Kris and Mads

April was a great reading month for both of us! Together we did a buddy read of a popular romantasy book, sprinkled in some classic literature, devoured some gripping historic fiction, and even threw in a new contemporary romance! Great book recommendations from https://www.youtube.com/results?searc...Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning author Emma Brodie to talk all things Into the Blue—a Reese’s Book Club Pick and one of the most buzzed-about romance releases of 2026. From Star Trek references and fan fiction roots to improv acting, SNL dreams, and Comic Con culture, this is a love story that feels tailor-made for nerds, creatives, and anyone who has ever been obsessed with a fictional world.Emma Brodie is not just a novelist—she’s a longtime publishing insider and Executive Editor at Clarkson Potter, with over 15 years in the industry. Her debut novel Songs in Ursa Major earned the American Book Award, and her latest release is already earning major praise from bestselling authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid (“intoxicating”) and Gabrielle Zevin (“smart and romantic”).In Into the Blue, Brodie blends romance, sci-fi fandom, improv comedy, and the chaos of the entertainment industry into a sweeping, decade-spanning love story about two creatives navigating ambition, identity, and a connection that feels almost cosmic. Think: SNL writers’ rooms, intergalactic TV shows, acting partnerships, and the blurred line between fiction and reality.We talk about:✨ Writing a romance rooted in nerd culture and fandom✨ Star Trek, sci-fi influences, and fan fiction energy✨ The world of improv, acting, and comedy writing✨ Building a love story across time, fame, and creative ambition✨ What the future holds for Emma, and creative freedomIf you love books like Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, stories about artists and performers, or romance with a nerdy, pop culture twist—this episode is for you.You can purchase a signed edition of Into the Blue from the following independent bookstores:https://bookshop.org/p/books/into-the...https://bunchofgrapes.indielite.org/s...Find Emma on Stubstack and Instagram:https://emmabrodie.substack.com/  / emma.c.brodie  Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

If you're looking for your next great read, and are determined to avoid a reading slump, this episode is packed with book recommendations across fantasy, romantasy, thrillers, classics, historical fiction, literary fiction, and contemporary fiction! The best strategy we've found to stay interested in our TBRs is to make sure there is a lot of variety!Today we’re sharing our Priority Q2 TBR—the books we absolutely HAVE to read this quarter. From epic fantasy like A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin, to new romantasy like Dire Bound, to classics like The Count of Monte Cristo, psychological thrillers like Yesteryear, and buzzy contemporary fiction like Margo’s Got Money Troubles, this list has something for every reader.We’re talking about the books we’re most excited for, the titles we think could become new favorites, and the reads we know everyone will be talking about this year.Whether you love fantasy romance, literary fiction, historical fiction, thrillers, or book club books, this episode is full of recommendations to add to your TBR.Books Mentioned:📖 A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin📖 Emma M. Lion Vol. 5–8 by Beth Brower📖 Direbound & Furybound by Sable Sorensen📖 A Court of Thorns and Roses / Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas📖 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas📖 Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe📖 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans📖 I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid📖 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho📖 Family Drama by Rebecca Fallon📖 Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeTell us in the comments: What’s the #1 book on your TBR right now?Timestamps0:00 - Intro0:56 - Ditching the TBR wheel!5:10 - Storm of Swords by George RR Martin10:29 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (5-8)15:09 - Dire Bound & Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen18:50 - ACOTAR & Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass20:06 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas22:56 - Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe26:35 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans28:49 - I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid30:51 - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho32:00 - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green33:08 - Family Drama by Rebecca Fallon35:20 - Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #BookPodcast #TBR #SpringTBR #FantasyBooks #RomantasyBooks #SarahJMaas #BookRecommendations #ReadingVlog #BooktokBooks #HistoricalFiction #ThrillerBooks #LiteraryFiction #ContemporaryFiction #ReadersOfYouTube #BookClubBooks #FantasyReaders #BooksToRead #ReadingRecommendations #QuarterlyTBR

What does it take to write morally complex characters, handle dark subject matter with care, and bring ancient women's lives vividly to the page? We sat down with historical fiction author Elodie Harper — writer of The Wolf Den trilogy and her latest, Boudicca's Daughter — to talk about exactly that. No spoilers, no required reading. Just a genuinely fascinating conversation about craft, journalism, research, and why the "grey" characters are always the most interesting ones. Perfect for readers, writers, history lovers, and anyone who's ever wondered how authors make hard stories feel human.You can find Elodie online:https://elodieharper.substack.com/  / elodielharper  https://www.elodieharper.com/Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:14 - Elodie’s 2 Truths & 1 Lie3:17 - How journalism led Elodie to fiction7:01 - Elodie’s morally grey characters12:30 - Elodie’s female characters in The Wolf Den17:27 - Violence against women in fiction22:40 - Researching for historical fiction29:17 - Why the focus is on Boudicca’s daughter31:38 - The Druids in Roman history33:21 - What’s next for Elodie Harper39:49 - Boudicca’s Daughter new paperback!43:08 - The reception to Elodie’s writing44:16 - Where does Elodie want to be in 5 years?49:45 - Wrap-up!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.co#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 and 2 here: • The Great War (WWI) Overview - Part 1    • The Great War (WWI) Overview - Part 1   • The Great War (WWI) - Part 2    • The Great War (WWI) Overview - Part 2  While we are mostly a fiction-loving show, the more we read classics and historical fiction, the more we want to know the context of what really happened. One HUGE gap we have is the First World War, a.k.a. the Great War. Lucky for us, Mitch loves to read nonfiction history books and listen to history podcasts and has been amassing knowledge for like 20 years! He's joining us for a three-part series on the war to give us a little insight and fill in those gaps, so we can be prepared and knowledgeable going into our other fiction reading. Plus, our favorite fiction author of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien, fought in the First World War, so this gives us some insight into the lives of authors as well.Hope this episode is fun, approachable and entertaining!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro0:54 - Recap of Part 23:21 - 19174:59 - The Beginning of the Russian Revolution7:52 - Britain & France in April 191712:08 - Russia in July 191716:33 - Russian Revolution20:21 - 191825:23 - Operation Michael31:44 - The US in November 191835:33 - The Armistice on November 11th37:07 - Woodrow Wilson & the Treaty of Versailles44:08 - France after the War & the Big Three46:26 - What the world looks like Post-War55:56 - Germany excluded from the treaty58:25 - The Middle East Post-War1:02:10 - Germany finally gets the invite1:10:22 - The end of Woodrow Wilson1:13:24 - In ConclusionLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

let us know your best read of march!!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:10 - Our reading experience in March5:35 - Kindred by Octavia Butler15:34 - This month’s book club pick!16:39 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower23:58 - Reunion by Fred Uhlman26:01 - There is No Antimemetics Division by QNTM29:17 - The Second World by Jake Korell35:50 - The Expanse (7-9) by James S.A. Corey41:36 - Into The Blue by Emma Brodie51:38 - Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson57:33 - Boudicca’s Daughter, The Wolf Den & The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper1:06:52 - Kristen’s March DNF…1:11:00 - Looking to AprilJoin our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.co#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 here:    • The Great War (WWI) Overview - Part 1  While we are mostly a fiction-loving show, the more we read classics and historical fiction, the more we want to know the context of what really happened. One HUGE gap we have is the First World War, a.k.a. the Great War. Lucky for us, Mitch loves to read nonfiction history books and listen to history podcasts and has been amassing knowledge for like 20 years! He's joining us for a three-part series on the war to give us a little insight and fill in those gaps, so we can be prepared and knowledgeable going into our other fiction reading. Plus, our favorite fiction author of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien, fought in the First World War, so this gives us some insight into the lives of authors as well.Hope this episode is fun, approachable, and entertaining, and that you'll join us again next week as we wrap up in Part 3!Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:41 - Recap of Part 12:47 - Germany invades Luxembourg4:58 - The Beginning of the War21:35 - The First Battle of the Marne26:45 - The Hells of WW129:03 - Propaganda32:04 - What happened to the bodies?35:08 - What everyone else is up to37:25 - Power struggle in Germany42:23 - In Austria47:41 - The Ottoman Subplot50:46 - 191554:44 - Mental health & mindset of soldiers1:02:00 - In the trenches1:03:32 - Tipping the scales (The Battle of 1915)1:09:05 - What’s happening on the Eastern front?1:13:36 - Going into 19161:14:44 - Germany breaks the rules1:17:32 - The US gets involved1:23:50 - The Sinking of the RMS Lusitania1:29:09 - 19161:33:30 - 19171:37:35 - Wrap-upBook Referenced for this overview:The Sleepwalkers by Christopher ClarkThe World Remade by G. J. MeyerStorm of Steel by Ernst Jünger A World Undone by G. J. MeyerTrench by Stephen BullLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.co#booktube #HistoryBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #worldwar1 #thegreatwar #historypodcast

This interview was made possible by ‪@GoodStoryGuild‬ in partnership with their project In Media Res, a full-cast podcast story, nominated for the Ambie Awards. Thanks so much to The Good Story Guild and Kyle Prue for making this episode possible!We're so honored to chat with ‪@kyleprueofficial‬, the star of In Media Res from ‪@GoodStoryGuild‬. This full-cast drama podcast was nominated for the Ambie Awards for good reason! We loved listening to it and discovering this new form of storytelling. Tune in for a peek behind the curtain of bringing this project to life, and get to know Kyle better as a creative across mediums, from books, to television, and voice acting! Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:04 - The Ambies!2:30 - About ‘In Media Res’13:12 - Kyle’s Background17:16 - Audiobooks19:42 - Kyle’s Book Recs24:00 - The acting process on ‘In Media Res’35:05 - Reminiscing on the project38:12 - Kyle’s upcoming projects39:53 - Kyle’s 2 Truths & 1 Lie48:54 - Impersonations!51:35 - Wrap-upYou can check out In Media Res for FREE anywhere you listen to your podcasts!In Media Res Trailer:    • In Media Res - Trailer  In Media Res on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JiCDwh...Check out the other projects from The Good Story Guild:https://goodstoryguild.co/listenConnect with Kyle here: https://www.instagram.com/kyleprue/?h...https://kyleprue.com/Check out his YouTube show Rabbit here:    • RABBIT EPISODE ONE: BREAK MY NOSE  Check out Kyle's book "How to Piss Off Men" here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-...Other Books Mentioned:Butter by Asako YuzukiThis Is Your Mind on Plants by Michael PollanOn Beauty and Being Just by Elaine ScarryThis episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.coLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #BookClub #Reading #Books #NewMedia #KylePrue #InMediaRes #goodstoryguild

This is usually a fiction-loving channel, but the more we read classics and historical fiction, the more we want to know the context of what really happened. One HUGE gap we have is the First World War, or the Great War. Lucky for us, Mitch loves to read non-fiction history books and listen to history podcasts and has been amassing knowledge for like 20 years! He's joining us for a three-part series on the war to give us a little insight and fill in those gaps, so we can be prepared and knowledgeable going into our other fiction reading. Plus, our favorite fiction author of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien, fought in the First World War, so this gives us some insight into the lives of authors as well.Hope this episode is fun, approachable, and entertaining, and that you'll join us again next week as we dive into Part 2!Timestamps0:00 - Intro3:02 - What we already know about WW16:32 - Where to start with WW1 (Pre-War Context)7:37 - Here’s why you should care about WW113:00 - Setting the stage (The Major Players)17:51 - What classifies a “World War”? 19:34 - What started The Great War (The Murder of Franz Ferdinand)29:37 - The Central Powers: The Austrian-Hungarian Empire33:29 - The Central Powers: Germany43:14 - The Allied Powers: Russia46:08 - The Allied Powers: France52:40 - Initial Aftermath of Ferdinand’s murderBook Referenced for this Deep Dive:The Sleepwalkers by Christopher ClarkLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.co#BookTube #HistoryBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #worldwar1 #thegreatwar #historypodcast

Is Maddie in her first EVER reading slump? We gotta get her some 5-star reads in March, or at least make her cry! Overall, Kristen had an AMAZING reading month, rating four books 5 stars! We have lots of books to discuss in this episode across genres. Grab your tea and a sweet treat for this one!Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:05 - Our February Reads3:24 - Maddie’s Reading Slump9:03 - A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin14:41 - The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow17:00 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 21:28 - Extremity by Nicholas Binge23:12 - I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman 26:41 - ACADIA by Sterling Nixon31:30 - Cibola Burn/Nemesis Games/Babylon’s Ashes by James S.A. Corey35:34 - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee42:22 - Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones49:14 - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky53:51 - Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte58:08 - Wrap-up!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.co#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Welcome back, readers! 📚✨In today’s podcast episode, we’re creating the ultimate Reader Starter Pack — a guide designed to help you fall in love with more genres and get the most enjoyment out of your reading life.We’re breaking down 12 popular book genres and sharing:✔️ the best entry-level book to start with✔️ the book you can work your way up to once you’re ready✔️ how to approach each genre so you don’t feel overwhelmedWhether you’re new to reading, trying to expand beyond your comfort zone, or building your next TBR, this episode gives you a clear path into fantasy, classics, sci-fi, literary fiction, romantasy, and more.Think of this as your roadmap to becoming a well-rounded reader — without forcing yourself through books you’re not ready for yet.Timestamps0:00 - Intro0:54 - Our Starter Pack!2:52 - Historical Fiction6:43 - Romantic Historical Fiction8:51 - Fantasy: Start Here!15:31 - Fantasy: Don’t Start Here…19:20 - Dystopian25:43 - Contemporary Fiction29:48 - Magical Realism36:21 - Lit Fic43:05 - Memoirs48:49 - Classics54:33 - Romantasy1:00:33 - Sci-Fi1:06:40 - Techno-Thrillers1:10:15 - Wrap-UpBooks Mentioned The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Pachinko by Min Jin Lee The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Outlander by Diana GabaldonShowdown and Bone and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Blood over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Broken Earth trilogy by N. K. Jemisin Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young V. E. Schwab The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen ChboskyIntermezzo by Sally Rooney Green Lights  by Matthew McConaugheyMan’s search for Meaning by Viktor FranklLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottEast of Eden by John SteinbeckSerpent and the Wings of Night Sarah J Maas Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, Crescent City Red Rising by Pierce Brown Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio Techno ThrillerArtificial Wisdom by Thomas WeaverDark Matter by Blake CrouchAscension by Nicolas Binge Favorite: Silo by Hugh HoweyLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  Post production provided by Doppler Cow Studioshttps://dopplercowstudios.com#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In this episode, we're coming at you like a defibrillator for your reading habit, to revive your passion for stories, in case you're in a reading slump! It can happen. Sometimes we read too much of the same thing, and it all starts to run together. That's when switching up genres, or reading something in your favorite genre that breaks the mold, is perfect! We've got ten book recommendations for you today, across genres. These books were able to subvert our expectations, do something fresh, and hook us! If you're headed toward a slump or want something to have on hand when it comes, we hope this list helps you out.Timestamps0:00 - Intro0:53 - Why we need Slump-busters3:41 - 11/22/63 by Stephen King10:45 - The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie17:03 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower23:54 - The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin30:55 - I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harper37:15 - Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild40:39 - The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig44:56 - Ghosts by Dolly Alderton48:16 - Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wong51:33 - Ascension by Nicholas Binge54:13 - Wrap-upLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

It's time to talk about spicy books...and more mild ones too. We're finally broaching the romance genre. What do we like? What do we hate? Which ones actually do it for us? And why!In this episode of the Kris and Mads Podcast, we’re talking about the love stories that go far beyond meet-cutes and tropes. Yes, we joke about sex (because obviously), but at the heart of this episode are powerful, unconventional romance book recommendations that explore enduring love, self-discovery, sacrifice, healing, and second chances.These are love stories that linger. Stories about choosing each other again and again. About intimacy, vulnerability, and connection — emotional and physical. Whether you love romance, literary fiction, fantasy with romantic elements, or books that blur genres, these recommendations are for readers who want big feelings and meaningful love stories.If you’re looking for romance books with depth, unconventional love stories, or book recommendations about healing, longing, and transformative relationships, this episode is for you.Books Mentioned by Category:SELF DISCOVERYAlone With You in the Ether by Olivia Blake Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid TRANSCENDENT LOVEThe Invisible Life of Addie Laure By V.E. Schwab Masters of Death by Olivie Blake The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon JimenezSECOND CHANCE HEALINGSeven Days in June by Tia WilliamsHappy Place by Emily Henry SACRIFICIAL LOVESense and Sensibility by Jane Austen The Wolf Den by Elodie HarperMORE THAN ONE LOVEThe Lost Queen by Signe Pike Outlander by Diana GabaldonCONTEMPORARY ROMANCE First Time Caller by B.K. Borison Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

We started reading some chunky sci-fi and fantasy series in January, and had such a good time! We're embracing the "quality over quantity" mantra this year, and that means fewer books, but hopefully bangers only! Off to an amazing start with these series: A Song of Ice and Fire, The Expanse, Stormlight Archive, Malazan, and Hierarchy! And we had time for a couple stand-alones too.BOOKS MENTIONEDThe Midnight Feast By Lucy FoleyLeviathan Wakes, Caliban’s War, and Abaddon’s Gate(Books 1-3 of the Expanse Series)By James S. A. CoreyThe Way of KingsBy Brandon SandersonGardens of the MoonBy Steven EricksonStrength of the FewBy James IslingtonStonerBy John WilliamsGame of ThronesBy George R. R. MartinTimestamps0:00 - Intro2:00 - Getting into our January reads!3:10 - Our new Patreon Spreadsheet4:03 - The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley12:20 - The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey25:27 - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson37:02 - Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erickson43:41 - The Strength of the Few by James Islington49:29 - Stoner by John Williams54:26 - A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin1:05:30 - Wrap up!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club this month for Wuthering Heights:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #stormlightarchive #malazan #theexpanse #asongoficeandfire #gameofthrones

We hate it every year, but the time has come to find out what our best book of 2025 was, bracket style! Prepare to experience us highly stressed and sweating as we go through our year of reading and choose one book to rule them all!Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:03 - How the Bracket is set up3:56 - Maddie: This Is How You Lose The Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-MohtarVS. The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington7:20 - Kristen: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn VS. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 9:59 - Maddie: The Light of All That Falls by James Islington VS. The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winer12:39 - Kristen: Our Infinite Fates by Lauren Steven VS. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen 19:00 - Maddie: Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb VS. The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson22:00 - Kristen: Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb VS. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 25:57 - Maddie: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee VS. Wellness by Nathan Hill31:19 - Kristen: Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb VS. Mad Ship by Robin Hobb35:00 - Maddie: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante VS. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 39:20 - Kristen: Jade City by Fonda Lee VS. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 46:55 - Maddie: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrel VS. Speaking Bones by Ken Liu50:31 - Kristen: Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke VS. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower 53:53 - Lightning Round56:35 - Elimination Round58:44 - Final Round & Winning Books!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.co#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #bestbookof2025 #bookrecommendations #readingbracket #readingchallenge

There's nothing like a screen adaptation that brings our favorite stories to life in a whole new way! It seems the screen gods have seen fit to bless us this year, because there are so many amazing stories coming to the screen this year. We can't wait to watch some of these while reading the books they're adapted from this year with our Page-to-Screen Book Club on Patreon! Here are the titles we're chatting about in this episode:Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:45 - People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry5:40 - The Seven Dials by Agatha Christie9:24 - Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë16:03 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas21:05 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir24:08 - East of Eden by John Steinbeck29:14 - The Odyssey by Homer36:27 - Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen39:54 - Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins44:50 - Dune: Messiah by Frank Herbert50:17 - The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood55:28 - The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis1:00:51 - Wrap-upSo grateful these studios are taking on these adaptations!‪@Netflix‬ ‪@LionsgateMovies‬ ‪@PrimeVideo‬ ‪@AmazonMGMStudios‬ ‪@WarnerBros‬ ‪@PBS‬   Masterpiece‪@FocusFeatures‬   ‪@UniversalPictures‬   Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

It's ambitious and full of variety this year! We can't wait to reread some books we love, start some chunky new fantasy series, read even more classics, and pair some amazing stories with screen adaptations with our Patreon bookclub!We've never been so excited to share a list like this with you. There's something about knowing our taste, trusting the recommendations, and feeling like at the end of the year we will have read so many different kinds of books from different voices and different times, across genres. We're so stoked.We'll report back every month on what we've read and whether we recommend it! Stay tuned for weekly episodes in between featuring genre discussions, thematic topics, and more amazing book recommendations.Thanks so much for watching!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:29 - How we built our TBR5:14 - What counts as an automatic TBR7:52 - Book Recommendations12:12 - Why we have a TBR18:25 - 2026 rules for The Wheel24:09 - Series TBR for 202636:24 - Classics TBR for 202641:39 - 5 books we’re super excited for44:58 - Re-reads for 202648:43 - What we want to read with our Patreon Book Club51:23 - What could disrupt the TBRLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #2026tbr #tbr

How did we save all of our best reads for the very end of 2025?! Finished up some amazing series, and feel all ready to jump into some amazing reads in 2026. What were your best reads of December?!Books and authors mentioned:Tell Me LiesBy Carola LoveringThe Hound of the Baskervilles and A Study in ScarletBy Sir Arthur Conan DoyleHarrow the NinthBy Tamsyn MuirThe Story of a New NameThose Who Leave and Those Who StayThe Story of the Lost ChildBy Elena FerranteTo Sir Phillip With LoveWhen He Was WickedIt’s In His KissOn the Way to the WeddingBy Julia QuinnServant of the EmpireMistress of the EmpireBy Janny Wurts and Raymond E. FeistThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 3-8By Beth BrowerThe Veiled ThroneSpeaking BonesBy Ken LiuLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: [email protected]#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsWelcome back, friends! ✨While visiting London, we had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Nicholas Binge, the bestselling author of speculative sci-fi thrillers that blend massive concepts with psychological horror.Nicholas Binge is the author of Ascension, a New York Times Editor’s Choice, Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, and one of the best books of 2023 according to Vulture, Goodreads, The LA Times, and The Sunday Times. His latest novel, Dissolution, was named one of the best thrillers of 2025 by The New York Times, and we dive deep into its premise, themes, and inspirations in this interview.In this conversation, we talk about Nick’s writing process, why he loves techno-thrillers, how living in Edinburgh influences his work, and his journey to becoming a full-time author. Plus, we wrap things up with book recommendations, a fun round of two truths and a lie, and where you can find him online.Whether you love sci-fi thrillers, psychological horror, or are curious about life as an author, this interview is for you.📖 Check out Nicholas Binge:👉 Website: NicholasBinge.com0:00 Intro 01:47 Nicolas Binge’s successful books04:40 Where do you get the inspiration for your books07:02 The premise of Dissolution 10:12 Premise of Acensison 16:13 Themes of Nick’s books 22:15 Why Techno-thrillers 24:00 Life as an author 27:18 Nicks’s Background 29:29 Does living Edinburgh impact your settings 33:37 What is your writing process 40:04 The perfect book give us 3 recommendations47:45 Two truths and a lie 53:25 Where to find Nicholas Binge online Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsTo experience more amazing stories with us in 2026, join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  It's been an incredible year on Patreon with our 1500+ members, enhancing our reading, watching, and discussions every month! We chose a story every month and released a schedule for reading the book and watching screen adaptations. We watched amazing shows and movies adapted from these awesome books, and got to compare and contrast the two media, while fully immersing ourselves in the stories. Obviously, we've put out hours and hours of deep dive episodes on each of these stories, but now the moment has come to rank all the adaptations and books, and see what comes out on top. Is it really true that "the book is always better"? We'll find out in this episode!Huge thanks and so much love to our family on Patreon! It has been a wonderful, amazing year full of stories. We can't wait for 2026!Let’s connect!Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsIn this episode, we’re reflecting on the reading goals we set for 2025, and looking to change some things up for 2026! Maddie is focusing on WISDOM in the new year, and Kristen is focusing on being TRUE. From book series to rating systems to new TBR wheels, we’re breaking down how we plan to approach our reading, reviewing, buying, and sharing next year. Timestamps00:00 Intro01:58 Did we read the book series we committed to in 2025?08:05 What genres did we read in 2025?11:31 What series/genres are we prioritizing in 2026?23:09 Did Maddie keep her promise to read less than 100 books in 2025?27:35 Thoughts on reading less audiobooks in 2025 and 202633:22 Thoughts on rating books — will it change in 2026?48:49 Kristen’s values for 202652:04 Looking back on rereads in 202553:30 How we’re using TBR wheels in 2026!01:03:43 Our intentions for 2026Series Maddie Committed to Read in 2025:Of Blood and Bone by John GwynneThe Age of Madness by Joe AbercrombieLicanius by James IslingtonThe Dandelion Dynasty by Ken LiuSeries Maddie Actually Read in 2025:The Wheel of Time by Robert JordanLicanius by James IslingtonThe Fitz and the Fool by Robin HobbLiveship Traders by Robin HobbThe Dandelion Dynasty by Ken LiuThe Neapolitan Quartet by The Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Fesit and Janny WurtsThe Devoured Worlds by Megan E. O'KeefePines by Blake CrouchThe Lost Queen by Signe PikeLord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienThe Series Kristen Actually Read in 2025:Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienPines by Blake CrouchBridgerton by Julia QuinnAn Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa TahirRavenhood by Kate StewartInfernal Devices by Cassandra ClareGreen Bone Saga by Fonda LeeFarseer by Robin HobbLiveship Traders by Robin HobbWhat the River Knows by Isabel IbañezSix of Crows by Leigh BardugoRuthless Boys of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham and Susanne ValentiSeries Kristen DNFd in 2025:The Red Queen by Victoria AveyardPriority Series on Kristen’s TBR for 2026:Tawny Man by Robin HobbThe Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin HobbThe Fitz and the Fool by Robin HobbSeries Maddie DNFd in 2025:The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark LawrenceThe Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir (??? TBD)Priority Series on Maddie’s TBR for 2026:A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. MartinThe Expanse by James S. A. CoreyMalazan (At Least Gardens of the Moon) by Steven EricksonFinish Sun Eater by Christopher RuocchioOf Blood and Bone by John GwynneThe Age of Madness By Joe AbercrombieClassics Mentioned:Sense and Sensibility by Jane AustenFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyEmma by Jane AustenLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottDune by Frank HerbertLord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienThe Outsiders by S. E. HintonRebecca by Daphne Du MaurierSherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleA Book That Could Become a Classic:Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsBooks Maddie Rated Low, But Still Found Valuable:A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. PeckOnyx Storm by Rebecca YarrosThe Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick RothfussBooks Kristen Read to Connect:Chestnut Springs by Elsie SilverThis Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El Mohtar and Max GladstoneBooks We Reread (that haven’t already been mentioned):Ender’s Game by Orsen Scott CardThe Will of the Many by James IslingtonBooks We’re Excited About:Anything by Stephen King!!!The Everlasting by Alex E. HarrowLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsIn this video, we’re going through our entire 2025 reading year month by month, sharing our very favorite 5-star books and a few that totally missed the mark. Between the two of us, we read 200 books, and these are truly the best of the best that we couldn’t stop thinking about.Timestamps 00:00 Intro01:43 December 202403:58 January 09:09 February 12:18 March17:07 April 22:15 May27:18 June32:16 July 38:01 August 43:44 September47:25 October51:03 NovemberBooks Mentioned Zodiac AcademyCaroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti Man’s Search for Meaning By Victor E. Frankl Wind and Truth By Brandon Sanderson The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers By J. R. R. Tolkien This is How you Loose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max GladstoneThe Wheel of Time By Robert Jordan Dinner for Vampires By Bethany Joy Lenz What the River KnowsWhere the Library Hidesby Isabel IbañezSix of CrowsCrooked Kingdom By Leigh Bardugo PinesBy Blake CrouchThe Shadow of What was Lost By James Islington Little Womenby Louisa May AlcottFirst Time CallerB.K. Borison Our Infinite Fates By Laura Steven The Wise Man’s Fearby Patrick RothfussBest Served Coldby Joe AbercrombieIntermezzo Sally Rooney Sunrise on the ReapingBy Suzanna Collins The Outsiders By S.E. Heaton Sense and Sensibility By Jane Austen Enders GameBy Orson Scott Card Fires of Vengeance Even WinterOf Empire of Dust By Ryan Cahill Dungeon Crawler CarlBy Matt DinnimanMorning Glory Milking Farmby C.M. NascostaOnyx StormBy Rebecca Yarros The Realm of the ElderlingsBy Robin HobbGifted and TalentedBy Olivia Blake 11/22/63 and FairytaleStephen KingDuneFrank Herber The Knight and the Moth By Rachel Gillig Death of the Author by Nnedi OkoraforPerks of Being a WallflowerBy Stephen ChboskyThe Gathering StormBy Robert Jordan and Brandon SandersonEmma By Jane AustenAn Ember in the AshesBy Sabaa Tahir Murderbot By Martha WellsSummer in the City By Alex Aster The Ravenhood SeriesBy Kate Stewart Prophet SongBy Paul Lynch Death of the NileBy Agatha Christie Writers and LoversBy Lilly KingAtmosphere By Taylor Jenkins ReidFinding GraceBy Loretta Rothschild The dispossessedby Ursula K. Le GuinPachinko By Min Jin LeeFrom Blood and AshBy by Jennifer L. ArmentroutThe Dead RomanticsBy Ashley Poston Bury Our Bones in the Midnight SoilBy V. E. Schwab Thursday Murder Club By Richard OsmanSilvercloak By L.K. Steven WellnessBy Nathan Hill The Hunting Party By Lucy Foley The Spellshop by Sarah Beth DurstChestnut SpringsElsie SilverKatabasis By R.F. KuangThe Dutch HouseBy Ann Patchet The Blighted StarsMegan E. O Keif Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierMy Brilliant Friendby Elena FerranteDaughter of the Empire by Janny Wurts and Raymond E. FeistNot in Love By Ali Hazelwood The Compound by Aisling RawleThe Greenbone SagaBy Fonda Lee Stay TrueBy by Hua HsuThe Dandelion Dynasty By Ken Liu The Will of the Many and The Strength of the Few By James Islington Frankenstein  By Mary Shelley  Great Big Beautiful LifeBy Emily Henry The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo By Taylor Jenkins Reid Station Elevenby Emily St. John MandelDeath at the Sign of the Rookby Kate AtkinsonNevernightby Jay KristoffHamnet By by Maggie O'FarrellThe Lost QueenBy Signe PikeThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. LionBy Beth BrowerPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeBreaking the Habit of Being YourselfBy Dr. Joe Dispenza 

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsWelcome back, friends! 📚🤍Today we’re breaking down all 20 books we read in November — yes, TWENTY! We covered a huge mix of genres this month: fantasy, romance, self-help, contemporary fiction, and more. There was one book that seriously disappointed us (hello, 1-star 👎), but also multiple new favorites that earned glowing 5-stars… which we saved for the end because they deserve the spotlight. ✨With the year almost over, we’re in full “finish every series we’ve started” mode so we can hit our 2025 reading goals. We’re excited, motivated, and ready to enter December with the best reading energy possible!Timestamps00:00 Intro 04:03 Fallen Stars by Imani Erriu06:39 Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson11:48 Today’s sponsor Better Help 13:57 Holly by Adalyn Grace 17:26 Nevernight by Jay Kristoff23:25 To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn 29:12 Fallen City Adriene Young34:45 Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel42:30 The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion by Beth Brower47:03 Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir53:33 This is How you Loose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone49:43 The Lost Queen by Signe Pike01:04:30 The Wall of Storms by Kin Liu01:11:33 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy01:14:49 Breaking the Habit of being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza 01:18:20 Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell01:29:54 Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 01:33:32 The Strength of the Few by James Islington Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Finding Grace is one of our favorite stand-alone novels of the year, as well as one of our favorite love stories we've read in such a long time! We HAD to interview the debut author, Loretta Rothschild, all about it. Plus, after a little social media lurking, we became obsessed with Loretta's style, personality, and original approach to marketing the novel! If we could describe her in a word, it would be ICONIC. So, we couldn't wait to learn all about her hyperfixations, obsessions, her writing process, the adventure of getting published and picked up by her dream agent, and her spoiler-free insights on writing the book itself.Loretta is such a kindred spirit. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, and that you pick up Finding Grace! https://amzlink.to/az0Eo1yLDw4zaGo in blind, read the first chapter, and then message us with your reaction. This is definitely a book to put on your TBR.If you'd like to watch the video Loretta mentions in the conversation about the house tour that inspired her setting, you can watch it here:    • In Residence: Rose Uniacke - inside the in...  If you'd like the check out the red socks, you can find them here:https://freightstore.co.uk/products/r...If you'd like to learn more about the John Truby writing method, check out his book here:https://amzlink.to/az045Y0Aly8tuThe pots (ceramics) Loretta likes are here: https://jwanderson.com/en-us/collections/wedgwood-x-jw-andersonThe books Loretta recommends are:The Picture of Dorian Gray https://amzlink.to/az0xwl2INBEM9Rebecca https://amzlink.to/az0KlGXaEZjsLReunion https://amzlink.to/az0bPzQxxe2b0Connect with Loretta by following her on socials, or check out her website!https://www.lorettarothschild.com/  Instagram: / lorettarothschild    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lorettarothschildTo check out a favorite part of the episode, jump to any chapter from the timestamps below!TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro02:15 Loretta Rothschild tells us two truths and a lie07:47 How Loretta came up with the idea for Finding Grace11:20 Connecting with the perfect agent and publisher 18:05 There aren’t any comps for Finding Grace21:03 The themes of Finding Grace26:40 Loretta Rothschild’s writing process 35:27 Loretta’s background and becoming a writer41:30 How Loretta utilizes social media as an author44:09 The iconic red socks, and other niche hyper fixations54:30 What makes the perfect book for Loretta 59:11 Loretta’s top three book recommendationsLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #lovestory #romancenovel #findinggrace #lorettarothschild #debutauthor #bookrecommendations #authorinterview

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsFor the past 6 months we’ve been doing something wild: committing to read every single book on our physical TBRs using our TBR Wheel. Today we’re breaking down the entire experience — the highs, the lows, the surprises, and whether we’d ever do this again. 👀📚Grab a drink, settle in, and let’s talk about the chaotic journey of sticking to a wheel that does not care about our moods.Shout out to @dylanjosephwrites for inspiring this journey! Timestamps 00:00 intro 01:28 Where did the Wheel come from03:34 The rules 05:05 Biggest disappointments 15:07 What we learned 20:41 tbr wheel disrupters 26:01 biggest challenges 29:49 Wins40:16 books that were the biggest surprises 01:01:15 Would we do a wheel againBooks mentioned Onyx StormRebecca Yarros Prophet Songby Paul LynchHer Majesties Royal Coven by Juno DawsonThe Bombshell By Darrow Far A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesKatabasis By R. F. Kuag A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. PeckThe Library at Mount Char  by Scott HawkinsThe Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark LawrenceOf Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. ArmentroutThe Spellshop by Sarah Beth DurstNot in Love By Ali HazelwoodAtmosphere By Taylor Jenkins Reid Finding GraceBy Loretta Rothschild Wild Dark Shoreby Charlotte McConaghySIlvercloak By L. K. StevenBurry our Bones in the Midnight SoilV. E. Schwab Fallen City By Adrien Young The Strength of the FewBy James Islington Gifted and Talented By Olivia Blake This is How You Loose the Tme Warby Amal El-Mohtar and Max GladstoneUnreasonable hHospitality by Will GuidaraThe Knight and the Moth Rachel GilligBreaking the Habit of Being Yourself By Joe Dispenza WellnessBy Nathan Hill Fairytale By Stephen KingPachinkoby Min Jin LeeAn Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa TahirDeath of the Author Nnedi OkoraforThe Unselected Journals of Emma M LionBy Beth BrowerGideon the Ninthby Tamsyn MuirThe Lost QueenBy Signe PikeThe Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le GuinThe Dead Romantics By Ashley Poston Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Welcome back, book lovers! Today’s episode is the MOTHER of all TBR lists — our most over-ambitious, chaotic, and exciting reading plans of the entire year. Most people do a “10 Before the End” reading challenge… but we blew right past ten and kept going. These are all the books we’re trying to finish in the next 6 weeks before we hit 2026, and honestly? Our best book of the year might be hiding somewhere in these stacks. From fantasy epics to romance series to backlist bucket-list reads, we’re covering everything we're desperate to read before the new year.We also share what’s coming up on the podcast before year’s end, now is the perfect time to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro02:27 Bridgerton Series — Julia Quinn05:03 The Dandelion Dynasty — Ken Liu07:49 The Empire Trilogy — Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts09:41 The Lost Queen Series — Signe Pike10:33 The Neapolitan Quartet — Elena Ferrante12:43 Chestnut Springs Series — Elsie Silver16:26 The Devoured Worlds Trilogy — Megan E. O’Keefe17:33 The Tawny Man Trilogy — Robin Hobb18:56 Holly — Adalyn Grace20:05 Daughter of the Otherworld — Shauna Lawless21:12 The Strength of the Few — James Islington21:34 Mara, Daughter of the Nile — Eloise Jarvis McGraw22:17 Wild Dark Shore — Charlotte McConaghy22:26 Poems & Prayers — Matthew McConaughey23:22 Maddie’s TBR Wheel26:36 Kristen’s TBR Wheel29:16 What we’re reading with our book club in Nov/Dec#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #TBR #EndOfYearTBR #10BeforeTheEnd #BookTubePodcast #BookTokPodcast #ReadingChallenge2025 #FantasyBooks #RomanceBooks #BestBooksOfTheYear #BookRecommendations #ReadersOfYouTube #BookClubReads #MustReadBooks #EpicFantasy #CozyReading #PatreonBookClub #SisterhoodBookClub #BookishPodcast #BookContentCreators #NewYearReadingChallenge

This episode is SPOILER-FREE!!! Connect with Fonda Lee: https://www.fondalee.com/Enjoy this highly anticipated conversation with Fonda Lee, author of the Green Bone Saga — one of the most iconic modern fantasy trilogies of our time (Jade City, Jade War, Jade Legacy). In this episode, we dive deep into her storytelling process, worldbuilding, and the powerful themes behind her unforgettable characters and cinematic action scenes.Fonda also shares how she was approached for an incredible collaboration with Shannon Lee, the daughter of Bruce Lee, to co-create a YA duology called Breathmarked — with book two set to release in 2026. And for fans of sci-fi and cyberpunk, we get a sneak peek at her upcoming adult standalone novel, The Last Contract of Isako — a futuristic samurai story releasing in 2026 that promises to blend everything we love about her sharp, sparse, and emotionally charged storytelling.This was a dream interview for us as long-time fans of the Green Bone Saga. If you love fantasy, sci-fi, epic worldbuilding, and powerful character-driven stories, you don’t want to miss this one.Timestamps00:00 Intro00:59 Two Truths and a Lie with Fonda Lee04:52 How far did the Green Bone Saga get as a screen adaptation?05:58 How did the Green Bone Saga come to be?12:27 Was it always going to be a trilogy?14:00 Heroism and moral ambiguity in the Green Bone Saga22:04 Family obligation and identity in the Green Bone Saga26:20 Tradition vs. progress in the Green Bone Saga31:03 How the new covers reflect the vibe and cinematic tone of the trilogy34:54 Sex and romance in the Green Bone Saga39:34 The difference between Fonda Lee’s YA and Adult books41:46 Co-writing Breath of the Dragon with Shannon Lee44:51 The themes of the Breathmarked Duology49:52 Breath of the Dragon works for adult and young adult readers51:33 The collaboration process with Shannon Lee56:05 NEXT BOOK! A cyberpunk samurai standalone: The Last Contract of Isako 📚 Books Mentioned:Jade City, Jade War, Jade Legacy — The Green Bone SagaBreathmarked (YA duology with Shannon Lee)The Last Contract of Isako (coming 2026)Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #FondaLee #GreenBoneSaga #FantasyBooks #AuthorInterview #BookPodcast #Breathmarked #TheLastContractofIsako #FantasyReaders #BookTube #SciFiFantasy

Join our Patreon read-and-watch club here: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodWelcome to Season 2 of The Kris and Mads Podcast! We’re kicking things off with a massive October reading wrap-up — 16 books across fantasy, sci-fi, romance, horror, and literary fiction. Every review in this episode is completely spoiler-free, so you can listen without fear that we'll wreck the book for ya.Between us, we read everything from classics like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley to award winners like Stay True by Hua Hsu — and yes, one book was so good we had to reread it. Whether you’re hunting for your next five-star read, looking to discover hidden gems, or just love hearing passionate book talk, this episode is for you.In this episode:• Honest, spoiler-free reviews of 16 books we read in October• Genre-spanning recommendations for every kind of reader• The reread that lived up to the hype• Cozy fall reading vibes and lots of laughterTell us in the comments what you read in October and which of these books you’ve either already picked up or are adding to your TBR!Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:57 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley09:56 The Compound by Aisling Rawle13:48 Dissolution by Nicholas Binge20:02 The Fractured Dark by Megan E. O’Keefe22:54 The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare26:29 The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence30:04 A Short Stay in Hell by Steven Peck34:22 Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara36:41 Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild45:42 The Will of the Many by James Islington50:13 Madhouse Promenade by ‪@lynmoore_‬ 54:30 Upgrade by Blake Crouch59:56 Stay True by Hua Hsu01:04:09 Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry01:08:35 The Grace of Kings by Ken LiuSubscribe to The Kris and Mads Podcast for weekly book discussions, author interviews, and spoiler-free reviews every Tuesday!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #BookPodcast #ReadingWrapUp #BookRecommendations #OctoberBooks #BookTube #PodcastForReaders #SpoilerFreeReviews #FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #RomanceBooks #BookTok #BookishPodcast #BestBooks2025 #TBRList #BookReviewPodcast #TheKrisAndMadsPodcast #WhatToReadNext #FallReading #BookLovers #BookCommunity

Welcome to our Season 1 finale of The Kris and Mads Podcast!We’re wrapping up an unforgettable first season with a full breakdown of our year — think of it as our Spotify Wrapped, but for the podcast. 💫In this episode, we’re celebrating everything that’s made this season so special:• 14 incredible authors we had the honor to interview• 18 fellow creators we’ve collaborated with• Our most popular episodes and behind-the-scenes highlights• The books and screen adaptations we’ve read and watched together in our Patreon book club (aka our virtual family!)• Our biggest lessons, milestones, and growth moments as co-hosts• And, of course, our hopes and vision for Season 2 — which is already shaping up to be even more magical!This episode is our love letter to everyone who’s listened, shared, and joined the conversation. Thank you for helping us make this dream show come to life. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just discovered us this season, we can’t wait to bring you along for what’s next.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts — and join our Patreon to be part of the book club and behind-the-scenes fun!patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodOur Most Popular Episode:    • Books We BOTH Rated 5 Stars 📚 Our Top Book...  Our Interviews With Authors:    • Pierce Brown Interview - So Do We End The ...  Our Most Popular Collaboration:    • 18 Must-Read Books! | Our Top Books from 2...  Our Friends' Channels:‪@lynmoore_‬ ‪@thebrothersgwynne‬ ‪@bronteysbooks‬ ‪@KistReadsBooks‬ ‪@Smitty1423‬ ‪@2ToRamble‬ ‪@geenahreads‬ ‪@zoranne_‬ ‪@WhatShesReadingPod‬ Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #KrisAndMadsPodcast #PodcastWrapped #PodcastFinale #Season1Recap #BookPodcast #AuthorInterviews #FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #BookClubCommunity #PatreonBookClub #PodcastHighlights #PodcastCommunity #BookTokPodcast #BookTubePodcast #Season2ComingSoon #PodcastGrowth #ReadingCommunity #BookishPodcast #WomenInPodcasting #BookLoversUnite

THIS INTERVIEW IS SPOILER FREE!!!! Not to be dramatic, but we did start this podcast one year ago, in order to interview Pierce Brown on it someday. That day is today! The Red Rising special editions have been released, and to celebrate we had Pierce on the show to share his lore—everything from skinny jeans trauma to Freddy the snapping turtle—and talk to us about the deeper themes and inspiration in the Red Rising Saga. We almost peed our pants laughing, and also learned crazy amounts about classical philosophy and history. Pierce may be one of the most engaging and entertaining conversationalists alive. For an episode one year in the making, he did not disappoint! Hope you guys love it as much as we do!You can read The Book of Lorn and check out merch on https://shit-escalates.com/ Follow Pierce on TikTok:   / piercebrownofficial  Follow Pierce on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piercebrown...Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:08 Pierce Brown Tells Us Two Truths and a Lie08:43 Pierce Brown's Lore24:57 What is Red Rising?29:52 The Classic Influences on Red Rising (for dummies)36:16 What Is Meritocracy in Red Rising? 45:24 Is Peace Even Possible in Red Rising? 58:37 How Pierce Brown On Leadership 01:07:11 What’s Next for Pierce Brown and Red Rising?Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In this episode, Kris and Mads sit down with the amazing trio behind the ‪@WhatShesReadingPod‬ podcast! We talk about everything from who’s most likely to DNF a book, cry while reading, or be intimidated by a long series, to what makes a 5-star read and the characters that inspire us most. It’s a fun, bookish deep dive into reading tastes, favorite guests, and the bookish moments we can’t stop thinking about.✨ Timestamps00:00 – Introducing our guests I’ll Read What She’s Reading01:56 – Who was the biggest reader starting out?03:19 – Who is the first to DNF04:34 – Who is most likely to cry while reading05:15 – Who is intimidated by long series05:49 – How do you know each other08:47 – IRWSR merch09:27 – Describe each other’s reading taste15:42 – Who was your favorite podcast guest20:11 – What is a book you can’t stop thinking about26:39 – What makes a 5-star read for you33:10 – What character has inspired you mostIf you love book recommendations, fun reader debates, and behind-the-scenes podcast talk, you’ll love this conversation! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and let us know in the comments which of these questions you’d answer the same way.I’ll Read What She’s Reading Merchhttps://illreadwhatshesreading.com/Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Here's what we thought of the 11 books we read this month! We're loving our foray into the classics, and Kristen took down the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee, which she has had on her TBR for over a year! Maddie started three different series that she's eager to continue, and of course, there were a couple of duds. We get into all of it in this episode, and share some memories of traveling through Portugal and Spain with members of our Patreon book club this month. Reading abroad with friends is such a treat! What was your best read and favorite memory of September?All books and authors mentioned are listed in the timestamps.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:40 Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood - Book Review10:45 Katabasis by R.F. Kuang - Book Review17:45 Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - Book Review22:59 My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante - Book Review30:22 Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - Book Review41:14 The Blighted Stars by Megan E. O’Keefe - Book Review47:23 Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts - Book Review53:16 The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee - Book Review1:00:00 The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - Book ReviewLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

It’s been 10 years since Leigh Bardugo gave us Six of Crows and the unforgettable Dregs crew—and we’re celebrating in style! In this special episode, we sit down with Leigh Bardugo to talk all things Six of Crows: the heist that started it all, the found family readers still can’t get over, and the release of the gorgeous 10th Anniversary special editions. Whether you’re a longtime Grishaverse fan or brand new to the series, this conversation is packed with behind-the-scenes stories, bookish nostalgia, and pure Kaz & the Crows vibes.If you love heist fantasy, witty banter, found family dynamics, and beautiful new collector’s editions, this is the story and celebration episode you don’t want to miss.Check out Leigh's tedtalk here:    • The art of discomfort | Leigh Bardugo | TE...  All things Leigh Bardugo here: https://www.leighbardugo.com/#LeighBardugo⁠ ⁠#SixOfCrows⁠ ⁠#Grishaverse⁠ ⁠#CrookedKingdom⁠ ⁠#KazBrekker⁠ ⁠#InejGhafa⁠ ⁠#FoundFamily⁠ ⁠#FantasyBooks⁠ ⁠#BookTok⁠ ⁠#BookTube⁠ ⁠#HeistFantasy⁠ ⁠#SpecialEditionBooks⁠ ⁠#AnniversaryEdition⁠ ⁠#ShadowAndBone⁠ ⁠#FantasyReaders⁠Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started:https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsWe finally spilled the tea… ☕📚 These are 10 books we’ve been gatekeeping—all rated 5 stars, but ones we rarely talk about on the pod! From epic fantasy with dragons to dark academia, from sci-fi thrillers to swoony romance, this list is packed with hidden gems across genres.If you’re hunting for your next great read (that isn’t already everywhere on BookTok or BookTube), this episode is for you. We’re covering fantasy, sci-fi, romance, memoirs, thrillers, and more—so no matter your vibe, you’ll find a book you’ll fall in love with.Spoiler-free, honest reviews only. Let’s go find you a new favorite!If you want to check out the friends we mentioned in this episode for more recommendations, you can find Will and Ed here: ‪@thebrothersgwynne‬ 📚 Timestamps so you can jump to your genre:Timestamps00:00 Intro02:32 Recursion by Blake Crouch - a techno thriller05:05 The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon- an epic fantasy with dragons11:21 Educated by Tara Westover - a memoir15:08 Wellness by Nathan Hill - a contemporary literary fiction19:35 Strange the Dreamer Duology by Laini Taylor - a young adult fantasy22:58 Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson - a romantic fantasy26:20 Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren - a contemporary romance29:41 The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper - an ancient historical fiction33:47 Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb - a memoir 36:37 If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio - a dark academia fictionLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #BooksWeLove #HiddenGemBooks #FiveStarReads #BookRecommendations #BookPodcast #BookTube #BookTok #FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #RomanceBooks #DarkAcademiaBooks #MemoirRecommendations #ThrillerBooks #UnderratedBooks #BookishCommunity

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelpmakes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsLooking for your next great historical fiction read? 📚 In this podcast episode, we share 17 historical fiction book recommendations that we absolutely loved. While it’s a genre we only dabble in, some of these books have made it into our top books of all time list. From sweeping epics to intimate character-driven stories, we’ve gathered a wide range of titles perfect for any historical fiction fan.Timestamps00:00 Intro to Historic Fiction 01:18 The Wold Den by Elodie Harper 03:09 The Lost Queen by Signs Pike 06:42 The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell09:54 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon12:15 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon14:23 Hester by Laurie Albanese16:05 Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan19:23 The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 21:16 All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr24:32 Pachinkol by Min Jin Lee27:09 A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles30:34 Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler33:23 The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett36:05 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid38:47 The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton41:51 11/22/63 by Stephen King Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsThe professor I referenced who is making amazing gothic reading lists on tiktok can be found here:https://www.tiktok.com/@theculturedum...Looking for the perfect fall read? 🍂 In this episode, we’re sharing 15 of our top book recommendations for fall—with something for everyone! Whether you’re in the mood for dark academia, gothic fiction, vampire vibes, spooky-season romance, or edge-of-your-seat thrillers, we’ve got you covered. All of our reviews are spoiler-free and include a quick premise plus why we loved each book.At the end, we’re also chatting about the books still on our fall TBR 👀—so stick around for even more cozy-spooky inspiration.If you’re a book lover searching for your next autumn read, this episode is basically your fall book guide.📚 Timestamps below so you can jump to your favorite genres!Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:15 Dark Academia Recommendations02:46 The Will of the Many by James Islington04:35 The Secret History by Donna Tartt07:13 If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio11:54 Gothic Fiction Recommendations12:59 Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier15:47 One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig19:14 Belladonna by Adalyn Grace22:39 Vampire Fiction Recommendations24:49 Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canes26:17 A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson29:32 Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab32:53 Romance Recommendations for Spooky Season33:15 The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston37:01 Masters of Death by Olivie Blake41:23 Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid45:06 Thriller Recommendations46:44 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy48:39 Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young50:04 Vicious by V.E. Schwab52:25 What’s on OUR fall TBR?Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #FallBookRecommendations #DarkAcademiaBooks #GothicBooks #VampireBooks #RomanceBooks #ThrillerBooks #SpookySeasonReads #BookTok #BookTube #BookPodcast #CozyFallReads #FallTBR #AutumnReading #BestBooksForFall

Welcome to our August Reading Wrap-Up! This month we each read 9 books, buddy read 4, and ended up chatting about 14 amazing (and some surprising) reads. If you’re looking for fantasy, romance, thrillers, and literary fiction book recommendations, you’re in the right place!Here’s what we read in August:📚 Books Featured in This Video:01:50 The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb08:30 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy11:52 Powerless by Elsie Silver14:16 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman19:57 Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee & Shannon Lee25:18 The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley28:01 Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab33:59 Silver Cloak by L. K. Steven38:59 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn41:46 A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles46:33 The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst49:14 Wellness by Nathan Hill55:22 Final Thoughts✔ Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Thrillers, Literary Fiction✔ Includes: New releases, series continuations, and backlist favorites✔ Our honest thoughts + ratings on every bookIf you love reading wrap-ups, book reviews, and buddy reads, hit subscribe for more monthly book recaps, TBR lists, and bookish chats!✨ Which was your favorite August read? Tell us in the comments!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

We got to sit down with ROBIN HOBB. Yes, THE Robin Hobb. Our favorite living author. Fifteen minutes that honestly felt like the best of our lives. She told us how she writes characters that feel so real, how she allows the reader to find and explore themes in her work, what she does when she’s stuck, and even the stories she made sure her own kids grew up with—because she believes a love of reading can change the world.If you love The Realm of the Elderlings, Farseer Trilogy, or just want to hear one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time talk about her process—this is it. We’re still freaking out.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:27 How is WorldCon Seattle 2025?!01:20 How Robin Hobb does research for her stories03:32 Robin Hobb's writing process, and what she does when she's stuck 04:55 How Robin Hobb writes REAL characters across ages07:12 Robin Hobb on the themes in her stories08:33 On the importance of stories for children, and which she recommends10:43 Would Robin Hobb collaborate with other authors?11:43 The origin story of the pen name "Robin Hobb"13:31 What is Robin Hobb writing now? What comes next?14:42 What message does Robin Hobb have for the Sisterhood Bookclub?Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #RobinHobb #FantasyBooks #AuthorInterview #FarseerTrilogy #RealmOfTheElderlings #BookPodcast #FantasyReaders

It’s publication day for Artificial Wisdom—the gripping 2050 techno-thriller murder mystery that blends AI, politics, and climate catastrophe! We sit down with author Thomas Weaver to celebrate the U.S. release with Penguin Random House’s Del Rey. Tom shares his journey from indie publishing to Amazon bestseller to landing an agent and selling Artificial Wisdom—and its unwritten sequel!—to a major publisher. We talk AI vs. human leadership, writing high-stakes thrillers, and what it’s like to relaunch a book to the world. Plus: live audience Q&A on the craft, the business, and what’s next for Thomas Weaver.If you love sci-fi thrillers, climate fiction, political intrigue, or stories of publishing success, this interview is a must-watch.#ArtificialWisdom #ThomasWeaver #BookReleaseDay #PenguinRandomHouse #DelReyBooks #AIElectionThriller #TechnoThriller #ClimateFiction #SciFiThriller #AuthorInterview #Booktube #WritingCommunity #AIThriller #PoliticalThriller #NewBookRelease #SciFiBooks #PublishingJourney #FromIndieToTrad #BookLaunchDay #scifiauthor Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

So you’re thinking about reading The Wheel of Time… but 14 books? A thousand characters? Constant skirt-smoothing?? We get it. In this episode, we’re spilling all the spoiler-free tea to help you decide if this iconic fantasy series is for you—and how to actually enjoy the ride.Here’s what we cover:• The forming, storming, norming, and performing phases of reading the series• What it’s like reading a series the original author didn’t finish (shoutout to Brandon Sanderson for saving the day)• The tools that will actually help you keep characters, maps, and timelines straighthttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/wot-com...https://wheeloftimelines.com/ @DanielGreeneReviews recap videos:    • Let's Summarize The Wheel of Time  • Cringe alerts: the gender dynamics, the braid-tugging, the constant clothing descriptions 😅• Why fans still love it: a killer magic system, rich themes, and an iconic fandom• Who should read it—and who might want to skip it (we won’t judge)If you love massive worlds, fandom lore, magical systems, and long-haul reading with payoff—The Wheel of Time might be your next obsession. We’re here to help you go in with eyes wide open and a solid game plan.Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:04 Breaking the Wheel of Time Into Sections03:02 The Forming Phase05:45 The Storming Phase09:42 The Norming Phase15:05 The Performing Phase19:57 Reading Resources for Wheel of Time25:55 The Cringey Parts of Wheel of Time33:01 The Best Aspects of Wheel of Time40:56 Who Should Read The Wheel of Time and When?Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books#WheelOfTime #RobertJordan #BrandonSanderson #FantasySeries #WheelOfTimePodcast #EpicFantasy #LongSeriesReading #WoTCompendium #WheelOfTimelines #DanielGreene #FantasyFandom #SpoilerFreeGuide #HowToReadWheelOfTime #BookPodcast #FantasyBooks #ReadingTips

We read 23 books in July and it was a wild reading month! From standalones and surprises to potential best book of the year (Maddie is obsessed 😍), we’re breaking down everything we loved, didn’t love, and totally disagreed on. One super popular book flopped for us, and we had completely opposite reactions to Atmosphere. Come hang out with us for a cozy chat full of honest reviews, spicy ratings, and maybe a new book for your TBR 💬✨Let us know if you read any of these or disagreed with our takes!Time Stamps00:00 Intro 02:28 Prophet Song By Paul Lynch 11:51 The Guest List By Lucy Foley14:09 Death on the Nile By Agatha Christie19:08 A Memory of Light By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson25:39 A Reaper at the Gates and A Sky Beyond the Storm By Sabaa Tahir32:07 The Finish Line, One Last Rainy Day, Severed Heart By Kate Stewart39:10 Library at Mount Char By Scott Hawkins43:51 The Dead Romantics By Ashley Boston48:33 Writers and Lovers By Lily King 51:36 Onyx Storm By Rebecca Yarros55:59 Find Grace By Loretta Rothschild 57:58 Atmosphere By Taylor Jenkins Reid01:03:27 Ship of Magic By Robin Hobb01:10:53 The Dispossessed By Ursula K. Le Guin 01:14:46 Pachinko By Min Jin Lee01:116:56 Final thoughts The Dispossessed guide    • Freedom is Constant Revolution | The Dispo...  Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Severed Heart author Kate Stewart—a queen of dark romance. We dive into her latest release Severed Heart, now out in audio from Podium, and the process of bringing it to life as a fully produced audiobook.Kate opens up about her incredibly loyal reader base, known as the "Ravens," a passionate community that's not only obsessed with the series but also committed to doing good in the world through local state chapters.We also talk about her hands-on role in the audiobook production, what’s next for her as an author, and the exciting news that she’s now screenwriting and producing her own film adaptation of Flock. If you love dark romance, fandoms that matter, and behind-the-scenes creative stories, this one’s for you.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:43 Kate Tells Us Two Truths and a Lie02:16 The Inspiration and Origin of the Ravenhood Series04:32 All About Severed Heart - The Audiobook09:48 More Books Coming in the Ravenhood Legacy!13:42 Delays in Publishing and Kate's Amazing Team of Publishers14:41 Who is Kate's Favorite Character to Write15:12 Kate's "Pinch Me" Moments from Book Tour16:29 The Readers ("Ravens") and How Kate Considers Them Family19:56 What Does Kate Love to Read?23:16 Why Romance? What Pulls Kate to the Genre?24:31 What Are Kate's Writing Rituals? What's the Writing Process?26:48 All About Flock's Screen Adaptation33:43 Kate's Hopes for the FutureLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #KateStewart #SeveredHeart #DarkRomance #RomanceBooks #PodiumAudio #AudiobookLaunch #RavensFandom #FlockSeries #RomanceAuthors #IndieRomance #BookToScreen #ScreenAdaptation #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #RomanceCommunity #BookishPodcast #RomanceBookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #RomanceTikTok

Today Kristen's dream came true when we sat down with New York Times bestselling author Laura Steven, whose novel Our Infinite Fates has been a breakout fantasy favorite of 2025! Her new adult fantasy release Silvercloak, is coming July 29th, and we couldn’t wait to ask her everything.This conversation felt like a FaceTime with a friend—relaxed, inspiring, and packed with behind-the-scenes details on Laura’s writing process, the magic of Silvercloak, her thoughts on romance in fantasy, and what’s coming next. If you’re a fan of immersive fantasy worlds, witty characters, or just want to hang out with your new favorite author, this one’s for you.Laura Steven website https://www.laura-steven.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laurasteven...Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@authorlaurast...Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 02:01 Silvercloak book launch 02:30 Two truths and a lie 08:41 Laura’s background in writing 21:25 Why adult fantasy 25:09 Is Silvercloak romantic31:48 Authors and books Laura loves34:01 Who did you write Silvercloak for36:54 How do you use social media44:45 Is Silvercloak going to have more books41:21 Is writing a series intimidating 48:10 Foreshadowing 48:59 Do you have arc readers 51:07 2025 book tour 52:00 What do your readers mean to you55:40 Laura’s writing rituals 59:21 Future dream and plans 01:01:35 Movie adaptation 01:03:58 Where to follow Laura Steven Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In this episode, we’re talking all about how we actually get our books—whether it’s through libraries, bookstores (big or indie!), audiobooks, eBooks, or book apps. We go through the pros and cons of each, share how we personally read and listen to books, and even dream up what our own cozy little bookstore would look like. ☕📚We also get into a big question: if more people are reading, why are library visits and checkouts going down? Is it all about convenience, funding, or something else?This was such a fun and thoughtful conversation, and we’d love to hear from you too—how do you usually access books these days? Drop your thoughts in the comments 💬Article Mentioned: https://www.thefp.com/p/front-page-de...Time stamps 00:00 Intro 01:09 Article about libraries 03:28 Libraries13:09 Barns & Noble 17:30 Indie Bookstores21:23 Thrifted bookstores24:03 Online book shopping27:32 Hardback or paperback 28:25 Reading Apps30:19 Market book selling31:02 Little Free Libraries 32:47 Bookstore combos 33:51 Bookstore of our dreams 30:04 Are more people reading42:04 Our goals Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

It’s time for the 2025 Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag—our favorite annual tradition! 🎉 In this cozy podcast-style episode, we go through all questions from the tag and give our brutally honest thoughts on our reading year so far.💥 From best books and big surprises to disappointing reads, fictional crushes, and the new releases we still haven’t gotten to… this episode is packed with laughs, strong opinions, and some tough decisions.Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly   00:00 Intro 00:39 Best book of the year 07:25 Best sequel 12:32 New release you haven’t yet read15:02 Most anticipated release 16:52 Biggest disappointment 26:33 Biggest surprise 29:15 New favorite author 31:48 Favorite fictional crush 37:28 Newest favorite character 41:25 Books that made us cry us happy 44:25 Books that made 47:39 Most beautiful book49:28 book to finish before the end of the year 51:06 Favorite audiobook 54:16 Favorite reread 55:31 Favorite reading moment or memory 58:26 Reading goal update Books MentionedAssassin’s Fate and Royal Assassin By Robin HobbOur Infinite FatesBy Laura Steven Atmosphere By Taylor Jenkins Reid The Strength of the FewBy James Islington The Wise Man’s FearBy Patrice RothfussAll Systems Red By Martha WellsDungeon Crawler CarlMatt Dinniman Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Caroline Peckham Suzanne Valenti The OutsidersBy S. E. Hinton This is How You Loose the Time WarBy Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone11/22/63 and Fairy tale Stephen King Severed HeartBy Kate Stewart Heartless By Elsie Silver The Knight and the MothBy Rachel Gillig The Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky The Licanius TrilogyBy James Islington Sunrise on the Reaping By Suzanne Collins Gifted and Talented By Olivia Blake Death of the Author by Nnedi OkoraforDaughter of the Empire By Janny Wurts and Raymond E. FeistThe Fires of Vengeance By Evan Winter Intermezzo By Sally Rooney The Lord of the RingsBy J.R.R. Tolkien The Wheel of TimeRobert Jordan and Brandon SandersonAn Ember in the AshesBy Sabaa Tahir #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

We read 17 books in June and had THOUGHTS. From a surprisingly good dark romance to two disappointing hyped books, this wrap-up has it all: spicy fantasy (From Blood and Ash), sci-fi (All Systems Red), classics (Emma + Picnic at Hanging Rock), a pop-culture classic (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), and even more Wheel of Time—where one of us finally gave a book in the series 5 stars! 😱We give spoiler-free takes on each read, share what worked (and what didn’t), and talk about what we’re learning from reading so many books together—especially as book club hosts. Whether you love Stephen King, Jane Austen, or graphic novels like Saga, we’ve got a recommendation—or a rant—for you.Drop your June reads in the comments, and tell us if we’re wrong for being underwhelmed by a certain viral novella 👀📚Timestamps00:00 Intro02:58 From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout04:58 Comparing FBAA to An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir15:38 All Systems Red by Martha Wells19:51 What we’ve learned about books worth reading in a book club21:51 Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor28:11 Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay34:08 Summer in the City by Alex Aster39:46 Ravenhood Series by Kate Stewart46:11 Emma by Jane Austen50:25 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky56:18 Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples58:44 A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young01:00:48 Fairytale by Stephen King01:04:30 Knife of Dreams, Gathering Storm, and Tower of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time books 11-13)Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #ReadingWrapUp #BookRecommendations #FromBloodAndAsh #WheelOfTime #StephenKing #JaneAusten #BookClubReads #DarkRomance #BooktokReads #FantasyBooks #PodcastForReaders #BookReviewPodcast #ViralBookReviews #JuneReads

We picked one favorite book for every month of 2025 so far, and honestly? It was harder than we expected. From massive fantasy series to books that made us cry (or scream), we’re talking about the standouts that actually stuck with us.If you’re looking for what to read next, want to know which books are really worth it, or you’ve read some of these and just wanna hear us gush… this episode is for you.We’re talking:• The Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, Six of Crows• Little Women, Sense and Sensibility, The Outsiders• And newer picks like Our Infinite Fates & The Knight and the MothThis is for the fantasy lovers, the BookTok browsers, the “I’m overwhelmed by my TBR” folks, and anyone who loves hearing passionate book chat.Basically, if you love books, you’ll probably vibe.Books Mentioned:The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. TolkienThe Wheel of Time by Robert JordanThis Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-MohtarWayward Pines Trilogy by Blake CrouchThe Licanius Trilogy by James IslingtonSix of Crows by Leigh BardugoLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottOur Infinite Fates by Laura StevenSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsThe Outsiders by S.E. HintonSense and Sensibility by Jane AustenThe Fires of Vengeance by Evan WinterThe Fitz and the Fool Trilogy by Robin HobbRoyal Assassin by Robin HobbThe Knight and the Moth by Rachel GilligFairytale by Stephen KingAn Ember in the Ashes by Sanaa TahirA Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. MartinLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:37 Favorite Books from January05:05 Favorite Books from February15:16 Favorite Books from March19:06 Favorite Books from April23:26 Favorite Books from May30:04 Favorite Books from June#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #FantasyBookRecommendations #BestBooks2025 #BookPodcast #MonthlyReads #BookTube #WhatToReadNext #FantasyReaders #BookTalkPodcast #EpicFantasy #YAReads #ClassicBooks #BookReviewPodcast #BestFantasyBooks #ReadingWrapUp #FavoriteBooksOfTheYear

In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we're stepping away from book reviews to answer your most personal questions—straight from our private book-to-screen club on Patreon. (Thanks for the questions FAMBAM!) We're getting real about our relationship as sisters and co-workers, our crunchy health habits (yes, we talk home births and meditation), and our approach to wellness.We also dive into the stories behind our kids' names, our favorite comfort shows, what fantasy worlds we'd want to live in, our personality types, and how we built and expanded our content.Listen for:• Our top wellness values & crunchy lifestyle confessions• Childhood dreams & how we met our husbands• The fantasy worlds we’d wake up in• Books we love but hate the covers of• Enneagram deep dive + Big Five results• The truth about our sister dynamic and business partnershipJewelry Brands Mentioned ⁨@mejuri⁩   ⁨@D.Louise⁩   ⁨@katiewaltmanboutiquehttps://jenny-bird.com/Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:57 Are we crunchy: home births, naturopaths, meditation09:43 Our favorite book challenge: TBR wheel10:47 Would we ever write a book?12:42 Where do we get our jewelry?14:05 What would our animal companion be?15:30 What are our drink orders?16:17 Top 5 comfort movies/shows: You’ve Got Mail, The Holiday, Newsies, Summer Stock, Gilmore Girls, Outlander, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Sense & Sensibility18:11 Where would we live in the U.S. and abroad?19:08 Our health/wellness philosophies29:37 The story behind our kids’ names34:52 What were our childhood dreams?40:15 How did we meet our husbands?43:35 What time period would we teleport to?44:59 What places are on our bucket lists?47:55 What fantasy world would we want to wake up in?48:47 What books that we love have bad covers?49:45 Tips for getting out of a reading slump53:16 What are our enneagram numbers? The Big Five Personality Test.56:23 What is our health attitude?59:27 Our content creation journey/strategy01:03:45 Our meditation practices01:11:13 What are some of our favorite bands?01:13:33 Have we always been this close? All about our relationshipLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books Q&A podcast episode, sisters podcast, personal Q&A, health and wellness podcast, crunchy lifestyle, behind the scenes podcast, book lovers podcast, fantasy book questions, enneagram personality types, sister co-hosts, bookish podcast, comfort movies, wellness values, private book club, TBR challenge, reading slump tips, book world we’d live in, content creator journey, podcast for women, Patreon Q&A, book influencer podcast

We’re back with a very requested video — the one where my sister and I talk about the books we totally disagree on 😅📚In our last video, we chatted about the books we both loved and rated highly, but obviously… we don’t always align when it comes to reading taste. So today, we’re getting into the stories that one of us adored and the other just did not vibe with.We’re talking about:✨ what makes a book hit (or flop) for each of us✨ our hot takes on series vs. standalones✨ how our reading preferences differ — and why that’s okay!✨ and a little sibling-style debate (but always with love 🫶)This was so fun to film, and honestly, it gave us a better understanding of what we each look for in a book. Hope it’s just as fun for you to watch!Let us know in the comments if you agree with one of us… or neither 😂And tell us what books you’ve argued about with your own reading buddies!Books MentionedThe Grace Year By Kim Liggett The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar WildeMistborn Trilogy By Brandon Sanderson Our Infinite FatesBy Lauren Steven Assassin’s Apprentice Robin Hobb Normal PeopleBy Sally Rooney A Discovery of WitchesBy Deborah HarknessOne for my Enemy By Olivia Blake Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagam:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  Time Stamps00:00 Into 02:30 The Grace Year 08:43 The Picture of Dorian Gray 17:59 Mistborn 24:26 Our Infinite Fates33:16 Assassin’s Apprentice 41:33 Normal People 50:11 A Discovery of Witches 54:47 One For My Enemy 01:00;00 Final thoughts #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

We read 17 books in May and wow… it was A LOT. From a 1-star romantasy (sorry Onyx Storm) to one of our favorite books of the year, plus our first-ever Stephen King (which totally surprised us), this wrap-up is packed.We’re talking fantasy, sci-fi, romance, classics, self-help. Oh! And Maddie is finally out of the Wheel of Time slog. We let the TBR wheel pick some of our reads this month too, so things got a little chaotic (in the best way).Come hang out for book reviews, big opinions, and our take on why Robin Hobb is still the queen of epic fantasy (and why George R.R. Martin might need to take notes 👀). Timestamps are below so you can jump around!We mentioned our friend Gina and Michael in the episode. Here are their awesome channels:‪@geenahreads‬ ‪@KistReadsBooks‬ We also mentioned the ‪@TheDiaryOfACEO‬ podcast episode with Anna Lembke. It's this one:    • Dopamine Expert: Doing This Once A Day Fix...  And you can download Maddie's FREE Dune Reading Guide here:https://drive.google.com/file/d/12QRO...TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro01:32 Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta Book Review06:03 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Book Review10:19 The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gill Book Review17:06 The Shadowed Land by Signe Pike Book Review22:08 Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke Book Review30:32 Vilest Things by Chloe Gong Book Review33:05 11/22/63 by Stephen King Book Review37:32 Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake Book Review43:59 Dune by Frank Herbert Book Review47:05 Oathbound by Tracy Deonn Book Review50:43 Heartless by Elsie Silver Book Review55:34 Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (Winter’s Heart and Crossroads of Twilight Book Reviews)01:03:23 The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb (Royal Assassin, Assassin’s Quest, Fool’s Quest, and Assassin’s Fate Book Reviews)Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #ReadingWrapUp #Romantasy #SciFiBooks #StephenKing #RobinHobb #WheelOfTime #BookReviews #TBRList #WhatToReadNext #MonthlyReads #BookRecommendations #BookishPodcast #ReadersOfBookTube