In this season finale of the Reading Materials Podcast, we wrap up our full Sarah J. Maas era by looking back at Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City.

We crown our favorite female and male main characters, debate our ultimate villain, and rank the couples who absolutely wrecked us. From the most epic, scream-worthy moments to the emotional scenes that left us staring at the wall, we revisit the highs, the heartbreak, and the absolute chaos that defines these series.

In this episode of Reading Materials, we’re joined by bestselling romance author Amy Lea for a warm and candid conversation about life as a writer. Amy's newest book, The Bodyguard Affair, will be released on the 26th of February, 2026!

We chat about the importance of finding and nurturing an author community, her favourite (and least favourite!) romance tropes, and her ambition to branch out into new genres in the future.

It’s a fun, honest discussion about creativity, connection, and what comes next.

In this episode of the Reading Materials Podcast, we finish our journey through Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas and unpack the choices that define the series’ endgame.

We talk about how Aelin isn’t the one to vanquish the big bad, share our very real feelings about the Thirteen’s devastating sacrifice, and debate whether this epic deserved an epilogue.

From triumph to heartbreak, we break down what worked, what surprised us, and what still lingers after closing the final page.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:25 - Spoiler Warning

00:55 - Summary of Kingdom of Ash (part 2)

03:30 - Our Discussion

01:23:25 - Outro