PODCAST · arts
Fiction Fans
by Lilly and Sara
“We read books – and other words, too.” Two cousins read and discuss a wide variety of books from self pub to indie to trad pub. Episodes are divided into a “Spoiler Free” conversation and then a clearly delineated “Spoiler-y” discussion, so listeners can enjoy every episode regardless of whether they’ve read the book or not. Most of the books covered on the podcast are Fantasy, Science Fiction, or some middle ground between the two, but they also read Literary Fiction, Poetry, and Non Fiction, and Fan Fiction. Fiction Fans recently finished a readthrough of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
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256
Chai and Charmcraft by Lynn Strong
Your hosts return to Tel-Bastet, the city of cats, in Lynn Strong’s Middle-Eastern-inspired cozy fantasy novel Chai and Charmcraft. They talk about romance focused character exploration, cat-based worlds, and cozy conflict.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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255
First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston
In an unintentionally timely coincidence, your hosts discuss visiting the moon in First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston. They talk about disability representation, the fun blend of magic and scifi, and how much they liked Whitlaw Goddard.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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254
Shake Out the Ghosts by Al Hess
Your hosts discuss the perils of mood reading, romance as an impetus for character growth, and the perfectly paced character reveals in Shake Out the Ghosts by Al Hess.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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253
The Curse of Dragon Tail Island by Jonathan Nevair
Your hosts discuss The Curse of Dragon Tail Island by Jonathan Nevair. They talk about characters that defy stereotypes, multi-villain plots, and the price of ambition. They also cover some of their favorite moments.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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252
Author Interview: Crownfall by Michael Vadney
Your hosts are joined by Michael Vadney to discuss his debut novel, Crownfall. They talk about the different flavors of Dark Fantasy, character arcs in the New Adult genre, and how the different types of trust form the core of Crownfall’s story.Find more from Michael:https://michaelvadney.com/Author Adjacent PodcastBlueskyInstagram Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Hazelhearth Hires Heroes by D.H. Willison
Your hosts read Hazelhearth Hires Heroes by D.H. Willison, and immediately realized their unfamiliarity with both the Isekai (portal fantasy) and LitRPG genres. They also talked about high-stakes danger in fantasy adventures and the evolving relationships between both main and secondary characters.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Hell or High Winter by Andrew Rubin
Your hosts are joined by Andrew Rubin to discuss his novel Hell or High Winter. They talk about Greek (and Mormon, and more) mythology, the highs and lows of retellings, and sibling dynamics. They are also, briefly, interrupted by pugs.Find more from Andrew here.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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249
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers
Your hosts attempt to discuss Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers in a non-spoilery way, before giving up and moving on to the spoiler section. They talk about the fun twists, killing god, and the excellent romance.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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248
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Your hosts get a little political with The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. They compare it to some of her other Earthsea series, enjoy the overall humanitarian message, and point out a few (startlingly few) areas where it didn't age as well.Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Kin Enigma by Darrel Miller
Your hosts read the Kin Enigma by Darrel Miller, a hard scifi take on werewolves fit for Crichton fans. They discuss the realism of the novel, complex character motivations, and what they would have liked to see more (and less) of in the story.Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: For the Road by Stark Holborn
Your hosts are joined by Stark Holborn to talk about her novella For the Road. They discuss acid westerns, inspirational songs, and Gaulish mythology.Find more from Stark:https://starkholborn.com/https://www.patreon.com/starkholbornThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Bonus: Warhammer 40k with Resident Expert
Your hosts are joined by staff artist, spouse, and resident Warhammer expert Daniel for a follow up conversation about The Infinite and the Divine, a Warhammer 40k tie-in novel by Robert Rath. They talk about how the reading experience is different for someone who actually plays the game it's based on, and Danny teaches them a little bit more about 40k. They also debate the most important question: can robots kiss?Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Your hosts read "This is How You Lose the Time War" by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Lilly really ought to have known it was a love story. Sara vibed with the whimsy. They also talk about Time Travel Shenanigans, plot to vibe ratios, and the appeal of rereading novellas.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
Your hosts read Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, a novella about robots starting a noodle shop in near-future San Francisco. They debate if it can be called cyberpunk (kinda) or cozy (also kinda), and how the scifi setting opens up conversations around familiar situations. Your hosts also talk about naive robots and surprising pacing.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Warhammer 40k: The Infinite and the Divine by Robert Rath
Your hosts delve into the grimdark (ish) world of Warhammer 40k with The Infinite and the Divine, a tie-in novel by Robert Rath. They discuss their familiarity with the world (next to none) and how approachable the book was for newbies. They also talk about the ratio of academic rivalry to fight scenes, the complex relationship between main characters, and what this book revealed about their reading preferences.Listen to Vishani’s Song of Serenade on YouTube.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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500k/MO!! as EPIC-POET! by Vincent “Vinnie The Weasel” Vulpikonek - Introduction by Mister C.N. Sumbvert (Mentor-Helpmeet-Editor-At-Largess™) - with Chris Sumberg (side-kick, gofer)
Your hosts discuss "500k/MO!! as EPIC-POET! by Vincent “Vinnie The Weasel” Vulpikonek - Introduction by Mister C.N. Sumbvert (Mentor-Helpmeet-Editor-At-Largess™)" by Chris Sumberg, a satirical take on those writing advice books (you know the kind). They discuss the intentionally trying narrative voice and whether or not non-writers will enjoy it, and try their very best to not just repeat all of the hilariously bad advice from each chapter.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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2025: Year in Review
Your hosts talk about 2025! What they read, what they read the most of, and what categories could use some more love. They also award superlatives to their recent reads (including "book they argued the most about" and “setting they would die instantly in”). Your hosts then discuss plans for the podcast in 2026, and how the second half of the year will be "no plans, vibes only."Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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No One to Hold the Distant Dead by K.L. Schroeder
Your hosts read No One to Hold the Distant Dead by K.L. Schroeder. They discuss the somber nature of the novella, the use of “likes animals” as a shorthand for “good character,” and debate if it has an optimistic ending.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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238
Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill
Your hosts read Audition for the Fox, Martin Cahill's fable-esque novel from Tachyon Publications. They discuss what exactly left them with the fable vibe, whether or not all of the characters were fursonas (spoiler: they weren't, Lilly just misread), and how a little bit of moral complexity goes a long way.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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City of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead and Aliya Whiteley
Your hosts read City of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead and Aliya Whiteley. Lilly realizes she grossly misinterpreted the back of the book, while Sara declares it a contender for favorite read of the year. They also talk about the line between Fantasy and Magical Realism, and family drama.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar
Your hosts discuss The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar, chosen for this episode by their supporters on Patreon. They talk about space magic in SciFi, unjust systems, and degrees of betrayal.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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235
Echoes of the Imperium by Nicholas and Olivia Atwater
Your hosts read Echoes of the Imperium by Nicholas and Olivia Atwater, a book with airships and goblins and faerie politics that somehow did not click with Lilly. They discuss complex characters, thoughtful themes, and Goblin Court.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Project Hanuman by Stewart Hotston
Your hosts read Project Hanuman by Stewart Hotston. They discuss platonic relationship progressions, the variety of alien societies, and sentient ships. Oh, and how they are woefully underqualified to discuss Indian mythology.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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233
Run with the Hunted 2: Ctr Alt Delete by Jennifer R. Donohue
Your hosts return to the Run with the Hunted series by Jennifer Donohue for book two: Ctrl Alt Delete. They discuss fun heists (but this time... it's personal!), evolving relationships between the three main characters, and the joy of unreliable narrators.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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232
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
For their final Spooky Month episode, your hosts read Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. They discuss cosmic horror vs social horror, magic cults, and ill advised heists.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Kevin MacLeod for the use of "Darkest Child"Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Shitshow by Chris Panatier
Your hosts talk with Chris Panatier about his latest novel Shitshow and its impeccable fall horror vibes. They discuss the (lack of) poop jokes, the human element at the heart of the book, and cheese grater inspired fair rides.Find more from Chris:https://chrispanatier.com/https://bsky.app/profile/scribeofhades.bsky.socialFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Kevin MacLeod for the use of "Darkest Child"Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Your hosts continue their Spooky Month reading with Zomromcom, Olivia Dade’s delightful new zombie apocalypse vampire romcom. They talk about reasonable heroines, excellent romantic banter, and speed-running a relationship. They also discuss the practicalities of a burrito as a weapon against zombies.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Kevin MacLeod for the use of "Darkest Child"Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Your hosts celebrate Banned Books Week 2025 by reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, a book Lilly has (somehow) been able to avoid until now. They they talk about dystopian presents, sympathy for antagonists, and the double-edged sword of hope.Content includes on-page sexual assault and coercion, and discussion of self harm and suicide.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Bonus: The Traveling SFF Book Festival feat. Yume Kitasei and Mia Tsai
Your hosts are joined by authors Yume Kitasei and Mia Tsai to discuss The Traveling SFF Book Festival coming up in October 2025. They talk about the inspiration behind the event, some behind the scenes of planning it, and what attendees can expect from each stop on the tour.Find out more about the Festival here.More from Yume: https://www.yumekitasei.com/ More from Mia: https://www.miatsai.com/ Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Your hosts are finally entering Spooky Month and reading the psychological supernatural horror classic, The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson. Sara has complaints that (for once) don’t boil down to “it’s horror and I don’t like horror”. Lilly agrees?! They talk about unfulfilling explanations, female agency, and relationship roller coasters.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Terms of Service by Ciel Pierlot
Your hosts are joined by Ciel Pierlot to talk about her latest novel, Terms of Service. They discuss tech fae, the presumption of space in scifi, visions of a competent future government, and the twisting of fae tropes you may be familiar with from mythology (but you can admit that you know them from romantasy it's okay).Find more from Ciel:https://bsky.app/profile/cielpierlot.bsky.socialhttps://cielpierlot.com/https://www.instagram.com/cielpierlot/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Feather and the Lamp by L.N. Hunter
Your hosts read The Feather and the Lamp, a young adult novel by L.N. Hunter. They consider the comparison to Discworld, and talk about twists on mythology, both age-appropriate and compelling romance plotlines, and framing devices.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba
Your hosts are joined by Gabriella Buba to talk about Filipino fantasy, not shying away from religious atrocities committed by missionaries, and (extremely satisfying) corruption arcs in Saints of Storm and Sorrow, book one in The Stormbringer Saga (her now-complete duology).Find more from Gabriella:https://gabriellabuba.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriella.buba.books https://bsky.app/profile/gabriellabuba.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/gabriellabuba/ Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Last Song of Penelope by Claire North
Your hosts see Odysseus back on Ithaca in The Last Song of Penelope, the final book in the Songs of Penelope Trilogy by Claire North. They talk about impossible love triangles, poorly thought out revenge strategies, and how badly Athena needs a hug.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton
Your hosts speak with Liz Shipton, author of Dot Slash Magic, about technology based magic, writing storylines just to be contrary, and creating both spicy and sanitized versions of a story. Also, dick magic.Find more from Liz:https://lizshipton.com/https://instagram.com/lizshiptonauthorhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lizshiptonauthorhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizshiptonauthor.bsky.socialFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The House On Utopia Way by Stefan Mohamed
Your hosts discuss The House on Utopia Way, Stefan Mohamed’s surreal, genre-blending detective noir novel. They talk about (not) getting lost in the weirdness of the setting, metaphors that feel natural, and how important it is to have sympathetic characters who bring it all together.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Scott Buckley for the use of “Twilight Echo”- Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeodLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Starstruck by Aimee Ogden
Your hosts read Starstruck by Aimee Ogden, a bittersweet, whimsical novella. They talk about fantastical settings, interpersonal conflict, and sympathetic characters (who they still sometimes want to shake and yell “just talk to each other already!!”)Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald feat. Krystle Matar
Your hosts are joined by Krystle Matar to discuss The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. They wonder why no one talks about Gatsby being a crime lord, throw around wild F. Scott conspiracy theories, and rank the characters from least shitty to most shitty. (It's all of them. They're all the most shitty)Find more from Krystle: https://bsky.app/profile/krystlematar.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/drippingbucket.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/krystlematar/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Future's Edge by Gareth L. Powell
Your hosts read Future's Edge by Gareth L. Powell. They talk about post-apocalyptic near futures, love triangles where no one is wrong, and stories that might work better as movies.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
Your hosts don’t do justice to The Tombs of Atuan, the second of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea novels, but they DO discuss standalone sequels, the differences in coming of age stories between genders, claustrophobic settings, and classic fantasy.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Like a Bullet by Andrew Cartmel
Your hosts are joined by Andrew Cartmel to discuss Like a Bullet, the latest addition to his nefarious Paperback Sleuth mystery novels. They talk about wartime novels, the allure of ill-begotten Nazi good, and Cordelia’s “go get ‘em, but have a backup plan just in case" approach to encounters.Find more from Andrew:https://reclaimedradio.com/shows/andrew-cartmel/https://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondon/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: No Heart for a Thief by James Lloyd Dulin
Your hosts are joined by James Lloyd Dulin to talk about the first book in his recently-completed Malitu Trilogy, No Heart for a Thief. They discuss dark plotlines (but not Dark Fantasy (tm) necessarily), dual stories, and traumatized characters. They also talk about writing plots that criticize colonization as a white person and retrospective character arcs. Your hosts also fail to avoid a double entendre in a question about simultaneous climaxes, but what else is new.Find more from James:https://www.jamesldulin.com/https://x.com/JamesLDulinhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesldulinFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant
Your hosts discuss A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant. They talk about murder mystery tropes, new (to them) settings, and octogenarian character casts.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Death on the Caldera by Emily Paxman
Your hosts are joined by Emily Paxman to talk about murder, mayhem, and magic in her debut novel, Death on the Caldera. The conversation ranges from Agatha Christie influences, to complex family dynamics, to who we were rooting for as love interest for our intrepid heroine. They also discuss creating a fantastical version of the 1920s, and volcanic magic.Find more from Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emmypaxman/https://bsky.app/profile/emmypax.bsky.socialhttps://emmypax.substack.com/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: Awakened by Laura Elliott
Your hosts welcome Laura Elliott to talk about her debut gothic horror novel, Awakened. They discuss unethical medical research, fraught family dynamics, and toxic love triangles.Find more from Laura:https://x.com/TinyWriterLaurahttps://www.instagram.com/tinymeetsworld/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery from Brackenbury Books
Your hosts read “Walls Of Shira Yulun” by Dariel R.A. Quiogue and “Waste Flowers” by Bryn Hammond, two novellas in Mongol-inspired fantasy settings published in one volume. Your hosts compare how fantasy is integrated into each story, different approaches to fight scenes, and the horrors of war. The only character names Lilly didn't have to look up were for the goats that appear on exactly one page.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Saint Death's Herald by C.S.E. Cooney
Your hosts read Saint Death's Herald, the second book in the Saint Death series. They discuss how much they remembered from book 1, and how that affected their experience with book 2. They also talk about the various relationships (from heartwarming to delightfully toxic) and their favorite animal companions (all of them. Every single animal, dead or alive or just less dead).Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Chai and Cat-tales by Lynn Strong
Your hosts are joined by Lilly's cats to discuss Chai and Cat-tales by Lynn Strong. They cover how much they love cats, the unexpected delight of finding recipes in a novel, how much they love cats, inclusive fantasy in a cozy setting, how much they love cats, what makes a romance and finally, how much they love cats. Lilly did cut some of the cat talk, they promise.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Author Interview: The Fall is All There Is by C. M. Caplan
Your hosts welcome C.M. Caplan on to the podcast to chat about The Fall Is All There Is, book one in his scifi/fantasy trilogy Four of Mercies. They talk about his world building process, complicated family dynamics, and unsatisfying violence.Find more from Connor:https://bsky.app/profile/cmcaplanwrites.bsky.socialFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Down In the Sea of Angels by Khan Wong
Your hosts discuss San Francisco, intertwining narratives, and the optimism of seeing a community come together against discrimination in Down In the Sea of Angels by Khan Wong. Content warnings for this episode include discussion of sexual assault and sex trafficking.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
“We read books – and other words, too.” Two cousins read and discuss a wide variety of books from self pub to indie to trad pub. Episodes are divided into a “Spoiler Free” conversation and then a clearly delineated “Spoiler-y” discussion, so listeners can enjoy every episode regardless of whether they’ve read the book or not. Most of the books covered on the podcast are Fantasy, Science Fiction, or some middle ground between the two, but they also read Literary Fiction, Poetry, and Non Fiction, and Fan Fiction. Fiction Fans recently finished a readthrough of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
HOSTED BY
Lilly and Sara
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