Episode 174 - The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis

For years, The Silver Chair was Tim's favorite Narnia book.

But was it actually the book or was it his dad's absolutely legendary voice for Puddleglum doing all the work?

Sam and Tim revisit one of the most beloved entries in the Narnia series and ask a dangerous question: does childhood nostalgia hold up under adult scrutiny?

We discuss:

• Why The Silver Chair became Tim's favorite as a kid

• The unforgettable Puddleglum voice that defined the story for him

• How the book reads differently as an adult

• Whether the themes and characters still work

• If nostalgia enhanced the experience or completely carried it

And, of course, we spend plenty of time talking about one of Narnia's most unique and memorable characters.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

00:54 Background

02:06 Age Level & Content Warning

02:56 Judge a Book by Its Cover

04:30 Discussion

44:54 General Thoughts

47:00 One Question for the Author

49:14 Rating

50:52 Read Again?

51:13 Favorite of the Series so Far

52:51 Outro

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Episode 173 - Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

After more than a decade of encouragement, recommendations, and relentless badgering from Danielle, Sam is finally caught up on the entire Hunger Games book series.

Mission accomplished.

Now comes the next challenge: convincing her to watch the movies.

But first, we have to answer a much bigger question:

Is Sunrise on the Reaping the best Hunger Games book?

Danielle says no.

Sam is prepared to make her case.

We discuss:

• Sam's first-time reaction to the newest Hunger Games novel

• Whether it belongs at the top of the series ranking

• The themes that make the book resonate so strongly

• How it changes the way we view the rest of the series

• Sam's increasingly controversial Hunger Games reading order: Book 1 → Sunrise on the Reaping → Book 2 → The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes → Book 3

Whether you agree or disagree, this episode is packed with Hunger Games discussion, rankings, and probably a few hot takes.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

00:51 Background

08:09 Age Level & Content Warning

8:33 Judge a Book by Its Cover

10:12 Discussion

58:13 General Thoughts

01:04:50 One Question for the Author

01:06:05 Rating

01:06:58 Poetry in the Book

01:08:26 Favorite of the Series

01:10:10 Reading Order

01:12:28 Outro

📖 Follow the Author - Suzanne Collins

Website: https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

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Episode 172 - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“You just need to get past the first book.”

That was the recommendation. Repeatedly.

So Sam and Kaitlyn finally picked up Throne of Glass and… oh boy.

We get into what worked, what absolutely did not, and the question we kept circling back to the entire episode: Why did people keep reading this series?

From characterization to pacing to the overall reading experience, we unpack why this first entry was a rough ride for both of us while also trying to understand the absolutely legendary reader loyalty surrounding Sarah J. Maas.

Honestly, the author’s ability to inspire devotion deserves academic study.

We talk about:

• First-time reactions to Throne of Glass

• Why the “it gets better later” recommendation is so fascinating

• What did (and didn’t) work for us

• Whether we understand the fandom… at all

If you’ve ever pushed through a first book because everyone swore the series improves, this one is for you.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:51 Background

06:35 Age Level & Content Warning

08:21 Judge a Book by Its Cover

10:46 Discussion

01:05:32 General Thoughts

01:08:36 One Question for the Author

01:09:57 Rating

01:10:59 Read Again?

01:11:40 Outro

📖 Follow the Author - Sarah J. Maas

Website: https://sarahjmaas.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofsarahjmaas/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjmaas/

Twitter: https://x.com/SJMaas

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahjmaas

🔗 Connect with Us on Socials

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⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 171 - Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

(Disney’s Meant to Be Series, Book 5)

This episode is personal.Worth Fighting For is the reason we started covering the Meant to Be series in the first place and somehow, it’s also the reason Keira became a co-star on the podcast. Expectations? Extremely high. Stakes? Weirdly emotional.

So… was it worth the hype?

Oh boy.

Sam and Keira dive into the fifth Meant to Be book, unpacking:

• Whether the story lived up to the anticipation

• How it compares to the rest of the series

• The characters, romance, and execution

• And what happens when a book carries way too much personal expectation

Sometimes the most anticipated reads become favorites.

Sometimes they become podcast episodes.

If you’ve been following our Meant to Be journey, this one is a must-watch.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST

✨Next week: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

⏱️ Time Stamp

00:00 Intro

1:11 Background

08:51 Age Level & Content Warning

10:33 Judge a Book by Its Cover

12:42 Discussion

01:01:49 General Thoughts

01:06:56 Ideas for More Books

01:12:31 One Question for the Author

01:14:03 Rating

01:15:32 Read Again?

01:15:54 Favorite of the Series

01:18:56 Outro

📖 Follow the Author

Jesse Q. Sutanto

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jesseqsutanto.com/⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/JesseQSutanto/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thewritinghippo⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jesseqsutanto/⁠⁠⁠

TikTok:⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jessesutanto?lang=en

⁠⁠⁠Good Reads:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19278992.Jesse_Q_Sutanto⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 170 - Brigands & Breadknives by Travis BaldreeThis series just took its biggest swing yet.Sam and James dive into Brigands & Breadknives, the third published book in the series and easily the biggest departure from the original formula so far. The cozy fantasy vibes are still here, but this story shifts gears in a way we definitely didn’t expect.And somewhere along the way we realized something important:This is fantasy Eat, Pray, Love.We are not kidding.We talk about:• How this book changes the series formula• Why the shift works (or doesn’t)• Character growth, wandering, and self-discovery• Why “fantasy Eat, Pray, Love” somehow feels weirdly accurateIf you’ve been following this series, this episode gets into whether big swings help a cozy fantasy world grow or move too far away from what made readers fall in love in the first place.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro02:10 Background04:02 Age Level & Content Warning08:15 Discussion54:14 General Thoughts55:39 One Question for the Author57:07 Rating01:00:18 Read Again01:02:05 Favorite of the Series so Far01:02:35 Outro📖 Follow the Author:Website: ⁠⁠https://www.travisbaldree.com/⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TravisBaldreeNarrator/⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TravisBaldree⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠https://discord.com/invite/duzCS2D⁠⁠🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 169 -The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie

We’re finally reading one of Christie’s most famous mysteries and we’re going in completely blind.

Sam and Hannah try to solve The ABC Murders in real time, following the clues, tracking the pattern, and throwing out theories as we go. Sam, in particular, develops a WILD and genuinely juicy theory that sends us down a very entertaining path while Hannah is just along for the ride.

And somehow (against all odds) Hastings isn’t that bad in this one. We’re just as surprised as you are.

We talk about:

• First-time reader reactions to a Christie classic

• The structure of the mystery and how it guides (or misguides) the reader

• Sam’s theory and how it holds up

• And whether this one earns its reputation

If you like trying to solve mysteries before the reveal, this is a fun one to play along with.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

00:58 Agatha History

01:59 Background

02:20 Age Level & Content Warning

02:38 Judge a Book by Its Cover

04:33 Discussion

10:36 AAA

13:27 BBB

18:57 CCC

28:32 DDD

32:23 The True Culprit

37:05 General Thoughts

39:37 One Question for the Author

42:32 Rating

44:12 Read Again?

44:56 Favorite of the Series so Far

47:16 Outro

🔗 Connect with Us on Socials

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754

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Episode 168 - The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun (The Cat Who Series Book 7)

Are these books getting darker or are we just noticing it now?

Sam and Tim continue their journey through The Cat Who series with The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare, and Tim is convinced this is the darkest installment yet. Sam isn’t so sure.

We talk about:

• Whether this book actually pushes the series further into darker territory

• How the tone of mysteries shifted in the 1980s

• If this is part of a larger trend in the series

• And what we expect as we move into the 1990s entries

What started as a cozy mystery series is starting to feel like something else entirely and we’re tracking that evolution in real time.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:34 Background

02:29 Age Level & Content Warning

03:55 Judge a Book by Its Cover

04:44 Discussion

46:02 General Thoughts

46:38 One Question for the Author

49:27 Rating

50:54 Favorite of the Series so Far

51:48 Outro

🔗 Connect with Us on Socials

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 167 - How Far I'll Go by Keala Kendall

What if Moana was worse?

Sam and Kaitlyn discuss How Far I’ll Go, one of the newest entries in Disney’s Meant to Be series and unfortunately, this one was a major disappointment.

We came away asking:

• What lesson was this story even trying to teach?

• Why does the plot feel like “What if Moana was dumber?”

• And how did a relationship built around loving someone out of abusive behavior make it into the final version?

We unpack the characterization, the story choices, and why this feels like a weak showing for a new author entering the series. Sometimes adaptations miss the magic and this one left us more confused than charmed.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST

✨Next week: The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:08 About the Author

04:39 Background

10:28 Age Level & Content Warning

13:08 Judge a Book by Its Cover

14:04 Discussion

01:17:55 General Thoughts

01:20:08 One Question for the Author

01:21:52 Rating

01:23:36 Read Again?

01:24:03 Favorite of the Series so Far

01:24:40 Outro

📖 Follow the Author

Keala Kendall

Website: https://www.kealakendall.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kealakendall

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kealakendall.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kealakendall

🔗 Connect with Us on Socials

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/

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Episode 166 - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Sam finally reads The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes for the first time and immediately develops theories.

Joined by Danielle, we dive into Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games prequel and unpack everything this book adds to the world of Panem, the psychology of power, and the making of Coriolanus Snow.

But that’s not all.

Sam leaves this episode with:

• A brand new conspiracy theory

• A completely new recommended reading order for the series

• Strong opinions about what this book changes retroactively

We discuss whether prequels can deepen an original trilogy, what this book says about ambition and control, and how first-time readers react differently than longtime fans.

If you love the Hunger Games universe, this is a fun one.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST

✨Next week: How Far I'll Go by Keala Kendal

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:25 Background

05:53 Age Level & Content Warning

06:54 Judge a Book by Its Cover

08:21 Discussion

52:59 General Thoughts

55:08 One Question for the Author

57:14 Rating

58:12 Read Again?

01:01:46 Favorite of the Series so Far

01:03:10 Outro

📖 Follow the Author - Suzanne Collins

Website: https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

🔗 Connect with Us on Socials

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754

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Episode 165 - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. LewisBook vs MovieSam and Tim return to Narnia for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and this turned into a full book vs movie comparison.The verdict? The book delivers. The movie… does not.We talk about how the film takes the bones of the story and somehow still misses what makes it work. From major tonal changes to adaptation choices that just don’t land, this ends up being the weakest of the 2000s Narnia movies. And yes, you can absolutely feel the smaller budget.We break down:• What makes the book so effective• Where the adaptation goes wrong• Why this one feels like the biggest miss of the trilogy• And what would Lion Jesus do?If you’ve ever said “the book was better,” this is one of those times where it’s not even close.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro01:08 Background06:40 Age Level & Content Warning08:49 Judge a Book by Its Cover09:54 Discussion34:32 The Islands in the Book53:18 The Islands in the Movie01:06:51 General Thoughts01:08:15 One Question for the Author01:09:43 Rating01:10:32 Read Again?01:11:00 Favorite of the Series so Far01:11:48 Outro🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts