Book Talk for BookTok

In this episode, we sit down with Liz Shipton, author of Dot Slash Magic, to talk about one of the most emotionally nuanced and quietly subversive fantasy novels we’ve read.

We dive deep into the evolution of Seven as a female main character and how reader perception shifts over the course of the novel, and what it was like for Liz to write a protagonist who masks loneliness with humor, bravado, and sharp edges.

A major focus of our conversation is Dot Slash Magic’s bold engagement with AI, technology, and creativity. Liz unpacks how the story interrogates the idea that art must look a certain way to be considered “real,” and why the novel deliberately blurs the line between magic, tech, art, and athletic flow states.

We also talk about mental health as something hidden in plain sight: how loneliness, addiction, and internal struggle are embedded into each character rather than treated as a single narrative device.

This conversation is for readers who love character-driven fantasy, are curious about AI and art in fiction, and want stories that trust the audience to read between the lines.

The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

We’re thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We’re publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured.

Sponsor: Vionic

Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion.

Support the Show: 

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Us on Social:

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season of Aquarius, our book club season on Book Talk for BookTok, a fantasy and romantasy podcast centered on thoughtful discussion and literary analysis.

This season is created for readers who want more than quick takes and star ratings, offering space to explore how and why stories work on the page.

This is not a traditional book review podcast; it’s an analysis and conversation.

Each week, we share flash literary analysis that examines themes, authorial intent, character arcs, symbolism, world-building, and key plot devices. Our discussions move beyond initial impressions to unpack narrative choices, emotional resonance, and the craft behind fantasy and romantasy storytelling. We aim to bridge academic literary insight with the modern reading experience shaped by BookTok and online reading communities.

This week, we discuss Silver Elite by Dani Francis.

Season of Aquarius Book Club Reading List:


Alchemized by SenLinYu


Phantasma by Kaylie Smith


Silver Elite by Dani Francis


An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir


Blood & Brujas by Mikayla Hornedo


Belladonna by Adalyn Grace


As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel


Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

New episodes release twice weekly.
Every Tuesday, we publish a book club episode focused on that week’s featured novel. Every Thursday, we zoom out for deeper conversations about bookish culture, reading communities, genre trends, and the larger ideas shaping fantasy, romantasy, and BookTok today.

If you’re searching for a fantasy book podcast, romantasy podcast, or book club podcast that blends thoughtful literary analysis with a genuine love of reading, Season of Aquarius invites you to read, reflect, and discuss alongside us.

How to participate:

Send your theories and spicy takes by commenting on this episode, DMing us, or using the form on our website.

The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

We’re thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We’re publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured.

Sponsor: Vionic

Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion.

Support the Show: 

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Us on Social:

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Thursday episode of Book Talk for BookTok, we bring an academic lens to bookish culture, genre fiction, and the conversations shaping romance and romantasy today.
Our podcast blends literary analysis, cultural criticism, and emotional honesty. We treat romance, romantasy, and fanfiction as genres worthy of serious discussion, not just quick takes.

This episode is part of our Subtext Society series, inspired by The Subtext Society Journal.
The Subtext Society Journal is a collaborative publication dedicated to thoughtful essays on romance, romantasy, fan culture, and publishing ethics. We explore moral questions, genre evolution, power dynamics, and the real-world impact of stories, guided by values of literary rigor without gatekeeping, community over hierarchy, and ethics-first analysis.

Today’s discussion focuses on the article: “Romantasy: The next frontier of feminism, or where feminism goes to die?"

This article explores romantasy as both a powerful feminist space and a revealing site of internalized misogyny, examining why female main characters in women-written fantasy are so often criticized as “too much” in every direction. It connects modern fandom discourse to long-standing cultural conditioning that encourages women to compete rather than support one another, and questions whether those critiques reflect genuine narrative flaws or unresolved discomfort with women claiming power, desire, and complexity. Ultimately, the piece argues that romantasy has the potential to become a training ground for a more thoughtful, generous feminism. One that challenges how we read, write, and talk about women.

How to participate:

Send your theories and spicy takes by commenting on this episode, DMing us, or using the form on our website.

The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

We’re thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We’re publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured.

Sponsor: Liquid IV

Liquid I.V. Go to LiquidIV.com and get 20% off your first order with code BOOKTALK at checkout.

Sponsor: Vionic

Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion.

Support the Show: 

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Us on Social:

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season of Aquarius, our book club season on Book Talk for BookTok, a fantasy and romantasy podcast centered on thoughtful discussion and literary analysis.

This season is created for readers who want more than quick takes and star ratings, offering space to explore how and why stories work on the page.

This is not a traditional book review podcast; it’s an analysis and conversation.

Each week, we share flash literary analysis that examines themes, authorial intent, character arcs, symbolism, world-building, and key plot devices. Our discussions move beyond initial impressions to unpack narrative choices, emotional resonance, and the craft behind fantasy and romantasy storytelling. We aim to bridge academic literary insight with the modern reading experience shaped by BookTok and online reading communities.

This week, we discuss An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.

Season of Aquarius Book Club Reading List:


Alchemized by SenLinYu


Phantasma by Kaylie Smith


Silver Elite by Dani Francis


An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir


Blood & Brujas by Mikayla Hornedo


Belladonna by Adalyn Grace


As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel


Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

New episodes release twice weekly.
Every Tuesday, we publish a book club episode focused on that week’s featured novel. Every Thursday, we zoom out for deeper conversations about bookish culture, reading communities, genre trends, and the larger ideas shaping fantasy, romantasy, and BookTok today.

If you’re searching for a fantasy book podcast, romantasy podcast, or book club podcast that blends thoughtful literary analysis with a genuine love of reading, Season of Aquarius invites you to read, reflect, and discuss alongside us.

How to participate:

Send your theories and spicy takes by commenting on this episode, DMing us, or using the form on our website.

The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

We’re thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We’re publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured.

Sponsor: Liquid IV

Liquid I.V. Go to LiquidIV.com and get 20% off your first order with code BOOKTALK at checkout.

Sponsor: Vionic

Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion.

Support the Show: 

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Us on Social:

Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok

TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok

YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is an intentional departure from our usual book conversation. We’re sitting down with Victoria, owner of Comma Bookshop in Minneapolis, to talk about what’s happening on the ground in Minnesota, the community response, the protests, and how local activists and organizers are supporting one another.

On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti was murdered on the street in Minneapolis while being beaten by 6 ICE agents. This comes shortly after the murder of Renee Nicole Good, also in Minnesota. There are seven others who have also been murdered by ICE around the country. The horrific actions of ICE and their brutal actions of tearing apart families and sending innocent men, women, and children to ICE centers is unacceptable.

To make space for this community’s voices and the information we discuss here, we have turned off all ads for this episode. We will not make money from this release. We just want you to listen and share the resources discussed in this episode.

Resources & Ways to Get Involved:
• StandWithMinnesota — standwithminnesota.com
• Monarca MN — monarcamn.org
• Unidos MN — unidos-mn.org
• Women’s Foundation of Minnesota — wfmn.org

Independent Bookstores in the Minneapolis Area You Can Support:
• Moon Palace Books — moonpalacebooks.com

• Black Garnet Books — blackgarnetbook.com

• Wild Rumpus — wildrumpusbooks.com

IG: @wildrumpusbookstore

• Comma Bookshop — commabookshop.com

IG: @commabookshop
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices