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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
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “Labyrinth Lost” by Zoraida Córdova, book one of the Brooklyn Brujas series.
TITLE: Labyrinth Lost
AUTHOR: Zoraida Córdova
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire
YEAR: 2016
LENGTH: 336 pages
AGE: Young Adult
GENRE: Fantasy
RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for bullying, child abuse (backstory), blood, violence, panic attacks, missing parent, animal death, death.
Topic 1: Kidnapping. Begins at (1:35), CW for mention of torture, betrayal
Topic 2: Family Rejection. Begins at (11:00), CW for abandonment, mention of drug use.
Topic 3: Misplaced guilt. Begins at (23:00), CW for missing parent, discussion of divorce, discussion of death.
Promo for ComicsQuest from CPOV; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (32:40).
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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.
Monday Nov 15, 2021
Monday Nov 15, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “GRACELING” by Kristin Cashore. This is the first book of the YA fantasy series, Graceling Realm.
TITLE: Graceling
AUTHOR: Kristin Cashore
PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin
YEAR: 2008
LENGTH: 471 pages
AGE: Young Adult
GENRE: Fantasy, Romance
RECOMMENDED: Yes
Book TW for sexism, misogyny, sexual content (brief), sexual assault (not depicted), kidnapping, child abuse, animal cruelty, medical content, blood, vomit, violence, torture, animal death, parental death, child death, murder (graphic), death (graphic).
Topic 1: Leck - Gaslighting. Begins at (1:35), CW for Murder, torture, animal cruelty, death
Topic 2: Katsa - Coercion. Begins at (13:00), CW for Violence, death, coercion
Topic 3: Bitterblue - Death of Parent. Begins at (22:10), CW for Murder, death of parent, child abuse
Promo for CPOV - Another Pass; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (29:15).
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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.
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “Thirsty” by M.T. Anderson.
In THIRSTY, everyone sucks. Suddenly learning you're a vampire doomed to brief madness before death or (best case scenario) a long life of cannibalism will ruin anyone's day. Looks like it's going to ruin Chris's month.
TITLE: Thirsty
AUTHOR: M.T. Anderson
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press (MA)
YEAR: 1997
LENGTH: 237 pages
AGE: Young Adult, Middle Grade
GENRE: Fantasy, Horror
RECOMMENDED: Yes
Book TW for queerphobia (brief), ableist language, misogyny, bullying, anxiety, mental illness, stalking, vomit (graphic), self harm (graphic), gore (graphic), blood (graphic), violence, cannibalism, animal death, lynching, murder, child death, major character death, death.
Topic 1: Child Death. Begins at (1:30), CW for Murder, child murder, ritual human sacrifice.
Topic 2: Bullying. Begins at (16:10), CW for Bullying, child death, murder.
Topic 3: Cognitive deterioration. Begins at (29:00), CW for ableism, self-harm, auto-cannibalism, cognitive deterioration, suicide mention, murder, suicide by cop, mention of lynching.
Promo for Crit Chat; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (41:00).
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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.
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Monday Oct 18, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “Unwind” by Neal Shusterman. This is book one of the Unwind Dystology. Robin has been reading Shusterman's work since they were a kid and this was a new one for them.
UNWIND is a dystopian future where abortion is outlawed but teenagers can be "unwound", a state which is distinct from death in ways that are legalistic, technical, and horrifying.
TITLE: Unwind
AUTHOR: Neal Shusterman
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
YEAR: 2007
LENGTH: 335 pages
AGE: Young Adult
GENRE: Dystopian, Science Fiction
RECOMMENDED: Yes
Book TW for discussion of abortion, discussion of “retroactive abortions”, discussion of “right to life”
Topic 1: Vestigial Existence. Begins at (1:30), CW for Death, loss of self, dismemberment, body horror, medical content
Topic 2: Split identity. Begins at (11:35), CW for Death, loss of self, dismemberment, body horror, medical content, loss of control over body
Topic 3: Dismemberment. Begins at (23:58), CW for Death, dismemberment, mention of abortion, medical trauma
Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (39:45).
---
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.
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Please enjoy the spoiler-free portion of our interview with author Kevin Klehr discussing three of his books, "Social Media Central", "Midnight Angel", and "Winter Masquerade". Timestamps are marked for the interview questions. Become a Patron at any level to receive the spoiler-filled second half of the interview.
- Intro (0:00)
- Can you talk a little about the way trauma works in your writing? (0:55)
- Do you put more thought into the trauma itself or the aftermath when thinking about how it affects the characters? (6:50)
- Have you ever started writing a trauma in (one of) your book(s), and had it take over or have more of a story impact than originally intended? (10:30)
- What is your approach to incorporating visible characters of color in your work? (24:12)
- What is your approach to incorporating characters with disabilities in your work? (37:45)
--- Wrap-Up and Outro: Included in Part 1 and Part 2 ---
- What is your favorite non-traumatic thing in any of your books? (42:35)
- Do you have a favorite book written by someone else, and if so what makes it your favorite? (45:41)
- Do you have any queer authors and/or authors of color whose work you’d like to shoutout? (47:40)
- Where can our audience find you? (49:55)
---
Kevin's LinkTree has all his links. Check out Kevin's website for more about his writing, you can also find him on his NineStar Press page. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, or look up his author page on Goodreads. Our Australian audience can find his work on BookTopia.
The major works discussed in this interview are "Social Media Central", "Midnight Angel", and "Winter Masquerade".
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You can find Robin's written reviews of Social Media Central, Midnight Angel, and Winter Masquerade at Reviews that Burn.
Music provided by HeartBeatArt and is used with permission.
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “Early Departures” by Justin A Reynolds. We discuss a toxic relationship, abandonment, and death in this YA sci-fi novel about grief, loss, and second chances. Robin read this as an ARC last year and is pleased to report that their re-read of the final version held up.
TITLE: Early Departures
AUTHOR: Justin A. Reynolds
PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books
YEAR: 2020
LENGTH: 480 pages
AGE: Young Adult
GENRE: Science Fiction
RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for ableist language (brief), toxic relationship, grief, vomit, pregnancy, drowning, car accident, parental death, major character death, death.
Topic 1: Toxic Relationship. Begins at (1:35), CW for Toxic relationships.
Topic 2: Abandonment. Begins at (13:10), CW for Parental death, death, abandonment.
Topic 3: Death. Begins at (22:05), CW for Parental death, death.
Promo for Half Damage by Crit Chat; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (33:00).
---
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.
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
This fortnight Nicole is discussing “Shadow Rising” by Robert Jordan, the fourth book in The Wheel of Time with our transcriptionist and fellow WOT fan, Heather.
Book TW for physical assault, sexual harassment, combat wounds, PTSD, magical attack, horror monster attacks, identity crisis, depiction of mental illness caused by magic, depiction of auditory hallucinations, kidnapping and restraint, misandry, misogamy, betrayal, depiction of hanging, general physical violence and death, general depictions of emotional manipulation and emotional abuse, depictions of discrimination against marginalized communities, descriptions of imbalanced power dynamics.
Topic 1: Aram - Abandonment. Begins at (1:30), CW for abandonment, parental death.
Topic 2: Min - Second-hand emotional trauma. Begins at (12:10), CW for physical harm, reliving trauma.
Topic 3: Author's treatment of characters. Begins at (20:30), No major CWs.
Promo for Circle of Friendship; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (36:50).
---
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.
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.
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson, many people's first shockingly sad childhood book.
TITLE: Bridge to Terabithia
AUTHOR: Katherine Paterson
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
YEAR: 1977
LENGTH: 192 pages
AGE: Middle Grade, Young Adult
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
RECOMMENDED: Yes
Book CW for ableist language, bullying, homophobia (brief), fatphobia, sexism, grief, child abuse (not depicted), domestic abuse, violence, child death, major character death, death.
Topic 1: May Belle - Domestic Abuse. Begins at (1:35), CW for domestic abuse, mention of death.
Topic 2: Leslie - Misogyny. Begins at (8:15), CW for misogyny, mention of homophobia, mention of child death.
Topic 3: Jess - Survivor’s Guilt. Begins at (22:24), CW for misogyny, child death.
Promo for CPOV Autographs; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (31:16). CW for mention of homophobia.
---
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.
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “Not Your Sidekick” by C.B. Lee, the first book of the series "Sidekick Squad". The fourth book, "Not Your Hero" comes out at the end of August 2021.
TITLE: Not Your Sidekick
AUTHOR: C.B. Lee
PUBLISHER: Duet
YEAR: 2016
LENGTH: 304 pages
AGE: Young Adult
GENRE: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Superheroes
RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for ableist language (brief), vomit (brief), racism, kidnapping, violence, death (not depicted).
Topic 1: Schoolkids - Gaslighting. Begins at (1:35), CW for gaslighting, lying,
Topic 2: Abby - kidnapping. Begins at (12:40), CW for kidnapping.
Topic 3: Jess - Betrayal. Begins at (21:12), CW for brief discussion of racism.
Promo for CPOV RobCast; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (27:45).
---
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.
Monday Aug 09, 2021
Monday Aug 09, 2021
This fortnight we’re discussing “THE MERMAID, THE WITCH, AND THE SEA” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, a young adult fantasy novel set on the islands and high seas.
- TITLE: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea
- AUTHOR: Maggie Tokuda-Hall
- PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
- YEAR: 2020
- LENGTH: 368 pages
- AGE: Young Adult
- GENRE: Fantasy, Mythology
- RECOMMENDED: Highly
Book TW for homophobia, colonialism, racism, sexual assault (not depicted), mutilation, child abuse, vomit, blood (graphic), self harm, slavery, torture (graphic), child death, murder (graphic) major character death, death (graphic).
Topic 1: Rake - Colonialism. Begins at (1:30), CW for colonialism, mention of parental death.
Topic 2: Evelyn - Sold by her parents. Begins at (7:17), CW for non-consensual marriage, colonialism, discussion of character death.
Topic 3: Flora/Florian - Mutilation. Begins at (18:41), CW for mutilation, death, description of physical wounds.
Promo for CPOV - Men of Steel; Spoiler-free wrap-up and ratings: Begins at (28:48).
---
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.