A Novel Bunch

A Novel Bunch
  • 5.0 (11)
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Welcome to A Novel Bunch, your new favorite modern-day book club! Hosted by besties Molly Burnett and Alyssa Tabit Smith, this podcast dives into one book per month, broken down chapter by chapter. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so grab your copy and read along—right here on A Novel Bunch.

  1. 1d ago

    Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath: (Ch. 64–78 + Live Read of Ch. 78): Did Someone Say PRYTHIAN?!

    #067: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 64–78 of House of Sky and Breath and... BUNCHIES. Wow. Just WOW. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Fresh off the Under-King's temple, Baxian finally reveals why he's been helping Bryce all along—and drops one of the biggest emotional bombs in the series: Danika was his mate. As Bryce pieces together Danika's final investigation, it becomes clear she died trying to uncover a truth that threatened the Asteri themselves. Meanwhile, our crew launches their long-awaited Crystal Palace heist, but what starts as a carefully planned mission quickly spirals into disaster. Along the way, Bryce uncovers the horrifying secret behind Firstlight, the true history of Midgard, and learns the Asteri aren't benevolent rulers at all... they're intergalactic conquerors who have been feeding on their people for thousands of years. Elsewhere, Ruhn and Daybright's story reaches a heartbreaking turning point, the identity of Day is finally revealed, Cormac makes the ultimate sacrifice, and Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn find themselves facing impossible odds inside the Asteri's palace. By the end of these chapters, Bryce makes one desperate leap through a Gate... and wakes up somewhere none of us expected: Prythian. We break down her first meeting with the Inner Circle, the shocking connection between the Starsword and Azriel's dagger, Rhysand's resemblance to Ruhn, and all the ACOTAR crossover theories these chapters unleashed. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

    49 min

  2. Jun 23

    Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath: (Ch 48-63): Agent Day Revealed?! (Our Theories)

    #066: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 48–63 of House of Sky and Breath and BUNCHIES... every time we think we've uncovered one of Danika's secrets, Sarah J. Maas reveals she was apparently running seventeen different investigations at the same time.  *SPOILERS AHEAD* Bryce and Hunt are still reeling from the aftermath of their life-changing voyage, but peace doesn't last long as new revelations about Emile, Sofie, and Danika's secret plans continue piling up. Between mysterious symbols, rebel conspiracies, and favors owed to the Viper Queen, it becomes increasingly clear that Danika was playing a much bigger game than anyone realized. Meanwhile, the gang gains some unexpected allies, including Baxian, a dragon, and a house full of rescued fire sprites, while dangerous new threats emerge across Midgard in the form of deathstalkers, growing demon activity, and a very suspicious Under-King. As Bryce digs deeper into ancient secrets, shocking connections begin to surface involving the Princes of Hel, the Asteri, and a war that may be far from over. On the romance front? We get everything from Bryce publicly claiming Hunt as her mate in front of Midgard's elite, to one of the biggest reveals of the series: a certain secret relationship we've been theorizing about for weeks. And if that wasn't enough, Ruhn and Day finally meet face-to-face... sort of. By the end of these chapters, Bryce is learning just how powerful she really is, receives some interesting information about Hunt's origins, and the Under-King delivers an ultimatum that could determine the fate of Connor, the Pack of Devils, and possibly Midgard itself. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

    43 min

  3. Jun 16

    Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath: (Ch 32-47): Ruhn Revealed WHAT About Bryce and Hunt?!

    #065: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 32–47 of House of Sky and Breath and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas looked us directly in the eye and said, "What if every answer created three new conspiracies?"  *SPOILERS AHEAD* Fresh off the chaos in the Bone Quarter, Bryce and Hunt are left reeling after learning the horrifying truth about what happens to souls after death, and somehow things only get worse from there. As they continue following the trail Danika left behind, it becomes increasingly clear that their best friend was investigating secrets far bigger than anyone imagined. Meanwhile, Bryce, Ithan, and Tharion visit the Mystics in one of the most unsettling locations we've seen yet, complete with enslaved fire sprites, a mysterious Astronomer, and a holographic model of Midgard's solar system that has us asking entirely too many questions. Their search for answers about Connor, Emile, and Danika uncovers even more evidence that the official history of Midgard may be one giant lie. Speaking of lies, Bryce discovers Danika had been researching the origins of the shifters and the Fendyr bloodline, leading to some massive revelations about the First Wars, the Asteri, and what the wolves may have once been before they were "tamed." Elsewhere, the rebel storyline explodes as Bryce, Hunt, Ruhn, Tharion, and Cormac infiltrate a weapons shipment tied to Ophion—only to discover a terrifying new mech suit capable of drawing Firstlight directly from the land itself. Naturally, everything goes sideways, Pippa proves she's somehow even worse than we thought, and our crew barely escapes with their lives. On the romance front? We finally get the moment. After Hunt nearly goes feral protecting Bryce, Ruhn casually drops one of the biggest reveals of the entire series: Bryce and Hunt are true mates. The aftermath gives us power merging, emotional declarations, and some very interesting questions about what these two are capable of when their abilities combine. We also meet the Ocean Queen's hidden fleet, learn the shocking truth about Sofie Renast's fate, free a few very memorable fire sprites, and get another incredible Daybright and Ruhn conversation that somehow leaves us with even more questions than answers. By the end of these chapters, the conspiracy surrounding the Asteri is growing, the rebellion is accelerating toward open war, and Bryce is realizing Danika may have been trying to expose the truth about their entire world. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

    41 min

  4. Jun 9

    Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath: (Ch 16-31): Agent Night and Agent Daybright Have Entered the Chat

    #064: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 16–31 of House of Sky and Breath and BUNCHIES... the conspiracy is conspiring, the rebellion is rebellion-ing, and Bryce and Hunt are finally running out of excuses. *SPOILERS AHEAD* As Bryce and Hunt continue investigating Sofie Renast, Emile, Ophion, and the seemingly endless list of secrets Danika left behind, it becomes clear that Danika was involved in far more dangerous things than anyone realized. Every lead Bryce follows somehow circles back to her best friend, and the deeper she digs, the bigger the mystery becomes. Meanwhile, Bryce and Hunt spend most of these chapters trying—and failing—to ignore how completely obsessed they are with each other. Between emotional conversations, longing looks, and enough sexual tension to power Crescent City, Hunt begins imagining a future that includes freedom, peace, and Bryce. Naturally, that terrifies him more than battle ever did. Ruhn's storyline becomes one of our favorites as he continues communicating with the mysterious Agent Daybright. Their mind-bridge conversations somehow manage to be equal parts rebellion planning and flirtation, and we're officially convinced Sarah J. Maas is setting something up here. Ruhn keeps pretending he's chill about Day. He is not chill about Day. The rebellion plot thickens when Hunt is given the codename Agent Night and begins communicating with rebel contacts through Cormac's crystal. As more information comes to light, Bryce and Hunt start realizing just how deeply the Asteri's control reaches and how many people have suffered because of it. Things take a wild turn when Ruhn is attacked by Reapers and dragged into the sewers. Bryce races after him only to receive a terrifying message from Apollion himself. The Prince of the Pit tells Bryce to train harder because he wants to face her at her full power someday—and suggests that Emile may be far more important than anyone realizes. Thankfully, Cormac arrives in time to help, and Bryce discovers that the Starsword can do something impossible: kill a Reaper. Elsewhere, Tharion continues making questionable life choices, the River Queen continues being suspicious, and Danika somehow keeps creating new mysteries from beyond the grave. And then... it finally happens. After months of waiting, interruptions, and emotional repression, Bryce and Hunt finally admit they love each other. Hunt reveals no one has said those words to him in over two hundred years, which absolutely destroyed us, and the two decide that if Hunt isn't Bryce's mate, no one is. By the end of chapter 31, Bryce and Hunt are officially all-in, Ruhn is getting deeper into both the rebellion and his connection with Daybright, and the growing war against the Asteri feels closer than ever. Add in Danika's secrets, missing children, rebel operatives, and a suspicious amount of attention surrounding Emile, and we're left with one conclusion: Everything is about to get a whole lot messier. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

    34 min

  5. Jun 2

    Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath: (Ch 1-15): Ruhn Danaan Knew Three Things With Absolute Certainty

    #063: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're diving into chapters 1–15 of House of Sky and Breath and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas gave us approximately five minutes of peace before throwing us headfirst into another conspiracy. *SPOILERS AHEAD* We kick off Crescent City 2 with a brand-new mystery as Sofie Renast is running for her life carrying information so explosive it could bring down the Asteri themselves. We're talking secret rebel intel, death camps, missing children, and the reveal that Sofie is part Thunderbird—a nearly extinct line capable of wielding and absorbing energy. Oh, and her little brother Emile apparently has the same powers.  Meanwhile, back in Crescent City, Bryce and Hunt are somehow MORE frustrating than ever because despite surviving demons, Archangels, city-wide destruction, and literal death... they've decided to make a pact to wait until Winter Solstice before physically being together. WHY, SARAH. WHY. The tension is absolutely tensioning as Bryce's Starborn light randomly flares to life at the ballet. Hunt covers the glowing light on her chest like the protective king he is, while Bryce spends every waking second regretting the bargain she made. At Ruhn's house, we get our first major bombshell when an unexpected visitor crashes the party: Prince Cormac Donnall of Avallen. And not only is he Bryce's cousin... HE'S HER FIANCÉ. The Autumn King apparently decided to arrange a political marriage without consulting literally anyone involved, and Bryce is about as thrilled as you'd expect. Hunt is trying to remain calm, but we all know our angel is one inconvenience away from committing several felonies. Things get even worse when Bryce and Hunt return home to find Ithan Holstrom beaten nearly to death after defending Bryce against Sabine and the wolves. Poor Ithan has officially entered his Sad Boy Era, and somehow Bryce has once again become Crescent City's unofficial shelter for every emotionally damaged male within a fifty-mile radius. Elsewhere, Tharion is sent on a mission to recover Sofie's body—except there's one tiny problem. There is no body. The chains meant to drag her to the bottom of the sea are empty. And suddenly everyone is asking the same question: What really happened to Sofie Renast? As the investigation begins, connections start appearing everywhere. Danika's name surfaces again. Sofie's emails contain references to mysterious projects, hidden truths, and something called "Dusk's Truth." Tharion discovers evidence that Sofie's younger brother may still be alive, while Bryce finds herself pulled into yet another dangerous mystery that absolutely does not concern her but that she fully intends to solve anyway. Because apparently Bryce Quinlan learned nothing from the events of the last book. We also finally meet Crescent City's new Archangel, Celestina, who seems surprisingly kind, reasonable, and competent—which naturally makes us suspicious. At the 33rd, Hunt is forced to work alongside Pollux Antonius, the Hammer, and Baxian Argos, the Helhound, two former members of Sandriel's elite Triarii. Tensions explode almost immediately, fists are thrown, cells are occupied, and Celestina calls Bryce to come pick up Hunt. Meanwhile, Ruhn Danaan knew three things with absolute certainty. Iykyk. He is busy dealing with his own problems, including an arranged engagement to Hypaxia, mounting pressure from the Autumn King, and the realization that Cormac may not be exactly who he claims to be. Because BUNCHIES... Cormac is secretly Agent Silverbow. You know, the mysterious rebel operative from the prologue. The same operative who helped Sofie. The same operative who's supposed to be marrying Bryce. WHAT. And then Sarah J. Maas decides we haven't suffered enough and drops the biggest lore bomb of the entire book so far. Aidas returns. Our favorite suspicious demon cat casually reveals that Bryce is a direct descendant of Theia, the last Starborn Queen, and that everything they've been taught about history may be a lie. According to Aidas, the war against the Asteri never truly ended.The Asteri rewrote history. They erased the truth. They buried Theia's legacy.And the legendary Great Library hidden within Jesiba's gallery may contain proof of everything. Even crazier? Aidas claims Hel isn't the enemy. The Asteri are. And if Bryce chooses to fight, the armies of Hel will answer her call. EXCUSE ME??? By the end of chapter 15, we discover that the mysterious rebel network Ophion may be far closer than we realized, because standing at Bryce's door is Prince Cormac Donnall. Or should we say... Agent Silverbow. WE HAVE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE THEORIES. AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

    45 min

  6. May 26

    Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood: (Ch 73-97): "Light It Up, Bryce! Light It Up!"

    #062: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 73–97 of House of Earth and Blood and BUNCHIES… we genuinely don’t know how Sarah J. Maas expects anyone to emotionally recover from this ending.  *SPOILERS AHEAD* The final stretch of Crescent City absolutely DESTROYED us as Bryce uncovers the horrifying truth behind Micah’s plan, the Horn, and Danika’s sacrifice—and then proceeds to become the most iconic female character alive. Everything starts spiraling at the Asteri Summit while Bryce is trapped inside Jesiba’s gallery with Micah… and OH MY GOD the reveals. We learn the gallery is secretly the lost Great Library of Parthos, filled with banned books that challenge everything the Asteri want the world to believe. Micah reveals Danika secretly tattooed the Horn into Bryce’s back to hide it from everyone… meaning Bryce herself has unknowingly been carrying one of the most dangerous magical objects in existence this entire time. Casual!!! And then Micah CONFESSES EVERYTHING. He manipulated Danika, used Synth to push her beyond her limits, orchestrated the deaths of the Pack of Devils, and planned to use the Horn to open portals and unleash armies from the other side. Meanwhile the entire city is literally watching Bryce interrogate him through the gallery security feed while absolute chaos unfolds. But emotionally? Nothing could’ve prepared us for Lehabah. LEHABAH. Our tiny fire sprite queen sacrifices herself to save Bryce and Syrinx in one of the most heartbreaking scenes SJM has ever written. “My friends are with me and I am not afraid”??? WE WERE SOBBING. FULL BODY TEARS. And Bryce? Oh she enters SAVAGE MODE. She shoots Micah in the head, slices him in half with Danika’s sword, burns his body to ash, AND VACUUMS HIM UP. Cinema. Actual cinema. But of course things get even worse because Micah succeeds in opening the Gates before dying, unleashing demons across Crescent City while the Asteri prepare to basically bomb the entire city—including Bryce—to cover it all up. Meanwhile Hunt finally breaks free from his slavery after Hypaxia removes the halo from his brow… and BUNCHIES when Hunt kills Sandriel!? The Umbra Mortis is BACK. Then comes Bryce’s final stand. Alone outside the shelter gates, Bryce calls Hunt to say goodbye, tells him to tell her family she loves them, forgives Ruhn, and admits the feelings she’s been too terrified to say out loud. And then she runs straight toward the Gate while literally glowing with Starborn light. “I am Bryce Quinlan, heir to the Starborn Fae.” CHILLS!!!!! We finally learn Bryce’s power was hidden all these years and that she alone can wield the Horn because of her Starborn bloodline—meaning she could potentially open portals to OTHER WORLDS. And yes BUNCHIES… we are absolutely spiraling over the ACOTAR crossover implications because THE BOOK OF BREATHINGS casually appearing in Jesiba’s library cannot be a coincidence. And then Sarah J. Maas somehow gives us the most stressful sequence of all time. Hunt sacrifices himself to save Bryce from the missiles. Bryce makes the Drop completely untethered. Danika appears as her Anchor beyond death. Bryce channels the power of every Gate in Crescent City to heal the city, close the portals, and literally LIGHT IT UP. Meanwhile Hunt is giving her chest compressions screaming at her to come back because she waited until he was almost dead to finally admit her feelings!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! Bryce makes the Ascent with literally 0.003 seconds left, Hunt is healed, the city survives, and for one glorious second we think everyone might finally get peace… Until the Asteri basically warn Bryce and Hunt to stay quiet, stay obedient, and never use the Horn again. And then the epilogue casually drops MORE INSANE REVEALS when Jesiba meets with Aidas and we learn Bryce carries Theia’s true light… while Hunt’s mysterious father may be far more important than we realized. WE ARE NOT OKAY. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

    40 min

  7. May 19

    Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood: (Ch 49-72): The Clue Danika Left… “Through Love, All Is Possible”

    #061: This week on A Novel Bunch, we covered chapters 49–72 of House of Earth and Blood and BUNCHIES… Sarah J. Maas officially chose violence. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Bryce and Hunt’s investigation into Danika’s death spirals into absolute chaos as new clues reveal the truth behind the Horn, Synth, and what REALLY happened the night the Pack of Devils died. First of all… WHAT DO YOU MEAN Danika may have been involved with Synth!? We uncover terrifying footage from secret Synth trials, learn the drug is basically synthetic magic capable of turning humans into monsters, and discover Danika was secretly investigating it long before her death. But every answer only raises more questions. Meanwhile Bryce summons Aidas, Prince of the Chasm—aka one of the most suspiciously hot demon princes ever—and he drops cryptic warnings about Bryce’s future, her power, and the fact that the Oracle “did not see” what he did. Casual!!! We also get MAJOR lore reveals: Ruhn’s legendary starborn sword was forged from the same meteorite as a missing dagger tied to an ancient prophecy… and yes BUNCHIES, we are absolutely spiraling over the possible ACOTAR connection. And emotionally? These chapters DESTROYED us. Bryce opens up about the motorcycle crash that nearly killed her and Danika, Hunt reveals the heartbreaking truth about his mother and why he joined Shahar’s rebellion, and the two somehow become even more emotionally codependent while pretending they’re “just roommates.” Oh—and then comes the kiss. THE KISS!!!!! After Bryce endures excruciating pain to extract venom from her leg wound, Hunt talks her through it, comforts her… and gives her the softest little kiss that had us LOSING OUR MINDS. But naturally SJM rips our hearts out immediately after. Because Hunt has been hiding the truth. Not only did he know about Synth… he secretly worked with Viktoria and Justinian to try to overthrow the Archangels using it. And worst of all? He believed Danika may have taken Synth the night she died and accidentally slaughtered her own pack before summoning the kristallos demon. Bryce is devastated. Furious. Betrayed. And then things somehow get EVEN WORSE. Justinian is brutally executed. Viktoria’s soul is trapped forever. Hunt is handed back over to Sandriel. Bryce offers MILLIONS to buy his freedom—and even offers herself in exchange—but Hunt rejects her to protect her. Then, in true SJM fashion, the chapters end with Bryce being attacked by a kristallos demon while everything around her completely falls apart.  WE ARE NOT OKAY. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

    43 min

  8. May 12

    Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood: (Ch 35-48): Wait... WHO Really Stole the Horn!?

    #060: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving deeper into Crescent City House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas and BUNCHIES… the plot officially THICKENED. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Bryce and Hunt’s investigation into Danika’s murder takes a dangerous turn after a bombing at the White Raven leaves Bryce injured—and forces Hunt into full protective mode. Suddenly our reluctant duo is living together, sharing late-night banter, trauma dumps, and enough tension to power Crescent City itself. Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding the Horn gets WAY bigger. We learn Danika was secretly investigating the Horn before her death… the temple footage was tampered with… Sabine Fendyr may be hiding something… and ancient legends reveal the Horn can only be wielded by someone Starborn. As Bryce and Hunt dig deeper into demon attacks, rebel groups, underground tunnels, and hidden truths, we also get some MAJOR emotional reveals—Bryce’s heartbreaking visit to the Oracle, Hunt opening up about Shahar, and the two of them slowly becoming each other’s safe place whether they want to admit it or not. Oh—and the flirting? OFF. THE. CHARTS. From Jelly Jubilee unicorns and jealous Hunt moments to almost-kisses constantly getting interrupted, these two are driving us insane in the best way. But then SJM drops the bombshell of all bombshells: Danika Fendyr stole the Horn. And suddenly… nothing we thought we knew about that night feels true anymore. Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

    41 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Welcome to A Novel Bunch, your new favorite modern-day book club! Hosted by besties Molly Burnett and Alyssa Tabit Smith, this podcast dives into one book per month, broken down chapter by chapter. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so grab your copy and read along—right here on A Novel Bunch.

Information

  • Creator
    A Novel Bunch
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Novel Bunch
  • Show Website
    A Novel Bunch

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