A Court of Cortisol and Chaos

Before we begin, we want to name that this episode discusses character death, gendered violence in storytelling, and the concept of fridging. We’re approaching this as a literary discussion, not a definitive statement, and we’re interested in exploring multiple interpretations. This episode is us thinking out loud, challenging each other, and engaging thoughtfully with complex ideas. In this episo...

It’s Galentines Day, and we’re doing what we do best: talking books and gently roasting each other. In this episode of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos, we play bookish superlatives and share our all-time favorite couples, found families, underrated ships, and the characters we’ll defend forever—mostly from the Sarah J. Maas universe, with a few side quests along the way. It’s a laid-back, friendship...

February kicks off with a Galentines/Valentines-inspired episode—and yes, we start with a little controversy. In this week’s episode of  A Court of Cortisol and Chaos , we talk about  overrated book boyfriends  (respectfully… mostly), then move into romance-forward recommendations for every kind of February reader: One Valentine’s Day read One Galentines Day pick One BIPOC / LGBTQ+ recommendation...

⚠️ This episode contains spoilers for Red Rising ⚠️ In Season 2, Episode 5, we’re sharing our full spoiler reactions to  Red Rising  by Pierce Brown. We break down our thoughts on the characters, major plot points, and the moments that completely shifted our opinions—plus whether we’re ready to keep going with the series. We also talk about what we loved, what didn’t fully land for us, and what we...

Emily (@emily.reads.alot) is back for Part 3 of our Alchemised miniseries, and this episode dives headfirst into one of the most complicated conversations in modern fandom. We talk about Alchemised and Manacled, the legacy of Harry Potter, and whether works inspired by that universe still have a place at the table. This is a nuanced discussion about fanfiction, fandom culture, transformative works...

We’re officially kicking off our Red Rising era. In this episode, we share our non-spoiler expectations and first impressions as we start reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown for our January Fable Book Club. We talk about what drew us to the book, what surprised us early on, and how it’s hitting so far—without giving anything away. If you’re reading along with us or still deciding whether to pick it...

This week, we’re diving into one of the most fascinating figures in the Maasverse: the Viper Queen of Crescent City. In this villain deep dive, we break down her background, power, and presence within Crescent City—pulling apart what we know, what’s implied, and what’s still hidden. From her history and influence to the quotes that make her so memorable, we explore why the Viper Queen looms so lar...

Season 2 starts here—& we’re kicking things off with our very own Book Wrapped. In this New Year’s Day premiere, each of us shares our worst read of 2025, our best book from each month, and the reads that surprised, disappointed, or completely consumed us along the way. We also talk about what kind of readers we’re hoping to be in 2026 and what’s already sitting at the top of our TBRs. 📚 Janu...

We’ve reached the final episode of the year 🤍For Episode 25 of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos, we’re sharing Christmas and Holiday wishes, gratitude, and a little surprise for the new year. We’re so thankful for every listen, comment, and bit of support we’ve received this year and have so much appreciation for this incredible community—and we cannot wait to see what 2026 brings!🔗 Join Read and Y...

This week we’re diving into A Court of Frost and Starlight—the ACOTAR book that often gets brushed off as “just a novella,” but actually does a lot of quiet, important work. We break down the key moments, character beats, and subtle setup happening beneath the cozy, holiday-themed surface. From healing and grief to relationships shifting and future conflicts brewing, this book is less about action...

We’re back with Part 2 of our Brimstone series, and this time we’re getting a little more chaotic. We kick things off with a quick chat about whether we prefer audiobooks or physical books, then dive deeper into the plot of Brimstone and start spiraling into theories. Important context: Amy is the only one who has finished the book, so we’re balancing spoiler-aware reactions with full-blown unhing...

This week we’re diving into Brimstone by Callie Hart—the plot, the vibes, the characters, and everything that pulled us in. But we’re also addressing the editing controversy that’s sparked a lot of conversation in the romance community. In this episode we cover: - What Brimstone does well - The characters and dynamics we were drawn to - The editing issues readers have raised - How the situation re...

Welcome to our Friendsgiving Special! With so many new listeners joining the chaos, we wanted to slow down, cozy up, and let you in on our story—how we met, how this podcast came to be, and why this little corner of bookish chaos means so much to us. In this episode we share: How four SJM-obsessed girls became friends The chaotic birth of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos Our unhinged early conversati...

Emily (@emily.reads.alot) is BACK, and in honor of Kaine Ferron, we’re kicking off today’s episode by sharing our favorite non-typical book boyfriends—the quietly dangerous, morally questionable, emotionally complex men who live rent-free in our brains. Then we shift into the heart of the episode: diving deep into the plot and themes of Alchemised by SenLinYu. This week, we explore: ✨ Healthcare...

We’re kicking off our Alchemised miniseries with our first-ever guest—Emily (@emily.reads.alot)! This week, we begin our deep dive into Alchemised by SenLinYu, exploring the book’s overarching story, core themes, and the concept of alchemy itself. This episode focuses on the holistic story and background of Alchemised: what makes it so emotionally complex, the symbolism of transformation, and why...

It’s officially cozy season! For the first week of November, we’re kicking off the holidays SJM-style with a game of “What Would We Gift These Characters?” From Rhysand to Aelin (and maybe even Tamlin 👀), we’re getting creative with holiday presents for our favorite fantasy icons. Then we shift from fictional shopping lists to real-life holiday book recommendations—for both adults and kids. Wheth...

We’re getting into the spooky spirit! Episode 17 is a cozy (and slightly unhinged) chaos episode where we talk about the scary movies that absolutely traumatized us as kids—and shaped us into the delightfully unhinged adults we are today. And because no A Court of Cortisol and Chaos episode is complete without it, we’re finishing off with some delulu Maasverse headcanons that would make even SJM r...

Episode 16 is a quick minisode packed with chaos and strong opinions. We’re touching on the Throne of Glass rankings that our views gave us crap about (because of course we are), chatting about our reading journeys, and checking in on our emotional stability after Alchemised. Spoiler: it’s questionable. Your favorite SJM-obsessed hosts break down: ✨ Our Throne of Glass rankings—prepare to be shoc...

Episode 15 is dedicated to a book that completely wrecked us (in the best way): Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair. This one snuck up on us, landed in everyone’s top reads of the year, and honestly? It deserves way more recognition than it’s getting. We’re breaking down what made this story so powerful- from its world-building and romance to the emotional gut punches that left us staring at...

In Episode 14 of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos, we take a thoughtful look at the conversation surrounding Alchemised- a recently published book with origins in fanfiction. We discuss whether we plan on reading it, whether we read Manacled, what this means for fan creators, and how J.K. Rowling’s harmful transphobic views continue to affect both fandom spaces and the publishing world. This episode...

Episode 13 is pure chaos- in the best way. We’re talking celebrity crushes, who we’d cast as our favorite MMCs, and sprinkling in more of our unhinged bookish hot takes. From fantasy fan-casts to strong opinions you didn’t ask for, this one’s equal parts fun and fiery. Your favorite SJM-obsessed hosts break down: ✨ Which celebs we’d cast as MMCs in our favorite books ✨ Celebrity crush confession...

Episode 12 is a mix of cozy book talk and Crescent City chaos. We’re catching you up on our recent reads, what’s currently on our nightstands, and what’s next on our TBRs. Then we dive into our favorite Crescent City scene of all time- and spiral about the plot points we’re desperate to see clarified (or expanded on) in future books. Your favorite SJM-obsessed hosts break down: ✨ Our latest, curr...

It’s game time! In Episode 11 of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos, we’re playing a “what if” game- imagining what our favorite characters would be like in real life. From what jobs they’d have, to what playlists they’d blast, to where they’d call home, we’re spiraling into hilarious (and surprisingly accurate) headcanons. This episode is part chit-chat, part chaos, and all Crescent City love.💬 Tell...

We’re back with another round of chaos- Episode 10 of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos starts with a “Yes/No/Maybe” game featuring our recent reads (spoiler: some unpopular takes were made). Then we shift gears to a deeper discussion about neurodivergence and disability in fantasy: from Dain’s potential neurodivergency to Sawyer’s accommodations and Andarna’s unique struggles, plus our own personal e...

We’re keeping things laid back this week with a little bookish catch-up! In Episode 9 of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos, we’re chit-chatting about our latest reads, sharing the books that stole our hearts (and the ones that didn’t), and delivering some controversial takes.💬 Tell us in the comments:• What’s the best book you’ve read recently?• What’s your hottest take in the fantasy/romantasy world...