We Tried Guessing Books from JUST the First Line... 🙈📚 [EP#44]

Inside the Worlds of Fonda Lee 👀 | Green Bone Saga, The Last Contract of Isako, Breathmarked & More 📚 [EP#47]

We are in AWE of Fonda Lee and still cannot believe we were able to chat with her in this episode! We chat all things Jade City, The Last Contract of Isako, Breathmarked duology and more! Fonda Lee: https://www.instagram.com/fonda.lee Books Discussed: The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Jade City (Green Bone Saga) - Fonda Lee Mark of the Warrior (Breathmarked) - Fonda Lee Breath of the Dragon - Fonda Lee Dark Matter - Blake Crouch Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson Long Distance Book Club: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone] Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClNeRIbGJ0BFuESLUhv2ewQ] Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok] Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio] Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro (01:08) life on the Isako book tour (04:29) current reads (09:20) Fonda's perfect eggs benedict (10:50) what is The Last Contract of Isako? (12:30) writing about characters in different stages of life (16:42) will we ever revisit Isako? (18:16) writing platonic love vs romantic love (20:45) finding love in a company town (25:00) the impending doom of characters slowly declining (28:00) when your job is your LIFE (30:29) plotting an unpredictable book (33:48) building a rich world in a standalone novel (37:00) the art of physical combat in a book (40:05) film adaptations on the horizon? (41:47) which of your fictional worlds would you live in? (43:21) the transition from corporate to being an author (46:14) the wild google history of an author (49:46) listener questions! (49:58) what's the best starting point to dive into fonda's books? (50:50) how do you decide what is a standalone vs series? (52:16) how do you come up with the names for characters and places? (54:51) this or that! (54:59) who would win in a fight, isako or hilo? (56:18) no more eggs benedict or no more caffeine? (57:03) revenge arcs or redemption arcs?

Inside the MUST-READ Fantasy That Will Break Your Heart 👀 | The Poet Empress with Shen Tao 📚 [EP#46]

You know we LOVE The Poet Empress, and we had the best time chatting with Shen Tao about her book, early inspiration (warrior cats, anyone?) and how fonts might speak in different ways! Shen Tao: https://www.instagram.com/storygoose Books Discussed: The Poet Empress - Shen Tao Immaculate Deception - Isabela Livino The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker The Beauty of Darkness - Mary E Pearson Long Distance Book Club: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone] Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClNeRIbGJ0BFuESLUhv2ewQ] Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok] Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio] Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (04:35) where did @storygoose come from? (07:23) Shen's journey to becoming a published author (10:22) Influences on Shen's writing style (13:54) warrior cats fanfiction to fantasy pipeline (15:38) life as a debut author (19:10) what is The Poet Empress about? (20:30) is the protagonist really the main focus? (23:24) Shen's favourite character to write? (25:03) the influence of siblings (26:09) publishing fantasy with a romantasy imprint (28:55) developing a magic system based in poetry (31:03) Shen's favourite moment in the book (32:28) the font challenge (36:09) Shen's next novel reveal! (39:03) listener questions (39:12) a song to describe the characters? (40:16) how to manage emotions while writing (41:58) The Poet Empress in three words (42:51) favourite edition of The Poet Empress (44:18) how does it feel to have rocketed to success? (49:00) this or that

The PERFECT Books for Your VERY Specific Moods 👀📚 [EP#45]

You asked for book recs that were oddly specific... and we had so much fun matching books to your prompts! Hope you enjoy these oddly specific reading recs! Books Discussed: The Kiss of Deception - Mary E Pearson The Heart of Betrayal - Mary E Pearson Upgrade - Blake Crouch When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Jade City - Fonda Lee (Green Bone Saga) Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi The Bane Witch - Ava Morgyn A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness Bright Young Women - Jessica Knoll Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood - HG Parry Graceless Heart - Isabel Ibanez Not Quite Dead Yet - Holly Jackson Lost Lambs - Madeline Cash One True Loves - Taylor Jenkins Reid Ready or Not - Cara Bastone The Favorites - Layne Fargo Into the Blue - Emma Brodie Best Offer Wins - Marisa Kashino The Good Parts - Evann Normandin Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours) No Matter What - Cara Bastone The Names - Florence Knapp Long Distance Book Club: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone] Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClNeRIbGJ0BFuESLUhv2ewQ] Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok] Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio] Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (12:15) jaime met fonda lee! (18:40) freya's weekend catchup (20:48) oddly specific book recs (21:14) exploring identity and what it means to be human but in a fun, original way (26:16) a witchy Gone Girl (29:46) staring at a wall like what did I just read but in a good way (35:55) count the amount of letters in your last read’s title (41:33) everyone is coping through sarcasm and poor sleep schedule (47:20) love triangle where the choice is not obvious (52:17) watching a car crash into a dumpster fire in a good way (55:38) cross-genre love stories (01:00:46) running through a field with fresh rain on your face

We Tried Guessing Books from JUST the First Line... 🙈📚 [EP#44]

Sorry for some of the audio quality in this one, we had some technical difficulties this week :( Hope you still enjoy this one, it was a fun game! Books Discussed: Dragon Republic - RF Kuang The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson Sword Catcher - Cassandra Clare Direbound - Sable Sorensen Rock Paper Scissors - Alice Feeney The Seven Year Slip - Ashley Poston The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig A River Enchanted - Rebecca Ross Five Survive - Holly Jackson An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir Ready or Not - Cara Bastone Red Rising - Pierce Brown We Were Liars - E Lockhart A Song to Drown Rivers - Ann Liang Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare Heartless Hunter - Kristen Ciccarelli Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson Katabasis - RF Kuang Verity - Colleen Hoover Long Distance Book Club: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone] Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClNeRIbGJ0BFuESLUhv2ewQ] Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok] Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio] Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (10:09) weekend catchups (18:54) the game! (20:31) round 1 (22:40) round 2 (26:35) round 3 (30:54) round 4 (31:50) round 5 (33:35) round 6 (35:09) round 7 (35:59) round 8 (39:31) round 9 (40:17) round 10 (40:45) round 11 (41:40) round 12 (44:27) round 13 (45:56) round 14 (46:32) round 15 (48:58) round 16 (49:54) round 17 (50:58) round 18 (51:37) round 19 (52:05) round 20

April Reading Recap, May TBR & New Book Releases! 📚 [EP#43]

Let's wrap up our April reading month & talk about what we're looking forward to in May! Books Discussed: Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare Wind and Truth - Brandon Sanderson The Beauty of Darkness - Mary E Pearson Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare Shield of Sparrows - Devney Perry The Night We Met - Abby Jimenez The Someday Garden - Ashley Poston No Matter What - Cara Bastone The Correspondent - Virginia Evans The Poet Empress - Shen Tao The Poppy War - RF Kuang The Jasad Heir - Sara Hashem The Road of Bones - Demi Winters Fable - Adrienne Young This Woven Kingdom - Tahereh Mafi Red Rising - Pierce Brown The Dinner Party - Freida McFadden The Good Parts - Evann Normandin The Jasad Crown - Sara Hashem The Dark Mirror - Samantha Shannon Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson The Dragon Republic - RF Kuang Golden Son - Pierce Brown Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Verity Guild - Mai Corland The Young Will Remember - Eve J Chung The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker The Shippers - Katherine Center The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff The Midnight Train - Matt Haig Long Distance Book Club: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone] Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClNeRIbGJ0BFuESLUhv2ewQ] Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok] Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio] Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (13:30) may book club pick! (15:20) jaime's april highs (22:39) freya's april highs (26:47) jaime's april lows (34:07) freya's april lows (39:18) jaime's may lookahead (40:50) freya's may lookahead (44:07) may new releases