LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 31: Mentally Trill
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski

Episode Overview

This episode of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City continues the team’s in-depth and irreverent examination of Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath (HOSAB). Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski, with their signature wit and playful banter, tackle a stretch of pivotal chapters full of magical missteps, messy relationships, and increasingly high stakes as several storylines interweave during and after the Equinox Ball. Special attention is paid to character dynamics, plot revelations, and the ever-building tension in Sarah J. Maas’s rich fantasy world, complete with the hosts’ trademark tangents and comedic asides.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Banter & Costume Chaos (02:36–12:04)

• The hosts kick off with lighthearted banter about their costumes: Natalie’s “dog mouth” mustache and James’ (guest) shrimp bucket hat and visible “men’s nipples.” This opening creates a goofy, irreverent vibe.
• They riff on karaoke mishaps, Italian stereotypes, American peanut butter culture, and the invention of a TikTok trend: “shrimp on your head.”
• Memorable Quote:
  • James: “Manifesting live. Live shrimp.” (11:33)

Tone: Playful and absurdist, setting the conversational and deeply unserious style of the show.

2. Tharion’s Relationship Blunder (12:04–14:00)

• Plot Recap: Tharion’s disastrous way of breaking off a relationship by publicly humiliating his partner at the Ball is criticized.
• Natalie and James analyze his motives, agreeing it’s more “boy behavior” than bravery, and that he’s essentially giving his would-be ex a reason to villainize and, hopefully, move on.
• Quote:
  • James: “You made your fucking bed, now you gotta fuck in it.” (12:19)
• Host Reaction: Significant “ick” and frustration spread with humor and empathy for both characters.

3. Ithan and Hypaxia’s Dangerous Summoning (14:00–17:10)

• Plot Point: Hypaxia attempts risky dark magic to summon Ithan’s brother, Connor, at Ethan’s request.
• The ritual is ritualistically described—star drawn, candles placed—in tones blending Wiccan and Satanist aesthetics.
• Insight: Hypaxia’s own energy cost and the foolishness of Ethan’s plan is debated.
• Host Commentary:
  • James: “Fucking write it down, you idiot.” (15:35)
  • Natalie: “What if we just kill Ethan and then he gets to go—get rid of him!” (15:54)

4. Ruhn and Day’s Brain Bridge Rendezvous (17:29–27:21)

• Plot Recap: After the ball, Ruhn dreams himself onto the “brain bridge” to meet mysterious “Day.” Their chemistry and mutual curiosity peak as Day reveals she knows much more about Ruhn than he knows about her, leading to mounting sexual tension and a powerful kiss.
• Discussion: Hosts delight in the heightened romance tropes, debating gender dynamics and vulnerability, and poke fun at the prose (“her mouth opened for him”—James: “That’s a personal yuck” (23:43)).
• Interwoven references to sitcom tropes (Stefan Urkel, Family Matters) and the enduring power of cheesy theme songs.
• Quote:
  • Jackie (reading): “The mouth beneath the fire was soft and warm and opened for him. Ugh.” (23:37)

5. Hunt and Bryce’s Drunken Return & Intimacy (27:33–35:23)

• Scene: Hunt and Bryce stumble home from a dive bar after the Ball, “plastered” and in fancy dress, leading to a foot massage and playful banter about public displays of affection, marriage, and wedding rings.
• The hosts take detours into queer hockey erotica (Heated Rivalry), hockey player representation, and erotic scenes.
• Quote:
  • Jackie: “You like being a prince?” (32:21)
  • Natalie (reflecting): “The important parts of my brain are filled with theme songs, unfortunately…” (25:59)
• Eventually, their own banter mirrors Bryce and Hunt’s—playful, slightly raunchy, but with real warmth.

6. Sex Scene & Teleportation Mishap (35:23–36:17)

• Plot: After their passionate encounter, Bryce and Hunt realize they’ve accidentally teleported (or “telepult”—a term the hosts gleefully mock) onto their apartment rooftop mid-sex.
• Natalie and James roll with the absurdity:
  • James: “You just got teleport! JSM really missed out on calling this teleporting.” (35:42)
• Host Reaction: They skewer “telepult” as the “worst word for sex,” imagining alternate/funnier terminology.

7. Hypaxia’s Summoning: The Under King Appears (36:17–40:06)

• Scene: Back to Ithan and Hypaxia—her ritual instead brings the Under King, not Connor.
• The Under King’s chilling presence is described, and hosts critique Ethan’s self-absorption and Hypaxia’s patience.
• Natalie: “[Ethan] needs the therapist that says, you gotta work through this, babe.” (37:51)
• Expanding on their disdain, the hosts comedically fantasize about “shooting the Under King” with a gun (impractical, but very on-brand for Ethan’s impulsiveness).

8. Apollyon Visits Bryce: Lore Dump and War Warnings (41:06–54:38)

• Dream Sequence: Bryce dreams of a desert encounter with Apollyon, the Prince of the Pit—showing up as a “golden-haired Adonis” with “his nipples out” and a bucket hat, per James’ inside joke/cosplay. Hosts have fun personifying Apollyon as an Instagram influencer/surfer bro.
• Major Lore Revelations:
  • The “original Starborn Queen,” Theia, was allied with the princes of Hel (including Aidas and Apollyon) against the Asteri.
  • Theia and Aidas were lovers; war, betrayal, and death followed, with Apollyon killing the Asteri Sirius in the aftermath.
  • Bryce learns the line between friend and foe is blurry; history has been suppressed.
• Quote:
  • Natalie (explaining Theia and Aidas): “She and Aidas from Hell became lovers… If I’m a queen, then I’m like, I’m gonna bang the prince. That’s really—it’s cool.” (46:42/47:03)
• Key Warning: Apollyon tells Bryce that “Hell is nearly ready to finish this war” and that the Equinox is a crucial night.
• Key Line:
  • Apollyon: “Orion was bred to be receptive to our kind. Why do you think he is so adept at hunting us?” (52:56)
• Speculation over Hunt’s mysterious breeding and what power the Horn in Bryce’s back will unlock.

9. Return to Ethan & Hypaxia: Underking’s Wards and Hunting Hounds (56:05–END)

• Immediate Danger: Under King traps Ethan and Hypaxia in the olive grove, wards blocking escape.
• Cliffhanger: As they discuss Hypaxia’s connection to the House of Flame and Shadow, hunting hounds (magical hell-hounds) appear, alluded to with a callback to Italians (“the olive trees are Italian, too!”).
• Playful impersonation of the hounds using Italian accents for comic relief.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Manifesting TikTok Trends:
  • James: “Manifesting live. Live shrimp.” (11:33)
• On Tharion’s Breakup Method:
  • James: “You made your fucking bed, now you gotta fuck in it.” (12:19)
• On Romance Tropes:
  • Jackie (reading): “The mouth beneath the fire was soft and warm and opened for him. Ugh.” (23:37)
• On Sex and Teleportation:
  • James: “You just got teleport! JSM really missed out on calling this teleporting.” (35:42)
• On Apollyon’s Big Reveal:
  • Natalie: “She and Aidas from Hell became lovers… If I’m a queen, then I’m like, I’m gonna bang the prince. That’s really—it’s cool.” (46:42/47:03)
• On Surfer Apollyon’s Threat:
  • Apollyon: “Orion was bred to be receptive to our kind. Why do you think he is so adept at hunting us?” (52:56)
• On Cliffhanger Dangers:
  • Jackie (as hound): “The hunting hounds of the House of Flame and Shadow.” (57:10)

Important Timestamps

• 02:36 — Main intro, hosts’ banter and costume descriptions begin
• 12:04 — Tharion’s Ball drama and breakup “ick”
• 14:00 — Hypaxia’s dangerous ritual for Ethan
• 17:29 — Ruhn & Day’s dream/brain bridge rendezvous
• 27:33 — Hunt and Bryce’s drunken post-ball intimacy
• 35:23–36:17 — Sex, teleportation mishap, hosts’ jokes
• 36:17 — Summoning scene with the Under King
• 41:06 — Bryce’s desert-dream with Apollyon, major lore dump
• 52:56 — Apollyon’s reveal about Hunt’s purpose/breeding
• 56:05–END — Hunting hounds attack Hypaxia and Ethan

Episode Tone & Style

The hosts blend genuine enthusiasm for the Crescent City series with their signature blend of irreverence, humor, pop culture tangents, and warm camaraderie. They balance fan insight and lore speculation with sharp comedic observations—even at the expense of the characters and, sometimes, the source material’s purple prose. This makes the episode enjoyable and accessible for both hardcore fans and newcomers trying to keep up with Maas’s sprawling plots.

Next Assignment

Read up to Chapter 65 for the next episode.