About this episode

Melissa Albert discusses her novel 'The Children' and its themes of dark creativity and childhood truths.

Melissa Albert’s novel may be called The Children, but it’s certainly not for kids. This is a story about the dark creativity behind bright make-believe, about the pretty lies of childhood and the brutal truths of growing up. It’s about writers and writing and as you’ll hear me point out, it does for fantasy fiction what Stephen King’s Misery did for Gothic romance. And by god do we talk about all of that. As well as celebrating a character that I believe to be one of the best “bad-mothers” in recent fiction (and the secret hero of the book!) But maybe that’s just me. I’m twisted. Enjoy. Other books mentioned: The Hazel Wood (2018), by Melissa Albert The Magicians (2009), by Lev Grossman Daytide (2026), by Chris Panatier When You Reach Me (2009) by Rebecca Stead Fangirl (2013), by Rainbow Rowell This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (2026), by Ilona Andrews Support Talking Scared on Patreon Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch Come talk books on Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Neil McRobert

Guest: Melissa Albert

Topics covered

• dark creativity
• fantasy fiction
• childhood truths
• writing
• character analysis

Keywords

• Melissa Albert
• The Children
• fantasy fiction
• dark creativity
• bad mothers

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Children, Misery, The Hazel Wood, The Magicians, Daytide, When You Reach Me, Fangirl, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me

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