“Everything you know about your gods is a lie.”

In this episode of Fiction’s Fresh Faces, we explore Godsbane, a romantasy debut packed with prophecy, forbidden magic, feminine rage, and (yes) the one bed trope. Author Lindsey Richardson shares how her runaway dog sparked the story of Ivy Fellows, what makes her MMC different from the usual broody hero, and why Godsbane is the book romantasy readers didn’t know they needed.

Godsbane is NOW available for preorder! → lindseyrichardsonauthor.com

Timestamps
0:00 “Battle a god, change the fate of the world”
5:42 The one bed trope always wins
7:43 The book boyfriends who inspired her MMC
14:55 How a runaway dog sparked Godsbane
21:09 Writing spice in hotel bars
23:19 Gods, jewels, and mythology-inspired worldbuilding
42:20 Taylor Swift & Sleep Token: the Godsbane playlist
45:03 Preorder + first signing details

If you love Plated Prisoner, Crowns of Nyaxia, or Percy Jackson nostalgia — add Godsbane to your TBR now.

Cassie dives into binge-worthy Romantasy reads (Trial of the Sun Queen, Love and Other Words), Emily recaps her TV obsessions (The Gilded Age, The Buccaneers), and we debate book boyfriends, unfinished series chaos, and upcoming book-to-screen adaptations (Love Hypothesis, People We Meet on Vacation). The coziest book club for Romantasy lovers and avid readers—grab your blanket and join the chat!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with Atmosphere, a high-stakes space drama that had us sobbing, ranting, and fangirling all at once. 🚀

In this spoiler-free review, Cassie & Emily break down who this book is perfect for, how it compares to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and whether it deserves a spot on your TBR.

We cover NASA history, queer romance, representation, and (yes) why Katy Perry came up in the conversation.

Perfect for book clubbers, romantasy readers, or anyone wondering: Should you read this?

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: why Atmosphere broke us
01:38 – Summary & first impressions
03:54 – Who this book is (and isn’t) for
07:11 – Women in NASA & Sally Ride
10:21 – Romance, identity, and representation
12:14 – Katy Perry in space?!
13:27 – Where TJR misses on diversity
17:25 – Comparing Atmosphere to Evelyn Hugo
20:06 – The love story & emotional stakes
21:15 – Joan as a main character
25:22 – Final ratings & recommendations
27:19 – The emotional gut punch of the ending
28:15 – Women are literally everything
29:12 – Similar book recs (The Women, The Martian, Lessons in Chemistry, Hidden Figures)
30:12 – Spice rating, book hangover level, and book club potential

Buy Atmosphere on Amazon: https://amzn.to/41lQn4k
Buy Atmosphere on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/114324/9780593158715