Kris and Mads

Spilling the tea on everything we read this month! Lots of thrillers, some romance, a chunky classic, and some duds. What was your best read of the month??Timestamps0:00 - Intro 4:11 - Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall9:31 - The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood13:31 - Verity by Colleen Hoover22:01 - The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante28:02 - Upgrade by Blake Crouch32:21 - A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes by Suzanne Collins37:50 - Drinker of Ink by Shannon Castleton42:21 - Foe by Iain Reid46:03 - Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb50:50 - The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky56:56 - Wrap-upLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Join our Patreon read-and-watch club! In September, we're doing palate cleansers: Imperfect Women, The Love Hypothesis, and Verity! You can try out the Fellowship Tier for free for 7 days!   / krisandmadssisterhood  We had an awesome August, with a bunch of 5-star books and a variety of genres! What was your best read of August??Timestamps:0:00 - Intro 7:15 - The Good Parts by Evann Normandin12:35 - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi18:23 - I’m thinking of ending things by Iain Reid22:02 - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen25:10 - Book Club updates!29:34 - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee33:41 - The Knight & The Moth by Rachel Gillig37:31 - Love Poems by Rupi Kaur42:59 - Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake48:17 - Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery51:13 - The Wolves of War by John Gwynne56:28 - Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb1:02:57 - Wrap-up!Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Bestselling fantasy author Rachel Gillig joins us for a conversation we’ve been dreaming about ever since we read her Shepherd King Duology in 2023! In this episode, we sit down with the author of One Dark Window and the bestselling Shepherd King duology to talk about her new series, The Stonewater Kingdom and its conclusion, The Knave and the Moon, out September 1, 2026 from Orbit.If you love adult fantasy romance, but with a dark fairy tale spin, and lush worldbuilding, complicated characters, and unforgettable romance, this is an episode you absolutely won’t want to miss.Rachel takes us behind the scenes of The Knave and the Moon and her new series, while also revealing plenty about the person behind some of our favorite fantasy books. We talk about her secret nerdom, her love of classic literature, the hills she is willing to die on, and the hamlet where she would most want to live.We also get into BookTok, online book reviews, book influencers, and the ways the online book community can be our best. Rachel shares her thoughts on the rapidly evolving world of book culture, readers, reviewers, and the conversations surrounding books online.If you want to find more from Rachel Gillig, you can find her here:https://www.instagram.com/rmgillig/?h...https://rachelgillig.substack.com/Timestamps:0:00 - Intro 1:31 - Rachel’s 2 Truths & 1 Lie7:08 - On artists drawing inspiration from her work9:19 - Rachel’s literary hot takes15:40 - Rachel’s fandoms19:02 - The Five Hamlets as a Personality Quiz20:44 - Duologies!25:01 - What hill will you die on?27:46 - On the inspiration from old fairy tales35:33 - Was Rachel a scene kid?40:05 - On propaganda 43:58 - A novella?!47:08 - Future projects & other genres!50:12 - Rachel’s dream tea party52:53 - Rachel’s book recLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club for free for 7 days:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: https://danielpena.carrd.co/

#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #RachelGillig #TheShepherdKingDuology #OneDarkWindow #TwoTwistedCrowns #TheKnaveandtheMoon #TheKnightandtheMoth #romantasybooks #adultfantasyromance #gothicromance #gothicfantasy #darkfantasy #fairytalefantasy #BookTok #fantasy

If you want to read some classics with us, join our Patreon read-and-watch club for free for 7 days:   / krisandmadssisterhood  If you want to read more classic books but don't know where to start, this episode is for you! Today we're talking about 10 classic books everyone should read at least once — from gothic romances and sweeping love stories to family sagas, historical adventures, and literary masterpieces.We’re sharing the classics we genuinely think are worth reading, including Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, A Room with a View by E.M. Forster, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.Whether you're building a classic books TBR, looking for the best classic literature to read, trying to get into classic novels for beginners, or just wondering which classics are actually worth your time, we're breaking down why we love these books and why we think they still hold up today.📚 BOOKS MENTIONED0:00 — Intro1:11 — Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier6:21 — The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas13:21 — Little Women by Louisa May Alcott19:18 — Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen25:13 — A Room with a View by E.M. Forster29:55 — Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë37:15 — The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde42:10 — Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë46:23 — Frankenstein by Mary Shelley51:56 — Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy57:03 — Wrap-upLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club for free for 7 days:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

It's time for our July reading recap! 📚 We're sharing everything we read this month, what surprised us, what disappointed us, and which books we'd recommend.Books discussed:The Odyssey by Stephen FryThe Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily WilsonLucky by Marissa StapleyThe Vanishing Half by Brit BennettThe Correspondent by Virginia EvansWellness by Nathan HillA Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanMansfield Park by Jane AustenThe Bone Ships by R. J. BarkerTheo of Golden by Allen LeviLand by Maggie O'FarrellThe Housemaid by Freida McFaddenAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyLet us know what your favorite read of the month was!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club for free for 7 days: https://patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly

#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

✨ This week on the podcast, we're joined by New York Times bestselling author Marissa Stapley! ✨Marissa sits down with us to talk about her bestselling novel Lucky, the Reese's Book Club pick that has now been adapted into the brand-new Apple TV+ series Lucky, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Timothy Olyphant, and Drew Starkey.We dive into the incredible journey from page to screen, what it was like seeing her story come to life, the inspiration behind Lucky, and the highs and challenges of being a bestselling author. Marissa also shares behind-the-scenes insights into the adaptation process, her writing career, and what it feels like to watch an all-star cast bring her characters to life.Whether you're a longtime fan of Marissa's books, have already started watching the series, or are curious about the writing and adaptation process, this conversation is full of behind-the-scenes stories, inspiration, and plenty of laughs!You can find Marissa here! https://www.instagram.com/marissastapley/?hl=enhttps://marissastapley.substack.com/Timestamps0:00 - Intro 3:06 - How ‘Lucky’ came to life9:01 - Reese’s Book Club!14:28 - Anya Taylor Joy is Lucky!17:04 - Marissa’s involvement in the show18:54 - Researching con artists21:00 - Themes translated from page to screen25;40 - Drew Starkey!!!27:13 - The Anne of Green Gables lore30:10 - Lucky & her dad33:49 - Blurbs!37:02 - Marissa’s recs!44:59 - Upcoming for Marissa!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: https://patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Welcome back to the show you guys! June was one of our favorite reading months of the year...especially for Kristen, who somehow managed to read five books and give every single one ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! 🤯📚In today's June Reading Wrap Up, we're sharing honest reviews, ratings, favorite moments, disappointments (or lack thereof!), and whether each book is worth adding to your TBR. From cozy summer romance and timeless classics to epic fantasy, literary fiction, nonfiction, and mythology, this month had a little bit of everything.Whether you're looking for your next five-star read or just love hearing readers passionately discuss books, grab a cozy drink and join us for another month of bookish conversations!Timestamps0:00 - Intro 3:06 - Every Summer After by Carley Fortune9:38 - One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune12:53 - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte21:20 - Maame by Jessica George25:49 - Everything is Tuberculosis by John Greene29:41 - Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid33:24 - Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney38:52 - Persuasion by Jane Austen46:08 - The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer58:10 - Infinite Wisdom by Tom Weaver1:03:52 - The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb1:08:29 - Troy by Stephen Fry1:13:20 - Wrap-upLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #JuneReadingWrapUp #BookReviews #ReadingWrapUp #BookRecommendations #FantasyBooks #ClassicBooks #LiteraryFiction #BookLovers #Readers

We had the incredible opportunity to sit down with bestselling fantasy author Chloe Gong in New York City for one of our favorite conversations we've ever had.Chloe's tumblr:   / chloegong  Chloe's tiktok:   / thechloegong  Chloe's instagram:   / thechloegong  Chloe's website: https://thechloegong.com/Chloe's debut novel, *These Violent Delights*, holds a special place in our hearts because it was the very first book our online book club ever read together. It became a gateway into fantasy for us and helped shape so much of our reading journey, so getting to interview Chloe in person truly felt like meeting one of our literary heroes.In this author interview, Chloe Gong shares the story behind her career, growing up in New Zealand before moving to the United States for college and work, and how those experiences have influenced her writing. We also dive into the differences between writing young adult fantasy, new adult fantasy, and adult fantasy, how her writing process has evolved throughout her career, and why Shakespeare continues to inspire so much of her work.Whether you're a longtime Chloe Gong fan, love fantasy books, enjoy Shakespeare retellings, or are curious about the publishing and writing process, this conversation is packed with insights and behind-the-scenes stories.✨ In this interview, we discuss:

• The inspiration behind These Violent Delights
• The worlds of Immortal Longings and Coldwire
• Writing YA, new adult, and adult fantasy
• Shakespeare's influence on her novels
• Chloe Gong's writing process
• Growing up in New Zealand and building a career in the United States
• Advice for aspiring fantasy writers

• These Violent Delights
• Our Violent Ends
• Foul Lady Fortune
• Foul Heart Huntsman
• Immortal Longings
• Vilest Things
• Coldwire

📚 Books Discussed:If you enjoyed this interview, be sure to subscribe for more author interviews, fantasy book discussions, reading vlogs, book recommendations, and conversations with your favorite authors.Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #ChloeGong #TheseViolentDelights #ImmortalLongings #Coldwire #FantasyBooks #AuthorInterview #BookTube #FantasyAuthor #WritingProcess #ShakespeareRetelling #YoungAdultBooks #AdultFantasy

Every reader has a story, and these are the books that shaped ours.In this episode, we're taking a trip down memory lane and sharing the 10 books and series that formed us into the readers we are today. From beloved classics our parents read aloud to us as children to the stories that sparked lifelong obsessions with fantasy, adventure, and literature, these books helped shape our imaginations, our values, and our love of reading.Along the way, we share family memories, childhood stories, and a little bit of our reader lore as we reflect on the books that have stayed with us for years. If you've ever wondered what made us the readers we are today, this episode is for you.Whether you grew up reading alongside Anne Shirley, journeying through Narnia, exploring Middle-earth, attending Hogwarts, or venturing across Arrakis, we hope this conversation inspires you to revisit the books that helped make you who you are. Books Mentioned Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud MontgomeryLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson BurnettBoxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler WarnerPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenLord of the Rings by J. R. R Tolkien Harry Potter by J. K. RowlingDune by Frank Herbert Timestamps0:00 - Intro 2:11 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery6:46 - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott15:26 - The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis22:52 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien27:49 - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett31:18 - The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner34:01 - Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen37:54 - The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien41:14 - Dune by Frank Herbert45:47 - The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling55:05 - Wrap-upLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Welcome back to the show you guys! Today we are each sharing our TOP 10 BEST BOOKS OF ALL TIME after reading hundreds of books every single year across fantasy, sci-fi, literary fiction, historical fiction, classics, romance, and more. These are the books that completely changed us as readers, stayed with us for years, and truly stand the test of time.From Robin Hobb and George R.R. Martin to Jane Austen, Pierce Brown, Ken Liu, and M.L. Wang, we’re ranking the books that we consider masterpieces and explaining why they’ve become our all-time favorites. Whether you’re looking for the best fantasy books, classic literature recommendations, emotional literary fiction, or unforgettable sci-fi reads, we hope this video helps you find your next favorite book!✨ Let us know YOUR favorite books of all time in the comments!📖 Books Mentioned:Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. FranklBreaking The Habit of Being Yourself by Joe DispenzaSpeaking Bones by Ken LiuThe Wolf Den by Elodie HarperA Room with a View by E.M. ForsterThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth BrowerPachinko by Min Jin LeeA Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinLight Bringer by Pierce BrownThe Sword of Kaigen by M.L. WangHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. RowlingMorning Star by Pierce BrownSense and Sensibility by Jane AustenMad Ship by Robin HobbShip of Destiny by Robin HobbBlood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:41 - Maddie’s #10: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl5:26 - Kristen’s #10: Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza7:22 - Maddie’s #9: Speaking Bones by Ken Liu10:29 - Kristen’s #9: The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper13:01 - Maddie’s #8: A Room with a View by E.M. Forster13:57 - Kristen’s #8: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower15:34 - Maddie’s #7: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee18:26 - Kristen’s #7: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin22:58 - Maddie’s #6: Light Bringer by Pierce Brown24:38 - Kristen’s #6: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang26:41 - Maddie’s #5: Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling29:28 - Kristen’s #5: Morning Star by Pierce Brown31:18 - Maddie’s #4: Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen32:47 - Kristen’s #4: Mad Ship by Robin Hobb34:24 - Maddie’s #3: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb36:27 - Kristen’s #3: Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen39:02 - Maddie’s #2: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang41:16 - Kristen’s #2: Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang43:49 - Maddie AND Kristen’s Top Book48:09 - Kristen’s Honorable Mentions52:06 - Maddie’s Honorable Mentions54:38 - Wrap-up#BestBooksOfAllTime #FantasyBooks #BookTube #Top10Books #FantasyBookRecommendations #SciFiBooks #ClassicBooks #RobinHobb #PierceBrown #MLWang #JaneAusten #BookRecommendations #ReadingVlog #FavoriteBooks #BooksYouNeedToReadLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books