The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee is the tale of a corporate samurai on a space colony fulfilling their last mission before they retire, which on this colony means walking to their own death. Not going to lie, my experience with cyberpunk is limited, but this novel definitely fits the bill with one …

Josh and Steph talk about their feelings about book-to-TV/film adaptations, both past, present, and future. Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina Ladd (@christinaladd), and Joshua MacDougall (@FourofFiveWits). You can find us all on Bluesky. Our art is by Mangoyu Art (@MangoyuArt), and our music is by Bad Sparrow (@BadSparrowMusic). You can find us on …

On this episode, we discuss a lot of Nine Houses/Blood of Eden politics, a returning character, memories, dreams, and THE PINING. Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina Ladd (@christinaladd), and Joshua MacDougall (@FourofFiveWits). You can find us all on Bluesky. Our art is by Mangoyu Art (@MangoyuArt), and our music is by Bad Sparrow …

Some questions are answered, but lead to more questions, as is the way. We discuss the narrative trick the author plays on the reader regarding the identity of Nona’s body and our own thoughts of how certain souls arrived where they are at the time of this book. Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina …

Nona is finally here, and we are all confused about a lot of what is happening, par for the course. Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina Ladd (@christinaladd), and Joshua MacDougall (@FourofFiveWits). You can find us all on Bluesky. Our art is by Mangoyu Art (@MangoyuArt), and our music is by Bad Sparrow (@BadSparrowMusic). …

Oh, Dang. The Penultimate Harrow episode is here. Peak Tamsyn Muir writing in these chapters. Bees! Swordfighting! Pithy Conversations! Questions are answered! New Questions are asked! Exclamation points are used! Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina Ladd (@christinaladd), and Joshua MacDougall (@FourofFiveWits). You can find us all on Bluesky. Our art is by Mangoyu …

We’re reaching the sections of the book where we are tee-heeing and steepling our fingers, connivingly, at the reveals happening in these chapters and the coffee-shop AU fanfictions happening in Harrow’s mind. Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina Ladd (@christinaladd), and Joshua MacDougall (@FourofFiveWits). You can find us all on Bluesky. Our art is …

We talk about a kind of heartfelt reunion with known quantities that reassures the readers that they haven’t lost their minds. Plus a rejected kiss and thistle. Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina Ladd (@christinaladd), and Joshua MacDougall (@FourofFiveWits). You can find us all on Bluesky. Our art is by Mangoyu Art (@MangoyuArt), and …

We’re back from the Holidays. Happy New Year. We list what we think are the best books we read in 2025, which are not limited to but do include a lot published in 2025. Christina’s Books Steph’s Books Josh’s Books Your hosts are Steph Kingston (@StephOKingston), Christina Ladd (@christinaladd), and Joshua MacDougall (@FourofFiveWits). You can …

When you’ve read a lot of novels, or this could likely apply to a lot of other media too, your brain starts to recognize the patterns of storytelling that will lead to certain outcomes, like seeing where you have to swap the tiles in a puzzle-solving game. Authors can take advantage of these expectations and …