The Library Coven

hiya, coven! This week we’re coming at you with a discussion of Nocturna by Maya Motayne. We both loved this book and didn’t realize how complex the world building and magical system were until we came together in conversation (aka we’re both a little befuddled, and that’s fine!). Motayne’s debut novel is full of relatable characters and exquisite writing. Oh, and there’s magical texting and pining. Have we convinced you to put this on your TBR yet?! Content Warning: this book deals with some heavy topics like emotional and physical abuse, which we discuss at length (although in general terms). Please take this into account when deciding whether to dive into this episode. Call to action this week is some wisdom from Jessie. “This has been a great weekend! Biden won, and I think people should take some time to celebrate, take some time to rest, and then remember that there is still a lot of work to do. Just because 45 is out, doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. Support the dems in the run off races in GA, check out local politics in your area and aid the causes you believe in in whatever way you can.” Also, did ya’ll know we have a bookshop.org affiliate page? Probably yes because we mention it on the regular. It’s bookshop.org/shop/thelibrarycoven. Consider checking out our lists and maybe you’ll be inspired to treat yourself to something…and we get a tiny sliver of proceeds! It’s a win-win <3 Onto the show notes! Full transcript below [PDF transcript Episode 41]  K croons some of the lyrics to “Despacito” (by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee) and is disappointed (understatement!) when J doesn’t know the song. De nada for this song being stuck in your head. #sorrynotsorry etymology of the Spanish word propio definition: “Que pertenece de manera exclusiva a alguien” (source: RAE) comes from the Latin propius which means own, individual, special, characteristic or particular. (wiktionary) Here is an article about OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). K highly recommends both episodes on How to Survive the End of the World podcast featuring Queer Nature (episode 1 and episode 2, which gets into detail about the OODA loop) Books and other media mentioned in the episode Oculta, the sequel to Nocturna, is out mid-December (2020). Sweet!! If you enjoyed the visceral and violent action scenes, J recommends several Marvel shows in particular: The Punisher, Daredevil and Jessica Jones. These are available on Netflix. Brené Brown has written a lot on shame and you can check out some of the highlights in her 2012 TED talk “Listening to Shame.”   Sylvia Wynter is a badass writer and philosopher from the Caribbean. K first learned about her formulations of the “Genre of Man” from the article “Unsettling the Coloniality of Being/Power/Truth/Freedom: Towards the Human, After Man, Its Overrepresentation–An Argument” (2003, PDF of Wynter’s article here) As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. The Library Coven is recorded and produced on stolen indi...

We are more than half way through this season of GBBO, and I am so sad! Here’s to the first ever Japanese week! What were your thoughts? [gif of Mark smiling and laughing]

Hi, everyone! We can’t believe that it’s already halfway through this season of GBBO. Tune-in for our discussion of the much-anticipated pastry week. Visit The Traveller Movement website , check out this op-ed in the Guardian  about antiziganism/racism, or this handy “GRT Representation: Media Response Toolkit” for more on GRT (Gypsy, Roma, Traveler) ethnic groups. There is so much to learn. Do the research, ppl! As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. The Library Coven is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy

Hello, Coven! This week we’re coming at you with a discussion of Wicked Fox by Kat Cho. We really enjoyed reading some urban fantasy that took place in South Korea. What are your thoughts about this book? We’re a bit light on notes, because we actually stuck to the book more than usual! Call to action: It’s November 3, and if you haven’t already, be sure to go vote! K watched Itaewon Class to get ready to talk about this book and get more familiar with K-dramas J recommends Explained episode on K-pop Healthcare in South Korea The sequel, Viscous Spirits, is out now, and we can’t wait to read it! Transcript below or access the PDF version As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. JK, it’s magic is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy The Library Coven Episode 40: Wicked Fox by Kat Cho transition [00:00:06] [jaunty string and harpsichord music plays] jessie [00:00:06] Hello! And welcome to the library coven, a bi weekly podcast in which two bookish besties discuss mostly YA fantasy through the lens of intersectional feminist criticism. Why? Because critique is our fangirl love language, and because talking about books is pretty magical. I’m Jessie. kelly [00:00:22] And I’m Kelly. And in this episode 40, we are talking about Wicked Fox by Kat Cho, an urban fantasy set in Seoul and inspired by Korean folklore. Myong is half gumiho supernatural, nine tailed fox spirit and half human. And she’s lost her yeowul gusul, which is a fox bead, which is like kind of the source of her power or her soul slash. If someone else has it, they can control a gumiho. So not good. Myung saves Jihoon from a dokkabi, which is a demon, and then they meet in school and shit goes down. jessie [00:01:00] Yes [laughs] this episode is out on November 3rd [2021], and you if you haven’t already, be sure to cast your ballot today. Your vote matters. Go vote. kelly [00:01:14] And then make sure you know who your people are so that you can take care of each other no matter what happens. jessie [00:01:25] [both laugh] Such a downer. kelly [00:01:26] I’m just being realistic that we have to like we need a plan. Get your people. Um Join the Coven on Discord! we’re trying to build some closer, bookish community off of super corporate surveillance social media platforms, so come join us. You can do that by becoming a patron on our Patreon. We changed our support structure. So it’s pay what you can one dollar a month or more. And if that is not financially viable, then hit us up and we will give you access anyway. So, yeah. transition [00:02:05] [spellcasting sound] jessie [00:02:05]  initial reactions.

We’re coming at you this week to talk about all things episode 4 of series 11 or Chocolate Week! This week was a wild ride, so prepare yourselves! Here is the  article J mentioned about GBBO [a gif of the Prue-gasm] As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. The Library Coven is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy

It’s finally time for Bread Week! Here is our third bonus episode in the GBBO series. [actual footage of Jessie and Kelly preparing for recording this episode. JK! it’s Mel and Sue wearing front zip hoodies and shaking out their shoulders] As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. The Library Coven is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy

hey, magical beings! This fortnight we’re bringing you a conversation about A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, the first in a planned duology. The second/final installment, A Psalm of Storms and Silence is due out in early 2021. Content Warning for discussions of parent death, panic attacks, and child abuse. ChildHelp  Call 1-800-422-4453 for assistance Call to Action: take care of yourselves! The interactive “you feel like shit self care guide flowchart” is a good resource. here is the source K used when researching the meaning of different day names. Various fact-based news sources have documented widespread evidence that the United States’s carceral immigration system (including deportation flights) is spreading COVID-19. See for example, Part 1 and Part 2 of the Texas Observer’s series on coronavirus in the immigration pipeline: “ why biological sex, not to mention gender, are both dead. Related reading =Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography by Rebecca M. Jordan-Young and Katrina Karkazis we stan the use of a content warning!!! Shoutout to Natasha Ngan and Girls of Paper and Fire for being the first YA novel we read for the show to feature a content warning at the beginning of the book. Check out episode 11 of the show on GoPaF! TV, documentaries and other media mentioned throughout the episode: Lovecraft Country (HBO) The Crown (Netflix) The Umbrella Academy (Netflix) The Princess Bride the Vox Explained episode about anxiety (Netflix) Books mentioned in the episode: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Transcript below or access the PDF version As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. The Library Coven is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy The Library Coven   Episode 39: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown transition [00:00:14] [jaunty harpsichord and string music plays]. kelly [00:00:14] Hello! And welcome to The Library Coven, a bi-weekly podcast in which to bookish besties discuss mostly Y.A. fantasy through the lens of intersectional feminist criticism. Why? Because critique is our fangirl love language and because talking about books is pretty magical. jessie [00:00:30] I’m Jessie. kelly [00:00:31] And I’m Kelly. jessie [00:00:33] And today we are talking about A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, a dual POV  story where we follow Malik as he attempts to kill the Princess Karina in order to save his little sister, who has been abducted by a wraith. And Karina, who is dealing with the death of her family,

Time for biscuits and episode 2 of our very special bonus episodes about GBBO! What did you think of biscuit week? How are you feeling about the season? [gif of Steph trying to get her merengue off the beater into a metal bowl] As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. JK, it’s magic is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy

Greetings, dear coven. We are excited to introduce our new series of bonus episodes following each new episode of Great British Bake Off! The program is also known as the Great British Baking Show on Netflix/in the USA ( because copyright law). J & K are both amateur bakers who enjoy making everything from bread and patisserie to cookies and cakes. Tune in for baking tips and to hear us tailor that compassionate critique you know and love toward this sweet* reality show. We hope it brings you joy! It certainly is a treat* to record these. *PUNS INTENDED! #obvi (can you tell K wrote this? lol) On your marks…get set…Bake! As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. JK, it’s magic is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy

Hello, coven! This is one of the last few episodes where we refer to ourselves as JK, It’s Magic. We hope you like our new name, and that you feel like you’re part of the coven. This week we’re talking about Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova, were we get to know a lot more about Lula! If you need a recap about what happened in the last book, check out our Labyrinth Lost episode. Call to Action: This week, we’re asking that people learn more about ways they can lend a hand to those experiencing homelessness. One place you can start is The National Alliance to End Homelessness. Full Transcript Below (or access the transcript pdf) In this episode we mentioned a ton of different books, so here are all the books mentioned in the episode for your view, purchasing, borrowing pleasure: Wayward Witch Vampires Never Get Old Cemetery Boys Children of Virtue and Vengeance The Poet X Gods of Jade and Shadow A Blade So Black Dread Nation We also mentioned some TV & movies The Boys Never Have I Ever Captain America: Civil War K mentions Sonya Renee Taylor and The Finding Our Way podcast J talked about transubstantiation  And more information about brujería K promised 4 Captain America gifs even though she is not editing this episode or writing these notes, but I love her and Captain America, so I am trying to come through. Enjoy 🙂 And an extra few for the Bucky/Winter Soldier fans As always, we’d love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading. Let us know what you think of the episode, anything we missed, or anything else you want us to know by dropping a line in the comments or reaching out to us on twitter or Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email ([email protected]). You can also check out the show notes on our website, thelibrarycoven.com. We really appreciate ratings and reviews on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or any other platforms. Help us share the magic by spreading the word about the podcast! Please support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Even better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like mini-sodes, bonus episodes, and access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. JK, it’s magic is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Miami, Mesquaki, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, Sauk, and Wea (Jessie) You can support Indigenous communities by donating to Mitakuye Foundation, Native Women’s Wilderness, or the Navajo Water Project. These suggested places came from @lilnativeboy The Library Coven (fka JK, It’s Magic)  Episode 38: Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova transition [00:00:13] [jaunty harpsichord and string music plays] jessie [00:00:13] Hello! And welcome to JK, it’s Magic, a bi-weekly podcast in which two bookish besties discuss mostly YA fantasy through the lens of intersectional feminist criticism. Why? Because critique is our fangirl love language. And because talking about books is pretty magical. jessie [00:00:28] I’m Jessie. kelly [00:00:29] And I’m Kelly. And this episode, we’re back in Brooklyn de la Brujas and we are talking about Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova, the second novel in the in the Brooklyn Brujas series. Right? That’s what it’s called? jessie [00:00:43] Yes. kelly [00:00:44] After a tragic accident, Lula betrays the mysterious Dea de la Muerte by accidentally creating a horde of “casimuertos,” which is a portmanteau that means almost dead in Spanish. In doing so, Lula traps Lady de la Muerte between Realms and throws off the balance of like the whole universe, so like NBD. And the Mortiz family teams up with and some new characters to un cluster fuck the whole situation. Dot,