Pages and Potions Podcast

We're back!After a summer hiatus that had us reading, hanging out with friends, and sipping on margaritas, sangrias, and other delicious libations we are back with a new episode on Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole. Book 2 in the Kindred's Curse saga takes us through Diem's journey of becoming a queen - learning more about herself, about Luther (swoon), and what her future may hold. While the book ends on the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers, we won't hold that against one of our favourite authors...or will we?Our drink this week is made up of sugar and spice...and left us both wanting more...The Taran2 oz Bourbon1 oz peach syrup (or peach nectar)1oz lemon juice1 oz maple syrup (eh!)Egg whitesDash of CinnamonAdd everything in to a shaker with ice and shake AGGRESSIVELY for 1-2 minutes until frothy. Strain over fresh ice and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

Welcome to our very first Author Happy Hour!

Join us as we discuss how Paige Hurtubise created the magical realm featured in The Wild Kingdom, the why and how behind the story, and so much more!

We've got a "Manon jump scare", we've got two love interests, we've got fated mates (but only one knows). This book is one to absolutely put on your shelves today.

Once you devour it like we did, send us a DM and let us know how you liked it! And don't forget to rate and review on Goodreads!

To get your hands on a copy, check out @paigehurtubisebooks on all platforms and find all the links from there!

Hold on to your butts, folks, this one is fantastic!

We tried so hard to keep this one spoiler free, and I think we succeeded? Have a listen to this spoiler-free episode on The Wild Kingdom by Paige Hurtubise.

This book is a wild ride from start to finish, featuring a badass FMC, unique magic system, and a "fated mates but only one of them knows" situation. This one is definitely worth a read, and comes out soon!

To pair with the wild vibes of the book, we drank and amazing Strawberry Basil Gimlet:

2oz. Gin

3 muddled strawberries 

With 2 oz. lime juice and 1 tsp of sugar (More if you like it sweet)

3 big sprigs of Fresh Basil

Add the first 3 ingredients to a shaker with ice (basil on the bottom) and shake HARD for 2 min. 

Strain into a fresh glass with ice and top with soda water or sprite.

Enjoy!

Arrrrr me mateys! Shiver me timbers!

Pirate romantasy may be our new favourite genre - especially if it has a respectful and dashing MMC, and fierce FMC, and cool history and magic system.

The Ever King was a super fun read - and we may have a new top contender for our book boyfriend lists.

Can you guess what we drank for this episode? Something that gives us the taste of the wild seas - Pirate Punch of course! What pirate-themed episode wouldn't include rum?

1oz. Dark rum

Dash of cinnamon

Splash of Lime

2 oz. cranberry juice

Small can of Sprite or Ginger ale

Garnish with a lemon or lime

(Pineapple would also go well with this drink!)

Deep trauma, "touch her and die", Fated mates, and enemies-to-friends-to-lovers? Sign us up.

Join us as we discuss the wild ride that is Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa. This one kept us guessing until the very end, and while it has some tried and true tropes, it is utterly unique.

Callie, our FMC, loves a good whiskey. So we created the Callie Special to pair with this fun read!

½ cup cranberry juice

Good squirt of lime juice

Small can of spicy ginger beer

1 oz. of shooting whiskey. 

Pour the first 3 ingredients into a glass with ice. Pour your whiskey into a separate shot glass.

Shoot the whiskey, chase with the drink. Enjoy!

Tag us if you try it!

Find out why Devon is dickmatized in this episode of Pages and Potions Podcast! In this episode we talk about Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson, an epic tale of a kickass FMC who loves her family, a sassy dire wolf, betrayal, friendship, and trials.

To pair with this amazing book we made "Dire Wine", as a nod to the emberwine we see the bonded recruits drink in the book.

Ingredients:

1 glass of red wine (we like a hefty pour)

1 oz. Creme de Cassis

1 oz. Brandy 

2 oz. Cranberry Juice

Splash of Sparkling water or gingerale

Sliced oranges and blackberries

To a fresh glass with ice, add brandy, creme de cassis, Cranberry Juice, and wine and stir. Top with the soda or gingerale. Garnish with an orange wedge or blackberry and enjoy.

This one was a nice surprise! Based in a Venetian-inspired paradise, Olivia Wildenstein's House of Beating Wings is the kind of book you sink into and don't want to come back to the surface.

Listen as we discuss our girl Fallon and her adventures, find out why we need to give Dante a map, and definitely try the delicious drink, the Terespagian Sunset. We think it might be the best one yet!

1 oz. Aperol

1 oz. Creme de Cassis

1 oz. Orange Juice

Splash of Sparkling water or Prosecco if you’re feeling naughty!

To a fresh glass with ice, add aperol, creme de cassis, OJ and stir. Top with the soda or prosecco. Garnish with an orange wedge or blackberry and enjoy.

We had so much fun talking through Raven Kennedy's Gild in this episode! It was like the universe was conspiring against us with technical difficulties the first THREE TIMES we tried to record this one, but we got it figured out.

The beauty and magic of the Plated Prisoner series starts here, in this amazing dive into a cold and blizzardy world where kings are dipshits and subterfuge is rewarded. To help us warm up from the chill of Highbell, try out our Highbell Hot Toddy:

1 cup pineapple juice

½ cup orange juice

1 tsp honey

1 cinnamon stick

1 thick ginger slice

1 tbsp butter

Dash of cloves

Heat in a sauce pan on low-medium heat (you don’t want the sugars to burn), until hot and steaming. Remove ginger slice and cinnamon stick and pour into your favourite mug. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick. enjoy!

Devon and Courtney get heated as they rate their top book boyfriends. Some they agree on, some they do not. As always, unhinged hilarity ensues as the conversation gets weirder. No cocktail tonight - just drinks of our own choosing. Sit back, grab your fave bevvy, and enjoy this one.

This one is for those of us who like the action to start immediately. Sorry, not THAT kind of action. Think Hunger Games meets House of Cards. 

This is one of those books that sucks you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. And the twist at the end? You’ll have to tell us if you saw it coming. We certainly didn’t.

Our potion this week is one of our favourites yet! Make sure to tag us if you try it - if you like a whiskey sour, you will NOT be disappointed!

The Nightborn Sour

Ingredients:

2 oz. Bourbon

1 oz. Black Cherry Juice or Cherry Syrup

1 oz. Lemon Juice

Egg White

1 oz. Simple Syrup (if using cherry syrup, omit this step)

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 2 min (need to froth up the egg white!)

Strain in a fresh glass with ice. Garnish with a cherry!