Being Bookish

Raye
  • 4.9 (21)
  • Books
  • Updated Biweekly

Avid reader, big book lover. I talk about books. I love recommending books, across genres including fantasy, romantasy, cosy mystery and science fiction. I also speak with authors, and I always ensure I don't spoil the ending. Episodes released every other Tuesday.

  1. Jul 8 ·  Bonus

    The Stephen King Thing - The Shining

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Stephen King Thing, a special spin-off series from the Being Bookish podcast. In this part of the show, Lorraine and I are dedicating our time to exploring the extensive bibliography of the master of horror, and this time, both Lorraine and I will be somewhat reluctantly and definitely nervously checking into the Overlook Hotel to dissect his 1977 masterpiece, The Shining. Because we're taking a deep dive into the chilling isolation of the Torrance family and the hotel's sinister grip on Jack's sanity, these episodes do things a little differently. As I've mentioned before, unlike my usual episodes, the Stephen King thing is not spoiler-free, and due to the nature of the content, is definitely not family-friendly! So be warned... If you're ready to venture down those haunted, snowbound corridors with us, join us as we explore one of the most iconic horror stories ever written. Want to watch this episode on YouTube? You can find it here.

  2. Jul 6

    Starside by Alex Aster

    In this episode of Being Bookish, I'm digging into the layers of Starside, the 2026 fantasy novel by Alex Aster. This book marks her first step into more adult romantasy after her original foray into the genre with the YA Lightlark series. While there's plenty of talk online about the deadly competition framework and the familiar tropes in this book, I'm much more interested in tackling the online discourse and evaluating how well these elements are actually executed. I'll be exploring whether the heavy use of the enemies-to-lovers trope feels justified and looking closely at whether the characters and world history have enough depth to keep us invested. I'm taking a close look at the book to talk about character motivations and the pacing of the romance without getting distracted by the marketing hype. Instead, I'm actually delving into how the book fits into the genre, questioning the accusations of unoriginality while also examining the missed opportunities in the background lore and the balance of the central relationships. Whether you're a fan of high-stakes trial stories or you're looking to see how a popular release handles these specific tropes, I've got plenty of personal feelings to share on where this book fits on your fantasy reading list. Join me, grab yourself a cuppa and let's get into this secret-filled world together. Featured Episodes Dire Bound Just Desserts - Oops, a book I actually need to review! Blood of Hercules

  3. Jun 22

    2026 Mid-Year Reading Wrap-Up

    Welcome back to another episode of Being Bookish. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but we're almost halfway through 2026, so it's time for a bit of an update, and I am doing it differently this year! In this wrap-up, I am focusing a lot on expectation versus reality in my personal reading experience. I'm going to share my thoughts on the standout books I cannot stop thinking about, the ones that didn't quite hit the spot, and the upcoming releases I am looking forward to later this year. 2026 has brought a brilliant mix of genres, including my very first venture into LitRPG with Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl. I share my thoughts on diving into this massive series, the exciting news of a television adaptation, and how his darker, highly political standalone novel, Operation Bounce House, received a mixed reception from readers on Goodreads and Storygraph. Of course, a completely honest wrap-up means talking about the disappointments too. I open up about my recent DNFs, like Claire North's Slow Gods, why I am trying to be kinder to myself when a book isn't working, and what happens when an individual read simply becomes one of the worst books I've finished all year. On a brighter note, my mission to discover new authors has so far been something of a success (at least I think so), with seventeen new writers added to my list. I discuss the emotional highs of a beautiful contemporary romance read on my birthday—Jill Mansell's Just One Look at You—and contrast it with a highly anticipated Beth O'Leary release that unfortunately turned into a major seafaring plot disappointment. I also explore whether "sequel syndrome" has struck some of the fantasy and romantasy series I loved last year, including Lauren Palphreyman's The Night Prince. Finally, I look ahead to the final six months of 2026. I take a look at some of my most anticipated upcoming releases, from Madeline Miller's short mythological tale Mestra and Carissa Broadbent's dark vampire romantasy The Lion and the Deathless Dark, to Victoria Aveyard's adult debut Tempest. Featured episodes Silver Elite Dungeon Crawler Carl Warrior Princess Assassin This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Blood of Hercules Dire Bound The Wolf King

  4. Jun 8

    The Ever King by LJ Andrews

    In this week's episode of Being Bookish, I'm digging into the layers of The Ever King, the 2023 fantasy novel by LJ Andrews that made the transition from indie favourite to traditional publication in 2025. While there's plenty of talk online about the relationships and the sea fae romance elements in this book, I'm much more interested in pulling apart the high-seas intrigue and evaluating the genuine mystery at the heart of the story. I'll be exploring how the character dynamics, the pirate sub-plot, and the Norse-inspired mythology connections hold up. As all my episodes are always spoiler-free, I have taken the time to really look at the story, looking critically at how the book fits into the dark fantasy/romantasy genre. I am going so far as to ask the big question...is this really dark fantasy? Whether you're a fan of Viking folklore retellings or you're looking to see how a character-driven story handles these specific tropes, I've got plenty of personal feelings to share on where this book might fit on your fantasy reading list. It's a deep dive into a possibly dark world, so grab yourself a cuppa and let's get into the sea fae secrets together. I'm really looking forward to sharing my honest thoughts with you. Episode Links Blood of Hercules Review of When Gracie Met the Grump by Mariana Zapata The Stephen King Thing - Cujo Audio | Video

  5. May 27 ·  Bonus

    The Stephen King Thing - Cujo

    In the second episode of the Being Bookish spin-off where I am reading my way through Stephen King’s novels, joined by my friend and fellow podcaster, Lorraine, we’re taking a look at Cujo, his 1981 novel, the second to feature Castle Rock. As previously mentioned, these episodes are approximately 6 weeks apart as there is a lot to cover. Cujo is the story of a friendly St Bernard, beloved family pet and best friend of Brett Camber, who, one day, is unfortunately the victim of a bat bite. What happens after that isn’t his fault; it’s the virus in his nervous system, but by the end of the story, there are a lot more victims to this madness. Join us both as we take a tour through Stephen King's universe, and experience some of these books for the first time in decades! If you prefer, you can watch this on YouTube.

  6. May 25

    Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas

    In this episode of Being Bookish, I am digging into the layers of Blood of Hercules, the 2024 urban fantasy novel with hints of dark romance written by author Jasmine Mas. While there is plenty of talk online about the relationships and the reverse harem elements in this book, I am much more interested in looking at how the character dynamics and Greek mythology connections hold up, as this is truly where my personal passion lies! Somehow, this has become another slightly longer episode, as I really started to dig into the relationships and the shifting alliances without getting overly distracted by the dark romance and dark obsession marketing. Instead, I am going to look at the urban fantasy elements, the mythology, the character development and how they work together. Whether you're a fan of Greek mythology or you're looking to see how a character-driven mystery handles these specific tropes, I've got plenty of personal feelings to share on where this book could fit on your fantasy reading list. It is a deep dive into a dark world, so grab yourself something refreshing, and let's get into Blood of Hercules together. I'm really looking forward to sharing my honest thoughts with you. Featured episodes Lore The Games Gods Play

  7. May 11

    Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson

    In this episode of Being Bookish, I’m digging into the layers of Dire Bound, the atmospheric 2025 debut by Sable Sorensen. While there is plenty of talk online about the relationships in this book (and I have my thoughts on its categorisation), I’m much more interested in the high fantasy intrigue and the genuine mystery at the heart of the story. I’ll be exploring the complexities of the magic system and the shadowy politics of Nocturna that kept me hooked. As this is a longer episode, I’ve taken the time to really analyse the power dynamics and the visceral world-building without getting distracted by the "spice". Instead, we’re looking at the dark fantasy elements, the Bonding Trials, and the looming threat of the Siphons. Whether you're a fan of intricate world-building or you're looking for a character-driven mystery that doesn't follow the usual tropes, I’ve got plenty of thoughts to share on why you should add this book to your 2026 fantasy reading list (if it's not there already!). It’s a deep dive into a very dark world, so grab yourself a cuppa (I know I will) and let’s get into the shadow-wielding secrets together. I'm really looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you.

  8. Apr 27

    The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

    In this episode, I’m looking at a locked-room mystery with subtle digs at the publishing world in the debut by an author who remained a mystery for 6 months following the well-marketed announcement, The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke. If you haven’t heard about it yet, this book is a collaboration between V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke. The story follows six struggling, midlist authors who are invited to a private Scottish island, only to discover that a world-famous novelist has died, leaving his final manuscript unfinished. They’re given seventy-two hours to write the perfect ending, with a life-changing amount of money and a much-desired 3-book publishing deal as the prize. As always, I’ll be sharing my personal thoughts on the story, characters and events, and how I felt about the mystery - does it live up to the hype? As ever, it will be completely spoiler-free, I will not be revealing the means, motive or murderer, you need to find that out for yourselves! So, pop the kettle on, get comfy with a coffee, and let’s talk books. Featured Episodes Cosy Mystery Playlist

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4.9
out of 5
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About

Avid reader, big book lover. I talk about books. I love recommending books, across genres including fantasy, romantasy, cosy mystery and science fiction. I also speak with authors, and I always ensure I don't spoil the ending. Episodes released every other Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    Raye
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    236
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Raye
  • Show Website
    Being Bookish

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