In this episode, we’re diving into the tropes that make our monster-loving hearts soar—and the ones that make us want to throw our books across the room. Whether it’s a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, forced proximity, or a trope that just never works for us, we’re getting to the meat about what makes a trope hit just right.

Podcast Scavenger Hunt

Can you find when we mention these topics?

• [ ] Size Difference
• [ ] Forces Proximity
• [ ] Grumpy/Sunshine
• [ ] Fake Marriage
• [ ] Retold Folklore
• [ ] Cinderella Body Horror
• [ ] Under-Hyped Tiffany Roberts Books you must try
• [ ] Defending Ruby Dixon’s Honor
• [ ] The Chosen One
• [ ] Adult Love Triangles

Authors, Books, and Other Media We Mentioned

Books & Series

• The King’s Spinster Bride by Ruby Dixon
• Ice Planet Barbarians: Honeymoon Tales by Ruby Dixon
• Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon
• Jaxar: Warlord Brides by Nancey Cummings
• Five Gifts for the Blacksmith’s Wife by Lyonne Riley
• A Minotaur Tale: Being a Monster Romance for Yuletide by Kass O'Shire
• The Rake by Kass O'Shire
• Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe (graphic novel/webcomic)
• Sugar Apple Fairy Tale by Miri Mikawa (manga series)
• Neon Gods series by Katee Robert
• A Kinda Fairy Tale by Cassandra Gannon
• Love Letters Duology by SJ Tilly
• The Belladonna Series by Adalyn Grace
• Cordon Empire by Anna Carven
• Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
• Mercenaries Series by Angela Knight (Goodreads link)
• Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton

Underhyped Picks: Tiffany Roberts

• Dust Walker by Tiffany Roberts
• Warlock’s Kiss by Tiffany Roberts
• Kraken Series by Tiffany Roberts
• Claimed by an Alien Warrior by Tiffany Roberts

Authors

• Joanna Lindsey
• Anna Carven
• Kresley Cole
• SJ Tilly
• Cassandra Gannon
• Laurell K. Hamilton
• Ruby Dixon
• Nancey Cummings
• Lyonne Riley
• Kass O'Shire
• Rachel Smythe
• Miri Mikawa
• Katee Robert
• Adalyn Grace
• Angela Knight
• Xiran Jay Zhao
• Tiffany Roberts

Other Media

• Nosferatu (2024 film adaptation)