Episode 26 - First Test, by Tamora Pierce

March 18, 2018 by Grace Harnois

We're completing the Tamora Pierce *Holy Trinity* by following up our episodes on Alanna & Daine with the stoic Keladry of Mindelan! Discover why Grace and Madeleine think Kel is the most relatable of Tortall's warriors, and fall in love with this wise-beyond-her-ten-years hero all over again. This book is surprisingly prescient, and Kel's personal war against hazing, misogyny and outdated values within the knighthood is sure to resonate.

PLUS: Our greatest battle-based fears; favorite medieval combat weapons; not nearly enough Pretend Food; could spidrens be any grosser?

As always, please get in touch with recommendations, corrections, your favorite Numair fan art and more at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com!

EPISODE MEDIA

A modern-day replica of a naginata, the samurai weapon on which Kel's glaive is based -

Episode 25 - The Two Princesses of Bamarre, by Gail Carson Levine

February 28, 2018 by Grace Harnois

Are Madeleine and Grace the two princesses? Definitely not - but we are still honoring them with one of our most tangent-heavy episodes yet. We are thrilled to discuss our favorite Gail Caron Levine book, The Two Princesses of Bamarre. Find out why we prefer this book to Ella Enchanted, listen to us argue over whether Vollys is a great dragon or a terrible dragon, and learn even more about how spiders ruin lives. Whether you're a cowardly princess or a courageous princess (or even a bishonen sorcerer), there's something to appreciate.

Featuring our protagonists: Vivian, Jonathan and Jonathan's pigtail

Episode 24 - A Tale of Time City, by Diana Wynne Jones

February 06, 2018 by Grace Harnois

A book so perfect for our podcast mission that it has actually been requested by multiple listeners, A Tale of Time City burst into our lives with all the force of a butter-pie being poked into your eye. Listen in to hear us gush over Diana Wynne Jones' fascinating sci-fi/fantasy time travel extravaganza, and then argue over what a butter-pie might be like in real life for far too long. As inhabitants of an unstable era, we can all benefit from a different perspective. Big thanks to Kate and Madeline for their requests!

EPISODE MEDIA

An untested butter-pie recipe - if anyone tries this, please send photos, a sample, and your PayPal information so that we can immediately send you one million fantasy dollars.

Tartquest, a butter tart review Instagram created by Michael DeForge and Jillian Tamaki

The Adventure Time Tart Toter soliloquy, from Season 2, Episode 9, "The Other Tarts"

MINI EPISODE - Rewatching Neverending Story Adaptations

January 29, 2018 by Grace Harnois

To follow up our episode on The Neverending Story, we rewatched The Neverending Story (1984) and an episode of The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux (1995). This episode features our brother Patrick! We have a lot of thoughts about these adaptations!

DISCLAIMER: We love fantasy literature and most of our episodes are unflinchingly positive. This is not one of those episodes. This is a highly critical review of Neverending Story-inspired media by three cynical adults who have just spent four straight hours watching a movie and television show made for children. If you do not want to hear grumpy jerks talking about a movie that you love, it's definitely best to skip this one!

(The television show, on the other hand, is a little-watched disaster and is unlikely to be loved by anyone other than our childhood selves. Please get in touch at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com if you've ever seen the show, as we're pretty sure we're alone in this).

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TV show review mentioned - The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures - The Dom Reviews

Strange character choices for the cover but what can ya do

Episode 23 - The Neverending Story, by Michael Ende

January 08, 2018 by Grace Harnois

Falkor. Atreyu. BBB aka Bastian Balthazar Bux aka Boo... Bad Bro (okay we're reaching but stick with the alliteration please). All your old friends are living on forever in Michael Ende's The Neverending Story - but that's a story for another time. Listen in as Grace grows furious discussing hungry heroes on quests, Madeleine creates the Giant Spider Meter and both of us manage to forget nearly every character's name (but the sheer number of proper nouns does us no favors). In all seriousness, this fascinating novel places familiar folk characters in an entirely new framework and the results are pretty cool. Fans of the 1984 film should definitely check out the source material - there's just no comparison. Hop on your luckdragon and hang tight!

EPISODE MEDIA

We're saving videos / music / images from the adaptations mentioned to share in our mini episode about the animated series and the 1984 live action film - coming later this week, so check back soon!

Related Recommendations:

Undertale on Steam

Dixit

The Snow Queen