Episodes
Nesta and the Dread Trove, A Court of Silver Flames Part 1 (Chapters 1-40) | Maasverse Speed Read Countdown to ACOTAR 6 | A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
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 absolutely HAS to discuss, and bringing our latest theories…
War, Winter, and Some Wild Maasverse Theories | Maasverse Speed Read Countdown to ACOTAR 6 | ACOWAR + ACOFAS by Sarah J. Maas
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.
From the Dread Trove and the eight-pointed star to witches, world-walkers…
Back to Prythian | Maasverse Speed Read Countdown to ACOTAR 6 | ACOTAR + ACOMAF by Sarah J. Maas
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 ACOTAR with everything we now know from the wider Maasverse.
And after Cres…
The Maasverse is Connecting - House of Flame and Shadow Part 2 (Chapters 52-102) | Maasverse Speed Read: Countdown to ACOTAR Book 6 | House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
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 about the Asteri, the history of Midgard, Prythian, and the worlds beyond, we co…
Bryce Is Back…But Everyone Is a MESS - House of Flame and Shadow Part 1 (Chapters 1-51) | Maasverse Speed Read: Countdown to ACOTAR Book 6 | House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
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 larger Maas-verse are getting harder and harder to ignore.
By the time Bryce fin…
House of Sky and Breath: The Maasverse Just Got A LOT Bigger | Maasverse Speed Read: Countdown to ACOTAR Book 6 | House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
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 happen.
We're breaking down the biggest moments from the book, the c…
We Read ALL of Crescent City 1 for the ACOTAR 6 Countdown | Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
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. The Pack of Devils. A murder mystery buried beneath approximately seventeen thousa…
Red Rising Finale: Darrow Beat Their Game... But At What Cost? | Red Rising by Pierce Brown | Part 4: Chapters 34-44
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 turning his attention toward the people actually controlling the game, the confr…
Darrow’s Secrets Are Finally Catching Up With Him | Red Rising by Pierce Brown | Part 3: Chapters 23-33
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 Red.
Then there’s Mustang and Reaper. Their alliance continues to grow, but are…
Darrow Is Becoming The Very Thing He Hates | Red Rising by Pierce Brown | Part 2: Chapters 12-22
⚠️ 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 idea of strength.
We break down the transformation that nearly kills D…
Pierce Brown Wastes ZERO Time | Red Rising by Pierce Brown | Part 1: Chapters 1-11
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 as we discuss:
📚 The Golds, Reds, and the hierarchy that shapes so…
Heated Rivalry Finale | Book vs. Show: Which One Wins?
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 stayed faithful to
Three changes that stood out (f…
The Ending We Have Been Waiting For: Rated and Reviewed | Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid | Part 2 (Finale): Chapter 15 - Epilogue
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 and one unforgettable ending, Rachel Reid delivers a romance that rewards every…
Heated Rivalry is Spice on Ice! | Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid | Part 1: Prologue - Chapter 14
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 tension, competitive chemistry, and emotional undercurrents that m…
The Hero of Ages is Revealed! Finale & Review | Mistborn Book 3: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson | Chapter 68 - Epilogue
We've reached the end of The Hero of Ages, and there's so much to unpack.
Join us as we discuss the final chapters (68–Epilogue), revisit the biggest mysteries from Mistborn Era One, and talk about Brandon Sanderson's unforgettable ending.
We share our favorite moments, biggest surprises, final ratings, and whether this finale delivered on everything we'd hoped for.
⚠️ This episode contains spoilers for The Hero of Ages and the entire Mistborn Era …
Spook Breaks Free & Ruin's Plan Revealed | Mistborn Book 3: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson | Part 4: Chapters 51-67
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 and forced into unsettling conversations with Ruin, givi…
The Survivor of the Flames, Mistfallen, and Hemalurgy | Mistborn Book 3: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson | Part 3: Chapters 35-50
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 pawn.
We also explore the growing mystery of the Mistfallen: t…
Faith, Balance, and the Mists | Mistborn Book 3: The Hero of Ages Chapters by Brandon Sanderson | Part 2: Chapters 17-34
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 mean for the larger story.
We also dive into:
• Spook's vi…
Kicking Off Mistborn Book 3--and Things are BLEAK | The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson | Part 1: Prologue - Chapter 16
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, leadership, and survival.
During this episode, we discuss:
Major charac…
Dungeon Crawler Carl Finale: Final Ratings, Review & Reactions | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman | Chapters 37 - Epilogue
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 Side-Eye Syndicate for one last dungeon run as we wrap up our first Dungeon Cra…
Donut and Carl have a Fandom | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman | Chapters 25-36
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 entertainment for the galaxy, Carl and Donut’s world keeps getting bigger—and weirder.
… You Can’t Trust Anyone in the Dungeon | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman | Chapters 13–24
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, escalating chaos, suspicious alliances, and the increasingly unhinged energy of the dungeon itsel…
Welcome, Crawlers. The Dungeon Is Open. | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman | Chapters 1-12
The dungeon is officially OPEN.
This week on Books Between Friends, we’re diving into the absolute chaos that is Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — and honestly? Nothing could have prepared us for this experience.
From exploding goblins and killer stairwells to achievement pop-ups and the icon herself Princess Donut, we’re breaking down Chapters 1–12 of one of the wildest fantasy/sci-fi books we’ve ever read.
In this episode, we discuss:
Carl and Donut’s …
The Truth Bleeds Out… and Nothing Is the Same | On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn | Chapters 46-60
We’ve reached the end of On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn, and… yeah, we’re not okay.
In this finale episode covering chapters 46–60, everything comes to a head—secrets unravel, loyalties are tested, and the stakes hit an all-time high. The tension? Relentless. The reveals? Painful. The emotional damage? Significant.
We break down the biggest moments from the final stretch, dive into the character arcs that left us reeling (and questioning everything), and talk through how i…