Kris and Mads

• Damage Report On Our 2025 Reading Goals… AND 20+ Books We're Reading ASAP!

  In this episode of The Sisterhood Podcast, we’re checking in on our 2025 reading goals after Q1—what’s working, what’s not, and the tweaks we’re making for Q2! 📚We also share 10-20 book titles we’re excited to dive into this spring, perfect for anyone looking to build their Q2 TBR or stay motivated on their own reading journey.Whether you're someone who made New Year reading resolutions, loves a good wrap-up and reset, or just wants a peek behind the scenes at how we approach reading as content creators, this one’s for you.✨ We talk accountability, routines, and keeping things fun and flexible—and yes, we mention some seriously exciting 2025 book releases too.💬 Drop your Q2 reading plans in the comments—we love hearing from fellow book lovers and helping you stay inspired.Timestamps & book list in the description below!Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:27 Checkin: Maddie’s 2025 Reading Goals02:03 Checkin: Kristen’s 2025 Reading Goals04:41 2025 Releases Maddie’s Excited to Read06:49 Kristen’s Slower More Intentional Approach to Her TBR 09:59 2025 Releases Kristen’s Excited About10:51 Series Maddie is Continuing14:54 Series for Kristen19:58 Books We Won’t Read on Audiobook20:57 Starting Our First Stephen King Book23:03 Romance Books on Kristen’s TBR25:19 New Series Maddie Is Anticipating27:14 Kristen is Tackling Liveship Traders Trilogy31:52 Resolutions Can Shift! Let’s Have A Great Q2!BOOKS MENTIONEDGifted and TalentedBy Olivie BlakeKatabasisBy R.F. KuangBury Our Bones In the Midnight SoilBy V.E. SchwabFirst-Time CallerBy B.K. BorisonFlawlessBy Elsie SilverSunrise on the ReapingBy Suzanne CollinsThe Burning SeriesThe Rage of Dragons and Fires of VengeanceBy Evan WintersAudiobook Narrator: Prentice OnayemiThe Lost Queen seriesBy Signe PikeThe Bound and the Broken SeriesBy Ryan CahillVilest ThingsBy Chloe GongAn Ember in the Ashes SeriesBy Sabaa TahirInfernal DevicesBy Cassandra ClareLegendborn CycleBy Tracy DeonnDungeon Crawler CarlBy Matt DinnimanA Sea of Unspoken ThingsBy Adrienne YoungDeath of the Author By Nnedi OkoraforMurderbotBy Martha Wells11/22/63Stephen KingChestnut SpringsBy Elsie SilverAge of Madness Trilogy By Joe AbercrombieThe Fitz and the Fool TrilogyBy Robin HobbWheel of TimeBy Robert JordanDaughter of the EmpireBy Raymond E. Feist and Jenny WurstDandelion DynastyBy Ken LiuThe ExpanseBy James S.A. CoreyA Song of Ice and FireBy George R.R. MartinLiveship Traders By Robin HobbLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #readinggoals #TBR2025 #bookpodcast #ReadingGoals2025 #Quarter2TBR #TBRUpdate #BookPodcast #ReadingWrapUp #ReadersOfYouTube #ContentCreatorLife #BehindTheScenes #ReadingAccountability #BookishCommunity #BooksToRead2025 #MidYearCheckIn #BookLoversUnite #ReadingMotivation #GoalSettingForReaders

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  34:37
• Adalyn Grace Interview: The Dark & Romantic World of Belladonna and What's Next!

  Join us for an exclusive interview with Adalyn Grace, the bestselling author of the Belladonna series! We dive into the gothic romance, haunting mysteries, and swoon-worthy characters that make this series a must-read. Adalyn shares behind-the-scenes insights into Signa and Death’s dynamic relationship, her inspiration for the lush, eerie world of Thorn Grove, and what fans can expect next.If you love dark fantasy, romantic gothic fiction, and books like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, this episode is for you! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more author interviews, book discussions, and fantasy recommendations!Here's Adalyn's website: https://adalyngraceauthor.com/You can follow Adalyn Grace on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoradalyngrace/📚 Get Belladonna here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Belladonna-by-Adalyn-Grace/9781399736961🔔 Subscribe for more bookish content!Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #Belladonna #AdalynGrace #FantasyBooks #GothicRomance #BookTok #DarkFantasy #Romantasy #AuthorInterview

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  57:49
• There's NO WAY That’s YA! The Blurred Lines of Young Adult, New Adult & Adult Fantasy

  What really defines a Young Adult (YA) book versus a New Adult (NA) or Adult Fantasy? And why do these distinctions feel more confusing than ever? In this episode, we explore the blurred lines between YA, NA, and Adult books, particularly in the fantasy genre.Our perspectives on YA fantasy have shifted. Kristen now gravitates toward YA fantasy series because they tend to be shorter, more efficient in storytelling, and plot-driven. Plus, when romance is included, it can have more depth and emotional substance instead of relying on spice or smut. Maddie, on the other hand, champions Adult Fantasy but also investigates the publishing industry’s role in categorizing and marketing books.We dive into:📖 Why YA books often earn their page count📖 How the presence of “spice” is (or isn’t) a defining factor📖 The challenges booksellers face in shelving YA vs. NA vs. Adult books📖 How the publishing industry influences these categories📖 Why marketing books appropriately is crucial for the right audienceIf you’ve ever wondered why some books feel miscategorized or why you love (or avoid) YA books as an adult, this discussion is for you! Let us know your thoughts: Should “Young Adult” still be a genre, or is it just confusing readers?Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #YoungAdultBooks #NewAdult #AdultFantasy #BookishPodcast #BookCommunity #FantasyReaders #BookDiscussion #PublishingIndustry #YAbooks #NAbooks #BookMarketing #SpicyBooks #FantasyBookSeries #BookTok #Bookstagram

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  56:47
• Never-Ending TBR? We Have the Cure!

  🚨 STOP rushing through your TBR! 🚨 Books don’t expire, and there’s NO reason to stress about reading books while they’re trending. In this episode, we break down our mantra: Good Books Will Be Good Forever and prove our point with 10 books that have stood the test of time 📖✨We’re talking about:✔️ Why the pressure to read new releases is unnecessary✔️ The problem with hype-driven reading✔️ 10 books over 10 years old that still SLAP 🔥Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:40 The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien07:57 Dune – Frank Herbert11:33 Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card14:26 Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor E. Frankl17:05 Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen19:41 The Infernal Devices Trilogy – Cassandra Clare21:26 Mistborn Trilogy – Brandon Sanderson23:01 And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie24:42 Wayward Pines Trilogy – Blake Crouch26:59 The Realm of the Elderlings – Robin Hobb🔔 Subscribe for more bookish deep dives and hot takes! Let’s savor our reading and stop letting hype dictate our TBRs.Would love to hear your thoughts! Do you feel pressure to read books ASAP before they fade from popularity? Drop a comment! 👇Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #BookPodcast #TimelessBooks #MustReadBooks #BacklistBooks #TBRProblems #GoodBooksWillBeGoodForever #ReadingFOMO #NoRushReading #ClassicReads

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  30:51
• Are Book Reviews Trash?! We Have Thoughts…

  As the 20th best reviewer on Goodreads (out of 150 million users!), Maddie shares the truth about book ratings, how reviews impact our reading experiences, and why they might not be as objective as we think. Kristen, on the other hand, is overcoming her doubts about whether reviewing books is worth the effort. We break down how we rate books, the difference between popularity and quality, and whether our ratings actually change over time. Whether you're a dedicated reviewer or just want to know if that viral book is actually good, this episode is for you!Mentioned in this EpisodeLord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienRealm of the Elderlings by Robin HobbStormlight Archive by Brandon SandersonA Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. JensenWhen the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. ParkerArtificial Wisdom by Thomas WeaverThe Grace Year by Kim LiggettThe Sword of Kaigen by M.L. WangBlood Over Bright Haven by M.L. WangBrandon Sanderson’s lectures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEUh_y1IFZYTimestamps00:00 – Intro00:13 – Maddie is the 20th top reviewer on Goodreads!01:56 – Kristen’s reluctance to write book reviews02:40 – How writing reviews helps Maddie think critically & guide readers06:07 – Why good reviews include both strengths & weaknesses08:58 – Maddie’s reading tracking spreadsheet: why she made it10:16 – Maddie’s rubric for rating & reviewing books14:25 – How reviewing books helps you learn your taste16:30 – What earns 5 stars in the character category?21:20 – Are popular books actually good? Does hype = quality?25:04 – How we rate plot differently28:36 – Can ratings change over time? Are reviews even objective?33:08 – How we analyze themes in books41:18 – Final thoughts on rating & reviewingLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #BookReview #Goodreads #BookTok #BookPodcast #BookRatings #ReadingCommunity #BookLover #Bookish

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  45:20

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