Spread Your Wingspan

Jennie and Sara return to House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the third Crescent City book, for one last recap before A Court of Splintered Harmony arrives. They sort through the lore that matters for Prythian, from the Asteri and the Dread Trove to the questions they hope the next ACOTAR book finally answers. Along the way they dig into Nesta's growth, why the book's exposition was such a slog, and the Throne of Glass crossover theories fans are chasing.

Full spoilers for House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, including the ending.

Threat of torture, imprisonment, and violence.

Does Episode 42 of Spread Your Wingspan cover House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the Crescent City book that crosses over with A Court of Thorns and Roses?

Yes, Episode 42 of Spread Your Wingspan is Jennie and Sara's lore recap of House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the third Crescent City book and the one that crosses over with the ACOTAR world of Prythian. It focuses on the lore that matters for A Court of Splintered Harmony, rather than a full discussion of the book. For that, check out Episode 2 of Spread Your Wingspan.

What is House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas about?

House of Flame and Shadow is the third book in Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series. It follows Bryce Quinlan as the story crosses into Prythian, bringing her face to face with Nesta, Azriel, and the Inner Circle, and with the Asteri and the Dread Trove. We dig into the lore in Episode 42 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Do I need to read House of Flame and Shadow before A Court of Splintered Harmony?

Jennie and Sara hope this recap saves you the read, and they expect Sarah J. Maas to include some recap-style exposition in the next ACOTAR book. If you want to know what matters for Prythian before A Court of Splintered Harmony, hear their full lore breakdown in Episode 42 of Spread Your Wingspan.

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Sara and Jennie sit down with Jennifer Michelle Herrera, author of Siren Says, for an author conversation as warm as it is wide-ranging. Jennifer shares how Pennsylvania slate and the Welsh settlers who quarried it sparked her romantasy, why she filled the story with plants and tactile detail, and what drew her to the myth of Mis and the power of female rage. The three talk Delilah as a "shadow mommy," Cherry and the case for unlikable women, intergenerational trauma and atonement, and the audiobook narration that carried the Welsh pronunciations. Jennifer also opens up about her writing process, her path from philosophy grad student to literary agent to author, and the books she wants everyone to read next.

Full spoilers for Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera, including the ending.

Jennifer is the author of Siren Says & The Hunter. She studied philosophy in graduate school before moving to New York City, where she became a literary agent. She has gone on to represent New York Times bestsellers, IndieBound bestsellers, and winners of multiple awards. She now lives in Philadelphia with her husband, children, and cats.

Self-harm, domestic abuse from a parent, violence and gore, and a coercive sexual encounter that is accidental.

Does Episode 41 of Spread Your Wingspan feature an interview with Jennifer Michelle Herrera, author of Siren Says?

Yes, Episode 41 of Spread Your Wingspan is Sara and Jennie's author interview with Jennifer Michelle Herrera, the author of the Welsh-inspired romantasy Siren Says. It is the companion to Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan, where they recap and discuss the book. In this conversation Jennifer talks about her inspiration, her writing process, female rage, and what she is reading next.

What is Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera about?

Siren Says follows Raven Wynn, a young woman whose magic was bound as a teenager and who travels to Pennsylvania to find her mysterious aunt and a way to deal with her power. Jennifer built the story around Welsh mythology and the slate-quarrying history of Pennsylvania. Hear the full recap in Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Should I read Siren Says before listening to Episode 41 of Spread Your Wingspan?

Yes, if you can. The interview includes full spoilers for Siren Says, so read or listen to the book first. If you want a refresher, Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan covers the full recap before Jennifer joins in Episode 41.

Will there be a sequel to Siren Says?

Jennifer shares in Episode 41 of Spread Your Wingspan that her publisher would want strong sales before commissioning a sequel, and that she already knows where the story would go, with more of Cherry's story. She jokes that it may one day appear on Patreon.

What books does Jennifer Michelle Herrera recommend?

In Episode 41 of Spread Your Wingspan, Jennifer recommends Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross, The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger, and The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, a series of tiny, rule-breaking novels she read in eight days.

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Jennie and Sara give their opinions of Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera — a lush, Welsh-rooted romantasy about a young woman whose magic has been bound for years, the family secrets waiting for her in Pennsylvania, and the women who shape her path. From a plant-based magic system and a dark fairy tale ending to a softer, more everyday kind of romantasy hero, the hosts dig into female rage, intergenerational trauma and atonement, reclaiming ancestral culture instead of borrowing someone else's, and why female friendship is the beating heart of the story. They also talk pacing, tactile prose, and the hopeful question: when do we get the Delilah, Cherry, and Idris spin-offs?

Full spoilers for Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera, including the ending.

Self-harm, domestic abuse from a parent, violence and gore, and a coercive sexual encounter that is accidental.

Does Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan cover Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera, the Welsh-inspired witch fantasy?

Yes, Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan is a full recap and discussion of Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera, a fantasy rooted in Welsh mythology about a young witch whose magic has been bound. Jennie and Sara walk through the story, the themes, and what they loved and wanted more of.

What is Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera about?

Siren Says follows Raven Wynn, a young woman whose magic was bound as a teenager and who travels to Pennsylvania to find her mysterious aunt and a way to deal with her power. Along the way she finds family secrets, ancient Welsh magic, and new friendships. We cover the full recap in Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Should you read or listen to Siren Says?

Jennie and Sara recommend the audiobook, narrated by Sorcha Groundsell, if you're the kind of reader who needs to know how a word sounds before moving on, since the Welsh names and magic terms can slow down a print read. Hear their full take in Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Is Siren Says spicy?

Not very — Jennie and Sara give it one pepper out of five, noting the love scene is sweet but short and not graphic. Full spice talk is in Episode 40 of Spread Your Wingspan.

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Sara and Jennie give their opinions of Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros — the Fourth Wing companion from the Wings and Claws collection, told through the eyes of the cadets as their dragons choose them. The hosts chapter through every rider and dragon pairing, then dig into dragon lore, the joy of multiple points of view, how Yarros and Sarah J. Maas build their worlds differently, and what this little book hints at for the series ahead. It all wraps with a spice rating, an overall score, and what's up next this season.

Full spoilers for Threshing Day, Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.

Suicidal ideation and an unsuccessful suicide attempt (in Sloane's chapter), violence and gore, and death.

Does Episode 39 of Spread Your Wingspan cover Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros, the Fourth Wing companion?

Yes, Episode 39 of Spread Your Wingspan is a full recap and discussion of Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros, a companion to the Empyrean series that follows the Fourth Wing cadets as they bond with their dragons. Sara and Jennie chapter through every dragon and rider pairing.

What is Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros?

Threshing Day is a supplementary book in the Wings and Claws collection that follows the cadets of Fourth Wing as they bond with their dragons, one point of view at a time. We cover every pairing in Episode 39 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Do you need to read Threshing Day before continuing the Empyrean series?

Sara and Jennie say no — Rebecca Yarros has said it isn't necessary, and you won't miss anything in the main timeline, though it's packed with Easter eggs and lore. Hear how it adds to the series in Episode 39 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Is Threshing Day spicy?

No — Sara and Jennie give it zero peppers out of five, since there's no sex in this one. Full spice talk is in Episode 39 of Spread Your Wingspan.

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Jennie and Sara give their opinions of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas — the fifth ACOTAR book, which shifts the spotlight to Nesta and Cassian and the long road of healing that follows the war. Their extra-long recap sets the stage, then the hosts dig into how the book handles trauma, autonomy, found family, and the House of Wind, plus a few rants, a candid look at Cassian's red flags, and what the story leaves unanswered for the books ahead. It all wraps with a spice rating, an overall score, and a look at what's up next this season.

Full spoilers for A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas, including the ending. Light, non-story-critical references to Crescent City, House of Flame and Shadow, Fourth Wing, Priest, and House Witch.

Sexual assault allegory, alcoholism and addiction, suicidal ideation, self-hate, self-harm, torture, depression, threat of rape in memories, rape mentioned but not shown, and explicit sex.

Does Episode 38 of Spread Your Wingspan cover book five of the ACOTAR series?

Yes, Episode 38 of Spread Your Wingspan is a full recap and discussion episode covering A Court of Silver Flames, book five in Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series.

What happens in A Court of Silver Flames?

A Court of Silver Flames follows Nesta Archeron and Cassian as Nesta is pushed into training and work at the House of Wind, forming new friendships and confronting her trauma while a new threat gathers. We cover the full recap in Episode 38 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Is A Court of Silver Flames spicy?

Yes — Jennie and Sara give it three peppers out of five, and call the sex scenes a big step up from the earlier books. Full spice talk is in Episode 38 of Spread Your Wingspan.

How do Jennie and Sara rate A Court of Silver Flames?

Jennie rates it an 8.5 to 9 and Sara rates it an 8, praising how well it writes a healing journey and girlhood. Hear the full reasoning in Episode 38 of Spread Your Wingspan.

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Jennie and Sara give their opinions of A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas — the shorter, slower novella-length entry that catches up with Feyre, Rhysand, and the Inner Circle as they settle into Winter Solstice after everything the war put them through. It's a quieter, slice-of-life kind of book, and the hosts dig into what that shift in pacing does for the series, how the characters are healing (or not) in the in-between moments, and the world of Velaris. From there, it's a wider conversation about overused phrases, editorial continuity slip-ups, how this series stacks up against other current fantasy romance favorites, and why book five has both hosts so excited for next time.

Full spoilers for A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas, including the ending. Light, non-story-critical references to A Court of Silver Flames, Crescent City, Fourth Wing/Onyx Storm, From Blood and Ash, and The Lord of the Rings.

Alcoholism and addiction, familial abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Does Episode 37 of Spread Your Wingspan cover book four of the ACOTAR series?

Yes, Episode 37 of Spread Your Wingspan is a full recap and discussion episode covering A Court of Frost and Starlight, book four in Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series.

What happens in A Court of Frost and Starlight?

A Court of Frost and Starlight slows things down after the war, catching up with Feyre, Rhysand, and the Inner Circle as they navigate Winter Solstice, grief, and healing in the months that follow. We cover the full recap in Episode 37 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Is A Court of Frost and Starlight spicy?

Not really — Jennie and Sara call it one of the least spicy entries in the series so far, landing at barely a pepper out of five. Full spice talk is in Episode 37 of Spread Your Wingspan.

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Jennie and Sara close out the original ACOTAR trilogy with A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas — the book they call the most relentless of the series so far. Feyre goes undercover, plays a dangerous game of deception, and fights her way back to the people who matter most, all while the war she's been dreading finally arrives. From there, the hosts dig into pacing and publishing pressures, the found-family dynamics of the Inner Circle, the show's ongoing "who gets to be a good leader" theme, a spirited debate over one of the book's most-discussed plot devices, and comparisons covering everything from Throne of Glass to fandom ship wars to what makes a battle scene actually work on the page.

Full spoilers for A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas, including the ending. Light, non-story-critical references to later ACOTAR books, Throne of Glass, Crescent City, and Outlander.

Torture, violence/gore, war, domestic abuse, PTSD.

A Court of Wings and Ruin — Sarah J. Maas

What happens in A Court of Wings and Ruin? 

A Court of Wings and Ruin brings the war Feyre has been bracing for to its breaking point, as old alliances are tested, new ones are forged, and the fight for Prythian's future reshapes everyone involved. We cover the full recap in Episode 36 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Is A Court of Wings and Ruin spicy? 

Jennie and Sara rate it about a six and a half to seven out of ten — not the spiciest entry in the series, but there's plenty that happens along the way. Full spice talk is in Episode 36 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Does Episode 36 of Spread Your Wingspan cover book three of the ACOTAR series? 

Yes, Episode 36 of Spread Your Wingspan is a full recap and discussion episode covering A Court of Wings and Ruin, book three in Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series.

Got a question or a book/author you want us to check out? Email us at [email protected]

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Jennie and Sara are back for the full recap and discussion of A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas — book two of the ACOTAR series and, as they put it, the book where everything changes. They follow Feyre out of the Spring Court and into the Night Court's orbit, through new alliances, new powers, and a slow-burn dynamic with Rhysand that reshapes everything she thought she knew. From there, they dig into themes of healing, self-actualization, the found-family dynamics of the inner circle, Sarah J. Maas's world-building and exposition choices, and the "third act breakup" trope (and why this book breaks it).

Full spoilers for A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, including the ending. Light references to later ACOTAR books, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City — nothing story-critical for those series is revealed.

Domestic abuse (physical and emotional), imprisonment, suicidal ideation, depression, violence/gore.

A Court of Mist and Fury — Sarah J. Maas

What happens in A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas? 

A Court of Mist and Fury picks up after the events of book one, as Feyre is pulled out of the life she's known and into the orbit of the Night Court, where new alliances, new powers, and new dangers reshape everything she thought she knew. We cover the full recap in Episode 35 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Is A Court of Mist and Fury spicy? 

Kind of — Jennie and Sara rate it about a two out of five peppers. Full spice talk is in Episode 35 of Spread Your Wingspan.

Does Episode 35 of Spread Your Wingspan cover book two of the ACOTAR series? 

Yes, Episode 35 of Spread Your Wingspan is a full recap and discussion episode covering A Court of Mist and Fury, book two in Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series.

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Summary

Sara and Jennie kick off their full ACOTAR reread and recap series ahead of books six and seven, starting at the very beginning with A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. They give a full, detailed recap of the book, then dig into themes like secrets and lies, self-actualization, and whether power requires cruelty — plus a rereader's-eye view of how much the first book foreshadows what's coming. They also get into meatier territory: criticism of the series (including discussions of race, representation, and author controversy), a passionate rant against the phrase "guilty pleasure," and a personal, vulnerable conversation about using books as a healthy coping tool.

A note on sourcing: the hosts mention wanting to confirm the origin of the term "guilty pleasure" for the show notes. The phrase was first used in print in an 1860 New York Times article — about visiting a brothel, as they suspected. We also recommend Jennifer Szalai's essay "Against 'Guilty Pleasure'" in The New Yorker, which explores the term's more recent cultural baggage.

Full spoilers for A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, including its complete plot and ending. Light, non-specific discussion referencing later books in the series.

Detailed discussion of torture, violence, and gore; familial abuse (verbal) and neglect; a threat of sexual assault and forced, degrading treatment of a captive character (including coerced undress/painting and forced intoxication); themes of self-harm-adjacent peril (a character nearly dies multiple times); discussion of author controversy, including accusations related to political and social issues (antisemitism/Zionism, transphobia, and racial representation); and a candid, personal discussion of using books as a coping mechanism, including a brief mention of therapy and dissociation as a coping tool.

Mentioned in This Episode

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What book do Sara and Jennie recap in Episode 34?

They give a full recap and discussion of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, the first book in the ACOTAR series, as part of a full series reread ahead of books six and seven.

Does this episode contain spoilers?

Yes — full spoilers for the complete plot and ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Do Sara and Jennie address criticism of the ACOTAR series?

Yes — they discuss criticisms around representation, race, and author controversy, and talk about how they hold both their enjoyment of the books and awareness of valid critiques.

Got a question or a book/author you want us to check out? Email us at [email protected]

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This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you that helps us continue to produce Spread Your Wingspan.

Episode 30 - Off Campus & Heated Rivalry - Hockey Romance TV Adaptations Compared

Sara and Jennie dig into two hockey romance book-to-TV adaptations — Off Campus (Prime Video) and Heated Rivalry (Crave/HBO Max) — and discuss what makes these adaptations more than "hot guys play hockey." They talk about how Heated Rivalry landed as comfort viewing, why its portrayal of consent between Ilya and Shane felt like "good programming" they wish every young man would watch, and how Off Campus handles Hannah's history of sexual assault and Garrett's history of witnessing domestic abuse without sensationalizing either. It's a compare-and-contrast episode and a conversation about what responsible, healing depictions of trauma and intimacy can look like on screen — plus book-to-show fidelity, favorite one-liners, and a running mystery about why hockey specifically inspires this much romance.

Spoilers: Full spoilers for Off Campus Season 1 and Heated Rivalry Season 1, as well as their source novels The Deal by Elle Kennedy and Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid.

Content Warnings: Discussion of sexual assault and its aftermath, discussion of domestic abuse, explicit discussion of on-screen sexual content, discussion of consent and sexual safety, brief discussion of the sexualization of minors and age-appropriate reading, strong language/profanity throughout, and brief mention of homophobia (including its legal status in Russia).

00:23 - Welcome back & introducing today's topic: hockey romance TV adaptations

What TV shows do Sara and Jennie discuss in Episode 30?

They discuss Off Campus on Prime Video (based on Elle Kennedy's The Deal) and Heated Rivalry on Crave/HBO Max (based on Rachel Reid's novel of the same name), comparing how each adapts its source material and portrays intimacy and trauma.

Are these adaptations faithful to their books?

Heated Rivalry is described as a very faithful adaptation of Rachel Reid's novel. Off Campus diverges more from Elle Kennedy's The Deal, particularly in how it handles a pivotal confrontation involving Hannah's assailant.

Does this episode contain spoilers?

Yes — full spoilers for both shows and their source novels.

Got a question or a book/author you want us to check out? Email us at [email protected] Find us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/spreadyourwingspan/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@spreadyourwingspan