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Brian Asman

Author of Man, Fuck This House

7+ Works 229 Members 17 Reviews

Works by Brian Asman

Man, Fuck This House (2021) 186 copies, 12 reviews
Jailbroke (2021) 8 copies
Nunchuck City (2021) 7 copies
Our Black Hearts Beat as One (2023) 6 copies, 4 reviews
Good Dogs (2024) 6 copies, 1 review

Associated Works

Lost Films (2018) — Contributor — 31 copies

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In "Our Black Hearts Beat as One" by Brian Asman, Michael Mallory enjoys the pinnacle of success as the lead singer of the rising band, Modern Love. However, when an unexpected breakup shatters his world, he descends into the occult underbelly of the city in a desperate attempt to find solace. Amidst a landscape of wayward souls, brutal killers, godlings, and grotesque entities, Mike is on the verge of discovering an undeniable truth — there's nothing more terrifying than love.

Regrettably, Brian Asman's latest offering falls short, marking a significant miss in his repertoire. The novella introduces a unique "Black Magic" lore, crafted by Asman himself, but it fails to resonate. A perplexing decision arises as the author opts for an invented mythos rather than drawing from real-life gods and goddesses. The absence of familiar elements diminishes the potential for reader engagement, leaving them detached from the supernatural aspects. Instead of enhancing the horror experience, this choice results in a sense of confusion and frustration.

The novella's brevity may have contributed to its downfall, as the "Black Magic" world-building feels underdeveloped and left me struggling to connect with the narrative. The absence of real-world mythological references leaves a void, hindering the establishment of a comfortable foundation for fear to take root. Unfortunately, this deviation from established mythologies doesn't enrich the narrative; rather, it leads to a sense of alienation and the feeling of being out of step with the story.

Moreover, the protagonist, Mike, comes across as uninspiring, and the only compelling character makes only a fleeting appearance. This lack of engaging characters further contributes to my overall disappointment with the novella. It appears that Asman's storytelling style may not align with my preferences, and the experience is further exacerbated by the disconnect caused by the unfamiliar "Black Magic" lore.

In conclusion, "Our Black Hearts Beat as One" may not be the ideal introduction to Brian Asman's work for readers seeking a more relatable and immersive experience. The decision to veer away from established mythologies, coupled with the brevity of the novella, results in a narrative that struggles to captivate and resonate. While individual tastes vary, this particular work may leave some readers questioning the author's choice of narrative direction and longing for a more resonant exploration of horror and emotion.
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empman74 | 3 other reviews | Nov 16, 2024 |
I have to be honest - with a title like that, I just had to read this one. It sounded funny (maybe a bit silly) with a haunted house. I thought I was getting a spooky, creepy read with some humor. I didn't find any humor.

Instead, I'm not sure what this was. A weird house, for sure, but I'm not sure it was all that creepy. It was shocking, but the book never really set up a vibe to be spooky. The creepiest thing was the kid - who felt determined to terrorize his mom.

I'm disappointed. I wanted to love it. Instead, I felt let down because I thought this would be one type of book that it wasn't.… (more)
 
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Trisha_Thomas | 11 other reviews | Nov 14, 2024 |
2.5 stars I'm rounding up. I'm torn on this one. I really liked the middle, the collecting of stories and why they were doing it. I was even on board with the mc's broken heart and his need to want a quick solution.

But the rat king circle and the visit to the bar were just odd. The mc rolling with it all was even weirder. I found his blah reaction to everything a bit of a letdown and it made me, the reader, feel less connected or pulled in. I almost wish this had been longer, so we'd had more time to flush the story out and really be pulled in. I think the crappy apartment, strained friendships, and famous artists would have felt more authentic (and would have pulled me in more) if I'd had more time to get to know the characters.

But this was an interesting short, I did like the stories and how it was set up with an interesting conclusion.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
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Trisha_Thomas | 3 other reviews | Nov 14, 2024 |
“Good Dogs,” by Brian Asman

Book about a pack of werewolf shifters who are just trying to survive despite being werewolves which leads them to a new home where mysterious disappearance happens often. I thought it was a good book. Lots of characters, a bit too much for me, it makes the POV’s confusing. It was also on the slow side but had an interesting plot. 3 out of 5 stars.

-Werewolves
-Multi POV

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.
 
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adrihean | Oct 7, 2024 |

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