Shit We've Read

In this After Dark episode, we discuss Emma’s pick, THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON by Kimberly Lemming; and really, who among us hasn’t found themselves in the same situation? For those keeping score at home, that is now two demon books Emma has chosen. Join us as we reveal if the amount of smut lived up to our expectations, we discuss the author’s interesting use of simile to describe orgasms, and Jason admits to misunderstanding what the main character’s “snack pocket” was. Plus, find out who’s picking our next After Dark pick and what they chose.   CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.   Sponsors:Liquid I.V. is the category-winning hydration brand fueling your well-being. Ready to shop better hydration, use our special link https://zen.ai/swrpod to save 20% off anything you order.    Connect with SWRInstagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.   Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome to a special Pride Month episode where we rocket into the captivating worlds of Everina Maxwell's queer space opera, WINTER’S ORBIT, alongside our guest host, EmmaSkies! Set in a futuristic system on the brink of political turmoil, Winter's Orbit follows the arranged marriage between Prince Kiem and Count Jainan. As they navigate their new relationship, secrets and conspiracies unravel, challenging their notions of duty, loyalty, and personal freedom. It’s a book Emma has read before and already loves, so she comes to this discussion with enthusiasm and opinions aplenty! Join us as we analyze the book's tropes and gender systems, Bella makes the sci-fi more complicated than it is, Jason & Emma explain the story of Bigolas Dickolas, and so much more! It’s an episode filled with love, laughter, and chaotic energy. Happy Pride!   Guest Host:EmmaSkies is a Twitch streamer, cosplayer, co-host of BYLO Watch podcast, and a huge fan of fantasy books. You can follow her on Twitch, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @EmmaSkies, and her Bookstagram @BiblioSkies.   Sponsor:Liquid I.V. is the category-winning hydration brand fueling your well-being. Ready to shop better hydration, use our special link https://zen.ai/swrpod to save 20% off anything you order.    Podcast Partner:The Tipsy Nerds Book Club podcast is your home for the best of science fiction and fantasy—with a twist. Whether you prefer your stories with dragons or aliens, your drinks shaken or stirred, Tipsy Nerds Book Club delivers lively and fun nerdy conversation every month with hosts—sci-fi and fantasy authors (and proud tipsy nerds)—Natalie Wright and Robyn Dabney. The first season focused on NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction, Fantasy Books, but the Nerds now focus on more recent titles, movies, and streaming shows. The show has also featured guests such as best-selling authors Hugh Howey, J Todd Scott, and Darynda Jones, as well as Shit We’ve Read’s own Jason Rico. For fans of the SFF genre, Tipsy Nerds Book Club is the perfect antidote to the news-cycle blues.   Connect with SWRInstagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | WebsiteRequest transcripts o

Get ready to be transported to a world where Greek mythology, urban fantasy, and romance collide as we chat with author Kika Hatzopoulou about her debut novel, THREADS THAT BIND, described by Hatzopoulou as a “fantasy noir about a descendent of the Greek Fates, using her skills to work as a detective in a half-sunken post-apocalyptic city.” Listen in as we unravel the inspirations behind Hatzopoulou's inventive world-building, celebrate the importance of “casual queerness” in stories, learn how her love of the “fated/soul mates trope” has evolved as an adult, and so much more. It was an absolute joy talking to Kika and this interview is not to be missed. And if you haven’t already picked up your own copy, Threads That Bind is available now!   Other books mentioned by Kika in this episode: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter Bitterthorn by Kay Dunn Lore by Alexandra Bracken Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Fallen by Lauren Kate   Guest:Kika Hatzopoulou writes stories for all ages, filled with lore and whimsy. Her debut YA fantasy novel, Threads That Bind, arrives in May 2023 from Razorbill in the US and Puffin in the UK. She is the author of several short stories, including anthologies such as Game On and Firsts and Lasts. She holds an MFA in writing for children from the New School and works in foreign publishing. She currently splits her time between London and her native Greece, where she enjoys urban quests and gastronomical adventures while narrating entire book and movie plots with her partner. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @kikahatzopoulou and on her website kikahatzopoulou.com.   Connect with SWRInstagram

It’s our first After Dark episode of the new season and trust us when we say it's going to be a wild ride! This month, we discuss the listener-recommended SOUL EATER by Lily Mayne; a story about monsters and human men falling in love in a post-apocalyptic world. Join us for our most chaotic and explicit episode yet, and listen in as we applaud the chemistry between the two MCs, Laura has some questions about male anatomy, and we ponder if there’s a "help me stepbro, I'm stuck" cinematic universe. Plus, find out who’s choosing the next After Dark book.   CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.   Sponsors:Liquid I.V. is the category-winning hydration brand fueling your well-being. Ready to shop better hydration, use our special link https://zen.ai/swrpod to save 20% off anything you order.    Connect with SWRInstagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.   Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome back to Shit We've Read! In this Season Three premiere episode, we are excited to discuss Travis Baldree's TikTok sensation, LEGENDS & LATTES—”a cozy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts.” Listen in as Laura explains why she has a love/hate relationship with this book, we discuss the difference between coffee and espresso within the context of the story, we play a game of “Does This Common Food Exist in This Universe?”, and more! So grab a latte, settle in, and join us for a fun and cozy episode to kick off the new season! Sponsors:Liquid I.V. is the category-winning hydration brand fueling your well-being. Ready to shop better hydration, use our special link https://zen.ai/swrpod to save 20% off anything you order.  Podcast Partner:Our partner for this episode is Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe?, a fun and creative show where horror writer Dalton Deschain and film critic Dylan Roth are tasked with reviving Universal Pictures’ short-lived Dark Universe of horror movies, pitching each other a new installment in a Marvel-style grand opus featuring classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, and more. Perfect for fans of monsters from classic literature, horror movies, and shared universes. Connect with SWRInstagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts. Magic Tavern by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 Internation

It’s our last book of Season Two as we read the appropriately titled The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez, a humorous urban fantasy about the world’s greatest adventurer and her quest to become ordinary. Listen in as Jason makes the shocking revelation that he doesn’t like reading, Laura confirms she is an android, and the book’s metaphysics prove too much for Bella’s mind. Thanks for listening and for all your support this season. To keep up with any updates and announcements we make during our break, be sure to follow us @ShitWeveRead on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. See you again with new episodes starting in May!   Connect with SWR: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.   Alien Forest by FSM TeamMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We have another incredible author interview for you! We were fortunate enough to have debut author Jenna Voris join us to chat about her upcoming young adult space opera Made of Stars, described by her as “inspired by the story of Bonnie and Clyde, but set in space.” Listen as Voris tells us about the inspirations for her novel, how her experience getting Made of Stars published has changed her writing process, she reveals some of her favorite book tropes, and shares how she was personally victimized by Taylor Swift’s 2019 album, Lover. Made of Stars is out March 28, 2023! Be sure to check out Jenna's character playlists on Spotify!Ava | Shane | Cyrus | Cornelia   Guest:Jenna Voris writes books about ambitious girls and galaxy-traversing adventures. She was born and raised in Indiana—where she learned to love roundabouts and the art of college basketball—and now calls Washington D.C. home. When she’s not writing, she can be found perfecting her road trip playlists and desperately trying to keep her houseplants alive. Made of Stars is her debut. Follow her online @JennaVoris and at jennamvoris.com. Connect with SWR: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for m

We’re celebrating Black History Month with a discussion of Dawn by Octavia E. Butler, one of the most renowned voices in Black science fiction. “Hopeful and thought-provoking, this post-apocalyptic narrative deftly explores gender and race through the eyes of characters struggling to adapt [...] in a world devastated by nuclear war.” Listen in as Bella explains why they don’t like 80s science fiction, Laura admits she felt weird during the alien sex scenes, and we talk about how this book was both ahead of its time for its concepts of gender yet still problematic for its depiction of dubious consent.   Other books we mention in this episode: Rubicon by J.S Deweshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784443-rubicon World Running Down by Al Hesshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62900625-world-running-down Season of the Dragon by Natalie Wrighthttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95586977-season-of-the-dragon   Connect with SWR: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.   Voice Of An Angel One by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

It’s Valentine’s Day—a day for sex, love, and romance—which means it’s the perfect day for another After Dark discussion. In this episode, we chat about Bella’s book choice, Lord of Eternal Night, a paranormal romance by Ben Alderson. Listen in as Bella explains how they had choice paralysis when choosing this book, we question the physical aspects of one of the sex scenes, and Jason stands up for the baker’s son (IYKYK.) Plus, find out what opinion Emma shared that left Bella and Jason absolutely speechless. CONTENT WARNING: This episode features a discussion of an adult-themed book and is intended for mature audiences only.   Connect with SWR: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.   Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Happy New Year! It’s the first episode of 2023 and guest co-host Megan Wilson returns to join Jason and Bella for a discussion of The Shadow in the Glass, a “terrifying new spin on Cinderella” by JJA Harwood. Listen in as we debate if it’s accurate to call this story a retelling of Cinderella, Megan shows us where to find hope within this book, and Bella asks a question that makes Jason rethink his entire understanding of this story.   Guest Host:Megan (sher/her) is a vegan foodie, animal welfare non-profit founder (coming soon!), and lover of all things Disney, dinosaurs, and D&D podcasts. Find her cuddled up with her dogs and a glass of wine watching a spooky movie or re-visiting comfort shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gravity Falls.   Connect with SWR: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | WebsiteRequest transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.   Voice Of An Angel One by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/