 And we're alive, sort of, we're mostly ready to go. We're doing our best. Some minor technical difficulties as you can currently see. Yes. We'll get there. We'll get there. In the meantime, we can get started talking about guns of the dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Oh, yeah. Yes. I got it. This is my second time reading it, so like, you know, I'm exposing a vulnerable side here saying not just picking a book for book club, but being like, I like this book, and I think you will like it too, which is a little bit more pressure than I'm usually under. Yeah. So tell me how much you hated it. Just give it to me quick. I gave it five stars. Oh, sounds great. I like it. I agree. We agree. But I already know Bethany did not. So this pleases me great. But let's say I probably have the same criticisms that Bethany and Mora will have. I just didn't care because I liked it so much. But I do see the criticisms. Criticisms what criticisms? there's so there's some pacing issues here, but I just like the characters and I like the story and it's like, you know, it's Pride and Prejudice meets Napoleonic Wars meets Wizards and look, all of that together just is like a recipe I like. So well, that's what I was like when I was shilling for this book is that like it does kind of all of the things so that like I feel like there's a good chance that anyone picking it up would be in at least in some part satisfied because it you might feel dissatisfied because you want an entire book to be one of those things, but it does all of the things so there'll be something in there that you like. Yeah. Well, I don't think anyone gave it below three stars so I'm counting success. Yeah, I think pretty good. Yeah, I this is like a three three and a half for me. I I like the project of this book like I like what it's doing conceptually like being sort of what if a woman was drafted into war with like some magic on the side. I didn't always like, like I'm not a big military fantasy person. You know what, you can be friends with all kinds of people. It's okay. We agree about the important things. Exactly. Yeah, you can like different books. Yeah, no, but I I'm not a huge military fantasy person. And so I think for me like the whole kind of middle part of the book, I liked it a lot when it was focused on her friendships with other people and on the politics and when we got peaks into what was happening in the wider world. But I was kind of bored by some of the more like fighting scenes just because I usually am. And I also wasn't fond of the romance. Honestly, I could have done without it. So that's pretty good to be Lizzie Darcy vibes. And I just read Pride and Prejudice for the first time last year and I'm still obsessed with it. So for me, it was like feeding is like, you know, scratching the itch. Actually, I told Alan this when he like made me read it the first time. And then I was telling Bethany this as well that like Darcy a bit but more reminds me of Mr. Thornton from North and South and like their relationship. Yeah. So I just literally pictured Richard Armitage as Mr. Thornton as that character, which helps a lot, I think. Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't be mad about that. Also sorry for the camera issues guys. I have no idea what's going on. But it's working. So we'll just roll it. Yeah, I gave it a three and a half. I was between a three and a half and a four. I think for the exact reasons Amanda said, I just felt like the middle was way too long for pacing. But it read really quickly, even though it was too long. So it didn't like make me resentful in the way sometimes things that I think are too long can because I was still I got through this in a day like I just was shit. Well, I started the night before and then like polish it off the next day. But I have a three day, three day read for me. Yeah, but I just I was into it. I really I actually really liked that it was more sort of in the field and less political intrigue because I was expecting more political intrigue. But there wasn't as much of that. And I actually kind of liked it. I felt like it was a it was examining what the actual experience of war is like and not the behind the scenes politician of it. And I just think I don't know that I've read a lot of fantasies that take that approach when it's a military fantasy. Yeah, the heroes by so ever Cromby does that. There you go. I don't think that he's gonna like it after this review of this book, though. I got five minutes into this live before bringing take a shot wherever whoever's got their their gen out. So I kind of liked that approach. It was just it was different. I don't know that the romance was wholly convincing, but I'm just trapped. Like, I just like a romance as long as it's not bad. I'm I'm doubt I always am for a romance. So I was like, Yeah, like, I'm into this. He's, you know, kind of a Mr. Armadage or sorry, Mr. Thornton Richard Armadage. Yeah, like I was giving that I like the ending and I like the way I well, I mean, sorry, I'm just monologuing now. But one thing I did like was the the fact that she's the one at war. And she's the one who has like, she's writing home somebody while she's at war versus and he's the one at home like pining for her. Like, I just feel like that's not a dynamic I've ever seen before. So I was like, I read that like I also like it didn't feel it also even though it was like flipping that dynamic, it didn't feel like the girl version of Ghostbusters like it didn't feel like, do you see what I did here? I switched them and like it didn't feel aggressively like, you know, I mean, no, yeah, there was times where it did a little bit, but that element I didn't feel that way about. So anyway, overall, I feel like I'm be it's verging on a four, but I just can't get over the fact that it's like, too long of my opinion. My friend who was reading it, while she was reading it, she was updating because like, she knew I'd read it before. And she was like, I hope that she doesn't end up with this with the Mr. Thornton guy. She was like, I really like the other guy. And I was like, okay, that was how I felt like I didn't, I mean, I didn't know that I needed them to be together either long term, but I didn't like Thornton. I didn't like, I didn't like the romance. Okay. Also his name is Thornton in this book. If like anyone is confused, we're all just calling him Thornton. I don't remember what his actual name is. I will say, I wonder a little bit if his writing in particular just doesn't work great for me because I tried one of his sci-fi books that people love and I DNFed it because I just like couldn't, I just, I don't know. So I think this is the one of these things where I'm like, I like what you're doing here, but like, I don't love his writing to be honest. Like it just, it doesn't, I don't, it doesn't, someone else said it feels emotionless. That's how I feel about it. Also, I'm like, I like this project, but like I need more feeling. I don't know. Yeah, I could see that. I guess that didn't bother me. That didn't bother me, but I can see that as a valid criticism. I mean, a lot of people love his stuff. So I like it's, I think it's just, for whatever reason, I don't know that I get on great with him. I agree with Dary. I would have, I wish that we had taken like a chunk out of the middle and had a more like aftermath, extended time. It was very, the middle is so long and then the short end at the end, it's just like ever done. And it's been a couple of weeks since I've read it and I can't really remember what happens in that middle chunk hardly at all. Cause I just mean, it's a lot of, a lot of fighting in the swamp. The swamp, even though this is more seeming like revolutionary war era, Napoleonic war era, like in vibes, the swamp fighting was very reminiscent to me of like trench warfare in World War one, where like, what grounds are you gaining and why are you trying to gain it? So I liked that. Yeah. I like the themes of like the meaninglessness of war and you know, people think they're fighting for one thing, but is it really, I mean, yeah, like on paper, I like a lot of the things this was doing. And even the parts of it, like that are dealing with sexism, I think we're again, they weren't like that. I was just talking to somebody else about this, about how we hate when books just, they deal with sexism by having some man say, you are a woman, therefore you are stupid. And they're like, how dare you? I meant, you know, just like sexism is much more hidden and insidious and subtle. And if you like display it like that, then like when people say, well, feminism doesn't need to exist anymore because no one is literally going around saying women are stupid and you're like, that's because that's not how sexism works. So like, I like that when books like this deal with it with more nuance, you know, where you see like there's, there is still, even though there's women who are being drafted, there is still sexism. And the way I handled it, like it was really good. Like violent patriarchy isn't necessarily like a random guy attacking you in the street. It's dude thinking that he's about to die and being like, Hey, you're a convenient womb. I'm going to put a baby in you, whether you like it or not. Like that, I mean, I was like, yeah, do your civic duty woman, be a vessel for my scene. And the fact that he was shocked by the fact that she would not was not it. And he was like, what, who would do that? Like, dude. Yeah. Yeah. Although I did like when all the women first showed up at the front and like, one of the commanders is like, all right, these are soldiers. If you rape one of them, I'm going to take you up back and shoot you myself. So I did kind of like that because they were just like, Oh, wow, so it's actually dealing with sexual assault in the military and in a way that's definitive. Great. Well, I like that it's coming from altruism. It's coming from pragmatism of like, guys, we need soldiers. So like, I need you to, I know you want to do this, but like, you just can't for pragmatic reasons. If you do it, I'm going to take you out back and shoot you. And I was like, hey. It also handled the classism in the fact that rich families were mostly sending their servants. And that like, she was one of the few that went, but then the lower classes still took their anger out on her. And she's like, I came and they're like, whatever, like we can't, you know, beat up our masters. So you're here. That's what works for us. I think all of what this is making me realize is like, I think I really like his ideas and I just don't like it. Like I don't enjoy his writing. Like I love all of what you're saying and I love those ideas objectively, but like I just don't have fun reading his writing. That's exactly how you fail. You know, it's so interesting because usually you and I are opposite on that. Yeah. Like usually I can't overlook the writing because of just for the ideas. It doesn't happen that often, but like every once in a while, there's somebody that I, for whatever reason, it just, yeah. Yeah. I did, I did actually tab something. I never tab and I made it tab. Read it out. Look at me guys. It's just, I feel like it like summed up a lot of the stuff and it was when she was talking to that doctor, Dr. Lam. Oh yeah. And he says, the march of progress, Lieutenant Marshwick, he said, I'm a man of progress, a scientist and an engineer. And yet I look upon this and ask, what has this word made of us all? Like country will never be the place it was and no more will yours. Who's the winner then? Like who's winning this? We both just destroyed each other. So I feel like that's like one of the main themes of the book and it was like summed up nicely. So I tabbed it. Yeah. Look at me tabbing something. I think that also does tie into like the propaganda. Yes. That was also handled well where like, and I mean, there is that in war where you're like many times in history, people have not been permitted to write home and say what's really going on for this exact reason. And then also the fact that like when she's finally confronted with the enemy, it's not just propaganda about that we're winning the war, but we need to draft literally everybody. And you're like, how can we be winning? And how can that also be true? Yeah. There's also the lies about the enemy, which are also like the way you get people like it's practical to make them angry at who they're fighting. Like you want to go into battle, angry, wanting to kill them, thinking they're monsters. But when she's confronted with the other side and they're like, they think that her side, you're like, you just keep fighting. You just keep sending more people. Even your women are fighting. And she's like, are we the baddies? Am I the bad guy? Yeah. Yeah. Well, and I, I liked that. I liked the way that that ended up. Like I liked the way that the war ended. I thought that that made sense and supported the themes. But just again, I'm, I guess, opposite of Liana. I don't want people to suffer. So I was really relieved that her brother in law lived. I was really worried the whole time that he was going to make it. Which I also thought it sounded like I was rooting for him to die. Paintings differing. So I just assumed, but I didn't think it was realistic. It was very like World War One where it's like, well, all the people in that rank have died. So I guess now you're this rank. Like congratulations on your new promotion. Like it just kept happening. And I was like, Oh no, brother in law. Like, come on. I need you to make it through. I mean, like her brother already died. So I feel like it would have been, I mean, okay, it's not that he could, they could have had the brother in law die as well. But like, I just felt like she'd had her death. So everyone else, because they killed her best friend, like in the first fight in the first chapter of the book. So you're like, Oh, I might have this character. I didn't have that much time to, I think that her dying was sort of like an initial like, this is real. People will like, don't expect this war to have plot armor. People will die. She just died. But also I feel like I was, because we had more time with her. What's his name? Who was like into that actress. And then yeah, they had their new tenant. Oh, yeah. That was really sad. That was really sad. Yeah. She keeps getting promoted. I do think it's an interesting choice to have your main character be on the losing side of a war. Yeah. Also, because I don't think we get that very often either. I just think he made a lot of interesting choices. And I feel like probably intentionally trying to flip what you would typically see in this type of book. Yeah. Also, you're apparently wrong about the pros, Bethany. Sorry. People like different things. It's okay. Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, I'm sad that I didn't like this more, because I was expecting this could be a four and a half or a five for me. But I do think it's a really good place for people who are intimidated by epic fantasy to try. Or military fantasy. Or military fantasy, because it's very readable. Like even if you don't love the pros, it does, I think read pretty quickly. There's not a ton of like made up names you got to keep track of. Like the world building is pretty directly inspired by Napoleonic Europe. So I feel like this would be a recommendation I'd add to my list of like, if you want to start with fantasy, this might be a good one. It's also a standalone. So you're not like 14 books. Oh, no. Right. I wouldn't mind another book though. Like the ending is pretty like, hey, that's a big ending moment. Like what happens now? Like, you know, maybe we can see her and what's his face as kids like in the next round of war, it could be like the World War Two version. Yeah. There's like barely magic too. So it's like kind of fantasy. I was actually going to ask now, like we've kind of talked about war, but like, what did we think of the magical aspects of this book? I would have liked more. Yeah, I would have too. I don't really understand how it worked. Like the king had magic and then he gives it to wizards and then they feel like it's like deputizing them. It feels like he's deputizing like writing them maybe. It doesn't make fire magic. But it also doesn't make a ton of that. Like it's a little unclear. Like is it because doesn't it go away when he dies? So is it like he's just imbuing them with his own magic? Well, that's why I was saying it's like deputizing them. He has like instead of authority, he has magic and he's like, here you can use my magic on my behalf. Which is an interesting choice though, because then it seems like why does only he have magic, right? That's exactly like the question. But it seems like then it would like serve because if he had something you're born with, right, it would like serve this idea of sort of like divine right. Maybe he's born with it. Maybe he's just a magical king. They did mention like something about like bloodlines being important because not everyone can like survive it where he's just like most of the time it needs to be noble families. They're all kind of related to the monarchy in some way. So it's just like the blood in them takes the magic better than like commoners. The thing's just like, hey, fuck it. I'm giving everybody magic at the end of the book. Yeah. This is more how I liked that. It was like kind of there, but like it wasn't really, there wasn't a lot of big magic. See, I feel like if I don't see it, like if I feel like if I'm going to do that, then I'm just going to read like historical fiction or like magical realism, historical fiction. Like I'm not going to pick up a fantasy. Like if I'm picking up fantasy, I want more magic usually. Yeah. Now that you're saying that, Bethany, it does, it almost is like magical realism more than fantasy, which isn't a bad thing. It's just yeah. I didn't think about that. To write a story that takes place in a world that is not our own, does that necessitate magic? Like if you wanted to tell a story about different countries, a different conflict in a different war, like if you're saying you have to write about our world or you have to have magic, like I don't like that that would be a requirement. No, because like alternate history is a thing or like speculation. Yeah. I mean, you don't have, I'm just saying like personal preference. Like if I'm picking up a fantasy story, like I prefer to have more magic. Like if I'm looking for something that feels like historical fiction without magic, I would just probably read a historical fiction or a classic. I don't know. I would, I just like fire magic. So like I would have just like, I just would have liked more of it in this particular case. Agreed. But Agreed. Simple pleasures in life. Yeah. I mean, I'm a sucker for like dragons and fire and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. All of this was very vague. Like it was not, it's nothing. Also, I think part of it, right, is because it's all from her perspective. So it's very narrow in what you know. Like you don't see much outside what she's going through. You don't know things that she wouldn't be thinking about, which like, you know, from like a writing, it's an interesting choice. It's just, it leaves a lot uncertain. Yeah. But like, you know, that King also was quite the ladies man. I'm like, there has to be some bastards around, you know what I mean? Oh, for sure. 100%. And I'm like, do you just get because you related that guy or does the king have to like give you the, I don't, we don't know. We're never going to know. There's a real piece of shit. So who knows? I mean, like I'll send him some kid comes of age and they have magical fire powers. I was like, oh, shit, guess who his dad was like, or her dad or whatever. So where is there like a vampiric ceremony they're supposed to undergo at death? I mean, we don't really know. So I don't know how much like Flintlock anyone has read, but like, as far as I can tell, and I'm my limited experience of Flintlock, which occurs, it seems to be confirming that Flintlock fantasy just doesn't have that much magic. So Bethany, this is your sign. Don't read Flintlock fantasy. I mean, what is what is Flintlock fantasy? I don't really know. Well, this is Flintlock fantasy. It means basically that like your fantasy world is like, instead of like swords and sorcery, it has guns. Like Oh, it's like early technology. Okay, basically, it's the fact that like your world has progressed to the point where you have like cannons and guns and firepower like you have. And I don't know. So like steampunk. Yes, like magic, like magic steampunk. I wouldn't say steampunk is usually its own genre. Flintlock is like it feels Flintlock feels like so like a lot of like fantasy feels like, oh, this is like historical medieval Europe. But like Flintlock fantasy is like, oh, this is like historical like Napoleonic war era. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying to think of like, if I've read something that's Flintlock fantasy that I like loved, I don't know that I have. Well, I think the second era of Mistborn would be considered Flintlock fantasy. Yeah. I'd rather say that. Okay, but that feels more like a Western. It's like a like a buddy Western, which feels different to me. It's a fantasy world with guns, which is basically what Flintlock wants. Okay. But it's like a more American version of that era. Yeah. So like I enjoy, I think that's probably it. Like I enjoy it as an more American Western version. Oh, you're just anti Europe. Yeah. Wait, is Red Country by Abercrombie a Flintlock then? Because don't they have guns in that? I don't think they have guns in it. It just feels like it's a Western, but like they had a gun in it. Like we're getting into spoiler territory because there is kind of the advent of possibly like gunpowder. Oh, yeah. Well, yeah, they're at the brink of like an industrial revolution. Never mind. I just felt like it had guns. But are you actually they don't I don't think they have in the age of madness. I think they like they have like cannons, but I don't think they have like revolvers yet. Yeah. Well, y'all get there. I think you and Bethany are having a read-a-thon, right? We are. You'll get there, Bethany. I am always having an Abercrombie. I don't know. If you guys are doing live shows, I would want to go on for Red Country because it's actually my favorite Abercrombie. I don't think it's anyone else's favorite Abercrombie. Some people say it's their favorite, but I feel like it tends to be people who really like Westerns. And I'm like, I just don't like I like this better than Westerns. I like Westerns. I've discovered like straight up Westerns. Very rarely something I'm into, but like Magicky Western. Magicky Westerns? Very much. I'm into it. Same. I'm into that too. So I love Red Country. But yeah, let me know. I would love to talk about it. Yeah. No, we're doing it for the podcast. So when we get there, when are we reading Red Country? Like a while from now probably. May, June, something like that. I don't know. I don't know. We're barely going to be at best served cold in May. That's after best served cold. No, it's after the heroes. Oh gosh. It's after the heroes too. Wait, so I don't know. I don't remember the order. Well, we were doing the trilogy, not to like derail this conversation, but we're doing the trilogy and then skip a month and then the stand-alones and then skip a month. And I don't know what order the stand-alones go in. Red Country is the last one. Yeah. Okay. So we're not doing it till like July. Yeah. A while. A while. It'll be a while. We got there. Back to Guns of the Dawn. Nope. She's on Abercrombie chat. Sorry, Mark. Sorry. Question. I know, Bethany, I saw you put something about this in your review, so I didn't know if you wanted to touch on this. Yeah. Me and Leanna off like kind of had a chat about this, which was help. Maybe I should go and update my review after our chat. So like when I read this, yeah. So it's a little still unclear to me like how to interpret it. So when I read this, the way I read it was like, okay, the indigenous people like, because they're talked about is if they're not like really human. And so I'm like, are they intended to be another species or something? Because that's not really explained. But then I thought that the dude, like what I understood, which Leanna says is not accurate, which she might, may totally be right about this. But like, but like when I was reading it, what I thought it was saying was that the dude who was like the anthropologist had fallen in love with one of their women. And so I was like, well, if that's true. But Leanna says it was someone from the other side of the war. Yeah, it was the other side of the war. I don't, yeah. You know who else says that was what happened, Adrienne Tchaikovsky. I feel like it's weird. They're obviously different species. Well, so that's what was confusing to me is I was like, because I interpreted it as like he had fallen in love with one of them. And I was like, this is an interesting take to make them not. So I feel better knowing that that's not what was happening. But I do still have some questions about like the choice to make the indigenous people not human. Like I, I feel like he didn't adequately, and he's British. So I feel like they also have a different relationship with indigeneity than Americans do. So part of it is that, but like, yes, it is. When we talked about it, like I was saying how it was just very since this whole thing has that like that like British like empire era of vibes that like it also felt like British early anthropologist vibes where like it was this in keeping with like that's what they went out and did. And they had these people that were like interested in the natives and then wet native. And like it was very like, yeah, that's the vibe. And you're not, I mean, I don't think anything in the book is written in a way where you're supposed to condone everything that's going on. It's just like in keeping with No, I just, you know, I think it's more just that in my head, I'm like, if somebody who is already anti indigenous was reading this, they would use it as fodder to support their anti indigenous beliefs. Does that make because it's not really spelled out. I could see that. I mean, and I don't know that he was, I don't think he was intending that because I agree with you, Liana, but like there's it like they're they're called not human. And then that's not really explained. And we never get, I don't know, I didn't love it. So I don't know that his intention was bad. Yeah, I assume because magic, you know, that's they're just like their own race of people. Because they also have magical creatures. I don't know. I didn't really think about it. But I do. Yeah. Now that now that you're talking about it, I'm like, yeah, that is kind of weird. I just went like, okay, magic stuff. Yeah, I hadn't really thought about it. But when I read your review, Bethany, I was like, oh, yeah, I mean, yeah, I can see like what Sean is saying. It fell into the mystical mysterious others, which is a stereotype. I was like, yeah, I mean, that yeah, I mean, that sounds like a fair thing. Yeah. So I don't know. Like I think I do feel like if he had done more work to unpack like what they are, if they are a different species, like maybe it could have been done better. I don't know. I just I didn't love that execution, even though I don't think the intention was bad, but I just Yeah, I took it more like they were having like interactions, like if an alien came, and then we spoke different languages, that's why I got the vibe of obviously, we're the aliens, that's their home. But like, that's kind of what I felt the vibe was with them. Well, probably, and that's what I think his intention probably was because he does write that stuff. Like he writes sci-fi where there are other species of aliens there. And so like, I think that's what he was trying to do. It's just that I don't know. But like, I feel like if you go into this, like, I don't know that everyone would read it that way. So, yeah, no, there is a conversation to be had about it. It just it felt very kind of like a sci-fi, the two different alien races talking to each other, you know, like in like Star Wars, when they're in the canteen, and they're obviously speaking different languages, so they both understand each other. Yeah, I always like that. I got the vibe of it is their home. Yeah. Yeah. Interesting. Maybe like kind of like Faye. Yeah, that's an interesting context, because I just think you read it read things so differently, depending on your cultural background. So, yeah. Yeah. So I think like to sum up, like, was it like perfect in its depiction of this? No, but was it like egregious? Also, no. It was like, it was like, that could have been better. That's kind of, that's kind of. It was also it very much felt like sort of it was right up there with the magic in terms of this is not really what he's focused on. Like it's in there and it's like a feature of what's going on, but it's not the thing we're doing here. No. Yeah, it's definitely more focused on the war and on Emily's personal, like interpersonal, such political relationships. And also like passionate letters from Mr. Thornton. Those are some of my favorite moments. I liked his letter writing. So, so we should we circle back to the romance now that we're done talking about? You see if I can find one of those letters, because that was, that was well, I would be most unhappy if you died. So don't do that. I do think that I am like much more like I'm Mara. I sometimes feel like I'm much more critical. Like I love romance and I read a lot of, but I also think I'm more critical of it sometimes than you are. Yeah, I think that's true. The reason like I think I have a level of like doing with itness about romance that I don't know that you have, which is fine. It's just different. But like this one works for me because I feel like the ending isn't like a romantic. We're off to get engaged and live happily ever after type ending. Like in the end, she like kind of chooses his side, but in not in a way that's like, oh, all of his like, you know, everything he's done has been explained away. And he's actually been perfect all along. And now there's true love. The ending was very like, I'm gonna, I, I can't deny that I have an attraction to you. And I don't condone everything you've done. You've never lied to me. And right now I'm choosing you right now. So it didn't feel like a forever love. Yeah. It made me think of them in Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet where it's like when civil blood makes civil hands unclean, like everybody, everybody is in the shit in this. And so like, she's, she's done shitty things. He's done shitty things. You're in a war and like in a certain well, like people have just been there. Nobody is coming to this. They also like to confront that like they've hated him because of what happened with their father and the way that she confronts the fact that, but my father also betrayed us in his own way. And that like, I have been satisfied to like, just it's much simpler for me emotionally to just my, my father is the victim and you are the villain. But to confront the fact that like, it does, is it the other way around is like actually like he the hero. No, he did bad things, but like it was not that cut and dry. And yeah, no, I didn't do it. He didn't make the dad do what he did, you know, I think this is a romance that I could get behind if there was a good film adaptation of it with actors who put more emotion into it. Yeah, I could, yeah, because like, I think that was part of it for me as I read it and I was like, I just don't feel it. Like at all. Okay. I feel like, like I feel it from him, but I don't feel it from her, you know, well, that's great. Like in the beginning in the book, no, like, I don't think they ever would have got together. It would have been a mess. But like when she comes back from war, she's a different person. Yeah, yeah. She's like, listen, I have murdered like a lot of people at this point, like, and you're just kind of like sneaky, like, you know, like, we're kind of a pair at this point. So I think it's more of less of she's changed enough that she kind of has a different moral compass to match his moral compass. It does seem begrudging on her part. That is exactly it. Where I was like, just stay single. Like, why? That was, that was it. Because I got his do anything to find her, which I'm a sucker for. Okay, yeah, this is when it sold me. I agree. He has major Garcy vibes. I like yeah. Okay, so he's like, you must come back to me. Remember that make a note that you must not that like that. That I was like, okay, I'm into that. Well, even like when he when she is missing and he writes and he's like, basically like if you find her, I will give you a shit ton of money. He's like, I promise you, if you are able to locate the news of Sergeant Marshwick, then neither you nor the man who finds that news will be the poor for it. If I were a hero, I would set off myself. If I were a soldier, I would take up a musket. If I were a wizard, I would spark fires enough to burn the forest to the ground until I found her. I am not. I am a man of finances. I use the tools at my disposal, find her find my gratitude in large dress. And maybe it's because I have an accounting degree and I relate to like, okay, I'm not a fighter, but like, I can do your test. I'll give you some money. And so like, I love that letter. I feel like the part and it's pretty early on the part where like I was like, this is Mr. Thornton was like when she's first leaving for war and he is like horrified and she's describing how horrified he looks like he's the one that's going to war even though she's going and he's watching her leave. And it was just like that scene from north and south when Margaret's leaving and he's like, look back at me. Look back at me. I was just like, that's him right now that is totally his vibe. You know what? Although they worked in the hand scene when she touched his hand when she was leaving and I bet he's going like the Darcy like hand flex from 2005. I'm like, he's doing it. He's doing it. I think the thing is like, I just never really like, I never really liked him. I like, I felt like he was kind of like a manipulative and like he was the only person she could talk to openly because of the way they were censoring her letters. And so of course there was like going to be some kind of an emotional, I don't know. I just, I like, I just didn't know. People come together in times of war, Bethany. You know, I wanted her, I look, I just, I was like, I wanted her to just like be single at the end. At the end, I don't want to be single when you can be with your romantic parents because I don't believe that she actually was that into him. Like it felt begrudging to me on her part and I was like, if you're not into it, like they're not like engaged or married at the end. She's just like, I'm choosing right now to save your life and I hear you and fight and like, I am low key into you cannot deny. But that's it. Like one thing is like, and we will now be wed and be like, she might not even marry her for me. I mean, in my mind, they're making some morally gray babies right now. I feel like, you know, committing regicide is a pretty much like, hey, like let's go date kind of situation. It's not like, oh, you know, I like threw my tea into this guy's face. It's like, no, I'm like, kill the guy. So I feel like that's a bit of a good bit. Yeah, I like that. Because that that was more, yeah, that was kind of more how I interpreted it, interpreted it, which was, okay, magic guy, like, yeah, we, we will go to Pound Town. Like, we're in Thornton. They don't actually have names in this book, but I don't remember them. But we're two ships in the night. Like, you know, we will take comfort from each other's bodies while we're in this fucking swamp. Like, we'll do that. But then when she gets home, she's like, okay, I have seen some shit. And I actually want to be with somebody who like, can live with the fact that I've seen some shit. You know what I mean? Like that, that was kind of how I took it. But again, I'm just a romantic at heart. So like, I just want people to be together. Like, I'm, I've got my two Barbie dolls and I'm like, pressing their mouths together. Well, I was also telling Bethany that like, one of the things that like, which is why I almost, even though I guess this would be enemies to lovers, but like, it's a different kind of enemies to lovers, like to me and enemies to lovers where there's like a great deal of like, distrust and animosity. And like, they're truly like, I don't know. But like here, the fact that their relationship is entirely founded on honesty, that he's like, I have never lied to you. I will never lie to you. It's because I tell you the truth that you hate me, that like that I'm just like, all right, I'm on board. Like, because at the very least, like you have this core of like, I, I don't know if I approve of what you do, but I can trust you, like that whatever you tell me is the truth that you want. Because like, if, if I'm in her little sister, whatever her name is, the one that's kind of like Kitty and or not Kitty, what's her face? Lydia, Lydia. I wouldn't have bought them together. Do you know what I mean? The same way that I wouldn't buy Lydia and Darcy together. They have two different journeys and personalities. Her personality to me was like, she of her sisters is the one who is the closest to being a like kind of cynical realist. And so it makes more sense to me that she could go on a journey that would make her end up with Thornton. Yeah. I see it like, again, I think a good adaptation of this with actors, where I bought their chemistry, I could get behind it. I just like that. Yeah. Also Kaz is licking her butt, taking a bath. Mine is also doing that, but it's, I'm sorry, I was just, I couldn't, I was trying my best not to laugh really loud. I mean, this is kind of also funny, like if they didn't describe Northway always as pale and awkward and undertaker clothing, it would be more, I mean, you know, not wrong. It's like, or like, hey, Professor Snape. That's a romantic lead. Yeah. I'm just like, I was picturing like an emo scene kid as, but like older. Chubby McGuire when he went through his Black Spider Man. Exactly. That face. I wish Allison died. It's way harsh, Ty. It's like, it's like a Timothy Chalamet, but goth. You know, after, after I went hard after Timothy Chalamet a few months ago, some people sent me some like pictures of him in more alluring photography or lighting or whatever. And I was like, okay, like, I can kind of, I can get this. Not for me, but I feel very, I feel very motherly towards Timothy Chalamet. Like, can I just give him a plate of food? Like, I just want to feed him. I turned into an Italian grandmother and was like, oh, you're just gonna eat. Well, there's like these videos, you know, where he's like doing, he's saying something clever or showing off his French. And, and there's like the comments are like, swoon. And I'm just like, I'm so proud of you, little man. Like, you're so clever. Top of your class. I like you. Good job. Well, we're all grown up adults too. Yeah, that's the difference. He's a grown up adult too. He just looks like a baby. He's like 27, I think. I was gonna say, isn't he in like his late twenties now? He's in his late twenties. He is. He just looks like a baby. Oh, okay. Well, still. I think he's like 20, like he's one of those rare actors. Like when you put, you know, or late twenties, early 30 year olds in teenager roles and everyone's like, Oh, it's unbelievable, except, except for him. Except for him. And we're like, I buy it. Yeah. No, like dating's in diet. I just learned this. You just learned this. Yes. Tiktok just told me this the other day. I'm not. It's fairly like doesn't keep you up to date as much as you think it does. You know what, I probably, I probably have known because I follow a lot of the Marvel creators on Tiktok. So yeah, I don't follow any of that stuff. So I don't, I'm not a Marvel watcher. So I'm not a Marvel watcher, but Instagram informed me of all of the times they have been spotted together and how cute that is. Hey, look, I do know Pete Davidson is having a moment. I'm not totally out of touch. I'm just saying, I don't keep up with a lot of sad things. That I also don't understand. He had to have like the biggest dick I've ever seen. Exactly what I think every time I see a headline, Amanda, is I'm like, how big, how good is it? It must be big and he must know how to use it. Like that is my thought. Pete Davidson like on SNL, like I think he's funny, but mostly he reminds me a lot of my brother and my brother hates Pete Davidson. So I can never tell him. I mean, I have told him and he hates it, but like, I'm always like, whenever I see him, I just like, I'm pleased because he reminds me of my brother, which is like, if like people are talking about his, his big dick and like all of these like ladies he's with, I'm just like, I don't know anything about your brother's situation. I just know that Pete Davidson must be speaking of like pale, consumptive looking people. Pete Davidson. Yeah, it's like what deal with the devil did he make? How is he slinging this dick all over town with like there, like the extent of my interest in like pale, consumptive people is low key. I mean, yeah, I've had crushes on emo scene boys. So like I can kind of, I get it. Okay. You know, when I was also an emo scene girl, but like, I don't have them now. Yeah. This is like, I for like this, it hasn't been the case for a while, but like, I feel like in the yield or the, the, what's the progenitor of the genre of being into like pale, consumptive boys was Ben Wishaw. And I never, I always liked Ben Wishaw as an actor. And then I never understood why like my friends and roommates were just like, oh, he's so hot. And I'm like, he looks like I could snap him on my knee. Like, how is that hot? I don't understand. You know, I think Twilight has to be some people's pale, consumptive. But okay, but Robert Pattinson, I could not snap on my knee. I mean, that was also true. Yeah. I was also never in the Robert Pattinson. I didn't get it. His face is very flat. And it bothers me. Like he's so pale. It looks like he ran into a board. I am very hyped for that. He's also kind of like Russell, what's his name? Russell Crow, who kind of looks like a thumb. I feel like Robert Pattinson is kind of in that same I think the honest trailer refers to Robert Pattinson as shovel face. I am so hyped for him in Batman. Yeah, I think he'll do a great job. I just yeah. But of course, all of the jokes about him being like the worst vampire ever that it took him X amount of years to turn into a bat. I forget her name, but whoever's playing Catwoman, like she is just low key. Just think she's super hot though. But like also I think she's a good Catwoman. Yeah, like, I would say Zoe Kravitz. Yeah, I'm just like, yeah. It's a little strange. It's a little strange. The moment the moment that I know it and Leanna doesn't like that's a rarity. It's weird because Zoe Kravitz's name is this. It's like it has like a pharm on it because you've just told me her name asked me in an hour and I'll be like, don't remember. Like I don't I cannot retain her name. Sadly, I just associate her so strongly with that like one of the worst movies I've ever seen aside from J.K.R.'s politics. That second fantastical beast movie is what I associate her with and how agonizingly terrible it was. I never saw it. So I'm out of that one. I feel like I feel like I've seen it because I've watched so many videos slaying it so that like I've seen enough clips of it that I probably have cumulatively seen the entire film. Yeah, having not seen any of the reactions to it and getting to walk into it cold was quite an experience because I just was like, what is going on? What am I watching? I mean, like I felt very mediocre about it. I didn't hate it, but I was like, it was an entire film of backstories for characters we did not care about and I don't know. Anyway, all that to say, Zoe Kravitz is a beautiful woman and sadly, I always associate her with that movie. So I would welcome the chance to associate her with something else. She looks great as Catwoman if you look at the clip. But having seen the like very dark hair... Activate by panic, it's happening. I can't like, I'm like, oh, what? Do it. She looks really good for... The very dark haired, very pale version of Robert Pattinson that is Bruce Wayne. Mr. Northway could look like that. He could play Mr. Northway. Yeah, plus 20 years. Mr. Northway's in his 40s. This would be a good miniseries or... It would actually. I would probably enjoy this as a miniseries. Yeah. Hey, yo. And this one's already done. I think BBC would do it well. I think BBC would make it better. They would. It would be a six episode miniseries. Yeah. This one, this one's already done. You don't have to worry about the source material running out before you, you know, get there. So actually given the age factor, I feel like Killian Murphy and Piggy Blinders has like Mr. Northway vibes where he's already like, I do bad things, but I tell you that I do bad things. And you're like, just like switch out the hat. You know what? Honestly, like, I don't know. I realize I think like villains, I have a villain mind. So when I'm, when I'm reading Mr. Northway's character, I'm like, you could do worse, frankly. Like, he's, is he that bad? Like, yeah, he's kind of an asshole. But I'm like, you know, he could do worse than an asshole. But I feel like... His honesty totally sells me. If he was like an asshole and was always lying to her, I'd be like, get out, die. But he's always telling her the truth. Exactly. Yeah. He's like, I'm not pretending to not be an asshole. Like that's kind of like, that's my lane. I'm in it. I'm staying in it. And I'm like, you know, he could do worse like Cas Bracker. I'm like, he's not the worst boyfriend you could find. I mean, like, true. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, Mr. Northway has just grown up Cas Bracker. Yeah, Killian Murphy, I think is the right casting now that you say that. I also, I think, yeah, I think he could say like dirty things to Emily. In this adaptation. And I would, I would buy it. So. But I feel like he also says it with like, the hint of a smirk. Where you're like, okay. Like her secret, her secret fantasy Dom daddy angle. I feel like Killian Murphy can take it. We're writing another book right now, Mark. This is me adapting. That's the casting. That's where I think it could go. I'm just feeling like listening to us talk about this book versus listening to Alan talk about this, your impression of what you'll find in it is so vastly different. That's very true. Alan, weigh in if you've ever watched this. Who's your dream casting for Mr. Northway? But I feel like Matthew Goode would be the wizard. Not Mr. Northway. I picture the magic boy as very like fresh faced, like a Chris Evans type. But I feel like that skinnier like Matthew Goode. You know that guy who was in that war movie from, he was in the one guy from the one war movie. I am about to narrow it. Let me narrow it. Okay. He was in 1918, that movie, and he's like the main character. Oh, I never saw that. Oh, yeah. I don't even give it in something else too. I know what you mean. The main guy from that war movie. He's also in the new movie that's about Ned Kelly. Isn't he? The true history of the Kelly gang. It's like me and Mara don't watch that many things. Wait, did that already come out? The true history of the Kelly gang? Yeah, that came out. Yeah, I did post on it a while ago. I'm looking it up right now Amanda, so I can weigh in on this. Who is this boy? He looks like a British prep boy who has consumption. No, he would be the wizard. I picture him as the wizard guy. Giles. I could see it. I could see it. He's Giles to me. Oh, maybe. I don't know. There's a very unflattering picture of Benedict Cumberbatch that just came up. Someone in the common city, they reminded, Benedict Cumberbatch reminded them of Sid the Sloth from Ice Age. I thought in the comments a while ago I heard that take. I kind of know that you say that. I think I can kind of see that. What reason is because Mr. Northway is in fact Mr. Thornton from North and South. He really very much is. Oh, I could see that. Donald Gleason. I could definitely see that. Do we know who that is? No. Do I? Yes. Yes. I do, but Beth May doesn't go for it. He's Hux from Star Wars. I'm looking it up. He's Hux from Star Wars. Yeah, I could see that. I liked someone said James McAvoy. I could see that too. None of us care who plays Emily, apparently. No, she, I mean, yeah, just generic, whoever. British lady. British lady. That's Jay. I mean, she's got to be somebody who can go from like, honestly, like gender to woman to being in battle. Like maybe like, oh god, she plays Hermione in the Harry Potter movies. What's her name? Emma Watson. I could see like Emma Watson doing that. Yeah. Because I could see her in a period drama and then moving into more kickassery. Emily Blunt. I think I get younger Emily Blunt now. Yeah. Younger Emily Blunt maybe. Again. Oh, there's a cat foot. He's been purring and rubbing his head against this table for the last five minutes. So it's a good table. Oh, somebody said maybe. Yeah, that's right. Cast Richard Arbitage and the girl from North and South. There you go. And then you're just bada-bing bada-boom. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, well, okay, you know, what about it would be interesting what if they did cat because somebody said, what if they did the one who plays Eloise? Yeah, I could see that. I could like maybe like a little bit this kind of how I pictured her in my brain, but a little older looking, I think. Well, I think they age her down. Oh, she is older, but yeah, Florence Pugh would be great. Yeah. Yeah. I like that casting Florence Pugh or um, or Demelza from Holder. Oh God, I can never say her name, but the one who played Joe and Little Women, Sorcery Ronan. Sorcery Ronan. Sorcery. Yeah. She has the fireiness. Pretty much. So we've just cast anyone from Little Women can be Emily. Yeah. Watson, Florence Pugh or Sorcery Ronan. That means Timothy Chalamet. Timothy Chalamet plays Laurie in it, so that I guess he has to play Mr. Northway. Yeah. Oh, no, he's too old-faced. He could be the Swap Boy. Who was the Swap Guy? What's his name? Malon. He could be Malon. Oh, he could totally be Malon. Yeah, I could see that. Okay. Let's just write the who or what is he? Or he could be the little brother. Who is the director of that movie? Like, alternatively, like, suggesting Demelza from Poll Dark as Emily. I do think that Aiden Turner would be a pretty good Mr. Northway. Oh, well, Aiden Turner would be a pretty good thing in my life. I feel like he's too sexy for Mr. Northway, though. That's what would make Bethany like it. Bethany would see it be like, well, I'm on board. Now that I see that it's Aiden Turner, sure, of course. My mission in life is to have a new adaptation of Weathering Heights with Aiden Turner as Heathcliff. One, because I think he'd be fantastic, because he's the broodiest broody, like, swarthy looking guy. And then also, my mom would then finally like Weathering Heights because she likes Aiden Turner. Well, what's not to like? I mean, someone agrees with me about Eloise from Bridgerton. Thank you. Like, I pictured her the same coloring as Emily. Like, I pictured her like that, but maybe not the exact same face. But yeah, that's kind of loosely how I pictured her a bit. I just realized that I was pretty much picturing Kira Knightley as Emily and what's his face who plays Darcy in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice as Mr. Northway. So that's probably part of why I like Mr. Northway. It's mad Pride and Prejudice vibes. And I'm still on my Pride and Prejudice kick because I just read it last year. And I'm just like, I'm never not in my Pride and Prejudice kick. It never, it won't, it will be with you always, Amanda, now that you have it. It will, it will. Oh, I read, I, yeah, I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about drug classes because it just came out. But yeah, I just read Agatha Christie that I thought of Mara when I was doing it. I'm so proud. I'm so proud. Well, I would say that this is one that is probably one of the more successful picks. We have another success. Yes. I kept saying I thought this could be. And then I was like, Oh, no, now that I've said it, yeah, I'm gonna hate it. Yeah. I mean, like, I didn't love it, but like, I got on board picture, whoever you need to picture, who do you like? That's Mr. Northway. Yes. Look, I would be, I would be behind an adaptation of this because like, it's got the building blocks. It's just his writing of it. I need more feeling. Yeah. Yeah. But somebody was asking if I was, if we were going to unhaul it, I'm not going to unhaul mine. I'll keep mine. So I probably, I probably will. I don't like, I'm pretty picky about what I keep and item like if I, you also live in a tiny New York city. I do. I live in the New York City apartment. So it's like, it's not big. Well, it's big. She's big. She's big. It's like, it is a nice paper copy. It's like, I feel like, because I don't, I don't see myself rereading it because I didn't love it enough for that. And I, I like, I'll pass it along to someone to buy for my indie bookstore at a used price, and they'll really enjoy it. It'll be great. That's true. I'm, I'm very, I am very picky about what I keep. I could see that. He's got the, the kind of squirrely vibes. The thing is, David Tennant, I think he's a fantastic actor, but I have never understood why anyone finds him attractive. So like, I don't need that. Could he do the role? Well, he could, but I would not be into it. Same. Same. Like, I appreciate David Tennant. Like, I don't, you know, it's like a weird, like I, I'm like, you know, when it came down to it, yeah, I'd go for it. But like, I'm not like actively going for it. You know what I mean? Okay. Maybe just me. All adaptations. We're just, we're trying to figure out a way to do it where we'd be into their romance. So I'm trying to pass somebody. I would like Snape. He's like, he's Professor Snape, the way they describe him, but. Well, I think it was lucky for me, I didn't pay too close attention to his actual description and was just picturing Matthew McVaden because that helped. But also he is described basically as Mr. Thornton from North and South. He is. That is how he's described. Yeah, that's, that is very. I low-key wonder if Adrian Tchaikovsky watched North and South and was like, that guy. What I'm describing. I mean, it's entirely possible. Yeah. You see, I had the benefit when I read North and South of picturing Richard Armitage as Mr. Thornton because I knew about the adaptation. So. See, I haven't, North and South is like one of the Elizabeth Gauss school books I haven't read yet and I haven't seen the adaptation yet. So. I think you will like the book. Yeah, I think. I generally like what I've read from her. So. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For next time, I think we should have also announced that we are moving to quarterly. Right. Yes. I think we, yeah, we had mentioned, but yeah. And what are, have we decided, have you decided to talk about? I did. I went back to my original one because I flip flopping quite a bit. Okay. So I ordered my copy and has not arrived yet. So it's a Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Amanda Collins. Yay. Okay. Good. I read something from her in the past and I enjoyed it. So I'm hopeful. Yeah. So the Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem. I feel like I was just included in an audible sale and I didn't get it. I have a copy of it on my, I think I actually got it. I think I got a signed copy of it during the, the romancing the runoff auction. Oh, nice. So I've been meaning to read that one. Yeah. I got the sequel to it on live Friday on sale. So I guess I should read the first one. It's in April, correct? April. So April 30th. It's the last Saturday of the month. So it's basically, you know, all the quarters of the year, the first month of the quarter. So one, four, seven. Yes. Yes. Yeah. And I haven't decided definitively what I'm picking yet. I'm pre-reading a book that I want to make sure Liana will not hate it. I don't know if she'll love it, but I want to make sure it won't just like ruin her life. So the Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Amanda Collins. Yeah, that's a little better. There you go. I only have it on my phone right now. I don't have it. My physical copy, they were supposed to, it was supposed to arrive like days ago and it just didn't. So like, I don't know where it is. I'm putting it in the chat. You know, it has like lady detectives and stuff. So it's not like... The title of it reminds me of the Mackenzie Lee books and I like those. Yeah. So it should be, hopefully it'll be fun. Yeah, I think it'll be fun. At least no one will get a range-voter over it. At least it'll look... Isn't one of Mackenzie Lee's books, isn't one of Mackenzie Lee's books, the Ladies Guide to Something, Teddy Codes to Piracy or something? Yeah, and I liked that. We like Ladies Guides in general, just any kind of... They're generally really good. Yeah, fingers crossed we like it. If not, it's short. So at least it won't be a long suffering. It should be fun. And then we'll have Mara and then at some point we'll figure out a horror book we're going to read in October. Yeah, Bethany gets the Halloween... I'm like having the Halloween show. Yeah. We can't plan our costumes until we know what we're reading. Yeah. I have a possible idea. So maybe I can... Quite early in the year. Yeah, it'll be April 30th. Yeah, but I have a book that's like a tentative. Oh, I guess I should see if you guys have read it though. I don't know. This is very early, so I'll let you guys know. But I'm like considering Kill Creek by Scott Thomas. Oh, yeah, you said that last time. I have a copy of it, so I'm for it in that sense. I've heard of it, but I've not read it. It scared me. So I had to put it down because I was... I forget. I think I had just moved into this house. And so like I wasn't used to like all the noises and stuff. I could see that. So it was scaring me. But I think I could get through it now. I think it's about like a group of horror authors who go to a house in the woods and are doing it as a PR stunt where they're on social media or something while they're there. I don't know. It's like a horror version of an isolated thriller, which I'm... Yeah. So like we could... It could be fun. So we'll see. That's my like maybe choice, but I have to think about it. But what would we dress up as? Authors. Writers, I guess. Writers. Yeah. Writers who've been killed by some ghost. Frazzled writers. We could dress up as... We could dress up as William Shakespeare. Yeah. There you go. I mean like there we... I was going to say, modern writers are like, what? You just wear a t-shirt, but like if you dressed up as like Oscar Wilde or as Mary Shelley or as William Shakespeare... That would be fun. Like historical... That could be fun. Or Jane Austen. Yeah. Interesting. We'll see. We'll see. I'll give it some thought. We'll let you guys know. I don't even know what that would be. I was going to say he just dresses like an average Joe. Oh man. Somebody said, what is the name of that horror book? It's called Kill Creek by Scott Thomas. It's an indie title also, but I've heard it's good. I don't know. We'll see. I'll think about it. Part of me wants to pick like an erotic romance because I don't think we've done that yet, but have we not? No. No. Bless your heart. She's questioning every life choice she's made that's led her to this. I was like thinking about what we've read before. Thinking about what we've read before and now you're like telling me there's more? Oh honey. Closest... I'm kind of thinking what would the closest be? Maybe the Mila Vane book might be the closest to Ceylon erotic. But that has a lot of plot compared to... It has a lot of plot. Yeah. Erotic has mainly just the fucking. Just mostly the fucking. It's a lot of it. A little bit of plot. And then plot contrivances to get to the fucking. Yeah. That's like her worst nightmare. Don't do that. Or maybe just one with less fluids. Sometimes to get very fluids. There's a lot of fluids. I was going to say we could also get into like kink stuff. So I mean like we could like a breeding kink. It's like you're painting the walls with it at this point. It's just like too much. It's a lot. It can go there. You know it would be expanding your horizons, Leanna. It's true. I like my horizons where they are. Mara, we could do Morning Glory milking farm. Oh my god. I would love that. I don't even want to know because I'm already scared of the title. Milking is in the title. And you know what kind of milking it is. Well, there's a yeah. But you know, yeah. It's a really interesting book actually. I haven't read it, but I have heard people say they actually... I really liked it. It's like surprisingly wholesome for being based on such a smutty kink. Yeah. It's also monster fucking. So are they milking a monster? Who's going to do her? He's a Minotaur and he has to be he has to be milked. Honestly, you know what? We all have a veto. No one's had to use a veto, but I feel like that veto's going to get pulled for that one. I mean, it would be expanding your... If you want to approach it as like an experiment Leanna, it would be a very interesting conversation. I don't think it's that long either. No, it's like... Well, how long can you write about this not milking? Hey, you know what? Sometimes you fall in love with the person whose job it is, is to milk you for years. And how much is there to say about that? Like it couldn't be a... You know, it's an interesting world. It's actually a pretty interesting world. I think Mara said it's like 150 pages. It's like 150 pages. It's not long. Yeah. I mean, you could do that. I mean, I kind of love this idea, but I'm not going to make Leanna do that if she's vehemently against it. I just... I mean... It would make for an entertaining live show. I will read this. I won't veto it, but you know what you will get from me in the live. Okay. I mean, that might be my tentative pick then, if you're not going to veto it, because I do think it'd be an interesting conversation. It would be interesting. It would be short. I'm also kind of grossed out by a low key. I think the only way I would veto something is if it was this and it was 700 pages. Then be like, I am not an hour of my life. It's like... The thing that I like about it is that it's surprisingly sweet. Like I wouldn't have liked it if it... It wouldn't be remarkable if it was just just porn, but it's like... It's the king, but it's also surprisingly like, oh, like they're kind of adorable together. Like, and he's all nervous. You said it's sweet. And you've also said that it's pretty short. So it's sweetened and condensed milk. It is. I mean, it's pretty short and it's like... It's a journey, man. I mean, I would be up for it. It's not even the craziest thing I've read by a long shot, but it went viral on TikTok. It did, which is where I've heard about it. So I would be up for trying it out. It would make for a very entertaining live show, I feel like. I also love how we're discussing this on Leanna's channel this month. I know, I know. Okay, that might be my tentative pick then, if nobody's going to be doing it, because I do think it would be an interesting conversation. I don't know how much I'll have to say. You can comment on the world building. Yeah. The world building of like the one room in which they bang and milk, like... No, because it's like a whole... It's in a world, man. Like it's a whole thing. There are related books. Yeah, yeah. And it's like a world where everybody knows that they're monsters, but there's like monster racism, basically. So are the other books, do they milk other things, or is it just still? The other books, there's like... So one of them, one of the other books is Girls Weekend, and they go to an orc nudist colony. A nude orc colony? Do you say orc? Orc? Yeah. So they milk some orcs too? No, they don't. That's not milking. That's just... The milking is a very specific need for the Minotars. Okay, yeah. So not everybody's getting milk. It's not just some milking series. No, no. It's a monster fucking series. Yeah, it's a monster series. Yeah. All I want is Brishen and Ildiko being friends and also life companion. Well, see, this is the thing that I'm reading as another possible read is that it's the same trope as Radiance, but in a Scottish wear-bear setting, like a historical Scottish wear-bear setting. So that's what I'm reading because I want to see... That was my thought is like, yeah, I have Rangeman. I read it all. But yeah, I was like, oh, this sounds like Radiance's plot, but just in a more paranormal wacky setting. I don't want to tell you this because I don't want to encourage you, but I love wolves. So... There is also werewolves in this, so... This could ruin wolves for me or this will be great. Oh, if there's like nodding, then I won't subject you to it. Oh, you explain that to me once, but I don't remember, but don't explain it again. Oh, don't explain it again. We're stopping that right now. I like, I find that. It's, I mean, it's... So people just go there, you know? I think I have a lot of problems. I don't like the like, the concentramifications of nodding. Yeah. No, I just don't want to think about it. I just, I'm going to use my veto on just a conversation. Yeah, I don't, I don't want to think about it. I don't want to talk about it. Okay, well, I would also probably, I would also probably like not be into something with nodding. Yeah. Hey, everybody, let's kind of have a monster fucking... I really, really hope Alan watches this. Alan, another recommendation I have for you is I did recently read a monster porn thing that was about a fey moth man. That was pretty interesting. So wait, why do you think Alan should read this? Why not? Just to expose to him, to the world of things that are out there. It was called vice or it was called feed by a Vita vice. And it was like a gigantic bug. This is a great time to come into the conversation. I love how someone's like, I thought Amanda was more of a, look, we are, I imagine... I read romances. You read a lot of romances. Yeah, it's a whole look at it, google it if you need to. Yeah, like there's a lot of romances out there that don't involve, you know, nodding. I wouldn't say it's something that I look for. If it shows up, I'm more like, okay, that's interesting. And I just kind of get through it. It wouldn't put me off a book. It's not something I would seek out. But yeah. But I've seen some shit, man. So in the kindle and mated trenches. Yeah, it's like on a list of things also that I'm like, no. I do. That is, that's a fact. I did also come of age reading fanfic. So that probably also gives me like more space for things to get pretty buck wild in books. So just like, yeah, I mean, I feel like I've read that fanfic at some point. I know you never will, Mara, but it is for this reason that I would be so curious what you thought of the sort of truth books. That was when I used my veto. I used my veto when that came up. Because I don't want to read it. It's too long. It's too much. There's there's a lot of sexy times and sort of truth. Very strange, sexy times. I mean, are they like Joe Abercrombie with squelching? No, no, no, they're just what? Sometimes, sometimes. But what? You say pollen? Like pollen? She said Temple of the Winds. It's like further into the series. That one in particular is a bit, it's a ride. They have a whole pollen thing in in in kink. But oh yeah, that's a fanfic. As somebody who was like, very, very like uncomfortable with steamy things just a few years ago, like the fact that I'm down for a long way. You've come a very long way. I will give you that. Morning, Glory. I'm looking for might take you to places that you didn't know existed and we'll find out. I would like that. I feel like it's enough. Like I could do that, but like there's still things that I'm like, no. And that's fine. Consent is a big deal. You don't have to like to read it. You don't have to. Yeah. Yeah. There you go. I'm like consent is like a big that for me is like the biggest thing, honestly, like that will put me off things. This is why the only person who does darker stuff that like I think I can read kind of is Katie Roberts because she prioritizes consent so heavily. Yeah, I don't like Katie Roberts that much. I keep trying and I keep having it. Shauna also, I understand that that doesn't make a lot of sense, but it does in my world. So Right. That's that's my line. I like how it has to do with how long things are. Like I just don't want to if I if it's buck wild, I'll read 100 or 200 pages of that, but I'm not going to read 500 pages of it. Anyway, I don't know how we got all the way here. I don't know. We all know this was I'd say it's like maybe. Yeah. It was like second to the dog by Adrian. I was going to say like the way that we can there's no nodding. There's no milking. There is no nodding of any kind. No, there's not. I do feel like there are no one of our bears, no werewolves, no were things. It's withers. There are for it. Let's be honest. I would, I, you know, you know what? And there were werewolves. I would, I would, I would accept werewolves in this. I would take that. Yeah. It was like a division of the military. Yeah. Oh, that would be kind of cool. Actually, if they were like sort of like the the SEAL team of maybe she could like be in a love quadrangle with one of the werewolves. Yeah. Why can't they just be cool wolves in battle? Why do we have to fuck them? Oh, hi. One, one, you know, it's like, it's a, it's a. Maybe we should be at this for a minute. Bethany has headphones on. It's fine. Oh, it's okay. Yeah. It's like a Chekhov's werewolf. Like if it's on the mantle, you want to fuck it. That's just how it is. I'm never going to the zoo with you. Yeah. Yeah. We're good. I have headphones on. So it's not like, oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cause I was like, oh no. I waited to say that until she confirmed that she had her headphones. Did you have fun? You can say hi. Hi. Hi. Did you have fun sledding? It's snowed a lot. So. Oh, okay. Nice. Yes. We got a sprinkling, but we didn't get a full. We got like several inches. So they were out doing that. All right. Yeah. Well, usually when inches come up in these chats, it's not for snow. Just wait. Just you wait. 10 seconds. Anyway, we probably should end this. Yeah. That's our cue. Yes. All right. Well, this was, this was fun. Yes. This is good. Okay. Thank you for picking it, Lena. Yeah. My absolute pleasure. I'm just so relieved. Among the more successful of our books, I think. I agree. I agree. We can all thank Alan. Yes. Thank you, Alan. See you guys back in three months. Three months. Amanda's channel. It'll be fun. Yay. Cool. All right. Have a nice day. Bye, guys. Bye.