The Library Coven

A bi-weekly podcast in which two besties read young adult fantasy through a critical lens

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  • The Final Strife lays on top of a white cloth and blue marble background, flanked by 2 skeins of blue yarn and one skein of orange yarn
    Episodes

    Episode 81: The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

    May 23, 2023 /

    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, this is not young adult / YA! The Final Strife tells the story of mainly Sylah, who was trained from a young child to be a rebel with the Sandstorms, but things kind of fall apart when the family who trained her is murdered, and we see what her life has…

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    We Hunt the Flame on a white blanket

    Episode 32: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

    July 14, 2020
    book, Legendborn, on a grayish blue background with fairy lights at the top and bottom

    ARCHIVE: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

    November 8, 2022
    book, Vicious Spirits on a blueish gray background

    Episode 55: Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho

    August 10, 2021
  • The Atlas Six on a white cloth and blue marble background. 4 skeins of orange yarn flank the book on each corner
    Episodes

    Episode 76: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

    February 7, 2023 /

    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 topics at times. We chose this book because it was making the rounds on social media, and we wanted to see for ourselves what all this hype was about.  Notes for this ep are short and sweet. Did you read The Atlas Six? Let us know what you think! Recommend if…

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    A Song of Wraiths and Ruin on a blue, white and gold marbled background

    Episode 39: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

    October 20, 2020
    book, Vicious Spirits on a blueish gray background

    Episode 55: Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho

    August 10, 2021
    Novel A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT with grass and fallen leaves

    Episode 7: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

    November 18, 2018
  • Hard cover copy of Circe on blue marble background
    Episodes

    Episode 63: Circe by Madeline Miller

    January 25, 2022 /

    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, but there’s not too much in this novel. Also, this book is a book for adults, although a mature young adult might enjoy it as well. Content warning for this episode and the book for discussions of sexual assault We will be preparing for our next season soon! If you want…

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    son of a trickster held up by a light brown hand in front of a white/snowy background

    Episode 66: Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson

    March 8, 2022
    Book Gods of Jade and Shadow on a black marble background

    Episode 33: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    July 29, 2020
    book Bruja Born on a white background with skulls

    Episode 38: Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova

    October 6, 2020
  • Mexican gothic sits atop a pile of orange pumpkins with scrub brush in the background
    Episodes

    Episode 60: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García

    November 9, 2021 /

    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 is a book for adults. It is not YA book.  Without further ado, show notes! Recommend if you like.. The House on Haunting Hill by Shirley Jackson. There’s also a Netflix show for that book The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Córdova (also not YA) Lovecraft Country by Matt…

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    Oculta on a blue marble background, flanked by skeins of blue, teal and white yarn

    Episode 65: Oculta by Maya Motayne

    February 22, 2022
    We Hunt the Flame on a white blanket

    Episode 32: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

    July 14, 2020
    The Atlas Six on a white cloth and blue marble background. 4 skeins of orange yarn flank the book on each corner

    Episode 76: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

    February 7, 2023
  • light purple stationary items, pens, Washi tape beside an iPhone with the screen showing The Burning God on audiobook
    Episodes

    Episode 59: The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

    October 19, 2021 /

    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 this episode and for the book. This is a book for adults. It is not YA book. Content warnings for war, violence, murder, starvation, drug use, cannibalism, and suicide.  With that said, on to the show notes! Recommend if you like.. A Game of Thrones (aka A Song of Ice…

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    Book Gods of Jade and Shadow on a black marble background

    Episode 33: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    July 29, 2020
    A Heart So Fierce and Broken on a blue and white background

    Episode 56: A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

    August 24, 2021
    Map from Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

    Episode 28: Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova

    December 23, 2019
  • Paperback copies of The Fifth Season, The Stone Sky and The Obelisk Gate stacked on blue fabric
    Episodes

    Episode 46: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

    January 26, 2021 /

    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. What are your thoughts on this book? Content Warning for discussions of murder, torture, child abuse, and cannibalism On to the notes, which are quite short this week! The Witcher season 1 – slight spoilers about the timeline in that show K brings up Avatar: The Last Airbender (as she is…

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    Book, A Sky Beyond the Storm on a blue and grey marble background with a red sweater underneath the book on the left, and a pair of vintage scissors on the right

    Episode 50: A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

    June 1, 2021
    Hardcover of The Dragon Republic lays on top of decorative paper with anatomical heart drawings

    Episode 43: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

    December 15, 2020
    Hardcover version of Nocturna sit on a bright red background

    Episode 41: Nocturna by Maya Motayne

    November 17, 2020
  • paperback copy of Queen of the Conquered on top of a purple and white decorative paper
    Episodes

    Episode 45: Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender

    January 12, 2021 /

    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 by the white Fjern. When all those in line to the throne are gathered for the storm season and start to be killed off one by one, chaos ensues. As it does. Content warning for discussions of rape and white supremacist violence.  Callender also wrote Felix Ever After. It’s on our TBR!…

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    book, Legendborn, on a grayish blue background with fairy lights at the top and bottom

    Episode 51: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

    June 15, 2021
    Picture of Children of Virtue and Vengeance on a white comforter

    Episode 34: Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi

    August 11, 2020
    Faith Taking Flight by Julie Murphy on dark blue marbled background

    Episode 64: Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy

    February 8, 2022
  • Hardcover of The Dragon Republic lays on top of decorative paper with anatomical heart drawings
    Episodes

    Episode 43: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

    December 15, 2020 /

    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 which we discussThe Poppy War.  Full disclosure: this series is not YA and Kelly uses verbal air quotes an embarrassing number of times in the episode. You’ve been warned. Enjoy! Content Warning for discussions of genocide, sexual assault, drug use and other instances of extreme violence.  This isn’t the first time…

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    A Magic Steeped in Poison surrounded by 4 skeins of warm colored yarn in reds and oranges. A white cloth and blue marbled surface make up the background.

    Episode 83: A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

    June 27, 2023
    Mexican gothic sits atop a pile of orange pumpkins with scrub brush in the background

    Episode 60: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García

    November 9, 2021
    Hardcover copy of Six of Crows in front of a winding dirt road. Background is snowy mountains and bright blue sky

    Episode 22: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

    June 18, 2019
  • Book Gods of Jade and Shadow on a black marble background
    Episodes

    Episode 33: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    July 29, 2020 /

    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, abolishing ICE and migrant justice as well as to support organizations doing this work. Watch/listen to the final plenary from this year’s Allied Media Conference, “From Dreams to Practice: Abolition in Our Lifetimes”. The panel features a TON of rad ppl doing abolitionist work, including Miski Noor, Tawana “Honeycomb” Petty,…

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    A Song of Wraiths and Ruin on a blue, white and gold marbled background

    Episode 39: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

    October 20, 2020
    The Lost Dreamer surrounded by 4 skeins of grey, maroon, gold, and teal yarn on a white cloth and blue marble background.

    Episode 74: The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

    November 29, 2022
    The Poppy War by RF Kuang against the backdrop of a snowy landscape

    Episode 15: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

    March 11, 2019
  • The Poppy War by RF Kuang against the backdrop of a snowy landscape
    Episodes

    Episode 15: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

    March 11, 2019 /

    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 assistance We apologize ahead of time for any mispronounced words, names, and/or places. As is usual, we referenced quite a few things, and you can find more information below! Shamanism Drug traditions from around the world and hallucinogenic drugs The history of The War on Drugs in the US K…

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    Hardcover copy of Six of Crows in front of a winding dirt road. Background is snowy mountains and bright blue sky

    Episode 22: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

    June 18, 2019
    The Lost Dreamer surrounded by 4 skeins of grey, maroon, gold, and teal yarn on a white cloth and blue marble background.

    Episode 74: The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

    November 29, 2022
    Book Gods of Jade and Shadow on a black marble background

    Episode 33: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    July 29, 2020

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  • Episode 81: The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi