Hey readers! This week we’re returning to the story of Dracula’s mysterious burial and the book that continues to haunt historians centuries later.

As the narrator and her father explore the countryside of the vast Eurasian continent, we slowly unfold the story of who Rossi was and how entrenched Paul became in his disappearance. We meet Helen - a breath of fresh air in the stuffy pages of the archive - and learn that she’s dead set on finding Rossi as well, for reasons of her own.

Who is Helen to the narrator and her father, and why does she know so much about Rossi? Just as the story has sunk its teeth into the minds of Professor Rossi and his advisee, so has Helen sunken her teeth into a grand revenge plot of the ages.

Helen has involved herself quickly in the story of Vlad III, and Paul is head over heels, just like us. We love her and can’t wait to read more.

Join us this week for another look at Rossi’s mysterious research project and the long history of his disappearance. Let us know your feelings too in the comments! Join the discussion and let us know what you think. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content and more.

Hellloooo listeners~ Welcome to the world of dusty tomes and secret histories!

To round out our dark academia picks we’re picking up the story of the late medieval Vlad Țepeș, AKA Vlad the Impaler! Or at least, our historians do.

This week we begin the story with an unnamed narrator who unveils the story of her father and his mysterious experiences in graduate school. A student of history, Paul is thrust into the world of 15th century Romania when he finds a mysterious book and subsequently, his advisor goes missing.

This book weaves the true events of Vlad the Impaler with the (supposedly!) fictional narrative of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Join us this week as we sink our teeth into this deliciously descriptive epistolary novel, with lots of laughs and questions in between.

Let us know your feelings too in the comments! Join the discussion and let us know what you think. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content and more.

🎉100 episodes. One hundred. Triple digits. Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, we've been allowed to keep microphones for this long.

To celebrate, we're doing what every bookish person secretly loves to do: judging things. Giving our opinions. Making it known. And fighting over it. Specifically, we're ranking some of the most popular book tropes from S-Tier masterpieces to F-Tier "Fuck you. I hope I never see you again."

Enemies to lovers? One bed? Secret royalty? One horse? Miscommunication? We have opinions. Loud ones. But the real question is: how about you?

Will your favorite trope end up in S-Tier? Maybe. But also will one of us commit an act of literary violence against a trope you adore? Also maybe.

Tune in, and tell us which ranking made you cheer, which made you rage, and which ones have you drafting a strongly worded essay at 2 a.m. We want to hear you hottest tope takes.

Come celebrate 100 episode with us, and possibly start a completely unnecessary bookish civil war. Also if you really like this episode, let us know what you want us to rank next. More tropes? Did we miss any you really want to do? Book boyfriends? Female Main Characters?

We want to hear from you. The comments section is open. Choose chaos. Join the discussion and let us know what you think. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content and more.

Happy Pride Month, listeners! The curses of theater have come for us too - our audio got messed up this week (more than usual)! We knew we shouldn't have invoked the name of the Scottish play. Dammit. 😭We are so sorry, but we hope you enjoy the finale for If We Were Villains anyway.

Join us this week as the book comes to a dramatic close with a brother’s betrayal becoming a beloved’s sacrifice. Oliver’s tragic ending is unveiled alongside his true feelings for James. We learn what really happened that fateful night at the lake, as well as some details that leave us with even further questions.

Did you see that ending coming? Let us know your thoughts. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content, chaos and more.

Heyyy readers, Happy Tuesday. On this week’s episode we discuss Act 4 of If We Were Villains. Things heat up as Oliver is faced with his feelings right after discovering a revealing clue in the castle. Colbourne said the case was closed, so why is he sneaking around the school grounds?

Plus, James breaks Oliver’s nose and Oliver takes a trip to Dr. Alexander, right before a sudden tragedy befalls the friend group. Will everyone make it to Act 5? Join us this week!

And let us know your thoughts. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content, chaos and more.

Hey readers, we’re back with another episode of the If We Were Villains deep dive. Between the theatrical performances and borderline concerning level of Shakespearean recitations between friends, our acting troupe is used to dedicating themselves to their roles.

But now, the lines are truly beginning to blur. What happens when James shows up at Oliver’s door over Thanksgiving break? Relationships are straining, with Meredith and Oliver attempting to go on a real date… But it couldn’t possibly really mean anything.. Right? James seems to think so.

Plus, the troupe performs a scene from Romeo and Juliet for the Christmas Masque, only for Oliver to come to a shocking realization during James’ portrayal of Romeo. Alexander’s substance abuse issues get out of hand, and Wren’s health declines as the rest of the cast begins to unravel.

Are they making things worst for themselves? Let us know your thoughts. Join the discussion. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content, chaos and more.

Hey readers! This week, there’s trouble brewing at Dellecher Classic Conservatory...And our theater troupe is embroiled in some serious drama.

Richard has taken to harassing James and Meredith on stage and he seems to be getting away with it. Oliver, who is beginning to recognize he cares deeply about both of them, is thrown into the line of fire despite his belief that he’s powerless to do anything to protect them. Plus, is Oliver in complete denial about his feelings for James, or are we crazy?

Richard has taken things too far, and the stage is set for disaster as they try to navigate his mood swings and borderline Shakespearian tantrums. But now that Richard isn’t getting his way, how far will he take things to get the roles he wants? And what is the group going to do about it… if anything?

Let us know your thoughts. Join the discussion. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content, chaos and more.

Hey readers! We’re excited to continue our dark academia theme this week with the first episode of If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio! It’s a completely different vibe this time around - and we’re wondering how this is going to play out just as much as the characters.

This week we’re introducing the main characters and starting out with a bang. Why is Oliver in jail and did he really do it? Who will meet their end… and how does the lives of these seven students completely upend so quickly, when they work together so well?

And please.. Someone familiar with Shakespeare throw us a bone! I guess “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece” because this week we’re thrown into the fire with little to guide us! If you’ve got some guidance, leave a comment. Join us this week on the Midnight Reader’s Podcast.

Let us know your feelings too in the comments! Join the discussion. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Youtube @themidnightreaderspodcast.

Interested in more from us? You can also read our stream-of-consciousness reactions to the reading and show notes and see what didn't make it to the show on our Patreon now. And consider joining our growing community there for other bonus content, chaos and more.