The Magnus Protocol Season 2, Part 3 Preview

Podcast: The Magnus Archives
Host: Rusty Quill
Episode Date: April 1, 2026

Overview

This special preview episode is designed as a promotional showcase for upcoming Magnusverse releases, including novel, game, and audio drama announcements, all presented in-universe by cast members of The Magnus Protocol. The usual horror fiction and chilling storytelling are on pause, as the team delivers a lively, meta, and characterful collection of teasers and advertisements for devoted listeners hungry for more of the multiverse's mysteries.

Despite being an episode centered on promotion, the energy and tone remain true to the series, blending the eerie intrigue, sharp wit, and institutional unease that fans have come to expect.

Key Announcements & Discussion Points

1. From the Library of Jurgen Leitner – Official Prequel Novel

Speaker: Billy Hindle (voice of Alice)
Timestamp: 00:00

• Official prequel novel by Premee Mohamed, with input from original writer Jonathan Sims.
• Explores the mysterious, deadly library of Jurgen Leitner.
• Follows two employees, Hugh Franklin and Sebastian Everett, as their stories echo through dangerous aisles "caught in a web spun long before either ever heard the name Jurgen Leitner."
• Emphasizes the peril of occult knowledge: "Leitner's library keeps the dangers of these books in check and the would-be readers safe, or so Leitner claims."
• Available for pre-order, published October 27, 2026.

Notable Quote:

"Will they find a way out? Or will the library consume them before it's too late?"
— Billy Hindle (00:55)

2. Cold Tapes – New Audio Drama

Speaker: Laurie (voice of Celia)
Timestamp: 01:56, 40:15

• Cold Tapes is an award-winning murder-mystery audio drama inspired by true crime, released on the RQ Network.
• The plot centers around the murder of Andrew "Drew" Fairfield at a remote Antarctic base.
• DCI Tessa McAllister investigates a web of secrets among isolated international scientists.
• Showcased as a "race against time to untangle the maze of deception, revealing chilling truths buried beneath the ice. Sixteen suspects, one murderer. Can you solve it?"

Notable Quote:

"Through police interviews, covert recordings and audio diaries, Tessa hears hidden agendas, concealed criminal histories, violent psychosis, and dangerous conspiracy theories that help her uncover the truth behind the murder."
— Laurie (02:35)

3. Slay the Princess – Cosmic Horror Visual Novel Game

Speaker: Laurie (voice of Celia)
Timestamp: 03:20, 40:15

• Slay the Princess is a branching-path, cosmic horror visual novel with thousands of hand-penciled illustrations by Abby Howard.
• Voice acting includes Jonathan Sims, writer and lead of The Magnus Archives.
• The game has sold over a million copies with a 97% positive user rating and is currently offered at a 45% discount on Steam.
• Echoes Magnus themes of fate, dread, and making impossible choices.

Notable Quote:

"You're on a path in the woods and at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a princess. You're here to slay her. If you don't, it will be the end of the world."
— Laurie (40:15)

4. The Space Within – Sci-Fi Thriller on Audible

Speaker: Shahan Hamza (voice of Sam)
Timestamp: 04:16

• The Space Within features Jessica Chastain as Dr. Madeline Weil, who investigates mysterious alien abductions and genetic changes.
• Explores whether strange events are "psychiatric or evidence of something beyond our world."
• Recommended for fans of horror, conspiracy, and the blurred lines between science and the supernatural.

5. The Magnus Archives Mysteries – Cooperative Board Game

Speakers: Billy Hindle & Shahan Hamza
Timestamps: 42:35 (Billy), 43:30 (Shahan)

• A cooperative puzzle and deduction board game set in the Magnusverse, designed to engage both newcomers and long-time fans.
• Players join as "interim archival assistants" to help John, Martin, Tim, and Sasha solve six new supernatural mysteries.
• No previous knowledge of the podcast needed.
• Kickstarter crowdfund is live (and already fully funded), with stretch goals for enhanced content.

Notable Quote:

"The Magnus Archives Mysteries can be played at home by superfans and new listeners alike. No previous knowledge required."
— Shahan Hamza (43:37)

Memorable and Meta Moments

• The in-universe nature of the presentations, with podcast actors introducing products as their characters, adds a unique charm and continuity for listeners.
• Several humorous repetitions and tongue-twisters in reading out URLs play into the slightly chaotic, irreverent tone the show is known for.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Speaker | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------| | From the Library of Jurgen Leitner | Billy Hindle | 00:00 – 01:36 | | Cold Tapes (First Mention) | Laurie | 01:56 – 04:16 | | Slay the Princess (First Mention) | Laurie | 03:20 – 04:16 | | The Space Within | Shahan Hamza | 04:16 – 05:01 | | Distorted/Fragmented Sam (thematic) | Unclear | 07:47 | | Cold Tapes & Slay the Princess (Again)| Laurie | 40:15 – 42:35 | | Magnus Archives Mysteries (Board Game)| Billy, then Shahan | 42:35 – 44:00 |

Tone & Style

The episode is infused with the dry humor, eerie undertones, and meta-awareness that define The Magnus Archives. Adverts are delivered in-character, providing a seamless experience for fans and reinforcing the series' blurring of fiction and reality.

Summary

While this preview episode does not advance the main horror plot, it stands as a testament to the Magnusverse’s expanding multiverse — novels, games, and new dramas saturate the landscape with uncanny possibilities. The charismatic, in-universe advertisements are a treat for loyal fans, promising new worlds and fresh horrors to explore, whether in book form, on your tabletop, or through companion audio tales.

Perfect for those hungry for more Magnus mystery — and a reminder that, in the world of the Archives, the stories never really end.