Your Young Adult Fantasy Nostalgia Podcast
We loved this introduction to the Bartimaeus Trilogy! It’s taken us far too long to discover Jonathan Stroud’s work, and we’re now absolute Bartimaeus heads. We break down the appeal of Nathaniel and Bartimaeus’ alternating angry/gleeful perspectives, the burgeoning anticapitalist themes, and why history continues to repeat itself (spoiler humans are the worst). Grab your sassiest djinni footnotes and join us!
We continue Tomi Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha series! Children of Virtue and Vengeance sees protagonists Zélie and Amari at odds as they attempt to overthrow the monarchy led by Amari’s mother and brother Inan (who is, surprise, still alive). Except the nobility has magic now - and they’re really violent about it! Leading a group of rebel maji, Zélie works to bring balance back to Orïsha as Amari flounders (and massacres???).
Coming off the high of the first book, we were disappointed by the pacing, character choices and general magical confusion of the sequel. Join us as we break it all down!
Full cover painting by Sarah Jones:
Other episodes mentioned -
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
BOBBY IS IN THE MATRIX. We continue the Pendragon series with this journey into the mind, and the ensuing fever dream of a computer virus come to life. We have a wide-ranging conversation touching on AI psychosis, Bobby’s inability to self-censor, copaganda, and whatever gloid is. This is a wild one so get into your Lifeflight tube and don’t forget your nutrition / excretion skin pads!!
Our other Pendragon episodes (we will not rest until we’ve covered the one about the cat people):
Eddy Burback’s ChatGPT video:
Dwarves, gargantuan evil and much too tiny tunnels - we’re covering The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner! Cheshire visitors Susan and Colin have come to stay with farmers Gowther and Bess and tromp around Alderley Edge. Said tromping unearths a centuries-long battle between good and evil - all connected to the mysterious teardrop gem in Susan’s family heirloom bracelet. Tolkien inspiration is on full display but Garner creates a world utterly his own, replete with a heady brew of Norse, Welsh, Celtic and Arthurian mythology plus a little Lovecraftian unspeakable horror. Join us!
First edition cover:
The second book in the Oz series, The Land of Oz begins introducing us to its stranger inhabitants and endless opportunities for adventure. Protagonist Tip escapes his cruel captor Mombi and brings a pumpkin man and a sawhorse to life as he journeys in search of purpose. We encounter our old friends the Scarecrow and Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman as Tip helps them thwart General Jinjur and her girl army, and finally set the rightful Queen of Oz upon the throne. We discuss homunculi and their internal lives, the endless misery of a road trip with the Wogglebug, and Tip’s failings as a new dad. Join us!
You know, I was going to put a picture of a Wheeler from Return to Oz here, but I don’t want to curse our domain with that kind of energy. They’re out there if you’d like to seek them out…