22 – The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Cursed

Episode 22 is out! As always, you can listen to it on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, and more.

Step one: rob the rich. Step two: break a curse. Step three: interrogate your deep-seated childhood trauma. Who could this to-do list belong to? Why, none other than the protagonist of Little Thieves by Margaret Owen! This week, we dive into a delightful young adult fantasy retelling of the fairytale The Goose Girl following a teenage thief whose final heist goes terribly wrong. Topics include the hilarious and cynical protagonist, our love of a good heist story, the excellent romance, and the unexpected emotional depth through an exploration of childhood trauma.

Other Media Mentioned:

  • BBC Starstruck
  • Sh*t Cassandra Saw by Gwen E. Kirby
  • Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
  • The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
  • Some By Virtue Fall by Alexandra Rowland
  • The Liar’s Knot by M.A. Carrick
  • The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
  • The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
  • Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
  • Dungeons and Dragons
  • I Know What You Think of Me by Tim Kreider in the New York Times
  • Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
  • Painted Devils by Margaret Owen (forthcoming)
  • Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
  • The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

Content warnings: mentions of child abandonment and child abuse.