Reading & Ranting

How to Cure Your Onyx Storm Hangover

Karly & Mia are here to save you from that post-Onyx Storm book hangover! If you’re still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster and just can't seem to recover, don’t worry—the girls have got you covered with some romantasy recommendations that'll have you out of your reading slump and back on your feet. There’s nothing quite like a hair of the dog (i.e., treating your post romantasy book depression with another post romantasy book depression). 
The girls also are giving a real time life update, but don’t expect too much. Sometimes life is just… boring. Sometimes you catch up with a long-distance friend and have to tell them absolutely nothing has changed in your life since the last time you spoke three months ago. Ever felt the same? Good, because the girls are feeling their winter uglies and seasonal depression slump too.
Winter: 2
Karly & Mia: 0

Onyx Storm Reactions & Deep Dive

FULL Spoilers for the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros!
Cadets, welcome to Battle Brief! Mia, Karly & book bestie Gill are here to break down Onyx Storm, sharing their raw reactions to the book. But most importantly, it’s time to break out the tin foil hats because it’s time to theorize. What really happened in the missing 12 hours? Who turned venin? And what the literal f*ck was Papa Sorrengail doing? The girls somehow came out of this book with even more questions than answers (but did get a few new ideas about how to use an armchair.)
May all our souls be commended to Malek while we wait for book 4.

Surviving January & The Year of Dramione

2025 is already off to a chaotic start, but at least the Dramione girlies are winning! This year, three iconic fics are getting traditionally published (The Auction → Rose in Chains, DMATMOBIL → Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, Manacled → Alchemised), and Karly & Mia are gnawing at the bars of their enclosure to get their hands on these bad boys. 
Meanwhile, January is being January. TikTok got banned, LA was on fire, Dry January tested our limits (edibles don’t count, right?), and the NYC weather gaslit us into thinking 40 degrees is “warm.” To survive, the girls are straight up hibernating and aggressively tracking what time the sun sets via the weather app. The longest month of the year is over, finally, so let’s see what the rest of 2025 has in store!

Onyx Storm Theories

IT’S TIIIIIIIIIME!! Karly & Mia (along with book bestie Gill) are headed back to Basgiath War College to celebrate the upcoming release of Onyx Storm on January 21st! They kick things off with recaps of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, revisiting the unforgettable moments that introduced us to Violet, her dragons Tairn and Andarna, and everyone’s favorite dragon riding shadow daddy, Xaden Riorson himself. 
Mia, the resident theory master, has been preparing for this book like an AP Navarrian History test. The girls unleash their most elaborate theories about what’s coming next in Onyx Storm. Could Violet’s second signet be tied to intinnsic abilities or resurrection? Is Brennan hiding something? And of course, what is going to happen to Xaden?? Whether you're a seasoned Empyrean rereader or are in desperate need of a refresher before the next installment, this episode is packed with enough hype to make January 21st feel just a little closer.
And besties, with TikTok likely going away, please follow us @readingandrantingpodcast on Instagram and subscribe to Reading & Ranting on YouTube for video content of the podcast!

Current Reads & 2025 Ins and Outs

Hey besties, Karly & Mia are reunited at last (AKA going 3 weeks without seeing each other) and are recapping their current reads. The girls could not be on more different vibes as Mia continues to tackle Romantasy books, and Karly has found herself in a LGBTQ hockey romance wormhole. Sound… interesting? Listen in and get some inspiration for your 2025 TBR! 
They’re also ranting about their 2025 ins and outs, which include but are not limited to drunk cigs, dry January, and QR code menus. They’ll see you guys at the end of the year to recap what stayed in and what made it to out purgatory. Happy reading besties!

Mia's 2024 Best Reads & Lessons Learned

In this solo episode, Mia kicks off 2025 by reflecting on her top 10 reads of 2024 and the lessons that shaped her year.
She’s dropping short and sweet spoiler-free reviews of her standout books, including 6 romantasy reads, 3 rom coms, and even 1 memoir (thank you Drew Afualo!) Oh, and here’s your annual reminder to switch from Goodreads to The StoryGraph for all your book tracking needs in 2025!
Mia also opens up about the personal growth she experienced in 2024, from learning to live intentionally and embracing financial mindfulness to building new friendships and setting boundaries. Happy new year and happy reading besties!

Holiday Movies & Euro Trip Recap

The holidays are here, and Karly & Mia are bringing you the ultimate cozy-girl movie list for the season. The girls break down their must-watch holiday favorites from Elf (watched a thousand times, and still iconic) to the slightly terrifying Polar Express and the nostalgic chaos of The Grinch. 
Karly & Mia are also recapping their first international girls trip together and let’s just say it was giving… chaotic 20-somethings on a budget. From arriving to their hostel and spontaneously upgrading to an Airbnb to getting swindled by a bartender, they learned some life lessons the hard way. Edinburgh brought hot waiters and new friends, while Amsterdam delivered rich Italian men and Dutch raves in a literal former prison. Cheers to the group chat making it out of the trip!

The Bindle Punk Duology with Author Desideria Mesa

Reading & Ranting is making history with its first-ever author guest, Desideria Mesa! Desi, the brilliant mind behind the Bindle Punk Duology (Bindle Punk Bruja and Bindle Punk Jefe), joins Mia & Karly to share her journey as a writer and the inspiration behind her books. 
Set in the roaring 1920s, the series follows Luna Alvarado, a Mexican-American Bruja navigating Kansas City’s bootlegging scene, blending magic, mobsters, and feminism with themes of identity and empowerment.
Don’t miss this fascinating conversation about history, culture, and the magic (pun intended) behind the Bindle Punk world. Follow Desi on Instagram @Desi_Mesa and grab your copy of her books today!

Dramione Recs & Dealing with Loneliness

Hey besties, we've got another solo episode for you today! Karly is taking the reins on this one, diving deep into her longstanding addiction—Dramione fanfiction! If you love Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger together (or even if you're just curious), you're in for a treat. This episode is part two of her Dramione recs, with everything from angsty novels to fluffy one-shots. 
Karly also opens up about the very real struggles of dealing with loneliness, especially as we head into the colder months. While loneliness is something we all grapple with at some point, it can feel especially isolating, and Karly’s hoping this rant will help you feel a little less alone in your own feelings. Tune in for an honest conversation about managing loneliness—because you're never truly alone when you’ve got good books (and friends) by your side.
 

Winter TBRs & Addictive Personalities

Mia & Karly are back from their one-week hiatus to Europe (we missed you besties!) to help you update your Goodreads and build your winter TBR. Between new releases like The Songbird and the Heart of Stone and upcoming ones (*cough* Onyx Storm) the list is truly miles long. They’re also dropping hints about some hot ARCs they’re reading (don’t worry, no spoilers... yet).
And in true chaotic R&R fashion, the girls are ranting about their addictive personalities. When they set their mind to something, they fully commit, whether its binging Outlander or heaving one too many spicy margs on a night out.