We all know the story of Anthony and Cleopatra. Have you ever thought about their daughter? No Lauren hadn't either until she discovered Dr Jane Draycotts book all about her. They get into the backstory of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, iconography and retrospective romantacising. Then we get into the woman of the moment and her journey from Egyptian Princess to Roman Prisoner and then Finally African Queen. Prepare to learn more about crocodiles than you expected.

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Lauren is going full on lover girl for a summer of love with Phoenicia Rogerson and her second book Aphrodite. They cover thousands of years of mythology guided by a goddess? who admits straight away that she lies.

They get into the two origin stories of her and fitting that into an already confusing timeline and theres obvious obligatory spoilers

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Get ready to adventure down to the underworld.... Lauren hangs out with one of her earliest guests JJA Harwood for advice on how to get an undead vampire husband of her own ala FMC Irina. They discuss Jo's vampire reseach and real life weddings to the undead. Jo enthuses hard about her partly research and partly fun trips to Romania.

In obligatory spoilers they get into Jo's underwordly inspirations, plot points and how she plotted an enemies to lovers/quest gothic romantasy. Both are on tenderhooks to know if YOU think the steaks are higher in this or in an office enemies to loves with Steve who isn't pulling his weight.

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Have you ever been obsessed with a book before you've even read it? Thats how Lauren felt about Liz's new book Sinners. Introducing us properly to Beatrice Cenci who you may remember from Disobedient. They go into her story, Liz teaches Lauren about convent dowries and what early Rome was like.

In the obligatory spoilers they get into the events around a court case, a painting that for years was misidentified and the mythology of a woman who's story needed to be told.

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Lauren goes back to school with Shannon Mayer and her FMC Harlow - a more age relatable morally grey heroine.

They get into world building, staple fantasy building blocks like chosen family, why we love magic systems and school books and Shannons journey from indie published to traditional publishing.

The spoilers are some of the hottest ever with a teaser for book 2 including the book two name and a juicy detail about the plot. Lauren goes into theories for book two betrayals and backtracks on one during the episode. Shannon also shares what you can expect from book two.

In the goodbyes Lauren and Shannon also reveal their Neverthorn house as Lauren's doing the house sorting quiz during recording.

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Lauren meets a new Roman woman to the historical fiction space - Fulvia.

Author Kaarina Parker teaches Lauren how not to get pregnant the ancient Roman way. They discuss which theory about the Bona Dea festival they want to bring back together and Kaarina makes her views on one Roman orator VERY clear.

They discuss the obligatory spoilers as they demyth the first of Kaarinas duology about the life of one of the most important Roman women you may not know enough about.

Lauren brings back shag marry kill but themes it for the roman pasttime of exiling to not cause Kaarina too much trauma

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Lauren plays host to Leigh Radford this episode. They talk about femgore, zombies and which item frightened Leigh that she found in a flat more than a second hand zombie husband.

The episode gets very raw as Leigh reveals her lack of science background and the inspiration behind the book leading to a raw and honest heart to heart between her and Lauren

They obviously discuss obligatory One Yellow Eye spoilers too.

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Who would think time travel could mix with crime and Jane Austen... none other than this episodes guest Amelia Blackwell.

She and Lauren get into the ridiculousness of weaving these three ideas together. Why Austen is still important today and how hard it actually is to find a guy in finance who's 6' 5" with blue eyes. There's obligatory spoilers into the plot and Lauren brings back shag, marry, kill for some of Austens best or worst F Boys

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