Book Dragon Banter

Is It Fresh? - Chapters 11-14 This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Read-Along 16.06.2026 57min

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Read-Along (Ch. 11–14) Book Dragon Banter hosts Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine continue their read-along mini season for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews, covering chapters 11 through 14 with a spoiler-free discussion. The hosts discuss Maggie’s rapidly shifting attachments, found-family dynamics, heist-story structure, and romance possibilities among Reynald, Solentine, and the Duke, plus theories about the “author” and upcoming maps. Clov...

Good Teeth, Bad Plan - Chapters 6-10 This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Read-along 09.06.2026 1h 2min

Book Dragon Banter continues a spoiler-free read-along of Ilona Andrews’ This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, covering chapters 6–10. Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine discuss first impressions of the newly introduced Reynald, Clover, and Kaiden, praising how the book handles extreme violence and noting the realism of consequences like the heaviness of bodies and having to dispose of them. They talk about Maggie’s shifting agency, how being “undying” changes risk tolerance, and how found family raise...

Naked, In a Ditch - Chapters 1-5 - This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Read Along 02.06.2026 40min

Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine begin a spoiler-free read-along of Ilona Andrews’ This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, covering chapters 1–5. They recap Maggie being isekai’d into Kair Toren, stealing coins, getting murdered, and reviving, then navigating the Garden of Soft Blossoms, learning language and social classes, meeting Galiene, encountering villain Ulmar Hreban, and making a risky information-for-payment deal with Solentine Degarra of the Shears. The hosts discuss the first-person exposit...

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Read-Along Trailer 29.05.2026 1min

This summer we're trying something different and digging into Zinzi's newest book obsession: This Kindgom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. Read-along with us as Katherine and Sage read the book for the first time! Get in touch with us!

A Story Within a Story: The Layers of 'The Spear Cuts Through Water' 26.05.2026 1h

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez — Experimental Fantasy, POV Shifts & Love Stories | Book Dragon Banter In this episode of Book Dragon Banter, Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine discuss Simon Jimenez’s The Spear Cuts Through Water, our Fable book club pick, sharing spoiler-free reactions and then diving into spoilers. We unpack the book’s experimental structure—second-person “you,” shifting POVs, Greek-chorus interludes, and creative typography—plus how format and audiobook ve...

Diving into DNF's and Spring Fantasy Finds 18.05.2026 51min

Best Reads So Far (Fantasy + Non-Fantasy), DNFs, Book Bingo Check-In & Writing Updates | Book Dragon Banter Book Dragon Banter hosts discuss our best reads of the year so far (not limited to fantasy), current reads, DNFs, and palate cleansers. Sage is reading Victoria Aveyard’s Realm Breaker series and shares updates on her reading challenges, StoryGraph tracking, and postponing unfinished series like Blood Over Bright Haven. Katherine discusses cozy rereads, nonfiction reading goals, t...

A Cozy & Spicy Romantasy: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster 28.04.2026 48min

We gush over our latest book club pick, How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster, a cozy fantasy romance Rumpelstiltskin retelling with spice, a middle-aged heroine, a melodramatic fae hero, and an interfering sentient house. We share why we all enjoyed it (cozy tone with meaningful stakes, great banter, classic fae lore like true names and power, and fun details like griffins, talking cats, magic “insignia” scents, and the house doing chores and providing lingerie). Spoilers included as ...

The Intersection of Fantasy, Romantasy, and Smut: When Magic Meets Desire - Part 2 17.03.2026 40min

We welcome you to Book Dragon Banter, where we (Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree) talk fantasy and romantasy spice, from early reads like Mists of Avalon and Kushiel’s Dart to how modern romantasy has become more explicit on the page. We discuss when sex serves plot versus functioning like erotica, how unhealthy power dynamics, manipulation, and grooming can be portrayed (and sometimes left unaddressed), and why good sex doesn’t equal a healthy relationship. We also talk about foreplay-focused...

The Intersection of Fantasy, Romantasy, and Smut: When Magic Meets Desire - Part 1 27.02.2026 42min

Smut in Fantasy: Mental Porn or Power Dynamics? | Book Dragon Banter In this episode of Book Dragon Banter, we (Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree) talk about smut and spice in fantasy and romantasy—what it’s doing in the story, how we define terms like “mental porn” and “power dynamics,” and why consent and character/plot relevance matter to us. We also touch on where lines get drawn around monster romance and fantasy anatomy, share a few book examples, and wrap up. BDB Fable Fantasy Focused...

Delving into Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger - Book Club Deep Dive 03.02.2026 47min

Book Dragon Banter: Elatsoe by Darcy Little Badger - A YA Fantasy Murder Mystery Review Join us for this exciting book club episode where we dive into 'Elatsoe' by Darcy Little Badger. If you love young adult books with strong protagonists, magical elements, and mystery, this is a must-watch! We discuss the book's mythology, handling of themes like representation and diversity, and how it masterfully combines folklore with a modern setting. Listen in to our thoughts on the plot twists, char...

New Year Part 2: Reflections on Writing and Plans for 2026... 20.01.2026 38min

Book Dragon Banter: Podcast Behind the Scenes & Future Writing Goals In this episode of Book Dragon Banter, Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine talk about their experiences and goals for the future of the podcast. We discuss the upcoming end of our first season, initial trials, and plans for season two, including a new fantasy series deep dive, book club accessibility on Fable, potential guests, and possible format changes. We also share personal writing goals, favorite reads, and insights ...

New Year Part 1: New Reading Challenges! 06.01.2026 53min

Reflecting on the Past Year & Setting New Reading Goals With this New Year's episode of Book Dragon Banter, we dive into reflections on the past year, discuss our favorite fantasy reads, and set new reading goals for 2026. Join us as we explore personal traditions, like picking a 'word of the year,' and share how these practices have impacted our lives and writing journeys. We'll also reveal our exciting book challenges for 2026, chat about books that have deeply moved us, and provide som...

A Christmas Carol Unwrapped: Themes, Adaptations, and Traditions 10.12.2025 57min

A Christmas Carol Unwrapped: Themes, Adaptations, and Traditions | Book Dragon Banter In this special Christmas episode of Book Dragon Banter, hosts Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree dive into the timeless classic 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. We discuss Dickens' storytelling techniques, the book's impact on modern Christmas traditions, and share personal experiences and adaptations of the story. Alongside, we embrace cozy holiday reading traditions like jolabokaflod and share some ...

Hidden Strengths: Examining Characters in The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang 25.11.2025 1h 2min

Hidden Strengths: A Deep Dive into 'The Sword of Kaigen' | Book Dragon Banter In this emotional episode of the Book Dragon Banter podcast, hosts Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette dive into 'The Sword of Kaigen' by M.L. Wang. Join us as we discuss how M.L. Wang expertly crafted this heart-wrenching, Japanese-influenced fantasy that tore at our hearts. We explore the richly detailed world-building, compelling character arcs, and intense scenes that made this book unforgettable. Fr...

Male Main Characters in Fantasy: From Aragorn to Shadow Daddies 11.11.2025 58min

Male Main Characters in Fantasy: From Aragorn to Shadow Daddies Welcome back to Book Dragon Banter! Join us, Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette as we dive into our favorite male main characters in fantasy. This episode focuses heavily on archetypes such as heroes, shadow daddies, and cinnamon rolls in Romantasy and more. Join us for an in-depth discussion on the hero's journey, character development, the feminine gaze and our top book recommendations. Be prepared for an explicit ...

Grave Matters: A Literary Monster Spooky Special 28.10.2025 58min

Monstrous Origin Stories: Analyzing Dracula, Frankenstein, and Werewolves | Book Dragon Banter Podcast Welcome to the Book Dragon Banter podcast's spooky special! In this episode, hosts Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette dive into the monstrous origin stories of Dracula, Frankenstein, and werewolves. Discover surprising details about these classic monsters, their portrayal in literature, and how they've evolved in pop culture. Sage explores the allure of vampires, including Dracu...

More Than a Mary Sue: Complexity in Female Characters 14.10.2025 55min

Welcome back to Book Dragon Banter! Join hosts Sage Moreaux, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree as we dive into the fascinating topic of female main characters (FMCs) in fantasy novels and beyond. While we focus primarily on fantasy, we also touch on other genres and pop culture references to better explain our points. Get ready for an engaging discussion on beloved and controversial FMCs, where we share our favorites, explore the hero's journey versus the heroine's journey, and even mention some FMCs...

Exploring Vengeance and Redemption: For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga - Book Dragon Banter Book Club 30.09.2025 57min

Exploring Vengeance and Redemption: For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga - Book Dragon Banter Book Club Welcome back to the Book Dragon Banter podcast! In this book club episode, we delve into 'For She Is Wrath' by Emily Varga, a Pakistani-inspired young adult dark fantasy. Join hosts Katherine Suzette, Sage Moreaux, and Zinzi Bree as we discuss the intricate details of the plot, the cultural influences, and the compelling characters. We explore the revenge-driven narrative, the rich setting, an...

Endless TBR, Reading Challenges & Book Burnout 16.09.2025 56min

Endless TBR, Reading Challenges & Book Burnout | Book Dragon Banter Welcome back, Book Dragons! In this episode, we dive into the never-ending struggle of managing our endless TBR lists, tackling reading challenges, and dealing with book burnout. Join us, Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette as we share our insights, experiences, and tips. From discussing different types of reading challenges, such as the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do, to sharing our personal book bu...

Did Marketing Make You Read It? 02.09.2025 49min

Welcome back to Book Dragon Banter, a podcast where hosts Zinzi Bree, Katherine, and Sage discuss all things books. In this episode, they delve into how marketing influences book choices, discussing their approaches to picking books, mood reading, and the effectiveness of marketing tactics. They also explore controversial marketing, book ratings and reviews, and the rise of graphic novels. Along the way, they share their perspectives on popular books like 'Silver Elite' and 'The Hunger Games,...