Episode 181 - The Cat Who Sniffed Glue by Lilian Jackson BraunWe're back in Pickax with Qwilleran, Koko, Yum Yum... and somehow the biggest mystery isn't the murder.It's Qwill's love life.Sam and Tim continue their journey through The Cat Who... series with The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, but this time the romance takes center stage and not necessarily in a good way.We discuss:Why the romance overshadows the mysteryQwill's inability to decide what he wantsWhether Polly deserves someone who can actually make up his mindWhy Agatha Christie may have been right to keep Poirot's love life out of the spotlightAnd yes... we eventually get around to talking about the murder, too.As much as we love spending time with Qwill, Koko, and Yum Yum, this installment left us wishing the mystery had received as much attention as the romance.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro01:52 Background02:06 Age Level & Content Warning03:46 Judge a Book by Its Cover05:15 Discussion41:52 General Thoughts44:30 One Question for the Author47:31 General Thoughts49:49 Read Again?51:55 Favorite of the Series so Far52:48 Outro🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 180 - Death on the Lanai by Rachel Ekstrom CourageWe're heading back to Miami!Sam and James return to the Golden Girls Cozy Mystery series with Death on the Lanai. After enjoying the first book while feeling it still had room to grow, we couldn't wait to see if this second installment finally delivers on the series' potential.So... does it?We discuss:Whether the series has found its footingHow this mystery compares to the first bookSpending more time with Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and SophiaWhat worked, what still needs improvement, and where we'd like to see the series go nextAnd the big question: Will there be a third book?Whether you're a lifelong Golden Girls fan or just love a good cozy mystery, grab a slice of cheesecake and join us for another trip to Miami.Thank you for being a friend. 💛New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: People of Sparks by Jeanna DuPrau⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro00:57 Background04:28 Age Level & Content Warning05:04 Judge a Book by Its Cover08:22 Discussion01:04:40 General Thoughts01:07:10 One Question for the Author01:10:37 Rating01:11:34 Read Again & Favorite of the Series so Far01:12:28 Outro📖 Follow the AuthorWebsite: https://www.rachelekstromcourage.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071357919222Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelekstromcourage/🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 179 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosIt finally happened.After months (okay... years) of recommendations, Kaitlyn has finally convinced Sam (the podcast's biggest skeptic) to read one of the biggest fantasy books of the decade.The pressure was on.When seemingly everyone around you loves a book, can you still judge it on its own merits? Sam certainly tries.In this episode, Sam and Kaitlyn discuss:Sam's long-awaited first read of Fourth WingWhether the hype helped or hurt the experienceThe worldbuilding, dragons, romance, and actionDisability representation in the bookWhether Sam's expectations were changed or confirmedWhether you're a devoted fan, a curious skeptic, or somewhere in between, join us as we dive into one of BookTok's biggest sensations.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: Death on the Lanai by Rachel Ekstrom Courage⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro01:13 Background05:35 About the Author13:04 Age Level & Content Warning13:45 Judge a Book by Its Cover15:17 Discussion01:30:46 General Thoughts01:34:12 One Question for the Author01:36:20 Eyebrows and Dain's Beard01:37:37 Rating01:39:15 Read Again?01:42:04 What Next?01:43:12 Outro📖 Follow the Author - Rebecca YarrosWebsite: https://rebeccayarros.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaElizabethYarros/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccayarrosPinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/rebeccayarros/🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 178 - Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen CalonitaCan a book be nostalgic if you barely remember reading it?Sam first read Secrets of My Hollywood Life back in middle school and remembers loving the series. Here's the strange part: she can still recall events from later books, but she'd completely forgotten the plot of the very first one, including the fact that the main character spends the book trying to attend a normal high school.So how does a childhood favorite hold up when you remember the series but not the beginning?Sam and Danielle discuss:-Revisiting a YA favorite nearly 20 years later-Why Book 1 felt almost like a brand-new read-The celebrity-meets-normal-life premise-Which parts still work today and which feel very much like the mid-2000's-Whether this series deserves a modern rereadThere's something fascinating about rediscovering a story you thought you knew. This episode is part nostalgia trip, part first-time reaction, and all kinds of fun.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro01:46 Background09:15 Age Level & Content Warning13:00 Judge a Book by Its Cover14:26 Discussion43:37 General Thoughts46:12 One Question for the Author49:16 Rating50:35 Read Again?51:29 Outro📖 Follow the Author:Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jencalonitaonline.com/⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/jencalonitabooks⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jencalonita/⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/JenCalonita⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jencalonitaofficial⁠⁠⁠🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 177 - Disney After Dark by Ridley PearsonThis might be the most unhinged premise we've ever covered.Thanks to Keira's special interest in the Disney Parks, we discovered the Kingdom Keepers series and after reading the first book, we have just one question:Who approved this?Every night, five middle schoolers are teleported into Walt Disney World Resort while they sleep. Their mission? Save the parks from the Disney villains, solve a mystery connected to Walt Disney himself, and keep the Magic Kingdom from falling into chaos.Is it completely ridiculous? Absolutely.Is it giving serious Disney Channel Original Movie energy? Without question.Are we immediately committing to the rest of the series? Also yes.In this episode, Sam and Keira discuss:-Why this premise somehow works despite being completely bonkers-Keira's Disney Parks knowledge and how it changes the reading experience-The campy adventure vibes-Whether this deserves its cult following-Why we're absolutely continuing the seriesSometimes the weirdest books become the most fun to talk about.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro01:01 About the Author03:53 Background06:29 Age Level & Content Warning08:01 Judge a Book by Its Cover46:27 General Thoughts47:46 One Question for the Author52:29 Rating53:42 Read Again?54:41 Outro📖 Follow the Author - Ridley PearsonWebsite: https://ridleypearson.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekingdomkeepersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridleypearsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ridleypPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ridleypearson/🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 176 - The Well of Ascension by Brandon SandersonIs being a "middle book" an excuse... or a flaw?Sam and James continue their journey through the Mistborn trilogy with The Well of Ascension, and while they agree on one thing (that this is very much a second book in a trilogy) they couldn't disagree more on whether that's a compliment.For Sam, "middle book syndrome" means one thing: filler until the finale.For James, it's exactly what a sequel should do: build anticipation and make you desperate to read the final book.In this episode, we discuss:-Whether The Well of Ascension suffers from middle-book syndrome-The political intrigue, character development, and expanding world of The Final Empire-What makes a great second book in a trilogy-Whether this installment stands on its own or exists primarily to set up the finale-And whether we'll settle the debate or simply agree to disagree.If you've ever argued about whether a sequel is "all setup" or "necessary development," this episode is for you.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro00:51 Background05:11 Age Level & Content Warning06:07 Judge a Book by Its Cover07:49 Discussion01:00:07 General Thoughts01:01:24 One Question for the Author01:05:56 Read Again?01:07:21 Favorite of the Series so Far01:09:32 Death of the Author?01:11:24 Outro📚 Follow the Author:Website: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrandSanderson/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandsanderson/Twitter: https://x.com/BrandSandersonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbrandonsandersonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandSanderson🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 175 - Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ KluneWe thought we knew what we were getting into.After loving The House in the Cerulean Sea for its cozy, heartwarming vibe and hopeful message, Sam and Hannah went into Somewhere Beyond the Sea expecting something similar.We were not prepared.This sequel keeps the compassion and humanity of the first book, but the conversations become much heavier. What starts as a return to a beloved world quickly turns into a discussion about prejudice, fear, belonging, and the weight of trying to create a better future.We talk about:-Why the tone feels so different from the first book-The themes that hit much harder than expected-Whether the sequel succeeds because of that shift-And why this might be a book that deserves a content warning conversation before recommending itWe'd still gift Cerulean Sea to almost anyone. Somewhere Beyond the Sea? We'd gift it with a long conversation attached.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro01:02 Background02:54 Age Level & Content Warning04:38 Discussion01:02:01 One Question for the Author01:07:01 Rating01:07:51 Read Again?01:08:52 Favorite of the Series01:13:07 Outro📚 Follow the Author:Website: ⁠https://www.tjklunebooks.com/⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/tjklunebooks/⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/tjklune⁠🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 174 - The Silver Chair by C. S. LewisFor years, The Silver Chair was Tim's favorite Narnia book.But was it actually the book or was it his dad's absolutely legendary voice for Puddleglum doing all the work?Sam and Tim revisit one of the most beloved entries in the Narnia series and ask a dangerous question: does childhood nostalgia hold up under adult scrutiny?We discuss:• Why The Silver Chair became Tim's favorite as a kid• The unforgettable Puddleglum voice that defined the story for him• How the book reads differently as an adult• Whether the themes and characters still work• If nostalgia enhanced the experience or completely carried itAnd, of course, we spend plenty of time talking about one of Narnia's most unique and memorable characters.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro00:54 Background02:06 Age Level & Content Warning02:56 Judge a Book by Its Cover04:30 Discussion44:54 General Thoughts47:00 One Question for the Author49:14 Rating50:52 Read Again?51:13 Favorite of the Series so Far52:51 Outro🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 173 - Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsAfter more than a decade of encouragement, recommendations, and relentless badgering from Danielle, Sam is finally caught up on the entire Hunger Games book series.Mission accomplished.Now comes the next challenge: convincing her to watch the movies.But first, we have to answer a much bigger question:Is Sunrise on the Reaping the best Hunger Games book?Danielle says no.Sam is prepared to make her case.We discuss:• Sam's first-time reaction to the newest Hunger Games novel• Whether it belongs at the top of the series ranking• The themes that make the book resonate so strongly• How it changes the way we view the rest of the series• Sam's increasingly controversial Hunger Games reading order: Book 1 → Sunrise on the Reaping → Book 2 → The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes → Book 3Whether you agree or disagree, this episode is packed with Hunger Games discussion, rankings, and probably a few hot takes.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro00:51 Background08:09 Age Level & Content Warning8:33 Judge a Book by Its Cover10:12 Discussion58:13 General Thoughts01:04:50 One Question for the Author01:06:05 Rating01:06:58 Poetry in the Book01:08:26 Favorite of the Series01:10:10 Reading Order01:12:28 Outro📖 Follow the Author - Suzanne CollinsWebsite: https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

Episode 172 - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas“You just need to get past the first book.”That was the recommendation. Repeatedly.So Sam and Kaitlyn finally picked up Throne of Glass and… oh boy.We get into what worked, what absolutely did not, and the question we kept circling back to the entire episode: Why did people keep reading this series?From characterization to pacing to the overall reading experience, we unpack why this first entry was a rough ride for both of us while also trying to understand the absolutely legendary reader loyalty surrounding Sarah J. Maas.Honestly, the author’s ability to inspire devotion deserves academic study.We talk about:• First-time reactions to Throne of Glass• Why the “it gets better later” recommendation is so fascinating• What did (and didn’t) work for us• Whether we understand the fandom… at allIf you’ve ever pushed through a first book because everyone swore the series improves, this one is for you.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro01:51 Background06:35 Age Level & Content Warning08:21 Judge a Book by Its Cover10:46 Discussion01:05:32 General Thoughts01:08:36 One Question for the Author01:09:57 Rating01:10:59 Read Again?01:11:40 Outro📖 Follow the Author - Sarah J. MaasWebsite: https://sarahjmaas.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofsarahjmaas/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjmaas/Twitter: https://x.com/SJMaasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahjmaas🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts