Discussion on ACOTAR News

Steph: Hey, everyone, it's Steph.

Megan: And I'm Megan.

Steph: And welcome to a special episode of Late Night Reads.

Megan: We are discussing all of the latest ACOTAR News from the goddess Sarah J. Maas and her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast earlier this week, Obsessed.

Steph: Obsessed.

Steph: Did we watch it and text each other while watching it?

Steph: Yes, we did.

Megan: Yes, absolutely.

Megan: Were my children eating their dinner and I was like, shush, mommy's on an important call right now with Sarah J. Maas.

Megan: Don't bother me.

Steph: Correct. Did my family think I was crazy? Yes. Yes, we are.

Megan: Did I cry? Yes. Like, oh, I laughed. I cried. It was just amazing.

Steph: Did my husband ask me questions about what was exciting?

Steph: And I tried to explain it to him and he didn't understand.

Steph: You were correct.

Megan: And I was like, hush, hush. Don't bother me.  Don't bother me. And listen to Sarah J. Maas. Don't bother me.

Steph: Correct.

Steph: I'm also reading her facial expressions, as we'll talk more about later, to figure out what she really means when she doesn't answer the questions that we all want to know.

Megan: Exactly.

Steph: So, as always, we are going to discuss books in the Throne of Glass series, ACOTAR, and the Crescent City series. There may be spoilers in what we're about to say, so you've been warned. We're not going to go in-depth into any of these books, but we are going to talk about them. Yeah.

Megan: But perhaps you want to reread all of them before October.

Steph: Just perhaps.

Steph: Just perhaps.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: So, the biggest news.

Steph: She announced not one, but two books.

Megan: It's like Christmas.

Megan: It's Christmas.

Steph: It is.

Megan: But it's a tease of Christmas, because I want it now.

Steph:  Correct.

Steph: But October's not that far away.

Megan: And that's my birthday month, so I'm very worried about that. I know. So I'm like, oh, happy birthday to me. Thank you so much.

Steph: I know.

Steph: So we're going to get part one or ACOTAR 6, which we do not have a title for. And I think the reason we don't have a title is because I think it'll tell us who it's about, or who the POV is, which we'll talk more. We're going to get that on October 27th. We're getting what she's calling part two and part three, or ACOTAR 7, on January 12th. There have been some announcements of page numbers since hers. So it looks like book one, or ACOTAR 6 is going to be out 400 pages. ACOTAR 7 is going to be over 900. Very clear that that would not all fit in one book. And then ACOTAR 8, or part four, to be determined, we have no idea. And my initial thought was, while I am so grateful that we are getting two books, if there is a big cliffhanger at the end of ACOTAR 7, and I do not have a timeline for when I will receive ACOTAR 8, I will likely lose it.

Steph: I mean, I'll freak out. Here's the thing. I am so supportive of her taking the time, all the time she needs to write a great book. I know how hard it is to do that, so girl, take your time.  But at the same time, give it to me now.

Megan: Give it to me now.

Steph: Give it to me now.

Megan: Let me pull it out of your brain and just, like, contrast it.

Steph: Or can we just get another, like, live call and talk about it?

Steph: Yes, that'd be great.

Megan: Hit us up, girlfriend.

Megan: We would love that.

Steph: Any time.

Megan: Basically, just, you know, go on your bookshelf. Like, there's my Sarah J. Maas right there. I'm just gonna, like, shove all of this over, maybe get a new shelf completely, and just, like, make room for, like, probably this much.

Steph: Yes, it's gonna be a lot.

Steph: It reminded me of what The Primal of Blood and Bone was over 800 pages, I think, in the print version.

Steph: So, this is gonna be longer than that.

Megan: At least the-

Megan: That's my Primal of Blood and Bone right there.

Steph: Yeah, ACOTAR 7.

Megan: At least that.

Megan: So, it's gonna be like-

Steph: Plus the 400.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: Just basically, you know what?

Megan: The whole shelf, just everything.

Megan: It's all-

Steph: Just for ACOTAR.

Megan: Just for ACOTAR, yeah. So, potential point of view for the next ACOTAR book. She even said, Sarah J. Maas said, it surprised her. She was not expecting this to come out of her, but she was like, here it is. And we're like, okay, who do we think it's gonna be and why? What if it was actually from Elain? So, Elain, I feel like might be the obvious choice, but Elain and Lucien.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: Like there too, about their bond trying to break or something like that.

Megan: Or I also thought it could be the king, like from his point of view.

Steph: Yeah, like King Hybern.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: That would be different.

Megan: That would be different. And you don't even get anything. It's literally the entire first book, like ACOTAR 6 is going to be from his point of view, from like before Feyre came into existence, I feel like.

Steph: Ooh.

Megan: And then like 7 is like after Feyre came into existence, and like all the shit that went down then with like Amarantha and everything.

Megan: It's like...

Steph: That'd be different.

Megan: So maybe, because she's surprised.

Megan: I'm like, what would be the most surprising to her?

Steph: So I am crazy, so keep that in mind. So one, I think we're getting multiple POVs. I do not think all the books will be told in a single POV. I think it will be multiple POVs in each book. I feel very confident that Azrael is going to play a big role, and I think that would surprise her because he doesn't talk much. And I feel like she might be talking a lot.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: I don't hate it.

Megan: I love it too.

Steph: I don't hate it. I do think we'll get some like Elain and Lucien. And I think that will happen. I do think that's more of like book 7 or book 8 type of thing. Plus, you've not read, correct. You've not read Crescent City. So, which we need to get you on.

Megan: Don't come at me.

Megan: My mom's reading it right now.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: It's, I mean, it's a lot of books. There's three books. They're very long. But there is a tie into ACOTAR, specifically in Crescent City book three. And I feel like we could get more Nesta’s POV in book six.

Megan: I wouldn't hate that.

Megan: Give us some more support.

Megan: That's fine.

Steph: Right?  So, I do think there could be some of that tie in. I also think it's possible that we get some more Rhys and Feyre’s POVs. I mean, yes, because I don't think their story is done.

Megan: What if it is Nyx grown up?

Steph: I'm not ready for that, Megan.

Megan: I know. I know. But what if?  Like, he is like, it's that far forward. It's that far forward.  I hope it's like a backwards and forwards. Like, it's 20 years in the future and Nyx has grown up, and it's his point of view, and then it flashes back.

Steph: I don't know.

Steph: That could be interesting.

Steph: It could be fun.

Megan: There's a lot of possibilities here, and that's why we are discussing them, because we're like, what else?

Steph: It could be anything. I do think, though, it is going to be multiple POVs. I feel really confident on that, because I think that's why she didn't answer who it was about, because it's about multiple people and telling us who will tell us more about what the story is.

Megan: Or even what if it's Feyre’s father, and how he met their mother.

Steph: Or her mother.

Steph: Where is her mother?

Megan: Because we don't know anything about her.

Megan: We'll get to that.

Megan: We'll get to that.

Steph: We have theories.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: The other thing is about mates.

Steph: We learn that there are like perfect or true mates, which she confirms like Rhys and Feyre are. Most importantly, Nesta and Cassian are, because there's been lots of people in the fandom who have said that they're not mates, or he's gonna reject the bond, or some nonsense. And I'm like, do not come at my favorite couple. I'm like a Nesta, Cassian, stan for life.

Megan: They're endgame.

Megan: They're endgame.

Steph: They're endgame.

Megan: Final seal is done.

Steph: She also says the same thing about Bryce and Hunt, which is from Crescent City.

Steph: I know there's been lots of Bryce Azriel shippers out in the world, tied to the dust court. No, Bryce and Hunt. But most importantly, she says, sometimes nature gets it wrong. And she specifically mentions Rhys’ parents. And then obviously the question is, does nature get it wrong for Lucien and Elain? Do we believe that they're actually mates that will become true or perfect mates, or did nature get it wrong? And they're not, they should not be together, even though there is a biological connection.

Megan: Yeah, I do think that's the case is going to be, because there has to be not a perfect ending for someone.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: You know, and even though we love Elain and like Lucien's like come around, like, I think, I think they're going to be the ones that it's like, you know what, you want to root for them because they have a bond, but it's just not going to be it.

Steph: So you think she'll break it?

Megan: I think she's going to break it.

Steph: Okay.

Megan: And I think she's going to try to get with Azriel.

Steph: I would love her and him together because I don't ship him and Gwen like a lot of other people do. However, here's what I've been like very much that I've thought Elaine is going to break the bond with Lucien. And I hate Lucien, not as much as I hate Tamlin, just like level set. But here's the thing that I've, like after watching the episode, the thought that keeps popping into my head is, what if she breaks the bond because she has all this trauma, because of he's part of the reason she went into the cauldron in the first place and this all happened to her. She breaks the bond. There is no connection. And then she falls in love with him.

Megan: Oh, shit.

Steph: Right?

Steph: Like, that's...

Megan: Can the bond be repaired after it's broken?

Steph: Or is it stronger when it's...

Steph: Because one thing that she talks about is free will.

Steph: Like, Sarah J. Maas said that.

Steph: She's like, Elain’s gonna explore free will. And that's what made me think, if she breaks the bond, now she does have free will. And what if, through free will, she still falls in love with him after she's healed some of the trauma from everything that happened to her? Because that would make their love story, I think, really strong. It would also be a really interesting character arc for Lucienne, like to see the bond. I mean, he's seen her, like, reject him numerous times. But if she breaks the bond, I can imagine that's super painful, just knowing what we know about bonds being broken in other worlds. So then I would question, like, how does he react then to her?

Steph: And like, how would they fall in love?

Steph: Because that would be a really interesting story to tell.

Megan: Like, at the end of book 6, like, her breaking the bond.

Megan: And then, like, book 7 is like, she's...

Megan: Oh, wait, maybe I shouldn't have done that.

Steph: Like, well, she starts to… Like, once you heal, I think she starts to see things differently. So that's where… I didn't think that before, but after watching the Call Her Daddy episode, I'm like, I think she's going to break it, and then I think she's still going to fall in love with them.

Megan: That would be interesting.

Steph: Let's see.

Megan: So we also have Mor’s powers, which I would totally ship Mor and Gwen, by the way.

Steph: I would love that, honestly.

Megan: Let me see.

Megan: So she basically just says, like, the truth and according to SJM that Mor, we will find out about everything. Like, there's more to come with her powers and stuff, and we're like, but what?

Steph: But what? What does it mean? Correct.  So we know she's hiding something from the Night Court. We know that there's obviously more to her. I think her powers are… I wonder if she's way stronger than we know.

Megan: Yeah, like, and what is she doing on her little, like, like, home away from home, you know?

Steph: Correct, like, girl, what are you up to?

Megan: What you doing?

Steph: What you talking to?

Steph: Right.

Steph: Can we trust her?

Megan: Can we trust her? I want to.

Megan: I really do.

Steph: I do too.

Megan: I do her a lot.

Steph: So I think it would be interesting.

Steph: Right.

Steph: We always trust no one except, I trust Reese and Cassian, never Tamlin. But I wonder if we'll get a POV from her, which could be really interesting because she's been kind of quiet and secretive. Her and Azriel are both, I think, the two we know the least about. Because even though we've not really seen a POV from Elain, I do feel like we know enough about her character through her sisters, but the two of them.

Megan: The Book 6 is about Mor.

Megan: About whatever she's doing on her little estate and everything.

Steph:That would be really, really interesting. I want to know more about her because I think she's an interesting story to tell. I also think she's up to some...

Megan: Shady shit, maybe.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: I was going to say nefarious, like shady shit.

Steph: And I can't tell yet if I think it's shady shit that's beneficial to her friends.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: And they enter a circle.

Steph: Or if it's shady shit that's going to bite them all in the ass and she's actually more of a traitor.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: Which would be really fascinating. But that would be really fascinating from a story perspective. That's the thing is like, there's lots of options. I think that's one of the things I love about specifically like romantasy is you can take characters in so many different directions. And while I love her character, there's also part of me that's like, but for the story, it'd be really cool if she turned out to be a traitor.  Do I want that for her as a character? No, because I love her, but also...

Megan: I'm not trying to make this bad decision, but she might.

Steph: But I would also be fascinated by it.

Megan: And I would read it 100%.

Steph: And I would read it.

Megan: But here's the thing.

Megan: One person who I think does not deserve to have a POV in this next book is Tamlin, so fuck him. She asked basically like, is there potential for a Tamlin to have a redemption arc? And at first, I would have said maybe, but the way that she came about talking about it, I agree with her. The fact that women came up to her and said, I left an abusive spouse who was so similar to Tamlin, the ghosting, the blind signing, all this shit. And I'm like, yeah, I don't think he deserves it. I don't think he deserves it. And would that do justice to the readers who have felt that from Tamlin? That he resonates as an abusive partner. It's like, yeah, does that deserve a redemption?

Megan: Because in real life, it doesn't.

Steph: It doesn't, no.

Steph: It doesn't.

Steph: So I think it's interesting because there was a lot of people that thought maybe him and Elain were destined to be together because she likes flowers and things like that. And that kind of aligns with the Spring Court. Here's, I don't, I've fucking hated Tamlin from book one. When everyone was obsessed with Tamlin, I was like, I hate this man. Before any of the bad stuff. I did love him.

Megan: I would text my girlfriends, I was like, oh my God, I love Tamlin and they had already finished and they're like.

Steph: Girl, just read book two.

Megan: I know, I was like, what do you mean?

Megan: And then I was like, oh no.

Steph: See, whereas like as soon as like Rhys came on the page, I was like, well, hello.

Steph: Like I know you're bad, but like, hi.

Megan: Hi.

Steph: So I don't want a redemption arc for Tamlin. However, here's what I want from him. And what I really hope she gives us, which I think she could based on the way she kind of danced around it, right? She was like fucking Tamlin, right? And she, I think was clear that he isn't going to get a redemption arc. I would love to know what happened to him though, because she does talk about a lot happened to him and he has a lot of trauma, right? And he was not prepared for everything that happened, like under the mountain.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: And that's maybe why he reacted some of the ways that he did, which fair. So that's why I'm questioning, like, do we get some of his backstory? Do we get some either Tamlin POVs or Lucien POVs where we learn more about what happened to Tamlin that help us understand why he did what he did? Because I think there's twofold that doesn't redeem him at all, but it helps us understand him. And I think it also will help us understand Lucian better. Because part of my anger towards Lucien is he sat by and let all of this shit happen to Feyre that he knew Tamlin was doing. Are there times where I think he was trying to help her and support her? Yes, but he seems like an enabler, like an accessory to abuse. And so I feel like he needs to some extent to be redeemed. Like if Elain wasn't his mate and he didn't feel that pull to her, would he still be in the fucking Spring Court supporting Tamlin's bullshit?  I think he would. Yes, he absolutely would.

Megan: He wouldn't leave his bro.

Steph: Exactly.

Steph: So I need to like understand all of that for me to be like, yes, Lucien is not an asshole. Like he tried to talk his friend into like making better choices. We just didn't see it because book one and book two were told from Feyre’s point of view.So we didn't see like any of the conversations that were happening between the two of them.So that's what I'm hoping we get. I do not think Tamlin should be redeemed, that motherfucker should burn in hell as should all abusers. But I would like to know why.

Megan: There's no redemption that's going to excuse his behavior.

Megan: But again, yeah, I want to know why.

Megan: Why did you do the fucked up shit you did?

Steph: Correct.

Steph: And is his mate, was it or was his mate, Amarantha? Because there's been a lot of theories about that because she was like obsessed with him. And like, did he reject that bond? And is part of the way he is because of that. Like, can you imagine if like that was your mate and it's this horrible person? So, that's what I want to know, like, do I want more Tamlin? Yes, if you're going to tell me why he became such a bastard.If you're going to make him more likable, no, no, no.

Megan: We don't need to like him.

Megan: Now, another very hot topic that I cried about was when Sarah J. Maas talked about Feyre’s pregnancy and Rhys keeping it from her in A Court of Silver Flames. Obviously, that pregnancy was traumatic, to say the least. To not know, is this baby going to come out with wings or not? Am I going to survive? I don't know. But Rhys just kept so many things from her, which again, that's his fault and he learned through that and he had to experience that trauma to himself, redeem himself and be like, I fucked up. But to hear Sarah talk about her own personal pregnancies and her trauma, I cried.

Steph: Yeah, it was hard.

Megan: I cried like a baby.

Megan: Because even though I also do not love being pregnant three times, it sucked. I did not experience what she experienced. And so that even takes it a whole new level. I want to reread that whole book now to feel with her. I mean, I still felt with her, but even more so like, damn, that's where you were going through it and what you channeled into this character for that moment. And like, that's just heartbreaking, but beautiful.

Steph: So I know this is not popular commentary, but A Court of Silver Flames is my favorite book in the series so far.

Megan: I did like that one a lot.

Steph: Right? I know most people say it's like book two, but that's, I love Nesta’s story. I was not mad at Rhys for keeping it from her. I am probably one of the few people who like did not hate on him for.

Megan: Yeah, I wasn't mad.

Megan: I understood it.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: But I didn't like it.

Steph: I was okay.

Steph: Here's why I was okay with it. I think there are two things that kind of play into it. One, we don't really know that, or at least I don't feel like we knew the timeline of how long he kept it. I think it felt like it was a long time for us because the book was long. But I'm like, was that a couple of days? Was it a week or two? Like, is it, I think that plays into it. Like, if it's months, it's a very different story than if it's like I kept it from you for like seven days while I was doing this research to figure this out, rather than worrying you when I thought I might be able to get an answer. So and I feel like that's something that yes, it was everyone's like, but it's happening to her. And I'm like, that's where I draw a line. It was yes, but also it's happening to him.

Steph: And I don't know if people understood that or saw that perspective as much because not only is it impacting her and her body, but also it's impacting him because it's not just his child, it's his wife and his mate. And that's really, really hard. Do I think he was being nefarious by keeping it from her? No, I think he was trying to protect her.Yeah. And I think.

Megan: Yeah, it's like telling a kid who's about to go into surgery, like do you want to have them have hope before they're about to go into it? Yes, because studies have even shown, like if someone is positive going into something, it works out usually a little bit better than thinking of dread, like negativity and dread. Like your body will recognize that stress, and I mean, you know, obviously a lot about that, but so that's what I'm saying. I understand why he's like, let's keep it positive, let's keep it good, let's not bring any negativity into this calm, meditative, birthing experience.

Steph: Yes.

Megan: When shit is gonna hit the fan, obviously, but you know, I understand it.

Megan: I wasn't mad at him.

Megan: I didn't agree with this decision, but I wasn't mad about it because I did understand it.

Steph: I was more mad at Nesta for tallying Farrah and not letting him do it.

Steph: I think that was like very-

Megan: That was her business.

Steph: Vindictive.

Steph: But I think it also felt true to her, like she was on that journey.

Megan: True.

Steph: Personally.

Steph: But I do think, like to your point about surgery, it's like, here's a great example. So, like my daughter has had multiple brain surgeries. And do I tell her every time, like the laundry list of things that can happen to you with any surgery, right? Like stroke, death, bleeding. No, I don't because, you know, does she know that in general? Yes, because she's 16. But I don't go through that every time because literally, that's like the list of bad things that can happen to you when literally they do any procedure. It's like, oh, you're going to have your tonsils out. Well, all these horrible things could happen. Oh, you're going to have, you know, this. Well, all these horrible things can happen. So to some extent, right? Like I think what was going to have potentially happened to Vera, which was death, is whether or not we want to admit it or not. It is, unfortunately, a potential complication for any pregnancy, even one that's deemed to be healthy. There are lots of women, even in the United States, that have healthy pregnancies and die in childbirth still.

Steph: And that's even worse than other countries where they don't have as many medical resources. So I do feel like to some extent he got a lot of crap. And I think hearing Sarah's story was super, super powerful. And I'm glad she told it because there are a lot of women that I think are expected to be like, oh, I'm so happy and positive during pregnancy.  Like this is a joy. It is a joy when a child is brought into this world, but that doesn't mean that it's not fucking hard. And I've not been through it, but like just having watched other people go through it, like I was puking the entire time.  Right? Like that was a joy, Megan.

‍Megan: That was so joyful. I'm like, wait, wait, here comes my joy. Like, yeah, so joyful being hooked up at home to an IV because you can't get off the couch without puking. So joyful, so much fun.

Steph: But I think more women sharing like the reality of that and the reality of the things that we go through. Like that's why you and I talk about like perimenopause, like all the time to random people, because no one talked about it to us. And I'm just like, girl, like it's this shit sucks. And I want at least our generation and the ones to come afterwards to feel like they know the reality and then it's okay to feel however it is you want to feel about what's happening to your body.

Megan: Actually, one of my girlfriends, she just texted me and was like, and like our group of chat, she's like, hey, how do you guys explain to your kids a period? Because like her son is like starting to just like notice things more, right? He's like, huh. And I'm like, well, I have three daughters. I'm like, I'm very open with it. I'm like, hey girls, like this is a tampon. You put it in once a month, once a month this happens.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: And this is perfectly natural. And this is going to happen to your body in a few years.  Like it will happen.

Steph: It does suck.

Megan: We'll get through it though.

Megan: And there's tools to help you.

Megan: And I'm like, this is why mommy's a little bit cranky for a few days, give me some grace. So it's like just talking about it even early on. Like my oldest daughter is seven, but she knows what a period is. And she knows like, yeah, that's going to happen to you one day, but you're going to be good. Like we got your little safety kit already done and ready. And like whenever it happens, it happens. It's like the more you know about your body, like at a young age and even at an older age, where you're like, I'm 36. Am I going through peri-peri menopause? Like I'm like the pre-pre, I'm like, yes, I am. That would have been nice to know. Lovely.

Steph: It'd be nice to know that was a thing.

Megan: It was a thing.

Megan: It's like, so it's not just like this, menopause.

Megan:  It's like peri-peri-peri menopause.

Steph: Correct.

Steph: Cool.

Steph: I like to call it puberty in reverse.

Megan: Oh, yeah.

Steph: But like times a thousand, because it's like way worse.

Megan: Times a thousand.

Megan: Yay.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: Who is Mama Archeron? She did not give us any answers. So we're just like looking at her face like, Sarah, what are you saying? What are you saying?

Steph: Blink twice if she's a witch.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: It's like, is she or was she an Ironteeth witch? And she's like, I need a spicy margarita. And I'm like, me too, girl. Answer the damn question.

Steph: That sounds like a yes.

Steph: So I think there's like two things. One that sounds like a yes to some extent, or like we are gonna find, I think we are gonna find out in this next, in the next books. I think that's why she was a little bit like cryptic. But I do think either she, I do think either she was a witch or she was a part, like, fae. I feel very strongly that she has to be, right? But I do think it'd be interesting if she was an Ironteeth Witch. So, this is real crazy, so just, like, bear with me, okay?

Megan: No, I can't wait.

Megan: I can't wait.

Steph: And it, we'll talk about this later, but it kind of goes back to, like, what is the timelines of when Throne of Glass occurred, ACOTAR, and Crescent City? We know that from the crossover between Crescent City and ACOTAR, there, that they both exist at least at one point in the same timeline. Yes. There are theories that Throne of Glass, when Aelin is kind of like falling through everything and she sees a pregnant fae, like, two fae, one's pregnant, there's a theory that that's Feyre and Rhys, right? Agreed. Which would mean that that's occurring at the same time. So if that's the case, then that would mean, that would mean, theoretically, that if Mama Archeron was an ironteeth witch, that she's an older one. Perhaps that we've met and thrown a glass, right?

Steph: The other real crazy idea that I have is, if they're not on the same time, what if she's like, come on on?

Megan: But Prinsleyne.

Steph: Like, wouldn't that be really crazy?

Megan: Four.

Steph: And is she dead, dead?

Megan: Oh no, never, never. Even crazier. What if the whole story with Asterin, who she later ran off and met a guy in the woods, and they had a little cottage and everything. What if that is Mama Archeron?

Steph: And she had three kids?

Megan: And she actually had three kids and lied, or she had three. About what happened? Yeah, lied about what happened, had three, maybe she had a fourth, and that's the one that she came back with.

Steph: And I thought, it's possible. That's why I think there's something tied to that, like I do think she's an iron-tooth witch, I do think there's something tied to that as well. That would be really cool.

Megan: So, I think, yeah.

Megan: Or even like, they thought the baby died, but that baby was nessed up, and that's why Nesta have witchy powers in a way.

Steph: She was, you know?

Megan: But she actually did go back and have two more kids.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: You guys like the woods, the cottage, you have all of it right there.

Steph: Like, are we, are we stretching too far?

Steph: No, I'm wondering, are we sure that they're all full biological sisters?

Megan: That's true.

Megan: What if Nesta's mom was Asterin and the other two were not from that mom?

Steph: Because that could be possible.

Megan: I see it. I see it. Now, what is Rhys’ last name?  She dodged that question so hard. She's like, what, what does it mean? Like, yeah, girl, where's your spicy margarita? Okay, let's go.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: But she was just like, it doesn't matter because like he's one of one. But no, it does matter. Everything matters. Every detail matters because he has a strong resemblance, though I'm told, to Ruhn in Crescent City. Please tell me more.

Steph: So, so much that Bryce thought he was Rhys. When she's like thought Rhys was her brother. So they look almost identical. I am pretty sure they're related. And I think that she won't tell us because if she tells us we know everyone's last name already, it'll be the same.

Megan: All I can think of, honestly, is my husband dressed up his recent, so, you know.

Steph: Right?

Megan: Check out our pics from when we had at RomantasyCon.

Megan: Puppy showed up dressed to impress, and I was having a good time.

Steph: You were shocked and appreciative.

Megan: Yes, I was like, tattoos, the jacket, the leather pants. I was like, get the fuck upstairs to our hotel room right now, sir.  I was like, all we're missing is the wings, but it's fine. I don't care. It's fine. It's fine.

Steph: It's fine.

Megan: But yes, fun times.

Steph: All right. So the Dusk Court, which is rumored to be the eighth lost court, supposedly located on the island known as the prison, which is based on what we learn in A Court of Silver Flames. It is also from the Crescent City series. Supposedly, the ancestral home for the star-born fae, once ruled by an ancestor of Bryce’s, she is also supposedly the only heir to the Dusk Court. And when she goes to the Dusk Court,  where the Dusk Court was, it starts to come back to life. We also know, and this is why the Azriel shippers like and Bryce shippers have kind of been a thing in question of their minds. He does seem to also have some ties to the Dusk Court as well that have not been explained. So, when she was asked about the Dusk Court, once again, we got zero answers.

Megan: Evasion, evasion.

Steph: Evasion, which makes me...

Megan: She's doing the matrix dives, and you're like, whoa, that question, that question, not doing it.

Steph: Exactly. Which makes me think that the Dusk Court will play a prominent role in this series. I know there's also been some questions around like, does Nesta have ties to the Dusk Court as well, or some theories around that. I don't know if I think that's necessarily the case, as much as I feel like Crescent City and ACOTAR are gonna come together at some point.

Megan: So our little ACOTAR TV writes going on. It's nice that she got all the writes back to her storyline. So she is like, I will do it when I find the right people. I appreciate it. She's like, I'm not gonna cast like any old hot guy off the street, which I'm like, but could you like, would you give us a little list of who you're thinking of so we can review them? Because she's like, it has to be perfect. Like he has to be the perfect Reese, you know, like I will not accept anything less. And like the music has to be perfect. Like she is going to be like hands-on, like tentacles into every little aspect, like the music, the set design, like the casting, like everything, which I'm like, yes, Queen.

Megan: Please.

Steph: Appreciate that.

Megan: But do it now.

Megan: I want it now.

Steph: I don't think we're going to get it for a long time if we get it. That's my prediction, because I think there's like almost like the perfect thing that needs to align, which is she needs to find like a director that has the same vision and that loves the books as much as she does, a studio that's willing to let her and then like the director and the production company do whatever the fuck they want from a budget perspective.

Steph:This is not going to be cheap.

Megan: We need like Avatar status here.

Steph: Yes. So I think it's going to take a long, long time for all of that to come together. If I had to make a prediction right now, I think she will end up forming her own production company. And-

Megan: What if she joined up with like Reese Witherspoon?

Steph: I think she needs someone with a bigger vision. I think like Margaret Robbie is like, I know she's met with her. I think she needs someone that needs like a bigger, that wants to tell a bigger story. I think Reese is fantastic. I adore her.

Megan: What if she got to do it with Margot, and Margot ends up playing like Amarantha?

Steph: That would be cool.

Megan: That would be so cool. Or Mama Archeron. Or, I don't know, anyone. Or like Maeve comes back in and she's Maeve.

Steph: But I do think it'll be a while.

Steph: Okay.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: Damn.

Steph: She was also asked, Where is Vaughan from Throne of Glass? So as a reminder for those of you who are not as in the weeds as the rest of us, he was part of the cadre that was sent by Maeve to look for Lorcan in Empire of the Storm, and he never came back. He was briefly mentioned in Kingdom of Ash about how he's still out there, he's free. And in the interview, she said she thinks about him often. And that's all she'll say about that. And I'm like, what do you mean? So he's gonna come back, and I think he's gonna play a role. And I wonder if it's gonna, if we're gonna see him show up in one of these upcoming ACOTAR books.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: Because I do think there's connections between Maeve and Rhys.

Steph: Yes.

Steph: Yes.

Megan: What if like Vaughan like ends up like changing his name, and he shows up as like a different character, and it's later-

Steph: Or we already know him.

Megan: Exactly.

Steph: That would be really cool, right? That would be really, really cool. I love it when like characters show up, and they've been there all the time, and we've never noticed. And then you're like, holy shit.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: Like another mask gets ripped off behind the mask, and you're like, you're who and who?

Megan: It's like Scooby-Doo.

Steph: Yes.

Steph: I love that.

Megan: And then speaking of the Throne of Glass, are we going to get any more Throne of Glass? Like she very much was like, it seemed like there should be like a continuation of the story. You know, like, you know, you get the ending where, you know, Aelin is just like, you know, happily married, she's got her kids, looking out into the mountains, and it's like, and that's the end. You're like, but our stories don't actually end there.

Steph: No.

Megan: So I'm like, is there more?

Megan: Yes.

Megan: Would she perhaps make an appearance in ACOTAR 6?

Steph: Potentially.

Steph: I think...

Megan: I did love it.  But when she got asked, like, you know, like, who would win in a fight? You know, like, names all the people. And she's like, fuck that. Like, all those girls would be like, this is dumb. Let's go get in and out. Like, I agree.

Steph: Agree.

Megan: So does that mean they're all going to be friends in real, real life and they're going to crossover for real, real?

Megan: Like, let's see it happen.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: So I think that kind of ties to, like, the next two questions.  So is there a poor… Why is there a pool of starlight in the Spring Court? Is that a portal to another world?  And are Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and Crescent City occurring at the same time? Will there be crossovers? So I don't think we'll get more Throne of Glass books.

Megan: Yeah, I don't think we will.

Megan: I think that is done.

Steph: I think that series is done.

Steph: Which is sad. But I think the characters are not done.

Steph: Correct.

Steph: Because we know they all live in the same universe. I do think part of their stories are occurring at the same time. I think the thing we have to remember is, right, some of these characters are hundreds of years old. So it's kind of like, when are the stories occurring, right? But I do think that there is a, I do think there are portals in this world. And I do think that's how we're going to be able to get to these other places. And I think that obviously there's the tide across the city already. But I would be curious if people from the Throne of Glass world can come through portals. And maybe if they already have.

Megan: I didn't know that Aelin was falling through once. So I was like, okay, we know there's a portal. Don't be all like, koi. Yeah, she was so koi. She was like, who comes up with these questions? Or like everybody. Everybody wants because you have left these Easter eggs for us and now we want to know if there's chocolate inside or a portal.

Steph: But here's the other thing that's interesting though, is I also based on her writing process, when she says she kind of writes what comes to her, there's part of me that also goes, or was it like just nothing? And we have just analyzed it to death and made it to something, and she was like, you guys, it was like three words in a line. Why are you obsessed about that? I do think that does happen sometimes. Yeah, probably.

Megan: I mean, we do know, like we asked K.A. Linde a very specific question about one of her books, like, what about this? And she's like, I would focus more on this item instead of that one. We're like, re-read, re-read, re-read. Like, what do you mean? So, I mean, valid, valid point. I'm like, maybe that was just a thing. And it wasn't really something that's going to lead you down a rabbit hole. But at the same time, I'm going to follow every rabbit hole. Correct.

Steph: That's what we do best.

Megan: Expose crazy, crazy theories and just see what happens.

Steph: So, final kind of question is, what is our recommendation in terms of how do you prepare for the upcoming ACOTAR books 6 and 7 that we know are coming out? So, obviously, would highly recommend rereading ACOTAR books one through five. If you haven't already, start from now.

Megan: He has to.

Megan: I was like, and this is your homework assignment for the next six, seven months. You got to read all these books. And he's like, I do? And I'm like, well, you did dress up as resend. So yes, you do.

Steph: I feel like you need to understand.

Steph: You need to understand this.

Megan: So yes.

Megan: So he's like, okay.

Megan: He adds it to his audible list and I'm like, fine, do it.

Steph: That's fine. I would also highly recommend reading Crescent City  one through three, because I know some people are saying they don't think you need to. I have a hard time believing that there's not gonna be more of a crossover in ACOTAR six and seven based on the timeline of when they came out, based on what we see in the crossover in Crescent City three. So I would highly recommend that. Do I think if you haven't read Throne of Glass, you have to read it before the next ACOTAR books come out? Probably not. But if you haven't read Throne of Glass, add it to your TBR. It's fantastic.

Megan: Yeah, like you're missing out.

Steph: You're missing out.

Steph: But it is a lot of books.

Megan: It's fantastic.

Megan: Yeah. I do recommend doing the tandem read with Empire of Stone.

Steph: Oh, I couldn't do it.

Megan: Until I've done.

Megan: Oh, I love it.

Steph: It was so good.

Steph: I couldn't do it.

Megan: It was hard.

Megan: It was very difficult because you have to very strategically mark your chapters. But there are sources out there that tell you how to do it. Read chapters one through three of this, and then one through three of that, and then six or seven, and then four, and then… But it was worth it, in my opinion. I enjoyed it. Because I don't think I personally could have read through one and then go to the other side and be like, wait, now I'm back in time again? Like, that's just me.

Steph: Maybe it would have made the book about Chaol less annoying.

Steph: I find his character super annoying in general.

Megan: I did it at first.

Megan: I really liked him at first.

Megan: But then, yeah, I was like, oh, now I don't like you.

Steph: You're like Tamlin.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: Oh, he's a little Tamlin-y.

Steph: He's a little Tamlin-y.

Megan: But you know, he does get a redemption and he gets his happy ending and you're like, you deserve it more than Tamlin does. Yeah, exactly. Like, Tamlin does not deserve a happy ending with like family.

Steph: No.

Megan: Doesn't.

Steph: But I want to know why.

Steph: Why is he so broken?

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: Tell me.

Megan: Who hurt you?

Megan: Call this lawyer here in an accident.

Megan: Who hurt you?

Steph: I want to know who hurt Tamlin and why.

Megan: But we can all agree that Sarah J. Maas is hurting us right now by not giving it to me right now. Like, right now. I am hurt. I need to call my life alert. I've fallen and I can't get up. I need my freaking six, seven, eight. If there's more than that, my head's gonna explode, but I want it.

Steph: It'll be interesting to see if there are more, because I think there are ways to read her interview that there are more books coming after that and ways to interpret it that book eight will be the final book in ACOTAR.

Megan: I also fully believe that we'd be best friends, because I too also was in love with Legolas, and I too would go home and watch Sailor Moon all the time.

Steph: I had no idea what she was talking about through that entire section.

Megan: No, I was like-

Steph: That was like my jam.

Megan: I was like, yes.  I'm like, I am right there with you. I'm like, Sailor Moon repeat on Cartoon Network. And then you had Dragon Ball Z right afterwards. And I was just like, we would be besties.

Steph: I have no idea.

Megan: Sarah, if you're listening, let's be besties.

Steph: Application out there.

Megan: I would love to be besties. No creeper, I promise. But also, we do need to find more of these mystical vortexes and just like go and shit in them. Oh my God. If we find a mystical vortex, is that our very own portal into another world?

Steph: Well, apparently, it was for her because it allowed her to write a crap ton of pages very quickly.

Megan: Hence why her mentioning of the vortex, I'm like, yeah, there's portals.

Steph: I know.

Steph: I think it was an Easter egg too.

Megan: It was. I love it. So overall, a wonderful podcast session from Call Her Daddy.  It was great. I loved it. I wanted to be a part of it. I was very upset. And now I want a spicy margarita and a diet coke at the same time. Alright, let's find out what's going to happen in ACOTAR 6 and 7. Until then, happy reading. Brush up on all of your stuff and let us know if you have any crazy theories too.

Steph: Happy reading. Thanks for listening to Late Night Reads. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at Late Night Reads Podcast. And check out latenightreads.com for even more information about all the books we're reading. If you loved today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. And share the show with your fellow book lovers.