In this episode of Court Between Realms, we’re diving into the first half of The Assassin’s Blade, the third stop in our Throne of Glass reading journey and Sarah J. Maas’s collection of prequel novellas.

As we're now following our podcast reading schedule, we’re only recapping the first three stories:

⚔️ The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
🌿 The Assassin and the Healer
🏜️ The Assassin and the Desert

We’ll be breaking down Celaena’s earlier adventures, from pirate lords and moral dilemmas to desert training, dangerous friendships, and the moments that start to show us who she really is beneath the assassin reputation.

This episode is a slightly different format from our previous full-book recaps. Alongside the plot recap, we’re digging deeper into the themes, relationship dynamics, character development, and the wider lore that starts to build around the Throne of Glass world.

Expect assassins, arrogance, growth, questionable decisions, unexpected emotional depth, and plenty of discussion about how these stories change the way we understand Celaena going into the rest of the series.

So grab your favourite drink, settle into your reading nook, and join us as we step back into Celaena Sardothien’s past—because apparently even assassins have character development.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This episode contains spoilers for the first three novellas in The Assassin’s Blade: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Healer, and The Assassin and the Desert. We may also reference events from Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, but no spoilers beyond this point in our reading journey.

The journey through the Throne of Glass series continues, and this time we're diving into Crown of Midnight—the second instalment in Sarah J. Maas's epic fantasy series.

In this episode, we're attempting another full-book recap in around 20 minutes as we revisit all the betrayals, revelations, heartbreak, and moments that left us staring blankly at the wall after turning the final page.

After the recap, we're unpacking our theories—looking back at the predictions we got right, laughing at the ones we got spectacularly wrong, and discussing the biggest questions we're carrying into the next book.

And yes, the Chaol vs Dorian debate is somehow still alive. Both of us remain firmly entrenched, refusing to see reason, and we're not convinced this rivalry will ever end.

Plus, we're introducing a brand-new segment:

✨ Favourite Lines of the Book ✨

We'll each share the quotes that made us laugh, cry, highlight half the page, or immediately message the other host in all caps.

Expect:

📖 A full Crown of Midnight recap in around 20 minutes
🧠 Theory discussions and predictions
❓ The biggest unanswered questions heading into Heir of Fire
❤️ More Chaol vs Dorian disagreements than anyone asked for
✨ Our favourite quotes from the book
😂 Hot takes, reactions, and plenty of questionable opinions

So grab your favourite drink, settle into your reading nook, and join us between realms as we revisit one of the most emotional and game-changing books in the series.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This episode contains full spoilers for Crown of Midnight and discusses questions and theories heading into Heir of Fire. No spoilers beyond that point.

In our very first book summary, we're taking on Throne of Glass and attempting the impossible: recapping an entire book in less than 30 minutes.

Join us as we revisit Celaena's journey from assassin to champion, break down the biggest moments, and look back at the theories we had while reading—some surprisingly accurate, others spectacularly wrong.

We're also digging into the questions that kept us turning pages and desperately reaching for book two. What exactly is going on behind the scenes in the castle? Who can really be trusted? And what secrets are still waiting to be uncovered?

Of course, no Throne of Glass discussion would be complete without tackling the most important question of all: Chaol or Dorian?

A particularly divisive issue - Cian is firmly Team Chaol, whilst Holly is ready to defend Dorian at all costs. Neither is backing down.

Expect theories, hot takes, questionable predictions, character analysis, plenty of laughter, and the beginning of what may become an ongoing host rivalry.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Throne of Glass (Book 1) and discusses theories and questions heading into Crown of Midnight. No spoilers beyond that point. There are also ACOTAR series spoilers inside.