Romantasy Roundtable: Fantasy Romance Reviews

Romantasy Roundtable: Fantasy Romance Reviews


Bride: Chapters 11-20

July 06, 2025

Episode Title: Bride – Chapters 11–20

Description: The Romanty Roundtable continues their journey through Bride by Ali Hazelwood, covering chapters 11–20 with spirited discussion, deepening character insights, and steamy werewolf-vampire dynamics. From big Jewish weddings to bouncy castle party planning, the team brings humor and heart as they dive into evolving relationships, complex world-building, and juicy plot twists—including a surprise poisoning! The soup (read: sexual tension) is definitely simmering.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • Pack Politics & Parallel Traumas – Misery and Lo’s shared histories of displacement and forced roles emerge as emotional glue, building mutual understanding amid werewolf-vampire hierarchies.
  • Sensual Scenting & Consent – A pivotal scene in California features Lo scenting Misery to claim her as pack—a powerfully intimate and respectful act that underscores simmering chemistry.
  • Tech Meets Fantasy – From Raspberry Pi devices to spy museum dreams, this section blends realism and tech into a magical world with hacker wolves and digital-illiterate alphas.
  • Dinner Parties & Declarations – Scenes with family-style meals, Capri Sun-esque blood pouches, and vampire birthday bans spotlight the novel’s clever juxtaposition of domestic charm and dark lore.
  • Soup Check: Blood = Pleasure – Feeding becomes sensual as Misery drinks from Lo for the first time, sparking euphoric sensations, mutual vulnerability, and undeniable romantic bonding.
  • Mating Misunderstandings – Lo clearly sees Misery as his mate, but Misery remains hilariously oblivious. The crew debates whether it’s cultural ignorance or classic rom-com blindness.
  • Poisoned Peanut Butter & Plot Twists – Misery’s collapse after a sweet moment (literally—peanut butter!) suggests foul play, possibly from within. Suspicion brews around Juno’s motives.
  • Fluffy Werewolf Cuddles – After near-death, Misery awakens to find Lo in wolf form guarding her. What follows is a heartwarming and deeply cozy one-bed-turned-closet moment that blurs romance with puppy-level affection.
  • Predictions & Speculations – Is Serena dead? Is she Anna’s sister? Is Juno jealous or just shady? The roundtable lays their bets for what’s next—often with wine on the line.

Join the Romanty Roundtable for another lively discussion full of insights, headcanons, literary laughs, and just the right amount of chaos. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and weigh in with your predictions and favorite theories!