In an unintentionally timely coincidence, your hosts discuss visiting the moon in First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston. They talk about disability representation, the fun blend of magic and scifi, and how much they liked Whitlaw Goddard. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribut...
Apr 15, 2026•43 min•Ep. 234
Your hosts discuss the perils of mood reading, romance as an impetus for character growth, and the perfectly paced character reveals in Shake Out the Ghosts by Al Hess. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Apr 08, 2026•45 min•Ep. 233
Your hosts discuss The Curse of Dragon Tail Island by Jonathan Nevair. They talk about characters that defy stereotypes, multi-villain plots, and the price of ambition. They also cover some of their favorite moments. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Apr 01, 2026•41 min•Ep. 232
Your hosts are joined by Michael Vadney to discuss his debut novel, Crownfall. They talk about the different flavors of Dark Fantasy, character arcs in the New Adult genre, and how the different types of trust form the core of Crownfall’s story. Find more from Michael: https://michaelvadney.com/ Author Adjacent Podcast Bluesky Instagram Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”...
Mar 25, 2026•49 min•Ep. 231
Your hosts read Hazelhearth Hires Heroes by D.H. Willison, and immediately realized their unfamiliarity with both the Isekai (portal fantasy) and LitRPG genres. They also talked about high-stakes danger in fantasy adventures and the evolving relationships between both main and secondary characters. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electr...
Mar 18, 2026•40 min•Ep. 230
Your hosts are joined by Andrew Rubin to discuss his novel Hell or High Winter. They talk about Greek (and Mormon, and more) mythology, the highs and lows of retellings, and sibling dynamics. They are also, briefly, interrupted by pugs. Find more from Andrew here . Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creativ...
Mar 11, 2026•56 min•Ep. 229
Your hosts attempt to discuss Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers in a non-spoilery way, before giving up and moving on to the spoiler section. They talk about the fun twists, killing god, and the excellent romance. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 L...
Mar 04, 2026•44 min•Ep. 228
Your hosts get a little political with The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. They compare it to some of her other Earthsea series, enjoy the overall humanitarian message, and point out a few (startlingly few) areas where it didn't age as well. Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Feb 25, 2026•52 min•Ep. 227
Your hosts read the Kin Enigma by Darrel Miller, a hard scifi take on werewolves fit for Crichton fans. They discuss the realism of the novel, complex character motivations, and what they would have liked to see more (and less) of in the story. Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Feb 18, 2026•45 min•Ep. 226
Your hosts are joined by Stark Holborn to talk about her novella For the Road. They discuss acid westerns, inspirational songs, and Gaulish mythology. Find more from Stark: https://starkholborn.com/ https://www.patreon.com/starkholborn Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Feb 11, 2026•35 min•Ep. 225
Your hosts are joined by staff artist, spouse, and resident Warhammer expert Daniel for a follow up conversation about The Infinite and the Divine, a Warhammer 40k tie-in novel by Robert Rath. They talk about how the reading experience is different for someone who actually plays the game it's based on, and Danny teaches them a little bit more about 40k. They also debate the most important question: can robots kiss? Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for ...
Feb 06, 2026•58 min
Your hosts read "This is How You Lose the Time War" by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Lilly really ought to have known it was a love story. Sara vibed with the whimsy. They also talk about Time Travel Shenanigans, plot to vibe ratios, and the appeal of rereading novellas. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed und...
Feb 04, 2026•40 min•Ep. 224
Your hosts read Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, a novella about robots starting a noodle shop in near-future San Francisco. They debate if it can be called cyberpunk (kinda) or cozy (also kinda), and how the scifi setting opens up conversations around familiar situations. Your hosts also talk about naive robots and surprising pacing. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris...
Jan 28, 2026•46 min•Ep. 223
Your hosts delve into the grimdark (ish) world of Warhammer 40k with The Infinite and the Divine, a tie-in novel by Robert Rath. They discuss their familiarity with the world (next to none) and how approachable the book was for newbies. They also talk about the ratio of academic rivalry to fight scenes, the complex relationship between main characters, and what this book revealed about their reading preferences. Listen to Vishani’s Song of Serenade on YouTube . Find us on Discord / Support us on...
Jan 21, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 222
Your hosts discuss "500k/MO!! as EPIC-POET! by Vincent “Vinnie The Weasel” Vulpikonek - Introduction by Mister C.N. Sumbvert (Mentor-Helpmeet-Editor-At-Largess™)" by Chris Sumberg, a satirical take on those writing advice books (you know the kind). They discuss the intentionally trying narrative voice and whether or not non-writers will enjoy it, and try their very best to not just repeat all of the hilariously bad advice from each chapter. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to th...
Jan 14, 2026•26 min•Ep. 221
Your hosts talk about 2025! What they read, what they read the most of, and what categories could use some more love. They also award superlatives to their recent reads (including "book they argued the most about" and “setting they would die instantly in”). Your hosts then discuss plans for the podcast in 2026, and how the second half of the year will be "no plans, vibes only." Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” ...
Jan 07, 2026•48 min•Ep. 220
Your hosts read No One to Hold the Distant Dead by K.L. Schroeder. They discuss the somber nature of the novella, the use of “likes animals” as a shorthand for “good character,” and debate if it has an optimistic ending. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Dec 17, 2025•37 min•Ep. 219
Your hosts read Audition for the Fox, Martin Cahill's fable-esque novel from Tachyon Publications. They discuss what exactly left them with the fable vibe, whether or not all of the characters were fursonas (spoiler: they weren't, Lilly just misread), and how a little bit of moral complexity goes a long way. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use ...
Dec 10, 2025•39 min•Ep. 218
Your hosts read City of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead and Aliya Whiteley. Lilly realizes she grossly misinterpreted the back of the book, while Sara declares it a contender for favorite read of the year. They also talk about the line between Fantasy and Magical Realism, and family drama. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunr...
Dec 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 217
Your hosts discuss The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar, chosen for this episode by their supporters on Patreon. They talk about space magic in SciFi, unjust systems, and degrees of betrayal. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Nov 26, 2025•46 min•Ep. 216
Your hosts read Echoes of the Imperium by Nicholas and Olivia Atwater, a book with airships and goblins and faerie politics that somehow did not click with Lilly. They discuss complex characters, thoughtful themes, and Goblin Court. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Lic...
Nov 19, 2025•50 min•Ep. 215
Your hosts read Project Hanuman by Stewart Hotston. They discuss platonic relationship progressions, the variety of alien societies, and sentient ships. Oh, and how they are woefully underqualified to discuss Indian mythology. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Nov 12, 2025•34 min•Ep. 214
Your hosts return to the Run with the Hunted series by Jennifer Donohue for book two: Ctrl Alt Delete. They discuss fun heists (but this time... it's personal!), evolving relationships between the three main characters, and the joy of unreliable narrators. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” Licensed under Creative Commons...
Nov 05, 2025•34 min•Ep. 213
For their final Spooky Month episode, your hosts read Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. They discuss cosmic horror vs social horror, magic cults, and ill advised heists. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” - Kevin MacLeod for the use of "Darkest Child" Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License...
Oct 29, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 212
Your hosts talk with Chris Panatier about his latest novel Shitshow and its impeccable fall horror vibes. They discuss the (lack of) poop jokes, the human element at the heart of the book, and cheese grater inspired fair rides. Find more from Chris: https://chrispanatier.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/scribeofhades.bsky.social Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” - Kevin MacLeod fo...
Oct 22, 2025•52 min•Ep. 211
Your hosts continue their Spooky Month reading with Zomromcom, Olivia Dade’s delightful new zombie apocalypse vampire romcom. They talk about reasonable heroines, excellent romantic banter, and speed-running a relationship. They also discuss the practicalities of a burrito as a weapon against zombies. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise” - Kevin MacLeod for the use of "Darkest Ch...
Oct 15, 2025•46 min•Ep. 210
Your hosts celebrate Banned Books Week 2025 by reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, a book Lilly has (somehow) been able to avoid until now. They they talk about dystopian presents, sympathy for antagonists, and the double-edged sword of hope. Content includes on-page sexual assault and coercion, and discussion of self harm and suicide. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dam...
Oct 08, 2025•52 min•Ep. 209
Your hosts are joined by authors Yume Kitasei and Mia Tsai to discuss The Traveling SFF Book Festival coming up in October 2025. They talk about the inspiration behind the event, some behind the scenes of planning it, and what attendees can expect from each stop on the tour. Find out more about the Festival here . More from Yume: https://www.yumekitasei.com/ More from Mia: https://www.miatsai.com/ Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their s...
Oct 03, 2025•40 min
Your hosts are finally entering Spooky Month and reading the psychological supernatural horror classic, The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson. Sara has complaints that (for once) don’t boil down to “it’s horror and I don’t like horror”. Lilly agrees?! They talk about unfulfilling explanations, female agency, and relationship roller coasters. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre ...
Oct 01, 2025•52 min•Ep. 208
Your hosts are joined by Ciel Pierlot to talk about her latest novel, Terms of Service. They discuss tech fae, the presumption of space in scifi, visions of a competent future government, and the twisting of fae tropes you may be familiar with from mythology (but you can admit that you know them from romantasy it's okay). Find more from Ciel: https://bsky.app/profile/cielpierlot.bsky.social https://cielpierlot.com/ https://www.instagram.com/cielpierlot/ Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon...
Sep 24, 2025•59 min•Ep. 207
