Romantasy Roundtable: Fantasy Romance Reviews

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 fucking 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 Fucking 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!