Ep #218

“SFF FAVORITES”

In this short compilation episode, we’ve edited together past Sci-Fi & Fantasy romance recommendations from hosts Meka and Melinda 

EP 218 HOSTS

> MEKA (she/her) is the voice behind BookAbility.me where she writes about her adventures in reading romance and being visually impaired. Meka loves pushing books and can’t wait to share her favorites with you. When she’s not reading, Meka also enjoys singing and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her guide dog, Treble. You can follow her on Twitter @Mektastic

> MELINDA UTENDORF (she/her) was that child reading Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High books with a flashlight until 2 a.m. and checking out stacks of books from the library every week. After getting sick of ‘important’ books in her English degree classes, she turned to romance and HEAs and hasn’t looked back since. Melinda spends her time doing puzzles, listening to podcasts, and helping as admin for @RomanceSparksJoy. When she’s not busy with all of that, she’s a freelance editor or talking about books as @MelindaEdits


EP 218 DISCUSSION

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

NOTE: These notes include affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon.com to support the RBP transcript project

NOTE: This episode is a compilation of recommendations from past discussions, and was edited together in January during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-21

> Title: Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1)

Author: L. Penelope

Relation to theme: Fantasy setting

Representation: Black author, Black MC

Content Warnings: war, death, murder, attempted sexual assault, children in peril, racism, colorism, xenophobia, classism

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2YhApqR

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39863207-song-of-blood-stone

NOTE: This book was discussed in RBP #106

LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-106/

> Title: Your Heart Will Grow (The Absolutes #1)

Author: Chace Verity

Relation to theme: Mermaid MC

Representation: Queer author, queer MCs

Content Warnings (provided by the author):

– Offers of sex as currency/bargaining tool

– Multiple instances of a character being drugged

– Slut-shaming

– Abusive family members

– Hair-pulling kink

– Some graphic violence

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3pnKQVV

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30324115-your-heart-will-grow

NOTE: This book was discussed in RBP ep #130

LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-130/

> Title: The Weight of the Stars

Author: K. Ancrum

Relation to theme: Soft sci-fi set in the near future

Representation: Author of color, queer author, queer MCs, injured MC

Content Warnings: teasing, school violence, accident (broken arm), absent parent

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2YiKeVC

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36952571-the-weight-of-the-stars

NOTE: This book was discussed in RBP ep #126

LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-126/

> Title: Dithered Hearts

Author: Chace Verity

Relation to theme: Cinderella retelling

Representation: Queer author, queer MCs

Content Warnings (provided by the author): 

– Abuse toward queer characters, including mental, emotional, and on-the-page physical abuse

– Abuse toward a disabled character

– Anti-queer rhetoric and microaggressions

– Excessive swearing, including gendered insults

– Mentions of deceased parents

– Mentions of substance abuse and addiction

– Misgendering, including accidental and willful instances

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3a2fwWa

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46041338-dithered-hearts

NOTE: This episode was discussed in RBP ep #210 but was cut for time

LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/ep-210/

> Title: Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle #1)

Author: C.L. Polk

Relation to theme: Fantasy setting

Representation: Queer author, queer MCs

Content Warnings: PTSD

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3hxleCV

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36187110-witchmark

NOTE: This book was discussed in the RBP Best of 2020 episode

LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/best-of-2020/

> Title: Strange Love

Author: Ann Aguirre 

Relation to theme: Alien MC

Representation: Queer MC

Content Warnings: deadly competitions, death (side character), sexual assault (side character)

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/lists/hosts-meka-melinda-s-recs/

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3b1AQxk

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48915429-strange-love

NOTE: This book was discussed in the RBP Best of 2020 episode

LISTEN NOW: http://lustandfoundreads.com/rombkpod/best-of-2020/

> What are your Sci-Fi & Fantasy #InclusiveRomance favorites? Tag us @RomBkPod or share with us in the comments

Happy Reading!

EP 218 MUSIC CREDIT

Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar

From the Free Music Archive

CC BY-SA 3.0


TRANSCRIPT FORTHCOMING