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In Episode 218, Sarah chats with Enneagram author, speaker, and podcaster Sarajane Case about Reading Through the Enneagram. After a brief introduction to the Enneagram and how it differs from other personality systems, they dive into how Enneagram types show up in our reading lives — from guessing an author's type to rethinking our own habits as readers. Sarajane walks through the nine types, shares a book recommendation for each, and offers her own personal picks. Note: This episode was republished due to an Apple Podcasts feed glitch that prevented it from appearing for some subscribers. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Books by Sarajane Case: The Honest Enneagram and The Enneagram Letters A brief introduction to the Enneagram — and how it differs from other personality systems Sarajane's personal approach to working with the Enneagram A quick overview of the nine Enneagram types How each Enneagram type might approach reading Whether (and how) we can discern an author's Enneagram type through their work (and the Enneagram types most and least likely to be authors themselves) Practical tips for using your type to improve your reading life Reading Through the Enneagram [29:51] Type 1: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:08] Type 2: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:50] Type 3: In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:27] Type 4: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:42] Type 5: Fourth Wing (Empyrean, 1) by Rebecca Yarros (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:56] Type 6: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:32] Type 7: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:56] Type 8: Crook Manifesto (The Harlem Trilogy, 2) by Colson Whitehead (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:20] Type 9: Severance by Ling Ma (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:16] Other Books Mentioned The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, 1) by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [32:08] Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) [33:49] The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (2019) [34:57] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022) [35:23] Sarajane's Book Recommendations [36:37] Two OLD Books She Loves The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:50] Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:08] Two NEW Books She Loves Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:09] A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:14] Other Books Mentioned Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019) [42:05] The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) [42:16] Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2021) [42:28] Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) [42:37] The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (2022) [43:28] One Book She DIDN'T Love Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (1987) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:14] Other Books Mentioned South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami (1992) [44:20] 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (2009) [44:49] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Theodora's Tea Shop by Christy Anne Jones (July 28, 2026 — no US release date set yet) | Link to Blackwell's for US Orders [45:52] Other Links Truity | Enneagram Personality Test
Welcome to Season 8 for Books Broads and Booze! The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna is a cozy, romantic fantasy novel. Listen to Monica and I enjoy another delightful quick read!Drink responsibly!Questions and comments may be sent to broadsbookandbooze@gmail.comTheme music by Dee Yan-Kay
In Episode 218, Sarah chats with Enneagram author, speaker, and podcaster Sarajane Case about Reading Through the Enneagram. After a brief introduction to the Enneagram and how it differs from other personality systems, they dive into how Enneagram types show up in our reading lives — from guessing an author's type to rethinking our own habits as readers. Sarajane walks through the nine types, shares a book recommendation for each, and offers her own personal picks. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Books by Sarajane Case: The Honest Enneagram and The Enneagram Letters A brief introduction to the Enneagram — and how it differs from other personality systems Sarajane's personal approach to working with the Enneagram A quick overview of the nine Enneagram types How each Enneagram type might approach reading Whether (and how) we can discern an author's Enneagram type through their work (and the Enneagram types most and least likely to be authors themselves) Practical tips for using your type to improve your reading life Reading Through the Enneagram [29:51] Type 1: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [30:08] Type 2: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:50] Type 3: In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:27] Type 4: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:42] Type 5: Fourth Wing (Empyrean, 1) by Rebecca Yarros (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:56] Type 6: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:32] Type 7: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:56] Type 8: Crook Manifesto (The Harlem Trilogy, 2) by Colson Whitehead (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:20] Type 9: Severance by Ling Ma (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:16] Other Books Mentioned The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, 1) by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [32:08] Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) [33:49] The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (2019) [34:57] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022) [35:23] Sarajane's Book Recommendations [36:37] Two OLD Books She Loves The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:50] Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:08] Two NEW Books She Loves Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:09] A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [43:14] Other Books Mentioned Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019) [42:05] The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) [42:16] Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2021) [42:28] Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) [42:37] The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (2022) [43:28] One Book She DIDN'T Love Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (1987) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:14] Other Books Mentioned South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami (1992) [44:20] 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (2009) [44:49] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Theodora's Tea Shop by Christy Anne Jones (July 28, 2026 — no US release date set yet) | Link to Blackwell's for US Orders [45:52] Other Links Truity | Enneagram Personality Test
Turbulent times, spreading love, and finding hope, oh my! Shaun Duke, Trish Matson, and Jennifer Brozek join forces to share the things they loved in 2025 and the things they’re looking forward to in 2026! We discuss books, movies, geeky things, experiences, and much more! Plus, we share some VERY important announcements about the show! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: 2025 Things: Shaun: Susana Morris’ Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler All of the independent films Daniel and I got to watch and write or talk about (thanks Strike Media and Deaf Crocodile!) The two podcasts I got to be on to talk about movies I genuinely love: Reserved Recommendations with Hugh Dingwall (on Nightbreed) and Fine Beats and Cheeses (on Mac & Me)! Trish: Death of the Author: A Novel by Nnedi Okorafor Andor S2: aired April 22, 2025 through May 13, 2025, 12 episodes. Mad props to producer Tony Gilroy. Revolutions Podcast Season 11 (Mars), by Mike Duncan: aired October 2024 to June 2025, 30 eps Jennifer: Overgrowth by Mira Grant (best book I read all year) Sinners. Such an amazingly good/original movie Hades 2. Great storytelling and replayability. It's a thing I do with the Husband. Daniel: Uncertain Sons and Other Stories by Thomas Ha and Lost in the Dark and Other Excursions by John Langan Hundreds of Beavers (2022) Directed by Mike Cheslik AGFA Secret Society Sandra: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (the perfect romance at the perfect time when I read it) The Great Flood (dir. Kim Byung-woo); not without its problems but I give it kudos for being the disaster flick I hadn't expected to be a scifi flick Draw Steel (an interesting change from D&D 5e) Paul: Duology: The Witch Roads and the Nameless Land, a duology of fantasy novels from Kate Elliott. Set in a new and rich fantasy worlds, Elliott hitting all the power chords. Plur1bus: Aired in Fall/Winter 2025 on Apple TV. Constantly surprisingly, interesting, thought provoking, with some great acting BallxPit, a rogue like game inspired by Balatro, Vampire Survivors and Arkanoid (for those who remember it). 2026 Things: Shaun: The Republic of Memory by Mahmud El Sayed OR The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu All of the independent films Daniel and I are going to get to watch and write and talk about this year, some from the very same places I’ve already mentioned. Seeing how Capricon will go, as I was head of programming this year (with Cassandra Moritz as my honorable and most excellent 2nd). Trish: The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey, 2nd in The Captive's War series, coming in April, because I loved the first book, The Mercy of Gods. Murderbot S2 Other: 13th Icon RPG, starting in February on Arvan Eleron's Twitch channel. PrinceJvstin will GM, and I'm playing a dragonborn druid in it, along with Darcie Little Badger as a human rogue, Kathleen de Vere as a human paladin, and Mur Lafferty as a goliath barbarian. Jennifer: Strixhaven: Omens of Chaos by Seanan McGuire Old Gods of Appachalia: Long Shadows, Season Six podcast Finishing Eberron Oracle of War, Can*Con in Ottawa, Oberon's Post Club Daniel: Partially Devoured by Daniel Kraus Evil Dead Burn (2026; dir. Sébastien Vaniček) Blood Feast and the Films of Herschell Gordon Lewis (AGFA Restorations) Sandra: Platform Decay by Martha Wells Murderbot S2, but also Slow Horses S6 (which is totally fantasy lol) Bouchercon (Calgary) Paul: Children of Strife by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The latest in his Children series, I want to see where his rich world of human and post-human sapients, from spiders to crows, will go next. The Odyssey movie. I just want to see what Nolan will do with one of the ur-texts of the Western Tradition. And it can't be worse than the early 2000's Troy (which tackled The Iliad) It just CAN'T. Death Valley photography trip in December 2026. Am I a good photographer? No, but I enjoy doing photography and this is a chance to do it in a place every photographer wants to go. Video versions of our episodes also appear on our handy YouTube channel! Sub and watch! Don’t forget to catch our live format every Friday at 7 PM Central on Twitch at AlphabetStreams! If you have a question you'd like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from Holy Mole. You can support his work at patreon.com/holymole. See you later, navigator!
Welcome to Season 8 for Books Broads and Booze! A Witch's Guide to Magical Inn Keeping by Sangu Mandanna is a whimsical and heartfelt fantasy novel. Drink responsibly!Questions and comments may be sent to broadsbookandbooze@gmail.comTheme music by Dee Yan-Kay
En este primer episodio de 2025 viajamos al pasado para rescatar el episodio perdido de octubre de 2024, por lo que os traemos un especial de Halloween en el que hablamos de brujas en entornos urbanos. ¡Nunca es tarde para celebrar a las brujas! En este episodio participan: Laura Morán, Dik y Andrea Obras mencionadas: Nicky, aprendiz de bruja (Eiko Kadono), La sociedad secreta de brujas rebeldes (Sangu Mandanna), La quinta bruja (Angela Slatter), La bruja novata (Mary Norton), Chocolat (Joanne Harris), Bruja Akata (Nnedi Okorafor), Lo que nos deparan los sueños (CL Clark), La sombra de la bruja (Marina Tena) y muchas más.
It's the end of 2025 and we've finally made it to our last episode about New Girl's "Cooler" — and this time we're talking solely about that iconic Nick/Jess first kiss.Jenn (@notajenny) and Jaime (@jaimepoland) obviously have a lot of thoughts about what makes this kiss so unanimously hot and beloved. So they dive into the specifics of the way the kiss is shot and choreographed, praising everyone who works behind the scenes to make romance look... well, incredibly romantic! They then talk about why it's so important that one of New Girl's most memorable moments is a romance-forward one and they watch the kiss in real-time to unpack all of their thoughts and feelings — as well as new things they notice still, 12 years later.Watch along with us! Enjoy, all!We will be back in 2026 with a lot more New Girl to discuss.Mentioned in this episode:Liz Meriwether's interview discussing the Nick/Jess kiss.Our recommended media:"A Witch's Guide to Magical Inkeeping" by Sangu Mandanna"Best Hex Ever" and "Love at First Fright" by Nadia El-FassiFollow us on Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter for more fun content. Support the Loveland Therapy Fund for Black Women and Girls, and donate if you can to the ACLU Drag Defense Fund.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Looking for a cozy, witchy holiday romance with world-building that feels like slipping into a warm sweater? Today I'm sitting down with debut author and longtime video-game writer Morgan Lockhart, whose background explains exactly why her book feels so immersive and magical.In this episode, we chat about her 20-year career in game writing, the pivot back to her “first love” of books, and how A Spell for Midwinter's Heart blends cozy romance, magic-light vibes, and real-world emotional stakes. If you love Hallmark holiday romances but wish they had a touch of witchy charm, this is the perfect entry point into the cozy-paranormal space. We also dig into her craft, world-building, burnout, motherhood, and the comforting wave of cozy stories readers are reaching for right now.
C'est un épisode un peu particulier que l'on publie en ce 1er décembre... cet épisode sera le dernier de l'année 2025 mais aussi le dernier de Marine, qui a décidé de partir vers de nouveaux horizons ! Est-ce la fin du Bruit des Pages ? Pour l'instant rien de sûr, restez connectés et Catherine vous donnera des nouvelles par la suite. En attendant il nous reste encore un épisode toutes les deux pour vous partager nos lectures de ces dernières semaines, et croyez-nous, la sélection va vous mettre des étoiles dans les yeux ! Dans ce dernier épisode commun, on vous parle de : Mille soleils splendides, de Khaled Hosseini (Editions 10/18) Mon vrai nom est Elisabeth, d'Adèle Yon (Editions du sous-sol) Les bouchères, de Sophie Demange (L'Iconoclaste) Vertu de St-Cyr, de Rutile et Yllogique (Editions Dargaud) Et aussi : Les cerfs volants de Kaboul, de Khaled Hosseini Nelly Bly, de Virginie Ollagnier-Jouvray, Carole Maurel Le bal des folles, de Victoria Mas Le podcast Walter Freeman ou la folie de la lobotomie, Affaires sensibles (France Inter) Le podcast Grand-mère n'était pas folle, Passages (Louie Media) Phallers, de Chloé Delaume Les fleuves du ciel, Elif Shafak Soufi mon Amour, Elif Shafak Six of Crows, de Leigh Bardugo Tenir une auberge magique : guide de survie pour sorcières, de Sangu Mandanna
Sangu Mandanna is a British–Indian author of adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction. She is best known for her fantasy romance novels The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches and A Witch's Guide To Magical Innkeeping.We talked about:Whimsy and cosy fictionThe magical books that made herHer writing processHer publishing journeyThe difference between writing for YA, children and adult readers.Writing inclusive charactersBelonging and communityWriting sex scenesIn the Extended Episode www.patreon.com/lucyhpearceWe dive deeper into neurodivergence, being seen and invisibilityAs well as an additional extract from The Very Secret Society Of Irregular WitchesJoin us for the Creative Magic book club www.patreon.com/lucyhpearce Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's cozy fantasy season, so in this episode, I share eight enchanting books that will make your autumn weekends absolutely perfect. Dive into Emily Wilde's 'Encyclopedia of Fairies,' Sangu Mandanna's delightful tales, Nadia El Fassi's romantic 'Best Hex Ever,' and many more magical reads. Plus, I recommend the coziest pairings for each book to enhance your reading experience. Grab your favorite drink, light a candle, and let's find your next magical escape!Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OiiJOrEWQ8g
Get your copy of "The Pumpkin Spice Café" by Laurie Gilmore here: https://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Spice-Caf%C3%A9-Laurie-Gilmore/dp/0008610673/ Get your copy of "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna here: https://www.amazon.com/Very-Secret-Society-Irregular-Witches/dp/059343935X/ Get your copy of "The Unmaking of June Farrow" by Adrienne Young here: https://www.amazon.com/Unmaking-June-Farrow-Novel/dp/B0BR8L4FPD/ Get your copy of "Never Say No" by Jackie Adams here: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Say-No-Jackie-Adams-ebook/dp/B0FCSWPYJR/ Until next time!
On this episode, we discuss our September 2025 book club pick, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna, a cozy magical story about Sera, who used to be the most powerful witch in the UK until losing all her power casting a forbidden spell to bring her beloved great aunt back from the dead. Now 15 years later, she runs a magical inn in the English countryside after being expelled from magical society, and we follow her adventures when a chance to regain her lost power emerges.Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authorsSupport the Books & Boba Podcast by:Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perksPurchasing books at our bookshopRocking our Books & Boba merchFollow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:InstagramTwitterGoodreadsFacebookThe Books & Boba October 2025 pick is Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee BakerThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective
On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: car picnics and even more bookshelves! Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: all about narrative POVs - do they matter? do we like one more than the other? The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . . 1:29 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 4:04 - Awake by Jen Hatmaker 4:44 - BookPeople 9:45 - Our Current Reads 9:53 - American Royals by Katharine McGee (Kaytee) 13:22 - Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 13:26 - Currently Reading Patreon to access Popcorn in the Pages 14:03 - Majesty by Katharine McGee 14:53 - A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (Meredith) 18:05 - Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree 18:06 - The Spellshop by Sara Beth Durst 18:16 - A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna 19:24 - House of Frank by Kay Synclaire 19:41 - The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune 20:08 - These Truths by Jill Lepore (Kaytee) 20:32 - libro.fm 22:04 - The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon 25:07 - The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis (Meredith) 26:03 - Fabled Bookshop 29:39 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Kaytee) 32:04 - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens 34:15 - The Carpool Detectives by Chuck Hogan (Meredith) 40:05 - Deep Dive: Narrative POVs 45:38 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 45:43 - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 45:59 - A Good Neighborhood by Therese Ann Fowler 46:32 - Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes 48:28 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live 49:55 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 52:39 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 52:42 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 52:47 - The Color Purple by Alice Walker 53:05 - We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin 53:09 - Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin 53:30 - Yellowface by R.F. Kuang 53:32 - Everyone In My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson 53:52 - Meet Us At The Fountain 53:55 - I wish to press Starling House into everybody's hands. (Kaytee) 54:00 - Starling House by Alix E. Harrow 54:08 - The Novel Neighbor 56:10 - The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow 56:29 - I wish everyone would try a book flight. (Meredith) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. September's IPL is brought to us from Words Matter in Pitman, NJ. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
This time we discussed A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, written by Sangu Mandanna, and narrated by Samara MacLaren. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] Hugo Award Spreadsheet of Doom Intergalactic Mixtape The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] Legends & Lattes [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby] / [Episode 150] The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] Can't Spell Treason Without Tea [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby]
The Russell Library is full of Halloween loving librarians, so we jumped on the chance to celebrate early! If you, too, enjoy the spooky season, you'll love our Summerween conversation. The term “Summerween” comes from the animated mystery TV series "Gravity Falls". The show has inspired fans of the macabre to celebrate this holiday anytime from June through August. Whether you're carving a jack-o-lantern out of a watermelon or throwing a pool party with inflatable skeletons, Summerween reminds us that cooler days and darker nights are right around the corner. So grab your iced pumpkin spice latte and settle in for a spooky chat full of spine-chilling reads!Book RecommendationsThe Clackity by Lora Senf, illustrated by Alfredo CáceresCackle by Rachel Harrison Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee BakerThe Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.Intro Music by nikitsan
This week I'm travelling to Lancashire to join a witch and her found family in the cosy fantasy A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. This one is equal parts heart and magic, as we follow Sera Swan while she discovers what is most important to her after being exiled from the Sorcerer's Guild following a huge rule infraction! Since then, she's built a new life running an inn that only appears to those who truly need it. With a backdrop of enchanted rooms where petals fall from the ceiling, a house full of eccentric misfits, and the ever-present shadow of the Guild, this story offers gentle humour, found family warmth, and the quiet ache of desperation to get back what was lost years before. At the heart of it all is Sera, a heroine who has to decide not just whether she wants her magic back, but whether she's ready to open herself up to let people into her life. As with every episode, while I'll be touching on the views of others to keep things balanced, ultimately, the opinions here are my own. I'll be talking through the world-building, the cast of characters who make the inn feel alive, and whether the romantic thread kept me invested, or if it had me rolling my eyes. Everything remains completely spoiler-free and 100% honest, because what's the point otherwise? And don't forget to stay tuned for a second, shorter review. I'll also be sharing my thoughts on The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. Think bookshops, quiet rebellion, and a story about finding a place to belong. So, pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let's talk books.
In this episode, we try to capture this cultural moment where we're asked to believe absurd pop culture lies. Was the kiss cam at the Coldplay concert random? Are Dylan McDermott and Durmot Mulroney two different people? Is probiotic soda good? Listen as we separate truth bombs from bold-faced lies. Plus, Jamie brings a shocking new scandal to her red lights.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/617Get our brand new, exclusive series: The Pixar Collection at knoxandjamie.shopTentpole Mentions: Jeffrey Epstein | Prince Andrew | Lost Series Finale | Quicksand | The Face on the Milk Carton | Helen Keller is not a real person | Dylan Efron is better than Zach Efron Coldplay Kiss Cam | Grace and Frankie | Dylan McDermott vs Dermot Mulroney | John Cena | No Country for Old Men vs There Will Be Blood | Probiotic Soda | Shakespeare Authorship Question | Princess Diana Red Light Mentions: Eastman Credit Union in TN | Shows like Stick & Untamed Green Lights:Jamie: book - A Witch's Guide To Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna | movie- KPop Demon Hunters Knox: movie - F1: The Movie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, we are discussing our second novel we've read from Sangu Mandanna! In this episode, we dive deep into a fantasy novel about a witch trying to run an inn. Also in this episode, Morgan talks about her new obsession with her kindle and Sam's regret on not taking a day off. About The Novel: Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power… Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell's secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing. Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn't have to do it alone...and that the weird, wonderful family she's made might be the best magic of all. Want To Check Out Our Socials Then Click Here!
Today I welcome Sangu Mandanna to the show to discuss her newest book, A WITCH'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING. It's a wonderful book full of whimsy, self-reflection, and the most unusual ghosts I've ever read. This book wasn't just a pleasure to read, it was so well written that I asked as much about craft as I did about her cozy fantasy elements. We also discuss the autism representation in her book, so I hope that has as much meaning for you as it did for me.
Welcome back to My Sister's TBR! We're here with our mid-month catch-up, chatting about the July releases that have caught our eye, sharing the bookish news we've sleuthed out, and diving into what books we're currently reading.Think of this as our virtual coffee date where we talk about all our favorite things…books, duh!So pour yourself a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let's catch up!Release Radar: What We're Eyeing This Month* The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a multi-generational horror fantasyRelease: July 15, 2025As a grad student researching horror literature, Minerva digs into the life of Beatrice Tremblay, a forgotten author whose most famous novel was inspired by a real-life disappearance in the 1930s. But as Minerva investigates, strange echoes from her great-grandmother's tales of witches in 1900s Mexico begin to resurface—suggesting the same dark force that haunted Tremblay may now be stalking her across the halls of her 1990s Massachusetts campus.* Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson is a mystery thriller about a young woman trying to solve her own murder.Release: July 22, 2025After a brutal Halloween attack leaves Jet Mason with a ticking time bomb in her brain, she's told she has just seven days to live. With her memory fading and suspects all around—family, exes, even old friends—Jet teams up with her childhood companion Billy to solve one final mystery: who wants her dead… before time runs out.* A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna is a whimsical and heartwarming novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her life back on track.Release: July 15, 2025Once a powerful witch, Sera Swan now runs a chaotic enchanted inn with her undead aunt and a snarky talking fox. Stripped of her magic and exiled from her Guild, she's resigned to her new life—until a mysterious spell and an even more mysterious (and annoyingly handsome) magical historian, Luke Larsen, offer her a chance to reclaim what she lost. But with the Guild watching and feelings brewing, Sera might just find that the greatest magic is the family—and future—she never expected.* The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley is the first in a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology, Dearly Beloathed. Release: July 8, 2025He's an assassin in need of healing. She's a scientist who loathes everything he stands for. When Osric bribes Aurienne into saving his life, their uneasy alliance sparks chemistry neither of them wants to admit. But as they race to cure a deadly pox, hatred turns to heat—and enemies may become something much more dangerous: lovers.* Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is the first in an all new romantasy trilogy, The Evermore Trilogy.Release: July 8, 2025The war is lost, the chosen hero is dead, and Briony Rosewood—stripped of her magic—is sold at auction to the enemy. Her captor? Toven Hearst, a powerful Bomardsun and the man she once secretly loved. As Briony navigates a world ruled by darkness and political cruelty, she must decide whether to play the pawn… or become something far more dangerous.* Love Is a War Song by Danica Nava is a new romantic comedy by the author of The Truth According to Ember.Release: July 22, 2025After a scandal leaves Native pop star Avery Fox disgraced and directionless, she retreats to her estranged grandmother's ranch on the rez—only to clash hard with brooding horse trainer Lucas Iron Eyes. He thinks she's everything wrong with the world; she's determined to prove she's more than a headline. When the ranch's future is threatened, the two strike a deal: she'll help save it, and he'll teach her what it really means to come home. No strings, no sparks… yeah, right.* Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter is a new romantic comedy of a millionaire and a house cleaner, a match maid in heaven.Release: July 15, 2025When overworked cleaner Abi secretly crashes at the penthouse she tidies, she never expects to be mistaken for the owner's girlfriend—especially by his parents. Declan, a career-obsessed exec, is horrified… until he realizes fake-dating Abi could solve both their problems. One week, one deal, zero feelings. Totally professional… until it's not.* Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge is Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow in this debut enemies-to-lovers, YA romantasy.Release: July 15, 2025On an island of ash and flame, phoenix racing is everything—deadly, lucrative, and fiercely competitive. Kel Varra and her underdog team need a win, and teaming up with cocky rival Coup might be their only shot. But when Kel's home is destroyed and a shadowy tech mogul takes interest in her phoenix, she's pulled into a conspiracy that could burn her entire world to the ground—including the boy she's starting to fall for.The Bookish GrapevineWhile July's new releases have been blessing our TBRs, the book world has been just as spicy off the page as it is on it. Here's everything we talked about in this episode that's lighting up the bookternet right now.
Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button. This week we have Sam Miller, manager at Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville, with us to chat about books readers might want to consider for their summer reading. It is always fun to hear what is new and notable from Sam. This is our last episode of the season. We will be back in July after our summer hiatus with all new episodes. Happy Reading! Books Mentioned in this Episode: 1- The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebowitz 2- Northern Spy by Flynn Berry 3- Big Girl Small Town by Michelle Gallen 4- Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen 5- Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero 6- The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani 7- Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani 8- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid 9- Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter 10- So Far Gone by Jess Walter 11- A Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle 12- A Lesser Light by Peter Geye 13- Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippmann 14- El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott 15- Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann 16- Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann 17- First Gentleman by Bill Clinton and James Patterson 18- King of Ashes by SA Cosby 19- Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab 20- Katabasis by RF Kuang 21- Country Under Heaven by Frederic Durbin 22- A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna 23- Isabella Nag and the Pot of Basil by Oliver Darkshire 24- The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar 25- Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs 26- Plato and the Tyrant by James Romm 27- Turning to Birds by Lili Taylor 28- Is A River Alive? by Robert McFarlane 29- Mark Twain by Ron Chernow 30- Charlottesville by Deborah Baker 31- Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser 32- Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser 33- Fulfillment by Lee Cole 34- If You Love It, Let it Kill You by Hannah Pittard 35- The Fire Concerto by Sarah Landenwich 36- Black Cohosh by Eagle Valiant Brosi 37- Big Swiss by Jen Beagin 38- I Am the Arrow: The Life and Art of Sylvia Plath in Six Poems by Sarah Ruden 39- Red Comet by Heather Clark 40- Bad Badger : A Love Story by Maryrose Wood Media mentioned-- 1- Derry Girls (Netflix, 2018-2022) 2- Christoph Waltz on Jimmy Fallon --https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0jr-HQeT74 3- Floyd Collins Broadway show--https://floydcollinsbroadway.com
This week on The Writing Life, we're diving into the world of romantasy — a genre that blends the best of romance and fantasy. Romantasy novels have taken the publishing world by storm in recent years, with sales expected to hit a staggering $610 million in 2024. And on TikTok, the #Romantasy tag has amassed over 800 million views. What is it about these stories that captivate readers? And what makes romantasy such a rewarding genre to write? To help answer these questions, we're thrilled to welcome novelist Sangu Mandanna to the podcast. Sangu is the author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom, and several other enchanting novels filled with magic, monsters, and myth. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a heartwarming and uplifting fantasy about an isolated witch who finds the chance to build a new family — and maybe even a new love. Her upcoming romantasy novel, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, will be published in July 2025.
Jess and Trisha discuss what might be coming in 2025, including book club, trends, and romances they can't wait to read. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter! A new year means a new Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons. To get recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. All Access subscribers get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. You can become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year to get unlimited access to all members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies of knowing you are supporting independent media. To join, visit bookriot.com/readharder. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. News Book club is back!! We're reading Even if The Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy, probably in late February! Or early March! And Jess was on Rebel Ever After with Ella Dawson. Check it out! Books Discussed One for the Team by Aria Daze A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell I Think I'm In Love With an Alien by Ann Aguirre (6/17/25) There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev (2/1/25) I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Romcom by Kimberly Lemming (2/25/25) Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews (5/20/25) The Broposal by Sonora Reyes (1/21/25) A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (7/15/25) Losing Sight by Tati Richardson (2/11/25) Dream On Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake (5/13/25) Let us know what you're reading, what you're thinking, and what you're thinking about what you're reading! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address (wheninromance@bookriot.com). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown), and Jess is even on TikTok (@jess_isreading). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today, We decided to read a book off Sam's TBR list, which happens to be a comfy witchy story called The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches. Also int his episode, Morgan may have read the wrong book. Anyways we hope you enjoy this episode! About The Novel: As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat. As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for... Check Out Our Socials Here!
HURRY! We only have 300 seconds to talk about Sangu Mandanna's THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES. Do you think we can fit in all of our thoughts and feelings for this adult magical realism story in just 5 minutes? Listen to find out! (NON-SPOILER) Are you a book lover? We are too! Join Kiwi and the Bird as we discuss and debate YA and NA's hottest releases. This podcast is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Holly Black, Marissa Meyer, Leigh Bardugo, and more. Curious about us? Keimi (the Kiwi) works at the local library and has a passion for gummy sweets, parkour, and soft bois. Taylor (the Bird) is an aspiring author who secretly loves romance, chocolate milkshakes, and stoic, brooding love interests. Shoutout to the wonderful ERIN ARMSTRONG for editing this podcast! Explore Erin's portfolio at www.erinarmstrong24.com and follow on Instagram: @migrantsnorer. Follow Kiwi and the Bird! Instagram: @kiwiandthebird TikTok: @kiwiandthebird Twitter: @kiwiandthebird www.kiwiandthebird.com Thanks for supporting us nerdy book lovers. If you'd like, donate to our show via Venmo! @kiwiandthebird Please kindly send business inquiries to kiwiandthebirdpodcast@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kiwiandthebird/support
It's time to get SPOILERY! No holes are barred in today's episode. We're getting into the nitty gritty with Sangu Mandanna's THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES. Dare to listen? Are you a book lover? We are too! Join Kiwi and the Bird as we discuss and debate YA and NA's hottest releases. This podcast is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Holly Black, Marissa Meyer, Leigh Bardugo, and more. Curious about us? Keimi (the Kiwi) works at the local library and has a passion for gummy sweets, parkour, and soft bois. Taylor (the Bird) is an aspiring author who secretly loves romance, chocolate milkshakes, and stoic, brooding love interests. Shoutout to the wonderful ERIN ARMSTRONG for editing this podcast! Explore Erin's portfolio at www.erinarmstrong24.com and follow on Instagram: @migrantsnorer. Follow Kiwi and the Bird! Instagram: @kiwiandthebird TikTok: @kiwiandthebird Twitter: @kiwiandthebird www.kiwiandthebird.com Thanks for supporting us nerdy book lovers. If you'd like, donate to our show via Venmo! @kiwiandthebird Please kindly send business inquiries to kiwiandthebirdpodcast@gmail.com. Keywords: A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, Fourth Wing, The Cruel Prince, Shatter Me, Victoria Aveyard, Bookworm, Book Nerd, Bookish, Book, Books, Bookstagram, BookTok, Rick Riordan, Cassandra Clare, Young Adult, New Adult, Read, Reads, Reading, Reader, Readers, ACOTAR, TOG, Percy Jackson, Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kiwiandthebird/support
On a unique scale from 1 - 7, how much did Keimi and Taylor love THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES by Sangu Mandanna? Find out in this 15 minute book recommendation! (NON SPOILER) Are you a book lover? We are too! Join Kiwi and the Bird as we discuss and debate YA and NA's hottest releases. This podcast is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Holly Black, Marissa Meyer, Leigh Bardugo, and more. Curious about us? Keimi (the Kiwi) works at the local library and has a passion for gummy sweets, parkour, and soft bois. Taylor (the Bird) is an aspiring author who secretly loves romance, chocolate milkshakes, and stoic, brooding love interests. Shoutout to the wonderful ERIN ARMSTRONG for editing this podcast! Explore Erin's portfolio at www.erinarmstrong24.com and follow on Instagram: @migrantsnorer. Follow Kiwi and the Bird! Instagram: @kiwiandthebird TikTok: @kiwiandthebird Twitter: @kiwiandthebird www.kiwiandthebird.com Thanks for supporting us nerdy book lovers. If you'd like, donate to our show via Venmo! @kiwiandthebird Please kindly send business inquiries to kiwiandthebirdpodcast@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kiwiandthebird/support
Summary "Let's make a zombie podcast horror film." Zombie Month continues with the meta indie zombie comedy One Cut of the Dead (warning: this episode contains spoilers). Also discussed: Vancouver Writers Fest, Troll 2, and rain-appropriate clothing. Show notes: One Cut of the Dead review (RogerEbert.com) Recommendations: Lisa: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (book) Andrea G.: Korean American by Eric Kim (cookbook) Andrea W.: Vancouver Writers Festival Music credits "Electrodoodle" by Kevin MacLeod From: incompetech.com Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Theme song "Pyro Flow" by Kevin Macleod From: incompetech.com Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License "Good Times" by Podington Bear From: Free Music Archive Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Pop This! Links: Pop This! on TumblrPop This! on iTunes (please consider reviewing and rating us!) Pop This! on Stitcher (please consider reviewing and rating us!) Pop This! on Google PlayPop This! on TuneIn radioPop This! on TwitterPop This! on Instagram Logo design by Samantha Smith Intro voiced by Morgan Brayton Pop This! is a podcast featuring three women talking about pop culture. Lisa Christiansen is a broadcaster, journalist and longtime metal head. Andrea Warner is a music critic, author and former horoscopes columnist. Andrea Gin is a producer and an avid figure skating fan. Press play and come hang out with your new best friends. Pop This! podcast is produced by Andrea Gin.
If you've ever walked into a HomeGoods, passed a hand towel that says, "100% That Witch," and thought, "I NEED that!" then this is the episode for you. Magda and Lindsay discuss The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and its themes of found family, acceptance, and the adorable side of spooky. It's no secret that our hosts love this cozy read by Sangu Mandanna. Email us! Literally Books Website Literally Books Instagram Magda's Instagram Lindsay's Instagram Literally Books YouTube Literally Books TikTok
Ellen and Mom discuss the fantastical, friendlessness, and found family in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. Plus, the third best Jane Austen and stupid things kids say. Come hang out with us! Twitter/Instagram: @notyourmomsromFacebook Group: Not Your Mom's Facebook GroupEmail: notyourmomsromancebookclub@gmail.comNot Your Mom's Romance Book Club is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcast
“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna is a captivating tale about Mika Moon, one of the few witches in Britain who has lived her life under strict rules to hide her magic and avoid other witches to preventing their powers from mingling and drawing attentuon. Despite her solitary existence, Mika breaks one rule by sharing videos online, masquerading as a witch, believing it to be harmless. However, this leads to an unexpected invitation to teach magic to three young witches at the secluded Nowhere House. Breaking all her rules, Mika accepts and finds herself intertwined with the house's eclectic residents, including a surly yet intriguing (aka HOT) librarian named Jamie. As Mika grows closer to this newfound family, she faces a dilemma of whether to risk everything for the sake of belonging against the dangers that lurk beyond the wards of Nowhere house.How does Mika's status as an orphan and a witch shape her character and her actions throughout the novel? How does this author's depiction of witches challenge traditional witch stereotypes? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in this episode of our spoiler-filled podcast.Our spooky season music is from a song titled “Horror Background Music” by Lesfm from Pixabay.Coming up next: Just Like Home by Sarah GaileyInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
Summary: Welcome to spooky season (nerd edition) friends! Today Holly and Devin explore a joint favorite career through grim and gleeful stories - librarians. While both our hosts fantasized about working in libraries and being able to read all the time surrounded by thousands of books, they'll settle today for a chat about when librarians can use books for good, or for evil. Listen in to hear how librarians have important roles to play in any genre and are always a worthwhile addition to a good story. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:21): Holly discussed How Can I Help You by Laura Sims, a psychological suspense novel following Margot, a librarian in a small town public library. No one has any reason to suspect that Margot is in fact Jane, a nurse with a trail of premature deaths in her wake. Enter Patricia, a new reference librarian who starts working with Margot and gets curious about her past. Holly's key takeaways were: The suspense and writing of this novel stand out. Sims alternates between staggered timelines from Margot's and Patricia's points of view, with Margot's voice being especially crystal clear and unique. Sims explores themes of obsession and addiction; Margot is obsessed with and addicted to feeling as if she's “helping others” (in a very twisted way) and we watch Patricia become obsessed with Margot who acts as her muse (in a very twisted way). If you enjoy dark, almost so dark it's funny, character-driven suspense stories, especially involving libraries and medical malpractice, this story is for you. The Heart (14:28): Devin discussed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, a novel following Mika Moon, one of the few witches in Britain, as her solitary life is upended by an invitation to tutor three young witches in the remote and mysterious Nowhere House in Norwich. Finding community she's never had, Mika must also navigate her simmering dynamic with the handsome (if standoffish) librarian of the house, Jamie. Devin's key takeaways were: Everything about this book screams “cozy” and sparkles and safety and joy. Even when a dead body is uncovered it's somehow beautiful. Magic in this book floats around like gold dust and Mika can see it around her; it's rambunctious and well-meaning but gets up to tomfoolery. The biggest struggle Mika, Jamie and the other characters in this book must confront is their own loneliness. Mandanna does an incredible job articulating this complicated emotion and how it can impact adults and children alike; it's a manifesto on the importance of human connection. Nowhere House has a special collection of very rare books and Jamie presides over this unique and beautiful section of an otherwise chaotic house. The importance of books, reading, and the physical space Jamie guards and protects plays a major role in the story. Hot On the Shelf (35:23): Devin: The Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer Holly: Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston What's Making Our Hearts Race (38:31): Devin: Veep on HBO Max Holly: Pachinko season 2 Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.
Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.In this What to Read Next Podcast episode, Laura interviews Kieran Scott, a prolific author known for her YA and middle-grade novels. Kieran discusses her transition to writing adult fiction, her latest book, "People Will Talk" (https://amzn.to/4cXf76P), and shares some of her favorite book recommendations. Tune in to hear about Kieran's writing journey, her thoughts on character development, and why she loves crafting mysteries with a twist.Recommended reads:“People Will Talk” by Kiera Scott - https://amzn.to/4cXf76P"The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna - https://amzn.to/4c9x94d"Dial A for Aunties" by Jesse Q. Sutanto- https://amzn.to/3WFUEgX"Finlay Donovan" series by Elle Cosimano - https://amzn.to/3WnkdSA"Thursday Murder Club" series by Richard Osman https://rstyle.me/+YBO9daYMRsmtXdOpsvCNSAConnect with Kieran Scott Instagram @kieranscottauthorWebsite: https://www.kieranscott.com/adult-novels/Want to check out more book recommendations?Visit What to Read Next Blog for reader tips, popular books like recommendations and many more posts. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: IP29FC0QKB6DV2UEBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-to-read-next-podcast-l-book-recommendation-show--5263998/support.
This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This summer, Jac and Amy are hosting their first Summer Bookclub: the Romantasy Edition. This week we discuss The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. We take listener feedback as well as our own analysis to review one of BookTok's favorite books. This is part 1 of this week's episode. SPONSOR: citybeauty.com code BOOKTALK for 15% off your order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 2024 Solicits (DC and Image) Comic Reviews: DC Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age 1 by Andy Diggle, Leandro Fernandez, Dave Stewart Marvel Giant-Size Daredevil 1 by Saladin Ahmed, Paul Davidson, Matt Hollingsworth Scarlet Witch 1 by Steve Orlando, Jacopo Camagni, Frank William X-Men: Blood Hunt – Jubilee 1 by Preeti Chhibber, Enid Balam, Elisabetta D'Amico, Jim Campbdell X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse 1 by Steve Foxe, Netho Diaz, JP Mayer, Alex Sinclair Marvel Unlimited Marvel Mutts 7 by Mackenzie Cadenhead, Takeshi Miyazawa Dark Horse Into the Unbeing Part One 1 by Zac Thompson, Hayden Sherman Image Plastic: Death and Dolls 1 by Doug Wanger, Daniel Hillyard, Michelle Madsen Remote Space 1 by Cliff Rathburn Rifters 1 by Brian Posehn, Joe Trohman, Chris Johnson, Mark Englert IDW Godzilla: Skate or Die 1 by Louie Joyce My Little Pony: Maretime Mysteries 1 by Stephanie Williams, Abigail Bulmer, Valentina Pinto Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: Saturday Morning Adventures 1 by Erik Burnham, Jack Lawrence, Luis Antonio Delgado Boom Lawful 1 by Greg Pak, Diego Galindo, Irma Kniivila Titan High on Life 1 by Alec Robbins, Kit Wallis, JP Jordan Fantagraphics Hate Revisited 1 by Peter Bagge Archie Wicked Trinity 1 by Sam Maggs, Lisa Sterle, Ellie Wright OGN Countdown Inventor Vol 1: Dangerous Discovery by Lars Henrik Eriksen Peculiar Woods Vol 2: The Mystery of the Intelligents by Andres J. Colmenares Straight On Till Morning: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell, Stephanie Kate Strohm, Noor Sofi Camp Prodigy by Caroline Palmer Mighty Bite: Walrus Brawl at the Mall by Nathan Hale Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic by Sangu Mandanna, Pablo Ballesteros Bunnybirds by Natalie Linn Brownstone by Samuel Teer, Mar Julia Wolfpitch by Balazs Lorinczi Additional Reviews: Something Crawled Out, Inside Out 2, Acolyte ep3, Doctor Who ep7, My Adventures with Superman News: more Gravity Falls?, Deathlok 50th Anniversary by Priest/Justina Ireland/Denys Cowan, Arcane ending with season 2, live-action Moana casting, Blade loses second director, more DC AI controversy, adaptation of the Institute, Ram V/Joelle Jones DSTLRY, Williamson leaving Green Arrow and Batman/Robin, Iron Man ending Trailers: Paddington in Peru, Watchmen animated movie Comics Countdown (12 June 2024): 1. Deviant 6 by James Tynion IV, Josh Hixson 2. Green Lantern 12 by Jeremy Adams, Xermanico, Romulo Fajardo Jr. 3. Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin 3 by J.M. DeMatteis, Michael Sta. Maria, Chris Sotomayor 4. Crocodile Black 2 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Somnath Pal, Patricio Delpeche 5. Ain't No Grave 2 by Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, Jean-Francois Beaulieu 6. Lawful 1 by Greg Pak, Diego Galindo, Irma Kniivila 7. Usagi Yojimbo: Crow 3 by Stan Sakai 8. Geiger 3 by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson 9. Suicide Squad: Dream Team 4 by Nicole Maines, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas 10. Dick Tracy 2 by Michael Moreci, Alex Segura, Geraldo Borges, Mark Englert
Brea and Mallory recommend gateway fantasy books, talk about using multiple book tracking apps, and answer a question about reading honkers. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreSponsors -Factorwww.factormeals.com/GLASSES50CODE: GLASSES50Dipseawww.dipseastores.com/GLASSESLinks -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupAmazon Wish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Slack channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!Mallory's BookBooks Mentioned - Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, translated by Shanna TanGrief in the Fourth Dimension by Jennifer YuThe Golden Compass by Philip PullmanThe Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie AndersonThe Women Could Fly by Megan GiddingsThat Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly LemmingThe Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon ChakrabortyUprooted by Naomi NovikA Song Below Water by Bethany C MorrowThe Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Book Besties Season 6, Episode 11: Very Secret Society of Irregular WitchesThis week the Besties are completely off track as they make their way to Nowhere House and talk about this week's book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. Join them as they talk about cozy fantasy, orphan witches, and a witch in love. Things talked about in this episode:Bookables: https://www.youtube.com/@BookablesSangu Mandanna: https://sangumandanna.com/Meg's Tea Room: https://www.tiktok.com/@megstearoom?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcAltamira Cave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_Altamira Meet Molly and April, they bonded over books and became Book Besties. So, what do you do when you find your book bestie? Start a podcast of course. Hang out with April and Molly as they talk about everything they love and hate about books.
Special guest, Meg's Tea Room, joins the girlies and brings the cozy, found family gem The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. Jillian recommends (with a caveat) Hollen the Soulless by Denali Day. And then Maggie brings fae bachelor romantasy, Frost C.N. Crawford.The trio talks about how they are listening and learning, discuss the importance of smut to the narrative, and get very excited about Meg's new ventures into cozy book publishing!Go show Meg some love @megstearoom on all platforms!Leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @apodcastofsmutanddragonsMaggie: @themargaretlibraryJillian: @jillian.reads.smut (instagram)@jilliankiechlinart (tiktok)Business inquiries and/or say hi: apodcastofsmutanddragons@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show notes: When you're reading a book, do you ever find yourself struck by the profound beauty of the writing? Because we definitely do. You can find us jotting down quotes that speak to us in some way and saving them for later. In this episode, we're sharing 16 of those notable book quotes with you. Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow, new books episodes, and Life Through Reading episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do! Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned. Something Bookish: [02:33] M: Check out our RTL merch shop. [02:53] S: The Humans by Matt Haig Books Featuring Our Notable Quotes: [05:52] M: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara [06:59] S: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee [08:24] M: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune [09:26] S: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano [10:09] M: More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez [10:54] S: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck [11:59] M: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid [12:36] S: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna [13:18] M: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin [13:53] S: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker [14:39] M: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams [15:31] S: Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi [16:16] M: Delicious! by Ruth Reichl [16:38] S: Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors [18:01] M: Write for Life by Julia Cameron [18:44] S: The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you'll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It's free! Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane * The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Happy new year, book worms and dragons! In this episode, we wrap-up 2023 and look forward to what 2024 has in store for us. We also discuss the surplus of popular book clubs, along with recent reads and acquisitions. Here are the 2024 new releases mentioned this episode: The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins- 1/9 House of Sky and Breath by SJM- 2/15 A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen- 2/27 One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon- 6/11 Bride by Ali Hazelwood- 2/6 A Whisper in the Walls by Scott Reintgen- 4/23 The Women by Kristin Hannah- 2/6 The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson- 2/30 Funny Story by Emily Henry- 4/23 Fate Breaker by Victoria Aveyard- 2/27 The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo- 4/9 The Fury by Alex Michaelides- 1/16 Middle of the Night by Riley Sager- 6/18 A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher- 8/20 The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes- 7/30 Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose- 4/30 End of Story by A.J. Finn- 2/20 How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin- 3/26 The Honey Witch by Sydney J Shields- 5/14 A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna 9/10 Lady MacBeth by Ava Reid- 8/6
This Winter Solstice, Dane and Jacqui bring you a witchin special! A dive into the magical world of "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna. It's a cozy departure from our regular Inheritance Cycle journey, perfect for this festive season. In this extended episode, we unwrap the many beautiful layers of Sangu Mandanna's narrative, exploring themes of love, belonging, and totally gushing on angular jaw lines. Whether you're curled up by the fireplace or out braving the winter chill, this episode is our winter solstice gift to you. We hope you enjoy this special Winter Solstice episode as much as we enjoyed creating it. Happy holidays, and here's to more magical journeys in the episodes to come! How to support us: Get some of our merch Support us on Patreon Where to find us: Website: isthisjustfantasypod.com TikTok: @isthisjustfantasypod Instagram: @justfantasypod Contact us: You can contact us directly at: isthisjustfantasypod@gmail.com Credits: Our music was written and performed by Adam Blotner Cover artwork by Neil Kohney Every episode was mixed, shot, and edited by Kevin Davis at the Guerrilla Media Company
Happy Holidays, everyone! We're excited to announce not one, but two special holiday episodes! First up, releasing next Tuesday, we have an Eragon-themed holiday special. Join Jax and me as we cozy up by the fireside to share our thoughts on gift-giving in Alagaësia. It's a unique take on the festive season, infused with the magic of Eragon's world and a dash of our unhinged conversation. Then, on December 21st, we're diving into a delightful cozy fantasy read - "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna. This episode will be a special extended one, where we explore the enchanting world Sangu has created. If you're looking for a holiday read that's a bit different from the usual Eragon fare, this is the perfect book for you. Want to read along with us? Here's a link to "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" so you can join in the fun this holiday season. Get ready for a heartwarming, magical journey!
Sharifah and Jenn talk a little bit of news (that Avatar: The Last Airbender teaser!!), and then give recommendations for a listener question and general holiday gifting. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more SF/F news and recs, sign up for our Swords and Spaceships newsletter! It's happening, readers — we're bringing paperbacks! Whether you hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you're on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. You can also gift it (and the holidays, they are coming). Get all the details at mytbr.co. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. News Avatar: The Last Airbender Live Action Teaser [Tor.com] New SFF trilogy from Expanse writers [Gizmodo] Books Discussed The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean (cw: sexual assault; child abuse and endangerment) The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd Where Peace is Lost by Valerie Valdes Midsolar Murders Series by Mur Lafferty Legends & Lattes series by Travis Baldree The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon (all the content warnings) The Monk and Robot books by Becky Chambers The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (cw: partner/caregiver abuse, racism) Bad Cree by Jessica Johns (cw: alcohol addiction, death of a sibling) Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (cw: racism and racial slurs, sexual assault) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week we're diving into spooky season with a fellow fall fanatic, Ashley Winstead! We talk about her newest book Midnight Is the Darkest Hour, our enthusiasm for fall, 12-foot skeletons, and we all share some Halloween-season book recs! Psychological Thriller Book Recs Olivia - None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell Ashley - If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio, Bad Habits by Amy Gentry Books Too scary to read with the lights out Ashley - Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine Olivia - Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam Cozy but Still Autumnal Books Ashley - The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare, Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper, Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, Becca - A Million Junes by Emily Henry, The Cloisters by Katy Hays Wildcard Fall Reads Olivia - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Ashley - Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas, Savage Appetites: True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession by Rachel Monroe Becca - Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Playing the Witch Card by Kj Dell'antonia, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Obsessions Becca - Blake Rose's Album You'll Get it When You're Older Olivia - New York Times White Chicken Chili What we read this week! Becca - The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella This Month's Book Club Pick - The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Cozy Earth - Take 35% off at cozyearth.com with code BOP StitchFix - Get 25% off when you keep everything in your Fix at StitchFix.com/BOP Betterhelp - Visit BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER today to get 10% off your first month. Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Preorder Becca's Book! Like and subscribe to RomComPods and Bone Marry Bury! Available wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.
This week we cover this lovely cozy urban fantasy with witches!! Come join in on this very funny conversation where the Betches talk about this book the girls were SURE Erica would hate! As always, there will be plenty of book banter and chaos! Follow us on Instagram for previews of next week's episode and more bookish content! @books_n_betchesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.