Fiction Fanatics
Three friends discuss their favorite books and fanfiction. New episodes every Tuesday!
Fiction Fanatics
We Love Diverse Fantasy!
Buckle up for an episode that's as unpredictable as a car birth—which, yes, you heard right, might be a real possibility for Stacy! We're weaving through the cosmic laughter of shared astrological signs and TV series that steal our hearts, like "The Sandman" and "The Dead Boy Detectives." And if you're in search of a show that brings the house down with humor and representation, let "We Are Lady Parts" tickle your funny bone. We're chatting all things pop culture and personal milestones, with stories and suggestions that'll have you hooked from the get-go.
Turn the pages with us as we get into the meat of fantasy literature—one where humor clashes with the serious business of magic and representation. It's a landscape where "A Court of Mist and Fury" can leave us hungry for more inclusive character palettes, and books like "A Day of Fallen Night" serve up the cultural diversity we crave. Whether we're rooting for the knight in shining armor or falling for the bad boy, we're celebrating the narratives that shake up the norm and immerse us in worlds inspired by rich, varied heritages. In this chapter of our lives, the reading list is long and every title brings with it a promise of escapism and enlightenment.
As we round off with a nod to our book club picks, we're not just talking spine-tingling reads like "Butcher and Blackbird"—we're living through the real-life suspense of Stacy's pending labor. Reflecting on our podcast journey, we share giggles over the unparalleled genius of "The Office's" "Dinner Party" episode and drop hints about our deep-dive into Sarah J. Maas's work. So pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage, and join us for an episode that promises equal parts laughter, heartfelt companionship, and a treasure trove of must-hear recommendations.
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
Hi, I'm Chanel.
Speaker 2:Hi, I'm Stacey hey nerds.
Speaker 1:This is Ashley and this is Fiction Fanatics. We're here. We're here, we're here. My mom was asking. She was like has stacy had her baby?
Speaker 2:yet and I was like nope, it's not what's happening. Listen, it's happening tomorrow. I'm telling you, I'm taking her to her doctor's appointment and it's gonna. We're putting a trash bag down in the car in case the baby comes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cause you don't want to get your car.
Speaker 2:We can't get Ashley's Tesla wet with my amniotic fluids, like I'm sure it would come out and be fine. But you know I don't want to risk it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, can't risk that Elon Musk car. Can we now stop?
Speaker 2:I have enough guilt about it risk that Elon Musk car can we Now stop. I have enough guilt about it, but Ivy's coming on Monday. That's what's happening.
Speaker 1:Okay, if that's what you say, she's going to be a Taurus, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, she'll be a Taurus. I think that's what Skylar is. Yeah, he is. He's a Taurus.
Speaker 1:When's his birthday?
Speaker 2:Tuesday. What if you have your baby on Skylar is? Yeah, he is, he's a Taurus. When's his birthday? Tuesday? What if you have your baby on Skylar's birthday? It's good luck to have a baby on someone else's birthday, is it?
Speaker 1:You're just saying that because you share a birthday.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, you don't know, chanel, it's good luck. Look, she just pulled that out of her butt, she just made it up.
Speaker 1:it's good luck because I'm a twin it's good luck when you share a birthday with someone it is made that shit up, oh my gosh. Well, okay, let's do. We haven't done rex. Do you guys have some good rex? What are you watching?
Speaker 2:yes, I do. I want to go first. Of course she does. Yeah, so did you guys watch? You watched all watch the sandman right on netflix. I know she loves the comics. It's her like fave. Yeah, I didn't watch it. Don't kill me, ashley. I know I got me so into it I know I did.
Speaker 1:I was like stacy you need to watch.
Speaker 2:And did you know? This is just random? Um, because you know my favorite cartoon is coralline. You know that he wrote coralline. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got a special edition book of coralline.
Speaker 1:That came out, anyway, I'll show you later.
Speaker 2:It's great, I love him.
Speaker 1:He's my I want pictures. I want pictures you're gonna die.
Speaker 2:It's gorgeous, okay, so um, I started watching the the dead boy detective. You know it's the same universe, same universe death is in the first episode Because Death was my favorite character. The episode with Death was my favorite episode. It was amazing. The actress who plays her is amazing. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:I know, so I'm going to watch that next. Yes, because I heard it was amazing.
Speaker 2:You have to. It's everything you'd want. I was watching it with Theo and Toby and you have to. It's everything you'd want. I was watching with Theo and Toby and the opening credit scene is so great. The music is these skeletons like dancing. It's very like gothic, but kind of, and they're ghosts and they don't want to. I don't want to give too much away because the story is fantastic, but basically they help other ghosts find peace so that they can transition to, but at the same time that they're helping them, they have to hide because death is looking for them too, because they need to transition, but they don't want to. And it's in the same universe you said. And it is excellent, excellent, excellent. Um, the cast is great. It goes good with our episode because there's a lot of people of color in it. Like it's very diverse, very diverse cast. It's funny, it's sad, like, oh, I'm so excited, you're gonna love it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've only watched the first episode, um, but it was excellent I did watch the first episode, but skylar didn't like it, so I'll be watching it on my own um do you feel like stacy, you need to watch the sandman to watch it, or no?
Speaker 2:no, okay, they don't other than death. They don't really like and it's definitely a different vibe. I feel like sandman's very serious a lot, you know, um, so I don't think you necessarily have to, but I definitely think it's a different vibe. So it would make sense that maybe skylar doesn't like it as much, even if you like sandman, theo likes it okay, but it's definitely more of like a of a show like us three would really like it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, more of our vibe, but 10 out of 10 it's amazing did you say skylar likes sandman ashley? I don't think he's seen sandman oh but, he did. He didn't like I don't think he's watched sandman, but he didn't like. He didn't even finish the first episode with me of this of the dead boys uh detective agents lame, lame now I liked it. I liked it a lot actually lame.
Speaker 1:Well, okay, my rec is, which you guys have to watch. Now that you have you, I was like stacy, if you need another show, no, always finish. The dead boy detectives is um on peacock. It's called we are lady parts. It is my new favorite show. I'm obsessed um, and it is about set in um, london, britain.
Speaker 1:Um, a group of girls. It's so funny. It's a group of girls. It's so funny. It's a group of girls who are Muslim and they start a punk band and they they're like looking for a lead guitarist and I love it because they're all like different colors and they all like represent, obviously, you know, muslim women, like just this different diaspora, um, where you know one girl is, you know, very non-conservative. You know she has like tattoos and she's not covered up. And then, um, there's another girl who, like has a full head scarf and, um, another girl I'm I don't know any of the names for all of this, but she has like a full, like face covering and head covering and it's just great.
Speaker 1:It's. It's like about their lives of like you know finding, like you know, husbands, because their family puts this pressure on them as as well as like going to school and and just being friends, like they're all best friends, but like breaking these like stereotypes that people put on minorities as well as as Muslim women, because you know, everyone wants them to obviously be so traditional. But like, here they are, you know, in a punk band and one of their songs is voldemort is under my head scarf. Oh my god, I I have to watch the show. It's so fucking funny, dude.
Speaker 1:Like it's so funny, like it's just obviously, um, it's like some of the lyrics is just like how people are so scared about you know mus, muslim people wearing headscarves, and then they're like well, he's alive, he's under my headscarf. I was fucking crying, but yeah, I mean, it's just so great. Like I said, it just shows this diaspora like one girl's Black, one girl's like Pakistani and the other girl's Iraqi, and so they're like all different girl's black, one girl's like pakistani and their girl's iraqi, and so they're like all different um skin tones and races, and um, it's so good, it's so freaking good, and the main guy is so cute.
Speaker 2:So anyway, you guys have to watch it. That sounds great, it's amazing, so yeah um, my rec is have you guys watched fallout yet?
Speaker 1:yeah, I haven't seen it.
Speaker 2:It's based off of the video game which I didn't know. There was a video game. I've never heard of this video game. People love it, I guess. But what's it on Stacey? Is it on Amazon? It's on Amazon. It is so good, it's really good. I think you'd like it, Chanel. It's really funny but also serious in parts and it's just it's like an alternate universe and like little things are different. That's happened, like in american history, so then.
Speaker 2:But like so then everything is kind of different and it's like the end of the world and these people living in vaults, and it's funny and it's good and that's gonna be my halloween costume this year. I'm gonna go as a faulty person. You're gonna go as the main girl. You guys look very similar. You'll just have to get bangs again. I I don't know if I can do bangs again, but that's a compliment because she's beautiful. Um, it's the girl from yellow jackets. Did you know that? The girl who plays her? That's what um skylar said, because I think skylar watched it. Um, but yeah, I was like this is my hallow Halloween costume because this is amazing. You know, there's all these fan fictions about the ghoul right now. It's like a ghoul is like a zombie in this show, but he's hot, I'll send you a photo, is he?
Speaker 2:I'm not really into it. Like he's a very good actor and the character is great, but I'm just like not really. It's not doing it for me, but some people love them, so maybe I'm just saying my tiktok's full of. Like women don't want to be in the woods with a man, we'll take a bear and they'd rather see the ghoul than a real man. Like it's great, um, but really I feel like that's only that's the only new thing I've been watching. I'm almost uh, I'm the last season of seineld and I don't know what I'm going to do with my life when I finish this show.
Speaker 1:You can watch his new movie Unfrosted, which I haven't heard good things about.
Speaker 2:So I watched the trailer for it because there's a lot of funny people in it, but the reviews are terrible, terrible, which is what I feel like happens all the time when they put two. Did you see the ghoul chanel? I sent it to you. Yeah, I'm not into that either.
Speaker 2:You would if you watch the show nobody's on that stacy um, but I feel like when you get movies with like so many famous people and stuff, sometimes that happens. I think it's also supposed to be like a stupid funny kind of movie and those are so hard to do, like yes, like stepbrothers, like there's a fine line of it, yes, too much, and then not funny, and like dumb and dumber is amazing. But like you got to find the right, like you said, the right balance, the right balance of.
Speaker 1:One of my favorite stupid funny movies is pineapple express oh my god, it's so funny that is one of. That's like one of my top favorite movies of all time. I mean, I know james franco, but fucking men literally everything it's like one of my favorites also, because my um, I mean he has like literally like less than five minutes of screen time, but um, at the beginning, at the beginning that he's a um uh.
Speaker 2:What's his face from snl?
Speaker 1:uh, no, um why am I flaking on spader?
Speaker 2:spader um that's not spader um. He's in berry, oh my god, oh my gosh, what's his name?
Speaker 1:he's dating ali wong he's amazing oh, bill hater, bill hater, not spader so terrible, anything but I mean I, I love stupid funny movies like yeah I like I think you're right, it has to be a good balance because sometimes it can come off.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just unfunny and I'm wondering if that's what happened. I watched the trailer and I'm like maybe that's what the problem is. I don't know. I haven't watched it yet. Though did I tell you my favorite, my funny jerry seinfeld story?
Speaker 2:no, did I love something I love seinfeld, so no shade, you know I love that show like whatever. So me and my friend Jen went. She paid right after I had Toby. I was like a few months postpartum. She had tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld stand up and Tara Ho and she was like do you want to come with me? Like my treat, it'll be fun. And I was like, oh yeah, it's gonna be so fun. We love Seinfeld, it's gonna be great. We get there.
Speaker 2:We are not the as as two women who are very open and feminist and like all this not saying that you can't, I'm not explaining anyway, it was just like we weren't the right target audience, if that makes sense, and so like maybe we were a little drunk and stuff and maybe we didn't think it was funny. And then we got drunk and was laughing because the opener was like this 75 year old man that's his friend. He was like making wife jokes and all the stuff. People are eating it up, people are loving me and jen are like, well, you're also in terre haute. So, yeah, people are.
Speaker 2:I'm like so loud because I hadn't been drinking. I was like do you think this is funny? Everyone's laughing and we're not laughing. And then she was laughing and then I was I mean, jerry seinfeld, that was pretty, it was fine. But I was just like we were definitely not like the target audience, like I can't believe we drove an hour to come see that yeah, it's so interesting because I feel like seinfeld was almost like before it's time type thing with like elaine and stuff.
Speaker 2:You know, like I for the most part I guess about stuff like that, so like I said I think it was more the opener was like literally he was like 72 and making wife jokes and we were just like oh yeah, but also I was gonna say, like jerry seinfeld's aged, so like yeah, that's true he just jokes have aged which, like I mean no offense, though stacy, like his stand-up before the episodes aren't good, like yeah, like I mean the show was funny, but like I don't know so much if, if his stand-up is hilarious, which is what I saw.
Speaker 1:A lot of the comments people were saying like well, it just like larry david was clearly the genius behind that.
Speaker 2:That's what I saw and I love larry quoting looks just like no, no shade, no tea.
Speaker 1:But I'm just letting you know I'm quoting what I saw on the internet about unfrosted. That is what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Well, like Seinfeld wouldn't be what it is without the supporting cast. Like them together was the magic of Seinfeld. Yeah, yeah, yes, as well as the writers, which includes so I can't even watch Curb your Enthusiasm without crying, laughing.
Speaker 1:Cause it's just that show is so off the rails I've never seen it.
Speaker 2:It's so funny.
Speaker 1:I've never seen it. I need to watch it because it's about to end. It's just so funny. He's such an asshole and it's so great I'm going to wait until it ends. That's what I was going gonna invent all like 50 seasons that's what I've been doing with seinfeld, so yeah, um, but but yes, so, um, so, yeah, so yeah, that's what we've been watching our wrecks um, anyway, okay.
Speaker 1:So today's episode, now that we've chatted a bit, is I was texting you guys and also my cousin hannah, who we had on um last. It was a few months ago. A few months ago, yeah, we did akatar and complaining about, complaining about a court of mist and fury. Um, while I was reading you guys already read it- right, yes, I've read it so I'm in the middle of reading and it's really good so far.
Speaker 1:yeah, I'm about almost a third of the way through and I like it. But my thing is I'm like there's just no diversity, there's just yeah, yeah, give me anyone that has any pigment in their skin, which actually apparently Alice she described her. I guess she has brown skin, but I'm like, of course she's the servant, but also like she's like.
Speaker 2:I mean they say brown skin, but isn't it also like more like they describe it as like she's more of a fantasy type fairy. It's not like. She's not like very human looking right, say, see, like, isn't it supposed to be like tree bark or something like yeah, she's definitely more fantasy. I. My problem is a lot of times when these characters are described it's very vague on purpose, and so sometimes I feel like authors do that so that when you can come back and say, oh, a lot of your characters are white, where's the diversity? Then they try to say, well, I describe like she describes Lucien as having like sun-kissed skin and it's like very vague. You know what I mean. I think that's on purpose, sometimes the same with well, real fast, before you get into the weeds with it. Just so everybody knows if you don't know, but I'm sure you do if you're here that we are reading a court of mist and fury for this month by sarah j mash mass, and so we're just like chatting a little bit about it before getting books.
Speaker 2:But, um, so didn't you say it was the same thing with reese, though the way that they kind of describe him and like the clothing and stuff of the night court that it's supposed to quote, unquote, come off as non-white, but yeah, actually says that's what my cousin hannah said too.
Speaker 1:she's like I think they're supposed to be like a little bit darker than she's, like the illyrian, like cassian and asriel, and I was like, well, that wasn't clear at all, but because they she kind of said they had sun-kissed skin as well, a little bit darker, but I was like that's not clear at all, like she mainly describes their hair as like dark.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've read articles. It's like I said, it's very vague. A lot of people say like because they talk about like the clothing.
Speaker 2:I always thought the first time I read it, when she you know the first part, when she's in the nightcore or whatever almost reminds me of like Princess Jasmine like clothing that she wears and so a lot of people like say that she's trying to insinuate that Rhysand's actual court not necessarily the Illyrian warriors are like this Middle Eastern Egyptian, like they're supposed to be, that complexion, but like I said, it's very vague. You know what I mean. It never comes, you know yeah so I don't.
Speaker 1:I am not giving her the benefit of the doubt because I'm like, if you wanted to say that, just say it. Just say that they're, they have brown skin, or just say that they, that it's more like describe middle Eastern culture.
Speaker 1:If that's what you're trying to get at like, don't be vague with it because then that's like a cop out to me I guess you know what I mean when I've read other books by white authors who are drawing on middle eastern cultures or asian cultures and and it's like it's because they wanted that influence. So it's like okay, we're using these names, we're using these cultures, these foods or whatever, and so it's like why are you purposefully being vague so that you know, no one really knows what it is. They have to like. They have to like find these and like read between the lines.
Speaker 2:I don't know, it's just like weird, like search for it yeah it really is a missed opportunity, though, too, because, um, if that was quote-unquote what she was going for, it's like all of these different courts could like represent, like different cultures kind of, and like what a cool way to show, like trying to like no spoiler alert for anything but, um, like trying to quote unquote, bring people together and stuff that are like the same but different. And, yeah, it's too bad because that would have been cool, yeah, yeah definitely, definitely, and like yeah, there's only there, as far as I know.
Speaker 2:But I'm, I'm I'm reading the third book right now, so it could change, but as far as I know, there's only one court. Yeah, that she've come, actually comes out and says that there are actual people of color in it, just yeah one which is in this book, but and that's it, like there's no other mention of anybody else yeah, yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 2:Basically, I was like this is stupid you know what, when you, when you mentioned that you wanted to talk about this, it actually made me think of seven days in june. Um, the book that we just finished reading, because the main character in that, like her fantasy series of like vampires and witches that she wrote. Do you remember when she was talking to that director and she wanted to cast the main characters as white or like one of them or whatever? And this director tries to justify it, or how do they say it? They're talking about like, even in fantasy, where, like it's all made up, like, this is all clearly made up like they're, you can't even like.
Speaker 2:It's a big deal to even have a person of color in a fantasy novel like as a freaking fairy like these are fairies.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean, or? Which, or so yeah, it's yeah it's just like but they're, they're fake, they're made up, they're like who cares? It's, it's almost. It's like back to like the little mermaid thing, where it's like okay, but why are you getting mad that the little mermaid's black when like, like, who said the mermaid was white?
Speaker 2:first. First of all, it's a fucking mermaid.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so yeah, it's like it's a made up thing.
Speaker 2:People are wild. People are wild to try to hide their racism so blatantly with that stuff, especially mermaid stuff.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I just wanted to talk about other books that are more diverse. Some of that. Let's talk about ones that we like, that we like that we've read or that we want to read go ahead, okay.
Speaker 2:Well, me and chanel have talked about this.
Speaker 1:I think one of the ones that sticks out the most for me that I've read in the last year was legend born yeah, that was a great book, great and um, it was great great love triangle, oh my gosh, like I don't even like love triangles as a trope, but like when it's done right, um it's, it's great.
Speaker 2:So yeah, it was just like a great fantasy book. It had a lot of depth, even. I think sometimes the love triangles get annoying because it's like the instant, like we love each other instantly and like but why? Why are you so obsessed you can't pick?
Speaker 2:why, there's a there's like a lot of friendship and depth with the, the two other characters she meets in the triangle, and but it still focuses on her story, on her like parents, the social, outside aspect that isn't even supernatural, like like with the police and stuff and yeah it's so well written. Yeah, that was one of my favorite books last year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I need to read the second one. It's also like the I don't know if theme is the right word, but it's like Sir Arthur, kind of like Merlin based. So like, yeah, their magic is based off of that system. So like each of the people in I don't know the court or I don't know how to describe the magic system is cool, it's unique, it's different yes, so they draw on their like ancestors magic and so their bloodline is tied to one of the knights in sir arthur's court.
Speaker 1:So, um, I thought that was just so interesting to be like, yeah, because, um, yeah, yeah, so you're like I have, you know, this kind of magic because generations ago, you know, my ancestor was this knight and he's known for this, and so, yeah, I thought that was really interesting and unique and I mean it's also cool, the two guys in the triangle like one's kind of the bad boy and one's kind of you know, the good guy, and so we love that.
Speaker 2:You know it's well written because I, ashley, I love the good guy and I am never a good guy picker, remember you know.
Speaker 1:I told you I was like I mean.
Speaker 2:I don't know what was wrong with me, but like I was all about about his, like the reason he was good and his struggles is just like really well written and yeah, that's true, that's very true, because I really like him too, but I also like the bad guy. Sel, I know you like Sel. I mean his name is the best I need to read this Selwyn.
Speaker 1:Come on, selwyn. Such a good name, selwyn. So, yes, that's a good book. One of my recs is which I just read is A Day of Fall and Night. A Day of Fall and Night by Samantha Shannon is, uh, a day of fallen night, a day of fallen night by samantha shannon, and she's actually a white author, but, like I, you can see like which, I think you have this book right I have.
Speaker 2:I I randomly was got the illumicrate special editions of them so there's only two. There's two.
Speaker 1:So, ashley, when we were having tea remember it's okay, it was so funny stacy, so we're having tea, we literally get seated and I was like okay, ashley, like give me like five minutes, because so the alumicrate editions of these stacy they reposted them to. I guess they had extras or something of a day of fall and night and the priority of the orange tree, and I didn't have the special editions and I was like I need to get these, they're so beautiful. So I said Ashley I know this was our first time going to afternoon tea in London I was like Ashley, give me five minutes. I like have to, I have to buy these because they're going on sale right now.
Speaker 1:She's like it's okay. I'm like don't talk to me, for like the next century did you get?
Speaker 2:it.
Speaker 1:I got them both. They're so beautiful.
Speaker 2:I know, yeah, oh, my god, yeah, those are the ones I have. Yeah, those are the ones. They're gorgeous, they're gorgeous anyway.
Speaker 1:So, um, I just finished um reading the first one, a day of fallen night, and talk about a white author that does fantasy and brings diversity to like a fantasy world. Amazing, she she's actually um sapphic, this samantha shannon so she brings like there was queer representation and there was diversity, like it's. The vibe is kind of Game of Thrones, where there's lots of you know kingdoms and queendoms and you know warriors, and so that was really great. Obviously I love Game of Thrones, clearly you know, and but like we, like you, were kind of talking about ashley where each of these like regions represented different regions or inspirations in the world.
Speaker 2:So like, what a inspiration for a world it was.
Speaker 1:it was amazing like there was like these eastern mountains and they're based off of asian cultures and so the main character there she is, you know, based off of you know kind of Japanese culture. And then you know, the Southern region is kind of based off of like West African culture and mythology. There are these, it's amazing, these women warriors who are Black and they guard this tree, the orange tree, and then the men take care of the kids and cook and clean. I was like I want to live in this society, same, but it was just, it's just amazing and there's like an Icelandic Nordic culture and yeah, it's, it was. It's done right. Um, even you know, not being a person of color, you know what I mean she did a ton of research and, um, she talks about that and like and on our social media and stuff. So it's a really good book. I can't wait to read the, the next one, and so everyone should read it.
Speaker 2:I have so many books on my TBR but I want to. I want to read legend born before that series. Yeah, I will say legend born is really great to listen to the narrator.
Speaker 1:It's very good Okay.
Speaker 2:Okay, cause I listened to. I do a lot where, like, if I really like a book, I listened to it and then I get it. So I like listen to a lot of it, and then I was reading it, especially if I'm reading it at work so I can flip back and forth but, um, cause it's set in the South, right, yeah, so the, the author, or the author, the narrator, has a really good Southern accent when they do it.
Speaker 2:So, okay, I'll put that on my Libby, though All right, libby, then to listen to soon, yeah, yeah well, I could not talk about one of my favorite books that I've read this year when you, when we wanted to talk about, like more diverse fantasy, which is the weight of blood, like when I tell you I still think about this book. It was just the way that this author wrote this book I just even like the side characters.
Speaker 2:It's just the book is amazing and it's not like an in your face kind of like fantasy book where, like um, it's obviously not like fair, it's like a retelling, kind of, of the um of Carrie. Yeah, so it is still fantasy because there's like this witchy vibe to it.
Speaker 2:Um, but like, just sign me up one for a strong character or a strong woman, not even a character, strong woman character, main character, but then a person of color, that's a strong female character it's just you know you don't get it a lot and, um, you like love her from the beginning and I just thought it was so well done and, yeah, I'm serious, it's like one of my favorite books that I've read still that I've read this year did you listen to the audiobook? Yes, it was the audiobook and, um, right now it was like it was a woman and a man that did the audiobook.
Speaker 1:I think it was yeah, there was a few, because it kind of bounced all over like because it was like the podcast, yes, but then it was um, then it was the main girl, like maddie and then, kenny right and then also some of kenny's girlfriend which was it was like I just love the different points of views of things and it's so interesting, like the care, like especially the main problematic character.
Speaker 2:I can't even think of her name now because she drove me so crazy. What was her name?
Speaker 1:Oh I don't know.
Speaker 2:I blocked it out because I fucking hated her, but like, but when you listen from her point of view, it's just crazy how people rationalize things when you, when you're listening to from her, from her point of view, she just can't understand what she's doing wrong. Like she in her soul does not think that. You know what I mean. It's just wild to me. Oh, and it's so well done and it's a pretty quick read. It wasn't like super long either. So um to to be such a great book. That is on the shorter end.
Speaker 1:I think is hard to do sometimes and uh yeah that's why I was telling you guys to do the audio books. I was like I don't know how you could read it because the audio book was so great, like you said, to get all the points of view. Yeah, I just loved like the podcast. They would switch to that and you'd be getting their little podcasting interviews.
Speaker 2:It's just it's just so great Cause I've taken a break from it, Cause my anxiety can't handle it, but I love true crime podcasts. So it was like almost like listening to it, Like I wanted to know what was happening in this story. I was like what the fuck is going on in this town? What happened?
Speaker 1:It was so well done. It was just.
Speaker 2:So like um 10 out of 10 would recommend that book, like Maddie is such a great character and it was just it's going to be a hard one to beat for me this year. We'll have to do this is random. At the end of the year we'll have to like pick our favorite book of the whole year or something. It's going to be hard to do.
Speaker 1:It's going to be so hard.
Speaker 2:How are we going to do it? I was just looking. I've been tracking my books this year, what I've read and I so I was like looking at it before this, and I've read a lot of great books this year. So far They've been good, but I'm telling you it would be hard to beat this book. I think out of the books I've read this year, it's still my favorite, so I know that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, I I can't. Oh. Yeah, I read that in january because I was gonna say a day of fall at night. That just became one of my favorite books because I freaking loved it so much so I don't know. But the weight of blood was that was a good one too, so well done it's. It's gonna be hard, but um, yeah, um I talk about way to blood.
Speaker 2:We got to talk about um theater to the beast, and the beast is me. I haven't read it yet, though the sequel's coming out this year.
Speaker 1:You know, chanel, yeah yeah, yeah, should I forgot about that one.
Speaker 2:That was a good one, that's another good one to listen to because it's set in france and france, and so you get a lot of the really beautiful like uh, because I listened to that one, which I highly recommend because there's a lot of french in it and the narrator has a beautiful accent. It reminds me of trish from etl echo yes, oh, I didn't even think of that.
Speaker 1:I read it, I read it.
Speaker 2:But oh, yeah, you're right, it probably would have been good as an audio book and it's very similar, like ashley said, to way to blood, because it's not, it is very. It's more fantasy the more you read it, but like it's not in your face, fantasy, yeah I like to call it like you would know way to blood. Is fantasy really until like I mean? I guess it starts out fantasy, like what happens, but like it just all seems like it can be explained away somehow until like the end of it.
Speaker 1:So yeah, yeah, like there's also thriller kind of elements to it and but there is magic kind of you know what I mean. So it it falls under a couple different categories. I guess you know what I mean. But yeah, you need to. You need to read um, I feed her to the beast because that's because you, like, I never watched black swan, but I loved black swan yeah it was wild. It's got the same, the same vibes. You know what I mean, where it's it's um.
Speaker 2:Our friend ashley read that book and she loved it isn't that the? One that yeah, that's the one that she read, that she loved and I need to to. I brought Ashley a book back from London that was signed by the author. What book was that?
Speaker 1:one, chanel, that was when Sleeping Girls Lie. That is a like that's a dark academia kind of mystery thriller. There's no magic in that, unfortunately.
Speaker 2:That's like on my list. My list is out of control right now.
Speaker 1:Yes, that's a good book too, but, but no, it's a different one. Um no, I was gonna say um the daughter of the moon, goddess oh, you love that one I read this year. Have you read it, stacy?
Speaker 1:no, but it's um on my list because you liked it so much it's a really good book, um, a fantasy book, by Su Lin Tan, and it's it's about a girl on girl on a cloud. Her and her mom are the mom is the moon goddess, and then her dad is like she doesn't know, but he, the mom and dad had her and he was a human. And the mom stole some elixir to make her immortal and didn't know she was pregnant and so she got banished. She stole it from the Celestial Emperor and they banished her to the moon.
Speaker 1:And so she, um, she took her and her daughter, what she like they got banished to the moon and basically you don't know what happened to the dad, the human dad, um, and now, like, she's being found out that she has a daughter, that she's been keeping up there, and so the daughter, like, goes and she trains in the Celestial Kingdom, like under, like a hidden name, with the son, and she, like is really good archer and blah, well, if I train to become, you know, the best archer in the army, like she's like I'll get granted one wish, like that's what she's like training for, and her one wish to get granted by the emperor and empress. Like she's like I'm going to wish that they like free my mom, like you know, but obviously they don't, you know, they don't know who she is because she's like hiding under, like I said, um, some hidden name and um, and so, yeah, there's a really good love triangle in that too, like with the emperor's son and then like the head of the army, kind of like mulan, um, who's the? Who's the guy in mulan that we love? Um, um, what's his name? Why am I blanking out that mulan falls for? Why am I blanking out?
Speaker 2:oh, my gosh yeah um anyway, it's so funny that I'm blanking on this, because my friend literally just sent me the guy who does his voice oh who's the whitest man of all time like get a live adept of singing.
Speaker 1:It dressed up in costume recently and I watched and I was dying and I was like oh, that's a lot has the best soundtrack of any disney does, but um, but anyway, he's like he's the head of the army and he's like training her and they fall in love.
Speaker 2:So she's like between yes, okay, sorry, she's between him and the emperor's son who she like falls in love with.
Speaker 1:It's a really good love story anyway. But there's dragons and there's like snakes and the emperor's son who she like falls in love with. It's a really good love story anyway. But there's dragons and there's like snakes and all this stuff and it's, but she's like I can't focus on these boys. I gotta save my mom, I gotta be the best archer and all this stuff. So she, she gets lost in between the romance like I love it.
Speaker 2:Also. I love it when the female, the lead female character, is an archer for some reason. That'd be my dream. I would want to have a bow and arrow and be like Katniss Everdeen out there, I know. See, I would always want like daggers, like spin them around, throw them. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah, you want some hand-to-hand combat.
Speaker 1:That's what you want, yeah. You can't do that's right but yeah, it's a really I need to read the second one because I obviously finished the first book. It's a duology, but um, but no, it's really good if you want a good love triangle and chinese mythology and um, so yeah, yeah, I love a good love triangle.
Speaker 2:I like love triangles I do too.
Speaker 1:Like I said, it has to be written well, because, even the bad ones.
Speaker 2:I like you liked harry ron and hermione. Don't get me started on that fucking love triangle.
Speaker 1:There's only one person for hermione, okay, and we all know remus lupin I've been reading a lot of remus and hermione fics lately, so I'm in, I'm in that phase, but you know she also good. Snape and Hermione, I love you guys are insane.
Speaker 2:I'm still not on this train and I've read some time turn or fix okay, and I am not on board. I don't like it. I don't like it but I'm not yucking your yum. You guys like it away we love a good Hermione.
Speaker 1:You know that number one. Anyway, I'm not yucking your yum, you guys like it away. We love a good germani. You know that Number one. Anyway, yeah, yeah, yeah, you guys. Okay, what about if you guys don't have any more recs? Do you guys have any ones that you want to read?
Speaker 2:Yeah, every one that you guys just talked about that has been on my list this whole year, legend Born being number one, and number two would be feeder to the beast, and then the books that you just bought, chanel. I really want to read them, but they look really long, and so I got to get in the right headspace to commit yeah, they're like over 800 pages so I'm like, but it took me like a month and a half to actually I can't decide if I want to read legend born first or feeder to the beast, because for some reason feeder to the beast seems like something I would like more do.
Speaker 2:Feeder to the beast because I feel like it's definitely like you'll like legend born, but it's such a vibe because you get like this french culture it's fancy, fancy school ballerinas, like it seems very ashley.
Speaker 1:I like dark academia stuff and then I like the dark like kind of ballet thing on top of it so, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's feeder to the beast and, like she said, the second book is coming out soon, so you'll, you'll go right into that, yeah, I mean, that'll probably, yeah, that'll probably be.
Speaker 2:That's the number one for me, I think, to read. I think I actually bought that book, I think I have it somewhere because I knew that I wanted to read and I really like the cover. Um, I just haven't. I haven't done it yet.
Speaker 1:I haven't, I haven't done it, I'm going um, I know I'm trying to think what well. I mean obviously our, it was one of our choices. This is one we've already read is the Hurricane Wars.
Speaker 2:Oh, I was just thinking that the second one's going to be coming out soon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, so you know we love the Hurricane Wars, you know we love the Reylo vibes, but then I just Star Wars vibes, you know, and it brings you know her Filipino culture in there. I mean that was Love, it know, and it brings you know her Filipino culture in there. I mean that was love him such a great, such a great way to, to learn and to read about. You know that, like Southeast Asian culture was, I loved the blend of both of that. You know what I mean. And um, but still have a little bit of adam driver there that's right.
Speaker 2:Still has the attitude what a mix I. I love the hurricane wars. I really hope I know we'll be on again. I hope she's not too busy that she can't make time to come on again, but I would love I cannot wait to read the second one. It's coming out this year, isn't it? Yeah, I think um, it's fall, fall, I want to say october.
Speaker 1:For some reason, yes, um, because I pre-ordered um, I just did that a few weeks ago. The second book.
Speaker 2:She released the title, didn't she? I think I saw that on instagram yeah, um a monsoon, a monsoon song.
Speaker 1:Monsoon song, a monsoon song.
Speaker 2:But you're in that but yeah so just this is random, but when, because I'll never forget. I meant to text stacy and I didn't, but when she released the name of that book, I almost like stacy, because it made me think of rupaul's drag race, when one of the drag queens that won her name is jinx monsoon and when she's our favorite she goes and it's monsoon season and that's what I thought of when she released the title of her book. So I'm like that's what that month's going to be Monsoon season.
Speaker 1:You gotta post that and say it's monsoon season, and then it's just a picture of her book. Yes, monsoon season. I'm reading a really good book listening to the audiobook right now, called um six crimson cranes. It's so freaking good.
Speaker 1:Um about um, this girl, and she's a princess of, like, she's asian girl, princess of this kingdom and she has six brothers, so there's six of them and her mom died and she has the stepmom and she says, like finding out that she has magic, this girl, so obviously it's like not good to have magic in this kingdom or whatever. And she's like getting these weird vibes from her stepmom about like, basically like evil stepmom, essentially like her stepmom is trying to stifle her and so she's like I gotta be careful with my magic. Basically and this isn't a spoiler, it happens pretty quickly, but basically her stepmom finds out about her having magic and turns her brothers into cranes and puts a curse on her. Stepmoms are wild, I know. And so you're just like what the fuck is happening? And so the point, obviously, is that she has to like use her magic, but it's like suppressed because she has a curse. And she has to like her magic, but it's like suppressed because she has a curse and she has to like save her brothers and like save her kingdom.
Speaker 1:And it's so freaking good because I just thought it was interesting that like to have this spin, she doesn't. She can't use her voice, she can't use her magic, and it's almost like little mermaid-esque, you know, cinderella-esque, with the evil stepmom, and, but all based in asian culture and you know, with um, with their magic system, with there's, with dragons, with you know asian mythology and um, yeah, it's, it's really really good. Like I'm so invested and so, yeah, elizabeth lim is the author and it's called six crimson cranes and it's a duology and it's really really good I like a good duology because it's not that much of a commitment.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, true, so true yes, it's really good.
Speaker 1:I'm obsessed so I didn't think I would like it as much as I am liking it like. Okay, this is. This is better than I thought it was gonna be. You know what I mean so yeah, yeah yeah, anyway, love it a lot of. A lot of wrecks, a lot of people are yeah, we're just throwing them at you.
Speaker 2:I know right hopefully we'll cover some of these like on the podcast though, like Feeder to the Beast and like Way to Blood and even like Legendborn. I think those would be great books to do on the podcast. They're all of our vibes. I think it sounds like so.
Speaker 1:And also just really popular, legendborn's really popular.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is huge right now.
Speaker 1:On BookTok really popular. Yeah, it is huge right now on book talk, so I think there'd be ones that people would have either have already read or would be willing to read. So so yeah, yeah, and I mean even you know priority of the orange tree, that's like yeah popular.
Speaker 2:I see that everywhere I see that's at barnes and noble, all the time on display yeah, yeah, so it's, it's really big that might be a four parter. Yeah yeah, this one's about to be a three parter this month, I know, so hopefully, if Stacy's here for it, she might be gone for a couple episodes.
Speaker 1:We have some.
Speaker 2:Oh, go ahead. Oh, since I already told Ashley, I'm gonna make a list of things that she has to say that I have notes about if I don't get to record. Okay, yeah, depending on when Stacey has the baby, we do have backup. Well, they're going to be on regardless. We have guest people coming on but they might be filling in for Stacey those days if she's not able to record. Yes, after bringing a human life into this world, I know We're're gonna miss you, but but we're excited, we're excited um, but yeah, this, this is fun.
Speaker 1:I'm glad we got to, like, do some recs and talk about talk about some diversity, because yes, it's much, we love it. It's needed and we love it yes, but I'm also excited to talk about this book because, like I said, it's it's really good and I like it and I, I I agree with you that already it's way better right from the beginning yes.
Speaker 1:So I wish maybe akatar would have been like the beginning, would have been cut, um, like the world building a little bit, and then maybe some of this would have been put down, because akatar needed a little bit more, you know I feel like you like instantly um, like feira more in the second book too.
Speaker 2:Like I felt like I was always kind of like lukewarm towards her in the first book. At the end, the end of the first book, I really got into her character, like more. But then from the second book on I was like oh, I'm team feira I'm really I'm rooting for her, really rooting for her now.
Speaker 1:So yeah, you, you um. Or at least like sympathize with her, at least see her point of view, at least like, yeah, like you're, you're um, invested in her. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, um yeah, I'm so glad you're liking it so far. Yeah, so I was not in deck. I know you had to drag yourself through the through a lot of it, yeah.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it's a good, it's a good pick. So, yeah, I'm excited. And then, um, I'm excited for stacy, your pick, next month too, because I just have to buy, um, you said butcher and blackbird, I think I do, so I'm excited for that.
Speaker 2:What's gonna be is that technically romance yeah, it's like a murder romance, so sign me the fuck up. You know your type of vibe. I'm excited, my vibe forever. Also, we can't forget, since we're talking about future, future plans Julie Soto's new book will be coming out soon, yep, so we have to keep that on our radar For our girl.
Speaker 1:Our girl. I'm excited. I'm excited, okay, yay, yay, yay. Well, everyone read diverse books. Do it, do it.
Speaker 2:We're trying to be better too and read more. Well, I am me, and ashley or chanel, already reads a lot of good, diverse books, but yeah, I mean, shoot, I always gotta do it, it's.
Speaker 1:I mean it doesn't even have to be like black books or asian books, like I gotta be better about reading queer books. And you know disability rep, and you know it comes in all different, yeah forms.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean because yeah, representation matters yeah, yeah, yeah, it does so yeah all right want to do some kudos, wrap this up yes, um, I'll go first, because I always like to go first. Um, my first kudos is obviously for stacy, because you're so pregnant right now. I feel so bad for you. She worked yesterday and Friday. Like I, I just you're doing it. I don't know how you're doing it Like.
Speaker 2:I physically don't know how you're doing it, how you're working in the ER, this pregnant and uncomfortable but you're amazing, You're a rock star and we're just so excited for you to bring the fourth girl of our podcast into this world. Can't wait for Ivy to join us.
Speaker 1:I just waddle around.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, you're so cute.
Speaker 1:You're so cute. Yeah, I second that kudos because, yeah, you're like making a baby, but also you look so cute. I love your.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, you look and not that you not that you look bad when you were pregnant with Toby, but I just feel like you look so great right now.
Speaker 1:Thank you. I feel less swollen.
Speaker 2:I feel less than I did with.
Speaker 1:Toby.
Speaker 2:I was, and I didn't want to say that in a like, like, in a mean way, but you do just seem less.
Speaker 1:You looked horrible with Toby.
Speaker 2:Oh, I know, dude, I felt, no, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1:I don't even remember, do you remember?
Speaker 2:when? Do you remember when you were recording this, pregnant with Toby, and you couldn't even like say a sentence? You were so out of breath. I was like we also, we also, we were reading one shot A fickle week. A fickle week. We were making you read one shot. We're assholes, Chanel. That's the problem.
Speaker 1:You were like Eva apologizes to Jane. What, what did she say?
Speaker 2:Not only was our audio mic so bad, it was me like literally going into labor trying to read a one shot. It was so funny.
Speaker 1:Like it was. I feel like it sounded so sexual, but it was just you not being able to physically.
Speaker 2:I've never felt less sexual in my life than when we did those recordings.
Speaker 1:It was like you physically having a asthma attack. Honestly, I want to go back, back. I need to go back and listen. I do too, if you guys want to. It's around like April May, like two years ago.
Speaker 2:We should do a little wrap up on one of those episodes and, just like two years in review here go through some of these you guys need to listen to those episodes.
Speaker 1:God, please don't sorry, we're terrible, making fun of your pregnant lady. But yes, you're gonna have an amazing birth. She's gonna come out and be amazing, so I'm excited hoping that I don't remember or feel anything from it.
Speaker 2:Don't worry, you'll roll in there asking for an epidural, like you did last time I did to go. I did. I mean, I support anyone's decision how they like everyone's different. I know everyone wants to have babies differently, but you did you guys see baby mama with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey? Yeah, that's. That's one of my top favorite movies and they're in that Lamaze.
Speaker 1:What is this?
Speaker 2:water, it's water, but they're in that lamaze class and they're like who's gonna get this terrible medicine?
Speaker 1:blah, blah, and she's like she's like everyone's talking about me and my black baby celebrities with their black babies. He's like, yeah, he's like Dax Shepard. He's like my girlfriend's hot my girlfriend's not hot license plate, oh gosh it's such a funny movie. I want to go to Wood Arby's, but there's cooler people there. What did she say? Oh, I can't remember the line, but there's better food and cooler people there. Yeah, okay, we need to stop quoting.
Speaker 2:Well, my kudos is for you guys, because you always make me laugh, um, and I know we say it all the time, but it's just a joy to talk about things I'm really passionate about and and with my besties, and you guys make me feel so good for being so hugely pregnant right now. So I know you're almost done. You're almost there, almost done you can do it.
Speaker 1:You could do it and then, like you said, you're not even going to remember how terrible it is to push, and then you're going to want to have another kid.
Speaker 2:I am never having this. Is it two and done? Theo's getting the old someone else good.
Speaker 2:Do you know the toll that three vasectomies have on a person? I know back for snoops. You can see real fast. I was telling chanel or I told somebody, maybe not chanel I was watching that episode on the plane ride home and like I haven't won. I look the office is like my favorite show of all time but I haven't watched it in a while. I need to do a like a rewatch of it. But I was watching the episode. I was like crying on the plane. I was like this is like one of the best episodes the dinner party of TV ever ever made. Like how did they film it? How did they get through?
Speaker 1:it Crying, laughing they were, and that small TV is so funny.
Speaker 2:I just stand here for hours. What about, jan, when I get, when I get stressed, it's not perfect, it just goes away. It just goes away. You buy it. Okay, we gotta get off here. Yeah, we gotta go, we're just gonna be, quoting everyone daisy you want to lead us out of here. Yeah, guys, um, have a safe and fun week. We cannot wait to come back with our first part of our three-parter for Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas and make sure you read what you like you.
