Fated Mates - Romance Books for Novel People

This week, Adriana Herrera joins us again to talk food romances and Sarah is very excited. Adriana’s debut food romance, American Dreamer, is on shelves now. We talk about the book, the pull of the food romance novel, and why nourishment is sexy. Also, Sarah basically name checks her whole favorites shelf.Next week, it’s full Torture Island with what is probably the most controversial of the IAD books—Dreams of a Dark Warrior. Declan Chase—torturer extraordinaire is our hero, Regin the Radiant is the woman he’s been trying to love for a millennium, and we’re full bananas in the lead up to Lothaire! Get ready! Get DoaDW at Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, or from your local Indie. Don’t forget that the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio!Show NotesWelcome back Adriana, and if you didn't hear her on our Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night episode, you should check it out.The concept of love languages comes from 1995 self-help book The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman. It's a little soft for us. We prefer this additional list of love languages, from McSweeney's.Adriana talked about her grandmother bringing a pot of Sancocho from the DR to family in New York, and here's a twitter thread where Adriana makes a pot with a friend.American Dreamer came out at the beginning of the month, and the sequel American Fairytale comes out in April. Find American Dreamer at Amazon, B&N, Apple Books or Kobo.The dull thuds you're hearing in this episode are Sarah's phone falling off her desk. She is convinced her phone is defective because it falls off flat surfaces every day. She has fantasies of finding Jony Ive's phone number and texting him lists of everything it falls off every day.Next time you're in Brooklyn, you should visit the Smorgasburg.Find a Michelin star restaurant to try if you're so inclined.Just kidding about the Soylent Green thing. Really.Jen interviewed Mia Hopkins last year when Thirsty came out.The song Jude was singing was Latinoamerica by Calle 13. You, too, can find great music on NPR.A romance has to have an HEA or HFN, but a love story doesn't. Don't at us.An interesting think piece from The Common Reader about how we view competence in men and women.The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/3/18/95-foodie-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

Torture Island is here and we could not be more excited! Demon from the Dark is Jen’s favorite book in the series, because she loves poor, broken Malkom, the vemon with a heart of gold, and his fated mate, Carrow, our second witch, whose powers come from other people’s joy. This episode, we’re digging into the worldbuilding of the second movement of IAD — Torture Island. We’re talking about innocence and how it is a great motivator, what saves a heroine from being unlikeable, why bathing is sexy, and how we really would like it if more men offered up the heads of our enemies as tribute. As always, there’s a lost-limb count and Lothaire-Watch!Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, get ready for the most (we think?) controversial of the IAD books — Dreams of a Dark Warrior, when Declan Chase, unknowing berserker and magister of Torture Island, gets paired with Regin the Radiant. Get DoaDW at Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, or from your local Indie.Show NotesIn the 1976 movie Rocky, one of the things he consumes during training in a glassful of raw eggs.Jen loves books about nuclear weapons and nuclear disasters, and the mindset of the Order is very much that of mutually assured destruction during the Cold War.In Buffy, it was called the Initiative. Angel, Riley, and Spike were her boyfriends on the show, but in the comic there are other lovers.Your brain isn't fully cooked until you're 25!Duolingo helps you learn languages, but if you're in a hurry just drink down somebody's blood.Sarah's friend Natalie Parker's book is called Seafire and it has the most gorgeous cover.Book Riot makes the case for a Romantic Horror subgenre, and Victoria Helen Stone wrote about the relationship between romance and suspense.Some information from Pew about rural vs urban living in America.Adventures in Babysitting is an 80s movie all about the horrors of some kids and their babysitter getting into trouble in the big, bad city of Chicago (or, as Jenny Holiday & Jen call it: Dirty Toronto).You can tell a lot about a culture by its parenting.Pygmalion and Encino Man.Some directions for any tailsman-making endeavors.Lore parenting tips aside, Jen wrote once about how human parents can talk to their kids about sex.Maybe 28 Days Later isn't the best metaphor for IAD, but it's a scary movie.Jen loves it when heroes grovel.A vemon is a vampire/demon hybrid; Venom is a Tom Hardy movie.If Jen knew photoshop, she'd be putting Malkolm inside a Sweet Valley High circle... Demon Love!Yao Ming is very tall compared to Kevin Hart, but Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet are much better fancasting for Malkolm and Carrow.Friend of the Pod Adriana Herrera was on our sister podcast Wicked Wallflowers last week.Lost Limb CountArms and Hands (6)Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. (Dark Needs at Night's Edge)Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. (Dark Desires After Dusk)Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. (No Rest For the Wicked)Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)Lanthe and Carrow cut off Fegley's hand so they can use his thumb to unlock their torques. He's later killed. (Demon from the Dark)Chest and Torso (2)Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. (Kiss of a Demon King)Lucia's neck is broken. She regenerates. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)Face and Eyes (3)Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night)Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. (Dark Desires After Dusk)During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)Horns (2)Cadeon cuts off his own horns to prove to Holly that he is worthy of being her mate. She tells him to let them grow back (Dark Desires After Dusk)Malkolm is captured by his enemies in Oblivion and taken to the city of Ash. The publicly cut off his horns and then intend to kill him, but Carrow saves him. (Demon from the Dark) ** Legs and Feet (3)**Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. (A Hunger Like No Other)Mariketa's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night)Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. (Kiss of a Demon King)Beheading as a Romantic Gesture (3)The first time Garreth spies Lucia, it's when she shoots an arrow and beheads a kobold. He notices that it's "a fantastical shot" and he's super into it. Later, he helps her pick up the head because he's a real gentleman like that. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)Later in the book, they are under attack from vampires and Lucia asks him to help. He promises to "give her their throats" and beheads two vampires. But she's upset about it because of a previous bad experience with cannibalism. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ (Pleasure of a Dark Prince).Malkolm beheads men that attacked Carrow in Oblvion, and he throws them to prove he's a worthy mate. (Demon from the Dark)Maybe?Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/2/11/9-demon-from-the-dark If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

You’re new to romance, where should you begin?! This week, Jen and Sarah are talking about good gateway romances, and we’ve got four that we think work for readers who’ve never dipped a toe, but are open to things from dukes to magic, the America West to kinky London and everything in between.Next week, it’s Jen’s favorite IAD book, Demon from the Dark! Malkom Slaine is a demon living alone on another plane…until witch Carrow Graie comes to fetch him. Get DFTD at Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, or from your local Indie. Don’t forget that the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio!Show NotesNext week, it's Demon from the Dark since we already talked about Pleasure of a Dark Prince!Derek Craven is our favorite and since it's our podcast, we don't have to listen to anyone talk about St. Vincent.A librarian who excels at reader's advisory is a wonderful thing to have in your life.Check out Jen's website for targeted romance recommendations.John Warner is the biblioracle, and he's an amazing advocate for educators and the teaching of writing. He's also one of the key players in The Morning News Tournament of Books, which is literary blood sport par excellence.An explainer about American-style universtiy course numbering.Jaime Green is the New York Times romance reviewer and we love her.One of the most hilarious twitter accounts is all about the smells of romance.The Georgette Heyer chronotope and its limits explained.If you are interested in knowing the "beat for beat" way a romance is built, you should check out this book by Gwen Hayes.The ton, the modiste, and Bond Street.Everyone loves a read-alike, but the problem is finding them.The Governess and rake tropes are beloved by romance readers, and Tessa Dare's The Governess Game is an excellent example of the trope in action.Lol, you can't fool Jen. She is absolutely not googling "sex swing."Hillary Clinton said some things about romance novels, and Romancelandia wasn't having it.NPR's Codeswitch wrote about Passing in America.Sarah isn't the only one who learned about history from romance novels.Jen described her angst vs. stakes theory in this post.Alexander Chee is a delight, but Jen hated A Little Life more than any other book she's ever read, so just enjoy this Nicole Cliffe thread where a million people dunk on it.The Sex House for sale in PA was the best 2019 story. Don't believe us? Read this interview with the realtor.Epistolary novels are interesting; but Jen, Melinda, and Kat talked in this review about Thrall by Roan Parrish & Avon Gale and whether or not epistolary novels work in the age of the internet. (Edited by Sarah to add: Epistolary novels are the tits and anyone who says otherwise is F- wrong.)The bass line in question.Jen and Sarah really hate cliffhangers.Andrew and Illona Gordon are a husband and wife writing team and Jen would probably read anything they wrote (as long as there were no cliffhangers.)Tom Hardy as Mad Max and fancast as Derek Craven, Mad Rogan, Rune, etc.The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/3/1/85-gateways-to-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

We’re back with the werewolves this week, with one of our very favorite books in the series, Pleasures of a Dark Prince, featuring Garreth MacRieve and Lucia the Huntress, a Valkyrie who is burning it all down. This episode, we’re discussing the way this book wraps up the first movement of IAD and preps readers for what’s to come (SPOILER: IT’S TORTURE ISLAND), we get into how the books are becoming more political, we update the lost-limb count, begin Lothaire-Watch, and dig into why it’s just plain futile to try to stay away from a werewolf mate on the night of a full moon. More than all that, we’re interviewing moon expert Summer Ash about moon business, and Jen is beyond excited.Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, get ready for vivisection, because it’s happening on Torture Island, and we’re doing a reread of Jen’s favorite book in the series, Demon From The Dark! Malkom Slaine is a demon living alone on another plane…until witch Carrow Graie comes to fetch him. Get DFTD at Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, or from your local Indie.Show NotesThis article explains "the heir and a spare" and also has a lot of Prince Harry. Fine.It's an astronomy heavy show, so learn all about The Big Bang.Ah, the double entendre.All about how goals are scored in rugby.Turns out there are lots of myths about gods and cannibalism.Chastity is one of the seven virtues, but the seven deadly sins sound a lot more fun.Is it really necessary to link to Fifty Shades of Grey?The "he-cession" recession.Women and the second shift.The Cooler stars WILLIAM H. Macy, obviously. Robert H. Macy isn't even a thing.The Amazon rainforest is truly amazing, but Brazil's new president Jair Bolsonaro is removing legal protections from the rainforest.A man who tried to contact a legally protected island tribe died in the South Pacific last year.Indiana Jones and lots and lots of snakes.Lara Croft Tomb Raider is a 2001 movie with Angelina Jolie, but here's a great explainer to the entire Lara Croft franchise.El Dorado myths and details.Jen's idly curious if Charlie/Isabel character is a nod to the Brazilian Travesti culture, but she doesn't know enough about it to be sure.The Wonder Woman "Godkiller" is a sword, not an arrow.In two weeks, we'll be discussing Malkom & Carrow in Demon From the Dark.Welcome Summer Ash! Please check out her blog Startorialist, which brings science and fashion together.More about moon phases and the baby moon/dying moon way of remembering if the moon is waxing or waning.The Dreamwakers Program helps classrooms all over the country skype with scientists and STEM people. So cool!No, you can't blow up the moon.What If! is a great collection of XKCD columns, including Jen's favorite about whether or not you can swim in a pool with spent nuclear rods.Jen really loves books about nuclear disasters.Light pollution is the worst.Check out the Sky Guide app.More about Haley's Comet and the Bayeux Tapestry.Astronomy on Tap is worth checking out.The moon is amazing. Look up!Lost Limb CountArms and Hands (5)Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. (Dark Needs at Night's Edge)Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. (Dark Desires After Dusk)Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. (No Rest For the Wicked)Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)Chest and Torso (2)Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. (Kiss of a Demon King)Lucia's neck is broken. She regenerates. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)Face and Eyes (3)Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night)Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. (Dark Desires After Dusk)During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)Legs and Feet (3)Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. (A Hunger Like No Other)Mariketa's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night)Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. (Kiss of a Demon King)These Lingering QuestionsDoes Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? (Pleasure of a Dark Prince)

It’s Scotland week, Lads and Lassies! We’re talking about the great green jewel to the north of England, where the ladies are bold and the lairds are brawn, and we're all just wishing we could get wrapped in a plaid and cuddled through a cold Highland night. Next week, we’re back with the Lykae with Pleasure of a Dark Prince—starring the FULLY DREAMY Garreth MacRieve and Lucia the Huntress, who just might be our favorite heroine yet. We’ll be talking wolf holograms, how Kresley is blowing the doors off the IAD world, and we’ll be starting Lothaire Watch! Get ready for the PoaDP read along at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books or your local indie. Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio! Show NotesHere's the twitter thread where Lillie talked about imprinting on Julie Garwood.The Heaving Bosoms podcast is pretty great, and although this episode about Mastered by Her Mates by Grace Goodwin is not set during Highlander Times, it's profoundly hilarious.Some brief explainers about why old paperbacks have dyed edges, but according to Sarah's research, the more popular an author, the more likely it was the pages would be dyed.All about kilts. Also, it's never too late for a calendar of men it kilts.Dirks and broadswords, oh my!Goodreads has a few lists of Broken marriage romances, but Jen recommends Cherish Me by Farrah Rochan.Here's a google folder with screenshots of the entries for cunt, cunny, pussy, quim, shit, and fuck from the Oxford English Dictionary. Jen mentioned a book called Cunt: A Declaration of Independence, but it's kind of Terf-y, so she does not recommend it.Sarah does talk about the etymology of swear words a lot on Twitter, becuase fuck just isn't a new word. Don't @ us.If you want to learn more about the etymology of swear words, Melissa Mohr's Holy Shit: A Brief History of Swearing is the book for you.A thread about vaginas by friend of the pod S.S. Jaxon.You definitely want to see the flying fuck image and read Jen's column called Who Did it Better on a Horse.Lyrics to a song from 1657 that uses some very choice dirty words. Maybe you prefer to listen?The Hangover is a 2009 comedy, so who knows if it's held up over time.Sarah, Sophie Jordan, and a bunch of other amazing authors will be at Avon's KissCon in early April. Jen will be there as an attendee, and we'll definitely have some sort of Fated Mates meet-up!Jen said she texted Sophie, but that's not true. She tweeted at her.Katy Budget Books has a super-amazing romance section and if you want to order signed copies of Sophie Jordan's upcoming book, you should contact them.Next week, we return to IAD with Garreth and Lucia in Pleasure of a Dark Prince.The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/7/65-scotland-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

We’re tackling the novellas this week, and finishing up the Wroth Brother Quartet with The Warlord Wants Forever (Nikolai) & Untouchable (Murdoch), as well as their incredible Valkyrie mates. This episode, we’re talking about Myst’s weird chain, Danii’s loneliness, the responsibility of authors to readers, to themselves, to the text, and to literary history, and the way Untouchable hints at the enormous world that IAD is about to become. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, we’re back to the Lykae, with one of our favorite books — Pleasures of a Dark Prince, the last book in the first arc of the IAD series (this begins at the same time as A Hunger Like No Other). Garreth MacRieve, prince of the Lykae clan and Lucia the Huntress — the greatest archer of all time. Show NotesThe Wroth Brothers are dreamy, and here are the books the feature Nikolai, Sebastian, Conrad, and Murdoch.Take a look at the IAD Ranking Spreasheet of Wonder from the Wicked Wallflowers Podcast.Sarah refers to our novella episode, but she means the Holiday Romances episode where we had a long discussion of the novellas as a form.Jen collected some comparison screenshots from the original (A) and revised (B) versions of The Warlord Wants Forever. The two versions of the scene after the chain is broken; The two versions of the first time they have sex; and the two versions of Nix naming herself.Dubcon romances have main characters who agree to sex play featuring "dubious consent."A little more about the versions of Whitney, My Love. You can still find original versions on eBay or Amazon, but you'll pay more for them.Jen mentions Eric Selinger at DePaul. He teaches classes on Romance at DePaul, which is local for her. SADLY, they don't have PhD programs. But you can read more academic romance talk at a blog called Teach Me Tonight.The Hello Stranger review at Smart Bitches calls out the Orientalism in the novel, and features Lisa Kleypas' response.The Memory Hole is a reference to 1984 by George Orwell.A little more about why sheikh and Native American romances are problematic.A definitive list of the qualities, skills, and powers of vampires in literature and pop culture. At some point, Jen's going to add IAD.Retcon stands for "retroactive continiuity" and here's a great primer about it from the best dictionary, Merriam-Webster.In two weeks, we'll be discussing Garreth & Lucia in Pleasure of a Dark Prince.The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/13/7-warlord-wants-forever-amp-untouchable If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

This week, we’re having a fun, far-reaching conversation with the wonderful Joanna Shupe—who loves Kiss of a Demon King a whole lot, immediately saw the echoes of one of the most famous old school romances inside it, and came to talk to us about enemies to lovers romances, but ended up telling us all about that time she spent a lot of time researching penetrative sex in carriages. We had a great time, and hope you do, too!Our next read-along episode will tackle the final two Wroth brothers with the two IAD novellas, The Warlord Wants Forever (Nikolai) & Untouchable (Murdoch), available in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology! This will be the last time we tackle vampires until Lothaire, so get your fill! A Note: There are two version of The Warlord Wants Forever — you want the most recent version. Show NotesJoanna Shupe writes delightful Gilded Age romances. Check out this twitter thread where Jen raved about A Daring Arrangement.Sarah was hunting for that Lora Leigh book on Twitter.Goodreads reviewers have feelings about Prisoner of My Desire.Of course there's a YouTube channel of classic clips from Candid Camera.Eleanor of Aquitaine is an amazing woman. The 1968 film The Lion in Winter stars Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole.Hot Island Nights is the prequel to Her Best Worst Mistake.Jen also talked about A Matter of Disagreement on Twitter.Consider this a placeholder in case Joanna shares links from her sex in a carraige research. Jen's a little afraid to google search that one.A barouche is a real thing, and you can learn more about all of it at the Carriage Museum in Long Island.We return to IAD next time with two Wroth brother novellas, the first is The Warlord Wants Forever (an earlier version of this was available in an anthology called Playing Easy to Get. It is not HUGELY different, so it's okay if you just have that one--we'll talk about the differences during the episode.) The second is called Untouchable and available in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology.The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/2/5/65-freewheeling-with-joanna-shupe If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

One of the best loved books in the IAD universe, this week we’re talking about Kiss of A Demon King, the completion of the Demonarchy Duology, starring Rydstrom, the deposed King of Rothkalina, and his fated mate, Sabine, the Queen of Illusions, which is an incredibly handy power. We’ve got a fabulous guest host this week, Jenny Nordbak from our sister romance podcast, The Wicked Wallflowers Club. Jenny is ride-or-die for Sabine, and she’s got a fabulous personal story about her relationship with the book that we’re thrilled to share with you.This episode, we’re talking traumatic pasts, Latin references, horns (I mean, obviously), villains, the unlikeable heroine (a whole lot), and we’ll come back around to Cade & Holly and tackle the unfinished business from their book!Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Novellas are up next! We told you we’d get to the rest of the Wroth Brothers eventually, and eventually is here! Our next read-along episode will tackle both novellas, The Warlord Wants Forever (Nikolai) & Untouchable (Murdoch), available in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology! This will be the last time we tackle vampires until Lothaire, so get your fill! A Note: There are two version of The Warlord Wants Forever — you want the most recent version. Show NotesOur special guest this week is Jenny Nordbak, author of the memoir, The Scarlett Letters: My Secret Year of Men in an LA Dungeon and co-host of the Wicked Wallflowers Club Podcast.All about the freudian slip.Here is Wendy's blog post about the righted world, along with a twitter thread that Jennifer Porter wrote that eloquently talks about the importance of this idea. Teach Me Tonight jumped in with a look at how this same phenomenon plays out in academia.Jen's friend Liz, the Latin teacher!, loved this book for the sheer number of classical allusions. Here's a report of some of her mort specific findings:"mors, mortis" means death in Latin, so O-mort means "without death" or "in the way of death."The Ourbouros is an ancient symbol that shows up in Egyptian traditions.Finally, the invaders that Omort led into Tornin--the Invidia, Libitinae, and Undines--are also Latin allusions, and they're really evil in the classical world. (Invidia--this Latin word means jealousy and personified envy. Undines-- Latin word for female spirits that inhabit the water. Libitinae--has several meanings: the goddess of corpses (in her temple were kept the funeral apparatus and registries of death), the apparatus of funerals, or death itself.)Jen's interview with Adriana about Domestic Violence in romance.The name Sabine might be a reference to Rome's neighbors, the Sabines. The story of the abduction of the Sabine women has been told in art over and over again. It's intersting to consider why this name was used: perhaps to reclaim a story where sex was a weapon used against women?Melanthe means "dark flower" in Latin, and she was a minor character in the Odyssey.Gone with the Wind has a very problematic portrayal of the happy slave and the good master. House elves aren't much better.The Wicked Wallflower's IAD Spreadsheet of Wonder.All the horn photos are on Instagram.Saga is an amazing comic.The Babysitter's Club Summer Special, and all the other amazing goodness of the Scholastic Book Club. And in case you didn't know, the Scholastic Book Club & its Book Fairs are still a thing.Jenny's book is called The Scarlett Letters: My Secret Year of Men in an LA Dungeon.That Mr. Too Big (not to be confused with Mr. Big) Sex in the City episode.The Arcana Chronicles is a YA series by Kresley.Why yes, both Sarah and Jen have been on the Wicked Wallflowers podcast. When you're done listening to this episode of Fated Mates, head over to listen, and don't forget their interview with Kresley Cole & Gena Showalter!The Warlord Wants Forever & Untouchable (in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology) are coming up next.Lost Limb CountArms and Hands (3)Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. (Dark Needs at Night's Edge)Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. (Dark Desires After Dusk)Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. (No Rest For the Wicked)Chest and Torso (1)Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. (Kiss of a Demon King)Face and Eyes (2)Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night)Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. (Dark Desires After Dusk)Legs and Feet (3)Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. (A Hunger Like No Other)Mariketa's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night)Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. (Kiss of a Demon King)The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/7/6-kiss-of-a-demon-king If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

We’ve got Doritos, a stack of Cosmo sex quizzes and an epic mixtape ready to go — Sarah and Jen are talking about road trips and the inevitable smooching that comes with them in romance! Next week, we’re back to the Rage Demonarchy Duology with Kiss of A Demon King — where we get the full wrap up of the plot of the second in the duology, and the wrap up of the plot of Dark Desires After Dusk. We’ve seen Rydstrom total his McLaren and get abducted by Sabine, who is not only Queen of Illusions but also his Fated Mate and he’s not feeling great about this at all (Spoiler: We feel very great about this.) We’ll be joined by the fabulous Jenny Nordbak from The Wicked Wallflowers podcast for part of the conversation, and it will be a longer episode than usual because of that! Get ready for the KoaDK read along at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books or your local indie. Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio! Show NotesTexas is very big, everyone. Here's some interesting facts about Starbucks. Jen had no idea how posting horses worked until Elisabeth Lane asked on Twitter. (Sarah knew.)Looking for books with carriage sex? Twitter has recs for you. Learn more about the Gilded Age in America. New York's Grand Central Station is absolutely magical. Hildene, a museum of Lincoln's family home, has a full-scale reproduction of an amazing private rail car...It's amazing how someone on Twitter will always know the good things. All about bustles.Trading Places is a 1983 comedy with Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd, and the blog Obscure Train Movies has an extensive break down of the train scenes from the movie. The Ani Difranco poem Sarah mentioned is called Self-Evident. Buy yourself a set of butterfly swords for $500. JK. That's probably a really bad idea.Here's an overview of the Tang Dynasty, and its capital Chang'an. If you haven't seen Mad Max Fury Road you should probably drop everything and take care of it. In case you were wondering what the world looked like in 750, Time Maps has you covered. Here's a list of rich heroines/poor heroes from goodreads.A quick summary of Pygmalion, and if you happen to be in New York City, you can go see My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center. Sarah talks about Tom Hardy a lot on Twitter. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Apparently, it is Low and High Fantasy, and Reddit talked about the differences between them.There's a Slurpee twitter account, which shouldn't really surprise anyone if you think about it. Whoops, it's my Mom.The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/18/55-road-trip-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

DEMONS ARE HERE! We’re talking Dark Desires After Dusk, starring Cadeon Woede (Prince of the Rage Demonarchy) and Holly, his human fated mate (SPOILER SHE ISN’T HUMAN, WHAT!). This one is the first in what we will end up calling the Demonarchy Duology — and we encourage you to read the next book in the series, Kiss of A Demon King as soon as you can after reading Dark Desires. Each book makes the other better. We’ll cover female rage, sex shaming, fast cars, food, feminism and…maybe a pot joke? Also, Sarah waxes on about horns. A lot. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Our next read (in two weeks) will be Kiss of A Demon King — the second in the duology, and the wrap up of the plot of this book. We’ve seen Rydstrom total his McLaren and get abducted by Sabine, who is not only Queen of Illusions but also his Fated Mate. DOUBLE TROUBLE. Cade and Holly are a HUGE part of our episode on Sabine & Rydstrom’s — because we just can’t talk about one of these books alone. Get ready for the KoaDK read along at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books or your local indie. Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio!Show NotesA quick primer to the verbs deposed, dethroned, defrocked, and usurped.Groot the Metallurgist is not a cute dancing tree, but rather the half-brother of Omort the Deathless. This Groot has forged a sword that can kill Omort.Jen went back to Dark Needs at Night's Edge and here is a screenshot of the scene where both Rydstrom and Cadeon choose their kingdom over their fated mates. Nix was not amused.Romancing the Stone is a rather amazing 80s adventure movie that stars Kathleen Turner as a romance author who travels to Colombia, where she has to trade a treasure map to free her sister. The sequel is The Jewel of the Nile, but it's not as good.Freya and Woden are two of the three parents to every valkyrie that is created.Jen says Holly is "some bullshitty one thing away" from being done with her PhD, but the phrase she was looking for was ABD (All But Dissertation).A MacGuffin is an object that drives the plot.Serial killers are creepy AF.Women should not be treated like incubators.Genetic (or biological) determinism is a problem.For some reason, even with all the talk of eating and not eating, Jen and Sarah failed to bring up the myth of Persephone. #Fail.Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn't always portrayed well in the media. UPDATE: One of our listeners wrote this thoughtful thread on Holly's OCD and you should read it.The phrase "Heavy is the head that wears the crown" is from Shakespeare.Lobsters are always about love.Instagram and Twitter horn talk.One of our listeners painted an amazing portrait of Nix.Along with that 50% more blood thing, pregnant bodies are kind of amazing.Jen did some emergency research to find out about the etymology of sword, gladius (this video! lol), scabbard, and vagina.A Bugatti Veyron is very sexy, very speedy, and very spendy. One of our listeners noticed that there is no mile marker 775 in Mississippi, but there is something special about Mississippi River mile marker 775.The Stig read Sarah's book on Top Gear!Groot and Omort are only one letter away, which maybe means nothing; but playing games with words is fun.The Venn Diagram of what the author means vs. what English teachers think it means.Jen loves groveling a lot.420. I mean, that can't be an accident, right? Updated: On Instagram, follower Ellenino22 pointed out that 420 is "the smallest number divisible by 1-7." Whoa.Literary Disco is a podcast with lots of great games.Avon's KissCon will be in Chicago the first weekend of April 2019.Everyone but Sarah should watch these videos of planes landing in high winds.Kiss of a Demon King is going to be epic, so get ready.Lost Limb CountLegs (2)Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. (A Hunger Like No Other)Mariketa's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night) ** Arms (1)**Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. (No Rest For the Wicked)Eyes (2)Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. (Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night)Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. (Dark Desires After Dusk)Hands (2)Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. (Dark Needs at Night's Edge)Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. (Dark Desires After Dusk)Horns (1)Cadeon files off his own horns in an attempt to win back Holly. She tells him to let them grow back. (Dark Desires After Dusk)The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/28/5-dark-desires-after-dusk If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.