Episode 81: The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
In this episode, we discuss The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi, which was recommended to us by Melisa, one of our patrons (hey!!). Please consider supporting this work on Patreon for early episodes and a direct line to J & k via the podcast Discord. Note: this is an adult fantasy novel that has a lot of explicit violence on the page. Repeat,…
Episode 80: Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray
It’s episode 80!! That means we’ve done 80 of these long-form book reviews and discussions over the past 5+ years. Whether you’re just finding the show or have been here since the early days, we’re glad to be in your orbit. In this episode, we discuss Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray. Koffi, an indentured beastkeeper with hidden powers, and Ekon,…
Episode 79: The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
hiya, everyone! We’re discussing The Witch King by H E Edgmon in today’s episode. Both of us listened to (and enjoyed!) the audiobook, which is narrated by Dani Martineck. Trans masc witch Wyatt has run away from his magical home and commitments, being taken in by Briar and becoming besties…but those of us who read fantasy know that it’s not…
Episode 78: Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
Hey, book lovers! It’s been busy over here in our respective worlds – hence the episode delay 🙂 We hope you enjoy this conversation about Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi, one of our fav contemporary authors. Better late than never, right?! In the novel, we follow our MC, Bitter (who we know as Jam’s mother from the first book Pet), as she learns the…
ARCHIVE: Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
In anticipation of our upcoming show about Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi, we’re re-releasing our 47th episode about Emezi’s earlier novel Pet. The following conversation originally aired in February 2021. Stay magical, bbs!! Greetings, coven! In this episode we discuss Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, their debut young adult novel. It’s a pretty quick read that deals with some heavy issues in ways that are…
Episode 77: A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger
Y’all, we’re excited to bring you this episode about A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger, a (relatively) newly minted Newberry Award honor winner!! Worlds collide when a group of animal spirits (including a cottonmouth snake, a pair of coyote twins, a Cooper’s hawk, and a magpie) crosses over to the human world in order to save their…
Episode 76: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Our winter podcast hibernation is over, and we’re back with fortnightly episodes starting with a discussion of The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake, an adult fantasy novel about six magical adults who join a secret(ish) society. Again this is a book for adults, but it could be an ok fit for a mature teen as the story does deal with some pretty heavy…
2022 Year In Review
It’s that time again! We’re hitting your airwaves with a recap of our year in media. Thanks for sharing spacetime with us in 2022 🙂 with gratitude, Jessie & kelly P.S. The podcast feed will be in hibernation until February 7th, 2023, when we’ll be back to fortnightly releases with an episode about The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake. Until then, feast…
Episode 75: Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
It’s finally here, y’all! Our discussion of Bloodmarked by Tracey Deonn, the eagerly anticipated and long awaited sequel to Legendborn. This book picks up right where we left off in Legendborn. There are lots of weird politics, tons of racism, and so much tension between Sel and Bree that it made J’s cold, dead heart very happy. So let’s get…
Episode 74: The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
Our conversation today is about The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta, a transportive fantasy novel that weaves together two perspectives – Indir and Saya – both powerful Dreamers who can access the Dreaming dimension and gain knowledge there. Change is coming to the city of Alcanzeh following the death of an elderly king and the ascent of his violent heir.…
Episode 73: Sia Martínez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vázquez Gilliland
Today we’ll be discussing Sia Martinez and the Moonlit beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, which follows Sia on a wild adventure as she deals with the murder of her mother, friendship woes, and falling in love. Oh and aliens! Chaos does indeed ensure, and there is so much to talk about (though very few show notes) Content warning…
ARCHIVE: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
In honor of Bloodmarked‘s publication day, The Library Coven re-presents you with this episode from our archive! Originally aired in June 2021, here is our take on Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. Content warning for discussions of racism, slavery, and parental death interested in reading along with us? Check out the upcoming books for Season 5 on our future episodes page. behold, (the original) show…
Episode 72: The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros
Today we’re discussing an historical fantasy novel, The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros. Set in Chicago in the late 1800s, Romanian Jewish immigrant Alter Rosen is swept up in a city-wide mystery after his bestie and crush Yakov is killed (spoiler! Sorry not sorry but if you didn’t guess it was queer then what show do you even think you’re…
Episode 71: Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor
This week we’re discussing Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor. This story follows Zahrah, a 13 year old girl who is born with special hair called dadalocks. When her best friend falls into a coma after a snake bite, Zahrah, who is scared of pretty much everything, has to take a journey through the jungle to find a cure. This…
Episode 70: Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
You aren’t ready for the cute puns and shenanigans of the Spare Coven! In Episode 70 we discuss Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega, a middle grade novel full of friendship, magic, and toads. Jessie and kelly reveal the shape their familiars would take and think about what their names might be prophecies for. Recommend if you like… Pet* by Akwaeke Emezi…
Episode 69: The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
AND WE’RE BACK! Season 5 begins with our discussion of The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, the first book in the Burning Kingdoms series. This book is a multi-POV tale that mostly follows Priya, a young adult with magical powers who’s entire adopted family has been killed, and Malini, an exiled princess who is trying to steal the throne from…
Episode 68: Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
It’s our final episode of season 4 of the podcast, y’all! We read Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas, a Peter Pan redux with plenty of twists. We’ll be back with more episodes in summer of 2022. If you want to pick one of the books we read for next season, join our Patreon! It’s a pay-what-you-can model…
Episode 67: A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown
Welcome back, coven! In this episode we are discussing A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown, the sequel to A Song of Wraths and Ruin which we talked about all the way back in episode 39! This book picks up right were the last one left off with Karina on the run and Malik living in the…
Episode 66: Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
We’re back for what might be the most chaotic episode yet! join us for our discussion of Son of A Trickster by Eden Robinson. Attempting to summarize this book is an exercise in futility (you’ll understand when you hear k try to give an on-the-fly synopsis…). While this book can get categorized as YA (the protagonist, Jared, is 15-16), there is a…
Episode 65: Oculta by Maya Motayne
We’re finally going back to Castellan and reuniting with Finn and Alfie! In this episode we discuss Oculta by Maya Motayne, the second installment of the A Forgery of Magic series. This book is the sequel to Nocturna, which we discussed in episode 41, so go check that out if you haven’t yet! In Oculta, we’re back in San Cristobal, with Finn and Alfie trying…
Episode 64: Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy
Ahoy there, coven! Today we’re discussing Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy, a book about a nerdy suburban teen who can fly. After Faith’s all-time favorite show The Grove moves filming to her small town, a spate of human and other-than-human disappearances starts, and Faith is determined to get to the bottom of things. Chaos does indeed ensue! This book…
BONUS! Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert
Hiya, coven! This is a super special holiday bonus episode that we recorded especially for our patrons. Annnnnd now it’s a month later, so all y’all can enjoy our discussion of Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert, one of our absolute favorite contemporary romance authors. Yep, you read that right – contemporary romance! This novella follows Bailey and Cash who end up…
Episode 63: Circe by Madeline Miller
Dearest coven, this episode comes on the recommendation of J’s good friend and podcast Patron, Deanna! We dig into the novel Circe by Madeline Miller, which is a retelling of the Greek Circe’s story from being born half-nymph half god… are nymphs also gods?…idk…to her exile on Aiaiya, her love life and lots of other things. Normally we’d say chaos ensues,…
2021 Year in Review
Hello, Coven! It’s that time of year where we take a look back at the books, TV shows, and movies that got us through the year. Thank you to all of the people who asked questions and more generally to everyone for listening! We hope you find some new and interesting things to read and watch. Let us know in…
Episode 62: Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
Greetings, coven! In this episode we’re discussing Fireborne by Rosaria Munda, Book 1 of the Aurelian Cycle. Kelly calls this book Game of Thrones meets How to Train Your Dragon (there are some GOT spoilers ahead, but it’s an old show at this point so….) Please excuse our faulty memories on this one — there’s a lot going on in the world and we read the…
Episode 61: Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
Hello, coven! We’re back with a conversation about Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse. There’s some debate as to whether or not the book is young adult, but we enjoyed it regardless. Show notes below! Content warning: brief mention of sexual assault (24:55-25:40) Why did we pick this book? J read Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse when it came out…
Episode 60: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García
Dearest coven, our non-YA streak continues with the perfect read for fall slash Halloween: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García. It’s the right amount of creepy and has a badass young woman MC who’s determined to solve a morbid mystery. Shoutout to our lovely patron Melisa who picked the book for this show! Content warning for sexual assault and eugenics talk. We repeat: this…
Episode 59: The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
Hey, coven! In this episode, we discussing The Burning God by R.F. Kuang — the third and final book in The Poppy War series. Rin is working to take down a bunch of people, and change the way Nikara is run. But is she the best person to do that? Rin doesn’t think so! Let’s just start with the content warnings for…
Episode 58: Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older
In this episode, we’re transported to a magical Brooklyn in Daniel José Older’s novel Shadowshaper, the first in the Shadowshaper Cypher series. Congratulations to Daniel, who has the esteemed honor of being the first (and so far only) cis-dude we’ve read for the show. In Shadowshaper, we follow Sierra, a Black Puerto Rican Brooklyn-ite, who discovers she has powers to…
Episode 57: Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
hey, coven! we’re excited to bring you this discussion of Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger. J & K both loved this book and are gonna recommend it widely going forward. *ALERTA* Darcie has a new book coming out November 9th, A Snake Falls to Earth. We’re definitely pre-ordering and/or requesting from the library!! Please take our survey if you haven’t already! We’ve…
Episode 56: A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
Welcome back! In this episode, we chat about A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer. We share thoughts on such topics as special editions, disability as a disguise, the trope of naming dudes “Hawk,” and whether “Iisak” is pronounced “eye-sack.” And be ye warned, there are some ACOTAR and Star Wars spoilers ahead. Check out our episode on the first…
Episode 55: Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho
Hello, beautiful ones! This fortnight we’re discussing Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho, the second book in the Gumiho series. Join us to find out how Somin, Junu, Miyoung and Jihoon deal with grief and magical/inter-dimensional disruption. There’s romance. There’s banter. What’s not to love? Check out Episode 40 for our discussion of Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1) Stay magical, bbs! We still…
Episode 54: We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal
Hello, wonderful Coven! This week we’re bringing you a discussion of We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal, the second and final (maybe?) book in the Sands of Arawiya series (Check out episode 32, where we discuss the first book, We Hunt the Flame). We had a great time reading this one, and we will read anything Hafsah writes in the future…
Episode 53: Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
This fortnight, the amazing debut novel streak continues! We’re discussing Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart. Tune in for a deep dive into a nuanced magical system and some close reading of Smart’s excellent wordsmithing. Also, we have a good time trolling each other in the “Real Talk” segment. Content warning for brief discussions of rape, sexual assault and child death.…
Episode 52: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Hello, Coven! This week we’re coming at you with a discussion of The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. We had such an amazing time reading this debut novel, and we can’t wait to see what happens with the future of the series! On to the notes! Content warning for discussions of rape, sexual assault, violence, parental death, and mentions of Harry Potter.…
Episode 51: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Hey, everyone! We’re so incredibly excited to share this episode about Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. It’s a captivating, innovative and insightful riff on Arthurian legend set in contemporary North Carolina. Jessie and Cynthia’s (of @cynthiasreadinglist) campaign to get everyone to read this book continues! Content warning for discussions of racism, slavery, and parental death A quick reminder: we still have…
Episode 50: A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir
Hello, beautiful coven! We’re back for season 4 with all new episodes, and we’re starting out strong with A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir, the final book in An Ember in the Ashes series. If you want to check out the other books’ discussions you can find them here: An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, & A Reaper…
Interview with Reni K. Amayo, author of Daughters of Nri
Final interview episode coming at you with Reni K. Amayo, author of The Return of the Earth Mother series and founder of Onwe! The first book in the series, Daughters of Nri is available now, and you can pre-order the forthcoming book in the series, Decedents of the First, which is available October 5th! You can find Reni on Instagram or Twitter, and…
Interview with Katy Michelle Quinn, author of The Girl in the Walls
We’re excited to bring you our second interview! This time we’re chatting with Katy Michelle Quinn. She is the author of Girl in the Walls, which is out June 1, 2021 from Clash Books. You can preorder the book here! Say ‘hi’ to Katy Michelle Quinn on twitter or instagram. Katy has attended Bizarro Con and misses those moments of connection…
Interview with Ashaye Brown, author of Dream Country
We’re thrilled to bring you this interview with author Ashaye Brown (she/her) whose debut novel, Dream Country,will be released on April 27, 2021. Aka next week (!!) for those of you listening when the episode drops. This will be the first in a mini-series of three author interviews we will be releasing in the lead up to our next season of…
Episode 49: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
It’s here! Our final episode of Season 3, in which we discuss A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas, the 3rd book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. It’s a longer episode…#SorryNotSorry because we have so many thoughts and feelings! We’ll be back to regularly scheduled programming (aka bi-weekly podcasts about a-mah-zing books) starting June 1st, 2021.…
Episode 48: Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
Hello, Coven! How is your winter going? We’re excited to bring you a new episode discussing Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland and finishing up the Dread Nation series. If you need a recap of what in the first book, you can check out our episode about Dread Nation! Please consider taking our supporter survey! It should require only 5-10 minutes and…
Episode 47: Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Please consider taking our supporter survey! It should require only 5-10 minutes and it will help us get to know our audience and get your feedback about the content we create. http://bit.ly/LibraryCovenSurvey Greetings, coven! In this episode we discuss Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, their debut young adult novel. It’s a pretty quick read that deals with some heavy issues in ways…
Episode 46: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Hold on to your hats, folks! This fortnight we’re reading The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, the first book in The Broken Earth Trilogy. And no matter how many people talk about their love for this book, it was not our cup of tea! We spent a lot of time being confused, and maybe had more questions than answers in this…
Episode 45: Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender
In this episode we’re discussing Queen of the Conquered Kacen Callender (they/them), the first book in the Islands of Blood and Storm series. The book takes place in a Caribbean-inspired fantasy world and follows our main character, Sigourney, as she makes a bid for power as the only Black person in contention to rule the islands that have been colonized…
2020 Year in Review
Let’s take a look back at all the wonderful things we loved in this shit show of a year– most of them book-related, although we chat about film/TV a fair amount too. We want to share our favs with y’all in the hopes of spreading a bit more joy around. Please reach out and let us know yours as well! …
Episode 44: Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Hello, coven! And welcome to one of the last episodes of the shit show that has been 2020! This week we’re discussing Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them). Let’s talk about some swans! What is magical realism? We talked a bit about being Latinx and white. There have been lots of great discussions about this, and here are 2 videos…
Episode 43: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
Hello everyone, and most especially to Saidah, who emailed us in December 2019 asking about when we were going to record an episode about R.F. Kuang’s The Dragon Republic. Saidah, we’re only a year late, but that time is now! If y’all need to recap the first book in the series, you can check out Episode 15 of the podcast in…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (10) The Final!
And just like that series 11 (or collection 8 for us folks in the US) is over. It was so much fun to have this during this fairly terrible time, and we hope you’ve all enjoyed listening to our ramblings about the show. Now time for a re-watch! [gif of Matt waving to Noel] Transcript to come Spring 2021 As…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (9) The Semi-Final and Patisserie!
Tune in for our ramblings on the chaos that was patisserie week! Alas, this season of GBBO is almost over *crying emoji* Almost no notes this time! But here’s that tweet Kelly mentions.
Episode 42: Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova
Hello, coven! This week we’re discussing Wayward Witch, the third and final (?) book in the Brooklyn Brujas series by Zoraida Córdova. You can check out our episodes about Labyrinth Lost and Bruja Born if you need a refresher about what happened in the earlier books! Which was your favorite of the series? What would be your sinmago power be? Full episode transcript below…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (8) Dessert Week
Hello, Coven! We’re at week eight of Great British Bake Off, and where did the time go!? This week, it’s all things desserts, and a very unusual technical. Who do you think is making it to the final? Just a few notes: compote is “a dessert originating from medieval Europe, made of whole or pieces of fruit in sugar syrup. Whole fruits are cooked in…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (7) 80s Week
ahoy, bakers and reader/listeners! This season of GBBO is nearly over (NOOOOOO), but we’re still excited to share this bonus ep with y’all. We talk quiche, donuts, and ice cream cake. Oh, and Jessie gives us a lesson on air fryers. Enjoy! [gif of Mel and Nadia holding up index and pinky fingers – metal!]
Episode 41: Nocturna by Maya Motayne
hiya, coven! This week we’re coming at you with a discussion of Nocturna by Maya Motayne. We both loved this book and didn’t realize how complex the world building and magical system were until we came together in conversation (aka we’re both a little befuddled, and that’s fine!). Motayne’s debut novel is full of relatable characters and exquisite writing. Oh, and there’s magical…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (6) Japanese Week
We are more than half way through this season of GBBO, and I am so sad! Here’s to the first ever Japanese week! What were your thoughts? [gif of Mark smiling and laughing]
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (5) Pastry Week
Hi, everyone! We can’t believe that it’s already halfway through this season of GBBO. Tune-in for our discussion of the much-anticipated pastry week. Visit The Traveller Movement website , check out this op-ed in the Guardian about antiziganism/racism, or this handy “GRT Representation: Media Response Toolkit” for more on GRT (Gypsy, Roma, Traveler) ethnic groups. There is so much to learn. Do the research,…
Episode 40: Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
Hello, Coven! This week we’re coming at you with a discussion of Wicked Fox by Kat Cho. We really enjoyed reading some urban fantasy that took place in South Korea. What are your thoughts about this book? We’re a bit light on notes, because we actually stuck to the book more than usual! Call to action: It’s November 3, and…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (4) Chocolate Week
We’re coming at you this week to talk about all things episode 4 of series 11 or Chocolate Week! This week was a wild ride, so prepare yourselves! Here is the article J mentioned about GBBO [a gif of the Prue-gasm] As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (3) Bread Week
It’s finally time for Bread Week! Here is our third bonus episode in the GBBO series. [actual footage of Jessie and Kelly preparing for recording this episode. JK! it’s Mel and Sue wearing front zip hoodies and shaking out their shoulders] As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using…
Episode 39: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
hey, magical beings! This fortnight we’re bringing you a conversation about A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, the first in a planned duology. The second/final installment, A Psalm of Storms and Silence is due out in early 2021. Content Warning for discussions of parent death, panic attacks, and child abuse. ChildHelp Call 1-800-422-4453 for assistance Call to Action: take care of…
BONUS! Great British Bake Off (2) – Biscuit Week
Time for biscuits and episode 2 of our very special bonus episodes about GBBO! What did you think of biscuit week? How are you feeling about the season? [gif of Steph trying to get her merengue off the beater into a metal bowl] As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the…
BONUS! Ep 1 of Our New Series on Great British Bake Off
Greetings, dear coven. We are excited to introduce our new series of bonus episodes following each new episode of Great British Bake Off! The program is also known as the Great British Baking Show on Netflix/in the USA ( because copyright law). J & K are both amateur bakers who enjoy making everything from bread and patisserie to cookies and…
Episode 38: Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova
Hello, coven! This is one of the last few episodes where we refer to ourselves as JK, It’s Magic. We hope you like our new name, and that you feel like you’re part of the coven. This week we’re talking about Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova, were we get to know a lot more about Lula! If you need a recap…
BONUS! Umbrella Academy
We’re coming at you with a super special bonus episode discussing all things about the first two seasons of Umbrella Academy! If you enjoy this episode, let us know, and let us know about any other bonus episode things you’d like to see in the future!! As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or…
Episode 37: A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Greetings to all you magical beings out there! This fortnight, we’re discussing A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. We immensely enjoyed Kemmerer’s spin on the whole Beauty and the Beast tradition, and we found Harper to be one of the most relatable and badass protagonists! There’s so much about this novel that we found relevant to our pandemic…
Episode 36: Crier’s War by Nina Varela
Hello, magical folx! This fortnight we’re discussing Crier’s War by Nina Varela! This book is fantasy adjacent, and leans a bit more toward science fiction, but we have lots of world building and robot things to talk about! Call to action: This week we’re educating ourselves on how the various technologies we use impact BIPOC and disabled people. Here are two books…
BONUS! 2 years of the podcast
Hello, magical friends! We’ve got a bonus episode for you! We recently celebrated 2 years of the podcast! We are so excited to have been in communication with you for the last two years! The time has really flown by. We just wanted to take this time to thank you all who have been here since the beginning, and thank…
Episode 35: Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
hello, everyone! We’re excited to bring you this episode about The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black, the final installment of the Folk of the Air series (after The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King– which we discuss in episode 8 and episode 16, respectively). In the novel, we finally get to find out what happens to Jude and Cardan, and we see everything that unfolds…
Episode 34: Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi
Hello, magical friends! This fortnight we’re coming at you with a discussion of Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi, the second book in the Legacy of Orïsha series. If you need a recap of the story or what we talked about in the first book, check out episode 2 (so long ago!!!) about Children of Blood and Bone. First up,…
Episode 33: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Hey, magical folx! In this episode we discuss Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, which is *NOT* YA. We gotta say this at the top because its some sexist bs that women/femme adult fantasy writers get miscategorized as YA (read about how sexism impacts genre categorization). *Call to action* This fortnight, we’re urging our magical community to learn more about abolishing borders,…
Episode 32: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Hello, magical ppl! In this episode we dive into We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, which J & K both enjoyed immensely. Join us for a conversation about how much we <3 enemies-to-lovers ships, badass protags like Zafira and Kifah, Faizal’s impressive world-building, and much more. Content Warning for discussions of child abuse. ChildHelp – Call 1-800-422-4453 for assistance And…
Episode 31: A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney
Hello, magical folx! This week we’re discussing A Dream so Dark by L.L. McKinney, the second book in the Nightmare-verse series! In this episode we’re making predictions about the future books in the series, talking about “urban” fantasy, and coming at you with some major Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker spoilers (you’ve been warned!). For a refresher for what happened in…
Episode 30: The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Hey, magical folx! This fortnight we discuss The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline, a prolific author who is a member of the Georgian Bay Metis Community. Hope you enjoy and learn something(s). BLACK LIVES MATTER. Content warning for discussions of sexual violence and addiction. RAINN – Anti-sex violence assistance. Call 800-856-4619 or visit their website for assistance. Calls to Action Follow, support, and…
Episode 29: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Hello, magical folx! This week we’re discussing Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, the second book in the Six of Crows series. Check out our Six of Crows episode for a refresher on what happened in the last book! Side Note & Content Warning: We know we’ve been gone for a bit, and we appreciate you patience as we get back in the…
2019: Year in Review
Happy New Year! With 2020 upon us, we wanted to take a look back at 2019. In this very special episode, we’re looking back at some of our favorite books, TV shows, movies, and other things from 2019, and talking about what we’re looking forward to in 2020. We’d love to hear about your favs from the year and what…
Episode 28: Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
Hello, magical listeners! We’re coming at you this week with a discussion of Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova, the first in the Brooklyn Brujas series. J & K discuss the failed system of incarceration and the implications of those systems on brown people, beautiful world building, and Latin American folklore. There may also be a few tangents along the way……
Episode 27: Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron
Oh hello again, magical listeners! J had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Rena Barron’s Kingdom of Souls, and we’re finally bringing you our conversation about this expansive, thrilling novel. It has one of the the most complex magical systems of anything we’ve read for the podcast so far. Enjoy! Content warning: we briefly discuss sexual violence in this…
Episode 26: The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen
Hello, magical listeners, and welcome back! We are starting season 2 by reading The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen. We’re talking science fiction, mental health, and sexist school norms in this fortnight’s episode. *We received this book as an ARC form the author* We want to give a content warning for this episode as we discuss issues of depression and…
Episode 25 House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig (slash an entire year of the show!!)
Have you ever imagined what Downton Abbey would be like if it took place in the Iron Islands and was actually a supernatural murder mystery inspired by a Brothers Grimm story?? Well, House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig is all that and much more! Tune in for K’s double entendres and puns and stay for J’s incisive…
Episode 24: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Hello, dear listeners! This fortnight we’re reading Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim, a new retelling of Mulan. We found some pretty problematic areas in the book, but found the story quite captivating overall. As a note, we did receive this book as an ARC, but our feelings and reactions to the story are honest. Content Warning: This book deals…
Episode 23: The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
Magical listeners! We’re taking a break from YA this fortnight to bring you an episode about the incredible fantasy novel The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty. The show notes happen to be long this time — why not research-it-up and check out the links to learn some stuff? About magic, fiction, history, religion, language: The author has curated a…
Episode 22: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
This fortnight we’re discussing Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. The first book in the Six of Crows duology and the fourth book in the Grishaverse series. We discussed a wide range of topics including slavery, sex work, and stereotypes of different cultures. Content warning: In this episode we discuss sexual harassment, sex slavery, and childhood trauma/violence We promised resources…
Episode 21: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Finally, the ACOMAF episode is here! J & K both adore ACOMAF, and in the spirit of that affection, we don’t shy away from dredging up the novel’s problematic aspects. Generous and loving critique is, after all, what our podcast is all about. If you need a refresher, catch up on our discussion of A Court of Thorns and Roses…
Episode 20: Interview with Kelly
Hey listeners, welcome to the second (and final) installment of our interview mini-sodes! In this episode, Kelly fields questions from Jessie about a plethora of extremely important topics including superpowers, fur babies, astrology, and books (#obvi). Like Jessie did for the last episode, I (Kelly) am updating the show notes with information I forgot to share in the interview. Feast…
Episode 19: Interview with Jessie
Hey, everyone! We’ve decided to do something different and interview each other for the next two episodes so you can get to know us better! In this first interview, Kelly is interviewing Jessie. Is there anything you were surprised to learn? Jessie is writing the show notes to include anything else she forgot to say in her interview! I am…
Episode 18: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
This fortnight we’re discussing Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, one of the most intersectional books we’ve read yet! We talked about the intersectionality of race, class, gender, and colonialism. We chatted about shipping, impostor syndrome, and many many other things. We adored this book, and we can’t wait to see what Justina Ireland has in store for us next! As…
Episode 17: Descendant of the Crane by Joan He
This week we’re discussing Descendant of the Crane by Joan He. We received this book for free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review (which we promise to always provide). We discussed monarchies, constitutions, colorism, and magic this week, as well as many other topics. Below are links to all the resources and things we had to look up,…
Episode 16: The Wicked King by Holly Black
Happy Spring, listeners! In Episode 16 we discuss The Wicked King by Holly Black, the much-awaited sequel to The Cruel Prince. Content warning: emotional and physical child abuse. ChildHelp – Child Abuse Assistance – Call 1-800-422-4453 if you or someone you know is the victim of child abuse Below you can find links to all of the topics and references…
Episode 15: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
This fortnight J & K are discussing The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. We’re diverting a bit from our usual YA Fantasy books. This book is definitely for adults, and not for the faint of heart! The characters are complicated, the story is complex and violent, and there is a ton of action. Content Warning: In this episode we discuss drug use, rape, genocide, and other instances of extreme violence. ChildHelp – Child Abuse – Call 1-800-422-4453 for…
Episode 14: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Listeners, the time has finally come to talk about A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, the first book in one of our favorite series. We saved the rest of the series spoilers for a special end segment that begins around 1:11:45. If you haven’t read the rest of the books and/or don’t want spoilers, be sure to skip that! You’ll notice…
Episode 13: A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
This fortnight we’re discussing A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney, and there were a ton of Alice in Wonderland puns from K, as this is a modern retelling of the story. Don’t expect to get any hints about this story because you read the original. This is a whole new take! As always, there were a ton of outside…
Episode 12: A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Hello esteemed listeners! We adored A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee*!! What a delightful romp of a book*. Below you’ll find plenty of links and resources to complement our discussion. **We want to recognize that Mackenzi Lee has been pretty problematic as a person and author, and we while we did enjoy this book at the time,…
Episode 11: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Happy New Year, Listeners! We are excited to read and discuss new (and old) book with this year. Any suggestions for books you’d like to read with us? This fortnight we’re discussing Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan . J & K have some mixed feeling about this book. We loved the elaborate back story and well fleshed out setting, but…
Episode 10 (!): A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
Listeners, we made it to Episode 10! A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir made J & K fear for the fate of our favorite characters and ships in upcoming 4th book of the Ember in the Ashes Series. At one point we discuss the possible importance of the Nightbringer’s true name and wonder if true names “are a thing” with fae. Further…
Episode 9: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
In episode 9 we are discussing Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo For the first time, J & K have quite different feeling about the ships in this book, but we are both very excited about the upcoming King of Scars, which will be released on 29 January 2019. Content Warning: In this episode we discuss sexual assault and self harm If you…
Episode 8: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
J & K thoroughly enjoyed the dark and twisty world of The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. Episode 8 features not one but TWO of K’s now infamous research rabbit holes. #RavenclawFTW. Content Warning: physical, mental, and emotional abuse If you or someone you know has been the victim of child abuse, please call ChildHelp 1-800-422-4453 for assistance The first is about all…
Episode 7: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
Reading A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir led to discussions of the prison system, mythology, and accountability. We loved how exciting a prison break can be. And this book had surprises around every corner, which had K reading the book immediately after finishing the first. Question: Are Avitas and Elias full or half siblings? Below are some articles and information…
Episode 6: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
In episode 6 J & K are discussing City of Bones by Cassandra Clare which K is reading for the first time! As always, we found many things interesting, because apparently that’s what we do. Content warning: In this episode we discuss child abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, there are resources for you. Please consider contacting the National…
Episode 5: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
J & K talk about book 2 of the Grisha Trilogy, Siege and Storm, by Leigh Bardugo. We forget Fyodor’s name and find many things “interesting” (should we find new descriptors? probably). Content warning: discussion of sexual assault If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact RAINN Call 800-856-4619 or visit their website for assistance Sorry for the late…
Episode 4: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Episode 4 already!?! We can’t believe it either! This week we’re talking subverting your government, assassin schools, terrible mothers, and rape culture in Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes. An Ember in the Ashes was fact paced, violent, and exceptionally amazing! Content Warning for discussions of rape and child death. Full transcript below or access the PDF version of…
