Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / ACOTAR Refresh Books 4 + 5
Transcript
- Cait: Hi. Court: Hi. Cait: Welcome back to season two of Cait and Court's Cozy Corner: Court: Romance Readers. Cait: Where we only talk about books that we love. And we're bringing you all of our favorite romance and romantasy reads because Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: our motto is Court: When people say that you don't need spice to make a book good, well you don't need running shoes to run, but it helps. Caitlin Stryker: And you know the drill, like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcasts. All right, welcome back Courtney: Hi. Caitlin Stryker: we are here today to talk about the Agatr more I feel like we've been talking about it forever. We have for the whole month of January Which is the longest? Courtney: I know we have. Yeah, it's been a long time coming. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah longest month of the year and You know, this is a dense series, but we're gonna be doing book number four a court of frost and starlight which is a little Courtney: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: novella a little holiday novella and book number five Courtney: Yeah, Silver Flames. Caitlin Stryker: Court of Silver Flames, which I have to say, I am so excited to dig into these two books with you, Court, Courtney: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: because I think there's a lot of people, these two aren't really their favorite, especially the blue one, A Court of Frost and Starlight, but then I also know how much you love Cassian, and I have to say that I really... As I went on in the court of Silver Flames, by the end I was like, I loved it. And it started and I was kinda like, and I think I know the reason why for that for me, I'll say it now, but because we switched characters who we're focusing on and for a second I was like. Courtney: Yeah, and no one likes that. No one likes it takes it you have to get used to it. Like no one stayed with me. I mean, when I started it, I was like, yeah, what is this? I like I didn't want that I wanted to still be in my Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: Akita world. I still want to be as fair and reason all of a sudden you're in different people's perspective. Anytime that happens Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: on a show a book like when you kind of pivot. It's always Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: takes a minute to like, readjust. It's just like you have to like settle. Caitlin Stryker: It does, it does, right? You're sort of like, I don't, I mean, I know you haven't read it, but it's so, there's in the Lord of the Rings, there's this part and Gandalf dies. And I just remember being like, I'm done. I'm not reading these anymore. And my mom was like, keep going. Courtney: Yeah, well, even for me, like when I read this the first time and I read it and I liked it like by then but I was like, okay, and then when I did a reread, because Caitlin Stryker: Yeah Courtney: that's what I do with all books that I really like. And even before the podcast, I only did like the first three and like went there and I was like, I'm not gonna go back to Silver Flames. Like I don't need to go back to it. And then a bit later, something's I'm like, okay, on its own, I like went back to it and then I really loved it on the second read. When I knew what I was walking into, when I had like expectations, sorry, my plant's attacking me. Caitlin Stryker: You Courtney: It's drive me nuts. I don't like dress it. Yeah, I'm like, this is just too much. There's like, what is Caitlin Stryker: Especially when something just hits your hair just a little bit, and you're like... Courtney: happening? Now you have to see the ugly part. Okay, anyways, it doesn't matter. Then I really got to enjoy it. And I really got Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: to like, you know, all the shock value of Nessa as we get into it, like when you already know what's coming, then you really get into the details. And like you just get to see kind of the fun and the badass three of it and the women and they're overcoming which you experienced the first time but you really the second time can really enjoy it and see it a little bit more. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: then listen, the fourth, the fourth book, it is a novella. It's the same idea. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: Like you said, it's a holiday like when they do the holiday episode of a show like it is literally Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: meant to help set you up to transport you into that fifth book. Like she wrote it so you could start seeing Cassie's point of view, start seeing Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: Nesta's point of view. So that to try to eliminate some of the shock that still came, but that's literally what it's supposed to be. It's like wrapping up this storyline with a nice little bow and being like, and now we're gonna focus on these characters with some nice spice as it goes, which was delightful Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: and I super enjoyed. But no, no one's gonna Caitlin Stryker: Totally. Courtney: be like a frost of starlight is My favorite ackersar book like that. I'd be like what is wrong with you? Like that's Caitlin Stryker: my favorite half guitar book yeah Courtney: not Caitlin Stryker: but i did i love well i loved it because i saved it for the holidays like i read the first three you know like august Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: september and then i including pretty quickly that it was just a holiday novella, the fourth one. was like, well, I'll save it for December. And I did, just read it this December and I was like, this is so fun. Now I'm back in the Akitar world with these characters that I love. And it's Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Solstice Christmas season for me and it's Solstice Christmas season for them. And I was like, this is just delightful. Cause it went with the time. If I had read it right away after, would have been like, what the, what is this? But reading it in theme, like in line with being in the holidays, it was actually really fun and kind of, yeah. Courtney: Yeah, I mean, even for me outside the holidays, it was fun. Like it was, still like a fun, it's a way when you get to see them relax and they don't have like war over their head, like war or Caitlin Stryker: Totally. Courtney: Tamlin or famine, like they are in a happy place for a moment. It's like a, it's a pause of like, Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: huh, it's a time for them to breathe. Caitlin Stryker: Which we both love. We love the epilogue. We love the like, we Courtney: Yes, yes. Caitlin Stryker: get to see them live in their happily ever after for a moment. Like where nothing happens, you know? And Courtney: Yes. Exactly. Yes. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: I don't know, I guess because once I'm really in, once I'm really a fan of something, I just want to be in the world and I want things to work out for the characters. And then I'm like, I'm just so happy. Yeah, Right? Courtney: Well, yeah, obviously. I've never started booking like, I hope they'll die. And no one gets to fall in love. Caitlin Stryker: would not be your genre if that's what you're going for. Like you're in the wrong section of the bookstore. Courtney: Right? Like, when I read the glass, the bell jar, like the Sylvia Plath, and I was like, this is Caitlin Stryker: Yes! Courtney: just horrible. Like, why am I? Why? Why did I spend the time reading this? Like nothing good has happened in my life from this book. Caitlin Stryker: No, I you know what those sometimes those books are good if you're like if you're in a state like if you're Really really in a in a state. Um, I find that books that are a little bit more depressing that kind of like match where you're at Can kind of then I like them, you know what I mean that I can like stir stew No, it doesn't it sort of does the opposite. I mean if you were that Maybe but Courtney: In that case though, would make you like suicidal. If you were that depressed, if you were in the same as the bell jar, specifically that one. Caitlin Stryker: sometimes it just makes you feel seen you kind of go like oh i'm not Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: alone like every because sometimes when you're in that space you do look around you think everybody else has it together everybody else is like doing great and then they're happy about and they have no problems and so Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: that's where like those kinds of like sad girl lit books can be great if you're in Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: a place if you're really in that place they can actually kind of help you lift out of it because you realize that that's a part of the human experience as well flip side, Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: like I think that's why when things are good, or when things feel way out of our control, you know, and crazy and chaotic, like a lot of our world does these days, it can be nice to have these books to escape into because you're like, fuck, just get me out for a second, like I'm overstimulated, my nervous system is like, frayed and on fire, never gets to chill. And so then you just go into like a romance or a romanticy where the FMC is like, triumphing over evil, you know, we get to have that like release of like you could do something about it, you know, you can like lift up your sword and slay the dragon. Courtney: go. I mean, it's still pulled like even for me sometimes like even doing this for the month like getting when you're in these series that are so big and world building and doing like some it still takes that weight like it's still not the light freedom that like just a pure romance will give you in terms of escape and avoiding it like it gives you that fighter spirit but sometimes like some of her other series that you haven't read, like they do weigh a bit heavier and so Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: Look, the reason I read romance and romance is because I literally do use them to escape because the world is insane and feeling it. And I can't do the sad girl lit even before like I've done it, I've read it, but it's not for Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: me because I find especially with books, even when I'm in that place, books just cut so deep for me. And I Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: being an empathetic person, like a walk in Beth, I just hold it and I can't release it. And so I more Caitlin Stryker: Mmm. Courtney: will go to like music or shows if I'm trying to find something to like match where I'm because I feel like I can still experience it and I can cry and like vent through it. And then I can let it go. But I really carry books, they just a deeper cut. And so I, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: I've learned to protect myself with it. And that's part of why I just read, like we said, the fun romance and lighter experiences that I get to Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: escape. And but even that like this month, and with like, you know, the world being insane, even a quarter thrown a roses at some point, I'm like, okay, I just need to read something else to like buffer even this Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: out. Like I'm so tired of these fucking men trying to run the world and ruin shit. Caitlin Stryker: Right? Courtney: because they're power drives. I'm just like over it. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. So over it. Yeah. Courtney: Which is why it was really nice to jump into again for myself Frost and Starlight, A Court of Frost and Starlight, because, I we should jump into what the actual book's about. It is essentially an epilogue from A Court of Wings and Ruin. So like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, let's do it. Let's talk about book four. Courtney: really Sarah J. Maas, as Kate kind of alluded to in the last podcast, could have cut out. Like that could have been the end of the series, but clearly she wanted Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: to dive into these other characters and build a bit more in the world. So this is kind of, it's taking place a few months after the war has wrapped up everyone's kind of settled in they're gonna have their first winter solstice. It's now like Farah Reese, Elaine, and they're all like living at the townhouse Nesta has gotten this like squalor apartment in velaris and like the shittiest part. Cash in eyes rather tones and everyone's starting to feel a little like overcrowded. like happy and content. They're getting ready to set up and like it starts with like Farah and Cassian getting drunk and trying to like decorate and everyone's like who let Farah and Cassian decorate like it's just like a pile of needles on the floor like they're horrible at it. Asriel tries to like fix the decorations before anyone else gets home. They're just like no like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: it's just it's just it's just really it's about showing their camaraderie and like how close they become as a family and letting them just like have a moment to breathe and like Farah and Reese just having really hot sex and figuring out what their life can Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: be now and like you know, the big moment of this book is essentially she tells him that she's willing to try to get pregnant now, like she's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: ready for it. That's like their main storyline. And we just get a lot of hot sex in between that really for them. And Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: then Nesta, just seeing how she's spiraling, she finally comes and shows up at solstice. She just doesn't want to be around anyone, even Elaine, she Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: even fights with Elaine, like she you can just tell she's at her lowest low. Cassian is trying to like communicate. once finally it's also they haven't talked so after that big epic scene at the end of the last book where like King Herod is about to kill them she lays Caitlin Stryker: Right. Courtney: her body on top of him is like willing to die with him before Elaine stabs him and the king and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: and now they've just gone into radio silence and have not said a word to each other Caitlin Stryker: which was so surprising. Like you don't see that coming, finishing Wings of Rune, you're like, ooh, Courtney: No! Caitlin Stryker: okay. And then you go into this one. Now it tracks, it makes sense, you know, from a character development standpoint that Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: this is the way it goes. But again, as the romance romanticist reader, who's like, let's just get to the good shit. Like, let's just, let's just have everybody be happy all the time. Courtney: Yeah, let's just get past this. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: You're like. Courtney: they're trying to give gifts to Elaine to and Elaine can't like acknowledge him and he's it's Caitlin Stryker: gosh. Yeah. Courtney: just like, it's so heartbreaking. And we forgot to say in the last book to like we have found out Lucien is actually Hellion son, Lucy doesn't know this, but fair like deduced it that he's not actually barren Caitlin Stryker: Yes, yes Courtney: son. So that's gonna be really fun in the next book when they explore that that he's actually like the next in line for a high larks Hellion doesn't have any kids. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: And that his power actually comes from his mother and him and like what that will mean because Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: Elaine obviously is his mate and like where that will grow to will be really Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: interesting to see. There's a little a Caitlin Stryker: It's going to be really interesting to see. Courtney: couple of crumbs in here and a couple of crumbs and silver flames that lead to things that Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: could be in book six that'll be like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: crazy. So he comes by to comes by the house. He's like part of it and talk about Tamlin and how Tamlin is like barely existing and like you know, they're like, you got to talk, you got do something because his borders are just open, anyone can walk in. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: Just kind of spreads that cheer. And it talks about how he's now living with Jury and and Vasa, who is the feather, the burning Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: bird queen that went missing from the human realm. And like the three of them are like the exiled group. And he's really like finding his own found family and friends and Farah Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: gets a little bit testy about this. And she's kind of not very kind about it. Honestly, I don't understand her reaction to why she's so angry that Lucy and his found friends within Vasa and Jurian but she has like a moment. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, that one was weird to me too. It kind of bumped me when I was reading it. was like, what is her issue? Like, this seems Courtney: I know. Why is like, Caitlin Stryker: like a good thing for him. Courtney: I know she's, is it because she just feels like he's part of her family? Like, is it just the own like wanting him to be with her because they've really bonded and then last but like they got a lot closer, even though she's still Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: on some forgiveness things. I don't know, but it seems to bother her, which I don't understand. And Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: essentially is like living with them. And Hamlin so that there's like that storyline happening that we find out he's working with them. And then we find out something's going on in the, you know, in the human world. They're not sure what, but they're worried about the Queens. We just kind of like, Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: no, there's something with the Queens. They're not sure what they're doing, but some kind of rumbling. But otherwise Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: it's like kind of peaceful other than making sure Tamlin's like protecting his courts. And Reese goes and visits Tamlin and he's just this like broken man, broken male, like has no wards on his house anymore. Anyone could win him and kill him. And he thinks he's like possibly waiting for that. And he still can't like Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: let it lie. Like he tries to be the bigger guy, but he still ends up telling him off and basically saying Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: like, you deserve everything that's happened and you deserve to be here and just die. And she never will give you her forgiveness. And kind of leaves it like that, which then when Lucien shows backups is like, yeah, he sent me my clothes. Like he's fully just a beaten man. Like you guys made it worse Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: and you really need to try. And then Reese goes back again and is like, hey, I'll cut up this elk for you. That's just this dead carcass on a Caitlin Stryker: Yes, I know. Courtney: table. Eat. You need to eat. He's like, well, Shepard, forgive me. I don't know. Eat, Tamlin, eat. As like his peace treaty. they're like, Caitlin Stryker: So weird. Stop. Courtney: because he offered to send Illyrian warriors. He's like, no, no night court warriors can be in my land. And I have no sentries to toast at my borders because you got rid of them all. And he's like, fair did that actually. He's like, from your guy. He's like, no, that was all her. And that's part Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: of what's like breaking up. And so fine, it's like, I've agreed with summer to cut. Summer's gonna send like the court of summer is gonna, Tarkin's gonna send sentries here. Will you agree to that and let them be at your borders? And so he agrees. And it's just, yes, it's just carcassizing cause he's so broken. Then yeah, Reese cuts it up and is like, eat. And that's like their peace treaty. Like, and again, cause Tamlin did do a lot of wrong. It's his fault with the sisters. He went to kick out and he made these things for Farrah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank Courtney: He did all this and he did destroy her. Look, he trapped her in that house, didn't see it and going. All that to be said, I still always feel like there's a little extra harshness that I don't quite understand with Tanlin. I've just, the level that they're Caitlin Stryker: Hmm. Courtney: acting that he like did to her, it makes it feel as if he like sexually assaulted her and then like left her. Like, I know he wasn't good. I know he gassed at Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: her. I know he didn't accept the person she became. But Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: like his treatment of her until then, in the first book, wasn't that like she changed under the mountain and he did and like he's not a great guy. He's just loved but loved her obsessively but their level Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: of like how much they hate him still always even though I've read it a few times and I'm connecting the threads but I have to like get myself there like I still Caitlin Stryker: Right. Courtney: always feel a little bristling of like it seems extreme but like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Like give the guy a break, just let him. Courtney: Okay, like he's paid for it. He's never gonna have her. He is alone. You literally took everything. Like you did it. You're good. But I mean, I guess Reese has Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, that's the thing. He's not a threat. He's not a threat. Yeah. Courtney: a different Reese. He did kill Reese's mother and sister. So he would hate Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: him even without the Farrah stuff. Even though he, it's like he hangs it on the Farrah stuff, why he deserves Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: all of this, but also like the mother and sister thing makes sense for Reese to never forgive this guy. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, I think that's it. It's just like the heavy backstory on it with his family. And then you know, it's that kind of thing where like Tamlin has done enough stuff like that aligning with Hibern and then the sisters being pulled in through that and everything. Yeah. Yes, yes. Courtney: But that was obvious that he didn't want that. He did try to stop it. And then he saved Farrah's life at King Hibern's camp when they realized he literally attacked Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: the wolves and got her gone and sent wind at her and saved her life. And then Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: he also saved Reese's life and made Baron come and go. He did all of that. Yeah, a little more. And it's still like, nope, poke, poke, poke. Can't help it. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, so it is that kind of like we should be balanced. Yeah, we should be even now Yeah, yeah Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: Farrah even sent him a note that said, happy as well. Like, not that that was forgiveness, but she sent him a letter saying like, be happy. And then it goes back to like, well, she'll never see you again. Or I don't know if she'll ever forgive you. going that, I'm like, no, I think she did. Like, I think that's what that Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, I think she's good. Courtney: means. Like, it is what it is. I don't know. Anyways, I've just always thought that it seems. I understand Reese's hatred, but. Caitlin Stryker: wonder if that'll wrap up more in the sixth book. Like I wonder if that's also just being left as a loose thread Courtney: Well... Caitlin Stryker: like for a reason. Courtney: know, they, because it feels like then he turns because then in silver quarter silver flames, he's Caitlin Stryker: yeah. Courtney: only in beast mode. And then like Nesta has it out with him and tells him off again. And they're in Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: some like, is it his fault that she's like this? And if you ever tells me one, but there is a hint, there's a thing that people think might be happening that Gwendolyn who will meet in this in the story, I'm kind of talking about both books, but in silver flames, there's a Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, that's what we were gonna do. Yeah. Courtney: hint that maybe her father is Tamlin. It's possible. So maybe, and Caitlin Stryker: Okay, yeah, I like that Courtney: he's also like thought to be possibly, she's thought to be Asriel's mate as well. So there's like that thing brewing. I think there's gonna Caitlin Stryker: There's stuff there. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: be a lot of like family linear exposure happening in book six, which has been drafted Caitlin Stryker: I think so too. Courtney: by the way. I said it had been beat it out, but it's actually been drafted. The first draft is already was complete last year, but it's not, it's not announced in Caitlin Stryker: so we're a little closer. Courtney: 2026. It has not been announced on the publisher's page. we, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: probably still 2027, but she's announced three new books. So. Caitlin Stryker: that's a lot. Yeah, then I wouldn't expect it until 2027. I mean, I don't at this point, don't rush it. Yeah. Courtney: Not not three in this series like book six of this another book in this city Crescent City series and then another Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney: book that's a new series that's going to encompass all three series in one. So you'll have to read them you haven't read them yet you'll have to catch up. Caitlin Stryker: cool, fun. I know, well you know what's pretty cool. So I was walking by one of those little free libraries the other day and Empire of Storms was in there. Courtney: Okay. Caitlin Stryker: I don't know which one of her series it was from. It's a Sarah J Maas Courtney: Wait, let me see. Caitlin Stryker: book. Yeah, I'm pulling it right now. Courtney: The names there, but I think that's book four. That's book three or four. That's quarter thrown in at thrown of glass. Gosh, I can't even. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, it's a thrown-up glass. Yeah thrown-up glass novel. Anyway, so I was like, well if that's not a sign that I got to get into it but That's yeah, yeah, Courtney: And it's a lot of people's preferred series. So we'll see what you said. Caitlin Stryker: so I'm very excited to do some more of her books because I absolutely loved the Avatar Series. I love the style. I love you know all of it. So I'm excited to go deeper and that they get darker and everything too. I'm like, ooh, this is really fun. Oh, one more thing that is in like at the end of quarter frost and starlight, because I think we can move on to silver flames now, but there's the whole thing with there's that one little chapter with more. And she has her. Yeah. Courtney: Yeah, they're giving you a little bit of her perspective. Because she's gonna go off now for the next few months and go be the ambassador to other kingdoms and leave Hune City Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yes. Courtney: because heiress is now in Hune City with Baron they're working together and it's a little Caitlin Stryker: Right. Courtney: bit too much for her to be around them all the time. And there's that little chapter Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah. Courtney: that says that she has like a secret cabin. yeah, basically also more revealed to Farah and might have even been in the last book. I can't remember now. Caitlin Stryker: It was in Wings and Ruin, yeah. Courtney: Yeah, but she loves women, but she's never she hasn't come out to anyone. And that's why she doesn't can't be with Asriel and why she chose Casey and and all of that stuff. She had that whole spiel. So we now know like she chose Casey because she knew Asriel's loved her and didn't want to put him through it and knew Casey would be able to handle it. But she needed to take her Virginia like take that piece for herself so that when her father forced her Maris heiress or whatever they did like that was the one thing she could control. And that was the one Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: thing that was hers and knew that it would sully herself and hopefully end the marriage, which is what happened. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: And this book set up too, and it continues, like it really set up, heiress trying to give his side of the story of like why he left her. And he knew he was more decent than they let on. Like he knew that she Caitlin Stryker: Yes, there's definitely more there. There's definitely something. Courtney: didn't want to marry him. And when Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: she went with Gaston, like he knew why she did it. And he even says like, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: I never would have touched you. but I understand why you did it. And then when Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: he left her what they thought of him leaving her for dead with the like three iron nails in her and the note, he didn't touch her and she recalls the scene because he said, we are responsible for her and she doesn't want that. He'd left her so that the night court could find her and take her in themselves and become responsible for her so that she'd have freedom. He was trying to like help in his own fucked up way. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: the same way he helped Lucien. Like there's been little things Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: that Aeris is not quite as bad as we think he is. There's been hints about it. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, which is, which is like another thing where you're kind like, Oh, I can't wait to find out what's going on here. But so that Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: kind of, you know, wraps up a quarter of silver of quarter frost and starlight. And then now we can. Courtney: Yeah, we wrap up in this happy place. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, it's just a nice Christmas novella. And I mean, I recommend just reading it at the holiday time, because then you just enjoy it. Yeah. Courtney: Yeah, but also it was fine not at the holidays because it's not like for me because I did read it not at the holidays. I will say it didn't like it's not like reading a full Christmas book in May. It doesn't feel like that. It's if you're in the series Caitlin Stryker: No, no, it's not. Yeah. Courtney: right now and you're like, I'm at this book. Go ahead. Like you're fine. It doesn't rub. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like it's not gonna feel off. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, we're way too far from christmas right now for like you to wait at this point No Courtney: it does have some lovely spicy scenes in it. It has some really great Caitlin Stryker: It does, ooh! Courtney: ones. Caitlin Stryker: I'm glad you bring that up. Okay, so we need to do two things. Let's do, we didn't do the spice meter for Court of Wings and Ruin. So, court. Courtney: Okay. I mean, I think in general, the whole series has its same spice. Like it's a three and a half four in general. Like that's just the series. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: think so too. It's a three and a half, four. That's just like where it lives. It is so funny though, because Quarter Brings in Rune for me. It's just like, that's the battle book. It's my like, And Quarter Frost and Starlight is the Christmas book. And because it's all like lovey, you know, you get a little more like making love and they're gonna like try for a baby and everything. And like, that's really fun. Yeah. Courtney: cabin scene. Like we didn't even talk about when they go. they have an annual tradition, winter solace. They go to the cabin and do a snowball fight. Azrael Reese and Cassian. And then when they're in there more and fair show up and they're in the cabin and they're drinking and she starts talking to Reese while he's in the sweat lodge and like sending Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: him images of him like eating around on the table and taking against the wall. And they're like flirting that way. And he gets kicked out of the sweat lodge because he gets a hard on while he's in there with Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: Cassian. which is really funny. And then they then Caitlin Stryker: It is very funny. Courtney: they get to actually reenact a couple of chapters like the actual steam came in this book, like the scenes are there. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: It's a sweet and it's a nice novella, but she did give us the Sarah J. Maas version of Spice Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: in full and it is in the other one too. There's a lot of battles, but they do have a lot of sex in case they die before the battle's through. But it feels different Caitlin Stryker: They do. Yeah. Courtney: when we get into Silver Flames Caitlin Stryker: Exactly. Courtney: because it's new and it has it's again has a slow burn slow build. that's the thing why I think you also think of it as the battle book is there's no slow burn in the wings. Like we are there already together. It's like almost Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: an epilogue, but there's like the world ending. So it can't be. So we already the relationships Caitlin Stryker: I Courtney: there and there's no friction on like will they won't they? We don't have any of that kind of story happening. So it's Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: just like the odd nice sex scene, but it just feels different as a reader. That's why you think of it as a battle book because you're not building up to something. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, because it's not like about the sex scenes, which like some of the relationship building is like about that in the other books. Courtney: Yeah, yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Okay, so now we're going to move on to a Court of Silver Flames, which is a beast. It's got a slow burn. It builds a totally Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: different story. It builds in a different way. The story it's it's really Nesta's book. Courtney: It's Nesta's book. That's why it's Silver Flames. Her power is the Silver Flames. It's Nesta and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: Casey and everyone's there, but it starts from her point of view. No, Cassie's point of view, because he's going to get her to bring her to the house. And it's jumped like a year from the end of A Frost Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: and Starlight, because now the house by the river has been built. They've already Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: moved out of the townhouse. Their dream house exists. Everything's settling in. So it jumps about a year in time. Caitlin Stryker: Can I say that I like the townhouse better than their dream house? I do. Courtney: yeah, I wish they kept the townhouse, but they still, they just needed both for space. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, I know, I know, but they're like, and they have this big like space, you know, mansiony town, like house now by the river and I'm like, I don't like it as much as the two of us. Courtney: But she made it feel like home still. That's their point of it. It Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: still feels like home, even though it's this big Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: mansion. But yes, I agree with you. It's a different vibe than the townhouse. I think the townhouse Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: would have been nice. They just needed to kick everyone else out and they couldn't do that. So they needed to have more space because they're all very codependent on each other. They need to live. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And like, if they're gonna be building a family, they're like, no, we're, we're gonna have our own space for that. Courtney: We need to, yeah, yeah. Caitlin Stryker: But then like, I feel like though, on the flip side, like cut to when they have a kid, and then they're gonna be like, you know what, guys, you want to move back in, we could use some help. We could use some babysitters. they do have it in the bigger house. Courtney: No, they do live with them. No, they do live with them still. They built the house for everyone. Yes, they all just moved with them. Caitlin Stryker: okay. Okay, okay, so they are totally codependent on one another. Okay, I get that. Courtney: Yeah, yeah, Elaine has her house. She had made one for Nesta, but except for Nesta lived on her own. So basically, all right, so we started the Silver Flames casting Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah, yeah, here we go. Courtney: goes to get Nesta and she lives in this super shitty apartment and she has a mail over. He could smell like the male sex. And he's like, you are being summoned to see your sister. She wants to see you to love it. Take a bath, go. And like, she's in another man's shirt, all this stuff. And he's like, you know, wincing at it and trying not to let it bother him. And she's being a usual snarky stuff, self. She takes him to the house and he even makes a comment about like, I thought you would at least like change your sheets between all your lovers, but like, apparently that's even too much for you. And she just doesn't care. Like she's in her own postpartum, like depression. She's having her own PTSD. Like she is just shut down and just can't feel anything. She doesn't care. From her dad dying and dealing with it. Not postpartum, but I meant to say PTSD, post-traumatic. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, not postpartum depression because she didn't have a baby but she's got me. Yeah, yeah. Courtney: Yeah, PTSD. It's my experience of it. My own postpartum was like my own PTSD. But from being turned from the whole thing and then from her father dying, like that's just a chapter Caitlin Stryker: Well, from being turned. Right? Yeah. Courtney: that comes up later. Like that's what she's still really dealing with. It's why she can't handle hearing fires, having fires around her. She can't handle Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: hearing firecrackings. Part of why she hates going to Farah's house because there's always a fire on earth. Like she is not dealing well. She's lost a ton of weight. She looks like crap. And basically this, just like, ran up a huge bill again that they're paying for at the bar last night. And it's the straw that broke the camel's back. Like, Ferris House is like, this is not working anymore. Caitlin Stryker: Well, she's really become a self destructive addict and they were like, we'll give her time, we'll give her space and she'll figure it out and she'll find her way out of it. And it gets to the point where they're like, she's not going to do anything about like, so you kind of Yeah. Courtney: No, even Amaryn has turned on her, which Amaryn was still her friend in the last book when she was going through it. Amaryn was like, give her time, give her time, give her time. But now even Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: Amaryn is like, nope, like that's enough time. She doesn't get it. We need to step in. And that's how you know it's gotten really bad. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah. And so it's basically an intervention. Yeah. Courtney: Yeah, it's basically an intervention and they give her the option. They're like, you are going to, sorry, someone's digging in my head. You are going to either go and live in the house of Wyndon. You're going to train with Cassian every day with the Alarians and learn how to like, be awarded to fend yourself or we will toss you back to the human lands and you can fend for yourself. Which is also Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: an awful thing for her because she doesn't belong. Like she doesn't have a sense of belonging anywhere. And so she she has no money. She has nowhere to go. She doesn't really have a choice but to go to the house of wind like that's their life left her with no option. So Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney: even though they keep saying you're not a prisoner, but like basically she is because she really doesn't have a choice. So They bring in there and they're like, you can't win a win and out. There's no wine. Like you are going to be here, be dry unless you can take the 10,000 steps down to the city. Like if you Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney: want to walk the 10,000 steps, be my guest. But all the bars, everyone has been told not to serve you anyways, but sure, go for it. And that's kind of step and Cassian's there with her and every day for the first bit he comes, he takes her to the training. She goes to Illyrian war camp, Illyrian war camp, refuses to train, won't do it. And they battle like this for like months. of her trying to do stuff and she's just basically refusing. And finally, like a light bulb clicks for a casting that she realizes she just doesn't want to do it in front of all the males at the Alerian War Camps. And he sets up a training ring at the House of Wind, which then she finally starts giving in and training a little bit. Like it takes a while for him to figure it out and she doesn't say anything. And she like embarrasses him in front of Devlin, like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: has no, even though it's like. horrible for her to like talk back to me like the way it makes me and she knows it like she can recognize he's a good Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: male and that this is hurting him and embarrassing him and she still does it like she can't stop herself like she knows the power she has and she can't help it she still takes him down and he's trying his best trying to help her but then the house starts giving her food she won't eat she's like deteriorating and the house starts to become her friend the house when she says no fires but asks to be warmed up then the house heats itself and then it provides her cake and it provides her books And she just basically starts to become best friends with the house wind. Caitlin Stryker: What kind of books does it provide her court? Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: romance books, of course, it starts trading romance books with nesta because as we saw, I think even in the first book, we found out she was a fan of romance books like that was her go to. And so they're dealing with that. And she's also taken on shifts in the library with go go and she has like fights and she meets Gwendolyn, who is a Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: priestess in training. She came from one of the I can't remember the word right now of where the priestess is all live temple. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, I can't remember the word either but a temple yeah, Courtney: essentially that was ransacked and in the war and was raped horribly and her sister was killed and she's like this amazing survivor basically. And that's when Nesta kind of learns that all the women that work in the library are survivors of some kind of abuse or sexual like abuse and that they're all just, you know, these amazing women. And then maybe like the first curdle, like maybe she doesn't have to quite feel so bad for, she's not the only victim in there. Like everyone in there is a victim of something. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yeah. Courtney: And so then she gets the idea that she wants them to start training to start like taking some power back for her. And so she puts up a signup list of them to join her and like no one will join her. And she started to get like kind of depressed about it. And then she finally has the idea that she like starts doing her training in the library and political calls Cassian in to have him come in, like reprimand her because she's disturbing everyone. But he ends up just like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: giving her some adjustments and helping her fix her stance and her punches. And he realized she did it on purpose to like get them to see. what it actually is and how important it is. And then Gwendolyn is the first female that signs up to join her in the training. While this is happening, he also takes her to the Illyrian camp and she meets Emery, who runs a Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: store on her own, but because her father died in the war and her cousin keeps trying to take the store from her. They're like women should be at home. She's got these like horrible scarred wings because her father did the clipping, which is what a lot of the Illyrian soldiers do to women. So they can't fly when they come of age. It's kind of like a Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: fey version of female circumcision to a degree. Like it's this brutal act. And it's something that Reese is outlawed and that they've been fighting with the Elyrian camps on. And Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: she meets her and finds like a like spirit in her and invites her to come train. Which she eventually does. It takes a while, but she eventually convinces her to come train as well. And all this while this is going on, Farah's scent has been hidden by Reese. They say they're working on a spell telling, but we all know she's pregnant. We know she's pregnant. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, you know right away, like. Courtney: but it's being hidden and Reese is being super protective of her and over the top. And there's some unrest in the Illyrian war camps that Castian has been like busy keeping an eye on of people being upset that like they were sent to war or thinking that they were sent to that trap that King Hanvron had laid in the last that a lot of them died in in the first battle Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: and blaming them. Like there's some unrest happening amongst the groups that they're hearing. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: then they're also hearing that the witch, the queen, sorry, not witches, the queens from the human are up to something. They don't know what, but they're gathering, they're like meeting with Baron and they know something is in foot with them, but they're not sure what. And then they learn that they've been looking for the trove, which is this thing that the cauldron made, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: the harp, the mask and the crown, the three pieces of the trove, which everyone conveniently forgot about, because apparently only made Caitlin Stryker: Because Courtney: people can somehow see through, apparently it was glamored for everyone to forget. And now that the maid people, it's a it's a very convenient story. And now that the people have been made by the cauldroness specifically and the witch that Caitlin Stryker: it was, yeah. It's convenient. Courtney: they can, they remembered the trove and now can search for it basically. And we find out that that witch, her name is with a B, the queen, I keep calling her a witch because she acts like one, but the queen, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah Queen Yes Courtney: Braille is her name? Is it? Caitlin Stryker: Yeah Rialyn Is that it? Yeah Courtney: Braille, think. Brie Allen. So she got thrown in the cauldron. She went into the cauldron after, not thrown, she voluntarily went into the cauldron after Elaine and Nesta. And it actually did the opposite. She came out old, still immortal, but bold. An old Caitlin Stryker: and came out of Chrome. Mm-hmm. Courtney: crone, because the cauldron was mad that Nesta took a piece from it. And so it took it out on this queen. And so Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: this queen is like wants the trove because she thinks then she'll be able to get her youth back. and not be an old crone anymore. So she's been searching. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: that's like the new thing on their horizon is like, okay, we've got to look for this trove. And they decide they don't Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: want Elaine to look for it. They're going to use Nesta to look for the trove. So that's kind of the other story happening along with Nesta and the women training. And that's the buildup. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: So Nesta starts looking for the trove. It turns out the first and during this her and Cassie and they're like building tension, building tension. There's a little bit starting where she the first thing that happens is they kiss and basically she like rubs the outside of his pants and he comes like really fast. And she thinks based on his face, like he's just super embarrassed that he came really fast. She thinks he's like regretting doing it. So she like hits the mark first and it's like, quick off the mark. Are you like, she shuts it down super fast because she thinks he's about to reject her. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: they go to several ways and then it builds then he like wants to return the favor. Basically he eats her out. and has like this hot moment and again leaves, doesn't come back. then, and like, Asriel starts like picking up that this is happening and can smell it and sense it and like awkward training Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: sessions occur and like figuring this out. And then he, she gives him a blowjob at dinner and then is like interrupted by Asriel like again, before it become more like that's their slow burn is these little like moments. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: And she talks about how in the other books he like licked her neck at the scandal, she let him do that. And I still don't remember when that happened. Even just rereading. don't. remember what I know they kissed when he said when she was like they were gonna die and he had that moment and said my only regret is that we didn't have time for this but I don't remember him licking her neck I can't remember when that happened. Caitlin Stryker: Wasn't it in the quarter? No, because in quarter frost and star that she walks away from him. Yeah. Courtney: No, was before that, before that apparently that happened. But I have no idea when. But anyways, apparently they had this one moment before that they both thought about a lot. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: And it's building this like tensions building. So she starts looking for the trove and she figures out that the mask is in the oberus in the middle of. Perinthia, which is called the middle, and it's where like creatures go to live that are like too horrible. It's where the weaver lived. It's yeah, where anything that like couldn't be in the courts. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, the middle. It's wild. Courtney: is contained in the middle. And so they have to go to this pond. It's not the Overseas, that was a mirror, but it's called something like that. Anyways, they go there, but then Asriel disappears and Cassian is like, where did he go? So then he sticks Nesta in a tree and goes to find Asriel, who's like fighting these Caitlin Stryker: And you're... Courtney: mindless soldiers because Baron's men have gone missing. That's part of why Baron's been around. His men, he's had this group of soldiers just gone missing. They don't know why or where or where they went. Well, Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. Courtney: Apparently there are these soldiers now fighting. Asriel and Azean's fighting. While that's happening, Nesta decides to climb down because she's convinced they're never coming back and she's gonna need to train forever. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: I don't think she waits long enough personally. Caitlin Stryker: No, but it's Nesta, you know, like, though Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: she just she's got an attitude problem. And she doesn't have any patience. And she's impulsive. Like she's zero Courtney: Yeah, she makes bad decisions. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: impulse control. Like she's just Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: she's a she's a piece of work. So you know, the moment he leaves her in the tree that she's going to be climbing down the tree, you know, it's like, why even? I know. Courtney: I can't believe he thought she would stay in the tree to be honest. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: But so she goes up to the water, feels drawn to it. And then there's like white creepy creature thing like comes out of it. And I can't remember what they're called right now. Do you remember? Caitlin Stryker: It was a... man, it's like a... Wraith? Courtney: I had it so I remember now and now it's Yeah, but it's not that anyways. Caitlin Stryker: It's not that. Courtney: He's I want to say sorry, it's not that it's something like merkele Caitlin Stryker: Nope. Courtney: or something like it's like anyways, this creature basically that lives in the water and is talking to her in this language that she can't understand. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, it's something more because it's like a bad mermaid kind of thing. Courtney: Yeah, like an evil white bald, slithery thing. He's talking Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: to her language, she doesn't understand. She tries, she gets so scared, she actually like pees herself Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: out of fear. And then he pulls, grabs her, chases her, like pulls her into the water. She's being pulled, he's saying stuff. He grabs her mouth, like kisses her and like rips her mouth and everything up, like sticks his tongue down, rips her teeth with the sharp Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: teeth and is like saying stuff to her. And then she sees the mask in the bottom of it and calls it to and immediately puts it on her face. And the mask gives you the power to raise the dead. And she like gets to Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Mm. Courtney: raise the war is Casey and as you'll come back, they see she's missing. They're freaking out. Where is she? Where is she? Casey is like going in the water, screaming for her, trying to find her as black can't see anything. And all of a sudden they see gold coming up to the surface and Nesta rises Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: out of this bond with the golden mask, dead skeleton Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: body army. and the thing's head in her hand, the tanker, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: like literally killed him and now is this army of dead people. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: then she takes the mask off and collapses in case it saves her. And they winter her back to, and grab two of the soldiers that they were keeping for questioning and window back to Reese's. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: And they get back and there she shows Reese everything that she saw and what the guy said to her. And he relays it to Amrin who's like, that is an ancient language I haven't heard. in over like 15,000 years. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: These things are brumades. So he's been there for a very long time. And clearly people used to make sacrifices to him, but he basically wanted her to be his bride. It was like, I'm going to Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: rape you and then kill you and eat you is basically what he said to her. And then, then Caitlin Stryker: yeah charming Courtney: yeah, charming. And, and the two guys, the two soldiers, they like, you know, Asriel's torturing them and trying to get answers, but they're not. themselves like there's something is controlling their mind and brain. They can't Caitlin Stryker: Hmm. Courtney: figure it out. They have helly income and he's like, it's not a spell. It's not and they realize that it must be the crown from the trove that and what did we say your name was again? Caitlin Stryker: Briallan. It is Briallan. Mm-hmm. We just tortured them. Yeah. Yeah. And then it's wild, Courtney: Brie Allen must have the crown and is controlling these men somehow. And that clearly like that's what's happening. They have no control, which gives like a bit of guilt for Azrael and Kazan because they're also like, I feel bad that I killed and killed a bunch of men that had no control. But that, you know. Caitlin Stryker: too. Then you're like, I remember that moment as the reader being like, the queen already has part of the trove. Like, I didn't think Briallan had any of it, you know, yet. Courtney: Yeah, she found one. Caitlin Stryker: And then this, and now you're like, shit. Yeah. Yeah. And there's still training. Courtney: Yeah, tension starting. This is getting serious. Yes. So she locks away the mask and the other thing they need to find is the harp. And she, while that's happening, she's continuing to train. They're still training Gwendolyn and they learn about Valkyrie, which is what the priestess that's awful that Gwendolyn works for has been learning about the Valkyrie, which is this ancient group of fae women that used to be warriors. And it's their type of. Caitlin Stryker: They female warriors. Yeah. Courtney: fe female warriors and they eventually were like wiped out but they had their own training Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: methods they had this like mind silencing and like all these techniques they used and basically once you become a true valkyrie you can slice a ribbon with your sword when it's like hang up and once you can do that then you've passed and you are now valkyrie and so Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: they are training and working towards this and getting towards this and at the same time she's looking for these other items she ends up finding out that the harp is in the jail that horrible island jail Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: goes there with Cassian finds a harp it connects her to Brielle and she says like, now I found you I'm going to use this to look for you get these pieces you will bring them to me I will control and you will happen and they kind of like a fight mind to mind and just like all the culture knows where Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: I am then it turns out she's like open the door so she can escape and it turns out she opened the door to also this awful prisoner this like God another God guy that is fighting Caitlin Stryker: Another god type prisoner that Cassian had put in the prison and is pissed at Cassian and wants to kill Cassian. Yes. Courtney: Yes, yes. Yes. and Nesta made some weapons at this point. Cassie had brought her, when she met Emery, he had brought her to the town to meet the blacksmith and she pounded just to get some anger out. But it turns out when she pounded Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: into these swords, she made them god swords, death weapons, their own trove, these threes. They are now Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, which they hadn't had Courtney: a trove. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, and they hadn't had God swords in a law in a long time like centuries. Yes Yeah Courtney: in years, they've been hidden and lost centuries and centuries and they, God's arts can kill a God. she, Cassie was like run, throws stuff and is like basically willing to give his life for her and is like, go. And she starts and then obviously changes her mind and is like, no, and like uses the harp again to like come back to him. Caitlin Stryker: Because she realizes that she can do something about it like this whole time She's been trying Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: to figure she's even been trying to figure out what this power she has it scares her she knows that it's a lot and Because they do tell her it's good. They don't keep things a secret from her, which is nice you know Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: like they do tell her that she made this god-sword and that it's a big deal and At first yes, but by this time she knows Courtney: Well, they did actually, they did keep that a secret at first, which is like a battle. And Cassian tells her and tells her that they voted about whether to tell her or not, which is another thing she's having a mental breakdown. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, and then she gets mad at him and yeah, I mean they just fight like the whole time their Courtney: Well, yes. Caitlin Stryker: slow burn is them fighting Courtney: Yeah, well, and at that time, she's just hurt by fair and them even more because Cassie at least tells her and he does Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: always stand up for her. But he tells her anyways. Yes, she's come to this conclusion. She can fight back and cares so much about Cassie and goes to the cell and the Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: guys they're almost killing Cassie and he recognizes her and like, who are you? And her like using the weapon turns him back into almost like like. Fae form because he's just kind of, yeah, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: almost mortal. And then he shows her this vision of like the two of them could be like gods above gods. Yes, death gods. And he will impregnate her and their children. And there's a fourth trove that she can't see that's like hidden in the shadow. And like, if they can, if she would have him, they will rule the world essentially and shows her all the stuff. She kills him. They get out of there. They go back to see Reese who like, again, she shows everything too. Caitlin Stryker: them together. Because at this point she's feeling so connected to Cassian. She's like, you can't give me more. or better sex than like he can give me. Like my connection to him is, you know, way more Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: than what you could offer. And that is an interesting turning point. Courtney: like he's this evil thing and she's not like going to like join him. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, and it's that the sort of silver plane like flame evil powers she has in her is something she took from the cauldron. But like, it's not the essence of who she really is. Right? And so that's where she's like, No. Yeah, no. Courtney: Yeah, like she's not looking to run the world with a god, death god. So they go back and then at this point, everyone's kind of found out that fair is pregnant. They've all like celebrated and fair made sure to like tell her first that she was having a boy and like to share something Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: to try to keep building the bond with Nesta. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: and then, so they go back and they tell what they found out. They explained about the old swords and like what that meant. But now that she's connected with Beryl, she starts having these horrible nightmares and they run into the room and she's like on fire, silver flames and like no one, can't get through her bonds casting. So Cassian like jumps in and is like gets through to her enough by shaking her for Reese to get in and calm her brain down and come out. And then when that happens, Reese is actually able to see like what her nightmare was and what she went through with the cauldron. And he even admits that he didn't understand how awful and dark it was, her experience with the cauldron, Caitlin Stryker: Mm hmm. Courtney: what she took from like. It finally gives him a little bit of a kernel understanding of Nesta and like what she's been through. And it's of her trauma and it's Cassian breaking through it. But then she gets into a big fight Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, I've heard drama. Courtney: with Farah. And I can't remember what it was over. something about friends, it was some kind of fight. It might've even been because they didn't tell her about the weapons. I can't remember, but she gets into a fight with them. Caitlin Stryker: I was them voting. It was them voting behind her back. It was more stuff behind her back. Yeah, and I think because I Courtney: Yeah, was... Cassie had told her that. But when she faces off with Vera. Caitlin Stryker: think it's because you know, mean, Farah is like Farah, right? Like she's the sort of golden one in this whole thing and and had different treatment from the parents and like just all of that like sort of like the the the relationship between them as sisters that's always been fraught. And then everything that's been going on with Nesta with her like battling her addictions and trying to become better and working Courtney: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: so hard. I mean, she really is working so hard in all these trainings, but she's, it's very well depicted, like an addiction battle actually through this whole story and just how hard it is and that, Courtney: Yeah, yeah with Nesta for sure. Caitlin Stryker: and that it isn't something that you just like snap and you're over it. You know, like it's, really, is amazing. I love the 10,000 steps kind of thing that keeps happening that she keeps trying to go down and she can't make it. And you go further and further along in this story and you're like, she's good now. And she still tries to go down the stairs, you know, like to get to the bars and it gives a proper, I don't know, like it gives addiction its proper kind of like level of attention in a book like this, which is really Courtney: Yes. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: great. And then I think that's part of where Farrah is. not Farah, but Nessa is so hurt by, you know, still not being trusted and still not being like acknowledged all of the work that she's done. And then also still has a bit of that, you know, that impulse control and that ag nature where she's like, fine, like, you know, just like lashes out at Courtney: Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Farah and the lashing out at Farah is she tells Farah, everyone's been okay. Yeah, you got all those details. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: what I was getting to. Yes. Yeah, that's what I was building into it. Yeah. They, they get that big fight and then she tells her like, we were protecting you. She's like, and she basically says just like they were protecting you by not telling you that your baby has wings. And she reveals to Farah that the baby is a leery and, is going to kill her. when she gives birth to it, which recently I've known and Cassian had shared with her and was holding back and fairs devastated. And then Reese like, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: loses his mind and just like speaks to Cassie and like get her out of here before he kills her. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: gets, when is her away? And Nesta has her own guilt about revealing that anyways, because she does see like with Farah, how much like pure the love Farah has for that baby is and how much that hurts Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney: her sister. Like she can see the damage of, but again, it's that same thing of like not telling people things and not trusting people to be able to handle their own stuff. And so she throws in her face, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: tells her that the baby's going to kill her. which causes this huge chain reaction. And Cassian is himself also just disappointed in her and takes her hiking. It's like, we're going hiking. They go hiking for like three days. some point, Nesta is so broken at this point. She's like, not even talking, just following him, not even fighting back and eventually faints. And Cassian's like, shit, went a little too far. Yeah, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, she's like, won't even drink water. Yeah. Courtney: makes her drink water and they get to a lake. And that's when she really has her breakthrough with Cassian Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: and a myth. everything like admits about the fire admits about like how the logs make her think about her dad's neck breaking and like how much he loved her and that she didn't deserve it and her guilt over it that she was wasn't able to save him and things about Cassian not feeling worthy like they really have this emotional connection between the two of them and it really bonds them Caitlin Stryker: Hmm. Courtney: and when they get back even fair is like come back i've calm res down he overreacted like it's fine come back we're good like she's not mad at nesta the same way Reese Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: was, which also, yeah, because honestly is the only one that was honest with Farrah and did the right thing to Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: create. So they come back and they start telling her about heiress that Baron is in fact going is working with Braylon and he's working to build, he's giving her his men and she's doing something. They don't know what, but she's coming and they need to like get people in place and they need to get heiress on their side. And so they decide they're gonna Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: go to the ball and they're gonna use Nesta to try to win over Eris. That's their plan. Because Elena told a story about when they were younger and some duke was mean and Nesta just danced with him and managed to like destroy him and any hopeful engagements he had. Because this girl was, no, the girl was mean and she like destroyed her by dancing with him. Because she's like the most beautiful dancer ever. So they decide Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: they're gonna use her for that. Meanwhile, also. Cassian and Asriel set up this obstacle course for the three women to do and they've been doing it for months and months and months and they're finally like able to pass the course and they do it in front of Devlin, which it turns Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: out is the course to take place in the right, which is what all Illyrian soldiers do, which is how like, which is what really bonded Reese, Cassian and Asriel, cause they all finished the right together. That's like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: on the side happening and they only did it to like prove to Devlin that like. Female Ilarians can be warriors, can fight, can do it. Like look at these women. This is what they've been trying to get the Ilarians to take on and do in their camps for very long time. And that's why they showed Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: this to Devlin. They go to the ball. She's there. Cassian is so jealous watching her dance with Eris. And Eris Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: is like overcome by Nesta, like falls for her head Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: over foot, like just obsessed. Ghost and Reese is like, I'll give you anything if I can marry her. let's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: do it. And he's like, I'll talk to her. And so they get Baron Eris on their side, essentially, and Cassian interrupts and dances. It turns out he's been like practicing dancing for months with Moore so that he could Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: dance with Nesta, because he heard of how beautiful she was and they have this moment. And they have this big fight and he ends up telling her, like she says, I'm going to marry Eris. And he's like, you can't marry us. And it comes out that she only wants to marry. He's like, of course you would. I'm just a bastard because he always thinks that he's not worthy. It's that she thinks she deserves Aeris because he's the bastard and Cassian's too good for her and it's always been too good for her. And she doesn't deserve him, but he finally gets her to admit they do and they belong to each other and they'll only belong to each other forever. Essentially, again, not saying the word mate, but we all know that that's what it is. But just that Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: they belong together. They have a hot sex scene. There's golden threads happening. Some bonding without saying what it is. And then Cassian wakes up the next day and is like, oh shit, I gotta go. Peace. I'll Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: see you in a week. Caitlin Stryker: And you're like, okay, we're not there yet. They're still gonna pretend Courtney: and hides. Yeah. Yeah, they're still doing this. He hides. And then she has because she's feeling like really upset at him being gone. can't figure out why. So she hangs out more with Gwendolyn and Emory and they make friendship bracelets and they have like this bonding time together. And they can Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: actually eventually comes back and they're still together and he like calls her out. I'm not saying that he's her mate and is like Like, what do you think this is? What do you think this whole thing is? And she gets really angry at him that he knew that they were mates and didn't tell. Again, kind of like a repeat in the whole like, roommates go away. I'm calling in my favor. You can't like, he pushes her to the point that she's like, because he owes her a favor from when she started training way back. It's like, you have to go away until I call you or a week, whichever one's passed. Like, I'm calling in a bargain. So he has to leave. He doesn't have a choice. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: So he leaves, she goes to spend the night with Emery and Gwendolyn at Emery's house. They get kidnapped and forced into the right, which is this brutal practice that all the Lyrians go through that any men 18 that has passed this males, Caitlin Stryker: All of are in males. Yeah. Courtney: that's what I said, men at 18 that have passed the obstacle course go to the right. And basically you're supposed to wake up. There's supposed to be no weapons, no magic. basically you've 20 more, a couple, three days, 72 hours to get to the top Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm, three days. Courtney: of the mountain. And whoever gets the top first gets this one level. I can't remember the word. And then this other level. And then if you go up the sideway, you get the third level. And that's like makes you an alien warrior. And once you're in the right, nobody can stop it. No one can do anything. They can't save you. It'll be death if Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: they do. Like it's the law of the land. And these three, when we're Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: kidnapped and put in the right against their will, but they wake up separate and they're there. And Caitlin Stryker: Hmm. Courtney: it's an intense three days and there's weapons Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: being hidden that aren't supposed to be there. So something is afoot. But some other like friendship bracelets, but I actually love this, help them find each other. And thank God, because Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: Emery's like almost half dead when they find her and suddenly they bring her back. And when the coldness that they talk about, cause it's in this freezing cold mountain and they've been in water and they're trying to survive. That's the part that always gets me that I'm like, I don't know how you fight through that. Like that would shove me down so fast. So Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Ugh. So cold. Yeah. Courtney: fast, the cold. can't, I'm such a wuss with that. And like when I hear it, I'm like, and they kept going. Like how... Anyways, they battle through, they make it. They're at the top, they face Berylion who's been like trailing them and on them. And it's finally, Nesta sends the two girls up, because like all three of them can't stop and make it. She sends them, they get to the top. She's battling and then right when that guy's gonna kill her, Castine appears. But he has been taken under the power from Breylin. Because Caitlin Stryker: Brie Allen. Courtney: Breylin, he went to save Aerys and it was a trap and now he's under the crown's power and he is there to kill Nesta. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: And she's like, why did you do it? And it turns out Brown was behind all of it. She is the one that got them kidnapped and forced into the right. She's the one that hid the weapons. Caitlin Stryker: She went ahead and weapons, yeah. Courtney: She had told the guy Baron to like track her, but not kill her, but bring her to her. Like she set this all up and is now forcing Cassie to kill her. And they're battling. She's like, I wanted your magic week. I want to be able to do this so that you would give me the trove. And she refuses. So the Cassie has to kill her. But then he finally has a little bit of his own agency and is able to turn the knife on himself. He's about to kill himself. And just as that happens, the sun rises and Nesta has her magic back and she unleashes the entire force of the Cauldron on Breylin and destroys her. Like literally unmakes her, reverses what the Cauldron did to the point that she's now in nothing and doesn't exist. And her and Cassian finally get to have a moment as mates and recognize each other as mates. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: And we get their love story, the like ending of it, which is amazing. And he like lets her know all the stuff, he, the reason he disappeared. The first time is because he had the mating bond right away, like that protectiveness that Reese had that we got to enjoy. And oh, three, he had that, but he knew she couldn't handle it when we'd be ready. So he just like literally put himself as far away from her as possible. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah! Courtney: other than being like tied up and like forced to like stay away. And just how much she's learned from the get go and how much they've always had that for each other. And it's always Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: been about her and they're both crying and like it's really beautiful between the two of them having this moment. But then it turns out Farrah's in labor and obviously dying because she has this Illyrian baby in her stomach with wings that her anatomy can't birth. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: And there's healers there and everyone's trying and everyone knows at this point that Farrah and Reese made that pack. at the end of the last book that they would die together at the two books ago. And Versa Evans like you're an idiot. Why would you make that pact? But also like they're both going to die if there dies. So even if the baby comes out like he won't have any parents and they both accepted that Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. Courtney: but they're fighting it. So Nesta puts on all three things of the Trove, the crown, the mask, the heart and use it and makes a deal with the cauldron that she will give it back, give everything back the power if they will save Farrah. And the whole Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: thing is that no one's ever hit this 26th string with all three pieces on, but she does. And she survives it and everyone survives and it ends up in this happy ending. The baby's there, his name is Nix, Cassian and Nesta there. And then everyone's alive. In the true fashion, she tells him that she like made some changes in herself as well with the little power she has Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: left so that this will never happen to her. And she changed fair's anatomy so no one's gonna die from having babies. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: And he's like, she says that she wants a big mating ceremony with Cassie. And she wants to have the full party and are from food in front. And he's like, I don't want that. And she's like, okay, fine. And she takes out like an old cracker, stale cracker from her pocket. like, here's your food then. He's like, well, if I'm choosing between a stale cracker or ceremony, we'll do a ceremony. Like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: fine. And they agree on that. And three days before their ceremony, they're all getting ready for it. And they're just in a happy place. Caitlin Stryker: Which I love. I love that she's like, I want a big fancy thing, you know, because it kind of Yeah. Yeah, you kind Courtney: Yeah, like she finally gives over to it to the like embracing the world. That's like their way. Caitlin Stryker: of think like, she maybe wouldn't, you know, like she'd be too, like hard for that. And she's like, no, that sort of like hard at her shell is really like, protecting like a very soft like I do want like nice, really, you know, I want nice treatment and all of this stuff. Um, that's Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: who I really am. I think this is a cool moment. like that. Yeah. Courtney: It is it's nice that she's coming back. And basically the book leaves us with like happy ending for them. Happy for recent fair and everyone else is okay like more has come into like learning a bit more on her own. She's come out they I think they all know now that she loves women like that has been kind of solved with her and as real like they kind of know it wasn't like unrequited love like it she just literally doesn't feel that way. There's peace right now they hint about one day Reese becoming a high king and he talks about how we'd never want that but like in Sarah J. Mastiff something's mentioned more than once it's gonna come up again so I have a feeling that'll be part of book six the whole like King of the High Lords and finally finding peace Lucien is still living like with Vassa and Jirian and Elaine and Asriel have had this like flirting they have a connection but he also has Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: it in this book with Gwendolyn he is the one that saved Gwendolyn and brought her to glow in the first place and Caitlin Stryker: Right. Courtney: they have these moments in training when he starts training them and training and they also get a lot of women to come and start training and they kind of grow that which is a beautiful part of this book. But they're having that so everyone thinks that they are going to be mated and booksticks. I don't know what they're going to do with the Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney: Lucien and Elaine because I mean and I get why. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, that's the thing. We have a love triangle. Courtney: We haven't left. Well, and there is a deleted scene, which is Asriel's point of view. was like a bonus in one of the releases of the book a few years ago. And he gifts her that. then like Reese has it out with him. It's like, she's a maid. Like she has a mate. You can't do this. Like this will launch a war with Lucien. Like you cannot, you can't date Elaine. Like he like steers him away from it when Asriel like got Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: her a gift at Solstice. And yeah, there's a whole bit there. And I think it would have painted, she really, I think painted herself in a corner with the Lucian mate thing. Like I'm Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: so curious if she's talked about how much that was planned out or if that was like a fun thing to do, but then found the Azrael Lane thing later and then it was like, fuck. And I don't know. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, I know. I wonder I've been it's it's been Courtney: Because both are possible! Caitlin Stryker: like, it's been so such a C storyline through so many of the books now at this point where I just am like, yeah. Courtney: because it is the next book like that is what's happening. But I think even I think part of the reason there's been so much time between Silver Flames and this book six is because I don't think even she knew what she wanted to happen Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Right. Courtney: there. I think it is what my Instagram that that she kind of put herself in a corner. And I was like, how do we do this? Because there is a long way to go Caitlin Stryker: Yeah! Courtney: for us to become Team Lucien. Like, for us to be pro Elaine Caitlin Stryker: There is. Courtney: and Lucien, it's a it's a long road. And we'll see if the book does it. Caitlin Stryker: That's a big hurdle, because Courtney: It's a big hurdle, because I'm not. Yes, everyone is. It's the best. Caitlin Stryker: I'm pro Elaine and Ezra- Ezreal at this point. I'm like... And it's been mentioned that you don't have to be with your mate. There is precedent for that. Yeah. Courtney: but that it's like so uncomfortable, like that it never feels right. And it will leave Lucien like, you know, devastated. He feels the bonds, like it will be an issue. But now that we know he's Helly Caitlin Stryker: Kind of just sort of yeah Yeah Courtney: and Son, who knows? Maybe that's gonna become the war. Maybe they do. And then he launches a war with it. I don't know. There's a lot to happen. I think the end is going to be Elaine and Lucien together. Cause they have still built Lucien to be a good male underneath it all that just got a really shitty hand. And like, so I can, Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. Courtney: see him eventually being redeemed being redeemed enough. But Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: it's gonna be hard to get me off the as real thing and be happy for him and Gwen even though like I feel for Gwen and like she's powerful and the cool like, it's still it's a long road. So I'm excited for the sixth book. We'll see what happens. But it's hard. She really paint yourself in a corner. Caitlin Stryker: It's a long road. It's a long road. Yeah. I also like that we, I think we're going to have a lot more like female warrior stuff too. And some stuff with war as well. Like there's a lot. Courtney: Yeah. Well, I've heard I've heard there might be like also eventually more of like a Valkyrie spinoff story to which bookstix might lead to like a different thing. Caitlin Stryker: that'd be cool. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: Which would be interesting. So we'll see. Caitlin Stryker: That would be very interesting. Courtney: But so for Casey and so part of the reason why I love Casey and why so many people do and he is such a popular book boyfriend. I think it's because like and he's not my top he just Caitlin Stryker: Yes, tell me. Courtney: Well, he just sounds really sexy from the descriptions of him. One. Two, Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney: it's the way that he's just unwaveringly there for Nesta and accepts all facets. Like he gets angry and he fights her and he knows, but he doesn't ever hold it against her in a permanent way. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: Like he lets her be messy. It hurts him and it hurts him to see her like this. Like people do with people with addiction and your family, but like. doesn't hold it for after when she is getting like he knows and he knows what she needs and he doesn't hide things from her the same way like Reese or all these other mates like he he just lets her deal with it even when alert and then like helps her put it back together and it's just let's her be messy in there and then can see through how much she tries to push him away and in her like I don't know he's one of those guys that like won't be scared off from perimenopause or my boss just like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Right. Courtney: this is what we're doing today. Okay. Like, he's just like, go with it. And sex because he just loves her and takes all those facets. He loves all those sides to her because he knows it's part of what like makes her her and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney: it's part of what makes the good of Nesta like she needs these prickly things and because of her experiences to then be the person he loves and he just does it in such an unwavering five way and also aside from his treatment Nesta like in the last book not even the Frosted Court of Starlight the other one, like the way he cares for his warriors and his like the descriptions of what Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney: a great warrior is, even though he's self deprecating to himself and like how much he takes on the weight of everyone else and cares and like every death and every injury like he takes personally, and is always willing to give himself for anyone else like he is an amazing guy. Like he really from how he grew up to even like when Reese took Caitlin Stryker: He is. Courtney: him in and like the way bonds with fair the way he bonds with everyone he still lost a little either party what he did for more knowing it would hurt him and like fall like he's always willing to sacrifice himself. for everyone else, but also knows how to like put a smile on everyone's face and do that part. Like he needs that other person that will hold that weight for him, which is nested like nested doesn't need him to ever smile for her. She doesn't need him to like, fix her. just needs him. It's, it's an interesting balance. And I just I really, it just holds true to the two of them. I never waver off like, are they right for each other? Like you can just see it even through all the crap, right? Like they Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. They're so good for each other. And especially, you know, it's really great. Like he is this incredible warrior, but his vulnerability just being that he is so hard on himself. You know Courtney: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: what I mean? Like he's just like never feels like he's enough or he's done enough. And then like you said, like many the Joe Beale guy for everyone else, like there is something so wonderful about him. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney: And he's also a feminist. Like he is hugely fighting for women's rights and like knows what happened to his mother and cares. Like all those men are huge feminists and fighting for women's rights. And yeah, it's all just attractive. He's just. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. It's very attractive. Yeah. And strong, like real strength, you know, that has vulnerability there Courtney: Real strength, yes. Caitlin Stryker: and is willing to let you see it. And then also that Courtney: Yeah, we'll cry in front of her too, like it's never... Caitlin Stryker: Nesta is strong enough to allow him to be vulnerable. You know, it's a two-way Courtney: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: street, like... as women, you know, we can't be like, we want our guys to be vulnerable and then your guy is vulnerable and then you're like, don't do that. Like, I need you to be, you know, like that's not fair to and so it's really cool the way that Nesta and Cassian like they balance each other out very well and they hold space for one another to be fully rounded human beings. Neither one is Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: like, I need you to be perfect for me at all times. And not to say that that's also present in their recent story, and that's what I think is such a draw for all of us with these stories, is that you get that balance there, which is really nice to read and to get to feel, because that's the ultimate goal. Courtney: Yeah. And by all accounts, he's also like huge and tall and super jacked and ripped and has a huge cock and knows how to use it. So like all of that together just makes him a great book boyfriend. He hits all the, he just hits all the boxes. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. great, love both them. Courtney: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: So fun. All right, we did it. That's Courtney: Okay, we did it. Caitlin Stryker: it. Guys, we took you all the way through A Court of Thorns and Roses as far as we have. And even we've Courtney: Yes. boy. Caitlin Stryker: gone into some of the thoughts that we have of what's coming in book six when it comes our way. Yes. Courtney: Yeah, let us know what you think is gonna happen in book six. Like there's so many opportunities. It'll be really fun to read for sure. We will definitely do a read along. Caitlin Stryker: Please leave comments what you think is happening in book six. We could even have like, feel like we could even have like a little bowl of like, or like a, you know, when it's like, whoever gets the closest wins a prize. Like when do we think this book is actually gonna come out? Courtney: I don't even like, ugh. We'll see. We'll see. Caitlin Stryker: We have plenty to read until then. Let's go. I think it'll be next year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's okay. Courtney: It'll be announced this year. Like the, think the release date will be announced this year, but I don't think it'll be this year. Yeah. Unfortunately. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: We have a lot. We've got a pretty full slate this year, so that's okay. We've got enough to read until then. Courtney: Yes, always. Caitlin Stryker: All right, well, this has been super fun. Courtney: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: diving deep into a court of lorns and roses. And I do think it's where you start if you're new to romanticy. think it's where you start. absolutely. Courtney: yeah, that's a great one. That's a great ride to go on. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: All right, well that's it for today's episode of Courtney: Yeah Caitlin Stryker: Kate and Court's Cozy Corner. We will be back with more. We will be back with some romance next. Courtney: Yes, we'll get out of romance scene head into romance. Bring on the February romance. Bye. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, for a sec. Exactly. Bye! You know the drill. Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcast. Courtney: Thanks for tuning in to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner Romance Readers. Caitlin Stryker: Executive producers and hosts, Caitlin Stryker and Courtney Richter, Producers, Canasia Ngo and Hollie Lobosky. Original music, Cassie De Silva.