This week, Mary and Cole wrap up their deep dive into N.K. Jemisin's earthshattering fantasy novel The Fifth Season! The hosts gush about the twists that caught them off guard, debate the nature of the elusive stone eaters, and make wild guesses about where the series is going. Listen now!
Content Warnings: Child Death, Child Abuse, Neglect, Sexual Assault, Child Sexual Abuse, Death, Cannibalism, Discrimination, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Sexual Contact, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Manipulation, Trauma, PTSD, Earthquakes, Natural Disasters
This week, Mary and Cole dive into the second part of The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin! Mary shares a new recipe inspired by seismic activity and Cole kvetches about book hangovers. Listen now!
Content Warnings: Child Death, Child Abuse, Neglect, Sexual Assault, Child Sexual Abuse, Death, Cannibalism, Discrimination, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Sexual Contact, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Manipulation, Trauma, PTSD, Earthquakes, Natural Disasters,
This week, Mary and Cole begin their special three-part discussion of N.K. Jemisin's landmark Hugo award-winning novel The Fifth Season. Cole dishes up some thoughts on fantasy trail rations (and an accompanying recipe), Mary suffers from caffeine withdrawal, and both hosts gush about the Hugo Awards. Listen now!
Content Warnings: Child Death, Child Abuse, Neglect, Sexual Assault, Child Sexual Abuse, Death, Cannibalism, Discrimination, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Sexual Contact, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Manipulation, Trauma, PTSD, Earthquakes, Natural Disasters,
In this minisode, Mary and Cole talk about the field of editing! Cole shares some industry knowledge about what it takes to be an editor, and Mary asks the important questions about what kind of agency an author has when their book has been marked up in red ink. Listen now!
This week, hosts Mary and Cole continue their deep dive into bestselling romance novel Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston! Cole shares a new recipe inspired by Alex Claremont, and Mary talks about the importance of contraceptives (even in a romance novel). Listen now!
Content Warnings: Addiction, Alcohol, Blackmail, Depression, Violation of Privacy, Parental Neglect, Sexual Abuse, Death of Parent, Substance Abuse Disorder, Outing, Sexual Content, Biphobia, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Panic Attacks/Panic Disorders, Racism
This week, Mary and Cole get swept away by the romance phenomenon Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston! Mary shares a classic British recipe to celebrate the story, and the hosts talk about the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation in books. Listen now!
Content Warnings: Addiction, Alcohol, Blackmail, Violation of Privacy, Parental Neglect, Sexual Abuse, Death of Parent, Substance Abuse Disorder, Outing, Sexual Content, Biphobia, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Panic Attacks/Panic Disorders, Racism
Join Mary and Cole for a very special minisode with guest Kristin Burchell, author of the new fantasy novel Court of Venom. The trio enthuse about the realm of fantasy storytelling and the hosts pepper Kristin with questions about her novel. Listen now!
This week, Mary and Cole do a deep-dive into the second half of bestselling fantasy novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab! Join us as we talk about why you should always read the fine print when making deals with demons and how we felt about the book's controversial ending. Mary also bakes up a classic patisserie treat to enjoy alongside the book! Listen now!
Content Warnings: Death, starvation, freezing, substance abuse, alcoholism, sexual assault, sex work, emotional manipulation, gaslighting, attempted suicide, depression, violence, war
This week, Mary and Cole leap into the unknown with New York Times bestselling fantasy novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. The pair talk immortality, invisibility, and pacts with the devil. Cole shares a new recipe inspired by a little old man and his books, and Mary theorizes about the devil's tricks.
Content Warnings: Death, starvation, freezing, substance abuse, alcoholism, sexual assault, sex work, emotional manipulation, gaslighting, attempted suicide, depression, violence, war
This week, Mary and Cole dive into the second half of Space Opera by Catherynne M. Vallente! Aliens, espionage, and the biggest concert in the universe take center stage as the hosts wrap up their discussion of the book. Cole makes disco-inspired treats, and we finally uncover whether or not Mary has become a sci-fi fan! Join us!
Content Warnings: Homophobia, queerphobia, addiction, death, driving under the influence, alcoholism, anxiety, zombies, attempted murder, aliens, disease, drug use
For this week's (not so) mini episode, Mary and Cole break down their favorite reads of 2021! Join along as the hosts chat great reads, delicious beverages, and their controversial picks for the best books they read in a dumpster fire of a year!
This week, the HTBAB crew starts their conversation about one of Cole's all-time favorite books, Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente. Nominated for the Hugo award for best novel, this book has everything: washed up rock stars, unfathomable aliens, and intergalactic singing competitions designed to verify the sentience of the competitors! Cole gushes about space travel and Mary shares an out of this world gelato recipe! Listen now!
Content Warnings: Homophobia, queerphobia, addiction, death, driving under the influence, alcoholism, anxiety, zombies, attempted murder, aliens, disease, drug use
This week, Mary and Cole return to T. Kingfisher's fantasy world for the YA novella Minor Mage. This special one-shot episode takes you along for a fantastical adventure about a young, inexperienced mage being tasked with the seemly impossible mission of bringing his village the rain. Cole shares an unconventional pancake recipe, and Mary reflects on magical forests. Grab your armadillo friend and join us for some fun!
Content Warnings: Animal abuse, murder, violence, animal attacks, attempted cannibalism (?), torture, falling, kidnapping, ghosts, dismemberment of a corpse
Welcome to our first mini-sode! In honor of Black History month, we're focusing on some of our favorite Black writers. Mary showcases a fantasy powerhouse, and Cole gushes about genre. Join us for tea and conversation about adding more Black authors to your tbr list!
Mary and Cole dive into the second half of the YA fantasy novel A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher this week. Join us as we discuss death, destruction, zombie horses, and the city-saving power of sourdough. Cole tries a new baking technique (many months after it was cool), and Mary finally finds a fantasy battle that holds her interest! So pull up a chair, grab a snack, and enjoy the conclusion of this fantastical tale of baking magic.
Content Warnings: death, attempted murder, animal death, horses death, war, stabbing, acid attacks, kidnapping, child death, parental death, stalking, feces, zombies, skeletons
We're back! And we're bringing you our bakingest book ever: A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. This week, Mary and Cole begin their discussion of this high fantasy YA novel and delight over just how much baking there really is! There's spy scones, there's carnivorous sourdough, there's gingerbread hooliganism. What more could a reader want?
Content Warnings: death, attempted murder, animal death, horses dearth, war, stabbing, acid attacks, kidnapping, child death, parental death, stalking, feces
This weeks episode is the thrilling conclusion of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Join Mary and Cole as they dive deep into the second half of the book and discover a fantastical world of witches, vampires, and household spirits. Cole shares a new recipes inspired by a summer recipe in medieval 'Rus and Mary talks about her favorite scene in the book (who doesn't love a horse chase?).
Content Warnings: animal death, human death, parental death, child death, sexual assault, physical abuse, gaslighting, misogyny, spirits/demons, self harm, child marriage, blood/gore, suffocation, vampirism, hunger/starvation, freezing
Mary and Cole pick new books for next quarter out of Mary's "boyfriend's" hat.
This week on How to bake a Book, Mary and Cole begin their deep dive into bestselling fantasy novel, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. They talk feminism, fantasy settings, and folklore. Mary shares a decadent chocolatey treat inspired by the setting and Cole insists that mint actually does go in cocoa (despite Mary's ardent protests).
On this week's episode of How to Bake a Book, Mary and Cole dive into the second half of New York Times bestselling-novel The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. Character secrets are revealed, prejudices confronted, and the hosts debate whether or not Australia really exists. Join us for the conclusion of our feel-good fantasy romp through a book that has skyrocketed to the top of both Mary and Cole's favorite books lists.
Content Warnings:
Spiders, PTSD, child abuse, imprisonment, torture, anxiety/anxiety attacks