In this week's episode of Reading Materials, we dive into Kill the Beast by Serra Swift and talk about how refreshing it was to read a fairy-tale retelling with no romance in sight.

We discuss the role of trusty companion Brandy, unpack the mechanics of curse-breaking, and explore why this story works so well without leaning on romantic love as a solution.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Brief Life Updates

05:10 - Introduction to the Author

06:40 - Spoiler Warning

07:15 - The Blurb

08:55 - Our Discussion of 'Kill the Beast'

55:10 - Next Time on Reading Materials

57:40 - Outro

In this episode of the Reading Materials Podcast, we step into Cinder House by Freya Marske and unpack what makes this a genuinely enjoyable Cinderella retelling.

We talk about how impressively well-developed the characters are for such a short book, and we dig into a bigger conversation about queerness in publishing — where representation feels authentic, and where it risks being used as a marketing hook.

Cozy, clever, and more layered than it first appears, this one gave us plenty to discuss.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:15 - Brief Life Updates

03:00 - An Introduction to Freya Marske

05:15 - Spoiler Warning

06:00 - The Blurb

06:55 - Our Discussion of 'Cinder House'

49:20 - Next Time on Reading Materials

50:05 - Outro

In this episode of Reading Materials, we dive into The Treasures by Harriet Evans (released June 12, 2025), exploring its richly drawn dual settings in 1950s London and 1960s New York.

We unpack our love/hate relationship with cliffhangers, chat about how surprisingly dark the story becomes, and reflect on how these layered timelines reshape the family drama at its core.

Thank you for Viking for sending us ARCs of the book.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

02:30 - An Introduction to Harriet Evans

05:10 - Spolier Warning

05:40 - The Blurb

06:30 - Our Discussion of the Book

01:09:45 - Outro