More Magic Book Club

About More Magic Book Club

Welcome to the More Magic Book Club, a podcast for fantasy readers dying to talk about the latest fantasy book you read. Each month, we discuss a recent fantasy novel in detail so you know you’re not the only one who hated that character or wanted to move into that fantasy world (and you also don’t have to worry about exhausting your friends who just don’t get it). This podcast is not spoiler-free. Listen at your own risk.

Publisher

Demi Utley

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Aug 2025

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

31 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Dracula Lore & Mystery Play with Elizabeth Kostova

   What if Dracula is still alive? What lengths would a famous actor go to for long-term fame? These are a few questions Elizabeth Kostova addresses in her books. From her best-selling debut, The Historian to its standalone sequel, Mystery Play, she crafts suspenseful worlds that force us to question mortality, art, and familial relationships. In this special *no spoilers* episode, Elizabeth joins us to chat about her books and share behind-the-scenes of her new novel. Grab a cup of something comforting, settle into your favorite armchair, and join us for this century-spanning discussion. Mystery Play released on October 13, 2026. Grab a copy and join us in this suspenseful world of theater, magic, and mystery. Books mentioned in this episode: The Historian - https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316070638 The Swan Thieves - https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316065795 The Shadow Land - https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780345527875 Mystery Play - https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9781524799649 Dracula by Bram Stoker - https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9781540780690 Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic. Credits: Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠ (https://demiutley.substack.com/) Co-Host: Marianne Boules Special Guest: Elizabeth Kostova, https://www.elizabethkostova.com/ — Audio Production - Gregory Mikels Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro: Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy Public Domain Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia. The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en) Performers Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol. Recorded 1980 Original music links: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg (https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg)

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Book Club: Hekate by Nikita Gill

   This month’s book introduces us to the life of the queen of all witches, the goddess Hekate. Written in verse, this novel provides a unique reading experience certain to twist your heart. A.J. Peterson joins as co-host to chat about the magic (Greek mythology!), favorite characters, and some of the truly grotesque punishments Greek gods create. Light a candle, grab your familiar, and join us for this descent into the underworld. Warning: contains many, many spoilers. Books Mentioned: Hekate: The Witch by Nikita Gill, https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316596763 (https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316596763) Circe by Madeline Miller, https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316556323 (https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316556323) Aphrodite in Pieces by Lauren. J.A. Bear, https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780593638972 (https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780593638972) Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic. Credits: Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠ (https://demiutley.substack.com/) Co-Host: A.J. Peterson, https://www.ajpeterson.com/ (https://www.ajpeterson.com/) — Audio Production - Gregory Mikels Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro: Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy Public Domain Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia. The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en) Performers Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol. Recorded 1980 Original music links: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg (https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg)

3. 

   19 Sept 2026

   What is weird SFF?

   In this episode we try to define what exactly is "weird" Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Co-host A.J. Peterson joins along with Rain Sullivan (@writeasrainsullivan on IG), a self-described author of weird SFF. Grab your most unusual mug, sink into a cozy chair, and join us for this informative episode! Books mentioned in this episode: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780062444134 Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9781250386335 Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9781250313188 The Martian by Andy Weir: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780553418026 Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9781250320520 This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9781534430990 The Raven Scholar by by Antonia Hodgson: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316577229 Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780593804216 There is no Antimemetics Division by qntm: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780593983751 The Raven Tower by Anne Leckie: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316388702 Ancillary Justice by Anne Leckie: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316565172 Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9780316565172 Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer: https://bookshop.org/a/120999/9781250824042 Bookstores Mentioned: Charlie's Queer Books (Seattle) https://charliesqueerbooks.com/ Parallel Worlds Bookshop (Portland) https://www.parallelworldsbookshop.com/ Hidden Worlds Bookstore (Hillsboro, OR) https://www.hiddenworldsbookstore.com/ Let us know what you think in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Prefer email? Sign up at moremagicpodcast.com to receive emails when new episodes release, updates on new projects, and special subscriber-only magic. Credits: Host: Demi Utley, ⁠https://demiutley.substack.com/⁠ (https://demiutley.substack.com/) Co-Host: A.J. Peterson, https://www.ajpeterson.com/ Special Guest: Rain Sullivan, https://rainsullivanwrites.com/ — Audio Production - Gregory Mikels Additional credits for the music used during the intro and outro: Remix Composition & Production - Gregory Mikels Danse Sacrée composed by Claude Debussy Public Domain Performed by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra with Major Jason K. Fettig, conducting, MSgt Karen Grimsey, harp soloist on Aug. 14, 2010, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia. The Carnival of the Animals composed by Camille Saint-Saëns License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en) Performers Pianos: Neil and Nancy O'Doan Orchestra: Seattle Youth Symphony, conducted by Vilem Sokol. Recorded 1980 Original music links: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg (https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danse_Sacr%C3%A9e.ogg) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns_-_The_Carnival_of_the_Animals.ogg)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.