Bookmergency

S2E7 - Ninth House: Death f*cks us all

This week on Bookmergency: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo We have BEEN waiting for this one. Getting to finally dive into a Leigh Bardugo book on the pod felt like a full-circle moment and wow, did this one give us a lot to talk about! This is a darker, grittier story, following Alex Stern as she navigates Yale’s secret societies, magic rooted in power and privilege, and a mystery that exposes just how deep that corruption goes. It’s unsettling, layered, and so intentional in the way it mirrors the real world, which made this episode one of our most reflective. We talk about how this book explores systems of power, violence against women, and who gets protected vs. who gets sacrificed, all while giving us a main character who is messy, resilient, and impossible to look away from. Alex’s story hit in ways we didn’t expect, and unpacking that together? So, so good! Of course, we also get into the magic and absolute chaos of the Eight Houses of the Veil and Lethe House, and THAT ending. And speaking of… we are heading straight into Hell Bent next, and we cannot wait. Also counting down to the third and final book, Deadbeat, coming September 15 👀 Come unpack this delicious mess with us.

S2E6 - A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping: Not overburdened with normalness

This week on Bookmergency: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna! This book? A warm hug… that somehow made us laugh, spiral, and get a little emotional on mic (yes, Bela got chocked up and we're here for it). We follow Sera Swan as she navigates losing her magic, rebuilding her sense of self, and running the chaotic, cozy Batty Hole Inn, a place full of magical mishaps, found family, and people who show up for each other in ways that feel deeply real. And that’s really what this episode became about: community. The kind that holds you up when you don’t feel like yourself, the kind that sees you fully, and the kind that reminds you that you’re worthy, even when you feel broken. We talk about the Guild’s elitism, the softness and strength of the inn crew, and the ways this story explores disability, care, and chosen family with so much heart. We also spend time fully gushing over a cast of characters we did not want to leave! And of course, we shout out the audiobook narration by Samara MacLaren, who brings so much warmth and charm to this already cozy, magical world. This episode is laughter, feelings, a little chaos, and a lot of love, just like the Batty Hole Inn itself.

S2E5 - The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi: not an easy woman to shock

This week on Bookmergency: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty! Retired pirate. One last job. What could possibly go wrong? (Answer: everything. Gloriously.) In this episode, we dive into the swashbuckling, magical chaos of Amina al-Sirafi, legendary pirate captain, slightly reluctant hero, and iconic over 30 FMC who's a mom who just wants a quiet life but absolutely cannot resist one last adventure. Shannon Chakraborty delivers a story packed with magic, complicated loyalties, and a found family crew that we would absolutely risk everything to sail with. We talk about why Amina is such a refreshing fantasy protagonist, the book’s rich historical and cultural worldbuilding across the Indian Ocean, and how this story balances epic adventure with deeper themes about motherhood, reputation, aging. And of course, we have to shout out the audiobook narration by Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal, whose performances bring Amina’s voice, humor, and larger-than-life storytelling to life in such a vivid, immersive way. We’re also already counting down to the sequel, A Tapestry of Fate, coming out this May!!! Come for the pirates, stay for the big feelings, chaotic adventures, and the reminder that sometimes the greatest legends are the ones people try hardest to silence.

S2E4 - A Sky Beyond the Storm: Laughing makes it hurt less

This week on Bookmergency: A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir 🔥 It’s the final book in the Ember quartet and yes… we cried.. multiple times (maybe even once while recording?). This finale delivers everything: impossible choices, devastating sacrifices, earned hope, and the kind of emotional payoff that reminds us why we fell in love with this series in the first place. We gush (one last time… for now) about Sabaa Tahir’s incredible storytelling, the way she writes power, resistance, love, grief, and belonging with so much intention and heart. This series has always been bigger than fantasy, and in this episode we reflect on its real-world resonance again and why these stories matter. We also welcome Nikki Massoud to the audiobook cast and talk about what she brings to this final installment. And of course, we shout out Fiona Hardingham, Katharine Lee McEwan, Steve West, and Maxwell Caulfield, whose performances across the series have been immersive, cohesive, and deeply felt. Together, they’ve made this world unforgettable! We’re heartbroken to close this chapter and stop our Sabaa gushing… but don’t worry, we’ll be covering Heir later this year as we approach the release of Heir 2. Come cry, celebrate, and say goodbye to a series that changed us.

S2 Ep 3 - A Reaper at the Gates: This isn't the end for us

If you thought A Torch Against the Night hurt, A Reaper at the Gates said “hold my armlet!” We truly don’t know if there has ever been this much chaos packed into one book. Sabaa Tahir chose violence. Repeatedly. In this episode, we follow Laia of Serra as she steps fully into leadership (lioness blood activated), freeing Scholars, confronting kings, traveling alone into literal nightmare territory for the Blood Shriek’s ring, and reckoning with the truth about her mother, yes, THAT truth. Meanwhile, Elias goes from reluctant apprentice to full-on Soulcatcher… but keeps Laia’s armlet in his pocket, so excuse us while we cling to hope. And Helene Aquilla? She gets zero breaks! Poisoned sister. Power-hungry emperor. Creepy Nightbringer assistance. A usurper on the throne. And somehow she still chooses the Empire over her own happiness. We dig into the Nightbringer’s devastating backstory, the horror of the jinn, and the real-world parallels around refugees, resistance, and the power of story as survival all hit very close to home. We also get to gush about the audiobook narration of Maxwell Caulfield, whose performance adds an extra layer of gravitas, AND whose marriage sounds a lot like a romance novel waiting to be written. If you want to know more about Fiona Hardingham, Katharine Lee McEwan, and Steve West, you should check out our episode on A Torch Against the Night. Join us for big feelings, literary resistance, tarot chaos, character awards, and multiple moments of yelling “Sabaa, why?!”