Episode 183 -The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

What happens when the book you remember loving as a kid has to live up to the original?

Sam and Keira are heading back to the world of City of Ember with The People of Sparks, the second book in Jeanne DuPrau's series.

Both of them read City of Ember as kids, but their journeys stopped in very different places. Sam went on to read the first three books, while Keira stopped after Book 1.

So this isn't quite a reread for either of them.

For Sam, it's a return to a series she hasn't touched since childhood. For Keira, it's discovering what happened after the story she remembers.

And there's one major problem:

The first book was REALLY good.

We talk about:

• Revisiting The City of Ember series as adults
• How The People of Sparks compares to the first book
• The differences between reading the sequel as a longtime reader versus someone who stopped after Book 1
• Whether the series successfully expands beyond its original premise
• And whether this sequel lives up to the childhood favorite that came before it

Sometimes the hardest book for a sequel to compete with is the book you loved when you were a kid.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Divergent by Veronica Roth

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:18 Background

06:28 Age Level & Content Warning

09:08 Judge a Book by Its Cover

12:10 Discussion

01:02:31 General Thoughts

01:07:14 One Question for the Author

01:09:23 Rating

01:10:53 Read Again?

01:11:40 Favorite of the Series so Far

01:12:29 Outro

📖 Follow the Author - Jeanne DuPrau

Website: https://www.jeanneduprau.com/

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Episode 182 - Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

The Anti-Hastings Club gets a much-needed break this week.

Sam and Hannah are back with Agatha Christie, but Murder in Mesopotamia gives us something we don't always get in these episodes: a different narrator. And Sam is particularly excited because this mystery takes us into the world of ancient Mesopotamia, one of her favorite historical subjects.

Set at an archaeological excavation in Iraq, the book brings together a suspicious group of characters, buried secrets, and, naturally, murder.

Sam has theories.
Hannah is along for the ride.
And for once, Hastings isn't here to ruin anyone's day.

We talk about:

• The mystery and its unusual setting
• The archaeological and historical elements
• The narrator and how the change affects the story
• Sam's theories as she tries to solve the mystery
• And whether this Christie classic lives up to its reputation

Grab your metaphorical archaeologist's hat and join us for another Christie mystery!

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: The People of Sparks by Jeanne DePrau

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:11 Agatha History

02:59 Background

03:42 Age Level & Content Warning

03:54 Judge a Book by Its Cover

06:01 Discussion

53:32 General Thoughts

54:38 One Question for the Author

55:30 Rating

56:30 Read Again & Favorite of the Series so Far

57:42 Outro

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Episode 181 - The Cat Who Sniffed Glue by Lilian Jackson Braun

We're back in Pickax with Qwilleran, Koko, Yum Yum... and somehow the biggest mystery isn't the murder.

It's Qwill's love life.

Sam and Tim continue their journey through The Cat Who... series with The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, but this time the romance takes center stage and not necessarily in a good way.

We discuss:

• Why the romance overshadows the mystery
• Qwill's inability to decide what he wants
• Whether Polly deserves someone who can actually make up his mind
• Why Agatha Christie may have been right to keep Poirot's love life out of the spotlight
• And yes... we eventually get around to talking about the murder, too.

As much as we love spending time with Qwill, Koko, and Yum Yum, this installment left us wishing the mystery had received as much attention as the romance.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:52 Background

02:06 Age Level & Content Warning

03:46 Judge a Book by Its Cover

05:15 Discussion

41:52 General Thoughts

44:30 One Question for the Author

47:31 General Thoughts

49:49 Read Again?

51:55 Favorite of the Series so Far

52:48 Outro

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Episode 180 - Death on the Lanai by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

We're heading back to Miami!

Sam and James return to the Golden Girls Cozy Mystery series with Death on the Lanai. After enjoying the first book while feeling it still had room to grow, we couldn't wait to see if this second installment finally delivers on the series' potential.

So... does it?

We discuss:

• Whether the series has found its footing
• How this mystery compares to the first book
• Spending more time with Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia
• What worked, what still needs improvement, and where we'd like to see the series go next
• And the big question: Will there be a third book?

Whether you're a lifelong Golden Girls fan or just love a good cozy mystery, grab a slice of cheesecake and join us for another trip to Miami.

Thank you for being a friend. 💛

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: People of Sparks by Jeanna DuPrau

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

00:57 Background

04:28 Age Level & Content Warning

05:04 Judge a Book by Its Cover

08:22 Discussion

01:04:40 General Thoughts

01:07:10 One Question for the Author

01:10:37 Rating

01:11:34 Read Again & Favorite of the Series so Far

01:12:28 Outro

📖 Follow the Author

Website: https://www.rachelekstromcourage.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071357919222Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelekstromcourage/

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Episode 179 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

It finally happened.

After months (okay... years) of recommendations, Kaitlyn has finally convinced Sam (the podcast's biggest skeptic) to read one of the biggest fantasy books of the decade.

The pressure was on.

When seemingly everyone around you loves a book, can you still judge it on its own merits? Sam certainly tries.

In this episode, Sam and Kaitlyn discuss:

• Sam's long-awaited first read of Fourth Wing
• Whether the hype helped or hurt the experience
• The worldbuilding, dragons, romance, and action
• Disability representation in the book
• Whether Sam's expectations were changed or confirmed

Whether you're a devoted fan, a curious skeptic, or somewhere in between, join us as we dive into one of BookTok's biggest sensations.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Death on the Lanai by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:13 Background

05:35 About the Author

13:04 Age Level & Content Warning

13:45 Judge a Book by Its Cover

15:17 Discussion

01:30:46 General Thoughts

01:34:12 One Question for the Author

01:36:20 Eyebrows and Dain's Beard

01:37:37 Rating

01:39:15 Read Again?

01:42:04 What Next?

01:43:12 Outro

📖 Follow the Author - Rebecca Yarros

Website: https://rebeccayarros.com/

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

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

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Episode 178 - Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

Can a book be nostalgic if you barely remember reading it?

Sam first read Secrets of My Hollywood Life back in middle school and remembers loving the series. Here's the strange part: she can still recall events from later books, but she'd completely forgotten the plot of the very first one, including the fact that the main character spends the book trying to attend a normal high school.

So how does a childhood favorite hold up when you remember the series but not the beginning?

Sam and Danielle discuss:

-Revisiting a YA favorite nearly 20 years later

-Why Book 1 felt almost like a brand-new read

-The celebrity-meets-normal-life premise

-Which parts still work today and which feel very much like the mid-2000's

-Whether this series deserves a modern reread

There's something fascinating about rediscovering a story you thought you knew. This episode is part nostalgia trip, part first-time reaction, and all kinds of fun.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:46 Background

09:15 Age Level & Content Warning

13:00 Judge a Book by Its Cover

14:26 Discussion

43:37 General Thoughts

46:12 One Question for the Author

49:16 Rating

50:35 Read Again?

51:29 Outro

📖 Follow the Author:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jencalonitaonline.com/⁠⁠⁠

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

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

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/JenCalonita⁠⁠⁠

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

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🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 177 - Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson

This might be the most unhinged premise we've ever covered.

Thanks to Keira's special interest in the Disney Parks, we discovered the Kingdom Keepers series and after reading the first book, we have just one question:

Who approved this?

Every night, five middle schoolers are teleported into Walt Disney World Resort while they sleep. Their mission? Save the parks from the Disney villains, solve a mystery connected to Walt Disney himself, and keep the Magic Kingdom from falling into chaos.

Is it completely ridiculous? Absolutely.

Is it giving serious Disney Channel Original Movie energy? Without question.

Are we immediately committing to the rest of the series? Also yes.

In this episode, Sam and Keira discuss:

-Why this premise somehow works despite being completely bonkers

-Keira's Disney Parks knowledge and how it changes the reading experience

-The campy adventure vibes

-Whether this deserves its cult following

-Why we're absolutely continuing the series

Sometimes the weirdest books become the most fun to talk about.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:01 About the Author

03:53 Background

06:29 Age Level & Content Warning

08:01 Judge a Book by Its Cover

46:27 General Thoughts

47:46 One Question for the Author

52:29 Rating

53:42 Read Again?

54:41 Outro

📖 Follow the Author - Ridley Pearson

Website: https://ridleypearson.com/

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ridleyp

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ridleypearson/

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⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 176 - The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Is being a "middle book" an excuse... or a flaw?

Sam and James continue their journey through the Mistborn trilogy with The Well of Ascension, and while they agree on one thing (that this is very much a second book in a trilogy) they couldn't disagree more on whether that's a compliment.

For Sam, "middle book syndrome" means one thing: filler until the finale.

For James, it's exactly what a sequel should do: build anticipation and make you desperate to read the final book.

In this episode, we discuss:

-Whether The Well of Ascension suffers from middle-book syndrome

-The political intrigue, character development, and expanding world of The Final Empire

-What makes a great second book in a trilogy

-Whether this installment stands on its own or exists primarily to set up the finale

-And whether we'll settle the debate or simply agree to disagree.

If you've ever argued about whether a sequel is "all setup" or "necessary development," this episode is for you.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

00:51 Background

05:11 Age Level & Content Warning

06:07 Judge a Book by Its Cover

07:49 Discussion

01:00:07 General Thoughts

01:01:24 One Question for the Author

01:05:56 Read Again?

01:07:21 Favorite of the Series so Far

01:09:32 Death of the Author?

01:11:24 Outro

📚 Follow the Author:

Website: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/

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

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BrandSanderson

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandSanderson

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⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 175 - Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

We thought we knew what we were getting into.

After loving The House in the Cerulean Sea for its cozy, heartwarming vibe and hopeful message, Sam and Hannah went into Somewhere Beyond the Sea expecting something similar.

We were not prepared.

This sequel keeps the compassion and humanity of the first book, but the conversations become much heavier. What starts as a return to a beloved world quickly turns into a discussion about prejudice, fear, belonging, and the weight of trying to create a better future.

We talk about:

-Why the tone feels so different from the first book

-The themes that hit much harder than expected

-Whether the sequel succeeds because of that shift

-And why this might be a book that deserves a content warning conversation before recommending it

We'd still gift Cerulean Sea to almost anyone. Somewhere Beyond the Sea? We'd gift it with a long conversation attached.

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨

Next week: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

⏱️ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:02 Background

02:54 Age Level & Content Warning

04:38 Discussion

01:02:01 One Question for the Author

01:07:01 Rating

01:07:51 Read Again?

01:08:52 Favorite of the Series

01:13:07 Outro

📚 Follow the Author:

Website: ⁠https://www.tjklunebooks.com/⁠

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

⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/tjklune⁠

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🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

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

🔗 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