My Top 5 Books of 2025

Innamorata and Trigger Warnings: An Analysis

Time Stamps [0:00-3:53] Introduction [3:53- 13:20] Ava Reid’s Publication History [13:20-17:52] The Conversation on Threads [17:52 -50:50] An Explanation as to Why I am Personally Anti-Trigger Warning 99.9% of the Time [50:50-1:49:32] Shay Reads Innamorata (SPOILERS!!!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com [https://ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

My Top 5 Books of 2025

Shay lists her top 5 books, games, shows, and movies of 2025. That’s it. Time Stamps (0:00) Introduction (1:13) Books (24:56) Video Games (35:11) Shows (42:33) Movies Media Discussed Books Butter [http://harpercollins.com/products/butter-asako-yuzuki] by Asako Yuzuki The Third Policeman [https://www.semcoop.com/third-policeman] by Flann O’brien The Secret History [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/176619/the-secret-history-by-donna-tartt/] by Donna Tartt Red Star Hustle [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Star-Hustle-Apprehension/Sam-J-Miller/Saga-Doubles/9781668099155] by Sam J. Miller The Ministry for the Future [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kim-stanley-robinson/the-ministry-for-the-future/9780316300162/] by Kim Stanley Robinson Games Rain Code [https://www.spike-chunsoft.com/games/master-detective-archives-rain-code/] Baldur’s Gate 3 [https://baldursgate3.game/] Blue Prince [https://www.blueprincegame.com/] Dispatch [https://www.adhocla.com/] The Hundred Line [https://hundred-line.com/en/] Shows The Summer Hikaru Died [https://www.netflix.com/title/81948057] Tsurune [https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GRDKVP34Y/tsurune?srsltid=AfmBOopiqaq1lbSJymug0w0n3WsAz11iTK6MLb-MGS0mZqS5zqrlufJp] Dandadan [https://gkids.com/series/dandadan/] The Mighty Nein [https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Mighty-Nein/0MD5F00E71JERTL1FLARU1SLO5] Heated Rivalry [https://heatedrivalry.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqiCUKsq56Rn4RExe4uyuiepjJ8IlhEeSPX0QpUcMypJkxK9YVr] Movies Perfect Blue [https://gkids.com/films/perfect-blue/] The Phoenician Scheme [https://www.focusfeatures.com/the-phoenician-scheme] Pig that Survived Foot and Mouth Disease [https://www.bifff.net/product/pig-that-survived-foot-and-mouth-disease/] Heretic [https://a24films.com/films/heretic] Train Dreams [https://www.traindreamsfilm.com/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com [https://ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Frankenstein (1818) v. Frankenstein (2025): An Analysis

Shay analyzes and compares Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein movie (2025) by looking at the media they are in conversation with. If you are looking for some insight on how the original story was told and what inspired it, this might be for you. (0:00) Introduction (2:32) Mary Shelley’s Life pre-Frankenstein (19:38) Frankenstein 1818 Analysis (61:44) Frankenstein 2025 Analysis (77:43) Conclusion -- Media Discussed Frankenstein 1818 (this version specifically is my favorite) [https://broadviewpress.com/product/frankenstein-third-edition/#tab-description] Frankenstein 2025 (IMBD Page [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312221/]) Vindication for the Rights of Women and The Wrongs of Women, or Maria by Mary Wollstonecraft (ISBN: 0321182731) An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice by William Godwin (ISBN: 9780199642625) Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5131/5131-h/5131-h.htm] by Lord Byron This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com [https://ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Media Collage: What do Cold Hearted, Dispatch, and The Apothecary Diaries Have in Common?

Shay discusses the pieces of media she has organically encountered over the last few weeks, thinks about reoccurring themes, imagery, and ideas she has encountered while consuming each of them, and ultimately comes to some sort of conclusion about them that you might think is fun and interesting to follow. Here is the media being discussed: Cold Hearted [https://www.heatherguerre.com/home] by Heather Guerre Dispatch [https://www.adhocla.com/] by AdHoc Studios The Apothecary Diaries [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apothecary_Diaries] by Hyūganatsu Time Stamps: (0:00) Intro (3:02) Cold Hearted Analysis (13:29) Dispatch Analysis (28:22) The Apothecary Diaries Analysis (33:50) Conclusions *Note: Sometimes the term heteronormative and heterosexual are used interchangeably in this discussion. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com [https://ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

I Read Alchemised So You Don't Have To: An Analysis

Shay reads an analyzes SenLinYu’s debut novel Alchemised to answer a few self-imposed questions: * Does this book stand on its own having never read the original fanfiction Manacled that this book is adapted from? * Does this page earn its 1000+ pages? * Does this book warrant all of the hype it got pre and post publication? Time Stamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:49) The Background as Manacled (14:51) The Reception Upon Publication (27:06) Analysis pgs 1-200 (43:18) Analysis pgs 200-308 (52:24) Analysis pgs 308-500 (1:07:40) Analysis pgs 500-End of Part 2 (1:15:43) Part 3 (1:17:56) Wrap Up This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com [https://ficbypoetryshaman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]