Paperback Ponderings

In this week’s episode, Sarah and Kyla dive into the Kindreds Curse Saga by Penn Cole—a spellbinding tale of magic, rebellion, and destiny. With a completely SPOILER-FREE episode, we'll convince you why you should – or shouldn't –  Sink your teeth into this epic fantasy.

This week, Sarah and Kyla dive into Starling House by Alix E. Harrow, October's book club pick. Tune in for a discussion about the way beautiful prose can romanticize the ugly, the nature of sentient houses, and a redefining of the concept of home. The first section of this episode is spoiler-free, so if you haven't read it yet, no worries—you'll get a warning before you need to hop out!

This week, Sarah and Kyla chat about all the books they read in October (featuring multiple new 5-star reads!). Tune in to hear about the fantasy series that has shot to the top of both of their favourites list, some light-hearted workplace romantic comedies (both fantasy and non-fantasy), the difference between romantasy vampires and horror vampires, and the smut-to-plot ratio in a popular Kindle...

To celebrate Halloween this week, Sarah and Kyla are back with a list of witchy book recommendations across the cozy fantasy, rom-com, high fantasy, and dark academia genres! This episode is completely spoiler-free.

Spooky season is reaching its peak, so Sarah and Kyla are back with a list of gothic fantasy book recommendations for all you fantasy lovers who are looking to add a spookier vibe to your typical fantasy reads! This episode is completely spoiler-free.

This week, Sarah and Kyla take their first foray into the monster smut genre with the booktok hit Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon. Joined by their long-time reader friend Jess, the girls chat about the surprisingly prominent plot in what they had expected to just be smut, along with all the ins and outs of falling in love with an alien man. Tune in for a silly good time!

For September's book club, we're chatting about a new favourite read—Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle—along with our special guest Danielle from @danielle.reads on Instagram. If you haven't read the book yet, you can still tune in for our spoiler-free thoughts at the beginning, and we'll let you know when the spoilers begin. If you have read it, settle in and let's chat about lunar magic, the natu...

This week, Sarah and Kyla share their September reading wrap, with a spoiler-free discussion of all the books they read in September. Tune in to hear about the most underrated book they've ever read, some gothic/witchy/academia vibe reads for autumn, the very promising start to a fantasy series, and a first foray into alien smut!

We all know that autumn is the time of year for cozying up with a cup of tea and reading about gothic academies in old castles with students learning magic and solving mysteries. This week, Sarah and Kyla have curated a list of books that fit this vibe perfectly, so you can get into the spooky season mood!

Part two of our chat with Taylor from @one.more.chapter.tk on Instagram delves into more expansive theories about the Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire universe as a whole, including what we expect to go down in the Blood and Ash finale, The Primal of Blood and Bone. Get ready to have your mind blown by these wild theories!

For August's book club, we're getting into the highly anticipated finale to the Flesh and Fire series, Born of Blood and Ash, along with our special guest Taylor from @one.more.chapter.tk on Instagram. Tune in for a full discussion of how we felt about the way things wrapped up, a comparison of Sera and Poppy, and the unpopular trope that we surprisingly think was done well! We had so much to say...

This week, Sarah and Kyla share their August reading wrap, with a spoiler-free discussion of all the books they read in August, including the Flesh and Fire series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, the newest Ali Hazelwood romance, Not in Love, and many more. **Please note that there will be spoilers for It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, as the girls share their thoughts on the movie adaptation.**

Part two of our fantasy release radar covers all the major fantasy releases coming out this fall from October to December. Tune in for a spoiler-free description and info on each to see if there are any you'd like to add to your TBR!

Part one of our fall release radar goes over all the major fantasy book releases scheduled for this upcoming fall season between September 1st and October 1st. Get your TBR ready because there are tons of great books coming! We'll provide a spoiler-free synopsis of each so you can get a sense of whether you're interested. And stay tuned for part two coming next week!

The third and final part of our Flesh and Fire recap series follows book three, A Fire in the Flesh, by Jennifer L Armentrout. Tune in for a full rundown of the plot, characters, and everything you'll need to remember before reading Born of Blood and Ash (without having to reread it yourself).

Part two of our Flesh and Fire recap series follows A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L Armentrout. Tune in for a full refresher on all plot developments, characters, and worldbuilding elements that you'll need to remember going into the release of the fourth and final instalment, Born of Blood and Ash.

Don't have time to reread the whole Flesh and Fire series before the release of the final instalment, Born of Blood and Ash? Look no further! This episode is part one of three full book recaps for the first three books in the Flesh and Fire series by Jennifer L Armentrout. We go over all the major plot points and worldbuilding elements you'll need to remember going forward!

For July's book club pick, we read Reckless by Lauren Roberts—the highly anticipated sequel to Powerless. This episode contains spoilers for both books, so if you haven't read them yet, stay away! If you have read them, tune in for a chat about what we loved about the hunter/hunted dynamic between Kai and Paedyn, but why it also seemed to lack depth and believability. We're also getting into the m...

Looking for your next book? Look no further! In this episode, Sarah and Kyla will tell you all about the books they loved (or didn't love) in July, and what you should definitely be adding to your TBR. Spoiler-free, of course! Books discussed: - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez - All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman - People We Meet on Vaca...

The Foxglove King was one of both Sarah and Kyla's favourite books of 2024 (so far), so get ready for an episode getting into all the details of why this book is fantastic, and why The Hemlock Queen didn't quite live up to it. We're talking slow burns, thruples, and so much angst you could choke on it. We also chat about our theories for book three, The Nightshade God! As always, the first part of...

Join Paperback Ponderings hosts Sarah and Kyla as they unpack the events of the Stolen Heir Duology, the long anticipated spin-off series of the famed Cruel Prince Trilogy by the wonderful Holly Black. From anticipated twists and turns, to complete blind sides and what's next for the world of Elfhame, you'll be able to share in the nostalgia that is falling into this world once again. Where is Hol...

June's book club is all about Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli—a book that has been gaining quite a bit of buzz since its release earlier this year. Both Sarah and Kyla sped through this one, so join in for an engaging chat about the back-and-forth hunter/vigilante dynamic and the ill-fated love triangle that wasn't fooling anyone. As always, the first section of the episode will be spoiler-...

Get ready to grow your TBR after this spoiler-free discussion of all the books Sarah and Kyla read and loved in June! Books discussed: - The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee - Powerless by Lauren Roberts - The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten - Circe by Madeline Miller - This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune - Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage - Heartless Hunt...

In this episode, hosts Sarah and Kyla dive into their favorite fantasy reads of 2024 so far! From epic adventures to enchanting fairy tales, join us as we explore the books that have captured our imaginations and kept us turning pages. This episode is entirely spoiler free, and includes brief descriptions of both Sarah and Kyla's top fives of 2024 so far.

Prepare your TBR and tune in for a list of the most buzz-worthy new fantasy releases coming out this summer! Sarah and Kyla go over each new release in order of publication with a short spoiler-free synopsis of each so you can decide which ones you're most excited about. Happy reading! Books discussed: - The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song - Reckless by Lauren Roberts - The Spellshop by Sarah Be...