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. 6d ago

    Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow (Ch. 51–76): The Truth About Hunt Athalar's FATHER Has Our Heads Exploding!

    #070: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 51–76 of House of Flame and Shadow and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas decided the best way to prepare us for the finale was to reveal ancient history, launch an interdimensional war, and casually connect entire worlds. SPOILERS AHEAD Before we dive into the chapters, we're taking a quick detour to completely fan girl over Rebecca Yarros' Threshing Day announcement! We break down everything we know about the 13 stories, theorize whose POVs could be included, from Xaden and Naolin to Brennan, Lilith, Liam, and even Jack Barlowe, and share our wildest predictions for what could set up Book 4. Then it's back to Crescent City as Bryce's search through the Cave of Princes uncovers game-changing truths about Theia, the Starsword, and the true history of the Fae, while the Asteri begin their full-scale assault on Midgard. Along the way, we get one of the biggest relationship moments yet as Ruhn and Lidia finally give in to their feelings, Hunt and Bryce face their toughest conflict, and Baxian's heartbreaking past comes to light. Meanwhile, Bryce learns she's a true World-Walker carrying two-thirds of Theia's power, Hunt discovers the shocking truth about his origins and why he was created, and our favorite mirrored-world theory gets even stronger as Midgard and Prythian continue to reflect one another in fascinating ways. As the final battle begins, alliances are tested, Hel joins the war, Hypaxia races to save the world with her antidote, and Ithan finally steps into the Alpha role he was always meant to claim. And just when we think we know where this story is headed... Bryce opens a portal expecting Hel... and instead finds herself standing in Prythian, face-to-face with Nesta, asking for the Mask. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

  2. Jul 14

    Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow (Ch. 26–50): The Hind Was Hiding WHAT?!

    #069: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're covering chapters 26–50 of House of Flame and Shadow and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas somehow managed to pack an entire season of television into twenty-five chapters. *Spoilers ahead* We pick up with Bryce escaping Prythian after Vesperus is finally defeated thanks to one seriously iconic team-up with Nesta, only for Bryce's "homecoming" to go spectacularly wrong when she lands straight into the Autumn King's waiting chains. Unfortunately for him... our girl was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. While Bryce uncovers massive revelations about the Starsword, Truth-Teller, the Starborn Fae, and the Asteri's centuries-long manipulation of Midgard, Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian are facing execution in the Eternal City... until Agent Daybright herself reminds us exactly why Lidia Cervos is THAT GIRL. Between the prison break, the chase across Midgard, and one absolutely unhinged cliff jump, these chapters officially cement her as one of the best characters in the series. Meanwhile, Ruhn is barely holding himself together, Hunt discovers the terrifying reason the Asteri are so interested in his lightning, and we learn Lidia has been hiding an enormous secret that somehow makes her story even more heartbreaking. Elsewhere, Ithan makes perhaps the most questionable decision of his life by asking Jesiba to resurrect Sigrid, leading us down a rabbit hole of ancient history involving Parthos, the Fendyr bloodline, Apollion, and enough lore to rewrite everything we thought we knew about Midgard. Bryce eventually reunites with Hunt, boldly declares herself Queen of the Valbaran Fae, convinces the Ocean Queen to help them reach Avallen, and begins chasing answers hidden in one of the oldest Fae strongholds in existence. Along the way we meet King Morven, the deeply unsettling Murder Twins, watch Tharion make yet another impulsive life-changing decision, and witness Hypaxia's resurrection spell go catastrophically wrong. By the end of these chapters, ancient maps hint that Midgard once looked completely different, the mystery surrounding the First Wars grows even bigger, Bryce and Hunt finally get a much-needed moment alone, and Sarah J. Maas leaves us with enough new questions to fuel theories for weeks. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

  3. Jul 7

    Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow (Prologue–Ch. 25): Bryce Landed... WHERE?!

    #068: This week on A Novel Bunch, we're kicking off House of Flame and Shadow, and BUNCHIES... Sarah J. Maas wasted absolutely zero time choosing violence. Within the first few chapters, Bryce crash-lands in a place we've all been dreaming she'd end up, while everyone else is scattered across Midgard trying desperately to survive the fallout of the Asteri's attack. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Bryce finds herself in Prythian face-to-face with Rhysand, Azriel, Nesta, Amren, and the Inner Circle, only to discover they're just as suspicious of her as she is of them. As language barriers disappear and ancient magic begins responding to Bryce's presence, one revelation after another confirms that the worlds of Crescent City and ACOTAR are connected far more deeply than we ever imagined. The Starsword, the Book of Breathings, Queen Theia, the Dread Trove... suddenly, it's all one story. Hunt learns shocking new truths about his mysterious origins, Apollion and Aidas finally step into the conversation, and we're left asking one very important question: Who exactly is Hunt's father? Back in Lunathion, the remaining crew is somehow having an equally terrible week. Sabine refuses to stay dead, the Viper Queen continues collecting people like Pokémon, Ithan accidentally signs himself up for a fight to the death, and Lidia risks absolutely everything after revealing herself as Agent Daybright to the very people who have every reason not to trust her. Over in Prythian, Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel descend into ancient tunnels beneath the Prison, where Silene's hidden memories unravel the true history of the Daglan, the Asteri, Queen Theia, the founding of the Night Court, and the terrifying secret Rhysand has no idea his own bloodline has been protecting. Every answer completely rewrites what we thought we knew about both worlds. And just when it feels like the lore couldn't possibly get bigger... Bryce makes perhaps the boldest decision of the entire series and awakens an imprisoned Asteri beneath the mountain. By the end of these chapters, ancient histories have collided, centuries of lies are falling apart, and it's becoming painfully clear that saving Midgard may require unraveling the fate of every world Sarah J. Maas has ever built. Let's get into it, Bunchies!

  4. Jun 30

    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!

  5. 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!

  6. 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!

  7. 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!

  8. 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!

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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
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Novel Bunch
  • Show Website
    A Novel Bunch

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