Book Dragon Banter

Book Dragon Ink
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Books

🐉 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter!We're three aspiring authors: Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree. Diving into the world of books, one chaotic conversation at a time. Expect bookish deep-dives, trope talk, spicy opinions, and unfiltered banter. While fantasy is our first love, we’re not genre-exclusive, if it’s on a page, it’s on the table. 🐲 Join the #BookDragonBanter crew and get comfy! It's about to get nerdy. New episodes every other Tuesday!

  1. 5d ago

    Good Teeth, Bad Plan - Chapters 6-10 This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Read-along

    Book Dragon Banter continues a spoiler-free read-along of Ilona Andrews’ This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, covering chapters 6–10. Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine discuss first impressions of the newly introduced Reynald, Clover, and Kaiden, praising how the book handles extreme violence and noting the realism of consequences like the heaviness of bodies and having to dispose of them. They talk about Maggie’s shifting agency, how being “undying” changes risk tolerance, and how found family raises stakes. They highlight character intelligence and trust-building, especially the mirrored “in or out” line and the boat conversation where Maggie and Reynald acknowledge mutual manipulation and reject “blind obedience,” contrasting this with romantasy tropes. They also debate how reliable Maggie’s book-based future knowledge is, offer theories (the author’s identity, KR/LM initials, the Stelka returning), discuss Mateo’s farseeing role, and admire Solentine’s intriguing window entrance and how he knows Maggie’s name, ending with reading homework and a request for spoiler-free listener predictions. Podcast links: Book Dragon Banter Substack - https://bookdragonbanter.substack.com/ Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd Other links: Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ Book Dragon Ink: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ Our Summer Read-Along: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Bookshop.org affiliate link):  https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me-ilona-andrews/f544c8f1dba95f55?ean=9781250377265&next=t&aid=124342&listref=book-dragon-book-club-reads 00:00 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter 00:32 Read Ahead Confessions 01:57 Podcast and Retreat Sponsor 02:34 Chapter Six Bodyguard Deal 04:08 Basement Rescue Setup 05:01 Chapter Eight Fight Breaks Out 06:38 Aftermath New Home 07:53 Chapter Ten Dark Prophecy 09:59 Solentine Window Visit 10:29 Key Moments New Characters 13:42 Reynald First Impressions 20:26 Clover Kaiden and Violence 27:14 Full Circle Callbacks 30:53 Character Trust Issues 31:26 Boat Confrontation Scene 34:27 Humor Amid Darkness 34:55 Future Knowledge Glitches 36:55 Salt Thread Revenge Plan 39:42 Solentine Window Entrance 43:03 Maggie the Undying Identity 43:56 Justice and Found Family 51:23 Predictions and Theories 01:01:05 Wrap Up and Homework Get in touch with us!

    1h 3m

  2. Jun 2

    Naked, In a Ditch - Chapters 1-5 - This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Read Along

    Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine begin a spoiler-free read-along of Ilona Andrews’ This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, covering chapters 1–5. They recap Maggie being isekai’d into Kair Toren, stealing coins, getting murdered, and reviving, then navigating the Garden of Soft Blossoms, learning language and social classes, meeting Galiene, encountering villain Ulmar Hreban, and making a risky information-for-payment deal with Solentine Degarra of the Shears. The hosts discuss the first-person exposition and worldbuilding, Maggie’s intentionally vague, relatable description, the stakes of her repeated deaths, and isekai/portal fantasy tropes, plus early predictions and favorite moments like Maggie finally getting a bath and shoes. Podcast links: Book Dragon Banter Substack - https://bookdragonbanter.substack.com/ Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd Other links: Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ Book Dragon Ink: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ Our Summer Read-Along: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Bookshop.org affiliate link):  https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me-ilona-andrews/f544c8f1dba95f55?ean=9781250377265&next=t&aid=124342&listref=book-dragon-book-club-reads 00:00 Welcome and Spoiler Rules 01:24 Sponsor and Chapter Recap 06:23 Name Jokes and Setup 06:58 Opening Hook Discussion 12:56 Meet Maggie the Heroine 16:24 Exploring Kair Toren 22:43 Isekai Explained 32:15 Chekhov Guns and Predictions 37:35 Favorites and Next Reading 39:34 Outro and Homework Get in touch with us!

    41 min

  3. Season 2, Episode 1 Trailer

    This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Read-Along Trailer

    This summer we're trying something different and digging into Zinzi's newest book obsession: This Kindgom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. Read-along with us as Katherine and Sage read the book for the first time! Get in touch with us!

    1 min

  4. May 26

    A Story Within a Story: The Layers of 'The Spear Cuts Through Water'

    The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez — Experimental Fantasy, POV Shifts & Love Stories | Book Dragon Banter In this episode of Book Dragon Banter, Zinzi Bree, Sage, and Katherine discuss Simon Jimenez’s The Spear Cuts Through Water, our Fable book club pick, sharing spoiler-free reactions and then diving into spoilers. We unpack the book’s experimental structure—second-person “you,” shifting POVs, Greek-chorus interludes, and creative typography—plus how format and audiobook versus text affect readability and immersion, especially through the inverted-theater framing. We debate what works and what doesn’t, highlighting the prose, layered love stories, and themes of storytelling, heritage, and power, while also reacting to disturbing elements like cannibalism and cruelty. We discuss standout characters (Keema and Jun), the Three Terrors, the moon goddess myth, tortoise “telephone” magic, and favorite lines, and announce a summer format shift to a read-along of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews alongside writing retreats and Zoom write-ins. Podcast links: Book Dragon Banter Substack - https://bookdragonbanter.substack.com/ Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd Other links: Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ Book Dragon Ink: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647357/the-spear-cuts-through-water-by-simon-jimenez/ Our Summer Read-Along: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me:  https://ilona-andrews.com/maggie-the-undying-2/ 00:00 Cannibalism Cold Open 00:16 Podcast Intro 00:42 Book Pick And Premise 02:00 Spoiler Free Reactions 04:21 Experimental Fantasy Pitch 05:09 Spoilers Begin 05:14 Reading Formats Audio Vs Text 07:03 Structure Inverted Theater 09:45 Second Person Perspective Hurdle 11:41 Narration And Cast Debate 13:52 Stage Imagery And Prose 17:56 Character Standouts Keema 19:35 Missing Arm Critique 21:55 Jun Backstory And Comparisons 24:06 Is It A Love Story 26:40 Fathers Leave Quote 27:33 Motherhood And Terror Bonds 29:38 Minotaur and Love 30:07 Sex Without Shame 32:22 Ranking the Terrors 34:03 Mind Control Horror 35:19 Moon Goddess Origins 38:40 Dance as Magic 39:54 Animal Symbols and Tortoises 41:41 Grief and Cannibalism 44:49 Writers Desk Insights 49:48 Point of View Choices 54:12 Favorite Quotes 58:30 Wrap Up and Next Reads Get in touch with us!

    1h 1m

  5. May 18

    Diving into DNF's and Spring Fantasy Finds

    Best Reads So Far (Fantasy + Non-Fantasy), DNFs, Book Bingo Check-In & Writing Updates | Book Dragon Banter Book Dragon Banter hosts discuss our best reads of the year so far (not limited to fantasy), current reads, DNFs, and palate cleansers. Sage is reading Victoria Aveyard’s Realm Breaker series and shares updates on her reading challenges, StoryGraph tracking, and postponing unfinished series like Blood Over Bright Haven. Katherine discusses cozy rereads, nonfiction reading goals, tracking stats, and favorites including Voyage of the Damned and Bloody Jack. Zinzi shares being on a reading ban to focus on writing, DNFs like Master of Salt and Bones and Feather So Vicious and a palate cleanser with The Other Bennet Sister. We compare progress on our book bingo challenges, share top fantasy picks (including This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews), and give writing journey updates, including a secret project and draft/revision progress. We close with book club news on Fable reading The Spear Cuts Through Water and upcoming season wrap and summer deep dive. BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd Find the Downloadable Book Bingo Reading Challenges here: Book Dragon Banter Substack - https://bookdragonbanter.substack.com/ Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ Other links: Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ Current Read: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647357/the-spear-cuts-through-water-by-simon-jimenez/ 00:00 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter 00:34 Episode Agenda and Rules 01:24 What We Are Reading Now 03:46 Reading Ban and Secret Project 04:46 Reader Chair Challenges Check In 05:20 Sage Updates and Series Waiting 08:38 Katherine Nonfiction and Tracking 11:03 Magical Element Bingo Progress 13:41 Strategy for Blackout Bingo 18:18 DNFs and Reading Regrets 21:54 Sage DNF Wuthering Heights 22:34 Why We Still Want Endings 23:54 DNF Or Not Right Now 24:46 Cozy Fantasy Trust Broken 26:57 Boredom And Backstory 27:54 Audiobooks And AI Voices 29:08 Palate Cleanser Picks 33:16 Fantasy Favorites So Far 37:24 Non Fantasy Best Reads 42:01 Writers Desk Check In 45:42 Goals Versus Habits 49:34 Wrap Up And Next Reads Get in touch with us!

    51 min

  6. Apr 28

    A Cozy & Spicy Romantasy: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster

    We gush over our latest book club pick, How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster, a cozy fantasy romance Rumpelstiltskin retelling with spice, a middle-aged heroine, a melodramatic fae hero, and an interfering sentient house. We share why we all enjoyed it (cozy tone with meaningful stakes, great banter, classic fae lore like true names and power, and fun details like griffins, talking cats, magic “insignia” scents, and the house doing chores and providing lingerie). Spoilers included as we discuss character dynamics, consent, the bond/mated-leaning setup, miscommunication handled through insecurities, and how the gold curse and magic complications play out. We also talk narrator voice/chapter headings, standout lines about names and homes, and our hope for more books in this world.  BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ Other links: Book Dragon Ink Online Writing Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ Current Book: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster Author Site: https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/ Next Book: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647357/the-spear-cuts-through-water-by-simon-jimenez/ 00:00 Late Night Book High 00:32 Podcast Intro and Subscribe 01:10 Content Warning and Book Pick 01:54 Fable Book Club Plug 02:40 What This Book Is 04:11 Why We Loved It 05:57 Spoilers Begin Retelling Talk 07:54 Characters and Relatability 08:46 Mal Style and Cat Energy 13:05 Spice Level and Tattoos 15:51 Bonds Names and Power 19:35 Fairy Lore and Favorite Quotes 21:10 Chosen Names Queer Rep 21:46 Sentient House Cozy Living 22:29 Chores Lingerie Power Balance 24:03 Beauty Beast Narrator Voice 27:02 Made Up Words Pagefire 30:19 Insignia Scents Magic 32:21 Gold Curse Spice Fallout 33:38 Dream Bond Miscommunication 37:29 Fated Mates Consent Done Right 39:00 Unexplored Fae Magic Sequel Hooks 41:13 Trauma Gender Family Sacrifice 45:11 Next Read Spear Cuts Water 46:57 Reviews Retreats Outro Get in touch with us!

    48 min

  7. Mar 17

    The Intersection of Fantasy, Romantasy, and Smut: When Magic Meets Desire - Part 2

    We welcome you to Book Dragon Banter, where we (Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree) talk fantasy and romantasy spice, from early reads like Mists of Avalon and Kushiel’s Dart to how modern romantasy has become more explicit on the page. We discuss when sex serves plot versus functioning like erotica, how unhealthy power dynamics, manipulation, and grooming can be portrayed (and sometimes left unaddressed), and why good sex doesn’t equal a healthy relationship. We also talk about foreplay-focused scene structure, common tropes like oral sex, language preferences and euphemisms (including a humorous run-through of terms from Naughty Words for Nice Writers), and the recurring age-gap fantasy problem.  BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd Current Book: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster Author Site: https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/ Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ Other links: Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ Books Mentioned: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey The Carry On Series by Rainbow Rowell ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson Naughty Words for Nice Writers: A Romance Novel Thesaurus by Cara Bristol "I Give You My Body . . .": How I Write Sex Scenes by Diana Gabaldon Bride by Ali Hazelwood Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn 00:00 Uncensored Opener 00:21 Podcast Intro and Topic 00:47 First Fantasy Sex Reads 02:59 Romantasy Gets Explicit 04:17 Grooming and Power Dynamics 06:01 After the Happily Ever After 07:32 First Exposure Stories 09:09 Self Discovery and Communication 10:52 Mind Reading and Mental Load 13:15 Male Gaze vs Female Gaze 14:33 Writing Better Sex Scenes 16:14 Foreplay Tropes and Realism 19:12 Words and Euphemisms 20:55 Sexual Agency and Experience 23:05 Age Gaps and Immortal Lovers 25:53 Twilight Stalker Debate 27:30 Naming Body Parts 28:56 Euphemisms Versus Realism 29:51 Spice Goes Mainstream 30:24 Vagina Word List 32:48 C**t And Breasts Terms 34:31 Bridgerton Garden Metaphor 36:54 Wrap Up And Book Club 38:22 Unhinged Spice Recs 39:10 Finding A Sign Off 40:27 Final Goodbye Bits Get in touch with us!

    41 min

  8. Feb 27

    The Intersection of Fantasy, Romantasy, and Smut: When Magic Meets Desire - Part 1

    Smut in Fantasy: Mental Porn or Power Dynamics? | Book Dragon Banter In this episode of Book Dragon Banter, we (Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree) talk about smut and spice in fantasy and romantasy—what it’s doing in the story, how we define terms like “mental porn” and “power dynamics,” and why consent and character/plot relevance matter to us. We also touch on where lines get drawn around monster romance and fantasy anatomy, share a few book examples, and wrap up. BDB Fable Fantasy Focused Book Club: https://fable.co/club/diverse-fantasy-with-zinzi-bree-271215645134?referralID=f9KdWh3wtd February’s Book: How to Find a Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster Author Site: https://ajlancaster.com/books/other-projects/how-to-find-a-nameless-fae/ Podcast links: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/bookdragonbanter  TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookdragonbanterpod Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bookdragonbanter/ Other links: Book Dragon Ink Retreats: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ink-retreats Write With Me, Zinzi Bree - Substack: https://writewithmezinzibree.substack.com/ Sage: https://readorbleed.substack.com/ Katherine: https://www.bookdragoneditorial.com/ Books Mentioned: Alchemized by SenLinYu Lights Out by Navessa Allen He Sees You When You’re Sleeping by Alta Hensley Feathers So Vicious by Liv Zander Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer Ice Planet Barbarian Series by Ruby Dixon Quicksilver by Callie Hart Brimstone by Callie Hart Morning Glory Milking Farm by C. M. Nascosta Bride by Ali Hazelwood The Alanna Series by Tamora Pierce The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey  00:00 Smut at the Dentist 00:46 Podcast Intro 01:39 Why Talk About Spice 02:46 Defining Key Terms 04:05 Smut vs Erotica 05:48 Romantasy and Plot 08:45 Consent and Icks 10:08 Extreme Scenes and Curiosity 11:29 Disability and Realism 15:54 Fantasy Anatomy in Bed 19:30 Monster Romance Line 22:08 Shapeshifter Boundaries 23:24 Vampire Versus Werewolf 24:23 Fae Takeover Trend 25:21 Monster Romance Details 27:44 Cleanup And Aftercare 30:37 Messy Realistic Sex 33:06 Scent Power Dynamics 34:32 Early Spice Memories 39:52 Consent For New Readers 41:01 Book Club And Farewell Get in touch with us!

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

🐉 Welcome to Book Dragon Banter!We're three aspiring authors: Sage, Katherine, and Zinzi Bree. Diving into the world of books, one chaotic conversation at a time. Expect bookish deep-dives, trope talk, spicy opinions, and unfiltered banter. While fantasy is our first love, we’re not genre-exclusive, if it’s on a page, it’s on the table. 🐲 Join the #BookDragonBanter crew and get comfy! It's about to get nerdy. New episodes every other Tuesday!

Information

  • Creator
    Book Dragon Ink
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Book Dragon Banter
  • Show Website
    Book Dragon Banter

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