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Fantasy Gorls: Our Fav Fantasy & Romantasy Books | S2Ep7
467 Plays2 years ago
Happy Fall! This week we're chatting all about Fantasy and Romantasy books! We share our fantasy starter packs, favorite fantasy couples, and hand out tons of recommendations along the way. We also (Kendra vs. Kayla and Brandi) get in a little spoiler-filled tussle over the Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace (25:22 - 29:45 if you want to skip).
Keep up with the Pod on instagram (@bringyourownpod)
Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books
Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz
Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf
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Transcript
Introduction and Theme Setup
00:00:05
Speaker
Welcome to Bring Your Own and Catch All Bookish Most of the Time podcast. I'm Brandi. I'm Kendra. I'm Kayla. And today we are fantasy gourleys. Actually, we are fantasy gourleys most of the time. Well, a lot of the time, but today we're specifically talking fantasy.
Current Reads and Book Releases
00:00:26
Speaker
But before we jump in, what are we reading? What are we drinking?
00:00:30
Speaker
Brandy, how about you go first, because I feel like you never go first. Oh, okay. Sounds good. I don't have any fun drinks today. Womp, womp. Dan'll drink my last La Croix. But I am currently reading, yep, boo. I am currently reading, I'm still reading Tempt Our Fate. We recorded a bunch of episodes really close together. So I feel like it sounds like I've been reading that for a really long time.
00:00:52
Speaker
But the release date is tomorrow as of this recording, so I'm going to try and finish it tonight. But I'm also rereading out on a limb because I missed them, especially after talking to Hannah.
'The Rebel King' and TV Show Connections
00:01:05
Speaker
And then listening to The Rebel King, which is the second book in the Kingmaker series by Kennedy Ryan, and it's so good. Yeah, so I probably will be finishing that tomorrow. I only have like two hours left.
00:01:17
Speaker
I'm so glad that you like it. You do, but Kayla, it's not gonna hit as hard for you because you're not a Scandal fan. It's hitting so hard for Brandi. I was like, oh my God, this is Scandal. This is a Scandal girly. I'm a Fitz girly. I'm an Olets girly.
00:01:32
Speaker
I feel like everybody is reading it right now, and not everybody's a scandal really, but they're obsessing over it anyway. Yeah, I mean, it's really good, but I just like- My FOMO. I was texting Kendra while I was reading it, and I was like, oh my God, this moment was so fit. Oh my God, this moment was so fit. I think he'll still really like it because it's really well written and it's really entertaining, but it's like, it's- What about, Kayla, what if we, what if you watch Scandal?
00:01:58
Speaker
I can't, I can't ask Kayla to watch anything
Kayla's Reading and Watching Commitments
00:02:00
Speaker
right now. Cause I, I still have to finish. Yeah. I still watch all of gossip girl for you. We do it for me. I have to think on what I would want you to watch.
00:02:16
Speaker
Okay. Okay. Think about it. What are you reading and drinking in the meantime? I don't have a Coke Zero, but I do have a Sprite because I wanted something like refreshing, switching it up today.
Audiobook Narrators and Reading Experiences
00:02:32
Speaker
And I'm not listening to anything currently, but I
00:02:38
Speaker
Started last night. I literally only got like three chapters in Salt Kiss by C.R. Simone because I did read the prequel to the series. So very curious to see where the story goes in that one. And I just want to say I was just at Target like a record before recording this episode and I saw Kingmaker and Rebel King and I was like, should I get it? And then I was like, no, I want to hear Jason Clark. So I didn't I didn't get the books.
00:03:03
Speaker
But I will definitely be reading that soon, this fall, sometime. Do the audio. Both of them just sitting there smiling like, yeah. Just do the audio. He's so good. The female narrator isn't bad. It's my first time listening to her. I forget her name. But Jason's kind of like, OK, yeah, her. Jason's just doing such first name basis. Jason does such a good job. I mean, we're basically besties, you guys, at this point with Jason.
00:03:29
Speaker
So, yeah, we've got a book to answer. If you're listening, Jason, you're eating. Yeah, this is such a great performance. He can really do it all because like small town, like I just like giddy. I love him.
00:03:47
Speaker
kendra i tracked down an original cover so don't buy it i was literally about to use my like i was on pengo and i kept saying i was like okay once my money hits from pengo i was gonna buy some but well i can't find the second one so if you find the second one i can find the rebel king she wanted the original cover the out of print cover of the kingmaker because i just get captures like it's it's like a black and white with like gold lettering and i liked that one better too and i saw somebody that was selling two for some reason so i bought
00:04:16
Speaker
Oh, yay. Okay, yay. Okay. Yeah, they're really, the new covers are just, it's just bloom being bloomed. They're so fucking ugly. Flowers. Yeah, like that, that's them.
00:04:31
Speaker
Oh, they're so hot. Oh, fuck. I want to say something, but I don't want it. Now it'll be a spoiler because we won't read it, but I'll talk to you about it after. OK.
Humorous Anecdotes and Reading Slumps
00:04:41
Speaker
OK. Let's see. I am currently drinking water. Guys, last night I drank a whole bottle of wine and then I went to cycle this morning and I had a tummy ache and I did so bad.
00:04:50
Speaker
Yeah, but I did so bad. I placed eighth. I was like, what the fuck is going on? Those mountain bitches. No, those mountain bitches kicked my ass. I was like, okay, I need to stop drinking. If I'm going to have a cycle in the morning, don't drink the night before. So if anyone's doing cycle, don't drink the night before.
00:05:04
Speaker
Okay reading I started I've been in a massive reading song all month So I've been like DNFing so much like I probably have said I've read 12,000 books on this podcast and I have not finished a single one But I did just start sweeten the deal by Katie Shepherd It's about a 22 year old MBA student who used to be like a tennis star and she inherits a shit ton of money But she has like no dating social experience. So she's gonna become like
00:05:31
Speaker
a sugar mama, I think. And she's gonna get involved with this guy who's like 10 years older than her, who's like this artist that is just got out of a relationship. I've only read the first two chapters, but I think I'll like it. And then I'm listening to Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runia Katz. I'm almost done. I have like
00:05:49
Speaker
like maybe an hour and a half left. It's not bad. I think it's like a pretty solid debut. Do not recommend doing the audio. The male narrator is awful, has one of the worst voices I've ever heard in my entire life. So yeah. I have just gotten more and more and more picky about narrators as I continue to, you know, read.
Fantasy Books and Reading Journeys
00:06:10
Speaker
I just can't, I just, I can't tolerate a bad narrator these days. Yeah.
00:06:14
Speaker
And it sucks because like, sometimes I know an audio would just help me just get through it. And I just hate that because I yeah, and I feel like I might like this more if it had a different voice. So yeah, that's rough. Let's jump in. I thought it was so funny that Brandi was like, oh, we're all fantasy girlies. She was definitely only talking about that. Well,
00:06:37
Speaker
Two thirds of this podcast are fantasy girlies. I am a novice when it comes to fantasy. I'm not called to it like these two are. It's just not my ministry. I like my contemporary world. I don't like my brain having to do a lot of busy work. So today we're going to talk about what our sort of like starter pack fantasy books are because even though I don't enjoy fantasy as much as these two, I have read, I think,
00:07:01
Speaker
some pretty good ones definitely yeah probably the basic ones but i i think they're they're pretty good so yeah we're all gonna like go around share our picks and then later do some like maybe rapid fire like fade couples fade this fade that all in regards to fantasy
00:07:17
Speaker
Before we do that, I'm curious from your guys a story graph, how many books have you read that are classified as fantasy so far this year? Yeah, I I'm gonna guess three. Yeah, take it. And I'm really three. Okay. Mine is not clever for you at least. Yeah, build on a fox glove. Those are two at least for you. But I have read so far this year 20.
00:07:39
Speaker
Jesus. Whereas last year I only read 16. So I'm already outpacing what I read last year, but the year before that, though, I read like 25. So I read 24.
00:07:54
Speaker
Oh, Slay saying I read five. I lied. Slay. There you go. Look at you, doubting yourself. Yeah, but you know, a lot of it just goes in one ear out the other. Oh my goodness. Okay. And only one of them I read physically. The rest I had to do on audio. Yes. I had. I had to. Yeah. Have you guys like, well, Kayla, because Kendra just kind of shared that she's not a huge fantasy girlie, but
00:08:21
Speaker
Kayla, have you always read fantasy like since you got into reading? I mean, I think that the pipeline for the YA dystopian to fantasy girly in twenty twenty three is pretty, you know, it's pretty related because, yeah, I don't know that like Divergent or Hunger Games. I don't know that those don't necessarily count as fantasy, although I guess they are like shelved in the fantasy slash sci-fi section. Why a section of a bookstore, right?
00:08:48
Speaker
So I mean, yeah, I've always been interested in those kinds of books. And then when I got back into reading during the pandemic, I mean, one of the first big series that I picked up was Akatar. And that helped me kind of get back into fantasy. So trains never really stopped. Yeah, that's kind of like exactly my trajectories. Like I was a huge Hunger Games girlie. And then when I got back into reading the first fantasy series, I actually read the A Touch of Darkness series by Scarlett St. Clair.
00:09:15
Speaker
So that was kind of like the different one. And then I read Crescent City right after that. And then that propelled me more into fantasy. I would go to Barnes and Noble and like I would only read YA. So I would go straight to the YA section and I get so pissed off. I'm like, why is this like whole row?
Influences of TikTok on Fantasy Reading
00:09:33
Speaker
fucking fantasy knowing that I don't care like I was like what is taking up so much stuff and then 2020 hit wow so like I guess we all kind of got into it somehow in the pandemic 2020 hit and I kept seeing TikToks about Serpent and Dove on Pinterest and the Serpent and Dove series was my first ever fantasy series that I read and it gets hit on a lot yeah but I had a great time and we don't talk about the last book so
00:10:01
Speaker
I haven't read that one. I haven't either. It's okay. He's a ginger, right? Yeah, but he's hot. Reid is so hot. I can go get the fan art if you want. He's so hot. But it's mainly Lou, the girl who like carries it on her back. I think she's so great. It's just such a fun series.
00:10:18
Speaker
So if somebody came up to you and was like, I want to read a fantasy book for the first time, let's say an adult comes up to us and says, I want to read a fantasy book for the first time. Well, it's like, I'm thinking like, I'm not going to recommend. Right. Sure. Yeah. Like, where would you tell them to start? If you had to pick like a YA book, a YA fantasy and an adult fantasy book, where would you tell them to start?
00:10:41
Speaker
I mean, like, honestly, Serpent and Dove, like, it was so much fun. But that series does get shit on, like, a lot. And there are, like, some very valid criticisms of it. But, like, if you're, like, me, someone who doesn't like fantasy, I would say, like, what's your favorite fantastical TV show? And for me at the time, it was Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. So I was like, holy shit, I love witches. I can read about witches. So then Serpent and Dove, witches, like, it was a no-brainer for me. What? I didn't know that.
00:11:11
Speaker
Oh yeah, she's a witch. She's a witch. She's a bad ass witch too. She's a witch and he's a witch hunter.
00:11:21
Speaker
Yeah, you see, it's pretty good. So either that one, but like, I don't, don't make fun of me guys, if you're listening. I almost also want to say legendborn too, if you're like, not into fantasy at all. Cause it's just, it's contemporary fantasy. But the thing with legendborn is that there's so much Arthurian magic. That's a little confusing. Yeah. I, when thinking about what I would pick,
00:11:47
Speaker
I for my YA option, I was actually leaning towards legend born at first. However, I ended up not picking that one because sometimes the magic systems of both of the magic systems get a little confused. I mean, I got confused and I think that I read a pretty good amount of fantasy. So I didn't pick that one.
00:12:09
Speaker
But for my why I pick, I actually think I would recommend a series that I never talked about like ever on here on the podcast. I've read it, but like I don't talk about it often because like I've read, in my opinion, so much better things. However, I think this is a good place to start because it's very, very easy to understand. And it's the These Hall of Vows series by Lexi Ryan. Oh, I read the first one of that one. You did? I didn't know that.
00:12:37
Speaker
It's a, it's a decent series. Um, it's not like the most amazing thing you'll ever read, but it's a decent series to start because like I said, it's very easy to understand. The writing is very simple. Sounds like such a bad thing to say, but it's like, it's just simple writing, easy writing to understand the world is easy to understand. And yeah, it's like a good one to start because it's got humans and it's got Fay. So I really enjoyed that series.
00:13:01
Speaker
for what it was so I think that's my why I pick that one is like super classic like it gives very like 2010 in the best way exactly 2010 right in like a more modern time obviously because there's like a love triangle and there's like the good guy the bad guy is the bad guy really a bad guy like
00:13:22
Speaker
Yeah. The dark haired, poorly gray character. Yeah. Very much. Yes. That vibe. You guys know Monica. She actually just told me to read that series because I was telling her telling like you guys. Yeah. Because I wanted something that felt like fall and she was like, well, I know you're not a big fantasy person, but it feels like this series feels like fall. Yeah. It's good on audio. If you can find it on Libby or Hoopla, it's good on audio. I believe you.
00:13:48
Speaker
I believe you're so... Anyway, I recommend that series if you're starting out in YA
Recommendations for New Fantasy Readers
00:13:57
Speaker
fantasy. And then for adult, I mean, I've said this before, but I think that fourth wing is a great place to start. If you would like to read an adult fantasy, I don't think that it's very difficult to understand at all. I think that there's a lot of characters, but I don't think that all that it's
00:14:13
Speaker
hard to follow by any means and I think and I know a lot of people that have read fourth wing that have never read fantasy before and they thoroughly enjoyed that book because like we've again I've said this but it gives very much nostalgic vibes it gave me such nostalgic vibes especially for a series like divergent which I loved growing up so would definitely recommend starting there
00:14:33
Speaker
Yeah, for me, I think, I mean, this is definitely not an unpopular pick, but I think I have recommended the Folk of the Air series to so many people, which is like the Crow Prince books. If you people, I feel like a lot of people don't know that they're called the Folk of the Air series. I know. I almost said that one, but I'm so protective of that series. Like I can't, I can't take someone not
00:14:57
Speaker
You say that you're not a big fantasy girl, but you love, you love that series so much. You literally have a tattoo.
00:15:04
Speaker
on your arm. I do love it. That's just it's different. It's built different. Oh, it's not like the other girls. It truly is. It truly is not like the other girls. And that's why I say like, I think it gets people like interested in reading about like magic systems. And I think because Jude is a human existing in a fantasy world, I think that's like way more accessible for a lot of people who haven't read a lot of fantasy. And I just think the
00:15:30
Speaker
pros in it is just like very mature while also still being extremely accessible to a lot of people. And I've never recommended that series to somebody and had them come back and tell me they don't like it. So that's just like my go-to YA pick. It's one of those ones where it's like, it's popular for a reason. It's stuck around for years and years and years on book talk for a reason. The Corprins is not a face. It is here to stay.
00:15:54
Speaker
Yes, I remember when I first started that series, I didn't know like pretty much anything going into it. I started that series and I didn't know that it like took place in present time, technically, like and that Jude was a human living in a human world that goes into, you know, this magic magical world. I didn't know that. And so when it like opened with her and she's like sitting in her kitchen, what is she like eating fish sticks or something like that? And I'm just like, I was so confused.
00:16:24
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. But I will say with Crawl Prince, like I was just hesitant to recommend it to new people because like that first book, people always like, they're like, I'm bored because there's so much political stuff happening. Like I feel like you have to, that's what I'm like, damn, like I get it. Yeah. And when I do recommend it to people, I make sure to say like what it has become like now, like when you see people recommending the Crawl Prince, you hear them say, don't read it for the romance. The romance is a bonus.
00:16:50
Speaker
and you're going to love the romance, but it's not the main plot. So I just like, I always make sure to do that. And for my adult picks, or pick, I think I read slightly more non-romantic-y adult books, like almost all my YA fantasy books are romantic-y. But for adult, I read a lot of
00:17:10
Speaker
non-romanticy and this is again another really popular pick but if people can stomach like gruesome storytelling I will always recommend the Poppy War trilogy. I just think that series is incredibly well written and not to say the exact same thing that I said about the Cruel Prince series but it's like really really accessible while still feeling extremely intelligent. Like I finished those books feeling smarter but I didn't feel dumb while I was reading them if that makes sense.
00:17:38
Speaker
It makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. So I just think the story is so engaging, but there is no romance. I saw somebody recommend that fucking book as an enemies to lovers series. And I was like, you need to go touch grass, get outside, breathe some fresh air. But either that one or if you like a money good time, Dark Olympus series by Katie Robert.
00:18:06
Speaker
I thought that wasn't technically fantasy cause like, aren't they like... She can't decide. She truly cannot make up her mind if that series is fantasy or not. Cause in the first book, there's like a magical bridge that you can't cross and nobody in the city of Olympus can leave because of this magical barrier, but there's no other fantasy on this. Oh, oh my God. Interesting. Yeah. But great smut. Just want to throw that one in there. Fun.
00:18:30
Speaker
Yeah. Fun times. Oh, I didn't have an adult pic, but I don't have one. You don't have one? No, because it's like, no, I don't. Sorry to know why I'm complaining. I don't have an adult pic, but I'm literally sitting here like, oh, I don't know. I don't read a lot of like, the only adult fantasy I've read is Crescent City. Well, Akatar and Crescent City, yeah. But it's like, oh, I think everyone knows at this point. Also, unpopular opinion, just because my friend Jabin
00:18:59
Speaker
I just finished Stone of Glass, but I don't like that series. And anyone listening, you can find me about it. We can argue about it. I DNF'd it. Kayla likes it more than me, even though I read it before her. I like it.
00:19:10
Speaker
I like it, but it is my least favorite Saturday Mass series. So do with that information what you will. I just know that one day I made a video about being a Jude girlie. I was like, Oh my God, Jude's the baddest bitch ever. Like those were my exact words, but I was praising her and all these fucking Aylin bitches came into my comment section. Like, Oh, what about Aylin? I didn't mention Aylin. I didn't tag Aylin. Like, what are you doing here? Then I had to like dog walk half of them in the comments. Like Jude was a human. Jude did this as a human. Oh, anyways, that's why I think that's honestly why I don't like the series because
00:19:40
Speaker
that one video turned me off. And the only time I see somebody be like, Farrah is weak and Farrah only cares about Reese and blah, blah, blah, and Aylin, Aylin, Aylin. I'm like, Aylin's so fucking annoying. I think she's so, so annoying. Anyway, later. She is. So Brandi just talked about the Poppy War, which is not at all a romantic book, but now we're going to talk about romantic books, which is basically a book
00:20:09
Speaker
a fantasy book where you cannot take out the romance and still have the book make sense. Right. So it's not a subplot. It's part of the plot is the romance. So do you have a favorite romantic book or series?
Exploring Romanticy Books
00:20:27
Speaker
I have a couple. I one of my like not super popular faves is The Winter King by C.L. Wilson. I've talked about I
00:20:38
Speaker
I'm like gonna find this woman and pay her thousands of dollars to finish this series because she hasn't put a book out since 2018. She's never gonna finish it. That's crazy. But wow. Yeah, The Winter King is the first book in the Weather Mages of Mistral series, and it's not very well known. But Janessa, who's at MIMO reads on TikTok and Instagram, saying this book's praises so much that I was like, I have to try it.
00:21:03
Speaker
I felt so in love with them. I am so obsessed with them. The entire plot is their romance. Like you absolutely cannot have this book without them because it's an, um, it's an arranged marriage where they're from two like warring kingdoms and to create an alliance. They have to get married and kind of like the king of the summer kingdom, like tricks the winter King by being like, yeah, I'll give you one of my daughters. But he gives her, he gives him his like least favorite daughter that he's kind of disowned and
00:21:33
Speaker
Anyways, I think they're really hot and I think it's funny and I love that book and Kayla just kind of likes it and it hurts my heart. Yeah, I gave it four stars. The magic system is so fun too because it's like all weather magic. So she's like a storm bringer and I thought she was Elsa for a minute. She's not.
00:22:03
Speaker
No, she brings like thunderstorms and rain and lightning and shit. And he obviously is the Winter King. He controls the winter and ice and like his magic is like, yeah, he is like Elsa. He's a big male Elsa. And yeah, he's got like long white hair and he's like seven feet tall. And his magic... Elsa or Santa?
00:22:26
Speaker
He doesn't have a beard. Hot Santa. Yeah, big rip Santa. And his magic is like eating him from within. And that's like a big plot point of the book is he like made a deal with his winter god in order to save his kingdom. And as a result, his like magic is eating him from within. It's really I just love that book. Any chance I get to talk about it, I will talk about it. I don't know if it's my favorite romantic book, but it's one of them.
00:22:56
Speaker
I have a couple because I can't pick. I'm just going to gloss over them because I've talked about them so many times. But I mean, classic Acoma, if we all know. And then I mean, more recently, YA fantasy has been really killing it for me this year. And I mean, Divine Rivals was a big one. Belladonna, I read in January, still think about Death and Signa like every day of my life.
00:23:20
Speaker
And then lastly, the new edition would be The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Carver, Jackson Evangeline. I love that book. But Jax, if you read that series, just know that Jax is the is the best part of that whole that whole series without him. It would be nothing. It would be dust. Oh, so you hate the girl.
00:23:41
Speaker
I don't hate the girl names. Do you hate women? That's not what I said. I didn't actually rewind the tapes. That's not what happened. Kendra, do you have a favorite? Guys, I'm going to sound so basic. Of course, it's Akamath. Like, oh, my gosh, like, I mean.
00:23:59
Speaker
Yeah, it's a classic, like, for a reason. I know. Listen, though, like, for everyone listening, I'm just not a fantasy girl. I have to keep saying that. Like, I know there's probably better more out there. It's just I don't know. We're just this this episode is also just brainy and I trying to sell Kendra on a bunch of wrecks and that she will never ever read. But we're trying.
00:24:20
Speaker
Listen, I tried. I did Belladonna and Foxglove this year. Oh my god, way so silly. I did Radiance this year by Grace Draven. Yeah. That is a romanticy. I did it on audio. And it's like strangers to friends to lovers with a marriage with an arranged marriage. Enemies to friends to lovers.
00:24:45
Speaker
And it's like kind of funny because they both think the other is like super fucking ugly when they meet because he's like a creature or something. I don't know. And she's a human. So to him, he's like, oh, humans are fucking gross. And to her, she's like, this creature is fucking gross. But then, like, they laugh about it and then they they fall in love. I can't tell you a single other thing that happened in that book. I just that part, which means it's definitely a romanticy. Yeah. Oh, yeah. You're so right. But I gave it four point two five stars. But a lot of people love that book.
00:25:15
Speaker
Our friends Greasy and Lomi recommended it to me and that's when I did that one. But yeah, I did Bella Donna and Fox Club this year and honestly, I don't want to hurt Kayla's feelings, but I think if Fox Club was better, I'd probably be like more of Bella Donna's ass. But since Fox Club to me was not that good, I'm looking at Bella Donna now and I'm like, what was the point? Kayla is not looking happy. Bonkers. I'm just restraining myself because I don't want to get myself more upset. So I'm just not going to say anything.
00:25:45
Speaker
Listen, you are. I just think Adeline Grace was like, whoops. Don't know what we're doing anymore. You're like the only person who thinks that. Who else is in your DMS? Give me their name so I can harass them. No.
00:26:02
Speaker
I just feel like every time I tell people why I didn't like Fox Club, they're like, with the exception of probably Kayla, they're like, oh, yeah, actually, actually. Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, thank you. I disagree.
00:26:20
Speaker
I think it's because you went, I think if you would have had different opinions about the very beginning of the book, of that book, if you would have felt differently about one specific character, then the entire book would have felt more cohesive to you. It was not just Blythe. Oh, Selena hated Blythe too.
00:26:40
Speaker
No, I'm tired of saying oh Selena's always talking shit, huh? I know Selena hated life She told me I was talking to Selena a little bit about it, but and I know she hated life I don't have life in the beginning I didn't love like I was mad at her and I was mad at her in the middle when she was fighting with Signe But like she made up for it for me like I'm excited. I'm ecstatic for the next book but um I
00:27:03
Speaker
Also, Ali agreed with me that death gave, like, nothing. So. And Ali said, I'm here with you that Fox will have might be better than Belladonna, but whatever. Well, I don't listen. I just know people be talking shit. We're not going to have a Belladonna Fox Club episode anymore. Oh, we can. No, I'll win. If you win, if you would have thought fate was a pathetic little bitch like we did, you would have enjoyed the book way more. But for some reason, you liked fate.
00:27:33
Speaker
that's not I literally also said oh my gosh why do why did it take us like over half of the book to actually get to Fox Club and we barely spent any time talking to the people who knew her parents best we don't know how the fuck her parents even died to begin with who poisoned them and I think that's such a big
00:27:50
Speaker
plot point to Cigna's story. We barely know how her fucking powers were. I was like, what are we doing? What are we doing? And then you're like, oh, she's life. But yes, it doesn't give a fuck that she's life. And I'm like, okay, I get it. Like she's in love with death. But you're not a little bit curious. And that's what pisses me off about Cigna because Adeline Grace picks and chooses when Cigna is the smartest person in the room.
00:28:12
Speaker
I'm like, she either is super smart than everyone else or she's not smart at all. Pick, but she can't. So I'm like, what are we doing? I was not even thinking about the fact at all throughout the whole book that she wasn't in Fox glow.
00:28:25
Speaker
I wasn't either. I didn't. Not even one time. Why would you want to go back to the place where all her family died when she has a home? I mean, I knew that it's the place she's been waiting to inherit since she doesn't want it. She said that once she got sent back there, she was like, I wanted this for so long, but now I have my family. I don't want to go.
00:28:42
Speaker
But that was once she got sent back there. I wish we could have just gotten there sooner. And in her fucking family, Elijah, who was drunk all of the first book and in jail this book, I'm like, why do you care about this man? You don't talk to this man. Why do you care about this man? His son just tried to kill you. His wife just made your first few months here a living hell. And then you got his daughter who who's trying to like just get you out of here the whole book. Like, why do you care about these fucking people? It made no fucking sense. Not trying to get Signe out of there the whole book.
00:29:08
Speaker
it's only when she found out that she was it only when she found out what happened that's the only time it felt like the whole book i don't know it just i did not have a good time we can move on but i just didn't think that because i did
00:29:20
Speaker
You lied to me to my face and said four stars. You are a liar. I said, no, I said, I was like, Kayla, I'm being nice. I'm gonna give it four stars. And you're like, oh, Kendra, like, if you need to, like, you can run out. No, you lie. I like, I liked, I liked a lot of it, but it's just one of those things. Like, the more I think about it, I'm like, what the fuck? Like, what was going on? We gotta move on. Brandi has therapy at seven.
00:29:47
Speaker
I'm leaving that part in. No, you're not. No, you're not. Okay. Anyways, my favorite, honestly, my favorite romantic is probably Akamath, like loser, whatever.
00:30:01
Speaker
I really like radiance, but that's the thing like I don't even care if a book isn't marketed as a romantic he like that's the thing I'm gonna focus on the most, no matter what, like, even with like, I love Jude's journey individually but like when I think back on that series I'm thinking of Jude and Cardin together and not separately.
00:30:20
Speaker
So yeah, yeah, I mean, I love romanticy. Like it makes my heart squeeze. That makes sense. Just from that question, then I guess we already kind of mentioned some, but like, who are your favorite fantasy couples? Are they different from the romantic books that we've already mentioned?
00:30:39
Speaker
I have one. Okay, so this series isn't technically, but one of my favorite couples ever within like fantasy, magic, whatever is Simon and Baz from the Simon Snow series. Those are just my fucking, those are my boys. I love them so much. See, I really love Simon and Baz, my kids. And then obviously Rhys and Pharah, Slay.
00:31:03
Speaker
And then my top is like Jude and Cardin forever and ever and ever. I just think they're like the perfect fantasy couple. Like Kayla mentioned earlier, I have a whole tattoo dedicated to them. They're my kids. I mean they're pretty perfect.
00:31:21
Speaker
I'm so excited for, I can't recall the name, but the next book, The Stolen Air, the one that came out this year. The next one's coming out next year, the beginning of next year. And she said that we're going to get more Jude Carden content in that one. And I'm really excited.
00:31:37
Speaker
Bro, I just like, when I was super into Juden Cardin, like that's when I like started to get back on Tumblr. There are so many good fan fictions about Juden Cardin, like building a life together and just like things that he like does for her. I'm like, fuck. And their fan art is like next level. It's so good. So good. So good. Wait, Kayla, can I guess at yours? Guess at my favorite couple? Yeah, a few of them. Go for it.
00:32:02
Speaker
Okay, so Kayla will never, ever, ever shut up about what's his name? Hunt and Bryce from Crescent City. If they have one fan, it's Kayla. If they have no fans, she's dead. Who else? Oh, I was just gonna say unpopular opinion, but Crescent City is my favorite Surgeon Master series.
00:32:19
Speaker
That's my favorite book by her is Crescent City, but I think it's her I think it's her best book written. Not my favorite, but I think it's her most well written. You love what what are their names? Roman and Iris from Divine Rival. What are their names? Oh, my God. Yeah. OK. Yeah. I say that as I stare at the I can't even see all the copies that you have right now. I just see two of your special editions because there's only two right there.
00:32:44
Speaker
Yeah, I said I can't see all of them. I know you have more than that. Those two. All right. And then you also probably really like the couple from fourth wing, even though I haven't read that. And I don't know their names. Violence, whatever. And they would not be in my top. They would not be in my top. I mean, I do really love them, but they're not in my top. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I guess we'll see how the series plays out. But is that pink haired bitch from Jackson eventually? Are they on your list?
00:33:10
Speaker
No, they're not on my list. My I love that. Yeah, I have a I have a list. How did I do? You did really well. You named two of the five that I wrote down. Oh, shit. OK, keep going.
00:33:21
Speaker
Bryce Hunt, Roman Iris, Jude Carden, Death and Cygna. And then I also wrote down, I mean, I guess this technically makes it six, but Sidra and Torin and Jack and Adara from the Elements of Cadence duology are just like, especially because Brandy recently read them and it's just like making me remember how much I love them. So they're just, they just make, those couples just like make my heart warm, you know?
00:33:48
Speaker
Yeah, Sidra and Torrin and Jack and Madera are definitely new additions to my list as well, which I think is so unique to have a duology following two couples, but both couples are in both books. Like, I love that.
Favorite Fantasy Series and Couples
00:34:05
Speaker
I would probably say I'm just like naming all the most basic book talk books. Somebody's gonna listen to this and be like, she has no fucking taste. But I love Achilles and Patroclus from Song of Achilles, which I know they're not her original characters.
00:34:21
Speaker
Yeah, I think it counts. Yeah, I think it counts. Yeah, his, his mom is half wraith. She like comes up. Well, I didn't, I didn't know it's mythology count separate from fantasy. Oh, that's why I said that. I was just looking for this for this purposes. It counts for in 2021. I read 40 fantasy books.
00:34:44
Speaker
Nice. Isn't that crazy? That's good. But yeah, I love Jude and Cardin. I love death, I'm sorry. Oh, you like, you love recent favorite too. I do, I'm a recent favorite girly. I mean, I'm also a Nesta and Cassie and girly too. I know Brandi's not, but... Yeah, it's okay. It's okay, Brandi, okay. Silver Flames is my second favorite book in the series. I don't know what you guys want from me. She's fun. I just think she's annoying. Leave that part in and then see who comes to our comment section.
00:35:14
Speaker
You hear that here first, Brandi thinks that Nesta is annoying. Yeah. And I do not do that by the way. I also love Erin and what the fuck is her name from the bridge kingdom. Oh, I haven't read it, but I know who you're talking about. I can picture their little fan art. They're covered. I can tell you love them a lot if you don't even remember their name. Shut up. I read that book too.
00:35:40
Speaker
While Brandy is looking that up, I'll also just mention that I do love, and Brandy is going to roll her eyes, but I do love Rain and Oraia from the, um, no, I like them. Okay. What's the series? Um, yeah, by Chris or Broadbent. I love them, but I've also finished the duology. I think she's a little bit not like other girls.
00:36:03
Speaker
She's a little bit, um, Laura and Erin from the bridge kingdom, which is another one. There we go. Like, is that even fantasy? Because I don't think anybody has powers. I don't think there's really a magic system, but there's just like the storms are like controlled. I don't know. It's one of those ones that's like a cusper is labeled under fantasy on my story graph. So I really love them. That, that series is so divisive. Some people think it's the most trash books that have ever been written.
00:36:31
Speaker
I devoured them. They're free on Audible. Kayla? I did know that. I actually have the first one downloaded. I just have never... God, do it. I think they're well done. I will. Oh, even though I'm not a Throne of Glass stan whatsoever, I love Kellen Urine. Oh, yeah, we do. I think they're the best couple in that series. Fight me. I can't stan Rowan and Aylin, those people, but Kellen Urine, mega slay.
00:36:58
Speaker
Megas. My my two favorite couples from that series are Kailin, Urine, Easily, and then Manon and Dorian. But but they're not even like you can't count that kind of hurts. I know that that's why it hurts. I'm in pain. I do enough before I got to either of those couples. I mean, but like you knew, you knew. I know. Yeah, for sure.
00:37:24
Speaker
If you had to pick like a favorite fantasy series or standalone, would you be able to? My go-to when people ask me my favorite is The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee, just because I think it's just like so incredibly plotted, like little tiny things that were mentioned in one sentence at the very beginning of book one will come in and be a massive part of the plot in book three. And I just think that Fonda Lee is just such a master. She also wrote a book called Untethered Sky, which is incredible. That's a standalone novella.
00:37:53
Speaker
And I just think that she's such an incredible writer. So those two. I do. I mean, with how much Brandy talks about those ones, I do kind of want to read those ones.
00:38:04
Speaker
the Greenbone saga. I think they're so good. And there is like some romantic elements to it, even though it's definitely not a romanticy. But like the family aspect of it is incredible. It's following a family like specifically three siblings. I just like the political intrigue is so incredible. And it's one of those ones that I just read very slowly and took my time with over the course of like five months. And it was just amazing. I laughed. I cried. Had a grand old time.
00:38:32
Speaker
We know Kinders is going to be the folk of the air. Yes. Was that OK? All right. We'll skip you then. Well, I mean, just kidding. I'm just kidding. It's your favorite.
00:38:50
Speaker
I just know you so well. Yeah, I also think I pissed you off a little bit with my maybe talking about so maybe. Yeah, my series is the corporate series by Holly Black, aka the Folk of the Air series. It's four books. One of the books is a novella of I think just out of perfection. And Brandy mentioned this earlier, earlier too, that the writing is just so mature, like Holly Black
00:39:16
Speaker
Just like the conversations and themes that she has in that series, I just think are incredible. And I just I love you. I just love Jude. I love Jude.
00:39:30
Speaker
It's grief and independence and finding yourself and choosing your enemies. It's so well. And living with your enemy and loving your enemy. Yeah, and the implications of that. Yeah, it's really good. And mercy.
00:39:47
Speaker
and like race and like forgiveness. She's so good. It's just it's and I remember I think if the reason why it like stood out to me so much is because reading that first book I didn't expect there to be like as high of stakes as there were. I think sometimes in YA fantasy like again I'm no expert so don't come at me if this isn't true but I just like sometimes in YA fantasy like the stakes aren't high enough.
00:40:08
Speaker
That was a book that the stakes were very real and very high and you felt them really early on. Holly Black had no mercy for a lot of people. I also feel like Legendborn is another book that threw me off with how high the stakes were towards the end where I was like, whoa, whoa, Tracy, what are we doing? I literally haven't been able to start Bloodmarked because of how the ending of Legendborn fucked me up. I'm scared to start it before the third book is out. I'm the only one of the three that has actually read Bloodmarked here.
00:40:35
Speaker
Yeah, and I get on it. I will. I know the series isn't done yet, though, right? So like that was the grace that I had with Cool Print is that it was a completed series. So that way I could like deep dive into it. But with Legendborn, it's like I know there's one more book still coming out. But it is really it's just incredible. Yeah, we don't know when but like Tracy is such an incredible writer. Like I trust her process. It's just so cool. And it's like it's one of the only
00:41:00
Speaker
that I know of and again I don't know everything when it comes to fantasy but it's one of the only black fantasy books that isn't rooted in African mythology and lore and like as someone who is a black American I really appreciated that because you don't see it a lot so like to have a magic system based in history that I am personally connected to that's pretty slick me talking about like the tragedy of slavery and I'm like
00:41:25
Speaker
kind of
Fantasy Series Recommendations and Reviews
00:41:26
Speaker
slay. Slay, slay, slay. If I had to recommend a series and I'm only gonna pick a completed series, I don't wanna recommend one that's not complete yet, then I would recommend probably the Elements of Cadence duology. We've described it before as like, if you like Outlander, you would like this series because it's basically like, if you're trying to picture something, picture like an island,
00:41:53
Speaker
off the coast of Scotland, you know, very much deals with lads and lasses and bards and lairs and all that. But yeah, kilts, they're wearing kilts, things like that. But Rebecca Ross's writing is so like, I feel like I could, there are certain authors where I could feel like I could pick their writing out of a lineup. And I feel like Rebecca Ross's is one of them. It's just so poetic and lyrical. And it's just beautiful.
00:42:23
Speaker
And there are so many like quotes that you can pick out, especially like ones where she talks about being in love and the feeling of being in love that are just so beautiful and gorgeous. And yeah, that series is just so well done. So beautiful. She really had me go in there for a couple of times in that series. I was really nervous. Yeah, I would definitely recommend that series. It's it's completed. It's amazing. They're gorgeous. Also, the covers are beautiful.
00:42:52
Speaker
I just think it's so funny because I remember when Kayla read, I don't know if I, I don't know when you read the first one, but I do remember when you had the second one and.
00:43:00
Speaker
You're like, Kendra, I don't think you're going to like it, but so it's just, it's funny to hear you'd be like, I recommend, but no, I genuinely don't know if you like it though. That's the thing. Like, I feel like you're really, because she said the same thing to me. And I remember I texted her when I was like 10% into the first book. I was like, what do you mean? I'm not going to like this. Like I'm already obsessed with it. I'm just, yeah, I think it's just cause I get nervous. I'm like,
00:43:25
Speaker
Which is so funny because I feel like, incorrect me if I'm wrong, but I feel like you get nervous because I also love fantasy. Yeah, I think that's a piece of it, yeah. And I sometimes get nervous to recommend fantasy stuff to you, because I'm like, what if this isn't her brand of fantasy? Exactly. I feel like with fantasy, oh my god, we're such good friends to each other.
00:43:46
Speaker
I feel like with fantasy it's it's hard because like there's so many I mean the same way with romance I guess but there's so many different kinds and there's so many different ways that fantasy can go wrong for somebody that you know when you recommend something it's like oh god you know there's just so many aspects that have to go right in a fantasy that you know to make you like it and so I think that's a big piece of it too you know
00:44:10
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. And then our last little discussion piece was recent faves. So is there something that you've read super recently that you've loved? And mine is Six Quartz Roses, which is the novella between the first two books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, which I liked that book so much more than I liked the full length novel. I haven't finished the second. I haven't even started the second book yet.
00:44:40
Speaker
But I really liked the novella. It was very tender. Yes, it's very different. One more sexy and it would have been perfect. I know. Me too. I thought I wish it was like a full length novel. Like I could have read about them. I mean, I was going to say that it's low stakes. It's not really low stakes at all. But I mean, like compared to the first one, it's a lot different. It's kind of slower. It's a much novella.
00:45:05
Speaker
But it's it's just it's yeah, you're right. It's more tender. It's like a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Yeah, I like always struggle with novellas because I ask myself the question of like, well, like, am I supposed to be left like wanting more wishing it was a full length novel? Is that like the goal of a novella? Or should I be satisfied with what I get? Because I feel like I go 50 50 with novellas. Sometimes I'm like, that was exactly what I needed. That was perfect. I don't need any more. But then there are some times where I'm like, damn, I wish this was a full novel. And should that be the goal of novellas? I don't know. Something for you to ponder.
00:45:35
Speaker
That's a good question.
00:45:37
Speaker
My recent fave is One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. I think Brandi would love this book. No, I said I was nervous about the elements of Cadence, but I think Brandi would really like this one. It's also perfect for going into spooky season. This episode is coming out in October. Oh, that's the one where the monster is living in her head, right? Yes. So the romance is more of a subplot. So it is not a romanticy. I wouldn't classify it as one, but it's the magic system is so, so unique. I've never read anything like it. I don't
00:46:06
Speaker
want to say too much. But yeah, a big piece of this book is that the main character Elspeth, Elspeth, I hope I'm saying that right. I physically read this one. So I don't actually hear her name and how it's pronounced. She got sick when she was younger. And essentially this, this sickness and normally these like people who get sick get killed, or they get like,
00:46:29
Speaker
put away, but she, her sickness was kept secret and everything, but she has what's called the nightmare, quote unquote, living in her head and basically like talks to her and helps her like have powers and things like that. It's just, it's so good. It's perfect, like I said, for fall and it's kind of, it's an adult as well. I thought it was YA going to do it. It's actually adult. It's kind of, there's certain moments that are kind of gory and kind of gross, but it's so good.
00:46:58
Speaker
I had so much Death and Signa brain rot that when Kayla told me to follow this book, I was like, oh, did she fall in love with a monster in her head? And she's like, no, the monster is not very nice. No, he's not very nice. I mean, it's you kind of like weirdly care about him, even though he's like kind of the villain. I don't know. It's really interesting. It's very unique. It's just like I said, it's unlike anything I've ever read in a fantasy. So I'm not a highly right now.
00:47:25
Speaker
And it's a duology, and the next book comes out in October. So it'll be done in less than a month. Very excited. Kendra, have you read any recently? Or Box Club, right? She hated it, so. Oh, yeah. You said recent faves, girl. Let's be honest. Oh, my God.
00:47:45
Speaker
No, no. I will like the the fantasy that I read before Fox Club was divine rivals and I enjoyed that. So well, that was a long time ago at this point. I'm so sorry. I am not.
00:47:58
Speaker
excited for the second divine rivals book. I know everyone's like, I mean, like I am, but I'm, I'm not. You're just like, it's a book that's coming out or you don't think you're going to read that excited for a certain reason. I, I am not a fan of a trope and that will be presented in it. I think it's actually like my least favorite trope. So I don't know why she's doing it. We'll see how it's done. I'm, I'm, I trust Rebecca Ross just based off of the three books I've read. So,
00:48:26
Speaker
We'll see. Do you guys have fantasy books that are on your TBR that you're really excited for?
Anticipated Fantasy Reads and Future Plans
00:48:32
Speaker
Lomi texted me and Kayla and she was like, this is not a new book, but she texted us and she was like, hey guys. Kayla was like, are you going to ask for a book rec? And Lomi was like,
00:48:42
Speaker
No, but isn't it funny how I'm always taking your book rack so you guys never take mine? So I will be reading Dance of Thieves after I finish this Kennedy Ryan series. That's on my list and has been on my list because Elomi and now Monica too is like always like, Kendra, like you have to read it, you have to read it. But Lauren Ashton messaged me and was like, hey, actually, you should read the series that comes before it because it all ties together. So I'm like, oh, my God, that's so many books.
00:49:10
Speaker
Lomi said the same thing. Lomi said that we would get more out of Dance of Thieves, that duology, if we had read the trilogy before, but we don't need to. So I will not be reading the first one. That's the exact same thing that happened with the Cara Ball series and Once Upon a Broken Heart. I really, really did not want to read an entire trilogy in order to have to read this other series. And you absolutely don't. However, you will miss like a couple of things in context. Yeah. But what I did was I went onto the Cara Ball Wiki page.
00:49:38
Speaker
And I read all up on the characters that are in Once Upon a Broken Heart, and that was enough for me.
00:49:45
Speaker
As far as like books that are on my TBR or that I'm looking forward to, yeah, Dance of Thieves. That is definitely on my TBR because of Lomi. And then like other books that haven't released yet, Two Twisted Crowns, which is the second book in the One Dark Window series, Ruthless Vows. I don't need to explain that one. Iron Flame in November. We'll be picking that up on release day. Those are like the main ones for me at the moment.
00:50:10
Speaker
Oh, and oh, duh, A Curse for True Love, October 24th, the third book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. You're obsessed with reading Unfinished series. Brian, I don't know why she has it to herself. What can I say? It doesn't like it doesn't bother me. I mean, obviously like I'm like, oh, my God, I need the next book now. How am I going to wait? Blah, blah, blah, blah. But like, I don't know. I need instant gratification. Yeah, I need to know what happens and I need to know it right now.
00:50:44
Speaker
I don't trust my, I don't trust myself to like, buddy read a fantasy with you guys since Magnolia Parks. Yeah, fantasy like, cause you guys are just like different fantasy girls. I'm just not on like the same fantasy level, but I'm doing like the friend's TBR challenge and then Taz's book that she wanted me to read was some Cassandra Clare book. I'm looking at it right now, but I can't see the title.
00:50:59
Speaker
I can, I can deal with it. I obviously dance with Thebes, but like, we'll see. That's not going to happen anytime soon, to be honest.
00:51:06
Speaker
No, not that one No, it's that No, you guys are thinking of a different series. Oh wait Oh clockwork angel. I don't know. It's the one with the black and white cover. Is it angel? I don't know. I don't know guys
00:51:22
Speaker
It's a part. It's a trilogy that's based off of the whole other city of bones. I don't know. It's Cassandra Clare. Like, yeah. And then I want to read Fourth Wing, but I'm like, do I want to read Fourth Wing? I don't know. It's just one of those things where I feel like I just that's going to be something that I'm going to have to like sit out on until it's done or something. I don't know. Oh, wait. Done.
00:51:42
Speaker
Ms. Shabima Hern herself, the author of Serpent and Dove, is coming out with a spin-off series and the book is called The Scarlet Bell and it comes out next week and I'm gonna go buy it. Don't know when I'm gonna read it but I am gonna buy it. And it's gonna be like with vampires and it follows a character from the Serpent and Dove series who I just thought was like so fucking annoying.
00:52:04
Speaker
until the end. And so it will be exciting to see that person get a love story. And I just want to see like everyone else too. Fantasy girls forever and ever. Right, Kendra?
00:52:18
Speaker
Right? Sure. So go on to our Instagram. Bring your own pod and tell us on this episode post what your favorite fantasy books are and any that you have on your TBR. If you enjoyed us talking about these fantasy books, we would really appreciate if you could rate this podcast five stars. And then yeah, follow our pod Instagram and our personal
00:52:44
Speaker
Bookstagrams are linked there if you want to keep up with us. And if you're like, please stop talking, then maybe we'll. Good job, everybody. Good job, Kendra. We'll see you next week with a very special guest. Oh, yeah. Very special. Very, very special. Yee-haw, everybody. Yee-haw. We'll see you then. Get your cowboy boots. Get your cowboy boots and get your passports around Canada, babe. Woo! All right. Woo! Bye.