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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    paperback copy of Queen of the Conquered on top of a purple and white decorative paper

    45. Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender

    January 12, 2021
    book, Vicious Spirits on a blueish gray background

    55. Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho

    August 10, 2021
    Novel CITY OF BRASS on multicolored fabric

    23. The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

    July 4, 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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    Book Pet on a teal background with dog paws coming in from the right side of the frame

    47. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

    February 9, 2021
    Novel A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT with grass and fallen leaves

    7. A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

    November 18, 2018
    Paperback copy of The Marrow Thieves held in J's left hand. A natural landscape of greens and browns is in the background.

    30. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

    June 17, 2020
  • 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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    Faith Taking Flight by Julie Murphy on dark blue marbled background

    64. Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy

    February 8, 2022
    Novel A BLADE SO BLACK surrounded by a circle of playing cards

    13. A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney

    February 11, 2019
    Highlighted section of text (Descendant of the Crane by Joan He) on a black kindle. A sunflower sits on top of the kindle

    17. Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

    April 8, 2019
  • 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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    The Poppy War by RF Kuang against the backdrop of a snowy landscape

    15. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

    March 11, 2019
    The Lost Dreamer surrounded by 4 skeins of grey, maroon, gold, and teal yarn on a white cloth and blue marble background.

    74. The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

    November 29, 2022
    Light-skinned black hand holds HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS

    25. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig (slash an entire year of the show!!)

    August 7, 2019
  • 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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    The Lost Dreamer surrounded by 4 skeins of grey, maroon, gold, and teal yarn on a white cloth and blue marble background.

    74. The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

    November 29, 2022
    Cover art of RUIN AND RISING

    9. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

    December 17, 2018
    Mexican gothic sits atop a pile of orange pumpkins with scrub brush in the background

    60. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García

    November 9, 2021

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