S 4- Ep 30 : 2024 Book Awards

Summary

Flights of Fantasy Podcast: Season 4, Episode 30 – 2024 Book Awards

In the festive Season 4 finale of the Flights of Fantasy podcast, hosts Christina, Kim, and Anna come together to celebrate their annual Flights of Fantasy Book Awards. This special episode not only highlights their favorite picks from the year's fantastical romances but also delves into memorable moments, insightful discussions, and heartfelt reflections on their enduring friendship. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the episode's key segments, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps to capture the essence of their vibrant conversation.

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1. Personal Reflections and Friendship

The episode kicks off with the hosts reminiscing about past recording sessions and the magic of their friendship.

• Christina [00:50]: Opens the episode by introducing herself and her co-hosts, setting the stage for an engaging Book Awards discussion.

• Kim [04:42]: Shares excitement about the annual Book Awards, comparing it to prestigious events like the Oscars and Golden Globes, albeit with a humorous twist regarding her own familiarity with such ceremonies.

• Anna [01:05]: Expresses her love for the episode, highlighting how reliving their favorite moments through different award categories allows them to revisit beloved books collectively.

• Christina [01:31]: Reflects on their memorable recording trip to New York City, emphasizing the special bond they share, strengthened by shared experiences like being on the hotel floor with champagne.

• Kim [02:20]: Reminisces about the first time the trio hung out beyond virtual interactions, specifically recalling the moment Kim and Anna shared their first hug captured on footage, underscoring the depth of their friendship formed during the pandemic era.

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2. Award Categories and Nominations

The trio transitions into the core of the episode: presenting and deliberating on various award categories, each filled with passionate insights and spirited debates.

a. Leading Man

The hosts discuss their nominees for the Leading Man category, ultimately choosing their favorites based on character depth and romantic appeal.

• Nominees include:

  • Hunt from House of Flame and Shadow
  • Luther from the Kindred's Curse series
  • Khan from When the Moon Hatched
  • Fisher (Kingfisher) from Quicksilver
  • Kai from Powerless
  • Elm from Two Twisted Crowns
  • Asar from Songbird and the Heart of Stone

• Anna [06:34]: Votes for Con Vegar as her leading choice, declaring, "Hands down, Con Vegar. It's my king."

• Christina [06:38]: Agrees with Anna, also selecting Con Vegar but names Hunt as her runner-up, praising his steadfastness and devotion: "He is our stable, reliable, really devoted, wonderful male lead."

• Kim [07:23]: Chooses Luther from Kindred's Curse, highlighting his saintly qualities and unwavering support: "Luther... put up with a lot. And I love him."

b. Leading Lady

Focusing on the female protagonists, the hosts nominate and select their top contenders for the Leading Lady award.

• Nominees include:

  • Bryce or Lydia from House of Flame and Shadow
  • DM from Kindred's Curse
  • Rave from When the Moon Hatched
  • Ceris from Quicksilver
  • Payden from Powerless
  • Ione or Elspeth from Two Twisted Crowns
  • Misha from Songbird and the Heart of Stone

• Anna [08:46]: Selects Lydia for her character growth and emotional depth: "Lydia carried that book for me... it hit me in my feels."

• Christina [09:26]: Also votes for Lydia, supporting Anna's choice with no additional commentary.

• Kim [09:35]: Opts for Misha from Songbird and the Heart of Stone, appreciating her realistic struggles and the author's nuanced writing: "I felt so connected to her in just one book. I adore her."

c. Best Couple

Celebrating the most beloved romantic pairings, the hosts deliberate on the Best Couple category.

• Anna [10:53]: Votes for Khan and Rave, citing their deep and beautiful love: "It's so beautifully done. And Khan is my leading man because of the supportive, patient king that he is."

• Christina [11:32]: Supports Anna’s pick but also mentions Misha and Asar as a favorite backup couple, lauding their healing dynamic: "They just adore each other, and it felt so genuine and beautiful."

• Kim [12:12]: Aligns with Misha and Asar and adds Ione and Elm from Two Twisted Crowns as a second choice, appreciating their unexpected yet charming chemistry.

d. Worst Couple

Introducing a fresh dimension, the hosts explore the most frustrating pairings in their readings.

• Christina [14:12]: Criticizes Henry and DM from House of Flame and Shadow for their tumultuous and infuriating engagement: "They are engaged to be married... Absolutely infuriating."

• Kim [16:23]: Agrees with Christina and adds Ethan and Siggy from Reckless as a backup, expressing frustration over their unrealistic and taxing relationship dynamics.

• Anna [22:00]: Echoes frustration with Ethan, labeling him as "an infuriating stupid boy" who complicates the narrative unnecessarily.

e. Best Supporting Character

Highlighting the unsung heroes of their favorite books, the trio nominates standout supporting characters.

• Nominees:

  • Carrion from Songbird and the Heart of Stone
  • Taryn from Kindred's Curse
  • Esme from Songbird and the Heart of Stone (backup)

• Kim and Anna [19:55]: Both unanimously choose Carrion, praising his blend of comedic relief and pivotal plot contribution: "He is everything we want from a supporting character."

f. Most Infuriating Character

Identifying characters who tested their patience, the hosts nominate the most exasperating figures.

• Nominees:

  • Ethan from Reckless
  • Henry from House of Flame and Shadow
  • Atraxas from Two Twisted Crowns

• Anna [21:58]: Names Ethan as her top contender, expressing deep frustration with his actions and decisions.

• Christina [22:08]: Also cites Henry, detailing his dismissive and hurtful behavior towards other characters.

• Kim [22:24]: Voters for Atraxas as the epitome of a true villain, emphasizing his lack of redeeming qualities: "He was gross... nothing redeeming about him."

g. Best Setting/World Building

Celebrating immersive and creatively constructed worlds, the hosts assess the top settings in their reads.

• Nominees:

  • Kindred's Curse world
  • Shepherd King by Rachel Gillig
  • When the Moon Hatched

• Kim [32:39]: Chooses the Kindred's Curse world for its uniqueness and differentiation across realms: "She took different realms and made her own twists on it, and I really enjoyed it."

• Anna [33:32]: Votes for Shepherd King by Rachel Gillig, admiring the immersive gothic atmosphere and the innovative use of language: "She really took it from the bottom up... it was immersive."

• Christina [33:47]: Aligns with Kim's choice but also praises When the Moon Hatched, lauding its intricate and accessible world-building: "It is some of the most intricate and beautiful world building that exists."

h. Best Villain

Honoring the most compelling antagonists, the trio selects their top villains.

• Nominees:

  • Atraxas from Two Twisted Crowns
  • Pollux from Two Twisted Crowns (backup)

• Anna and Kim [36:03]: Both nominate Atraxas, condemning his actions and devoid of any redeeming traits: "Nothing redeeming about him... he was so gross."

i. Best Cover

Appreciating the visual allure of book covers, the hosts highlight their favorites.

• Nominees:

  • Songbird and the Heart of Stone
  • When the Moon Hatched (Fairyloot Edition)
  • Two Twisted Crowns (Special Edition)

• Anna and Kim [37:19]: Both select Songbird and the Heart of Stone for its stunning colors and graphics: "Beautiful covers. Beautiful."

• Christina [37:39]: Adds the Fairyloot edition of When the Moon Hatched, praising its exquisite design: "It is honestly the most beautiful book I think I've ever seen in my life."

j. Best Laugh

Celebrating moments that elicited genuine laughter, the hosts share their funniest scenes.

• Christina [38:27]: Finds humor in Rune's baby hand from Hofast, imagining its exaggerated growth and quirky interactions: "It's both so enraging and hilarious."

• Anna [39:50]: Introduces a humorous fan canon involving Baxian's misadventures with pegasus, describing the chaos with adorable names like Blueberry and Brambleberry: "He's terrified of them... Bryce and Hunt are just filming on their phones and cackling."

• Kim [42:06]: Enjoys a comedic scenario where Bryce and Hunt journey through hell with Atraxas, visualizing him "gondoling" and singing, adding levity to a dark setting: "He's gondoleeering, singing 'That's Amore.'"

k. Best Dramatic Moment

Highlighting emotionally charged scenes, the hosts recount their most impactful moments.

• Anna [42:52]: Shares a heart-wrenching moment from When the Moon Hatched, where Lydia confronts her past and experiences profound grief: "I'm not ready. Not yet."

• Christina [43:26]: Describes a dramatic rescue scene from House of Flame and Shadow, where Lydia saves her sons amidst chaos: "It's so incredibly gorgeous and heartbreaking."

• Kim [45:43]: Reads a poignant farewell between Elspeth and the Shepherd King from Two Twisted Crowns, capturing the sorrow and beauty of their parting:

  "He whispered, 'I hope it is as it was 11 years ago when you freed me from the nightmare.'"

l. Best Line

The hosts share their favorite literary lines that resonated deeply with them.

• Anna [48:18]: Quotes a touching passage from Crescent City:

  "Through love, all is possible."

• Kim [52:20]: Recites a passionate declaration by Luther:

  "I want every breath, every laugh, every tear, every taste of your mouth, every inch of your skin. I want to kneel at your feet, feet soaked in the blood of your enemies, then worship your body until you scream my name."

m. Non-Episode Book

Recognizing outstanding books they didn’t feature in their main episodes, the hosts acknowledge hidden gems.

• Christina [52:57]: Praises Play Along by Liz Tomford for its engaging hockey romance and perfect tropes: "It's hockey romance tropes, perfection in a wrapped-up little bow."

• Kim [53:21]: Enthusiastically endorses Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, highlighting its realistic and heartfelt portrayal of romance: "It is the most truly romantic contemporary romance book I've ever read."

• Anna [54:18]: Recommends Brutes of Bristlebrook by Rebecca Quinn for its psychological depth and compelling character dynamics: "The psychology of all the different characters is really unique."

n. Patron's Best Book

Acknowledging their dedicated patron community, the hosts announce the patron-voted best book of the year.

• Kim [55:09]: Announces When the Moon Hatched as the Patron’s Best Book, commending its intricate storytelling and immersive world-building:

  "It deserved it's title... it has all of the elements that I love in an SJM book."

• Anna and Christina [56:12]: Both concur, sharing their enthusiasm for When the Moon Hatched and its standout qualities: "It was amazing."

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3. Conclusion and Future Plans

As the Book Awards wrap up, the hosts express gratitude towards their listeners and patrons, hinting at exciting plans for the upcoming year.

• Christina [57:36]: Thanks the community for joining them through another fantastic year and teases future episodes: "We have some fun things planned."

• Kim [58:03]: Excitedly shares that 2025 will be a big year for the podcast, fostering anticipation among listeners.

• Anna [58:01]: Reflects on the success of the episode and looks forward to continuing their journey together: "I'm excited for next year too."

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Final Thoughts

The 2024 Book Awards episode of Flights of Fantasy serves as a heartfelt and engaging celebration of the year's best in fantastical romance literature. Through spirited discussions, candid reflections, and a deep appreciation for their chosen books, Christina, Kim, and Anna create a vibrant tapestry of shared experiences and literary passions. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the podcast, this episode offers a rich and comprehensive insight into the magical worlds and heartfelt romances that define the Flights of Fantasy community.

Notable Quotes:

• Anna [06:34]: "Hands down, Con Vegar. It's my king."
• Kim [07:23]: "Luther... put up with a lot. And I love him."
• Anna [08:46]: "Lydia carried that book for me... it hit me in my feels."
• Christina [10:23]: "They just adore each other, and it felt so genuine and beautiful."
• Christina [16:23]: "They are engaged to be married... Absolutely infuriating."
• Kim [19:55]: "He is everything we want from a supporting character."
• Anna [21:58]: "Ethan... an infuriating stupid boy."
• Kim [32:39]: "She took different realms and made her own twists on it, and I really enjoyed it."
• Christina [37:39]: "It is honestly the most beautiful book I think I've ever seen in my life."
• Kim [45:43]:

  "He whispered, 'I hope it is as it was 11 years ago when you freed me from the nightmare.'"

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Thank you for joining Christina, Kim, and Anna in this enchanting celebration of Flights of Fantasy. Whether you're revisiting old favorites or discovering new treasures, may your reading journey continue to soar with magic and romance. Cheers to another year of fantastical adventures!

Transcript

[Christina]

This episode is brought to you by Dutch Bros. Big smiles, rocking tunes, and epic drinks. Dutch Bros. Is all about. You choose from a variety of customizable handcrafted beverages like our Rebel energy drinks, coffees, teas, and more. Download the Dutch Bros app for a free medium drink. Plus find your nearest shop, order ahead and start earning rewards offer, valid for new app users only. Free medium drink Reward upon registration. 14 day expiration terms apply. See DutchBros.com welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your romantasy podcast book club. I'm Christina, joined by my book besties, Kim and Anna, and together we're diving into the characters, theories, lore, and magic behind all your favorite fantasy romance books.

[Kim]

Okay. We are so excited to be here today recording our annual Flights of Fantasy Book Awards episode.

[Christina]

4Th Annual Book Besties Book Awards, everybody.

[Anna]

So excited.

[Kim]

Here we are. Oh, my gosh.

[Anna]

I forget every year how much I love this episode.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Same. It's so fun.

[Anna]

It really is. It's, like, so fun to relive all these different moments and, like, hearing what we all say and. And just by, like, all of us picking different ones, we get to, like, relive all the books together. It's just the best.

[Christina]

Exactly. It feels like we're reliving our year, and then also it is very rare that we don't know what the other one's gonna say. Like, that we don't have the same joint outline that we're all looking at. So this is such a treat. It's so fun and chaotic in the best way.

[Kim]

Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Remember? Recorded one all together in New York, just like, on our.

[Anna]

God, that's right.

[Christina]

I still think about that, how magical that was. Like, we were just, like, on the floor in our gorgeous hotel room in New York City.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Like, having champagne. It was just so, so fun and so special.

[Anna]

That was the first time we were all together. Like, aside from us meeting Kim, you and I meeting briefly at Christina's wedding. That trip was the first time we had been a podcast for almost a year, but Kim and I had really never hung out.

[Christina]

No.

[Anna]

Is that not wild?

[Christina]

Guys, I absolutely forgot this detail. That is wild.

[Kim]

The first time we had ever hung out, and we had literally been a podcast for almost a year.

[Anna]

Like, the video of us running together and at the airport that Zach took was, like, the first time Kim hugged me.

[Kim]

Literally. Oh, my God.

[Christina]

We have actual footage of the first time Kim and Anna hugged everybody.

[Anna]

Wow.

[Christina]

How special. I've never thought about that.

[Kim]

It was so sweet, and it was just so not Bizarre, but just wild in the best way that we literally had talked every day for almost a year, but had never longer because.

[Anna]

Because we started doing this basically in the pandemic.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And it was just wild.

[Christina]

And then now we see each other twice a year at minimum. Yeah, we're gonna see each other, like, three times the next three months. It's gonna be fantastic.

[Kim]

Oh, it's so exciting.

[Christina]

Okay, okay, everybody. Kim, lead us into this. What are we doing? How's this work?

[Kim]

Okay, friends, what's the process? So if you're new here, we do this episode every year and we kind of treat it like, you know, an Oscars, a grant, you know, things like that. Right. Oscars is movies. Sorry, guys.

[Christina]

Oscars and Golden Globes.

[Kim]

But you're so. Yeah, I'm so, so clearly do not watch these. It's fine. I know what I'm doing.

[Anna]

There's in the Golden Globe, the Grammys, Taylor.

[Christina]

That's what gives.

[Kim]

All I know is Taylor wins Grammys. So that's all I've got. Is this not the Grammys. I know what we're doing. Okay. Anyways, so we have some categories that would be very similar to that. I will read off all of our nominations and is going to do some spoiler warnings and we are just going to go through the most fun categories ever. Some, like best, but also some worst categories. Okay.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

We have some contenders this year that we are very excited to discuss.

[Christina]

Truly.

[Kim]

But before that, let me do some Patreon shout outs. So before we jump in officially, I have to, of course, shout out some of our tier two book bitches. Thank you guys so much for your support this year. It has really just been life changing, like, literally life changing for us.

[Anna]

Truly.

[Kim]

And you guys are just the best. So today we are going to be shouting out Nikki Ruderman, Julia Wickman, and Katie King.

[Anna]

Hi, guys. Thank you so much.

[Kim]

Y'all are the best.

[Christina]

Thank you, guys. Truly. Truly, you enable us to be able to do this and to just be able to bring these episodes to everyone. And we are so, so, so deeply thankful for you and your support.

[Anna]

We are, Truly.

[Kim]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Christina]

We also want to give a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to rate and review the show. That really, really helps us grow as a podcast, helps us with visibility, and just generally helps us a lot. So if you are looking for a way to support the show in addition to Patreon, please take the time to rate and review wherever you're listening and subscribe. We are so lucky to have the best, best listeners in the who. So thank you guys again for all the support.

[Kim]

Yes, thank you. Okay, Anna, do you want to do some spoiler warnings for us?

[Anna]

Yes. Okay, so guys, this is a special episode because this obviously is our book awards where it covers all of the books that we have read and done. Main feed episodes on in 2024. Okay, so we're going to start back at the beginning. Spoiler warnings for all of these books I'm about to list out. Okay. And it's a doozy. House of Flame and Shadow, which feels like that was fucking forever ago.

[Kim]

That was five years ago, but okay.

[Anna]

It was five years ago, but okay,.

[Christina]

Minimum five years ago has passed. Yeah.

[Anna]

So House of Flame and Shadow. Spark of the Everflame. Glow of the Everflame. Heat of the Everflame. No burn yet because we're still waiting. When the Moon Hatched, Quicksilver, Powerless, Two Twisted Crowns and the Songbird and the Heart of Stone. So I do have to say this really quick, listeners. Kim has not read when the Moon Hatched. Christine and I have answers from when the Moon Hatched. But we will be curbing ourselves a little bit on that book just because we don't want to spoil anything for Kim.

[Kim]

I'm so sorry. I am reading it before book two comes out. Don't worry.

[Anna]

No, it's okay. But we can't. Obviously it he.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Yeah. So maybe not so many spoilers for when the Moon Hatch because of me.

[Christina]

Yes, we'll be briefly kind of touching on.

[Kim]

Totally fine. Now let's do a little refresher on who our nominees are. Okay. See, I know nominees. I know things. I know what we're doing. So the nominees for leading man are as follows. Hunt from House of Flame and Shadow. Luther from the Kindred's Curse series. Khan from when the Moon Hatched, Fisher or Kingfisher from Quicksilver. Kai from Powerless. I would say Elm from Two Twisted Crowns or Raven. You know, either one.

[Anna]

Either one.

[Kim]

I was looking at Anna and she gave me nothing.

[Anna]

Oh, sorry, sorry. I was like. I was like, yes, that sounds. Yes, I agree. Elm.

[Kim]

Yes. So either of those.

[Anna]

I would even say the Shepherd King.

[Kim]

Ooh, that's interesting. Okay. And then of course, our beloved Asar from Songbird and the Heart of Stone.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

Okay. So, Anna, who is your pick this year for leading man?

[Anna]

Hands down, con Vegar.

[Christina]

I.

[Anna]

It's my king.

[Kim]

I had a feeling.

[Anna]

My king of the.

[Kim]

What's he?

[Anna]

The King of the Burn. My King of the Burn.

[Christina]

He is amazing.

[Anna]

I Am obsessed.

[Kim]

Love.

[Christina]

He is incredible.

[Anna]

He is incredible.

[Kim]

Okay, Christina, was that your answer as well?

[Christina]

So that was my answer, but I am going to give my runner up, which is Hunt. I love Hunt. He is steadfast with Bryce through that whole book. He is so patient with her, even though she is such a bitch to him. And he is just our stable, reliable, really devoted, wonderful male lead. Like, I think he deserves that title throughout that book. He, like, really is devoted and steadfast. Even when she acts like she has a horcrux on her.

[Kim]

Yeah, literally.

[Anna]

Literally. Even when we have no patience.

[Kim]

Great answer.

[Christina]

Yeah, he does.

[Kim]

Couldn't agree more.

[Anna]

Kim, who'd you choose?

[Kim]

Okay, so I am gonna have to go with Luther from Kindred's Curse, because that man, sweet sweetie, is a saint.

[Christina]

Truly. We love Lulu. We are Delulu.

[Kim]

We are Delulu for Lulu for a reason. I just loved him. I felt like he was so supportive, so understanding, so patient with DM and a lot of patience and more than I had, you know, at times. But I just loved him. I felt like he deserves it. Even though he's not real. This isn't a real award. I still feel like he deserves this award because that man just put up with.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

Quite a bit. And I love him.

[Christina]

And he's so sexy while he's doing it, you know?

[Kim]

He's so sexy. He's so supportive and doing, like, great things for his kingdom and his people. And I love him.

[Anna]

I love him.

[Christina]

He's a great, great choice. Hands down.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Christina]

All right, what's our next category?

[Kim]

Next category is Leading Lady. Okay, friends, I'm not gonna do this for every category, but just thought it'd be fun just to give everybody a refresher if you forgot who Bryce was. So the nominees.

[Anna]

She was truly forgettable in that book.

[Kim]

I mean, she wasn't at her best. Nominations for Leading lady are Bryce or Lydia from House of Flame and Shadow, DM from Kindred's Curse, Rave from When the Moon Hatched, Ceris from Quicksilver, Payden from Powerless, Ione, or Elspeth from Two Twisted Crowns, and of course, Misha from Songbird and the Heart of Stone. So, Anna, who is your pick for Leading lady?

[Anna]

Lydia. I just immediately, that was my gut. Like, she. Well, she carried that book because Bryce. Sorry, we're not here to shit on Bryce. Yeah, but Lydia carried that book for me. And just all of her scenes, her growth with the Suns and her with Ruhn and her being so supportive, even when he's being mean. But, like, Standing up for herself. And I just. It hit me in my feels. And I think obviously her tie in with Aelin brings it home for me. It just. I could cry just thinking about Tog. So I think just her being the tie in to Aelin that I wanted it to be, but Chef's kiss.

[Kim]

Totally agree. Okay, Christina.

[Christina]

Also Lydia. Yep, Also Lydia. I really have nothing new and different to say. And yes, also Lydia. And I second everything she said. Perfect.

[Kim]

Perfect. Okay, so I am gonna go with. And this is probably just because it's most recent, but I'm gonna go with Misha from Songbird and the Heart of Stone. I just. I mean, of course I loved Lydia, but no, I just loved Misha. I thought that her story was really wonderful to read. I loved her character. I loved reading her struggles and her trials and her feelings about herself felt so real, which is just, of course, a testament to Charissa's incredible writing. And I felt so connected to her just in one book. I mean, she is in the first two, but as a very much a supporting character.

[Anna]

Right.

[Kim]

And I felt like I was really able to connect with her in just one book. I'm so excited for what's to come with her, and I just adore her, and I think she's wonderful.

[Anna]

She has such a great story, and I'm excited for her overall arc, like, how we see it come to a conclusion in book two. So good choice.

[Christina]

Agreed. And it feels even more special, I think, because we got that insight from Carissa on the backstory of Misha. Like, you guys conversation with her was so beautiful. And I just love the choice to make Misha a leading lady. Like, hearing the background of where that choice came from makes I feel like it feel even more special that we got to get it, you know?

[Kim]

Absolutely. Okay. Oh, guys.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Kim]

Next category is Best Couple. I'm not going to do the nominees because there are a lot of different combinations.

[Anna]

There's a lot.

[Kim]

But let's do best couple from these books. Anna, what is your pick?

[Anna]

Khan and Rave. And I can't say too much because.

[Kim]

Sorry.

[Anna]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I can't wait for you to read this because the joy it will bring me to relive it with you makes me want to cry. Like, it's so beautifully done. And Khan is my leading man because of the supportive, patient king that he is. And I just. The two of them together, the push and the pull and the love, it's so deep and beautiful, and I can't. I just. It's Chef's kiss. Perfection.

[Kim]

Fantastic answer. Okay, Christina.

[Christina]

Yes, I'll second that. But I will go with a backup as well. So I'm going to say Misha and Asar. I loved their journey. I think that seeing their push and pull while, like, leading into what became such a beautiful, like, healing dynamic for the two of them, Getting to see the parallels with their scars and their backstory and really, like, showing each other what love is supposed to feel like felt so genuine and beautiful. And having only known them for one book, I was just really blown away with how much I loved them by the end.

[Anna]

Yes, yes, agree.

[Kim]

Totally agree. Christina. That was my pick as well, was Misha and Asar. But I also really loved Ione and Elm from Two Twisted Crowns.

[Anna]

That was my second.

[Kim]

They were wonderful. Elm was fantastic. I loved getting to read more about Ione since Elspeth was otherwise occupied. And I just. I really, really loved them. I. I was sad when that book was over, because I wanted just more. And I loved Elm. He was very sexy.

[Anna]

I know he surprises you, Elm. It's like, oh, hello.

[Kim]

Oh, Elm. Oh, where did you come from?

[Anna]

Where did you come from? What are you doing here?

[Christina]

I, you know, experienced that book through listening to Yalls episode, which was a really fun way to do it. We don't suggest that to people in general, in the world, in the public, because we want them to read the book as well.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But I did not have time to read the book, so I was like, you know, I'm read it through this episode with you guys. And so things were surprising to me and so much fun. And one of the things that was so surprising to me was you guys reading these Elm quotes that I was like, elm is sexy.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

We knew he was sweet, but, like, Elm is delivering on the sexiness. And it was so much fun to hear that side of him. I was gonna say read that side of him, but I didn't read it. So hear that side of him through you guys. It was such a fun treat.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

The moment that I went, oh, hello, El was. And he's like, ione's dripping wet. She's drying off in front of the fire, and she's, like, wringing her hair out, and it's Elm's pov And he just goes. He's just thinking it. It's almost like a side thought. And he's like, what it would be like to wrap my hands around her hair and tug. And I was like, this is chapter three. Okay. Elm.

[Kim]

Elm, it's chapter three. Are you Aware of that, sir.

[Christina]

That's right.

[Kim]

The hair tug, sir.

[Anna]

Wow.

[Kim]

Hello.

[Anna]

Elm and Ione's, like, totally oblivious to it.

[Kim]

Oh, my gosh. I love it.

[Christina]

I love to see it.

[Kim]

Okay, we are gonna do a speaker special category this year that we have never done before, and it is worst couple. Because, friends with so much love and respect, there were some pairings this year. Duos that made us want to pull our hair out and throw the books across the room. Okay, so. And who was your worst couple this year?

[Anna]

Wait. Okay. I'm gonna go last.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

Christina.

[Anna]

Christina, you go first. I want to see what Christina says.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Christina]

My worst couple of the year is Henry.

[Kim]

And that.

[Anna]

That was mine, too. Okay. I wanted to see if somebody else picked it.

[Kim]

Oh, yeah. Had. Had to be.

[Christina]

And I struggled with, like, do we call them a couple? But we can actually. Which is why they're the most infuriating. Yep. Because they are actually a couple. On page. They're engaged, actually on page.

[Anna]

Oh, my God.

[Christina]

Don't remind me. Absolutely infuriating.

[Anna]

I forgot.

[Kim]

Engaged. Engaged to be married. Okay.

[Christina]

They are engaged to be marriage.

[Anna]

We are gathered together today.

[Christina]

Marriage. Okay.

[Anna]

Marriage.

[Christina]

And she actually. In our interview with Pen, Pen told us that she actually was going to have them stay engaged for, like, a whole section of the whole next book.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Christina]

So much longer than they were actually engaged. But some, like, pre reader was like, this is. You've gotta. You can't.

[Anna]

No. I would have thrown in the towel.

[Christina]

This is absolutely not okay.

[Anna]

Absolutely.

[Kim]

That would have put me over the edge. I already felt like it went on way too long for my comfort. And to know that it could have gone on for longer is honestly, like, terrifying. Like, it terrifies me.

[Anna]

Like, when in book three, when she shows up and he's, like, making out with the healer friend girl. And then he, like, admits to, like, basically being with her behind, and he's like, well, you did it with. Oh. And he calls her names. I just want to.

[Kim]

I hate him.

[Anna]

Nerms.

[Christina]

She calls her names. And, like, even in the first book, the moment where she's a queen. She's an actual queen.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And he. No. Second book. Sorry. And Henry shows up and is disgusted with her. And she is trying to, like, literally convince him to be her king. She's like, please, please come and love me and be my king. And it's like, while Luther is, like, just wanting to serve her and protect her and be everything, empowering her. And we get this exact parallel of her having to convince Henry, like, to kiss her.

[Anna]

Oh, no.

[Christina]

And then he, like, nothing is about her pleasure. And he just, like, zips his pants up and walks out without looking at her. Remember?

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Oh, my God.

[Kim]

She tries to grab his hand, and he, like, shakes her off.

[Christina]

Guys, it's bad.

[Anna]

I don't. I don't like it.

[Christina]

Rage, rage, rage in my soul.

[Kim]

Oh. But I have a backup worst couple. Please tell us, what is it? It's obviously Ethan and Siggy. You guys, the romance of the century.

[Christina]

Clearly the romance we all needed.

[Kim]

Really?

[Christina]

You know, that's what we left the book thinking. Yeah, man. I.

[Anna]

Listen, if there was ever a time where I was like, I don't need a body, because her head literally comes off, basically.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And then it's like, well, okay, she's dead. We're done. She's dead and buried.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And then Ithan. I'm just gonna let me just, like, bring her back.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And I'm like, why?

[Christina]

You know why? What would be fun? Some necromancy.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And you know what's worked out well in the past? This necromancy idea.

[Kim]

Yes, exactly.

[Christina]

So let's do this now. And then again later, he's like, no, let's do it again. Remember, like, they want to do it.

[Kim]

Again even though they want to do it again. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.

[Christina]

But also, if we remember in this book, someone does get their face actually shot off and they're fine. Yep. So I guess there's really no rules. Nope, nope.

[Kim]

You know, I did forget about that. But that's fun that you brought that back up.

[Anna]

Oh, Sabine.

[Kim]

I just want to remind everybody that Ithan knew Siggy for two days Dos. And his reaction to her beheading is truly one of the most obnoxious things in that entire book for me. And that's really saying something because of the cave scenes and Bryce and everything else. I was most annoyed by Ethan. More warning Siggy. As if it was his lifelong best friend that had died.

[Christina]

His mate.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

As if.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Listen, I know he struggles. He's like, he killed somebody. But also, it's like, it's war times.

[Kim]

It's war times and she was going to kill you. Yeah.

[Anna]

Like, struggle with it, move on, Compartmentalize it. Ruhn had his hand bitten off by his best bud. You can get over beheading the bad chick.

[Kim]

Yeah. That you don't even know.

[Anna]

Seek therapy.

[Christina]

One more bite. I want everyone to remember the line.

[Anna]

One more, more bite.

[Christina]

Bite. If he can move forward, you can move forward.

[Kim]

Yeah. That was no trauma bonding.

[Anna]

Like biting your friend's Hand off.

[Christina]

No. Another backup I had was Ethan and the sport and the word of sun ball. Just Ethan and sun ball in general.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Did you. Does he play some ball? Does he play Christina?

[Kim]

Does he?

[Anna]

Does he what?

[Christina]

Oh, he never mentions it. I don't know.

[Kim]

I don't know.

[Christina]

One of my favorite things that then brought me back to was when we. That was when Barbie was really hot. It was big, big time Barbie time in the US and we, we kept saying like, Ethan's job. I was like, man, I forgot about.

[Kim]

That phase of our life with like.

[Christina]

One, everything was Barbie.

[Anna]

But two, that it was like, job is sunball.

[Christina]

Ethan's job is sunball. And thinking about that as him as kin is actually so perfect. It actually like works so well.

[Anna]

So well. Like, if he showed up with a mojo dojo casa house, if that is what the wolf den turned into, would not be surprised.

[Kim]

Actually, in my mind, that is what the wolf den is, is the mojo dojo casa house. Currently you can't convince me otherwise because if Ethan's running shit, it's absolutely, absolutely mojo dojo sunball posters everywhere. Like they.

[Anna]

Horses, Horses.

[Kim]

Fur coats.

[Anna]

Oh, no, no, no. Fur coats. Because they're animals. So it's rather just wearing them.

[Christina]

Oh, oh, Anna.

[Kim]

Yeah, yeah, that would be. That would be a little.

[Anna]

They don't need fur coats. It's natural.

[Kim]

If they have a natural fur coat in at all times, they just shift. It's fine. But also just imagining ithan in a floor length fur coat, just like tossing the sunball around is like a really fun visual that I. Yeah, just like, like it's hard.

[Christina]

He has sunglasses on.

[Kim]

Yeah, of course.

[Christina]

Also dark outside.

[Kim]

It's like, of course. No, it's 9pm He' yeah, yeah, Even better. Okay, next category is best supporting character. I mean, I consider this person to be a supporting character, but I have to go with Carrion.

[Anna]

That mine.

[Christina]

That was mine.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

Guys, has to be him.

[Christina]

Has to be. He is everything we want from a supporting character.

[Anna]

Yes. Truly comedic relief.

[Christina]

He is funny.

[Anna]

Actually ends up being important to the plot in the end.

[Christina]

Yes. I was going to say his arc is so fun.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Now thinking about who he is that whole time. What a fantastic supporting character.

[Kim]

Yes. Oh, he's so funny. You know, at the beginning, I don't think any of us thought Carrion was going to be. We all thought he was the male lead. At the very beginning, literally all three of us were like, okay, so this is him. Like, he called her a bitch. Obviously they're going to Be in love, obviously. That's how this goes. This is not our first rodeo. Turns out we were wrong. And turns out it was our first. Turns out this was our first rodeo. But what a lovely surprise what he turned into. And he was just such a very much needed comedic relief. Eating the quiche in the corner. He just, like, rocks up with the plan.

[Christina]

Did I see Cali comment on our post the other day about the quiche?

[Anna]

No, no.

[Christina]

Kelly Hart. Yeah, she commented on our TikTok back. Yeah, shut up. We posted the clip about the quiche.

[Kim]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Christina]

Okay, so the other day, we posted a clip, and Callie commented on our TikTok saying, our boy loves his quiche with a. With a laugh face and a girl like this. Stop.

[Kim]

Oh, my God. I love that.

[Anna]

That's so sweet.

[Christina]

That's so fun.

[Kim]

Oh, he does love his quiche.

[Anna]

He loves food and j. And he loves plants. You know, he does love plants, quiche.

[Christina]

And plants, and naming his sword Simon.

[Anna]

Oh, my God.

[Kim]

Oh, that moment.

[Anna]

It looks like a Simon you don't like. Not like Bloodlust or Excalibur. No.

[Christina]

Here's a book of Latin. Anything in here?

[Anna]

Simon?

[Christina]

Nope.

[Kim]

Simon. And you know what? He's not wrong.

[Christina]

I will say another backup for me was Taryn. I love Taron. He's fantastic in that series. And also another much needed comedic relief. And he provides a really great, I think, insight into Luther that we really need. That's another key piece of supporting character. So he's definitely my backup there too.

[Kim]

Oh, that's a great one, Christina. I forgot about Taryn.

[Anna]

I had Esme as my backup just because she was such a small part of Songbird, But I just loved her. And I love that Karissa told us in our interview that we get more of her in book two.

[Kim]

Oh, that's thrilling that Esme's coming back. I'm so excited. Those are all great choices. Okay, so we're gonna move to another.

[Anna]

I wonder who it is.

[Kim]

We're gonna do most infuriating character. Okay, who would like to go first?

[Christina]

Go back around the circle. It's Anna's turn. Anna.

[Anna]

I mean it. Ethan. I mean, Ethan. I. Yeah, I also had dm, but Ethan.

[Christina]

Yeah, I have Henry as mine.

[Kim]

Henry was my backup. Therian was also pretty annoying, but mostly with the vials. He didn't annoy me as much overall as Ethan, but when he did annoy me, it was very annoying. Yeah, Henry. Actually, Henry does infuriate me if it's most infuriating character, but, like, no. Ithan is also such a dumb.

[Anna]

They infuriate me for different reasons. In some ways it's like. In some ways Henry is. I know he's not a villain, Pen, but in some ways I'm like, he is my villain.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And then Ethan is just this infuriating stupid boy that I'm just like, why are you the way that you are? You are.

[Christina]

And why must we see it? Why must we be?

[Kim]

Why must we see it? Do that off page. Do that on your own time. Don't bring that to us.

[Christina]

We don't need to be here for this.

[Anna]

We don't need to be here for your stupid mistakes.

[Christina]

No, my backup was actually. So I really enjoyed Peyton throughout Powerless. But at the very end of Powerless, Peyton does something. Oh, Christina, that is so Infuria. And Anna didn't read Powerless. I don't think she's going to.

[Anna]

Nope.

[Christina]

But. So, Peyton, there's a big reveal. Did you listen those episodes at all, Anna, or is this us giving you the reveal?

[Anna]

No, give me the. I didn't get to that part. I didn't get all this at the end.

[Christina]

Okay. So we're living this life with it.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So the big reveal is that actually the king didn't kill her father, Kai did.

[Kim]

The love interest.

[Christina]

The love interest. So it's. It is a big.

[Anna]

This is. I can't say that. Oh, shit. Oh, well, no, if you've read. If. Yeah, if it's like Songbird, you've read the first two books. It's like the end of the first book.

[Kim]

Yes, exactly like that.

[Christina]

Yes, kinda. Yes, actually. Oh, yeah.

[Anna]

Is this a bigger deal?

[Christina]

Well, it's. It's different.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Kim]

She makes it. It's. She's.

[Anna]

Yeah, but.

[Christina]

And that all is fine. And we were fine with all of that. And that is actually not infuriating that she was upset about that. Like, that's a hard thing to get.

[Anna]

Past in a relationship.

[Christina]

Yeah. The thing that is the most frustrating is she spent the entire book being like, I'm sure the king did it. I'm sure the king did it. I'm really upset about this other brother because of his green eyes, because I always see them as the king's eyes. And then all of a sudden, at this moment, she decides, no, actually, I do remember everything. And actually everything I felt for Kai turns out was not real because what I was doing was I actually subconsciously remembered him from that night. And what I felt for him was just like a comfortability and a familiarity because I saw him that night even Though I forgot I saw him that night. That I maybe saw him that night killing my dad. And therefore everything I felt for him now has been fake and not real.

[Anna]

Huh?

[Kim]

Because I remember him killing my dad, but I don't remember him killing my dad. Because the entire book, I said it was the king, but now actually, no, actually, now that it's being told to me, I do remember that it was Kai.

[Anna]

My subconscious locked it away.

[Kim]

My subconscious.

[Anna]

But instead of making me like fear him, it made me fall in love with him.

[Kim]

Fall in love with him? Every single feeling I feel for him was familiarity. There was no familiarity. You didn't. You didn't know the entire book.

[Anna]

No.

[Christina]

Also, you're telling me no. No. You felt sexiness towards him because he's sexy and sweet. Yeah. That you loved him because he's sweet and you loved him because he's sexy.

[Kim]

No, Christine, none of that had to.

[Christina]

Do with the damn fact that he killed your dad.

[Kim]

Nope.

[Christina]

Cuz he didn't even mean to.

[Anna]

You know what? This would have infuriated me.

[Kim]

Oh, it did.

[Christina]

Thank you, Anna, for the validation.

[Kim]

We had a whole conversation about it. I was so worked up, I could barely contain myself. I was.

[Christina]

Kim actually in the episode, said, I am. What's the word? Ensconced.

[Anna]

In.

[Christina]

In not ensconced.

[Kim]

I was like, I don't think I said ensconced, but I was so pissed. Because it doesn't make any sense. Because it doesn't make any sense.

[Christina]

And then just to top that off, quickly is at the end then she says she sees a forget me not flower. And she remembers when Kai gave her the flower and was like, so you don't forget who I am? And she's like, how could I ever forget? He is my father's killer.

[Anna]

But, but, but you did.

[Kim]

Hold on. But you just forgot.

[Christina]

But I'm sorry, now we're forgetting that.

[Kim]

We forgot that we forgot. Yeah. She goes, how could I ever forget my father's killer? And I literally was like, but you actually, then, oh.

[Anna]

Oh my God.

[Christina]

That's my backup.

[Kim]

Weirdly though, we have gotten so many DMs. Being like, when are you guys gonna read Reckless? And I'm like, we need. I need a minute to recover from the end.

[Anna]

I need a minute. I mean, it sounds like it.

[Christina]

Because we loved it so much. And we loved.

[Kim]

Yeah, it was so fun.

[Christina]

And we loved Kit. We loved pay. Like, really. I would never put her as most infuriating up until that last moment. I love her. And we are. We are Gonna read reckless.

[Kim]

We are.

[Christina]

Before fearless comes out, everybody.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So this is your announcement. That's coming in the spring.

[Kim]

There you go.

[Christina]

But that moment was up there on the list.

[Kim]

That's a great one, Christine. I. I actually. I think I blocked that out in my mind, like, a trauma response to be like, no, that didn't happen. That didn't. If I need to continue with the series, that didn't happen to me. Which we are gonna continue.

[Christina]

So maybe we just need.

[Kim]

Which we are. So forget about it.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Christina]

What's next, Kim?

[Kim]

We're gonna do best cast or best friend group category?

[Christina]

Ensemble. Yep.

[Kim]

Yeah, I mean, I feel like we probably all have the same one.

[Christina]

Maybe there wasn't many to choose.

[Anna]

There wasn't many. It was a lot of, like, duologies. Like, our two duos.

[Kim]

Yeah. The characters this year were, like, much smaller groups of characters. We didn't have those kind of big. JM Loves a friend group.

[Anna]

She loves Cassie. Loves.

[Kim]

Loves a friend group.

[Christina]

You're right. And for so many years in a row, we had the boys in Cassie Claire's books to really pull from, and we didn't have them this year. So. Anna, give us yours.

[Anna]

Okay. Yes. So my ensemble was the cast of hofast. For better, for worse.

[Kim]

Same.

[Christina]

I actually have a different one.

[Anna]

Oh, I'm excited. I loved the story. I love all their characters together. Like, there's funny moments, there's sweet moments, and when you take the series as a whole, all of those things together. Like, I just. I do think SJM obviously has a gift with writing those, like, found family dynamics. So for me, it was hofast.

[Kim]

Agreed.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Kim]

I have nothing new and different to say. Christina, what's your answer?

[Christina]

I agreed. I did love the boys in hofast, especially Ruhn and the boys. Like, there's just those moments there. I mean, all of them together, and then Ruhn and Bryce and, like, just, like, all those dynamics coming together to the end. And, like, really, when you get to the bonus chapters and they're all there for Lydia and Ruhn's wedding, it's like you really see all of them together, all of it.

[Anna]

Even Cormac being brought and Baxian being brought into the fold. And, like, Hunt realizing Baxian is just maybe alone in this awful group of people surrounded by Pollux and the playing Nintendo games. And I love that dynamic.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Christina, who did you choose?

[Christina]

Agreed. So I chose dm, Luther, Eleanor, and Taryn.

[Anna]

Oh, that's a good one too.

[Christina]

I felt like they were a nice little ensemble, especially Picturing them going off and, like, doing their little missions and their things, and I don't know, I just. I liked the idea of them in the palace together and, like, being each other's little found family and supporting and surrounding dm, and I just. Yeah, I loved their family dynamic together.

[Anna]

Agree. That's a good one.

[Kim]

That's a really good one. I love Taryn, and Eleanor was so such a wonderful support to DM that she really needed throughout the series. Taryn was fantastic, and I'm just love him.

[Christina]

Me too.

[Kim]

Great choice, Christina. Okay, this is a fun one. We are gonna do. Best sex scene.

[Anna]

Kim, do you want to go first?

[Kim]

Okay, so my answer might surprise you because there was a lot of scenes from Quicksilver that I really loved, but I thought somebody else might choose that, so I was like, let me see. I, for so many reasons, loved the Kindred's Curse library scene that we finally get to the payoff, y'all. Like, Pen makes us wait and wait and wait. But when she finally gave it to us, I was like, okay, Pen. Okay, I see you.

[Anna]

Yep, I loved it.

[Christina]

And it was worth the wait.

[Kim]

It was.

[Christina]

I absolutely love that scene. Great choice, Kim. Great choice.

[Kim]

Yeah, I just felt like it was really, surprisingly very spicy and sexy and very spicy. Wonderful.

[Anna]

And you're just waiting for.

[Kim]

So it's almost like. I don't know if it was that we were just waiting for so long, and so then I would have just been like, give me a crumb. Give me anything. And she was like, yeah, I'll give you a lot more than that.

[Christina]

She was like, I'll give you a whole piece of cake. I'll give you the whole crumble.

[Kim]

Loved it. I loved it. Okay, who wants to go next? Christina?

[Christina]

I have a scene from Quicksilver. Specifically, I think Quicksilver was a really, surprisingly sexy book for us in a way that the actual words on page in the sex scenes are typically words we see in our romance novels. So having that actual dialogue happen in a fantasy felt like new and different in a really fun, sexy way. So one in particular that I just couldn't get out of my head was. So it's when he brings her back to the apartment in Ballard, it's toward the end, we know we're mates, and they're like, let's just have tonight. Let's just have tonight. And then, like, we'll deal with everything tomorrow. Blah, blah, blah. He runs away in the morning, which is really infuriating. But fine. But they, like, have that night, and it's really romantic. And then it gets real sexy real fast and it's so hot. And they're like mind speaking and all these things and like out loud speaking and all this stuff. And he has this line where he says, I'm about to introduce you to all seven gods. When you meet them, don't forget to tell them I'm the one you worship on your knees.

[Anna]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Christina]

Okay, I can't like Sir Kingfisher.

[Kim]

Like, wow.

[Christina]

Oh, I know.

[Anna]

I love that.

[Christina]

I just. That line, I think was.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So hot and so perfectly like sexy but fantasy, you know, like you tell all those seven gods, I'm the one you worship on your knees. Wow.

[Kim]

Fisher and Sarah actually almost won best couple for me. They didn't because I didn't love how mean Fisher was to her in the beginning. But like, once we got there with them, I absolutely loved them together.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

75% on one of the best couples.

[Kim]

But literally, yes.

[Christina]

Unfortunately.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

75. We have to account for.

[Kim]

Yes. So hopeful for book two because we're. We're together now, so we can't go back to that.

[Christina]

Exactly. This dynamic in a whole book is going to be outstanding.

[Anna]

I can't.

[Kim]

I cannot wait. I'm so excited. Okay, Anna, what was yours?

[Anna]

Okay, so I actually had that one too, Christina.

[Kim]

Oh, nice.

[Anna]

But just for the same reasons. I loved the dirty talk and all of it. So yummy. But I also really, really, really, really, really loved the altar scene in Songbird. I love the forbidden aspect of it.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Anna, I love the like. Like you to Atraxas.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Oh, when she's like, are you gonna be slow with me? And he's like, when have I ever not paid enough attention?

[Christina]

Or like he says, I have impeccable attention to detail.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

I have impeccable attention to details. And then he tells her to like, let go and it's just. Oh.

[Christina]

He tells her to ignite.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Ignite formula. I just loved all of it. It's like the buildup of. It's the cave 2.0 scene that leads into this kind of.

[Christina]

That was my backup.

[Kim]

Oh, that's a good one, Christina.

[Anna]

Because I hated it. Atraxa so much. I love the forbidden aspect of it. And we've been watching Misha struggle so much with her self loathing and not feeling good enough and Asar just basically worshiping her and like, you're magnificent, you're beautiful, you're everything. She's the sunlight. It was so sweet, but also so sexy.

[Kim]

Couldn't agree more.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Kim]

Okay. Next we're gonna do best setting slash world building.

[Anna]

Oh, this one was. Was a hard one for me.

[Kim]

It was. So I actually went with the Kindred's Curse world because I just thought it was so new and different to anything that we had seen before. And I thought Pen did a really great job at differentiating the different realms. Yeah, they're called realms. I thought they were all really different from each other. Super unique. And I just thought. Yeah, it was. It was different than, I think, what we had read in a fantasy book before. And I think she kind of took different realms and, like, made her own twists on it, and I really enjoyed it. It.

[Christina]

Yeah, agreed. I think that's a great choice, Kim, because I also think she kept it accessible. I think there's, like, a level of that map. When we interviewed her, one of the. The times. I think it was the first time this year when we were telling her that so many people on our Patreon were saying, like, tell her thank you for the map. That it's a circle that I understand.

[Anna]

It hooks on a wheel.

[Christina]

Yes. And in the new editions, the new hardcovers, the map is redone. And it's stunning. It's so gorgeous.

[Kim]

Really?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Oh, I love that.

[Christina]

But I totally agree. I love that. Love that answer. And you go next.

[Anna]

Okay, so my favorite. This was really hard, and I think this might shock some people because I actually went with the Shepherd King, and I. It was really hard because it was when the moon hatch and the Shepherd King were really neck and neck for me.

[Kim]

Oh, Anna. Yeah. That's surprising. I forgot about when the moon hatched.

[Anna]

I know. So, I mean, obviously, when the moon hatch is incredible. And I could go on for hours and hours and hours about it, and I never stopped thinking about it.

[Kim]

Sure.

[Anna]

But there was something about the Shepherd King. I think it had that accessibility that's the. When the moon hatch is obviously a little bit more like Crescent City World Building, which I love. But the Shepherd King, the way Rachel Gillig wrote it, not only are the cards different and unique, but, like, the way that every character. She came up with things like cursing instead of saying, like, fuck or damn. It was trees. And. Yeah. I just felt like she really took it from the bottom up, and it was different and new, and it was like this gothic and romantasy and the poems that she wrote, I just felt like it was immersive.

[Kim]

Absolutely.

[Anna]

In a way that hadn't read in a long time. So for me, it was the Shepherd King by Rachel Gillig.

[Kim]

Oh, that's such a great answer, Anna. I love that. I also love that world. Rachel Gillig is. We're hoping to hopefully get her on the podcast because she is such a talented, talented writer and we are looking forward to her next book.

[Anna]

So excited. Christina, did you do yours?

[Christina]

Oh, yes. Mine was when the moon hatched. It is absolutely impeccable world building. Getting to talk to Sarai Parker about it was absolutely interesting and mind blowing. It is some of the most intricate and beautiful world building that exists. I truly think it is. It deserved awards in real life. She deserves an actual plaque and a medal on her shelf that says, you are amazing at world building because it is so cool and intricate and beautiful while being. It does still feel accessible, though. There's a lot to it. But, like, once you get into it, it really isn't as overwhelming as you. As it feels at the beginning, as you think.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And then it just feels immersive.

[Anna]

All of the voices of each element, like, every element has its own voice, basically. And when you get those aspects of the voice and they kind of come through through like a character's inner monologue.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

I remember telling her this. Like, I can not hear the sound.

[Christina]

Of rain the same.

[Anna]

And not think of what she wrote about rain.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Beautiful.

[Christina]

And like the dragons and the creatures and just the history there, I think is so well done and really, really beautiful.

[Anna]

I'm excited to see what she does in book two with it.

[Christina]

Me too. Very excited.

[Kim]

So let's do best villain. And I just have no idea who we could pick for this category. I just don't know.

[Anna]

Do we all have the same one?

[Kim]

I mean, mine is absolutely Atroxas.

[Anna]

Atraxus.

[Christina]

Atrax boxes. Hands down.

[Kim]

Could there be another answer?

[Anna]

He's so gross.

[Christina]

I do have a backup. Who's your backup of Pollux.

[Anna]

Oh, God damn, I hate him.

[Kim]

Oh, Christina, That's a good one. Oh, him. He was.

[Anna]

Makes me so angry.

[Christina]

Horrible. Especially in season.

[Anna]

Oh, I just. He calls her a see you next. And I was like.

[Christina]

And then he takes her sons and it's just like. It's so bad.

[Kim]

Oh, Christina. Yeah.

[Christina]

Yeah. He was my bad up. The both of them can die in the fiery rot in hell. Yes. Be tortured forever.

[Anna]

Go visit Asar and let him not make sure you find.

[Kim]

Yeah, exactly. No necromancy for you.

[Anna]

No necromancy for you.

[Kim]

You're dead. Yeah. Atraxas was. Well, I think we can all agree it was Charissa's first true villain. Not a morally gray character, but a True. Just evil villain. And wow, she really pulled it off.

[Anna]

There's nothing redeeming about him.

[Kim]

No, and certainly not.

[Anna]

She did have stuff to say about him. In our interview, our spoiler section on Patreon, you know, we were like, you're the queen of morally gray. But there was not really anything gray about him. Like, he was gross. And she was like, yeah, huh.

[Christina]

Sure was.

[Kim]

She was like, yeah, that guy. And I was like, yes, exactly, Carissa. Exactly.

[Anna]

She did say that.

[Kim]

She was like, yeah, fuck that guy. She's so funny.

[Anna]

Oh, God, I love it.

[Kim]

Okay, let's do best Cover, guys. I'm excited to hear. Okay, Anna, you want to go?

[Anna]

Yeah. Mine was Songbird. I love the colors. I love the graphics. I actually. My hard copy just came, and I just. I love the way it looks and feels.

[Kim]

I love it. Me, too. That was my answer.

[Anna]

It's my favorite.

[Kim]

Beautiful covers. Beautiful.

[Christina]

If we can do special editions, I will do my Fairyloot edition of when the Moon Hatch because it is maybe one of the most gorgeous things I own.

[Anna]

Okay. That's beautiful.

[Kim]

Truly. Oh, my God, Christina, it is honestly the most beautiful book I think I've ever seen in my life. I'm sorry, what? The foil, those sprayed edges. You know I'm a slut for a sprayed edge girl.

[Christina]

I know that about you.

[Anna]

You are a slept for a sprayed edge.

[Kim]

Yeah. The crowns of Nexus here series covers, she did a really, really great job with them. They all feel very, like, tied together in a way, but still very unique.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And I love all the little details that she weaves into the covers. It reminds me a little bit of the Crescent City covers, how there's all these little.

[Anna]

I agree.

[Kim]

Details in them.

[Christina]

Yes. 100.

[Anna]

That was a runner up for me.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

I also love your new special edition of two Twister crowns, Kim.

[Anna]

Oh, my God. That is gorgeous.

[Kim]

Oh, wait. Actually, shoot.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

Yeah. Damn it, Christina. Yeah, that was.

[Christina]

Yeah, that's a stunning one as well.

[Kim]

They are every. Absolutely stunning. Oh, guys, I'm so excited about this one. Okay, let's do Best laugh. Christina, what was your best laugh from this year?

[Christina]

So my best laugh was Rune's tiny baby hand.

[Kim]

Because if you go back to our episode, we go on a tangent about.

[Christina]

How his hand must have grown. It had to have grown. And then Anna's like, remember in SNL when Kristen Wiig's character has a little doll hand stuck in her sweater and I'm Judy.

[Kim]

Judy.

[Christina]

And then picturing him with this little hand? And then also later when he's on that damn ship. And he says. He puts that little baby hand on his head, and he says, you seem to like my strength plenty, sweetheart. I just. I was cackling thinking about it, like, the baby hand stroking her face. I just.

[Anna]

It's both so enraging. That line. You seem to like my strength, sweetheart. But then you take the baby hand, and it's like, how much of it has grown, sir?

[Christina]

Because that's the thing. We also. From the first book, it really was a tie back to our first Crescent City episode where we talked about the baby bird wings from book one. And so, like, if the baby bird wings are growing small, you know, like that, then the hand must have also grown at a slow pace.

[Anna]

At a slow pace, yeah.

[Christina]

Yeah. So anyways, that was my best laugh of the season.

[Anna]

Oh, my God. That's amazing.

[Kim]

Enna, what was yours?

[Anna]

Okay, so mine is actually. Mine is not in a book.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

It is our headcanon.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

And it's Baxian's bonus chapter that doesn't exist.

[Kim]

Yes. But it's fof canon. Yes. A great choice.

[Christina]

100%.

[Anna]

So listeners who are not familiar, we did all of the hofast bonus chapters that Sarah released in the various editions. We covered them for Patreon and just read them and then did, like, a little debrief on them. But I personally was not available, slash, did not want to participate in reading Danika's POV because it just. I hated it. I hated it. I don't like it. She's so bad in it. So it doesn't exist. It doesn't exist.

[Christina]

Nope.

[Kim]

Right?

[Anna]

And I told this to Kim and Christina. I read it at 3am after we were done with Hofast. I couldn't go to sleep. It just mentally made me so sad. And the next morning, I was distraught, and Kim and Christina were like, you know what? This is the bonus chapter.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Bonus chapter that we came up with was Baxian on the island by himself with the pegasus. Like, when he calls Bryce at the end and he's like, so, listen, star princess, are you gonna come pick up your pegasi? Because they're going crazy over here.

[Christina]

I'm just picturing them like, oh, that's a shifty one. He's, like, trying, like, oh, you. You come here. Oh, nope, nope. You. Oh, okay, guys. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Nope, nope. You start to, like, wrangle them like a cowboy kind of. But, like, the pegasus are really not listening to him.

[Anna]

And they're named, like, blueberry and brambleberry and shoeberry and like, these ridiculous babes.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

And he's, like, terrified of them. And then, like, Bryce and Hunt show up, and they're just like, okay, buddy. And Ruhn. And everyone else is, like, filming on their phones and, like, cackling, and it's so funny.

[Anna]

He's going viral on TikTok.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

And they just, like, stroll up to Bryce and let her just pet them. And she's like, yeah. I don't know why you're freaking out. He's like, yeah, you bramble. What?

[Kim]

Are you kidding me?

[Christina]

Guys, this is.

[Kim]

He kicked me.

[Anna]

He gave me all the sugar cubes.

[Kim]

Look at the bridge.

[Christina]

Oh, my God.

[Kim]

They're like, okay, buddy, like, you need some sleep. That is the fof Canon A hofus bonus chapter, if you're curious. We have a whole episode on it on our Patreon. Please go. Look at that. It is a real gem.

[Christina]

If anyone out there has any writing skills and wants to write the fanfic for us, please let us know. We will post it on our Patreon.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Christina]

And give you the credit.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

Okay. My laugh is the scene when Bryce and Hunt go to hell and they meet adas, and he's on the gondola. He. He's gondoliering. Gondoliering.

[Anna]

I love it.

[Christina]

I love it. Yeah.

[Kim]

Scrape Christina through hell. And he's basically like, tells them to choose love. But we took that and ran with it. And in our minds, he's gondoleeering, and he's singing that's Amore. And he's looking back at them and going, choose Amore to Bryce and Hunt as they're going through hell. Oh, God, it's so good.

[Anna]

It's so good.

[Christina]

And he's like, I know this goes against everything I've told you the entire series, but now that we're here, you know what? I think you should choose left.

[Kim]

Choose them all right. Choose each other. Choose them all right.

[Christina]

Oh, God. It's just really fantastic.

[Anna]

Oh, God, it's so good. It's so good. It's so good.

[Christina]

I love that moment. Kim, what a good choice.

[Kim]

Such a great choice. Oh, guys. Okay, here we are.

[Anna]

Best dramatic moment. Go.

[Kim]

Okay. Go. Anna, you go.

[Anna]

So I had one scene that I can't really talk about because Kim has.

[Kim]

A. I don't want to spoil it. Okay. I was like, where are we going with this?

[Christina]

So.

[Anna]

No, no, no, no, no. I'm. I'm not going to say if, you know. You know, from when the moon hatched and Christine and I could not get through it. I couldn't write the outline. I was sobbing. Okay. It just says, I love you. I'm going to take away the cold now.

[Christina]

Oh, God.

[Anna]

And if you know, you know, and it's horrible. And if you don't, I don't know why you're here. Except for Kim. She has to be.

[Kim]

Cause I work here, so I have to be here.

[Anna]

Yeah. Okay. That's mine.

[Kim]

Okay, Christina.

[Christina]

Okay. So my moment is, they're my son months.

[Anna]

That was.

[Christina]

Guys, when I tell you I went back and read this today, and it is so incredibly gorgeous and beautiful and heartbreaking. And she just wakes up in this bed, and first she says, like, am I alive or dead? And he says, alive. And then she says, where are we? And it says, on the depth charger. And so that it gets cut off. And it just says, she moved, period tubing. And monitors came flying off her. And she's ripping. Blood's, like, spraying everywhere. And she. She's just running and running, and everyone's chasing her. And it's just also the experience of reading this real time. And you're like, ruhn read the words on each wooden door. Year three, year seven, year five, and she just, like, skids to a halt at year nine. And tears are just, like, rolling down her face. And we see the boys. And then Flynn is like, you've got brothers on this ship. And they're not my brothers. Lydia whispered, her fingers curled on the glass. They're my sons.

[Kim]

Oh, my God. I could cry right now.

[Anna]

Everything about Lydia in that book to piggyback off that really quick. My backup was the scene where she saves her sons from Pollux. And I think also we had the starry night sky going on that projector.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And we had music playing, so it was, like, really dramatic.

[Christina]

Yeah, of course we did.

[Anna]

When Pollux has the gun and he's about to throw all of his magic and kill Brannon. And it's Ruhn's pov. And he says, ruhn didn't understand what he saw next. Lydia reached Brandon. How she reached Brandon time. And she's, like, running. And then she erupted, and she just covers his body. And she says his full name for the first time. And she says, brannon. And it's like a sob. And then Ace says, like, her other son goes, what are you? And still panting, blazing with fire, Lydia said, an old bloodline. And I was like, that moment, it's like we knew. We suspected because of the ring. But when she said that and she says, brandon. And she erupts in a White Fire. Literally.

[Christina]

Aylin.

[Kim]

Aylin.

[Christina]

That's such a good choice. Ada. That is so beautiful and amazing. Oh, my God. And for the reader, too. It was beautiful in the moment. And that moment we needed of Brannon. And then. Oh, my God. It was incredible, incredible, incredible. Kim, what was yours?

[Kim]

Okay, so I'm going to read this and I will cry, but it needs to be done.

[Anna]

I can't even look at you.

[Kim]

This is, of course, the ending of Two Twisted Crowns. And Christina, because you've listened to the episode, I feel okay reading it because you've heard me read it and also cry during the episode.

[Christina]

I did, and it was beautiful. And I'm glad to hear it again.

[Kim]

It is just one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. And it's the ending when the nightmare. The shepherd king and Elspeth have to say goodbye to each other. And he says, here we are, my darling girl. He whispered to me, the end of all things. The last page of our story. I don't know what it will be like to finally slip through the veil. He whispered, I hope it is as it was 11 years ago when you freed me from the nightmare. Card. Elspet Spindle. Quiet gentleman, full of wonder. And Elspeth says, I'll tell you a story. It always helped me sleep as a child. He nodded, folding his hands over his lap, and closed his eyes. There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a king, a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic. Anna, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two. I couldn't go on. Elspeth, he says, no, I'm not ready. Not yet. Yet. Finish the story, dear one. My voice shook. The two were together. And he says, together. So the two were the same. The girl, he whispered, honey and oil and silk. The king. We said the final words together, our voices echoing listless through the dark. A final note, an eternal farewell. And the monster. They became.

[Anna]

So beautiful.

[Kim]

That is now the fifth time I've cried experiencing this scene. And it just never. It's. It's just so sad and so beautiful. And when she says, I'm not ready. Not yet, like, it's just.

[Anna]

I'm not ready.

[Christina]

It's so good.

[Anna]

I know. Kim texted me this morning and she was like, I don't know how to get through this. And she was like, how to get through this?

[Kim]

I did. I was like, well, I'm crying and I'm just reading over my notes. And I'm crying again, you know, because when she says, I'm not ready, not yet, because, like, you're never ready to say goodbye. And Anna was like, well, thanks, Kim.

[Anna]

Yeah, thanks, Kimberlyn. Just sobbing.

[Kim]

I was like, I'm sorry.

[Christina]

I've got to get together. So good.

[Anna]

It's incredible.

[Christina]

I didn't even read the damn book and I'm crying like, that's how good it is.

[Anna]

But you read the first one, so, like, you have that. You have that tie and it's just.

[Christina]

Yes, it's gorgeous. And on that kind of note of saying goodbye, another moment that I think is a backup for all of us is the moment at the end of House of Flame and Shadow with the Danika and the pack of devils and sweet.

[Anna]

Oh, that's my quote.

[Kim]

Okay, great. Perfect.

[Christina]

Let's move on.

[Kim]

Okay. Okay, so next category is Best Line. So, Anna, will you read your best line, please?

[Anna]

Okay, here we go. So buckle up.

[Kim]

Buckle up, everybody.

[Anna]

Okay, so it's a short little paragraph. Just gonna read it because we all know if you've been with us from the beginning, why I hated the Danica bonus chapter is because I love the last scene in Crescent City, the first book with the light it up. And so this moment, for me, despite all the issues I had with CC3, this moment, it hit me in my feels. And I love it. So it says, far out on a distant hill stood seven figures. Bryce knew them by shape, knew them by their heights and the glow around them. She picked out Connor standing tall at the back. And standing at their front, a hand upraised. Bryce began crying. And it was pure joy and love that burst from her as she lifted a hand in greeting toward Danica. Danica here with everyone, safe and loved. She heard their words on the wind carried from her friend's soul to hers. Light it up, Bryce. And Bryce was laughing, laughing and sobbing as she yelled back across the lush plain and hills. Light it up, Danika. Wolfish laughter flowed to her. And then there was a spark of light by Danika's shoulder. And Bryce knew that fire. She blew a kiss to Lehabah. Through her tears, she turned back to Jesiba. How she says. And then Jesiba responds. It took their power. But what is eternal, what is made of love that can never be destroyed.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

Because through love, all is possible.

[Kim]

Okay. Okay.

[Anna]

It's so beautiful. I am.

[Kim]

Wow.

[Anna]

Uh huh.

[Christina]

It's so gorgeous. And it's just this perfect full circle. So much of this book is about grief and it's such a beautiful ending that anyone who's experienced grief wants for their love.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

The words in that quote of, like, seeing them safe and loved, it's just so gorgeous.

[Kim]

Lele.

[Christina]

Oh, and Lele, I'm so happy she brought Lele back for that moment. Lele being a part of that moment, that really took it over the edge.

[Anna]

And it's such a good bookend to book one, where she looks over and sees Connor and she texts him finally, and she says, I'm home.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But then in book two, we were told that that's all fake. We're told that actually they aren't there. And so we are like, they're not resting, not at peace.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And then to know that they are. And also, I just thought of this. But Lele and Danica never got along in life, you know? Like, they were really. They were always at odds with each other. And so to see Lele sitting on Danica's shoulder and, like, to be so happy and at peace together.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Kim, that's beautiful.

[Kim]

I know. I just thought about that.

[Anna]

I needed to hear that. Kim.

[Kim]

It's beautiful. They're together and they're happy together.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Everyone. Everyone is truly at peace. And to know that they now get along and, like, love each other, it was just really, really special.

[Christina]

Wow, guys. For a book we really didn't like, it's really.

[Kim]

I know.

[Anna]

I know, right?

[Kim]

I know. I think the things we liked, we loved.

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Kim]

The good stuff was impeccable because it's Sarah. You know what I mean?

[Anna]

Like, so when she does it well, she hits it out of the park.

[Kim]

When it hits, it hits.

[Christina]

I think that's what it was. Yeah. Oh, God. Wow.

[Kim]

I didn't have a favorite lime, but just all of Songbird. Basically just one big highlight.

[Christina]

Entirety.

[Kim]

I went through both of our outlines, and I was like, okay, well, this.

[Anna]

One, I just played the notes that sounded like you.

[Kim]

That was what I was gonna pick.

[Anna]

So stunning.

[Kim]

I just played the notes that sounded like you. I mean.

[Anna]

Okay, sr. You guys.

[Kim]

I mean, I don't think you would be here at this point if you haven't read Songbird, but truly, just, Karissa is so, so, so talented and in a league of her own when it comes to beautiful writing that is so accessible.

[Christina]

Absolutely.

[Kim]

And not. Not overly flowery or anything. It just. She really has such a gift.

[Christina]

Absolutely. I wanted to pick some from that, too. Like, just this is how Chosen One falls. Even just the way we start there is so gorgeous. I ended up going, though, with a line from Luther that just has still stuck out to me as like one of my favorite like love professions where he says, I want every breath, every laugh, every tear, every taste of your mouth, every inch of your skin. I want to kneel at your feet, feet soaked in the blood of your enemies, then worship your body until you scream my name.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Christina]

His hand slid to my hips and tucked me closer. Yes, dm. I want to serve you in every way a man can.

[Anna]

I forgot about that line.

[Kim]

I forgot about that line too. And I'm really glad I picked him as my best man because. Wow.

[Anna]

Wow, right?

[Christina]

I was just. Yeah, I went back, I was like, I know there's one about serving you and the soaked in the blood but also worshiping your body. And I like went and found. I was like, wow, this is what you want from a leading fantasy man to say to you? It's so good. So good.

[Kim]

Couldn't agree more. Okay, next is a non episode book. So a favorite book that we did not do a main feed episode on basically.

[Anna]

Okay, who wants to go first?

[Christina]

I'll go. I actually really loved Play along by Liz Tomford this year with Isaiah and Kennedy. I just. That one was one I. It wasn't like on my radar even. I was like, oh, that came out great. Let me read it. And it just stood out to me in that series as one of my absolute favorites in the Windy City series. And I. Yeah, I loved it. I thought it was hockey romance, all the tropes, perfection in a wrapped up little bow. I love, love, loved it.

[Kim]

Yeah. Oh, that's a great pick. Oh, that series is great, Kim. Mine was. This will be no surprise because I haven't shut up about it is Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. I read it over the summer. I have literally not stopped thinking about it. I've not stopped talking about it and I will not stop talking about it. It is fantastic. It is book three in her Part of youf World Series, Abby's Part of youf World Series. And it is the most truly romantic, I think contemporary romance book I've ever read. Like real, real romance. Not like things that like are beautiful but are not realistic for real life. This was real life. These were real people with real problems who were trying to come together and like make it work. And it was just really, really fantastic. And I think about it all the time and I like am dying to reread it. It's fantastic. Don't worry listeners, if you've read it, I will not stop until Anna have also read this Book.

[Christina]

It will happen.

[Kim]

It will happen. It's my goal.

[Christina]

One of us will be reading this book at some point.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

I'll add it to my summer list.

[Kim]

Perfect. It is so good. Anna, what's your pick?

[Anna]

Mine was a toss up between Fall with Me by Becca Mack.

[Christina]

Such a good one.

[Anna]

I just love Jackson and Lennon's story. I thought Jackson being the playboy, but he's not. And it had all of these different elements that I just really enjoyed. But the book I have not stopped thinking about. The series I have not stopped thinking about because that's too much books. And I know some people are gonna laugh at this.

[Kim]

Oh, I know.

[Christina]

Is it the Brutes?

[Anna]

It's Brutes of Bristlebrook.

[Christina]

I knew it.

[Kim]

I knew it.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

By Rebecca Quinn. But I literally have recommended this to so many people and people who don't read the same types of books as I do, and I've just been like, just. Just trust me. Just go. Go on like, a little journey with me. And they love it. And they're so shocked that they love it. I can't stop thinking about it. The psychology of all of the different characters. It's really unique. I don't know. I can't stop thinking about it. I have a whole Patreon episode on it.

[Kim]

She does.

[Christina]

I knew this was gonna be your pick.

[Kim]

I knew it too.

[Christina]

I'm so happy.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

That this has, like, survived the year with you, because this is the book that you actually started to read and told us about for the first time on our drive to the airport from Nashville after we had our hofast.

[Anna]

That's right. Reading retreat.

[Christina]

Reading retreat.

[Kim]

Oh, yeah.

[Christina]

We're on our way to the airport, and you're like, guys, I stayed up late last night reading this, like, dystopian. Why choose? I'm like, yeah, I don't even know. And we were like, huh, that's crazy. And so that was, like, last January. So the fact that your love for it has not dulled really speaks volumes.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

I'm not saying it's, like, the most amazing story writing I've ever read in my life, but it's something that just stuck with me. Like the characters. I can't not think about it. It's just a really fun book.

[Kim]

Oh, I love that.

[Christina]

And that's exactly what non episode book category is. So that's exactly.

[Kim]

Exactly. Okay. I have the distinct honor of announcing our patron. Patron's best book. So we put a poll up on our Patreon and had all of our members vote on their Favorite book that we did an episode on this year, and hands down by a landslide, it was when the Moon Hatched. Yay.

[Anna]

Yay.

[Kim]

Which I felt like was very lovely and of course, deserved.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

I mean, moving into, like, our favorite book of the year, that was my favorite main feed episode book of the year. That was my choice too.

[Kim]

Was it okay?

[Anna]

Yeah. I can't stop thinking about it. It's. Overall, it has all of the elements that I love in, like, an SJM book, but a new world, incredible writing story, love story. Oh, the Easter eggs. I think for me, that was the most fun.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Like, I was eating it up.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

It was so good.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Christina, what was your favorite book of the year?

[Christina]

I also have when the Moon Hatched. I think it just feels like a special, really big book that does deserves that title. In my. In my year lineup, it felt really special and cool and unique and different and, like, important. So.

[Anna]

Yes, important.

[Kim]

Totally. I love that Mine has got to be Songbird.

[Anna]

Oh, yeah.

[Kim]

I just loved Songbird. I loved Misha's story. I loved getting to talk to Carissa about it. I felt like that made it feel really special. Probably how you guys feel about getting to talk to Sarah about When the Moon hatch. Like, it just gives you that extra level of appreciation for how much work they put into it and the thought behind it and getting to chat with the author about their feelings. Like, it just takes it to a whole nother level. And it's no secret to anybody. I'm just a huge fan of the Crowns of Naxia series. Serpent is still one of my all time favorite Romantasy books, and I just thought it was fantastic.

[Christina]

It was. It absolutely was.

[Anna]

I agree. It was amazing. So that's it. Wow.

[Christina]

What a year we had, guys. This was a fantastic year. Thank you for being here with us, guys, with listeners, patrons, everyone. Thank you for. Yeah. Wrapping up season four with us.

[Kim]

Oh, my God.

[Anna]

This was a good year. I'm excited for next year too. Next year we've got some. I'm not gonna say what we have planned, but we have some fun things planned.

[Christina]

We sure do. We have some fun things planned.

[Anna]

Obviously, Onyx Storm, but other things too.

[Kim]

Other things. We are so excited for next year.

[Christina]

2025 is gonna be big. It's gonna be a big year for us. Yeah.

[Kim]

Well, friends, that wraps up another episode of Flights of Fantasy Podcasts podcast. Don't forget to join our book club community on Instagram and TikTok at flights of Fantasy Podcast where you can share your thoughts, theories and favorite moments with us and fellow listeners. If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us spread the magic of Romantasy to even more book lovers. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep reading, and remember, every good story deserves to take flight.