Novel Finds

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

In this episode, Julia chats with author, editor, and scholar Lee Mandelo, about his anthology Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity, in which he compiled and editied 22 short stories from prominent and emerging LGBTQIA+ voices! The book is out now, so find it at your favorite local indie, or order it from one of Lee's faves: Carmichael's, Charis Books & More, Loyalty Books, Books Are Magic, or UnabridgedDeath By TBR (Lee's favorite books): Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar, The Long Run: A Creative Inquiry by Stacey D'Erasmo, Blackouts by Justin Torres, The Dove in the Belly by Jim Grimsley, and The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra ChandrasekeraFollow Lee on Bluesky, IG, and his websiteWatch lgbt+ positive shows on GagaOOLala---Host: Julia SteudleCo-Editor & Artwork: Jonah KensettMusic: Brady DunnSocial 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 Hannah Nicole Maehrer (pronounced May-er) about her Assistant to the Villain series and it's newest installment, Accomplice to the Villain! Coming out August 5th, 2025.Death By TBR (Hannah's favorite books): A Forbidden Alchemy by Hannah's Best Friend Forever, Stacey McEwan, The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole, and A Forbidden Fate by Kaven HirningFind Hannah's books at her fave indie bookstores: Reads & Company, Looker Books, The Ripped Bodice (both locations!), and The New RomanticsFollow Hannah on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube---Host: Julia SteudleCo-Editor & Artwork: Jonah KensettMusic: Brady DunnSocial 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 debut author Lindsey Byrd about the first book in her new duology The Sun Blessed Prince (out now!) In this three POV narrative, we follow Elician, Giver and Prince of Soleb, Cat, Reaper of Allelune, and Fenlia, Elician's younger sister who also happens to be a Giver. Their fates are woven intricately together in this fantasy, and begs the question: are we really that different from one another?Death By TBR (Lindsey's Favorite Books): Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Sistersong by Lucy Holland, Le Fay by Sophie Keetch, (Sophie's Novel Finds Episode), Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab, Dark Heir series by C.S. PacatFind Lindsey's book at a bookstore in Ann Arbor, or order it from the Novel Finds Author Chat Booklist on Bookshop.org!Follow Lindsey on Instagram, Tumblr, her website, and listen to her podcast Writing Is Hard! with Lindsey Byrd (new episodes on Mondays)---Host: Julia SteudleCo-Editor & Artwork: Jonah KensettMusic: Brady DunnSocial 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