Romantasy Roundtable: Fantasy Romance Reviews

Amanda, Kim, and Rick
  • 4.2 (9)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Romantasy Roundtable: A Tale of Rick and Roses! Join us for an engaging book club and read-along experience as we explore the enchanting world of romantasy, diving into captivating stories and unforgettable moments together! Hosted by Rick and his "roses," this podcast-style channel explores the most spellbinding books in the romantic fantasy genre. What You'll Find Here: Read-alongs of popular romantasy books. Thoughtful analysis of characters, plot twists, and those unforgettable spicy moments. A warm and inclusive space for book lovers to share their thoughts and join the conversation. Always lighthearted, fun, and a bit unhinged Join the Court! Become part of our growing community of romantasy enthusiasts. Share your favorite books, theories, and moments with fellow "rosebuds." New Episodes Grab a book and settle in for an adventure filled with magic and love. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode!

  1. 5D AGO

    Direbound: Chapters 38-End

    Episode Title: Direbound – Chapters 38–End (The "Bone Saw and One Bed" Edition) Description: The Romantasy Roundtable is back from the past (and recovering from BookCon!) to officially wrap up Direbound by Sable Sorenson. Amanda, Kim, and Rick are screaming over this massive, plot-twisting finale. We unpack Meryn and Stark's agonizingly hot one bed inn stay, the bloody truth hidden beneath the castle, and the ultimate, gaslighting heel-turn of Prince Killian (who has officially earned the title of Worst Man, Derogatory). From feral interrogations with a bone saw to the jaw-dropping revelation of the true Stormfrost Queen, this debut novel absolutely delivered. Expect deep dives into Annasa and Kratos's soul-deep mate bond, a celebration of Vena the Kryptos killer, and a very serious discussion on our final can-of-soup ratings. Key Topics Discussed: * The Inn and The Bone Saw: Stark resets Meryn's broken nose, they share a microscopic mattress, and Meryn goes full psycho on a Siphon guard before Stark licks her battle wounds clean. Peak Shadow Daddy tension achieved. * Killian's Master Betrayal: The golden retriever prince completely drops the act. He proposes with a magic-stealing bracelet, manipulates Meryn into decapitating King Cyrill with the Dire Blade, and reveals he is a vessel for the ancient Siphon King, Alister Brightbane.  * The True Queen of Nocturna: Stark visits the dungeons to slip Meryn the ancient crown, unlocking her royal heritage and exposing a 500-year-old blood curse. Plus, the glorious reveal that Annasa and Kratos are mates, cementing Meryn and Stark's undeniable connection! * That Nightmare Cliffhanger: Killian teleports away, Meryn accepts her crown, and sweet little sister Saela is revealed to be a bloodthirsty, throat-ripping Siphon. We are unwell. Join us for royal decapitations, BookCon cosplay recaps, and our final star ratings! Next up, we are jumping straight into the highly anticipated sequel, Furybound. Grab your direwolf, hit subscribe, and let us know in the comments if you saw that Killian twist coming!

    1h 2m

  2. APR 27

    Direbound: Chapters 19-37

    Episode Title: Direbound – Chapters 19–37 (The "Panty-Melting Ghost Dogs" Edition) Description: The Romantasy Roundtable is officially time-traveling this week (recording in the past, speaking from the future) to break down chapters 19 through 37 of Direbound by Sable Sorenson! Amanda, Kim, and Rick are unpacking a massive lore dump, brutal combat training, and some serious telepathic stonewalling between Meryn and her ancient silver wolf, Annasa. We discuss Prince Killian's descent from golden retriever messenger to possessive royal, Meryn's terrifying blood-soaked visions, and the jaw-dropping plot twist that forces Meryn into a leadership role she is completely unqualified for. Expect a debate on whether Stark Theion is the ultimate Shadow Daddy, a deep dive into the changing power dynamics of royal soup, and a very derailed conversation about Wrestlemania, heel turns, and sign-language Scooby-Doo ghost dogs. Key Topics Discussed: The Royal Heel Turn: We analyze Killian's increasingly possessive behavior. From tender soapy tub soup to publicly claiming Meryn at the forging ball with maximum stamina, his nice-guy mask is slipping, and Rick is absolutely here for the drama. Annasa's Master Plan: Anasa finally drops her mental ice wall, only to hit Meryn with maximum sass and the reveal that she already knows exactly who her mate is. Plus, the Sovereign Alpha arrives to drop the bombshell that Annasa has been chosen to lead, making Meryn the new Strategos Alpha! Purge Trials and Neck Licks: The group survives the brutal, wolf-led culling where the arrogant Pel meets a gruesome end. More importantly, Stark gives Meryn her third kill-mark tattoo to honor the slain nabber and delivers another panty-melting lick to heal it. Mother's Madness or Prophecy?: Meryn's mom might not be delusional after all. We connect the dots between the blood-soaked nightmare arenas, the ancient direwolf crowns, and the mysteriously warm opal necklace she gifts Marin. Join us for secret wardrobe passages, magical birth control tonics, and zero patience for King Cyrill. Next time, we'll be officially wrapping up Direbound! Grab your mountain sage, hit subscribe, and let us know in the comments if you think ghost dogs are real!

    1h 4m

  3. APR 20

    Direbound: Chapters 1-18

    Episode Title: Direbound – Chapters 1–18 (The "Cybertruck-Sized Wolf" Edition!) Description: The Romantasy Roundtable is trading glass castles for wolf dens as we dive into Direbound by Sable Sorensen! Amanda reveals her 22-year-old connection to the author, while Rick immediately declares this "Fourth Wing with Wolves" (and honestly, he’s not mad about it). We break down the first 18 chapters, following the scrappy "alleycat" Meryn Cooper from the fighting pits of the southern quarter to the luxurious (and suspicious) bonded city. Between the brutal mountain climbs, ancient wolves with attitude problems, and a "too-good-to-be-true" boyfriend who pulled a major royal heel turn, we are locked in. Expect a deep dive into "hair color overachievers," the absolute audacity of Prince Ki-LEE-an, and the HR-nightmare that is Stark Theion’s "healing" tongue. Key Topics Discussed: * The Lee/Killian Betrayal: We unpack the shocker that Meryn's messenger boyfriend is actually Crown Prince Killian. Is he the "Gale" of Stormfrost? Does having an apartment in the city count as "royal autonomy" or just a massive red flag? * Anassa the Furry B****: Meryn bonds with the most antisocial silver wolf in history. We discuss the "stubborn girlfriend" approach to bonding and why Anassa decided to stalk Meryn like a silvery ghost instead of giving her a ride down the mountain. * The Neck Lick of Destiny: Meryn commits her first training-room murder (it involves a severed hand. It was gruesome and we loved it), and Stark "heals" her new neck tattoo with a primal lick. Primal instinct or just peak Shadow Daddy behavior? * Cybertruck-Sized Pups: Rick attempts to visualize direwolf logistics. If a pup is the size of a horse, how big is the adult? Rick’s best guess is the size of a Cybertruck, and we are sticking with it.  * The Presentation Massacre: The King of Nocturna appraises recruits like cuts of meat, and things go from "pretty purple dresses" to "drawing and quartering" real fast. RIP to the weakest link and his wolf. Join us for ice climbing, silver hair reveals, and royal lies. Chapters 19–37 are next, so stop when you see 38, or your bond might just fracture!

    1h 3m

  4. APR 13

    Queen of Shadows: Chapters 53-End

    Episode Title: Queen of Shadows – Chapters 53–End (The "I'll Bleed Whatever Color You Tell Me To" Edition) Description: The Romanty Roundtable is officially at capacity! Amanda, Kim, and Rick are closing out Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas, and the final chunk of this book is an absolute rollercoaster of Shadow Fire, shattered glass, and Ghost Leopard tummy aches. We unpack Aelin Galathinius and Rowan Whitethorn’s high-stakes rescue mission, Kaltain Rompier pulling off the ultimate girl-boss move by devouring her demon from the inside out, and the shocking revelation about the King of Adarlan's true puppet master, Erowan. Expect a heated debate on whether Aelin and the Boys sounds like a Saturday morning cartoon, a breakdown of why Sarah J. Maas is so obsessed with metallic eye colors, and a very serious investigation into whether Amanda's dog, Socket, is actually made of cake. Key Topics Discussed: Dorian and Manon’s Dark Flirting: We dissect the moment a possessed Dorian Havilliard fights through his demon to drop the legendary line, "I'll bleed whatever color you tell me to," to Manon Blackbeak. Rick has officially found his OTP.Kaltain’s Masterclass in Revenge: The award for the greatest character arc goes to Kaltain Rompier. We are screaming over her secretly eating her Valg demon, giving her Wyrdkey to Elide Lochan, and unleashing Shadow Fire to burn the Morath catacombs to the ground. Remind them to punish them all!The Glass Castle Showdown: Aelin drops in like a superhero, magic is finally freed at the summer solstice, and we get the wildest trauma-dump from the King of Adarlan (Turns out, Duke Perrington was the big bad Erowan all along?!). Plus, we mourn the tragic loss of Chaol Westfall's spine and his subsequent trip to the southern continent.Pine, Snow, and Pining: Rowan and Aelin finally share a "just once" kiss that resets the universe, but we are absolutely devastated that they aren't having any soup on the grueling three-week ride to Terrasen. At least Lysandra is thriving with her magical jewelry and taking out her enemies as a literal Ghost Leopard.Join us for shattering castles, missing state capitals, and zero patience for the Duke. Next week, we're taking a quick romantasy detour into Direbound by Sable Sylvan (Chapters 1–18). Grab your swords, hit subscribe, and let us know in the comments if you're going to BookCon—we've got stickers to hand out!

    1h 16m

  5. APR 6

    Queen of Shadows: Chapters 28-52

    Episode Title: Queen of Shadows – Chapters 28–52 (The Blood Oath, the Brawls, and Aelin's Velvet Gown) Description: The Romantasy Roundtable is back, and Amanda is finally awake enough to process the chaos of Queen of Shadows chapters 28–52. Aelin and Rowan are officially reunited, which means the silent, telepathic flirting has reached critical mass, much to the annoyance of everyone else. Aedion throws a truly spectacular temper tantrum over Rowan’s blood oath, but quickly pivots to plotting how he’s going to personally execute Arobynn Hamel. Speaking of the King of Assassins, Arobynn tries to play 4D chess with Aelin by slipping a fake Wyrdstone ring on her finger, only to get absolutely outplayed and ultimately meet his end thanks to our new favorite shapeshifter, Lysandra. Meanwhile, Manon Blackbeak continues to aggressively not have a heart while secretly bonding with Elide Lochan and watching her cousin Asterin openly rebel against the horrific Duke Perrington. We’re talking underground fight clubs, midnight bank heists, and the return of the Valg. Grab your popcorn (and maybe a little almond-scented oil)—it’s about to get messy. Key Topics Discussed: The Reunion (Part 2): Rowan is back, and the telepathic conversations are out of control. We break down the tension, the bath scene, and Aedion’s totally normal reaction to finding out he missed out on the blood oath. The Velvet Dragon Gown: Aelin arrives at the Assassin’s Keep looking like the goddess of death, ready to systematically ruin Arobynn’s life and steal back his entire fortune. The Shapeshifter: Lysandra drops the massive bombshell that she’s a fully-fledged shapeshifter, avenges Sam Cortland, and officially joins the inner circle. We are 100% here for her redemption arc. The Duke’s Breeding Program: The horror at Morath escalates as Asterin violently rebels against the Duke's grotesque plans, leaving Manon to finally start questioning her grandmother's authority. The Return of Celaena Sardothien: Aelin steps back into her old persona for one last, glorious performance to claim the Assassin's Guild and completely humiliate Clarisse. The Secret of Morath: Aelin decodes the ancient temple confessions and realizes the Valg King Erawan isn't dead—he's just sleeping under the mountains. Closing/Call-to-Action: Are you Team Rowan or Team Aedion in the blood oath drama? Drop a comment below and let us know if you saw Lysandra's shapeshifting twist coming! Next up, we’re finishing Queen of Shadows (Chapters 53–End). Bring your Wyrdmarks and maybe some tissues—it’s the final countdown!

    1h 11m

  6. MAR 31

    Queen of Shadows: 1-27

    Episode Title: Queen of Shadows – Chapters 1–27 (The Rescue, the Reunion, and the Ruins of Aelin's Patience) Description: The Romantasy Roundtable is back, and Amanda is reporting live through the fog of a 17-hour flight and a 10-day trip to South Africa with 27 teenagers! The crew is breaking down the chaotic first third of Queen of Shadows, and we’re officially in the "everyone is playing 10D chess" era. We discuss Aelin’s return to Rift Hold, her tense game of cat-and-mouse with the toxic king of assassins, Arobynn Hamel, and her surprisingly bitter reunion with Chaol Westfall. We dissect the breathtaking rescue of Aedion Ashryver during the royal birthday execution, Dorian’s tragic enslavement to a Valg prince, and why the arts are the ultimate form of resistance. Plus, we finally get our first look at Elide Lochan hiding her witch blood in Morath, and Manon Blackbeak continues to terrorize everyone around her. Expect sleepy hot takes, debates on Aelin's red flower strategy, and another "soup" prediction that misses the mark. Key Topics Discussed: The Return of Arobynn: Aelin strikes a devil’s bargain with her toxic ex-master to save Aedion, uncovering the horrifying truth behind Sam Cortland's torture. The Reunion: Aelin and Chaol finally cross paths in the sewers, but it’s far from a romantic reunion. Blame, bitterness, and the tragedy of Dorian shatter any lingering feelings. The Royal Rescue: We break down the intricate, Ocean’s 11-style extraction of Aedion during the royal birthday celebration, complete with smoke bombs, Madame Florine's dancers, and a tragic encounter with a collared Dorian. The Witches of Morath: Manon Blackbeak and the 13 arrive at the Duke's stronghold, discovering a horrifying breeding program and a quiet servant named Elide Lochan. Art as Resistance: The crew discusses the profound impact of the silent protest at the Royal Theater and how it mirrors real-world historical resistance movements. The Shadows of the Sewers: Aelin hunts a terrifying obsidian Wyrdhound, leading to an alleyway encounter and the long-awaited return of Rowan Whitethorn. Closing/Call-to-Action: Are you Team Aelin or Team Chaol after that brutal sewer reunion? Let us know in the comments if you saw the Aedion rescue coming! Next up, we’re reading Queen of Shadows chapters 28–52. Make sure you pack your Wyrdmarks and stay out of the alleys—the Valg are everywhere.

    1h 3m

  7. MAR 24

    Heir of Fire: Chapters 45-End

    Episode Title: Heir of Fire – Chapters 45–End (The Rebirth of a Queen and the End of Our Hearts) Description: The Romantasy Roundtable has reached the absolute fever dream that is the end of Heir of Fire, and we are collectively unwell. Amanda, Kim, and Rick break down the literal and figurative fire of these final chapters. We’ve got Aelin Ashryver Galathynius finally taking her own hand in the darkness, Rowan Whitethorn pledging an eternal blood oath, and Dorian Havilliard entering his Villain Origin Story after the most traumatic decapitation in Glass Castle history. Between discussions on art as resistance and the crushing weight of atrocities through a Jewish lens, we’re trying to figure out how Sarah J. Maas managed to break every single character we love while giving us the ultimate Empire Strikes Back ending. Key Topics Discussed: The Rebirth of Fireheart: We deep dive into Chapters 53 and 54 where Aelin relives her trauma, Relives the death of Sam Cortland (never forget!), and relives the sacrifice of Lady Marion (the fox of our hearts). Rowan and Aelin’s Bond: "To whatever end" is now a personality trait. We discuss how Rowan sees all of her—the scars, the rage, and the queen—and how the blood oath swap was the ultimate Shadow Daddy move. The Valg Princes vs. The Queen: A magical burnout battle for the ages at Mistward. We break down the Caraman bond and how Aelin literally set the world on fire to protect her court. Manan Blackbeak’s "Heart": Our favorite Iron Teeth witch shows mercy, rescues a Blueblood, and receives a red cloak souvenir that definitely has her questioning her lack of a soul. Abraxos continues to be the best boy in the Fian Gap. Dorian’s Tragedy: The King of Adarlan proving he is the "Big Bad" by murdering Sorscha (RIP to our favorite healer) and snapping a Wordstone collar on his own son. The Great Escape: Chaol Westfall finally picks a side, breaks his oath, and tosses his sword into the Avery River to fully embrace the rebellion. Closing/Call-to-Action: Are you as traumatized as we are by the Dorian cliffhanger? Join us for the emotional fallout and our Queen of Shadows predictions. Chapters 1–25 of the next book are up next—we’re heading back to Rift Hold to finally rattle some stars!

    1h 15m

  8. MAR 16

    Heir of Fire: Chapters 24-44

    Episode Title: Heir of Fire – Chapters 24–44 (The Spider Silk Heist and the Refrigerator’s Reality Check) Description: The Romantasy Roundtable is officially viral! While Rick celebrates 68k views on TikTok, Amanda and Kim are busy processing the absolute emotional wreckage of Heir of Fire chapters 24–44. We’re headed back to the Glass Castle to watch Dorian overhear some life-altering secrets in Elena's Tomb (hello, villain origin story?), while Chaol and Aedion play a dangerous game of "who can hide the most Wyrdkey intel." Over in Wendlyn, Rowan and Selena transition from "I hate your face" to "let’s bond over our mutual soul-crushing trauma." We’ve got lake monsters that look suspiciously like Fantasia’s Chernabog, fire shields, and the moment Rowan finally sees the Endovier scars. Plus, Manan Blackbeak proves she’s the ultimate toxic girl boss by tricking Stygian Spiders and turning Abraxos into a spider-silk winged legend. It’s a wild ride filled with Acatar release news, Jewish resistance parallels, and a 90-second speed-run of Rick's latest obsession: Gay Hockey. Key Topics Discussed: The Healer and the Prince: Dorian and Sorscha are officially sharing a bed, but the real highlight is Dorian calling out Chaol for "conditionally loving" Selena. It was the reality check the refrigerator desperately needed. Manan’s Toxic Boss Energy: From the Rune Mountains to the Stygian Spiders, Manan refuses to pay the price for spider silk and instead chooses violence and wyvern solidarity. The Crossing: The most breathtaking moment of the series so far—Abraxos takes the plunge, fueled by the 13 and their iron-clad loyalty. Fire Heart & Ice Daggers: Rowan moves Selena into his room (for training purposes, obviously) and we finally see the "unbreakable bond" forge after the Beltain magical burnout. The Triangular Spell: Chaol and Aedion connect the dots between the Obsidian Towers, the Blackstone, and the headaches that are plaguing the continent. Pasta Meets Latke: We pitch our very own Italian-Jewish rom-com and discuss why Sarah J. Maas’s background makes the resistance in this book feel so historically accurate. Join us for telepathic stares, ancient lake monsters, and more pining than a Wendlyn forest. We’re finishing the book next—don't let the Valg catch you before the finale!

    1h 19m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to Romantasy Roundtable: A Tale of Rick and Roses! Join us for an engaging book club and read-along experience as we explore the enchanting world of romantasy, diving into captivating stories and unforgettable moments together! Hosted by Rick and his "roses," this podcast-style channel explores the most spellbinding books in the romantic fantasy genre. What You'll Find Here: Read-alongs of popular romantasy books. Thoughtful analysis of characters, plot twists, and those unforgettable spicy moments. A warm and inclusive space for book lovers to share their thoughts and join the conversation. Always lighthearted, fun, and a bit unhinged Join the Court! Become part of our growing community of romantasy enthusiasts. Share your favorite books, theories, and moments with fellow "rosebuds." New Episodes Grab a book and settle in for an adventure filled with magic and love. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode!

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