Kris and Mads

Welcome back friends! 🌍📚 In today’s podcast episode, we’re sharing the ultimate book lover travel bucket list — real places around the world that feel exactly like our favorite books. From the fantasy landscapes of New Zealand inspired by The Lord of the Rings, to the ancient streets of Pompeii from The Wolf Den Trilogy, and the gothic atmosphere of Romania inspired by Dracula, we are talking about the destinations that made us want to book a flight immediately.
If you love fantasy books, historical fiction, literary fiction, classic novels, romantasy, or immersive world-building, this episode is packed with book recommendations and dream travel destinations for readers. We discuss books like The Odyssey by Homer, Jade City by Fonda Lee, The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, A Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park, Kaikeyi, The Count of Monte Cristo, and so many more.
Whether you’re building your TBR, planning future travels, or just want cozy bookish conversation, we hope this episode inspires your next adventure both on and off the page ✨
📖 Books Mentioned:
• The Odyssey by Homer — Greece
• Jade City by Fonda Lee — Japan
• The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang — Japan
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee — Japan
• A Game of Thrones — Croatia
• The Lord of the Rings — New Zealand
• Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton — Hawaii
• Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel — India
• Rook & Rose Trilogy by M.A. Carrick — Venice, Italy
• The Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper — Pompeii, Italy
• Dracula by Bram Stoker — Romania
• Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne — Scandinavia
• Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter — Africa
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas — Paris
⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
3:00 - The Odyssey by Homer (Greece)
9:06 - Jade City by Fonda Lee (Japan)
10:44 - The Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang (Japan)
12:15 - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Japan)
14:28 - A Game of Thrones (Croatia)
16:39 - The Lord of the Rings (New Zealand)
19:16 - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (Hawaii)
21:16 - Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel (India)
23:30 - Rook & Rose Trilogy by M.A. Carrick (Venice, Italy)
25:47 - The Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper (Pompeii, Italy)
29:08 - Dracula by Bram Stoker (Romania)
32:04 - Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne (Scandinavia)
35:01 - Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter (Africa)
39:05 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Paris)
41:13 - Maddie’s little dream
43:03 - Wrap-up
#BookPodcast #BookTube #FantasyBooks #HistoricalFiction #TravelBucketList #BookRecommendations #BookLovers #ReadingPodcast #FantasyTravel #LiteraryTravel #BooksAndTravel #Romantasy #TheLordOfTheRings #GameOfThrones #Dracula #Pachinko #JurassicPark #BookishTravel

In today’s episode, we’re revisiting some of the most popular fantasy, romance, literary fiction, and classic books we’ve ever reviewed… because honestly? We were WRONG about some of these ratings. From beloved BookTok fantasy series and viral romance books to classic literature staples and modern literary fiction, we’re sharing the books we should’ve rated higher — and the books we may have seriously overrated.
We discuss books like Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Normal People by Sally Rooney, Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb, From Blood & Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Powerless by Lauren Roberts, The Folk of the Air by Holly Black, A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, Christina Lauren romances, and more. If you love book podcasts, reading vlogs, fantasy books, romance books, literary fiction, classics, BookTube, or BookTok discussions, stick around! Our channel is packed with controversial reader opinions, book recommendations, and honest reviews.
Let’s connect!
Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  
Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]
TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  
Instagram:   / krisandmads  
All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads
To check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  
#bookpodcast #booktube #fantasybooks #romancebooks #booktok #readingpodcast #bookrecommendations #fantasyromance #literaryfiction #classicbooks

April was a great reading month for both of us! Together we did a buddy read of a popular romantasy book, sprinkled in some classic literature, devoured some gripping historic fiction, and even threw in a new contemporary romance! Great book recommendations from https://www.youtube.com/results?searc...Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  
#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning author Emma Brodie to talk all things Into the Blue—a Reese’s Book Club Pick and one of the most buzzed-about romance releases of 2026. From Star Trek references and fan fiction roots to improv acting, SNL dreams, and Comic Con culture, this is a love story that feels tailor-made for nerds, creatives, and anyone who has ever been obsessed with a fictional world.Emma Brodie is not just a novelist—she’s a longtime publishing insider and Executive Editor at Clarkson Potter, with over 15 years in the industry. Her debut novel Songs in Ursa Major earned the American Book Award, and her latest release is already earning major praise from bestselling authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid (“intoxicating”) and Gabrielle Zevin (“smart and romantic”).In Into the Blue, Brodie blends romance, sci-fi fandom, improv comedy, and the chaos of the entertainment industry into a sweeping, decade-spanning love story about two creatives navigating ambition, identity, and a connection that feels almost cosmic. Think: SNL writers’ rooms, intergalactic TV shows, acting partnerships, and the blurred line between fiction and reality.We talk about:✨ Writing a romance rooted in nerd culture and fandom✨ Star Trek, sci-fi influences, and fan fiction energy✨ The world of improv, acting, and comedy writing✨ Building a love story across time, fame, and creative ambition✨ What the future holds for Emma, and creative freedomIf you love books like Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, stories about artists and performers, or romance with a nerdy, pop culture twist—this episode is for you.You can purchase a signed edition of Into the Blue from the following independent bookstores:https://bookshop.org/p/books/into-the...https://bunchofgrapes.indielite.org/s...Find Emma on Stubstack and Instagram:https://emmabrodie.substack.com/  / emma.c.brodie  Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

If you're looking for your next great read, and are determined to avoid a reading slump, this episode is packed with book recommendations across fantasy, romantasy, thrillers, classics, historical fiction, literary fiction, and contemporary fiction! The best strategy we've found to stay interested in our TBRs is to make sure there is a lot of variety!Today we’re sharing our Priority Q2 TBR—the books we absolutely HAVE to read this quarter. From epic fantasy like A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin, to new romantasy like Dire Bound, to classics like The Count of Monte Cristo, psychological thrillers like Yesteryear, and buzzy contemporary fiction like Margo’s Got Money Troubles, this list has something for every reader.We’re talking about the books we’re most excited for, the titles we think could become new favorites, and the reads we know everyone will be talking about this year.Whether you love fantasy romance, literary fiction, historical fiction, thrillers, or book club books, this episode is full of recommendations to add to your TBR.Books Mentioned:📖 A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin📖 Emma M. Lion Vol. 5–8 by Beth Brower📖 Direbound & Furybound by Sable Sorensen📖 A Court of Thorns and Roses / Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas📖 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas📖 Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe📖 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans📖 I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid📖 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho📖 Family Drama by Rebecca Fallon📖 Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeTell us in the comments: What’s the #1 book on your TBR right now?Timestamps0:00 - Intro0:56 - Ditching the TBR wheel!5:10 - Storm of Swords by George RR Martin10:29 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (5-8)15:09 - Dire Bound & Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen18:50 - ACOTAR & Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass20:06 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas22:56 - Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe26:35 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans28:49 - I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid30:51 - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho32:00 - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green33:08 - Family Drama by Rebecca Fallon35:20 - Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected]:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  

#BookTube #BookPodcast #TBR #SpringTBR #FantasyBooks #RomantasyBooks #SarahJMaas #BookRecommendations #ReadingVlog #BooktokBooks #HistoricalFiction #ThrillerBooks #LiteraryFiction #ContemporaryFiction #ReadersOfYouTube #BookClubBooks #FantasyReaders #BooksToRead #ReadingRecommendations #QuarterlyTBR