Must Luv Romantasy

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Book Besties, it’s time for some ACOTAR Book Club Therapy. As we amp up for the release of Sarah J. Mass's A Court of Tainted Harmony, R.J. welcomes psychologist and fellow podcaster Dr. Brandi Hawk of The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club to tackle one very polarizing question: Are you Team Feyre or Team Nesta?

R.J. comes in firmly Team Feyre. Brandi is Team Nesta. Plot twist? They’re both youngest sisters. Together they unpack the Archeron family drama, how trauma shaped Feyre, Nesta and Elain in very different ways, and why our own family experiences may have a lot to do with which sister we understand, or absolutely can't stand.

Spoiler warning: We discuss plot points throughout the ACOTAR series

Key Takeaways:

• Three sisters, three trauma responses
• Feyre copes by doing
• Nesta copes by pushing people away
• Elain copes by being “perfect”
• Feyre carries the family burden
• Nesta’s anger runs deeper
• Found family helps them heal
• What We Want From ACOTAR 6
• ACOTAR Favorite Books, Hot Takes Included
• Final Vote: Feyre, Nesta, or Neither?

So are you are you Team Feyre or Team Nesta—or somewhere in between? And why? Leave a comment or click the Send Us Mail link in the podcast description. We may read your take on a future episode.

Coming Next: More ACOTAR Book Club Therapy

• ACOTAR Book Boyfriends — Rhysand, Tamlin and the other males we love, side-eye and definitely need to discuss with a nerdy psychologist!

Listen to The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club for more conversations mixing psychology, fantasy, dystopian books and plenty of bookish opinions. Plus follow them on IG and other socials @thenerdypsychologistbookclub

Follow the podcast, share it with another Book Bestie and join the conversation.

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Have you survived Threshing Day? Rebecca Yarros’ new Empyrean collection tops R.J.'s fall recommendation list as the podcast kicks off Season 2 with books to add to your TBR — whether you prefer reading via hardcover, paper back, e-book or audiobook. 

From political intrigue and slow burns to sapphic romantasy, dark academia, cozy fantasy and dragons serving dinner, there’s a little something for every Book Bestie. Plus, Book Club Besties Wy Warfield and Stephanie Wilkison stop by with fall recommendations of their own.

R.J.’s Picks

• Threshing Day — Rebecca Yarros (audiobook, hardcover and Graphic Audio editions) Try the game at dragonkind.com to see if you survive! 
• The Court of Venus — Bel Banta
• The Curse of Silver Secrets and Cruel Shadows series — Vera Raye
• Tales of the Dragon Diner series — Lindsay Buroker 
• The Astral Library — Kate Quinn

Wy’s Picks

• The Jasmine Throne — Tasha Suri
• The Keeper of Magical Things — Julie Leong
• This Splintered Sea — Haley J. Monroe
• Moth’s Blood - Lynn D. Jung 

Stephanie’s Pick

• Harbinger — Geneva Lee
• Tempest   — Victoria Aveyard
• The Wretched Divine  — Adalyn Grace
• Defy the Dusk — Danielle Jensen
• Weaver’s Veil - Jessi St. John
• The Fall of the Crowned King - Amber V. Nicle

For the Audiobook Besties: RJ’s Picks

• Rites of the Starling — Devney Perry (Graphic Audio edition)
• Dracula — Bram Stoker (Audible production starring Jonathan Bailey) 

Coming up on Must Luv Romantasy Season 2 this month:

We’re heading back to Prythian for a special two-part ACOTAR Book Club Therapy series with guest podcaster and psychologist Dr. Brandi Hawk of The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club.

Part 1: Team Feyre or Team Nesta: Sister Drama — unpacking the Archeron sisters and why readers connect so strongly with one over the other.

Part 2: ACOTAR Book Boyfriends — Rhysand, Tamlin and what the other characters teach about love and healthy relationships

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy

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June/July2026: Book Recommendation: "Our Vicious Oaths" by N.E. Davenport For our Season 1 finale, host R.J. (Rosemary Jean-Louis) welcomes back Book Club Bestie Reviewer Asiah Muhammad, by popular demand, to contribute to an honest review of Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport, a black romantasy author. And for the first time ever, the Must Luv Romantasy podcast is available in both audio and video formats! Listen as usual or watch the video version on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (coming soon) as we unpack whether this fae court dark romantasy is worth hugging or hurling! (This book is very spicy so there's a lot of spice talk.)

Key Takeaways:

• "Our Vicious Oaths" gave us fae politics, magic, war, enemies-to-lovers or rather enemies to “I lust you” tension.
• Real, strong portrayal of black males (in fae form) is praiseworthy.
• Lackluster characterization of black female fae main character and her squad was disappointing 
• Thick on lust and thin on plot, not enough equal attention to intriguing fantasy world. 
• The audiobook performances by Jeanette Illidge and Morris Kellswater deserve a shout-out.

Leave comment, send us fan mail or a voicemail about this review. We may read it on air one day. Shout-out to Ctaylor1220 on Spotify for being the first to comment!

By the way  we’re taking a summer break and will return in September with episodes leading up to the new Sarah J. Maas book release in October.

Follow Asiah Muhammad on IG: @taintt3ed

Join the MustLuvRomantasy IRL Book Club! 

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TV Series Watch: The Way Home Season 4. In this brief bonus episode, host R.J. and Book Club Bestie Yolanda Moore reunite to check-in on the last season of Hallmark’s romantasy adjacent hit The Way Home. Is it hitting the right notes or falling flat? (The series finale airs June 21, 2026). 

Refresh your memory about the entire show’s run with our early episode this year: The Way Home - Why Hallmark’s Time-Travel Series Belongs in Romantasy.

Friends don't read romantasy books alone! Join the in-person Must Luv Romantasy book club that meets in the Atlanta area. It’s free! 

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Book Besties, we are still processing this one. Host R.J. (Rosemary Jean-Louis) and returning Book Club Bestie guest reviewer Paige Green conduct a spoiler filled, “therapy session” to unpack the gut wrenching “Rites of the Starling", the sequel to “Shield of Sparrows”.

Connect with Paige on IG: @popthebutterfly

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy

Join the MustLuvRomantasy IRL Book Club

Share your rating and mini review in the comments or send us a fanmail and text. 

Key Takeaways:

• The sequel expands the lore, fantasy and romance of book one
• Dual narrative and (spoiler alert!) timelines reveal Odessa’s family tragedy
• New characters Caspia and Andreas' heart wrenching story breaks us
• Voster priests are bad guys who created a false religious system
• Cliffhanger ending parallels how Odessa’s mom died.

Shout out to Stephanie Nemeth Parker the voice artist behind Odessa for the Graphic Audio dramatized books. Part 1 drops July 7th, and Part 2 comes
out August 25th.

IRL News and Events not to miss:

May 30, 2026 at 1 pm-1:30 pm ET: Join the in real life Must Luv Romantasy book club virtual club meeting | Topic: What’s on your TBR? RSVP by joining. 

June 27, 2026 at 1pm-2:30 pm: Join the Must Luv Romantasy book club in person at Souper Jenny  real life book club meeting at Souper Jenny North Decatur Rd. Decatur, GA to discuss “King’s Guard” by Victoria Aveyard.  RSVP by joining.

June Book Recommendation: “Our Vicious Oaths” by N.E. Davenport. Book Cub Bestie reviewer Asiah Muhammad returns to review. 

Listen to Asiah’s past reviews:

• Brimstone Review: What a Hot Mess! 
• Quicksilver Review: A Brutally Honest Take

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy

Send us mail - we read it!

April 2026 Book Recommendation: "Shield of Sparrows" by Devney Perry Host R.J. (Rosemary Jean-Louis) and Book Club Bestie guest reviewer, Paige Green, a book influencer and member of the IRL MustLuvRomantasy Book Club exhale over this worth it slow burn.   

Connect with Paige on IG: @popthebutterfly

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy

Key Takeways:

• Shield of Sparrows feels like a reset for romantasy fatigue
• Applause for FMC Odessa’s boundary-setting, character growth
• MMC the Guardian (Ransom) is the broody hero with real humor we need
• New trope coined by Paige: "Surprise threesome!"
• Worldbuilding highlights: Lysa, Voster priests, crux migration and rabid monsters

Share your rating and mini review in the comments or send us fanmail.

IRL News and Events not to miss:

April 19, 2026 - Season 4 premiere of Hallmark Channel's The Way Home        Listen to our episode The Way Home - Why Hallmark's Time Travel Series Belongs in Romantasy to get ready for it.

April 25, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET- RSVP to join the Must Luv Romantasy in real life book club meeting on the sequel Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry at Panera Bread near Emory University in Decatur, Ga. 

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy

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Host R.J. (Rosemary Jean-Louis) chats with Jenn Beach, founder of BookishWine.com, about her immersive experience at Romantasy Con LA and she defines romantasy. From fairy wings and trinket trading to author meet-cutes and gargoyle romances, Jenn shares what made the event fantastic. Plus she talks about the Bookish Wine club and the magic behind the book/wine pairings and boxes.

• Join the Bookish Wine club | Follow on IG: @bookishwine
• Get tickets to the Black Romance Book Fest - May 29-31, 2026

Key Takeaways

Romantasy Con LA is pure magic

Held at the historic Biltmore Hotel, the con felt like stepping directly into a romantasy realm — frescoes, ballrooms, fairy wings, and all.
“You feel completely immersed into the romantasy culture… like you walked into romantasy realms.”

🤝 Community is the heart of the genre

From trinket trading to hugging online friends IRL, the con showcased how welcoming, joyful, and supportive the romantasy community truly is.

📚 Indie authors are redefining the genre

Jenn highlights how indie writers are experimenting with older protagonists, fresh tropes, and bold worldbuilding — expanding what romantasy can be.

💘 Tropes, micro‑tropes, and the “Consent King”

Jenn shares her favorite micro‑trope: the fae‑wine‑drunk heroine and the love interest who refuses to kiss her until she’s sober.
“He really wants her… but he’s like, not until you’re sober.”

🍷 Bookish Wine creates immersive romantasy experiences

Jenn’s book + wine club pairs special‑edition romantasy novels with boutique wines, playlists, recipes, and even audiobook codes — a full sensory escape.

📖 Gargoyle romance + Sauvignon Blanc = perfection

The March Bookish Wine pick, Bound by Hearts and Stone, is a slow‑burn gargoyle romantasy paired with a high‑end Rutherford Valley Sauvignon Blanc.

🌍 The romantasy tent is BIG

R.J. and Jenn emphasize that romantasy includes romance‑forward, sci‑fi romance, cozy romantasy, monster romantasy — all of it belongs.

🎉 Upcoming events for Romantasy lovers

Romantasy Con Orlando is sold out, Romantasy Con Edinburgh is coming in 2027, and the Black Romance Book Fest hits Atlanta this May.

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy

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What is romantasy, really? Host R.J. (Rosemary Jean-Louis) breaks it down in two parts. From Sarah J. Maas’ big ACOTAR release‑dates news, reader reactions from the Love Y’all Book Festival and insights from the Romance Fantasy Spectrum author panel - there’s plenty of common and differing opinions. 

Follow us on Instagram @mustluvromantasy for panel pics!

The excerpt from the Love Y’all Book Festival Romance Fantasy Spectrum author panel features:

• F.T. Lukens
• Ehigbor Okosun
• Nia Davenport
• Rebecca Ross
• Sasha Peyton Smith

Natalia Hernandez was also on the panel but not featured in the clip. 

The authors share the difference between fantasy romance, romantic fantasy, and “textbook”romantasy — and why the stakes of falling in love can matter just as much as saving the kingdom.

R.J. also  gives a mini lesson on the origins of fantasy romance and the romantasy term; her definition of what romantasy is; a list of tropes and the books that pulled her into the genre. 

• Romantasy blends romance + fantasy as co‑equal forces — remove one, and the story’s emotional core shifts.
• Readers define it differently, from “magic + transformation + love” to “give me swords, monsters, and a romance subplot.”
• Authors see romantasy as a spectrum, with fantasy‑forward, romance‑forward, and true 50/50 hybrids.
• Tropes are essential, including enemies‑to‑lovers, slow burn, fated mates, found family, and magical bonds.
• Romantasy has deep roots, from early sci‑fi/fantasy writers to paranormal romance to dystopian YA.
• The genre is thriving, thanks to BookTok, Bookstagram, and readers who know exactly what emotional ride they want.

Additional research from the Sci Fi Fantasy Writers Association article: "Romantasy: An Old Genre with a New Name" by Rosemary Jones.

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Send us mail - we read it!

February 2026 Book Recommendations: Fae & Alchemy series: Part 2 Brimstone 

Host R.J. (Rosemary Jean-Louis) and Book Club Bestie guest reviewer Asiah Muhammad return to review “Brimstone” the follow-up to “Quicksilver” by Callie Hart. And boy do they have notes! Did the sequel win them over, though? Listen in. Agree or disagree? Share in comments or send a text.

Revisit their brutally honest review of "Quicksilver". 

Special thanks to the Bookish Goblin for source material for the recap section. 

IRL Book Event not to miss:

• February 28, 2026 - Book signing with CM Lepore, author of "Lucid" and Book Bestie guest on Onyx Storm episode - 2nd & Charles, Hagerstown, Md.  

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy

Send us mail - we read it!

February 2026 Book Recommendations: Fae & Alchemy series: "Quicksilver," "Kingfisher's POV" and "Brimstone" by Callie Hart. Was this BookTok sensation worth the flowers? Host R.J. (Rosemary Jean-Louis) and Book Club Bestie guest reviewer Asiah Muhammad give brutally honest reviews and ratings. Part 1 in this episode "Quicksilver" and "Kingfisher's POV". Join us next week for Part 2 - the review of "Brimstone".  Agree or disagree? Share in the comments or send a text. 

IRL Book Events not to miss:

• February 13-14th, 2026 - Love Y'all Festival - romance and romantasy book conference  in Decatur, Ga (MustLuvRomantasy will be there!)
• February 28, 2026 - Book signing with CM Lepore, author of "Lucid" and Book Bestie guest on Onyx Storm episode - 2nd & Charles, Hagerstown, Md.  

Follow us on IG: @mustluvromantasy