Episode 140 - An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir

We covered the first book of Sabaa Tahir’s buzzy Ember Quartet, and we have thoughts! Laia is from the Scholar class, an enslaved group struggling to exist under the heavy heel of the Martials. Elias has been raised to be a soulless Martial warrior, a Mask, but he longs to escape. Their lives become intertwined as they explore the Resistance, attempt to keep their humanity intact, and interfere with the Empire’s transition of power. We explore our problems with the character development and caste system, discuss how the author used real world conflicts as inspiration, and wonder how every character can be so horny at every turn when their lives are on the line. Plus a bizarre amount of Goblet of Fire energy?? Join us!

*Significant content warning for rape. This episode has more discussion of sexual content than is typical for our podcast, and in general is probably not ideal for younger listeners.

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Alternative cover -

Keenan fan art, artist unknown -

I mention the book Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski - it’s a great resource for anyone wanting to better understand their body’s stress responses! (Adults only)

Episode 139 - Dragon's Milk, by Susan Fletcher

In which DRAGON BABIES COVERS A BOOK ABOUT DRAGON BABIES. This gorgeous opening to the Dragon Chronicles sees Kaeldra nurturing and protecting draclings through endless peril and predatory dudes. We discuss domesticity in fantasy, our changing feelings about married ‘n’ pregnant endings, and the cruel loss that takes place in the third act and has us really feeling our own grief. Join us!

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I couldn’t find a picture of the Aladdin Fantasy edition cover that wasn’t potato quality so was forced to use the newest edition for the main image - here’s the one I prefer!

Other episodes mentioned -

• Song of the Wanderer by Bruce Coville

• Our Earthsea eps

• Dragon’s Blood, by Jane Yolen

• The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw

Episode 138 - Nightbirds on Nantucket, by Joan Aiken

In which we take to the sea, learn more about 19-century whaling than we wanted to know and scream DIDO TWITE from the rooftops! The third book in Joan Aiken’s Wolves Chronicles makes Dido the deserving protagonist as she frees other little girls from emotional and societal expectations. We wrestle with vague memories of Nantucket as we discuss the delightfully subtle fantasy elements and the appeal of a Very Pink Whale. Join us!

Other Joan Aiken episodes:

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

Black Hearts in Battersea

Episode 137 - Song of the Wanderer, by Bruce Coville

We’re returning to Luster with book 2 of Bruce Coville’s Unicorn Chronicles! Cara gets into complex lineage tangles, prismatic prisons, and more sparkly magical talismans than our 12-year-old hearts could handle. We discuss how this series inspired Madeleine’s early writing, the lure of the hearth versus the mystery of the unknown, and why the Squijum makes these audiobooks a real challenge. Give your new griffin friend a respectful kiss on the beak and join us!

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Our episode on Into the Land of the Unicorns

Bruce Coville’s perfect headshots:

Episode 136 - Snow, by Tracy Lynn

Tracy Lynn’s take on Snow White is frightening, enchanting and endlessly rereadable. Jessica escapes her cruel stepmother’s alchemy-fueled attempts on her life and finds respite with human-animal outcasts in the alleys of London. But when her stepmother reappears and promises she’s changed, tragedy strikes. We discuss whether the stepmother is really just a well-meaning woman in STEM, yearn for our own alley hideouts complete with found families and play the fiddle to break a curse.

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Our other Once Upon a Time series episode - The Storyteller’s Daughter, by Cameron Dokey