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Published by Jaime Fok and Freya Valerio
Two friends, two time zones, and a shared love of stories. We are Freya (from Australia) & Jaime (from Canada), book besties who are worlds apart. As lovers of fantas, and fiction - we'll dive into what we are reading, TBRs, book recs, and more! Join us as we bridge together our time zones, one chapter at a time 📚✨ Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone IG: @onceuponatimezonepod https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok IG: @jaimefok TT: @jaime.fok Freya: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio IG: @freyv_reads TT: @freyvalerio
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Sometimes you really want to DNF a book... but what if this makes you miss an INCREDIBLE ending? These are a few books that you just need to stick with until the very end - WE PROMISE it's worth it! Books Discussed: Writers and Lovers - Lily King 11/22/63 - Stephen King Best Offer Wins - Marisa Kashino Fruit Fly - Josh Silver ACOTAR - Sarah J Maas A Court of Splintered Harmony - Sarah J Maas A Court of Forgotten Melody - Sarah J Maas The Ragpicker King - Cassandra Clare Piranesi - Susanna Clarke The Wretched Divine - Adalyn Grace Anxious People - Fredrik Backman The Prison Healer - Lynette Noni You've Reached Sam - Dustin Thao Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (10:04) jaime saw josh silver and rf kuang! (18:02) jaime's boston and salem trip (28:43) ACOTAR titles debrief (36:58) the ragpicker king (42:05) piranesi (46:34) the wretched divine (51:58) anxious people (55:04) the prison healer (58:21) you've reached sam (01:01:19) blood over bright haven
You know when a book is PERFECT... right up until the very end? Let's chat about some books that just had very unsatisfactory endings :( Books Discussed: The River She Became - Emily Varga This Story Might Save Your Life - Tiffany Crum Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt - Ben Reeves Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar The Midnight Train - Matt Haig The Odyssey - Homer Nymph - Sofia Montrone Circe - Madeline Miller Fruit Fly - Josh Silver A Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam - Leigh Bardugo The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath There Is No Antimemetics Division - QNTM Into the Blue - Emma Brodie The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff The Burning God - RF Kuang Metal Slinger - Rachel Schneider Flawless - Elsie Silver Wild Love - Elsie Silver This Book Made Me Think of You - Libby Page The Naturals - Jennifer Lynn Barnes Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros Tropesick - Lauren Okie Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (09:47) the odyssey debrief (23:56) ebooks are EXPENSIVE rant (26:29) the mystery of the six of crows novella (28:53) the binocular set story update (31:43) let's get into it! (31:58) there is no antimemetics division (37:58) into the blue (44:43) metal slinger (47:56) chestnut springs (52:07) this book made me think of you (55:42) fourth wing (58:16) tropesick (01:01:22) project hail mary
Let's talk about BOOK EVENTS! From author panels & signings, to book balls, conventions, influencer events and book clubs. What do you think about the recent rise of book events? Books Discussed: Flickerstate - FA Davidson This Woven Kingdom - Tahereh Mafi Into the Blue - Emma Brodie Hamnet - Maggie O'Farrell The Odyssey - Homer (translated by Emily Wilson) Taipei Story - RF Kuang The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (10:03) jaime watched hamnet! (15:17) author panels & signings (24:32) romantasy book balls (39:01) book conventions (44:34) influencer events (56:45) book clubs
Let's wrap up our July reading month & talk about what we're looking forward to in August! Books Discussed: Morning Star - Pierce Brown Honey - Imani Thompson The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt - Ben Reeves Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar 11/22/63 - Stephen King The Knave and the Moon - Rachel Gillig Dark Matter - Blake Crouch The Sixth Faction - Veronica Roth Victorious - VE Schwab The Road of Bones - Demi Winters Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy Everything We Never Said - Sloan Harlow Pool House - Mary HK Choi Nymph - Sofia Montrone Wasp's Nest - Kat Stoddard Piranesi - Susanna Clarke The Midnight Train - Matt Haig This Woven Kingdom - Tahereh Mafi There Is No Antimemetics Division - QNTM Theodora's Tea Shop - Christy Anne Jones Immortal Game - Allison Saft Fruit Fly - Josh Silver Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (12:08) august book club read (14:03) freya watched the odyssey! (21:31) freya's july highlights (31:13) jaime's july highlights (42:22) freya's july lows (50:42) jaime's july lows (56:40) jaime's august lookaheads (01:00:55) freya's august lookaheads (01:04:32) august book releases
WE MISSED YOU!!! We're back after 3 weeks, and have SO much to catchup on. From Freya's Europe trip, to personal life updates, to all the book announcements and adaptation news... let's debrief! Book creators mentioned: Colleen: https://www.instagram.com/colleensreading/ Lottie: https://www.youtube.com/lottiesmalley Books Discussed: Victorious - VE Schwab The Shampoo Effect - Jenny Jackson The Knave and the Moon - Rachel Gillig Morning Star - Pierce Brown Dark Matter - Blake Crouch My Friends - Fredrik Backman Main Characters - Bobby Palmer Writers & Lovers - Lily King Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman Vicious - VE Schwab Beach Read - Emily Henry Love Theoretically - Ali Hazelwood A Bittersweet Spell - Rebecca Ross The Last Days of Vic & Coco - Taylor Jenkins Reid Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (13:07) freya's europe trip! (45:02) jaime is going to boston & ran a 10k (51:03) book to screen adaptation news (01:00:33) exciting book announcements!
Time to reflect on our reading year so far! How are we doing with our reading goals? What books have hit, missed & what are we looking forward to for the rest of the year? Hope you enjoy this one :) Books Discussed: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Ilona Andrews The Dark Mirror - Samantha Shannon Red Rising - Pierce Brown The Fellowship of the Ring - JRR Tolkien The Bright Years - Sarah Damoff The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson Us Against You - Fredrik Backman Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman Neverthorn - Shannon Mayer The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen 11/22/63 - Stephen King The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker Into the Blue - Emma Brodie Jade City - Fonda Lee Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke No Matter What - Cara Bastone Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson The Diviners - Libba Bray Recursion - Blake Crouch Shield of Sparrows - Devney Perry The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Daughter of No Worlds - Carissa Broadbent Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare The Road of Bones - Demi Winters A Stage Set for Villains - Shannon J Spann Burn of the Everflame - Penn Cole The Knave and the Moon - Rachel Gillig Taipei Story - RF Kuang Victorious - VE Schwab Dead Beat - Leigh Bardugo The Sixth Faction - Veronica Roth American Hagwon - Min Jin Lee Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (11:22) freya's europe tripe! (16:41) how we're doing with our reading goals (27:21) fable reading stats (32:34) mid year book tags (32:50) books we immediately want to reread (36:51) new favourite authors (39:42) most frustrating characters (42:04) a book that should have been shorter (44:07) a book that should have been longer (46:21) series we want to read this year (48:59) character most likely to start a podcast (51:08) ranking our book club reads so far (54:56) most anticipated reads for the rest of the year
One year later, have our reading tastes changed? We are re-creating our very first episode in celebration of 1 year of the podcast!!! Thank you SO MUCH for being here 💖 Read Your Color Quiz: https://readyourcolor.com/ Books Discussed: The Jasad Crown - Sara Hashem Golden Son - Pierce Brown Summer Island - Kristin Hannah Blue Sisters - Coco Mellors Cleopatra and Frankenstein - Coco Mellors This Is How You Lose the Time War - Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar Tress of the Emerald Sea - Brandon Sanderson A Song to Drown Rivers - Ann Liang The Correspondent - Virginia Evans A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie Five Survive - Holly Jackson The Only One Left - Riley Sagar The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides My Friends - Fredrik Backman The Good Parts - Evann Normandin Recursion - Blake Crouch Starside - Alex Aster Small These Like These - Claire Keegan Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall The Hating Game - Sally Thorne Not in Love - Ali Hazelwood It Happened One Summer - Tessa Bailey Main Characters - Bobby Palmer The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - CS Lewis Caraval - Stephanie Garber Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (15:57) what we expect this time (18:01) taking the quiz (59:43) our final results!
Let's wrap up our June reading month & talk about what we're looking forward to in July! Books Discussed: Daughter of No Worlds - Carissa Broadbent The Someday Garden - Ashley Poston Dark Matter - Blake Crouch Elodie and the Dark Lord - Ashley Poston Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson Golden Son - Pierce Brown Liar of Dreams - Libba Bray The Wretched Divine - Adalyn Grace The Young Will Remember - Eve J Chung Into the Blue - Emma Brodie The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker The Dark Mirror - Samantha Shannon The Burning God - RF Kuang The Divorce - Freida McFadden Summer Island - Kristin Hannah Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke The Butcher's Masquerade - Matt Dinniman Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman The Hollow Gods - AJ Vrana The Shippers - Katherine Center Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It - Brooke Averick Morning Star - Pierce Brown Honey - Imani Thompson Best Offer Wins - Marisa Kashino Red Rising - Pierce Brown The Poppy War - RF Kuang The Road of Bones - Demi Winters This Woven Kingdom - Tahereh Mafi Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare Vicious - VE Schwab Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo The Winged Game - Sophie Kim The Mash Up - Laura Marie Meyers Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt - Ben Reeves The Good Parts - Evann Normandin Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (08:13) LOTR casting update! (10:49) ashley poston is writing FANTASY! (12:57) dallas cowboys cheerleaders debrief (20:06) freya's june highlights (27:25) jaime's june highlights (36:20) freya's june lows (41:32) jaime's june lows (46:50) freya's july lookaheads (51:56) jaime's july lookaheads (55:05) july book releases
We're back with our dual season TBRs! This time, our Summer and Winter TBRs as long distance book besties from Canada & Australia! Books Discussed: To Dream in Darkness - Ann Liang Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson Golden Son - Pierce Brown The Bright Years - Sarah Damoff Every Summer After (Every Year After) - Carley Fortune Light Wielder - Rachel Schneider The Poppy War & The Dragon Republic - RF Kuang The Wretched Divine - Adalyn Grace Summer Island - Kristin Hannah The Diviners - Libba Bray Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil - VE Schwab Belladonna - Adalyn Grace The Wolf King - Lauren Palphreyman Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke Wind and Truth - Brandon Sanderson The Good Parts - Evann Normandin The Someday Garden - Ashley Poston Heart the Lover - Lilly King The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff Main Characters - Bobby Palmer Lost Lambs - Madeline Cash Mad Mabel - Sally Hepworth Best Offer Wins - Marisa Kashino Good Joy, Bad Joy - Mikki Brammer Daughters of No Worlds - Carissa Broadbent Pool House - Mary HK Choi Honey - Imani Thompson One and Only - Maureen Goo Day of Now - Miranda Reason Nymph - Sofia Montrone Shadow Reaper - Lynette Noni Scythe - Neal Shusterman Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (11:18) every year after debrief (23:15) light wielder reviews (24:45) spring and fall tbr recap (36:21) summer tbr 1 (39:15) winter tbr 1 (42:26) summer tbr 2 (44:05) winter tbr 2 (46:33) summer tbr 3 (49:03) winter tbr 3 (51:43) summer tbr 4 (54:05) winter tbr 4 (56:03) summer tbr 5 (57:56) winter tbr 5
We LOVE book bestie Madison Kait, and we also love books that make us cry. So this was just the PERFECT time to chat about how emotional we got over fiction. Hope you enjoy this episode! Madison Kait: https://www.tiktok.com/@lettersfrommads Books Discussed: Tropesick - Lauren Okie The Wretched Divine - Adalyn Grace The Shippers - Katherine Center Into the Blue - Emma Brodie Destiny's Edge - ML Wang Alchemised - SenLinYu Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara The Burning God - RF Kuang Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker Say You'll Remember Me - Abby Jimenez Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir My Friends - Fredrik Backman Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab Red Rising - Pierce Brown A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR) - Sarah J Maas Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (09:01) ML Wang's surprise book release?! (11:18) what were our BIGGEST book cries of all time? (20:43) how hard did these books make us cry? (20:54) the ballad of falling dragons (24:32) alchemised (28:38) say you'll remember me (30:28) project hail mary (32:00) my friends (36:02) madison's annotating system (40:03) onyx storm (46:19) crooked kingdom (50:23) what were the first books that made us cry? (52:47) the invisible life of addie larue (56:16) acowar
Are you in a reading slump? Let's chat about what our reading slumps look like, how we get out of slumps & also some reading slump book recs! Books Discussed: Into the Blue - Emma Brodie Summer Island - Kristin Hannah Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke The Deal (Off Campus) - Elle Kennedy When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker American Hagwon - Min Jin Lee Never Lie - Freida McFadden Six Crimson Cranes - Elizabeth Lim The Rose Bargain - Sasha Peyton Smith Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop - Hwang Bo Reum A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket The Six Deaths of the Saint - Alix E Harrow After I Do - Taylor Jenkins Reid Best Offer Wins - Marisa Kashino Julie Chan is Dead - Liann Zhang Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (09:33) catchups & announcements! (10:11) freya's obsession debrief (14:14) freya's yesteryear update (17:02) jaime is WATCHING OFF CAMPUS? (23:58) random thoughts on when the moon hatched (25:31) min jin lee's new book release! (28:11) what do our reading slumps look like? (31:37) our tips to get out of a reading slump (38:15) reading slump book recs (38:33) anything freida (41:52) six crimson cranes (45:16) the rose bargain (47:04) welcome to the hyunam-dong bookshop (49:51) a series of unfortunate events (53:13) the six deaths of the saint (55:44) anything TJR (57:55) an unhinged protagonist
Let's wrap up our May reading month & talk about what we're looking forward to in June! Books Discussed: Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson The Arcane Arts - SD Coverly The Deal (Off Campus) - Elle Kennedy Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen) - Chloe Walsh Every Summer After - Carley Fortune When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker Obsession (Movie) The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee The Dragon Republic - RF Kuang Dawnshard - Brandon Sanderson Mark of the Warrior - Fonda Lee Wind and Truth - Brandon Sanderson Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare The Kiss of Deception - Mary E Pearson The Gate of the Feral Gods - Matt Dinniman This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Ilona Andrews The Good Parts - Evann Normandin The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff My Husband's Wife - Alice Feeney Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke Honey - Imani Thompson The Someday Garden - Ashley Poston Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It - Brooke Averick Good Joy, Bad Joy - Mikki Brammer To Dream in Darkness - Ann Liang The Thoroughbreds - Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham Victorious - VE Schwab Shadow Reaper - Lynette Noni Light Wielder - Rachel Schneider Pool House - Mary HK Choi The River She Became - Emily Varga A Darker Shore - Leigh Bardugo Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (11:00) book to screen catchups (16:30) jaime met Sarah A Parker! (23:20) the Obsession debrief (30:09) freya's may highlights (35:13) jaime's may highlights (39:18) june book club pick! (39:40) back to jaime's highlights (42:41) freya's may lows (46:25) jaime's may lows (53:15) freya's june lookahead (55:58) jaime's june lookahead (01:00:11) june new book releases
We are in AWE of Fonda Lee and still cannot believe we were able to chat with her in this episode! We chat all things Jade City, The Last Contract of Isako, Breathmarked duology and more! Fonda Lee: https://www.instagram.com/fonda.lee Books Discussed: The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Jade City (Green Bone Saga) - Fonda Lee Mark of the Warrior (Breathmarked) - Fonda Lee Breath of the Dragon - Fonda Lee Dark Matter - Blake Crouch Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro (01:08) life on the Isako book tour (04:29) current reads (09:20) Fonda's perfect eggs benedict (10:50) what is The Last Contract of Isako? (12:30) writing about characters in different stages of life (16:42) will we ever revisit Isako? (18:16) writing platonic love vs romantic love (20:45) finding love in a company town (25:00) the impending doom of characters slowly declining (28:00) when your job is your LIFE (30:29) plotting an unpredictable book (33:48) building a rich world in a standalone novel (37:00) the art of physical combat in a book (40:05) film adaptations on the horizon? (41:47) which of your fictional worlds would you live in? (43:21) the transition from corporate to being an author (46:14) the wild google history of an author (49:46) listener questions! (49:58) what's the best starting point to dive into fonda's books? (50:50) how do you decide what is a standalone vs series? (52:16) how do you come up with the names for characters and places? (54:51) this or that! (54:59) who would win in a fight, isako or hilo? (56:18) no more eggs benedict or no more caffeine? (57:03) revenge arcs or redemption arcs?
You know we LOVE The Poet Empress, and we had the best time chatting with Shen Tao about her book, early inspiration (warrior cats, anyone?) and how fonts might speak in different ways! Shen Tao: https://www.instagram.com/storygoose Books Discussed: The Poet Empress - Shen Tao Immaculate Deception - Isabela Livino The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker The Beauty of Darkness - Mary E Pearson Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (04:35) where did @storygoose come from? (07:23) Shen's journey to becoming a published author (10:22) Influences on Shen's writing style (13:54) warrior cats fanfiction to fantasy pipeline (15:38) life as a debut author (19:10) what is The Poet Empress about? (20:30) is the protagonist really the main focus? (23:24) Shen's favourite character to write? (25:03) the influence of siblings (26:09) publishing fantasy with a romantasy imprint (28:55) developing a magic system based in poetry (31:03) Shen's favourite moment in the book (32:28) the font challenge (36:09) Shen's next novel reveal! (39:03) listener questions (39:12) a song to describe the characters? (40:16) how to manage emotions while writing (41:58) The Poet Empress in three words (42:51) favourite edition of The Poet Empress (44:18) how does it feel to have rocketed to success? (49:00) this or that
You asked for book recs that were oddly specific... and we had so much fun matching books to your prompts! Hope you enjoy these oddly specific reading recs! Books Discussed: The Kiss of Deception - Mary E Pearson The Heart of Betrayal - Mary E Pearson Upgrade - Blake Crouch When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Jade City - Fonda Lee (Green Bone Saga) Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi The Bane Witch - Ava Morgyn A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness Bright Young Women - Jessica Knoll Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood - HG Parry Graceless Heart - Isabel Ibanez Not Quite Dead Yet - Holly Jackson Lost Lambs - Madeline Cash One True Loves - Taylor Jenkins Reid Ready or Not - Cara Bastone The Favorites - Layne Fargo Into the Blue - Emma Brodie Best Offer Wins - Marisa Kashino The Good Parts - Evann Normandin Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare (The Last Hours) No Matter What - Cara Bastone The Names - Florence Knapp Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (12:15) jaime met fonda lee! (18:40) freya's weekend catchup (20:48) oddly specific book recs (21:14) exploring identity and what it means to be human but in a fun, original way (26:16) a witchy Gone Girl (29:46) staring at a wall like what did I just read but in a good way (35:55) count the amount of letters in your last read’s title (41:33) everyone is coping through sarcasm and poor sleep schedule (47:20) love triangle where the choice is not obvious (52:17) watching a car crash into a dumpster fire in a good way (55:38) cross-genre love stories (01:00:46) running through a field with fresh rain on your face
Sorry for some of the audio quality in this one, we had some technical difficulties this week :( Hope you still enjoy this one, it was a fun game! Books Discussed: Dragon Republic - RF Kuang The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson Sword Catcher - Cassandra Clare Direbound - Sable Sorensen Rock Paper Scissors - Alice Feeney The Seven Year Slip - Ashley Poston The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig A River Enchanted - Rebecca Ross Five Survive - Holly Jackson An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir Ready or Not - Cara Bastone Red Rising - Pierce Brown We Were Liars - E Lockhart A Song to Drown Rivers - Ann Liang Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare Heartless Hunter - Kristen Ciccarelli Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson Katabasis - RF Kuang Verity - Colleen Hoover Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (10:09) weekend catchups (18:54) the game! (20:31) round 1 (22:40) round 2 (26:35) round 3 (30:54) round 4 (31:50) round 5 (33:35) round 6 (35:09) round 7 (35:59) round 8 (39:31) round 9 (40:17) round 10 (40:45) round 11 (41:40) round 12 (44:27) round 13 (45:56) round 14 (46:32) round 15 (48:58) round 16 (49:54) round 17 (50:58) round 18 (51:37) round 19 (52:05) round 20
Let's wrap up our April reading month & talk about what we're looking forward to in May! Books Discussed: Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare Wind and Truth - Brandon Sanderson The Beauty of Darkness - Mary E Pearson Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare Shield of Sparrows - Devney Perry The Night We Met - Abby Jimenez The Someday Garden - Ashley Poston No Matter What - Cara Bastone The Correspondent - Virginia Evans The Poet Empress - Shen Tao The Poppy War - RF Kuang The Jasad Heir - Sara Hashem The Road of Bones - Demi Winters Fable - Adrienne Young This Woven Kingdom - Tahereh Mafi Red Rising - Pierce Brown The Dinner Party - Freida McFadden The Good Parts - Evann Normandin The Jasad Crown - Sara Hashem The Dark Mirror - Samantha Shannon Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson The Dragon Republic - RF Kuang Golden Son - Pierce Brown Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke The Last Contract of Isako - Fonda Lee Verity Guild - Mai Corland The Young Will Remember - Eve J Chung The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker The Shippers - Katherine Center The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff The Midnight Train - Matt Haig Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (13:30) may book club pick! (15:20) jaime's april highs (22:39) freya's april highs (26:47) jaime's april lows (34:07) freya's april lows (39:18) jaime's may lookahead (40:50) freya's may lookahead (44:07) may new releases
We've had SO MANY book announcements lately, we just need to debrief. We also spend the last bit of this episode chatting about what we do outside of reading, to compliment our bookish lifestyles! Books Discussed: The Poppy War - RF Kuang The Correspondent - Virginia Evans The Dinner Party - Freida McFadden Wind and Truth - Brandon Sanderson Divergent - Veronica Roth The Sixth Faction - Veronica Roth Beach Read - Emily Henry Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (The Hunt for Gollum) Burn of the Everflame - Penn Cole The Knave and the Moon - Rachel Gillig Daemonica - Kaylie Smith Taipei Story - RF Kuang Dead Beat - Leigh Bardugo The Thoroughbreds - Elin Hilderbrand Hollywood, Ending - John Greene The Mirror of Infinite Endings - Stephanie Garber The Wretched Divine - Adalyn Grace Victorious - VE Schwab ACOTAR 6 - Sarah J Maas Untitled Empyrean (Fourth Wing) - Rebecca Yarros A Married Little Christmas - Abby Jimenez The Improbable Meet Cute Series The Exception to the Rule - Christina Lauren The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (11:12) we are getting a NEW DIVERGENT BOOK (18:09) beach read casting announcement (21:28) LOTR the hunt for gollum casting (26:17) september is a BIG book release month (28:17) surprise empyrean novella (30:27) an abby jimenez surprise! (33:39) house in the cerulean sea adaptation (36:51) identity crisis? (37:57) readers need to move (50:06) is jaime a birder? (53:41) freya likes snakes? (57:46) freya is an artist (59:56) rapid fire hobbies
Because we live on opposite sides of the world... here are our Spring and Fall TBRs as we head into the new seasons! Books Discussed: The Jasad Heir - Sara Hashem The Poppy War - RF Kuang Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke The Diviners - Libba Bray Wind and Truth - Brandon Sanderson The Women - Kristin Hannah Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah The Four Winds - Kristin Hannah The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah The Good Parts - Evann Normandin Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil - VE Schwab The Someday Garden - Ashley Poston The Wolf King - Lauren Palphreyman Heart the Lover - Lily King Belladonna - Adalyn Grace The Burning Side - Sarah Damoff The Wretched Divine - Adalyn Grace Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (10:27) sunrise on the reaping trailer (17:49) our spring and fall tbrs (19:13) spring book 1 (21:52) fall book 1 (25:22) spring book 2 (28:43) fall book 2 (33:05) spring book 3 (36:37) fall book 3 (38:26) spring book 4 (40:24) fall book 4 (43:42) spring book 5 (46:35) fall book 5 (49:01) spring book 6 (51:23) fall book 6
We have the beautiful Lottie Smalley with us today! Had so much chatting about books & fictional characters we've loved. Hope you enjoy this one! Lottie's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@LottieSmalley/ https://www.instagram.com/bookloverlottie/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bookloverlottie Books Discussed: Heir of Fire - Sarah J Maas The Poet Empress - Shen Tao You Did Nothing Wrong - CG Drews Homebound - Porta Elan We Used to Live Here - Marcus Kliewer Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy Yellowface - RF Kuang Funny Story - Emily Henry Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir Bear Town - Fredrik Backman Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries - Heather Fawcett Our Infinite Fates - Laura Steven Zodiac Academy - Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry Deep End - Ali Hazelwood The Future Saints - Ashley Winstead Frankenstein - Mary Shelley Dark Matter - Blake Crouch Passion Project - London Sperry The Favorites - Layne Fargo Best Offer Wins - Marisa Kashino Red Rising - Pierce Brown A Darker Shade of Magic - VE Schwab Divine Rivals - Rebecca Ross The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J Maas A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman Katabasis - RF Kuang Blue Sisters - Coco Mellors Heartless - Elsie Silver The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins Daisy Jones and the Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid Taming 7 - Chloe Walsh Bridgerton - Julia Quinn Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas Twilight - Stephenie Meyer Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus Matilda - Roald Dahl Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid Long Distance Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponaTimeZone Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (10:56) let's talk fictional characters (12:44) which character is most likely to win a reality TV show? (17:16) which character is most likely to get banned from a library? (22:18) which character is most likely to be chronically online? (26:53) which character urgently needs a therapist? (34:36) which character is most likely to burn down a kingdom over a breakup? (42:20) most likely to leave a function without saying goodbye? (45:10) which character would be the competitive board game type? (47:24) which character is most likely to flirt their way out of trouble? (49:44) what character would be the biggest gossip? (52:11) which character would bring a book to a party? (55:08) which character would never use their name when ordering coffee?
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