LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City – HOSAB / Episode 16: Lady Haha

Hosted by Natalie Jean & Jackie Zabrowski
Release Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this spirited and irreverent episode, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski, in full costume and maximal wig attire, dive deep into Sarah J. Maas's "House of Sky and Breath" (Crescent City series), covering chapters 20–31. They break down pivotal moments, explore character dynamics, debate fan theories, and share their own experiences with prosthetics and cosplay. Humor, tangents, and literary analysis seamlessly blend as the hosts dissect the episode’s standout scenes, including the Under King’s bone-chilling truths and a dramatic reading of the book's spiciest encounter.

Costumes, Cosplay, & Chaos [03:10–11:02]

• The episode opens with Natalie and Jackie discussing their elaborate Crescent City-inspired costumes.
  • Natalie struggles with an uncomfortable bone-mouth prosthetic and a too-tight crown, lamenting:

    "I can't wait to take it off. ... I'll probably have a headache in about three minutes." (Natalie, 03:48)

  • Jackie’s look features three wigs in an attempt to resemble “the balage of a flame,” resulting in “an air of mystery.”
  • Both hosts poke fun at the challenges of working with prosthetics and makeup, acknowledging their lack of patience for professional application.
  • Banter about masquerade masks vs. Superman-style disguises:

    "We all pretend there's no way I could tell just with a little mask on somebody's face." (Natalie, 07:49)

Recap & Analysis: Brain Bridge, Rune & Agent Day [11:02–22:49]

Rune’s Mental Meeting with Agent Day [11:02–15:15]

• Rune falls asleep at Bryce’s place after late-night surveillance.
• Dreaming/telepathic meeting (“brain bridge”) with mysterious rebel contact Agent Day.
  • Jackie gleefully points out the surreal, slightly flirtatious quality of these encounters, quipping:

    “I assume that’s now Agent Day looks like on this brain bridge, but you never know.” (Jackie, 13:08)

• Discussion on Rune’s emotional distance, Agent Day’s role, and how their brain bond feels “weird and sexy.”
• Callback to a previous scene where Agent Day appeared in Rune’s mind to help save him, establishing a subtle intimacy.

Info Drop: The Upcoming Rebel Attack [18:23–21:38]

• Agent Day alerts Rune to a planned rebel attack against “the Spine” (Midgard's train system), with major weaponry involved.
• Rune and Day debate motivations for being involved with the rebels.
  • Agent Day:

    “The ruling class rarely is motivated to help anyone.” (Jackie, paraphrased, 24:21)

• Discussion of morally gray characters:
  • Jackie:

    “Morality is ... something you have to consistently go back to and check on in yourself because suddenly you can be justifying really horrible things if you don't continue to like reinvest in looking inside yourself.” (Jackie, 21:24)

House Shenanigans: Hunt, Bryce, and Secret Mates [29:27–34:49]

The Morning After: Mate Reveal Intercepted [29:27–30:07]

• At Bryce’s place, everyone’s gathering intel and Rune wakes up the housemates early to share the rebel tip.
• Hunt feels miffed he can’t announce that Bryce is his mate because of the morning’s chaos.
  • Natalie:

    “He wanted to scream his love from the mountain, Dobbs.” (Natalie, 29:27)

Argument: Scent, Sex, and Cormac’s Suspicion [31:10–34:49]

• Cormac smells that Bryce and Hunt “got together,” threatening their fake betrothal.
  • Jackie, narrating Bryce:

    “You mean when he went down on me?” (Jackie, 30:32)

• Hosts reflect on how, in both fantasy and the real world, secrets like these rarely stay hidden, playing off the series’ scent-based social dynamics.
• Playful aside about guns and action scenes vs. real-world gun safety:
  • Natalie:

    “I take guns very seriously in the real world, but ... action stuff in hot outfits, of course. Are you kidding?” (Natalie, 34:03)

The Bone Quarter: Boat Ride With a Side of Hellhound [35:32–42:09]

Start of the Quest [35:32–36:46]

• Bryce and Hunt prepare for their journey into the Bone Quarter, the land of the dead, collecting their star sword and tokens.
• Discussion about practicality in costume (leggings over short skirts for graveyard adventures).

Baxian's Interruption [36:46–37:22]

• Baxian the Hellhound appears mysteriously as they summon their ghostly ferry, creating unease and raising questions about his allegiances.

Arrival at the Bone Gate [39:59–42:09]

• Visual and atmospheric description of the Bone Quarter: “a haunted graveyard” with fog and creepy obelisks.
• Notable reference:

  “He thinks all of this is badass.” (Jackie, on Hunt, 40:13)

• Discussion on the phrase “Memento Mori” and its meanings, drawing parallels with the series’ themes about death and memory.

The Under King’s Truths & Major Series Lore Drops [48:17–62:56]

The Under King: Ancient, Youthful, Cold, and Dry [48:17–51:44]

• The Under King appears: a ten-foot-tall, skeletal figure described as “hideous beyond belief, yet regal”—immediately compared to Gwyneth Paltrow.
  • Jackie:

    “Honestly, I think just try to channel Gwyneth Paltrow.” (Natalie, 48:53)

• The hosts riff on the perfect blend of sterile coldness and ethereal superiority.

Confrontation & Revelations [51:44–62:56]

• Bryce and Hunt question the Under King about Reapers, Hell, and afterlife logistics.
• The Under King reveals:
  • Reapers and vampires originated from Hell, but chose Midgard as their home—key setting lore.
  • The “sleeping city” (Midgard's heaven) is essentially a myth; souls are kept as livestock, drained over time for the Under King’s sustenance.

    “The worthy who come through on the sailings, they're considered worthy because they have enough energy left. ... It's whether a soul possesses enough power to make a meal for the Under King.” (Jackie, 59:45)

  • Sailings and “worthiness” are a lie to comfort the living.
• Under King gives this exposition because he does NOT intend to let Bryce and Hunt leave alive.
  • Jackie:

    “Hunt realizes they are hearing this because the under king has already decided that they are not to leave the bone quarter alive.” (Jackie, 62:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“I'm gonna make some wine. ... I'm getting juiced over here.” (Natalie, on her too-tight crown, 37:53)

“I feel like it's in, like, akin to, like, if you're going to see the under King, dress as if like you're riding on a motorcycle.” (Natalie, 35:25)

“The cajones on this bitch! ... Come into my house and start demanding that you see things.” (Natalie, 56:49)

“He tells them that the sailings are done as a cope so that people don't have to face the truth of what they are. Livestock.” (Jackie, paraphrasing, 60:32)

Dramatic Reading: “Dudes Grappling With Erotica” – Hilarious Blowjob Scene [63:14–72:12]

A comedic cold-read of one of the book’s most explicit sex scenes (Bryce and Hunt), performed in-character by Jared Logan and Holden McNeely, with frequent interruptions, commentary, and total juvenile glee.

• Jackie:

  “Nothing gets me harder than the idea of a woman with four breasts.” (65:17)

• Body humor, fake retching, and over-the-top asides about “Dutch ovens” and “Jamie Lee Curtis of the underworld” keep the mood riotously unserious.
• Not for the prudish, but a staple of LPN Deep Dives for readers who want a laugh with their romance.

Key Timestamps

• [03:10] – Show content starts, costume talk kicks off
• [11:02] – Recap begins, “brain bridge” segment with Agent Day
• [18:23] – Rune and Agent Day’s crucial info exchange
• [29:27] – Breakfast table arguments, Hunt’s mate frustration
• [35:32] – Setting off for the Bone Quarter
• [39:59] – Arrival at the gates of the dead
• [48:17] – Under King appears; major exposition begins
• [62:04] – The twist: Under King won’t let them leave
• [63:14] – “Dudes Grappling With Erotica” reading (NSFW, pure comedy)

Tone & Style

• Language: Casual, profane, and biting; tangents frequent but always return to the heart of the book.
• Atmosphere: Zany cosplay energy, equal parts “book club” and “theater sports for goths.”
• Summary Judgment:
  • Natalie and Jackie serve both analysis and absurdity, showing deep knowledge of the series, playful jabs at fantasy tropes, and tons of personal asides.
  • The episode offers both a solid recap for book fans and an over-the-top entertainment experience for listeners—especially those who love a little chaos with their Crescent City lore.

Next Week

Read up until Chapter 32!