Join two casual readers as they completely ignore their academic backgrounds and talk about the books they loved, and sometimes the ones they didn’t. Includes segments like “Journey to the Center of the Discworld,” “Words are Weird,” and “Pet Peeves.” Ever wonder why someone would read bad fanfiction? They talk about that too.

Your hosts get a little political with The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. They compare it to some of her other Earthsea series, enjoy the overall humanitarian message, and point out a few (startlingly few) areas where it didn't age as well.Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read the Kin Enigma by Darrel Miller, a hard scifi take on werewolves fit for Crichton fans. They discuss the realism of the novel, complex character motivations, and what they would have liked to see more (and less) of in the story.Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Stark Holborn to talk about her novella For the Road. They discuss acid westerns, inspirational songs, and Gaulish mythology.Find more from Stark:https://starkholborn.com/https://www.patreon.com/starkholbornThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by staff artist, spouse, and resident Warhammer expert Daniel for a follow up conversation about The Infinite and the Divine, a Warhammer 40k tie-in novel by Robert Rath. They talk about how the reading experience is different for someone who actually plays the game it's based on, and Danny teaches them a little bit more about 40k. They also debate the most important question: can robots kiss?Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read "This is How You Lose the Time War" by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Lilly really ought to have known it was a love story. Sara vibed with the whimsy. They also talk about Time Travel Shenanigans, plot to vibe ratios, and the appeal of rereading novellas.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, a novella about robots starting a noodle shop in near-future San Francisco. They debate if it can be called cyberpunk (kinda) or cozy (also kinda), and how the scifi setting opens up conversations around familiar situations. Your hosts also talk about naive robots and surprising pacing.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts delve into the grimdark (ish) world of Warhammer 40k with The Infinite and the Divine, a tie-in novel by Robert Rath. They discuss their familiarity with the world (next to none) and how approachable the book was for newbies. They also talk about the ratio of academic rivalry to fight scenes, the complex relationship between main characters, and what this book revealed about their reading preferences.Listen to Vishani's Song of Serenade on YouTube.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss "500k/MO!! as EPIC-POET! by Vincent “Vinnie The Weasel” Vulpikonek - Introduction by Mister C.N. Sumbvert (Mentor-Helpmeet-Editor-At-Largess™)" by Chris Sumberg, a satirical take on those writing advice books (you know the kind). They discuss the intentionally trying narrative voice and whether or not non-writers will enjoy it, and try their very best to not just repeat all of the hilariously bad advice from each chapter.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts talk about 2025! What they read, what they read the most of, and what categories could use some more love. They also award superlatives to their recent reads (including "book they argued the most about" and “setting they would die instantly in”). Your hosts then discuss plans for the podcast in 2026, and how the second half of the year will be "no plans, vibes only."Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read No One to Hold the Distant Dead by K.L. Schroeder. They discuss the somber nature of the novella, the use of “likes animals” as a shorthand for “good character,” and debate if it has an optimistic ending.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Audition for the Fox, Martin Cahill's fable-esque novel from Tachyon Publications. They discuss what exactly left them with the fable vibe, whether or not all of the characters were fursonas (spoiler: they weren't, Lilly just misread), and how a little bit of moral complexity goes a long way.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read City of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead and Aliya Whiteley. Lilly realizes she grossly misinterpreted the back of the book, while Sara declares it a contender for favorite read of the year. They also talk about the line between Fantasy and Magical Realism, and family drama.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar, chosen for this episode by their supporters on Patreon. They talk about space magic in SciFi, unjust systems, and degrees of betrayal.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Echoes of the Imperium by Nicholas and Olivia Atwater, a book with airships and goblins and faerie politics that somehow did not click with Lilly. They discuss complex characters, thoughtful themes, and Goblin Court.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Project Hanuman by Stewart Hotston. They discuss platonic relationship progressions, the variety of alien societies, and sentient ships. Oh, and how they are woefully underqualified to discuss Indian mythology.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts return to the Run with the Hunted series by Jennifer Donohue for book two: Ctrl Alt Delete. They discuss fun heists (but this time... it's personal!), evolving relationships between the three main characters, and the joy of unreliable narrators.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

For their final Spooky Month episode, your hosts read Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. They discuss cosmic horror vs social horror, magic cults, and ill advised heists.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Kevin MacLeod for the use of "Darkest Child"Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts talk with Chris Panatier about his latest novel Shitshow and its impeccable fall horror vibes. They discuss the (lack of) poop jokes, the human element at the heart of the book, and cheese grater inspired fair rides.Find more from Chris:https://chrispanatier.com/https://bsky.app/profile/scribeofhades.bsky.socialFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeodLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts continue their Spooky Month reading with Zomromcom, Olivia Dade's delightful new zombie apocalypse vampire romcom. They talk about reasonable heroines, excellent romantic banter, and speed-running a relationship. They also discuss the practicalities of a burrito as a weapon against zombies.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeodLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts celebrate Banned Books Week 2025 by reading The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, a book Lilly has (somehow) been able to avoid until now. They they talk about dystopian presents, sympathy for antagonists, and the double-edged sword of hope.Content includes on-page sexual assault and coercion, and discussion of self harm and suicide.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by authors Yume Kitasei and Mia Tsai to discuss The Traveling SFF Book Festival coming up in October 2025. They talk about the inspiration behind the event, some behind the scenes of planning it, and what attendees can expect from each stop on the tour.Find out more about the Festival here.More from Yume: https://www.yumekitasei.com/ More from Mia: https://www.miatsai.com/ Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are finally entering Spooky Month and reading the psychological supernatural horror classic, The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson. Sara has complaints that (for once) don't boil down to “it's horror and I don't like horror”. Lilly agrees?! They talk about unfulfilling explanations, female agency, and relationship roller coasters.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Ciel Pierlot to talk about her latest novel, Terms of Service. They discuss tech fae, the presumption of space in scifi, visions of a competent future government, and the twisting of fae tropes you may be familiar with from mythology (but you can admit that you know them from romantasy it's okay).Find more from Ciel:https://bsky.app/profile/cielpierlot.bsky.socialhttps://cielpierlot.com/https://www.instagram.com/cielpierlot/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read The Feather and the Lamp, a young adult novel by L.N. Hunter. They consider the comparison to Discworld, and talk about twists on mythology, both age-appropriate and compelling romance plotlines, and framing devices.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Gabriella Buba to talk about Filipino fantasy, not shying away from religious atrocities committed by missionaries, and (extremely satisfying) corruption arcs in Saints of Storm and Sorrow, book one in The Stormbringer Saga (her now-complete duology).Find more from Gabriella:https://gabriellabuba.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriella.buba.books https://bsky.app/profile/gabriellabuba.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/gabriellabuba/ Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts see Odysseus back on Ithaca in The Last Song of Penelope, the final book in the Songs of Penelope Trilogy by Claire North. They talk about impossible love triangles, poorly thought out revenge strategies, and how badly Athena needs a hug.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts speak with Liz Shipton, author of Dot Slash Magic, about technology based magic, writing storylines just to be contrary, and creating both spicy and sanitized versions of a story. Also, dick magic.Find more from Liz:https://lizshipton.com/https://instagram.com/lizshiptonauthorhttps://tiktok.com/@lizshiptonhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizshiptonauthor.bsky.socialFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss The House on Utopia Way, Stefan Mohamed's surreal, genre-blending detective noir novel. They talk about (not) getting lost in the weirdness of the setting, metaphors that feel natural, and how important it is to have sympathetic characters who bring it all together.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”- Scott Buckley for the use of “Twilight Echo”- Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeodLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Starstruck by Aimee Ogden, a bittersweet, whimsical novella. They talk about fantastical settings, interpersonal conflict, and sympathetic characters (who they still sometimes want to shake and yell “just talk to each other already!!”)Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Krystle Matar to disucss The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. They wonder why no one talks about Gatsby being a crime lord, throw around wild F. Scott conspiracy theories, and rank the characters from least shitty to most shitty. (It's all of them. They're all the most shitty)Find more from Krystle: https://bsky.app/profile/krystlematar.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/drippingbucket.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/krystlematar/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Future's Edge by Gareth L. Powell. They talk about post-apocalyptic near futures, love triangles where no one is wrong, and stories that might work better as movies.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts don't do justice to The Tombs of Atuan, the second of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea novels, but they DO discuss standalone sequels, the differences in coming of age stories between genders, claustrophobic settings, and classic fantasy.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Andrew Cartmel to discuss Like a Bullet, the latest addition to his nefarious Paperback Sleuth mystery novels. They talk about wartime novels, the allure of ill-begotten Nazi good, and Cordelia's “go get ‘em, but have a backup plan just in case" approach to encounters.Find more from Andrew:https://reclaimedradio.com/shows/andrew-cartmel/https://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondon/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by James Lloyd Dulin to talk about the first book in his recently-completed Malitu Trilogy, No Heart for a Thief. They discuss dark plotlines (but not Dark Fantasy (tm) necessarily), dual stories, and traumatized characters. They also talk about writing plots that criticize colonization as a white person and retrospective character arcs. Your hosts also fail to avoid a double entendre in a question about simultaneous climaxes, but what else is new.Find more from James:https://www.jamesldulin.com/https://x.com/JamesLDulinhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesldulinFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant. They talk about murder mystery tropes, new (to them) settings, and octogenarian character casts.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Emily Paxman to talk about murder, mayhem, and magic in her debut novel, Death on the Caldera. The conversation ranges from Agatha Christie influences, to complex family dynamics, to who we were rooting for as love interest for our intrepid heroine. They also discuss creating a fantastical version of the 1920s, and volcanic magic.Find more from Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emmypaxman/https://bsky.app/profile/emmypax.bsky.socialhttps://emmypax.substack.com/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts welcome Laura Elliott to talk about her debut gothic horror novel, Awakened. They discuss unethical medical research, fraught family dynamics, and toxic love triangles.Find more from Laura:https://x.com/TinyWriterLaurahttps://www.instagram.com/tinymeetsworld/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read “Walls Of Shira Yulun” by Dariel R.A. Quiogue and “Waste Flowers” by Bryn Hammond, two novellas in Mongol-inspired fantasy settings published in one volume. Your hosts compare how fantasy is integrated into each story, different approaches to fight scenes, and the horrors of war. The only character names Lilly didn't have to look up were for the goats that appear on exactly one page.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Saint Death's Herald, the second book in the Saint Death series. They discuss how much they remembered from book 1, and how that affected their experience with book 2. They also talk about the various relationships (from heartwarming to delightfully toxic) and their favorite animal companions (all of them. Every single animal, dead or alive or just less dead).Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Lilly's cats to discuss Chai and Cat-tales by Lynn Strong. They cover how much they love cats, the unexpected delight of finding recipes in a novel, how much they love cats, inclusive fantasy in a cozy setting, how much they love cats, what makes a romance and finally, how much they love cats. Lilly did cut some of the cat talk, they promise.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts welcome C.M. Caplan on to the podcast to chat about The Fall Is All There Is, book one in his scifi/fantasy trilogy Four of Mercies. They talk about his world building process, complicated family dynamics, and unsatisfying violence.Find more from Connor:https://bsky.app/profile/cmcaplanwrites.bsky.socialFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss San Francisco, intertwining narratives, and the optimism of seeing a community come together against discrimination in Down In the Sea of Angels by Khan Wong. Content warnings for this episode include discussion of sexual assault and sex trafficking.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Stephen Aryan to discuss The Judas Blossom, the first book in his soon to be completed trilogy. They talk about the balance of historical accuracy in a historical-fantasy novel, his inspiration from 13th century Persia, and improbable tomatoes.Find more from Stephen:https://stephen-aryan.com/https://bsky.app/profile/stephenaryan.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/stephenaryan_writer/Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts read Artificial Condition, book two in the Murderbot series by Martha Wells. Lilly struggles with pronouns, but they still manage to talk about casting for the upcoming tv show.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts welcome Andrew Cartmel back on to the podcast to chat about Underscore, the latest novel in his cozy crime series The Vinyl Detective. They discuss cinematic inspirations, new characters in established series, and just how hard it is to do bad things to your fictional darlings.Find more from Andrew:https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/show/the-vinyl-detective-show/https://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondon/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts finally get to read House of Odysseus by Claire North, book two in her Songs of Penelope series. It has been a minute since they read book 1 for their interview with North, so there is some reorienting that needed to be done. They also talk about their nostalgia for Greek Mythology, the new narrator for this book, and the different kinds of power that can be exerted from behind the scenes.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss Murder on the Orient Express, a reread chosen for them by their Patreon supporters as part of the quarterly “Patron's Choice” selection. They debate whether or not it's mean to describe a fictional character as “ugly”, talk about racism in the 1930s and in Christie's work, and chat about the experience of knowing the ending because you're rereading vs having the ending spoiled for you on a first time read.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss how fun it is to see mundane space station jobs in Space Brooms! by A.G. Rodriguez. They talk about the main character's toxic work environment, and his eventual entanglement in a thrilling space adventure. They also consider the book's mix of humor with unexpectedly graphic violence while enjoying Johnny's relationships (platonic and less platonic), and the intriguing universe Rodriguez has built.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts are joined by Hannah and Laura from OWWR Pod to discuss Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, part of their Nostalgia Book Club series. They talk about how much less weird it would be if the characters were a little older, the dark implications of Ella's obedience curse, and of course, Anne Hathaway.Find more from On Wednesdays We Read:https://owwrpod.com/https://bsky.app/profile/owwrpod.bsky.socialFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss "Shards of Shattered Darkness," a collection of stories by Mark N. Drake. They debate where exactly they think the collection falls on the horror genre spectrum, talk about how the collection works (or doesn't) as a thematic whole, and highlight some of their favorite pieces like "The Grey Berserker" and "Vane Harbor."Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts discuss Premee Mohamed's latest collection of stories, "One Message Remains," and praise its evocative writing and strong character development. They explore the book's themes of colonization, exploitation, and war, and discuss how the fantasy setting reflects real-world issues. They also appreciate the collection's progression from plot-driven to introspective storytelling, and the portrayal of resistance against oppressive system.Find us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License