Book Talk for BookTok

Latest Episodes:

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Part 1) Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Spring Book Club! Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a weekly literary analysis on popular Romantasy books. This week, they discuss Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.

They use their combined 13 years of literary academic training to analyze and give voice to reasons why you may love or hate today's popular books. They embrace and respect modern fantasy, romance, and romantasy books written by women. And so, it is in their nature to analyze these books as you would any other novel you might have discussed in school.

Spring Book Club Roster: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros / Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana / Quicksilver by Cali Hart / Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee / A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle Jensen / We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal / Powerless by Lauren Robers / The Vampire's Bargain by Jasmine Walt

What's to come?

Stick around when we're done with Book Club! We'll be doing a 10-part literary analysis on Sarah J. Maas' Crown of Midnight.

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Let's keep the conversation going! Submit your thoughts to our form on our website (https://booktalkforbooktok.com/) for a chance to have your thoughts discussed during a future mini-episode, or on a Patreon-exclusive episode.

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Interview with Alwyn Hamilton Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

This week Jac and Amy interview best-selling author Alwyn Hamilton and discuss her new novel The Notorious Virtues.

Alwyn Hamilton was born in Toronto and spent her childhood bouncing between Europe and Canada until her parents settled in a small town in France. She left France for Cambridge University to study History of Art at King’s College, and then to London. She is the author of Rebel of the Sands, Traitor to the Throne, and Hero at the Fall.

Find Alwyn at her website, Instagram (@AlwynHamilton), or TikTok (@AlwynHamilton).

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For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

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Throne of Glass Listener Thoughts (Part 2) Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas's debut novel, Throne of Glass. In this episode, they discuss listener thoughts and email submissions. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Stick around Tuesday when we kick off our Spring Book Club with our literary analysis of Onyx Storm.

Pooj's StoryGraph reading challenge: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/968cb9af-274f-4c2b-ba64-122b83bb5b32

Every episode, Jac and Amy use their combined 13 years of literary academic training to analyze and give voice to reasons why you may love or hate today's popular books. They embrace and respect modern fantasy, romance, and romantasy books written by women. And so, it is in their nature to analyze these books as you would any other novel you might have discussed in school.

Chapter summary for this week's episodes:

Despite Chaol’s encouragement, Celaena is unable to stand and fight Cain as she is plagued by unseen demons from the In Between. Fearing death, she calls on Elena to help her beat off the horde long enough for Celaena to rise and fight back, ultimately defeating Cain. Celaena’s grave injuries distract her and a helpless Dorian such that they do not see Cain approach to finish her off, but Chaol intercedes and ultimately kills the brute. Celaena is named the King’s Champion, and Kaltain – seething at her failure to incapacitate the assassin – is imprisoned for poisoning the Champion. For a week, Celaena is attended to by Dorian, Nehemia, and Phillipa as she recovers, during which the King and Perrington scheme and Dorian stands up to his father to protect Celaena and Chaol. Despite their bond, Celaena ends her romantic relationship with Dorian, while Chaol, ashamed and dejected for murdering Cain, cannot accept comfort from his friends. He only finds hope for the future when he sees Celaena and her own happiness at the prospect of her freedom.

Sponsors:

Start your hair growth journey with Nutrafol. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription AND free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BOOKTALK.

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

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TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok

For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throne of Glass Listener Thoughts Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas's debut novel, Throne of Glass. In this episode, they discuss listener thoughts and email submissions. This is part 1 of this week's episode. Stick around for part 2, which airs on Thursday.

Chapter summary for this week's episodes:

Sponsors:

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

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For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

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Throne of Glass: Chapters 49 - 55 (Part 2) Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas's debut novel, Throne of Glass. In this episode, they discuss chapters 49 - 55.

Each episode is broken into 2 parts. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Come back Tuesday, where we'll discuss listener thoughts.

(Spoilers for Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire will be discussed. Any larger series or other SJM spoilers will be reserved for the end of Thursday's episode in part 2.)

Chapter summary for this week's episodes:

Sponsors:

Try Dipsea today! Right now, listeners of this show can get an extended 30-day free trial! Just go to DipseaStories.com/BOOKTALK to start your free trial.

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok

For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throne of Glass: Chapters 49 - 55 Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas's debut novel, Throne of Glass. In this episode, they discuss chapters 49 - 55.

Each episode is broken into 2 parts. This is part 1 of this week's episode. Stick around for part 2, which airs on Thursday.

(Spoilers for Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire will be discussed. Any larger series or other SJM spoilers will be reserved for the end of Thursday's episode in part 2.)

Chapter summary for this week's episodes:

Sponsors:

Try Dipsea today! Right now, listeners of this show can get an extended 30-day free trial! Just go to DipseaStories.com/BOOKTALK to start your free trial.

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok

For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chef's Choice by TJ Alexander Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

In today's surprise episode, we are celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility! We discuss TJ Alexander's excellent rom-com novel Chef's Choice and why it's not only the perfect rom-com, but also the perfect book for everyone to read.

Resources:

Trans Lifeline – A peer support and crisis hotline run by and for trans people. https://translifeline.org/donate

The Trevor Project – Focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. They offer 24/7 support via phone, text or chat https://www.thetrevorproject.org/donate
Phone: 1-866-488-7386
Text: Text “START” to 678-678

Black Trans Advocacy Coalition – Provides direct support, resources, and advocacy for Black trans people. https://blacktrans.org/donate/

Transgender Law Center – Fighting for trans rights through legal advocacy. https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate

Gender Spectrum – Supporting gender-diverse youth and families. https://genderspectrum.org/donate

Trans Teen Talkline offers specialized lines for trans teens and young adults, plus an adult LGBTQ hotline, staffed by trained volunteers who provide confidential, non-judgmental support. https://www.lgbthotline.org
Trans Teen Talkline: 800-246-7743

Point of Pride provides free gender-affirming gear (binders, shapewear), access to surgery funds, and HRT support for trans individuals who may face financial barriers. https://www.pointofpride.org

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

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TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

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For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

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Throne of Glass: Chapters 44 - 48 (Part 2) Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas's debut novel, Throne of Glass. In this episode, they discuss chapters 44 - 48.

Each episode is broken into 2 parts. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Come back Tuesday, where we'll discuss chapters 49 - 55.

(Spoilers for Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire will be discussed. Any larger series or other SJM spoilers will be reserved for the end of Thursday's episode in part 2.)

Chapter summary for this week's episodes:

The King of Adarlan returns to Rifthold, and Celaena cannot get far enough away from him. Though Chaol recognizes her terror, he doesn’t understand it, and instead is caught in the turmoil of his own thoughts: He wants to make sure Celaena wins, but struggles with his role in retraining the world’s greatest assassin. With the final Test so close at hand, Celaena convinces Nox to flee the castle and avoid death by ridderak. Kaltain continues to lose her mental and physical autonomy while Celaena uses Dorian to distract herself from the dangers that haunt her. On the day of the final duel, Celaena is able to successfully incapacitate Grave, but is poisoned before the final fight with Cain. She succumbs to the hallucinations of bloodbane, only to encounter her foe on a completely different battlefield.

Sponsors:

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pastries. Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/BOOKTALK to start your subscription.

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok

For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

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Throne of Glass: Chapters 44 - 48 Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas's debut novel, Throne of Glass. In this episode, they discuss chapters 44 - 48.

Each episode is broken into 2 parts. This is part 1 of this week's episode. Stick around for part 2, which airs on Thursday.

(Spoilers for Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire will be discussed. Any larger series or other SJM spoilers will be reserved for the end of Thursday's episode in part 2.)

Chapter summary for this week's episodes:

Sponsors:

Are you ready to bring all your favorite carbs right to your doorstep? Be sure to check out

Wildgrain so you can begin building your own box of artisanal breads, pastas, and

pastries. Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/BOOKTALK to start your subscription.

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok

For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throne of Glass: Chapters 37 - 43 (Part 2) Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Best friends Jac and Amy conduct a literary analysis of Sarah J. Maas's debut novel, Throne of Glass. In this episode, they discuss chapters 37 - 43.

Each episode is broken into 2 parts. This is part 2 of this week's episode. Come back Tuesday where we'll discuss chapters 44 - 48.

(Spoilers for Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire will be discussed. Any larger series or other SJM spoilers will be reserved for the end of Thursday's episode in part 2.)

Chapter summary for this week's episodes:

Following her morning of gifts from Dorian, Celaena joins the rest of the court at temple in celebration of Yulemas. A child dressed like Deanna gifts the assassin with a golden arrow despite Celaena’s wishes to be ignored. That evening, Celaena dresses with Phillipa’s help and crashes the Yulemas ball, much to Chaol’s chagrin and Dorian’s pleasure. When it’s clear Nehemia will not become the source of trouble for the evening, the assassin and the prince dance the night away and end the magical evening with a kiss. Certain another champion will be killed soon, Celaena goes hunting in the passages only to find Cain and his otherworldly monster.

Sponsors:

Start your hair growth journey with Nutrafol. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BOOKTALK.

Want to support the show?

Or check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/booktalkforbooktok

Follow us!

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok

For all other information, visit our website https://booktalkforbooktok.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices