The Library Coven

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

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  • A light brown hand with dark nail polish holds The Wicked Bargain aloft in front of a blazing red maple tree
    Episodes

    93. The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa

    March 26, 2024 /

    Our season 6 winning streak continues with The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa. We both LOVED the audiobook narrated by the incomparable Vico Ortiz (Jim from Our Flag Means Death). The novel tells the story of Mar, a magical enby/genderqueer/trans-guy whose father made a deal with the literal devil that comes back to haunt everyone. It’s a book about chosen family, survivor’s guilt, alchemizing self loathing learned from the wider society, and picking your battles (against colonizers, obvi).  Recommend if you like… Our Flag Means Death (show on HBO) Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas for another latine trans guy magical protagonist Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callendar (adult series) for more revolutionary plots and complicated feels (Episode…

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

    59. The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

    October 19, 2021
    Map from Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

    28. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova

    December 23, 2019
    Ereader with SPIN THE DAWN on top of a red book next to a cup of coffee

    24. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

    July 16, 2019
  • The Lost Dreamer surrounded by 4 skeins of grey, maroon, gold, and teal yarn on a white cloth and blue marble background.
    Episodes

    74. The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

    November 29, 2022 /

    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. Indir has a pivotal role to play, while Saya travels and keeps her gifts hidden. There is a whole LOT of talk about chaos in this book, and my notes are a bit chaotic tbh, so let’s do this! Recommend if you like…  Chosen one stories: Black Sun by Rebecca…

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    Sea dragon on the cover of Siege and Storm

    5. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

    October 23, 2018
    Paperback copy of Blanca & Roja rests on background of purple and navy flowers

    44. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

    December 29, 2020
    Oculta on a blue marble background, flanked by skeins of blue, teal and white yarn

    65. Oculta by Maya Motayne

    February 22, 2022
  • A light brown hand with dark nail polish holds a copy of Sia Martinez in front of a cornfield
    Episodes

    73. Sia Martínez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vázquez Gilliland

    November 15, 2022 /

    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 before we get into this book: the book makes mention and so our conversation will touch on topics of sexual assault, child abuse, ICE, police, racism, bullying, PTSD, and Harry Potter Recommend if you like… Unidentified Suburban Object by Mike Jung for a middle grade rec Dear America by Jose…

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    Hardcover copy of Raybearer on a white cloth, surrounded by 4 skeins of jewel-toned yarn on each corner

    82. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

    June 6, 2023
    J & K in matching t-shirts in front of Hogwarts Castle

    2019: Year in Review

    December 31, 2019
    That Self-Same Metal held aloft by a light brown hand with black nail polish in front of a tree with blazing red autumn foliage.

    92. That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

    March 12, 2024
  • book Bruja Born on a white background with skulls
    Episodes

    38. Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova

    October 6, 2020 /

    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 about what happened in the last book, check out our Labyrinth Lost episode. Call to Action: This week, we’re asking that people learn more about ways they can lend a hand to those experiencing homelessness. One place you can start is The National Alliance to End Homelessness. Full Transcript Below (or…

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    book, A Court of Wings and Ruin on a shiny blue-green floral scarf

    49. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

    March 9, 2021
    light streaks across a copy of Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn on top of a white cloth and blue marble background

    75. Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

    December 20, 2022
    Trail of Lightning held by a light brown hand with black nail polish. gold autumn leaves in the background

    61. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

    November 30, 2021
  • Map from Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
    Episodes

    28. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova

    December 23, 2019 /

    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… And there are some spoilers for the movie Coco. There aren’t a ton of show notes this week. See you in a fortnight! Full transcript included below. Or access the pdf version.  We talked a bit about diversity in YA, but here are the stats from 2018, which includes children’s…

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    A light brown hand holds A Crown So Cursed in front of a blazing red tree.

    88. A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney

    January 16, 2024
    A light brown hand with dark nail polish holds a paperback of Fit for the Gods in front of a blazing orange tree and blue sky.

    89. Fit for the Gods: Greek Mythology Reimagined edited by S. Zainab Williams and Jenn Northington

    January 30, 2024
    Ereader with SPIN THE DAWN on top of a red book next to a cup of coffee

    24. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

    July 16, 2019

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