Audiobook/Book Review 📖🎧🌋

thank you partner @mcdbooks @fsgbooks @recordedboooks for the gifted copy + audiobook!

Brother Brontë
by Fernando A. Flores
Narrated by Victoria Villareal

About the book 👇🏽

The year is 2038, and the formerly bustling town of Three Rivers, Texas, is a surreal wasteland. Under the authoritarian thumb of its tech industrialist mayor, Pablo Henry Crick, the town has outlawed reading and forced most of the town’s mothers to work as indentured laborers at the Big Tex Fish Cannery, which poisons the atmosphere and lines Crick’s pockets.

Scraping by in this godforsaken landscape are best friends Prosperina and Neftalí—the latter of whom, one of the town’s last literate citizens, hides and reads the books of the mysterious renegade author Jazzmin Monelle Rivas, whose last novel, Brother Brontë, is finally in Neftalí’s possession. But after a series of increasingly violent atrocities committed by Crick’s forces, Neftalí and Prosperina, with the help of a wounded bengal tigress, three scheming triplets, and an underground network of rebel tías, rise up to reclaim their city—and in the process, unlock Rivas’s connection to Three Rivers itself.

🌋 My thoughts:

Loved it! I started reading the physical book but had a lot going on so I requested the audiobook and it was so so good! Victoria Villareal did a wonderful job with the narration. It was a fast listen and held
my attention throughout the entirety of the book. The one thought I haven’t been able to shake is why does this story feel painfully possible?! I don’t like it. To say this story made me feel a lot, would be an understatement. It’s truly horrifying but geezus are these women a force to be reckoned with. As more time passes since finishing this book, the more I love it and the more I realize it will stay with me for a long time. The writing was top tier and although this is the first book I’ve read by this author, it will not be my last! I highly recommend giving this book a read or a listen. Brother Brontë is out now!

Happy reading 📖 🌋🎧

Sigh - my first DNF for a NetGalley selection. I gave it a full 25% before calling it. Perhaps it is just not for me, which surprised me since it had elements I tend to like - post-apocalyptic, characters fig HT ing the system, an element of forbidden knowledge (reading). I didn’t dislike the characters, and didn’t dislike the idea, but it just didn’t come together for me. (I caught tones of Fallout Video game series and wanted more). I felt like 25% of the way in there wasn’t a solid goal. Perhaps I will try again at some point and I love the ambition of the book, but it fell short too soon for me to want to continue.

What drew me to Brother Bronte was the cover, so I definitely didn't know what I was getting into.

This book was all over the place, I didn't have any particular expectations, but the book managed to surprise me nonetheless.

It made my mind an absolute mess (It didn't help that I was reading it, or rather listening to the audiobook while being sick). But I did enjoy the ending, it tied up everything perfectly. The last 15% of the book were more heartfelt and more meaningful than the rest of the book. At least to me.

I'm leave it unrated on GoodReads.

Victoria Villareal did a phenomenal job narrating Brother Brönte. I honestly cannot have imagined experiencing this book any other way, she really brought the story and characters to life. For those unfamiliar with her work, she also narrated The Hacienda, Jawbone, and Monstrilio. If you’re a fan of dystopian literary fiction, weird books, and socially relevant plots, then I absolutely recommend checking out this audiobook.

Stories within stories, this interestingly organized, evocative, and intriguing novel has intertwined tales of multiple characters including a novelist who reinvents fictions such as a retelling of the twins, Pride and Prejudice, and the Brontë brother.
It’s set in the near future primarily in small-town Texas near the Mexican border, where you can’t see the stars or a blue sky because of volcanic ash or the detritus of war. No one we meet can say for sure why. It’s a time and place where books and readers are rare, and children don’t know how to add; where mothers are required by law to work slave-level jobs in the local cannery (and are held captive - “provided for” - there), so their children will receive food rations. Where girls might wear patterns in their tights to spell out protests, and can be killed for smoking in public. It’s bleak, with some bright spots of human kindness.
More than climate fiction, it’s a compelling and scary potential reality that might result from ongoing political schisms and fringe beliefs taking hold. My overall take-away is that we must value words and continue telling our stories. And not give up the fight!
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook of #BrotherBrontë for review purposes. The book is available now. Lots for books clubs to discuss!

This audiobook was well produced and well narrated. I specifically requested the audio version because of the bilingual elements of the novel. I am thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing it to me in exchange for an honest review. Being able to hear the proper pronunciation of the Spanish enhanced the experience of the story. The narrator did an excellent job switching between characters, bringing out their personalities with pacing and tone.

In terms of the story, was this futuristic, anarcho-romp through a dystopian political hellscape a joy to read? Yes, mostly, once I let the madcap pacing and language wash over me. There's a lot to love in here: a novel inside a novel, two plucky teenage girls taking on the literal world, a near-future where books are outlawed and being literate is the ultimate taboo... but I found some of the stories inside the stories hard to follow. (Nested novels can be hit or miss for me, depending on how hard it is to shift from one story to another.)

I love young punks fighting the good fight in fiction, I just wish I had been able to smoothly follow the plot a bit more. (Also, to be fair, reading a novel with such frenetic energy at this particular moment might not be the easiest reading experience. But it might be cathartic for other folks!)

Thinking of comps for this is a real trick, but the reading experience reminded me of "The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion" more than anything I've read recently.

Readers looking for a raucous and bold dystopian tale should not miss this one.

This is a weird read. You're thrown into the world without any real explanation of what's happening, and the few details you do get near the beginning are so odd that it's hard to make any real sense of what's going on. The setting/world does become a bit clearer as the story goes on, but it takes time getting there. The writing also includes a lot of weird imagery, to the point where it was venturing into purple prose.

The plot starts off strong and I was interested in the characters, even though I wasn't entirely sure what was happening. But then Part II of the book flips to become essentially the biography of the fictional author of one of the protagonists' favorite books. While this section did provide a bit of background about the world/setting, it felt out of place. Especially because there were also lengthy synopses of fictional books included.

The strength of this work was the commentary included, especially since it feels more relevant these days in the U.S. than ever. Discussions about book bans, controlling access to education, forced labor, and late capitalism are all included in ways that add much to the dystopian feel of the book.

While this one didn't work for me, largely because of its disjointed execution, I can see why others will probably love it. If you're interested in dystopian fiction with a literary feel then you may enjoy this one. I did love the narrator, though. My thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I started this book an immediately was tempted to put it down. Would this dystopian world be too close to the reality that we just might see ourselves in sooner than later. I kept on though and I am glad I did. This book was dark, thought provoking and well written.

Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the Audio ARC!

I went back and forth between kind of disliking this book and really disliking it. There were large sections that felt like reading a writing project where the writer was directed to modify every noun with an adjective, and the more bizarre, the better. Then at other times, it wasn't as bad. But really, the underlying story was just weak and not really enjoyable. I thought the dystopian world depicted had some interesting points, but the writing style was just really amateurish and cringe-worthy. Unless you live, breath, and bleed dystopian fiction, I'd probably pass on this one.

This one starts off strong w place and setting but the novel fizzles a little into overdone plot with some bookbanning tropes. Well done audio, book not my favorite.

This near-future dystopian novel journeys through horrific oppression with strong women, heartening resistance, and many kinds of love. No spoilers.

Brother Brontë achieves a level all its own. This new novel stands out as speculative fiction of the best, crunchiest kind. Flores is immensely talented, a wild force. In the first minutes of listening, I knew this is the book I need for what we're living through. I want everyone to read this book.

As an oppressive regime attacks women, books, and literacy, street-level activism and webs of connection and care change lives. The visionary, masterful telling of stories within stories achieves states of buoyant wonder. In the midst of horror, it never becomes depressing. Instead, it's one of the most glowy, uplifting books I’ve experienced.

I strongly suggest a deliberate surrender to the book's world. It's strange, disorienting, and at times I felt lost, yet it's an exhilarating adventure with people I'd gladly visit again.

Victoria Villarea gives a captivating performance with distinctive voices and multiple accents to suit characters of different ages, origins, and personalities. The pacing and audio production quality shine.

Thank you, RBMedia, for this extraordinary ALC. These are solely my own opinions.
***TikTok release-day post scheduled for February 11
Added Goodreads link

Neftali and Proserpina are two friends in the near-future wasteland of Three Rivers, Texas, in a world where books are banned and shredded, and where the mothers work at a fish cannery. Run by mayor Crick, a tech oligarch, Three Rivers is a grim, desolate place with no future.

Neftali is one of the last literate people in the town, and she has just managed to get her hands on the latest book by Jazzmin Monelle Rivas, called Brother Bronte. But Crick's brutality is only increasing as he strengthens his hold on the town, and Neftali, Proserpina, and their friends face an inevitable showdown.

The narration was outstanding and the world of Three Rivers was tangible and vibrant in its desolation. I very much enjoyed this timely story and look forward to reading more from Fernando Flores.

This is my first Fernando A. Flores novel and while it took me a little while to trust the story, Flores masterfully connects plot threads that seem disparate into a fully-fleshed, supremely strange whole. Brother Brontë has been sorted into various publishing categories as sci-fi or fantasy or dystopia but I would categorize it pretty definitively as magical realism. Magical realism when well-done has a habit of making the reader feel slightly off-kilter, like the world is just that much stranger than you might realize. This energy is usually hard to sustain in a novel-length piece but Flores's rich, at times bizarre description—the opening line begains "Rain fell hard, like slabs of ham..."—goes a long way to preserving the atmosphere throughout, painting a world vicious in its injustices but beautiful in its details.

That being said, I think the description of this book distributed alongside it is at odds with the energy of the novel itself and could be misleading. If you read "Neftalí and Prosperina, with the help of a wounded bengal tigress, three scheming triplets, and an underground network of rebel tías, rise up to reclaim their city" and expect a typical violence-fueled action-adventure, you'll be disappointed. There are moments of action—of brutal violence, in fact—but most of the classic rebellion moments seem to happen off-screen or in passing. Instead, the "gonzo romp through a ruined world" is more about the world, about a reflection on the people trying to live their lives and preserve their knowledge through awful, ruinous times. Which, if you think about it, is probably more important and relevant than a typical violence-fueled action-adventure.

I’m glad I went with my gut and decided to check this out. The title didn’t catch my attention so I almost passed it up before reading the description. There are a bunch of characters and a lot going on but it’s written in way that’s lively, exciting and far from overwhelming. I felt hopeful and refreshed after listening.
The audiobook narrator was the perfect voice for this book! Thanks to the publishers and NetGallery for letting me listen!

Brother Brontë by Fernando A. Flores begins with a strong, captivating premise and introduces us to the intriguing friendship between Prosperina and Neftalí. The writing is beautifully crafted, immersing readers in a world brought to life with vivid imagery and rich language. Yet, as the story unfolds, I found myself feeling somewhat disoriented.

While the book features fascinating side characters and thought-provoking subplots, the main plot feels directionless at times. The dystopian town Flores creates is haunting, with its nightmarish landscape—books are shredded, illiteracy is rampant, and mothers are forced into labor, separated from their children. It paints a chilling and dystopian reality that is at once terrifying and disturbingly plausible.

The novel offers a stark, powerful portrayal of a society teetering on the brink of collapse, and in some ways, it feels almost too real. Despite its strong start and impressive world-building, the lack of a clear narrative structure ultimately held the story back from reaching its full potential.

A note for the audiobook: Victoria Villareal’s narration is a standout, adding a compelling layer of depth to the story and enhancing the experience.