Backlist and Chill

Backlist: HEY FOLKS, WE GOT A GOOD ONE! Today we're sitting down to discuss Melissa Marr's blessedly competent WICKED LOVELY, originally published June 2007. A book with a DELECTABLE premise that also knows how to handle themes! What a concept! Chill: Cyna is drinking an Aislinn (lavender simple syrup, lemonade, and limon rum) and Ollie is drinking a Reluctant Queen (St. George Absinthe Verte, Tension Tamer Simple Syrup, and Tension Tamer Tea). Pics in the links! Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time: A suprise! (1h 27m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of sexual assault, rape culture, and misogyny.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend! And hey, if you're interested in some very silly stickers, check out our brand-new Redbubble store!

Backlist: It's over, it's finally over! On this joyous day, we gather to celebrate the momentus occasion of having finished this fuckin trilogy! It's all uphill from here, folks. We're reading BLOODTRAITOR by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, published in April 2016. NGL it's SSDD BUT we did come equipped with some jokes this time, to make it a little more bearable for everyone. Now let's all hold hands and jump into this abyss together! Chill: Cyna is drinking The Bitter End (whiskey + blood orange cocktail mix + lemon juice) and Ollie is drinking an Exactly What I Expected (St. George Absinthe Verte + ginger ale). Pics in the links! Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time: It's finally over. (2h 42m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, extensive discussion of rape, trauma, physical, mental, and emotional abuse against children as well as adults, slavery, and torture.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend! And hey, if you're interested in some very silly stickers, check out our brand-new Redbubble store!

Backlist: Only book two into this terrible endeavor of ours and already we're struggling for words to accurately describe the MALAISE this series has put us in. This time the """"book"""" in question is Bloodkin by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, tragically published in April of 2015, and we gotta be honest with you folks: not a lot of nice things to say about it.   Chill: Cyna is drinking an ESH (amaretto + lemon juice + honey + lime Bubly) and Ollie is drinking an About What I Expected (St. George Absinthe Verte + black raspberry vodka + diet ginger ale). Pics in the links!   Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.   Next time: It's finally over.   (2h 22m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, extensive discussion of rape, false rape accusations, trauma, physical, mental, and emotional abuse against children as well as adults, slavery, and torture.)   Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!   And hey, if you're interested in some very silly stickers, check out our brand-new Redbubble store!

Backlist: Hello, friends! We are back for unlucky season thirteen and this shit is just THE WORST. Today we're talking about Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' fuckin' terrible novel BLOODWITCH, published January 1, 2014. Strap in for some slave empire NUANCE, yall! This was supposed to be the best one, but it is in fact still terrible, and things will only go downhill from here. Luckily, we were able to weather this one, at least, together in person! So please forgive any sort of wonky sound issues, this was very new to us XD Chill: Cyna is drinking a Plaguebearer (amaretto + creme de cacao + oatmilk + grenadine) and Ollie is drinking a Bloodwitch (St. George Absinthe Verte + Bruce Cost Ginger Ale Pomegranite and Hibiscus) Pics of our drinks TOGETHER, GASP! Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time: Fuckin' Bloodkin. Stay safe, friends. (2h 54m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, extensive discussion of rape, trauma, physical, mental, and emotional abuse against children as well as adults, slavery, torture, and suicide.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend! And hey, if you're interested in some very silly stickers, check out our brand-new Redbubble store!

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. For the last time. Let's go. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.  See y'all next time (face 2 face!) for Episode 1: Bloodwitch. Thanks for listening, yall! Come and talk to us on Twitter @BacklistPodcast!

Backlist: We're back with SPELLBINDER, book three of the Night World series, published in October 1996, which is somehow simultaneously the MOST and LEAST LJ Smith of the Night World books so far. At least we got to see Lisa Jane flex her horror muscles again, though! Chill: Cyna is drinking a Love Potion (Wendy's strawberry lemonade + raspberry licour + limon rum + TOO MUCH edible glitter) and Ollie is drinking a brilliantly-conceived Cup of Lethe (spike Arnold Palmer + ginger ale) Pics! Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time: the EXTREMELY CURSED season THIRTEEN begins! Stay safe, friends. (2h 02m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of racism, murder, misogyny.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend! And hey, if you're interested in some very silly stickers, check out our brand-new Redbubble store!

Backlist: We're back with THE Night World book, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (originally published August 1996), in which LJ Smith tries, just really TRIES to write a murder mystery. Like, she did her best. To, ah, varying degrees of success for us. THIS MAY BE A CONTENTIOUS ONE Y'ALL.  Chill: Cyna is drinking a Horny Goat (cranberry juice + limon rum + 7up) and Ollie is drinking a Starry Night (Wollersheim Dancehall Absinthe Blanche (RIP) + blackberry ginger ale) Pics! Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time:  NIGHT WORLD VOL 3: SPELLBINDER Stay safe, friends. (1h 45m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of misogyny, sexual assault, racism, classism, violence, violence against animals/animal death.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: FINALLY we're here! After all these years we've made it to...the Night World. Specifically, NIGHT WORLD: SECRET VAMPIRE, published in 1996. This baby has it all: tenderness, grief, last moments, soft boys, characters. Where has this Lisa Jane been hiding?   Chill: Cyna is drinking a Black Rose(ish) (mixed fruit juice + bourbon + food coloring) and Ollie is drinking a Sex Pixie (Wollersheim Dancehall Absinthe Blanche + pinapple soda + Seagram's ginger ale) Pics! Cyna - Ollie.   Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.   Next time:  NIGHT WORLD VOL 2: DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS   Stay safe, friends.   (1h 59m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of illness, cancer, death, blood, homophobia.)   Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

We couldn't leave it that way with our girl LJ, so we're back, standing at the at the foot of the mountain, her unfinished masterpiece, her magnum opus (if you don't count the new Vampire Diaries I guess), NIGHT WORLD! And for once, LJ has provided us INFO. How did she plot the series? Which of LJ's core philosophical belief is WOVEN into each and every book? Which author does she (probably) have a wildly unreasonable grudge against and why? LISTEN AND FIND OUT! Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.  See y'all next time (with booze!) for Episode 1: Secret Vampire! Thanks for sticking with us, folks, and stay safe! Come and friend us now, while there's still time! @BacklistPodcast on Twitter, while it still exists.

Backlist: We're back! Hope those who participated in Nanowrimo had a great month. Your co-hosts definitely did! And we are bringing you the third and final installment of LJ Smith's season 11: DARK VISIONS: THE PASSION (published 1995), a book that reads like a first draft Work In Progress the author threw at their publisher at midnight on December 1st after she finished it during her own Nano writing. We're sorry if you went out and read it.   Chill: Both of us start the call outs right with our drinks! Cyna is drinking "The Possessed" (yup, not The Passion) or "Up All Night To Not Go Crazy" (iced coffee, coffee liqueur, Fireball, and cream.) Ollie is drinking "Work In Progress" or a "Dark Psychic Screwdriver" (Smirnoff Ice Smash with ginger ale). Pics! Cyna - Ollie.   Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.   Next time: Season 12 into! Patrons at the Chillest tier find out early!   Stay safe, friends.   (1h 58m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of self-harm, sexual assault/rape, mental health, ableism, and classism.)   Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: LISA JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE is back on her bullshit and so are we! This month we're talking about DARK VISIONS: THE STRANGE POWER, published December 1st, 1994 and HOO BOY does it feel like it. LJ is back and indulging in her worst habits, and Ollie is NOT having it. Chill:  Cyna tried to drink a Third Eye (creme de violette, gin, grapefruit juice, and club soda) but ended up drinking wine $9 peach clearance wine, bb! Ollie is drinking a Witch Eyes (Wollersheim Dancehall Absinthe Blanche + Seagram's Ginger Ale + Glacial Freeze Gatorade) Pics! Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time:  DARK VISIONS VOL 2: THE POSSESSION Stay safe, friends. (1h 35m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of racism, misogyny, acephobia, homophobia, ableism.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

We're alive! And so is LJ! We're back with an intro to Season 11: Dark Visions, which features our semi-annual State of the LJ and also a shocking amount of chat about Gen 13 for some reason? Listen, it's rough out here - Dark Visions is LJ's most obscure trilogy and not even SHE seems to remember that she wrote it. No worries though, she's definitely writing a sequel. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.  See y'all next time (with booze!) for Episode 1: The Strange Power! Thanks for sticking with us, folks, and stay safe! Come check in with us on twitter @BacklistPodcast!

Backlist: RAISE A GLASS, FRIENDS, because we have MADE IT to the end of the Return to Den of Shadows with PROMISES TO KEEP (published January 2013), and after all this, we're left with just one question: what editor looked at this premise and said "Yeah, no, this seems fine."  Chill:  Cyna is drinking a Fuck This Book (just a whole bottle of Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato), and Ollie is drinking an 'Everyone Benefits From Slavery So You're All Complicit' is a Bad Theme (absinthe + ginger ale + crushed up candycane shards) Pics! Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time:  WHO CAN SAY???? Stay safe, friends. (2h 35m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, intense discussion of suicide, abuse, slavery, racism, and incest. )   Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: Ollie was asked to edit some text for ToD and couldn't remember the title Token of Darkness, and all they could get to was "Time of Death". And frankly, they're not wrong. TOKEN OF DARKNESS by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (published February 9, 2010), a book that maybe existed. We're not sure. Chill:  Cyna is drinking a Liquified Ghost (coconut rum, crème de cacao, 2% milk, and green food coloring for streaks!) followed by... a bottle of wine lolol. Ollie is drinking a Hey There, Delilah (Cîroc Black Raspberry, Wollersheim Absinthe Blanche, pineapple juice, lemon juice, lime juice, and a sugar-dipped pineapple chunk) Pics! Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time:  POISON TREE. Stay safe, friends. (2h 30m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language from the hosts; discussions of death and ghosts, car accidents, witchcraft, girlhate, shaming of one teenage girl for basically existing, relationship zoning, shitty dudes, classism, hospitals, and weird questions about who gets to decide what happens to a body after your mind/soul is no longer home from the book.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: The bummer tour continues! We spiral further into our Return to Den of Shadows with POISON TREE (published July 2012), a gloomy mess of a book held together by tape and a prayer. Whoever thought we'd be SO HAPPY to see a vampire weeb?   Chill:  Cyna is drinking a Sparkling Tiger (orange liqueur, tangerine juice, sparkling wine). Ollie is drinking a Tiger Eyes (Wollersheim Absinthe Blanche, simple syrup with lemon, iced lemon-ginger tea) Pics! Cyna - Ollie.   Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.   Next time:  The FINALE: Promises to Keep   Stay safe, friends.   (2h 43m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, intense discussion of physical and emotional abuse against adults and children, torture, slavery, racism.)   Note: There's a snippet at the end of this episode in which Ollie discusses their memories of the production of the Tiger Eyes movie. Due to some audio issues, the part of Cyna in this snippet will be played by a robot.   Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: She really is going in for THE KILL with this one. The saga ends here: THE FORBIDDEN GAME volume three by LJ Smith, published July 1st 1994. It's an old tale, it's a tragedy. But maybe it'll turn out this time? (Spoilers: It does not.)   Chill: Cyna is drinking a Gebo (tequila, orange juice, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and a single drop of raspberry liqueur), and Ollie has crafted the amazingly named Joyland (Wollersheim Absinthe Blanche, lemon simple syrup, Nixie Watermelon Mint sparkling water) Cyna - Ollie.   Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.   Next time: SEASON 10 INTRO. WHAT WILL IT BE??   Stay safe, friends.   (2h 42m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of depression, suicide, mental health issues, acephobia, incest.)   Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: Okay we're back, reading THE FORBIDDEN GAME volume two, THE CHASE by LJ Smith, published May 1st 1992 blah blah blah who cares. The REAL question is, DID YOU WIN THE RING? DID YOU? DO YOU STILL HAVE IT? CAN WE SEE IT?   Chill: Cyna is not drinking a Green Creeper, that's for sure. She's drinking a Wall of Flame (fireball and apple cider), while Ollie's coming in with the excellently-named This is Not and Absinthe Cocktail (Wollersheim Dancehall Absinthe Blanche + Seagram's ginger ale + pomegranate-dragonfruit sparkling water ). Pics! Cyna - Ollie.   Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward.   As mentioned: Netherlands by Dan Fogelberg (the extremely AM radio song that comes on in the car scene) Charles Ashmore's Trail by Ambrose Bierce (the story Michael mentions) The Greg Land art in question (and if you'd like to know more)   Next time: The finale! Season 9 Episode 3: FORBIDDEN GAME: THE KILL. Chiller and Chillest tier patrons will receive this episode before it goes public!   Stay safe, y'all. Get your boosters and mask up!   (1h 57m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, speluncaphobia, discussion of suicide, mental illness, depression, and death.)   Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: It is time, at long last, to return to the series Cyna and Ollie have been eagerly awaiting. We've mentioned it several times in the past, how far away it was, but the wait is over... It's 9 o'clock and Julian is here. That's right, get your game tables ready for LJ Smith's FORBIDDEN GAME. Starting us out is THE HUNTER. Not that titles matter. These three books are one big story, in our opinion. Spoilers for books two and three start at 31:07. Skip to 44:56 to avoid! Chill: Cyna is drinking Blue Curacao, Sprite, sour mix, cranberry juice, and Ollie back on that absinthe train with what they're calling a Community of Sorrow (Wollersheim Dancehall Absinthe Blanche + POM white tea with orange blossom, and a sugared rim). Pics! Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time:  Season 9 Episode 2: FORBIDDEN GAME: THE CHASE! Chiller and Chillest tier patrons will receive this episode before it goes public! Happy New Years, Backlist listeners! May 2022 bring a whole lot better than 2021 did. Get your boosters and keep those masks up! (3h 10m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of suicide, incest, sexual assault, child molestation, violence, mental illness, depression, and death.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: RL Stine is here to keep the spooky season going with the last of the The Fear Street Saga trilogy: THE BURNING (published September 1993), subtile: Evil Wizards Fall in Love. Daniel and Nora? Never heard of them. In this house, we stan Simgelica, the Only Good Pairing in the Fear Street Saga. We're sure it will work out great for them.  Chill: Ollie returns one last time with a Power Through Evil (Angry Orchard Peach Mango Hard Cider + lemon juice), but Cyna is changing it up with a breakfast-appropriate The Burning (orange juice + black vodka) Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time:  Season 9 begins! Whatever will it be??? Happy NaNo, yall! (2h 30m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and extremely filthy language, discussion of gore, misogyny, death, abuse, and murder.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!

Backlist: Bob is back, and he's bring a SECRET (specifically, The Fear Street Saga #2: THE SECRET, published in September 1993). It's another hundred and fifty pages of ghosts, Goodes, spooky interludes, and skeletons fucking EVERYWHERE. Oh, and rest assured: the allosexuals are NOT okay. Chill:  Back with some familiar faces! Cyna is drinking a Fier But If You Rearrange the Letters It Spells Fire (fireball whiskey + pumpkin spice apple cider), and Ollie is back with a Power Through Evil (Angry Orchard Peach Mango Hard Cider + lemon juice). Pics! Cyna - Ollie. Intro theme - "Let It In" by Josh Woodward. Next time:  Season 8 Episode 3: THE FEAR STREET SAGA wraps up with #3: THE BURNING! Chiller and Chillest tier patrons will receive this episode before it goes public! Vaccinate and mask up, y'all. (1h 52m. Content Warning: Profanity, alcohol consumption, sexually explicit and generally extremely filthy language, discussion of gore, misogyny, murder, suicide, emotional manipulation and gaslighting.) Psst! Want to get B&C delivered to your inbox days before it goes live to the public? Become our patron at the $2 or higher level and you are in! Already our patron? Then you know what we're talking about! Enjoy, friend!