Sam and Dan review Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we venture into cosy sci-fi with Moss'd in Space, a warm, low-stakes story that puts relationships, banter, and emotional comfort ahead of dramatic twists and high-stakes jeopardy. We discuss what defines a successful cosy read and whether a book designed to relax rather than challenge its audience needs to leave a lasting impression.

We dive into the developing relationship between Torian and Moss, exploring Moss's experiences of trauma and abandonment and the emotional growth at the heart of the story. We also discuss the absence of a traditional antagonist, the surprisingly small and local feel of its space setting, and why even potentially catastrophic events rarely create a genuine sense of danger.

From a cover and blurb that perhaps promise a different story to the one we actually get, to questions about stakes, sacrifice, and emotional depth, we explore why Moss'd in Space may not have the lasting impact of our favourite cosy reads—but still succeeds at being charming, comforting, and an extremely easy book to spend time with.

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Sam and Dan review A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang.

**SPOILER ALERT:** This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we explore this dark folkloric family saga, following three generations whose lives are shaped by colonial legacy, generational trauma, and the ways pain, memory, and silence echo through families. We discuss the novel's historical backdrop, from the Japanese occupation of China to the Cultural Revolution, and how it sits somewhere between historical fiction, fantasy, and folkloric realism.

We dive into the experiences of Wei Hong, Ming, and Qianze, exploring how food, illness, childbirth, family conflict, and inherited trauma weave their way through each generation. We also unpack the book's deliberately ambiguous approach to magic and prophecy, and why its refusal to clearly separate folklore, metaphor, and reality makes the story all the more powerful.

From its beautifully atmospheric writing and complex family relationships to an ending that offers hope and repair without pretending that generations of trauma can simply be undone, we discuss why this heavy but deeply affecting debut left such a lasting impression on both of us.

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Sam and Dan review The Mistral by Felix Mosse.

**SPOILER ALERT:** This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we dive into The Mistral, an ambitious debut epic fantasy that takes us back into the sprawling worlds, magic, politics, and religion of high fantasy. We explore its huge cast of characters, shifting perspectives, and expansive magic system, as a dying mystical force known as the Mistral connects seemingly separate stories across the world.

We discuss the journeys of Swan and Fenne, the refreshing friendship between Fenne and Tom, and a collection of antagonists whose belief that they're acting for the greater good adds some welcome moral complexity. Along the way, we unpack the mysterious relationship between the Mistral, Zephyr, roots, prophecy, and the Bengen, as well as the novel's potential commentary on environmental collapse, technology, religion, and the ways societies respond to dwindling resources.

From comparisons with Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn to an explosive ending that refuses to neatly resolve the story, we discuss what worked, what didn't, and why the huge questions left unanswered have us intrigued to see where Felix Mosse takes the series next.

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Sam and Dan review Nonesuch by Francis Spufford.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we dive into Nonesuch, a richly written urban fantasy set against the backdrop of London in 1939. We explore Spufford’s wonderfully lived-in depiction of the city, the looming threat of war, and the novel’s exploration of class, fascism, power, and the social tensions of pre-war Britain.

We also discuss the book’s refreshingly understated approach to magic, its memorable supporting cast, and two excellent central characters in Iris and Jeff. We particularly dig into their relationship and why its grounded development feels so much more convincing than the familiar will-they-won’t-they romances of fantasy fiction.

From Iris’s practical approach to the extraordinary and Lal’s compelling role as an antagonist to comparisons with the magical Londons of Alan Moore and Ben Aaronovitch, there’s a huge amount here that impressed us. Unfortunately, we also have plenty to say about an ending that feels rushed, under-explained, and frustratingly focused on setting up the next book.

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Sam and Dan review Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we explore Green City Wars, a unique sci-fi adventure set in a world of genetically modified animals, ambitious world-building, and complex philosophical ideas. We discuss how Adrian Tchaikovsky blends science fiction with social commentary, creating a future society that is both fascinating and deeply unsettling.

We dive into the novel's unconventional narrative style, its sprawling cast of animal characters and the challenges of balancing expansive world-building with emotional connection. Along the way, we unpack the book's exploration of morality, environmentalism, technology, and the value of life, as well as its ideas around post-scarcity society, labour, and humanity's dependence on the mysterious drug, Plangent.

From the strengths of its imaginative setting to its pacing, plot reveals, and thought-provoking themes, we discuss what worked, what didn't, and whether Green City Wars lives up to the high expectations we've come to have for Adrian Tchaikovsky's work.

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Sam and Dan discuss Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we discuss why Songs of the Dead became a rare DNF (Did Not Finish) for both of us. We explore where the novel falls short, from its overly complex magic system and difficult-to-connect-with characters to a world that never quite feels as compelling as its ambitious premise suggests.

We also dive into the challenges of collaborative writing, questioning how much Brandon Sanderson's influence can be felt throughout the novel and whether the partnership ultimately works. Along the way, we discuss the integration of music and magic, the effectiveness of the world-building, the portrayal of London as a setting, and why the story struggles to establish meaningful stakes and relatable protagonists.

From fantasy tropes and genre conventions to the balance between originality and readability, we unpack why this was a book we couldn't bring ourselves to finish—and what we think other fantasy authors can learn from it.

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Sam and Dan review I Hear a New World, the second book in the Long London series by Alan Moore.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we return to the strange and surreal world of Long London to discuss whether I Hear a New World lives up to the promise of The Great When. We explore the novel's shifting structure, dense prose, and dreamlike narrative, as the boundaries between Long London and short London become increasingly blurred.

We also dive into the book's central themes of change, gentrification, and cultural transformation in post-war London, asking what Alan Moore is really trying to say about history, progress, and the city itself. Along the way, we debate the relationship between Dennis and Grace, the role of sex and desire in the story, and whether some of the novel's characters and plot developments feel fully realised or are laying the groundwork for future instalments.

From its rich symbolism and real-world cultural references to its atmospheric storytelling and unconventional approach to plot, we unpack what worked, what didn't, and where we think the Long London series is heading next.

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Sam and Dan review Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we venture into the world of cosy fantasy, discussing what makes the genre so appealing and whether this feline-filled magical adventure delivers the charm readers are looking for. We explore the balance between comfort and predictability, asking whether a familiar story can still be a satisfying one.

We dive into the characters of Agnes, Havelock, and the wider supporting cast, examining their relationships, personal growth, and the role they play in shaping the story. Along the way, we discuss the book's magical systems and world-building choices, including the ethical questions raised by the use of magic and the responsibilities that come with power.

From its cosy atmosphere and character dynamics to its plot structure and resolution, we unpack what works, what doesn't, and why this magical cat-filled tale has found such an enthusiastic audience.

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