Dragons & Spaceships

Send us Fan Mail What actually makes a great book adaptation? Is it staying as faithful to the book as possible, or capturing the feeling that made readers care in the first place? In this episode of Dragons & Spaceships, Brandi looks at Dune, The Hunger Games, and The Lord of the Rings to explore how great adaptations simplify, change, and sometimes completely rethink parts of the source mate...

Send us Fan Mail Why do readers keep rooting for characters who lie, manipulate, kill, seek revenge, and make objectively terrible decisions? In this episode of Dragons & Spaceships, Brandi asks one big question: Why are morally gray characters more popular than traditional heroes? She looks at Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Vicious by V.E. Schwab, and The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang to explore wh...

Send us Fan Mail Think you don’t like science fiction? You may just need the right book to start with. In this episode of Dragons & Spaceships, Brandi asks: What makes sci-fi accessible to readers who normally don’t read science fiction? She looks at Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, All Systems Red by Martha Wells, and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers as three very differ...

Send us Fan Mail Romantasy has become one of the biggest forces in modern fantasy, bringing millions of new readers into the genre. But when so many books feature enemies-to-lovers tension, morally gray love interests, deadly competitions, hidden powers, and forbidden attraction, when does a genre start becoming a formula? In the first episode of the revamped Dragons & Spaceships, Brandi tackl...

Send us Fan Mail Would you join a murder club in retirement? Because after spending time with the residents of Coopers Chase, it starts to sound surprisingly tempting. In this episode of Dragons & Spaceships , Brandi dives into The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, a cozy mystery that is funny and charming on the surface but asks much bigger questions underneath. What begins as a murder i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons & Spaceships , Brandi dives into The Wolf King , a dark, dramatic romantasy filled with power struggles, dangerous attraction, shifting loyalties, and plenty of reasons to have very strong opinions about the men involved. At the center of the story is a princess fighting to reclaim her agency, a wolf Alpha struggling against the darker parts of himse...

Send us Fan Mail What if the person who writes constantly is also the person avoiding the things that matter most? In this episode of Dragons & Spaceships, Brandi dives into The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, a quiet but deeply emotional novel about grief, aging, family, regret, and the complicated ways we choose to communicate. Through Sybil Van Antwerp’s letters, emails, and unsent confess...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive into Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune, an emotional friends-to-lovers romance that explores longing, self-discovery, and the courage to choose the life that truly fits. Set against a beautifully atmospheric coastal backdrop, the novel follows Frankie as she confronts old relationships, unresolved family wounds, and the realizat...

Send us Fan Mail What does it truly take to break generational cycles and forgive the people who broke your heart? On Episode 87 of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi reviews The Bright Years by Sarah Demuth—a devastating, deeply human family saga that explores addiction, grief, motherhood, and the messy ways we love each other. We unpack the complex lives of Ryland, Lillian, and their daughter Jett a...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the person who knows your whole life uses that knowledge to completely erase you? On Episode 86 of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi dives into Freida McFadden’s heart-pounding domestic thriller, The Divorce. We break down the nightmare opening where Naomi Roth arrives home to find her locks changed, her husband calm, and her life stripped away. From weaponized gasl...

Send us Fan Mail Christopher Nolan tackling Homer’s The Odyssey?! 🌊👁️ In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we break down the massive news shaking the cinematic world: Nolan is officially directing a giant, mythic, star-studded IMAX adaptation of The Odyssey arriving on July 17th! We discuss whether he’ll lean into the ancient, strange mythology of Cyclopes and sirens, or give it that ground...

Send us Fan Mail How far would you go to protect your family, and what happens when saving them turns you into a monster? In Episode 84 of Dragons and Spaceships, we are digging into the raw, brutal, and utterly gripping Southern crime epic King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby. We break down Roman Carruthers' slow, agonizing descent into the criminal underworld of Jefferson Run, Virginia. Summoned hom...

Send us Fan Mail When the law and morality collide, who gets to decide what's right? ⚖️ Conflict is brewing in today's episode of Dragons and Spaceships as we break down the high-stakes legal thriller Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson. We dive deep into the world of Judge Mary Stone as she faces a trial that fractures her entire community. From political pressure and extremi...

Send us Fan Mail ⚠️ MAJOR SPOILER WARNING: We are breaking down the ending of It’s Not Her, and trust us, you don't want the double-twist ruined before you read it! In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we’re diving into a thriller that left us questioning our own eyes. It's Not Her is a masterclass in shifting perspectives and unreliable reality. We explore Reece’s dysfunctional ho...

Send us Fan Mail ⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: We are diving deep into the plot of The Last Letter, including the major third-act tragedy. If you haven't finished the book, bookmark this episode and come back once you’ve dried your eyes! In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we are discussing a book that comes with a heavy "emotional damage" warning: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros. Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we are dissecting the messy, morally gray world of Dear Debbie by the queen of twists, Frieda McFadden. This isn't just a thriller about a suburban mom losing control—it’s a deep dive into what happens when decades of unspoken trauma finally explode into vigilante justice. We explore the uncomfortable dynamic of rooting for a protago...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we venture into the chilling, atmospheric world of The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. This isn't your typical fast-paced thriller; it’s a quiet, unsettling literary mystery set in the heart of the Adirondack wilderness, where secrets are buried as deep as the roots of the trees. We explore the multi-generational drama of the Van Leer...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we explore Happy Place by Emily Henry — a deeply emotional, character-driven novel about love, identity, and the quiet pressure to build a life that looks right from the outside. This story goes beyond romance. It dives into the fear of disappointing others, the grief of outgrowing your past self, and the uncomfortable realization that ha...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships , we dive into Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir , a science fiction phenomenon that blends high-stakes survival, emotional storytelling, and one of the most unforgettable friendships in modern sci-fi. With Ryan Gosling set to star as Ryland Grace in the upcoming film adaptation, anticipation is soaring. We explore why this story resonates so...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive into The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, the monumental opening to The Stormlight Archive — a fantasy saga defined not just by scale, but by emotional depth and moral complexity. This is not spectacle for spectacle’s sake. Sanderson builds a world shaped by trauma, survivor’s guilt, political corruption, and the fragile meaning...

Send us Fan Mail In this reflective episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we explore Dream Count, a contemplative literary novel that examines identity, ambition, and the narratives we construct about our lives. Rather than focusing on dramatic twists, the novel looks inward, exploring themes like cultural displacement, privilege, independence, intimacy, and the quiet pressure to live up to invisible...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we revisit A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, the book that helped define modern romantasy. With cinematic pacing, immersive romance, lush world building, and a final act that raises the stakes dramatically, ACOTAR launched a cultural phenomenon. Whether you adore it or critique it, there’s no denying its impact on the fantasy...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive into Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover, a deeply emotional story about redemption, forgiveness, and the fragile rebuilding of trust. If you watched the film adaptation first, the novel offers deeper access to Kenna’s inner world. Her remorse. Her grief. Her slow and uncertain path toward reconnection. This is not a story that ask...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi dives into Remain, a haunting, atmospheric novel that blends mystery, grief, and romance against the windswept isolation of Cape Cod. With a ticking clock, unanswered questions, and a truth that must be uncovered before time runs out, Remain leans heavily into mood and setting. The history of a secluded bed and breakfast, the polit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores If Only I Had Told Her, a deeply emotional novel that examines the heartbreak of unspoken words and the consequences of silence in love and relationships. The story focuses on a woman who has spent years keeping her feelings hidden, only to be left wondering what could have been. Brandi dives into the quiet but powerful th...