Load-Bearing Friendships: The Women Who Made These Stories Work

A Court of Frost and Starlight — Cozy Chaos with Emotional Damage

It's the most wonderful time of the year… in Velaris. This week, Leslie and Jules dive into A Court of Frost and Starlight — the bite-sized novella that somehow delivers more emotional damage than books twice its size. We're breaking down the Winter Solstice vibes, the Inner Circle gift exchange, and all the character check-ins you need before ACOSF: Feyre in her "I can fix everyone" era, Nesta in full self-destruction mode, Cassian pining SO HARD it hurts, Elain performing "fine" for the entire book, and the Rhys/Tamlin scene that may leave you feeling slightly sad and confused. Is ACOFAS necessary or just a 200-page Fantasy Christmas special? Is the Inner Circle helping Nesta or making things worse? And does Tamlin deserve everything that happened to him? We have opinions. Loud ones. Full ACOTAR series spoilers ahead. Grab your Solstice wine, Brine Babes — this one's cozy but it bites. 📩 DM us your hot takes @PicklePartyPod or email us at picklepartypod@gmail.com🥒 Follow our Podcast and join the Brine never missing an episode **SPONSORED BY:**☕ **Javvy Coffee** - Get 15% off your order:https://javvycoffee.com/a/PicklePartyPod🤖 **Sometimes We Get You Media** - Your AI marketing guru! http://www.sometimeswegetyou.com | info@sometimeswegetyou.com---#PickleParty #ACOWAR #SarahJMaas #BookTok #Feysand

Griefcat: Music, Mayhem & Romantasy (Everything In Between)

🥒 We interviewed Griefcat and it was EVERYTHING 🥒Annie and Louisa joined us to talk about their origin story, viral music, the creative process, and everything in between—including which ACOTAR characters they would be. This episode goes EVERYWHERE:✨ How Griefcat started✨ Creating viral comedy music with emotional depth✨ The new album Dirty Laundry✨ "Grief or Bit?" game✨ Romantasy crossover chaos✨ If Griefcat was a real cat... We talked music, mayhem, and the unexpected overlap between comedy music fans and romantasy readers. It's chaotic, funny, thoughtful, and exactly our vibe. Follow Griefcat: @griefcat & @griefcatpartytime on Insta What's YOUR creative outlet? Tell us! 💚 ---**SPONSORED BY:**☕ **Javvy Coffee** - Get 15% off your first order:https://javvycoffee.com/a/PicklePartyPod🤖 **Sometimes We Get You Media** - Your AI marketing guru! http://www.sometimeswegetyou.com | info@sometimeswegetyou.com--- #PickleParty #Griefcat #Interview #ComedyMusic #Romantasy #BookGirl #BookTok

A Court of Wings and Ruin (Part 2): The Battle, The Sacrifice & The Aftermath

🥒 The war has arrived. And nothing will ever be the same. 🥒 Welcome to ACOWAR Part 2, covering Chapters 43 to the end: the alliances fracture, the battle begins, and the sacrifices that break us all. In this episode: ✨ The continuation of the Dawn Court summit ✨ Hybern's forces attacking ✨ The battle for Prythian—who fights, who falls ✨ Rhysand's death and resurrection (we're STILL not over it) ✨ Feyre's transformation and the High Lady powers ✨ Tamlin's redemption moment ✨ Nesta —the power, the rage, the grief ✨ Elain killing the King of Hybern ✨ Cassian's wings being shredded ✨ Amren's sacrifice and return ✨ The cost of war and who survives ✨ The ending—peace, but at what price? We're discussing: 💚 Rhysand dying and coming back—the emotional DEVASTATION 💚 Was Tamlin's redemption earned? 💚 Elain's badass moment (she's not fragile!) 💚 Which deaths hit the hardest 💚 The aftermath—who's healing, who's broken 💚 How this sets up ACOSF This is ACOWAR Part 2: the war we've been building to, the losses we can't forget, and the ending that destroyed us. FULL SPOILERS for ACOWAR Chapters 43-End. Tell us: What moment broke you the most? Are you ready for A Court of Silver Flames? DM us @PicklePartyPod! 💚 --- **SPONSORED BY:** ☕ **Javvy Coffee** - Fuel your reading sessions with the perfect brew! Use our link to get 15% off your first order: https://javvycoffee.com/a/PicklePartyPod 🤖 **Sometimes We Get You Media** - Your AI Guru Hub! Need help with marketing and tools to streamline your brand? Check out their website: http://www.sometimeswegetyou.com or email them at info@sometimeswegetyou.com --- #PickleParty #ACOWAR #ACourtOfWingsAndRuin #SarahJMaas #BookTok #Romantasy #Feysand #WarForPrythian

The Ballad of Tam Lin: The Scottish Folklore Behind ACOTAR

🥒 Before there was Tamlin, there was Tam Lin. 🥒 This week, we're diving into the 500-year-old Scottish ballad that inspired A Court of Thorns and Roses—and spoiler alert: the parallels are EVERYWHERE. In this episode: ✨ The original Ballad of Tam Lin—the full story ✨ Janet, the badass heroine who defies warnings ✨ Tam Lin, the cursed fairy knight held captive ✨ The Fairy Queen as the original possessive villain ✨ The trials, transformations, and rescue ✨ How Sarah J. Maas adapted the ballad for ACOTAR ✨ The parallels: Feyre/Janet, Tamlin/Tam Lin, Amarantha/Fairy Queen ✨ Where SJM stayed faithful and where she diverged ✨ The brilliant subversion—what if the rescue ISN'T the happy ending? We're discussing: 💚 How knowing the source material changes how you read ACOTAR 💚 The folklore elements woven throughout the series 💚 Is Rhysand the TRUE Tam Lin of the story? 💚 Female agency in both the ballad and ACOTAR 💚 The fiddle (yes, we're talking about the fiddle) 💚 Why SJM made the changes she did 💚 Whether ACOMAF is a subversion or betrayal of the source This is for the literary nerds, the folklore lovers, and anyone who's ever wondered why Tamlin felt so... folkloric. Turns out, it's because he IS. FULL SPOILERS for ACOTAR series (because we can't help ourselves when discussing the parallels). Tell us: Did you know about the Ballad of Tam Lin? Does it change how you see ACOTAR? DM us @PicklePartyPod! 💚 #PickleParty #TamLin #ACOTAR #SarahJMaas #ScottishFolklore #BookTok #Romantasy #Folklore

A Court of Wings and Ruin (Part 1): Feyre's Revenge & War Preparations

🥒 War is coming. And Feyre has a plan. 🥒Welcome to ACOWAR Part 1, covering Chapters 1-43: Feyre's time as a spy in Spring Court, her systematic destruction of Tamlin's court from within, and the desperate race to unite the courts against Hybern.In this episode:✨ Feyre's double life as Tamlin's "captive" High Lady✨ How she destroys Spring Court from the inside✨ The moment she escapes back to the Night Court✨ Reuniting with Rhys and the Inner Circle✨ The sisters' arcs: Nesta training, Elain struggling✨ Building alliances across Prythian✨ Meeting the High Lords and their courts✨ The Dawn Court summit—all the courts in one room✨ Tensions, negotiations, and old wounds✨ Preparing for war with HybernWe're discussing:💚 Feyre's revenge on Spring Court—justified or too far?💚 Tamlin's downfall—do we feel bad for him?💚 Ianthe getting what she deserves💚 The High Lords meeting—who shined, who disappointed?💚 Elain's visions and her role💚 The political maneuvering and alliance-building💚 Whether Feyre's actions as a spy were morally rightThis is ACOWAR Part 1: the setup, the strategy, the alliances. The war hasn't started yet, but the pieces are moving into place.FULL SPOILERS for ACOWAR Chapters 1-43.Part 2 coming soon—covering the actual war, the battles, and the ending that changed everything.Tell us: Do you think Feyre went too far with Spring Court? Which High Lord is your favorite? Are you ready for war?DM us @PicklePartyPod! 💚#PickleParty #ACOWAR #ACourtOfWingsAndRuin #SarahJMaas #BookTok #Romantasy #Feysand #HighLords