Judging By The Cover

Calling all Howlers! 🐺 Still impatiently waiting for Red God? If Pierce Brown's Red Rising series left you desperately searching for your next obsession, this episode is for you.

Red Rising is so much more than a science fiction series about rebellion. It's political intrigue, brutal competition, found family, morally gray characters, devastating betrayals, and the kind of emotional damage that apparently keeps us coming back for more.

So what should you read next?

In this episode of Judging by the Cover, I'm sharing 10 science fiction and fantasy books that capture different elements of what makes Red Rising so addictive.

We're talking about The Will of the Many by James Islington, The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, The Expanse by James S.A. Corey, and more.

Whether you loved the Institute, the Howlers, Darrow's relentless determination, the political maneuvering, or the enormous scale of the later books, there's a recommendation here for you.

And yes, a few of these might surprise you!

Books discussed:
The Will of the Many, The Rage of Dragons, Leviathan Wakes, The Hunger Games, Dungeon Crawler Carl, An Ember in the Ashes, Dune, Throne of Glass, The Sword of Kaigen, and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.

Let's talk books!
What would YOU recommend to a Red Rising fan? And which part of the series are you always trying to find in another book?

Find more fantasy, sci-fi, horror, thriller, and romance recommendations from Judging by the Cover.

Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/judgingbythecover

Hail Reaper! 🐺

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro: Waiting for Red God?
01:40 - The Will of the Many
03:00 - The Rage of Dragons
04:14 - Leviathan Wakes
05:19 - The Hunger Games
06:29 - Dungeon Crawler Carl
07:54 - An Ember in the Ashes
10:02 - Dune
11:07 - Throne of Glass
12:16 - The Sword of Kaigen
13:24 - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
15:07 - Final Thoughts & More Red Rising Content

What happens when a lifelong reader and Bookstagrammer decides to write his own nightmare?

In this episode of Judging By The Cover, I'm sitting down with indie horror author Kylo Kirby to discuss his debut novel, Eden, the first installment in the Destruction of Eden series.

Imagine a world where a parasitic mushroom has transformed animals into bloodthirsty predators, civilization has collapsed, and the greatest threat to survival might actually be other humans.

That's the terrifying world of Eden.

But this isn't just a conversation about monsters and the apocalypse. Kylo and I explore his journey from the online book community to independent publishing, the authors who inspired his writing, and the creative decisions behind his brutal yet surprisingly beautiful post-apocalyptic world.

We also dive into eco-horror, body horror, cinematic storytelling, the use of scientific documents and transcripts, and why the emotional relationships at the heart of Eden matter just as much as the terrifying creatures.

Plus, we discuss the challenges of being an indie author, the experience of seeing your own book reviewed, and what readers might expect from the next installment in the series.

If you love dystopian fiction, post-apocalyptic horror, survival stories, or discovering new independent horror authors, this episode is for you.

📚 Featured Book: Eden by Kylo Kirby (Destruction of Eden, Book 1)

📖 Get the book: https://bookshop.org/a/122891/9798196696350

Follow Kylo: https://www.instagram.com/kylos.bookclub/

Have you read Eden? What's your favorite fictional apocalypse? Come find me on Instagram and let's talk books!

New episodes feature author interviews, book recommendations, genre discussions, and deep dives into the stories we can't stop thinking about.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction to Kylo Kirby and Eden

01:13 - From Bookstagrammer to Indie Horror Author

08:30 - Creating the Fungal Apocalypse in Eden

12:30 - The Infected Animals and Body Horror

15:35 - Why Humans Are the Real Monsters

20:01 - Grief, Family, and Emotional Storytelling

24:18 - The Ending of Eden and Book Two

29:28 - Rapid-Fire Book Questions

Want to read Stephen King but have no idea where to start? From psychological thrillers and supernatural horror to historical fiction, fantasy, and dystopian novels, there's a Stephen King book for almost every kind of reader.

In this episode, I'm sharing 10 Stephen King books I'd recommend to beginners, including Misery, The Shining, Pet Sematary, 11/22/63, Fairy Tale, and more. We'll talk about what makes each book a good entry point, which readers will enjoy it most, and a few things to know before diving in.

Because your first Stephen King book doesn't have to be his most famous. It just has to be the right one for you.

🎧 Find more book recommendations, genre deep dives, and author conversations on the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Where Should You Start With Stephen King?
01:28 - Misery: Best First Stephen King Book
03:02 - The Shining: For Supernatural Horror Readers
04:55 - Pet Sematary: For Dark Horror Readers
06:56 - Mr. Mercedes: For Crime & Thriller Readers
08:53 - 11/22/63: For Historical Fiction Readers
11:15 - Fairy Tale: For Fantasy Readers
13:50 - The Long Walk: For Dystopian Readers
16:05 - ’Salem's Lot: For Vampire Horror Fans
18:24 - Christine: For Coming-of-Age Horror Readers
20:37 - The Gunslinger: For Series Readers
22:53 - Which Stephen King Book Should You Read First?

What happens when historical fiction meets fantasy, and a powerful woman from history finally gets the spotlight she deserves?

In this episode, I'm joined by author Mona Tewari for a conversation about Abbakka Chowta, the historical figure who inspired her fantasy storytelling, and the complicated relationship between history, colonization, resistance, and power.

We explore what it takes to blend historical events with fantastical elements, the symbolism behind her villains, and Abbakka's evolution as a leader. Mona also shares her experience publishing with Bindery Books, the inspiration behind her book's cover, and a little news about Book 2!

One of my favorite moments of our conversation was discussing why silence can sometimes be the most terrifying thing in a conflict. It's an idea that extends far beyond fantasy and gets at the heart of how we understand power, resistance, and the stories history chooses to remember.

Of course, we also found time to bond over our shared love of Redwall, talk about Indian food, and reflect on how the fantasy genre continues to evolve.

If you love historical fantasy, complex female characters, stories rooted in resistance, or simply hearing authors talk about the ideas behind their books, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The history and legacy of Abbakka Chowta

• Balancing historical accuracy with fantasy storytelling

• Colonization, resistance, and the consequences of silence

• Villain symbolism and the complexities of leadership

• Mona's publishing journey with Bindery Books

• Cover design, Book 2 updates, and the evolution of fantasy

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show on Spotify, leave a rating, and share the episode with a fellow fantasy reader!

You can also watch the full video interview on YouTube and follow me on Instagram for more author conversations, book recommendations, and all things reading.

00:00 - Introduction

01:05 - Meet Mona Tewari

04:11 - Who Was Abbakka Chowta?

07:13 - Blending Historical Fiction and Fantasy

10:42 - Colonization, Resistance & Power

12:57 - The Symbolism Behind the Villains

16:11 - Abbakka's Journey as a Leader

23:00 - Publishing with Bindery Books

27:40 - The Story Behind the Cover

29:12 - Book 2 Updates

29:34 - How the Fantasy Genre Is Evolving

I’ve read 31 Stephen King books. Now I’m ranking every single one, from the book I genuinely hated to my favorite Stephen King book of all time.

And there are some HOT takes in this one.

Carrie is almost dead last. Fairy Tale beats The Shining. Some of King’s most underrated books crack my top 15. And after finally reading IT for the first time, I had to decide whether Pennywise could dethrone the Stephen King book that has held my #1 spot for years.

Along the way, I’m talking about the King books that terrified me, emotionally destroyed me, completely surprised me, and proved that Stephen King is so much more than just a horror writer.

We’re getting into The Stand, IT, The Shining, Misery, 11/22/63, Pet Sematary, The Long Walk, Fairy Tale, Carrie, ’Salem’s Lot, the Bill Hodges trilogy, Richard Bachman, and plenty of underrated King.

What’s YOUR #1 Stephen King book? And which one of my rankings would you fight me over?

If you’re just starting with Stephen King, stay tuned: next up, I’m breaking down exactly where to start based on the genres you already love.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:36 - #31–26: The Bottom of My Ranking

06:19 - #25–21: Good, But King Has Better

10:13 - #20–16: Now It Gets Difficult

13:51 - #15–11: The Books I Really Love

17:28 - #10–6: My Stephen King Top 10

21:19 - #5–3: The Personal Favorites

25:48 - #2: IT

27:19 - #1: My Favorite Stephen King Book

30:00 - Final Ranking + What’s Next

Bestselling author Tom Ryan joins me to talk about Return to Breakneck Island, the newest mystery in his Treasure Hunters Club series.

Nearly a century ago, an entire lighthouse-keeper family disappeared from Breakneck Island without a trace. Now Cass, Dandy, and Peter are being pulled toward the island's secrets, and a mystery that has been waiting generations to be solved.

Tom and I talk about returning to Maple Bay after The Treasure Hunters Club, creating the 1932 storyline, writing mysteries across multiple timelines, planting clues and red herrings, and crafting twists readers won't see coming.

We also get into his love of mystery and suspense, the nostalgic adventure stories woven into his work, and whether there might be more Treasure Hunters Club mysteries in the future.

Return to Breakneck Island: A Treasure Hunters Club Mystery releases October 6, 2026.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Meet Tom Ryan
01:50 - Becoming a Mystery Writer
10:02 - Creating The Treasure Hunters Club
14:02 - Writing Multiple POVs
19:47 - Returning to Maple Bay
24:35 - How Book 2 Differs from Book 1
27:55 - Writing the Perfect Epilogue
29:44 - How to Write a Successful Mystery
30:28 - Will There Be a Third Treasure Hunters Club Book?
33:57 - Rapid Fire

What happens when a book content creator becomes the author whose book everyone else gets to review?

Indie author and book creator Noah Brisk joins me to talk about his debut fantasy novel, The Tethered God, the first book in The Shattered Song series.

We talk about Noah’s journey from book creator to fantasy author, why he chose indie publishing, and how he built a world that feels layered and immersive without becoming inaccessible to newer fantasy readers.

We also dive into Brann, his wonderfully grumpy, broken, and unconventional protagonist, his evolving relationship with Seren, the book’s magic system, epigraphs, lore, and unreliable history, and why Noah wanted the violence in this world to feel genuinely visceral.

But The Tethered God isn’t all darkness. We also talk about finding hope in dark fantasy, what’s coming next for The Shattered Song, and what Noah has learned from publishing his first novel.

If you love dark fantasy, complicated characters, immersive worldbuilding, and stories that find hope in very dark places, this conversation is for you.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro / Meet Noah Brisk
01:38 - From Book Creator to Fantasy Author
04:07 - Why Indie Publishing?
08:38 - Creating The Tethered God
10:58 - Making Fantasy Accessible
12:32 - Creating Brann: An Unconventional Hero
17:49 - Brann & Seren
21:46 - Building the Magic System
23:44 - Epigraphs, Lore & Unreliable History
26:26 - Making Fantasy Violence Feel Real
29:00 - Finding Hope in Dark Fantasy
30:44 - What’s Next for The Shattered Song?
35:48 - Rapid Fire
37:01 - Outro

What makes a book dark academia instead of simply a campus novel? And where do experimental, postmodern, and speculative literary fiction fit into all of this?

In this episode of Judging By The Cover, I’m breaking down four literary genres and categories that constantly overlap: dark academia, campus novels, experimental and postmodern fiction, and speculative literary fiction. We’re talking about what defines each one, what these books are actually exploring, where the lines get blurry, and where to start if you want to read more.

Books discussed include The Secret History, Babel, The Will of the Many, Real Life, House of Leaves, Slaughterhouse-Five, Never Let Me Go, Station Eleven, Piranesi, and more.

🎧 New bookish episodes every Tuesday at 12 PM ET.

What happens when you take an idyllic destination, add complicated people, and make everything go horribly wrong?

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Thorne joins Judging By The Cover to talk about her newest horror novel, Newbourne Park, publishing September 29.

We head inside the opulent English country estate at the center of the novel and talk about the inspiration behind Newbourne Park, creating horror in beautiful places, wealth and class, the seduction of power, and why Martha was the perfect protagonist for this story.

We also look back at Diavola and talk dysfunctional families, haunted vacation destinations, Jennifer's signature blend of horror and dark humor, her transition from YA to adult horror, building dread on the page, and the places she might ruin for us next.

Plus: Jennifer faces a rapid-fire round involving haunted villas, isolated estates, favorite horror tropes, and whether she'd actually survive one of her own books.

This conversation is spoiler-free, so you can listen before picking up Newbourne Park on September 29.

📚 Newbourne by Jennifer Thorne, September 29, 2026

🎙️ Judging By The Cover, Hosted by Brittany Barry

00:00 Intro

01:51 Welcome to Newbourne Park

04:20 Creating the Perfect English Country Estate

10:02 Why Martha Was the Right Protagonist

12:26 Wealth, Class & the Seduction of Power

14:46 Who Is Really the Monster?

16:30 Balancing Horror & Dark Humor

17:49 Why Dysfunctional Families Make Great Horror

19:19 Writing Strong Female Protagonists

21:24 Becoming a Horror Author

24:36 What's Next for Jennifer Thorne?

26:29 Rapid Fire with Jennifer Thorne

29:16 Outro

Want to get into fantasy but have absolutely no idea where to start?

Fantasy can feel intimidating, especially when your first recommendation is an 800-page epic with twelve POVs, three maps, six kingdoms, and a magic system you need a flowchart to understand.

So instead of giving you one generic list of “must-read fantasy books,” I’m matching beginner-friendly fantasy recommendations to the books you ALREADY love.

❤️ Romance reader? Try Divine Rivals or Fourth Wing.
☕ Cozy reader? Legends & Lattes.
🔎 Mystery reader? The Tainted Cup.
📚 Literary fiction reader? Piranesi.
🏹 Miss the YA dystopian era? Red Queen or Defy the Night.
🌲 Gothic reader? One Dark Window.

We’re also getting into historical fantasy, heists, deadly trials, Arthurian legends, fairy-tale retellings, and a few fantasy books I absolutely LOVE but would never hand to a complete beginner.

Books discussed include Fourth Wing, Divine Rivals, Heartless Hunter, Legends & Lattes, Swordheart, The Tainted Cup, Piranesi, Red Queen, Defy the Night, Clockwork Angel, The Prison Healer, Six of Crows, One Dark Window, Legendborn, and Heartless.

Plus: The Sword of Kaigen, Babel, The Will of the Many, and Red Rising, and why I think you should save them for later.

Already love fantasy? What ONE book would you give to someone completely new to the genre?

New to fantasy? Tell me what you normally read, and I’ll tell you where I think you should start.

New episodes of Judging By The Cover every week.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Fantasy Books for Beginners

01:17 - What Makes Fantasy Beginner-Friendly?

02:23 - Romance Readers

04:52 - Cozy Readers

06:27 - Mystery & Thriller Readers

07:34 = Literary Fiction Readers

08:43 - YA Dystopian Readers

10:15 - Historical Fiction Readers

11:03 - Trials & Competitions

11:48 - Heists & Found Family

12:43 - Gothic Fiction

13:44 - Arthurian Fantasy & Secret Societies

14:36 - Fairy-Tale Retellings

15:25 - Where I Would NOT Start

17:51 - Rapid-Fire Recommendations

18:50 - Final Advice