Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps — the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and sometimes forget to talk about what we said we would).
This week, we meant to dive into Matt Fraction’s new Batman run — but, true to form, we spiraled into something deeper. We’re talking about Batman as a mirror for change, the psychology of his never-ending crusade, and how comics can capture politics and the pulse of society in ways novels often can’t.
So grab your drink (preferably something dark and brooding), turn on the Bat-Signal, and join us as we overanalyze everyone’s favorite emotionally unavailable billionaire and world's best super detective.
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Hell is a campus.
Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps — the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and sometimes
Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps — the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and sometimes question why we bothered opening a second bottle).
This week, we’re descending into Katabasis by R.F. Kuang — a book that promises a journey to hell but somehow forgets to make it hot. We’re talking stagnant protagonists, magic that barely shows up, and a descent so slow it feels like waiting in line for the underworld.
So grab your drink and join us as we try to find the fire in a story that left us lukewarm at best.
LINKS:
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Check us out on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/novels-and-nightcaps/id1823037122
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Next time, we’re heading back to the Catenan Republic for round two with James Islington’s The Strength of the Few.
The Strength of the Few: https://amzn.to/4oe9cQ7
Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps — the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and, this time, rate the unrateable).
In this episode, we tackle the messy world of book ratings — the difference between subjective vibes, objective metrics, and whether ratings even mean anything at all. Should books be graded like essays or judged like cocktails: purely by taste? Tune in as we argue, overanalyze, and ultimately reveal our very own subjective and objective rankings.
So grab your drink of choice, your rating scale (if you must), and join us for another round of literary chaos and questionable logic.
Stronger together.
Welcome to another episode of Novels and Nightcaps—the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and constantly mispronounce at least half the character names).
This time, we’re diving into The Will of the Many by James Islington, a sweeping tale of power, privilege, and rebellion in a ruthless republic. We’re talking dark academies, deadly hierarchies, secret identities, and the kind of political scheming that pairs perfectly with a strong wine. Expect big ideas, questionable decisions, and the usual amount of rambling as we unpack what makes this book tick.
Want to read The Will of the Many for yourself? Grab your copy through our affiliate link—it won’t cost you extra, and it helps keep the cocktails flowing.
Next up: we’re following R.F. Kuang into Katabasis, a harrowing journey to hell itself. Snag your copy with our affiliate link and join us on the descent—you’re not going to want to make this trip alone.
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Lights, camera, ramble!
Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps—the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and occasionally pretend we’re Hollywood execs).
This week, we’re tackling the subtle, slippery art of adapting books for the big screen. What makes a good adaptation? What ruins one? We each bring our own “recipe” for how to pull it off, and along the way we agree, disagree, and—as always—ramble far more than we should.
So grab a drink, take your seat, and tune in as we trade page-turners for popcorn and try to rewrite Hollywood’s rulebook (one cocktail at a time).
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Listen on YouTube here!
“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”
Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps—the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and constantly change our ratings halfway through the episode).
This week, we’re closing out Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary with a full deep dive. Our good friend Hugo joins us as we spend the first fifteen minutes spoiler-free before diving headfirst into what we loved, what we questioned, and what left us wanting more. Expect plenty of space nerding, a bittersweet farewell to our favorite science teacher-turned-astronaut, and many, many toasts to Rocky—the best engineer in the galaxy.
Want to read Project Hail Mary for yourself? Snag it through our affiliate link below—it won’t cost you extra, and it helps fuel our cocktails and conversations.
And next time, we’re heading to the Catenan Republic in James Islington’s The Will of the Many. Be sure to grab your copy (yep, affiliate link below!) and read along with us.
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AFFILIATE LINKS
Get your copy of Project Hail Mary here!
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New book, new booze!Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps—the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and sometimes pretend we’re smarter than we really are).
This week, we're launching off into Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary. This book’s got us hooked: the science is clear enough to make you feel like a genius, the unknown inspires curiosity instead of terror, and the whole thing asks what it really means to adapt when “normal” is gone for good. At its core, it’s a story about sacrifice—what we’ll give up to save not just ourselves, but the whole of humanity.
So pour yourself something stellar, crack open your copy, and tune in as we orbit around first impressions.
And if you want to read along, grab your copy with our affiliate link—because Tau Ceti might be 12 light-years from Earth, but supporting this podcast is just a click away.
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AFFILIATE LINK: Get your copy of Project Hail Mary here!
Welcome back to Novels and Nightcaps—the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and sometimes make the same drink… again).
This week, we're wrapping up The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. We kick things off with a spoiler-free review of the book as a whole (promise, it’s under 15 minutes), followed by a deep dive into Part Four: St. Natalia's Flame.
So pour yourself something familiar and settle in as we unpack a novel that starts like The Suicide Squad (the good one) and ends up like Suicide Squad (the 2016 one… yeah, that one).
Next up: we're trading devils for deep space and diving into Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Want to read along? Use our affiliate link to grab the book—it won’t cost you extra, and it helps support the show. Cheers to that!
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Third time's the charm!
Join us for episode three of Novels and Nightcaps — the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and sometimes cheap out on our cocktails because the book didn't earn the good booze).
This week, Gabe and Nor slap on their critical thinking caps and dive into The Devils Part Three: High Roads, Low Roads — a section that proves people are mad, bad, and horny all the time.
We're talking randy priests, an elf stuck in a YA romance subplot, the tonal whiplash of a devilish deal, one immortal knight with a duel addiction, and a necromancer who finally lives up to his name.
So grab your drink of questionable quality, flip to the right page, and come gripe with us through the madness of mediocrity of Joe Abercrombie's Creature Commandos — er, The Devils.
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And we're back! Join us on episode two of Novels and Nightcaps — the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (and sometimes rant a little).This week, we're plunging into Part Two of Joe Abercrombie's The Devils: The Best Monsters. We've got recycled rambles (and mezcal), stunted souls, and one startlingly sweet elf who seems more saint than devil. So pour another round, grab your book, and join us as we sort through the sinners, the saints, and the sword-swinging seaside déjà vu.Check us out on YouTube! Check us out on Apple Podcasts!
Welcome, one and all, to Novels and Nightcaps — the podcast where we read, drink, and ramble (sometimes in that order).
Kick things off with us in our very first episode as we crack open the first part of Joe Abercrombie’s latest grimdark misadventure, The Devils. Sometimes, holy work requires unholy deeds, and in such cases, the worst monsters make the best allies. So grab your book, pour something strong, and pull up a chair as we join Brother Diaz and the Chapel of the Holy Expediency on their not-so-holy crusade to take back the city of Troy.