Romantasy Roundtable: Fantasy Romance Reviews

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 RoundtableWE 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 SOUPSWe 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 MOONRachel GilligStonewater Kingdom #2If 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: @RomantasyRoundtableEmail: [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 fucking 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!