Spread Your Wingspan

Summary Jennie and Sara return to House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the third Crescent City book, for one last recap before A Court of Splintered Harmony arrives. They sort through the lore that matters for Prythian, from the Asteri and the Dread Trove to the questions they hope the next ACOTAR book finally answers. Along the way they dig into Nesta's growth, why the book's exposition wa...

Summary Sara and Jennie sit down with Jennifer Michelle Herrera, author of Siren Says, for an author conversation as warm as it is wide-ranging. Jennifer shares how Pennsylvania slate and the Welsh settlers who quarried it sparked her romantasy, why she filled the story with plants and tactile detail, and what drew her to the myth of Mis and the power of female rage. The three talk Delilah as a "s...

Summary Jennie and Sara give their opinions of Siren Says by Jennifer Michelle Herrera — a lush, Welsh-rooted romantasy about a young woman whose magic has been bound for years, the family secrets waiting for her in Pennsylvania, and the women who shape her path. From a plant-based magic system and a dark fairy tale ending to a softer, more everyday kind of romantasy hero, the hosts dig into femal...

Summary Sara and Jennie give their opinions of Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros — the Fourth Wing companion from the Wings and Claws collection, told through the eyes of the cadets as their dragons choose them. The hosts chapter through every rider and dragon pairing, then dig into dragon lore, the joy of multiple points of view, how Yarros and Sarah J. Maas build their worlds differently, and what...

Summary Jennie and Sara give their opinions of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas — the fifth ACOTAR book, which shifts the spotlight to Nesta and Cassian and the long road of healing that follows the war. Their extra-long recap sets the stage, then the hosts dig into how the book handles trauma, autonomy, found family, and the House of Wind, plus a few rants, a candid look at Cassian's red...

Summary Jennie and Sara give their opinions of A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas — the shorter, slower novella-length entry that catches up with Feyre, Rhysand, and the Inner Circle as they settle into Winter Solstice after everything the war put them through. It's a quieter, slice-of-life kind of book, and the hosts dig into what that shift in pacing does for the series, how the cha...

Summary Jennie and Sara close out the original ACOTAR trilogy with A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas — the book they call the most relentless of the series so far. Feyre goes undercover, plays a dangerous game of deception, and fights her way back to the people who matter most, all while the war she's been dreading finally arrives. From there, the hosts dig into pacing and publishing pres...

Summary Jennie and Sara are back for the full recap and discussion of A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas — book two of the ACOTAR series and, as they put it, the book where everything changes. They follow Feyre out of the Spring Court and into the Night Court's orbit, through new alliances, new powers, and a slow-burn dynamic with Rhysand that reshapes everything she thought she knew. From...

Summary Sara and Jennie kick off their full ACOTAR reread and recap series ahead of books six and seven, starting at the very beginning with A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. They give a full, detailed recap of the book, then dig into themes like secrets and lies, self-actualization, and whether power requires cruelty — plus a rereader's-eye view of how much the first book foreshadows...

Episode 30 - Off Campus & Heated Rivalry - Hockey Romance TV Adaptations Compared Sara and Jennie dig into two hockey romance book-to-TV adaptations — Off Campus (Prime Video) and Heated Rivalry (Crave/HBO Max) — and discuss what makes these adaptations more than "hot guys play hockey." They talk about how Heated Rivalry landed as comfort viewing, why its portrayal of consent between Ilya and...

Episode 29: Mother Tongue by Jenni Nuttall — A Nonfiction Deep Dive into the History of Women's Words Sara and Jennie step away from romantasy for a nonfiction episode on Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words by Jenni Nuttall — a history of the English language traced through words used to describe women's bodies, sexuality, motherhood, work, and aging. They dig into the book's be...

Season 3 Teaser: What's Coming Up — ACOTAR Reread, Author Interview & More Sara and Jennie are back after a long break to give listeners a preview of Season 3. The headline: a full reread and recap of the ACOTAR series ahead of the publication of books six and seven, with some Crescent City and possibly Throne of Glass woven in. They also tease upcoming episodes on nonfiction, a hockey romance...

Summary In this episode of the Spread Your Wingspan podcast, hosts Sara and Jennie dive deep into the latest installment of the Blood and Ash series, 'The Primal of Blood and Bone.' They discuss character arcs, plot developments, and the themes of love, obsession, and the complexities of relationships. The conversation also touches on the reactions from fans, the writing style of the author, and p...

Summary In this episode of the Spread Your Wingspan podcast, hosts Sara and Jennie chat with Canadian author J.M. Frey about her latest book, 'Nine Tenths.' They explore the inspiration behind the story, the themes of grief and colonialism, and the representation of mental health in characters. J.M. shares her writing journey, the significance of her characters, and the importance of research in c...

Summary In this episode, Jennie and Sara discuss the book 'Nine Tenths' by J.M. Frey. They explore the themes of wealth inequality, the complexities of relationships, and the representation of anxiety and bisexuality within the narrative. The conversation also touches on the world-building aspects of the story, including its historical context and cultural commentary. The hosts share their persona...

Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the fourth and final book in the Flesh and Fire series, 'Born of Blood and Ash.' They explore its complex themes, including trauma, leadership, and the balance between fate and free will. The conversation delves into character development, romantic dynamics, and the implications of parenthood in a chaotic world. The hosts also express their excitement for...

Summary In this conversation, Jennie and Sarah delve into the third book of the Flesh and Fire series, discussing its themes, character arcs, and the complexities of morality and monstrosity. They discuss the development of the protagonist Sera, and the intricate dynamics of villainy and heroism. The episode also touches on the portrayal of romantic relationships and the pacing of the narrative. O...

Summary In this conversation, Jennie and Sara discuss 'A Light in the Flame', the second book in the Blood and Ash prequel series Flesh and Fire. They explore themes such as enemies to lovers, atonement, and the complexity of morality. The discussion highlights character development, the nature of good and evil, and the interplay of fate and free will. They also touch on the significance of the Dr...

Summary In this conversation, the hosts delve into the second book of the Flesh and Fire series, a prequel to the Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. They discuss the complexity of the plot, and the themes of fate versus free will, consent, and found family. The hosts also explore the emotional depth of the characters, particularly in relation to mental health, and the representation o...

Summary The conversation delves into the complexities of engaging with art created by problematic figures, focusing on the themes of monstrosity, morality, and audience engagement. The hosts discuss the book 'Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma' by Claire Dederer, exploring their personal reactions to the text and the broader implications of consuming art in a capitalist society. They examine case studies o...

Summary In this episode, Jennie and Sara dive into the absurdity of the erotic novella 'Unhinged,' which features a sentient door named Driss and explores themes of female empowerment, sexuality, and humor. They discuss the plot, character dynamics, and the unique narrative style, while also reflecting on the cultural commentary embedded within the story. The conversation highlights the blend of c...

Summary In this conversation, Jennie and Sara discuss the fifth book of the Blood and Ash series, A Soul of Ash and Blood. They talk about the unique perspective of Casteel in retelling the events that happen in the first book of the series, the themes of trauma and self-discovery, and the evolution of writing style in the series. The dynamics between characters, particularly the relationships and...

Summary In this episode, Jennie and Sara discuss 'A War of Two Queens,' the fourth book in the Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. They explore the plot, character development, themes of consent and morality, and the dynamics of relationships, including polyamory and social monogamy. The conversation delves into the pacing of the book, the self-actualization of the protagonist Poppy, a...

Summary: In this episode of the Spread Your Wingspan podcast, hosts Jennie and Sara dive into the third book of the Blood and Ash series, 'Crown of Gilded Bones.' They explore the evolution of audiobooks, the impact of dramatization on storytelling, and the rise of fantasy and romance genres. The conversation also explores the character development, themes of morality and power, and the consequenc...

Summary In this episode, hosts Jennie and Sara chat about the enchanting world of Delemhach's literary universe, exploring themes of cozy fantasy, romance, and representation. This was a rare case of Jennie loving a series and Sara having a *gasp* DNF. They discuss their different perspectives, how the series improved, the humor infused in the narrative, and the significance of neurodivergence and...