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 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 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 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 fortnight we’re discussing “The Storyteller’s Daughter” by Cameron Dokey, a retelling of the Arabian Nights.

• PUBLISHER: Simon Pulse
• YEAR: 1997
• LENGTH: 221 pages
• AGE: Young Adult
• GENRE: Fantasy
• RECOMMENDED: Yes

Topic 1: Power Imbalance. Begins at (1:35), CW for death.

Topic 2: Infidelity. Begins at (16:46), CW for illness, infidelity, murder, death.

Topic 3: Misogyny. Begins at (29:12), CW for sexism, misogyny, infidelity, death.

Promo for CPOV - Screen Snark; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (41:17).

Book TW for grief, ableism, sexism, misogyny, bullying (brief), infidelity, infertility (brief), confinement, toxic relationship, blood, violence, terminal illness, murder, suicide, parental death, 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 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.

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.

• TITLE: Radiance

• AUTHOR: Catherynne M. Valente

• PUBLISHER: Tor Books

• YEAR: 2015

• LENGTH: 352 pages

• AGE: Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction

• 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.

This fortnight we’re discussing the vampire novel, “Fledgling”, by Octavia Butler.

• TITLE: Fledgling

• AUTHOR: Octavia E. Butler

• PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing

• YEAR: 2005

• LENGTH: 310 pages

• AGE: Adult

• GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror

• 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.

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.