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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we revisit A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, the book that helped define modern romantasy.

With cinematic pacing, immersive romance, lush world building, and a final act that raises the stakes dramatically, ACOTAR launched a cultural phenomenon. Whether you adore it or critique it, there’s no denying its impact on the fantasy romance genre.

And now, there’s big news. As of July 2025, Sarah J. Maas has officially completed drafting book six. While there is no confirmed release date through August 2026, she has signed a major new four book deal with Bloomsbury, securing long term releases for both the ACOTAR and Crescent City worlds.

This episode explores why revisiting book one feels less like nostalgia and more like preparation for what’s next.

Episode Highlights

• Why ACOTAR’s pacing and emotional immediacy hooked readers
• The evolution of the series and how later books reshaped fandom perception
• The cultural impact of ACOTAR on modern romantic fantasy
• News about book six and what the four book Bloomsbury deal signals
• Why revisiting the first installment matters before the next release
• The question of whether ACOTAR deserves its legendary status

With new books on the horizon and the fandom louder than ever, this felt like the right time to return to where it all began. Revisiting ACOTAR reminds us how much has changed, how much has expanded, and how much is still unresolved.

Until next time, happy reading. Stay curious, and may your TBR pile never stop growing.

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, we dive into Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover, a deeply emotional story about redemption, forgiveness, and the fragile rebuilding of trust.

If you watched the film adaptation first, the novel offers deeper access to Kenna’s inner world. Her remorse. Her grief. Her slow and uncertain path toward reconnection. This is not a story that asks us to forget the past. It asks whether we believe someone can be more than the worst thing they have ever done.

The conversation explores how rigid we can be about forgiveness, how easy it is to say someone should live with their choices, and how much harder it is to imagine what that life truly looks like. At its core, Reminders of Him is about love that hurts and love that heals. It is about showing up when forgiveness is not guaranteed and reaching for connection even when the world tells you to stay away.

Episode Highlights
- How the novel deepens Kenna’s emotional perspective beyond the film
- The complexity of redemption and whether second chances are earned or given
- The tension between protecting the innocent and allowing someone to rebuild
- Why forgiveness is rarely simple or clean
- Love as both consequence and courage
- The emotional weight of choosing connection when it feels risky

Reminders of Him is emotionally rich and morally layered. It does not offer easy answers, but it asks meaningful questions about love, regret, accountability, and hope.

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who loves stories that explore the gray areas of the human heart.

Until next time, keep reading, keep exploring, and may your TBR pile never stop growing.

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi dives into Remain, a haunting, atmospheric novel that blends mystery, grief, and romance against the windswept isolation of Cape Cod.

With a ticking clock, unanswered questions, and a truth that must be uncovered before time runs out, Remain leans heavily into mood and setting. The history of a secluded bed and breakfast, the politeness and pressure of small town life, and the tension simmering beneath the surface all create a story that feels cinematic by design. It is no surprise this novel is already headed for the screen.

Beyond the mystery, Remain is ultimately a meditation on belief. It asks how much of our lives are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves, what we dismiss because it scares us, and what we risk when we open ourselves to love again after loss. This is not just a story about whether love can change us, but whether love can outlast us.

🌟 Episode Highlights

• A suspense driven story built around a ticking clock and unresolved truths
• The atmospheric isolation of Cape Cod and its role in shaping the narrative
• Small town politeness as a mask for deeper tension and buried history
• Grief and love intertwined, and the courage required to believe again
• The central question of belief versus reason when love is on the line
• Why Remain feels cinematic and destined for adaptation

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who loves stories where romance meets mystery, and where the question is not whether love changes us, but whether it can free us from the boundaries we thought were permanent.

Until next time, keep reading, keep exploring, and may your TBR pile never stop growing.

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores If Only I Had Told Her, a deeply emotional novel that examines the heartbreak of unspoken words and the consequences of silence in love and relationships. The story focuses on a woman who has spent years keeping her feelings hidden, only to be left wondering what could have been.

Brandi dives into the quiet but powerful themes of the book: the emotional toll of never speaking your truth, the regret of missed opportunities, and how love can sometimes be overshadowed by our own fears and insecurities. If Only I Had Told Her asks the painful question of what happens when you’ve kept the most important things unsaid for too long.

This week’s Dragon’s Roar shifts gears to His and Hers, a psychological thriller adapted from Alice Feeney’s novel. The series, which premiered in January 2026, explores a murder case that puts a couple at odds, forcing them to confront their own secrets and lies. Featuring powerful performances from Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal, this twisty, binge-worthy mystery is a must-watch for fans of unreliable narrators and high-stakes drama.

🌟 Episode Highlights

• If Only I Had Told Her: Exploring the pain of unspoken love and the consequences of silence
• The impact of keeping your feelings hidden, and the regret that follows
• How emotional honesty and vulnerability shape the characters’ journeys
• Dragon’s Roar: His and Hers Netflix adaptation
• Themes of love, betrayal, and the emotional weight of unspoken words

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to follow, share, and let us know your thoughts on If Only I Had Told Her and His and Hers. Have you read the book or watched the series? What do you think about the role of silence in relationships?

Until next time, keep reading, keep dreaming, and may your TBR pile never stop growing.

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi dives into The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, a powerful historical mystery that asks hard questions about truth, justice, and whose voices are allowed to matter.

Set in 1789 Maine, the novel follows Martha Ballard, a midwife whose meticulous diary places her at the center of a murder investigation when a man is found frozen in the river. As Martha uncovers darker truths about power, violence, and credibility, the story reveals how often truth is treated as disruption and how courage, especially in women, is rarely rewarded in its own time.

This conversation explores how justice evolves, or fails to, and how history is shaped not only by those in power, but by women who documented, remembered, and refused to look away.

Episode Highlights

• How The Frozen River reframes justice through the lens of historical silence and gendered power
• The cost of telling the truth when it threatens social order and reputation
• Why courage is often punished rather than rewarded, especially for women
• Martha Ballard as both witness and disruptor in a world built to dismiss her
• The question of whether justice has truly changed or simply adopted new language
• Why historical fiction can illuminate modern conversations about belief and accountability

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who loves historical fiction that asks hard questions and does not flinch from the answers.

Until next time, keep reading, keep dreaming, and may your TBR pile never stop growing.

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores The Wedding People, a quietly devastating and deeply compassionate novel about grief, invisibility, and the unexpected ways connection can keep us alive.

Set against the backdrop of luxury weddings, oceanfront mansions, and carefully curated celebrations, the story follows Phoebe, a woman unraveling in plain sight. While everything around her looks beautiful and complete, Phoebe is struggling to stay afloat emotionally. This episode unpacks how the novel challenges our expectations of happiness, success, and emotional composure during life’s most public moments.

Rather than offering easy resolutions, The Wedding People asks gentler questions about survival, presence, and what it means to truly see and be seen. Sometimes staying alive is not about hope for the future, but about one conversation, one kindness, or one reason to stay for breakfast, then lunch, then one more day.

🌟 Episode Highlights

• How The Wedding People portrays quiet grief and emotional invisibility in celebratory spaces
• The contrast between luxury and internal emptiness, and why beauty does not heal pain
• Weddings and milestones as environments where people are expected to perform happiness
• Survival framed through small moments of connection rather than dramatic turning points
• Why being witnessed can matter more than being fixed
• The permission we rarely give ourselves to fall apart when life does not follow the plan
• How imperfect connection can still be life saving

🐉 Dragon’s Roar

This week’s Dragon’s Roar spotlights a bold new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell.

Starring Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw, with original music by Charli XCX, this reimagining leans fully into obsession, class tension, and emotional extremity. The film arrives in theaters on February 13 and promises a modern, feral take on one of literature’s most destructive love stories.

If this conversation spoke to you, consider sharing it with someone who might need the reminder that they are not alone, even when they feel out of place. Stories like The Wedding People remind us that survival often begins quietly, and compassion does not need answers to matter.

Thanks for spending time with Dragons and Spaceships.

Until next time, keep reading, keep dreaming, and may your TBR pile never stop growing.

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi explores The Widow, a slow burning psychological mystery that lingers long after the final page. Rather than relying on shock twists or flashy reveals, this novel builds unease through silence, omission, and the devastating consequences of choosing not to see the truth.

At the center of the story is Jean Taylor, a character who is difficult to love but impossible to forget. As Brandi unpacks the moral complexity of Jean’s choices, she asks the big questions this book leaves behind. How responsible are we for the things we ignore? Where is the line between manipulation and self preservation? And when does silence become unforgivable?

This episode is a spoiler free deep dive into themes of marriage, complicity, and moral ambiguity, and why The Widow feels less like a thriller and more like a psychological reckoning.

In this week’s Dragon’s Roar, Brandi also shares exciting crossover news for book and TV fans. Tell Me Lies is getting an official companion podcast ahead of season three. Hosted by Stacey Schroeder, the podcast will feature cast members, creator Megan Oppenheimer, and behind the scenes creatives as they unpack the emotional chaos episode by episode.

If you love thoughtful psychological fiction, morally complex characters, and stories that spark serious book club debate, this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share this episode, and send us your thoughts. This one is absolutely a book club discussion waiting to happen.

Until next time, keep reading, stay curious, and may your TBR pile never stop growing.

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In this special holiday episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi leans into the cozy, playful spirit of the season with reader questions, festive book recommendations, and a Dragon’s Roar full of upcoming releases to add to your winter TBR.

The episode kicks off with a fun listener prompt about favorite holiday reads. Romance, mystery, fantasy, or a little bit of everything are all welcome here. Brandi also poses a playful holiday thought experiment. If you were planning a Christmas heist, what festive object would be worth stealing? A priceless ornament, Santa’s list, or the world’s biggest cookie are all on the table.

In this week’s Dragon’s Roar, Brandi spotlights Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood, a spicy enemies to lovers novella originally released as an audio exclusive and now coming to print and e-book on February 10th, 2026. Set during a winter retreat, the story follows video game designer Viola Bullen and her longtime rival Jesse Andrews as forced proximity turns icy tension into sparks.

Brandi also highlights The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, a cozy holiday mystery that delivers charm, humor, and festive vibes without the darkness. It is the perfect snow globe of a story to curl up with by the fire.

The episode wraps with warm holiday wishes, cozy vibes, and encouragement to fill your reading list with stories that feel comforting, joyful, and just a little magical.

Episode Highlights
- Favorite holiday reading moods and genres
- A playful Christmas heist question for listeners
- Dragon’s Roar spotlight on Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
- Why enemies to lovers and winter settings work so well together
- A cozy recommendation for The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
- Holiday reading as comfort, joy, and escapism

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi unpacks Riley Sager’s gothic thriller The Only One Left, a story dripping with atmosphere and tension. Set inside Hope’s End, a crumbling mansion perched on a cliff, the book creates an eerie cinematic experience where every shadow feels alive and every typed confession reveals another piece of a long-buried truth.

Brandi explores what makes this novel so addictive, including the haunting tone, the masterful pacing, and the unsettling way Sager blurs the line between past and present. She also digs into the complex question at the heart of the story: can anyone ever escape the reputation the world decides for them

This week’s Dragon’s Roar highlights the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards, where readers cast a record breaking 7.5 million votes across fifteen categories. From the historical fiction winner Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid to fantasy, romance, horror, and contemporary fiction, this year's roundup celebrates the wide range of stories that resonated with readers around the world.

Brandi closes with her final thoughts on why The Only One Left stands out among modern thrillers. It is dark, emotional, twisty, and atmospheric in all the best ways. If you love gothic settings, unreliable narratives, and endings that leave you breathless, this one belongs on your shelf.

Episode Highlights
- The immersive atmospheric power of Hope’s End
- Why the typed confession structure builds tension perfectly
- Unreliable characters and the fear of being misunderstood
- The central question of reputation, truth, and reinvention
- Dragon’s Roar: 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards recap
- A curated reading list inspired by this year’s biggest winners
- Final thoughts on why Riley Sager is a standout in modern thrillers

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In this episode of Dragons and Spaceships, Brandi returns to the world of Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows and explores why this fantasy romance has captured the hearts of readers. Brandi breaks down the emotional layers, the monster mythology, and the complicated line between love, loyalty, and bravery. She also spotlights the highly anticipated sequel, Rites of the Starling, arriving April 7th, 2026, which promises even more magic, more monsters, and higher stakes.

This episode also includes an exciting Dragon’s Roar announcement about the upcoming film adaptation of Emily Henry’s hit romcom Funny Story, with Henry herself confirmed as the screenwriter. Fans are already buzzing about potential casting, especially the internet favorite Dylan O’Brien for the role of Miles.

Brandi closes by exploring the heart of Shield of Sparrows: a story about transformation, identity, and choosing who you want to become even when the people you love expect you to play a different role. Dark, emotional, and full of heart, it is a powerful reminder of why fantasy and romance are such a magnetic combination.

Episode Highlights

• Why Shield of Sparrows blends brutality, beauty, and emotional realism
• How Debbie Perry weaves intimacy into sprawling fantasy stakes
• Character-driven world building that will appeal to fans of Fourth Wing and The Bridge Kingdom
• Big questions about morality, loyalty, and what makes a monster
• Dragon’s Roar: Film adaptation news for Emily Henry’s Funny Story
• Why this series has become a standout in the romantasy genre
• Thoughts and questions for readers about key character decisions