#81// We feared the flames

[@miahhargrove]

this title is so funny to me😭did i read this book: no. am i still gonna watch this whole episode: hell yeah

[@jaymee11b]

@miahhargrove haha i dnfed it and i’m so excited to hear them talk about it!

[@SaraSidwell]

same though

[@brooklynaliyaxx]

Me too I watched all of this even though I haven’t read it lol

[@Jam_thespread]

Des while Sara was reading the summary…. I was crying 😭😭

[@clarahoney_b5799]

"Should I have worn bows to the heist?" made me laugh, but honestly: it would make for a funny and refreshing fantasy. Imagine. The protagonist asking their heistmates what they are bringing on the adventure, who's bringing the snacks, what should they wear, do we bring our own money or are we stealing someelses? Rambling on like "should I put my hair in a ponytail? Seems practical, but the guards could grab that. Maybe a bun? we'll be sleuthing around for a while, I'll get a headache from both...." and a heistmate is proposing the fantasy favorite braid like it's the invention of the wheel. The protagonist is doubling over in pain, the love interest is worried they got stabbed, but it's just a period cramp.

[@thejuliwiththevlogs]

4:19 *Sara apologizing for speaking* "It's a podcast" I DIED

[@maloumasereel966]

🤣🤣

[@siimaaaaaaaaaa]

did i read the book? no. am i still going to watch this ep? oh yes

[@fabiaxo]

i have watched this podcast every single week since it started and man destiny got a break from speaking bc i have never heard sara yap so much in an episode before😭😭 (all very valid points tho queen)

[@shelbycrowe8036]

Destiny @ 9:55. You take it with stride, I would take it with cry is soo relatable I swear 😭 Also Sara’s rant for the whole video was just giving me life 😂 I could feel the frustration

[@bgc2997]

Love this format of yall talking about one book for 30+ minutes!!! I was locked IN!

[@jelenastavrov8457]

I accidentally read the indie version, and honestly, I still noticed all of the issues you talked about, it was SO long and I still think the romance was rushed and the world building didn't exist

[@melanie6759]

“Put me in the book” honestly relatable

[@annagardiner8351]

Something about y’all’s dynamic and this podcast is healing for me today. Love you girls.

[@Melanine-bz2ft]

Being glued to my phone at 11 pm French time trying to explain to my boyfriend why I couldn’t miss the merch drop was very humbling 😂 I ended up getting the crewneck tho I’m very happy !

[@mollygaboriault5209]

i’ve been waiting for this since i dnf’d fear the flames at 7% 😭

[@emmaskapetis7603]

I dnfed it too.

[@oliviabrownvlogs204]

i was reading my bible and checked my phone at 3:57 and remembered that the merch drop was at 4 and was like YASSSSSSS

[@iamanna-]

you guys chose First-Time Caller, I'm so happy 🥰💓

[@saarahtheplanet]

I don’t think it was necessarily written just for the tropes but more that she was so attached to these characters and storyline that she forgot about the audience. She didn’t spent the time to create that connection between Cayden and Elowen while writing and just wrote as she already felt for them. The same for the storyline/plot too. It just wasn’t flushed out. I read both versions and really loved the indie version when I first read it, but was highly disappointed in the lack of description and overall care for the traditionally published version.

[@thebookishkidd]

I rated the book 4 stars but your takes are so valid- I think I blacked out while reading and was entertained enough to ignore all of the plot holes 😂

[@oliviavinet]

been waiting for this since i finished the book. YUUUUUP I love the idea of this little book club. so fun

[@kylarhodes7585]

destiny is so unserious and I'm here for it!!!

[@sallytsaples]

I READ THE INDIE VERSION IT WAS NOT BETTER. Fear the flames took me 3 months to finish and I gave it 1 star, genuinely baffled it was published, nothing made sense, the plot, the time period, the romance etc, and the heist literally never happens

[@milliereads13]

SO EXCITED about the book club episodes!!! those are my absolute favorite type of pod episodes to tune in to! and y’all are my comfort people💌 so this is like my two favorite things colliding…so ty Ily sm!🌟🌟🌟

[@Lillyjoy]

I appreciate y’all talking about your thoughts, I hate when a new book comes out and it sounds so good and especially something we don’t get often like dragons being really prominent makes me extra excited because I love that and then the book just does not deliver. There have been so many new releases that just don’t live up to the synopsis or the hype that I hear!

[@makaylaleotaud1805]

My favourite book-tubers ever. I never miss a bookmark’d episode ❤️❤️❤️ 🥳🥳🥳

[@jaymee11b]

not “we feared the flames” 🤣🤣 knowing your opinions already Sara, i’m so eager to listen to this and get the book spoiled for me (i dnfed at 30%)

[@Kayleebaldwin1319]

still watching even though I’m not going to read the book… yessss

[@alischreiner08]

so ready for this!!! can’t believe the merch sold out so fast!! proud of you girlies 💗

[@oliviajade777]

actually laughing so hard at des validating sara that she's allowed to talk a lot on her own podcast. honestly same, so real

[@LexiHendrickson]

I am LOVING the jelly cats!!

[@Swiftie-e7x]

Yayyyyyyy favourite time of the week 🎉

[@LeahCoyle-r6e]

"should I have worn bows to the heist?" had me dead 😭

[@Knysna-h8d]

Destiny going crazy at the beginning😂why is she me?!😂

[@haileygunnet8294]

I read the indie version and really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars. I do think they probably left out a lot of key interactions and conversations in the traditionally published version. It definitely still felt like a set up book, but I think it was decent for a first book. Read this right before onyx storm and this book was much better imo than onyx storm. I’m surprised Sara didn’t like this, it reminded me of powerless in the style of writing and set-up being somewhat trope focused. When they rescued the dragons, the dragons were in shackles, that’s why they weren’t able to set themselves free all this time. And Caden also had a bomb that helped them all escape, not sure if the traditionally published included that. The marriage clause stated that an heir is able to challenge the current thrown but they have to be married. So Caden has to marry her in order to challenge the crown. I want to continue the series but nervous that book two is being released as traditionally published since book 1 has not received the best reviews.

[@alanamarie14]

I got me and my book bestie the boomarked crewneck so excited!! Love you besties

[@abfever]

I ordered the DOTE mug and I am so excited to have my tea in it and read. I read the book and gave it 3 stars I thought it was so good!

[@Savannah-r9r]

I think the worst part about this book was when her dragons literally ganged up on her and beat her up and she just was like “Yeah, I deserved that” like what

[@madelynmahurin8357]

Zero sugar Dr Pepper cream soda is my favorite! 🤩

[@noeliaandnovels]

Destiny’s chaotic energy in the beginning is so relatable! 😊

[@alysa9950]

Very random question but sara where did you get that pt cruiser crew neck ? I love it 😅 I drive a pt cruiser and might need that !

[@LottieSmalley]

the core power protein shakes are SO GOOD

[@AbigailBeardsley]

Love this can't wait to read the new book for february!

[@alexisb4162]

I’m 6 minutes in and Des is on one 😂

[@Robynbell1987]

Love the podcast on here and Spotify but I’m going to watch it on here ❤❤❤❤

[@emilyroa8441]

i was at the gym and didn’t have the best service every time i was ready to checkout it would say sold out😭😭. need that restock ASAP gotta support the girlies

[@ren.sparks]

y’all look DEFEATED in the thumbnail 😂😂

[@Knysna-h8d]

WE NEED A GRAMMY RECAP NEXT WEEK🙏

[@mariasierraaa]

I’m working from home today bc the roads are frozen so it’s my first time being this early, I fear my meetings for the next hour will be postponed 😭

[@lizziehall3213]

Destiny has always been so funny

[@emmaskapetis7603]

I'm going to go back to this episode after I read Fear the flames (you guys are motivating me to finally read it). Edit: I started it but I had to dnf. It is supposed to be enemies to lovers but it was insta-love and I couldn't take it seriously after the male main character had a touch her and you die moment only 38 pages in 😂.

[@rachf9686]

Omg first book of the book club So I read this on audiobook & struggled to get through it. The story jumped around so much that it did not make any sense at times. Sara summarized it perfectly like helloo where are the dragons? Plot who? I rated it 2 ⭐️ Next months book looks super cute I like the cover and the premise sounds interesting!

[@Imkaytie]

The jellycats in the thumbnail 🥺🥺

[@alischreiner08]

sitting here with my 5 star rating of fear the flames 😅

[@kianalikesbooks]

and that’s okay cause reading is subjective

[@JennsynThomas]

I felt the exact same about FTF 😭 was cringing the entire time then halfway through I DNF’d

[@ellahailyn]

So excited I got the blueish/purplish kindle case because I'm just a girl !!!

[@BAGS53]

THIS WAS SO FUNNN 🫶🏻🩷💯

[@IPerez87]

Can you return a book to B&N if you dont like it or DNF?

[@SN-bk5xj]

I mean yes, I think you could. But it feels weird to do it😂 it’s like buying a dress and wearing it for one event and then returning it.

[@khaliestewart]

I’m currently reading first-time caller as I’m watching this! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and opinions about it 💌

[@Kayleebaldwin1319]

PLZ DO A JELLYCAT THEME EVERY EP for the book club bookss

[@madi_iiiiii5]

Yall should do bookmard book of the month and then dedicate a part of the pod to that!!!!!!!!!!

[@fashingrl]

I got both t-shirts!!!

[@jaylamcdermott]

I read FTF via audio, hated it, then thought maybe it’s just one of those that would hit differently if read in a different format but this episode confirms that I probably wouldn’t of liked it regardless😬

[@WildingMeadow]

If I had the money I would have so gotten the tote for my books and fire hd 8 tablet I use for reading!

[@gracewilliams6503]

Sara! I started Magnolia Parks!!

[@jessicamarie8588]

❤🎉 yay!!!!

[@emsreadshere]

im fearing the flames and i didn’t even read it this month😫😫

[@ReaderandWriter.]

Des is cracking....up or just cracking❤. I love this. The faces and Sara "talking too much " it's your show!

[@AarjaviSheth]

I liked fear the flames! but I read the indie version tho

[@Neemasallee]

SO SAD I COULDNT GET THE CREWNECK😭

[@carolinethornton2803]

Every episode, you guys should bring out a new jelly cat

[@BookedUpCrochet]

Who else bought the book, didn’t read it but is still gonna watch this podcast?? Because same 😂

[@kianalikesbooks]

aye my shawtys

[@tianipurville3768]

Am I the only one who enjoyed fear of the flames 😬😬😬 I am a newish reader since summer 24’

[@melissaa4995]

I really liked it too :)

[@heatherstiara8033]

Indie books are almost always better. Publishers take a good piece of work and they edit the heck out of it. I usually prefer indie books because of it. I find myself getting bored while reading trad books.

[@ashleycristineeee]

You can get first time caller early with BOTM! Just saying.

[@kianalikesbooks]

the book kinda sounds like ugly truth not sleepless in seattle

[@evieburns8562]

So glad i DNFd instead of carrying on I would’ve deffo wasted my time 🙈

[@KarlyJo]

i dnf’d this book but i will not dnf this episode 🎀😌✨

[@Bluey_maddie13]

Eee, I'm sat 🤭

[@hallewhy]

I also gave Fear the Flames 2 stars…

[@kkenzielouise]

please give us a reaction to the Grammys after last weeks predictions!!

[@heathercard4979]

Can confirm- indie version is NOT better. 😅

[@daniela14_]

I am so glad I chose not to read this one, I do think I will give February’s a try

[@KatieSanvick]

I was genuinely so confused about the hype over this book.. fell so flat for me and felt pretty much the same as you guys lol. I came into it wanting Fourth Wing dragons and i got a whisper of toothless dragons 👎 what even was this

[@baileyhanson4688]

THE NAMES OF PLACES IN THIS BOOK WAS CRAZY- like I could not even come up with an alternative to say that was somewhat close to it🫠