⚠️ This episode contains spoilers for Red Rising ⚠️

In Season 2, Episode 5, we’re sharing our full spoiler reactions to Red Rising by Pierce Brown. We break down our thoughts on the characters, major plot points, and the moments that completely shifted our opinions—plus whether we’re ready to keep going with the series.

We also talk about what we loved, what didn’t fully land for us, and what we’re hoping to see in the next books.

If you’ve finished Red Rising and need to process it with someone, this episode is for you.

Hoodies provided by MadebyMoorelight:madebymoorelight.etsy.com

📚 Join our Fable Book Club — Read and Yap with ACOCAC

January: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

February: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

🔗 https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979

📌 Follow us

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🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more:

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📚 Book Discussed:

• Red Rising — Pierce Brown

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

Emily (@emily.reads.alot) is back for Part 3 of our Alchemised miniseries, and this episode dives headfirst into one of the most complicated conversations in modern fandom.

We talk about Alchemised and Manacled, the legacy of Harry Potter, and whether works inspired by that universe still have a place at the table. This is a nuanced discussion about fanfiction, fandom culture, transformative works, and how readers navigate loving stories while grappling with the harm tied to their origins.

This episode is thoughtful, honest, and rooted in conversation—not conclusions.

📚 Join our Fable Book Club — Read and Yap with ACOCAC

We’re currently reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown

February's book will be Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

🔗 https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979

📌 Follow us

TikTok & Instagram: @ACourtofCortisolandChaos

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more:

https://linktr.ee/acourtofcortisolandchaos

📩 Contact us:

ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

We’re officially kicking off our Red Rising era.

In this episode, we share our non-spoiler expectations and first impressions as we start reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown for our January Fable Book Club. We talk about what drew us to the book, what surprised us early on, and how it’s hitting so far—without giving anything away.

If you’re reading along with us or still deciding whether to pick it up, this episode is the perfect place to start.

📚 Join our Fable Book Club — Read and Yap with ACOCAC

We’re currently reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown

🔗 https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979

📌 Follow us

TikTok & Instagram: @ACourtofCortisolandChaos

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more:

https://linktr.ee/acourtofcortisolandchaos

📩 Contact us:

ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

This week, we’re diving into one of the most fascinating figures in the Maasverse: the Viper Queen of Crescent City.

In this villain deep dive, we break down her background, power, and presence within Crescent City—pulling apart what we know, what’s implied, and what’s still hidden. From her history and influence to the quotes that make her so memorable, we explore why the Viper Queen looms so large despite often staying in the shadows.

📚 Join our Fable Book Club — Read and Yap with ACOCAC

We’re currently reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown

🔗 https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979

📌 Follow us

TikTok & Instagram: @ACourtofCortisolandChaos

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more:

https://linktr.ee/acourtofcortisolandchaos

📩 Contact us:

ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

Season 2 starts here—& we’re kicking things off with our very own Book Wrapped.

In this New Year’s Day premiere, each of us shares our worst read of 2025, our best book from each month, and the reads that surprised, disappointed, or completely consumed us along the way. We also talk about what kind of readers we’re hoping to be in 2026 and what’s already sitting at the top of our TBRs.

📚 January Fable Book Club Pick: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Join Read and Yap with ACOCAC here:

https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979

📌 Follow us

TikTok & Instagram: @ACourtofCortisolandChaos

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more:

https://linktr.ee/acourtofcortisolandchaos

📩 Contact us:

ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

Lindsay:

Worst Book of the year: God of Malice by Rina Kent

Best books of each month:

Jan- Onyx Storm: Rebecca Yarros

Feb- Throne of Glass: Sarah J Maas

Mar- Heir of Fire: Sarah J Maas

Apr- Kingdom of Ash: Sarah J Maas

May- Iron Flame: Rebecca Yarros

June- Silver Elite: Dani Francis

July- Crescent City House of Earth & Blood: Sarah J Maas

Aug- Crescent City House of Flame & Shadow: Sarah J Maas

Sept- Terror at the Gates: Scarlett St Clair

Oct- Alchemised: SenLinYu

Nov- Green Light: serene musafir

Dec- Draco Malfoy & the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love: isthisselfcare

Most anticipated reads of 2026:

Red Rising: Pierce Brown

Rose in Chains: Julie Soto

Secrets & Masks: Emerald Slytherin

All the Young Dudes: MsKingBean89

A Tongue So Sweet & Deadly: Sophia St Germain

Plated Prisoner: Raven Kennedy

Heavenly Bodies: Imani Erriu

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil: VE Schwab

Bride/Mate: Ali Hazelwood

Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy: Brigitte Knightley

Three Pianos: Andrew McMahon

Nora McInerny

Amy:

Worst book of the year:

•The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle Jensen

Most anticipated new releases of 2026:

•The Knave and The Moon by Rachel Gillig

•Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver

•Daemonic by Kaylie Smith

•Coiled at the Roots by Scarlett St. Clair

Most anticipated:

•Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

•Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

•The Poppy War by R.F Kuang

•The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole

January:

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

February

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas

March:

Crescent City House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas

April:

A Promise so Bold and Broken by Sophia St. Germain

May:

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

The Golden Rose of Valenul by Enna Hawthorn

June:

The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig

July:

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

August:

Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn

September:

Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair

October:

Alchemised by SenLinYu

November:

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

December:

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Dominique

January- The Mindf*ck Series: S.T. Abby

February- Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm: Rebecca Yarros

March- Phantasma: Kaylie Smith

April- Spark of the Everflame: Penn Cole

May- Throne of Glass: Sarah J. Maas, Feathers So Vicious: Liiv Zander

June- The Bond that Burns: Briar Boleyn

July- Problematic Summer Romance: Ali Hazelwood, Crown of Midnight: Sarah J. Maas

August- Knight and the Moth: Rachel Gillig, Terror at the Gates: Scarlett St. Clair, Shield of Sparrows: Deveny Perry

September- City of Gods and Monsters: Kayla Edwards

October- Mate: Ali Hazelwood

November- For Whom the Belle Tolls: Jaysea Lynn

December- Silvercloak: L.K. Steven

Worst Book of 2025- Skyshade: Alex Aster

Most anticipated sequels of 2026:

April- Rites of Starling

June- Harvest Season

September- The Knave and the Moon

October- Coiled at the Roots

November- Captive Traitor King

Most anticipated reads 2026:

Red Rising: Pierce Brown

The Bloodsworn Saga: John Gwynne

Project Hail Mary: Andy Weir

The Farseer Trilogy: Robin Hobb

Mistborn: Brian Sanderson

The Will of the Many: James Islington

We’ve reached the final episode of the year 🤍For Episode 25 of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos, we’re sharing Christmas and Holiday wishes, gratitude, and a little surprise for the new year.We’re so thankful for every listen, comment, and bit of support we’ve received this year and have so much appreciation for this incredible community—and we cannot wait to see what 2026 brings!🔗 Join Read and Yap with ACOCAC on Fable:https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979📚 January Book Club Read: Red Rising by Pierce Brown📌 Follow usTikTok & IG: @ACourtofCortisolandChaosListen on Spotify, Apple & more: https://linktr.ee/acourtofcortisolandchaos✨ Subscribe for weekly chaos in the new year🔔 Hit the bell so you don’t miss what’s coming next📩 Contact: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

This week we’re diving into A Court of Frost and Starlight—the ACOTAR book that often gets brushed off as “just a novella,” but actually does a lot of quiet, important work.

We break down the key moments, character beats, and subtle setup happening beneath the cozy, holiday-themed surface. From healing and grief to relationships shifting and future conflicts brewing, this book is less about action and more about what happens after the war.

In this episode, we talk about:

❄️ Why ACOFAS is a necessary pause in the series

❄️ Feyre, Rhys, and the emotional aftermath of war

❄️ Nesta, Elain, and the cracks starting to show

❄️ Small details that feel insignificant now—but won’t be later

❄️ Theories about what ACOFAS is quietly setting up for the rest of the Maasverse

If you’ve ever felt unsure about where A Court of Frost and Starlight fits into the series, this episode is for you.

📩 Contact us: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

We’re back with Part 2 of our Brimstone series, and this time we’re getting a little more chaotic.

We kick things off with a quick chat about whether we prefer audiobooks or physical books, then dive deeper into the plot of Brimstone and start spiraling into theories.

Important context: Amy is the only one who has finished the book, so we’re balancing spoiler-aware reactions with full-blown unhinged predictions.

In this episode we cover:

🎧 Audiobooks vs. physical reading debates

🖤 Deeper plot breakdowns of Brimstone by Callie Hart

🧠 Theories, foreshadowing, and chaotic predictions

👀 The tension of having one fully-informed reader in the group

Join us as we spiral just a little further inside this story.

📩 Contact us: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

📚 Join our Fable book club:

https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!