The English Club Podcast

Unfortunately, Divergent is good now. There was a time when it was the worst YA dystopia ever, but now all we can do is quietly smile at how silly it was. Well, sorta. In a world untouched by booktok—a world in which you can have two characters get steamy without being worried that Violet Sorrengail will Make the Lightning Happen—darker things than tropelists lurk in the shadows. Veronica Roth's deepest desires and her weird, weird beliefs take Andrew and J to new literary depths, unpacking centuries-old religious debates and reworking the literary world into which Divergent was born. The days of debating whether you're Team Oro or Team Grim are long gone. Now, the only question facing the SBU English Club is this: what is the true meaning of fear?Please consider supporting us! Members get early access to our videos, vote on our next podcast episode, and get exclusive content, like Not an Audiobook: A Crown of Starlight Companion Podcast! https://www.youtube.com/@sbu_englishclub/membershipFollow Andrew on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/sbu_englishclub/Follow J on Twitter! https://x.com/sbu_englishclub

Love it or hate it, everyone's talking about Blood of Hercules. Jasmine Mas's catapulting from shifter romance to new adult romantasy shocked booktok and normal people alike. And intrepid bottom-feeding trend chasers Jay and Andrew are no exception. Having faced books that left more to be desired and others that are ontologically evil, they were ready for anything—anything BUT what was about to be thrown at them. Brooding boys, sassy snakes, enemies to lovers back to enemies, unambiguously unwanted advances, and a really “memorable” protagonist. Step into the SBU club room and join Jay and Andrew in a much-too-long discussion covering everything from trailer park thermodynamics to the use of parentheses in prose to the dynamics of fantasy vs reality to unqualified and over-simplified explorations of feminism to who is and who is not welcome in my shed.Not gonna lie, this one's a little intense.

Apparently, the people who made the giant replica of Noah's ark also wrote a pseudo-fantasy trilogy about Noah's early life. This one has a T-REX GLADIATOR FIGHT ON THE COVER OHH MY GODDDDD! Join us for a really really weird experience as Tim Chaffey and K. Marie Adams return. I'm surprised more people aren't talking about this book because it's UNBELIEVABLE.

Lightlark was terrible. Nightshade was less terrible but more disappointing. Now I don't know how I feel. Alex Aster has tested the SBU English Club ever since she first started going viral on TikTok. Barely a romantasy and hardly a love triangle, the tropes we were promised were always bad but now are now completely diluted. But we're determined to turn this into an actual story, despite BookTok's best efforts.

They all said Zenith was a disaster. And they were right, but for the wrong reasons. And then they never said anything about Nexus. So here's 3 and a half hours of us talking about how Nexus is good actually. It is genuinely mind boggling how subjectively better Nexus is than Zenith, how objectively good it is, and how much it's slept on by the online YA/BookTube/SciFantasy community. It's even crazier that Nexus is a gonzo, trippy, borderline experimental sci-fi story in which bombing a black hole full of ghosts to take over the universe is one of the more straightforward plot points. For having started with a book so poorly received that one might argue it was reviewbombed, Nexus is the redemption arc that the SBU English Club Podcast desperately needed. Especially because the new Lightlark book just dropped...

Lauren Roberts has a viral BookTok sensation on her hands. "Red Queen meets Hunger Games," she calls it. “Worse than Lightlark,” responds the Internet. Still, questions abound. How can some people love this book, while others consider it one of the worst books ever? Which BookTok book has the best dumb twist ending? Is TikTok book marketing a surefire path to success in publishing your book? Join critique partners and Lightlark superfans Jay and Andrew as they explore this "spicy" romantasy that works in all the wrong ways.

YOU WON'T GET THIS ANYWHERE ELSE. Controversial book deep dives & analysis, booktok fights, review bombing, and the wildest book drama to come out of Twitter—all right here at the SBU English Club. Our club members face their greatest challenge yet: Cait Corrain's Crown of Starlight! Cait had everything—a two-book traditional publishing deal, rave reviews from literary critics, and a successful ARC distribution. And then she made it go up in flames. But what about the book itself? What was it about? Would this have been the next Fourth Wing, had she not reviewbombed everyone who would've supported her? What are the ethics of reading a discontinued book with such a bad reputation, and what responsibilities do we have to each other as readers, writers, and Internet users? Also in this episode: Cait Corrain drama explained! You've heard the story before, you've seen the fake Discord chat, but do we—can we—know the full story, and trust the people telling it to us? Join us as we put laser focus on facts that others have glossed over—facts that can NEVER exonerate Cait Corrain, but CAN illustrate the risk that there may be some of them in all of us. Please support Cait Corrain's victims: https://www.asakkalon.com/2024-debut-books-to-support-thanks-cait-corrain/

It's YA Sci-Fi gone wild! Join the SBU English Club as they review what has to be one of the longest YA books ever--Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings! Don't believe the author drama--this book is nowhere NEAR as bad as they say it is. But they also don't talk about what makes this book REALLY bad. Weird how that happens. Whether you're a fan of the genre or just curious about the controversy, join us for a deep dive into what we will come to call the proto-Lightlark.

Somehow, J.A. Johnstone has returned. And she's brought a new book that's somehow more insane than the last. Join the SBU English Club as they tackle another ripped-from-the-headlines Johnstone thriller, and try in vain to figure out just what headlines this is supposed to be ripped from. Just as a warning, this one gets kinda real, so listen at your discretion.

The worst author ever is back with a furry mountain-climbing fever dream! This one's so much to deal with that our heroes need to call in the help of a friend. Throw yourself to the wolves and join the fun as the English Club tackles a book that may literally be ontologically evil. Is it safe to climb a mountain in a fursuit? How much are you (not) supposed to spend on marketing your book? Is this guy serious? Find out on our newest episode!

Somehow, Lightlark has returned. Some call it the worst YA book ever made, others call it a victim of a chemical reaction between the publishing industry and the TikTok machine. Whatever led Lightlark and Nightbane to get published, they're full of common mistakes made by newbie fantasy writers and remain some of the most controversial books. We don't care. We're hell-bent on saving it, anyways. Maybe it's something with the character introductions, the romance subplot, or even that this book needs a bit more Reylo--J and Andrew will do whatever it takes to make the world of Isla, Oro, and GRIMSHAW make sense. ABOUT THE BOOK: Isla Crown has secured the love of two powerful rulers and broken the curses that plagued the six realms for centuries, but few know the true origins of her powers. Now, in the wake of a crushing betrayal, Isla finds herself hungry for distraction, preferring to frequent Lightlark's seductive haunts instead of embracing her duties as the newly crowned leader of two separate realms. Worse, her fellow rulers haven't ceded victory quietly, and there are others in Isla's midst who don't believe her ascent to power was earned. As certain death races toward Lightlark and secrets from the past begin to unravel, Isla must weigh her responsibility to her people against the whims of the most dangerous traitor of all: her heart. ABOUT US: English Club Podcast is a joint venture between two critique partners at "Saint Balasar University". The goal of each episode is to give internet famous fiction a fair critique, as if the authors were members of a writing group themselves. CHOOSE YOUR MAGICAL CREATURES: Antler Bear, Moss Wolf, Giant Spider: https://www.instagram.com/sbu_englishclub An actual panther like literally just a large cat with no other cool features: https://twitter.com/sbu_englishclub

Apparently, the people who made the giant replica of Noah's ark also wrote a pseudo-fantasy trilogy about Noah's early life. Our intrepid heroes don't expect much from the first book, but lo—fantasy writing tips, dinosaurs, and Renaissance-era poetry await! Will Jay and Andrew let their differing beliefs stop them from working together to save this book? Can a work be true, even when it's not factual? Will iron mining operations disrupt local pterodactyl habitats? Some of these questions will be answered!

Join the English Club for a deep dive into the controversial book that everyone on Twitter and TikTok has been lit up about. Journey across 18th century France, the god dimension, colonial America, another god dimension, Dinosaur Fairy hell, and probably some other places too during this whopper of a club meeting. Plus: who is Lauren M. Davis? Is she a Cait Corrain sockpuppet, or an AI writer? Who is Nova, and is her playlist any good? CAN you copyright the sun? And what makes this book so interesting and controversial anyway? Full book synopsis on our website: https://englishclubpodcast.com/2024/01/04/novas-playlist/ Review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6072707343 Follow Marve M Anson so something good comes out of this: https://www.instagram.com/justmarvewrites/ ABOUT US: English Club Podcast is a joint venture between two critique partners at "Saint Balasar University". The goal of each episode is to give internet famous fiction a fair critique, as if the authors were members of a writing group themselves.

From lawsuits to internet drama to a very odd trilogy of books, Onision brings it all to the SBU English Club. Join us and our friend Holly as we provide Greg Onision YouTube's Stones To Abbigale the thoughtful and balanced critique and analysis that he definitely got and ignored before hitting the Publish button on Amazon. ABOUT THE BOOK: This book is made up of events that occurred in my own life mixed with fiction from the made-up life of James. James is essentially a better version of myself. His home, his school & his life all resemble my own at his age. The people James analyzes and is surrounded by are not so unlike those I've known as well. I have experienced much of the loss James has however his happier moments are more often than not also mine. I want to share my story without it being purely non-fiction. I simply felt this approach would make for a far better book. At points I cried while writing this, at others I laughed.Stones To Abbigale is not just a book I wrote; it is a piece of who I am. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25251380-stones-to-abbigale ABOUT US: English Club Podcast is a joint venture between two critique partners at "Saint Balasar University". The goal of each episode is to give internet famous fiction a fair critique, as if the authors were members of a writing group themselves. Davis Fan Club: https://www.instagram.com/englishclubpodcast/ Join the Rollerskating Team: https://twitter.com/sbu_englishclub

I only read half of Fourth Wing! Can I guess how it ends, or will I lose to a tarot prediction? Find out on this episode as Rebecca Yarros joins our club! Also features a good bit of Fourth Wing Analysis & Review. Is this booktok darling worth the hype? Can you plot a novel using tarot cards? Hang out with the English Club and find out!

SEASON 1 FINALE! I've never seen a (normal-seeming) book with such a low goodreads score. But does Rin, Tongue and Dorner actually deserve the negativity? Find out as we face the final boss of English Club Podcast, Season 1! ABOUT THE BOOK: Take a delirious hyper-metaphorical ride with a love triangle into a fiery cosmos. Shapero's outer space uncannily mirrors inner space, daring us to ditch our expectations and probe the depths of human desire. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40937423-rin-tongue-and-dorner ABOUT US: Hee naur naur hee naur naur hee https://twitter.com/sbu_englishclub https://www.instagram.com/englishclubpodcast/ englishclubpodcast@gmail.com

The critique group no one asked for is back with Alex Aster's booktok famous novel Lightlark! Is this book really that bad, or is it a misunderstood work of art (over)stuffed with good ideas? Join us as we discuss worldbuilding, romance, Gus Dapperton, Tarot readings, Elden Ring, and more! ABOUT THE BOOK: Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The invitation is a summons—a call to embrace victory and ruin, baubles and blood. The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm's curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die. Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling—a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised, and are counting on Isla to end their suffering by succeeding at the Centennial. To survive, Isla must lie, cheat, and betray…even as love complicates everything. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60310757-lightlark#SocialReviews ABOUT US: English Club Podcast is a joint venture between two critique partners at "Saint Balasar University". The goal of each episode is to give notoriously "bad" fiction a chance for fair critique, as if the authors were members of a writing group themselves. https://twitter.com/sbu_englishclub https://www.instagram.com/englishclubpodcast/ englishclubpodcast@gmail.com

Hang out with the English Club as we discuss Ernest Kline's Ready Player One! We both read our own half, and together, we try to put the pieces together. ABOUT THE BOOK: IN THE YEAR 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9969571-ready-player-one # ABOUT US: English Club Podcast is a joint venture between two critique partners at "Saint Balasar University". The goal of each episode is to give notoriously "bad" fiction a chance for fair critique, as if the authors were members of a writing group themselves. https://twitter.com/sbu_englishclub https://www.instagram.com/englishclubpodcast/ englishclubpodcast@gmail.com

If you've ever wondered what it's like being an English major, or wanted to study literature but not known exactly what that entails, come hang out with us! We're walking step by step through our experiences at university. The books we had to read, the clubs we joined, and the reason we did it.

Today the English Club reads Gothikana, RuNyx's TikTok famous dark adacemia teacher student romance! Well, they read half of it. BUT, both read a different half, so together, they know the full story. How good do our hosts do at piecing together this chilling, bodice-ripping romance? ABOUT THE BOOK: An unusual girl. An enigmatic man. An ancient castle. What could go wrong? An outcast her entire life, Corvina Clemm is left adrift after losing her mother. When she receives the admission letter from the mysterious University of Verenmore, she accepts it as a sign from the universe. The last thing she expects though is an olden, secluded castle on top of a mountain riddled with secrets, deceit, and death. An enigma his entire life, Vad Deverell likes being a closed book but knowing exactly everything that happens in the university. A part-time professor working on his thesis, Vad has been around long enough to know the dangers the castle possesses. And he knows the moment his paths cross with Corvina, she's dangerous to everything that he is. They shouldn't have caught each other's eye. They cannot be. But a chill-inducing century-old mystery forces them to collide. People have disappeared every five years for over a hundred years, and Corvina is getting clues to unraveling it all, and Vad needs to keep an eye on her. And so begins a tale of the mystique, the morbid, the macabre, and a deep love that blossoms in the unlikeliest of places.

Spend your evening with the English Club wrestling with one of the most challenging books we've encountered to date--Ben Shapiro's True Allegiance! Like Trigger Warning, True Allegiance is a "espionage-esque" action thriller with a... distinct... political bent. Unlike Trigger Warning, True Allegiance is something much more complex. Something much more insidious. Music by Benjamin Davis.

Reaper's Creek (2018) the last of a spiritual trilogy by notable YouTube personality Onision. It follows Daniel, a young boy in the rural midwest whose recurring nightmares of alien abductions suddenly become all too real. And then later he kills god. Join the English Club in a discussion of Andrew's Shakespeare themed birthday Pokémon, Eragon, Fire Emblem, The Office, John Green, and Gnosticism as we unpack one of the most complex books we've encountered on this podcast. What can we learn from this tragically autobiographical tale? And how is this book similar to Empress Theresa? Find out on this episode of the English Club Podcast!

SPECIAL EPISODE PART 2 of 2: Our interview with Lani Sarem continues! This one is more light-hearted, focusing on Lani's creative background and her responses to various critiques we had in our episode.

SPECIAL EPISODE PART 1 of 2: After our last episode, we received an interesting phone call from a club member you might be familiar with. We think it's time we share it with you all! One thing's for sure--the University of Saint Balasar's English Club will never be the same. Part 1 of our Lani Sarem interview focuses on Sarem's background, the origins of Handbook for Mortals, and the trials she faced before and after its publication.

Lani Sarem's Handbook for Mortals has been the subject of derision on the internet ever since its first publication. While there's no excusing the "magic trick" allegedly used to get it on the NYT Bestseller's list, is the book really that bad? Is there perhaps a great story for young adults hidden within? Join the English Club as they take a look at this controversial novel and find the magic hidden within... "OR DO THEY?"

William W. Johnstone (and Jo) joins the English Club with their controversial novel Trigger Warning. Is it really "one of the worst books of all time", or is it a satirical, tongue-in-cheek masterpiece? Our hosts will find out!

In Episode 1, the Saint Balasar University English Club critiques Norman Boutin's Empress Theresa. Music by Benjamin Davis.