Hearts & Daggers

Summary: Welcome to a very special Love Fest to celebrate our 80th episode! Today, Devin and Holly share their top 10 Hearts and Daggers books from 2024. Holly spent the year falling in love with more literary stories from the darker wheelhouse with mic drop endings. Devin's year was highlighted by audiobooks, digging deeper into cozy romantasy as well as incredibly sexy scenes. Either way, it was a banner year for reading and we hope you had a great one too!

Topics Discussed (10:40):

• The Dagger:

• 10: Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka

• 9: Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

• 8: What Happened to Nina? By Dervla McTiernan

• 7: The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

• 6: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

• 5: Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

• 4: How Can I Help You by Laura Sims

• 3: The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim

• 2: Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

• 1: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

• The Heart:

• 10: Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

• 9: The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

• 8: Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

• 7: The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

• 6: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

• 5: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

• 4: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

• 3: The Prospects by KT Hoffman

• 2: How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

• 1: Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

• 2025 Anticipated Release (44:20):

• Holly: Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

• Devin: Bears & Bakeries by Dylan Drakes

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Welcome to 2025 and a fresh start! Join our hosts today as they discuss books that feature second chances. What happens when you don't nail it the first time, but get another shot to turn things around? What if that new shot is a cloned body after you were murdered, or a co-parent looking more and more like the love of your life again? Whatever your wheelhouse, this time of year is a great opportunity to get a fresh perspective.

Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (4:15): Holly discussed My Murder by Katie Williams, a sci-fi mystery thriller following Louise, the happily married mother of an adorable toddler and recent victim of a serial killer. Thanks to a pilot program created by the US Government, Lou has been cloned and "brought back to life." The clones in the program are returned to their grieving families and the lives that have been stolen from them, the memories, feelings, and personalities of their original selves intact (for the most part). For Louise, though, there's a lingering unease and she's haunted by the gaps in her memory from the lead up to her murder. Holly's key takeaways were:

• This thriller blends speculative science fiction and domestic suspense, with the sci-fi coming across as very approachable and a light touch; for example, the serial killer Edward Early is meant to serve out his sentence in an induced coma as part of his rehab.

• Williams explores the nature of identity and selfhood; she interrogates what makes you, you - is cloned Louise the same as the Louise who was killed? What does it mean that she no longer has a c-section scar and her toddler sometimes doesn't recognize her?

• There is a very literal second chance in this story - Louise is cloned and placed back into her old life. However, is this opportunity the bright, happy solution the program intends?

• The Heart (14:31): Devin discussed Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan, a romance following Yasmin and Josiah as they work to co-parent their two children, Deja and Kassim, after their painful but amicable divorce. After the tragic loss of their third unborn child and Yasmin's struggle with depression, the forever that Yasmin and Josiah saw for themselves fell apart. Now, as they both recover and begin to find joy and themselves again, will they return to each other? Devin's key takeaways were:

• Ryan explores second chances not just for their relationship but for themselves as individuals; Yasmen and Josiah work the entire book to really come back to themselves after the tragedy and give themselves the permission to feel joy and enjoy life again. Their self-evolution naturally leads to the exploration of their divorce and the love they still have for each other.

• Unlike a lot of romances, children and co-parenting play a huge role in this book; Yasmen and Josiah work constantly to meet the needs of their children and a lot of their coordination and early plot revolves around them. The family is richly described with rounded characters all around and are easy to fall in love with

• Josiah and Yasmen co-own a restaurant, Grits. It's so successful that they're looking to expand into a new market, and the family history and culinary connection brightens the book and adds texture that it would otherwise have missed.

• Hot On the Shelf (26:07):

• Devin: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rudell

• Holly: Old Soul by Susan Barker

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (29:20):

• Devin: Our Little Secret with Lindsay Lohan on Netflix

• Holly: Flow, the animated movie

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Bundle up and stay inside with us for a very topical episode today; Holly and Devin sip hot coco and discuss books set in the Winter! Whether you love the cold and the snow like Devin or have moved as far away from the season as you reasonably can like Holly, books set in winter create the perfect vibe for our host's respective wheelhouses. Nothing is cozier or more ominous than this season, where being stuck inside can be perfect for smooching or for bodies being found.

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (4:30): Devin discussed A Winter in New York by Josie Silver, a romance following Iris, a British woman restarting her life in New York City from London after the death of her mother and the end of an abusive relationship. At a street fair in Little Italy, Iris recognizes the characteristic door to Belotti's gelateria as a place her mother spent time with a mysterious young man. A secret gelato recipe, an uncle fallen ill, and a gorgeous and kind Belotti's heir Giovanni and Iris is in over her head. How can she reconcile her family's past while struggling so much to build her own future? Devin's key takeaways were:

• This story begins in the fall but spends the majority if the time deep in the New York winter; there's romanticization of the city but the coziness of Iris' tiny apartment and the back kitchen of Belotti's where she and Gio work on the recipe was enjoyable to read, if not totally accurate to what NYC is like in the winter.

• Similar to other works by Silver, this story has a lot of layers to it, some of which work better than others. The guilt that Iris feels about having Gio's family recipe from her mother and the romantic implications from teenagers goes a bit far and creates a false sense of strain between Iris and Gio, who otherwise could have had a totally normal, non-dramatic romance.

• One of the main themes through this book is family - how we're connected, what our families teach us, what a legacy means, and what happens when you step outside that comfort zone and get hurt by strangers. Iris has just escaped an abusive relationship and the connection to her mother drives her to take sometimes unnatural steps to stay involved with Belotti's.

• The Dagger (17:12): Holly discussed Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, a literary mystery following Janina, who lives a solitary life in a rural Polish village. Quirky and eccentric, Janina is deeply connected to nature and obsessed with astrology and William Blake's poetry. Awoken in the middle of the night by her neighbor (who she calls Oddball) banging on her door, she discovers that her other neighbor, Big Foot, has died painfully. Unable to reach the Czech police, they take care of his body and things escalate after another community member is found dead. Holly's key takeaways were:

• The novel challenges traditional notions of morality, presenting animals as equal agents deserving of justice and respect. Janina's belief that animals can take revenge for human cruelty questions the ethics of hunting, poaching, and industrialized animal exploitation.

• Janina is portrayed as an eccentric outsider, dismissed by her community for her unconventional views and behavior. Janina's character challenges stereotypes about older women, portraying her as intelligent, independent, and driven. Her alienation underscores the marginalization of those who challenge societal norms and the way society dismisses women.

• This book is perfectly atmospheric for winter; to give a taste of how winter is depicted from the first pages: "We left the house and were instantly engulfed by the familiar cold, wet air that reminds us every winter that the world was not created for Mankind, and for at least half the year it shows us how very hostile it is to us. The frost brutally assailed our cheeks, and clouds of white steam came streaming from our mouths."

• Hot On the Shelf (32.35):

• Holly: All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall

• Devin: Truly Madly Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (35:34):

• Devin: Our Little Secret with Lindsay Lohan on Netflix

• Holly: John Williams Documentary on Disney+

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Get ready to run into that one kid from high school in today's episode - Small Towns! Whether you're like Devin who grew up and still lives in small towns or like Holly who is a big city gal, these spaces are almost always pressure cookers. The intimacy of the community can make any character claustrophobic (especially if a serial killer is lurking) or euphoric with love; the past and the present intermingle in these places and nothing is anonymous, for better or worse.

Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (5:29): Holly discussed The Whisper Man by Alex North, a psychological thriller following Tom Kennedy and his young son, Jake, after they move to the small town of Featherbank after the tragic death of Tom's wife, Rebecca. Jake, a quiet and sensitive boy, soon begins to exhibit strange behavior - including talking to imaginary friends. When Neil Spencer, a young boy in town, goes missing in a similar way to the M.O. of serial Killer Frank Cater, detectives get involved to stop the madness. Holly's key takeaways were:

• Characters like detective Pete and Tom are haunted by their pasts, while Jake's odd behavior reflects how trauma can manifest in children. The novel delves into the lasting effects of pain and loss. The strained relationship between Tom and Jake mirrors the generational impact of Tom's own childhood with his abusive father, exploring how parental relationships shape identity and behavior.

• Featherbank is portrayed as a small, seemingly idyllic town, but one that is haunted by its history with "The Whisper Man" murders. This duality of small towns—where the veneer of safety masks a deeper darkness—creates a rich tension. The town's past crimes are embedded in its collective memory, affecting the attitudes of its residents and shaping the investigation into the new abduction.

• Both Tom and Jake feel isolated in their own ways, but the story emphasizes the importance of connection and understanding in overcoming fear and loneliness. The father and son also grapple with their grief over Rebecca's death; their loneliness highlights the ways people cope with loss and how relationships can be rebuilt after tragedy.

• The Heart (15:24): Devin discussed Book Lovers by Emily Henry, a romance following NYC literary agent Nora Stephens as she and her sister Libby take a sabbatical to the tiny town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Once there, Nora runs into her arch-nemesis and brooding book editor Charlie Lastra, who grew up in the town. Thrown together for a few weeks, the two decide to put aside their differences and work to make a well-known author's manuscript into a publishable book. But can their enmity last when they both clearly love books and this idyllic town so much? Devin's key takeaways were:

• The setting of Sunshine Falls is as Hallmark-y as the name would convey. The are friendly locals, quirky businesses, and a slower pace of life that contrasts directly with the New York lifestyles that Nora and Charlie are accustomed to now. The town also holds personal significance for Charlie; he grew up there.

• Nora is a literary agent and Charlie an editor, which not only gives them a ton in common but is grounds for their enmity. In Sunshine Falls, the Goode Books Store is a focal point, representing the literary charm of the town and serves as the backdrop for many scenes.

• While it was a manuscript that made them dislike each other, it's another one that brings them together. Nora first met Charlie when pitching the blunt editor a manuscript she felt passionate about; he rebuffs her and criticizes the work. They both have their heels dug in that the other is wrong and has no taste, but as they collaborate on Dusty Fielding's latest work, they begin to bond.

• Hot On the Shelf (27:36):

• Devin: Puck & Prejudice by Lia Riley

• Holly: Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (31:15):

• Devin: the final season of What We Do in the Shadows

• Holly: the Wicked movie

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: From Lord of the Rings to ACOTAR, Fantasy is a genre that is as unique and multifaceted as the human imagination. Today, Holly and Devin give a sense of the range and flexibility of the genre by bringing books from their wheelhouses - how can a single genre be the coziest and creepiest? What we do know, at least, is that any fantasy story will be a great escape from reality and any great fantasy author can build us vivid worlds we've never seen before.

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (4:01): Devin discussed Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, a cozy fantasy following Viv, a recently retired mercenary orc looking to start anew in the city of Thune. In her travels she discovered an unusual drink called coffee, and has a dream of opening a shop that sells it. Soon she is working alongside a succubus, a ratfolk, other orcs, wizards and all kinds of people seeking peace, pastries, and a latte. After a lifetime of danger, swords, and threats, can Viv relax enough to accept her new, slower-paced life and new friends who like her for her and not her muscles? Devin's key takeaways were:

• If you want an orc-themed blanket to wrap yourself in this holiday season, Legends and Lattes is it! As a fantasy lover there were moments where Devin's heart rate picked up, but any reader will immediately be soothed by Baldree's diligent plotting and ability to take his foot of the gas without making the book boring.

• There is so much humanity and heart in these non-human creatures from Orcs to Succubuses to Ratfolk and everything in between; the fantastical flare to a coffee shop that serves cappuccino and pastries levels up the magical feeling of a cozy, easy read.

• The soft, evolving dynamic between Viv and Tanzy (succubus barista) as Viv lets go of a life of hypervigilance and mistrust and learns to build a community and healthy, non-combat relationships is a delight for any romance fan. There is tension and flirting but no pressure and the dynamic founded in friendship and respect is all anyone can hope for in life.

• The Dagger (16:27): Holly discussed The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins, an apocalyptic fantasy novel following Carolyn, one of twelve adopted children of a powerful, god-like being called Father. Each child was raised in isolation and taught by Father in his mystical library to master a specific catalog of knowledge. After decades of abuse, living in fear, and consistent punishments - Father has disappeared and the library is locked. Carolyn enacts a plan she's been building for years, one that could give her the power of Father, or destroy her. Holly's key takeaways were:

• The novel examines the corrupting nature of power and how it can alter one's humanity. Carolyn's pursuit of ultimate power in the Library raises questions about whether anyone can wield such control without becoming monstrous.

• Carolyn and her siblings have been scarred by Father's abusive upbringing, creating deep-seated trauma that influences their actions. The novel explores the long-lasting impact of trauma, especially within a family, and how abuse can shape one's path, even when seeking liberation.

• The Library, with its endless knowledge, symbolizes the human pursuit of understanding and control over the universe. However, this knowledge is also dangerous and overwhelming, reflecting the idea that some things may be beyond human comprehension.

• Hot On the Shelf (31:12):

• Holly: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

• Devin: The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (34:26):

• Holly: YouTuber Rachel Maksy

• Devin: volunteering at a horse sanctuary - The Middle Way

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Travel back in time with us to one of history's most prolific literary periods (and, if Holly says so herself, peak fashion as well). Today our hosts discuss books set between the 1830s and 1900, a period known commonly as the Victorian period after Queen Victoria of Britain. With a strong emphasis on social morality, industrialization and elaborate ornamentation, both romance and thriller stories set in this era are vivid, chaotic, and gothically influenced.

Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (3:58): Holly discussed Things in Jars by Jess Kidd, a mystery with fantastical elements following Bridie Devine, a female detective who investigates the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick. Cristabel is the secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick; he is a wealthy collector of oddities and this daughter of his is rumored to have supernatural abilities–which have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery. Holly's key takeaways were:

• The characters are the stars of this book and bring wonderful quirky and eccentric energy. A few favorites include a charming tattooed boxer who happens to be a ghost, a newt-eating girl-maybe-mermaid, and a formidable seven-foot tall maid.

• The novel's setting in Victorian London adds to its gothic tone, with vivid descriptions of the city's foggy streets, eerie riverbanks, and strange, shadowy characters who dwell in its hidden corners. It is a perfect time period for this story, given the age of discovery and fascination with the strange and macabre while still hanging onto a lot of superstition.

• The writing (especially the first quarter) felt like it was trying too hard to fit every descriptive long word in, which can trip up a reader and prevent them from feeling super invested. That being said, over time that experience does improve and the end made even the unflappable Holly emotional.

• The Heart (15:35): Devin discussed The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian, a Victorian-era romance following Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, after she shoots and kills her husband. Due to a spot of blackmail, she connects with highwayman and con artist Rob Brooks and after some misunderstandings, some light bondage, and a mutual agreement the duo flee across the country to build, hopefully, a new future for them both. Devin's key takeaways were:

• Marian and Rob (as well as everyone else) are constrained throughout the story by the strict societal and cultural pressures mandated by the Patriarchy and the Aristocracy. Rob strives at all times to reject the privilege of his aristocratic history, and Marian seeks freedom from her abusive marriage (nailed it, killed him) and the fallout a woman can suffer when seeking liberation in the Victorian era.

• Eschewing dresses and feeling most comfortable in breeches, Marian is a heroine to root for. While each character has their own journey and there's a uniting plot similar to Robin Hood, everyone is empowered in their own way and the interplay of Rob's sunshine charisma and Marian's standoffish efficiency is a blast to read.

• While the tension and connection between Rob and Marian is strong from the start as the reader experiences the letters they write to each other (blackmail to banter, a new favorite trope), this is not a traditionally steamy book. Marian's trauma from her pregnancy and abusive marriage has reframed how she wants to experience intimacy, and Rob's acceptance of her situation makes modern men look pathetic compared to this Victorian king.

• Hot On the Shelf (34:02):

• Holly: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

• Devin: Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (37:10):

• Holly: The Great British Baking Show

• Devin: Trousdale

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: While many authors dream of the day when their story will be picked up by Simon and Schuster, many more decide not to wait for their own IP or publisher. These brave, creative souls write fanfiction. One of the most popular ships in the fanfic world is that of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger - iconic hero and villain characters from the Harry Potter franchise. Join Devin (seasoned Dramione and fanfic reader) and Holly (experiencing her first ever fanfiction for this episode) as they explore the oft-overlooked world of fanfic.

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (5:31): Devin discussed Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love by isthisselfcare, a friends to lovers tale set after the Harry Potter books end. Draco has a successful career as an Auror, an amicable relationship with his colleagues Ron and Harry, and a new assignment guarding his former nemesis - Hermione Granger. Hermione straddles the Muggle and Magical worlds as a medical researcher and Healer, but her most recent discovery has put her in danger and Draco Malfoy may be the only person who can keep her safe. Devin's key takeaways were:

• This is one of the most common ships in the Harry Potter fanfiction universe, and for a good reason. Hermione's sassy, fiery hyper-competence combined with Draco's bad boy but soft cinnamon roll vibe is a combo that readers never get sick of. They go toe-to-toe with banter, witticisms, and are both very attractive people. The redemption arc for Draco assisted by Hermione also feels accurate to their characterizations.

• A lot of this story is centered around exploring those who have power (magic, political, physical, etc.) and those who do not. Both Draco and Hermione in their respective ways are fighting for those weaker than them and the plot arcs toward an ultimate battle against a known villain we all hated but never got their comeuppance in the cannon.

• If you think intelligence is hot, boy, this is the book for you. Both Draco and Hermione are at the top of their craft in different ways and find their respective talents and cleverness alluring, which makes this an absolutely fantastic read for nerds. The author clearly did a ton of in-depth research on medicine, mathematics, and magical theories to make this story feel accurate to real, modern life (with a magical twist).

• The Dagger (16:26): Holly discussed Regression by WritexAboutxMe

• The fanfiction is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers narrative, combining elements of suspense with intense emotional and psychological depth. It includes mature themes such as PTSD and trauma recovery, as well as moments of sexual tension between the characters.

• For a fanfiction, the settings of the story were fantastic; Draco's Paris flat, Neville and Luna's cozy cottage for example. The mystery was intriguing amidst the cozier places as Draco and Hermione sought to understand how the bodies had runes carved into them, trying to get to the bottom of what they meant and who might be responsible.

• If you're used to reading published works, the lack of editing and juvenile tone can be off-putting in this story. Be mindful of things like the length (600-800 pages equivalent), some sudden and explicit mentions of sex, and Harry calling our protagonist "'Mione" nonstop.

• Hot On the Shelf (36:24):

• Devin: Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London

• Holly: Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (39:32):

• Devin: Nobody Wants This on Netflix

• Holly: Rings of Power Season 2 on Amazon Prime

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Grab a bowl of brains and hunker down for a perfect theme for spooky season - the Undead! Today Holly and Devin sink their teeth into these legendary creatures; deceased but actually alive, depicted as everything from vampires, zombies, mummies and skeletons. Whether you vibe with Brendan Frasier in the iconic 1999 film or are a huge fan of The Walking Dead, these beings have captured our imaginations for centuries for a great reason.

Topics Discussed:

• The Dagger (3:37): Holly discussed Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, an alternate history novel where the Civil War ended not because of political agreements or military victories, but because the dead begin to rise on the battlefield at Gettysburg, forcing both Union and Confederate forces to confront a new, common enemy: the undead. We follow Jane McKeene as she is trained in the art of combat against the undead (called Shamblers) at Miss Preston's School of Combat for Negro Girls in Baltimore. Jane becomes increasingly disillusioned with the system and matters escalate when she and her friend are sent to Summerland, a western settlement that harbors dark secrets. Holly's key takeaways were:

• Ireland was inspired to write this book after reading "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies"; it is unlikely that women who didn't even dress themselves would be zombie fighting machines, and would likely have relied on their ladies' maids instead. Ireland uses this speculative angle to shed light on the very real history of the United States and the implications of racism both then and now.

• The Shamblers are pretty classic zombies: slow-moving, rotting, and relentless in their pursuit of human flesh. They can turn others into shamblers through bites, similar to traditional zombie lore and hoards of shamblers roam the countryside.

• Jame is resilient, a master at surviving and must navigate the tricky path of how much one has to compromise their morals in order to survive; she is faced with illusions of safety and the crumbling facade of corruption while holding onto friendships and the trust she shares with her schoolmates.

• The Heart (15:55): Devin discussed Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne, a reimagining of the Mary Shelley classic that follows Victor's younger sister who has been unlucky in love. A great scientific mind but known as being a bit odd, she's run out of suitors but strikes upon a solution as she assists her brother with his groundbreaking reanimation experiments; she'll make her own! A lucky (and gorgeous) corpse lands on her lab table and soon, Will is (re)born. But will the spark of life lead to a spark of love? Devin's key takeaways were:

• This novel was such a fun re-imagining of the Frankenstein story. It keeps all the same creepiness and gothic energy without the moral quandary of hating your creation and instead falling in love with it. Will is a dashing, galant, and not-too-wonky reanimated corpse that any reader will root for.

• Angelika as a protagonist is the twist this story needed; Thorne explores the power and powerlessness of women in this era, especially within the scientific community through Angelika and the scrapes her crew gets into.

• Whenever you're reanimating a dead body, you have to wonder if our lives are controlled by fate or by our own choices - is everything a coincidence or is it all meant to be? Throne uses a familiar tale to explore the implications of choice for characters and when love truly does conquer all, including death.

• Hot On the Shelf (29:28):

• Holly: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

• Devin: Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (33:10):

• Holly: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Hulu

• Devin: English Teacher on FX/Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Grab your ouija boards and candlesticks, folks, it's time to get messages from the other side! Today, Holly and Devin dabble in the world of Mediums! Whether you've visited a medium yourself or don't believe in ghosts, our hosts are leaning into spooky season by discussing books that feature folks who can (well, can they really, though?) commune with the beyond.

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (5:01): Devin discussed Happy Medium by Sarah Adler, a spooky romance following Gretchen Acorn, a grifter who delights and consoles the grieving of DC by "channeling" their dearly departed. When her best (richest) client asks her to speak to a ghost who is making it impossible for her bridge partner to sell his farm, Gretchen reluctantly agrees. When she realizes that a) the bridge partner is NOT an old, crotchety man named Charlie Waybill but a super sexy youthful farmer and b) that the ghost is real and named Everett, Gretchen has to confront that maybe she's less of a fraud than she thought, and in much bigger trouble than she ever thought possible. Devin's key takeaways were:

• Our protagonist presented as a fraud is a surprise at the start but adds authenticity to the rest of the story. In DC she uses her roommate who works various service jobs and a ton of internet sleuthing about the dead person, but heading to Gilded Creek Goat Farm her facade fades away and all she's left with is a real ghost and her annoying, growing feelings for a real life man.

• Gretchen, Everett and Charlie must all face the gap between who they pretend to be and who they actually are over the course of the book. While Gretchen is a straight up grifter, all three of them have falsehoods and fake parts of their lives (or afterlives) that are holding them back and keeping them from living authentically and, for the living, finding love.

• This bucolic setting of Gilded Creek was phenomenal. The old farm with lots of knitted sweaters and afghans, early mornings and willow trees by brooks with weekly farmer's markets was idyllic and the perfect setting for this slightly spooky, very wholehearted story.

• The Dagger (17:30): Holly discussed Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam, a psychological historical fiction novel set in 1920s Edinburgh, Scotland that follows Evelyn Hazard as she sprints to her sister's house to call a doctor for her husband, Robert. He's started acting strangely and saying he can see spirits, and Evelyn worries he is losing his mind. But is he? Tension mounts as Evelyn grapples with the social and logistical implications of the one person who might reveal what she's hiding about the death of her sister, Dolores. Holly's key takeaways were:

• This story draws you in from the very start; the narrative is close third person so the reader is only shown part of what is happening and is dropped into the world by following Evelyn around as she's navigating this new, scary situation.

• While yes there is tension and suspense, Salam also explores beautifully the nature of grief; Robert wants to use his gift to help comfort people who have lost loved ones, which is almost everyone because of the recent world war and flu epidemic.

• The characterization across the board from protagonists to side characters is fantastic; Evelyn and Robert are super interesting as well as Evelyn's mother; Salam captures the small, pathetic moments of being human that anyone can relate to while also exploring the supernatural.

• Hot On the Shelf (33:23):

• Devin: Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur, Death Doula

• Holly: The Empusium by Olga Tocarczuk

• What's Making Our Hearts Race (38:24):

• Devin: The Decameron on Netflix

• Holly: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Summary: Welcome to Episode 9, our final of the special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin, her court, and every character we've grown to love (or hate) come together for this epic finale in the heart of Terrassen. Today we explore Kingdom of Ash Part 2, the eighth (or ninth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. With a push to destroy the Wyrdkeys and save their world, Aelin, Dorian, Rowan, Yrene, Manon and other key players must come together to vanquish the united front of Maeve and Erawarn, who are supported by the full might of Morath.

We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest episode. We have been releasing monthly special episodes in which we debrief on each book as we go throughout the series and have finally come to the end!

We encourage you to read this series and play our 9 published episodes as you go; enjoy our reactions, speculations, and gushing as we explore this fantastical world.

As a reminder, each episode has spoilers for the book being discussed and any of the books we've read previously, with this final episode spoiling the whole dang thing.

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