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A book convention can feel like the best day of your reading life or an expensive lesson you don’t want to repeat. We’re breaking down what we’ve learned from attending multiple romance book conventions and fantasy romance events, including what we wish we’d known before we ever stepped onto a crowded con floor with empty tote bags and big dreams.

We talk through how to research a con realistically (without getting fooled by stock-photo vibes), how ticket pricing and “ticketed authors” change the whole experience, and why buying early can be smarter than waiting for a perfect lineup. We also get into the practical travel stuff that makes or breaks your weekend: picking the right hotel, checking restaurant hours, planning for weather, and deciding whether staying onsite is worth the cost.

Then we go full tactical with book convention prep. We cover Baventi preorders for special editions, packing essentials like water, snacks, chargers, and a luggage scale for flying, plus our strong feelings about book carts and why swivel wheels matter. On the floor, we share etiquette and accessibility reminders, how to protect your social battery, and simple signing tricks like using Post-it notes for names and inscriptions. If buying every book isn’t in the budget, we also shout out creative alternatives for collecting signatures that still feel meaningful.

If you’re planning your first book con (or trying to level up your next one), hit play, take notes, and share this with a con buddy. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us on Instagram or TikTok @OfSwordsandSoulmates: what’s your number one must-have for a book convention?

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You ever pick up a fantasy romance because the premise is so simple it feels dangerous? A woman draws an old sword in pure desperation and a man appears, sworn to protect her because the blade says so. That’s Sword Heart by T. Kingfisher, and we go deep on why this setup is funny, tense, surprisingly tender, and way more thoughtful than it looks at first glance.

We start with bookish news and then shift into a real talk moment about AI allegations in publishing: why “AI detector” tools are unreliable, how accusations can snowball without proof, and why these situations can disproportionately impact authors of color. From there, we jump into our full Sword Heart review, including pacing, side-quest energy, and the moment the romance tension finally snaps. Not all of us agree on how the third act lands, which makes the discussion even better if you care about structure in fantasy romance.

Then we get into the stuff Kingfisher fans love: the Temple of the White Rat and its practical, justice-forward vibe, the deadpan side characters, gnolls with perfect comedic timing, and the way one cursed detail can sit in the corner like a tiny horror story. We also answer the questions you’re already asking: is it a kissing book, and does Sword Heart count as sentient object romance? We pull out definitions, argue the gray areas, and absolutely do not stay on the rails.

If you like fantasy romance podcasts, T. Kingfisher worldbuilding, and the kind of reader debate that ends with more questions than answers, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves weird romance discourse, and leave us a review so more readers can find us.

Links from the News Segment and Show:

• New JR Ward book coming out April 2027
  • Throne of Frost and Flame, book 2 of the Kingdoms of the Compass series
  • See Episode 56 about the first book
  • Instagram Link
• Opal Reyne announced a new series January 2027
  • “In this new spicy series human women find themselves falling for dangerously tempting masked monsters in a city where humans and monsters are never supposed to mix…"
  • Instagram Link
• Cover reveal for Emily Wilde’s History of Dark Faerie
  • First one releases 01/19/27
  • Instagram Link
• AI allegations disproportionately affecting POC authors
  • Recently - H.M Wolfe (Daggermouth), Mia Ballard (Shy Girl), and Jerry Falade
  • Instagram Link

Follow us:
Instagram - @ofswordsandsoulmates

TikTok - @of.swords.and.sou

Fable BookClub - https://fable.co/club/of-swords-and-soulmates-with-mari-391738504099

Send us Fan Mail

A book convention can look like simple shopping from the outside, but once you’re on the floor it’s really a live map of what readers want right now. We’re back from Villains and Vixens 2026 in Orlando, Florida, and we’re breaking down what surprised us most: the heavy lean toward dark romance across categories, the pockets of monster romance and sentient object romance we practically stumbled into, and the way the event’s layout made discovery feel effortless instead of chaotic.

We talk logistics that matter if you’re planning your own trip to a romance book convention, especially an 18+ event. Think wide aisles that can handle book carts, fast registration, volunteers who ask about ADA accommodations without you prompting, and the confusing side of communication when updates live across Facebook, apps, and last-minute posts. We also unpack the schedule, the long lunch break, and why a two-day badge can save you from FOMO when some authors aren’t there both days.

You’ll also hear quick chats and spotlights from the con floor with creators like DJ Russo, B. Northwick, JD Netto, Kara Reynolds, KR Fryett, Lauren Sinatra, Jessica Lee, Jenny Hickman, and Kelsey Lee, plus our real-world buying lessons: limited stock goes fast, and the last stretch of the day can turn into surprise markdowns. If you like dark romance, fantasy romance, gothic horror, folklore horror, or monster romance, this recap is packed with leads for your TBR.

Subscribe for more fantasy and sci-fi with romance, share this with your favorite con buddy, and leave a review so more readers can find us. What’s the one genre alley you’d beeline for first?

Follow us:
Instagram - @ofswordsandsoulmates

TikTok - @of.swords.and.sou

Fable BookClub - https://fable.co/club/of-swords-and-soulmates-with-mari-391738504099