Books That Burn

Please enjoy Robin reading their blog post with some thoughts on ensemble heist stories in fiction. If you'd prefer to read it instead, you can find it here . Refer below for books of the types discussed. ----- Unplanned: THE ART OF SAVING THE WORLD by Corinne Duyvis - Parallel worlds subversion of the "big damn hero" Technically this group is unplanned and they don't already know each other, but...

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....

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. Pro...

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...

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 RECOMM...

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,...

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 coloni...

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,...

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 a...

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...

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. Beg...

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...

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 Topic 1: Rape. Begins at (1:35), CW for rape, slavery. Topic 2: Torture. Begins at (13:56), CW for torture, slavery. Topic 3: Social Isolation. Begins at (25:26), C...

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 (...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Sassinak” by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon. This covers several decades of the protagonists life as she's enslaved by planet pirates and then spends several decades getting the skills for stopping them. TITLE: Sassinak AUTHOR: Elizabeth Moon, Anne McCaffrey PUBLISHER: Baen YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 304 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction RECOMMENDED: Yes...

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: Fantas...

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...

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. TITLE: Gideon the Ninth AUTHOR: Tamsyn Muir PUBLISHER: Tor/Forge YEAR: 2019 LENGTH: 448 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy, Science Fiction RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for cursin...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn. Unusually for us, we have just one main topic where we discuss how the deaths and absences of several characters’ mothers are handled. TITLE: Legendborn AUTHOR: Tracy Deonn PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 511 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for discussion of slavery, discussion of sexual a...

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, g...

This fortnight we’re discussing “The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline. This is speculative fiction so good it made Robin rethink how they read the closely related but distinct genre of dystopian fiction.  TITLE: The Marrow Thieves AUTHOR: Cherie Dimaline PUBLISHER: Dancing Cat Books YEAR: 2017 LENGTH: 240 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Speculative Fiction RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for sexual co...

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. TITLE: The Atrocities AUTHOR: Jeremy C. Shipp PUBLISHER: St. Martins Press-3PL YEAR: 2018 LENGTH: 112 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Horror RECOMMENDED: Highly Book...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Scavenge The Stars" by Tara Sim. This is the first half of a duology retelling "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas. TITLE: Scavenge The Stars AUTHOR: Tara Sim PUBLISHER: Disney-Hyperion YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 352 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy, Retelling RECOMMENDED: Yes Book TW for grief, ableist language (brief), kidnapping (graphic), alcohol (graph...

This fortnight we’re discussing “The Forever War” by Joe Haldeman. TITLE: The Forever War AUTHOR: Joe Haldeman PUBLISHER: Gollancz YEAR: 1974 LENGTH: 238 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Science Fiction, War RECOMMENDED: Yes Book TW for cursing, grief, xenophobia, chemical control of sexual orientation (nonconsensual), homophobia, acephobia (ambiguous), ableism, mental illness, sexual content, sexual assau...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Jade City” by Fonda Lee, the first book in the Green Bone Saga. TITLE: Jade City AUTHOR: Fonda Lee PUBLISHER: Orbit YEAR: 2017 LENGTH: 560 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy, War RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for cursing, grief, sexual content (explicit), sexual abuse (brief mention), torture (brief mention), sexism, drug use, drug abuse, mental illness, self harm, body...