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Can a workplace romance with a magical twist truly captivate your heart? Meet us on "Of Swords and Soulmates" as we talk about the buzz around Hannah Nicole Maehrer's "Assistant to the Villain." Fueled by social media hype, this charming tale blends humor, romance, and fantasy in a way that had us all hooked. We discuss our star ratings and how this book compares to our favorite films and TV shows.

We kick off the episode with some exciting news—Netflix is bringing Scott Westerfeld's YA dystopian novel "Uglies" to life, starring Joey King! We share our thoughts on this adaptation and reminisce about our personal connections to the book. But it’s not all rosy in the literary world; we touch on the recent Hugo Awards controversy, where deserving authors like Ziran Jay Zhao and RF Kuang were excluded. Thankfully, George RR Martin’s Alfie Awards stepped in to honor these overlooked talents, providing a heartwarming resolution to the issue.

Our deep dive into "Assistant to the Villain" is packed with laughter, insights, and debates on the romance dynamics within. We scrutinize the slow-burn relationship, the intriguing character motivations, and the effectiveness of the romantic tension. Comparing the book’s relationships to iconic pairings like Jim and Pam or Han and Leia, we explore the broader impact of romance in storytelling. We dip into a tangent on what makes a villain a villain, and who is the baddie? To wrap things up, we tease our next episode featuring a review of "Radiance" by Grace Draven. Make sure to follow us on all our social media platforms and check our website for more updates!

Links from the News Segment and Show:

• Uglies TV show drops September 13th on Netflix (link to show page)
  • Based on the YA dystopian series by Scott Westerfeld
• George R. R. Martin hosted the “Alfies” this year
  • Named after Alfred Bester, Martin hosts this when authors get snubbed.
  • Due to the controversy with the 2023 Hugo Awards, he invited Xiran Jay Zhao (author of Iron Widow) and RF Kuang (author of Babel)
  • The Hugo Awards have had past controversies, such as in 2013-2017, & 2021
• Paperback of Fourth Wing is coming out September 17th.
  • Link to Instagram post
  • Will include a new chapter from Xaden's POV
• Romantasy Book Convention (Orlando 2024)
  • https://www.fabledfantasyevents.com/
• This episode's book is Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • Goodreads

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Ever wondered how book bans impact the genres we love, particularly romance and romantasy? This week on "Of Swords and Soulmates," we begin with a light-hearted mix-up about Jonathan's podcast persona, JP. Then, we're thrilled to share the latest buzz from the romanticist book world, spotlighting Katie Roberts' stunning opus collection for her "Deal with the Demon" series and Jennifer Armantrout's special edition collaboration for her "Blood and Ash" series. We also dive into the recent book bans in Utah. Hear our take on how these bans affect beloved authors like Sarah J. Maas, Judy Blume, and Margaret Atwood, and the broader implications this has on genres predominantly enjoyed by women.

As we segue into our main topic, get ready for an intriguing discussion on Carissa Broadbent's "Six Scorched Roses," a romanticist story you won't want to miss.
we discuss this fascinating novella that combines elements of Beauty and the Beast with a unique vampire twist. We delve into themes of classism, neurodivergence, and the blend of magic and science within the story. Our hosts debate the novella's brevity and its impact on the depth of the fantasy elements, with a lively rating discussion to boot. Don't miss our next episode, where we'll review "Assistant to the Villain" by Hannah Nicole Mayer!

Links from the News Segment and Show:

• Katee Robert’s A Deal With a Demon series is getting the Opus treatment at FaeCrate
  • Priced at $160 per set (plus shipping), ships Dec 2024-Jan 2025.
  • FaeCrate Exclusve (Link)
• Jennifer Armentrout special edition books
  • Special Arcane Society editions of the Blood and Ash series.
  • Signed and unsigned options, Cost is $195 (plus tax and shipping).
  • Date - TBA
• The title of the Moonfall series by Sarah A. Parker announced
  • The Ballad of Falling Dragons (Amazon link)
  • Releases 10/07/25, or you can get a signed version on 07/2025 from Waterstones
• Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel by Kiersten White
  • What if Lucy didn’t die but instead finds herself, finds love, and has the chance for some revenge on Dracula?
  • Releases 09/10/24
  • Amazon Affiliate Link
• Banned Books List in Utah includes Sarah J. Maas
  • Guardian Article
  • Banned Book Week is Sept. 22-28, 2024
• Dragoncon
  • Largest multi-genre convention (anime, art, fantasy, literature, sci-fi, and more)
  • https://www.dragoncon.org
  • Thursday Aug 29th - Monday Sep 2nd in Atlanta, GA
• Romantasy Book Convention (Orlando 2024)
  • https://www.fabledfantasyevents.com/
• This episode's book is Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
  • Goodreads

Follow us:
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Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/ofswordsandsoulmates

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Ready to uncover the latest buzz in the fantasy and romance book world? This episode of "Of Swords and Soulmates" promises a treasure trove of updates and discussions that you won't want to miss. We kick off with the exhilarating news that Moira Wally Beckett, the mastermind behind "Anne with an E" and "Breaking Bad," is set to helm the upcoming Fourth Wing TV show. Get the inside scoop on three must-read books hitting the shelves: "A Sorcerer Comes to Call" by T Kingfisher, "Dark Olympus: Book Seven" by Katie Roberts, and "Apprentice to the Villain" by Hannah Nicole Mayer.

Our discussion for The Audient and the Phantom Night delves into the fantastical elements from The Flying Dutchman and Beauty and the Beast. We debate the story elements and character dynamics. Ever been baffled by a mysterious dice game in a book? You're not alone—we break down our confusion and share our candid ratings on the fantasy elements.

Finally, our romance segment sails into pirate territory, where opinions clash over the alpha nature of Captain Devlin and his evolving relationship with Fena. Ashley's glowing review sparks a lively debate among the hosts about character transformation, romantic tropes, and the power dynamics at play. We also critique the book cover design by Sadie Hewitt, speculating on the artistry and the allure of its title.

Wrapping up, we touch on the significance of romance in storytelling, with a rapid fire discussion spotlighting "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," and recommend the lesbian romance "Legends and Latte" for those looking to broaden their reading horizons.

Links from the News Segment and Show:

• Fourth Wing TV show on Amazon Prime
  • Showrunner selected – Moira Walley-Beckett
    • Emmy, PGA, Golden Globe, and Peabody Award winner
    • Previous work includes Anne with an E and Breaking Bad
• New releases of note (all released August 6th):
  • Dark Restraint (Dark Olympus, 7) by Katee Roberts
  • A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher
  • Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant and the Villain, Book 2) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
• Cover reveal for Firebird by Juliette Cross
  • This will be a limited first print run featuring original illustrated stenciled edges, foil case stamp, and designed endpapers. available while supplies last.
• Dragoncon
  • Largest multi-genre convention (anime, art, fantasy, literature, sci-fi, and more)
  • https://www.dragoncon.org
  • Thursday Aug 29th - Monday Sep 2nd in Atlanta, GA
• Romantasy Book Convention (Orlando 2024)
  • https://www.fabledfantasyevents.com/
• This episode's book is The Audient and the Phantom Night by Sadie Hewitt
  • Goodreads
  • Author's Website

Follow us:
Instagram - @ofswordsandsoulmates

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/ofswordsandsoulmates