EP. 39: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

In this episode of 'Read Me Next, Carina and Pili peel back the layers of the "Beauty and the Beast" inspired story that captivated millions, yet left many puzzled by its early pacing, a Court of Thorns and Roses. You'll learn how Sarah J. Mass masterfully weaves a complex political web with seven fairy courts, curses rooted in ancient betrayals, and a heroine's journey from innocence to power. We break down the pivotal moments: the cursed masks, deadly trials, and the unexpected turns that turn a seemingly simple romance into an epic tale of sacrifice and love that defies death itself.

Transcript

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Welcome to Reamy Next, the Book Club and Make It a Podcast. Where we have lots of feelings and no qualifications. What are we reading this week? We're reading A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass. AKA Akitar. AKA Akatar. Finally, I'm so excited. Yeah. So Peely has read this before. Yes. I have not. So as we know, when we first started the podcast, it was like my very first introduction to fantasy. So Akatar was one of those that I never touched at all. It's funny because I didn't really know anything about it. Like going into it, I still don't know anything much about it. Love. And I always avoided it like on TikTok. Yeah. It never came up. I'm so happy. I'm so happy that you don't know anything. Yeah. So that's really, really good. It's so fun going in blind. Because then when shit happens, you're like, oh my God. Yeah, literally. I got to a part and I sent you the picture. I was like, what's going on? Wait a minute. Wait a damn minute. Wait a minute. It's so fucking good. Yeah. So it's not on Ken Unlimited. No. But it is on Hoopla. Yeah. The audiobooks are on Hoopla and also the dramatized adaptations are also there. Mm-hmm. Which I I kind of want to dabble into it. Yeah, that would be cool. But maybe like the next time. When I when I reread it for the third time. Because they're like double as long. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, because it like, yeah, it's basically like a it's a movie for your ears, as they say. It's so fun. Yeah, no, it is a lot of fun. And plus I'd like to know like the whole cast. Because it's very much an ensemble at some of the books. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I agree. Yeah. How'd you like the audio? I liked it. Yeah. I I'd listened to it before. Even when you first read it. Yeah. Yeah. I also didn't realize this book was like 10 years old. It's so old. Yeah. It's like 2015. No, but it's iconic. Yeah. No, really good. I enjoyed it. All right. What did you rate it? I rated it a four. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I could honestly maybe even dabble a 3.5. Yeah. But it was good. I felt a lot of what you had told me that uh it's a lot of story building. Yeah. World building. Yeah, thank you. That's what it's called. It was a lot of world building. There was a lot of like, what is the point in the beginning? I was like, what's what's going on? Yeah, what's going on? Why are we doing this? You know, like what is it? But then we got to like the second half of the book and it just like took off. I was like, okay, now we're here, we're reading. Yeah, right. Yeah. Yeah. So that was cool. That was fun. It really like super spicy. No. But what it had was really good. Like I enjoyed it. Yeah. Like it wasn't like super graphic. It wasn't over the top. So I thought that was really cool. And there weren't that many spicy scenes in this one. Yeah, there wasn't that many spicy scenes. It was definitely like pure world building, like you say. Yeah. I can't believe people had to wait like a whole year for the next one to come out. Well, I mean, so the reason we're reading this now is because I told Karina, I'm gonna read Avatar Six and Seven when they come out. So you better get on board and read it with me. Thank you. So we're here, we're doing it. You also read Crescent City. So the Sara J Mass Universe is made up of three different series. So Aquatar is one of them, Throne of Glass is eight books, that's another one, and then Crescent City is another one, three books. And so the TikTok girlies said, before you read Avatar Six and Seven, you need to read at least Crescent City. Like essentially, you should read all of the books, but Crescent City is like the most important one that ties into the Aquatar universe, which I have no idea. So I finished book one and it doesn't tie at all, and I don't understand. They're on different timelines, it's different, like everything. So I'm very confused as to how it's connected. But the the TikTok girly said, keep going. Keep going. So I'm gonna keep going. So I'm a little confused though. Six and seven's already out? No, six and six comes out in October and seven comes out twenty twenty-seven. So how do we know to read Crescent City? Because the TikTok girlies know. Oh, the TikTok girlies. They know. They said you need to see. They see and they know. They said Crescent City before Aquatar Six. So you won't be confused. I don't know. Because Crescent City won, nothing has happened so far. It's gonna be like It's gonna be like one of those things where it's like a realm is created. Something like that. It's giving like the Spider-Verse. Yes, literally, it's giving Doctor Strange. Literally. I don't know what's gonna happen, but I'm I'm really excited. And people say that Throne of Glass is like there's a before and after Throne of Glass. So I'm just like Ooh, like you think like there was a before and after for Avatar. A thousand percent. Yeah, so I'm just like, I wonder. I've tried reading Throne of Glass before. I haven't gotten through it, and I'm like, damn. So you haven't gotten through it because you didn't like it? Or no, no, no. Like I like I started book one and I just like didn't get into it. Fell off? Yes. But I'm like, Agatar, I'm so excited to be re-rereading this. What did you rate Avatar? Did I ask you? I would rate it like a four and a half. I like it, but it's definitely not my favorite out of the series at all. Let me ask you, did you rate it a four and a half when you first read it? Like even as your first take on this book, would you rate it a four and a half? I'm pretty sure I rated it a five. Like I I I really liked it. But then I just kept going. I'm like, oh my god, like I like everything else was better. Literally so good. But I don't know, just rereading it and reminiscing, like how it happened one summer last week. You loved, and you're like, oh, I love it. It's so nostalgic. Like this was so nostalgic for me. I was like, love it. That's nice. Yeah, that's nice. That's nice. Yeah. All right, so let's get into it. Okay. So the book starts off, and we have an FMC. Her name is Fayra. So Faya, she comes from like this very poor village. She's very, very poor. She lives with her two sisters, Elaine and Nesta and her father. But they used to not be poor. No, they were rich, and like, you know, unfortunate things happened and they became poor. She was the person who was keeping them alive, basically. She was being the parent. She was the parent out of the entire household. Where they live, it's broken up between the human side of the continent and then the fairy slash magical side of the continent. The fae. The fae. I was so happy to hear that word. Love. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I know because I was so excited because we read Quicksilver, and that was your first fantasy. Which I loved. It was so good. But like they had different types of magical creatures. And then fourth wing is all about the dragons. So cool. Completely different. And I'm like, finally, we're getting to the fairies. Yes. Karina. I'm so excited. And so she's gonna take me over the wall. Oh my god. No, I literally am. If only I could. So the book starts off. She's hunting for her family. She ends up killing this big bad wolf. And at that point, she doesn't know if it's a fairy or a wolf, but she's like, No, just to be cautious, I'm gonna kill it. Well, she killed it because the wolf was hunting, supposedly. The deer that she wanted to. And she was like, I need that deer. Sorry. I'm gonna starve and so is my family. So yeah. Sorry, wolf. Sorry, wolf. But we're killing you. So she kills the wolf. She goes back to her to her house, and they're they're so excited. They're like, fairy, you're the fucking best. How did you like the sisters? Like, I'm gonna ask you as we go along. Cool, cool, cool. Nesta was a bitch. Yeah. Like super, super bitchy. I knew you were gonna say that. But like, I'll get more opinions, I guess, as we talk, right? Yeah. Elaine, I don't know. I thought she was like not there all the way. Like, she was a little dumb. I don't know. She like gave me weird vibes in the beginning. Like, are you a child? I didn't really know their ages. Like, it was kind of confusing how Farah's hunting, killing things, and then these two girls are at home just not doing anything. Gossiping. Yeah, so I was kind of confused. They're kicking. Yeah. And what about the dad? What did you think of him? Fucking idiot. Did not like him. No, like so annoying. What are you doing? I don't know. Like, I get it. I'm No. I was gonna say, I get it. You can't hunt because of your fucking leg. I get that. Cool. But like do something else. Yeah. I don't know anything. How is this young woman going to almost die every day trying to find food? And every day you don't even come back with food. Like it's just luck. No, and they're all like so mean to her. The family dynamic was worrisome. Like I did not like it. I was like, what's going on? Yeah. Yeah. So they're there, they're super happy. Vera's back. She has the deer. She has the pelts from the wolves. She's gonna go sell it. They're gonna have some money for the next couple weeks. All of a sudden, someone just storms into the cottage and we get this beast. Yeah, literally. And he comes in and he says, Who killed the wolf? And they were like, It wasn't me. Literally. At that moment, it's like Nesta and Elaine are cowering in a corner, not even trying to say anything to save Farah. Yeah. The dad is like, up until the very end, where she's he's like, Farah, yeah. But that was it. Literally. Like nobody really tried to save her. He's like, All right, there's like this treaty in place that supposedly if you kill a fairy, it's a life for a life. And so he said, You're coming to live with me in Prithian. Yeah. Which is like the fairylands. The thing about the humans is that they were all told, like, oh my god, the fairies are evil, the fairies are the worst, they're beasts, they're horrible, like beings, whatever. And so that's where she, you know, is kind of held captive. I was I thought it was funny because when I first read this book, I'm like, this is giving like adult beauty and the beast. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, yeah, it gave it gave beauty and the beast. I love that. But it was like confusing because she got there and like, Farah, like, are you okay? Because she's like, I just like, why am I here and my family is still suffering? I shouldn't be here. I'm like, Farah. I mean, what she made the promise to her mom. Yeah. Oh my god, that was another thing that I was like, her and her. Your mom didn't even like you. No, literally, nobody liked you, Farah. You don't have to keep these promises for these people. And she's like, in my land, a promise is law. Girl who and then she's like, Nobody saw me make the promise. I'm like, okay, so then what the fuck are you still doing? I'm literally dumbass. I'm like, Farah. That's so that was me with the whole situation with Farah. I was like, this is fucking bullshit. Really? Yeah, but so then we find out her captor is Tamlin. Yeah. Right? Tamlin ends up being this high lord of the spring court. Yes. Right. So then this is part of the world building that I was understanding is that there's different courts. There's seven different courts. Yeah. There's let's see if I got them all. Yes. There's the spring court, the summer court, the winter court, autumn court, day court, night court, dawn. Dawn. Dawn court. Yep. So yeah, each of them has a high lord that is like in charge of their lands, right? Yep. Yep. So she's in the spring court. Yeah. Which I'm like, if you had to be taken anywhere, the spring court is where you want to go. Sure. At this point. Sure. At this point. And so that's also where we meet Lucian. Oh my god, I love Lucian. Yeah, I loved him. Yeah. Like so bad. So Lucian is basically it's Tamlin's emissary, but he's also the son of the high lord of the autumn court.

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Mm-hmm.

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He had this big falling out with his family, and so he's like, fuck you guys. I'm going to spring court with Tamlin. Yep. I thought the whole beginning with Lucian was so funny when he kept calling her human. I was like, Lucian, you're so funny. No, Lucian Lucian was hilarious. Yeah. Like he had the best remarks. Yeah. I really liked him. I love a side character like that, you know? It's like a buddy. Yeah. Like um Carrion. Karrion. I was like, Kamora. No. Um it was Karrion. Thank you. Like Karrion. Yeah. So cute. So I really like that. Emissary. What exactly is that? Because I had to look it up. It's just like a like a buddy of sorts, right? I thought it was more like kind of like a liaison. Like he's like the talking guy of the Spring Court. Okay. I'm down with that. Because he wasn't like a warrior. No, no, no. He says that he knew how to be a warrior, but he wasn't technically a warrior. Right. And Tamlin also like says something about how when the whole shit happened with his family, like he brought him on because he doesn't like to be like kind of like the face of the Spring Court. He didn't even want the Spring Court. No, yeah, he didn't even want it. And so during the book, Farah starts learning more about like the fairy lands and Prithian and what's going on with them. They're in like this whole debacle, this blight, as they say, it was kind of like a plague that's like stripping the fairies of their magic, and it's just like everything's going to shit. No, so along with the blight, there was a curse put on Tamlin and his spring court. Yeah. So all of them, this is like the beauty and the beast part. So all of them have a mask that's stuck to them. So Farah doesn't really know who everybody looks like. Yeah. So what mask was Tamlin? It was just like a normal, like a like a normal mask. His was like a normal mask, right? And then Lucian was a fox. Yeah. Right? Yeah. So I thought that was really interesting, the whole mask situation. Yeah, that was crazy. So, like you said, this whole curse, there's the curse, there's the blight, there's like everything's going down. There's so many things happening that are bad, but she's like, but life is so good. Yeah, she's like not understanding. Yeah, she's like, the grass feels nice. She got taken to this beautiful glen of sorts. And the thing is also that they aren't allowed to tell her things. That's the problem with this curse, is that they can't like physically tell her what the fuck needs to happen. Yeah. So when she's in the spring court, something that happens is that they have this great right that's during Cal and Mine, which is Fire Night, which is the whole thing. But it's basically like this holiday that the fairies celebrate, that all of the people from all of the courts come down, and it's like they're like replenishing the magic, basically. But so what the great right is, is Tamlin has to fuck somebody, basically. So Tamlin and Lucian are like, bitch, do not get out of your room to Farah and stay in your chamber. What does Farah do? That was another thing about Farah in the beginning of this fucking book. She didn't listen to anybody. And I was like, this is where I was low-key annoyed because I was like, okay. You know, me reaching. Yeah. Always always because always. Farah is a human. Yeah. And I'm like, you don't know what the fuck you're doing around these fairies. Like you don't know anything. You're not strong. You're nothing. You're a defense. No, no, she is. Like, but I'm not gonna say that I'm something against Thanos. You know what I mean? You're nothing against a high lord. So I'm like, can you listen? Maybe just a little bit. Do you have a death wish or what? So then I kept going back to Nesta kept telling her in the beginning, she was like, You're half-beast, or something like that. She had told her once, and I was like, Is Farah you reaching? Yeah, me reaching. So I'm like, Farah's gonna be something. Uh I love I love the foreshadowing that you're like insane. Yeah, yeah. You think she's a half beast? Me. Like an actual half beast. Yeah, yeah. Farah is something wrong. She's like Nesta called it, guys. Yeah, Nesta. That bitch was right. No, she wasn't. She was she was a human. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyways, but she was a stupid human. Literally, everything that Lucian was saying, stupid human, you fool human. Yeah. Lucian, I'm with you. Anyways. So she leaves her chambers. She's like kind of like she has a hood on. She's trying to hide that she's a human. She's walking by, and of course, she gets caught by these three evil-looking fairies. Mm-hmm. And she's like, hi. Yeah, they're like, ooh, what is a human doing? Yeah. In these parts. What is a human doing in these parts? It's literally, ooh, what are you doing here? Yeah. And they're like grabbing at her and stuff. The audio was so good at that part. Like those parts, I was like, ooh, I like that. Yeah, all the creepy little fairies. Yeah. So then at this point, she's like terrified because these three fairies are, they're of course thinking of bad things to do to her. Yeah. And it turns out it's because they wanted her for the great right. So then when she's trying to get away from these fairies, comes up behind her, lo and behold, it's recent. And she explains it so well in the book. She's like, it's this handsome, sensual man in black clothes, black hair. I was like, hmm. Interesting. He's hot. Something over there is happening. Yeah. And he let her go. He didn't kill her, even though he knew she was a human. Mm-hmm. Weird. Mm-hmm. Weird. Weird. So then what? Then she saw Lucian, right? Yeah. And that's how she got out of there. Yeah, Lucian's like, what the literal fuck are you doing here? Tamlin is gonna turn beast mode, literally. He's gonna smell you. Which I think that's another cool fact about freaking fantasy that they can smell humans. I love that. And so he like hauls her ass back to the chambers, whatever. Lucian is struggling because he's like, now we gotta fucking like hold him off because he's gonna smell you and then he's not gonna be able to find you.

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Literally.

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What are we gonna tell him now? It takes a lot. Literally, Lucian was like playing, I don't know, babysitter. It was so funny. He was playing babysitter so many times. So it's like later on in the night, and so she goes outside and she sees Tamlin and he's like coming back from the great right or whatever, and they have this whole like little scene, this tension y scene, and he was like, Do you know how I felt knowing I smelled you, but I couldn't have you? Like, I tried to find you and I couldn't find you. Oh, it was so good. And he had to find somebody else. And he just found somebody else. I hate that. And she's like, I don't want anybody's leftovers or said something she said. Literally. Girl, you were so trying to die. Like, you're so out of pocket with the High Lord of the Spring Court. No, no, like so out of pocket. Like, know your place, bitch. Literally, no, but she was so funny. Like, there were parts in the book where she would be like, I like literally, I am a stupid human. Like, I I should be dead. Like, I don't know what I'm what is wrong with me. Like, I keep trying these people and they're gonna kill me. Yeah, her inner monologue was cool. Yeah, yeah, because for a while, like she thought she was being bad, and then she was like, I am stupid. Like, I need to I need to calm myself. I need to relax a little bit. Literally. So then, yeah, I heard nothing of this dark shadow in the night, man. We continued the book. And I was like, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. And so we continue the book. Everything's fine. She's like slowly falling in love with Tamlin. Lucian is her BFF, she's having the time of her life at the spring court, everything's fine. Dandy, love it, whatever. She's not trying to escape anymore. She finally found her peace there. She found her peace. Like, it's like all going so well until Until Until what? Mr. Resane comes back in the picture. No, that was so good. I love that part. No, and it was so good because like I was I love the the fairy magic because she was like, I'm hiding behind Lucian, and I feel like they they put on a glamour. A glamour, so they can't nobody can see me. And she's like, Oh fuck, that's the guy. She's like, I can see them, but he can't see me. Yeah. And then freaking Reese, so smart. What a what a suave character. Literally. Because he's like, Where's your other guest? And he's like, shit. So then it went crazy from there. Yeah. So Reese's like, you're trying to glamour me? What the fuck? And so he obviously and no like his power, he was like, Yeah. To Lucian, like, get the fuck out of my way. Literally. So good. So at this point, we find out that Reese is the High Lord of the Night Court. Yeah. So he comes strolling in and he's like, What the fuck is going on? Who is this human? He's like, We meet again, and like, mm-hmm. And Tamlin's like, please don't tell Amarantha. So we learn about Amarantha. She was one of the soldiers of the king of Hibern, which Hibern is another territory. So it's like a lot of things going on in this world building for real. A lot. At this point, is where I was like, What's going on? Yeah. Uh, Tamlin says, Please do not tell Amarantha about Ferah. And he's like, okay, beg. I literally hated that part because I was like, I know what's happening here. Let me let me give you a peek into my brain. Mm-hmm. Tell me. What are your thoughts? Because at this point, as like as I told you before, right? I don't know anything about Avatar. But I know I've seen this name on TikTok. I know. So I got tear and I was like. Literally, I paused. I took that picture for you and I sent it. Because I was like, when you started sending me those pictures, I'm like, fuck. I don't like that. She's suspicious of anything. Don't be suspicious. I was like, it's not doing what I'm thinking. Yeah. So I'm excited to figure the rest out because I don't know anything. Yeah. So I knew that name and that was it. Yeah. So he he tells Tamlin, he's like, okay, fine. Like, I'll I maybe I'll say something, maybe I won't, whatever. And he's like an asshole. Yeah, such an asshole. And he leaves. After this whole encounter with Reese, Tamlin's like, No, it's not safe for you here anymore. Like, you're gonna have to go back home. And she's like, No, like I want to stay here. And he's like, no, sorry, you're going back home. Yeah. So the next day she packs her shit up and he's like, I love you. And she just leaves without saying it. And she just fucking leaves. And I'm like, stupid human. Stupid human because I'm like, out of all of the things to not be like, fuck you, I'm gonna do whatever I want. You're just gonna go. You're just not gonna do that. Yeah, like oh, so I was like, okay, farah. Like, come on. You're stupid as fuck. So that was annoying. Yeah. And then she's like, I'm not gonna say I love you, so not be a burden to him. Bitch. This whole thing. You were the bird. This whole thing could have been avoided. This whole thing just said it, honestly. And then what how many days later she's like, I gotta go tell him I love him. I'm like, girl, you're so fucking annoying. This is so dumb right now. Okay, so she goes back home. Life's shit. She's like, fuck, I love Tamlin. Of course, Tamlin being like the nice guy that he is, he set up Nesta Elaine and her dad for life. Yeah. He set them up for life. So they lived in this mansion, they had all this money, this and that. She goes back, and Nesta keeps like eyeing her suspiciously. And at some point she breaks and she's like, what we were told was not true. Yeah. So I kind of like that Nesta was able to figure it out. So I'm like, Nesta is something. I don't know what, but she's something because she was able to fight the glamour of a fairy. So I'm like, all right, Nesta, you're that bitch now. Not just a bitch. You're that bitch. You're not just a bitch. You are that bitch. Yeah, she's like, and she like tossed her a piece of like the table where she painted, and she always thought that nobody paid attention to where she was painting. So I thought that was really cute. I like that Farah immediately told her everything. Like she wasn't going to hold it or like act like she didn't know or anything like that. That was really nice. And then, you know, Nesta was actually a really supportive sister. Yeah. So I really enjoyed that. I think Nesta had that personality. Like she would not have let it go. Like she had to tell her the truth. 100%. She was like, no. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tell me what the fuck just happened. Literally. And then that she went after her. I thought that was also super sweet because she didn't think anybody would. No. So freaking Nesta loved Nesta. Yeah. So I really like that. So Nesta is a good gal. I feel like. And not only that, but like she she's the reason she went back to the Spring Court. They were saying something about the dad and how Nesta hates him because he never like tried to find a cure for their mom. And she's like, You wouldn't have done that to your high lord. Like you wouldn't have, you wouldn't have left him. Yeah. Because you love him. Yeah. And she was like, Fair was like, shit, I do love him. What the fuck am I doing here? Stupid human. Stupid human. Even Nesta's like stupid human. Literally. She takes her ass right back literally. To Brittany. And I thought it was cute that like once Elaine also de-glamoured, she had like the horse ready, food ready, all that stuff. Yeah. So that was nice. Like a nice closing point for her family. Yeah. Because Nesta was like, Don't come back. I know. Literally, they're like, see you later. Yeah. Don't do it. Don't do it. So that was a cute point. Yeah. Anyways. She's so she ends up going back to the Spring Court. She only finds Alice. Like it's destroyed. And Alice basically tells her about this whole curse. Mm-hmm. Go ahead. Farah could have broken this curse of the mask of Amarantha of everybody by just saying, I love you back to Tamlin. Okay, but can you get a little bit more into the curse? Okay, so basically, when Amarantha was young, she was in the war. The war was about the humans, and Amarantha's side wanted humans as slaves, and the other side didn't. You know, at this point during the war, Amarantha's sister fell in love with a human. Lo and behold, the human ends up backstabbing her sister and literally kills and butchers her. And Amarantha declares war forever on humans, and she hates humans. Yeah. That's what that is. It's like her vendetta. Exactly. What is the vendetta with Tamlin? Amarantha fought alongside Tamlin's dad. Mm-hmm. So Tamlin's dad was also fuck the humans. Where Tamlin was not. Where Tamlin was not. He was a warrior. That's where he met Amarantha. And she kind of like low-key, she was eyeing him, and he was like, no. Mm-hmm. Because she was a fucking bitch. Yeah, no, because she was a stone-cold human killer. Yeah, literally. So that was Amarantha and Tamlin. Uh-huh. And like their story, like how they met. During this war, Reese An's dad kills Tamlin's dad and his brothers. Mm-hmm. Essentially making Tamlin the High Lord of the Spring Court. Yes. And then at the same time, Amarantha, like her friend was killed, and so that's why she has kind of like a vendetta against Reese. It makes him her whore. Oh, makes sense. Got it. And so Amarantha and her vendetta against the humans, she disobeys the King of Highburn, goes to Prithian, and she kind of like infiltrates all of the courts. And 49 years back, she puts a curse on everybody, saying that the only way that the curse is gonna be lifted, and basically right now she's like absorbing all their power. Amarantha's curse was that a human had to kill a fairy, hate fairies, and still fall in love with one. Yeah. That's what the curse was. And of course, she had to say it out loud, and she didn't. No. But so whatever. So Alice tells her all this, and she's like, oh my god, it's all my fault. Like everybody thinks it's gonna die and it's all on me. Correct. Yes, you're right. Correct. So she's like, I'm going under the mountain. And I was like, Yes, let's do it. So she goes under the mountain, she meets Amarantha, and oh, at this point it was so juicy too, because Claire Better. Claire Better. Oh my god, yes. So when Reese had gone over to Okay, so that was also another thing. When Reese goes over and this whole shit goes down in the spring court with Tamlin and Lucian, she realizes that he can get into her mind, and like that's one of his powers. And he's like, What's your name? And so she just says the first thing that pops out of her head random ass name. Freaking poor Claire Better. I know. This random girl in her village. Yep. And what does she see? As soon as she walks into the mountain, Claire Better. God bless her. Dead as fuck. Dead as fuck. Literally, like pinned to the wall. Oh my god. No, that's so funny. No, so bad. Yeah, because then Amarantha's like, and who are you? She's like, Reese, who is this? I thought I thought that was the girl that you saw. What's going on? Reese is so annoying because he's like, I don't remember her. Yeah, literally. And so Tamlin's like, I don't know her either. Literally. I've never seen this woman in my life. And she's like, I'm here to claim Tamilin. I love him. Nothing happens. Nothing happens. She's like, Well, I thought I should just say it just in case. It's like you don't say that. Yeah. So Miranda's like, all right, fine. To lift a curse, what we're gonna do is I'm gonna give you three different tasks, or you're gonna solve a riddle. I know we mentioned Alice, but Alice gave her some like very key advice here, which I really liked. She was like, that fairies are very, very specific. You need to know exactly what you're agreeing to. Yep. Number one, don't agree to anything. Number two, if you do, if your life depends on it, you need to know what you're agreeing to, which I really was like. Shout out Alice because she's the only reason that Pharaoh was like, I have a brain now. Yeah. And then she's like, There's another part of the curse that you don't know, but you do know. You just have to listen. And I was like, ooh, where's that gonna come in? So I really like that. Alice, shout out Alice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She did tell her like key points. And then she said, Don't drink the wine. Yeah. Then she said, Don't drink the wine. Oh, well, well, nothing you can do there. Yeah. So, so Miranda tells her, she's like, fine, that's my deal. Farah's like, Okay, sounds good. Cool. And so the first task is against the the worm. So she realizes that this worm is is blind. She outsmarts the whole thing. She literally outsmarts it and kills it. And we're like, slay Farah. Mm-hmm. You're good. I love that scene. Like that entire part. I was like, So good. I see how she was snapping the bones. I see how she was creating the way to get out, and she covered herself. That was really cool. I could totally visualize it. 100%. So good. Yeah. And so during that part, also, she breaks her arm. My God. Like her bone is protruding out of her skin. It was disgusting. She was like dying of infection and a fever and all this shit. And lo and behold, who comes? I loved this part. I was like, Reesean comes and he's like, listen. Yeah. Because before she had she had gotten punched in the face the first day she was there. Yeah, they beat the shit out of her. Yeah. Lucian was the one who healed her. Yeah. But during this big worm thing, there was that one point where she lost the worm. And Lucian, during the silence of everybody, yelled to your left. And he like kind of gave her a heads up of where the fucking worm was. So in the room, when Reese was there, later she finds out it's because Lucian was like getting beat to death because he he freaking helped her. So thank God Reese showed up. Reese showed up and he's like, Listen, I'll make you a deal. You come to my night court uh for two weeks a month for the rest of your life and I'll heal you. And she's like, No. Yeah, she's like, fuck that. No. And I was like, oh my God. And then he's like, Lucian's not coming for you. You're gonna die. She's like, no. And I was like, oh my God. Literally. Fucking bitch. And he's he's literally like, You know you have the fever. You know you feel it. You're going to die. Yeah. And he's like, I can feel you dying. Literally. And he's like, she's like transporting himself out of the room. And she's like, wait, I love. Wait. She's like, wait. She's like, okay, fine. And I love how she was negotiating with him. She's like, five days. He's like 10. She's like, seven. All right, fine a week. A week. So a week, a month in the night court. Yeah. And then to heal her arm. To heal her arm. Oh my god, because he was so fucking mean. He snatched it. Remember during the that part? I was like, no, like he he was mean. He was mean to her. It's his Dylan Arc, honestly. Yeah, his Dylan Arc. He's under the mountain. And so she's like, okay, fine. And so they she's like, it's a deal. And all of a sudden she gets this tattoo all over her forearm and fingers in her hand. I loved that. And there's an eye on her palm. Uh-huh. And so, like, she's like, What is this? And he's like, Oh, in my court, when we bargain, we sign it off with ink. And so she's like, What the fuck? Yeah, you didn't tell me this. Take it off. Literally. And he's like, No. She you should have read the fine print, honestly. No, literally, because Alice warned you. Literally. So as she's preparing for her next challenge, uh, Reestar's bringing her out with him to these parties in the throne room. And he dresses her in like nothing. So it's basically like a piece of cloth here and a piece of cloth that goes down the middle of her legs. But then what does he do? He paints her. And I thought that was so Yeah, like so he knows if somebody touches her. So I was like, okay, this is like No, he's like, I don't like people playing with my things. I was like, stop. Literally, Reese, who are you? Reese. Come on, what are you doing here? Where's Tamlin up? He's fucking Amarantha's bitch. Yeah, but also, like, just to touch on that, Tamlin was fucking annoying. Tamlin was being such a bitch. Yeah, he was pussy whipped. Such pussy whipped. And I get it. I get it. I get what you were trying to do by like not noticing her to save her, but like she's already here getting fucked up. She got punched in the face. Her arm is broken. She's in these challenges. Tamlin, look at her. Literally. She's like, he's like, she's like, all I need is a look from him. And he's not even looking. He said, looking past you. Poor girly. She's like, I'm doing all this for this fucking asshole. Yeah, literally. And he doesn't even look at her. So that was really annoying throughout the entire book. Because then like Reese kept showing up everywhere. And then he just helping her. Literally. Literally. So then we get into the second challenge, right? Yeah. So the second challenge is a riddle, but it's on paper. She has to read it. And our illiterate stupid human can't read. So she's like, oh fuck, because Lucian is strapped down over there and there's these things coming down from the ceiling, yeah. From the ceiling. If she doesn't pull, there's three levers. If she doesn't pull the right one, they're both dead. So she's here stuck reading the fucking riddle that she can't read. She's trying to sound out all the words, and it's going terribly. And all of a sudden she feels like this, like it's like a tingling in her mind or something like that, right? Well, no. So she's like, okay, so the answer to the riddle is either one, two, or three. And so in her head, be fucking stupid as fuck. Dumbass human. You're right. Because this is the part I remembered. I didn't remember what happened after. Okay. So she's like I guess the I just want to say, I guess the right lever. Did you know that? No, I had remembered it was two. Because she's her reasoning was there's two, because two, there's two of us, me, me and Tamlin. Two. And one is like evil. One is Amarantha. That's her. One is Amarantha and three's too much. Stupid ass bitch. So that's what I had remembered. And then all of a sudden she says that when she goes to pull the second lever, her palm starts tingling and like it. It hurts. It hurts. Yes. Mm-hmm. And so she's like, hmm, what the fuck was that? Yeah. And she tries again. Dumbass. That's where I was like, no, no, no. But like. You're not gonna take any like clues that, you know. So she tries again for the fucking lever and she gets more pain. So then she goes to number one and then more pain. And she's like, hmm, let's try number three. Let's try number three. And she's like, I don't have any pain. And then she stops. She tries again. Okay, I don't have any pain. And I'm like, girl, come on. What are you fucking pulling? Pull the fucking lever. Lucian. Pull the lever crunk. Literally, Lucian's like, Fabra, please pick something. I'm dying. Oh my god. So that was funny. She pulled the lever, she saved everybody. Yeah. But she kind of like gave a look at Reese in the stands, and he was like, do it. Yeah. And then she almost cried, and Reese was in her mind, which is so fucking cool. Wasn't that so cool? Yeah. And he's like, Don't you dare cry in front of her. Don't give her that satisfaction. You stand up, wipe them eyes, and don't let her see you cry. And she did just that. Oh. So she was listening to Reese. Because Reese was like actually doing something for her. Yeah, Reese was like her friend. Are you? Yeah, no, Reese was definitely her friend under the mountain. Yeah. After that, he goes to her chambers just to like have a second to relax because he's Amarantha's whore. And he just like is overperforming, I guess. And he goes, So he said wearily, here we are with the fate of our immortal world in the hands of an illiterate human. Such a dick. It was so funny. Such a dick, but that's so true. No, look. Like that was so funny. And she was so mad. Can I just say that she was so mad? And I was like, Pharaoh, pick your fucking head up. But she's like, I won, but I really lost. She won. Girl, it's okay. Girl, everybody's cheats in their life. Just like get it over with. It's fine. It's a game. Yeah. Thank God you won. Because he would have been dead. You literally, you and Luju would have. God. And at this point, she's she's like, I'm gonna drink the wine so I can just get away for a while. And I was like, okay, Pharaoh. She was like, literally, let me just drink this so I can just not think for a little bit. Yeah, just forget my responsibilities and the whole, the whole world of Brythian literally resting on my shoulders. Let me just get away for a sec. I'm gonna just chill. I thought that was funny. And so the the night before the last challenge, she goes out, she's painted, she goes out with Reese, whatever. And all of a sudden, Tamlin like kind of gets her attention and they go into like the coat closet and start making out. I'm like, guys, where is our level of brain? Come on. The paint. Of common sense, something, anything, anything. No. And Reese obviously finds them and he's like, literally calms. It's like, hmm. Interesting. Like you guys are so stupid. Yeah. And so he's like, Tamlin, you're gonna have to pick up your belt and go. Yep. And Tamlin does just that. And I was like, oh my god. No, and that's another part where it's like Tamin just tucks his tail and goes. I'm like, no, literally, sir. So fucking whipped. Like literally, like you're whipped by Reese and Amarantha. Yeah. And so at that point it's just Reese and her, and he hears something and he starts making out with her. And Amarantha's like, all humans are the same, whatever. And that's exactly how I imagine Amarantha. Thank you. And Reese was like, you're welcome. Like this bitch. No, and she's like, I hope Tamil knows it was fake. It was so funny. Bitch, get a fucking grip. Like, get a grip. You're about to die. Literally, like, priorities, girlfriend. What are you doing? And so her last task is she has to kill three fairies. Their heads are bagged and they're like getting pulled one by one, and she has to stab them and kill them. And so she taps the first one and she's like, Holy shit. Like she's getting very traumatized doing this. The first one was screaming. That sucks. And the second one, she's just like praying, and she's like, it's okay. Like, just feel no pain, fear no evil. I was like, oh my god. Fear no evil. Do it the ready. Just fucking do it. Yeah. So she does it, kills her. Third one, unbags it. It's fucking Tamlin. And she's like, What? It's just like you fooled me. Literally. Stupid human fool. Plot twist. It's Tamlin. So this is the part where she has to think back in her brain, and Alice saying, You know the part of the curse. Just listen. Listen. Listen. And so she goes back in her head and she goes through her memories and she realizes that Tamlin has a heart of stone. So she can stab the shit out of him and he'll be fine. Yeah. Exactly. That's exactly what she does. She does just that, and the dagger comes out. Yeah. Folded. So Amarantha's like, ha ha uh, you dumb human. She's like, you pass the test, it doesn't matter. Yeah. We didn't say a timeline. Yeah, we didn't say a timeline. And it's so funny because all the fairies in the background are like, you tricked her. Like the little fairies in the background were making me laugh. The hecklers. The heckler fairies. You cheated. It was really funny. Yeah, but they were all pissed. No, and bitch, we almost we were almost free. Yeah, you fucking bitch. Yeah. And so at that point, Amarantha's like, you, I'm fucking done with you. She was fed up with Faya. She's like, fuck you, stupid human. And you know who tries to do something? Reason. Thank you. She he's like trying some way, somehow, to get Amarantha to kill her with the ash arrow or whatever it was that he had. Yeah. And of course, didn't work. Yeah. Amarantha's like right about to kill Farah, and she realizes the answer to the riddle. And so she says it and then she dies. Fair dies. Oh, okay. Yeah. She pretty much is about to die. Yeah, yeah. No, no, she's she died. Got it. Yeah. Fair dies, and then all of a sudden the next the next chapter is like her, but she is in the eyes of Reese. Yes. So cool. Seeing what plays out. So what plays out, obviously Tamman's like, finally, Tamlin gets up. It's only been 10 minutes, bro. Yep. So Tamlin gets up. He's like unleashes his wrath because the curse was lifted. Yep. And he kills Amarantha. Literally bites her throat out. Literally stabs her with a sword through the head and bites her throat out. So she's fucking dead. Love that. So he go like goes running to Farah, and Farah's like, next snap, like she's gone. And then what did you think of this? All of the High Lords putting their little energy balls in her. I love that. It was amazing. No, so good. Iconic fantasy. I literally was like, no, it was. Reading it, and I was like, I could not wait. No. And so obviously we get her in Reese, and he puts like the little magic in her, and then Tamlin's the last one of the High Lords. So all seven High Lords put the little magic in her and basically revived her as a high fee. I'll have that highlighted, and I'd become high fee. I call it. So fucking cool. So cool. So cool. So that's like kind of how the book wraps up. It ends, everyone's just kind of like dispersing after being under the mountain for so long. So yeah, so she's in bed, right, with Tamilin. And she's like, I feel like a little pull somewhere. And I'm like, oh, that's so interesting. So we have fun. Tamlin over here with her in her bed, but she's getting pulled to see another man. Mm-hmm. Interesting. So then I just think it's so cute how they were like so honest with each other. Yeah. Like throughout this whole book. Yeah. Maurice was like, you know, I'm gonna help you. And you're the only one who won't affect me. So I'm gonna, you know, be who I am with you. Yeah. And then I was like, what the fuck? Because what the fuck? He was saying goodbye, right? He's like, he bowed at the waist, those wings vanishing entirely, and he had become to fade into the nearest shadow when he went rigid, his eyes locked on mine, wide and wild, and his nostrils flared. Shock, pure shock, flashed across his features at whatever he saw on my face, and he stumbled back a step. Actually stumbled. What is I began, he disappeared, simply disappeared, not a shadow in sight, into the crisp air. I'm like, what is that? I don't know. So obviously I'm like, what is that? No, me when I first read it, I was like, what the fuck? Yeah, that's me. I'm like, why is he shocked? What's going on? My thought here is I have no idea what this means. So there's no actual thought. But like, what could he have seen on her face? You know, like I don't really know. At this point, they weren't really talking about anything like super feely-feely. No, and he was saying goodbye. Exactly. So like what could he have seen on her face? Agreed. I was very much like confused. Yeah, but it had to have been something to scare him off. You know what I mean? He didn't even finish the conversation. So I'm like, what is it, Reese? What is it? What could it be? I mean, I guess we're gonna have to read the next one to find out. Yep, and then it goes, it pretty much ends with her and Tamlin saying, Let's go home. Yeah, that was really cute. So, which is nice, but I'm like, Interesting. Well, I mean, at some point we need a little teaser into book two. Yeah. So iconic. What are your final thoughts on the book? My final thoughts, I'm interested to see obviously how things proceed with Tamlin and Reese. At this point, Tamlin is not my favorite character.

SPEAKER_01 38:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 38:25

Like he just didn't really show up when he was needed to. Like he wanted everything done for him. He was a very take, take, take guy, which I get it. Like he pushed her to leave to try to save her. But I don't know. I feel like Reese showed up in every single moment that counted. I don't know. So weird. I feel like that's so funny because like when I read it the first time, like I didn't have like this was one of the first kind of book series I read, and it was the first romance to see. And I feel like I didn't make connections as well, maybe connections or like as like how you are now. You know, how you're like, hmm, what's going on? I was just like, I was into it. I was like, yeah, yep, yep. This is a romance book. Yeah, literally. I'm like, I'm so excited, and I can't wait for the next one. I do feel like Fourth Wing and Cook Silver, like their world building was a little more graspier for me. Like I felt like more what's gonna happen, like I wanted to read it. Whereas this book, it was a little harder for me to get into because like there was not really much of anything to go on in the first half of the book. I was like, all right, so we're good, we're chilling. Yeah. You know, like the only reason I knew something was up is because I've read the name Reason before. Yeah. So like I knew something was up with that. Do I know what happens? Do I know anything else? No. Yeah. But I know something is up with that. Yeah. So it's like, if I didn't, I'd be like, uh maybe I'd rate I would have rated this book like a two. You know what I mean? I'm interested to see if we see Nesta again. I would like to. Let's see. I want to know if she paints again because I really liked her painting scenes. I'm loving all of these hypotheticals. Thank you. I would really love for like Reese and Tamlin to have like a jealousy you love a good jealousy. Um, just you wait until we get into the series, Karita. I'm not even telling you like it's the best. Yep. Okay, okay. This book is not the best. This this book is good. Okay. Book three. Book five. So funny. Oh, book four is the one that was like, whatever. Book four is like the novella. It's cute. It's like a nice chill. Okay, cool. I would also love to see more of Lucian because that man, love him. No, like I know you're gonna fucking love the series. I'm not even lying. Like, cause you are a whore for found family ensembles and shit going down and action, and that is exactly the series just picks off after this. Love. See, that's why I'm like, this was definitely big on the world building and like not making any fucking sense. So I'm excited to continue. No, you're gonna love it. I'm so excited for you to read two, three, and five. Let's see. So the good reads was interesting because there was like a lot of bad ones. Yeah? Yeah. This is a two-star. It says, so obvious all of these reviews have so much information in it, so I'm gonna read what I want.

SPEAKER_01 41:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:00

So this is a two-star. It says, that was both horrible and incredible at the same time, and my thoughts are a whirlwind. I'm like, I could feel that, you know what I mean? The problem with the plot is that the foreshadowing is so faint. The plot in the beginning and up until the 75th percent mark make no sense at all. Tamlin takes Farah to live in luxury with good food and nice clothes and freedom because she killed this fellow Faye. It's just nonsensical. How is that a punishment at all? She no longer has to care for the spoiled scissors, she's away from a poor village. However, it does make sense in the end, but Farah is very naive for believing all of this. Something doesn't add up. So I was like, I feel some of that. This is a four-star, and it goes, the first half sucks, but keep reading. There's no way around it. From page one to about 200, Farah is annoying. I nearly put this book down half a dozen times. It was like reading Red Queen. That was something that was very compared to a lot. Oh yeah. In all of the good reads. It's another beauty and the beast type of shit. Yeah. But there was something about it that kept me interested, and thank goodness for that. Because wow, seriously, wow. Midway through the book, things turned around magnificently. It was like a whole new book. Sarah J. Mass is a devious little thing. Suddenly, all the potholes, nonsensical actions of our fairy captors, Tamil and Lucian, and Farah's complete idiocy flipped on their heads. Everything makes sense now. I literally could not put this down. So true. You know, I do agree with that, like with that being said about Sarah J. Mass, because when I read Crescent City, that shit is like 900 pages. And like the first half of that book, I'm like, literally nothing happens. Damn. Like, but the second half is like so like engaging and crazy, and like so much shit happens, but I'm just like, I I agree with that. Mm-hmm. Okay. This is the three-star. She left a review back in 2023 and she reread it, so she added another part to her review. And she goes, I have just reread this book and stand by my three stars with the addition of how on earth did she figure out the Tamlin Hart thing and not the riddle, which could have appeared on a bazooka Joe rapper meant for children. And she fell in love with Fiddle Boy when Lucian was right there. He's right there. Literally. Absolutely. That was so funny. Because for for fucking real. The fucking fiddle killed me. That was so funny. I was like, who the fuck is playing the fiddle? And it was Tamlin. Yeah. Another day, another Sarah J. Mesh reread to escape reality. That's me right now. That was so cute. One star. I'm a second away from dowsing myself into gasoline and lighting myself on fire just so I never have to look at this book again. So fucking dramatic. Mm-hmm. Five star. Reese really just said I could be a better boyfriend than him. Literally, though. Oh my god. Yeah. There was a lot of Tamlin hate. Two star. That cringy Tamlin made me want to cry. But you know, it's so hard. Like, that's what I mean. Like, you having known that Reese Ann was some sort of character. Like, and I was like so into Tamlin book one. Yeah. It was so funny. And a lot of people were also three stars. So it's about time I do my review on this iconic book. Y'all hype this up for what? Growling, purring. I can't. Anyway, being the first book in the series, this was very lackluster. World building was meh. These characters definitely work on three brain cells. That fucking riddle. Okay, now I'm a raging feminist, but I've never wanted to slap a woman so hard in my life. Please, Farah. I know you can't read, but I was three seconds away from throwing this book in the garbage disposal. Literally. That's funny. Five star. I love this book. It took me a little bit to get into it just because there's a good amount of world building that has to happen at the beginning. But then I flew through the second half. I love the world, the politics, the romance, and all the characters. The ending had me on at the edge of my seat, and I've now immediately gone out and purchased the second book. So I think like a lot of people had a similar experience. A similar experience, whereas some people were like, fuck this DNF, and then a lot of people were like, all right, I'm gonna work through it, and then ended up loving it. Yeah. So that's cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. I wonder how the good reads, the ratings are between all the books. But I mean, that's how you have to start with these fantasies. You have to build the fucking world. What are you gonna do? Yeah. You gotta introduce the characters, you gotta build the world. Yeah, when you told me that, I was like, all right, let me show. No, I prefaced it. You did. I said, this is not the best one. Exactly, which is like a very good preface. No, if you don't like the second one, I'm gonna kill you. No, I mean like we have very similar taste, but that's what I'm thinking. Like, I hope you love it. Yeah. I think I don't know. I think definitely book two is iconic for me. I think you're gonna really like book three. Okay. Because like the shit that goes down in book three is so Karina coded. You're gonna fucking love book three. Love. Book four is cute. And book five, I don't know. I think you'll either like love it way more than all the rest, or you're gonna be like, this is iconic. Like, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. I write, I'm excited. Oh, I'm so excited. I'm excited to like that we we got over the first one. Yeah, no. Yeah. It's like Smooth Salem Player. Now we're gonna read Akamaf. Yes. Karina asked me today if Akatar was the name of all the books. I said no. Close. Yeah. So I Googled it and it was like a court of thorns and roses. You never parentheses Avatar. I was like, oh that's why. You never realized that. No. That's what I told you today. I was like, this is I I just realized why it was called Akatar. Why did you think it was called Akatar? I thought Akatar was like the world. Yeah. No. Well, well, there's that. Nope. We all find out something new every day. Love that. Yeah. Okay. So we're wrapping it up. Yes. We're so excited to be back next week. So excited. I'm itching. Very excited. I'm itching for you to read it. I can't wait. I'm anyway. Read responsibly. Or don't.