Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / Let's Talk About: Kiss of the Black Flame by Helen Scheuerer
Transcript
- Cait: Hi. Court: Hi. Cait: Welcome back to season two of Cait and Court's Cozy Corner: Court: Romance Readers. Cait: Where we only talk about books that we love. And we're bringing you all of our favorite romance and romantasy reads because Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: our motto is Court: When people say that you don't need spice to make a book good, well you don't need running shoes to run, but it helps. Caitlin Stryker: And you know the drill, like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcasts. Cait: Hi. Welcome back to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner. Today we are talking about Kiss of the Black Flame by Helen Scheuerer. Court: Yes. Cait: We have the limited special edition copy, courtesy of a Allurial. Look at the in- Court: it's so beautiful. It's it's so pretty. Cait: It's so beautiful. You know, and then you open up and it just gives you like fantasy land bookbinder territory. I'm... I'm in love. I love a hard copy of a book. I don't- it doesn't have to be like hardcover, but I just love to read and hold and feel the book. And I, I do really love how Allurial delivers it to your house. Like you get great mail, you know? Instead of just... Court: Yes. It's also It's also like shelf porn. Like it really, getting like the exclusive edition and having that with this like the gorgeous edge on this one. Like even if you- if you're one of those true collectors that has one of both, like you just have them beside each other and the it, it's so pretty. And ha- knowing that it's something you can only get as part of the like the secret Allurial Club is really fun and exciting for me with all my books. Yeah, makes you feel pretty special. Pretty Cait: It's really fun. Yep. It does. It really does. Court: But also I'm so glad this is the book they picked this month because oh my gosh, it is so good. Like Cait: It I I could not wait to get home and read it every day or like go on the like read it Court: Yeah. Cait: on the commute. Like every time I just I kept thinking about it after Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: like I was thinking about it all day long at work and then I was so excited to get to dive into it again, you know. Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: Whenever I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book, but like in a really good way. In a way where I was like, I can't wait to go back into that world. And I mean, as a bookish person, of course, you know, our Court: Yes. Cait: main our, main our FMC is a bookbinder, which I love when they're like a librarian or a bookbinder or they live in like Court: Yeah, this was a whole other level. Yes, a bookbinder. Cait: Yeah. Court: And look, it took- I will go in on what it's about. It took me a second Cait: Yeah. Court: to get into this book, I will say. I like I literally texted Cait and I was like, how far are you into this? Is it? And she's Yes, I'm like, okay. It took me like six chapters to really like dive into this world, but then once I was in it, then I was like, pfft, and it took off and I was fully in it. But I think part of it is because when I go into the synopsis of this book, I'll tell you all what it's about. The first chapter opens up in the POV of the main male character, which does not Cait: Yeah. Court: happen very often. And I think is Cait: Yeah. Court: actually what threw me a little bit because I didn't understand that I was in the main male character's point of view Cait: Right. Court: until she was revealed through his point Cait: Yes. Court: of view. And I think that is honestly part of what threw me off because I couldn't figure out to the world for a moment. So Cait: Golish. Totally. And You know what's interesting, Court, is like you said that and I was like, yeah, it took me a minute to get into it, but the moment I was in, I'm like, now I can't. I'm like, it gets so good. Like I can't stop thinking. Court: So good. Like it's a hundred percent. Read this book. It's amazing. Cait: Yeah. Court: It just took me a second. And I always like to tell people that because some people are quick DNFers and like don't Cait: Yeah. Court: do that. Like give this the six chapters. It's worth it. And it's so good. Cait: You really wanna make it all the way to the end. We're not getting into spoilers yet, but you really... Yeah. Court: Yes, the premise of this, basically. So you start with the male, is that there is our female character, the bookbinder, named Saige. She's been the apprentice to this like top-of-the-line bookbinder in this world. And then we have our main male character who, at the beginning, without doing any spoilers, what do we think he is? He's a prisoner. He was like someone in war that we've heard of as the Black Cait: Yeah. Court: Flame, he's currently in a prison, being he can kinda come to the prison but then also get pulled back to the prison. Cait: He's clearly not mortal, you know, we know that. Like Court: He's not mortal, he's immortal. Cait: He's like trapped as well. So he can, he can only be in human form for a little bit of time and then he suddenly is back into this prison and no one can see him. Yeah, yeah. Court: Yes. And no one can see him. He's not in a full form. He can go visit He can go visit the mortal world, but no one can see him. And then suddenly she does. She Cait: Like a big post or something. Yeah. Court: can see his eyes and she throws... They run into each other in an alley and she's looking right at him and he's shocked. He's like, You can see me? And she just throws a knife at his head. Cait: Yeah. Okay, it's Court: And that's their first introduction. And then you kinda time jump to ten years later. Cait: Yeah, part of me wishes that was my response. You know what I mean by being Court: Yeah, yeah. Cait: separate? But like part of me wishes that my response was just like you know like Court: Throwing a knife at someone's head. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. I, I also am not able to usually do that as my response. Unless it's something to do with my kids, then that might come out of me. But in general, when people talk to me, that's not my first... I wish it was though. I agree. I could use more knife throwing in my repertoire. Cait: No. I know. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? I don't know. Something about that. I do, I always enjoy reading main female characters who, female main characters who are like that, I think because I'm not. Yeah, we're badass 'cause I'm like Court: Badass. Yeah. They're not a pushover. Although we do find out because of the world she lives in, it is, I think if we lived in that world, we'd also be knife throwers because it is Cait: Yes. Court: a pretty like dog eat dog kind of world. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: And basically what we've kind of got is that him and the immortals, they've been searching for this bookbinder, Leo. And that's what he's kind of on the quest of. And when he finds Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: the guy, he knows that the god that's holding him, what is his name again? Cait: Malevron? Malvaron? Yeah. Court: Malevron, who's holding him captive, is looking for this bookbinder. And we eventually kind of figure out that the bookbinder now in the present, ten years later after seeing each other, has died and she's taken his place. That's like the premise that kind of sets it up. And he has been trying to find her, and then all of a sudden he's in jail and he looks up and she's been put in the cell across from him. Cait: Yeah. Court: That's the essential setup of the story. Cait: That is the... You know, which you need. We're gonna get into spoilers in a few minutes here, but that's like it gets Court: Yes. 'Cause you it kinda gets into it pretty quickly. Cait: into it really quick, but that's like that's the setup of the story. You have a bookbinder and you have an immortal who needs a bookbinder. Court: Yes, okay, so the immortal basically the immortal and the guy that's holding him prisoner are both trying to get the same book binded Cait: Yeah. Court: and fixed because either the guy that's holding him prisoner wants it so that he can get all of the power of the world and basically ruin the world, blow it up. Tip- typical like bad villain, Pinky and the Brain take over the world stuff. And the other guy wants to and Cait: I want that you can The other guy wants to like have it so that he can... Yeah. Court: He get freed from his prison and And freed from- And we know right away that our guy's like the good guy and the guy holding the prisoner is the bad guy. And he wants to do it to stop this guy and stop him from taking over the world and killing everyone, basically. And he has a mark on his neck that holds him in pl- that's marked him as belonging. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. What I got Yeah. Which is an I, you know, that's like marked Here. And so what I got was not Pinky and the Brain, but, but I got heavy. I got heavy Lord of the Rings vibes from this book. I'm a huge Court: Yes, yes, yes, yes, that too, as well. Cait: fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and everything. So I th- maybe that's even why I was like so in right away. Court: That's fair. I have not read Lord of the Rings, much to some of Cait: Yeah. Court: my friends and coworkers detriment. Cait: Yeah. Court: I have read Throne of Glass, so I like to say it's like I've read Lord of the Rings, which my Cait: But it's not. Court: co-worker has read Lord of the Rings and does not agree with me when I say that. Although Sarah Cait: No. It's it's not. Court: J. Mass has said she was heavily influenced by Lord of the Rings. But regardless, I often say Fringo Cait: Yes. But like Tony is Court: instead of Fro Yop Fro. Yes, thank you. that's Cait: Proto? Yeah. Yeah. Court: my knowledge of Lord of the Rings. So But that makes me excited that this is in that world where my brain goes Pinky and the Brain, yours goes epic. Cait: It totally has it's, it's heavy It's got heavy influence from that and in a really fun way. And it takes its own turns. It's not, you know, doing the same thing. Like at no point was I was like, this is just a reimagining. No, no, no. But it clearly Helen Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: Scheuerer has read Lord of the Rings. Court: Yeah. Cait: But that's what's like really cool. So it gives that kind of vibe. Like you definitely have the like Sauron, like Malevron is sort of like Sauron, and then there's they go to like Moors Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: and Mirror, which is the evil land, you know, and that's like a lot Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: like Mordor and, and some of the creatures that come out and stuff. So it's, it's really fun in that way. Court: Okay. Cait: So it's, it's like a spicy romantasy, you know, take on that. Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: Which is also so fun for fall. I mean, it's just... Court: Yes, it is. We are getting heavy into romantasy season, you know, when it's slightly colder, slightly chill in the air, you want that more, that heavier world Cait: Yeah. Court: building, but still. This book is a slow burn, I will say. It is a slow burn. I Cait: It is you know Court: I mean, literally to the last chapter, I believe. It is angst and building. Like pretty much Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Whoops. it is late. Court: third act to get through the slow burn. Cait: But you know and you And you know how I feel about a slow burn. You know how I feel about a slow burn. Not, not Court: Yes, you're not a fan, generally speaking. Cait: generally a fan. And I'm a huge fan of this book. So Court: There you go. Cait: that tells, like that says a lot for Court: Yes. Yeah. Cait: it. It's also book one of a trilogy. Book one of the Bookbinder Trilogy Court: Yes, Which means the hard part about that is you're like, ugh, I'm gonna get left on a cliff. I'm gonna hang on a cliff again. Like, and you know that. You know when you're getting into a book one, and you always have to make that decision as a romantasy reader. Like, do I dive into this knowing I have a year, two years, until I Cait: Yeah. Court: know the story ends, or do I just wait till they're all out? Because there's so much to read. This Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: is a book that I would say is safe to dive into because you are Cait: It's great. Court: on a cliffhanger, but you get enough wrapped up that you can like catch your breath and... Cait: Yeah. You're not like hanging by a fingernail in... No. You're trapped Court: Wait. Yeah, you're not one hand. There's no Sylvester Sloan situation. You're you're like full grip. Cait: on the cliff, but you're standing and you're sturdy. You're like... Court: Beer comfy. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Cait: A large gust of wind is not gonna take you down. You're just you're Court: No, you're you're windproof currently. But you still wanna get off the cliff. That's like the Cait: You do. Court: great yes, you're sturdy, you're good, but you wanna get off. So it, it's a great book one to dive into because of that, I also think. You're safe Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Court: and yet you want more. So it'll be like a fun treat in the year from now too. Like, great, I get to go figure out what this is now. Yes. Cait: Yeah, I get to go back I get to go back into this yummy, yummy world. Okay. So if you have not read it yet, like then from here on we're gonna have spoilers. Leave, unless you want spoilers. I Court: yes, if If you wanna hear them and go back and read. I think this is a book you could know it's coming and still enjoy it. Cait: You could but I don't know about the very, very end. I mean you could Court: True. We'll keep a we'll give you a little bit longer till the very, very end. We won't reveal a cliff till the end, if you just want to hear us talk. Cait: Give you a little No. Yeah. Court: But... So diving into this, she has two best friends, Raven and Yevna. Thank you. Cait: Yeah. Raven and Yevna. Yeah. Court: And they are, Raven, they basically found her when she was a child. She was an orphan, she doesn't remember what happened to her parents. And Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: they found her and Yevna took her in and Raven and raised them together. And her whole life she's had this like phantom pain that just comes and takes over her left side of her body and has these pain episodes. And she's gone into huge debt because she's seen healers and tried to figure out what's wrong with her over the years. And so she currently owns the book bindary, but is in big debt to this guy, Thor, Cait: Yeah, Thorne. Yeah, Thorne. Court: Eeyore, Thorne. That we find out her ex Reid kind of got her embezzled with and took advantage of. So now she owes them a ton of money. Cait: Yeah. And then the document. Mm-hmm. Court: And And that's basically how she ends up in the jail. They come to collect and basically they get paid by the super bad guy, Malevron, by Malevron, to sell her to him. And he takes- Thorne takes her, Yevna and Raven and Cait: Raven. Court: kidnaps them and is like, I'm gonna hold them in my place, my compound, until you provide the services this guy's paying me to give you. And he's like the god Cait: Yeah, whatever he needs. Court: that people, like there are people that willingly get this mark on their neck. That Archer, our main male character, has, because they serve him and they believe he is the coming. Like there was a great war that people think the Black Flame defeated Malevron and that's the story they've been fed. And then there's like the people that see the rising of Malevron and are like, For his name, we will do these things. And it's kind of the two type of people. And the- what are they actually called? The Immortals? The Tal- Azkari. Thank you. Cait: Azari. Azari, yeah. Court: I read this, I loved it. I've it's been two days, so names are gone out of my brain. I just I'm sorry. That's Perimenopause and being a mom and it's just what happens. I love it. I know the vibe, Cait: Which is fair. Yeah. Court: guys. I know the vibe and it was great. Cait: You know the vibe and you know the key points and I've got the names for you. I'm like ready to feed them. Yeah. Yeah. Court: Thank you. And I can picture them in my head. Like I fully am seeing the characters. I just don't remember their name. So... They basically, they take the women and like get them and sh- that's how she appears in the jail cell. And he's- and our main character, Archer's been like dreaming her. We're getting the vibe that he is someone really important in this jail. He's kind of who they all call Kavar, Kavour, Cait: Yeah. Well they, they they sort of like say Ke-vor, but I, I kept trying to figure that out. Were they calling him Ke-Vor or were they like Court: Yes. Cait: invoking Ke-Vor's name in his name? Like it's, it's a little him Ke-Vor, yeah. Court: No, they call him Kor, because he gets to a point, he's like, I've been called Ke-Vor, I've been called Archie, I've been called- Archer is Cait: Night. Court: only the name that he gives her. So Cait: Yeah, yeah. Court: they do- he basically is a lot of reverence around him. He's someone very important. We come to learn he's the person known as the Black Flame, who basically everyone thinks saved all of humanity, all of the mortals from this war. So Cait: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Court: she appears and for some reason when she appears, he's able to access his magic. And he knows Cait: Yeah. Court: that this was not supposed to happen. He knows that Malevron, the head baddie, put her across from his cell just to torture him, to see her slowly like fix this book binding and make him know that he was about to die as Malevron got more and more powerful and as a torture device. But what he didn't expect to happen is something about her allows his magic to come back to him and he starts to take a full form and she can see him and he's able to use his connection to her to escape the prison. and take her back to the mortal world. And he makes her make an agreement with him. Cait: Yeah. Which so Like I loved that whole element of it. It kept me Court: Yeah. Cait: guessing and on my toes as a reader who likes Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: to think she can figure it out before it gets figured out. But I also don't want spoilers and I don't want to read the ending. You know what I mean? Like I love Court: Yes. Cait: to try and f- figure out the puzzle. And this one with that whole element the entire way along, I kept thinking, okay, maybe she's not totally mortal, like one of her parents. Court: What I thought. I thought it was gonna be revealed she wasn't mortal, and that's why she could see him. Because that is the big thing Cait: Yeah. Yes. Court: that pulls you along. Spoiler, we are into some spoilers, guys, as we told you. Cait: We're in it. Yeah. Court: She- there's, we don't know why she can see him. No one seems to know why. They all Cait: Yeah. Court: just say it's odd. And we as- we start to think, both of us did, that she must be immoral because we don't know what happened to her parents. And her pain and her side. Like I assumed her pain. Cait: And then his magic getting stronger around her in the pain. Yeah, I was like, it's because she's like not fully mortal, right? And is like trapped in a mortal body somehow and it doesn't... Yeah. Court: Yeah, something connecting to Something connected to him or she's meant to get back to like this body or vice versa. Cait: Yeah. Court: Like that's where I expected it to go. Where Cait: Yeah. Court: it goes, which was it- is not that. Very much a shock. But before- Cait: Not that Court: Like mouth open, gasping shock, but we can get there. Cait: Shock, we're not getting there yet because this is what the book does that's so amazing is it pulls you along Court: Yes. Cait: for this whole ride, wondering, you know, and you're really pulled in, and it is a slow burn. Court: They are so attracted. So what- also what Helen did, she described, as you can see in this cover, this main male Cait: Yeah. Court: character is hot. Like super sexy, built muscles, tattoos, scars, tattoos, Cait: Yeah. Court: covering scars, dark hair, crazy green emerald eyes, protective, rippling, like immortal, 6' 10". I don't know. Like, yeah. Cait: Like rippling muscles protect also she's yeah. Just yeah, he's He's a mountain you can climb. Court: Yes. Cait: But what's cool too is Saige, like the ma- FMC, she's thirty five. You know what I mean? Like she's not a little girl. Court: Yes! She It was so nice to read that. She's not 20, being tricked by this like immortal Cait: She's not twenty. Court: Azi-. Like that part was so refreshing, honestly. That she was a woman owning her business, and like Cait: It's so refreshing. Yeah. Court: even there's a part that she's been hiding about herself from her women. The only part is like she never allowed Yevna or Raven to know like how much financial trouble she was in, which would have saved her a lot of trouble because they even created a group of women to help women. Like Cait: Yeah. It was the consortium of badly Behaved Women or whatever like the coolest thing. Yeah. Yeah. Court: Amazing and we need in real life. Yes. And she didn't take advantage of I'm like, girl, like That's literally why this thing exists. And now you screwed Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: them over because you didn't. Because they really do get hurt. Like that, those scenes were brutal when they get kidnapped and like how much. Yes, the dog Grim. Yeah, they really Cait: They get hurt badly. They reverbal. Well, and they even take the dog too, you know? And everything. And I was like, Ooh, this is Yeah. Court: went for it. And that part when she's feeling bad, I'm like, yeah, you should, because they Cait: should feel really You should feel really badly because they're getting Court: Yes. Cait: tortured in your stead while like, yes, you're in jail, but maybe if you had not... Like maybe if you had revealed to people who were willing to help you. And then of course she does the thing that they all do, you know, which is part of the hero's journey and everything, but like, I don't want help. I want to do it all by myself. And blah blah blah. And it's like, well come on the world doesn't work that way. Yeah. And now you've screwed everyone. Court: But now you actually hurt them all. Yes. And they're you've you all have You all have created this amazing group of women to literally help women who have this problem. Like she sold her virginity to Thor- Thorne at one point to do it, which I actually really loved how that was handled. I love like she's like, it wasn't a Cait: You too. Court: big deal to me. I needed this money. And the way that Archer reacts to it, like it could have gone one way, that was icky, but it didn't. Cait: Yeah. Court: And I actually thought it was relevant and also something believable that would have happened in that situation in this fantastical world. Cait: Absolutely. Yeah. Court: And yeah, I actually that was a really cool writing device, and I liked that part Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: of it. And that no one judged her, and no one Cait: Yeah. Court: other than Reid, who was jealous, her ex. Disgusting. Okay. Cait: Also who is disgusting and who basically sold her to Thorne, like who is like the Court: He totally like gaslit her and introduced her to Thorne Cait: Yeah. Court: and did his bidding to get this girl in debt. Like they totally fucked her. And I have to say, my one my one note with this is that at one point her and Archer, they're back in the immortal world- mortal world. She's working on the book, the partnering up, and Thorne and Reid show up to the place. And she's got Cait: Yeah. Court: Archer finally there to defend her and he's got them by the neck and they're going. And they could have killed them. And she somehow decides, like, Leo wouldn't want that. She doesn't kill them in my head. I'm like, no. No. Why? What what? That was the only part in the book where I'm like, no, these two need to be dead. Like, who Cait: Yeah. 'Cause they had At this point they took her friends and tortured them. They've like tortured her over... Yeah. Yeah. Court: Paid for delivering her. Like the money's already gone back. So for her to be like, No, we'd want to do this and figure it out. And even later in the book, when she's I can go back, I'll sort it out. I'll think of something. I'm like, no, no, you've, you- Don't you remember you ran out of options and they even came with Archer and still we're about to stab you? Like, Cait: Yeah. Court: that's the only part that I'm like, no, you should have just killed them. Thorne and Reid should be dead. It is not something... The only thing. Cait: Yeah. That part was weird. And also because She is violent. You know what I mean? So it's not like she's not... Court: Apparently we're more violent than the main people. Okay. That's what we're learning today. We're like, we wanna throw a knife and you need to kill Cait: Yes. Court: them. Cait: Like gosh, I wish it was that way. And as we go on in this talk, it's Court: Mm. Cait: like well maybe. Court: Should have done a little decapitating or at least cut off their dicks. Like something. More than just a Cait: I mean come on. Court: scare them. Like I that part I was like, there's no way. Why would you let them live? They're never gonna learn. They've already proven they're never gonna change who they are. Cait: Yeah. They already let them live one time when they had them pinned down and then came back to like cause more problems. Yeah. Court: Yes. And even that I didn't understand why he didn't kill them. It wasn't like there was a race. He could've just killed them then. They're pro- There must be some kind of plot thing that's gonna happen in book two, some plot device, which is fine. But it was, I was like, mm, they could be dead. That's the one thing for me. I'm like, they, they should die. Yeah. Cait: They could they, they have their favorite Yeah. Yeah, they definitely They definitely should have died, but... Court: Aside from that... Cait: You know what I loved too what re- what I loved, what really drew me in was when they went to the immortal realm the first time. When Raven and Yevna don't wind up going, even though I wanted them to go and I knew they couldn't go. So they didn't go that time. But Grim goes, the dog. Court: Oh, to go get the book. So they go to find the book and they, they get out of the prison and he's like no- and in the prison before they go they have to do the kissing bond where she tells him that's Cait: my gosh, the The Kiss of the Black Flame. Hello, the title of the book. Court: Yes. Because to seal a deal in this immortal / mortal world, the ultimate bond is a kiss bond. A kissing Cait: Yeah. Court: bond. And so when they make the deal that she- he will get her out of the prison and save her friends, she has to go with him to retrieve this book and bind it, restore it to perfect condition to the best of her abilities, and bring it back home. To his home. That's Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. And And she's trapped in the prison and the whole thing and she knows because Yevna told her, raised her to be like, don't ever make a deal with an Azkari. Like, no matter what. There is no Court: Yes, like number one. Cait: winning with their deals. Their deals don't ever end. Like you can't and she's like, Well, I'm backed in this corner. This is my only choice. Also, you know... Water's filling through and Court: Water's filling the prison, the gut yeah. Cait: like listen, look, he's the sex god. Why not do a kiss bond with the sex god? Like he's let's just Court: Yeah, there's only so much a girl There's only so much a girl can do. Like you're not gonna say no. Cait: How much resist How much can you resist before... Court: She's single. Like, what are we expecting here? Cait: Yes. Yeah. It's fair. Yeah. Court: sacrificed himself to the soulith geist as well and took her punishment. Like there's it's, it's fair. Yeah. I understood it. So she she gets backed So she gets backed in, agrees, they kiss, sealing the deal. And it's of course an amazing kiss. Like curl your toes, best kiss of their life moment Cait: Seriously. Court: that they're like feeling after both of them on their lips. And of course Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: he's in like, that was the best kiss of my life, but we can't go there. We just no, she's a mortal. Can't get messy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cait: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. The whole The whole time, guys, the whole book we can't go there. But we, we get little bits and we just get Court: Yeah, you got a little bit. Cait: such yearning. This has such good yearning, this book. Court: Really good yearning. And I love- she teases him. Like she's, he is the like stop and she is the like let's do this. Cait: Yeah. Let's Go. Court: Which I really like too that version. And she keeps telling him he has sassy little glasses, because he has like the big thing in the book world right now is the slutty little glasses, and he has them, guys. Okay. We've got a romantasy, a main MF main male MMC Faye immortal type character with slutty little glasses, which she calls sassy glasses. And it's amazing. It's so enjoyable. Yes. Cait: Thank you. Yeah. Court: Yes. Cait: So So enjoyable. They're like little moments of domestic bliss scenes, you know, Court: Yes. Cait: like in the midst of... Like what do I- Their, their, their tavern of refuge scenes in like a romantasy are just Court: Yes. Cait: so delicious. Court: Yes. Cait: The socks, you know, like Court: my gosh, she gives him socks that he's like the softest thing he's ever worn. He's so embarrassed that he likes them so much. Cait: Yeah. Court: It- Yes. So they save the friends. He kicks Reid's ass but lets him live. And then they go to the immortal world where they run into- they have to share... She's freezing and on horseback and they have the dog Grim, who he hates but secretly like likes the dog because of course it's a dog in the book. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: And they finally share a sleeping bag. Like we've been yearning. She's been freezing. Finally, like, okay, just come cuddle next to me, get warmer. And they are. And they're like just about to kiss. Like they can feel the morning hard on the morning wood. She's all keyed up, like rubbing against him. And then his brother appears. And is like, Am I interrupting something? Yeah. Cait: like stocks up. And he's And hes thinks, you have the worst timing. And even as the reader, it's like, fuck. Court: Yes, like you literally feel the sigh with the characters of like, ugh. Cait: Yeah. Court: We didn't even get a kiss. Like just some yeah, we all felt it. The, the universal sigh in that moment when Daemos shows up and then is like calling Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: him out. And what I love though is the brother is the voice of reason from the other side that's like, brother, like she's a mortal. What are you doing? Like, what? You're gonna Cait: Yeah. Court: blink and then she's dead. Like, why would you and the brother actually kind of reinforces the reason that Archer keeps telling himself that he's not going to do this Cait: Yeah. Court: and make a move because it's there's it doesn't make sense to do as an immortal, with a mortal. And because they have a bond, so there's like a power dynamic that he's like, I don't wanna push something or pressure something when I have more power than her because she's bonded to me. But Cait: Yeah. Court: But she's really like, I don't care. Like, let's do this. Yes. Cait: She is like, I don't care. It's good that they talk about that in the book, though. You know, like the whole like consent. We love it. Court: It's great, it's great, it's great. But I love that she's also like, I don't care. I'll you do what you want with me, you sexy man beast, and let's like have some fun on this journey. And tries to slowly wear him down with that. But with even without like with the yearning, they obviously 'cause it's a romantasy, they fall for each other over the storyline. They get the book. Yes. The brother makes them share a horse. The brother shows up and is like, Well, I think I'm too heavy to ride with you, so if you'd like me to take Saige onto my horse and he's No, okay, goddamn it, blah blah like 'cause he's obviously not gonna share her with his brother and like those little Cait: Yeah. Court: moments of jealousy and protective get to flare up. Cait: But I just I love when like they're riding the horse and she's, she can feel his hard on and then she like rubs against him to encourage it. Court: yes, and she like arches into it And he's getting so frustrated with her and like and that the brother's like, Can you two stop dry humping on the horse? Cait: Yeah. Court: And like... Cait: So good. And you just, yeah, I don't know. It drew like it, it all these like little bits. Court: yeah. It's a great story. Like it pulls you in and there's all these twists Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: and fun things that happen. So they get the book. They go into this house. Oh yes, it's the House of Honesty. So to get the book, they're gonna have to reveal Cait: Yeah. Court: truths. And the truths have to be painful. Like they have to gut you kind of truths. Cait: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: And it lets them confront a few of the things they've both been wondering about each other, which was a great plot device, I think, to use in this book, Cait: Yeah. Court: because it let these truths come out. Like he- she finds out from the brother that he had had a fiancee and she gets to ask about that and he gets to ask about her pain and like her biggest fears and she gets to ask him and it's just, it's a great way for them to reveal things about themselves to each other that you Cait: Yeah. Court: think you got to the bottom of before the whole other act three change happens and you're like, wait, what?! Cait: Yeah. Court: Yes. So they have that moment. They reveal these truths. They're super close. They come out of the immortal world back to the mortal world. Cait: And it's so satisfying as the reader, too. Cause well, if they lied, Court: Ugh, it's so delicious. Cait: they were gonna die. So they had to. But you know how Court: Yes. Cait: there's always seems to be a way, and like the device so often is that they don't tell a truth or they don't reveal, like they get their way out of like cross the fingers behind the back or something like that. And so the truth isn't revealed, so things can't move forward. Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: And this is so nice because it's like, oh the truth is revealed. Oh. Now things are gonna Court: Yes. Cait: move forward. You're like so satisfied. Yeah. Court: Yes. Cait: Which just again Court: Yeah. Cait: is just setting you up. Court: Yes! So they go back, and then we kind of get like that time of like domestic bliss. Like they're in the mortal Cait: Yeah. Court: land. She's doing the bookbinding. He's learning about it. He's caring for her plants. He's like cooking and do- like they're just living. He's reading his little glass, wearing his glasses all the time, reading stuff around her house. They're sharing, but like they're just in this happy place of bliss. And even her friends are seeing the difference. They're seeing what he does to her. Like everyone's happy and like approving of this relationship. And kind of taking Cait: Yeah. Court: it on as like, oh this could be a thing. We could do this. And they're not having sex yet at this point, but they're Cait: No. Court: like kissing and they're like little bits, like building towards it, getting there, building that trust with each other and in domestic bliss, basically. And then Reid and Thorne show up, he almost kills them again. But then she's like, but what would Leo want me to do? Which I disagree. I think Leo would be like, No, you should kill these fuckers. Cait: Yeah. Court: But fine, she lets them live. I'm sure we'll see them in the next book. And then a mirror- pieces of a mirror appear in the town and the Azek-, the bad guy, he's able to come through mirrors. And essentially he's getting stronger. So he sends Cait: Hm. Yeah. Court: the souldren through the mirrors, which are these awful creatures in the prison that Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: can torture you and affect your mind and soul. And so Archer, his brother tells me, You have to get them out of here right now. Our only option is to go to the House of Desire, which is Archer's, Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: like each immortal has a house of the four. The lore Cait: Yeah. Court: of the story is there was a king and queen had four sons, and they divided up the land instead of going to the eldest son into four lands for the four sons. And then the king and queen tried to destroy this book that could be changed the power back to one person, and they've been in a coma ever since they destroyed this book is a kind of the lore. And Cait: Yeah. That's kind of yeah. Court: Archer, we know, falls from the House of Desires, one of the lands of one of the princes. So the brother says to him like you have to take us back there and he's like I swore I'd never go back. I don't want to see them and we think it's because his fiancee was there or his brother like the things like that. But he has to do it and he's like I hope she'll forgive me and he takes her and Raven and Yvena and the brother and the Grim the dog and they show up at the palace and there's someone on Cait: Yeah. Court: the throne. He's like welcome to House of Desires and then Archer says you're in my seat, Uncle the uncle we find out he is the prince and is the rightful lord of the House of Desires, which is the first twist. That like I kinda thought might happen. Like I wasn't totally like but I was like, okay. Like I thought maybe, but it wasn't like my main focus. but it wasn't like to the core shocking by any means. Yeah. Cait: But it wasn't too shocking. But quick But quick timeout before we get there because we missed like a spice moment that happens when they go to Court: tell me. Cait: get the gold. Remember when they go to get the gold in the market? The black market basically? Court: yes, with a rainbow cheek person, Yes. Cait: Yes. And we just, we just don't wanna skip over it. That's spicy. Court: my gosh, against the wall. I totally forgot. Doesn't he make her come against the wall on the market? Yes. Without Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: Without the sex he like takes her and veils them, because he can veil himself to Cait: Yeah. Court: like downplay his power and who he is, but people are still intimidated because he's this huge guy. And he veils them. They Cait: Yeah. Court: get to this hot point of getting this gold from one of the guys she knows, the merchants, and he veils them against a wall and basically makes her come like on his thigh, isn't it? Like he dry humps her against the wall or does he use his fingers? Is he? I couldn't remember now. Cait: No, he's like like fingering her and everything against And then I can't remember Court: It's blended, but Cait: I do think I think he eats her out. I think like and that's where I think I remember thinking... Yeah, because it's Court: right, in there. But is it there or is it at home? Cait: No, it's in there and that's the part I had to like flip the page back. I like, wait, are they just totally open to the public? But he veils them so like Court: Yes. Cait: they could they're aware that everyone else is there, but no one's aware that they're there. And it's a Court: Yes. Cait: very hot, spicy release moment that is Court: Yes, that we needed. It was building up. Cait: We we need it. Court: Yes. Cait: Yeah. And you have to have that before we go into the next world. Because this has like done that. Yeah. Yeah. Court: Yes, you're right. So they just did that. Yeah. And they And they get interrupted before they can go further. They're- I, they go back Cait: Exactly. Court: to her place with the intention, I believe, to further this. And then his brother shows up again and now they have to go. Yes. Yeah, that's Cait: Yes. And then his brother shows up again. And Thor and Read and it's drama and yeah. Yeah. Court: it. Yes, yes, yes. Thank you. Yes. Which is such a good part and done again so well. Cait: Yeah. so Court: And again, the brother like, because they were finally gonna like get it together. Cait: Yeah, yeah. Court: And so then they go and then he reveals to the prince, and of course she's pissed, like, Cait: Yeah. Court: how could he kept this from me? Like we literally were in the House of Lies, like he's had the perfect opportunities to tell me this. And I agree with her, like there is no reason for him not to tell her at the different points of the book. Cait: There was no reason There was no reason for him not to tell her, but we all know my secret fantasy of like now Court: Yes. Cait: you're a prince and like... So I'm like, I'm fine with it. I'm like, girl, why are you pissed? This is a turn. Court: Like I, I also I also agree. I didn't think her anger necessarily needed to be to the level it was, because it's like, yes, he did keep that. I, I do understand that you're upset about that. But it also didn't affect you dramatically. But I guess if you'd been Cait: No. Like it wasn't Court: she felt like she had shown him her soul and like revealed everything Cait: Yeah. Court: of herself and he still had these lies. And it took like a day before they got to talk to each other about it. So she just saw like his like prince Cait: Yeah, she gets to steal. Court: vicat like in front of everyone and his tone and how he had to talk down about mortals in front of everyone to keep you know, to keep his power. Cait: Yeah. Which is always like Which is always not a great look. Like in these books all the time. When the guy goes into Court: Yeah. Cait: that world, it's like, ugh, you know. Court: Once Once again, the guy is deciding what to tell or not to tell, like when they don't say they're the Cait: Yeah. Court: mates, or they're not saying they're the prin- like always making these decisions for what women can handle, or... And Cait: Yeah. Court: I get the- well, that's not his reason was she's the first person that ever saw him as just him, as just Archer. And he Cait: Yeah. Court: wanted to keep that. He, he wanted Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: to maintain that image of himself because no one else, everyone always saw him as royalty or this or the brother or this and that. And so... Cait: Yeah. Court: He wanted to keep that piece of himself with her. So I do like I get it. And I get why she's upset because also that means the guy that held them both in jail is his brother, and he's one of the four that got this land, which they've talked about multiple times. And it means his other brother, Damos, is the other prince, and Junior is Cait: Villa. Court: the prince of the land they went to to get the house. Like, there's Cait: Yeah. Court: just all these pieces that come together that she's like, What the fuck? Like, you could have told we literally had the perfect opportunity multiple times, and you didn't. But She gets over and she sees like how painful it is for him to be there and how much he cares. And like she gets over it and we get finally to this amazing sex scene between the two of them. Like this has been building. This is near the end of the book. Like this has been building. We had the eating out scene. We've had like the slow tension burns, the kisses. But we finally get to the amazing scene. That like Helen's descriptions of his body and his chest and his cock and like the movement and the it's like Cait: I don't know what the talk is and She's like, wow. Court: Yes. Because remember earlier he's like, you would know if I was flirting with you, and she's like, how? He's like, because your knees would be up by your ears. Like, he's been hinting this the whole time at her, so then when they finally do, and then she says, like, wreck me, destroy me, because he's been promising Cait: Yeah. Court: it would destroy you. Like sex with me would ruin you for all other men, other things. And she does. She's like, do it. And he's like, hold on to the headboard. And like it just, it's so hot. They go for it, have this amazing, like 24 hours. And of course, because he's immortal, he gets hard again right away. Like it's just one of those sessions that goes and goes and goes and goes, but Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Court: is like delicious and you're along for the ride. Cait: So fun. Court: So good. And then the next morning, of course, Oh, his best friend, a woman comes into the room, Cait: Yeah. Court: but she's like his best friend from the war, and it's Bryn is so excited that he has this person he's in love with. And he's come to terms with the fact that he's in love with her, and his brother knows. And like, yeah, he Cait: Yes, and he t he tells her and everything too. Court: tells her, like, he knows he's fallen for her. And then they are able to see each other. Like, she's been able to see his dreams, his memories. Cait: Yeah. Court: And this time it cracks something in hers. There's a mirror in there, and it's, it's a special magical mirror from his brother. And they both. Cait: They go. Yeah, but like they're going to like They're going to have sex in front of the mirror because she's like so hot. Court: Yes, it's like a hot scene. He brings her over to watch himself fuck her. And they get thrown into this memory of Cait: Yeah. Court: her. She goes into this memory and it's her in a house and it's burning and she has to get out a window as a little girl when she's Cait: Her is a little girl. Yeah. Court: five and she breaks out a window and breaks most of her body and is burned cut up and looks up and sees a man who says, You weren't supposed to be here. And all of a sudden the pain and everything she's been feeling left side of her body comes back to her now because she has these scars that she's never seen or had, or they were hidden from her. Cait: Yeah. Court: And she still isn't getting like pain. And all of a sudden, and she kind of comes back in the room and he looks at her and he can see the scars. He's like, Who did this to you? Who the fuck did this to you? Naked and covered in scars. Cait: Yeah. And she's she comes back through and like she is naked 'cause they were about to like Scars that have all this like black kind of like Court: And then Flack fire and magic through them. And he is no he's like her whole s yeah. Her neck. Cait: Magic like rolling through them all up her left side of her body. All the way up to like here. All the way up to like here. Yeah. Court: And he's like, Who the fuck did this to you? Like losing it. And she's like, You did. And so what? Cait: Yeah. Court: And then it flashes through him and it turns out it was him and he was killing her he killed her parents Cait: Yeah. Court: because they were Malevron sympathizers. They had and they so he kept but no one told him there was a child there. And when she fell out the window and did that, then he I think it was a kind of her and him, he veiled her so she would never remember it and wouldn't know that her body scarred and no one would ever see the scars and Cait: Yeah. Court: veiled it from himself so he wouldn't have to carry the guilt of what happened. Cait: Yeah. But That was her phantom- like that was her pain, like her intense pain that she's been dealing with this whole time. Court: Yes, is his His scars and his magic that's stuck in the scars. Cait: Yes, and this is why she can see him. And this is why she can like feel magic Court: Yes. Cait: like through the book. And this is why all these things and you're just like, oh fuck. Court: What? Like it literally from like the best hottest sex to like this huge reveal you didn't see coming. Like you Cait: Yeah. Court: do not expect it to be that they- she Cait: No. Court: was on fire and he like almost killed her and killed his parents. Like Cait: He is the reason and he Like he killed her parents and all of these and then you're like I'm reading, I'm like, I, I don't know how we come back from this. Court: And she says that she's like, We're done. We can't and he, he like understand like he's like, I love you, like I didn't know, I thought it was a kindness, like I never I don't remember. And she's Cait: Well and she says, veil me again, like do it again, like get it get it off, you know, 'cause it's like gnarly, right? And he says, This part I felt so weird. Court: Yeah she's like, I don't want to look like this and he's like, I won't do that to you again. Cait: He's like, I won't do that to you again. And I'm like, What? Court: I won't take what's your s I know that part I'm like, uh dude, if she's asking you to veil it, I think you can veil it. She's asking you to. Like, I know he didn't Cait: I think you Yeah. Yeah. Court: want to cover up or make a thing again, but also I, I think maybe he was worried maybe it was that if he veiled it she would forget. I don't know. Cause otherwise I'm like Cait: Maybe that sh Maybe. Or like then the pain isn't- I don't know what it is. I couldn't quite catch that. There's a lot in this Court: But there was a lot happening, so it was hard to track exactly. Cait: moment. It's at the end of the book and you're kinda you're very it's literally the last chapter, last two chapters. Court: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: And you're like, what? Why? Oh my gosh. Obviously she hates him, but he's Court: But everyone's like, also we need to go to the presentation right now about this book. Cait: He's not the worst. And yeah, they need to go to the presentation for the book. So then she goes Court: Yes. Cait: to her friends and they're like, Holy fucks of course now they see all this gnarly, like black veiled like black scarring Court: Scar. Cait: and everything all over her. And she tells them everything and they're like, We're getting out of here. You know, and she's like, I gotta present the book. And then my deal Court: Yeah, she's like, let's give them this fucking book and we're out. We're going home. I'll figure everything out. Cait: is done, like I'm free, it's over. You know what I mean? And like Court: Yeah. Cait: I'm reading it and I'm thinking, like, yeah. Okay. I mean I hope he comes back to her world and they, they find a way, but like obviously this is, this is it. And I'm like, we have one chapter left. Like what? Court: Yeah. And even in that, she's like, I'll deal with there was a moment in that where she's like, I'll go home, I'll figure it out, I'll deal with Reid and Thorne all alone. I always do it in that moment. I'm like, no, you don't. You're the you shouldn't have left them alive. Cait: Yeah, you don't. Court: That was I literally, thought like, nope, shouldn't have left them there. but regardless. And then he again makes this mistake that I'm like, why? So he has the countries all come forward, all the lands with their champion to try to bring the book to home where it needs to go. And no one can touch it, of course. And she's already proven she can. Cait: Yeah. Of course and this is our very this is our th again, this is another this is very Lord of the Rings, right? Like this is very like and like okay. Like only Frodo can handle Court: Yes. Yeah, with the ring, right. So and she knows, like, he knows that only I can handle it. And even that, I'm like, why wouldn't he have told her that part of the plan? Cait: Well, and this is where we end the book in on such an interesting cliff that is Court: Yes. Cait: really challenging as the reader 'cause it's like we end this book not in love with our six foot ten sex god. Yeah. We can find Court: No, because it the thing with her with the kid, I was almost like, okay, like this is awful, but like they could this is something but then once again it's proven that he planned on her being the champion, didn't tell her. And then when she's Cait: Yeah. Court: like, No, I'm going home, he's like, we'll try to leave. And I know he's keeping a facade again for the people to a degree, but and she realizes she gets covered in black smoke and she's like Black Flame. He's like, you were forgetting I said you had to take it home. I this is where I'm from, but I don't consider this home. And she's once again like, Cait: Yeah. Court: you fucker with your words, like trap me. But I don't understand in the scenes before that... Yeah, Yevna warned her, but in the scenes before Cait: Which is what Yevna warned her against with this great and like Court: when they were happy and he's in love with her, I don't understand he why he wouldn't have said, oh by the way, tomorrow at this book binding, you're going to be the champion and we still have to bring it here. Like Cait: Enemy, yeah. Court: I it never makes sense why he would have hidden that from her if he knew it before she found out about the fire. Cait: Or was he hoping there would be a way that if if she hadn't found out about the fire and she's in love with him and it turns out to be her, is he hoping there's a way that she's willing? And.. Yeah, you're right. Court: Think she would have been willing if he just told her. If he just explained it to her a chapter or two before, she would have been fine with it. She just- he didn't tell her, and it made no sense. After Cait: At the right moment. Yeah. Court: she got upset about finding out he was a prince, and he's like, I should have revealed, he could have been like, by the way, one more thing. I Cait: Yeah. Court: no one else is gonna be touched this book, and we've got to bring it here. And I'm sorry, and I didn't realize we got here, or whatever it is, but like part of that Cait: Yeah. Court: is this. That would have been the time. But when she's already Cait: It would have been the time. Court: reeling about the fact that you killed her parents and scarred her for life and hid it from Cait: Yeah. Court: her and she's lost all her money because she's been trying to heal this pain that she doesn't understand and like you basically fucked Cait: Yeah. Court: her. And then you reveal also you're the champion and you're not free from our magical bind, and now I'm going to force you to do this other thing. Like, he really knocked himself down. Like he may be a mountain you can climb a super hot sex god, but he really like dun dun dun dun dun. So we're Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: ending this. That's the cliff, that's what we mean. Like And she's like, Cait: To clip a ride. Court: fine and she's like, I hate him. I'm done. I'll do Cait: Yeah. Court: this. Fine. Like, but she's so mad it's gonna be from that passion and that anger that's gonna drive her into this next book. But you're Cait: It is. Yeah. Court: also that's why it's a cliff that you can wait on because Cait: Yeah. Court: you get that kind of wrapped up and you're just like, fuck. Like it's not just like a miscommunication. Cait: Well yeah. Court: You're like, no, you're a bastard. Like, you're an asshole. Cait: No. No, no, no. And I love that I agree. You know what I mean? 'Cause Court: Yeah. Cait: I feel like often I don't necessarily the FMC. I think like Court: Yeah, like you're mad at the main female character for still being mad. Yeah. Cait: Yeah, like why are you? This one is like, yeah, you have every right to be pissed. And then I guess I could kind of like buy it from him because he is this sort of like immortal god type. And you know, whenever you read books of like the gods, they're, they're different because they live forever. So like their moral compass is off. It's not ours, you know? So that's where I can Court: Yeah, they have different ways of looking at it. Cait: see like how he's operating in this way and making these mistakes when like just tell her. But But now like I hate him and I want her to get away from him and like I wanna read the second book to like find out. Court: Yeah, I like don't get me wrong. I am very upset that I have to wait a year to read this next book. Like, I Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: want to know what happens. And I don't mean that it's bad writing that he didn't tell her. It's just like Cait: No, no. Court: she wrote a great story, so it's frustrating because you're like, I just want this or that to like happen or no, like this can be avoided, Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: which is, you know, a point of good writing is that they get you feeling these emotions about it, which Cait: Yeah. Court: is again, her great. So it's a super fun book. If you read it, let us know what you thought of the Cait: So Court: twist at the end and if you agree and where you're standing on Archer right now and on Saige. And if you haven't read it and you listen all the way, thank you. But also like you should it's still worth a read. It's a super fun read. Cait: It is. Court: And even if you skim to the really hot, sexy parts. Cait: Really. Court: But I'm super excited Allurial sent us this cover. I'm so glad this is living Cait: Yeah Court: on my bookshelf now because it's one I'm gonna go back to and Cait: Yeah. Court: One that a year from now when the next one comes out I will reread again to get caught up and get angry all over again. So... Cait: Right? We will. Exactly. And I just want to point out that our book boxes also came with The White Raven by Court: Yes. Cait: Stacey Marie Brown and Court: We're going to read Cait: Avalon Tower. By CN Crawford and Alex Rivers. And I'm so excited to dive into these books as well Court: Yes. Cait: because if you know, and and just like beautiful hard covy- cover copies and they have wonderful selections every month that you can choose from. You can press pause if you're a slower reader. You can pause for a month until you catch up. Yeah. Court: Yeah. Yeah, you can pause for a month till you catch up, which is the super fun part. So between Kate Between Cait and I, like we know I'll be the one getting the three every month and Cait will be pausing every other one so that we can get caught up Cait: Yeah. Court: on the same books. Cait: It's true. But I love it. Court: Yes. Cait: You know, I can't get enough of like leaving to another world with like six foot ten sex gods. Court: Ugh and what And what a perfect book that honestly that they chose to launch into romantasy season, which is what September and October really feel like for me. That's when we're getting into the epic of dark. And now this season so far, Poisoner's Daughter and now Kiss of the Black Flame, like we are killing it with romantasies so far this season. It's such a great start to the year. Yeah. Cait: Yeah, so many great choices. Okay. You You guys that's it for this episode of Cait and Court's Cozy Corner. We'll be seeing you again soon and until then we will be curled up in our book nooks reading all Court: Yes. Cait: of these amazing books. Bye. Court: Bye. Caitlin Stryker: 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.