Hot Take Books

Hot Take Books by Rich and Ryan
  • 5.0 (3)
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  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

🔥 We read Hot Books and give you Hotter Takes. 🔥 Welcome to the show where two friends—Rich and Ryan—dive into the best (and occasionally worst) of sci-fi and fantasy, one book at a time. Every title gets two episodes: a spoiler-free FastTake for the curious and a spoiler-filled deep dive for the chaos lovers. We skip the plot overviews and go straight for the good stuff: World Building & Lore, Characters, and Story—served with unfiltered opinions, spicy takes, and way too much banter. If you like book talk, laughs, passion, and the occasional nerdy meltdown, you're in the right place

  1. 2D AGO

    Riff Sesh: Cold Wind - Book 2 Ironbound (Spoiler Free)

    Cold Wind by Andrew Givler | Ironbound, Book 2 | Fantasy | FastTake Picture this: you're on the treadmill, just walking, minding your business — then chapter 10 cranks the speed and suddenly the whole gym is watching. That's Cold Wind. Rich is at 50% and already comparing Andrew Givler to Sanderson. Ryan's finished, loaded with theories, and currently on trial for sending cover art that — and we quote — "you can infer things from." It's been a week. Book 2 of Ironbound dropped today and the boys recorded this the moment they could: no notes, no outline, vibes only, and court-ordered spoiler restrictions for at least one of them. The magic system from Book 1? Kiddie pool. Cold Wind expands drastically on those fundamentals and the main character is giving full Darrow vibes. No scores yet — Rich hasn't even finished — but Ryan is already throwing out some BIG numbers. Full SpoilerTake drops Sunday. Read the book first. 📖 Episode Type: FastTake (Riff Session) Book: Cold Wind by Andrew Givler Series: Ironbound, Book 2 [00:00] — Cold open: Ryan on trial for spoiler tendencies[02:07] — Intro + episode framing (day-of-release riff session, no spoilers)[02:53] — Who should read this book[09:09] — Magic system expansion + main character catching Darrow vibes[13:05] — How firm is the magic system?[18:36] — Hype, theories, and excitement for the full SpoilerTake[19:29] — Wrap-upTikTok: @hottakebks Instagram: @hottakebooks

    20 min

  2. MAY 10

    Ironbound: Oaths, Iron, & Vengeance

    Rich and Ryan are back with a book that might just scratch that Red Rising itch — Andrew Givler's Ironbound. Set in a Roman-inspired world where mythical metals bind warriors to elemental symbols, this progression fantasy follows Castor, a young man whose world gets ripped apart before he ever gets a chance to fight for it. The guys break down why this book is really three stories in one — a coming-of-age tale, a training montage, and a full-blown war story— and whether that structure works in its favor or costs it in the end. Expect a deep dive on the hard vs. soft magic system debate, character development that is top tier, and a disagreement about whether the ending sticks the landing. Plus: three 1-star reviews that range from head-scratching to genuinely unhinged, a bold sequel announcement, and the ring light saga that delayed the episode by five minutes. HTB Score: 8.3 — BUY 🛒 Spoiler-free for the first 15 minutes. Spoilers begin after the warning.

    1h 11m

  3. APR 27

    Hot Take Movies: Project Hail Mary

    Spoiler wall's up — you've been warned. Hot Take Movies is officially a thing, and the boys are kicking it off with their Book of 2025 now on the big screen. Rich gives Ryan Gosling high marks for the Stratt scene but draws a line between playing Rylan Grace and playing Ryan Gosling-as-Rylan-Grace. Ryan counters by handing out a 10 for cinematography and refusing to apologize for it. They get into what the movie nailed — Rocky's ship, Carl (not in the book, very much a win), the Grace-Rocky dynamic — and what got shortchanged: the slow-burn amnesia opening that makes the book impossible to put down, reduced to the first 60 seconds. Two one-star reviewers also make an appearance and suggest that science fiction should obey the actual laws of science. Rich 8.6 / Ryan 9.0 / Overall 8.8 out of 10. The verdict: go see the movie. Go read the book. Both. This weekend. Episode Type: Hot Take Movies (Riff Series — bonus episode) Movie: Project Hail Mary (2026) Based on: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Written by: Drew Goddard and Andy Weir Starring: Ryan Gosling, James Ortiz (Rocky) IMDb: 8.4 / Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Score: Rich 8.6 / Ryan 9.0 / Overall 8.8 out of 10 [00:24] — Intro: Hot Take Movies debut, Riff Series launch[00:53] — Why this episode is free (hint: they're all free)[01:38] — Project Hail Mary as Book of 2025, Hotties ceremony recap[02:10] — Rich's case for teaching PHM in schools[04:05] — Spoiler warning + movie meta stats[06:40] — Book vs. movie: what each format does better[07:18] — Rocky/Grace relationship on screen[08:01] — Visualizing Rocky's ship: where the movie wins[10:49] — What the book does better: Rylan Grace's internal monologue[11:31] — Carl: the character invented for the movie (and why it works)[12:41] — The amnesia opening: book vs. movie[15:51] — Ryan Gosling vs. Rylan Grace: too pretty for the role?[16:51] — The Stratt scene: Gosling nails it[19:35] — Ratings: Cinematography, Acting, Writing[24:27] — Final scores: Rich 8.6 / Ryan 9.0 / Overall 8.8[24:49] — One-star reviews[28:24] — Closing: read the book, see the movie, Ray Porter cameo wishTikTok: @hottakebks Instagram: @hottakebooks

    30 min

  4. APR 12

    Throne of Glass: Is she even an assassin?

    Celaena Sardothien is supposed to be the most feared assassin in the world. So why does it feel like the tournament, the romance, and the royal drama are all happening around her while she watches from the sidelines? Rich and Ryan dive into Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass — the BookTok darling that gets compared to everything from Red Rising to Fourth Wing. Spoiler: it's neither of those things. And honestly? That's okay. Mostly. They break down the worldbuilding (a glass castle with no explanation for the glass), the characters (Team Chaol vs. Team Dorian), and a story that works better as a palette cleanser than a fantasy epic. Plus: a one-star review from someone who skipped 150 pages and still has opinions. The verdict? A 5.0 — BORROW. Try it before you buy the full seven-book series. Spoiler-free section: first ~15 minutesFull spoilers: everything after the warning HotTakeBooks drops every two weeks. Follow on Spotify so you never miss a hot take.

    55 min

  5. MAR 29

    Warbreaker: Great Book, Wrong Universe

    Spoilers hit around 15 minutes in — the boys keep it clean up front if you haven't read it yet. (The rest of this description has spoilers — come back once you've read it.) Rich makes the case for Lightsong the Bold. Ryan files a formal complaint about Vasher's page count. And somewhere in there, Rich drops his hottest take of the season — this book had no business being in the Cosmere at all. The boys break down the breath system, the role reversal Brandon apparently planned all along, and a Sanderlanche that arrived late and left early. Plus: one-star Goodreads reviews, stone golems that never fought anyone, and the Brandon Sanderson interview that still hasn't happened. Worldbuilding/Lore: 4 / 5Story: 6 / 7Overall: 6.5/10Verdict: Borrow Show Notes Episode Type: SpoilerTakeBook: Warbreaker by Brandon SandersonSeries: Cosmere (standalone)Score: Worldbuilding/Lore 4 / 5 | Story 6 / 7 | Overall 6.5 out of 10 (Rich 6.3 / Ryan 6.7)Verdict: Borrow [00:24] — Cold open: Rich is sick, voice is "sultry," nobody is safe[00:48] — Intro + episode framing: Warbreaker, Cosmere Corner at the end[04:28] — Spoiler-free vibe check begins: high-level thoughts, who this book is for[10:05] — Burn/Borrow/Buy + overall score reveal[11:21] — Nightblood sequel news + Brandon Sanderson as small business owner[16:28] — 🚨 Spoiler warning — deep dive begins[16:47] — Worldbuilding/Lore: breath system vs. Allomancy and Surgebinding[23:34] — Vasher: the only one actually using the magic system[28:43] — Characters: Lightsong the Bold — accidentally amazing[32:06] — Lightsong's sacrifice + the Llarimar reveal[38:08] — Vivenna vs. Siri: role reversal, purpose, and the religious hypocrisy arc[44:06] — Story: the slow first half, the rushed ending, the stone golems that never fought[51:53] — The Sanderlanche that wasn't[52:44] — One-star Goodreads reviews (Rich is not pleased)[58:07] — Rich's hot take: this should have been a non-Cosmere book[59:13] — 🚨 Cosmere Corner warning (spoilers for Stormlight + Mistborn Era 1)[1:00:00] — Cosmere Corner: Nightblood's missing backstory, Vasher/Azure disappointment, metals as nullifier theory, shards and vesselsTikTok: @hottakebks Instagram: @hottakebooks

    1h 14m
  6. Hero of Ages: Mistborn Era One's Victory Lap

    MAR 15

    Hero of Ages: Mistborn Era One's Victory Lap

    Rich and Ryan close out Mistborn Era 1 with Hero of Ages — and their verdict lands somewhere between a standing ovation and a deeply loving complaint. Ryan went in riding the high of a book he couldn't put down, while Rich arrives with the hottest take of the series: Well of Ascension is the better book, and Hero of Ages is history's most well-executed victory lap.They break down the magic of hemallurgy and how Brandon finally cashes in three books' worth of worldbuilding chips, from the Lord Ruler's terraforming mistakes to threads from book one finally paying off. Rich makes an impassioned case that Vin is the best-written character in the Cosmere — and that she got done dirty by the ending. They debate Sazed's arc and what Spook's blindfolded badassery says about how Tin users have been underrated all along.The 1-star review this week comes from a reader deeply offended by the book's religious themes — and Rich and Ryan have some thoughts about who really needs to talk to someone. Then it's into the Cosmere Corner, where the boys talk through common themes they've noticed in their Cosmere readings, and some direct crossovers from The Stormlight Archives.

    1h 11m

  7. MAR 1

    Well of Ascension: Vin Be Built Different

    Full spoilers ahead — if you haven't read Well of Ascension, Ryan will personally escort you to the nearest bookstore. The boys cover everything: Zane and Vin burning through 300 guards at Hastings Manor, the Tensoon reveal, Straff Venture's deeply satisfying exit via Coloss sword, and the Elland problem — a polisci major who got a kingdom and couldn't just hold the election after the siege. Plus the debut of Cosmere Corner, where Ryan calls Preservation and Ruin before Rich admits he's right. The big debate: is Vin just exceptionally skilled, or is she actually built different from every other Mistborn? Rich has his argument. Ryan has his screenshots. They agreed on scores for the first time ever — same number in every single category — and still spent twenty minutes talking each other through it.Score: 8.7 out of 10. Hard Buy.--- Show Notes**Episode Type:** SpoilerTake**Book:** Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson**Series:** Mistborn Era 1, Book 2 — part of the Cosmere**Score:** Worldbuilding/Lore 8 / Characters 9 / Story 9 — Overall 8.7 out of 10**Verdict:** Hard Buy ### Timestamps- [00:24] — Intro: both already fanboying, Rich's beanie (Ryan's idea)- [01:33] — How hard it was not to spoil anything during the FastTake- [02:12] — Book intro + spoiler warning- [02:41] — Score reveal: 8.7 out of 10 — Hard Buy- [03:14] — Spoiler scope: Mistborn only, Cosmere Corner at the end- [03:55] — Vibe check: first impressions on Book 2 vs Book 1- [04:54] — Mistborn fight scenes: why they hit so much harder than Book 1- [06:00] — The Vin debate begins: built different or just very skilled?- [10:23] — Scoring philosophy: why they held it back from a 9- [11:19] — First time ever: same scores in every single category- [12:04] — World building + lore: Kandra, Koloss, and the political landscape- [17:48] — Allomancy expansion: Duralumin deep dive- [19:31] — Rich goes from Duralumin skeptic to convert- [23:30] — Vin controlling the Koloss with emotional allomancy- [24:33] — Lord Ruler's safeguards and what the epigraphs reveal- [26:35] — Elland becoming Mistborn via the mystery bead- [28:46] — Characters section- [29:41] — Vin: did she take too big a step forward in one year?- [34:08] — Elland Venture: the polisci major problem- [40:51] — Zane: Ryan's favorite antagonist and why- [43:02] — Rich was briefly, genuinely Team Zane- [44:33] — Hastings Manor: Vin and Zane rip through 300 guards- [46:29] — Straff Venture: Rich says layered, Ryan says one-note- [49:43] — Story section- [51:44] — "Shifting focus from overthrowing tyranny to governing chaos"- [52:43] — The thieving crew fraying under pressure; who Breeze really is- [54:26] — One-star Goodreads reviews- [59:48] — Wrap-up + Cosmere Corner warning for non-Stormlight readers- [1:00:38] — Cosmere Corner: Preservation and Ruin as shards- [1:01:59] — Ryan's call from page 387; Rich gives partial credit- [1:04:37] — Rich's theory: Preservation + Ruin = Harmony- [1:08:05] — Hero of Ages teaser + outro Links TikTok: @hottakebksInstagram: @hottakebooks

    1h 10m

  8. MAR 1

    FastTake: Well of Ascension

    No cold open. No fluff. Just a straight shot of enthusiasm for a book the boys clearly had to talk themselves down from. Well of Ascension — Book 2 of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Era 1 — picks up after the revolution and immediately asks a harder question: now what? It's Sanderson at his most focused, and the result is a massive leap from Book 1. Rich has a 500-page rule. Books over that threshold better earn every chapter. At 590 pages, Well of Ascension earns them. Ryan, the guy who read Mistborn years ago and felt nothing, is a full convert. The boys were actively fighting themselves from scoring this too high. Score: 8.7 out of 10 — their highest of the year, and Rich says it's miles beyond Mistborn and, yeah, Words of Radiance too.--- Show Notes**Episode Type:** FastTake**Book:** Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson**Series:** Mistborn Era 1, Book 2 — part of the Cosmere**Score:** 8.7 out of 10 ### Timestamps- [00:25] — Intro: no cold open, trying something new- [01:53] — What is a FastTake / episode framing- [02:33] — Should you continue Mistborn? Ryan's conversion story- [04:14] — Rating system explained- [05:38] — Score reveal: 8.7 out of 10 — highest rated book of the year- [07:58] — Sanderson wrote all three Mistborn books before Book 1 released- [ 08:35] — Page count, pacing, and the Stormlight comparison- [11:35] — "Winning the revolution was the easy part"- [12:06] — Book 1 criticism / the Lord Ruler problem- [14:31] — How Book 2 enriches Book 1- [15:09] — World building explosion: factions, creatures, magic system- [17:52] — Villains: why they work so much better here- [19:06] — Straff Venture breakdown- [20:52] — The 500-page rule- [21:49] — Rich's favorite Sanderson Part 3- [22:36] — Most underrated Sanderson sequel- [23:20] — Wrap-up + where to follow Links TikTok: @hottakebksInstagram: @hottakebooks

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

🔥 We read Hot Books and give you Hotter Takes. 🔥 Welcome to the show where two friends—Rich and Ryan—dive into the best (and occasionally worst) of sci-fi and fantasy, one book at a time. Every title gets two episodes: a spoiler-free FastTake for the curious and a spoiler-filled deep dive for the chaos lovers. We skip the plot overviews and go straight for the good stuff: World Building & Lore, Characters, and Story—served with unfiltered opinions, spicy takes, and way too much banter. If you like book talk, laughs, passion, and the occasional nerdy meltdown, you're in the right place

Information

  • Creator
    Hot Take Books by Rich and Ryan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hot Take Books by Rich and Ryan
  • Show Website
    Hot Take Books

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