Basically Bookish Podcast

“In Faerie, there are no fish sticks, no ketchup, no television” 📺In this episode of Basically Bookish Pod, Sarah and Tess sink into Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince. This tale is laced with treachery, desire, and the sharp edges of Faerie politics. We explore its intoxicating fairytale tone, unforgettable characters, and why this book has captured so many readers’ imaginations.‼️As always, we first give a non-spoiler review, then a warning, before spilling all the juicy details. 👑 Expect court intrigue, sibling rivalry, dangerous romance, and plenty of scheming.🍷 Stay tuned for our favorite moments, themes we couldn’t stop thinking about, and whether this fae world lives up to its wicked reputation.📚 Whether you’re a longtime Folk of the Air fan or a first-time reader, join us as we dive deep into the magic (and menace) of Elfhame.🔗 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere podcasts are found!💬 Tell us in the comments: are you Team Jude, Team Cardan, or just here for the chaos?#CruelPrince #HollyBlack #BookPodcast #BasicallyBookishPod

🔥 Heir of Fire Deep Dive (Chapters 1–15) | Basically Bookish PodcastThings are getting INTENSE in Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas and we’re diving deep into it all! In this episode, we break down chapters 1–15, where the Throne of Glass series really begins to shift. We are introduced to two iconic characters: Rowan Whitethorn and Manon Blackbeak. Explore the emotional unraveling (and rebuilding) of Celaena.We’re talking:✨ Powerful new alliances🩸 Witches and wyverns (!!)🧬 Legacy, grief, and destiny💔 Raw emotion and powerful growth🌙 First impressions of Rowan and ManonGrab your copy, hit play, and join us as we unpack the heartbreak, the power shifts, and the foreshadowing galore for these crucial early chapters.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment with your favorite moment from this section!#HeirOfFire #SarahJMaas #ThroneOfGlass #BasicallyBookishPod #RowanWhitethorn #ManonBlackbeak #FantasyBookClubKEYWORDS: Heir of Fire, Sarah J Maas, Massiverse, Aelin, Celeana Sardothien, Deep Dive, Reading Vlog, Romantasy, Throne of Glass

Welcome back to the Basically Bookish Pod! 🤓📚🎙️It’s time for our mid-year reading check-in and we’re holding ourselves accountable. In this episode, we revisit the TBR goals we made at the start of the year, talk about the books we actually read, the ones we swapped out, and the ones still staring at us from the shelf… silently judging.We’re sharing:✔️ Our standout reads of the year so far✔️ Which books surprised us the most✔️ New obsessions and plot twists (bookish and otherwise)✔️ Favorite new authors and artwork✔️ Our biggest bookish disappointments✔️ What we want to read by December 31stWhether you’ve crushed your reading goals or completely veered off-course (relatable), this is your sign to pause and reflect with us.📚✨ Let us know in the comments: What’s been YOUR best read so far this year? What book have you put down?🔗 Listen on the go:Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | More: https://linktr.ee/BasicallyBookishPod🗣️ Connect with us:Instagram: @basicallybookishpod (https://www.instagram.com/basicallybookishpod/)TikTok: @basicallybookishpod (https://www.tiktok.com/@basicallybookishpod)

Looking for a richly layered story about love, memory, and the complicated threads that tie families together? The latest novel by Emily Henry, "Great Big Beautiful Life" is just for you. This is the second Emily Henry book we’ve covered on the pod, and it might be her most intimate and reflective work yet.We start with a spoiler-free review for those deciding whether to read it, and then shift into a full spoiler-filled breakdown, unpacking the major themes, plot twist, and emotional arc that makes this book so unforgettable.💬 In this episode, we also get deeply personal. Sarah shares her perspective as an adoptee and reflects on how adoption is often portrayed in media — and what Great Big Beautiful Life gets right (or wrong). This is a more serious, grounded discussion, exploring:    •    Found family vs. biological legacy    •    The emotional weight of hidden histories    •    The impact of adoption narratives on real-life adoptees✨ Whether you’re a longtime Emily Henry fan or just curious about the book’s emotional pull, we think this episode will spark important conversations.🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell for honest, thoughtful reviews and real talk on the books that move us.Watch Next: People We Meet On Vacation Review: https://youtu.be/AE0UO8s7XdI?si=a5V2cA5-Lq98WvAeAn Embarrassingly Deep Assassin's Blade Deep Dive: https://youtu.be/QAxoHchvmsQ?si=HWT5VmpMk0eW0qEuFind Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basicallybookishpod/Find us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@basicallybookishp👇 Let us know in the comments, how did this story sit with you?

In this episode of the Basically Bookish Podcast, we dive into one of the most intense and unforgettable fanfics ever written: Manacled by SenLinYu, a dark, dystopian reimagining of the Harry Potter universe that has left thousands of readers speechless.💥 Trigger Warning: This book contains themes of war, violence, SA, and psychological trauma. We encourage our viewers to prioritize their well-being before reading or listening.We begin with a spoiler-free review for those curious but cautious, followed by a deep-dive spoiler breakdown where we unpack the emotional weight, controversial themes, and brilliant storytelling that have made Manacled a cult favorite in the fanfiction world.📚 Whether you’re a seasoned Dramione fan or new to the world of transformative works, this episode explores:    •    Why Manacled is both brilliant and brutal    •    The power of fanfiction to tell difficult stories    •    How this story redefines the Harry Potter universe through a wartime lens🧠 Prepare to feel everything. This isn’t your childhood Hogwarts.👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments — have you read Manacled? Did it wreck you too?🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more spoiler-free and spoiler-filled book reviews!Artwork by https://www.instagram.com/avendellart/Watch NextOnyx Storm Review: https://youtu.be/9Ctq1IXOE9w?si=FmUUUMeHA9c_LAYvEverything That Happened in Throne Of Glass: https://youtu.be/9Ctq1IXOE9w?si=FmUUUMeHA9c_LAYvFind Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basicallybookishpod/Find us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@basicallybookishp

In this episode of the Basically Bookish Podcast, Sarah and Tess will discuss the second part of the novel Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. We're so excited to talk about secret passageways, badly named Christmas puppies, and the dramatic conclusion of Throne of Glass with you! This episode will contain spoilers for Assassin's Blade and Thone of Glass but not for the rest of the series. ***HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!**** Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basicallybookishpod/ Send us your favorite fan art, Throne of Glass Theories, and tell us about books you recently DNFed (and why!) to: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com Thumbnail Fan Art Featured Artist: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ Fan Art Credit: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ https://www.instagram.com/birdylou.art/ https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ https://www.instagram.com/booknuts_/ https://www.instagram.com/seciaart/ https://www.instagram.com/hachandraws/ https://www.instagram.com/artworks_by_rokii/ https://www.instagram.com/artworkby.sun/ https://www.instagram.com/artby_cassmira/ https://www.instagram.com/simarts_/ https://www.instagram.com/scribe.jesinia/ https://www.instagram.com/bookartby_amai/

In this episode of the Basically Bookish Podcast, Sarah and Tess will share a two person reading vlog covering the second half of Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. Come with us as we explore secret tunnels under the glass castle of Rifthold, try to figure out what the heck a Wyrdmark is, and watch a love triangle form between Celaena Sardothien, Dorian Havilliard, and Chaol Westfall... also what is going on with Kaltain Rompier?! Lets discuss. This episode will contain spoilers for Throne of Glass and The Assassin's Blade but not for the rest of the series. ***HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!**** Find us on social media! https://linktr.ee/basicallybookishpod Business inquiries: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com Send us your favorite fan art, Throne of Glass Theories, and tell us about books you recently DNFed (and why!) to: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com Thumbnail Fan Art Featured Artist: https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ Fan Art Credit: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ https://www.instagram.com/birdylou.art/ https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ https://www.instagram.com/booknuts_/ https://www.instagram.com/seciaart/ https://www.instagram.com/hachandraws/ https://www.instagram.com/artworks_by_rokii/ https://www.instagram.com/artworkby.sun/ https://www.instagram.com/artby_cassmira/ https://www.instagram.com/simarts_/ https://www.instagram.com/scribe.jesinia/ https://www.instagram.com/bookartby_amai/

Welcome to the Basically Bookish Podcast! We're starting a digital bookclub and would love for you to join. In this episode your hosts, Sarah Marie and Tess Lark . Join us as we dive into the Throne of Glass universe! ***HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!**** Find us on Social Media! https://linktr.ee/basicallybookishpod Business Inquiries to: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com Fan Art Credit: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ https://www.instagram.com/birdylou.art/ https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ https://www.instagram.com/booknuts_/ https://www.instagram.com/seciaart/ https://www.instagram.com/hachandraws/ https://www.instagram.com/artworks_by_rokii/ https://www.instagram.com/artworkby.sun/ https://www.instagram.com/artby_cassmira/ https://www.instagram.com/simarts_/ https://www.instagram.com/scribe.jesinia/ https://www.instagram.com/bookartby_amai/

Welcome to the Basically Bookish Podcast! We're starting a digital bookclub and would love for you to join. In this episode your hosts, Sarah Marie and Tess Lark discuss recurring themes in the novel, Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas as well as theorize what might happen next in the series. Join us as we dive into the Throne of Glass universe! ***HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!**** Find us on Social Media! https://linktr.ee/basicallybookishpod Business Inquiries to: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com Fan Art Credit: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ https://www.instagram.com/birdylou.art/ https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ https://www.instagram.com/booknuts_/ https://www.instagram.com/seciaart/ https://www.instagram.com/hachandraws/ https://www.instagram.com/artworks_by_rokii/ https://www.instagram.com/artworkby.sun/ https://www.instagram.com/artby_cassmira/ https://www.instagram.com/simarts_/ https://www.instagram.com/scribe.jesinia/ https://www.instagram.com/bookartby_amai/

Welcome to the Basically Bookish Podcast! We're starting a digital bookclub and would love for you to join. In this episode your hosts, Sarah Marie and Tess Lark break down the major plot points in the second half of Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas. This episode will cover the novellas, The Assassin and the Underworld, and The Assassin and the Empire. Grab your tissues because we are talking about Sam Cortland (Arobynn you must PAY!) Join us as we dive into the Throne of Glass universe! ***HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!**** Find us on Social Media! https://linktr.ee/basicallybookishpod Business Inquiries to: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com Fan Art Credit: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ https://www.instagram.com/birdylou.art/ https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ https://www.instagram.com/booknuts_/ https://www.instagram.com/seciaart/ https://www.instagram.com/hachandraws/ https://www.instagram.com/artworks_by_rokii/ https://www.instagram.com/artworkby.sun/ https://www.instagram.com/artby_cassmira/ https://www.instagram.com/simarts_/ https://www.instagram.com/scribe.jesinia/ https://www.instagram.com/bookartby_amai/

In this episode of the Basically Bookish Podcast, Sarah and Tess will share a two person reading vlog covering the last two novellas in The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas. This includes an in depth plot review of The Assassin and the Underworld and The Assassin and the Empire. ***HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!**** Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basicallybookishpod/  Send us your favorite fan art, Throne of Glass Theories, and tell us about books you recently DNFed (and why!) to: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com Fan Art Credit:  https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ https://www.instagram.com/birdylou.art/ https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ https://www.instagram.com/booknuts_/ https://www.instagram.com/seciaart/ https://www.instagram.com/hachandraws/ https://www.instagram.com/artworks_by_rokii/ https://www.instagram.com/artworkby.sun/ https://www.instagram.com/artby_cassmira/ https://www.instagram.com/simarts_/ https://www.instagram.com/scribe.jesinia/ https://www.instagram.com/bookartby_amai/

n this episode of the Basically Bookish Podcast, Sarah and Tess will share a two person reading vlog covering the first three novellas in The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas. This includes an in depth plot review of The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Healer, and The Assassin and the Desert. ***HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD!**** Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basicallybookishpod/  Send us your favorite fan art, Throne of Glass Theories, and tell us about books you recently DNFed (and why!) to: BasicallyBookishPod@gmail.com YouTube Thumbnail Fan Art Featured Artist: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ Fan Art Credit:  https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookclub/ https://www.instagram.com/birdylou.art/ https://www.instagram.com/terraby70/ https://www.instagram.com/booknuts_/ https://www.instagram.com/seciaart/ https://www.instagram.com/hachandraws/ https://www.instagram.com/artworks_by_rokii/ https://www.instagram.com/artworkby.sun/ https://www.instagram.com/artby_cassmira/ https://www.instagram.com/simarts_/ https://www.instagram.com/scribe.jesinia/ https://www.instagram.com/bookartby_amai/

Welcome back to the Basically Bookish Podcast!Today, we’re diving into Alchemised by SenLinYu, the book that’s been setting BookTok and the dark fantasy corner of the internet aflame. 🔥In this episode, we give you:✨ Our full review✨ What worked, what didn’t, and what surprised us✨ The writing, world-building, tropes, pacing, and character dynamics✨ Our official Basically Bookish Rating (you know we don’t hold back)✨ Whether we’d recommend it... and who would like it. If you’re wondering whether you should pick up Alchemised, or if you’ve finished it and want a place to unpack and validate your opinions… you’re safe here. Grab a beverage, settle in, and let’s talk.📚 Alchemised is a gothic, slow-burn fantasy with morally gray energy, alchemical lore, and a romance that has readers spiraling (in the best way). If you love atmospheric writing, tension that simmers, and characters who toe the line between brilliant and broken, this one might be for you.🎧 Listen to Basically Bookish Podcast on:YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | TikTok | Instagram (@basicallybookishpod)👇 Tell us in the comments:Have you read Alchemised? Rate it out of 10 We would love to hear your thoughts!#BookReview #FantasyBooks #BookTube #booktokmademereadit #Books2025 #DarkAcademiaBooks #FantasyRomance #BasicallyBookishPodcast #BookDiscussion #FictionReview #bookishcommunity

Halloween Special 👻🎃Join us on the most haunted day of the year: Halloween. This episode dives into all the wild theories surrounding We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer. Think: secret Morse code messages, dimensional shifts, peculiar ants, time-loops, and unwanted house guests who might be more than they seem.🔍 Here’s what we unpack:The recurring Morse code at the end of chapters - many readers believe it spells out a hidden message pointing to alternate realities. The house itself as a portal, not just a setting - some interpret the story as a commentary on time travel, shifting identities, and parallel lives. The unsettling detail of ants and shifting architecture - symbols of a world gone wrong...Unreliable narrator & memory trap: Is Eve losing her grip… or is the house rewriting history? The possibility that the visiting family aren’t just unwelcome guests, they’re echoes of other versions of the house, its past, or future. If you thought you knew what was happening when you closed the book, think again. We’re reading between the lines, listening to the knocks in the basement, wiring up the Morse code, and chasing time as it bends. It’s spooky season — and this story is ready to warp your notion of what a haunted house can be.🔔 Subscribe to The Basically Bookish Podcast so you don’t miss this deep dive. If you love fantasy, horror, hidden codes, and books, broken down into just the right size, you’re in the right place.

The truth finally comes home. 🏚️Halloween Eve finale of We Used to Live Here - Chapters 19 until the end. You won’t believe what we uncovered. 🎃🐜It’s the haunting finale of our deep dive into We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer - we are peeling back the final layer of this twisted, beautiful nightmare.What was real? What was imagined? And what does it mean to be haunted? by a house, a memory, or yourself?🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜Join The Basically Bookish Podcast for our pre-Halloween special as we unpack the ending, the unreliable narration, and why this story lingers long after the last page.📚 Subscribe for more book breakdowns that make complex stories feel eerily relatable.#BasicallyBookishPodcast #WeUsedToLiveHere #MarcusKliewer #BookTok #BookTube #HorrorReads #PsychologicalThriller #UnreliableNarrator #OctoberReads #HalloweenBooks #ThrillerPodcast #SpookySeason

Eve’s reflection is starting to lie back. 🪞This week we’re diving into Chapters 13–18 of We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer — and nothing feels real anymore.Welcome back to The Basically Bookish Podcast — the show where Tess and Sarah untangle the strange, the spooky, and the deeply human side of storytelling.In Part 3 of We Used to Live Here, the story fractures: Dreams bleed into reality, trust dissolves, and Eve’s grip on truth slips. We’re talking memory, madness, and how unreliable narration becomes a mirror for grief itself.📖 Chapters 13–18 this week🕯️ Final episode drops day before Halloween with a BONUS THEORIES EPISODE on HALLOWEEN DAY!!#BasicallyBookishPodcast #WeUsedToLiveHere #MarcusKliewer #ThrillerBooks #PsychologicalHorror #UnreliableNarrator #BookTok #BookTube #OctoberReads #SpookySeason #BookDiscussion #WomenWhoRead #FantasyReaders

Religious trauma? Sleepwalking?! Slenderman?! Send help.We are back with Part 2 of We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer and the tension is thick as fog. As Eve digs deeper into the past, reality begins to warp. Can the house itself be trusted… or is it mirroring her unraveling mind?Join us as we decode hidden symbolism, eerie foreshadowing, and the creeping question of what “home” really means when memory becomes unreliable.📅 This week: Chapters 7–12🗓 New episodes every Thursday through October!#BasicallyBookishPodcast #WeUsedToLiveHere #MarcusKliewer #HauntedHouseBooks #PsychologicalThriller #OctoberReads #BookTok #BookTube #ThrillerPodcast #UnreliableNarrator #BookishCommunity #HorrorReads #WomenWhoRead

In the first installment of our complete retelling of the scariest book we've ever read, we cover chapters 1 through 6 of We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer and give our predictions for what directions the book could take. We're already getting the creeps but stick with us as we will be releasing an episode Every Thursday for the month of October until we finish the book! So read along with us as we go around every dark corner and search in every cobweb filled crevice for a way out of this house!!Follow us here or on Youtube where you can watch us and stay up to date with the all the episodes. Happy Reading!!

Hello! It's Hoa Hoa Hoa Hoa season and what better way to celebrate than with a full plot recap of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig?! Grab some snack and some tea and let's nestle down into the dark, gothic, world of The Shepherd King Duology.This is a moody, gothic fantasy filled with forbidden magic, political intrigue, romance, and a monster in more ways than one. In this episode, we retell the complete plot from beginning to end. Spoilers ahead — listener discretion advised if you haven’t finished the book!Watch Next!Manacled Review: https://youtu.be/vCG-56ic5R0Throne Of Glass Deep Dives: https://youtu.be/EpIe7M40xS8Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for more bookish hang outs!Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basicallybookishpod/Tiktok: http://www.tiktok.com/@basicallybookishpFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BasicallyBookishPod

Join us on this episode of Basically Bookish Podcast as we read through the sun-drenched pages of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry!Poppy & Alex—best friends, opposites, travel companions, and maybe something more? We’ll unpack the slow burn, the emotional depth, the unforgettable vacation moments, and whether this beloved friends-to-lovers rom-com lived up to the hype. All without spoiling the ending!Whether you’ve already read the book or are just curious about the buzz, this "No Ending" review is for you!Timestamps:0:51 – Character Breakdown: Poppy & Alex8:50 – Vacation Moments17:40 – The Slow Burn Romance33:00 – Final Thoughts & RatingsDon’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments—did you love it? Did you cry? Are you Team Alex or Team “Just Book the Trip Already”? We want to know!Follow us on Instagram: @basicallybookishpodSubscribe for more bookish chats biweekly!