Of Swords and Soulmates
Is this a kissing book? Of Swords and Soulmates features two couples (and sometimes more), with varying reading preferences and experiences, as they read, listen, and sometimes watch romantasy stories and discuss plot, fantasy elements, romance, spice, theories, and more. Join us for our non-expert opinions as we discuss, argue, rave, rant, and hopefully entertain. We may just help you find your next reading obsession or at least contribute to that TBR list!
Episodes
59 episodes
J.R. Ward Interview - Romantasy, Floppy Disks, and Vampires
A romantasy idea on literal floppy disks. A vampire series with 20+ books and a fandom that can crash a streaming app. A writing process that starts as “movies” in the author’s head and turns into scenes readers swear were pulled from their own...
"I Am Dragon" - We Made JP Read a Movie
A bride gets kidnapped at her own wedding, dragged to a remote island, and the “monster” watching her from the shadows turns out to be the only person who understands her. We’re talking about I Am Dragon, the 2015 Russian fantasy romance film t...
"Crown Of War And Shadow" - When Kindness is a Weapon
A demon wall is cracking, a crown is missing, and the only person who can cross the Badlands alive might be the exact person you should never trust. We’re Mari, Ashley, and Jonathan, and we go deep on Crown Of War And Shadow by J.R. Ward, the f...
Tropes - Forced Proximity and Why it Works...Sometimes
Two characters. Zero escape. That’s the secret engine behind some of the most addictive romance books and rom-com movies, and we’re pulling it apart: forced proximity. We talk through what the trope really means, why it shows up across romance,...
"I Got Abducted..." - Alien Romance, Chaos, a Lion, and a Pink T-Rex
What if aliens tried to rebuild human culture using half-baked research and vibes—and you had to survive it with a lion, two dangerously attractive strangers, and a pink tyrannosaur? We dive into Kimberly Lemming’s Cosmic Chaos debut to unpack ...
"My Funny Demon Valentine" - Love, Secrets, Jazz, & A Demon Curse
What happens when a prince of Hell chases jazz instead of damnation and a sharp violinist sees through his curse? We pull apart My Funny Demon Valentine with a mix of swoon and side-eye, exploring how music, touch, and honesty thaw a heart froz...
"A Fate Inked in Blood" - Love and a Fiery Axe to the Head
An axe, a prophecy, and a lie that detonates a romance—this conversation gets heated fast. We dive into Danielle L. Jensen’s A Fate Inked in Blood and split the table on one core question: can love survive when one partner withholds the truth t...
Wooing the Witch Queen: Come for the stacks, stay for the shadow mommy
A wicked queen, a runaway archduke in disguise, and a library begging to be tamed—this one had us grinning, gasping, and arguing about consent, secrets, and sex magic. We dive into Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgess, a romantasy that f...
2025 Year-In-Review: Reads, Regrets, And Next-Reads
New Year, new stacks… and a lot of honesty. We step back from single-title deep dives to survey a full year of romantasy and romance-adjacent reads—what shocked us, what fell flat, and which series rewired our brains. From a YA dragon school th...
"Good Spirits" - When The Ghost Of Christmas Past Falls In Love
A ghost with a deadline. A people pleaser with a past. A Christmas Carol framework that dares to ask whether love can rewrite the rules. We dive into Good Spirits by BK Borison and unpack why this holiday romance feels tender, funny, and surpri...
From Mary Shelley To Del Toro: A Monster, A Maker, And The Cost Of Creation
A stitched body, a bruised heart, and a question that won’t let go: who bears the burden for what we make? We dive into Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and trace its roots from Mary Shelley’s storm-lit summer to a modern, war-shadowe...
Wicked: Power, Friendship, Popularity, Love
Oz isn’t just emerald and glitter; it’s a lesson in how stories get made and weaponized. We jump from Gregory Maguire’s Wicked to the Broadway phenomenon and the record-breaking film to unpack how a green-skinned girl became a politica...
Bonus: Inside Monsterotica BookCon 2025
What if a convention put comfort, consent, and community first—and it actually worked? We unpack our weekend at the first Monsterotica BookCon in Baltimore, where a color-coded lanyard system, pronoun stickers, and clear badges turned awkward s...
Inside A Sold-Out Romantasy Convention: Authors, Panels, And Merch
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 d...
"The Cruel Dark" - I went to a ghostly manor and all I got was...
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 garden...
"Vampires of El Norte" - Vaqueros, Vampires, and a Choice of Freedom
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...
Navigating Your First Book Con: Tips, Tricks, and What to Expect
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 ...
"The Enchanted Greenhouse" - Second Chances and Forgiveness
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 aw...
Tropes - Enemies to Lovers: When Hate Ignites Passion
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 be...
"My Minotaur Husband" - Horns, Heart, and Other Huge Assets
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, protect...
"Dating and Dismemberment" - A Monster's Midlife Crisis
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...
"Filthy Rich Fae" - Fae Mafia Romance in New Orleans
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 st...
"Captured by the Fae Beast" - Who Saves Who?
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 har...
"Brighter than Scale" - Duty and Heart Collide
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...
"Dogma" - Faith, Loopholes, and Nostalgia
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 sprin...