Not Another Heroine

"There you are sweetheart." Come on readers, Christian Bale as the voice of our beloved rakish wizard Howl? This movie is up there with Pride and Prejudice in the comfort film rotation, but this week, we're reading, listening, and watching this story. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6294.Howl_s_Moving_Castle

Oh no... Katie has fallen down the hockey smut romance rabbit hole... and is surprisingly having a decent time. The verdict: The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy was fun the way reality TV is. But worth mentioning, maybe only consume this story as an audiobook for your own sanity. The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy This being Katie's first foray into the sports romance genre, her only other suggestion...

"There you are sweetheart." Come on readers, Christian Bale as the voice of our beloved rakish wizard Howl? This movie is up there with Pride and Prejudice in the comfort film rotation, but this week, we're reading, listening, and watching this story. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6294.Howl_s_Moving_Castle

We step into an alternate universe this week as Jordan recommends a surprisingly deep and touching monster romance featuring a lich, a word we both mispronounce for the entire first half of the episode (what's new?). Trigger warning, however, for eating disorders and body dismorphia! Goodreads: Wed to the Lich by Layla Fae

Proof that all books are not published equally, this week we're finishing a Dramione fanfic that is perhaps the best story we've read all year. The romantic tension, the beautiful quirky writing, the Austen-esque plot is all free to download at Archive of Our Own. https://archiveofourown.org/works/21496525?view_full_work=true For those of you with a Kindle, you can download a PDF copy of this work...

It's fanfiction central over here on the pod and Katie's pick this week is a big ol' masterpiece - Measure of a Man by Inadaze22. Generational trauma, terrorism, and dementia give this story depth and a slowburn romance to end all slowburn romances keeps you entranced the entire time. Honestly, just start it now, you won't regret it. Measure of a Man by Inadaze22 (Audiobook format) Measure of a Ma...

Proof that all books are not published equally, this week we're reading a Dramione fanfic that is perhaps the best story we've read all year. The romantic tension, the beautiful quirky writing, the Austen-esque plot is all free to download at Archive of Our Own. https://archiveofourown.org/works/21496525?view_full_work=true For those of you with a Kindle, you can download a PDF copy of this work a...

Jordan's pick this week is a lil sneak peak at what's to come next season! We'll be covering The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden in season 3 of the pod - so start reading now! The Trilogy includes The Bear and the Nightinggale, The Girl in the Tower, and The Winter of the Witch. Goodreads: The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden If you're looking for something similar try: The Shadow and...

Proof that all books are not published equally, this week we're reading a Dramione fanfic that is perhaps the best story we've read all year. The romantic tension, the beautiful quirky writing, the Austen-esque plot is all free to download at Archive of Our Own. https://archiveofourown.org/works/21496525?view_full_work=true For those of you with a Kindle, you can download a PDF copy of this work a...

Katie DNF's another booktok book, Phantasma by Kalie Smith, even with giving it the good ol' college try at 21%. The main heroine was rude for no reason (strike 1), the romantic tension was nonexistent (strike 2), and it was just sorta... boring (strike 3). https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204593914-phantasma If you're looking for something better, try: The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Car...

This is not an episode for a fourth wing fangirl, but it is our last one for this book, so thank you to all the readers who stuck with us through this yucky dragon journey. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing

Jordan's got TWO picks this week, one for you and one for the younger readers in your life. The first is a fairytale retelling YA pick, Enchanted by Alethea Kontis. The second, a firmly adult, hefty, more fantasy than romance deep cut: The Assassins of Tamurin by S.D. Tower (which is only available in print - gasp!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12180248-enchanted https://www.goodreads.com/b...

As you will soon discover, we had some mishaps during the recording of part 3. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing

Katie does love a found family, and especially so in this week's pick Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard. She does warn though - this is pretty heavy in the fantasy genre with only hints at a few brewing romances on the horizon. But if you're looking for a more gender equitable high fantasy pick instead of the male lead-heavy usuals like Tolkien or Martin, this is for you! https://www.goodreads.com...

For you all dear readers it's a new week, for us, it's one long rant session about dragons who really should have better things to do. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing

Jordan's pick this week is getting steampunky with a master/assistant romance and a secret society of - you guessed it - super hot, immortal men. Sign me UP. (And hey, it's Kindle Unlimited and Jordan has read it like 8 times - what's not to love?) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18515966-prince-of-hearts Looking for similar vibes? The Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger https://www.g...

It's been a long time in the making but we finally finished it. Fourth Wing is here for better or worse, readers. If you loved this one, you might be better off just skipping the next few episodes. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing

Jordan accuses someone of murder and Katie apparently loves golden retriever characters - and neither point is related to Katie's (thoroughly enjoyed!) pick this week, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. A YA paranormal fantasy for younger girls who maybe think they're a little older than they actually are. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50892338-legendborn If you're looking for something with similar...

Who needs spice when you can have a sash scene. Hari recruits a militia, takes down an entire demon army, and somehow, no one dies: not the cat, the horse, or Mathin. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/407813.The_Blue_Sword

In this week’s pick, something tragic almost happened - Jordan was on the verge of DNFing our newest fav book, Reign & Ruin by J. D. Evans. If you’re like Jordan (and Katie when she tried too!) and find yourself struggling, keep at it for the first 50 or so pages, and then the magic happens. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50607309-reign-ruin If you’re looking for something similar (or are...

This week, Hari goes to boot camp with her pet leopard and battles a mysterious stranger. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/407813.The_Blue_Sword

Katie gives likely the most lukewarm review of a book ever for An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - "it was a book." In today's world of fast fashion publishing though, that's actually decent praise. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30969741-an-enchantment-of-ravens If you're looking for something similar (and maybe better): Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater https://www.goodreads.com/boo...

Kidnap me, hill king! This week we kick off The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, a fixture in the fantasy romance genre , and perhaps some of the first-ever fan-fiction. Apparently, McKinley rage wrote this in response to an early 20th century novel called The Sheikh. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/407813.The_Blue_Sword https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sheik-edith-maude-hull/1127775915

Readers, we're having a bit of crisis of self. What are we reading these days? How do we define it and what is actually a good book?

Jordan gets back to her roots this week with a fun, quirky, and not too serious regency romance - What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long. While we're still not clear on what was done to get the duke, it's likely something naughty (especially since this is an open door romance!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8430098-what-i-did-for-a-duke If you're looking for something similar, try anything...