Books That Burn

This fortnight we’re discussing “Firebreak” by Nicole Kornher-Stace. If you enjoyed this you should check out “Archivist Wasp” and “Latchkey” (in that order), since they’re part of the same universe. TITLE: Firebreak AUTHOR: Nicole Kornher-Stace PUBLISHER: Gallery / Saga Press (Imprint of Simon & Schuster) YEAR: 2021 LENGTH: 416 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Science Fiction, Dystopian RECOMMENDED: Highl...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Batman: Nightwalker” by Marie Lu. This is part of the DC Icons series, where each book is written by a different author. We discussed this Batman novel as part of #DarkKnightFortnight from Certain POV. You can find all the Certain POV shows which participated on this page . TITLE: Batman: Nightwalker AUTHOR: Marie Lu PUBLISHER: Random House Books for Young Readers...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Cemetery Boys” by Aiden Thomas. Yadriel gets a bit more than he was expecting when he summons the wrong ghost. TITLE: Cemetery Boys AUTHOR: Aiden Thomas PUBLISHER: Swoon Reads YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 344 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy, Romance RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for cursing, ableist language (brief), grief, racism (brief), transphobia, misgendering, dead...

This fortnight we’re discussing “River of Teeth” by Sarah Gailey. If this sounds interesting then we recommend reading it in the omnibus collection “American Hippo” which includes this novella, its sequel (“Taste of Marrow”), plus some short stories in this setting. TITLE: River of Teeth AUTHOR: Sarah Gailey PUBLISHER: Tor/Forge Books YEAR: 2017 LENGTH: 192 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy, Alterna...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Assassin's Apprentice” by Robin Hobb. This is the first book in "The Farseer Trilogy" which is itself part of the "Realm of the Elderlings", a connected set of several trilogies. TITLE: Assassin's Apprentice AUTHOR: Robin Hobb PUBLISHER: Voyager YEAR: 1995 LENGTH: 460 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for cursing, pregnancy, ableism, sexis...

This fortnight we’re discussing “IRON WIDOW” by Xiran Jay Zhao. This is book one of a planned series. Wu Zetian wants to assassinate her sister's murderer, but finds herself in a string of mech battles working alongside Li Shimin, the strongest pilot in Huaxia. Told in Third Person with Single POV. TITLE: Iron Widow AUTHOR: Xiran Jay Zhao PUBLISHER: Penguin Teen YEAR: 2021 LENGTH: 400 pages AGE: Y...

Please enjoy the spoiler-free portion of our interview with author Seanan McGuire discussing several of her books, "Into The Drowning Deep", "Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day", "Middlegame", the Toby Daye series, and the Incryptid series. Other works mentioned include Newsflesh (series), Ghost Roads (series), "Rolling in the Deep", and Parasitology (series). Timestamps are marked for the interview ques...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Wayward Witch” by Zoraida Córdova. Heather joins us once again to wrap up the excellent Brooklyn Brujas trilogy. TITLE: Wayward Witch AUTHOR: Zoraida Córdova PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 239 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for kidnapping, confinement, emotional abuse, animal death (not depicted), excrement (brief)...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Bruja Born” by Zoraida Córdova, the second book in the Brooklyn Brujas trilogy. Heather joins us again on this episode! TITLE: Bruja Born AUTHOR: Zoraida Córdova PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire YEAR: 2018 LENGTH: 352 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for ableist language, vomit (graphic), fire, blood (graphic), gore (graphic), violence (...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Labyrinth Lost” by Zoraida Córdova, book one of the Brooklyn Brujas series. TITLE: Labyrinth Lost AUTHOR: Zoraida Córdova PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire YEAR: 2016 LENGTH: 336 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for bullying, child abuse (backstory), blood, violence, panic attacks, missing parent, animal death, death. Topic 1: Kidnapping....

This fortnight we’re discussing “GRACELING” by Kristin Cashore. This is the first book of the YA fantasy series, Graceling Realm. TITLE: Graceling AUTHOR: Kristin Cashore PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin YEAR: 2008 LENGTH: 471 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy, Romance RECOMMENDED: Yes Book TW for sexism, misogyny, sexual content (brief), sexual assault (not depicted), kidnapping, child abuse, anim...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Thirsty” by M.T. Anderson. In THIRSTY, everyone sucks. Suddenly learning you're a vampire doomed to brief madness before death or (best case scenario) a long life of cannibalism will ruin anyone's day. Looks like it's going to ruin Chris's month. TITLE: Thirsty AUTHOR: M.T. Anderson PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press (MA) YEAR: 1997 LENGTH: 237 pages AGE: Young Adult, Mid...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Unwind” by Neal Shusterman. This is book one of the Unwind Dystology. Robin has been reading Shusterman's work since they were a kid and this was a new one for them. UNWIND is a dystopian future where abortion is outlawed but teenagers can be "unwound", a state which is distinct from death in ways that are legalistic, technical, and horrifying. TITLE: Unwind AUTHOR...

Please enjoy the spoiler-free portion of our interview with author Kevin Klehr discussing three of his books, "Social Media Central", "Midnight Angel", and "Winter Masquerade". Timestamps are marked for the interview questions. Become a Patron at any level to receive the spoiler-filled second half of the interview. Intro (0:00) Can you talk a little about the way trauma works in your writing? (0:5...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Early Departures” by Justin A Reynolds. We discuss a toxic relationship, abandonment, and death in this YA sci-fi novel about grief, loss, and second chances. Robin read this as an ARC last year and is pleased to report that their re-read of the final version held up. TITLE: Early Departures  AUTHOR: Justin A. Reynolds PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books YEAR: 2020 LE...

This fortnight Nicole is discussing “Shadow Rising” by Robert Jordan, the fourth book in The Wheel of Time with our transcriptionist and fellow WOT fan, Heather. Book TW for physical assault, sexual harassment, combat wounds, PTSD, magical attack, horror monster attacks, identity crisis, depiction of mental illness caused by magic, depiction of auditory hallucinations, kidnapping and restraint, mi...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson, many people's first shockingly sad childhood book. TITLE: Bridge to Terabithia AUTHOR: Katherine Paterson PUBLISHER: HarperCollins YEAR: 1977 LENGTH: 192 pages AGE: Middle Grade, Young Adult GENRE: Realistic Fiction RECOMMENDED: Yes Book CW for ableist language, bullying, homophobia (brief), fatphobia, sexism, grief, chi...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Not Your Sidekick” by C.B. Lee, the first book of the series "Sidekick Squad". The fourth book, "Not Your Hero" comes out at the end of August 2021. TITLE: Not Your Sidekick AUTHOR: C.B. Lee PUBLISHER: Duet YEAR: 2016 LENGTH: 304 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Superheroes RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for ableist language (brief), vomit (br...

This fortnight we’re discussing “THE MERMAID, THE WITCH, AND THE SEA” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, a young adult fantasy novel set on the islands and high seas. TITLE: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea AUTHOR: Maggie Tokuda-Hall PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 368 pages AGE: Young Adult GENRE: Fantasy, Mythology RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for homophobia, colonialism, racism, sexual ass...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Soul of the Fire” by Terry Goodkind. This is the fifth book in the series, "The Sword of Truth". Sometimes we discuss a book neither of us could stand and one of us didn't finish, and this is our hate-read pick for 2021. TITLE: Soul of the Fire AUTHOR: Terry Goodkind PUBLISHER: Tor Books YEAR: 1999 LENGTH: 788 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: High Fantasy RECOMMENDED: No Bo...

This fortnight we’re discussing “The Midnight Bargain” by C.L. Polk. This book does for discussions of sexism in a magical aristocratic setting what the The Kingston Cycle does for classism in the same. TITLE:  The Midnight Bargain AUTHOR: C.L. Polk  PUBLISHER: Erewhon YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 384 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Yes Book TW for pregnancy, vomit, death (not depicted), sexism...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Black Sun” by Rebecca Roanhorse, the first book of the series "Between Earth and Sky". As of the time of recording only "Black Sun" was published". TITLE: Black Sun AUTHOR: Rebecca Roanhorse PUBLISHER: Gallery / Saga Press YEAR: 2020 LENGTH: 464 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Highly Book TW for racism, xenophobia, vomit, blood, gore, child abuse, murd...

Please enjoy the spoiler-free portion of our interview with author Sara Codair, discussing three books from their urban fantasy series "The Evanstar Chronicles", specifically the books, "Life Minus Me", "Power Surge", and "Power Inversion". Timestamps are marked for the interview questions. Patrons at any level receive part two of this interview . Intro (0:00) Can you talk a little about the way t...

This fortnight we’re discussing “Under the Pendulum Sun” by Jeannette Ng, with special guest Dare! You can find them on Twitter , or check out their Linktree for more details about their various streaming and gaming exploits. TITLE: Under the Pendulum Sun AUTHOR: Jeannette Ng PUBLISHER: Angry Robot YEAR: 2019 LENGTH: 409 pages AGE: Adult GENRE: Fantasy RECOMMENDED: Yes Book CWs for sexism, alcohol...

This fortnight we’re discussing the anthology “This Is How You Die: Stories of the Inscrutable, Infallible, Inescapable Machine of Death”, edited by Ryan North, Matthew Bennardo, and David Malki! This anthology was published after the original, "Machine of Death", but can be read independently. We discussed three specific stories by different contributors. "Furnace" by Erika Hammerschmidt "Drownin...