FEARLESS by Lauren Roberts!!!

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Fearless" by Lauren Roberts on I'll Read What She's Reading

Podcast Information:

• Title: I'll Read What She's Reading
• Host/Authors: Reggie, Michaela, and Kennedy
• Episode: FEARLESS by Lauren Roberts
• Release Date: April 23, 2025

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1. Introduction and Episode Format

The episode begins with the hosts Reggie, Michaela, and Kennedy introducing a special musical format to discuss "Fearless" by Lauren Roberts. They set the tone for an in-depth, spoiler-filled conversation, encouraging listeners to watch their accompanying vlog for live reactions.

Notable Quote:

• Reggie [01:29]: "We're going to be talking about everything and everything from the book."

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2. Anticipation and Predictions

The hosts express their excitement for "Fearless," highlighting it as one of their most anticipated reads of the year. They discuss their initial predictions before reading the book, reflecting on which theories they accurately foresaw and which took them by surprise.

Notable Quotes:

• Michaela [02:40]: "I really wish I had time to go watch our reckless episode because I feel like we kind of nailed it on the head about things like our predictions."
• Reggie [03:24]: "I did not trust what's his bucket? Callum. Callum. Nailed that on the head."

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3. Overall Ratings

Each host shares their ratings for "Fearless," providing personal insights into what made the book resonate with them. Reggie rates it five stars, lauding Lauren Roberts' writing and character development, especially Kai. Michaela also rates it five stars, emphasizing her emotional connection to the characters. Kennedy mirrors this sentiment, acknowledging the book's imperfections but ultimately awarding it five stars for delivering what she expected.

Notable Quotes:

• Reggie [09:00]: "I'm giving it five stars. I feel like ... Lauren's writing shined very bright in this book."
• Michaela [10:44]: "I just really, really, really liked it."
• Kennedy [13:27]: "I'm also going to give it five stars. ... it's exactly what I expected."

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4. Likes and Favorite Moments

The hosts delve into their favorite aspects of "Fearless," discussing standout scenes, character arcs, and emotional moments. They highlight specific plot twists, such as the fight scene involving Peyton and Kai, and the poignant wedding moments that left a significant impact.

Notable Quotes:

• Reggie [26:16]: "Kai accidentally killing him wrecked me."
• Kennedy [30:01]: "One of my favorite parts is ... Peyton's internal dialogue was ... how well they knew each other and how much they loved each other."
• Michaela [35:39]: "I loved how simple their wedding was. I got a wedding, you guys. I got a freaking wedding."

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5. Dislikes and Criticisms

While overall positive, the hosts address certain elements they found lacking. The primary criticism revolves around the half-sibling trope between Kai and Peyton, questioning the lack of dialogue and resolution regarding their relationship. They also express a desire for more clarity on Peyton's lack of powers despite her powerful lineage.

Notable Quotes:

• Reggie [17:13]: "I just know this was my one thing ... I really kind of wish I would have had a more understanding of that."
• Kennedy [23:03]: "My biggest dislike was the half sibling thing."
• Michaela [18:03]: "There was a lot of unanswered questions, but to me, that was the one that I was kind of, like, wanted a little more clarification on."

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6. Adaptation and Fan Casting

The conversation shifts to the potential adaptation of "Fearless" into a TV series. They discuss fan casting opinions, highlighting Nicholas Galenstein as Lauren Roberts’ initial choice for casting Kai but expressing reservations about his age and fit. The hosts also explore alternative casting options suggested by their listeners and predict how the characters might be portrayed on screen.

Notable Quotes:

• Reggie [39:16]: "When we interviewed Lauren ... she said the only person she had in her mind was Nicholas Galenstein."
• Kennedy [43:26]: "Jacob Rot is the closest I've seen to what I picture Kai to look like."
• Michaela [43:18]: "He's so cutie. Yeah, I've seen him."

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7. Final Thoughts and Series Comparison

In wrapping up, the hosts compare "Fearless" to other books in the series and similar genres. They reaffirm their high ratings, citing the well-developed characters and engaging plot as key factors. Additionally, they express enthusiasm for Lauren Roberts' future works and the continued evolution of the series.

Notable Quotes:

• Reggie [51:22]: "Fearless, Powerless, Reckless, Powerful."
• Kennedy [53:35]: "My reading experience was so enjoyable that I don't know how I could ever like forget this book or like the characters or anything."
• Michaela [54:12]: "The characters were so likable ... from the first moment you meet Kai, you are obsessed with him."

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8. Conclusion

The episode concludes with the hosts thanking listeners for their support, encouraging them to watch the vlog for more in-depth discussions, and expressing gratitude for two years of podcasting. They reaffirm their passion for the book and the series, leaving listeners eager for upcoming episodes and future adaptations.

Notable Quote:

• Reggie [56:02]: "Thank you for tuning in. See you next Wednesday."

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Key Takeaways:

• Highly Rated: All hosts awarded "Fearless" five stars, praising its emotional depth, character development, and impactful plot twists.
• Emotional Connection: Significant emotional moments, particularly character relationships and tragic events, resonated deeply with the hosts.
• Criticisms: The half-sibling relationship and unanswered questions regarding powers were noted as areas needing improvement.
• Adaptation Excitement: Enthusiastic about potential TV adaptations, with active discussions on fan casting and desired portrayals.
• Future Anticipation: Hosts are excited for Lauren Roberts' upcoming works and continued evolution of the series.

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Note: For a more comprehensive understanding and visual reactions, listeners are encouraged to watch the accompanying vlog linked by the hosts.

Transcript

[Kennedy]

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[Michaela]

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[Reggie]

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[Kennedy]

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[Michaela]

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[Reggie]

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[Kennedy]

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[Reggie]

Welcome back to I'll read what she's reading. I'm Reggie. Sorry, that was a little sing songy. I'm Reggie.

[Michaela]

I'm Michaela.

[Kennedy]

And I'm Kennedy. Today is a musical version, a musical episode where we'll be singing.

[Reggie]

Wouldn't that be something we're talking about Fearless, which has. I feel like we've said this in the last few episodes, but one of our most anticipated reads of the year. And what a time, what a time it was. So this is going to be spoilery. We're going to be talking about everything and everything from the book. And we also have a vlog that if you like this episode, you can go watch our like live reaction to some of these things that we're going to be talking about in this episode. So that just went up the other day and we're just going to kind of do this episode like we do our book club episodes, sharing our overall rating, our faves, our least faves. We'll kind of go through things as best we can in chronological order and yeah, I can't wait to talk about it because it's funny. I edited the vlog so it was kind of fun to see like your reactions to things. Other than that we haven't really chatted about the book. So does anyone wanna.

[Michaela]

Well, I really wish I had time to go watch our reckless episode because I feel like we kind of nailed it on the head about things like our predictions. Yeah.

[Reggie]

I don't remember what our predictions were. Do you remember?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

What did we say?

[Michaela]

Well, I said, I have a different opinion about him, but I thought Kit was going to be this evil guy. And I was like, nailed that. I did not trust what's his bucket? Callum. Callum. Nailed that on the head. Never trusted him once. And I don't remember what else we said, but I remember those are. I was like, nailed that. Nailed it.

[Reggie]

I think we maybe thought that they were gonna run away together at some point. Um. Or maybe we speculated that after we interviewed Lauren because she said for like an out of context spoiler, she said in our interview with her, which you guys can go check out. We did that last year. She said that we were gonna get to visit all the different parts on the map that we hadn't already visited.

[Michaela]

Mm.

[Reggie]

So we were kind of like. I didn't really think that there'd be another trial. I didn't need element to it again, but. So that was like a surprise. But, yeah, I kind of forgot that we kind of gave our theories.

[Michaela]

Yeah. I wish I would have, like, we would have gone back, or at least I would have gone back and like, listened. Well, it's because the reason. Because remember how we were really confused about Callum in general.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Because we're like, is there two Callums?

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah.

[Michaela]

Is it the same Callum? So because there was the Callum that was whispering in the king's ear before he died.

[Reggie]

Yeah. We were kind of like, is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

There was a lot of clarity, which. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I can't remember if we said this in our episode or if it was a theory on TikTok that we saw after we recorded our reckless episode. But people also thought that Callum could mind control. Yeah. Which we found out he could.

[Michaela]

He could.

[Kennedy]

So I don't know if we predicted that, but if we did nail that points to us.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Yeah, I remember that. We were like, is there multiple Callums? No, there's one Callum. And yeah. It was just very interesting to kind of like, ooh. Kind of guess that a little bit. I did not guess the trials or half sibling.

[Kennedy]

Oh.

[Reggie]

I mean, I guessed it the second something was mentioned in the very first Edric chapter. I was like, oh. But I didn't. I wouldn't have guessed that before starting the book at all.

[Michaela]

So you guessed it. In the first Edric chapter.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah.

[Michaela]

That she was a half sibling.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Really?

[Kennedy]

I. I mean, we can get into it. But what got me was one. The mom had the blue. Her mom had blue eyes.

[Michaela]

Oh.

[Kennedy]

And then when she drew the O, like the circle over Edric's heart, I was like, oh.

[Michaela]

Oh, okay.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Well, and also I was like, who would. Who else would this be? Because I knew it wasn't Ava.

[Michaela]

Oh, that's who I thought it was, was Ava.

[Reggie]

Because they had. There. I think it's. In the first Edric chapter. They make mention something about, like, Kit had already been recently born. Ish. I feel like they said that maybe it was in the second chapter of his. But I was like.

[Kennedy]

And then I knew that Ava was Kai's mom's child. Not the family tree. Yeah, the family tree.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Which.

[Reggie]

Okay, now that I think about it, did it in Reckless. There was a family tree at the front of the book.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Interesting. Yeah. I literally was, like, spiraling while I was reading the book, trying to, like, map everything out. You know that, like, meme of the guy with, like, the whiteboard and he's, like, got the crazy eyes. I was like, that was literally me.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Throughout the book.

[Michaela]

Well, I guess I just was so confused. Cause I was like, there's no way Peyton's his child.

[Kennedy]

Hmm.

[Reggie]

So I also was kind of like, I'll admit, I wasn't on. Now that we're. Since we're talking about this. I was not on board at the beginning when I was getting the idea that Peyton and Kit were gonna be half siblings. Like, I was actually kind of pissed about it for a little bit.

[Kennedy]

Oh.

[Reggie]

I didn't like that idea. I was like, if this is where this is going, I don't like it. And I was kind of mad because, to me, I was like, I wanted Kai to, like, I didn't want to be this thing that's like, oh, we're siblings, I guess. Like, you can't get married. You can have her kind of thing. I was like, I want him to really, like, fight for her. And I want. But I will say, even though I was kind of salty about it, I talked about it in my. In the vlog. I was a little mad in the beginning because I was just like, I don't like this. I don't like this whole, like, Lost Princess thing that we kind of get a lot in books. And the half sibling thing. I mean, I don't think I've read that in a book, but I was just kind of like, I don't like this, but in the end, I feel like Lauren did a very good job with it and I wasn't mad in the end, but.

[Michaela]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess I just knew that because I knew that she cheated.

[Reggie]

Well, yeah, she was being sus with, like, the flower in the box.

[Michaela]

Yeah, yeah. And then the rose. And then as soon as he mentioned roses, I was like, it's Callum.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I had a little light bulb moment and I don't know where I was at in the book though, at this point, but I was like, wait, what if Callum is the dad? But I will say I kind of forgot that I had this little, like, prediction when I was recording the vlog of, oh, a Callum could be the dad. And then I was like, no. And then I was like, wait. So I do feel like there were things in this book that I predicted, but they also had so much more. So many things that I was not expecting to happen at all.

[Michaela]

I forgot that we never said what our readings.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I was gonna say, shall we. Shall I start with that? Yeah. And then we can. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Do you go first?

[Reggie]

Me?

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I guess you guys already know. I already, like, posted on my Goodreads, but I'm giving it five stars. I feel like after I finished Reckless, I liked. I think I still, like, powerless more. And I wasn't really. I don't know, I didn't have very many expectations for this book, but like I just said, I felt like it gave me everything I was wanting and more. I just also felt like my reading experience was just one of those top tier reading experiences for me. There was just gut punch after gut punch and, like whirlwind. It was just so much. And I also felt like Lauren's writing shined very bright in this book. Not that her other books, she had any poor writing by any means, but it was she very well written. And I. I'm obsessed with Kai. I also loved that it was like. You kind of think in the first few books it's like this love triangle type of thing. Ish. But I like that it was more of like a. It was a brotherly thing more than it was like a. You know, it was Kit's character, really. His whole development and everything with him I just thought was really well done. It was just so tragic and beautiful at the same time. And I just wasn't bored at all for like, as long of a book as it was. It was. I. Yeah, there was nothing that I was bored of. And yeah, I loved It. So five stars from me.

[Michaela]

Oh, am I going? Yeah, okay. Five stars. That's all. Just kidding. I, I, yeah, I just really, really, really liked it. And when I went on social media, I feel like everyone's like, I have so many questions. Like, I don't really care. The questions, like, I, I'm kind of skipping forward, but people are like, what is their child's knit, like, power? I'm like, I think it wasn't specified because I think they wanted to show that, like, they're more than their power. And so I was like, I don't care to know what her power is like. And so, and also about the end, the epilogue, a lot of people were confused by that and I wasn't at all. I thought it was Adina and Mac from the very beginning. Everyone was like, it was interesting.

[Reggie]

I thought it would be more of like, his mom and Ava. At first I thought it was his.

[Kennedy]

Mom and dad, but then after I thought about it, I was like, oh, it's definitely Adina and Mac.

[Michaela]

Well, he has no, I don't know, like, his mom, he'd never had a relationship with, she died. And his dad was not a great person. So, like, remember, because there was the different levels of where you would be. I think his dad was not there. Yeah, there. So I don't know. And also the people that his half sibling loves most in the world, why wouldn't they be the ones that come and comfort him?

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

I don't know. I don't know. I guess that was just. I literally had no idea that people were like, I have no idea who those people. And I was like, I just thought it was immediately Adina and Mac. So I don't know, I just, I just loved it. And we got a wedding.

[Reggie]

We got a wedding. I was waiting for you to say that. We got a wedding. And it was so sweet.

[Michaela]

I was crying, I was sobbing.

[Reggie]

I will say for a second, I couldn't help but picture the Twilight wedding with the, just the set of, like, you know, the willow. You know what I'm talking about?

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I was like, oh, so beautiful.

[Michaela]

Yeah, it was so good. I just, I'm obsessed with Kai.

[Reggie]

And the Proposal was so sweet.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I'm obsessed.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

So it's one of these books. I know there's flaws in it, but I just will not take any slander about it.

[Reggie]

So, yeah, agree.

[Michaela]

That's it.

[Kennedy]

I'm also going to give it five stars. And first thing I am going to mention, it's not a perfect book. Like Michaela said it's. It's not. And I understand why people say, quote, this series is overrated. I can see it. Like, it's trope filled. It's everything, you know, you know and love about these types of books. I get it. But for some reason it just works for me. Like this series just works for me. Some it doesn't work. And I think part of the reason why I'm rating this 5 stars and why I love this series is it's exactly what I expected. I wasn't going into the book expecting this complex political plot book. You know what I mean? I went in expecting what Lauren gives us. Does that make sense?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And also the banter in Kai. It's just Kai is the shining star of everything. And also to Reggie's point, I do also think that it was really fun to see how much Lauren's writing has improved since she wrote Powerless. I think she wrote Powerless when she was what, 19?

[Reggie]

Yeah, like 18. 19.

[Kennedy]

And she. I think in her acknowledgments she says she's 20. She was 21 when she wrote what is this book called?

[Reggie]

Fearless.

[Kennedy]

Fearless, I think so it's cool to see how she's progressed as a writer one in just, you know, the words she uses and the way she writes, but also her plot devices she uses. Whether or not she knew this was where Powerless was going to end up all along, I don't know. But all the plot twists, while some of them were predictable, some of them weren't. So also, just experience wise, it was really fun. It was just so much fun. Bingeable. It was a good time. And I feel like when I have a five star read is just a feeling, you know what I mean? And you just. I just call it the feeling with this book. It's not perfect, but I loved it anyways.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And it's one of those where like I. I'm trying to think of how long it's been since I finished the book, but like I've thought about it every single day since I finished it. It's still like, I think I said this in my Goodreads Goodreads review, but I feel like I will think about this book till like the end of time just because of that overall experience. It's not like there was just like any specific moment or anything, but I think, yeah, my reading experience was so enjoyable that I don't know how I could ever like forget this book or like the characters or anything. So well done.

[Kennedy]

Well, and also you have to give credit where Credit is due to have all three of us have such a visceral reaction to certain parts of the book. Sobbing. You know what? I just. Sometimes when I sob in books, I can't rate them super low or whatever, because obviously something worked. Because to have that type of reaction takes something special. That sounds cheesy, but I was, like, a blubbering idiot multiple times. Not just once, like, throughout the book. So.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I love watching you guys cry to books. It was fun editing the vlog. And, like, I, like, put some dramatic music behind it. It was great. It was fun.

[Kennedy]

Well, and sometimes I'm like, this is so dramatic. I'm being so dramatic right now. I'm, like, slamming the book shut and.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Oh, just like, it's the end of the world, but it's how I feel.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

I also started my period, so I.

[Reggie]

Think you said that in the video, you're like, I'm normally not this emotional, but I'm like, yeah, I would. We were all a mess. So if you really want to get a glimpse into that, you can go check out our vlog. But what a time. What a time. Do we want to. Let's start with. Do we wanna start with our dislikes?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, why not?

[Reggie]

I mean, I feel like I already kind of said my biggest. Okay, wait, let me ask this question. I wouldn't say that this is. Maybe it's a dislike, because maybe I just got confused and maybe this is one of those things that, like, we're not supposed to have an answer to, and that's okay. But it's. For some reason, it just keeps bothering me that I don't know this, and maybe it's said in the book and somehow I missed it. But what was the reason why Peyton didn't have any powers? Like, was there any. She had these two powerful parents, but yet she was powerless.

[Michaela]

I think it explained kind of at the end that they were slowly just dwindling. Like. Okay. I don't know if that was the explanation she was going for, if that was not. I don't know. I don't. I don't think it ever said why she didn't.

[Reggie]

That was my one thing where I was like, I really kind of wish I would have had a more understanding of that over. I mean, there was a lot of unanswered questions, but to me, that was the one that I was kind of, like, wanted a little more clarification on.

[Kennedy]

I just kind of figured it was, like, unluckiness. Yeah. Like, she just. Straight up, it was just like, oh, you don't have powers.

[Michaela]

Well, what's interesting is like, what the parents powers have don't correlate with what their kids have at all. So like.

[Kennedy]

Or you think about it and you have Kai's mom and dad, which we don't know who his dad is. He like, he is the most powerful. But I wouldn't say his mom has a super power. Like, she's not super powerful. So I don't think it's a direct correlation of their parents. I think it's. I just took it as she was just really unlucky, kind of like a.

[Michaela]

Luck of the draw. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

And coupled with they were dwindling.

[Michaela]

Right. Didn't he kind of like explain that?

[Reggie]

Like. Okay, yeah.

[Kennedy]

And he. That's why he was introducing the plague back in.

[Michaela]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

To make them powerful again. Yeah.

[Michaela]

Okay.

[Reggie]

Okay. Thank you for the clarification. Well, that just makes me feel better about like. Yeah, yeah. Because not that I needed like this like clear answer, but I was like, did I miss something? Which I just want to make sure I didn't.

[Kennedy]

I don't know if you guys saw this interview on Tick Tock, but Lauren, when she was doing her press tour for this book, I don't know what the question was that was asked, but she said herself, not all questions are meant to be answered in this book. And she basically was just like, there's another novella coming.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So for me, my main question was, who the heck is Kai's dad? And so maybe it's going to be answered in the novella. I don't know. But yeah, she said herself, it's not supposed. You're not supposed to know everything. Which on one hand is nice because we have a novella. But also on another hand I'm like, okay, sure, you know, do you think.

[Michaela]

The novella is going to be Lenny?

[Kennedy]

I think so.

[Michaela]

And what's her bucket?

[Reggie]

Blair. Blair.

[Michaela]

That's who I think it's gonna be about.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I see it going maybe one of two ways. One, Lenny and Blair. But also I kind of. I can't decide if I would like this or not. But Kai's mom, like a prequel.

[Michaela]

Oh, with the King.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. I don't know. Or like before with like Kai's dad.

[Reggie]

Interesting. Especially because she says in the book how she like grew to love the King.

[Kennedy]

But I definitely. That's like a 10% chance. I think there's about a 90% chance it's Lenny and Blair.

[Michaela]

I think that would be more enjoyable.

[Kennedy]

For Lauren to write or even the Queen on The other island. Oh, you know.

[Reggie]

Yeah, she's bigger.

[Michaela]

Isn't a theory that she was the sea demon?

[Kennedy]

No.

[Michaela]

Really? Well, it mentions that they have the same colored eyes.

[Kennedy]

Oh, maybe. I don't know.

[Michaela]

That seems like a really far off thing. I just saw that. I was like, huh. I never, never really thought of that. But yeah, okay, cool.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I didn't see that.

[Kennedy]

I didn't either.

[Michaela]

That's how they think they were able.

[Reggie]

To like, figure out.

[Michaela]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

Maybe the novella will be her. I don't know. Who knows her as a sea demon? Lenny's going over. Lenny's going over there. I don't know. I think honestly my biggest dislike was the half sibling thing. It was a cool. I liked the plot twist and I enjoyed it. But also, I know there's another really popular. It's not as popular anymore and I don't want to say what series it is because I don't think any of us have read it. There's a popular, well, like I'm saying, popular, like 10 years ago series where there's a big half sibling trope in there. I saw Heather read about. Heather was reading it and she kind of talked about it on her tick tock. And so it just like, was weird to me. I'm like, you're betrothed. And then I just remember the entire time like their siblings are siblings and then they kiss at their wedding and Callum knows and I'm just like, okay, all right, okay. But then also, I don't feel like Kit ever addressed it. He never said anything about them being half siblings or did I miss it? Like, even in his big mom, it just was like, I would have loved to have Peyton and Kit sit down and have this conversation and be like, oh, we're half siblings. But there was never a conversation between them of like, we're actually related. You know what I mean? I think that for me was probably my biggest dislike. Yeah.

[Reggie]

I felt like everything kind of happened once that realization came to Payton. Everything kind of just.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, there wasn't really any. Not clarification, but they just never had a conversation about it. And I don't know why.

[Michaela]

I think he was just mentally not. Well.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, yeah, I know. But for some reason I just.

[Michaela]

Well, because Kai was the one that kept having to remind him that they, Peyton and him were more siblings than they were.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

So I just think he just had a plan in his head and once he figured out they were have siblings, like, still nothing was going to deter. Because if you think about it. I didn't ever think there was going to be a romantic thing between them at all. So to me it wasn't messed up. So say. Yeah, it more was literally just like more political and like a part of his plan than like anything ever romantic going to happen.

[Kennedy]

Well, I didn't think anything romantic was going to happen. I think my biggest thing is I just wish there would have been. I don't know what I was looking for. Some sort of. I just like read the book and didn't feel like satisfied with that plot, that plot point. I was like, okay, I wish there would have been just something else where it was like, what is the word I'm looking for? Crap.

[Michaela]

I can't think of like a loose end. Tied up.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. What is the word? Yeah. Like a resolution. I don't know.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Because I remember thinking that Kai was having a much bigger reaction to the whole thing than Kit was. But I mean, obviously Kit. I don't know. I see what you're saying.

[Kennedy]

He was ill. He was definitely ill. But I just. For some, for me.

[Michaela]

Maybe you'll get it in the novella.

[Kennedy]

Maybe. And if I don't. But the thing is, it's like if I don't. It didn't make me want to rate this book four stars. It just. If I had to pick something in the entire book, that's what I'm going to pick. That's.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So I don't know if I have.

[Michaela]

Thing, to be honest.

[Reggie]

That's great.

[Michaela]

I mean, yeah. Maybe the half sibling thing. I forgot that. That got spoiled for me.

[Reggie]

Oh yeah. I was going to ask you. I remember you saying.

[Michaela]

Well, I. For some reason I. Yeah, they straight up was just like half siblings and fearless and I was like, cool, cool. Love that. I, for some reason was. I was like, there's no way that Kai and Peyton are going to have siblings. I was like, I'd be pissed off.

[Kennedy]

I would have actually probably shut the book and not continued on.

[Michaela]

So like, I guess I wasn't surprised when that happened.

[Reggie]

I did get a. Did you guys watch the vlog yet? Not that you had to. I spoiled part of the book for myself and I. I knew that Kit was probably gonna die. I accidentally bumped my phone when I was listening to the book on like what chapter I was at. So it said like chapter like 68. I can't remember what chapter. He dies. And on my phone and I was like, okay, I'm gonna not listen. I'm gonna pick up my book and read. And so I was looking at my phone to see where I was at. And I was like, oh, I'm on, like, chapter 68 or something. And then I go and open it, and, like, the first line was like, they buried Kit. And I was like, oh, I'm. That's not. Did I miss something? Then I realized I was, like, four chapters behind, but I already knew that, like, he was gonna die. I just had that feeling. I was just like, there's just no way.

[Michaela]

Well, he. They kept, like, him coughing.

[Reggie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Michaela]

I was like.

[Kennedy]

I was like, the only way they're gonna get out of this marriage is if he dies.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah. So it wasn't, like, a huge surprise to me, but I was like, how he died.

[Kennedy]

How he died.

[Reggie]

And I wouldn't say this is, like, a dislike, because I feel like it definitely just gave more of, like, a gut punch to everything. But Kai accidentally killing him wrecked me.

[Michaela]

You were supposed to dodge. Yeah, like that.

[Reggie]

I don't want to cry. Think about it right now. But that was just so, like, I was feeling so bad for Kai this entire book because, I mean, he's having to watch the love of his life marry his brother, but then his brother's being all distant and weird. He's got to see pain and go through all this, and then he finds out that the re. You know what I mean? He has. He realizes the stuff about his dad who wasn't his dad, and he realizes he's been treated the way he's been treated because of every. And I was then just the icing on the cake. I'm just going to accidentally, like, kill my brother. Oh, my gosh.

[Kennedy]

Poor Kai. Poor Kai. Sweet baby Kai.

[Michaela]

I had a feeling that was going to be him.

[Reggie]

That kills him.

[Michaela]

Mm. I didn't think. I don't know. I thought Kit was going to go after Peyton and Kai was going to do it. Like, I mean, it kind of was like that, but I was like, who else would do it?

[Reggie]

I thought the disease was just gonna, like, take him, but.

[Kennedy]

But I knew he was gonna.

[Michaela]

It was still terrible. Still terrible. But I think there was this moral dilemma, the entire book of who he would choose.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

And so I was like, there has to be a point where he has to choose. At the end of the day, he chose Paden, so. Which I don't even think it was, like, because he loved Peyton more. I think it was immoral.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Michaela]

Like, he knew what his brother was doing was morally so wrong. And so I don't even think it was because he loved Peyton.

[Kennedy]

More.

[Michaela]

It was just my brother's unwell, and I know it was accident, you know, and he felt terrible, but, like, it.

[Kennedy]

Had to be done. He was sick anyways.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So he was gonna die. He's gonna die anyway.

[Reggie]

Favorite moments. You know, honestly, just any moment that made my, like, heart rate just go up, even if it wasn't a part of the book where I was like, this is awesome. I just loved the overall that There were so many moments that had me, like, sweating, crying, heavy breathing. I thought the whole fight scene with Peyton and Kai, when it's actually Mac, was so interesting. And I tried. I went back last night to just, like, read part of that, knowing it was Mac, and it was really crazy to kind of, like, read that again. I don't know. I feel like there's, like, so many moments I could talk about the wedding.

[Kennedy]

I was meaning to read the Barnes and Noble, like, special edition, because there's the bonus chapter is Kai's perspective during the fight.

[Reggie]

Oh, is it?

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Reggie]

I thought there was. There's also one with Kit, I think bonus.

[Kennedy]

Different. I think different ones have different bonus chapters, but when you know the chapter, it's like, literally one line and it.

[Reggie]

Says, you have to fight. Oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

You have to fight back. Painting, obviously, that was Kai somewhere else saying that. Not Mac. Kai. I.

[Michaela]

My.

[Kennedy]

One of my favorite parts, because I just feel like I could picture it so vividly, is. And this is so Kai, after the fight, he, like, kicks down her door for, like, the 15th time, and he, like, walks in and he's like, so I heard you killed me. Just so nonchalant and just so, like. I don't know why I just thought that was so funny. And also, just as a reader, having this, like. You let out this breath of, like, oh, my gosh, she's alive.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Just that whole scenario.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I speculate at all that it was, like, not Kai that she was fighting, because I felt like everything Mac was saying to her felt very kite. Like he was just. You know what I'm saying?

[Michaela]

Like, I thought Callum was controlling him.

[Kennedy]

Him. Me, too. That's what I thought. But then once he died, well, once we found out Kit came, or once Kai came back into her room and had that I heard you killed me. Immediately I was like, well, who'd she kill? Yeah. And then I was like, it's got to be Mac, because he has to come in this story. And then after that happened, I went back and reread the epilogue, and I was like, oh, this is Kit and Mac. For sure. And Kit was having him come to fight. Peyton kind of like connected the dots. And I was just like, oh, Mac, you're telling me Lauren wrote an entire. An entire novella just to kill him?

[Reggie]

Ow.

[Michaela]

I didn't know it was Mac until she saw him and I was unwell.

[Reggie]

I speculated for a second that Kai and Mac were going to be twins.

[Kennedy]

I thought they were brothers. Yeah, that whole. Just. Those like 10 chapters are probably. Were probably my favorite part in the entire book just because it was action packed, emotional plot twists. Yeah, those are probably my favorite. Oh, and the fact that they named their baby Kit with one teeth soft. Those are my favorites.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I actually cried the hardest during the Mac part when she, like, goes in to see him and then I'll see you in the sky.

[Michaela]

Cute.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Depressing. In the vlog, the Kit part, I said no. Was actually their kid. It wasn't when Kit died. It was when I found out her name.

[Reggie]

Well, it's funny because I watched your tick tock that you posted.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So I thought that that's what you were talking about from what I could see in your TikTok. But then when I was editing the vlog, I was like, oh, wait, that's what she was reacting to.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I was.

[Reggie]

I thought that was sweet.

[Michaela]

I was like, it could be kind of a spoiler for both the things, but yeah.

[Reggie]

Oh. Like the second Peyton's like, can you feel her? I was like. And you said. And you're like five years later and you're like, they're gonna have a baby. I know they're gonna have a baby. And then they're like, oh, look, it's a baby. Kai is that he's the ultimate girl dad too.

[Kennedy]

Oh, 100.

[Reggie]

Like, you just know that, like, yeah, they're. They're gonna be like an all girl family. I just feel that he gives girl.

[Kennedy]

Dad energy for sure.

[Reggie]

So, yeah, I love this book.

[Michaela]

I love the Pirates of the Caribbean vibe.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

I was obsessed.

[Michaela]

I was obsessed with, like, the sea monster. I was like, this is giving Pirates of the Caribbean. I love it. And also I love, like, all of the small details at the end, like the poppies and the forget me knots and the flower crown. And I just was not well.

[Kennedy]

Well, then you go back and look at the flowers on the covers of the book, and it's all the flowers that were in her wedding bouquet. Yeah, yeah.

[Michaela]

Those are poppies. And forget me not.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Michaela]

Except for roses. Roses weren't in her bouquet.

[Kennedy]

Oh. But like, they're included. Yeah. Yeah.

[Michaela]

The first one.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Michaela]

But I think. I don't think she'll look at roses ever the same.

[Kennedy]

Probably not. Let's be honest.

[Reggie]

Never.

[Michaela]

Chapter 54.

[Reggie]

Oh, I also love that. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Oh, the fade to black scene.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

The day before she gets married. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Under the willow in the rain.

[Michaela]

Yeah. That was the hardest thing.

[Reggie]

Lauren knew what she was doing, and.

[Michaela]

It wasn't even explicit.

[Reggie]

Lauren knew what she was doing.

[Kennedy]

Someone asked, did you guys see the TikTok where someone asked her?

[Reggie]

They were like, oh, what's Kai's favorite position?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it was his favorite position. She's like, I don't know, but I think they'd be really fun. I'm like, okay, whatever.

[Reggie]

Yeah. She says something like, whatever you can think of, you're probably right. Or something.

[Michaela]

Someone in the comments was like, lots of eye contact. No, for real, though.

[Reggie]

Honestly, though, some of the things. Some of the things he said during that chapter even, like, see, to me, you don't need spice in a book when you can have somebody, like, high who just. Nope.

[Michaela]

Part of you.

[Reggie]

Like, he just said all the. Yeah. Oh, man. Give me, like, the romance and the yearning. Like, I don't want, like, the, like, explicit detail of what's happening. Like, I love the more yearning. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

You know, Kai's love language is words of affirmation. Yeah.

[Michaela]

Mm. And I thought it was so cute when Pei was slowly turning into, like, this poet because, like, of all the things that he says to her, he's like, what are you turning into a poet?

[Kennedy]

And I'm like, oh, I just loved it.

[Michaela]

I loved it. And I just love how simple their wedding was. I got a wedding, you guys. I got a freaking wedding.

[Kennedy]

Michaela never gets weddings.

[Michaela]

I love, love weddings in flex, and.

[Reggie]

We never get them.

[Michaela]

It's always five years later.

[Reggie]

Yeah, we got that and the wedding.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So you got two weddings, actually.

[Michaela]

Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

Can I just say a part of the book I really loved?

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Yes.

[Reggie]

I was just like. I know I took a lot of different pictures of, like, codes and stuff, but the whole scene. Oh, this I was not okay. When she's, like, bathing him.

[Michaela]

Oh.

[Reggie]

And he's just, like, not okay. I, like, took a picture of that page because it was just. I felt like the way, like, Peyton's internal dialogue was. I really. I thought it was really beautiful because it just went to show how well they knew each other and how much they loved each other. And it's like, there was no romantic thing explicitly said. It was literally just like, them taking Care of each other.

[Michaela]

Which in, you know, in return, I think is one of the most romantic.

[Reggie]

Oh, exactly. For sure. Yes.

[Michaela]

Like just being there for one another and understanding the hurt. Well, just being there to comfort.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And she says like the first words he says after he killed, like the first thing he says since killing Kit is he just like whispers thank you to her after she like takes. I was just like.

[Kennedy]

Well, throughout this entire book, it's always I feel like him taking care of her, it's like him doing things for her. And so to have this role reversal of her doing this. Not epic. Because it isn't epic in a sense, but it is this big grand gesture of love, of taking care of him after the most traumatic thing of his life was really special.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Here's the thing. Isn't this is picked up for a TV show, right?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I'm gonna eat it up.

[Michaela]

I am so excited.

[Kennedy]

I'm gonna eat it up. They just gotta get Kite, right?

[Michaela]

Yeah. But there is a new song that just came out from I think John Bellion.

[Reggie]

John Bellion has new music.

[Michaela]

And is it John Billion? Yeah. And it's called Horoscope.

[Kennedy]

Oh.

[Michaela]

And Cole started playing it. He's like, would this fit in your book? And I was like, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Starts crying immediately.

[Michaela]

It's so good. And I was like, I just can't wait for the music like this, the soundtrack, because there's so many good songs that can be used. Well. Because I kind of hope they use a little bit of modern music. I don't know how you guys feel about that.

[Reggie]

It always depends on the book.

[Kennedy]

And I also. I love when they take modern music like Bridgerton. I eat that up. When they take modern music and make it fit into the time period.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But I mean, you could hire so many people and they could create something.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Incredible. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I'm looking forward to seeing how that plays out. I'm gonna be.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Because she. I don't know. Did you guys see the Tick Tock about. She can't say much.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

But she really likes the writer. I just want to know who's cast. I want to.

[Kennedy]

I doubt they have a cast.

[Michaela]

I don't. They probably don't.

[Kennedy]

Well, even Lauren has said she's like, it's really. It's going to be really hard to get Kai. Right.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I also just. Since we guys done with your loves.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Because we usually do a fan. The entire book. 5 stars. We usually do a fan cast and I'm sure we did A fan cast for like our Powerless episode. I don't know if we want to discuss, but I do want to say this. I thought it was interesting. If you guys haven't heard this already, I'm sure she's talked about it somewhere else besides our podcast. But when we interviewed Lauren after, was it right after Reckless came out or before? It was after we asked her like about casting and stuff and she said the only person she had in her mind was Nicholas Galenstein. Galenstein for Kids Galzy. I don't know how to say his name. The guy that was on the show that we watched Amazon with Anne Hathaway. Yeah, he's the singer.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I know what you're talking about. I can't remember what the movie's called.

[Reggie]

And you guys, every time I was like, I kept reading the book and his brain, his picture popped up in my brain and I did not like it.

[Michaela]

Oh, you don't like him?

[Reggie]

Well, I like him, but I just feel like he's old.

[Michaela]

Okay.

[Reggie]

I like, I want. He seems like too old to me. I want someone like a little younger because they are like what, 19?

[Kennedy]

The thing is, is I feel like with any of these fantasy adaptations that are coming to be, I want them all to be no name actors.

[Reggie]

Yeah, A little bit.

[Kennedy]

Like, I want them. I don't want to have any preconceived notions of who they've played in the past.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because then I just feel like it's hard to separate them from other characters. I don't know.

[Reggie]

There's like a new net. Is it Netflix or is it Amazon? Oh, I should have sent this to you guys. There's these two guys and people were commenting saying, this is Kai and Kit, but I didn't. I felt like the blonde guy definitely gave Kit vibes, but I didn't really feel like the dark hair.

[Michaela]

Do you remember what it was?

[Reggie]

Ah, I'll go. I haven't been on TikTok very much since I saw it and I'll have to go on like my watch history.

[Kennedy]

Oh.

[Reggie]

Oh, awkward. I just requested to follow someone on TikTok. I didn't mean to do that.

[Michaela]

Was it a movie or show?

[Reggie]

I think it's a TV show. Let's see. Where do you go to your watch history? Because I thought the. The blonde guy was so cute. I'm like, I can see Kit in him. But I felt like Kai, he. I don't know.

[Michaela]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

I'll try and find it and I'll show you guys.

[Michaela]

But he I don't. Yeah, he. Well, he plays a blonde character in the one that is a book adaptation. He's the.

[Reggie]

He's a. Oh, red, white and royal blue.

[Michaela]

Royal blue. Yeah, he's a book adaptation king right now, cuz.

[Kennedy]

Purple Heart. Oh, yeah.

[Michaela]

He's in Purple Heart and the Anne Hathaway. It's also a book. So he's. I. The thing is, I care more about Kai.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure.

[Michaela]

Than I care about what Kit looks like. So that's. Who's Cass's Kit. I won't be, like, disappointed.

[Kennedy]

They can make him look younger.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Me saying I haven't been on TikTok very much and I'm trying to scroll through my watch. I'm like, how many TikTok videos do I scroll through a day? It's actually embarrassing.

[Michaela]

What's his name again?

[Reggie]

Nicholas Gal. I don't know how you say his last name.

[Kennedy]

Galatine.

[Michaela]

Galatine.

[Reggie]

It has like a Z in it or something.

[Michaela]

How old is. Oh, he's 30.

[Kennedy]

This is who my cast says for all the characters. Okay. So people voted for this person named. Well, we'll go with the one that's at the very top. Jacob Rot.

[Michaela]

Jacob for Kai Rot.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah.

[Michaela]

He's so cutie. Yeah, I've seen him.

[Kennedy]

That's the closest I've seen to what I picture Kai to look like. In my mind, He's. Yeah.

[Michaela]

Cute.

[Reggie]

Maybe he's the guy.

[Kennedy]

And then for Peyton, they're casting for Freya Allen. She's in the Witcher.

[Michaela]

The fire one.

[Kennedy]

Yes. Yeah.

[Michaela]

I feel like she's a little old.

[Reggie]

Jacob Rock. Yeah, look. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And then for kids, is it Damien.

[Reggie]

Hardam Video Tim Shaker.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

Look how cute he is. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Jacob Raw is the closest I've seen to what I picture Kai to look like.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I just didn't think he looked this.

[Michaela]

Oh, he's finally started shooting. Oh. I think he literally wasn't like an actor at all.

[Reggie]

Oh, really? He was just like, randomly got picked up somehow.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Because he kind of got, like, popular because of, like, his social media and Instagram.

[Reggie]

Okay. Now that I'm looking at, like more videos of him.

[Michaela]

She's only 23. Shut up.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, he's. Yeah, he's the closest of what I've pictured Kai to look like. I feel like.

[Reggie]

Yeah, he's gotta get a little more bulky.

[Kennedy]

Oh.

[Reggie]

Which.

[Kennedy]

But also. But also, I don't picture Kai. Right. I picture Kai to be like this huge person. I potentially.

[Michaela]

Like, she just needs to be really petite.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it works out. And also I take back what I said.

[Reggie]

He's just like my simple breakfast as a model. Yeah, but see, he's got the hair, he's got the locks. You know, he could do it.

[Michaela]

His eyebrows need to be.

[Reggie]

But yeah, look at these two.

[Michaela]

A little.

[Reggie]

He looks a little older than he does though.

[Kennedy]

Well, Kit is older.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay. All right. That's my Kai and Kitty. I can see it. Okay. That's Kit.

[Michaela]

We need to post or something.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Okay. I'm going to save this video.

[Kennedy]

Kendall's going to go to your sage.

[Michaela]

And be like, why do you have this video?

[Reggie]

He doesn't care anything about TikTok of.

[Kennedy]

These two shirtless boys.

[Reggie]

Oh, he saw me watching. Oh. My sister in law were sending Acotar edits back and forth to each other and we were watching him and he was like. He just like. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Rolled his eyes, shaked his head sometimes. Like I. Yeah, I think there are a lot of really gorgeous girls that could play Paden.

[Kennedy]

Well, it's funny because even Lauren said that she's like. Because someone asked fan cast. She said that Kai's gonna be hard to fan cast. And Lauren quite literally said the exact same thing you just said. She said there's. I'm not worried about Peyton. There's a lot of really gorgeous actresses that could play her.

[Michaela]

Yeah. I just care about her being really short. Yeah. Because I want there to be like that height difference because I feel like it's almost like mm, it makes it better. You know, that's the only thing I care about is her being a little short. But I feel like most actresses are usually shorter.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Let's just hope and hope and pray it actually comes to fruition.

[Reggie]

Oh, if I get any sort of update that says it's been dropped. Dropped or something, I will drop to the floor.

[Michaela]

Honestly, they'd be doing themselves and everyone else such a disservice. I don't know about you guys, but I. It's. I feel like the weirdest books get picked up for.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Sometimes.

[Reggie]

And it's always like really spicy ones too. And I feel like there's something so special about the fact that this series is ya.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Well, you can market it to a lot larger of an audience like you could have. You can mark. It's just a lot more marketable.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

I think it would do so well, so I don't know why they wouldn't. I also kind of feel the same way about like acotar. If it's done well.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

It's always with the. With the caveat. It has to be done well. Has to have a good director, but I just have a good writer.

[Michaela]

Why people aren't jumping on it because of how wildly popular some of the books are. You know, I feel like a lot.

[Reggie]

Of these, like, fantasy books that have been picked up for adaptations are all gonna like, start coming out at the same time. Do you guys, like, feel that in a way?

[Michaela]

Because fourth era, that happened in like 2000 and tens.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

It's gonna be this fantasy era. I love movies and shows.

[Reggie]

It's gonna be interesting to see. Yeah. When all these different things come out. Like, because Quicksilver got picked up. Right. We got fourth wing. There's another one that I'm not thinking of anyways.

[Michaela]

Powerless, obviously.

[Kennedy]

Acotar.

[Reggie]

No, I got dropped.

[Michaela]

Right.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Oh, here we go again.

[Michaela]

See, here we go again.

[Reggie]

Just let it be thrown off glass instead. Yeah.

[Michaela]

I can't think. I feel like there's a lot of rom com books that are like.

[Reggie]

Yeah. All the Emily Henry books.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Getting picked up for stuff. So rom coms and fantasy books that are going to be tv. I feel like a lot of them are turning into TV series. Do you feel like that or is.

[Kennedy]

I feel like the rom coms are movies.

[Michaela]

Movies, yes. But then the fantasy books are mostly TV series.

[Kennedy]

I don't know what Powerless even is. Was it picked up as a TV series?

[Reggie]

TV series?

[Michaela]

I thought so too. It will be interesting. But honestly, I'm not mad about TV series. But also it's only three books. So like they could do three movies, you know.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

If they really wanted to. But I feel like I don't know.

[Reggie]

How you would do Reckless or Sorry, Fearless though in one movie. There's just so much. You know. And let me say this not to like, stop talking about the adaptation stuff, but all that to say I'm just very excited to see where. What Lauren's gonna do next. Like, obviously I have another novella coming, like we talked about, but it's gonna be really cool. I know. She told us. But then she said something different at an event that I saw. But she told us in her interview that she's wanting to do a fantasy horror. Isn't that what she said?

[Michaela]

I think so.

[Reggie]

I don't know. I just can't wait to see what she comes up with next. So same. Yeah.

[Michaela]

What's going on over there?

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Okay, so the. So it says Powerless TV series based on hit YA book in development from anyone but you. Director Will Gluck. So it'll be by the director of Anyone but you. I was making that face because apparently Butchered Butcher and Blackbird is also being.

[Michaela]

Turned into a movie. Oh, lovely.

[Kennedy]

Honestly, it could be good. It'll for sure be rated R, but it could be good.

[Reggie]

Interesting.

[Kennedy]

Oh, it's an A20. The A24 picked it up. Very on brand for them.

[Michaela]

Very on brand.

[Reggie]

Oh, that's very interesting.

[Michaela]

All right, love.

[Reggie]

Lots to look forward to. It's sad to, like, anticipate something that you're really excited to read or watch or whatever, and then it's over and you're like.

[Michaela]

But I will say, I don't feel like, at least for all three of us, it didn't disappoint any of us.

[Reggie]

Oh, no, no. Not at all.

[Michaela]

Because it sucks when you wait for a book and, like, it's like, the last book and, like, whatever, and then it does not live up to your expectations. And I feel like this one did really well.

[Kennedy]

I feel like last year, a lot of my most anticipated reads really disappointed me.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

This year my most anticipated reads are not. So I almost feel like. I mean, most of my anticipated reads from this year are from authors that I read last year.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

It's almost like the authors are like, okay, we're going to step it up.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

We're not going to disappoint our readers. And I'm so happy because, I mean, I don't know how you guys would put these, but honestly, I still think Powerless is my favorite just because, like, it has a special place in my heart.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And then I would say fearless. Fearless, Power, Powerful, Reckless. Reckless is the last. Okay. I think that would be my ranking.

[Reggie]

Well, I think mine would be Fearless, Powerless, Reckless, Powerful.

[Michaela]

Probably same. Yeah.

[Reggie]

But I think if I read Powerful again, I'd like it a lot more. Yeah.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

It would just be even that. More devastating.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, for sure.

[Reggie]

Which is wild to me that some people didn't read Powerful before they read Fearless.

[Michaela]

Oh, some people didn't.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

I thought she straight up said you need to.

[Kennedy]

Well, some people. We had a few comments in a few DMS asking us if we thought that they should read Powerful before. And when I responded, I just was like, we think that it's going to be important. Like, we don't know because we haven't read the book, but I have a feeling it's going to be important. I was like, there's no way she's not going to include Mac in this book. Yeah, there's no way.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So also, I don't know if you guys knew this. Maybe I told you this is just a little fun fact. If you didn't listen to the book. Lauren narrates the prologue. She did a great job. So, love, honestly, all the voice actors for that. Narrators, great job. Fantastic.

[Kennedy]

Everybody gets five stars. That worked on this book. Everybody did great.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Great job, everyone.

[Reggie]

So, yeah, you guys gets to.

[Kennedy]

I'll read what she's reading. Stamp of approval.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

But it's so interesting because I feel like there's such polarizing opinions about the series. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I'm just gonna say my piece for, like, two seconds about this. Okay. I love high fantasy books. Okay.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I love it.

[Kennedy]

Whatever. Had I read Powerless right now in my reading journey, would I have rated it 5 stars? I don't know. Because I've read a lot more fantasy books since then. I don't know. But I read it at a time where I hadn't read a lot of fantasy books, and it didn't feel repetitive to me. And that's why I feel like I love this series so much, because it doesn't feel repetitive, because I didn't have a lot of fantasy books under my belt, if that makes sense.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And that's why I love it so much, and that's why I rate it 5 stars. Maybe those people who are saying I couldn't Finish it, I DNF'd it. Maybe they're. They had read hundreds of fantasy books prior to. I don't know. But for me, that's. That was my experience.

[Michaela]

Yeah. I just also feel like this book. The characters were so likable.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

And that's what my draw was, was the characters not necessarily like. Like you said, it wasn't like, a revolutionary plot or. I just think the characters I just immediately loved, you know, from the first moment you meet Kai, you are obsessed with him. You love Adina, you love Peyton. You know, like, I think that's what the difference is because someone compared it to some other books, and I'm like, I just don't like those characters.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

And I think that's why I like this one more so than, like, maybe similar books that have similar themes. I think it, honestly, for me, is very much about the characters, not necessarily about the. The theme.

[Reggie]

You know, other people will say differently. And I think that's what goes to show that people value different things in books. And we've had people say, the way you feel about Powerless is the way, like, I feel or, like, the way we feel about Quicksilver is the way they feel about powerless or something like that. But it just goes to show that, like, when you read a book where you're at in your reading journey, whether you like more of, like a character thing over a plot thing, like, there's so many elements that play into reading, and I think that sometimes people take things way too personally and way too seriously. But it just goes to show that, like, yeah, everyone's. Everyone's different. And. Yeah, I just. I love this book. Okay. If you didn't love it, I'm shocked that you're still listening. But thank you for tuning in.

[Kennedy]

Sometimes I'm just craving a really hot male main character that can talk sweet. And it's just a sweet angel, baby. And that's what I get with this series. Yeah. You know, and that's.

[Reggie]

Ty gets 10 stars in my eyes, so.

[Michaela]

Well, he never has to be crude.

[Kennedy]

No, no.

[Michaela]

And I'm, like, majorly attracted to that.

[Kennedy]

Here's the thing. I am so excited to see. I know we briefly touched on this, like, two minutes ago. I'm really excited to see what Lauren does next because I just think she's only going to go up from here. Like, it's only. I mean, comparing her book, her writing from the first book to the last book, it's leaps and bounds. And so just imagine what she's going to come up with in her new series.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Can't wait.

[Kennedy]

But don't take too long. But take, like, long enough. But don't take too long.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Well, everybody, thanks so much for listening. We really appreciate you being here for listening. Watching it means the world. It's been two years of this podcast and you guys have just always delivered and we really appreciate it. So thanks for tuning in. Like we said, you can go check out our vlog if you want to see a little bit more about Fearless and our thoughts, but we'll leave it at that. So we'll see you next Wednesday.

[Kennedy]

Bye.

[Reggie]

This has been a 58 Ember production. For more shows, please visit the 58 Ember channel 58ember.com or find us at 58Ember Media on socials.