Dragon Babies

Westmark has it all - political intrigue, long cons, a dashing leader of the revolution, and two months in a garret writing other people’s letters. We discuss Lloyd Alexander’s fast-paced opening to the Westmark trilogy and why it feels like classic fantasy in spite of its lack of true fantasy elements. Join us in breaking down Theo’s soft boy protagonist appeal, the power of

We’re covering the first two books of Emily Rodda’s Deltora Quest series, The Forests of Silence and The Lake of Tears! Deltora brings out the best in us; we rave about the impeccable art, wild pacing and grotesque monsters as we travel the kingdom searching for hidden gems. Scholastic book fairs, reading positions we’ve aged out of, fights about Beyoncé - this episode has i

Welcome to Middle Grade March! This episode, we’re following siblings Nizhoni and Mac Begay as they save their dad from monstrous coal exec Mr. Charles. They discover their similarities to the Hero Twins of Navajo legend and explore their burgeoning abilities through increasingly challenging trials. Grace and Madeleine discuss preferred middle school-age magical weapons, the powe

A special lil episode on the enigmatic Grendel, by John Gardner! After covering The Snow-Walker’s Son and considering ancient Nordic literary monsters, Grace was compelled to revisit this darkly comedic retelling of Beowulf from his foe’s perspective. Joining her is Ranae Hanson, author, activist, and top-notch mother-in-law. Curl up in your watery cave and join us!

Celebrate Valentine’s with this fascinating, bizarre and indelible tale of love among young witches - we’re reading The Changeover, by Margaret Mahy! We meet Laura Chant and her young brother Jacko, who are living a mostly-peaceful life in the Christchurch suburbs punctuated by Laura’s “warnings,” psychic premonitions that never bode well. When an ancient demon disguised

We’re getting into our frigid sailboat and exploring The Snow-Walker’s Son, by Catherine Fisher! Jessa and Thorkil are banished to a forgotten hall in the far North when their fathers attempt to overthrow the current jarl, a pretender to the throne. The false jarl happens to be married to Gudrun, a terrifying ice sorceress who previously sent her own son to the same dark fate.

We’re overwhelmed with holiday spirit and we’re releasing this Babetreon episode on the main feed! *Please note that unlike our main feed, this episode is explicit.The sibling squabbling is at an all-time high as Grace tries to force Madeleine to enjoy a Christmas film. Happy Hogswatch!

We’re continuing to explore the Lost Years with The Seven Songs of Merlin, by T.A. Barron! Our wee Merlin advances to his Emo Protagonist era as he shirks the main quest in favor of finding/saving his mama. Grace and Madeleine discuss the plot’s video game structure, the joys of a melancholy bard (Bumblewy forever), and why we’re more sympathetic to Merlin’s weight of respo

Strum your cwidder and make the mountains walk 🎵 We’re reading Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones! Murderers, spies, magical instruments, and vengeance driven by the love of a horse - would you expect anything less from DWJ? This opener to the Dalemark Quartet introduces Moril, Brid and their family of wandering troubadours. In a nation plagued by civil war, the songs of ol

Be an ageless entity, do crimes - we’re discussing The Boggart, by Susan Cooper! This wonderfully weird book has it all and is the perfect playful Halloween read for all ages. Cooper pulls off the ultimate middle grade fantasy bait and switch - leading readers to think we’re in for a spooky Scottish castle stay and then immediately heading to Toronto (the Boggart accidentally i