Send us a text

A Christmas Carol Unwrapped: Themes, Adaptations, and Traditions | Book Dragon Banter

In this special Christmas episode of Book Dragon Banter, hosts Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree dive into the timeless classic 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. We discuss Dickens' storytelling techniques, the book's impact on modern Christmas traditions, and share personal experiences and adaptations of the story. Alongside, we embrace cozy holiday reading traditions like jolabokaflod and share some other festive reads. Join us for a Christmas literary journey and some light-hearted holiday banter.

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

Write With Me, Zinzi Bree, email: bookdragonbanterpod@gmail.com

Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats

Recommended Holiday Reads list:

Topher’s Library: Holiday Reads You’ll Love https://youtu.be/mPaM9HPMyKw?si=eI12HGGzDN2hr_ga

Other Books Mentioned:

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

A Hunt so Wild and Cruel: A Fae Christmas Carol Retelling by Rebecca F. Kenney

00:00 Introduction to Book Dragon Banter

00:32 Christmas Episode Vibes

01:09 Discussing 'A Christmas Carol'

04:46 Personal Reflections on Christmas

10:41 Favorite Adaptations of 'A Christmas Carol'

16:54 Surprises and Insights

28:43 Scrooge's Transformation

29:40 The Timelessness of A Christmas Carol

31:06 Religious and Moral Themes

34:16 Dickens' Writing Process

36:16 The Narrator's Voice

39:29 Scrooge's Character Development

49:38 The Spirit of Generosity

51:49 Cozy Christmas Traditions

54:17 Book Recommendations for the Holidays

Send us a text

Hidden Strengths: A Deep Dive into 'The Sword of Kaigen' | Book Dragon Banter

In this emotional episode of the Book Dragon Banter podcast, hosts Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette dive into 'The Sword of Kaigen' by M.L. Wang. Join us as we discuss how M.L. Wang expertly crafted this heart-wrenching, Japanese-influenced fantasy that tore at our hearts. We explore the richly detailed world-building, compelling character arcs, and intense scenes that made this book unforgettable. From the touching mother-son relationship to the deep female friendships, we break down every aspect that makes this a must-read. Was there a moment when you needed tissues? We certainly did. Let's talk about it!

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

https://mlwangbooks.com/

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

For Write with me— Zinzi Bree, email: bookdragonbanterpod@gmail.com

Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

00:09 Book of the Month: The Sword of Kaigen

01:08 Cultural and Publishing Insights

01:57 Author Background: M. L. Wang

02:48 Audiobook vs. Ebook Differences

05:16 Spoiler-Free Recommendations

08:11 Content Warnings and Explicit Themes

09:18 Spoiler Discussion Begins

10:38 Character Arcs and Development

16:00 Narrative Structure and Cultural Context

25:20 Character Arc Critique

25:53 Empathy for Maki's Struggle

27:47 Misaki's Love Interests

29:35 Friendships and Female Bonds

30:53 Hyori's Heartbreaking Story

32:55 Mamoru's Disillusionment

36:24 Misaki's Realization and Growth

52:57 World Building and Magic System

58:41 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Send us a text

Male Main Characters in Fantasy: From Aragorn to Shadow Daddies

Welcome back to Book Dragon Banter! Join us, Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette as we dive into our favorite male main characters in fantasy. This episode focuses heavily on archetypes such as heroes, shadow daddies, and cinnamon rolls in Romantasy and more. Join us for an in-depth discussion on the hero's journey, character development, the feminine gaze and our top book recommendations. Be prepared for an explicit conversation with a sprinkle of pop culture references and some spoilers. Don't forget to check our show notes for books you might not want to hear spoilers about. Enjoy!

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats

Upcoming Bookclub: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

https://mlwangbooks.com/

Fated Mated Podcast Episode Mentioned:

https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/9/17/s022-the-alpha-in-romance-novels-interstitial

Books Mentioned:

LOTR - J.R. R. Tolkien

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The Expanse by James S. A. Corey

Wolves of Midwinter by Anne Rice

The Cradle Series by Will Wight

The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR Series) by Sarah J. Maas

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Magical Midlife Madness by K. F. Breene

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Recommended Books:

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

00:00 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter

00:58 Favorite Male Main Characters

03:02 Defining Male Main Characters

09:07 Hated Male Characters

14:49 Romantic Tropes and Male Characters

24:26 Male Character Archetypes

31:54 Exploring the Byronic Hero Archetype

33:04 Book Review: Quicksilver

33:33 Romantic Tropes and Character Archetypes

35:53 Midlife Madness and Mature Characters

40:48 The Hero's Journey: Female Protagonists

45:29 The Fem

Send us a text

Monstrous Origin Stories: Analyzing Dracula, Frankenstein, and Werewolves | Book Dragon Banter Podcast

Welcome to the Book Dragon Banter podcast's spooky special! In this episode, hosts Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette dive into the monstrous origin stories of Dracula, Frankenstein, and werewolves. Discover surprising details about these classic monsters, their portrayal in literature, and how they've evolved in pop culture. Sage explores the allure of vampires, including Dracula, while Zinzi delves into the tragic tale of Frankenstein's creature. Katherine examines werewolf lore and its dark connections to human desires. Tune in for a thrilling discussion, plus book recommendations for readers interested in these iconic horror figures. Happy Halloween!

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

For Write with me— Zinzi Bree, email: bookdragonbanterpod@gmail.com

Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats

Upcoming Bookclub: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

https://mlwangbooks.com/

Books Featured:

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Man Wolf by Leitch Ritchie

The Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore

The Howling by Gary Brandner

Books Mentioned:

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs

Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

Recommended Books:

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

The Coldest Girl in Cold Town by Holly Black

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Pride and Prometheus by John Kessel

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

FranKisStien by Jeanette Winterson

The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:57 Diving into Dracula

17:35 Exploring Frankenstein

35:39 Female Empathy in Classic Horror

35:50 Frankenstein vs. Dracula: A Comparative Analysis

36:24 The Unsexy Nature of Frankenstein

38:13 Frankenstein and Beauty and the Beast: A Cozy Fantasy

39:22 Penny Dreadful's Take on Frankenstein

40:49 Exploring Werewolf Literature

42:28 The Dark Side of Werewolf Stories

50:39 Modern Werewolf and Vampire Fantasies

53:24 Book Recommendations for Monster Retellings

56:58 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Book Club

Send us a text

Welcome back to Book Dragon Banter! Join hosts Sage Moreaux, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree as we dive into the fascinating topic of female main characters (FMCs) in fantasy novels and beyond. While we focus primarily on fantasy, we also touch on other genres and pop culture references to better explain our points. Get ready for an engaging discussion on beloved and controversial FMCs, where we share our favorites, explore the hero's journey versus the heroine's journey, and even mention some FMCs that didn't quite meet our expectations. Don't miss out on our book recommendations and upcoming book club read - The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang. Grab your headphones, settle in, and let's get started on this journey into the world of compelling female characters!

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

Upcoming Bookclub: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

https://mlwangbooks.com/

Books Mentioned:

ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riordan

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Recommended Books:

The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger

Malice by Heather Walter

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:58 Defining Female Main Characters (FMCs)

02:56 Favorite FMCs in Fantasy

04:25 The Bechdel Test and FMCs

07:30 Nostalgic FMCs

13:20 Least Favorite FMCs

26:13 The Mary Sue Trope

27:38 Exploring Self-Inserts in Fan Fiction

28:33 Twilight's Bella: A Mary Sue?

30:18 Compelling vs. Commercial Characters

33:49 The Appeal of Self-Sacrificing Heroines

45:12 The Hero's Journey vs. The Heroine's Journey

51:58 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

Send us a text

Exploring Vengeance and Redemption: For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga - Book Dragon Banter Book Club

Welcome back to the Book Dragon Banter podcast! In this book club episode, we delve into 'For She Is Wrath' by Emily Varga, a Pakistani-inspired young adult dark fantasy. Join hosts Katherine Suzette, Sage Moreaux, and Zinzi Bree as we discuss the intricate details of the plot, the cultural influences, and the compelling characters. We explore the revenge-driven narrative, the rich setting, and the unique magic system. Tune in for thoughtful discussions, favorite quotes, and an analysis of the book's conclusion.

Bookclub: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga:

https://emilyvargabooks.com/books/for-she-is-wrath-2/

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

Upcoming Bookclub: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

https://mlwangbooks.com/

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Welcome

00:36 Book Overview: For She is Wrath

01:17 Author Background: Emily Varga

04:08 Spoiler-Free Recommendations

05:27 Spoiler Alert: Deep Dive into the Plot

07:58 Character Analysis and Themes

24:19 Thoughts and Critiques

30:28 Magic and Corruption

32:46 Plot Twists and Romance

33:25 Transformation and Recognition

41:22 Revenge and Forgiveness

51:27 Final Thoughts and Next Book Club

Send us a text

Endless TBR, Reading Challenges & Book Burnout | Book Dragon Banter

Welcome back, Book Dragons! In this episode, we dive into the never-ending struggle of managing our endless TBR lists, tackling reading challenges, and dealing with book burnout. Join us, Zinzi Bree, Sage Moreaux, and Katherine Suzette as we share our insights, experiences, and tips. From discussing different types of reading challenges, such as the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do, to sharing our personal book burnout stories, we cover it all. Plus, stay tuned for our book recommendations and a sneak peek into future episodes. Don't forget to check the show notes for all the mentioned book titles and reading challenges!

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

Upcoming Bookclub: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga: https://emilyvargabooks.com/books/for-she-is-wrath-2/

Books Mentioned:

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson

Dracula by Brom Stoker

A Year with Aslan edited by Julia L. Roller

A Year with C.S. Lewis edited by Patricia S. Klein

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Under the Tuscan Sun by Francis Mayes

Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susana Clarke

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

Dungeon Crawler Carl by

The Ghost Who Series by Bobbi Holmes

Recommended books:

Zinzi: East by Edith Pattou

Katherine: The Foxhole Court by Nora Sacavic

Sage: The Murderbot Series by Martha Wells

Book Challenges links:

PBS Great American Read: https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/

Uncorked Librarian: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/uncorked-reading-challenge/

HRCYED Site: https://hrcyed.my.canva.site/

HRCYED YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzS1f5gbt60

Candid Cover Book Challenge list: https://candidcover.net/2025-reading-challenges-list/

52 Book Club Challenge: https://www.the52book.clu

Send us a text

Welcome back to Book Dragon Banter, a podcast where hosts Zinzi Bree, Katherine, and Sage discuss all things books. In this episode, they delve into how marketing influences book choices, discussing their approaches to picking books, mood reading, and the effectiveness of marketing tactics. They also explore controversial marketing, book ratings and reviews, and the rise of graphic novels. Along the way, they share their perspectives on popular books like 'Silver Elite' and 'The Hunger Games,' and recommend a few of their favorite reads. Join the conversation and discover how marketing shapes our reading habits!

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@BookDragonBanterpodcast

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/

Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/

Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/

Books Mentioned:

The Author’s Guide to Murder by Karen White, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love by Isthisselfcare

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

The Auction by Julie Soto

Alchemized by SenLinyu

Manacled by SenLinyu

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

00:00 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter

00:35 Did Marketing Make You Read It?

01:11 Choosing Books as a Mood Reader

04:40 The Influence of Book Covers

05:19 The Overwhelming TBR List

07:42 Graphic Novels and Changing Reading Habits

10:10 The Hype Around Silver Elite

13:15 Marketing Strategies and Their Impact

17:48 The Role of Tropes in Book Marketing

24:32 Blurbs, Social Media, and Book Promotion

28:43 Paid Reviews and Objectivity

29:43 Rating Books and Constructive Criticism

30:30 Exploring Different Genres

32:20 The Role of Marketing in Book Choices

35:16 Fan Fiction and Character Development

40:32 Enemies to Lovers: A Deep Dive

42:40 Book Recommendations and Wrap-Up

45:46 Bloopers and Fun Moments