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ACOTAR 6 FINALE — A COURT OF SPLINTERED HARMONY | Chapters 13–END | WHAT THE HELL, ELAIN?! | Romantasy Roundtable WELL. THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY. We went from a cute little baby naming ceremony to NIGHTMARE DEMONS, NAKED BAT BOYS, NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES, A SHATTERED INNER CIRCLE, AND THE MOST UNHINGED TAMLIN THEORY WE'VE EVER CONCOCTED. SARAH J. MAAS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US?! Welcome back to Romantasy Roundtable! Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly are FINISHING A Court of Splintered Harmony (ACOTAR 6), covering Chapters 13 through 24 AND the remaining bonus chapters! And after a slow first half? OH, WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS. FULL SPOILERS for A Court of Splintered Harmony, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and major Crescent City/Maasverse connections! NYX'S NAMING DAY: THE RED WEDDING OF PRYTHIAN?! We KNEW this party wasn't going to end well. What starts as a beautiful celebration turns into an absolute HORROR MOVIE when BRIAXIS RETURNS, plunging everyone into their worst nightmares! Azriel sees himself murdering his family. Feyre experiences every mother's worst fear. Rhysand, the most powerful High Lord in history, is completely incapacitated. And who saves everyone? NESTA. FREAKING. ARCHERON. Our girl HULKS UP, grabs Ataraxia, and reminds everyone why she's one of the most terrifying women in Prythian. But WHY did Briaxis return? What's going on with Clotho? And is that mysterious silver thread actually connected to the Stygian spiders from Throne of Glass?! CHAPTER 20. WE NEED TO TALK. LUCIEN WALKS INTO ELAIN'S BEDROOM. AND FINDS AZRIEL. NAKED. IN BED. WITH HIS MATE. THE SCREAM WE SCRUMPT. We're breaking down the confrontation that nearly ends in a blood duel, Rhysand's fury, Cassian's intervention, Mor's spectacular slap, and Azriel's ongoing emotional collapse. Is this character assassination? Or is Sarah J. Maas finally showing us who Azriel REALLY is? And then there's Gwyn. Her singing. His shadows. Their awkward, adorable reunion. TEAM GWYNRIEL, HOW ARE WE FEELING?! NESSIAN IS BACK, BABY! After chapters of emotional torture, Nesta and Cassian FINALLY TALK. And then they do considerably more than talk. We're discussing why Chapter 18 might be one of the best relationship scenes in the entire ACOTAR series, why Nesta deserves some RESPECT, and how even Kimberly has officially boarded the Nesta appreciation train! Meanwhile, Rhysand hands Nesta the Dread Trove, Feyre embraces her protective-mother era, and the Archeron sisters are heading toward some VERY different futures. AND NOW FOR OUR MOST UNHINGED THEORY EVER. WHAT IF ELAIN ISN'T ELAIN?! Rick thinks something is VERY wrong with the middle Archeron sister. Amanda takes that theory and drives it directly off a cliff: WHAT IF ELAIN AND TAMLIN HAVE SWITCHED BODIES?! YES. TAMLIN. AS ELAIN. And the REAL Elain is running around the Spring Court as a giant furry beast?! We have evidence. We have questions. We have approximately three functioning brain cells left. And somehow, the more we discuss it, THE MORE IT MAKES SENSE. We're also diving into: Clotho, Briaxis, and suspicious Stygian spider connections Nesta's mysterious journey to the Prison and Gwydion's disappearance Whether Amren is REALLY Amren Elain and Mor heading to Vallahan Lucien deserving approximately 900 years of peace The Maasverse, Bryce Quinlan, and whether Rick technically won his crossover bet FINAL RATINGS! After all the arguments, theories, and emotional damage, ALL THREE HOSTS land on FOUR STARS! Was ACOTAR 6 a little slow? Absolutely. Did the second half deliver? WE THINK SO. And now we're VERY nervous about what Sarah has planned next. TELL US EVERYTHING! Team Elriel or Gwynriel? Is Clotho secretly evil? What's happening to Nesta? And PLEASE tell us whether our Tamlin/Elain theory is genius or whether we need professional help. Like, subscribe, and join Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly for more Sarah J. Maas theories, ACOTAR discussions, romantasy reviews, and completely unhinged bookish chaos! NEXT UP: The Washwoman at the River's End by Megan Shade! THE BAT BOYS ARE BROKEN. NESTA IS THRIVING. AND TAMLIN MIGHT BE BAKING BREAD. WELCOME TO THE MAASVERSE.

ACOTAR 6 IS HERE! A COURT OF SPLINTERED HARMONY — Chapters 1–12 | SHADOW DADDY NEEDS THERAPY | Romantasy Roundtable THE BAT BOYS ARE BACK, BABY. AND APPARENTLY, EVERYONE IN PRYTHIAN NEEDS THERAPY, A COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP, AND MAYBE A NICE LONG NAP. IT'S FINALLY HERE! Sarah J. Maas has brought us back to Prythian with A Court of Splintered Harmony (ACOTAR 6), and Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly are diving into Chapters 1–12, plus Azriel's infamous A Court of Silver Flames bonus chapter! And OH BOY. We have THOUGHTS. Welcome back to Romantasy Roundtable, where we're discussing the newest installment of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the return of our favorite characters, the increasingly complicated Maasverse, and why approximately 90% of this book's problems could be solved if everyone would JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER. SPOILER WARNING: We're covering ACOTAR 6 through Chapter 12, the Azriel bonus chapter, and connections to Crescent City and the wider Sarah J. Maas universe. No spoilers for later chapters! FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT AZRIEL. WE FINALLY GET INSIDE SHADOW DADDY'S HEAD! And apparently, it's a very dark, very depressing place to live. We're exploring Azriel's horrifying childhood, the origins of his shadowsinger abilities, his 500 years of unrequited love for Mor, and his increasingly complicated feelings for Elain. But seriously, Azriel. BABY. WE LOVE YOU. PLEASE STOP HATING YOURSELF. And speaking of Elain... THE SOUP IS FINALLY COOKING?! Secret midnight makeout sessions?! Forbidden romance?! Rhysand appearing at the WORST POSSIBLE MOMENT?! Between Elain, Azriel, Gwyn, and Lucien, the ACOTAR shipping wars are officially BACK, and we're questioning EVERYTHING. Rick even has a theory that Elain might be secretly manipulating the Inner Circle. YES, REALLY. BUT WAIT. THE INNER CIRCLE IS FALLING APART. Nesta and Cassian are barely speaking. Rhysand is furious. Feyre and Amren are fighting. Gwyn and Nesta's friendship is fractured. Mor is packing approximately 400 suitcases. AND EVERYONE IS MAD ABOUT BRYCE QUINLAN. Which brings us to one of our biggest debates: Has Sarah J. Maas taken the Crescent City crossover TOO FAR? Amanda has some VERY strong feelings about needing to read three entire Crescent City books to understand why everyone in Prythian is furious with Nesta. Rick, naturally, is defending the Maasverse connections. Because of course he is. AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A WAR COMING?! We're breaking down the biggest revelations and theories from these opening chapters: Koschei the Deathless, his mysterious onyx box, and the search for ancient Made weapons The rulers of Vallahan, Montesere, and Rask — and whether the Night Court really deserves to call the shots Nesta discovering she can winnow, nearly drowning, and sensing mysterious objects beneath the sea Lucien, Vassa's curse, Helion's secrets, and a potentially disastrous mission involving Beron Gwyn's mysterious song, ancient rituals, and the thinning boundaries between worlds Eris, the Autumn Court, and the possibility of another devastating war Hybern's unexpected alliance proposal and the question of who can actually be trusted Rhysand as HIGH KING?! Do we even WANT that?! And let's not forget Nyx's upcoming naming day, which definitely feels like the perfect opportunity for absolutely NOTHING TERRIBLE TO HAPPEN. RIGHT, SARAH?! Meanwhile, Feyre is breastfeeding, Azriel is brooding, Nesta is fighting for her marriage, and Tamlin is apparently running around the Spring Court chasing squirrels. LEAVE OUR BEAST BOY ALONE. We're only 12 chapters into A Court of Splintered Harmony, and while the pacing has us questioning a few things, the theories are already getting WILD. NOW WE WANT YOUR THOUGHTS! Are you Team Elriel or Team Gwynriel? Is Nesta being treated unfairly? Is Rhysand becoming a little TOO controlling? And what do YOU think is going to happen at Nyx's naming day? Drop your theories in the comments! We want to hear ALL of them. Like, subscribe, and join Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly for more ACOTAR 6 chapter discussions, Sarah J. Maas theories, romantasy reviews, and completely unhinged bookish conversations. NEXT EPISODE: We're finishing A Court of Splintered Harmony, including the remaining bonus chapters! Until then, remember: The real villain of Prythian might just be a complete inability to communicate. THE BAT BOYS ARE BACK. AND THE DRAMA IS JUST GETTING STARTED.

THRESHING DAY — REBECCA YARROS | DRAGONS, SECRETS & EMOTIONAL DAMAGE?! | Romantasy Roundtable WE'RE BACK AT BASGIATH, BABY. AND APPARENTLY, THE DRAGONS HAVE BEEN KEEPING SECRETS. Rebecca Yarros has blessed us with Threshing Day, the newest addition to The Empyrean Series, and somehow a collection of short stories about bonding dragons has us questioning EVERYTHING we thought we knew about Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm. In this episode of Romantasy Roundtable, Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly dive into ALL 13 stories from Threshing Day, exploring the characters we love, the dragons we missed, the secrets we absolutely did NOT see coming, and the emotional devastation Rebecca Yarros apparently felt we needed more of. And spoiler alert: WE LOVED IT. FIVE STARS. SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and Threshing Day! No Sarah J. Maas or ACOTAR knowledge required. We're keeping this one in the Empyrean universe! FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOURTH WING TV CASTING! Esther McGregor as Violet Sorrengail?! Amelio Sakraya as Xaden Riorson?! The internet has THOUGHTS, and so do we. We're discussing the casting announcements, the ridiculous discourse about hair color, and why Idris Elba NEEDS to voice Tairn. Seriously. MAKE IT HAPPEN. THEN IT'S TIME FOR THRESHING DAY! We're breaking down every dragon-bonding story, including: Brennan and Mira Sorrengail — Family trauma, impossible expectations, and two dragons who apparently majored in psychological warfare. Xaden and Garrick — The marked ones, a deadly ambush, and some VERY suspicious revelations about dragon history and family bloodlines. Dain and Bodhi — Daddy issues, questionable loyalties, and dragons who might be running an entire underground resistance movement. Imogen — A SECRET DRAGON BOND?! Her grandmother's dragon?! And Garrick being romantically interested in her?! EXCUSE US, REBECCA. WE HAVE QUESTIONS. Rhiannon — Proof that our girl was destined to be a badass leader, even when her dragon is roasting her navigation skills. Sawyer — A devastating reminder that sometimes rejection isn't about being unworthy. Sometimes the right dragon just isn't ready. Also, knowing what happens later? OUCH. Ridoc — FINALLY, A DRAGON AS UNHINGED AS HE IS. Two chaotic idiots, one beautiful friendship, and absolutely no adult supervision. Liam — THE WHITTLING. THE TREE. THE DRAGON. THE HONOR. REBECCA, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO US AGAIN?! Sloane — Grief, healing, Liam's legacy, and a dragon who offers her something she desperately needs: a choice. WE WERE NOT EMOTIONALLY PREPARED. Aaric — A prince with a plan, a dragon with standards, and a VERY interesting declaration about tearing down the kingdom. AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. We're also connecting some seriously suspicious dots about dragons lying about their identities, secret bonds, the marked ones, and whether the dragons have been plotting against Navarre this ENTIRE TIME. Plus, we discuss the possibility of Aaric having powers BEFORE bonding, the mysterious connection between Violet and Sgaeyl, and what all these revelations could mean for Empyrean Book 4. Oh, and did we mention that Garrick and Imogen might finally be giving us the romantic tension we've been starving for?! THERE'S NO SOUP, BUT THE GROCERIES HAVE ARRIVED. Our final verdict? FIVE STARS. ALL AROUND. We would happily read another hundred of these stories. NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Which Threshing Day story was YOUR favorite? What dragon revelation blew your mind? And what theories are you bringing into the next Empyrean book? Drop your thoughts in the comments because we NEED to talk about these dragons. Like, subscribe, and join Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly for more Fourth Wing discussions, Rebecca Yarros theories, romantasy reviews, and plenty of questionable opinions. And next week? We're heading BACK TO PRYTHIAN for A Court of Splintered Harmony! Until then, remember: Sometimes the dragon chooses you. Sometimes the dragon has been lying to you for YEARS. WELCOME TO BASGIATH.

THE RED STRING WALL IS UP, THE CONSPIRACY BOARD IS UNHINGED, AND WE HAVE QUESTIONS. SO. MANY. QUESTIONS. Welcome back to Romantasy Roundtable! Rick, Amanda, and Kim are FINALLY back together, and we’re diving headfirst into our predictions for ACOTAR 6 and beyond. We’re talking A Court of Splintered Harmony, A Court of Forgotten Melody, and every wild theory our brains could possibly cook up before the books hit our hands. Will the Maasverse finally collide in a BIG way, or are we getting Easter eggs and emotional damage from a safe distance? Is Elaine really our next main character? Is Azriel about to steal the spotlight? Could Tamlin get a redemption arc? And WHAT is going on with Lucien, his mysterious family tree, and that very suspicious mating bond situation? We’re connecting dots, pulling receipts from across the series, and making some truly unhinged predictions about: Whether ACOTAR 6 ends with a massive cliffhanger The great Maasverse crossover debate: Bryce, Aelin, and our Night Court favorites Elaine, Azriel, Gwyn, Tamlin, Lucien, and the ships that could make or break the fandom Witches, Amren’s mysterious past, and connections to the Asteri, Daglan, and Vlag The Dread Trove, Made weapons, the Star Sword, and what might be coming together Starfall, the Drop, the Yielding, and theories that might actually connect The mysterious Dusk Court and what could be hiding in the Prison Broken mating bonds, memory loss, old villains, new villains, and who might not make it out alive Plus, we debate whether this series is about to give us another unforgettable romantic pairing, a whole lot of political chaos, or a cliffhanger that leaves us screaming into the void. And naturally, we have VERY strong feelings about Azriel’s POV. Specifically, the soup situation. These are predictions, not facts, so come ready to agree, disagree, and tell us which theories have you reaching for the red string. We want YOUR theories in the comments! Which hills are you willing to die on, and which of ours deserve to be launched directly into the Cauldron? Drop your predictions below, and let’s see who called it when the books arrive! Like the video, subscribe to the channel, and join the Romantasy Roundtable conversation. You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok, or email us at [email protected]. And if you have winter, solstice, Christmas, or Hanukkah romantasy recommendations for our upcoming episodes, SEND THEM OUR WAY. We’re looking for festive fantasy, questionable quality, and potentially some very questionable candy-cane anatomy. The girlies (gender neutral) are THRIVING.

ROMANTASY ROUNDTABLE: THE FIRST STONE — ARC REVIEW We got our hands on an early ARC of The First Stone by Robert Biehn, and folks… WE HAVE THOUGHTS. And by thoughts, we mean Rick is giving this one FIVE STARS, Kim is handing out FOUR, and together we're landing at a very respectable 4.5 stars. Not bad for a debut fantasy novel! Think Avatar meets Mistborn meets Star Wars, with a post-apocalyptic wasteland, elemental magic, dangerous government forces, missing memories, and two siblings who are just trying to survive. Oh, and there's an antagonist named Felix who might just make your skin crawl while smiling directly at you. What's not to love? Amanda is still off enjoying married life and her minimoon, so Rick and Kim are holding down the fort this week. We're keeping this review SPOILER-FREE, so if you're curious about The First Stone, you can hang out with us without worrying about ruining the surprises. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT: • THE STORY: Cass and Eve are siblings navigating a devastated world where survival is a daily battle. When Eve becomes dangerously ill, Cass risks everything to find medicine. But their strange markings, missing memories, and unusual abilities suggest their past is much bigger than they realize. • CASS & EVE: A protective older brother, a determined younger sister, and a relationship at the heart of the story. We discuss their choices, their stubbornness, and whether Cass needs to learn a lesson or just needs to be allowed to be an impulsive teenager. • FELIX, THE WALKING RED FLAG: Rick has found a new favorite villain. Imagine Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds, except in a fantasy novel. He's charming, unsettling, dangerous, and absolutely NOT someone you want showing up at your door. • THE WORLD: Post-apocalyptic California, wastelands, refugee encampments, a tightly controlled government, and a magical academy. Kim tries to figure out where everyone is in California while Rick is just happy to be in the wasteland. • THE MAGIC SYSTEM: Elemental powers, magical wielders, augmented soldiers, and a mysterious substance that can strip magic away. We compare the system to Mistborn and Avatar and discuss how the author introduces the rules without drowning us in a giant lore dump. • THE MYSTERY: Who are Cass and Eve really? Why are they being hunted? What happened to their memories? And why does Rick desperately need book two RIGHT NOW? • THE PACING & POVs: We discuss the gradual worldbuilding, the action sequences, the dual perspectives, and whether we wanted more answers sooner or were happy to let the mystery unfold. • THE ROMANCE: Remember, this is Romantasy Roundtable. So naturally, we need to discuss the romance situation. Is there spice? Absolutely not. Are there cute teenage flirting vibes? A little! Our official rating: a zero with a smiley face. • THE FINAL VERDICT: Kim gives it 4 stars, Rick gives it 5, and we're averaging out to 4.5 stars. We talk about what worked, what could improve, and why we're already invested in the next installment. So, is The First Stone worth adding to your TBR? We think so! Come hang out with Rick and Kim as we discuss this early read, celebrate a promising debut, and try not to spoil anything while telling you exactly why we're excited about this series. And Robert, if you're listening… we're still figuring out how to pronounce your last name. Please help us out. Check out The First Stone's website for more information about the world, the magic, and the author's bonus content. You can also look into preordering through Target, Amazon, or your local bookstore. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you at the Roundtable!

ROMANTASY ROUNDTABLE: HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW — CRESCENT CITY 3 We made it through 952 pages of House of Flame and Shadow… and somehow we're still standing. Amanda is missing because she had the audacity to be getting married instead of finishing Crescent City 3, so Rick and Kim are left to tackle the entire Maasverse chaos on their own. And when we say chaos, we mean THE MAASVERSE HAS ARRIVED. Bryce accidentally portals herself into Prythian, meets some VERY familiar faces, discovers that the Starborn legacy is considerably more complicated than she thought, and learns that Truth-Teller and the Starsword/Gwydion are basically magical long-lost twins. Meanwhile, Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian are being tortured by the Asteri, Lydia is playing approximately 47 games of 4D chess, and the lore dump just keeps coming. And then there’s the tiny little matter of Thea, Silene, the Daglan, the Asteri, the Dread Trove, the origins of the Fae, 15,000 years of interdimensional history, and exactly how all of this connects to the rest of the Maasverse. No big deal. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT: • BRYCE IN PRYTHIAN: The crossover we've been waiting for! Bryce meets Nesta, Azriel, and the gang, and suddenly Crescent City becomes VERY relevant to ACOTAR. • THE STAR SWORD + TRUTH-TELLER: Why do these weapons recognize each other? What does Thea have to do with them? And why does this connection potentially matter for future ACOTAR books? • THEA'S HORRIFYING LEGACY: Bryce discovers that her beloved Starborn ancestors were… perhaps not exactly the heroes she imagined. Conquest, slavery, betrayal, and some seriously uncomfortable family history. • THE ASTERI ARE WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT: The Drop, the parasite in Midgard's water, their history across worlds, and the horrifying realization that they've been doing this for a VERY long time. • SILENE & THE DUSK COURT: The Night Court bloodline gets connected to the Starborn legacy, and Rick is VERY excited about what that means. • NESTA GETS HER GIRLBOSS MOMENT: Vesperus learns the hard way that Nesta is not here for negotiations. • HUNT, RUHN & BAXIAN'S TORTURE: Wings get severed, powers get harvested, and things get DARK. Meanwhile, Lydia has to stand there and pretend she doesn't care while secretly playing the longest con in existence. • LYDIA + RUHN: Betrayal, sacrifice, children, double-agent chaos, and one of the relationships that absolutely carried this book for us. • JESSA & THE GREAT LIBRARY: 15,000 years of guilt, the value of knowledge, an underground library, and one of the most emotional character arcs in the entire book. • ETHAN & THE SECRET SIDE QUEST: Was this entire storyline necessary? We have thoughts. • THE PRIME: Ethan finally gets his moment, gains magic, and somehow becomes exactly what everyone needed him to become. • THE HELL ARMY + THE FALLEN: The dead rise, mech suits get possessed, old friends return, and the final battle goes completely off the rails. • BRYCE'S BLACK HOLE: Star Sword + Truth-Teller + Bryce + SPACE. That's really all we're going to say. • THE ENDING: Bryce dies. Jessa makes the ultimate sacrifice. Danica returns for one final emotional gut punch. The books are inherited. The Asteri are gone. The Pegasus are back. And Bryce returns the Star Sword to Nesta. AND THE BIG QUESTION: How important is Crescent City actually going to be for the next ACOTAR books? Do you really need to read 3,000+ pages of Crescent City to understand what's coming… or can you just watch Avengers and hope for the best? Come hang out with Rick and Kim as we attempt to shove the entire Maasverse into one episode, argue about Bryce, celebrate Ruhn, defend Nesta, question Ethan's entire existence, and attempt to make sense of Sarah J. Maas's increasingly unhinged interconnected universe. And yes… Amanda was absolutely banned from this episode.

CRESCENT CITY 2: HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH | CROISSANT 2, ELECTRIC BOOGALOO | Romantasy Roundtable WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE MULTIVERSE. And apparently the best way to explain 800+ pages of murder, rebellion, space vampires, magical batteries, morally questionable queens, mind-sex, and 15,000-year-old conspiracies is… THE JETSONS MEET THE FLINTSTONES. In this episode of Romantasy Roundtable, Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly dive into Sarah J. Maas’s House of Sky and Breath, the second book in the Crescent City series. And yes, we have NOTES. So many notes. Enough notes to apparently fill 38,000 pages. We’re talking Bryce trying desperately to have a normal life, Hunt and Bryce finally embracing the mating bond, Rune and Day’s absolutely fantastic slow-burn romance, Danica’s MANY secrets, the Asteri being interdimensional energy vampires, and the ending that finally connects Crescent City to the Maasverse in the most “HOLY SHIT, THOSE ARE OUR PEOPLE” way possible. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT: • Bryce trying to have a normal life… LOL. Absolutely not. • Bryce’s growing responsibility and whether she’s actually becoming a leader • Bryce and Hunt’s relationship, the mating bond, and whether they actually earned it • The best soup in the book: Rune and Day having SEX IN THEIR MINDS • Rune going from “Bryce’s hot brother” to one of the most interesting characters in the book • The reveal that Day is the Hind • Lydia/Hind and the morality of fighting a brutal system from the inside • Cormac: hot, annoying, complicated… and ultimately VERY dead • Ethan finding a new family with Rune, Flynn, Declan, and Theon — aka the frat house for emotionally damaged supernatural men • Theon being an absolute f*****g idiot and somehow repeatedly escaping one magical contract by signing another • The Viper Queen and why we absolutely do NOT trust her… but also kind of do • ARIADNE. THE DRAGON. • First Light and the horrifying truth about how the Asteri harvest the energy of their citizens • SECOND LIGHT — because apparently the Asteri weren’t done being horrifying after death • The Asteri revealed as interdimensional space vampires harvesting entire worlds • Pivian, other worlds, and the massive implications for the Maasverse • Danica’s secrets and why Bryce discovering she barely knew her best friend is devastating • Sophie and Emil, the Thunderbird mystery, and whether their storyline actually paid off • The morally gray rebellion and the question of whether “the good guys” are actually good • The history of Midgard being propaganda written by the victors • Dusk’s Truth, the mysterious Dusk Court theory, and Amanda planting her Maasverse red string board • Bryce’s powers, the Horn, gates, rifts, teleportation, and why her magic might be about ACCESS rather than light • The theory that the gates in Crescent City connect to the gates in Throne of Glass • WHY IS HUNT’S POWER SO COMPATIBLE WITH BRYCE?! • The Asteri controlling everyone by keeping every faction fighting everyone else • Bryce infiltrating the Asteri palace and discovering the truth • Hunt, Rune, Lydia, Baxian, and the absolute chaos of the final confrontation • Bryce grabbing the Star Sword, opening a rift, and YEETING HERSELF THROUGH A PORTAL • And then… THE ACOTAR INNER CIRCLE. And then we have to discuss THE ENDING. Rick had the full “HOLY SHIT” reaction. Kimberly didn’t even get to experience it properly because Rick insisted on reading the final scene to her. And Amanda… well, Amanda had been waiting for the famous Maasverse pizza and discovered that the pizza was, in fact, just pizza. Basically, everyone told Amanda: “You HAVE to finish Crescent City 2. Something HUGE happens.” Something huge happened. It was people from ACOTAR. Amanda: “THAT’S IT?! I HAVE TO READ ANOTHER 865 PAGES?!” We also debate whether House of Sky and Breath actually delivers on its massive lore setup, whether Sarah J. Maas has simply created Too Many F*****g Characters™, and whether the multiverse connection makes the Asteri threat infinitely more interesting. FINAL RATING: 4 stars / 3.5 soup (And yes, Rick was literally riding an Icelandic pony while we figured this out.) SPOILERS: This episode contains FULL SPOILERS for House of Sky and Breath and major Maasverse/ACOTAR discussion. If you haven't finished the book, GO READ IT FIRST! HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH Sarah J. Maas Crescent City #2 Next up: HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW. Then Threshing Day. Then our MASSIVE Maasverse red-string prediction episode. And then… ACOTAR 6. If you enjoyed the episode, PLEASE LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a comment! And most importantly… WAS THE ACOTAR CAMEO WORTH 800+ PAGES OF QUESTIONS?! Find us everywhere: Instagram & TikTok: @RomantasyRoundtable Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Episode Title: Crescent City Pt. 1: House of Earth and Blood! Hawaiian Pizza, Vacuum Cleaners, & Lehabah's Sacrifice! Description: Grab your Baja Blast and order a questionable Hawaiian pie from the corner store, Rose Buds, because we are officially entering Crescent City! With Amanda getting married in less than a week, the Romantasy Roundtable squad is pre-recording an epic three-part deep dive into Sarah J. Maas's most chaotic, divisive, and action-packed series to date. Rick, Amanda, and Kim are breaking down House of Earth and Blood from start to finish! From Rick's legendary pizza theory (ACOTAR is Domino's, Throne of Glass is authentic Italian wood-fired, and Crescent City is NYC pineapple pizza) to Kim's frantic 45-second recap, we tackle every wild piece of Lunathion lore. We are talking four bureaucratic houses, Hebrew angels, cell phones, Magitech labs, the frat-house glory of Ruhn Danaan and the boys, and why Syrinx the lion-pug chimera is the greatest little guy in fantasy. Plus, we walk through the brutal murder of Danica and the Pack of Devils, Hunt Athlar's tragic enslavement, Micah's livestreamed downfall, and the ultimate tearjerker: Lehabah's unforgettable sacrifice. Pack your bags for Midgard and get ready for pure, unhinged romantasy yapping! Key Highlights & What The Squad Said: • The SJM Pizza Analogy: Rick explains why ACOTAR is reliable Domino's, Throne of Glass is a Michelin-star Italian brick-oven pizza, and Crescent City is Hawaiian pizza with pineapple—some people think it's brilliant, others want it slapped out of their face! • Kim's 45-Second Book Speedrun: Kim attempts to recap an 800-page fantasy epic in 45 seconds, shouting about Danica's death, Micah the Archangel, and Bryce sucking up the villain's demonic ashes with a vacuum cleaner! • Midgard Lore & Bureaucracy Overload: The squad breaks down the four houses, the Asteri, the SPQM slave branding, the First Light power grid, and why the Malakim angels have Amanda giving Hebrew language lessons. • Danica, Connor, & The Pack of Devils: Bryce's party-girl world is shattered when her bestie Danica and the entire Pack of Devils are brutally slaughtered. Rick and Kim re-ignite the debate over whether Taylor Swift's Ruin the Friendship is about Bryce and Connor or Aelin and Sam Cortland! • Grumpy / Grumpy Buddy Cops: Fast-forward 22 months: Bryce is paired with Hunt Athlar (the Umbra Mortis). Between stakeouts, panic attacks, and feeding Hunt junk food, the two realize they understand each other's trauma on a molecular level. • Ruhn Danaan & The Frat Boys: Introducing Crown Prince Ruhn Danaan (the star-sword wielding chosen one with a side-shave and lip ring) alongside Declan Emmett and Tristan Flynn, living in an actual frat house swinging from chandeliers. • Syrinx & Lehabah Steal Our Hearts: Syrinx the chimera teleports around biting Hunt's ass, while Lehabah the fire sprite watches reality TV (Fangs and Bangs!) and wins everyone's heart. • The Synth Sting & Betrayal: Hunt secretly plots to steal the military stimulant Synth to restart the rebellion. When the sting goes wrong, Sandriel flogs him and cuts off his wings, forcing Ruhn to invoke Fae law to save Bryce from financial ruin. • Lehabah's Legendary Final Words: Micah traps Bryce in the gallery and drops Syrinx into a tank with a terrifying Nøkk. Lehabah unleashes her unbridled fire magic to shatter the glass, giving her life with the unforgettable words: "My friends are with me, and I am not afraid." • Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Justice: Bryce shoots Micah with the Godslayer rifle, burns his body, and literally vacuums up his demonic remains while all the city rulers watch live on camera! • The Drop & "Light It Up, Bitch": Danica tattooed Luna's Horn onto Bryce's back! Bryce rides her scooter into the fray, plunges into the bedrock of Midgard alone, and Danica anchors her soul from across the veil. Hunt catches her as their powers merge to incinerate every demon in Lunathion! • Sunball Debate & Final Ratings: What even is Sunball? Rugby? Baseball? Blitzball? Amanda rates the book 3.5 stars, Kim gives 3.5 stars, and Rick crowns it 4 stars (and a full 5 stars on reread!). Plus, the squad awards 1.5 cans of soup for that steamy appetizer scene! Closing & Call-To-Action: Where do you stand on Crescent City—do you love the Hawaiian pizza or do the cell phones take you out of the fantasy? Did Lehabah's sacrifice make you sob? Drop your hot takes in the comments below! Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel on YouTube and Spotify, and follow us on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and the Year app. Got theories or want to chat with the crew? Email us at [email protected]! See you next week for House of Sky and Breath!

Episode Title: ACOTAR Book Rankings: ACOMAF Wins, Silver Flames Chaos & the Christmas Special! Description: Welcome back to the Romantasy Roundtable! In this special ACOTAR episode, Rick, Amanda, and Kim rank all five books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series in anticipation of ACOTAR 6! From the gateway-to-romantasy magic of A Court of Thorns and Roses to the emotional chaos of A Court of Silver Flames, we're debating which book deserves the crown—and apparently using cover colors because nobody can remember the titles. There are strong opinions, immediate disagreements, Star Wars references, soup, and one very important question: how much shopping is too much shopping? We revisit Feyre's journey, Rhysand's transformation, the Tamlin twist, the war, the Valkyries, Nesta's redemption, Cassian's backstory, and the infamous Chapter 55 soup scene. Plus, we discuss why A Court of Silver Flames is simultaneously a five-star book and, according to Amanda, a zero-star experience whenever Rhysand and Feyre show up. Key Topics Discussed: • The ACOTAR Book Ranking: We rank A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames from worst to best—and yes, the rankings get spicy. • #5: A Court of Frost and Starlight: The Christmas special gets absolutely roasted. Rick's first read was four stars; the reread dropped it to three. Amanda reminds us that the book is basically everyone shopping for Christmas presents, while the part that actually matters is Cassian flying over the mountain and remembering his mother. • #4: A Court of Thorns and Roses: The original gateway into romantasy! We talk about the Beauty and the Beast setup, Amarantha's unforgettable presence, and why this book is important even if the later books are stronger. • #3: A Court of Wings and Ruin: The war-heavy installment may be less memorable for some of us, but the beginning and ending still hit. Feyre infiltrating the Spring Court, creepy twins, Amarantha's legacy, the King of Hybern's death, and Nesta's legendary throat-ripping moment all get their due. • #2: A Court of Silver Flames: Nesta, Cassian, the Valkyries, and SOUP. We talk about why this book has so much going for it—and why the Rhysand/Feyre pregnancy storyline is the one thing holding it back for Amanda and Kim. • #1: A Court of Mist and Fury: The unanimous favorite for Amanda and Kim, and nearly the top choice for Rick. We discuss Feyre's transformation, the expansion of the ACOTAR world, the Rhysand twist, the mating bond reveal, and that unforgettable line: “There you are. I've been looking for you.” • The Chapter 55 Soup Scene: It wouldn't be an ACOTAR ranking without talking about the soup. Rick still considers it one of the defining moments of the series, and we are absolutely not afraid of the soup. • Rhysand Gets Knocked Off the Pedestal: We debate the difference between loving a character and approving of everything they do. Does Silver Flames give us a more complete picture of Rhysand, or did Sarah J. Maas take things too far? • Nesta's Redemption Changes Everything: Rick explains why Silver Flames completely changed his view of Nesta after initially hating her. We discuss hitting rock bottom, growth, redemption, and whether the series is showing us that nobody is truly irredeemable. • What Comes Next for ACOTAR?: We speculate about the future of the series, including the possibility of multiple perspectives, characters working through betrayals, and whether Feyre and Rhysand will actually have to confront what happened in Silver Flames. Closing/Call-to-Action: What is YOUR ACOTAR book ranking? Is A Court of Mist and Fury the undisputed champion, or are you defending Silver Flames, Wings and Ruin, or even the Christmas special? How much did Silver Flames change your opinion of Rhysand and Nesta? Drop your rankings in the comments! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow us on Goodreads and StoryGraph. Got an ACOTAR hot take or want to argue with Rick about soup? Email us at [email protected]! And get ready for Romantasy Fall 2026—because apparently we're all booked.

THE KNAVE AND THE MOON — Chapters 16–30 | HOW DID IT END?! | Romantasy Roundtable WE MADE IT TO THE END. And somehow we went from “haha funny gargoyle in a pink robe” to earthquakes, forest fires, royal coups, martyrdom, death, resurrection, and a gargoyle who might literally be becoming a storytelling god. In this episode of Romantasy Roundtable, Rick, Amanda, and Kimberly finish Rachel Gillig’s The Knave and the Moon, the second book in the Stonewater Kingdom duology, covering Chapters 16 through 30. And yes… there are A LOT of feelings. We’re talking about Bartholomew being the absolute MVP, Benji spiraling further into madness, Rory and Cybil’s relationship, the truth behind the sacred spring and the Tour, and the increasingly unhinged ways Rachel Gillig manages to make us love these characters before absolutely DESTROYING US. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT: • Rory putting Benji in his place… and why that definitely comes back to bite him • Bartholomew. In. The. Pink. Robe. • The lore behind sprites, gargoyles, stone, and the Stonewater Kingdom • Rory and Cybil’s reunion, romance, and some VERY important “soup” • Cybil’s determination to sacrifice herself and whether the book gives that storyline enough emotional weight • Benji’s increasingly unhinged descent into villainy • The tournament of champions and Bartholomew absolutely DOMINATING • Hamlin Fischer being exactly as awful as we expected • The forest fire, the deaths, and Bartholomew’s heartbreaking sacrifice • The truth about the Tour and the ancient sprite beneath it • Bartholomew’s relationship with the children of the kingdom — prepare yourselves • Cybil giving Bartholomew a surname and WHY IT IS SO DAMN SWEET • Rory’s love confession • The return of the sheepkin rug™ • Ma Bower becoming king… and then THAT happening • The final duel between Cybil and Benji • Benji’s final fate and why Rick actually felt bad for the little bastard • Bartholomew’s death… • THE ENDING. THE ENDING. THE ENDING. • The beautiful final chapters and the idea that stories change every time they’re told • Whether the entire Stonewater Kingdom duology could actually be one of Bartholomew’s retellings • Our final ratings: 5 Stars and TWO SOUPS We also talk about why The Knave and the Moon made us appreciate The Knight and the Moth even MORE, how Rachel Gillig manages to blend romance, fantasy, darkness, whimsy, and almost Disney-movie-level storytelling, and why this duology feels like two halves of one complete story. And, naturally, we have to discuss Bartholomew’s impeccable vocabulary, including his truly elite use of the word “bitch.” Plus: Rick gives another shoutout to Robert Biehn’s The First Stone, Kimberly continues reading it, Amanda is apparently planning a wedding instead of reading, and we reveal what’s coming next on Romantasy Roundtable! SPOILERS: This episode contains FULL SPOILERS for The Knave and the Moon AND The Knight and the Moth. If you haven’t finished the duology, GO READ IT FIRST! THE KNAVE AND THE MOON Rachel Gillig Stonewater Kingdom #2 If you enjoyed the episode, PLEASE LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a comment! Tell us what YOU thought of the ending, whether you saw the twists coming, and most importantly… DID BARTHOLOMEW DESERVE THIS MUCH PAIN?! Find us everywhere: Instagram & TikTok: @RomantasyRoundtable Email: [email protected]

Description: Welcome back, Rose Buds! After conquering Kingdom of Ash and cleansing our palettes with Heartstopper, and ACOTAR reactions, the Romantasy Roundtable is officially kicking off spooky fantasy season with Rachel Gillig's brand-new release, The Knave on the Moon (Chapters 1 through 15)! Rick, Amanda, and Kim are back in the studio diving into the first half of the epic Stonewater Kingdom duology conclusion. But before we get to our favorite one-winged stone bat, we have got to tackle the critical news: Taco Bell bringing back the Choco Taco, Kim consuming an entire birthday chocolate cake in 48 hours, Rick confusing Eleanor Roosevelt with Marie Antoinette during the Great Depression, and our brand-new official partnership with the Yearn app! Plus, Rick gives early love to an incredible ARC fantasy, The First Stone by Robert Biehn. Then, it is straight into the gothic, eerie world of Erilea meets gothic folklore as Sybil Delling and an amnesiac Rory Mandacius fight their way through King Benedict III's corrupt Five Hamlet Tournament. Grab your mild sauce, put on your fluffiest pink thrift-flower gown, and let us dive into the madness! Key Highlights & What The Squad Said: • Taco Bell & Marie Antoinette History Lessons: Rick celebrates the return of the Choco Taco (aka Churro Taco) and claims Eleanor Roosevelt said "Let them eat cake" during the Great Depression, while Kim celebrates her birthday with an entire grocery store chocolate cake. • ARC Spotlight - The First Stone: Rick and Kim gush over an early ARC of The First Stone by Robert Biehn, describing it as Mistborn meets Avatar: The Last Airbender with elemental magic, fantastic pacing, and clean YA worldbuilding edited by the editor of Red Rising. • Prologue Lore - The Cosmic Maiden Buffet: The squad breaks down the creepy mythological prologue where mortals devour an all-knowing cosmic maiden in the Fields of Broograss, forcing her into an eternal slumber of minor tunes that mirrors the looming plot. • Sybil Trapped & Benji Barlow's Forced Wedding: Sybil wakes in Castle Lurch, attempts to strangle King Benji Barlow, and ruins her silk bridal gown with rancid Oxeye sedative before tree sprites crash the sham ceremony. • Rory's Amnesia & Jason Bourne Reflexes: Rory wakes up covered in blood on the Tor with zero memories, gets tackled by Ma Bower, and learns he technically died. Rick compares Rory's instinctual combat hammer skills to Jason Bourne. • Bartholomew is the GOAT of Little Guys: The one-winged stone gargoyle returns in all his unhinged glory, complaining about wool slippers, rocking a pink thrift-flower gown, dropping iconic quotes ("What an arduous process as it is to wait"), and being the absolute goat of sidekicks. • The Five Hamlet Tournament & Eye-Eating Birks: Benji sets up a traveling tournament across the hamlets to flex his stolen stone relics, while the squad faces off against terrifying eyeball-eating Burks in the Chiming Wood. • The Living Sixth Relic: Sybil realizes the prophecies were manufactured, but she herself is the living sixth magical relic, setting her mission to enter the games, destroy every stone object, and kill the king. • The Loomstone Heist & Rory Remembers: At the Coulson Fair lists, Ma Bower shatters her jousting lance against the royal box, allowing Rory to snatch the Loomstone from Torie Basset's neck. His memories flood back: foundling origins, King Benedict I, and his undying love for Sybil. • The Melee & The Knave Unmasked: Dedric Lang beats Sybil's abdominal wound with steel-toed boots, but the mysterious Nave enters the arena with a stonemason's hammer and Sybil's silk scrap, snapping Dedric's wrist and unmasking himself as Rory! • Intimate Blood Divination: In the secret canal factory, Rory fakes amnesia in front of a drunk, paranoid Benji. Sybil grants him his champion's divination, hungrily taking spring-water-infused blood from his finger as Rory whispers their private sacred vow. • The Library Collapse & Pink Robe Rescue: An earthquake crumbles the Harried Scribe's library, Sybil smashes the inkwell relic, and as she nearly drowns in the freezing Tenner River, Bartholomew in his pink robe pulls her from the depths ("There you are, Bartholomew!"). • Disney Princess Hunger Games Debate: Rick derails the pod with a rapid-fire Disney Princess Hunger Games debate: Mulan vs Merida vs Jasmine (with Elsa disqualified for being a queen!). Closing & Call-To-Action: Are you terrified for Bartholomew's crumbling stone wing? Can Sybil reverse her calcified body? Drop your wildest theories in the comments below! Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel wherever you watch or listen, and find us on Instagram, TikTok, and the Year app. Got book recommendations or want to reach out? Email us at [email protected]! See you next week as we finish The Knave on the Moon with Chapters 16 through the end!

Episode Title: End of Summer Reading Recap: ACOTAR, Crescent City, Kingdom of Ash & Romantasy Bingo! Description: Welcome back to the Romantasy Roundtable! Rick, Amanda, and Kim are wrapping up the summer with an End of Summer Reading Recap! We’re looking back at what we read, what we loved, what made us rage, our biggest surprises, our worst reads, and what’s coming for Romantasy Fall 2026. And yes, there is an absolutely unreasonable amount of Sarah J. Maas discussion. This summer was basically Rick’s Maasverse Summer. He reread ACOTAR, dove into Crescent City, revisited Throne of Glass and Kingdom of Ash, and finished his 21st book with Crescent City 3. Rereading ACOTAR completely changed his character rankings, with Nesta going from “I f*****g hate Nesta” to Rick’s new favorite character. Naturally, this led directly into our ACOTAR Top 10 episode. Key Topics Discussed: • Summer Reading Stats: Kim read 9 books and was aiming for 10, Amanda read 25 with two more planned before Labor Day for 27 books and nearly 13,000 pages, while Rick finished 21 books and roughly 10,500–11,000 pages. • Rick’s Maasverse Deep Dive: ACOTAR, Crescent City, Throne of Glass, Kingdom of Ash, and Heartstopper all made appearances as Rick reread with a new perspective and prepared for ACOTAR 6 and 7. His theme? “The Maasverse.” Of course it was. • Amanda’s Summer of Gold Stars: Amanda completed Ripped Bodice Summer Romance Book Bingo for the second year in a row—with a BLACKOUT! She also finished Goodreads Rewards and admits her theme was basically “I’m stressed out about reading.” • Kim Knows What She Likes: Kim’s favorite read was The Incandescent by Emily Tesh, a dark academia fantasy with queer representation, elder-millennial faculty, and enough “soup” to satisfy the Roundtable. We discuss why it felt like a love letter to educators. • Amanda’s Nostalgia Read: Amanda reread The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, a middle-school favorite, and discovered she relates to Carmen in ways she never could have known at eleven. We also discuss the real-life friendship that inspired her love of the book—and the extremely important Pants symbolism. • Best & Worst Reads: Amanda names Kingdom of Ash her favorite overall read, Rick chooses This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, and Kim picks The Incandescent. Rick gives Throne in the Dark: Villains & Virtues three stars, Amanda chooses Ladies in Hiding, and Kim’s “worst” is Heartstopper 6—not because she disliked it, but because she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her sons. • Favorite Characters: Rick chooses Nesta because she made him furious before completely winning him over. Kim picks the Kingdom of Ash characters she can’t stop thinking about. Amanda has a very different answer—and naturally, it involves a sexy Loch Ness monster. • The Thirteen: Nobody can stop thinking about the Thirteen after Kingdom of Ash. We revisit one of the most devastating moments in Throne of Glass and why those characters have stayed with us. • Unexpected Romances & Tropes: Amanda fell in love with Feverdream by Elsie Silver and discovered that maybe she DOES like cowboy romance… if Elsie Silver writes it. We also talk bisexual representation, the portal/Isekai trope, and books that surprised us. • Romantasy vs. Fantasy: We discuss why we love “romantasy” while also acknowledging criticism that the label can diminish excellent fantasy because its audience is predominantly female. Throne of Glass is not just romantasy. It is GOOD fantasy. • ACOTAR 6 Is Coming: We’re looking ahead to the next era of the podcast with Crescent City, Maasverse predictions, listener theories, and ACOTAR 6. The conspiracy board is officially open. Closing/Call-to-Action: What did YOU read this summer? What was your favorite book, biggest surprise, worst read, or favorite character? Did you finish a reading challenge? What are you most excited to read this fall? Drop your recommendations and hot takes in the comments! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow us on Goodreads and StoryGraph. Got an ACOTAR 6 theory, Maasverse conspiracy, or book recommendation? Email us at [email protected]! The Name of the Moon is coming, Romantasy Fall 2026 is officially here, and apparently we’re all booked.

Episode Title: ACOTAR Top 10 Characters: Cassian Supremacy, Tamlin Justice & the Miniature Pegasus! Description: Welcome back to the Romantasy Roundtable! Rick, Amanda, and Kim are taking a break from chapter-by-chapter chaos to rank their Top 10 favorite characters from all five ACOTAR books! And naturally, this turns into Cassian supremacy, Rick's ongoing Tamlin apology tour, zero Elain representation, and a very serious debate about the miniature Pegasus. We revisit the characters who made us laugh, cry, rage, and rethink the entire series after rereading A Court of Thorns and Roses through A Court of Silver Flames. From Nesta's redemption arc and Cassian's boyfriend-of-the-year credentials to Lucien getting criminally underrated, Amren being an ancient badass, Azriel needing some serious "Azriel soup," and the Suriel's devastating final moments, we're putting the entire ACOTAR cast on trial. We also debate Rhysand's ranking after Silver Flames, Mor's missing backstory and undeniable ginger energy, Bryaxis just wanting a window, and why none of us could find a spot for Elain. Sorry, Elain. Key Topics Discussed: • Cassian Takes the Crown: Amanda and Kim rank Cassian #1, while Rick gives him #2. We discuss his loyalty, humor, badassery, authenticity, and why the Bat Boys desperately need his levity. • Rick's Tamlin Apology Tour: Tamlin and Rhysand are tied on Rick's list after the reread. Amanda and Kim would like the record to show that this officially makes Rick a Tamlin apologist. • Nesta's Redemption Arc: Rick ranks Nesta #1, Amanda puts her at #4, and Kim is still waiting for the Nesta train to arrive. We discuss trauma, addiction, the Valkyries, and why Nesta's story proves that people can change. • Rhysand vs. Tamlin: Has Silver Flames changed how we see the two High Lords? We revisit control, forgiveness, the pregnancy storyline, and whether either of them gets a free pass. • Azriel, the Shadow Daddy: Amanda ranks Azriel #3 while Rick and Kim place him lower. We talk about his growth, his brooding personality, and our desperate need for more Azriel backstory. • Lucien Deserves Better: Rick puts Lucien at #5 and argues that the fox-boy has spent the entire series taking everyone's crap while still showing up for everyone else. • Amren, the Ancient Badass: Why does this tiny jewel-hoarding menace rank so highly? We discuss her mystery, her tough love toward Nesta, and the backstory we desperately want. • The Suriel Still Hurts: The Suriel makes multiple lists thanks to its wisdom, sacrifice, and unforgettable final scene. Sometimes you don't realize how much you love a character until they die. • Mor Needs a Love Story: Rick ranks Mor #7 and Amanda #5. We love her resilience and cheerful energy, but we NEED more of her backstory—and Amanda still insists she should be a redhead. • The Weird Ones Win: Kim's list includes the Water Wraiths and Bryaxis, because apparently ancient creepy beings with simple emotional needs are exactly her type. Bryaxis just wants a window! • The Miniature Pegasus Debate: Amanda's #10 is a miniature Pegasus. We have questions. You have questions. Where does the tiny horse rank in YOUR Top 10? • Elain Is Missing: None of us ranked Elain. Is she secretly being saved for something huge, or is "boring" simply worse than "evil"? We discuss. Closing/Call-to-Action: Who is YOUR #1 ACOTAR character? Are you Team Cassian, Team Nesta, Team Azriel, or ready to join Rick's Tamlin apology tour? How mad are you that Rhysand and Tamlin tied? Who did we criminally underrate—and where do you rank the miniature Pegasus? Drop your Top 10 in the comments! Like and subscribe on YouTube, and follow us on Goodreads and StoryGraph. Got an ACOTAR hot take or want to defend Tamlin with Rick? Email us at [email protected]! Next week: we're ranking all five ACOTAR books in real time!

Episode Title: ACOTAR 6 & 7 REACTIONS: New Covers, Koschei, Stygian Spiders & What Was Broken Will Be Remade?! Description: Sarah J. Maas really said, “Here, take TWO books,” and the Romantasy Roundtable immediately stopped its vacation plans to scream about it! Rick, Amanda, and Kim are back for an emergency ACOTAR bonus—sorry, FILLER—episode after SJM dropped the titles, covers, page counts, and blurbs for A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody! ACOTAR 6 is 352 pages, ACOTAR 7 is a MASSIVE 896 pages, and we are officially entering the Valkyrie Cycle with movements one, two, and three... plus a mysterious fourth book still to come?! We break down what this new era of ACOTAR might look like and why the wildly different page counts have us wondering exactly how these books are structured. Then we go FULL conspiracy board on those covers. The first gives us bones, fire, fangs, destruction, renewal, and approximately one million questions. Meanwhile, the second has Rick spiraling because if that is a STYGIAN SPIDER, everyone can get... well, you know. We also dissect Koschei the Deathless, the Night Court's “recent betrayals and revealed truths,” and the former alliances they need to resurrect. Naturally, Rick immediately decides this means TAMLIN REDEMPTION ARC, BABY. Amanda and Kim are... less convinced. And then there's the MUSIC. Splintered Harmony. Forgotten Melody. The Valkyrie Cycle. Movements. The Harp. The Dread Trove. Rick starts connecting musical language and recurring art themes throughout the Maasverse—and admits he has a bigger theory he isn't quite ready to share yet. Plus, we debate whether ACOTAR is about to go full Throne of Glass with an ensemble cast, who the romances of the Valkyrie Cycle might be, whether Rick is ever going to stop complaining about the Valkyrie plot being “too convenient,” and why apparently the money's in the smut, baby. Key Topics Discussed: • ACOTAR 6 & 7 Are Official: Our immediate reactions to the titles, covers, blurbs, and SJM casually dropping two books on us. • The INSANE Page Counts: Why 352 pages for A Court of Splintered Harmony and 896 pages for A Court of Forgotten Melody have us questioning how this story is structured. • Welcome to the Valkyrie Cycle: What do “movements” mean, why is there a mysterious fourth book, and how does A Court of Silver Flames bridge us into this new era? • Koschei the Deathless: Rick refreshes Amanda and Kim on the ancient being, his connection to the Bone Carver and the Weaver, and Vassa's curse. • Bones, Fire & Fangs: Our wildly speculative breakdown of the ACOTAR 6 cover and whether its imagery connects to destruction, renewal, or ancient beings. • THE STYGIAN SPIDER THEORY: Is the A Court of Forgotten Melody cover teasing creatures from another world?! Rick is NOT emotionally prepared. • Harmony, Melody & the Harp: We connect the musical titles and Valkyrie “movements” to the Harp, the Dread Trove, and recurring art themes across the Maasverse. • Tamlin's Redemption Arc?!: Rick hears “betrayals,” “former alliances,” and “find a way back to each other” and somehow concludes that TAMLIN IS BACK. • Who Is This Story About?: Is this a Night Court ensemble story with perspectives scattered everywhere? And most importantly... WHO ARE THE COUPLES?! • The Valkyrie Debate: Rick loves A Court of Silver Flames but still thinks becoming Valkyries happened a little too conveniently. Amanda strongly disagrees. • Gwynriel, Mor + Emerie & Redemption: We discuss ships, possible pairings, and why SJM has proven she can completely change our minds about characters. • Bonus Episode or Filler Episode?: Rick refuses to call this bonus content because apparently we're doing Dragon Ball Z comparisons now. Closing/Call-to-Action: What do YOU think the new ACOTAR covers mean? Is that a Stygian spider? Is Tamlin getting a redemption arc, or is Rick completely delusional? And WHO ARE THE COUPLES?! Drop your theories in the comments below! Don't forget to like, subscribe on YouTube, and follow us on Goodreads and StoryGraph. Got book recommendations, ACOTAR theories, or a Dragon Ball Z membership application for Rick's very lonely Venn diagram? Email us at [email protected]! See you next time for more completely legitimate “filler” content!

Title: Heartstopper Volumes 1-6: Cozy Palette Cleansers, Wrestling Rants, & Queer Sons! Description: After 24 weeks of fantasy carnage in Throne of Glass, the Romantasy Roundtable squad needed a cozy, wholesome palette cleanser! Rick, Amanda, and Kim are back to yap about Alice Oseman’s beloved graphic novel series, Heartstopper (Volumes 1 through 6). But before diving into Nick and Charlie’s sweet romance, Rick opens the pod with a full-blown WWE SummerSlam rant thanks to an awesome email from listener Jamie Daws in Sydney! We talk Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens breaking his neck and coming back, Chad Gable winning singles gold, Rick’s Italian soccer jersey and Knicks fitted cap, and the most emotional book moments that made us sob (Atmosphere, Kingdom of Ash, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close!). Then we jump straight into the heartwarming, deeply real YA graphic novel world of Nick and Charlie! Key Topics & What The Squad Said: • SummerSlam & WWE Rants: Jamie Daws asks about Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns, leading Rick into a passionate breakdown of Kevin Owens' comeback, Chad Gable's title win, and how wrestling seasons never actually end. • The Most Emotional Book Moments: Jamie shares Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings, Amanda praises Atmosphere for making her cry through 85% of the book, and Rick brings up the 13 in Kingdom of Ash. • Volume 1 - The Meet Cute & Ben Hope Sucks: Charlie Spring gets recruited to rugby by Nick Nelson, drops Ben Hope's toxic ass, and shares a magical first kiss with Nick at a party before Nick panics into the snow. Rick & Amanda agree: F**k Ben Hope! • Volume 2 - Bisexual Awakening & Rain Kisses: Nick's iconic rain kiss, coming out to his legendary mom (played by Olivia Coleman in the show!), and declaring his love to the ocean. Rick gives Volume 2 a 5-star rating for its high stakes! • Volume 3 - Paris Trip & Everyone Is Gay: The gang takes a school trip to Paris with two chill chaperones (the art teacher and history teacher hooking up!). Elle and Tao kiss, and Nick notices Charlie's eating habits while searching how to help. • Volume 4 - Mental Health & "I Love You" Run: Charlie blurts out "I Love You" while Nick is in the shower and runs away barefoot! Nick's mom reminds him that supporting Charlie doesn't mean it's his job to fix him, offering an incredible portrayal of adolescent mental health. • Volume 5 - University Fears & Intimacy Conversations: Nick visits Leeds and realizes he wants a future there, while he and Charlie navigate sex, boundaries, and what counts as intimacy beyond heteronormative norms. • Volume 6 - Head Boy, Pride Club, & Mutual Support: Charlie wins Head Boy, calls out Truham's bullying culture, and reassures a terrified Nick about his past mental health scares. Mutual strength and reciprocity at its finest! • Kit Connor & Real World Drama: The squad defends Kit Connor from toxic internet fans who bullied him out of the closet, declaring: "Let his silly golden retriever face live!" • Final Ratings & Public Smut Reading: Kim and Amanda give Heartstopper a 5/5 stars, while Rick gives it 4.5/5 stars (a little too cozy, needs more stakes!). Plus, the squad debates reading Crescent City, ACOTAR headboard scenes, and Elsie Silver smut in public. Closing & Call-To-Action: Are you team 5-stars for Heartstopper or do you agree with Rick that it needed a little more drama? Drop your hot takes and favorite emotional book moments in the comments! Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel wherever you listen or watch on YouTube, and follow us on Goodreads and StoryGraph. Got book recs or want to chat wrestling with Rick? Email us at [email protected]! See you next time when we jump back into Crescent City and ACOTAR!