Episode Title: Phantasma – Chapters 35–End

Description: The Devil’s Manor saga comes to a blood-soaked, betrayal-packed close—and the Romanty Roundtable is here to scream about it. Amanda, Kim, and Rick finish Phantasma by Kaylie Smith with a finale episode full of spicy phantom angst, crown conspiracies, and emotionally devastating sister drama. As Ophelia faces the final trials, confronts her dark past, and makes her last soup-laced choices, the crew dives into the book’s big reveals, lore dumps, and unhinged epilogues. Did it stick the landing? Were we emotionally okay afterward? No and also no. But we had fun.

Key Topics Discussed:

Phantom Sex & Shadow Voices – Ophelia finally lets go—emotionally, mentally, and physically—with Blackwell. We break down the power of consent, trauma recovery, and… floating ghost cuddles.

Salmaestrus & the Devil Crown Lore Drop – Demon dads, political betrayals, angelic ancestry, and bargain loopholes galore. Amanda explains the whole Devil’s Grant system like we’re five.

OCD Metaphors & Mental Health Payoff – Ophelia's shadow voice arc comes full circle in a way that’s powerful, tender, and genuinely therapeutic. We cried. A lot.

The Final Trial & The Real Devil – Forget Hunger Games. Ophelia goes full sacrificial lamb, Rick loses it over the sword moment, and we all scream at the final reveal of Sinclair.

The Epilogue(s) – Blackwell’s back (ish), Ophelia's free (maybe), and no one is okay. We debate the open ending, mourn missing soup, and spiral over the possible Book 2 vibes.

Rating & Reflection – Stars are given, predictions are re-evaluated, and the group talks about what worked, what didn’t, and why we’re still haunted by Poe the cat.

Join us for one last round of chaos, coping, and catharsis as we put Phantasma to rest. We laughed, we screamed, we made soup metaphors. And we’ll probably summon Blackwell one last time… just to be sure.

Episode Title: Phantasma – Chapters 18–34

Description: Things heat up—and bleed—on the latest episode of Romanty Roundtable. Amanda, Kim, and Rick dive into chapters 18 through 34 of Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, tackling phantom thirst traps, demon drama, and the existential horrors of the gluttony level (whatever that was). With blood rain, teleportation sex, and soul-deep OCD metaphors, the gang breaks down Oilia’s increasingly high-stakes trials inside Devil’s Manor and her spiraling bond with our favorite ghostly himbo, Blackwell. Plus: soup theories, devil politics, Sims achievements, and a bourbon-fueled educational tangent you didn’t know you needed.

Key Topics Discussed:

• BookTok & Bookstagram Updates – The team reflects on their growing TikTok community, Instagram apathy, and Rick’s descent into algorithm addiction.
• OCD, Shadow Voices & Literary Representation – Amanda gets real about OCD representation, praising Kaylie Smith’s depiction of intrusive thoughts and internal chaos.
• The Lust Level (Yes, There’s Soup) – Bloodlust, fake Blackwell, a vampire orgy maze, and some truly gendered soup dynamics. It’s giving Top Ramen, but haunted.
• The Greed Cage Death Trap – Gilded cages over lava? Moral dilemmas? Cade f***ing Barlo being the worst? Yup. Cue existential dread.
• Gluttony Level Confusion – Pendulums, gold bars, and chessboard mechanics no one understands. Reading on vibes only.
• Wrath & the Consensus Escape – Group trauma bonding, a musical chairs-style death match, and Edna being the MVP.
• Phantom Soup & Ghost Physiology – They did the ghost with the most. In blood rain. While floating. Questions remain.
• Sinclair, Secrets & Betrayal – We meet the devil daddy prince Salmaestrus (aka Sal Mistress), learn Blackwell’s hiding things, and Oilia spirals.
• Predictions & Theories – Angelic ancestry? Genevieve endgame twist? Will Oilia forfeit or fight? Also: what even are spectres?
• Bonus Reads & Bourbon Rants – Amanda teaches Bourbon 101, Kim’s watching Netflix again, and Rick is deep in his tandem Throne of Glass read. Plus: the literary war crime that is Pizza My Heart.

Join us for teleportation make-outs, shadow voice therapy, and a very serious discussion of Sims ghost woohoo achievements. Homework: finish Phantasma! Soup and secrets await.

Episode Title: Phantasma – Chapters 1–17

Description: The Romanty Roundtable trio kicks off Fantasma by Kaylie Smith with their signature blend of literary insight and chaotic charm. In this episode, Amanda, Kim, and Rick unpack the first 17 chapters of this gothic romantasy adventure set in a haunted New Orleans. From phantom flirtations and necromantic rituals to soup dreams and ghost cats, the team breaks down the eerie vibes, complex magic system, and early trials of the Devil’s Manor competition—all while making wildly accurate predictions, literary deep dives, and a surprising number of Danny Phantom references.

Key Topics Discussed:

Technical Difficulties & TikTok Shoutouts – The crew fights through dying fans and phantom mics, gives love to BookTok followers, and teases upcoming reads including The Knight and the Moth.

Setting & Style – Praise (and confusion) for the New Orleans setting, gothic atmosphere, and the unclear time period—carriages and septum piercings?

OCD Representation & Shadow Voice – Amanda discusses the depiction of OCD through Oilia’s intrusive thoughts and internal “shadow voice,” sharing both personal insights and community feedback.

Hierarchy of the Paranormal – The group nerds out over the glossary chart, breaking down demons, ghosts, necromancers, and ephemerals.

Ophelia's Journey – From her mother’s death and the magical inheritance ritual to finding herself trapped in Fantasma, Ophelia struggles with responsibility, family legacy, and (of course) hot ghosts.

Blackwell the Phantom – Green eyes, snow-white hair, and disembodied banter. Blackwell enters as a mysterious phantom trapped in the manor. Is he the love interest? Danny Phantom? Both?

The Blood Bargain – Ophelia refuses at first, but later accepts Blackwell’s blood pact to help her find her sister and win the Devil’s Grant—setting up a classic romantasy deal-with-a-demon trope.

The Trials Begin – Level One (Limbo) throws contestants into a disorienting maze with a hellhound. Ophelia survives thanks to her wits and magic sparks, but tensions rise between contestants.

Favorite Details – Poe the ghost cat, the glimmers of soup (aka spice), and the Dante’s Inferno-inspired structure of the competition get big love from the team.

Theories & Predictions – Who’s the heart? Who’s the key? Is Cade the Jack Barlow of this book? Will Genevieve be the one to set Blackwell free?

Bonus Reading Recs – Amanda powers through five books for her bingo board. Kim’s back in Crescent City, and Rick is deep in Throne of Glass, rating Crown of Midnight a 5-star banger.

Join us for a wild ride through ghouls, ghost cats, bargain demons, and growing soup tension. Chapter 18–35 is next—lust awaits. Like, subscribe, and summon Blackwell by saying his name three times… if you dare.

Episode Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses – Rapid Fire Recap

Description: The Romanty Roundtable kicks off their SJM journey with a chaotic, unfiltered rapid-fire recap of A Court of Thorns and Roses. We’re diving headfirst into the book that started it all—spring court, sexy fae, and Tamlin slander included. From rants about riddle logic to a heated debate about Rhys’s early behavior, Rick, Amanda, and Kim pull no punches as they tear through plot points, throw shade, and confess unpopular opinions. It’s feral, it’s unhinged, it’s ACOTAR—Romanty style.

Key Topics Discussed:

Drinking Game Chaos — Fueled by wine and increasingly unhinged energy, the crew plays a Romantasy-themed drinking game that turns every red flag and plot hole into a reason to sip, spiral, and scream-laugh.

Feyre’s Foolishness — Our leading lady catches heat for some truly baffling decisions, including trusting the Suriel and falling for a golden retriever in a mask. Survivalist? Maybe. Smart? Questionable.

Tamlin the Wet Noodle — The gloves come off. The crew roasts Tamlin’s lack of personality, manipulative vibes, and general beige energy. Kim calls it early: “This man is not it.”

Rhysand: Red Flag or Misunderstood? — Rhys gets major side-eye for his behavior under the mountain, sparking a spicy debate. Amanda’s not convinced, Rick’s conflicted, and Kim is just tired.

The Riddle Heard ‘Round the World — The infamous “love” riddle breaks the group. Is Feyre just illiterate? Is the riddle too easy? Did Amarantha secretly want to lose?

Under the Mountain Drama — From trials to torture, the crew unpacks the darkness of Amarantha’s rule and why the book’s final act feels so tonally different (and better?) than the rest.

Sarah J. Maas's Writing Glow-Up — Everyone agrees: the first book is messy, fun, and not her best work. But it sets the foundation for future chaos, spice, and character growth.

Bone-Carver Confusion — Wait… wrong book? Too late. The gang spirals into ACOMAF territory and can’t stop. Feyre's sisters, Illyrians, and future mate-bombs are already on the table.

Insights Based on Numbers:

1 spring court, 1 golden retriever fae, 3 spicy opinions per minute

3 trials, 1 riddle, 0 satisfying Tamlin moments

1 red flag love interest, 1 glow-up pending, 100% unhinged

1 starter book → endless SJM drama to come

Episode Title: Bride – Chapters 21–End

Description: The Romanty Roundtable sinks its fangs into the final chapters of Bride by Ali Hazelwood—complete with blood bag cocktails, Cheez-It ASMR, and a full breakdown of werewolf anatomy (you’ve been warned). As the book wraps up its steamy werewolf-vampire politics, the crew reflects on everything from consent and hybrid identity to disappointing twists and anatomically confusing soup. With equal parts chaos and critique, Rick, Amanda, and Kim bring laughs, hot takes, and heartfelt reviews in this finale.

Key Topics Discussed:

Consent in the Soup — The group appreciates how Hazelwood handles consent during spicy scenes, contrasting it with other monster romances. Lowe may be dominant, but Misery stays in control.

The Knot Situation — Yes, that scene. Confusion, Google searches, and too much canine anatomy lead to a collective existential crisis—and a firm line between monster romance and monster biology.

Ending Letdowns — Despite strong early chapters, the crew agrees the final twist fell flat. Misery’s dad as the villain? Meh. Gabby? Underused. The final battle? Mostly off-page. A lot of build-up, not much bite.

Misery: Smart or Dumb? — The hosts debate how someone so book-smart can be so romantically clueless. Is it endearing, frustrating, or just bad character development?

Serena Returns — The not-so-dead best friend is back, and the group enjoys her reunion with Misery. Bonus points for Sylvester the cat and the term “fuckwaffle” making a repeat appearance.

Lo’s Emotional Walls — “You're not a problem, you're a privilege” hits hard—but so does his hot/cold pushback. The final declaration of love is satisfying, but the road there is bumpy.

Werewolf Worldbuilding — The Roundtable digs into Council drama, political fallout, and the vampire/wear hierarchy—and the overarching message that maybe all systems are bad.

Blood Cocktails & Book Pong — The episode ends with a live game of book pong to pick the next read (Fantasmawins!), lots of wine-fueled laughter, and a debate about rating systems.

Insights Based on Numbers:

10 final chapters → 1 werewolf knot explained in horrifying detail

3 podcasters → 1 group braincell as they piece together plot, romance, and worldbuilding

3.5 stars from all three readers → Fun but flawed

4 soup cans for spice → “Good soup… except for the knot”

1 confirmed hybrid, 1 soft alpha, 1 villain dad, 0 epic on-page final fights

Episode Title: Bride – Chapters 11–20

Description: The Romanty Roundtable continues their journey through Bride by Ali Hazelwood, covering chapters 11–20 with spirited discussion, deepening character insights, and steamy werewolf-vampire dynamics. From big Jewish weddings to bouncy castle party planning, the team brings humor and heart as they dive into evolving relationships, complex world-building, and juicy plot twists—including a surprise poisoning! The soup (read: sexual tension) is definitely simmering.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Pack Politics & Parallel Traumas – Misery and Lo’s shared histories of displacement and forced roles emerge as emotional glue, building mutual understanding amid werewolf-vampire hierarchies.
• Sensual Scenting & Consent – A pivotal scene in California features Lo scenting Misery to claim her as pack—a powerfully intimate and respectful act that underscores simmering chemistry.
• Tech Meets Fantasy – From Raspberry Pi devices to spy museum dreams, this section blends realism and tech into a magical world with hacker wolves and digital-illiterate alphas.
• Dinner Parties & Declarations – Scenes with family-style meals, Capri Sun-esque blood pouches, and vampire birthday bans spotlight the novel’s clever juxtaposition of domestic charm and dark lore.
• Soup Check: Blood = Pleasure – Feeding becomes sensual as Misery drinks from Lo for the first time, sparking euphoric sensations, mutual vulnerability, and undeniable romantic bonding.
• Mating Misunderstandings – Lo clearly sees Misery as his mate, but Misery remains hilariously oblivious. The crew debates whether it’s cultural ignorance or classic rom-com blindness.
• Poisoned Peanut Butter & Plot Twists – Misery’s collapse after a sweet moment (literally—peanut butter!) suggests foul play, possibly from within. Suspicion brews around Juno’s motives.
• Fluffy Werewolf Cuddles – After near-death, Misery awakens to find Lo in wolf form guarding her. What follows is a heartwarming and deeply cozy one-bed-turned-closet moment that blurs romance with puppy-level affection.
• Predictions & Speculations – Is Serena dead? Is she Anna’s sister? Is Juno jealous or just shady? The roundtable lays their bets for what’s next—often with wine on the line.

Join the Romanty Roundtable for another lively discussion full of insights, headcanons, literary laughs, and just the right amount of chaos. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and weigh in with your predictions and favorite theories!

Episode Title: Bride – Chapters 1–10

Description: The Romanty Roundtable kicks off their readalong of Bride by Ali Hazelwood, diving into a steamy supernatural world of vampires, werewolves, and forbidden romance. In these early chapters, we meet Misery Lark—an academic forced into a political marriage with the mysterious werewolf Lowe. Packed with power dynamics, witty banter, and hidden agendas, this book starts hot and gets hotter. The crew discusses themes of autonomy, loyalty, identity, and spice, with plenty of detours into wolfish behavior and bloodplay banter.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Misery Lark’s Dilemma — Half-vampire, full mess: Misery is forced into a werewolf marriage for political reasons while secretly trying to find her missing best friend. Her dry wit and inner voice steal the show early on.
• Lowe’s Alpha Energy — Territorial, protective, and fanged: Lowe, the werewolf alpha, brims with mate tropes, charm, and quiet dominance. His interactions with Misery sizzle from the start, blending gruffness with genuine intrigue.
• Fake Marriage, Real Sparks — Enemies to lovers with a bite: The political betrothal setup rapidly turns into romantic tension, with subtle shifts in power, desire, and trust between Misery and Lowe.
• Missing Friend Mystery — Misery’s secret mission: Beneath the surface romance lies a compelling mystery as Misery searches for her missing friend Kira and unravels truths about vampire-werewolf relations.
• Spice and Bloodplay — Early heat and taboo kinks: The group talks about Hazelwood’s fearless approach to spice, including bloodplay, mate tropes, and physical intimacy that’s intense, primal, and layered with emotional beats.
• Political Worldbuilding — Laws, tensions, and governance: From vampire nobility to werewolf social hierarchies, the hosts discuss the nuanced supernatural politics that shape the story’s stakes.

• 10 chapters, 1 steamy encounter, 2 hidden motives: Lays the groundwork for deeper character arcs and evolving relationships.
• 1 missing friend, 1 suspicious father, 3 vampire laws mentioned: The tension builds across multiple threads.
• 2 fated mates?: The ambiguity around fate and choice keeps the romantic stakes high.

Episode Title: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon

Description: In this episode, the Romanty Roundtable dives into That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming — a fast, fun, and ridiculous romantasy romp. The crew explores Cinnamon Hot Pepper’s journey from drunken spice farmer to unlikely demon-saving heroine. Filled with pirate hijinks, dragon transformations, dubious soups, and plenty of laughs, this tale delivers humor, steamy moments, and self-aware silliness. Expect hearty banter, sharp critiques, and more than a few detours into video games and soup metaphors.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Cinnamon’s Unlikely Adventure — Drunken night leads to demon drama: Cinnamon Hot Pepper stumbles into an unexpected quest after smacking a demon with a cinnamon stick, discovering her “goddess” is an undead witch enslaving demons.
• Fallon the Dragon Demon — Demon ally with hidden powers: Cinnamon’s companion turns out to be a dragon demon, fiercely protective and increasingly enamored, adding steamy tension and pirate flair to their quest.
• Pirate Escapades — From city destruction to high seas: After burning a city in a rage, Fallon and Cinnamon become pirates, gathering allies (a werewolf, snake demon, and tavern owner) for their final showdown.
• Final Battle Against the Lich — Hero’s party clash and goddess defeat: The group battles the false goddess (a lich), Cinnamon smashes the last chalice, and Fallon’s dragon fury nearly destroys everything — until love saves the day.
• Soup & Romance Tropes — Dubious consensual scenes stir debate: The crew critiques repetitive “soup” scenes (steamy moments) and the handling of dubious consent tropes, while reflecting on the book’s self-aware absurdity.
• Bonus detours — Video games & ratings talk: Tangents include Clare Obscure Expedition 33 game reviews and musings on star ratings, highlighting the fun chaos of the podcast.

• 200 pages, 15 chapters, 1 epilogue: A compact tale that barrels through plot points at breakneck speed.
• 4 temples/chalices smashed: A video game-like progression that fuels the quest structure.
• 3 months of island honeymoon: Marks the characters’ transition from chaos to peace, highlighting the shift from adventure to domesticity.
• Average crew rating: 2.5 stars: Reflects enjoyment of the humor but criticism of repetitive tropes and consent issues.