Book Lounge by Libby

What happens when ancient myths meet modern storytelling? We get some VERY good books.

We're wrapping up Myth and Legends Week on Book Lounge by Libby with Meara and Kenzie Deerin, sharing epic reads inspired by mythology, folklore, fairy tales and urban legends. From reimagined gods and legendary figures to fresh takes on familiar stories, these books prove that there's always another way to tell a legend.

Whether you love seeing ancient tales through a new lens, discovering folklore from different traditions or finding fantasy stories that put an unexpected spin on the classics, we've got recommendations for your next great read.

Join us as we revisit the stories that have shaped generations and celebrate the authors giving them a whole new life.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

Joe – Instagram

Kenzie Deerin – Instagram

Meara – Links

Book Recommendations:

Kenzie's Picks:

A Dark and Wild Wood - Sarah Nicole Lemon

I, Medusa - Ayana Gray

Where the Dark Stands Still - A.B. Poranek

This Immortal Heart - Jennifer Saint

A Feather So Black - Lyra Selene

Meara's Picks:

Soul of Shadow – Emma Noyes

Body Count – Cody Crowley

A Spindle Splintered – Alix E. Harrow

A Mirror Mended – Alix E. Harrow

Small Favors – Erin A. Craig

Elatsoe – Darcie Little Badger

Joe's Picks:

The House with Chicken Legs – Sophie Anderson

The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break – Steven Sherrill

Kaikeyi – Vaishnavi Patel

The Vine That Ate the South – JD Wilkes

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Welcome and Intro 00:02:00 Catching up with Meara & Kenzie 00:03:14 Getting to know our guests’ mythology background! 00:16:33 Myth & Legend Book Recs 00:56:43 Comment question of the day! 00:57:02 Thank you & outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378 Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41741

Happy Reading!
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What happens when the thing keeping you up at night becomes a movie? 👀

Horror author Josh Malerman is in the Book Lounge, and we're getting into the deliciously terrifying world of Incidents Around the House and its film adaptation, Other Mommy.

From the inspiration behind one of modern horror's creepiest stories to the creative process that brings nightmares to life, Josh joins Joe for a conversation about horror writing, storytelling, the things that scare us most and what happens when your imagination gets a little too good at its job.

Whether you discovered Josh through Bird Box, devoured Incidents Around the House or are gearing up to experience Other Mommy, this is your chance to get inside the mind of the author behind the nightmares.

Consider this your warning: you might want to leave a light on.

Welcome to Book Lounge by Libby, your favorite corner of the reading world. Powered by libraries. Made for readers.

Happy reading! (And, you know, maybe sleep with the closet door closed.)

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

Joe – Instagram

Josh Malerman - Instagram

Some books by Josh Malerman:

Incidents Around the House

Bird Box

Daphne

Pictures of You

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:19 Welcome and Intro 00:02:10 What were you feeling seeing OTHER MOMMY 00:08:27 You can be shallow or deep within horror 00:16:05 What made you put us in a child’s POV 00:21:50 Writing soundscape 00:24:51 Changing the Title 00:30:29 Did Jessica Chastain’s portrayal change the story for you? 00:34:02 Comment Question 00:34:21 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!
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What happens when ancient myths meet modern perspectives? The stories we thought we knew get a whole new life.

This week on Book Lounge by Libby, Joe sits down with bestselling author Madeline Miller and poet and author Nikita Gill to explore the art of retelling mythology and ancient stories for modern readers. From reimagining legendary figures to finding new meaning in centuries-old tales, we’re diving into why these stories endure, whose voices deserve to be heard and what happens when we look at the ancient world through a contemporary lens.

Whether you love Greek mythology, mythological fiction, feminist retellings or discovering a fresh perspective on a familiar legend, this episode is for you.

Two incredible authors. Thousands of years of storytelling. So many reasons to revisit the classics.

Welcome to Book Lounge by Libby, your favorite corner of the reading world. Powered by libraries. Made for readers.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

Joe – Instagram

Madeline Miller - Links

Nikita Gill - Website

Some of our guests' books:

The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller

Circe – Madeline Miller

Galatea – Madeline Miller

Mestra – Madeline Miller

Hekate – Nikita Gill

Styx – Nikita Gill

Nyx – Nikita Gill

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Welcome to Segment 1 with Madeline Miller 00:01:30 What is your earliest memory with mythology? 00:19:35 Writing about mythology doesn’t have a responsibility to history 00:47:22 Storytelling and connecting to others 00:55:19 No one has to do homework before reading my books 01:01:11 Who would play Achilles? 01:03:28 Welcome Nikita Gill! 01:04:44 What was your introduction to mythology? 01:24:54 How do you tell your stories? 01:33:04 Americans can be so optimistic 01:41:30 Nikita’s advice to young writers 01:48:50 Comment question of the day 01:49:32 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on Libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378 Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41744

Happy Reading!
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Adventure isn’t dead. It’s just waiting for you on the next page.

Host Joe Skelley is joined by Amy Allen Clark (@momadvice) and creator Joe Zawada (@joezawadareads) to keep the adventure conversation going with a stack of adventure stories that bring the danger, drama, twists and absolutely zero respect for your bedtime.

From high stakes journeys to impossible odds and the kind of books that make “I’ll read one chapter” a hilarious lie, we’re sharing adventure book recommendations that will keep you reading all night.

If you’re looking for your next great adventure read, consider this your very official excuse to ignore your sleep schedule.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

Joe – Instagram

Amy Allen Clark - Links

Joe Zawada - Links

Book Recommendations:

Amy's Picks:

Runner - Ashton Lattimore

Castle of Water - Dane Huckelbridge

My Sister’s Going to Kill Me - Nina Simon

The Force of Such Beauty - Barbara Bourland

Fishbone Cinderella - Elizabeth Lim

Joe Z's Picks:

Taipei Story – RF Kuang

The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig

Sublimation - Isabel J. Kim

Destiny’s Edge - M.L. Wang

Tempest - Victoria Aveyard

Joe S's Picks:

The Girl from the Sea – Lee Knox Ostertag

Gumshoe – Brenna Thummler

Millie of the Manor - Karina Evans, Andrea Bell

438 Days – Jonathan Franklin

Lost in the Valley of Death – Harley Rustad

Canon – Paige Lewis

Honey in Her Veins – Ruth McKell

Project V – Park Seolyeon

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Welcome and Intro 00:02:44 What our guests think of when they hear Adventure Story 00:11:56 Adventure Recommendations 01:14:43 Comment Question 01:15:03 Thank you and Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on Libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378 Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41743

Happy Reading!
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The Witchlings series has reached its magical finale, and we’re celebrating with the author herself!

In this bonus episode of Book Lounge by Libby, host Joe Skelley sits down with Claribel A. Ortega to look back at the Witchlings series as a whole, from its magical world and unforgettable characters to friendship, identity, growing up and all the twists and turns along the way.

With the final Witchlings book releasing today, this conversation celebrates the journey to the series finale, what Witchlings has meant to Claribel and what it feels like to bring this magical story to an end.

Spoiler note: The first 16 minutes are spoiler-free. Light spoilers begin around 16:09, and we’ll give you a warning before discussing any major spoilers.

If you’ve read the Witchlings series, are finishing the finale or simply love magical middle grade fantasy, come hang out with us!

If YOU want the chance to win the complete Witchlings series, go enter to win on our Instagram @BookLoungePod

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

Joe – Instagram

Claribel A. Ortega – Website, Instagram, Join the Witchlings Discord

Books by Claribel:

The Witchlings Series:

Witchlings

The Golden Frog Games

House of Elephants

Scepter of Memories

The Sea Witch Prophecy

Ghost Squad

Frizzy

The Girl and the Robobt – Oz Rodriguez, Claribel A. Ortega

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Intro and welcome to Claribel A. Ortega! 00:04:54 Writing the final book 00:10:09 Why five books felt right for Witchlings 00:11:40 What will Claribel miss most about the world of Witchlings 00:16:09 Spolier-light recap of the series 00:23:59 Monstruos mythology, identity and childhood storytelling 00:41:44 Spoiler discussion begins for book 5 00:55:12 The essence of Witchlings 00:55:43 A message to longtime readers 00:57:22 Comment question of the day! 00:57:32 GIVEAWAY DETAILS! 00:58:21 Thank you and farewell 00:59:39 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on Libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!
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