In this episode of The Story Is Podcast, hosts Katie and Amanda dive into part 1 of Vicious Fae, Book 3 of Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti!

As always, NO spoilers in the comments for our fellow first time readers! We’ve only read Zodiac Books 1-3, Dark Fae, and Savage Fae.

Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro

(0:19) Chapter 1 Elise

(2:12) Chapter 2 Gabriel

(6:17) Chapter 3 Elise

(11:50) Chapter 4 Ryder

(17:52) Chapter 5 Gareth

(19:48) Chapter 6 Elise

(24:02) Chapter 7 Dante

(27:21) Chapter 8 Elise

(30:36) Chapter 9 Leon

(36:04) Chapter 10 Elise

(40:34) Chapter 11 Gareth

(42:23) Chapter 12 Gabriel

(46:42) Chapter 13 Elise

(49:21) Chapter 14 Elise

(52:30) Chapter 15 Elise

(57:30) Chapter 16 Leon

(1:01:36)Chapter 17 Gareth

📖 Shop The Episode:

Dark Fae: ⁠⁠⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425158⁠⁠

Savage Fae: ⁠⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425165⁠⁠

Vicious Fae: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425172⁠

Broken Fae: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425189⁠

Warrior Fae: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425196⁠

Charlotte, North Carolina readers: call Trope Bookshop and request a hold for either book at (704) 724-6696!

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠⁠⁠

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#savagefae #twistedsisters #ruthlessboys #thestoryispod #bookpodcast #susannevalenti #carolinepeckham #auroraacademy #zodiacacademy

Happy New Year, SIPers! In this episode, we’re sharing our biggest airport gripes, our thoughts on the stranger things final season, and Mary Cosby’s cult?! Plus, everything we’re reading this week!

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Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro and catch-up

(1:29) Airport horror stories

(18:46) Stranger Things finale thoughts

(35:37) Mary Cosby documentary

(40:33) Tom Brady and Alix Earle

(45:44) Amanda’s Book Report: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck, The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman, Conform by Ariel Sullivan and Game Changer by Rachel Reid

(49:16) Katie’s Book Report: Your Knife, My Heart and Your Blade, My Back by KM Moronova and Vicious Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

(52:28) Early Book News for 2026

*Real Housewives of SLC Reunion Part 1 airs on January 13th

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠⁠

Listen on Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vLkNE1OX5cDnR1Jj0rHEb⁠⁠

📖 SHOP THE EPISODE:

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig - https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780316312486

Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck- https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593730812

The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman- https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464275586

Conform by Ariel Sullivan- https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9798217090990

Game Changer by Rachel Reid - https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781335534620

Your Knife, My Heart- https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464260148

Your Blade, My Back by KM Moronova- https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464260162

💌 Business Inquiries: ⁠thestoryispod@gmail.com⁠

*SURPRISE*! We're back for a special episode to discuss Episode 6: The Cottage of Heated Rivalry. And a few other pop culture moments to close out the year!

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Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro and catch-up

(0:25) Our Heated Rivalry Watch Party and Finale recap

(34:24) Jordyn Woods engaged to Karl-Anthony Towns

(35:28) Harry Styles diabolical YouTube countdown

(40:45) Bridgerton Season 4 Trailer

(42:56) Taylor Swift Documentary

*Note: Heated Rivalry has only been greenly for two seasons, however the actors have a contract to be a part of the show if Crave moves forward with a third season.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠⁠

Listen on Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vLkNE1OX5cDnR1Jj0rHEb⁠⁠

It’s our final episode of the year! And we’re sharing our favorite reads of 2025. Did you guess our #1 pick?

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Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro and catch-up

(0:55) Bowen Yang and Ariana on SNL

(4:03) Heated Rivalry Episode 5

(14:35) Book Report: Top 10-6 Books of 2025

(32:10) Honorable Mentions

(38:27) Top 5 Books of 2025

(1:04:28) What’s on our 2026 TBR

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

📖 SHOP THE EPISODE:

Work in Progress by Kat Mckenzie: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780063379039⁠

Kiss of The Basilisk by Lindsay Straub: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464247576⁠

Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghann Quinn: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464246746⁠

The Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781335081612⁠

The Reckoning by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781916926301⁠

Wyatt by Jessica Peterson: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464248306⁠

The Night Prince by Lauren Palpherman: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464275609⁠

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538775813⁠

Brimstone by Callie Hart: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538774229⁠

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781649378514⁠

Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781638932109⁠

Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nacosta: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781736546611⁠

The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781335015327⁠

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781250320520⁠

We finished Savage Fae and we have a lot of thoughts! In this episode of The Story Is Podcast, hosts Katie and Amanda dive into the final recap of book 2 of Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti! We recap chapters 31-43 and share our theories on our favorite kings, who is THE KING, and that cliffhanger?!

As always, NO spoilers in the comments for our fellow first time readers! We’ve only read Zodiac Books 1-3 and Dark Fae/Savage Fae.

Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro and early theories

(3:43) Chapter 31 Ryder

(7:45) Chapter 32 Elise

(17:02) Chapter 33 Gareth

(21:20) Chapter 34 Leon

(27:23) Chapter 35 Elise

(30:55) Chapter 36 Gareth

(34:23) Chapter 37 Ryder

(40:06) Chapter 38 Elise

(46:21) Chapter 39 Gabriel

(55:26) Chapter 40 Elise

(59:10) Chapter 41 Dante

(01:01:40) Chapter 42 Ryder

(01:04:24) Chapter 43 Elise

(01:09:31) Final Thoughts and Theories on Savage Fae, Book 2

📖 Shop The Episode:

Dark Fae: ⁠⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425158⁠

Savage Fae: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425165⁠

Charlotte, North Carolina readers: call Trope Bookshop and request a hold for either book at (704) 724-6696!

Follow Us:

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Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠⁠

Listen on Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vLkNE1OX5cDnR1Jj0rHEb⁠⁠

💌 Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠thestoryispod@gmail.com⁠⁠

#savagefae #twistedsisters #ruthlessboys #thestoryispod #bookpodcast #susannevalenti #carolinepeckham #auroraacademy #zodiacacademy

Welcome to 'The Story Is' Podcast with Katie and Amanda! In this episode we're chatting the latest episodes of the breakout show, Heated Rivalry, our thoughts on Brimstone by Callie Hart, and romance movie adaptations news for 2026!

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Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro and catch-up

(3:13) Lottery Tickets

(9:26) Stranger Things Thoughts *spoilers for the final season*

(16:59) The Met Gala 2026

(22:50) White Lotus S4 Casting News

(25:14) Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are BACK

(28:54) BIG news in romance news adaptations

(34:04) Netflix Buys HBO (maybe?)

(42:59) We’re in deep with Heated Rivalry

(1:03:46) Brimstone recap thoughts

(1:15:20) Amanda’s Book Report: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon, Good Spirits by B.K. Borison, Savage Fae, and Games God’s Play by Abigail Owen.

(1:15:54) Katie’s Book Report: Brimstone by Callie Hart, Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan, Good Spirits B.K. Borison, and Savage Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Join us for “The Heated Rivalry” Finale Party in Charlotte: ⁠https://forms.gle/pzeXrFLGKRSPdP676⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠⁠⁠

Listen on Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vLkNE1OX5cDnR1Jj0rHEb⁠⁠⁠

📖 SHOP THE EPISODE:

Brimstone by Callie Hart: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538774229⁠

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538706794⁠

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593546024⁠

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780063430402⁠

Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781649376411⁠

Savage Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425165⁠

💌 Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠thestoryispod@gmail.com⁠⁠

#TheStoryIsPod #HeatedRivalry #RomancePodcast #BookTok

*cue Megan Thee Stallion* In this episode of The Story Is Podcast, hosts Katie and Amanda dive into part 2 of Savage Fae, book 2 of Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti! We recap chapters 16-30 and share our theories on Gabriel and Elise as potential elysian mates, Cindy Lou’s true intention, and if one of our men learns who Elise truly is.

As always, NO spoilers in the comments for our fellow first time readers! We’ve only read Zodiac Books 1-3 and Dark Fae.

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Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro

(0:21) Chapter 16 Gareth

(8:33) Chapter 17 Elise

(12:34) Chapter 18 Dante

(18:16) Chapter 19 Elise

(24:36) Chapter 20 Gabriel

(29:21) Chapter 21 Elise

(33:53) Chapter 22 Gareth

(38:27) Chapter 23 Leon

(42:19) Chapter 24 Elise

(46:11) Chapter 25 Ryder

(50:12) Chapter 26 Elise

(54:04) Chapter 27 Dante

(55:49) Chapter 28 Elise

(58:32) Chapter 29 Gabriel

(1:03:25) Chapter 30 Elise

(1:09:53) Final Thoughts on Part 2

📖 Shop The Episode:

Dark Fae: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425158

Savage Fae: https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781914425165

Charlotte, North Carolina readers: call Trope Bookshop and request a hold for either book at (704) 724-6696!

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠

Listen on Spotify Podcasts: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vLkNE1OX5cDnR1Jj0rHEb⁠

💌 Business Inquiries: ⁠thestoryispod@gmail.com⁠

#savagefae #twistedsisters #ruthlessboys #thestoryispod #bookpodcast #susannevalenti #carolinepeckham #auroraacademy #zodiacacademy

Welcome to 'The Story Is' Podcast with Katie and Amanda! We're chatting our new favorite obsession, “Heated Rivalry” by Rachel Reid and other romance adaptations coming in 2026. We’re also sharing our thoughts on Wicked Part 2, the winners of the 2025 Goodreads awards for romance and romantasy, and our Spotify wrapped.

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Time Stamps

(0:00) Intro catch up

(0:58) We saw Wicked: For Good

(9:01) Heated Rivalry

(24:46) Stranger things maybe

(26:04) Miley Cyrus is engaged

(28:43) Halle Bailey and Rege Jean Page Romcom

(31:28) People We Meet on Vacation Trailer

(34:03) Book Report: Goodreads Awards for Romance and Romantasy

(46:59) Amanda’s Book Report: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon, Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghann Quinn, Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop, Brimstone by Callie Hart and Savage Fae by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti

(48:25) Katie’s Book Report: Mate by Ali Hazelwood, Soul Searching by Lyla Sage, Brimstone by Callie Hart, Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

(50:29) Spotify Wrapped results

*Correction: Bethany Weaver plays Dorothy in Wicked: For Good

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/thestoryispod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-is/id1818347478⁠⁠⁠

Listen on Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vLkNE1OX5cDnR1Jj0rHEb⁠⁠⁠

📖 SHOP THE EPISODE:

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593546024⁠

Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghann Quinn: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781464230165⁠

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538759196⁠

Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781668023778⁠

Soul Searching by Lyla Sage: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593977774⁠

Mate by Ali Hazelwood: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9780593952580⁠

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/113990/9781538769621⁠

💌 Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠thestoryispod@gmail.com⁠⁠