Hot Take Books

Riff Sesh: Cold Wind - Book 2 Ironbound (Spoiler Free)

Cold Wind by Andrew Givler | Ironbound, Book 2 | Fantasy | FastTake Picture this: you're on the treadmill, just walking, minding your business — then chapter 10 cranks the speed and suddenly the whole gym is watching. That's Cold Wind. Rich is at 50% and already comparing Andrew Givler to Sanderson. Ryan's finished, loaded with theories, and currently on trial for sending cover art that — and we quote — "you can infer things from." It's been a week. Book 2 of Ironbound dropped today and the boys recorded this the moment they could: no notes, no outline, vibes only, and court-ordered spoiler restrictions for at least one of them. The magic system from Book 1? Kiddie pool. Cold Wind expands drastically on those fundamentals and the main character is giving full Darrow vibes. No scores yet — Rich hasn't even finished — but Ryan is already throwing out some BIG numbers. Full SpoilerTake drops Sunday. Read the book first. 📖 Episode Type: FastTake (Riff Session) Book: Cold Wind by Andrew Givler Series: Ironbound, Book 2 * [00:00] — Cold open: Ryan on trial for spoiler tendencies * [02:07] — Intro + episode framing (day-of-release riff session, no spoilers) * [02:53] — Who should read this book * [09:09] — Magic system expansion + main character catching Darrow vibes * [13:05] — How firm is the magic system? * [18:36] — Hype, theories, and excitement for the full SpoilerTake * [19:29] — Wrap-up TikTok: @hottakebks Instagram: @hottakebooks

Ironbound: Oaths, Iron, & Vengeance

Rich and Ryan are back with a book that might just scratch that Red Rising itch — Andrew Givler's Ironbound. Set in a Roman-inspired world where mythical metals bind warriors to elemental symbols, this progression fantasy follows Castor, a young man whose world gets ripped apart before he ever gets a chance to fight for it. The guys break down why this book is really three stories in one — a coming-of-age tale, a training montage, and a full-blown war story— and whether that structure works in its favor or costs it in the end. Expect a deep dive on the hard vs. soft magic system debate, character development that is top tier, and a disagreement about whether the ending sticks the landing. Plus: three 1-star reviews that range from head-scratching to genuinely unhinged, a bold sequel announcement, and the ring light saga that delayed the episode by five minutes. HTB Score: 8.3 — BUY 🛒 Spoiler-free for the first 15 minutes. Spoilers begin after the warning.

Hot Take Movies: Project Hail Mary

Spoiler wall's up — you've been warned. Hot Take Movies is officially a thing, and the boys are kicking it off with their Book of 2025 now on the big screen. Rich gives Ryan Gosling high marks for the Stratt scene but draws a line between playing Rylan Grace and playing Ryan Gosling-as-Rylan-Grace. Ryan counters by handing out a 10 for cinematography and refusing to apologize for it. They get into what the movie nailed — Rocky's ship, Carl (not in the book, very much a win), the Grace-Rocky dynamic — and what got shortchanged: the slow-burn amnesia opening that makes the book impossible to put down, reduced to the first 60 seconds. Two one-star reviewers also make an appearance and suggest that science fiction should obey the actual laws of science. Rich 8.6 / Ryan 9.0 / Overall 8.8 out of 10. The verdict: go see the movie. Go read the book. Both. This weekend. Episode Type: Hot Take Movies (Riff Series — bonus episode) Movie: Project Hail Mary (2026) Based on: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Written by: Drew Goddard and Andy Weir Starring: Ryan Gosling, James Ortiz (Rocky) IMDb: 8.4 / Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Score: Rich 8.6 / Ryan 9.0 / Overall 8.8 out of 10 * [00:24] — Intro: Hot Take Movies debut, Riff Series launch * [00:53] — Why this episode is free (hint: they're all free) * [01:38] — Project Hail Mary as Book of 2025, Hotties ceremony recap * [02:10] — Rich's case for teaching PHM in schools * [04:05] — Spoiler warning + movie meta stats * [06:40] — Book vs. movie: what each format does better * [07:18] — Rocky/Grace relationship on screen * [08:01] — Visualizing Rocky's ship: where the movie wins * [10:49] — What the book does better: Rylan Grace's internal monologue * [11:31] — Carl: the character invented for the movie (and why it works) * [12:41] — The amnesia opening: book vs. movie * [15:51] — Ryan Gosling vs. Rylan Grace: too pretty for the role? * [16:51] — The Stratt scene: Gosling nails it * [19:35] — Ratings: Cinematography, Acting, Writing * [24:27] — Final scores: Rich 8.6 / Ryan 9.0 / Overall 8.8 * [24:49] — One-star reviews * [28:24] — Closing: read the book, see the movie, Ray Porter cameo wish TikTok: @hottakebks Instagram: @hottakebooks

Throne of Glass: Is she even an assassin?

Celaena Sardothien is supposed to be the most feared assassin in the world. So why does it feel like the tournament, the romance, and the royal drama are all happening around her while she watches from the sidelines? Rich and Ryan dive into Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass — the BookTok darling that gets compared to everything from Red Rising to Fourth Wing. Spoiler: it's neither of those things. And honestly? That's okay. Mostly. They break down the worldbuilding (a glass castle with no explanation for the glass), the characters (Team Chaol vs. Team Dorian), and a story that works better as a palette cleanser than a fantasy epic. Plus: a one-star review from someone who skipped 150 pages and still has opinions. The verdict? A 5.0 — BORROW. Try it before you buy the full seven-book series. Spoiler-free section: first ~15 minutesFull spoilers: everything after the warning HotTakeBooks drops every two weeks. Follow on Spotify so you never miss a hot take.

Warbreaker: Great Book, Wrong Universe

Spoilers hit around 15 minutes in — the boys keep it clean up front if you haven't read it yet. (The rest of this description has spoilers — come back once you've read it.) Rich makes the case for Lightsong the Bold. Ryan files a formal complaint about Vasher's page count. And somewhere in there, Rich drops his hottest take of the season — this book had no business being in the Cosmere at all. The boys break down the breath system, the role reversal Brandon apparently planned all along, and a Sanderlanche that arrived late and left early. Plus: one-star Goodreads reviews, stone golems that never fought anyone, and the Brandon Sanderson interview that still hasn't happened. Worldbuilding/Lore: 4 / 5Story: 6 / 7Overall: 6.5/10Verdict: Borrow Show Notes Episode Type: SpoilerTake Book: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson Series: Cosmere (standalone) Score: Worldbuilding/Lore 4 / 5 | Story 6 / 7 | Overall 6.5 out of 10 (Rich 6.3 / Ryan 6.7) Verdict: Borrow * [00:24] — Cold open: Rich is sick, voice is "sultry," nobody is safe * [00:48] — Intro + episode framing: Warbreaker, Cosmere Corner at the end * [04:28] — Spoiler-free vibe check begins: high-level thoughts, who this book is for * [10:05] — Burn/Borrow/Buy + overall score reveal * [11:21] — Nightblood sequel news + Brandon Sanderson as small business owner * [16:28] — 🚨 Spoiler warning — deep dive begins * [16:47] — Worldbuilding/Lore: breath system vs. Allomancy and Surgebinding * [23:34] — Vasher: the only one actually using the magic system * [28:43] — Characters: Lightsong the Bold — accidentally amazing * [32:06] — Lightsong's sacrifice + the Llarimar reveal * [38:08] — Vivenna vs. Siri: role reversal, purpose, and the religious hypocrisy arc * [44:06] — Story: the slow first half, the rushed ending, the stone golems that never fought * [51:53] — The Sanderlanche that wasn't * [52:44] — One-star Goodreads reviews (Rich is not pleased) * [58:07] — Rich's hot take: this should have been a non-Cosmere book * [59:13] — 🚨 Cosmere Corner warning (spoilers for Stormlight + Mistborn Era 1) * [1:00:00] — Cosmere Corner: Nightblood's missing backstory, Vasher/Azure disappointment, metals as nullifier theory, shards and vessels TikTok: @hottakebks Instagram: @hottakebooks