Deep Trope

Ever wondered what it’s really like inside a fantasy book convention such as Romantasy BookCon? In this episode of Deep Trope, Rachel and Kate are joined by talented cosplayer Bethany Joyful for the ultimate book convention survival guide and recap! Whether you're planning to attend a book convention for the first time or looking to start cosplaying your favorite fantasy romance characters, Bethan...

Welcome to the final episode of our six-part deep dive into The Incendiary by LJ Claren, book two in the Selvaren series. Rachel and Kate break down chapters 53 through 62, covering the truth behind Ary’s PTSD, an ill-fated diplomatic mission, another showdown with Molochai, and perhaps the most iconic last three words in romantasy history. Grab your headphones and maybe some snacks because we hav...

In episode five of our deep dive into The Incendiary by LJ Claren, Rachel and Kate break down Chapters 44 through 52, and have some strong words for Elias. From Eli’s infuriating fumbles to Ary and Simeon’s earth-shattering reveals, we're unpacking every single detail and emotional gut-punch. And we have one theory about a very minor character that might just blow your mind.  Spoiler warning! This...

In Episode 4 of our six-episode deep dive into The Incendiary by LJ Claren , Rachel and Kate cover chapters 33 through 43! Things get gorgeous, intense, and heartbreaking as we unpack the stunning floral magic of the Reverie Ball, Gavin’s dark past encounters with Molochai, Elias's growing internal conflict, soul-level connections, and that absolutely devastating attack.  Content warning! This epi...

Rachel and Kate sit down with LJ Claren, author of the Selvaren series, to break down every single detail of The Incendiary . From unpacking Gavin's intense poetic devotion to debating Elias's controversial choices, this conversation covers it all. LJ spills major behind-the-scenes secrets about how a Lord of the Rings discussion with her husband inspired Nyrida's religious system, reacts to some...

In episode three of our deep dive into The Incendiary, by LJ Claren, we discuss chapters 22-32, including some full-on tinfoil hat theories. Join us as we revisit Ary’s second trial, some major revelations from her notes with Creepy Uncle Simeon, Mina and Mavic’s discovery of Ary’s true identity, and the work party from hell.  🚨 SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains major spoilers for all of The I...

In Episode 2 of our six-episode deep dive into The Incendiary by LJ Claren, we cover chapters 12-21, and things are getting intense. Join us as we break down Ary's brutal first days of training at the barracks, Elias Winterton's flirtatious knife lessons, historical flashbacks to Gavin's 402nd birthday, and a chilling murder discovery in the ravine. 🚨SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains major spo...

We just read Threshing Day , and our jaws are on the floor! In this special reaction episode, Rachel and Kate sit down with fellow Fourth Wing theorists Avorie & Xavier Harleston (@axharleston) from the Romantasy Chaos HQ Podcast and Claire (@runingbooks) for an immediate, unfiltered breakdown of the newest Empyrean release. Fresh off our virtual release party and an all-day reading sprint, we...

In episode one of our deep dive into The Incendiary by LJ Claren, we kick off our six-episode coverage of book two in the Selvaren series by discussing chapters 1-11, picking up where we left off in The Silversmith, getting more backstory on Gavin and Ary, and seeing a whole new version of Ary as she steps into her power.  We unpack a hefty list of romantasy tropes featured in this section of the...

Pour yourself a midnight margarita (or grab your giant collectible popcorn bucket) because we are going deep into Practical Magic 2 ! We love seeing Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back on screen together, but trying to cram four dense books into a single movie meant making some major cuts. Join Rachel and Kate as we dive into our unfiltered reactions, major book differences, and why we’re ready...

Is the five star rating system officially broken? Rachel and Kate sit down with Em (known on Bookstagram as @_bookbrat ), founder of The BookList , to discuss a new approach to how we review, rate, and discover books. Whether you are reviewing a spicy standalone novella or an eight book high fantasy series, traditional star ratings often leave readers with mismatched expectations. Em breaks down h...

In the fourth and final installment of our Practical Magic series read-along, we break down Alice Hoffman’s The Book of Magic (recently re-released as Practical Magic 2 ). From Jet’s discovery of the Book of the Raven to the family’s return to the original Essex county in England, we explore how the Owens family love curse is finally broken once and for all. Key Highlights & Topics Covered Spo...

Need a refresher on The Silversmith before reading The Incendiary? We’ve got you! This is a comprehensive, spoiler-filled recap of The Silversmith by LJ Claren, the first book in The Selvaren series, covering everything you need to remember before reading book two. We walk through the full plot, worldbuilding, and characters. From the powers of each one of the twelve gods of the Selvaren to the he...

Rachel sits down with LJ Claren, author of The Selvaren series, to discuss The Silversmith , her indie to traditional publishing journey, and what to expect in The Incendiary (out Sept 8). In this episode, we dive into: Indie to Trad Publishing: LJ Claren shares the details of her whirlwind journey from self-publishing to securing a traditional book deal. The Magic System & Worldbuilding: Deep...

Join us for a mini deep dive into Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman. This is the third episode of our read-along coverage of the entire Practical Magic series as we prepare for the movie sequel, Practical Magic 2, coming out in theaters on September 11. Pour yourself a midnight margarita as we travel back to 1600s Essex and Salem to meet Maria Owens and her daughter Faith, uncover the true origins of...

Join us for a mini deep dive into The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman. This is the second episode of our read-along coverage of the entire Practical Magic series, in release order, in the lead up to the Practical Magic 2 movie coming out on September 11. Pour yourself a mug of Courage Tea as we meet Franny, Jet, and Vincent Owens in 1960’s Manhattan, follow their journey downtown to Greenwich Vill...

Did the Practical Magic movie do Alice Hoffman’s original novel justice? Welcome to Episode 1 of our Practical Magic Series Read-Along! In this episode, we dive deep into the book that started it all, Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, the beloved romantic fantasy novel that inspired the iconic 1998 movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: ⏱️ 7-Minute Book Recap:...

Spoilers for The Silversmith by LJ Claren! In this final episode of our deep dive into The Silversmith , book one in The Selvaren series by LJ Claren, we unpack chapters 31 through the end of the book, including the Gavin POV bonus chapters. We discuss the plot twist revealing Gavin and Ary’s 400-year backstory, Ary’s heartbreaking sacrifice, and our top theories going into Book Two, The Incendiar...

In episode three of our deep dive into The Silversmith by LJ Claren, Kate and Rachel discuss chapters 19-30, discussing Gavin’s questionable training techniques, Ary’s awakening elemental magic, the agonizing slow-burn tension, and theorize about Gavin’s scars and the gods in Nyrida.  We unpack a hefty list of romantasy tropes featured in this section of the book, including one horse, miscommunica...

Welcome to episode two of our four-episode deep dive into The Silversmith by LJ Claren, book one of The Selvaren ! In this episode, Romantasy Theorist Rachel and Spice Connoisseur Kate dive into chapters 9–18, covering Ary, Smyth, Gemma, and the three idiots that make up the rest of her found family on their journey to Tovick.  Spoilers & Content Warning: This episode contains major spoilers f...

Welcome to the beginning of our four-episode deep dive into The Silversmith by LJ Claren, book one of The Selvaren! In this episode, Romantasy Theorist Rachel and Spice Connoisseur Kate dive into chapters 1-8, providing a detailed overview of the world of Nyrida, Ary’s dire circumstances, her new soon-to-be found family, and the tension with the mysterious and swoon-worthy MMC, Smyth.     We set t...

Pour yourself a drink and get comfortable, because your two favorite book besties are back with another chaotic, slightly tipsy reaction episode! This week, Rachel and Kate are breaking down Light Wielder by Rachel Schneider, the highly anticipated second book in the Fire & Metal series. Before diving into the sequel, we look back at the jaw-dropping cliffhanger of Metal Slinger. Did Jovie’s m...

Tee Harlowe read ACOTAR way before it was cool - in fact, before it was even called fantasy romance. In this week’s episode, hosts Kate and Rachel sit down with Tee to celebrate the release of her new book, This Witch Is Not Wicked, the second installment of The Brothers of Fairwitch Isle series of interconnected standalone cozy romantasy books.  As a long-time romantic fantasy reader, Tee shares...

Looking for a queer romance book? Whether you prefer romantasy, dark romance, contemporary romance, YA, or even historical fiction - we’ve got you covered. This week, we celebrate Pride Month by helping you stuff your TBR with a range of queer love stories. Kate and Rachel discuss LGBTQIA + representation in romantasy books and Kate shares book recommendations based on romance vs. spice. Kate and...

Sit down with your book besties Kate and Rachel to discuss Hunted by the Fae Duke, the dark yet still whimsical romantasy standalone by Kris K. Haines. In this mini deep dive, we break down each section of the book, recapping the story and discussing the characters, worldbuilding, devastating plot twists, and, of course, the incredible spice.  This is a full book recap and discussion with SPOILERS...