This month, we’re sinking our teeth into IMMORTAL DARK by Tigest Girma—a dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family. Join us as we celebrate the portrayal of Black characters, break down what makes this vampire story feel fresh, and examine the delicate relationship between humans and dranaics. Plus, get a peek at the types of books Bella keeps on her shelves.

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Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to indulge in a cozy, high-heat monster romance novella. But there’s one big question: Has Bella finally broken her streak of bad After Dark picks, or is this another miss? There’s only one way to find out! Join us as we discuss MANEATER by Emily Antoinette and examine how the 1980s play into the story’s setting, why Emma and Bella are craving more pathetic men in fiction, and what this book has to say about sex work.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

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Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

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We’re kicking off 2025 with the divine novella OUT OF THE DROWNING DEEP by A.C. Wise—set in the distant future, when mortals mingle with the gods in deep space, an out-of-date automaton, a recovering addict, and an angel race to solve the Pope’s murder in an abandoned corner of the galaxy. Listen in as we discuss Jason’s Pirate Era, the casting of Ryan Gosling in the upcoming Project Hail Mary film adaptation, and the use of neo-pronouns in this novella—plus what they mean for the future of literature.

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
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Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

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It's our final episode of 2024, and we're wrapping up the year with our 2nd annual Secret Santa book exchange! Join us for lighthearted fun as we guess who gifted which books, Emma shares a history lesson on the Luddites, and we learn how the results of the recent election affected the book Jason received. All that, plus the most shocking plot twist in SWR history!

Thank you for listening, Happy Holidays, and see you in the new year!

A special shoutout to our Christmas elves, Jayson LaFrance and Sander Richardson, for their help with this episode!

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Christmas Is Coming by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu
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Deck The Halls (Lo-Fi Hip-Ho...

It’s an eggnog-filled edition of SWR After Dark! In this episode, we unwrap the holiday novella RAILED BY THE KRAMPUS by Dalia Davies. When Holly jokingly offers her soul for a lump of coal, she never expects the creature from his winter domain to take her seriously—or demand something infinitely more tempting. Was this book naughty or nice? Join us as we share our thoughts on this paranormal romance, why Bella will never look at eggnog the same way (it’s exactly what you’re thinking), and how this book turned out to be oddly educational. Plus, Laura asks the big question: “Do people in this world not poop?” Happy Holidays!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Nouvelle Noel by Kevin MacLeod
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It’s the thrilling conclusion to our first-ever TTRPG adventure!

Join Bellz, Jason, and Laura—guided by Game Master Sir Aaron Carter—as they enter the Blackwood House and confront the mysteries haunting their hometown of Pinewood Falls.

Thank you for joining us on this journey!

This is Part 2 of our special Welcome to Pinewood Falls series. Missed the first half? Listen to Part 1 here.

A special thanks to Jayson LaFrance and Sander Richardson for their invaluable help in setting up this session. This game was played using the Kids on Bikes RPG. Check it out and start your story today!

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Headless Horseman by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
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Welcome to our first-ever TTRPG special!

It’s the summer of 1987, and nestled among ancient forests and rolling hills lies the quiet town of Pinewood Falls. But this idyllic town is far from peaceful—strange weather and mysterious sightings draw three childhood friends back together to uncover a long-buried mystery. Join Bellz, Jason, and Laura—guided by Game Master Sir Aaron Carter—as the echoes of a childhood discovery make their way back into their lives…

A special thanks to Jayson LaFrance and Sander Richardson for their invaluable help in setting up this session. This game was played using the Kids on Bikes RPG. Check it out and start your story today!

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Headless Horseman by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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Bræuw Fra Æ Bjæuw (Letters From The Mountains) by So I’m An Islander | https://soimanislander.bandcamp.com
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CURSE by Mehul ShaRma | https://www.instagram.com/mehul_sharmaofficial/
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Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on...

Trick or treat! It’s a fun size episode of SWR After Dark as we explore MONSTERS’ MANOR by Leigh Miller—a steamy paranormal romance where a reluctant witch finds herself working in a haunted manor brimming with real monsters. Join us as we share whether this tale lived up to our Halloween expectations, Emma talks proper tail hygiene, and we debate whether the vibes lean cozy or fluff. Plus, Laura makes an important plea to the furry community. So, grab a drink with a little extra pumpkin spice and settle in for some Halloween heat. Thanks for listening, and Happy Halloween!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Horror by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/
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