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Carniepunk: Painted Love
From Rob Thurman, the New York Times bestselling author of the Cal Leandros, comes this wicked, mind-bending short story—from the Carniepunk urban fantasy anthology.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2013
7 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Rob Thurman
43 books1,562 followersRob Thurman is currently writing three series for Penguin Putnam's imprint ROC FANTASY, as well as a brand-new mainstream series for Simon & Schuster's POCKET BOOKS.
Rob has also written for a Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner Anthology, WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE. This year, Rob contributed a post-apocalyptic, "grim" faerie tale Western to the anthology, COURTS OF THE FEY.
Rob's work is dark, non-stop action from beginning to end, rife with purely evil sarcasm as sharp as a switchblade - and probably nearly as illegal. If one shoved LORD OF THE RINGS,
THE SHINING, and PULP FICTION into a wood-chipper, the result would be what Rob aims to deliver in a novel or short story.
A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), ROB THURMAN lives in RURAL Indiana - land of endless fields, infinite cows and where dialup is still the only soul-crushing option.
Rob has also written for a Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner Anthology, WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE. This year, Rob contributed a post-apocalyptic, "grim" faerie tale Western to the anthology, COURTS OF THE FEY.
Rob's work is dark, non-stop action from beginning to end, rife with purely evil sarcasm as sharp as a switchblade - and probably nearly as illegal. If one shoved LORD OF THE RINGS,
THE SHINING, and PULP FICTION into a wood-chipper, the result would be what Rob aims to deliver in a novel or short story.
A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), ROB THURMAN lives in RURAL Indiana - land of endless fields, infinite cows and where dialup is still the only soul-crushing option.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 5, 2025
I didn't know what to expect from this story, but I'm really glad I read it. That's for sure!
Doodle has been all over the world meeting people. He usually blends into the background, more an observer than a participant. But when he meets Bartholomew, all of that changes...
OMFG. This story!! Everything starts out simple enough, and then you slowly start to realise that you have no idea what's really going on. Well, until you understand EXACTLY what's going on and: 🤯 !!
Yikes. I loved this so much. The writing style totally hooked me in, and I couldn't stop reading. There's something very disturbing about Doodle's story, but the way that it's told weaves a spell of dark magic around the reader. There's plenty of ugly, but there's also some fascinating imagery.
Awesome!
Doodle has been all over the world meeting people. He usually blends into the background, more an observer than a participant. But when he meets Bartholomew, all of that changes...
OMFG. This story!! Everything starts out simple enough, and then you slowly start to realise that you have no idea what's really going on. Well, until you understand EXACTLY what's going on and: 🤯 !!
Yikes. I loved this so much. The writing style totally hooked me in, and I couldn't stop reading. There's something very disturbing about Doodle's story, but the way that it's told weaves a spell of dark magic around the reader. There's plenty of ugly, but there's also some fascinating imagery.
Awesome!
November 29, 2021
In the anthology,
Carniepunk
.
An enjoyable little story where our narrator, Doodle, follows a sociopath around a travelling carnival.
But all is not as it seems with Doodle, and it's a really good twist to the ending. I'd definitely be interested in reading more stories from Doodle if Rob ever gets around to writing a series.
An enjoyable little story where our narrator, Doodle, follows a sociopath around a travelling carnival.
But all is not as it seems with Doodle, and it's a really good twist to the ending. I'd definitely be interested in reading more stories from Doodle if Rob ever gets around to writing a series.
September 6, 2020
I have not read enough this year because it’s just been such a crazy time, I’ve had the cravings for a carnival recently and the perfect place to start was Carniepunk.
This is the first of a collection of short stories and the twist- although somewhat predictable in my eyes, it was a fast read of mediocre quality.
2.5/5.0
This is the first of a collection of short stories and the twist- although somewhat predictable in my eyes, it was a fast read of mediocre quality.
2.5/5.0
December 24, 2020
Is Rob Thurman still writing?
Author is so much like her books. There is what is going on at the surface but it's the undertow you have to watch out for. Wish she would let her fans know if she's read or the talent just left.
Author is so much like her books. There is what is going on at the surface but it's the undertow you have to watch out for. Wish she would let her fans know if she's read or the talent just left.
May 10, 2018
Rob Thurman can manage to surprise and I loved Doodle in this short novella.
June 5, 2018
Creepy, not truly a romance
September 23, 2019
Really didn't see that twist coming. Highly creative and pretty freaky. New author for me so I'm now interested in their other work.
July 31, 2020
Interesting story and enjoyable read. The twist is pretty well hidden, and was quite surprising considering where I thought it was going.
October 19, 2020
Struggled to find anything warranted in liking at all!
Read
October 23, 2023Wow, I really liked this.
February 26, 2017
Well. Huh. Interesting. If you want to sample Rob Thurman in a half hour read, this is the way to go. I don't think it gets more Rob Thurman than this. And much like the rest of her work, I'm not completely sure what that means. Her writing is like a nightmare that, once awake, you struggle to remember because it was just so twisted and fascinating. Wrong, but... Well, not boring. Ahem.
December 20, 2021
I wasn't really into the snarky narration of this story because it struck me as "trying too hard to be cool/edgy," and some of the descriptions are quite cringy (like Doodle calling Starling his tiger? Okay...), but overall, it's enjoyable enough. Not bad, not particularly outstanding or memorable—just solidly mediocre. Bonus points for the fact that the plot twist caught me off-guard even though I've read this story before... although, on second thought, maybe that's actually an insult and a testament to how unmemorable the story is. Take your pick, haha. I've gotta say, I wonder what in the world prompted the author to come up with this story idea. I mean, ? I feel like I'm supposed to applaud Thurman for his creativity, but instead I'm more like, "What the hell dude??" I was left with so many technical questions! For example, ? The execution of this story didn't exactly fall flat, but I still felt like it was a kinda half-assed concept that wasn't properly fleshed out and relied more on shock value than anything to leave an impression on the reader.
June 5, 2015
Ha!
Absolutely fantastic! That was some twist at the end. Bravo Rob Thurman, I did not see that coming. This was a fun little tale of a girl being rescued by an unlikely hero. Great short story.
Absolutely fantastic! That was some twist at the end. Bravo Rob Thurman, I did not see that coming. This was a fun little tale of a girl being rescued by an unlikely hero. Great short story.
May 21, 2015
Awesome, loved it 100 %.
May 26, 2015
Really good I wouldn't mind it if Rob Thurman made this into
a full story! Love Doodle and what a story turn!
a full story! Love Doodle and what a story turn!
January 7, 2016
loved this short story. Never saw the twist at the end. Can't wait to read more books by this author.
March 9, 2016
Carnie punk
Very good short story! One of my all time favorite authors!! Excellent! Can't wait for the next book of cal leader's to come out#
Very good short story! One of my all time favorite authors!! Excellent! Can't wait for the next book of cal leader's to come out#
March 15, 2016
4.5 stars - Unexpected, interesting, and fun
July 7, 2017
Doodle is awesome and has a highly original point of view.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews