Sam and Dan review The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig, the second book in the Stonewater Kingdom duology.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we return to the Stonewater Kingdom to explore whether The Knave and the Moon delivers a satisfying conclusion to the story begun in The Knight and the Moth. We discuss the novel's pacing, world-building, and narrative structure, questioning whether its ambitious stakes are supported by a fantasy world that often feels surprisingly small and underdeveloped.

We dive into the journeys of Sybil, Rory, and the wider cast, exploring their emotional development and the frustrating decisions that repeatedly drive the plot forward. Along the way, we examine Benji's effectiveness as an antagonist, the convenient use of ox eye and prophecy, and whether the sprites' growing significance feels like a natural development or a device to steer the story towards its conclusion.

From questionable fantasy logic and missed opportunities to genuinely moving character moments, we unpack why this sequel left us feeling frustrated despite flashes of the charm and emotional depth that made the first book enjoyable. Ultimately, we ask whether The Knave and the Moon earns its dramatic conclusion or simply bends its characters and world to make it happen.

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Sam and Dan review Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne.

SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we venture into cosy sci-fi with Moss'd in Space, a warm, low-stakes story that puts relationships, banter, and emotional comfort ahead of dramatic twists and high-stakes jeopardy. We discuss what defines a successful cosy read and whether a book designed to relax rather than challenge its audience needs to leave a lasting impression.

We dive into the developing relationship between Torian and Moss, exploring Moss's experiences of trauma and abandonment and the emotional growth at the heart of the story. We also discuss the absence of a traditional antagonist, the surprisingly small and local feel of its space setting, and why even potentially catastrophic events rarely create a genuine sense of danger.

From a cover and blurb that perhaps promise a different story to the one we actually get, to questions about stakes, sacrifice, and emotional depth, we explore why Moss'd in Space may not have the lasting impact of our favourite cosy reads—but still succeeds at being charming, comforting, and an extremely easy book to spend time with.

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Sam and Dan review A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang.

**SPOILER ALERT:** This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.

Join us as we explore this dark folkloric family saga, following three generations whose lives are shaped by colonial legacy, generational trauma, and the ways pain, memory, and silence echo through families. We discuss the novel's historical backdrop, from the Japanese occupation of China to the Cultural Revolution, and how it sits somewhere between historical fiction, fantasy, and folkloric realism.

We dive into the experiences of Wei Hong, Ming, and Qianze, exploring how food, illness, childbirth, family conflict, and inherited trauma weave their way through each generation. We also unpack the book's deliberately ambiguous approach to magic and prophecy, and why its refusal to clearly separate folklore, metaphor, and reality makes the story all the more powerful.

From its beautifully atmospheric writing and complex family relationships to an ending that offers hope and repair without pretending that generations of trauma can simply be undone, we discuss why this heavy but deeply affecting debut left such a lasting impression on both of us.

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