Episode Title: The Knight and the Moth – Chapters 1–14

Description: The Romanty Roundtable embarks on a brand-new gothic romantasy journey with The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig. Amanda, Kim, and Rick unpack the first 14 chapters of this moody, magical tale set in the haunted moors of Traum. From cathedral drownings and cryptic prophecies to knife-to-throat banter and suspiciously hot knights, the crew dissects the eerie worldbuilding, ominous omens, and slow-burn tension between our divine dreamer and the heretical knight who doesn’t believe a word she says. Expect moth metaphors, theological debates, and just enough book boy thirst to keep things holy.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Opening Vibes & Gothic Atmosphere – The trio gushes over Gillig’s prose, the cathedral setting, and the windswept moors, while struggling to pin down Traum’s religious and political structure.
• The Diviner’s Burden – We break down Sybil “Six” Delling’s life as a prophecy-prisoner, her role in serving the Six Omens, and the claustrophobic isolation of Aisling Cathedral.
• Enter the Knight – Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious rides in with heresy, sarcasm, and zero patience for divine visions. Cue the banter and mutual distrust.
• Knife Scene™ Energy – A tense, blade-to-throat confrontation turns into a mutual understanding… sort of.
• The Escape & the Pilgrimage – Six’s reluctant journey with Rory kicks off, complete with countryside tension, questions of faith, and some slow-burn horse proximity.
• Moth & Light Symbolism – We break down the moth motif, its ties to prophecy, and how Gillig uses it to foreshadow emotional and romantic arcs.
• Predictions & Theories – Who are the real villains—divine forces, mortal politics, or Rory himself? And what’s the endgame for Six’s prophecies?
• Bonus Reads & Recs – Amanda’s latest romantasy haul, Kim’s current dark fantasy obsession, and Rick’s ongoing Throne of Glass read.

Join us for prophecies, politics, and pining on horseback. Chapter 15–28 is next—bring your moth nets and heresy shields.

Episode Title: Phantasma – Chapters 35–End

Description: The Devil’s Manor saga comes to a blood-soaked, betrayal-packed close—and the Romanty Roundtable is here to scream about it. Amanda, Kim, and Rick finish Phantasma by Kaylie Smith with a finale episode full of spicy phantom angst, crown conspiracies, and emotionally devastating sister drama. As Ophelia faces the final trials, confronts her dark past, and makes her last soup-laced choices, the crew dives into the book’s big reveals, lore dumps, and unhinged epilogues. Did it stick the landing? Were we emotionally okay afterward? No and also no. But we had fun.

Key Topics Discussed:

Phantom Sex & Shadow Voices – Ophelia finally lets go—emotionally, mentally, and physically—with Blackwell. We break down the power of consent, trauma recovery, and… floating ghost cuddles.

Salmaestrus & the Devil Crown Lore Drop – Demon dads, political betrayals, angelic ancestry, and bargain loopholes galore. Amanda explains the whole Devil’s Grant system like we’re five.

OCD Metaphors & Mental Health Payoff – Ophelia's shadow voice arc comes full circle in a way that’s powerful, tender, and genuinely therapeutic. We cried. A lot.

The Final Trial & The Real Devil – Forget Hunger Games. Ophelia goes full sacrificial lamb, Rick loses it over the sword moment, and we all scream at the final reveal of Sinclair.

The Epilogue(s) – Blackwell’s back (ish), Ophelia's free (maybe), and no one is okay. We debate the open ending, mourn missing soup, and spiral over the possible Book 2 vibes.

Rating & Reflection – Stars are given, predictions are re-evaluated, and the group talks about what worked, what didn’t, and why we’re still haunted by Poe the cat.

Join us for one last round of chaos, coping, and catharsis as we put Phantasma to rest. We laughed, we screamed, we made soup metaphors. And we’ll probably summon Blackwell one last time… just to be sure.

Episode Title: Phantasma – Chapters 18–34

Description: Things heat up—and bleed—on the latest episode of Romanty Roundtable. Amanda, Kim, and Rick dive into chapters 18 through 34 of Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, tackling phantom thirst traps, demon drama, and the existential horrors of the gluttony level (whatever that was). With blood rain, teleportation sex, and soul-deep OCD metaphors, the gang breaks down Oilia’s increasingly high-stakes trials inside Devil’s Manor and her spiraling bond with our favorite ghostly himbo, Blackwell. Plus: soup theories, devil politics, Sims achievements, and a bourbon-fueled educational tangent you didn’t know you needed.

Key Topics Discussed:

• BookTok & Bookstagram Updates – The team reflects on their growing TikTok community, Instagram apathy, and Rick’s descent into algorithm addiction.
• OCD, Shadow Voices & Literary Representation – Amanda gets real about OCD representation, praising Kaylie Smith’s depiction of intrusive thoughts and internal chaos.
• The Lust Level (Yes, There’s Soup) – Bloodlust, fake Blackwell, a vampire orgy maze, and some truly gendered soup dynamics. It’s giving Top Ramen, but haunted.
• The Greed Cage Death Trap – Gilded cages over lava? Moral dilemmas? Cade f***ing Barlo being the worst? Yup. Cue existential dread.
• Gluttony Level Confusion – Pendulums, gold bars, and chessboard mechanics no one understands. Reading on vibes only.
• Wrath & the Consensus Escape – Group trauma bonding, a musical chairs-style death match, and Edna being the MVP.
• Phantom Soup & Ghost Physiology – They did the ghost with the most. In blood rain. While floating. Questions remain.
• Sinclair, Secrets & Betrayal – We meet the devil daddy prince Salmaestrus (aka Sal Mistress), learn Blackwell’s hiding things, and Oilia spirals.
• Predictions & Theories – Angelic ancestry? Genevieve endgame twist? Will Oilia forfeit or fight? Also: what even are spectres?
• Bonus Reads & Bourbon Rants – Amanda teaches Bourbon 101, Kim’s watching Netflix again, and Rick is deep in his tandem Throne of Glass read. Plus: the literary war crime that is Pizza My Heart.

Join us for teleportation make-outs, shadow voice therapy, and a very serious discussion of Sims ghost woohoo achievements. Homework: finish Phantasma! Soup and secrets await.