Novel Finds

We've made it to the end of our fifth season (no not the N.K. Jemison book)... in this episode, Julia chats with her longtime bff Hannah, content developer & reviewer for Novel Finds about this season. We've got analytics, favorite books and moments, and a bit about where we want to go with season six.Thank you so much for listening to the show! Happy Holidays from the Novel Finds team!Want a beautiful tattoo from Uprooted Ink? Go here!---Host: Julia Steudle (she/her)Editor & Artwork: Jonah Kensett (he/him)Music: Brady Dunn (they/them)Online Reviews & Content Development: Hannah Latham (she/her)Social media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia and her partner Jonah head to Harrogate for the 2025 Thought Bubble Festival to interview graphic novelists and comic creators! We had the chance to chat with Sarah Graley, one half of the team for Pizza Witch and Our Super Adventure, Hamish Steele of DeadEndia (both the comic creator and Netflix show) and most recently Go-Man, and Bex Glendining of On Starlit Shores, their debut graphic novel about grief and magic.Comics to read if you want somewhere to start: Chainsaw Man, Scott Pilgrim, Alien vs Predator, Maus, Watchmen, Pokemon Adventures Manga, Brooms, The Gulf, and SnapdragonFollow Sarah Graley & Sarah's fave comic atm: My Sister the WerebeastFollow Hamish Steele & Hamish's fave comics: Beautiful Darkness and BlackjackFollow Bex Glendining & Bex's fave comics: anything with gothic vampires, Hungerstone, I Who Have Never Known Men, The Lamb---Host: Julia Steudle (she/her)Editor & Artwork: Jonah Kensett (he/him)Music: Brady Dunn (they/them)Online Reviews & Content Development: Hannah Latham (she/her)Social media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia chats with bestselling author Ayana Gray about her newest mythological novel, I, Medusa. They discuss the importance of representation, historical accuracy, and...spiders? Find Ayana's books in her favorite bookstores: WordsWorth Books, Pyramid Books, and Paper Heart Books Death By TBR (Ayana's favorite books): Little Thieves by Margaret Owen, Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, and anything by Toni Morrison (Sula and The Bluest Eye)Follow Ayana on Instagram and her website---Host: Julia Steudle (she/her)Editor & Artwork: Jonah Kensett (he/him)Music: Brady Dunn (they/them)Online Reviews & Content Development: Hannah Latham (she/her)Social media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

WARNING: If you have not read the ACOTAR series, this episode is not for you as it contains spoilers, and also doesn't make sense for those who have not read the books.In this episode, Julia chats with longtime friend and ACOTAR correspondant, Dr. Shelby Van Rossum! Shelby is the one who introduced Novel Finds to the A Court of Thorns and Roses books (and the rest of the Maasverse) and has appeared each season for a special episode chatting about the next book in the series. This time we take on A Court of Silver Flames (aka the big orange book).Death by TBR (Shelby's recs): The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (or literally anything [except maybe Mansfield Park] by Jane Austen!)Follow Shelby on IG---Host: Julia Steudle (she/her)Editor & Artwork: Jonah Kensett (he/him)Music: Brady Dunn (they/them)Online Reviews & Content Devlopment: Hannah Latham (she/her)Social media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia chats with bestselling and award-winning author Alexandria Bellefleur about her latest novel, which just happens to be a paranormal romance called The Devil She Knows! We chat about late-in-life queer dating, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and even get a bit philosophical about what a soul is.Pre-order her book now, or find it from her fave independent bookstores like Strand Books, The Ripped Bodice, Meet Cute Bookshop, Third Place Books, The Book & Cover, and Steamy Lit on October 21st! (Just in time for Halloween.)Death by TBR (Alexandria's fave books): When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare and Play Nice by Rachel HarrisonFollow Alexandria on Instagram, Threads, and her website---Host: Julia Steudle (she/her)Editor & Artwork: Jonah Kensett (he/him)Music: Brady Dunn (they/them)Online Reviews & Content Devlopment: Hannah Latham (she/her)Social media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia chats with bestselling author, Julie Leong, about her upcoming cozy fantasy The Keeper of Magical Things! Brief Summary: Certainty Bulrush is a mage-in-training and just wants to be useful...unfortunately, she isn't very good at magic. What she *is* good at is connecting with magical inanimate objects, so when she is sent on a too-good-to-be-true assignment to the remote town of Shpelling, it seems everything is going to go exactly as intended. Until, well, it doesn't! Pre-order the book now, or find it at one of Julie's fave local independent bookstores Noe Valley Books and Blue Cypress Books on October 14th!Death by TBR (Julie's favorite books): Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, jump in with The Witches or Small Gods, The City in Glass by Nghi Vo, The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August, The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth DurstFollow Julie on Instagram and her website---Host: Julia Steudle (she/her)Editor & Artwork: Jonah Kensett (he/him)Music: Brady Dunn (they/them)Online Reviews & Content Devlopment: Hannah Latham (she/her)Social media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia chats with webtoon-creator-turned-graphic-novelist Miranda Mundt about their graphic novel, Muted! In Muted, we follow Camille Severin, orphaned witch of one of the famed witch families of New Orleans. Camille struggles with her magic and when her coming-of-age ritual goes awry, she's suddenly given the gift of time to discover herself. Volume 1 is available now, and Volume 2 is coming October 14th, 2025. Grab them from some of Miranda's favorite bookstores: Elliott Bay Book Company, Outsider Comics, and Charlie's Queer BooksMuted Family Quiz (Julia got the Dupree Family!)Death By TBR (Miranda's Fave Books): Witch Hat AtelierFollow Miranda on socials: Instagram, Website, Twitter, YouTube, Patreon, Webtoon---Host: Julia Steudle (she/her)Editor & Artwork: Jonah Kensett (he/him)Music: Brady Dunn (they/them)Online Reviews & Content Devlopment: Hannah Latham (she/her)Social media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

In this episode, Julia chats with bestselling author (and Doctor Who writer and newly established Bratz doll collector) Juno Dawson, about her seriously magical series (and series finale) Her Majesty's Royal Coven! The epic conclusion to the series, Human Rites, is out now and you can find it at Juno's fave bookshops: Anderson's Bookshop, Gibson's Bookstore, An Unlikely Story, Queer Lit, Gays the Word, The Book Nook, and City BooksDeath by TBR (Juno's favorite books): The Transgender Issue: Trans Justice Is Justice for All by Shon Faye, Boy Parts, Penance, and She's Always Hungry by Eliza Clark, Stag Dance by Torrey Peters, Julia Armfield, Alison Rumfitt, Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan, My Husband by Maud Ventura, Heatwave by Victor Jestin, Convenience Store Woman, and Earthlings by Sayaka MurataFollow Juno on socials: personal Instagram and Bratz Instagram---Host: Julia SteudleEditor & Artwork: Jonah KensettMusic: Brady DunnOnline Reviews & Content Devlopment: Hannah LathamSocial media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org

CW: not graphic, brief mention of SA and torture when discussing OutlanderIn this episode, Julia chats with bestselling author Sara Raasch about her newest Dnd-inspired book, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards! A Magic-Meets-STEM fantasy university set in Philadelphia with two hot bisexual messes who hate each other so much that they kiss (naturally). Pre-order Sara's book now from her fave indie bookshops: The Fallen Acorn Bookshop, SeeWhich Books, Novel Grounds, and Fountain BooksDeath by TBR (Sara's favorite books): The Twelve Houses series by Sharon ShinnDonate to Transanta CharityFollow Sara on her website, Instagram, TikTok, and BlueskyIG: Gregory_Paperback Lesaria University Hoodie!---Host: Julia SteudleEditor & Artwork: Jonah KensettMusic: Brady DunnOnline Reviews & Content Development: Hannah LathamSocial media: Instagram and BlueskyJoin the Novel Finds PatreonCheck out our book lists on Bookshop.org to support indie bookstoresNovel Finds is an affiliate of Bookshop.org