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Our Black Hearts Beat as One
"Hearts don’t just break, they explode. Destroying everything around them."
Michael Mallory's living the dream as the lead singer of a hot, up-and-coming band, Modern Love. When a sudden breakup shatters his world, he plunges headlong into the city's occult underbelly in a desperate bid to salve his pain. Lost amidst wayward souls and brutish killers, godlings and grotesqueries, Mike's about to learn one incontrovertible
There's nothing more terrifying than love.
Michael Mallory's living the dream as the lead singer of a hot, up-and-coming band, Modern Love. When a sudden breakup shatters his world, he plunges headlong into the city's occult underbelly in a desperate bid to salve his pain. Lost amidst wayward souls and brutish killers, godlings and grotesqueries, Mike's about to learn one incontrovertible
There's nothing more terrifying than love.
182 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2023
4 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Brian Asman
30 books361 followersBrian Asman is a writer, actor, and director from San Diego, CA. He’s the author of the forthcoming expanded edition of Man, F*ck This House (and Other Disasters) as well as Good Dogs, Our Black Hearts Beat as One, I’m Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today, Neo Arcana, Nunchuck City, Jailbroke, and Return of the Living Elves. He’s recently published short stories in American Cannibal, The Dark Waves of Winter, DreadPop, Pulp Modern, Kelp, and comics in Tales of Horrorgasm.
A film he co-wrote and produced, A Haunting in Ravenwood, is available now on DVD and VOD from Breaking Glass. His short “Reel Trouble” won Best Short Film at Gen Con 2022 and Best Horror Short at the Indie Gathering.
Brian holds an MFA from UCR-Palm Desert. He’s represented by Dunham Literary, Inc.
Find him on social media (@thebrianasman) or his website www.brianasmanbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 11, 2023
It's been almost a week since I finished this book and I've been trying to come up with a decent review so at this point I think it's time I give up on the idea of having anything particularly interesting to say.
This book gave me Gaiman at his peak vibes (Neverwhere was his best work and I will not hear otherwise) but without feeling derivative. You have a random dude accidentally stepping into an "underworld" that has been under his nose the entire time because he is impulsive and not too bright. This is a potentially costly mistake, chaos ensues. The story is an urban fantasy with the potentiality of going full horror and a somewhat cozy somewhat edgy treatment you get the idea and parallels, hopefully.
Overall, it was a pleasant and quick read that had a lot of charm.
I liked Mike well enough, but I wanted more Evangeline couldn't help but think she was a more interesting person perhaps because aside from him being broken-hearted we don't get that much about who Mike is as a person.
I enjoyed the songbook at the end but I'm not entirely sure what Modern Love was supposed to sound like and in my head they sounded like Dead On A Sunday, I wonder how far from what the author imagined their sound being like I was.
I received a review copy of this book and this is my honest review (?).
This book gave me Gaiman at his peak vibes (Neverwhere was his best work and I will not hear otherwise) but without feeling derivative. You have a random dude accidentally stepping into an "underworld" that has been under his nose the entire time because he is impulsive and not too bright. This is a potentially costly mistake, chaos ensues. The story is an urban fantasy with the potentiality of going full horror and a somewhat cozy somewhat edgy treatment you get the idea and parallels, hopefully.
Overall, it was a pleasant and quick read that had a lot of charm.
I liked Mike well enough, but I wanted more Evangeline couldn't help but think she was a more interesting person perhaps because aside from him being broken-hearted we don't get that much about who Mike is as a person.
I enjoyed the songbook at the end but I'm not entirely sure what Modern Love was supposed to sound like and in my head they sounded like Dead On A Sunday, I wonder how far from what the author imagined their sound being like I was.
I received a review copy of this book and this is my honest review (?).
August 4, 2023
Brian does it again! I LOVED MFTH so I was SO STOKED when he reached out asking to send me a copy of his newest.
And damn did it exceed my expectations. Super fast paced, fun with tons of eerie undertones and creepy moments. Characters that you’ll fall in love with and want to see come out happy on the other side. I love the open type ending with a “choose your own ending” sort of conclusion.
And damn did it exceed my expectations. Super fast paced, fun with tons of eerie undertones and creepy moments. Characters that you’ll fall in love with and want to see come out happy on the other side. I love the open type ending with a “choose your own ending” sort of conclusion.
November 28, 2023
I found this book to just be an average read. Some of it was hard to understand. I did enjoy that Mike was the lead singer of a band, though!
August 11, 2023
podcast interview coming up. so stay tuned...
First of all shout- to the author of this book local San Diego author Brian Asman. He will be coming on the podcast. When he offered me a copy of this book he was able to drop it off on the porch and shout out to my dog Barney who didn't bite Brian when he came on the porch. Shout to Dracula, Brian’s foster failure doggie, hey we were supposed to foster our dogs too. I think the front door was shut, if it had been open I would have totally gotten Brian bit. I felt bad about it. Brian is a person I like seeing at book events around San Diego. He is a fun person to talk to because his energy is infectious. His gonzo semi-bizarro style of horror is not exactly my personal favorite style but I enjoy reading it in small doses.
Our Black Heats is a punk rock horror novella, short in page count, not unlike your typical punk rock song. The book also has that energy. One thing that is fun for me personally is how much of Brian's personality seeps into his fiction. That is generally true of every author, but in this case it is a strength. When you are most known for writing a haunted house novella with the great title “Man, Fuck This House,” you know the man has his own style.
Misfit romances are a genre I greatly enjoy, and if you like off-beat original horror and misfit romances this is a great book to read. From the back cover: “Michael Mallory's living the dream as the lead singer of a hot, up-and-coming band, Modern Love. When a sudden breakup shatters his world, he plunges headlong into the city's occult underbelly in a desperate bid to salve his pain. Lost amidst wayward souls and brutish killers, godlings, and grotesqueries, Mike's about to learn one incontrovertible There's nothing more terrifying than love.”
Romance is not just as straights and normies. Reality is the love and passion punks feel for their music has raw energy that is hard to explain to anyway who has never been swept up in a circle pit. The adjacent romance often has the energy of slam dance, joy, and pain in equal measure. That balance, mixed with occult weirdness and a little subtle humor is the reason the one hundred and forty pages fly by.
We know Mike mostly as the singer of modern love a punk band who I saw as the touring business side of punk, no the sweaty basement struggling type. He leaves it all out on stage, he burns hot so when his girlfriend Kara wants a break – he spirals. The passion Mike feels makes the break-up crashed into the weird underbelly of occult Boston. Strange history and stories haunt the strange characters who float into the novel are super interesting. "I don't think this entity I encountered was this man, Transmutated by death into a strange new form. I've seen all death can do. But maybe this creature was the ghost of what happened to him..."
I know a thing or two about writing Punk fiction, capturing that energy for people who have never experienced it is not easy. If there is a weakness in this book, the fast pace will lose some readers. The mythology was explained enough for me but I could see a few readers having to double back or feel lost. It is natural in a book like this. I am OK with it but I would bet a Gorilla Biscuits colored vinal 7-inch that reviews will complain that they wanted more.
Indie-published novels cut both ways. You get fierce original stuff, but an outside editor might push an author to head off those complaints. That said if you are reading Brian's work you don't want cookie-cutter stuff. The raw energy is the point. It is the strength. "Hearts break, but they don't just break, they explode destroying everything around them."This novel is about the dark corners that broken hearts expose. The tale and the message wrapped around a broken heart is one you know but the characters and setting are fantastically Brian Asman.
More than anything this made me excited to see what Brian does with Good Dog, his coming werewolf novel. Black Heats Beat as One is a fun, not-for-everyone read. The people it is for will love the shit out of it.
First of all shout- to the author of this book local San Diego author Brian Asman. He will be coming on the podcast. When he offered me a copy of this book he was able to drop it off on the porch and shout out to my dog Barney who didn't bite Brian when he came on the porch. Shout to Dracula, Brian’s foster failure doggie, hey we were supposed to foster our dogs too. I think the front door was shut, if it had been open I would have totally gotten Brian bit. I felt bad about it. Brian is a person I like seeing at book events around San Diego. He is a fun person to talk to because his energy is infectious. His gonzo semi-bizarro style of horror is not exactly my personal favorite style but I enjoy reading it in small doses.
Our Black Heats is a punk rock horror novella, short in page count, not unlike your typical punk rock song. The book also has that energy. One thing that is fun for me personally is how much of Brian's personality seeps into his fiction. That is generally true of every author, but in this case it is a strength. When you are most known for writing a haunted house novella with the great title “Man, Fuck This House,” you know the man has his own style.
Misfit romances are a genre I greatly enjoy, and if you like off-beat original horror and misfit romances this is a great book to read. From the back cover: “Michael Mallory's living the dream as the lead singer of a hot, up-and-coming band, Modern Love. When a sudden breakup shatters his world, he plunges headlong into the city's occult underbelly in a desperate bid to salve his pain. Lost amidst wayward souls and brutish killers, godlings, and grotesqueries, Mike's about to learn one incontrovertible There's nothing more terrifying than love.”
Romance is not just as straights and normies. Reality is the love and passion punks feel for their music has raw energy that is hard to explain to anyway who has never been swept up in a circle pit. The adjacent romance often has the energy of slam dance, joy, and pain in equal measure. That balance, mixed with occult weirdness and a little subtle humor is the reason the one hundred and forty pages fly by.
We know Mike mostly as the singer of modern love a punk band who I saw as the touring business side of punk, no the sweaty basement struggling type. He leaves it all out on stage, he burns hot so when his girlfriend Kara wants a break – he spirals. The passion Mike feels makes the break-up crashed into the weird underbelly of occult Boston. Strange history and stories haunt the strange characters who float into the novel are super interesting. "I don't think this entity I encountered was this man, Transmutated by death into a strange new form. I've seen all death can do. But maybe this creature was the ghost of what happened to him..."
I know a thing or two about writing Punk fiction, capturing that energy for people who have never experienced it is not easy. If there is a weakness in this book, the fast pace will lose some readers. The mythology was explained enough for me but I could see a few readers having to double back or feel lost. It is natural in a book like this. I am OK with it but I would bet a Gorilla Biscuits colored vinal 7-inch that reviews will complain that they wanted more.
Indie-published novels cut both ways. You get fierce original stuff, but an outside editor might push an author to head off those complaints. That said if you are reading Brian's work you don't want cookie-cutter stuff. The raw energy is the point. It is the strength. "Hearts break, but they don't just break, they explode destroying everything around them."This novel is about the dark corners that broken hearts expose. The tale and the message wrapped around a broken heart is one you know but the characters and setting are fantastically Brian Asman.
More than anything this made me excited to see what Brian does with Good Dog, his coming werewolf novel. Black Heats Beat as One is a fun, not-for-everyone read. The people it is for will love the shit out of it.
September 14, 2023
“Maybe love doesn’t come from the divine. It’s from . . . somewhere else. Something above gods. Beyond them.”
Honestly, was just bored with this one 😣
Couldn’t get into the story, didn’t care for the characters.
Honestly, was just bored with this one 😣
Couldn’t get into the story, didn’t care for the characters.
October 3, 2023
I had fun with this author’s other book: “Man, Fuck This House.” This one, though, takes itself a lot more seriously.
There are a few cool ideas here, but some of the book was hard to follow. (Mostly the second half.) There were also three stories within the story, with several characters talking into a tape recorder telling about their experiences. Two of those tales were a bit cliche and another was confusing. The book did a lot of explaining of a religion that involved naming a bunch of different gods and who they were and what they did, and my eyes glazed over during those parts. (As I often say, this may have just been a "me" thing.)
This story has the “ideal hot goth chick character.” (She's got an attitude and practices witchcraft. What a sizzling little number!) As soon as she stepped onto the page I thought, “Oh no.” There did turn out be more to her, to be fair. But it felt like the dark version of the Manic Pixie Dreamgirl. Remember that whole thing?
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I liked one of the monster designs and there was an interesting set piece, (the weird room with the fans), but the story went from confusing to cliche to overly sappy and those are all things I just don’t like. I did enjoy “Man, Fuck This House,” though!
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me the chance to read this ARC!
TW: self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation.
There are a few cool ideas here, but some of the book was hard to follow. (Mostly the second half.) There were also three stories within the story, with several characters talking into a tape recorder telling about their experiences. Two of those tales were a bit cliche and another was confusing. The book did a lot of explaining of a religion that involved naming a bunch of different gods and who they were and what they did, and my eyes glazed over during those parts. (As I often say, this may have just been a "me" thing.)
This story has the “ideal hot goth chick character.” (She's got an attitude and practices witchcraft. What a sizzling little number!) As soon as she stepped onto the page I thought, “Oh no.” There did turn out be more to her, to be fair. But it felt like the dark version of the Manic Pixie Dreamgirl. Remember that whole thing?
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I liked one of the monster designs and there was an interesting set piece, (the weird room with the fans), but the story went from confusing to cliche to overly sappy and those are all things I just don’t like. I did enjoy “Man, Fuck This House,” though!
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me the chance to read this ARC!
TW: self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation.
November 12, 2023
"Sometimes you need to know someone else’s heart can break just like yours."
In our lives we have all had our heart broken in some way. Be it from a partner, to a disappointing book, to where our favorite team bit the dust. Some may not be as heavy as the other but we still felt that deep emotional pain.
Now just hear me out. what if there was a way to make that pain vanish? You don’t know what the consequences are and not sure how it will affect the world. Would you be interested in not feeling like death?
Brian brings something new to the table with this book and it threw me at first. A book about love, life, and heartbreak. Huh? He’s never lead us astray, so this wasn’t going to stop me.
This book was okay. The darker parts of this book really got me interested but the in-between almost lost me. I felt as if I missed parts while reading and had to go back to reread what I thought was missed. Alas, there was nothing missing. Just how it was written. It was interesting.
Michael alone wasn’t my favorite but him with Evangeline was something not to be missed. They really fed off of each other and made this demented love story fun. I wish there was more information about Evangeline because her story seems as if it’s going to be a wild one.
Our Black Hearts Beat As One was something new from the dark mind of Brian and it was an okay time. It was fast-paced, unique, and an unforgettable story about how love controls our lives.
In our lives we have all had our heart broken in some way. Be it from a partner, to a disappointing book, to where our favorite team bit the dust. Some may not be as heavy as the other but we still felt that deep emotional pain.
Now just hear me out. what if there was a way to make that pain vanish? You don’t know what the consequences are and not sure how it will affect the world. Would you be interested in not feeling like death?
Brian brings something new to the table with this book and it threw me at first. A book about love, life, and heartbreak. Huh? He’s never lead us astray, so this wasn’t going to stop me.
This book was okay. The darker parts of this book really got me interested but the in-between almost lost me. I felt as if I missed parts while reading and had to go back to reread what I thought was missed. Alas, there was nothing missing. Just how it was written. It was interesting.
Michael alone wasn’t my favorite but him with Evangeline was something not to be missed. They really fed off of each other and made this demented love story fun. I wish there was more information about Evangeline because her story seems as if it’s going to be a wild one.
Our Black Hearts Beat As One was something new from the dark mind of Brian and it was an okay time. It was fast-paced, unique, and an unforgettable story about how love controls our lives.
October 13, 2023
This was an interesting read. I’m not going to lie I was a little guarded going into this book as I had read Man, Fuck This House last year and wasn’t all that crazy about it. This book is the perfect example of why you should always give authors another chance!
It was paced well with some serious creepy vibes going on. It’s dark and at times a little confusing but in all honesty it adds to the atmosphere of the story and I really enjoyed it.
It was paced well with some serious creepy vibes going on. It’s dark and at times a little confusing but in all honesty it adds to the atmosphere of the story and I really enjoyed it.
August 13, 2023
This book completely encapsulated the myspace msn song lyrics as your name emo vibes, fantastically morbid and macabre with a backdrop of punk rock music/band culture, this honestly felt like an early 2000s rom com but *occult rock punk* is that even a thing? Has Brian created a new genre? I enjoyed the music culture elements to the story and much like rock music the book was short, fast paced and packed a punch. The character of Michael was like that friend that just won't get over their ex and you can't call them pathetic but you're thinking it but you draw the line at buying a pig heart and trying some witchy shit (I'm speaking for the collective here not me...I'll get the candles its go time 🧙♀️) This was most definitely a different type of horror than what I've previously read by Brian I'd say its more focused on realism, and although there were some incredibly creepy and supernatural moments, I feel ultimatley this was about healing from hurt, it truly explores the horrors of a broken heart and has some immensley moving moments that were completely relatable, the prose felt almost poetic at times, reading a romance has never been so punk rock 🤟
December 27, 2023
This was quite the read. Probably in my top 5 for most trippiest. Michael Mallory is the lead singer of Modern Love, a band that's finally starting to show its talents and success. But that comes crashing down when his girlfriend breaks up with him, sending him into a horrific spiral that sends him to the city's occult underbelly to alleviate his pain. Lost amidst wayward souls and brutish killers, godlings and grotesqueries, Mike's about to learn one incontrovertible. There's nothing more terrifying than love.
Definitely give it a read - especially if you loved "FUCK THIS HOUSE" by Asman as well. Don't sleep on this author.
Definitely give it a read - especially if you loved "FUCK THIS HOUSE" by Asman as well. Don't sleep on this author.
October 8, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review!
Spoiler: this is a story about love stories.
I finished this book a few days ago, and it took me a few days to figure out what I felt about it.
When Mike's girlfriend breaks up with him, he goes spiralling into depression and decides to replace his heart with a new one that doesn't feel. Shortly realising his mistake, he finds a world of magic and has to find love stories in order to build a new heart for himself.
The story itself is cute and fast-paced. Sometimes I found myself stopping and wondering if I missed some information along the way.
I liked Mike, but absolutely loved Evangeline. I really wanted some more of her in the story. Cynical, with a traumatising past, she's an amazing character.
Overall, I enjoyed this little love story about love, life and heartbreak.
Spoiler: this is a story about love stories.
I finished this book a few days ago, and it took me a few days to figure out what I felt about it.
When Mike's girlfriend breaks up with him, he goes spiralling into depression and decides to replace his heart with a new one that doesn't feel. Shortly realising his mistake, he finds a world of magic and has to find love stories in order to build a new heart for himself.
The story itself is cute and fast-paced. Sometimes I found myself stopping and wondering if I missed some information along the way.
I liked Mike, but absolutely loved Evangeline. I really wanted some more of her in the story. Cynical, with a traumatising past, she's an amazing character.
Overall, I enjoyed this little love story about love, life and heartbreak.
February 6, 2024
A hidden world behind the “real” world sort of book. Well done. Great for fans of Neverwhere.
December 31, 2023
Best way to describe this book is a modern fairy tale that deals with love, loss, and moving on that's filled with creatures, witchcraft, and being in a rock band.
Having experience heart break recently before reading this book, I understood and related to the feelings of what the main character was going through. So for a lot of people that will pull on their heartstrings. You'll meet many different characters throughout the book that are human and who are not human. Even though there are monsters and creatures in the book this isn't a horror story. It's much more of a fairy tale in a modern world setting. The one character though who I would have to know better was the character Evangeline. I thought she was great and wanted to know more about her.
This isn't a long book so the pacing is quick and easy to follow. So if you're looking for a quick book that's a fairy tale like story set in a modern world that deals with love and heart break with some witchcraft, then this is a great book to read.
Having experience heart break recently before reading this book, I understood and related to the feelings of what the main character was going through. So for a lot of people that will pull on their heartstrings. You'll meet many different characters throughout the book that are human and who are not human. Even though there are monsters and creatures in the book this isn't a horror story. It's much more of a fairy tale in a modern world setting. The one character though who I would have to know better was the character Evangeline. I thought she was great and wanted to know more about her.
This isn't a long book so the pacing is quick and easy to follow. So if you're looking for a quick book that's a fairy tale like story set in a modern world that deals with love and heart break with some witchcraft, then this is a great book to read.
August 23, 2023
Having LOVED his first book, I was super excited to read this one & it did not disappoint! Fast pacing & high energy gave the right punk rock vibes to the storytelling! Loved the journey the MC went on! Creepy & unsettling vibes throughout! Would’ve loved a longer story though, with a focus on the past leading up to the present!
October 12, 2023
Brian Asman's 'Our Black Hearts Beat As One' is, simply put, an amazing read! It's not simply a love story; not even "grief horror," as some reviewers have said. It goes beyond that into Gaiman territory, reminiscent of the best storylines in The Sandman, meant to both delight and unsettle with its great writing, the riveting visuals, and, above all, the deeply existential thinking that has gone into it. Asman dedicates his novella to "the heartbroken," namely, every one of us who've felt the bitter taste of abandonment and the sorrow of love foregone; presumably, that's everyone. His story, however, may not be for everyone: it's heavy on dark urban fantasy, neologisms, alternate realities, supernatural horror, and magic realism. The humor, what little of it there is, is mostly black. The voice of the narrator sometimes angry, sometimes sad, always assured, perhaps even familiar. The plot is, briefly, that of an Odyssey in a fabricated alternate urban realm of gods and things simulating those gods. Making a deal with one of them is a heartbroken vocalist in a band. Having gotten rid of his heart to stop the pain of a breakup, he embarks on a journey to get a new, stronger, happier heart, by finding and giving three love stories in exchange. That's the deal he's made with the god-thing. Guiding him through this underworld of stories is a fascinating female character, a flawed helper with knowledge of the occult, her story itself filled with magic and drama. Once the basics are clear, Asman's tale takes a much darker tone, it grabs hold and hits the ground running as we are introduced to bizarre but compelling characters with powers we don't always fully comprehend. Asman's point seems to be that, unless it's given a novel symbolic meaning, the pain of a broken heart will inevitably consume all life, all worlds, and all gods. Do yourself a favor and pick it up immediately when it comes out on October 24th!
November 23, 2025
Punk rock bro! This is actually a beautiful love story filled with loss, grief, and I highly enjoyed it. Asman always does a great job with his works and has humor sprinkled throughout.
October 11, 2023
It took me a while to determine my thoughts and feelings about it.
The narrative is both endearing and fast-paced. At times, I found myself pausing and questioning if I might have missed some important details along the way.
When Mike's girlfriend ends their relationship, he descends into a deep depression and makes the impulsive decision to replace his own heart with one that's incapable of feeling. Soon, he realizes his mistake and embarks on a journey into a world of magic where he must uncover love stories to construct a new heart for himself.
While I liked Mike,I truly wished for a greater presence of Evangeline character in the story. With her cynical outlook and a haunting past, she is an exceptional character.
In summary, I relished this enchanting love story that delves into themes of love, life, and heartbreak.
The narrative is both endearing and fast-paced. At times, I found myself pausing and questioning if I might have missed some important details along the way.
When Mike's girlfriend ends their relationship, he descends into a deep depression and makes the impulsive decision to replace his own heart with one that's incapable of feeling. Soon, he realizes his mistake and embarks on a journey into a world of magic where he must uncover love stories to construct a new heart for himself.
While I liked Mike,I truly wished for a greater presence of Evangeline character in the story. With her cynical outlook and a haunting past, she is an exceptional character.
In summary, I relished this enchanting love story that delves into themes of love, life, and heartbreak.
October 12, 2023
I really enjoyed the story. The writing sometimes rambled on a bit, so I’d find myself reading the same paragraph over and over again, as my mind would just check out. I do wish we got more of Evangeline and her story. I loved the characters and message behind the story. I’d definitely recommend this.
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for sending this ebook to me in exchange for a review which is all my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for sending this ebook to me in exchange for a review which is all my own.
January 2, 2024
Title: Our black hearts beat as one
Author: Brian Asman
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Synopsis:
Michael Mallory’s living the dream as the lead singer of a hot, up-and-coming band, Modern Love. When a sudden breakup shatters his world, he plunged headlong into the city’s occult underbelly in a bid to salve his pain. Lost amidst wayward souls and brutish killers, godlings and grotesqueries, Mike’s about to learn one incontrovertible fact.
There’s nothing more terrible than love.
Review:
This book was definitely an interesting read. We meet the main character Mike who is in a relationship with Kara, the pair have been living together until Kara decides it isn’t working. When Kara moves out, Mike is sent into a downward spiral, feeling lost and confused. On a mission to find Kara and attempt to get her back, Mike begins wandering the streets, hopeful every time he sees someone who resembles his lost lover. Mike accidentally stumbles upon a creature so foul that it curls his stomach.
I will admit that this threw me by surprise having learnt not a lot about the relationship initially. I felt that the story was quite fast paced and at times found myself questioning whether I had missed information which would have helped to make more sense of the plot. However, the story progresses and Mike finds himself in a situation he could never have imagined. He has been sent on a quest to find 3 stories revolving around love. Mike embarks on this journey with a girl called Evangeline who seems knowledgeable on the terms of his quest.
There wasn’t really much backstory to how the quest came about other than a few pieces of information that you have to piece together to make sense of it but I was intrigued nonetheless. I continued to read on and began to learn more about this mystery character Evangeline. Her story was one I wasn’t expecting but captured my interest.
The sequencing of the story threw me a little bit as it felt as though some pieces came later than they should have which often left me questioning what was happening.
It was a very good concept for a plot and I think it has potential to be a very good read however it would have been nice to read some more backstory into the characters with some more world building. There were elements of the story that I found confusing and hard to follow especially with a lack of substance. I gave this book 3 stars because I thought it was an interesting read but there were a few things I would have preferred to have been done differently to make it more seamless.
Author: Brian Asman
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Synopsis:
Michael Mallory’s living the dream as the lead singer of a hot, up-and-coming band, Modern Love. When a sudden breakup shatters his world, he plunged headlong into the city’s occult underbelly in a bid to salve his pain. Lost amidst wayward souls and brutish killers, godlings and grotesqueries, Mike’s about to learn one incontrovertible fact.
There’s nothing more terrible than love.
Review:
This book was definitely an interesting read. We meet the main character Mike who is in a relationship with Kara, the pair have been living together until Kara decides it isn’t working. When Kara moves out, Mike is sent into a downward spiral, feeling lost and confused. On a mission to find Kara and attempt to get her back, Mike begins wandering the streets, hopeful every time he sees someone who resembles his lost lover. Mike accidentally stumbles upon a creature so foul that it curls his stomach.
I will admit that this threw me by surprise having learnt not a lot about the relationship initially. I felt that the story was quite fast paced and at times found myself questioning whether I had missed information which would have helped to make more sense of the plot. However, the story progresses and Mike finds himself in a situation he could never have imagined. He has been sent on a quest to find 3 stories revolving around love. Mike embarks on this journey with a girl called Evangeline who seems knowledgeable on the terms of his quest.
There wasn’t really much backstory to how the quest came about other than a few pieces of information that you have to piece together to make sense of it but I was intrigued nonetheless. I continued to read on and began to learn more about this mystery character Evangeline. Her story was one I wasn’t expecting but captured my interest.
The sequencing of the story threw me a little bit as it felt as though some pieces came later than they should have which often left me questioning what was happening.
It was a very good concept for a plot and I think it has potential to be a very good read however it would have been nice to read some more backstory into the characters with some more world building. There were elements of the story that I found confusing and hard to follow especially with a lack of substance. I gave this book 3 stars because I thought it was an interesting read but there were a few things I would have preferred to have been done differently to make it more seamless.
August 6, 2023
Mike, the lead singer in a band called, “Modern Love” and Kara, an artist who dabbles in the occult have been in a committed relationship for three years. Their love life is perfect, so Mike believes. Until the day Mike returns home after having a few drinks with the boys in the band. Upon his return home he finds Kara has packed up all her belongings and is leaving for good. Mike with a broken heart and unable to find closure begins his dissent into self destruction. On impulse, Mike does something without understanding the consequences of what he has done.
Desperate and confused, Mike stubbles upon a world where nothing is as it seems. Wanting nothing but to drown his sorrow he walks into a bar where everything changes.
When I began to read this story, I was close to giving up. I kept thinking there were pages I had missed. It felt as if I was missing an important part of the story. I hung in there and now believe the author had intentionally wanted me to feel how Mike in the story must have felt. I finally got my bearings back and threw myself into the world that had been created for Mike.
This is a short story, it is not 128 pages long. It is actually less than 100 pages. The page numbers skip and the last three are song lyrics. This story was basically about two people traumatized by love who heal one another. It’s romance with a supernatural twist. I did however enjoy the ride.
Desperate and confused, Mike stubbles upon a world where nothing is as it seems. Wanting nothing but to drown his sorrow he walks into a bar where everything changes.
When I began to read this story, I was close to giving up. I kept thinking there were pages I had missed. It felt as if I was missing an important part of the story. I hung in there and now believe the author had intentionally wanted me to feel how Mike in the story must have felt. I finally got my bearings back and threw myself into the world that had been created for Mike.
This is a short story, it is not 128 pages long. It is actually less than 100 pages. The page numbers skip and the last three are song lyrics. This story was basically about two people traumatized by love who heal one another. It’s romance with a supernatural twist. I did however enjoy the ride.
August 10, 2023
Mike Mallory, frontman of the rock band Modern Love, comes home one night to find his girlfriend is leaving him. Mike spends nights wandering the city looking for some way to relieve his pain, stumbling upon an occult underbelly that seems to provide him a solution.
Overall, I enjoyed this as a story of loss, pain, and that feeling like you'll never recover from the heartbreak. However, the horror/occult aspects didn't grab me as much as I would have liked.
Mike had potential to be a great character but fell slightly short for me. I feel like the only things I learned about him were he made music and had an (ex-)girlfriend. The descriptions of his emotional state following the break-up and throughout the story were good though, and I understood his motivations.
I found the occult aspects great in the beginning, but they started getting a little confusing. There was a chunk of mythology explanations in the middle that I had to re-read a few times before I understood what was going on and even after that I lost the thread a little.
The pacing of this book also felt a little rushed. It's a short book, that could have been improved by becoming longer with more character building and slowing the pace down.
Summary - I wanted to enjoy this more than I actually did. It's got some great potential but it just felt too much, too fast.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mutated Media for the copy to read and review.
Overall, I enjoyed this as a story of loss, pain, and that feeling like you'll never recover from the heartbreak. However, the horror/occult aspects didn't grab me as much as I would have liked.
Mike had potential to be a great character but fell slightly short for me. I feel like the only things I learned about him were he made music and had an (ex-)girlfriend. The descriptions of his emotional state following the break-up and throughout the story were good though, and I understood his motivations.
I found the occult aspects great in the beginning, but they started getting a little confusing. There was a chunk of mythology explanations in the middle that I had to re-read a few times before I understood what was going on and even after that I lost the thread a little.
The pacing of this book also felt a little rushed. It's a short book, that could have been improved by becoming longer with more character building and slowing the pace down.
Summary - I wanted to enjoy this more than I actually did. It's got some great potential but it just felt too much, too fast.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mutated Media for the copy to read and review.
August 20, 2023
Our Black Hearts Beat as One focuses on Modern Love frontman Mike Mallory as he deals with the heartache left behind from his long term girlfriend leaving him. To find a cure for his broken heart, Mike finds himself involved with the occult and quickly realises he has gotten himself too deep in something he doesn’t understand.
This book is a fun short horror with lots of unexpected twists and turns.
I enjoyed reading this book, my favourite chapter was The Mirrors as I loved Evangeline and really connected with the way this chapter was written. I would have enjoyed learning more about her in the book.
At times I felt that the book was a bit too fast paced, especially at the beginning. It felt like the story was jumping about without delving into what was happening. However, once Mike started collecting the stories the story seemed to flow better and followed a good pace.
I would definitely read other books from this author as I thought this book was interesting and completely different to other horror books I’ve read before.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Mutated Media for providing me with this arc.
This book is a fun short horror with lots of unexpected twists and turns.
I enjoyed reading this book, my favourite chapter was The Mirrors as I loved Evangeline and really connected with the way this chapter was written. I would have enjoyed learning more about her in the book.
At times I felt that the book was a bit too fast paced, especially at the beginning. It felt like the story was jumping about without delving into what was happening. However, once Mike started collecting the stories the story seemed to flow better and followed a good pace.
I would definitely read other books from this author as I thought this book was interesting and completely different to other horror books I’ve read before.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Mutated Media for providing me with this arc.
September 6, 2023
This was... so different from what I usually read, but I have to say it only made me want to read more by this author. Our Black Hearts Beat as One takes on the story of a man losing love and dealing with it - along with dark gods and divine spirits interfering in his and others' lives.
I started off slightly confused as there isn't much explanation regarding the magic system or belief system, whatever you want to call it, but that only made me more intrigued. This is honestly the only thing that could bring my rating down from a 5-star to a 4-star. After that, it's easy to get annoyed with the main character, but in my mind this only made the book more entertaining as I had no idea what he would do next. After a choice he makes in the beginning, I knew I had no way of expecting anything that happened. This book is a wild ride from start to finish.
I have a feeling I'll be thinking about this book for the next few days, if not weeks. There was just enough information left out to leave me wanting more without making this a frustrating read. Overall, if you like urban fantasy, mysticism, dark storylines and a morally grey main character, this book is for you.
I started off slightly confused as there isn't much explanation regarding the magic system or belief system, whatever you want to call it, but that only made me more intrigued. This is honestly the only thing that could bring my rating down from a 5-star to a 4-star. After that, it's easy to get annoyed with the main character, but in my mind this only made the book more entertaining as I had no idea what he would do next. After a choice he makes in the beginning, I knew I had no way of expecting anything that happened. This book is a wild ride from start to finish.
I have a feeling I'll be thinking about this book for the next few days, if not weeks. There was just enough information left out to leave me wanting more without making this a frustrating read. Overall, if you like urban fantasy, mysticism, dark storylines and a morally grey main character, this book is for you.
September 15, 2023
My list of favorite reads for this year is already too damn long, but I have to add Our Black Hearts Beat As One to that list now. This weird genre-bending, mind-fuck of a tale has stolen my heart. I would be hard-pressed to pick a single genre to which I would assign this novella. It is one part fantasy, one part comedy, one part tragedy, with a dash of horror, and a heaping helping of romance. I shudder at using the word "romance" to describe anything on my list of favorites, but at its core, this is a love story. An offbeat, fucked up, epic odyssey of a love story.
The characters and mythology of this book transform it from a simple story of a broken heart to something truly magical. I was so thoroughly intrigued and invested I felt like I couldn't read it fast enough. I suspect the genre-defying nature of Our Black Hearts Beat As One will make it fairly divisive, with readers either loving or hating it. Either way, I just hope people are reading it, because this is way too good to be missing out on.
The characters and mythology of this book transform it from a simple story of a broken heart to something truly magical. I was so thoroughly intrigued and invested I felt like I couldn't read it fast enough. I suspect the genre-defying nature of Our Black Hearts Beat As One will make it fairly divisive, with readers either loving or hating it. Either way, I just hope people are reading it, because this is way too good to be missing out on.
August 19, 2023
Thanks NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association, and Brian Asman for the copy of this book.
This is a lovely story about love and healing with a bit of magic and some scary supernatural creatures.
Michael Mallory's heart is broken after his girlfriend Kara moves out with no explanation. After a few days of grieving, he decides to take action and perform a spell to take away his pain. He soon realizes his mistake and explores the town's underground occult to heal and get his heart back.
While I liked this story, I did get confused a few times with the occult storyline. I think I figured out overall what was going on but some sections I had to reread. I really liked the characters in the book. Michael was a likeable guy and I was cheering for him all the way but I think Evangeline stole the story. I recommend the book for those to like lighthearted horror.
This is a lovely story about love and healing with a bit of magic and some scary supernatural creatures.
Michael Mallory's heart is broken after his girlfriend Kara moves out with no explanation. After a few days of grieving, he decides to take action and perform a spell to take away his pain. He soon realizes his mistake and explores the town's underground occult to heal and get his heart back.
While I liked this story, I did get confused a few times with the occult storyline. I think I figured out overall what was going on but some sections I had to reread. I really liked the characters in the book. Michael was a likeable guy and I was cheering for him all the way but I think Evangeline stole the story. I recommend the book for those to like lighthearted horror.
August 12, 2023
This started out pretty straight forward. Rocker guy gets dumped by witchy girlfriend. He's heartbroken, accidently intentionally casts a spell to have his heart removed after finding a spell book.
So up until THAT point I was totally following.
But then shit got weird and he was on some strange "quest" and I got lost. Now don't get me wrong there was plenty of action and I wanted to see where this was going for sure because I knew it would come back around and it did.
And we got back on track, and I had clarity... for a bit, then even the freaking author said if you want to stop now you can, and maybe I should have but I didn't. Then I got lost AGAIN only to be brought back and thought to myself "OH so that's what the book was about..."
So up until THAT point I was totally following.
But then shit got weird and he was on some strange "quest" and I got lost. Now don't get me wrong there was plenty of action and I wanted to see where this was going for sure because I knew it would come back around and it did.
And we got back on track, and I had clarity... for a bit, then even the freaking author said if you want to stop now you can, and maybe I should have but I didn't. Then I got lost AGAIN only to be brought back and thought to myself "OH so that's what the book was about..."
September 27, 2023
“Hearts break. But they don’t just break, they explode. Destroying everything around them”
Well if that doesn’t adequately describe a break up…I don’t know what does?! This was my first novel by Asman and it will definitely not be my last. His writing style is effortless. I loved the idea of a semi famous rock star being dumped and totally destroyed over it. Instead of sex revenge, he tries any and all means to get her back.
Even though the novel is short-it has a ton of vibrant energy. The Underworld and the stories depicted are vivid and full of atmospheric descriptions. I couldn’t help root for Michael Mallory and I really enjoyed the ending. Thank you to @thebrianasman for my advance copy!
Well if that doesn’t adequately describe a break up…I don’t know what does?! This was my first novel by Asman and it will definitely not be my last. His writing style is effortless. I loved the idea of a semi famous rock star being dumped and totally destroyed over it. Instead of sex revenge, he tries any and all means to get her back.
Even though the novel is short-it has a ton of vibrant energy. The Underworld and the stories depicted are vivid and full of atmospheric descriptions. I couldn’t help root for Michael Mallory and I really enjoyed the ending. Thank you to @thebrianasman for my advance copy!
January 3, 2024
This was my first read of 2024 and I’m so glad it was. It was a fast paced novella that kept me interested the whole time. The main character Mike is interesting. He’s this hot rock band singer and he seems pretty chill…until his girlfriend leaves him. He becomes kind of a turd, but honestly who hasn’t become a bit of a turd after a breakup?! I loved the witchcraft aspect of this book. After all there’s a couple times in my life I would’ve loved a new heart 😂 This is also the part that lost me a little bit, since there’s three stories within the story. Eventually it came back around and I was all in. The only thing I wish we got more of was Evangeline! She was an amazing character and I’d love to know more of her background. Overall, a solid horror novella to start out the year
August 21, 2023
"Our Black Hearts Beat as One" by Brian Asman is a book that left me with mixed feelings. The author's imaginative storytelling and unique plot twists kept me engaged throughout the story. However, I found some of the character development to be lacking depth, making it difficult for me to fully connect with them. While the pacing was generally good, there were moments when the narrative felt slightly disjointed. Overall, I appreciated the author's creativity, but I wished for more emotional resonance and polished execution in certain areas.
December 19, 2023
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.
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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