Cauldron Save Us

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapters 19–20 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, things are heating up—both sexually and emotionally. Feyre’s finally getting space to breathe, and with it, a chance to figure out who she is outside of survival and family obligation. Between viewing Tamlin’s private gallery, getting to finally paint, and being kissed on the hands in a rose-filled garden, our girl is experiencing beauty, desire, and something that might actually resemble safety.

But this is still Prythian, which means nothing stays calm for long. Feyre gets next to no context before a shirtl...

In this spoiler-filled breakdown of chapters 19–20 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are revisiting two deceptively quiet chapters with fresh eyes and a lot of new questions.

Feyre’s return to painting isn’t just about creativity; it’s about reclaiming her agency. We talk about how art becomes her lifeline throughout the series, how this moment cracks something open in her, and how a certain fae male’s happiness seems entirely contingent on hers.

Which brings us to Tamlin: Does he really love her? Sort of. Maybe. But that love comes with...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapters 17–18 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are processing… a lot. These chapters are a shot/chaser combo of fae flirtation and brutal violence.

Ariel shares how much she relates to Feyre’s need to paint the dying wingless faerie while Corryn breaks down the grief-infused soundscape she’d compose for that same moment. We also talk about Tamlin’s emotional shutdown when he can’t save the faerie, and how powerlessness looks very different on him than it does on Feyre.

Plus: we take a detour into...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 17–18 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are on their usual ish by holding two truths at once by finding humor through the heaviness of these chapters. The girls tackle both trauma and toxic masculinity while also cracking up over the fact that the wingless faerie looks like a character from Avatar and how the starlight pool in Tamlin’s glen is probably full of dead souls. It’s a lot. But so is Tamlin’s complete lack of flirting skills.

We break down how Tamlin is a prime ex...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 14-16 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn officially induct the Suriel into the queer horror icon hall of fame. He’s serving, he’s spilling, and he’s definitely in a throuple with the Babadook and Pennywise (at least according to the rumors that Ariel’s spreading).

We break down Lucien’s chaotic motivations for helping Feyre trap the Suriel (was it kindness, recklessness, or just drunk fae meddling?) and get into just how eerily descriptive the Suriel’s intro is. Plus, we finally get to a major lore d...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 14–16 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn ask the important questions: Would Feyre have fallen for Tamlin if the Suriel had kept his mouth shut? Who exactly is the “Dark Mother”? And why doesn’t this spooky all-knowing fae just explain the damn curse if he’s spilling the tea anyway???

This week, we’re deep-diving into the Suriel’s annoyingly vague prophetic energy, reevaluating Tamlin’s every move now that we know he’s playing dumb, and realizing that Ariel might just be the Suriel to Corryn’s Feyre. We also rev...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapters 11-13 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn follow Feyre through her post-vow identity crisis and into a world of secrets she’s just starting to crack.

With her vow to her mother fulfilled, she’s officially a 19-year-old retiree and the crushing weight of having no purpose is starting to set in. Meanwhile, the boys are whispering in corners like gossip queens and Feyre is not here for being left out, because as we all know: secrets secrets are no fun unless Feyre is a part of one...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 11-13 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are back to dissect Tamlin’s cursed love language, Lucien’s suspiciously helpful behavior, and Feyre’s slow shift from skeptic to maybe-sorta-softening.

We dig into how Tamlin’s curse-breaking strategy seems to hinge on doing as little as possible and break down the confusing physics behind Tamlin’s ripped shirt post-Bogge hunting (why are his clothes ripped if he killed it while in wolf form?!?!) Also, what’s up with his “you’re not the human I expected” line?

Elsewhere in...

In this spoiler-free episode of Cauldron Save Us, besties Ariel and Corryn are diving into Chapters 7–10 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and things are getting masked, mysterious, and maybe even a little monstrous.

We’re officially introduced to Tamlin (TamTam, if you’re nasty) and break down the shifting dynamics between Feyre, Lucien, and the eternal spring lands our girl is being held hostage in. From dinner table awkwardness to sassy banter and the politics of who can and can’t leave the manor, the vibes are off—but we’re here for it?

We talk bl...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 7–10 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn follow Feyre into the Spring Court and things are already… weird.

We break down the uncomfortable vibes of Feyre’s first dinners with Tamlin and Lucien, unpack how Lucien’s sarcasm hits different on a reread, and analyze Tamlin’s failed attempts at charm (plus that massive superiority complex).

We also explore the stories that inspired ACOTAR—from Beauty and the Beast to Tam Lin to the tale of Hades and Persephone—and how Sarah J Maas plays with genre. Shocker...

In this spoiler-free episode of Cauldron Save Us, besties Ariel and Corryn return to break down Chapters 4–6 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and let’s just say, things get beastly.

Feyre’s worst fears come true when a giant talking wolf (surprise: it’s a fae) bursts into her home demanding blood for blood. We’re unpacking first impressions, moral gray areas, human–fae class dynamics, and Feyre’s new home…or prison? From family trauma to Beauty and the Beast vibes and the politics of tunics vs. dresses, this episode is packed.

Plus: We e...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 4–6 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn return with fresh eyes, full hearts, and zero chill. With the curse in full context, we revisit Feyre’s capture, Tamlin’s choices, and all the early foreshadowing that hits so much harder the second time around.

Was the Spring Court ever truly a sanctuary, or just a prettier kind of prison? Is Tamlin a tragic product of his trauma, or just another controlling toxic fae man with a savior complex? And did Sarah J. Maas plant the seeds of Nesta’s arc th...

Welcome to Cauldron Save Us—a chapter-by-chapter ACOTAR podcast hosted by best friends Ariel and Corryn who would absolutely dive head-first into the Cauldron and come out as high fae if they could (Mother willing).

In our very first non-spoiler episode, we dive into the first three chapters of Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. Feyre is starving. Her family is... not helpful. And yes, we’re already screaming about trauma, class struggles, emotional damage, and badass mercenaries. 

If you're a first-time reader, this one's spoiler-free—always. Whether you're here for...

Welcome to Cauldron Save Us—the unfiltered, spoiler-loaded companion to our spoiler-free breakdown of Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series.

In the spoiler half of our inaugural episode, Ariel and Corryn re-examine the first three chapters of A Court of Thorns and Roses through the lens of everything we know is coming (and it’s... a lot). We talk Feyre’s family woes, early red flags with Tamlin, and the emotional foreshadowing baked into that dresser. We also come to terms with the fact that we’ll need to deliver some truly Oscar-worthy performances in future non-spoiler episodes—because pr...