BookTalks Podcast

@booktalkspodcast

Join Marisa and Kayla as they sit down with a glass of wine and discuss their favorite books. Feel free to send questions and discussion topics to @booktalkspodcast on Instagram!

  1. 6d ago

    Booktalks Podcast episode 123: ACOTAR Reread, Nesta & Cassian Theories

    It's time for our A Court of Silver Flames reread! In Episode 123 of Booktalks Podcast, Kayla and Marisa are diving back into Nesta Archeron's story, and we're reminded all over again why we love this book so much. We discuss Nesta and Cassian's relationship, their banter and mating bond, and why Nesta's journey of healing is one of our favorite character arcs in the ACOTAR series. We also talk about the incredible friendship between Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie, the return of the Valkyries, and why this book offers so much more than romance. Of course, we have plenty of opinions about the Inner Circle! We debate Feyre and Rhysand's treatment of Nesta, share our thoughts on Elain and Azriel, discuss whether Gwyn and Azriel could be endgame, and explore our theories about Eris, Mor, and other characters. Plus, we get into the bigger mysteries of the Maasverse, including the Dread Trove, the Prison, Nesta's powers, the connections to Crescent City, and what all of this could mean for the next ACOTAR book. Is Nesta being set up for a much bigger role? Could the Valkyries become central to the future of the series? And what do we think Sarah J. Maas has planned next? We're sharing our favorite moments, unpopular opinions, and wild theories as we get ready for the next installment of the ACOTAR series! Spoiler warning: This episode contains major spoilers for A Court of Silver Flames, the ACOTAR series, and portions of the Crescent City series. We want to hear from you! What are your biggest ACOTAR theories? Are you Team Gwynriel, Elriel, or neither? And where do you think Nesta's story is headed? Follow Booktalks Podcast for more fantasy and romance book reviews, rereads, author interviews, and bookish conversations. Instagram: @booktalkspodcast TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: Chaoticbookgirls Read along with us and join the conversation on Fable! #ACOTAR #ACOSF #SarahJMaas #BooktalksPodcast

  2. Oct 25

    Booktalks Podcast Episode 122: Murder, Dark Magic & Romantasy?! | Our Dark Incantations Interview

    A gothic university, dark magic, a murder mystery, and an achingly romantic love story?! We're joined by debut author Wanda Hellmund to talk about *Our Dark Incantations*—the gothic fantasy romance that brings together everything fantasy readers love! Set at a magical university, *Our Dark Incantations* follows Mira Winters, who swears off magic after a devastating war—until she finds herself studying dark magic and teaming up with the arrogant Adrick Dawson to solve a murder. But beneath the demons, dangerous magic, and romance lies a deeper story about trauma, healing, and what happens to fantasy heroes AFTER the battle is over. In this interview, we talk with Wanda about: The inspiration behind *Our Dark Incantations* Gothic fantasy, dark academia, and romantasy Writing trauma and mental health representation Going from publishing online to traditional publishing Plotting twists, rewriting endings, and the editing process The music and movies that inspired the book Favorite characters, relationships, tropes, and more in our rapid-fire round! We also get into the question dividing fantasy readers: **What exactly IS romantasy—and does this book fit the definition?** If you love magical universities, murder mysteries, morally complicated characters, dark magic, and romance with plenty of banter, this one deserves a spot on your TBR! *Our Dark Incantations* by Wanda Hellmund is available now, released October 20, 2026. **QUESTION OF THE DAY:** What's your favorite combination in fantasy: romance, murder mystery, or dark academia? And have you added *Our Dark Incantations* to your TBR? Subscribe to BookTalks Podcast for more fantasy and romance book discussions, author interviews, reading wrap-ups, and bookish chaos! #OurDarkIncantations #WandaHellmund #FantasyBooks #Romantasy #BookTube

  3. Oct 18

    Booktalks Podcast Episode 121: ACOTAR Fans, We Need to Talk About Feyre & Nesta 👀 | ACOFAS Reread

    We need to talk about Feyre, Nesta, and the Night Court.Because after rereading *A Court of Frost and Starlight* by Sarah J. Maas, we have a LOT of thoughts. In this episode of BookTalks Podcast, Kayla and Marisa revisit ACOFAS, the bridge novella between *A Court of Wings and Ruin* and *A Court of Silver Flames*. And let's just say… our reread did not make us love this book more. We're discussing: Why we think ACOFAS could've been an email (or a few bonus chapters) Feyre's characterization and whether she has changed since the original trilogy Why Nesta Archeron deserves more compassion from the Inner Circle Rhysand's double standards and the way Nesta and Lucien are treated The different ways characters experience grief, trauma, and healing Elain, Lucien, and Azriel: who actually belongs together? Mor's mysterious subplot and what it means for her character Cassian, Nesta, and what we hope to see in *A Court of Silver Flames* We LOVE the ACOTAR universe, but loving a series doesn't mean we can't criticize it. Is Nesta unfairly judged? Does Feyre get too much grace from the Inner Circle? And does this novella actually add anything essential to the story? **We want to hear your take!** Are you Team Nesta, Team Feyre, or somewhere in between? And do you think *A Court of Frost and Starlight* deserves the hate, or are we being too harsh? Subscribe to BookTalks Podcast for ACOTAR discussions, fantasy and romance reviews, rereads, bookish hot takes, and conversations with your bookish best friend. #ACOTAR #ACOFAS #SarahJMaas #BookTube #BookTalksPodcast

  4. Oct 4

    Booktalks Podcast Episode 119: We Have THOUGHTS on Ali Hazelwood, Colleen Hoover & Fourth Wing 👀

    September was a MONTH. We may have been in a reading slump, but that didn't stop us from having A LOT to say. In this episode of BookTalks Podcast, we talk about our September reading, what we're planning to read in October, and some of the biggest bookish conversations happening right now. We have THOUGHTS on Ali Hazelwood's upcoming sequel to The Love Hypothesis, whether authors revisiting beloved books and worlds is becoming more about the money than the story, and the early reactions to the Verity movie. We also get into our VERY mixed feelings about Fourth Wing / Iron Flame, Rebecca Yarros' new Threshing Day novella, and where we think the Empyrean series might be headed. Plus, we're talking about: Our September reads and ratings The books we're taking into October Marisa's spooky season reading challenge Romance recommendations (including some VERY strong ones) Renaissance Fairs and our questionable future career plans Exciting upcoming ARCs, author interviews & BookTalks Podcast updates What do YOU think? Are authors taking sequels and spin-offs too far when a book already has a satisfying ending? And what are your thoughts on the direction of Fourth Wing/Iron Flame? Let us know in the comments! Books & authors mentioned: Ali Hazelwood, Colleen Hoover, Rebecca Yarros, Christina Lauren, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka, Susanna Clarke, Maggie Gates, Ellen O'Connor, Sarah J. Maas, Wanda M. Hellmann and more. #BookTalksPodcast #BookTube #BookPodcast

4.5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Join Marisa and Kayla as they sit down with a glass of wine and discuss their favorite books. Feel free to send questions and discussion topics to @booktalkspodcast on Instagram!

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