"The Ascended" Grenwich & Lennox | A Dear Fantasy Author Interview

Summary

Dear Fantasy Reader – Ep 3: The Ascended Interview: Grenwich & Lennox

Release Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Hannah, Kinsey, Carly
Guests: Bri Greenwich & Parker Lennox (Authors of The Ascended in the Sundered Realms universe)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Dear Fantasy Reader hosts reunite with Bri Greenwich and Parker Lennox, authors of the widely acclaimed Ascended, for a follow-up interview. The discussion journeys through spoiler-free reader questions, dives deep into the creative process behind Ascended and the interconnected Sundered Realms universe, and shifts into a juicy, spoiler-filled breakdown of lore, character fates, and what’s next for the series. Easter eggs, fan theories, and author confessions abound!

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Spoiler-Free Discussion ([03:34]–[12:25])

Social Media Takeover & Reader Response

• Both authors express gratitude and disbelief at the viral success of The Ascended on BookTok and Bookstagram.
  • "You can dream about something like that, but you never know whether it's going to happen. So it's just been, like, shocking, but also...we're so grateful." - Parker Lennox [03:54]
• Hosts celebrate the overdue recognition for the Espritian Trilogy.

Reading Order Recommendations

• Official recommended reading order: Riftborne, Duskbound, then The Ascended (publication order).
  • "We do believe that it can be read with The Ascended coming first. We tried to write them to where they could stand on their own." – Bri Greenwich [04:58]
• Advice for readers:
  • Casual/viral readers: Start with The Ascended for instant access.
  • Easter egg hunters/seasoned fantasy readers: Begin with Riftborne and Duskbound for deeper payoff.
• Hosts note rereads are common after finishing the series out of order.

Upcoming Releases & Future Plans

• Next release: RealmBlade (Book 3 of Espritian trilogy), then Ascended Book 2.
• Total of seven planned books in the Sundered Realms Universe, with possible novellas on the horizon.
• Audiobook update: Ascended audio edition is in the works, with audio rights hoped to be sold—no firm timeline.
• Special editions: Authors are hopeful but no official news yet.

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Dive Into the Creative Process ([12:25]–[27:18])

Reader Reactions & Emotional Payoff

• Hosts gush over the book’s satisfying payoff, especially the ending and its ties to the previous series.
  • "Getting to the end of Ascended is like one of those satisfying reader experiences...that's the payoff." – Carly [12:52]

Favorite Scenes to Write

• Authors highlight the trials and Thaeus "pulling down the stars" as favorites. The final battle and Thatcher’s fate in the abyss were particularly impactful.
  • "The final battle scene where Thatcher gets sucked into the abyss. That conversation that they had plays over and over again in my mind..." – Parker Lennox [13:51]

Inspirations: D&D, Mythology, and More

• Heavy inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaigns—gods meddling among mortals, characters wielding celestial magic.
  • "A lot of our worldbuilding ideas and experience come from building characters and worlds. Specifically with Ascended, we pulled some inspiration [from] a homebrew campaign." – Parker Lennox [14:50]
• Thaeus’s star-wielding power arose from Parker’s D&D character "Aurora Andromeda."
• Dual visions for Thaeus’s magic (meteor shower vs. crafted star sword) were blended.

Memorable Moment:

• The authors agree to play D&D with the hosts in the future.

Crafting Unique Trials & the Fate Tapestry

• Wanted to "up the game" on trials, making them god-level, intense, and layered with horror (body and psychological).
• The Fate Tapestry was a way to physically represent fate, helping the authors overcome intimidation about writing fate/time mechanics.
• Fate can be changed in this universe—the tapestry is mutable.

Hints About Book 2

• There will be a time jump ("time jumpyish") in the next Ascended book, but no details on timing.
• POVs will generally focus on the female main character, with others possible when necessary (“never be a split, like, dual-POV type of situation”).
• The fate of beloved side characters (Mark) is uncertain: "No one is safe." – Bri Greenwich [26:03]

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Spoiler Section: Universe-Building, Theories & Connections ([27:29]–[52:14])

Revealing the Big Connections

• Aether/Thatcher’s backstory as the Ascended’s protagonist was planned from early on but fleshed out through writing Riftborne.
  • "We knew when writing Riftborne that Aether fell from somewhere...He was always from this other place." – Parker Lennox [29:31]
• The twin bond and psychic communication add both emotional weight and plot utility.

Universe Hierarchy & Lore Clarifications

• Geography: Each "world" consists of realms (Divine & Mortal). Mortal realm in A Sumerian has no powers, unlike Espritian.
• Pantheons: There are four total, with three series (no surprise fourth series, but hints planted in Ascended).
• The void is key to understanding the missing pantheon.

Writing Choices & Character Portrayal

• Writing a lighter Aether was bittersweet, knowing his tragic arc.
  • "You’re so happy to write this origin story of someone, but you also have already written what he becomes. So it’s like this weird, exciting, but melancholia at the same time." – Parker Lennox [35:58]
• The most anticipated scene: when Aether discovers he did nothing wrong and was wrongly exiled.

Theory Lightning Round

• Fate of the woman with gray hair: She will be the third FMC of the planned series.

• Fate Tapestry and fate alteration: Confirmed, as both hosts and authors discuss earlier clues.

• Thatcher's memories: No spoilers; "wait and see," but Kinsey offers two theories on how his memories could return, both acknowledged but not confirmed by the authors.

• Xul's soul-bond ritual (Savannarath): Not a typical "fated mates" trope. It's an intentional act, not predestined—a romantic, irrevocable choice.

  • "How romantic it would be to have that be a choice...not determined by fate." – Parker Lennox [42:16]

Universe Mechanics and Easter Eggs

• Queen Andred has entered the void multiple times across her life—a recurring plot feature.

• Questions about prequels, side stories, and series structure get modest hints.

• Notably, the authors tease Ascended Chapter 70 and Duskbound Chapter 24 as crucial for theory-laden rereads.

  • "I think both of you will have major revelations if you read those back to back." – Parker Lennox [50:47]

• The episode closes with joy and camaraderie between hosts and authors—plus a lasting promise to traumatize readers in the best way.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[Ascended] is an incredible book on its own." — Hannah [07:27]
• "It's like we're all pulling and trying to expand on these ideas." — Parker Lennox on the fantasy genre [14:50]
• "No one is safe. We're going into some really trying times." — Bri Greenwich [26:03]
• "It's just been, like, shocking, but also...we're so grateful. It feels surreal for all of the readers." — Parker Lennox [03:54]
• "How romantic it would be to have that be a choice...not determined by fate." — Parker Lennox [42:16]
• "You forever. And it's just—I just thought it was really cool." — Carly [44:24]
• "Thank you for breaking our hearts." — Hannah [52:37]
• "We will continue to do so." — Bri Greenwich [52:40]

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Key Timestamps

• Reading order, publication vs. thematic ([04:48])
• Audiobook & editions updates ([10:14])
• Trials & fate tapestry concepts ([13:33], [22:19])
• Fate alterability ([23:30])
• Next book time jump ([24:10])
• Xul’s bond: free will vs. fate ([42:16])
• Biggest moments for theorists: Ascended Ch. 70 & Duskbound Ch. 24 ([50:24])
• Twin bond and psychic link ([31:12])
• Third female protagonist hint ([37:44])
• Queen Andred’s Void journeys & universe-building ([45:52])
• Author-reader camaraderie ([52:32] onward)

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers a masterclass in universe-building and layered storytelling for fantasy fans. Greenwich and Lennox shed light on their creative process, playful partnership, and the devotion to rewarding both longtime fans and new readers alike. Hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Carly keep the energy high, the praise effusive, and the theory-crafting rigorous. The episode is a treasure-trove for Empyrean, Sundered Realms, and romantasy fans, and leaves listeners eager for the next book—armed with new clues for their rereads.

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For more interviews, analysis, and theorycrafting, subscribe to Dear Fantasy Reader and check the show notes for links to prior episodes and author content.

Transcript

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[Hannah]

Now I don't know if you've heard, but Mint's Premium Wireless is $15 a month. But I'd like to offer one other perk. We have no stores. That means no small talk crazy weather we're having. No, it's not.

[Carly]

It's just weather.

[Hannah]

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[Kinsey]

I'm Kinsey.

[Carly]

And I'm Carly.

[Hannah]

Today we are chatting once again with authors Bri Greenwich and Parker Lennox of the romantic fantasy the Ascended, which released on October 7th of 2025. The Ascended is part of the larger Sundered Realms universe which includes the Espritian trilogies Riftborne and Duskbound.

[Carly]

We've previously interviewed Parker and Brie leading up to the release of the Ascended and highly recommend checking out that interview first. It included a spoiler free section about their writing style and journey, as well as a spoiler discussion for Riftborne and Dustbound. We also asked some questions about the Ascended that are fun to listen to in retrospect. We've linked that interview in the show Notes for you and we are treating this interview as Part two extension.

[Kinsey]

We will begin with some quick spoiler Free questions about the universe for new readers before opening up to a spoiler section for the Ascended, Riftborne and Duskbound. Spoilers will be off limits for that portion, so you are safe if you haven't read that series yet. However, we do have a final section dedicated to spoilers for the full universe, so if you have read all three books, be sure to stick around for that. We will give clear spoiler warnings before moving to new sections due to the.

[Carly]

Nature of these books. This podcast is rated R for content and language. If you'd like to watch this episode ad free and full video or audio only if you would prefer, it's available now on Patreon and we've dropped that link in the show notes as well.

[Hannah]

Quick reminder that we have two other episodes dedicated to the Ascended, including initial thoughts and reactions and theories. Huge thank you to Parker and Bri for supporting our podcast by sponsoring this season and taking the time once again to chat with us. It is now time to bring them on. Yay. Welcome back, ladies. How are you today?

[Bri Greenwich]

We're doing great.

[Parker Lennox]

We're so good.

[Bri Greenwich]

So happy to be here again.

[Parker Lennox]

We're so happy to be back.

[Kinsey]

Us too. Thanks for coming in.

[Carly]

We're so excited.

[Hannah]

We are jumping straight in. We've got so many questions for you today and we've broken it up into three different sections. First one is going to be spoiler free. Kenzie, you want to take it away?

[Kinsey]

Oh, yeah. So the Ascendant has taken over booktok and Bookstagram, rightfully. So what has that experience been, like, incredible?

[Carly]

Crazy.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah.

[Parker Lennox]

I mean, we. You can always hope, right? Like, you can, like, you. You can dream about something like that, but you never know whether it's going to happen. So it's just been, like, shocking, but also, like, I don't know, just. We're so grateful.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah, so grateful.

[Parker Lennox]

It feels surreal for all of the readers.

[Kinsey]

I love seeing it all over my feed.

[Hannah]

Yeah, same. I'm like, I just love it when.

[Carly]

A book you love and all of a sudden everybody's talking about it and you're like, yes, I get to talk about this with so many people.

[Hannah]

Well, I think we've all been trying. Like, Kenzie, Carly and I have been championing Esprithian, specifically Duskbound, screaming it from the rooftops for forever now. And so it's like, yes, they're finally getting the attention they so, so well deserve.

[Bri Greenwich]

Thank you. Yeah, we love that, like, so many people are getting to read about the universe we created. It's so cool.

[Hannah]

Well, speaking of this is the biggest question that is circulating the Internet right now. What is your suggested reading order for the Sundered Realms universe?

[Bri Greenwich]

So our suggested reading order is publication order. It's Riftborne, Duskbound, and then the Ascended. However, we do believe that it can be read with the Ascended coming first. We tried to write them to where they could stand on their own.

[Hannah]

Is there a specific type of reader that you would recommend start with Ascended over Riftborne and Dustbound?

[Parker Lennox]

If you're like a casual reader that just sees if you're someone that kind of reads, but it's not something they do all the time and they keep seeing it on their TikTok or their friends are talking about it and they don't want to have to get through two books first. Absolutely. Just jump write into the Ascended. If you're more of an Easter Egg Hunter or a more established reader that reads multiple books a week or multiple books a month, then maybe start with Riftborne and Dustbound.

[Hannah]

I have to say I love the choose your own adventure aspect of it. And I will say that Kinsey, Carly and I will all agree that if you are someone who wants an emotional payoff, that's just a little bit more of a payoff, that publication and author recommended order is the way to go. But it's not wrong. I see some people who are saying, well, I've already read the Ascendant, I did it wrong. And I'm like, no, you did it one of the two ways. And that's still really cool. And I'm really excited to hear what that experience is like, because I'll never be able to know.

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah, we've heard from a few people, and they say reading Riftborne and Dustbound after reading the Ascended is just a whole different experience from what it sounds like.

[Kinsey]

I just feel like it changes the way that you enhance your own reading experience. And you might not get all of the Easter Eggs in the Ascended, but I can only imagine how excited those people are once they get it at a certain point in the Asperathian trilogy. So I'm like, you might not get it right away and you'll just be like, oh, that's world building. Who cares? But you will understand at some point. So it's not like you're never going to see it again.

[Hannah]

I would be so curious to know what the percentage of people who read the Ascended first, then read Riftborne, then Duskbound, how many go back and reread Ascended immediately? Because I feel like I would do that if that was my chosen path. I feel Like, I'd have to do a reread of the Ascended.

[Carly]

Yeah, I agree. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Speaking from experience with other interconnected series, that is one of the first things I do.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I'm like, I must understand everything.

[Bri Greenwich]

Get the board.

[Hannah]

And some people are just along for a good ride. And that's great for ascended too. Like, it is a solid book on its own. That's an understatement. It is an incredible book on its own.

[Parker Lennox]

So thank you.

[Carly]

We know that RealMBlade, which is a spritzer in book three, is coming out next. What's the timeline for Ascended book two. Asking for a friend, mostly myself. I need to know.

[Bri Greenwich]

So it will be coming out after RealMBlade.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

It's the next one out after.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Parker Lennox]

We don't really have a timeline for it yet, but it will be a minute, perhaps.

[Carly]

I feel like I just as desperately need both.

[Hannah]

So at this point. So that means that both Asprythian and a Sumerian will be completed before we get the third series in the universe at all.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Right.

[Bri Greenwich]

Correct.

[Hannah]

I think people will be happy to know that they'll get the payoff, because it's almost like, are they gonna put book one of the third in there and make us wait even longer for Ascended book two?

[Bri Greenwich]

We thought about it, but.

[Parker Lennox]

We did think about it. We did.

[Hannah]

I'm so glad that you did it. Yeah, me too.

[Kinsey]

Selfishly, Hannah, like, briefly touched on this just a moment ago with the other series, but you have said in the past there are seven planned books. Is that still the case?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Parker Lennox]

We do have ideas for some novellas, but those are more conceptual at the moment.

[Hannah]

So seven in the universe. But there might be some extras sprinkled in, correct?

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I say that like, I don't know that.

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Hannah has more details than we do because she is their pa. She knows a few secrets.

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah. We've been very impressed with her poker face.

[Kinsey]

So I know Kylie and I were.

[Hannah]

Our last episodes, and they. They understood my. You guys don't know that. What was my poker face? You don't know which is the point. Right. But they do. And I appreciate the appreciation for.

[Kinsey]

We have no idea, Carly.

[Carly]

We really don't. I was watching your face during edits, and I was like, I have no idea. She does not break.

[Hannah]

That was my goal. Because, you know, I'll reiterate here just for the rest of episode two, because we hadn't mentioned it yet, but, like, I am such a gatekeeper of spoilers. Like, I feel like the smallest thing is a Spoiler. So that's really important for me to, like, make sure that that doesn't. So Kinsey and Carly don't get anything.

[Carly]

Yeah, that's accurate. Literally nothing.

[Hannah]

And it just makes me feel, like, cooler than everybody else. So it's really great.

[Carly]

No, it's good because it's more fun trying to figure it out.

[Hannah]

Exactly. Okay, another question that I'm going to act like I don't know the answer to. Is there an audiobook coming for the Ascended?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes. Yes, eventually.

[Parker Lennox]

So here's the deal. We self produced both Riftborne and Dustbound, and while it was really fun to do it ourselves and cast it ourselves, we're not really looking to do that again. We would rather sell the audio rights. So we're looking to do that. And so that's why we can't really give a date because we don't know what's in the works. And we're just hoping to make it happen as soon as possible. But it's a little bit out of our hands at the moment.

[Hannah]

And you can read Riftborne and Dustbound via audiobook in the meantime.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

So that should definitely be where you start if you're an audiobook reader.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, that's so true.

[Carly]

But good to hear. It's on the horizon.

[Bri Greenwich]

Absolutely.

[Carly]

For sure. So the editions that we have of the Espritian Trilogy and the Ascended are absolutely gorgeous. I know you designed the COVID It's absolutely beautiful. They are my favorite book covers of all time. I literally want art prints of them for my wall. But just out of curiosity, are there any special editions coming?

[Parker Lennox]

We sure hope so.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Parker Lennox]

That's the best way I can answer that.

[Carly]

That's totally fair.

[Hannah]

All right. That is actually it for our spoiler free portion. So as a reminder, if you are looking for more spoiler free content on Parker and Breed's writing style, journey and inspiration, you can find the link to our first interview down in the show notes. We are now diving into our spoiler section for the Ascended. So if you haven't read the Ascended yet, stop here and come back. You are, however, safe, if you have not read Riftborn and Duskbound. That conversation with spoilers for those will be saved for our final section. So if you are pausing here, you can find the links in the show notes to grab any of the three books in print, Ebook and Riftborne and Dustbound in audio. And as always, we highly encourage you to support your favorite indie bookstores if you can. Don't worry, we always, always fully support one or three more Impulse buys.

[Kinsey]

You won't regret it. No, we've been holding it in. It is time to talk about the Ascended. I am so excited that. Oh, my God, the ending, the ending, the. The connection to the other series, it's like, so worth it. It is. As a reader, there's just like, no better way that that can be done. And it was incredible.

[Hannah]

Also, the trials.

[Carly]

Yeah, they're so good. It's so getting to the end of Ascendant is like one of those, like, satisfying reader experiences that you just like, you only get so many of them. You know, you read through so many books to get to, like, that book where you're like, yes, this is the payoff.

[Hannah]

It's a reward.

[Carly]

It is. It's like reader award. And it's so good.

[Hannah]

So thank you for that. You are so welcome. I think it's what we're trying to say.

[Parker Lennox]

My gosh, being on here is like an instant boost of serotonin.

[Hannah]

Anytime, girl, we're free.

[Kinsey]

Just give us a call.

[Hannah]

We are full of compliments, all of them for you guys.

[Parker Lennox]

Thank you. We do appreciate it.

[Kinsey]

Was there a scene from the Ascended that was especially fun or meaningful for you to write?

[Bri Greenwich]

I mean, obviously all of the trials were so much fun. Thaeus pulling down the stars for the first time and approving. Well, it wasn't the first time, but like that big moment, you know?

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah. I think like the most, like, heart wrenching one that sticks with you for a while. Like after we wrote it, it was just kind of like burned into our mind for a few days, I think was just the final battle scene where Thatcher gets sucked into the abyss. And that conversation that they had plays over and over again in my mind sometimes. Sorry to bring up that.

[Hannah]

Yeah, no, literally got chills again. I'm so dramatic. Yeah. That was meaningful to read, even though it was absolutely heartbreaking. Thank you for that as well. I heard this incredible quote at a book convention recently that said all books are in conversation with the ones that came before. And as aspiring authors ourselves, we would love to know how you took such staple concepts and lore like Greek mythology, trials and magical abilities, and made them feel so new and so refreshing.

[Parker Lennox]

I think that's like a really amazing quote because it is so true, like, especially in the genre. So many things are layered or similar. It's like we're all pulling and trying to expand on these, like, these ideas. And, you know, this isn't the first time we've said it. You guys have heard us harp about Dungeons and Dragons, so, like, A lot of our world building ideas and experience come from building characters and worlds. Specifically with Ascended, we pulled some inspiration. The last campaign that we actually played was a homebrew campaign. And if you don't know what homebrew means, we use the rules and mechanics of D and D. But it was an original story. Like, it wasn't like one created by D and D or Wizards of the coast or anything. And one of the concepts that we really liked that unfolded over the two years that we played it was the idea of meddling gods and gods essentially pretending to be other people, some with good intentions, others with very nefarious intentions. And I think that was like, definitely an inspiration for us when we came to write this book.

[Hannah]

Is Thay's Power also from Dungeons and Dragons?

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah. So my last character's name was Aurora Andromeda. And this is in the same campaign. She wasn't like, it's hard to build an entire class around Celestial Magic. But I. Anytime we would level up and get to pick spells, I would try to frame it as much around that as I could with Celestial Magic and stars and stuff. So I tried to kind of create this character that was like, in a way, a star wielder. And we knew we wanted to do an FMC with star powers.

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[Hannah]

Are you comfortable sharing a little bit about how you actually. Because from what I remember in conversations with you guys, both of you had a different idea for how exactly she would wield stars, but you ended up combining both of the way that you pictured it. Which for context of why I think this is most fascinating is to see one, you as an author duo have a different idea and then you blended them to make it both. Do you mind sharing a little bit about that?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah, of course.

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah.

[Bri Greenwich]

So I had initially kind of pictured it more like she would pull the stars down and almost use them like a meteor shower. I know like meteors and stars are a little separate. Like they're not the same thing, but that was just kind of like my vision. And then Parker was like, no, like, imagine the visual of her, like, crafting a sword, like, out of this light like that. Like, it has to be, you know, an actual item that she can utilize. And I was like, okay, yeah, you're right. That visual is really cool.

[Hannah]

And if you need a visual, go to their Instagram pages and it's pinned. There's a trio of photos that have her star sword in art that Parker drew. And it is incredible. So sorry.

[Bri Greenwich]

It is so funny.

[Hannah]

I'm, like, plugging all the things, so. Yeah, so she can do both.

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah, she can do both. And there's a scene, you know, where she does. And we're just waiting to see what more thayess can do in the future.

[Hannah]

Oh, yeah.

[Kinsey]

Especially now that she absorbed her father's powers.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes, Especially since.

[Parker Lennox]

Exactly.

[Carly]

I love that this book combines aspects of D and D and mythology, because I love mythology and my brother loves D and D, and so he reads books parallel with me. So I'll be like, oh, I want you to read this book so I can talk about it with you. Yeah. And so I was like, I need you to read this series because it was inspired by D and D and mythology, which are, like, the two things we love. And so I've been talking about certain aspects of it for him to get him excited to read it, and he's like, oh, my gosh, I'm so excited. Like, he can't wait to read it. So I love that. So next.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I love that.

[Carly]

Yeah, it, like, combines our two passions, so I can't wait for him to read it so we can chat about it. He's, like, very into D and D, and he does that, like, every week. And so I was, like, talking about certain aspects of it that I knew you guys had mentioned came from dd, and he was like, oh, yeah. And he's, like, giving me more, like, details on it and expanding on it. I'm like, oh, that's so cool. I'm so glad. I can't wait to talk about this with you more. Once you actually read the whole book.

[Kinsey]

Yes.

[Bri Greenwich]

Oh, that's amazing.

[Parker Lennox]

You'll have to play D and D with him at some point, if you haven't already.

[Carly]

He'll have to teach me at some point, so someday you two have definitely.

[Kinsey]

Made me want to start playing. I just feel like it'd be a good, like, mental exercise to work that creative loop in your mind. I don't know.

[Parker Lennox]

I could run a campaign for all of us.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Kinsey]

Together?

[Parker Lennox]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Please, please, please. They were like, we're gonna sign you up for D and D. Like, you have to do a campaign. So I feel like that's the perfect opportunity to do that.

[Parker Lennox]

You can play over video. Like, call, too.

[Kinsey]

You definitely can. And I go to Ren Faire. I cosplay, and I have all the friends that attend those events, too, and they're like, oh, I have my D and D character. And I'm like, that's so fun. I want to dress up as my own original character.

[Hannah]

That's so cool.

[Bri Greenwich]

We're doing it.

[Hannah]

Okay. So we are doing this. We are all planning.

[Kinsey]

I am so down.

[Hannah]

Run. You're not on the record that you're actually willing to do this?

[Kinsey]

No, like, I'm actually down.

[Bri Greenwich]

I can't wait.

[Hannah]

No, we'll plan it.

[Parker Lennox]

We'll plan it. Seriously.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yay.

[Carly]

Well, I'm so excited for that. That sounds, like, so much fun. But in addition to the mythology and D and D, one of my. I mean, and this is part of mythology, but some of my favorite aspects were the trials. They were some of the most refreshing we have ever read in Romanasy. What did your creative process look like for those?

[Bri Greenwich]

So when we, you know, started writing the Ascended, we knew that there were going to be trials. And then at the same time, we kept kind of seeing videos, people being like, I'm tired of trials. I'm tired of trials. So we kind of knew that we were going. Yeah, the pressure was on. We knew that we were gonna have to, like, really up the game. But, you know, luckily we were on a playing field with Gods, and we were like, you know, if we're taking these two Gods and this incredible power and they're bringing it together, what kind of chaos could these two Gods create together for a trial? And then also, we wanted to add in a lot of, like, aspects of horror, like body horror, you know, all that kind of stuff.

[Parker Lennox]

Psychological horror, but all of these playing out against this, like, glittering backdrop of the Divine Realm, too. So it's like these fantastical, unimaginable worlds, but also these brutal things happening.

[Carly]

Yeah, no, the juxtaposition, I think, was really interesting in those elements. Like, it. I don't know, it gave it this richness that was just really immersive.

[Hannah]

What inspired the Fate tapestry? I am absolutely. You guys listened to the episode. I am absolutely obsessed with the concept of the Fate Tapestry, so it's a.

[Parker Lennox]

Little intimidating to think about. Well, I don't know if all authors feel this way, but there's certain aspects of writing, certain things that feel intimidating, like time manipulation or fate or things like that. And so I think we wanted to have this, like, physical manifestation of fate instead of being this conceptual idea. So that's the idea for where the actual physical tapestry came from. And it was kind of us conquering that fear of writing about things that we think are more difficult.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I really love that. And can you clarify, are fates changeable in this series? Like, can those strands be adjusted? Cause it seemed like that was the case because she was worried about Thatcher's future, thinking he was gonna die, he wasn't gonna make it. And then she sees this tapestry, and it has changed from what she's been told. Of course, she hadn't seen the tapestry before, but that is the understanding is that that tapestry can adjust.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Parker Lennox]

And it happened before that as well, when Harren basically implied that he would die before the trials ended.

[Hannah]

Yeah. But then that's when she gets to see that that wasn't gonna happen. Cause his kept going. But then we also know from Harren at the end that there's.

[Parker Lennox]

Well, she also changed it. She changed that fate when she talked to Morthus.

[Kinsey]

So interesting.

[Hannah]

I'm so excited for book two.

[Kinsey]

Without entering universe spoiler territory, can you confirm whether the next book will have a time jump? Considering things.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes, considering things.

[Hannah]

Okay.

[Kinsey]

Like a time jumpyish year time jump.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

That was time, right? Marker.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. At the beginning or like, we.

[Parker Lennox]

We can't say. We can't say. We have to keep something out.

[Carly]

That's fair.

[Hannah]

I had to try. I had to try.

[Parker Lennox]

I know. And I'm really bad at keeping secrets.

[Hannah]

So I have to stay strong. All right, we got two Zool POV chapters in the Ascended. Will we get more Zool POVs in the next book?

[Bri Greenwich]

So, as you know, we really like staying in the mind of the fmc. But sometimes there comes a time while you're writing that you're like, we really need to get in someone else's mind. So we're not shying away from adding other people's, you know, points of view. But, you know, mostly I don't think.

[Parker Lennox]

It'Ll ever be a split, like, dual POV type of situation.

[Kinsey]

Can we expect Thatcher's pov?

[Hannah]

If I have anything to do with it, and I did, actually, and I will. So is that a yes?

[Parker Lennox]

It depends on how much you bully us into it.

[Hannah]

What if I ask really kindly? What if I beg? I feel like I've earned it with My poker face, guys.

[Kinsey]

I don't know. Maybe they want to see you grovel.

[Hannah]

Moving on.

[Carly]

This is both a listener submitted question and the most important to me personally. Is Loving Marks going to end in tears? My emotional well being is in your hands.

[Bri Greenwich]

The only thing we can say is that no one is safe. No one is safe. We're going into some really trying times.

[Carly]

I'm gonna. I'm gonna need to go take a walk.

[Parker Lennox]

If.

[Kinsey]

If you guys did not know, Carly and I are really divided on our opinions of Mark.

[Parker Lennox]

Yes.

[Hannah]

That was probably like the most intense response you could have given.

[Parker Lennox]

Helps.

[Bri Greenwich]

Okay.

[Kinsey]

That does help me feel better.

[Carly]

I love Mark. She's like my sole character. I love her. She's like my favorite side character ever. She's perfect. She can do no wrong. I don't care what she does. I'm like, yeah, no, she had a reason.

[Bri Greenwich]

She was the best to write.

[Parker Lennox]

Like, seriously, she was one of the most fun, for sure.

[Bri Greenwich]

I would just, like, giggle while we were writing her banter and stuff.

[Kinsey]

That's good to hear. Because I've been burned in the past and I have, like, severe trust issues with characters written like that. And so I'm just like, I don't trust her.

[Bri Greenwich]

That's fair.

[Kinsey]

So good to know.

[Bri Greenwich]

That's fair.

[Kinsey]

Good to know. Good to know. I'll trust you guys.

[Hannah]

Careful there. Careful. I mean, to be fair. That was a brutal response that no character is safe.

[Parker Lennox]

We have a lot of books to go. I mean, that is true.

[Hannah]

Not everybody can make it, huh?

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

As long as stature is fine.

[Hannah]

If you touch a hair on his head, I will revolt. You will find us in any realm. Okay, okay, okay. It is now time for the Sundered Realms Universe spoiler filled portion of this interview. So if you haven't finished the Ascended, Riftborne and Duskbound in their entirety, this is your formal spoiler warning for the entire Sundered Realms universe. We recommend saving the episode and coming back to hear the spoiler section once you've turned the final page. If you haven't read all three, we will be here waiting.

[Kinsey]

And again, if you are pausing here, you can find the links to Riftborne and Duskbound in the show notes as well as links to Parker and Bree's socials.

[Hannah]

Okay, this is where we. We've been waiting for this.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, no, we really have. It's been so hard to hold it in. I'm always like, wait, can I say. How do I even say? Like, do you guys refer to him as Thatcher or Aether? Like that's like. That's not even a question on here, but I'm just, like, really holding that.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Back and forth.

[Bri Greenwich]

We go back and forth. Yeah. Yeah. Depending on, like, whether we're talking about.

[Parker Lennox]

Like, Dust Bound or Ascended. And we've gotten really good at referring to him as his name in whatever book we're talking about. That's good.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I mean, he has technically lived as Aether longer than Thatcher. But anyway, moving on to the real questions.

[Hannah]

Fucking Banks can be.

[Kinsey]

Moving on to our real questions.

[Carly]

When did you come up with the idea of making ascended Aether's backstory?

[Bri Greenwich]

So once again. Yeah. Like, before we started writing Riftborne, I don't know the exact chapter. I want to say FIA's, like, second dream. Second or third dream is him falling. So we definitely had it all kind of, like, laid out. Like, we knew that he came from another realm.

[Hannah]

Did you know he had a twin and that that was gonna be your fmc? Oh, I love.

[Kinsey]

Did you have that other realm already built, like, the whole world, or you just knew he was from another place?

[Parker Lennox]

We knew when writing Riftborn that Aether fell from somewhere. What we didn't know when we first started writing it was whether we were gonna expand on that universe. But he was always from this other place.

[Hannah]

Well, even the gold eyes.

[Parker Lennox]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Was an immediate distinction that he was something other.

[Parker Lennox]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Parker Lennox]

So throughout the writing process is when we really conceptualize, like, okay. Like. Cause the idea was always there to have this overarching universe, but we didn't really know what we would do with it. And so as we wrote Riftborn and we got closer and closer to publication date, we really locked in these ideas of, like, okay, it's gonna be, like, this realm where Aether's from, and his sister is gonna be the FMC of that world. And we've been wanting to write an FMC with star powers, so this is the way to do it. And so it was. It's hard to pinpoint everything, but it's just, like, it all happened over the writing process. Yeah.

[Bri Greenwich]

Just know that when Parker called me and we, like, had the epiphany, we were, like, screaming and running around like, oh, I bet. Yeah.

[Hannah]

Also, I want to know what your inspiration was for making the twin bond and then being able to communicate telepathically. Because that has to be one of my favorite. I mean, all things considered. I love Thatcher from the beginning. And so any way that was gonna get me more of him on page, I was, like, really enjoying. But the method that you used to have them communicate. I loved it. It was one of my favorite parts about the book. So what inspired that?

[Bri Greenwich]

I mean, I think when just looking at twins, even without magical powers, you kind of have this bond thing. People do, like, experiments all the time. Like, you know, like, oh, if. If a twin is, like, upset, like, does the other one, like, feel that and stuff? And we were like, you know, how could we make this, like, more magical and, you know, like, make it fully true in our universe? And so it just made sense for them to have that. That type of bond as twins. And obviously it was very helpful when they were in big group settings to be able to kind of have these, like, secret conversations. Otherwise that would have been a big struggle.

[Hannah]

Well, you know, it just popped into my head and it makes sense. And this is probably pointing out the obvious, but I actually really love that you ended up making him a twin, because it's already heartbreaking enough that he thinks he did something wrong in this past life, but also he had a family there. And not just family, but like a twin that they were like, locked in together. And it just adds to the emotional damage. So I guess I should say thank you.

[Bri Greenwich]

Thank you for the pain.

[Kinsey]

We love being hurt by books.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes, we do.

[Hannah]

Okay, can you explain your universe's geographical hierarchy? Realms, domains, universe. Where does everything kind of line up?

[Parker Lennox]

The way our world works, we almost like to think of these different sectors as worlds within themselves. So we have the Asimmerian world, which is made up of two realms, the Divine realm and the mortal realm. And as you know, the Divine realm is made up of 12 separate domains.

[Hannah]

Each one of the gods has rules over that domain.

[Parker Lennox]

Okay, Right. And then with the world, we have the divine domain and we have the mortal. Or. Sorry, there's so many words. We have the Divine realm and the mortal realm, but in this case, the mortal realm is the one split into two domains of she and Ambrethia, and this entire universe, the gods, the mortals, were all created by primordials that were like the original overarching gods.

[Hannah]

So am I understanding correctly that really the difference between the mortal realm in a Sumerian is that they don't have powers, but in the Asprithian mortal realm, they do have magic powers, Correct?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes. And that's just the difference of their gods.

[Kinsey]

Will we see the divine realm in the Espritian?

[Parker Lennox]

I don't know.

[Hannah]

Okay, is that a I don't know yet or is that a I don't know? I don't want to tell you more of a.

[Bri Greenwich]

You'll just have to read to find out.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I've been watching Brie's facial expressions. She's been kind of, like, smirking. Like, this conversation.

[Bri Greenwich]

I'm like, this is so fun, guys.

[Kinsey]

Parker's like, thank God she's not calling me out.

[Hannah]

Parker's like, yeah, my poker face is working.

[Kinsey]

He's like, I just like to smile.

[Parker Lennox]

Oh, my gosh. No. Like, half the time I have to stop myself from smiling because, like, this is a tangent. I'm so sorry, but we did this Instagram live a few weeks ago, and I was smiling the whole time. And at the end, my, like, cheeks started, like, hurting. I don't know what happened. Like, I could control them and.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Parker Lennox]

And I was, like, having to, like, look away from the screen. So I keep trying to, like.

[Hannah]

Did you say you were twitching?

[Parker Lennox]

Pace myself. Yeah, they were twitching. Spasming. Yeah. So I keep trying to force myself not to smile. So if I ever have resting bitch face, that's why it's. I'm trying to avoid that happening.

[Hannah]

Fair, Fair. No judgment here. You guys know I have to ask this. Can you share a bit about what it was like to write such a sunshine, carefree version of Aether?

[Bri Greenwich]

I mean, yeah, it was kind of painful, you know, because we knew, like, what. What was going to, you know, come of his story and. But at the same time, like, you know, you get little hints of it in Duskbound, like, you know, especially as he's getting closer to Fia and stuff. But, yeah, in the ascended, just getting to write that side of him, this, you know, he kind of didn't have a care in the world in the beginning. I mean, he did. He cared about what was going on with Thayess and stuff, but it didn't affect him, you know, so directly as it did after he, you know, blew up a God and got brought into the trials.

[Parker Lennox]

It was like this weird, like, duality because, like, you're so happy to write this origin story of someone, but you also have already written what he becomes. So it's like this weird, exciting, but melancholia at the same time.

[Hannah]

Bittersweet.

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I have to say that the scene I'm most looking forward to assuming that it will exist, it's set up that way, at least in RealMBlade, is him actually finding out. And maybe it's not RealMBlade, actually. Maybe it's later, but ascended to.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I guess it would potentially be ascended too, where he finds out that he didn't do anything wrong because that's something that he communicates to Fia, is like a judgment that he's placed on himself because he doesn't have anything to fill in the gaps. He assumes that because he was outcast. He's assuming he's outcast. It was for something that he did that just must have been horribly wrong. And my heart hurts for him when I think about that. So I'm just so looking forward to him coming to this realization and seeing, like, how he works through that and reacts and what he does with that information. Like, I. It's gonna hurt me, but I can't wait. That makes rational. She can't wait to be hurt.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah, no, it does.

[Parker Lennox]

We can't wait for that too.

[Kinsey]

So it's coming.

[Hannah]

Yes. So we will get it. We have to.

[Carly]

All right, we've got a few theory, level, and clarification questions. Feel free to pass. If they fly too close to the sun, can you tell us anything about the woman with gray hair that Thea sees in the Fates trial, which she calls a prophecy?

[Bri Greenwich]

We can't say too much, but we will say that she is our third fmc.

[Hannah]

Oh, such a good answer.

[Kinsey]

So it's not Sybil.

[Hannah]

Well, they didn't say who, but if.

[Kinsey]

It'S a third fmc, it's got to be for the other universe, right? Or the other pantheon, maybe.

[Parker Lennox]

So one could assume.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. So therefore it's not an Asprithian or an Esperant.

[Hannah]

If you're looking for a really fun conversation about this in our Theories episode, we will link it in the show notes. You should go check it out.

[Kinsey]

Can you tell us anything about the deal Fia made in the Void?

[Parker Lennox]

I would read the end of the ascended again.

[Hannah]

Oh.

[Carly]

Oh, I was already planning on.

[Kinsey]

Let me pause and stew with that for a moment.

[Carly]

Let me pull out the Ascendant real quick.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I have two copies. Let me just grab one of them.

[Carly]

Can you confirm whether the girl with silver hair in Thatcher's dream trial was Fia?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Parker Lennox]

So.

[Bri Greenwich]

I mean, so it wasn't. I guess you could say it's not Fia. It's not Fia, but he clearly has a type.

[Hannah]

Of his dream girl, if you will. Yes, his dream, because it was a dreams trial. Yeah.

[Bri Greenwich]

And we were kind of laughing amongst ourselves that, you know, he gets put into this realm where everyone has dark hair like him, you know, and he, you know, he clearly makes the statement that he loves a fair haired woman. And so obviously, you know, Fia comes in and there's even the moment when she has to, like, make her Hair dark for one of their missions. And he was like, I like it better the other way. And so, yeah, I remember that.

[Hannah]

Will aether get his memories back?

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[Parker Lennox]

Guess they're gonna have to wait and see.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah, that's definitely a wait and see.

[Kinsey]

Well, if we do see something like that, will he actually, like, remember, or will it be, like, a visual of, like, oh, you're telling me. The things that I'm missing.

[Hannah]

It sounds like you have a certain method in mind, Kinsey. Do you want to share your theory?

[Kinsey]

Well, I mean, I have, like, a few different theories, I guess so. Like, one of them is Thayas had shared, like, images to him through the bond before. So I'm like, maybe she can show him, but he won't, like, feel the emotions or the feelings with that kind of similar how in the Hunger Games when a character lost their memory, they could watch video of it, and they're like, I know that happened, but I don't think it happened to me. Like, it means nothing to that person. So that's, like, one way. Or it could just be when the void opens and they have those seven seconds to communicate. Perhaps he'll, like, feel the bond opening, and then it's almost like another sense. So sometimes, like, a smell can bring you back to a memory, and so having that sense come back to him, it'll, like, almost trigger something in his brain to bring back those feelings and memories, Maybe.

[Parker Lennox]

I think your theories are super interesting.

[Bri Greenwich]

Thanks.

[Kinsey]

I've thought about it a lot.

[Hannah]

Parker.

[Bri Greenwich]

No, I really do love those theories.

[Hannah]

You guys are getting really good at this. Yeah. Yeah.

[Parker Lennox]

Oh, boy. I hope so.

[Kinsey]

Parker's like, maybe we don't want to come back.

[Bri Greenwich]

We always want to come back and talk to you guys.

[Parker Lennox]

Good.

[Carly]

Good.

[Hannah]

Oh, we love you too. Yeah. So we know that Xul does a ritual of sorts that bonds himself to Thayas, and it's called the Savannarath. Are they fated mates or what exactly is the concept here?

[Parker Lennox]

So we kind of wanted to turn the idea of fated mates on its head a bit. Because that's a very common trope. You know, like to have fated mates or the idea of some type of soul mates or something like that. And we thought like how romantic it would be to have that be a choice. That you choose to tie your soul to someone and it's completely up to your discretion and not determined by fate.

[Hannah]

Theory debunked.

[Kinsey]

What was your theory?

[Hannah]

Not necessarily mine. We had a lot of listener submitted questions about fated mates. Lots of discussion and about it potentially being like something she just has to accept but it makes them well. And maybe that could still be true. Maybe she could do this back. I don't know if her motivation would be there to do this. This is kind of a very severe thing.

[Parker Lennox]

Yeah. She would have to make the decision to do it back.

[Hannah]

But there's the possibility that she does make that decision.

[Kinsey]

Of course, in some sense it's kind of without her consent because he feels everything she feels and she's unaware of that.

[Hannah]

I know. And that's one of the most heartbreaking things about the end and why I can kind of forgive you for it because it's so well written. I'm still kind of ready though. It's fine.

[Carly]

I really like that though because I think a lot of people are uncomfortable. There's people who love fated mates and then there's people who kind of are uncomfortable with fated mates because they're uncomfortable with the idea that this person you're supposed to be with forever isn't really your choice. And so I like the idea of this like a conscious choice being made and like this declaration for this tie to this person. So I think that's really cool.

[Hannah]

Exactly.

[Bri Greenwich]

We really wanted it to be just like the most romantic thing that you could do.

[Kinsey]

No, it is a full dedication.

[Hannah]

I was about to say as someone who just. My MMC's have to be like, my favorite ones are going to be full devotional like on like 100. That is an incredible representation of that. I love.

[Carly]

Is. It's. It's really great. I love it so much. I don't think I've seen something exactly like that before. I've seen some other twists on fated mates where it's like harder to find out if they're your fated mate or things like that. But I. I don't think I've seen one where it's like this more like ritual type thing. But I just. I love like the conscious choice of choosing that person because I think it creates this like really beautiful romanticized idea of how we actually choose our partners and stay with them. Because it is like a conscious choice to stay with your person. And so I just love that. That they're like you forever. And it's just. I just thought it was really cool.

[Bri Greenwich]

It's just like, you know, for Zul, he doesn't have much choice. And so when. And just things, you know, in his life, he's always had to be like, told what to do. And so this was his, like, big choice. Like, I'm gonna do this, like, no matter. No matter what. And can't be reversed.

[Parker Lennox]

It can't be taken away from me.

[Hannah]

It reminds me of a Fae bargain. Like, it's almost like a blood oath.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Yes, like a blood oath.

[Bri Greenwich]

And one that his parents made. So.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Oh, yeah. I hope we get to find out more about that. Yeah, same.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Well, when thay's reciprocates, I think we will.

[Carly]

We have a listener submit a. How did the Queen find Aether in the Void? If it was 35 years ago, did she go back in again?

[Parker Lennox]

Queen Andred has been in the Void many times. We see two in Dustbound that are spoken of, and one when she was a child and her father threw her and her sister in there, essentially. And then when she was an adult, she introduced herself as Queen Andred and found Thatcher or Aether in there.

[Kinsey]

Emphasis on. Her sister was with her in the Void, where other people are in the prison of the Void.

[Hannah]

Mm. I love how we could see the wheels turning. Speaking of, do you have the main plot points of the rest of the universe all lined up already?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes, we do.

[Parker Lennox]

I love that. The major ones, of course.

[Hannah]

Okay. Okay.

[Parker Lennox]

We always have room for movement. It's funny the things that we think we're for sure gonna do and how they. How they change or maybe even just change slightly of like how they come to be or something.

[Kinsey]

I love that you keep open space and then fill in the puzzle as you go.

[Hannah]

So it's a really cool process.

[Bri Greenwich]

And the more we write, the more of a puzzle it becomes.

[Kinsey]

Keeping track of all those facts.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes, exactly.

[Kinsey]

Has anything in the Ascended happened that has changed things in any significant way?

[Bri Greenwich]

Not in any significant way. As of right now. We know where it's going and it hasn't shifted too much.

[Hannah]

I guess that kind of makes sense since it's more like a prequel.

[Carly]

Speaking of prequels, will we get any other prequels in the rest of the planned books?

[Parker Lennox]

None that are a part of the main seven, but we do have a lot of ideas for novellas.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Kinsey]

And that other duology that you plan on writing later, that is not a prequel, correct?

[Parker Lennox]

No.

[Bri Greenwich]

Okay.

[Hannah]

Thinking of that with what we learned earlier about that duology.

[Parker Lennox]

Huh?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I can see your wheels. C is in the tapestry. Okay, so Realmblade, thank God, comes out before Ascended 2. We know there is a collision of the two worlds coming. Where does that fall between the next two books?

[Parker Lennox]

Well, we did promise that each one of these could be read separately as like each series within this universe and could stand on their own. So I don't want to give things away, but I feel like there's things you could assume from that.

[Hannah]

Okay, that was a good answer. There are three series within the universe, and each focuses on a Sumerian and Alistrian, but there are actually four total pantheons. Is there going to be a surprise fourth series?

[Bri Greenwich]

No, surprise, fourth series. But there is a reason for that.

[Kinsey]

Because the one they left out was, like, the Chaos Realm, wasn't it? Or the Chaos Pantheon?

[Parker Lennox]

You could say that.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah, for sure.

[Hannah]

Can you give us a hint as to why we're not or what the reason is for not getting the fourth as a series?

[Parker Lennox]

We can't give you a hint, but there is a hint in the Ascended that can. You're not going to recognize it as a hint now, but in retrospect, it's the void.

[Hannah]

So I want to reread after. So after reading the Illustrian years from.

[Parker Lennox]

Now, after they're all out, we will.

[Hannah]

Reread Ascended and understand.

[Kinsey]

Yes, it's just the void.

[Hannah]

Just kidding.

[Carly]

I'm just going to spiral about that all day. I need my brother to hurry up.

[Parker Lennox]

And read these books.

[Hannah]

Right.

[Kinsey]

It's the friends you made along the way.

[Hannah]

Just kidding.

[Kinsey]

It's the mortals. The mortals are the fourth pantheon.

[Hannah]

The irony in that, that's the opposite thing.

[Kinsey]

Oh, God.

[Hannah]

All right, finally, last question.

[Carly]

Yeah, One more thing to spiral over. Are there any chapters across the books that readers who like to theorize should reread while we wait for Realm Blade and Ascended book two?

[Parker Lennox]

Probably many, but the main.

[Hannah]

The whole series, everything.

[Parker Lennox]

If we were to pick two, it would be in this order. Ascended, chapter 70.

[Kinsey]

Oh, my God.

[Parker Lennox]

And then dustbound, chapter 24. Ooh, back to back in that order.

[Kinsey]

Is dustbound 24 when they're in the caves speaking to the ghosts?

[Parker Lennox]

No. Oh.

[Kinsey]

Oh.

[Parker Lennox]

I think both of you will have major revelations if you read those back to back.

[Kinsey]

Okay, the moment we hang up, I'm going to read both.

[Hannah]

How about record your reaction?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Set Up a video we'll have to post.

[Kinsey]

I will try my best. My in laws are supposed to arrive in, like, 50 minutes, so I will try to.

[Hannah]

Well, if it's not immediate, just wait till just when you get a chance to. I'm excited to see your faces.

[Kinsey]

Chapter 70 of the ascended, chapter 24 of Duskbound.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Kinsey]

Challenge accepted.

[Carly]

Yeah. Consider the Gauntlet throne.

[Hannah]

I know.

[Kinsey]

I'll be like, calling you up, be like, oh, my God.

[Parker Lennox]

I think it'll be fun because I think that a lot of people, especially people that haven't read Dustbound in a while, completely forgot about chapter 24.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Parker Lennox]

So it's been something for us where we've expected other reactions and been like, oh, I think maybe people just forgot that that happened.

[Kinsey]

It's admittedly been a while.

[Hannah]

I'm curious now. Normally I know what you're referring to, but I don't think I know this one.

[Parker Lennox]

To be fair, it's not mentioned much, so.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

Okay.

[Kinsey]

I think I read Duskbound back in March and I just finished my 75th book, so it has definitely. It's been a while for me. I've read a lot since then.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes. It'll be hard to keep up with it.

[Kinsey]

The refresh will be.

[Parker Lennox]

All right.

[Kinsey]

Well, this has been so much fun, listeners. We've linked Bree Greenwich's and Parker Lennox's socials down in the show notes, so you can follow along and stay up to date on this series. Parker and Bree, thank you again so much for chatting with us. It's always such an amazing time to have you on the show.

[Hannah]

We love you so much.

[Bri Greenwich]

Thank you.

[Hannah]

We love you.

[Bri Greenwich]

We always have so much fun.

[Parker Lennox]

All of you, so much.

[Hannah]

Thank you for breaking our hearts.

[Bri Greenwich]

We will continue to do so.

[Carly]

Perfect.

[Hannah]

Yay.

[Carly]

Looking forward to it.

[Kinsey]

I just made a reel because it was just Halloween and I was like, instead of, like the typical haunted house stuff, I just see the books that traumatized me this year and I did include the Ascended.

[Parker Lennox]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Yes.

[Bri Greenwich]

What an honor.

[Hannah]

Sounds about right.

[Parker Lennox]

Yes. That is quite an honor.

[Hannah]

An author's true, like, dream come true.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, it made the stack.

[Carly]

It definitely delivered. And yeah, God, it was such an amazing read. And getting to do these interviews with you guys this year has been, I think, some of the highlights of our year, highlights of our podcast moments, highlights of our reader lives. Like, it's just been so great. So we're just so grateful. And I can't wait to talk to you after the next book.

[Kinsey]

Absolutely.

[Parker Lennox]

Thank you so much. We're so excited.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Whenever we do eventually get to see each other in real life. I just know it's gonna be such a party.

[Bri Greenwich]

Oh, my gosh.

[Hannah]

Yes. We're gonna have Counting down the days. Yeah.

[Parker Lennox]

Best time ever.

[Carly]

I can't wait for that D and D campaign.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes.

[Hannah]

We're on the planet.

[Carly]

As always, thank you for sharing your time and being such a joy to talk to.

[Hannah]

Have a wonderful rest of your day, guys.

[Carly]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Hannah]

Bye. Wait, that's so cute. Can we all do the heart?

[Carly]

I'm not very good at it.

[Bri Greenwich]

Wait, that's so cute.

[Kinsey]

Make that, like, the. What are they called?

[Hannah]

Thumbnail.

[Kinsey]

Yes, the thumbnail. It was like the YouTube image.

[Hannah]

That's cute. Yes. The picture blisters are probably like, they're still going. Thank you for listening to us.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

This is a good representation of all of us, actually. All right.

[Parker Lennox]

Indeed.

[Hannah]

Have a great day, guys.

[Rubrik/Mint Mobile Advertiser]

All right.

[Parker Lennox]

We're actually going now. Okay.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I have to say, I'm completely biased, but they are literally the best.

[Kinsey]

They are.

[Carly]

Honestly. You're not biased. They are the best. They are the actual best.

[Hannah]

Two things could be true.

[Kinsey]

Yes.

[Hannah]

I'm 1000% biased, and they also are the best.

[Kinsey]

Every time we get to chat with them, whether it's on the pod or off, I'm just like, they're so amazing, and I love them.

[Hannah]

They seem to get cooler with every single thing I find out about them. Like, how are you so cool?

[Carly]

I know. It's like one of those things where I'm like, they're the best. And I'm like, they're. They're too cool. Like, I can't. Like, I. I can't.

[Hannah]

How are they talking to me? Yeah, Carly.

[Carly]

They're so much cooler than me, though.

[Hannah]

No.

[Carly]

All right, listeners, if this is your first time turning into Dear Fantasy Reader, welcome. We are Hannah, Kinsey and Carly, three book besties who deep dive, theorize, fangirl, and crash course your favorite fantasy read. So you're always ready for what's next.

[Kinsey]

Occasionally, we get to interview amazing authors like Bri Greenwich and Parker Lennox. And if you're wondering who's coming on next, we announce all upcoming author interviews over on our Instagram, so be sure to follow us there. And once again, if you haven't listened to our previous Parker and Brie interview focused on the Yithian trilogy, it's packed with juicy details and lots of laughs. You can find the link to that interview down in the show notes.

[Hannah]

We are currently deep in our Brimstone prep season that includes Quicksilver recaps, world building and lore breakdowns, theories and more to get you ready for Brimstone's release. Once Brimstone does release, we'll switch gears to Brimstone Recovery, which will include initial thoughts and reactions, theories and plot breakdowns. If you are looking for more, we have three completed seasons covering the Empyrean series, including recaps chapter by chapter, breakdowns, theories, lore, Easter eggs, and more.

[Carly]

You can join us over on Patreon, where you can access all of our episodes ad free a day early and in full video plus extras like PDF annotations, shout outs, bonus resources and more.

[Kinsey]

You'll find our Patreon link in the Show Notes, along with all the ways you can support the show, whether that's joining a tier, subscribing, leaving a review, or just sharing us with your fellow Romantasy readers. You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for book guides, recs, author updates, podcast updates, and general fangirling.

[Hannah]

You can also find out more info on our previous and upcoming seasons, episode and event calendar, other author interviews, our contact form, and so much more on our website dearfantasyreader.com, also linked down in the Show Notes.

[Carly]

We'd love to hear from you, send us your thoughts, tag us on Instagram, or come fangirl with us over your favorite fantasy books in our free Discord Chat.

[Hannah]

Until next time, dearest fantasy readers, May your chapters be spicy, your book boyfriends morally gray, and your TBR organized just enough to justify one more pre order.

[Kinsey]

Oh, it's me. This is a listener submitted question. Was Fia's mother really from okay, sorry I always say this wrong. Rift Jamar Riftermar. Okay, this is a listener submitted.

[Parker Lennox]

Oh, sorry.

[Kinsey]

I'm gonna renew it.

[Hannah]

I always want to say that was Dreamer. Such a comedic timing for how you just delivered that.

[Parker Lennox]

I always want to see rumor find myself interrupting people. So no, you're fine. Exact right time. There's like a big pause and then.

[Kinsey]

Rift Jamar okay, Peter, this is a listener. Don't laugh, Hannah. Trying to get through this. This is a listener submitted question. Was Fia's mother really from Rift Jamar?

[Bri Greenwich]

Yes. Yes she was.

[Hannah]

I love how it looked like you both checked with each other to make sure you were comfortable admitting that.

[Parker Lennox]

Yes.

[Hannah]

You're like, is this gonna lead somewhere?

[Parker Lennox]

I think we were both just gonna nod at first, but then we realized we were on a podcast.

[Bri Greenwich]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Oh yeah.

[Bri Greenwich]

Like we have to say this out loud.

[Hannah]

Good call.

[Rubrik/Mint Mobile Advertiser]

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