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SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for the entire Empyrean series, including Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and all of Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros. #081: Grab the tissues, Bunchies! This week, join us for a special LIVE READING of Sloane’s chapter from Threshing Day as we experience every heartbreaking, emotional moment together.  Grab this month’s book: amzn.to/3Er9cuF Listen now: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JMA4nk... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast... YouTube: @anovelbunch Follow us: Instagram: @anovelbunchpodcast TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@anovelbunchpodcast Facebook:   / a-novel-bunch-podcast-61578539544471

Spoilers ahead for the entire Empyrean series, including Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and all of Threshing Day. #080: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Threshing Day chapters 8 through 14—and BUNCHIES, the dragons are officially keeping SECRETS. We’re recapping the final seven POVs from Imogen, Rhiannon, Sawyer, Ridoc, Liam, Sloane, and Aaric, and breaking down all the theories, clues, and major reveals along the way. Imogen’s chapter immediately blows everything open when we learn Glane already bonded her grandmother—despite the official records saying she had zero previous riders. So Glane is lying about her age, her history, AND knowingly bonding someone from the direct bloodline of a former rider. WHY DOES SHE WANT IMOGEN’S BLOODLINE?! And it doesn’t stop there. Liam’s dragon Deigh tells him that dragons from his line have always favored riders from Liam’s family—and flat-out confirms that some dragons know about the evil beyond Navarre’s borders and are actively choosing riders who can help fight it. Then Sloane bonds Thoirt, Deigh’s sister, who reveals the exact same thing: their dragon line has long chosen the Mairi bloodline. And if that wasn’t enough, Sloane learns she inherited the gift of her mother, Rune Master Celadine Mairi. BUNCHIES. THE BLOODLINES ARE BLOODLINING. Meanwhile, Sawyer’s second Threshing gives us some brutal foreshadowing about adapting to loss, Ridoc somehow bonds the literal dragon version of himself, Rhiannon proves she was born to lead, and Dain breaks the Codex to save Sloane when she hits rock bottom. And then there’s Aaric. He bonds Molvic, admits he knows the truth about the war beyond the wards, completely rejects his family’s rule, and delivers one VERY ominous promise: “I intend to tear this kingdom apart.” So now we have dragons falsifying records, dragons deliberately seeking specific bloodlines, legacy abilities resurfacing, and riders being chosen for a war most of Navarre doesn’t even know exists. At this point, we’re convinced of one thing: Threshing isn’t random. The dragons are building something. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

Spoilers ahead for the entire Empyrean series, including Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and all of Threshing Day. #079: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Threshing Day chapters 1 through 7—and BUNCHIES, the dragons are somehow giving us MORE questions than answers. We’re getting Threshing Day through Brennan, Mira, Xaden, Garrick, Dain, and Bodhi—and one thing keeps coming up: bloodlines. Brennan bonds the orange daggertail Marbh after Papa Sorrengail mysteriously shows up at Threshing, gives him the now VERY suspicious black beaded bracelet, and casually reminds us that dragons have always loved the Sorrengail family. Then Mira’s chapter gives us an even bigger reveal: the Sorrengail line includes fire wielding and tide wielding. Are dragons deliberately choosing certain bloodlines because they know what abilities will be needed for the war ahead? And then there’s Xaden. Sgaeyl calls him the grandson of Maxim Riorson—even though Xaden believes Maxim was his great-uncle—potentially explaining EXACTLY how Xaden manifested two signets without leadership realizing Sgaeyl had bonded someone in his direct bloodline. Except Garrick’s dragon Chradh ALSO says he specifically sought out Garrick’s bloodline… and Garrick has two signets too. COINCIDENCE?! WE THINK NOT. Meanwhile, we see Colonel Aetos already molding Dain into the rule-following man we meet in Fourth Wing, Xaden and Garrick’s brotherhood is destroying us, Cat is already driving Xaden insane, and Bodhi gets some VERY suspicious “brother” and “death or demise” language that has us side-eyeing the venin brother theory all over again. Oh—and why does everyone seem to be bleeding before their dragon bonds them?! Are dragons checking something in their blood before choosing them? Venin check, perhaps? Because at this point, one thing feels very clear: The dragons know WAY more than they’re telling us. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

078: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into The Assassin’s Blade in FULL, and BUNCHIES, knowing where Celaena’s story is headed makes this one HURT. *SPOILERS AHEAD* We meet 16-year-old Celaena Sardothien, already Adarlan’s most notorious assassin, and finally get the full story of Sam Cortland. From Skull’s Bay, where Celaena and Sam defy Arobynn and free hundreds of enslaved people, to the Red Desert, where Celaena trains with the Silent Assassins and survives Ansel’s betrayal, these novellas show us exactly who Celaena was before Endovier. Along the way, she meets Yrene Towers, unknowingly changes the course of her life, encounters Stygian spidersilk, rides an Asterion horse, and even crosses paths with two VERY familiar strangers: DORIAN AND CHAOL. But eventually, everything comes back to Sam. After years of rivalry, bickering, and feelings neither of them will admit… CELAENA AND SAM FINALLY GET TOGETHER. They buy their freedom from Arobynn and plan to leave Rifthold behind. One final job. One chance at a new life. And then... SAM NEVER COMES HOME. His death absolutely destroys Celaena (and us). Lavender soap will never smell the same... *cue tears* Celaena goes after the men responsible, only to walk straight into a trap. And the betrayal cuts even deeper when we learn Arobynn was the one who orchestrated it all. Celaena Sardothien is handed over to the King of Adarlan. Which means we officially know how she ended up in Endovier. Bunchies, Let’s get into it!

#77: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re doing something a little different: a special LIVE reading of the final chapter of The Assassin’s Blade — Chapter 12, plus the “Before” and “After.” And Bunchies… safe to say, we will never be the same. “My name is Celaena Sardothien, and I will not be afraid.” Yeah. We’re not okay. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#076: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering Crown of Midnight in FULL and Bunchies, this book just changed the entire game. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Celaena is officially the King’s Champion, but surprise: she’s secretly not killing his targets. Instead, she’s helping them disappear, including her latest assignment, Archer Finn, a childhood friend who reveals that rebels are searching for the lost heir of Terrasen: Aelin Galathynius. OH RLY. Meanwhile, Celaena and Chaol are getting VERY close. Nights together, dancing, birthday dates, talking about leaving Rifthold and yes, they finally become a couple. Alyssa is suffering. Dorian deserves JUSTICE. Speaking of Dorian… DORIAN HAS MAGIC. During a council meeting, his anger literally cracks stone and shatters a window. He also notices that the King, Duke Perrington, and Roland are all wearing matching black rings. Nothing ominous about that!!! Then Baba Yellowlegs drops some MASSIVE lore: the Valg are demons from another world, there are three Wyrdkeys capable of opening Wyrdgates between realms, and the King may already possess one. MULTIVERSE ALERT. And then everything falls apart. Nehemia begs Celaena to fight for Eyllwe, but Celaena refuses. Nehemia’s final words to her? “Nothing more than a coward.” Chaol later learns about a threat against Nehemia but keeps it from Celaena. He gets kidnapped, Celaena races back to the castle… …and Nehemia has been murdered. Celaena completely snaps and nearly kills Chaol, until Dorian uses his magic to stop her. From there, we finally see the assassin everyone has been warning us about. Celaena hunts down Grave, walks into the King’s council carrying his head, and declares war on everyone responsible for Nehemia’s death. But the BIGGEST betrayal is still coming. Celaena eventually learns Archer ordered Nehemia’s assassination. He planted the threat, kidnapped Chaol, and manipulated Celaena into blaming him. Then he TAKES FLEETFOOT INTO A PORTAL. Obviously we lost our minds. Celaena follows and TRANSFORMS INTO FAE. She kills the creature inside the portal, saves Fleetfoot and Chaol, and then kills Archer. After everything that happened, Chaol realizes Celaena is no longer safe in Rifthold and arranges for her to be sent to Wendlyn. Before she leaves, he tells her: “I love you.” Her response? “I’m sorry.” Then Celaena whispers a date into his ear, the day her parents died. Chaol finally puts the pieces together. Celaena Sardothien isn’t just Celaena Sardothien. SHE IS AELIN ASHRYVER GALATHYNIUS. THE LOST QUEEN OF TERRASEN. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#075: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Throne of Glass chapters 43 through 55, and BUNCHIES—we’ve got Kaltain on our LAST nerve, portals opening, MORE Wyrdmarks, and Celaena officially becoming the King’s Champion. *SPOILERS AHEAD* But first—Wyrdmarks in ACOTAR?! Feyre describes the faded markings around her family’s human cottage as whorls, swirls, and runes carved around the doors and windows for protection against faeries. Now that we’ve seen Wyrdmarks used for protection, portals, and crossing between realms in Throne of Glass... could those cottage markings actually be Wyrdmarks—or some forgotten version of the same ancient language? WE HAVE QUESTIONS. Back in Erilea, Celaena finally reveals her true identity to Nehemia, who gives her the name Elentiya, Spirit That Could Not Be Broken. Then it’s time for the final duel. Celaena takes down Grave in under two minutes, but before she faces Cain, Kaltain poisons her wine with bloodbane. As Celaena becomes weaker and more disoriented, Cain begins taunting her with horrifying details about the night her parents died. HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT?! And somehow things get even worse. Creatures begin surrounding Celaena during the fight, creatures no one else can see. Elena appears through a portal, drives them away, removes the poison from Celaena’s body, and gives her the chance to fight back. Celaena defeats Cain, a Wyrdmark glows across her forehead, and when Cain tries to attack her from behind, Chaol kills him—his first kill ever. CUZ HE’S IN LOVE. I SAID WHAT I SAID. Nehemia then reveals she knew WAY more than we realized: she drew the protective Wyrdmarks beneath Celaena’s bed, could see the creatures during the duel, and opened the portal that allowed Elena to save her. Meanwhile, the King and Duke Perrington basically confirm our worst suspicions, the King knew what Cain was doing, and Perrington is using some mysterious “power” on Kaltain. And then...DORIAN HEARTBREAK. After the books, flirting, dancing, Fleetfoot, and KISSING, Celaena tells Dorian they can’t be together, even after he says he would tell his parents about them.  Finally, Celaena thanks Elena for saving her, only for Elena to respond: “Blood ties can’t be broken.” UMMMM... WHAT BLOOD TIES?! Celaena signs her contract and officially becomes the King’s Champion for four years before earning her freedom. But with portals opening, the King experimenting with mysterious powers, and Celaena’s past getting more suspicious by the chapter... Something tells us becoming Champion was only the beginning. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#074: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Throne of Glass chapters 29 through 42, and BUNCHIES—the romance is ROMANCING. *SPOILERS AHEAD* The competition continues, another Champion is brutally murdered, and the mysterious Wyrdmarks scattered throughout the castle are becoming harder to ignore. Celaena begins suspecting Nehemia may know more than she’s letting on, especially after finding Wyrdmarks hidden beneath her bed and discovering Nehemia has been studying them herself. Meanwhile, Dorian and Celaena are getting CLOSER. He saves the puppy Celaena begged him not to delete, gifts her Fleetfoot (SWOON),  dances with her at the Yulemas ball—and then follows her back to her rooms where THEY KISS. But romance isn’t the only thing heating up. Dorian recognizes Celaena’s mysterious amulet as the Eye of Elena, Duke Perrington reveals Celaena’s true identity to Kaltain, and a plan is set in motion to drug her before the final duel. Then the castle mystery finally starts coming together. Celaena discovers the murdered Champions are being sacrificed to summon a terrifying creature called a Ridderak, allowing its summoner to steal their strength—and she catches Cain in the act. After surviving the Ridderak with King Gavin’s sword, Damaris, Nehemia finds Celaena and bathes her... only to reveal glowing turquoise Wyrdmarks covering her body. WE HAVE QUESTIONS. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#073: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 15 through 28 of Throne of Glass, and BUNCHIES… the competition is officially underway, the Champions are being hunted, and the clues are starting to point toward something much bigger beneath the glass castle. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Before we dive into the chapters, we found an old video of Sarah J. Maas sorting her characters into Hogwarts houses, and obviously, we need to discuss. From Ravenclaw Dorian and Hufflepuff Chaol to Celaena’s Slytherin-Gryffindor mix, we’re breaking down whether we agree or not! Then it’s back to the competition as Celaena deliberately hides the full extent of her abilities, survives increasingly brutal trials, and risks everything to save Nox after Grave pushes him from the castle wall. Meanwhile, Dorian and Celaena continue growing closer through books, music, and one very flirtatious game of billiards, while Chaol sends Dorian away from her rooms, only to give Celaena his amethyst ring moments later. The love-triangle energy is officially here, Bunchies. But romance may be the least of Celaena’s problems. Nehemia reveals that the mysterious symbols around the clock tower are ancient Wyrdmarks, and Celaena discovers they can be used to open Wyrdgates into other realms. After finding secret passages behind the tapestry in her room, she is led beneath the castle to the tomb of King Gavin and Queen Elena. There, Elena warns her that the eight gargoyles guard a portal between worlds, and that something evil is already inside the castle. We’re connecting the Wyrdmarks, Elena’s protective amulet, and The Walking Dead to major Crescent City moments, questioning whether “Ah! Time’s Rift!” could connect to the Northern Rift, and asking just how early Sarah J. Maas began planting the seeds for a much larger crossover. And just when the mystery could not get any bigger… Cain reveals that he knows Celaena’s true identity. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#072: This week on A Novel Bunch, we are officially beginning Throne of Glass, and BUNCHIES, we are already obsessed. SPOILERS AHEAD Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s most infamous assassin, is pulled from the Salt Mines of Endovier and offered a chance at freedom by Crown Prince Dorian: compete to become the King’s Champion, serve him for four years, and walk free. But surviving the competition may be the least of her problems. Between Dorian’s shameless flirting, Chaol’s reluctant training sessions, Princess Nehemia’s mysterious agenda, and a castle filled with criminals, assassins, and secrets, Celaena quickly realizes there is far more happening beneath the glass castle than anyone is admitting. Magic has supposedly vanished. Strange symbols surround the clock tower. Tiny footprints and flowers appear where they should not. And when one of the competitors is brutally murdered, it becomes clear something dangerous may already be hunting them. We’re breaking down our first impressions of Celaena, debating the Dorian-versus-Chaol love triangle, questioning who betrayed her, and asking the biggest question of all: who exactly is Celaena Sardothien? Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#071: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering the explosive final chapters of House of Flame and Shadow—plus doing a live read of one of the Crescent City bonus chapters! SPOILERS AHEAD Bryce returns to Midgard with the Mask, exposes the Asteri’s greatest weakness to the entire world, raises the Fallen, and launches a full-scale attack on the Eternal City. But when Rigelus reveals the invasion was a trap, Bryce, Hunt, and their allies must risk everything to finally destroy the Asteri—and yes, that includes black holes, secondlight bullets, mech suits, Shahar, Jesiba’s devastating sacrifice, and Bryce literally dying. Meanwhile, Ruhn and Lidia’s newly discovered mating bond is immediately put to the test when Pollux kidnaps her sons. Lidia finally unleashes her hidden fire magic, reveals her connection to King Brannon’s bloodline, and gives Pollux the ending he deserves. Hypaxia defeats the Under-King and becomes the new head of the House of Flame and Shadow, Ithan embraces his role as Prime, Tharion continues making increasingly questionable life choices, and Midgard begins rebuilding without firstlight, secondlight, or the Fae monarchy. But the biggest clues may come after the battle. Bryce returns the Mask and Truth-Teller to Nesta, gives her Gwydion, and points directly toward the eight-pointed star, the Prison, and what could be a massive setup for ACOTAR 6. And just when we think Sarah J. Maas is finished connecting these worlds… twenty-four pegasuses mysteriously appear in Midgard. We break down why Bryce’s childhood obsession with Jelly Jubilee may have been foreshadowing all along, how the pegasi connect Helion’s Day Court to the lost Dusk Court, and why their return could reveal what is truly happening beneath the Prison. Plus, we live read the Crescent City bonus chapter with Azriel, Nesta, and Bryce! Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#070: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 51–76 of House of Flame and Shadow and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas decided the best way to prepare us for the finale was to reveal ancient history, launch an interdimensional war, and casually connect entire worlds. SPOILERS AHEAD Before we dive into the chapters, we're taking a quick detour to completely fan girl over Rebecca Yarros' Threshing Day announcement! We break down everything we know about the 13 stories, theorize whose POVs could be included, from Xaden and Naolin to Brennan, Lilith, Liam, and even Jack Barlowe, and share our wildest predictions for what could set up Book 4. Then it's back to Crescent City as Bryce's search through the Cave of Princes uncovers game-changing truths about Theia, the Starsword, and the true history of the Fae, while the Asteri begin their full-scale assault on Midgard. Along the way, we get one of the biggest relationship moments yet as Ruhn and Lidia finally give in to their feelings, Hunt and Bryce face their toughest conflict, and Baxian's heartbreaking past comes to light. Meanwhile, Bryce learns she's a true World-Walker carrying two-thirds of Theia's power, Hunt discovers the shocking truth about his origins and why he was created, and our favorite mirrored-world theory gets even stronger as Midgard and Prythian continue to reflect one another in fascinating ways. As the final battle begins, alliances are tested, Hel joins the war, Hypaxia races to save the world with her antidote, and Ithan finally steps into the Alpha role he was always meant to claim. And just when we think we know where this story is headed... Bryce opens a portal expecting Hel... and instead finds herself standing in Prythian, face-to-face with Nesta, asking for the Mask. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#069: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 26–50 of House of Flame and Shadow and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas somehow managed to pack an entire season of television into twenty-five chapters. *Spoilers ahead* We pick up with Bryce escaping Prythian after Vesperus is finally defeated thanks to one seriously iconic team-up with Nesta, only for Bryce's "homecoming" to go spectacularly wrong when she lands straight into the Autumn King's waiting chains. Unfortunately for him... our girl was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. While Bryce uncovers massive revelations about the Starsword, Truth-Teller, the Starborn Fae, and the Asteri's centuries-long manipulation of Midgard, Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian are facing execution in the Eternal City... until Agent Daybright herself reminds us exactly why Lidia Cervos is THAT GIRL. Between the prison break, the chase across Midgard, and one absolutely unhinged cliff jump, these chapters officially cement her as one of the best characters in the series. Meanwhile, Ruhn is barely holding himself together, Hunt discovers the terrifying reason the Asteri are so interested in his lightning, and we learn Lidia has been hiding an enormous secret that somehow makes her story even more heartbreaking. Elsewhere, Ithan makes perhaps the most questionable decision of his life by asking Jesiba to resurrect Sigrid, leading us down a rabbit hole of ancient history involving Parthos, the Fendyr bloodline, Apollion, and enough lore to rewrite everything we thought we knew about Midgard. Bryce eventually reunites with Hunt, boldly declares herself Queen of the Valbaran Fae, convinces the Ocean Queen to help them reach Avallen, and begins chasing answers hidden in one of the oldest Fae strongholds in existence. Along the way we meet King Morven, the deeply unsettling Murder Twins, watch Tharion make yet another impulsive life-changing decision, and witness Hypaxia's resurrection spell go catastrophically wrong. By the end of these chapters, ancient maps hint that Midgard once looked completely different, the mystery surrounding the First Wars grows even bigger, Bryce and Hunt finally get a much-needed moment alone, and Sarah J. Maas leaves us with enough new questions to fuel theories for weeks. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#068: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're kicking off House of Flame and Shadow, and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas wasted absolutely zero time choosing violence. Within the first few chapters, Bryce crash-lands in a place we've all been dreaming she'd end up, while everyone else is scattered across Midgard trying desperately to survive the fallout of the Asteri's attack. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Bryce finds herself in Prythian face-to-face with Rhysand, Azriel, Nesta, Amren, and the Inner Circle, only to discover they're just as suspicious of her as she is of them. As language barriers disappear and ancient magic begins responding to Bryce's presence, one revelation after another confirms that the worlds of Crescent City and ACOTAR are connected far more deeply than we ever imagined. The Starsword, the Book of Breathings, Queen Theia, the Dread Trove... suddenly, it's all one story. Hunt learns shocking new truths about his mysterious origins, Apollion and Aidas finally step into the conversation, and we're left asking one very important question: Who exactly is Hunt's father? Back in Lunathion, the remaining crew is somehow having an equally terrible week. Sabine refuses to stay dead, the Viper Queen continues collecting people like Pokémon, Ithan accidentally signs himself up for a fight to the death, and Lidia risks absolutely everything after revealing herself as Agent Daybright to the very people who have every reason not to trust her. Over in Prythian, Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel descend into ancient tunnels beneath the Prison, where Silene's hidden memories unravel the true history of the Daglan, the Asteri, Queen Theia, the founding of the Night Court, and the terrifying secret Rhysand has no idea his own bloodline has been protecting. Every answer completely rewrites what we thought we knew about both worlds. And just when it feels like the lore couldn't possibly get bigger... Bryce makes perhaps the boldest decision of the entire series and awakens an imprisoned Asteri beneath the mountain. By the end of these chapters, ancient histories have collided, centuries of lies are falling apart, and it's becoming painfully clear that saving Midgard may require unraveling the fate of every world Sarah J. Maas has ever built. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#067: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 64–78 of House of Sky and Breath and... BUNCHIES. Wow. Just WOW. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Fresh off the Under-King's temple, Baxian finally reveals why he's been helping Bryce all along—and drops one of the biggest emotional bombs in the series: Danika was his mate. As Bryce pieces together Danika's final investigation, it becomes clear she died trying to uncover a truth that threatened the Asteri themselves. Meanwhile, our crew launches their long-awaited Crystal Palace heist, but what starts as a carefully planned mission quickly spirals into disaster. Along the way, Bryce uncovers the horrifying secret behind Firstlight, the true history of Midgard, and learns the Asteri aren't benevolent rulers at all... they're intergalactic conquerors who have been feeding on their people for thousands of years. Elsewhere, Ruhn and Daybright's story reaches a heartbreaking turning point, the identity of Day is finally revealed, Cormac makes the ultimate sacrifice, and Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn find themselves facing impossible odds inside the Asteri's palace. By the end of these chapters, Bryce makes one desperate leap through a Gate... and wakes up somewhere none of us expected: Prythian. We break down her first meeting with the Inner Circle, the shocking connection between the Starsword and Azriel's dagger, Rhysand's resemblance to Ruhn, and all the ACOTAR crossover theories these chapters unleashed. Let's get into it, Bunchies!