Books Between Friends Podcast

Faith, Balance, and the Mists | Mistborn Book 3: The Hero of Ages Chapters by Brandon Sanderson | Part 2: Chapters 17-34

This week on Books Between Friends, we're discussing Chapters 17-34 of The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. As the world continues to unravel, the conflict between Preservation and Ruin takes center stage, raising questions about balance, destiny, and the forces shaping Scadrial's future. We discuss the strange behavior of the mists, the percentage of people affected by them, and what it could mean for the larger story. We also dive into: • Spook's visions of Kelsier and what they might mean • Sazed's continuing struggle with faith and belief • Why Vin and Elend remain one of fantasy's strongest partnerships • The mysteries surrounding TenSoon and the kandra • Connections between the kandra, Preservation, and Ruin • Our latest theories and predictions for the end of the trilogy Grab your copperminds and join us for another deep dive into the final Mistborn novel.

Kicking Off Mistborn Book 3--and Things are BLEAK | The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson | Part 1: Prologue - Chapter 16

The final book of the original Mistborn trilogy is here. In Part 1 of our discussion of The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson, we cover the Prologue through Chapter 16 and share our reactions as the stakes reach a new level. As ash continues to fall and the world seems closer than ever to collapse, Vin, Elend, Sazed, and the rest of the crew face impossible questions about prophecy, faith, leadership, and survival. During this episode, we discuss: * Major character developments * The growing mystery of the Hero of Ages * Early theories and predictions * Our favorite moments from this section * What we're most excited (and nervous) to see next Whether you're reading along for the first time or revisiting the series, grab your favorite cozy drink and join us as we begin our journey through the epic conclusion to the original Mistborn trilogy.

Dungeon Crawler Carl Finale: Final Ratings, Review & Reactions | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman | Chapters 37 - Epilogue

We’ve officially reached the end of Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, and in this finale episode, we’re giving our final ratings, reviews, reactions, and favorite moments from the book. From Carl’s emotional journey to Princess Donut’s unforgettable one-liners, we discuss what made this chaotic litRPG adventure stand out, what surprised us most, and whether we’ll continue the series. Join the Side-Eye Syndicate for one last dungeon run as we wrap up our first Dungeon Crawler Carl read-through.

Donut and Carl have a Fandom | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman | Chapters 25-36

The dungeon may be chaos, but outside of it? Things are somehow even stranger. In this episode of Books Between Friends, we cover Chapters 25–36 of Dungeon Crawler Carl and finally start pulling back the curtain on what’s really happening beyond the dungeon walls. From the introduction of fan-favorite chaos agents Zev and Odette to the horrifying realization that this whole thing is basically entertainment for the galaxy, Carl and Donut’s world keeps getting bigger—and weirder. We discuss: * The introduction of Zev and Odette * The growing “game show” aspect of the dungeon * How the outside world changes the tone of the story * Carl slowly realizing the scope of what’s happening * Donut continuing to be the absolute star of the show Plus, we react to the biggest moments, discuss what our own crawler personas would do, and hand out new achievements and loot boxes along the way.

You Can’t Trust Anyone in the Dungeon | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman | Chapters 13–24

The dungeon gets deadlier in Chapters 13–24 of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and the choices only get messier from here. Carl and Donut are learning quickly that survival isn’t just about fighting monsters—it’s about knowing who to trust, when to run, and when to blow something up and hope for the best. This week, we dive into some of the wildest moments so far, including new crawler encounters, escalating chaos, suspicious alliances, and the increasingly unhinged energy of the dungeon itself. We also continue making decisions for our own crawler personas, leveling up along the way with new achievements, loot boxes, and probably several terrible life choices. Join Ethan, Jen, and Stef as we recap the story, debate pivotal decisions, and try our best not to earn skulls next to our names.