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Book Dragon Banter: Exploring 'The Last Dragon of the East' by Katrina Kwan

The hosts welcome listeners and dive into 'The Last Dragon of the East' by Katrina Kwan. They introduce the Vancouver-based author, discuss the book's elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure, and touch on Kwan's extensive background as a romance ghostwriter. The episode includes spoiler-free recommendations, highlights about the book's darker themes, and a detailed analysis encompassing character development, plot twists, and world-building. The hosts also share their predictions, reactions to significant plot points, and thoughts on the romance and reincarnation aspects of the story.

The Author:

https://katrinakwan.com/

Our links:

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

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

Zinzi Bree: Zinzi@bookdragonbanter.com

https://bookdragonbanter.buzzsprout.com/

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

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

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

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter

00:00 Introduction to Book Dragon Banter Podcast

00:15 Author Spotlight: Katrina Kwan

01:49 Spoiler-Free Recommendations

03:33 Diving into Spoilers: Detailed Analysis

04:47 World Building and Cultural Elements

16:54 Magic System and Reincarnation

27:17 Character Dynamics and Relationships

31:27 Plot Twists and Marketing Surprises

32:46 Fated Mates and Insta Love

34:10 Reincarnation and Choices

37:54 The Red Dragon Revelation

41:18 Character Development and Emotional Depth

45:13 Villain's Manipulation and Mythology

47:14 Timeline and Story Structure

54:47 Final Thoughts and Bloopers

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Welcome to the Book Dragon Banter Podcast! In this episode, our hosts dive into the complexities of romance within fantasy literature. Covering everything from the distinct definitions of romance, some-mance, and no-mance, they delve into how these elements influence storylines and reader engagement. From discussing mainstream hits like 'ACOTAR' and 'Fourth Wing' to exploring titles that balance fantasy and romantic elements, this episode offers insightful discussion for avid readers and writers alike. Get book recommendations, hear personal anecdotes, and understand the evolving perception of romance in literature. Don't miss this engaging and humorous dialogue on the Book Dragon Banter Podcast!

Links:

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:

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros

Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

When He was Wicked - Julia Quinn

The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks

365 Days - Blanka Lipinska

Bride - Ali Hazelwood

ACOTAR - Sarah J. Maas

Gilded Wings & Crimson Skies - Jaymin Eve

The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon - Kimberly Lemming

The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien

A Pslam for the Wild-built - Monk & Robot - Becky Chambers

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

Magical Midlife Madness - K. F. Breene

The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiffvater

00:00 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter

01:14 Defining Romance in Fantasy Books

02:42 Romance vs. Some-mance vs. No-mance

06:54 Romantasy: Romance in a Fantasy Setting

08:15 Book Examples: Twilight and Fourth Wing

15:37 Romantasy Preferences and Reader Opinions

21:08 Dragons, World-Building, and Romantasy

26:30 Book Recommendation: The Spellshop

26:41 The Challenges of Pleasing Every Reader

27:45 Is Romance Still Maligned?

29:06 The Evolution of Genre Acceptance

30:24 Speculative Fiction: A Broader Term

34:48 The Appeal of Young Adult Fantasy

35:45 The Struggle with Classic Fantasy

38:11 The Business of Romance Novels

39:07 Fantasy as Escapism and Reflection

40:55 Sci-Fi vs. Fantasy: Reader Preferences

41:53 Star Trek and the Human Condition

43:52 Book Recommendations: From No-mance to Some-mance

48:30 Social Media and Final Thoughts

50:38 Bloopers and Behind the Scenes

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Exploring Light, Dark, and Morally Gray Characters in Fantasy

In this episode of Book Dragon Banter, hosts Zinzi Bree, Katherine Suzette, and Sage Moreaux dive into the complexities of light, dark, and morally gray themes in fantasy literature. They discuss character archetypes, settings, and how these elements define the genre. The conversation covers popular books like 'The Cruel Prince' by Holly Black, 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas, and many more. The hosts share personal anecdotes and reflections on why they are drawn to particular types of fantasy and offer book recommendations spanning the spectrum from light and cozy to dark and morally complex.

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 Cruel Prince - Holly Black - Folk of the Air Series

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Mass - ACOTAR

1-3 The Zodiac Academy - Caroline Beckham & Susanne Valenti

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Throne in the dark - A. K. Caggiano - Villains and Virtues

Assistant to the Villain - Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Hellbent - Leigh Bardugo

Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice

Vampire Diaries - L.J. Smith

The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst

Dreadful - Caitlin Rozakis

Slewfloot - Brom

This Present Darkness - Frank E. Peretti

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee

Loki: Where Mischief Lies - Mackenzi Lee

The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie - The First Law Trilogy

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin

Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman

The Familiar - Leigh Bardugo

How to Get a Girlfriend (When You’re a Terrifying Monster) - Marie Cardno

They Bloom at Night - Trang Thanh Tran

Throne of Glass Series - Sarah J. Mass

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Blood of Elves - Andrzej Sapkowski (Translated by Danusia Stok) -The Witcher

The Gilded Wolves - Roshani Chokshi

00:00 Introduction to Book Dragon Banter

00:25 Exploring Light, Dark, and Morally Gray in Fantasy

01:57 Defining Morally Gray Characters

03:53 The Appeal of Morally Gray Characters in Romance

05:53 Personal Experiences with Morally Gray Characters

12:20 Dark Fantasy vs. Horror Fantasy

18:49 Cozy Fantasy and Light Fantasy

22:44 Spiritual and Morally Gray Elements in Fantasy

28:02 Mythologically Inspired Loki Books

28:52 Exploring Light, Dark, and Morally Gray Fantasy

29:24 Dark Fantasy and Its Complex Characters

32:55 The Appeal of Morally Gray Characters

35:52 Fantasy Horror vs. Dark Fantasy

39:33 Favorite Morally Gray Characters

47:45 Book Recommendations for Light, Dark, and Morally Gray Fantasy

49:29 Podcast Wrap-Up and Bloopers