Thank you to NetGalley and Long Island Press for an e-book copy of MY BROTHER'S SPARE to review. I'm not the biggest fan of Historical Fiction. I'm a huge mystery reader, but I shy away from historical fiction sometimes because the stories can be hard to follow, or the language doesn't have an easy flow to it.

I didn't find that to be the case with MY BROTHER'S SPARE. Author Shira, Behore takes us back in time to the 19th Century long before cell phones and DNA evidence were used to solve murders.

Valeria Anson's father is the Chief of the Kingdom's Imperial Force, aka, the head of law enforcement. Valeria and her twin brother, Victor, witness their mother's murder when they were children. The evening has haunted Valeria for years. Determined to find her mother's killer, Valeria finds herself questioning her past, becoming an amateur sleuth unbeknownst to her father and gains a partner in the kingdom's serial killer.

At the heart of the whodunit is Valeria's loyalty to her father and brother, all the while taking her spot as the quiet daughter who should be happy her father had not married her off in an arranged marriage.

The serial killer, Alias Black, becomes a trusted ally, even though, you know, he kills people. The two had a slow burn of a romance. The morally grey area of the characters, for me, made the book.

I'm hoping MY BROTHER'S SPARE is the beginning of a mystery series.

This Nieve kingdom is as dangerous as Jessica Fletcher's Cabot Cove, but I feel like it could be a treasure trove of mysteries waiting to be solved.

I rate MY BROTHER'S SPARE four stars out of five.

Due to my studies and the stresses that come with it, I found it quite challenging to get myself back into reading. However, this masterpiece truly ended this drought and I am endlessly bewildered by how well it is written. The description of the settings has you stuck in a trance as it is written so flawlessly. If this book could be described with just one word, the word would be :Perfect.

This book was a quick DNF. The writing and dialogue were off and it read more like a low quality slapstick comedy. It is honestly not something worth spending any sort of money on and is the type of writing found in fanfictions online written by middle schoolers.

“Just because you watched her die doesn’t make you responsible for avenging her.”

4/5

I enjoyed this book a lot. I adored Valeria and I felt like I connected with her character a lot throughout the story. Some of the other characters felt one-dimensional, but the story was mostly about Valeria and Alias’s growth.
This book has a darker tone to it, which I like. There are descriptions of murders and being injured throughout the book. The book at the beginning felt slow to me, I had a hard time getting through it. Once you read the ground work/set up for the story it became more fast paced.
The plot twists in this story were very well written. It was fun to discover the mystery with the main character. My mouth was hanging open at the end, I was so shocked.
If you like murder mysteries and want to be surprised, this is definitely the book for you.

This story, at its heart, is a murder mystery so there is a lot of investigations and scenes of questioning suspects. As a result, the plot moves a bit slower than I expected when I picked up this book. There are some great plot twists and exciting moments, but it takes a while to get there. I also struggled to understand some of the intuitive leaps the characters made in their investigation.

The main character, Valeria, is an interesting protagonist. She had a fascinating internal struggle, between finding her mother’s murderer and working with the kingdom’s most infamous hitman. My favorite part of the novel was watching this conflict play out. She and “Alias Black”, the hitman, also have a unique relationship on the page that was fun to watch.

I struggled to feel settled into the world of this story. At times, I got the sense that it was in a victorian-era setting, but later mentions of phones and polaroids left me feeling confused. The author obviously put a lot of work into her world, based on the detailed districts of the city and the intricate network of characters. Unfortunately, the pieces just didn’t come together to form a cohesive picture for me.

My Brother’s Spare is the debut novel of author Shira Behore. The novel features an exciting female protagonist, with a compelling internal conflict. The plot does move slower than I expected, but on par with other murder mysteries, It’s worth waiting it out to get to the exciting plot twists near the end of the story. The author put a great deal of work into putting together details about this world, but I struggled to get a clear view of what that looked like.

I didn't expect to love this book this much! Morally grey characters and a good murder case are a perfect combination for a mystery thriller novel!

Valerian Onsen shared everything with her twin brother except one thing; witnessing her mother's brutal murder when they were children. A decade has passed since her mother tragic accident, but her murderer hasn't been captured. So, she decided to do a secret investigation on her own to uncover the truth. Seems to take a dead end everywhere she looks, things started to change the moment she met Alias Black, the famous ruthless assassin.

The story is very well written and well crafted. The writing style is also really good, everything is easy to understand and read. Even without a map I think it was pretty easy to envision this universe. The plot was intriguing with fast pacing, great world building and well develop characters.

Valeria is a strong headed girl and I admire her for not giving up so easily after years of searching although, sometimes she could be stubborn and refuse to see clearly because of her strong characters. Then, there's Rowan Marrow, the morally grey character I told you above. I really like his background story as the story progress. I may not agree with his line of work, however his reasons for some actions and the way he act around Valeria doesn't make me hate him either. I love reading about Valeria and Rowan's relationship throughout the story, how it grows from being enemies to friends.

The twist near the ending left me speechless because I wasn't really expecting that. Not to mention, the last chapter was heart breaking and that bittersweet epilogue at the end makes me teared up a little bit.
The ending didn't disappoint me at all. It actually serve as a good closure for the characters and I felt really satisfied to how things turn out.

Overall, one of the most fascinating murder mystery book I've read this this year! The story will keep you flipping the pages which makes this hard to put down. A part of me wish there's a sequel for this book because I am not ready to say goodbye to these awesome characters.
Nonetheless, this book is highly enjoyable, entertaining and definitely highly recommended for those who love to read mystery thriller with morally grey character!

Special thanks to Netgalley, Shira Behore and Long Island Press for this review copy in return for an honest review.

If you are a fan of Kerri Maniscalco's Jack the Ripper series, than you'll love this twist on it. Great characters, love how the character is good at what she does, and makes for a great detective. With the help of a villian, he isn't who you think he is and that makes the story amazing. Highly recommend!

For a debut novel this was really enjoyable. Although quite slow to start off with, it really picked up the pace.

I loved how the story developed and particularly the character of Alias Black. The cherry on the top being the ending, I did not expect that!

All in all, I found this fast paced once you got into it and I would recommend.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

My Brother's Spare is a book that talks about revenge and family more than a mystery .It makes you live with the characters one by one see the phycological side of them .I like how characters were written I predicted the mystery of the killing so it's not a strong mystery but a strong character writing in my opinion.I loved knowing that even a hitman can have a soft side of him too not only a dark side .Most importantly I loved the message of the book that not every person that care for you could be a good person .For me it's a character driven more than a plot driven because I predicted the mystery so I had plenty of time to live with the characters emotions.

My Brother's Spare sounds like the kind of book that I could binge for myself and it was! I really loved the murder and mystery aspect of the book, but I wasn't attached to the writing or the dynamics of the character that much which were a bummer. I would definitely recommend it for those who wants to look for a fun mystery to read!

My Brother's Spare is about Valeria who is still looking for her mother's killer, 10 years after her murder. To fulfil her thirst for vengeance, she unexpectedly teams up with a notorious assassin, Alias Black, and the story goes on from there.

The book was slow at the beginning and hard to get into but it definitely gets more interesting as details start to unfold, I really liked the author's writing style and the plot twist at the end was pretty interesting.
HOWEVER, the characters felt quite underdeveloped to me and I didn't particularly like any of them. Except, maybe, Alias Black, a classic morally grey character. So if you're a sucker for morally grey characters, you'll definitely enjoy reading about him.
Overall, it's a good debut novel and can be a great read for readers who like plot-driven mystery books!

OMG! I think I may have just found my favorite book of the year. I requested this book just off of a whim, off of the description...never reading anything from this author before or knowing what to expect.

And it is everything. The mystery is so well done in this backdrop mixed of fantasy and historical elements. The quest and thin line of what one person will cross in order to get answers and their revenge is at the forefront of this story. It is the connections, the downright emotion that you feel and the outcomes that you end up routing for and staying for.

The twist at the end....didn't see it coming in a million years. Holy crap balls wth happened there! And gosh darn it I need a second book because this ending hurts my heart and I wanted a different outcome. Everyone needs to read this.

I thought this was a pretty interesting novel but it just didn’t fully captivate me. I wasn’t super emotionally invested in Victor and Valeria's twin relationship - I just felt like we never got to see a ton of that. The world building was a bit lacking - I was confused at some points on the locations/positions and tools they used. Alias Black and Valeria's scenes were by far the most superior but everything else felt a bit flat. I liked the ending twist but all the pacing of those scenes felt a bit off. Enjoyed the final chapter (girlboss action). No character pissed me off too much so I say it’s a win in my book.

Thank you net galley for the early copy of this book.

My Brother’s Spare focuses about the character Valeria who witnesses the murder of her mother at a young age. She joins forces with a hit man Alias Black to find her mother’s killer.
Unfortunately I was able to finish the entirety of this book. This book may suit a younger target audience than myself. The concept was interesting however, it was a slow start and the book didn’t keep my interest. I did not feel connected to the characters.

Overall, the main characters were not particularly relatable, but they were likeably flawed. Valeria and Alias Black had different moral codes springing from their different upbringings. The things they had in common were childhood trauma, unyielding determination, and single-minded focus. When their goals aligned, they became quite the duo. I enjoyed watching how their relationship evolved.

The world was interesting and the atmosphere well-developed. I thought it was a great setting for this particular mystery. The anti-monarchy sentiments woven into the plot added intrigue and a layer of depth. I was glad Valeria’s path allowed me to see more and more of the city as the story progressed.

Based on the title and synopsis, I was surprised that Valeria’s twin brother seemed to remain more of a surface character for me. However, I thought the mystery itself was well-done. The different aspects came together in a narrative that made sense without being too obvious. After finishing the book, I can safely say this is a gritty mystery that shows what happens when a royal and an assassin team up to uncover the truth of the events that changed their lives forever.

My Brother’s Spare is the story of Valeria, daughter of the nation’s Viscount (person in charge of law enforcement for the nation) and twin to her brother Victor. As a young girl Valeria witnesses the murder of of her mother and becomes obsessed with finding the killer.

One night Valeria chases down the man she believes is the murderer, only to find out he is not the murderer she is looking for, but is instead the most notorious assassin in the nation, Rowan, known as Alias Black. He is also searching for answers to a tragic event from his childhood. The two form an unlikely partnership, working together to find answers for both of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this book. It was well thought out, with little hints dropped along the way. Just enough that I was able to suspect who the murderer was just before it was all figured out by the characters.

I did really enjoy Rowan and Valeria, their interactions and their growth from the beginning of the story to the end. The remaining characters fell a little flat. They pop in and out of the story and there is hardly any chance to get to know them and their relationship with Valeria.

The writing got a little repetitive. There are so many times the characters are described by their eyes and while I think I know what the author was trying to do, it did end up feeling overboard and slightly annoying.

A solid first novel. The writing needs to be streamlined a bit and the secondary characters could have been either combined into fewer people or developed a bit more. The plot was excellent!

3.5 stars.

This novel had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it. It's full of mystery, crime, wonderful friendships, and enemies working together to bring justice for two horrendous crimes that were committed when they were both young that wrecked both of their lives.

The setting of this story is a wonderful mix of fantasy and realistic elements that create a world much like our own in some aspects, but also quite different due to the fantasy elements.

From the very first page I was immediately captivated by the story that was starting to unfold. The writing of this novel was beautifully done, and the imagery was splendid. Valeria and Victor's sibling bond is absolutely precious and so heart warming. They look out for one another constantly, and have each others backs always.

I usually always want a little romance with the books I read, and while this one didn't truly have any I still absolutely loved it. There seemed to be little hints of something between Alias (also known as Rowan) and Valeria, but nothing concrete in the romance department happened. I adored their banter and genuine friendship that formed between them. They went from hating each other to being close which was so precious. If there is ever a sequel written (which I would drop everything to read) I could see more developing between them. When they first meet was one of my favorite scenes in the book.

I also loved so many of the side characters including Victor, Flint, Oliver, and Lou. They are all so uniquely amazing in their own way and hold a part of my heart just as Valeria and Rowan do.

The ending was so unexpected, and parts of it had me sobbing while other parts had me smiling. I truly never wanted this book to end.

For anyone who loves mystery and crime within a novel that has an undertone kind of like the mystery and crime in Stalking Jack the Ripper you should check this out! The story line and characters will capture your heart and have you never wanting to put it down. That's how it was for me.

DNF at 35%.

Could not get into the storyline or characters.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC

My Brother’s Spare by Shira Behore follows protagonist Valeria on her journey for justice and closure ten years after she witnessed the brutal murder of her mother. Her search for her mother’s killer leads her to team-up with the city’s most notorious assassin, all of which she must hide from her father – the Viscount and Chief of the Imperial Police Force – and her twin brother, Victor.

The novel is packed with exciting twists and turns, which keeps the reader engaged and turning pages faster than they can read. The characters are written realistically – they have flaws, make mistakes, and have to deal with the consequences of their actions. This makes it easy to connect with the characters, and their relationships with each other were also well written and felt real and relatable. The novel uses some Young Adult and Mystery tropes but employs them in such a way that they enhance the story and the reader’s experience. The novel is also a commentary on society and deals with class issues. To deal with these issues it takes them to the extremes, but is still realistic and demonstrates the real issues that are faced in modern times. The world-building was well done, so that the city felt both exciting and fantastical, but also realistic and natural. Some parts of the novel were somewhat foreseeable, but the big twists and turns were exciting and unpredictable.

My Brother’s Spare is a beautifully written novel, which didn’t only deal with important social issues, but was also a thrilling and engaging story. Behore created relatable and heart-warming characters for her twisting tale, which culminates in a sensational and heart-wrenching ending.

Valeria and Victor Anson are twins, together since the beginning sharing a close bond. Victor is the eldest though so he will take over the reins of the family name and rank, but Valeria still protects her brother especially on the night their mother is murdered. Over ten years later and Valeria is still searching for the man who killed their mother, despite her father's disapproval of her methods, and it leads her to joining forces with the ruthless notorious hitman Alias Black.

The story was a little slow to get going but the pace soon picks up. There was a lot to like about it; the plot was well thought out and executed, and I really liked the growing friendship between Valeria and Alias. I think it needed more initial worldbuilding though. There were several aspects (such as the history of the world they lived in) which could have been enhanced with more background. I found it difficult to place it in any time, originally I thought it was 19th century only for the story to then talk of speakeasies and flapper dresses, but little else fitted that era. I felt it kept me at a distance as the reader. Due to this my rating is 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

Thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Lost Island Press (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.