The Girls are Fighting

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign. Hi and welcome to Spellbound, a Romantasy podcast. I'm Deidre. [00:00:14] Speaker B: And I'm Jillian. [00:00:15] Speaker A: We're back. [00:00:16] Speaker B: We are back. [00:00:18] Speaker A: Long time no see. And it's my fault. [00:00:21] Speaker B: Well, yeah, explain. [00:00:24] Speaker A: I'm to blame. I've been doing some big girl adulting stuff and battling what could possibly. [00:00:32] Speaker B: The. [00:00:32] Speaker A: The. The worst real estate transaction the city's seen in a while. At least the professionals involved, they haven't seen it. They haven't seen it. Not in a while. At least they're keeping their opinions professional. But the glances that they're giving me to the side are like, I don't know, girl, what's going on? [00:00:48] Speaker B: And I think like, they, you know, up until the closing day, they were like, yeah, it's okay. It's gonna be okay. Just. Cause they were like, they wanted it to go through. Yeah. And then afterwards it was like, no, this is bullshit. [00:00:59] Speaker A: I closed a week ago and it wasn't until today when I like googled my address and it actually showed as like closed on the 30th. But I knew it was like official. Official. Do you know what I mean? [00:01:09] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That you're like, oh, the Internet says it. [00:01:11] Speaker A: I've been looking over my shoulder for the last. Waiting for some boogeyman to pop out and be like, not yet. Because it feels like the last two months have been such a hard one journey for this condo. [00:01:24] Speaker B: But. [00:01:24] Speaker A: But to focus on the positive. Painters have been in there. They did an excellent job. So I mean, it like feels like a brand new apartment. We got it cleaned today, which was wonderful. I mean, the. The cleaner came in and she was like, I said it was filthy in here. She did not disagree. [00:01:41] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:01:42] Speaker A: She did not hold back. She goes, oh, it was worse than you probably even knew. [00:01:45] Speaker B: Did she? Oh, my God. [00:01:47] Speaker A: Because she pulled out all the appliances. She got behind things. [00:01:50] Speaker B: Oh, she really got in there. [00:01:51] Speaker A: She got in there and she was like, you don't even know the horrors of save in this. [00:01:55] Speaker B: She probably hasn't cleaned it at all. [00:01:58] Speaker A: I've been saying that I think this place has not been cleaned since the Obama or maybe the first Trump administration. [00:02:06] Speaker B: Yeah. Now I will say about my own. I accidentally flung a sock behind my stove. [00:02:15] Speaker A: You won't be getting that. [00:02:16] Speaker B: And I haven't used the stove since. [00:02:19] Speaker A: It's a fire hazard. [00:02:20] Speaker B: That's a fire hazard. I'm like, I'm not. So anyway, so I guess I just don't use my kitchen. [00:02:25] Speaker A: No, that's all right. Well, I can rest assured that it's clean. [00:02:29] Speaker B: Yes, it is. It is clean. [00:02:30] Speaker A: Unused. [00:02:31] Speaker B: It's unused. [00:02:32] Speaker A: Which is. That's fine. Whatever works. I mean, you know, I by no means am spic and span all the time, but I don't live in filth. And this was filth. [00:02:43] Speaker B: Disgusting. [00:02:43] Speaker A: This was filth. [00:02:44] Speaker B: Yeah. And the cat hair. I can't get that. [00:02:47] Speaker A: That's why that carpet's getting pulled up. And we are starting anew. We've got a carpet consultant coming out on Saturday morning. [00:02:54] Speaker B: There you go. [00:02:55] Speaker A: We're measuring it. We're placing the order. We're getting that thing done. [00:02:58] Speaker B: Good. [00:02:59] Speaker A: So we're making moves. [00:03:01] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:03:01] Speaker A: I also, I'm still terrified about having made such a big girl purchase. [00:03:05] Speaker B: But it's good, though. [00:03:07] Speaker A: We're making it. [00:03:08] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:03:08] Speaker A: We'll figure it out. [00:03:09] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:03:10] Speaker A: While the world is burning. [00:03:11] Speaker B: While the world is burning. Although Tuesday night. [00:03:14] Speaker A: Tuesday night. What a glimpse of hope. Do you feel a glimmer of hope? [00:03:18] Speaker B: I do, I do. And you know what? I think, like a lot of people I'm talking to also feel that. [00:03:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:03:23] Speaker B: You know? [00:03:24] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:03:24] Speaker B: I feel like there's been like a crack. [00:03:27] Speaker A: I said that same thing to my mom today. I was like, I feel like there's been a crack in the fascist facade. [00:03:34] Speaker B: Right, right. [00:03:35] Speaker A: That has taken over. [00:03:37] Speaker B: Well, apparently he started. Since Tuesday, he started using the word affordability. So he, like, you know, he like, knows that the boof. Boof. Boof. Buffoonery. Buffoonery is getting to people. [00:03:51] Speaker A: See. Okay. [00:03:52] Speaker B: You know. Yeah. [00:03:53] Speaker A: Zoran Madani, A book boyfriend. A book. Book boyfriend. Big book boyfriend for us this week. [00:04:01] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. [00:04:02] Speaker A: I'm so excited about him. He also. What I really liked about him too is I saw a video. I like that he's so accessible. [00:04:09] Speaker B: Accessible. [00:04:09] Speaker A: And he knows where people are watching him and paying attention to him. I saw a video on Wednesday where he basically was like this, this is now the transition. And he explained in detail what happens now between today and, or, you know, election night and when he gets sworn in in January. And he was talking about, like all the things he has to do, all the people he has to appoint, all the things he's focused on. And I'm like, I don't know that I've ever seen a politician after being elected be so transparent. [00:04:41] Speaker B: Transparent about and educate people about what's going on. [00:04:43] Speaker A: First of all, I was educated about what goes on in a transition period. I mean, I kind of high level what goes on, like, especially after a president is elected. But I just, you know, it's nice for Somebody who ran a campaign that was so connected to the people to actually, like, bring the people along on the journey. [00:05:00] Speaker B: Yeah. No, I mean, it has been very. It's just like, been like a nice sunrise. Yeah. You know, it. [00:05:09] Speaker A: It's nice to hope. It's been a long time since I've felt any hope. Like, I've. That sounds so depressing. But for so long, politically, for so long in my life, in my personal life, I've always felt like things are always, like, continuing to get better. You know what I mean? Like, I've had conversations with friends, specifically girlfriends before, and it's like, no, I think I'm gonna get. Continue to get better. Life is gonna continue to get better. And things were like, the world was different then. And I feel like in the last, like, year or so, I haven't had that much, Like, I haven't been able to say that with as much confidence. [00:05:46] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:05:47] Speaker A: But now I feel like there's confidence. [00:05:49] Speaker B: I know. I know. [00:05:50] Speaker A: And not only. Yes. And not only was Zoran, but like, other. Other politicians and other election results from Tuesday night just seem like, okay, people are seeing what's going on, and they're like, we're not gonna stand for it. And I think it's like, the youthfulness, it's the energy, it's the. I'm. I don't know if this is gonna work, but we gotta try something. [00:06:08] Speaker B: Yeah. I don't think it was a coincidence that Nancy announced her retirement, too. She was like, okay, that's it. [00:06:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:06:15] Speaker B: You know, we got to bring new people in. [00:06:17] Speaker A: I think that's responsible. [00:06:18] Speaker B: I think so, too. [00:06:19] Speaker A: People are now looking at Chuck Schumer going, hey, pal. Yeah. Let's hang it up. [00:06:23] Speaker B: I know. [00:06:23] Speaker A: Let's go out with a bang. [00:06:25] Speaker B: Yeah, I know. You know, the Gavin stuff. I mean, I think I told you that I was reading this. [00:06:31] Speaker A: I think you have a little crush on Gavin. [00:06:33] Speaker B: You know, he's a little bit like. But he scores high in the psychopathy test. Yeah, he is a little bit of a psychopath. [00:06:39] Speaker A: Oh, totally. [00:06:39] Speaker B: Patrick Bateman. And, like, you don't trust him. You can see it. Yeah. You know, there's something intriguing about it, though. [00:06:49] Speaker A: Well, he's a traditionally attractive psychopath. [00:06:54] Speaker B: He is. Yes, he is. Yeah. Exactly like Patrick Bateman. [00:06:57] Speaker A: We have a lot of work to do on ourselves. Clearly, we're not. [00:07:01] Speaker B: I know. [00:07:01] Speaker A: We're not done working through our issues. [00:07:04] Speaker B: We've got some, like, toxic, growling Fae warriors that were like, the Fae princess. And Gavin Newsom, he's right up There. But what else happened this week? [00:07:16] Speaker A: The world's Sexiest man alive was. Was named. [00:07:21] Speaker B: Yes. Do you want to crowned Jonathan? I can't remember. I don't know his last name or middle name. Jonathan Bailey. [00:07:27] Speaker A: Love it. [00:07:27] Speaker B: Yeah, let's look up his last name. [00:07:29] Speaker A: Such a middle name. Such a great choice for Sexiest man Alive. My God, I wonder who else was in the running. [00:07:37] Speaker B: Well, didn't you say Pedro has been. [00:07:39] Speaker A: They've reached out to him. That's what I'd heard is People magazine has reached out to him before about it. I don't know if it's just this year or maybe the year before or what have you, but it seems as though it's not a. It's not a crown he's interested in wearing. [00:07:52] Speaker B: No, no, I. There was. Oh, Jonathan Stewart Bailey. That's very English. [00:07:59] Speaker A: Love that. [00:08:01] Speaker B: Yeah, he is just delish. Wait, do we know if he's got a partner? [00:08:05] Speaker A: I think he does, but I think. [00:08:07] Speaker B: He'S like, keeps him. [00:08:09] Speaker A: I think they're quiet about it. Which brings us. That's a great segue. [00:08:13] Speaker B: That is a great segue to our. [00:08:14] Speaker A: Hear ye, hear ye. Which is. There's been a lot of talk this week based on an article in Vogue magazine. [00:08:22] Speaker B: The British Vogue, I think. [00:08:24] Speaker A: Is it the British Vogue? [00:08:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:08:25] Speaker A: Okay. By Ashante Joseph at. Yes. Vogue uk, where an opinion piece came out from Shantae, where she asks, is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? Which maybe that's how Jonathan Bailey feels is. [00:08:39] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:08:40] Speaker A: Listen, girls, I'm not trying to be embarrassed, right. But a very interesting opinion piece where it is discussing the merits of being so public and out there with your relationship. Is it cringe? Is it something to be revered? Where do we stand? What are your thoughts on this? [00:09:00] Speaker B: Well, I was thinking about this and I think I told you last year I went to this baby shower and I ran into this woman who I had, you know, she's a friend of one of my friends. And I've seen her at like the events, you know, like the engagement, the wedding, whatever. [00:09:18] Speaker A: And the trifecta. [00:09:20] Speaker B: The trifecta. And I remember like, you know, a few. When I first met her, it was like we were both on the dating apps and we were kind of talking about how miserable it was. Whatever. And like the first, I was like, oh, how are you doing? Like last year. And first thing she told me was like, I'm seeing somebody. And I wanted to be like, I'm so sorry for you. Are you okay? [00:09:41] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:09:42] Speaker B: Because it's just like there's Something really embarrassing about that. And the thing with this article that I loved was like. And I don't know if they said it in this article or it was like an analysis. [00:09:52] Speaker A: There's been so many analyses that have come out from that. [00:09:55] Speaker B: Yeah. And it was basically like, okay, whether you're single or dating or married, what's embarrassing is centering men. Right. If you're single and you're like, I need to find somebody. Yes. Or if you're dating, you're like, everybody look at who I found. [00:10:12] Speaker A: Yes. [00:10:13] Speaker B: Or you're married and they're fourth child for you. Like that. [00:10:18] Speaker A: You hate to see it. [00:10:19] Speaker B: I hate to see it. [00:10:20] Speaker A: You hate to see your sisters in poverty. You know what I mean? [00:10:22] Speaker B: I know, it's the worst. Struggling, really struggling. [00:10:25] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. I mean, my thoughts on this are no, I don't objectively think that it's embarrassing to have a boyfriend, but it is embarrassing if you make them your entire personality. And anything that you do, anything that you talk about is your boyfriend. And even if you don't have a boyfriend, all you're talking about is how can you find a boyfriend. [00:10:45] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:10:45] Speaker A: And I've said that for years. I'm like, these men are not talking about finding a girlfriend in the same way that women are talking about finding a boyfriend. Like, it is embarrassing to feel like you have no identity outside of an existing male partner. An existing partner, or your pursuit of one. [00:11:02] Speaker B: Right. [00:11:03] Speaker A: It's the least interesting thing about you as a woman. [00:11:06] Speaker B: For sure. For sure. And I think now, like it used to be that used to be like, oh my God, yeah, you found someone. You're so lucky. And now it's like, are you lucky? [00:11:15] Speaker A: Are you okay? [00:11:16] Speaker B: Like, I remember I was thinking about this too and I was like, you know, when my sister got married and they were like children, literal child bride. We were all children. I just remember being like, I hate this. And God love both my sister and my brother in law, great people, you know, And I don't think they wanted to be there, but it was like one of those things where it was like, oh, well, I guess this is what we do next. And I was like, I hate that. Even at that time I was like, I don't like it. [00:11:45] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. You know, in my coming of age through like late teens, 20s into 30s and the marginal, the little amount of dating that I've done, but also the large amount of date, like my friends, my girlfriends have dated in droves. I mean, way more than, I mean, they've had way more guys that They've dated casually. Seriously, what have you. Than I have. Um, and I just think along the way, even when I was like 19, even when I was like 23, 27, whatever. Along the way I was like, there's gotta be more to life than this. [00:12:23] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:23] Speaker A: And I'm seeing the most beautiful, funny, smart, talented, interesting women. [00:12:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:35] Speaker A: Whittle themselves down to the worst aspects of themselves. [00:12:40] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:41] Speaker A: In pursuit of a man. Like, I'm like, everything that is great about you is disappearing because you're either wasting time in the wrong relationship with a man who makes you small, or you're making everything about your life and your personality about your. This man in this relationship. And it's. It's boring. [00:13:02] Speaker B: It's. That's a good word. It's boring. And I feel it's. It's sad because I think about all the friendships that I've lost. I've lost a lot of friendships because of this sort of patriarchal spell, if you will, you know, that it's like you have to change yourself. And if you got them and you got to keep them. You know what I mean? [00:13:24] Speaker A: Half the battle. [00:13:25] Speaker B: Yeah. Right, Right. But, like, don't. Don't fall asleep. You know, you got to keep one eye open. [00:13:31] Speaker A: My favorite. Okay. I feel like now that we're moving into, like, our late night 30s, it's interesting to me now to look at the. The relationships that in the. In the marriages that have been going on for a long time. And I find it so funny and also refreshing. The. The marriages in which they're just in a groove now. And, like, there is no, like, my girlfriends who are married to men, and they're like, I don't know what he's doing. God bless. Those are my family favorite. [00:14:02] Speaker B: Those are the best. [00:14:03] Speaker A: Like, the relationship that I probably the most is my friend Courtney. She's just like, I don't care what Matthew's doing. Hope he's well. [00:14:10] Speaker B: Haven't seen him in a couple days. [00:14:11] Speaker A: I think he texted me. Let me see. Okay, well, whatever. I don't care. And she's just doing her own thing. I'm like, that is what it's like. Love your man, do whatever, but, like, have your own life and your own things. That's when it's not embarrassing. But you trailing after this man, trying to make him your everything when he. You're like, not that to him is weird. [00:14:32] Speaker B: What's so sad to me is that, like, throughout history, I think that's been women's, like, that's been their thing. You Know, and so, and you know, up until recently it was like, oh, you couldn't even, you know, in terms of history, it was like you couldn't even have a credit card or you couldn't even have money, you know. And so now I'm really appreciating that it's like now in the cultural whatever, like zeitgeist, you know, that we are talking about this and that we're not accepting it. [00:15:03] Speaker A: Well, absolutely. And there were so many interesting call outs from this article that I thought was really interesting. There was a woman that was interviewed, her Name's Nikki, she's 38. And she talked about how she was in a relationship for about 12 years and she not once in those 12 years had posted a picture anything of her boyfriend. And they broke up recently. And she's like, I don't think I'll ever post a man. But she's thrilled that she made the decision not to post pictures of her man because then everyone's focus would be on this breakup, right? And how she's, you know, kind of moving on, you know, she, she said we broke up recently and I don't think I will ever post a man. Even though I am a romantic, I still feel like men will embarrass you even 12 years later. That's what she said. And then there are two other podcast baddies on a podcast called Delusional Diaries. And it was so funny, I laughed out loud. They were kind of talking about this, you know, having a boyfriend, whether or not having a boyfriend is lame. And one of them asks, or there was a comment of listeners to this topic and one wrote, the top comment was, why does having a boyfriend feel Republican? [00:16:17] Speaker B: That's true. It is Republican coded. It is. [00:16:23] Speaker A: I hate it. I hate it. Now, both of the hosts of that podcast do have partners, but this article says even partnered women will men and heterosexuality partly in solidarity with other women, but also because it's now fundamentally uncool to be a boyfriend girl. [00:16:41] Speaker B: I mean, yeah, you could say a non practicing girlfriend, I guess, if you were totally. Yeah, exactly. [00:16:48] Speaker A: There was one content creator, Sophie Milner, who said that she actually experienced people unfollowing her when she made the very brave decision to share a romantic relationship. And people, she posted pictures and people were like, please don't get a boyfriend. And they really kind of liked it. They found that maybe her content is less exciting when she's in a relationship. And she says being single gives you this ultimate freedom to say and do what you want. It is absolutely not Every woman. But I do notice that we can become more beige and watered down online within a relationship, myself included. [00:17:23] Speaker B: Yeah. And I mean, that's why I do, like. Yeah. Like Jonathan Bailey. I think it's. I. I don't think it's a good idea to advertise whoever you're with or if you're with somebody. You know what I mean? If you're like a celebrity, it's just not the conversation. Yeah. [00:17:37] Speaker A: It's so boring. It's like, okay, yeah. This is. This is all you're giving me. [00:17:41] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:17:43] Speaker A: But for us single girlies out there, Shantae says from my conversations, one thing is certain. The script is shifting. [00:17:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:17:50] Speaker A: Being partnered doesn't affirm your womanhood anymore. It is no longer considered an achievement. And if anything, it's become more of a flex to pronounce your single. I love it. [00:18:00] Speaker B: Yeah. Because you know what? That's. That's not boring. [00:18:03] Speaker A: No. And she said this is also happening alongside the wave of women reclaiming and romanticizing their single life, where being single is once a cautionary tale. I. E. You'll end up as a spinster with loads of cats. Trade cats for dogs. I'm their sister. [00:18:16] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:18:16] Speaker A: It is now becoming a desirable and coveted status. Another nail in the coffin of a centuries old heterosexual fairy tale that never really benefited women to begin with. [00:18:25] Speaker B: And, you know, it's a little bit of a cautionary tale to get married. [00:18:28] Speaker A: I know. [00:18:28] Speaker B: Do you know what I mean? I'm like, yeah, like, you sure about that? [00:18:32] Speaker A: The old ball and chain joint checking. [00:18:34] Speaker B: What? [00:18:34] Speaker A: Joint checking is. No, listen, that is a slur over here. That is a hate crime. Joining my money with a man. Oh, no, it's not gonna work. [00:18:46] Speaker B: No. [00:18:47] Speaker A: God bless. But this has really fired up. [00:18:50] Speaker B: I have real. Like, if you ask, like, any woman is like, yeah, I've seen it. Yeah. You know what I mean? [00:18:56] Speaker A: I got my thoughts and I agree. [00:18:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:18:57] Speaker A: We're all giving each other the nod. [00:18:59] Speaker B: Yes. We're all like, yeah, God bless to. [00:19:02] Speaker A: The sisters in the trenches. [00:19:03] Speaker B: I know, I know. Especially the ones that are like, really centering. You know what I mean? [00:19:09] Speaker A: Yeah. They're like, it is. It is giving trad wife. [00:19:13] Speaker B: That's what. Yeah, it's giving trad for sure. And I'm not. I've never been trad. [00:19:18] Speaker A: No. I'm not even trad for my damn self. [00:19:20] Speaker B: I know. [00:19:22] Speaker A: God bless. I mean, you said your kitchen spick and spam because you don't clean. I'm like, no, we're not doing it. [00:19:28] Speaker B: No, oh, my God. Well, there we are. [00:19:31] Speaker A: There we are. Okay. Well, that's it for me today. And like, truly, that's it for me today. Thank you so much. [00:19:41] Speaker B: Well, so Deidre only read about half of the book, right? Or would you say that's still. That's generous. [00:19:48] Speaker A: That's generous. Okay, okay. I tried, but, you know, Queen of the Shadows had to stay in the shadows. I've been working through this. Well, yeah, this purchase. [00:19:57] Speaker B: You have been. Yeah. [00:19:58] Speaker A: You've been like, our aim today is that we're going to have a little gossip session and you're going to tell me what's going on with our favorite characters. [00:20:05] Speaker B: Okay, here we go. [00:20:06] Speaker A: What's going on? What are we reading this week? [00:20:08] Speaker B: Okay, so we. What. Where are we reading? Who's the author? So we read. Well, I read. [00:20:19] Speaker A: Let's be specific. [00:20:20] Speaker B: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Moss, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series published in September 2015. Check in. [00:20:27] Speaker A: Where was I September 2015? I just moved into a new apartment in D.C. and, yeah. Just making a go of it. Life was rough. [00:20:37] Speaker B: Life was rough. Yeah. Yeah, that was. I think that was the year of my. A couple of very. Just. [00:20:48] Speaker A: Who were they? What were they. [00:20:53] Speaker B: Being hospitalized for? Alcohol and toxins. [00:20:56] Speaker A: Good Lord. [00:20:58] Speaker B: Which, like, if you know me now, I don't drink. [00:21:00] Speaker A: Yeah, that's a totally different life. [00:21:02] Speaker B: And at that time, I, like, didn't even drink either. But. [00:21:05] Speaker A: Yeah, you just went a little bit overboard. [00:21:08] Speaker B: Just went a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. [00:21:09] Speaker A: I was still probably holding on and tearful about probably some boy that had, like. [00:21:17] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:17] Speaker A: Really shown me how he felt about me for months to years at that point. So, like, wasting my time essentially stalking. [00:21:25] Speaker B: An Instagram, Facebook page, whatever. Yeah, yeah, I know. It was a really rough time. [00:21:30] Speaker A: Hate to see it. [00:21:31] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:32] Speaker A: That now that girl was definitely centering. [00:21:35] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:35] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:21:36] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:21:36] Speaker A: Yeah. Ew. [00:21:37] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:37] Speaker A: I mean, I'm sending her love in that alternate timeline. [00:21:40] Speaker B: Compassion. [00:21:42] Speaker A: But, I mean, yeah, I wish she had me as a big sister thing, because I'd have been. Yeah, I'd have been breaking that door down like the Kool Aid man. [00:21:48] Speaker B: I know, I know. I'm excited to be the cool aunt. Coolant for my nieces. [00:21:53] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. [00:21:55] Speaker B: Yeah. Fairy godmother. [00:21:56] Speaker A: Yes. [00:21:58] Speaker B: So anyway, so that's when it came out. [00:22:00] Speaker A: We're not reading this book. Well, long story short, we were not reading this book. [00:22:03] Speaker B: We weren't. Yeah. Yeah, we weren't. Yeah. So, okay, so in the beginning. So we've got Aen. [00:22:11] Speaker A: In the beginning. [00:22:12] Speaker B: In the Beginning. So Aylin Alen's now going by a line and not Selena, which I'm not a huge fan of. I like. I prefer Selena. [00:22:21] Speaker A: She's still going by a list. She's going by now. [00:22:24] Speaker B: Yes, by a line, Elon. And she went back to Rift hold in this, like, gross boat. And she, like, fucked things up for Arabin, our assassin. [00:22:36] Speaker A: Yes. [00:22:38] Speaker B: While also using him for help in rescuing her cousin Aiden. You know, the cousin who has a crush on her. [00:22:46] Speaker A: So why are we beholden to this narrative? [00:22:48] Speaker B: I don't know. [00:22:49] Speaker A: Kissing cousins. I'm over it. [00:22:51] Speaker B: It's interesting. Also, it was really, like. It's really weird to read the names Aelin and Adyen. Cause they're so close. And so you would often be like, wait, which one are we talking about right now? And apparently they look alike. It's. So the whole thing is weir. [00:23:08] Speaker A: Well, you know, I only got through maybe 10 pages. And from what I can remember, our man was suffering with a terrible infection. Oh. And he kept trying to die. He kept trying to hide the infection so it would take him. [00:23:26] Speaker B: Yeah. So that he would die because he didn't want her coming to save him. [00:23:29] Speaker A: And then they'd come in there, they'd smell it, I guess. I don't know. And then they'd rescue him. They'd revive him all over again. Yeah, that's about where I got with it. [00:23:38] Speaker B: Well, there was a whole book after that. [00:23:42] Speaker A: Yeah. Yes. Do you want me to summarize for you where I got with each character? [00:23:46] Speaker B: I absolutely do. Yeah. So that I can let you know. [00:23:49] Speaker A: Okay, so Aylin comes in, in the beginning. [00:23:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:23:52] Speaker A: She goes to the vault. She sees Kale. [00:23:57] Speaker B: Oh, the vault. Which means, like, the. [00:23:59] Speaker A: The nightclub. [00:23:59] Speaker B: Yeah, the nightclub. Yeah. [00:24:00] Speaker A: She goes to the nightclub. She sees Kale. She wonders why he's meeting with Arabin, the. The head of Assassins. [00:24:06] Speaker B: Assassins. Yeah. [00:24:07] Speaker A: Anyway, Arabin and some new leave the vault. She goes over to Arabin, has a conversation with him. [00:24:14] Speaker B: You mean Kale and the new girl leave the vault? [00:24:17] Speaker A: Yeah, she goes. And I could be totally this up. This is strictly by memory. She talks to Arabim, and then they kind of come to some sort of agreement or deal that, like, they both need each other. [00:24:29] Speaker B: Right. [00:24:30] Speaker A: Some means to an end, essentially, before she leaves the vault. She. Everybody in the vault up. Because they're trying to, like, basically come for her neck. Because they know that she. She's the queen bee. [00:24:42] Speaker B: Right. [00:24:43] Speaker A: And then she does what she does. She leaves. She then goes and she gets under the sewers. [00:24:49] Speaker B: Okay. [00:24:49] Speaker A: And we learn about the sewers in the last book. Or the Assassin's Blade. The Assassin's Blade. So we kind of know what's already going on. She gets down there and she runs into the rebels. Lo and behold, she finds that Kael is actually fighting on the good side of evil. [00:25:07] Speaker B: The rebellion. Yeah. Or whatever. [00:25:08] Speaker A: Right. The rebellion. Turns out Kale's had a little fuck buddy all. And she is also part of the rebels. We like her. I don't know too much about her, because read 10 pages, and as she starts talking to Kale, her heart is pulled into a million different directions because she both feels like, oh, how sad. I once loved this guy. Seems like maybe he's turned a corner. He's on the right side of history. But as she starts talking to him, she realizes that Maybe he's not 100% on the right side of history because he's not quite 100% comfortable with who she is in, like, reality. And she finds that he has, in her mind, abandoned Dorian. [00:25:47] Speaker B: Yeah. Y. [00:25:48] Speaker A: And she's like, I can't rock with that. You're not loyal. Right. Okay. So I think that's kind of where I leave them. [00:25:53] Speaker B: That's basically weird. [00:25:55] Speaker A: So then she goes back to her. So then she goes back to her. Her apartment, her condo. Pro. God bless. Hopefully it's a lot better than what I was dealing with. And she gets a visit by none other than Urban. [00:26:11] Speaker B: Well, no. [00:26:12] Speaker A: Is he there? He's there. He's, like, dropping. He's, like, returning her items to the condo, isn't he? But what's our girl? Lysandra? Who? Frenemies. [00:26:22] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:23] Speaker A: And I immediately knew something was going on with Lissandra because Lissandra had, like, changed her tune a little bit. Yeah. And she's like, hey, girl, remember me? [00:26:32] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:26:33] Speaker A: Sisters. Yeah, let's. [00:26:35] Speaker B: Can we just, like, chat? [00:26:37] Speaker A: Chop it up for a second. And Aelin puts. Basically puts a knife to her throat. [00:26:42] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:26:43] Speaker A: And it's like, get the off my property. And Aylin's like, don't hurt me. I have a child. I'm with child. [00:26:48] Speaker B: Oh, right. [00:26:49] Speaker A: So then Aylin. [00:26:50] Speaker B: Wait, what? [00:26:51] Speaker A: Not with child, but she has, like, a child companion with her. [00:26:55] Speaker B: Oh, oh, oh, Lysandra. [00:26:56] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So then Aen has a change of heart, invites them upstairs. Yeah. And basically still doesn't trust Lysandra. Right. That's her name. Lissandra. [00:27:07] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:08] Speaker A: And the child that is with Lysandra is, like, scarred. And Aylin's like, oh, this must be some, like, you know, protege to the mistress business. Right, Right. But it's revealed that Lysandra actually sacrificed herself and her freedom. [00:27:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:25] Speaker A: In order to save this girl from the same life of sick, gross courtesan servitude that she was destined to be. And they both made big sacrifices in order to have freedom. Great. That's closed. And then our girl, Manon. [00:27:44] Speaker B: Manon. [00:27:45] Speaker A: Manon, Manon. Is in the mountains fighting her life. Love her. And she and her sweet dragon are up there trying to figure out what the fuck the mission is. They're very aimless and they're being told weird things. All of a sudden, she's like, you're just gonna be a surrogate for. Y' all are just about to be surrogates for a new breed of people who are both witches and Valg and Fae and demon and. Just a hybrid. [00:28:15] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. Just maybe just a bot. [00:28:18] Speaker A: A bot. Just little Elon musks running around. And she's not feeling it. Because I think her and her 13 or her coven, I really think they're all really child free by choice. [00:28:30] Speaker B: I think so, too. Although I'll tell you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:28:32] Speaker A: You got something to surprise them with. [00:28:34] Speaker B: I. [00:28:34] Speaker A: You know, I'm just. I'm just bracing for the worst. So anyway, in this, she's also fighting with her cousin. No, Is it her cousin or her second in command? [00:28:42] Speaker B: Oh, her cousin. Astrin. Yeah. Second in command. [00:28:45] Speaker A: And Astrin, here's the thing. The violence doesn't let up with the girls. In the beginning of this book, at least. [00:28:50] Speaker B: No, no. [00:28:51] Speaker A: And they abide by this very strict code of like. Like, don't talk back to me or we're gonna fight. And they do fight. And I think the girls, Astrin in particular, is trying to raise some very valid flags to Manon. And Manon needs a little bit more leadership training. She needs to just, you know, take a little. Take a beat. [00:29:09] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:29:10] Speaker A: But she's not listening. So she basically demotes Astrin. [00:29:14] Speaker B: She needs to learn about crucial conversations. [00:29:16] Speaker A: Crucial conversations. Yes, yes. They need to have radical empathy. And she promotes another member of her coven into the spot. But all the while, everybody is like, something is wrong with why we are here. And we think that Manon's grandmother has basically sold us for parts. And we're trying to figure out what the hell is going on. [00:29:41] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:29:42] Speaker A: And everybody still smells, basically, up in the mountains. Nobody can tell, like, why do these men smell? Their blood's not clean. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:29:49] Speaker B: Y. [00:29:49] Speaker A: Things are weird. There's new Characters being mentioned. And Dorian is somewhere with a collar still around his neck. [00:29:56] Speaker B: Yep. Yep. [00:29:58] Speaker A: And being weird. And he. His body is being controlled. It's like Case of the Body Snatchers. He's in there somewhere. Yeah. We don't know where. Yeah, but stay strong, brother. Stay strong. And fire. And that's. [00:30:12] Speaker B: That. [00:30:12] Speaker A: That's the first ten pages of Queen. [00:30:17] Speaker B: It was a lovely synopsis. Yeah. [00:30:20] Speaker A: Pick up where I left off. [00:30:23] Speaker B: Well, I guess. Should I just go by character? [00:30:26] Speaker A: Yeah, let's do it. [00:30:26] Speaker B: Okay. [00:30:27] Speaker A: I wanna. I wanna. Gossip session. Okay. [00:30:28] Speaker B: All right, let's go by character. Which one should we start with? [00:30:31] Speaker A: Tell me about. Tell me a little bit about. Ooh. It could be anyone. It really could be anyone. I feel like I kind of want to, like, wait to know what happens to Manon. I want to wait to hear what goes on with Dorian. [00:30:49] Speaker B: Maybe start. [00:30:50] Speaker A: Let's get Kale out of the way. [00:30:51] Speaker B: Okay. Okay. So Kale. Kale does have a little buddy. Her name is. [00:30:56] Speaker A: Are they still through the book? [00:30:58] Speaker B: No, they're not. What's weird is, like, it's very confusing. Like, he's basically. He's just boring. He's like, hunt. You know, he's like, oh, I'm gonna go home and brood. And she's like, dude, her. Her dad is a baker. Very cool. [00:31:11] Speaker A: Yes. [00:31:11] Speaker B: Very cute. [00:31:12] Speaker A: Yes. [00:31:12] Speaker B: Yeah. And she's from the southern continent. Okay. And she's just like, I don't want to deal with your. But he. You know, he continues to be like. [00:31:20] Speaker A: Dorian, the girls from the southern continent, I have to say, they're killing it. [00:31:25] Speaker B: They're killing in Bohemia. [00:31:27] Speaker A: They don't take any. [00:31:28] Speaker B: No, they don't. Yeah. So she. And she's like this badass with a bow and arrow. Like, she's very. Yeah, so she's like, like, you know, what do they call it? They, like, rainy down. [00:31:38] Speaker A: Yeah. Okay. So Kale can't wait to read this book. [00:31:41] Speaker B: Go ahead. Yeah. You don't let me read it. So let's see. Kale also. Okay, so Adon. No, sorry. Kale and Aylin are kind of always at each other. They're like, you know. Yeah. [00:32:00] Speaker A: Enemies. [00:32:00] Speaker B: Because they, like, both. Both. You know, they both kind of, like, left and neglected Dorian, like, for sure. Cale did. And then they're arguing over whether they should kill him or not, you know, like, put him out of. That took a turn. [00:32:15] Speaker A: Jesus. So we. We have abandoned the rescue mission. We're going straight to euthanasia. There's no saving him. Yeah, they're like, he's Gone, brother. He's gone. There's do not resuscitate orders. [00:32:29] Speaker B: Exactly. It is a DNR situation. [00:32:33] Speaker A: Dorian's trapped and they're going, no. [00:32:36] Speaker B: It's like, I'm still the prince. But so basically, like. So Aylin rescues Adan, and when she's, like. When she's doing the thing, Dorian shows up and he's got, like, this demon voice or whatever. But, like. Yeah, a demon voice. And basically it's like he. He's, like, trying to get out of. [00:32:59] Speaker A: But he's in there scratching at the walls. [00:33:02] Speaker B: Exactly. Exactly. And so she was about to kill him, but then Nesrin shatter. Shatter arrow. And I think she shot her or something. I don't know. [00:33:14] Speaker A: Shot Aelin. [00:33:15] Speaker B: Either that or, like, somehow. I don't remember. There are so many goddamn battles. Okay. I don't remember. [00:33:21] Speaker A: I love it. I'm seeing the vision. [00:33:23] Speaker B: Something happened. Yeah. So basically, she didn't kill Dorian. Saved A. That was that. [00:33:29] Speaker A: Okay. So everybody got out of that. [00:33:31] Speaker B: Everybody got out of that. And then Kale was really pissed because Cale was like, how could you do that? And she was like, dude, you don't know what's in there. Like, he. It would be a mercy killing. [00:33:40] Speaker A: Okay, so Kale was wanting to kill him. [00:33:43] Speaker B: No, no. A. Lim was the one who wanted to kill him. And she kept saying, like, he's not in there anymore. You know, because last. I don't know, one of the other books, she was with one of the Val Princess, who's basically like, please kill me. [00:33:56] Speaker A: Yeah, right, right, right, right. [00:33:57] Speaker B: Okay, so. [00:33:59] Speaker A: But they didn't kill him. [00:34:01] Speaker B: No, they didn't. Okay. Yeah, yeah. And so what ends up happening with that? And so should I. Yeah. [00:34:07] Speaker A: So you can jump around. I'm following around. [00:34:10] Speaker B: I'm going to jump. I'm going to jump around. So this is a partly a Manon thing. And I love. [00:34:15] Speaker A: Oh, I love. [00:34:16] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:34:16] Speaker A: She's doing it. [00:34:18] Speaker B: So she. So basically they. I don't know. Lysandra is kidnapped. [00:34:26] Speaker A: Sure. [00:34:26] Speaker B: This happens later. And, like, my girl's busy, so the. [00:34:32] Speaker A: Not Lysandra being kidnapped. [00:34:34] Speaker B: I know. [00:34:34] Speaker A: Do you know by who? [00:34:36] Speaker B: The witches. Really? Yeah. The witches. Or. Yeah, they find out. Spoiler alert. She's a shapeshifter. Did I tell you that? [00:34:43] Speaker A: Oh, no way to bury the League. [00:34:48] Speaker B: So she's a shapeshifter. [00:34:50] Speaker A: So she shifts from a courtesan into. [00:34:52] Speaker B: Into anything. So she basically. This is crazy. So she. Before magic disappeared. It's all in. So humans and animals. So. [00:35:06] Speaker A: God, I'd kill for that. [00:35:07] Speaker B: I I know. I was just thinking about that. Can you imagine being like, an eagle? [00:35:13] Speaker A: Yeah. I'd be gone. I'd be gone. A lion. [00:35:19] Speaker B: A lion. So she's always a ghost leopard, which is cool. [00:35:23] Speaker A: Ghost leopard. She is showing off now. [00:35:26] Speaker B: Yeah, a ghost leopard, but so she. Okay, so she's a shapeshifter. [00:35:33] Speaker A: So that reminds me of, like, those leopards that used to be on the COVID of those Lisa Frank folders. That's what I'm seeing in my mind. [00:35:42] Speaker B: Did you ever get those Lisa frankfurters? [00:35:44] Speaker A: My mom would be like, put that back. [00:35:45] Speaker B: Yeah, I know. I never got one of those. [00:35:48] Speaker A: Every now and again, I'd get spoiled with maybe, like, a little folder. And I think that I had, like, either the golden retrievers or the dolphins. [00:35:55] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. You know, the girls with Lisa Frankfil. There's. They're all dealing with their embarrassing boyfriends now. [00:36:00] Speaker A: Trad wives. For sure. For sure. God bless them, wherever they are. [00:36:04] Speaker B: I just got a plain, solid color. [00:36:06] Speaker A: Same. [00:36:06] Speaker B: Because I was like, I'm not. I don't want people, like, assuming things about me that I'm a future tribe. [00:36:12] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:36:14] Speaker B: But anyway. Okay, so Lysandra, it's crazy because you know how she just. She's described as, like, the most beautiful woman or whatever. So before magic, when she. I can't remember. I think her mom sold her or something awful. Yeah. And so she was, like, kind of like a street kid or something. And so then she, like, she felt her power. So then she started changing. [00:36:42] Speaker A: Wow. [00:36:43] Speaker B: So the face she has now was somebody else's face that she stole. She doesn't remember what she looks like. [00:36:49] Speaker A: Oh, is that crazy? [00:36:50] Speaker B: That's crazy because she started when she. [00:36:53] Speaker A: Was a baby, when she was. [00:36:54] Speaker B: When she was a child, because she, like, she turned into this person and then realized that, like, she'd get more money because she's, like, a cute little girl. [00:37:01] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:02] Speaker B: And so I know. How sad. [00:37:03] Speaker A: Damn. [00:37:04] Speaker B: I know. [00:37:04] Speaker A: That's crazy. She doesn't even, like. We don't even know what the real Lissandra looks like. [00:37:08] Speaker B: Right. Well, it's kind of great, though, because, like, then, you know, she's doing all this shape shifting, and so you really get to, like, know the real Lissandra. [00:37:15] Speaker A: You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. [00:37:16] Speaker B: It's great. [00:37:16] Speaker A: Anyway, for her. [00:37:17] Speaker B: I know. So she gets. She's fine. She. [00:37:21] Speaker A: When does she change into a ghost leopard? [00:37:23] Speaker B: The end of the book. Okay. [00:37:25] Speaker A: All right. [00:37:25] Speaker B: Okay. [00:37:27] Speaker A: Wow. I can't even imagine what the situation calls for. Ghost leopard. [00:37:33] Speaker B: I mean, I don't even remember at this point. But anyway. Okay, so the cool thing. So some of the couples are starting to form. [00:37:40] Speaker A: Okay. [00:37:41] Speaker B: You know, and. But it's okay. So I actually don't. So don't tell me, because I don't remember. All of them remember Kaol and Manon. So they. They do kind of. They meet. [00:37:53] Speaker A: Oh, and is it sparks? Immediately. [00:37:55] Speaker B: Immediately. Even. Even when he's, like, a demon. So she sees him and she's like. [00:38:00] Speaker A: Oh, Kael is a demon. [00:38:02] Speaker B: No, not Kayl. Sorry. Dorian. [00:38:03] Speaker A: Dorian. Okay. [00:38:04] Speaker B: Dorian and Manon. Okay, so did I say Kayl? Yeah, okay. I meant Dorian and Manon. And so they meet when there's, like, a skirmish. Like the. The kidnapping swap. Oh, you know, prisoner swap. [00:38:21] Speaker A: Oh, there's a prisoner swap? [00:38:22] Speaker B: Well, kind of. [00:38:23] Speaker A: Sure. Okay. [00:38:24] Speaker B: So then they meet. [00:38:26] Speaker A: Love that. [00:38:27] Speaker B: And so Manon. So then. Then Dorian is, like, stuck inside this demon, but he's like, oh, I remember, like, Manon. Like. [00:38:34] Speaker A: Oh, he remembers Manon. [00:38:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, no, he's like, I'm always gonna remember that name. [00:38:38] Speaker A: And he's. [00:38:39] Speaker B: So there's, like, definitely something in there. And she saw him. She knew that he was still in there. Okay, okay, okay. [00:38:44] Speaker A: How did she know that she. He was still in there? Does she have some sense? Because Aen's like, there's no one in there. [00:38:49] Speaker B: Exactly. And. And Kale at this point is 2. Because kale then tried to kill him. [00:38:54] Speaker A: These are not good friends. [00:38:56] Speaker B: No. So Manon is like, I know the truth. Yeah. So towards the end of the book, Manon goes through a bunch of shit, but then. Oh, okay. And then basically. Basically, like, all the characters at one point get together and either fight or it's like. [00:39:12] Speaker A: It's like the Avengers endgame. [00:39:15] Speaker B: Exactly. I never saw it. [00:39:16] Speaker A: Me neither. But I do my best based on what people summarize for me. [00:39:22] Speaker B: Yes, it is the Avengers. And so at one time, Manon and Aylin. [00:39:28] Speaker A: Team up. [00:39:30] Speaker B: Well, no, they fight. Yeah, they have this, like, big fight. [00:39:32] Speaker A: Not the girls. [00:39:33] Speaker B: Yeah, the girls fighting. Aylin ends up saving her. It's very weird. And so Manon is like, okay, I owe her a life. Oh, okay. So before, like, the big battle at the end, Manon, like, flies to Rift Hold City. And of course, in blood. She, like, writes these messages in blood on, like, all these, like, billboards, basically. Cause she wants the, you know, Aelin to find out. And she said, witch killer. He's still in there. [00:40:08] Speaker A: Oh. [00:40:09] Speaker B: And so. Because she also found out that that Manon or Aen killed Baba Yellow Legs. Anyway, so that's why she's playing a witch killer. But basically, like, everybody else thinks he's gone, but Manon is, like, sounding the alarm that, like, he's still there. [00:40:23] Speaker A: Wow. [00:40:24] Speaker B: So, anyway, it turns out, in the end, they save him. He, like, whatever. [00:40:28] Speaker A: He comes out of his coma. [00:40:29] Speaker B: He comes out. He comes out. Yeah. And he's a mess, but he's. [00:40:33] Speaker A: He's broken. His mind's broken. [00:40:34] Speaker B: He killed the king, too. He killed his own father. [00:40:37] Speaker A: Wow. [00:40:37] Speaker B: Well, good Hamlet situation. [00:40:39] Speaker A: Yeah, it was time. [00:40:40] Speaker B: Yeah, it was totally time. [00:40:41] Speaker A: I wondered who was gonna do it. [00:40:43] Speaker B: Turns out, though, that the king isn't the one that's been doing all this evil. It's Duke Parrington. Stephen Miller is what really is going on. [00:40:54] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:40:54] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:40:54] Speaker A: Okay. So what was the king doing? He was just a puppet, so. [00:40:57] Speaker B: The king. Yes, the king was a puppet. And he. I think he's the one who, like, like, made magic disappear, because I can't remember. Oh, okay. So, Duke. She's laughing at me. [00:41:15] Speaker A: No. I love it so much. I'm like, we're talking about this. And you're like, I don't remember what happened. I don't. And I love it. No, it's great. [00:41:22] Speaker B: It's so great. There's so much. So, anyway, they do. So the Duke is like. Apparently this death God actually. A death God. I have no idea. There's so much. [00:41:34] Speaker A: No, I. Jillian, this is perfect. It's great because these books are so chaotic. [00:41:38] Speaker B: They're so chaotic. There were so many, like, magical objects that are like. I was like, I don't know what that does. [00:41:45] Speaker A: Sure, sure. You're like, is this a Horcrux? [00:41:48] Speaker B: Exactly, Exactly. That's what I was thinking of. And it's, like, a bunch of rings and necklaces and, like, I don't care. [00:41:55] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:41:55] Speaker B: You know what's great, though? We haven't even mentioned Rowan. [00:41:58] Speaker A: No, I don't want to mention. [00:42:00] Speaker B: I fucking hate him. I know. When he showed up, I was like, book's ruined. This is ruined. [00:42:04] Speaker A: Can I just insert this right here? Now, mind you, I know I don't have as much skin in the game because I read 10 pages, but I am struggling to understand how this is arguably many people's favorite Sarah J. Maas series today. I'm not seeing it. [00:42:19] Speaker B: Yeah, me too. I know. I mean, I manat. I love the Manon storyline, and I have a feeling that the Dorian one's gonna pick up, but I hate Rowan. Like, if Rowan and Aylin weren't in the story, it would be a good Story. Like, if Dorian and Manon were the main characters, that would probably be great. [00:42:43] Speaker A: Okay, well. Okay, so that's. [00:42:46] Speaker B: Yeah. So basically, the king died. So. [00:42:49] Speaker A: And it's Duke Parrington now. What about his wife? Remember, he took a girl. He took a girl. Yeah. What's going on with her? [00:42:57] Speaker B: So she was at the. Wherever. The keep, where the witches and Duke Barrington were. Yeah. [00:43:02] Speaker A: Up in the mountains. [00:43:03] Speaker B: Up in the mountains. And she went around, like, as if she was being controlled. But the girl, she worked through it. She worked through her trauma, and she broke free. But then, like, basically still had the collar on, and so she was pretending to be. Yeah, yeah. But she had fire magic, too. Yeah. So she had fire magic. Ends up she. She. In the end, she killed herself, Set her on stuff on fire, while she also set everything else on fire. [00:43:33] Speaker A: So basically, say, did she save everyone? [00:43:35] Speaker B: She saved everyone. She's a martyr. But she basically was like, I don't give a. Anymore. Yeah, I'm gonna. [00:43:41] Speaker A: I'm over this. [00:43:41] Speaker B: Yeah, but she did. Before she died, she saved. What's her name? Elite. [00:43:48] Speaker A: Oh, okay. Okay. Well, that's another character that I'm curious about, because I didn't mention this in my synopsis, but I saw Alid kind of cleaning up Manon's room, and Manon was talking about her crazy, calling her all types of just, like, horrible names. [00:44:03] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:44:04] Speaker A: I'm like, please don't talk about this woman like this. [00:44:05] Speaker B: I know. [00:44:06] Speaker A: So what's the deal with a lead in this book? [00:44:08] Speaker B: So. A lead. You know, she's kind of a pathetic character to begin with, and I don't like it. But she. It turns out to be kind of cool. So. So turns out she's half witch, half black peaks. [00:44:18] Speaker A: Yes. [00:44:18] Speaker B: Okay. And the. Her mother was Marion. [00:44:22] Speaker A: I only know that because. Well, I only remember that because when she left the room, Manon could sense that she was a witch. She said something. [00:44:28] Speaker B: She smelled it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The smells are. [00:44:31] Speaker A: That's so weird. And tastes also. [00:44:33] Speaker B: I know, right? She tasted her blood, I think. Yeah. Anyway, so she turns out she's Marion Aelin's nanny. [00:44:42] Speaker A: And the woman who sacrificed herself to save Aelin. Yes. [00:44:46] Speaker B: Was a witch. [00:44:47] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, beautiful. [00:44:48] Speaker B: Yeah. Beautiful. Yeah. So. But. But Elide has this, like, creepy Uncle Vernon. Yeah. Who's been, like, kind of just, like, using her and, you know, enslaved her. [00:45:00] Speaker A: He's aware of her magic. [00:45:01] Speaker B: Yes. [00:45:02] Speaker A: Okay. [00:45:02] Speaker B: Yes. And he wasn't sure about the witch. [00:45:06] Speaker A: Okay. [00:45:06] Speaker B: But she does have magic in her bloodline from her dad's side, anyway, so then He. She is the one. Wait, did you read about the whole situation with, like, the implantation and the monster babies? [00:45:22] Speaker A: I just heard that it was gonna be, like, inserted right above the belly button or something. Yeah. [00:45:28] Speaker B: So basically, Manon was like, alid, we need you to go and investigate, like, what's going on here. And so they're like, if you want. [00:45:34] Speaker A: To be a cool girl. [00:45:36] Speaker B: Right. If you want to be a part of it. Yeah. Okay, so she does that. Like, she, like, lets them know, and then all of them are like, manon, you got to do something about this. Talk to your grandma, you know? [00:45:46] Speaker A: And, Grandma, this is what I sold you off to do. [00:45:48] Speaker B: Exactly. Yeah. She's like, I'm building a weapon. I don't know what you're talking about. So I hate the grandma. Hate it. There's another story with that. So, okay, so a lead, basically. Then at the end, Vernon, like, kidnaps her. [00:46:02] Speaker A: Oh, no. [00:46:03] Speaker B: And. Yeah. And is going to implant her. And then. And then Manon and Kaltane save her. [00:46:10] Speaker A: Okay. And they kill Vernon. [00:46:12] Speaker B: No, Vernon's still alive. Vernon and the Duke are still alive. [00:46:15] Speaker A: No. And they're on the run. [00:46:17] Speaker B: Yes. Yes. Yeah. And they're. They're working with. So they're using the witch coven. So basically, it's like, it's gonna end up being like, Aelin and Rowan and Adyen and Tarasen and. And then Dorian and what's his fucking face. [00:46:35] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:46:36] Speaker B: Kael in the city. [00:46:37] Speaker A: Okay. [00:46:38] Speaker B: And then against the witches. And so they're all fighting each other. Well, not. Not Tarasen in the city and RIFT hold. Right. Because they're, like, allies. But they are going to be fighting the Duke and the witches. [00:46:52] Speaker A: But the witches, really. Do you think the witches are going to turn? Because they're going to be like, we don't want to fight this. [00:46:57] Speaker B: Well, for sure. Manon will, and I think her group. Group. But the other witches. The other witches. [00:47:02] Speaker A: Yeah, the blue bills and the. Whatever else. [00:47:04] Speaker B: The blue. [00:47:05] Speaker A: The blue balls and the yellow legs. [00:47:09] Speaker B: Yellow legs. [00:47:09] Speaker A: Okay. [00:47:10] Speaker B: So anyway, so a lead makes it. And. Okay. Finds out the alien's still alive. There's some kind of magical object. I have no idea what the it was. [00:47:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:47:20] Speaker B: But Caltain gave her. I don't know. [00:47:22] Speaker A: Before she offed herself. Before Caltaine. Okay. [00:47:25] Speaker B: Set herself on fire. [00:47:26] Speaker A: That's crazy. [00:47:26] Speaker B: Yeah. Anyway, I think that's. Oh, and then one more thing. [00:47:31] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:47:31] Speaker B: Asterin. So Asterin turns out. Second. [00:47:36] Speaker A: Yes. Okay. [00:47:37] Speaker B: Manon. Second. Yes. So it turns out that she. 80 years ago, she fell in love With a farmer boy. [00:47:43] Speaker A: As one does. [00:47:44] Speaker B: As got pregnant. [00:47:48] Speaker A: Oh. [00:47:49] Speaker B: And had the baby. Only the grandmother knew about it. And she had a stillbirth. Yeah. And then the fucking grandmother branded her stomach with unclean. [00:48:01] Speaker A: Oh, no. [00:48:02] Speaker B: Yeah. So Astrin is like. [00:48:04] Speaker A: That's so sad. [00:48:06] Speaker B: It was disgusting. And so Astrin, like, told. What's her face about it, Manon. And so then I think now they're gonna be. You know, I don't know. [00:48:16] Speaker A: Was she acting that way? You know, on page five of the book, was Astrin acting as she was when she was just kind of, like, acting, like, very nervous and anxious about the whole thing because of this brand? [00:48:28] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. [00:48:29] Speaker A: She didn't want it to be seen. [00:48:30] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, no, she also. She also was just like, when. When they were talking about implanting the other Covenant, she was like, you know, obviously, I have, like, a soft spot for witchlings. Yeah. And I mean, it just was really sad. Yeah, that's very sad. But it's. It's like. It's starting to, like, you're seeing the witches become more human, kind of with empathy and feelings. [00:48:55] Speaker A: They're less. Just operating as robots, essentially. So now that the king is dead, the duke and. What's the gentleman's name? [00:49:07] Speaker B: Vernon. [00:49:08] Speaker A: Vernon are on the run. Their plan for test tube monster baby still going on? [00:49:17] Speaker B: I. I think so. With the witches. Okay. Yeah. So I don't know, because they still have the witch covens, and honestly, I think Manon is still. I think she's still with them. [00:49:27] Speaker A: Girl, break free. I know in the her coven, the 13 are still following her. [00:49:32] Speaker B: Yes. So. But they are, you know, they're starting. [00:49:35] Speaker A: To ask questions, I think. [00:49:36] Speaker B: Yeah. They're starting to ask questions, and I think they're there to save the other witches. You know what I mean? They don't want to just, like, leave them. And then Dorian's king now. [00:49:47] Speaker A: Okay. But. But he's mentally wrecked. [00:49:49] Speaker B: He is. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, he's. Okay. He's like. He's. He's not having good dreams. [00:49:55] Speaker A: He's like, I've seen too much. [00:49:56] Speaker B: Yeah, he's seen too much. Yeah. [00:49:58] Speaker A: What about. Okay, so what's going on in fairyland out there with Rowan? [00:50:04] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:50:05] Speaker A: Rowan and all those folks out there beyond the mist. [00:50:09] Speaker B: Yeah. Rowan came, and Rowan was in most of it. [00:50:12] Speaker A: He came to rift hole? [00:50:13] Speaker B: Yeah. I hate it. [00:50:14] Speaker A: How'd he get there? [00:50:14] Speaker B: He. I don't know. Walked. I don't know. [00:50:18] Speaker A: He just couldn't stay away. [00:50:19] Speaker B: He couldn't stay away. So then I know. They're so. It's so. It's so weird. [00:50:25] Speaker A: This is embarrassing. This is. This is what we're saying. [00:50:27] Speaker B: This is what we're saying. They have such a, like, father daughter relationship, and she's like six months compared to. You know what I mean? Like, it's weird. And they're cousins and their cousins, and they're related. [00:50:42] Speaker A: I just. I'm not getting over the hump. [00:50:43] Speaker B: Yeah, I know. I know. You really have art. I mean, obviously, but, like, I'm sorry. Yeah. No, when they say, like, our family or our. Our aunt, I'm like, I don't. That's not. That's not. Okay. [00:50:56] Speaker A: It's not stirring anything in my loins. Yeah. [00:50:59] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:50:59] Speaker A: Personally. [00:51:00] Speaker B: You know what's so interesting is, like, in the end, they go home to Tarasen and. And she, like, smells it, and she's like, it smells like snow and pine or whatever. Whatever she refer. Like, she says that Rowan smells like. She's like, he smells like my home. And I'm like, yeah, because you're cousins. What are you talking about? It's so gross. So gross. She actually. It reminds me of Hunt and Bryce. Like, very. It's very giving. Hunt and Bryce? Yeah. [00:51:31] Speaker A: Just like, not a healthy dynamic. [00:51:33] Speaker B: Not a healthy dynamic. Yeah. And it just is like. I'm actually glad you didn't read this because it definitely, like, it's the start of her being like, I'm a queen now. [00:51:45] Speaker A: You know how much I love that. [00:51:47] Speaker B: I can do anything. [00:51:49] Speaker A: I can do anything I want. I just put my big girl pennies on and I'm a queen. [00:51:55] Speaker B: Oh, my God. It's so bad. [00:51:58] Speaker A: Okay. [00:51:58] Speaker B: Anyway, that's. That is that. That. I mean, the thing is, like. So then she went to Sam's grave, you know, that was really sad. I mean, I don't like it. You're not a fan of the book? No, the book was. Okay. [00:52:12] Speaker A: The book. [00:52:13] Speaker B: If the book was without Aelin and Rowan and Adian kind of got annoyed. [00:52:19] Speaker A: And what happened to him in the end. So. [00:52:21] Speaker B: So I don't know. So I think they're setting up for Adon and Lysandra to be. Although Mikey said that Adon might have a little bisexual situation. [00:52:31] Speaker A: I see it. [00:52:32] Speaker B: I see it and I love it. [00:52:33] Speaker A: Good for him. [00:52:34] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, maybe they'll do a. Maybe they'll do a throuple. I don't know. [00:52:39] Speaker A: Anything's possible. I'd rather. I'd rather see that any day than see what's going on with Rowan. [00:52:45] Speaker B: God, he's so Bad. He's so bad. She also loves to mention how big he is. [00:52:50] Speaker A: I don't care. [00:52:51] Speaker B: I know he's a cousin. [00:52:54] Speaker A: Come on, girl. [00:52:57] Speaker B: I know. And he's got, like, white hair. He's, like, 400 years old. The other guy, Lorcan, shows up, one of the. One of his people. [00:53:07] Speaker A: You have disdain for him. [00:53:08] Speaker B: I mean, I don't. Whatever. I don't care. [00:53:11] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:53:11] Speaker B: You know. [00:53:12] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:53:12] Speaker B: And Adn's boring, too. Like, it's like I just. I kind of just want to see Dorian. [00:53:18] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:53:19] Speaker B: You know. [00:53:19] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, you know, I hate it because I discounted Dorian in book one, and now I'm like. Now I'm like, maybe he's the one we're coming back around. [00:53:27] Speaker B: You know what I will say. I think she does. She writes friendships really well. She doesn't do as well with the. Because of the. Like, the gender dynamics are often imbalanced with the relationships. But, like, you know, Dorian. Or was it Kael? Kael was like, you know, coming to after this whole thing in the end. So, you know, they're all in the castle, and he's. Oh, the other thing is, Chael is paralyzed. [00:54:00] Speaker A: From the neck down. [00:54:03] Speaker B: No. No. Oh, my God. No. Put the boys down. [00:54:07] Speaker A: Yeah. No. [00:54:08] Speaker B: Yeah, but I mean, the plan is to, like, go to the southern continent to some healer or something, but. Yeah. [00:54:14] Speaker A: Oh, my God. How did that happen? [00:54:16] Speaker B: I don't honestly know. I think there was something. I think that the king did. [00:54:22] Speaker A: He just woke up one day, and it's like, it's not working. [00:54:25] Speaker B: It's something that happened. Oh, the other thing is, they tore down the castle. [00:54:30] Speaker A: The glass castle. They broke it. [00:54:31] Speaker B: They broke the glass castle. And then Aelin put, like, a glass wall up. I don't know. I mean, I was imagining the Emerald City. I don't know. [00:54:41] Speaker A: I'm just dying, laughing at you. Be like. And that's. He's paralyzed. [00:54:51] Speaker B: Oh, I forgot. [00:54:52] Speaker A: I forgot. [00:54:54] Speaker B: But there was, like, a moment. It was. It was sweet. Like, he was waking up, and then. And Dorian was sitting in the chair next to him and basically, like, held his hand and was like, I'm so sorry. You know, so even, like, male friendships. [00:55:07] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:55:08] Speaker B: Yeah. And then, you know, I don't know. Why Aylin. Like, how does she keep making friends? How could people handle that? [00:55:15] Speaker A: I don't know. [00:55:15] Speaker B: Especially when she talks about Rowan all the time. [00:55:17] Speaker A: Oh, God, stop. [00:55:18] Speaker B: Like, it's so awful. [00:55:20] Speaker A: No. What became of Erebin in this book? [00:55:23] Speaker B: Oh, he died. [00:55:27] Speaker A: Another one. [00:55:27] Speaker B: Lysander. I killed him. [00:55:29] Speaker A: Oh, really? Ooh. [00:55:31] Speaker B: Because. Yeah, because the whole Wesley thing. [00:55:35] Speaker A: Yeah, she loved Wesley. [00:55:36] Speaker B: She left. Damn. You know, I was thinking about this, like, so the Nehemia, that's a little bit along the lines of the, like, your boyfriends are embarrassing. Because it's like, she was like, stop thinking about that. About, like, Kale versus Dorian or whatever. [00:55:52] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Nehemia when she was alive. What the are you doing? She's like, can you please, like, learn your languages so you can, like, save the world? This is. [00:56:01] Speaker B: I'm gonna die. My people are dying. [00:56:07] Speaker A: You got out of a slave camp to do this? [00:56:09] Speaker B: God. Jesus. You're going on morning runs with one of them. Like, it's just dumb. [00:56:14] Speaker A: Yeah. What's going on with the dog? Where's Fleet Foot? [00:56:17] Speaker B: Okay, so Fleet Foot was given magical. No. I don't know. Oh, she was taken to Nezin's dad's country house. [00:56:27] Speaker A: Okay. [00:56:27] Speaker B: The bakery situation. [00:56:29] Speaker A: Okay. [00:56:30] Speaker B: And they. [00:56:30] Speaker A: I remember hearing that. I think that was on, like, page seven. [00:56:33] Speaker B: Yeah. So then they do. They do reunite. And then. And then Aen leaves her again. It's upsetting. [00:56:40] Speaker A: No, she needs to give that dog away for. To a better home. [00:56:43] Speaker B: But in the end, she goes to Evangeline, the girl. The do, like, the, you know, ward. Lysander's ward. So then they're all, like, traveling in a pack together to Terasen. So she's. She's with the pack. [00:56:56] Speaker A: So the book ends with them, basically, on this gypsy quest to Ter. [00:57:02] Speaker B: Yes. [00:57:02] Speaker A: This, like, convoy. [00:57:04] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, basically. Yeah, yeah. [00:57:07] Speaker A: The circus. [00:57:07] Speaker B: Like a traveling circus. Yeah, yeah. [00:57:10] Speaker A: So in that circus, there's Dorian. [00:57:12] Speaker B: No, Dorian's big king. He's back at the castle that doesn't exist. Yeah. [00:57:18] Speaker A: And Aiden Adien is. [00:57:21] Speaker B: Aden is there. He's in the. [00:57:23] Speaker A: He's in the cavalcade. [00:57:24] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. He's. I mean, he's just been kind of boring the whole time. Oh, but he's Gabriel's son. Did you know that? [00:57:31] Speaker A: That. Who is Gavriel? Who is that? [00:57:37] Speaker B: He is one of the, like, Rowan's people. [00:57:42] Speaker A: Oh, one of those, like, warriors. [00:57:44] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. So it turns out he's Gavril's son. Yeah. So Rowan smelled that on him. The whole smelling thing is so weird. So I don't even know. I mean, who cares? So, yeah, I'm like, how. [00:57:56] Speaker A: I'm trying to think back to, like, some of the historical data that I know about him, and I'm like, how was that? [00:58:02] Speaker B: I have no idea. I think he's the lion man. There's, like, A lion man. I know. [00:58:06] Speaker A: Is there a tin man? [00:58:07] Speaker B: I know. [00:58:10] Speaker A: Scarecrow. [00:58:11] Speaker B: Whoa. November 21st. Wicked. But, yeah, that's about it. Any questions? [00:58:19] Speaker A: I can't think of a finer book. [00:58:21] Speaker B: Any questions? [00:58:22] Speaker A: No, not one. You covered off all the bases. I think. One thing. Manon's dragon. What's going on? Where is he? Is he all right? [00:58:30] Speaker B: Yep, he's all right. He's smelling wildflowers. I mean, just. He really, really cares for Elide, you know, because she's, like, got that really bad ankle, and so. Yeah. [00:58:42] Speaker A: How does she get that bad ankle? [00:58:44] Speaker B: I don't know. I don't think we know yet. [00:58:46] Speaker A: They'll go into it. [00:58:46] Speaker B: Yeah, they'll go into it, but not yet. Yeah. [00:58:49] Speaker A: Okay. [00:58:50] Speaker B: But, like, there was a sweet, like, night where she, Elide, couldn't go back to her room, and she, like, slept under Abraxas wing. It was cute. Yeah, I know. [00:59:00] Speaker A: I love that. That's the best male character in these books. Yeah, I know. Okay. What are your hopes for the next book? What do you hope to see? [00:59:10] Speaker B: I want to see more of Dorian and Manon. Okay. And then. Yeah, I want to see what happens with Lysandra and Adn. I don't want to see a lot of kale. [00:59:23] Speaker A: Yeah, you're over him. [00:59:24] Speaker B: I'm over him. [00:59:24] Speaker A: You've been over him from the beginning. [00:59:26] Speaker B: And I don't want to see a lot of Roman going. [00:59:28] Speaker A: Yeah, same. I'm with you on that. [00:59:30] Speaker B: Don't want to, you know, Dorian. I think it's Dorian and Manon. That's the story that's looking forward to. [00:59:36] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:59:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:59:36] Speaker A: Okay. Well, let's put that in the universe. [00:59:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Do you think you're gonna read the next one? [00:59:41] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm definitely gonna read the next one. This one? [00:59:45] Speaker B: I don't know. [00:59:46] Speaker A: I might have to shelve it. [00:59:47] Speaker B: I might have to. [00:59:47] Speaker A: I'll probably read the rest of it. Of it over Christmas or when we have a down moment. [00:59:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:59:52] Speaker A: Like recording. [00:59:53] Speaker B: Well, you just have so much going on, it's not even. Yeah. [00:59:56] Speaker A: Oh, God. But yes. No, the next book. I'm gon. We also. We're going to take our plans for our next book back to the lab because I think we kind of want a little bit of a. [01:00:07] Speaker B: Just a break from this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [01:00:10] Speaker A: Just a minute. [01:00:10] Speaker B: We're going to have to. We're going to have to talk about that. [01:00:12] Speaker A: We'll talk about it. [01:00:13] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:00:14] Speaker A: You know, people are waiting with bated breath to know what. But what's the next book? [01:00:17] Speaker B: They are. [01:00:20] Speaker A: They can't stand it. They can't sleep. [01:00:22] Speaker B: They can't work. [01:00:23] Speaker A: No. They're having a nervous breakdown. [01:00:24] Speaker B: So worried. [01:00:26] Speaker A: So, yeah, we'll figure it out. There's a couple new releases, but that's that for me. Great. Thank you for bringing me up to speed. I was waiting with bated breath to understand what was going on in this week's book. [01:00:36] Speaker B: I mean, your description of the first 10. 10 pages is so much better than the rest of it. [01:00:41] Speaker A: I was just on a journey, and I was thinking, who furnished her apartment? [01:00:46] Speaker B: You. Yeah, you. That's where your head was at. Yeah. [01:00:50] Speaker A: Thinking, God, I wonder what her interest rate was in rift hold. [01:00:55] Speaker B: Yeah. Oh, the other thing is, Arabin left all his money to her, but actually didn't because she, like. She, like, forged his will and killed him. Anyway, a lot of stuff happened. [01:01:08] Speaker A: Forging. [01:01:09] Speaker B: A lot of it doesn't matter. [01:01:10] Speaker A: And killing him. [01:01:11] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:01:11] Speaker A: That sounds like many a Dateline episode I've watched on, like, a Tuesday night. You know what I'm saying? Thing. [01:01:17] Speaker B: Yeah. But good thing is she kills him instead of he killing her, you know? [01:01:21] Speaker A: Yeah. So no money? [01:01:23] Speaker B: No, there's money. Oh, yeah. No, so. So she got all the money. Yeah. Okay, well, good for her, because she, like, got whatever she, like, a fake to the. The will. [01:01:34] Speaker A: Okay, well, retribution. [01:01:36] Speaker B: Yeah. We love it to see it for Sam. [01:01:39] Speaker A: Love it. [01:01:39] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:01:40] Speaker A: Rest in peace, Sam. You'll always be our king. Well, that's it. [01:01:44] Speaker B: I think that's that. I think so. [01:01:46] Speaker A: We're foregoing a game. [01:01:47] Speaker B: We're not doing a game this week. Yeah, I think it's been too stressful. [01:01:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:01:51] Speaker B: And I think that's it. Yeah. [01:01:53] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, as always, thank you to Christian McCann for keeping our sound in check and the illustrious Lincoln Lodge for letting. [01:02:03] Speaker B: Us do the Square Illinois. [01:02:04] Speaker A: Yeah. Love it. [01:02:05] Speaker B: Thank you so much. [01:02:06] Speaker A: All right, well, until next time. [01:02:08] Speaker B: Bye. [01:02:09] Speaker A: Bye. [01:02:09] Speaker B: Bye.