Kris and Mads

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsThe professor I referenced who is making amazing gothic reading lists on tiktok can be found here:https://www.tiktok.com/@theculturedum...Looking for the perfect fall read? 🍂 In this episode, we’re sharing 15 of our top book recommendations for fall—with something for everyone! Whether you’re in the mood for dark academia, gothic fiction, vampire vibes, spooky-season romance, or edge-of-your-seat thrillers, we’ve got you covered. All of our reviews are spoiler-free and include a quick premise plus why we loved each book.At the end, we’re also chatting about the books still on our fall TBR 👀—so stick around for even more cozy-spooky inspiration.If you’re a book lover searching for your next autumn read, this episode is basically your fall book guide.📚 Timestamps below so you can jump to your favorite genres!Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:15 Dark Academia Recommendations02:46 The Will of the Many by James Islington04:35 The Secret History by Donna Tartt07:13 If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio11:54 Gothic Fiction Recommendations12:59 Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier15:47 One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig19:14 Belladonna by Adalyn Grace22:39 Vampire Fiction Recommendations24:49 Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canes26:17 A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson29:32 Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab32:53 Romance Recommendations for Spooky Season33:15 The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston37:01 Masters of Death by Olivie Blake41:23 Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid45:06 Thriller Recommendations46:44 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy48:39 Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young50:04 Vicious by V.E. Schwab52:25 What’s on OUR fall TBR?Let’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 #FallBookRecommendations #DarkAcademiaBooks #GothicBooks #VampireBooks #RomanceBooks #ThrillerBooks #SpookySeasonReads #BookTok #BookTube #BookPodcast #CozyFallReads #FallTBR #AutumnReading #BestBooksForFall

Welcome to our August Reading Wrap-Up! This month we each read 9 books, buddy read 4, and ended up chatting about 14 amazing (and some surprising) reads. If you’re looking for fantasy, romance, thrillers, and literary fiction book recommendations, you’re in the right place!Here’s what we read in August:📚 Books Featured in This Video:01:50 The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb08:30 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy11:52 Powerless by Elsie Silver14:16 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman19:57 Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee & Shannon Lee25:18 The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley28:01 Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab33:59 Silver Cloak by L. K. Steven38:59 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn41:46 A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles46:33 The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst49:14 Wellness by Nathan Hill55:22 Final Thoughts✔ Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Thrillers, Literary Fiction✔ Includes: New releases, series continuations, and backlist favorites✔ Our honest thoughts + ratings on every bookIf you love reading wrap-ups, book reviews, and buddy reads, hit subscribe for more monthly book recaps, TBR lists, and bookish chats!✨ Which was your favorite August read? Tell us in the comments!Let’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

We got to sit down with ROBIN HOBB. Yes, THE Robin Hobb. Our favorite living author. Fifteen minutes that honestly felt like the best of our lives. She told us how she writes characters that feel so real, how she allows the reader to find and explore themes in her work, what she does when she’s stuck, and even the stories she made sure her own kids grew up with—because she believes a love of reading can change the world.If you love The Realm of the Elderlings, Farseer Trilogy, or just want to hear one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time talk about her process—this is it. We’re still freaking out.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:27 How is WorldCon Seattle 2025?!01:20 How Robin Hobb does research for her stories03:32 Robin Hobb's writing process, and what she does when she's stuck 04:55 How Robin Hobb writes REAL characters across ages07:12 Robin Hobb on the themes in her stories08:33 On the importance of stories for children, and which she recommends10:43 Would Robin Hobb collaborate with other authors?11:43 The origin story of the pen name "Robin Hobb"13:31 What is Robin Hobb writing now? What comes next?14:42 What message does Robin Hobb have for the Sisterhood Bookclub?Let’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 #RobinHobb #FantasyBooks #AuthorInterview #FarseerTrilogy #RealmOfTheElderlings #BookPodcast #FantasyReaders

It’s publication day for Artificial Wisdom—the gripping 2050 techno-thriller murder mystery that blends AI, politics, and climate catastrophe! We sit down with author Thomas Weaver to celebrate the U.S. release with Penguin Random House’s Del Rey. Tom shares his journey from indie publishing to Amazon bestseller to landing an agent and selling Artificial Wisdom—and its unwritten sequel!—to a major publisher. We talk AI vs. human leadership, writing high-stakes thrillers, and what it’s like to relaunch a book to the world. Plus: live audience Q&A on the craft, the business, and what’s next for Thomas Weaver.If you love sci-fi thrillers, climate fiction, political intrigue, or stories of publishing success, this interview is a must-watch.#ArtificialWisdom #ThomasWeaver #BookReleaseDay #PenguinRandomHouse #DelReyBooks #AIElectionThriller #TechnoThriller #ClimateFiction #SciFiThriller #AuthorInterview #Booktube #WritingCommunity #AIThriller #PoliticalThriller #NewBookRelease #SciFiBooks #PublishingJourney #FromIndieToTrad #BookLaunchDay #scifiauthor Let’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

So you’re thinking about reading The Wheel of Time… but 14 books? A thousand characters? Constant skirt-smoothing?? We get it. In this episode, we’re spilling all the spoiler-free tea to help you decide if this iconic fantasy series is for you—and how to actually enjoy the ride.Here’s what we cover:• The forming, storming, norming, and performing phases of reading the series• What it’s like reading a series the original author didn’t finish (shoutout to Brandon Sanderson for saving the day)• The tools that will actually help you keep characters, maps, and timelines straighthttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/wot-com...https://wheeloftimelines.com/ @DanielGreeneReviews recap videos:    • Let's Summarize The Wheel of Time  • Cringe alerts: the gender dynamics, the braid-tugging, the constant clothing descriptions 😅• Why fans still love it: a killer magic system, rich themes, and an iconic fandom• Who should read it—and who might want to skip it (we won’t judge)If you love massive worlds, fandom lore, magical systems, and long-haul reading with payoff—The Wheel of Time might be your next obsession. We’re here to help you go in with eyes wide open and a solid game plan.Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:04 Breaking the Wheel of Time Into Sections03:02 The Forming Phase05:45 The Storming Phase09:42 The Norming Phase15:05 The Performing Phase19:57 Reading Resources for Wheel of Time25:55 The Cringey Parts of Wheel of Time33:01 The Best Aspects of Wheel of Time40:56 Who Should Read The Wheel of Time and When?Let’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#WheelOfTime #RobertJordan #BrandonSanderson #FantasySeries #WheelOfTimePodcast #EpicFantasy #LongSeriesReading #WoTCompendium #WheelOfTimelines #DanielGreene #FantasyFandom #SpoilerFreeGuide #HowToReadWheelOfTime #BookPodcast #FantasyBooks #ReadingTips

We read 23 books in July and it was a wild reading month! From standalones and surprises to potential best book of the year (Maddie is obsessed 😍), we’re breaking down everything we loved, didn’t love, and totally disagreed on. One super popular book flopped for us, and we had completely opposite reactions to Atmosphere. Come hang out with us for a cozy chat full of honest reviews, spicy ratings, and maybe a new book for your TBR 💬✨Let us know if you read any of these or disagreed with our takes!Time Stamps00:00 Intro 02:28 Prophet Song By Paul Lynch 11:51 The Guest List By Lucy Foley14:09 Death on the Nile By Agatha Christie19:08 A Memory of Light By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson25:39 A Reaper at the Gates and A Sky Beyond the Storm By Sabaa Tahir32:07 The Finish Line, One Last Rainy Day, Severed Heart By Kate Stewart39:10 Library at Mount Char By Scott Hawkins43:51 The Dead Romantics By Ashley Boston48:33 Writers and Lovers By Lily King 51:36 Onyx Storm By Rebecca Yarros55:59 Find Grace By Loretta Rothschild 57:58 Atmosphere By Taylor Jenkins Reid01:03:27 Ship of Magic By Robin Hobb01:10:53 The Dispossessed By Ursula K. Le Guin 01:14:46 Pachinko By Min Jin Lee01:116:56 Final thoughts The Dispossessed guide    • Freedom is Constant Revolution | The Dispo...  Let’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

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Severed Heart author Kate Stewart—a queen of dark romance. We dive into her latest release Severed Heart, now out in audio from Podium, and the process of bringing it to life as a fully produced audiobook.Kate opens up about her incredibly loyal reader base, known as the "Ravens," a passionate community that's not only obsessed with the series but also committed to doing good in the world through local state chapters.We also talk about her hands-on role in the audiobook production, what’s next for her as an author, and the exciting news that she’s now screenwriting and producing her own film adaptation of Flock. If you love dark romance, fandoms that matter, and behind-the-scenes creative stories, this one’s for you.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:43 Kate Tells Us Two Truths and a Lie02:16 The Inspiration and Origin of the Ravenhood Series04:32 All About Severed Heart - The Audiobook09:48 More Books Coming in the Ravenhood Legacy!13:42 Delays in Publishing and Kate's Amazing Team of Publishers14:41 Who is Kate's Favorite Character to Write15:12 Kate's "Pinch Me" Moments from Book Tour16:29 The Readers ("Ravens") and How Kate Considers Them Family19:56 What Does Kate Love to Read?23:16 Why Romance? What Pulls Kate to the Genre?24:31 What Are Kate's Writing Rituals? What's the Writing Process?26:48 All About Flock's Screen Adaptation33:43 Kate's Hopes for the FutureLet’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 #KateStewart #SeveredHeart #DarkRomance #RomanceBooks #PodiumAudio #AudiobookLaunch #RavensFandom #FlockSeries #RomanceAuthors #IndieRomance #BookToScreen #ScreenAdaptation #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #RomanceCommunity #BookishPodcast #RomanceBookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #RomanceTikTok

Today Kristen's dream came true when we sat down with New York Times bestselling author Laura Steven, whose novel Our Infinite Fates has been a breakout fantasy favorite of 2025! Her new adult fantasy release Silvercloak, is coming July 29th, and we couldn’t wait to ask her everything.This conversation felt like a FaceTime with a friend—relaxed, inspiring, and packed with behind-the-scenes details on Laura’s writing process, the magic of Silvercloak, her thoughts on romance in fantasy, and what’s coming next. If you’re a fan of immersive fantasy worlds, witty characters, or just want to hang out with your new favorite author, this one’s for you.Laura Steven website https://www.laura-steven.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laurasteven...Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@authorlaurast...Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 02:01 Silvercloak book launch 02:30 Two truths and a lie 08:41 Laura’s background in writing 21:25 Why adult fantasy 25:09 Is Silvercloak romantic31:48 Authors and books Laura loves34:01 Who did you write Silvercloak for36:54 How do you use social media44:45 Is Silvercloak going to have more books41:21 Is writing a series intimidating 48:10 Foreshadowing 48:59 Do you have arc readers 51:07 2025 book tour 52:00 What do your readers mean to you55:40 Laura’s writing rituals 59:21 Future dream and plans 01:01:35 Movie adaptation 01:03:58 Where to follow Laura Steven Let’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

In this episode, we’re talking all about how we actually get our books—whether it’s through libraries, bookstores (big or indie!), audiobooks, eBooks, or book apps. We go through the pros and cons of each, share how we personally read and listen to books, and even dream up what our own cozy little bookstore would look like. ☕📚We also get into a big question: if more people are reading, why are library visits and checkouts going down? Is it all about convenience, funding, or something else?This was such a fun and thoughtful conversation, and we’d love to hear from you too—how do you usually access books these days? Drop your thoughts in the comments 💬Article Mentioned: https://www.thefp.com/p/front-page-de...Time stamps 00:00 Intro 01:09 Article about libraries 03:28 Libraries13:09 Barns & Noble 17:30 Indie Bookstores21:23 Thrifted bookstores24:03 Online book shopping27:32 Hardback or paperback 28:25 Reading Apps30:19 Market book selling31:02 Little Free Libraries 32:47 Bookstore combos 33:51 Bookstore of our dreams 30:04 Are more people reading42:04 Our goals Let’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

It’s time for the 2025 Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag—our favorite annual tradition! 🎉 In this cozy podcast-style episode, we go through all questions from the tag and give our brutally honest thoughts on our reading year so far.💥 From best books and big surprises to disappointing reads, fictional crushes, and the new releases we still haven’t gotten to… this episode is packed with laughs, strong opinions, and some tough decisions.Let’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   00:00 Intro 00:39 Best book of the year 07:25 Best sequel 12:32 New release you haven’t yet read15:02 Most anticipated release 16:52 Biggest disappointment 26:33 Biggest surprise 29:15 New favorite author 31:48 Favorite fictional crush 37:28 Newest favorite character 41:25 Books that made us cry us happy 44:25 Books that made 47:39 Most beautiful book49:28 book to finish before the end of the year 51:06 Favorite audiobook 54:16 Favorite reread 55:31 Favorite reading moment or memory 58:26 Reading goal update Books MentionedAssassin’s Fate and Royal Assassin By Robin HobbOur Infinite FatesBy Laura Steven Atmosphere By Taylor Jenkins Reid The Strength of the FewBy James Islington The Wise Man’s FearBy Patrice RothfussAll Systems Red By Martha WellsDungeon Crawler CarlMatt Dinniman Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Caroline Peckham Suzanne Valenti The OutsidersBy S. E. Hinton This is How You Loose the Time WarBy Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone11/22/63 and Fairy tale Stephen King Severed HeartBy Kate Stewart Heartless By Elsie Silver The Knight and the MothBy Rachel Gillig The Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky The Licanius TrilogyBy James Islington Sunrise on the Reaping By Suzanne Collins Gifted and Talented By Olivia Blake Death of the Author by Nnedi OkoraforDaughter of the Empire By Janny Wurts and Raymond E. FeistThe Fires of Vengeance By Evan Winter Intermezzo By Sally Rooney The Lord of the RingsBy J.R.R. Tolkien The Wheel of TimeRobert Jordan and Brandon SandersonAn Ember in the AshesBy Sabaa Tahir #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books