Romantasy

Looking for some romance in your next fantasy read? Listen for our top recommendations without all the spoilers. 

Transcript

Track 1 0:04

Welcome to Romance Wrecks, where three book besties explore the world of romance novels and encourage you to expand your TBR. Join us as we dive into the hottest releases and hidden gems of the genre. You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at Romance Wrecks Pod. I am Jordan, and I am currently reading The Guild Book 3, Kill Order, by Tate James.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 0:34

I'm deaf and I'm listening to The Guild Book One, which is Honey Trap by Tate James.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 0:41

I'm Christina, and I'm currently reading Fate, Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen. So, buckle up for some bookish banter. Is

Track 1 0:55

Thanks. Ready, locked and loaded. Alright, today, let's talk romanticy. We're gonna talk romanticy, give all of our top recs. I think it's safe to say we've all read a lot

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 1:09

For sure.

Track 1 1:10

of romanticy.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 1:11

live for

Track 1 1:12

Is it safe to say it's the one we've collectively read the most of?

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 1:17

I think so, yeah.

Track 1 1:19

As a group. As a group.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 1:20

so. As a group, our list is probably really

Track 1 1:22

Yeah. So today is just highlighting our top. The top of the top for us and giving you some different options within the subgenre.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 1:33

We got some goodies for you

Track 1 1:34

Oh yeah. Christina, can you tell us, what is romanticy? Yeah.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 1:44

that blends elements of romance and fantasy, often featuring magical or supernatural elements, intertwined with love stories. It encompasses tales of otherworldly realms, creatures, and epic adventures, while centering on themes of love, passion, and emotional connection.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 2:05

Oh, we love that! love that. No, that is, I feel like that's a really good and accurate description of romanticy, for sure.

Track 1 2:13

It's perfect.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 2:15

And keeping that in mind, I think that applies to all the books that I have to talk to you guys. But before we talk about those books, what was our group read?

Track 1 2:26

Well, I think our group read was read by two of the three,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 2:29

it

Track 1 2:29

with the*two bullying the third into putting it high on their TBR.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 2:38

You guys always bullied me into something

Track 1 2:40

Well, and to be fair, I only read this one a month ago, a little over a month ago. But it is now a top. It is a top. So thank you to Dev for encouraging this.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 2:48

welcome.

Track 1 2:49

and what is that series, Dev?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 2:52

I am talking about the Kindred Curse Saga by Penn Cole. Penn Cole is an indie author, publishes her own work. Prints them herself. I'm not sure if she actually physically prints the books, but, you know, she gets them

Track 1 3:05

No, she's toiling away on an old school press.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 3:08

Has a press at home and she's folding all the books. But yeah, she is self published and I think that's so awesome. We love to

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 3:15

Yeah

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 3:15

making their dreams a reality. From that, the books are actually really good. Out of the four books out right now. And they're just I think the perfect Slow burn About this

Track 1 3:28

Oh, it's, it is. But the banter to get you to that burn. The banter.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 3:34

gosh, it is

Track 1 3:35

the banter.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 3:37

I love banter.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 3:38

a banter girl I know we love the banter and when you read this series you're gonna be so obsessed So kindred curse saga again three out of the four books are out the fourth one. Hopefully coming in june it follows diem bellator. She is living in a world. That is pretty much Run has been deserted by the gods and is run by their descendants

Track 1 3:59

and

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 4:00

the descended

Track 1 4:00

note, the gods took over this world from humans and their deity.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 4:06

Okay

Track 1 4:07

they are not the original gods of this world. I think that's important to say because They're conkerners. Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 4:13

Yeah.

Track 1 4:13

Thank you.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 4:14

are conquerors and

Track 1 4:14

Yep. Assholes.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 4:17

Right. can bake this human world up.

Track 1 4:20

Assholes of magic.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 4:22

magic. Stop, we keep saying the same words.

Track 1 4:25

Sorry, you go.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 4:29

They have magic, some people don't. And you know, of course the people who don't have magic, we are rebels. We're like revolting. We want everything having to do with the magical people to end. We want their reign over. And basically Diem just goes on this journey of unlocking a bunch of secrets. That stem from her mother's disappearance, which is a key factor in the story. I'm not going to give much away, but her mother's disappearance kind of sets off a chain of events that is so tragically unavoidable, but also gripping and like just feeds the story like air to fire. It is just magical the way that things unfold in there. You've got Gryffins. A lion, dragon, eagle, hybrid animal, which is, sign me up, anything that's flying and breathing fire, I'm there. And again, it is romanticy, so there is romance, but baby, Jordan House, it's just, I feel like we didn't get romance.

Track 1 5:24

No, okay, so the first one, well, let's, hold off, no, it is,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 5:27

yeah,

Track 1 5:27

have a,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 5:28

is,

Track 1 5:28

this is a fair caveat, when you were talking romanticy, and it's a whole series, right? If you're, if we're talking a whole series, then, I think it's important to prepare yourself that the first book is essentially setting you up to get to know these characters and to essentially establish the world because these are fantasy worlds. Romanticy is not a separate genre and the It's not a separate genre from fantasy. It is a sub it is fantasy with amazing character development and relationships like the real world. And I think that's a big important thing to know is that so many of these books we love because the worlds are so rich

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 6:11

right,

Track 1 6:12

they're so intricate and interesting and the political intrigue Get all of that. For me, what did it for book one, I love the magic system, but DM as a female main character is a amazing in book one,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 6:27

Yes,

Track 1 6:28

she has some things to work out, but a certain man really carries us through that. So, I mean,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 6:34

he carries that book on his

Track 1 6:35

Oh, put me on his back. Oh. Anyways,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 6:48

But

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 6:48

Now I'm intrigued.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 6:50

Yeah, so, basically we're just talking to Christina at this point to get her Ready to Can just because when book four comes out, we need to be reading that one together

Track 1 7:00

yeah, we'll, yeah, we'll do a special,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:02

They're encouraging me. Me,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:11

We are not bullying her. We are.

Track 1 7:13

Peer pressure.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:14

Yeah. Lots of peer pressure. So while we are on the topic of romanticy, who would like to share their top three favorite romanticy books

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:26

Mine are very front and center to the what you'll walk into Barnes Noble and you'll see them sitting there on a desk right in front of you. They're very common, but I love them, and that's okay. I think we all gotta love different

Track 1 7:38

No, there's a, here's the thing. It took me a long time to realize there's a reason they're so popular

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:43

Right.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:44

yeah.

Track 1 7:45

and not everyone has read them. So

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:47

Right.

Track 1 7:48

me, baby.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:49

Okay, so my first and foremost is Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:54

Yeah.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 7:55

I'll just give you a quick of what they are. Throne of Glass is a series of eight books that follows a young assassin in a competition to try and win her freedom from a slavery encampment. As the series progresses, the main character makes unexpected friendships and bonds and learns of a conspiracy that's much larger than originally thought. It's told in multiple different POVs, and there are two books you can even read in tandem.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:21

I love

Track 1 8:21

That was a great way to not spoil anything because there's a lot.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:25

it. so much you could have said and you didn't, but you still gave me enough to be like interesting.

Track 1 8:31

it.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:32

Wow.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:34

Wow. Just kidding.

Track 1 8:36

That's what I look for in my books.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:38

That's crazy,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:39

gotta have that. This series is my Roman Empire, okay? It

Track 1 8:44

It

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:45

be

Track 1 8:45

is.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:45

that changed my life. It might

Track 1 8:47

I think that's perfect.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:49

it's my favorite series.

Track 1 8:50

That's fair. That's fair. As an adult, that's fair.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:52

think that's fine, yeah, I think that's

Track 1 8:54

Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:54

we read Harry Potter as children and now we're reading this as

Track 1 8:57

Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:57

so, that's

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 8:59

Yeah, the I feel like the series

Track 1 9:01

No, why did you like it? I want to hear, Christina, why you like, why is it your Roman Empire? I want to hear first, before we move on to something else, why is that one in particular? What is like the biggest thing that you love?

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:12

The series weaves together so many different plots and time frames and unique points of view. And it's kind of like you never really know where it's going until it all kind of comes together. And so the world building is just immaculate, it's huge, and you're learning all these things as you go. It's not all info dumped at the beginning, you really have to read. Throughout multiple books to find out. Think the main female character is amazing.

Track 1 9:38

I'm, yes, the main character is

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:40

badass.

Track 1 9:42

Top tier. Top tier female main character.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:46

Yep, for sure.

Track 1 9:48

She embodies the f

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:49

burn.

Track 1 9:50

She's annoying?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:52

She's annoying as

Track 1 9:53

What?

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:54

To her cousin.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:55

The first

Track 1 9:55

Well, to other

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 9:56

the first two books. She's annoying as

Track 1 9:59

You thought she was annoying? I did not find her annoying.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:02

I

Track 1 10:02

Oh!

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:03

antics The first two books, but by the time I finished Crown of Midnight, I said, yes, that's my

Track 1 10:08

Oh my god, it did not take me that long. Christina, what do you think of this blasphemy?

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:14

Oh my gosh, she's my favorite, and we're gonna have words after this. I'm kidding. You know who else has words about this series? People who tell you which order to read it in, because everyone

Track 1 10:26

we're, we won't even touch that. Do your research if you want to read this. Just whatever you don't read Assassin's Blade first. That would give so much away.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:37

percent back that message. Do not read it. I

Track 1 10:40

That's the only, that's the only, only thing I'll say. I don't care if you read it in the middle of the series or at the end.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:47

Yeah.

Track 1 10:47

not read it first because it spoils things.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:51

Yeah,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:51

I think Sarah herself even says not to read it first.

Track 1 10:54

Yeah. Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:55

she, yeah, she puts it as like

Track 1 10:57

Or four. Yeah. Three or four.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 10:58

I really enjoyed that. As someone who came to the Throne of Glass world in December, I think I started

Track 1 11:05

Just a few months ago.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:06

Yeah, like literally just a few months ago and people have had years and years to fall in love with this. I really did really get into the series by book three. At the end of Crown of Midnight, I was like, okay, interesting. She annoying as hell, but let's see where this goes.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:23

I told you it picks up.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:25

fact

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:25

It does pick up.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:27

And you did. And everyone told me it'll pick up, keep going, keep pushing. And I don't give up. Okay. I'm a fighter. So I pushed. And I'm very happy to know that I ended on better terms with her than I started.

Track 1 11:38

That's good.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:38

I do. I am very fond of her.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:40

I was glad we got to be with you on your journey through that

Track 1 11:43

Yeah.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:43

you'd send us little texts and we would be like what are you talking about?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:48

I know. Yeah. Y'all didn't give anything away. I'll never

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:51

So, throw in a glass. Ha!

Track 1 11:55

Oh my gosh.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 11:56

It's just a

Track 1 11:57

So for our listeners, no, for our listeners. There is so many spoilers out there for Throne of Glass. If you haven't read it, you've probably at least seen things about it. If you choose to read it block all that content on your socials or just don't go on it. Dev saw the, one of the most gut wrenching scenes in the whole series and she saw it and she was like, And she knew what characters it was, and she came, she's Tell me this isn't real. Tell me this isn't real. And I was like, No, it's not real. It's a dream. It's a dream sequence, and it's gonna gut you, but it's gonna be fine. It was not fine.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 12:31

Nope. It

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 12:31

oh, okay.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 12:32

She Yeah,

Track 1 12:33

to my friends, but I felt obligated to. And Christina's over in a side chat right after I said that. She's Oh my god, that was a good save. She's Oh my god. She's I didn't know what to say.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 12:44

I didn't know that. Yeah, because Christina was real quiet when I was asking those questions.

Track 1 12:50

Oh, sorry, everybody. I was busy with my hundred kids. I was so busy.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 12:56

But yeah, I think, Christina, that was a great series to start off with. Because, yeah, if you're getting, if you read it a couple years ago, or you're reading it now, it's still, it's good

Track 1 13:05

Timeless,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 13:06

Yeah. And it doesn't have nearly as much spice as a lot of other romantics. It's really a slow burn and a starting know as ya. But it does get there eventually, and you really learn to love those characters anyways, so it makes up for it. I think

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 13:19

Jesus

Track 1 13:20

the lack of dick.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 13:23

This one has plenty of dick!

Track 1 13:25

Give it to me.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 13:25

ash!

Track 1 13:27

Yes, it does. Yes, it does.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 13:31

From Blood and Ash follows a young woman named Poppy, who's destined to be the maiden. She's like a savior of sorts for her people, supposed to be. But she's led an extremely sheltered life, constantly veiled, not allowed to touch or even talk to most people. She's expected to be like, silent and reverent for their like for their religion. But that changes when she meets a new guard named Hawk. And he starts challenging everything she's ever known or believed in. And then they get it on.

Track 1 13:57

Oh, it is not that simple. It is not that simple. They do not just get it on. There are some tender moments.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 14:03

many

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 14:04

True. And they're kind of like enemies to lovers. I mean,

Track 1 14:07

Oh yeah, I would say.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 14:09

I don't know. Yeah, definitely.

Track 1 14:10

a rollercoaster. It's a rollercoaster of a relationship.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 14:16

Yeah. Friends

Track 1 14:17

I've read it and I agree.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 14:18

to enemies to lovers. are already five out, but there's going to be more. Plus there's a prequel series that I haven't read, but Jordan has.

Track 1 14:28

It's, I actually. I prefer the prequel series, I just, the characters, like all the characters in both are great. It's a rollercoaster. Why did you like that series though? Because it has vampires. It has blood sucking.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 14:42

Yeah.

Track 1 14:42

She

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 14:46

it out, there's something new happening. And so, sometimes you might be like, it's a little too fantastical just cause it keeps on going. But yeah. You think you're at the top of the ladder, and then there's another ladder above it kind of thing. And it keeps on going. So, that's what I love about it. Yeah. Well, and the main characters. They're really hot.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:07

is that why you like it? Next, Christina, next.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:10

My last one.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:11

hot.

Track 1 15:13

literally goes to her next

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:15

That's literally all she has to say about the book.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:17

My next one has a Hawkeye, too.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:19

number three. She

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:21

wing! Now. It's a story about a young girl named Violet Sorengale. Her mother's a commander at a war college, Beskayath. Her mother she's actually grown up her whole life training to be a scribe. So basically someone that writes the history. But then her mom orders her to join the writers. The Dragonriders quadrant. But she's at a disadvantage because not only is she never trained to be in that quadrant, but also she succumbs easily to injury. And you have to be kind of really tough, supposedly, to be a Dragonrider, like it's expected. But we

Track 1 15:50

Supposedly.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:51

son of the nation's enemy. Well, that's what they say, but

Track 1 15:54

No, I know. I love it.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:57

kidding.

Track 1 15:58

Okay.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 15:59

I do too. But she meets the son of the nation's enemy and works to figure out the truth of the world around her because, yet again, things she's been led to believe aren't necessarily the way things are, so.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:10

You are

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:10

I love that.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:11

these

Track 1 16:11

God it's so good.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:13

book,

Track 1 16:14

Mine are gonna be so convoluted and you're so concise.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:17

mine are gonna be I'm gonna give everything away, I'm not gonna lie to you. I just, I gotta taper it down a little bit here

Track 1 16:22

No, just go for it. I'll edit.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:25

All the spoilers.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:27

Fourth wing is near and dear to me because it's where I met these two girls at the midnight release of the sequel for Iron Flame.

Track 1 16:34

We went to Baz Gayle together, we got the shirts, we

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:37

We walked across the parapet.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:40

We did!

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:42

We gave out bracelets.

Track 1 16:44

Yeah, oh that was so special.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:46

no, that was I feel like that's like our anniversary book or

Track 1 16:49

What about the story? Do you like Christina besides that? It brought you us,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:54

Right,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:55

So, I actually served eight years in the army. And I'm very

Track 1 16:59

Thank you.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 16:59

94 pounds the day I entered the military. In fact, the doctor pulled me aside and asked Do you specifically not eat and stuff? Because they wanted to make sure I was underweight. So I was like, small, like the main character.

Track 1 17:09

Oh,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:10

And no one thought I'd make it in the army. And I think just to spite them all, I did. And that's kind of what Violet is like. So,

Track 1 17:17

what she does.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:18

see

Track 1 17:18

Yeah. Oh,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:21

and

Track 1 17:21

I didn't know that. That's so great.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:24

Yeah.

Track 1 17:25

like that you felt that way, but like that you found the reflection in this character. That's

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:30

I love her.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:31

a connection you had with Violet. Yeah,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:33

I love her, and of course, then there's her mysterious shadow friend. just love,

Track 1 17:39

Oh, we'd love a shadow daddy. We'd love a shadow daddy.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:44

Zaddy.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:45

I feel like Christina was about to go off about the shadow daddies.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:49

I'm not going to.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:50

in.

Track 1 17:51

That can be a whole episode. We could do shadow daddy episode.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:55

Oh

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:55

Oh yeah, we need

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:56

would tune into our favorite shadow daddies? Because

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 17:58

Oh

Track 1 17:58

Shadowed, if you would like a whole episode dedicated to shadow daddy Rex, please let us know on Instagram

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 18:06

us

Track 1 18:06

or Tik TOK at romance Rex pod.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 18:11

Cause maybe we're missing some shadow daddies, and I need to know that for posterity's sake if we are missing any, just for

Track 1 18:16

I've got quite a few. I've got some you haven't read yet. So thank you, Christina. Those are all great.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 18:22

I'm excited. Thank you.

Track 1 18:25

Dev, what do you have for us? You have, Dev is like our queen indie author connoisseur.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 18:32

me the best recommendations.

Track 1 18:34

I ride the line, I go back and forth. Dev's got it all. So what do you have for us for your favorite romanticy?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 18:41

To be fair. I'm not sure if anybody's indie on this one. Hold on.

Track 1 18:47

Oh, that's okay.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 18:48

All right. So first, my first Romantic y, right? I won't say this book got me into romantic y because I read it like in the middle of my journey It is King's Bride by Beck Michaels and I just fell in love with this story. It is second series kind of thing. Beck Michaels has other books, like her first series is Guardians of the Maiden, which she classifies as upper young adult Epic fantasy and I A really popular series for her, but I have not read it There are three out of four books out. I haven't read it. i'm just confused by the upper young

Track 1 19:23

Well, okay, so something I learned at the Romanticy panel I went to at Emerald City Comic Con yesterday was that authors do not have any control over what genre or subgenre their book gets classified as. They write what they write, and they think it'll be one thing, and then publishers will automatically throw it in somewhere else. So it is not a To authors a lot of the time, where it goes.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 19:51

where it

Track 1 19:52

Yeah,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 19:53

I just i've never heard of upper young adult. So I was just like

Track 1 19:56

that's weird.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 19:57

Yeah, but This book, King's Bride, is actually classified as new adult, so you do get spice. I think it is spicy spice for what the book is, but let me just give you a little tea for what it's about. The main character's name is Suneva, or Suneva, and basically, her brother falls ill, and she steals a magical rose from the Ice Phoenix, aka the God of Death's lair, and She has to use that. It's like a magical rose that can help save her brother's life. So she steals it. You probably shouldn't steal from the god of death. I don't know. I'm thinking. You should probably leave that

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 20:33

Sounds like a good advice.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 20:36

Right.

Track 1 20:37

Common sense.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 20:37

course he finds out. You know,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 20:39

Oh.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 20:40

Her clan from his wrath, her dad marries her off to him. Here, have her. Take her. Leave us alone. Have her. We don't need her. First of all, I love me a marriage of convenience. Arrange marriage and eat it up. So the fact that was also included in here. It was just chef's kiss. The in this book, it's, there's a lot of Viking and Norse mythology in there, I think, or like little tiny pieces. But the clan very much so presents as like Viking. I think the book opens with them coming back from raiding and The way the characters are described with their hair braided and stuff like that It was really nice to read that in a fantasy book and then you have the god of death

Track 1 21:23

Sounds hot.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 21:25

It is not to give

Track 1 21:26

Yeah, don't give us too much. Don't give us too much.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 21:28

I'm not I'm not but I will tell you within hours of being married to this man. She tries to kill him and I think that's all you need to know To read it please.

Track 1 21:40

yummy.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 21:41

I mean,

Track 1 21:42

Love a good stabby stab.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 21:43

for her. She was so stabby. So yeah, I love that book. My next suggestion would be anything within The Crowns of Axia World by Carissa Broadband. And when I say anything that is because I know that most people are familiar with the two books the Serpent and the Wings of Night and the Ashes and the Star Cursed King. Those two books follow Aurea, and she's pretty much the only human in a vampire world. I mean, it

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 22:11

Huh?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 22:12

kill or be killed in this world. And she essentially enters into a competition to kind of save Not only herself, she, you'll be able to gain something at the end of this competition that could save your life. But also to just protect other humans within this realm from vampires. However, she aligns herself with someone that is very mysterious, someone she doesn't know much about, but she ends up having to place her trust in him. He is a vampire. So, can you imagine being afraid of these people, wanting protection from them, but then also having to align yourself with them? So that you can stay alive. things happen. Feelings come about. Relationships are tested. Secrets are unveiled. And Oriah has to navigate all of this while in a competition where people are trying to kill her daily. I think her personality as a main character is so nice. She's so badass. She's just I'm killing everybody. Everybody's gonna die.

Track 1 23:13

Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 23:14

I'm seeing a theme here with stabby females. I love a stabby girl.

Track 1 23:17

It's it's the confidence. It's the audacity.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 23:20

Yeah. I love

Track 1 23:22

It's the gumption.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 23:24

Yeah, absolutely. I love me a girl with a dagger strapped to her in a thigh

Track 1 23:28

Mmm.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 23:29

skirt or something. I don't know. But the reason I mentioned those two books is because those are the two books that people think of when they hear the series. It's popular enough now that people know about it. within that series, there's also a novella that you should read in the middle of the two books, which is called Six Scorched Roses.

Track 1 23:47

heard of that one.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 23:47

you, I ate that novella up. Oh my gosh, it was so good. The characters in that novella are mentioned in book one, and then they kind of come into play more in book two. But their story of how they came together, it's just amazing. All of this is You know, kind of while Aurea's going through her thing in book one and then I just found out that there's a fourth book Which is also in that world, but don't meet those characters I don't know if the same characters from the two books that I mentioned are in there So I think I'll have to read it, but it is the What is it

Track 1 24:24

It's already out.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 24:25

Yeah slaying the vampire conqueror. It's already out So,

Track 1 24:30

Okay.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 24:31

it. Slaying the Vampire Conqueror. Which I think is really interesting. That's probably going to be one of my next up books. And also, Carissa Broadbent is the author of the War of Lost Hearts trilogy. Which you'll know, the first book is The Daughter of No Worlds.

Track 1 24:45

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 24:47

Yeah, you know, I love her. I loved her as a main character. I did not like the audiobooks. And so that made me pause Because I think I just need to read it. But I didn't love the audiobooks. But I think it's still a really great story. So I'll have to finish that trilogy. And then I have one more for you guys. I have The Stars Are Dying by Chloe Penoranda.

Track 1 25:06

I haven't read that one

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 25:07

it. Okay, this

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 25:09

Me neither.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 25:09

Really loved it. You know, I'm, I, all three of my authors, I'm just realizing, they have other series that I think are more popular than the series that I'm mentioning.

Track 1 25:18

But that's what we like. Yeah, I love give me the other ones. Give me the other ones

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 25:22

to light.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 25:23

And I think these series are now gaining traction. They're now very popular, but the other series that they have, I think people know them more than these. So Chloe Penneran, the one that I'm talking about, The Stars Are Dying, however, she has a series called An Heir Comes to Rise. She has five out of seven of those books out already. I've

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 25:41

Wow.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 25:41

But I personally like this series. It's supposed to be a duet or a trilogy. I know we're getting another book for it. It's the Nightfall series, which she has amnesia, and she wakes up and she only remembers the last five years of her life. But she's twenty something. And she cannot recall anything before that. And all she knows is the person who found her in the woods, wherever she was has taken her in, and he plays this really strange figure in her life, where he's like her captor, also her lover? I don't know,

Track 1 26:11

Love a good Stockholm.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 26:12

strange. Yeah, it's very, oh, it's for sure Stockholm

Track 1 26:15

Beauty and the Beast which you'll see more of in my wrecks

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 26:19

Right. She hates him. She wants to escape, but also he's all she knows, right? She doesn't, she literally has no idea what's outside in the world. And basically another book where the main character has to throw herself into some games and fight for her life, essentially. That is what this girl ends up doing. Her name is Estrella. Estrella ends up putting herself in this competition, kind of sadly, how she comes about that is very sad. But she's in this competition and she's trying to save and offer protection to the other humans in her world and all that stuff. There's a lot of secrecy, there's some help from a very sexy shadow daddy. We do love a shadow

Track 1 26:57

Mmm yummy

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 26:59

but He is not what he seems. He, you

Track 1 27:02

What a shadow daddy who's mysterious

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:06

Whaaat?

Track 1 27:07

gasp

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:08

baby, he is covered in shadows. He is just, everything about him is in the dark. You have no

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:12

That's okay.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:13

he's on. Is he good? Is he evil? And I

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:15

That doesn't matter.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:15

Good things about the book. Christina's yep, I'll take him. Check out. Add to cart. Check out. I'll take it.

Track 1 27:21

How's this dirty talk

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:22

books. I'm just dirty. Actually, Superior.

Track 1 27:28

Oh

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:28

the problem. It is He's Guys, he's really good. But I still don't know if he's good or bad.

Track 1 27:34

But

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:35

whole book.

Track 1 27:35

he's a good kind of bad.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:36

good. Yeah.

Track 1 27:38

god.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:38

need. all we need.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:40

shadows. Them shadows

Track 1 27:41

The things he can do as shadows.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 27:44

Yeah, those are my three suggestions. I love all of them. One, because y'all know I love, stabby female. I think that's a good theme. I love an epic quest. I love We are going on an adventure. Let's see who we can stab along the way. Yeah, I just love it. And I also I love books that take me out of real life Like none of this can I see happening in today? I love. So, that's why I love those three. So add them to your cart, add them to your TBRs, and let me

Track 1 28:10

Are they all on Kindle? I know all of Christina's are on Kindle. I think Kindle Unlim Oh, I don't know if Sarah J. Maas is on Kindle Unlimited. Throne of Glass, but. Fourth

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:21

I don't even think fourth wing is

Track 1 28:24

Wing is. Or was. It used to be.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:26

is.

Track 1 28:27

It used to be. I don't know if it is anymore.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:30

All three of my books, as far as I know, are on Kindle Unlimited. So

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:35

Oh, good.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:36

them right now. And you can also buy hard copies, but yeah, they're

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:40

Support the authors.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:41

All right, Jordan. Give it to

Track 1 28:42

Alright, I'm trying to decide.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 28:43

Give it to me, baby.

Track 1 28:45

let's go with that one since I just mentioned it. This series is called Beasts of the Briar. I have them right above me. On my little shelfy shelf behind me the first one is called Bonded by Thorns and it's written by a sister duo. So it has two authors actually their pen name is Elizabeth Helen. It is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but make it reverse harem. If you're gonna know, yeah, if you're gonna know anything about me when it comes to my current reading Feels, it's give me all the reverse harems you can. It's very whimsical. I'd say it really did take from Beauty and the Beast. Rosie is from, a coastal town here in Washington. I believe it's a fictional town. She is a shy bookworm with no backbone and an abusive ex. The female main character is shy, whiny, no backbone. I DNF. It's, I don't like to read it. This book, for some odd reason, kept me hooked. I kept reading. And I could look past the parts of her personality that pissed me off. Now, do I dislike people like that in real life? Absolutely not. Do I want to read it in my fantasy? Her dad is an anth er, an archaeologist. He goes missing because his wife went missing, like, when she was one. And he has been looking for her all around the world ever since because he is convinced that she Disappeared into another realm into the fey realm. He is convinced and everyone in town thinks he's crazy. And

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 30:27

Lemme make sure I have this

Track 1 30:28

Yeah, so she It was just 99 cents, I think I had you get it. She goes looking for her dad. Her dad disappears while camping in the woods. And so she goes and finds him. But instead of finding him, she finds a portal to a new realm. She,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 30:45

realm.

Track 1 30:47

danger and winds up in a castle. Where she finds her, where she finds her father in the dungeon. She exchanges herself for his freedom. Just like Beauty and the Beast. Everything is just very odd. It's this giant castle in a tree. And there's Faye. But they lock her in her room at night. So eventually when she gets out of the Cause of course then she gets out of the cell she was in. Give her a room. There are four Fae Princes that live in this castle of each,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 31:20

Ooh,

Track 1 31:20

seasonal court. So there's the Winter Prince, Spring Prince, Autumn, and Summer. And they're all so fucking gorgeous.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 31:32

ooh.

Track 1 31:34

Everyone swings every way. And,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 31:38

it.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 31:38

Oh,

Track 1 31:39

except for Rosie. She's just Straight on the D, but she's got plenty of that, but not in book one because it is a slow, very slow burn. So anyways, there's also an even hotter villain prince from the underground. It's like the realm below them and he's involved. He's so sexy.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 32:04

Please tell me she adds him to her little

Track 1 32:06

so every, so each book she kind of, so they don't all get together. It's just known that this is a reverse harem. You, and it's from upfront, like it's advertised that way. So it's not necessarily a spoiler. It's when they put forward Hey, this is a reverse harem, but it's going to take a while for everybody to get together. But. There's of course a curse placed on the castle, the lands, and the princes. They, the princes are the beasts. They turn into beasts at night.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 32:35

That why they lock her in her room?

Track 1 32:36

yeah, so eventually she finds out there's fated mates.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 32:40

That! Favorite

Track 1 32:41

there's heartbreak. There's rejected mate. There's sword crossing. If you don't know what that is, that means there's two men together. It's got all the good tropes. It, I just, I hit Dev so hard in the feels she's coughing again.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:00

You

Track 1 33:00

the reason I love,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:01

alive

Track 1 33:01

I know, I made her choke on it,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:04

I definitely choke. It's crazy.

Track 1 33:07

On the sword crossing. Yeah, I just, I love this because I love the princes. The princes are my favorite characters, like all of them. Including the evil one. The banter is really good. Love the banter. And Rosie finds herself in this realm. She doesn't stay who she was in the beginning. There is a lot of character development with her. She finds her backbone and she discovers who she is inside. She just really comes alive in this realm.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:40

She was in the wrong world. I think all of us can relate. I'm sure Fairy land

Track 1 33:45

me some hot fae princes.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:46

not be coming back.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:48

yeah,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:49

A one way ticket.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:51

Don't look for me. I'm not there.

Track 1 33:54

Love it. But yeah. So that was Beast of the Briar.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 33:58

Yep, we're definitely gonna read that.

Track 1 34:01

It's good. And oh, there's three out now and I believe there's going to be six

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 34:07

Oh,

Track 1 34:08

But the first one came out only a year ago. They have put out three in a year. They are indie, they self publish. They're from the Pacific Northwest region.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 34:16

I

Track 1 34:17

they're amazing. I love following them on socials too. They are engaged with their fan bases. They're called their, we are their roses. That's their fan base. It's just so cute.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 34:27

Yeah, no, I love that. I love what the indie author is. They have, they just have the with their community. I love that.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 34:35

Yeah, for sure.

Track 1 34:35

They're very involved. Alright, the next one is much more well known. This one is Zodiac Academy. This series has my life, blood, my soul. It has everything from me. So, this series, the first one is called The Awakening. Not to be confused with The Awakening as told by the boys. That's a different POV that you should not read immediately after. That is another book that should be read. After a few books, otherwise it will give away information and not make it as fun to read. The world of Solaria, Fae rule with magic from the four elements, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. Most fae have one element, the element that you were born into, and I'll describe that. And the lucky few have two elements. Each fae also has an order that they grow into later, like they discover their order later in life. So for example, they have their fae form, which is their humanoid form. There's no pointy ears in this one, they're just fae that look like humans. But then they change into their order. Their order is something it could be a dragon, werewolf, vampires, pegasus, a siren, there's Tiberian rats, there's shifters of all the animals and so many different there's minotaurs, there's like everything. The stars are their gods. And the Zodiac rules everyone. So, I am an Aries. For example, If I were to live in If I was a Fae in Solaria, I would have the element of fire because it's a fire sign

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 36:16

That

Track 1 36:16

Depending on when you're complete zodiac You and this where the stars were aligned when you were born. You may be gifted with an additional element and that's how that's decided so tarot palmistry all that stuff is This real fate is a, plays a really big part in this world but power rules all. So only the strongest magic users can rule. Years ago, the royal family was murdered by their sworn enemy, the nymphs. Since then, Four High Counselors have ruled together peacefully, training their heirs, four boys, to rule together once they master their power and claim their seats for themselves from their parents. But, one day, a massive power awakening is felt throughout the entire kingdom. The Vega Twins, the Vegas were the royal family. They had twins that supposedly died. They were discovered in the mortal world being brought up as changelings. And they were discovered and brought back to Solaria because our Earth, is a mirror world of Solaria. They have the same technology we do. They have, these twins have zero knowledge of Fae, or this world, or anything to do with their lineage, so they are brought back, and to keep their power structure, the heirs do everything they can to bully the twins out of their birthright, and try to scare them back to the mortal world. But, darker powers are lurking in the shadows. Will they destroy each other or discover the true enemy lying in wait? So this is very much a bully romance But done in a way where it's not like I love you and I can't process my emotions. So i'm going to shove you It's very much like I have been raised to rule this kingdom. You know, nothing about it you would bring us about to our ruin if you came into power because you don't know anything about it So they genuinely think they're doing what's best for their kingdom, and try to get them out. But the, so the Vega twins are our main characters, our female main characters, Darcy and Tori. And they are everything. They're just,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 38:31

they good FMCs?

Track 1 38:32

they are so badass. they grew up in the foster system and have been through a lot. And they are just like each other's only ride or dies. Their relationship is amazing and they are so strong. And they don't take shit. So,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 38:48

that.

Track 1 38:49

it's just,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 38:50

boys.

Track 1 38:51

yeah, it's, but and this is a slow burn, but because there are two main characters there are, there's more than one relationship to follow. There's more than two relationships to follow because eventually you add POVs from the heirs and another couple main characters that come along. So by the end of this, There's a whole bunch of people that you are super invested in. There are nine main novels and 15 works total. The 15 includes those nine. And that includes novellas, alternate POVs, it's just super exciting. The final one, the ninth book, and the last one, they have said this is the last one in Zodiac Academy series. Comes out April 23rd this year,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 39:34

Wow.

Track 1 39:35

it has everything. The world is amazing I love these characters and I'm going to be so sad to see them go, but I can't wait to see what happens.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 39:42

Jordan has definitely bullied Christina and I into reading this, so we will be venturing into this 15 book world shortly.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 39:49

Can you remind me, Dev, what's it called again?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 39:53

that's diabolical that you would do this to me right now. The book is called Vampire Zodiac

Track 1 39:58

Oh, she almost did it. Zodiac Academy. Yes.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:02

Academy.

Track 1 40:03

Dev has been saying Vampire Academy every single time we talk about it and she cannot keep it straight.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:08

every time.

Track 1 40:10

And then the one, Oh gosh. Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:13

do this to me.

Track 1 40:14

And then one time she was actually talking about Zodiac or Vampire Academy and she said Zodiac. So it's just some hot mess.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:21

You

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:21

She

Track 1 40:21

Nope.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:26

she's Zodiac diaries?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:26

No. I think what it is I need to call it Cancer Academy. Ooh, no, that sounds ra Okay, so what I was thinking is if I call it my side,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:35

And Jordan's no.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:36

for the Zodiac. But the fact that I'm a Cancer, anything like Cancer Academy just sounds

Track 1 40:41

Questionable.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:42

I'm saying? It

Track 1 40:43

It sounds like someone's doing experiments and like you don't want to go there.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 40:45

Yeah. Yeah. It sounds like really rough, so I don't know. I'm just gonna have to remember it and if I don't, y'all are just gonna correct me every time. So yay. But I am excited to read it.

Track 1 40:56

you should. I am, I just can't sing its praises enough and those authors, oh and it's written by, I didn't even say who it was by, oh jeez, dear God, Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti. It is another sister duo who writes.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 41:10

we love See, and the theme here.

Track 1 41:12

and the sisters, I know for a fact in that one, they each have their own characters that they write. So they each have the different characters POVs that they are in charge of and the other sister edits we'll go through and edit. Yeah,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 41:26

that. I love that kind of work in relationship.

Track 1 41:29

They're great. And I have listened to every book, their audio. They have Bridget and Jake Bordeaux narrate their stuff and they are married. Amazing, amazing work that they do. On those audiobooks. Alright, my final series.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 41:47

at it.

Track 1 41:48

Yeah, consult me before you start about reading Order.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 41:53

Ha!

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 41:53

Yeah, no, I was just looking it up on Libby. And I thought this was it and this is not it.

Track 1 41:58

No, it's, it is not on my Libby.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 42:00

I don't think Libby has

Track 1 42:02

none of those authors, like they don't have any of their works. They have 50 books between them and they are, none of them are on Libby. They are all on Kindle Unlimited.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 42:12

Yeah, that'll be

Track 1 42:13

And if you download a Kindle Unlimited book, and then you add narration, so if you do Kindle Unlimited in that, it's going to be cheaper than your credit for Audible.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 42:23

Oh.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 42:24

Yes.

Track 1 42:24

Little trick of the trade.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 42:26

To the game, yeah.

Track 1 42:28

my final series is also somewhat popular. I feel like it's really popular among booktube Instagram and things like that. It's the Bridge Kingdom series by Danielle L. Jensen. I wanted to highlight this one because it's a little bit different of a romanticy because it does not involve a bunch of magic or magical creatures but it's a fantastical world For the description of this, I thought it best, I just copied the description in Goodreads because I thought it did a really good job. A warrior princess trained in isolation. Laura is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Arin of the bridge. Kingdom is her enemy, and the second is that she'll be the one to bring him to his knees. The only route through a storm ravaged world, the bridge kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Laura's homeland. So when she's sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Laura is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture. Its impenetrable defenses and the defenses of its king. So she's been raised to be an assassin bride.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 43:34

Right,

Track 1 43:35

Her and all her dozens of sisters. So,

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 43:39

More stabbing.

Track 1 43:40

Who have been fighting, who have been fighting each other for the right to do this their entire lives.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 43:45

Wow. That's crazy.

Track 1 43:46

As she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begins to question whether she's the hero or the villain. Shock. And, as her feelings for Auron transform from frosty hostility to fierce passion, Lara must choose which kingdom she'll save, and which kingdom she'll destroy. Because a choice has to be made. And one will be destroyed.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 44:10

can't have it both.

Track 1 44:11

This is Enemies to Lovers. Super strong female main character. Obviously. Deception. Arranged marriage. And then eventually there's, there is redemption. What's cool about this series is Danielle has this, she said, I've heard her say that she likes to take any side characters that she likes and turn them into main characters. So the first two books are about Lara and her journey and then the next, so there's four books out in the series right now. And so book three and four are about a different couple. They follow different characters, but it's happening in the same world in the same political system. Book three and four actually follow one of her brothers. So that she never knew growing up because she was raised in isolation. But there's still crossover and you still see the other characters like. In certain scenes or in passing or they're doing deals with them politically, so it's really cool to see the other side of that.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 45:10

Yeah, I like that.

Track 1 45:10

Yeah, and

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 45:11

I love when side characters get their own

Track 1 45:13

yeah, and the writing is so well done. Like her writing is beautiful. It's really great, so, and she's strong, confident, and the political system, I love the political system. It is detailed, it is messy, it is entrenched with generations of war, and like the climate is working against them, and it's great.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 45:36

I feel like we all had stories with assassins. I love that.

Track 1 45:40

Ah, stab stab.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 45:42

I feel like all romanticy has a little bit of stabbiness in there.

Track 1 45:47

Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 45:47

it's the FMC, the MMC, someone's stabbing somebody.

Track 1 45:50

Yeah, I mean,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 45:51

someone to

Track 1 45:52

in Beasts of the Briar Rose, this shy, timid thing, eventually, they're trying to teach her how to defend herself. Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:01

we love them Well yeah, so I hope you guys have taken away some really good recs from that. I know for sure that I'm definitely going to be reading Zodiac Academy. Is that alright? I'm going to be

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:12

too.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:12

Academy, most definitely going to be adding Beasts of Brier. To my

Track 1 46:17

Mmm.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:17

that's already on my Kindle. So I think that'll be before Zodiac Academy, because, Christina, we gotta read that together. We gotta like

Track 1 46:24

That's a whole season you have to plan. It's a whole season you have to plan. Cause they are th

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:28

that's our summer

Track 1 46:29

ic. They are th ic.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:31

and Noble and I was

Track 1 46:32

No.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:35

on my Kindle. There's nothing thick. I don't care. The book could be

Track 1 46:39

Or audible.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:40

gonna read

Track 1 46:40

Or audible.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:41

Speed it up. Let's get this going.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:43

then I'll be like, oh my gosh, was it really this

Track 1 46:46

I'll get you a ribbon. I'll get you a sash. And a little,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:49

yeah.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:50

A tiara. Is

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:53

this series.

Track 1 46:54

The first one.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 46:55

that. I'm gonna add

Track 1 46:56

Deb, what's the first one that you suggested? I forget the name of it.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:00

Oh, King's

Track 1 47:01

I want to read that one.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:02

Michaels.

Track 1 47:03

that one too.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:03

you were talking about earlier? In the chat? I think, too. The one you said was Viking, but you meant

Track 1 47:09

Biking culture.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:11

Viking culture.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:13

we were talking about motorcycles.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:14

had to autocorrect really got me. Also, all three of my recs have spicy spice. I would say they

Track 1 47:21

Oh.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:21

to five. So.

Track 1 47:22

Mine do mine absolutely do. Yes. Yes. Zodiac Academy takes a while to get to it, but when it does, It's toe curling.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:37

Yeah. Yeah. Nope. Nope. Nope. I don't want any toes curling.

Track 1 47:42

They don't in that book, there is no toe curling analogy.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:45

Good.

Track 1 47:47

But there's other things.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:48

us.

Track 1 47:48

There is bitey bites. Vampire bites.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:52

Oh, so I do love vampires. I will

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:54

Me too.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 47:55

are certain things I love in books. So, vampire bites, arranged marriage, faded maids.

Track 1 47:59

Oh, that is all in Zodiac Academy. Well, not the ranged. Yeah, there is, but it's not great. Anyways.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:07

Yeah.

Track 1 48:07

And I've read all of Christina's and I love them, and I've re read those, and I can't wait for more of Jennifer L. Armantrout's. From Blood and Ash.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:16

That's the only one that I haven't read

Track 1 48:18

A new one,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:18

Blood and Ash series.

Track 1 48:20

yeah, a new one just came out last month, right, Christina? I think it was like in a

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:24

Yeah,

Track 1 48:24

An addition.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:26

And Some new journal entries from the characters POVs. So, yeah.

Track 1 48:31

Love that.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:31

that special diary that she loves to read, you know. Oh, are we gonna do our quotes of the week?

Track 1 48:36

So we just wanted to highlight some interesting highlights. And quotes.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:42

highlights.

Track 1 48:43

ramps that we have from recent reads. Did you have one that you wanted to start with? Christina, do you want to give it to us first?

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 48:53

I think Dev will recognize it, but it just kind of cracked me up and I loved it, so.

Track 1 48:57

What is it from? Oh,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:03

I love it. Okay. Love it already.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:05

they're at a party, and a character walks by and her friend tells her this. This is the quote. It goes, Romeo Costa. Savannah's voice curled with logging as he breathes right past us, heading toward the table reserved for the VIPs. would let him ruin me as thoroughly and impressively as Elon Musk destroyed Twitter.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:26

Yes. Snap snap, snap, snap. Yeah, that line.

Track 1 49:30

that's funny.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:32

How perfect

Track 1 49:33

I love it.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:33

Immediately after that, there was another one I almost highlighted. It was like, red flag, the size of Texas.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:39

Yes. Yes. There's such good banter in that book.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:43

Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:44

they were just so, L. J. Shen and I think Parker S. Huntington are the authors. And they just do a really good job at the banter and the comedic timing in the writing, which I love.

Track 1 49:57

Love that.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 49:58

I loved it.

Track 1 50:05

from Kill Order, which I'm currently reading, so I'm not even done with it. I'm just gonna do two because I can't choose. So one of them, Call me whatever derogatory term was currently in fashion for sex positive women, but I was a goner for Leon Marks.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 50:20

No,

Track 1 50:20

I just love it.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 50:21

whatever derogatory

Track 1 50:23

derogatory term for sex positive women. Whatever you wanna say, I don't give a shit.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 50:28

Yes, exactly.

Track 1 50:29

one is actually a quote from Leon Marx. It's something he says to someone because he had just killed someone. That is not a spoiler if you know these books, by the way.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 50:41

Yeah.

Track 1 50:41

I'd known we would meet him now, I might have made another choice. Sadly, I never graduated from Xavier School for the Gifted, so I couldn't see this coming.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 50:51

No, not an X Men

Track 1 50:53

Yeah, I know.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 50:55

Leah!

Track 1 50:56

It's well, I, if I would've,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 50:58

yeah, well, I didn't know. How could I have seen? Oh my

Track 1 51:01

yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 51:01

that is so perfect for his That just makes so much sense that's something

Track 1 51:05

So you have those to look forward to.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 51:07

Yeah, I know. Can't wait.

Track 1 51:09

What do you have for us?

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 51:13

It's going to get a little spicy in

Track 1 51:14

Oh, yes.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 51:15

this is actually from Eternally Damned, which is book one in the Shallow Cove Dimensions book by January Rayne. I think the fourth book comes out this month, so I've been thinking about the series a lot and I just, the first book is Chef's Kiss. So listen to this. This is the male main character talking to his woman. They're both vampires. You like it when I'm a gentleman? She nods. I spread her legs with my knee and wrap a hand around her throat, elongating my talons until I press one against her bottom lip. Her breath catches and the pink flesh gives under the sharp point. I bet you'll like it when I'm not. I'm sorry, did I just catch fire?

Track 1 51:55

I'm a little red

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 51:56

this man had to be in a chokehold.

Track 1 51:57

literally and figuratively. Christina's fanning herself. We're all fanning her, but Christina actually has a little fan.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:08

but he's like that the entire book. He's just

Track 1 52:10

Oh that's nice.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:12

good. And that entire series is just, it's like paranormal. There are so many people and one of my faves for sure. But I didn't know if I should. It's not romanticy, so I didn't want

Track 1 52:22

Oh, mine isn't either.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:23

can,

Track 1 52:24

no.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:24

yeah, like just please read it. Like it's just so good. January rain. I'm waiting for the next book, babe. Can we have it? Thank you.

Track 1 52:32

Ah! So many good romance recs. And I think, so we can put, we'll put all these recs out on our socials.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:39

Put up somewhere for you.

Track 1 52:40

put out for everybody.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:41

Love to read other people's recommendations.

Track 1 52:43

Yes, give me more. Give me more. Or tell us what you thought about the ones we read. Do you agree with us? Because

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:50

you read them yourself?

Track 1 52:51

we all like different books. And it's okay if I like when you don't. Or you like when I don't. I mean,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 52:57

Right.

Track 1 52:58

we've experienced that within this group.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:00

Sharing.

Track 1 53:02

caring.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:02

Head over to our socials and comment under whatever recent posts you see and let us

Track 1 53:07

It is wherever you find. Ha.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:09

We should have a corresponding post to this episode, so just go right on the net and just Let us know your thoughts, babe.

Track 1 53:15

And next week, or the next episode, listeners can look forward to, we're going to recommend our favorite Authors,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:23

Yes!

Track 1 53:24

some authors and do a little bit more general, not one specific, like specific books, but talk about lots of authors,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:32

Mhm.

christina_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:33

that'll be great.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:34

of

Track 1 53:34

well published and indie authors. Yeah.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:37

Mhm.

Track 1 53:37

over the board, every genre of romance,

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:41

Mhm.

Track 1 53:41

I think we're going to hit a lot of different, we're going to hit a lot of stuff. We're going to hit it.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:49

Yes.

Track 1 53:50

But we won't quit it. All right. Someone stopped me, please. Take us out, Dev. Take us out.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 53:57

everybody. So thanks for listening+to++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ us ramble about our favorite romanticy books. If you're looking for more Romance Wrecks, be sure to follow us on Instagram and TikTok at Romance Wrecks Pod. You can find our favorite book wrecks from our episode as well as behind the scenes content. Again, that's at Romance Wrecks Pod on TikTok, on Instagram, so make sure to give us a follow and we'll be back next week with another book. Episode.

Track 1 54:23

Awesome. Thank you.

devonnie_1_03-04-2024_202311 54:25

Thanks guys