Flights of Fantasy — S6: Ep 1 — 2025 Book Awards
Aired: January 6, 2026
Episode Overview
In this much-anticipated annual Book Awards episode, the Flights of Fantasy podcast hosts—Anna, Kim, and Kristina—celebrate the fantasy romance books that captured their hearts and imaginations in 2025. Drawing only from books discussed in their main feed episodes, the trio hosts their own “Golden Globes/Oscars” for fantasy romance, sharing laughter, heartfelt reflections, and all the bookish love. From swoon-worthy leading men to infuriating villains, plus memorable lines and dramatic scenes, the awards showcase not just standout authors and stories, but also their experiences and the friendships at the center of the show.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Spirit of the Book Awards (01:35–04:38)
- This is the fifth annual Book Awards episode for the hosts, marking a journey from recording in a New York hotel room to today’s more professional podcast.
- Anna delivers a tearful "acceptance speech", thanking her co-hosts for their friendship and the podcast community.
- “None of this would be possible without that dynamic… That will always be one of my favorite memories and favorite episodes we ever recorded.” — Anna (03:37–04:17)
- The rules: Only books covered in main feed episodes are eligible; for this year, these include Onyx Storm, Reckless, The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk, The Wolf King and the Night Prince, Mate, The Knight and the Moth, Brimstone, and the first three books of the ACOTAR series.
- Spoilers are given for all listed books.
Award Categories & Picks
Leading Man (05:21–06:41)
- Unanimous Winner: Zaden (Onyx Storm)
- “Zaden in Onyx Storm is peak book boyfriend, book husband, book baby daddy material, everything.” — Kim (05:58–06:09)
- Honorable mention: Asar from Fallen for character growth.
Leading Lady (06:41–08:28)
- Kim: Misha (The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk) — praises her evolution and complex relationships.
- Anna: Sybil (The Knight and the Moth) — admires her self-awareness, willingness to confront prejudice, and growth.
- “My worth was written by the rules I followed.” (07:27–08:00)
- Kristina: Misha, with runner-up Serena (Mate) for humor and carrying the story.
Best Couple (08:32–09:57)
- Anna: Feyre & Rhysand (ACOTAR) — the “OG enemies to lovers”.
- Kristina & Kim: Zaden & Violet (Onyx Storm)
- “There was no miscommunication. It was just like devotion and taking on the world together, and I just loved it.” — Kristina (09:34–09:40)
Best Supporting Character (10:00–12:14)
- Kristina: Riddick (Onyx Storm) for joy and comic relief.
- Anna & Kim: Bartholomew (The Knight and the Moth) — the lovable, innocent gargoyle.
- “She is just so incredibly talented and truly in a league of her own when it comes to her writing and these characters she’s created.” — Kim on Rachel Gillig (11:22–11:32)
- Runner up: Blake (The Wolf King) — sassy and transformed the story.
Most Infuriating Character (12:17–16:27)
- Kim: The “fucking Sentinel” (Fallen) — frustrating recurring antagonist.
- Backup: Zovina (Brimstone) — no redemption, pure irritation.
- Anna: Ceres’s magic (Brimstone) — infuriating magical system.
- Kristina: Tamlin (ACOTAR) and Kai/Paiden (Reckless) for endless "pretending" trope and logistical absurdities.
Best Cast / Friend Group (18:02–20:07)
- Anna/Kristina: Inner Circle (ACOTAR) — family-like, deeply missed upon finishing.
- Kim: Quest Squad (Onyx Storm) — fun dynamics, especially Zaden, Dane, Riddick, Broccoli the cat, and Mira.
Best Sex Scene (20:13–25:13)
- Kristina: Piano-sheet scene in Fallen — for creativity and intensity.
- Kim: “73 days” scene in Onyx Storm — passionate and memorable.
- Anna: Rory’s vulnerable un-shrouding in The Knight and the Moth for tenderness; runner up: steamy yet covenant-bound pleasure in Mate.
Best Setting / Worldbuilding (26:29–28:04)
- Kim & Anna: The Knight and the Moth — accessibility and immersive gothic ambience.
- Kristina: The Wolf King and the Night Prince — Scottish Highlands brought to life.
Best Villain (28:11–29:28)
- Anna & Kim: The Abbess (The Knight and the Moth) — embodies corrupt religious tyranny.
- Kristina: Theophany (Brimstone) — layered, intriguing, and memorable.
Best Cover (29:30–31:19)
- Kristina/Anna: Deluxe edition of The Night Prince — blue/gold sprayed edges.
- Kim: Onyx Storm and new Brimstone hardcover for stylistic cohesion and evolving series art.
Best Laugh (32:50–36:49)
- Kim: Riddick’s “Good thing I fuck like a third.” (Onyx Storm) (32:54–33:08)
- Kristina: Nodding/nodding trope in Mate for its absurdity.
- Anna: The lobster escapade in The Night Prince — turns tragic dinner into chaos and hilarity.
Best Dramatic Scene (36:52–42:22)
- Anna: Bartholomew's monologue (The Knight and the Moth) — heartbreaking, raw, and transformative.
- Read aloud at (37:10–38:22) — “She kept me locked away in the cottage with no windows... After all, swords and armor are nothing to stone.”
- Kristina: Sawyer finally riding Sleek again (Onyx Storm)
- Kim: Zaden unleashing his power to save Sigale (Onyx Storm) (40:18–41:30)
Best Line (42:35–45:32)
- Kristina: “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.” (Rhysand, ACOTAR)
- Anna: The Knight and the Moth — “To tell a story is in some part to tell a lie, isn’t it?” (43:09–43:32)
- “It is easier swearing ourselves to someone else’s cause than to sit with who we are without one.”
- Kim: Asar’s line about Misha (Fallen)—“When my knees hit the ground now, it wasn’t for the eye. It was for her...”
- The hosts praise Karissa Broadbent’s prologues and evocative lines.
Bonus & Listener Votes
Favorite Non-Episode Books (47:43–54:29)
- Anna: Brutes of Bristle (Book 3) — “plot twist rocked me… it was so well done.” (48:13)
- Kristina: Secret Haven (Katherine Cowles), Direbound (Sable Sorensen), Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Karissa Broadbent) — palate cleansers and standout audiobooks.
- Kim: Magnolia Parks Universe — “the most surprising reading experience of my adult life.” (52:03–52:30)
- Shout Outs: Shield of Sparrows (Suzannah Rowntree), Deepen (Ali Hazelwood)
Patron’s Pick (54:34–55:20)
- Onyx Storm was the patron favorite, with The Knight and the Moth as runner-up. Shield of Sparrows was an honorable mention.
Individual Book of the Year (55:41–58:42)
- All Three Hosts: Onyx Storm for both the story itself and the shared experience (reading and recording together in NYC around the book’s release). The answers, advancement of the world, and seeing Rebecca Yarros in person made it “an impeccable treat.”
- “That whole weekend was so special that we all got to be together. And that was my best book. Because of the experience.” — Kim (57:10–57:44)
- Technical excellence: The Knight and the Moth cited as most beautifully written.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Anna’s opening tribute: “None of this would be possible without that dynamic… That will always be one of my favorite memories and favorite episodes we ever recorded.” (03:37–04:17)
- Bartholomew’s monologue: Heartbreaking performance about abuse and transformation (The Knight and the Moth, 37:10–38:22)
- Kim on Riddick’s humor: “Good thing I fuck like a third.” (32:57–33:08)
- On the power of found family: “That found family. Beautiful.” — Kim on Sawyer’s big moment (40:15)
- The lobster fiasco: “Why, may I ask, are they in the lock, Elsie?” — “It was her fault. She told me!” (34:50–35:02)
- Zaden’s devastation: “How fucking dare they pull my dragon from the sky, snare and hurt the one who anchors my existence…” (40:18–41:30)
- Best line: “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”- (42:43)
- Kristina on Magnolia Parks afterlife: “You feel like you know these people inside and out, and I think about them all the time.” (53:21)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:35–04:38 — Show origins, Anna’s tribute, Book Awards rules
- 05:21–06:41 — Leading Man award
- 06:41–08:28 — Leading Lady award
- 08:32–09:57 — Best Couple
- 10:00–12:14 — Best Supporting Character
- 12:17–16:27 — Most Infuriating Character
- 18:02–20:07 — Best Cast / Best Friend Group
- 20:13–25:13 — Best Sex Scene
- 26:29–28:04 — Best Setting / Worldbuilding
- 28:11–29:28 — Best Villain
- 29:30–31:19 — Best Cover
- 32:50–36:49 — Best Laugh
- 36:52–42:22 — Best Dramatic Scene
- 42:35–45:32 — Best Line
- 47:43–54:29 — Favorite Non-Episode Books
- 54:34–55:20 — Patron’s Best Book Vote
- 55:41–58:42 — Personal Best Book of the Year
Final Thoughts
The Book Awards episode is both celebratory and deeply personal, showcasing how reading binds not just readers to stories, but also friends to each other. Onyx Storm is the big winner of the night, lauded for character payoff, world development, and the joyful experience it provided the hosts and listeners alike. Standouts also include The Knight and the Moth for writing, ACOTAR for classic couples and friend groups, and the now-legendary supporting characters like Riddick and Bartholomew.
Catch Flights of Fantasy on Instagram and TikTok for more bookish banter and to join the community for the next book-filled year.