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Of Swords and Soulmates
Mari
46 episodes
2 days ago
Send us a text Our Romantasy BookCon Orlando 2025 recap takes you inside Orlando’s packed romantasy gathering—where authors, panels, and pop-up shops turned a sprawling venue into a surprisingly smooth reader playground. We break down what scaled well, what didn’t, and the small fixes that could make next year even better. We start with the basics: travel, check-in, and how the con split across two ballrooms without losing flow. Ticket talk gets real—why guaranteed panel and author slots mat...
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Send us a text Our Romantasy BookCon Orlando 2025 recap takes you inside Orlando’s packed romantasy gathering—where authors, panels, and pop-up shops turned a sprawling venue into a surprisingly smooth reader playground. We break down what scaled well, what didn’t, and the small fixes that could make next year even better. We start with the basics: travel, check-in, and how the con split across two ballrooms without losing flow. Ticket talk gets real—why guaranteed panel and author slots mat...
Show more...
Books
Arts
Episodes (20/46)
Of Swords and Soulmates
Inside A Sold-Out Romantasy Convention: Authors, Panels, And Merch
Send us a text Our Romantasy BookCon Orlando 2025 recap takes you inside Orlando’s packed romantasy gathering—where authors, panels, and pop-up shops turned a sprawling venue into a surprisingly smooth reader playground. We break down what scaled well, what didn’t, and the small fixes that could make next year even better. We start with the basics: travel, check-in, and how the con split across two ballrooms without losing flow. Ticket talk gets real—why guaranteed panel and author slots mat...
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2 days ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"The Cruel Dark" - I went to a ghostly manor and all I got was...
Send us a text A crumbling manor, a lost past, and a love that refuses to stay buried—this one had us arguing, laughing, and rethinking what makes a gothic romance actually work. We dive into The Cruel Dark’s 1928 setting, the eerie allure of overgrown gardens and empty halls, and a professor whose grief and magnetism complicate everything. Along the way, we unpack whether the story leans supernatural or psychological, how poison lore (hello, datura) shapes both plot and metaphor, and why som...
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2 weeks ago
57 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Vampires of El Norte" - Vaqueros, Vampires, and a Choice of Freedom
Send us a text Love might not stop a war, but it can teach you how to survive one. We head to the 1840s Texas–Mexico border for a deep dive on Vampires of El Norte—a gothic western where a curandera’s courage, a vaquero’s haunted past, and a community’s quiet wisdom collide with empire, folklore, and the brutal math of power. We talk about what the jacket copy promises versus what the story actually delivers: less monster mania, more human menace; vampires as instruments of occupation; and a ...
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1 month ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
Navigating Your First Book Con: Tips, Tricks, and What to Expect
Send us a text Entering the bustling world of book conventions can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. Whether you're a seasoned con-goer or contemplating your first literary gathering, navigating these events requires strategy, preparation, and the right mindset. Our hosts share their collective experiences from various book conventions, offering insights from both sides of the table. They break down what makes these events special—the unexpected joy of meeting authors on the convention ...
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1 month ago
1 hour 35 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"The Enchanted Greenhouse" - Second Chances and Forgiveness
Send us a text Sometimes the harshest punishment isn't death—it's complete isolation. For creating a sentient plant because she was lonely, librarian Terlu Perna spent six years as a wooden statue, hidden away in a library alcove. But when she mysteriously awakens on a remote island filled with magical greenhouses, she discovers a second chance at life alongside a grumpy gardener who offers her honey cakes and a temporary home. Sarah Beth Durst's "The Enchanted Greenhouse" captivates with it...
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1 month ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
Tropes - Enemies to Lovers: When Hate Ignites Passion
Send us a text Why do we find ourselves so drawn to stories where characters who initially hate each other end up falling madly in love? The enemies to lovers trope has captivated audiences across centuries, from classic literature to blockbuster films and bestselling novels. In this episode, we unpack what makes this storytelling pattern so irresistibly compelling. First, we break down what literary tropes actually are—not the negative clichés some might assume, but useful storytelling tool...
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2 months ago
58 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"My Minotaur Husband" - Horns, Heart, and Other Huge Assets
Send us a text What would dating look like if humans were an endangered species? That's the fascinating premise behind Leon Reilly's "My Minotaur Husband," which flips traditional monster romance dynamics by creating a world where humans are precious, protected, and actively courted by monsters who must pass rigorous screening processes. Our podcast crew dives deep into this charming novella about Celeste, one of the last hundred humans on Earth, who agrees to a trial marriage with Theo, a g...
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2 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Dating and Dismemberment" - A Monster's Midlife Crisis
Send us a text What happens when a legendary monster gets burned out from terrorizing teenagers? Monster Slayer Matchmaking takes us into the world of Darla Drake, the infamous Duchess of Death, who's taking a much-needed break from her monster duties at Camp Clear Creek. When we first meet Darla, she's in the depths of an existential crisis, spending her days reading stolen romance novels and conversing with her mother's decapitated (yet still very opinionated) head. Her comfortable sabbati...
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3 months ago
52 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Filthy Rich Fae" - Fae Mafia Romance in New Orleans
Send us a text Step into the shadows of New Orleans with us as we unpack Geneva Lee's "Filthy Rich Fae," a supernatural crime drama where the lines between mafia power and fae magic blur into a dangerous, seductive world. When ER nurse Kate Holloway strikes a bargain with the notorious fae crime lord Lachlan Gage to save her brother's soul, she finds herself bound to his world for thirty days—just long enough for forbidden attraction to take root. Our discussion explores how Lee blends the g...
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3 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Captured by the Fae Beast" - Who Saves Who?
Send us a text What happens when grief meets magic? When a woman on the brink of death is whisked away to the dangerous Fae Court and given a bargain she can't refuse? Monster romance often gets a bad reputation—dismissed as shallow fantasy or even harmful to readers. Our deep dive into Mallory Dunlan's "Captured by the Fae Beast" reveals why these criticisms miss the mark. This novel stands out by beginning with profound loss rather than the typical setup of a protagonist desperate to escap...
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4 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Brighter than Scale" - Duty and Heart Collide
Send us a text What happens when a legendary dragon slayer is sent to kill a dragon in a kingdom where dragons are revered, not feared? And what if that dragon turns out to be connected to the kingdom's mysterious and captivating ruler? These questions lie at the heart of Neon Yang's "Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame," our Pride Month selection that sparked passionate debate among our hosts. From the moment we dive into this 176-page fantasy novella, we're divided on whether Yang succ...
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4 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Dogma" - Faith, Loopholes, and Nostalgia
Send us a text Our hosts dive deep into this 1999 cult classic, examining how it blends Catholic doctrine with elements of Greek mythology and Jewish mysticism to create a uniquely irreverent yet thoughtful commentary on faith. Is there hints of romance sprinkled into this film? The film follows two fallen angels (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck) who discover a loophole that would allow them to return to heaven—with the unfortunate side effect of negating all existence. Standing in their way is a...
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5 months ago
58 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Five Broken Blades" - Five Killers, One Crown, and a Web of Deception
Send us a text Betrayal has never been so tantalizing as in Maya Corland's "Five Broken Blades," where five deadly assassins must form an uneasy alliance against an immortal tyrant—if they don't kill each other first. When a mysterious summons brings together the most dangerous liars in the land, their mission seems straightforward: assassinate the God-King Jun who rules with immortal cruelty. Yet nothing about this alliance is simple. Royo, the hired hitman haunted by past mistakes; Sora, t...
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5 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
Griefcat - When songwriters dive into romantasy, magic happens
Send us a text When musical comedy duo Grief Cat wrote a song about fairies getting it on during band practice, they had no idea it would become their biggest hit. But that's exactly what happened when Annie and Louisa's romantasy-inspired jam "Fairies Fucking" connected with readers and listeners who share their passion for paranormal love stories. In this delightfully meandering conversation, we explore how Grief Cat came to be (named after the concept of adopting a cat post-breakup), thei...
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6 months ago
1 hour 11 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Crown of Midnight" - A deadly game of secrets and lies
Send us a text Unraveling the secrets of Sarah J. Maas's intricate fantasy world, we dive deep into "Crown of Midnight," the pivotal second installment of the Throne of Glass series. Our hosts explore how this book serves as the essential bridge that transforms what seemed like a straightforward assassin tale into an epic fantasy with far-reaching implications. The conversation examines Celaena's complex journey as she secretly spares her targets while pretending to fulfill her duties as the...
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6 months ago
58 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"One Dark Window" - Fever Dreams and Highway Schemes
Send us a text Magic always has a price—but what if that price is your body, your mind, or even your humanity? Rachel Gillig's "One Dark Window" transports readers into a hauntingly beautiful gothic fantasy where survival means harboring dangerous secrets. In a mist-locked kingdom where magic is treated as a disease to be eradicated, Elspeth Spindle lives with a terrifying reality: an ancient spirit called the Nightmare resides within her mind, the result of surviving a magical fever that sh...
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7 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Throne of Glass" - Death Camp to King's Champ
Send us a text When a teenage author asked herself "What if Cinderella was an assassin fleeing the palace?" she couldn't have known she was creating the foundation for one of fantasy's most beloved series. In this anniversary episode, we celebrate our podcast's first year by diving into Throne of Glass, the story of Celaena Sardothien – deadly assassin, reluctant competitor, and surprisingly relatable protagonist. Our hosts debate the fascinating world-building that hints at a larger mytholo...
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7 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Onyx Storm" - Dragons, Lies, and the War Within
Send us a text When Rebecca Yarros released Onyx Storm, the third installment in her Empyrean series, fans dropped everything to immerse themselves in Violet's continuing journey. Our podcast hosts were no exception – taking time off work, planning reading parties (thwarted by actual storms), and devouring the book in mere hours. The conversation around this book reveals the fascinating dichotomy in how our hosts approach fantasy romance. We debate pure entertainment value and emotional impa...
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8 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"That Time I Got Drunk and..." - Demons, Drunkenness, and Delight
Send us a text Step into the whimsical world of “That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon” by Kimberly Lemming, where humor and heart collide in a captivating romantic adventure. Join us for a delightful deep dive into this enchanting tale, as we unravel the journey of Cinnamon, a spirited Spice Trader, who finds herself swept off her feet by a charming demon named Fallon. This episode promises to tickle your funny bone and spark thought-provoking conversations about the societal norms present...
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8 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
"Throne in the Dark" - Dark Romance and Comedic Undertone Adventure
Send us a text This episode embarks on an exploration of *A Throne in the Dark* by AK Caggiano, where dark romances clash with comedic undertones, leading characters on an unexpected journey of self-discovery and emotional growth. We dissect the book's intricate world-building, character dynamics, and the balance of fantasy and romance, while expressing our varied ratings and thoughts on where the characters’ relationships might head next. What happens when you mix the thrill of Kickstarter w...
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8 months ago
59 minutes

Of Swords and Soulmates
Send us a text Our Romantasy BookCon Orlando 2025 recap takes you inside Orlando’s packed romantasy gathering—where authors, panels, and pop-up shops turned a sprawling venue into a surprisingly smooth reader playground. We break down what scaled well, what didn’t, and the small fixes that could make next year even better. We start with the basics: travel, check-in, and how the con split across two ballrooms without losing flow. Ticket talk gets real—why guaranteed panel and author slots mat...