34
A Court of Thorns and Roses —
Full Book Recap & Reread Reactions
Hosted by Sara Vander Zwaag & Jennie Lindsay
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Summary
Sara and Jennie kick off their full ACOTAR reread and recap series ahead of books six and seven, starting at the very beginning with A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. They give a full, detailed recap of the book, then dig into themes like secrets and lies, self-actualization, and whether power requires cruelty — plus a rereader's-eye view of how much the first book foreshadows what's coming. They also get into meatier territory: criticism of the series (including discussions of race, representation, and author controversy), a passionate rant against the phrase "guilty pleasure," and a personal, vulnerable conversation about using books as a healthy coping tool.
A Note on Sourcing:
The hosts mention wanting to confirm the origin of the term "guilty pleasure" for the show notes. The phrase was first used in print in an 1860 New York Times article — about visiting a brothel. We also recommend Jennifer Szalai's essay "Against 'Guilty Pleasure'" in The New Yorker, which explores the term's more recent cultural baggage.
Spoilers
Full spoilers for A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, including its complete plot and ending. Light, non-specific discussion referencing later books in the series.
Content Warnings
Detailed discussion of torture, violence, and gore; familial abuse (verbal) and neglect; a threat of sexual assault and forced, degrading treatment of a captive character (including coerced undress/painting and forced intoxication); themes of self-harm-adjacent peril (a character nearly dies multiple times); discussion of author controversy, including accusations related to political and social issues (antisemitism/Zionism, transphobia, and racial representation); and a candid, personal discussion of using books as a coping mechanism, including a brief mention of therapy and dissociation as a coping tool.
Chapters
0:00 – Show intro
0:24 – Welcome back: launching the full ACOTAR reread and recap series
1:46 – Revisiting the origin of Sara and Jennie's friendship
4:38 – Why they're not "just an ACOTAR podcast"
7:12 – Content warnings for this book
8:37 – Full book recap: Feyre, the Spring Court, and Tamlin's bargain
16:01 – Recap continued: the trials under the mountain and the battle with Amarantha
21:58 – Themes and questions: secrets, lies, and self-actualization
27:50 – Does power require cruelty?
32:03 – Reactions: rereading with omniscience and appreciating the foreshadowing
33:57 – A Beauty and the Beast retelling, unpacked
37:13 – Why ACOTAR became "the gateway drug" of romantasy
41:05 – Writing craft talk: how Sarah J. Maas's prose has evolved
44:51 – TV talk: adaptation hopes, Interview with the Vampire, and Talamasca
47:54 – A personal reflection on why romantasy has always mattered to Jennie
52:23 – Retiring the phrase "guilty pleasure"
54:55 – A candid conversation about books, coping, and therapy
1:00:27 – Addressing criticism of the series: representation and author controversy
1:12:19 – Wrapping up & previewing A Court of Mist and Fury
Mentioned in This Episode
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Devil (Priest series, Book #4) by Sierra Simone
Priest series by Sierra Simone
Interview with the Vampire (AMC series)
Talamasca: The Secret History (Anne Rice universe series)
"Against 'Guilty Pleasure'" by Jennifer Szalai, The New Yorker
FAQ
What book do Sara and Jennie recap in Episode 34 of Spread Your Wingspan?
They give a full recap and discussion of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, the first book in the ACOTAR series, as part of a full series reread ahead of books six and seven.
Does this episode contain spoilers?
Yes — full spoilers for the complete plot and ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Do Sara and Jennie address criticism of the ACOTAR series?
Yes — they discuss criticisms around representation, race, and author controversy, and talk about how they hold both their enjoyment of the books and awareness of valid critiques.
