The Brother's Curse

The Brother's Curse Saga Book 1

Young Adult - Horror
403 Pages
Reviewed on 03/02/2021
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Christine M. Germain is a Haitian American author of Dark Horror Fantasy Fiction. Born March 8, 1981, in Brooklyn, New York, she found her passion for writing in 1993 and wrote her first horror story at twelve. Watching horror movies and reading young adult horror fiction novels influenced her passion for writing a story with a protagonist that looked like her.

In the movie world, African American women were never portrayed as strong lead in horror films or books. Instead of waiting to see if that would happen, she decided to create a story that she would love to read and watch on the big screen that catered to more diverse characters.

Admiring authors such as Stephen King and R.L. Stein, Christine pursued her writing journey majoring in literature and graduated with a performing arts degree. Known for an imagination unlike any other, Christine is ready to take you to a thrilling shapeshifter world with the first novel of her Saga, "The Brother's Curse."

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

For the legion of shapeshifting demons to resurrect, an amethyst necklace must be retrieved and liberated. To retrieve this artifact, the wearer must die! This is the story of The Cursed Brothers, a thrilling horror novel written by Christine M. Germain. Crystal had just returned to Lakeview Falls, a year after her parents’ brutal murder. Her birthday was fast approaching, and she received the amethyst necklace posthumously from her late mom. She also developed romantic feelings towards her new next-door neighbor, Jason. Unfortunately, her friends started disappearing one after the other. The culprit was the necklace, and two immortal demons were after it. Only Crystal can fight this battle. She will choose her destiny, whether to live or die. What will it be?

Whoosh! The Brother’s Curse by Christine M. Germain offered a lot and lived up to its genre. Christine is such a fantastic storyteller that I felt the energies emanating from the novel. The plot was unlike anything I’ve ever read, very detailed and otherworldly realistic. I loved the sprinkle of humor that tempered the tension and fear. Character development was top-notch, and I loved their unpredictability. John and Trey were my authentic heroes in the book. They were the ones who truly loved; walking their talk all the way. I loved the writing style and the way words flowed effortlessly–almost poetically. The book cover was also very attractive and informative, telling me what to expect. This is the first book, and I can’t wait to read other works by Christine.

Ricky C

This book keeps you turning pages. The protagonist Crystal is brave and full of heart, which makes much of her story heartbreaking. The characters face some of the most terrifying things imaginable, and there are many touching moments between them that bring tears to one's eyes.

Moving, believable relationships, an electric, unpredictable plot, and an evil force as brutal as you can imagine. All these are only some of what carries this brilliantly written tale of love and tragedy.

This is the kind of book you don't forget for a while. The shocking moments stay with you and, unlike many novels in the horror/thriller genre that has minimal character development, TBC is full of realistic, believable characters that make you feel for them and want nothing but their best. Moreover, the diverse representation in these characters is refreshing and something we need more of in fiction today.

This author is definitely one to keep an eye on. I wouldn't be surprised to see her mentioned among the greats one day soon. Her talent for entertaining and shocking readers while also conveying deeper meanings, is inspirational.

NG Review

I haven't read any horror stories lately but used to be a big fan of the Goosebumps series. That's when I came across this book. Even though I was skeptical about buying a new author's book, I was taken aback by the brilliance of the author. The horror element is well executed and will give you chills. On top of that, the surprise plot twists and unexpected turn of events are sure to put you on the edge of the seat.

Ivan

A young woman receives a necklace from her late mother and finds herself the target of demonic forces looking to reclaim said necklace and free their captured kin. This was a good read all around. The tone and pacing are consistent, the characters are all great with likable leads and fantastic villains. If you like supernatural horror novels then this is a good one for you. Check it out and see what you think.

Jae

I struggle with keeping interest in anything I read, especially books. Authors try so hard to sound enlightened and smart when using imagery; all I want is to be able to picture what's going on without use of a dictionary. This book/author literary breaks all the proverbial rules and is actually for a normal person, like me, to enjoy... and one hell of a story line that will have you clutching your pearls! I was nosey after reading this book and began to do a little research, THE AUTHOR HAS 2 MORE BOOKS THAT IS PART OF THE SAGA READY TO DROP (seemingly soon). I can't wait to read more from her.

Brady

I thought the story was well written and the flow made sure that I couldn’t put the book down. The characters have their struggles which makes me enjoy horror (not every character is hearts and flowers!). There is some silent comedic moments that made me chuckle, which is another aspect of horror I love. There are many twists and turns that make you engaged with wanting to know more, and even wanting the next book quicker (hint...hint)!

Phillip

If you are looking for a great horror book to read, get yourself a copy of this book. The suspense of this story will have you turning the pages and you will not want to stop reading.

The author did a fantastic job with the plot twists in the story. I can’t wait to read more.

Zee B

The Brother’s Curse immediately starts with a mystery in Lakeview Falls, Michigan in 2025. There are young boys disappearing and getting murdered by someone.
As if that’s not enough, an old woman yells a prophecy right into the face of the sheriff and his deputy investigating the gruesome murders, about a mysterious “she who holds the stone will put everyone’s lives in terrible danger!”
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Chrystal is coming back to town, a year after the horrible and still unsolved murder of her parents.
But Chrystal’s arrival does not end happy as tragedy overshadows the joyous event.
As Chrystal spends more time at home she struggles with John, her current boyfriend and Terrance, her past love interest, and meets a potentially new one in the mysterious Jason.
Gabby, Philip, Trey, Alex and Derrick are a wonderful supporting cast to Chrystal as more inexplicable disappearances plague the small town.
And then Chrystal receives a gift that will change her life forever.
This dark paranormal horror story, sprinkled with romance, will keep you turning the pages all the way till the end, rooting for the sassy and smart Chrystal. And that twist at the end will make you sit on needles for the sequel!

Gavin Gardiner

Demonic fiction: this is an area of horror I truly adore. Maybe it’s the stark dichotomy of good versus evil that resonates so deeply with me, that God versus Satan war of the archetypes that presents such an effective and dramatic microcosm to the warring moralities of our real world. The Omen nailed it, The Exorcist blew it out of the water, and now The Brother's Curse has left its own stamp on the subgenre of demonic fiction.

The novel centers on Crystal, a young woman returning to her hometown some years after the unexplained death of her parents. The catalyst of the story is a rare antique amethyst stone necklace, left to her by her mother. It just so happens that, in the author’s own words, wearing the necklace causes her and her friends to become the targets of two sadistic 18th-century shape-shifting demon brothers, who will stop at nothing until they find Crystal and retrieve the chariot stone necklace that holds their father and twenty-four demons captive. Fuck yeah.

THE BROTHER’S CURSE seems to run the gamut through an array of genres, including paranormal romance, mystery, thriller, and – of course – supernatural horror. However, it finds a way to touch all these bases while still feeling like a consistent, cohesive experience, not once allowing the reader to feel out of the author’s control. The ride is a wild one, and Christine M. Germain makes sure you’re strapped in for the duration.

I suspect this tale would appeal to a wide demographic, although be warned that there are some fantastically gruesome killings along the way – a true cherry on top for me!

So buckle up and get ready for a superb demonic thrill-ride full of twists, turns, and a truly shocking ending that will leave you begging for the imminent future entries in this new series.

Christine, keep ‘em coming. Fantastic job!


Sibby

This book had me at Amethyst stone! The brother’s curse was on another level! Christine’s writing was absolutely Masterful! I cannot say enough good things about this one. This book was non-stop action, adventure, horror, love and laughter! Christine you forever have a fan with me. Not only did the cover really grab my attention right from the beginning because if you know me well, then you know my love of crystals especially Amethyst my birth stone! I have to say what I admired the most in Christine’s writing was her diversity in all of the characters and was completely inclusive. This was nice to see especially in a horror series. This story has all the gruesome details and some, I was able to laugh out loud and in the same paragraph cringe in horror and fear. This book accomplished all of this and more for me. I cannot wait to continue the series

Best friends, Love triangles, shape shifting demons and a necklace with a deadly past. Crystal and her sister Alex Francois are now orphan’s their parents were brutally murdered last year and the killer got away unknown. After leaving town for a year Crystal makes a return to Lakeview Falls. When strange things begin happening and Crystal and her friends start hearing of gruesome murders taking place attacking the younger men in the area. Crystal and her friends are determined to get to the bottom of things. 2 weeks before Crystals 25th birthday she’s given a rare Amethyst stone necklace by her aunt an air loom her mom saved for her. Crystal has some bad luck and some very tricky situations with the men she dates. The ending was an amazing twist that I did not see coming. You do not want want miss this book !

Brenda Coleman

The Brothers Curse Saga lived up to my expectations. A young woman by the name of Crystal Francois tragically loses her parents to a brutal murder then moves back home to the haunting town of Lakeview Falls where she is bombarded by more death and chaos. Having recently broken up with her boyfriend who decided to ghost her when she arrives back home, Crystal suddenly meets a mysterious neighbor named Jason who claims to be the nephew of a hermit neighbor "Mr. Mcgregor" who packs up and leaves town unexpectedly.

Meeting this so-called charming green-eyed Bandit leaves Crystal tongue-tied in more ways than one. But who is he? What brought him to Lakeview Falls? Why does he seem to be attracted to Crystal in such a short time?

After meeting this young handsome man, Crystal is in for a torturing journey straight to hell when her aunt gives her an Amethyst necklace that holds some dark secrets that left my jaw-dropping numerous times. Then to make matters worse there are two nasty shapeshifting brothers after this necklace to resurrect their father name Mastema and other demons captive in this pendant. I mean, if that isn't the scariest thing to be wearing an apocalypse around your neck, imagine having your friends added to the murder menu. Eeeek!!!! The suspense and Gore added with a touch of thriller and romance had me all over the place.

I love the tension between the characters and Jason especially Trey whom I love so much in this story. This guy was so funny and had so many awesome qualities of a best friend. I also loved Sheriff Mills and his relationship with his sons Phillip and Justin.

The characters' interactions and dialogue were perfectly written and you were able to understand their relationships. Christine Germain knocked it out of the box with each chapter's introduction. My God!!! The visual aspect of the scenery made you feel as if you were there experiencing everything. I love that a horrifying tale was written so poetically. Christine did such a phenomenal job with each setting and how there are so many twists and turns that the shock value illuminates after each chapter ends.

One thing I loved about this story was the many diverse characters. It's nice to see different cultural implemented in a fictional book, especially horror. I love that There was an Asian character (Derrick) who was another favorite character of mine and also dating Crystal's Sister. Interracial relationships are not seen so much in horror stories. The only time I remember watching anything that had a mixture like this was when I was a child watching The Power Rangers.

Honestly, more authors need to add more ethnicity to their work. It makes the story more realistic than just writing a story that focuses on one race. Christine did a great job showcasing this and I am happy that I was suggested to read this story. This was the first book I binge read in a very long time and I can't wait to go straight to the sequel. That ending left me hollering at the book. I would not be surprised to see this book a best seller one day.

I suggest everyone grab a copy of this book because it is so worth the read. Excellent Dark horror that will leave you wanting more.

Stephanie Casto

The Brother’s Curse is beautifully written. In fact, it’s written so well that it plays out like a movie in your head. The reader can literally see the story unfold before them, almost as if they’re a character in the book.

Christine Germain creates interesting, fun characters that any reader can relate to. She creates characters of different races, genders, and backgrounds. She does an excellent job incorporating BIPOC characters into her story which is something I’m hoping becomes a norm in horror fiction. Every reader should be able to relate to a character and in The Brother’s Curse, they can. The dialogue between her characters is natural, realistic and it helps the reader understand the relationships between the characters. I adored Crystal and her sister Alexandrias conversations. Germain also adds humor in her dialogue to lighten up the story from time to time to create a perfect balance.

Germain creates a world where the reader is rooting for the “good guys” but often times, the antagonist prevail. We want to see a happy ending, but that’s not what you get. I love how she leaves readers on a cliff hanger at the end of chapters, that makes you come back for more and more.

The story is so good that you will find yourself flipping through pages, wanting to see what happens next.

Her attention to detail is superb. She writes so detailed that she paints a picture in your head. The story has an overwhelming sense of dread as you watch the main character, Crystal, continuously experience tragedy after tragedy.

I absolutely adored this book and can’t wait to read the second in the Saga “The Stone, The Curse of Mastema”

A fair warning, this book includes gruesome scenes so be warned, you may lose your lunch. Happy Reading

Tali Leonard

“A Brother’s Curse”, by Christine M. Germain, was such a great, dark paranormal mystery. I was completely sucked into the story.


“A Brother’s Curse” begins with a prologue that explains the curse behind the crystal amethyst. The book fast forwards to Lakeview Falls, Michigan in the year 2025. After Crystal Francois’ parents are brutally murdered, she leaves Lakeview Falls. As her 25th birthday approaches, Crystal returns to her hometown. As a gift, she receives a rare antique amethyst necklace that her mother left for her.

Her return happens at the same time as the cursed clock begins to countdown, which leads to boys and men mysteriously being killed. Lakeview Falls is one of those tight-knit communities where everyone knows each other so deaths are noticeable. The reader really feels the sense of fear in the community as bodies start to turn up.

Germain’s attention to detail really creates a dark atmosphere and an overall feeling of dread among the characters. “A Brother’s Curse” was paced really well and the constant need to flip pages kept the story moving. Additionally, each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, making it impossible to read just one chapter.

The book relied heavily on dialogue to really develop the character's relationships. One thing that stood out about the characters was their chemistry. The characters supported each other together amidst the horror and also added some humorous parts as well. The dialogue allows the reader to get a sense of the friendships and relationships formed between the characters in this tight-knit community. Let’s not forget about the hot demons.

These masterfully done characters are flawed, realistic and above all, ‘diverse’. I have read a lot of horrors and have not seen a fully BIPOC cast of characters in a story as we see in “A Brother’s Curse”. There was so much diversity among the characters and depth to them. Germain did an excellent job emphasizing this in her book.

Great care was taken with both protagonists and antagonists. It was a well-rounded story with a unique plot and the book ended on a cliffhanger. I need book 2 now!

MJ Frezin

The brother's curse is a tale full of memorable characters, surprising twists, and quality horror that'd make any Stephen King's fan happy.

I slowly and sadly read through the last few pages, wishing I wasn't so close to the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. And I'm more than anxious for the protagonist, wondering just how much pain and loss her inner circle can endure. Can't wait to find out what happens next.

This book has plenty of horror and tension intertwined with endearing friendships and a tantalizing love triangle. Read it and you'll be entertained.