It’s time to dive into all things undead! In this episode, we’re discussing two fantasy books about necromancers: Sabriel by Garth Nix and The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco. Is raising the dead an inherently evil kind of magic? What does it mean to have power over life and death? Plus: cat demons, descents into villainy, and the importance of a good, old-fashioned fantasy novel roadtrip.

Other media mentioned:

• Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

Content warnings: discussions of death and Islamophobic stereotypes in fiction.

What do vampires, wizards, and baked goods have in common? They’re all featured in this week’s episode, of course! Today we’re discussing A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher and Sunshine by Robin McKinley, two fantasy novels starring heroines who call the kitchen home. Some topics covered include the integration of magic and baking in both books, the surprising ways they resonate with our current world, and the practical uses of magical baked goods in warfare. 

Other media mentioned

• The Addams Family (1991)

Content warnings: Discussions of murder, kidnapping, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com

This week, Pie and Lulu leave the realm of fantasy and science fiction for new territory. Turning our attention to two young adult coming-of-age stories, we discuss Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales and Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen, two contemporary novels where the protagonist runs an advice column–yet is a bit of a disaster in their personal life. Topics include the exploration of LGBTQ+ identities in both novels, the difficulty of writing authentic teenagers, and the appeal of stories where the protagonist can seemingly fix any problems except their own.

Other media mentioned:

• How to be Ace: a Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess

Content warnings: discussions of homophobia, biphobia, stalking, blackmail, underage drinking, and drug use.

This week, Pie and Lulu cross into an entirely new territory: the Batman mythos! We discuss the iconic DC Comics storyline Under the Red Hood and its animated movie adaptation, both about Jason Todd, a former Robin turned antagonist. Topics include our (lack of) prior knowledge about Batman comics, a haphazard rundown of the history of the Robin sidekicks, moral codes in superhero comics, and being unexpectedly sad about Batman and his adopted children.

Other Media Mentioned:

• Prospect (2018)

Content warnings: mentions of murder and violence, death of a child, gun violence, drugs, and Nazis.

This week, Pie and Lulu discuss the 2021 Marvel and DC Pride anthologies, which feature a variety of short comics about LGBT+ superheroes. Topics include the appearances of some of our favorite queer superheroes (hint: there’s a lot of X-Men), new and interesting characters we discovered thanks to these anthologies, and the state of LGBT+ representation in superhero comics in general.

Other Media Mentioned:

• Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson

Content Warnings:

Discussions of homophobia, biphobia, murder, a past abusive relationship, racism in comics, and sexual harassment by a comic book writer.

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com

This week, we’re discussing the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Focusing on the first of four science fiction novellas about a grumpy artificial intelligence and the humans it reluctantly comes to care about, we discuss the novellas' portrayal of free will, dehumanization under capitalism, and the importance of escapist media, all while marveling at how relatable a robot with a body count in the double digits can be. 

Other media mentioned:

• Jade City by Fonda Lee

Content warnings: mentions of mass murder, violence, and kidnapping

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com

This week, Pie and Lulu discuss Nghi Vo’s novel The Chosen and the Beautiful, a history fantasy retelling of The Great Gatsby starring Jordan Baker. Topics include the way Vo integrates magic into the classic novel, Jordan’s adaptational identity as a bisexual Vietnamese woman, and an overabundance of enthusiasm for the idea of demonic bargains. 

Content warnings: discussions of racism and a murder-suicide

Other media mentioned:

• Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont

You can learn more about Never The Twins Shall Meet at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com

This week, Pie and Lulu travel to gang-ruled 1920s Shanghai to discuss These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, a historical fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Topics include the novel’s dramatic romance, the atmospheric historical setting, and how Gong puts her own spin on the classic tale of love and rivalry.

Other media mentioned:

• In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Content warnings: discussions historical colonialism and imperialism, medical horror, plagues/pandemics, self harm/suicide, and gang warfare

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.

This week, Pie and Lulu explore their most literary and intellectual pastime during the pandemic: reading a lot of X-Men comics. Covering comics from the eighties to the present day, topics include favorite characters, underrated comic runs, and thoughts on the unusual current status quo of the X-Men. Oh, and also cosmic tragedies, coming out stories, and karaoke–you know, all the usual staples of superhero comics.

Comics discussed in-depth:

• Astonishing X-Men (2012-2013) by Marjorie Liu

Other comics and media mentioned:

• Heathen by Natasha Alterici

Content warnings: Discussions of the Holocaust, racism in comics, (fictional) human experimentation, and homophobia

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.

This week, it’s all about gothic vibes! Pie and Lulu take a look at two gothic-inspired novels: Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. We discuss the spooky atmospheres and isolated manor settings that both of the books share, as well as our love for the female protagonists. Also, why are we both afraid of mushrooms now? Listen to find out why!

Other media mentioned:

• Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars by Kai Cheng Thom

Content warnings: discussions of eugenics, incest, racism, cannibalism, abuse, medical horror, gun violence, murder, and suicide

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.