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Falling Falling Stars
"Imagine me deciding to feel bad about everything I’ve ever done, and then imagine what kind of life I’ll have. Because I’m not brave enough to live in some f*cked up eighteen-hundreds-style purgatory. I’d rather die. There’s no one who wants me, and there’s no one who will. Which is exactly what someone like me deserves, isn’t it?"
A story about a broken young man, who is learning how not to break everything else around him.
*
779,094 words complete.
A story about a broken young man, who is learning how not to break everything else around him.
*
779,094 words complete.
- GenresRomanceLGBTM M Romance
ebook
Published January 1, 2022
5 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Pia Foxhall
16 books176 followersPronouns: They/them
Aka not_poignant
http://not-poignant.tumblr.com/
http://archiveofourown.org/users/not_...
http://archiveofourown.org/users/thes...
NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/dJsDhQ
Aka not_poignant
http://not-poignant.tumblr.com/
http://archiveofourown.org/users/not_...
http://archiveofourown.org/users/thes...
NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/dJsDhQ
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 30, 2022
Someone should give this author an award! Holy hell! I didn't think there could be a story I love more than the Fae Tales. Efnisien stole my soul. I was so scared to read this because Gwyn has my heart and I didn't want to see him shown in a bad light. I thought that was gonna happen. But I didn't really know what I got myself into. How could I ever like Efnisien?! Well, this is how.
This book will be my own Stupidhead just floating around in my head forever. It was almost like a free therapy session for me and even though I couldn't relate to all of Ef's issues, there was a lot I could. I really enjoyed the way Ef told his story, it was almost funny sometimes, especially in the beginning. He was angry a lot and he used crudeness as a way to mask his true feelings.
I think this might have been the first book I read with on-page therapy sessions, at least ones that go in so deeply and continuously and I loved every minute of it. Dr Gary is my hero, he's Ef's hero. I can't describe how much I love him. Also, I'm so glad Ef decided to go out and a buy a new book. Arden is the best boyfriend ever.
Just truly a masterpiece!
This book will be my own Stupidhead just floating around in my head forever. It was almost like a free therapy session for me and even though I couldn't relate to all of Ef's issues, there was a lot I could. I really enjoyed the way Ef told his story, it was almost funny sometimes, especially in the beginning. He was angry a lot and he used crudeness as a way to mask his true feelings.
I think this might have been the first book I read with on-page therapy sessions, at least ones that go in so deeply and continuously and I loved every minute of it. Dr Gary is my hero, he's Ef's hero. I can't describe how much I love him. Also, I'm so glad Ef decided to go out and a buy a new book. Arden is the best boyfriend ever.
Just truly a masterpiece!
August 9, 2023
-4.5-
Pia Foxhall is a genius, if you don't follow them already you absolutely MUST.
They have two profiles on AO3: in thespectaclesofthor they write fanfiction and in not_poignant you can find their original work.
Although I'm massive fan of the fanfiction work ( Stuck on the Puzzle is probably my favourite read of 2022) I was never able to get into the original characters...until now.
But boy did I fall hard, I spent a week reading this story and after more than 2000 pages I still want more. Efnisien is an incredible character and being inside his mind has been an heartbreaking and emotional journey.
It's ultimately the story of a boy that sees himself as a monster, and his healing path of self discovery and self acceptance.
Keep in mind that it's not a formally edited book, it is LOOONG and at times repetitive, but so worth it.
Pia Foxhall is a genius, if you don't follow them already you absolutely MUST.
They have two profiles on AO3: in thespectaclesofthor they write fanfiction and in not_poignant you can find their original work.
Although I'm massive fan of the fanfiction work ( Stuck on the Puzzle is probably my favourite read of 2022) I was never able to get into the original characters...until now.
But boy did I fall hard, I spent a week reading this story and after more than 2000 pages I still want more. Efnisien is an incredible character and being inside his mind has been an heartbreaking and emotional journey.
It's ultimately the story of a boy that sees himself as a monster, and his healing path of self discovery and self acceptance.
Keep in mind that it's not a formally edited book, it is LOOONG and at times repetitive, but so worth it.
January 17, 2023
Ça fait une semaine que je suis là dessus à QUEL POINT C'EST MASSIF BUT SO GOOD
Surtout, à lire à petite dose, c'est vraiment fort sur les problèmes mentaux et les traumas. Je devais faire des pauses de quelques heures pour me sentir mieux :))
( Après quelques recherches, c'est environ 2 700 pages :))
Surtout, à lire à petite dose, c'est vraiment fort sur les problèmes mentaux et les traumas. Je devais faire des pauses de quelques heures pour me sentir mieux :))
( Après quelques recherches, c'est environ 2 700 pages :))
August 14, 2022
An absolutely wonderful story about someone working through therapy and deep mental health issues, learning how to be comfortable in their own skin, make healthy relationships and learn how to live. It has a wonderful cast, wonderful writing, and is just a great read!
October 25, 2025
Loved it. I think this might be one of the best things I have ever read.
I just finished it and I kind of want to reread it immediately. 🖤
I just finished it and I kind of want to reread it immediately. 🖤
December 21, 2023
everyone has a unique experience with every book, but i think this one will be life changing for anyone who reads it.
August 17, 2022
5 stars (because of the best characters)
A beautiful read about a young man's mental health recovery journey. Be prepared for traumatic and frankly frightening back stories and the most wonderfully flawed, complex and human characters. This story is all about the characters, and while the plot wasn't lacking, per se, it's definitely a story about the characters. (Efnisien has my whole heart). Also absolutely amazing how our protag's asexuality was woven into the story and normalised (like nothing I've come across in any book before).
A beautiful read about a young man's mental health recovery journey. Be prepared for traumatic and frankly frightening back stories and the most wonderfully flawed, complex and human characters. This story is all about the characters, and while the plot wasn't lacking, per se, it's definitely a story about the characters. (Efnisien has my whole heart). Also absolutely amazing how our protag's asexuality was woven into the story and normalised (like nothing I've come across in any book before).
January 7, 2024
I cannot believe how good this story is. Over 2300 pages , this is the longest story I've ever read. It's free on A03. I'm practically speechless on how much I enjoyed it. There was never a time I was bored, and I usually do not go through books this quickly, it was hard to put down at times. This can be read as a stand alone. I usually hate contemporary settings too - so this is another shock to me how much I loved it. There's another AU version of this but with Efinsien x Dr. Gary which the author is still writing and releasing chapters, and I am so going to read this now.
I was a bit uncertain on whether I should even attempt to read this, and I'm so glad I did. I have read other works by this other , the Fae Tales and Ice Plague. And this story has some of those characters but it's AU , and so I was uncertain if I would like it. It turned out I loved it a lot. That it just surprised me how good it is and that it had taken this long for me to even consider reading it.
I was a bit uncertain on whether I should even attempt to read this, and I'm so glad I did. I have read other works by this other , the Fae Tales and Ice Plague. And this story has some of those characters but it's AU , and so I was uncertain if I would like it. It turned out I loved it a lot. That it just surprised me how good it is and that it had taken this long for me to even consider reading it.
April 16, 2024
4.5 I think.
So I read Underline the Black first, and loved the story, and looking in Tumblr, realize this started here (well in Spoils), so I read this.
It was very different than I imaged, Ef is such a complex character, but god I love him. I adore his story and his recovery and just HOW HARD HE TRIES.
I think the first time I cried was when Dr Gary realizes that Efnisien has been paying the full price of his sessions, and has no help, and like, he can barely make enough money to live, but this, this traumatic and sometimes awful hour he faces every week, he pays for it without protest. Idk, I just cried.
Such a good story.
So I read Underline the Black first, and loved the story, and looking in Tumblr, realize this started here (well in Spoils), so I read this.
It was very different than I imaged, Ef is such a complex character, but god I love him. I adore his story and his recovery and just HOW HARD HE TRIES.
I think the first time I cried was when Dr Gary realizes that Efnisien has been paying the full price of his sessions, and has no help, and like, he can barely make enough money to live, but this, this traumatic and sometimes awful hour he faces every week, he pays for it without protest. Idk, I just cried.
Such a good story.
May 29, 2023
This is the kind of book that will put you in a reading slump for years. You won’t want to read anything else ever again. I’ve read FFS four times now, and I fall in love with it a little more each time (the various dumbo octopus plushies now in my room will confirm this). The nuanced characters and plot lines are absolutely perfect, and despite being a very very long story, the pacing is amazing. There was never a dull moment, and I found myself spending countless nights staying up late to keep reading this masterpiece. If you haven’t already, go read FFS now!!
September 1, 2022
okay this is a fanfic but i feel justified in adding it to my book count bc it's literally almost 800k words. groundbreaking showstopping revolutionary etc etc. this author writes the exact kind of work i'm always looking for which is just like character centric emotional slow burns where very little actually happens. this fic is sooo beautiful and genuinely shifted my outlook on life
August 23, 2022
My favorite book of this past four years. A beautiful story with the some of the most amazing characters I’ve ever read. Reading it was been a wonderful experience. I loved it so so much!!
October 9, 2022
One of the best things I had the pleasure and the privilege to experience.
March 14, 2024
no one talk to me. I love this a lot. easily the longest book I've read online, and every word is worth it.
August 14, 2024
One of my favorite fics ever 😭
September 24, 2025
- 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴: ☆☆☆☆☆
꧁༒☬-.-.-☬༒꧂
I started reading because I liked this author's works on their other ao3 account. Literally, I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I knew that if I just jumped in, I would be entertained. (Did the same thing with "The Beast That Chose Its Own Bridle." LOVED IT, but could not imagine Felix as a redhead.)
Let me say, I am shocked at how well this was written.
After finishing the book, I was flabergasted because of the fact that I wasn't annoyed at Ef when reading. Because it made SENSE when he believed that he didn't deserve to be treated well because of the things he did in the past. It made SENSE that he didn't think of himself as a victim of his aunt. It made SENSE because of how well this author wrote Ef's character!!!!
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON DR. GARY. He was such a good character. Like, he wasn't always right, which showed that he is a human too, and he doesn't always know what Ef needs! Usually, therapists are mentioned here and there or don't seem like their own character, but the scenes with him were my favorite!
꧁༒☬-.-.-☬༒꧂
꧁༒☬-.-.-☬༒꧂
I started reading because I liked this author's works on their other ao3 account. Literally, I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I knew that if I just jumped in, I would be entertained. (Did the same thing with "The Beast That Chose Its Own Bridle." LOVED IT, but could not imagine Felix as a redhead.)
Let me say, I am shocked at how well this was written.
After finishing the book, I was flabergasted because of the fact that I wasn't annoyed at Ef when reading. Because it made SENSE when he believed that he didn't deserve to be treated well because of the things he did in the past. It made SENSE that he didn't think of himself as a victim of his aunt. It made SENSE because of how well this author wrote Ef's character!!!!
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON DR. GARY. He was such a good character. Like, he wasn't always right, which showed that he is a human too, and he doesn't always know what Ef needs! Usually, therapists are mentioned here and there or don't seem like their own character, but the scenes with him were my favorite!
꧁༒☬-.-.-☬༒꧂
Read
October 11, 2023I loved this story. The characters are so alive and real to me. The way Efnisien's story unfolds as he evolves as a person is extremely well done.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews