Brutes of Bristlebrook by Rebecca Quinn is a post-apocalyptic why choose romance series with survivalist themes and five love interests, some of whom also love each other. It’s an exciting and dramatically spicy story filled with ferocity from all angles.
Eden is running for her life, used to surviving on her own after the apocalypse that tore the world apart. A dangerous gang of men has found her, and there’s nothing she can do but flee.
While she’s making her desperate escape, she stumbles into a different patrol that leads her to Bristlebrook, a gorgeous house tucked away into a cliff, where five former army rangers have built their own little world.
Eden, a former librarian, makes a deal with the men to let her stay. They haven’t been around a woman in a long while, and she is so tired of being alone and in constant danger, so she agrees to have sex with them in exchange for their protection.
What starts out as a utilitarian agreement quickly spirals as feelings develop, and the dangers of the outside world creep in. Eden and her brutes are forced to navigate the treacherous landscape of the post-apocalyptic world while trying to simultaneously figure out the complicated interpersonal dynamics they’ve fallen into.
Five love interests can often border on too much in a why choose romance. It can be quite difficult to craft five unique, differentiated male main characters in a single story. Brutes of Bristlebrook mercifully does not fall into that trap. These men manage to remain distinct from each other from the very outset. They each have their own elaborate backstories and personal journies throughout the books — not to mention their own defining kinks.
The characters in this series are over-the-top and enmeshed with their individual tropes, but it’s done in a way that absolutely works. Readers get a little bit of everything with this group. Eden, the nerdy librarian; Dominic, the militant leader; Beau, the charming doctor; Jayk, the wild, grumpy one; Jasper, the refined psychologist; and Lucky, the beloved class clown. They’re a lot, and at times it borders on insanity, but it’s compelling and most importantly, so entertaining.
Brutes of Bristlebook starts with immediate action that sets the tone for the series, and that action keeps up for the whole story. All of the fucking and fighting makes for a fast-paced read that will keep readers completely hooked.
There are sharp, shocking plot twists, with the nature of the battle changing in every piece of the series. All this intensity is tempered by lots of fun and playful moments though, and that combination with the post-apocalyptic landscape feels very original.
While the crazy plot is amazing, the true highlight of this story is the spice. These books are fueled by sex and the sexual dynamics of the group. These scenes are plentiful and infused with kink and kink culture, with more than a fair few MM interactions. It’s impeccably well done and a true joy to read.
Brutes of Bristlebrook is a time commitment. It’s a three book series and these books are quite lengthy, but it doesn’t feel that way while you’re reading. I ripped through these books and can tell you with certainty that it is worth the time. Readers looking for high-stakes drama in a survivalist landscape with burning hot spice will love this series.
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