Books That Burn

This episode we’re discussing “The Ghost Bride” by Yangsze Choo, where a young woman is engaged to marry a ghost, and it turns out he's more of a meddler than she expected from the dead.

• PUBLISHER: HarperAudio

• YEAR: 2013

• LENGTH: 368 pages (12 hours 7 minutes)

• AGE: Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy, Historical

• RECOMMENDED: Yes

Topic 1: Murder. Begins at (1:35), CW for stalking, murder, death.

Topic 2: Overdose. Begins at (11:18), CW for overdose, death.

Topic 3: Stalking. Begins at (20:02), CW for stalking.

Promo for CPOV Fun and Games; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (33:27).

Book TW for drug use, drug abuse, excrement (brief), blood, abortion (backstory), body shaming, child abuse (backstory), medical content, child death, suicide attempt (brief mention), suicide (backstory), death.

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Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This episode we’re discussing “War Girls” by Tochi Onyebuchi, a story of two sisters whose lives are ravaged by war.

Topic 1: Dehumanization. Begins at (1:35), CW for ableism, colorism, colonization, child abuse, medical content, body horror, war, slavery, child death, death.

Topic 2: Generational Trauma. Begins at (25:29), CW for PTSD, emotional abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, war, death.

Promo for CPOV Circle of Friendship; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (45:08).

Book TW for body horror, xenophobia, colonization, bullying, confinement (graphic), drug use, drug abuse, gun violence (graphic), violence (graphic), murder, war (graphic), suicide, child soldiers (graphic), child abuse (graphic), emotional abuse (graphic), physical abuse (graphic), infertility, torture (graphic), injury detail, slavery, parental death (graphic), child death (graphic), death (graphic).

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn.

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Join the CPOV Discord Server!

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This episode we’re discussing BATTLE ROYALE by Koushun Takami. This is the second of two episodes, this one deals with two characters who were damaged in different ways before the story begins.

• PUBLISHER:  Simon & Schuster

• YEAR: 1999

• LENGTH: 617 pages (19 hours 29 minutes)

• AGE: Adult

• GENRE: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Thriller

• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: Brain Damage. Begins at (1:35), CW for violence, car accident, medical trauma, child abuse, murder, child death, death.

Topic 2: Sexual Abuse. Begins at (24:12), CW for child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, murder, child death, death.

Promo for CPOV - RMC vs CG ; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (47:37).

Book TW for sexual content, cursing (graphic), ableism, mental illness, homophobia (brief), homophobic slurs (brief), sexism, misogyny, fatphobia (brief), bullying (graphic), drug use (smoking), kidnapping (graphic), confinement, child abuse (graphic), sexual harassment (graphic), sexual assault (threatened), rape (backstory), adult/minor relationship (backstory, non-consensual), vomit (graphic), blood (graphic), gore (graphic), violence (graphic), gun violence (graphic), medical content (graphic), murder (graphic), child death (graphic), death (graphic).

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn. 

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Join the CPOV Discord Server!

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This episode we’re discussing BATTLE ROYALE by Koushun Takami. This is a two-part episode, in this first part we’re discussing students dealing with isolation and loss of control in the context of a deadly game.

(Part Two will release on July 31st, 2023)

• PUBLISHER:  Simon & Schuster
• YEAR: 1999
• LENGTH: 617 pages (19 hours 29 minutes)
• AGE: Adult
• GENRE: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Thriller
• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: Self-Isolation. Begins at (1:30), CW for isolation, child abuse, murder, death.

Topic 2: Loss of Control. Begins at (20:20), CW for child abuse, murder, death.

Promo for Robcast; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (37:27).

Book TW for sexual content, cursing (graphic), ableism, mental illness, homophobia (brief), homophobic slurs (brief), sexism, misogyny, fatphobia (brief), bullying (graphic), drug use (smoking), kidnapping (graphic), confinement, child abuse (graphic), sexual harassment (graphic), sexual assault (threatened), rape (backstory), adult/minor relationship (backstory, non-consensual), vomit (graphic), blood (graphic), gore (graphic), violence (graphic), gun violence (graphic), medical content (graphic), murder (graphic), child death (graphic), death (graphic).

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn. 

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Join the CPOV Discord Server!

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This episode we’re discussing “A Strange and Stubborn Endurance” by Foz Meadows. We originally recorded this under the impression that it's a stand-alone book, but the sequel (All The Hidden Paths) has been announced for late 2023.

• PUBLISHER: Tor Books

• YEAR: 2022

• LENGTH: 544 pages

• AGE: Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy

• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: Social Isolation. Begins at (1:35), CW for homophobia, ableism, classism.

Topic 2: Intimate Partner Violence. Begins at (18:06), CW for sexism, misogyny, rape, suicide attempt.

Promo for Comics Quest; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (35:57).

Book TW for grief (graphic), sexual content (explicit), xenophobia, cursing, ableism, homophobia (graphic), transphobia (brief mention), misgendering, infidelity, pregnancy (brief mention), miscarriage (backstory), bullying (backstory), child abuse (backstory), panic attacks/disorders (graphic), kidnapping, confinement, alcohol (brief), alcoholism (backstory), vomit (graphic), blood (graphic), gore, violence (graphic), fire/fire injury, injury detail, medical content, medical trauma, sexual assault (graphic), sexual violence (graphic), rape (graphic), self harm (graphic), suicidal thoughts (graphic), torture (brief mention), murder (graphic), animal death (graphic), parental death (graphic), death (graphic).

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This episode features a book with fictional depictions of self harm and attempted suicide. If you're in the United States the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. For those of our audience outside of the United States, you may be able to find the suicide hotline number or other appropriate emergency services for your country inthis directory provided by OpenCounseling.

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn.

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Join the CPOV Discord Server!

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This episode we’re discussing “Ptolemy’s Gate” by Jonathan Stroud. Really, we end up in a thematic discussion of how the main trilogy develops concepts of colonization, classism, and torture across its entire run.

• PUBLISHER: Listening Library

• YEAR: 2005

• LENGTH: 501 pages (15 hours 32 minutes)

• AGE: Young Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy

• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: Colonization. Begins at (1:35), CW for colonization, slavery, war.

Topic 2: Classism. Begins at (18:25), CW for classism, ableism.

Topic 3: Torture. Begins at (39:19), CW for torture, deadnaming, slavery, colonization, war.

Promo for CPOV Men of Steel; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (58:36).

Book TWs: Graphic/Explicit CW for classism. Moderate CW for cursing, confinement, violence, police brutality, torture, slavery, war, colonization, murder, suicide, child death, death. Minor CW for ableism, fatphobia, xenophobia, sexism, misogyny, kidnapping, fire, rape.

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

To make a one-time donation please support us on Ko-Fi.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn.

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This month we’re discussing “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

• PUBLISHER: Del Rey

• YEAR: 2020

• LENGTH: 320 pages

• AGE: Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy, Historical, Horror

• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: Torture. Begins at (1:35), CW for torture, confinement.

Topic 2: Incest. Begins at (11:38), CW for coercion, cannibalism, incest, death.

Topic 3: Eugenics. Begins at (22:45), CW for incest, racism, eugenics, colonization, miscarriage, child death, murder, death.

Promo for CPOV Autographs; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (41:04).

Book TW for sexual content, sexism, racism, eugenics, pregnancy, miscarriage (backstory), gaslighting (graphic), drug use, alcohol, alcoholism (backstory), confinement, mental illness, suicide (not depicted), fire/fire injury, vomit (brief), blood, gore, violence, gun violence, injury detail, body horror (graphic), sexual assault, rape, self harm (brief), medical content, incest, cannibalism, child death, suicide, murder, animal death (not depicted), death.

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

To make a one-time donation please support us on Ko-Fi.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn. 

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This month we’re discussing “The Grace of Kings” by Ken Liu, the first book of the Dandelion Dynasty.

• PUBLISHER: Saga Press

• YEAR: 2015

• LENGTH: 640 pages

• AGE: Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy

• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: Intimidation/Murder. Begins at (1:35), CW for poison, injury detail, torture, suicide, murder, animal death.

Topic 2: Sexism. Begins at (18:25), CW for sexism, rape.

Topic 3: Slavery. Begins at (33:22), CW for slavery, murder.

Promo for Another Pass; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (42:52).

Book TW for sexism, misogyny, pregnancy, excrement, blood (graphic), gore (graphic), violence (graphic), fire/fire injury, genocide, suicide, torture, self harm, child abuse (graphic), animal cruelty, cannibalism, murder, child death, death (graphic).

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

To make a one-time donation please support us on Ko-Fi.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn. 

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This episode we’re discussing “Hench” by Natalie Zina Walschots. It's a story of using spreadsheets to show that the destructive "heroes" are the real villains.

• PUBLISHER: William Morrow
• YEAR: 2020
• LENGTH: 416 pages
• AGE: Adult
• GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Superheroes
• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: Murder. Begins at (1:30), CW for murder.

Topic 2: Body Horror. Begins at (19:05), CW for gore, body horror.

Topic 3: Medical Trauma. Begins at (29:41), CW for injury detail, medical content, medical trauma.

Promo for CPOV Men of Steel; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (41:34).

Book TW for cursing, sexism, misogyny (graphic), ableism, grief (graphic), kidnapping (graphic), confinement, child abuse (brief), panic attacks (graphic), stalking, infidelity, toxic friendship, toxic relationship, sexual harassment (brief), alcohol (brief), drug use (smoking), excrement, blood, vomit (graphic), gore (graphic), injury detail (graphic), body horror (graphic), medical content (graphic), medical trauma (graphic), torture, violence (graphic), murder (graphic), major character death (graphic), death (graphic).

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

To make a one-time donation please support us on Ko-Fi.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn.

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.

This month we’re discussing “A Blade So Black” by L.L. McKinney, the first book in the NightmareVerse trilogy, retelling Alice in Wonderland with a Bi Black girl from Atlanta, Georgia.

• PUBLISHER: Imprint

• YEAR: 2018

• LENGTH: 384 pages

• AGE: Young Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy

• RECOMMENDED: Highly

Topic 1: PTSD. Begins at (1:35), CW for racism, police brutality, murder, child death.

Topic 2: “House” Arrest. Begins at (12:58), CW for confinement, death.

Topic 3: Wounds. Begins at (26:07), CW for medical content.

Promo for Saturday Morning Confidential from Certain POV; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (33:14).

Book TWs: Graphic/Explicit CW for grief, blood, violence. Moderate CW for sexual content, cursing, adult/minor relationship, vomit, gore, murder, injury detail, child death, parental death, death. Minor CW for ableist language, racism, dementia, alcohol, gun violence, body horror. Brief Harry Potter reference.

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If you'd like to make a monthly donation, please check us out on Patreon.

To make a one-time donation please support us on Ko-Fi.

For fortnightly news and updates, as well as links to recent written reviews, subscribe to our newsletter.

You can check out Robin's written review of the book at Reviews That Burn. 

Find all our links on our Carrd.

Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.

Members of the Certain Point of View network of podcasts.