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A werewolf story unlike those we've seen before! This month we read the 2016 novel 'Mongrels' by Stephen Graham Jones. But before we run on all fours into discussion, we talk about the things we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing? Survivordle & other -ordles (web browser) Neva (PS5) Watching? Twisted Childhood Universe (Horror Movie Series) Survivor Seasons 1, 7, 51 (CBS) Thinking About? Live Music Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

This month we played the very normal and easy-to-describe 2016 game Pony Island! But before we start clicking on suspicious and perhaps demonic file shortcuts, we check in on some of the things we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading? 'Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales' by Heather Fawcett Playing? Valheim (PC) Watching?  The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Hulu/Disney+) The Strain (Hulu/Disney+) Thinking About? Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, Ms. Rachel 'The Brunette Album' by Alaska Thunderfuck Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

This month we read the 2025 graphic novel Go-Man: Champion of Earth by Hamish Steele! (Discussion begins at 28:00) But before we chomp on a glowing plant and grow to the size of a skyscraper, we check in on some of the things we’ve been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing? Spirit Swap (Steamdeck) Penko Park (Switch) Valheim (PC) Watching?  9 to 5 (Disney+/Hulu) Draw 4 (YouTube) Halishy (YouTube) Sketchbook Skool (YouTube) Thinking About? Rampage 40th Anniversary Collaborative Art (TrushToons) Deep Space Discounts, Season 2 (YouTube) Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

Lots of things are better with friends - video games included! Grab a controller and join us as we talk about cooperative video games! Before the conversation starts (32:55), we check in on what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading?  90s Superman Comics (Death of Superman Arc) by a bunch of people'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir Watching? Current Superhero Cartoons (My Adventures with Superman, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, X-Men 97, Batman Caped Crusader)Landscape Artist of the Year (Sky Arts) Thinking About? Hello Kitty x Godzilla Crossover Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

Drunk spaceships, queer detectives, and death, oh my! All that and more can be found in the 2025 sci-fi cozy mystery novella, 'Murder by Memory' by Olivia Waite. Discussion starts at 27:35. Before we fully investigate, we check in on the stuff we've been playing and watching lately. Playing? Mina the Hollower (Switch 2) Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U) Golden Sun (GBA) Watching?  MCU Spider-Man Movies Widow's Bay (Apple TV+) Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix) Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

We've just woken up from 14 years of being a fish, and what's the first thing we did? Book club! This month we read 2009's Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, the first in the 19-book October Daye fae private eye series. But before we get into it, we check in on the stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Playing? Divinity Original Sin 2 (Steam) Baldur’s Gate 3 (PS5) Ball X Pit (NS2) Watching?  Robyn music videos Supergirl Thinking About? PS5 going exclusively digital XBox laying off a bazillion studios Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

Who would you want on your drag team? And who would you invite to a Pride party? Join us as we answer these questions through a gaming draft! We pick the video game characters for the ultimate GAYming celebration. Conversation starts around 35:50. Before all that, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading? 'The Immortal Hulk' by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett 'The Illegals' by Shaun Walker Watching? Hacks (HBO Max) Weapons (2025 Film) Thinking About? ⁠⁠Alaska Thunderfuck new music! Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

What if Snow White was a warrior princess who could make a sword out of lightning and a cloak out of the night sky? And what if moms were nice?? To explore these questions, we read 'Sleep Like Death' by Kalynn Bayron. Conversation starts around 31:50. Before we take a bite out of that apple, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing? Godzilla & other kaiju games at Kaiju Brooklyn Night in the Woods (2017) Watching? RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 11 (Paramount+) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 Film) Thinking About? ⁠⁠Sony June 2026 State of Play Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

What happens when a giant rampaging monster is unleashed on the world by an apocalyptic cult? Well, it's pretty simple: lots of destruction. Derek B. Gayle joins us to talk about 2022's 'Terror of Hemasaurus', a smash 'em up homage to Rampage and expression of a solo game dev's frustration with the state of the world and our unwillingness (or perhaps inability?) to save the environment. But before we get into the deep questions, we check in on the stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading? ‘Wolfsong’ by TJ Klune ‘Bored Gay Werewolf’ by Tony Santorella ‘Shy Trans Banshee’ by Tony Santorella ‘Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor’ by Lynda Barry ‘The Nameless Restaurant’ by Tao Wong Watching?  Hacks (HBO Max) Gilmore Girls (Hulu/Disney+) The Devil Wears Prada (Hulu/Disney+, HBO Max) City Council of Darkness (Dropout) Thinking About? Final Fantasy VI (Switch) Tomodatchi Life: Living the Dream (Switch 2) ‘Dancing on the Wall’ by MUNA  ‘Too Much Not Enough’ by Daði Freyr Check out Derek's podcasts: glitterjaw.com Check out more from Derek: derekbgayle.com Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

How many goblins does it take to solve a mystery during a fantasy war behind enemy lines? Turns out it's nine! Plus an veterinarian elf and some magical creatures and maybe even a wizard or two! This month we read 'Nine Goblins' by T. Kingfisher, a 2013 novella about goblin antics. (Discussion begins around 26:30). But before that, we check in on what we've been playing, reading, and watching. Playing: Divinity: Original Sin II (PC)Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Switch)Reading: 'Gulp' by Mary RoachWatching: LOL: Last One Laughing UK (Amazon Prime)Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Let's just spitball here: Earth Day. Elements. Earth. Wind. Fire. Water. Podcast. Video games. Random encounters! In honor or Earth Day, we're trying out a new Random Encounter format! What's that mean? We're not totally sure what's going to pop up! Listen in to see what element related gaming things we run into (starts at 35:10). Before then, we check in on what we're reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading: ‘Legends and Lattes’ by Travis Baldree‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ by Shelby Van Pelt'Dungeon Crawler Carl' by Matt Dinniman'Where’d You Go, Bernadette’ by Maria SempleWatching: Murderbot (Apple TV+)The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026 Film)Butterfly in the Sky (2022 Film)Thinking About Artemis II Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Can you find love amid an electric alien invasion? Or find hope and refuge in art? The protagonists of 'The Sound of Stars' by Alecia Dow would certainly love to know. We talk about this young adult sci-fi romance book starting at 32:05. Before then, we check in on the stuff we've been playing and watching lately. Playing: Pokémon Pokopia (Switch 2)Princess Peach: Showtime! (Switch)Watching: Jobriath A.D. (2012 Documentary)The Diplomat (Netflix) Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

There simply wasn't a world, apocalyptic or otherwise, that we weren't going to play and talk about the latest Pokémon spin-off title, the cozy sandbox builders game, Pokopia. But before we gather all our materials to build Onix the perfect dry home, we check in on the stuff we've been reading and watching. Reading: 'Greenteeth' by Molly O'Neill'Behind the Mirror: Inside the World of Big Brother' by Taran ArmstrongWatching: Love is Blind Ohio (Season 10, Netflix)I Don't Understand You (Hulu/Disney+)Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

We wanted something cute and cozy with a hearty helping of fantasy this month, so we read 'How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Day' by Jessie Sylva, a 2026 fantasy romance about a halfling and goblin forced to share a cottage... and a bed! But before we get into it, we check in on games we've been playing, stuff we've been watching, and other pop culture we've been thinking about. Reading: Frog DetectivePenko Park (Switch 2)Watching: Shari & Lamb Chop (Prime)'Not Another 2001 Movie Podcast Watchalong'Thinking about: Survivor 50 - In the Hands of the Fans (CBS/Paramount+)Pokemon Direct (february 27, 2026)Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Pixelated protagonist looking for a co-op partner. You interested? Well, swipe right and join us as we create video game character dating profiles and play a lovely game! The fun starts at 26:50. Before then, we chat about what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading? 'Escape’ by Stephen Fishbach ‘Sick’ by Porochista Khakpour Watching? Iron Lung (2026 Film) Titanic (1997 Film) Apollo 11 (2019 Film) Thinking About? ⁠⁠Dancing like Elaine Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux