Latest / Cortisol & Chaos: The Podcast / Series We’re Starting, Continuing & DNFing

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Series We’re Starting, Continuing & DNFing · Cortisol & Chaos: The Podcast

0:05
Welcome to a court of cortisol and chaos.
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The podcast where we spiral over fictional characters.
0:10
And discuss things that finally made it out of the group chat.
0:13
I'm Lindsay. I'm Amy.
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And I'm Dom welcome. Welcome back after our little
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hiatus. So good to be back.
0:22
Yes, it's perfect to have the three of us together again and
0:26
to get back into it, talking about books.
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Books, man. Where else would we be without
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books? Without books Institutionalized
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for me, probably. For sure, for sure.
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Well, I'm Lindsay. I'm based in upstate New York.
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My all time favorite series are Throne of Glass and Harry
0:49
Potter. And I guess in the time that
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we've been doing our own thing, having this little hiatus, I've
0:55
been reading The Shield of Sparrows and writes of Starling.
0:58
So far it's a trilogy, but so far the two books that are out,
1:03
I'm reading a lot of Germany and I restarted my little Throne of
1:07
Glass reread. So I just started back up with
1:09
Queen of Shadows and it feels good to be, to be back with my
1:13
crew, you know, good. To be home it.
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Feels good to be home. I have two friends right now,
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one who just finished and I'm like 1 who's just starting and
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I'm like, I gotta like get back in there with you guys.
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Like I need to be. I need to have boots on the
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ground. Ballad, I'm Amy and I am located
1:31
in Illinois specifically like Southern Illinois, and I've been
1:35
up to the usual kids life, getting things ready for summer.
1:41
And as far as my favorite book series, I mean it has to be the
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Empyrion series. Like, if you can't tell back
1:51
here, sweatshirt. Yeah, buy my sweatshirt.
1:56
That's my favorite. I did grow up like a Harry
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Potter kid, and that's a series. It's always like super special
2:02
to me. But yeah, this as as as a grown
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up adult, this is my favorite series, I have to say.
2:09
And if you're watching the video, you'll see all the, like,
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orange, yellow, black books Amy has, like every special edition,
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every foreign edition. You have got several.
2:20
Collects them all. Amy, have you counted like
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collectively how many 4th wing like books you own?
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No, it's a It's a handful. A whole bookshelf almost, but
2:34
and then I've been reading. I'm actually rereading the
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Akatar series right now. I'm on Akabath and I'm having a
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really good time with my reread. I feel like the first time you
2:44
read Akatar is just so like magical and special.
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And then like on the reread, like you, you're just you're
2:50
picking up on more like little things.
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And sometimes I just want to go back to the magical special
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place. But I also have a lot of fun
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picking things out and making theories and analysis and
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whatnot. But it's it's a good time.
3:03
Well, I am dumb. I am based out of Oklahoma City
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and my favorite series of all time, Throne of Glass.
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I also grew up a Harry Potter kid pretty recently.
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I've I've got to say I'm about, you know, halfway through, but
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Red rising is rising to the top of my favorites of all time.
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Man, I'm on Iron Gold right now, so that could very much change.
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I've still got, you know, basically like 2 1/2 books left
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of the books that are out, and then, you know, we've got Red
3:37
God. So my mind could very much
3:39
change. But for what I've read up until
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this point, I really very much enjoy that series.
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So yeah, that's kind of also what I've been up to is just
3:53
reading Red Rising. It's like taking over my life
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these last couple of months and then, you know, life, kids,
4:02
work, all the things. I'm so excited by the wayside
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note that you're on Iron Gold. It's killing me.
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It's out of the three of us, I'm the only one who's read Iron
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Gold. I need to move on to Dark Age,
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but I'm putting it off. I'm scared.
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And I'm so excited that one of you is finally working your way
4:20
through Iron Gold, because that book was ridiculous.
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I've I've heard, and it's so funny though, because out of the
4:29
three of us, Amy was the least interested in the series.
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Like she was not sure if she was going to continue on to Golden
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Sun at the end of Red Rising and she has blown through these
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books faster than any of us. It's so funny and I feel like I
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was the most gung ho out of the three of us with Red Rising and
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I'm the slowest, so it's just funny how all of that panned
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out, which I'm really happy that you ended up really enjoying
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that series. That makes me happy.
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Me too like I didn't hate Red Rising, but I just felt like it
5:03
was for me it was pretty like meh like you know?
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But I'm really glad I stuck with it 'cause I feel like every book
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has just gotten better and I'm I'm so glad I didn't just quit
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after Red Rising. I want to go back and reread Red
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Rising now that I like care about the characters 'cause I
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think that was like, you know what I mean, 'cause you're like
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reading the first book and you're like, OK, there's a lot
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going on. I know I've only finished
5:29
through Morningstar. I told myself that I would read
5:31
the next bunch like when we actually had like a release date
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for Red God, or at least some kind of like info about it.
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So I'm like kind of waiting for that.
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But I'm like, I kind of want to go back and just reread book one
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just to see if like I, if it like hits different.
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I bet it would. Yeah, I mean, I just, I think
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about like Throne of Glass and how I cared so much about those
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characters. Now doing my reread, it's almost
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harder because you know what to expect.
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So like, you know, there's, you know, Selena talking about how
6:03
she's claustrophobic in the mask, like whatever.
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And it's like, you know, then you think about what that's
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foreshadowing. It's like, Oh, my tummy hurts.
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I know, I don't know, I just, I love third of class so much.
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I could talk about Selena for hours.
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And that's not why we're here tonight.
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Surprisingly, although we do like make a habit of talking
6:29
about our SJM series favorites because we are kind of like an
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SJM centered podcast. We constructed a list of all the
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series that the three of us together have found ourselves in
6:46
the middle of. And then there are some series
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that like each of us are also in the middle of.
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So we thought it would be fun to kind of go through all the
6:54
series together and give a yes no maybe of if we will continue.
7:00
All right, so the first series that we all are reading is the
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Imperium series, 4th Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm.
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Will we continue with the series?
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That's a yes from Lindsay. Absolutely.
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Yes, I I will continue with the series.
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I'm surprised. Listen, I enjoy the fandom, OK?
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And I need to know will Zaden and Violet finally communicate?
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I need to know the answers to that.
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Oh my God, like you've never been 20 with a boyfriend.
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Yeah, and and I was a very direct communicator.
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You probably were a good communicator I.
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Was that's that's my one singular strong suit is I'm
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going to tell you how I feel. That's my argument for favorite
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too. Oh OK.
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Like you've never been 19. Listen, it's 2 like her and
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Tamlin 2 people. Speaking of ACUTAR, that is the
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next series on our list, So will you or will you not be
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continuing the Aqatar series with book 6 being released later
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this year? Yes.
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Yes. No imagine like.
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In love world. No.
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Yes. Unanimous.
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Yes. What did I say earlier?
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I was like, it would have to be like the next actor book would
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be like all Therian's point of view.
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I would probably still read it. I don't know.
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Therian ends up in Prythian. Ethan and summer and like,
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what's not summer balls, sun ball?
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That's my line I think. I couldn't take any more of
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those POV's in Crescent City. I couldn't do it.
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My God, oh fish boy. Anyway, Speaking of fish boy,
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Crescent City we continuing. Yes.
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Yeah. Yeah.
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We have to got to be there for Roon Dannon, my love.
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Our boy. All right, the next series that
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we all have started is Red Rising.
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I think we said I finished the first trilogy.
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Amy's finished through Iron Gold.
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Dom, how far are you in Iron Gold?
9:14
Not very far, I'd think it would be 1/3.
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OK, yeah. So like still a good like chunk
9:19
into it. So will we be continuing the Red
9:23
Rising series by Pierce Brown? Yes, but I'm going to wait to
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read the next four books a little closer to whenever Red
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God arrives. Rereads are kicking my butt,
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guys. Rereads are kicking my butt.
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I'm like in a college class for like all the rereads.
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I have to, that's what. It feels like.
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Sometimes, yeah, it really does. So I said after Red Rising that
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I was going to take it book by book, and I feel like at this
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point it's just a yes. Like, I think we're past that
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point of taking it book by book and I'm invested.
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Yeah, to hear that aim. I'd love to hear it.
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It's very happy. Yes, I will definitely be
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continuing. I think at the pace I'm going
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though, because I'm, I'm trying to pace myself, you know, I
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might, might not be done until Red God's got a release date.
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At this point. I'm pretty slow.
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I'm pretty slow. So Next up is the Ashen series
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by Demi Winters. The first book in that series is
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The Road of Bones. We actually did this one for
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book club in March and I'm going to say yes.
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I'm also going to say yes, I just need to get into a long
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series headspace because I want to do all of it at once.
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And now you started the Road of Bones, but you didn't finish it
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yet, right, Lindsay? I did.
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I started it and then I thought, I want to read this.
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I want to read like all of them together, kind of.
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I wanted to like see the story through.
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And also, I thought it would be a good book to, like, read with
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my sister, who's going to be on maternity leave at the end of
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the summer into the fall. So I was like, I think I might
11:00
just, like, put a pause on it and then go back to it.
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But I didn't get very far in the first book.
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Maybe like a third of the weigh in.
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But I really liked it a lot. Yeah, I I'll definitely be
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continuing it. I think I am just not in the
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headspace like like kind of like you Lindsay, like I want to give
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it the moment it deserves and I just don't think I have that in
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me right now. But I am.
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I really, really enjoyed that first book because I really
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enjoy all the like Norse mythology and yeah, so I will be
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continuing maybe soon, I don't know.
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I'm kind of feeling that fantasy kick coming back.
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So I've I've been a little bit. She's been in space too long.
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I've been, I've been in space and like my palate cleansers
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between space have just been like the most like 2 star dark
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mafia books. But like, and you know, like do
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you guys ever intentionally read bad books?
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Just it really feels. I'm not sure that I've read a
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mafia book that was like, well written actually.
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Exactly, but it's. Yeah, but I I feel like that's
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just like the genre expectation and I'm like, fabulous, give me
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10 more. Like, exactly.
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Spectacular. Spectacular.
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Yeah, so I've I've been balancing between Darrow and
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some sort of Italian or Russian or Irish man.
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That sounds kind of. Hard though, you know I.
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Might have to read a mafia book soon.
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You should. OK, Next up is the Legend Born
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cycle. So that is by Tracy Dion.
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That starts with Legend Born and then Bloodmark Oath Bound.
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And then I don't think we have a title for Book 4.
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I am not going to be continuing on.
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I liked the stuff about like the the magic within her family.
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I thought that was all like, really cool.
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The root magic. Yeah, the root magic.
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And I thought like I loved like all the ancestor stuff.
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I thought was like so beautiful and like such a beautifully
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written book. I just was not super.
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It didn't like, I don't know. It just didn't hook me.
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I wish that it was just like about that though.
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I wish it was just about the the root magic and the ancestors and
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all that stuff. I think that would have made it
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a little bit cooler. And I just don't know why they
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were so young. Like they could have been adults
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and it would have been like, I don't.
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Know, I don't think you do a whole lot of why a do you?
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I mean, I like why a enough like one of my favorite book series
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is a why a series. I'm like, obviously I'm like
13:30
rereading Harry Potter with like my kid, but I don't I guess I
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haven't done like a whole lot of why fantasy.
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I guess like the why that I like have read recently has been more
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like dystopian. I think that Tracy Dan is an
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awesome writer. I will definitely like always
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check out anything that she writes.
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Absolutely. So for me, yes.
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And I have read Legend Born and Bloodmarked.
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I'll be going on to Oathbound probably in May.
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And I actually thought it was just a trilogy.
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I'd literally just found out like last week that there's like
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a fourth book because I had made a post about I think my review
14:02
post or something for Bloodmarked and somebody made a
14:04
comment about like the 4th book. And then I googled it and I was
14:06
like, oh shit, I didn't even know there was a fourth book
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like on the way. But I I really like the series.
14:13
I think it's fantastic. But sometimes I do wish it
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wasn't YA just because like she wrote like the romance elements,
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like so good. Yeah, I agree.
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Honestly she wrote everything so good like.
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Yeah, you're baby. You're like. 15 yeah but I yeah
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I I really enjoyed that series and I really like the audiobook
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narrator just an FYI for. Everything.
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Yes, yes, I did the I did the the book.
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I did Legend born on audio mostly and she had a great
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voice. Very good narrative voice.
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Yes, I also did the audiobook and I really enjoyed that one.
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I will also be continuing with this series, but kind of like
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with the Ashen series, I just I want to make sure that I'm like
15:00
giving it the appropriate attention it deserves because I
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really, really enjoyed book one. But I know that if I read it in
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conjunction with like Red Rising, Red Rising, like that's
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just, my brain is just not going to be able to focus and give it
15:19
the attention it deserves. So I'm going to wait until I am
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just in a little bit of a calmer headspace where I'm not just
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craving blood and war and chaos. Iron Rain.
15:34
Yeah. There wasn't a lot of iron rain
15:36
and legend board. There was not.
15:40
But I, you know, I love the, I love King Arthur, like all the
15:45
retellings that revolve around King Arthur and like how well
15:51
done and differently it was done in this book that.
15:55
Yeah, I mean, it was super, super.
15:57
Yeah. Well, can be continuing.
15:59
OK. The next one is the Faye and
16:03
Alchemy series which is Quicksilver Brimstone.
16:06
It's by Kelly Hart, third book coming out.
16:08
I think we have a release date for November.
16:12
I think I saw on Instagram, which is a quick turn around.
16:20
I'm not. I can't.
16:21
I can't do it. I just can't.
16:23
I love Quicksilver. I had it on my shelf.
16:25
I like one of my work friends has it because I like Lent it
16:29
out. Quicksilver is chef's kiss
16:32
brimstone. I couldn't.
16:35
I just couldn't. Yeah, that the, the book that
16:38
was published on release day was a mess.
16:42
I'd, I'd kind of like to go back through and reread it like now,
16:45
like 'cause I know that they updated like my e-book.
16:48
I'd kind of like to go back through and, and see how it
16:50
reads. I will most likely be continuing
16:53
the series. I still had a pretty good time
16:56
with Brimstone even in spite of the the issues that were
17:00
present. And I, I love a good hot mess,
17:04
you know, like I got to see it through, I think.
17:06
It wasn't even like the, the like editing stuff.
17:11
It was just like I felt for me, I was just like, there, there's
17:13
no stakes. Like she's the queen of like a
17:16
vampire court. And literally they're like,
17:19
yeah, you can come and go as you please.
17:20
I'm like, where's all like the court politics, like I don't
17:23
understand why nothing is happening.
17:27
Yeah, everything and nothing happened all at once, I feel
17:30
like. That was my problem with that
17:33
book. It like I swear to God, like I
17:37
would listen to six hours a day of that audiobook and there
17:41
would be 6 more hours that got added to it.
17:44
Like that was the longest book I think I've ever read in my life.
17:48
It was I. Did not.
17:50
It was. Definitely longer.
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And. You know what it reminded me of?
17:53
You just made me think of like, you know, when they're in like
17:55
in Harry Potter, when they're like in the vaults and
17:58
everything, like starts multiplying like that's.
18:00
That's how I felt. That is how I felt.
18:03
Reading Oh no shoot, I touched another page and others 20 more
18:06
page. Yes, that's precisely what was
18:09
happening. But there was nothing at the
18:11
same time going on I could. Have been a lot shorter and I
18:15
think it would have been better. I couldn't tell you what the
18:18
book was about. I could not tell you what that
18:21
buck ass book was about. That being said, I will most
18:25
definitely be continuing with book 3 because I I love Kelly
18:29
Hart. I loved Quicksilver Brimstone.
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We're just gonna pretend is just a neglected child that.
18:36
Just I got maybe, maybe I'm I should change to maybe because I
18:39
love Quicksilver. I love you know that I love it
18:42
anyways. You know, you might get lost in
18:43
the hype when it comes out, Lindsay I probably.
18:45
I'm very easily influenced. You will be influenced to read
18:48
it. You'll want to know what the
18:49
hype is about. Yeah, as soon as you guys are
18:52
like got my pre-order, I'll be like me too.
18:57
Yeah, no, I, you know what? I I will be supporting my girl
19:01
Callie 'cause you know, we're best friends.
19:03
She does. She does seem like a cool girl.
19:05
She does seem like a cool girl. You know, women supporting
19:08
women. Oh.
19:09
Yeah, all that. Speaking of cool girls.
19:12
Speaking of cool girls, is The Blood of Lilith Blood of Lilith
19:18
series by Scarlett Saint Claire, and that is Terror at the Gates.
19:22
The second book, Coiled at the Roots, comes out in October.
19:26
And guys, what's our answer? Hell.
19:30
Yes, I've already pre-ordered it.
19:33
I walked my little butt into Best of Books in Edmond, OK
19:39
because they partner with Scarlett Sinclair and I
19:42
pre-order the local. Yes, I pre-ordered my copy and
19:47
they were like, you're like one of the first people so you'll be
19:50
pretty high on the list when we call you for our author event.
19:53
I said bet. They're like my mom is actually
19:56
the only other person who did the first.
19:59
Well, no, I mean I ordered, I pre-ordered this like a few
20:03
months ago. Yeah, like.
20:06
She's on it. I was.
20:07
I was early so. I can't wait.
20:10
October is gonna be the best month ever between that.
20:15
I did. I'm definitely gonna re re tear
20:16
at the gates too. Yes, yes, I will too.
20:20
So excited. We love it.
20:22
That was actually we did a thing at the end of 2025 where it was
20:26
like our top, like all of us said our best books and Tara at
20:31
the Gates was like unanimous among the three of us that we
20:33
that was one of the best books that we had all read last year.
20:37
Speaking of more cool girls is the Into Darkness trilogy by
20:41
Naveessa Allen. So that's Lights Out, caught up
20:43
and game on. Will we be continuing that?
20:46
I really loved Lights Out and caught Up.
20:49
I just got to find the right time to do Game On.
20:52
I got to do the audiobook too, because the audiobooks are so
20:54
fun. They're like a work of art.
20:56
Yes I actually just finished game on like 2 days ago.
21:00
I didn't even know it was out yet.
21:01
I'm so out of it. Yeah, I think it just came out
21:03
this month I think, or was it in March?
21:06
It just came like it you're not too far behind cuz it just came
21:08
out like April or March. I don't know.
21:12
I did do it on audio, of course, and it was good.
21:14
OK, so for me it's lights out, game on, caught up in ranking.
21:19
Like cuz caught up was like good, but I thought lights out
21:22
was way better and game on like was a little closer lights out
21:26
for me. So yeah.
21:28
And I did try to see if there were going to be any more books
21:31
coming out because this wouldn't be the first time that like it's
21:33
like, oh, this is a trilogy and then they do more books.
21:35
But I did not see anything about more books.
21:38
But if she put out more book I would also read them.
21:40
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love her writing.
21:42
It's just like fun. So fun, So fun.
21:46
Yeah, I hope she. I bet she will put out more
21:48
books. I hope it's not in the same
21:50
universe though. I think she just came out with,
21:53
Oh my gosh, there's also something on Instagram.
21:55
She just dropped something else that's like not in this
21:58
universe. I almost feel like it was
22:01
romantic or something. It was different.
22:03
I think it was a different genre.
22:04
I could be completely making this up, guys.
22:06
So like for your research, I see lots of different things on the
22:11
Internet and. It was AI if it was wrong.
22:15
If you're wrong, it was AI. Or was that Bryn Weaver?
22:18
See, it could have been somebody else.
22:19
It might not even be an Avessa Allen.
22:20
I could I I don't know what's going on.
22:22
I mean I she's a good follow on TikTok.
22:24
I do like she's seems funny and cool and her office is really
22:27
cute. I will read it.
22:32
I started game on but then I ran out of Spotify listening hours.
22:38
That is the bane of my existence.
22:41
And it was pretty early on and it was like right at the
22:46
beginning where there is an encounter at the tattoo parlor
22:53
and cut me off right there. That's whack that it just cuts
23:00
you off like in the middle. So do you want to hear something
23:03
so funny? The first time I ever realized
23:05
that it was that it would cut you off for like the Spotify
23:09
hours. It was back like 2 summers ago
23:13
and I remember being like La La la.
23:15
I'm really greeting 4th Wing and like Violet and Dane are like
23:18
talking and then they see Zaden like glaring at them and she
23:22
thinks Zaden's gonna kill her. And then Dane's like Violet Run.
23:26
And then it's like you're out of listening hours.
23:30
It's like, wait, what It was like to buy top UPS?
23:34
I was like, I guess I'm going to go buy a top up like.
23:38
Listen, it should be a class action lawsuit because the
23:42
amount of times I said I swear they do it on purpose somehow.
23:46
I think they do. There was one time, and I
23:48
remember this vividly because I was in the car, OK, and I was
23:53
like, I don't even know like 3/4 of the way through a book.
23:56
I couldn't tell you what book it was.
23:58
It was probably just an off like one of my two Star Mafia books.
24:01
But for the whole time you've got this tension and it's
24:05
building up and it's building up.
24:07
And finally they are in his office and he just says fuck it.
24:11
And he, like, shoves everything across the desk and he's like,
24:16
pet bends her over and it's like, you're out of Spotify
24:19
listening hours. See our.
24:23
Website I used. To buy more hours.
24:25
I thought I was going to break my steering wheel at this red
24:28
light. So that's even worse than my
24:30
situation because I was just like, oh, is he going to kill
24:33
her? Is he going to like?
24:36
Why is Dane telling her to run right down like literary?
24:41
Blue, the Literary. Balls.
24:43
You know what? Man I I was so tempted to buy
24:50
the book. Also, really quick, I'm going to
24:53
amend my previous facility it it was Brynn Weaver, not Ibessa
24:57
Allen who just came up with a new series.
24:59
My bad. Cortisol and chaos, guys.
25:03
I see a lot of shit on the Internet and some of it sticks
25:05
and some of it does not. All right, the last series that
25:10
we all three have started, is there a name for the series?
25:14
It's Shield of Pharaohs and Writes, or I guess writers
25:17
Starling. I don't know.
25:18
That's what the say by Debbie Berry.
25:24
Hell yes, I loved it. Oh my gosh, I they're so good.
25:28
They're so good. I agree.
25:30
Same. Absolutely yes.
25:32
I have not actually read Rights of the Starling.
25:35
I, I so I read Shield of Sparrows like last year.
25:40
And so I feel like the cliffhanger at the end just
25:43
Cliff hung and now I'm just like waiting for the right time to
25:48
read Rights of the Starling. I thought I would be more
25:50
excited, but I started it and I was like, it's not Darrow.
25:55
It's not. Darrow.
25:57
Not Darrow. You are in love.
25:58
No, she's not even in love with Darrow.
25:59
Everyone. She's in love with several I.
26:02
Love several OK like I am. That's her husband.
26:08
Parasocial relationship is I am Darrow in love.
26:15
With several heated rivalry heated red rising heated.
26:23
All right, so we are all agreed to continue on with that.
26:29
So good. Dom and I have both started the
26:32
Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy.
26:35
I have only read Guild. Dom what?
26:37
What other ones did you read or did you just read?
26:40
I I have read up to book 4 so I stopped after book 4.
26:45
Not a spoiler, I just for me they just got a little bit too
26:51
long is I think they could have been a lot shorter and there was
26:55
a lot of excess information that I just didn't think was relevant
26:59
to the story. But this is like a God tier
27:01
series for many, many people. So I really actually I really
27:07
loved books one through three. Book 4 is when it started like
27:11
plot started getting a little bit lost for me but.
27:15
And there's 6 total I think, right?
27:18
OK. I'm not sure.
27:19
I don't think I'm going to finish it.
27:21
I just, I feel like I would if I didn't have other books that I
27:26
wanted to read more, if that. Makes sense.
27:28
No, that's fair. That is fair.
27:30
I would like to read them just because like what you said, like
27:34
you hear people say how it's a God tier.
27:36
I liked the first one so much I thought it was like kind of sexy
27:40
and dangerous and weird. And then I haven't even met the
27:43
love interests. Like I hear he comes in book 2.
27:46
Like you know what I mean? Yes and a lot of people don't
27:49
like book 1 and they say just get through book 1 and like book
27:52
twos get. I loved book 1.
27:54
Yeah, same. I mean, I loved ACOTAR though.
27:56
Like, I was like, yeah, let's go under the mountain for this guy.
28:00
Like, why not? Why not?
28:04
You know, life's short, babe. We're only 19.
28:08
There's just the two of us, just.
28:10
Two of us, two of us, two people.
28:13
Yep, wouldn't be able to read our marriage contract but
28:17
there's two. I can do math.
28:19
So there are, I think just like 3 Series that is are just unique
28:24
to me. I think I'm the only one that's
28:26
red Silver Elite by Danny Francis.
28:28
It gives divergent, it gives 4th wing, but dystopian.
28:31
I'll I'll probably read any more of those.
28:34
I know that there is like a book too.
28:35
I think I might have already pre-ordered it in the middle of
28:38
the night. I'm like, well.
28:41
I thought that was a stand alone, so that's good to.
28:42
Know yeah, I think it's called broken dove.
28:45
I think is the second one. But and then I just I always get
28:49
the name of this one wrong. So there.
28:53
So I read a lot of Germany now because I'm a glutton for
28:58
punishment and there are trad pub versions of Draco Milfoi and
29:05
the mortifying ordeal of being in love.
29:07
That's the irresistible urge to fall for your enemy.
29:11
And there's a duology with that book.
29:14
I haven't read that one yet because I kind of want to read
29:16
that and the duology together because I have already read the
29:20
fanfic. And then there's this really
29:24
like God tier fanfic called the Auction, which is trad published
29:28
as Rose and Chains. But that is also going to be, I
29:31
think a trilogy auction is like like one of the best things I've
29:35
ever read. And it's like very, very long.
29:37
So it's just like amazing fanfic and the author is Julie Soto who
29:44
is tread publishing it as like Rosen chains and whatever the
29:47
other books are. And then like literal like
29:51
manacled level, which is like alchemized trad published, but
29:55
like this fanfic called Secrets and Masks.
29:59
Oh my God, it's like it was like the length of reading like a
30:03
trilogy and it's the most beautiful thing I've ever read.
30:08
And it's being turned into a series.
30:09
And book 1 is called Under the Iron Sky.
30:12
The author's name is AT Emerald, but she published it as Emerald
30:16
Slytherin when she was doing the fanfic.
30:19
And I'm very excited about that. And I will definitely be reading
30:21
like all three of those series. Just like like I like the way
30:25
that I eat up my Germany. I'll just eat up those series,
30:29
but the Under the Iron Sky comes out in October also.
30:34
What a month. Big month for you.
30:36
It's going. To be crazy, guys, I'm not going
30:39
to sleep at all in October. Clear the schedule.
30:43
Yeah. So then there's a few here that
30:46
I think just Dom and I have started or read.
30:51
And the first up is the Seasons of Carnage by Bryn Weaver.
30:56
And the first book is tourist season with the second book
30:59
being harvest season coming out in June, I believe.
31:03
And for me that's an automatic yes, like immediately.
31:08
Absolutely. I got to do the the audio book
31:12
because it's the same narrator as Shield of Sparrows.
31:17
My. Girl.
31:18
My girl. I would just feel like it's
31:21
Odessa telling me a story though.
31:25
So funny. And then Next up is the Broken
31:28
Bloodline series by Sadie Kincaid.
31:31
And the first book of that series is Forged in Blood.
31:35
That's the only book of that series that I've read.
31:37
I listen on audio. Oh, Dom, you said you haven't
31:41
read this. Why did I think you read that?
31:43
I think is this on that? Yeah, yeah.
31:47
But I didn't think I was the only.
31:49
One that went. And listened to it.
31:50
OK, OK, OK. I knew one of you had started
31:53
it. OK, So it was Lindsay and she
31:55
DNF D. It like early on I forgot I even
31:58
read it. I don't know if I'll continue it
32:00
or not. Like it was.
32:01
I think it's one of those OK, like like Dom's palate
32:04
cleansers. Like if I read any more of
32:06
those, it will be because I need a palate cleanser like that.
32:09
Like, you know, it's, it's a maybe.
32:12
Reasonable. Yeah.
32:13
And then Next up is The Wicked Games by Kaylee Smith, and that
32:19
is Phantasma and Enchantra. The newest One Day Monica comes
32:24
out in September. Yes, the fall.
32:28
Yes, yes, I will be continuing that series as well.
32:32
Isn't Phantasma the one that that's like like a haunted
32:36
house? Kind of There's like trials I
32:39
need to do. I'll do that during, I'll do
32:40
that this fall. I like, I think it sounds cool.
32:43
It was really. Spooky season read.
32:46
I love them. And then the last one for Dom
32:50
and I is the Stonewater Kingdom by Rachel Gillig, and that is
32:54
the Night and the Moth and the name of the moon which comes out
32:58
in September. Yes, please send me an arc.
33:03
Please please I we will hire a joint at sea witch yes that arc
33:11
yes please. And that is also on my TDR, I
33:14
just haven't gotten to it yet. Well, you got to bump it up,
33:17
girlfriend. Yeah, so good.
33:20
I love it so much. So then I have a few that are
33:22
just like series that I think that just I have read or
33:26
started. And the first is The Painted
33:29
Sinners by Elena Lawson. And the first book is White Rose
33:34
painted red. And the second book is Black
33:36
Heart painted gold. Yes, there's a third book coming
33:40
that there's a title Red Queen painted black, but no release
33:43
date. And they're so good.
33:44
It's like like dark romance art heist like, it's so fun.
33:50
I liked the first book. OK, you did read.
33:53
It I read the first book. Yes, I like it.
33:57
Are you gonna continue the series?
33:58
I think so. It'll fall into my dark mafia,
34:04
dark romance genre of palate cleansers that I'll utilize.
34:10
Next on my list is The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L Jensen.
34:15
I've only read the first book, The Bridge Kingdom, and every
34:18
time I think about that book I get more upset and I like it
34:22
even less. That book made me so mad and it
34:26
was like like OK like a book is more than just tropes, right?
34:29
But it had all of these tropes like I normally love, like, you
34:34
know, forced proximity, like arranged marriage, like all of
34:37
this stuff. And it all, it was just so flat.
34:39
It was so flat. And I keep seeing people like
34:42
lately, like last month or two, I've been seeing people on my
34:45
FYP like talking about how much they love the bridge Kingdom.
34:48
And I'm just like, what? And I, I don't know.
34:51
I probably will not continue this series unless someone can
34:55
convince me to continue it because I was so mad.
34:58
And then I have the Lord series by Shontelle, the newest book.
35:05
I'm not going to, there's like 6 books here.
35:07
I'm not going to list them all, But the newest book, Chaotic, I
35:10
have not read yet, but I've read the other ones and I will
35:14
definitely be reading it eventually.
35:16
I don't know when, but I will. And Lindsay, would you like to
35:19
to weigh in on that? I tried really hard to be a dark
35:22
romance girl and I just don't like the MMC's and dark romance
35:27
books so I put one of my favorite quotes from Throne of
35:31
Glass said by Mr. Rowan Whitethorne Galithinius.
35:35
I said I vote no, not now, not ever.
35:40
Lindsay said no on continuing with that series.
35:45
I've read the first one. Think I read like 70% of the
35:49
first one. I know I for sure read the first
35:52
one. I may or may not have read the
35:54
second one. I cannot remember.
35:57
But I forgot this series existed and now I'm adding it to my ever
36:02
growing smut pile. I will be continuing with it
36:05
because I forgot it existed. So yes.
36:07
You got to do a a video like a TikTok with like, I forgot that
36:11
you existed. But it's like you like starting
36:13
a new smut book. Yeah.
36:15
No, literally. Kill me.
36:17
But it didn't. No, Speaking of that, I have a
36:23
stupid long list of series that I've started.
36:26
How? Do you?
36:28
Do yeah, I have more too. I'm going to be so quick with
36:32
these because. There's a lot.
36:34
It's twofold. It's a page and 1/2.
36:37
Yeah. Single space.
36:39
Single space baby bow before the elf queen.
36:43
I enjoyed the first two books. I forgot it existed.
36:46
Maybe Belladonna Fox Love and Wisteria, Yes, but it's been
36:50
years so I got to do a reread. Crowns of Niaxia by Carissa
36:54
Broad Broadbent. It's like 12 works in total.
36:58
Yeah, I loved the first duology, but I don't think I loved the
37:01
world enough to continue because I think each duology follows a
37:05
separate couple within that universe.
37:09
So I will say no with love. Lady of Darkness by Melissa K
37:15
Rohrich there's like 7 books. This is like a God tier series
37:20
for a lot of people. I started this in like 2022
37:24
before this was more known and the only the first two books
37:27
were published and I loved it and I would say yes but I've
37:31
heard that the last book sucked and it ruined the entire series
37:35
for them and that's been like the universal consensus so I'm a
37:41
say no and leave it at that. Caravel by Stephanie Garber
37:47
Maybe, maybe not. I read the first book, I enjoyed
37:49
it. Light lark by Alex Astor.
37:52
There's like 4 books plus more this series.
37:55
I you've said before. I don't know that I've ever in
37:59
my life been so infuriated by a series because there are four
38:04
books out with more being written.
38:06
This love triangle is still fucking going.
38:10
OK. It's four books more plus she
38:13
wrote an additional book that's like half one males male main
38:19
characters POV and then half the other male American characters
38:22
POV. Like just give it up.
38:25
Fucking pick a man. I cannot keep going with this so
38:28
IDNFI think book 3. So her like adult romanticy star
38:34
side is like getting a lot of like really good reviews.
38:37
Alex Astor's. I've actually I wanted to try
38:39
out that one because it wasn't her writing that was the
38:42
problem, it was the plot. Yeah, I just had to, like,
38:45
Google the title because I've been seeing it a lot of places
38:47
and actually ran into like, acquaintance and she was reading
38:51
it at the gym the other day and I was like, oh, how's that?
38:54
Yeah. Yeah, and she's a huge Swifty.
38:56
She seems really sweet. Like, yeah, I just, I couldn't
39:00
deal with the love triangle. Like I don't think I can do love
39:03
triangles. Truthfully, I don't like love
39:04
triangles either. So and then got the Gods and
39:08
Monsters series by Amber V Nicole.
39:10
There's four books in total. I read the first one and I'm
39:15
like a maybe on continuing with it.
39:17
I enjoyed it, but I feel like there's just other books that
39:20
are drawing my attention more. I'm going to touch base.
39:24
I'm going to circle back. But that's I did.
39:28
Urban fantasy, yes. I did read the series as well.
39:32
I have listened to all the books that are out right now and I
39:35
think there's another one coming.
39:37
I might, I don't know. I like I've done 4 relationship.
39:42
I think so is there 4 out right now?
39:44
I think Wrath of the Fallen. Yeah.
39:46
I think Wrath of the Fallen is the last one that just came out
39:50
and then there's AI think a fifth one coming and I don't
39:52
know like I, I feel like this could have been a lot shorter.
39:55
Yeah, I like the the I like the FMC and the MMC and that's it.
40:02
I don't care about anything else.
40:05
Yeah, the Edge of Darkness trilogy by Lee Rivers.
40:09
This is insatiable. Voracious and insatiable.
40:12
Oh wait, the same thing. I don't know.
40:14
I've. Ever heard of I haven't heard of
40:15
a lot of these. It is.
40:18
The entire plot of this trilogy could have been resolved with a
40:24
single conversation, so I must say no.
40:27
It's a like a God tier series for a lot of people too.
40:31
And it's like it's got smut, it's got plot, but the plot
40:34
hinges on a conversation that should have taken place to know
40:39
for me, the fire and metal series by Rachel Schneider.
40:44
That's metal Slinger and light wielder.
40:48
The I don't You guys haven't read Metal Slinger?
40:50
No, I've been meaning I want to, I just haven't.
40:54
End of that book sent me into a near psychosis at 2:00 in the
40:59
morning. I was pacing my house.
41:02
When I tell you the twist that was plotted.
41:07
I, I'm, I pride myself on being able to pick up cues and be able
41:14
to predict plot twists and storylines and like where things
41:19
are going. No, this.
41:20
Just like I felt like I got slapped in the face by a frying
41:23
man in the middle of the night. I was like, where the fuck did
41:26
this come from? That makes no goddamn sense.
41:29
But I will be continuing with the next book.
41:31
Yes. Zodiac Academy.
41:33
I unfortunately most likely will actually finish the series at
41:39
some point just out of spite. It's the most ridiculous series
41:44
I've ever read. That being said, it's like
41:46
crack. You can't help that you're
41:48
addicted to what you are. It's so stupid.
41:52
I'm on book 7. I don't like like professors I
41:56
think is my thing. Isn't like the MMC or the MMC
41:59
like the professor? And one of them there's like 10
42:02
characters that like you follow. So many.
42:06
It's too much. I but you know what?
42:09
It's it's like a cult. I know, but some people like are
42:12
obsessed. Once you dip your toe in, you
42:14
can never really get yourself rid of it.
42:17
It's like glitter follows year round.
42:19
You'll you'll think you've rid yourself of it and all of a
42:21
sudden you find a speck and you're like, Oh yeah, maybe I do
42:24
get back to it. So I can't say no because they
42:27
probably will finish. And then Kindred's Curse, which
42:31
is the spark of the ever flame. Like that series by Penn Cole,
42:36
IDNFD book three. I couldn't do it.
42:38
The FMC was being too naive, too far into the series, and I just
42:43
couldn't take it anymore. I needed her to man up and make
42:47
some decisions. That being said, it's also got
42:49
tier series for a lot of people. The Eating Woods by Carrie Lake,
42:54
which is Anathema Eldritch, and then we're getting Vasmora in
42:58
October. I will be continuing this one
43:02
because I loved Anathema. I'm going to do Eldritch because
43:08
I've heard there's a huge cliffhanger, so I'm going to do
43:10
that closer to the release of the third book, But I very much
43:14
recommend it. It's like a gothic high fantasy.
43:18
Like it's super duper good. It's dark, it's twisted.
43:22
It's chef's kiss. Super good.
43:26
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon.
43:29
Fuck yeah I will. Be going to get into it.
43:31
Yes, it's so good. City of Gods and Monsters by
43:35
Kayla Edwards stopped in the middle of book 2 for no reason.
43:40
I think other things like took my attention away and then I
43:43
never went back to it but I do want to finish it.
43:46
I've heard mixed things about the series but I loved loved
43:51
book 1. Silver Cloak by LK Steven Yes
43:55
everybody needs to read this book.
43:56
It's so under hyped. I loved that book.
44:00
It involves wands with magic and it's great.
44:05
Yes, as she's like an under, she's like undercover.
44:08
It's great. You guys need to read it.
44:10
I know you read it a while ago. I need to just like remember to.
44:13
I'm going to Google it really quick so that I remember it
44:15
exists. And then I'm going to plug First
44:19
Born Chronicles by Georgia Perry, which is Blood of the
44:22
first born. And then book 2 is coming out.
44:25
She is a friend of mine. She's really funny.
44:29
And it's book 1 is basically like if Akatar.
44:34
It was also Walking Dead. It's literally the book.
44:38
That's cool. Agatar X Walking Dead.
44:41
It's like super entertaining. I read it in like 1 sitting.
44:44
It's a very entertaining book. No, I've got I've got this one
44:50
that she sent me like an e-book of and you haven't got to it
44:53
yet. And so I read it.
44:56
I'm glad to know that I need to bump that up.
44:58
Yes, you should bump it up. I ate it up.
45:02
It was really good. It was really fun, I should say.
45:04
And then The Wolf King by Lauren Powell Freeman.
45:08
Yes. Yes.
45:10
Yes, Yes. Yes.
45:11
Yes. Yes.
45:11
Yes. Yes, Yes.
45:12
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
45:13
So you so I've heard about that as like the Wolf King, you just
45:18
have to get through and then the second book is great, but you
45:20
really enjoyed. I loved both.
45:22
Yes I ate up the first book. Just incredible.
45:27
Loved it so much. And then the last two are the
45:31
Heart which is Daggermouth and then the second book I will be
45:34
continuing that series. And then last 1 is When the Moon
45:39
Hatched by Sarah A Parker. Yes I loved that book.
45:44
It was such a damn long book, but it was so good.
45:47
I did audio, which I was scared to do because it's so long and
45:52
the world building is it's like it's high fantasies.
45:55
Like it's very dense, like you don't understand half of what's
45:59
going on. But that being said, I loved it.
46:02
The second book is being released on May 19th, so we are
46:05
getting close. So I finished it not too long
46:08
ago. So that kind of worked out in my
46:10
favor. That's a fraction of the series
46:12
that I've started. I know I have a whole nother
46:15
list. I was like, there's no way I'm
46:16
doing all of this. Maybe it's just because like I
46:19
feel like for the last couple of years up until I started like
46:22
really getting into romanticity like 2 years ago, I read a lot
46:24
of memoirs of like comedians and like celebrity memoirs and like,
46:29
you know, I feel like I just heard a lot of like stand alone
46:31
fiction did. I guess I don't find myself in
46:34
the middle of too many series because I think I also like
46:36
strategically pick series that are finished a lot of the time
46:40
so I don't have to wait. Yeah.
46:43
Because that is, yeah, it's crazy because all of a sudden
46:45
you're like, oh, wait, I have like all these, like rereads
46:50
that I have to do. I don't even know.
46:51
Yeah. Yeah, and normally I'm the kind
46:54
of person who I will like, I will stay here and I'll finish a
46:57
series before I go on to another book.
46:59
Oh, same. But lately between like arcs and
47:03
book clubs and rereads, like I've kind of gotten like out of
47:08
that and I'm in the middle of 10,000 different things.
47:11
But like, that's what I'd like to do is just sit there, start a
47:14
series and I'm not touching anything until I finish that
47:17
series. Oh yeah, that was and then.
47:19
On to the next. Last year last like winter into
47:24
spring when I did like the mass verse and then right at least,
47:28
you know, like Acatar. I like SAT and I read Acatar and
47:31
then Throne of Glass. I sat and I read Throne of
47:33
Glass, took a little break and then I sat and I read Crescent
47:38
City. Well, you know, like I just did
47:39
it one after another because I was like a machine, like gotta
47:43
do it, gotta do it, I gotta do it.
47:45
Yeah, I blame the Internet, like I blame book talk because I feel
47:49
like I get such FOMO of like wanting to know what these like
47:53
new release, new release, new release, new release.
47:55
I, I got to read it. I got to read it.
47:57
I got to read it. And that's how I find myself in
47:59
the middle of 14 fucking books and not a single one has been
48:04
finished. So it's like I, I need to, I, I
48:08
need to simmer down and like get back to, you know, reading a
48:14
series all the way through and giving it my full attention.
48:17
Yes. I also think that that's also
48:19
the reason why a lot of times I tend to miss some things.
48:24
Oh yeah. And.
48:26
Also but non black peak is like a actual witch.
48:30
Cool thing. That's true.
48:32
She's a witch. Listen, when?
48:35
When do we talk about their magic powers in this book about
48:41
being able to do parlor tricks like predicting the sex of a
48:45
baby? No, I think that was saying that
48:47
like that's what they expect of witches.
48:50
But we don't talk about their other powers.
48:53
I don't think they really have many, they just have like the
48:56
yielding and then the power to make their broomsticks right.
49:00
And apparently being able to predict the sex of a baby.
49:03
I think I know what you're talking about.
49:05
Hold on, let me let me consult the text.
49:08
It's been too long. For today's reading.
49:11
For today's reading, please turn to the Gospel of Manan.
49:19
It's when she first. It's when she's first
49:21
introduced, correct? Yes, yes, it's when she's first.
49:24
Introduced Hold on. I think I know exactly what
49:26
you're talking about. I think it was like, OK, so it's
49:29
in chapter 4. This is like our first intro to
49:33
Manon, and she's hiding from the guys.
49:36
They're going through the house and she's like hiding in the
49:39
back bedroom and she says even from the closet she could smell
49:43
the ale on his breath and the bloodlust.
49:46
Oh, the villagers knew exactly what they had, what they planned
49:49
to do with the witch who sold potions and charms from her back
49:53
door, and who could predict the sex of a babe before it was due.
49:58
She was surprised it had taken these men so long to work up the
50:01
nerve to come here to torment and then destroy what petrified
50:04
them. So she was doing that stuff to
50:06
lure the guy there. She doesn't do that like for
50:10
herself. She was doing that to lure those
50:12
guys. But.
50:12
She can. When she comes out and she says
50:15
wrong kind of witch which I picture like a Russian accent.
50:20
Wrong kind of witch wrong. Kind of witch.
50:23
But she can. Come out, little crack.
50:26
And he crooned, silent as Death. Manon slid up behind him.
50:32
She brought her mouth close to his ear and whispered.
50:34
So not to spiral, but what's the other kind of witch?
50:37
I I. Know, I think that.
50:39
The the Kraken's she was passed the other.
50:42
Be a Kraken. But she is an Iron teeth witch
50:46
or whatever. A Kraken witch had come to their
50:49
little Green Valley in the north of Fenn Harrow.
50:51
They'd said in the weeks that she'd been living amongst them,
50:54
carving out a miserable existence she'd been waiting for
50:56
This night. It was the same at Elbury
50:58
Village she'd lived in or visited.
51:01
So she was like there, pretending to be a Kraken,
51:04
selling potions, protecting, predicting the sex of the babies
51:07
to get the villagers to like, come to her so that she could.
51:12
Yes, but the Kraken's? Sell potions, yes, but she's not
51:16
a Kraken. She's but they're.
51:17
All witches she's made, she's raised.
51:20
Yes, but my point is, is we never discuss the fact that like
51:24
these witches are witches that make potions.
51:27
That's my point is like we don't.
51:29
How do we just skip over the fact that they make potions?
51:33
Maybe the krakens do 'cause they're like the peaceful ones
51:36
because the iron teeth ones are all the ones that are like.
51:39
Yeah, yeah, I don't think so. They have a.
51:41
Reference doing that, do they? No.
51:45
All right. Well, thank you all so much for
51:48
joining us with this little discussion, and we want to hear
51:51
from you. We want to hear if you're in any
51:53
of these series, if you want to convince any of us to continue
51:58
on with any of these series. I think Amy really wants to be
52:01
convinced to like read The Bridge Kingdom in its entirety.
52:07
I need somebody to convince me to read the third book of Faye
52:11
and alchemy. You know, we're we're here.
52:13
We're open for the comments are open.
52:16
We appreciate you all so much coming back to listen after our
52:20
little hiatus. We are so happy to be back with
52:23
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53:06
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53:13
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53:17
And you can find all of us on Tiktok and Instagram and
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53:24
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53:26
So thank you so much for spiraling with us tonight.
53:32
Now go get back to your TBR. Bye.