Marginalia Pod

Wah wah, things are going awry and one might say, the Gangsey are at risk of feeling a bit disillusioned... That's the theme for chapters 55-61 of The Raven King this week.

In this section, Gansey walks the tunnel to Glendower until his phone battery runs out... but the Gangsey find him. They find Glendower—but there is no waking this sleeping king. As they head back to Cabeswater in search of a solution to their demon problem, Ada...

Chaos is a ladder... into this week's episode as we read chapters 48-54 of The Raven King through, you guessed it, the theme of chaos.

In this section, Gwenllian gives Gansey some advice, and then he rushes off to follow a storm of birds to his king. He gets in the Camaro and goes. Ronan is woken by Blue to the news that Gansey has gone–he offers to dream something that will help find him. The Camaro does Gansey a solid by breaking...

We're reading chapters 41-47 of The Raven King through the theme of shame this week.

In this section, Gwenllian attacks Artemus, who retreats into Blue’s favorite beech tree. Adam and Ronan dream together and find disease and death in Cabeswater. Gansey, meanwhile, has taken Henry and Blue to lunch with his parents. The Gangsey is reunited to support Ronan. Blue finally gets to talk to her father, who tells the story of the tir e e...

We fancy ourselves quite good at observing, so it's a great theme for us as we read chapters 34-40 of The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater this week.

In this section, Declan and Ronan have a nice moment. Back in Cabeswater, Neeve is trying to mitigate the harm of Piper Greenmantle and the demon, and is unmade for her efforts. At the Barns, the Gangsey piece together their experiences. Adam tells Gansey about the kiss; Gansey admits ...

We're reading 27-33 of The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater through the theme of bravery this week. It feels like a veyr apt theme as these characters have been called upon to be brave time and time again. 

In this section, Gansey is waiting for Blue at the urgent care when Ronan and Adam turn up, post-Cabeswater misadventure. Gansey comes clean about his and Blue’s relationship. Meanwhile, in DC, Declan gets a call from an old “fri...

Get ready to dive deep cause we're all about discovery this week! That's our theme for chapters 21-26 of Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven King.

In this section, Adam and Ronan run into trouble retrieving Orphan Girl from Cabeswater. Adam finally asks all the right questions, and discovers that Ronan manifested Cabeswater—which raises lots of questions about who Adam is beholden to, if anyone. Meanwhile, Blue and Gansey head back to Fo...

This week, we're reading chapters 14-20 of The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater through the theme of friendship.

In this section, Blue and Adam have a conversation that turns into an argument about Blue and Gansey secretly falling in love. Adam and Ronan go looking for the devil attacking Cabeswater. They end up at Adam’s father’s house— the wrong devil. Blue and Gansey go to Henry Cheng’s toga party. Maura and Mr Gray go on a littl...

What does commitment mean to you? It's a big theme and there's a lot to work with in chapters 7-13 of The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.

In this section, we are introduced to the Laumonier triplets, one of whom happens to be Piper Greenmantle’s father. The Gangsey take Orphan Girl to Cabeswater to live with Aurora, for lack of any better options. Blue faces the reality of a grim future without Gansey & without the ability to ...

We’ve reached the final book in the Raven Cycle as we read The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater for season 12. You can check out season 5 for The Raven Boys, season 8 for The Dream Thieves, and season 10 for Blue Lily, Lily Blue.

We’re returning to the foundational theme of connections, and also reading the prologue to chapter 6 through the theme of foresight.

We’re also still actively recording this season so if you have thoughts o...

So excited to be watching the modern Kiwi classic Hunt for the Wilderpeople and chatting about it through the loose themes of community and survival. We didn't choose the skux life, the skux life chose us! 

You can find the show notes on the website. 

This episode was recorded on 30 September 2023.

Thanks for listening! We're taking a week off and then well be back with Season 12 on 26 September. We're heading back to Henrietta one...

Here we are again, at the end of another season! It always comes around too fast. This week, we read chapters 84-epilogue of Any Way The Wind Blows through the theme of love and wrap up our time with this book. It's the perfect theme to end our journey with this wonderful series! 

In this section, Lady Ruth and Jamie invite Simon and Baz over for a celebration lunch where Simon commits a sword faux pas... or does he? Turns out Simo...

This week, we read chapters 74-83 of Any Way The Wind Blows through the theme of maturity. It's a loaded concept, often used as a compliment when in actuality it might not come from a healthy place. Lots to talk about!

In this section, Agatha and Niamh are surprised to find there's another—which survives, along with the doe. And they kiss! Simon Snow has sent Penny and Baz and Shep on a wild goose chase—because he intends to stop S...

Our theme this week is duty which is something Simon Snow certainly thinks about a lot. What does it mean to do your duty? And where do you draw the line? We unpack that this week as we read chapters 64-73 of Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell.

In this section, Agatha and Niamh head to Watford to check up on the pregnant doe. Simon, Baz, Penny and Shep break into the orphanage to find Pippa... and find Jamie Salisbury in the ...

This week, we’re reading chapters 56-64 of Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell through the theme of responsibility. 

In this section, Simon and Baz go to Ikea. Baz remembers who Philippa is... and has a crisis. He marches straight to Fiona’s for answers... and interrupts her and Nicodemus Petty! Meanwhile, Penny summons Shepard’s demon and undoes the curse with some nifty legal wrangling. They all convene back at Simon’s flat ...

Finally, something light and joyful! That's right, this week, we’re reading chapters 47-55 of Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell through the theme of optimism. 

In this section, Agatha and Niamh head back to Watford for more goat maintenance, and meet Simon and Baz, who happen to be there researching Smith Smith-Richards. Mitali Bunce definitely knows her daughter is on YouTube doing magic but she literally has no time to car...

Boy, we love getting in our feelings, don’t we? This week, we’re reading chapters 38-46 of Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell through the theme of grief. 

In this section, Penny decides to trust Shepard and they start working on getting out of the demon contract. Simon and Baz are taking things one step at a time, and working out what to do about Smith Smith-Richards, the new alleged Chosen One. 

You can find the show notes o...

We’re reading chapters 29-37 of Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell through the theme of envy - not to be confused with jealousy! Important distinction.

You can find the show notes on the website. 

This episode was recorded on 12 August 2023.

This is the last part of the Carry On trilogy - you can check out season 6 for Carry On and season 9 for Wayward Son. 

We’re also still actively recording this season so if you have thoug...

This week, we’re reading chapters 20-28 of Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell through the theme of vulnerability. 

In this section, Simon is weathering his vulnerability hangover and Baz has to explain all the dodgy Chosen One things going on. Penny decides she’s too much of a mess to help Shepard and tries to send him home, but she just can’t quite let him go. Agatha helps Naimh with a task at Watford… and she has surprising...

Everything hurts and we’re dying… this week is a lot! We’re reading chapters 11-19 of Rainbow Rowell’s Any Way The Wind Blows through the theme of confusion. 

In this section, Baz turns up at Simon & Penny’s flat only to discover that Simon has left. He refuses to accept this and hunts him down… only for SImon to break up with him. Honestly, it’s pretty terrible. Meanwhile, Agatha is put to work in her dad’s clinic where she’s ...