069 Lindsey Sparks on "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness

Today I’m joined by the brainy and delightful bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author Lindsey Sparks, who got me to read a book that approximately one million people have recommended to me. Lindsey calls “A Discovery of Witches” a grown-up Twilight meets the Da Vinci Code, which I think is spot on. She also blew my mind when she explained how a good sci-fi or fantasy novel will stand on its own when all fantastical elements are pulled out of it, which in turn made me rethink what I have liked about the few books in those genres I’ve read.

One warning: we delve into the topic of miscarriage in this episode, and how it can be a trigger for many readers, and how hard it is to avoid. I’ve moved this part of our conversation to the end of the podcast, so if this is a topic you aren’t up to, you may want to tap out at about the 20 minute mark. You’ll still get the book chat, but you can skip over the part you are sensitive to.

 

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Host: Julie Strauss

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Guest: Lindsey Sparks

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Do you know a young person who’d like to appear on the 2nd Annual Kids/YA Gift Guide Episode? GO HERE!

 

Discussed in this episode:

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Julie’s appearance on Lindsey’s podcast “No Shelf Control”

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Redemption of Althalus by David Eddings

Dead Witch Walking: Book One of The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison

The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger

The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

The Ending Series, co-authored by Lindsey Pogue and Lindsey Sparks

Lindsey Pogue on the Best Book Ever podcast

True Blood Television Series

Dead Until Dark: (Sookie Stackhouse Book 1) by Charlaine Harris

Guilty Pleasures: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel (Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

Virgin River TV Show

The Elemental Mysteries by Elizabeth Hunter

The Martian by Andy Weir

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

 

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