Reading Materials

We round off season 7 with another guest episode in which we are excited to welcome back Maria, Lucia's co-host from season 6.

Join us for our discussion of Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross and hear our thoughts on magical typewriters, confusing gods and manipulative love interests.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

03:00 - An Introduction to the Author

06:00 - Spoiler Warning

06:30 - The Blurb

07:15 - Our Discussion of Divine Rivals

01:11:35 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

Crescent City 3 by Sarah J. Maas

The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Narnia by C. S. Lewis

Links:

Rebecca Ross on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Goodreads

Lucia on Goodreads

Corrie on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Instagram

In this week’s episode we read another young adult fantasy novel and encounter flamenco dancing and dragon fighting in Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez.

Join us for our discussion of the author’s inclusion of Spanish culture, dragons as metaphors and multiple red herrings.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

02:00 - An Introduction to the Author

04:50 - Spoiler Warning

05:20 - The Blurb

06:50 - Our Discussion of Together We Burn

45:15 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time

47:30 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Links:

Isabel Ibañez on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Goodreads

Lucia on Goodreads

Corrie on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Instagram

In this week's episode we spend some time with the political and magical intrigue of The Brilliant Death by A. R. Capetta.

Join us in exploring the world of Vinalia, family politics, loyalty and secrets, as well as some soul-searching about what being a "young adult" actually means.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

02:22 - An Introduction to the Author

04:16 - The Blurb

07:05 - Spoiler Warning

07:30 - Our Discussion of The Brilliant Death

53:11 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time

01:15:40 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

⁠The Brilliant Death⁠ by A. R. Capetta

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibanez

Links:

A. R. Capetta⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Lucia⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Corrie⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Instagram

In this week's episode we get a glimpse at the glamour of old-school Hollywood in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Join us to hear out thoughts on this bestselling and award-winning novel as we discuss Ernie, Don, Mick, Rex, Harry, Max and Robert, and ultimately find out who was the love of Evelyn's life.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:15 - Life Updates

02:30 - An Introduction to the Author

05:50 - The Blurb

07:05 - Spoiler Warning

07:30 - Our Discussion of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

01:15:00 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time

01:15:40 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Brilliant Death by A. R. Capetta

Links:

Taylor Jenkins Reid on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Goodreads

Lucia on Goodreads

Corrie on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Instagram

In this week's episode we journey to the fantastical lands of Ralia and Tithena in the queer love-story A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows.

Join us for our discussion of political intrigue, the book's exploration of gender identity and the author's clever use of language.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:15 - Life Updates

06:45 - An Introduction to the Author

08:30 - The Blurb

09:50 - Our Discussion of 'A Strange and Stubborn Endurance'

20:25-24:35 - Trigger Warning for Discussion of Rape

24:45 - Trigger Warning for Discussion of Suicide Attempt

01:03:20 - The Book We Will Be Reading Next Time

01:04:10 - Outro

Books Mentioned:

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas

Pucking Around by Emily Rath

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Links:

Foz Meadows on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Goodreads

Lucia on Goodreads

Corrie on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Instagram

We return this week to tackle our first Greek mythology retelling as we discuss the heart-breaking The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.

Forget what you know from the Hollywood and Disney versions, it’s time to go back to the source as we discuss prideful heroes and gods, understated but beautiful writing, and gut-punch endings. There is even a cameo from baby Edward at the end of the episode!

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:15 - Life Updates

02:25 - An Introduction to the Author

07:45 - Spoiler Warning

09:20 - The Blurb

10:00 - Our Discussion of 'The Song of Achilles'

01:02:20 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time

01:03:45 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Illiad / The Odyssey by Homer

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

Links:

Madeline Miller on Goodreads

Madeline Miller on Instagram

Madeline Miller’s website

Reading Materials on Goodreads

Lucia on Goodreads

Corrie on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Instagram

We step away from fantasy this week to discuss Torrey Peters' bestselling debut about gender, parenthood, love and trans life - Detransition, Baby.

Tune in for our thoughts on Reece, Ames (or Amy before her detransition) and Katrina as they navigate relationships, grapple with gender identity and ultimately decide what to do about a surprise pregnancy.

Please note that this episode deals with topics that some listeners might find upsetting - please check the Episode Timepoints for trigger warnings.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

03:10 - Trigger Warnings

04:10 - Introduction to the Author

07:45 - The Blurb

09:05 - Spoiler Warning

09:20 - Disclaimer

10:30 - Our Discussion of Detransition, Baby

01:18:15 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time

01:19:00 - Outro

Books Mentioned:

Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones by Torrey Peters

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Links:

Torrey Peters' website

Torrey Peters on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Goodreads

Lucia on Goodreads

Corrie on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Instagram

Today we venture down the dusty halls of the libraries of Austermeer in Margeret Rogerson's "Sorcery of Thorns".

Grimoires, sorcerers, demons and feisty teenage girls abound - join us in our discussion of this fun jaunt through the hallways of ancient libraries, enchanted houses and demon-infested mansions.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:16 - Life Updates

05:26 - The Blurb for Sorcery of Thorns

06:43 - Our Discussion of Sorcery of Thorns

01:05:41 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time

01:08:37 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas

Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride

Links:

⁠Margaret Rogerson⁠ on Goodreads

Margaret Rogerson on ⁠Instagram⁠

Margaret Rogerson's ⁠website⁠

⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Lucia⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Corrie⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Instagram

We continue Season 7 with a sequel to one of our favourite books from Season 3 - Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo.

Join us as we journey with Galaxy Stern to hell and discuss character development, vampires, bunnies and of course - Darlington's glow-stick.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

06:00 - The Blurb for Hell Bent

08:10 - Brief Summary of the Book

12:00 - Our Discussion of Hell Bent

01:20:00 - The Book We Will Be Discussing Next Time

01:21:10 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

The Aurora Cycle by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Links:

Leigh Bardugo on Goodreads

Leigh Bardugo on Instagram

Leigh Bardugo's website

Reading Materials on Goodreads

Lucia on Goodreads

Corrie on Goodreads

Reading Materials on Instagram

We kick off Season 7 with Happy Place, the latest in Emily Henry's growing set of feel good novels, published in April 2023. Corrie is back from maternity leave, Lucia is fresh from an in-depth exploration of ACOTAR, and we reunite with one of our favourite authors as we find out what happens during Lobster Season in Maine when six friends, three secrets, and the harsh reality of growing up, coincide one summer's week.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life updates

04:23 - An Introduction to Season Seven

06:18 - Introduction to Happy Place

07:55 - The Blurb

09:25 - Our Discussion of "Happy Place"

17:00 - Belated spoiler alert

01:46:30 - Outro

Other Books Mentioned:

Dead in Devon⁠ by Stephanie Austin

Pucking Around by Emily Rath

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

The Night Ship by Jess Kidd

Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting

Beach Read by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation/You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

Links:

⁠Emily Henry⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Lucia⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Corrie⁠ on Goodreads

⁠Reading Materials⁠ on Instagram