Today I’m joined by the brainy and delightful bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author Lindsey Sparks, who got me to read a book that approximately one million people have recommended to me. Lindsey calls “A Discovery of Witches” a grown-up Twilight meets the Da Vinci Code, which I think is spot on. She also blew my mind when she explained how a good sci-fi or fantasy novel will stand on its own when all fantastical elements are pulled out of it, which in turn made me rethink what I have liked about the few books in those genres I’ve read. One warning: we delve into the topic of miscarriage in this episode, and how it can be a trigger for many readers, and how hard it is to avoid. I’ve moved this part of our conversation to the end of the podcast, so if this is a topic you aren’t up to, you may want to tap out at about the 20 minute mark. You’ll still get the book chat, but you can skip over the part you are sensitive to. Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram Guest: Lindsey Sparks Website/Facebook/Facebook Reader Group/Instagram/Podcast Do you know a young person who’d like to appear on the 2nd Annual Kids/YA Gift Guide Episode? GO HERE! Discussed in this episode: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Julie’s appearance on Lindsey’s podcast “No Shelf Control” The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The Redemption of Althalus by David Eddings Dead Witch Walking: Book One of The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling The Ending Series, co-authored by Lindsey Pogue and Lindsey Sparks Lindsey Pogue on the Best Book Ever podcast True Blood Television Series Dead Until Dark: (Sookie Stackhouse Book 1) by Charlaine Harris Guilty Pleasures: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel (Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Virgin River by Robyn Carr Virgin River TV Show The Elemental Mysteries by Elizabeth Hunter The Martian by Andy Weir A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning I get a few bucks off your purchase at no extra expense to you. Anytime you shop for books, you can use my affiliate link on Bookshop, which also supports Indie Bookstores around the country. If you’re shopping for everything else – clothes, office supplies, gluten-free pasta, couches – you can use my affiliate link for Amazon. Thank you for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bestbookeverpodcast.substack.com

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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