LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 38: Big Case of Da Ferk
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Podcast: LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode Overview

This episode marks the final deep dive into Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas, as Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski break down the dramatic closing chapters and epilogue. The hosts examine Bryce's shocking journey, Hunt’s bleak fate, the climactic multiverse twist, and the uncertain path forward for beloved characters. With trademark wit and plenty of roleplay, Natalie and Jackie reflect on what these endings—and new beginnings—mean for fans, while building excitement for their coming coverage of the third book. The tone is playful, candid, and deeply enthusiastic about the books and fandom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter, Cosplay & Sisterhood

• The episode kicks off with playful banter as Natalie and Jackie discuss getting into character through cosplay, violet contacts, fantasy wigs, and “haunted doll hands.”
• Each host shares their “book boyfriend” preference (Rhysand vs. Cassian from ACOTAR), and Jackie jokes about "turning Henry into Rhysand" while Natalie muses on character qualities.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Jackie: “I say do what gives you a smile. Put a wig on. Put a fucking wig on.” (03:50)
  • Natalie: “You can reinvent yourself and pretend like reality isn’t real. Just look at us. I've got stupid wings on. Who cares?” (03:55)

2. Looking Ahead: Third Book & Podcast Format

• The hosts reveal their mixed feelings about the upcoming third Crescent City novel, anticipating a denser and more complicated story with multiple points-of-view (POVs).
• Jackie’s more enthusiastic about complex plots; Natalie is apprehensive but open to a reread to “see what she’s aligning.”
• Upcoming podcast format changes are teased, but the deep-dive spirit will remain.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Natalie: “It’s like I’m looking at a big mountain.” (09:51)

3. Multiple POVs & The Challenge of Recaps

• Jackie proposes creating a list of every POV for clarity.
• The tennis analogy: rapid POV shifts in the third book are compared to watching a tennis match.
• The Ethan chapters: debated as dense with plot but less compelling.
• Quote: “Maybe it would be a good idea for me to actually list out every POV… so we can see how many people there are.” – Jackie (13:05)

4. Final Chapters Breakdown: Bryce’s Big Leap

[14:43–31:13]

• The plot resumes with Bryce having fallen through a “wormhole” at the end of House of Sky and Breath:

  • She's disoriented, injured, and surrounded by unfamiliar, manicured landscape—realizing quickly she’s not in hell, as expected.
  • Bryce encounters a mysterious, extremely attractive winged male who communicates in a language she doesn’t know, blindfolds her, and carries her to a lavish home.
  • The hosts gleefully imagine what the male must be thinking (“You know he thinking it though!” – Natalie, 32:38) and riff on the humor and sexiness of SJM’s world-building.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Jackie: “As her gaze moves upward to his face, she’s like, oh, this demon’s hot as hell.” (26:14)
  • Natalie: “How hot is he?”
    Jackie: “His face card is slaying.” (26:22)

• As Bryce meets more people who can’t understand her, she finally uses the ancient Fae language, causing shock among the group. They’re stunned by her possession of the Star Sword, which resonates with the male’s dagger—its twin.

5. Crossover Confirmed: Bryce in the Night Court

[35:07–44:14]

• Bryce pieces together that she’s not in hell, but in another world entirely—revealed by the fae’s reaction to her language and sword.
• Another couple appears, echoing familiar ACOTAR characters. The man’s star-flecked eyes and the woman’s paint-covered hands and tattoos leave no doubt: Bryce has landed in the Night Court.
• The hosts revel in the reveal:
  • Natalie: “It’s him. Oh my god, I miss them.” (44:14)
• The emotional resonance and SJM’s bold universe-collapsing twist are dissected, contextualized as a fandom-defining moment.

6. Epilogue: Ethan’s Plotline & Cliffhangers

[44:52–51:12]

• Shifting to Lunatheon, the epilogue follows Ethan, who is trying to watch over the wolf mystic while grappling with logistical and moral dilemmas.
• He’s confronted by Amelie Ravenscroft and must make tough decisions as he receives a call from Flynn summoning him home urgently.
• The wolf mystic finally awakens as Ethan pleads for help.
• Quote:
  • Host Natalie (reading): “Please… my friends need me. My pack needs me. …He’d lost his brother, his brother’s pack, the pack that would have one day been his, but this one—he wouldn’t lose…” (50:15)

7. Reflections & What’s Next

• The hosts debate the beauty and emotional devastation of SJM’s cliffhangers.
• Natalie and Jackie express empathy for needing “happily ever afters” in reading material, with shoutouts to romance bookstores (Ripped Bodice) categorizing endings.
• They genuinely mourn for the characters and prepare listeners for a short break while the podcast retools for the next book.

Memorable/Notable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Cosplay Commitment
  • “If you need some violet contacts, who gives a shit? …Just look at us. I've got stupid wings on. Who cares?” – Natalie (03:55)
• On Differing Book Preferences
  • “Which is why… I think I’m going to like Crescent City the third book more the second time around.” – Natalie (10:32)
• Banter on Fictional Crushes
  • “That makes sense… So that we can be sisters in any dimension.” – Jackie (06:03)
• Re: Multi-POV Complexity
  • “There are times I was like, I felt like I was watching tennis.” – Natalie (12:41)
• Bryce’s Arrival After the Wormhole
  • “Bryce is sprawled across a grassy space. Her body is battered and she imagines she looks afright…” – Jackie (21:46)
• Dagger & Sword Reunion
  • “The star sword began to hum within its sheath, glittering white light leaking from where leather met the dark hilt. The dagger…” (37:04)
• Bryce Meets the Night Court
  • “Hello, Bryce Quinlan… My name is Rhysand.” (44:07)
• Summing Up the Emotional Cliffhanger
  • “They've been enslaved again and now Bryce is in the Night Court… There's a lot going on there already.” – Jackie (52:00)

Key Segments (Timestamps)

• Intro, banter & cosplay: [02:36–06:34]
• Looking ahead to book 3: [09:18–13:14]
• Bryce’s multiversal fall: [14:43–31:13]
• Arrival in the Night Court: [35:07–44:14]
• Ethan’s epilogue & cliffhangers: [44:52–51:12]
• Emotional wrap-up, reflections, what’s next: [51:39–53:18]

Listener Takeaways

• This episode delivers a comprehensive, character-driven recap of the final dramatic chapters of House of Sky and Breath, rich with context, humor, and genuine emotion.
• Jackie and Natalie both dissect the sprawling cast and the challenges of the upcoming third book, openly welcoming differing opinions while keeping things fun and relatable.
• They celebrate the SJM-verse crossover and gear fans up for future episodes and new directions for LPN Deep Dives.

For fans and newcomers, this episode encapsulates everything that makes LPN Deep Dives fun: irreverent analysis, deep fandom knowledge, and the sense of sharing the wild ride of a truly expansive fantasy universe with friends.