S.2 Ep. 2: Mythic Roundup - October Fantasy Reads

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story!

In this first ever Mythic Roundup episode, hosts Bethany Amanda and Sara Santillan share 6 unforgettable reads that defined their October — from gothic romantasy and myth-fueled mystery to twisted fairytales. Whether you love atmospheric worlds, slow-burn tension, or stories that blur the line between hero and monster, this lineup will give you chills (and expand your TBR by at least six).

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…

✨ One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig — gothic mists, cursed cards, and the haunting brilliance of the Nightmare
✨ Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber — folklore, fast-paced mystery, and devilish deals in old Hollywood
✨ Hazelthorn — lush worldbuilding, vengeful heroines, and the tangled beauty of blood magic
✨ Red City — rebellion, power, and forbidden romance in a crumbling empire
✨ Gallant by V.E. Schwab — shadows, ghosts, and a girl who refuses to be invisible
✨ Never Ever After — dark fairytales, twisted endings, and villainous charm

🔥 DIVING DEEPER…

Sara starts us off with Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window — a gothic, mist-filled tale of magic and madness where a cursed kingdom is ruled by fear and a young woman carries a literal monster, the Nightmare, inside her mind. From its eerie card-based magic system to its haunting prose, this is the ultimate dark romantasy to curl up with this season.

Then, Bethany dives into Stephanie Garber’s Alchemy of Secrets — the bestselling author’s adult debut that trades fairytale whimsy for old Hollywood mystery. It follows Holland, a grad student researching the Devil’s secret deals with celebrities, who discovers that the myths she’s been chasing might be horrifyingly real. 

Next, Sara explores Hazelthorn, a book steeped in vengeance and the dangerous beauty of nature itself. With its tangled magic rooted in blood and bone and lyrical writing, it’s a story of rage and renewal and the botanical horror read you didn't know you were missing.

Bethany then takes us into Red City, a brutal, vivid fantasy set in a world of feuding alchemy associations. It’s filled with forbidden friendship, ruthless politics, and a heroine torn between survival and justice.

Sara then revisits V.E. Schwab’s Gallant — a haunting, gothic tale about a deaf girl who belongs nowhere, drawn to a decaying manor where shadows move, ghosts whisper, and a mysterious journal may hold the truth about her family. 

Finally, Bethany closes the roundup with Never Ever After, a beautiful Cinderella reimagining where fairytales have darker edges and magic's exploited and feared. 

Grab your favorite fall drink, light a candle, and get cozy — this episode is packed with immersive worlds, strong heroines, and the kind of book talk that’ll have you adding titles to your cart before we finish the outro.

📚 CONNECT WITH US:

🎙️ Follow hosts Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland
🎙️ Follow Sara Santillan – IG: @the_Magical_Quill
🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod (temporarily @MythicMic) 

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