Cracked Spines

Jan 27 2025 132 ep. 53 mins 109

Cracked Spines Podcast artwork

Crack open a good book with two wise-cracking besties. Sarah and Cyrus are two queer English majors who use their degrees to commit crimes against literature.

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Vermis: Which Flesh is Your Flesh?

Jan 27 2025 60 mins

Haunted catacombs! Mysterious knights! Rat man! For those looking for a game manual on their quest through Vermis, you couldn't ask for more. For those looking to actually play Vermis, well, we've got bad news. The book is a video game manual for a retro soulslike that doesn't exist. It's a fantastic piece of meta-fiction with amazing art by Plastiboo, and we loved it so much---and

Animorphs Part 4: We HAVE to Talk about David

Jan 13 2025 58 mins

Everyone was like, "look out for David *eyes emoji*" and in this episode we find out why. These three books are jampacked with moments that made us scream a little and we discuss them. (Spoiler: RACHEL. I LOVE YOU, QUEEN.) Sarah marvels at Animorph's Pain Per Page ratio. Cyrus ponders if they could fight a whale. None of the characters are happy, but boy did we have a good time. Su

2024 Recap: DIY, Top Fives, and the Raw Power of Animorphs

Dec 30 2024 67 mins

Another year, another yearly wrap-up episode. This week, we have a somewhat meandering conversation (gasp! so different from normal!) reflecting on our personal and literary lives. Turns out buying a house will derail your life. We share our favorite books, our upcoming resolutions, and our intimate relationships with our local Lowe's paint counter. Thanks for sticking around for a

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Dec 16 2024 51 mins

We are pleased to announce this is NOT an episode about Mortal Kombat. You might be surprised at the challenge that presented. It is, however, an episode about the phenomenal science fiction political thriller, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine! Sarah and Cyrus discuss the challenges and delights that such a complex world presents, and Sarah definitely doesn't struggle to sa

Animorphs Part 3: It's All Uphell From Here (Books 11-19)

Dec 02 2024 70 mins

Hi, guys! We read more Animorphs. Don't...look at how long its been since the last one. In this episode: Trauma! Murder! Elaborate set pieces! These kids are fighting a war they can't tell anyone about, and they are handling it so well. We discuss character rankings, philosophical quandaries, and the essential nature of Cassie. Like, A LOT of Cassie. Also I realize they aren't actu

Danmei Beatdown!!

Nov 18 2024 44 mins

This week on Cracked Spines, Sarah did all the dang work and presents to Cyrus volume one of three Chinese danmei series for their consideration: The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish, The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, and You've Got Mail: The Perils of Pigeon Post. Two-thirds of them are completely insane and the last one is morally reprehensible. Guess which one Cyrus gravitat

The Book of Billl (and More!)

Nov 04 2024 65 mins

Well, guys. The third of our recorded episodes about Gravity Falls. This is really our Return of the King. Cyrus and Sarah discuss media in-ties for a children's show--Journal Three, Lost Legends, and The Book of Bill, all written by Alex Hirsch. Sarah ponders about the challenges of adapting a story from one medium to another. Cyrus explains why Grunkle Ford is the new Hamlet. We

"That's Life!" A Harrowing Tale of Triumph, Humiliation, and Gravity Falls

Nov 04 2024 59 mins

What does a feel-good video about compassion in nursing, a trainwreck of social ineptitude at the site of a roadside attraction, and the television show Gravity Falls all have in common? Well, they're all in this episode, kinda funny, and somehow blisteringly earnest! After winning a prestigious Daisy Award for nursing last year, Sarah was selected for an exciting opportunity: reco

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

Oct 21 2024 46 mins

In today's episode, Cyrus bullies Sarah into reading a book she really enjoys. Sucker! For fans of pining, fealty, political maneuvering in a fantasy setting, and panic attacks, you can't go wrong with A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland. Naturally, Sarah spends the entire episode second-guessing how to pronounce the names after literally looking it up. Support the show

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

Oct 09 2024 63 mins

This week, we're reading Nat Cassidy's second horror novel about vampires, babies, and New York real estate that is so completely not ADA compliant. With special guest, our friend and resident horror book recommender Katie! Talking points include: navigating the inherent antisemitism of vampire mythology, Capri-sunning a human being, different types of evil landlords, and truly so