From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:19):
Welcome to Ready to be Romanced.I'm Tori.
And I'm Angela. And today we're discussing.
From blood and ash solid. Solid welcome back to the pod.
Oh my gosh. Thank you for having me, I'm so
happy to be here. My favorite pod.
Thank you I. Appreciate honestly it is though

(00:40):
because I do feel like everything is such a dumpster
fire right now in the world thatlike if I could just listen to
you talk about romance books with random people every day
like that would be great truly. The romance genre is saving me
from going me off the deep end. I can't even listen.
I used to listen to a lot of, like, other podcasts that were

(01:01):
like, funny, like, you know, like I listened to one that's,
that's about like, it's like a medical one, but it's like a
comedy one. And like, even that, like, now
they're like, well, let's talk about tariffs.
And I'm like, no, like, don't talk about that.
Like over here in America, it isjust no bueno.
So, you know, truly, I thought we could bridge the gap between
America and Canada. Yeah.

(01:23):
Perfect. I love that we're talking about
From Blood and Ash. Is this your first Jennifer L
Armantrope book? I guess it is, yeah.
I mean, I've never read any of her other stuff.
I know that she has a bunch, butyeah, no, I this is my first of
her books that I've I've like actually either remembered
reading or read. It's possible there's not
there's. Truly, I'm going to say this was

(01:45):
a slave for me I really like. Yes, I love this book.
I think that is all. And I knew that you were going
to like it because I feel like it is just like grow.
I don't say it's grown up Twilight, but it is like she
clearly grew up reading Trilightand was like, I need something a
little bit more like with behindit and was like, yeah, let me do
something that's like not vampires, but it's also

(02:05):
vampires, but it's not werewolves, but it is
werewolves. Like you're like, what's
happening? Exactly.
It has so many tropes I like. Like obviously the, the there's
the Wolven and the vampires and then or the Atlanteans that are
like half vampires, yeah. It's all so fun to me because I
just feel like this was like such AI don't want to say a

(02:27):
throwback, but there was a time of my life where like I was very
into like, do you remember the series Underworld with like Kate
Beckinsale? It was like a movie.
Oh, yes, it was. Yeah, it was a movie series.
And I think that like I read that she was really inspired by
that. And I was like, oh, yes, OK.
Because that whole series was very much about hybrids, the
same. And I don't know if you know

(02:48):
this about me, but you're talking to like a very, very a
big fan of The Vampire Diaries series.
Love, love. Probably seen that show five
times like through. I love that cast like moves like
he kind of actually gives Damienvibes where like I.
Can like. Like when she's like, he moved

(03:09):
so fast. He moves so fast.
He's so broody and like, you know, like, Oh my God, yeah, I
was dying. You're on route to to pick up
#2. I I'm definitely on route to
pick up #2 I'm also super into and looking forward to finding
at some point the like POV book from his point of view because

(03:31):
that's out there as well. Yeah, she does.
Like, oh, she's done a whole like prequel series and stuff
like that. Which I'm very.
Excited for because I will say right off the bat, just because
I'm coming off of like Onyx Storm and I just feel like this
world is so much better built and like I was like, oh, I like

(03:52):
understand it. Yeah, and it reads a little bit
less fan ficky, I guess you could say then like the
beginning of and like, I love 4th Wing, but I do feel like she
wrote Fourth Wing not realizing she was going to write so much
more than Fourth Wing. So I do feel like when Jennifer
wrote this book, she maybe thought like, okay, this is just

(04:14):
the star and I know it's just the star and I know what I'm
gonna write after that. Like she had like maybe a big
white board like with it all mapped out.
But yeah, you can kind of tell that it's like a slow burn.
And I think that's good because I mean, we've discussed via
Instagram voice messages the. Crescent Cities.
Yes, yeah. It ends up being a good book.

(04:35):
But you're like, wait, what's happening?
Like who am I? Where am I?
What world is this? So yeah, I agree.
It's good. Stuff it's a really good I feel
like kind of like fantasy light almost book and I just like not
feeling so dumb. Like I I just feel like there's
reveals in this book. Yeah, make a lot of sense.

(04:57):
And I did see them coming in in most cases, but that's.
Totally. The clues are there, I think.
Honestly, to be to be fair, whenI first read this book, I think
I was like shook to my core because I am doing a reread.
Yes I'm pretty sure I was like pretty shocked but know what I
read this before a guitar. I will say I do see a lot of a

(05:19):
guitar also influence like. What's the timeline there?
When did a guitar come out versus when did this come out?
Because this was in 2020. Yes, and I think a guitar is
like 20/14/2015. Yeah, it's like a much because I
remember reading a guitar like way, way a long time ago.
Yeah, I know. You can see that.
There's like, oh, A twist. Like she's not somebody's not

(05:40):
who you think they are. Totally and like just the broody
and like that is in every book, but like I like the dark 1 is
very like king of the night or. Like, have you ever read Chadam
and Bone or that series? Like that's like a whole other
one, like where there's like a dark one.
Like, yeah, OK, we got it. Yeah, it's.

(06:03):
I but like I eat it up and I also like I know this is like
problematic, but like I love like a virginity like like like
the trope she was obviously likebecause you were also a big
historical reader. She was like, obviously hadn't
had sex and didn't know everything about like.

(06:23):
Kind of like she knew much more than your average Joe.
Like she talked to the maids. The maids told her exactly the
mechanics of like what goes down.
So she like knew how it worked, but like had never seen a Dick.
You know, like, like that's likethe line.
You know how to ride on top? Yeah.
Like she just like was a little dumb about it, but like she had

(06:43):
heard like she did the the book work and she wrote the book
report and got an A but like wasa little stupid about it, you
know, like just like wasn't likeshe knew it in like a more like
book smart way, not in like a street smart way.
So like when he was like and andalso like girl was horny like.
Yeah. Like she was a maiden, but like

(07:04):
she didn't like the maiden for her was like the terminology.
It was not about her virginity. I feel like it was about like
something more different. So I don't know.
But I also liked it in this book.
Sometimes I don't love it. Like it's not well done and it's
like it gives you the ick. But this this didn't read that
way. And I think it's because the
maiden capital M was her title, right?

(07:27):
And it didn't necessarily have to do with her being a virgin.
That was just part of it. Like she was the maiden because,
well, we still don't really actually know why they made her
the maiden. I guess her blood.
Yeah, or like her power. Who's to say?
Yeah, for some reason. That's another another.
Yeah, they were like because youare XYZ, you can you are the

(07:50):
maiden and therefore like shouldbe kept pure.
But it wasn't. Yes, you're pure and that's why
we like you. Exactly.
And I love like a bad boy, but that like in bed, he's like
takes his time and like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
He's he never like, he does likekind of tease her a little bit,
but it never feels like he's like looking down on her.

(08:11):
When he teases her, it's like more sparring.
Did you reread this physical book or did you listen to the
audio book? I listened to the audio book the
first time I read it and then the time I listened to.
It so I read the book, started reading the book and then was
like, OK, I'm not going to finish in time.
So I downloaded the audio book just to like go back and forth
because I could like do it on the subway or whatever.

(08:33):
And I very much dislike the accent in the audio book.
Like it really threw me for a loop And like at one point they
they do that he has an accent but for some reason that didn't
click for me. And like the person who narrates
it, like God bless, but it's nota good.
Like British or something but like.

(08:53):
Hoity toity British, not like hot British.
Totally. And like I fucking hate like
this is a lot of the reason why I prefer my Kindle over
audiobooks is I fucking hate when it's, it's like not dual
POV, but like obviously dialoguewith a man and it's a woman
doing like the man. He's doing voices like I would

(09:13):
prefer you just speak as a narrow like because when I'm if
I were to do read an audio book,like I wouldn't want voices like
I'm not asking for a theatrical performance.
I'm asking you to literally justread me the book, you know, Yes.
So I don't know. I think we obviously listen to
the same audio book, but there is a graphic audio book.
It was. Just like you had to pay.

(09:35):
I was like, it wasn't included, no.
No no, mine came with my Kindle download.
Yes, yes. So I was like, I was like, I'm
not paying for. This I will pay the extra $0.99
for the audio but not more. Not the graphic.
What if I? Didn't like it?
Totally. But I'm assuming that's like a
full cast and stuff like that, so I'm sure I would like that a

(09:55):
lot better. But yeah, I fucking hate when
it's like when there isn't. I guess they only really do that
when it's dual period. I had to stop 'cause I knew like
a good part was coming, so I would stop listening to the
audio book just so I could read it 'cause I was like, this is
really like, not for nothing, but giving me a little bit of
the ick with him. No, it it was for sure if I
hadn't read it. Like I don't like him.

(10:15):
Yeah, I don't think I would haveliked it at all.
But it's OK. OK, let's get into It's a
spoiler warning. We're going to be discussing
from Blood and Ash, but not anything that comes after.
And just a content warning. There'll be a brief discussion
of violence and death. The book is written by Jennifer
L Armentrout. It was published March 29th,

(10:35):
2020 and our main character is Poppy, who we meet playing cards
at a brothel. I'm sorry, her name is not
Poppy. Yeah, that's right, Penelope,
whatever the funnel. Fee, Penelope.
That's one thing that I like always fucking hate about these
books is like they always have like the craziest names.
Also, I think a huge spoiler, and maybe it isn't actually, but

(11:00):
like because there are normal names in this book.
Obviously Poppy's normal. Yeah, when it's Hawk, I just
knew some. I was like.
But you're like, that's not his name.
You're like, that can't be his name.
I don't know. His whole vibe was like SUS from
the beginning, though. They're like, and he just
appeared. He would never be named her
personal guard. And I was like, yeah, no, he's
going to be her personal guard. And they're going to boom like

(11:21):
eventually, like that's where this book is going.
And then there's more to it. But you know, I think that
Penelope is probably the world'sfirst name.
So I'm glad that they she had nickname.
Poppy makes it 100%. And she's playing cards with the
royal guards. She is in a disguise.
She borrowed some like servant'sclothes because she is the

(11:45):
maiden. We will talk about what that
means like throughout this recap.
But she has a special power. So she's like mortal but mortal.
Plus, she has this special powerwhere she can sense people's
sadness. Yeah, and they really don't give
you much to go off in this firstscene of, like, what's the world
that we live in? You know, like they're like, you
know, this is, you can tell it'slike a medieval world like cuz

(12:08):
there's a bar and there's like, you know, like, like barmaids
and yeah, guards and things likethat.
And, and she's like, I'm in a maid's outfit, which gave me
like Bridgerton vibes. Like when Penelope, which is
funny. Penelope, Penelope goes to like
in the in the show, like, and she's like wearing the like the
maid outfit. Like that's the lady whistle

(12:30):
down. Like it's like not a disguise,
but that's fine. And for some reason they wear
masks, like people are just wearing masks in this world,
like to disguise themselves. So she's wearing like a
masquerade mask and A and a maidoutfit playing card.
Totally. Which kind of seems convenient
because she also has a very she's like veiled.
As yeah, when she's the maiden she's like a creepy, like

(12:52):
wearing a white veil like nobodycan see her face type thing.
And she wears gloves because shecan remove people's pain by her
touch. Yeah, Which is like, really
wild. That's like, they throw that out
very quickly. They're like, yeah, I just like
recognizing all these people's sadness and like, like, OK.
Magic powers and I do wonder if there's other people like her

(13:15):
because she's the only one that we meet.
Yeah, I mean, there must be. There must be She lives a really
sheltered life in this Kingdom. There's like a queen and a king,
but she lives in this castle with a a Duke and a Duchess.
Yeah, she's like under their protection.
She's 18. On her 19th birthday, she will
ascend. We find out kind of what that is

(13:39):
later in the book. But she has an older brother,
Ian, who has already ascended. Yeah, At this point we just
think it's like a like a ritual to like become immortal,
basically like you become. Did you ever see that movie
where like they become pretty? What's that movie?
Yes, like uglies. Yeah, the.
Uglies. I never heard the but it's a

(14:01):
terrible movie. Yeah.
But I do feel like it's like that, like you're like, you'd be
turned 19 and you can like be pretty like it'd be immyrtle and
like that's all it is. And like there's no sort of like
downside to it. And her brother was allowed to
do it because she was made the maiden.
But typically the people that ascend are only the second

(14:21):
third. Third child of the families that
live in this Kingdom. Or the first is allowed to
ascend, but the second and thirdare given at the right, given to
the temple. You're right.
Yeah. So the because he's a second
child, he typically would have been given away to the temple,

(14:43):
But because she was the maiden he was allowed to ascend to like
stay with her. And they give these these kids
to the temple because there are these things called Craven.
Sorry. We're trying.
To like fantasy novel like no I know.
We we actually sound crazy exciting this, but they're.

(15:04):
Craven. Craven.
And they are. Which are like zombies,
basically, yeah. They're like like a blood angry.
Yeah, and we don't really know much about them yet.
We start to, like in the next scene, get a little bit more
info when they're talking about the mist and like the sickness
that comes with the mist, which actually just turns out to be
the curse, which actually just turns out to be Craven.

(15:26):
I think it's one of like, there is no like actual illness.
Yes, I was kind of like annoyed by that because I'm like, this
is so wordy for like the curse. It's it's just, yeah, the period
that they they decline into being Craven.
But I think that this whole bookobviously hinges and like so
many other fantasy novels is that like the townspeople don't

(15:49):
know shit about shit and there'sonly like folklore and.
Rumors it's like here and it's also like systemic, you know,
like the king and queen and the Dutch and the Dutchess are like
clearly part of something and like but at the same time like
if they question it, like they could die and also become
Craven. So they're kind of like, OK, we

(16:10):
don't want this. We don't know.
We don't want to give up our kids, but also like don't want
to die. So they're like being told that
the gods and goddesses are keeping them safe by if they
every year give up their children, their second and third
sons and daughters to the temples.
Exactly. And in their mind, that means
that they're going to become like priests and priestesses

(16:33):
like and prey and shit like monks, like they're just like,
their kids are going to be like Buddhist monks, basically.
Yes, which are immortal beings, but they're not.
But they're not. They're deaf.
But yeah, but we find that lateron that is not true.
None of it's true, but either way, like this is what Poppy
knows is true. And she's just kind of like, in

(16:55):
this bar, like hearing all of these things about, yes, what's
happening. A possible Craven attack and
Victor who is one of her personal guards, like kind of a
father figure to her. Yeah, like Witcher vibes from
Victor for sure. Yes, very.
I feel like Giles and he enters the brothel.

(17:18):
So a waitress who had recognizedher as the maiden says, go
upstairs to the 6th door on the left, and she goes.
She runs up there and it is already occupied by none other
than Hawk Flynn, a royal guard who just transferred from
Carcedonia a few months prior. Which is the capital.

(17:42):
So he's like well known guard. Well known and everyone's
fucking obsessed with him because he's so strong and so
hot and so good at being a guard.
He kisses her like immediately because.
He thinks it's the maid, which like, actually, now that we know
so much about Hawk, like who's this maid to him, You know, like
that he knows her Cape. Nobody.

(18:04):
I think, I think that I think that The thing is, is that he.
Knew it was her the whole time. Yes, this is all set up.
She was sent to the 6th store orwhatever but it's under the
guise that it's like. He fucks this maid all the time,
yeah. Exactly like I'm just hooking up
with this maid, but he is what is his game plan here?
Because obviously it is to we find out later on.

(18:26):
It's big spoiler alert. Yeah, sorry everyone if you
didn't get it in the beginning. Spoilers.
Yeah, huge spoiler that 'cause Idon't.
Think it makes sense to talk about this in a in like a?
In a way that we don't know thathe is.
Not right 'cause we do know yeahno.
So his whole game plan is that he needs to get close to her
because his brother. So Hawk is not Hawk.

(18:48):
Hawk is actually the dark 1 slash the second sun Prince of
this land that is like basicallyconsidered like a yeah, like a
territory that like is at war with the the territory that we
existed in this world. And so his brother has been
taking and has been kidnapped and so taking prisoner.

(19:11):
And so he wants to use the maiden to get her him back.
And so his whole plan is like, I'm going to get close to the
maiden, which I don't really getlike why he thinks the like why,
why her? Like why did he pick her?
I don't, I don't know. I do know it's because the Queen
loves her. Oh.
That's right, she's like the Queen's BFF and he thinks that's

(19:33):
good leverage. Yes, good leverage to get
Prince. Malik it just seems like a the
long con, you know, like what? A long con.
This is the part that I don't get is why does he make her fall
in love with him? I don't think he does.
So his intention was to get close to her and take her right
away. Like he was not meant to like

(19:53):
make him her fall in love with him like he but.
He loves her and has. To yeah, like it happens, like
it just happens that she's so cute and pretty and brave and
smart and funny, but like, you know, like very pick me girl,
but she. Yeah, they always are.
They. Always, but his whole game plan
is that he's going to infiltratethe castle as a guard, which he

(20:17):
already has done, and he alreadynoticed her noticing him.
So like he's like, ah, like she is in debate.
So when he hears that she's in the red Pearl, like he's like
tells that Lady to send her up because he's he wants to, to
just like get close to her. So he's like laying the
groundwork because eventually hejust wants her to trust him, not

(20:38):
like fall in love with him. Totally, and it's the perfect
ploy. And we find out that Lady can
like read minds or some shit, like I don't remember.
There's a lot of other powers going on in this world that we
don't get a ton of info. The powers are a little bit Gray
area. They're Gray at this point,
which I'm OK with because it is Poppy's POV and as of this.

(20:59):
Point that much like we really don't.
Totally. She doesn't know anything so it
like makes a lot of sense, but he's asking her to like take off
her mask and. Yeah, like he he's like, I can
tell that this isn't you, Britta.
Like the maid. Come on, take off your mask.
Like, I'll do whatever you want.Like he's like, basically like

(21:20):
volunteering to, like, I don't know, just, like, be her sex
slave. It's unclear why he like, says
all of that, but she's like, Nah, but she's a good girl.
She. Yeah, and she can't be found out
and she has to remain pure. So this is like already really
scandalous for her. To even have gone to this place
which is like clearly like a a brothel like with a bar in it.

(21:43):
Kieran, who's also one of the Royal guards, informs Hawk
through a closed door as Hawk and Poppy continue to like kiss
and and banter that someone is there.
Like a someone is there on. Boys, but like, I don't know
his. Attention.
Now I'm like thinking back, I'm like, who is this that he's

(22:03):
talking about? Because Kieran's obviously in on
it. Yeah, I'm not sure at this
point, but he's like, stay here,but she leaves out the window.
Do you think he would have was planning to take her that night?
Yeah, I think there's multiple points before he actually gets
to take her that he was like going to attempt to take her.

(22:23):
Right, because that Lady wouldn't have sent her up to
that room. So I think like she sent her up
there so that Hawk could like get her.
Like seduce her and then. Maybe not even seduce her, maybe
just like straight up kidnap her.
And he just was like, Nah, this sounds like like, I think I
could just, you know, like kiss her.
And that would be cool, too. Yeah, or I lull her into.

(22:44):
Now I am super intrigued to readhis point of view.
I'm curious. Me too.
Me too. I'm very curious.
Yeah, she leaves in the middle of the night and goes back to
the castle. But she regrets it.
She wants to get that. She wants to get it.
She does. She thinks he's cute.
Victor and Poppy have this thingwhere they will go to like the

(23:06):
townspeople's houses who are in pain and help them, and we see
Poppy use her senses to a personwho is suffering from the curse,
which means that he is turning Craven because he was bitten by
a Craven. Yeah, they're like assisted
suiciding people basically. Like, because what will happen
is if somebody's found out to beCraven, like they're not just

(23:28):
like, killed, they're dragged tothe center of town and like, put
on display and like, assassinated, which I think is
really crazy. So instead of that, Victor and
Poppy are part of this group of people who are going out there
and like helping people die in alike dignified way because there
really is no cure for it. Once you become Craven, like
you're just, you're Craven. So instead of like letting you

(23:51):
get to that point, they're helping them.
And then Papi, because she has this gift, is also sort of like
taking away their pain, whether it's physical or like emotional,
you know, which is like convenient, you know?
So the back of the castle one night and she's talking with
Lord Mazine who is an ascended that like lives in the castle

(24:14):
and is like an awful guy. OK, like it's just an awful
human. They both hear a scream and it
is a lady of the castle who is partially undressed, drained of
her blood. Her neck is snapped and she has
two basically vampire wounds in her neck.
They are like shocked because this doesn't look like a classic

(24:35):
Craven attack that is like for like.
Yeah, 'cause when the Craven areattacking, they are biting, but
they're like basically just mauling people to the death.
They're not like there's no, like there's blood everywhere.
It's disgusting. Whereas this is like there's no
blood and like it's just like a puncture in the neck.
But at this point, like does Poppy know that like is

(24:57):
vampirism or like vampire or whatever they call it later?
Like is that something that she's aware of?
Is that like a myth at all? Or is it just something?
It might be I I will say one thing about this book series, it
doesn't seem like like I feel like very classic and fantasy
novels. They have like access to like a
library or whatever and they're always reading up on like.

(25:21):
Yeah, with the myth and like thestory.
Yeah, but it doesn't seem like that that's the case here
because. She's kept so sheltered that.
So sheltered, but even Victor doesn't like he was like OK so I
guess. Like nobody recognizes these two
puncture burns as like maybe being from this like old myth
myth. Like, is it that long ago?
The way that we're talking aboutit, it actually just triggered

(25:43):
something. No, they think it's an Atlantean
because. Yes, the Atlanteans.
Yes, because the they are like that is a old territory that
like no longer exists. But they were evil and they
sucked people's blood like vampires.
And so when the Duke and Duchessgiven a statement that, yeah,

(26:09):
the death was caused by a dissenter, which is a person, a
townsperson, that basically doesn't.
Believe in the ascension, Yeah. Yes, doesn't want their kids or
whatever to be given at the right or like they don't believe
about like the royalty and the monarchy of it all.
Yeah so like I just chat GPTD. What are Atlanteans in my thread

(26:30):
about? A long time ago, Atlanteans
ruled over and lived alongside mortals and balance.
But the ascended twisted that balance and they fed off mortals
in secret and became corrupted and started spreading lies that
Atlanteans were the enemies. Eventually they started hunting
and Atlanteans and claimed theirterritory was cursed and that is

(26:53):
the land that hawk is the Princeof his Atlantia.
Exactly. TLTR.
They're confused at what happened with this person
because they're like, hey, it's not a Craven, so it must be
Atlanteans. But we don't know that those
people still exist, so they are suspect.

(27:13):
Yeah, exactly. And I do think that, like, Poppy
just is like so uneducated that she's just like, this is crazy.
But she still is like, notices that it's weird looking like she
has really good, like sixth sense.
Like she's like this doesn't seem quite right for a Craven
attack. Totally.
There's some ways in which she'sreally smart and some ways where

(27:33):
she's like, really? She never puts a two and two
together though. So a few more nights pass and
she's on a nightly walk and one of her guards, Rylan who she.
Is like Biffles with. She's like really good friends
with. Really good Friends with gets
shot with an arrow because someone is trying to kidnap
Poppy but Victor gives her lessons in secrecy about how do

(28:00):
you fight people. So she stabs the person trying
to kidnap her. Basically at this point the
assassin says something to Poppyand he's like I don't care what
he has planned for you. Like I just want you dead.
Yeah, whereas like, his, he was clearly told to kidnap her, not
kill her. And he's like, I don't really
care, like what he wants me to do with you because you just

(28:22):
tried to stab me, so whatever. And then she, like, cuts off the
guy's arm, right? She's really badass in that way.
Yeah, she's like totally dismembers this person.
And so, yeah, of course he doesn't want to, like, follow.
He's like, I want to murder you.And the royal guards come out of
the castle and discover Poppy there, as Ryland is like passing

(28:43):
away at Ryland's funeral. Everyone's there to pay his
respect. And Hawk is kind of guarding
Poppy extra because of this attempt.
As Victor goes to pay his respects.
We kind of get this as like the seed that he might become one of
her personal guards because. He stepped forward.

(29:06):
Yeah. Yeah, he she is out one guard.
Yeah, and I guess she always hasto have two, which is kind of
crazy, but. And we get kind of more about
like that there might be something wrong because Poppy,
her like lady in wait. Tawny and Victor go to a weekly
City Council meeting that the Duke and Duchess preside over.

(29:29):
And there's this couple who are requesting that their third born
son, Tobias. Like not be given to the right
because their other son, their first born son died.
Like got sick. Like, yeah, he just got, like,
the flu or something, you know, like, totally irrelevant, but,
like, died. So, like, can we keep this one?
They're like, Nah. But they refuse and Poppy is

(29:52):
like really upset about this. Fair well, she just doesn't
really get like what what's happening and of course, like we
don't like we are also not supposed to get it and it makes
us also think like OK, why though?
Like it doesn't doesn't seem strange that they wouldn't just
like let this one family keep their kid like.
Yeah, and she is starting to have of some like doubts in her

(30:15):
mind because she sees this like pretty brutal act and she she
does like. Twice, like two things.
She saw the the Melissa and thenshe saw Rylan and she we also
learned that she already had a guard killed Haylin.
It starts with an HI, don't remember.
So she's just like, lots of shit's been going down around
Poppy. She is doubting.

(30:37):
She's like. Also why are the mortals like
defending the lands when the ascended are like a lot?
Stronger, faster. Like why are all the guards
mortals when there's all of these like strong vampire
people, like just chilling, you know why?

(31:00):
Why are people allowed to die atall?
And we'll see that later when there's that attack.
We get the official announcements from the Duke that
Hawk is going to be her new personal guard.
Which is just like, yeah, no shit.
Like we saw that coming. Like the second he appeared on
the page A. 1,000,000 miles away.
And she's like, still shocked though.
She's like but he's so new. Yeah.

(31:23):
There's other people that were should have been ahead of him,
like girlfriend. They did make some like good
points about like how he is fromCarcedonia and stuff like that.
Like it? It did make sense.
But we also find that out that it's all a lie, like he's.
Not yeah, but he actually isn't.So then the Duke is like take
off your veil, Poppy, which by the way, she hasn't done and
like isn't supposed to do aroundanyone, but like her guards, the

(31:47):
Duke and like her, even her lady, even Tawny like she's
really not supposed to show Tawny her face.
She just does when she's in her bedroom.
And this is where we like find out that she's like also sort of
like disfigured. Yeah, she has scars on the left
side of her face. And the Duke says like one side
is beautiful and then the other one is like grotesque or

(32:08):
whatever. And Hawk, the gentleman that he
is, he says that both sides of her face are.
Yeah, is beautiful, Yeah. And later the Duke is going to
say like, that's he was just being nice when he said that.
And it's like, OK. Brutal, but he pisses off the
Duke when he says that and she like smirks back at him.

(32:32):
So he summons her to his office and basically canes her, lashes
her. It's like, it's sexual assault,
like sexual violence in nature because he makes her like strip
off the the top of her. Yeah, they kind of give this
like an essay overtone when it it is, I guess.

(32:52):
But it is more like abuse ratherthan like assault.
Like he's not and it's it's not.There's no sexual acts happening
other than like, her being the maiden and being like this
virginal character who is then forced to, you know, like,
strip, like you said. And so that's like, and yeah,
with Lord Mazine and all of thatwatching like it does have that

(33:16):
sexual overtone and it is reallyicky and really disgusting and
really like, I think she writes it in a way that is, I want to
say well done. And I know like respectful way
but it is still meant to like give you that uncomfortable.
Feeling. Feeling yeah, for sure, like
these are bad guys. Like they're bad.

(33:36):
Yeah, yeah. Like Lord Mazin is holding down
her hands so she can't cover herher breasts.
And this is like a rumor around the castle as well that the Duke
and Lord Mazin do this to other people.
Everyone called him like his lessons and stuff like that.

(33:56):
When Poppy leaves like she has to like stay in her bed chamber
for two days, Yes, because she can like barely walk and.
Say she does tell Hawk, like Hawk is like, oh, like I have to
bring you to the Duke's office like and she like blanches and
he like notices that. And then later he they refer to
like his lessons and like Poppy and Tawny both like or like.

(34:19):
Eek, like Flint. Yeah, they're like, not the
lessons. And he's like, what's that
about, like? Yeah, he's like trying to figure
out what actually happens, right?
And but he he doesn't know. He suspects, so he must suspect
like she can't walk and like. I find it.
Wild that he doesn't know like later that he's like so shocked
by it. Like I think it's pretty

(34:40):
obvious, but I guess it's from her POV so.
Yeah, that's actually something you're right, that doesn't
actually make sense because he hates all of these people.
Like he knows there are bad people.
Maybe he doesn't realize that. Maybe he thought because she was
the maiden, she was protected. Yeah, that's it.
That's probably it. That's but still, it's like she
was in her bed chamber after meeting with the Duke.
Like clearly something happened.She's like, I don't know, it

(35:02):
doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out, but.
Totally. They want to make it very
dramatic later when he does. Eventually, like yes.
I can brutally murder him because he touched her.
I love I love I love a touch herand die trope too touch.
Her and die even though she's like I can take care of myself.

(35:23):
Exactly which we see in this scene when she is staring out
her window and she notices that there are torches on the rise
and the rise is like. Yeah, it's like a mountain.
So this is like very Lord of theRings, like this whole like
wearing a a keep. Like we're surrounded by a
fortress. And so the torches on the rise,

(35:44):
it's like Gondor calls for aid. Like very much like putting if
you're like, I don't know what this pitch is talking about.
No, but like, it's like they litthe torches to like let them
know that like an attack is happening because like there's
no cell phone. So like, what are they going to
do? You know, so they light a torch,
they light a beacon. The Beacon.
Exactly, and because she is who she is, she fucking runs out of

(36:11):
the castle using not. Only runs out of the castle like
climbs the roof, like in a dress, in her nightie, in her
slippers. Of course, of course she does.
They always do. But she.
Like always do, I would change my clothes.
Like change your clothes. Hawk says that later.
He's like, just change your shoes next time.

(36:31):
Crazy. Yes, which is like 100% it's
like this is when she should they should have had a scene
where she like steals like a stable hands like pants and some
yeah, it keeps them in the floorboard of her bed chamber or
whatever. But right, but it has to be that
she is like she's fighting them in her nightie like type thing

(36:52):
and her slippers, but she's still able to keep up.
Yeah, she escapes through like she knows all, like the Servant,
right, exits and stuff like thatand.
Like where the guards actually do protect the rise from like
where they where they stand guard.
Like she's like, sees like a guywho's like a an Archer.
Yes, yes. And she goes up there and she

(37:12):
kicks some Craven's ass, but shebumps into none other than.
Hawk, who is clearly following her.
Yes, who like Well, you could spot this bitch from.
A mile away and who's Yeah, she's like, she's so like
covert, but she's like running around her nightgown.
I like this too though because she's like able to knock him to

(37:32):
the ground. Like I do feel like he likes
that she gives it to him back. We should also mention at this
point, she does not think that Hawk has recognized her from the
Red Pearl. Like she has said a few times,
like, oh, I'm going to talk and he's going to know immediately
who I am, but then he doesn't. He's going to see my face and

(37:53):
he's going to know who I am because like the second part of
my face or whatever will match and he doesn't.
So she's like, he clearly wasn'tthat impressed by me.
And she is has a hood over her head at this.
Point I'd say yeah and so like, I guess like he she tries to run
away from him, he knocks her to the ground and she like has her
dagger on him and the dagger's but she's like oh, he recognizes

(38:15):
my dagger. But like, lol, he's like,
actually I knew who you were thewhole time.
Like yeah, the second you took your veil off, like and then
also now we know he knew even before that, but he tells her
now and she's like totally embarrassed.
Yes, yes. Like it's good.
Like putting her putting two to two together, like she's like,
fuck, like she's he saw my Bloodstone dagger.

(38:38):
Like all of that is like fun because you're like, oh, this
girlie's putting yeah, putting two and two together.
But it's like, bitch, you have no idea.
You have, yeah. Now looking back on it, we're
like, oh, none of this matters. But like at the time you're like
shit. Like what's he gonna do?
Like you're like, you're in her POV 100%.
And especially as like also likeI guess if I have read this as

(38:59):
like a 18 year old girl, like I would be like panicked for her,
you know, like now having read 100 million romance fantasy
novels, I know the drill and that it will be okay.
But this? Would have blown my I.
Would have been losing it like this would have triggered a
panic attack in me. No, literally, like if I

(39:20):
actually did read this year, right, like after Twilight or
something like that, like I would have actually, I would
have been like screaming, crying, throwing up.
Yeah, because like that I can recall back to a time when like
you're like, you don't want people to, like, find out like
you did something or like that it was you or, or even like,
like a boy, like you have a crush, like he read like, you
know, like you don't want them to know that it was you.
So she's like, like, but eventually he's like, it's fine,

(39:46):
girly, girly bop like. I'll bring you back to your
room. Though.
And then she's like, I like, I'min love with him because instead
of being like, don't ever do this again, he's just, like,
back, Yeah. He's it's like very much where
Zayden is like, no, you can takecare of yourself and.
Deep, yes, they're a violent little yes 'cause he says that

(40:07):
about her too, like, oh. He says you're violent.
Actually, I do remember him saying that and I was like, oh,
is that like a? But I guess maybe it can't be
because this was written before 4th Wing but.
Yeah, but maybe that's again more 4th wing borrowing.
Yeah. Borrowing, borrowing.
Nothing's new in this genre anymore.
There is a public meeting with the townspeople and the Duke and

(40:31):
the Duchess about the Craven attack and all of our main
characters like Pops. Off though, like this is like an
intense like little summit. This is like really fun because.
I can imagine this like very Hunger Games.
See, like the Duke and the Duchess are like really dressed
up like like Alfie from The Hunger Games, like very like

(40:51):
crazy outfits or whatever. Yeah, capital city vibes.
Yes I'm again spoiler alert but this is being made into ATV show
and I'm like. Yeah, yeah.
I don't remember what the timeline is on that though.
I, I don't think we have any because it actually just got
announced in December. So it's only four months passed

(41:13):
its announcement. So I don't think that they're
they've made any money moves, but this is going to be such a
fun scene. Yeah, you can see it like it's
really well written. It's really well written and
it's just the visuals of this, like them standing on the
balcony looking down at the townspeople in the lake
courtyard or whatever. The Duke and Duchess are talking

(41:34):
about how they spoke with the gods.
The gods actually allowed the Craven to reach the rise because
they were angry, because there'sdissenters among them.
Yeah, it's like really crazy that all of these people think
it's like, so they can speak to the gods.
It's like, hmm, that's suspicious.
Like the gods will just tell them, tell them whatever, you

(41:55):
know. Like I do feel like it comes
across like very if you're looking from the outside and you
can see why there's so many dissenters for sure.
Totally. Totally.
And there's this one man who he was also at the City Council
meeting, but he starts shouting and being like, we want to know
what is happening to the third and fourth children that are.

(42:17):
Yeah, they're like, we've never seen them like.
They're not like we don't know that they're actually safe and
stuff like that, so. Well, because half of the crowd
is or most of the crowd is like terrified, like so scared
because, and she can like recognize that emotion.
But then there's part of the crowd that is like, like angry,
not scared, Like they're mad. And it's like, that's not the

(42:40):
right reaction to have right now.
Like why are they so angry? And those must be dissenters.
And she's like putting that together too, which is like a
big deal, I think. But this is where name drop book
book name drop from Blood and Ash.
Yes, he throws a Craven hand at the Duke and the Duchess and
yells from blood and ash we willrise.

(43:00):
Which like what does that fucking?
Mean I don't, I don't actually know.
So like when I thought about thetitle of the book, like before I
realized that they said it like as their like slogan.
I thought it was like from bloodand Ash like because like the
blood is a vampire. That's the Atlanteans blood, I
guess. Yeah, ashes, that they're no
longer existing in this world orwhatever.

(43:21):
You know, I'm not sure about theash part.
The blood part just is like vampires, you know?
Yeah, blood vampires. So that's what I thought.
But it doesn't make sense in a colloquial way.
Like kind of like we say this everyday kind of way from blood
and ash, we will ride. I think they're saying like from
like slaughter, like we'll like we're going to murder you all

(43:42):
and there'll be blood and ash and then we will rise.
But. Yes, nice saying, but he's like
quickly arrested. And because like Angela's
saying, Poppy is noticing her power shift a little bit, she
goes to the Duchess, who's kinder than the Duke, and asks
her what this is about. The Duchess says that the same

(44:04):
thing happened with the first maiden because Poppy is
technically the second maiden. Oh yeah, that's her.
Yeah, that her her powers who died to kind of evolve.
Yeah, the Dark One quote. On the So they killed her, say
the Dark One killed her, but like, do we actually know what
happened? Because again, spoiler alert,
the dark one is cats. Yeah, it's it's hot at this

(44:27):
moment. So I doubt that he killed her.
I it's probably just something to make the Dark One look like
the Dark One, but basically the the Duchess is saying that
mirroring the ascension her ascension, her powers begin to
evolve as well. This led the Dark One to kill

(44:47):
her. I think also like with the first
maiden it wasn't the dark one didn't kill her.
I think that it's like we find out that, if I remember
correctly, that the ascended killed her because like she was
also started questioning things just like Poppy and like, you
know, like she's like they control the narrative around her

(45:09):
and the right and like they had her like basically like disposed
of, you know, like because she'syou know, she stepped on the
line. So they were like, got to go.
But they're like, oh, the Dark One killed her, you know, but
it's like a big, big warning sign for Poppy, you know, like
if you disobey, like you will, you know, be found unworthy.

(45:30):
They keep saying that the like she was found unworthy by the
gods but like in reality they just murdered her.
Yes, and that's why she has to be like not only a virgin, but
like an upstanding citizen. Right.
And like the ascension at this point to Poppy is becoming this
immortal being. But like you have to be found
worthy by the gods, you know, And like, but I don't think

(45:52):
that, you know, like we at this point know anything about the
ascension. So like we don't realize like
that's has nothing to do with it.
Exactly. It's not a real thing.
So we get kind of a side quest here where Poppy sneaks out of
her room to go to this place, right?
Like library esque thing to lookfor the.

(46:12):
Library scene Well, so this we like haven't really talked a lot
about Tawny, but like she's actually I love this character
of Tawny like I feel like she's like a really good side
character who doesn't get a lot of beef later on in the book,
like a lot of like meat on the bone like she sort of because
they leave her behind but like she's like her BFF, she takes

(46:33):
care of her she's like but she'salso a very real character She's
like, I actually don't want to go with you on your quest to the
capitol. I don't want to die, but you
know whatever. And but I guess this whole time
her whole life, Tony sneaks her books Tony will go to the
library and she'll get her booksthat she's not supposed to read
like Poppy's not supposed to read like fiction.

(46:54):
She's supposed to only read like, really like chase things.
Yeah. But yeah, she's like, ran out of
stuff to read. So she's like, I'm gonna go go
like search for. Smart books.
She's one of us. She's.
One of us, she wants to go get her book talk read.
Literally. Literally.
So she gets this diary about this.

(47:16):
Which I want to read now like I.Need to no, literally I was
like, she should make, if she hasn't already, a companion
novel to say. Like very much Harry Potter,
where she Newt's commander booksor the companion books to hear
about, They're just like these little history books.
I love that she has to hide because she overhears the Duke

(47:38):
talking but they end up leaving and Hawk appears because again
he's like trying to guard her and he's like how the fuck did
you like leave your room? And she's like on the ledge,
she's like outside the window like cuz they go into the room
and she's like I gotta hide, letme go out the window.
Insane. It's insane, but they have like

(47:59):
a fun moment where he's teasing her about 'cause he's like, what
are you reading? And she's like, I will kill
myself. If you look at this book,
imagine a relatable queen and but he like grabs it and then
reads a little bit of it and he's like Poppy, like Dirty
girl, you're the maiden like. Should we continue what we were

(48:19):
continuing in the red Pearl and like, yeah, this whole time like
I would have, I would have fucking.
Like. I would have been like, let's go
aye, aye, captain, this this whole time.
Like it is like very clear that Hawk is not a rule follower, but
like in more than an like an appropriate way, I guess.

(48:41):
Like he's not just teasing, likehe does not care if he gets
caught. And it's like very clear, you
know what I mean? Like so like I should have had
like when I first read this, I should have been like, oh, you
know, he's not the like who he says he is.
Like I did sort of, but I did always think that he just was
like, I don't know, like a cool guy, like a like AI don't know.

(49:01):
He plays it very much so, like he could get caught any second
with her, talking to her, lifting her veil, distracting
her with kisses like. Sexy.
That's. What?
I guess that's true. I guess that's true.
But it does make it like, kind of crazy that he would just be
so chill doing all of that when,like, the Duke could, like, turn
the corner and, like, chop his head off, you know?

(49:22):
So clearly he knows that he's protected from that.
I will say the one thing I don'tlike about this book and this
like trope is like it does suck when like Poppy because she has
no experience with guys and likeand like stuff like that that it
like. Like, this would be me for sure
at this age, though. Yeah.
Like somebody tells you something.
You're like she's. And this is the first guy that's

(49:45):
seen her fucking face at this point.
And her face had not blanched away.
Like she thinks that she's cool,like enjoys talking to her, is
flirting with her. And like I think also like not
for nothing, but later on in thebook when like things do hit a
head, especially hit a head, especially when they're like in
the tent or whatever or like in the woods.
Like she's just like the POV in her head or like the narration

(50:08):
that she has going on in her head about allowing him to do
this is like so relatable. Like remember when you.
Were like, I liked it so much. I think, yeah, it's like this.
Like the first time somebody ever.
Like, yeah, you're. Like, yeah.
And you're like, wait, is this cool?
Should I be doing this? Like, it's fine.
Like it's OK. Like, it's all good, you know,
like so crazy, but. Whenever I think of these books,

(50:30):
I think I'm like, oh, is this like true love?
And I'm like, how would she know?
Though how would she know? How would she know?
She has never met, although I do.
Think she gives herself like I give her credit towards the end
when she like is like out on himimmediately when she finds out
that he but she's like Nah. Like, no, I I wouldn't have been
probably. There would have been some, some

(50:52):
like trying to make it seem finethat he was.
IRL, yeah, they're like. Well, he's it so bad that he's
the dark one? Like really?
And I'm so bad. IRL are the dark ones and I'm
always trying. I am always making excuses.
Like so funny. Yeah, I think that's like the

(51:14):
one kind of main thing I don't think about.
This is just like, of course she's obsessed with him.
Like of course, of course I would be too.
It makes so much sense. Not that that doesn't make their
love real, but like, I don't know, it does.
I feel like it. Does take away from like the
reality of it a little bit? Like I don't wanna see the
realism, but like the idea that like this could happen to anyone

(51:36):
is like very, very far fetched. Like, I don't think so.
Exactly. But it's a nice story, we'll
give them that. The next day it's the rite which
is really exciting, so Tony and Poppy are preparing to go.
This is the first rite that Poppy gets to go to.
Did. This remind you at all of like
Akatar like like any of these like ceremonies that they would

(51:59):
have like in the. Woods.
Oh yeah. What is the one in the first
book like? Camel Camelini.
Yeah. Yeah.
Kalani. I always call it Calabarine.
Yes, yes. But like, it's so like.
And of course she's wearing a flowy red like it's.
Yeah, and. Which I didn't actually
understand why. Like so this is the first time

(52:21):
that Poppy's being allowed to not wear white and she doesn't
have to wear her veil because she's going to have a mask on.
Nobody will recognize her anyway.
But like why? Why?
Like why is she allowed to do this?
Like what's the point? Is this like preparing her for
ascension or like? They don't explain why she's
allowed to go to this one. I, I have no idea, but it's like

(52:43):
a huge thing because she looks hot.
Oh yeah, she's. Hot.
Yeah. It's like going to prom.
Like she got to get dressed up and do her hair and like, we're
we're all for it. Like, I'm very happy for her.
Totally. Why was she allowed?
Unclear. And Agnes, who we saw at the
beginning of the book. Oh yeah, the wife of one of the
Craven that she saved. It's like you're in danger,

(53:05):
girl. Like that.
Whoopi Goldberg or Quo. Yeah, yeah, don't.
From Ghosts. Yeah, she like, doesn't heed her
advice, and Tawny goes and mingles with other people, so
it's just Poppy. But Hawk arrives and takes
Poppy. Well, he like is going to go
take her to her bedroom, but he's like, let's go to the

(53:25):
garden instead and he. Yeah, like let's go to a second
location. No.
Yeah, you. Never go to a second location.
It was strange because like, she's like, I'm just gonna go to
bed because like, I want Tony tolike have fun tonight.
And she's not having any fun because she's standing next to
me like just like I have to be boring.

(53:46):
Like she shouldn't have to be boring.
And so she's like, I'm going to go to bed and Hawks like, no,
like let's go be bad like by walking in the gardens.
But she doesn't want to go in the garden and.
Sinker. Well, and like she's scared to
go in the gardens because that'swhere Rylan was murdered.
And it's like really like, I think weighed on her since then.
So she's still a little bit likenot loving that spot.

(54:11):
And he's like, the only way to get over your fear is to like
just like deal with it. And it's like so with you,
though, like I deal with it withyou because like, sure, like
that sounds great. You know, like she's like,
sounds great to me too. And they share a moment under
Willow tree again. This is going to be, I feel
like, really beautiful in the TVseries.
Well, I also like that it's likesupposedly like pitch black

(54:34):
under this Willow tree and like they can't see or hear anything
or they can't see anything and nobody can see them.
And this reminds me of like verymuch so like you're like
sneaking around in like the park, like after out, you know
what I mean? Like this is like very, like
everything they're doing is likeso sweet to her like.
Sweet. I yeah, I just like that part

(54:57):
will be, I think really picturesque, very like under the
trees and yeah, just exactly what you want to happen.
I really liked. How sweet this book.
Was like a boy kissing you in the rain.
Yes, that's it. Like go under the Willow
together. Yeah, exactly.
It's like it's. From a book, yeah.
Could you believe? But no, I would be there.

(55:19):
Me too, me too. So they start kissing and Hawk
says they need to stop or else Poppy will no longer be a
maiden. Yeah.
Does she know what he means by that?
Like when he says yeah. Yeah, I think so, yeah, because
she knows that she has to be a virgin.
But they go to leave and they run into Victor and he's like,
OK, I can tell that you guys were just hooking up so.

(55:41):
Like other people will be able to tell also.
Totally. And he's like, this is so
reckless. So they start.
To argue Well, it is. That's what I was saying before
about like how he's not taking care, like he's just like doing
whatever. Like I do feel like he's being
so, so reckless with her, you know what I mean?
And like she doesn't clock it atall.
Like she's like, that seems fine.

(56:03):
Like the we're under the will. Like she's like, which I guess
is fair for an 18 year old. To be.
Yeah. And like, I feel like once you
start doing things that you get away with unscathed, like going
to the Red Pearl and getting that book and stuff like that,
that you do more reckless things.
And she has apparently always been this way 'cause like they

(56:24):
say at the beginning of the bookthat she, that she keeps getting
things removed from her room. Like she's like it has like no
furniture or anything in her room because like it's
punishment for all of the stuff that she does bad, which I find
very funny. Yes, yeah.
Let me take away her armoire 'cause she's a bad girl, like,

(56:45):
OK. So she starts to argue with
Victor, and she says, I don't want to ascend.
I hope I'm found unworthy. And this is, like, again, the
kind of the first time that she's really vocalized this.
And they head back to her room. But when they do that, they hear
this big sound and screaming from the Great Hall.

(57:07):
They rush there and they see thecane stuck through the Duke.
Yeah, the Duke has been like, strung up like a, like, he's
been like, crucified, basically.Yeah, the Deus.
And yeah, we recognize the cane from when it was used on Poppy
and ridden in blood above his. Body, it's not a cane.

(57:29):
It's a it's like a cane, like a whipping cane.
Like it's a piece of blood wood from the blood forest.
From the blood forest. Don't worry, we'll get there.
Written in blood above the Duke's body is the mark of the
Dark One. And then the slogan from blood
and ash we will rise. And a bunch of dissenters are

(57:52):
coming into the Great Hall, blowing up the windows.
So they all try to leave, but they kind of lose each other.
And then all of the main characters gather in a room.
They're they're hiding. The dissenters find them and
like are trying to kill them, but Poppy and Victor kill all of
them, which the Duchess is like,oh thank God you actually did

(58:14):
take these lessons. Like I'm shocked but glad.
The Duchess is an interesting character because I do feel like
that she like is in a bad situation.
She's like, morally Gray, yeah. But also she's still an ascended
vampire murdering children, yes.Yes.
That's tough to kind of get by. Yes, yes.

(58:36):
But she does have like totally. She does have like some.
Yeah, clearly she was being Puppy has this moment as well,
like when she talks to her whereshe's like, oh, so like if I was
being abused, like clearly so isshe.
And like how did I not notice that?
You know, like if he was abusingsomebody like me, like he was

(58:57):
clearly abusing his wife, you know, which is no doy.
One of the dissenters kills Victor which is very sad and
Lord Mazeen is like being a Dickabout it.
So Poppy kills him and then Hawkenters the room and like makes
her like black out. She's like butchering him like,

(59:19):
she's like rages like she like goes like yes.
Like Super Saiyan and like starts like hacking away at him
and like, yes, he does like somesort of like, I don't know, like
hold on her and. She like trap, pinch the traps
or whatever. Yeah, no, the all connected.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. She passes out and she stays in

(59:39):
her room for like a week. Because she's so devastated
about Victor. Like, that's the real big one.
She really. And she realizes, yeah.
And she doesn't actually care that she killed Lord Mazine.
She's, like pretty excited aboutthat.
And she doesn't care that the Duke is dead.
And that's like to her, she's also a little bit thrown by that
because I do think that's like, oh, I don't care that somebody

(01:00:01):
is dead, like. Yeah, yeah, because I'm the girl
that takes away the pain. Not Yeah and stuff like that.
But the Duchess informs her there's going to be no
punishment for what Poppy did. But she has to head to the
Capitol because the Queen is summoning her and Hawk will take
her there. So we kind of learn about the

(01:00:24):
convoy that's taking Poppy to the capital.
It's Kieran and then Phillips, Eric, Noah, Luddy and Hawk.
They're going by horseback. And of course this always like,
of course she doesn't know how to ride a horse, so she has to
ride. I actually am glad that she

(01:00:44):
doesn't know how to. I'm glad that she didn't know
how to ride a horse because I dofeel like in these types of
books, it's like she's an amazing rider.
She's like, beautiful, even though she's scarred.
She's the maid and she's virginal.
And so like, there was almost this like, expectation that
like, she can, she can do all this stuff.
Like, I'm really glad that she can't ride a horse.
Like that makes sense to me. She's sheltered.

(01:01:06):
It would have been crazy if she was like, oh, yeah, and I can
ride a horse and I'm really goodat that.
And like it's like, OK. That's a really good point
because I think that Jennifer does a really good job of
balancing like she is badass andshe can be smart when she needs
to be and like fight and defend herself when she needs to.

(01:01:27):
Be but she also like can't do stuff like.
Yes, which like it's so annoying, which I guess is kind
of like Pharah's illiteracy, butlike it is annoying when it's
like the main character like it sometimes it's it's so funny.
Maybe this is sexist of me but it's like when it's the female
main character it's like it's annoying but then it's like when

(01:01:49):
it's the guy I'm like that's so hot that he like moves every
like. Of course, of course, but.
Like it makes sense. It makes sense.
And you have to. It has to be written well, like
with Pharah's, like not being able to read.
I think it was OK. I think it got crazy when she
learned to read in like a day. Like it was like, OK, cool, like

(01:02:09):
now you know how to read. It was like totally fine in the
first book. And then all of a sudden it was
like, oh, this flaw is now becoming like a bigger plot
point than I wanted it to be, but fair.
So like just being able to not ride a horse, like seems pretty
chill. Also seems like something you
could easily pick up and like figure it out.
But she likes 6. It's a little horny.
Like they get to like. They get to clutch onto each

(01:02:31):
other and he brings along the diary of Miss Willa Collins.
So there's like a flirty sex which was there.
Very funny. He was like, oh I just brought
this book for you if you want toread it to me out loud.
It's very funny. I like when he teases her.
Yeah, we tell. But he's kidnapping her at this
point. Like yes, yes and.
Also, he's kidnapping her. Because up until this point, we

(01:02:55):
were told that she is being brought to the Capitol because
the Queen asked her to come back.
So Tony, he's left behind and like, and I guess now it makes
sense, like why he didn't want to bring Tony.
He's like, I can't bring Tony because I can't protect her.
When reality he's like, I can't bring Tony because I'm actually
kidnapping. Yeah, because I don't want like
innocent collateral. And before up until, you know,

(01:03:16):
maybe for the right or whatever,maybe he wasn't like so in love
with her or so obsessed with her.
And so he was still planning to like, I don't know, maybe like
kidnap her in a more brutal way.But now he's like, I got to
figure out a way to get this chick to where I need her
without actually harming this. Like I don't want to say

(01:03:37):
relationship with it we have, but like her like he likes, like
he's into her now, you know? Kieran notices that once they
reach the blood forest and he's like, dude, you got to like
fucking lock in. I can see that.
There's like a relationship growing between you 2 and like,
you have to remember your purpose, which is to use her as

(01:04:00):
a trading chip or whatever to get his brother back.
Yep. But yeah, they're, they're on
their, their voyage, like to theCapitol, but not actually to the
Capitol. And they spend the night in the
blood Forest and it's very cold.And what do you have to do when
it's very cold and there's one time?
This phone had me rolling because after the fact that
Kieran was clearly listening to them like.

(01:04:22):
OK, so Kieran Kay, that's one ofmy wonder wise.
Are they gonna have like, are they gonna have like a
threesome? Because it seems like I really I
really fuck here at. Home.
I'm so hotter than Hawk. No, literally Kay.
I really like like actually if people have read this series I
will allow you to send me if there is a spoiler like please

(01:04:45):
just. Say.
That there's a threesome people want.
To know. Need to know like need to know
yesterday when she's bathing at the very end of the book, she
like comes in, is clearly like ogling her and is basically and
like she's like, wouldn't Cass be mad that you're like doing
this? And he's like, no.
And I was like, oh fuck, that's.Does he trust me?

(01:05:06):
It seems like, and we don't knowthis, I think, but correct me if
I'm wrong, that like because Kieran's a Wolven and Wolven
have like it seems like they're kind of like the not the pets,
but the like the sidekick or like the.
The it's like a familiar, like aone of which has a cat.
Like a familiar yes, yes of the Atlantean.

(01:05:27):
So like it kind of seems like they have more of a connection
than a bonds. Yes, yes, than like a friend or
whatever. But this scene had dying because
like I was like, OK, so this book is not the most like
raunchy book. Like there's not a lot of
steamy. So there's not.
And like she didn't intentionally, I guess like
there's it's like well known. She talks about it.

(01:05:47):
Jennifer says like I didn't write that.
I originally was just going to write a fantasy book with like,
you know, there's like some lovein it.
But like, I wasn't writing a romance, but like Hawk and Poppy
were flirting so much in my headas I was writing it that like it
just kind of poured out and like, so you, I guess that's why
like her intention was to make it a romance.
And so there isn't a lot of likesex.

(01:06:08):
And also she's a maiden. Like she's there's not like
immediately gonna be, I don't know, but the scene was
ridiculous. So they're just in the woods and
he's like, she's like, I'm too anxious to sleep.
And I guess when she sleeps and she like normally sleeps, she
has nightmares and she cries outand he's like, you can't cry out

(01:06:29):
in your sleep tonight because the Craven will come and they'll
murder us all. So I need you to be like calm
and relaxed and sleepy. And she's like, that's never
going to happen. And he's like, I bet you I can
make it happen. And he basically, like fingers
her to sleep. And I was like, what?
And so like, this is her first sexual encounter basically like

(01:06:52):
in the woods. No, it would actually make you
sleep really calmly in orgasm. No, I know.
It's like, of course in this world, like there wouldn't be
because there would be like a potion or something that she
could. Yeah.
To calm herself. No, he has to.
No, but there isn't. She doesn't take it.
Remember, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're
right. That's like her whole thing.

(01:07:13):
Tony keeps getting her this draft for sleeping and then when
Victor dies she does take it forlike 7 days and then he's like,
you gotta stop. Yes, but note this.
So like, I guess the way it's set up, she's like he to like
back to his stomach and he's just like arm around her and
like so they're not even face toface like they're I know, but I

(01:07:36):
think it's like a really wild like first, Like I guess it's
not their first encounter because they've kissed before
and they've like made out under the Willow and like he's like
fondled her or whatever. But like this is like this is
it. This is her first.
Like somebody's giving touching me in the downstairs, and that's
just in the woods and people cansee you.
It's just so funny because I love when romance like this just

(01:07:58):
like this doesn't make sense. Like this straight up does not
make sense because also it's like no one would make me
anxious about having an orgasm especially my first one because
she doesn't even talk about likemasturbating or anything which I
I find interesting. Who?
Knows. Because I guess it's like, what
would she do? What would she do in that book?
But like. I think there's a difference
between also like physical masturbation and then mental and

(01:08:21):
emotional. Like I think with the book,
she's probably reading it and like getting her jollies and
like her rocks off that way, butlike not like actually.
Touching herself? No.
What would what? Would make it worse.
For me, yeah, yeah. It's like, no, what would never
make me feel calm is is this is like, yeah.
And there is this like preconceived and like this is
written by a woman. So like she does understand how

(01:08:43):
like the female body works. But like I don't think that it
is a well known like conception that like orgasming at once
makes you so exhausted you fall asleep.
Yeah, I'm kind of actually, I will say that that's kind of one
of my grapes and grumbles about the sex in this book is like
also very good when they fuck inthe snow.

(01:09:03):
Also it's like they're. Cool, that made me really
uncomfortable. I did not.
That did not sound fun. No cuz I was like cold.
But I think The thing is, is I keep thinking Poppy's mortal,
but she's technically. Not I guess she's not.
So she probably doesn't feel it as much as we would.
Have she was also like beat up at that point too, so she was

(01:09:23):
like, oh, the snow felt so good on my cuts.
And I yeah, yeah, I didn't like that, but like, I was just
thinking also she I think that they only do like penetrative
sex. And I was like, I don't know,
this doesn't seem like and the snow scene, I was like, I don't
know if this seems really. Realistic.
But anyways anyways they hook upit's the next morning and they

(01:09:48):
continue their traveling but they get ambushed by a group of
Craven. Poppy is able to defend herself,
but Noah and Eric die. And then they finally make it to
New Haven, and they're greeted by a little boy, Elijah, and his
wife, Megda, because the Lord ofNew Haven is on a hunting trip.
Yeah. OK.

(01:10:10):
Yeah. The the classic.
That one pretty aggressively. This is like where it's getting
like so SUS like so. Fucking like a little bit like
you're like, hmm, OK. Like weird.
And Poppy's having these realizations that she does
again, doesn't want to ascend. She doesn't want to be the
maiden. She wants to like live her life.
And she says this is actually like so cringe.

(01:10:34):
But she's like, when I arrive atthe Capitol, I'm going to tell
the queen that I want to go intoexile and I want.
And like, I don't want to ascend.
Yeah, yeah. And but I think that she is
fairly realistic because like, she's like, I don't know what
I'm thinking is happening here because like, Hawk is not like,
even if I don't ascend, like in what universe does that mean

(01:10:54):
like Hawk and I end up together?Like I need to make this
decision out like separate from Hawk, which I thought was quite
mature like, because that is notwhat's actually happening.
That's fair. She says in her head, but in
her. In her heart, in her.
Heart. Yeah, no, she's making this
decision purely based off of howmuch she is obsessed with Hawk.

(01:11:14):
100%. She's like, I had a little
orgasm in the woods and I, I can't, I can't move forward now.
Relatable, truly. So that night, Poppy says to
Hawk. Do you want to spend the night
together? And they have sex.
So they're in like an inn. Yes, because this is this is
like the a stop on the way to the Capitol, so.

(01:11:37):
They're yeah. So it's like a fairly like it's
just a room, you know? Do you love or hate this about
Prince Castile? Because like, I'm like, this is
like pretty fucking crazy. I guess It's like he can't
resist. I don't think it was chill of
him to do this. Actually, I think it's pretty
bad because like at this point, if, if it was how I, you know,

(01:12:00):
before I knew the, the twist, twist where he's the dark one.
And like he's known this full time, like everything about her.
And it's OK because like he's, he's in the same position she's
in. They're on equal playing levels.
They know every, they know all the facts.
Like he knows a little bit more about, in my mind, the
dissenters and maybe what's going on there.
But I don't even think it's that.
I think it's like up into this point he clearly likes her and

(01:12:24):
is attracted to her, so he's like he's.
All fun and games. It's all fun and games and he's
doing things that aren't that like crazy, but it's like
exactly. But it's like literally having
sex with her when she is the maiden.
So now she is, if she needs to go back, she is spoiled, you
know, quote UN quote spoiled. Obviously, we don't believe
that. But because he knows she's never

(01:12:44):
going back, like he knows he's not taking her back.
And so that makes it worse though, because like she doesn't
have all the facts. Like she thinks that he and her
they're on the same playing field and that they're like
speaking the same language and that she's saying, no, I love
you too. I don't want to be the maiden
anymore. And he, you know, is like, OK,
that's chill. But like he's actually up here
where he's like, you're actuallynever going to be the maiden

(01:13:07):
anymore anyway. So, you know, and also I'm
kidnapping you. Like there's there's stuff he
hasn't said. Like this is not cool.
And I think he says at one pointhe's like, I am a bad person.
Like I like them Like he says that.
And like, I don't know. I don't believe that he is,
though. Like, you know what I mean?
Like, I don't think so either. We're supposed to so.

(01:13:27):
But I don't think this was very cool.
As sexy as it was. And as much as I enjoyed reading
it, I don't think that, like, itshould have happened.
Like if the first time that theydid it was after she found out,
it would be better. But I guess then we wouldn't
have the moment where she feels so betrayed.
Yeah, right. Which is really good.
It reminds me of Buffy having sex with Angel for the first

(01:13:50):
time. Then he turns evil.
Very much that. Which is like a whole commentary
on like what it means. To have to lose your yes, yes,
yes. Also I think in this instance
it's better for her to have madethat choice.
Like with even if she didn't have all the facts she still did
decide that like it wouldn't. It wasn't going to be like he

(01:14:12):
was going to love her forever and stay with her forever.
She knew that wasn't the case. She knew that she didn't want to
be the maiden, or even if she did, she didn't want to go into
that without experiencing this. So like she had made all of
those decisions herself. True.
True, I just don't think it was on her side like great power
like more power to you on his side like no like you should not
have done that 100. Like why not just do more like

(01:14:36):
oral or something? Yeah.
Just like don't take it so far. Totally, totally then like make
out and take. It far you know when she knows
everything. Everything like hits the fan.
Hawk has to leave because he hasto go like prepare the way or
something, is what he. Tells her yeah and Phillip
Phillips is like 1. Of the ones that isn't in Hawk's

(01:14:58):
crew because basically they theyleft with a a group of.
People, yeah, half of them are set up like they.
Are Hawk's people so he can successfully kidnap her and then
some of them are like from the castle so there's no suspicions
that it's all these new people and so he's like, I think

(01:15:19):
something SUS is going on because he had never heard of a
Hawk or Kieran all of a sudden they're all here they're all
here and then. He's like also.
The Duke on the hunting trip or what?
Or the Lord or whatever on the hunting trip.
Like that's just like not a thing.
So he's like, let's like go. They run into Kieran, he
transforms into a woven at this point.

(01:15:41):
It's so sad puppies like no, we still like need to find Hawk.
Like like help, help. Like Kieran's Kieran's a wolven
and and then Kieran goes to Hawkand she's like Oh my God.
Like you knew he was a wolven, but then he also kills.
Phillips, like he kills Phillips.
So she's like, oh, that's my like, truly.
Last Ally and then in the crowd at this village is.

(01:16:05):
Missing hand man Jericho and she's like Oh my God, like it
all. Just like the floor drops.
The floor drops because that's the guy that killed.
Rylan so she's like OK, all of this has been set up and so sad
She like they start fighting andshe gets stabbed in the abdomen

(01:16:28):
which is like yeah, really crazyshe starts fighting hawk she
realizes that Hawk is an Atlantean yeah well, first she
thinks Hawks a wolven because but.
Then she's like, wait, that doesn't make any sense.
And then she's like, oh, OK, then you must be an Atlantean,
which are like the worst of the worst, and you're going to give

(01:16:49):
me to the Dark 1. So it's still at this point, she
doesn't realize he's the dark One.
I know she still hasn't been to a girl.
It's so embarrassing, but she gets.
Trapped. So she gets captured by Delano
and he takes her to like a jail cell and Hawk goes down and
stitches up her wound and she's fucking pissed.
She's like, I don't she should touch me.

(01:17:11):
I don't want he's like, he's like, do you want me on my
knees? Like to what a betrayal thing.
I don't like the way he plays this to be.
Honest, I feel like he should beapologetic because the jig is
up. Like you.
Yeah, you're right. It's like at this point, like
he, he is kind of like talky about it.
Talky. About it and like you just like

(01:17:32):
really betrayed her. Trust in a way that like you
knew you were doing in the moment and so now that there's
really nothing to hide, like youshould just be like, you know,
I'm like, I'm a little sorry, just like a teeny bit sorry, you
know what I mean? Like 100%.
But I still think he thinks thatshe has so.
Much to learn and like. That's a little bit another like

(01:17:52):
not so fun thing for me is when there's like a they'd have to
teach the girl something like they have to educate her because
she's like the uneducated one. Like I don't love that.
Like when? Yeah, in Akatar, when Reese has
to teach Pharaoh to read. Like, I don't, I don't love it.
I'm just like, she can do it herself.
What? What bugs me about that is
because in hetero. Relationships.

(01:18:13):
The guy inherently has so much power, yes, And so he abuses his
power a little bit. Yes, yes, in a way that is just
like. This just gives it the.
This just shifts the power dynamics.
Way too far in his favor. And then he.
Doesn't even let he doesn't let up at all like.
When she is like feeling like he, he supposedly like is

(01:18:36):
falling in love. With her like, I just don't.
Buy that. But yeah, maybe he's playing it
cool. But he tells her he spills the
beans. Yes, he's like everything you
know. Is a lie.
The ascended are or like we're vampires and they need are
vampires and they need to feed off mortals, which is why they
take the third and fourth children and this is how they

(01:18:59):
they feed until they're not deadso that they can make them into.
Craven, which is crazy, which isbut which is crazy.
I think that they killed the children though.
Like I think the children are straight up murdered.
Like they're fed on and murdered.
And then because the Craven are adults, like they.
Can't have like kid. Craven running around or that
would be very clear. Something was up.

(01:19:20):
Yes, they must just be like killing adults and turning them
into I don't know know what. It's probably heat they feed.
On them until they're adults, you're right, you're right,
you're right, you're right, and then they become.
Craven Wow, that's terrible. That's actually like, it's
actually like it's worse. Sided when you.

(01:19:41):
That's worse, actually. Because I was.
Imagining them just like. I mean, which is really awful,
like just like murdering kids, like yeah, tossing them.
But I guess it's even worse if. They're kept as like.
Slaves like, that's what I thinkit is.
That's because he talks about. How?
Again, very recent coded but he was a blood slave because they
require Atlantean blood to. Make the transition to a

(01:20:05):
ascended, which is like it's, you know, the traditional
vampire story. They drink your blood, you drink
their blood, and then you becomea vampire.
And this one, it's they drain like your blood is drained, but
then you have to feed on Atlantean blood to become an
ascended. Like an ascended can't make
another ascended. Exactly.
They need an Atlantean. So he was like basically like

(01:20:26):
cattle for five years, which is like dark for sure.
And he still fucking lies to her, he says.
The Dark One plans to, like we said, use her as leverage to
free the Dark One's brother, whois Prince Malik.
And so he's like, we have to go to the king and queen of
Atlantia and you can come out ofthe.

(01:20:49):
Jail. You can sleep in my bedroom
basically. What a rake?
What? A rake what?
An absolute rake. So.
She does end up getting escortedback.
Yeah, to like better quarters. Well, so like, there are the
Atlanteans. So.
Niall. And Delano are like Atlantean

(01:21:11):
Bros, right? Like, they're like, they're part
of the crew. And so they go to bring her back
to the castle to, like, a room because, like, there she's
made-up with Hawk a little bit. And then this is when all of the
dissenters are like, why are we keeping this chick?
Yeah. They want to make a statement.
Yes, because she even though they aren't.

(01:21:34):
They're mad at what she represents.
They're not mad at her person. Yeah, and they don't care about
this rescuing Balik thing like they think.
He's a lost cause. So they're like, why would we
waste our opportunity to like make a statement here when we
have the maiden, like let's murder the maiden.
Like, let's let's get her out. And like Mr. Tulis is all up in
all. These are all the mortals like,

(01:21:57):
like the dissenters who are not.Part of this like.
Hawk crew. OK.
So yes, OK, Niall. Niall is the Atlantean, Delano
is a Wolf is a Wolven. I think that this is one thing
that like I've. Read this book.
Twice. A little confusing.
Yeah. The crew, I think.
They could have done they. Introduced them so loud and This
is why maybe we need more. We need to read further on, like

(01:22:20):
we need to have a little bit more.
They're just so random at the end at in the convoy.
Like, I kind of do wish that they had some more scenes in the
big. It all happened so fast, like
the fast SO. Yeah.
And it's just like a random group of men.
So like, yeah. Pardon us if we misspoke with
that, but so sorry the dissenters are mortal.

(01:22:42):
And then there's the other. Ones who are.
Like taking care of Poppy and trying to like keep her safe but
are a mix of Atlanteans and Wildens.
Who are there like really like drop by this guy?
Jericho with his one armed dude who hates her.
He's like murder this bitch. Basically.
Delano changes into a woven. They start.

(01:23:03):
Fighting Poppy gets stabbed by Mr. to list like really badly
again. Basically, she gets pinned up,
very Lord Mazin of situation, and Jericho is, like, planning
on butchering her, and he's yelling out to the crowd.
What part? Yeah, this was dark.
This is really dark. But also, it's so classic.

(01:23:25):
Like, villain has to have a moment of banter where the good
guys can cut, like, have a minute to like, like, where you
tell the story about what you'regonna do.
But yeah. He's like, he's like, oh, who
wants her? Like vagina basically is what he
says at one point. Like he says like some sort of
like sexual, like private area and like, that's that part was

(01:23:45):
like real rough to read. Like, this sucks, but Poppy's
just like this is it Like I'm gonna die?
Yes. Yes.
And Delano attacks him. And Kieran arrives and is like
fuck go get the Prince. At this point, we're like the
Prince. Go get.
The Prince, like he's here, likeit's Hawk.

(01:24:08):
This is when we realize it, whenwe realize that Hawk is
actually. Prince Castile so hawk they
take. Her back to the castle cuz she.
Is dying and Hawk tries to save poppy yeah cuz by the way like
Atlantean blood heals he. Gets Poppy to drink his blood so
she can heal. And she finally, like, wakes up

(01:24:33):
from being unconscious and she'slike, just wait a second.
Just wait one millisecond. Kieran, you referred to Hawk as
the Prince, as Castile as Castile.
As as the Prince of Nadir, Never.
Run a Prince nadir. Can we talk about that for like
2 seconds? Yeah.

(01:24:55):
And Poppy, this is crazy, actually leaves and like she's
left alone with Hawk and Hawks like.
Like sorry about it. Like sorry, like it is what it?
Is like I'm I I need. To save my brother like that's
why I took you. And like she comes to the
realization that like it was andlike this is bonkers.
Like she's sick out of the blue,stabs him in the heart.

(01:25:17):
Like which we think at this point he's gonna.
Die because we don't know that Atlanteans can't be killed by
stabbing them in the heart. And so she is so upset and she
just runs away into the forest, which I was like, what's your
game plan here, girly? But she's so upset.

(01:25:40):
But Cass, of course, because he is quick, Yeah, he finds her.
I don't think she had a game plan.
I think like she. Stabbed him out of pure like
adrenaline like it was not thought through at all like it
was like and that's why she's crying and she's like freaking
out cuz she's like realize what she's done, but great he's not
dead. Thank thank God do it.
They do it in the. Snow He catches up to her and

(01:26:01):
he's. Like.
Everything I told you was real or whatever.
And then bites her. Well, because that's what she
says. Like she, she's like, was any of
it? Real like, were you just trying
to like, before any of this, like, crazy stuff happened?
She's like, were you just tryingto like, get get like into my
pants so that you could, like, kidnap me?
Like when he bites her, it's like pleasurable.

(01:26:23):
Yes, which is like a very vampire trope.
It's very romance vampire again,love.
Love, love. But it's like it's a sting of
pain, but then it's like they'reinto it.
They're into it. And he's like, I'm taking you
home. And she's like, huh.
And she's like, I don't want to go back there.
And he's like no no to my home. Dummy, so they head back.

(01:26:47):
To where they're staying, just put a pin in it.
They're like, we're going to have dinner with all these
people's. This is like the part where
they, like, are like, there's murdered people on the wall, but
they're eating dinner. Yeah, this is crazy.
So she takes that bath where Kieran is like.
Looking at her, well, she like, I don't think she he's nested,
so he looks at her but like. She falls asleep in the bathtub,
yes yes, and so he's worried that she's dead and so I don't

(01:27:10):
know that he's like ogling her per SE, but he's not looking
away, which also could just be like a show of like she's.
Not that she's prude, like, prude per SE, but like, yeah,
she's like, scandalized. Yeah.
Like, by somebody looking at her.
She's just like, a nude girl. He's like, I thought you were
dead, chica. Like, yeah, like.
Don't go crazy, but I'm again still hoping that it's a sexual

(01:27:33):
thing. I don't think it's.
Out of the question, I don't think it's a big wonder.
Why but? She gets all cleaned up and then
Cass is like, we have to go havedinner because basically I'm
taking you to Atlantia and everyone fucking hates you
because you are part of. So you need to like, chin up.
Yeah, like you're part of the. World, that is.

(01:27:54):
Evil to them so you have to be seen with me so I can protect
you right, because if she if he's protecting her if she's.
Seen with him like, although this didn't really work last
time, but he's hoping now that like if he makes it clear like
even in a more explicit way, that people will leave them

(01:28:15):
alone and like not attack her like they just did.
And he does this by taking all of the dissenters that attacked
her and murdering them and nailing them to the wall.
Kind of hot, though. Kind of hot like.
Toxic but hot. I wasn't against it.
I was like, yes, you show her. But then we get the hugest

(01:28:35):
reveal, probably, well, like. Not the hugest, the cast thing
is fucking crazy but yeah it's just we either run after that
point, yes we end off on a huge cliffhanger.
Poppy is half Atlantean and castcould tell when he sucked her
blood. Yeah.
It's just like, OK, what does ittaste like?
Yeah, yeah. What's the nuance there that

(01:28:57):
made you? Realize I'm curious.
Literally. Literally.
And that's why they have to. Return to Atlantia to talk to
the king because they have to get married.
OK, but like my thought process.At this point was like, yes, I
knew it was going there. That like that's what his
intention was. Whenever that's the plan,
they're gonna go get married andwe'll see.

(01:29:18):
And we'll see in Book 2, OK? Let's finish off with our round
table discussion. This is our Internet
investigation, our cursory proves of the Internet of Things
you need to know. I cannot wait to talk to you
about this because it blends twoof our guests, which is reality
TV shows and romance novels. Jennifer L Armantrout is working

(01:29:40):
on a reality TV show as like a writer for it as a writer, and
it's called. Just funny reality TV.
Maybe yes, but they have to havelike it is.
In that. Sense it's the it's like
traitors kind of. Yes, the mechanics are scripted,
but the yeah, once the players are in the game, I guess it's
not scripted, but basically it is called the key and it mixes a

(01:30:03):
challenge competition with romance that's set in a world of
fantasy storytelling. It's so weird.
I was looking it up and I was just like, I don't know.
How this will go, like, I know they're trying to, they're
trying to cash in on their romance book.
Talk clear and like for sure do it.
Give it a go. And and kind of the traitors of
it all, yeah. I just think that there is an

(01:30:26):
aspect to this. World that is like not realistic
and not reality. And so when you put people in it
that it is reality and it is I don't know.
I just don't know that it'll be bad.
My like, they don't have like, like the people wouldn't have
like. Powers No, right.
It's just like, it's like Renaissance Fair.
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

(01:30:47):
It's been I. Don't know that it hasn't like
been done before. And maybe it's been done a
little bit, but I'm glad that she's doing that.
That's exciting for her. I'm sure that my husband will
cover it for his job covering reality television for Parade
magazine. I was just going to say
parade.com. Rob has a podcast.

(01:31:08):
Plug but a lot of random shows that I've literally never heard
of so. I'm sure this will be on the
list. We covered one that I was like
what the hell is this about? But I kind of like that when
it's like so. When it's so random and then I,
I do feel like that this is going to be one of those shows,
but so it says. The format sees 15 contestants

(01:31:32):
inhabit a village where they'll live and compete in it in
immersive themed challenges for priceless keys.
The keys are used to buy luxuries, woo potential romantic
partners, and build alliances, all in a bid to unlock a life
changing fortune. It's not romance at all though.
You know, it's like, I think they're thank you.
It's more like DND. Like it's like DND, yeah.

(01:31:54):
More feels like a board game. Come to life.
Versus now that we've talked a little bit about her background
like she's not. Romance, like she's more fantasy
and so maybe she just has like that interest.
I wonder who tapped her for this, though.
Like, that's a really good point.
I know, I know. Well, this book's been.
Extremely successful. So maybe that's true.
That is true. So I wonder if she has an

(01:32:15):
interest because it's. Like, it's not like.
Or anything is gonna do that. No.
And it's like gamification. And it does kind of seem like
that is. A bit of her vibe is like this
idea of like the truth coming out, like, like where's the
twist? Where's the M Night Shyamalan
twist? Yeah, that's fair.
I just. I really see this as.

(01:32:37):
Like a board game? Cuz it's like, yeah, they do
challenges and then they get keys.
It seems like those are cards that have like action items
basically. Yeah.
Oh my gosh. Well, I can't wait to see it.
I'm curious. I'll definitely watch like just
to like show sport, but me too. Unfortunately, my life is

(01:32:57):
inundated. With reality.
Television sometimes and I just like can't take on I just I
don't watch any reality television besides the bachelor
anymore because I like cannot deal with how much my husband
watches. That's fair.
And also this again. I think the the beautiful thing
about things like Survivor and Big Brother and The Bachelor and

(01:33:17):
stuff like that is there's people to talk about it with.
Yes, if the show comes out, it'sonly you and I.
Watching so I think. Correct.
So it's like 45 year old like stay at home.
Moms like, you know, like peoplewho are just like they don't
have anything to watch. But no, I do think it'll be fun.
I I'm curious as how like what it actually will be though, if

(01:33:38):
it'll be just like a genre type thing like the traders or
whatever, which I like. So I could, Yeah.
Well, they need to have a good host.
Though totally. But I could see a lot of, not
just. Like romanticy people clocking
in, but like, yes, like Dungeonsand Dragons people and stuff
like that for sure. I mean, that's a huge, huge
industry, so that makes sense. Huge.

(01:33:59):
Yeah, definitely. OK.
I wonder why these are unanswered questions for the
listeners. What are your wonder wise?
Well, you know I. Want to know what's up with
Kieran? Like you want to know what's up
with them? No, I.
Actually am I'm down with that. I think that there is a lot of
unanswered questions about this hawk as Castillo like because we

(01:34:23):
really only find him to be that character like within the last
like 3 chapters. And so now it's like he has this
whole life that he told us abouthis brother that like we were
assuming was one thing and and now we need to find out.
It's another thing. I also like really need to know
what happened to Ian. Like her bro.

(01:34:43):
Yes because the whole book she describes him as like a.
Soft, gentle guy. I have a feeling he's a bad guy
now though. I think so.
I think all signs are pointing that he's a bad guy.
I at first was like, oh, is he dead?
Like, was he ever? Ascended like was he, you know,
but it seems like he has been writing to her and his writing

(01:35:03):
has become very like, stern and like not as like flowery and not
as nice. And she's like, does he even
like his wife? Like, are they even happy?
Like, I don't know anything about him.
And so, yeah, I think he's goingto be a bad guy, unfortunately.
But I do kind of want to like see that happen.
Like I want to know me too. Also need.

(01:35:24):
The PUP populist to be. Aware that they should not be
giving their children to the Ascension.
Yeah, of course I knew. That's a stop soon.
Of course, I think the other. Thing that.
I'm curious about is like, I do think part of Hawk slash Cass's
charm was he was like, yeah, this roguish guard.
Yeah. So Prince.

(01:35:46):
Yeah, now that he's a Prince, I'm kind.
Of curious like. He's a Prince, but he's a Prince
of like a he's not. Yeah, he's not that type of
Prince, but. Like I just like a land that is
not like. Acknowledged.
So he's kind of like a warrior Prince.
Like you're right, he's not likea monarchy like Rich.
Like there's no. Sitting on a throne.

(01:36:07):
Because, like, it's all sort of crisis.
Management fight or flight vibesfor the Atlanteans?
Still, that's a good point. So maybe that's not so I.
Mean I just hope that he there'sno more.
Like surprises from them becauselike, I do feel like that's
going to be unbelievable for me if they continue to have a

(01:36:28):
sexual romantic relationship Andhe throws another like, oh, by
the way, like I was hiding this from you.
Like, which is what I think Sarah J Maas does.
Really well with recent and favor yeah and I think that
Rebecca Yarrows does this reallypoorly yes with Zaden Violet God
another thing that like yeah I mean I.

(01:36:49):
Texted you. I was like, I'm so over him
being abandoned. Like yeah, over it.
Like that was the whole book. I was furious when the book did
not resolve with him not being avenom if the fact that he is
still abandoned is making me livid, but a separate combo.
So I hope that that doesn't happen.

(01:37:09):
I think that that's something that I'm wondering like how that
will proceed. Like he says they're going to
get married. But like, I often find like I
need a little bit more before that happens.
I know, me too. I also hate like kind.
Of like an instant marriage thing just because it's like,
yeah, that's what I was saying. Like I need a little more.
It's just like, not realistic. Like I need a little more, will

(01:37:31):
they? Won't they?
Honestly? Because.
She is deciding to marry him, Boris.
Noor and also like. Her.
Deciding to marry him at this point is suspicious.
Intelligence wise, like yes, it's cool that you got your
rocks off in the woods. It's cool that you guys like.
That's that's chill. But like, I don't think you're

(01:37:52):
like can say that you're like inlove with this guy.
You barely know him. Yeah, You know, I think she
would because she's 19 and she doesn't.
Know what the fuck? She's doing but yeah, but it's,
it's start. It's it gets old real quick.
Gets old real quick. I don't want them to be like a
boring married couple. Agreed.
OK, our grapes and grumbles. These are nitpicky.
Problems we have with the book Iyou you talked about this.

(01:38:12):
I think it was actually before we started recording, recording,
but you're like nothing really happens.
Yes, it is like a very slow rolland I.
Think also. So yeah, nothing really happens.
It's a very long book for a lot to happen in the last couple
chapters or a lot of reveals to happen.
It's a lot of, and it's not evena lot of world building, Like

(01:38:34):
the world is built fairly quickly.
You understand, like who she is,where she exists, like who the
main characters are very quickly.
It's just a lot of her thinking and her pondering and her
questioning and and I think that's appropriate.
But I do think that there is it drags a little bit.
And so that's something that I Ido have a bit of a gripe with,

(01:38:55):
like honestly, like shave it down a little bit the middle.
Yeah, because even the Ryland death, I was like if you.
Added in the Victor death. We didn't need the Ryland stuff.
Yes, yeah, exactly. Like, it could have just been
the seven days after Victor dies, too.
Really. Could have been speed up like it
reminds me of Twilight with the chapters that are just the yeah

(01:39:18):
like September, October, November, December, January.
Exactly. Yeah, I completely agree that
like, it does kind of feel like a little draggy and then it's
like all of a sudden. I also don't think Victor needed
to die. Like, I don't think he needed
to. Die for that yeah cuz she now
she's fully. Alone, that's another thing.

(01:39:38):
I mean, she has Hawk and now she's like, she's like that girl
that like is. Is obsessed with her husband and
only has her husband as. She's like 18 and obsessed with
this like guy who we don't how? How old is she?
I was like that too. Yeah.
They like describe him as like afew years.
Older I think but like seems suss he he reads as like a mid
20s. Character totally, but I just

(01:40:00):
hate when they cut off all of. I guess she could possibly have
Tony in the future, but I just hate when they cut off we're all
of yeah, the the the main characters like they built
friends Tawny's character a lot so.
The fact that tawny too much, Almost too much.
Yeah, another gripe and crumble,I guess.
I did like. However, though, and we didn't
really talk about them like the other maidens or the other like

(01:40:24):
maids and and ascended who livedin the castle, like Lauren and
or like going to be ascended. So like Tony and Lauren and like
all these other girls who like brutally die in that thing.
You know, I think that that was like another thing, like a lot
of world building in a in a way that for things that ultimately

(01:40:47):
didn't matter because in the last three chapters we like flip
the script so much. That's OK.
I mean, it did read quickly. Like it wasn't like it didn't
drag as much as other books of that length have dragged for me
100%. But it's like didn't need to be
6. 122 pages and I think Nah. Shave it down.
Teen hours of audiobook. No, Yeah, shave that down.
No, just cut a little bit. Edit.

(01:41:09):
Yourself like it would have beena tight 400 pages.
Would have been, I still rated this book 5 out of five stars,
by the way, But like, I would have No, I think there were.
These are gripes and crumbles though.
Yes, you know. Picky problems, not hates
exactly. We already talked about the
ACOTAR. Similarities.

(01:41:29):
Yeah. The last like extremely nitpicky
thing is I fucking hate when they describe any of yes, I'm
with you, I'm 100% with you. The taste of the main character
I. Hate that so much I hate it.
Honeydew. Zayden does this a lot in.

(01:41:50):
In fourth wing. And in all three of them, like
he always says, like your taste is everything, like I hate it.
I don't. It's not even that I I.
Don't mind A1 off comment of like you taste so good or
whatever, something like that. My problem is is when they
describe it as something that's crazy.
Yeah, like honeydew. Like honeydew or like fruit?

(01:42:13):
Or whatever. Yeah, like, oh, you're so sweet.
Like, oh. Women have such.
Insecurities about yes, about like I feel like when people go
down on them, they're just like,do I taste it?
Like it's just, it's not even. I just don't.
I don't think it's a sexual. I've never found it very like,

(01:42:36):
and this maybe, maybe this is a generational thing because we
were like raised by like boomerswho didn't talk about anything
and didn't let us have like any sort of sexuality.
And so we like were like trying to like, like actually though,
like we're all like, I mean, like, I'm like a total prude,
like, you know, like, I'm sorry,but.
Like growing up it was like, no,that sounds.

(01:42:57):
Disgusting. Like that sounds weird and gross
and terrible. So when you read it in a book
like this, it's hard to get rid of that preconceived notion.
So 100%. But yeah, see, Honeydew is very
strange. First of all, Honeydew does not
taste like anything. Honeydew is sick of the world's
most bland melon, the blandest melon.
It's so fucking random. It's not even that for me,

(01:43:19):
though, It's it's the fact that it's like ex expectation is that
women. Yeah, should taste.
Yeah, there should be a taste orsomething and that you're.
Doing it for your pleasure, but it's like they never say that
about the guy's cum. Or their Dick.
Sorry for being in the world. No, the idea is not that it
tastes good or. It's like a like something

(01:43:41):
you're, I mean, maybe you do enjoy, but you're not enjoying
the physical aspect of it. You're enjoying giving somebody
else pleasure and so like to make it about you and like what
it tastes like. I guess it's like the yeah,
maybe that's the the expectationis that you should have a vagina
that tastes like honeydew. Like, no, like that's not real
in the medieval times in the woods.

(01:44:03):
I don't think, though, girl hasn't taken a bath.
Yeah, she's just so perfect thatyeah, her commentates like.
Honeydale But it's like wheneverthey describe a girl giving a
guy a blowjob in in books, they're like, it was salty and
like not musty but kind of like literally gagged.
No, literally like I'm gagging. But it's like.

(01:44:23):
So the guy just gets to have hisnormal, not like his normal
muscle. Yeah, like physical, bodily
functionality. Yes, but we have to have of
course this like soft. And sweet smelling vagina.
But then it's also like, yeah, it's like.
And then I just. Think that it makes people feel
insecure and then they go grab abottle of Summers Eve or

(01:44:45):
whatever and then fucking stick that up their vagina, you know,
and then get beef like and there's so many products out
there about. Like the spell and like now
there's this huge like like I get a lot of ads right now, like
for vaginal bacter, whatever back.
I don't know, it's like the the it's VB where you have like,

(01:45:05):
yeah. And it's like a real thing and
like, yeah, not like not ads, but like PSA's or like like this
is a real thing. Like now we're talking about it
and it's like, yeah, I'm really glad that that's the thing
because that's normal. Like most like that's a thing,
you know, so. Anyway.
I get it. I also think honeydew is a
bonkers fruit to choose. Like that's our melon.

(01:45:27):
Like that doesn't taste like anything.
And also like where? Where would he have ever tasted
a honeydew in this like time period?
Or that also makes sense to me that it was just so weird.
Also, it was weird. There was one word that he said.
Maybe it's Jennifer's favorite fruit.
Fruit, you know. Maybe her cum tastes like
honeydew, but let us know. Jennifer But the other like

(01:45:51):
thing I just I use sip of water when you said that it goes
through, let us know, let us know.
I think the other like. One thing that took me out is
there was a time that Hawk Sash Kass used a word that didn't
sound like medieval or whatever.Like it didn't.

(01:46:11):
It happened a lot, actually. Yeah, it happened something like
that. There was a, now that you're
saying it, I, I. Meant to like clock that and
like write it down what it was, but it wasn't even like a swear
word or anything like that. He he said like, are you serious
or like, you know, it's like theway you say yeah, like, like
almost like for real like, yeah,yeah.
It was something that I just wasn't in the.

(01:46:34):
The language was a little modern, yeah, the and I, I.
Think that's because it's not set in a time period, it's not
set in a specific world of ours like so it's actually it's fine
and it's appropriate because it's her world.
But the vibes that you get from the start are that this is like
a medieval times type of place. So yeah, it's kind of like how

(01:46:54):
in Bridgerton, like. There was the time that I think
it was like Anthony said, like what am I chopped liver or
whatever? And it was right.
It just, it takes you out for like 10 seconds and then you're
like, OK, going back in. But yeah, confused.
So, yeah, no, that's fair. OK.
And this is a new segment for you since you've been on, this
is a new. Segment for me, yeah, but this

(01:47:16):
is our side character. Spotlight, this is our
nomination. For an unforgettable supporting
character who deserves their due.
Because sometimes the best characters aren't the main
event. I feel like you're gonna nom
Tawny. Yeah.
So I'm torn because I do think Tawny.
Is a really good well written side character.
Is she my favorite side character?

(01:47:37):
No, she's kind of boring. I and I know that like the
problem is it's so aggressively in Poppy's POV that it is really
hard to find a side character here.
So I think Tawny, yes, I also think there's a spot in there
for Victor. And then I think that there's
probably, I mean, there's a Kieran spot, but it's it comes
on hard in the end, you know, like love that.

(01:48:00):
Yeah. I do think that he's like, if
he'll be it in the next books for sure.
Totally. So yeah, I mean, I would
probably know I'm Tawny just because I I like liked her vibe
the most and like, I feel like she was well written between her
and Victor probably for me. Yeah, I liked her too.
And. I'm hoping that she pops up in

(01:48:21):
further Yeah cuz she wrote her so fleshed.
Out that it would be kind of a bummer if we never heard or saw
her again totally and maybe she ends up with one of.
Cass's like Malik or Kieran and Tommy or something like that.
I'm also getting like gay vibes from Kieran.
A little bit though. OK nice.

(01:48:41):
So I don't know bye bye vibes. I could see that I I think.
Like Victor also like I just I love the like stand in dad
character. Yes, me too.
He was great and like, but againlike I.
Do feel like he didn't need to die.
He did not truly didn't like. I wish what happened was that.
He got maybe what she thinks is mortally injured and then she

(01:49:04):
has to leave because she's getting.
And then he's alive. And then he's alive, yeah, but
no like he was. Pired like he's.
Gone. He's gone.
OK, finally, our sequel scoop. This is the T.
On any upcoming sequel seasons and the general reception, the
next book in the series is A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire.
When did that come out like whendid like?
Where are we in the timeline here?

(01:49:25):
Like, how many books are are arewe in?
At this point? We're five books in, plus an
entire. Prequel series and book 6 comes
out in June. So like we're in April, we gotta
hurry up. Two months we've got we've got
four books. We got a pass.
She. Wrote two books in.
One year like she wrote. This is what I'm nervous about

(01:49:48):
is like, like. Is it going to be good?
Exactly, bitch. Published like 10 books.
In five years I don't Well, she also so a soul of ash and blood
from 20. 23 is a retelling of book 1, so it's Castile's POV.
So it's really 1234 and 5 but like even though it is isn't a

(01:50:10):
new story, it's still. Well, and then there's the
prequel series. Yeah.
Yeah, which is just, I think like, it's not really connected.
So I think that's OK. Like you don't need to read
those like right away. Like they're not totally.
They're about like the gods and stuff.
But all right, well, I gotta geton.
I went to Barnes and Noble over the weekend, but guess what?

(01:50:32):
They didn't have the second one in stock, which I thought was
insane. They also did not have the new
Hunger Games book. And I was like, I went, I was
like, both books that I'm askingto get in physical form from a
bookshop you don't have. That's crazy.
It's like, what? Am I crazy here?
I think. They're so popular.
They are so. Popular There's a there's a like
a local bookshop I like to go. To that they'll like order for

(01:50:54):
me and like I like to do that cuz it's like support local book
shops. But I was there the other day
cuz it was raining and you know,I needed to take my 5 year old
somewhere. Bookshop it is.
No, that's bookshop it is. So yeah, we got to get on it.
I guess we got to. Get on it.
We got to pick it up, which I'm actually like, really?
Excited to me too. I'm into these whereas I do feel

(01:51:15):
like I was. I had a lot.
We were just talking about Fourth Wing and Onyx Storm and
like, I had a lot of trouble reading Onyx Storm.
At the end of the day, I did like it.
I felt like it was good. A month.
I think I've read SO. Long between like while reading.
It. And then it made me feel like I

(01:51:35):
was like, am I not a good readeranymore?
Like. Do I not read fast anymore?
Like, how am I gonna? And then I was coming up on this
pod and I was like, am I not gonna be able to read this book
in time? And then no, we were good.
We were chill 'cause it was. I was thinking I was like, am I
gonna meet my Goodreads? Reading goal this year Reading
channel Yeah, because of Onyx Firm really threw you for a
loop. Literally.
I'm not even joking. I also wanna.

(01:51:56):
Say up top that I'm like 99.9% sure that I've read a Kingdom of
Flesh and Fire. But yes, you said this before
you were like you're you becauseit came out around the.
Same time. So you were like, yes, I, I
think I read it, but like you guys, you.
Know sometimes 2020 was a while ago too.
It was a while ago and. Like when I was deep deep deep

(01:52:18):
in my. Reading, like when I was reading
like 5 books a week, I was reading them so fast that I
don't I was skipping over a lot of stuff.
Yeah. Or I might have started it and
not. Finished it, which doesn't bode
well because I I, I don't know if this came through, but I
loved this book like I really really like this book so I'm

(01:52:39):
like I did too so I like maybe a2nd 2020 was a tough year.
Let's give you that I'll. Give you the the benefit of the
doubt there. I will also say when it's like
when you get these books like 1 after another, like you are so
feral for it that you do kind oflike rush through it.
Yeah. And like I, I think we also I
can guess that we read similarlythat we're like going to just

(01:53:02):
like gloss over sections and just kind of like skim read
that. And I think that that's what my
husband's always like you read so fast.
I'm like, do I or I know or skipthings?
Yes, which is why we were sayingthat.
I love doing rereads for this podcast because I actually ended
up enjoying the books way more than I did on the first time.

(01:53:25):
I just bought it by the way. I just.
I was like, well, I'm just gonnado it.
It's 8. 99 it's like on sale. Nice, nice.
I wanted to get it actually. That'll be a Kindle 1 I don't
have. The first one anyway, so it's
not gonna complete like a collection.
Yes, yes. And this would be if I really
like it, then I'll go back. And I'll buy them in physical.

(01:53:45):
Form. But yeah, I the convenience of
the Kindle is like more important sometimes.
Absolutely. OK.
Like we said in. December 2024, it was picked up
by Sony Pictures for TV series, which I'm very excited for
because it was it's the same production company that did
Outlander and they did a really good job.
They did do a good job. It's one of my favorite like

(01:54:07):
book to. Television series, if not truly
my favorite, Yeah. And I think like it's, it's one
of the ones that like. You know, one of my favorite
book series is the Mortal Instrument series.
Like I was very obsessed with them and like still am like can
reread those books like time andtime again.
But they did a terrible movie ofit.

(01:54:28):
And then they did a television series, which was OK for the
first like season. And then it just like took it to
like a teeny bopper place because it was on.
It was on What's the channel? What's the teen channel?
Yeah, Freeform. It was a freeform show, ABC
Freeform. So.
So it was like. You know, I, I understood why.

(01:54:50):
They did a lot of the things they did because it was
targeting a much younger audience and like a like they
wanted to just like, you know, get on with it in some ways.
But no, I, I Outlander, I think is probably the best television
series for a book. Totally.
And I think they'll take the care.
And time and money to do this series, while money is very

(01:55:12):
Sony's like a good one cuz they they got the.
Funds totally even though my. I'm not holding my breath
because so many of these things get picked up and no that's true
cuz we were just like the acataris like gone.
Forever, I think like, I don't think that's happening.
Probably. I mean, we'll see, but.

(01:55:33):
I think that's a. Tough one to make at this point.
That one's a tough. One where it's like this one's
the universe is. Yeah.
And like just that one is. So fantasy with like.
Wings and Magic, where it's likethis really actually isn't just
need teeth and you don't even need that until the end.
Yeah. And then like her power is like
putting. Her it's like Reiki basically,

(01:55:55):
so it's like sheer powers Reiki,but actually.
Like but actually. So it's like.
That's. Not hard.
OK, That's all from us. Thank you so much for coming on.
Oh, gosh. Thank you.
Yeah, I know. It was really fun to like read
something and like. Be able to actually talk to
somebody about it. Like literally nobody in my I

(01:56:19):
mean sometimes in my friends circle I have people that read
romance but like more often thannot they're reading like high
fantasy or self help books and I'm just like I really don't
want anything to do with the reality in my reading.
Like I do not care to help myself through a book at this

(01:56:39):
point in my life. Agreed.
Agreed. 100% then they're done that.
So yeah, it's really nice to have somebody to chat too about.
The chaotic romance books that we're reading, always a
pleasure. Agreed.
Can you tell the listeners wherethey can find?
You and anything else you want to plug?

(01:57:00):
Yeah, so I'm on Instagram. I have a few Instagrams I have.
My main one which is Angela Bloom with three OS and then
books with Bloom also with threeOS Get her to post more book
content. You need to post more books.
I do need to post more book content but thank.
You, you know, this has been really fun, Super fun.

(01:57:21):
I'm so glad we chose this book. Me.
Too good one. Really good one.
Really good one. OK.
Thanks for coming on. Thank you.
Talk soon. And that's the story of From
Blood and Ash. Thank you so much.
For listening and thank you to Angela for joining me on today's
show. If you haven't already, follow

(01:57:42):
us on socials. I post so much fan art and book
talk news and all of that stuff on Instagram at Ready to be
Bromanced. And if you've been enjoying the
show, please subscribe and leaveus a rating and review.
It helps us know that we are on track.
You can also suggest a book in that review or leave a voicemail

(01:58:04):
or. Fill out our.
Form via the links in that episode.
Show notes Our next episode is the deal.
Until then, happy reading for Ready to be Romanced.
I'm Tori. Goodbye.

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