Dear Fantasy Reader – Ep 2: The Ascended Theories: Sundered Realms Connections

Podcast Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly

Episode Overview

This episode is a passionate, theory-packed deep dive into The Ascended—book one of the Asimmerian Duet by Brie Greenwich and Parker Lennox—with major focus on character arcs, potential plots for book two, power mechanics, and especially, how this duology may intersect with the broader Sundered Realms universe, including the Asprythian Trilogy (Riftborne and Duskbound). The hosts split the discussion: first, spoiler talk and theories about The Ascended alone, then escalating into full-universe, multi-series crossover predictions for those who’ve read all released books.

Episode Structure and Major Segments

• 00:00–03:30: Intro, sponsor thanks, content warning, lighthearted host banter, and structure explanation
• 03:31–31:06: The Ascended Book 2 Theories (spoiler safe for those who have not read other Sundered Realms books)
• 31:06–95:12: Spoiler Section – Sundered Realms Universe Connections (Riftborne, Duskbound, major wild theories)
• 95:12–End: Community shout-out, plugs, closing

PART ONE: The Ascended – Book 2 Theories

(No spoilers for the Asprythian Trilogy in this section)

Navora's Role and the Morality Showdown

• Navora’s Knowledge at Harvest Festivals
  • Memorable moment: Karly jumps in with a quote at [03:59]:

    “And here I thought you enjoyed being Davina's right hand. And Nabora responds, 'Oh yes. Nothing brings me more joy than organizing harvest celebrations. It's exactly what I dreamed of when I was young, being Mother's glorified event planner for eternity.'”

  • Karly theorizes Navora was present at Harvest events and maybe knew Olinthar was “preying on mortals,” suggesting future conflict.
    • Kinsey: “Do you think she's gonna piece together that Thayas is Olinthar–Moros's daughter?” ([05:14])
    • Hosts agree this subplot could erupt into a major confrontation or blackmail scenario.

Relationship Dynamics: Zuul, Navora, and Thayas

• Kinsey predicts a breakup between Zuul and Navora well before their thousand-year contract ends.

  “I think Thayas and Zuul will get back together very, very quickly and then they will reciprocate the bond…” ([06:11])

• Hannah expresses hope the forced-love-marriage trope isn't the overt conflict engine for book two, advocating for quicker resolution.

Zuul's Soul/Shadow Powers

• Karly posits Zuul may “watch” via souls or shadows (some surveillance ability), based on him knowing things he shouldn’t ([07:56], 08:39]).
  • “I think Zuul can actually use the souls to, like, watch things, hear things, get insider information…”
• Hosts debate limitations, practicalities, and related plot holes—good fantasy magic discussion.

Younger Generation Overthrow (New Pantheon Theory)

• Kinsey draws Greek mythology parallels: predicts all Legend heirs will challenge, replace, or kill their parents, creating a new Pantheon.

  “First we had the primordials taken out. Now…going to have the Asimmerian. Now it’s going to be the legends.” ([11:17])

  • Discusses internal goals:
    • Zuul wants to end the trials
    • Navora may seek to overthrow/escape her mother’s influence
    • Tension between being “heir and spare” simultaneously
• Hannah:

  "I think they have a good opportunity here to really investigate what it would be like to be both the heir and the spare in one..." ([15:01])

  • Conversation includes emotional trauma, family politics, generational bitterness.

Grief as Alchemical Power

• Karly notes an intriguing epigraph about grief during Zuul’s alchemy lessons ([18:35], [19:00]):

  “Grief is one of the purest emotions. When crystallized properly, it creates an exceptionally strong alchemical component.”

  • Theory: Thayas’s grief or tears will factor into crucial plot magic (e.g., opening the Void, saving someone).

Primordial Powers, Inheritance & Genetics

• Extended back-and-forth on whether both twins (Thayas and Thatcher) inherited primordial power and if so, in what “form” ([20:49]–[27:27]). Karly and Kinsey debate reincarnation, the “seed” metaphor, and how power could function through fraternal twins.

  “...I think Thatcher is more powerful than her period, by nature of his ability alone.” (Kinsey, [26:51])

  • Hannah expresses concern about overpowered MCs but is excited for surprises.

Pacing & Timelines Speculation

• Hosts predict time jumps to accommodate the “35 years for a 7-second gap” to reach Thatcher.
  • Karly: “I think the 30% mark.” ([28:54])—on when reunion will be teased.
  • Discussion on Thayas's preparation: mostly research, training, magical experimentation ([29:34]), and “not wasting a second crying.”

PART TWO: Sundered Realms Connections

[SPOILERS for Riftborne & Duskbound start at 31:06!]

Fia's Dream Magic Lineage

• Kinsey and Karly strongly theorize Fia (from Duskbound) is descended from the primordial Dreamweaver ([31:31]).
  • Supportive quotes compare Fia’s dream abilities to the Dreamweavers’ physical description.

Interconnected Pantheon Lore

• Discussion of four pantheons (“Aasimar: order, Esprit: harmony, Illustrian: wisdom, Verhun: passion/darkness”) and their relationship to Primordials ([37:33]).
  • Types of magic explained: Esprit have Foresight, Wisdom, and Dreams
  • Theorizing how powers and bloodlines move between realms and books.

The Fate Thread and Sibyl the Esprit (Harbinger of Fate)

• Kinsey identifies the mysterious “third thread” in Thayas’s vision as possibly Sibyl, the Esprit of foresight ([37:42–40:44]).
  • Both color (storm-grey) and narrative description fit; Sibyl might be watching and guiding Thayas in real time from another realm.
    • Karly: “Both the string and the girl's hair were described as storm grey... that thread is that person…” ([40:50])

Moros, Possession, and the Void

• Karly theorizes that Moros “hitched a ride” out of the Void by possessing Queen Ophelia (formerly Velda), the twin queen ([44:51–48:31]), based on:

  “...their father took them to the Void… One of them later married a lord, and I think they both went in. The Queen of Ambrathia took Thatcher out. Where did Moros go? I think he hitched a ride with Queen Ophelia. I think he took her over.”

  • Both queens have odd, possibly supernatural longevity: potentially explained by Moros’s possession and magic.
  • The chaos and madness in the Esprit realm mirrors Moros’s influence.

Utilizing the Twin Bond for the Seven Second Reunion

• Kinsey lays out her plan for the “seven second” Thatcher–Thayas reunion ([49:13–51:08]):
  • Thayas will use the twin bond when Heron (God of Fate) locates Thatcher.
  • Predicts it will be sad—Aether (Thatcher) will stay with Fia, but sibling bonds will function across realms.

Aether Losing/Reclaiming Memories

• Host discussion: How will Thatcher (now Aether) react to Thayas when he has no memories? How will Thayas cope? ([51:57–56:02])
  • Karly hopes the bond or images she sends across the bond will trigger recognition.
  • Karly: “...when that bond is reactivated, it’s like a sixth sense...”
  • Hannah: “She’s not getting the same person back that she lost, and that’s really hard.”
  • Theories: bond, alchemy, Dreamweaver (Fia) powers, or help from the Esprit may restore Aether’s true self...or not.

Plot/Book Order and Crossover Mechanics

• Key question: Will reunion and/or major crossover scenes happen in RealmBlade or The Ascended Book 2? ([58:25], [70:28])
  • Kinsey is adamant: “I do not think the reunion will be RealmBlade. I think it will be the Ascended 2...” ([70:28])
  • The hosts discuss series/duology/novella structure and timing for the anticipated “Endgame moment.”

Opening the Realm/Defeating Moros – Endgame Theory

• Karly posits they’ll need true primordial power—possibly inter-pantheon cooperation—to open rifts/defeat Moros ([63:00–67:39]).
  • “I think that’s gonna be... like they’re getting rid of her Moros, and then those are the seven seconds where Heron and Thayas will see Thatcher...”
• There are thoughts the next duology (Illustrian) may expand the universe or serve as prequels, but the main Ascended/Asprythian crossover is the heart of the drama.

Parallels and Easter Eggs

• The hosts notice parallel events (drowning incidents) between the series ([75:55–79:38]):
  • There might be a character overlap: Zuul saves a drowning girl; Fia’s friend dies (maybe not!) in a river.
  • Karly muses, “Maybe she has a power to travel between realms and she doesn’t know it.” ([79:55])

Side Characters and Trust Issues

• Kinsey admits to not trusting Lark (from Dustbound) or Marx (from Ascended): each may have their own agenda ([90:00]), sparking further intrigue around secondary cast and potential betrayals in future books.

The Void, The Deal, and Future Dangers

• Karly & Kinsey agree: Fia's deal in the Void will “bite her in the ass real hard in RealmBlade” ([92:10])
  • The hosts express anxiety about this Chekhov’s Deal, likening it to dangerous magical blood oaths in fae fantasy.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Generational Trauma and Power

  “All these legends are... both the heir, but they are also the spare, because they’re never really going to see that point in time in which their parents die because they’re not supposed to be able to...”
  – Hannah, [15:01]

• On Theories Getting Out of Control

  “It’s delicious. It tickles the brain and I’m glad that it’s getting the recognition it deserves.”
  – Karly, [94:02]

• On Fandom and Series Popularity

  “Guys, I’ve seen people call this the next SJM Universe and I think that compliment is just... insane. And it’s... so creative and we see that demonstrated so gorgeously with this universe.”
  – Hannah, [93:57]

Timestamps of Key Discussion Points

• [03:59] – Navora’s knowledge, blackmail theory, and character arc speculation
• [06:11] – Zuul/Navora breakup and Thayas reuniting with Zuul theory
• [07:56], [08:39] – Zuul’s possible soul/shadow powers and mechanics discussion
• [11:17] – New pantheon theory and familial power struggles
• [15:01] – “Heir and spare” trauma and identity
• [19:00] – Grief as an alchemical catalyst theory
• [31:31] – Start of Sundered Realms connections: Fia's Dreamweaver lineage theory
• [37:42] – Sibyl the Esprit, the fate thread, and real-time visions
• [44:51] – Queen Ophelia/Velda, Moros’s possession, and Void escape theory
• [49:13] – Twin bond and the “seven second” reunion speculation
• [51:57] – Loss and recovery of Aether/Thatcher’s memories, sibling reunion pathos
• [70:28] – Where/when does crossover and reunion really happen?
• [75:55] – Listener question: “Did we meet the river girl Zuul saved?”
• [92:10] – Fia’s deal in the Void: fandom anxiety and future consequences
• [94:02] – Fandom celebration, SJM parallels, and closing statements

Overall Tone

The podcast is enthusiastic, detail-obsessed, inclusive of both casual and deep-cut theorist listeners, and leans heavily into “fangirl” energy but with careful logic and sharp literary analysis.

The hosts tease and support each other, trade wild predictions, but always return to canon, seeking clues in Yarros-esque epigraphs, power hierarchies, and intergenerational themes. They maintain a fun, irreverent, and infectiously passionate tone throughout.

Listener Value

• For Ascended readers: Excellent, spoiler-safe breakdown of book one’s characters, themes, and mechanics, as well as theorizing for book two.
• For Sundered Realms-readers: Elaborate, well-argued theories tying together the Asimmerian and Asprythian series; highlights hidden lore, foreshadowing, and parallels even eagle-eyed fans may have missed.
• Universal fans: Joyful community-building closing invites all to join the Discord for further theorizing, plus cross-promo for previous podcast seasons and author interviews.
• Not to be missed: The lively debate over when, why, and how the major cross-series reunion will play out—and just how deep the crossover magic might go.

Next Episode Tease: The hosts will answer readers’ “biggest Ascended questions” and continue their journey in the Sundered Realms universe.