If We Survive This

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik follows  Galadriel "El" Higgins, a half-Welsh, half-Indian sorceress, who must survive to graduation while controlling her destructive abilities at a school of magic. Jen and Ellie chat about show versus tell, how refreshing it is to have teenagers act like teenagers, and whether being plant-based in reality excludes you from being a necromancer... 

Death comes to all of us, when he came to Mort he gave him a job. 💀 Mort by Terry Pratchett is the fourth book in the Discworld series and the first introduction of DEATH.  Mort find himself in the unique role as the apprentice grim reaper, learns about the different between reality and what is real, struggles to establish his identity and battles his conscience. Jen and Ellie discuss perception...

"Fae warriors: invaluable in a fight—and raging pains in her ass at all other times." Queen of Shadows is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. Aelin returns to Rifthold to find the city she once called home unrecognisable, clashing with Chaol who has been leading the resistance, and discovering Dorian is trapped by the Valg prince.  Join Jen and Ellie as they di...

"Once upon a time,” she said to him, to the world, to herself, “in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom . . . very much." Heir of Fire is the third book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, and we see the world expand as Celaena seeks to bargain with Maeve, Queen of the Fae of Doranelle, and Chaol and Dorian struggle through their...

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas is a collection of prequel novellas leading up to the first novel in the Throne of Glass series.  We join Celaena Sardothien as her conscious gets the better of her and she starts rebelling against the King of the Assassins unknowingly starting her own downfall from her place as Adarlan's Assassin. Join Jen and Ellie as they dive into the underworld,...

"Some things you hear with your ears. Others, you hear with your heart." Crown of Midnight is the second book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, and we stay with Celaena as she navigates going from Adarlans Assassin to the Kings Champion and finding where her allegiances lie. Jen and Ellie discuss how the world expands, the use of tropes and construction of plot, and most imp...

"They’d gazed at him adoringly, while she just looked at him like a cat watching a mouse." Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas is the start of the high fantasy series phenomenon that dominates booktok and bookstagram. We meet Celaena Sardothien, Adarlans Assassin and current slave in the Endovier salt mines, as she agrees to compete for Prince Dorian to be the Kings Champion in return for he...

Each spell was a mountain to be climbed anew. All I could carry with me from last time was the knowledge that it could be done. Circe by Madeline Miller brings us back to ancient Greece and follows the nymph Circe, a powerful witch who is at war with her own divinity. A side character in the Odyssey, Circe takes centre stage as she stuggles with her exile and decides what kind of person she wants...

House of Flame and Shadow is the third book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J Maas. Bryce finds herself in ACOTAR world with the others trapped by the Asteri. They find the final pieces of the Asteri puzzle and figure out what to do with this new and dangerous knowledge. Jen and Ellie return to Midgard and discuss character agency, progression and growth, before debating their chances of surv...

Father Earth is angry... The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin brings us into a world where people can control the earth and everyone lives in fear of frequent yet unknowable extinction level events. Essun is a normal woman living a normal life which is torn apart on the same day the earth is ripped in two. Jen and Ellie discuss the world building, concept of self and how peoples fears and beliefs are...

If you're thinking of branching out to some fiction and non-fiction this is a quick bonus episode with a couple of recommendations of our favourite non-fantasy books we read last year. Back to your irregularly scheduled fantasy coverage soon...

David Mogo Godhunter is the debut novel by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, a godpunk book following David Mogo Dive into Lagos in the aftermath of the Orisha War where gods and godlings wander freely. David Mogo, a demigod, lives with hiss adoptive father and illegally hunts the gods wreaking havoc on the land. Jen and Ellie discuss the world and dive into theme, structure, and agency in a world overrun by...

House of Sky and Breath is the second book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J Maas. We return to Lunathion to find new horrifying depths to the Asteri and how this world formed. Jen and Ellie dive back in with Bryces to fight with the rebels, find out secrets and fall into traps.

 It's all in the socks!  Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett is a classic Discworld novel, exploring gender, societal expectation and... socks? We follow Polly Perks, who cuts her hair, finds a pair of trousers and goes off to war. She's only trying to find her brother, but she finds a lot more along the way.  Jen and Ellie discuss the world and dive into theme, satire and the innumera...

Through love all things are possible...  House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City book 1) by Sarah J Maas is the start of the most recent series by the wildly popular fantasy/ romantasy author. Follow Bryce as she goes from party girl to fighting demons, finding out maybe she didn't know her best friend as well as she thought.  Jen and Ellie review the worldbuilding, plot, language and how the...

Train as a royal assassin!  Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb is a classic fantasy novel and first in the Farseer trilogy. Train as an assassin, dodge political plots and hide the wrong kinds of magic.   Jen and Ellie review the world building, plot, language and characters (spoilers and all!) before creeping up on the challenges in the book. This book had them at their Wits end! 🗡️  Let&ap...

Go on an unexpected journey!  The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is the classic fantasy tale of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins embarking on an adventure with Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield, and his company to rescue their home from the dragon Smaug.  Jen and Ellie review the world building, plot, language and characters (spoilers and all, though what are spoilers with a classic this old?) before diving into th...

Join the rebellion in Aretia!  Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros is the second book in the Empyrean series, romantasy books that have taken the internet by storm. It sees us return to Basgiath after Violets world view has been destroyed at the end of Fourth Wing.  Jen and Ellie review the plot, characters and how the world and story expands before battling against the challenges in the book. Dragons an...

Join the crew of the Marawati! The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty is the first in a magic filled swash buckingling trilogy. Enter a world of pirates, magic, demons, and a badass protagonist coming out of retirement.  Jen and Ellie review the world building, plot, language and characters (spoilers and all!) before diving into the challenges in the book. Yo ho ho and a boat load o...

Join us as we enter Basgiath War College!   Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a romantasy sensation, building a fantastical world and characters that seized the imaginations of booktok, bookstagram, and even readers not on social media!  Jen and Ellie review the world building, plot, language and characters (spoilers and all!) before facing off against the greatest challenges in the book. For a fir...

If We Survive This is all about books, outdoors skills, fitness and, well, survival!  So it helps to know where your hosts are starting from.  Join in on the preface episode to find out where our book opinions are coming from and see how they align with yours. In our book (badum tss) you can't fully trust a review until you have a sense of the reviewers taste and interests. And most important...