Dragons & Spaceships
Welcome to Dragons & Spaceships, your ultimate guide to the best books in sci-fi and fantasy! Whether you're into the latest releases or timeless classics, we've got you covered. Our mission is to promote reading and the exploration of new imaginary worlds, diving into all sub-genres from action and suspense to mystery and romance.
Join our host Brandi Nelsen as we authentically share our love for these genres, have fun, and share the hottest books out. Whether you're a hardcore D&D fan or just love a good space opera, let your nerdy side shine with us. Tune in and embark on an epic adventure with Dragons & Spaceships!
Episodes
72 episodes
Epic Fantasy, Honor, and the Weight of Power | The Way of Kings
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive into The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, the monumental opening to The Stormlight Archive — a fantasy saga defined not just by scale, but by emotional depth and moral complexity.This...
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Season 1
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Episode 75
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6:58
The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Love, Identity, and the Lives We Imagined
In this reflective episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we explore Dream Count, a contemplative literary novel that examines identity, ambition, and the narratives we construct about our lives.Rather than focusing on dramatic twists, the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 74
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5:38
Revisiting A Court of Thorns and Roses + What’s Next for the Series
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we revisit A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, the book that helped define modern romantasy.With cinematic pacing, immersive romance, lush world building, and a final act that raises ...
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Season 1
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Episode 73
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6:23
Redemption, Regret, and Second Chances | Reminders of Him
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive into Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover, a deeply emotional story about redemption, forgiveness, and the fragile rebuilding of trust.If you watched the film adaptation first, the novel ...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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6:20
Love, Loss, and What We Choose to Believe | Remain
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi dives into Remain, a haunting, atmospheric novel that blends mystery, grief, and romance against the windswept isolation of Cape Cod.With a ticking clock, unanswered questions, and a tru...
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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6:47
If Only I Had Told Her | A Story of Quiet Love and Unspoken Regret
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores If Only I Had Told Her, a deeply emotional novel that examines the heartbreak of unspoken words and the consequences of silence in love and relationships. The story focuses on a woman w...
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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5:14
Truth, Courage, and Who Gets Believed | The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi dives into The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, a powerful historical mystery that asks hard questions about truth, justice, and whose voices are allowed to matter.Set in 1789 Maine, the no...
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Season 1
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Episode 69
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6:46
Quiet Survival and Unexpected Connection | The Wedding People by Alison Espach
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores The Wedding People, a quietly devastating and deeply compassionate novel about grief, invisibility, and the unexpected ways connection can keep us alive.Set against the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 68
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7:02
Silence, Complicity, and the Cost of Truth | The Widow by Fiona Barton
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores The Widow, a slow burning psychological mystery that lingers long after the final page. Rather than relying on shock twists or flashy reveals, this novel builds unease through silence, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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7:58
Holiday Reads, Cozy Mysteries, and a Little Festive Chaos
In this special holiday episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi leans into the cozy, playful spirit of the season with reader questions, festive book recommendations, and a Dragon’s Roar full of upcoming releases to add to your winter TBR.
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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7:14
The Only One Left | Haunted Houses, Twisted Confessions, and Riley Sager at His Best
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi unpacks Riley Sager’s gothic thriller The Only One Left, a story dripping with atmosphere and tension. Set inside Hope’s End, a crumbling mansion perched on a cliff, the book creates an eerie ci...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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8:04
Love, Loyalty, and Monsters | Shield of Sparrows Deep Dive
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi returns to the world of Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows and explores why this fantasy romance has captured the hearts of readers. Brandi breaks down the emotional layers, the monster mythology...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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9:08
Why Everyone's Talking About Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Atmosphere is a story about courage, ambition, and the quiet strength it takes to live authentically when the world tells you not to. Brandi explores how Taylor Jenkins Reid blends heart, history, and humanity to create a story that feels both ...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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7:42
Love and Other Words: A Slow Burn That Stays With You
Love and Other Words is the kind of slow burn that sneaks up on you. Every chapter adds another clue, another emotional layer, and the alternating timeline gives it a nostalgic, bittersweet rhythm. It is technically a r...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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7:44
The Knight and The Moth: A Story That Bleeds and Heals
The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig cuts deep. It is raw, poetic, and unforgettable. In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores Gillig’s breathtaking writing style and the emotional themes that make her work both painful an...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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6:28
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah + Adaptation Talk
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah — a raw, emotional story of survival, love, and the strength it takes to endure both wilderness and heartbreak. Set in the rugged beauty of Alaska, thi...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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7:42
The Mean Ones: Trauma, Horror, and Healing with Tatiana Schlote
In this chilling and deeply introspective episode of Dragons and Spaceships, host Brandi sits down once again with acclaimed horror author Tatiana Schlote (also known as The Buff Writer) to discuss her latest psychological folk horror novel, Th...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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16:55
Love, Lies, and Murder: Exploring The Perfect Marriage
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, host Brandi dives into Jeneva Rose’s dark, twisty psychological thriller, The Perfect Marriage. Sarah Morgan, a high-powered defense attorney, steps in to defend her husband Adam when his mistress is b...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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8:18
Exploring The Women on Platform Two
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, host Brandi dives into The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony — a powerful historical novel set in 1970s Dublin, when contraception was still illegal. The story follows Mara and Bernie, two brave w...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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6:37
Friends, Lovers, and Summer Escapes: Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, host Brandi takes listeners on a heartfelt journey through Emily Henry’s bestselling romance, People We Meet on Vacation.We dive deep into Poppy and Alex’s annual summer trips, their opposites-...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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9:12
Locked in Mystery: The Woman in Cabin 10 Deep Dive
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, the hosts dive into Ruth Ware’s gripping psychological thriller, The Woman in Cabin 10. Set aboard a luxurious cruise liner, the story follows journalist Lo Blacklock as she uncovers ...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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6:52
Is Powerless the Next Big Fantasy Hit?
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores the thrilling YA fantasy debut, Powerless by Lauren Roberts. Journey through the brutal kingdom of Aaliyah, where magic determines worth, as ordinary Paedyn Gray defies ...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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8:56
The Stories That Shape Us: A Deep Dive into The Lost Bookshop
In this enchanting episode of Dragons and Spaceships, host Brandi delves into Evie Woods’ The Lost Bookshop, a novel that beautifully blends historical fiction with magical realism. Through the intertwined lives of Opaline, Ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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8:40
Summer, Love, and Growing Up: Exploring Jenny Han’s Classic
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive into Jenny Han’s beloved novel, The Summer I Turned Pretty. Known for capturing the magic and melancholy of adolescence, Han tells a story about love, family, and the bittersw...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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5:52
Motives, Power, and Transformation in Rose in Chains
In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive deep into the layered world of Rose in Chains. Rather than focusing solely on plot, we turn our attention to the characters who breathe life into the narrative.Host Bra...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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6:29