Join the hosts of Ink & Asteroids for their debut episode as they dive deep into Robert A. Heinlein's controversial 1959 classic, Starship Troopers. This isn't your typical sci-fi discussion - discover why this military-focused novel left both hosts questioning whether it truly belongs in the science fiction genre.

What We Cover:

• Why Starship Troopers feels more like military recruitment propaganda than space opera
• The philosophical heavy-handedness that dominates the middle chapters
• Johnny Rico as an unreliable narrator and possible author self-insert
• Cold War era influences and militaristic democracy themes
• The surprising lack of actual sci-fi elements in this "sci-fi" classic
• Women's roles and military segregation in Heinlein's future society
• That saccharine ending with Johnny's father (yes, we call BS too)
• Mini hydrogen bombs as grenades and other questionable tech choices

What happens when a guy reads his first spicy romance book? We gave "The Cryptid" Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone and his reactions are HILARIOUS!

This military bodyguard romance with BDSM elements definitely caught him off guard. From questioning the virgin soldier plot to critiquing military accuracy, his fresh perspective on the romance genre is eye-opening.

⭐ RATINGS: Story 4.5/5 | Spice Level 2/5 ⭐

🔥 WHAT WE DISCUSS:

• First male reader honest reactions
• Plot holes that made us laugh
• Military romance accuracy
• BDSM representation done right
• Male vs female gaze in romance

📚 OCTOBER BOOK: So I Fell For Bigfoot!

👇 JOIN OUR DISCORD for exclusive post-show content!

#BookReview #SpicyBooks #RomanceBooks #SaltKiss #MaleReaction #BookClub #AdultRomance #BookTok

Somehow, our YouTube version of this episode went up perfectly, but the audio version did not!

We are gearing up to come back from our hiatus which ends in Sept, and only just now realized WE HAD NO AUDIO FOR A WHOLE MONTH!

We are so sorry, all. Don't miss this episode, as it is a DOZY!

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of sensitive material including trauma, BDSM themes, and adult content. Not suitable for children.

After a year-long wait, we finally dive into Rebecca Quinn's highly anticipated finale to the Brutes of Bristlebrook series. "Entwined" promised to be our most anticipated release of the year, but did it deliver? Join us as we discuss the 800+ page conclusion to Eden and the Brutes' story.

We break down everything from character development (or assassination), pacing issues, and the overwhelming amount of explicit content that dominated the narrative. From Jaykob's inexplicable personality shift to Dom's redemption arc, we explore what worked, what didn't, and what we wished had been different.

This episode covers our thoughts on the series as a whole, the challenges of writing ensemble casts, and why sometimes more isn't always better. We also discuss BDSM representation in romance novels and the importance of seeking proper resources for real-life situations.

Resources mentioned are available in the episode description. This is a work of fiction discussion for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Episode 11 of Season 2 - Part of our ongoing series coverage

Episode Highlights: Detailed spoiler-free review of the 800+ page finale Analysis of character arcs and development issues Discussion of pacing and structural problems BDSM representation in romance literature Comparison to previous books in the series Rating breakdown (plot vs. spice level) What we wished had been included from the "ghost book" Author's revision process and ARC feedback impact

Content Warnings: Discussion of trauma and PTSD

BDSM themes and practices

Adult sexual content

References to violence and captivity

Mental health topics

Remember: Fiction is not a substitute for professional help. Resources and hotlines are available 24/7 for those who need support.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Languages: English, Spanish

Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

888-373-7888 Text Info to 233733

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Languages: English, Spanish and 200+ through interpretation service

Hours: 24/7

800-799-7233 Text Begin to 88788

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Languages: English, Spanish

Hours: Available 24 hours

988 Text 988

National Mental Health Helpline

1866-903-3787