In this book club episode, we discuss the light academia novel A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. This novel raised themes of imperialism, classism, intellectualism, and feminism, which we dive into (and more!) in our discussion. And, of course, we talk about the dragons.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Co-Host: Marianne Boules

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

• Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

• Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy

• Public Domain

• Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

• The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns

• License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

• Performers

• • Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan

  • Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.

  • Recorded 1980

Original music links:

• https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg

One of our favorite fantasy subgenres is historical fantasy. The best books immerse you in an entirely different time period, have magic, and often leave you with a bit more knowledge than you started. It's a fun way to uncover new aspects of history to explore while also having all of the things that make fantasy so enjoyable.

In this episode, we share our favorite historical fantasy novels based on geography and time period. If you're looking for a specific historical vibe, this is for you!

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Co-Host: Marianne Boules

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

• Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

• Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy

• Public Domain

• Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

• The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns

• License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

• Performers

• • Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan

  • Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.

  • Recorded 1980

Original music links:

• https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg

This month's book club turns cozy in 1920s Montreal with the coziest of companions--cats.

In this episode, we discuss Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett, sharing our (maybe controversial) opinions on cats, the unique magic, Montreal, and more.

Pour a cup of tea, snuggle up with your favorite feline, and listen in.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Co-Host: Marianne Boules

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

• Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

• Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy

• Public Domain

• Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

• The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns

• License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

• Performers

• • Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan

  • Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.

  • Recorded 1980

Original music links:

• https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg

While YA fantasy was popular for a period, once you’re in your thirties or older, you want characters and topics that don’t revolve around a high school or first love. Fortunately, this is where fantasy gets fun!

In this episode, we share our favorite adult fantasy books—those with complex themes, with characters who have bad knees and early bedtimes, world with magic and powers that we want to escape to.

It’s perfect if you’ve been feeling a bit uninspired and want to add more magic.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Co-Host: Marianne Boules

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

• Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

• Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy

• Public Domain

• Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

• The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns

• License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

• Performers

• • Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan

  • Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.

  • Recorded 1980

Original music links:

• https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg

We enter the world of dark academia through the perspective of a teacher in this month's read! The Incandescent by Emily Tesh brings a fresh take on a magical school with themes very applicable to the world today.

As always, this book club episode contains spoilers, so listen at your own risk.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Co-Host: Marianne Boules

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

• Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

• Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy

• Public Domain

• Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

• The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns

• License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

• Performers

• • Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan

  • Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.

  • Recorded 1980

Original music links:

• https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg

For this episode, Demi sat down with author A.J. Peterson for a special LIVE recording at Wintercon in Portland, OR.

We discuss why fantasy is great for providing hope and share a few of our favorite book for processing real world issues, pure escapism, and stories that helped us learn more about ourselves.

If you're in need of hope, this is the episode for you!

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Special Co-Host: A.J. Peterson, Author & Editor

Find her at:

https://www.ajpeterson.com/

https://ajpeterson.substack.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dreamscape.editing/

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

• Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

• Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy

• Public Domain

• Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

• The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns

• License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

• Performers

• • Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan

  • Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.

  • Recorded 1980

Original music links:

• https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg

This month's book brings all of the winter vibes and themes of love, belief, power, hope, and autonomy. Joined by Flavia Brunetti as a special co-host, we discuss The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Since it's a book club, there are MANY spoilers.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Co-Host: Flavia Brunetti, https://www.flaviinrome.com/ & https://flaviinrome.substack.com/

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy Public DomainPerformed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en PerformersPianos: Neil and Nancy O'DoanOrchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.Recorded 1980

Original music links:https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg

Fantasy may not be our world, but many books have changed how we see the world around us. In this episode, special guest Flavia Brunetti joins us to share the books that transformed how we think. If you’re craving a read that stays with you well beyond the last page, this is the episode for you!

Order Flavia's book, The Web of Time here: https://www.weboftimebook.com/

Flavia's Substack, "Homing Signals": https://flaviinrome.substack.com/

Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe.

Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic.

Credits:

Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠

Co-Host: Marianne Boules

Audio Production - Gregory Mikels

Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro:

• Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels

• Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy

• Public Domain

• Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

• The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns

• License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

• Performers

• • Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan

  • Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol.

  • Recorded 1980

Original music links:

• https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg