GRIM TIDINGS by B.K. Borison | Fall Romance Book Review

Sarah J. Maas is back & we are beyond excited to unravel the mysteries of A Court of Splintered Harmony with y’all! 🦇Somehow the mere 297 pages gives us so much to talk about from the multiPOVs to the expanding magic system to the chaotic characters. In Part 1 of our two-part series about ACOSH, we discuss the writing, world building, and characters, so tune into our deep dive to hear all about it! (P.S. this episode contains spoilers for ACOTAR, Crescent City, and Throne of Glass!)🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 November Book Club: A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas📖 Books Mentioned: A Court of Splintered Harmony - Sarah J. MaasHouse of Earth and Blood  - Sarah J. MaasHouse of Sky and Breath - Sarah J. MaasHouse of Flame and Shadow - Sarah J. MaasA Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. MaasA Court of War and Ruin - Sarah J. MaasA Court of Frost and Starlight  - Sarah J. MaasA Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. MaasThrone of Glass - Sarah J. Maas⏱️ Episode Chapters:02:02 Do you need to read Crescent City?07:50 Our ratings of ACOSH11:02 The average rating on Goodreads12:51: The writing and multi POVs19:27 The world building and politics29:58 The characters

Just in time for Halloween, we’re reviewing Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison! 👻 The autumn ambiance is here & the mood is set, but is the romance is to die for? We have plenty to say about the dual POVs, characters, plot, & more — some things we loved, some we didn’t! (P.S. this episode contains spoilers for Grim Tidings and Good Spirits!)🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 November Book Club: A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas📖 Books Mentioned: Grim Tidings - B.K. BorisonGood Spirits - B.K. BorisonLovelight Farms - B.K. BorisonObsidian - Jennifer L. ArmentroutA Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. MaasA Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. MaasA Court of Splintered Harmony - Sarah J. Maas

Welcome back for Part 2 of our Immortal Great Souls series where we now get into the plot of both Bastion & The Rascor Plains by Phil Tucker! 🐸 As you can see by the length of this video, we have so much to unpack with y’all - from the Ruins, to the Academy, to the Fiery Shoals & back. And, of course, we have to talk about the most insane plot twist in book 2! Tune in to hear our best & worst impressions of this series so far! (P.S. this book contains spoilers for Bastion and The Rascor Plains.)🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 October Book Club: Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison📖 Books Mentioned: Bastion - Phil TuckerThe Rascor Plains - Phil TuckerThe Stormlight Archive - Brandon SandersonThe Will of the Many - James IslingtonMorning Star - Pierce BrownKingdom of Ash - Sarah J. MaasGrim Tidings - B.K. Borison

It’s time for our long awaited review of Iron Gold by Pierce Brown 🪐 After falling hard for the original trilogy, we were ready for another high-stakes journey through space, but some things left us disappointed. In this episode, we talk through what about this book’s character arcs and plot worked, what didn't, and whether it lives up to the books that came before it. (P.S. this book contains spoilers for Red Rising, Golden Son, Morning Star, and Iron Gold.)🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 October Book Club: Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison📖 Books Mentioned: Iron Gold - Pierce BrownDark Age - Pierce BrownLight Bringer - Pierce BrownRed Rising - Pierce BrownGolden Son - Pierce BrownMorning Star - Pierce BrownQueen of Shadows  - Sarah J. MaasTower of Dawn  - Sarah J. MaasGrim Tidings - B.K. BorisonEmpire of the Vampire - Jay KristoffA Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. MaasGood Spirits - B. K. Borison

Introducing your next favorite progressive epic fantasy: Bastion by Phil Tucker! 📖 With only 7,500 ratings on Goodreads, this book is criminally underhyped. In Part 1, we're discussing the writing, world building, characters of both books 1 and 2 -- Bastion and The Rascor Plains -- of the Immortal Great Soul series. As always, we're getting deep in detail to break down what makes this series a must-read! (P.S. this episode contains spoilers!)🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 September Book Club: Iron Gold - Pierce Brown📖 Books Mentioned: Bastion - Phil TuckerThe Rascor Plains - Phil TuckerThrone Hunters - Phil TuckerStormlight Archive - Brandon SandersonThe Wheel of Time - Robert JordanThe Everlasting - Alix E. Harrow🔗 Bastion Photos Source: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/682901669/bastion-deluxe-hardcover-edition

We love a good fantasy standalone & The Everlasting is near the top of the list 🌳🗡️ This book delivers beloved historical fantasy settings with fairytale whimsy, but manages to write a devastatingly beautiful love story. In this book review, we gasp, laugh, & cry at how awe-inspiring this book is. Tune in to discover it for yourself! (P.S. This episode contains spoilers!)🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 September Book Club: Iron Gold by Pierce Brown📖 Books Mentioned:The Everlasting - Alix E. HarrowDivine Rivals - Rebecca RossIron Gold - Pierce Brown🌳 The Everlasting Synopsis:Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters―but her life as it truly happened has been forgotten.Centuries later, Owen Mallory―failed soldier, struggling scholar―falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives―and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs.But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend―if they want to tell a different story--they’ll have to rewrite history itself.

Believe it or not, we're reviewing Light Wielder, the sequel to Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider. After Metal Slinger's controversial cliffhanger, we admit we were curious whether Light Wielder redeems the series... (Spoiler: it does not.) We're talking unresolved plot holes, a FMC who completely loses her personality, & one of the worst-written battle scenes we've ever encountered. If you loved this book, we lovingly disagree with you; if you hated it, welcome aboard.🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 August Book Club: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow📖 Books Mentioned:Metal Slinger - Rachel SchneiderLight Wielder - Rachel SchneiderOur Perfect Storm - Carley FortuneFourth Wing - Rebecca YarrosTimestamps:00:00:30 – recap: book one ratings & controversy00:02:16 – spoiler-free synopsis of light wielder00:04:09 – ratings reveal00:05:02 – general thoughts & first impressions00:07:01 – the breadcrumb plot problem00:09:56 – goodreads ratings comparison00:10:26 – writing style & dual pov breakdown00:11:32 – unanswered questions from book one00:12:23 – jovi's character regression00:29:06 – worldbuilding confusion00:30:26 – fanfiction tangent00:32:12 – what this book should have been (villain jovi)00:34:02 – did ai write this book?00:46:42 – the crown & queen backstory00:48:29 – jovi's dad & the kidnapping plot hole400:49:41 – mates losing their rarity (fourth wing comparison)00:50:29 – messer, aurora & hate-reading the next series01:16:15 – highlights & favorite quotes01:18:21 – final verdict: worst book ever?

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune might just be the book of the summer! 🌊 This book takes you on a tropical vacation in Tofino, a town off Canada's west coast, where heartbreak is healed & friendships are mended. Expect pining, emotional depth, complex characters, and a setting to die for in this contemporary romance. This book took us by storm & we know y'all will love it too!P.S. This episode contains spoilers!🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 July Book Club: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune📖 Books Mentioned:Our Perfect Storm - Carley FortuneThis Summer Will Be Different - Carley FortuneOne Golden Summer - Carley FortunePeople We Meet On Vacation - Emily HenryThe Unhoneymooners - Christina LaurenThe Night We Met - Abby JimenezWild Reverence - Rebecca RossThe Everlasting - Alix E. HarrowTimestamps:00:00:00 – cold open00:01:23 – spoiler free synopsis00:02:28 – our rating reveal00:04:17 – initial thoughts & feelings00:06:04 – the writing style00:09:39 – favorite quotes00:16:43 – he wedding day hook00:21:41 – the honeymoon trip00:26:10 – day one: wallow00:32:47 – book boyfriend material00:37:19 – day three: movement00:39:51 – moms & whales00:43:59 – one-bed!00:51:12 – the forest kiss00:54:38 – the third act breakup00:59:11 – frankie's fear of losing herself01:02:34 – the ending01:11:46 – next month's book club01:12:38 – outro

In honor of the World Cup, we're ranking fantasy and romance tropes as red cards or goals, covering everything from accidental pregnancies and surprise betrayals to sprayed edges, bonus chapters, and the infamous "she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding." Expect strong opinions, plenty of laughs, and callouts to books like Red Rising, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, and One Golden Summer. A fun, fast-paced episode for anyone who loves debating the tropes that make (or break) a fantasy or romance read! (P.S. this episode contains a spoiler for A Court of Silver Flames. A warning text will be displayed on the screen at 05:30)🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 July Book Club: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune📖 Books Mentioned:Throne of Glass — Sarah J. MaasThe Hunger Games — Suzanne CollinsUnearthly — Cynthia HandThe Selection — Kiera CassA Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. MaasZodiac Academy — Caroline Peckham & Susanne ValentiDaggermouth — H.M. WolfeRed Rising — Pierce BrownVows & Fates — Helen ScheuererThe Prison Healer — Lynette NoniBastion — Phil TuckerThis Kingdom Will Not Kill Me — Ilona AndrewsMetal Slinger — Rachel SchneiderThese Hollow Vows — Lexi RyanOur Perfect Storm — Carley FortuneNora Goes Off Script — Annabel MonaghanTempt Me series — K.A. TuckerTourist Season — Brynne WeaverThe Secret Life of Briar Rose — Cindy PhamGreat Big Beautiful Life — Emily HenryOut on a Limb — Hannah Bonam-YoungFrom Blood and Ash — Jennifer L. ArmentroutThe Love Hypothesis — Ali HazelwoodOne Golden Summer — Carley FortuneObsidian — Jennifer L. Armentrout

Listen up fantasy readers! This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews is a portal fantasy where a die-hard fan wakes up inside the unfinished, cliffhanger-ending series she's read a hundred times, & has to survive a cutthroat medieval world. We break down our ratings, debate whether the slow first half almost cost this book a DNF & dig into the writing style, the political great houses, the found-family arc, and that delicious slow-burn romance.P.S. this episode contains spoilers!🤍 All CTB Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/checkthisbookout💌 July Book Club: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune📖 Books Mentioned:This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying) - Ilona Andrews Magic Bites (Kate Daniels series) - Ilona AndrewsBastion (The Immortal Great Souls) - Phil TuckerKingdom of the Wicked — Kerri ManiscalcoThrone of Glass - Sarah J. MaasThe Wheel of Time — Robert JordanOutlander — Diana GabaldonA Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones — George R.R. MartinThis Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Synopsis:"When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy, and naked in a gutter, it doesn't take her long to recognize Kair Toren, a city she knows intimately from the pages of the famously unfinished dark fantasy series she's been obsessively reading and re-reading while waiting years for the final novel.Her only tools for navigating this gritty world of rival warlords, magic, and mayhem? Her encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, the setting, and the characters' ambitions and fates. But while she quickly discovers she cannot be killed (though many will try!), the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she's coming to love—a motley band that includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, various outrageous magical creatures, and a dangerously appealing soldier. Soon, instead of trying to get home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes—and attentions—of dueling princes, dukes, and villains, all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the way she knows their stories will end: in a cataclysmic war."⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – intro00:01:38 – rating reveal00:05:08 – spoiler-free plot overview (outlander meets game of thrones)00:04:50 – spoiler warning begins00:08:14 – writing style and the info-dump debate00:18:45 – world-building, maps, and geography confusion00:27:12 – how dark this book actually gets00:28:47 – plot and character breakdown00:39:44 – reynald/ramond tension and found family00:41:20 – the serial killer subplot00:47:51 – the butcher and rising stakes00:49:08 – the adoption scene (fav moment)01:02:53 – the final climax01:03:57 – silveren theory01:07:42 – final ratings reconsidered01:08:52 – romantasy or epic fantasy01:12:33 – wrap-up#bookclub #bookreview #bookpodcast #fantasybooks