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Well, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried; we’ve gasped and screamed and waited with breath that was bated… and now here we are, at book six: Goldfinch, the final installment and official conclusion to the Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy. 

What an incredible journey this has been. So today, to commemorate the ending of our coverage, we’re bringing you our final deep dive AND our official book ranking, our rating of the series as a whole, our thoughts on the ending, and our premonitions for the future! 

We discuss our favorite and least favorite parts, characters, and tropes, but also get into deeper themes, feminist and societal issues addressed, and why this Romantasy series is particularly important (and one of our favorites of all time). We also talk audiobook deets, Goodreads reviews, and potential openings for a spin off series. And… we introduce a new tool in the Besties workshop: the Cryometer™.Yes, it’s a gauge designed to track and quantify how many tears Raven Kennedy collected from us during this 706 page rip-your-heart out finale. 

Tune in for all that, our recent Disney trip fave and fails and a smash or pass, rapid fire Plated Prisoner edition.

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

Check out these narrator & author 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

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

+ so many more!

____

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You’ve heard us scream her praises over and over for the last two years and finally… She's here with a new book and big news to spill! K.M. Lister, the author behind one of our very favorite Romantasy rip-your-heart-out one offs The Shackled Serpent is here to chat with us about her newest release Above the Ashes, a post apocalyptic Romantasy and book one in her Survivors of the Smoke Trilogy. So sit back, get those book orders in, and prep to read with this spoiler free look behind the curtain!

Above the Ashes is a dystopian post apocalyptic story about an FMC who cannot touch any living thing without turning it to ash. We have different realms, found family, a perfectly written slow burn, and a bleak landscape inspired by dystopian settings. Think: Fallout, but in K.M.’s version we might get some romance, a magic system, and some compelling world building with our horrific curse-riddled hellscape! We know you all will eat this up just like we did! 

We know that K.M. is an absolute master at making us feel ALL the feelings, and we can’t wait for you all to jump on this bandwagon. We talk about the writing process, self publishing pros and cons, additional works coming down the pipeline, character inspo, deep themes, and drop two BIG pieces of news. One is disguised as a smash or pass, and the other is an exciting announcement you’ll hear here first! 

Follow K M Lister on Instagram @EarthToKace  | https://www.instagram.com/earthtokace?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

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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

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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Ashley is wearing:  a Twilight Vintage style t-shirt from LambComedy | * https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT9JWeP68q2yk-I0EzA/ 

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

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Crow fam… we need to talk. We read our very first Jane Austen novel ever: Pride & Prejudice, and we may have some unpopular opinions. Will the fandom (and possibly you, our dear listeners) be upset with us? I guess you’ll have to listen on to find out what us two gals had to say about this beloved classic, going in blind, with only ourselves and the crows to guide us. 

Just kidding! We also brought in a guide to help us through it. Sarah over @sarahsliteraryworld, our go to gal and “phone a friend” mini episode guest helped kick off book two in this classics series with our last bonus episode: “Pride & Prejudice for Dummies.” She goes over the basics like themes, characters, Jane Austen’s life, which movie adaptations are best, and any tips and tricks to make a first time read that much easier. So go check that out if, just like us, you feel like you might be missing something. Or a lot of things. 

Today we rate the book, the 2005 movie adaptation, discuss which we liked better, and discuss if it’s possible to respect an author and novel for its groundbreaking work and social commentary while also… possibly not loving it. We talk faves and least faves, tropes, themes, characters, and… what exactly was Jane Austen trying to say through this 1813 satire? And does it translate in 2026? 

We hope that you enjoy this bonus mini episode, and will join us for our future coverage of book 3 in the series: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

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

Need more Halloween reads in your life? Find out if “Halloweentown for adults” with Gilmore Girls vibes might be for you with our Haven Ever After Hazel Mack Interview! https://youtu.be/-kDxchCTysw?si=KpEbcsCHAniU-JTS

____

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Ashley is wearing:   “Once Upon a Broken Heart” sweater from @thebeanworkshop | BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10

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Today we’re taking a deep dive right into book five in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy: Gold. This is the book in the series where the tone completely changes, our main characters are forced to evolve individually,while “side” characters get their legs, and breaking generational curses, healing trauma, and revolution are at the forefront. It’s the setup for the epic conclusion, and definitely reads as a “part one…” so how do we feel about that? 

We give you our spoiler free star and spice ratings and faves and fails, then dive into the five sentence summary (multi POV style), the tea on the audiobook and all our unfiltered thoughts, and then discuss themes, quotes, and why this book might be more difficult for some but is absolutely necessary to build character arcs, and pivotal overall to the series. 

Did we find Easter eggs? (Yes. Liz found two 😳.) Do we have unanswered questions? (LOTS.) What about plot holes? Are we excited to read the next one? (Scratching at our enclosures. No pun intended…)

We dive into all this and more, plus a fave and fail with Alani Nu, mental health, and Dracula, and a smash or pass featuring a maybe beloved M&M and Scream King Lillard!

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

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing:  “Support Your Local Book Dealer” tee from @ShopWildeshadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com

Liz is wearing :  A Carissa Broadbent Keraji tie dye hoodie but the shop is sadly out of business 

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Well, we finally read our first Jane Austen Novel… and OF COURSE it had to be Pride and Prejudice! We needed to know what the hype was about, and why this book is such a pivotal piece of the romance canon. What is that hand flex all about??!!

Welcome to our newest bonus series where we’re taking deep dives into some of the most beloved classics of our time. We kicked it off with Wuthering Heights, and today we’re moving on to our Jane Austen journey with a cutie little crash course into Pride and Prejudice.

We decided that rather than attempt to become overnight experts we would phone a friend! And today Sarah @sarahsliteraryworld is here to give us a little help with Pride and Prejudice as first time readers and helps provide us with the tips and tricks we need to really understand this novel. 

Sarah breaks down the Bennett family dynamics, the setting and timeline, gives us some background on Jane Austen herself, outlines central themes, and gives us all her advice on how to truly immerse yourself in this story. 

We hope that you enjoy this bonus mini episode, and will join us for our future deep dive into the novel and movies! And don’t forget to go follow @Sarahsliteraryworld | https://www.instagram.com/sarahsliteraryworld/ for some more amazing bookish content! 

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

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing our merch:  Black Crop Besties Hoodie 

Liz is wearing our merch:  Grey Full Zip Besties Hoodie

Shop the collection: 

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What’s it like going to a bookcon? What are some tips and tricks we have to make the most of your romantasycon experience? We’ll tell ya! At the beginning of this year we set some podcast goals for 2026 and shared them with you all… and just a week later we were invited to join Fabled Fantasy Events for their 2026 Romantasycon event in LA as media partners! To go to a bookcon in a professional capacity was an absolute dream come true, and a way for us to really see that this is just the beginning! Because of you and all the amazing people we’ve met in the book world, we hope to do many more events in the future. So THANK YOU for listening. Without our Crow Cult we’d just be two silly ladies yappin’ about books… with you, we get to be a MURDER of crows yappin’ about books. 🤘

Today we go over our faves and fails of the epic weekend, our tips and tricks for making the most out of your con experiences, and we talk about the highlights of the bookcon experience! We hosted a panel about mixing horror with Romantasy and got to interview Kaylie Smith, Erin A. Craig, Autumn Kraus, and Bea Northwick! Then we hosted a second panel about magic systems and world building with MM Parks, Adalyn Grace, Laura Thalassa, and JD Evans. Please go check all of these authors out and give them a follow -  It was an absolutely amazing experience and we can’t wait to do it again! 

To filming our 100th episode in our hotel room, to meeting all of you in the wild, to our Wuthering Heights obsession… it was a weekend to remember! We go over all of this and even dish advice for people in the media space working at a bookcon for the first time. 

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

• Shop our NEW Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/ROMANTASYCON (use code “ROMANTASYCON” to save on orders of $30+, expires 04/01/2026)

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

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley and Liz are both wearing: Our *NEW* “Sword of the Ugly Truth” cropped tee (also available in classic tshirt fit and cropped tank top) | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/ROMANTASYCON

(use code “ROMANTASYCON” to save on orders of $30+ expires 04/01/2026)

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Today we’re taking a DEEP dive right into book four in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy: Glow. What happens after the FMC realizes her power and lets her feminine rage free? And how does our MMC navigate that? This book is all about that transition… but just when we thought we could relax a little we’re thrown another major curveball and the rug is pulled out from under us (and every character) once again. 😳🤯

We give you our spoiler free star and spice ratings and faves and fails, then dive into the five sentence summary, the tea on the audiobook and all our unfiltered thoughts, and then discuss why and how fantasy books can help us process hard things, believe in our inner strength and ultimately (with the right support system) rise from those mother-effing ashes, baby! 

Did we find Easter eggs? Do we have unanswered questions? What about plot holes? Are we excited to read the next one? DUH!!! We dive into all this and more, plus a fave and fail Ashley’s birthday, small business support, mystery finger injuries, and good old fem rage edition, and a smash or pass with clicking noises and a gold… member? 

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

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing: a Twilight Vintage style t-shirt from LambComedy | *  https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT9JWeP68q2yk-I0EzA/ 

Liz is wearing :  “Climb the Mountain” white tshirt  from  @shopsecondbreakfast

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!

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“We can cover Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë in one episode. It’ll be fine.” 😂Yeah, that used to be us. Until we read it… and watched it, and became aware of the insane amount of social issues this story dives into, what people had to say about that in 1847… and what they’re saying about it now. 

One episode naturally evolved into at least three episodes: the mini reading guide, the deep dive book vs. movie, and now our response to the insane amount of online discourse flying around regarding the new Emerald Fennell movie adaptation. Our “hot takes” if you will. And to be honest, there may end up being more episodes in the future because Wuthering Heights and “Wuthering Heights” are both BEASTS in their own right. 

Was Jacob Elordi the right person to cast as Heathcliff? Were race, class, and sex examined in depth? Was generational trauma, abuse and consent covered in a way that does the book justice? Is Heathcliff actually a villain in the story? Why is Nelly’s character so important in both iterations? 

We take it even further to examine why this movie is under such intense scrutiny, why others in a similar vein are not, why things created for women and by women are discredited repeatedly, and why romance is not only political, but how that may actually have been one of Emily Brontë’s goals… to encourage us to discuss and debate that very thing. 

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 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

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing:   “Anti Social Social Book Club” Besties and the Books Zip Up Hoodie | https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/products/zip-hoodie-grey-besties-anti-social-crow

Liz is wearing : “God is a Woman” Crop Tank by @feralreaderco | https://feralreaderco.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

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Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
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Today is for the real MVPs. Just when you thought things over here at Besties and the Books Podcast couldn’t get any weirder… may we present to you our 100th episode filmed from our hotel room at Romantasycon Los Angeles 2026, slumber party style! We’ll be bringing you a full recap video of RomantasyCon Bookcon in all of its glory, but before then, please enjoy this “after dark” gardening 🌱💨 edition of the pod to get to know us even better.

We play our version of the Newleywed Game, where Rucinda (our bestie and bts Bookcon assistant) moderates with questions like: “Name your bestie’s exact pizza order” or “Who would they take into Mordor with them?” Then we play the headphones game with popular fantasy questions… iykyk. And we end with a series of on the spot smash or passes.

There are lots of laughs, some tears, and a whole lot of good vibes we’re sending your way for helping to get us to this milestone. Cheers to 100! And the next 100!

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

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing
Ashley is wearing: A grey Crescent City Zip Hoodie from  ⁨@caffeineandcurses7364⁩ | https://caffeineandcurses.com

Liz is wearing :  Besties & the Books Pullover Hoodie & Special Edition 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

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Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
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Liz 
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Famous last words: “We can cover Wuthering Heights in one episode. It’ll be fine.” 😂Yeah, that used to be us. Until we read it… and watched it, and joined the amazingly large and polarizing discussion about it on social media. Then it turned into at least three episodes. The mini reading guide, the deep dive book vs. movie (which is what we’re covering today), and at least one more episode responding to the HEAP of online discourse.

The 1847 gothic tragedy, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, and the 2026 Emerald Fennell movie adaptation have taken the world by storm, for better or for worse. And both pieces of media seem to elicit the same responses from critics: it’s either too much or not enough. Would Brontë be impressed or disgusted by this interpretation of her novel? Are there major problems with representation, point of view, and central themes? Is Wuthering Heights even a romance? Is it “smut?”

We get into all our usual commentary on the book versus movie, we rate and review them both, break down the plot in 5 sentences, plus give a snippet of insight about the 1992 movie and the audiobook production. We even drop a few fun facts and answer the important questions like smash or pass Edgar or Heathcliff. Buckle up because this one is haunting us.

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

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

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing: “Anti Social Social Book Club” Besties and the Books Zip Up Hoodie | https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/products/zip-hoodie-grey-besties-anti-social-crow

Liz is wearing :  “God is a Woman” Crop Tank by @feralreaderco | https://feralreaderco.com/products/womens-micro-rib-racer-tank-top-5

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