Best Reincarnation In Novels Podcasts (2026)

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Battle Heroes and the Homework They Do ... Also Plus ULTRA! - Episode 39 - My Hero Academia Vol 1 1:46:36

23h ago1:46:36

1:46:36

It's not enough to be ready for anything, it's not enough to drive yourself to do good for the world, you also need . . . to understand linear algebra! This week we look at the first two arcs of My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi, which covers the entire first volume of the manga. A mix of Japanese high school shennanigans, superhero ridiculous ac…

1
Revisiting Writers & Company: Happy 250th, Jane Austen! 51:27

4d ago51:27

51:27

Jane Austen is one of the most enduring novelists of all time. But what do we know about the woman behind the stories? To celebrate Austen’s 250th birthday, we’re revisiting Eleanor Wachtel’s conversation with Carol Shields about her 2001 biography, Jane Austen: A Life. Carol Shields herself was a writer and a lifelong Austen fan, and she talks abo…

1
Stocking Up on Fatherium for More Dadventures - Episode 38 - My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S Rank Adventurer #2 1:44:40

13d ago1:44:40

1:44:40

Returning to one of Tom's favorite series, Angeline the swordsman has finally reunited with her father Belgrieve after five years apart, and so begins the story of headpats, piggyback rides, and village patrolling of the S-ranker in this second novel of the series. Watch in wonder as Belgrieve unintentionally wins against seemingly more powerful sw…

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So your whole family thinks you’re reincarnated — what now? 28:15

8d ago28:15

28:15

After releasing her breakout hit My Sister the Serial Killer in 2018, Oyinkan Braithwaite struggled to write under the pressure of high expectations. She worried about being a one-hit wonder … but her new novel, Cursed Daughters, proves otherwise. The book follows three generations of women from a family that is believed to be cursed, dooming them …

1
All I want for Christmas … is a fake boyfriend? 31:24

11d ago31:24

31:24

Christmas is a time for togetherness, good food … and lying to your family about your love life. At least, that’s the case in Uzma Jalaluddin’s new holiday rom-com, Yours for the Season. The book stars Sameera and Tom, whose career ambitions lead them into a fake-dating situation. The holidays get even messier when Sameera and Tom’s families decide…

1
Monty Tarnished and The Quest for the Holy Great Rune - Episode 37 - Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree Ch. 1-12 1:39:52

21d ago1:39:52

1:39:52

Arise now, ye tarnished! The call of long-lost grace speaks to us all, including those who do not wear pants! This week, we cover the first twelve chapters (volume 1 and about a third of volume 2) of Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree by Nikiichi Tobita, the manga retelling of the series that truly gets into the details of the already classic game…

1
Video games are radical. Not in the way you think 30:53

15d ago30:53

30:53

Video games make you violent. Video games corrupt the youth. Video games rot your brain! You’ve probably heard that narrative before … but Kawika Guillermo offers a fresh take in their new essay collection, Of Floating Isles: On Growing Pains and Video Games. The book is part memoir, part cultural analysis about the roles that video games play in o…

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Three writers on the monsters that made them 44:41

18d ago44:41

44:41

What’s more horrifying than slashers, monsters … and Vancouver real estate? This week, Bookends brings you on-stage at the Vancouver Writers Fest. Back in October, Mattea Roach was joined by writers Mona Awad, Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Jen Sookfong Lee for a special panel about how the horror genre reflects our lived experiences. All three authors h…

1
Radiating Hope in a Dead City - Episode 36 - COPPELION ch 1-10 1:35:57

22d ago1:35:57

1:35:57

When your job requires that you are physically immune to all forms of radiation, you know you're in for a tough time. And that's the very job Ibara, Taeko, and Aoi are in for as we look at the first ten chapters (the first half of Part 1, or volumes 1 and the first third of volume 2) of the manga series COPPELION by Tomonori Inoue, following Medica…

1
A priest and an artist walk into a bar 32:43

22d ago32:43

32:43

… and they can’t keep their hands off each other. That’s the premise at the centre of Brandon Taylor’s latest novel, Minor Black Figures. It’s about a painter named Wyeth who’s struggling to find his voice in New York’s politically charged art scene. It only gets messier when Wyeth has the perfect meet-cute at a bar … and starts falling for someone…

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Anarchists have bigger hearts than you think 29:23

25d ago29:23

29:23

What’s more romantic than planning an assassination together? You’d have to ask the radical activist Emma Goldman, who did just that with her revolutionary partner and lover, Sasha Berkman. Emma was a real historical figure and one of the best known anarchists and orators of all time … and the Canadian author Robert Hough fictionalizes her life in …

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Of Beasts and Men - Episode 35 - Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects LN 2, Manga 3-4 1:58:08

29d ago1:58:08

1:58:08

After a few . . . lets say delays, we're back with more of frontier living with hornhead and axe man -- I mean, Alna the Onikin and Dias the war hero. Today we cover the second light novel or the third and fourth manga volumes, from farms to dogs to small invasions by hostile military powers! Beyond that, Louie goes light on info about having now f…

1
John Irving’s new novel returns to a familiar orphanage 23:51

1M ago23:51

23:51

John Irving’s books are on many readers’ list of favourites. He’s written novels like The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules, which you also might recognize from their beloved screen adaptations. John is known for writing generation-spanning novels about family, identity and contemporary issues. His latest book, Queen Esther, deliver…

1
This poem took 16 straight hours to write 30:46

1M ago30:46

30:46

It’s a bit of an understatement to say that Canisia Lubrin has a way with words. Last year, she took home the Carol Shields Prize for her debut novel, Code Noir. Now she’s back with a long-form poem called The World After Rain. The poem is an epic tribute to her mother and the passing of time, and it poured out of Canisia over the span of 16 hours.…

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Here’s what you have wrong about teen moms 26:11

1M ago26:11

26:11

Leila Mottley was only 17 years-old when she wrote her debut novel, Nightcrawling … and she was 20 when she became the youngest author ever to make the Booker Prize longlist. After that incredible start, Leila is now back with her second novel, called The Girls Who Grew Big. It’s about a group of young mothers who navigate growing up and raising ch…

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Chris Hadfield — from astronaut to author 36:53

1M ago36:53

36:53

You might know Chris Hadfield, decorated astronaut and former Commander of the International Space Station. But do you know Chris Hadfield, the pilot, engineer, musician and author? His latest novel, Final Orbit, is a Cold War-era thriller set against the backdrop of the Space Race of the 1970s. The book draws from Chris’s own experiences in the st…

1
A fictional ad agency — and its very real ghosts 27:40

2M ago27:40

27:40

In Aurora Stewart de Peña's debut novel, Julius Julius, ads are inescapable … which isn’t far off from real life. If you ever feel unsettled by the way that marketing influences us, you’ll probably resonate with Julius Julius. It's a satirical look at the advertising industry and a finalist for this year’s Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize…

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Kiran Desai’s novel is worth the 20-year wait 41:48

2M ago41:48

41:48

Not many people can say that a Booker prize nomination feels like deja vu … but Kiran Desai is one of those rare people. Twenty years after her first win, Kiran is back on the Booker shortlist with her long-awaited new novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. It’s an expansive book that traces the paths of two young Indians as they criss-cross the…

1
Opening Credits 0:12

2M ago0:12

0:12

Opening credits for I Died And Reincarnated Into Another World Where I May Choose My Job—But Only VillagerBy Kusanagi Riku

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With Our Powers Combined in Holy Matrimony! - Episode 34 - The Hero and The Sage, Reincarnated and Engaged vol 1 1:55:54

2M ago1:55:54

1:55:54

Ok, you know that trope where the rivals from a series have their final battle to the death, and then they both cry and say, "Imagine if we had been on the same side, we could have been . . . friends?" That is the entire premise for The Hero and The Sage, Reincarnated and Engaged, a series with characters so overpowered punching a dragon in the fac…

1
What is a stag dance? 27:15

2M ago27:15

27:15

Torrey Peters was in the woods building her own sauna when she came up with the titular story in her new collection, called Stag Dance. The story is about a lumberjack at the turn of the 20th century … and it’s a sharp turn from her debut novel Detransition, Baby, which was a huge success with both readers and critics. The stories in Stag Dance exp…

1
Opening Credits 0:11

2M ago0:11

0:11

Opening credits for I Was Reincarnated Into Another World And Accidentally Became the God of ChickensBy Kusanagi Riku

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Zadie Smith never thought she’d tell this story 48:01

2M ago48:01

48:01

It’s hard to believe that Zadie Smith was just 24 years old when she wrote White Teeth, the book that made her a literary star. 25 years later, Zadie is still finding new stories from her life to reflect on — and she shares many of those in her latest essay collection, Dead and Alive. The book combines art criticism with musings about technology, p…

1
Opening Credits 0:10

2M ago0:10

0:10

Release Date: January 20th, 2026By Kusanagi Riku

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Halloween Spooktacular! - Episode 33.5 1:16:27

2M ago1:16:27

1:16:27

And now, as Halloween comes in, we're back with a special Halloween recommendation with our returning special guest Renata! Each of us (Yes, even spooky-disliker Tom) have a series to recommend to you for your horror-enjoyment. Tom starts us off with the manga version of The Ring, Louie brings the well known classic Uzumaki, and Renata brings the n…

1
Can your nail tech throw a mean right hook? 25:43

2M ago25:43

25:43

In the new novel Pick a Colour, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. The debut novel from Souvankham Thammavongsa centres on Ning, the owner of a nail salon. Before she was a nail technician, Ning was a boxer … and she hasn’t completely shrugged off those instincts from the ring. Souvankham won the Giller Prize in 2020 for her story col…

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Ian McEwan has hope for humanity — here’s why 35:03

2M ago35:03

35:03

A century from now, how will historians look back on your life? In his latest novel, What We Can Know, Ian McEwan imagines the future in 100 years. In a world altered by climate change and nuclear war, human beings are looking back at our current age with a mix of nostalgia, envy and contempt … which is why a scholar becomes fixated on finding a lo…

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How Tough Can You Be if Your Name is Slayer? - Episode 33 -Frieren's Aura The Guillotine Arc 1:40:55

2M ago1:40:55

1:40:55

And so, the meandering trio of Frieren the Mage, Fern the apprentice mage, and Stark the cowardly warrior (or, cowarrior, if you will), enter into the next city to engage in a spot of brutal combat to the death with a trio of demons acting as a peace envoy and their leader, this arc's titular Aura the Guillotine. Covering chapters 14 to 23 (or midd…

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Why Mona Awad gave the Bunnies a say 31:34

2M ago31:34

31:34

The bunnies are back … and they’re bloodier than ever. In We Love You, Bunny, Mona Awad returns to the surreal world of her best selling novel Bunny. A deliciously deranged mix of fairy tale, satire and horror, Bunny was loved by critics and readers alike. But what do the villains of that story — a clique of mean girls called the Bunnies — have to …

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Where do North Korean spies go for dinner? 30:06

2M ago30:06

30:06

Soju, kimchi, gun fights, car chases … and profound reflections on the Korean diaspora. Whether you’re hungry for food or for action, Jinwoo Park’s debut novel has it all. Oxford Soju Club is about a group of Korean spies carrying out their missions in Oxford. At the centre of it all is The Soju Club, the only Korean restaurant in town. Like any go…

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Glory To Paperwork! - Episode 32 - How a Realist Hero Rebuilt a Kingdom 2:17:00

2M ago2:17:00

2:17:00

Get ready for your state sponsored census, as we dive into the first volume of How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom light novels (or, alternatively, the first two volumes of the manga). Literally, as Tom walks through the extremely large cast of the first book and the differences and omissions of the manga. In addition, Louie has finally finished…

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Think Stonehenge rocks? So does Ken Follett 40:10

3M ago40:10

40:10

Ken Follett is one of the most successful authors alive today. He’s sold almost 200 million books, and readers have devoured his stories about the Black Plague, German spies and nuclear war. His next challenge? The great mystery of Stonehenge. Ken’s latest novel, Circle of Days, imagines the story behind that monument and wonder of ancient life. Ke…

1
Side Characters and Shonen Battles - Episode 31.5 38:38

3M ago38:38

38:38

We're back, again, with another set of small topics; Louie starts us off with a new guessing game, and Tom definitely . . . answers? Sometimes? Can you name the series from the side characters? Then, Tom leads a discussion of the shonen action battle genre, and the way we think that genre works and the different kinds of series that have pulled tha…

1
What is extreme caretaking? 25:11

3M ago25:11

25:11

The winner of the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize is The Invisible Woman by Laura MacGregor. It's a deeply personal and heartfelt story Laura wrote about her son Matthew, who lived with profound disabilities and required around-the-clock care. Laura wrote The Invisible Woman as a way of dealing with her grief after Matthew's passing, and to reckon with h…

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R.F. Kuang raises a little hell 45:41

3M ago45:41

45:41

After massive hits like The Poppy War, Babel and Yellowface, R.F. Kuang’s new novel takes readers to hell — quite literally. Katabasis follows two grad students who venture through the underworld to save their professor’s soul, and R.F. Kuang’s own experience as a PhD student, high school debater and talented chef all factor into the book. At a spe…

1
What would it take to become the first Cherokee astronaut? 32:42

3M ago32:42

32:42

Statistically, your odds of becoming an astronaut are close to zero. You have to make some pretty extreme sacrifices to reach the stars, and that’s the thrust of a new novel about the first Cherokee astronaut. To the Moon and Back is Eliana Ramage’s debut novel and the September pick for Reese Witherspoon’s book club. It’s a book about ambition and…

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Matching Uniforms Always Make You Stronger - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Episode 31 1:50:57

3M ago1:50:57

1:50:57

In our never ending quest to bring you unique and original and unknown stories, we decide to go the complete opposite and talk about one of the biggest series of recent years and ever: Demon Slayer, specifically the first two arcs or the first 13 chapters (including all of volume 1 and part of volume 2). While Tom originally wasn't sold on the seri…

1
What happens to fiction in times of war? 27:57

3M ago27:57

27:57

A snail scientist takes part in a kidnapping scheme to protest the Ukrainian romance industry. That's the story Maria Reva was writing in her debut novel, Endling. But then Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leaving Maria to question whether fiction had a place in the devastating new reality. The result is an innovative and darkly …

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A Prodigious Pile of Ponderable Popics -- Episode 30 1:33:13

3M ago1:33:13

1:33:13

Our small topic episode returns with two of our old segments; Tom returns to the hotseat with the Name That Isekai game, and it goes every which way you could expect. We also have the return of our list series, "7 Amazing Things" this time covering some of our favorite rivalries throughout the world of Japanese pop culture. In addition, between wha…

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Why this comics legend is just getting started 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

Growing up in rural Ontario, Jeff Lemire bought superhero comics at the local minimart. Years later, he’s one of the biggest comic book creators in Canada … and he’s the one bringing those superheroes to life. Jeff’s new memoir, 10,000 Ink Stains, tells his story. The book looks back on his 25-year career, diving into notable works like Essex Count…

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Who was the woman Kafka loved? 33:51

4M ago33:51

33:51

Milena Jesenská was a courageous journalist, translator and resister of the Nazi regime. So why do most people only know her as Franz Kafka’s lover? Milena was one of the great loves of Kafka’s life, and his letters to her are immortalized in the book Letters to Milena. But that story remains unfinished … because Milena’s responses have never been …

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Pearly Whites Send You to the Pearly Gates - Episode 29 - Daemons of the Shadow Realm 1:45:33

4M ago1:45:33

1:45:33

And so, born on opposite sides of the equinox, in a specific village in the mountains of Japan, Yuru and his sister Asa get to have one of the most powerful abilities: Isekai time travel . . . oh, wait, no, that's not what happens. This week, we cover the secretive world of Daemons of the Shadow Realm by Hiromu Arakawa in it's first two volumes. Th…

1
Reliving the soundtrack of the 2000s 30:07

4M ago30:07

30:07

Feeling nostalgic for the music of the aughts? You’re not the only one. Holly Brickley’s debut novel, Deep Cuts, follows a music-obsessed writer named Percy coming of age in the early 2000s. When Percy befriends a young musician in college, they start to collaborate and their connection deepens. Holly and Mattea talk about their shared love of musi…

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Why this Pulitzer Prize winner is done with writing books 34:41

4M ago34:41

34:41

Tessa Hulls won a Pulitzer Prize for her first book. So why is it also her last? Tessa’s graphic memoir, Feeding Ghosts, unravels the stories of three women in her family: her Chinese grandmother, her mother and herself. It’s an emotional, complex and beautifully illustrated book that took Tessa almost a decade to produce. This week on Bookends, Te…

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Lock In - Episode 28.5 - Kagurabachi et. al. 1:14:08

4M ago1:14:08

1:14:08

No, really, lock in, bro. (Unfortunately the part of the recording where we made this joke for five straight minutes got lost). Renata joins us again for another episode, and we take a wide angled view at the beginning of Kagurabachi, the story of a son wanting revenge on his father's murderers in Japan, but using a katana. How original. But also f…

1
Death, sex, money … and podcasting? 36:41

4M ago36:41

36:41

Here at Bookends, we never shy away from difficult conversations … and neither does Anna Sale, the host of the popular Slate podcast Death, Sex and Money. The show is all about diving into topics that get deep fast, and Anna expands on that promise in her book, Let’s Talk About Hard Things. In this special summer edition of Bookends, Anna joins Mat…

1
Bookends Highlights: Why we never shut up about our literary prizes 54:07

4M ago54:07

54:07

The CBC Literary Prizes are where Canadian writing stars are made… and this week, we’ll prove it to you. In the first season of Bookends, Mattea Roach spoke with some of the winners, finalists and jurors of the prizes. This week, we’re revisiting Mattea's conversations with Zilla Jones, Dorian McNamara, David Huebert, Zoe Whittall, and Rachel Robb.…