. Brant is a broken person for a long time in the book and the abuse he had to endure was unbearable, but there is this warped kind of love he gets from Wilber that makes him feel safe and cherished. At the end of the book, Brant becomes exactly like his abusers, maybe with a bit more of compassion, but he accepts what he wasn't able to accept at the beginning. Does this mean he has grown up? Got better? I don't want to begin to answer to this question. The acceptance of his fate on Brant's part made what happened to him bearable to read, but it made me mad at the same time.
It's chilling that Brant becomes a part of the organization that made him a sex slave, that he became like the "monsters" who abused him. Is this a happy ending? I don't know. If Brant retains a sparkle of his humanity, maybe it is, he just took his life in his hands and played his hand in the best way he could. But it's sad. And it's a relief at the same time.
So, if you can put your ethics on stand-by, this is a great book, because the changes in Brant are so subtle that what he does in the end becomes inevitable and the narration is gripping. But if you know that you can't accept behaviors that are clearly extreme, stay away from this book. Seriously.
But if you consider all these things in the world depicted by the author, everything falls into place and what seemed unacceptable becomes logical and almost admirable. This is disturbing, because my moral sense screams at what happens in the story. Brant is a broken person for a long time in the book and the abuse he had to endure was unbearable, but there is this warped kind of love he gets from Wilber that makes him feel safe and cherished. At the end of the book, Brant becomes exactly like his abusers, maybe with a bit more of compassion, but he accepts what he wasn't able to accept at the beginning. Does this mean he has grown up? Got better? I don't want to begin to answer to this question. The acceptance of his fate on Brant's part made what happened to him bearable to read, but it made me mad at the same time.
It's chilling that Brant becomes a part of the organization that made him a sex slave, that he became like the "monsters" who abused him. Is this a happy ending? I don't know. If Brant retains a sparkle of his humanity, maybe it is, he just took his life in his hands and played his hand in the best way he could. But it's sad. And it's a relief at the same time.
So, if you can put your ethics on stand-by, this is a great book, because the changes in Brant are so subtle that what he does in the end becomes inevitable and the narration is gripping. But if you know that you can't accept behaviors that are clearly extreme, stay away from this book. Seriously.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2012
2.5 stars
This is a review of the pre-publication draft available for free online. There are innumerable editing, typo, spelling, pacing and transition issues in this draft that I’m assuming will be cleaned up for publication (whenever that may happen).
Boy with Stockholm Syndrome falls in love with his abuser...
In Snake’s universe anything goes. In ‘Brothers’ a loan shark can take all of a person’s possessions as collection on a bad loan, including family members. Women and children can be sold into prostitution as pay-back on the loan. Wilber is the ruthless shark who works for ‘The Organization’ a shady, organized-crime type of enterprise. He has moved up the ranks and become obsessed with Brant, a fourteen year old boy (at the start of our story) traded in by his father to the Organization for debts owed. Brant serves for 12 years (years!!) as a rent-boy to pay off this debt and to protect his three younger sisters from the same fate. As Brant continually says, “That’s what brother’s do.” Admirable, courageous, selfless, and incredibly mature for a fourteen year old. But along the way, Brant fancies himself indebted to and in love with Wilber, his abuser. He has been so mistreated and manipulated (Wilber’s every move towards him results in a flinch or cowering; and he is continually crying, a veritable waterfall of tears) that this ‘capture-bonding' psychological attachment is the outcome. Classic Stockholm Syndrome.
What is it about Derekica Snake’s story-telling...?
There is something that draws you in, moth to flame. I start off engaged but am left with the same curious aftertaste. I like the premise: innocent boy taken as sexual submissive, made to endure abuse, rape, torture, mind-fucking. Lots of kinks, check, check and check... This sweet morsel is molded to serve, he only exists as a sexual toy to a cruel, heartless bastard of a ‘master’ (check! check! check!). Oh, forgot...he has to have long hair and be physically beautiful and very thin. Years of abuse have ‘improved’ him physically but left him mentally deadened; a lovely shell. That’s the basic formula.
And there’s the rub (ahem...), all the life has been sucked (hummm...) out of Brant and, I fear, the story too. He cowers, he whines, he cries, he always goes crawling back to Wilber. Even in the end when they finally come together with some semblance of affection, I want to feel for them but am left numbed.
I think Snake has a distinctive style. Her books are certainly unique and, dare I say, memorable, but not for wonderful writing or great world building. She likes to set up a simple dynamic of victim versus abuser but there just doesn’t seem to be any heart in it. ‘Brothers’ reads as almost cartoonish, very cold and one-dimensional. Even the sex seems dry -- all the right words but no sensuality -- how can there be when the abused offers himself unconditionally and the abuser never really shows any contrition for his actions? The curious turning of abuser into hero doesn’t sit well with me, at least with Snake’s delivery. And really, once you’ve read one book, you’ve read them all... I’ve rounded up to three stars for the effort but I hope Snake’s future work shows more variety and more depth of connection between her protagonists.
This is a review of the pre-publication draft available for free online. There are innumerable editing, typo, spelling, pacing and transition issues in this draft that I’m assuming will be cleaned up for publication (whenever that may happen).
Boy with Stockholm Syndrome falls in love with his abuser...
In Snake’s universe anything goes. In ‘Brothers’ a loan shark can take all of a person’s possessions as collection on a bad loan, including family members. Women and children can be sold into prostitution as pay-back on the loan. Wilber is the ruthless shark who works for ‘The Organization’ a shady, organized-crime type of enterprise. He has moved up the ranks and become obsessed with Brant, a fourteen year old boy (at the start of our story) traded in by his father to the Organization for debts owed. Brant serves for 12 years (years!!) as a rent-boy to pay off this debt and to protect his three younger sisters from the same fate. As Brant continually says, “That’s what brother’s do.” Admirable, courageous, selfless, and incredibly mature for a fourteen year old. But along the way, Brant fancies himself indebted to and in love with Wilber, his abuser. He has been so mistreated and manipulated (Wilber’s every move towards him results in a flinch or cowering; and he is continually crying, a veritable waterfall of tears) that this ‘capture-bonding' psychological attachment is the outcome. Classic Stockholm Syndrome.
What is it about Derekica Snake’s story-telling...?
There is something that draws you in, moth to flame. I start off engaged but am left with the same curious aftertaste. I like the premise: innocent boy taken as sexual submissive, made to endure abuse, rape, torture, mind-fucking. Lots of kinks, check, check and check... This sweet morsel is molded to serve, he only exists as a sexual toy to a cruel, heartless bastard of a ‘master’ (check! check! check!). Oh, forgot...he has to have long hair and be physically beautiful and very thin. Years of abuse have ‘improved’ him physically but left him mentally deadened; a lovely shell. That’s the basic formula.
And there’s the rub (ahem...), all the life has been sucked (hummm...) out of Brant and, I fear, the story too. He cowers, he whines, he cries, he always goes crawling back to Wilber. Even in the end when they finally come together with some semblance of affection, I want to feel for them but am left numbed.
I think Snake has a distinctive style. Her books are certainly unique and, dare I say, memorable, but not for wonderful writing or great world building. She likes to set up a simple dynamic of victim versus abuser but there just doesn’t seem to be any heart in it. ‘Brothers’ reads as almost cartoonish, very cold and one-dimensional. Even the sex seems dry -- all the right words but no sensuality -- how can there be when the abused offers himself unconditionally and the abuser never really shows any contrition for his actions? The curious turning of abuser into hero doesn’t sit well with me, at least with Snake’s delivery. And really, once you’ve read one book, you’ve read them all... I’ve rounded up to three stars for the effort but I hope Snake’s future work shows more variety and more depth of connection between her protagonists.
September 7, 2011
This is one of my most favorite books. I could read it a million times and never get sick of it. I've been trying to read books similar to it but can never find anything that beats how much I love this book. It's an unconventional story that has just about every horrible thing in it (at least according to the vanilla folks ;-P). Rape, abuse, prostitution, kidnapping, bdsm. The list can go on and on. It's definitely NOT for the faint of heart. In fact, it might not even be for those hardcore readers. It's a book that's sweet in it's own context. I felt the love for the MCs rolling off the pages and no matter how many times I read this, I still cry in certain spots (and I don't cry often) and get a goofy grin with the ending.
I recommend it but only if you are looking for something to broaden your horizons and I do mean BROADEN in the most liberal aspect out there.
The format I own is not currently available and could definitely have used a better editor but I'm looking forward to reading what Derekica makes of the next edition. Which should be coming out soon. I think. :)
I recommend it but only if you are looking for something to broaden your horizons and I do mean BROADEN in the most liberal aspect out there.
The format I own is not currently available and could definitely have used a better editor but I'm looking forward to reading what Derekica makes of the next edition. Which should be coming out soon. I think. :)
November 2, 2010
I agree with the other reviews; TWBD is dark, unpredictable, twisted, and uncomfortable to digest at times. What I enjoyed most was how it stretched my thinking about what constitutes love. Is love self-sacrificing or self-interested? Free from intentional harm? Sadistic? Can it be all of these things? I think Derekica created many permutations of love. I don't necessarily agree with her thinking. I don't think the man Brant ultimately became merits celebration, but it was quite a stimulating read.
December 24, 2014
Very hot. I really enjoy a powerful dominant male with a tiny squishiness inside. :)
February 19, 2011
My favorite sort of erotica is Capture/Slave/DubCon NonCon with a HEA. This one fit the bill entirely. Gritty and shocking it certainly wasn't the easiest read for me. At points disturbing I fell in love with the way the author writes - it felt flowing and seamless - all parts intertwined together exceptionally well.
Brant was a lead character that you can stand up and cheer for - even when he's making choices on his life that you just know will lead to drastic consequences. I'll admit I still don't understand how Wilbur could have treated him like that for all those years but by the end I didn't *hate* him - though there is no love lost for me.
The emotional development of Brant as it evolves is actually painful to watch - as his circumstances prevent him from going through all the stages - he seems to get stuck or have pieces of himself still lingering in an earlier stage at times. There are a few editing issues but I had no problem overlooking those as I devoured the core story - it felt at the end like I'd read a 500 page book. Since I like long books that's a compliment from me to the author as this one was not even 1/2 that long.
Great characters, unfortunate circumtances, and an ending that fits. Sweet!
Brant was a lead character that you can stand up and cheer for - even when he's making choices on his life that you just know will lead to drastic consequences. I'll admit I still don't understand how Wilbur could have treated him like that for all those years but by the end I didn't *hate* him - though there is no love lost for me.
The emotional development of Brant as it evolves is actually painful to watch - as his circumstances prevent him from going through all the stages - he seems to get stuck or have pieces of himself still lingering in an earlier stage at times. There are a few editing issues but I had no problem overlooking those as I devoured the core story - it felt at the end like I'd read a 500 page book. Since I like long books that's a compliment from me to the author as this one was not even 1/2 that long.
Great characters, unfortunate circumtances, and an ending that fits. Sweet!
December 19, 2011
That's What Brothers Do has been picked up for publishing by SL Publishing Group. It has been re-written and professionally edited. It is slated for release in Spring 2012.
About damn time... I'm almost tempted to read the re-make and see if it is worthy of the lame-a$$ contrived "award" the author says this monsterpiece won. Rainbow Award (Best Contemporary Fiction, 2009). 2009 must have been a VERY bad year if a poorly written piece of filth, (crack!fic anyone) loaded with spelling, grammatical errors not to mention tawdry sex and erotically portrayed rape could win an award.
Heck if it was so award worthy then WHY is she doing an AMBER KELL on her award winning book and having it PROFESSIONALLY edited and re-written (by someone else I hope).
Nice try, sweetheart. See this is what happens when bad fanfiction writers try to fly on their own and not on the back of the fandoms that spawned them.
I met a lot of people. I hawked a lot of books. I think I might have brow beat some into it. If I wasn't sure that there was a readership out there for my brand of hard yaoi I probably would never have had the confidence to attempt publishing.
Lololol! Hard yaoi...nice.
About damn time... I'm almost tempted to read the re-make and see if it is worthy of the lame-a$$ contrived "award" the author says this monsterpiece won. Rainbow Award (Best Contemporary Fiction, 2009). 2009 must have been a VERY bad year if a poorly written piece of filth, (crack!fic anyone) loaded with spelling, grammatical errors not to mention tawdry sex and erotically portrayed rape could win an award.
Heck if it was so award worthy then WHY is she doing an AMBER KELL on her award winning book and having it PROFESSIONALLY edited and re-written (by someone else I hope).
Nice try, sweetheart. See this is what happens when bad fanfiction writers try to fly on their own and not on the back of the fandoms that spawned them.
I met a lot of people. I hawked a lot of books. I think I might have brow beat some into it. If I wasn't sure that there was a readership out there for my brand of hard yaoi I probably would never have had the confidence to attempt publishing.
Lololol! Hard yaoi...nice.
January 20, 2013
This definitely wasn't a light and fluffy read. This was harsh and dark and desperate. You feel so badly for Brant, every time he thinks his time is just about up, or that he's free, something or someone else pulls him back in. His life hasn't been his own since he was 14 and he sold his soul for his sisters, but in spite of this he was so strong.
This is the kind of book that will stick with you. I'm still not sure if it was a happy ending, or just as happy as Brant was capable of having. I don't know if what he shared with Wilber was love or a bad case of stockholm syndrome, but maybe that's also as good as Brant was capable of being after belonging to someone for so long.
This is the kind of book that will stick with you. I'm still not sure if it was a happy ending, or just as happy as Brant was capable of having. I don't know if what he shared with Wilber was love or a bad case of stockholm syndrome, but maybe that's also as good as Brant was capable of being after belonging to someone for so long.
August 25, 2012
This is a very dark tale about a young innocent man, Brant, who sacrificed his future in a successful effort to save his sisters - because that's what brothers do. It follows his life as his innocence is stripped away as he pays the price of protecting his family - physically first, then the gradual erosion of the innocence of his mind and soul.
This is not a story for the faint-hearted; it is bleak, cruel and violent. The despair and lack of alternative that Brant endured had me in tears throughout various parts, not to mention the physical pain and humiliation that he suffers. Yet somehow, in the midst of all this, Brant does find that he is a far stronger person than he ever knew, particularly when he realizes just how far he has to go in order to survive, and to protect the ones he loves. For he does find love, be it of dubious origins or not, and it is this love that provides the final piece to his survival.
Don't expect a fairy-tale ending, because you won't get it, but you do get a happy ending of sorts, and it is an ending that is totally true to the characters, and to the lives they lead. This story is an emotional roller coaster that leaves you satisfied, even while you're scratching your head in puzzlement as to how that actually happened.
This is not a story for the faint-hearted; it is bleak, cruel and violent. The despair and lack of alternative that Brant endured had me in tears throughout various parts, not to mention the physical pain and humiliation that he suffers. Yet somehow, in the midst of all this, Brant does find that he is a far stronger person than he ever knew, particularly when he realizes just how far he has to go in order to survive, and to protect the ones he loves. For he does find love, be it of dubious origins or not, and it is this love that provides the final piece to his survival.
Don't expect a fairy-tale ending, because you won't get it, but you do get a happy ending of sorts, and it is an ending that is totally true to the characters, and to the lives they lead. This story is an emotional roller coaster that leaves you satisfied, even while you're scratching your head in puzzlement as to how that actually happened.
December 23, 2013
This book is raw and brutal and uncomfortable to read at times. It's definitely not for the faint hearted. It is however an amazing tale about the endurance of the human spirit and well worth a read in my opinion.
April 19, 2017
Okay, that happened...
There were so many things right about this book but it just never got 100% there. Great premise, interesting characters, well paced. It was good and I'm glad I read it but the things that didn't work bugged me. The constant internal dialog with the backtracking and the over explaining, I just got a bit tired of it.
And no reflection on the author of course, but the typos and misspellings became really distracting. Damn, wish I'd known about this one That's What Brothers Do: Redux (though at 342 pages, maybe not).
There were so many things right about this book but it just never got 100% there. Great premise, interesting characters, well paced. It was good and I'm glad I read it but the things that didn't work bugged me. The constant internal dialog with the backtracking and the over explaining, I just got a bit tired of it.
And no reflection on the author of course, but the typos and misspellings became really distracting. Damn, wish I'd known about this one That's What Brothers Do: Redux (though at 342 pages, maybe not).
October 25, 2015
2009 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
August 1, 2010
AMAZING! I keep using that word to describe this book. Darkness, violence and questionable morality abound in this masterpiece. It was gripping from the beginning to end.
January 21, 2011
I had a very tough time with this starting with the fact that Brant is raped at 14, his abuse taped and the results uploaded online. He agrees to go into sexual slavery to pay his father's debt. Ya gotta wonder what kind of debt involves 10 years of sexual punishment for a child...and then when he is 24 on the cusp of freedom, he is offered another 8 years of sexual servitude to provide his sisters with a scholarship.
What??
My issues with pedophilia and rape reared their ugly heads and the improbability of such an utterly ridiculous storyline stopped me from continuing this book for several days.
The reality is as most of us know that Brant would have been dead within a few years (more likely days or weeks) of his initial slavery. The likelihood of Wilbur wanting him until he's 32 is remote...but then I finished the story and it is amazing how a good author can make you want to finish reading a story in spite of yourself. It is not an easy book and its moral compass is all over the place. Brant's family is a bunch of deadbeats but he is a convincing protagonist.
Dericka Snake is a gifted author who needs to invest in a decent editor if she is going to continue self publishing. Numerous typos and plot problems distracted me...as did my own discomfort at the nature of this work.
What??
My issues with pedophilia and rape reared their ugly heads and the improbability of such an utterly ridiculous storyline stopped me from continuing this book for several days.
The reality is as most of us know that Brant would have been dead within a few years (more likely days or weeks) of his initial slavery. The likelihood of Wilbur wanting him until he's 32 is remote...but then I finished the story and it is amazing how a good author can make you want to finish reading a story in spite of yourself. It is not an easy book and its moral compass is all over the place. Brant's family is a bunch of deadbeats but he is a convincing protagonist.
Dericka Snake is a gifted author who needs to invest in a decent editor if she is going to continue self publishing. Numerous typos and plot problems distracted me...as did my own discomfort at the nature of this work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2012
Holy cow, I loved this story. It is not for the faint of heart, and I really hope there aren't things like this going on in the real world, at least I would like to believe there aren't. I can't imagine how Brant was able to endure physically, and, even more so, emotionally, as well as he did. My heart was torn a little bit with each page turned. I wanted to get to the end to see if Brant was able to find some peace and see how things turned out, but, at the same time, I really didn't want it to end.
The writing and the scenes was so creative and descriptive, I found myself cringing often. At times, my eyes would shut to keep me from getting the visuals, but then I couldn't help myself from peeking to see what happened next.
The only real issue I had were the piddly typographical errors, but I was so engrossed in the story that I overlooked them this time around. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
The writing and the scenes was so creative and descriptive, I found myself cringing often. At times, my eyes would shut to keep me from getting the visuals, but then I couldn't help myself from peeking to see what happened next.
The only real issue I had were the piddly typographical errors, but I was so engrossed in the story that I overlooked them this time around. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
February 21, 2013
Perfect yakuza story.
Brutal and unyielding this takes you there and back again. The twists are obscene and thrash your heart and soul around. The ending---divine.
Brutal and unyielding this takes you there and back again. The twists are obscene and thrash your heart and soul around. The ending---divine.
January 8, 2015
3 stars for the sake of the creative premise and storyline.
Finally finished this with a relieved sigh. I am actually somewhat confused how I should rate it. Was hovering between 2 to 3 stars. To be frank, some part of it was quite tiresome to read.
There's something about the writing:
I know I am not an English teacher or even close to being good at the language myself, but I think that the writing is not up to par and it is mainly due to the weak prose. To illustrate my point, I find it is quite distracting and nerves granting to keep reading repetitive words like "client face" / client look / client expression etc" being used at every opportunity just to describe the protagonist feelings (listed below are some examples). I mean, there should be more inventive ways to describe emotions right?
[I narrowed my eyes. My client face came down hard. The emotional carnage ripping through me was hidden away.]
[Wilber must have noticed my client expression, an emotionless blanking of my face and eyes.....]
[I dropped my client face down and turned and walked into my new place of business.]
[I turned towards him and schooled my features to stillness. My client face was on.]
[I slammed my client face down and adjusted my sunglasses before I ducked and stepped into the back of the car.]
[He watched me struggle to maintain composure, but I couldn’t keep my client face on. He unnerved me so completely.]
[My client face had become my everyday face. No one could tell what I was thinking, what I was feeling. The scary part was that I could feel myself flicking switches into the off mode.]
[I let my face grow cold and my eyes took on the client look, which was now that dead pale gray.]
[I let my new reinforced client face greet them. I did well with my client face…]
[I pulled myself together and locked it behind my client face. I blinked the tears away and sat up staring up at him. I had my emotions schooled to neutral but I absolutely horrified internally.]
[I had my client face on, along with my five thousand dollar, grey pinstripe suit.]
[My client face shattered.]
Apart from that, there's also the constant mention of the protagonist "grey eyes" and his "long hair" which I think was too overly emphasized on. Not that I dislike his pretty grey eyes and long luxurious raven hair. In fact, I love MC's with such attractive attributes.
Do I like the Characters?
Brant the protagonist and sole narrator of this story is another one of those martyr complex character that I love so much yet hate at the same time. Overly accommodating characters like him makes me feel highly frustrated and most of the time finding it hard to empathize with.
Yes he is a hopelessly nice guy and a very loyal cum loving brother for his all out sacrifice he made for the sake of his sisters and later for his master too. A very commendable trait especially for one of such tender age.
I like Brant but find it almost difficult to build a connection with him emotionally.
As for Wilber, the master and trainer for Brant is confusing at times. He can be a real bastard at one moment and then super tender the next.
Constantine the owner of the organization is just a classical tyrant, cruel and calculating. No surprise there of course since he is the top guy for such a nefarious crime organization. No confusion here. Constantine's characterization has been constant and steady.
What about the plot/story?
The story was filled with a series of unfortunate events happening one right after another. There's a whole busload of events here twisting and turning the plot. Subplots aplenty people, almost like a whirlwind.
Anyways, I do like the the premise of this story and finds it quite fascinating and promising. Which is why as tiresome as I felt reading it sometimes, yet I still managed to trudge on because I have this need to find out how it all ends.
Overall, it reads much like a melodramatic manga.
Some personal unrelated note:
Read
December 22, 2010I'm not going to rate this, but I will comment. I've wanted to read this book for a long time. I loved the concept a lot, and I was very eager to see it executed. However, I found that the story I wanted to read was not what this actually was.
The plot isn't exactly string of pearls, but it comes far too close for my comfort. I also felt like the scenes and the plot arcs I most wanted to experience weren't told or were glossed over. Far, far too much time elapsed with so very little actually presented as story. I began the book engaged and eager to watch the narrator transform. I ended skimming, not liking Constantine at all, uncaring about that aspect of the story, and feeling increasingly disappointed at the arcs I wasn't seeing.
This said, if you love slave/reluctant stories where the hero becomes strong and you like the focus to be on the emotional angst and not on the sex, you might really enjoy this. If you're like me and really relish sexual tension, of the naked emotional moments found when we surrender our will to another during sex, both by our consent and to escape pain or torment for ourselves or others: well, that's not here like I'd wanted it to be.
I don't regret buying or reading the book, but I will say I'm disappointed because I truly wanted to love the book, but I can't say that I do.
The plot isn't exactly string of pearls, but it comes far too close for my comfort. I also felt like the scenes and the plot arcs I most wanted to experience weren't told or were glossed over. Far, far too much time elapsed with so very little actually presented as story. I began the book engaged and eager to watch the narrator transform. I ended skimming, not liking Constantine at all, uncaring about that aspect of the story, and feeling increasingly disappointed at the arcs I wasn't seeing.
This said, if you love slave/reluctant stories where the hero becomes strong and you like the focus to be on the emotional angst and not on the sex, you might really enjoy this. If you're like me and really relish sexual tension, of the naked emotional moments found when we surrender our will to another during sex, both by our consent and to escape pain or torment for ourselves or others: well, that's not here like I'd wanted it to be.
I don't regret buying or reading the book, but I will say I'm disappointed because I truly wanted to love the book, but I can't say that I do.
April 17, 2017
Finished this in one sitting. Touching story of a brother's devotion to his family and ultimately to his abusive lover. Brant substitutes himself to save his sisters from entering a brothel to pay off his father's debts. Would have been 5 star if not for some diabolical spelling and grammar.
'I never had happy dancing eyes, well not that I remember, but they were never this flat grey. Bruises faded. Cuts healed. But something died in my soul a few years back. I stared at the unfamiliar stranger.'
'I never had happy dancing eyes, well not that I remember, but they were never this flat grey. Bruises faded. Cuts healed. But something died in my soul a few years back. I stared at the unfamiliar stranger.'
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