In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker, a sweeping romantasy filled with dragons, magic, and mystery. They unpack the novel’s intricate world building, discuss what defines epic fantasy versus romantasy, and share their first impressions, including how this hefty book compares to War and Peace in sheer size.

From the protagonist’s haunted frozen lake coping mechanism to paper birds that come to life and shimmering aurora cycles, the hosts explore what makes this story and its world so unforgettable. They also draw comparisons to other epic and romantasy favorites such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, The Name of the Wind, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Spoiler warning! There are a few MAJOR mid-episode spoilers.

00:00 When the Moon Hatched

01:14 First Impressions and Book Size

04:41 Romantasy vs. Epic Fantasy

08:06 World Building and Unique Concepts

16:09 Characters & Tropes

19:29 Spoiler Alert!

23:21 Explicit Content

24:38 When the Moon _______

26:32 Final Thoughts and Ratings

Other links and resources:

PBS segment on Romantasy

https://www.pbs.org/video/romantasy-1706739868/

Romantasy: An Old Genre with a New Name, blog article, February 25, 2025 by Rosemary Jones, Science Fiction Writer’s Association

https://www.sfwa.org/2025/02/25/romantasy-an-old-genre-with-a-new-name

Between Pages & Friends Podcast: Interview with Sarah A Parker

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sarah-a-parker-interview-when-the-moon-hatched/id1747110661?i=1000731947711

Sarah A Parker Instagram Post: Ballad of Falling Dragons to the Copy Editor
https://www.instagram.com/p/DP40si9E_Vf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Tak: The boardgame from the world of Patrick Rothfuss

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/197405/tak

You can support this podcast and independent bookstores through purchasing the book When the Moon Hatched on Bookshop.org with the affiliate link below:

https://bookshop.org/a/117783/9780063415805

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth lean into spooky season. They discuss their favorite books featuring witches, vampires, and other supernatural elements. Andrea shares her thoughts on The Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli, a YA book focused on witches, while Elizabeth reflects on reading Carrie, Stephen King's debut novel. They also touch on the history of Halloween and temporary tattoos as a fun addition to Halloween costumes!

Be sure to listen for the Sparrow and Wilde limited time promo code in the middle of the episode for a fun discount on bookish merch and temporary tattoos.

00:00 Spooky Season

00:53 Kicking off Spooky Season

02:02 Witchy Reads

04:28 Stephen King's Carrie

14:13 Fated Mates

15:24 Exploring Vampire Literature

18:25 Halloween Costumes and Temporary Tattoos

22:12 The Origins of Halloween

25:20 Haunted Houses

27:26 Seasonal Reading Habits

30:43 Concluding Remarks

Sparrow & Wilde: Romantasy Apparel, Accessories, and Temporary Tattoos

https://sparrowandwilde.com/

Stephen King is the most banned author in U.S. schools

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/stephen-king-banned-books-rcna235326