Reading After Bedtime: Romantasy, Fantasy, and Romance Book Reviews

Becca and Allyson
  • 5.0 (5)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Reading After Bedtime Podcast! We're two friends who met in college and now, as busy moms, we do our best to carve out time for our favorite escape—reading. This podcast is our space to dive into the books we love, the authors who inspire us, and the tropes that keep us turning pages late into the night. No plot twist is too wild and no trigger warning is off-limits. Whether we’re deep in our comfort zone or venturing far outside it, this is a judgment-free zone for every kind of reader. We hope you join us for our honest, entertaining, and thoughtful conversations.

  1. 6D AGO

    Rachel Lewis [Author Interview] | The Bardot Siblings Series | Indie Author | Get Lit Grown Up Bookfair Founder

    Allyson and Becca introduce the Reading After Bedtime Podcast, announce a ticketed ACOTAR 6 release party with Biblibar Books and Gifts in Plano, Texas, and welcome contemporary romance author Rachel M. Lewis. Rachel discusses her background as a former educator, how co-hosting Welcome to the Smut Show Podcast and encouragement from friends pushed her to write her debut, and shares advice like “you can’t edit a blank page” and taking time with a debut. She explains the origin of the fictional town name Sassafras, her pantser writing style and the “messy middle,” and balancing motherhood with writing, including using NaNoWriMo and later quitting teaching in May 2024. Rachel talks about her Bardot Siblings interconnected standalone series, previews Foolishly, Yours (rivals-to-lovers marriage pact with sabotage) and a later runaway bride second-chance book for Gabe, describes launching Get Lit Grownup Book Fairs, and highlights intentional representation, including sobriety in Yours, Unexpectedly. _____________________________________________________________ 🎉LET'S PARTY!🎉Let's celebrate the release of ACOTAR 6 together! Reading After Bedtime has teamed up with Bibliobar in Plano, Texas to bring you an unforgettable evening counting down to the release of ACOTAR 6! The ACOTAR 6 release party is TICKETED, so make sure to grab yours before they sell out! Your ticket includes:- 📚 Gift bag + your copy of ACOTAR 6 - 🎤 Trivia & costume contest🎙️ - 🔮 Conspiracy theories & fandom fun - 🎯 Games, archery & sword fighting - 📸 Photo ops - 🍸 Snacks & drinks (cash bar available) - ✨ Flash tattoos* - 🛍️ Shopping & more! ⁠⁠Buy your ticket here!⁠ _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime Podcast Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime ⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Reading After bedtime ⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rachel Lewis Instagram: Rachel Lewis TikTok: Rachel Lewis Facebook: Rachel Lewis Website:⁠ Get Lit Grown-Up Book Fair: _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast⁠⁠ (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ 🎶 Intro music by the talented Sean Lavrisa! ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Spotify⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ #rachellewis #thebardotsiblingsseries #booktok #authorinterview #supportindieauthors #authortalk #getlitbookfair 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:41 ACOTAR 6 Party Details01:34 Meet Rachel Lewis03:00 Hair Color Confessions05:27 Follow and Spoiler Warning06:43 Why She Started Writing10:00 Best Writing Advice15:29 Creating Sassafras Town18:42 Writing the Messy Middle24:09 Mom Life and Writing Balance30:30 Dream Cast and Reader Self Insert36:41 What She's Reading Now43:37 Memoir Vs Biography44:31 Sibling Series Origins48:39 Foolishly Yours Preview56:10 Gabe Finale Tease01:00:14 Celebrating Releases01:02:44 Get Lit Book Fair01:09:48 Favorite Brother Pick01:11:52 Granny Hobbies Chat01:20:19 Sobriety Representation01:28:30 Wrap Up And Thanks

    1h 29m

  2. APR 20

    Aimee Vance [Author Interview] | Mayhem Hockey Club Book 1 | Indie Author

    Allyson and Becca introduce the Reading After Bedtime Podcast and welcome romance author Aimee Vance, discussing her background, writing journey, and books, with possible spoilers for the Moms of Mayhem series. Aimee shares how her public relations and journalism-adjacent career, motherhood during COVID, and editing for an indie author led her to write her first novel, Faith Illuminated, a time-travel fantasy with Norse mythology and dragons, and how co-author B. Perkins helped encourage her to publish and later collaborate on multiple books. She talks about author friendships, the challenges of writing spice scenes and chapter ones, favorite tropes like grumpy/sunshine and fake dating, and her love for Throne of Glass. Aimee also covers how she celebrates finishing a book, her writing snacks, current read Dungeon Crawler Carl, and promotes Made for Mayhem releasing March 27, 2026, plus newsletter-exclusive summer news. _____________________________________________________________ 🎉LET'S PARTY!🎉Let's celebrate the release of ACOTAR 6 together! Reading After Bedtime has teamed up with Bibliobar in Plano, Texas to bring you an unforgettable evening counting down to the release of ACOTAR 6! The ACOTAR 6 release party is TICKETED, so make sure to grab yours before they sell out! Your ticket includes:- 📚 Gift bag + your copy of ACOTAR 6 - 🎤 Trivia & costume contest🎙️ - 🔮 Conspiracy theories & fandom fun - 🎯 Games, archery & sword fighting - 📸 Photo ops - 🍸 Snacks & drinks (cash bar available) - ✨ Flash tattoos* - 🛍️ Shopping & more! ⁠⁠Buy your ticket here!⁠ _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime Podcast Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime ⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Reading After bedtime ⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aimee Vance Instagram: Aimee Vance TikTok: Aimee Vance Facebook: Aimee Vance Website: _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast⁠⁠ (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ 🎶 Intro music by the talented Sean Lavrisa! ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Spotify⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ _____________________________________________________________ 00:00 Podcast Welcome00:42 Meet Aimee Vance01:52 Socials and Spoilers02:50 Why She Started Writing07:57 From Draft to Publishing11:24 Author Besties Network16:25 Hardest Scenes to Write18:39 Favorite Tropes to Write20:35 Favorite Reads and Fandom23:55 How She Celebrates Finishing26:01 Writing Snacks and Food Easter Eggs27:46 Granny Hobbies Trend27:56 Hobbies and Reading Life29:11 Crafting and Book Bedazzling30:01 Favorite Book Boyfriends31:42 Ty and Made for Mayhem33:54 Series Plans and Titles37:40 Writing Single Mom Romance41:42 Dating Today and Doorbell Cameras44:45 Current Read Dungeon Crawler Carl49:15 Final Plugs and Where to Follow #aimeevance #mayhemhockeyclubseries #booktok #authorinterview #supportindieauthors #authortalk

    52 min

  3. APR 15 ·  BONUS

    Maas-Termind Files | Prythian Mountains + Vaughan | SJM Lore, Predictions, and Conspiracy Theories | BONUS Episode

    🚨This bonus episode contains spoilers for ALL of the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) Series, AS WELL AS Throne of Glass and Crescent City by Sarah J Maas. If you aren't completely caught up with the Maas-verse, please press pause, and return once you are.🚨 _____________________________________________________________ In this Maas-termind Files episode of Reading After Bedtime, hosts Allyson and Becca (with a full-spoiler warning for ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City) dig into Sarah J. Maas lore and conspiracy theories centered on Prythian’s “Sister Peaks”: Under the Mountain, the Prison, and Ramiel. They discuss textual clues suggesting the mountains may be ancient, carved by “ancient hands,” and possibly sentient, connecting details from Eris, Cassian, and Crescent City 3 about the Prison’s buried “heart,” the Dusk Court, mist imagery, and the Ramiel stone that transports Gwyn and Emerie. They also theorize about Throne of Glass’s missing character Vaughan—whether he’s trapped in the Prison, beneath Ramiel, or altered like Amren to escape confinement—and speculate about portals, wyrdkeys, and future crossovers. _____________________________________________________________ 🎉LET'S PARTY!🎉Let's celebrate the release of ACOTAR 6 together! Reading After Bedtime has teamed up with Bibliobar in Plano, Texas to bring you an unforgettable evening counting down to the release of ACOTAR 6! The ACOTAR 6 release party is TICKETED, so make sure to grab yours before they sell out! Your ticket includes:- 📚 Gift bag + your copy of ACOTAR 6 - 🎤 Trivia & costume contest🎙️ - 🔮 Conspiracy theories & fandom fun - 🎯 Games, archery & sword fighting - 📸 Photo ops - 🍸 Snacks & drinks (cash bar available) - ✨ Flash tattoos* - 🛍️ Shopping & more! Buy your ticket here! _____________________________________________________________00:00 Maasverse Mysteries 01:07 Meet the Hosts 01:24 New Intro Chaos 02:05 Maas-Termind Setup 03:52 Spoiler Warning 04:39 Mountains Lore Begins 05:12 Sister Peaks Theory 06:58 Under the Mountain 08:46 The Prison Island 13:07 Ramiel And Frost 13:37 Ramiel Sacred Mountain 14:13 Mountains Feel Alive 15:17 Hearts and Sentience 16:50 Blood Rite Stone Teleport 18:03 Doors and Koschei Links 20:24 Official Vaughan Theory 25:35 Mist Thin Spaces 27:05 Wrap Up and Farewell _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime Podcast Youtube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime ⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Reading After bedtime ⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ #acotar6 #acourtofthornsandroses #maas-termindfiles #maasverse #bookrecommendation

    28 min

  4. APR 13

    Thea Claire [Author Interview] | Recovering Good Girls Series | Indie Author

    Allyson and Becca introduce the Reading After Bedtime podcast and host author Thea Claire for a Q&A centered on her Recovering Good Girl series. Thea shares her background as a North Texas storyteller, mental health advocate, neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ author, and explains how sobriety in 2022 and narrative therapy shaped her writing and focus on authentic, trauma-informed characters. They discuss creating “green flag” male leads, balancing spice with plot and character development, and why filler/transition scenes are hardest for her to write. Thea explains character-name origins (including influences like Degrassi, Jane Austen, and Irish culture), research and sensitivity reading for deaf/ASL representation, and themes like alcoholism, widowhood, disability, and consent culture. She previews book three (Coda and Frannie) and upcoming projects, and announces the Four Letter Words audiobook release on February 10 with narrators James Cassidy and Rachel D. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:38 Meet Author Thea 02:09 Book Fair Connection 03:12 Writing Advice 05:50 Realistic Romance Leads 08:40 Green Flags Talk 10:55 Hardest Scenes 14:48 Character Names Origins 19:22 Dream Cast Ideas 20:46 Coda and Frannie Update 24:08 Fanfic to Author 25:27 Writing From Trauma 27:48 Sober Life Shifts 28:23 Writing Heavy Topics 29:37 Recent Reads Favorites 31:12 Body Size Representation 32:49 Fashion Club Culture 34:54 Writing Fuel Rituals 36:23 Granny Hobbies Crafts 38:48 Texas State Fair 41:49 Deaf Representation ASL 48:33 Audiobooks Next Projects 50:48 Wrap Up Farewell _____________________________________________________________ 🎉LET'S PARTY!🎉Let's celebrate the release of ACOTAR 6 together! Reading After Bedtime has teamed up with Bibliobar in Plano, Texas to bring you an unforgettable evening counting down to the release of ACOTAR 6! The ACOTAR 6 release party is TICKETED, so make sure to grab yours before they sell out! Your ticket includes:- 📚 Gift bag + your copy of ACOTAR 6 - 🎤 Trivia & costume contest🎙️ - 🔮 Conspiracy theories & fandom fun - 🎯 Games, archery & sword fighting - 📸 Photo ops - 🍸 Snacks & drinks (cash bar available) - ✨ Flash tattoos* - 🛍️ Shopping & more! ⁠Buy your ticket here! _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime Podcast Youtube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime ⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Reading After bedtime ⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ Thea Claire Instagram: Thea Claire TikTok: Thea Claire Facebook: ⁠ Thea Claire Website: _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 ⁠https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast⁠ (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ 🎶 Intro music by the talented Sean Lavrisa! ⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Spotify⁠:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ #theaclaire #recoveringgoodgirlseries #booktok #authorinterview #supportindieauthors #authortalk

    52 min

  5. APR 6

    Noelle Rayne [Author Interview] | An Empress Series | Indie Author

    🚨SPOILERS FOR NOELLE RAYNE'S AN EMPRESS SERIES🚨 Allyson and Becca introduce the Reading After Bedtime podcast and interview indie author Noelle Rayne about her self-published An Empress series, including An Empress of Air and Chaos (with four books out and a fifth pending). Noelle shares how she found support through author friend Melissa Hawk and the Bookstagram community, why she prefers self-publishing for creative control, and which scenes are hardest for her to write (political dialogue and unbiased perspectives). She discusses how she chooses character names (often Celtic-inspired), talks about motherhood and naming her children, and answers fan questions about casting ideas and being Team Torin vs. Gideon. Noelle explains the personal grief behind writing a major character death and previews a new work-in-progress: a dark, Scottish mafia romance series following four brothers and a sister. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:39 Meet Noelle Rayne 01:37 Mom Life Connection 02:30 Socials And Spoilers 03:44 Author Besties 06:10 Why Self Publish 07:57 Writing Growth Journey 10:50 Hardest Scenes To Write 14:17 Naming Characters And Kids 17:25 Dream Cast Talk 22:10 Gideon And Amara Arc 24:34 Love Triangle Surprise 25:06 Comfort Reads and Favorites 26:02 Dark Romance TBR Talk 27:51 Mood Writing Shift 29:04 Scottish Mafia WIP 31:02 Release Plans and ARC Team 31:59 Writing Rituals and Silence 32:48 Granny Hobbies Debate 35:17 Team Gideon or Torin 36:48 Why Callie Had to Go 42:33 Favorite Characters Written 45:24 Kingdom Role and Wrap Up _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠Reading After Bedtime Podcast Youtube:⁠⁠ ⁠Reading After Bedtime ⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠Reading After bedtime ⁠TikTok:⁠⁠ Noelle Rayne Instagram: Noelle Rayne TikTok: Noelle Rayne Facebook: _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ 🎶 Intro music by the talented Sean Lavrisa! ⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Spotify⁠:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Instagram:⁠⁠ #noellerayne #anempressseries #booktok #authorinterview #supportindieauthors #authortalk

    50 min

  6. MAR 30

    Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken [Book Chat] |🚨FULL SPOILERS🚨

    🚨This episode contains FULL SPOILERS for Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken. If you don't want the ENTIRE story spoiled, please return once you've read the story.🚨 _____________________________________________________________ Looking for our full discussion of Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken? Check out our full coverage! Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken [Spoiler Summary] Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken [Book Chat] _____________________________________________________________ Allyson and Becca of the Reading After Bedtime Podcast discuss and rate Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken (published June 3, 2025), a Norse-mythology, academia-based romantic fantasy set at Endir University involving hidden gods in mortal bodies and a mission to steal Mjölnir. Both hosts disliked the execution despite seeing potential, with Becca rating it 2.5 stars and Allyson rating it 2, citing immature, surface-level characters, short disjointed chapters, unanswered questions, and insufficient worldbuilding. They note limited spice (about two “chili peppers”), share the book’s listed content warnings, and compare two different Goodreads blurbs—one about Liv Olson in Norway—which they found more compelling. They break down main and side characters (Aric, Rey, Reeve/Loki, Ziva, Rowan), mention runes/tattoos and favorite quotes, and announce April as Indie Authors Month with an April 6 interview with Noelle Rayne.00:00 Cold Open Banter00:17 Podcast Intro01:02 Book Setup Teaser02:59 Ratings Verdict04:34 Alternate Blurb Mystery08:30 Spice Level Talk10:03 Spoiler Warning11:28 Genre Tropes Warnings13:22 Why It Fell Flat15:48 Series Future Pretty Cover18:25 Pronunciation Guide Rant20:04 Character Breakdown Aric21:10 Aric Backstory Confusion22:43 Runes And Burning Tattoos23:17 Rey The Unworthy Warrior24:25 Aethercall Power Wasted25:43 No Chemistry No Details27:04 Side Characters Steal Show28:49 Too Many Unanswered Questions30:33 Mythology Rings And Retellings33:35 Favorite Quotes Roundup37:15 Editing And Worldbuilding Rant39:59 Indie Authors Month Teaser40:23 Final Sign Off _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ 🎶 Intro music by the talented Sean Lavrisa! ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Spotify⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ #fallengods #norsemythology #romantasy #booktok #bookdiscussion #bookreview

    41 min

  7. MAR 30

    Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken [Spoiler Summary] | 🚨FULL SPOILERS🚨

    🚨This episode contains FULL SPOILERS for Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken. If you don't want the ENTIRE story spoiled, please return once you've read the story.🚨 _____________________________________________________________ Looking for our full discussion of Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken? Check out our full coverage! Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken [Spoiler Summary] Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken [Book Chat] _____________________________________________________________ In this episode, Allyson and Becca share a spoiler summary of 'Fallen Gods' by Rachel Van Dyken, following Rey as Odin sends her to enemy-owned Endir University to awaken Aric Erickson and locate Mjölnir. Rey and Aric, once briefly engaged, are forced into proximity as runes are discovered and activated through their shared blood, awakening Aric’s giant powers and revealing Sigurd’s manipulation and the sacrifice behind Aric’s parents’ deaths. Rey learns Loki has been posing as Aric’s brother Reeve, and the Wild Hunt night culminates in Rey diving for Mjölnir, only to find the Nightfrost Diamond, which transforms Rowan into Thor. Mjölnir is pulled from Aric and ultimately chooses Aric and Rey, leading to a confrontation with Odin and a new plan to open the Bifrost and restore memories and powers.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast01:12 Spoiler and Content Warnings01:53 Mission to Endir University02:50 Mirror Rune Awakening03:24 Ice Caves and Legends04:23 Alliance and Blood Runes05:22 Party Rune and Wild Hunt06:39 Loki Revealed07:59 Sigurd's Truth and Final Rune09:30 Lake Dive for Mjölnir10:54 Thor Returns and Hammer Choice12:00 Aftermath and Next Steps12:39 Wrap Up and What's Next _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ 🎶 Intro music by the talented Sean Lavrisa! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Spotify⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #fallengods #norsemythology #romantasy #booktok #bookdiscussion #bookreview

    13 min

  8. MAR 23

    The Wings That Bind by Briar Boleyn [Book Chat] | Bloodwing Academy Book 3 |🚨FULL SPOILERS🚨

    🚨This episode contains FULL SPOILERS for The Wings That Bind, The Bond That Burns AND On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy) by Briar Boleyn. If you don't want the ENTIRE story spoiled, please return once you've read the story.🚨 _____________________________________________________________ Looking for our full discussion of Bloodwing Academy by Briar Boleyn? Check out our full coverage! ⁠⁠On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn [Book Chat]⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn [Spoiler Summary]⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn [Book Chat]⁠⁠ The Wings That Bind by Briar Boleyn [Spoiler Summary] The Wings That Bind by Briar Boleyn [Book Chat] _____________________________________________________________Allyson and Becca introduce the Reading After Bedtime Podcast and review The Wings That Bind by Briar Boleyn (published March 10, 2026), sharing socials and asking for reviews before reading the back-of-book synopsis about a second awakened dragon, Florence’s mysterious bond, Blake’s betrayal, and Bloodwing Academy’s upheaval under a new headmaster. They rate the book around 4 stars and 3.75 stars, give it a “three” chili-pepper spice rating, and warn for explicit spoilers, trigger warnings, and violence. They discuss the darker tone (likened to Harry Potter’s Umbridge era), common tropes (dragons, vampires, corrupt government, revolution), extensive content warnings, and frustrations with jumbled plot structure and Medra’s limited agency. Key discussion points include Neville’s confusing POV, Florence’s growth and dragon-rider arc, Regan’s Umbridge-like rule and complicated morality, fated-mate hints for Regan/Kage, Blake’s poor choices with Vorago, the school plague, and endgame theories about Nyxaris, Medra “Pendragon,” and the veil. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:40 Podcast Intro Setup 01:49 Back Cover Blurb 03:03 Ratings Spice Scale 05:24 Spoiler Warning 06:23 Genre Tropes Triggers 10:55 Series Structure Talk 11:33 Plot Pacing Critique 18:48 Neville Prologue Mystery 27:07 Florence Arc Yuck Talk 30:17 Florence Questions Doctrine 31:59 Growth Pains Dragon Riding 34:05 Regan Power Shift 36:04 Mandates Thrallweave Horror 38:19 Kage Regan Fated Mates 40:39 Blake Dragon Lore Nitpicks 45:48 Vorago Bargain Plague Chaos 48:42 Revolution Grief Betrayal 51:47 Theories Veil Pendragon 55:48 Cute Moments Sign Off _____________________________________________________________ Let's be friends on socials! ⁠⁠⁠Youtube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ _____________________________________________________________ ⁠⁠⁠🛍️ Shop our Merch!🛍️⁠⁠⁠ Still looking for something? 👀 https://linktr.ee/readingafterbedtimepodcast (Find Goodreads, Book of the Month, a tip jar and so much more here!) _____________________________________________________________ 🎶 Intro music by the talented Sean Lavrisa! ⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Spotify⁠:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠- ⁠Sean Lavrisa Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ #thewingsthatbind #bloodwingacademy #romantasy #booktok #bookdiscussion #bookreview

    57 min
See All (48)

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Reading After Bedtime Podcast! We're two friends who met in college and now, as busy moms, we do our best to carve out time for our favorite escape—reading. This podcast is our space to dive into the books we love, the authors who inspire us, and the tropes that keep us turning pages late into the night. No plot twist is too wild and no trigger warning is off-limits. Whether we’re deep in our comfort zone or venturing far outside it, this is a judgment-free zone for every kind of reader. We hope you join us for our honest, entertaining, and thoughtful conversations.

Information

You Might Also Like