FanCastic

✨ Season 2 Premiere | Fan Casting: Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (Book 1) ✨

We're BACK with Season 2 of FanCastic — and we’re kicking things off with a magical, heartfelt, and laughter-filled episode featuring our special guest, Gina Lock!

In this premiere, we dive deep into Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (Book 1) — discussing everything from shocking plot twists and complex characters to the intense themes of power and control that drive the story forward. But it’s not just about the book…

We also chat about:
📚 Our friendship and how books brought us closer
💬 The ways reading shapes our lives and routines
🔮 Our favorite moments (and WTF ones) from Zodiac Academy
👭 The joy of discovering stories together and sharing the ride

Whether you're a die-hard fan of the Zodiac Academy series or just love geeking out over books with friends, this episode is for YOU.

👉 Don’t forget to like and hit the follow so you never miss an episode!
📣 Join the conversation in the comments: Have you read Zodiac Academy: The Awakening? What did you think?

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

Welcome back to FanCastic—the ultimate fan casting podcast!

Season One took you deep into the worlds of fantasy, romantasy, and fiction exploring your favorite characters and the actors YOU think should bring them to life.

Now, Season Two is coming… bigger, bolder, and bursting with fresh fan casting debates, surprise guests, exclusive interviews, and brand-new fictional worlds to explore.

Plus, we’re introducing three brand new episode types to keep you hooked:

-Period: A monthly catch-up with our new podcast producer, Emyli Gudmundson, diving behind the scenes and into all things fandom.

-Authors Aside: Candid conversations with your favorite authors — hear the stories behind the stories.

-Post Credits: Extra episodes featuring top ten lists, nostalgic throwbacks, and all the bonus content you love.

So, grab your favorite drink, cozy up, and get ready to geek out with us all over again.

Season Two — FanCastic: Coming Soon.

Subscribe now and join the fun!

Because when it comes to fan casting... the best part is sharing it with you.

New Episodes start September 8th! See you then!

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

This is FanCastic! The bookish fan casting podcast where we fan cast all of your favorite characters from bestselling fantasy, romantasy, and fiction!

Welcome baaaaack!! Its episode 14 of FanCastic... OUR SEASON FINALE!!! I am so happy you are (still) here!

Joining me again this week is Dark Romance lover & fellow Elder Emo; the one... the only... Adara Bryan.

We are wrapping up our TWO PART Season 1 finale by recapping, sassing one another, and making some really BOLD fan casting choices for "Heir of Fire" (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas.

Enjoy Part 2 and THANK YOU for a wonderful first season! See you In September bookish babes!

Subscribe for new episodes every Monday night-- right here at 6:30PST!

Follow us @fancasticpod on Instagram, TikTok & Goodpods!

If you enjoyed this fun bookish podcast, let us know by leaving us a review! Audio only episodes are available on wherever you get your podcasts.

--- EPISODE CONTAINS SERIES SPOILERS!!! ---

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever.

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages.

Despite the popularity of the Throne of Glass series and the individual book "Heir of Fire," there is no confirmed or ongoing TV series adaptation currently underway. In the past, there were reports of Mark Gordon and his company, Mark Gordon Co, optioning the rights to the Throne of Glass series for a TV series, with Hulu and Disney-ABC Domestic Television involved.

Ultimately, the rights to create a TV series from the Throne of Glass books were returned to the author, indicating that no official adaptation was ever produced. While there have been numerous fan-made adaptations and ideas for a Throne of Glass TV series, they are not official projects.

All Fan Casts are purely fun & fictional

--Enjoy!

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

This is FanCastic! The bookish fan casting podcast where we fan cast all of your favorite characters from bestselling fantasy, romantasy, and fiction!

WOWEE WEE WOW!! Its episode 13 of FanCastic...on the week of Friday the 13th!! (& your High Lady Hostesses birthday week!) I am so happy you are (still) here!

Joining me this week is Dark Romance lover & fellow Elder Emo; the one... the only... Adara Bryan.

We are kicking off our TWO PART Season 1 finale by recapping, sassing one another, and making some really BOLD fan casting choices for "Heir of Fire" (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas. 

Come back June 16th for Part 2!!

Subscribe for new episodes every Monday night-- right here at 6:30PST!

Follow us @fancasticpod on Instagram, TikTok & Goodpods!

If you enjoyed this fun bookish podcast, let us know by leaving us a review! 

Visual graphic episodes are available on YouTube. 

 ---

EPISODE CONTAINS SERIES SPOILERS!!!

---

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages.

Despite the popularity of the Throne of Glass series and the individual book "Heir of Fire," there is no confirmed or ongoing TV series adaptation currently underway. In the past, there were reports of Mark Gordon and his company, Mark Gordon Co, optioning the rights to the Throne of Glass series for a TV series, with Hulu and Disney-ABC Domestic Television involved. 

Ultimately, the rights to create a TV series from the Throne of Glass books were returned to the author, indicating that no official adaptation was ever produced. 

While there have been numerous fan-made adaptations and ideas for a Throne of Glass TV series, they are not official projects. 

All Fan Casts are purely fun & fictional

--Enjoy!

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

This is FanCastic! The bookish fan casting podcast where we fan cast all of your favorite characters from bestselling fantasy, romantasy, and fiction!

Holy crap its episode 12 of FanCastic! I am so happy you are (still) here!

Join me this week to welcome back my childhood bestie, Super Mom, & nearly certified Doula, Kjerstin Scheyer as we fan cast, recap, rant, and...well rant again, about the 2025 release, "Onyx Storm"; Book 3 of The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros!

Subscribe for new episodes every Monday night-- right here at 6:30PST!

Follow us @fancasticpod on Instagram, TikTok & Goodpods!

Visual graphic episodes are available on YouTube! 

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*EPISODE CONTAINS SERIES SPOILERS!!!*

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After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.

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Onyx Storm is the third book in Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean series, which is planned to include five books. 

Large scale bookstores such as Barnes and Nobel & Books A Million held events to celebrate the book's widely anticipated release. Some readers attended in full cosplay of their favorite characters-- much like the days we (me) Millennials would attend release parties for Harry Potter & Twilight. A good sign for the Empyrean series's potential as a franchise!

In the first week following its publication, Onyx Storm sold 2.7 million copies, surpassing any other adult novel in the previous 20 years.

Yarros announced a book tour, that begin in LA on January 20, 2025, and ended in Denver on February 2. On thour, many questions were posed about the ending and the upcoming TV adaption, including who she would want cast as Violet and Xaden. Yarros declined to comment her choices and believe the creative team know what they are doing. Heres hoping!

Yarros is still set to executive produce the series with Liz Pelletier, the founder of Entangled Publishing, and Liz Raposo, the president of Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society. Yarros is not set to have any writing credits in the series and the series has yet to announce a cast. 

*All Fan Casts are purely fun & fictional*

--Enjoy!

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

This is FanCastic! The fantasy book podcast where we fan cast all of your favorite characters from bestselling fantasy, romantasy, and fiction books.

Joining me this week for "A Court of Mist and Fury" is returning guest, Emyli Gudmundson! Tune in as we continue our fan casting journey by filling out The Night Court and other key characters in book two.

Special shoutout this week to  @whimsygossip  and their stunning work on their upcoming fan film "Chapter 65" which is in post as we speak! Please consider donating to their continued production costs & check out all of their ACOTAR related work!

Donate: https://buymeacoffee.com/whimsygossip

Subscribe for new episodes every Monday night!

Follow us @fancasticpod on Instagram & Goodpods!

Audio only episodes are available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, & all other podcast platforms.

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EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

The seductive and stunning #1 New York Times bestselling sequel to Sarah J. Maas's spellbinding A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart.

Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people. As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin.

While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.

*All Fan Casts are purely fun & fictional*--Enjoy!

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

This is FanCastic! The fantasy book podcast where we fan cast all of your favorite characters from bestselling fantasy, romantasy, and fiction books.

Welcome to our TENTH episode of FanCastic! Double digits baby! I am so happy you are here!

Join me this week as we welcome fellow Hollywood professional Tabitha Rourick as we fan cast & recap the Booktok sensation and upcoming Netflix film, "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid!

Subscribe for new episodes every week-- right here at 6:30PST!

Follow us @fancasticpod on Instagram, TikTok & Goodpods!

Visual episodes are available on YouTube!

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EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

Evelyn Hugo, a reclusive former Hollywood star, announces the auction of her collection of famous gowns to raise money for a breast cancer charity in honor of her late daughter. She specifically requests magazine reporter Monique Grant to interview her about the auction. Monique, who has no personal connection to her, is confused as to why Evelyn insists she be the one to conduct the interview. When the two meet, Evelyn reveals that she is not interested in giving an interview to Monique's magazine, but instead wants Monique to write her biography. When pressed for an explanation as to why, Evelyn only tells her that she found Monique through an article that she had written about assisted suicide, and otherwise promises that she will answer all of Monique's questions once she is done recounting her story. Monique accepts the offer, and Evelyn begins sharing the events of her life.

In 2019, Freeform and Fox 21 Television Studios picked up the rights for development. Jennifer Beals and Ilene Chaiken, who worked on The L Word, were to produce the show. Reid was to work on the show as a screenwriter. In June 2021, Reid confirmed in an interview that the rights were no longer owned by Freeform and would be produced on another platform. She said she felt "really good with the direction that it's going in"

On March 24, 2022, it was announced that Netflix will be adapting the novel into a feature film with Liz Tigelaar writing and Margaret Chernin executive producing. The film will be directed by Leslye Headland.

*All Fan Casts are purely fun & fictional*--Enjoy!

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

Hey there FanCastic listeners and watchers!

Introducing our first episode of a series of special episodes we are calling; Author's Aside.

Every season we will feature a favorite author chosen to sit down with us to converse about their process, inspirations, background, and fun facts!

Why "Author's Aside", you ask? Well, as you know, FanCastic is a Fantasy/Fiction podcast with an entertainment industry twist. In the biz, when a character onstage or onscreen quickly addresses the audience, it's known as an aside. It is a dramatic device for actors and a literary device for writers, asides appear across mediums to give viewers, listeners, and readers (that's you!) a unique narrative perspective. Essentially, it's a break from the scene's action where the character reveals thoughts, reactions, or quips directly to the audience.

Enjoy the break in our regular fan cast action and hang out with myself & Brittany Gossin!

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More about Brittany:

Brittany is a seasoned wordsmith, high school English teacher, and adjunct professor, whose passion lies in crafting fantastical tales. With over fifteen years of writing experience and a Master's degree in English and Creative Writing, Brittany delves into creating stories that whisk readers away into imaginative worlds where magic thrives and heroes emerge. As a high school English teacher, Brittany shares her love for storytelling, inspiring young minds to explore the wonders of literature and language. Additionally, as an adjunct professor, she mentors aspiring writers, guiding them on their creative journeys. Beyond her professional roles, Brittany cherishes her role as a devoted parent to three wonderful children and celebrates fourteen years of marriage to her own 'Prince Charming.' The everyday magic of family life often finds its way into her stories, adding depth to the fantastical adventures she pens. Drawn to the captivating allure of fantasy, Brittany finds inspiration in folklore, the beauty of nature, and the joys of parenthood. Through her writing, she invites readers to embark on adventures where bravery is tested, mysteries unravel, and the human spirit triumphs. When not lost in her own imaginary worlds, Brittany can be found exploring the outdoors with her family, engrossed in a captivating fantasy novel, or nurturing ideas for her next story. Join Brittany Gossin on a journey through the pages of her books, where every chapter promises magic, adventure, and a glimpse into the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Find her on socials: @brittanygossinwrites

Visit her website: https://www.brittanygossinwrites.com/

Download "Dream Walker" on Audiobook!

Enemies & Lovers May-9 & 10: https://www.teaandtropes.com/event-details/enemies-lovers

Find Fancastic!

Instagram & TikTok: @fancasticpod

YouTube:  @FanCasticPod 

Spotify, Apple Podcast, Goodpods: FanCastic

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

This is FanCastic! The fantasy book podcast where we fan cast all of your favorite characters from bestselling fantasy books.

Welcome to our eighth episode of FanCastic! I am so happy you are here!

Join me this week to welcome back Kjerstin Scheyer as we fan cast, recap, rant, and RAVE about "Iron Flame"; Book 2 of The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros!

*EPISODE CONTAINS SERIES SPOILERS!!!*

Subscribe for new episodes every Monday night-- right here at 6:30PST!

Follow us @fancasticpod on Instagram, TikTok & Goodpods!

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The storyline continues where the first book ended. Violet has to use the abilities she learned during Threshing at Basgiath War College and achieve her true power, even though the vice commandant is determined to show her how weak she is. Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year. Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

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A week prior to Iron Flame’s release, Variety announced Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights to adapt the entire series for streaming. The deal includes Fourth Wing—which was released in May 2023—Iron Flame, and the three remaining books Yarros plans to write to conclude the series. Yarros is set to executive produce the series with Liz Pelletier, the founder of Entangled Publishing, and Liz Raposo, the president of Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society. Yarros is not set to have any writing credits in the series.

*All Fan Casts are purely fun & fictional*--Enjoy!

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations. 

This is FanCastic! The fantasy book podcast where we fan cast all of your favorite characters from bestselling fantasy books.

Welcome to our seventh episode of FanCastic! I am so happy you are here!

Join me this week as I welcome back Adara Bryan to recap & chat book two in the TOG series "Crown of Midnight" -- SPOILER: I still hate Chaol.

Subscribe for new episodes every Monday night-- right here at 6:30PST!

Follow us @fancasticpod on Instagram & Goodpods!

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After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes. Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon--forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

*All Fan Casts are purely fun & fictional*--Enjoy!

This episode contains SPOILERS and ADULT LANGUAGE

Support the show

🎙 Subscribe to FanCastic for weekly episodes about fantasy books, fandom culture, and dream book-to-screen adaptations.