019. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas with Penny Reid

Short Description

Penny Reid (Knitting in the City Series, Winston Brothers) and I discuss A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. It’s a dark fairy tale that blends Beauty and the Beast, the Hades/Persephone myth, and the Hunger Games.

In addition to asking the deep existential questions - At what cost freedom? Freedom at what cost?! - we talk about how your first love isn’t always your last love, YA, and how there’s strength in being a marshmallow.

Penny will be back in a future episode to discuss her new publishing venture, Smarty Pants Romance.

Show Notes

Shelf Love:

Guest: Penny Reid

Website: https://pennyreid.ninja/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReidRomance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reidromance/

We read:

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

https://sarahjmaas.com/court-of-thorns-and-roses/

Books mentioned:

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe (Web comic)
A Well-Timed Enchantment by Vivian Vande Velde
Marriage Games by C.D. Reiss
The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Book recommendation requests:

Penny’s 12-year-old-going-on-75 year old son has read All the Books. His favorite books include The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov and he recently enjoyed The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin. He didn’t like Dune. How do we introduce him to the romance genre?
Penny is looking for recommendations for awesome romance books to gift her daughter on her 16th birthday (6 years from now).
Penny is looking for character-driven erotica suggestions, along the lines of C.D. Reiss.

Miscellaneous:

Grief is a spiral
Zeus is toxic
Outgrowing a relationship is OK
There’s strength in being a marshmallow
Would you trade your freedom for a golden cage
Did you know that Ripley in Alien was originally written as a man? (Anyone have a paper on this?)
- “The reason it still resonates with women today in the industry is how real Ripley is, Weaver adds. "So many people in the business would have said, ‘Well now we have to make her more sympathetic.’ And then it’s suddenly this token scene that shows we’re actually feminine after all, and that’s frankly bulls---, because that doesn’t happen in real life. Ripley doesn’t have time to try to be sympathetic, you know?” she added.”

Transcript

Listen now!

Guests

Alice Murphy, Alyssa Cole, Amanda Allen, Amanda Cinelli, Amanda Diehl, Andrea Martucci, Andrew Piper, Angela Toscano, Arielle Zibrak, Ash Dylan, Becky, Bree, Bree Hill, Candice Ransom, Carter Sherman, Charish Reid, Christina Fattore, Copper Dog Books, Dani Lacey, Danielle Knafo, Denise Williams, Diana Filar, EE Ottoman, Emma, Emma Barry, Eric Selinger, Erin Leafe, Esme Brett, Fangirl Jeanne, Felicia Grossman, Funmi B., Hannah Hearts Romance, Helena Greer, Hsu Ming Teo, Huike Wen, Jack Harbon, Jayashree Kamble, Jennifer Crusie, Jess, Jessica Lyn Van Slooten, Jhen, Jodi McAlister, Jodie Slaughter, Joe Martucci, John Jacobson, Julie Moody-Freeman, Karelia Stetz-Waters, Kassi, Kate Clayborn, Katee Robert, Katherine Grant, Katrina Jackson, Kelly Reynolds, Kennedy Ryan, Kianna Alexander, Kini Allen, Kit Rocha, Laura J. Mayo, Leigh Kramer, Lucy Hargrave, Lucy Score, Lynell, Margarita Guillory, Margo Hendricks, Maria DeBlassie, Megan Erickson, Mia Sosa, Nicola Welsh Burke, Nicole Falls, Norma Perez-Hernandez, Penny Reid, Philippa Borland, Rebecca Romney, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Reformed Rakes, Renee Dahlia, Rosie Danan, Ruby Lang, Sandra Kitt, Sarah Rutherford, Sarah Skilton, Scarlett Peckham, Sionna Fox, Sri Savita, Steve Ammidown, Suzanne Jefferies, Talia Hibbert, Tamara Lush, Tasha L. Harrison, The Swoonies, Tif Marcelo, Tina Benigno, Whoa!mance, Whoamance, fangirl jeanne