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We're Cassie and Emily.
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And this is Book Butts and Chill, a podcast where we talk about books, movies, and pop culture the way that you actually experience them.
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This show is for Type B readers, people who love stories but don't want the pressure, perfection, or the participation trophies.
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Hit follow, grab a drink, and let's talk about it.
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Cassie, I need to talk about the absolute reader crisis happening around this book right now.
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Because people are obsessed.
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Obsessed.
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People are calling This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me one of the best books of the year.
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Five stars, new personality.
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And then you scroll three videos down.
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And someone is like, I DNF'd at 30%.
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I don't know who anyone is.
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Why are there 17 men with the name that start with S?
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And the problem is I kind of understand both of them.
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Which is perfect because we also have a very different reader experience.
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You didn't hate it.
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I didn't hate it, but what do we think the friction is?
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Why is this a five-star best book of the year read for some people and a DNF for others?
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And most importantly, should you read this?
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So let's get a quick experience check-in here.
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Did you ever consider DNFing this book?
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Uh yes, I did.
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Which is shocking.
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You should?
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I did.
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I did.
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At what point?
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Probably at like 30%, I would say.
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It was because I so I started it on audio, which was my first mistake.
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And then I wasn't really in the mood for a fantasy, I would say.
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Like that, this this is all on me for the most part.
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And then the plot itself, I feel like doesn't fully pick up until you're like halfway through the book, kind of.
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And so it was slow at this point.
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And so I did find myself putting it down for like a week and a half and then coming back to it, which I think helped.
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Listeners, I am so excited.
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Cassie never agrees with me on anything.
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On anything.
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I also put it down and came back to it.
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And I also agree it didn't pick up till 50%.
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So let's actually get into this.
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So let's hear what the book is about, Cassie.
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Let's hear.
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Yes.
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So we start the book with our main character, Maggie, waking up in literal like medieval times world, and she is completely disheveled, covered in shit, covered in mud, and she is like, what in the hell?
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She realizes fairly quickly that she has been dropped into her favorite fantasy world from a series that she is literally addicted to.
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Like, think about if you are so obsessed with Game of Thrones, for example, and you have read the entirety of the series, you know everything that happens because you've reread it 400 times over your lifetime.
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This is Maggie.
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And so she wakes up in this world and she very quickly realizes that she's there and she's like, oh fuck.
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I don't know how I got here.
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I don't know why I'm here.
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I don't know what to do.
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And she also very quickly understands that she doesn't have any of the like magic, any of the powers, any of the things that are present in this world.
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And so she realizes that she, the her only thing that she has the ability to trade in is her knowledge and secrets.
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And she essentially positions herself as like a seer, secret keeper, whatever, to stay alive and to move forward in this world.
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She goes through this huge, like sweeping world that is Kerator in, which is the setting.
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And she know she knows everything about it.
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So she is just basically like manipulating her way to not only stay alive, but also to get ahead in the story and ideally save these people from this horrible demise that she knows happens to them in the book series.
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So it opens this world up like wide because she meets a shitload of characters.
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It becomes like a huge ensemble cast.
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And it's just, it's one of those things where it's such a unique plot and premise.
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And I thought it was going to have me by in a chokehold, literally by the hole, by the ends of my hairs.
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Like I just was like, oh my God, I'm going to be so obsessed with this.
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And it didn't, it didn't do that for me, unfortunately.
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I know.
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Like the when you were just describing that, I was like, yes, yes, yes.
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Like this is exactly what I want in a book.
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Like, and that's why I was so excited to read this because I think that especially as romantic fans, we talk all the time about like, oh, imagine if we could go into our favorite worlds.
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Like, imagine if you were in Throne of Glass.
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And when she gets dropped into this world, it's like not all like roses and butterflies.
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Like she is really struggling.
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And I think it brings up such a funny topic of how, like, if any of us modern women were actually dropped into Avatar Throne of Glass, like fourth wing, we would actually be in such deep shit.
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No, fully.
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Like, we all make fun of Nesta and uh Silver Flames for like kind of being weak at the beginning or whatever.
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And then she like trains and she's a badass.
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But it's one of those things where I'm like, no, that was actually a very realistic depiction of a normal woman being dropped into this world full of like war and gore, and people are just stabbing each other on the street.
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And like, you know, that's not normal.
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It's insane.
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Realistically, if I'm put on that parapet on fourth wing, I'm falling off the parapet.
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Like I'm making it across the parapet.
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I am gone.
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The second that I saw Jack Barlow coming after me and I have one bad boot on, are you kidding?
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I'm gone.
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I'm out.
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I might throw myself off that parapet, honestly.
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Absolutely.
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I'm done here.
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What book world would you actually survive in?
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Like genuinely, if you could think of one world where you're like, if I was dropped there tomorrow, I would know exactly what to do.
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I would know where to go.
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I would know how to navigate, and I could survive.
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Um, it would have to be like literally an Emily Henry book.
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That's how weak I am.
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That's how weak I am.
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At a late town in Michigan.
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With the Amex, with an iced coffee.
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I need to have Wi-Fi.
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Like, imagine waking up in a world right now and you have no phone on you.
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I'd be like, what the f- I didn't memorize anybody's phone number.
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Yeah.
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I only know my own phone number.
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It's so true.
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What do you think for yourself?
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I was really trying to think about this because I do agree.
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I'm like, I do feel like maybe the most that I could do is like being dropped into some like new country, maybe like in a modern day.
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But to your point, like I would definitely need my phone.
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Yeah.
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I would need internet access.
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But I was thinking about it from the the lens of like what series have I read so many times that I like know it front to back and could figure it out.
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And the only one that kept coming up was um Harry Potter, where I was like, I actually think that I could survive Hogwarts, you know.
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And you know why we could survive Hogwarts?
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Because those are 11 to 15-year-old children going through these trials and tribulations.
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And that's how the cut off it.
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So can I?
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Okay.
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He's literally not even in puberty yet.
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So I think we can do it.
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But like I'm telling you, like, even though I know exactly how Fourth Wing goes, and I reread those books like multiple times.
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Like, I would see the venom one time and I'd panic and I'd just be dead.
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100%.
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I would be thrown into that scribe quadrant without even a second thought.
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They would look at me and they'd be like, You're gone.
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You're not going anywhere near those fucking dragons, baby.
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Get to the get to the stacks.
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Cast read some books.
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They put us in scribe quadrant and you're not allowed to talk.
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We would absolutely get kicked out immediately.
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That's true.
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Okay, so we would get put into the infantry with the foot soldiers because they're like, if they die, it's fine.
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Now, before this whole episode turns into will we survive or not, casting Emily in fantasy novels.
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So I just it's so interesting because that premise to me, like immediately was so gripping where I was like, oh my God, this is literally every reader's dream to be dropped into this fantasy world.
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Yep.
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And then she's going through it and you realize like how horrible and how gruesome the world is.
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And it was just so wild to watch where I was like, oh yeah, no, I'm I'm good on that, I think.
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Well, this is where one of the friction points kind of begins, is I think a big thing is that people are maybe misunderstanding that this is a full fantasy book.
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So it's marketed as like Game of Thrones meets outlander.
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And so I think with the Game of Thrones, you understand you're getting like gore and war and like political scheming, but then the outlander kind of like makes you think you're getting a little bit more romance.
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So going into this book, I was expecting it to be like a fantasy with a decent amount of romance, and it really is not that.
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Did you expect this little shrapnel small amount of romance that was in this book?
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Uh no.
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I here's the thing.
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I do think that I have started expecting less of the like standard fair, you know, like, and I know that this is the first book in a series, and so the reality is is like if it's a slow burn, like it doesn't burn until, you know, the basically the final pages of the book.
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Like if it's really supposed to be this like sweeping thing, like book one is really all about the world building, the character development, like the setting up of the like political system and like the conflict.
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And so I do actually think that I was not going into it with that expectation fully, but I know that you were, and that would be incredibly disappointing.
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Also, there is there is small amounts of magic in this book, like, and I don't think you really get like a big feel for it until after the 50%, and maybe that's why it starts picking up then.
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But like I guess I felt like I was definitely more in like Game of Thrones fantasy than like a magical fantasy.
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And I don't think I was prepared for that.
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Here's my question though like, how much as readers should our opinions of a book be swayed by how it's marketed?
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Like, how much of the onus is really on us to like go read a synopsis to go like really understand what the book is about?
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I totally get what you're saying.
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I think in this day and age when we have a three-second attention span and we're basically like trusting a a certain group of people to like recommend books to us.
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And so, like, for example, the person I saw like saying that this book was like six stars typically reads romanticy books.
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So I'm thinking she's recommending a book to me that a romanticy reader would love.
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So I feel like I needed more clear disclaimers that that's not what this book was.
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So the reality is is like if this was marketed to you as a straight up like epic fantasy instead of something that was a romanticy, would your expectations and thus your rating have changed?
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Yes, I think my expectations would have been different.
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I would have chosen to read it at a different time when I was like in the mood for that.
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And I think my rating would have been higher because of it.
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Okay, interesting.
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And one thing that I was not prepared for because I didn't understand that this was an epic fantasy, was how big this world was, how many characters we were about to meet.
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Like we were meeting a new character every other page, and you're like, do I need to remember that person's name or do I not?
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Like, is this gonna come back?
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Totally, totally.
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I am very interested at in your take on this because literally at one, I think at like 20 to 30%, I genuinely was like, you know what?
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I'm not even gonna try and remember these characters.
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Like, if they show up another five times, then I will commit them to memory.
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Otherwise, they are getting lost in the abyss of my mind and I'm letting go.
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Like, did you have that point at all?
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Yes, absolutely.
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And it was at like 10%.
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I'm telling you, 10% into this book, we met like 40 characters.
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And I was like, if I don't have a freaking dictionary, I'm out.
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No, 100%.
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I did go and look at the dictionary um or like the glossary a little bit early on, but the it's so big that I was just like, I don't, this isn't worth my time to like keep going back and forth on this.
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Like, I just need to move forward.
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And it sets you up for fear because I was like, okay, I'm just gonna try not to remember all these characters' names.
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I'm a type B reader, I'm reading this for vibes, like this is a nightmare, to be honest.
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And so I was like, I am just gonna vibe out with this.
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Because I started vibing out, I was not paying attention to anything.
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And like a huge part of this book, a huge part of this book is that Maggie, the main character, cannot die.
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And that's why this book is called This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.
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And I was vibing so hard, I didn't even realize that she couldn't die until like 60% into the book.
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For the people listening, I'm so freaking distracted.
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This genuinely is not a spoiler.
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She quite literally dies and comes back to life, like chapter two of this book.
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Like you find out immediately that she cannot die.
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That's what I'm saying.
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I got so checked out so early because I was so overwhelmed.
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Like I literally was so overwhelmed by this book.
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And so I wasn't paying attention to anything.
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I was like, oh, I'll figure this out eventually.
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Damn.
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You do need to pay attention.
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You do.
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And I think the big driver of that, which was a challenge that I had with the book, not because I didn't feel like I couldn't keep up, like I was keeping up with it, but it was kind of starting to frustrate me that Maggie, who is our narrator, has read this series.
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It's called The Rise of Kerrin.
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We have not read the series.
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So we are getting literally every piece of detail, and it's almost like an information dump directly from Maggie.
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And it's very much a like tell versus show throughout basically the entire book.
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And every time she meets someone, it's like she's immediately like, that's per this person, and they have this history, and they did this thing, and then they feel this thing because I've been in their head.
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And you're like, oh, I maybe would have wanted to find that out just through your like discourse with them, but sure.
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Okay.
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I feel like it felt like I was reading a story of somebody reading me a story.
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Yes, yes, totally, totally.
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Which I feel like- And I don't love that.
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I didn't love it.
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No, and I could see how people would love it because it does feel like I feel like if you are someone who is just like a like constant knowledge seeker, like if you're that person who literally someone says something and you immediately go to like Google it to confirm it, like I do feel like you would probably love the vibes in this book because again, you're just getting fed knowledge and information, like page after page after page.
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But I feel like for other people who aren't like that, who maybe just like want to be along for the process, it literally feels like a one big information dump.
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I think that I wanted to like meet these characters and like grow my own emotional attachment to them.
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Yeah.
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Which there were moments where that happened.
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So I think like after the 30% mark, when I picked it back up, we get introduced to a lot of like found family that she ends up like getting connected with in this book.
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And those people, she didn't know all of them from the book.
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So these are new characters, and she has to create new relationships with them.
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Which I did enjoy that aspect.
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Agreed.
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And I think that this is where at like the 50% mark, you start enjoying the book because as she meets these new characters and starts pulling them together, she also starts changing the story.
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Yeah.
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Exactly.
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Which now we're kind of getting into spoilery territory.
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So if you have not read this book and you've heard us talking and you're like, okay, amazing politics, scheming, found family, a woman who is like literally using her knowledge to get ahead in life, sign me up.
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Like you should go read it.
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If you have not read it and you are like, holy shit, this sounds like a literal just encyclopedia of fantasy knowledge that I don't know I am w wanting, then I would highly recommend waiting until you are very much in the mood to like take a lot of things in in a very tough way.
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Absolutely.
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I think that's a great warning.
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So, okay, now we need to talk about like Maggie in general, because I feel like that ties into like when things start to change.
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And we don't know anything about her before she's dropped into this world.
00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:55.680
Like, literally, you start on page one and you're like, oh, I'm just like living inside this girl's head now, and I don't know who she is or where she comes from.
00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:00.319
Like, I know that she has parents and like a brother, and like that's pretty much it.
00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.960
You really find out nothing about her.
00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:05.200
So, like, they started giving you tidbits.
00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.440
They're like, She's a DoorDash driver.
00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.640
Is that what you were gathering?
00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.000
Well, I didn't pick up on that.
00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:20.000
Oh, yeah, she was delivering food because she like delivered food to one of her old high school friends, and um, the friend felt bad for her and like tipped her extra money.
00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.400
It was this weird blip.
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.759
I don't remember that.
00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.720
Yeah, makes sense.
00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:29.839
And then, and then they I think they say that she like lived in like a high-rise apartment.
00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:34.400
So you think she's like from a big city or something, and that's quite literally all I know about Maggie.
00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:39.599
Let me tell you, I was looking at every single sentence because I was desperate to know anything about her.
00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.400
Same.
00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:48.960
And I do feel like I've needed more of that to have like an emotional connection with her that I feel like was kind of missing.
00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.799
Like she would talk throughout the book.
00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:57.200
Like, first of all, I don't think she complained enough about like not having modern uh amenities.
00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:02.880
Like, there's no way she's like that down to earth where she's like, Yeah, I don't need a working toilet.
00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.839
Like, that's fine.
00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.279
Like, I don't need a shower.
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.279
Like, she didn't talk about any of that stuff.
00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:13.599
She did talk about her parents here and there, like where she would get like struck with sadness and be like, I wonder if they're looking for me.
00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:15.440
I wonder if they think that I'm dead.
00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.880
Um, but that was kind of it.
00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:20.079
And I do, I personally love a portal fantasy.
00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:24.720
Like, I think it's just such a cool like uh style of fantasy.
00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:30.559
But I feel like it it was kind of missing almost in this story because you didn't have the background.
00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:38.559
Like, I wish that we got like almost a few chapters on her before she was sent there and then she like wakes up there and you're like, oh holy shit, what's happening?
00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.400
You know, like I feel like that would have just like added more depth for me.
00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:47.680
The stakes were not high enough without knowing like what she left behind.
00:19:47.839 --> 00:20:07.759
Like I almost wanted it to be this thing where she like left something behind and she comes into this world and realizes this world is filling voids, maybe, and like she really loves these characters and she starts to like want to stay there, and then the stake is like, okay, but if you don't save these people, you have to go back to the modern world.
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.079
Right.
00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.680
Like, wouldn't that have been cool?
00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.680
I agree, I totally agree.
00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:18.480
And like to give the authors credit because it's a husband and a wife, uh, they might do that in the second book, you know.
00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.839
Like we might get like more flashbacks, like who knows?
00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:30.480
Uh, but I do think again, for a first book for me to get like really, really engaged with the main character, like that was just so tough.
00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:33.759
And again, I'm like, why wasn't she like more desperate to get home?
00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:36.000
Is it just because she's like surrounded by hot men?
00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:41.359
I kept waiting for her to like look for like a dark, shimmery puddle that she was gonna like jump through.
00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.039
A portal.
00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.480
She's not the portal.
00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:51.200
I was like, and then she was like, oh, maybe I don't want to go back.
00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.799
And she ends up like saying.
00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.720
And then she makes the choice.
00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.680
No, that would have been nice.
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.240
I agree.
00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.839
I I totally agree.
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:06.640
I do think where we missed on the emotional depth with Maggie.
00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:10.000
You do get it with her relationships with the other characters, which you said.
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:15.279
The found family, I feel like worked so well in this book.
00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:20.960
And I'm interested in who the side characters are that you became the most attached to.
00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.480
So I loved Caden.
00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.160
I loved Will and Lou.
00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:36.640
Like I felt very attached to this like younger generation that was like really on board with like changing the narrative, where like the older generation was kind of like, Maggie, that's not what's supposed to happen.
00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.559
Yeah, I totally agree.
00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:48.960
Like, I feel like with Caden, when initially when they're like escaping and he kind of betrays them, I was like, fuck this kid, get him out of here.
00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:53.920
And then by the end, I was like, I need to protect this child at all costs.
00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.759
I love him so much.
00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.359
With my life.
00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.559
With my life.
00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.519
I do agree though.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:08.720
Around uh like just being able to like iterate with Maggie and like go on these side quests to like really lean into the unknown.
00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:15.680
Like, I feel like the older characters were like stay the fucking course, and the the younger characters like absolutely saved it.
00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.799
Who was the girl?
00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.519
Claire?
00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:18.640
Clover.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.640
Clover.
00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.519
Yeah.
00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.160
I also loved Clover.
00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.359
I feel I did too.
00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:33.839
Weirdly, I feel like Clover had a backstory that had high stakes that made me invested in her.
00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:34.640
Agreed.
00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:43.119
Well, I feel like it made me invested in her, but it also made me invested in why the bad guy was so bad.
00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:52.559
And I feel like, you know, obviously, we're getting that from Baggie again, information dump where she's like, this guy's the worst and he ruins everything and whatever.
00:22:52.799 --> 00:23:01.119
But then you hear Clover's story and like you hear about these like horrific men and how they're all kind of like tied to this villain.
00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:11.279
And I was like, oh my God, like to your point, like these are the stakes that are making me like despise this villain versus Maggie telling me that he's actually a bad guy.
00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.359
A hundred percent.
00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:23.440
And I think that this is where another part of the book that I actually did enjoy starts to come into play is that this younger generation and Maggie start to change the narrative.
00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:28.960
They start learning the stakes of the enemy, and they're like, we have the opportunity to change this.
00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:34.480
And I liked that, but it really does not hit until the like second 50% of the book.
00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.519
Yeah, I agree.
00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:42.559
Because the first 50%, you don't really have any sort of like plot twists or anything like that until the back half of the book.
00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:46.079
Well, were you also like once she started like changing the story?
00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:48.960
You're like, okay, you're not gonna know what happens now.
00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:56.240
And to your earlier point, like her only currency was secrets, and she's about to be fucked because she has no idea what's coming next.
00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:56.880
Correct.
00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:08.799
I'm like, you are going to have to turn into the world's best fucking bullshitter after this because holy shit, I would be shitting my pants if I was Maggie.
00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:12.000
Like I would be like, I I did the thing I was supposed to do.
00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.839
I saved this kingdom.
00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.960
They're good.
00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.920
Not what?
00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.960
Holy shit.
00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:19.359
Like it would be terrifying.
00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:30.480
And that actually was the piece that like really redeemed this story for me, where I was like, oh my God, just this like butterfly effect aspect to this, like is so cool and so unique.
00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.720
And it's like, no one knows where this is about to go.
00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:35.920
Like, I have no fucking clue what's about to happen in book two.
00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.680
And like that feels good to me.
00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:39.519
Like, I really I appreciate that.
00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:41.680
And so I liked that that was incorporated.
00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.559
I know.
00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.920
I know.
00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.720
I get it.
00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:47.440
This is this is closer to a spoiler.
00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:52.079
I'll try to keep it as spoiler-free as not because I know some of you kept listening even after our warning.
00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.680
But you silly girl.
00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:55.599
The ending is a cliffhanger.
00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.920
The ending is a cliffhanger.
00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:04.319
And it makes you wonder, is Maggie actually a reliable narrator?
00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:09.920
Because the novel, the what's it called, the something of Kerrin?
00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:16.319
Yeah in real life is not actually, yeah, it's not actually finished.
00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:20.559
And so she doesn't actually know how this story ends.
00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:23.440
So does that make her an unreliable narrator?
00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:27.359
Is she actually presenting incorrect information to us?
00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:46.319
I do actually think that that the fact that I sussed out that Maggie was likely an unreliable narrator, like kind of made it the book more interesting to me at a certain point where I was like, okay, maybe like she is wrong about certain things, or like maybe this thing actually is not gonna come true and it's gonna be completely different.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:54.720
And that made it again, like more fun when it's like you're not just relying on Maggie as like basically your source of truth and like your fucking Google, you know.
00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.319
It's like, oh no, she could be wrong.
00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:56.640
Yeah.
00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.039
I don't think I realized that until the last chapter, though.
00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:00.559
I was just trusting her again.
00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:04.319
Like I just literally the training, the training wheels were off.
00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.319
I was just going along for the ride.
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:09.119
I didn't realize until the last chapter, I was like, oh, this bitch knows nothing.
00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:11.359
This bitch is out of her mind.
00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:36.319
No, I do think that there I do think that this story like was such a, and this was something that I noted after I finished, but like it was just such a unique uh depiction of like our expectations in terms of like the knowledge that we've gained, our understanding of the world, whatever, being completely fucking different from reality.
00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:42.000
It's like I think that I know Emily the best out of most people in her life.
00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:44.079
And like that could not be true.
00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:51.200
Like, I like there could be things that I could like find out tomorrow where I'd be like, oh fuck, like I had no idea.
00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:54.480
Or there could be a place that I've lived in my entire life.
00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.519
I think I know everything.
00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:00.640
And there, you know, it's just I really I've appreciated that so much about the story.
00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:11.359
And even though it made Maggie like very unreliable, I do think it added like a human aspect to it versus again, it just like feeling like an encyclopedia of information.
00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:18.160
Yeah, but I have we have to tell the readers like you're not going to feel what Cassie just felt until after 50%.
00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.359
Correct.
00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.599
But I am desperate.
00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:27.200
I am desperate to give you all the information you need going into this book so you enjoy it more than I did.
00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.319
Like, I'm so desperate.
00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:32.480
So I'm literally leaning against the wall.
00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:34.720
Like I am so, I'm in desperation.
00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.599
She's tired.
00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.079
It's crazy.
00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.920
She's fucking tired, you guys.
00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.440
Okay, it's crazy.
00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:42.720
I am carrying this book on my back.
00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.240
I don't literally know.
00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:50.079
Okay, so I think we should talk about why it might have worked more for me than it did for you.
00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:58.960
Because I feel like we've dropped some breadcrumbs here, but we need to actually put a pin in this for our listeners who either resonate with one of us or don't.
00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.519
Yeah.
00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:03.200
You for me, you need to know what genre it is going in.
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.480
You need to have the correct expectations.
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:11.119
You literally need to be able to use your entire brain power.
00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:13.279
I was really busy when I was reading this book.
00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:15.279
Not the time to read this book.
00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:18.319
I am telling you all to learn from my mistakes.
00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.039
A mistake.
00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:22.079
No, you cannot listen to this book in the shower.
00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.640
No.
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.759
No.
00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:28.079
If your brain is fantastic with this book, no, don't do it.
00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.799
Don't do it.
00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:41.440
I think so, what why it worked for me is because I do think that like with these fantasy books, and maybe it's because I just read When the Moon Hatched, so I'm like ready to be patient, I suppose.
00:28:41.599 --> 00:29:05.119
But like I do think that I'm going I'm going into these big fantasy books with more of an expectation and a level of patience now of like I'm probably gonna spend a good chunk of this book being like so deeply immersed in a world and the characters and what's like going on politically, like all of these things, and getting so much information thrown at me.
00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:14.319
And I think having that knowledge going in, I think helped me a lot because I was ready to sit with it after I put it down for a week and a half.
00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:18.799
Like I told Emily I literally also started it on audio and I was like, I need to stop.
00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:32.000
I need to chill for a second, and that's when I put it down, and then I came back and I eyeball read until 50%, and then I started listening to it when I was like already engrossed in the story, and I feel like that changed the entire thing for me.
00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:35.359
Yes, you weirdly can listen to the second half on audio.
00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.640
Yeah, it's so weird.
00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.039
Yeah.
00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:43.440
Well, because that's when you're like, okay, I like know, you know, at least like five characters and like I know where they're at.
00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.920
I know what Maggie's trying to do.
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.279
Like, I understand.
00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:50.720
I know five of the 75 characters.
00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.359
Yeah.
00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:55.440
Like I remember four names, and one of them is Maggie, so I'm good.
00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.640
I can listen.
00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.480
Guys, I needed this episode before I read this book.
00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:08.640
I desperately, if I could go back in time, I would watch my own episode before I read this book.
00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:11.519
Okay, I need to know what your final rating is.
00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.000
Your final rating.
00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.640
Unfortunately, that leads me to my rating.
00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:20.880
I would give this book a three-star.
00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.480
I don't think it was bad.
00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:24.079
I don't think it was good.
00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:30.559
Like, I can't, I'm not like recommending it to anybody after I closed the last page.
00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:33.200
I would say it was a decent book.
00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:34.559
I would give it three stars.
00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.200
Okay.
00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.079
Wow.
00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.119
That's still good.
00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:39.680
That's solid for how much you struggled with this book.
00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.880
So I solid.
00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.960
It's like, yeah, yeah, a hundred percent.
00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.400
Yeah, I commend you.
00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:47.599
Um I gave it a four.
00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.000
And I think it's again, because I came in with the right expectations.
00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:55.440
I feel similarly, though, to you about recommending it.
00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:57.839
Like, I feel the same way about when the moon hatched.
00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:01.279
Like, I would recommend this to such specific people.
00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:05.680
And I would not like go out and be like, everyone should read this.
00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:12.319
If you love fantasy, like you should totally read this because I think that there is such a specific reader who would eat this the fuck up.
00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:16.559
And I think there are a lot of readers who would be like, oh my God, what is happening?
00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:18.960
I'm putting this down and leaving it for forever.
00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:21.279
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:43.359
I think if you liked, like, if you've read any of those just like big ass fantasy series, you know, like I'm thinking of like the Robin Hobb books or like uh even like a Game of Thrones, like if you've read those books and you just like loved every second of it, like you would probably literally not be able to shut up about this book.
00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:55.359
I I do think that it's really setting up for a sweeping world and journey and all of the things, and like you have to be on board with that.
00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:00.160
And I think the readers of those type, those series are so down for it.
00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:00.720
Yeah.
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:16.400
But if you're expecting like a shield of sparrows, a metal slinger, where you're like immediately thrown into the action and you immediately meet the MMC and you know what the stakes are from chapter five, like this is not what you're gonna look for.
00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:18.160
Yeah, agreed, agreed.
00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:20.000
Okay, now final question.
00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:21.680
Are we reading book two?
00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.559
Yeah.
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:29.599
Oh, I want to know what happens, but like I almost like want you to read it and tell me what happens.
00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:32.000
I mean, I'm absolutely reading the second book.
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:34.559
Like, I for sure I need to know.
00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.680
I need to know more.
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:38.400
I need to like be back with these characters.
00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:41.920
Like, I there's no way I can't.
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:44.079
Yeah, it's it's happening for sure.
00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:48.160
Like, I do actually weirdly think I'm gonna be obsessed with this series.
00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:55.519
Like, I'm just like, I have a premonition that this might be like a end of a series that I'm very attached to in the future.
00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:57.279
I'm just not there yet.
00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:57.839
Okay.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.200
Yeah, that's my prediction.
00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:11.440
I just am really, really traumatized and I have PTSD that if they start book two and it's another like 30% of world building before we get to some like action, I'm going to be really upset.
00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.000
Okay.
00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.960
We'll see.
00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:15.119
That's how that that's my final take.
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:18.079
That's her that's her final mic drop, people.
00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.559
Okay.
00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.680
You heard it here first.
00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.000
Yeah.
00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.880
Oh my god.
00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:21.519
All right.
00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:27.039
Well, if you were, if you have read this book and you agree with us or disagree with us, let us know in the comments.
00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:35.599
Uh, if you have not read this book and we just either encouraged or discouraged you to read it, let us know in the comments and we would love to hear about it.
00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:43.440
Um, next week we are interviewing Anna Macaulay, who is the author of Abby Offside.
00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:54.559
It is an amazing rom-com about Abby who basically like goes to this huge life event, moves to the UK, and falls in love with a soccer player.
00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:56.559
Like, what else do you need out of a book?
00:33:56.880 --> 00:34:01.039
Literally, it was a great follow-up to If This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.160
She was.
00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.920
And so yeah, tune in for that.
00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:08.400
If you have not read the book, meet Anna, fall in love with her, follow in love with the book, and then go read it.
00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:11.360
If you have read the book, come fangirl over it with us.
00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:14.079
Um, but in the meantime, we'll see you same time, same place.
00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:16.480
Grab your blankets, grab your book, boyfriends, and we'll see you then.
00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:16.960
See ya.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000
We're Cassie and Emily.
00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:08.400
And this is Book Butts and Chill, a podcast where we talk about books, movies, and pop culture the way that you actually experience them.
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:15.119
This show is for Type B readers, people who love stories but don't want the pressure, perfection, or the participation trophies.
00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:18.079
Hit follow, grab a drink, and let's talk about it.
00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:25.839
Cassie, I need to talk about the absolute reader crisis happening around this book right now.
00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:28.320
Because people are obsessed.
00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:29.600
Obsessed.
00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:34.719
People are calling This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me one of the best books of the year.
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:36.960
Five stars, new personality.
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And then you scroll three videos down.
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And someone is like, I DNF'd at 30%.
00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.719
I don't know who anyone is.
00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:47.840
Why are there 17 men with the name that start with S?
00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:51.039
And the problem is I kind of understand both of them.
00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:55.840
Which is perfect because we also have a very different reader experience.
00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:57.119
You didn't hate it.
00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:00.640
I didn't hate it, but what do we think the friction is?
00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:05.920
Why is this a five-star best book of the year read for some people and a DNF for others?
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:10.079
And most importantly, should you read this?
00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.319
So let's get a quick experience check-in here.
00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:17.519
Did you ever consider DNFing this book?
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:19.760
Uh yes, I did.
00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:21.040
Which is shocking.
00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:22.000
You should?
00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:22.959
I did.
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:23.519
I did.
00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:25.359
At what point?
00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.519
Probably at like 30%, I would say.
00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:37.120
It was because I so I started it on audio, which was my first mistake.
00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:43.120
And then I wasn't really in the mood for a fantasy, I would say.
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.920
Like that, this this is all on me for the most part.
00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:54.000
And then the plot itself, I feel like doesn't fully pick up until you're like halfway through the book, kind of.
00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:56.959
And so it was slow at this point.
00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:02.560
And so I did find myself putting it down for like a week and a half and then coming back to it, which I think helped.
00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.560
Listeners, I am so excited.
00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:08.000
Cassie never agrees with me on anything.
00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:08.879
On anything.
00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:14.400
I also put it down and came back to it.
00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.360
And I also agree it didn't pick up till 50%.
00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:19.840
So let's actually get into this.
00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:23.439
So let's hear what the book is about, Cassie.
00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:24.479
Let's hear.
00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:25.039
Yes.
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:41.520
So we start the book with our main character, Maggie, waking up in literal like medieval times world, and she is completely disheveled, covered in shit, covered in mud, and she is like, what in the hell?
00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:51.919
She realizes fairly quickly that she has been dropped into her favorite fantasy world from a series that she is literally addicted to.
00:02:52.000 --> 00:03:04.800
Like, think about if you are so obsessed with Game of Thrones, for example, and you have read the entirety of the series, you know everything that happens because you've reread it 400 times over your lifetime.
00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:06.240
This is Maggie.
00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:12.479
And so she wakes up in this world and she very quickly realizes that she's there and she's like, oh fuck.
00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:14.080
I don't know how I got here.
00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:15.919
I don't know why I'm here.
00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:18.000
I don't know what to do.
00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:26.879
And she also very quickly understands that she doesn't have any of the like magic, any of the powers, any of the things that are present in this world.
00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:35.840
And so she realizes that she, the her only thing that she has the ability to trade in is her knowledge and secrets.
00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:46.319
And she essentially positions herself as like a seer, secret keeper, whatever, to stay alive and to move forward in this world.
00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:51.759
She goes through this huge, like sweeping world that is Kerator in, which is the setting.
00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.240
And she know she knows everything about it.
00:03:54.319 --> 00:04:11.280
So she is just basically like manipulating her way to not only stay alive, but also to get ahead in the story and ideally save these people from this horrible demise that she knows happens to them in the book series.
00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:19.199
So it opens this world up like wide because she meets a shitload of characters.
00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:21.920
It becomes like a huge ensemble cast.
00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:27.279
And it's just, it's one of those things where it's such a unique plot and premise.
00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:36.079
And I thought it was going to have me by in a chokehold, literally by the hole, by the ends of my hairs.
00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:39.519
Like I just was like, oh my God, I'm going to be so obsessed with this.
00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:43.279
And it didn't, it didn't do that for me, unfortunately.
00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:44.560
I know.
00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:48.240
Like the when you were just describing that, I was like, yes, yes, yes.
00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:51.120
Like this is exactly what I want in a book.
00:04:51.279 --> 00:05:02.079
Like, and that's why I was so excited to read this because I think that especially as romantic fans, we talk all the time about like, oh, imagine if we could go into our favorite worlds.
00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:05.120
Like, imagine if you were in Throne of Glass.
00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:11.519
And when she gets dropped into this world, it's like not all like roses and butterflies.
00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:13.439
Like she is really struggling.
00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:25.600
And I think it brings up such a funny topic of how, like, if any of us modern women were actually dropped into Avatar Throne of Glass, like fourth wing, we would actually be in such deep shit.
00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:26.480
No, fully.
00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:32.319
Like, we all make fun of Nesta and uh Silver Flames for like kind of being weak at the beginning or whatever.
00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:34.319
And then she like trains and she's a badass.
00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:48.000
But it's one of those things where I'm like, no, that was actually a very realistic depiction of a normal woman being dropped into this world full of like war and gore, and people are just stabbing each other on the street.
00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.639
And like, you know, that's not normal.
00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:52.319
It's insane.
00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:57.839
Realistically, if I'm put on that parapet on fourth wing, I'm falling off the parapet.
00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.000
Like I'm making it across the parapet.
00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:00.959
I am gone.
00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:08.720
The second that I saw Jack Barlow coming after me and I have one bad boot on, are you kidding?
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:09.680
I'm gone.
00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:10.399
I'm out.
00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.800
I might throw myself off that parapet, honestly.
00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:14.319
Absolutely.
00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:15.600
I'm done here.
00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.600
What book world would you actually survive in?
00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:26.240
Like genuinely, if you could think of one world where you're like, if I was dropped there tomorrow, I would know exactly what to do.
00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:27.120
I would know where to go.
00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:29.439
I would know how to navigate, and I could survive.
00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:32.800
Um, it would have to be like literally an Emily Henry book.
00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:34.319
That's how weak I am.
00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:35.519
That's how weak I am.
00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:37.199
At a late town in Michigan.
00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:42.879
With the Amex, with an iced coffee.
00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:44.560
I need to have Wi-Fi.
00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:48.160
Like, imagine waking up in a world right now and you have no phone on you.
00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:51.759
I'd be like, what the f- I didn't memorize anybody's phone number.
00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:52.560
Yeah.
00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.199
I only know my own phone number.
00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:56.560
It's so true.
00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.240
What do you think for yourself?
00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:01.600
I was really trying to think about this because I do agree.
00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:10.160
I'm like, I do feel like maybe the most that I could do is like being dropped into some like new country, maybe like in a modern day.
00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.720
But to your point, like I would definitely need my phone.
00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:12.959
Yeah.
00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.120
I would need internet access.
00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:24.800
But I was thinking about it from the the lens of like what series have I read so many times that I like know it front to back and could figure it out.
00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:33.439
And the only one that kept coming up was um Harry Potter, where I was like, I actually think that I could survive Hogwarts, you know.
00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:36.000
And you know why we could survive Hogwarts?
00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:40.399
Because those are 11 to 15-year-old children going through these trials and tribulations.
00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.879
And that's how the cut off it.
00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:44.000
So can I?
00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:44.560
Okay.
00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:48.399
He's literally not even in puberty yet.
00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.680
So I think we can do it.
00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:00.319
But like I'm telling you, like, even though I know exactly how Fourth Wing goes, and I reread those books like multiple times.
00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:05.199
Like, I would see the venom one time and I'd panic and I'd just be dead.
00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:06.000
100%.
00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:10.800
I would be thrown into that scribe quadrant without even a second thought.
00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:12.720
They would look at me and they'd be like, You're gone.
00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.160
You're not going anywhere near those fucking dragons, baby.
00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:17.920
Get to the get to the stacks.
00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:19.759
Cast read some books.
00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.199
They put us in scribe quadrant and you're not allowed to talk.
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:25.839
We would absolutely get kicked out immediately.
00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.399
That's true.
00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:32.399
Okay, so we would get put into the infantry with the foot soldiers because they're like, if they die, it's fine.
00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:39.360
Now, before this whole episode turns into will we survive or not, casting Emily in fantasy novels.
00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:50.159
So I just it's so interesting because that premise to me, like immediately was so gripping where I was like, oh my God, this is literally every reader's dream to be dropped into this fantasy world.
00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:50.639
Yep.
00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:57.120
And then she's going through it and you realize like how horrible and how gruesome the world is.
00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:03.200
And it was just so wild to watch where I was like, oh yeah, no, I'm I'm good on that, I think.
00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:14.480
Well, this is where one of the friction points kind of begins, is I think a big thing is that people are maybe misunderstanding that this is a full fantasy book.
00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:19.440
So it's marketed as like Game of Thrones meets outlander.
00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:29.600
And so I think with the Game of Thrones, you understand you're getting like gore and war and like political scheming, but then the outlander kind of like makes you think you're getting a little bit more romance.
00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:38.080
So going into this book, I was expecting it to be like a fantasy with a decent amount of romance, and it really is not that.
00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:44.159
Did you expect this little shrapnel small amount of romance that was in this book?
00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:45.039
Uh no.
00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:46.320
I here's the thing.
00:09:46.559 --> 00:10:05.759
I do think that I have started expecting less of the like standard fair, you know, like, and I know that this is the first book in a series, and so the reality is is like if it's a slow burn, like it doesn't burn until, you know, the basically the final pages of the book.
00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:18.799
Like if it's really supposed to be this like sweeping thing, like book one is really all about the world building, the character development, like the setting up of the like political system and like the conflict.
00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:26.799
And so I do actually think that I was not going into it with that expectation fully, but I know that you were, and that would be incredibly disappointing.
00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:38.320
Also, there is there is small amounts of magic in this book, like, and I don't think you really get like a big feel for it until after the 50%, and maybe that's why it starts picking up then.
00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:46.639
But like I guess I felt like I was definitely more in like Game of Thrones fantasy than like a magical fantasy.
00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.480
And I don't think I was prepared for that.
00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:57.679
Here's my question though like, how much as readers should our opinions of a book be swayed by how it's marketed?
00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:06.879
Like, how much of the onus is really on us to like go read a synopsis to go like really understand what the book is about?
00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.480
I totally get what you're saying.
00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:20.399
I think in this day and age when we have a three-second attention span and we're basically like trusting a a certain group of people to like recommend books to us.
00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:28.639
And so, like, for example, the person I saw like saying that this book was like six stars typically reads romanticy books.
00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:34.720
So I'm thinking she's recommending a book to me that a romanticy reader would love.
00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:42.159
So I feel like I needed more clear disclaimers that that's not what this book was.
00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:54.480
So the reality is is like if this was marketed to you as a straight up like epic fantasy instead of something that was a romanticy, would your expectations and thus your rating have changed?
00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.960
Yes, I think my expectations would have been different.
00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:01.120
I would have chosen to read it at a different time when I was like in the mood for that.
00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:03.840
And I think my rating would have been higher because of it.
00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:06.159
Okay, interesting.
00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:18.159
And one thing that I was not prepared for because I didn't understand that this was an epic fantasy, was how big this world was, how many characters we were about to meet.
00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:25.120
Like we were meeting a new character every other page, and you're like, do I need to remember that person's name or do I not?
00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.559
Like, is this gonna come back?
00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:27.840
Totally, totally.
00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:37.200
I am very interested at in your take on this because literally at one, I think at like 20 to 30%, I genuinely was like, you know what?
00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:40.000
I'm not even gonna try and remember these characters.
00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:44.639
Like, if they show up another five times, then I will commit them to memory.
00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:49.120
Otherwise, they are getting lost in the abyss of my mind and I'm letting go.
00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:51.440
Like, did you have that point at all?
00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.639
Yes, absolutely.
00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:53.840
And it was at like 10%.
00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:59.200
I'm telling you, 10% into this book, we met like 40 characters.
00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.279
And I was like, if I don't have a freaking dictionary, I'm out.
00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:04.240
No, 100%.
00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:16.799
I did go and look at the dictionary um or like the glossary a little bit early on, but the it's so big that I was just like, I don't, this isn't worth my time to like keep going back and forth on this.
00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:18.799
Like, I just need to move forward.
00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:26.799
And it sets you up for fear because I was like, okay, I'm just gonna try not to remember all these characters' names.
00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:31.360
I'm a type B reader, I'm reading this for vibes, like this is a nightmare, to be honest.
00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:35.279
And so I was like, I am just gonna vibe out with this.
00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:39.200
Because I started vibing out, I was not paying attention to anything.
00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:49.279
And like a huge part of this book, a huge part of this book is that Maggie, the main character, cannot die.
00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:54.080
And that's why this book is called This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.
00:13:54.399 --> 00:14:02.320
And I was vibing so hard, I didn't even realize that she couldn't die until like 60% into the book.
00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:06.320
For the people listening, I'm so freaking distracted.
00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:08.720
This genuinely is not a spoiler.
00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:12.559
She quite literally dies and comes back to life, like chapter two of this book.
00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.919
Like you find out immediately that she cannot die.
00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.080
That's what I'm saying.
00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:22.000
I got so checked out so early because I was so overwhelmed.
00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:25.360
Like I literally was so overwhelmed by this book.
00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.759
And so I wasn't paying attention to anything.
00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.240
I was like, oh, I'll figure this out eventually.
00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:30.960
Damn.
00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.720
You do need to pay attention.
00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.360
You do.
00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:48.960
And I think the big driver of that, which was a challenge that I had with the book, not because I didn't feel like I couldn't keep up, like I was keeping up with it, but it was kind of starting to frustrate me that Maggie, who is our narrator, has read this series.
00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.879
It's called The Rise of Kerrin.
00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.120
We have not read the series.
00:14:53.360 --> 00:15:01.840
So we are getting literally every piece of detail, and it's almost like an information dump directly from Maggie.
00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:07.840
And it's very much a like tell versus show throughout basically the entire book.
00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:17.360
And every time she meets someone, it's like she's immediately like, that's per this person, and they have this history, and they did this thing, and then they feel this thing because I've been in their head.
00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:22.720
And you're like, oh, I maybe would have wanted to find that out just through your like discourse with them, but sure.
00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:22.960
Okay.
00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:30.720
I feel like it felt like I was reading a story of somebody reading me a story.
00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.440
Yes, yes, totally, totally.
00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.279
Which I feel like- And I don't love that.
00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.159
I didn't love it.
00:15:36.399 --> 00:16:01.200
No, and I could see how people would love it because it does feel like I feel like if you are someone who is just like a like constant knowledge seeker, like if you're that person who literally someone says something and you immediately go to like Google it to confirm it, like I do feel like you would probably love the vibes in this book because again, you're just getting fed knowledge and information, like page after page after page.
00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:10.080
But I feel like for other people who aren't like that, who maybe just like want to be along for the process, it literally feels like a one big information dump.
00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:16.159
I think that I wanted to like meet these characters and like grow my own emotional attachment to them.
00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:16.559
Yeah.
00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:19.360
Which there were moments where that happened.
00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:29.679
So I think like after the 30% mark, when I picked it back up, we get introduced to a lot of like found family that she ends up like getting connected with in this book.
00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:33.279
And those people, she didn't know all of them from the book.
00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:37.759
So these are new characters, and she has to create new relationships with them.
00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.720
Which I did enjoy that aspect.
00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.600
Agreed.
00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:53.039
And I think that this is where at like the 50% mark, you start enjoying the book because as she meets these new characters and starts pulling them together, she also starts changing the story.
00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:53.759
Yeah.
00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.639
Exactly.
00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.240
Which now we're kind of getting into spoilery territory.
00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:13.200
So if you have not read this book and you've heard us talking and you're like, okay, amazing politics, scheming, found family, a woman who is like literally using her knowledge to get ahead in life, sign me up.
00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.559
Like you should go read it.
00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:32.480
If you have not read it and you are like, holy shit, this sounds like a literal just encyclopedia of fantasy knowledge that I don't know I am w wanting, then I would highly recommend waiting until you are very much in the mood to like take a lot of things in in a very tough way.
00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.279
Absolutely.
00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.960
I think that's a great warning.
00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:43.359
So, okay, now we need to talk about like Maggie in general, because I feel like that ties into like when things start to change.
00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:48.480
And we don't know anything about her before she's dropped into this world.
00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:55.680
Like, literally, you start on page one and you're like, oh, I'm just like living inside this girl's head now, and I don't know who she is or where she comes from.
00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:00.319
Like, I know that she has parents and like a brother, and like that's pretty much it.
00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.960
You really find out nothing about her.
00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:05.200
So, like, they started giving you tidbits.
00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.440
They're like, She's a DoorDash driver.
00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.640
Is that what you were gathering?
00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.000
Well, I didn't pick up on that.
00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:20.000
Oh, yeah, she was delivering food because she like delivered food to one of her old high school friends, and um, the friend felt bad for her and like tipped her extra money.
00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.400
It was this weird blip.
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.759
I don't remember that.
00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.720
Yeah, makes sense.
00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:29.839
And then, and then they I think they say that she like lived in like a high-rise apartment.
00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:34.400
So you think she's like from a big city or something, and that's quite literally all I know about Maggie.
00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:39.599
Let me tell you, I was looking at every single sentence because I was desperate to know anything about her.
00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.400
Same.
00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:48.960
And I do feel like I've needed more of that to have like an emotional connection with her that I feel like was kind of missing.
00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.799
Like she would talk throughout the book.
00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:57.200
Like, first of all, I don't think she complained enough about like not having modern uh amenities.
00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:02.880
Like, there's no way she's like that down to earth where she's like, Yeah, I don't need a working toilet.
00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.839
Like, that's fine.
00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.279
Like, I don't need a shower.
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.279
Like, she didn't talk about any of that stuff.
00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:13.599
She did talk about her parents here and there, like where she would get like struck with sadness and be like, I wonder if they're looking for me.
00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:15.440
I wonder if they think that I'm dead.
00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.880
Um, but that was kind of it.
00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:20.079
And I do, I personally love a portal fantasy.
00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:24.720
Like, I think it's just such a cool like uh style of fantasy.
00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:30.559
But I feel like it it was kind of missing almost in this story because you didn't have the background.
00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:38.559
Like, I wish that we got like almost a few chapters on her before she was sent there and then she like wakes up there and you're like, oh holy shit, what's happening?
00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.400
You know, like I feel like that would have just like added more depth for me.
00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:47.680
The stakes were not high enough without knowing like what she left behind.
00:19:47.839 --> 00:20:07.759
Like I almost wanted it to be this thing where she like left something behind and she comes into this world and realizes this world is filling voids, maybe, and like she really loves these characters and she starts to like want to stay there, and then the stake is like, okay, but if you don't save these people, you have to go back to the modern world.
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.079
Right.
00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.680
Like, wouldn't that have been cool?
00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.680
I agree, I totally agree.
00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:18.480
And like to give the authors credit because it's a husband and a wife, uh, they might do that in the second book, you know.
00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.839
Like we might get like more flashbacks, like who knows?
00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:30.480
Uh, but I do think again, for a first book for me to get like really, really engaged with the main character, like that was just so tough.
00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:33.759
And again, I'm like, why wasn't she like more desperate to get home?
00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:36.000
Is it just because she's like surrounded by hot men?
00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:41.359
I kept waiting for her to like look for like a dark, shimmery puddle that she was gonna like jump through.
00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.039
A portal.
00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.480
She's not the portal.
00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:51.200
I was like, and then she was like, oh, maybe I don't want to go back.
00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.799
And she ends up like saying.
00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.720
And then she makes the choice.
00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.680
No, that would have been nice.
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.240
I agree.
00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.839
I I totally agree.
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:06.640
I do think where we missed on the emotional depth with Maggie.
00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:10.000
You do get it with her relationships with the other characters, which you said.
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:15.279
The found family, I feel like worked so well in this book.
00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:20.960
And I'm interested in who the side characters are that you became the most attached to.
00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.480
So I loved Caden.
00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.160
I loved Will and Lou.
00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:36.640
Like I felt very attached to this like younger generation that was like really on board with like changing the narrative, where like the older generation was kind of like, Maggie, that's not what's supposed to happen.
00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.559
Yeah, I totally agree.
00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:48.960
Like, I feel like with Caden, when initially when they're like escaping and he kind of betrays them, I was like, fuck this kid, get him out of here.
00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:53.920
And then by the end, I was like, I need to protect this child at all costs.
00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.759
I love him so much.
00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.359
With my life.
00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.559
With my life.
00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.519
I do agree though.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:08.720
Around uh like just being able to like iterate with Maggie and like go on these side quests to like really lean into the unknown.
00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:15.680
Like, I feel like the older characters were like stay the fucking course, and the the younger characters like absolutely saved it.
00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.799
Who was the girl?
00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.519
Claire?
00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:18.640
Clover.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.640
Clover.
00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.519
Yeah.
00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.160
I also loved Clover.
00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.359
I feel I did too.
00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:33.839
Weirdly, I feel like Clover had a backstory that had high stakes that made me invested in her.
00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:34.640
Agreed.
00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:43.119
Well, I feel like it made me invested in her, but it also made me invested in why the bad guy was so bad.
00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:52.559
And I feel like, you know, obviously, we're getting that from Baggie again, information dump where she's like, this guy's the worst and he ruins everything and whatever.
00:22:52.799 --> 00:23:01.119
But then you hear Clover's story and like you hear about these like horrific men and how they're all kind of like tied to this villain.
00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:11.279
And I was like, oh my God, like to your point, like these are the stakes that are making me like despise this villain versus Maggie telling me that he's actually a bad guy.
00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.359
A hundred percent.
00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:23.440
And I think that this is where another part of the book that I actually did enjoy starts to come into play is that this younger generation and Maggie start to change the narrative.
00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:28.960
They start learning the stakes of the enemy, and they're like, we have the opportunity to change this.
00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:34.480
And I liked that, but it really does not hit until the like second 50% of the book.
00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.519
Yeah, I agree.
00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:42.559
Because the first 50%, you don't really have any sort of like plot twists or anything like that until the back half of the book.
00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:46.079
Well, were you also like once she started like changing the story?
00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:48.960
You're like, okay, you're not gonna know what happens now.
00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:56.240
And to your earlier point, like her only currency was secrets, and she's about to be fucked because she has no idea what's coming next.
00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:56.880
Correct.
00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:08.799
I'm like, you are going to have to turn into the world's best fucking bullshitter after this because holy shit, I would be shitting my pants if I was Maggie.
00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:12.000
Like I would be like, I I did the thing I was supposed to do.
00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.839
I saved this kingdom.
00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.960
They're good.
00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.920
Not what?
00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.960
Holy shit.
00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:19.359
Like it would be terrifying.
00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:30.480
And that actually was the piece that like really redeemed this story for me, where I was like, oh my God, just this like butterfly effect aspect to this, like is so cool and so unique.
00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.720
And it's like, no one knows where this is about to go.
00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:35.920
Like, I have no fucking clue what's about to happen in book two.
00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.680
And like that feels good to me.
00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:39.519
Like, I really I appreciate that.
00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:41.680
And so I liked that that was incorporated.
00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.559
I know.
00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.920
I know.
00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.720
I get it.
00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:47.440
This is this is closer to a spoiler.
00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:52.079
I'll try to keep it as spoiler-free as not because I know some of you kept listening even after our warning.
00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.680
But you silly girl.
00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:55.599
The ending is a cliffhanger.
00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.920
The ending is a cliffhanger.
00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:04.319
And it makes you wonder, is Maggie actually a reliable narrator?
00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:09.920
Because the novel, the what's it called, the something of Kerrin?
00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:16.319
Yeah in real life is not actually, yeah, it's not actually finished.
00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:20.559
And so she doesn't actually know how this story ends.
00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:23.440
So does that make her an unreliable narrator?
00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:27.359
Is she actually presenting incorrect information to us?
00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:46.319
I do actually think that that the fact that I sussed out that Maggie was likely an unreliable narrator, like kind of made it the book more interesting to me at a certain point where I was like, okay, maybe like she is wrong about certain things, or like maybe this thing actually is not gonna come true and it's gonna be completely different.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:54.720
And that made it again, like more fun when it's like you're not just relying on Maggie as like basically your source of truth and like your fucking Google, you know.
00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.319
It's like, oh no, she could be wrong.
00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:56.640
Yeah.
00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.039
I don't think I realized that until the last chapter, though.
00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:00.559
I was just trusting her again.
00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:04.319
Like I just literally the training, the training wheels were off.
00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.319
I was just going along for the ride.
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:09.119
I didn't realize until the last chapter, I was like, oh, this bitch knows nothing.
00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:11.359
This bitch is out of her mind.
00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:36.319
No, I do think that there I do think that this story like was such a, and this was something that I noted after I finished, but like it was just such a unique uh depiction of like our expectations in terms of like the knowledge that we've gained, our understanding of the world, whatever, being completely fucking different from reality.
00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:42.000
It's like I think that I know Emily the best out of most people in her life.
00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:44.079
And like that could not be true.
00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:51.200
Like, I like there could be things that I could like find out tomorrow where I'd be like, oh fuck, like I had no idea.
00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:54.480
Or there could be a place that I've lived in my entire life.
00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.519
I think I know everything.
00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:00.640
And there, you know, it's just I really I've appreciated that so much about the story.
00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:11.359
And even though it made Maggie like very unreliable, I do think it added like a human aspect to it versus again, it just like feeling like an encyclopedia of information.
00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:18.160
Yeah, but I have we have to tell the readers like you're not going to feel what Cassie just felt until after 50%.
00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.359
Correct.
00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.599
But I am desperate.
00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:27.200
I am desperate to give you all the information you need going into this book so you enjoy it more than I did.
00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.319
Like, I'm so desperate.
00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:32.480
So I'm literally leaning against the wall.
00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:34.720
Like I am so, I'm in desperation.
00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.599
She's tired.
00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.079
It's crazy.
00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.920
She's fucking tired, you guys.
00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.440
Okay, it's crazy.
00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:42.720
I am carrying this book on my back.
00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.240
I don't literally know.
00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:50.079
Okay, so I think we should talk about why it might have worked more for me than it did for you.
00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:58.960
Because I feel like we've dropped some breadcrumbs here, but we need to actually put a pin in this for our listeners who either resonate with one of us or don't.
00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.519
Yeah.
00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:03.200
You for me, you need to know what genre it is going in.
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.480
You need to have the correct expectations.
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:11.119
You literally need to be able to use your entire brain power.
00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:13.279
I was really busy when I was reading this book.
00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:15.279
Not the time to read this book.
00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:18.319
I am telling you all to learn from my mistakes.
00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.039
A mistake.
00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:22.079
No, you cannot listen to this book in the shower.
00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.640
No.
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.759
No.
00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:28.079
If your brain is fantastic with this book, no, don't do it.
00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.799
Don't do it.
00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:41.440
I think so, what why it worked for me is because I do think that like with these fantasy books, and maybe it's because I just read When the Moon Hatched, so I'm like ready to be patient, I suppose.
00:28:41.599 --> 00:29:05.119
But like I do think that I'm going I'm going into these big fantasy books with more of an expectation and a level of patience now of like I'm probably gonna spend a good chunk of this book being like so deeply immersed in a world and the characters and what's like going on politically, like all of these things, and getting so much information thrown at me.
00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:14.319
And I think having that knowledge going in, I think helped me a lot because I was ready to sit with it after I put it down for a week and a half.
00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:18.799
Like I told Emily I literally also started it on audio and I was like, I need to stop.
00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:32.000
I need to chill for a second, and that's when I put it down, and then I came back and I eyeball read until 50%, and then I started listening to it when I was like already engrossed in the story, and I feel like that changed the entire thing for me.
00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:35.359
Yes, you weirdly can listen to the second half on audio.
00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.640
Yeah, it's so weird.
00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.039
Yeah.
00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:43.440
Well, because that's when you're like, okay, I like know, you know, at least like five characters and like I know where they're at.
00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.920
I know what Maggie's trying to do.
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.279
Like, I understand.
00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:50.720
I know five of the 75 characters.
00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.359
Yeah.
00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:55.440
Like I remember four names, and one of them is Maggie, so I'm good.
00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.640
I can listen.
00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.480
Guys, I needed this episode before I read this book.
00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:08.640
I desperately, if I could go back in time, I would watch my own episode before I read this book.
00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:11.519
Okay, I need to know what your final rating is.
00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.000
Your final rating.
00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.640
Unfortunately, that leads me to my rating.
00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:20.880
I would give this book a three-star.
00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.480
I don't think it was bad.
00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:24.079
I don't think it was good.
00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:30.559
Like, I can't, I'm not like recommending it to anybody after I closed the last page.
00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:33.200
I would say it was a decent book.
00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:34.559
I would give it three stars.
00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.200
Okay.
00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.079
Wow.
00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.119
That's still good.
00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:39.680
That's solid for how much you struggled with this book.
00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.880
So I solid.
00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.960
It's like, yeah, yeah, a hundred percent.
00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.400
Yeah, I commend you.
00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:47.599
Um I gave it a four.
00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.000
And I think it's again, because I came in with the right expectations.
00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:55.440
I feel similarly, though, to you about recommending it.
00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:57.839
Like, I feel the same way about when the moon hatched.
00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:01.279
Like, I would recommend this to such specific people.
00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:05.680
And I would not like go out and be like, everyone should read this.
00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:12.319
If you love fantasy, like you should totally read this because I think that there is such a specific reader who would eat this the fuck up.
00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:16.559
And I think there are a lot of readers who would be like, oh my God, what is happening?
00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:18.960
I'm putting this down and leaving it for forever.
00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:21.279
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:43.359
I think if you liked, like, if you've read any of those just like big ass fantasy series, you know, like I'm thinking of like the Robin Hobb books or like uh even like a Game of Thrones, like if you've read those books and you just like loved every second of it, like you would probably literally not be able to shut up about this book.
00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:55.359
I I do think that it's really setting up for a sweeping world and journey and all of the things, and like you have to be on board with that.
00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:00.160
And I think the readers of those type, those series are so down for it.
00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:00.720
Yeah.
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:16.400
But if you're expecting like a shield of sparrows, a metal slinger, where you're like immediately thrown into the action and you immediately meet the MMC and you know what the stakes are from chapter five, like this is not what you're gonna look for.
00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:18.160
Yeah, agreed, agreed.
00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:20.000
Okay, now final question.
00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:21.680
Are we reading book two?
00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.559
Yeah.
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:29.599
Oh, I want to know what happens, but like I almost like want you to read it and tell me what happens.
00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:32.000
I mean, I'm absolutely reading the second book.
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:34.559
Like, I for sure I need to know.
00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.680
I need to know more.
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:38.400
I need to like be back with these characters.
00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:41.920
Like, I there's no way I can't.
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:44.079
Yeah, it's it's happening for sure.
00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:48.160
Like, I do actually weirdly think I'm gonna be obsessed with this series.
00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:55.519
Like, I'm just like, I have a premonition that this might be like a end of a series that I'm very attached to in the future.
00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:57.279
I'm just not there yet.
00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:57.839
Okay.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.200
Yeah, that's my prediction.
00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:11.440
I just am really, really traumatized and I have PTSD that if they start book two and it's another like 30% of world building before we get to some like action, I'm going to be really upset.
00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.000
Okay.
00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.960
We'll see.
00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:15.119
That's how that that's my final take.
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:18.079
That's her that's her final mic drop, people.
00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.559
Okay.
00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.680
You heard it here first.
00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.000
Yeah.
00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.880
Oh my god.
00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:21.519
All right.
00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:27.039
Well, if you were, if you have read this book and you agree with us or disagree with us, let us know in the comments.
00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:35.599
Uh, if you have not read this book and we just either encouraged or discouraged you to read it, let us know in the comments and we would love to hear about it.
00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:43.440
Um, next week we are interviewing Anna Macaulay, who is the author of Abby Offside.
00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:54.559
It is an amazing rom-com about Abby who basically like goes to this huge life event, moves to the UK, and falls in love with a soccer player.
00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:56.559
Like, what else do you need out of a book?
00:33:56.880 --> 00:34:01.039
Literally, it was a great follow-up to If This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.160
She was.
00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.920
And so yeah, tune in for that.
00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:08.400
If you have not read the book, meet Anna, fall in love with her, follow in love with the book, and then go read it.
00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:11.360
If you have read the book, come fangirl over it with us.
00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:14.079
Um, but in the meantime, we'll see you same time, same place.
00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:16.480
Grab your blankets, grab your book, boyfriends, and we'll see you then.
00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:16.960
See ya.
