The Hidden Bookcase

Planar Prod

The Hidden Bookcase is a book club podcast hosted by Morgan Greensmith and Sorren Briarwood, focusing mainly on queer genre fiction. Each month, we recommend one another a book, read each recommendation and return to discuss our thoughts. Episodes are released on alternating Mondays. You can find our upcoming reads, and more information about the show at planarprod.com or on our Twitter @HiddenBookcase, or on our TikTok, Instagram, Tumblr, or Facebook @HiddenBookcasePodcast.

  1. The Bright Sessions Seasons 3 & 4 by Lauren Shippen

    12/01/2025

    The Bright Sessions Seasons 3 & 4 by Lauren Shippen

    This is a formerly Patreon exclusive episode of The Hidden Bookcase. For our latest Patreon episode we're discussing Seasons 3 & 4 of The Bright Sessions by Lauren Shippen, an audio drama about superpowered people who desperately need therapy, and may or may not be getting it. Click here for closed captions. Transcipt available here. Content warnings: References to murder and violence, gaslighting, manipulation, self harm, kidnapping, human experimentation, suicide and suicide-baiting, mind control, trauma, guilt, parental death, car accidents and vomit.  Media mentioned in this episode (roughly) in order referenced: A Neon Darkness by Lauren Shippen [UK LINK] / [US LINK] The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune [UK LINK] / [US LINK] In Strange Woods by Atypical Artists [Website] Joan + Mark's Secret Notebook by Julia Morizawa and Lauren Shippen [Read Online] Heroes (TV Series) Heartstopper (TV Series) Heartstopper (Series) by Alice Oseman [UK LINK] / [US LINK] The Shapeshifter (Series) by Ali Sparkes [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Inhibit (Webcomic) by Eve Greenwood [Read Online] The Magicians (TV Series) The Magicians (Series) by Lev Grossman [UK LINK] / [US LINK] If you're looking for therapy, whether online or in person, here's some links to consider: Pink Therapy Directory of LGBT Therapists The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Mind's Guide to Finding Therapy and Counselling Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

    1 hr
  2. My Feminist Call to Historical Fantasy by Samantha Shannon

    11/03/2025

    My Feminist Call to Historical Fantasy by Samantha Shannon

    This is a formerly Patreon exclusive episode of The Hidden Bookcase. For our latest Patreon episode, we're discussing My Feminist Call to Historical Fantasy by Samantha Shannon, an essay on how historically informed fantasy settings do, and should, incoporate misogony. Click here for closed captions. Transcript available here. Content warnings: Mentions of sexism/misogony in both real and fictional contexts, sexual assault, racism, ableism, childbirth, homophobia, transphobia, and J. K. Rowling. Media mentioned in this episode (roughly) in order referenced: A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon [UK LINK] / [US LINK] The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon [UK LINK] / [US LINK] The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi [UK LINK] / [US LINK] The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [US LINK] The Attic Monologues by Morgna Greensmith (Podcast) [Listen Online] A Sonf of Ice and Fire (Series/TV Series) by George R. R. Martin [UK LINK] / [US LINK] The Lord of the Rings (Series) by J. R. Tolkien [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Noughts and Crosses (Series) by Malorie Blackman [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross [UK LINK] / [US LINK] In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu [US LINK] Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir [US LINK] The Sword in the Stars (Series) by Amy Rose Capetta and Cory McCarthy [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Dune by Frank Herbert [UK LINK] / [US LINK] The Lunar Chronicles (Series) by Marissa Meyer [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Exolore (Podcast) [Listen Online] Graceling by Kristin Cashore [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Avatar the Last Airbender (TV Series) by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino Dragon Age: Origins (Video Game) [Website] The Dragon Prince (TV Series) by Justin Richmond and Aaron Ehasz The Owl House (TV Series) by Dana Terrace Steven Universe (TV Series) by Rebecca Sugar Nimona (Film) by Noelle Stevenson Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore  [US LINK] Notes on this episode: Morgan mentions the Game of Thrones TV Series having more sexual assault than the books it's based on. Tumblr user @tafkarfanfic did a statistical analysis of how frequently it occurs in the books vs. in the show, and found that there was a higher number in the books. However, there are some sexual assaults included in the show that do not appear in the books (such as that involving Sansa, which Morgan references here.) Sorren (me, hi) also confidently guesses that Dragon Age Origins came out in the early 2000s/2002- he misspoke (I swear!) and the actual year DA:O first released is indeed 2009. (I promise I know those graphics were impossible in 2002. My brain just switched off for a moment.) Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

    25 min
  3. In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

    10/13/2025

    In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

    To (belatedly!) close out Swordtember, we're reading In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan, chosen by Morgan. Let's talk misandry, miscommunicaion, and mummy issues. Transcripts available at⁠⁠⁠ planarprod.com/the-hidden-bookcase-transcripts⁠ Content warnings: Discussions of parental abandonment and neglect, homophobia, a non-consensual kiss, child soldiers, war and violence, fantasy racism including internalised racism, and sexism, including structural sexism and harassment of teens. ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Check out The Attic Monologues ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠・:*˚:✧。 Join our Discord for bookish chats and cosy cats!・:*˚:✧。⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our Bookshop.Org page! [⁠⁠⁠UK LINK⁠⁠⁠] / [⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠] Other media mentioned in this episode, in order referenced: Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan [⁠⁠⁠⁠UK LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] / [⁠⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] Carry On by Rainbow Rowell [⁠⁠⁠⁠UK LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] / [⁠⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire [⁠⁠⁠⁠UK LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] / [⁠⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] The Last Binding (Series) by Freya Marske [⁠⁠⁠⁠UK LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] / [⁠⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas [⁠⁠⁠⁠UK LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] / [⁠⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland [UK LINK] / [⁠⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] Girl Haven by Lilah Sturges [⁠⁠⁠⁠UK LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] / [⁠⁠⁠⁠US LINK⁠⁠⁠⁠] The Magicians (TV Series)Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series)9-1-1 (TV Series)The Magnus Archives (Audio Drama) [Website]Merlin (TV Series)New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color Edited by Nisi Shawl [UK LINK] / [US LINK]The Saviour's Book Cafe Story in Another World (Series) by Kyōka Izumi [US LINK]Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield [UK LINK] / [US LINK]Salt Slow by Julia Armfield [UK LINK] / [US LINK] Our next episode will be a formerly Patreon exclusive episode! Keep safe- please always check the content warnings of any media we mention if you need before diving in. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

    1h 12m
  4. The Ocean is a Lesbian by Julia Armfield

    10/06/2025

    The Ocean is a Lesbian by Julia Armfield

    This is a formerly Patreon exclusive episode of The Hidden Bookcase! For our very first Patreon episode, we're discussing The Ocean is a Lesbian by Julia Armfield, an essay on nautical and watery symbolism in sapphic stories. Click here for closed captions. Transcript available here. Content warnings: Mentions of suicide, drowning, war, and rape. Media mentioned in this episode (roughly) in order referenced: Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore [US Link] Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield [UK Link] / [US Link] The Locked Tomb (Series) by Tamsyn Muir [US Link] The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan [UK Link] Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens [UK Link] / [US Link] The Legend of Korra (TV Series) H2O: Just Add Water (TV Series) Many Benefits by Zoey Davis [Listen Online] Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood [UK Link] / [US Link] Grimm’s Fairy Tales by The Borthers Grimm [UK Link] / [US Link] A Trans Man Walks Into A Gay Bar by Harry Nicholas [UK Link] / [US Link] Comrades by Henry Scott Tuke [View Online] Parallels by Matthias Lehmann [US Link] A Restless Truth by Freya Marske [UK Link] / [US Link] A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar [UK Link] / [US Link] The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Takuda-Hall [UK Link] / [US Link] Sistersong by Lucy Holland [UK Link] / [US Link] Elusive by Petra Szeman (Artwork) [Artist Portfolio] The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker [UK Link] / [US Link] Rivers of London (Series) by Ben Aaronovitch [UK Link] Godkiller by Hannah Kaner [UK Link] / [US Link] Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Series) by Rick Riordan [UK Link] / [US Link] Love Simon (Film) Heartstopper (TV Series) A Day of Fallen Night) by Samantha Shannon [UK Link] / [US Link] In The Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu [US Link] Tits on the Moon by Dessa [Watch Online] Crush by Richard Siken [UK Link] / [US Link] And here's the visual art mentioned in this episode: Comrades by Henry Scott TukeElsuive by Petra Szeman

    23 min

Ratings & Reviews

About

The Hidden Bookcase is a book club podcast hosted by Morgan Greensmith and Sorren Briarwood, focusing mainly on queer genre fiction. Each month, we recommend one another a book, read each recommendation and return to discuss our thoughts. Episodes are released on alternating Mondays. You can find our upcoming reads, and more information about the show at planarprod.com or on our Twitter @HiddenBookcase, or on our TikTok, Instagram, Tumblr, or Facebook @HiddenBookcasePodcast.