booksthatburn's Reviews (1.46k)

I like the way the narrative is layered, and the commentary on the role of media in the formation of identity, especially when that media was not ideal representation, all of that was very interesting, and is part of why I kept reading for as long as I did. but either most of what’s in the description for the book doesn’t come in to play until the second half, or I’m missing something huge in the story. I’m not sure which, and I’m ultimately ended up not finishing it. I think this is the first DNF that I might want to revisit later when I’m in a better headspace, that time just isn’t right now. 

COULROTOPIA is a killer robot clown horror story with a clever conceit for why the robot clowns would suddenly turn murderous. It establishes characters swiftly so that by the time the violence starts the reader is invested in whether or not they survive the ordeal. It’s fast-paced, gory without being overly graphic, and overall a great short story. There’s several very cool character moments, conversations that I had not expected to turn funny, and a really sweet and thoughtful relationship between a couple attending the circus.

SURREALITY is a tantalizing and well-paced horror story about a documentary TV show which blurs the lines between hype and reality when the hosts get over their head in a homicidal urban legend. It’s immersive and excellently told, cultivating a nebulous feeling through meta-conversation about uncertainty between hype and reality. Short, bloody, and creepy, don’t miss SURREALITY.

I love time loop stories, and this was one of the better ones that I’ve read in a while. It begins after the protagonist, Clark, has already been in the loop for more than 300 days. It skips past the usual shock, realization, and eventual acceptance of the time loop, instead introducing him to the reader when the highlight of his day is figuring out to make for his sister’s party. This is definitely a story which assumes some familiarity with this basic tropes of time loop stories, taking advantage of the reader's likely familiarity to do something more interesting, while still explaining enough to make sense for someone new to this sub-genre. 

The plot related to the tips for beating loneliness start out as this unexpected assignment, one of the early indications that something might be about to change. That list turns into a guide post, something he can use to make different choices when trying to get out of the loop. Because Beau is actively avoiding Clark after their first meeting, they don’t actually end up spending much time together. Instead, after they most of a day running Beau's errands, Clark is chasing Beau's shadow, retracing their steps. He wants to see him again, and doesn’t agree with Beau's theory that they should avoid each other, but tracking him down again proves harder than Clark anticipated. The idea of Beau permeates the book, as Clark gets to know some people Beau has known all his life, and some he only met right before the time loop began. It’s a story about loneliness and connection, the need to be vulnerable sometimes in order to let in someone new or find something good. 

I love the in-universe explanation for how the time loops work. It clearly makes them a phenomenon that has happened to other people and will happen to more, something widespread enough for there to be a whole range of ideas about it on the internet (some far less useful than others). The theories are based on things that different people have observed, compiling together the stories of many people's experiences in time loops. The style of worldbuilding and access to the information means that no one comes down from on high to say exactly how time loops function, and why, but the directions for how to get out have enough detail for him to actually try. 

This is great, a must-read for anyone who loves time loop stories and/or gay teenage romance.

*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review of this book. 

This is a delightful, sex-positive story with a (probably autistic) aro/ace demon king protagonist who is convinced that since he's never had a crush before he can't possibly have one now. It's the first of several volumes, telling a mostly-complete story of the demon king finding the gardener and getting him set up officially to continue what he'd been doing in secret. It revolves around the demon king's daily activities and conversations as he handles the logistics necessary to integrate a human into a brand-new position. 

The worldbuilding unfolds gradually, establishing relevant details of human and demon history as they're needed. It specifically describes the appearance of each character (human or demon) when they first are introduced, but for details of language or history it applies them in context for a while before pausing to explain them. There's a mix of the gardener explaining his life and the demons explaining certain things relevant to the palace, with many descriptions of the plants in the various regions of the garden. I love the dynamic between the demon king and the gardener, they quickly establish a casual intimacy which neither of them is specifically cultivating but which arises naturally from their interactions. The demon king offers safety and calm in the midst of a lot of changes, and the gardener is concerned with very little besides what the plants want and need.

I had a great time and am excited for the next volume!