A Crown of Ruin

Steph: Hey, everyone, I'm Steph.

Megan: And I'm Megan.

Steph: And welcome to another episode of Late Night Reads.

Megan: This week, we are diving into the magical world of romantasy and covering the novella, A Crown of Ruin by Jennifer Armentrout.

Steph: So let's start with why we selected A Crown of Ruin.

Steph: We are obsessed with this series and may have screamed and sent each other lots of emojis when this novella dropped out of nowhere at the end of December.

Megan: The goddess Jennifer Armentrout blessed us with this beautiful gift.

Megan: It's like our own little Christmas gift from her.

Steph: It was.

Megan: It was so lovely.

Steph: I think a Friday night when it dropped, and I was like, well, I have zero plans this weekend now.

Megan: Yep.

Megan: Yep.

Megan: This is what I'm doing.

Megan: See you later in the world.

Megan: Bye.

Steph: Exactly.

Steph: We had so many questions and theories after the end of The Primal of Blood and Bone, so we were excited to get another glimpse into this world as we wait for the final book, which still does not have a release date yet.

Steph: Casteel, he is in his chaos era, is what she's calling it.

Steph: I'm calling it his asshole era, and we're here for it.

Megan: So here for it.

Steph: We're so here for it.

Steph: I know this is not a belief that everyone else has, but we strongly believe this entire series has been building towards this character development for him, and we love every single fucking moment of it.

Megan: Oh god, yes.

Steph: Also, Kieran finally gets his head out of his ass and admits he could have handled the situation with Casteel and Poppy better.

Steph: I was like, fucking finally, just a little bit.

Steph: Plus, it is about time he started shadow stepping.

Steph: And then, as usual, this novella answered a few questions, maybe a couple, a few, created more theories, so prepare to get super, super unhinged with us later.

Megan: Yes, like the door is coming off the hinge and it's flying through into another realm as if like a fate popped in.

Steph: Specific fate too.

Megan: Specific one.

Megan: But here are a few things that you should know about the author Jennifer Armentrout, as if you don't already know, but we'll review it anyway.

Megan: She is a New York Times bestselling author and writes young adult, paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance.

Megan: We would definitely consider both the Blood and Ash series and the Flesh and Fire series to be adult romantasy based on its content.

Megan: She has also got a full house with a husband, dog, multiple alpacas, goats, and sheep.

Megan: And she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which is a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown of and death of cells in the retina, which will eventually result in loss of vision.

Megan: So she's very passionate about educating people on the varying degrees of blindness.

Steph: So before we jump into discussing this novella, a couple of key reminders.

Steph: As always, this episode will contain spoilers.

Steph: We assume if you are listening, that you have read this novella, that you have read the previous books in the Blood and Ash series and the Flesh and Fire series.

Steph: You have been warned.

Steph: Also, this book contains some topics that may be sensitive for some readers.

Steph: And we're gonna talk about all of them.

Steph: Anxiety, assault, blood, death, emotional abuse, murder, PTSD, sexual harassment.

Steph: Thank you, Kolis.

Steph: Torture and violence.

Steph: I almost put stalking in there because I feel like everything Kolis does is stalking, but I don't know if he really stalked anyone in this novella.

Megan: Not so much, but there's an overall stalkage.

Steph: That's just, I think, his nature.

Steph: Is that a word?

Megan: A stalkage.

Steph: Well, when it comes to Kolis, I think it is.

Megan: When it comes to Kolis, yeah, yeah.

Steph: Okay, jumping into Every Magical Twist.

Steph: We are back in Pendsurth in Poppy's POV, and we get to see a whole lot more of what happens between her and Kolis during this very, very critical scene, which I was super appreciative of because there was so many questions I had regarding exactly what happened after the end of The Primal of Blood and Bone.

Steph: Okay, so, Attes is a blurry shape on the floor and a pile of blood.

Steph: Did not love that for him.

Steph: Like, maybe very sad.

Steph: Poppy vaguely remembers seeing a presence, a wisp of primal mist swirling around a tall form that quickly disappears.

Steph: Who is that?

Steph: Where did they go?

Steph: Why?

Steph: We're gonna talk about it in theories.

Steph: Kolis is drinking Poppy's blood, and his body is starting to warm, which means she's close to dying.

Steph: And then she fights back by drinking his blood, which, like, surprises him, and I think he enjoys.

Megan: Yeah, it's like, oh, I think you're gonna be turning him on by doing that.

Steph: I know, which I was like, yes.

Megan: But I mean, I'm just like, you drank his blood.

Megan: That means he can do all the shit to you all over again.

Steph: I know, like, I was just like, oh, yuck.

Steph: But it does give her enough power to hit him with some ether, sending him flying into a pillar.

Steph: Poppy sees Attes.

Steph: She wants to heal him.

Steph: She's like, I can't because I'm so weak.

Steph: And it was kind of heartbreaking because she was like, I'm sorry to this pile of flesh and blood.

Steph: There's like a hole in his chest.

Steph: She doesn't grab his dagger.

Steph: And so supposedly now Poppy has made Kolis angry.

Steph: And I'm like, you weren't angry before when you were trying to kill her?

Megan: Yeah, right?

Megan: You were like, you were happy?

Steph: We're happy?

Steph: Someone needs to understand emotions.

Steph: And he comments how she did learn how to become a fighter.

Steph: And he used to hate that about her.

Steph: And that has to be something alluding to Satoria.

Steph: I'm very curious about what it means.

Steph: I have some theories.

Steph: I think there is a lot more about Sotoria’s story that we have not been told yet, that is going to play a big role.

Steph: And then Poppy calls Kolis a pervert.

Steph: He is a pervert on a variety of reasons, because she points out they're related.

Steph: And then he makes a very interesting comment about how they weren't before.

Steph: And then says, actually, I suppose we were in a way, but distantly.

Steph: What do you mean, Kolis?

Steph: What do you mean?

Megan: As Sotoria?

Megan: Where does this fall?

Megan: Is that why Callum is his little BFF?

Steph: I don't know, but I have questions, and I'm also even more disgusted by Kolis.

Megan: Oh yeah, absolutely disgusting.

Steph: Yes.

Megan: The creepy uncle.

Steph: Right?

Steph: Literally, the creepy uncle.

Steph: Kolis contends to hit and throw poppy across the room, demanding that she apologize.

Megan: Okay, let me get right on that.

Steph: Let me get right on that, right?

Steph: I guess technically she does.

Steph: She does fuck you a lot, so.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: And then he ends up breaking her back, making it impossible for her to move.

Steph: And I got really nervous at this point, because I was like, if, because there was a comment in The Primal of Blood and Bone about how he wanted to fuck her while Attes watched.

Megan: Yeah, I was like, come on.

Steph: And I was like, if something like that happens, I'm gonna lose it, so thank god it didn't.

Megan: Yeah, thank god.

Megan: But Kolis claims that all he wanted was Sotoria to love him back, but no one could do that except his brother.

Megan: It's like, okay, well, then why did you kill him, Kolis?

Megan: Why did you kill the one person who could maybe love you back?

Megan: Like, and also, like, if he really wants Sotoria to love you, like, don't treat her like shit, right?

Megan: Like, crazy idea, crazy idea.

Megan: And then Kolis starts drinking from Poppy again, and she's really struggling with panic and fear, obviously, because that's terrifying.

Megan: And then Poppy notices the doors to the Great Hall are open, and Attes is gone.

Megan: She's like, where did he go?

Megan: He was just, like, a pile on the floor.

Megan: Like, what happened?

Steph: Like, you can't walk.

Megan: You can't walk.

Megan: You can't move.

Megan: Like, what?

Megan: But then Poppy feels a tremor as her flesh begins to blister and burn, and she's screaming and just, like, wanting to die, which you're like, no, Poppy, please don't give up.

Megan: : But then out of nowhere, silver eather slams into Kolis, and Theon tells Kolis to get away from Poppy.

Megan: And Kolis claims Theon was foolish to come alone.

Megan: And it's like, well, did he?

Steph: Did he?

Megan: I don't know.

Megan: Kolis claims that it took literally nothing to take Attes out because he's weakened from not being a Primal of a Court, and that Poppy weakens him.

Megan: And then Theon mentions how it's awfully quiet in the hallway, and Attes is no longer here, making it clear, of course, that he didn't come alone.

Megan: He's like, Kolis, get your head out of your ass.

Megan: Look around, pay attention.

Megan: And Theon then also mentions how seems like someone's been cast from Iliseeum, and Poppy doesn't know what it means, but Kolis just responds, fuck the Fates, which we can agree on that one.

Megan: Yes, fuck the Fates.

Megan: Agreed.

Megan: That's the one thing I'll agree with you with, Kolis.

Megan: Fuck the Fates.

Megan: And then another person shows up and Theon tells him to get Poppy out of here and he has two deep straight cuts that start in the center of his forehead and then like end at the corner of his lips and like Poppy can't feel what he is and Theon just claims that they're best friends and the other person makes a comment about just wait until you sleep.

Steph: I'm like, I might have screamed because I knew exactly who it was at that point.

Steph: I was like, it's fucking Thierran.

Megan: So then Theon appears to have fallen thanks to fucking Kolis, which literally you're like, oh fuck, and then that causes like a shockwave of energy and Poppy falls from the god who was carrying her.

Megan: And you're like, oh no, that's not good.

Megan: And then Reaver shows up because like she sees this like big shadow and she's like, could that be?

Megan: I don't know.

Megan: Yes, it is.

Megan: It's Reaver, a little Reaverbutt shows up.

Megan: He's impacted by the shockwave too.

Megan: And he starts, you know, get in there and start fighting.

Megan: And Poppy kind of blacks out for a minute and then awakens to like pain and yelling because yeah.

Megan: And a Primal goddess is there, is screaming for Theon.

Megan: So we're inclined to believe that that's his sister, Lailiah.

Megan: Lailiah?

Megan: Lailiah.

Steph: Lailiah.

Megan: Lailiah.

Megan: Lailiah, okay.

Megan: So we think that's her.

Megan: And then Reaver is obviously there like taking out Revenants with his tail and his fire, just like beating shit out of people.

Megan: And we're like, yeah.

Megan: We're glad to see that he got to burn some fucking Revenants.

Megan: Thank god.

Megan: He should really be allowed to do that more often, honestly.

Steph: He should just do it.

Steph: Because I think his problem is he asks.

Steph: Like he's like, well, can I burn them?

Steph: And Poppy's always like, no.

Steph: I'm like, what if you just did it?

Megan: Just did it.

Megan: Ask for forgiveness, not permission.

Megan: OK, Reaver?

Megan: It's OK.

Megan: But then a silver wolf comes in and like tears into Kolis, which you're like, yes, it's got to be Nyktos.

Megan: It's got to be Nyktos.

Megan: Right.

Megan: He's just like going at it.

Megan: He's like, I got some of my own shit to deal with with you, Kolis.

Megan: But Poppy blacks out again and then awakens to Reaver.

Megan: Yelling her name and then she just hears her, which we're like, oh, that's Sera.

Megan: That's totally Sera.

Megan: And she is telling Ash, Nyktos, to give Poppy to her.

Megan: So again, we're like, oh, Sera was there.

Megan: I knew it.

Megan: I knew it.

Megan: And then Poppy all of a sudden smells, you know, fresh lilacs, which again, we're like, Sera, that's her life.

Megan: And there's a strange taste in her mouth, like being given Sera’s blood.

Megan: And then Sera tells her it's okay to let go now.

Megan: And Poppy does.

Megan: So we're inclined to believe now that that means Poppy is saved and she is starting to just slip into stasis, which you're like, okay, good.

Megan: But also what the fuck just happened?

Megan: There's so much going on here.

Steph: There, there was a lot going on there.

Steph: We have a lot of theories about that specific scene.

Steph: So next chapter is in Casteel's POV is entitled, He Who Is Born of the Blood of Gods.

Steph: And we're big believers that every chapter title has a big meaning, and this one is tied to his heritage.

Steph: So it picks up after Casteel has sealed himself in the Great Hall with the bodies of Delano, Hisa, his father.

Steph: Not a great situation.

Steph: Kieran's like pounding on the doors with others.

Steph: Casteel's like, fuck off, I'm not going to let you in.

Steph: Then he decides to use his aether to open a tear in the realm and go to Pensdurth because what Poppy had done with Thorne to prevent him from going has no longer worked.

Steph: I do have a question as to why it no longer works.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: Is it because like the time has passed where she's no longer there?

Steph: Right.

Steph: Is it a time thing?

Steph: Is it cause she's not present in the realm?

Steph: Kolis isn't present in the realm?

Steph: Yeah, like what were the restrictions?

Steph: Or in that place?

Megan: Or is he just strong enough now that he can override it?

Steph: That's my other question, right?

Steph: So more to come on that.

Steph: Casteel can sense a bunch of gods, most of them weak and a Primal god, as well as Ascendents and Revenants.

Steph: He senses ruin within him.

Steph: And this part, we'll talk about in theories, but it makes me a little sad and anxious.

Steph: Dead trees collapse when he walks by, other trees wither away, the eastern wall of the Seacliff Manor is destroyed.

Steph: I think the comments around what happens in his presence are really important.

Steph: Then my favorite part is he starts ripping off the roofs to expose the Ascendents to sunlight to kill them, which is like the most Casteel thing ever.

Steph: I feel like just watching them burn.

Megan: It reminds me of just like a little boy with a magnifying glass just like burning ants, you know?

Megan: Just like, get them all done.

Megan: Which I'm like, yeah, they're bad Ascendents people.

Megan: They should be burned.

Megan: Yes.

Steph: I agree.

Steph: Oh, by the way, Casteel has wings.

Steph: Oh, yes, which we're kind of like, hmm.

Steph: I know, right?

Steph: Like, hello.

Steph: They're sensitive.

Steph: He can also will them away.

Megan: Which is cool.

Megan: But it's interesting that like she details how he like feels them like being tucked into his spine, but still feels their presence.

Megan: And then like when they come out, like the muscles move, and you're like, oh.

Steph: I kind of like it, right?

Megan: It gives me some like Rhysand daddy.

Steph: It does very much so.

Steph: He also kills Eldric Ashwood, which is someone that we have heard about in the previous book.

Steph: And then a god wearing crimson shows up and questions, what are you?

Steph: Which is a really common question in this novella.

Steph: Does Casteel?

Steph: But Casteel doesn't answer and demands to know where his queen is.

Steph: And the god gives him the wrong answer by saying likely dead.

Steph: And Casteel kills this god.

Megan: Yeah, it's like wrong answer, dude.

Megan: Do you think that was going to help you?

Steph: I mean, no.

Steph: But Casteel, this is a problem.

Steph: Casteel does this a lot.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: We're going to talk more about it.

Megan: And then Casteel hears a female voice being held back and saying she'll kill them all.

Megan: And you're like, oh my god, could that be Theon's sister, Lailah?

Megan: Because like, oh.

Megan: And then another god that she's with comments that, I don't think that's going to be necessary.

Megan: Likely indicating that Casteel is there now and will handle everyone who has served Kolis and he will take care of this mess.

Megan: Casteel, of course, continues to just go on a killing rampage, kills all the gods, get in his way.

Megan: He's like, you're a bad guy, dead.

Megan: You're a bad guy, dead.

Megan: Just like murderous, basically.

Steph: Yes.

Megan: Then Casteel also sees a female god who was unremarkable but different.

Megan: She doesn't react upon seeing him like everyone else seems to do, and her eyes are black, threaded with crimson, and she smells like stale lilacs and death.

Megan: She ends up slipping through a tear in the realm and gets away, and he's just like, that's new.

Megan: That's weird.

Megan: Now I'm like, oh, there's other death female gods?

Megan: Interesting.

Steph: Just wait till you find out who I think she is, Megan.

Steph: We're going to talk about it later.

Steph: It's so fucking unhinged.

Steph: I love it.

Megan: I'm here for it.

Megan: But until then, Casteel has a confrontation with a few gods, and we believe that this group probably includes Lailah, Thierran, and an auburn-haired god, Rhain.

Megan: Casteel does not like that Thierran smells of Poppy.

Megan: He's like, what the fuck?

Megan: Why do you smell like her?

Megan: What to do to her?

Megan: But he doesn't really get a chance to ask a whole lot of questions because he starts beating the shit out of him.

Megan: But Thierran’s like, Poppy's blood is on me because I was helping her, so fuck off.

Megan: And then Lailah yells at Casteel to put Thierran down or she'll make him.

Megan: And I'm like, girl, I'd like to see you try because I don't think anybody's going to make Casteel do anything he doesn't want to do at this point.

Megan: And then there's an oddly familiar voice boomed out of nowhere and everywhere at the same time, saying, what he is is what we feared, the bringer of ruin.

Megan: So we're assuming that's probably one of the Fates talking at this point.

Megan: And what they're saying about him being the bringer of ruin, I'm kind of like, yeah, please ruin me.

Steph: Right?

Steph: And so I love it.

Megan: Give me the bringer of ruin.

Megan: I can't wait.

Megan: The prophecy is fulfilled.

Megan: And then Casteel is hit by a flash of light and seems to be able to fly using his wings.

Megan: He's like, whoosh.

Megan: And the other gods are gone by the time he's back on the ground.

Megan: They there's like they peaced out.

Megan: They're like, oh, fuck.

Megan: Like, nope.

Megan: And Casteel loses it when he looks around and sees all of Poppy's blood on the floor.

Megan: And he's just like, could could things have turned out differently if I had been able to convince her that like I could handle myself?

Megan: And like maybe I could have listened to Kieran and like maybe I could have talked to Poppy about all this, because he's just like devastated that he knows like Poppy should not have come alone.

Megan: He should have just found a way to be at her side.

Megan: And then just like anger and grief completely take over for him.

Megan: And he makes a comment about how he tries to stop himself from snapping and tearing the realm apart.

Megan: Talk about a guy who will literally burn the world down for you.

Megan: He's like beyond burning the world.

Megan: He's like, I will tear the realm apart.

Steph: But that is, if you think about it, remember Nyktos in the Flesh and Fire series when he thought he was going to lose Sera, the whole reason he had his kardia removed was he had a vision of, or like a dream or something, of destroying the realm because of Sera.

Steph: And like this feels like life repeating itself.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: So now I'm like, should Casteel have his kardia removed?

Megan: Because this is a bit cray-cray.

Megan: But I also understand.

Megan: And he's like, I think he feels like his heart has broken because he ends up screaming.

Megan: And just that moment the sound hits the air, it destroys everything.

Megan: It's like a sonic boom basically.

Megan: And basically all of Pensdurth now turns to dust.

Megan: Like it's gone.

Megan: And it's saying that like all that rage, grief, guilt, it all consumed me until there was nothing left, but the ruin I unleashed and the wrath that followed.

Steph: Oh, I love that.

Steph: Oh, so good.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: Then we get a chapter that was 1000% unexpected.

Steph: It's in Poppy's POV.

Steph: It's in titled Brothers.

Steph: It's a real doozy.

Steph: So we believe this is happening while Poppy's in stasis and she's healing after the injuries inflicted by Kolis.

Steph: She's watching a village that she at first thinks she doesn't remember before.

Steph: And then she sees a dark, young haired man appear staring at the village.

Steph: Poppy's like, he looks really familiar.

Steph: Then another young man joys him.

Steph: And then that's when all of her memories of what happened in Pensdurth come back to her because the second young man is fucking Kolis.

Steph: And the first one is Eythos.

Steph: It is also really important to note that Poppy feels hollow because Kolis has taken it all from her.

Steph: And when she tries to summon the essence.

Steph: So that can be like absolutely nothing because she's in stasis.

Steph: But it makes us wonder if they're going to be ramifications down the road regarding her powers.

Steph: Like why does she, why does Jennifer Armentrout use those words?

Steph: Okay.

Steph: And then Eythos reminds Kolis not to let the villagers see him.

Steph: Which I was like, okay, well, I mean, you're the god of death.

Steph: And the Eythos goes to the village.

Steph: And like the villagers are shouting Liessar, right?

Steph: Which means, which is the word for king in the language of the gods, which is interesting because I think that was actually on one of the pronunciation guides made for The Primal of Blood and Bone, but it wasn't actually used in the book.

Steph: And so there's a lot of question about like, where is that going to come in?

Steph: Here's where we're seeing it.

Steph: And then fucking Kolis says, what a pretty poppy.

Steph: When he looks at these red, orange poppy flowers and they immediately turn to gray when he touches them.

Steph: And then I got very, very, very nervous because that is what we saw with Casteel in the previous chapter.

Megan: I felt really bad for him though in that moment because he's like trying to enjoy the beauty of something and it just dies.

Megan: It actually reminded me so much of like Hades holding like the octopus.

Megan: He's just like, oh, it's my friend.

Megan: I love it.

Megan: And he accidentally kills it.

Steph: Kills it.

Megan: And you're just like, Kolis really was trying just to stop and smell the flowers.

Megan: You know, he really was.

Megan: And the flower was like and died.

Steph: And you're like, it's like, oh, I know I felt I felt bad.

Megan: I felt a little bit of sympathy for him.

Steph: I know, but in that tiny moment, time, I went, well, probably is about to feel some too.

Steph: Young boy and girl come to look at the little girls, see our flowers.

Steph: They have green eyes.

Steph: It's the Sotoria and Callum.

Steph: We're pretty sure of.

Steph: Right.

Steph: They freak out when they see Kolis, even though he's like, I'm not here for you.

Steph: And I'm like, who would trust the God of Death?

Megan: Yeah, no, no trick.

Megan: Don't trust him.

Steph: And then Poppy feels empathy for him.

Steph: And she realizes she knows where she's at because she's been there before she's at the Cliffs of Sorrow.

Steph: And then she wants to get out of there and starts feeling really cold.

Steph: Here's what gets real.

Steph: So that's all crazy and weird.

Steph: But what gets really crazy is then Eythos is back, but he's older and he makes a comment about how the one thing death wanted was not to be feared.

Steph: He also mentions how death yearns for a connection that isn't marred by fear or rejection.

Steph: And that perhaps most importantly, because of the Fates, all he will ever be as a witness, a ghost among the living and the gods forever wandering, forever alone.

Steph: And I have some theories about this that I do not love.

Steph: Ethos also mentions that perhaps if he acknowledged how hard things were for Kolis, that all that has come to pass and what is still yet to come could have been prevented.

Steph: And I'm like that, I don't love that.

Steph: Then he looks directly at Poppy and says, it's not too late, never forget that.

Steph: And I'm just like.

Megan: I just got chills again.

Steph: Right?

Megan: Oh my gosh.

Steph: You're dead.

Steph: Right?

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: Right?

Megan: Or did we just time travel?

Steph: We're going to talk about that.

Megan: But then the next chapter is also in Poppy's point of view, and it's entitled The Caverns.

Megan: So we immediately assume maybe we're dream walking or stasis walking, and maybe we'll get some dream sex.

Megan: But alas, no.

Megan: No.

Megan: No dream sex.

Steph: Not for a lack of wanting, though.

Megan: Yes, that's true.

Megan: They were...

Megan: The scent was there.

Steph: They were wanting.

Megan: The arousal was there.

Steph: We were wanting.

Megan: And we were wanting.

Megan: We were like, yes!

Megan: But we got a cold cavern water poured on us.

Steph: Can you imagine what sex with Casteel and this...

Megan: Oh.

Steph: Oh.

Steph: Like...

Megan: Oh, my.

Steph: Oh, okay.

Steph: Sorry.

Steph: I just was like, we've not seen it yet.

Steph: I can't...

Megan: Those goosebumps turned into something else.

Megan: Oh, my.

Megan: Okay.

Megan: So Poppy is now in the cavern and she's dreamed to walk in there with Casteel and she knows that he called her there and she calls out to him and she catches like a whiff of his scent.

Megan: There's pine, decadent spice, but something new.

Megan: She's like, what is that?

Megan: I don't know what that one is, but she can feel his presence.

Megan: But all she sees is shadows at first until she's able to see him then with the Primal mist coiled around him and he doesn't look completely like himself and she can't see his face or his eyes.

Megan: The shadows then turn the air cold causing iced form in the hot springs and she notices that he now smells like frosted ash, which I'm like, that's a very specific and interesting combination of smells.

Steph: And words.

Megan: And words, frozen ash.

Megan: And she calls out his name saying, I will love you always.

Megan: Like, I love you always.

Megan: I literally start thinking of like the Whitney Houston song.

Megan: You know, I'm like, ah.

Megan: Like, that's her singing to him.

Megan: I'm like, I'm always gonna love you no matter what.

Megan: And she's then able to see part of his face and then he appears to be like waking up.

Megan: So she's like, no, no, no, no, no.

Megan: And then they're both gone.

Steph: And you're like, damn it, damn it.

Megan: So close.

Steph: So close.

Steph: Damn it.

Steph: So next chapter is in Casteel's POV, entitled And From the Ash of the First Flame.

Steph: And you know, we're gonna talk about crazy ass theory I have on this one, because these chapter headings mean something.

Megan: Oh, they're so good too.

Steph: They're so good.

Steph: It has been weeks since Pensdurth now.

Steph: Casteel has continued to search for Poppy.

Steph: He can't get to her.

Steph: He has these deep feelings to be unleashed.

Steph: Upend the order of things.

Steph: Undo, unravel, unmake.

Megan: He can undo, unravel and unmake me though.

Megan: That'd be fine.

Steph: Just not the realm.

Megan: Just not the realm.

Megan: Don't do the realm.

Steph: He also mentions how it was there before Pensdurth, before Poppy's Ascension and before Poppy.

Steph: Maybe it has been there the entire time and only now has woken up, which is one of our biggest theories from very early on.

Steph: We've said that he is, we've always believed he's a god, that there is this deep power in within him well before any of this stuff happened.

Steph: So that feels like, check.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: We also get his viewpoint of seeing Poppy in the caverns, Casteel’s dream walking.

Steph: And what's fascinating about it is he comments how he wants to protect her, ruin her, love her, hate her for doubting him, not trusting him.

Steph: And he wants to hate her because he hates himself.

Steph: And I was just like, ugh.

Steph: Like, he's so heartbroken.

Steph: Like, I think that's the part that I think some readers have missed is they see kind of how he turns at the end or just his behavior in The Primal of Blood and Bone, they're like, well, he's an asshole.

Steph: And I'm like, does he make the best choices?

Steph: No, but he's not intentionally being mean.

Steph: He is like truly heartbroken, devastated in a way that he's never been before.

Steph: And this, when he was talking about this stuff, I was just like, oh god, I just feel for him.

Megan: Yeah, he's a tormented soul.

Steph: He's very tormented.

Steph: He also thinks how he should have listened to Kieran.

Steph: You know how I feel about that.

Steph: Control this member and earn Poppy's trust.

Steph: And I hate that he keeps thinking he needs to earn Poppy's trust because he's always had it.

Steph: And I think that's why I'm so frustrated at Kieran in The Primal of Blood and Bone  is because he caused Casteel to doubt that Poppy trusted him.

Steph: But when Poppy says his name, all of the endless wants and needs are silenced and the thrum of power ebbs, which is a very important breadcrumb for the next book because I think it's very clear that Poppy is going to be able to pull Casteel out of the spiral at some point.

Megan: I hope so.

Steph: Unfortunately, Casteel is disturbed by something entering Wayfair, which is why he wakes up.

Steph: And at first he wakes up to Attes warning Kieran to be wary of the ravens.

Steph: I feel like there's more we need to know about this.

Steph: Some of the Ravens are a chora, an animal formed by the Primal god.

Steph: We know Attes has one that is a hawk, another bird.

Steph: Primal gods can form a animal, not dozens or hundreds.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: The only other person that we've seen be able to form a lot of them is in the Fall of Ruin and Wrath, and his name is Thorne, which...

Megan: We like Thorne.

Steph: We do like Thorne.

Steph: Casteel also struggles with being Attes because of how closely he resembles Valyn, which is really heartbreaking.

Steph: Oh, and Jasper's there.

Steph: And he claims that Casteel is being very temperamental.

Steph: And I'm like, he's like always been temperamental, like as a kid growing up.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: And I'm like, dude, this is fucking different.

Megan: This is different.

Steph: This is different.

Steph: And he's like, Casteel would never hurt me.

Steph: And I'm like, okay.

Steph: Sure about that?

Steph: Sure about that?

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: He's like, I just want to talk.

Megan: And you're like, ugh.

Steph: Casteel no talky.

Megan: He no talky.

Megan: He more fighty.

Megan: He no talky.

Steph: He's more killy right now.

Megan: More killy, more murdery.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: It's not going to go well for you.

Megan: However, these three are not what awakened Casteel.

Megan: It is the presence of Malik and Millie in the castle.

Megan: And we know what Millie has with her.

Megan: And Casteel can see a little present.

Megan: There's Santa.

Megan: And Casteel uses the ravens to like spy on everybody, right?

Megan: So he can see everything that's happening through a raven.

Megan: That's like overlooking everything.

Megan: And then he's like, I'm going to shadowstep there.

Megan: And so Casteel shadowsteps over to where Malik and Millie are and there's like, fuck.

Megan: And like, let's just say Millie is very shocked about Casteel's new appearance.

Megan: She's just like, what am I looking at here?

Megan: What is happening?

Megan: Like, tell me.

Megan: I don't understand.

Megan: And it's interesting that Casteel's will does not want to hurt Millie.

Megan: And because he's like, I know that's Poppy's sister.

Megan: I can't, I can't hurt her.

Megan: And she calls him Mister Dark Lord, which I am here for that.

Megan: That's, yeah, that's okay, Mister Dark Lord.

Megan: Yes.

Megan: And she demands to know, where is Poppy?

Megan: And he's also like, I would love to know myself.

Megan: Like, please enlighten me.

Steph: Where the fuck have you been?

Megan: Like, I don't know.

Megan: Do you know?

Megan: And there's some hilarious banter now between Malik and Millie making us die to have a little bit more scenes with them in the next book.

Megan: And we're just counting down until they get their own book, maybe.

Megan: That'd be fun.

Megan: I feel like they'd be very spicy, you know?

Steph: I hope so.

Megan: They would have like a really good, just like hate sex.

Megan: Hate sex?

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: If only.

Megan: If only.

Megan: We can only hope.

Megan: Pray to the Fates.

Megan: And then Kieran, Attes, and Jasper show up.

Megan: And it looks like Kieran is getting more comfortable now with shadowstepping.

Megan: We're like, about damn time.

Megan: Like get over your fear.

Megan: Like let's just do it.

Megan: Okay.

Megan: Suck it up.

Megan: Be a big, big, big boy god, you know?

Megan: And can we just say how much we love Millie calling out that that wolf's got fancy new tricks.

Megan: It's like, so the three of you did get it on then.

Megan: You're like, oh, she does not have a filter.

Megan: I love her.

Megan: I love her.

Megan: I know what's happening.

Megan: I'm going to call it out.

Megan: You're like, yep.

Megan: And then Attes is very shocked by how Millie looks exactly like Sera.

Megan: He's just like, oh my god.

Megan: And then he also mentions how much Sera is going to love Millie.

Megan: But Millie goes pale at the thought of meeting her grandmother.

Megan: So she's got to figure out some shit.

Megan: But none of them really want Casteel to get a hold of Callum because he tends to kill people very quickly.

Megan: His interrogations, let's just say, don't end well for the person being interrogated.

Steph: Or last long.

Megan: Or last long.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: They're just like, you cannot do this because we need to get questions out of him.

Megan: Answers out of him anyway.

Megan: And we learn that it took Millie weeks to find Callum, or Callie, as she likes to call him.

Megan: She's like, I had to have some fun.

Steph: Like, I feel like fucking Callum or Callie, it needs to be like his permanent new name.

Steph: Because Callie is just like, I don't know, he would be so irritated by it.

Megan: He'd be so pissed.

Megan: He'd be so pissed to be like, don't call me Callie.

Megan: It's like, OK, Callie.

Steph: OK.

Megan: Just like because, you know, he's a little chicken shit.

Megan: He was hiding out in a cave full of spiders in the Blood Forest.

Megan: I'm like, oh, little baby Callie.

Steph: Which is also a really specific, like, why were we told where he was hiding?

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: Like what's in the blood forest, Jennifer Armentrout?

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: It's in spiders.

Steph: What else is there?

Megan: And then, of course, there's a battle of wills going on between Kieran and Casteel over Callum.

Megan: Because again, with Callum now has to be hidden away from Casteel because Kieran's like, you know what?

Megan: You're just going to kill him.

Megan: So we can't do that.

Megan: And then, but then Kieran has a little moment of truth here where he's like, he mentions he was wrong about certain things and how he sees Casteel.

Megan: He's just like, we need to fix some stuff here.

Megan: Like, yeah.

Steph: So next chapter, back in Casteel's POV, and it's entitled The God of Bone and Ash.

Steph: Another fucking god has entered Wayfair’s Great Hall because they also have a death wish.

Steph: And this one apparently does know that the vines are connected to Casteel and it's careful not to step on them.

Steph: The female god tries to stab Casteel with a bone dagger, but it doesn't work.

Steph: He ends up like stopping her right before she like scratches, like she scratches like a button on his clothes.

Steph: He's like, you scratched my button.

Steph: Oh, she also has red hair.

Steph: Recently died to fuck with, I think, Casteel's mind and also probably in some weird pervert, Kolis, obsession with Sotoria manner, bleh.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: She says a lot of things that I think are really fascinating.

Steph: She claims Casteel won't be able to get close to the true Primal of Death and he'll see the realms restored to how they should be.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: Apparently the false queen will be stripped of her throne in Dalos, referring to Sera.

Steph: Gods ruling the courts will be struck down and punished.

Steph: We've heard this before, Kolis.

Steph: And the gods will rule the mortals.

Steph: We know this.

Steph: That's what you want.

Steph: Old news.

Megan: We know.

Steph: Old news.

Steph: I'm like, tell me something I don't know.

Steph: Supposedly, this female god is loyal to Kolis because he has promised to never force them to go into stasis, which is real fucking scary if you think about how, like, the gods in the Flesh and Fire series, the ones that didn't go into stasis turned out, don't love that, not bar them from entering the mortal realm, also not great for mortals, and she's going to get a Court if she brings him Casteel's head.

Steph: Okay, and then once again, she's like, incentives, right?

Steph: What are you to Casteel?

Steph: He doesn't know people.

Megan: Yeah, it's not like he can look on the tag of his shirt and be like, oh, I'm this, here you go.

Steph: Like, he's the fucking Casteel, like, what do you mean?

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: So she refuses to tell Casteel where Kolis is, only that he is death, everywhere and nowhere, and it should frighten Casteel.

Steph: And I'm like, I'm not frightened by Kolis.

Megan: No.

Steph: Until she made that statement, when she said everywhere and nowhere, I'm like, hold on a second.

Megan: What do you mean?

Steph: What do you mean?

Steph: Because remember the voice that came in the chapter when Casteel goes to Pensdurth, and it comes out of nowhere, but it's everywhere?

Steph: And I'm like, hold on a second.

Megan: So can you tell me Kolis is omnipresent?

Steph: Because what does that mean?

Steph: Because that might fucking frighten me.

Megan: That could be bad.

Steph: That could be bad.

Steph: And then we find out this god also is in Pensdurth, tells Casteel how Poppy screamed and begged and how Kolis will find her again and finish what he started.

Steph: I was like, do you want to die?

Steph: Clearly the answer is yes.

Steph: So he feeds from her, he kills her, and then he makes sure to take a bone to put in his throne.

Steph: As one does.

Steph: A little souvenir.

Steph: Surprisingly though, he uses the notam to reach out to Kieran for the first time since everything has happened.

Steph: Because he's been shutting Kieran out, right?

Steph: Definitely since everyone died.

Steph: But then also, even in The Primal of Blood and Bone, he really wasn't using the notam very much to communicate with Kieran unless they were trying to talk about Poppy to each other and arguing via the notum without her knowing.

Megan: Yeah, but she did not appreciate it.

Megan: She's like, are you just talking about me?

Megan: What the fuck?

Steph: Like this is rude.

Steph: So he shall stop to the rise.

Steph: Let's just say that the generals have not seen what Casteel is now.

Steph: They're slightly terrified, as one would be.

Steph: We know that there was likely a distraction that this god created beforehand.

Steph: We find out what it is.

Steph: It's a bunch of Cravens attracting the rise.

Steph: Because technically, Kolis controls the living dead and the dead.

Megan: All the deads.

Steph: All the deads.

Steph: So he sent them.

Steph: And then Casteel is looking at Attes and Kieran's and they're like, you could fucking take all of these guys.

Steph: Why aren't you using some eather?

Steph: But neither one of them does.

Megan: Why haven't you cleaned up this mess?

Megan: Why haven't you taken care of this?

Steph: It would take two minutes.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: But they don't want to scare the people.

Steph: Which I'm like, okay, I mean, I get it.

Steph: So Casteel is like, I got you.

Steph: And then he jumps off the fucking building.

Steph: Oh god.

Steph: Like, and then he, instead of using his eather, because like at first, he starts like ripping them apart with his hands and his mouth.

Steph: It gets really bloody.

Steph: He does end up using some ether.

Steph: But what is really fascinating is we saw Revenants run away from him in Pensdurth.

Steph: Now we see Craven run away from him.

Megan: You know that's bad.

Megan: You know you are something fucking terrifying if the Craven are running away from you.

Steph: The things that are controlled by Kolis that are like the living dead are scared of you.

Megan: Yeah, that's bad.

Steph: That's bad.

Megan: But I love like the image of Casteel just like walking through and be like, huh, huh, huh.

Steph: I know, right?

Megan: It's like his own anger management therapy, you know, like it's like you want to go into a room with a sledgehammer and just smash some things, you know?

Megan: He's just like, yeah, I just need to go rip apart some Craven, okay?

Megan: Like it's good therapy for me.

Steph: When you need to go touch grass, that's what he did.

Megan: I needed to go touch Craven and kill them.

Megan: Which he did.

Steph: Yes.

Megan: And that's when they're like, they're charging like, oh my god, and they're like, oh no, and they run away, right?

Megan: Pretty funny, actually.

Megan: So then we finally get a Kieran point of view entitled The Golden Cage.

Megan: So the council chambers were untouched by Casteel's destruction because he knew Kieran spends a lot of time in there, which is kind of like a little sign to Kieran that the real Casteel is still deep down inside of him.

Megan: Like he still loves Kieran and still cares for him, even though his words don't exactly say that.

Megan: Like he's still there.

Megan: And Sven is there and he's searching through the books, trying to learn if they can prevent what happened with Delano, Hissa, et cetera, from ever happening again, aka them all just like killing themselves.

Megan: And Perry isn't very helpful at this moment because of Delano's death.

Megan: Feel bad for him.

Steph: Marshmallow.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: And we learned that Kieran did feel poppy weakening.

Megan: He just didn't realize that was what caused the pain in his chest.

Megan: He was just like, what?

Megan: Oh, my god.

Megan: And interesting enough, he thinks Casteel felt it stronger and first because they're technically heartmates and that he likely just would have felt it more if there was more time for him to have felt it.

Megan: And so it kind of in my mind goes back to like where like Kieran was like trying to protect Casteel, you know, because he's like, you will feel things ten times harder.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: And so like, that's why I was trying to help you.

Megan: He's like, I still will be hurt if like Poppy gets hurt, but like you are going to be ten times worse.

Megan: So that basically is just like the truth right there.

Megan: And then Kieran also questions why he was even susceptible.

Megan: I can't say that word, susceptible.

Megan: Too cool is his influence.

Megan: And like why his, you know, Deminyen Primal essence had it protected him.

Megan: And it's like, had he been weakened without even realizing it?

Megan: And like, why did that happen?

Megan: Because again, it's like he's, he's of two worlds.

Megan: So maybe like that world of him just like overpowered by Kolis all of a sudden.

Megan: But he was like, what the fuck?

Megan: And then finally, Kieran admits to himself, he should have told Casteel about that promise when Poppy was in stasis.

Megan: And it's like, no fucking shit, Kieran.

Megan: Of course you have, you should have.

Megan: Like, he's like, how?

Megan: He's like, I couldn't have helped Casteel see that like it wasn't an oath born of lack of trust and like allowed him to see that it was done to protect him.

Megan: Like I was just trying to be a good friend and like, yeah, you know what?

Megan: Hindsight's always 2020.

Megan: But god damn it, could you have realized this sooner, please?

Steph: Yeah, Kieran.

Megan: Come on.

Megan: And then Emil comes in to see Kieran and he can smell Vonetta on him.

Megan: He's like, I'm going to ignore this.

Megan: I'm going to ignore this because apparently Emil is the only reason my sister is alive, even though I don't like that you're with her.

Megan: Like, and he tells him or and Reaver and Attes are also with him, by the way.

Megan: As usual, Emil has news that is not pleasant.

Megan: He's just literally always the bearer of bad news.

Steph: I know.

Steph: Why is that?

Megan: Which is kind of I feel bad for Emil in that sense.

Megan: I'm like, he just always get the shitty end of the stick, dude.

Megan: Like, huh.

Megan: But at least he has, you know, Vonetta.

Megan: So I want to spice the scene with them.

Megan: I feel like that also be good.

Megan: But the bad news is that Na’Lier is still on his way, but he's taking longer because Tylan is joining him.

Megan: Who is Delano's cousin.

Megan: And Kieran is like, fuck.

Megan: Like, Tylan is the last of the family line of Delano.

Megan: Like, he cannot be coming here right now.

Megan: Like, this is bad.

Megan: This is a really bad idea.

Megan: Like, fuck, we're going to go extinct, you know?

Megan: And apparently, Eloana still does not know about Valyn being dead.

Megan: And so they're like, we got to take care of that.

Megan: You know, we got to tell the queen, you know, back home.

Steph: But they make zero plans to do it, because Attes is like, I'll go.

Steph: And they're like, you look like him.

Steph: No.

Steph: And he's like, oh, good point.

Megan: Like, how are we going to explain that?

Steph: But then none of them explain who's going to go tell her.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: Who's going to go tell her that her husband's dead?

Steph: Anybody?

Megan: No, no, no, not it.

Steph: But the second piece of news that Emil has, Emil’s like, he's kind of missing.

Steph: Emil’s like, he's where he's normally at, at the Cliffs of Sorrow.

Steph: He goes there a lot.

Steph: And I'm like, OK.

Steph: Well, and clearly Emil has been hanging out with Millie because he refers to Casteel as the Dark Lord.

Steph: And Kieran's like, stop it.

Steph: Casteel wouldn't find it funny.

Steph: And I'm like, I know he didn't like being called the Dark One, but the but Dark Lord is it's kind of hotter.

Megan: It's kind of an upgrade in hotness.

Steph: So it is.

Steph: So we can keep it change approved.

Megan: Come on.

Steph: So then Kieran shows up again because he's getting braver.

Steph: Proud of you, wolfie.

Steph: Yes.

Steph: He goes to the Cliffs of Sorrow to talk to Casteel.

Steph: We learned that Kieran learned basically nothing from talking to Callum.

Steph: In fact, Callum claims to have known nothing about Pensdurth or Kolis coming to Wayfair and Kieran believes them.

Steph: And I was like...

Steph: I don’t believe Callie for a second.

Steph: I don't either.

Steph: Kieran, do you go here?

Steph: Like we don't believe the god of death's best friend who lets his sister get like sexually abused.

Steph: No.

Steph: And then interesting, Callum doesn't seem to sense the changes in Kieran.

Steph: I thought that was really fascinating because he should.

Steph: Should.

Megan: He noticed them in Casteel.

Steph: Well, I mean, he will.

Steph: Well, I think he saw them.

Steph: But like I don't think he, like before Casteel kind of showed him his new powers, I don't think he sensed them, which is just fascinating to me.

Steph: Then Casteel mentions he's having dreams similar to the ones he had in the Skotos Mountains.

Steph: Poppy's in a golden cage and he can't get to her.

Steph: And I was like, fucking Kolis.

Steph: And then Kieran's been dreaming of her too, but not in any cages.

Steph: And I'm like, I would like more details, Kieran.

Steph: What kind of dreams?

Steph: Can you share information?

Steph: I don't know.

Steph: He doesn't tell us.

Steph: And they kind of both apologize for what's been happening.

Steph: And it's like kind of a sweet moment.

Steph: But I'm also like, Kieran, I feel like you need to grovel more.

Steph: Like I need some groveling.

Megan: But it's also nice that like Casteel realizes that like someone can still love him, you know, because like Kieran is not afraid to get close to him.

Megan: Because he's like, he's like, I need to show him that I still love him and I'm still here for him, which I think that is going to play a bigger, like just role later and like helping to like maybe pull Casteel out of this.

Steph: I think so, too.

Steph: I think Kieran and Poppy are probably going to need to be to work together to get him out of the spiral.

Megan: They need a Joining part two, basically.

Steph: If only, Megan, if only.

Steph: Also, were you, when Millie was like, so the three of you did get it on, all I thought was she was being kind of snarky about like things, right?

Steph: I was just waiting for her to be like, and I'm happy to join in any time.

Steph: Like, do you know what I mean?

Steph: Like, whenever, like.

Megan: She was like a little jealous at the same time.

Steph: I felt like it a little bit.

Megan: Where was my invitation?

Megan: So you guys did go hang out.

Megan: You guys did go hang out without me.

Megan: How dare you?

Steph: And I'm stuck here with your brother.

Steph: No, thank you.

Megan: Invite me in the group chat, please.

Steph: Damn it.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: Kick the brother out.

Megan: Yes, yes, exactly.

Megan: So this next chapter now is in Casteel's point of view, and it's entitled, Bringer of Ruin, Giver of Wrath, and the Primal God of Death and Destruction.

Megan: And that title alone, oh my god.

Megan: Bringer of just sexiness.

Megan: Yeah, like bring her wet panties, if you will.

Megan: I love it.

Megan: So we have Casteel, he's watching Malik and Millie in his attempts to locate Callum.

Megan: He's just like stalking them.

Megan: He's like, they're going to leave me to Callie.

Megan: And his patience pays off.

Megan: He overhears a conversation between Callie and Millie where Callie claims that Millie is a liar and that everything about her is an act, which he might not be wrong.

Megan: You know?

Megan: Because Millie still has some mystery around her, mysterious Millie, if you will.

Megan: And Callum also wants Millie to let him go, which please, like we're going to let you go.

Megan: Like, come on.

Megan: He's like, because Kolis will just come for me and kill me anyway, and then he'll kill you too.

Megan: And we're kind of just like, you know what?

Megan: Shout out to Millie for calling Kolis the Big Bad Daddy of Death.

Megan: It's like, yeah, okay.

Steph: I would have called that forever.

Megan: Yes.

Megan: And she's just like, I would love it.

Megan: I would love it so much if the Big Bad Daddy of Death did come, because she's just like, death would be a relief.

Megan: It's not a threat.

Megan: And like, that is so heartbreaking though.

Megan: Like, Millie, like, no, you should be...

Steph: Also, do you blame her?

Steph: Like, I don't like what she's...

Steph: I mean, she's not dead, she's not alive.

Steph: Her mom has seriously fucked up her life, and made her do horrific things.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: She's literally just like, I'm counting on it.

Megan: I want Kolis to come.

Megan: That's why, like, you're the bait.

Megan: I want him to come and kill him.

Steph: Well, and also, I'm like, Callum, don't you think he's gonna come anyways?

Steph: He wants to kill Casteel.

Megan: Yeah, yeah.

Steph: Like...

Megan: Come on.

Steph: He's been very clear about it.

Megan: Yes.

Megan: So, Malik has also been eavesdropping, and tells Millie that he doesn't want her coming to see Callum alone.

Megan: Unsurprisingly though, Millie's like, I don't give a fuck what you think.

Megan: And I don't give a fuck about what you want.

Megan: Like, fuck you.

Megan: And we're like, yeah.

Megan: He would.

Megan: He would love it so much.

Megan: He's like, when and where, babe?

Megan: Tell me.

Megan: I'll be there.

Steph: Right?

Megan: Which is like, you can't tell me what to do, which I love.

Megan: And then Casteel is, you know, waiting for them to leave, and he goes to see Callum, and he notices that his usual gold wings have just faded away, and his face resembles Poppy's and Millie's.

Megan: Oh, he's like, they have the same nose, the same chin.

Megan: Like, I can tell they're related, which you're like, oh, that's going to be really hard for Casteel to want to kill him then, you know?

Megan: And then Casteel asks Callum if he knows.

Megan: Do you know what Casteel did to Kolis?

Megan: He's like, do you know what I did to him?

Megan: Do you know how I made him bleed and I put him into stasis?

Megan: And then he's like, Callum, do you know what Kolis did to Poppy?

Megan: And Callum just doesn't understand, honestly, like why Poppy even loves Casteel.

Megan: And like, it's like, I don't know why she doesn't love Kolis.

Megan: I don't know.

Megan: He was so loving and devoted to her.

Megan: Like that.

Megan: Callum, wake the fuck up.

Steph: Did you go here?

Megan: Yeah, I was like, did you?

Megan: Do you have a veil over your eyes?

Megan: Literally?

Megan: Are you glamored in some way?

Megan: Because that's not love.

Steph: That's not devotion.

Steph: Or insane?

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: I think he took a little sip of the Kool-Aid, probably, with Kolis.

Steph: Yuck.

Megan: So basically, it just does not go well.

Megan: Callum does not believe that Casteel can even kill him.

Megan: He's like, you can't kill me.

Megan: I'm a Revenant.

Megan: You can't touch me.

Megan: And Casteel shadowsteps into his cell and calls forth the essence to show him everything he can be, including the wings.

Megan: He's just like, I lost it.

Megan: And then once again, Callum's just like, what the fuck are you?

Megan: Oh my god.

Megan: Like, I'm pretty sure like Callum would have peed himself.

Steph: He probably did.

Megan: Probably did.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: : And Casteel is just like, where is Kolis?

Megan: Like, I want to know.

Megan: But Callum's just like, I'll never betray him.

Megan: I'll never.

Megan: And I'm like.

Megan: But maybe you should.

Megan: Maybe you should betray him.

Megan: And he's just like, Casteel, you might as well just kill me.

Megan: Kill me.

Megan: I'm not going to tell you.

Megan: But Casteel's just like, damn it, I can't.

Megan: I can't kill you because I don't want to hurt Poppy.

Megan: So everything goes back to Poppy, how much he loves her.

Megan: And he's just like, you're her brother deep down.

Megan: He's like, I hate that.

Megan: And so he just like retreats and goes back to the castle.

Steph: You did a good thing.

Megan: Which I'm just like, you know what, Casteel, I'm very proud of you.

Megan: You restrained yourself.

Megan: Everybody doubted you.

Megan: Everybody doubted you that you would be able to do that with Callum, but you did.

Megan: You held a boundary for yourself and good job.

Steph: You grew up.

Megan: Gold star.

Steph: Gold star.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: He gets back and two Fates are there.

Steph: And they're referring to Casteel as the bringer of ruin and the giver of wrath.

Steph: And one is our favorite nipped pierced Fate, Aydun.

Steph: And the other is the new fate that we haven't met yet, Kyriel.

Steph: Kyriel?

Megan: Kyriel?

Steph: Kyriel?

Steph: Kyriel?

Steph: Kyriel?

Megan: Rhymes with Ariel?

Megan: Kyriel?

Steph: I wanted to call him Kyn.

Megan: Little Kindle.

Steph: No, like Kyn as in Attes brother.

Megan: Oh, oh yeah.

Steph: I was like, that's what my brain thought.

Steph: I was like, what?

Steph: No.

Megan: Yeah, no.

Megan: Kyriel.

Steph: Well, Kyriel, it turns out all the Fates are super creepy and have been watching Casteel, and god only knows who else, so that's not comforting whatsoever.

Steph: It also makes me wonder to what extent do they watch everyone?

Steph: What do they see?

Megan: Are you watching your sexy time?

Megan: Are you watching the training?

Megan: Are you watching when I go to the bathroom?

Steph: Creepy as Kolis?

Megan: Eww.

Steph: Right?

Steph: Okay.

Steph: They chastise Casteel for not talking to Poppy, and then they assume he was jealous of Poppy going to Kieran and claiming that's what rotted Casteel, which I think is really interesting because he wasn't jealous.

Steph: The Fates then confirm that they're the ones who stopped Casteel in Pensdurth, which is what we thought, from killing Thierran and the other gods.

Steph: Supposedly, Casteel has people on edge, pretty much everyone who meets him, including the ones who want to neutralize him, referring to the Ancients, and Aydun claims to not be one of the Ancients that wants to neutralize him.

Steph: And I'm like, you're decent?

Megan: You sure?

Steph: This feels like a trick.

Megan: Yeah, it's like, I don't know if I believe you.

Steph: Aiden, I don't know how I feel about this.

Steph: According to Kyriel, Casteel's inability to control his powers when he's angry will result in tragedy, something many of them have had to learn the hard way.

Megan: Sherlock, of course.

Megan: Of course, if you can't control your powers when you are literally the Bringer of Death and Destruction and ruin, yes, things will go bad.

Megan: Duh.

Steph: I feel like that's a life lesson.

Steph: If you can't control yourself, bad shit will happen.

Steph: Thank you, Captain Obvious.

Steph: Yes.

Steph: There's more talk about the unions of two hearts not being always good and how sometimes sacrifices need to be made.

Steph: I have a theory on this.

Steph: I freaking hate it.

Steph: We'll talk more about it.

Steph: Most importantly, though, Kyriel says the death of a heartmate bond cannot sever that connection.

Steph: The souls will reunite, but that bond can be broken at any point, no matter what the insinuating circumstances.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: And then once again, I don't like where that's going either.

Steph: But once again, we hear the Fates mention if Casteel or Poppy would sacrifice their union, if it meant untold lives would be lost and the realm would be left in ruin.

Steph: And also, FYI, the realm is growing more unbalanced because both Casteel and Kolis remain in it.

Steph: One of them is trying to get back to the Iliseeum to get to his wife and you motherfuckers won't let him.

Steph: So...

Megan: It's like he's trying to help the balance.

Megan: Let him go see his wife.

Steph: But I'm also like, you also told everyone that the only person who can kill Kolis is Poppy.

Steph: So why are you telling him this?

Steph: So I...

Steph: It makes me wonder if the whole thing about Poppy being the only person who can kill Kolis has been a lie from the very beginning.

Megan: Like there's an ulterior motive for something else with Poppy.

Megan: I'm like...

Steph: Correct.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: So Kyriel also warns Casteel that entering the Iliseeum would be a reckless choice and that's how Nyktos and Sera would see it.

Steph: Probably.

Steph: But here's the thing.

Steph: I feel like Nyktos...

Steph: He would do the same thing.

Steph: Like, right?

Megan: Yeah, exactly.

Megan: I'm like...

Steph: Nothing would keep you...

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: So I'm just like...

Megan: Just because it's a bad decision doesn't mean it's not what you would do.

Steph: So do you know what I thought?

Steph: This is so horrible, but I was like, okay, Boomer, like...

Steph: Like, okay, now that you're older, you're acting like you're not reckless and you wouldn't do anything or burn down the world for the woman you love.

Megan: Mm-kay.

Megan: Yeah, sure.

Steph: All right, sure.

Steph: I'm sure I read like a couple thousand pages of that already.

Megan: Yeah, sure.

Steph: But then Casteel says one of my favorite lines in the entire novella, nothing and no one, not a Primal of Death, nor the Queen of the Gods herself, nor any so-called Fates can stop me.

Steph: If need be, I will go through anyone who stands in my way, I will get to her.

Steph: And I was like, and this is why you are top tier book boyfriend material, chef's kiss.

Megan: Dark Lord.

Steph: Dark Lord.

Steph: And I love it.

Steph: And I love everything about it.

Steph: His, I think the thing after reading The Primal of Blood and Bone, reading this novella is how complex his character is.

Steph: And I think that's why I love it so much.

Steph: Cause he's not simple.

Steph: I think a lot of times when you see morally gray book boyfriends and romaneses, they're kind of like somewhat flat sometimes where it's like, yeah, they burned down the world for you and they love you and all this other great stuff.

Steph: But like, you don't see as much of like the emotional deep layers that you see with like him or Nyktos and like the hurt and the devastation and oh, just oh, I love it.

Megan: He is literally just like so perplexed in this moment and like trying to peel away all these layers of him.

Megan: You're just like, oh my god, like you're a complicated person.

Megan: Like you have so many like complex things going on in your head and which we all do, of course.

Megan: Yes, but it's such good writing and such good character development and I don't know where it's going to go.

Megan: I hope it doesn't go this way.

Megan: It might go this way, but are you going to have a redemption arc?

Megan: Like, I don't know.

Megan: Let's find out.

Steph: Does he need one?

Megan: Does he need one?

Megan: I don't know.

Megan: Okay, time to theorize.

Megan: So first of all, which god did Poppy initially see at the beginning of the novella?

Megan: Sorry, I kind of went Spanish all of a sudden.

Megan: Novella.

Megan: Although Poppy is not a great shape, I would say like on the brink of death is definitely not a great shape.

Megan: She vaguely remembers seeing a presence in Primal mist and a tall form.

Megan: This is obviously a Primal god since she mentions the Primal mist, and we're inclined to believe that it's a man, probably perhaps based on her description.

Megan: So this would lead us to believe the most likely person is Theon.

Megan: However, this person just disappears, of course.

Megan: So again, our theory now is a Primal god was sent to Pensdurth to see what the hell was going on, and they saw the horrific situation with Poppy and went back to Iliseeum to get help.

Megan: They're just like, there's a disturbance out here.

Megan: Like, let me go check this out.

Megan: Oh, fuck, I need backup.

Megan: So-

Steph: Like a lot of backup.

Megan: A lot of backup.

Megan: So we think that was Theon.

Megan: So thank you Theon for coming to the rescue.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: So why does Sotoria learn to become a fighter?

Steph: So it's one of the numerous creepy statements Kolis makes about how Poppy learned to become a fighter and how he used to hate her for that.

Steph: So based on the comment, we know he's talking about Sotoria.

Steph: But the question is, why did she learn to become a fighter and who taught her?

Steph: The most obvious reason is she needed to learn to defend herself from Kolis and his sexual advances.

Steph: But it feels like there's more to this comment.

Steph: We haven't been told this entire story and it feels like we're missing a big piece.

Steph: Is it possible that Attes has trained her?

Megan: I think for sure.

Megan: Attes saw all that shit that was going down.

Megan: He's like, you need a women's self-defense class right now.

Steph: Right?

Megan: Let's go.

Megan: So I feel like in an alternate universe, Sotoria, Poppy, and Sera would run a women's defense facility and just be like, when in doubt, stab.

Steph: When in doubt, grab the glass dildo, break it and go stabby.

Megan: I love it.

Megan: I love it so much.

Megan: Okay.

Megan: : What did Kolis mean by him and Sotoria being distantly related?

Megan: Well, barf really quick.

Megan: So Poppy calls Kolis a pervert, which he is for many, many reasons, of course.

Megan: She's referencing specifically how he is basically related to her because Sera and Nyktos are her grandparents.

Megan: And Kolis responds how they weren't before, like they weren't related before.

Megan: And then it says, actually, I suppose we were in a way, but distantly.

Megan: Okay.

Megan: Still you.

Megan: Still you.

Megan: But that's also a major bread crumb for something about Sotoria’s ancestry and how it's tied to Kolis.

Megan: Again, super gross that Kolis would be interested in someone he's distantly related to regardless.

Megan: Like, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew.

Megan: There's a reason why that is like literally legally banned.

Megan: Like, no, yucky.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: So what does Theon mean about someone being cast from the Iliseeum?

Steph: So this comment is made by him when he makes it clear to Kolis that he didn't come to Pensdurth alone.

Steph: While Poppy doesn't know what it means, a couple of things happened.

Steph: The swirling darkness beneath Kolis' flesh deepens and he says, fuck the Fates.

Steph: Theon also made a previous comment about how Kolis should have sensed that Theon didn't come alone.

Steph: So what does all this mean?

Steph: First starters, it's very peculiar that Kolis could not sense the other Primals that came with Theon.

Steph: At a minimum, he should have sensed their presence and likely should have known who they were.

Steph: We've seen that with all gods, right?

Steph: This makes this question if there's something going on with his power that we're unaware of at this point.

Steph: Second, the comment about being cast from the Iliseeum can mean a multitude of things.

Steph: It could mean a Fate is coming to help because we know at least at a point later in the novella, one Fate does intervene to stop Casteel from causing more destruction.

Steph: It could also mean that Sera was removed from timeout by the Fates to allow her to assist with what was happening in Pensdurth, which feels like the most likely answer, right?

Steph: Because we know that she was put into timeout because she did something bad according to the Fates, who also do a lot of bad shit all the time.

Steph: Okay, third slightly crazy theory is they're referencing a third party that we don't meet in this novella, but has a big role to play in the next book.

Steph: I think there's some characters that we've not met that are gonna come to play.

Megan: Yes, they will.

Megan: They for sure will.

Megan: Who now is going to rise as the new Primal God of Accord and War?

Megan: So we know Theon falls, thanks to fucking Kolis, and shockwaves are sent throughout Pensdurth.

Megan: However, we don't know yet which god is going to rise to take his place.

Megan: So theoretically, there has to be another god to take over this Court or the shockwaves like would have just like continued and stopped or not stopped.

Megan: So our first question, can Attes take his court back?

Megan: Maybe that would be like the easiest option.

Megan: He's like, all right, I'll do it fine.

Megan: Is it possible that that would happen automatically then or like when Theon died or did a completely new god now rise up to become the Primal?

Megan: Be very, very interesting if Attes does take back that Court given his connection to Casteel.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: I think that could happen.

Steph: I think it could too.

Steph: So who is the other Primal god at Pensdurth?

Steph: So when Casteel comes to Pensdurth, he sees a female Primal god that is unremarkable but different.

Steph: She doesn't react to him, which makes me feel like she knows exactly who he is or what he is.

Steph: Her eyes are black, threaded with crimson, and smells like stale lilacs and death.

Steph: She's able to slip through a tower in the realm before you can get to her.

Steph: And I was like, what do you mean she's a Primal and seems to be like death?

Steph: Is Jennifer Armentrout telling us there's another Primal of Death floating around here somewhere?

Steph: How many Primal of Death does that make?

Steph: We got Nyktos, Kolis, Casteel, and this one?

Megan: And still kind of like half of Poppy in a way, right?

Steph: Okay, so let's get a little unhinged.

Steph: Is it possible the Primal might smell of stale lilacs in death because she was dead and now she's not?

Megan: Like a definite in a way, but okay.

Steph: Maybe.

Steph: Could Kolis bring fucking Veses back?

Steph: That fucking bitch.

Megan: Bitch.

Steph: Right?

Steph: We thought the bitch was dead, but Isbitch came back, so now I'm starting to question if they're a way for Veses to come back.

Steph: It would make sense for her to-

Steph: Right?

Steph: Can you imagine if both of them are back in the same fucking realm at the same time?

Steph: Jesus.

Megan: Cat fight.

Megan: Can't wait.

Steph: So it makes sense for Veses to support Kolis.

Steph: It would make sense for her to have an idea of what Casteel is potentially, right?

Steph: So another potential theory, a little less unhinged, is that there are other Primals that exist who aren't tied to Courts.

Steph: How do we know 100% that the only Deminyen Primals are Poppy, Casteel and Kieran and the other one likely Thorne?

Steph: Because that's what Thorne told us.

Steph: Don't trust the Fates.

Steph: Because he told us, it's the three of you and there's another one, but he's different.

Steph: What if there is actually more and we just don't know?

Megan: I think that's a really big possibility.

Megan: I love the theory that it could be Veses.

Steph: Oh my god.

Megan: Mind blown.

Megan: I didn't even think about that.

Steph: Like her and Sera.

Steph: Oh god, can you just imagine what that would be?

Megan: That would be so crazy.

Steph: Or how she might react if she saw Millie, who looks just like Sera.

Megan: Oh my god.

Steph: I'm like manifesting this.

Steph: It's crazy.

Steph: I want it.

Megan: I think you're onto something.

Megan: Let's do it.

Megan: Now here's a fun one.

Megan: What is the importance of Poppy's vision of Eythos and Kolis?

Megan: So remember we had that crazy theory that Kolis might get a slight redemption arc, or maybe it feel bad for him in the next book?

Megan: So this chapter definitely does make that seem to be a possibility because Poppy does feel for him and I felt for him.

Megan: And I'm just like, that sucks.

Megan: People are so quickly shunning you just because you're the god of death.

Steph: But it also brings you-

Megan: I mean, you see death and you're like, oh fuck, run away.

Megan: You're not ready enough to him to hug him.

Steph: What was I saying?

Steph: You're not like Hades, the god of death, and the Crucible series where I'm like, I would run up to hug you.

Megan: I would run up to hug you, absolutely.

Megan: But this does bring up a crazy theory that we have about the Fates that there's behind all of this, which you're like, well, that kind of sucks for you, dude.

Megan: You literally had no say.

Megan: But for example, Eythos specifically says, because of the Fates, all he will ever be is a witness, a ghost among the living and the gods forever wandering forever alone.

Megan: Well, you'd see the question, are some of the Fates just fucking with people's lives even more than we know?

Megan: Like, yeah, it seems like Kolis was just doomed from the beginning because of the Fates.

Megan: And as a result, some of the other Fates tried to help him perhaps by giving him the Star diamond.

Megan: Maybe one of them took pity on him.

Megan: They're like, you know what?

Megan: You didn't deserve this.

Megan: Let me throw you a bone.

Megan: Let me throw you a Star diamond.

Steph: Let me throw you a Sotoria.

Megan: Let me throw you a Sotoria.

Megan: But then one last potential theory.

Megan: Well, I don't love that.

Megan: Don't throw me a Sotoria.

Megan: One last potential theory that we don't love also about that comment.

Megan: Could it be referring to Casteel and what he's become?

Megan: Like, is this like the past repeating itself?

Megan: Like, especially when Eythos then mentions how it's not too late.

Megan: So as Casteel, as he continues his journey, is he potentially going to be subjected to the same Fate as Kolis unless Poppy can do something about it?

Megan: Like, is Casteel doomed to now be a witness and be a ghost among the living and the gods forever wandering forever alone?

Steph: I know.

Megan: I hope not.

Steph: There's just so many similarities in the novella, though, if you think about when Kolis touches stuff and how it dies and then Casteel, it's just...

Megan: Like, Casteel is becoming the new Kolis, but...

Steph: But worse.

Megan: But worse, but it's also like, could he be stopped?

Megan: Does it have to be that way?

Steph: I don't think it has to be that way, but I think Poppy is going to have to make a sacrifice.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: So what is the significance of From the Ash of the First Light chapter title?

Steph: We believe it strongly ties to Casteel's ancestry line.

Steph: It could support our theory that Casteel is tied to the first Ancients that lent part of them to create the Primals.

Steph: We have theorized this for a long time, including that Thorne is actually the Ancient that created Attes’s line, and therefore Casteel.

Steph: It also seems to confirm that the power within Casteel has been there from the very beginning, because it mentions ash, which is alluded to as part of his new smell.

Steph: So I think we're getting like two confirmations.

Steph: Ates, there's definitely a connection to Thorne, and Casteel, the power within him was always there.

Megan: Why was Kieran subjected to Kolis' influence?

Megan: Because theoretically, Kieran is a Primal and a Deminyen Primal, so it's like really weird that Kolis was even able to influence him at all.

Megan: And literally, he attempted to harm himself at the end of The Primal of Blood and Bone.

Megan: So yes, he is a wolven, he's part of that world who were very susceptible to it.

Megan: Many of them died.

Megan: Makes this question, why didn't his power protect him?

Megan: How did that not work?

Megan: Did he have a weakening because of a frayed union between Poppy and Casteel?

Megan: Because if not all three of them are together and united, like they're all weaker.

Megan: So I hate that idea.

Megan: But that also feels like a breadcrumb for the next book.

Megan: That's going to be very important that like his power didn't protect him.

Megan: And like, is Kieran going to end up dying because of this?

Megan: Like, is he is he going to be the sacrifice to save Poppy and Casteel?

Megan: I hope not.

Megan: I love as much as I don't like Kieran's choices, I still love him.

Steph: I still love the wolf, I know.

Megan: I still love our little wolfy boy.

Megan: But I feel I'm glad he didn't come to Kolis' influence, but I'm also like, this isn't good.

Megan: This isn't good that that even affected you at all.

Megan: Like that's not bad.

Megan: That's bad, bad.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: Don't like it.

Steph: So are Nyktos and Sera keeping Poppy from Casteel?

Steph: So based on what Aydun says and Kyriel, this appears to be the case.

Steph: Casteel is specifically told that it would be reckless to enter the Iliseeum according to Nyktos and Sera.

Steph: And that's odd because Casteel is Poppy's husband.

Steph: Sarah specifically told Casteel when she was there and to take care of Poppy the last time she saw him.

Steph: So what is the strange change?

Steph: Why did it happen?

Steph: Obviously they have heard from Lailah, Thierran, and Rhain about Casteel's current state.

Steph: And that probably did not help the situation.

Steph: No, no.

Steph: But Ates also went to the Iliseeum and he has seen Casteel.

Steph: And I would hope that he would advocate for his grandson to be able to see his wife.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: It's like he's in a bad spot right now.

Megan: He needs something to help him.

Steph: He needs Poppy, right?

Steph: It makes us feel like there's something bigger going on with Nyktos and Sera that they know about Casteel likely tied to the end of the prophecy and its ramifications that are making them want to keep Poppy from him.

Steph: It makes us question if they will actually fight to keep Casteel away from her in the next book and will Poppy have to choose between her family and her husband at some point?

Steph: Think about, like, wouldn't that be...

Steph: Think about a sacrifice.

Megan: And yeah, asking Poppy to choose between those two, like that's...

Megan: Also between, like, saving the world, you know?

Megan: It's like, you can either choose your husband or save the entire world from his destruction.

Megan: You're like, cracked.

Megan: Oh, that's bad.

Megan: End of the world, hurt me.

Megan: End of the world, hurt me.

Megan: The...

Megan: Yeah, I don't know.

Megan: I don't want to be in her shoes.

Steph: No.

Megan: Should we be worried about Dominik Na’Lier coming?

Megan: Um, yeah.

Megan: Yeah, we should be.

Megan: We heard about this in The Primal of Blood and Bone, and he's mentioned again in this novella.

Megan: He's really taking his fucking time getting over to Wayfair Castle, like, dragging his heels.

Megan: Makes us wonder if perhaps there's more to him than we know.

Megan: There has to be a reason why we haven't met him yet in this series, but doesn't seem like a good thing.

Steph: No, it does not.

Megan: No.

Steph: We also know that he does know...

Steph: He's mentioned the Vision of Flesh and Blood once a little bit.

Steph: So I'm just...

Steph: I'm like, I have a bad feeling.

Steph: Bad vibes.

Steph: Bad vibes.

Steph: Okay.

Steph: So what's the significance of the recurring heartmate talk?

Steph: So Aydun and the Fates have brought up twice to Casteel about the importance of his heartmate connection to Poppy and its implications.

Steph: I hate it.

Steph: I hate it.

Steph: I hate it.

Steph: Simplest theory is that we're being set up for one of them to have to break their heartmate connection to save the realms.

Steph: We hate this theory.

Steph: We do know that a happily ever  after is coming.

Steph: Jennifer Armentrout has been very clear that we will get a happily ever after.

Steph: However, that can mean that we see the sacrifice happening and Casteel and Poppy are able to be together in Arcadia.

Steph: She does not make it clear that they will be alive or in this realm.

Steph: That would still give them an HEA, right?

Steph: Another potential theory is that Casteel and Poppy are long-term heartmates and their souls will find each other again even after death, which supports our theory that Casteel might be Kyn reborn.

Steph: Because here's the thing that I think is important.

Steph: She has said that now twice from Aydun.

Steph: And I think she's very intentional about the words that she chooses.

Steph: Okay, last theory, super unhinged, super, super unhinged.

Steph: Okay, for those of you that have not read the Fall of Ruin and Wrath, you might want to stop or pause or skip ahead because we are going to talk about some things related to Thorne and what happens in that book and how this all ties in.

Steph: But Thorne, hi.

Megan: Hi, Thorne.

Steph: Hi, Thorne.

Steph: So a couple of things that we know.

Steph: We know that Thorne and Attes and Casteel are related somehow.

Steph: We know that Ates is Casteel's like great granddaddy.

Steph: Great granddaddy, right?

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: We know that.

Steph: We know that Elian is Valyn’s father.

Steph: Those are like things that are pretty well confirmed.

Steph: We know that Primals came from Ancients.

Steph: So we've kind of operated under the theory that like Thorne was probably one of the first Ancients and then he gave a piece of him to create the Primal, which then became probably Attes and then his line, right?

Steph: So that is, I think, the most logical theory we could have.

Steph: Clearly, that's not where we're going to go.

Steph: So bear with us, jump down the rabbit hole, because what if Thorne can time travel?

Steph: What if Thorne is Casteel?

Steph: From the future.

Steph: Think about it for a second.

Steph: His voice sounds really familiar to Poppy.

Steph: He looks very attractive to Poppy.

Steph: And he wants to call her Poppy.

Megan: Yes, can I call you Poppy?

Steph: He's very disappointed when she makes the decision to prevent Casteel from going to Pensdurth.

Steph: Like almost like it hurts him.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: Like there is redemption for him.

Steph: Yeah.

Steph: What if he is Casteel from the future?

Steph: And then therefore, what if Thorne and Lis are Poppy and Casteel reborn?

Megan: I like it.

Megan: Yeah, they always keep getting reborn.

Steph: Right?

Megan: I mean, the whole thing about like, you know, the connection can be severed, but the souls will always reunite.

Steph: Yes.

Megan: Always, forever.

Steph: And it would make sense because Thorne talks about losing his ny’chora, right?

Steph: Because everything.

Megan: Yes.

Megan: I love this because, oh my god, my mind is like blown.

Megan: Yeah.

Megan: Because they travel all throughout time with each other.

Megan: And all these stories keep repeating.

Megan: But like something gets, let's say like, this is true.

Megan: Something got fucked up and he's going back to make sure it doesn't get fucked up or it goes a certain way as opposed to so that, you know, the world doesn't end.

Steph: Yeah.

Megan: Oh my god.

Megan: Yes.

Megan: I can see it.

Steph: I hope so.

Steph: I like it.

Megan: I like it.

Steph: I'm just finding more Casteel books.

Megan: Yeah.

Steph: I mean, Thorne is like chef's kiss.

Steph: Good.

Steph: So, okay.

Megan: Yes.

Steph: In terms of what's next, if you love this book, and if you haven't read the Fall of Ruin and Wrath, you need to get on it.

Steph: It's so good.

Megan: Get on that.

Steph: Right?

Steph: Cause you get to see Thorne again.

Steph: There are countless potential tie-ins.

Steph: You will better understand, I think who Casteel is becoming and the similarities to Thorne because you do see at the end of that book, right?

Steph: Something very similar to what we're seeing with Casteel.

Steph: Also, we've mentioned it before, but the Crucible series by Abigail Owen includes bad boy god of death, who will burn down the world

Steph: Not like Creepy Kolis.

Steph: He's giving more like Casteel vibes.

Steph: Yes.

Steph: That's The Games Gods Play and The Things Gods Break.

Steph: Highly, highly recommend them.

Megan: Then join us later this week when we dive into the world of dark romance and a little mafia action and discuss Bad Bishop by L.J. Shen.

Megan: Happy reading, everybody.

Steph: Happy reading.

Steph: Thanks for listening to Late Night Reads.

Steph: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at Late Night Reads Podcast and check out late night reads.com for even more information about all the books we're reading.

Steph: If you love today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review our podcast and share the show with your fellow book lovers.