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A book review podcast where we discuss how authors treat and traumatize their characters. Part of the Certain Point of View network.
Episodes

Apr 17, 2023
Apr 17, 2023
55 min
This month we’re discussing “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
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PUBLISHER: Del Rey
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YEAR: 2020
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LENGTH: 320 pages
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AGE: Adult
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GENRE: Fantasy, Historical, Horror
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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.

Apr 3, 2023
Apr 3, 2023
1hr 1 sec
This month we’re discussing “The Grace of Kings” by Ken Liu, the first book of the Dandelion Dynasty.
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PUBLISHER: Saga Press
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YEAR: 2015
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LENGTH: 640 pages
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AGE: Adult
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GENRE: Fantasy
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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.

Mar 6, 2023
Mar 6, 2023
1hr 56 sec
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.

Dec 12, 2022
Dec 12, 2022
1hr 6 min
This fortnight we’re discussing “Queen of the Conquered” by Kacen Callender, the first book in the Islands of Blood and Storm duology.
- PUBLISHER: Orbit
- YEAR: 2019
- LENGTH: 400 pages
- AGE: Adult
- GENRE: Fantasy, Mystery
- RECOMMENDED: Highly
Members of theCertain Point of View network of podcasts.

Nov 28, 2022
Nov 28, 2022
1hr 26 min
This fortnight we’re discussing “Portrait of a Thief” by Grace D. Li, a thriller where five young Chinese Americans are hired to steal back Chinese art from Western museums.
- PUBLISHER: Tiny Reparations Books
- YEAR: 2022
- LENGTH: 320 pages
- AGE: Adult
- GENRE: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
- RECOMMENDED: Highly
Topic 1: Financial Insecurity. Begins at (1:35), no major CWs.
Topic 2: Betrayal. Begins at (20:33), CW for parental death (backstory).
Topic 3: Diaspora Experience. Begins at (32:42), no major CWs.
Promo for CPOV - RMC vs CG; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (52:52).
Book TW for alcohol, cursing, sexual content (brief), grief, racism (brief mention), xenophobia (brief mention), domestic abuse (brief), fire (brief), colonization (backstory), parental death (backstory), COVID pandemic (backstory).
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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.

Oct 31, 2022
Oct 31, 2022
1hr 2 min
This fortnight we’re discussing “Radiance” by Catherynne M. Valente. Set in an alternate version of the 1920's where the planets are as lush as as early sci-fi thought they'd be, and the moon makes a surprisingly good film set as long as you don't mind that the actors turn blue.
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TITLE: Radiance
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AUTHOR: Catherynne M. Valente
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PUBLISHER: Tor Books
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YEAR: 2015
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LENGTH: 352 pages
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AGE: Adult
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GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction
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RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for ableist language (brief), cursing, grief (graphic), abortion (backstory), racism (backstory), homophobia, sexual harassment (backstory), sexual content, drug use, drug abuse, alcohol, body horror, animal cruelty (not depicted), domestic abuse, vomit (graphic), blood (graphic), gore (graphic), violence, war (brief mention), gun violence (backstory), self harm, suicide, cannibalism (ambiguous), murder, death.
Topic 1: Percival Unck - Child Death. Begins at (1:37 after intro), CW for child death, death.
Topic 2: Anchises - Lone Survivor. Begins at (15:45), CW for death.
Topic 3: Severin Unck- Death? Begins at (26:02), CW for drug use, death.
Promo for CPOV RobCast; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (34:40). Honored guest Grimoire makes an appearance at (39:18) and (42:54-44:28).
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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.

Oct 17, 2022
Oct 17, 2022
49 min
This fortnight we’re discussing the vampire novel, “Fledgling”, by Octavia Butler.
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TITLE: Fledgling
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AUTHOR: Octavia E. Butler
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PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing
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YEAR: 2005
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LENGTH: 310 pages
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AGE: Adult
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GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror
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RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for memory loss, animal death, ableism, racism, racial slurs, violence, gun violence, blood, major character death, death.
Topic 1: Coercion. Begins at (1:35), CW for murder.
Topic 2: Memory Loss. Begins at (9:35), CW for adult/minor relationship (brief mention), murder, death.
Topic 3: Racism. Begins at (19:05), CW for racism, murder, death.
Promo for CPOV - Fun & Games Promo; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (29:35).
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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.

Sep 26, 2022
Sep 26, 2022
1hr 16 min
This fortnight we’re discussing “Gideon The Ninth” by Tamsyn Muir, a book best described as "lesbian necromancers in space". We’re joined by special guest S.T. ("Saint") Gibson! You can find all their stuff at their website.
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TITLE: Gideon the Ninth
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AUTHOR: Tamsyn Muir
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PUBLISHER: Tor/Forge
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YEAR: 2019
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LENGTH: 448 pages
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AGE: Adult
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GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction
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RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for cursing, ableism (brief), grief, toxic friendship/relationship, vomit, blood (graphic), violence (graphic), gore (graphic), body horror (graphic), cannibalism, medical content, degenerative illness, emotional abuse, physical abuse (backstory), child abuse (backstory), suicide (backstory), child death (graphic), murder (graphic), self harm, parental death (backstory), major character death (graphic), death (graphic).
Topic 1: Toxic Relationship. Begins at (1:35), CW for toxic relationship, blood, cannibalism, death.
Topic 2: Suicide. Begins at (14:27), CW for toxic relationship, suicide, murder, death.
Topic 3: Cannibalism. Begins at (24:40), CW for vomit (brief mention), gore, body horror, child death, suicide, death.
Promo for Comics Quest from Certain POV; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (35:16). The wrapup contains an extended discussion of how suicide is handled in the book as a topic for the care rating.
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This episode discusses fictional depictions of 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.
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.

Aug 1, 2022
Aug 1, 2022
1hr 35 min
This fortnight we’re discussing “The Song of Achillles” by Madeline Miller, a retelling of the story of Achilles and Patroclus. We're joined by special guest Taylor!
- TITLE: The Song of Achilles
- AUTHOR: Madeline Miller
- PUBLISHER: Ecco Press / Bloomsbury Publishing
- YEAR: 2011
- LENGTH: 416 pages
- AGE: Adult
- GENRE: Fantasy, Historical
- RECOMMENDED: Yes
Book TW for sexism, homophobia, possible biphobia, grief (graphic), kidnapping, confinement, terminal illness, slavery, vomit, blood (graphic), gore (graphic), sexual content, medical content, domestic abuse, rape, cannibalism (backstory), animal death, murder, child death (graphic), major character death (graphic), death (graphic).
Topic 1: Exile. Begins at (1:35), CW for violence, death, murder.
Topic 2: Hovering Shade. Begins at (13:30), CW for homophobia, death.
Topic 3: Rape. Begins at (30:05), CW for rape, slavery.
Promo for Circle of Friendship from CPOV; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (55:45).
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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.

Jun 6, 2022
Jun 6, 2022
48 min
This fortnight we’re discussing the horror novella “The Atrocities” by Jeremy C. Shipp.
Apologies for the odd episode schedule, the next two episodes will be a month apart, then we should be back to our usual fortnightly schedule after that.
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TITLE: The Atrocities
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AUTHOR: Jeremy C. Shipp
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PUBLISHER: St. Martins Press-3PL
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YEAR: 2018
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LENGTH: 112 pages
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AGE: Adult
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GENRE: Horror
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RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for child abuse (backstory), mental illness, medical content, medical trauma, child abuse, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, body horror, gore, self harm, animal death, animal cruelty (backstory), child death, death.
Topic 1: Mental Illness. Begins at (1:35), CW for mental illness, physical abuse, emotional abuse, child death, death.
Topic 2: Kidnapping. Begins at (15:00), CW for kidnapping, institutionalization, mental illness, child death, death.
Topic 3: Child Death. Begins at (22:25), CW for kidnapping, mental illness, child death, death.
Promo for Another Pass from CPOV; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (32:55).
---
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.
