Cauldron Save Us

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 45 and 46 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are saying goodbye to Thorns and Roses and trying very hard not to cry about it. Feyre has died, been remade, and is trying to live with what she has done, all while we as readers are suddenly looking at every character through a very different lens.

We talk about how shocking it is that Beron of all people is the first High Lord to step forward and offer his power to resurrect Feyre, and whether that moment is genuine...

In this spoiler-free finale of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre’s story comes full circle and the payoff is enormous, in both good and tricky ways.

After Amarantha kills her, Feyre’s bargain with Rhysand quite literally saves her life… but not without a cost. We unpack Feyre’s near-death experience, how she watches her own corpse through Rhysand’s eyes, and what that vision might mean for their bond going forward.

Tamlin goes full beast mode, the High Lords do something shockingly noble, and Feyre wakes up to find she’s no longer human...

In this spoiler-filled breakdown of Chapters 45 and 44 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre’s final moments Under the Mountain are brutal, heartbreaking, and deeply symbolic… and are driving us crazy.

We debate whether the faeries’ sudden reverence for Feyre is genuine or just another act of survival under Amarantha’s rule. Ariel and Corryn dive into Feyre’s spiritual awakening as she begins to believe in Fate (and how that single realization echoes through every Archeron sister’s storyline).

Meanwhile, Rhys is getting wrecked by Amarantha and still doing everything he can to save Feyre...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of Chapters 43 and 44 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the final trial has arrived… and everything hurts. The faeries’ attitude toward Feyre has completely shifted, Amarantha’s grip is slipping, and the tension is thicker than Lucien’s hair.

Feyre’s last task is the literal embodiment of the trolley problem, and Sarah J. Maas foreshadows it every chance she gets. To win, Feyre must face the unthinkable: kill three faeries, destroy her own humanity, and decide whether love is worth eternal damnation. But when the third faerie is revealed to be Tamlin, th...

In this spoiler-filled breakdown of Chapters 41 and 42 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are back Under the Mountain and losing it… in the best way. Between a mysterious “pig man” fae throwing shade at Amarantha on behalf of the King of Hybern and Rhysand pulling a Say Anything, things are getting wild in Prythian.

We unpack the layers of the iconic scene where Rhys sends music into Feyre’s cell, from the memes that made it funny to the emotional gut punch of what it really means. Is this music a lifeline, a message...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of Chapters 41 and 42 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, we’re officially in the final stretch Under the Mountain, and Feyre is hanging on by a thread. With her last trial looming, she’s hit with the gut-wrenching realization that even if she survives, she’ll still die long before Tamlin ever does. But no pressure, right?! 🫠

But it’s not all despair. Rhysand’s mysterious handmaidens might not be as bad as they seem when they save Feyre from the Attor (yes, we’re just as shocked as you are). And when they overh...

Goodbye gladiator-style trials, hello psychological warfare. In this spoiler-filled breakdown of chapter 40 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn break down how Sarah J. Maas turns survival into a mental labyrinth as Feyre faces humiliation, fear, and the cruel twist of not being able to read her way out.

We dig into the privilege of literacy, why this scene hits so hard, and how Rhys’s “commands” after the trial are anything but controlling—they’re proof he sees who Feyre truly is, even when she’s losing herself.

We also unpack the evolving...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapter 40 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre’s second task proves that Amarantha really know how to torture someone. Our girl’s trapped in a pit with Lucien, a giant grate is coming down fast, and her only hope is a riddle carved into the wall that she has to solve. The only problem? She can’t even read the damn riddle.

Ariel and Corryn unpack the psychological tension of this chapter, from Amarantha’s cruel sense of irony to the big mic drop moment of Rhysand speaking into Feyre’s mind. We...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapter 39 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn dive head-first into the infamous “paint and party” scenes. This week, we’re unpacking one of the most divisive moments in the entire ACOTAR series: Feyre being paraded around Under the Mountain as Rhy’s “plaything.”

We break down why this scene is still hard to stomach; the loss of Feyre’s bodily autonomy, the use of faerie wine, and the way Sarah J. Maas blurs the line between survival and spectacle. But with the hindsight of A Court of Mist and Fury, we r...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapter 39 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre’s life Under the Mountain somehow gets even worse. She’s trapped, branded with Rhysand’s tattoo, and convinced the eye on her palm is watching her back. Two silent attendants haul her from her cell, strip her down, paint every inch of her body, and dress her like a “heathen god’s plaything.” It’s disturbing, demeaning… and maybe strategic? Ariel and Corryn debate whether Rhysand’s intentions are protection, possession, or pure manipulation.

Meanwhile, in Amarantha’s court, the bargain is revealed to everyone...

Welcome back to Cauldron Save Us, where this week’s episode dives into Chapters 37 and 38 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and things are getting intense. Feyre is dying. Her arm is shredded. Her options? Limited. Her savior? Shockingly… Rhysand.

We’re talking about Feyre’s brush with death, the mystery of Rhysand’s powers, and what his surprise intervention really means, especially when he confirms Tamlin’s hands are tied. There’s talk of surveillance, teleportation, and bargains, oh my. And don’t even get us started on the permanent tattoo Feyre gets from the deal she makes j...

Welcome back to Cauldron Save Us, where your favorite duo Ariel and Corryn finally drop the act; we’ve been playing our spoiler-free listeners HARD. We’re covering Chapters 37 and 38 of A Court of Thorns and Roses and talking about how Rhysand is NOT the villain we pretended he was, but rather, how much of a hero he actually is.

We break down the infamous bargain scene and why Rhys “twisting” Feyre’s injured arm is actually a life-saving power move that also keeps Amarantha from getting suspicious. We also rant about the fan theories suggesting Rhys is st...

This week, Ariel and Corryn dive deep into Chapter 36 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Amarantha is putting on a full production that is equal parts Gladiator, Star Wars, and James Bond villain theatrics. But for all her cunning, it turns out this evil queen may have seriously miscalculated with this trial.

We discuss how this chapter recontextualizes so much on a reread: from Rhys being the only one who bet on Feyre (!!!) to his potential role in helping her by leaking how she’s a hunter. Feyre’s survival instincts are on full display, but...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of Chapter 36 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre is thrown headfirst into Amarantha’s first trial, and it’s giving full Gladiator energy. As the crowd mocks her and the stakes couldn’t be higher, Feyre uses what’s working against her to work in her favor. From the moment she’s dropped into the arena, she goes from being prey to full-on predator, and it’s an incredibly satisfying payoff for everything we’ve learned about her survival instincts since the beginning of the book.

Ariel opens up about her weirdly specif...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of Chapter 35 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, we’re locked in a cell with Feyre and losing our minds over how little ol’ TamTam is doing to help.

We’re talking about how sitting around in a dungeon waiting for the next trial might be more torturous than the trials themselves. Feyre’s guilt, her isolation, and her fear are palpable… and made all the worse by the inaction of Tamlin.

Lucien risks it all (again) to heal Feyre and get her answers while Tamlin does… nothing. Worse? He doesn’t even...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapter 35 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre gets a very bloody wakeup call as she gets her first taste of what it really means to be Under the Mountain. Feyre’s self-blame over Clare Beddor’s fate is fueling her determination to survive, but Amarantha’s clever wording has us all sweating. What happens if Feyre does complete the trials? Will she, Tamlin, and the Spring Court be freed immediately?? Amarantha never actually specified…

Lucien sneaks into Feyre’s cell to fix her broken nose (and, of course, some grief), but Feyre...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of Chapters 33 and 34 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are dissecting every cursed moment of Feyre’s iconic Under the Mountain entrance. We’re talking Suriel prophecies (that “Stay with the High Lord” line hits very different now), Alis’s broken rules (Feyre breaks every. damn. one. of. them), and why Feyre’s only trying to save the Spring Court when half of Prythian is being held hostage.

We dive deep into Amarantha’s hypocritical curse logic, the shocking literalness of the fae, and the insanity of Jurian living as an eyeball...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of Chapters 33 and 34 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre makes the ultimate choice and heads Under the Mountain!!! Guilt-ridden over failing to break Amarantha’s curse by not telling Tamlin that she loves him, Feyre steps into the lion’s den to fix what she believes she broke.

Alis lays down a few simple rules before Feyre embarks on her journey… which Feyre immediately breaks. We’re talking about the weight of guilt, the bravery of walking into the unknown, and how Feyre’s doubts and self-loathing make her one of the most r...

In this spoiler-filled breakdown of Chapter 32 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn finally get to scream the truth from the rooftops: it’s a curse, not a blight! And oh boy, is it a convoluted one. We dig into the 7x7 curse (named for the seven High Lords?), question why The Mountain is considered “sacred,” and what Amarantha’s long game tells us about power, patriarchy, and vengeance.

We’re side-eying Tamlin HARD this week. The more we learn about his curse, the more infuriating his actions become. Turns out he did...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of Chapter 32 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are reeling from the bombshell that upends the entire first half of the book: there is no blight. It's a curse, and it's way more specific, painful, and brutal than Feyre (or any of us) could have imagined.

Feyre returns to the Spring Court to find it in ruins, only to be met with a full info dump from Alis that finally lifts the veil on what’s really been happening. We learn about Amarantha’s 500-year-old vend...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of Chapters 30–31 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are truly amazed by how much groundwork Sarah J. Maas sneakily lays down in just two chapters that sets up for the rest of the series.

We talk about a prevalent theory in the ACOTAR fandom that Nesta may have never been fully human, and how that might explain why she was able to break through Tamlin’s glamour. These chapters quietly reshape everything we thought we knew about the Archeron sisters, and it hits so differently on a re-read. Ariel lovi...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of Chapter 30-31 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are feeling a LOT of feelings. From running into her ex-situationship, Isaac, to realizing just how out of place she feels among humans now, Feyre’s going through some growing pains. We discuss how her time in Prythian has changed her worldview, especially when it comes to love, power, and privilege.

We also dive into Nesta’s iconic reveal that Tamlin’s glamour didn’t work on her and why it’s such a defining moment. This chapter finally lets us see Nes...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of Chapters 28-29 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn finally reveal their surprise they’ve been hinting at… WE’RE RECORDING IN THE SAME ROOM!!! During this special episode, we freak out over Feyre’s heartbreaking departure from the Spring Court. Tamlin finally tells her he loves her… right before sending her away. We’re talking about why this moment is simultaneously romantic and selfish, and why Lucien’s cryptic vagueness during it is NOT helping.

Back in the mortal realm, Feyre’s return home is anything but comforting. Her family is st...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of Chapters 28-29 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are grieving right alongside Feyre as she’s forced to leave what she now considers home: the Spring Court.

We’re talking about the symbolic weight of the dress Alis puts Feyre in, Lucien’s frustrating (but understandable?) goodbye, and Tamlin’s major character flaws on full display. From his refusal to let Feyre stay and fight, to the emotionally loaded “I love you,” to the extravagant wealth he dumps on the Archerons, we’re unpacking every red flag in his farewell.<...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of Chapter 27 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are talking the first and least spicy sex scene in the entire ACOTAR series. We unpack why this scene is written the way it is, what it tells us about Feyre and Tamlin's dynamic, and how Sarah J. Maas uses sex not just for steam, but as a tool for character development and power shifts.

We also dive into the absolutely nauseating parallels between Tamlin sending Feyre home “for her own safety” and his behavior in A Court of Mist and Fury...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapter 27 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are processing the emotional fallout from Rhysand’s surprise visit right alongside Feyre. Tamlin is going full-beast mode, Feyre’s blaming herself, and we’re all left wondering what exactly the blight really means when Amarantha is clearly the Big Bad.

And just when Feyre’s ready to stay and fight alongside Tamlin… he decides to send her away to protect her. We’re talking about how this decision sets everything in motion, the tension between Feyre’s agency and Tamlin’s overprotective...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapter 26 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn drop the façade and admit what we’re all thinking: Rhysand isn’t the villain of this story, he’s the MVP working undercover. We revisit his first big entrance at the Spring Court through the lens of Chapter 54 of A Court of Mist and Fury, unpacking the impossible constraints he was under, and the risks he took to keep Feyre safe.

We talk about how brilliantly Sarah J. Maas sets up the beginnings of Feyre and Rhys’s relationship, the wild...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapter 26 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are reeling from the entrance of a new key player, and are getting way more questions than they get answers.

Feyre and Tamlin are riding the high of their Summer Solstice tryst, and everyone at the Spring Court can tell (even Lucien, who kills the mood with some horrifying Winter Court news). We’re finally learning more about the blight… or are we? The more we find out, the more confusing it gets, especially when we learn that the Night Court has...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapter 25 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are deep in their feels over a chapter that’s almost too sweet to roast. But alas, we can’t help but poke a little fun at TamTam.

Tamlin’s out here shredding on his magical fiddle like he’s headlining Warped Tour, and Feyre’s falling in love in real-time. We talk about how this Summer Solstice moment might be the only time we see pure, uncomplicated love between them, and how it hits way different on a reread. That Solstice k...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapter 25 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre is letting her hair down and maybe falling in L-O-V-E! With the Summer Solstice finally here, our girl is down bad for Tamlin and fully planning their future together, grappling with the very real question: what does forever mean when one of you is mortal?

We talk about Feyre’s glowing transformation (physically, emotionally, spiritually) as she finds a new confidence in herself and her newly nourished body. From feeling beautiful in her own skin to joining in a night of music, magic, an...

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 23–24 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are side-eyeing every glamour, every red flag, and every “for your own safety” decision Tamlin makes.

This week, we dig into the mechanics of the Spring Court illusion (did Tamlin glamour Feyre, the manor, or both?) and what it means that she didn’t have the full picture until now. Is it protection, manipulation, or something messier in between? We talk about the power imbalance baked into Tamlin’s choices, the way it sets the tone for their entire relationship, and how the gr...

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapters 23–24 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are raising some serious questions about glamours, surveillance, and the ethics of hot fae males making decisions on your behalf.

This week, Feyre finally starts to see the Spring Court for what it really is… but only after Tamlin reveals he’s been glamouring his entire estate (and maybe Feyre herself?) since day one. The vibes are half romantic gesture, half fae shaman offering up your first hit of magical hallucinogens.

We unpack the blurry ethics of Tamlin making choice...

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode includes nuanced discussion around consent in relation to Calanmai and the post-Calanmai biting scene, as well as abusive relationships.

In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapters 21 and 22 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn dive into the messy aftermath of Calanmai, where Tamlin’s magic-drunk and the consent is murky at best.

We unpack the infamous hallway bite, explore whether Tamlin’s Calanmai magic justifies his behavior, and analyze the slow unraveling of Feyre’s romantic illusions. From victim blaming over lunch to love bombing compliments, Tamlin is setting...

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode includes nuanced discussion around consent in relation to Calanmai and the post-Calanmai biting scene.

In this spoiler-free breakdown of chapters 21–22 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn are feeling all kinds of conflicted. Between a mysterious (and suspiciously hot) stranger, a magical fertility ritual called Calanmai, and a whole lot of repressed feelings, Feyre is in for one wild night in Prythian.

We’re talking all things Calanmai: what it is, what it definitely isn’t (hint: “love making”), and why no one had the decency to tell Feyre...

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-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-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 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-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...