Customer Reviews

Blood of My Brother

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Roc is Lil Mac's older brother, and Roc's primary goals are to keep his little brother from following in his footsteps and to retire from the streets. Unbeknownst to Roc, Lil Mac has secretly entered the drug game...on Roc's territory.

When Lil Mac realizes that the only way to get ahead in his game is to overtake Roc's territory, Lil Mac (aka Solo) develops the Get Money click, and starts a bloody war in the streets of Philly. Roc, unaware of Solo's identity, prepares his "team" to win the war so he can retire from the game and reliquish his "boss" title to his right-hand man, Boggy.

As the blood bath escalates, Lil Mac plans for he and Roc to appear to grow closer and closer to continue to mask his disception.

Yusef and Zoe Woods' freshman novel is a suspenseful page turner. I look forward to reading the sequel.

Blood of My Brother
By Zoe and Yusuf Woods

Since the death of his father and unemployment of his mother, Roc has been hustling and making moves to ensure his younger brother, Lil Mac, is taken care of. Although he works the streets so Lil Mac doesn't have to, the street life is no longer appealing to Roc, and he plans to retire from that profession sooner than later. Upon his impending departure from the game, Roc is faced with a newcomer named Solo who is wreaking havoc and tearing down all that Roc has built. Surely this Solo will have to pay - once Roc figures out who he is. Enter Lil Mac. Tired of living in his brother's shadow, Mac decides to make a name for himself at all costs. Blood may be thicker than water, but water tastes better and Mac could care less that he is at war with his unsuspecting sibling. His only concerns are earning respect and stacking paper. As far as Mac is concerned, there is no such thing as brotherly love.

Blood of my Brother is a fast-paced urban drama by newcomers Zoe and Yusuf Woods. While the premise was good, I felt the story needed some fine tuning in regards to character development and dialogue. Further maturation of the characters and how they were presented would have allowed the reader further insight into their motives and a greater appreciation for their actions. I crave an explanation for Lil Mac's intent on going against the grain. His disregard for his brother and excessive actions were not explained, making the relationship between the two baffling. Being the first of a trilogy I'm sure more facts will come out in the follow-ups, however I feel (in order to build anticipation for the sequels) more information should have been revealed initially. There were some editing issues, though this is common with many debuts. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy having the same intense drama and climatic scenes as this first installment, but as with all sophomore efforts, a bit more polished.

English Ruler
ARC Book Club Inc.
Star Rating: 3 Stars

Roc has worked hard to establish himself in the mean Philly streets. He's avoided incarceration, made millions and established legitimate businesses and is finally ready to get out of the game. But all that changes when Roc's team begin to take losses from a quick rising clique lead by a mysterious newcomer named Solo. Wanting to ensure that his crew members continue to eat in his absence Roc stays in the game to help his crew go up against this insurgent crew that's being very disrespectful with their attempts to encroach upon his territory.

But what readers know that Roc doesn't is that Solo is actually Roc's his younger brother LiL Mac. Roc's motto was that he ran the streets so that his brother wouldn't have to. He pushed Lil Mac to stay in school so he could attend college but Lil Mac is tired of living in his brother's shadow and would rather obtain his street degree. At any cost even if that means going behind his brother's back and using insider information to undermine his brother's operation. Even if it means that before it's all over either Roc or Lil Mac will have to spill the Blood of their Brother!

If I would have grew up to be a doctor, my brother would have done the same." That is all that Roc can think of. After their father died and their mother lost her job, Roc does what comes natural to him...hustle. Roc takes on the role of father for Little Mac and only wants what's best for him, ultimately trying to convince Little Mac to graduate and go to college. Roc sees a change in his brother, but he can't quite put his finger on it. Roc is trying to get out the game and show Little Mac that there's more to life than the mean streets of Philadelphia. Little Mac has a plan of his own though. Being Roc's younger brother, Little Mac is sick of only getting respect because of Roc's title. Starting his own crew, Little Mac changes his name to Solo and only his top two people know who he actually is. With strict rules to stay out of Roc's territory, Little Mac a.k.a. Solo takes over one side of North Philly and gets the ball rolling.

Little Mac's best friend D goes against the rule and starts a war with Roc that has so much blood being shed on the streets of North Philly, it isn't even funny. Trying to find out who Solo is, Roc goes to Little Mac and tells him to quit his job and stay out the hood for a while until this thing blows over. Not knowing that Solo and Little Mac are one in the same, Roc doesn't realize he is protecting the person that's actually trying to take him out.

I was a little apprehensive about reading Blood Of My Brother because the dialogue in the beginning didn't catch me. However, once I got further into the story, I was pleasantly surprised. Newcomers Zoe & Yusuf Woods told a great story of love & betrayal. I can not wait to read the second part in the Blood Of My Brother series.

Reviewed by Angie
for Urban Reviews

ROC WAS THE MAN ON THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA, UNTIL HIS YOUNGER BROTHER DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO BECOME HIS OWN MAN BY WREAKING HAVOC ON ROC'S CREW WITHOUT ANY REGARDS FOR THE BLOOD RELATION THEY SHARE. DRUGS,MURDER,MAYHEM AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS CAN LEAD TO DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THIS STORY CAN OMLY BE TOLD BY A PERSON WHO LIVED IT.

THE DEBUT NOVEL BLOOD OF MY BROTHER BY ZOE AND YUSUF WOODS WAS A EXCELLENT READ. IT'S A STORY ABOUT TWO BROTHERS WHO WANT TO OWN THE STREETS OF PHILLY. ROC ALREADY HAS THE STREETS ON LOCK UNTIL HIS BROTHER FELLS IT'S HIS TIME TO SHINE. LIL MAC IS TIRED OF LIVING IN ROC SHADOW SO HE DECIDES TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS. ROC IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE GAME UNTIL SOME OF HIS CREW IS MURDER AND THE MURDERER IN HIM RETURNS. WILL ROC MAKE IT OUT ALIVE OR WILL HE HAVE TO KILL HIS OWN BROTHER. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT HOW YOU THINK YOU KNOW SOMEONE BUT IN REALITY YOU REALLY DON'T. IF I COULD GIVE THIS BOOK MORE THAN FIVE STARS I WOULD. ZOE AND YUSUF YOU DIDN'T DISAPPOINT ME AT ALL. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME WAIT TO LONG.


FIVE STAR REVIEW BY MISTIC

232 Pgs.

Well, Well, Well....

I can really understand and beleive that this could in fact have happened for real. One can only infer this from reading the back cover.

First, understanding that a big brother can be a bit overwhelming and overprotective at times leaving one to feel less than he would like to become. This story paints a picture of Roc and Lil Mac being the closest of brothers. Roc cares so much for his little brother (Lil Mac)and at NOTHING will he not do to see his little brother escape the destructive bowels of the street.

-----------------------Long Review Short-------------------------------


How close are these brothers, REALLY? How Far would you go, Roc? How long will you hang on, Lil Mac? Two sided wars of the streets in Philly - Whose side will win? How many will fall? Is the blood of my brother "thick or thin?"

These are the many questions that will be answered after reading this book. I had to definitely give this book 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!

Njoy the book ! ! Stick N MoveSexual Exploits of a Nympho II, The RelapseThe Most Dangerous Gang in America: The NYPD

This joint was off da hook.One of da best books i read,I can't wait for da next one

It's a war on the streets and is it my friend or foe? No, it's my BROTHER!!! Having Philly on lock since a young age, Roc held it down and became the main man of the streets. Everyone's happy and eating, but not Solo, Roc's lil brother, decides he wants to become that man, and snatch everything from under Roc's feet by going against the love of his brother. Live or Die or Is blood thicker than water?? I'm sure before it's all over you'll say the Blood Of My Who ?!!

This story was very captivating and will keep you on edge. The authors painted a clear, vivid picture of the mean streets of Philly. The murders, drugs, lies, & betrayal, it's all here. I have to say for this novel to be the author's first debut, it was an introduction to the streets you'll never forget and will keep you turning to see who is the last brother standing.

WHAT TO SAY PEOPLE I LOOOVED IT. FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE I KNOW THE TRUTH N ITS ALL HERE. THE BADDEST "ROC" IS THE KEEPER TRYING TO MAKE IT OUTA THE KILL OR BE KILLED CITY OF PHILLY AND WANTS TO PROTECT HIS BLOOD BUT ENDS UP BETRAYED BY THE ONES HE LOVES AND LOOKED OUT FOR. IS IT A BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL? WE SHALL SEE. I ENJOYED THE SETUP IN THIS BOOK AND IM FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCALE. ITS TRULY AN EXCITING CLASSIC N MUST READ. IT WAS SAD TO SEE THR GRIMINESS OF "SOLO" AND I CANT WAIT TO FIND OUT WHO COMES OUT ON TOP IN THE SEQUEL. I KNOW WHO I'M ROOTIN FOR (whispers Roc, Roc). BLOOD OF MY BROTHER DUECE WHERE U AT?????

CAUTION: REALITY

BLOOD OF MY BROTHER IS THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT SAGA. IT ONLY GETS BETTER FROM HERE AND AFTER READING ALL THREE OF THE BLOOD OF MY BROTHER SERIES, MY ONLY QUESTION IS WHERE AND WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING?????????????? I LOVE YOUR BOOKS.