Latest / Deep Trope Fantasy & Romance Podcast / Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen Episode 4: Chapters 36–44 | Alpha Training to That Shocking Proposal
Transcript
- Rachel: Welcome to Deep Trope, where we go deep into fantasy and romance books, one trope at a time. We're your two book besties gushing over plot, characters, Easter eggs, theories, and of course, our favorite spicy moments. I'm Rachel, Romantasy Theorist. Kate: And I'm Kate, lover of all things dark and spicy. Rachel: And this is episode four of our deep dive into Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen. And while this episode will only cover chapters 36 through 44 of the book, we are discussing it from the perspective of two people who have read the full book. So that means spoilers. If you haven't finished the book yet, pause the podcast and finish reading before joining us. Kate: The triggers and content warnings in the book also apply to our discussions. So between that and our inability to censor ourselves, please be advised that the podcast is for adults. And a specific trigger warning for this episode is discussion of self-harm. Rachel: Sovereign Alpha Siegrid Therion has just informed Meryn that she has been selected as the new Strategos Alpha. While Meryn protests that she is just a Rawbond Anassa shows her generations of direwolf knowledge apparently accessible only to Alphas. Anassa and Meryn determine that Egith should serve as Alpha on the front lines while Meryn completes her Rawbond training. It would be incredibly detrimental for a Rawbond to lead the war effort. And despite Egith's shock that she has been passed over for Alpha, she agrees to this plan it earns Meryn the respect of both women. After the meeting, Meryn congratulates Anassa on being selected as Alpha, but Anassa corrects her saying that the direwolves chose them as a pair. Noting Meryn's disbelief, Anassa chastises her saying, quote, you were born to lead girl. Whether or not you believe that is of no consequence anymore. You must, so you will. I love this scene. Though Meryn is ⁓ completely inexperienced part of the bonded. She demonstrates here that she has the natural ability to be a wise and humble leader who knows the people that she leads. Egith could have been a big problem for her ⁓ she's an experienced beta that everyone, including Meryn trusted and expected to be the alpha. So it's a smart move to bring her into the fold and make her feel like she is valued and important and that her focus is on protecting her pack and she up earning her as a valuable ally. Kate: Yeah, honestly, I was also really surprised that Egith didn't make more of a stink about Meryn being chosen over her. I mean, from Egith's perspective, Meryn is a completely untrained, untested, unknown Rawbond. She doesn't even have basic information about pack dynamics and what it means to be bonded. And Egith has witnessed the struggle that Meryn and Anassa have with communication. There's nothing that indicates they would be a strong pick other than Anassa's strength and age, Like, Meryn has not really proven herself ⁓ many other ways at this point, like, again, from Egith's perspective. So obviously, we're glad that she's supporting Meryn, but just saying I wouldn't have blamed her if she was angrier. Rachel: No, that's fair. That's fair. I think that there's also potentially like some sort of wolf instinct at play there. I'm curious, like, do they naturally know and acknowledge their alpha? So even if they're frustrated, unless they're willing to maybe step up and challenge them, because I assume that's an option, right? Like that's how it is in wolf packs, like the... Right? So... Kate: Mm. Yeah, it usually is. Rachel: I actually, that's interesting. I wonder if we'll see something like that at any point. Kate: Yeah, I hadn't thought about that, but that is usually something that we see when wolves are involved. So we'll see. Rachel: When Meryn announces that the direwolves selected Anassa and therefore her, as the Strategos Alpha, the pack erupts in disbelief. Meryn calms them by telling them that she was also shocked, but she trusts the wisdom of the Wolves. As she senses their minds starting to open, she explains her plan to complete training while Egith leads at the front in her place. Allegra questions her motives since she is in a relationship with the Prince, And before Meryn can respond, Stark enters the room and answers for her, quote, what's right for the crown is always what's right for the bonded and just shuts down the conversation. He then tells Meryn that alpha training starts in his office tomorrow at dawn. Yes, happening. We're getting a, he trains her my, I think ⁓ my favorite trope of all time. Potentially. Kate: I am also very excited and the training is in the privacy of his office, no less. mean, okay, closed door. Rachel: closed door. It's a closed door training session. While I love Stark coming to Meryn's rescue here, a weird thing for him to say. It reminded me of that quote, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Kate: I mean, first of all, I love that phrase. It sounds like old school country was good for the goose, was good for the gander. I don't know if people say that anymore, but I love it But yeah, it did feel weird to me as well. He doesn't really seem to be one to tow the party line in that way. But is he just saying that because that's what the Alphas are supposed to say? Or is he maybe talking about a different crown than the one on the king? Rachel: ⁓ that's a really good point. That's a really good point. Alright Kate, I'm gonna take a sip of my water and fan myself off in preparation for what I think might be my favorite scene in the book. Kate: Alright girl, pull yourself together. We can do this. Rachel: Hehe at Stark's office the next day and is shocked to find that it is a library filled with a ton of books. In the center of the room, there is an open space for sparring and stone stairs lead to a raised section of the room where weapons, armor, and comfortable chairs sit by a fireplace. The bookshelves lining the walls reach all the way to the ceiling. and have a ladder to reach the tallest shelves. And I just love that Stark is a little Belle bitch. Kate: Does that make Meryn the Beast? Rachel: I mean, she did kill somebody by feeding him his hand. Kate: was pretty beastly. Rachel: This also reminds me of ACOMAF and spoilers for anybody who has not finished reading this book, but when Feyre goes to the House of Wind and she sees how cozy and well decorated it is, it's like that first glimpse that maybe the big bad isn't so bad. Kate: The cozy library vibe is a huge green flag for me and honestly I don't know that I would be above dating a guy just for access to his book collection. Rachel: I mean, I did one time date a guy just for tickets to Jay-Z, so same. Kate: We've done worse. Rachel: Despite her disdain for Stark, there's a clear attraction and tension. She sees an adjoining room with an unmade bed and tries not to let her thoughts go there. But you know what, Kate? My thoughts are there! The training is next to an unmade bed. I am unwell. I am unwell. This is my favorite he trains her scene I think I've ever read. Kate: The tension is killing me. I was like vibrating with energy when I was reading this. Rachel: Were vibrating? ⁓ When Meryn comments on the number of books calling him a hoarder, Stark responds, did you think being alpha just meant fighting well? To which Meryn replies, that's why I'm here, isn't it? Because I don't know what being alpha means, or so I've been told. and then we get our next princess. and you listen to everything you are told, princess? Kate: In certain situations, she definitely does do what she's told and she enjoys it very much. Rachel: Yeah, wait, this was so tension filled, but like, when you put it that way, it's even more so. Like, it's definitely, they're flirting and they don't even realize that they're flirting. ⁓ Kate: Like, just you wait. Rachel: They begin sparring with Meryn relying on her years of instincts from the fighting pits, but Stark hits her with his second punch. So she just has no chance. Meryn holds back her curse, not wanting to anger him too much while she is alone with him. And this part cracks me up so much. She thinks to herself that he might have a cellar full of eyeballs and teeth beneath the sparring pit. Other than the execution of the man that attacked her, She really doesn't have a reason to think he's this bad, does she? Like, do we need to do a pro-con on Stark? Kate: I am struggling to figure out what the cons would be. I see none. Rachel: Right? Like she's being delusional by deciding that he's this much of a murderer. She keeps talking about him being this crazy murderer and she's seen him execute one man who was a criminal. Kate: was a criminal, did attack her. And again, girl, you fed somebody their own hand and choked them to death. You are a monster. Just why can she not love him as much as we do already? Why do we have to wait for her to figure it out? Rachel: because then it would only be a novella. Kate: Fine. Rachel: a in her eyes, explaining that, though Meryn has excellent fighting instincts, you can't trust your eyes when fighting the Siphons. And the tension is thick in this scene. At one point, Meryn manages to trip Stark when she feigns asking him to help her up. Stark knows what she's doing. And so he's somewhat prepared going into this and uses the momentum of his fall to fall ⁓ on top of Meryn, pinning her then presses his calloused fingers against her lips so she can't spit in his face like she did previously. ⁓ And this is why I love trains her tropes. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Kate: It's so good. I feel like we're getting a glimpse of what sex between them will be like. Slightly combative, but with Stark taking the more dominant role, but I'm definitely getting ahead of myself. Rachel: Stop, she thinks she's going to be the dominant one. Like she thinks it's going to be her, and he's just like no no no no Kate: haha Mm-mm. But it is a little combative though, you know? Like she's not completely submissive with him. Rachel: this is something I keep thinking about, what's gonna be the difference between Stark and Killian, because Killian clearly has no problem putting her in her place. But, He's not necessarily giving her what she wants. Like he literally is like, I'm in control. There is no other option. Whereas like, yes, yes. it feels toxic. Whereas Stark. Kate: Yeah, it still feels toxic. Rachel: He's like, no, you want to fight. Like, I know what you want and it's a fight. Kate: Yeah, they're on a little bit more even ground and it feels like if he was more dominant with her, it would be. just a more natural fit, I think, rather than kind of forced or manipulated that way. Rachel: yes, like he knew that she was gonna trip him. He knew that he was gonna help her up and she was gonna trip him. He indulges her, but also, no, no, no, no, no, no, we're not, we're not spitting in my face. Kate: ⁓ unless I you know? Rachel: When Meryn realizes the vulnerable position she is in with Stark's arm pressing against her throat, she notices Anassa's attention and Stark tilts his head like he is listening to something before freeing her from his hold. On our reread, we know that Anassa likely told Cratos Meryn was uncomfortable and Stark being honorable, lets her go. But I'm wondering, is that how it works? Is it? feels something, Anassa feels that, she communicates it to Cratos, Cratos then communicates it to Stark, ⁓ or all four of them communicate Kate: think that it will get there eventually, ⁓ but think right now, Meryn is kind of the one on the outside where she is only with Anassa. So I don't know really if Stark can feel her because more connected to that, than she is, but feels like maybe it's like a three-way. ⁓ connection where Stark can feel Anassa more because he's aware of that bond. But I don't think that it's a four-way connection yet. I think we'll get there. Rachel: So you think we'll get there? Like, do you think that we're gonna get Stark and Meryn speaking into one another's minds? Kate: ⁓ 100 % because isn't that like the whole thing, between mated Rachel: Cratos and Anassa are the mates. And they're communicating across lines, I don't think we've learned anything about the riders in a mated bond. Kate: Right. Rachel: scenario being able to speak one-on-one into one another's minds. I'm not saying that it won't happen. I'm saying I don't think we know that yet. Kate: Yeah, I guess we haven't. Yeah, okay. I, yeah, I think I'm just assuming that there's some kind of special connection there, but yeah, we haven't been told that specifically. Rachel: I think we just hope and pray. Fingers crossed. At another point, Stark pins her up against a bookshelf, which I think is a favorite micro trope for all of the bookish girlies. And thinks she needs to get past her privacy issues with Anassa so she can turn her sexual frustration on Killian where it belongs. No, you don't. Girl, let them out right now. Kate: Please, please, please. Rachel: In this scene, we also learn more about the packs. Each pack has a weakness. Strategos reaction times are slowed by all of the information they are constantly processing. Phylax are physically formidable, but less maneuverable than Daemos And Daemos gets carried away. When Stark tells her this, Meryn immediately glances to his bedroom. Yes! Kate: I'm swooning. Rachel: I'm also glancing to his bedroom. His unmade bed, his unmade bed. I mean, I would prefer that it was made, but like, it's not made. It's still warm. Yeah. Kate: so that they can unmake it. Rachel: We don't learn the Kryptos weakness here, and I do think that's a little bit weird. That's a big question mark. What's their weakness? it that they're not as strong and powerful as the other packs? I don't know. Kate: Maybe. I'm sure we'll find out. Rachel: Stark says angrily, alphas don't have the luxury of weakness. And when Meryn presses him saying that everyone has them, he says, we are selective about whom we show those truths to, understand? then turns from her abruptly, seeming agitated, and then turns and attacks, battering her with trivia. Why do you think he's so angry here? Kate: It feels more like it's about him than about her. Like maybe he's worried about some weakness he thinks that he has. Maybe Meryn is a weakness for him. Rachel: think Meryn is definitely a weakness for him. Kate: And that's getting him agitated. Rachel: I was also wondering if it's like just him being scared for her well-being and if she shows her weaknesses to the wrong person like Killian, it could put her in danger. Kate: That's true too. He does not like how much she shares with Killian. Rachel: Right. During training, something suddenly shifts in Meryn's periphery and she feels energy down her spine. She glances at some of Stark's old faded books and she asks if they are part of her alpha training education. Stark tells her that they have been passed down through his family line and while they are not his Salone, he won't stop her if she feels drawn to any of them while he's not looking. Anassa tells her to quote, do your own research, which is very QAnon of her. we know after finishing the book why she was cagey here, it's still so frustrating to read. And it's also frustrating that Meryn doesn't like immediately turn and grab the books and run. ⁓ Like ⁓ Kate: Yeah, I didn't understand that when I read it the first time either of like, okay, so you feel this connection to this book. Everybody is saying, well, go ahead, like take the book. I'm not looking. And she's just like, ⁓ maybe another time. Rachel: Yeah, like how does she just put that in the back of her mind like that? Kate: I don't understand. How is your curiosity not killing you here? Rachel: At the end of the day, Meryn falls quickly into a deep sleep, but wakes again in the center of the arena, the scent of blood strong in her nostrils. lights arena and she sees shadows creeping across the earth like spiders' legs. She also notices her own shadow isn't quite following her movements, and Anassa tells her to be careful. Kate: Shadow Wielder. Rachel: Shadow wielder. Beneath drainage Meryn sees something gold glinting in the dark with an opalescent stone and it looks like a wolf's head. She reaches her arm down the grate, but before she can grab anything, she hears footsteps and instinctually knows she needs to hide before anyone can find her. ⁓ she flees, she wonders why it feels like this object is drawing her in. She also wonders why it feels like death is on her heels. We never find out who the footsteps belong to. Do we think it was Killian or do we think it was the king? Kate: It could be, but I really think it could be anyone. Could it even be Stark? Like, alerted to Meryn's wandering by Anassa somehow? I really have no idea. Rachel: ⁓ that's interesting. The idea of death on her heels, though, is so like... Like, what does that mean? That's creepy! Kate: I just read this as kind of like a deep sense of foreboding. Like she got a massive pit in her stomach. Did you think of it as something more literal? Rachel: Okay. Yes, that's why I thought maybe it was the king and she can sense siphons as part of her powers. Perhaps she can like sense siphons ⁓ she doesn't know that it's sensing them, ⁓ but she has this like instinct that there's something bad behind her. Kate: Mm. Yeah, that makes sense too. Rachel: Do you think the shadows are coming from the crown and luring her to it? Or do you think they are her own shadows which are just naturally drawn to the crown? Kate: I think they're hers. Shadow powers. I think we're seeing it. Rachel: Yeah. I mean, the fact that her shadow is not cooperating properly, like, is definitely a hint toward that. Kate: Yeah, that's what I felt. Once they said that, then I was like, ⁓ this is her. Rachel: ⁓ wait a second. I just thought of this. So her shadow's not cooperating properly. And then there's also the shadows moving around like spiders. If you're right and it's Stark, are they Stark's shadows? Like spying on her? Kate: ⁓ I would love that. would wish that if it was him ⁓ and those were his that they wouldn't be spider-like though, because that's icky and it makes me feel itchy. Rachel: Yeah, I know, I know. Well, it's spider legs. Like, I think it's supposed to, like, demonstrate, like, the way the shadows are moving, not that it's, tiny little spiders crawling up and down. Kate: Bye. Yeah. I know, I know, but I just, I don't like anything compared to a spider. Rachel: That's fair, that's fair, Ron Weasley. Kate: I'm sorry, what? Say that to my face! Rachel: Meryn continues to think about the object under the arena, but when she questions Anassa, she just tells her, quote, it would be imprudent to get caught there. The new strategos instructor, a gamma who has been called in to replace Beta Egith is struggling to train Meryn, always deferring to her. Meryn thinks he reminds her of Roddert, another strategos Rawbond with, quote, rocks for brains. How is this possible? They are supposed to be the strategists, which I take to mean that they're supposed to be the smartest. How is there one with rocks for brains? Kate: I wonder if this is just like the instinct to submit to your alpha being stronger than Meryn realizes. I mean, she still just doesn't really understand the pack dynamics. She doesn't really understand what being an alpha truly means. You know, like she's still so just unknowledgeable about this whole thing. I that she's frustrated by this, but maybe she's just not picking up the pack dynamics and just doesn't understand how strong that instinct is to submit. I don't know. Rachel: that's so funny. So they're basically doing their jobs the way that they're supposed to and she's like, you're all fucking ⁓ Kate: Maybe I mean, I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he doesn't have rocks for brains. He very well might, but I also just know that she doesn't really get what being an alpha means. Rachel: Yeah, yeah, that's a great point. Kate: It could be both. Rachel: It could be both. During training with Daemos, Stark instructs them not to use their power at full force. But Jonah attacks Meryn, knocking her off Anassa and leaving her in a crumpled ball. suddenly Stark attacks him, screaming at him, you do not touch an alpha that way. Jonah pushes back that Meryn isn't his alpha. but Stark corrects him that he disobeyed his Alpha's orders. And then we get of the most popular lines in the book, especially for the audiobook girlies because this voice really nailed it. Quote, and in case my implication is not crystal fucking clear, you touch her again and I'll cull you myself. Touch her and touch her and die. Kate: We got it. We got it. Rachel: We got it! Kate: I love the possessiveness here ⁓ who ⁓ looking for an excuse to kill Jonad though? ⁓ Do we not all want him dead? Rachel: Mm-hmm. Yeah. See ya. Kate: Or I guess some of us might want to marry him if our fuck-marry-kill from last episode is anything to go by. Rachel: I just, I don't actually want to marry Jonad ⁓ Kate: Hahaha Rachel: I do just, I just think his character is gonna become more important than we realize, unfortunately. Kate: Ugh, fine. Rachel: That's my gut instinct, but we'll see. Maybe he is just... one of those characters that we hate the entire series and we look very much forward to him taking a... ⁓ what if Saela takes him out? What if Saela eats him for lunch in Fury Bound? Kate: That would be so good because him being taken down by a young girl, that's beautiful poetic justice. Rachel: An 11 year old. Yeah, that would actually be very funny. Kate: All right. Yeah, now I'm not rooting for Stark to kill him anymore. Now I want Saela to do it, for sure. Rachel: Okay. Stark orders her to his office and assesses her wounds. Anassa healed her, but her nose was not set, so she looks crazy. He offers to fix it, and then he talks her through it. Hold on to me, tight if you need to. Take a deep breath. and counts down before breaking her nose and resetting it. So he heals her, he heals her. We get a he heals ⁓ But in like the most aggressive, alpha way. Kate: Yeah, he heals her by breaking her. That's great. Rachel: Over the next three weeks, Meryn continues her training with Stark. And though the training is intense, she's excelling under her regimen. Her body is hardened through the training and her mind is sharp from the lessons. She's starting to feel like an alpha. Kate: And I'd like her to start feeling the alpha. Wink, wink. Rachel: Today as are training, she notices Stark seems slightly tired, only noticeable to her because of how closely they've been training together. She seizes the opportunity to take him down, winning the sparring match with him on the ground and her on top of him. They lock eyes, his hand tightens around her knee, and he begins to stroke it ⁓ with his ⁓ It's happening. happening. It's happening! Kate: I mean, God, I wish. It's kind of happening. Rachel: It's kind of happening. I did not include this in the notes, so sorry to surprise you, but why is he tired? Why is he notably tired? What's he been up to? I don't think that we get an answer for it. Kate: No, and I didn't even think about it. Why is it, what have you been up to Stark? Rachel: What have you been up to? Like, is it because he's just like secretly following her around and caring for her? Kate: He's just exhausted by having to stalk her. Rachel: He's so tired because he's just constantly chasing her around the castle in the middle of the night when she's sleepwalking every night into the arena. Kate: That would be great. Rachel: think puts some spider legs on your theory that it was Stark following her into the arena. Kate: Okay, stop it with the spiders. Rachel: You Kate: But yes, if it confirms my theory, then I'll allow it. Rachel: But of course, Meryn blames her attraction to Stark on her dry spell with Killian. They've been holding off until Meryn better understands how Anassa wants to handle the bond during spicy moments without locking her out. To which I say, ⁓ Kate: You can do it for the video watchers. That's great. I love a Rachel eyeroll ⁓ Rachel: reason I've been sent to HR many times in my career. You have to watch what you do with your face. Do I? Kate: They cannot be tamed, those eyes. Rachel: can't control them. Somebody once said to me they were looking at me in a meeting and ⁓ they said to you almost fell off your seat. Your eyes rolled so hard. ⁓ And I didn't even know. I didn't even know. Kate: Yeah, not a really strong poker face. It's fine, I have also been told that my face is louder than I think it is. Rachel: feel like your face always looks so pleasant and kind. Kate: ⁓ so nice. And probably a lie. ⁓ Rachel: It's just probably because it's directed at me. It's just because it's directed at me. Kate: Well, yeah, I love you, but there's a lot of people that I do not. Rachel: Stark yanks Meryn's knees forward and by the description of this scene, she almost sits on his face but tumbles to the side saying, I beat you. She notices an emotion that she can't quite define pass over his face and then he dismisses her for the day. Girl, it's because you almost sat on his face. Kate: He was anticipating it as much as we were. And then you rolled away. How dare you? Open your eyes and your hoo-ha to the possibilities, please. Rachel: Killian, of course, is waiting in her room when she arrives there, and he tends to the bruises that Anassa's healing powers don't cure. She begs Anassa for privacy, and a spicy scene follows. A few things to note. The bite count, of course, continues as Killian kisses and bites her along her neck. Meryn is feeling primal after her training session with stark, and asks Killian if she can take charge. Of course, he denies her. flipping her over so he's on top. And while he finger bangs her, he calls her good girl, which now makes me hate it. using it to put her in her place rather than indulging in her kink ⁓ and immediate jail. Kate: straight to jail. Like how is this dick bag making me dislike a good girl? Damn him. Because I love that trope. Rachel: I'm going to have to burn my good shirt after reading this. Meryn then uses her training skills to flip them both over so she's on top, but he grabs her hair and directs her to use her mouth. Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. Like she seems into it, but this is a nope for me. Kate: Yeah, the dominance is definitely straying more into yucky territory here. And that's, it takes a lot of bad vibes for me to feel that way because I love the dominance aspect. Rachel: Yes. Same, but only from Stark now. Kate: Like, I know, like the vibes with Killian are just so bad. Rachel: Yeah. Ugh. He then puts her on top like she wanted, but sets the rhythm at what she describes as, quote, a punishing pace. So she's really not in control. Literally fuck this guy, or preferably stop fucking this guy. I think the scene is where their sex life starts to move into something truly questionable. Yes, technically, Meryn is consenting. But even on the first read, without the context of Killian's true nature, I think it's the first inkling we get that this is moving into potentially abusive territory. So I'm curious what you think. Have I read it too many times? Am I being too critical? Is this just purely dark romance territory or is this something even darker? Kate: Like I said, his dom tendencies are great, but if she specifically asks to switch things up and he's not open to it, then I'm starting to question his commitment to her pleasure and her happiness, which makes it less great. So I'm the first to admit that I like a dark romance. I like the dominance, I like the possessiveness, but knowing how much he's lying to her and manipulating her, I do not think that you are being too critical. I think this is yucky. Rachel: He's a sex offender now. Kate: Haha Rachel: After, Meryn can't stop thinking about the glittering something she saw in the grate at the center of the arena. So she asks Killian, what is under the arena? He of course shrugs it off and just says drainage. Meryn casually brings up that she thought maybe secret passageways extended there. and that the castle holds many secrets he may never uncover. When he says this, Meryn notes something strange in his tone and realizes this comment doesn't make any sense. He's the future king. Isn't he the one person who should know the castle's secrets? But instead of finally growing suspicious of her boyfriend, who so easily lied about his identity for an entire year, she blames the king. And she assumes that King Cyril is hiding something from Killian. Kate: These are the moments where I understand why you would have been thinking that Killian is controlling her emotions. Because what the fuck is she doing? How is she not suspicious of him? How is she not clocking any of his shit? Like, make it make sense. Rachel: She is clocking it, that's the worst part. She's clocking his shit and then saying, well, obviously he can't be to blame. she thinks that there's no reason that he would be anything from her, which is crazy because was hiding his entire identity from her for an entire year. Kate: How does she trust him at all? Rachel: I mean, listen, I know it would just be a novella, but like, she need to put him on block after that garden. Kate: I agree, we were definitely on the same page there. Hear him out for the curiosity and then fuck off. Rachel: Meryn goes to find Venna and explains her suspicions about the king, asking for her help and uncovering what he's hiding. While Venna warns Meryn that it's a dangerous line of thinking, she agrees with her, noting that there's something off about the castle. She says she noticed strange patterns in the shadows and servants moving about at odd hours that don't match the castle's planned operations. And I love that we get this insight into Venna and how observant she is. She's... Not just a good friend who will look into it because Meryn asks, but she has noted the discrepancies herself. Kate: I love a girl that's naturally suspicious of authority. That's hot. Rachel: Same. I mean, she's my wife, so same. Kate: Same, same here. Rachel: Wait, would we both marry Venna? No, you married Nevah. No, you married Nevah. Kate: I think so. Oh, I did. Damn it. Damn it. I did fuck Venna though. I did. Rachel: Yeah. Kate: To be fair, that was two episodes ago. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Yeah, you didn't have this information then. Kate: Let me change my mind. Rachel: Before Meryn can press Venna for more information, they are interrupted by a messenger with a letter from Beta Egith. They may have located the missing children. There have been possible sightings of children near the front lines in Grunfall. this seems like a great place to dive into the world of Nocturna. and provide a little lay of the land, so to speak, before we set off on our journey to save the children. Kate: So I will do a little deep dive here into the world, but I will also preface it by saying that you should check out the map that is included in the book, because that's where a lot of this information is coming from. And if you go online to Sable Sorensen's website, there's also a nice color version of the map ⁓ ⁓ appreciated as well. It's very pretty. All right, so getting into it, Nocturna and Astreona. are neighboring countries with Nocturna to the north and Astreona to the south. The Bloodthorn Sea neighbors both countries to the northeast and the Eisblume Sea falls on the southwest border of both countries. And there are eight cities in Nocturna. The majority of the story takes place in Sturmfrost, which is in the of bordered by mountains to the north and west of the city. Sturmfrost is the home of the royal castle and therefore is the seat of power for Nocturna. They live in a state of permanent winter along with the other northern cities of Volkenfrost and Rabenfrost. Volkenfrost is the northernmost city sitting on Nocturna's northeastern border, northeast of Sturmfrost near the Bloodthorn Sea. Blumenfall which is Henrey's home, is south of Volkenfrost on the coast of the Bloodthorn Sea about halfway between Volkenfrost and Grunfall, which is again the front lines. The climate is also more moderate than in Sturmfrost. obviously as you get further south below the northernmost cities, the climate becomes a little bit more moderate. They don't have this permanent winter. The closest cities to Sturmfrost are Rabenfrost to the west and Linsfall to the southeast. Rabenfrost is to the west of Sturmfrost on the other side of Mount Wolfsbane, and it sits along the Valestrom River. Linsfall is the halfway point between Sturmfrost and the front line of the war, so it's a rest stop for troops and bonded that are traveling to the front. It's described as an ancient city similar to Sturmfrost, and surrounded by a thick wall. The city is also home to the faceless goddess statue where Meryn prays. And it's also where we learn of a time when Stark saved the city from a siphon attack. So Stark is a bit of a folk hero to the inhabitants here in Linsfall South of Rabenfrost is Eisenfall, which sits on the Eisblume Sea and on the map looks to have some pretty impressive cliffs. To the west of Eisenfall lies Nachtfall. Farmlands sit in the center between all of these cities. So Sturmfrost, Rabenfrost, Eisenfall, Nachtfall, and Linsfall. In the middle of all of them lies a big plot of farmland. And then finally, Grunfall lies southeast of both Linsfall and Nachtfall on the border of Nocturna and Astreona. It's mentioned that it has switched hands between the two countries multiple times throughout the course of the war. And on the map in the book, it actually has two names. It has Grunfall and Verdantide. And it's also mentioned that at one point in history, the city was actually split down the middle where the northern section belonged to Nocturna and the south belonged to Astreona. So again, there's a lot of conflict here. There's a lot of history and it's the frontline and it has been for a long time. So Grenfell is described as bleak and ravaged by war, crumbling buildings, just a mess. Meryn also describes it as being in stark contrast, quote, to the opulence of the castle in Sturmfrost, which is interesting since she also describes Stark, the man, as being right at home here. His world is the world of war. So this Stark city ⁓ home, and I love that. Rachel: That's interesting. were...I thought that it was funny when you pointed that out before, but maybe there is a connection here. ⁓ Kate: I mean, she literally used the word stark contrast. Rachel: Yeah, yeah, that's, that is interesting. Kate: So she could have used a different word there and she didn't. All right, so despite the fact that we know essentially nothing about Astreona, we do get a full map of that country. So it includes the following cities and please give me grace with this. ⁓ Dewdagger Lilyrise, Dawnspire, Bloomfang, Brightbane, and Goldenblood. So again, get a, thank Rachel: You did great. Kate: We get all of those city names, we have an idea of where they lie on the map, but we really don't get any details about them. Rachel: Well, thank you for covering this, Kate, because ⁓ we would have been here for hours if I tried to pronounce all of these locations. Kate: lol Rachel: on the names and pictures ⁓ the drawings on the map, I do need to say that it looks lovely there in Astreona, but like an asterisk, like it sounds warm. adding to my theory that the siphons own the weather. Sunflare doesn't necessarily sound like a place I'd want to go. Like that sounds like too hot. But I don't know, Lilyrise Dawnspire, that sounds lovely. So I don't know if this is some siphon propaganda, but I think it's important to note that I am seeing palm trees, forests, and farmlands on this map. So it's not this desolate desert which is what I was sort of envisioning when I started thinking about the siphons controlling the weather. Kate: Yeah, I mean, I think you're right. It does sound pretty nice. The names of these cities sound a lot more inviting than the Nocturna cities, especially the permanent winter ones. Is it just a marketing scheme? Like, is rumored to have been where it's actually very icy? ⁓ I don't know. But it does sound And I also would just not be surprised ⁓ if it is nice, because ⁓ I that we're going to learn the Siphon Kingdom ⁓ is maybe not as evil as we think that it is or that we're led to believe. I think that it's possible that there's a lot of manipulation going on here. And I think we've learned with all of our experience there's typically a little bit more nuance to the baddie side than we know in the That's my take. Rachel: Well, yeah, I agree. But even if they are the big bads, maybe they still somehow controlling the weather or they're forcing the bonded and the non-siphon humans to live in this like perpetual cold country while they get to enjoy the beautiful beaches. Which is also interesting because it's just like the opposite of every vampire story where they have to like hide in the dark and not see the sun. Kate: Oh, right, yeah, you would expect the vampires to be the ones that have to live in the cold mountains, you know, hidden away and in the dark. Rachel: as soon as Meryn hears the news that they may discovered the missing children, she rushes to her room to begin packing. She doesn't trust anyone else with her sister's rescue. Kate: Which is interesting, since she is so happy to trust her entire fucking wellbeing to that snake Killian. But now she's so distrustful. Okay. Rachel: that is interesting that you say that because Stark appears in her room saying she can't go to the front by herself. And while Meryn interprets this as him attempting to stop her, he actually plans to travel with her to protect her. It's not just up to him. Anassa has already decided actually. Feeling betrayed, Meryn has no choice but to relent. She leaves a note for Killian and they depart within the hour for the two day journey to the front. Yes, very excited for a romantic journey together, but it's interesting what you said about the fact that she trusts Killian with everything, but in this situation, she doesn't even say bye, she just leaves him a note. Kate: It's true. mean, I do imagine that she is just frantic that she finally heard something potentially about Saela But... Yeah. Rachel: I agree, I agree, yes. They journey through a blizzard arriving in Linsfall just before evening where Meryn is drawn to the statue of the Faceless Goddess in the town square. Despite the heavy snow, the statue's hands are not covered with snow as if they are warmed from the inside and Meryn doesn't feel cold when she reaches for her hand. Does the faceless goddess radiate warmth ⁓ or she somehow impervious to the cold that seems like it's a blight the kingdom? I'm curious if is the same magic that prevents snow from falling in the bonded city. If it's some sort of warmth that protects the bonded and the direwolves. Kate: That makes sense to me. I do think that it's the same magic. Rachel: You mentioned in your world that is halfway between Sturmfrost and Grunfall, so that means it's further south than Sturmfrost. Grunfall is on the border of Nocturna. and Astreona. So it's essentially the southernmost point in the middle, at least, of Astreona. I think maybe to the west, there's some other places that could potentially be further south. But it's one of the southernmost points of the country, correct? Kate: Yes. Rachel: Why are they traveling through a blizzard? it make sense for the blizzard to be in Sturmfrost but as they move toward Linsfall, Linsfall's not in a perpetual state of winter, right? Is it just like it happens to be a bad time of year there? Kate: Yeah, I mean, on the map, again, getting a lot of info from the map. ⁓ looks like it's kind of in between where still ⁓ is of in the snowy part and then it gradually moves to the more temperate climate. So I think that yeah Linsfall might just be somewhere that experiences seasons, maybe. Rachel: Okay, that's a possibility or did she leave the note for... Kate: A more interesting possibility, tell us Rachel. Rachel: Meryn left the note for Killian, so he knows where she's going. I actually think it was probably part of his plan that she went there. Did he, with his siphon power, or his daddy's siphon power, did he send ⁓ the blizzard to slow them down on their travels? Kate: mean, maybe, but I'm also just looking at the map and thinking that it's possible that it snows and Linsfall Rachel: Okay, well, let's keep going with this, these couple of chapters because there's something else in here where I think connects it a little bit more. So we can put it on the back burner as a potential, as a potential, or it could just be weather, just normal weather. Maybe it's normal weather. I just, I... Kate: I don't know, you're so... You're so primed to be distrustful. Rachel: I think that snow is a conspiracy theory. Kate: Let's just clip that. No context. Snow isn't real, everybody. Rachel: statue, Meryn kneels to pray, for help to find the children and to understand what is happening. She promises to do everything that she can. she senses a lack of annoyance from and something in the bond with Anassa, but she can't quite put her finger on it. And this is just so funny. A lack of annoyance is something that is noteworthy with Stark. But I'm curious what you think Stark and Anassa are thinking here. Kate: I'm thinking that they know more about Meryn than she knows about herself. And I'll just leave it at that because we'll get into a theory a little bit later on. Rachel: We're gonna circle back to this. We're gonna circle back to weather and we're gonna circle back to ⁓ the faceless goddess. Okay. They arrive at the inn and we are goddess blessed because there is only one room there. Kate: Love it, love it. Rachel: Stark and Meryn sit down in the tavern to order dinner and people are quick to move out of their way. One man even wipes off his table for them. Everyone is just so intimidated by Alpha Stark. Meryn is very jealous of the barmaid, Alisa, who turns out to be the owner of the inn. she describes her as flirtily greeting Stark. And she senses the barmaid wishes Stark wasn't traveling with a woman, which annoys her. Stark tells Meryn that he'll meet her in their room and whispers something to Alisa which sends Meryn spiraling about him bringing a woman to their room. And I am just kicking my feet. She's so jealous, but she doesn't seem to know why. Like girl, why are you so delulu? You love him. Kate: She's so oblivious to her own feelings. I just want her to get on the same page as us. are so far ahead of her here. Get the program. ⁓ Rachel: Truly. A musician sings song about a bonded hero who single-handedly saved the entire town from a surprise siphon attack. And the entire bar sings along. What a fun sing-along moment. ⁓ After seeing Stark the man, Meryn learns the song was actually about him. A few years ago, he killed 100 siphons on his own, saving their town. Kate: This reminds me of Quicksilver, where we get a song about Kingfisher and his heroic deeds as well. Rachel: Yes, Om Nom Shukri. Wait, was that a spoiler? Sorry, I shouldn't say that. Kate: I'm not sure if that was a spoiler or not, I don't actually remember. But I think we love exposition our MMCs through song. I think that's a lovely way to do it. Especially when they get angry about it. ⁓ Rachel: I agree. Like, stop! Guys, stop! Kate: ⁓ my God. Rachel: told you not to play that when I'm here. ⁓ Kate: I'm so embarrassing. Rachel: It's time for bed the room is so tiny that it's hard to maneuver around the bed. Stark, of course, offers to sleep on the floor. Meryn changes into a clean tunic and when Stark turns to face her, He sees the scars on her upper thighs, And we get a who did this to you trope ⁓ and grabs her thigh. She's turned on but slaps his hand away. Stark assumes that Killian did this to her, but she angrily explains that she did it herself. He seems pained that she did this to herself and Meryn is confused why he is concerned after months of what she calls torture. Kate: So in my experience, is often linked to a need to feel in control while with some extreme emotional distress or difficult, overwhelming situations, which we know very well with Meryn's traumatic childhood. So I can understand what could have pushed her to try to cope in this way. And while it as though she is no longer self-harming, they make it sound like ⁓ these are scars maybe, or that it's not an active issue. I do wonder if her questionable relationship with Killian is possibly just a different coping mechanism or another response to her trauma. Rachel: That's really interesting because it really stood out to me that this, we get this scene and this mention of the self harm. And then it just kind of goes away. We don't circle back to it at any point. But when you think of it as like the building blocks of understanding the character and why she reacts the way she does to different scenarios, it makes a lot more sense that it, when you put it in context of her relationship choices. Kate: I mean, this girl is deeply traumatized. Not only has she lost her father, but she's had to step up and be a mother to her sister because her own mother has been descending into this madness that takes away her ability to be present and conscious and be a caretaker. So she's still really pretty young. And we know that she's been dealing with this for many years. And so, yeah, I mean, she's, she's very traumatized and she has tried to cope with it in a number of different ways. We see the self harm as one of them. And I think that Killian is another response to that trauma as well. ⁓ I think that her desire to be submissive to him could be part of that. of just, again, she's had to be so in control for so long that giving up some control sometimes is really appealing. know, like there's a lot about her character that I think we can understand by understanding the trauma that she's been through. Rachel: gets into bed and is amused by Meryn's discomfort with Stark. Stark curls up onto the floor, not fitting into the cramped space, and Meryn tells him not to be an idiot and tells him to sleep in the bed with her. They each make themselves as small as possible, not touching, but Meryn can't help thinking about his hands on her during their training sessions. She forces herself to fall asleep mentally reciting Saela's favorite stories. She really will do anything other than Stark, huh? Kate: You are killing us, Meryn. Rachel: Here we get a callback to what I think is an important reference from the beginning of the book. I think about Killian on the couch in my mother's home, reading, Sae the story about the goddess who had to save herself. When she was looking at the faceless goddess, Meryn mentions that she thinks they need to save themselves. And I wonder if this is a setup for Meryn to be more than royalty, but an actual goddess. Or... Perhaps the Sturmfrost heirs have been remembered in history as a goddess, and that's why the statues are faceless, because the faces were wiped so the family's identity couldn't be discovered. Kate: So I thought almost the exact same thing here. I think that she is the faceless goddess and that the goddess is faceless because she hasn't come into her power yet and recognized it in herself. I was actually writing this theory out in the chapter where we discussed the statue before I realized that you had already had this theory planned for this part of the story. So of course you beat me to this theory. You are the theory mastermind. But yeah, I agree. think that she is the faceless goddess. Rachel: I didn't really beat you to the theory because you had it earlier apparently, yes, parallel thinking, yeah. Great minds, I think is what the term is. Kate: What is it? ⁓ Parallel thinking? Is that the term? Yes. Yes. Rachel: you imagine that when Meryn fully steps into her power ⁓ and she's free ⁓ her bracelet and wearing her crown and she has her Dire Blade do you think that all the statues will magically have her face on them? Kate: kind of do. ⁓ And I also think that that might be when she fully realizes it herself. Like I do think that she has to come into her power and recognize her power to be in her true form. But I think that ⁓ literally herself in the face of the faceless goddess is what's going to make it fully click for her. Rachel: ⁓ I love that. Kate: She's gonna be like, god damn, that is me. Rachel: love that. That would be so fun if that's what happened. ⁓ Kate: That's the scene that I'm thinking of. Rachel: this whole callback to ⁓ Killian to Saela. If you recall, this is where we got that line about the lovelorn gods as well at the beginning of the book. And so if she's the faceless god, if Meryn is the faceless goddess, what god is Stark if he is a god? Kate: I think he is. I do think that he is. If they are mates, then that would just make sense because I think there has to be some even ground there. I don't know what God he is, but I do think that he is a God for sure. Rachel: But it's lovelorn God, Kate. ⁓ The lovelorn has been haunting me this entire book. ⁓ And I'm very concerned. ⁓ gonna get into a siphon in book two? Kate: What? Ugh. ⁓ I hope not. we talked in one about the parallels that have been between story and fourth wing, ⁓ but that is one that I really don't know that ⁓ I would I mean, we'll see, ⁓ we'll see what happens, but don't think I want that to happen we learn that ⁓ the siphons are not actually ⁓ as evil as we're made to believe? I mean, the king is obviously very evil, Kilian is obviously very evil, so there are siphons that are very evil, but as a whole, are they all evil or are there just some? nasty ones that are running the show right now. So maybe we learn that the siphons are not that evil and maybe it's okay if Stark turns into one? I don't know. I'm spiraling now because you just blindsided me with this and now I'm spiraling. Rachel: No, I can't. just thought of something else that... No, I just thought of something else to really make a spiral too. King Cyril's body is inhabited by Alistair Brightbane, who was the original Brightbane siphon that overthrew... Queen Chiara we learn very shortly that the king of the siphons name is Lucien Brightbane. And he is definitely a siphon because he's like beautiful like a siphon is. it like there was Brightbane and then there was like his line of descendants and Lucien is a descendant? Or are they brothers and Lucien is inhabiting bodies? And if that is the case, what if Stark, what if his body gets taken over by Lucien Brightbane? I can't. Kate: ⁓ my god. Rachel: Or the dad, like what if the dad, like, cause you know daddy Cooper. I still think daddy Cooper's like a good siphon, but no, I'm spiraling. Kate: God damn it, Rachel. We don't have time for this. Rachel: Okay, I'm sorry. Kate: ⁓ This episode is gonna be four hours long, okay. Rachel: Back on track, back on track. Meryn dreams of the faceless goddess, bloody and transforming into her mother. She feels unrested when she wakes up and they ride hard for Grunfall. When they arrive, it's clear that Grunfall has seen centuries of battles. It's constantly changed hands between the two sides. It's damaged, full of dusty soldiers, and there's a sickly sweet smell of death. Stark seems focused and at home here on the front, as you mentioned. meet Egith at the war table. She updates them that the three children and two guards were spotted three days ago, but they haven't gotten close since to avoid tipping them She shows a drawing of a siphon spotted nearby and Meryn is struck by her beauty, having never seen a drawing of a siphon before. They show her a picture of the siphon king, Lucien Brightbane. And Meryn thinks his eyes look hauntingly familiar. Kate: Dun dun dun. Rachel: again, something to note here, the blue eyes, Alistair, Brightbane is inhabiting the king's body, then eventually Kilian's. We do not learn anything else about Lucien Brightbane. So, I wanna flag, are they brothers? Are they descendants? Obviously they're connected in some way. A team of stealthy soldiers and bonded have been selected for the mission. That night, they attack the building where the siphons are holding the children. Meryn notes that Stark, who has coordinated the entire mission, is in his element here on the front lines, the consummate Alpha. Somehow even his scowl is gone, and he's transformed from the Rawbond instructor to Alpha Stark of Daemos. ⁓ thought that he was scowling all the time because he was trying to hold down his Meryn-induced boner. But is it actually because he was just full of testosterone from being stuck at training instead of on the front? Kate: It's both. Okay, this man contains multitudes. I love him for that. Rachel: When Stark learns the siphons are unexpectedly changing guards, he remains cool and adjusts the plan accordingly. Meryn thinks about how he could have been a strategos. Yes, because people are nuanced and it makes sense that an alpha can't be just skilled at one thing, they're trying to pigeonhole all of the wolves and riders into like, you're good at this one thing and you're bad at this other. Kate: but then also saying that we can't show our weaknesses. I'm hoping that his many affinities also mean that he can be a shadow daddy. And I'm going to keep harping on that until it happens because I just want it so bad. I know you do too, We're rooting for it. Rachel: Shadow Daddy Stark. I mean, it's alliteration sort of for a reason. Yes. Kate: It just rolls off the tongue, that's nice. Rachel: Stark commands Meryn to stay with him. The four of them, Stark, Cratos, Meryn, and Anassa leap into action, and we learn that beheading is the only way to slay a siphon. The direwolves' unique combination of stealth, speed, and power is on full display in battle as they slaughter a number of siphons. Early in the mission, they are ambushed, and siphons begin to pour into the doorways, but Stark throws them against the wall with his Daemos magic, which Meryn describes as godlike, and then swiftly beheads them. Kate: I do not think this is a coincidence. Rachel: First, Anassa and Meryn simply shadow Stark and Cratos, but Meryn's Stratego's power allows her to envision a strategy. The siphons aren't prepared for her street fighting skills, and the two of them switch into attack mode. Finally, they defeat the siphons and make it to the cells, despite Anassa taking a dagger to the neck. They make it to the cells. which are thick with a sickly sweet smell that Meryn learns is the smell of siphon magic. I had to do a search for sweet smells and found three interesting references. Kate: course. Rachel: The first reference to something smelling sweet is in the enclosed garden with Killian. Meryn notes the rose bushes, which smell sweet and fresh, and their scent is everywhere. In the next episode, we learn that Meryn's father gave her mother a scarf covered in roses. I'm wondering if roses are symbolic of siphons, and if so, could Meryn unite the whole kingdom as ruler over humans, bonded, siphons? Kate: think she could. if Meryn is the Faceless Goddess, ⁓ the lore, for the Faceless Goddess is that she brings peace and that she makes lives better for the it seems like uniting whole kingdom would do that. So I think that makes a lot of sense. Rachel: And do you think that roses could be a symbol for siphons? Or is that too far-fetched? Kate: I mean, roses do kind of have that sickly sweet smell. So think that would be ⁓ natural Rachel: and they're red like blood. Kate: Yes. Rachel: sickly smell of flesh on the front line at Grunfall. This is likely just a reference to death, but it wouldn't be surprising if the smell of Siphon Magic filled the air since they are so close. And then finally, when Saela has her fit, a sickly sweet smell fills the air. just before they realize that she is a siphon. Unfortunately, when they arrive at the cells, they are empty. Based on the children's clothing and food in the cells, they realize the children were there recently, so who tipped them off? Perhaps Meryn's letter to Killian? Kate: Maybe. Maybe it's a setup. Rachel: captured for questioning, and Meryn is too excited about this. She describes shadows in her visions again, urging her toward violence. Her Daemos power, perhaps? The Siphon Man, who Meryn notes as absolutely beautiful, is set up in an interrogation room at Grunfall. Meryn insists on leading the interrogation and she is full of rage with shadows twisting at the edges of her vision. She notes that deep down she has a feeling of dread at torturing someone, but she pushes the feeling down. The Siphon is uncooperative, claiming not to know about the children or the Nappers. Meryn begins breaking his fingers, but he continues to claim there are no children. She moves from breaking fingers to cutting with a poison dagger, noting the shadows in the room are egging her on. The torture and lack of information continues. is overcome with a killing rage. She describes the shadows as consuming her and eventually moves from the dagger to a saw, violently killing the siphon. This is really the height of Meryn's descent into this is. ⁓ She starts with mercy when she's attacked in chapter one, then murder and self-defense, even if it was violent, then killing the nabber, then torturing and violently killing the siphon. Each of these kills becomes more more violent and depraved. I just don't think it's only because she's bonded, but more likely this Daemos frenzy that they've described as the weakness of the Daemos. Kate: think that's fair that specifically note that this frenzy is a weakness. doesn't fully understand her power yet, so she would understandably be more susceptible to those kind of weaknesses. Rachel: Do you think it's true that they just missed the children? Or do you think that the children were never there? Was this a ploy to get Meryn from the city long enough that Killian could have her mother killed with a few days past before she found out? Kate: I do believe that it was staged and that the children were never there. I think that it was all a setup. Rachel: So it was all a setup just to get Meryn away from the city. Kate: To get her away from the city, keep her kind of confused about what's going on with the children and the Nabbers, just to kind of keep up that ruse and keep her just chasing nothing. Rachel: When she makes it back to her tent, Minging Meryn is back, collapsing into bed without a bath despite being covered head to toe in siphon blood. Kate: ⁓ yuck Rachel: wakes her up in the morning for her siphon kill tattoos. And since they start on the upper arms, he instructs her to take her shirt off. And when does, ⁓ Stark's eyes flick her bound chest. You gotta have words to that. Kate: I'm loving it. I know, I know. I have to remember, most people are not going to be seeing this video. Rachel: Jazz fingers, jazz fingers. Kate: Super jazzed. Rachel: acknowledges that must stink like death in battle, but it's really just a passing thought. And I just, ⁓ again, do not get I literally kick him out of my tent until I'm bathed. Sir, come back with a bath. ⁓ How does this girl just no shame about being covered in just like the grossest yuck? Kate: If not for his sake, then for her own. I mean, who wants to sleep in filth like that? Blood is sticky. It smells like it's uncomfortable. How do you not just want to hose yourself down at least? Rachel: we think this is something about the siphons? I keep saying that all of her frenzy and like killing is related to the Daemos power. And I do believe that but the fact that she keeps going to bed in blood, when nobody else ever would do that. Is this a hint that she has like siphon blood like Her father perhaps was a siphon before she was born. Kate: mean, there's also the fact that all of her visions are bathed in blood, right? We have a lot of bloody imagery associated with Meryn, so maybe it's at ⁓ enough that they've brought it up multiple times. I'm hoping that there's some reason that she okay being covered in nasty blood other than that she's gross. Rachel: Okay, so we're clocking Minging Meryn as a clue that she's got Siphon blood. All right, we might have reached a new low in conspiracy theories. Kate: We're spiraling a lot in this episode. Rachel: Meryn is focused on the undeniable charge in the air. Breaking the silence, Stark notes her intensity during the interrogation. And Meryn just word vomits, telling him everything about her mission and her desire to find Saela. She realizes that she's overshared, feeling like she bared her soul to him. And despite herself, she looks at him and they lock eyes. She notes something she can't describe in his gaze. And then... For the first time, he uses her first name, Meryn, and she feels a tingle up her spine. finally, when he finishes her tattoos and bends down to lick them, Meryn feels an overwhelming sense of arousal. They lock eyes, and then he licks her tattoos again. ⁓ And then she grabs his hair and he bites her. And then she moans. She grabs his hair. She grabs her fistful of his hair and he bites her. He bites her. Kate: Yes she does. Yes she does. The scene is delicious I also didn't realize how ⁓ it felt to use first name for the first time, but between this scene ⁓ and obsession that I've had with Heated Rivalry as well, and the scene where they use their first names, I love this I didn't realize how juicy that felt. until you finally get that moment and you're like, ⁓ my God, they're connecting. It's beautiful. Rachel: That's so true. And then they're interrupted by Beta Egith Kate: ⁓ my god. God damn it, Egith Rachel: Why is she such a cock block? Kate: Like am so desperate for this to continue here. ⁓ was, I think this was the scene of all the edging that we get from and Meryn in this book. I think this one was the worst one for me. ⁓ I on the edge of my seat. I just wanted it so badly. And then for this, and I don't, I like Egith, but in this moment I was like, this bitch ⁓ better the fuck out of here. Rachel: She needs to die. Fuck Egith Kate: ⁓ Rachel: We need to talk about the bite though. Why did he bite her? Like, does he just know because he knows her? Does he just know that biting is just currently her number one kink right now gave in? Does he also just love a little nibble? ⁓ do bites mean something to the bonded? Because I think we've both read many popular romantasy books where bites mean something special between fated mates. in the fae world. So it perhaps mean something among the bonded with mated pairs? Kate: Well, I have not only read a lot of books about fated fae pairs, also read books about fated wolf pairs. ⁓ biting is important across the board. is a claiming, ⁓ is a permanent ⁓ of bond. you know, a lot of times when it comes to wolf bonding. there's like a moment where you get ⁓ a ⁓ marking where like they bite in like a specific spot and then it just, ⁓ remains as a permanent. a connection and a permanent visual of their bond for everybody to see. Rachel: Wait, no, wait, no, no, no, no. You brought up that Stark has the scar on his jaw, that's a bite. Kate: So with that in mind, what? What? Rachel: What is that from? Kate: Wait. Wait, no. Rachel: No, undo. Kate: No, wait, okay, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, because typically, and again, I'm making a lot of assumptions here, but typically the bite, like the claiming mate bite is like on the neck or somewhere like that. It's not usually like on the face. Rachel: You Okay, okay. Kate: Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Rachel: No, the thing, what you're saying about like the claiming bite that's visible. There's a series, I don't want to ruin it for you, so I'm not going to say what series because it's a popular one. There's a series where that's a big thing. A big thing. Kate: Okay, don't make me freak out though. Rachel: Okay, okay, all right. They travel home mostly in silence and each have their own room in Linsfall. Meryn is overcome with guilt, even though they didn't actually kiss. It was just an amazing bite. she replays the interaction over and over in her mind, she senses Anassa's amusement down their bond. As they near the city, Meryn begs Stark to make a stop so she can visit her mother and update her on Saela. Internally, she's longing to hug her and be reminded of her own humanity. Stark agrees, but urges her to be quick. The Unity trial is next week and she needs to catch up on training. When they arrive at her home, Meryn knows something is wrong. The house is dark. No one is home. She runs to Igor's house, who is heartbroken to reveal to her that her mother had an episode three days ago, wandered into the city square and was killed by the guards. Igor tells her that he and Killian, who he still knows as Lee, are helping with the funeral arrangements. Stark is there in the doorway demanding details, but Meryn can't focus. She needs to see Killian. rushes back to the castle straight to Killian. She is distraught that she was away when both Saela and her mother needed her. Killian comforts her, telling her he saw her mother last week, and she was a bit disoriented, but no worse than usual. He reassures her that it was quick from what he heard. I just have like a stream of profanities that are boiling at this motherfucking asshole who was the reason that she was away for both Saela and her mother. Kate: Fuck this dude. And then also stop fucking this dude. Rachel: Killian comforts her as she processes and grieves. Meryn whispers that she is all alone, but Killian says, let me be your family now, drops to one knee and proposes to her. He claims that he planned to propose to her after the trials. Anassa growls across the bond. You aren't alone. You have me. Kate: Ugh, okay. This might be a fantasy book, but we are seeing classic abusive behavior from Killian here. He's isolating her, making her feel like he's all that she has, so she's more afraid to lose him. He's clearly gaslighting her. Meryn needs to remember her found family, which obviously now includes Anassa. Please get your head on straight, Meryn. Please. This man is the worst. Rachel: And he's blonde, as you've said. Kate: And he's blonde! Girl! Please! Rachel: Like you were just bitten by a tattooed dark haired man. Kate: How is she resisting him at this point? Like how is Meryn resisting Stark? Rachel: It's definitely like the familiarity aspect of Killian. Like he knew her mother. He was there with her for a year before she became bonded. Like she's lost Saela. Like she definitely, it's a comfort thing because he's just familiar to her. Kate: I know, and trauma is a wild thing. It messes with your brain so much. It makes you do things that make no sense to other people. So I am trying to give Meryn grace with that, but it is driving me crazy she has not. embraced her connection to Stark. And I cannot wait for that to happen in the next book. Rachel: Killian claims that he asked her mother's permission and she gave her blessing. He pulls out an elaborate engagement gold bracelet covered in black diamonds with a red ruby in the center. Anassa tells her that she is not in the right place to make this kind of choice, but Meryn tells her that it's not her choice to make. She says yes, and he puts the bracelet on her wrist. Meryn feels it tighten against her wrist and senses the shadows. finally disappearing. I love the little teasers that we get here that she feels it tightening against her wrist. on the first read, you can interpret that as feeling like maybe I made a bad choice, and it feels tight. But really it's tightening because it's on there for good. And also the, yes. And then the shadows finally disappearing. it's, it feels like a good thing, right? That these shadows are no longer following her, that this darkness, this looming darkness disappears, but it's actually him taking her powers away from her. It's like, so heartbreaking. Kate: Like it's physically tightening. Yeah, this was definitely a lot more painful to read the second time. Rachel: Yeah, especially. Kate: I was not happy about it the first time. I definitely already hated Killian at this point in my first read, but the second read is so painful. Yeah. Rachel: Okay, the trope count. So we have six to seven. Do you wanna list them out? Kate: Yes. Okay. So we get a, trains her, which I know you love. It's a good one. We get what might be like a micro trope with the library with a ladder. think that is just something the book girlies love, but feels kind of like a micro trope to me. We get a touch her and die. Rachel: I agree. I mean, we love a Belle bitch. Kate: suppose we do. ⁓ personally love a little bit more of the beast than the Belle, but I appreciate a great library. We have a Touch Her and Die, another great one. We get a, heals her. And again, this one was special because he broke her to heal her, which was very stark. I loved it. One bed at the inn. This one did not have a very satisfying payoff, but it was still good. We get a, did this to you in the same scene. That was a packed scene. And we of course have the found family. We have Anassa particularly reminding Meryn, you have me. You're not alone. You have me. So previously we had the found family consisting of Venna and Izabel ⁓ and the friends that she's making in the Raw Bonds. But this episode or these chapters, we are specifically Anassa to that found family. They're finally connecting. They're finally communicating. Thank God, you know I was getting sick of that. And she is now part of the found family. Rachel: Yeah, and it's the mother role in her life. Kate: I love it. Rachel: Okay, should we do a little fuck marry kill? Kate: Yes, This time we thought it would be fun to do it with the tropes though, rather than the characters. So what tropes are we doing? Rachel: Little twist, a little twist. We've got he trains her, one bed at the end, and who did this to you? Kate: All great ones. Okay. So my take, I would like to one bed at the inn ⁓ while I do really love it and it can be delicious, I also find that a lot of times it is used as a teaser and I don't actually get the payoff that I kind of want from it. So I'll fuck it, but. ⁓ I don't think I want to marry it for that reason because sometimes it's just a tease. The one that I will marry is Who Did This To You. I love that one so much because I really like that kind of possessiveness. That's the darkness coming in and it's even if it doesn't lead to like a spicy scene or anything like that, just the... That's kind of the, lot of times the first glimpse that we get of the kind of claiming from the MMC. So I think that that's really tasty and I would like to marry it. Unfortunately, that means that I will kill He Trains Her. I like this one. I think we get a lot of delicious scenes from it, but in this grouping, I think that it's... not my favorite out of the three. Rachel: Hmm. Well, that's why we both get to play the game. Kate: I know that you don't, I know, and I know specifically with that one that you are not in alignment with me. Rachel: Well, I think I'm going to surprise you here. Kate: Okay. Rachel: I'm going to marry who did this to you. That one just, yes, I agree with you on marry and who did this to you. That one just hits every time. It's always like, it's possessive, it leads to like touch her and die. Kate: Alright, so we agree there. Rachel: It can lead into a revenge situation. I'm here for it. I'm going to, fuck, he trains her. The reason I'm not marrying, he trains her is because I am not a gym girly. I exercise against my will so that I don't die, but I do not enjoy it and I don't want to do it every day. I just have to. And therefore I will not read it every day. Kate: You Rachel: I like it as a little dessert. I like it as a little dessert. So I'm gonna fuck key trains her. Yes. Yes. Yeah. So I'm gonna fuck key trains her. I'm gonna marry who did this to you. I'm gonna kill one bed at the end. It's good. Like I like it, but it's not. I am great with a book not having it. Kate: Fair, fair. Because the tension is good in those scenes. Yeah, no, I, I get that. And again, like I said, one bed at the end, can be frustratingly teasing sometimes. Rachel: ⁓ yeah. Or if they go to an there's two beds. ⁓ Why are we at this inn? I care. ⁓ Leave the inn. Kate: Yeah. Don't even tell me, I don't care. Like they're sleeping, great. Rachel: let's get out of here. What's this week looking like for you? What have you been reading? Kate: Well, this week was actually a pretty good week. I got a visit from my parents, which was lovely. They do not live in the same state as me, so it's nice to see them and spend some time together. Shout out to my mom, who I know is listening, and also to my dad, for his sake, I hope is not listening. My mom just finished reading Dire Bound so I'm excited to be able to discuss it with And I think she might've been listening before she read the book because she's so supportive. Love that. But it'll make a lot more sense to her now. So that's, that's exciting. As far as what I'm reading this week, I just finished the silversmith, which I mentioned before by LJ Claren. I loved it. And I cannot wait to talk to you about it at our next brunch, because I don't think that I mentioned before this that I did finish it. And I know you've been waiting for that. So let's plan a brunch. Let's talk about it. Rachel: You've been withholding. Kate: And I have been withholding, I'm sorry. ⁓ and then I, all right, let's not get ahead of ourselves, We'll talk about it. ⁓ I finished The Silversmith and then I started a book called The Female by Invi Wright, ⁓ is a dark romantasy set in a world where female populations of humans, demons, and other fantastical species. Rachel: Just like LJ Claren. Okay, I will. Kate: have been mysteriously dropping to dangerously low levels causing them to lose their freedom and become coveted possessions of the male populations. It is dark, it is spicy, I am into it. I'm like halfway through that book. Rachel: How did you find this? Kate: Girl, I follow so many book people on social, and they're always just like, do you want an unhinged spicy read? Here's 10 of my favorite, and I'm writing them down, okay? I've saved so many of those reels. Rachel: mean, same, it's just funny because like there's so many very, very popular ones and I've never heard of that one and it sounds great, but like it's just funny that that's... Kate: This one was on a few lists. Like I had this one saved a few different creators that had recommended it. So ⁓ don't know that it's completely unknown, but ⁓ is a bit of a departure from the kinds of romantasy that I had been reading. So I was just looking for something a little different. And plus I started it before Rites of the Starling came out. ⁓ If I didn't have a gap between silversmith and rites of the starling, I think I would have just gone right into that one, but there was enough of a gap that I needed to fill it. And so I'm going to finish this one before I start that one. Rachel: love it. Well, I'm currently in over my head. I'm overbooked. But let me brag a little bit. So I am reading Rites of the Starling. I was buddy reading it for about three hours with Runing Books, but she finished it in like a day. on the other hand, I, at the time of this recording, have been reading it for five days and I'm on chapter 19. ⁓ I that's like 30 % of the way I don't know. Runing books, I'm sorry, I'm a slow reader. I'll get through it this week. I'm also busy. I'm busy. was on my like 12th reread of Dire Bound. But I think gonna try and get through it this week. I have it on audiobook and physical copy. So like ⁓ I'm multitasking here. it's very good. very good. There's a lot of new characters and there's like a lot of new men. So I do enjoy that. Kate: But you're also busy. Rachel: I'm also beta reading ⁓ Avorie and Xavier Harleston from the Romantasy HQ podcast. We were a guest on their podcast. I'm beta reading for them their first book. It's called A Thunder of Truth. ⁓ I'm that into it yet, but very much enjoying it because it's a very different world There's like a lot of new creatures that I've never ever of before. So I'm enjoying that. Do you know what beta reading is? Kate: I can guess. I'm guessing that it is where you get to read it before it gets... like final edited, whereas like an arc is like, okay, it's about to be out, you're reading the final version of it, and then it'll be published. Beta reading, I'm guessing, is you're reading it before it's finalized. You can provide feedback, potentially it'll change the story before it gets published. Is that true? Rachel: Yes, so beta reading, you're giving feedback, essentially live feedback to the author, which is very fun. you and I both have a market research background and ⁓ it's very much that where like the author's getting feedback from a couple of readers and you know, maybe if there's like a lull in the story or there's something that all the readers are like, I don't know. Kate: Yes. Rachel: what this word means or who this character is, like when was this introduced, they might know to go back and edit it. And like I have one book that I beta read that I cannot speak about and I cannot say who it's for. But there was like one line in particular that the author went and changed after I gave some feedback. I'm like, ⁓ I'm like part of the process. it's so I know. Yeah, so it definitely is a Kate: You're like an editor. I love that. Rachel: cool thing that Bookstagram and BookTok makes available where you have actually the opportunity to get to know authors and create enough of a relationship with them that they trust you to give feedback at that level. finally I have some massive news. have some massive news. Kate, as of ⁓ yesterday, the Fury Bound is in my possession. Kate: Yes! ⁓ my god, yes! Rachel: ⁓ But I can't touch it. I can't open it. We have two more episodes to record after this. Kate: ⁓ you're right. You're right. Damn it. Rachel: And think possibly we're talking about an additional sort of recap episode. So we have two to three more episodes that I need to get through and then I can read Fury Bound. Kate: I've been complaining about ⁓ having to ⁓ on Meryn to figure it out to get with Stark and now we are holding out on ourselves because we are not enough. Dang it. Rachel: This is the result of our own procrastination and it's just like... Kate: Damn the consequences of my own actions. Rachel: ⁓ god, so ⁓ I'm gonna be focused on trying to get through these episodes. ⁓ enjoying Deep Diving Dire Bound, but this is like the greatest feat of willpower that I've ever had to exert. Kate: Right, because we can't, I mean, you're right, we can't touch that until we finish this because it can't influence any of our theories. ⁓ Dang it, well this is. Rachel: Like I can't be over here just letting you theorize while I know what happens. Like that can't be how it works, so. Kate: Well, yeah, because we know that you don't have a great poker face. I'm pretty sure that I would know if I was spouting nonsense and you're just like, what? Rachel: What's she talking about? Kate: Okay, well, this is great motivation then for us to get our act together and finish the rest of these episodes. Rachel: Yes, so we're gonna keep moving through these episodes. And then do have another arc coming my way soon as well, Hunted by the Fae Duke, which is a standalone by our friend Kris K. Haines So yeah, I'm booked up and I'm overbooked. Kate: been seeing all of her teasers for that. I am obsessed. I cannot wait to read it. Rachel: No, it looks so good. It looks so good and like so spicy. Kate: Shout out Kris K. Haines, has another series as well, The Memory Puller, which we both big fans of. Rachel: Yes, which will be finished this year. The last book comes out I think this year. There's not a release date yet, but she's been teasing this year. So we'll see. Kate: Very exciting. Well, I am so jealous of your arcs right now. What an incredible lineup. Lucky girl. Rachel: know I'm excited. I'm overwhelmed, but I'm excited. It's a good overwhelmed. ⁓ All right, well let's get out of here so we can we can we can keep reading. Kate: Yeah, we have a lot of work to do. Okay. Rachel: Thank you for joining us for our deep dive of Dire Bound week we'll be covering chapters 45 through 53, which puts us firmly in the last 100 pages of the book. So things are about to get ⁓ really wild. You will not want to miss this, so be sure to subscribe so you know when each new episode drops. And if you enjoyed today's episode, please drop us a five-star review and share with a friend. Kate: And if you want to follow along on social, you can find us on Instagram and TikTok at DeepTrope Podcast. Rachel: See you next week. Kate: Bye.