In this week’s podcast, Taylor shares one of her favourite books: Eliot Schrefer’s The Darkness Outside Us. Taylor recommends this YA sci-fi epic for its queer enemies-to-lovers romance, existential dread and pulse-pounding plot twists.

“Earth's population is divided between only two existing countries, which cannot manage to cooperate in any way, until a distress signal arrives from Titan's first settler. Neither country can afford to rescue her on their own if they act separately. Ambrose wakes up on board the Coordinated Endeavour under strange circumstances: he doesn't remember the launch, the ship's OS is voiced by his mother, strangers have been aboard, and Kodiak, the only other person on this mission, has barricaded himself away from sight. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making this mission succeed — not when the settler he's rescuing is his sister.”

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1907407 


The Darkness Outside Us

Bronx Library Center's Podcast: June 2025

Today, Laurel tells us about the historical fantasy novel What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez. Set in 1884, 19-year-old Inez travels to Egypt after the sudden death of her parents to uncover the truth about their deaths. As she attempts to unravel the mysteries her parents sought, she becomes a pawn in a larger game that threatens to kill her.

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1913604


What the River Knows

Bronx Library Center's Podcast: July 2025

Today, Sally shares a novel that she’s dying to talk about: Run by Blake Crouch — a gripping apocalyptic thriller about a man and his family running for their lives in an America gone mad.

From the publisher:
"No time to think. No time to ask why. Only time to run. Five days ago, the epidemic of rage began. Four days ago, the rash of senseless murders swept the nation. Three days ago, the president addressed the country and begged for peace — even as the murders increased tenfold. Two days ago, the killers began to mobilize. One day ago, the power went out. And tonight, the killers are reading the names of those to be killed over the Emergency Broadcast System. Jack Colclough is listening over the battery-powered radio on his kitchen table in Albuquerque, and he just heard his name. People are coming to his house to kill him, his wife, his daughter, and his son. He has no idea what's happening, or why, but the time for questions is long past. His only chance is to run. Following an ordinary family on a desperate race through an America that's destroying itself, Run is a terrifying, brutally stripped-down thriller from master storyteller Blake Crouch."

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1949078


In today's podcast, Mieke shares two novels of historical fiction by Dutch-Canadian author Ellen Keith: The Dutch Wife and The Dutch Orphan. Both novels take place during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

The Dutch Wife
Amsterdam, May 1943. As the tulips bloom and the Nazis tighten their grip across the city, the last signs of Dutch resistance are being swept away. Marijke de Graaf and her husband are arrested and deported to different concentration camps in Germany. Marijke is given a terrible choice: to suffer a slow death in the labour camp or — for a chance at survival — to join the camp brothel.
https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1750415

The Dutch Orphan
When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased, her Jewish friends forbidden from performing with her onstage. Alongside her friend Jakob, Johanna helps organize the Artists' Resistance, an underground network allowing Jews to perform at house concerts hosted by their allies.
https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1890468


The Dutch Wife and The Dutch Orphan

Today, Laurel shares Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis. If you enjoy fantasy, romance and strong female characters, you'll like this book.

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic. When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot…

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1953867

Wooing the Witch Queen

In today’s podcast, FVRL Reading Adviser Margarita dives into the TV show 1923, the gripping prequel to the popular Yellowstone series – a show that redefines the western genre for a modern audience. Set in the volatile years after World War I, 1923 follows the Dutton family as they struggle to maintain their Montana ranch against forces beyond their control.

Find 1923: A Yellowstone Origin Story, Seasons 1 and 2, in the FVRL collection:
https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=1923%20A%20Yellowstone%20Origin%20Story&searchType=title 

1923: A Yellowstone Origin Story

Bronx Library Center's Podcast: August 2025

In the first of a two-part podcast, the FVRL Reading Advisers explore some mystery series that offer a bit more diversity, character development and real-life challenge than your typical cosy mystery:

The Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn
https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=Veronica%20Speedwell&searchType=series&sort=series

Tita Rosie’s Kitchen by Mia P. Manansala 
https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=Tita%20Rosie&searchType=series


Not-So-Cosy Cosy Mysteries (Part 1)

Are you looking for something good to read? Or watch? Or listen to? Tune in to Fraser Valley Regional Library’s ReadRadio podcast for some great recommendations. In each episode we will highlight some of the library’s books, movies and TV shows that you might not know about. All reviewed materials are available for loan in the FVRL catalogue. 

Fraser Valley Regional Library is the largest public library system in British Columbia, with 25 community libraries serving nearly 680,000 people in its service area.

Not-So-Cosy Cosy Mysteries (Part 1)

Fraser Valley Regional Library

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