Goodbye gladiator-style trials, hello psychological warfare. In this spoiler-filled breakdown of chapter 40 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn break down how Sarah J. Maas turns survival into a mental labyrinth as Feyre faces humiliation, fear, and the cruel twist of not being able to read her way out.

We dig into the privilege of literacy, why this scene hits so hard, and how Rhys’s “commands” after the trial are anything but controlling—they’re proof he sees who Feyre truly is, even when she’s losing herself.

We also unpack the evolving dynamics between Feyre, Tamlin, and Lucien: from shared trauma to dog vs. cat energy to the early signs of trust and rebellion that ripple into A Court of Mist and Fury. And of course, we can’t resist debating the age-old question… is what’s going on between Feyre, Tamlin, and Rhys a love triangle or not (spoiler: Corryn and Ariel have VERY different definitions of a “love triangle”)?

Whether you’re here for the deep dives, the Daemati discourse, or just the emotional chaos—you're welcome and we’re sorry.

Follow us for more ACOTAR content:
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CauldronSaveUsPod
📸 Instagram: @cauldronsaveuspod
🎵 TikTok: @cauldronsaveuspod
🌤️ Bluesky: @cauldronsaveuspod.bsky.social

New episodes every week—one spoiler-free and one spoiler-filled.