Book Dragon Banter

Diving into DNF's and Spring Fantasy Finds

Best Reads So Far (Fantasy + Non-Fantasy), DNFs, Book Bingo Check-In & Writing Updates | Book Dragon Banter Book Dragon Banter hosts discuss our best reads of the year so far (not limited to fantasy), current reads, DNFs, and palate cleansers. Sage is reading Victoria Aveyard’s Realm Breaker series and shares updates on her reading challenges, StoryGraph tracking, and postponing unfinished series like Blood Over Bright Haven. Katherine discusses cozy rereads, nonfiction reading goals, tracking stats, and favorites including Voyage of the Damned and Bloody Jack. Zinzi shares being on a reading ban to focus on writing, DNFs like Master of Salt and Bones and Feather So Vicious and a palate cleanser with The Other Bennet Sister. We compare progress on our book bingo challenges, share top fantasy picks (including This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews), and give writing journey updates, including a secret project and draft/revision progress. We close with book club news on Fable reading The Spear Cuts Through Water and upcoming season wrap and summer deep dive. BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd [https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd] Find the Downloadable Book Bingo Reading Challenges here: Book Dragon Banter Substack - https://bookdragonbanter.substack.com/ [https://bookdragonbanter.substack.com/] Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter [https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter]  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod [https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ [https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/] Other links: Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats] Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ [https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/] Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ [https://readorbleed.substack.com/] Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/] Current Read: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647357/the-spear-cuts-through-water-by-simon-jimenez/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647357/the-spear-cuts-through-water-by-simon-jimenez/] 00:00 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter 00:34 Episode Agenda and Rules 01:24 What We Are Reading Now 03:46 Reading Ban and Secret Project 04:46 Reader Chair Challenges Check In 05:20 Sage Updates and Series Waiting 08:38 Katherine Nonfiction and Tracking 11:03 Magical Element Bingo Progress 13:41 Strategy for Blackout Bingo 18:18 DNFs and Reading Regrets 21:54 Sage DNF Wuthering Heights 22:34 Why We Still Want Endings 23:54 DNF Or Not Right Now 24:46 Cozy Fantasy Trust Broken 26:57 Boredom And Backstory 27:54 Audiobooks And AI Voices 29:08 Palate Cleanser Picks 33:16 Fantasy Favorites So Far 37:24 Non Fantasy Best Reads 42:01 Writers Desk Check In 45:42 Goals Versus Habits 49:34 Wrap Up And Next Reads Get in touch with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524261/fan_mail/new]

A Cozy & Spicy Romantasy: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster

We gush over our latest book club pick, How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster, a cozy fantasy romance Rumpelstiltskin retelling with spice, a middle-aged heroine, a melodramatic fae hero, and an interfering sentient house. We share why we all enjoyed it (cozy tone with meaningful stakes, great banter, classic fae lore like true names and power, and fun details like griffins, talking cats, magic “insignia” scents, and the house doing chores and providing lingerie). Spoilers included as we discuss character dynamics, consent, the bond/mated-leaning setup, miscommunication handled through insecurities, and how the gold curse and magic complications play out. We also talk narrator voice/chapter headings, standout lines about names and homes, and our hope for more books in this world.  BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd [https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd] Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter [https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter]  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod [https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ [https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/] Other links: Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats] Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ [https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/] Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ [https://readorbleed.substack.com/] Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/] Current Book: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster Author Site: https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/ [https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/] Next Book: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647357/the-spear-cuts-through-water-by-simon-jimenez/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647357/the-spear-cuts-through-water-by-simon-jimenez/] 00:00 Late Night Book High 00:32 Podcast Intro and Subscribe 01:10 Content Warning and Book Pick 01:54 Fable Book Club Plug 02:40 What This Book Is 04:11 Why We Loved It 05:57 Spoilers Begin Retelling Talk 07:54 Characters and Relatability 08:46 Mal Style and Cat Energy 13:05 Spice Level and Tattoos 15:51 Bonds Names and Power 19:35 Fairy Lore and Favorite Quotes 21:10 Chosen Names Queer Rep 21:46 Sentient House Cozy Living 22:29 Chores Lingerie Power Balance 24:03 Beauty Beast Narrator Voice 27:02 Made Up Words Pagefire 30:19 Insignia Scents Magic 32:21 Gold Curse Spice Fallout 33:38 Dream Bond Miscommunication 37:29 Fated Mates Consent Done Right 39:00 Unexplored Fae Magic Sequel Hooks 41:13 Trauma Gender Family Sacrifice 45:11 Next Read Spear Cuts Water 46:57 Reviews Retreats Outro Get in touch with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524261/fan_mail/new]

The Intersection of Fantasy, Romantasy, and Smut: When Magic Meets Desire - Part 2

We welcome you to Book Dragon Banter, where we (Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree) talk fantasy and romantasy spice, from early reads like Mists of Avalon and Kushiel’s Dart to how modern romantasy has become more explicit on the page. We discuss when sex serves plot versus functioning like erotica, how unhealthy power dynamics, manipulation, and grooming can be portrayed (and sometimes left unaddressed), and why good sex doesn’t equal a healthy relationship. We also talk about foreplay-focused scene structure, common tropes like oral sex, language preferences and euphemisms (including a humorous run-through of terms from Naughty Words for Nice Writers), and the recurring age-gap fantasy problem.  BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd [https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd] Current Book: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster Author Site: https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/ [https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/] Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter [https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter]  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod [https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ [https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/] Other links: Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats] Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ [https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/] Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ [https://readorbleed.substack.com/] Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/] Books Mentioned: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey The Carry On Series by Rainbow Rowell ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson Naughty Words for Nice Writers: A Romance Novel Thesaurus by Cara Bristol "I Give You My Body . . .": How I Write Sex Scenes by Diana Gabaldon Bride by Ali Hazelwood Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn 00:00 Uncensored Opener 00:21 Podcast Intro and Topic 00:47 First Fantasy Sex Reads 02:59 Romantasy Gets Explicit 04:17 Grooming and Power Dynamics 06:01 After the Happily Ever After 07:32 First Exposure Stories 09:09 Self Discovery and Communication 10:52 Mind Reading and Mental Load 13:15 Male Gaze vs Female Gaze 14:33 Writing Better Sex Scenes 16:14 Foreplay Tropes and Realism 19:12 Words and Euphemisms 20:55 Sexual Agency and Experience 23:05 Age Gaps and Immortal Lovers 25:53 Twilight Stalker Debate 27:30 Naming Body Parts 28:56 Euphemisms Versus Realism 29:51 Spice Goes Mainstream 30:24 Vagina Word List 32:48 Clit And Breasts Terms 34:31 Bridgerton Garden Metaphor 36:54 Wrap Up And Book Club 38:22 Unhinged Spice Recs 39:1 Get in touch with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524261/fan_mail/new]

The Intersection of Fantasy, Romantasy, and Smut: When Magic Meets Desire - Part 1

Smut in Fantasy: Mental Porn or Power Dynamics? | Book Dragon Banter In this episode of Book Dragon Banter, we (Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree) talk about smut and spice in fantasy and romantasy—what it’s doing in the story, how we define terms like “mental porn” and “power dynamics,” and why consent and character/plot relevance matter to us. We also touch on where lines get drawn around monster romance and fantasy anatomy, share a few book examples, and wrap up. BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd [https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd] February’s Book: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster Author Site: https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/ [https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/] Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter [https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter]  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod [https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ [https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/] Other links: Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats] Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ [https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/] Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ [https://readorbleed.substack.com/] Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/] Books Mentioned: Alchemized by SenLinYu Lights Out by Navessa Allen He Sees You When You’re Sleeping by Alta Hensley Feathers So Vicious by Liv Zander Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer Ice Planet Barbarian Series by Ruby Dixon Quicksilver by Callie Hart Brimstone by Callie Hart Morning Glory Milking Farm by C. M. Nascosta Bride by Ali Hazelwood The Alanna Series by Tamora Pierce The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey  00:00 Smut at the Dentist 00:46 Podcast Intro 01:39 Why Talk About Spice 02:46 Defining Key Terms 04:05 Smut vs Erotica 05:48 Romantasy and Plot 08:45 Consent and Icks 10:08 Extreme Scenes and Curiosity 11:29 Disability and Realism 15:54 Fantasy Anatomy in Bed 19:30 Monster Romance Line 22:08 Shapeshifter Boundaries 23:24 Vampire Versus Werewolf 24:23 Fae Takeover Trend 25:21 Monster Romance Details 27:44 Cleanup And Aftercare 30:37 Messy Realistic Sex 33:06 Scent Power Dynamics 34:32 Early Spice Memories 39:52 Consent For New Readers 41:01 Book Club And Farewell Get in touch with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524261/fan_mail/new]

Delving into Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger - Book Club Deep Dive

Book Dragon Banter: Elatsoe by Darcy Little Badger - A YA Fantasy Murder Mystery Review Join us for this exciting book club episode where we dive into 'Elatsoe' by Darcy Little Badger. If you love young adult books with strong protagonists, magical elements, and mystery, this is a must-watch! We discuss the book's mythology, handling of themes like representation and diversity, and how it masterfully combines folklore with a modern setting. Listen in to our thoughts on the plot twists, character arcs, and why we think this debut novel received such high praise. Don't miss our conversation on what makes this book a unique and compelling read! BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd [https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd] Book Club: Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger Author Site: https://darcielittlebadger.com/books-and-stories/#elatsoe [https://darcielittlebadger.com/books-and-stories/#elatsoe] February’s Book: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster Author Site: https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/ [https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/] Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter [https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter]  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod [https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ [https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/] Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ [https://readorbleed.substack.com/] Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/] Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ [https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/] Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats [https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats] 00:00 Introduction to the Book Club 00:07 Why You'll Love Elatsoe 01:00 Representation and Romance in Elatsoe 01:35 Personal Reading Experiences 02:36 Meet the Hosts 03:10 Book Club Logistics 03:39 Pronunciation and Symbolism of Elatsoe 04:36 Why We Chose Elatsoe 05:28 Accolades and Initial Impressions 06:27 Unique Elements of Elatsoe's World 11:54 Positive Representation and Family Dynamics 22:58 Support and Grief: Navigating Loss 25:08 Healthy Relationships and Character Arcs 26:39 Cultural Beliefs and Ghosts 28:37 Foreshadowing and Plot Twists 32:48 Power Dynamics and Racism 40:48 Empathy Through Storytelling 46:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Get in touch with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524261/fan_mail/new]