Podcast Summary

Podcast: LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City
Episode: HOSAB / Episode 32: Herds of Curds
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Date: January 13, 2026

Overview

In this high-energy, humor-filled episode, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski dive deep into Sarah J. Maas’s House of Sky and Breath (HOSAB), Crescent City Book 2. The pair dissect recent chapters with their trademark mix of detailed analysis and offbeat banter. This week covers the immediate fallout from Ethan’s failed mission, Bryce’s expanding teleportation powers, group tension as secrets unravel, Therian’s messy attempts at court politics, and a shocking revelation about Danika at the episode’s end.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cosplay and Podcast Vibes

[02:36 – 06:27]

• Jackie and Natalie open with playful descriptions of their outfits and pit viper family sunglasses (“We don’t look like the kind of people that should wear pit vipers.” – Jackie, 05:04).
• Light teasing about personal style, cosplay, and wigs sets a laidback, silly tone.

2. Where We Last Left Off

[06:27 – 07:41]

• Recap: Ethan fumbled a mission; the crew is facing increased danger. They crack up about Italian demons and being stuck hungry while discussing literal and metaphorical food fights.
• Commentary on coffee/chocolate habits, tying humorously into characters’ poor decision-making.

3. Training Montage and Team Dynamics

[13:13 – 19:57]

• Location: Ox training center.
• Key event: Bryce reveals her Apollyon dream to the group, leaving out that Hunt was “bred.”
• Training: Bryce practices teleportation, Hunt juices her powers ("He was bred to be a human vibrator. Oh, yes please.” – Jackie, 14:15).
• Notable moment: Bryce’s teleportation is powered by Hunt’s electricity. Group speculates on the magical mechanics, comparing her to a “gateway/plug,” drawing NSFW analogies.

4. Trust Issues, Truths, and Threats

[21:36 – 26:45]

• Team tension spikes: Cormac, suspicious, puts a knife to Bryce’s throat, demanding honesty about Emile.
• Group trust breaks down: Bryce offers a strategic (half) truth: Emile has no powers and is safe. Cormac appears partly relieved while having no follow-up plan (“He actually goes so far as to apologize to Bryce for the knife and to Hunt for threatening his mate. They shake it all off, and Cormac and Bryce return to the training session.” – Natalie, 27:07).
• Reflection: Jackie and Natalie debate whether Bryce’s actions would inspire more hatred if she were a male character.

5. Comic Relief and Thematic Tangents

[28:03 – 29:43]

• Ethan’s entrance played as comic relief (Ethan beatboxing, misplaced bravado).
• The hosts introduce running gags about Chatroulette, Mad Men references, and “herds of curds,” showing their ability to blend high-stakes plot discussion with absurdist digressions.

6. Meat Market Intrigue & Ariadne’s Fate

[33:02 – 51:22]

• Therian at the Meat Market: Trying to gather info, Therian’s efforts are compared to a hapless temp doing just enough to get by. He overhears talk of a “dragon”—Ariadne.
• Meeting Ariadne & The Viper Queen: Ariadne chooses fighting in the pit over “bro time.” Viper Queen’s line, “I don’t steal slaves,” is brutally dissected in context (“You are the head of the meat market. Okay. You like? Yeah, it's like, oh, good for you. Oh, because you're so rich you can buy them whenever you want.” – Jackie, 41:18).
• Therian’s realization: With a punch of self-awareness (“Oh, she's a person.” – Jackie, 47:35), he finally grasps the problem with manipulating Ariadne as a bargaining chip.
• Viper Queen offers spotty intel only after more manipulation—Therian leaves with more problems than solutions.

7. Urd’s Temple and the Under King’s Trap

[55:54 – 65:23]

• Bryce, Hunt, Rune, and Hypaxia are summoned to Urd’s Temple, reflecting on past wishes and the seriousness of their present situation.
• The Under King sits disrespectfully on Urd’s throne, taunts the group with lore referencing other Maas-verse deities (Acotar's Cauldron is subtly nodded to for lore nerds).
• REVEAL: The reapers attacking them came from the Eternal City, not Apollyon. This is interrupted as Pippa and rebel soldiers crash the temple, prompting Hypaxia’s shocked realization: “They were working with the rebels. Bryce basically just says, well, we were, but we're not anymore.” – Natalie, 64:57
• The Under King’s motivation is revealed: he wants war to feed on the dead (“Death is the only victor in war. Then he was gone.” – Jackie as Under King, 65:42). He had made a deal with Pippa, setting the main cast up for execution.

8. Temple Siege and Escape Sequence

[67:06 – 76:02]

• As rebels attack, Bryce’s group is seemingly trapped. Bryce teleports Hypaxia and Rune out, pushing her powers to the brink (“After just those taking, a second person has done a big old number on her. She pukes.” – Natalie, 68:53).
• Hunt considers fighting their way out—Triari (Pollux, Mordoc, the Hind) arrive to engage the rebels—possibly called by Bryce’s anonymous citywide broadcast.
• As they hide, a massive hellhound (Baxian) appears, leading Bryce and Hunt to a secret exit.

9. The Danika-Baxian Bombshell

[76:25 – 78:25]

• In a tense standoff, Bryce pulls a gun on Baxian, demanding answers for his repeated presence. Baxian shows a tattoo: “Through love, all is possible.”
• Shocking line:
  • Jackie (as Baxian), 78:19:
    “Because Danika was my mate.”
• The hosts flip out: “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Holy moly, my bosoms are heaving.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Honestly though, it wasn’t until his butt got juicy… my husband’s juicy butt. Twat changed me.” – Jackie, [02:36]
• “He was bred to be a human vibrator. Oh, yes please.” – Jackie, [14:15]
• “My religion is don’t be an asshole. And that’s what I subscribe to.” – Jackie, [11:00]
• “Bryce says that Emile doesn’t have powers. He’s just a boy. And that’s just annoying.” – Natalie, [25:54]
• “If Bryce were a male character, we would hate Bryce.” – Jackie, [23:52]
• “It’s waterlogged up there.” – Jackie, describing Therian’s brain, [37:42]
• “He could only gape at her. His clever, brilliant Bryce. Gods, he loved her.” – Jackie (reading), [71:30]
• “Because Danika was my mate.” – Jackie (as Baxian), [78:19]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Training + Apollyon Dream Recap: [13:13 – 19:57]
• Bryce’s Secret & Knife to Throat (Cormac confrontation): [21:36 – 26:45]
• Therian at the Meat Market & Ariadne conversation: [33:02 – 51:22]
• Urd’s Temple – Under King’s Trap: [55:54 – 65:23]
• Siege, Teleportation, Citywide Broadcast: [67:06 – 71:40]
• Hunt & Bryce Hide, Hellhound Leads Them Out: [73:40 – 76:02]
• The Baxian Revelation: [77:22 – 78:25]

Tone & Style

The hosts blend deep lore analysis with irreverent, NSFW humor—moving fluidly from meaningful character debate to outlandish jokes and pop culture references. Their dynamic mirrors Crescent City’s own tonal balancing act: darkness, violence, and trauma met with unbreakable camaraderie and laughter.

For New Listeners & Crescent City Fans

This episode is particularly juicy for those tracking the series’ biggest mysteries:

• The limits and mechanics of Fae/magical powers;
• Character loyalty and secret agendas;
• The slow unravelling of Danika’s backstory.

If you enjoy blends of crack fan theory, detailed plot digestion, and off-color improv, this episode will make you both laugh and think—just don’t expect your herds of curds to go untouched by the end.

Next reading: Up to Chapter 67 for the following week – be ready for more plot bombs and deep-dives!