18. Queen of Teeth with Hailey Piper

“Villains get to be the most romantic, because they don’t let morals stop them.” –Hailey Piper.

We are so excited and happy to finally announce that Blythe is pregnant – congrats, Blythe!!! – but as such, she’ll be taking some time off from the podcast. Don’t worry, though, we have some great guest episodes planned for the future, starting with today’s episode! I’m thrilled to welcome my dear friend Hailey Piper to the Sexy Books Podcast to discuss her horromance novel, Queen of Teeth:

Within forty-eight hours, Yaya Betancourt will go from discovering teeth between her thighs to being hunted by one of the most powerful corporations in America. She assumes the vagina dentata is a side effect of a rare genetic condition caused by AlphaBeta Pharmaceutical, decades ago, when she and several thousand others were still in the womb. But, when ABP corporate goons upend her life, she realizes her secondary teeth might be evidence of a new experiment for which she’s the most advanced test tube... a situation worsened when Yaya’s condition sprouts horns, tentacles, and a mind of its own. On the run and transforming, Yaya may be either ABP’s greatest success, or the deadliest failure science has ever created.

This book is a little different from past selections, but no less romantic or erotic, trust me. Hailey and I delve deep into the allure of monster-fucking, the power of fantasy and giving yourself over to pleasure, transitions and finding yourself later in life. We also discuss the sentience of vaginas (and vagina-monsters), the tragic state of healthcare and bodily rights in the U.S., and our hopes for a hornier, horromance-filled future.

As always, we discuss the entire novel, so spoilers abound!

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
• Nymph by Francesca Lia Block
• Spooky Smutty Stories by Claire Cray

I also wanted to note that in this episode I mention having had vulvodynia and vaginismus - I've been treated for both (with a specialist and a pelvic floor physical therapist) and I have a totally pain-free, wonderful sex life now. If you're dealing with anything similar and have questions, I would be happy to answer them and provide as much help as I can. I've been through it all and I know how intimidating it can be to seek treatment, or to even know where to start. Use one of the methods below to send me an email or DM.

You can follow me (Claire), and all podcast updates, on Instagram or Bluesky. If you’re interested in my writing about sex and culture, you can check out my ongoing series of essays on film and sex, My Favorite F***ing Movie, or visit my blog. If you have questions or comments for the podcast, you can email us at SexyBooksPodcast@gmail.com.