Story Darlings

Welcome to Maxton Hall, where the harsh whispers of old money and unseemly secrets echo through its grand corridors. Nestled in the English countryside, Maxton Hall has been the posh boarding school for generations of the old elite. Among them the Beaufort family, whose heirs James and Lydia are currently enrolled as they prepare to one day inherit the family's high-end fashion empire. Also enroll...

In May, the Darlings celebrated Tera's birthday by letting Tera choose THREE of her favorite books and authors for Sandra to read. They landed on Ruthless Knight by A. Jade, The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson, and About Tomorrow by Abbi Glines. Sandra had major... thoughts after finishing all three books (specifically about Ruthless Knight— what in the world?? ), and Tera shared why these are...

Tera and Sandra are back to discuss the sequel to Trial of the Sun Queen, Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J Tuli! Sandra says she enjoyed this book even more than the first. The Darlings discuss the feisty dynamic between Lor and Nadir, as well as their favorite scenes, and readers are introduced to a fascinating flashback character named Cersei and her Woodlands mate, Wolf. Rule of the Aurora Ki...

Today, the Darlings are super excited to talk about The Ever King by LJ Andrews (The Ever Seas 1)! There's lots to love in this swashbuckling enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, and we're excited to cover its sequel, The Ever Queen, in a future episode! Be sure to get a copy of the book's two bonus scenes by subscribing to LJ Andrews's newsletter on her website. These bonus scenes are from Livia an...

Tera and Sandra discuss the recently released Prime Video adaptation of THE IDEA OF YOU, with megastar Anne Hathaway and the multi-talented Nicholas Galitzine, and based on the incredible novel by Robinne Lee. Sandra has read the book (Tera has not), and shares some of the changes from book to movie. The Idea of You follows 40-year-old Solène Marchand and the unexpected, but blazingly hot, love af...

Today, the Darlings are super excited to talk about Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha Tuli (Artefacts of Ouranos 1)! In Taylor's words (Sandra's littlest sister), Trial of the Sun Queen is basically Throne of Glass meets The Bachelor, and there is SO much to enjoy about this fast-paced romantasy book. At this time, Artefacts of Ouranos will be a four-book series, and Tera and Sandra are delighted to...

Big shoutout to acourtofstarsanddreams for the F**k Marry Kill questionnaire—the SJM edition! The Darlings kick things off with their March Amazon Book Club winner announcement (it was SO close!). Then they dive into 10 FMK questions that combine ACOTAR and Throne of Glass trios. Obvi, there may be some out of context spoilers for across the two series. Thank you for listening and supporting! We a...

The Darlings are excited to announce the inaugural Amazon Book Club vote over on their Story Darlings Amazon page! The nine books in this round's running: The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon, The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick, Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer Armentrout, The Wicked in Me by Suzanne Wright, Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu, Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J Tuli, The Ever King by...

We are thrilled to invite back our dear friend Jess Jurhs from Gym Was Cancelled to discuss the #1 New York Times bestselling book House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas (aka HOFAS, Crescent City book 3). So, did Flame and Shadow live up to the hype? That's for you, the Maasverse, to decide. Thanks so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the show by leaving a rating...

It's like Sunball Sunday in the SJM fandom—House of Flame and Shadow drops tomorrow and the anticipation is too much to bear! In this episode, the Darlings discuss the last half of House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas (chapters 39+), and what a rollercoaster it is! We share our thoughts on the chaos that SJM has wrought upon fans of Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), and Cre...

The Darlings discuss the first 38 chapters of House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas. The second Crescent City book follows the disappearance of Sofie Renast and her little brother Emile after they escape from the Kavalla death camp with intel that could shatter the world. When HOSAB begins, it's been a few months since the spring events of House of Earth and Blood, and things between Bryce and H...

In today's episode, the Darlings discuss the second half of House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas (Crescent City series book 1). Bryce is still drowning in the aftermath of Danika's murder, and her relationship with Hunt is growing into something more...intimate that brings out the best in one another. But there's a cost to defending Bryce, one that Hunt is forced to pay when they d...

In today's episode, Sandra and Tera talk through House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas (Crescent City series). CC is SJM's third series to date, and HOEAB transports readers to a modern Roman Empire-esque society where six Asteri rule over the planet of Midgard, home to humans and the four houses of creatures and fae: Earth and Blood, Sky and Breath, Flame and Shadow, and Many Waters. House of...

Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the show by leaving a rating or review. It's such a huge help! 🩶 Have something to say? Send an email: ⁠ storydarlings@gmail.com⁠ Leave us a ⁠ voice message⁠ Connect with Ty Carlson: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tcrivers85 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tcrivers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tycarlsonauthor⁠⁠...

Hello, cadets. Today, the Darlings discuss the sequel to Fourth Wing, Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (Empyrean series book 2)! THAT ENDING. Violet and crew managed to survive their first year at Basgiath War College (thanks, Brennan!), and Xaden gets to graduate. But with new second-year classes, such as Rider Survival Course (ahem, torture class), advanced flight training, and ill-timed kidnap and...

Greetings, would-be cadets. Today, the Darlings discuss the romantasy phenomenon that has taken the world by storm, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Empyrean series book 1), and what a ride it is. Consider yourself conscripted into Basgiath War College where, if lucky, you'll gain entry into your desired quadrant. That is, if you can survive its demands. Rider, Scribe, Healer, Infantry—choose ca...

Sandra and Tera are joined by one of their FAVORITE story darlings and SJM fangirls, Jessea Jurhs from the Gym Was Cancelled podcast! Together, they discuss the second half of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas (ACOSF chapters 38+)! Seeing as how this is the final ACOTAR book, at least for now, the trio gives a broad-strokes recap of the major plot developments while sharing their theories a...

The Darlings discuss the first half of one of their favorite ACOTAR books to date, A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas (ACOSF ch. 1–37). Nesta has been a bad, bad girl, and our poor Prince of B*stards, Cassian, has been tasked with fetching the eldest Archeron daughter for a capital 'I' Intervention at Feysand's sprawling estate. Nesta's new reality? She is to live at the House of Wind, train...

Tera and Sandra discuss A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas (ACOFAS). Feyre tries to find her purpose in Velaris post-Hybern, the Archeron sisters have to adjust to horrible biannual periods, Nesta's still super mean, and Cassian's just a big, strong brute with a heart of pure gold. Feysand and the Inner Circle enjoy the Winter Solstice holiday, and it's adorbs. Thanks so much for liste...

The Darlings finish their discussion of A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas (ACOWAR chapters 37+). Tera says Feyre was thrust into her role as the temptress. Sandra begs to differ. 😏 Here's that TikTok/Reel reference for Azriel teaching Feyre to fly . Thanks so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the show by leaving a rating or review. It's such a huge help! 🩶...

Sandra and Tera dive into the third ACOTAR book: A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR) by Sarah J Maas (chapters 1–36). Previously, the Darlings discussed every book in SJM's Throne of Glass series. Strongly recommend reading those books and listening to those episodes! Thanks so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the show by leaving a rating or review. It's such...

The Darlings finish the second ACOTAR book: A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF) by Sarah J Maas. At last, they arrive at the long-anticipated chapters of 54 and 55. First the sweet, and then the spicy. SJM feeds us in the second half! 👀 Thanks so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the show by leaving a rating or review. It's such a huge help! 🩶 Have something to s...

Tera and Sandra crack open the second ACOTAR book: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas (chapters 1–32). Tera is an ACOTAR first-timer, Sandra a fourth-timer. Previously, the Darlings hosted a readalong for SJM's entire Throne of Glass series. Strongly recommend reading those books and listening to those episodes. Thanks so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the s...

Welcome back to our series readalong of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas! In this episode, the Darlings talk about the second half of book one (chapters 24+). Tera is an ACOTAR first-timer, Sandra a fourth-timer. Previously the Darlings hosted a readalong for SJM's Throne of Glass series. Strongly recommend reading those books and listening to those episodes. Thanks so much for list...

Welcome to our series readalong of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas! In this first episode, Tera and Sandra talk about the first half of book 1 (chapters 1–23). Tera is an ACOTAR first-timer, Sandra a fourth-timer. Spoilers ahead, including some mentions for SJM's Throne of Glass series (we highly recommend you go back and read those books—we have 16 full episodes discussing them!)....