Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / ACOTAR Refresh Book 3: A Court of Wings and Ruin

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ACOTAR Refresh Book 3: A Court of Wings and Ruin · Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers

• 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. Courtney Richter: Hi. Caitlin Stryker: Welcome back. Okay, Courtney Richter: Yeah Caitlin Stryker: so we left you guys on a cliffhanger. Welcome to Romanticy. Because Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Right. Caitlin Stryker: we were like, it's too much to get through this one book in a reasonable length of time. Courtney Richter: These are epic, epic books. They're epic. And if you're reading it, I mean, you probably, it's not like I think that you just stopped and also haven't finished it. Like you read it or if you just want to know what happens, then we did leave you on a cliffhanger because it really is that kind of book. Like these Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: huge fantasy anthologies. There's so much world building. So Caitlin Stryker: you Courtney Richter: the authors can go so detailed and then you have still the spice and there's not on top of it, but it does have such a big. fantasy world building element to Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: it. And so many details to get through to understand are things that pop back up. That for my age brain, Caitlin Stryker: So many. Courtney Richter: it's like popping all over like, wait, this, this, this, this. And I have to say though, a great thing Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: about this is like, have read this year's, I've read it already twice before this and then rereading again to talk about it. It, you just live it all again. Like it holds up so. strongly like it is a series that's worth owning that you can go back to that you can reread when you just want to dive into like a comfort series that you know you'll enjoy. This is one of them. This is why Akitar is such a big thing and why so many people know it or tell people to Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: read it. And why coach Kate finally when she jumped in this summer because it's just it's something that once you're in it just becomes part of you. You're in Yes, it's a version. Caitlin Stryker: You're in. Yeah, you're in a cult. You're in a cult. mean, and I'm not the I'm not the first person to say that like I got that from the internet and I agree 110 % Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: like a really fun one. Courtney Richter: Yeah, like the best kind of fault, cult fault. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: That just makes you read a lot of romance and romanticity and dive in. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, a lot of romance romanticism. Enjoy, you know, like female heroines getting the focus, Courtney Richter: Yeah! Caitlin Stryker: getting to win. All right, so the third part of Courtney Richter: Yes, part three. Caitlin Stryker: Court of Mist and Fury. Courtney Richter: Yes, so we kind of ended when Reese and Feyre became mates when she accepted that bond and they finally got us to the nice, muddy cabin situation, which was so fantastic Caitlin Stryker: The cabin, yeah. Courtney Richter: and earned and we needed it and so good. And then Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: right away, they go back to meet the like Casey and and Azrael and that in the winter because they are going to go meet with the witches in the human court. The witches have finally written back that they're willing to meet them again. The queens, I Caitlin Stryker: The Queens, the Queens. Courtney Richter: keep calling them witches because they basically are, but the queens of the human court. Caitlin Stryker: I mean, yeah, because they do have like a weird sort of like, they are the queens of the human courts, but like they do Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: have this weird like connections to power and like, yeah, it's interesting. Courtney Richter: Yeah, they get turned. So in my head, and I think because they get power eventually. Anyways, the Queens of the human court are going to meet them again. And this is when they've decided that they're going to bring the orb to show them velars. So first, but the one like little detail that I do want to say is when he gets there and Gazian like makes him fight him to try to take the edge off before they have to go be around the humans because Caitlin Stryker: Love that. Courtney Richter: yes, I love it so much. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And because he needs it because he's so like protective of her now being made and like being with like can't handle being away from her and having any male look at her, smell her, talk to her. So they fight for like an hour. then finally, they can go and talk to the queets. Which is really funny. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And they go and the queens reveal like basically they're like we're saying no, even though you wrote these love letters and reached out and it turns out even before Reese hold her that she was his mate before it got revealed. He was writing to the Queens begging them to please save this place that his mate has loved so dearly the human world like asking for their help revealing his heart revealing the kind side of him that he's hidden from everyone for so long really showing his vulnerability showing the thing that only there and then court of starlight that actually see and he wrote these letters. And the queens still basically are there to get the secrets from him and they've sided with Hibern. It's like, yeah, thanks for showing us, but no, he's better. We are going to go with him. No. But when they leave, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: the youngest one actually leaves the book on the chair with a note and says that Reese's love letters like really touched her and she believes them and wants this. And if anyone asks, they stole it from her, but she leaves them the book and leaves the queen. So they now have the book. It's so great. Caitlin Stryker: I mean, here's where we met the romance, you know? Courtney Richter: Yes. the sweet well and we didn't we were so far into that book we didn't get to talk about and I kind of like touched on and so did you but like Reese's knowledge of her as his mate when he recounts it when he's telling her the story of like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: how much he knew so he knew as soon as and especially when or this started to kill her. That's when he felt it snapped into place for him when he disappeared out of the you know the court the underground whatever it was. Caitlin Stryker: underground, yeah, under the mountain. Courtney Richter: Yeah, under the mountain, it snapped in. But before that, like as soon as she even tried to kill her, he knew like he could tell but he always thought it was a possibility. He thought that she would that and he sent her away. The reason why he didn't want her to break the curse for Tamlin is because he knew if she did that, Amarantha would hunt her down and kill her. And he didn't want that. So that's part of why he made Tamlin like send her away. And Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: But he was always dreaming of her. It's always been her. And then when he found out she was human and fragile, like he just knew that was it. He could never have her and was like trying to protect her. And then when she showed up, he said like the rage that he felt when she showed up in the underground and how hard it was for him to contain himself. Well, she made that bond with Amarythine, like everything he went through in the emotions and how much he tried to help her without it being obvious and trying to help her so that they could be saved. It's just like, it's so endearing and sweet when you see that side and how much he loved her before the bond even really Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: was there and how much they were meant to be together and obviously she crumbles under it all too and it's just overwhelmed with this love for Reese and it's this sweet and then you see it with the Queens like it's just it's like at this point this they've just been like layering it on and layering on and layering it on Caitlin Stryker: layering. Courtney Richter: and this is why recently has risen to be like the top book boyfriend because of Caitlin Stryker: And yeah, I have a question for you from the like tropes standpoint. So like what kind of a guy is he? Like what do we call a recent or is he just Reese? Like is he in a category of his own? Courtney Richter: think yeah, I feel like I feel like he's his own like he's kind of morally gray, but not really because it's a fake morally gray. Like he Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: he does he's the you know, with his family and everything is pretty he like he's almost when it comes to her as cinnamon butter and grumpy sunshine almost but it I feel like he's his own work his own thing because he's just so powerful and so much Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Okay, what is it? Yeah. Courtney Richter: darker and literally would incinerate and kill anyone. that touches her talks or like Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: he's a protector. He's like no one else can ever kind of thing. But but then he was willing to give up for him like he is also selfless. So that's where I feel like he has that sweet cinnamon side. Caitlin Stryker: He's not really sweet though, ever. You know, like to her, to her. But that's different, you know. Yeah. Courtney Richter: He is to her. That's what I mean. It's just to her. that, well, that's kind of what a grumpy sunshine is. They're only sweet to the girl. The sunshine's only for her to everyone else, they're grumpy. Caitlin Stryker: Okay. What is a shadow daddy? Courtney Richter: He's not really a shadow daddy. Zayden's a shadow daddy. Because Caitlin Stryker: Okay. Okay. Courtney Richter: a shadow daddy, like kind of in book one, but a shadow daddy is Caitlin Stryker: bruh Courtney Richter: the one that like has no problem saying like, I'm the bad guy here, I'm the villain, but like, so take me as Caitlin Stryker: Okay. Courtney Richter: I am. I'm not gonna be soft for you. I'm not gonna be sweet for you. Reese doesn't do that. He is soft roots her. Caitlin Stryker: Okay, okay, okay. Just like I was like, I'm getting confused. Okay, and just so everyone knows, Zayden is from, Courtney Richter: No, he just has shadows. Caitlin Stryker: yeah, Zayden is from Fourth Wing, right? Which I have, okay. When I get there. So, Reeson is like, just, Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. When you get there. Yeah. I'm trying to think if you've read a true Shadow Dada yet, you haven't. Caitlin Stryker: Reeson, he's just, he's, that's, he's just the best. Courtney Richter: He's the best. He's just the best. wrote the guys and all of this, like Asriel, Kaysian and Shadow Daddy, like Shadow Daddy Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: recently. Now that's just the thing I'm thinking of. No, he's, it's so good. Anyways, Caitlin Stryker: Okay. Courtney Richter: she leaves the book. They now have the two halves and they come up with a plan that they are gonna go to Hibern and go to the Cauldron and nullify it. Amarin is able to decode the two books. They're gonna go, they're gonna... break the spell and take away the power of the Hydra and then basically take it apart. That's their plan. And Reese is like really upset about it because he can't go in with them. He has to like winnow them to the edge, but because his magic's being tracked, he can't go with them. So the plan is that. Caitlin Stryker: Which I love when this keeps happening with Reese and I think Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: it's necessary for Farrah's development and for her to Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: really find her, you know, because he is so incredibly powerful that we, if he's not blocked in certain ways at different times, then it just, it's really hard to believe that he wouldn't just go and handle all of it, right? And then we have no story. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. So they go so, but before they're going, the city of Valaris after this meeting, Reese is away doing something, it's her and Casey and Ezrael, and it gets attacked Caitlin Stryker: Ugh. Courtney Richter: by the Aetors because the queens sell out the location of Valaris. And so the king sends the Aetors to attack. Caitlin Stryker: because they're pissed when they find out that the one left behind part of the book, right? Courtney Richter: Yeah, they're angry, but they would have told anyways, they were already sided with hybrid. They were already so like it was already Caitlin Stryker: They were always going to tell it. Courtney Richter: a gamble to tell them about the city. But they really thought the queens were going to choose obviously to save all the humans. But they didn't Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: they betrayed them. And so the city gets attacked. And it's the first time Farah because she's been training like crazy with Cassian. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: she comes into her own power. they're like at first cast and like, get back to the townhouse. It's safe. It's water. Like get there, get there, get there, trying to get her out while he goes to fight. And then she sees it she's like, no, I'm not letting them take this fight on their own. And she decides to stay and fight. And she is able to tap into her power. So like her water powers that she felt a bit when they were at the summer court and other ones, she's actually like something unlocks for her and she can feel all her power. So she turns the water into these wolves that chases the a toors and like drowns them down their throat. turns them into like eagles in the sky attacking them out case is taking everyone down Amaran's fighting like you see like there are hundreds and hundreds of these at tours attacking the city and causing like huge damage. And then finally she sees the one the one that brought her into the underground and the one that like kicked the shit out of her in the underground. And she windows him and she's already winnowing hasn't been like something she could do consistently yet. But she can she can see him and chase it and she windows and attacks him in the air. and pins him and like fights and stabs him and is like, this is for race. This is for everyone. This is for each person. And finally for Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, so good. Courtney Richter: me and takes them all the way down to like when they're about to hit the ground like the second and the whole type Reese's yelling through her bomb like where are you and then it gets bigger. It's like where are you there and she's not responding. She's blocking me can't get through and she's just like where I'm supposed to be and like boom shuts it down. And there's also something hot about his like worry about her when he's coming like because she can see Caitlin Stryker: yeah. Courtney Richter: the darkness he's finally arrived the darkness is coming to like wipe out the city but she's so focused on this one at or not getting back to hybrid and like she takes him out and so the second before he smashes the ground she windows away again and then like lands into a wall and smashes the wall but basically like takes out that guy is saved the city and it's the first time she's fully in her like battle power. and how amazing Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: and feels like the city is also hers. Like these are her people to protect Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: you even though she's not anything yet. She's just, she is his mate, but she's, you know, there's no title with it. So she, they do this, they're devastated. They're like, okay, we need to go and like return the favor back to Hibern, go get the cauldron, nullify it. And so Amaryn's gonna stay because she has to protect the city. And so they go and obviously it's a trap. They get to the cauldron easy enough. She does a spell, but she puts the books together, which Amaryn said, do not ever, whatever you do, don't put the two halves of the book together. But then once she's there with the books, they're telling her and she's like, yeah, Amaryn's wrong. They should definitely be together. They should be joined. Caitlin Stryker: You're the reason we banked to be together, yeah. Courtney Richter: She does. And she loses herself. Like she's chanting, her nose is bleeding. They're trying to pull her out. They're like, ba. And it's a big trap. Jurian shows up, the human that was trapped in the ring with Amaryn, he's there and he's like, how could you fall for something so obvious? And like, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: what like why I'm surprised that you weren't smarter than this. Well, they had to try. They had to. And they thought it would be simple. Caitlin Stryker: it was like the only option you know that's always yeah you have to try and Courtney Richter: They thought they'd get in, winnow in, say like a couple of words, done, winnow out. Like it'd be boom, boom, boom. And they didn't know that, well it Caitlin Stryker: I mean, now that's their mistake. Courtney Richter: is. And they didn't know that he got his book of spells back. So Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: while they were trying nullify the cauldron, while Jiren said the king was weaving his spell, to take their powers away again like Amaryn had. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, which is always the case, right? The other side is always working at just as hard as like, you know, yeah. Courtney Richter: I mean, that's why there's conflict in the book. So, and Reese windows in, of course, do it. And also at this point, so the night before she left Reese finally shows the ring that the mother that he she had gotten from the Weaver and she's like, my mom gave it to her and said, if my wife's not smart enough or fast enough to get this, then she's not worth being my wife, but I want it for you. And she's, he's like, we can be mates. We can have a wedding. We can have a ceremony. We can, whatever you want, or nothing, like whatever you need. And she decided that She's like, well, do we need to hide this one with Hibern? He's like, yes, if they smell us close together, they'll know we're mates and they're trying to still keep that on the down low. So she's like, I'll wear it when we get back. It's kind of the essentially, and he's like, and if I want to take it a step further than that, and then she's like, I'm listening. And we don't really know what that is yet, but that's like the hint we get. And then the next day they go to Hibern and all of this is happening. when Hibern gets here and brings them up, all of them are there together, he's shot. Asriel with an ash arrow that had poison in it. And the poison is controlling, it can be sent anywhere in his body and King Hybron is in control of it. And that's how he gets them all to come with them. Because they could have battled back when they first got with Jiren and that, but Asriel would die. So reluctantly, they all go in front of him. And he reveals, he's like, well, now that I finally have you, I've held up my end of the bargain and out comes Tamlin and Lucien. And it turns out Tamlin, fucking Tamlin. has made an agreement with the king a bargain that the king can have his land and come in through the spring court into Parentheia if he would break the bond between Avera and Rhys. Caitlin Stryker: This is the like culmination of the problem with fucking Tamlin. Like the whole time Reese is like, your choice, do what you want, go where you need, you know, even though like they're true mates, right? Meanwhile, Tamlin's like, I love you, your mind, he took you from me, like treats her like property, not her own person. Courtney Richter: yeah, the way he says it, he's like Farah come when he sees her in the room as if she's just gonna go with him. The only thing I will say is that he's still at this point, aside from he's wrong every way, but he is convinced that Reese has broken into her mind because that's his power Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: and has made her fall because he in his head Reese is so much worse and only knows the Court of Nightmares that Reese has shown to the world. So like there's no way in his mind that Farah would rather be with Reese than be with Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: him. Like it doesn't make sense. Positive that he is somehow fucked with her head and kept her like that's his own denial But that's what he thinks Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: that being said the way he asked her like you're saying he's just like fair come and she's like no and like He's trying like just coming. He's like break the bond break it between them and like Caitlin Stryker: that he would make a deal with hibern to get her back. you know like that he would like sell out everyone. Courtney Richter: Well, what happens is because Lucien runs into Farah in the woods when she's training with Cassian her powers, and he tries to winnow her away and she refuses and he's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: and she turns herself into an Illyrian and front like she shapeshifts in front of Lucien and he sees her power Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Lucy. Courtney Richter: and that and he says later in the book he reveals like that's when he went to Tamalin was like, no, we need to find another way to get her back and I had already been like whispering in Hibern's ear as an Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: option. and already been a spy. And so I am this one that's like, we need to go to King and he can he's the only person I can break the bond. Caitlin Stryker: So that's really right. That's right. That's really where it like sneaks in is I enthused the total like portrayers snake here that basically like Courtney Richter: Yeah, she's awful. Caitlin Stryker: Tamlin let into his court and then he's Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: being swayed by her. Meanwhile, she's working for hybrid. It's like, yeah. Courtney Richter: from the get like she's, she's a power climbing hungry like we can Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: all see the writing on the wall with her and she's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: what I guess and also what's revealed a bit late like Tamlin's been looking how to break this bond like the reason why when she was staying with him and going back and forth before is like he kept leaving because he was trying to find someone to break the bond and it's come down to the only person that would be powerful enough to break this bond is King hybrid. It's literally his only option if he ever wants Farrah to not have to disappear once a month to Reese. So he Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: also thinks it's the only way to truly have her. is to go through the king. So Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: and in this, he tries to grab her to like winnow away and she windows herself gone. And he and then they realize when that happens, because she goes back to Reese, that's when all of sudden they realize that they're mated. And the king thinks it's hilarious. He's like, you only you'd let her go only for her to find her true mate. How interesting. And then he said Caitlin Stryker: You Courtney Richter: the and he's like, and the other thing we're here to do is to like test the cauldron. And for the queens, the ones that you took the book, it's only fair you guys see this, and he brings out Farah's sisters, which no one was expecting. Like Tamlyn and Lucina are shocked Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. No. Courtney Richter: about this, and obviously Farah and all of them are like, what? And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: the queens are like, yes, show us that it's okay and it will turn us immortal. That's the deal they made with Hybrin for them to tell about Volaris and not give them the book is that he will make them immortal. So all about power. Caitlin Stryker: Hold Courtney Richter: And it turns out I ain't is the one again that told the king about her sisters like again, she just betrayed and they are at they're begging like please don't please don't the sisters everyone's fighting it can't do and then casting strength. He's let's this light that like shreds castings wings and even on the ground like he's dying. He's trying to like reach for it to help Nesta and Elaine can't and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. I mean, and at this point when you're reading the book, like the pages are turning so fucking fast because you're just Courtney Richter: you're at the end of the book. Caitlin Stryker: like, my God, my God. Courtney Richter: Yeah, it's like insane. They're going fair somehow can break the spell because she's like unmade and made and is like, you can't hold me. So Caitlin Stryker: Yeah! Courtney Richter: she's somehow able to do it. But the king sends his light. And that's what captured stops her again from destroying when she's broken the spells is because he has your sisters. Like again, these things that keep getting in the track so that they can't actually fight back or do anything but watch and they're they're forced to watch him put the sisters in the college and they literally can't stop and even Tamlin is driving like stop it, stop it, stop it. He doesn't, he does it with sister. She sees that she sees Casey and dying, reason on his knees, Asriel, and she comes up with an idea. She realizes she has the power to like do something about this. And she lets out this bright white light that she gets in the summer and it lets her cause this big light. No one knows what's happening. And when she's doing it, she's able to break all the wards so that her family will be able to winnow out. And after it does she falls and she's like. I said you're free Tamlin and runs to Tamlin and puts on the show of like I'm free from it please take me home do it like and Tamlin is just so relieved that she it seems to be back to herself he doesn't like question it Lucy's looking at her a little bit like hmm and then she Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: looks to Reese and is like play along with me like and so Reese doesn't miss a beat he's just like how'd you do it how'd you break free of like my mind control and she's like please I Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: just want to go home and then Tamlin just agrees like okay break the bond and he thinks that the king is going to break their mating bond now, not just the like bond to show up, but the mating bond. And so the king Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: does this thing that is really painful for Reese and Farrah and destroys the bond of the every week, the one they made in the underground and like clefts it and the tattoo disappears from her arm and like leaves them both panting and like broken on the floor. And Farrah uses that as an opportunity to show them that they can winnow. I can't remember what she winnows to, but she winnows and does something to like make it and more. All our family kind of starts to catch on to like what she's doing. So then more quickly windows to the sisters right before Lucy and looks at Elaine and is like, you're my mate. Caitlin Stryker: my god, that part was just like, what the fuck? Courtney Richter: Yeah, so Lucien is made into a lane and even that the king is like interesting like how does this keep happening? and Windows the sisters away Reese understands right away grabs Casey and and as you'll windows them away it leaves and then Tamlin and Lucien and Vera leave together that's like essentially Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Now one quick thing, one quick detail in there that was so interesting. Like Elaine goes in and comes out and then Nesta like, okay, I'm going to have you go for it. Cause I was like, wait, we can't leave that out. Cause it's Courtney Richter: Oh, yes, I was getting to her. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, Caitlin Stryker: like, so Courtney Richter: Nesta when she was forced in with a gas and she is like fighting it tooth and nail and as she's going in she like lifts a finger and like pointed at the king like you and she's like I will get like and he even seemed unnerved by it like there was like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: even the king was like oh god and she comes back out and the cauldron like shutters and was fighting it and something's different they see like a flash of something in this his eyes that's like different than anything else and something has changed. But we don't know why. And that old time Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: case is on the ground like trying to get to her crawling even though his wings are destroyed. He's half dead, like still trying to protect Nesta. Then, okay, so everyone leaves. and then it goes Reese and then arrive back at the court. Amaran's there in the Lars the Tanos and she's like, where is she? Where is she? And they say they're like, she went and he reveals that his mate and their high lady who he made, he sworn her last night as the high lady is now plotting to destroy their enemies from within. He's like, you, they're like, Amor's right away. like, go get her. Like, what do you mean? He took it, go get her. And he's like, I can't. He's like, she is high lady now and she is doing her own task Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: if I want to. And then they're more like, are you mean to tell me that my high lady Caitlin Stryker: You Courtney Richter: is now in the hands? Caitlin Stryker: Yeah Courtney Richter: of our enemies. Like, yes, like what I mean to tell you is my mate and our high lady is like, taking on the super dangerous task for us. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And it kind of like settles on them that that's what's happening. And that's kind of where the book ends is like them settling that in. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Which is like so amazing and exciting because we learned early on in the first book that like there are no high ladies, you know, and so Courtney Richter: It was a thing like Tamlin dismissed it. when she's like, well, they call me ladies. I can tell like you are, you'll be the lady of the house. So he's like, there are no high ladies. Like that's not even a world. That's not something that could exist. But of course, because Reese is the perfect guy in doing it. Of course he wants Farah to be his equal in every way. That's just who he is. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: And so it's there, but it was like this big to be like, no, that doesn't, that's not a thing. So not only are they mates. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. So it's. Courtney Richter: She is High Lady. And I'm so glad, I don't know about you, that I did not read this book when they were coming out. that, that fanger would have killed me. It would have killed me. I was like, Caitlin Stryker: Oh my god, no. No. Yeah. Courtney Richter: I would have been like crawling against, is it the walls? Is that the same? Caitlin Stryker: The rate of speed at which I read through the first three books was quite extraordinary. It's like one down, you're like, need the next one. wasn't, the compulsion was not even really, it was like out of my control. It like, it's like a spell has been cast. Like, are. Courtney Richter: Yes, yeah. Especially the two, the pink and green. they really, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: because the first one is that, but you're not, you don't really know what the cliffhangers you're being left on. So you're still Caitlin Stryker: Nah, you're kinda- Courtney Richter: fine. You're kind of like in a happy ever after for a little bit. But Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: these two are like, whew, like, okay. Yeah, what's gonna happen? So. Caitlin Stryker: next book. So I feel like on that note we are going to launch now into a court of wings and ruin. We're gonna we're gonna Courtney Richter: Yes, still have to make sure that's the name. Caitlin Stryker: I know I know the pink one but you have the OG cover there. Courtney Richter: I do and you know what's so cool that I just saw this had og art in it as well. So yeah, Caitlin Stryker: What? Courtney Richter: I mean, I don't love the pictures but that's her original Reese and Vera and then that is Amarin more as real and Casey in Caitlin Stryker: That's so interesting. That's not how I saw them in my head. Courtney Richter: Well, no, it's not how anyone sees them. It's definitely changed since then. Caitlin Stryker: That's really cool though. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: That is very cool. Yeah, I know I see them all as more they're every single one of them is like so incredibly Caucasian in those drawings and I don't see them that way. I never did in my brain which is I think is really interesting. Yeah. Courtney Richter: True, true, true, true, true, No, either do I. Yeah, never think of it as even that simple. Even with Faye in general, there's always a different. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, there's always like more, but I always just see like more of like a blend, like more just different. Courtney Richter: Yeah, I agree. And I have seen all the fan art on like Instagram and stuff. And now like the AI fan art that people have made for recently. It's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: just like that's now what's in my head, which is just so much hotter. Caitlin Stryker: Right. Like a little bit of that, but then I like sometimes want more, like I appreciate the AI fan art that people do, but then sometimes I want like more human, like more texture, like realness, you know. Courtney Richter: that's what I mean. The ones that like look like a real person. Not like cartoony. Yeah, no, no, no. The real people ones that people have. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, yeah, because some of them are like, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: There's the odd one that you're like, that was done well. That's. Caitlin Stryker: That's it. Yeah, or you're like, or even if that's not totally it, that's an image I'll walk in my brain. Courtney Richter: Close enough. Yep, yep, good enough. Good enough. Caitlin Stryker: Totally. Okay, so now we're moving on to a court of rings and rune court has Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: the OG cover there I have the new like color copies, which Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: is why I just like now that we've been doing this I've been jokingly referring to them by their color Courtney Richter: Yeah, because you have to. It's too hard to like remember the names. I've got Silver Flames is the last one. And Akitar is the first Caitlin Stryker: It's too hard. Yeah. Courtney Richter: one. And then there's you know, mist and ruins and wings and things in between. I don't know. It's like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, it's a lot it's a lot so we're gonna start talking about a quarter rings in run and we might have to leave you guys on a cliffhanger and finish it in a second episode we're gonna see because we don't like our Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: upsets to be too long And they have a Courtney Richter: Yes, and these books are heavy. There's a lot, but we'll try. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: They have a lot going on. one of the things, and since I have it right here in front of me, that I, like as I was doing a quick kind of, you know, peruse through and I opened it up and I went, I forgot. Like it's opened with recent, like with his Courtney Richter: Mm. Caitlin Stryker: and two years before the wall. we got, I mean, just so cool. Courtney Richter: Yes. Just like, it's a backstory to see like, and they're building on what happens in the war of this book and like the alliances with durian Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: and with different people because all of it comes into play. And that's what we kind of started to learn at the end of this last book. And this one is his backstory and his like story Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: with him or that and like with his dad and how that all happened. Which is really cool. It builds up Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. And the backstory too of like why Tamlin hates Reeson so much, like more than just, yeah. And vice versa, Courtney Richter: Yes, yes that came out. Caitlin Stryker: why Reeson hates Tamlin so much, like they're, yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: Yes, they're enemies and Tamlin's connection to Amarantha because their families were friends. And then the two High Lords became kind of friends just over like existing in the same timeline as kids. And they weren't quite like they had siblings and people, weren't sure who was going to be High Lord. And they bonded. And then Tamlin went with his dad and killed Reese's mother and sister. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: then Reese went with his dad and killed Tamlin's father and mother which he he had made Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: his dad promise he wasn't going to kill Tamlin's mom but the dad did anyways Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: and Tamlin's family kept the wings of his sister and his mother too and kept them pinned like above the fireplace and in the manor it's just really gross and like basically Tamlin side struck first Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: and they both got caught up with their families and I don't know that either of them would have actually followed that of action on their own either. Like it gives you like there was a thread underneath it. Their fathers Caitlin Stryker: Exactly. Yes. Courtney Richter: were both inherently evil and awful and these two aren't quite as evil and awful as they were. But Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: then I forget like Reese's bit of the story. If I'm try to get this in a more Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, here we go. Courtney Richter: digestible, I'm gonna try to make this book digestible for you guys. I'm gonna try to do an overview of what happens and then we'll get into some of the details. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: But. We go back into spring court and it is so much fun because Farrah is there on a mission. She is like, Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: I'm going to ruin you beyond anything you did to me. You are not gonna recognize this court. Like this is it. She's playing like weak. starts with like when she's gonna see Iain the first time and like pretending to be meek and like the like, don't you ever do that again? And let her think that like she's friends with her again so that she can slowly like fuck Iain over and like. makes Tamlin promise things will be different. And he does, to be fair, he does actually let her have a little more freedom. But Caitlin Stryker: You Courtney Richter: the Hibern sends Durian and the twins to the house. Braung and something with a D. Dad, I meant to look it up, guys. You know names are not my strong suit. Yeah, something like that. Creepy twins, Caitlin Stryker: Creepy twins, we got creepy twins. Courtney Richter: Dagda, Dogdawn. Caitlin Stryker: Died then. Courtney Richter: Dagdawn, whatever, creepy twins. I'll refer to them as that from here on out. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: But they show up and Farah can tell right away that they are also Demati, Demonte. Caitlin Stryker: Dimarte. Dimarte? Yeah. Courtney Richter: They can reach into Mines and she blocks them and blocks out. everyone's brain away and kind of like sets that up with them that she's going to do that. And so they start off on like the wrong foot from each other right away, like kind of sizing each other Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney Richter: up. Meanwhile, she's putting into place that she has kind of started bonding with Lucy and again, flirting with him a little bit while seeming like she's interested in Tamlin. She's setting I end up to look bad, kind of counteracting her on things. And she's going to look at the wall with the twins and get a feel for Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: like what's going on with them. She ends up basically the turning point for her and them. Like every day she's kind of getting a headache and she's kind of feeling these headaches coming on, but kind of thinks like, doesn't think much of it, thinks it's because she's protecting everyone's brains. And she's like getting along with Tamlyn, giving him little hints, kind of sets it up so that the first time he comes to see her in her room, she's had a nightmare right before it and is with Lucien and is like, is he upset? And blocks it so that he starts to question what's going on with her and Lucien. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: then, The twins, they're looking at the wall and then there's a moment where these humans, children of, children of the. Caitlin Stryker: The children of the blessed who showed up for a second in the first book, they suddenly show back up. Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah, people who want to live in the in print the who begged to like go live with the fairies. Yes, yes. Caitlin Stryker: Humans who want to be with the fairies. Yeah Courtney Richter: And they show up and the twins are like so interested in them and want them to like, come through and there's like no and she breaks into their brains and makes them like go back even though they were going back like one is beaten by her parents. One is like starving ones forced to sex like they have horrible lives. But it's still better than dying on the side of the wall and she sends them away and the twins aren't really happy about it. And the next morning when she wakes up with Lucien. Caitlin Stryker: Well, the twins want to play with them. The twins want to bring them in and like toy with them and then kill them. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: They want to kill them. They want to eat them and kill them. Yeah. they like, Hibernians do not care about humans. They are slaves. They don't give a shit about them. But Caitlin Stryker: No. Courtney Richter: Jurian is like, or, but he has to like keep his cool. Cause he's with Hibern's guys. But when Farah sends them away, he does give her a moment of like, thank you. Cause he's still human. Like that was his side. And the next morning though, they wake up and the twins have gone and found them and killed them. The kids. And that's like a big turning point. Her and Lucy and band together and they go and track down the bog. and they send it after the twins and Tamlin's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: like, where is it? You set the bug after them. they're like, and she's standing up. She's like, Caitlin Stryker: That part's fun. Courtney Richter: yes. And she's saying, and make sure people can hear like they're innocents. We're all innocents. And she's making sure every time she fights and stands up with Tamlin is like being overheard and being heard by people. And she gets into the point that he loses his temper, but this time she doesn't shield herself. And she lets herself be taken out and like shoved into the wall and hurt purposely because she wants. people to see what he did. And Lucy comes bursting like, what did you do? And the two guards behind them are all in shock, but Tanlin hurt her and he is and she's letting herself like bleed and be bruised. And she does too good of a job she's thinking because the injuries actually last for a couple of days, but she's making sure while she's injured, she goes out for a horse ride. So they see her being like kind of martyred and tough and setting up that storyline with them. And then Iain because she's annoyed that she's not getting attention from the twins and she's doing a ceremony of welcoming them and Farah moves her like altar over by like five feet Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: so that the sun that Iain is set up to come through her hands actually hits Farah and Farah gets to be godlike and then she adds her own magic to it so she's even brighter and looks chosen and Iain is kind of like pushed to the side and really annoyed. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: So in turn Iain starts talking about a rot that's coming in the Nanda and like that they should care and do praying because the Naga are coming. And she sets up this poor guard to have lost his keys nice before and then brings Naga to the gate and lets them like be unleashed and sets it up to look like this guard's fault. And it's like, he needs 20 lashings and one for the courtesy of us doing it. And fair breaks in the guard's mind and like lets him remember that it was actually her, that it was Iain that did this. And he's like, it was her, it was her. And everyone can know Iain protests like too many times and everyone can tell like at this point, okay, she's obviously lying. But Tamlin, because the twins are there and Jiren can't look weak and he has to like, follow through, which far fair knew would happen. And so he does the Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: 20 lashes and all of the centuries are so disappointed in Tamlin and feel so betrayed because they've laid their life on the line for him. They went out to be shot by fair. Like they've been loyal to the core and he is just like taken I ain't over them in a very public way. And they go that's then fair stays and like helps him and like helps his wounds all night with a healer changes the blood water like is there and even the next morning Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: like checks in on the guards again, like she's really buying all their favor. And it is also who she is as a person. It's not like snake, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: but she's pointing out the cracks in the kingdom. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: And then she goes to the twins, the wall again and decides like, okay, and Reese is like livid down the bond. He's like, are you hurt? What? Like she can feel is Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: like, he's like, I want you home. Like, I'm not going to tell you what to do. But like, I want you home soon. Like I can't handle this. And so she's like, okay, this is gonna be the time to go. And meanwhile, Jarrion's been picking up on the little things she's been doing. Like he's like, I find it crazy that the you know, dark lore that everyone knows Reese isn't tearing the world apart to get his mate back. Like that's weird. And he says like, I knew Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Reese when he was just another army fellow, like they fought in the first war together. And so he knows what kind of guy Reese is. And he knows deep down that all this is massacre, he suspects it, and suspects Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: it, you know, like what, indeed it was. he's kind of like onto her a little bit. And so they go and Tamlin comes this time, because I like insist because she's like questioning her with Lucy and And so at one point he disappears to go hunting for food. And she's like, okay, the twins tell her that they need to find a spot in the wall for the cauldron to break it. It needs to go into a broken spot because something's slightly off with the cauldron. It's not working Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: the full way it was. Otherwise they wouldn't need a hole, but they need a hole. Exactly. That's what they figure out. Caitlin Stryker: Ever since Nesta came out of it. Courtney Richter: So she gets it and feels like, okay, I'm ready to go, got her stuff. She's about to leave. And then she hears Iain and Lucien. And she's like, just ignore it. Just go, just go. But she can't, she goes back and Iain. has Lucien with the like blue chains that are hybrid special that null powers Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: chain to a tree and is basically trying to rape him. Like she's like, no, he's like, I'm a maiden male, like, don't touch me doing she won't. fairs had enough. makes I break her own hand with a rock like continually break it and break it and break it and puts into her head that she will live in fear knowing if she ever touches another male without the permission again, that someone will come and kill her and she'll live with that fear every day of her life and that she can heal it, but she can't get rid of the scars. Caitlin Stryker: And had she at some point gotten, she'd gotten the story from Reese about, am. Courtney Richter: Reese said, yes, right. She tried to seduce Reese years and years ago before Amarytha begged Caitlin Stryker: years ago. Yeah. Courtney Richter: to come to the court. finally let her mostly because he was curious what she was up to and then found her naked in his room and that he threw her out. But that she's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: always been, that's part of the reason he hates Iain. She's always been after power. She's always been trying to spread her legs to get it. There's a thing about her. So that was already planted in Farrah's head. So. This time she breaks her hand, tells her she can heal her hand, but not the scars. And that basically, I would kill you, but I think it's better for you to live in fear for the rest of your life of something coming after you. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And then they turn and Lucien's like, you're leaving. And they turn around and the twins are there. And the twins are like, have you not noticed your headaches and diminishing power? Like you think we didn't see you scheming and we weren't also. And it turns out they've been feeding her famine so that her powers have been slowly diminishing. And the apple she ate today was like grown in a field hybrids. of Feynman, like it's completely knocked Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: it out for at least two days now. She will be, and she feels the last of her power, like it's slowly draining from her. She takes them on fights it, her and Lucien both fight them and Lucien and Elmer are shocked that she can like go toe to toe with Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Dagon and basically they end up killing the twins together. And Lucien is now like, you're leaving. And he's like, I'm coming with you because he wants to get to Elaine. He needs to be, he needs to get to his mate and he doesn't think he'll ever see if he doesn't. do it like he's shocked when he's upset she's leaving but also was like, okay. And so they venture off together with no power. They use the door to escape into the out of court. And he's also like, it's the out of court like my family will kill you need me to help you. Yeah, so all the food they packed, can't trust it. They're going this adventure. Caitlin Stryker: Oh my gosh, can we have a quick time out? Because this is like, we're going on this part of the adventure. I was so bummed. As somebody who loves autumn and fall, I was so bummed reading these. Like the autumn Courtney Richter: Sure. Caitlin Stryker: court is so nasty and terrible and like this vicious place. And I was like, no. Courtney Richter: with the fire I know I know it's it's it doesn't it's pretty it has the coziness but it has Caitlin Stryker: It's very pretty. Courtney Richter: the under five well but I mean that is fall like it is beautiful and Caitlin Stryker: I know. Courtney Richter: colorful and cozy but you can get those nasty days and fall that you're just like it wasn't ready for this like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Right. I just, you know, I Courtney Richter: you Caitlin Stryker: was always one of those things for me in these books. I was like, aw, too bad the Autumn Court is such a shitty place. It is. Courtney Richter: Yeah, it's true. It's anti-US autumn girls, but they just need the right person, I think, could bring it back to the, and who knows, Eris might end up being that, but that's getting ahead of myself. Who knows in this Caitlin Stryker: Right? It could happen. It is, Courtney Richter: last book, there's a chance whenever it's written. Yes, so now, and she like set up and sent the sentries heads that they are going to have the memory come to them in two days that. Tamlyn let the twins attack her and she fled for her life in fear of hybrid and that Tamlyn let it happen. And so that's what Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: all of his court is going to think happened in the woods. She set that up. So now they're in autumn and basically they at some point they're traveling together. She's kind of giving Lucy and bits and pieces about why and what and like how he failed her. And he's trying to like come to terms with it. They're kind of talking and not talking, but he's impressed with like her ability to fight and like who she is. And he's like, wow, that girl really did die into the mountain. Like you truly planned all of this. Like he can't believe it. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: and how much she fell for it too. And then they get attacked by his brothers. They find them in the on court. It's a big battle. She's able to get like a wisp of magic. They get away, they're running and then they're basically almost like on death's door, like fighting against Willa Powers almost should come back, but they're in winter and it's freezing. They have no food, they have no magic. And then his brothers find them on this lake and are like trying to melt the lake. Like it's coming to this point of like, this is where it's going to end. And just as the battle is getting there, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. You're reading, you're like, I got a lot of book left, but they're about to die. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, it's getting bad. And then Casey and shows up, cracks onto the ice. And she like looks in his eyes and he gives her look like reminding her like I've trained you for this, like when you're captured and do that to make enough space for him to be able to get in there. She remembers basically takes Aris out by kicking him in the nuts and punch him in the face and then Casey and finishes and before Casey can kill him. She's like enough. And he listens instantly Casey and and as you're in Lucien Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Well, because she's the high lady. Courtney Richter: Exactly, that's what it gets revealed. says enough and then going and heiress is like, why would they listen to you? she's like, I am high lady of the night court. And she reveals the tattoo she's had glamored on her arm this whole time. And Lucy's in shock. Asriel and Casey are happy because they already know this obviously. But she declares it to heiress Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: who then is like shocked. Everyone's shocked. And is like, I will let you live. This is the message you will pass on. And like, we'll remember this one day. And my favorite moment that always I've always loved is then Casey scoops her up. has to carry Lucien and he looks super awkward and going but once they're up in the sky and they're finally safe and free and Casey just looks down at her and is like hi you Farrah like they just have a moment of saying hi to each other and then like a hug and it's just like the Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: sweetest thing I've always loved that moment they're just like checking back in as friends they get Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: to the townhouse and Lucien is like what is this because he only knows of the night court Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: he thinks they're gonna be in Hewn City but they're in Valaris And she's like, this is my family, this is my home. And he's so shocked. He's like, there are children laughing in the street. What is happening? And Ameth is there and Moore is waiting for them at the edge of Winter Court and windows them back to the house. And she's like, he's coming. was far away, but he's coming. So they see him for a moment and then Reese shows up. And it's just, she sees him and falls to the ground. He rushes Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: to her. gets on his knees and like holds her face and is like, my love. And they just have this like moment of the best, like Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: kisses her and then picture one swoop and is like, go somewhere else, throw her out of the house and everyone just leaves. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, it's everyone else. Courtney Richter: And he just windows upstairs to the bedroom. And they Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: take a moment of just like breathing each other in, being happy they're alive, that they're okay, they have, and she's like, you don't wanna like talk about what I saw or somebody's like, no. Like again, being the right choice for her. He's Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: like, no, no, no, that's later. Like we need. time right now Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: and and then they have really hot delicious steamy steaks. Reconnect. Caitlin Stryker: They do. And it's like this lovely, sort of slow, like it starts downstairs and then he gets everyone out of there and then they get upstairs and as the reader, they're they're finally back together. We're just going to get it on. You know what I mean? But then he's like, and she's like, no, you need my information. He's like, not yet. And then you think, okay, now clothes are just getting tearing off and they're going to be having this great face sex. And then he's like, maybe you want to take a bath, but like, but, and then she like takes a bath and then, but there's like this kind of constant Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: like mental connection and checking in with one another and this like nice like foreplay and then she gets together and all this stuff and then you just get this like gorgeous sexy and you're like Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. And in the right way, like because he did think she was dead. He thought when the bond was dark, he kind of explains Caitlin Stryker: Exactly. Courtney Richter: where he was or what was happening before they can Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: get that and builds her up to it. And then it's like, it's that mate sex. So it's like the souls joining sex. It's a totally different thing. And then it's like, but it warms. Caitlin Stryker: Totally. Courtney Richter: You're right. It takes us all. gets us out of the battle mode, out of Tamlin. And she like warms everyone up for it. So then when they Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: finally have it. Caitlin Stryker: You're like, yes. No. Courtney Richter: You can be there and caught up and you're not wondering about the other things. They've caught you up as well. And you're like, okay, we're all okay for a moment. We can enjoy this and it's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: safe. Caitlin Stryker: you're like okay also like it was you know I needed a little Courtney Richter: Yeah, yeah, you need it. And they do the rest of this book, like they do sprinkle in the Caitlin Stryker: Thank you. Courtney Richter: moment she's really good at finding it between the war and all the stuff that happens in this book. They sprinkle in these moments between the two of them that are so hot and like, and then they start having some wing play and they start like there's so many things that start coming in. so now they're back, they're reunited. And she's like, and right before I want to add right before they do is actually like my sisters, where are they? And he like, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: right there at the house of wind, I'll take you there. And she can see it's literally like would kill him to have to like release her. She's like naked out of the bath and do it. But like he would do that for her. And then she's like, No, no, we'll go. We'll do this Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: first. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And then we can go see my sisters. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, especially considering like still, you know, her sisters are like, they're not deserving of like, she rushes to them right now. She needs to check in with them Courtney Richter: yeah, i mean, they are- they did go through a lot, but- Caitlin Stryker: and they went through a lot, but Courtney Richter: But still, Caitlin Stryker: yeah. Courtney Richter: she's, go, they go to visit the sisters, they bring Lucien and she gets to decide like, what's going to happen with him. Like Reese is like, it's now up to you. You're the high lady. What do you want to happen with Lucien? And she kind of like, reminds me, gets a feel for it. Like he just wants to see Elaine. It's like, even if it's just once, I just want to see Elaine and see how that goes. So she decides like, okay, you can stay here, but there's going to be rules. Like you can't go onto their floor. You can't go here. Basically, you can stay here. You can go into the city if you wish, but you have to use the stairs. There's no winnowing because she's still there's a small Caitlin Stryker: you Courtney Richter: part that's worried that he'll just grab a lane and winnow away. But they agree to house him give him clothes, have them there. But like, they're just kind of like feeling it out. So Nesta is in a library reading she comes across her and like there's something different about her. She doesn't know what but there's something and case in is there and it's clear he's been visiting her and talk to her and they have again they're fighting like words with each other that Nesta just always shuts him down. annoyed by him. And Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: fair is happy to see her she's blamed it's clear like she blames gays and unfair for what happened to her. And because Elaine is so destroyed. Elaine has lost weight. She's not eating. She's not leaving her room. She's crying every Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, Elaine is just, yeah. Courtney Richter: day. She is devastated that her she's losing her fiance like she's supposed to be married a couple weeks and he hates fairies and this is not going to obviously go her way. Caitlin Stryker: And now she's a fairy. yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, so she's lost like everything that was Elaine that was kind and sweet and light about it. Like she's just a shell. She's just existing. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: it kills, you know, they're allowed to see that and Lucien and everyone, they're just like, they don't know what to do for her. trying. Caitlin Stryker: Well, and even as the, even as the reader, you're like, no, cause at least she was like somewhat kind, you know, like you, yeah. Yeah, you do. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You feel really bad. Like this is not the ideal situation, obviously. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: So they are there and they're figuring out what to do. Cause again, hybrid is coming. They've now destroyed Tamlin. Like the next thing they need to do is they're going to have to get all the courts to come together. That's part of it. And they need, they go to visit. No, they already did visit the bone carver the first time that was in the last book. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, that was the last book they already visited once. Courtney Richter: Yeah, yeah, yeah, they already visited him. So they are training fair decides she wants to learn how to have wings. Even if it's only one she just has this feeling like she should learn how to fly. Asriel says he'll help her because he learned later in life than the rest of them. So he agrees and they're all doing research on the cauldron on the book on things that could possibly help on things that happened in the last war. She fight against hybrid she learns Caitlin Stryker: to fight against high burn. Yeah. Courtney Richter: about the library that's in the city of Alaris that is has some high priestess's cloth is her name is the close though in the House of Wind. And Caitlin Stryker: It's in the House of Wind. Yeah, close though. Courtney Richter: it's basically a sanctuary for any women that have been abused or want to hide away as their sanctuary, they run the library and it keeps all of the important tombs and things that survived the war there. And she learns like a lot of fairies destroyed a lot of their books because they're scared about the humans getting their hands on the last time and the last treaty. Caitlin Stryker: you Courtney Richter: And they're trying to find any information on the wall they can when the wall was resurrected. so that they can try to see if they can stop Hibern from destroying the again. And Amaryn Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: has started training Nesta to try to see whatever power she has, there's anything she can do, because they think because she was made from the cauldron's wall, she might be able to repair the wall. Because if they can repair the holes in the wall, then the cauldron can't destroy it. That much they know. Caitlin Stryker: Well, they know that all three sisters who were made in some way like have this extra ability. Elaine Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: is useless because she basically can't even speak. Yeah. Courtney Richter: At this point, they don't know if she has anything she hasn't shown where Nesta has shown her eyes, but also, Amon knows there's something with Nesta. Like she knows something's happening there. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, Amryn can tell. She's like... And something that's more connected to what Amryn... Like something that Amryn can feel because Amryn is like this other being from another realm. And there's something Courtney Richter: Yes, yes, exactly. Caitlin Stryker: more like that going on with Nesta than like Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: straight Fae of this realm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. And so, and since the cauldron, something's broken. Well, the thing that's broken is that Nessa, they took something that she might be able to fix the wall. So they've Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Mm. Courtney Richter: kind of started training her in that fair. They're all like looking for research. They need to get the armies together. So they go to Hewn City to talk to Keir to see if they can get him to agree. Cause part of the treaty with Hewn City is that it's his army and he only has to assist Reese if he wants to. Like that's part of like the two different parts of the night court. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. And you're also kind of thinking like, we're going to fucking need like the Hune City Nightmare Warriors to fight Hibern, right? So you're like, yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, they need everyone to fight hybrid. Basically, and hybrids like the what there is able to see through the twins minds. When she gets them and things that they've been able to figure out is that the hybrid and from the tour is that hybrid is like, the vast amount of people that he has raised for his army is an insane amount. And he's got these other continents agreeing to like work with him. So they've been working to keep the other continents kind of fighting with each other so that they won't have time to help. It's kind of like what they're trying to do there. And then they're also, and they, they can't go back for the cauldron. So all they can try to do is like fix the wall at this point, but they, know what they're up against. And so they're trying to get the other courts to come together. They've sent out letters to them. And then fair starts out the idea, like, what if we unleash these, the weaver or the bone carver? Like, what if we make them the same promise you have with Amarin that if we, he comes and aids us, then we can set them free. And so she goes to the prison again with Cassian. to go talk to him and he tells them one about Nessa that she's took something from the cauldron a piece of it that's going back that she's other she's basically death and fair realizes that he is her and recently's future son that's what he's showing her with the little boy the face the image of Caitlin Stryker: The image of, yes. Courtney Richter: she sees Reese's face and her mouth and realizes that it's her future son if they survive the war Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney Richter: and he basically says that he's here in this prison by choice He wants to be Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: in there. He has no interest in leaving with them. That his sister, who's the weaver and his other brother, whose Cotchild is his name or Cold Shield, we haven't met him yet, but they were the gods of death and that they are so powerful that he would rather hide and be in this prison for the rest of his time here than go out, than ever come across them again. Like he has no interest in it. And they are contained that a fey long ago contained because they couldn't be destroyed. They can't be killed. They could only contain them. The sister being contained in the middle in her cottage and the brother somewhere else and then we don't know where yet. But then he agrees at the end that he will help if she will get the obris-mir. Yeah, the ouroboros-mir. Caitlin Stryker: The Ouroboros mirror, yeah. Courtney Richter: Once he realizes she is high lady and then he will go and get the, if she gets the obris- that, Caitlin Stryker: or a Boris Muir. Yeah. Courtney Richter: then he will think about fighting with them, basically, is Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney Richter: what he leaves it with. So they go to Hune City and Reese already knows that Keir is going to be asking him more. He's just like, don't do anything. Don't make any bargains with him. Like do it. Well, they go to me and first Keir suggests like that the bargain would be fair. Like if you would trade fair for a night with him, which Reese just gets like insanely angry about obviously like Caitlin Stryker: Like as if, right? Courtney Richter: losing his. Yeah. And it's like, listen, I, because of our treaty, like you do get to say if your armies come with us, you don't get to choose for me to keep you alive. if I'm tired Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: of your existence, basically, is what he says. So that was the warning. And then, Eris shows up, who was the one that attacked Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Farah and that her and Kacien took out and is the Lucian's brother and a son of the Autumn King, the High Lord. they're like in shock. Moir is so upset because of her history with Eris that we know about that. He's the one that she was supposed to be engaged to when she went and fucked Cassian instead. And so Eris broke the patrol and left her. at the border of, I think of night court, autumn court night court with like a note nailed into her chest saying that the children was done or something like that. So, or no, her family left her there with that note in and then Eris didn't touch her and left her. Caitlin Stryker: Her family left her there, Harris. Courtney Richter: So he shows up and then Moore is like so betrayed. Like how can you have him coming in and not have warned her? And even Vera's like, why didn't you warn us? And Reese knows what care is going to ask. He wants to be able to allow to go to the city of Lares. Now he knows about it too. After the attack of the adore, everyone knows about it. And he's like, I find myself sympathizing with hybrid. Like I actually would like some freedom. We're stuck under here. And so Reese agrees. And even though more is like, no, you can't. And Reese agrees that they will be allowed to go into the city of Lares for certain like limited amount of times, limited amount of people. But he makes this agreement with him. And the other party sweetening the deal with is that heiress will align with, I've forgotten his name now. Kieran, yeah, he will align Caitlin Stryker: Here? Yeah. Courtney Richter: with him. Cause he's always wanted that alliance and that fell apart when Moore didn't marry him. And so that's the two Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yes. Courtney Richter: things basically they give him. Then he leaves and Moore is beside herself and Caitlin Stryker: Mm. Courtney Richter: Eris actually tries to explain cause Farah is like, tell me like, what did you possibly do? And even with your brother, like cause he's trying to say he's not as bad as dad. He's like, you know, we're kind of. in an alliance now I'll give you some info and basically he says like when Lucien's girlfriend was killed in front of Lucy and he wasn't there and he's the reason he tried to talk to his dad out of it and was punished for it and he's the reason Lucien was brought to the Supreme Court in the first place like he got him out into the border and basically saved Lucy's life you know, Lucy doesn't know this and so Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: he kind of starts to like maybe he's not as bad as like he's bad but he's not as bad as we think and then he also says more like I would never have touched you and then once you slept with him, like I knew what you wanted. So I gave you what you wanted and like cancel the betrothal in the most, in a no questions asked way. Like everyone would know it was finalized. But he feels it's the one thing he regrets is what happened to her with her family. He says that like he basically kind of, it's not redeeming like he's a bad guy, but he lays some things on the table. You're like, okay, it's not as quite as bad as we thought. Caitlin Stryker: You're getting these little nuggets that there's more there. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yes, and he's not quite as big of the enemy as we thought he was. And then Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: they leave, they go back and more is just like so upset with Reese and they get this huge fight and is like, what if Amarynth showed up the door and I was gonna help and he's like, would, like I would, I would whore myself to for another hundred years. I would do all these things if it meant trying to save you guys. Like I, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but like this needed to happen. This had to be, and even Amarynth saying like, you made the right call, you did the right things, but you did it badly. You should have told Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: her. you shouldn't let it be a blindsided thing. he gets Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: that. And he even tells Farah after, I wouldn't, I would kill her. If Amarynth did show up the door before she could even talk, I would kill her. And they're starting to fracture, and that's when they pull together, we can't fracture within. If we're going to do this war, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: we have to stay together as a unit. It's more important than anything. And they kind of agree. And that's when Amaryn actually tells them her story. So it's the first time we find out what Amaryn is. And essentially she was a soldier for the gods of death sent here. And the way she escaped the prison is that she had to give up her like absolute immortality. And now she's still immortal, only in the same way fey are. Like she can be killed because she confined herself to a human body or to a fey body. And Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: once she did that, she gave up her true godlike immortality and had to take on feelings and care. And she never had any of that. And she said like, if I ever get free of this body, like I won't remember you. I won't care about you. I won't. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, she's like, because Courtney Richter: Like that context came. Caitlin Stryker: God power doesn't have, it's Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: not crucial one way or another. Like it just doesn't have that. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, it just doesn't exist. And so if she goes back to that, like if she does set herself free, this relationship, this part will be gone. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: But he still promises like you can do that if you wish basically. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, and like that's our goal to help you get there, you know. Courtney Richter: Yeah, yeah, exactly. and that and Nesta came down to you and she was like trying to do things and trying to do tests for Amarin and it wasn't successful and just feeling negative. Meanwhile, Elaine has been like keeps all of a sudden like just saying little snippets. She's kind of bonded with Asriel. He's been helping her go out in the sun to the garden. She's like a white and black raven are coming and like the princess with fiery Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: flamed feathers. And they're like, Elaine's lost her mind. Like they all just think she's crazy. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And They're like, she's up, at least she's out of her room, but she's talking nonsense. like Lucien is like, talk to her for a few minutes and she's like, who are you? Why? And he's like, explains to her and she just doesn't care. Like she, and he's trying to like fight the feelings. Caitlin Stryker: this real sense of like he's this is interesting because this is one of those times where we always argue what not argue but we always are like have this problem with the guy not being like you're my mate to the gal meanwhile this is the time where Lucien has like straight up like you're my mate to a man and she's like holy fuck like no I'm engaged to someone else and in love with someone else I don't know who you are yeah exactly so then you start to be like Courtney Richter: Yeah, yeah, I've no way I'm engaged to someone else. I don't care. Which would have been Farah's reaction to. If Risa told her right at the get go, yeah. Caitlin Stryker: you start to see like maybe you don't want to know right away. Courtney Richter: and there is a world that like timing but I feel like the guys when we're Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: frustrated it's always past the point that you're like, okay, you could have like, you know, at some point now brought this up. But yes, yeah, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: in this case, he did. And it's interesting. It's Caitlin Stryker: you Courtney Richter: a really cool writing tool that Sarah D. Mass use because it lets us learn about the Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: bond in another way because we know how it Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: works when it's like snapped in but like it lets like Reese and Farah discuss like what's the history of a bond? Like what do people actually think it is? Why does it exist? He's like, it probably just boils down to biologically someone that would give you your strongest offspring, most likely. Something is ordained Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: by God, some try to fight it. And like it allows them to tell the story of like what happens to people that have refused a bond before, what happens to people that don't like. Caitlin Stryker: you Courtney Richter: It really opens up that world in a fun way because we are watching them fight it. Not Lucy and Vibe, but Elaine. then Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Elaine, fight. Courtney Richter: Elaine, they bring a healer for Elaine because she's been like spitting nonsense. And she's like, nothing is wrong. Perhaps have her mate talk to her. He might be able to sense something. Like as far as I can tell, like, but she's made, she's something different than I've ever encountered. I don't, there's a block on her brain because of the cauldron. So let him try. And he does, he just sits there and he's kind of talking to her. And he's always like so sweet and like ambly, but then Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: he finally pulls on the tug and then she's like, whoa, what is that? Like, and then she just like leaves. She's like sunshine and walks out. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, she freaks out. Courtney Richter: And he's like, it's an actual thing. Like, it's like a thread. Like it actually is there kind of to himself. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. It's also wild because this whole time we're getting little... Israel's always kind of like watching her and and seems to have a sense. Courtney Richter: Well, that's the whole thing that builds, right? There's a slow burn of Asriel and her because he's the first person Caitlin Stryker: There's a slow build there as well. Courtney Richter: she responds to, the first person she lets take her outside and gives more than Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: just the mindless like nods to. There's something Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: about them. There's something those two connect on, which is like part of the heartbreak of this series. For most people that read this is always like you want Asriel and her together, but like she's already with a mated male and it Caitlin Stryker: she's made it to Lucien. So you're just like. Courtney Richter: It's so, it sucks. It sets you up right away for this like love chain. Like there's no way out of this. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Like they are bonded. That's, and so Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: that's what the sixth book will eventually be is Elaine's story. That's not giving anyone a thing away, spoiler. No, it's already been told. Like it is her story. We already know that, Caitlin Stryker: I think so too. No. Okay. Okay. Courtney Richter: but that's a big part of it and where that's gonna go. Cause we never get an answer on it. And it's hard. Caitlin Stryker: So curious. Courtney Richter: Yeah, she wrote herself into an interesting corner because no matter who she now picks, there's a lot of speculation about what we can talk about when we get in the fifth book, because she's in the fifth book. I don't know if we're ever going to care enough to be satisfied. We'll see. That's something we'll answer down the road. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: I know. We'll see. We'll see. It's just interesting because it really starts to play here as Elaine starts to kind of come out of this, out of her Courtney Richter: Yeah, fully. Caitlin Stryker: thing in this moment. Yeah. Okay. So keep going. Courtney Richter: Yeah, and she's still in love with her human. Anyways, then Farrah and Nesta go to the library and then they get attacked by two of hybrids. call themselves his ravens, a white one and a black one, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: which is what Elaine had predicted. But Farrah discovers like in the bottom of the library is this thing that Cassian saw once and is like never go down. Like Reese says he dared Cassian Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: once and he was so pale, like it took him a long time to get over it that he's never gone down there again to question it. Farah runs down to that and the thing is there and it's like your high lady talks to her head. She's like, yes. She's like, do you want me to help you? She's like, yes. And she strikes a bargain with it that it wants someone to come and hear its life story. But she doesn't say it's her and she doesn't say when, but she strikes the bargain and the thing's like, close your eyes. And then it goes and like kills the ravens or attacks and almost kills them. and Cassey show up. Reese goes to talk to them to like find out what they were there for. They were sent by hybrid. And then he's like furious, losing his mind like. I can't believe they attacked you. got into here like once again, because of I guess there's a spell that could be used one time to cleave the wards and that King Hybrids like fighting his time and finally used it so that these ravens because they were coming to try to get Nesta. They wanted Nesta. So now they've learned that Nesta is now more important to the king than Farah because of something she stole from the hybrid. That's what the ravens reveal it like she stole something from the cauldron and they need it back and Nesta reveals like I she's like I made it give me something back. This is when she tells them like I went in and I fought it with everything and I made it. give me something back. And she doesn't know what she actually is, but Lucien's like that fire in her is like ice, like it burns like ice. It's not like my fire, cause she has the power fire. And, and Vera's like, it's death. Like she's somehow death incarnate, but they figure out like that he's looking for her and that he wants her to fix the cauldron. And that the bog, thing down there is now has a bond with Vera and she, they decide they, and then, and they realized Elaine saw this coming and that Elaine isn't crazy. She's a seer. She foresees Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. Courtney Richter: things that are coming in the future. And she tells, keeps telling about this queen that's princess with like feathers of fire. She keeps talking about that and how the old queen is also going to come. And she keeps telling about that. And then they, I'm trying to remember, I'm starting to blend Caitlin Stryker: now. Courtney Richter: cause I'm trying to remember. I don't wanna give something else away. Okay. They go to the meeting with the other courts. Everyone Caitlin Stryker: Yep. Courtney Richter: writes back that they're gonna, they agree they're going to meet. It takes them a while to figure out like where and when, and that's the fighting. They get there and it's Reese and Vera and they show her as the high lady. It's Tarquin, the summer, Helian, which is the stay court, I believe. What's... Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yes, yes, yes, Helion is dead. I only know that because isn't that Helios is the god of sun in Greek mythology or something? So it's like that's the, Courtney Richter: Yeah, exactly. The Winter Court guy that I can't remember his name right now. His wife. Yes, and she's got a relationship with Moore. Her and Moore are old, old friends. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Can't remember his name, his and his partner, his his mate is super interesting. His wife. Yeah, she's in. Yeah, our friends. Yeah. Courtney Richter: And then everyone but at first, but Tamlin is there basically. And they're there. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: this is when Reese's like, there I told Reese, like you have to show your true. colors like you have to the only way we're gonna get all these Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: lords on our side. and the guy from autumn is also there with errors. But like you're Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: gonna have to reveal your true side for them to join with us. So they go and they're trying to like, present who they actually are and what they've done. And obviously everyone is on the fence. But then Tamlin shows up. He decides to show up even after he's already sold them out and given and he just lets loose on Farrah. He calls her a whore. He makes all these comments with Reese and like tries to make all the guys in the high court like not go on their side. Basically tries to work against them. So all these like horrible, horrible things about Farrah like cuts her to the bone. Reese is losing his temper. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: And it needs to go horribly, but everyone's got, and obviously Tarquin's also pissed because when they went there and like destroyed their friendship by stealing the Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: book in the first place, like. things are a little tumultuous and they don't quite get everyone to agree yet. Like they know that winter will go on their side. Helian will go on their side, but they don't know yet about Tarkin. He's going to think about it now that they've revealed and shown about Volaris and like kind of seen that side of them. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Autumn is still on the fence. Like even though he's like, he will do it. They don't trust Berlin or something is his name. Bremen. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, Eris, we've got it's it's Lucien's dad. It's Lucien and Eris's dad. They're in something like that. Anyways, he's in. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, Berliner Baron is his name. Yeah. Byron, yeah. They're not sure. Yeah. They're not sure if he's telling the truth, if they can trust him, if he will do it or not. And that's kind Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: of how it gets left at that meeting. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. Courtney Richter: And so they go back and they know the war is coming and they're not sure what's going to happen. But then summer court gets attacked and they Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: are the only court they... go to the, actually this might've happened before the meeting. Caitlin Stryker: No, no, it happens after because they all go, I swear it happens after or maybe it happened. Is it before and that's why the meeting that came to help us? Yeah. There's a battle. Courtney Richter: I'm not sure because I think he says in meeting you're the only people that came and that's why he decides to side with them Caitlin Stryker: There's a battle in summer court in there that Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: got attacked and then they go to help. And then I think you're right. Courtney Richter: Yeah, either they I'm very sorry guys, either they meet twice or this meeting is when he's like, you're the only ones that came to help me and it's because Amaryn's had continued to have a relationship with the prince there still and so Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: he sends word to her and so they go and they help and and Caitlin Stryker: Hmm. Courtney Richter: and talk when ends up saying like you can consider the rubies void like we are now back Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: on equal playing field and on there and there Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: is a moment when she's revealed the Thai lady. that the wife of the winter is like, wait, you can do that? Like, and they're just like, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah! Courtney Richter: my god, you've caused so many headaches for all of us recently. Like, thanks. Thanks. Now I have to explain why I didn't make mine my equal partner. Caitlin Stryker: like, here we go. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Like, it's really funny that way. That's Caitlin Stryker: It is, it's good. And you're like, well, it looks like everybody's gonna have to step up. Courtney Richter: Yes, yes, exactly. And I think they all realize she has their power. I can't remember here or when their Caitlin Stryker: They do. Courtney Richter: door and they're pissed. They're all angry about the fact that she has a part of their power. As they predicted, like they're all beyond annoyed that she kept some of their power. But he makes me like, but now that she has like, you didn't even notice it's gone. Like then they're like, I did notice. Of course I noticed. Like, of course, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: wondering where that Colonel went. Like everything's out in the open. But they agree that they will kind of go to war. They kind of have to like bank on that. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And then are we going, do you wanna go, are we going all the way or do we wanna, cause this is kind of the amp up to the big, now a lot happens. Caitlin Stryker: Is this that we hit the war? Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: This is the war, right? Like this is when we go to war with Hibern. But I also think, I think that the war with Hibern has, I think we can like overview this part. Courtney Richter: Yeah, okay. So they go to war. Caitlin Stryker: Let's do an overview because it's battle. Yes, you guys, it's just a chaotic battle, but that is absolutely delicious. You gotta read it to get all the bits, but they're real. Courtney Richter: You just said it's so funny. You gotta read it to get to the battle Caitlin Stryker: You got it! Courtney Richter: bits. Okay, so basically they're going to war, but here's the thing, because her dad shows up, the humans show up, Miriam and Draycon that they've been trying to find and haven't been able to find because basically they glamored the island too well that even their friends didn't know. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah Courtney Richter: They show up, Jurian turns. Oh, okay, wait, wait, before the battle. This is the part I knew I needed to get to and I knew I'd fuck up. Elaine gets... Caitlin Stryker: It's okay. Courtney Richter: kidnapped basically she gets like Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: they get control of her mind and she goes to Hibern and Nesta's losing it. They pull her so that Nesta would go to save her and Farah's like, I'm going to save Elaine. Her and Azrael are going to save Elaine. Again, Reese can't go, I think, because magic tracking again, because Hibern's got a thing on his magic so he can't be there. But they're going to go get her. And she sees Iainth is there at this camp and Tamlyn is at this camp and people are. And there's this other girl that's being like strung up by a tree that is just an Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: innocent like human that fair wants to save a fae that they want to save and bring back to the library. But basically they get to Elaine and the culture and they find a way because she, she hides herself as I ain't she disguises herself as I ain't glamors herself to be I ain't yes. So Caitlin Stryker: Yes, fair does. Courtney Richter: that she can sneak into the tent and she runs into Jurian on the way. And then Jurian helps her and Jurian is like, Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: No one would like, have to drag me into the tent to have your way with me. Like he kind of gives her hints to like get away with this. And she Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: says like, you have to go save that woman. Like we can't leave without her. And he's like, okay, I'll meet you at the edge. Like you do this and I'll do that. Like he. Caitlin Stryker: Even as the reader at this point, it's like, fair, you gotta let some people die. We gotta get out of here. You know, get out of here. Courtney Richter: Yeah, I know. And she just she can't she sees this poor like, priestess errands like you go save her and I will get my sister so she does. And she started to escape and basically they the hounds catch on and the hybrids hounds start chasing them. And she's going she gives her sister Azrael who's like taking her and the other girl that during gets to them. But as we can't take all three of them and she can't wait and she's like I'm gonna fly and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: as she's going the hounds almost get her and then Tamlin shows up, he's been there, but he comes in his beast form and he starts attacking the hounds for her to let her get Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: away. He actually saves her. There's like this little gesture between them. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, he does. Courtney Richter: And there's been visits from Lucy and back for Tamlyn. And I think it's after this that Reese visits him. But anyways, Tamlyn shows up, saves her, and she manages to get her wings out and fly for the first time. She's been trying to fly, trying to fly, trying Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: to fly, and she just gets enough air under her wings. to get out, to fly and save. And she realizes like this whole thing, this whole training has been just for this moment so that she could save her sister and escape. Yeah, they have to get out of the wards. She has to get far enough Caitlin Stryker: to like fly to a point where she can winnow, right? Or something like that. Yeah. Courtney Richter: out of the wards to able to winnow. And if she doesn't find Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: do it, like she has to get out, not just down, she'll die essentially. And she sees Tamelin Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: like still taking on the house and she goes and he's like, he says something to her like, save yourself or be welfare or something like that. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: And she does and they get back. And so they save Elaine, save her. And now they're terrified because he can like kidnap Elaine. He can trip because Ness has been trying to scry or look for the cauldron. That's how they found her. And that's how they're able to get Elaine. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: So once again, they're all back together. The war is coming. And as I said, all those people come together. It's huge war. They release the weaver. They release the bone carver because she does look into Oberus. She survives it. And he's like, I've never met him. And he just gets up and walks out. He's never been trapped in the prison. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah! Courtney Richter: He just chooses literally as he said to live there. Like it's not, he's just like, okay, let's go. And like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: him and the Weaver go into the battle and they have like a smile on their face and they see each other and they're just like wiping people out. They're doing it all over. Caitlin Stryker: was so good. Courtney Richter: It's this battle people are winning. It seems like they might even be able to do this. But then the cauldron comes into play and and her father is there. Her father shows up and is battling. Caitlin Stryker: field out of left field her dad shows up with a fleet of chips like yeah Courtney Richter: Yeah, yeah. All of a sudden when it seems they're gonna lose, he's gotten the other contents. That's what he's been doing. He finally like redeems himself. Rivera Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: and they realized the King hybrid has Elaine again, and Cassian and Nesta go in to battle King hybrid and gassing trying and he wears him down. And nest in him kind of reveal their feelings for each other in this moment that like he's only regret is that they didn't have more time for each other and they kiss each other and the Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: king kills her father in front of Nesta. Like they have a moment of the father saying like, I never left you. The ship is called the Nesta like reveals cause Nesta the whole time is like the mother loves her, but the father didn't and only Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: loved Alaina going again, this is a quick overview at this point, but Caitlin Stryker: yeah. Courtney Richter: he gets killed in front of her, destroying her. And then the hybrid is trying to kill her in cast and she protects, but she lets out something. Some of her power comes out and kills King Kyber and she's able to like. decapitate him and she kills the king. Huge thing. But the Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: cauldrons are ready, been working up and is about to destroy. So Amryn goes in, disappears in the cauldron to destroy it, comes out as this power to like overtake people. I might be fucking this up, but basically Rhys and Farah have to like close the cauldron because it's destroyed. And if the cauldron, they have to bring it back together. That's right. Amryn goes in and destroys Caitlin Stryker: They have to like... Yeah. Courtney Richter: it. ends the war is done, but then the cauldron started to swallow everything in black because it can't not exist. That's why they broke the feet off it before Caitlin Stryker: Exactly. Courtney Richter: it has to exist. The rest of the world does not exist. So Vera is trying to use her power and the book to nullify it back together and is doing that and polls from reason polls from reason. He's like, keep going. Like you need enough power to do this. She does it. She does it. And then the cauldron comes back together world safe and Reese is dead behind her. She literally he gave every jet Caitlin Stryker: god. Courtney Richter: of power he has as Devastating and he hinted throughout the whole Caitlin Stryker: Disaster. Yeah. Courtney Richter: book. She's like he would he would give everything to save us like she's known this would be an option keep saying like you can't you can't you can't but he does he gives her everything and It's so devastating. He's dead. The real safe. It's gonna be with Adam She can feel the bond like but she reaches down. She's like no Tugging on the bond like trying to find that thread just like when she died and she begs the Lord's to save him again that everything he gave to save them to save the cauldron and they agree even Tamlin Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: agrees and they all give a drop of power again and she's able to use that bond and like keep him there. She forces him to stay and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: he comes back to life and it's this beautiful ending of it. He comes back to life and even tells him like, don't worry lads, none of your power came to me. It's all stayed with you. Good to go. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: Just so they don't have that whole fight again. And then even Amaryn ends up coming back out of the cauldron and is live but is even more is no longer has her like God like power. She's just kind of like a bae now. All of her Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: essence, her power before that she had is gone. But she's here. Her and the Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: prince guy are reunited and they've all like, for a moment, everything is like, hibern is dead. His bad things are Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: gone. Even that bog thing from the library came out to fight with them. Like they released all these things. There's this huge epic battle that we are really doing fast in 10 minutes, but worth the read. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, Courtney Richter: my God, the heartaches, the Cassian, the Caitlin Stryker: great battle. Courtney Richter: Nesta and Casey in relationship and like her Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: and Reese and even like their sex, the steam rape before the battle, like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah Courtney Richter: all of it is there. It is an epic moment in this book. Epic, epic, epic. And I feel like Ayn's dies. I hope she does. Something bad happens to her. She's somewhere, something happens. Caitlin Stryker: Iain is killed. she's she's gotten rid of in the battle. She she dies in the battle and it's like kind of Courtney Richter: I think she does. Caitlin Stryker: fast. It's a quick moment. You're like she's dead. Yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah, and like, okay, thankfully done. But everyone else lives. All the main players Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: are alive. Somehow they didn't die, only King Hibern and the father. The big thing is like the father died. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: And, and she did save that priestess. That priestess went to the library. That comes up with the next book. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, she does. Yeah. Courtney Richter: But yeah, so essentially the battle happens. Faire has become a super powerful badass knight, high lady, Tamlin. somewhat redeemed himself for like a moment. He saves her there and he saves Reese. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: And Lucien has decided he's going to go off with, well, I think it happens in the next book, but he ends up teaming with But Durian's Caitlin Stryker: That's that's later. Yeah. Courtney Richter: redeemed himself a little bit as well. Durian redeemed Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: himself, Tamlyn slightly, Miriam and Dragan Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: showed back up. The father showed back up and redeemed himself. It's a lot of redemption and battle. And now we have two more books. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, there's a and there's a lot a lot of like, the I feel like this one ends. And this kind of is like a close on the not a full close, but like, a lot wraps up of the first three books, all sorts of characters. Yeah, this could be the end. Yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: It could be, it really could just be done. Like this could have been the end of the series. And then the next one kind of loops us into the casting and the Nesta story. So this really is, it's it's an event. my gosh. It's, it's an emotional roller coaster. It takes you through it. It's not a light read. It's a lovely read. It's fantastic. Caitlin Stryker: No. Yeah. Courtney Richter: It should be part of your life, but it, it, cuts that. takes, it takes some back from you just like Nesta in the Cauldron. It takes a little with you when you read Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, it does. Courtney Richter: it. And then it like Caitlin Stryker: It does. Courtney Richter: ends in a great spot, but you go on a ride. It's Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: definitely, it's an adventure. It's not like a beach read. That's what I would say. Caitlin Stryker: could, though. This is what I like about it. You could read it at the beach. It's not so dark. It's not weirdly, you know, like, you know, like how alchemized Courtney Richter: Yeah. No, it's not like alchemized dark. Yeah, it's not that. You're not being abused. No. Caitlin Stryker: take that to the beach, but this one you could because you're on an adventure. You're leaving Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: to another world and you're on this adventure and you get so pulled in and there is so much happening that and it's just like delightful. Like it's really fun. Courtney Richter: it is but what I mean, because of that, that's what I mean. Like for me, a beach read is one that's like light and easy and you can have a drink and still be like in it like this one. If you were Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: like, you can't really tiptoe in and out of it. You're like in it like when you you want to Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: read it when you could just read and really be like Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: in it and enjoying it and it will stay on your mind and it will follow you all day and you don't want to be like snorkeling and thinking like, okay, but when is the casting gonna like you? It's like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: It takes you for the ride is what I mean. It's one that stays with you. It's not just like a read a few chapters and like, that's so nice and put aside. Caitlin Stryker: No, you're in the world. I mean, so my mom just read the first one. She hasn't read the second one yet. And they're traveling in Costa Rica and everything right now. And she was like, my gosh, like so good. And she was like, know, shades of Tolkien. And I was like, whoa. But also, yes. You know, like the way that like, yeah. Courtney Richter: that's a huge comparison of that has always been like people have always said Sarah J mass basically ripped off token, especially in the throne of glass series. So it's always been a comparison. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Okay, then I really can't wait to read it. But I mean, but but I love that and I think also I think Tolkien would love that now Listen Tolkien was like an Oxford professor and all of his things have all this food, you know But really he and CS Lewis kind of brought us modern fantasy. So then I think it's great Yeah, Courtney Richter: Yeah, you've talked about this already. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: I think it's great then that Sarah J Maas like uses that and brings in the romance and is you know a seminal work of like Romantic and I think it's fantastic. And I don't think shh, I wouldn't say shh, at least this one may be thrown a glass, but like this one isn't like the same kind of journey, but it's the same epic Courtney Richter: No, no. Caitlin Stryker: level of world building and, you know, like adventure that you get to get drawn into. And that's just so yummy and that you can't really imagine ever anybody effectively turning into a screen adaptation. you know, they did, they did wind up Courtney Richter: Ugh, I don't want it to be. I really don't want it to be. Caitlin Stryker: doing it with, Lord of the Rings series, which I didn't want them to do and they did a great job. I really don't want them to do that with this because Courtney Richter: No. Caitlin Stryker: I think they will absolutely destroy it and it'll make it look so shitty. But if they did pull it off, that would be extraordinary, but I just don't see how they can. think. Courtney Richter: There's so much mental in this book, like there's so Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: much of their POV and what they're thinking and even conversing mentally that Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yes. Courtney Richter: I just feel like you would lose so much because on screen you can't show you can show with your eyes, but you don't get the internal thoughts. And I think it's such a big part of this book. But what you're saying Caitlin Stryker: Not really. Yeah. Courtney Richter: about that, like that it being that world and then bringing in the romance, like that's why this is such a good entryway into romanticcy Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: for people. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: because it is such a nice balance. it is again, it is that adventure is that world building. But it's world building light that you still get the romance, you still could do it on your beach and adventure. It's not like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: a typical room, like beach read when we make our beach read stories at the bookstores is that it's not that but it's not Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, no. Courtney Richter: it's not going to weigh you down. It's just going to suck you it sucks you in but it doesn't weigh you down. Yeah. And so it's a great way to get Caitlin Stryker: No. It sucks you in. Yes. That's it. Courtney Richter: used to that world where you do have these epic battles and these epic think the hero's journey along with the romance. And it's balanced Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: in such a great way in this series. Like her other ones are a bit darker. would say this is the lightest of her three series. This is the lightest one for sure. Into Caitlin Stryker: Right. Okay. Yeah. Courtney Richter: the Romantic. Caitlin Stryker: Anyways, it's incredible. We are going to be back talking about books four and five because Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: we think it's worth carrying on with. But I also Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: want to say for people who just don't want to get stuck in a series for too long, this is an off ramp point. Like if you're like, okay, I need something else now. You could take an off ramp. I think you should stick with it. and we're going to talk about why in the next episode. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. No, read them all. Yeah. No, they're there. Read them. That's silly. Don't stop. You got to know the next part. That's silly. I disagree. Don't take it off for him. Read it. No. You've come this far. You've come this far. Just, you're there. Just do it. Caitlin Stryker: I love it. You've come this far. are, Exactly. All right, on that note, we are gonna say goodbye for this episode of Kate and Court's Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm Caitlin Stryker: Cozy Corner, and we'll be back with more of a court of Florence and Roses, Courtney Richter: you Caitlin Stryker: the saga continues on Courtney Richter: Yeah! Caitlin Stryker: our next episode. With a court of frost and star, something, and starlight, and then a court of silver flames. Yes. Courtney Richter: and starlight frost and starlight. I don't, I remember. then silver flames. Yeah. Yes. We're almost there. And then we'll be back to romance. Bye. Caitlin Stryker: All right, so we're so close. Exactly. All right. 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.