Pepper X Book Club: Kiss of the Basilisk Recap, Goodreads Reviews, and Spooky Season Book Recs with Sarah and Lexy
Whimsy, Spice, and Sometimes NiceShow Notes
Salutations and welcome to our very first Pepper X Book Club episode, a special side-series where we'll discuss other books we're reading in a more casual format. Think book club over wine with the girls, rather than our usual deep-dive style. For this episode, Madeline is joined by Sarah (@sarahvolumesandvibes) and Lexy (@bookswithlexy) to spin out over "Kiss of the Basilisk", book 1 of the Split or Swallow series by Lindsay Straube for endless laughs and a few takes that might surprise you. This episode is good for a light review before starting "Between Two Kings" (book 2) or "Kneel Before Me" (book 3) if it's been a while since you read. Or if you haven't read it yet due to concerns about the content, you can listen to this episode to get a good feel it. There are some spoilers, but it's a very high- level, conversational style recap, and there will still be shocking surprises to first-time readers who listen to this episode first! In this episode, we discuss:
Overall rating, light recap, most shocking moments Goodreads reviews Importance of supporting "smutty" books Spooky season books recs from Sarah and Lexy to leave your TBR absolutely bursting
Book recommendations from Sarah:
Melodies of the Damned & Ballad of the Broken by Nakita Kirwin (Duology will be complete as of 10/24 when BOTB comes out) Souls In Ruin by Jacqueline White (Audiobook HIGHLY Recommended - incomplete series) Anathema by Keri Lake (Audiobook HIGHLY Recommended) The Poisoner, The Arachnid & The Cannibal by I.V. Ophelia (I've only read books 1 and 2 thus far and I definitely suggest the audiobooks here too; it's a completed trilogy) The Fatesworn Saga by Nicole Plantania = Scars Beneath a Serpent's Scales & Revels On an Angel's Grave (incomplete series - loved the audiobook for book 1 on this!)
Book recommendations from Lexy:
The Oylen Series by Gillian Eliza West (Book 1&2 are out, Book 3 Nov 3 release date) Nocticadia by Keri Lake The Nightshade Duology by Keri Lake Harker Academy trilogy by Kate Golden (Book 1&2 are out now! Book 3 TBA ) I didn’t mention it BUT: A Betrothed so Bloody by Mary Dublin and Anne Kendsley - vampire book in 1560s Italy. This is like a knight's tale meets Buffy. It’s very seductive, funny, and a good dark fantasy romance
Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Tik Tok for more amazing book recs @sarahvolumesandvibes and @bookswithlexy and come back for their guest episodes with us for Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac! We'll start our coverage of Vicious Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti shortly! We want to hear your thoughts, feelings, opinions, and predictions! Text or leave us a voicemail at (323)-612-8008 or email us at [email protected]. And of course, be sure to follow us on Instagram @whimsyspicepod for all the latest updates (and to be slightly entertained sometimes). And please, for the love of the stars, leave us a 5-star review. Xoxo, Madeline and Josie
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