Books Between Friends Podcast

The wait is finally over, book friends! 🦇✨ We're officially back in Prythian, and it's time to dive into Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Splintered Harmony! After months of rereads, wild Maasverse theories, and endless speculation, Ethan, Jen, and Stef are finally putting their predictions to the test as we kick off our ACOSH discussion series. In this first installment, we're sharing our initial imp...

The Cauldron is bubbling, the theories are spiraling, and the countdown to A Court of Splintered Harmony is almost over! 🔮✨ Before Sarah J. Maas takes us back to Prythian, Jen, Ethan, and Stef are putting ALL their biggest ACOTAR and Maasverse theories on the table. After finishing our ACOTAR reread, we're connecting the dots between the Dread Trove, Made objects, the mysterious eight-pointed st...

The theories are multiplying, book friends! 🔥 We're back with Part 2 of our A Court of Silver Flames discussion, covering Chapters 41–80 of Sarah J. Maas's fifth ACOTAR book! This week, Jen, Ethan, and Stef are unpacking the final chapters of Nesta's journey, breaking down the characters, and sharing the moments we simply HAVE to talk about. And, of course, we're diving headfirst into even more M...

The Maasverse Speed Read continues, and this time we're diving into A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas! In Part 1, we tackle chapters 1–40 as Nesta Archeron's story takes center stage. From complicated relationships and emotional struggles to the growing mysteries surrounding ancient magic, there's plenty for us to unpack. We're breaking down the characters, sharing the ONE thing each of us...

We’re heading back to Prythian for A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Frost and Starlight — and somehow, two books turned into approximately one million new theories. We’re breaking down the war with Hybern, the aftermath that follows, and all the little details that feel VERY different when you’re reading ACOTAR with the rest of the Maasverse in mind. And, naturally, we all have theories. F...

We’re leaving Midgard behind and heading back to Prythian! For Episode 5 of our Maasverse Speed Read, we’re tackling two books in one episode: A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury. From Feyre’s arrival in the Spring Court and the horrors Under the Mountain to Velaris, the Inner Circle, and one very memorable trip to the Court of Nightmares, we’re revisiting the beginning of ACO...

Spoilers for House of Flame and Shadow and the wider Maasverse ahead! We’ve reached the end of House of Flame and Shadow… and apparently decided the only reasonable response was to connect EVERYTHING. In Part 2 of our House of Flame and Shadow discussion, we’re covering Chapters 52–102 as Bryce, Hunt, Ruhn, Lidia, and the rest of the crew race toward the endgame. But with everything we’ve learned...

We’ve officially made it to House of Flame and Shadow—and apparently Sarah J. Maas decided we didn’t need a moment to breathe. In Part 1 of our HOFAS speed read, we’re covering Chapters 1–51, and there is A LOT to unpack. Bryce is stranded in Prythian, Hunt and Ruhn are dealing with the fallout back in Midgard, ancient secrets are coming to light, and the connections between Crescent City and the...

The Maas-verse speed read continues, and somehow we are once again attempting to cover an entire Crescent City book in ONE episode. Pray for us. This time, we're diving into Sarah J. Maas's House of Sky and Breath — where Bryce and Hunt are trying to find some semblance of normalcy after the events of House of Earth and Blood... and absolutely nobody in Midgard seems interested in letting that hap...

The Maas-verse countdown has officially begun… and apparently we decided the best way to start was by discussing all 800+ pages of House of Earth and Blood in ONE episode. 😅 With ACOTAR Book 6 on the horizon, we’re making our way through the corners of the Maas-verse that matter most before returning to Prythian—and first up is Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City. Bryce Quinlan. Hunt Athalar. Danika. T...

Darrow entered the Institute thinking he understood the Golds. By the end? He’s beaten their game, exposed just how rigged it really is, and somehow made his mission even MORE complicated. In our final Red Rising discussion, we’re covering Chapters 34–44—and Pierce Brown apparently decided there was no reason to let us emotionally recover before the finish line. We’re talking about Darrow finally...

Darrow has spent the Institute building alliances, making enemies, and hiding one very important secret—but in Chapters 23–33 of Red Rising, some of those carefully constructed relationships begin to crack. First, we have to talk about Titus. The truth about his identity completely changes how we view his actions—and raises some pretty uncomfortable questions about what becoming a Gold can do to a...

⚠️ Spoilers through Chapter 22 of Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Darrow has been remade—but becoming a Gold is about a lot more than changing his appearance. In Part 2 of our Red Rising deep dive, we're discussing Chapters 12–22 as Darrow survives the brutal carving, learns to walk and talk like a Gold, enters the Institute, and discovers just how far Gold society is willing to go to preserve its ide...

We’re heading beneath the surface for our very first discussion of Red Rising by Pierce Brown! This week we're covering Chapters 1–11, and somehow Pierce Brown manages to pack more into eleven chapters than some books do in an entire novel. We dive into the fascinating color-based caste system, meet Darrow and Eo, and unpack the emotional moments that immediately pulled us into this world. Join us...

The rivalry leaves the ice and heads to the screen. In our final Heated Rivalry episode, we're comparing Rachel Reid's beloved novel with its television adaptation. We discuss the casting choices, which actors embodied Shane and Ilya best, the moments the show absolutely nailed, and the biggest changes that surprised us. We also break down: Our favorite casting decisions Three things the show stay...

After years of rivalry, secret meetings, and impossible choices, everything finally comes to a head.  In Part 2 of our Heated Rivalry discussion, we're covering Chapters 15 through the Epilogue, where Shane and Ilya's relationship reaches its emotional breaking point—and ultimately, its most rewarding moments. From heartfelt confessions and long-overdue conversations to career-defining milestones...

The rivalry starts here. This week we're diving into Prologue–Chapter 14 of Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, where Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov's story begins to unfold through a mix of present-day moments and flashbacks that reveal how one of hockey's fiercest rivalries first took shape. From their first meeting as teenagers to years of battling each other on the ice, we're unpacking the tensio...

We've reached the end of The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson, and there is a lot to unpack. Join us as we break down the final chapters (68–Epilogue), discuss the biggest reveals, revisit the mysteries that have been building since the beginning of the trilogy, and talk about how everything comes together in one unforgettable ending. We also share our final ratings, favorite moments, biggest sur...

This week we're discussing The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson, covering Chapters 51–67. The truth behind Ruin's influence finally comes into focus as Spook realizes he has been manipulated all along—and discovers he wasn't the only one. Quellion's actions suddenly take on an entirely new meaning as the extent of Ruin's control becomes impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, Vin finds herself trapped a...

In this episode of Books Between Friends, we're discussing The Hero of Ages Chapters 35-50 by Brandon Sanderson. The mysteries are piling up. We dive deep into Hemalurgy and the unsettling implications of Ruin's ability to influence people through metal spikes. We discuss Spook's transformation into the Survivor of the Flames, the strange voice guiding him, and whether he's becoming a hero—or a pa...

This week on Books Between Friends, we're discussing Chapters 17-34 of The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. As the world continues to unravel, the conflict between Preservation and Ruin takes center stage, raising questions about balance, destiny, and the forces shaping Scadrial's future. We discuss the strange behavior of the mists, the percentage of people affected by them, and what it could m...

The final book of the original Mistborn trilogy is here. In Part 1 of our discussion of The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson, we cover the Prologue through Chapter 16 and share our reactions as the stakes reach a new level. As ash continues to fall and the world seems closer than ever to collapse, Vin, Elend, Sazed, and the rest of the crew face impossible questions about prophecy, faith, leaders...

We’ve officially reached the end of Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, and in this finale episode, we’re giving our final ratings, reviews, reactions, and favorite moments from the book. From Carl’s emotional journey to Princess Donut’s unforgettable one-liners, we discuss what made this chaotic litRPG adventure stand out, what surprised us most, and whether we’ll continue the series. Join the...

The dungeon may be chaos, but outside of it? Things are somehow even stranger. In this episode of Books Between Friends, we cover Chapters 25–36 of Dungeon Crawler Carl and finally start pulling back the curtain on what’s really happening beyond the dungeon walls. From the introduction of fan-favorite chaos agents Zev and Odette to the horrifying realization that this whole thing is basically ente...

The dungeon gets deadlier in Chapters 13–24 of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and the choices only get messier from here. Carl and Donut are learning quickly that survival isn’t just about fighting monsters—it’s about knowing who to trust, when to run, and when to blow something up and hope for the best. This week, we dive into some of the wildest moments so far, including new crawler encounters, escalatin...