Happy holidays, everybody! On this episode, we're sticking with the theme of the season and discussing holidays in fiction! The tentpoles this week are the Doctor Who episode “A Christmas Carol,” the Disney film Coco, and the Scum Villain's Self Saving System fanfic “Shang Qinghua's No Good Very Bad Several Iterations Of A Day.”   What We’re Into Lately The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole Four Letter Word For Intercourse by bendingsignpost The Scapegracers by...

On this week's episode, your Serpents were in the middle of National Novel Writing Month, so they used their smart juicy brains and planned an episode without ANY TENTPOLES WHATSOEVER. It's a craft discussion episode!!   What We’re Into Lately The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee May the Best Man Win by Z. R. Ellor The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells “Artificial Condition” by Martha Wells “Rogue Protocol” by Martha Wells where the stars do not...

On today's episode, we're talking about bards and storytellers! What is art even FOR? The tentpoles this week are Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey, “With a Conquering Air” by inexplicifics, and When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo.   Other Stuff We Mentioned Chronicles of Ghadid series by K. A. Doore Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Mad Max: Fury Road meme face Viable Paradise roommates The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Murder wife from Luther Chess A...

On this week's episode, we're talking about mermaids, sirens, selkies, and other moist ladies who may or may not want to eat your whole face off! Guess what: The sea is terrifying! F**k the sea! Tentpoles this week are The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, and the Studio Ghibli movie Ponyo. What We’re Into Lately Piranesi by Susanna Clark Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Division Bells by Iona Datt Sharma Lynchpin by ShanaStoryteller Please miss postman...

On this week's episode, we're talking about sports! The tentpoles are Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett, Bend It Like Beckham, and “Thirty Years and Change” by sunsmasher.   What We’re Into Lately Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott Fence: Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan Binging with Babish Scum Villain fanfic The Untamed fanfic Yuri!!! on Ice fanfic (because nostalgia) Drowned Country by Emily Tesh Scum Villain anime Haikyuu!!   Other Stuff We Mentioned Blaseball Space American...

On today's episode, we're getting into that Spooky Season mood and talking about the dreaded VAMPYR. Or vampire, as Macey and Freya insist on pronouncing it. The tentpoles this week are “Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time” by Kellen Szpara, What We Do in the Shadows, and “pro bono” by astronicht.   What We’re Into Lately Either Side of Midnight by Benjamin Stevenson The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall The Faerie Hounds of York by Arden Powell The Only Good Indians...

On this week's episode, we're joined by glamorous guest star Naomi Novik to talk about magical boarding schools and the purposes of structured education. The tentpoles this week are A Deadly Education and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.   What We’re Into Lately Will Darling Adventures series by K.J. Charles The Sugared Game by K.J. Charles Kindred by Octavia Butler Niccolò series by Dorothy Dunnett The Spring of the Ram by Dorothy Dunnett The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy...

On this week's episode, we're taking a break to answer questions submitted by our listeners and play a fun game! It's the Extravaganza! \o/ What We’re Into Lately Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow Down to Agincourt series by seperis The Game of God by seperis How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin What the Water Gave Me by iesika Knock Down the House Blaseball   Other Stuff We Mentioned Qantas Lounge at Heathrow International Airport The 10th Circle of Hell, ie Newark Liberty...

On this week's episode, we're putting on some mood lighting, we're pouring a glass of wine, and we're talking about some sexy things. And also about sex when it's more funny than sexy. The tentpoles for this episode are: “Favorite” by astolat, Sense8, particularly episode six of season one, and The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite.   What We’re Into Lately When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy...

On this week's episode, we are pondering the nature of mortality -- and immortality! We're discussing demigods and other sorts of very, very long lived folks. The tentpoles for this week are The Old Guard, The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson, and “The god of scraped knees.” by spqr. What We’re Into Lately The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite Alice Payne Arrives by Kate Heartfield Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia Fiyah, issue 15 Summer in Orcus by T....

On this week's episode, Macey gets her feet tangled in her cardigan, Freya tries to convince everyone to submit Extravaganza questions via 5-star iTunes reviews, and Alex is very tired. Oh, and we're also doing a deep-dive on a single tentpole: The Witcher tv show!   What We’re Into Lately The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí ClarkTake a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia HibbertHaikyuu!! The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in...

On this week's episode, we’re discussing soulmates and soul bonds! Everyone have your assigned buddy? Remember to hold hands so nobody gets lost! The tentpoles for this episode are Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert, Fated by maydei, and “Deconstruct” by flowercity.   What We’re Into Lately The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley “Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders” by Aliette de Bodard Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas Realm of Ash by...

On today's episode we're talking about Harry Potter, the unbearable TERFness of JK Rowling, and the power of fanfic to reclaim and transform problematic canons: We're doing a deep-dive on the fanfic "Transfigurations" by Resonant! What We’re Into Lately Greenlight by Benjamin Stevenson The Letdown TV series Pink Slip by Katrina Jackson The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson Seraphina by Rachel Hartman What married people do by Shamelesscooper, a Scum Villain/Untamed crossover...

On this week's episode, we're looking at a selection of small scenes from several different pieces of media: The Expanse, Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon, an Alexander the Great documentary, K. J. Parker’s Devices and Desires, and Bujold’s The Warrior’s Apprentice. What We’re Into Lately Murderbot novellas by Martha Wells Network Effect by Martha Wells Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison Empire of Sand by Tasha...

On this week's episode, we're doing a whirlwind survey of the six finalists from this year's Hugo Award for Best Novel: The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley, Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, The City In the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders, and The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow!   What We’re Into Lately Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik The Memory of Souls by...

On this week's episode we're kicking back to discuss some of the beloved fantasy books of our youth, including The Circle of Magic series, the Abhorsen series, the Dark Is Rising series, and others! What We’re Into Lately The Spare by Miranda Dubner Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai The Fever King by Victoria Lee The Electric Heir by Victoria Lee Unholy Union by NeverwinterThistle Middlegame by Seanan McGuire The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù Come As You Are by Emily...

On this week's episode, we're discussing historical fantasy, and Freya makes a truly brilliant point about what this genre really IS. The tentpoles today are The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley, A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly, and “Duende” by astolat.   What We’re Into Lately Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho Glitch A Marvelous Light by Freya Markse! Tor.com Dr. Manhattan The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Master and Commander by Patrick...

On this week's episode, it's time for another extravaganza of questions from our darling listeners! What's Freya's favorite nonfiction book? How quickly can Macey bring up chaos theory? Will Alex make any progress convincing their cohosts to wear snek onesies for the digital Hugo ceremony?   What We’re Into Lately: Swordheart by T. Kingfisher The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Untamed...

On this week's episode we're a lil loopy from quarantine, but we're still having fun! We're talking about non-human protagonists this week, with the tentpoles for discussion being The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood, All Systems Red by Martha Wells, and the film Ratatouille.   What We’re Into Lately A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall Birarley by Aster Glenn Gray The Unconquered City by K.A. Doore perhaps even friends by hirokiyuu The Great...

Welcome back to campus, students! It's the episode about college AUs and university settings! On today’s episode, we’re discussing The Student Prince by FayJay, Pamela Dean’s Tam Lin, and the pilot episode of The Magicians.   What We’re Into Lately Band Sinister by K. J. Charles Stormsong by C.L. Polk The Husky and His White Cat Shizun fic The Untamed fic The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons   Other Stuff We Mentioned Witchmark by C.L. Polk The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Meatbun...

On this episode, we are shifting into a more serious register to talk about plague narratives. In light of the current pandemic, we urge you to check in with yourself before listening to this episode--are you doing okay? Are you good to listen to this right now? Please take care of yourself, and don't listen to this episode right now if it'll be an emotional overload for you. It'll always be here for you later. That said, the tentpoles for this episode are:  The Monster of Elendhaven, The...

On this week's episode, we're diving into a very self-referential discussion of the metatext! Tentpoles this week are the film The Handmaiden, the fanfic “Steve Rogers at 100,” and A Choir of Lies by our very own Alexandra Rowland.   What We’re Into Lately Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri The Impossible Contract by K. A. Doore Georgette Heyer The Untamed The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xu Heaven Official’s Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xu The Simplest...

On this week's episode, we're talking about bureaucracies! Macey brought a fun little game so Alex and Freya could use their imaginations! We're also talking about two great tentpoles: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett and the Harry Potter fanfic “Little Red Courgette” by blamebrampton.   What We’re Into Lately The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong...

On this episode, we're discussing portal fantasies! We're yelling about how mad we are at Aslan! We're finding out Freya's middle name! We're talking about some great tentpoles: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, “Every Heart a Doorway” by Seanan McGuire, and the 2005 movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.   What We’re Into Lately Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Little Women 2019 movie Learn My Lesson by Katee Robert The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System Our Story’s...

On this episode, the Serpents are welding themselves to their b******t with the help of a friend, glamorous guest star and kickass editor Ruoxi Chen! We're yelling about the Chinese fantasy drama, The Untamed! Welcome to Year Three of the podcast!!   What We’re Into Lately Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling Wilder Girls by Rory Power The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System SV...