ACOFAE Podcast presents: Strictly Ballroom

"The Beginning is the End is the Beginning." - Smashing Pumpkins.

ACOFAE has saved the first film in the Red Curtain Trilogy for the last: Strictly Ballroom. Have you seen this absolute gem of a film? Probably not. Most people haven't. But that is why ACOFAE is here! Do you love Baz? Dancing? Color? Drama? The 90's? No really, the 90's. In Australia. Now add in stage makeup and costumes, a Dirty Dancing appreciation montage, AND a dramatic final dance number. It's a classic for every single right reason. See where it all began and see where the ideas for Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet were just starting to form. It's magnificent. "Listen to the rhythm, don't be scared!"

TW / CW: None to our awareness

For additional TW/CW information for your future reads, head to this site for more: https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/

Spoilers: No spoilers to our knowledge

Mentions: Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Sixteen Candles, Footloose, She's All That, Dirty Dancing, Mulan, Heir of Fire, Save the Last Dance, Take the Lead, Step Up, Cry Baby, Burlesque, Striptease

*Website References: *

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: The Book of Azrael

Are you tired of female main characters losing their powers? Do you love it when there are plots within schemes within plots? How do you feel about backstabbing? Love it? Excellent. Sprinkle in gods and monsters with an extra helping of banter and a brooding male mc and we have The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole! Laura Marie and Jessica Marie are ready to discuss Amber's debut novel with 8 pages of notes and vibes for days. Where are all the hot people? Right here in this book.

Please note that this episode is full of spoilers for The Book of Azrael. We do have a spoiler free episode surrounding this book as well. It is "Special Episode 002" from January 24th, 2022.

Follow Amber Nicole!

TW / CW: Grief, depression, suicide

Spoilers: No major spoilers this episode

Mentions: Legendborn, The Vampire Diaries, specific characters Aelin, Bryce and Feyre (from the SJM Universe), DC villains

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: Mean Girls

Laura Marie has a confession: this recording is the first time she had ever seen Mean Girls all the way through AND not edited for tv. She's ashamed. Jessica Marie saw this movie in the theater and, rightly so, has been obsessed ever since. While the entire movie is a meme, is quotable, and unforgettable, you might be surprised how much was taken out for TV and how much ick there is. There's a bit more homophobia, fat shaming, and sexism than we all remembered which is unfortunate. What isn't unfortunate is that this movie stays relevant every October, every time we hear Jingle Bell Rock, every time someone gives a compliment, and every time we remember what high school Valentine's Day was like.

You go Glen Coco.

TW / CW: Discussions surrounding bullying, microagressions in marginalized communities, sexual assault with minors, eating disorders, various traumas, fatphobia, slut-shaming, incest, AAPI hate

For additional TW/CW information for your future reads, head to this site for more: https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/

Spoilers: No spoilers to our knowledge

Mentions: References to popular movies from early 00s including: Saved, Eurotrip, Garden State, i Heart Huckabees, Shrek 2, Team America, 50 First Dates, Shaun of the Dead, Confessions of a Drama Queen, Confessions of a Shopaholic, 13 Going on 30, Princess Diaries 2, NY Minute, Cinderella Story, Chasing Liberty, Ella Enchanted

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: Book of Knight

Do you know that feeling of being excited and nervous at the same time? This book is that feeling. Excited because this is a new direction for Holly Black and nervous because this is a new direction for Holly Black! What isn't new is that the twist got Laura Marie and Jessica Marie good. Jaw hanging open good. Which is excellent because this book is full of world building and flashbacks to really drive home the setup. Charlie just wants a normal life with her boyfriend Vince and her sister Gabby, but it's always the "one last job" that gets you in the end.

TW / CW: Discussions mentioning grooming

Spoilers: Blackwood Farm

Mentions: The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air series), The Spiderwick Chronicles, Peter Pan, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 9th House, Shadowhunters

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: Our Violent Ends

If you wanted a bit more enemies to lovers, a bit more politics, a bit more scheming, and a bit more betrayal than what was in These Violent Delights then you are in luck! Monsters take the back seat in this conclusion to Chloe Gong's duology, while family dynamics and the future of Shanghai take center stage. The gangsters are floundering, the Communists and Nationalists will be heard, blackmail is afoot, and only Roma and Juliette can be the peace they want to see in the world. The bugs are still alive and well and causing havoc, but in a new and different way. Lovely. shivers

TW / CW: bugs! (yeah, we didn't think we'd need it either), grief

Spoilers: The Mortal Instruments, CC2: House of Sky and Breath, Anastasia

Mentions: Bridgerton (Netflix), Euphoria, Inception, Dark Knight Rises, Star Wars

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: The Kricket Series 1-3: “Your ambition scares me…your lack of it angers me.”

Aliens. Let's get that out of the way. This book is about aliens. Are you surprised? Jessica Marie was! But don’t worry, they are hot. This book series has all the tropes, really so many, and an ending that will surprise you. It's a unique one in the world of YA. Really it surprised everyone so much that the author has a special section on her website dedicated to it. Join Laura Marie and Jessica Marie as they wade through prophesies, political intrigue, a love triangle, assassination plots, and an undercurrent of stubbornness and a will to survive that forces you to respect Kricket and all her choices. Happily ever after is different for everyone.

TW / CW: sexual assault

Spoilers: Kingdom of Ash (at the end of the episode)

Mentions: Ice Planet Barbarians, Dune, Firefly, The Hunger Games, ACOTAR, Shatter Me, The Fifth Element, The Black Witch Chronicles, Serpent & Dove

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: These Violent Delights

If you know the pod then you know that Jessica Marie has her background in the Romance genre and Laura Marie has her background in Historical Fiction. These two genres, both alike in dignity, are front and center in this Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920's Shanghai. Rival gangs and the enduring blood feud have put Roma and Juliette on different sides but leave it to children to become friends anyway. Growing up is hard, but when you're both the heir to your gang it's even harder. Throw in a mysterious monster and a madness that is infecting everyone and the scene is set for a glittering noir detective story first, love story second. The Lover and the Liar.

TW / CW: bugs! (yeah, we didn't think we'd need it either)

Spoilers: none to our awareness

Mentions: Romeo + Juliette, Chicago, The Great Gatsby, Crescent City 2: House of Sky and Breath, From Blood and Ash, The War of Two Queen, Pocahontas, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV), Supernatural, X-Files, The Demon Tide, Assassin's Blade, Crown of Midnight, A Cinderella Story, Bridgerton (Netflix)

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: A Knight's Tale

Isn't it incredible that after 15+ years Laura Marie and Jessica Marie are still learning things about each other!? Like, how Laura Marie found out Jessica Marie hadn't seen A Knight's Tale and the world stopped turning, birds stopped singing, and the sky was purple until this great wrong was righted. And righted it was! Hello Vision, Hello Joker, Hello Robert Baratheon, Hello to all because Alan Tudyk has played everyone. Laura Marie and Jessica Marie are not trudging through this gem that ticks all the boxes: beautiful people, dancing, training montage, a strong-willed female lead, Heath smiling, and a horse in a church. Modern music and incredible fashion make this historical romp even more fun, really it is possible. The hunter and his foxy lady indeed.

TW / CW: None to our awareness

Spoilers: Cantebury Tales

Mentions: The Mummy, the MCU, Beauty and the Beast, 10 Things I Hate About You, Never Been Kissed, The Swan Princess, Pride and Prejudice, Bridgerton (Netflix Season 1)

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE and Samantha are back with MORE. More discussions about books, about social media, about writing, about movies, and about how scary it can be to put your work out there. Especially when you've been working on it since you were a child. Samantha is an author yes, but she's also a director! Did you know that?! Samantha graciously discusses making movies and all the magic that goes on in front of and behind the camera and how sometimes you have to be your own biggest advocate. Women supporting women.

Follow Samantha

"The Poppy Fields of Dyagnamor" current available chapter found here!

TW / CW: addiction, various family traumas, domestic abuse

Spoilers: The Cruel Prince, Queen of Nothing, The Priory of the Orange Tree

Mentions: Addie LaRue, Throne of Glass, The House of Hollow, The Black Witch Chronicles, Grishaverse, Shadowhunters, Empire of Storms, ACOMAF, ACOSF, Crescent City, Winx, Shadow & Bone, Outlander (show), All of Us Villains, The Atlas Six, Euphoria

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok:

ACOFAE Podcast presents: The War of Two Queens

Worry, travel, fight, repeat.

Poppy is in charge and letting everyone know it as the war chugs onward. Casteel is still in captivity and at the edge. Kieran is keeping Poppy safe. Knowledge of ASITE is helpful here, but not necessary as JLA takes us back into the world of For Blood and Ash and ramps up the drama with confrontations, battles, prophesies, drakon and yes another cliffhanger. Poppy's questions are tame this time around and everyone, probably mostly Kieran, is relieved. Though someone please, ask Poppy why her jaw hurts.

TW / CW: Sexual assault, general violence

Spoilers: ACOTAR, Kingdom of Ash

Mentions: Neon Gods and Katee Robert work, Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath (by title only), The Demon Tide, Twilight series

*Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks!

TikTok: