The Christian Readers Podcast

Book review for Star Light Star Bright , by Adelyn Belsterling. Belsterling's second book is a prequel to her first, but can be read as a standalone. It's a clean, kissing-only cozy contemporary mash up of Emma and Swan Lake. I stupid grinned through the majority of this book, and actually prefer it over the first one. (If Prince Teddy dies, I riot.) https://www.adelynbelsterling.com/my-...

Book review for I Wish I May , by Adelyn Belsterling A clean, kissing-only, cozy contemporary fairy tale, I Wish I May hit all the feels and cranked up the grins. If you're looking for a royal romance involving a school for godmothers and a magical conspiracy, look no further. https://www.adelynbelsterling.com/my-books Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  starting...

Book review for Lady Agatha Speaks Her Mind , by Elisabeth Aimee Brown. No-spice and delightful, Lady Agatha is Elisabeth's second standalone novel and a re-imagining of King Thrushbeard, full of whimsy and comedy.  Appropriate for middle school and up. Find Elisabeth Aimee Brown and her books at: https://elisabethaimeebrown.com/ https://www.instagram.com/elisabethaimeebrown/ https://elisabet...

Book review for Worlds Collide , by Clint Hall. It's the first in his new Worlds Collide trilogy, a sci-fi saga centered around five planets all converging on a single impact point, and what the inhabitants of those worlds are doing before it happens. Find Worlds Collide and more books by Clint Hall at: https://clinthall.com/ https://oasisfamilymediastore.com/worlds-collide-hardcover https://...

Series Review for The Provenance Chronicles, by Katelyn Pfeiffer. Book 1: City of End | Book 2: City of Truth Three more forthcoming! The Provenance Chronicles is a Christian dystopian series aimed at YA readers. It takes place more than 2,000 years in Earth's future, 1,000 years after a worldwide nuclear holocaust that forced survivors to flee underground. But the radiation didn't only...

Book review for Assassin in the Alehouse, by Z.S. Diamanti. The third installment of the Fables of Finlestia cozy fantasy series is here! Assassin in the Alehouse is a realistic and relatable representation of PTSD and healing. You don't need to read these in order, since they act as standalones in the same universe, but why would you skip a good cozy fantasy? Find Z.S. Diamanti's books...

Book review for  Two in the Bush , by Judith Hale Everett. The first book in her Branwell Chronicles,  Two in the Bush is a delightful regency romance written in the style of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, and perfect for readers who feel as though they've exhausted the classics but still crave that literary experience. It's clean, witty, and hits all the right romantic feels. From dan...

Fellow Christian author Cathryn deVries joined me to discuss her debut novella Son of Osivirius (reviewed in episode 18), how faith plays a role in her writing, and the differences between romantic fantasy, fantasy romance, and romantasy.  Son of Osivirius comes out of Kindle Unlimited on May 17th. Connect with Cathryn: https://eclectaperennial.com/   https://www.instagram.com/_eclecta_perennial_b...

Book review for Son of Osivirius , by Cathryn deVries. Three words: giant flying cats. A clean dystopian romantic science fantasy action adventure, Son of Osivirius shows the clash between control and harmony on a planet where continued "upward growth and prosperity" comes at the cost of balance with nature. Visit the author's website: https://eclectaperennial.com/ Send us Fan Mail...

Book review for  Look Before You Leprechaun , by Jacqueline Mathias. Full of magical realism, this is a whimsical young adult story about a human teenager saddled with the title of "leprechaun" and his attempts to get rid of it.  Visit the author's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquelinewritesbooks/   Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  starting...

Here's what I'm reading and what's next on my TBR as of March 2026... My priority this year is reading more novels that I can review for the pod :) Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  starting with Book 1:  Mark of Stars

Harry Potter has caused controversy in the Christian community for almost three decades, but why? This deep dive is based on my own experience as a reader and accompanied by research done by Marian A. Jacobs in On Magic & Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic , reviewed in episode 14. This episode is for anyone who has worried that the Harry Potter series might lead them...

Should Christians engage with media, whether in books or movies, that depicts fantasy magic? This is an explosive question in many Christian circles over the assumption that any magic, including fantasy magic, will lead readers down the road of the occult. Author Marian A. Jacobs tackles this question head-on in a well-researched discourse on the theology behind fictional magic, and how readers, p...

Should Christians read self-help books? Like many answers, it depends.  There are at least 5 factors to consider before picking up a book on personal growth or development. Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  starting with Book 1:  Mark of Stars

Book review for What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball , by Elisabeth Aimee Brown. A hilarious, fast-paced fantasy romance with a main character obsessed with cheese, this book captured me from the first page. Commoner's Ball won Best Debut at the 2025 Realm Awards and the author's hysterical acceptance speech is what made me buy this! Visit the author's Instagram for signed cop...

Did you know there is a publishing house that focuses exclusively on Christian speculative fiction?  Enclave Publishing is a small traditional publisher for sci-fi and fantasy (and their subgenres) all written by Christian authors, with Christian worldviews. Enclave is part of Oasis Family Media. https://www.enclavepublishing.com/ Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  s...

Book review for Not Exactly Mr. Darcy, by Carolyn Miller. Pride & Prejudice lovers, rejoice! This is a heavily inspired clean romance about second chances and seeing past preconceived notions. It's a cute, cozy read that I finished in less than a day. Visit the author's website: https://www.carolynmillerauthor.com/ Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  sta...

We would be remiss to forget about the foundations of Christian fantasy: The Lord of the Rings , and The Chronicles of Narnia .  If you haven't read these amazing series before (or it's been a while), this is your sign it's time to pick them up and dive back in. Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  starting with Book 1:  Mark of Stars

With the firehose of spicy books on the market, where do we find clean and appropriate romance books?  Thankfully, resources are popping up all the time to help us find stories we'll enjoy without worrying about the content.  This episode covers 3 specific authors and 6 resources for finding your next romance read. Naomi Rawlings D.E. Carlson Mary Mecham Closed Door Romance Bookstore No Spice...

Sink into these wholesome cozy fantasy books by Z.S. Diamanti! Guard in the Garden and Wagons & Wyverns are the first two books in Zac's Fables of Finlestia. They are standalone stories and will soon be joined by a third book titled Assassin in the Alehouse. Listen in to hear the book descriptions. Where to Buy: https://zsdiamanti.com/book-guard-in-the-garden https://zsdiamanti.com/book-w...

Should Christians read spice?  The short answer is no, and the long answer is this episode.  Resources for this episode: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN09rAz2kit/ https://www.eawinters.com/researchzone Relatable Episode 1240: TikTok’s Spicy Novels Are Warping Women’s Minds Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  starting with Book 1:  Mark of Stars

The Chronicles of Talahm is a clean YA portal fantasy following Emma, who learns she has magic at age 18.  She's led to another world, where Camelot soon falls under a dreadful curse, and she has to learn to break the rules of magic to save not just Camelot, but her father's life. You can start the series for free with The Orphan's Gambit, a prequel novella linked below. If you have...

Two things I love dearly—reading and writing—have dark underbellies. In this episode I share my reader journey and testimony for how Jesus drew me out of that darkness and into the light. Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  starting with Book 1:  Mark of Stars

Are you a Christian tired of not finishing books because of unexpected or unwanted content?  It's getting harder and harder to find appropriate books on the market, and this is my attempt to make it easier to find books we can enjoy without sacrificing our values. If you have a book recommendation, please text it below. Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  startin...

This episode covers the definitions of common words used when describing books so that readers know what they're getting into. As Christians, we should know these words and the differences between them so we're not caught unawares when choosing our next read. If you have a book recommendation, please text it below. Send us Fan Mail What to do next: Read  The Chronicles of Talahm  startin...