Literary Quest

This week we're talking with author Kayla Hardy about her new book The Quarter Queen! Based on the life of Marie Laveau a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo. In 1843 New Orleans, Voodoo queen Marie Laveau is feared by all. Her rebellious daughter Ree defies her mother at every turn, until she finds Marie comatose under a wicked curse cast by exiled Voodoo king Jon the Conjurer—Marie’s for...

This week we're discussing This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. Maggie awakens in Kair Toren, the fantasy world created by her favorite author, at the start of the first book in the series and realizes quickly that she cannot die and that she will have to use her knowledge of the world to find safety. She cleverly uses her knowledge of the world to set about fixing the wrongs done t...

This episode we interview NYT best selling author Geneva Lee! Her upcoming epic fantasy romance, Harbinger, debuts on September 22nd. Harbinger is the first novel in a new series full of banter, tension, world-building, and magic. Geneva elaborates on the characters, her writing process, and inspiration for Harbinger! Arden Icaros is unexpectedly branded as an omen of war and is being hunted by th...

This week, we're discussing The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Carissa Broadbent. Shoutout to the folks at Tor for sending us each a copy of this book! Kyrene, part time bounty hunter and part time servant of Shiket, goddess of Justice, is doing what she can to scrape by with her god created sword, Zefiah, and keep the people she cares about alive. A devastating miscalculation leaves Kyrene st...

This week we're interview Ann Aguirre about her upcoming novel - The Hocus Pocus Handbook. It is a cozy fae romance with fun lore and dynamic characters! Thea is given an almost impossible task of hunting down the fae she was forced to wed. She is accompanied by Kerboros, a sullen fae enforcer known as Winter’s Hound. Kerboros, who lives under the strict control of his cousin in the treacherou...

This week, we're continuing our side quest into classic literature with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre evolves from an impoverished orphan, shunned by her remaining living family, into a refined young woman of fine moral standards, eager to move beyond the charity school she was sent to as a child. Armed with a sharp mind, she takes a job at Thornfield Hall where she serves as a gove...

This week we're discussing Emily Bronte's classic gothic novel Wuthering Heights! Heathcliff is adopted by Mr. Earnshaw and soon forms a close bond with his daughter, Catherine but must endure abuse from Mr. Earnshaw's son. Heathcliff and Catherine's bond is strong but is tested when she accepts an offer of marriage from the rich Edgar Linton. In response, Heathcliff disappears and...

In this episode, we're joined by Emily Renk Hawthorne, author of the YA fantasy mystery duology Of Mountains and Seas and From the Depths, which was released on June 9th. Emily shares with us about the inspiration for her books, how Chinese mythology is represented through her characters and storytelling, and how exposure to fantasy novels as a child has influenced her writing today. In a worl...

Happy Pride Month! This episode we're discussing The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow! This is a tale of three sisters who must come together to fight against the misogynistic Gideon Hill, who wants to rid the world of witches. They each have their own struggles to overcome, June is young and filled with unchanneled rage, Agnes is isolated and pregnant, while Bella hides her true natu...

This week we're discussing Wings of Life, the first book in the Dragonbound Chronicles, with the author, Meghan Le Fay! In this episode, Meghan shares about the inspiration for her novel and delves into her characters with us. Serae has been a constant challenge to her parents. She is curious and intelligent, which her father typically laments, until the opportunity for her to serve as spy for...

This episode we're discussing Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry. This is the sequel to Shield of Sparrows. Odessa and Evie have been separated from Ransom. They plan to meet up with him in Quentis, but encounter quite a few issues along the way. When they do finally arrive, it is not a warm welcome, they are attacked on multiple occasions and even framed for crimes. It all seems connected...

This week, we're discussing Of Blades and Wings by Eliza Raine. Princess Madivia of the Ice Court never expected to be chosen to attend Featherblade, a training school for future Valkyries, not only because her magic has never been as strong as her Freydis, her sister, but also because a medical condition causes Maddy to pass out unexpectedly. Each fainting episode may mean the end of her life...

This episode we discuss Thief of Night by Holly Black! It is the second and final book in the Charlatan Duology. Charlie Hall agreed to be tethered to her shadow boyfriend Vince and become the Hierophant to save his life. However, Vince no longer remembers her or even being Vince. He now goes by Red, he remembers being the shadow of Remy Carver but has lost about a year's worth of memories. He...

This week we're discussing When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker. Raeve, as assassin for a rebel group in the Fade, merely seeks to complete her missions, do what she can to help those less fortunate than her, and live her life. However, a cloaked male, who Raeve believes to be a bounty hunter, crosses her path and despite her efforts, she cannot shake him...not even from her jail cell. Whe...

This week we discuss the second book of Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde Series - Map of the Otherlands. Emily and Wendell are searching for a way into the otherlands and Wendell's kingdom. They are joined by Emily's niece, Ariadne, and the head of the dyradology department Dr. Ferris Rose. The crew follow clues and make their way to Austria to investigate Danielle De Grey's last know...

This week, we have a special guest! Brigid Kemmerer, author of Warrior, Princess, Assassin, joined us for our discussion of her book! We are so grateful for her time! To dive straight into our discussion with Brigid and skip the character and plot summary, jump ahead to 11:20 in this episode. Princess Jory of Astranza faces the difficult reality of becoming engaged to a king, Maddox Kyronan of Inc...

This episode we discuss These Immortal Truths by Rachelle Raeta! Anna is gifted immortality by the god Khiran. She spends a large part of her immortality caring for others as a healer, midwife, or healthcare worker. Khiran visits her periodically through the centuries and they grow closer. However, Khiran is keeping secrets and as humanity evolves more ways to kill each other, Anna's immortali...

This week we're discussing Mate by Ali Hazelwood. Serena Paris is in trouble. She reveals herself as the first human-werewolf hybrid on national television in an effort to reclaim her life after being kidnapped and involuntarily outed as hybrid. Unfortunately, it puts a target on her back as someone on the council of Vampyres has placed a bounty on her head. With Vampyres coming from all direc...

Join us this week while we discuss Brimstone by Callie Hart! Saeris and Fisher are newly mated but there is little time to enjoy their new matehood. Saeris must learn to balance being half-fae, half-vampire, being an alchemist and the new queen of the vampires. When rot begins to take hold in Yvelia, they know they must act quickly but with King Belikon looking for them, Saeris' brother still...

This week we're discussing Anathema by Keri Lake. Maevyth has always been treated as an outcast by the people of Foxglove Parish. Strange encounters with ghosts and a journey into the Eating Woods leads her to a new realm, one that belonged to her ancestors, and the discovery of her own magic. However, her presence as a mortal puts a target on her back, and into the keep of Zevander Rydainn, w...

This week we discuss The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and other war crimes) by Tiffany Hunt! When Arabella Evenfall is captured by Kazimir Blackrose, the Dark Lord, to be his bride, she decides to make the most of her situation. Determined to master her magic and be free of her father, Arabella and Kazimir quickly grow closer. Kazimir is determined to use an Heirloom to tap into the ley-lines...

Happy Halloween! To celebrate, we're discussing Jack's Head by Siggy Shade. Bess had the life of her dreams: great career, great fiance, bright future. However, it all comes crashing down when her fiance William makes an indecent proposal at a Halloween party at his estate. Rather than debase herself with William's awful uncles, Bess flees William's home and drives straight into da...

This episode we continue Monster Smash October with Deceived by the Gargoyles by Lillian Lark! Grace is ready to settle down but has had difficulty finding the right person for her. She decides to go to a matchmaker to help her find a match. She gets more than expected when she's matched with Elliot, a gargoyle who already has two mates. Luckily, these mates are also sexy gargoyles and the thr...

It's Monster Smash October! This week, we're discussing A Soul to Touch by Opal Reyne. Once a skilled Demonslayer, Mayumi has exiled herself to her family's cabin in the woods, where she continues to bait and hunt demons. One of her hunting ventures brings her face to face with the duskwalker, Faunus, a cat-skulled demon that saved her life as a child. After being wounded by the Demon...

Join us this episode where we discuss Matt Dinniman's lit RPG book - Dungeon Crawler Carl! Carl's act of kindness in rescuing his ex-girlfriend's cat, Donut, saves him from being killed in the apocalypse. Now he must compete in a dungeon crawler event, hosted by the very same aliens who are harvesting Earth. Carl and Donut must navigate their way through the dungeon and find the stairs...