Flights of Fantasy Podcast – Season 5, Episode 11: "Welcome to ACOTAR: Revisited" Summary
Release Date: April 29, 2025
Hosts: Christina, Kim, and Anna
Introduction to the Special ACOTAR Revisited Series
In this heartfelt special episode of Flights of Fantasy, the hosts Christina, Kim, and Anna come together to celebrate a monumental milestone: the 10-year anniversary of Sarah J. Maas's beloved series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). This celebration marks the beginning of an extensive deep-dive series that will revisit all five books in the ACOTAR saga.
Christina kicks off the episode with enthusiasm:
“[00:02] Christina: Welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your Romantasy podcast book club. I'm Christina, joined by my book besties, Kim and Anna.”
[00:26] Christina: “...today we are beyond excited to announce that in honor of the 10 year anniversary of A Court of Thorns and Roses by our queen, Sarah J. Maas, we will be recovering the entire series, all five books, with brand new full Deep Dive episodes.”
The Personal Impact of ACOTAR on the Hosts
The episode delves deeply into what ACOTAR means to each host personally, highlighting the transformative power of the series.
Christina’s Journey Back to Reading:
Christina shares an emotional account of how ACOTAR reignited her passion for reading:
“[01:20] Christina: ...this series genuinely has changed our lives. It's what got me, Christina, back into reading. Like, I wasn't a reader as an adult until ACOTAR. I was like, would read a romance here and there on vacation, but then Anna convinced me to read book one of ACOTAR, and truly for the first time, I feel like I understood.”
A Shared Bond Over ACOTAR:
The series not only transformed Christina but also solidified the bond between the hosts:
“[03:26] Christina: ...I remember sprinting through Grand Central Station to get to a train to take to D.C. for this vacation just so that I could physically buy the copy of A Court of Mist and Fury before boarding. It was so good. And then I texted Anna the entire trip...”
“[03:37] Kim: That's all we needed.”
[03:38] Christina: “That I knew would instantly make you best friends. And it did.”
Anna and Kim’s Reflections:
The hosts reflect on how the series fostered a sense of community and reaffirmed their identities as readers:
“[04:15] Christina: It is really important to us, and I think it really brought a lot of people into this world and made a lot of people feel like they have a place in this world and as readers and find this community that we didn't have before.”
Announcing the ACOTAR Revisited Deep Dive Series
The hosts outline their exciting plans to reexamine the ACOTAR series with fresh insights and enhanced perspectives gained over five years of podcasting.
Growth and Evolution of the Podcast:
Highlighting their journey, the hosts emphasize how their podcast has matured:
“[05:09] Kim: We've obviously grown so much in the five years that we have been doing this podcast and we're excited to take everything we've learned and put it into these new Acotar episodes and make them extra, extra special.”
[05:16] Anna: “Just like Feyre and Nesta, we have come a long way since our very first episode...”
Deep Dive Focus Areas:
The deep-dive episodes will explore various facets of the series, including:
- Character Arcs and Relationships: Examining the development and dynamics of main characters.
- Themes and Motifs: Delving into love, sacrifice, mental health, identity, and feminism.
- Easter Eggs and Foreshadowing: Uncovering hidden connections and hints planted by Sarah J. Maas across the series.
- Mass Verse Integration: Connecting themes and elements from Maas’s other works like Throne of Glass and Crescent City.
Notable Quote on Themes:
“[05:45] Anna: ...everything is about showing how these ideas really resonate with us as readers.”
Introducing the "Mastermind" Segment
A standout feature of the revisited series is the "Mastermind" segment, a dedicated portion in each episode aimed at connecting the broader Mass Verse.
Christina Explains "Mastermind":
“[09:17] Christina: ...at the end of every episode we will be wrapping things up with a very special segment that we are calling Mastermind. Spelled M-A-A-S, naturally inspired by our two queens, Taylor Swift and, of course, Sarah J. Maas.”
“This segment is going to be connecting all the dots through all the Mass Verse... including ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, Crescent City. We'll be talking theories, Easter eggs, similarities, comparisons...”
Spoiler Policy:
Understanding the heated discussions that spoilers can incite, the hosts assure listeners of a clear spoiler policy:
“[09:44] Kim: ...this segment will absolutely include major spoilers for all of Sarah J. Maas series. But do not worry because we will always give you a very clear spoiler warning every time before this segment starts...”
Listeners are encouraged to skip the Mastermind segment until they’ve completed all relevant series to avoid spoilers.
Exclusive Interview with Elizabeth Evans
To elevate the anniversary celebration, the hosts announce an exclusive interview with Elizabeth Evans, the acclaimed narrator behind the Throne of Glass and Crescent City audiobooks, as well as the newly re-recorded ACOTAR audiobooks.
Excitement for the Interview:
“[11:28] Christina: ...we will be kicking off our ACOTAR coverage with a very special episode on May 6th with an exclusive interview with the one and only Elizabeth Evans. We are huge fans of Elizabeth. She is the incredible narrator behind the Throne of Glass and Crescent City audiobooks...”
Anna’s Tribute to Elizabeth Evans:
“[11:28] Anna: Anna always refers to Elizabeth Evans as the voice of Aelin in her head.”
[11:37] Kim: “She is so incredibly amazing. We are so excited for you guys to hear this conversation.”
This interview promises deep insights into Sarah J. Maas’s worlds, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the narration process and character portrayal.
Logistics and Scheduling for the Deep Dive Series
The hosts outline the timeframe and structure for the upcoming ACOTAR Revisited episodes, ensuring fans know what to expect and when.
Publication Schedule:
“[11:47] Anna: We are kicking it off on May 6th and then we are progressing our way through the books throughout the rest of the year. This is going to take up basically our entire 2025 and we could not be more thrilled.”
Episode Breakdown:
Each book will be divided into three or four parts, allowing for thorough exploration:
“[11:47] Anna: We will be generally splitting each book into three or four parts, except obviously A Court of Frost and Starlight. That will just be one episode.”
Monthly Calendar and Updates:
Listeners are encouraged to stay updated via social media and Patreon for detailed episode schedules:
“[12:00] Kim: ...you can always check our social media or Patreon pages for episode breakdowns for each month as we go.”
Expanded Content through Patreon
To cater to avid fans seeking more in-depth discussions, the hosts highlight additional content available on their Patreon.
Exclusive SJM Series on Patreon:
“[12:29] Kim: If you want even more SJM content from us, be sure to check out our SJM series over on Patreon. In each of those episodes, we break down anything from character arcs to favorite scenes...”
This includes exclusive discussions on beloved character relationships and ships within the A Court of Thorns and Roses fandom, such as Dorian and Celaena from Throne of Glass and More from the Summer Court.
Patreon Benefits:
Subscribers enjoy access to:
- Exclusive SJM miniseries episodes
- Back catalog of the SJM series
- Ad-free listening
- One-day early access to episodes
“[13:11] Christina: ...our SJM miniseries is exclusive for our tier 2 aka our book batches over on Patreon.”
Closing Remarks and Community Engagement
As the episode draws to a close, the hosts express their excitement and invite listeners to join their journey through Prythian.
Community Invitation:
“[13:26] Anna: Thank you for being a part of this journey. It's going to be emotional, magical, and a true celebration of the series that started it all.”
“[13:33] Kim: And until then, stay with the High Lord Book Besties. We'll see you in Prythian.”
Ways to Connect:
Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast’s community on Instagram and TikTok, sharing thoughts and theories:
“[13:41] Anna: Don't forget to join our book Club community on Instagram and TikTok at flights of Fantasy Podcast...”
Support the Podcast:
The hosts kindly ask for ratings and reviews to help spread the magic of Romantasy:
“[13:45] Christina: 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.”
Final Encouragement:
“[13:45] Christina: Until next time, keep dreaming, keep reading, and remember, every good story deserves to take flight.”
Key Takeaways
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ACOTAR 10-Year Anniversary: Flights of Fantasy celebrates a decade since the release of A Court of Thorns and Roses by embarking on a comprehensive deep-dive series covering all five books.
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Personal Narratives: The hosts share personal stories on how ACOTAR transformed their reading lives and fostered their friendship.
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Deep Dive Structure: Expect detailed analyses of characters, themes, lore, and more, spread across multiple episodes for each book.
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Mastermind Segment: A new feature connecting the broader Mass Verse, including Sarah J. Maas’s other series, with clear spoiler warnings.
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Exclusive Content: An upcoming interview with Elizabeth Evans offers fans unique insights into the audiobooks’ narration.
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Community and Support: Listeners are invited to join the podcast’s vibrant community and support the show through Patreon, Instagram, TikTok, and podcast reviews.
Flights of Fantasy continues to be a beloved hub for Romantasy enthusiasts, and this special episode sets the stage for an exciting year of exploration and celebration of Sarah J. Maas’s enchanting worlds.