JK, It’s Magic

AND WE'RE BACK! Season 5 begins with our discussion of The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, the first book in the Burning Kingdoms series. This book is a multi-POV tale that mostly follows Priya, a young adult with magical powers who's entire adopted family has been killed, and Malini, an exiled princess who is trying to steal the throne from her evil brother.  The books for this first series of episodes were will be releasing were all chosen by our wonderful patrons! If you need some bookish camaraderie, join our Patreon! It's a pay-what-you-can model starting at $1/month. In other news: Dr k uses they/them/their pronouns and has for a while! Genderqueer, enby, non-binary/trans, and just plain ole queer all currently fit. Thanks for respecting this slash for correcting yourself the next time if you make a mistake, and generally for not being shitty and transphobic

It's our final episode of season 4 of the podcast, y'all! We read Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas, a Peter Pan redux with plenty of twists. We'll be back with more episodes in summer of 2022. If you want to pick one of the books we read for next season, join our Patreon! It's a pay-what-you-can model starting at $1/month. content warning for discussions of child death Recommend if you like… Peter Pan, any iteration Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas* Folk of the Air series by Holly Black* Brooklyn Brujas series by Zoraida Córdova* also, if you appreciate YA that is light on the romance aspect, then this book is for you * we've done episodes for all of these books! but you don't have to take our word for it – go ahead and scroll thru our episodes page

Welcome back, coven! In this episode we are discussing A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown, the sequel to A Song of Wraths and Ruin which we talked about all the way back in episode 39! This book picks up right were the last one left off with Karina on the run and Malik living in the palace with Hanan who was brought back from the dead, and Fareed basically in control of everything. Chaos does indeed ensue! Content warning for discussions of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and miscarriage. Take care of yourself folks, and if you don't feel up to listening to this episode at the moment, feel free to come back to it later or skip this one. We'll talk about it in the “Kill Your Darlings” segment towards the end and provide a warning there, too [37:11-39:48].  The Trevor Project hotline suicide prevention hotline This season of the show is quickly wrapping up! Only If you want a say in what books we read and talk about next season and you want to be in communication with a great group of people who talk about books, baking, and yarn, consider joining our patreon! Recommend if you like… [read-alikes mostly, but also other media, film, tv, etc.]  A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi  Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron  Hyena is a trickster like Coyote (Trail of Lightning) or Loki (Norse mythology). This is a common type of god in many different belief systems. Here are a couple of different resources, since it's really cool to see how they overlap! [cw: miscarriage] There is mention at the beginning of the book that Hanan and Karina's mother had been through a few miscarriages, and this is a YA book, but I think it's important for people to know that 10-20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and because we don't talk about that, many people who experience them feel like it's their fault. So I appreciated this mention in a book for young people who may have had loved ones who experienced a miscarriage or they may have experienced them themselves, so it's important to have these kinds of discussions. [cw: suicide and self harm] We see Malik using self harm as a way to control his mind, and the god living there, and thinking about killing himself. This is another thing that I think can be an important topic to talk about with young people. I hope people know there are people who are there for you and want to help you, and if you need help, please reach out. We'll link to the suicide prevention hotline and the trevor project in case you feel like you need someone to reach out to.  As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

We're back for what might be the most chaotic episode yet! join us for our discussion of Son of A Trickster by Eden Robinson. Attempting to summarize this book is an exercise in futility (you'll understand when you hear k try to give an on-the-fly synopsis…). While this book can get categorized as YA (the protagonist, Jared, is 15-16), there is a lot of explicit violence, so it would be better for a mature teen reader or adults. Content warning for discussions of self-harm, suicide attempt, familial abuse, drug use, and alcoholism. This book was chosen by our wonderful Patreon patron Grey! They are fantastic and wonderful. AND Grey posts amazing book reviews on Instagram, so do yourself a favor and check out their page!! Recommend if you like… Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi Reservation Dogs (tv show) K suggests listening to this review of Reservation Dogs by Red Power Hour (a show via The Red Nation's podcast — which you should TOTALLY support and listen to if you don't already!!) Residential schools are a massive topic with multi-generational impacts. below you'll find further reading and resources: this article delves into the similarities and differences between this genocide tactic in the US and Canada “The Lasting Impact of Native American Residential Schools” by Cheyenne Barefoot The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Episode of The Red Nation Podcast: “American Indian boarding schools w/ Denise Lajimodiere” here's a cute Buzzfeed article about a guy who finds his old iPod nano from high school. Let's be like Sarah and decolonize our damn selves!! on that note, here are some dank (meme) accounts @decolonialatlas (on instagram) @illuminative (on instagram) @workingclasshistory (on instagram) @nowhitesaviors (on instagram) Here's a great episode of the podcast All My Relations “beyond blood quantum” As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

We're finally going back to Castellan and reuniting with Finn and Alfie! In this episode we discuss Oculta by Maya Motayne, the second installment of the A Forgery of Magic series. This book is the sequel to Nocturna, which we discussed in episode 41, so go check that out if you haven't yet!  In Oculta, we're back in San Cristobal, with Finn and Alfie trying to figure out a murderous plot at the center of a v dramatic peace summit. Of course, chaos ensues!  onto the short and sweet show notes… Recommend if you like… Six of Crows and/or Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo – there's a heist-y feeling with all of the shenanigans and plotting. Tamora Pierce's Trickster's Choice and Trickster Queen From Art Spiegelman's Maus, a graphic novel about the holocaust and it's legacy in a family, to the autobiographical All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson and many books in between, censorship and book banning are back in our collective conversation. Below are some related resources and articles. “Book Bans Are Targeting the History of Oppression” by Marilisa Jiménez García (in The Atlantic) 2020 Banned and Challenged book list from the The Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association (published August 2021) “Banned Books Week: A Reading List” by PEN America We discuss predatory financial practices in the episode, so here is some further reading multi-faceted criticisms of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) include it's so-called “debt-trap diplomacy” of foisting the use of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) and austerity policies (don't know WTF all those acronyms mean? here's a source with more information) In this video, Dari Grant explains the cycle of payday loans and her ideas for disrupting it K was trying very hard to describe a website where you can drag and see the real size of countries. It's called “The True Size Of…” K mentions the scholar and writer Jasbir Puar and the concept of “debility” she develops in the book The Right to Maim. Very heavy and important reading, so take care. As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

Ahoy there, coven! Today we're discussing Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy, a book about a nerdy suburban teen who can fly. After Faith's all-time favorite show The Grove moves filming to her small town, a spate of human and other-than-human disappearances starts, and Faith is determined to get to the bottom of things. Chaos does indeed ensue!  This book was recommended to us by someone on Instagram a while back. So if that was you, let us know so we can give you credit

Hiya, coven! This is a super special holiday bonus episode that we recorded especially for our patrons. Annnnnd now it's a month later, so all y'all can enjoy our discussion of Merry Inkmas by Talia Hibbert, one of our absolute favorite contemporary romance authors. Yep, you read that right – contemporary romance! This novella follows Bailey and Cash who end up working together at a tattoo shop! Get ready for grump & sunshine, fake dating, and there's only one bed, all in one book! Content warning for brief discussion of abuse As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

Dearest coven, this episode comes on the recommendation of J's good friend and podcast Patron, Deanna! We dig into the novel Circe by Madeline Miller, which is a retelling of the Greek Circe's story from being born half-nymph half god… are nymphs also gods?…idk…to her exile on Aiaiya, her love life and lots of other things. Normally we'd say chaos ensues, but there's not too much in this novel. Also, this book is a book for adults, although a mature young adult might enjoy it as well. Content warning for this episode and the book for discussions of sexual assault We will be preparing for our next season soon! If you want to make suggestions for which books we read, consider joining our patreon, which you can do for as little as $1 a month! onto the show notes! Recommend if you like… Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe (graphic novel and webtoon)  ** at the time of recording this episode, Jessie hadn't read Lore Olympus, but she has now! check out her Lore Olympus review on our instagram the Greek mythology book that Jessie references is Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes  Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein's book is The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred  We talk about the importance of oral storytelling and mention several other authors we've read for the show, including Sabaa Tahir, SA Chakraborty, and Rebecca Roanhorse. If you want to brows more of our 60+ reviews, go to the episodes page of our website! shoutout to our patron Grey! we mention them in our discussion of weaving, spinning, knitting, fiber arts, etc. Oh, and it's only a matter of time until kelly gets a loom. As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

Hello, Coven! It's that time of year where we take a look back at the books, TV shows, and movies that got us through the year. Thank you to all of the people who asked questions and more generally to everyone for listening! We hope you find some new and interesting things to read and watch. Let us know in the comments about all your favs from the past year! Books (alphabetical by author) Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé Daughter of Nri by Reni K Amayo (our Interview with Reni) From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout Grace Period: A Memior in Pieces by Kelly J. Baker King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree brown Dream Country by Ashaye Brown (our Interview with Ashaye) Pastry Love by Joanne Chang Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty First Century by William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kristen Mullen Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (Episode 51) An Indigenous People's History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal (Episode 54) A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener By the Book by Jasmine Guillory Undrowned by Alexis Pauline Gumbs How to Not Always Be Working and Getting to Center by Marlee Grace The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (slash all of Talia's other books)  Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space by Amande Leduc Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas Heartstopper by Alice Osman Battle Royal by Lucy Parker Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang TV Shows (alphabetical by title) The Boys Bridgerton Emily in Paris The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Formula 1: Drive to Survive The Great The Great British Bake Off Grey's Anatomy Kim's Convenience Loki Never Have I Ever Peaky Blinders The Queen's Gambit Reservation Dogs Sens8 Sex Education Sex Lives of College Girls Shadow and Bone Stranger Things Station 19 Ted Lasso Umbrella Academy (bonus episode) The Wheel of Time WandaVision The Witcher Movies (alphabetical by title) Emma. Inside Judas and the Black Messiah The Matrix: Resurrections Nate Bargatze: Greatest Average American The Personal History of David Copperfield Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings The Suicide Squad Spider Man: No Way Home The White Tiger Articles, Podcasts, and More! “Is It Time to Say R.I.P. to ‘P.O.C'?“ “Why We Need Diverse Books is No Longer Using the Term #OwnVoices“ Follow along with J's baking adventures @jessie_mae_bakes

Greetings, coven! In this episode we're discussing Fireborne by Rosaria Munda, Book 1 of the Aurelian Cycle. Kelly calls this book Game of Thrones meets How to Train Your Dragon (there are some GOT spoilers ahead, but it's an old show at this point so….) Please excuse our faulty memories on this one — there's a lot going on in the world and we read the book a few weeks ago. And with that rousing captatio benavolentae, on to the show notes!  Thank you to the person on social media who suggested that we read Fireborne. We don't remember you're name, so if this was you, get in touch

Hello, coven! We're back with a conversation about Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse. There's some debate as to whether or not the book is young adult, but we enjoyed it regardless. Show notes below! Content warning: brief mention of sexual assault (24:55-25:40)  Why did we pick this book? J read Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse  when it came out with her book club. (patron/friend-of-the-show) Deanna said Trail of Lightning was also really good, and we're always looking to add more diverse voices to the podcast! Should we make merch with J's tagline “Chaos Ensues”? Recommend if you like… [read-alikes mostly, but also other media, film, tv, etc.]  The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline if you're interested in Indigenous stories about the end of the world. (We talk about The Marrow Thieves in episode 30) Reservation Dogs on Hulu which scatters in Indigenous stories and is set in the modern day Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger, which we read quite recently (episode 57). It would be good for younger readers If you're into monster hunting stories, you'll like Trail of Lightning Also the film Mad Max: Fury Road  Buffy the Vampire Slayer K recently watched that movie San Andreas with Duane The Rock Johnson What is it with apocalypse movies/shows/stories and fingerless gloves? Libraries are crucial archives for keeping information and languages accessible for future generations. In the novel Kai listens to elders' testimonies – underscoring the importance of indigenous oral traditions Avatar the Last Airbender Trail of Lightning is book 1 of a series called The Sixth World. Book 2 is called Storm of Locusts and it's already out (published in 2019). Can't wait to see what happens next! From J: “It should be noted there has been some push back from some Indigenous groups about Trail of Lightning. I'll link to a couple of the articles I read about the issues, but the gist of it is that Roanhorse is not Navajo and she is not from a federally recognized tribe. I can't speak to these issues, but what I do feel like I can say is that a tribe being federally recognized should not be the only thing that makes someone Indigenous. The history of this country has shown us that much. Additionally, Roanhorse is half Black, and anti-Blackness abounds in every community – including Black communities. So I'm a little skeptical, but I'm also not Indigenous, so I can't speak to the issues of appropriation in any way, because I am not familiar with the cultural practices of the many many Indigenous tribes. Based on some of the critiques I read, perhaps if the book came with a content warning regarding the violence in the story, there would have been less pushback?” You can read some of the articles below if you're interested, and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Article 1 Article 2 We Need Diverse Books on no longer using the term #OwnVoices. Debbie Reese's blog American Indians in Children's Literature As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. The Library Coven is recorded and produced on stolen indigenous land: Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute (Kelly) and Chickasha, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin,

Dearest coven, our non-YA streak continues with the perfect read for fall slash Halloween: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García. It's the right amount of creepy and has a badass young woman MC who's determined to solve a morbid mystery. Shoutout to our lovely patron Melisa who picked the book for this show! Content warning for sexual assault and eugenics talk. We repeat: this is a book for adults. It is not YA book.  Without further ado, show notes! Recommend if you like.. The House on Haunting Hill by Shirley Jackson. There's also a Netflix show for that book The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Córdova (also not YA) Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff – there's also a TV show for this book on HBO Edgar Allen Poe's weird fiction if you're into old-school gothic fiction (think Frankenstein, Dracula, and the like), definitely check out this book! Get Out (film) We've also read Silvia Moreno García's adult fantasy novel Gods of Jade and Shadow for the podcast (check out episode 33). Pick up Mexican Gothic if you enjoyed it! The Fantastic Fungi documentary will blow your mind! Mushrooms really are the coolest. You'll gather that from listening to us wax poetic about them during this episode. The exploitative machinations of company towns are revealed in this PBS series “slavery by another name” kelly mentioned that they are reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler If you're curious to learn more about the history of eugenics and figures like Cesare Lombroso, here's a source. You can also learn more about José Vasconcelos, his book La raza cósmica, and the politics of race and nationhood in Mexico in the early 20th century. As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

Hey, coven! In this episode, we discussing The Burning God  by R.F. Kuang — the third and final book in The Poppy War series. Rin is working to take down a bunch of people, and change the way Nikara is run. But is she the best person to do that? Rin doesn't think so! Let's just start with the content warnings for this episode and for the book. This is a book for adults. It is not YA book. Content warnings for war, violence, murder, starvation, drug use, cannibalism, and suicide.  With that said, on to the show notes! Recommend if you like.. A Game of Thrones (aka A Song of Ice and Fire) Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas  The Punisher (tv show) when Kelly says “George RR Martin can fuck off into the sun,” they are referencing this incredible article which you should definitely read We discuss the The Poppy War in episode 15 and The Dragon Republic in episode 43 “The Nine Curves River” – short story about Nezha and his little brother Mingja going to the grotto and the fallout (dragon eats bb, marks N).  Check out the Levar Burton Reads podcast episode for this story!!!  Kuang's new book, Babel, is due out in fall 2022. Here's a blog post with more details and an even more in depth tiny letter. — teaser! “the only kind of dark academia story I want now is the sort that tears the academy, and all its whiteness, down to its roots.” Highly recommend following R.F. Kuang on Twitter (@kuangrf) if you're a tweep Krystal Song's review of the trilogy in LARB gave us a lot to think about. Check it out!  As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

In this episode, we're transported to a magical Brooklyn in Daniel José Older's novel Shadowshaper, the first in the Shadowshaper Cypher series. Congratulations to Daniel, who has the esteemed honor of being the first (and so far only) cis-dude we've read for the show.  In Shadowshaper, we follow Sierra,  a Black Puerto Rican Brooklyn-ite, who discovers she has powers to suffuse her art with spirits who then become corporeal. Sierra teams up with Robbie, a young Haitian guy who teaches her about shadowshaping, and the two must stop a bad white guy from messing up the whole world!  Recommend if you like… Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova (episode 38)  A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney (episode 13)  Check out this amazing resource about gentrification in Brooklyn (complete with primary sources and teaching exercises!) The Michael Che's joke Jessie mentions is “White Women Took Brooklyn” We think Shadowshaper would make an INCREDIBLE graphic novel!! just putting this out there into the universe What is a haint? Here's a lot more info. just to clear things up, John Wick (the movie with Keanu Reeves) came out in 2014 The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo A plethora of resources about the Taíno culture (indigenous to PR) “Replace ‘Crazy' with the Word You Actually Mean” Love Daniel's post “12 Fundamentals of Writing ‘The Other' (and The Self): How to Respectfully Write from the Perspective of Characters Who Aren't You”   As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

hey, coven! we're excited to bring you this discussion of Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger.  J & K both loved this book and are gonna recommend it widely going forward. *ALERTA* Darcie has a new book coming out November 9th, A Snake Falls to Earth. We're definitely pre-ordering and/or requesting from the library!! Please take our survey if you haven't already! We've already implemented some of your suggestions, so we'd love to know what else you're looking for in the show. Recommend if you like… RL Stine, Goosebumps, etc.  Paranormal investigator/mystery stuff (X-files, Fringe, Lovecraft Country)  DOGGOS  What We Do in the Shadows (tv show or movie)  Reservation Dogs (tv series, FX on Hulu) Here is the website of the Lipan Apache tribe. Check out the online museum,  read the history, and there's also a place to donate. #SettlersPayRent We Need Diverse Books interview with Darcie Little Badger. This article explains the histories and differences between northern and southern colonial architecture, if that's something you care about lawns, golf courses the story of Icarus (Greek mythology) those mushrooms were giving us serious Mexican Gothic vibes. Stay tuned for an episode about this book later this season! And see our future episodes page if you want to read along with us.  For an excellent convo (including about vampires and queerness), check out the episode of Gender Reveal (podcast) with author Carmen María Machado Vampire Diaries & The Originals Speaking of the past and present of settler harm, here's an article about Teddy Roosevelt from Indian Country Today:  “Theodore Roosevelt: ‘The Only Good Indians Are the Dead Indians'” For more information and ways to support MMIR Bring It On movie did not age well — cw homophobic slurs Illustrator of the novel is Rovina Cai (@rovinacai on instagram) Levine Querido (the publisher) seems pretty cool. Here's their fall 2021 catalog. The Last Cuentista by Donna Barbara Higuera Elatsoe materials on Teaching Books website We say “not today” to copaganda! In reference to the frequent romanticization of cops in mystery stories, Jessie mentions  blackgirlreading's review of Fire Keeper's Daughter As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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! You can support our labor by leaving us a one-time tip on Ko-fi or purchasing books from our Bookshop! Better yet, become a monthly patron via Patreon and you can unlock a bunch of exclusive perks like access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. The podcast theme song is “Unermerry Academy of Magics” by Augustin C from the album “Fantasy Music”, which you can download on FreeMusicArchive.com. We support #LandBack. 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)

Welcome back! In this episode, we chat about A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer. We share thoughts on such topics as special editions, disability as a disguise, the trope of naming dudes “Hawk,” and whether “Iisak” is pronounced “eye-sack.” And be ye warned, there are some ACOTAR and Star Wars spoilers ahead. Check out our episode on the first book, A Curse So Dark and Lonely! a warm “hello

Hello, beautiful ones! This fortnight we're discussing Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho, the second book in the Gumiho series. Join us to find out how Somin, Junu, Miyoung and Jihoon deal with grief and magical/inter-dimensional disruption. There's romance. There's banter. What's not to love? Check out Episode 40 for our discussion of Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1) Stay magical, bbs! We still have a survey going on, and we'd really appreciate if you took it! We've already implemented some of your suggestions, so we'd love to know what else you're looking for in the show! Recommend if you like… Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova Since recording, Kelly has listened to the Revolutionary Left Radio episode about the Korean Peninsula and its past/present. Can confirm: its recommendable. Go forth and learn some stuff! Kim's Convenience (available on Netflix). Since the release of the 5th season, there's been a lot of revelations about racism, an almost all-white writers room, and poor pay for actors. The “Goblin” K-drama that Kelly mentions is alternatively translated as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 – 도깨비) Kat Cho has done a pronunciation video for us (there's also one for Wicked Fox). Not to mention there's also a glossary and notes included in the book. #Blessed Fringe (TV show). Did anyone else watch this?! Loki show  The “knowing it when you see it” originally comes from a 1964 court case about pornography (you can read the deets here) As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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, wonderful Coven! This week we're bringing you a discussion of We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal, the second and final (maybe?) book in the Sands of Arawiya series (Check out episode 32, where we discuss the first book, We Hunt the Flame). We had a great time reading this one, and we will read anything Hafsah writes in the future (really looking forward to her new upcoming book, Tempest of Tea). Stay magical, friends! Content warning for discussions of child abuse at 49 minutes – 51:14  We still have a survey going on, and we'd really appreciate if you took it! We've already implemented some of your suggestions, so we'd love to know what else you're looking for in the show! Recommend if you like… An Ember in the Ashes (which we have an episode about) City of Brass (which we also have an episode about, and will be finishing up the series this season!) John Wick J is struggling through some of the pronunciations in this episodes… I am so sorry! The book J was reading that took place in a bookshop was The Bookshop of Second Chances by by Jackie Fraser (it was a pretty fun work place-esqe romance) “After the War: The Librarian; Books Spirited to Safety Before Iraq Library Fire,” NYT Hafsah's tweet/instagram post about about Middle Eastern and North African rep in this series We Hunt the Flame is being developed into a TV series!!!! As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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. 

This fortnight, the amazing debut novel streak continues! We're discussing Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart. Tune in for a deep dive into a nuanced magical system and some close reading of Smart's excellent wordsmithing. Also, we have a good time trolling each other in the “Real Talk” segment. Content warning for brief discussions of rape, sexual assault and child death. Survey link is still live!! Help shape the direction of the podcast, por favor. Recommend if you like… …rebellions: Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series (which we've discussed in episodes 4, 7, 10, and 50) and Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen series …epic characterization and chemistry: Killing Eve (Hulu) …other amazing YA books from writers of the African diaspora: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo, and Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. *check our episode archives on our website for conversations about all of these great books!* The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna A Season for Mangoes by Regina Hanson Dream Country by Ashaye Brown (we interviewed Ashaye in this episode) The Moon Book: Lunar Magic to Change Your Life by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener Holly Black's Folk of the Air series (The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing) The Hunger Games book series by Suzanne Collins (and subsequent film adaptations) We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree brown As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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 The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. We had such an amazing time reading this debut novel, and we can't wait to see what happens with the future of the series! On to the notes! Content warning for discussions of rape, sexual assault, violence,  parental death, and mentions of Harry Potter. Survey link if you want to help shape how the direction of the podcast Recommend if you like… Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (which we discussed in Episode 51) Derry Girls (Netflix) Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo (we interviewed Reni in this episode) Dream Country by Ashaye Brown (we interviewed Ashaye in this episode) The Book of Mormon soundtrack – which someone made a nifty playlist for on youtube Alien Stranger Things Castlevania Coco Revolutionary Left Radio specifically the episode “Proletarian Feminism, Women's Liberation, and the Sex Trade” Sweep series by Cate Tiernan We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree brown As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Drop us a line in the comments or reach out to us on twitter, Instagram (@thelibrarycoven), or via email (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). Access complete 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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, everyone! We're so incredibly excited to share this episode about Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.  It's a captivating, innovative and insightful riff on Arthurian legend set in contemporary North Carolina. Jessie and Cynthia's (of @cynthiasreadinglist) campaign to get everyone to read this book continues! Content warning for discussions of racism, slavery, and parental death A quick reminder: we still have a survey going on, and it is helping to shape the future of the show! It only takes 5-7 minutes, so please consider taking it. interested in reading along with us? Check out the rest of the books in the upcoming season on our future episodes page. behold, show notes! Shoutout to our new patron, Veronica! we

Hello, beautiful coven! We're back for season 4 with all new episodes, and we're starting out strong with A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir, the final book in An Ember in the Ashes series. If you want to check out the other books' discussions you can find them here: An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, & A Reaper at the Gates. A quick reminder: we still have a survey going on, and it is helping to shape the future of the show! Please take it if you have a chance. You can also support the show by becoming a member on Patreon, tipping us on Ko-Fi, or purchasing books using out affiliate link with Bookshop.org. Ok, on to the show notes! Check out the rest of the books in the upcoming season on our future episodes page Recommend if you like (RIYL): Hunger Games, Star Wars, Red Queen, The Cruel Prince, ACOTAR, We Hunt the Flame Vampire Diaries Dr. Saidiya V. Hartman Hank Green on villains: “Are We the Baddies?? A Quick Look at a Discourse” K mentions Tara Brach in regard to meditation You're the Worst – the leg washing scene “The Hygiene Culture Wars That Started on Social Media” by Nicole Froio Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation Red Media K mentions The Red Nation podcast and The Red Nation hosts other podcasts as well The Cultural Politics of Emotion by Sara Ahmed This American Life The Black Archives on Instagram As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Post or tweet about the show using #CriticallyReading or #TheLibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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. 

Final interview episode coming at you with Reni K. Amayo, author of The Return of the Earth Mother series and founder of Onwe! The first book in the series, Daughters of Nri is available now, and you can pre-order the forthcoming book in the series, Decedents of the First, which is available October 5th! You can find Reni on Instagram or Twitter, and we highly recommend checking out her books! Onto the notes! Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman Dorothy Koomson Take the character quiz mentioned in the episode! Check out Onwe's podcast SUBTEXTing The Read podcast Reni is listening to Game of Thrones audiobook, watching Modern Family and WandaVision, and reading Dream Country and The Marks Left on Her. Reaper of Souls is currently on her tbr! As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Post or tweet about the show using #CriticallyReading or #TheLibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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. 

We're excited to bring you our second interview! This time we're chatting with Katy Michelle Quinn. She is the author of Girl in the Walls, which is out June 1, 2021 from Clash Books. You can preorder the book here! Say ‘hi' to Katy Michelle Quinn on twitter or instagram. Katy has attended Bizarro Con and misses those moments of connection at in-person conventions. She is reading N.K. Jemison's novel The Fifth Season, listening to hyper pop like Charlie XCX as well as metal, hardcore and country music. Katy is also watching Star Trek for the first time (!) and recently re-watched Will & Grace. Katy's horror recs include the director Dario Argento and other Italian horror films from the 1970s and 80s. As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Post or tweet about the show using #CriticallyReading or #TheLibraryCoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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. 

We're thrilled to bring you this interview with author Ashaye Brown (she/her) whose debut novel, Dream Country,will be released on April 27, 2021. Aka next week (!!) for those of you listening when the episode drops. This will be the first in a mini-series of three author interviews we will be releasing in the lead up to our next season of the podcast. You can order Dream Country directly from Onwe — do it soon to get a limited edition, signed version!! I mean, behold the beautiful bookplates. Follow Ashaye on twitter @AshayeBrown for amazing content. Really, tho, follow her! (listen to the episode to hear why Jessie and Kelly rave about Ashaye's social media) Onto notes from the episode! Onwe is a UK-based independent publisher and lifestyle brand founded by two Black women in 2018. We have an interview with Onwe co-founder and author Reni K. Amayo coming up later in this mini-series, so stay tuned! (and subscribe, obvi) Ashaye is enjoying the novel The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston is one of the middle grade books Ashaye has been reading and loves Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko gets a glowing recommendation from Ashaye. We've decided to move it the top of our TBR and are planning to bring you an episode about the novel next season! Ashaye mentions Megan Thee Stallion's issues with her label and releasing her 2020 album Suga. This article from The Root explains the situation and digs into some of the social media drama. Our sincere apologies for mispronouncing Ashaye's name at the end. As she clarifies in this tweet, the syllables rhyme, people! As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical people. Post or tweet about the show using #CriticallyReading or #TheLibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 access to our community of reader-listeners on Discord. Our cover art is by the talented artist nimsby. 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) #LandBack. 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 here! Our final episode of Season 3, in which we discuss A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas, the 3rd book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. It's a longer episode…#SorryNotSorry because we have so many thoughts and feelings! We'll be back to regularly scheduled programming (aka bi-weekly podcasts about a-mah-zing books) starting June 1st, 2021. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get the show so you don't miss out on some exciting bonus content we'll be releasing in the meantime (hint hint, author interviews!!) Please consider taking our supporter survey. It should require only 5-10 minutes and it will help us get to know our audience and get your feedback about the content we create. http://bit.ly/LibraryCovenSurvey Content warning for discussions of sexual violence.  In A Court of Wings and Ruin, Feyre starts out in the Spring court, bringing it to its knees as retribution for every terrible thing that Tamlin did. She escapes back to the Night Court with Lucien so she can get back together with her mate, Rhysand, and help all of Prythian and the human realm take on Hybern, who basically wants to kill everyone. This episode contains major spoilers for books 1-3 of the series. You can check out episode 14 for our ACOTAR chat and episode 21 for our discussion of ACOMAF. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas We won't be doing episodes about the Throne of Glass series…. Although, we would consider doing Kingdom of Ash ….but only if y'all come out in STORM to request it!! That's an invitation to email us and/or slide into our DMs to let us know

Hello, Coven! How is your winter going? We're excited to bring you a new episode discussing Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland and finishing up the Dread Nation series. If you need a recap of what in the first book, you can check out our episode about Dread Nation! Please consider taking our supporter survey! It should require only 5-10 minutes and it will help us get to know our audience and get your feedback about the content we create. http://bit.ly/LibraryCovenSurvey This episode features some animals trying to make themselves heard in the episode. Sorry not sorry. Now on to the notes! Racist history of gynecology from Wear Your Voice  Anti-Blackness in Asian communities Treatment of Black Indigenous folks like Rebecca Roanhorse An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States The Red Nation podcast A Different Mirror for Young People Glossary regarding ableism in language A Few Red Drops Little Monsters movie Transcript to come Spring 2021 As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading or #thelibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 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) #LandBack. 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. 

Please consider taking our supporter survey! It should require only 5-10 minutes and it will help us get to know our audience and get your feedback about the content we create. http://bit.ly/LibraryCovenSurvey Greetings, coven! In this episode we discuss Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, their debut young adult novel. It's a pretty quick read that deals with some heavy issues in ways that are accessible to younger audiences (i.e., middle grade) as well as teen and adult readers. Pet was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Young People's Literature  – after reading it, we understand why! Content warning for discussions child physical and sexual abuse.  On to some (brief) notes! Kelly highly recommends Emezi's article “My Spirit Burns Through This Body” (Paris Review, 10 December 2020). “My spirit bends worlds and does things that shouldn't be possible, not with the way my flesh or this world is set up, but I'm learning that my body is something to be reckoned with as well. It keeps receipts and inevitably claims its debts.” Emezi's other books include The Death of Vivek Oji, Freshwater, and Dear Senthuran Kelly has been learning from the collection Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from Transformative Justice Movements, edited by Ejeris Dixon and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Check out this short video about the book cover design process Transcript to come Spring 2021 As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading or #thelibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 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) #LandBack. 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.  content warning

Hold on to your hats, folks! This fortnight we're reading The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, the first book in The Broken Earth Trilogy. And no matter how many people talk about their love for this book, it was not our cup of tea! We spent a lot of time being confused, and maybe had more questions than answers in this episode. What are your thoughts on this book? Content Warning for discussions of murder, torture, child abuse, and cannibalism On to the notes, which are quite short this week! The Witcher season 1 – slight spoilers about the timeline in that show K brings up Avatar: The Last Airbender (as she is known to do) AudioShelf – podcast about audiobooks! Transcript to come Spring 2021 As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading or #thelibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 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) #LandBack. 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. 

In this episode we're discussing Queen of the Conquered Kacen Callender (they/them), the first book in the Islands of Blood and Storm series. The book takes place in a Caribbean-inspired fantasy world and follows our main character, Sigourney, as she makes a bid for power as the only Black person in contention to rule the islands that have been colonized by the white Fjern. When all those in line to the throne are gathered for the storm season and start to be killed off one by one, chaos ensues. As it does. Content warning for discussions of rape and white supremacist violence.  Callender also wrote Felix Ever After. It's on our TBR! Have you read it yet? Here's a helpful video outlining the history of colonialism in the Caribbean region. It's about 40 minutes long, and well worth the watch. Check it out! Want to test your Caribbean geography? Here's a map quiz. I (K) just took it and got 62% *cringing emoji* Go ahead, learn yourself something. Fjerda, Fjern…notice the similarities? In Norwegian, “fjern” means “far away” or “distant.” K highly recommends Sami Schalk's work, especially her book Bodyminds Reimagined: Race, (Dis)Ability and Gender in Black Women's Speculative Fiction. And follow Professor Schalk on twitter! (@DrSamiSchalk) Resmaa Menakem's website. K is slowly working their way through his book My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies.  Transcript to come Spring 2021 As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading or #thelibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 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) #LandBack. 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. 

Let's take a look back at all the wonderful things we loved in this shit show of a year– most of them book-related, although we chat about film/TV a fair amount too. We want to share our favs with y'all in the hopes of spreading a bit more joy around. Please reach out and let us know yours as well!  We know this time of year is filled with wrap ups, lists, etc. (hell, we're complicit), which, for some, can be rough to wade through. Take care of yourselves and feel free to skip this one if that's the case for you. We'll be back in 2021 with more book discussions. onto the notes!  The Library Coven: 2020 by the numbers 1 rebrand/rename (lol, thanks for sticking with us through it and to be clear, fuck TERFs forever) 25 episodes 14 books 10 GBBO episodes 2 full-length bonus episodes (Umbrella Academy & 2 years of podcasting) 1 year-in-review recap episode 20 hours (1,173 minutes) of produced episode audio, which breaks down into… approx. 80 hours of editing audio and writing show notes (about 4x as long as the episode) Each of us spends about 1.5-2 hours prepping our episode scripts = 30 ish hours Who knows how many hours of reading/listening Total pages read for podcast books = 6,946 [average 496 pages/book] Fiction books mentioned in the episode (alphabetical by author last name) Shadow and Bone series, King of Scars, Six of Crows duology and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Queen of Nothing by Holly Black Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova New Kid  and Class Act by Jerry Craft Legendborn by Tracey Deon We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal Get a Life, Chloe Brown and Take a Hint, Dani Brown byTalia Hibbert You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang A Court of Mist and Fury and Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney Nocturna by Maya Motayne The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas Non-fiction books mentioned in the episode (alphabetical by author last name) Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown Evicted by Matthew Desomond Rust Belt Femme by Rachael Anne Jolie Braiding Sweetgrass by Brigid Wall Kemmerer Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X Kendi Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha They Called Us Enemy by George Takei The Body Keeps the Score by Besser Van der Kolk Trauma Stewardship Laura van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk TV shows mentioned The Crown Insecure Lovecraft Country Kim's Convenience Crash Landing on You Breeders You Great British Bake Off Lovesick  The Good Place The Queen's Gambit Umbrella Academy Little Fires Everywhere The Dragon Prince Vida Pose It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia a new host of Marvel shows to be released! (Loki, WandaVision, Falcon & Winter Soldier) Movies! Emma Rafiki Big Time Adolescence The Old Guard Booksmart Good Boys Crip Camp Trial of the Chicago Seven Transcript to come Spring 2021 As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading or #thelibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 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 indig...

Hello, coven! And welcome to one of the last episodes of the shit show that has been 2020! This week we're discussing Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them). Let's talk about some swans! What is magical realism? We talked a bit about being Latinx and white. There have been lots of great discussions about this, and here are 2 videos that explain it better than K or I did What is White Latinx and White Passing Privilege? Can Latinos Benefit from White Privilege? K mentioned Arrested Development TV show J recommended the movie Practical Magic for people who want stories about sisters, magic, and curses 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 or #thelibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 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) #LandBack. 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 44. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore transition [00:00:08] [jaunty string and harpsichord music plays]. jessie [00:00:08] Hello! And welcome to the Library Coven, a bi-weekly podcast in which two bookish besties discuss mostly YA [young adult] 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 [00:00:23] And I'm Kelly. In this episode, we're talking about Blanca y Roja, Anna marie McLemore. Blanca and Roja del Cisne are sisters from a family with a generational curse. At some point during their teen years, one of the two daughters will turn into a swan never to be seen or heard from again, except in Swan form, I guess. And then whe— the sisters team up with two friends who mysteriously turned into non nonhuman animals. And then at that point, social assumptions and sibling rivalry take their toll on the relationships and chaos ensues. Can they break the curse? It's a YA novel. So you probably know the answer. [jessie laughs] jessie [00:01:04] Um, this week we're asking people to please be kind and stay home this holiday season if you're able to. We're really close to a vaccine, and it would be great to keep numbers down until people could get vaccinated. We're in a really delicate time right now. So call to action: stay home if you can. If you can't, wear a mask. kelly [00:01:24] It goes over your nose. [jessie laughs] jessie [00:01:28] Yes, over the nose. kelly [00:01:32] Please come hang out with us on the social media, as Jessie wrote it, “the social media”. jessie [00:01:38] I wanted to say the “sosh meed”, but I was like “nah, too much.” [laughs] kelly [00:01:42] We love chatting with you all. Let us know what books you want us to discuss for season four because we are plann...

Hello everyone, and most especially to Saidah, who emailed us in December 2019 asking about when we were going to record an episode about R.F. Kuang's The Dragon Republic. Saidah, we're only a year late, but that time is now! If y'all need to recap the first book in the series, you can check out Episode 15 of the podcast in which we discussThe Poppy War.  Full disclosure: this series is not YA and Kelly uses verbal air quotes an embarrassing number of times in the episode. You've been warned. Enjoy! Content Warning for discussions of genocide, sexual assault, drug use and other instances of extreme violence.  This isn't the first time we have bemoaned the lack of maps and accessory visual content in audiobooks. Can't we get a 1-page pdf or something?! R.F. Kuang is Chinese-American but more importantly, here's her bio in her own words: “Rebecca F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, translator, and the Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award nominated author of the Poppy War trilogy. She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale” (source: author's website) For more from Ibram X. Kendi on the concept of “uplift suasion” and for a general EDUCATION, check out the book Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.  If you aren't already following NO WHITE SAVIORS (@nowhitesaviors) on instagram, please check yourself and go do that now. Some resources for further learning re: why we shouldn't fetishize so-called American Democracy “The Savage US Constitution” episode of the Red Nation Podcast featuring Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (author of An Indigenous People's History of the United States, among many other works) is an excellent deep-dive into the immensely violent settler colonial, white supremacist, patriarchal foundations of the US constitution, a document that gets soooo revered. For more on the CIA's specific role in the history of US imperialism and colonialism and the country's whole problem of coups and puppet democracies, check out the following episode of Revolutionary Left Radio: “Guerrilla Warfare: Washington Bullets with Vijay Prashad” Transcript to come Spring 2021 As always, we'd love to be in discussion with you, magical folx. Post or tweet about the show using #criticallyreading or #thelibrarycoven. 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 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) #LandBack. 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. 

And just like that series 11 (or collection 8 for us folks in the US) is over. It was so much fun to have this during this fairly terrible time, and we hope you've all enjoyed listening to our ramblings about the show. Now time for a re-watch! [gif of Matt waving to Noel] Transcript to come Spring 2021 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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

Tune in for our ramblings on the chaos that was patisserie week! Alas, this season of GBBO is almost over *crying emoji*  Almost no notes this time! But here's that tweet Kelly mentions.   

Hello, coven! This week we're discussing Wayward Witch, the third and final (?) book in the Brooklyn Brujas series by Zoraida Córdova. You can check out our episodes about Labyrinth Lost and Bruja Born if you need a refresher about what happened in the earlier books! Which was your favorite of the series? What would be your sinmago power be? Full episode transcript below or access the transcript PDF And now, onward to the notes (of which there are very few this week)! The audiobook was narrated by Almarie Guerra “When people show you who they are” quote is from Dr. Maya Angelou The Body Keeps the Score [gif of Thor looking intense and being super hot] 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 42 (posted December 1, 2020)  Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova transition [00:00:03] jaunty string and harpsichord music plays. jessie [00:00:03] 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 [00:00:18] And I'm Kelly. And in this episode we're discussing Wayward Witch. We're back in the Brooklyn Brujas series. This is a third book in the series by Zoraida Córdova. The novel follows the youngest Mortiz sister Rose's story, finding herself, discovering the extent of her powers and learning more about her family. After her and her dad are transported through a portal to the magical kingdom of Adas, Rose teams up with several magical beings to rid us of the rot, a mysterious pestilence that is overtaking the land. jessie [00:00:48] If you're not already, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TheLibraryCoven. We love chatting with you, magical coven, and we'd love to do it more. Let us know if you have any ideas for things you'd like to add to our feed. Any pictures you'd like us to take or anything you want to know about us. transition [00:01:04] [jaunty string music plays] kelly [00:01:08] Initial reactions. jessie [00:01:10] OK, I'm not gonna to lie because I wouldn't lie to y'all, but I was a little disappointed with this book. I really love Labyrinth Lost and Bruja Born. And I really love Rose that we get to see in those stories. So I was really excited for Wayward Witch. But it was kind of a travel story, which isn't my thing. I can see why people would like this story and being in Adas, but it wasn't my favorite in the trilogy. And I was, I was disappointed.

Hello, Coven! We're at week eight of Great British Bake Off, and where did the time go!? This week, it's all things desserts, and a very unusual technical. Who do you think is making it to the final? Just a few notes: compote is “a dessert originating from medieval Europe, made of whole or pieces of fruit in sugar syrup. Whole fruits are cooked in water with sugar and spices. The syrup may be seasoned with vanilla, lemon or orange peel, cinnamon sticks or powder, cloves, other spices, ground almonds, grated coconut, candied fruit or raisins. The compote is served either warm or cold.” –  Wikipedia entry for compote coulis is “is a form of thin sauce made from puréed and strained vegetables or fruits”  -Wikipedia entry for coulis apricots are in season in the US from May to July – Food Network Reasons you cheesecake might crack from Bake From Scratch and why it might have a well from The Spruce Eats J called it Surrey Pond Pudding, but it is Sussex Pond Pudding, and here is a recipe from Prue herself (a vegetarian version) Prue also writes books that are not cookbooks! ^ this is how I was feeling through the whole episode [gif of Prue looking exasperated and raising her hands to her temples like “wtf are you doing?!”] 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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

ahoy, bakers and reader/listeners! This season of GBBO is nearly over (NOOOOOO), but we're still excited to share this bonus ep with y'all. We talk quiche, donuts, and ice cream cake. Oh, and Jessie gives us a lesson on air fryers. Enjoy! [gif of Mel and Nadia holding up index and pinky fingers – metal!]  

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

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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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

We're coming at you with a super special bonus episode discussing all things about the first two seasons of Umbrella Academy! If you enjoy this episode, let us know, and let us know about any other bonus episode things you'd like to see in the future!! 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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 to all you magical beings out there! This fortnight, we're discussing A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. We immensely enjoyed Kemmerer's spin on the whole Beauty and the Beast tradition, and we found Harper to be one of the most relatable and badass protagonists! There's so much about this novel that we found relevant to our pandemic times– especially re: disability, medical debt, . Also, J & K happen to be on different ships this time! Hope you enjoy and learn things and teach us things! Content warning: terminal illness and parental death, rape and sexual assault (mins 20-22). Call to action: This week we're encouraging y'all to “crip” your timelines on social media. Similar to the term “queer,” which was once a slur, crip is being reclaimed by disabled and chronically ill folx. Give some of the accounts below a follow, learn from them, and support them (including with your $$ if possible). *links below to instagram pages unless otherwise specified* Crutches&Spice (@Imani_Barbarin on twitter) disability.connect invalid__art hot.crip uadisabilityculture accesscenteredmovement disability_visability itswalela decolonizingtherapy mia.mingus blackdisabilitycollective queerfutures_ junipercameryn neuroqueerasian ablezine cwaitwaitwait Sami Schalk blackdisabledcreative emapathywarrior Sky Cubacub Johanna Hedva queernature access_guide_ coffeespoonie (on twitter) Also check out the work of Sins Invalid, a group based in Tongva territory (aka the Bay Area), and the Disability Visibility Podcast. Support local mutual aid efforts and the disabled ppl in your life!! Our education doesn't stop there, of course. Reach out to share other sources you find along the way! We make a few SJM and ACOTAR comparisons throughout the episode. One that note, we've been enjoying the reaction posts by bookstagrammer @_litmedown. So funny!!! love love love. Some CP resources from the CDC and Mayo Clinic K recommends the documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (on Netflix). Watch the Crip Camp trailer. We talk about how time travel is much more complicated when you aren't cis-white-abled man. Like, what about chronic illness? and being a person of color? Here's an informative interview about C. diff and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. So yeah, regency era medical treatment definitely wouldn't have been able to keep up (or keep us alive). We'll be setting our novels featuring sick characters some other time/place, thx. Time for our periodic reminder: Don't call the f*cking cops! BLACK LIVES MATTER 12 Things to Do Instead of Calling the Cops [CW racist police violence ] “If you love me do not call the police” Watch this video by Angela C Styles if you want to know more about hair types and textures. Send us your other “Smells Like YA” moments!! K's hot take is that compulsory heterosexuality is a curse. *insert prove me wrong meme* Transcript to come Spring 2021 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 (thelibraycoven@gmail.com). 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,

Hello, magical folx! This fortnight we're discussing Crier's War by Nina Varela! This book is fantasy adjacent, and leans a bit more toward science fiction, but we have lots of world building and robot things to talk about! Call to action: This week we're educating ourselves on how the various technologies we use impact BIPOC and disabled people. Here are two books that can help with our collective education: Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code by Ruha Benjamin Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Safiya Umoja Noble This is just the start of our education. Please let us know any other sources you found helpful! We got started talking about the difference between science fiction, fantasy, and horror. This Masterclass article has a good overview of fantasy and science fiction, and you can see how something like horror could really fit under either. The Uncanny Valley Here's more information on handfasting J recommends the tv show The Great  K recommends the book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff That Instagram post from badformreview about using food words to describe skin color “No Drums Allowed: Afro Rhythm Mutations in North America” by He Zhao – suggested by K about the use of the term “strange music” in the book “Women and Hysteria in the History of Mental Health” – worth checking out how mental health has been treated in regards to women throughout history K couldn't find an accessible description of the theory online, so she adapted this from the introduction to my dissertation“Assemblage” as a theory was originally articulated by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari in Mille Plateaux (1980), published in English in 1987 with the title A Thousand Plateaus. Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Assemblage is a rather clumsy translation of the original French term agencement, which “implies specific connections with other concepts. It is, in fact, the arrangements of these connections that gives the concepts their sense. […] Agencement designates the priority of neither the state of affairs nor the statement but of their connection, which implies the production of a sense that exceeds them” (Phillips 108, emphasis in original). Dianne Currier clarifies that assemblages are “functional conglomerations of elements, but, importantly, the component elements are not taken to be unified, stable or self-identical entities or objects, that is, they are not grounded on a prior unity. In each assemblage, the particles, intensities, forces and flows of components meet with and link with the forces and flows of other components: the resultant distribution of these meetings constitutes the assemblage” (“Feminist Technological Futures” 325) The metaphor of a constellation helps illustrate what Currier discusses here. The meaning of constellations comes from their connection, which arise out of stories humans grafted onto the stars during specific historical moments. Constellations are human constructs with empirical effects that produce emotions in the people witnessing them, in much the same way as race is a story, a shifting social construct that produces material consequences. Constellations themselves are made of component assemblages, multiplicities of objects (e.g., celestial bodies) and intensities (e.g., gravity) acting upon objects of any size. Finally, the parts of a constellation are always (and already) in motion—from the largest sense of the universe expanding to the smallest sub-atomic particles, and everything in between. Thinking assemblage theory through astronomy and astrophysics can help us focus on the intensities and linkages that give assemblages their meanings. If you're not already, follow thevelocireader on Instagram. She is the kindest person and has great reviews! ACOMAF spoilers around 46 minutes Recommend if you like: Altered Carbon (which I just learn will not be getting a third season) Ex Machina We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia A...