S6 : Ep 16 - When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker : Revisited

Summary

Flights of Fantasy Podcast: S6 Ep 16 – “When the Moon Hatched” by Sarah A. Parker: Revisited

Date: May 12, 2026
Hosts: Anna, Christina (Kim absent)
Episode Type: Deep-dive, Spoiler Full Book Club Discussion (Part One of Three)

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Anna and Christina revisit Sarah A. Parker’s When the Moon Hatched in anticipation of the upcoming sequel, The Ballad of Falling Dragons (Book Two of the Moonfall series, releasing May 19th). The hosts provide an in-depth, spoiler-packed breakdown of the book's lush world-building, key characters, major twists, and favorite moments—perfect both for fans wanting a refresher and first-timers eager for an engaging summary. The episode is infused with heart, banter, and thoughtful discussion about trauma, identity, and what makes an unforgettable fantasy romance.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Excitement for Book Two and What’s Next

• Series Hype: Both hosts express enthusiasm for the Ballad of Falling Dragons and outline upcoming coverage including interviews, spoiler-free and spoiler-full episodes, and special “chapter chat” read-alongs on Patreon.
  Timestamps: 02:11, 03:06, 04:32

2. World-Building: The Moonfall Realms

• Three Main Realms:
  • Burn: Northernmost, desert-like, home of the saber scythe dragons, currency is gold. “Boisterous and aggressive...second most difficult to charm and steal an egg from.” (Anna, 09:24)
  • Fade: Central, cold and snowy, densely populated. Home of the molten maws (dragons with feathers). Easiest dragons to charm. (Anna, 10:20)
  • Shade: Southern, eternally dark, lit by aurora ribbons and moon plume moons. Home of the moon plumes, “iridescent...they cannot tolerate sunlight," (Anna, 11:10)
• Dragon Lore: Dragons fly into the sky to die, becoming moons. “It just sounds lovely, honestly—gorgeous. But the moons started falling...that’s basically where our story kicks off.” (Anna, 14:58)
• Magic System: Five gods, each with elemental magic (air, fire, water, earth, ether). Power denoted by colored beads. Nulls (no magic) have ears clipped. “Rulers tend to be tri-colored...except Khan, who only hears two songs.” (Anna, 12:43)
• Ether Storyline: Fifth god (Calus) banished into the Ether Stone; Elowen’s lineage is directly connected. (14:15)

3. Sarah A. Parker’s Writing: Lyrical, Immersive, Purposeful

• “It is so gorgeous, so lyrical, and immersive. She throws you in as the reader into the middle of these characters.” (Christina, 16:01)
• Notable for evocative imagery; key example: Rave’s “mental icy lake” as a metaphor for trauma compartmentalization.
  • Quote: “I sink into my inner self, landing upon the crumbled obsidian shore of my immense frozen lake…” (Christina reads, 17:19)
• Diary entry POV: Innovative way to gradually reveal backstory and mysteries. "It was so cool. Such a cool way for her to give us these clues to uncover this story and the past without it feeling forced or like she was info dumping." (Christina, 24:35)

4. Main Characters Deep Dive

a. Khan Vagor: The Book Husband

• Intro: “King of the Burn has arrived. The level of obsession that we have for this man…” (Christina, 25:35)
• Maturity & Depth: “He is a man. Not just a book boyfriend, a book husband.” (Anna, 26:12)
• Rhysand Comparison: “I feel like Rhysand walked so Khan could run.” (Anna, 26:43)
• Tragic Love: Loved Elowen, lost her, meets her again reincarnated as Rave who has no memories. “Imagine if we had all of ACOTAR and then Feyre died.” (Anna, 27:00)
• First Meeting: Sensory description of attraction—“smoky musk, pinched with the smell of freshly split stone, softened with the notes of something buttery. My breath catches, then shudders free…” (Christina, 29:33)
• Protective Instincts: With Kazari (his daughter, though he doesn’t know it); clear he's a safe space. “You are not a coward, Kazari. Don’t ever speak about yourself like that.” (Khan, 31:30)
• Family Trauma: Raised his sister Veya after their mother’s death; abusive father. “Since the day Pa shoved you in my arms, squirming, bloody and screaming...." (Khan, 33:10)

b. Rave / Elowen (the Same Person)

• Rave: Assassin, guard, sassy, traumatized. Robin Hood “vigilante shit,” giving away most earnings to the poor. (36:39)
• Vulnerability: Uses compartmentalization ("icy lake") to cope with trauma.
  • Quote: “There’s not much that’s wet and squishy left in my chest. It’s all hard and hostile, impervious to things like caring for the likes of Taric Relikin…” (Anna, 42:38)
• Complicated Identity: Slowly revealed through clues and parallels that Rave is Elowen, reincarnated with no memory. “Sadness is like stones that stack inside you, making it harder to move.” (Anna, 43:31)
• Elowen (via diary): Gentle, loving, privileged, childhood safety. Experiences total loss after her family is killed; “If her whole family hadn’t died…she’d be a Disney princess on a dragon.” (Christina, 47:19)
• Contrast & Duality: “Rave, when she was reborn, death and torture were her first experiences. She has no blueprint for how to have love and not lose it.” (Anna, 49:08)

5. Supporting Cast

• Essie: Rave's found-family best friend/inventor, “girls who code," tragically murdered (Wreck), whose death is the book’s catalyst.
• Nii: Magical parchment lark, essentially a companion and messenger with emotional impact—"such a creative and amazing way to send mail."
• Kazari: The daughter of Khan and Elowen, raised apart, her true identity is central to the emotional stakes.

6. Major Plot Beats (with Timestamps & Commentary)

• Worldbuilding and Prologue Analysis: (07:48–15:21)
• Recognition and Identity Mysteries: Piecing together Rave = Elowen; evidence in mirrored behaviors and subtle clues. (44:06–46:28)
• The Other (Rave's alternate self; theorized to be her dragon, Slotra): Psychological trauma and fantasy twist on dissociative identity.
  • “The Other seems to come out when Rave is incapable of handling the current situation because of trauma.” (Anna, 60:40)
  • Textual clues supporting The Other = Slotra. (62:47–64:18)
• Relationship Moments:
  • Khan’s nickname “Moonbeam,” emotional impact. (28:14, 68:02)
  • Near-intimate scene—Rave seeks meaningless sex, Khan refuses, “Well, you won’t find that here, Prisoner 73.” (Christina, 83:53)
  • True emotional connection despite trauma on both sides. (84:12)
• Essie’s Death: Emotional devastation, catalyst for Rave’s next chapter. “Tell me something that’ll make me feel warm, Rave, please. I don’t want to be cold. I’m so cold.” (Essie, 57:55)
• Prison/Rescue: Khan discovers, tends to, and saves a badly injured Rave. “Not much point anymore since I found the most important piece.” (Khan, 70:19)
• Ma’s Retreat: Domestic, intimate scene. Khan asks for Rave’s name, connection deepens. (80:04)
• Escape & Cliffhanger: After a failed attempt at connection, Rave flees, only to be confronted by the mystical Fate Herder, setting up the next act. (86:29–87:28)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Christina (on Parker’s writing):
  "She trusts us as the reader to follow [her breadcrumb trail] and to piece the pieces together. That trust from her really makes this book the special thing it is." (16:01)
• Anna (on Khan):
  “I feel like Rhysand walked so Khan could run.” (26:43)
• Khan (to Rave):
  “Not much point anymore since I found the most important piece.” (70:19)
• Essie (final words):
  "I knew you’d always wonder if I didn’t make it out, that you’d think I left you like they left me." (57:43)
• Rave (on grief):
  "Sadness is like stones that stack inside you, making it harder to move. Ignorance is my self-preservation tonic..." (43:31)
• On “The Other” (Rave's inner dragon/alternate self):
  "She battled and slashed...then only went still and quiet once The Other packed her in a tomb of ice to protect her." (61:35)

---

Section Timestamps for Easy Reference

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------|-----------| | Intro, Announcements, Spoiler Warnings | 01:13 – 08:00 | | World-Building Deep Dive | 08:00 – 15:21 | | Magic System & Lore | 12:08 – 15:21 | | Sarah A. Parker’s Writing | 15:35 – 24:48 | | Characters: Khan, Rave/Elowen | 25:25 – 51:17 | | The Other (Alter Ego) | 58:55 – 65:06 | | Major Plot Beats (Assassin, Death, Prison, Rescue) | 40:09 – 73:14 | | Ma’s Retreat, Intimacy, Emotional Turning Point | 79:10 – 86:29 | | Fate Herder, Cliffhanger | 86:29 – 87:28 |

---

Final Thoughts & Tone

The hosts’ warm, enthusiastic, and insightful tone makes the episode a true celebration of fantasy and romance. They blend in-depth literary analysis (especially on trauma and character building) with fandom-level gushing and contemporary YA/fantasy references. The episode is designed to both remind returning readers of the book’s nuance and to serve as an engaging primer for newcomers.

Anna: “Every single bit of this book is fun and beautiful and it’s just such a joy.” (87:34)
Christina: “It was so fun, though, to figure out who she is… We knew nothing, Jon Snow, and we figured it out as we went in this really cool way.” (47:19)

---

How to Join the Discussion and Next Steps

• Further Coverage: Look forward to part two and three, plus interviews with author Sarah A. Parker.
• Patreon Perks: Early access, video chats, in-depth “chapter chat” bonus episodes.
• Engage: Join their bookish bestie community on Patreon, Instagram, and TikTok.

---

Recap: For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode offers a thorough, conversation-driven recap and analysis of When the Moon Hatched, focusing on its unique blend of lush fantasy world-building, heart-wrenching character work, and a love story that stands among the best in the genre. Packed with spoilers, sharp insights, and memorable banter, it’s the perfect prep for book two or a fun catch-up for anyone behind on their reading.

---

End of Summary

Transcript

[Christina]

This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia, an original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia Save on Family Essentials

[Commercial Announcer]

at Safeway and Albertsons this week at Safeway and Albertsons fresh cut cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or Melon Medley Bowls 24 ounces are $5 each and Wild Caught Lobster Tails are $4.99 each. Limit eight member price plus selected sizes and varieties of Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Kettle cook chips are $1.99 each. Limit for member price. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save

[Anna]

welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your Romantasy Podcast Book club. I'm Anna, joined by my book besties Kim and Christina and together we're diving into the characters, theories, lore and magic behind all your favorite fantasy romance books.

[Christina]

Foreigners and welcome to this very special episode of when the Moon Hatched revisited with the Ballad of Falling Dragons, book two in Sarah A. Parker's Moonfall series releasing Tuesday, May 19th. We are all officially in our reread era. So today to help you get fully prepared for this amazing book, we are re releasing our very first when the Moon Hatched episode. And if you're looking for the ultimate refresher on this amazing book and the beginning of this series over on Patreon we also have nine when the Moon Hatch Chapter chats. Nine. We really went for it. We had so much fun.

[Anna]

Yes, and once you're done with this episode there are two more full length episodes so you can continue refreshing on when the Moon Hatched. Plus we have an interview with the wonderful Sarah A. Parker. All of those will be linked in the show notes and across those episodes we dive into so much you guys from World Building with Anna Moi. You will not want to miss that. Especially heading into book two. We have Nurture versus Nature conversations with Elowyn and Rave the Tuca Trials, Found Family Art Therapy that moon you guys Khan is the bar and he is our forever book husband. We love him so much. And of course the big reveal at the end.

[Christina]

Yes. Oh my gosh. Now let's talk about what you can expect from our ballad coverage. Guys, full transparency. We have already finished this book and it is incredible. I'm so excited to share all this.

[Anna]

It's amazing.

[Christina]

It's so exciting. Okay.

[Anna]

Yes. Starting on release day May 19, we are kicking things off with a very special interview with Sarah A. Parker herself. The first part of that episode will be completely spoiler free. Just a fun hype up conversation to get you excited to go on the journey of the Ballad of Falling Dragons. And then the second half will be full of spoilers so you can come back and listen once you finish the book.

[Christina]

Yes. And in addition to the interview on main feed, we'll have a first impressions episode, plus three full book club style episodes where of course as always we'll be breaking down character arcs, themes, plot and so much more. And if you want the ultimate book bestie ballad experience, we highly recommend joining us over on Patreon because not only only are they getting everything on main feed, but a day early and ad free, our tier 2 book batches get the video of every episode including our interview with Sarah which was such an absolute treat, you guys. I. I really can't even tell you how much fun it was.

[Anna]

I'm still on cloud nine.

[Christina]

Yeah, same. And how much fun it will be to watch the video of that and listen to it.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

Spoiler free section. She really gave some really cool teasers and fun little details that I, I really think was would have been so interesting to hear before I started reading the book. So also though bookbatches not only get all of that, our tier two will be getting six chapter chats covering this amazing book where we read real time even more than usual.

[Anna]

Yes. And if you're new here, our chapter chats are basically a read along with us. So every 10 to 12 chapters, Christine and I will pause our reading to record our real time thoughts and theories so you get to hear us spiral. And there is a lot of spiraling.

[Christina]

There's so much oh my God over

[Anna]

Easter eggs and major plot points as they happen. And we did something a little different this time. Normally we save the last 150 pages or so for main feed exclusively, but because of the amazing feedback from our patrons and Sarah's truly wild plot twist that happened in this book, we're covering the entire book in in our chapter chat series. So I promise you are not going to want to miss us spiraling in real time.

[Christina]

You really don't. You're not going to want to miss it. It was so fun. We will also put up a full reading schedule on release day so you can follow along with us. We would absolutely love to welcome you into our Patreon family so you can find all of that plus so much [e-mail] flightsofantasypodcast as well as the link in the show notes.

[Anna]

And with all that being said, we hope you enjoy revisiting this world with us in preparation for the Ballad of Falling Dragons. And we cannot wait to share our thoughts on book two. We'll see you on the other side, guys. Happy listening.

[Christina]

Bye.

[Anna]

Bye. Welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your podcast book club. I'm one of your hosts, Anna, and I'm joined by one of my book besties, Christina.

[Christina]

Hi. Yay.

[Anna]

We are missing Kim tonight, but Christina and I are so stunned, so excited to bring you part one of three episodes on when the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker.

[Christina]

We are beyond excited, you guys. We are literally just giddy to talk about this book. But before we dive in, we have some very important people to shout out. Patreon, shout out time. Okay. This evening we are shouting out from our book batches who we love so, so, so much. On our Patreon. We're shouting out Kendra Wilkins, Crystal Post, Rachel Yarros, and Alex the Mistborn.

[Anna]

Ooh.

[Christina]

Thank you, guys. Thank you so much, guys. Love you. To the moon and back.

[Anna]

Absolutely.

[Christina]

All the dragon moons. We love you.

[Anna]

The moon plumes, Molten Muse saber scythes. All of them.

[Christina]

All of them. And back. All of them. Okay, Anna, hit us with a spoiler warning.

[Anna]

Okay, so spoiler warnings. Like we said, this is going to be part one of three for when the Moon hatched, but it is a spoiler for the entire book. We are going into part one of this with the knowledge of how it ends. So do not continue past this point if you have not read and finished when the moon hash because you will be spoiled big time. I also want to give a general acotar spoiler. We are going to be talking about not major plot points that will be spoiled. It's mostly just an endgame couple. The main endgame couple. So as long as you have read book two, A Court of Mist and Fury, you will be totally fine. Again, not plot points. If you're on booktok Bookstagram, this is not a shocker.

[Christina]

Absolutely not.

[Anna]

But I just want to give fair warning just because we are going to mention them at some point.

[Christina]

Absolutely.

[Anna]

Okay, so with that, let's dive in to. One of my favorite parts of any book is the world building.

[Christina]

And this book builds a damn world. This is what you have been training for is this moment.

[Anna]

This is my, like, Olympic marathon.

[Christina]

This is it.

[Anna]

I was so excited. I mean, there was a 20 page glossary. There's a beautiful map. We have a pronunciation guide. I was here for all of it.

[Christina]

Those are Anna things. Those are things that Anna sees and she's like, I am eating this up. It was a little daunting to me, but that is why I skipped it all. And you read it all. And that's just us.

[Anna]

We had some pro tips going into it. So I made myself read the entire prologue and then I went and looked up all the terms that were mentioned in the prologue. And I feel like that was the best way for me to digest it all.

[Christina]

I think that's a great, great point. And I think really the fact that it's at the beginning is a choice that I'm pretty sure realistically is just because she doesn't want people to see the family tree at the back of the book.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

But it was a great tool to be able to go back and look at things and it allowed her to just mention something and not have to every time it came up, reinforce what it is and remind us all these things.

[Anna]

Totally.

[Christina]

Okay, Anna, you built that world.

[Anna]

Okay, so like we said, there's a 20 page glossary and a map. The world is divided horizontally into, like, basically three realms. The furthest north, starting at the top, is the burn, followed by the middle section, which is the fade. And then the final section in the south is the shade Burn. Fade.

[Christina]

Shade, yes.

[Anna]

Okay. There are three species of dragons. Each dragon is basically native to one of the three realms. Okay, so now let's break down the three realms. We have the Burn again, the topmost region. It's just like the name sounds. It's hot, it's giving desert vibes. It's lots of rocks, that whole thing. Their main form of currency is gold. Unlike the other two regions, which is dragon blood. The dragon type for the burn is a saber scythe. It's scaly skin with spikes and horns. It's very boisterous and aggressive. It's the second most difficult to charm and steal an egg from. The most difficult being the moon plumes from the shade. They do not do well in severe cold like the shade, which is interesting to note. Okay, the fade, the middle section is Cold and snowy, but does not rain. It's the middle realm. It's most densely populated of the two. Probably because it's the least severe in weather.

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Anna]

The dragon type for the Fade is the molten moths. They're colorful with feathers. They're able to survive in all the different realms, all the different varying, like, temperature climates. They're the easiest to charm and to steal an egg from. Okay, so the final section is the shade, the coldest of the three. There's no sunshine. It's basically eternally dark. The only light is from the aurora ribbons and light from the moon plume moons, which sounds kind of lovely.

[Christina]

Oh, it sounds romantic.

[Anna]

Yes, I know. This is where it's important to note Elowen's family is from. Okay, so the dragon type for the shade are the moon plumes. They have leathery skin and varying shades of pearl, iridescent gray or white, which. I know, the iridescent sounds so beautiful to me.

[Christina]

I know. I'm picturing like almost like a Lisa Frank character.

[Anna]

Yeah. Like, you know, like a, like mirror glass that kind of like looks rainbowy.

[Christina]

Yes. That's much more classy than Lisa Frank. Yes.

[Anna]

Okay, so very important to note for the book. They cannot tolerate sunlight. They will burn. Harsh lights also hurt their eyes. And we know that's important for Slotra. They have eyes of glittering black. So pin that for later.

[Christina]

Pin it, pin it.

[Anna]

Okay, so the present day, the rulers of the three realms are the Vhagar brothers. Okay. They originate from the Burn. Khan is the eldest. He is the king of the Burn. Caddock and Tirith are twins. Caddock is the King of the Fade, and Tirith is the King of the Shade. Tirith is married to Elowen and their daughter is Kazari.

[Christina]

Yes. And Caddock is married to Dorothea.

[Anna]

Yes. And Veya is their youngest sister, who we know. She's cool like Khan.

[Christina]

Oh, she's so cool.

[Anna]

Okay, so magic system we're gonna run through this really was created by five gods, each representing an element. Depending on what element a Fae hears determines their power. And each elemental, like power is denoted by a specific color bead. Okay. So they. It's called an elemental song. That's what you hear. A clear bead represents Claude, which is air. Red represents the God Ignos, which is fire. Blue is rain water. Brown is boulder earth ground. Okay. If you do not hear an elemental song, you are called a null, which is giving Harry Potter like Muggle vibes.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Yeah. They clip a portion of the top of your ear and that's what says that you're a null? Basically, rulers tend to be tri colored beads, like a whole tricolored bead. So they hear three elemental songs. Except Khan, who only hears two songs. Okay, so there was a fifth God, Callus. He is the God of ether. Okay. The definition of ether is actually, it was like an ancient Greek personification of the clear upper air sky. It also is known as the fifth element or quintessence. It's the material that fills the region of the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere. Oh, very interesting. So Calus, the God of Ether, he felt very overlooked because he was like this invisible force like I just described. He yearns for connection, which is going to, I think, be very important to his relationship with Kzari. Yes, in the next few books. But more on Kazari later. The history of this world. In the prologue, the dragons started taking to the skies to die. Rather than like die in the land and have their bodies scavenged by the humans, the fae. They fly up the sky, curl up into balls, and they become moons. It's very beautiful. You can like see their wings and their tails. And it just sounds lovely, honestly gorgeous. But the moon started falling. Not sure why. The other four gods ignos Boulder Rain. And Claude blamed Calus. They said that his desperation to, quote, fill the empty space was somehow dislodging the moons. I would love to learn a little bit more about that because I'm a little confused. Yeah, like we're gonna learn more.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

Agreed. So they bound Calus in his magic into a black stone called the Ether Stone. It was then set into a diadem. It was given to a strong Fae family known as they were called the Nevins. Their job was to protect the diadem. They the only way to remove it from a person is for that person to die. And then it is immediately placed on the next descendant of the Nevin line. Okay. Important to note that Elowen Rave is a member of this family. And when Calus was bound into the stone, no more moons fell. Except this is the last line of the prologue. Until one aurora rise, for the first time in more than 5 million years, another moon fell. And that's basically where our story kicks off.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

I think it's important to note that when chapter one begins, it says the year is 5 million 165 years after stone, which, if you pay attention to the last line in the prologue, a moon fell just over 5 million phases after the stone was created, which is very much in line with about the time that Slotra's moon would have fallen.

[Christina]

Yes. It has to be Slotra's Moon, right? Yes.

[Anna]

I mean, I think it has to be.

[Christina]

I think it has to be. I'm really, really curious and hoping in book to hopefully get a confirmation of what happened to make that happen. What were the logistics there?

[Anna]

Christina, will you take us through some of the writing styles that Sarah Parker has used? Because this is one of the most beautiful books I've read in a very long time.

[Christina]

Agreed. We were very excited to put this section in the outline.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

Something that really just stands out from this book is Sarah A. Parker's writing. It is so gorgeous. It's so lyrical and immersive. And she throws you in as the reader into the middle of these characters.

[Anna]

She really does.

[Christina]

We're in the middle of their lives. We are not at the beginning, we're not at the end. She very much plops us into this rich high fantasy world and into their lives and then she just leaves this trail of breadcrumbs for us to follow. But she trusts us as the reader to follow them and to piece the pieces together and to get where we need to go. And I think that trust from her really makes this book the special thing it is. I think it really allows you as the reader to immerse yourself in the world. So something she really, really does so beautifully is the imagery in this book. Her depictions of moments and scenes. It's like evocative. She really makes you feel like you're right there and that everything's real, everything has a purpose, everything's alive. And something that really, really st out to us that we text about. I mean, the whole book is this gorgeous imagery of Rave's mental icy lake where she puts her memories that she. It's too much for her. And that is such a real feeling. That's something I do all the time. If something is a memory that's I don't want to think about, like. Nope, nope, not right now. Nope. That's tomorrow's problem.

[Anna]

Think about that tomorrow.

[Christina]

Yes. And that feeling put in this beautiful imagery of this lake and the way she describes it. Okay, I'm just. I'm gonna read the first time we hear about Lake.

[Anna]

Please do. Please. It's so beautiful.

[Christina]

Okay. I sink into my inner self, landing upon the crumbled obsidian shore of my immense frozen lake. Struck by the eerie silence that always makes my skin pebble, I pinch a fist sized stone I use to bind the offending memory around, then creep out onto the smooth, frosty expanse that soothes the bare soles of my feet. Kneeling, I carve a hole in the ice cold water oozing up the moment it cracks free. I tip the lid, plop the heavy thought down the gap and rush away, the hairs on the back of my neck lifting as I blink back into my external reality. This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia, an original audio drama inspired by Hamlet, where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream, with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia Save on Family Essentials

[Commercial Announcer]

at Safeway and Albertsons this week at Safeway and Albertsons Fresh cut cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or Melon Medley Bowls 24 ounces are $5 each and Wild Caught Lobster Tails are $4.99 each. Limit eight member price plus selected sizes and varieties of Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Kettle cooked chips are $1.99 each. Limit for a member price. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Anna]

That is such incredible imagery.

[Christina]

I have chills.

[Anna]

I remember reading that and just highlighting it and rereading it like two different times because I can visualize this so well and it is so clearly a technique that Rave uses, like you said, to compartmentalize all of the various traumas and bad thoughts and feelings that she is not ready or willing to acknowledge.

[Christina]

Yes, something about the frosty expanse soothing the bare soles of my feet like that is just a full body experience. Reading that, it's just, you know what?

[Anna]

And this and now in rereading it so many times, Elowin is from the shade ice. Like all of that is would be comforting to her on some internal, deep intrinsic level. There would be a part of her that identifies with the cold.

[Christina]

Oh that's so true.

[Anna]

You know we're gonna get to the other at some point, but we know that the other she calls that her home. Yes, that's where she resides.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

And I and I feel like that is also a safe space for Raev because whether or not she's aware of the other, and we will get to who we think she is later. I feel like it is still a safe space for her.

[Christina]

Agreed. And that it's created to be a safe space on purpose. But that's such a great point about the cold and that being a comfort. And she uses the icy lake throughout the book in such a beautiful way. It's used throughout the book to put us in her head, in Rave's head, so viscerally. And we're living along with her as these memories resurface and as she remembers things that she feels like she shouldn't. And it's just so gorgeous to read. I mean, all of her descriptions are so gorgeous to read. She paints this beautiful picture. And one of our favorite things about this world are the dragon moons like we were talking about. And her depictions of the dragon moons, the. The tangible descriptions of them are so gorgeous. This is one where she talks about the molten moths. Okay. So Rave says the clouds have almost entirely cleared, allowing me an uninhibited view of the bruised horizon pocked with mountain moons cast amongst a bed of distant stars. Closer are the vibrant balls of fallen molten maws, as if someone took the colorful clouds of the Fade, shredded them, then packed them into compact orbs and tossed them skyward. You can see the outline of their massive, majestic wings bound around them like feathered fans. The lanky plumes of their tails that sometimes fail to tuck in before the dying dragon solidifies, looking like flicks of paint.

[Anna]

That is so beautiful.

[Christina]

Oh my God, it's so gorgeous.

[Anna]

And this whole concept of the moons is just so unique, you know, like, we've seen dragons and we know dragons, right? We've read various books on dragons. We watched movies on dragons and shows. And there's something, though, about these three different species. It's wonderful because it's familiar, but they're also different enough that makes them interesting and intriguing to the reader. And then adding in this whole idea that they fly up to the sky to basically go to rest rather than die on land. And then the way that she uses that description, like the quote, you just read it, really. I don't know. She just has such a gift with her words. And she is so good at showing, not telling.

[Christina]

Agreed. That is absolutely what's happening here. I never felt like I was being hit over the head with it. And actually. So the writing itself is very flowery. It is very lyrical. It is very high fantasy. And I feel like she is this version of that writing, though, that doesn't feel like it's trying to be intricate and complicated. Just to be intricate and complicated. Like this is building a beautiful world and trusting us to navigate it and get these pieces.

[Anna]

It's purposeful.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Like, it's very just. It's very purposeful. Like there's so much intention behind it.

[Christina]

Yes. It was such a cool experience. No, the prologue is. It is important and it is lyrical and it is high fantasy. We're in a high fantasy world.

[Anna]

It feels like it's a creation story or the prologue as a creation story. It felt very Greek mythology.

[Christina]

Yes. I think that's why it was hard for me. I was like, this feels like school. But I think that I meanwhile me,

[Anna]

I'm like, this is so cool.

[Christina]

You're like, oh, flashcards. Yeah, highlighters. But I. I am so impressed by her depth of the. The high fantasiness here that's happening without it feeling complicated for complicated sake. You know, like you were saying, everything is just to flesh out the world. It feels like such a full world to the edges. Everything is on purpose to the edges of every single piece of the world.

[Anna]

Right.

[Christina]

Okay, so just one more thing I want to say on this topic quickly is another really creative, unique, cool thing she did in this book was the diary entry pov. It was a full POV in the whole book. It wasn't just a few diary entries and the journey of trying to figure out whose diary it is. And it was just such a unique way for us to piece together the past while also filling in the present. You know, it was just.

[Anna]

It was so.

[Christina]

It was so cool. It was such a cool way for her to give us these clues to uncover this story and the past without it feeling forced or like she was info dumping. Because without these. I think it would feel info dumping.

[Anna]

Yes, absolutely. It was a great little blip in time that we would get two or three pages and we would learn so much about Elowent. And you know, Elohin is important. Right? You know, from the beginning. Why else are we getting this. Why else are we getting this nine year old's diary entry? So you're paying close attention. And it was also nice kind of respite from everything else in the present day. You're kind of getting this a little bit of a happier time.

[Christina]

Innocent. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Anna]

Innocent. Yeah. Until it's not.

[Christina]

But until it's really not.

[Anna]

Okay, so before we start breaking down the plots and the themes and stuff, I feel like we should introduce everybody to our two main characters.

[Christina]

Oh, please. Yes.

[Anna]

Since obviously the majority of this book centers around them. So let's kick things off with our sexiest new book boyfriend, Con Vagor.

[Christina]

King of the Burn has arrived. And let me tell you the level of obsession that we have for this man. So the first time he came on page, I was like, this is a story. Special character, special man. He just. He feels like nothing we've read before, but also familiar. It's this. Yes, really crazy thing she's done.

[Anna]

I don't know. It's just perfect.

[Christina]

It was just perfect is what it was. It all just felt like some of the leads we read, not that they're not incredible, but like Rain and Zaden, it almost felt like them grown up. Yes.

[Anna]

He is a man. Yes.

[Christina]

Like, you know what's like the boys we love so much, our book boyfriends, grown up. This is our book husband.

[Anna]

He, you know, Con is book husband. Okay, listen, no hate towards any of our shadow daddy book boyfriends that we all love.

[Christina]

Absolutely not.

[Anna]

But it's just. It hits different.

[Christina]

It does hit different. And Anna was ahead of me and she texted me that Khan was giving Rhysand, and Anna would not text that if it was not real. And I was like, this is high praise.

[Anna]

I think my exact words were, I feel like Rhysand walked so Khan could run.

[Christina]

That is exactly what you said, and

[Anna]

I don't say that lightly.

[Christina]

Oh, God, what a text. But it's true. They're two different things and they're special in two different ways.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Two different beings. They're two different men.

[Anna]

But I wasn't kidding when I said I felt a connection to Khan that I hadn't felt since I read Rhysand for the first time. And that's saying a lot. We know that Rhysand suffers and he goes through it and with him. And Feyre, though, he has never lost her because he never really had her until he does. Khan, on the other hand, had Elowen and they had a great love. They had this beautiful relationship that just flowered and grew naturally. And we see it in the diary entries and we see. See it through Khan's eyes and like, what he says and how he talks about Elowen. And then just imagine if we had all of the Acotar series and then Feyre died. It's like that's what happened to Khan.

[Christina]

And then fast forward 123 years and

[Anna]

he sees her and she doesn't remember him. The heartbreak, like, that's what I'm saying. Like, it's like it's. It hits differently. It Is so tragic. It's so Romeo and Juliet.

[Christina]

Well, and what beautiful and effective writing that we felt that so visceral.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

We have gotten. We had zero from this man, like, page time zero. And we were like, oh, my God, this tortured soul. Like, we were obsessed with him. And, like, the first time he calls

[Anna]

her Moonbeam, I said, well, just stick a fork in me. I'm done. Like, that's it. He's called her Moonbeam. And I'm like, he's literally said nothing else except Moonbeam. And I was like, I'm done. I'm done.

[Christina]

What is that? My new favorite word. I. I don't understand. What do I need it, Ben?

[Anna]

I need you to call me Moonbeam.

[Christina]

It's so crazy the way she's done this with this character. So, okay, let's talk about it for a second.

[Anna]

Yes. Sorry, keep going. No, yes.

[Christina]

So, okay, so his character. All right, so something we love about him. We've said this about the entire book, but there's so much show don't tell here. We really. We're inferring things. We're understanding things from him from just situations we see him in, from the way he handles things, from the way people talk about him throughout. And it just. It happens so organically, and it feels just like you all of a sudden know him, like we've been saying. So our first meeting with him is actually when she is, you know, trying pretending to be the, like, backup singer, fill in to kill the guy and whatever. And he. They meet on the stairs and there's this moment where they get stuck on the stairs and she says, smoky musk, pinched with the smell of freshly split stone, softened with the notes of something buttery. My breath catches, then shudders free, as if unwilling to part with the dense, luscious scent that might just be one of the best smells I've ever inhaled.

[Anna]

It is.

[Christina]

If that is not love interest, I don't know what is. I literally.

[Anna]

I read that. I was like, hello, love interest. Exactly. Duh.

[Christina]

I mean, duh. It's giving, mates. It's giving. Yeah.

[Anna]

We're not getting cedar or woodsy smells, but that's okay. We're getting bumps. Butter. Eat. I was like, do you bake?

[Christina]

Do you bake? Do you make croissants?

[Anna]

Macaron.

[Christina]

Macarons in Ma's retreat house? Is that what you've been doing?

[Anna]

I mean, listen, he can cook a mean soup.

[Commercial Announcer]

God.

[Christina]

Okay. I mean, stew and macarons. That's the dream. Okay, so, yes. I'm sorry. That's the first time we see him. Yes. Okay. But what I really want to talk about is our first con pov. So our first con POV was one a shock to me. That was so thrilling. It just pops up on page. It was like, what? We get this pov. This is so thrilling. And it is specifically with Kizari, which also fascinating now that we know who Kazari is to him. But really, we went back, we reread this scene, you guys, it is so clear he does not know. Like, I really think our sleuthing hats are correct here in that he does not know she's his daughter. We're in his pov. He would have thought differently if he had. But we're shown so much in the scene, we get so much from it. So the first being that he's so protective of her. And, you know, she says things about how her tutor, like, whipped her hands because she didn't do cursive correctly, which.

[Anna]

Oh, my God.

[Christina]

And he says, like, my blood turned to magma. And he's like my steady voice betraying none of the violence rolling through my veins. And he's just like, something fierce and feral rears up inside me, which, like, interesting. Deep inside you, huh? Do you. Do you recognize her as your maybe baby. Okay, but no, but. So he's just so protective of her. And it's also very clear that she's the sweet girl. She's the sweet princess that we immediately like. And he's the safe space for her. She's run away to him, you know, that gives us so much knowledge already. And at one point she says she's a coward. And he says, you are not a coward, Kazari. Don't ever speak about yourself like that. And it's like, oh, this sweet man.

[Anna]

No, she clearly treats him as a safe space. And he even says at some point that this isn't the first time she's run away. And we found her one time, I think he says, ma's retreat.

[Christina]

Yes, yes. And she'd been there for a long time. Him and Veya found her.

[Anna]

So clearly she doesn't feel safe in her home.

[Christina]

Well, and you know what that also tells us, though, that immediately was a context clue for the reader that where she is from her family, her dad. Bad, bad news bears. Where he is, he is good. We are the opposite. He wants nothing to do with them. He is good. They are bad. But, like, without hitting that over the head with that, he said in his inner monologue in that scene, I'd like to Cut off her pa's head too, though. I don't say that. And you're like, okay, immediately I understand he has nothing to do with his family and they are not the same. And that's really important for the reader to understand so quickly, especially when we get to Rave's POV where she's talking about how terrible it is for her

[Anna]

and, like, how awful, like, Caddock is the ruler of the Fade and then his brother Tirith. And it's really important for us as the reader to quickly realize that Khan is not the same as his brothers.

[Christina]

And that was very effective immediately in that scene. So also, speaking of his family, just a little background on our sweet, sweet con. So, all right. His mother died giving birth to his sister Veya. His father was just the fucking worst, you could say, just truly terrible. Thankfully, he did cut off his head and feed it to Reigen. So that's. That's good at least a few years ago. But we absolutely love his dynamic with Veya. It felt very real and, like, intimate and, like, not overly fluffy, but also just real. It felt real.

[Anna]

He is the eldest sibling, she's the baby, and it was sibling dynamic, but it also felt like he's the caretaker.

[Christina]

Exactly. They're so protective of each other. There's two quotes I want to read really quickly. One, this is from Khan's pov. He says, veya drops her stare to the floor as another tear drips down her cheek. I look away. She never cries. So when she does, it feels like the world is cracking, like I've failed to protect her again. Oh, because you. You just get this image of him as a bait, as a child, as a like child himself. And all he wants to do is protect her from. From his father. And so the second quote I want to read on, this is from Veya's pov. And she says she's about to leave to go find the diary. And she says, dear brother, are you worried about me? And his response is, since the day Pa shoved you in my arms, squirming, bloody and screaming. And then in her head, she thinks, since he realized he was all I had, Khan was forced to raise me because Pa didn't care whether I lived or died. Oh, my God. The intense responsibility on him and also the like dynamic that that builds between them. And I think in part two, we're going to get more to Veya's relationship with her father. But Khan's relationship with his father is, you know, as expected. And he does kill him, thank God. But something that Veya says about Khan growing up. She says, Khan was brought up constantly being told he's not good enough. He'll never admit it, but in his mind, he doesn't deserve the honor of that being around your neck. And she's talking about the Malmer. And coming from Veya, who knows him so intimately, like, better than anyone, that insight is just so heartbreaking for him because we're like, you are everything.

[Anna]

But I know you as the reader. You're like, no, no, no. You are literally everything.

[Christina]

Oh, my God. You could not be better.

[Anna]

You cannot be more worthy.

[Christina]

Yeah, exactly. You could not be more worthy. So, okay, yes, that's a little bit of backstory on Khan. Of course, we'll go through more moments with him as we go. But let's talk about Rave for a second.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

What an amazing new female.

[Anna]

I immediately loved her.

[Christina]

Yeah, me too.

[Anna]

She was giving me Celaena vibes. She's hunting down bad people. She's an assassin. She's sassy, she has swagger. I just. I was so interested in her.

[Christina]

I think it was a great dynamic of being a badass while also being fun to read. Not too harsh.

[Anna]

There was enough swagger with also this sense of vulnerability and insecurity that you knew was there.

[Christina]

But, you know, what's important, I think, is that we saw that no one else did. Because in her mind, we got to see it. Yes, yes, exactly.

[Anna]

All right, so it's clear from the beginning, like we said, that she's very, very guarded. There's obviously so much more to Rave than we are led to believe and that we slowly start to find out, obviously. Okay, so just a few things that are important to note about her. She is the main assassin, Blade, for the rebel group, which is called the Fear Duath. And Serene is. I'm just gonna call her, the local leader of the group. That's who Rave seems to report to. Okay. So she's, like I said, the main assassin for the rebel group. She's very good at her job. But I also really liked this little note again that Sarah Parker throws in there when she's at the Curlic and she's visiting, trying to get more supplies, more like weapons or whatever. And she makes a comment about how she donates a large portion of her earnings basically to charity to help, you know, The Fade is this very big juxtaposition between those who have and those

[Christina]

who have not Exactly.

[Anna]

Our first introduction is she is a badass, sassy, bloody assassin. But then when we see this other side of her, when she's buying these weapons. She says this is my fuck you to everybody. I take majority of what I earn and I give it back. It's like Robin Hood.

[Christina]

It's truly Robin Hood at Robin Hood Rave.

[Anna]

You know what? She's vigilante shit.

[Christina]

That is exactly what she is at.

[Anna]

That is some vigilante shit. Okay, so here's also what we know about her. So Serene, the one that found Rave. It's unclear the exact search circumstances. To us, it's unclear. The quote that we do have though is this. I curse the day she meaning Serene. I cursed the day she fell upon me. Seeing that side of me, I barely understand myself. Not that I remember that part of our meeting. Tucked beyond a veil of ice, I was all too happy to ball up and wither beneath. I do remember the screams that somehow found their way down to me. I also remember being pitted with a certainty that whatever I was doing was not okay, but that the part of me in control lived by a different set of rules. Serene Leader told me I looked out through her, looked out at her through black glittery eyes, face splashed in blood, canines bared, and that she knew I was broken beyond repair, in desperate need of an avenue to channel my rage.

[Christina]

This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia. An original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream, with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia Save on family essentials

[Commercial Announcer]

at Safeway and Albertsons this week at Safeway and Albertsons fresh cut cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or melon medley bowls 24 ounces are $5 each and wild caught lobster tails are $4.99 each limit eight member price plus selected sizes and varieties of Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Kettle cook chips are $1.99 each limit for member price Price Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit Safeway or albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Christina]

Wow.

[Anna]

Like again the writing.

[Christina]

Again the writing but also such an intense moment to then never give us any more Detail on. Yeah, we don't know anything about this. Again, like I said at the beginning, she drops us into the middle of their lives and then gives us these little clues to the past. But we still don't have a cohesive picture.

[Anna]

No, we. We're barely grasping it. At the end of the book, we know that she fell for the moon. Okay, she fell. I don't understand what happened. When she awoke, she clearly didn't speak. We know that she learned language from Fallon. Fallon taught her how to speak.

[Christina]

Like, did he just find her on the street?

[Anna]

I don't know. I'm guessing that somehow there was some disorientation there. I would be disoriented, too, if I flew from the sky. And I feel like the scavenger king found her and then she was put in a cage with Fallon, and Fallon, like, taught her how to speak. And then we know the scavenger king tortured her, which we'll get to. And I'm guessing, though, that maybe. Which we're gonna get to the other. At some point, she snaps, and maybe that's when Serene finds her.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Okay, so right off the bat, when we meet Rave, she's on an assassination mission. She goes to the club, she's trailing a target. She's masquerading as a singer. There's, like, a few missteps that lead her to have to, like, leave the club and then basically try and follow this guy. So she surprise attacks him. It's so brutal. But, like, I was reading it, I was like. When she's listing out his quote unquote sins, I was like, he deserves this.

[Christina]

Oh, a hundred percent.

[Anna]

She's carving his sins into his skin. And I was like, this is brutal.

[Christina]

It's brutal. But I loved it. I loved it.

[Anna]

So I love this, though. I love the humor woven in between. She uses CLO to basically silence him, to suck his air out so that he can't scream. And it's like, just so well done.

[Christina]

Yes. And Claude is like, yes, bitch, let's do it. Yes.

[Anna]

I love that Claude, like, talks back to her. Yeah, okay. But I love this dark humor line. She kills him. She, like, cuts off his hand, and she toss and drags his body and, like, tosses him over into the ravine. And she says she's just looking down at him, and it goes. He impales upon a slice of stone that cuts all the way through his abdomen. And I found myself wishing I'd kept him alive so he could experience it. Damn. Missed opportunity. It's just so dark and Twisty. But I love it.

[Christina]

But I love it. And it puts you in her head where she's like, this is truly nothing to me. I hate it and I'm happy to do this. And me seeing a man impale himself through a slice of stone, all I'm gonna think is like, wow, I wish he would have felt it. That's what where we are with her and her mental state, you know?

[Anna]

Yes. Well, and speaking of, I think it's really important to set the stage for Rave's mental state specifically which we're going to get into Elowyn in a second after I read these two quotes. But I feel like it's really important to kind of understand where she is at the start of the story because it really is what is her driving force and why she behaves the way she does throughout the rest of the book. So here, this is the first one. Survival is funny. Some wear it like a whisper, others like a scream. Mind's a scorched skeleton of flame forged rage that keeps me upright, keeps me moving forward. There's not much that's wet and squishy left in my chest. It's all hard and hostile, impervious to things like caring for the likes of Taric Relikin. In fact, even if he were a pile of shit on the pavement, I'd still go out of my way to stomp on him. Perhaps that makes me a monster too.

[Christina]

Oh that writing so much.

[Anna]

There's nothing much that's wet and squishy left in my chest, which like that, love that like ooey gooey like soft center. And she's like I'm hard and hostile that those descriptors just so effective, so effective for Rave.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

It's so different from like what we read about Elowyn.

[Christina]

Oh, she's all squishy.

[Anna]

She's all squishy. So this final one, sadness is like stones that stack inside you, making it harder to move. Ignorance is my self preservation tonic and I swear by it until I die. And it's just kind of like I feel like sadness is like stones that stack inside of you making it hard to move. And I feel like that's why she is so adamant about compartmentalizing everything because there is so much grief and sadness and she isn't acknowledging it or can't acknowledge it because it is so heavy.

[Christina]

Absolutely. And I, I think that's actually a beautiful description of grief. I think like grief is so heavy. Like you just feel like heavy. Also you like can't breathe. Like it's just. That's so gorgeous. But her also saying a self preservation tonic is another little bit of that dark humor of her. Like, but this is what I gotta do.

[Anna]

Okay. So I feel like it's impossible for us, like I said, to discuss Rave without talking about Elowin because they are the same. Because they are the same person,

[Christina]

because they are one in the same. But wow, what a journey figuring out they're one the same, you know? When did you know that she was Elohin?

[Anna]

I was suspicious from the beginning because I was like, why else are we getting a diary entry?

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Like, why else are we getting this girl? She has to be important to Rave, otherwise what's the point?

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

I think for me, the big giveaway is when we meet Essie and Ni. And in Ni's chapter, Rave looks up through her window in her home and she sees Haze perched and she looks at the moon and she says, there is something about the moon that, like, is her happy place. She loves it so much. The next page, she bookends that chapter with her. The last word is Hay's perch. The next chapter is Elowen's POV in her diary, and it says Hadean is the first word and she's going to help Hadean catch the moon plume. And I was like, wait a second. A moon plume in the sky called haze perch. Essie also says, would you like to hear the story of Hay's perch? And there is an immediate reaction from Rave that goes, no, I don't know. Because Essie says it's a very sad story. And Rave goes, no, I don't want to hear it.

[Christina]

I like my own happy version.

[Anna]

Yeah, I like my own happy version, which to me means that there is some intrinsic part of her that I thought immediately as a reader that was like, was burying something.

[Christina]

No, that's, that's, that's valid. And I think that's what in a reread you would pick up on 100%. You were just picked it up on the first time, Elle.

[Anna]

And then also the other big thing that she does is Elowyn hums to the moon plume to get her to like listen to her. And that's like the last paragraph, the last chapter of Elowyn's pov. And then the very next page is Rave in the cell. And it says she was humming. Rave was humming. And I was like, well, they're the same. They both hum. Nobody else is allowed to hum. Ask me, ask me how I knew Kazari was her daughter.

[Christina]

Oh, this Is wild. Okay, yes. How did you know that Kizari was her daughter?

[Anna]

Well, like, if Rave is Elowen, then that would mean that she had to be related to Kazari because Kizari has the aether stone and Elowen has the aether stone. So they had to be related. So I was like, well, I know that in the trigger warnings, there's, like, somebody dies in childbirth and there's, like, miscarriages. So I was like, it makes sense that, like, maybe Elowyn something happens and Kazari's her daughter and Kizari doesn't have a mom. And then the other thing was Rave is always biting her nails and picking her nails. And do you know what Khan says about Kazari? He says in his pov, she was picking her nails.

[Christina]

And I went, well, case in point.

[Anna]

Case in point.

[Christina]

But it's. It's these little things, though, that I think in a reread there would be so much of this. Like, she, I think, does this so well.

[Anna]

She does it so well.

[Christina]

And I. I totally. I love all these things. And this is what is so fun to read. Read these books, you know, And I don't say that.

[Anna]

And I want to make it clear, like, me catching that stuff early does not mean it was. That's a bad thing. That is me. To me, that's what made it so fun to read.

[Christina]

Well, I was gonna say this is also like Anna's catnip, where, like, it's so well done. And there are actually these clues everywhere when we give Anna something that's a mystery. And then there are all these actually well done Easter eggs. Like, there's no way you're not gonna figure it out because you won't sleep until you do. But. But it was so fun, though, like, to figure out who she is.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

We knew nothing, Jon Snow, and we were. We figured it out as we went in this really cool way. Okay, so let's talk about Elwyn for a second. She is the sweetest, sweetest princess, okay? The sweetest princess girl. She's a Disney princess. If her whole family hadn't died and she hadn't gone through this terrible thing, she would be a Disney princess on a dragon. And a big part of that is she grew up, you know, wanting for nothing, being doted upon, but more importantly, surrounded by this love and this caring family and this foundation of trust and safety. Everyone loves each other. And there's this great moment where, you know, her mom is crying with the diadem on, and she goes out there and her mom wipes her tears away and cuddles her and the dad comes out and picks her up and takes her and puts her in bed and kisses her nose. And it's just like all these things, these things that as a child are, you know, what. What you should have to. To create this foundation of safety in your world. But then it's all taken away. It's all like, everyone's killed.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

When I read that, I was like, surely not everyone. Oh, nope. Everyone got it.

[Anna]

And the only reason she survives is because she's sleeping with her dragon.

[Christina]

Yeah. So her whole family's killed, but because she has that background and. And that way of being brought up that has not been completely suppressed into her. Icy. Like, she is then still open to con and open to love. You know, she is grieving and broken and, like, can't speak and eat or anything, which is. Yeah, of course. But she still wants comfort.

[Anna]

She still seeks it out.

[Christina]

Yes. She still seeks out comfort instead of pushing everyone away. And that is. Is a big difference from rave.

[Anna]

Yes. Because rave, when she was reborn, it was death and torture were her first experiences in life.

[Christina]

She has no foundation of a safe love. Yeah.

[Anna]

No, there's no foundation of a safe love. And therefore there's no safety net for her. There's no blueprint for how to have love and not lose it.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

So you have that. Plus, like, her self reliance is like her main source of fuel. She hides all of her insecurities and vulnerabilities behind the sarcasm, the swagger, her job, you know, all of that. I think that's like the big reason why when Essie says, you know, I love you, you're my family, that she can't say it back to her. It's. She is so broken inside.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And she says this quote. She says, Essie called me family and I walked away. After everything she's been through, I walked away. What the fuck is wrong with me? How can I look at that moon? Haze perch. How can I look at that moon with so much love in my heart? Love that ricochets off my ribs every time I look at Essie? Stupid questions. I know exactly what's wrong with me. Loving that moon feels safe. Moonfalls are so rare. It'll likely always be there, accepting my quiet adoration. But loving Essie, it makes me feel like I'm handling something fragile that'll break apart in my hands if I tighten my grip even the slightest bit. And it's so perfect, so per. And it's the Self reflection also, because when she walks out, I was like, this is an important chapter. How is she going to react to walking out after Essie says that?

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

And she immediately has this self reflection.

[Christina]

Yep, immediately.

[Anna]

And it's what made me love her. Because she. She's not a bitch.

[Christina]

No. And I. I think if the next tragedy hadn't happened a chapter later, she would have apologized the next morning.

[Anna]

Yes. So all of these things we've talked about between Elowen and Rave, these, like, parallels, the. The difference in these are going to be really, really important for us to remember when we eventually get to, like, Khan and Rey's relationship and, like, the Resurrection trope in the later episode.

[Christina]

Agreed.

[Anna]

But. So let's just keep that in mind and pin it for that episode.

[Christina]

Yes, agreed. Agreed.

[Anna]

Speaking of Essie and me, what wonderful little characters. What a bundle of. First of all, okay, let's start with the happy thing. What a bundle of joy. I was so excited.

[Christina]

We were like, what a beautiful foil to Rave's negativity. She is just such a bundle of joy.

[Anna]

I love their dynamic. I mean, there was, like, that sibling bond. Sarah did such a good job of making us love this little character in one chapter.

[Christina]

It is wild that that's all we got with her.

[Anna]

There is, like, this great scene where we, you know, we know that she's kind of like this, like, stem, really smart, innovative character who, like. Who, like, makes all these little girls who code.

[Christina]

Yes, girls who code.

[Anna]

Exactly. She makes all of Rave's little special, like, secret assassin spy contraptions.

[Christina]

There was so much potential. There.

[Anna]

So much potential. And there's, like, this really hilarious scene where they're talking about the spangle poo and how she uses it to bind something that she, like this cap in Rave's teeth to release secret weapons. And Rave is like, I'm sorry, are you joking? And there's, like, shit in my mouth and Essie's, like, joking for the first time in my life.

[Christina]

Yeah, it's a great binding agent. What are you talking about?

[Anna]

Like, what are you talking about? And this is, you know, when Essie. We know that there's this Wreck character who obviously is the one that ends up killing Essie, but, like, Rex in town and he's threatened to kill Rave, so she makes Essie promise, don't go to the Undercity without me. Like, it's off limits until this, like, problem is taken care of. We also meet Nee.

[Christina]

What a creative, fun character.

[Anna]

So fun. I love the Parchment Lark. This is such a creative and like, amazing way to send mail, basically. And notes.

[Christina]

Yes. It gives them little entities, like their own little beings. Yeah. And especially when we meet Nii because really, it. Nii feels like. Like her pet, like her dog, her best friend is. Or like her companion is Nii.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And that was really. Well, that was effective. That was really shown really well.

[Anna]

Yeah. And like, we know that Nii came to her and Ra. And when she opened it, it says, I need you.

[Christina]

God damn it. Did I think this was from Khan? I was like, I know the way I would have died on this hill. I would be dead on this hill right now. The way I was so wrong.

[Anna]

It is so freaking heartbreaking at the end of this book when you realize that it was from her daughter and I. To me, it read as like a quote unquote teenager in Fae years or whatever who just needed their mom. And it's like almost like a therapy, like where you write a letter to someone who's passed. And I felt like she just said, I need you. Never, ever thinking that this letter was going to reach her mom because she thinks her mom is dead.

[Christina]

Agreed. I think she sent it out into the ether, literally being like, as it. If someone's passed away and you send them a text still, like, you know what I mean? You're just like. You're like. It's a. I'm. I'm reaching out to this, like, ethereal version of you saying, I need you.

[Anna]

Oh, God. And then after Essie dies, Rave is just broken again. And she just writes, no, you don't. And she does the final fold that makes Knee not be me anymore. So, like, me dies, essentially. And it takes off flying and then it goes to Kazari in the scavenger king's cell. And I'm just imagining this daughter opening it up and seeing it. And like, what does she think other people can read them? So does she think someone played a joke on her? Does she think that it's really that. That her mother's. I mean, I'm so curious to see what happens.

[Christina]

And Rave writing those words, not understanding that this is gonna go to your daughter, who is currently being held by the guy who burned you and called you Firelark. Like, oh, my God.

[Anna]

I need Rave to go killing calm crazy.

[Christina]

I need Khan and Rave to burn that place to the.

[Anna]

They're down. Like, I want Mama Bear. I want Papa Bear. I want them to storm in.

[Christina]

He was so protective of her, even just from what we've seen. And that's the moment I'm wanting the most, I think is him understanding that and just going wild to get her back.

[Anna]

I can't even. It makes me want to cry.

[Christina]

Going to his brother and be like, where is she? This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately. Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia. An original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia Save on Family Essentials

[Commercial Announcer]

at Safeway and Albertsons this week at Safeway and Albertsons, fresh cut cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or melon medley bowls, 24 ounces are $5 each and wild caught lobster tails are $4.99 each. Limit eight member price. Plus selected sizes and varieties of Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, sun chips and Kettle cook chips are $1.99 each. Limit four member price. Hurry in. These deals won't last past. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Christina]

Oh God. Okay, so, okay. Something that is really. I don't, I don't want to talk about because it's so traumatic, but it is a huge part of this section of the book and it is. We would be remiss if we didn't discuss it even if it's going to break us and our souls. But we're gonna talk about Essie's death next. So get your Kleenex, get your glass of wine and join us. Here we go.

[Anna]

I mean, I was sobbing writing the outline, right?

[Christina]

So get ready. All right, so Rave is woken up by knee. It's really again, giving the dogs who like wake you up if something's wrong. Like this is knee waking her up. Like, you know, sisters, something's wrong with sis. Jesus Christ. Oh God. Okay, okay. Essie has been stabbed by wreck. And I do understand this. I get it. Sarah Parker. I do. I get it. This is our catalyst for the whole rest of the book. She needs this moment. She needs it to throw her into the other. Into the rest of the book, however. My God. Household crushing. So Rave asked Essie, like, why didn't you go to A healer first. Why did you come here? Like, we know the trials and tribulations it takes you to get to this house. Go to a healer. What are you doing? And her response is, because I knew you'd always wonder if I didn't make it out that you'd think I left you like they left me.

[Anna]

I can't.

[Christina]

It makes me so sad because her family left her.

[Anna]

Oh, my God.

[Christina]

It's too much. It's too much. So Rave is like, you're here. I've got you. We've got each other.

[Anna]

The stuttering. The stuttering.

[Christina]

I. I actually can't read the stuttering because I will sob. But there's stuttering in all these lines, guys. And then her saying to Rave, tell me something that'll make me feel warm, Rave, please. I don't want to be cold. I'm so cold.

[Anna]

Oh, God. Rave's response is, I love you. I'm going to take away the cold now, okay? I can't. It's so sad.

[Christina]

It is beyond sad. Like, I will take away the cold now. Okay? And her saying, okay, okay. All right, all right, moving on. Pull it together. So that was incredibly heartbreaking. And wow, how effective that writing is. But it is also such beautiful imagery. We know that Rave hates fire, and instead of doing anything else she could, she burns the whole house so that she is not cold anymore. It's all gone. And this really, as we said, leads her into the catalyst for the rest of the book. And this is when we get the other.

[Anna]

The other. All right, so I'm going to run through a few things about the other really fast, and then we're going to get to our theories.

[Christina]

Yeah, because this is one of the coolest parts of the book.

[Anna]

I really, really love this. So abnormal Psych major here. I was fascinated by this. I actually wrote one of my big term papers on did, which is Disassociative Identity Disorder. And I'm not saying that this is what Sarah A. Parker was trying to do. I also don't think it technically follows all of the, like, DSM 5 criteria for DID disorder, but there are a lot of similarities. So what Disassociative Identity Disorder is, it's also known as, like, split personality or multiple personality. It's just the correct medical term. So, like, what that is basically is it's like a severe form of disassociation. It's like a mental process that basically produces a lack of connection to your thoughts, memories, and feelings. And it's a. It's basically a coping Mechanism you literally shut off. You quote, disassociate yourself from a situation or experience that was too violent, too traumatic, painful. And it assimilates, like to assimilate from your conscious self, basically. So when Rave experiences Essie's death, there is a quote that happens that basically describes her falling into this, like, numbness.

[Christina]

Yeah, she says a beautiful, blissful numb.

[Anna]

Yes. And to me, that read so much as a trauma response leading into what could may be described as disassociative identity disorder. That's not actually what she has. It's not an actual other soul in your body. And clearly the Other is a separate entity.

[Christina]

Clearly, yes.

[Anna]

As a psych major, it was just really cool to read because the Other seems to come out when Rave is incapable of handling the current situation because of trauma.

[Christina]

Agreed. It is definitely a trauma response. So it feels like it was, if not modeled after that, it is a very similar, almost fantasy version, you know?

[Anna]

Yes. Okay, so we know that the other is very much aware of Rave. Okay. Through all and all of the choices that Rave makes, she's very. It's very clear when we're in her POV that she is aware. It is a little bit more unclear to us. Rave knows that something happens when the other takes over, but she is not aware of what the Other is doing on a day to day basis.

[Christina]

I think that when the Other is out, Rave is asleep.

[Anna]

Exactly. So Rave doesn't have any memories when the Other takes over. No, she just knows that things happen.

[Christina]

Right. Like she wakes up with stuff in her teeth and she's like, oh no,

[Anna]

oh no, I ate a finger.

[Christina]

Bit someone's finger.

[Anna]

Okay, okay. So the only other time we get the other's POV is at the very end of the book when Rave goes to kill Wreck to avenge Essie's death. And this is what the Other says, the one she loves, meaning Rave, because she talks about the Other, talks about herself in the third person. The one she loves did not fall easily into the watery den. She battled and slashed, kicked and screamed, then only went still and quiet once the Other packed her in a tomb of ice to protect her. This Wreck must suffer a similar fate to the one he bestowed upon his dragon, something her precious Rave would have struggled with. Much as she acts fierce and impervious to pain, it's mostly because she tosses the hurtful things down to gather like tombstones within the other's den, the icy plane. The Other understands loss, death and pain differently from Rave, who is but a hatchling in her eyes. But Rave will grow, adapt, embrace, and therefore conquer if she is open to it.

[Christina]

Wow.

[Anna]

Yes. Okay. Okay, so now that we've said all of that, I want to get into our theory for who we think the Other is. We think it's pretty obvious, although it has not explicitly been stated, but we think the Other is Slotra.

[Christina]

Yes, we do.

[Anna]

It makes sense because Rave is Elowen. We know for a fact that SLA cradled Elowen and flew her into the sky.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

And when she fell, it makes sense. If a part of Satra is in Rave.

[Christina]

Yes, we think that they're. Yes. Connected.

[Anna]

Yes. Okay, so here is why. Based on book one, the textual receipts that we have. So when we first meet the Other, the very early on in the book, in her POV her eyes are described as inky glitter kissed eyes. Okay. Also to note in that Same like chapter 15 where we have the Other, it says a cavern lit by so many flaming sconces, she's forced to switch squint, her sooty eyes not attuned to the harsh glare. The only dragon whose eyes color are even mentioned are moonplumes, and they are described as having black eyes. And their eyes are sensitive to harsh bright lights.

[Christina]

Bam.

[Anna]

That is in the glossary. Bam. So also in the final POV of the Other, the only other time we get the Other, she's looking at Wreck. And if you guys don't remember, Rek flew in on a moon plume named Liri, and her eyes were protected from the sunlight, so her eyes were saved, but her scales were burned because moon plumes don't do well in the. In the sun. And if you remember from Elowyn's diary entries, when Slotra is flying next to Elowen into the burn, she gets burned and she goes blind. Her eyes are burned from the harsh sun. So what the other says is, you protected her eyes, didn't you? A small mercy that was not bestowed upon herself many cycles ago.

[Christina]

Bam.

[Anna]

Bam. Slatra. Okay, the author also tells us at the end of her final POV that Rave can wield all four elemental songs and that she has has purposefully been absorbing Ignos tune, so that doesn't trigger Rave. I think Silotra wants Rek to suffer a similar fate to Liri, but she knows all of the things that have happened to Rave, not just the Firelark and the Scavenger King. But she knows that Elowen's past, like Elowen and Rae, would have been triggered by the fact that SLA was literally almost burned Alive when she flew into the burn. And the King threatened to have Slaughtra burned alive in front of Elowen, basically. And, like, later in the diary entries.

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

I think this is it. I have some theories on logistics of how this works when we go into theories in later episodes, but I think that this just makes so much sense.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

Okay, so moving on, I'm going to summarize this next section of plot. So the other takes over Rave's body, as we've said, goes full killing calm goes the Undercity hunts down Wreck, and there's a lot of bloodshed. It's badass and it's cool, but also, like, kind of gross. So we learned some also really important things, though, here. Rave can command two elements, Air and Earth, AKA Claude and Boulder. But she is cornered and trapped by Wreck, and he does shoot her with an iron pin, so that's unfortunate. It nullifies her magic and it puts the other like to sleep, which is very interesting. But.

[Anna]

But.

[Christina]

But before. Before she goes to sleepy times, she does bite off that finger of Wreck. And that is satisfying.

[Anna]

I do love that.

[Christina]

Me too. All right, so then when Raves comes to, she is tied up and being whipped by a Wreck. And it is very hard to read. I did skim some of this, but she is pretty much told that she will be waiting of her trial in prison and she will most likely die by Dragonfire. And so just good luck and go forth into your death is pretty much what he says. Which leads us to our next section, the prison.

[Anna]

Mm. Okay, so Rave wakes up. She's in the prison. She meets a fellow prisoner who is a. This talking creature with whiskers called a Rook. They're known for their stealth and mischief. He's there for stealing something.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Two very important scenes that take place here, and both involve our beloved Khan.

[Christina]

This is really where I think the book picked up for me. I think.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Christina]

When he sees her in this prison is where. Oh, my God. From here on out, I was. I was in. Yes.

[Anna]

So Khan shows up. He's disguised as a Rooney. He does not know that Rave is in the cell. And in Grave's mind, they've only met once in the streets while she was killing that guy in the beginning of the book.

[Christina]

Yes. In the shadow things. And then off and then after.

[Anna]

Yes, yes. Okay. So he approaches the Rook next to Rave's cell, and he is asking the Rook to, like, make a trade. He wants a moon shard that he believes is in the Rook possession. Rave, meanwhile, is in really Bad shape because of the whipping. Her body is like. Basically, it's infected.

[Christina]

The imagery is a lot.

[Anna]

Yeah, it's a lot. He's walking past and he sees her. She's trying to hide, but he turns and looks at her and he, like, grabs the lock and breaks it. I immediately went, okay. That thing in the glossary where you are more myth than legend, where you bond with your dragon and harness their strength, you 100% have that because you just broke a lock. Like, you literally just broke open an iron door.

[Christina]

Oh, my God, my mind. I was like, oh, guess that's Boulder. He's just a strong, special man.

[Anna]

That's so funny. Which we do get confirmed later that he does have. That he is that special person. Okay, so he, like, rips open the lock and he enters his cell. And Rave, of course, is terrified because there's a strange yet very handsome man who's been following around since the club. And he's in her jail cell. Okay. Oh, God. When he sees her, it's so beautiful. Like, this is when we get moonbeam.

[Christina]

This is it. This is the moonbeam moment.

[Anna]

And. Okay, this is from Raves pov. A choked sound slips out of him like his lungs forgot how to work. He lifts a trembling hand as if to cut my cheek, leaving an inch of space separating us, the heat rating off his palm akin to a ray of sunshine. His stare blazes back and forth across my face, tracing the slopes of me with devastating precision. How. And it's like, how he's so. Just like. He's like in. Aha. And her whole body responds to it. Like it says, her body becomes like a churning lake into a storm of slush, is what it says. And I know. And then there's this truth tune who's like, somebody who can tell when people are lying. And she's in a cell across from them. And she basically confirms. She's like, hey, dude, this girl has no idea why you're so interested in her. She doesn't know you.

[Christina]

Which, thank God, because I thought that was. Because if we had go through so much longer of him being like, does she know? Just the back and forth. Like, this was so cleaner.

[Anna]

That was very clean. And Khan has his saber Scythe's Dragon Flame, like, in this little. I'm thinking, like, it's like, a little lighter.

[Christina]

That's what I pictured.

[Anna]

So he uses it. And Dragon Flame can illuminate runes on a person. On anything. Like, a person's body or runes that were used on anything. And runes are things that can be used to heal. I'm sure they have other magical properties, but that's a big one that runes are used for, like, to heal people. And when he uses the flame, he holds it up to her forehead. And this was my other dead giveaway. I was like, he's looking for the Ether Stone.

[Christina]

Oh, that's what he was looking for?

[Anna]

Yes. So he holds it up to her head, and there's a scar right where the Ether Stone should be. And he goes, you've been mended.

[Christina]

He does say that.

[Anna]

Yeah. And she's like, yeah, I don't remember that. And it's like, yeah, no shit, Sherlock. You died.

[Christina]

Wow.

[Anna]

Anyways, okay. So he sees her body, how brutalized it is, and he's like, who did this to him? Who are you protecting? Moonbeam. It is so fucking hot. So they get interrupted. The guards come to take Rave to her trial. She makes a joke about how Khan can forget her and just go search for his missing moon shards. And then what? He says to her. He looks right at her and he says, not much point anymore since I found the most important piece.

[Christina]

It's her.

[Anna]

It's her. And she's like. She's just, like, looking at him, like, so sassy. And she's like, okay, well, go off then. Collect your prize. And he looks at her and he's like, well, it's hard. It's in a problematic position. Difficult to reach.

[Christina]

And I'm just like, God, my good. Damn it.

[Anna]

It's like, you are the Moon Shard.

[Christina]

Yes, you are it. You are the prize.

[Anna]

Okay, so she goes off to her sentencing. She's like, very sassy there. And the sassiest.

[Christina]

Sassy.

[Anna]

Oh, my gosh, she's so funny. Funny. She's found guilty, of course, and she's sentenced to death by dragon. She gets back to her cell, Khan shows up, and this is when he takes her to see Bea, who's the Runa healer. And she's gonna heal all of the wounds on her back from being whipped. And, you know, of course, Ra is like, great, so you're just healing me, and then I'm gonna be led to die. So this makes a lot of sense.

[Christina]

Yeah. She's like, there's literally no point in doing this. Like, I don't understand.

[Anna]

Yeah. So when she's taken though to see Beyah, that's when she notes that Beyah has a special marker on her robe that basically signifies that she has dragon sight, which means she doesn't need dragon flame to see old runes. She literally can just see with her own naked eyes. And it's when she's examining Rabe to see the extent of the injuries and she notes from her neck down to her navel. And she sucks in a breath and Rabe just looks at her and, like, shakes her head, like, please don't say anything. Because her body apparently is riddled in scars and runes that were, like, to heal all of the awful burn marks. And the Rooney, to her credit is like, got it. I won't say anything. And so she doesn't tell Khan. Khan has no idea. There's this really sweet moment where Bea has to go, like, the Rooney has to go and get, like, a medical device. I don't know. And Khan is, like, helping Rave strip. And it's, like, very important to note that the burn is very free. Like, nudity is not a big problem there. Everybody's. Not that everyone's naked, but it's a very hot place.

[Christina]

Everyone's so hot. Yeah.

[Anna]

And so he's very conscious of the fact that, like, he knows that Rave might not be comfortable undressing. And so he's like, would you like me to turn around? Can I, like, help you? Would you like me to cover you with a blanket? And it's just knowing that Khan is in love with her and how in tune he is with her and, like, wanting to make sure she's comfortable is so important going forward for their relationship.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

They start talking about faith and what they believe in. And Rave is kind of like, I don't really believe in anything except revenge. And Khan's response is, revenge is the loneliest deity of them all. Moonbeam. Take it from someone who knows, which I think says a lot about how he's been feeling for the last hundred years.

[Christina]

He is our sweet, lonely boy.

[Anna]

Anyway, she's returned to her cell. Then she's eventually led to her execution. She's tied to a wooded stake in the middle of the Colosseum. And she's, like, waiting to be eaten by dragons.

[Christina]

Really casual.

[Anna]

And then this is very important to note, I think, for future books. Dorothea, who's the queen of the Fade. Okay. She's married to Tirith, who sucks. Dorothea seems cool, though. She seems like a cool bitch.

[Christina]

We've got some context clues. Yeah.

[Anna]

Yes. So Dorothea shows up and she sees Rave standing there about to be eaten by dragons. And she starts sobbing and screaming, and there's a look of relief and then fear and, like, despair. Like, oh, my God. Like, she has. She starts begging Claude to save Rave and she starts telling all of her soldiers to like save Rave. And again, this was like another little clue in the Clearly Rave is not just Rave but somebody Dorothea recognizes.

[Christina]

This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia. An original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a princess and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia Save on Family Essentials

[Commercial Announcer]

at Safeway and Albertsons this week at Safeway and Albertsons, fresh cut cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or melon medley bowls, 24 ounces are $5 each and wild caught lobster tails are $4.99 each. Limit eight member price plus selected sizes and varieties of Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Kettle cooked chips are $1.99 each. Limit for member price. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Christina]

She recognized her in that moment and was like, oh. Oh my God. Relief. Oh my God. She can't beat my dragons.

[Anna]

Yes, exactly. So before Dorothea can save her, Rigun, which is Khan's dragon, giant saber scythe swoops in. Basically like, looks like he eats rave, but doesn't. But this is so gross, guys. The way it was described, her writing in Raigun's mouth, just like so gross. The smell in this bench.

[Christina]

Oh my God. She was in this crazy drool and then at some point she was launched to the back of the throat. But then she was spit up. It was just. Yeah, it was a lot.

[Anna]

Yes. So they eventually land and Khan comes out and he's like trying to help her. He's trying. She's still like, you know, tied up and whatever. And she's being super sassy. She's like refusing to let him help her. And it's like, bitch, this man just saved you. And he throws her over his soldier because he's like, he keeps saying like, you are so stubborn, Moonbeam. And she's like, you don't know me. And he's like, okay, yes, you're right. Sure. So. And he calls her moonbeam or prisoner 73, because he doesn't know her name. And so which pin that. So he throws her over his soldier and she's like, khan, no, I did not agree to this. And then it goes. His body stiffens, step slowing. A low grating sound coming from him. Say it again. And she says what? He says my name. Moonbeam. Say it again.

[Christina]

Oh my God.

[Anna]

Oh my God. When I.

[Christina]

My heart.

[Anna]

When he says that, I was like, oh fuck. You need to just get on your knees, rave, Just beg. Like, I was like, I don't care if you don't remember this man. Take one for the team.

[Christina]

Like, look at, look at this perfect man.

[Anna]

Oh God. Okay, so anyways, so they're on their way to the burn. They make a pit stop at this like bath thing that has actually like healing powers. And so he's like, listen, get in the frickin water. You smell like dragon's mouth and you're infected. Like, here's some soap. And she's like reluctant to get in there. And he's like, no, no, literally you smell. So which. Thank you. I'm so glad we did this. So she like jumps in and she like bathes or whatever. And he also gets in and like bathes. And I'm like, we're taking a bath.

[Christina]

And we see his scars.

[Anna]

So hot. He has all of his. The Rudy things on his back. Like the dots that each dot which from the glossary represents like a victory in death. And it's in the shape of like he has Hadean's perch, he has the moons and all that. Oh God. So you know, she like threatens like, I'm gonna kill you and like whatever. And she, she says something and he

[Christina]

threatens him a lot. She keeps telling she's gonna kill him. Yeah, yeah.

[Anna]

She keeps saying, yeah, yeah. And he's like, there's only one thing that could take me back to that dark place and I will never let that happen again. And like we know now that obviously he's referencing Elowin's death. Her. Yes, her. So they're starting to kind of like learn a little bit about each other. And he mentions that he killed his father and he like decapitated his father, fed him to his dragon. And she's like, okay, whoa, that's a lot. And she's like, so why did you do that? And his response and this guy's. This was the moment. He was like, Because I was mourning someone I loved very much. I discovered my PA had done something unforgivable. And I took her revenge because I thought she no longer could. Now I have regrets because Rave is alive. And then she. Rave says, well, what was her name? And he says, elowen, which guys lost,

[Christina]

was so cool and beautiful and well done. And this was. This was it. I mean, later, there's also another big confirmation from Veya, but this was.

[Anna]

This was it. This was it. I was like, okay, well, he was in love with Elowin and Ellen, and he's in love with Rafe. So they're the same.

[Christina]

Him saying Elohin to her, who is Elowin, who has been gone, who is his lost love? I. I'm. I'm unwell.

[Anna]

Unwell.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Anna]

Okay. So, Christina, take us to his ma's retreat.

[Christina]

I would absolutely love to, Anna. Okay. So his mom, his ma had this little house, this little bungalow house, this retreat. And he takes her there, and it's this cutie little cabin bungalow. He's just pulling out carrots and vegetables in the yard and giving them to her. It's all very cute. She has this innate feeling that this is a special place. She's like, this feels like family. I feel like there's love here. I feel like this is somewhere that feels intimate. And she says to him, I have nothing to gift in exchange for the time spent under your ma's roof. And there's a moment of utter stillness before Khan turns his head and says, your name will do. And she says, rave. All the color drains from his face. He pulls a breath slow, like he's consuming a meal he's been looking forward to for longer than I care to admit. The idea of her saying Rave and him having this look on his face like he's like, oh, my God, she's in there.

[Anna]

She's in there. Because what we find out later from Veya is that Rave is Elowen's middle name.

[Christina]

Middle name. So there is hope. It's this kernel of hope for him. Oh, my God, this man. Okay, so he makes her soup, but he also won't unbind her hands because she's like, I'm gonna kill you.

[Anna]

She keeps threatening to kill him. And he's like, okay, well, I'm not cutting. I'm not taking your cuffs off.

[Christina]

Then. Yeah, and then he also makes this comment of like, look, if you would just ask for help, Moonbeam, if you would just admit that you need help, I would take them off. And she's like, I would rather die. So she can't eat the soup. So then she just stuffs her face into the bowl to eat the Soup. Yeah. And that leads to this moment where they're both laughing. He's laughing, and that makes her laugh. And it's this beautiful moment. And she says. I unscrunch my eyes and look sidelong at Khan. My heart stills. He's watching me with a haunting intensity that threatens to peel off one of the many calluses cresting my heart. A look that presses against my chest, my soul. The sort of look that buckles spines, heartstrings and knees in the same swift strike.

[Anna]

Wow.

[Christina]

My God, Sarah Parker. That is so fucking gorgeous.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So, okay, they have this sweet moment. She goes to bed. She's upstairs, he's on the couch. She's like, I gotta run away. I'm gonna run away into the night. I am rave. This is what I do, clearly. But then she remembers that Khan's warning, in his sexy, sexy way, was like, as you go up to bed, heads up. The only way out of this house is down past me on this sleeper sofa. And if you do get past me, I don't think you will, but if you do, I am gonna really, really enjoy hunting you down. So good luck. So she remembers this and she's like, oh, darn. The only logical thing to do is kill him because he said he was gonna hunt me down. Logically, I'll never be rid of him, so I have to kill him. So she had earlier stolen this saber scythe scale that's very sharp. So she sneaks on down, she straddles him, and she holds the scale up to his throat. But surprise. He's awake. Opens his eyes and sees her. And guys, it gets real sexy real fast.

[Anna]

It is so hot.

[Christina]

It is so sexy. I just gotta read this. It's a little long, but get ready. Just do it.

[Anna]

Just do it.

[Christina]

A luscious, hungry shudder crawls up my spine. Another flash of lightning ignites the fierceness in his stare, and his chest deflates like all the breath just shoved from his lungs. Slower than a rising aurora, he pulls his arms from beneath the pillow, one strong hand settling on my hip, gripping hard. The other settles around the side of my face, cupping it in a way that feels so jarringly familiar, so right, it makes me want to crack my aching heart into shards, because it's obviously confused. I see you rave. My breath hitches. I. I don't. I don't know what you. He growls, tightening his hand around the side of my face. I see you.

[Anna]

God, I see you.

[Christina]

So then it keeps getting sexier. He's like, you want me to touch You. And she's like, yeah, I do. And then we go and we go and we're touching and we're touching. It's so hot. And then she says, I need you. I groan, tossing the scale aside. It clatters on the ground. And she says, now. And he says, you fucking have me. You do have his italicized just so we all know you fucking have me. Okay, but, but, but then Rave has a little Rave freak out in her brain and she goes, but first you have to stop looking at me like it means something. He flinches as if struck with the metal tip of a barbed whip, is the way she describes this. He flinches that viscerally. And he says, says, you want a meaningless release? I nod. Right. Another flash of lightning. Well, you won't find that here, Prisoner 73. His voice is monotone, detached, severed from whatever this is. He cannot physically do it.

[Anna]

He cannot.

[Christina]

And he actually, in this moment, he says, get the fuck out.

[Anna]

Yeah, he's like angry, like, get the fuck out of here.

[Christina]

Go to bed. Get the fuck out. No, like he's yelling at her. And if you think about his trajectory as a character, he's like, I got her back. She's here. And she just wants this meaningless release. And it's so heartbreaking.

[Anna]

It's so heartbreaking because like we've said earlier in this episode, they had such a strong foundation of love and trust, and for him, it's never gone away. He has been pining for. He's never moved on. And I don't mean that like in a, you know, get over it, dude. I mean that like in a way that he has kept a special. It kept her sacred in his heart.

[Christina]

He's been building her Dragon's Moon thousands of times over and over again, like

[Anna]

she was it for him. That's it. And to look at the person whose heart you've fully given yourself to and for her to look at you and say, I need this to mean nothing.

[Christina]

Yeah, it's.

[Anna]

It's too sad for him. There's a part of him that has to guard himself a little bit.

[Christina]

Well, and speaking of guarding, it's such a sad moment on both sides because. Because Rave actually is feeling things. She is feeling this, this tug, this, like, emotional moment. She doesn't understand it and it scares her. And so that's why she says, oh, no, I need this to be meaningless. And then that vulnerability of her even being there and him saying, get the fuck away from me. Get off me, is what then is her catalyst to run away.

[Anna]

And I do think Sarah Parker did a great job writing that scene, because it would have felt almost icky if they had. If Khan had fully given in, because he doesn't yet know Rave the way that he gets to know Rave in the coming chapters. And he still, in our minds as a reader, would have been holding on to Elowen, which we're gonna get to the Resurrection trope in later episodes. But this scene is very true to their characters.

[Christina]

Agreed. And I think it's also really important that we see this happen here. And then later, she starts getting flashbacks and of them just in their happy place and just having sex everywhere, and it's making love and it's so passionate. And then as a reread, you're like, oh, that's what he was feeling this was gonna be. And she's like, I need meaningless. And he's like, no, no, you don't understand what we used to be. Then, like, I can't do that.

[Anna]

I can't do that. So like Christina said, that moment is a big catalyst for her to leave again. And so after Khan falls asleep, she escapes. Long story short, she ends up tumbling down a river, getting a concussion. She vomits, like, all over herself.

[Christina]

Really not thriving.

[Anna]

Yeah, not thriving. And when she finally comes to, she's, like, surrounded by strange men from, we find out later, the Jaquil clan. But she's like, hi, everybody, Just ignore me. I'm gonna move along my way. And they're like, no, no, there's a Fate Herder now next to you. Which turns out is a very important creature who basically determines fate and who

[Christina]

people think is more myth than real.

[Anna]

Yes, very rare. Like, most people don't believe they exist rare. So the Fate Herder appears, and the Jakuhul people start calling her Kahlu, or they're using that word repeatedly, and they're bowing to her and looking at the Fate Herder. And she's like, well, I don't have a lot of options right now. And clearly this creature wants me to follow it. I don't have a choice. I'm covered in vomit. I have a concussion. And that's where we're gonna leave off this episode is the Jahkool Men and the Fate Herder leading her into the village of the Jahkool people.

[Christina]

What a cliffhanger. Because it is about to get real up in here.

[Anna]

I cannot wait to talk about what's about to happen.

[Christina]

Oh, my God.

[Anna]

Agreed.

[Christina]

But what a fun first part of this. Every single bit of this book is fun and beautiful and it's just such a joy.

[Anna]

Yes. There's so much more to discuss too. Like I got. I can't wait.

[Christina]

Yes. Okay, so everyone, if you are not following us already over on Patreon, we as we said do little video chapter chats over there every few chapters. We are unhinged and it is quite fun so be sure to join us over there for that. We also have a new SJM series in our for our Tier two. Been really really fun. If you are not already, follow us on Instagram and on TikTok at of Fantasy podcast and until next time, Cheers and happy reading. Cheers listeners.

[Anna]

Bye bye.

[Commercial Announcer]

Save on Family Essentials at Safeway and Albertsons this week at Safeway and Albertsons, Fresh cut cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple or Melon Medley Bowls 24 ounces are $5 each and Wild Caught Lobster Tails are $4.99 each. Limit eight member price plus selected sizes and varieties of Doritos, Lays, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Kettle cook chips are $1.99 each. Limit four member price. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Anna]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row

[Christina]

at a comedy show. Hey everyone, check out this guy and his bird.

[Anna]

What is this, your first date?

[Commercial Announcer]

Oh no.

[Anna]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Together.

[Christina]

We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Anna]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league. Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent. Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty.

[Commercial Announcer]

If you work in university maintenance, Granger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.