Two Book Nerds Talking

26/10/2024

NAOMI NOVIK - BURIED DEEP And Other Stories: Dive into Naomi Novik’s fabulous imagination with this collection of 13 stories.

Fans will enjoy revisiting the universe of her much-loved Sclolomance and Temeraire series, while those new to Novik’s writing will find much to appreciate in this eclectic collection.

From charming cosy fantasy about a mushroom witch, to an absorbing scifi about an off-world diplomat, these stories will take you on an epic exploration of far-flung worlds, realms and times.

Here you’ll find tales including:

- A strong-willed regency teen who refuses to be ruled by social norms of feminine propriety
- A dragon hatchling who inspires the creation of a Dragon Corps in Ancient Rome
- A young bride in the Middle Ages who finds herself gambling with Death for the highest of stakes
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- And the first glimpse of the world of Abandon, the setting of Novik’s upcoming epic fantasy series—a deserted continent populated only by silent and enigmatic architectural mysteries.

With thanks to for the review copy.

18/10/2024

In Dogs and Monsters, Mark Haddon wows with this compelling collection of eight short stories.

There are tales that rework the Greek myths of Theseus and the Minotaur, Diana and Actaeon, and the story of Eos and Tithonus, perfect for fans of Netflix’s .

Haddon also treats us to tales that contemplate the meaning of humanity and mortality, never shying away from life’s attendant messy, macabre and disturbing elements.

Recommended for fans of Neil Gaiman’s or Joanne Harris, for that blend of myth and modernity. With thanks to for the review copy.

11/10/2024

Anyone who has at any point in their lives been captivated by the romance of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table will appreciate this latest dive back into Arthurian legends.

Lev Grossman takes us on a refreshing and introspective exploration of the ancient tale, giving a fresh new take on the fascinating characters that have sparked the imaginations of so many for millennia.

Grossman’s golden pen spins out the tale of Collum, a young man who sets out to find adventure, fortune and belonging at fabled Camelot, not realizing that he is too late; the king has been grievously wounded in battle and borne off to parts unknown. The famed court at Camelot lies in ruins and the knights of the Round Table scattered to the four winds.

And yet, there’s still enough magic, enough courage and spirit of adventure in the few knights that remain to beckon them on one last quest. As Collum joins the last pitiful dregs of Arthur’s great company of knights on a mission to see Camelot renewed and its king restored, he will gradually learn the truth of the man behind the legend of King Arthur, as well as the stories of each of his companions.

The Bright Sword is a hefty 600 plus pages long yet is far from being a bloated and pedantic read. It borrows from the format of its predecessors, breaking its tale up into episodic chapters that slowly piece together the events of the near and far past. It is a novel that clearly bears a great deal of affection for its source material. Grossman has rendered a retelling that is thoroughly modern in its sensibilities, giving clarity and depth to the often incoherent original story. It also does a great deal towards expanding the tale further for those of us who wondered: what happened to bring about the great King Arthur’s downfall, and wherefore Camelot and the Round Table now that he’s gone?

This well-written and heartfelt novel is a wonderful way to return to the great Arthurian romances jn a story that remains true enough to the original while giving it a fresh new perspective. With thanks to for the review copy.

07/10/2024

Fight off those Monday blues with these wonderful fantasy selections. Find power, magic and mayhem galore behind these gorgeous blue-and-gold covers!

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Multi-awardwinning author T. Kingfisher is back with a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm’s “The Goose Girl,” rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic. Cordelia’s mother is a sorceress, and she employs her power ruthlessly to ensure she behaves like the perfect daughter. The only time Cordelia is free to be herself is when she is riding Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. As her mother’s schemes grow increasingly sinister, Cordelia must decide where her true loyalties lie.

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From the amazingly versatile and prolific Joanne Harris comes a richly imagined and captivating novel of two colliding worlds. Described as ‘Neverwhere meets Stardust’, The Moonlight Market invites you on a journey to a hidden London inhabited by strange and colorful beings, where an unexpected romance blossoms in the midst of war.

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Vilest Things is the second volume in Chloe Gong’s thrilling fantasy series, Immortal Longings. Expect dazzling power plays, delicious plot twists, and epic drama galore in this series inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.

01/10/2024

Calling all ! This little tome, inspired by Taylor Swift’s iconic music, features over 100 poems that explore the themes of folklore, love, heartache, revenge and peace. From the dreamy quality of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Kubla Khan, to Emily Dickinson’s One Sister Have I in Our House, to A Voice From the Dungeon by Anne Brontë and many more, immerse yourself in the voices of tortured poets of bygone eras.

26/07/2024

At TBNT we’re celebrating the month of Merdeka by chatting to two of our most beloved Malaysian authors, Zen Cho and Yangsze Choo, and you’re invited to come along for the conversation!

Don’t miss this very special session on the 17th August, 4:30 pm at Eslite KL.

25/07/2024

How many of the New York Times Readers’ Choice Best Books of the 21st Century books have you read? Tell us your favorite from this list!

27/06/2024

So excited to dive into Zen Cho’s upcoming release - THE FRIEND ZONE EXPERIMENT - her first foray into contemporary romance! Think overseas Chinese, first love reconnection, family drama and lots of that signature Zen Cho uproariously funny storytelling!

Zen’s gracing Malaysia with her presence when the book lands in stores in August, so don’t miss the chance to meet her in person. TBNT will be moderating a session with Zen at Eslite Bookstores, 4:30pm on the 17th August, or book your seat to see her at Lit Books at 8pm on the same day.

21/06/2024

Pillows ✅
Comfy chair ✅
Jazzy music 🎶 ✅

Time for prep on an upcoming episode!

Can you guess what book we’re reading?

13/06/2024

Scenes from the Aēsop Women’s Library preview at Aēsop TRX, 13 June 2024.

Do visit their beautiful stores at Aēsop TRX and IOI City Mall starting today till 16 June 2024 to immerse yourself in this experience. To top it off, you get to take home a complimentary book of your choice, no purchase needed.

Cheers book nerds!

11/06/2024

TBNT was featured in Options The Edge magazine as part of the Aesop Women’s Library project

09/06/2024

TBNT is partnering with Aesop Malaysia to help get the word out about the complimentary books you can get from the Aesop Women’s Library happening at Aesop TRX, KL and Aesop IOI City Mall, Putrajaya on the 14th to the 16th June 2024.

In this week’s podcast we hit the studio with Amir Muhammad, Sharon Bakar, Dr. Sharifah Osman and Tutu Dutta to discuss Malaysian reading culture, the value of literature and what it means to have a project like the Aesop Women’s Library. Please do listen and enjoy!

For information on the books available at the Aesop Women’s Library, listen in to the first episode of this mini series:

Part 1.1: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tbnt-x-aesop-e01-introducing-the-aesop-women-s-library-2024-voices-unbound-part-1--60236064

Part 1.2: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tbnt-x-aesop-e01-2-introducing-the-aesop-women-s-library-2024-voices-unbound-part-2--60237715

Hello everyone! In this second special Aēsop episode, we're talking to some special guests that are no strangers to the literary scene in Kuala Lumpur. W

26/05/2024

Just wanted to share the very sweet message we received when our new episode on Butter by Asako Yuzuki dropped last week. Comments like these just make it all worthwhile! Thank you so much for tuning in and for letting us know we do have a few fans out there 🥰

16/05/2024

Throwback to the fun photo shoot day we had at Aesop HQ in Midvalley last year ahead of the Aesop Women’s Library 2023.
Here’s your heads-up to dust off your comfy shoes and flex those book-choosing fingers because guess what, AWL 2024 is coming back to town!!

22/02/2024

Guess which celebrated author we had the absolute pleasure of chatting with, and which book we will be featuring in an upcoming episode??

21/02/2024

Greetings book nerds!

It’s been a while but we’re back and we’re excited to announce that we’ll be moving into Season 7 of TBNT! 🥳

Thank you to everyone for sticking around and we hope you’re just as excited as we are for this brand new season. Stay tuned for our episode on our anticipated reads for Q1 of 2024, and we have an author interview coming up (hint: the book is about foxes).

As Honey says, the new year doesn’t start properly till after Chinese New Year. We hope you’ll join us for another good bookish year ahead! ❤️