Fantasy FanReads x Sarah Beth Durst – Episode Summary

Podcast: Fantasy Fangirls
Episode: Fantasy FanReads x Sarah Beth Durst
Date: April 14, 2026

Episode Overview

In this warm and engaging interview, Jess, host of the new Fantasy Fan Reads podcast (part of the Fantasy Fangirls Media Network), sits down with acclaimed cozy fantasy author Sarah Beth Durst. The conversation centers on the magic of cozy fantasy, the value of joyful reading, and Sarah's personal journey as a reader and writer. As always, the episode balances thoughtful analysis with plenty of laughter and bookish enthusiasm, offering both practical recommendations and heartfelt takes on why stories matter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Allure of Cozy Fantasy (01:37 – 04:27)

• Sarah: Currently both reading and writing cozy fantasy books, looking for “that warm hug, cozy thing” in literature.
• Recs from Sarah:
  • Sangu Mandanna: “Definitely recommend her. Love her books. Oh, and she's got a really good middle grade... Vanya and the Wild Hunt is really good too.” (02:54)
  • Cozy Sci-Fi: Mossed in Space by Rebecca Thorne. Features a sentient moss, some of which was “inspired partially by Kaz.” (03:26)
  • Retelling: Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alicia Dow: “It's basically, you know, that Cinderella retelling with Whitney Houston as a fairy godmother. It's like that. But about that character.” (03:46)
• Sarah: Craving “happy books lately” as a response to a challenging world.

  “You know, world falling apart. I need the happy.” (04:11)

2. The Importance of Joyful Reading & Escapism (04:27 – 05:12)

• Jess and Sarah share a mutual dislike of the term “guilty pleasure,” advocating instead for unapologetic joy in reading.
  • Sarah:

    “Joy is so rare. You just have to seize it when you can. And I think escape is necessary … you just can't keep hurling yourself against a brick wall all the time. You have to, like, heal your bruises a little bit before you go back out there. So escape is good.” (04:27)

  • Jess:

    “Where's the guilt in joy? Don't do it, people.” (04:51)

3. Cozy Rituals & Hypothetical Literary Hangouts (05:12 – 07:33)

• Favorite Cozy Beverage:
  Sarah: “My absolute favorite is hot chocolate. I like fancy hot chocolate, but I also like the giant Costco sized box of Swiss Miss.” (05:27)
  • Jess introduces Sarah to the “dirty hot chocolate” (hot chocolate with a shot of espresso). (05:48)
• Book Character Hot Chocolate Hangout:
  • Sarah’s picks:
    • Calissa from the Faraway Inn – “She bakes amazing cakes…” (06:19)
    • Dax from Sea of Charms – “He is a world class musician... There would be hot chocolate. It would be excellent.” (06:19)
  • Jess’s picks:
    • Kaz (“Hot chocolate might calm him down a little bit”) and Turloo (“She's someone I want to give a hug”) from Sarah’s own books. (06:59-07:29)

4. The Deep Joy and Magic of Reading (07:33 – 09:47)

• Sarah: Describes books as “magic,” enabling connection with “impossible beings” and forming shared experiences that transcend time and place.

  “We have this ability to fall in love with something that doesn't and can't possibly exist, with people that aren't real yet they stick inside our heart, and we get to carry them around forever.” (07:49)

  • “Books exist in that liminal space between the writer and the reader... what every single book, what it's saying at its core is, you are not alone.” (09:05 & 09:21)

• Mutual Agreement: Jess echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the power of books to evoke emotion and form unique connections for each reader. (08:38-09:33)

5. Sarah Beth Durst’s Path as a Writer and Reader (09:47 – 12:36)

• Lifelong Connection to Books: Sarah describes a childhood spent devouring as many books as she could physically carry.

  "I was like that small child in the library that was taking out more books than I am tall... I like to have choices." (10:10)

• Books and fantasy stories offered Sarah both refuge and courage; dragons were a special obsession.

• Pivotal Read: Alanna by Tamora Pierce

  “I read that when I was 10 … if Alanna can become a knight, I can become a writer. And it was just one of those, like, empowering books.” (11:50)

• Why Fantasy Matters:
  Sarah: “Fantasy is 100% discussing the human condition,” allowing for an “extreme sport of empathy.” The genre offers both universal resonance and a safe distance from real-world hardship. (12:55-14:42)

  “We really are putting ourselves in the footsteps of these people... it is reflecting back some aspect of what it means to be human.” (13:59)

6. Reflection on Cozy Living, Optimism, and Real Life (15:01 – 16:46)

• Jess: Notes that Sarah’s books are “synonymous with that [cozy] feeling” and asks if she’s cozy in real life.
• Sarah:
  • Admits to being “pretty cozy” and deeply optimistic, though her primary skill is writing rather than baking or gardening like her characters.

    “I believe that everybody deserves magic. I believe that everyone deserves love and a second chance and that there is the potential for great inside of everybody, so long as they're open to it and open to other people and so long as they're kind.” (15:30)

  • Humorously notes her lack of culinary expertise:

    “I still can't make a baguette that doesn't come out like a baseball bat... But in my imagination, it's delicious.” (16:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Escapism:

  “Joy is so rare. You just have to seize it when you can. And I think escape is necessary.” — Sarah Beth Durst (04:27)

• On Books as Magic:

  “Books exist in that liminal space between the writer and the reader, and what every single book, what it's saying at its core is, you are not alone.” — Sarah Beth Durst (09:05-09:21)

• On Fantasy & Empathy:

  “I often think of it as the extreme sport of empathy because we really are putting ourselves in the footsteps of these people that are like blue or have wings or fangs or whatever.” — Sarah Beth Durst (13:59)

• On Optimism:

  “I really am as optimistic as my books, but I possess no skill other than stringing sentences together.” — Sarah Beth Durst (15:30)

• On Lifelong Reading:

  “I was like that small child in the library that was taking out more books than I am tall... I like to have choices.” — Sarah Beth Durst (10:10)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:37: Jess introduces Sarah Beth Durst; the theme of cozy fantasy.
• 02:54: Sarah’s reading recommendations and why she loves cozy books.
• 04:27: The importance of joyful, escapist reading; redefining "guilty pleasure."
• 05:27: Hot chocolate, cozy rituals, and literary character hangouts.
• 07:33: The joy and magic of reading: connection, empathy, and shared experience.
• 09:47: Sarah’s childhood as a reader and the impact of Alanna by Tamora Pierce.
• 12:55: Why fantasy is deeply human and important.
• 15:01: Sarah reflects on her own coziness and optimism.
• 16:46: Sarah jokes about her lack of baking skills, keeping the conversation light and real.

Tone & Style

The conversation is warm, witty, and earnest, brimming with mutual appreciation and enthusiasm for books. Sarah Beth Durst’s infectious optimism and love for her craft shine throughout, and Jess’s questions are a perfect balance of fun, thoughtful, and relatable.

This snippet offers a satisfying taste of the full episode’s heart and substance, giving listeners plenty of inspiration, practical book recs, and thoughtful insights into both cozy fantasy and the deeper purposes of storytelling.