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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 frozen by centuries of numbness. From smoky club sets to rooftop confessions, this love story leans on found family—four demon brothers who tease, cook, and protect like it’s a sport—and pits them against watchers, angelic bloodlines, and the kind of fatherly meddling that makes you want to throw the book.

We compare reading formats and why the audiobook’s distinct voices solve the mid-chapter POV jump problem. We talk spice with purpose—heat as a language for someone who can’t yet name feelings—and why consent reads clean even when naivety causes messy moments. Then we dig into Nephilim lore, the politics of celestial hierarchy, and how institutions enforce rules that romance then dares to break. Predictable? Sometimes. But charm isn’t only about surprise; it’s about tone, texture, and the people you want to spend time with.

There’s healthy debate, too: frustration over the series pivot after book one, delight in the brothers’ banter, and a firm “kissing book” verdict. Along the way we share rapid-fire romance news—cover reveals, film options, monster romance drops—and a few joyful detours, from Bridgerton watch parties to hilariously mistranslated stickers. If you love Charmed energy, found family dynamics, demons with tender rituals, and jazz as emotional catalyst, you’ll feel right at home here.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow Of Swords and Soulmates, rate and review on your favorite app, and share this with a friend who needs a cursed demon with a sax and a soft heart. Tell us your take: audio or ebook for this one?

Links and News

• Cover Release for The Adventures of a Tiny Tree, Including Whimsical Anecdotes from a Discarded Pair of Trousers
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• Paige Lavoie new book – My Boyfriend is a Swamp Monster
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• The Sequel to Kiki’s Delivery Service released for the first time in English speaking markets
  • Barnes and Noble Link
• Books for Days Crate company special edition of Victoria Aveline’s Clecanean series
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• Danielle L Jensen’s Bridge Kingdom has been picked up for a movie by James Farrell’s Red Sage Studios
  • News Article
• Daggerbound cover has dropped
  • Amazon Link

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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 to keep the other alive? Freya’s journey from repressed survivor to god-touched shield maiden becomes our lens for talking about agency, trauma, and the high cost of destiny. Along the way, we compare “cozy” moments to “cutthroat” realities and argue over whether omissions count as betrayal when blood oaths and politics make honesty dangerous.

We thread Norse mythology through the analysis—Hel, Hlin, Baldur, and prophecy—showing how the lore shapes character motives and foreshadows the book’s biggest twists. Expect a spirited breakdown of Bjorn’s choices: strategic misdirection or manipulative double life? One of us can’t forgive him; another defends the long game; the rest live in the messy middle where desire and doubt wrestle for control. We also talk craft: side quests that build intimacy, a steady burn that tests consent and trust, and an audiobook performance that adds grit without theatrics.

Beyond the main read, we round up romance news you’ll actually care about: Fourth Wing live events and season-per-book TV plans, Lore Olympus heading to animation, special edition drops, and a flurry of new releases and merch. If you’re here for fantasy romance with teeth—feminine rage, godly meddling, and lovers pulled between survival and truth—you’ll find a lot to chew on.

Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more romance nerds find us, and share this episode with a friend who loves a good prophecy fight. Then tell us: Team Freya or Team Bjorn?

See Links and News from the show at https://ofswordsandsoulmates.com/ep52notes/

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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 flips the script: the heroine is the fearsome protector with a laboratory and a reputation, while the love interest is tender, bookish, and carrying scars he didn’t earn. That balance of power isn’t a gimmick; it’s the beating heart of a story that treats softness as bravery and rage as care.

We walk through the fairy-tale echoes—think Beauty and the Beast, but reversed—and why the library courtship works so well. From flirtatious poetry and fountain pens to a cataloging project that doubles as foreplay, the romance is playful without losing heat. We also dig into the world’s quiet brilliance: a queer-normative society presented without fanfare, political stakes tied to how magical minorities are treated, and a found family that feels chosen in the best way. Predictable turns don’t dull the ride; the tension comes from timing, trust, and the danger of truths left unsaid.

Along the way, we share bookish news: audiobook narrator updates, Fourth Wing nights with the 76ers and Flyers, a Temeraire-inspired tabletop RPG, Ruby Dixon’s daily dragon-shifter serial, and special-edition Kickstarters lighting up monster romance shelves. If you loved Emily Wilde, Assistance of the Villain, or Villains and Virtues, this episode is your cozy, clever, slightly feral sweet spot. Tap play, then tell us your favorite trope reversal and which queen you want next. If this made your TBR grow, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review—your support helps more readers find the show.

Links from the Show

• Anthony Palmini, voice of Rhysand in ACOTAR (among others) is doing an Instagram live
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• Fourth Wing Philadelphia 76ers/flyers takeover in March
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• Temererie the role playing game Kickstarter coming 2026
  • Instagram Link
  • Kickstarter Link
• New Ruby Dixon work
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  • First Chapter Sample
• Captured by the Fae Beast Kickstarter special editions
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  • Kickstarter Link
• Oops I summoned a Metamorphic Monster by Opal Reyne
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Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/ofswordsandsoulmates