Literary Quest

Happy Monster Smash October! This week we're discussing The Trouble with Monsters by Grace McGinty. After creatures decided to live openly among humans, the Creature Crisis Hotline was created for when problems among monsters arise. Hailey Swoon, a human, contacts the hotline when her hot orc neighbor, Eric, mysteriously disappears. Through her call to the Hotline, Hailey meets Louis, a werewolf, Syke, a demon, Ilyas, a gargoyle, and their leader, Otis, a minotaur, all of whom are very interested in the compassionate, concerned human and her ailing orc. Join us!

This week we're talking with author Kayla Hardy about her new book The Quarter Queen! Based on the life of Marie Laveau a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo.In 1843 New Orleans, Voodoo queen Marie Laveau is feared by all. Her rebellious daughter Ree defies her mother at every turn, until she finds Marie comatose under a wicked curse cast by exiled Voodoo king Jon the Conjurer—Marie’s former teacher, lover, and greatest enemy.As Ree uncovers dark secrets and faces dangerous enemies, including her childhood friend turned witch hunter, she must confront her mother’s past and her own destiny—or die trying.

This week we're discussing This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. Maggie awakens in Kair Toren, the fantasy world created by her favorite author, at the start of the first book in the series and realizes quickly that she cannot die and that she will have to use her knowledge of the world to find safety. She cleverly uses her knowledge of the world to set about fixing the wrongs done to her beloved characters, and in doing so, collects a crew of characters that become integral to her. Together they set out to save the kingdom of Rellas from death and war.

This episode we interview NYT best selling author Geneva Lee! Her upcoming epic fantasy romance, Harbinger, debuts on September 22nd. Harbinger is the first novel in a new series full of banter, tension, world-building, and magic. Geneva elaborates on the characters, her writing process, and inspiration for Harbinger! Arden Icaros is unexpectedly branded as an omen of war and is being hunted by the nobility. Her only chance of survival is a mysterious and feared man, known only as Bishop. He offers her sanctuary but the longer Arden is under Bishop's protection, the more dangerous he becomes.

This week, we're discussing The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Carissa Broadbent. Shoutout to the folks at Tor for sending us each a copy of this book! Kyrene, part time bounty hunter and part time servant of Shiket, goddess of Justice, is doing what she can to scrape by with her god created sword, Zefiah, and keep the people she cares about alive. A devastating miscalculation leaves Kyrene stunned by grief and rage and leads to an unlikely partnership with Septimus, prince of the Bloodborn vampires, pursuing their mutual goal to kill the gods. What could go wrong? So much.We are thrilled to finally have part 1 of Septimus and Kyrene's story. We have previously discussed the other full length novels in this series and invite you to check them out if you need a refresher.

This week we're interview Ann Aguirre about her upcoming novel - The Hocus Pocus Handbook. It is a cozy fae romance with fun lore and dynamic characters! Thea is given an almost impossible task of hunting down the fae she was forced to wed. She is accompanied by Kerboros, a sullen fae enforcer known as Winter’s Hound. Kerboros, who lives under the strict control of his cousin in the treacherous Winter Court, finds his life changed by the warm and wild Thea. As they journey together, the "sunshine and shadow" pair find themselves in a forbidden, potentially magical romance. The Hocus Pocus Handbook releases on September 1st!

This week, we're continuing our side quest into classic literature with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre evolves from an impoverished orphan, shunned by her remaining living family, into a refined young woman of fine moral standards, eager to move beyond the charity school she was sent to as a child. Armed with a sharp mind, she takes a job at Thornfield Hall where she serves as a governess for a young French girl, Adele, who is the ward of Thornfield's owner, Edward Rochester. Jane and Edward form a fast friendship, which is challenged by social barriers. Though they overcome these barriers, when Edward's secrets come to light, they cannot be ignored by Jane. She sets off on her own with limited resources, seeking peace and clarity, but her journey leads her to so much more than she anticipated.**Jump to about 13 minutes into the episode to bypass the character and plot summaries.**

This week we're discussing Emily Bronte's classic gothic novel Wuthering Heights! Heathcliff is adopted by Mr. Earnshaw and soon forms a close bond with his daughter, Catherine but must endure abuse from Mr. Earnshaw's son. Heathcliff and Catherine's bond is strong but is tested when she accepts an offer of marriage from the rich Edgar Linton. In response, Heathcliff disappears and when he returns several years later, he is mysteriously wealthy. He is looking for revenge and is prepared to wait years for the opportune moment. Join us as we discuss Heathcliff and Catherine's haunting tale of love, spite, and vengeance.

In this episode, we're joined by Emily Renk Hawthorne, author of the YA fantasy mystery duology Of Mountains and Seas and From the Depths, which was released on June 9th. Emily shares with us about the inspiration for her books, how Chinese mythology is represented through her characters and storytelling, and how exposure to fantasy novels as a child has influenced her writing today.In a world filled with magic, shifters fight to maintain their secrecy among the statics (non-shifters). Of Mountains and Seas and From the Depths explores consequences of pursuing power and the impact that is felt across multiple generations. Check out Emily's work at www.emilyrenkhawthorne.com and find her on IG at @emilyrenkhawthorne

Happy Pride Month! This episode we're discussing The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow! This is a tale of three sisters who must come together to fight against the misogynistic Gideon Hill, who wants to rid the world of witches. They each have their own struggles to overcome, June is young and filled with unchanneled rage, Agnes is isolated and pregnant, while Bella hides her true nature. Can they overcome their challenges to unite the women and witches in New Salem? Or will old prejudices and fear be their downfall?