In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses , Andrea and Elizabeth delve into Sangu Mandanna's cozy fantasy novel The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches . They explore how main character Mika Moon connects to their lunar theme for the year, the heartwarming found family at the center of the story, and how trust takes time to build. They touch upon the 'twee' aesthetic of the book, comparing it to other similar novels and discussing British cultural influences. They also share some moments th...
Aug 14, 2025•35 min•Ep. 12
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, hosts Andrea and Elizabeth dive into the sub-genre of Dark Academia, discussing its key elements.. They talk about essential Dark Academia characteristics such as elite academic settings, gothic elements, and intellectual pursuits, citing examples like ‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt and TV shows like ‘Wednesday’. The hosts discuss the allure of magical schools, secret societies, and libraries. They touch upon various books like Rebecca Yarros' ‘Ony...
Jul 31, 2025•32 min•Ep. 11
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into John Scalzi's book When The Moon Hits Your Eye, exploring its whimsical premise of the moon turning to cheese and the ensuing effects on Earth. They discuss the book's blend of absurdity, philosophical musings, and scientific implications. The conversation also touches on favorite plotlines, perhaps a few too many characters to follow, and the book's overall impact. They debate the book's categorization within genres like ...
Jul 17, 2025•39 min•Ep. 10
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, hosts Andrea and Elizabeth discuss their annual reading goals, methods for setting those goals, and tracking their progress. They talk about various book tracking systems such as Goodreads, StoryGraph, and physical journals. They share their personal experiences and preferences in reading habits. Book club assignments, mood reading, and the impact of life circumstances on reading frequency are covered, alongside a quick review of the New York Times Best...
Jul 03, 2025•26 min•Ep. 9
In this week's episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth delve into their first sci-fi book pick “The Moonday Letters” by Emmi Itäranta. They share their thoughts on the book, highlighting its unique blend of science fiction, ecological themes, and mystical elements. The story, written in an epistolary format, follows Lumi's quest to find her missing spouse, Sol, across space in the year 2168. The hosts discuss the book's melancholic beauty, realistic world-building, and the interp...
Jun 19, 2025•34 min•Ep. 8
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth celebrate Pride Month, emphasizing the importance of visibility and support for queer stories as allies. They discuss the origins of Pride Month, highlighting the 1969 Stonewall riots and their impact on LGBTQ+ rights movements. The conversation transitions to LGBTQ+ books, with the hosts sharing recommendations and discussing various stories that feature queer characters and relationships. The episode concludes with details about v...
Jun 05, 2025•34 min•Ep. 7
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, hosts Elizabeth and Andrea explore their seasonal reading habits and discuss nostalgic summer reading programs that foster a love for books. They share childhood memories of reading on backyard patios, discuss the impact of reading programs such as Pizza Hut’s and local library initiatives, and emphasize the charm and community of independent bookstores. The episode wraps up with the announcement of their own summer book bingo challenge and encourages l...
May 22, 2025•34 min•Ep. 6
Join hosts Andrea and Elizabeth in this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses as they discuss Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. They explore the book's setting, plot, and connections to Chinese mythology, and offer their thoughts on whether it leans more towards young adult or adult fiction. They also share personal reflections and library anecdotes, and touch on themes like dragons in fantasy worlds and the inclusion of meditation. The episode concludes with their ratings and invites li...
May 08, 2025•36 min•Ep. 5
Join hosts Andrea and Elizabeth as they dive into what’s next on their TBR shelf of their favorite sci-fi and fantasy series, along with a few stand alone novels. They share personal anecdotes and detailed insights about why these books captivate them. They also touch upon upcoming releases by authors like Rachel Gillig and R.F. Kuang. Additionally, the hosts discuss Independent Bookstore Day and their plans to celebrate, including how to find out more about local bookstore events. Fantasy books...
Apr 24, 2025•33 min•Ep. 4
Andrea and Elizabeth dive into the world of children's literature with an in-depth discussion of 'The Girl Who Drank the Moon' by Kelly Barnhill, which won the Newbery Medal in 2017. They explore its themes, characters, and setting. The podcast episode touches on the simplicity and depth often found in children's literature, the duality of characters, and the poetic prose unique to these stories. The conversation also touches on religious allegories and the significance of names and symbols with...
Apr 10, 2025•37 min•Ep. 3
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth delve into 'The Full Moon Coffee Shop' by Mai Mochizuki. They discuss the book’s themes, such as astrology, talking cats, and its translated title, which led to some unexpected elements. The hosts share their personal insights, perceptions of astrology, and how these influenced their enjoyment of the book. Conversations also touch on related topics, including other books with talking cats, cultural differences in translation, and ca...
Mar 27, 2025•32 min•Ep. 2
In the first episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, hosts Andrea and Elizabeth introduce themselves and their new podcast dedicated to sci-fi and fantasy books. They discuss their reasons for starting the podcast, emphasizing their love for the genres and the unique perspectives they bring. They also preview the year ahead, focusing on a theme of the full moon and upcoming book discussions. Listeners are encouraged to follow along on social media and read with the hosts. Elizabeth’s Top Reads so far...
Mar 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1
