LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City – HOSAB / Episode 18: Tingle Fingers (Oct 7, 2025)

Podcast: LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Series: House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
Episode: 18 – "Tingle Fingers"

Overview

In this episode, Natalie and Jackie return for a chaotic, laughter-filled deep dive into the next chunk of House of Sky and Breath (HOSAB) in Sarah J. Maas’ Crescent City series. They recap and analyze major battles, the dynamics of the "Hind" and "Harpy," magic-fueled team-ups, and power plays in Lunathion’s courtly and seedy underworlds. With their signature irreverent tone, they oscillate between sharp book analysis and wild tangents—providing fans both book insight and comedic relief.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Cards, War Stories, and Getting into the Scene

• The episode opens with talk of weed-themed playing cards, memories of punk parties, and juvenile drinking games, all dovetailing into a metaphorical and literal setup for the card game scene with the Hind and Harpy.
• Natalie and Jackie debate whether they're "hot enough" to cosplay as the book’s villainesses ("I think we're just hot enough to definitely be the Hind." – Jackie, 04:03).

2. Pain Tolerance and Gender Comparisons

• Extended discussion about gender, pain, botox, and how tattoo pain charts are usually tailored toward male bodies.
• Notable quote:

  "People that were born as women oftentimes have a higher pain threshold...because we are being punished for having that pussy." – Jackie (07:02)

3. The Monster Battle in the Bone Quarter

• Detailed breakdown of Bryce and Hunt’s intense battle, merging their powers against supernatural threats (the “Andrew, Dice, and Clay” Cerberus-style monsters).
• The hosts compare the absorption of Hunt's lightning to sticky toy hands from childhood—adding a distinctive LPN flavor to the recap.
• Jackie:

  "She’s a bit of a nihilist. So Bryce fills up with Hunt's juice—boy, the other kind of juice—slices at one of the dogs..." (13:03)

Timestamps:

• [11:40] Recap picks up with Bryce absorbing Hunt's lightning.
• [16:30] Hunt discovers he can pull power from the dead gate.
• [17:11] Iconic book quote moment: “Light it up, Bryce.”
• [18:03] Hosts digress into a Spice Girls sidebar, relating villain fusion to 90s pop culture.
• [21:38] The battle wraps; segue to the next narrative POV.

4. Tharion & The River Queen

• Tharion reports to the Queen about murder victims, is chastised and humiliated, fulfilling his subservient role ("He loves bringing her bad news." – Jackie, 22:03).
• Comic references abound:

  "She mocks him, asks if he enjoyed the punishment she doled out before—clearly, she is enjoying seeing his humiliation." (25:38)

5. Hind and Harpy: At the Poker Table with Rune & Ethan

• The main event: a psychological showdown at the bar characterized by sexual innuendo, power plays, and taunting.
• Sound effects and card-shuffling ASMR fill the air as the hosts re-enact the card game.

  "The harpy’s becoming a sex pest and she’s here to check out the pants meat of Lunatheon." – Natalie (38:43)

• Hind's power revealed: she knows disturbingly personal details about Rune and Ethan, rattling them both.

Timestamps:

• [33:41] Scene shifts to the bar with Hind and Harpy.
• [39:28] Hind taunts Rune and Ethan about their secrets.
• [44:44] Hind exposes Ethan’s hidden feelings for his brother's love interest.
• Natalie:

  "Hind pulls out a really nasty little bit of info... she knows Ethan has pined for the woman his brother loved." (44:44)

6. Bryce’s Apartment & Emotional Aftermath

• The crew reunites for a low-key aftermath, decompressing and sharing what each has learned.
• Tender moment: Bryce finally hugging Rune ("It means a lot to Ruhn that his sister is caring about him..." – Natalie, 52:11).
• News breaks that the Triari and Archangels are gathering.
• Hunt shares a charged kiss with Bryce before being called away.

Timestamps:

• [52:00] Reunion and emotional beats.
• [53:29] Hunt’s significant public kiss:

  "Oh my God, that means he totally likes her, totally likes her." – Jackie (53:29)

7. Courtly Drama: Celestina & Ephraim’s Arranged Meeting

• Discomfort, suppressed feelings, and the politics of forced unions are on display as Celestina preps for her “arranged marriage” with Ephraim.
• Hunt offers support ("He’ll have her back for the whole night. Don’t worry, nothing will get him to leave her side tonight." – 60:14), but has to ditch on her minutes later for Bryce’s crisis, leading to awkward tension.

Timestamps:

• [54:46] Celestina asks Hunt if she looks okay before meeting Ephraim.
• [60:12] Ephraim and Celestina's awkward interaction.
• [75:02] Hunt gets Bryce’s coded emergency text and bails, disappointing Celestina.

8. Sabine’s Sudden Attack

• Sabine bursts into Bryce’s apartment, accuses her of interfering in wolf business, and physically attacks her.
• The hosts groan over Sabine's ever-present victim complex and her self-absorption.
• Memorable quote:

  "Main character syndrome much? Bitch, not about you." – Jackie (70:10)

Timestamps:

• [68:01] Sabine’s entrance and confrontation begins.
• [71:22] Sabine hurls verbal abuse at Ethan.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We usually kink shame, but really we kink explain. Vore is for some people, and that's out there for them to consider." – Jackie (07:52)
• "She’s a bit of a nihilist... Bryce fills up with Hunt’s juice—boy, the other kind of juice!" – Jackie (13:03)
• "Hunt shoots his leveled up lightning into her chest. And she feels it bow to her and channel up the star sword, which is so cool." – Natalie (17:21)
• "You should check. Oh—oh, it’s a milk carton that says 'missing'—and it has a picture of my vagina. I don’t know how it got down there." – Jackie (25:11)
• "The harpy’s becoming a sex pest and she’s here to check out the pants meat of Lunatheon." – Natalie (38:43)
• "But also, couldn't we talk you into it? Usually playing poker with you? I mean, it's like, yeah, we might knife at you, knife at you, but let us into your home..." – Jackie (43:44)
• "Did she suck your dick? Is that what the inside joke is? Cuz I think we get it." – Jackie (74:11)

Episode Highlights & Flow

• [11:40–26:00] Bone Quarter battle, leveling up of powers, Tharion and River Queen subplot.
• [33:41–51:08] “Sex pest” comedy and mind games at poker night with villainesses.
• [52:00–54:00, 60:10–61:19] Emotional fallout, reunion scenes, arranged angelic marriages.
• [68:01–76:26] Sabine’s intrusion, family drama, coded emergency texts, Hunt’s “ride or die” dilemma.

Tone & Language

Natalie and Jackie’s language is warm, irreverent, and brutally honest—full of jokes about sex, power, and book tropes, but interspersed with heartfelt moments about trauma, sisterhood, and found family. The episode balances genuine engagement with the Crescent City narrative and comedic free association—whether that means referencing the Spice Girls, Real Housewives, or the perils of tattoo pain.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• This episode navigates battles, personal revelations, and escalating court intrigue with plenty of asides and laugh-out-loud moments.
• Major character moments are explored, especially the psychological warfare of the villainous women.
• The hosts add unique flavor with their re-enactments, real-life comparisons, and tangents—making the summary valuable for both plot and entertainment.

Next Time

Homework: Read up until Chapter 37 for the next episode.

“We’re the Hind and the Harpy and we’re out, bitch!” – Jackie & Natalie (76:23)