⚔️ Two books. Two continents. One massive war brewing. Welcome to the tandem read!

In this episode of Swords & Swoons, we officially kick off our Empire of Storms + Tower of Dawn tandem reread, covering through Chapter 32 of Empire of Storms and Chapter 35 of Tower of Dawn.

Aelin is finally home—but being Queen of Terrasen isn't going quite according to plan. With no army and no shortage of enemies, she's gathering allies, hunting for answers about the Wyrdkeys and the Lock, and heading to Skull's Bay for a reunion with everyone's favorite pirate lord. Meanwhile, Elide finds herself traveling with a very grumpy Lorcan, Manon makes a choice that changes EVERYTHING, and Aedion finally comes face-to-face with Gavriel.

Across the sea in Antica, Chaol and Nesryn begin their own journeys. Chaol meets Yrene Towers and discovers that healing his body might require confronting wounds that run much deeper, while Nesryn takes to the skies with Prince Sartaq and uncovers disturbing clues suggesting the Valg threat reaches much farther than anyone realized.

We're talking Rowaelin, Elorcan, Chaol and Yrene, Nesryn and Sartaq, pirates, ruks, shapeshifters, witches, ancient Valg secrets, daddy issues, fake marriages, healing journeys, and SO MUCH foreshadowing.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This is a full Throne of Glass series reread, so spoilers for future chapters and books are absolutely fair game.

We’ve made it to the FINAL part of our Queen of Shadows deep dive, and Sarah J. Maas is absolutely not letting us leave quietly.

We’re breaking down our favorite moments, biggest reveals, character arcs, swoons, emotional damage, and everything that hits differently on a reread—before finally watching Aelin Galathynius return home to Terrasen. 🥹👑

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This is a full Throne of Glass series reread, so spoilers for future books are fair game.

Grab your swords, prepare your swoons, and join us as we officially close the book on Queen of Shadows! ⚔️💕

Part Two of our Queen of Shadows reread, covering Chapters 31–60, and this section is absolutely STACKED.

Aelin is playing one dangerous game after another in Rifthold as she finally moves against Arobynn, Rowan and Aedion settle into their very aggressive version of friendship, and Lysandra drops a reveal that changes everything we thought we knew about her.

Meanwhile, Morath somehow gets even darker. Manon is starting to question the orders she’s been raised to obey, Elide is digging into the horrors hidden beneath the mountain, Kaltain is proving there is far more going on beneath the surface, and we finally learn just how terrifying Perrington’s plans really are.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This is a full Throne of Glass series reread. While we’re focusing on Chapters 31–60 of Queen of Shadows, we will freely discuss spoilers and connections from later in the book and the rest of the series.

We’re officially back in Rifthold for Part One of our Queen of Shadows reread, covering Chapters 1–30!

Aelin has returned to Adarlan with one goal: take back everything that was stolen from her.

We’re talking about that reunion, the blood oath drama with Aedion, the Gavriel reveal, the tension, the betrayals, the foreshadowing, and all the little moments that hit completely differently on a reread.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This is a full Throne of Glass series reread, so while we’re focusing on Chapters 1–30 of Queen of Shadows, we will reference events from earlier books in the series.

In this episode of Swords & Swoons, we're are doing a FULL SPOILER deep dive into Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana!

We're breaking down Audra's journey from overworked innkeeper's daughter to unwilling student at a magical war academy, where she's surrounded by suspicious Priestesses, deadly trials, new friends, ancient magic—and a prophecy that might have everything to do with her.

We're talking Holyvere Academy, Wilder and the gang, necromancy, Zhaire, THAT dream temple, Fae propaganda, betrayal, deadly magical trials, Audra finally embracing her power, and that ending that has us more than ready for Book Two.

We have officially welcomed our very first author guest to the podcast!

In this extra-special episode of Swords & Swoons, we're joined by author Analeigh Sbrana to talk all about her newest release, Heir of Prophecy, coming August 25th!

We sit down with Analeigh to chat about the story behind Heir of Prophecy, her journey as an author, the inspiration behind her characters and world, and what her writing process looks like behind the scenes. We also put ourselves to the ultimate fantasy-reader test by revealing how WE pronounced some of the names and places in the book—and letting Analeigh tell us just how right (or horribly, horribly wrong) we were. 😂

Whether Heir of Prophecy is already at the top of your TBR or you're hearing about it for the first time, come hang out with us and meet the woman behind the magic!

📖 Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana — out August 25th!

A HUGE thank you to Analeigh for being our very first author guest and joining us for such a fun conversation. 💕

In this episode of Swords & Swoons, we're diving into Part 2 of Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, and the pressure is mounting for every one of our favorite characters.

Aelin's training under Rowan is anything but easy as she's forced to confront the grief, guilt, and power she's spent years trying to bury. In Rifthold, Chaol and Dorian find themselves navigating dangerous secrets while the King's grip on Adarlan continues to tighten. Meanwhile, Manon Blackbeak begins her journey with the wyverns, proving that becoming Wing Leader is going to take far more than brute strength.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Heir of Fire and previous books in the Throne of Glass series.

The world of Throne of Glass just got a whole lot bigger.

In Part One of our Heir of Fire deep dive, we're following three storylines across three very different corners of Erilea as Sarah J. Maas begins expanding the world in ways we never saw coming.

Back in Rifthold, Chaol, Dorian, and Aedion are each navigating dangerous secrets as rebellion quietly brews beneath the King's rule. In the Ferian Gap, we're introduced to Manon Blackbeak, the fierce Ironteeth witch whose journey—and unlikely bond with a certain flower-loving wyvern—quickly stole our hearts. And across the sea in Wendlyn, Celaena begins the most difficult battle of her life as Rowan pushes her to confront the grief, power, and identity she's been running from.

✨ Spoilers for Part One of Heir of Fire

Before there was Endovier. Before the Glass Castle. Before the King's Champion. There was The Assassin's Blade.

In this episode, we're diving into all five novellas that shaped Celaena Sardothien long before the events of Throne of Glass.

As we revisit these stories, we're sharing our favorite moments, discussing the incredible foreshadowing Sarah J. Maas planted years before it paid off, and reflecting on just how much more emotional these novellas become on a reread. Knowing where the series ends makes every act of kindness, every friendship, and every heartbreak hit even harder.

Join us as we celebrate the prequel collection that transformed Celaena from Adarlan's Assassin into one of fantasy's most beloved heroines and reminded us why The Assassin's Blade deserves far more love than it gets.

✨ Spoilers for all five novellas of The Assassin's Blade

The truth is finally revealed... and nothing in the Throne of Glass series will ever be the same.

In the epic conclusion to our Crown of Midnight reread, we're breaking down the second half of the book, where grief turns into vengeance, long-buried secrets come to light, and the mystery surrounding the Glass Castle begins to unravel.

We're unpacking the emotional fallout of Nehemia's death, debating Chaol's impossible choices, celebrating Dorian's growing role in the story, and discussing the reveals that completely redefine everything we thought we knew about Celaena Sardothien.

And of course, we couldn't end this deep dive without talking about one of the most iconic twists in fantasy: the revelation that changes the future of the series forever.

✨ Spoilers for the second half of Crown of Midnight