The Side Quest Book Club Podcast

Our discussion of She Had Glass Eyes, a book by C.S. Schiavone that explores how humanity and technology connect and blurs the line between reality and the narrator's imagination. 00:00 Introduction to 'She Had Glass Eyes' 10:04 Character Analysis: Dilly the Mortician 20:00 Themes of Obsession and Madness 30:02 Writing Style and Historical Context Socials:  @calliesioux  @1232audioepic  Audio Epic...

Our talk with Nicholas Keating Casbarro discussing his breakout novel Vitalerium.  Nearly six centuries have passed since humanity discovered vitalerium, which ushered in a golden age of space exploration and colonization. Planet Deorum’s society is centered around this illustrious, gravity-bending blue crystal. The year is 2701. Following a near-fatal disaster, roughneck freelancer Roman Matthews...

The quest: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. The result: We went ot hell and back! Dive into Katabasis by R.F. Kuang with our full-spoiler book club breakdown! Jess and Abby join the guys to continue their descent into hell to find out what Alice and Peter are up to. Katabsis plot: Two rival PhD students descend into a hellish university campus to retrieve their abusive advisor’s soul—facing academic trial...

The quest: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. The result: We went ot hell and back! Dive into Katabasis by R.F. Kuang with our full-spoiler book club breakdown! Two rival PhD students descend into a hellish university campus to retrieve their abusive advisor’s soul—facing academic trials, betrayal, and dark revelations. Is this dark academia masterpiece a 7/10 triumph or a pacing misfire? We debate characte...

Happy holidays to you all, Adventures. Thanks for tuning in. In this episode, Slava and Jonathan (joined by Josh, our intern) discuss A Christmas Carol, a classic novella by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy miser, as he is visited by the ghosts of Jacob Marley, Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, leading to...

In this episode of The SideQuest Book Club Podcast, Slava and Jonathan—joined by Casey, JT, and Spenser— continued to break down Wintersteel from Will Wight’s Cradle series. The guys explore character dynamics, relationships, and major themes of identity, growth, and progression fantasy. The conversation highlights foreshadowing, power dynamics, hubris, and how literacy, wealth, and opportunity sh...

In Part 2 of Will Wight’s Wintersteel . The SideQuest Book Club Podcast hosts, Slava and Jonathan, dive deeper into breaking down major themes of character development, including Aethon’s unique sight, Mercy’s public humiliation, and Yerin’s intense training and evolving bond with her Blood Shadow. The discussion builds toward the final battle, where Yerin undergoes a powerful transformation that...

Hey Adventurers! Back to the Cradle we go. In this episode, we delve into the eighth book of the Cradle series, Wintersteel, exploring the intricacies of the Uncrowned King Tournament and its implications for power dynamics among factions. Slava and Jonathan discuss character developments, particularly focusing on Linden, Yeren, and Aethon, while also addressing the emotional stakes and romantic e...

In this episode of The Side Quest Book Club Podcast, hosts Slava and Jonathan (again) dive into J urassic Park by Michael Crichton. This conversation delves into themes, character development, and the implications of hubris and chaos theory. The hosts discuss the narrative structure that keeps readers engaged. They analyze the illusion of control and the importance of subplots, ultimately reflecti...

In this episode of The Side Quest Book Club Podcast, hosts Slava and Jonathan dive into J urassic Park by Michael Crichton. They explore the novel’s core themes—hubris, chaos theory, and the illusion of control in science—while unpacking its character development and layered storytelling. The discussion also covers Crichton’s background, the lasting success of the Jurassic Park franchise, and the...

In this episode of The Side Quest Book Club Podcast, JT and Casey surprise Jonathan with their scheduled appearance. We finish our trek across Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch. Discover Side Quest: https://linktr.ee/asidequest Powered by Transistor Our IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Leave us a comment & connect with us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our TikTok Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Music by Holizna...

In this episode of The Side Quest Book Club Podcast, we cover chapters 12–16 of Scott Lynch’s Red Seas Under Red Skies. We examine loyalty, love, and the consequences of choices, leading to a confrontation with Straggos. Jonathan and Slava discuss the impact of character deaths, heist planning, and the twists that drive the story, highlighting Lynch’s character development and storytelling. Discov...

In this episode of the Side Quest Book Club Podcast, we delve into the chaotic world of 'Red Seas Under Red Skies,' exploring themes of loyalty, deception, and the complexities of pirate life. Covering up to chapter 11, we discuss the challenges faced by Locke and Jean as they navigate mutiny, the dynamics of Zamira's crew, and the moral dilemmas that arise in their quest for survival. The convers...

In this episode of the Side Quest Book Club Podcast, we dive into chapters 4–7 of Red Seas Under Red Skies and wrap up part one of the book. We break down Locke and Jean’s meeting with a poisoner, the brutal wasp spectacle, and their pirate training under the manipulative Drakos. Along the way, we recap key plot points and explore the role of the gods in the story and speculate on what’s ahead, in...

Season 5 is starting strong! We're off to Telvarar to hang with Locke and Jean. In this episode of the SideQuest Book Club, we delve into Scott Lynch's Red Seas Under Red Skies , the second book in the Gentlemen Bastard series. The discussion highlights the tension in the prologue, the introduction of the Bonds Magi as a new threat (again!), and the unique approach to magic and alchemy in Lynch's...

We are back for Season 5 of the Side Quest Book Club Podcast. Starting with the king of horror, Stephen King. Today, Jess joins us for the final episode covering  "Secret Window, Secret Garden" from Stephen King's novella collection, Four Past Midnight. We compare the book and film, track Mort Rainey’s slide into madness, and weigh how isolation and the dark edge of creativity drive it. Then we zo...

We are back for Season 5 of the Side Quest Book Club Podcast. Starting with the king of horror, Stephen King. Today, we are discussing Secret Window, Secret Garden from his novella collection, Four Past Midnight. We explore the themes of Stephen King's novella 'Secret Window, Secret Garden,' discussing the inspiration behind writing, the implications of plagiarism, and the psychological aspects of...

We are back, Adventurers! And we are excited for this new Season. We are dropping the first episode of Season 5 next week on October 7. See you then for a discussion on Stephen King's Secret Window, Secret Garden from his Four Past Midnight novella collection. Watch our YouTube Reaction to Project Hail Mary: https://youtu.be/mivtHl-R3Nc (see what we look like) Discover Side Quest: https://linktr.e...

We are still on break, but we are working hard to improve the podcast for you. Today, we have some updates on what we have in store for you in Season 5. We can't wait to get back at it. Watch our YouTube Reaction to Project Hail Mary: https://youtu.be/mivtHl-R3Nc (see what we look like) Discover Side Quest: https://linktr.ee/asidequest Powered by Descript & Transistor Our IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

We are still on break, but we wanted to share a behind-the-scenes conversation we had about new segments and ideas we had for the podcast. Tune in and share your thoughts and feedback. See you soon! Watch our YouTube Reaction to Project Hail Mary: https://youtu.be/mivtHl-R3Nc (see what we look like) Discover Side Quest: https://linktr.ee/asidequest Powered by Descript & Transistor Our IG Chann...

Hey Adventurers! Given all this Project Hail Mary hype, we've decided to reupload our original discussion of the book. These are the episodes in which Spencer took over the podcast for two episodes. And, yes, we are still on break, but be on the lookout for more updates this summer. YouTube Reaction: https://youtu.be/mivtHl-R3Nc (see what we look like) (00:00) Intro (05:04) Character Analysis and...

We are still on break, but we are working hard to improve the podcast for you. Stay tuned for more updates, and come back in October for more side quests. Watch our YouTube Reaction to Project Hail Mary: https://youtu.be/mivtHl-R3Nc (see what we look like) Discover Side Quest: https://linktr.ee/asidequest Powered by Descript & Transistor Our IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Leave us a comment & co...

Hey Adventurers! Given all this Project Hail Mary hype, we've decided to reupload our original discussion of the book. These are the episodes in which Spencer took over the podcast for two episodes. And, yes, we are still on break, but be on the lookout for more updates this summer.  YouTube Reaction: https://youtu.be/mivtHl-R3Nc (see what we look like) (00:00) Intro (01:43) Character Exploration...

The video dropped sooner than expected. Slava and Jonathan team up with special guest Spenser to react to the newly released Project Hail Mary movie trailer! 🚀 How will the adaptation stack up against Andy Weir’s novel? Will it live up to the hype? Will Rocky steal the show? Drop your thoughts on the trailer in the comments—did they get it right, or are we in for a spacewreck? YouTube Reaction: h...

Hey Adventurers! We are taking a break. But there is also work to be done behind the scenes. We're taking this break to upgrade the show—refining our format, updating the website, and launching a video version of the podcast. In this mini update, we reflect on past highlights, and shout out some favorite guests. Plus, we announce our return in October with Secret Window, Secret Garden by Stephen K...