Besties and the Books Podcast

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You know what time it is! SHOWTIME! 🎭

We’re drama kids over here on the Besties and the Books podcast so these Am I the A-Hole holiday episodes are really our time to shine. Today we’re officially back in our surprise Halloween wigs and it’s the best time of the year: spooky season! 

Liz is sporting a bright red clown wig with snatched Betty Page bangs that she could never pull off with her naturally cowlicky hairline… and Ashley… is Edward Cullen. So really, the bottom line is that we’ve never looked better. Finding out five minutes before filming what we're wearing is always a good time, and a little bit of a jump scare!

Is the lady with Halloween decor on the sidewalk making everyone walk in the street an a hole? Is it messed up to sabotage the pre planned family costume without telling anyone ahead of time, just because you want to go as Batman… as a grown adult? Would it make someone a jerk to run away in fear and leave your friend on the floor of a haunted house? 

Join us for a fave and fail costume edition, a smash or pass with the tallest and most beautiful elf of mainstream cinema who also happens to be a hot man in real life, and an eff, marry, unalive for some classic spooky season faves. 

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing an “Impressive Wingspan” t-shirt from @Down the Bond & an Edward Cullen Wig from Amazon | * https://link.amazon/B0icvrw0U

Liz is wearing a Spooky Feminist Sweatshirt from Etsy & a Crazy Red Clown Wig from Amazon | * https://link.amazon/B09hGXk7A

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

How is Insurgent for a middle book? Compelling or basic? We’re reading the Divergent series for the first time and today we’re diving deep into Insurgent, book two in the original trilogy. As the “middle book,” which can sometimes be the most difficult to get through in any series, we’re here to answer the question: does this one hold up? 

Tris and Four are figuring out how deep the government conspiracies go and have to make some difficult choices to survive. This has them questioning if they, or the rebels they're supporting are becoming just as tyrannical as those they’re trying to overthrow. 

As we prepare to bring you our deep dive coverage on the new release: The Sixth Faction, and The Last Testimony (out on February 2, 2027) we’re examining these young adult novels with a fine toothed comb. How are they contributing to the “are books political” conversation? Are these stories considered coming of age? And how do they execute science fiction and dystopian themes that are digestible for young audiences? We want to know if the new duology is necessary, timely, and entertaining, and if it’s a money grab or actual quality.

Oh… and we’ll also be following up on our thoughts regarding Tris and Four and their suspicious similarities to a certain other couple in a certain other series that we’ll now be referring to as "Divergent with Dragons…” Join us for all this, then tune in next Friday for Allegiant, the epic (and polarizing) conclusion to the original trilogy! 

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing a Eureka Books Tee from @eurekabooks | https://www.eurekabookshop.com

Liz is wearing a Scream Ghostface Crewneck from Etsy

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

Did you add Defy the Dusk to your preorders yet? Hmmmm?? Sometimes you meet your heroes and they turn out to be just as badass as the FMCs in your favorite books they’ve written. Today we’re sharing our spoiler free interview with the incredibly talented Danielle L Jensen to celebrate the upcoming release of Defy the Dusk, part one in her brand new post-apocalyptic fantasy duology. She’s the absolute queen of high fantasy world-building, knows how to write banter and dialogue that is unmatched, and has A LOT to say about “romantasy” as a genre. 

Defy the Dusk is book one in her newest adult post apocalyptic fantasy series - The Sundering Duet. And it will be out everywhere you find your books, including Audible on November 3rd, so get your preorders in now!  It’s already a New York Times bestseller along with her Saga of the Unfated Duology which we read for book club, her Bridge Kingdom Series which many of you know and love, and her young adult Dark Shores and Malediction Series. Danielle’s novels are published internationally in twenty-three languages, and she lives in Calgary, Alberta with her family and guinea pigs.

We talk about her backlist and what to expect from each of her uniquely constructed worlds and magic systems, how Defy the Dusk is different from her other previous works, and how symbolic it is of our current political climate. What specific dystopian media has influenced her work? Has Danielle always been a writer? Does she relate to her characters? And what can we anticipate from her in the future?

Listen on to get to know the talent behind these intricate stories, and hear the unexpected answer to our on-the-spot smash or pass… Defy the Dusk edition. 

Pre-Order your copy of Defy the Dusk Now! | https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/773240/defy-the-dusk-by-danielle-l-jensen/

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing a cropped Besties and the Books hoodie | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd 

Liz is wearing our Besties and the Books Exclusive Beanie (coming soon!) | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

We’re reading the Divergent series for the first time! We know, we know… we’re an entire fifteen years late, but our curiosity finally got the best of us and the timing seems pretty perfect. 

Sci-Fi Summer has turned into dystopian sci-fi fall because Veronica Roth decided to come out with a whole new alternate reality duology retelling of the Divergent universe starting with The Sixth Faction. Part one dropped about two weeks ago, and part two, The Last Testimony, releases everywhere on February 2, 2027. 

We’re here to expand our “‘market research” of the dystopian, science fiction, “are books political?” and coming of age genres. We’ve covered The Hunger Games, Wicked, and Red Rising because we recognize how relevant these stories are in our current societal climate and we want to keep these conversations going. Plus, we want to know if the new duology is necessary, timely, and entertaining. Is it a money grab or is it actually good? 

We’ll be releasing a full-length bonus episode on Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four, plus the short story We Can Be Mended, and finally, The Sixth Faction plus the movies! And don’t worry, in February we will follow up with our official ranking and wrap up with The Last Testimony. Join us on Instagram and over on the free Fable app for our spoiler free reading updates. 

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing our Besties and the Books Merch | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Liz is wearing a discontinued  “Fireheart” hoodie by @downthebondofficial | Code: BestiesandtheBooks | https://www.downthebond.com

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

Out of all the Colleen Hoover books, Verity came the MOST recommended. Ashley and Liz found themselves ferociously turning the pages of their new favorite read: the romantic thriller Verity,  in rapt anticipation, unable to see what could come next from the impossibly complex and unpredictable plot. So captivated by the impeccable character development, suspense, and sheer psychological terror they almost missed their opportunity to see the movie in theaters (with seats and tickets being so scarce and hard to come by due to record sales). Fortunately for everyone, they snapped out of their Colleen Hoover induced trance just long enough to watch the movie that would change both of their lives forever… 

Wait… is it Opposites Day or did we just need a convenient excuse to get y'all to watch this episode and happened to find that paragraph on a secret flash drive or hidden note? (IYKYK 😵‍💫🤪.) 

We read our first Colleen Hoover book, watched the movie it was based on… and now we’re here to share our unfiltered thoughts and reviews. Do we understand the fandom? Are we now a part of it? Do we have a fever that can only be cured by more COHO? Or were three of the hottest actors of all time fumbled by a screenplay based on a book that left much to be desired?

We answer all of these questions plus discuss the secret (problematic) second epilogue, give you our five sentence summary, book versus movie showdown, and star and spice ratings. 

We’ve got all this, plus a fave and fail about the over-the-hill-and-through-the-woods adventure journey which was Liz seeing Verity at a Humboldt County movie theater, cold brew coffee fails and Haunted Mansion decor, and a smash or pass all about… you guessed it… Verity.

 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing a custom Loki tank top from @RadVentureLand on Etsy | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/4ftmw/

Liz is wearing a “Bat Sh*t Crazy” Crewneck Sweatshirt by @darkanddisturbedshop | Code: VEGAN10 | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/bat-shit-crewneck?_pos=2&_sid=eb8fa2b05&_ss=r

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

Well, we Read Threshing Day. First and foremost we’d like to strongly and emphatically reiterate (because apparently that’s what we do here in the book community) that Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros is NOT book four in the Empyrean Series, so don’t get your hopes up! Okay, now that that’s been said…

Today we’re covering Threshing Day, book 3.5 in the Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros. It came out a week ago, it’s a 224 page partner novella, and is it worth it? That's what we’re here to answer today! We’ll give you our spoiler free star and spice rating of this somewhat surprising release as we wait for the upcoming official full-length installment in this dragon series with a cult following. 

We’ll discuss if it was necessary. Is it a cash grab? Is it something you can enjoy without reading the rest of the series? Are there spoilers? Easter eggs? Is this multi-pov novella written entirely about Threshing day and each recruit’s meet cute with their soul-bonded dragon chalk full of interesting dragon lore? 

We do have to say that the extensive artwork by @joerequeza.art is completely off the rails amazing so go give him a follow, and don’t be deceived by the gray cover, because it’s what’s on the inside that matters!

We bring you our unfiltered thoughts, a fave and fail about spooky season movies, and a smash or pass all about dragons. 

 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing a “Diners and Drive-ins and Dungeons and Dragons and Dives” t-shirt from @ TikTokShop | * https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP9D8rgT66Ts3-yIpiD/

Liz is wearing a “Going for Blood” Violet Fourth Wing tee from @thebeanworkshop | Code: BOOKBESTIES10 | https://thebeanworkshop.store/products/going-for-blood-t-shirt

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

Forgive us, Crows. For we have sinned. It has been zero minutes since we’ve made bookish confessions to our besties. (And it’s not looking like we’re stopping any time soon. 🤷‍♀️😜)

Today is a no-homework-necessary, look into the camera like it’s 1994 and you’re about to disclose to MTV exactly what you did in secret, type of episode. We kick it off with a big shout out to friend of the pod Anthony Palmini on his amazing recommendation for his most unhinged narration as Red, the Koolaid Man in the sentient object romance Cold Sweat by Vera Valentine. How many stars did we give this spicy gem? Do we find a big glass jug… sexy?

Then we read off and respond to bookish confessions from Reddit and Threads, spill the Koolaid on our own personal bookish confessions, and then top it all off with a smash or pass “Is this embarassing?” style. I mean really… How many copies of Wuthering Heights do you think Liz has? And to Ashley, we beg the question: how important IS an epilogue, really? 

We hope this episode creates a safe space to disclose your most deviant book behaviors. If you have a confession, send it our way!

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing a “Diners and Drive-ins and Dungeons and Dragons and Dives” t-shirt from @ TikTokShop | * https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP9D8rgT66Ts3-yIpiD/

Liz is wearing our branded Besties and the Books Zip Up Hoodie | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The season of the crows has officially returned and as slightly spooky, elder emo, introverted book girls, it’s our time to shine. 

We invite you to cozy up with a blanket and a crispy Alani, light that overpriced candle, and watch Edward Cullen lean his awkward fingers against tables and trees in the background while we talk fall. (It’s like talking “shop” or “business” but much more serious.) Because we have a fever, and the only prescription is more Halloween! 

Today is a no-homework-required mess-around. We chat about this year’s fall hopefuls, favorite recent spooky reads, and then have some fun guessing popular horror books and movies based off of one star reviews. We even add in some spooky stories from Reddit and a smash or pass to fit the season. 

We hope this episode gets you in the mood and helps ward off the impending darkness-at-5pm doom. 

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing: a Vans Warped Tour Hoodie  |  https://vanswarpedtourmerch.com/

Liz is wearing : a “Final Girl” Tshirt from @ShadowBoundSpines | https://shadowboundspines.com/products/final-girl-tee-gildan 

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

Burn of the Everflame, book four and the final installation in The Kindred’s Curse Saga by Penn Cole is the talk of the town in the Romantasy world. Today we’re doing our deep dive, reviewing one of the most anticipated releases of the year… and our opinions might be different than you think. 

After deep diving Spark, Glow, and Heat and having the lovely Penn Cole on the podcast twice to talk about strong female characters, deep themes, and writing under pressure, was Burn what we thought it would be? Did it live up to the expectations we had for the end of Diem and Luther’s story? And when all is said and done, what rating did we officially give it? 

Stick around for special commentary from Penn herself on the emotional ending to her debut series, and get our star rating, spice rating, five sentence summary, faves and least favorites, and our discussion… in detail… about whether Luther is still book boyfriend material or not. 

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

Watch our Spoiler-Free interview with the Author Penn Cole herself all about Burn of the Everflame https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=gUv1FBT3ugk7Fyho

We go behind the book with Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her NYT Bestseller The Poison Daughter! Don’t miss it! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=e2uOKPVRQjsIhVCb

Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE

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Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing: Vans Warped Tour Hoodie https://vanswarpedtourmerch.com/

Liz is wearing : A “I Still Read Fairytales” Villian Crew by @shadowboundspines | https://shadowboundspines.com/products/i-still-read-fairytales-just-for-the-villains-now-crewneck?_pos=13&_sid=5377b326e&_ss=r

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Liz 
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This deep dive coverage of Light Bringer was the most difficult in this bonus series to film. Pierce Brown… you have unapologetically broken us with this book and we do not know if we can forgive you. Ashley took a whole star away from her spoiler free rating for the pain and suffering. Did Liz feel the same way? Do you? 

In today’s final episode (for now!) in our Red Rising bonus series we will not only be discussing in great detail every aspect of how Light Bringer made us feel, we’ll also be revealing our favorite book in the series so far, and how we rank them from “worst” to best.” That way when the series is completed we can jump back in, read the new book (or books), reflect, and do our final rating and ranking. If we’ve learned anything in these past few months it’s that anything can change at any moment. And even when you think you’re ready for the pain, you’re not. 

We kicked off Sci-Fi Summer with a full-length episode introducing the genre and setting the scene for a closer analysis of science fiction. Next, we covered the original trilogy in detail, books one and two of the second trilogy and have officially rated every book a resounding five stars. Last week’s episode had us truly wondering what Brown was going to pull off next, and he did not disappoint. Can we talk about Hangar 17B? 🫠😭🥴

Today we’re diving into book six and the last available installation in the series: Light Bringer. Darrow is making a comeback in a way we’ve never seen, training not just his body, but his mind in the ways of “the force,” but is it enough? Old decisions come back to haunt our favorite characters, and just when everything seems to be crumbling around them, unlikely alliances are made. How long until we can expect Red God? And what are our unanswered questions and predictions? 

We bring you our spoiler free reviews, “Five Sentence Summary” and all our faves and least faves, but also discuss sci-fi themes, differences and similarities to fantasy, the romance, genre miscategorization, lore and fun facts, quotes, character growth and relatability, and most importantly… themes. And lastly, we’ll be taking the Sons of Ares prequels, conspiracy theories, and spinoffs. What else should be cover? Because truly, we are not ready to leave this world behind. 

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! 

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKb

We interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4

Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE

Nikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B

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Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing an “Undead Readers Club” from @BookBabeDesigns | https://bookbabedesigns.com

 Liz is wearing: our branded besties and the books beanie | https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz 
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife 

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix