Hi there! Welcome to our show notes for our Gods Monsters and Voster That Look Like Salad fingers episode where we deep dive Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry chapters 8-14.

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Chapter Eight - Summary & Theories

The sun's awake so Odessa is awake, probably because she had to be since she was about to start galavanting through Calandra with her new husband. She made it to the docks before the rest of her traveling party with her whole 3 trunks of items. Girlfriend is hella tired since the King yapped all damn night about maps and probably made her watch Harriet the Spy for lessons.  Since no one was there, she started to worry no one would see her off. 

While Odessa is spiraling, she grabs the necklace and as she wraps it in her hand “the metal warm against my skin, its weight a comfort.” The necklace that has a wing on it from the book with the dedication that says to trust your wings. What is being foreshadowed??

Finally, girlfriend stressed herself out enough to go walk and get her wiggles out. People were ducking out of her way with her crown on though so she didn’t love that because she couldn’t just blend like she normally would. That’s when she hears some guys talking about the seven marroweels. Odessa goes to take a gander at these bad boys. She describes the marroweels as having “scales as blue as sapphires and tipped in turquoise. The fins along their backs were iridescent, like opals. The single bones that extended from their skulls were smooth and as white as snow. Their mouths were open wide in death to reveal five rows of razor-sharp teeth. They were thicker than I’d imagined, twice the width of a man. And so long that even when they were skewered in the middle, their tails coiled on the dock’s boards like thick ropes.” Also it had black eyes “Four in total, two in front, two on the sides“ She noted that there were seven pools of blood beneath them so red and dark it was nearly black.
”the notion of seeing a actual marroweels gave a burst of energy, and i changed paths following the man” So some of this writing you could read it and think like Odessa has qualities of “I’m just not like the other girls” but i think its more than that. Her feeling beckoned by the ocean, he obsession with the crux art gallery hallway, her being jacked about monsters. Something is just different about Odessa and not in a hipster punk rock way. I think we need to pay attention to the urges she feels and why she is attracted to certain things. Is it become the ocean represents freedom? She wanted to be an art history major? She fucking loves marroweels and loves marroweels week when its on the discovery channel? No i think its something more. 

She channeled her inner Lisa Barlow from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and wanted to touch, so she did. Which, that sounds like an inspo quote on a poster “she wanted to touch, so she did.” Anyway,  she did and cut her finger because those sons of bitches had sharp ass scales. Of course, the Guardian is there to witness her injury and tells his queen good morning.

He makes small talk asking if she thought they were beautiful. Since he was walking so smoothly she was wondering if the brotherhood was the source of his power. The King has a pretty big hard on for the Guardian and realllllllly wants to know his source of power.  But his niceness only lasted so long because pretty soon he was mocking her crown and asking if crowns and jewels is what she packed. She says it’s none of his business even though it kind of is because he ends up being her boo thang.

Odessa tries to brush him off saying she would rather not associate with a killer. Famous last words.The air changed with the guardians magic and said it was more like a simmer rage that pulsed off in waves. The Guardian starts giving her more shit asking if she was saying toodaloo to her fiance's dick. Odessa tells him it’s not of her business (even though it actually is but she doesn’t know that yet) when he says “Isn’t it? You’re married to the heir to the Turan throne. Your children will be of his line. I’d say that I have every right to be concerned with the seed you allow between your legs.” 

“The air around us changed. Charged. There was a buzzing against my skin, but it didn’t feel Ike Voster magic. It didn’t have the same crackling bite. The guardians power felt like a simmering rage.” Odessa being able to sense power and magic does not just seem like its because she is an astrology girlie who can see auras. Something is different with her. But what?

Odessa is not impressed by this conversation. When he grabbed her by the waist and spun her around, she noticed his scent- spicy like leather and citrus. We know someone is going to fuck eventually when scents start getting mentioned.

She asks if what he wants to is to embarrass or intimidate her and he gives her a perhaps but then makes the comment ““Then I guess I’m trapped between two monsters.” The Guardian responds with “You have no idea how accurate that statement is.” Sounds like a sexual innuendo to me. We all know about morally grey, shadow daddy, MMC monsters. In the same breath, he asks her how her arm is. Not very monster-like behavior to me, sounds like a concerned citizen. He grabbed one of her curls and then gets the ick because of her dye and walks away. She essentially starts daydreaming of pushing him overboard.

Necklace Musings - We must look for how her mom could be connected to the cause that somebody’s mama was working towards. It’s spy time guys! My personal peter tingle is saying that her mom was from the last migration and was a crux. Maybe the necklace calls to the monsters? Like in pirates of the Caribbean when they dropped the necklace it called out to the pirates. Or maybe she can control the crux with the necklace. I dont know i dont know i am just spit ballin here. 

Chapter Nine - Summary & Theories

Father, Margot, and Mae were dockside to see Odessa off. Which made her little heart quite happy because she was convinced they would skip the send off. She found her two lady maids already on the ship. Odessa was big time in her feels, what if she failed? What if she never saw her family again? She was frozen. Mae noticed her and looped their arms together and forced her to move. She also was super kind and told her not to cry because she is ugly when she cries. Mae warned her to be careful around the guardian, not to trust them, and its really important Father finds Allesaria. Which Odessa then finds out she is the only one in the fam that doesnt know her dads plans. 

After the initial sting of realizing her dad doesn't trust her enough to know the plan. She makes it her mission that she will do what she has to to not let him down. Mae gives her a little pep talk. And notices the guardian on the ship giving her the death stare. Margot went up to her and gave her a hug told her “you are strong Odessa. Stronger that you realize.” FORESHADOWING. Odessa looked around for her little brother, but her stepmother didn’t bring him to say goodbye. Now it was her Dad’s turn for his pep talk he told her that he could do this and then says “I’ve made so many mistakes as your father. I’m sorry. Your mother would be so disappointed in me.” Which was shocking considering he never spoke of her mother and he apologized which he never did. She tried squeezing some last minute intel out of him but he didn’t give her anything. He then says “ I never should have allowed Margot to dye your hair. The red was your mothers.” He then shooed her up the walk way. 

Brielle came to her side and told her to follow her to Jocelyn. Jocelyn let her know she had situated their room, apparently they were all sharing. So it didn’t seem like coitus was happening with her new husband anytime soon. Which was fine by her. Jocelyn’s fam was there to wave her off but Brielle’s was not. Odessa made the promise to send them home and they will see Quentis again. The pressure was real now, between this pressure and all her dad was asking of her, she was determined to make it happen. Banner was there sitting on top a stallion, she waved goodbye and he did the same. 

She heard a mans voice tell her that she will need other clothes. She turned around expecting to find the guardian but Nay Nay, it was the not so mute prince Zavier. He went on “most women dress like men, even in Perris courts, ladies typically only wear gowns for parties.” Odessa is like “he speaks” and he said “just because i dont doesnt mean I can’t. Welcome about Odessa Wolfe.” Which gut punch, Wolfe not cross. She handed him her crown with gold and amber jewels and said “here, this will feed an entire family for years.” And then she walked off. 

Cross Family Spotlight - Odessa just noticed that he had a shit ton of gray in his hair which makes you think he has been under a lot of stress lately. Add in Odessa drawing Margot sad after a fight, makes you wonder what the fuck is going on in that stupid castle. 
EXACTLY. Why is all this happening now? What changed or what was discovered?

“You are strong Odessa. Stronger than you realize.” - Margot I just picture that Jennifer Lawerence Clip “What do you mean?” I want to play devils advocate here with Margot and I keep thinking about the comment about the coloring of the hair. In last weeks episode we said maybe its because she didn’t want the dad to be reminded of his lost love, her mother. But what if it was to protect her. What if like in the mural, the red haired crux is some relation to her mother and Margot didn’t want the VBros or anyone else to find out. 

Ok devils advocate. She WAS one of the queen's handmaids. What if Odessa’s mom knew something was happening, made Margot bound to some promise to protect Odessa? Margot is a b because she resents her for that a little. She’s mad her own child has to be the sparrow because of whatever promise she made?

Gods Roll Call- Mama & Papa Ama and Oda and then we have Goddess of Peace Carine, God of Death Izza, God of Mischief Ferious, and now coming in at number 6 is Daria the goddess of luck.

Chapter 10 - Summary & Theories

We have three ships a sailing- The Cutter, The Cannon and The Cleaver. We are currently on a boat journey on the Cutter. They’re really into their brand because that name is stamped on everything. But Odessa isn’t doing too shabby and Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn have weak ass stomachs and are unwell. Odessa notices a new fit inside the locked door, very suspicious. Pants, someone had the audacity to bring her pants boots. Yuck. So she pulled on an ugly ass grey dress and set out. 

Odessa is smart and keeps wearing the pendant but keeps it stuffed in the boob pocket. She was ready to practice her sneaky feet when she heard her favorite voice telling her that the crew just swapped and to try not to hurl and calls her his queen again. Once again, Odessa has violent thoughts and wants to slap him. Love that for her.

He asks why she’s not wearing the fresh fit he left inside her door but Odessa is like you came into my locked room. The Guardian just smirks and tells her that she snores. He also calls her cross here, so she takes note of that and also chooses to argue with that because she’s a spicy gal. She knows she snores but she doesn’t want anyone knowing.  He smirks and does a little jump into the ocean and swims to another boat. While looking for the Guardian, Zavier pops in and takes the Guardians place. 

Odessa asks Zavier what is the Guardian but he just avoids the question and says top o the mornin to ya. They make small talk and Odessa shares she has never been on a ship and never been beyond Quentis.

Odessa asks how long the journey is and it’s 8-9 days but they have backup just in case. They also came with 6 ships but only ended up with three. She asks if it should be safer now without the Marroweels and Zavier shares “When it comes to monsters, safety is an illusion. The High Priest believes the females have chosen the Krisenth to lay their eggs. Why, no one knows. With seven dead, it should reduce their population. Make their attacks less frequent.”  That “when it comes to monsters, safety is an illusion” line is sticking with me. I dont believe anything the VBros say.

Zavier then shares that they baited the marroweels and that finding seven to use the chain of sevens was intentional. She asked why he wanted to marry her and just ignored her. Then chooses to warn her that Turah is not like Quentis. 

We learn “Quentis has never sent a Sparrow to Turah. Not in three hundred years. It’s been the other way around, but in the past nine marriages, never this way.”

So why now? Fate, forced or that’s just how the cookie crumbles?

The last sparrow came from Laine last and she left which rocked Odessa's world a bit and she realized there wasn’t anything requiring her to stay, just to produce an heir. Apparently there is a price if you want to leave, aka leaving your spawn but it can be done. Zavier is giving her the 411 so she understands that things are different in Turah from Quentis. Zavier then shares he doesn’t speak “Because other leaders see it as a weakness they can exploit. It usually means they fill the silence with more than they should.” Which is smart as hell. She asked why he trusted her with his secret and he said Turans are loyal to Turans with an ominous warning. Aka he speaks in front of his people and those loyal to his crown so Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn will not hear his angelic voice. Once again she asked why  he chose her and he ignores her. She makes it even more awkward and asks if he desires her. She attempted to shoot her shot, but has no game because he tell her she’s a beautiful gal which means no.

Quentis Spotlight- Quentis was the smallest and southernmost kingdom in Calandra. It was bordered on three sides by the Marixmore Ocean. On the fourth, our eastern border with Genesis, was a chasm. The Evon Ravine. The ravine cut so deeply into the earth, it was almost black at the bottom. It was too wide to bridge, so travelers wound along a switchback down the cliffs, dropping lower and lower to the ravine’s floor, then climbing out in the same way up the other side. Such a treacherous route wasn’t well traveled. And the monsters that lurked in the Evon’s depths were more terrifying than those that swam the Marixmore. The Krisenth Crossing might be dangerous, but it was the safest way for anyone to journey from Quentis to another kingdom.

Chapter Eleven - Summary & Theories

Brielle was a bit shooketh to find our girl dresses in pants. Caramel leather pants and a tunic with a bunch of flowers on the sides. Yay no more gray. Odessa decided to give them a try because she was a bit bored. Much to her surprise she is a big pants gal. Brielle was very happy to find out she would not be required to wear such things. 

So the weather on this journey sucks. The lady maids shouldn’t be lady paids because those bitches stay in bed all day. Odessa convinces Brielle to come up to the deck with her. Once she gets there all of the men stop and stare, she is convinced its because Brielle is so pretty but she isnt even up there. Must be the pants. The guardian popped out of nowhere and was like “i figured those clothes would have been tossed overboard days ago, my queen.” Odessa told him well my husband said this is what Turan women wear and the guardian told her she is not a Turan. She’s like doi but my husband is and he sent them so I’m giving them a try. Then the guardian says a shitty comment “dutiful wife, aren’t you sparrow? At least in title.” Ugh he was probably making fun of the fact that they haven’t boned yet. She hates him. So much so that she wishes she had a crossbow and he could her target.

Brielle finally made it to the top of the stares and then bang she ran right into Odessa. Sailors started yelling “eel!” The eel seems to be a clever girl because it was trying pound a hole into the hull of the boat. It was madness on the boat, water sloshing on the deck, marroweel screachin. So Odessa didnt really listen to the guardians instructions and now she was thrown overboard. The guardian yelled for her to swim. So she swam and swam hard. But she realized she would never outswim a marroweel. A harpoon was shot into the air and she grabbed onto the rope, as they were pulling her in something hard brushed against her leg and it wasn’t anything fun. She could hear the marroweel on her tail so she locked eyes with the guardian that she just so casually mentioned was a hottie. The Guardian yelled “now” and they yanked her from the water but nay nay she wasn’t the only thing flying out of the water. The Marroweel. But as she was pulled up, she sees that the marroweel was also there but its head skewered with a harpoon. Zavier showed up but didnt say anything. Men called for Zavier, not prince to help with a guy whose leg got fucked up.

The guardian told the lady maids to leave them. He gets his stern zaddy voice on and is like when i give you an order you obey. And Odess is like “no.” And Zaddy is like what did you say? Odessa repeats herself “no. I will listen when its a matter of safety for myself. For other people. I will do my best to stay the fuck out of the way. But I will not bend to your every whim. I will not humiliate myself because you deem me insignificant. If you wanted me to stay quiet then you should have let the marroweel kill me. I am not your warriors to lead. I am not your wife to command. So no we dont have an understanding.” Biiiitch. So then she turns on her heel and casually says over her shoulder “ thank you for saving my life.” Then she thinks to herself “one day i would repay the favor by taking his.”

Chapter Twelve - Summary & Theories

The marroweel was front and center stage of the Cutter as their own personal disco ball. Odessa had shitty sleep because she is definitely in need of a therapist after almost getting eaten by the hanging marroweel. After that, Brielle wouldn’t leave the room and that bitch Jocelyn would no longer go on deck. I don’t blame them. Back to the marroweel on deck though, there was lots of blood but it was green. A shade of the darkest green that reminded her of the Vosters eyes.

Of course the Guardian is like her shadow and there when she points out the blood isn’t red. So now Odessa has some questions, and I think that’s pretty fair. Why does this one bleed green? Why are its eyes white, not black? Is it a male or something? A different type of monster? Turns out it is a male, that’s why it’s a big bitch. A scary one at that. She is shook that it didn’t eat her as second breakfast. She asks if there will be another attack and the Guardian tells her it’s unlikely and there are other beasts to fear on the Krisenth. Odessa, who cannot keep inside thoughts inside when he is around say’s like you? The Guardian tells her “Not all monsters are born from the gods, my queen. Some of us were made.”

Odessa doesn’t have Zaviers location on her iphone yet so she asks where he’s at. The Guardian always taunting her tells her to just ask where he sleeps. Smells like jealousy and sexual tension to me. She makes another smart ass remark about Zavier showing her some day when she gets an ah hem from her husband. He shares that she shares a wall with him and he was having a club meeting with his rangers. 

She’s eyeing the marroweel where Zavier walked to when the Guardian says “Don’t worry, my queen. We’ll keep you safe. Especially if you stay. On. The. Fucking. Ship.” I would stay on the ship for the Guardian. But she is over being protected by men. She is channeling Christina Aguilera “Fighter” She is a fighter and she, She ain't gon' stop, There is no turning back, She’s had enough.

She wants a god damn sword. But the Guardian let out a dry laugh and Zavier doesn’t want her to hurt herself.  All of this Makes her that much stronger, Makes her work a little bit harder, It makes her that much wiser, So thanks for making her a fighter. Except her lessons ended for the same reason, that they didn’t want her to hurt herself. Odessa pushed this though. Then the Guardian hands her his sword. And of course she immediately drops it. The guardian orders her to pick it up, so she lifts it to her waist and then he tells her to hold it at his throat and points just the tip there. His hazel eyes stared down the blade at her. It was a weird test, he taunts her with is it getting heavy? Zavier tells her she can stop but there is no way she is going to stop. She was holding it, counting down until she was going to release it when the Guardian moves quick like a cat and does some wizard moves and uno reverses the sword point. Odessa is granted a sword. 

Odessa was going to go down to her cabin then changed her mind because why? So she turns around and gets her first real spy moment. She gets to eavesdrop on Zavier saying “it’s spreading” and the Guardian mutters I know but they say nothing more. Then Zavier tells the Guardian arming her is a bad idea and she will try and kill him and asks if he thinks this was a smart idea? The Guardian laughs it off and so Odessa does go to hide in her small room with the pukers.

Chapter 13 - Summary & Theories

Odessa woke up to birds making noise which means, laaaaand. She told Brielle to get up and get dressed. Surprise surprise new clothes by the door. She started thinking about how Zavier and the guardian suspect she will try and kill him. She is interrupted by Brielle being like “you aren’t wearing those ugly pants again are you. And she was like actually I am. I like them and if i was wearing a dress i would have been able to swim as fast.” Honestly its how i feel about my sweatpants, I am able to read faster when i wear them. 

Odessa made it up top. She asked a man if they were close to land but he just stared at her eyes and then finally nodded towards the bow. Of course the Guardian popped out of nowhere and was like “you’ll see land soon enough sparrow. We’ll reach turrrah midday. I see you got my delivery.” Odessa told him to stop breaking into her room and the guardian with his little smart mouth said, “what’s that word you like so much? No.” He pushed off the wall and closed the distance between the two of them. Naturally the first things she says is “you need to shave.” The guardian said “do i my queen?” And then hands her a knife. She is getting hot and bothered staring at his neck. The guardian tells her now is the time, go for the throat. She is like nah do it yourself. He tells her he will be training her how to use the dagger which she wants no part of.

So they start dagger school. We learn that Odessa really is a clutz. He ends up tripping her and getting back his knife. She tells him he better not laugh at her or she swears to Isaac she will stab him in the eye. That guardian tells her its unwise to threaten him. She tells him “I ain’t scared.” Which is weird, why wasn’t she scared? They continue you dagger school. It doesnt go supes well so he tells her that’s enough for the day and to go break in her boots. She says “fine guardian. Is that really what everyone calls you? You must have a name.” He tells her obvi maybe I’ll tell ya if you earn it. She is like “ earn it? Like your trust.” He tells her that she may learn his name but he will never trust her. Ouch. 

After spiraling a bit about how nobody trusts her or has faith in her. She is interrupted by Zavier and his throat clearing. He tells her they will arrive in Turah soon. He asks about how training went and then he says she seems like she has a case of the sads. She tells him she is homesick and then he is called away. Odessa went down below to tell Jocelyn and Brielle that it was time to pack. They were jacked about this announcement. She wondered to herself if people back home missed her, with that answer looming in her head, she turned her back on her past and looked towards the future. 

As they waited for their rowboat, she watched the Guardian stare at the land like Turah was an enemy, or a battlefield. It made her feel sick . She asked him “any chance that this is where we’ll part ways? “Not yet” The guardian smiled “welcome to Turah my queen.”

Chapter 14 - Summary & Theories

The girls are very thankful to be off the big boat and on to the little boat because that means land soon. Zavier is no longer speaking since Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn were around. They make it to the beach and it was not anything to write home about. 1 out of 5 stars on google kind of beach if you were expecting sun tanning, sand and blue waves. 

Odessa spots the Guardian on the beach because for some reason she can’t not find him in a room of crowded people without a moment's hesitation. They are magnets. But so are Odessa and Voster Brothers because there was the Vos Boss himself. She sees that they are kind of tight and homie like. Or as she describes it “almost affectionate, like brothers.” The Guardian nodded at whatever the priest said, then took a step back and pressed both hands over his heart, giving a slight bow. She then spirals asking a ton of questions that are all good ones  but a lot still too many to list. See page 159 on kindle if you need to know, I got you. She is blaming the Vos Boss on all problems and knows shit is not done with him.

When Odessa saw him, she knew at that moment he was a daddy because she was getting hot and bothered. But she has some self control because she blocked her thoughts and went into super stealth spy mode and eavesdropped on some soldiers talking about a militia but they noticed  her because she is literally a terrible spy, and so they stopped chatting. She did stick out like a sore thumb. A bronzed hottie female with a sword showed up named Tillia. The sword is Odessa sized, she points out to Zavier. She tries to tease him saying she told Brielle but he calls her bluff immediately. No jokes. No fun. But she also realized again she is not a spy. She gets separated from Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn and gets on a horse. Odessa looks for anything to report back to her father because she is going to be some sort of hero to her kingdom and find the road to Allesaria.

Hair Dye Musings -The moment whereshe mentions the dye being bitter. This is the fifth time it has been mentioned to have a ‘bitter tang,’ has a ‘pungent odor,’ Banners gaze as ‘his hatred of the Guardian was as potent as the scented of my hair dye,’ the Guardians nostrils flared ‘like he could smell the dye,’ and now here as ‘A stray tendril of hair caught the breeze and flew into my mouth, the taste of my dye bitter on my lips before I yanked it away.’ What is in this dye? Is there some special ingredient we need to know about? The Guardian says it’s as pungent as dead fish at one point.  

Make sure you tune into the rest of our Shield of Sparrows episodes and we cant wait to cover Rites of the Starling.

Cha

Hi there! Welcome to our show notes for our Gods Monsters and Voster That Look Like Salad fingers episode where we deep dive Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry chapters 1-7.

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Chapter One - Summary & Theories

We get a re-creation of Jenny deciding to jump off the balcony in forest grump except our princess of Quentis isnt on heroine and is  actually just a bit of a thrill seeker and she is real fucking sick of everyone’s expectations. A relatable princess with a classic case of intrusive thoughts. The problem is if she jumps she’ll be late and if she is late she’ll be in what Taylor swift was with harry styles, trouble trouble trouble. Margot her stepmother or step monster, the jury is still out would be real pissy if she missed the meeting with the Turan warriors that dear old dad invited to Quentis.

So she walked away from the edge and thought about how her half sister, Mae could charm the pants off the guests (possibly literally) and she wasn’t really needed. Mae had been groomed her entire life for this type of occasion. She was to be the future queen of Turan later this year. Her attendance wouldnt really make a difference. Mae was being primped for this meeting, like it was the Oscar’s red carpet. Margot her step mom made it very clear that she must not be late! 

While heading towards her shoes she saw Banner proudly on his saddle. Banner her fiancé who has short light brown hair, brown eyes with an amber starburst (like all those born in Quentin) was all fancy for the meeting. We find out he actually was out there for some fresh air and not at all out there for her. Because The Guardian traveled with the rangers. We learn three things for certain about Banner non Ruhn, 1. Unfailing loyalty to her father 2. He loved the status that came from his rank and being betrothed to a princess 3. He loathed the guardian. Oh also they dont love each other and aren’t even friends. And PS he is 15 years older than her. 

He asks her to pray to Goddess of Peace, Carine today so he keeps his shit together. But he vows that he will one day have his revenge because this guardian fella destroyed his family, allegedly. All Odessa knew of the matter is that The Guardian killed Banners brother. They fought over a woman in Turah, the fight ended in his brothers death. The devastation of the loss had Banners mama taking her own life.

Banner offers to end his walk early and take her back but Odessa tells him no thanks dawg. She gets lost in her thoughts thinking about Mae and she would soon be married to a prince. She would fulfill her role in accord its the Calandra trade treaty that kept the five kingdoms at peace. She was the sparrow. Oh and also Mae’s nickname could be All The Way Mae because she is the opposite of virginal. She probably has high body count hair. Odessa looks out to the sea and can’t help but think Mae is a lucky brat that she gets to leave and see the world. 

The ocean beckoned. And before she knew it she was sprinting towards the water. And then she was flying. 

Chapter Two - Summary & Theories

So Odessa was soaking wet, but not in a Ying Yang Twins sort of way. She’s been getting off by cliff jumping since she was 16. Apparently it’s the only thing she is good at since she sucks at archery and as we learn, girlfriend is blessed with two left feet and a rather large shortage of grace.

After her quick dip in what I am sure is a cold ass body of water, she was sneaking around the castle singing “don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious.” She started heading down a deserted gallery that is a lil creepy. The artwork depicts the crux through different generations.

Crux are described as massive, eagle-like monsters that had flown over Calandra and slaughtered our people.

One of the big ass murals had an auburn male crux that had severed a man in two with its enormous beak. Entrails hung from its open mouth. Its talon, sharper than any blade, punctured the heart of a woman crushed beneath its weight. The male’s thick, pointed horns dripped with blood and gore. Wholesome shit, ya know? We then get some insight to the God system in this book. 

“It was written that the old gods, Ama and Oda, created Calandra’s animals as gifts to humans. As companions to share in this realm. The Mother and Father had been proud of their beautiful creations. They’d showered them with praise and glory. But that pride enraged the gods’ children, and in a fit of jealousy, the new gods—the Six—made animals of their own. The Six crafted predators in the image of Calandra’s Animals, though their variations were far more beautiful. Far more powerful. Far more deadly. They birthed monsters to serve as a reminder to humans and animals alike that we were fragile and insignificant. And there was no monster more feared than the crux.”

Sounds like the new Gods were a bunch of middle child Scorpios. While being balls deep into observing that sweet mural, she rounded a corner and ran into a Voster priest.

The Voster Priest is described as “towering frame, a head and bony shoulders above my own height. He was dressed in burgundy robes, the fabric draped around his lanky body, pooling at his ankles and feet as bare as my own. The nails on both his fingers and toes were thick and grooved with a dark-green tint. He had no hair, no eyebrows, and his skin was a chilly, pale white. His hawkish nose rested sharply above his thin, colorless lips.” and “his eyes that caused a shiver to race down my spine. They were solid, endless pools without pupils, the color the same deep green as his nails.”

Immediately Odessa could feel his magic and it clearly gives her the ick. She said that humans aren’t meant to be this close to magic.  It made her nauseous, dizzy, felt like crackling, and like jumping into a bottomless pit. His power scraped along her bare arm as he cocked his head sideways LIKE A BIRD, held up a finger and sent the water spinning from her hair and into the shape of a crown above her. Odessas dick dad said “the Voster brotherhood often used their fluid magic to deliver a message. That they manipulated air, water, and blood to make statements.” But she wasn’t interested in asking what's the haps with that.

Odessa hauls ass up the stairs and takes a peaksie at Brother V and he is just gobbling her up with his eyes, furthering her ick feels. V-Bros don’t usually party at the castle but he did for this meeting with the Turans. Hella suspicious. She makes it into her room but not without Margot noticing her dress is wet and then starts yapping about being late, even though she isn’t… yet. She offers for her lady maids to do her a solid and assist but Margot is a bitch and lets her know that they are off galavanting elsewhere in the castle. She gets dressed in an ugly ass grey colored dress because for some reason, that’s all she has because personally, I think Margot is a bitch. Margot puts some smelly ass dye in her hair too. Odessa tries to pawn her Stepmonster off on her sister but her sister is busy practicing adultery and being a skank.

Margot was being a dick saying she doesn’t know anyone who finds so much trouble and says Odessa could have been eaten by sharks. Odessa is clearly a smart ass and says they aren’t this close to shore. Margot then brings up the marroweels and why the Turans are there.  Apparently this monsters are bullying the ships around, they be murdering people and shit after clearly changing habitats.

This whole marroweel sitch needs to be corrected ASAP before the crux migration starts happening. Lucky for them the Turans 86’d six from life and hung them as decor at the docks.  Margot then goes on about seeing Odessas betrothed, and that Banner gossiped about the Guardian showing up with the Turans too. The Guardian, who is described as “a man rumored to be more vicious and deadly than any creature crafted by the gods.” so we know he’s a daddy already. I knew immediately Guardian would be DTF at some point. Margot is over assisting Odessa and tells her to wrap it up and get to the throne room. She put her crown on, the only thing of color she would be wearing, and of course, she was late.

Voster Spotlight: Can’t shake the earth or throw balls of fire but they can bend and twist air and water. Their blood magic was used to form breakable bonds. All a bunch of bands, translucent skin, green black eyes, they dont cut their toe and finger names unclear if its for the world record book.

Just pointing out that she “nearly” ran into him. So here is the first example of when touching could of happened but didn’t.

We learn that the Voster are very elusive. Odessa doesnt even know how many make up the brotherhood, hundreds, thousands? There is only one book about them and its very short. So we dont know. She says hundreds and thousands but maybe just maybe there is only say i dont know, 6? Totally random number and not something that i am simmering on. Also no one knows where these long nailed creeps live. Peculiar

Name Meanings: Voster-Forrester or Forrest Keeper

Kingdoms Spotlight:

So we get a little bit more backstory on the politics of the kingdoms. With the marrowwheels fucking up the trade routes, there is the worry that Laine, Genesis, Ozarth, and Turah will take it as an insult that the grain they harvested and sold to them and is suddenly is Mia is an invitation for war. Which is not acceptable especially with the damn crux coming. Now was the time for all kingdoms to stockpile their resources. The ships that were loaded with wheat, corn, and barley couldn’t go missing, because they have already been bartered for weapons.

Rumors about the guardian- Izzac incarnate. The God of death had grown tired of his throne and disguised himself as a man to torment humankind for amusement. Others said he had been gifted his powers by the old gods themselves. Just some interesting tidbits in here. Plus trying to keep to track of all the gods that we know - carine the peaceful one and now we have Izzac the god of death.

Odessa name meaning:
Latin: long journey
Wrathful; Odessa is the feminine version of Odysseus, which has taken on the connotative meaning of wandering, traveling adventure in honor of the famous voyage in Homer's epic The Odyssey.
Is her damn name foreshadowing?

Also Odessa sounds like a derivative of Oda aka Papa God.

Chapter Three

Odessa walked through the side entrance of the throne room. Her father didn’t look up but definitely noticed she was late. Margot and Mae were removed from the group of men looking polished and perfect. She couldn’t help but wonder if she looked like her mother.  She doesnt remember her because she died when she was a baby and her father had all her portraits removed from the halls. She does know she has the same hair as her because of how often Stepmonster Margot cursed it.

Five Turans who are apparently big bitches in stature, not attitude stood shoulder to shoulder. They had a shit ton of weapons and looked like they were ready for battle not din din. Her father addressed the room by telling them he is thankful for their services in taking down the 6 marroweels, and for doing it so quickly. A guy with a braided beard was like “no bigs, we just did what you hired us to do” with a tone of condescension. And then the doors flew open with guards carrying a big ass chest that had a shit ton of coin in it. A big guy with braids went and inspected and asked his highness if he should count it. Which fyi Zavier, Mae’s soon to be husband was there, what a lil shock.

The king was like “yeah no need, every bit we agreed to is in there.” The bearded warrior was like “okay but what if the price we agreed to is no longer enough?” The king is like “ugh okay what’s your new price” And now the main doors opened and the Voster priest she had a run in with and another one who floats followed him. The sting of their magic was instant to poor little Odessa. Oh and we are not done with surprise entrances, “a man who entered next didn’t look like a. God incarnate. He didn’t appear to be a ghost. He was tall and broad like the Turans. Muscled to the point of distraction. His chocolate brown hair tickled the tops of his shoulders and his chiseled jaw was covered in a short beard of the same shade. At first glance, he was just a man. Striking. Intimidating. but still just a man. Yet his irises didn’t have the typical Turan green starburst. They were solid. molten silver. Liquid Metal. The guardian.

The King started pandering to the Turans which was weird. And then the floating Voster was like before we begin lets do some introductions and team building exercises. All the big ass Turans look at Margot and Mae besides the Guardian who was looking at her instead. They walked toward the prince, who is supes pretty but very unimpressed to meet his bride. The king says “ this is my daughter Mae, in accord with the shield of Sparrows she is to be your bride on the autumnal equinox in three months time.” The guardian is like cool but actually not her, Prince Zavier will marry her, tonight. As the bride prize for killing your marroweels.

Chapter Four

Oh shit, imagine being in that throne room after that announcement. Hard act to follow up picking a different daughter for a wife. Margot is clearly pissed off, having a death grip on our girls arm. But that didn’t hold a candle to finding out she was getting married ASAP and not to her betrothed. The silence? Intense. The tension? Thicker than a male main character's throbbing member. Margot could use a margarita because she says there must be some mistake. Papa King is just like no. No other words.

Banner tries to put his two cents in “she’s my fiance.” We all know you fucking suck, flag boy. This makes the Guardian giggle, he is just like us, a gigglin gal. Everyone else? Not gigglin. Yikes on bike. Odessa manages to say “jackass” out loud and everyone clutched their pearls. Papa King tries to uno reverse this decision by trying to sell Mae as his bride. But still says “If you wish to forgo the planned festivities of the equinox, then we will arrange for your union tonight.” Odessa was waiting for someone to object and this not to happen but no objections. Instead, she ended up in a staring contest with that slutty looking Guardian who smirked in return.  He technically one because after that smirk she looked over at new boo, Xavier who is just hella stoic.

Flag boy tries yet again with “she is mine.” But he doesn’t give a care about Odessa, he gives a care about his link to the royal fam since he is clearly a social climber. The Guardian doesn’t give any cares about Flag Boy because he says “She was yours. Now, she belongs to the prince. She’ll satisfy both the bride prize and the treaty. She’ll be our queen.” All this sounds hella boring to Odessa. Flag boy tries arguing again but the King pulls out the rule book with “The Shield of Sparrows treaty stipulates a daughter of the king’s choosing. As I am the only king in this room, the choice is mine. You will wed Mae. She is the Sparrow. And you will be given the gold we have promised for your assistance with the marroweels.” Which gives us our first look at what the Shield of Sparrows is.

Voss Boss chooses this moment to put his two cents in telling the party that King Cross is rightsies. But this is where it gets tricky. So there is the treaty which “requires a daughter be given to another kingdom each generation. Her father has the right to choose which daughter.” But then you have the bride prize for the marroweels. Seven were caught, not six. So according to the Chain of Sevens, the prince can demand a bride prize. In this economy, the prince was just being resourceful. Two-fer if you will. The king tried to offer gold, but where is the fun in that? What everyone thought was a legend, is not. The Chain of Sevens is “Seven lives in a chain. Long ago, before the five kingdoms, the lands and seas were overrun by monsters. To regain control, the ruling lords made a decree. Any warrior who risked their life against the beasts would be granted a prize of their choosing if they returned with the heads of seven slain females from the species. As with all treaties, the Chain of Sevens was sealed with our magic.To alter the chain of life, killing seven females will break the chain. Break it in enough places, and it holds no strength.” So I guess that’s that? Wrong, the king is like, that shit is archaic, you will take Mae. 

Never fuck with treaties because it started to get real cold in there. Voss Boss dropped to his feet instead of floating and his magic was filling the room and it did not feel good on Odessa. They were slowly freezing to death thanks to Father Vaw Dawg. Everyone started to realize he was pretty serious black up in this bitch. Turns out Father Voster sealed the Sevens with his own back and blood of ancient kings, and the king needs to watch his little whore mouth. King Cross apologizes to the High Priest and that is what really shocks Odessa. The HBIC of Voster peeps. Everyone thought he was dead but turns out nah, he just loves a grand appearance. It looks like Odessa has no choice but to be the prince’s bride for Shield of Sparrows and Chain of Sevens.

God Roll Call: We learn about a new God. Ferious. The God of Mischief. Roll Call - Peaceful Carine, Izzac of Death, and now mischievous Ferious.

Number 7 Spotlight: 7 is a pretty significant number with a lot of meanings. It can mean perfection or completion. The number 7 is connected to intuition, wisdom, growing self-awareness, spiritual revelations, and big shifts that can have a positive impact on your life. It's a number that serves as a bridge or a connection between our mortal realm and higher places. Which, connecting that to this story, big shifts in life? Marrying a prince instead of a flag with words is a pretty big shift. A bridge or connection to our mortal realm higher places? There are 8 gods in this story and I have a feeling they will play a bigger part.

 Chapter 5

The Voster did a lil water show. Prince Zavier nodded to the Voster Bros and then turned towards the door. The Guardian followed suit. When they left the king pleaded to his Voster Emissary, whose name is Brother Dime btw, that something must be done. Mae is to be the Turan queen, Odessa isnt capable. Brother Dime walked towards her and said “this is your fortune child” and his spindly fingers extended but she shied away from letting him touch her. Which Dime thought was peculiar.

Odessa collapsed on the floor and prayed to the 8 Gods. Banner is not impressed. The “Gold King,” apparently is his nickname due to his blonde hair, caramel eyes flecked with same golden shade as the gold in the chest plus amber starburst was like “ i mean you heard the high priest dude.” The gold king told everyone to get out so the fam can chitchat. Once they were alone Mae had a knife to Odessa’s throat asking her “what did you do?” Totes normal sister behavior. Odessa tells her she has no idea why Prince Zavier wants her, maybe he doesnt like blondes. Which causes Mae to lunge at her but dear ol dad puts a stop to it. He questions her about if she had ever met him and her whereabouts of the day. She lied about her cliff diving hobby and told him she went for a lil hikey hike and a swimmy swim. And then she bumped into Brotha Diime outside the gallery. The crux gallery to be exact. Which her dad apparently doesnt like her curiosity with that hall.

He stayed silent trying to catch her in a lie and they he said “I’m sorry Dess.” Which was shocking considering he hasnt called her that in years and she had never heard him apologize. But he said again “I’m sorry that you must do this, put the bride prize aside, we can’t piss off the Turans with a refusal and we can’t break the shield of sparrows, especially with the crux right around the corner. Mae was supposed to go but now its your turn baby girl”

So then her dad is like i need to take you to find a way into Alessaria, the capital before summers end, and then send word on how i can infiltrate the city. Also sending your lady maids with you and you can send them back with the intel. Alessaria is the priority and also learn everything you can about the Guardian and his powers and find a way to kill him, no bigs. Odessa is like hold up did you plan this whole thing? And he is like basically yeah, we have been trying for decades to find the way into Alessaria and i need it asap because if the crux migrate earlier i am SOL. The golden king apparently wants something in that city, and that thing is the only thing that can stop the crux. And he is giving Odessa zero deets about it. But he isnt worried about treaties because he says they can be broken and he doesnt necessarily need to die. His master plan was gambling that the prince would come to the meeting and he could convince him to speed up the wedding under the guise of trade routes and then Mae would set sail with them this summer. 

 

Obvi things didn’t go as planned and damn Mae is a bitter Betty that she was dismissed. Odessa tries to say that she can’t do it but her father is like but you will, repeat your order. Do it and i will bring you home. And then tells the Stepmonster to get her ready for her wedding.

Shield of Sparrows school-

The first bride’s name had been Sparrow, hence the treaty’s name and why the woman offered every generation had since been called the Sparrow. Her father, the Turan king, had given her as a bride to his sworn enemy, the Genesis king.

The obligation of the five kingdoms to offer a king, or future king, and a Sparrow every generation. Laine and Ozarth were the last one.

So essentially the Shield of Sparrows was a trade agreement and since this started all wars that were commonplace amongst the kingdoms stopped. You could not be at war with our self and the Crux.The crux would blackout the skies for months, thousand and thousand of beating wings blocking out the sun, livestocks, crops, and harvests cities annihilated and destroyed. Since SOS started the 5 kingdoms had endured and they had survived 9 migrations and if we go off 9x30=270 years and this next one is the tenth. Odessa would be the tenth.

5 Kingdoms Resources:

Laine- Spices and Gold

Turah- Lumber

Ozarth- Iron

Quentis- Crops and Cattle

Genesis- Oil 

Starburst -The Magic rooted deep in Calandra’s and tinged our irises at birth its those starbursts linking us forever to a place. No matter where we lived, where we moved, that one color was unchanging. Example: all Quentin’s had an amber starburst. Turans are green . But Odessa’s eyes were solid gold. Not a starburst in sight. Odessa tried asking her dad as a kid but he never answer that question.

Chapter 6

Margot is a huffin and puffin, not puffin the magic dragon either. Just straight up being a butthole. No dresses are blue enough for her but duh b, you literally only let her wear grey, you can only be mad at yourself. Which blue is clearly their traditional wedding shade since she’s saying she doesn’ have the traditional dress color. Odessa was scrubbed and cleaned. Margot so kindly reminded her that she will need to buy more hair dye, Prince Zavier bargained for a brunette wife so she had to uphold the look..

The dress Brielle chose is pretty much white which is what they wear to funerals, so Odessa snatched that shit so fast and changed into it. She joked about Mae being able to stab her in the back without fabric being in the way, so Margot told her not to be dramatic. That is when they heard shit breaking in the next room over and I am sure Limp Bizkit break stuff was playing. Margot then kicks Brielle out and starts talking about the birds and the bees.

Odessa is quick to tell her she has been with a man already, next topic. But Margot wanted to keep going about men and their needs and how she doesn’t want to look like she has ulterior motives. She thought Because a prince who was being fucked regularly became a fool? Possibly in Genesis or Ozarth or Laine or even Quentis. But I doubted Zavier was like other princes, not with his heritage. Apparently Turah is v secretive. They held up their obligations for trade and commerce, but only just. When it came to extending alliances, building relationships, and fostering unity, Turah might as well be a closed door. The crux decimated their capital and so the king moved their stronghold into the mountains, Allesaria. No ruler has been and it’s not on maps. Everyone that goes looking, never returns.

Margot went to tell King Cross that the bride was ready spaghetti. After she left, Odessa went to her secret spot were she hid her goods. Nothing fun like drugs. Just a necklace that she found thirteen years prior and a sketchpad. The necklace was a wing of silver inlaid in a circle of gold. Except it wasn’t gold. The hue was red and orange and as bright as the harvest moon. She had no idea what the symbol was though.The pendant warmed immediately when on her skin and absorbed her body's heat faster than gold or silver.

Mae is done with her bitch fit and pops in to see her sister. They have a little moment about missing each other and a forced hug. We learn her brother's name is Arthalayus.

They talk about how Mae will probs need to marry Banner now for loyalty and what not. Thank god Odessa didn’t sleep with him so they will never become eskimo sisters, just blood. Mae sweetens the moment telling her to not return unless she’s got the info and that she will make an awful spy. Spoiler alert, she does. They get an I love you in before her dad walks in to do a weird ass ritual where he cuts his daughter's hand and then collects the blood in a vial for ink later. She glances outside and wishes she would've been like Dory and just kept swimming. 

Alessaria Thoughts: 

What if Allesaria is really a city of Gods of some sort? God we know nothing by the end of the book still so really anything is possible. If we take the name and break it up
Alle is a name of Greek origin and is a softer version of the name Alexandra. It means “man's defender,” and is traditionally attributed to girls. Also means noble

Saria is a feminine moniker with Hebrew and Arabic roots. Meaning “princess” and “clouds coming in the night”
Interesting

 Necklace Thoughts: We definitely think it was her moms. In some fantasy worlds, something can feel warm if it has magic in it. Usually that would mean that person and the magic were compatibile. Interesting that Voster magic is cold. Also harvest moon? Like something you would see during the fall equinox? Why a wing? So maybe Odessa chosing to “fly” or not is no coincidence and possible foreshadowing 

So the sketch that Devney decided to tell us was a sketch of Margot being sad after getting in a fight with her father. There is no reason to tell us this unless she wants to convey that there may be some cracks in that marriage. And it makes you wonder what would someone do if they were desperate/sad enough. 

Chapter 7

So they are in the castles sanctuary which is stuffy and hot because it was built into rocks so people can worship the gods during the migration. The two Voster priests were standing at the alter, which their magic instantly is pinpricking her skin. She was not looking forward to being around it for 3 hours. But fear not, no ceremony. Just a marriage decree and signing of the treaty. Dess was a little bit disappointed for some reason and she was also dreading their wedding night. 

The Turans walked in. Mae told her that sending her was a suicide mission. The Guardian was the last to stroll in, and the fucker looked at Odessa and smirked. Odessa was summoned to the front to sign the treaty. They would sign with their blood and the Voster would seal it with their magic. She read the decree where it explained the history of the treaty. The obligation of the five kingdoms to offer a king, or future king, and a sparrow every generation. The first bride’s name was Sparrow, hence the treaty’s name, unclear if related to Captain Jack. The treaty had trade obligations, and it forbid kingdoms from invading one another, plus the king cannot kill his sparrow and a sparrow cannot kill her king. Either directly or indirectly without death befalling them both. So basically the magic would off them if they tried any funny business. 

The guardian was laughing again and Odessa couldn’t help but feel like the jackass acted like he was in charge of this disaster. The vows began and when it was Zavier’s turn due to him not speaking, the Guardian spoke on his behalf. They signed and the magic made invisible sparks Crawl up her skin. Then it was done. Zavier wasn’t even looking at Odessa. The king said they would honor the union with a feast, but Zavier nay nay ed that. Zavier tilted her chin up and he kissed her on the cheek and then he walked off. Of course Chuckles aka the guardian was gigglin again. He then asked if she was in a hurry to follow Xavier and get it in. Which really fucking pissed Odessa off and that really fucking made The Guardian a happy camper. Before walking off he told her “enjoy your last night in Quentis Sparrow. we sail at Dawn.’

Make sure you tune into the rest of our Shield of Sparrows episodes and we cant wait to cover Rites of the Starling.

Crescent City HOSAB - Magical Betrothals in Lunathion

Hi there! Welcome to our show notes for our Magical Betrothals in Lunathion episode.

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Prologue - Summary- Breakdown- Theories

This book starts talking about some random gal we don’t know named Sofie who’s at the Kavalla death camp that is guarded by dreadwolves. Her destination is the port of Servast, which would be easy had it been just her, but it's not, it's her plus 5 boys and 6 girls with her thirteen year old brother. 

Sophie is a human who made the drop. She is technically vanir but not. Her parents encouraged to make it for healing abilities and extra armor. She did it in some sketchy shop by a satyr. She, along with the tiny humans, all had rebel parents that had been caught or sold out.

I have to say, why are satyrs so sketchy in this universe? First Danika breaks up a fight between one and a nightstalker, then there’s the salt selling satyr in the meat market, they’re carved into the stone pillars at the white raven and now this back alley satyr drop artist? I think they’re the real villain here

I want you to know that i am now picturing a bunch of satyrs sitting at home being pissed off about the bad apples ruining their reputation.

Sofie spent 3 years searching for her brother and worked through the Ophion ranks to do it. Even though Sofie was human, she wasn’t really since she made the drop. So Ophion would never truly trust her but she made sorta allies with Pippa, leader of the Lightfall unit. Pippa helped Sofie but def for her own gain. Sofie was able to get into the Kavalla camp where her brother was. But she also had some dirt on the Asteri and Ophion knew it. 

She found the right moment to sneak into her brother's bunk and break out the camp with him and the surprise surprise 11 other littles. Naturally while running to their escape van the sirens went off and dreadwolves were after them. They made it to the van and its driver, Agent Silverbow, then hauled ass to Servast. 

  They made it in 30 minutes but knew the Hind was close by. Not only was she close by, Sofie ran right into the lights of an Asteri Vehicle and saw the Hind leaning against another vehicle. We truly meet Lidia Cervos, deer shifter with blonde hair and Amber eyes, known as the Hind in this moment. 

Sofie was running her biscuits off to make it to the boat. But first she took the power she gathered earlier and unleashed, blowing her secret load, letting everyone know she was a thunderbird. She was eyeing the distance to the boat that had already taken off and the Hind asked if she was faster than a bullet, turns out she was not and got shot in the thigh. Four Omega boats showed up to go after the Bodegraven, her escape boat. 

Turns out that crazy gal Pippa is there too, watching from afar though. She wants to know if Sofie and that dirty secret she carries are on the ship. Pippa and her commander are talking about how that boat would likely get blown up instead of saving the children when all the lights went out. And then a bright white light took out the electricity of all the omega subs. No more Brimstone missiles on the radar either and the Bodegraven made it out safely. 

Back on the land the Hind walked up to Sophie Renast asking who she has shared her intel with. Sofie says no one but they go on a boat ride out in the sea. The Hind pulled a small white stone from her pocket, lifting it for Sofie to see, and then chucked it into the water. And told her “At that depth, you’ll likely drown before you hit the seafloor” while binding Sophie's feet with chains and lead blocks. Then gave her the boot of the boat. A gift to Ogena’s. Now pit a pin in that side story.

Name Meaning:
The name "Cervo" has Italian origins, where it directly translates to "deer" in English

Sophie comes from the Greek Sophia which means wisdom, skill, knowledge which makes sense because she obviously has information that she is guarding. And Renast appears to be a surname with French origins, derived from the Old French word "renastre," meaning  rebirth" or "renewal," which considering she made the drop and became something new- immortal, it fits.

CC Community College- Thunderbird Lore

The Asteri had long ago hunted most thunderbirds to extinction.
Thunderbirds gifts were that of electricity, and first light power, too. Energy of any type was hers to command, to suck into herself. She could literally make them wink tf out. 

I wanted to look and see what I could find with thunderbird mythology and this is what i came up with.the The Thunderbird is a significant mythological creature in various American Indian cultures, particularly among tribes in the Midwest, Often depicted as a giant bird capable of carrying immense weight, the Thunderbird symbolizes both natural power and supernatural abilities. In many traditions, it is associated with thunder and storms, believed to create thunder by flapping its wings and lightning by shooting from its beak It is said to have a dual nature, and be both a creator and a destroyer. The Thunderbird brought the rain, but also caused destructive storms, battled whales, and turned people to stone. This is thought to show the Thunderbird as a sort of trickster figure recurrent in many mythologies—. They were described  As powers of the upper world, Thunderbirds wage perpetual war against aquatic spirits of the beneath world, often portrayed as malevolent serpents or felines.- There is a lot of this that tickles my brain. The trickster in nature part, I feel like could fit Sophie. She obviously wasn’t honest about a lot. Plus saying that they are in a perpetual war against aquatic spirits of the beneath world - you could relate it to how we believe that there could be rifts/trenches under the ocean that lead to hel aka beneath world. Which makes you wonder why the Asteri wanted them 86ed. 

Masters in the Maasverse - Maps & Overlapping Worlds 

 Calaculla is right in between both the coastal towns of Banjali and Innish. I think Innish is Servast.
Servast is described as, mist wreathed the narrow docks of Servast, writhing over the chill, night-dark waters of the Haldren Sea. It wended around the ancient stone houses of the port town, the firstlight in the few lampposts above the cobblestone streets flickering.
Similar to when Caelana from Throne of Glass was in Innish-
Celaena hated the heavy blanket of mist that shrouded the day and night.

Then when Sophie and Co were escaping it says they “hurried through the fence and across the muddy road to the dense ferns and steep gully beyond.”What is a Gully? A gully is a landform created by running water, mass movement, or both, which erodes soil to a sharp angle, typically on a hillside or in river floodplains or terraces.

What is right next to Calaculla? A river, which can easily be this gully. Calaculla was worse than Endovier, the camp was expanded because they had so many slaves there. It was expanded more towards Eyllwe. So the OG camp spot is closer to Innish than Banjali. I  initially thought Servast could be here too. But the Morath could be Alcene, that vital depots for the Spine, because Morath means small mountains and in comparison to the White Fangs behind it Morath was little and is smaller on the Erilea map. Alcene means little rock so I really do think Calaculla is to Kavalla, as Bracchus Camp is to Endovier. The mines are already dug from salt and precious metals, so they have space to dump bodies in these death camps. Once again aligning Pangera in Crescent City to Erilea in Throne of Glass

Part 1
The Chasm (shit gets real)

Chapter 1

Bryce was at the ballet to see Juniper who was the star of the night's performance. Before the show started she was looking at the ancient statues with her parents while people were looking at her. She was kind of a big deal and a princess. Her mom asked if she could get a job there with the ever changing art but there were no openings.
They looked at the art while Bryce’s mom told her that she didn’t like Bryce working so close to that sexy Thotumn King. Her mom wasn’t understanding why Bryce wasn’t working for her cool ass boss. Jesiba of course hid her library and everything else was in crates. There really wasn’t a job for her.

Bryce's sick new 8 pointed star scar hadn’t faded, which she noticed her mom looking at it quite a bit as well. Her mom was really going for it tonight because she pointed out things were weird between Bryce and her lova. Bryce was happy with her job and happy with Hunt. They made it to their box seats and Bryce just knew when Hunt arrived.

Bryce was wet from how hot Hunt looked. They were gifted champs and Hunt checked for drugs in her drink, like a true gentleman should. Fury didn’t want to sit with them since her and Juniper were going steady and had moved in together, I’m sure they’ve consummated their relationship, unlike Bryce and Hunt who are bigger fans of sexual tension than sexual intercourse. They are choosing to wait until Feyre's birthday. Weird way to celebrate her but ok. Four months to go. Hunt could smell her thinking about their consummation countdown while they were with her parents for Gods sake. Well good thing the star went off at that moment. 

Her and Hunt use team effort to cover up her bright light. Everyone was ready to bounce but Bryce got it under control so she was able to watch her friend's grand entrance.

CC Community College: Art History:

So we track the art in this series for a multitude of reasons. It gives us answers on timelines, sometimes foreshadowing, and fills in bits of history. 

First Bryce is looking at statues of all the gods and she says they swear they are looking back at her. Which i dont know why it reminded me of when Dorian and Celeana are traveling to rifthold and she was staring at the stars and he said they were staring right back.

 A fae male stood poised above an anvil hammer raised skyward in one fist, lightning cracking from the skies, filling the hammer, and flowing down toward the object of the hammers intended blow: a sword. Label: unknown sculptor Palmira, circa 125 VE. The Making of the sword in the old language of the fae.  - So i believe this is our first introduction of Thurr. We talk more about him in Chapter 8 

One from the first wars- that showed an army of winged demons swooping from the skies upon a terrestrial army gathered on the plain below. This one’s about hel’s armies arriving to conquer Midgard during the first wars. - Reminder that art can be used as a tool for propaganda.

Like this one =A piece of a larger collection- Thus the 7 princes of hel looked in envy upon Midgard and unleashed their unholy hordes upon our united armies

We also get a jelly jubilee sighting. A Pegasus charging into battle. An armored figure, helmet obscuring any features road it with its sword upraised. First Wars.

Which just as a reminder, there are other Pegasus in the Maasverse - Helion, the high lord of the day court has 7! Pegasus. Which are rare and there used to be a shit ton but most had just vanished as if they had been devoured by the sky itself. And guess where they came from? The island the prison sat upon - they had once fed in fair meadows that had long given away to mist.

Thoughts on Hunt & Bryce Being Mates

Bryce had developed a keen awareness of Hunt’s presence, like scenting lightning on the wind. He had only to enter a room and she’d know if he was there by that surge of power in her body. Like her magic, her very blood answered to his.”

Knowing they claim mates, this is interesting. Bryce had developed a keen awareness.
We know with Mates there is a huge scent aspect. When they got sexual on the couch and she came but he didn’t, she smelled him finally, rain, cedar, salt and pure lightning. But that was the only time.
Hunt said she smelled good, like paradise, home and eternity. But never her notes. He told us when she was on her period, but never what she smelled like. 

For example, Aelin immediately smelled Rowan's slutty snow scent.  Even Feyre was smelling Rhys immediately when she wasn’t covered in the filth of under the mountain. Rain, salt and something citrus. 

No mention of scents when Sabine caught them neck nuzzling. So their scent trajectory is interesting. Through love all is possible I guess

Chapter 2

Bryce and Hunt decided to drop into Ruhn’s house party, which honestly seemed like a great time. The whole gang was there Ruhn and the boys, Fury and June. Fury and June were giving Bryce shit for her ridiculous idea of waiting to bang it out until solstice which she is very much regretting with Hunt swaggering around with his backward hat. 

Hunt was being a respectful guy with honoring her wishes for wanting to take it slow but he was living with perpetual blue balls every minute of his life and it was a hard (thats what she said) way to live. He knew she was putting the brakes on them for the survival guilt she felt and not allowing herself to be actually happy. Hunt felt it too on top of the constant dread and worry about what the Asteri would do. While at the party they got news of the new archangeals tapped to replace Micah and Sandriel. Ephraim who currently shared Rodinia with Jakob will take Sandriel’s old spot in northern pangera and Celestina who has overseen Nena which has a population of like 50 but she is more of a figurehead because the legion is controlled by the Asteri and are watchdogs for the northern rift. Hunt says she has a nice rep and Fury confirms she has never heard anything bad either. Hunt is feeling negative about the appointment but Bryce seems to have some positive hope for Celestina. 

Bryce tries to comfort Hunt and tell him everything will be okay. He tries to say Celestina could make their lives very difficult but she is like nay nay dont forget i am the super powerful and special magic starborn princess and she would protect him. Bryce had been meeting with Ruhn once a week for magic lessons. Her magic manifested as starlight- a purely fae gift. And the magnitude of her power came from all those who had given a droplet of their magic to the gates over the years. All together the combo magnified her starlight. 

Hunt doesnt believe that the Asteri appointed a nice gal just because they have a soft side. Fury adds that the war is getting worse in pangera and Valbara is a key territory full of vital resources so a Mrs. Nice Spice leader doesnt make any sense. Juniper wonders if she will just be their puppet. Bryce is like well we wont know until your meeting tomorrow and hey Hunt dont be a dick and start any fights. 

Masters in the Maasverse - Fury Axtar Theory

“How Fury could wear leather in this heat was beyond Bryce.” What if the reason Fury can wear leather in this heat is because she is naturally cold? Maybe because she is a descendant of Hel. Once again, we do not know what type of Vanir Fury is, it was rude to ask. They dont even know what house she belonged to or what magical powers she had. Often described in a way related to night like liquid night. Reminder of the connection in Acotar where Lord Thanatos 

CC Community College - New Archangeals School

So we are told the two new replacement archangeals Ephraim and Celestina so I thought we shall do some research. 

Ephraim- is a Hebrew name meaning fruitful, fertile, productive which considering the asteri’s plans seems pretty right on the money. In the Bible Ephraim was Joseph’s secon son blessed by Jacob to become a great nation and became the founder of a major Israelite tribe. Often representing the northern kingdom of Israel. Sarah Janet often uses biblical references specifically Old Testament because she is Jewish. i dont think it was for not that she chose the name Ephraim for its meaning, also the fact that he is being sent to northern pangera when Ephraim in the Bible represented the northern kingdom of Israel. Plus he used to share his old position with Jakob which in the Bible was his dad.  

As for Rodinia where he used to rule- Rodinia comes from the Russian word Rodina which means motherland or homeland. Not Rodinia was a major supercontinent that assembled about 1.2 billion years ago and began breaking apart around 750 million years ago containing most of Earths landmass. It was earths first hypothesized super continent preceding pangea. Which reminder is where we assume Sarah Janet got the name Pangera as well as Valbara which was a super continent. So thats a total of three super continent names. 

Celestina comes from Latin’s caelestis meaning heavenly or from the sky

she used to rule Nena which in Spanish means little girl or baby girl and it’s Greek roots and guess what Nena was guys? A super continent that existed about 2.1-1.7 billion years ago. It was an acronym for Northern Europe and Northern America. Make that 4 super continents. So yeah guys we are an education podcast. You are welcome for all this super continent knowledge. 

Masters in the Maasverse - Starlight in the Maasverse

Where else do we see starlight in the Maasverse?

In Throne of glass it is mentioned a few times. When Elena appears to Celeana she is described as “her body gleaned as though it was made of starlight.

When describing Lorcans eyes Elides said “their was some emotion she couldn’t place flickering like starlight in those black eyes.”

When Nesryn finds a short sword she said the metal shining as if imbued with starlight that had wyrdmarks on it. The sword it self was an Asterion short sword. Emphasis on asterion

When Yrene was trying to heal Erawan she ends up getting help from Dorian and his raw magic it was described as “ gasped and turned into starlight into warmth and strength and joy.”

Now in Acotar is mentioned quite a few times.

In a court of thorns and roses Tamlin takes Feyre to a glen to swim in a pool of starlight. It is described as silvery sparkling water- silver but also has blue red and pink and yellow glinting beneath. It was light. Tamlin says he doesnt know where it came from. He never asked and no one every explained. Feyre asks what would happen if they were to drink it and tamlin tells her that “legend claims you’d be happy until your last breath.”

Now in A Court of Mist and Fury

Velaris- is called the city of starlight

Feyre wondered when Rhys talked if it was true starlight that flickered in them

When Rhys was training Feyre he made darkness all around them and she let starlight dance on her finger tips.

When Feyre has a rather intense orgasm she wonders if the light pouring out of her was in fact starlight

And then when Nyx is born in a Court of Silver Fucking, he was said to inherit both his mother and fathers starlight. 

Chapter 3

Ruhn was high as a kite with a lady having a seat upon his face. He was providing his services, which sounded to be lovely when Tristan Flynn burst in and told him to come downstairs and to bring his starsword. 

Declan’s security system picked up some anomaly, an aura if you will. The front doors that were open darkened with shadows and out stepped a golden haired fae male while Bryce's scar blazed. 

Maasters in the Maasverse : Shadow Magic

lets do a pulse check on shadows in the Maasverse. At this point in the book and the other two series these are the characters with shadow magic:

Cain- had shadows leaking from him- the shadowy dark thing inside him aka Valg

The “animal” in the library it moved like smoke and shadow

Maeve’s other form was described - no one had lived to tell anything beyond shadows and claws and a darkness to devour your soul

So obviously Valg came from darkness and were able to manipulate shadows as well. 

Dorian- now Dorian has raw magic he can form different elements. He can manipulate shadows as an extension of his power ie shadow hands. Just want to note that he often used ice and wind. Which I cant help but notice that Cormac seemed to be using wind here

In Acotar,

Rhys can control shadows and darkness. He often will create illusions with them. Now his shadow abilities are directly related to the night court unlike our boy Az. 

Azriel- the shadow singer- he can control shadows. He can travel through and merge into them. He is able to use the shadows for spying and they communicate with him. As well as they respond to his emotions. 

Ruhn- has shadow magic through his mother’s line. He has the ability to manipulate shadows which includes summoning and walking through them, and can cloak himself and others in darkness.

And now mystery cousin has shadow magic. 

Chapter 4

Bryce’s tit star scar was glowing and it didnt take a rocket scientist to know why as tall ass fae that appeared out of the shadows was in front of her. Ruhn wanted to know what he was doing here and the male with a fancy pants accent said he had been invited. This mystery man was apparently, Cormac. Ps he is a blonde with excellent sense of smell because he told Ruhn that he smelled like cunt. Cormac was Avallen fae and was cousins with Ruhn and kind of Bryce. She didnt want to claim him on her 23 and me be he is like uhh your light says otherwise. Cormac tells her that he is Ruhn’s cousin directly through his mothers kin but her daddio, King Einar, is fae and his line once crossed with theirs long ago.  

They ask Cormac why he is here and he drop a fucking bomb. He is here to meet his bride and mocks a bow to Bryce. Bryce finds this hilarious. Cormac tells her that it isnt funny business and its been decreed by the autumn king and the high king of the Avallen fae. Juniper appeared from the living room archway with a gun in her hand which seemed to intimidate Cormac a bit. Ruhn told him to skidaddle and Cormac couldn’t leave without a little dig that rumor has it the starsword sings to his bride. Bryce put him in his place and told him to leave otherwise she would make him aka use her pretty little light. Cormac is like no bigs, i have seen all i have needed to see. Which i guess he wanted to see with his own eyeballs that she had the gift and was like see you at the altar byeeee. 

Bryce was ready to get her parents out of dodge early, juniper was scrolling the social needs to make sure any of the secrets were let out of the bag (thankfully due to everyone being scared of Fury). They start getting the deets about Ruhns ordeal and Cormac was in fact the cousin that almost killed him. Cormac wasn’t a happy camper that he spent his entire life studying the starsword and then for Ruhn to get it and now has fiancée also has claim on it. Bryce was hoping there was a way out of the engagement, Marc and Declan were hunting on a solution and would update her when they found one. Bryce seemed overly calm about the whole thing but thats just because she was trying to figure out what the Autumn King’s angle was. 

Bryce and Hunt had a team meeting discussing what the autumn king was up to and how their day got royally fucked pretty quickly. They walked home and as soon as they got in her hallway she could smell blood. When they opened the door they found Ithan Holstrom bleeding all over her wood floors. 

CC Community College - Name Meanings 

Cormac- has an interesting translation in Irish “son of the charioteer” or it can also mean son of the raven or son of corruption which isn't giving a lot of hope for the King of Avavellen.

 Einar name meaning- is a Scandinavian old Norse name that means. “One warrior”, lone warrior, and one army, “leader.” I do find it interesting he doesnt go by his government name and is just the autumn king.  of hope for the king of Avallen. On top of a raven nod which we tracked in book one

Masters in the Maasverse - High Kings

Titles are interesting. The Autumn King and the HIGH King of the Avallen Fae?
When have we heard the term High King? Well, Hybern had a High King.

In A Court of Silver Flames we learn The Sword Gwydion had belonged to a true Fae High King in Prythian, as there had been in Hybern. He had united the lands, its people—and for a while, with that sword, peace had reigned. Until he had been betrayed by his own queen and his fiercest general, and lost the sword to them, and the lands fell into darkness once more. Never again to see another High King—only High Lords, who ruled the territories that had once answered to the king.

And then Amren told Rhys he could be high king with the 3 blades Nesta accidentally Made. 

Rhys then asked her “Why do you want me to turn conqueror?”
Amren asked back, “Why do you shy from the power that is your birthright?”
I have always thought that was a curious thing for Amren to say to him. Rhys is very against it though. We will definitely get more into High Kings later.

Chapter 5

Tharion was definitely channeling Hannah Montana saying everyone makes mistakes, everyone has those days, ending up on the Haldren sea looking for a body definitely qualified as one of those days. It’s not his fault he was such a hottie to everyone and that bothered the River Queens daughter. They were looking in a trench in the Haldren Sea. The caption told Tharion that the odds were slim my guy. Guess who’s body he was hunting? That random girl from the prologue, Sofie, the Thunderbird.

Not only was Sofie a Thunderbird but she was a rebel spy and if he was caught, it would not be a good look for The River Queen and Tharion. They had to be super sneaky. He was being punished for making the River Queens daughter cry, but also his fault for taking her maidenhead and becoming betrothed to her. Yikes on bikes Tharion.  Everyone makes mistakes but you strike out left and right in this book bud. Sometimes you need to realize it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me and at tea time everyone would agree. Anyway, he’s been dilly dallying and avoiding this marriage for ten fucking years. Tharion spent more time continuing to do just that and scanned the whole area for a body. They found lead blocks but no body three hours later. He lets the River Queen know the haps and she tells him to find the brother because if she’s alive she’s probably heading for him.

Masters in the Maasverse - Melinoe Trench

We are back in the Melinoe trench guys! And we got some interesting tid bits about. Tharion says “ this northern stretch of the Halden Seas was different. It sucked the life from one’s bones, its grayness creeping into the should. He describes this ocean having a viciousness and it bellowed and raged. He then goes on and says this is where vik was dumped off at and i quote “the wraiths shoebox sized helhole.” Now Ky and i both made the case for the Melinoe trench being some type of portal to hel. We know that oceans often separate realms so i feel pretty married to this theory. Even the fact that he says there are flurries of floating bits - i do know its because i just watched stranger things so i am like yup its like the upside down. 

Chapter 6

Bryce and Hunt were being a dynamic duo trying to help the bleeding Ithan and get to the bottom of what happened to him. Apparently Sabitch didnt take too kindly to Ithan defending Bryce in an article and they beat the shit out of him & kicked him out and then Amelie’s little sister brought him to Bryces. Bryce tells Ithan he has no choice and is staying there and then handles another matter and convinces her parents to leave earlier than expected. 

Bryce says that Ithan will sleep in her bed with her which Hunt is feeling a lot of jealous feelings about. more jelly Belly than her engagement to Cormac. Bryce and Ithan end up having a. Middle of the night heart to heart. She confirms that it was true that Danika was her anchor for the drop and the pack of devils also helped. Ithan tells Bryce that Connor loved her more than anyone and he believed she was his mate. She admitted that she did love him. 

CC Community College - Mates in Crescent City

Shifter Mates- one’s true lover, predestined by Urd. 

Fae- A mate was a blonde deeper than marriage and beyond an individuals control

Angels- there concept was more akin to marriage but matings could be arranged

Chapter 7

Ruhn is not thrilled at this whole engagement situation. The Thotumn King does not care though. He’s like everyone is getting married up in this bitch- you will marry Hypaxia and Bryce to Cormac. Cormac then shares that Hypaxia has a half sister and is a Necromancer, aka someone who can speak to the dead, just like her mom. Ruhn is like cool, no biggie. Cormac is like hold my mead, her half sister is the Hind. 

Daddy Thotum steps in and is like that doesn’t matter, and you guys are doing what I say. In a firm dad voice tells them there will be no more debate. But Ruhn has to get one more in and is like Bryce and Athalar are together ya know. The Thotumn King just tells him they don’t smell like it. After bickering about power, her says that Bryce has one good value and that is her good ol’ womb room. 

Cormac brings up weakening bloodlines just like his daddy had before. Then Ruhn asked if this was really about the war. But daddy just says no, power in the bloodlines. Cormac leaves so Ruhn again asks why are you doing this? Then daddy Thotumn King is a dick because he says Cormac is the son I should have, not the one I was burdened with”

Chapter 8

Their first morning as the new and improved Three Company debuted in the apartment. Bryce let Hunt know if shit hits the fan with the new archangel she was just a call away, Bryce and Ithan reminisced, and then Ithan and hunt had a pissing match. Hunt def held a grudge for Ithan being a little bitch to Bryce for years and let him know it. Ithan was like you know Connor loved her five years and at the five years he finally got her to agree to a date… you are at month five good luck bro. 

Bryce called Jesiba for her third question of the week asking about a piece of art she needs answers on. Jesiba spills the beans that she heard about secret beans aka that Bryce is a fiancé. Her spies let her in on it. Bryce is like cool, any insight as to why Thotumn would try to ruin her life and Jesiba gives her this quote “males will always try to control the females who scare them. Marriage and breeding are their go to methods.” She goes on that she believes that the thotumn got bored waiting and is forcing her to react. Jesiba presses on giving her a semi compliment that she is more like her brother than she realized, she hasnt succumbed to the allure of being the chosen one. She follows up with so you aren’t doing anything with your talent or the horn? She’s like nah my power isnt that great any way plays the Asteri told me to lie low forever and Jesiba hits her with “how terribly boring of you to obey them.” And even a parting “ dont be a cliche and refuse Cormac Donnall.”

CC Community College: Thurr Lore

Thurrr. Okay so we have what I think was a statue of Thurr earlier.  Now we have the first official time we talk about him. When Bryce calls to ask Jesiba about him this is what info she tells us. “I’ve got a nine thousand year old Rhodinian bust of Thurr here. Basically a broody male who was supposed to pass for the nearly forgotten minor storm deity. All that remained of him in their culture was the behemoth of a planet named after him and thursday. I do believe that SJM was inspired by Thor, the Norse god of thunder lightning storms strength and the protection of gods and humans. He was known for immense power, red hair, and wielding the mighty hammer -much like the statue from earlier. He was the defender of Asgard and Midgard, yes Midgard which was the human realm. He was a central figure in myths regarding slaying giants and battling the Midgard serpent who he died from its venom at Ragnorak. now this Midgard serpent is reminding me of the leviathan statue that was at the bone quarter. 

Masters in the Maasverse: Cormac 

So we get Cormac’s last name for the first time so naturally i looked it up. Donnall in Irish means world ruler which i dont believe is by accident. Also did you guys know this is not the first time the name Cormac has been in the Maasverse? In Queen of Shadows when Aelin comes back with red hair it is because she was impersonating one of his top clients and investors, Hinsol Cormac when she freed Aedion from jail. 

And then later when Vernon was terrorizing Elide a man named Cormac with red hair and a black collar around his neck, it was soon to be her betrothed. Is it a coincidence maybe? Or perhaps a family name, obvi we have like 15k in between so who is to say. 

That's a wrap on our first episode of Crescent City House of Sky and Breath Deep Dive. Make sure you are following us on social media and wherever you listen to podcasts! 

As we prep for Rites of Starling, we will be revisiting book one, Shield of Sparrows and breaking down the world, its lore, and the characters that make up this realm. 

Odessa Cross

Our 23 year old FMC who most likely would follow a lot of ADHD pages on her instagram is often tardy for the party because she has a millions of questions to ask. She is the oldest daughter and would definitely love Taylor Swift's bop Eldest Daughter. She was treated as the "forgotten princess" and shoved to the side for her half sister Mae to shine. 

Physical Description: She has curly red hair (she got it from her mama) but her step mother makes her color it brown. While in Quentin she is forced to wear grey also because of said stepmother.  Her eyes are a solid gold without a starburst which is typical for all residents of Calandra

Hobbies: Cliff diving enthusiast, often seen drawing, has an interest in maps. Big fan of monsters whether it's Fazian, mischievous four year olds, and larger monsters with an alter ego. To be fair monsters really seem to be a big fan of her as well. 

Name Meaning:

Odessa-  in greek means crux"long journey" or "voyage." Its linked to Homer's hero Odysseus which reflects the epic travels and endurance of the hero with interpretations including "wrathful" or "one who receives pain." It could also be considered a derivative of Oda who is papa god in this world. 

Cross- in Latin means crux (which is not at all suspicious). It has strong Christian connotations, symbolizing, the cross of Jesus.

The Guardian Aka Ransom

Government Name:  Zavier Ransom Wolfe

The Prince of Turah and heir to the Turan Throne. He has been undercover and goes by the name of The Guardian. He received this nickname after he was bit by a monster and started having "super" abilities (vision, speed, strength, healing, etc.). The super abilities come from him being infected with Lyssa. 

Physical Description: He is a hottie with a naughty body. Tall & broad, chiseled jaw, and brown hair. His eyes are a glorified mood ring and change colors accordingly. He also does not have the typical green Turan starburst. 

He is a believer of praise being saved for the bedroom and not the training ring. 

Name Meaning:

Zavier: Means "bright" "splendid" or "savior"

Ransom: A price paid to deliver someone from captivity, bondage or punishment. In the Bible, Jesus's sacrifice being the ultimate ransom - a payment for humanity's sin's to redeem them from spiritual death and bondage. 

Wolfe- Symbolizes cunning, and loyalty. Usually associated with fierce warrior qualities.

Xavier/Dray

Will the real Prince of Turah please stand up? Welp it wont be this guy. Zavier, (government name: Dray). He has being playing his cousin’s (Ransom) body double for the last 11 years, which he says is an honor.

Physical Description: Another hottie on our hands. Soft wavy brown hair, a scarred eyebrow, with moss colored eyes with Turan’s green starburst.

He is a man of little words, but he still finds time to fulfill the single dad trope by raising Ransom’s little sister. He also likes to share in the bedroom, so good for him.

Name Meaning: 

Zavier: Means "bright" "splendid" or "savior"

Dray: Of English origins meaning large and tall, patient, and long suffering.

King Cross

The King of Quentis is the nicknamed "The Gold King."He is a blonde (first red flag) and has carmel eyes flecked with gold and has an amber starburst like the rest of Quentins. He seems to be quite shiesty and wants Odessa to find a way into Allesaria and try and 86 the Guardian from life. There is something in Allesaria that he desperately wants.

Margot Cross

The current queen of Quentis. She is the mother of Mae and Arty and Odessa's Stepmonster (ruling is still out on her). She was Odessa's mother's lady maid. She made sure Mae was the favorited child and tried to make sure Odessa was off to the side. Unclear if it was for protection or for personal gain?

Note: Blonde with blue eyes with Amber starburst

NAME MEANING

Cross: in Latin means crux (which is not at all suspicious). It has strong Christian connotations, symbolizing, the cross of Jesus.

Gold: Symbolizes wealth, power, success, and prestige.

Margot: French original meaning peart. Symbolizes beauty, rarity, elegance, and timelessness

Mae Cross

An 18 year old spitfire that was groomed her entire life to be the sparrow and future queen. She could use anger management and a hobby that doesnt involve swordplay and bloodlust. She's Odessa's half sister and daughter of Margot and King Cross.

Arthalayus

Arthy is three years old and is heir to the Quentin throne. He is Odessa's half brother and son of King Cross and Margot.

NAME MEANING

Cross: in Latin means crux (which is not at all suspicious). It has strong Christian connotations, symbolizing, the cross of Jesus.

Mae: Spring, growth new beginnings. Nickname for Margaret/Margo.

Arthalayus: Potential derivative of Arthur's symbolizing strength and courage and nobility. Made famous by King Arthur.

Quentis Residents 

Banner

He may be the General of the Golden King's legion but is a complete bore. He was Odessa's former fiancé despite being 15 years older and having a secret lovaaaaa named Brielle. Big grudge against the Guardian for killing is rapey brother.

Brielle 

The nicer of the two of Odessa's lady maids even though she was bangin' Odessa's old fiancé, banner.

Jocelyn

The biscuit of a lady maid who was banging who she thought was Odessa's husband (Dray). Secret spy for King Cross and reported back on Odessa and the Turans.

Name Meaning

Banner: Means flag or standard

Brielle: Heroine of God

Jocelyn: joyful or happy.

Wolfe Family

Ramsey Wolfe

The King of Turah is a big fan of burning books and being kind of a d bag. He wont be winning father of the year anytime soon. Estranged from wife Luella. 

Luella

Mother to Ransom and Evangeline and MIA Queen of Turah. She was the daughter of rich Turannobelamn who arranged a marriage with King Ramsey. She didnt love him and had a side chick named Mikhail. Her bestie is Cathlin. She has a lot of secrets and is a big fan of alchemy. 

Name Meaning:

Ramsey: Wild garlic (unclear if he is a big pasta guy)

Luella: Famous warrior or renowned in battle.

Turah Residents 

Cathlin 

Spends most of her time as Treow's librarian but is often in the right place at the right time. Loves dropping Easter eggs. Besties with Luella. Former resident of Allesaria. 

Evangeline 

Four years old and second in line to the Turan throne. Most believe she is Xavier's daughter but she is actually the secret daughter of Luella and King Ramsey. She has blue starbursts like those born from Ozarth. Goes by the name Evie and is a hide and seek enthusiast. 

Name Meaning:

Cathlin: means pure or clear 

Evangeline: Bearer of good news or gospel

Voster Bros

V Bros Lore

Secretive magical beings. They are supposedly long lived but not immortal. Unclear how many are in the brotherhood. They use blood magic to make unbreakable bonds and can manipulate water, air, and blood. They are weird looking creatures that don't believe in cutting their nails. Green eyes with no starburst. 

Brother Dime

He is the emissary for King Cross but only visits for important events (weddings, royal funerals, etc.) 

Voster High Priest

Prefers to float. His power is unknown just like his whereabouts the last few decades. 

Name Meaning:

Voster: Dutch origin meaning guardian of the forest

Dime: in numerology 10 signifies new beginning, completion, and leadership. 

Make sure you check out our podcast High Fae Housewives for our deep dive of Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry. 

In today's class - "Welcome to Crescent City Community College" we will be covering chapters 1-8. 

If you are a visual learner, feel free to watch the class below (clickable) or on Spotify.

For, our audio listeners here is the class on  Spotify and Apple.

For those that want a quick summary of chaps and the break down, including Maasverse tie-ins we got you! Class notes are below.

CHAPTER ONE 

We meet our FMC, Bryce Quinlan, a red headed, half-fae, half-human sass machine. She’s working at Griffin Antiquities with Lehabah, a spicy little fire sprite who is not thrilled when Bryce’s ride-or-die, Danika Fendyr, full-Vanir wolf shifter and certified menace, bangs on the door like, “Where the hell you been, loca?” Bryce lets her in like the good little spider monkey she is. Lehabah immediately starts melting down about how Jesiba, their terrifying enchantress boss, won’t approve of this surprise guest.

Bryce and Danika are pure chaos besties. Bryce is cranky because her new back tattoo, one she drunkenly got to match Danika, is killing her. Danika, meanwhile, is like, “Cute, babe, but I need a shower because I got… fluids on me. Not the fun kind.” She dumps her stuff in the supply closet like it’s no big deal, and the foreshadowing here is absolutely unhinged.

On a reread, the hints are everywhere. Bryce’s tattoo hurting “like Hel,” Danika healing instantly because she’s full Vanir, Bryce being obliterated when she got inked. The first time through you’re just trying to survive the worldbuilding tsunami, but later it’s so fun catching all the clues.

Danika then drops the bomb that she has to meet with the city heads because Phillip Briggs is being released from prison due to paperwork incompetence. Briggs 101: leader of the human rebellion over in Pangera, across the Halden Sea, arrested for planning to blow up The White Raven, a popular nightclub, to start a war between humans and the magical Vanir and the Asteri. Basically, he wants global chaos. Danika vows she’ll tell the archangels, specifically beautiful, infuriating Micah, to shove Briggs right back in a cell.

Meanwhile there’s an actual war in Pangera where humans are rebelling, and Briggs is over here dreaming of a worldwide bloodbath to topple the Vanir and the Asteri, who rule Midgard from the Eternal City. No biggie.

WORD TO YA MOTHAAAA Segment:
Asteri comes from the Greek word for “star.” Big cosmic energy here.
Vanir comes from Norse mythology, a group of gods tied to fertility, wisdom, and prophecy.
Pangera is basically Pangea vibes.
Valbara is another ancient supercontinent reference. All of this absolutely matters.

Jesiba Spotlight:
Jesiba Roga, Bryce’s boss, is a 400-year-old enchantress, born a witch, who defected to the House of Flame and Shadow and now works for the Under-King. She owns Griffin Antiquities and its extremely illegal library and casually turns annoying people into animals. The name Jesiba connects to “to see or behold,” and Roga means “horn” in Slavic languages. And yes, that might tie into Luna’s Horn. Not a coincidence, babes.

Jesiba also has major Circe energy, the Greek enchantress daughter of Helios who turned enemies into animals. We’re putting a pin in that connection.

Maasters in the Maasverse

ACOTAR Parallels:
We get Helion, Day Court Daddy, whose powers are all golden light, spell-cleaving, air magic, sunfire, telepathy, shapeshifting, the whole shebang. Jesiba’s golden wards echo his magic in a big way. Lucien, whose name means “light,” is Helion’s biological son, and Elaine’s name also ties to light. It’s giving Maasverse crossover energy. Jesiba might be the glue.

CHAPTER TWO

Everyone keeps checking on Danika through Bryce because Briggs getting released is apparently very not cool. Danika, who absolutely would have loved New Moon, is hanging out in wolf form. She heads off to do wolf pack things while Bryce goes to do work things. Her task of the day is to look for Luna’s Horn.

There’s a moment where Danika glances at a showroom camera from behind the decapitated ten-thousand-year-old faun statue. Her tail swishes once as she asks why anyone even wants the Horn. Major foreshadowing. Danika is basically Jim from The Office giving a look to the camera. Her tail is the tell.

The Horn got stolen during a blackout. Supposedly “looters” broke into Luna’s Temple and snatched the relic from the lap of the giant enthroned deity. Sure, looters. We immediately learn Danika’s mom Sabine is a massive bitch. Classic fantasy-name curse. Danika and Bryce have been besties since they met, but Sabine insists Bryce is a half-breed slut.

On their walk Danika mentions Bryce’s half brother, who Bryce still holds a grudge against. They talk about the Horn and Bryce wonders if the power outage was connected. Danika’s tail twitches again because Bryce is getting too close to the truth. Bryce talks about her career and Danika’s eyes flick to the very fancy, very necessary Archesian amulet Bryce wears because neither of them has made the Drop yet.

Bryce’s mom calls. Danika snatches her phone because Bryce’s mom is cooler than her own. She lies that they’re out having fun and gets Bryce out of a parental visit because Lunathion is a little too dangerous right now for humans.

Even though Bryce is only half Fae she’s immediately shown as a badass. She still practices at the gun range even though she hates guns. She’s an excellent shot because her dad is legendary and started training her young. Foreshadowing.

Danika being ten steps ahead gives major Aelin energy. No wonder we like her too much too fast.

The two reach Old Square where tons of tourists wait to take pictures with the Gates. There are seven Gates in total, each carved from huge quartz blocks from the Laconian Mountains. Old Square’s is called the Heart Gate. Each gate has a gem that takes one drop of your magic forever.

Emerald with a rose for Five Roses
Opal with wings for CBD
Ruby with a heart for Old Square
Sapphire with an oak for Moonwood
Amethyst with a man’s hand for Asphodel Meadows
Tiger’s eye with a serpent for the Meat Market
Onyx with skull and crossbones for the Bone Quarter

The history teacher once said the Gates were originally communication devices. The line “the power shall always belong to those who give their lives to the city” is giving Sword of Gryffindor energy.

Danika absolutely uses her clout to cut the line. She and Bryce make their little wishes even though Bryce barely has magic to spare. Danika was expected to have a ton, even more than the Autumn King. There’s a test to predict power levels and she and Bryce planned to do it together at twenty-seven. Totally vanity reasons.

We get the basics of the Drop. After the Drop, aging slows massively. Fae can live a thousand years, shifters and witches about five hundred, angels somewhere between. Humans can’t make the Drop at all. The Vanir heal faster, live longer, and are very hard to kill. Fury once dragged them for waiting to do the Drop for vanity. Fury didn’t choose her own Drop age. It just happened or was forced. She was only at CCU as cover for missions and spent her time doing horrific things for a lot of money in Pangera. No one knows who she works for. You simply do not mess with Fury.

Bryce and Danika make their wishes and go their separate ways.

We get a throwaway line that is not actually a throwaway about a poster showing the six enthroned Asteri and an empty throne for their fallen sister. Finding out who that sister is a case we want to solve.

WORD TO YO MOTHA Segment
Adelaide means noble or of noble kind

MAASTERS IN THE MAASVERSE

The Archesian amulet is a tiny pendant of three entwined circles with major protection against magical influence. And in the MAASVERSE this symbol pops up everywhere. The Bone Carver draws it when talking about his siblings. ACOWAR mentions “three stones for the faces of the Mother.” In Throne of Glass Elena’s amulet has the same three-faced-goddess vibe. Manon calls it the Eye of the Goddess and ties it to the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Maybe it’s three worlds overlapping or rips that open gates. Maybe it’s tied to the Archeron sisters. The point is, this symbol matters, and we’ll learn more about the amulet later.

CHAPTER THREE

Bryce gets home to her humble little apartment and immediately sees that the Pack of Devils has taken over like they pay rent. She asks about the Sunball game. They won, of course, and Connor’s brother Ithan scored the winning goal. Bryce absolutely did not flirt even a tiny bit with Connor before heading into the kitchen to check on Danika after her big meeting.

Briggs is being released and Danika is pissed, but Bryce’s best friend telekinesis picks up that something else is eating her. Turns out that during the power outage last week, two CCU students were murdered in Danika’s section. They were basically in ribbons and clearly used as a partial dinner by something. Not great.

We’re only in Chapter Three and there’s already so much shadowing to the fore. Danika’s pack has basically made watchful loyalty, protectiveness, and chaotic sibling energy into an art form. They’ve claimed Bryce as one of their own even though she doesn’t have the pack sigil tattoo down her neck. And the Prime knows this. File that away.

Bryce suddenly remembers she has a date with her rich boyfriend. Connor is not thrilled. Bryce gives the bare minimum to get ready, takes a few shots, throws on a slutty dress, and tries to head out. But Connor intercepts and actually tries to ask her out. She turns him down gently, then continues on to the fancy restaurant.

She and said rich boyfriend have had sex twice in two months. Brutal. Especially when it was just “okay” both times. Their whole dynamic is funny though. They’re so unfiltered with each other it feels like real friends talking about dumb relationship stuff.

We get the iconic exchange.
Danika says, light it up, bitch.
Bryce answers, light it up, asshole.

A few things to highlight from this chapter:

• Redner Industries is a human owned magi-tech company. Michael Domitus has dumped serious money into their cutting edge experiments. This will matter later.
• Family history moment. Bryce’s mom Ember fell for the Autumn King until he became extremely possessive and aggressive. She peaced out before he even realized she was pregnant. The name Ember is symbolic. A dying fire, lingering heat, the last glow before a spark returns. It represents resilience and potential for revival, which fits Ember perfectly.
• Connor moment. Please cue Taylor Swift’s “the 1.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Bryce shows up to her fancy dinner date with no date in sight. That prick strolls in forty-five minutes late like he’s doing her a favor. Even with people making gross comments about her, she still gets herself some very fancy wine because priorities. While she waits, she gets the sweetest messages from Connor:
You know I’m shit with talking. But what I wanted to say, before you tried to pick a fight with me, by the way, was that I think it’s worth it. You and me. Giving us a shot. I’m crazy about you. I don’t want anyone else. I haven’t for a long while. One date. If it doesn’t work, we’ll deal with it. But just give me a chance. Please.
We all feel the trauma incoming. It hurts already.

Reid’s excuse for being late is a long call about some Pangeran conflict. He gets condescending and tells Bryce she wouldn’t get it because it’s complicated. The war’s been going on for forty years. Humans would rather die than keep living under the Asteri. They hate being slaves. Pangera is a full disaster zone. Fury’s been over there doing who knows what for who knows who.

 Dinner is going terribly. Reid is boring. He’s on his phone. Connor is whispering sweet nothings in her messages. So she dumps Reid right there. She takes the bottle of wine, talks shit to another Fae for the vibes, then texts Fury to go out.

Cue Destiny’s Child Jumpin Jumpin. Ladies leave your man at home, the club has ballers and their pockets are grown. Juniper joins. The girls hit the White Raven. I imagine it like Friday night at the Cabaret at Tulalip in 2011. Bryant-level chaos.

Outside Bryce buys some fun drugs. A dealer tries pushing harder stuff but she is way too poor for that. She starts flirting with Connor through texts and finally agrees to a date. She updates Danika, obviously, and tells her to enjoy pack night. Danika being Danika is off doing wolf alpha loyalty activities.

The White Raven is a temple. The building was built around ancient ruins so the dance floor is literally the old stones of some forgotten god’s pleasure temple. Satyrs, fauns, dancing, drinking, sex carvings everywhere. Love that for them.

Danika has spent hours researching shifter history. Lions rule in Helene. Tigers in Korinth. Falcons in Oia. So much foreshadowing it hurts.

Fury calls Bryce out on her half ass vanity attempt and says Reid should have known he was about to be dumped. Fury also has more drugs. Bryce asks if it’s the expensive stuff she can’t afford. Fury tells her no and to stay far away from it. Bryce reminds her she works tomorrow so nothing hallucinogenic.

Synth will make you feel like a god. File that away. All the way away.

World Building Lore

A long time ago the Vanir erupted through that northern Rift and overtook Midgard. The ones who arrived were far more advanced than the humans and regular animals already living there. Their whole calendar reflects it. HE is Human Era. VE is Vanir Era. Basically the Bible but instead of Jesus you get immortal assholes.

The Vanir have reigned for fifteen thousand years. Only in the past few centuries have humans gained more rights thanks to the Imperial Senate with Asteri approval. One wrong move and they go right back to slavery. Slaves are mostly in Pangera but Crescent City has its share, including warrior angels in the 33rd, Micah’s personal legion. SPQM tattoos mark them.

Bryce was born of two Houses since she’s half Fae and half human. But she was forced to yield allegiance to the House of Sky and Breath in exchange for the civitas rank her father arranged for her. Full citizenship at a cost. Her dad would only petition for her if she claimed his House. She resented him for it but even her mom admitted the benefits outweighed the insult. Humans barely have protections and he knew it

Class Notes:

Fury’s description: long onyx ponytail, sharp face, deep-set chestnut eyes, light brown skin. No one knows what kind of Vanir she is. She’s a full civitas citizen with preternatural speed, grace, and reflexes, but she never reveals another form or any special magic. SJM gives us crumbs. Delicious, frustrating crumbs.

CHAPTER 5

Bryce decides she is going to absolutely live it up at the White Raven before her date with Connor in three days. Fury brings a mountain of drugs. They partake. Bryce becomes a full dancing queen, living her best messy life.

She eventually stumbles down her street and apparently browns out the journey because she genuinely has no clue how she got there. She remembers the code to her building, climbs the gross stairwell that smells exactly as disgusting as you’re imagining, and makes it to her door. She focuses just long enough to realize it’s open. And there’s blood everywhere.

She walks inside and finds the Pack of Devils in pieces. Actual piles of her friends. Everywhere. It is horrific. Heart-shredding. You feel it in your stomach.

A thunk sounds from the hallway. Whatever did this must have been hiding in the trash chute. Bryce bolts. In the alley she spots what looks like a demon. Smooth, almost translucent gray skin, crawling on four creepy limbs, feasting on an angel. Definitely nightmare fuel.

She grabs a table leg and smacks the demon in the head. It only pauses for a second, then lunges back for the angel. She tries again, but the thing rips open her thigh and runs. She tries to stop the angel’s bleeding, asks for his phone, calls for help, and begs them to track him through it. They say they’re coming.

And meanwhile we all sit here gutted because Bryce was finally going to go on that date with Connor. After literal years of slow burn. She knew it was going to be something real. And he’s just gone. Her future, gone. Her best friend, gone. Her found family, gone. All in one night. It’s devastating.

Juniper Andromeda Spotlight.
Juniper’s name symbolizes purification, protection, longevity, vitality, and spiritual growth. And Andromeda is a whole galaxy. There’s a concept of Andromeda Starseeds, souls from that galaxy incarnating to help raise consciousness and guide evolution. Bryce describes Juniper as sweet and mild but luminous. It is very fun to view her through the "andromeda Starseed" lens as the series goes on.

MAASTERS IN THE MAASVERSE

Then we get the line about “dancing at the sacred ancient heart of the Raven.” I want to investigate the temple of the forgotten god too. What kind of god had a pleasure temple under a nightclub? It is giving the SOuthern Continent from TOG for me. 

CHAPTER SIX

Bryce goes from screaming grief to terrifying calm. Isaiah, Micah’s top dog but still a slave, takes charge of the case. He’s assisted by Hunt Athalar, also known as the Umbra Mortis. Hunt immediately wants to toss Bryce into a less pleasant interrogation room, which tells you everything about his vibes at first. Sounds like a dick. Is acting like a dick. Very consistent.

HUNT LORE
His nickname, the Umbra Mortis, literally translates from Latin to Shadow of Death. Even Isaiah’s instincts call him predator, killer, monster. Hunt exists in a ripple of stillness, that quiet moment before a thunderclap, the whole world holding its breath around him.

Isaiah gives Hunt the basic rundown on Bryce.
Bryce Quinlan. Twenty-three. Half Fae, half human. Blood test from ten years ago confirmed she’ll have an immortal lifespan. Nearly zero power. Hasn’t made the Drop. Full civitas citizen. Found in an alley with one of their own, trying to keep his heart from falling out with her bare hands.
It flashes back to the alley. Bryce was adrenaline-scorched and heartbroken. Hunt judged her as a spoiled party girl. He stapled her thigh wound battlefield style. Present-day Hunt then learns Danika is dead. You can feel the shift.

Hunt is not in the Triarii, but not not in the Triarii. He is an assassin, a demon hunter, basically Demi Lovato ghost hunting but with a lightning halo and blood on the floor.
Side note: glad you caught your typo because semon hunter is a wildly different job description.

Hunt tracks down demons that slip through the northern Rift or get illegally summoned.
In Chapter 18, the southern Rift is mentioned. It appears once per book. Very convenient. Potential future witch-gate. Noted for later.

Isaiah is also a slave. Both he and Hunt have halos branded across their brows. Pangeran witches used spell-forged ink that binds most of their power. These halos are a mockery of the divine auras early humans once painted angels with. Angels were created by the Asteri to be perfect soldiers and loyal servants. Hunt and Isaiah wear these halos because they were part of the rebellion two hundred years ago led by Archangel Shahar, Hunt’s commander and lover. The rebellion failed. They also have SPQM tattoos on their wrists. Even regrown limbs carry the brand.

Timeline check.
Fae rebellion: two hundred years ago.
Human rebellion: forty years ago.
Asteri: still the worst.

Naturally, everyone immediately blames Briggs, who was just freed that day. Danika had been stressed about it for a reason. Right then Sabine storms in and goes full Sabine. So pissed at Bryce simply for being alive.

Viktoria (Vik), also bearing a halo, shows up to interrogate Bryce. Vik is a Wraith. Interesting to compare with the water wraiths in ACOTAR. She lists every drug Bryce took, plays the audio of Danika dying, and interrogates her aggressively. Total bitch move. Isaiah realizes Bryce is in shock and will not be speaking.

Hunt asks about Bryce’s other friends: Juniper and Fury.
One of Bryce’s texts to Danika said she hooked up with someone in the bathroom and not to tell Connor. Hot take: Bryce was not wrong for that. She was not dating Connor yet. She was grieving, messy, drugged, traumatized, and twenty-three. Let her live.

We get more Fury intrigue.
They have crossed paths with the mercenary enough to know they do not want smoke. Micah even ordered Hunt to kill her. Twice. Hunt refused because he was not suicidal. What could Fury possibly be that scares literal angelic killing machines? Why does Micah want her dead? We will be circling this for the rest of the series.

Bryce finally cracks. She wants to go home. Hunt is surprisingly gentle with her in this moment. Then Isaiah gets a call telling them to release her. Confusion grows when Ruhn Danaan, Crown Prince of the Valbaran Fae, walks in demanding to see Bryce. They ask what she is to him. He says she is his cousin. Hunt and Ruhn immediately start swinging their supernatural dicks around before Ruhn leaves.

As soon as Ruhn leaves, Isaiah and Hunt discuss the tracker they put in Bryce’s water. Absolute government conspiracy energy. I too wonder what kind of research Sarah Janet did to create this level of surveillance state.

Ruhn Lore.
Son of the Autumn King. Wielder of the Starsword, ancient blade proving his Chosen One status. His blue eyes shimmer like blue flame even though he has zero fire magic. Fae fire is common in Valbara, but Ruhn’s power is like the kin who rule Avallen across the sea. They summon shadows and mist that can veil the world and the mind. Telepathy-level stuff.

Starsword Lore.
Sword made from iridium mined from a meteorite forged in another world before the Fae arrived through the northern Rift. This should set off every ACOTAR and TOG alarm bell.

Fae Isle of Avallen.
Across the sea. Home to shadow magic. Mind magic. Veils reality. Telepathy. This will be important later in CC and ACOTAR connections.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Flash forward six days after the murder.

Bryce takes a trip to the Bone Quarter because she has things she needs to say. Ithan is there being an absolute dick, telling her she isn’t welcome at the pack’s sailing. Danika’s will be at dawn and Bryce’s would follow. Even if they had invited her, she knows she couldn’t have stood there watching whether Danika’s soul would be judged worthy or unworthy. The pain would have shattered her.

There is silence. Nothing but silence and mist. Bryce kneels before the gate. The temperature drops. The mist tightens. Something ancient and terrible approaches. Still she bows her head. She came here to say goodbye and give Danika one last thing. The creature emerges and even the river trembles.

Let’s pause for the Bone Quarter aesthetic.
Foggy shores. Sketchy boat ride down the Istros.Obsidian steps.Darkness.Silence.Mist.

And the bone gates themselves carved from the ribs of a long dead leviathan who once ruled the northern deep.
It’s giving the Prison in ACOTAR. Feyre’s first visit, staring up at the grassy slope with mist drifting and dread rolling in. Sarah planted this seed on purpose. A breadcrumb for the larger Maasverse. A whisper of connection perhaps?

Leviathan Lore
Biblically, a massive sea serpent.
Christianity sometimes frames it as a demon of pride, even associated with Satan or the Beast of Revelation.
So the Bone Quarter being built from a leviathan’s ribs is a massive lore drop, and we will absolutely dive deeper into this ancient being in Book Two, especially with the Maasverse implications.

Then we get the line:
A light had gone out inside her. A light had been extinguished.
This is one of those deceptively simple SJM gut punches. Light it up becomes something entirely different after this.

And then there is Ithan Holstrom. Ithan sucks. Forever the littlest of bitches. He truly outshines Chaol in bitchery, which is impressive because Chaol has held the crown for years.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Two years after the murders we jump straight into Bryce hooking up at the White Raven. Queen is back to coping the only way she knows how. Her hookup is so overwhelmed by how business-coded her outfit is that he literally assumes she is a prostitute. Bryce assures him it is on the house and carries on like the icon she is.

MAASTERS IN THE MAASVERSE
Riso once said the White Raven sits on the ruins of a temple of pleasure. Which is very interesting when you start triangulating the Maasverse and thinking about ancient god-worshipping cultures. The city that best maps onto Lunathion based on geography, climate, and architectural ruins is the Southern Continent in Throne of Glass, near Antica. Hot. Coastal. Broad religious diversity. Old temples. And we know SJM loves her cyclical civilizations.

We are not spiraling into a full theory here but you are absolutely cooking something correct.

Bryce heads to the VIP section to meet her client Maximus Tertian.
Two hundred year old vampyr.
Unwed and unmated.
Son of the richest and creepiest Pangeran vamp.
Rumored to bathe in tubs full of maiden blood like he is running a Groupon special at Dracula’s Day Spa.
Naturally Bryce wants nothing to do with him beyond this sale. He flirts. She icks. He is so cringe-coded you can smell the entitlement.

Then we get the perfect snapshot of Bryce’s underrated brilliance.
She has tracked down ownership papers for a five-thousand-year-old onyx bust of a vampyr lord.
She has played vamp politics like a fiddle.
She has stroked egos.
She has dangled exclusivity.
She has manipulated rivalries.
She has a business brain sharper than the Starsword.
This girl is not just pretty and petty. She is cunning. Strategic. Socially brilliant in a way Tamlin could never even conceptualize let alone execute.

Then the drop party downstairs distracts her for two seconds but she snaps back.
Maximus gets handsy.
He thinks the money he paid her boss means perks come with the deal.
He puts a bruising grip on her wrist.

And suddenly everything goes quiet in the club.

Enter Ruhn Danaan in his emo prince glory.
Max lets go because Ruhn has that don’t fuck with my cousin body language.

Before we get into him let’s cover the Drop because this is where your readers’ brains should be fully wrapped around the terror of it.

The Drop in short:
You channel your firstlight in a government facility.
You fall into your power.
Your mortal body dies at the bottom.
You have six minutes before your brain shuts down for good.
You run across the psychic runway hoping to generate enough power and will to launch back into life.
If you fail you fall into eternal nothingness.
Someone acts as your Anchor to yank you up.
Making the Drop alone is certain death.

It is terrifying. It is spiritual. It is existential. It is also not a metaphor. It is literal.

Ruhn shows up because he told Riso to notify him anytime Bryce came by. He says the Autumn King wants her to lie low before the Summit. Loose cannons and all that. Bryce is profoundly unimpressed. Ruhn offers to walk her home. She says no. He follows anyway. Bryce flips on the lights to signal you can leave now please and thank you.

Let’s talk Summits.
Once every ten years per Republic territory.
Rotating worldwide so there is always one happening somewhere each year.
Leaders meet to perform whatever policy theater the Asteri demand.
Basically government Comic-Con for political puppets.

We learn Bryce quit drinking. We learn her nice apartment came from Danika’s savings. We get two years worth of grief woven into a single moment when she thinks about her alcohol sweater and lies through her teeth.
Bryce is so strong here. It takes a certain kind of resilience to let people believe the worst about you while quietly doing the hard work of healing alone.

And then there is Ruhn.
He is snarky.
He is intense.
He absolutely gives protective cousin energy.
He pretends he’s chill but is not.
But he cares.
You can see it as early as here.

This chapter marks the moment Bryce the traumatized party girl starts shifting into Bryce the quietly resurrecting heroine. It is subtle. But this is the turning point.

We were so lucky to have Lindsey Richardson on the podcast. Her debut book Godsbane releases on October 7th and you guys it's sooo good! 

In this episode we discuss: 

• Inspiration for Godsbane 
• Writing spicy scenes 
• Fav quotes 
• Character arcs 

This is a relatively spoiler free episode and would love for you to listen or watch! 

Apple     Spotify    YouTube 

Don't forget to get Godsbane on October 7th! 
Buy Book Here

Website 

Instagram 

season 2. episode 2.

Starting October 1st we will be starting our journey of deep diving the Crescent City Series! 

We are so dang excited and can't wait to get into theory mode. With ACOTAR coming soon? We know many of you need to start this journey and why not do it with friends who break it all down for you! 

Speaking of ACOTAR, our boom club for September is A Court of Thorns and Roses! Let's discuss and read together. Join A Court of Dreamers today! 

I dont know about you, but my brain is not firing on all cylinders during the summer. I swear I sweat out intelligence. With that being said, fantasy books usually dont scratch the itch because like i previously said, I am stupid in the summer. I want something light, funny, and something that takes very little brain cells. These 5 series are ones that I dont only think are great to read in the summer, but are honestly all rereadable for me throughout the year.

Chesnut Springs by Elsie Silver

First and foremost, Elsie Silver is an absolute queen in the cowboy romance genre. Her banter and spice are top tier. I definitely think you should start with the Chesnut Springs series. Fall in love with Rhett, Cade, Jasper, Theo, Beau, and hell even Harvey and then move on to her unfinished Rose Hill Series and her highly underrated Gold Rush Ranch Series. I love that all three series are interconnected and we get little cameos in each series. Please report back and tell me when we should all move to Wishing Well Ranch together. 

Did I mention all are on Kindle Unlimited?!

Paperback girlie? No Worries here are links for all 3 series. 

Chesnut Springs  I   Rose Hill  I  Gold Rush Ranch 

Elle Kennedy's Off Campus series is my absolute favorite hockey romance series. I dont even care that I am in my mid thirties and reading about college age kids falling in love. The great thing is Elle like Elsie has two other series that are all interconnected, so you get cameos of all your favorite college kids and even get to see them be parents in a different series. If you read a different college hockey book  that TikTok went crazy over and you were like huh maybe hockey books for me, know that this series is far superior and take a shot with this one. 

All three series are on Kindle Unlimited!

Off Campus  I   Briar U  I   Campus Diaries

The Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde is incredibly underrated in my opinion. Now if reading about college age hockey players was weird to you? Fret not these are professionals! Also, not just hockey! Hockey, basketball, and baseball and they all take play in Chi town. I still can't pick a favorite to this day. If you have yours please let me know. 

Available on KU

Windy City Series

Another banger hockey series and one of the best found family tropes I have ever read. Even better news, the next book comes out this fall. These books are definitely a little longer when it comes to romance, but I really enjoy the slice of life style and while they may be a tad longer i still consumed them in a very short period of time (less than 24 hours).

All available on Kindle Unlimited (look at me helping you save money)

Playing for Keeps Series 

The Rebel Blue Ranch series by Lyla Sage is sunshine in book form. I love these books and I swear they keep getting better and better as the series goes on. It's a completed series, but I was lucky enough to read Lyla's advanced reader copy of the first book of her new series and I am pleased to say there is a little Rebel Blue cameo.

Not available on KU (sorry boo boos)

The Rebel Blue Ranch 

So there you have it folks, my list of summer romance series that I think you need to add to your TBR immediately. Let me know if you think I should add anymore to the list.