What’s more terrifying than a supervillain? A superhero, of course! In our twentieth (!) episode, we’re taking a look at the dark side of superheroes through the novels Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots and The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente. Topics include descents into villainy, misogyny in comic books, and whether the Joker pays his minions a fair wage.

Other Media Mentioned:

• Sword Stone Table edited by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington

Content warnings: mentions of violence, murder, medical horror and body horror, an abusive relationship, suicide, death of a child, and drug use.

This week, we’re diving into the King Arthur mythos! We discuss the book Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, an urban fantasy book that stars Bree Mathews, a Black teenage girl who discovers a secret society of demon-hunters descended from the Knights of the Round Table. Topics include our love of the fierce and complicated main character, Tracy Deonn’s scathing interrogation of racism in America, and how the book succeeds in making old myths feel new and unique.

Other media mentioned:

• For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

Content warnings: discussions of the death of a parent, antiblack racism, slavery, rape, and generational trauma.

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.