We finally finish a series! Trickster’s Queen brings the many threads of political intrigue loose in the Copper Isles to a satisfying (if predictable) conclusion. We discuss the coziness of a perfect fantasy regime change and how overly rosy depictions of righted systemic injustices both help and harm the readers. Perfect spy blobs, spice intoleran…

Westmark has it all - political intrigue, long cons, a dashing leader of the revolution, and two months in a garret writing other people’s letters. We discuss Lloyd Alexander’s fast-paced opening to the Westmark trilogy and why it feels like classic fantasy in spite of its lack of true fantasy elements. Join us in breaking down Theo’s soft boy prot…

We’re covering the first two books of Emily Rodda’s Deltora Quest series, The Forests of Silence and The Lake of Tears! Deltora brings out the best in us; we rave about the impeccable art, wild pacing and grotesque monsters as we travel the kingdom searching for hidden gems. Scholastic book fairs, reading positions we’ve aged out of, fights about B…

Welcome to Middle Grade March! This episode, we’re following siblings Nizhoni and Mac Begay as they save their dad from monstrous coal exec Mr. Charles. They discover their similarities to the Hero Twins of Navajo legend and explore their burgeoning abilities through increasingly challenging trials. Grace and Madeleine discuss preferred middle scho…

A special lil episode on the enigmatic Grendel, by John Gardner! After covering The Snow-Walker’s Son and considering ancient Nordic literary monsters, Grace was compelled to revisit this darkly comedic retelling of Beowulf from his foe’s perspective. Joining her is Ranae Hanson, author, activist, and top-notch mother-in-law. Curl up in your watery…

Celebrate Valentine’s with this fascinating, bizarre and indelible tale of love among young witches - we’re reading The Changeover, by Margaret Mahy! We meet Laura Chant and her young brother Jacko, who are living a mostly-peaceful life in the Christchurch suburbs punctuated by Laura’s “warnings,” psychic premonitions that never bode well. When an …

We’re getting into our frigid sailboat and exploring The Snow-Walker’s Son, by Catherine Fisher! Jessa and Thorkil are banished to a forgotten hall in the far North when their fathers attempt to overthrow the current jarl, a pretender to the throne. The false jarl happens to be married to Gudrun, a terrifying ice sorceress who previously sent her o…

We’re overwhelmed with holiday spirit and we’re releasing this Babetreon episode on the main feed! *Please note that unlike our main feed, this episode is explicit. The sibling squabbling is at an all-time high as Grace tries to force Madeleine to enjoy a Christmas film. Happy Hogswatch!By Dragon Babies

We’re continuing to explore the Lost Years with The Seven Songs of Merlin, by T.A. Barron! Our wee Merlin advances to his Emo Protagonist era as he shirks the main quest in favor of finding/saving his mama. Grace and Madeleine discuss the plot’s video game structure, the joys of a melancholy bard (Bumblewy forever), and why we’re more sympathetic t…

Strum your cwidder and make the mountains walk 🎵 We’re reading Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones! Murderers, spies, magical instruments, and vengeance driven by the love of a horse - would you expect anything less from DWJ? This opener to the Dalemark Quartet introduces Moril, Brid and their family of wandering troubadours. In a nation plagued …

Be an ageless entity, do crimes - we’re discussing The Boggart, by Susan Cooper! This wonderfully weird book has it all and is the perfect playful Halloween read for all ages. Cooper pulls off the ultimate middle grade fantasy bait and switch - leading readers to think we’re in for a spooky Scottish castle stay and then immediately heading to Toron…

We’re attending A College of Magics, by Caroline Stevermer! An episode almost as long as college itself, we’re resplendent with big feelings about this subtle, gorgeously written book. Faris Nallaneen comes into herself and her power through the people and ideas she encounters at Greenlaw College, a magic school where you’re not actually allowed to…

Brush up on your Cat as we enter the world of Lionboy, by Zizou Corder. Mother and daughter author team (Louisa Young and Isabel Adomakoh Young) craft a Romp in which we travel into a dystopian future. Steampunky advances (and limitations) in technology, a mysterious parental kidnapping, and the ability to talk to cats have led protagonist Charlie …

Oops, we’ve been swapped out with changelings - time to discuss The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw! We take to the moor to consider the many virtues of Irish bagpipes and revel in the atmospheric melancholy of Saaski’s tale. This deceptively complex book contrasts humanity’s darkness alongside the Folk’s lively, fleeting nihilism. Where does a girl wh…

It’s Merlin time! We head to Fincayra with a ragtag crew including a boy who without a past, a girl raised by trees, a tiny giant who loves honey and a bird you’ll want to keep around. The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron is a soothing, nature-focused journey through a deep wood that adds a new perspective to the many Merlin myths. The experienc…

We’re continuing on in Joan Aiken’s alternate history, wolf-ridden England with Black Hearts in Battersea! If your spirits need a boost (and whose don’t), irresistible Cockney urchin Dido Twite is here to entrance and delight. We absolutely adored this book and wish it had come into our lives sooner. Puzzle over Grace’s mental picture of mince pies…

We’re exploring the Arthurian legend through a southern Black lens with Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn! Join 16-year-old protagonist Bree as she enters an early college program at UNC Chapel Hill and discovers more than one type of magic is waiting. She learns about her dead mother’s secrets, her own latent abilities, and the pull of various Hot Boys (…

We continue Megan Whalen Turner’s impeccable Queen’s Thief series with A Conspiracy of Kings! We discuss the appeal of sweet Sophos as a protagonist, the portrayal of slavery within fantasy series, and whether the gods are Just Jerks (copyright Madeleine). This is a long one, but in between the sister squabbling, points are made! The main point bei…

It’s back to Discworld with Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett! We join the titular trio of Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax, and Magrat Garlick as they meddle their way across space and time (within reasonably witchy limits, of course). Review your Shakespeare, work up your best lil ghosty sounds and make sure you’re in good standing with the Fool’s Gui…

We’re so excited to round out the ZKSHT (Zilpha Keatley Snyder Holy Trinity) with The Headless Cupid. Along with The Egypt Game and The Witches of Worm, this book developed Grace’s little brain into a spooky kid mystery machine. Madeleine’s jonesing for a trip to the Winchester Mystery House and is very upset with Amanda; we’re both reminiscing abo…

It’s Badgerin’ Time. We return to the joyous, violent, and feast-laden world of Redwall with Mossflower, by Brian Jacques! Grace breaks down the reasons why this is her favorite of his works, we continue the great “Humans in Mossflower???” debate, and Bella and Boar become our gods. Grab your candied chestnuts and join us. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchb…

We’re heading back to Valdemar with Magic’s Pawn, by Mercedes Lackey! This absolute doozy of an episode showed us that we could talk about this book for the rest of our lives. Vanyel and Tylendel’s love story, revenge mission and subsequent Bad But Life-Changing Stuff are at turns stirring, sweet, cathartic and crushing. Tune up your mind speech an…

Head to the nearest midden and abandon all hope - The Ragwitch has you in her thrall! We have a blast discussing Garth Nix’s first novel and following Paul and Julia’s external and internal journeys. We consider the ways in which this work shows the beginnings of the Abhorsen series and do our best to start a rumor that Garth is a necromancer. Typi…

Have you been craving a close reading of the final passage of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen? No? Well, you should probably listen to this Grace’s Reading Corner not-so-mini episode about why society loves a snowy queen anyway. This episode focuses specifically on the illustrated edition by the wonderful Mary Engelbreit, which remains a p…

We’re so excited to launch our Babetreon - and we’re taking the first episode out from behind the paywall! We're discussing the 2006 Ghibli film Tales from Earthsea in all its messy glory. Join for $3/mo to get an extra episode every month. We’ll be covering a broader range of materials than we typically do on the main feed - reviews of film and TV…

Enchanted poet-donkeys assemble: we’re covering The Arkadians, by Lloyd Alexander! You’ll love this meta retelling of various Greek mythologies and epics as told through the adventures of Lucien, Joy-in-the-Dance, Fronto, and the approximately 500 other goofy characters they encounter along the way. As the self-proclaimed Emo Fantasy crowd, we love…

In which gods become dogs and get stuck in their bods! We’re discussing Dogsbody, by Diana Wynne Jones in all its celestial, dog-brained glory. Sirius the dog star is punished for a mysterious murder by being trapped in an earthly pup form - and his only way back to his galaxy is to find the enigmatic Zoi that he threw down to Earth. Leave it to DW…

As would-be dragon riders and adolescents during the early 00’s, we’re perfectly positioned to discuss Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. This one has haunted us since we started the podcast - we knew it was inevitable and yet we procrastinated until our 101st episode. We break down our conflicted feelings about this teen-penned dragon epic and own up…

To celebrate our 100th (!) full-length episode, we’re re-covering the book that began it all: Sabriel, by Garth Nix! In between some very involved gushing about Tim Curry’s audiobook performance, we consider the YA fantasy and book podcasting lessons we’ve learned along the way. This is a goofy one because we’re just so delighted to be here - thank…

HONK. We read The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale! This retelling of the Grimm fairy tale takes us through the forest, into the goose pen and behind the throne room (best place to eavesdrop on villainous monologuing). We break down protagonist Ani’s haunting search for self, attempt to chat with geese on our own, and process beloved horse loss. Ready t…

We unearth a veritable pharaoh’s tomb of nostalgia as we discuss The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder! Join us in considering why this is a fantasy book, ways this may have inspired the creation of Dungeons and Dragons, half-remembered childhood yard games, Stranger Danger, Klutz Press, and creating your own serotonin through magical rituals. T…

We met up with our 3 mysterious magical boyfriends and dove into The Changeling Sea, by Patricia A. McKillip! We discuss McKillip’s glorious prose, the connection between the ocean and Peri’s coming of age, and how annoying it would be to prepare a dinner of oysters after a day of hard labor. Whether ye be a cursed sea dragon or a mischievous magic…

Part 2 of an ongoing investigation. Many thanks to Drew and Abigail at Macmillan Audio for their wonderful insights! All covers mentioned are up on our website. Episode Transcript MUSIC - Late Night Radio by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/7613-late-night-radio License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license…

We’re thrilled to return to the Enchanted Forest with Searching for Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede! We break down Morwen’s appeal, the kinship between cats and dragons, Mendenbar and Cimorene’s blossoming romance, and Grace’s childhood ripoff of Wrede’s body of work. Plus: awkward pandemic greetings, local ginger beer recommendations, and our expert…

Time to brush up on your Bosch and grab your Jade Rat pendant - we read Half World, by Hiromi Goto (with illustrations by Jillian Tamaki)! We test how gnawable our pinkies are as we pay the toll and cross the crow bridge into Half World in all its seamy, terrifying glory. Join us in an exploration of purgatory, trauma management, and reincarnation …

Grace here, with a very special investigation. Visit our website or Instagram for episode visuals! There is also a full transcript available for this episode. MUSIC - Late Night Radio by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/7613-late-night-radio License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license…

The Dark is Rising and we’re along for the ride! We continue Susan Cooper’s epic battle between the Light and Dark and are introduced to the final Old One, 11-year-old Will Stanton. We join Will in adventuring through time without ever leaving Berkshire, discussing the subtleties of Cooper’s folklore inspirations and wishing for our own Book of Gra…

The Aladdin story continues with Wishing Moon, by Michael O. Tunnell! We’re revisiting this favorite of young Madeleine’s and exploring protagonist Aminah’s rise from rags to riches with the discovery of a very special lamp. We slurp on sherbet, brush up on our magical baking skills and explore the religious and historical framing of Tunnell’s take…

We’re back! And we’re venturing across the Archipelago, snuggled onto Ged’s shoulder alongside Hoeg. It’s time to discuss A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin! Much like Ged, we were plagued by a cruel shadow that forced us to record remotely. But that didn’t keep us from wondering at all the beauty and insight contained within the introducti…

Get all dressed up in your best grey sheet - it’s time to discuss The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman! We’re Shifting through the cemetery gates to hang out with Nobody (Bod) Owens, a sweet boy raised by spirits after his family is murdered. Join us as we celebrate Bod’s love of learning, thwart the Sleer’s crushing grasp and appreciate Miss Lupescu…

We’re investigating the machinations of 7 sometimes-evil wizards with Archer’s Goon, by Diana Wynne Jones! Howard Sykes and his family are thrown into a maelstrom when one of their town’s behind-the-scenes leaders, Archer, sends his titular Goon to make the family obey his demands. Madeleine and Grace break down the twists and turns of this hilario…

The Merchant of Death is a violent, action-packed, breakneck introduction to D.J. MacHale’s long-running Pendragon series. We’re leaping into the nearest flume face-first to follow along with Bobby on his adventure - call us the Mark Diamond and Courtney Chetwind of the YA fantasy recap world. Learn why little Madeleine adored this series and how i…

A crystal with a penchant for showing a presumed-dead princess the not-so-certain future. A legendary sword of peace never to be used in conflict. Daring midnight arson of a pirate fleet! The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley has everything you could want in your YA fantasy. We discuss the epic coming of age portrayals of naive princess Torina …

We’re heading to Greenland on a ship helmed by an ale-sotted captain named Thor! East by Edith Pattou is a gorgeous retelling of Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. At turns poetic and action-packed, both gentle and bracing, this is a lovely book about finding joy in all the little particulars of living out daily life, wrappe…

Hope you’ve been practicing your spy tricks, because we’re rereading Trickster’s Choice, by Tamora Pierce! Madeleine and Grace explore the ways in which Pierce succeeds and fails in realizing a colonialist fantasy society built on slavery, and laying out the uprising percolating beneath. The spoiled but practical Aly is our guide as we get to know …

We’re frolicking through the haunted fields of Stourhead Farm with Tamsin, by Peter S. Beagle! Join indomitable teen Jenny Gluckstein as she is forcibly relocated from NYC to Dorset, beloved pet Mister Cat in tow. She’s plunged into a historical metaphysical dilemma as she gets to know Tamsin Willoughby, a striking ghost with a tragic 17th-century …

We read Joan Aiken’s alternate history wolf dystopia, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase! Evil wolves are roaming free, but they leave you alone more often than you’d expect. The real evil resides at Willoughby Chase manor, in the form of cruel faux-governess Miss Slighcarp and fake amnesiac Josiah Grimshaw. Protagonists Sylvia and Bonnie do everything…

We're closing out the glorious Howl's series with House of Many Ways! Revel in the gleeful chaos of Diana Wynne Jones throwing her characters into increasingly bonkers situations. Our protagonist Charmain is ineffective but winning, Sophie and Calcifer are helping out where they can, and a mischievous "toddler" named Twinkle won't stop appearing on…

It's time to hop in your tiny car and head to the kingdom of Wisdom - we're revisiting The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster! Grace breaks down the ways in which her opinion of the book have (and have not) changed since her childhood obsession, and Madeleine discovers Juster's grammatical & mathematical whimsy for the first time. We discuss the w…

We’re visiting Lucille and its angels and monsters - we read Pet, by Akwaeke Emezi! Protagonist Jam, her best friend Redemption and a mysterious creature dubbed Pet seek out evil that lingers even in a supposed utopia. We revel in this nuanced, genre-defying coming of age story and explore the questions it brings up about human nature, restorative …