A Novel Bunch

#076: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering Crown of Midnight in FULL and Bunchies, this book just changed the entire game.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Celaena is officially the King’s Champion, but surprise: she’s secretly not killing his targets. Instead, she’s helping them disappear, including her latest assignment, Archer Finn, a childhood friend who reveals that rebels are searching for the lost heir of Terrasen:Aelin Galathynius.OH RLY.Meanwhile, Celaena and Chaol are getting VERY close. Nights together, dancing, birthday dates, talking about leaving Rifthold and yes, they finally become a couple.Alyssa is suffering. Dorian deserves JUSTICE.Speaking of Dorian…DORIAN HAS MAGIC.During a council meeting, his anger literally cracks stone and shatters a window. He also notices that the King, Duke Perrington, and Roland are all wearing matching black rings.Nothing ominous about that!!!Then Baba Yellowlegs drops some MASSIVE lore: the Valg are demons from another world, there are three Wyrdkeys capable of opening Wyrdgates between realms, and the King may already possess one.MULTIVERSE ALERT.And then everything falls apart.Nehemia begs Celaena to fight for Eyllwe, but Celaena refuses. Nehemia’s final words to her?“Nothing more than a coward.”Chaol later learns about a threat against Nehemia but keeps it from Celaena. He gets kidnapped, Celaena races back to the castle……and Nehemia has been murdered.Celaena completely snaps and nearly kills Chaol, until Dorian uses his magic to stop her.From there, we finally see the assassin everyone has been warning us about.Celaena hunts down Grave, walks into the King’s council carrying his head, and declares war on everyone responsible for Nehemia’s death.But the BIGGEST betrayal is still coming.Celaena eventually learns Archer ordered Nehemia’s assassination. He planted the threat, kidnapped Chaol, and manipulated Celaena into blaming him.Then he TAKES FLEETFOOT INTO A PORTAL. Obviously we lost our minds. Celaena follows and TRANSFORMS INTO FAE.She kills the creature inside the portal, saves Fleetfoot and Chaol, and then kills Archer.After everything that happened, Chaol realizes Celaena is no longer safe in Rifthold and arranges for her to be sent to Wendlyn.Before she leaves, he tells her: “I love you.”Her response? “I’m sorry.”Then Celaena whispers a date into his ear, the day her parents died. Chaol finally puts the pieces together.Celaena Sardothien isn’t just Celaena Sardothien.SHE IS AELIN ASHRYVER GALATHYNIUS.THE LOST QUEEN OF TERRASEN.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#075: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Throne of Glass chapters 43 through 55, and BUNCHIES—we’ve got Kaltain on our LAST nerve, portals opening, MORE Wyrdmarks, and Celaena officially becoming the King’s Champion.*SPOILERS AHEAD*But first—Wyrdmarks in ACOTAR?!Feyre describes the faded markings around her family’s human cottage as whorls, swirls, and runes carved around the doors and windows for protection against faeries.Now that we’ve seen Wyrdmarks used for protection, portals, and crossing between realms in Throne of Glass... could those cottage markings actually be Wyrdmarks—or some forgotten version of the same ancient language?WE HAVE QUESTIONS.Back in Erilea, Celaena finally reveals her true identity to Nehemia, who gives her the name Elentiya, Spirit That Could Not Be Broken.Then it’s time for the final duel.Celaena takes down Grave in under two minutes, but before she faces Cain, Kaltain poisons her wine with bloodbane. As Celaena becomes weaker and more disoriented, Cain begins taunting her with horrifying details about the night her parents died.HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT?!And somehow things get even worse.Creatures begin surrounding Celaena during the fight, creatures no one else can see. Elena appears through a portal, drives them away, removes the poison from Celaena’s body, and gives her the chance to fight back.Celaena defeats Cain, a Wyrdmark glows across her forehead, and when Cain tries to attack her from behind, Chaol kills him—his first kill ever.CUZ HE’S IN LOVE. I SAID WHAT I SAID.Nehemia then reveals she knew WAY more than we realized: she drew the protective Wyrdmarks beneath Celaena’s bed, could see the creatures during the duel, and opened the portal that allowed Elena to save her.Meanwhile, the King and Duke Perrington basically confirm our worst suspicions, the King knew what Cain was doing, and Perrington is using some mysterious “power” on Kaltain.And then...DORIAN HEARTBREAK.After the books, flirting, dancing, Fleetfoot, and KISSING, Celaena tells Dorian they can’t be together, even after he says he would tell his parents about them. Finally, Celaena thanks Elena for saving her, only for Elena to respond:“Blood ties can’t be broken.”UMMMM... WHAT BLOOD TIES?!Celaena signs her contract and officially becomes the King’s Champion for four years before earning her freedom.But with portals opening, the King experimenting with mysterious powers, and Celaena’s past getting more suspicious by the chapter...Something tells us becoming Champion was only the beginning.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#074: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Throne of Glass chapters 29 through 42, and BUNCHIES—the romance is ROMANCING.*SPOILERS AHEAD*The competition continues, another Champion is brutally murdered, and the mysterious Wyrdmarks scattered throughout the castle are becoming harder to ignore.Celaena begins suspecting Nehemia may know more than she’s letting on, especially after finding Wyrdmarks hidden beneath her bed and discovering Nehemia has been studying them herself.Meanwhile, Dorian and Celaena are getting CLOSER. He saves the puppy Celaena begged him not to delete, gifts her Fleetfoot (SWOON),  dances with her at the Yulemas ball—and then follows her back to her rooms where THEY KISS.But romance isn’t the only thing heating up.Dorian recognizes Celaena’s mysterious amulet as the Eye of Elena, Duke Perrington reveals Celaena’s true identity to Kaltain, and a plan is set in motion to drug her before the final duel.Then the castle mystery finally starts coming together.Celaena discovers the murdered Champions are being sacrificed to summon a terrifying creature called a Ridderak, allowing its summoner to steal their strength—and she catches Cain in the act.After surviving the Ridderak with King Gavin’s sword, Damaris, Nehemia finds Celaena and bathes her... only to reveal glowing turquoise Wyrdmarks covering her body.WE HAVE QUESTIONS.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#073: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 15 through 28 of Throne of Glass, and BUNCHIES… the competition is officially underway, the Champions are being hunted, and the clues are starting to point toward something much bigger beneath the glass castle.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Before we dive into the chapters, we found an old video of Sarah J. Maas sorting her characters into Hogwarts houses, and obviously, we need to discuss. From Ravenclaw Dorian and Hufflepuff Chaol to Celaena’s Slytherin-Gryffindor mix, we’re breaking down whether we agree or not!Then it’s back to the competition as Celaena deliberately hides the full extent of her abilities, survives increasingly brutal trials, and risks everything to save Nox after Grave pushes him from the castle wall.Meanwhile, Dorian and Celaena continue growing closer through books, music, and one very flirtatious game of billiards, while Chaol sends Dorian away from her rooms, only to give Celaena his amethyst ring moments later. The love-triangle energy is officially here, Bunchies.But romance may be the least of Celaena’s problems.Nehemia reveals that the mysterious symbols around the clock tower are ancient Wyrdmarks, and Celaena discovers they can be used to open Wyrdgates into other realms. After finding secret passages behind the tapestry in her room, she is led beneath the castle to the tomb of King Gavin and Queen Elena.There, Elena warns her that the eight gargoyles guard a portal between worlds, and that something evil is already inside the castle.We’re connecting the Wyrdmarks, Elena’s protective amulet, and The Walking Dead to major Crescent City moments, questioning whether “Ah! Time’s Rift!” could connect to the Northern Rift, and asking just how early Sarah J. Maas began planting the seeds for a much larger crossover.And just when the mystery could not get any bigger… Cain reveals that he knows Celaena’s true identity.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#072: This week on A Novel Bunch, we are officially beginning Throne of Glass, and BUNCHIES, we are already obsessed.SPOILERS AHEADCelaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s most infamous assassin, is pulled from the Salt Mines of Endovier and offered a chance at freedom by Crown Prince Dorian: compete to become the King’s Champion, serve him for four years, and walk free.But surviving the competition may be the least of her problems.Between Dorian’s shameless flirting, Chaol’s reluctant training sessions, Princess Nehemia’s mysterious agenda, and a castle filled with criminals, assassins, and secrets, Celaena quickly realizes there is far more happening beneath the glass castle than anyone is admitting.Magic has supposedly vanished. Strange symbols surround the clock tower. Tiny footprints and flowers appear where they should not. And when one of the competitors is brutally murdered, it becomes clear something dangerous may already be hunting them.We’re breaking down our first impressions of Celaena, debating the Dorian-versus-Chaol love triangle, questioning who betrayed her, and asking the biggest question of all: who exactly is Celaena Sardothien?Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#071: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering the explosive final chapters of House of Flame and Shadow—plus doing a live read of one of the Crescent City bonus chapters!SPOILERS AHEADBryce returns to Midgard with the Mask, exposes the Asteri’s greatest weakness to the entire world, raises the Fallen, and launches a full-scale attack on the Eternal City. But when Rigelus reveals the invasion was a trap, Bryce, Hunt, and their allies must risk everything to finally destroy the Asteri—and yes, that includes black holes, secondlight bullets, mech suits, Shahar, Jesiba’s devastating sacrifice, and Bryce literally dying.Meanwhile, Ruhn and Lidia’s newly discovered mating bond is immediately put to the test when Pollux kidnaps her sons. Lidia finally unleashes her hidden fire magic, reveals her connection to King Brannon’s bloodline, and gives Pollux the ending he deserves.Hypaxia defeats the Under-King and becomes the new head of the House of Flame and Shadow, Ithan embraces his role as Prime, Tharion continues making increasingly questionable life choices, and Midgard begins rebuilding without firstlight, secondlight, or the Fae monarchy.But the biggest clues may come after the battle. Bryce returns the Mask and Truth-Teller to Nesta, gives her Gwydion, and points directly toward the eight-pointed star, the Prison, and what could be a massive setup for ACOTAR 6.And just when we think Sarah J. Maas is finished connecting these worlds… twenty-four pegasuses mysteriously appear in Midgard.We break down why Bryce’s childhood obsession with Jelly Jubilee may have been foreshadowing all along, how the pegasi connect Helion’s Day Court to the lost Dusk Court, and why their return could reveal what is truly happening beneath the Prison.Plus, we live read the Crescent City bonus chapter with Azriel, Nesta, and Bryce!Let's get into it, Bunchies!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#059: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re kicking off Crescent City House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas—and BUNCHIES… we were not prepared.*SPOILERS AHEAD*We meet Bryce Quinlan: party girl, art dealer, and absolute IT girl of Crescent City—living her best life alongside her ride-or-die, Danika Fendyr.And then… everything is ripped away.What starts as a lush, chaotic world filled with Houses, angels, Fae politics, and ancient power quickly turns DARK when a brutal, inhuman massacre wipes out Danika and the entire Pack of Devils in a single night. And Bryce? She comes face-to-face with the horror that did it. From there, we spiral into grief, mystery, and a city that feels anything but safe.Enter Hunt Athalar—Umbra Mortis, enslaved assassin, and walking weapon—assigned to watch Bryce as a new murder surfaces… identical to Danika’s.Coincidence? Absolutely not.Now Bryce is pulled into an investigation she never asked for, forced to confront the truth about that night, Danika’s secrets, and the chilling reality that the killer never stopped hunting.We’re breaking down the emotional devastation, the insane world-building, Bryce and Hunt’s tension-filled dynamic, and all the early clues (because you KNOW SJM is planting seeds).Because one thing is clear already:This wasn’t random.And it’s far from over.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#058: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into the FINAL chapters of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… we are not okay.*SPOILERS AHEAD*We’re breaking down chapters 50–66 AND doing a live reading of chapters 65 & 66—and yeah… it’s as chaotic, devastating, and jaw-on-the-floor as you’d expect.It all starts with Violet’s second signet fully emerging—dream walking—which opens up a terrifying new layer of power (and danger). Because if she can enter dreams… who else can? And more importantly, can she change them? From there, everything escalates. The Irids return, Andarna makes a shocking choice, and we uncover major truths about Dunne, devotion, and the gods themselves. Violet’s past? Not what we thought. Her future? Still unwritten, but very much in play.Meanwhile, the war explodes. Losses hit HARD. Loyalties are tested. And Violet is forced to lead in ways that cost her pieces of herself along the way.Then we hit chapter 64… and everything snaps into place.Aaric is a precog. Not partial. Not limited. He knows. He’s been knowing. And Violet? She’s been walking straight into fate this entire time. And then… Xaden.Chapter 65 changes everything. The betrayal. The bond. The “new brother.” The moment he finally breaks, and the reason why? Gut wrenching.We’re spiraling over the venin reveals, the Irid power hierarchy, Violet’s connection to both Dunne and Malek, and the terrifying realization that power—true power—always comes at a cost.And that ending?Yeah... “Don’t look for me. It’s yours now.” Absolutely shattered us.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#57: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into chapters 33–49 of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… we are officially in emotional warfare.*SPOILERS AHEAD*We land on Hedotis expecting wisdom and instead get manipulation, mind games, and XADEN’S MOM?? Yeah… enter Talia. But it also unlocks something deeper—because now we’re not just seeing his power shift… we’re seeing why.And that shift is getting worse.From poisoning plots to political alliances, every isle tests the squad in a new way, but the real tension is internal. Xaden is fighting himself. Hard. The control is slipping, the instincts are darker, and when he says he’d rather feel nothing than risk hurting Violet? Yeah. We’re spiraling.Meanwhile, Violet is stepping UP. Like… full command energy. Strategy, leadership, sacrifice, she’s becoming exactly what everyone needs… even if it costs her everything.Then we hit Zehyllna and things go from chaotic to devastating. Losses stack up (Trager?? Sila??), the “gifts” feel more like ominous setups, and Violet starts piecing together something massive: fate isn’t random here. It’s calculated.And then… the Irids.SIX of them. Watching. Judging. Refusing to help. Confirming our worst fear: there is no cure for venin. Not a clean one, at least. The soul is stripped piece by piece… and once it’s gone? It’s gone.Except… Violet doesn’t believe that. And neither do we.Because now the secret is out. Xaden is turning, and Violet finally tells her squad. The fallout? Surprisingly loyal. But the question shifts from if they can save him… to what happens if they can’t.Back in Aretia, everything starts collapsing. The wards are failing, venin are infiltrating leadership, and the war is no longer coming—it’s HERE. And just when we think Xaden might hold the line… another shadow wielder emerges.Yeah. Magic is rebalancing. And it’s not in his favor.But the most terrifying part?Even after everything—the fear, the distance, the literal countdown on his soul—Xaden still chooses Violet. Still comes back. Still fights it.73 days without channeling. 73 days of control.And when they finally give in to each other… he doesn’t lose it.Which means one thing:Maybe he’s not too far gone.We’re breaking down Xaden’s unraveling, Violet’s rise to power, the Irid revelations, the “no cure” debate, and the growing theory that fate, love, and war are all tied to the same irreversible force.Because if love changes the soul…What happens when that soul is already breaking?Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#56: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into chapters 16–32 of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… things just went from unsettling to straight-up unhinged.*SPOILERS AHEAD*We start picking up on something Rebecca literally warned us about—there’s a double meaning in the epigraphs—and suddenly EVERYTHING feels like a clue. Letters from Asher? Cryptic. Lilith’s unsent messages? Worse. And the deeper we go, the clearer it becomes… Violet has never been told the full truth. Not even close.Meanwhile, enter: JEALOUS XADEN.Because Halden is back, asking Violet out like nothing ever happened, and Xaden? Oh he handles it. Shadows, threats, slammed-against-the-wall energy… we are absolutely feral. But beneath the tension, there’s something darker building, because Xaden isn’t just protective anymore. He’s shifting.And we need to talk about that shift.His power is different. Stronger. Colder. Controlled… until it’s not. The gold flecks in his eyes? Gone. The way he reads Violet? Sharper. And when things go down in Deverelli… he doesn’t hesitate. At all.Yeah. We’re not okay.As the squad heads to the Isles, the vibes somehow get even weirder. No magic. No connection. No dragons communicating, except Violet and Tairn. And yet, for Xaden… it’s peaceful. Which is maybe the scariest part of all.We meet Narelle, uncover more of Asher’s hidden plans, and everything we thought we understood about the gods gets reframed—because in the Isles, it’s not divine… it’s something else entirely.Because according to the Isles?It’s not divine.It’s science. It’s alchemy.And whatever is happening between Violet and Xaden… might be something entirely new.Oh, and then there’s the temple.Silver-haired priestesses. Six pillars. A goddess calling Violet to choose her path. And when Violet says, “I choose him”… something answers back.Lightning. Power. A force she swears she didn’t summon.So who did?Because by the end of chapter 32, we’re left with one terrifying realization:Xaden might be becoming the storm…but Violet?She might be something even more powerful.We’re breaking down jealous Xaden (bless), the Deverelli chaos, the venin evolution, the growing “cure” theories, and the very real possibility that Violet’s destiny has been set in motion long before she ever knew it.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#55: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into the prologue and chapters 1–15 of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… something is OFF. Like… deeply, unsettlingly OFF.*SPOILERS AHEAD*We pick up in the aftermath of absolute devastation, and immediately the vibes are wrong. Jesinia is translating everything, secrets are surfacing, and Andarna casually drops that she may have altered a venin by changing her scales?? I’m sorry—WHAT? If that’s true, that could change everything we thought we knew about defeating them.Meanwhile, Violet is no longer saying “I will not die today”… it’s now “I will save him.” And that shift? It tells you everything. Because at the center of all of this chaos is Xaden—and the terrifying possibility of what he’s becoming.Because let’s talk about it.The pull of power.The connection to the earth.The fact that he can sense venin.Yeah… we’re not okay.And things only get weirder from there. Venin are infiltrating Basgiath, targeting the weak, and we meet a mysterious silver-haired figure who can wield lightning?! I’m sorry—since WHEN can venin do that? And why does she feel… connected to Violet?The worldbuilding is going absolutely feral again—ancient journals, hidden runes, missing truths about Navarre, and repeated mentions of “the six”… except now we know there’s actually a seventh. (Hi, Andarna??)We also get MAJOR red flags across the board:Brennan looks exhausted in a way that feels familiar…Xaden is unraveling—emotionally and physicallyAnd Violet’s mother?? The more we learn, the less anything makes sense.Oh—and can we TALK about that unsent letter from Lilith? Because not only does she clock Violet’s poor taste in men (same), but it raises a million questions about her past, her knowledge, and what she’s been hiding this entire time.On the political side, things are escalating fast. Violet is charged with treason, alliances are shifting, and Xaden is officially named Duke of Tyrrendor—which is terrifying now that he is venin.And then there’s the magic.Signets are getting rarer. Stronger. Stranger.We’re hearing about once-in-a-generation powers appearing at the same time.And the balance of magic? Yeah… that might be breaking.By the time we hit chapter 15, the tension is unbearable. Because Xaden himself basically admits that if it came down to it… he would choose Violet over everything. Over the war. Over morality. Over everyone.And if that’s not foreshadowing something absolutely devastating… I don’t know what is.We’re breaking down all the early clues, the venin infiltration, the Andarna implications, and of course… the growing fear that Xaden might be slipping into something we can’t come back from.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#54: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 53–66 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… I don’t even know how to emotionally process what we just read. The reveals? The heartbreak? The absolute spiral we’ve entered?*SPOILERS AHEAD*We jump right back into chaos as the battle intensifies and new powers begin to emerge—hello Sloane and that RARE siphon signet?! The stakes are higher than ever as alliances start shifting, especially between Cat and Violet (did hell freeze over?), and tensions explode both on and off the battlefield.But the real emotional gut punch? Violet and Xaden.These two are barely holding it together as secrets continue to unravel, and when Violet finally asks the question we’ve ALL been waiting for… the answer changes everything. Trust is shattered, lines are drawn, and suddenly love isn’t the only thing at stake anymore.Meanwhile, the worldbuilding goes absolutely feral. We’re talking wyvern, venin, hidden runes, ancient journals, and the horrifying realization that Navarre has NOT been telling the full story. Like… at all.And then there’s General Sorrengail.Something is off. The physical changes, the secrecy, the knowledge she’s been holding onto… we get MAJOR clues that there’s more to Violet’s mother than we ever realized—and we are diving deep into the theory that could change EVERYTHING.As the final battle at Basgiath erupts, it’s pure chaos. Dragons falling, riders risking everything, sacrifices being made—and one moment in particular that will absolutely destroy you.The wards are on the brink. The truth is out. And just when you think we might make it out alive…we get hit with THAT ending.Like… Rebecca?? Be so serious.We’re breaking down ALL the major reveals, the emotional fallout between Violet and Xaden, and of course… our unhinged theories (including the Lilith Sorrengail situation because I have QUESTIONS).Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#53: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 40–52 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros and BUNCHIES… the tension? The betrayals? The absolute chaos? We are so deep in it. *SPOILERS AHEAD*We pick up with the aftermath of everything shifting, Andarna’s wing isn’t fully healed, Brennan is alive and thriving under a new identity, and Mira officially joins the rebellion after a very justified punch to the face. Family reunions here are… aggressive.Violet realizes she might know how to raise the wards, but when it fails, she makes a bold move: Tecarus. Enter a literal palace, luxury vibes, and Xaden dramatically reappearing like the shadow daddy he is… only for things to spiral when we learn Catriona is his ex—and Tecarus’s niece.Cue tension, jealousy, and THAT dress moment, when Xaden takes one look at Violet and says, "that dress… you’re playing dirty, Violence.”But things turn deadly fast when Tecarus forces Violet to prove her power… by unleashing a venin. Casual. She survives, but at a cost: an alliance forcing riders and fliers together.And spoiler... they hate each other.On the journey back, everything goes wrong. A trap is triggered, Luella falls, Ridoc is injured, and wyvern close in, confirming the venin now know everything. The war isn’t coming… it’s already here.Back in Aretia, tensions explode. Cat and Violet finally throw down, emotions are manipulated, secrets about Xaden’s past come out—and just when Violet is about to lose control…Xaden steps in. And this man makes a statement.After breaking up the fight, he takes Violet straight to the throne and reminds her exactly where he stands: “My house. My chair. My woman.”Meanwhile, the bigger picture comes into focus: venin rankings, runes, rebellion relics, and the terrifying realization that this war has been building for much longer than anyone thought.Then Violet cracks the code. The wards were never about riders, they’re about dragons.And just when she’s ready to act—Xaden returns from battle barely alive… and immediately knows she’s figured it out. The question is… are they already too late?Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#52: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering chapters 27–39 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, and you guys… the emotional damage? The secrets? The chaos? We are officially in the deep end now. *SPOILERS AHEAD*After the attack scare, Violet races to find Xaden, only to discover him completely fine and sparring like nothing happened… while she’s spiraling. What follows is an intense reunion where Violet finally lays her heart out, and while she still can’t say the three little words, she gives him three of her own: “I need you.” And let’s just say… the tension breaks.But reality hits fast. The mission continues, and we meet Catriona—Xaden’s stunning, very not-over-him ex. The tension is immediate, and things escalate when we learn the truth about the luminary and the dangerous cost it would take to get it… a cost that centers around Violet.Back at Basgiath, Violet finally tells her friends everything, and instead of betrayal, she gets loyalty. Together, they uncover a hidden vault tied to the First Six, leading to a high-stakes heist that ends in success… briefly.Because Violet makes one fatal mistake—trusting Nolan.She’s captured, cut off from Tairn, and thrown into a brutal interrogation where Varrish tries to break her, but she doesn’t. Somehow, Liam is there with her, keeping her grounded, until Dain steps in, sees the truth, and in a shocking turn… kills Varrish.Chaos erupts. Xaden arrives. And in the aftermath, Violet takes her power back and for the first time, she and Xaden are fully aligned.Then finally… he says it. He loves her!But the truth about Violet’s mother changes everything, revealing deals and sacrifices that have been shaping her life all along. With secrets exposed, Violet shares the truth through Tairn, and dragons and riders choose sides, following her to Aretia.And just when it feels like everything is shifting…Andarna wakes up.The war isn’t coming anymore—it’s here.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#51: This week on A Novel Bunch, we continue our deep dive, covering chapters 14–26 of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, where Violet Sorrengail’s second year at Basgiath escalates from stressful to straight-up sinister. Because the real enemy might not be across the border… but inside the Riders Quadrant itself.*SPOILERS AHEAD*The Riders Survival Course kicks off with a twist no one sees coming. Violet and her squad are drugged with an herbal concoction that severs their connection to their dragons and signets, forcing them to survive the wilderness like ordinary cadets. No lightning. No dragons. Just a forest full of hunters.It’s supposed to be a test.But when infantry cadets start dying, it becomes clear this “exercise” is something else entirely.Back at Basgiath, the questions keep piling up. Why are professors suddenly capable of cutting riders off from their dragons? Why are historical records about wyvern mysteriously missing from the archives? And why does it feel like the leadership of Navarre is hiding something bigger than anyone imagined?Jesinia might be an ally… or she might be another loose thread in a system designed to bury the truth.Meanwhile Violet finally gets the chance to visit Xaden, only for Varrish to sabotage the reunion before it even begins. Punishments are piling up. Surveillance is tightening. And the message is clear: someone powerful wants Violet under control.Or dead.When Xaden and Violet finally reunite, the tension between them explodes. The chemistry? Still undeniable. The trust? Completely shattered.He wants three little words.She refuses to give them.And if fixing Aretia’s failing wards means digging into forbidden knowledge about the First Six, Violet may be forced to risk everything—including the people she loves—to find the answers.But the real danger arrives when Varrish drags Violet and her friends into interrogation.Poisoned drinks. Brutal beatings. Dragons cut off. Secrets demanded.And just when it feels like things can’t get worse…Jack.Freaking.Barlow.The cadet Violet watched die is suddenly alive again—and Nolan looks like a man who’s been trying to resurrect the impossible.As the chapter closes, another attack hits the border. Mira’s unit is involved. Xaden’s post is under fire. And Violet runs across Basgiath with one terrifying thought in her mind:If he’s dead, nothing else matters.The second year isn’t just testing riders.It’s breaking them.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#50: This week on A Novel Bunch, we officially begin Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros and Basgiath isn't the only thing that's changed. The wards are cracking. The dragons know more than they're saying. And Violet Sorrengail wakes up to a truth that rewrites her entire life. *SPOILERS AHEAD*Violet is alive. Brennan is alive. Aretia is real.Venin exist. Wyvern exist. And the war Navarre denies is very, very real.Instead of returning to Basgiath as a hero, Violet walks back in as a secret. One of only a few who know the truth. And knowing the truth? It’s heavier than any weapon.She’s still in love with Xaden—obviously—but she’s trying very hard to convince herself she’s not. Because how do you trust the man who knew your brother was alive this whole time?Brennan isn’t exactly offering comfort either. To him, Violet looks less like a sister and more like Xaden’s greatest weakness. Brutal.Back at Basgiath, the second year begins, and it’s clear this year isn’t about survival. It’s about control.Dragons are bonding less. Assassination attempts are rising. Interrogations are coming. And leadership has shifted in dangerous ways. Dain is Wingleader. Rhiannon is Squad Leader. And Violet’s circle is smaller than ever... five survivors from eleven.Andarna? Twice her size. No more time-stopping. Fully in her teenage dragon era. Moody. Defensive. Perfect.When a first-year assassin snaps Nadine’s neck in front of Violet, something inside her fractures. This isn’t random. This is targeted.Colonel Aetos wants her dead. Varrish is circling. Letters are redacted. Students are disappearing. And the Riders Quadrant feels less like a school and more like a trap.Xaden returns—finally—but distance and secrets still stand between them. He’ll earn her trust, he says… but only if she’s brave enough to ask the questions she actually wants answers to.And then there’s one name that shifts the air entirely:Catriona.The first year is when some riders lose their lives.The second year is when the rest lose their humanity.And we’re only thirteen chapters in.Let’s get into it, Bunchies! 

#049: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Xaden Riorson’s BONUS CHAPTER (Chapter 9) from Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros… and let’s just say, seeing the rebellion king’s POV? Life-changing. Jaw-dropping. Unwell.Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#048: This week on A Novel Bunch, we are spiraling straight into the back half of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros—where lightning doesn’t just strike once, secrets fracture loyalties, and Violet Sorrengail realizes the war she’s been fighting… isn’t the real one.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Jack is dead. Fourth Wing is celebrating. Violet is not.She thanks little Andarna—“worth it,” our tiny golden queen says—and then promptly spirals over what it means to kill. Violet doesn’t fear Jack’s death. She fears what it’s turning her into. She always thought she’d be a mender like Brennan. Instead? She’s becoming the weapon.And according to Xaden and Tairn… she is the weapon.What follows? Oh, just Violet telling Xaden to stop being honorable and ruin her life. Lightning answers the call. Curtains catch fire. Windows shatter. Shadows splinter wood. Their first night together quite literally shakes Basgiath as her pleasure triggers a storm over the Riders Quadrant.Romance? Explosive.Power control? Questionable.Emotional restraint? Gone.In the aftermath, Xaden reveals the truth behind the 107 scars across his back—one for each child of the rebellion he protected. If any of them betray Navarre, he dies. The weight he carries is brutal. On the Parapet, Violet finally admits it first: she’s in love with him. He takes her to his room. Lightning strikes again—hard enough to blow out his window. And just as they’re mid-round-five chaos?War Games begin.But it’s not a drill.At Athebyne, the mask drops. Xaden and the marked ones have been secretly supplying weapons to gryphon fliers to fight something Violet thought was folklore—Venin. Creatures who drain magic from the earth. Creators of Wyvern. The monsters Navarre insists aren’t real.Her father’s cryptic note clicks into place: it only takes one desperate generation to erase the truth.And Dain? He stole her memories. Told his father. Sent them into a trap.The choice becomes impossible: obey command… or save 300 innocent civilians in Resson from four Venin.They stay.Dragons. Gryphons. Wyvern. Blue fire. Death rings. Chaos.Liam dies. Deigh falls. Tairn is struck from the sky. Violet watches everything burn—and finally understands: kill the Venin, and the Wyvern fall with them.With Andarna stopping time and Xaden’s shadows at her back, Violet unleashes everything. She kills the leader. Xaden destroys the last.And then she falls. Poisoned. Dying. Too far from Basgiath.Xaden risks everything and takes her somewhere forbidden.When Violet wakes, they’re not at Basgiath. They’re in Aretia. Rebuilt. And standing in the doorway?“Welcome to the revolution, Violet.”Brennan.The secrets were never small. The war was never simple. And Violet Sorrengail is officially on the wrong side of the kingdom—and the right side of history.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!   

#047: This week on A Novel Bunch, we are spiraling deeper into Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros—where secrets turn lethal, dragons guard dangerous truths, and Violet Sorrengail stops just surviving…and starts uncovering a war no one is talking about.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Andarna has stopped time. Our tiny golden queen proves “though she be but little, she is fierce,” and suddenly Violet is holding the most dangerous secret in Navarre. So this stays between Violet, Tairn, Sgaeyl…and Xaden.“You’re all dead,” Xaden says calmly as his shadows snuff out everyone but Oren—before he finishes the job himself. Violet has never killed anyone. Xaden has. The contrast is sharp. Intimate. Unavoidable.Amber’s betrayal explodes next. She orchestrated the Codex breach, and even when Violet begs for mercy, Tairn enforces dragon law. The cost of leadership is brutal. And Dain? Still choosing the rules over Violet.Meanwhile, hostility toward the marked ones grows, Squad Battle looms, and Violet starts noticing something is very wrong with the war effort. Entire villages are being ransacked. Pleas for help sit unanswered on her mother’s desk. What exactly is Basgiath training them for?Solstice brings chaos, oranges bring karma (bye, Jack), and Violet’s power finally begins to simmer under the surface. But the real storm? It’s Xaden.The wall kiss. The snow. The thunder. The hands on her face. “You have incredibly touchable skin.” He stops it—because he refuses to act on desire that isn’t fully hers. The tension is unbearable. The restraint? Somehow hotter.He gifts her a custom knife. Takes over her training. Sets a boundary that lasts approximately three seconds. And when their dragons can’t be separated for more than three days, he leaves his post to be near her.At the front lines in Montserrat, Violet reunites with Mira, sees how broken the border truly is, and realizes the war they’re being taught about doesn’t match reality. Gryphons attack. Xaden kisses her as a distraction. And our jaws are on the floor. Violet can speak to Xaden mind to mind. The secrets are stacking. The attraction is undeniable. The politics are rotten. And Andarna—sweet, darling baby—may be the key to everything.Time can stop.But this story? It’s accelerating.Let’s get into it, Bunchies! 🐉🔥 

#046: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re continuing Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, covering Chapters 10–18—where Threshing Day tests every rider, the dragons make choices no one expects, and Violet Sorrengail learns that survival sometimes means breaking the rules…and trusting the impossible.*SPOILERS AHEAD*The gauntlet looms, and somehow, Violet Sorrengail’s squad is the only one without a single death since the Parapet. That luck doesn’t last long. As cadets face the obstacle course, Violet survives on grit, memory, and sheer will—only to watch Aurelie fall to her death. The brutality of Basgiath is relentless, and Violet learns quickly that surviving doesn’t mean escaping loss.While burning Aurelie’s belongings, Violet has a rare, quiet moment with Xaden Riorson, one where shadows listen, truths slip, and he admits that every day he lets Violet live is how he proves to himself he’s still a good man. It’s intimate. It’s dangerous. And it changes everything.Presentation Day arrives—the deadliest day of the year. Violet’s size nearly costs her everything, but she outsmarts the Gauntlet in a way no one’s seen before. Accused of cheating by rule-obsessed Third Wing cadet Amber Mavis, Violet survives only because her photographic memory saves her life. Again.Then comes Threshing.Dragons line the Vale. A rare golden feathertail appears. And when Jack, Oren, and Tynan decide the smallest dragon is expendable, Violet does the unthinkable—she steps in front of them. Broken, bleeding, and outmatched, Violet risks her life to save a dragon… and is chosen by the most powerful black dragon alive: Tairneanach. And as if that weren’t enough, the feathertail—Andarna—chooses her too.Two dragons. One rider. Chaos ensues.With Tairn bonded to Violet—and revealed as the mate of Xaden’s dragon, Sgaeyl—their fates are officially entwined. Violet survives another assassination attempt, earns her relic tattoo, and kisses Dain Aetos… only to feel absolutely nothing. The shift is undeniable. The bond with her dragons is changing her—making her feared, isolated, and powerful.By the end of Chapter 18, Violet has bonded with legends, gained enemies, lost her childhood love, and discovered Andarna’s terrifying secret ability: she can stop time.Basgiath is done playing nice. And Violet Sorrengail is no longer just surviving... she’s becoming something unstoppable.Let’s get into it, Bunchies! 🐉🔥

#045: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re launching into Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, covering Chapters 1–9—where conscription is a death sentence, dragons choose violence, and Violet Sorrengail is forced onto a path no one believes she can survive.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Violet Sorrengail was trained to be a scribe, not a rider—but on Conscription Day, her storm-wielding mother shoves her into the deadly Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College, where cadets die before classes even begin. The parapet claims its victims fast, including sweet Dylan, and Violet survives by brains, grit, and a well-placed knife.Enter Xaden Riorson, son of the Great Betrayer, leader of the marked ones, and the man Violet is warned will kill her on sight. Their first meeting is immediate enemies-to-lovers energy, and when Xaden promises the parapet will finish Violet for him, we know this man is a problem.As Violet navigates combat training, broken bones, and assassination attempts (looking at you, Jack Barlowe), she leans on new friend Rhiannon and childhood best friend Dain Aetos, who begs her to quit before she’s killed. But Violet refuses, armed with her late brother Brennan’s cheat sheet and her own sharp mind.When Violet stumbles upon a secret meeting of marked cadets, Xaden catches her—and reveals his rare signet: he commands shadows. Instead of killing her, he lets her go.By the end of Chapter 9, Violet has survived every attempt on her life, turned poison into a weapon, and faced Xaden Riorson in the sparring ring, where he calls her “Violence,” pins her down, and spares her again. The threshing looms, dragons are watching… and Violet is choosing to stay.Let’s get into it, Bunchies! 

#044: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re doing a live reading of Azriel’s BONUS CHAPTER from A Court of Silver Flames—and yes, it is unhinged, emotional, and incredibly juicy.Let's get into it, Bunchies! 📚✨

#049: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Xaden Riorson’s BONUS CHAPTER (Chapter 9) from Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros… and let’s just say, seeing the rebellion king’s POV? Life-changing. Jaw-dropping. Unwell.Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#043: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 67–80 of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas—where sisterhood survives the mountain, the High Lord of the Night Court Kneels, and Nesta Archeron becomes a legend.*SPOILERS AHEAD*The Blood Rite turns lethal as Nesta and Emerie race to find Gwyn—only to be lured into a trap set by Emerie’s cousin Bellius, his mind twisted by Briallyn’s Crown. A monster attacks. Blood spills. And just when it seems hopeless, a voice rings out: “HERE!” Gwyn had outplayed them all, weaponless but watching, waiting. “You came looking for me.”“Of course we did. It’s what sisters do.”Together, they run the Breaking—the deadliest path to Ramiel. Arrows fly. Gwyn is wounded. Hunger and exhaustion close in. But at the mountain’s base, Gwyn makes the choice that defines them all: not as Illyrians, not for titles—but as something new. Valkyries. Emerie climbs for her mother. Gwyn climbs for Catrin. And Nesta finally tells the truth of the Cauldron, of who and what she is—only to have her sisters grip her hands tighter.They climb anyway.Bellius returns. Nesta carries them because this—this—is why she climbed ten thousand steps. When Gwyn and Emerie reach the Pass of Enalius, Nesta stays behind to hold the line. Like Enalius before her, she draws a boundary and names her blade Ataraxia. Inner peace. She kills for her sisters.Elsewhere, Cassian and Azriel track Eris—only to be delivered straight into Koschei’s grasp. Briallyn reveals everything: the kidnapping, the weapons, the Rite itself. She crowns Cassian and orders him to kill, eyes already on Nesta.Cassian obeys… and turns the blade on himself.Nesta snaps. She unmakes Briallyn into nothing. Cassian lives. They name the bond at last.But there’s no time to breathe—Feyre is dying. The baby is dying. Rhys is dying.So Nesta takes the Crown. The Mask. The Harp. She stops time itself and bargains with the Cauldron, offering back every ounce of power she stole. Save them all—or take everything from her.The Mother listens. Nyx is born. Feyre lives. Rhys bows to Nesta Archeron.In the aftermath, the Valkyries stand—bloodied, healed, unbroken. Emerie and Gwyn refuse Illyrian titles. They are Valkyries, through and through. Cassian calls Nesta “mate” like it’s breathing. The House of Wind is hers. Feyre gifts her a painting of the moment she held the Pass alone.And at their father’s grave, Nesta leaves a small wooden rose.Not as penance.But as peace.Let’s get into it, Bunchies! 🖤🔥

#042: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 58–66 of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas—where love is named (and feared), friendships become sacred magic, and three women are thrown into the most brutal trial in Prythian.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Feyre’s birthday brings awkward family tension, unexpected laughter, and a gift from Cassian so thoughtful it nearly breaks Nesta open—a Symphonia filled with the music she loves. But when he gets too close, she lashes out, insisting she deserves someone like Eris instead. Then comes the truth. The fire. The choice to let him stay.While Cassian’s away, Nesta gathers Gwyn and Emerie for a sleepover that becomes something ancient and holy. Friendship bracelets. Wishes etched in coins. “I wish for us to always find our way back to each other.” The magic answers.Training changes everything. Gwyn cuts the ribbon. Emerie follows. Then Nesta. The Valkyries are born.They conquer the obstacle course. The men rage. Azriel quietly reveals the truth: they now qualify for the Blood Rite. “I’d rather be a Valkyrie,” Nesta says—and means it.Nesta climbs the stairs. Makes peace with Amren. Learns she made the House when she wished for a friend. “Welcome back to the Night Court, Nesta Archeron.”Spring brings shadows. Eris warns of Briallyn. Cassian asks Nesta to say the word she’s been running from—mate. She can’t. Instead, she invokes their bargain and sends him away.That night, darkness comes for them.Gwyn screams. Nesta is taken.Cassian arrives too late. The Valkyries have been thrown into the Blood Rite.On Ramiel, Nesta wakes among enemies with only a dagger and her will. She kills. She runs. She becomes what she’s been training to be. She saves Emerie from icy death. She finds shelter with a stranger. And when her charm glows again, she knows—Gwyn is in trouble.And the Valkyries are about to rise in the wild.Let’s get into it, Bunchies! 🗡️🔥

#041: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 51–57 of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas—where the Valkyries level up, ancient magic sings, and Nesta Archeron steps fully into her power… with a desk, a harp, and a death-god in her wake.*SPOILERS AHEAD*The Valkyries are back on the mat, ribbons in hand and confidence rising. Emerie demands the real update (“Tell me you at least had a week’s worth of fun”), and Cassian proves what “cutting the ribbon” actually looks like—right into the now-infamous hold onto the desk moment. But it’s not all heat: in the library, Nesta and Gwyn choose bravery, attending a priestess service together. Music becomes sanctuary, friendship becomes armor, and a real bond is forged.Then the song opens a door. The Harp awakens—and answers Nesta. Drawn into a parallel space, she finds a golden instrument at the heart of the Prison. The Crown and Harp link her to Briallyn. Rhys sends Cassian in with one of Nesta’s blades—to see what happens when she uses it. Visions. Six thrones. Lanthys. A god who should not be able to die.He tries anyway.Nesta runs. Then turns back. She counts strings—twenty-six—and bends worlds. She reaches Cassian, names her blade Ataraxia, and takes out a death-god with her own magic and Ataraxia. The Prison screams. They fall into Velaris. Cassian collapses. Nesta chooses hope.After, she finally apologizes to Feyre (daemati style). We learn of the Daglan, Gwydion, the Wild Hunt—and that Ataraxia is a death sword. A plan forms: to keep Eris loyal, Nesta will dance with him at Solstice. Cassian is not okay.Winter arrives. Gwyn secures a chapter on the rebirth of the Valkyries—“Our stories are worth telling.” The House reveals its heart. Nesta meets it with hers.At Solstice, Rhys gifts Eris one of Nesta’s blades. Nesta dances. The room burns. Eris whispers truths about Mor. Cassian cuts in, trembling and brave. And then—Eris offers himself everything Rhys could want.In exchange for Nesta as his bride.Let’s get into it, Bunchies! 🗡️🔥

#040: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 41–50 of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas—where ancient magic sharpens its teeth, loyalties fracture, and Nesta Archeron finally breaks… only to begin again.*SPOILERS AHEAD*The dread deepens as Helion confirms the truth behind the Crown: the soldiers aren’t bewitched, they’re influenced. The Dread Trove is awakening, and the Mask reacts to Helion in ways it doesn’t to the others, hinting at blood-deep magic and ancient wearers long forgotten. Nesta refuses to learn how to unward it, knowing exactly what she’d be tempted to do with that knowledge. Instead, she studies war, dreams of building an army of priestesses, and lets desire take over—right into that headboard scene.Then the blades arrive. Three weapons Nesta helped forge—impossible, cursed, and powerful enough to rival the Dread Trove itself. Amren fears they are something new entirely… and decides Nesta cannot know. When Rhysand is warned that these swords could make him High King, he refuses, despite Amren’s chilling reminder that the Cauldron’s favor never lasts forever.At the Spring Court, Nesta finds her voice. She challenges Eris, confronts Tamlin for what he did to Feyre, and realizes—finally—what home feels like. But the cracks widen back in Velaris. The Valkyries are reborn through training, shared history, and joy. Nesta pushes for their techniques to be honored alongside Illyrian ones, and for the first time, music and laughter return to the ring.Until the truth comes out.When Nesta learns that Rhysand and Amren kept the swords from her, the betrayal shatters her. A confrontation with Amren explodes. Feyre intervenes—and Nesta tells her the truth about the pregnancy. The fallout is immediate and brutal. Cassian takes Nesta away before Rhysand can do something unforgivable.In the mountains, Nesta collapses under the weight of her grief, her father, her failures, her self-loathing. At a sacred lake, she finally lets it all out. Cassian stays. He listens. He reminds her that she is counted. That she is worth fighting for. And when he tells her to rise—she does.On moonlit shores, Nesta Archeron draws the eight-pointed star perfectly.Not as a weapon.But as a beginning.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#039: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 30–40 of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas, where secrets rot in silence, ancient horrors wake in the dark, and Nesta Archeron steps fully into something terrifying and powerful. *SPOILERS AHEAD*In the aftermath of silver fire, Nesta wakes grounded by Cassian, and guided back by Rhysand’s unexpected kindness. But peace doesn’t last long. Feyre’s pregnancy takes a deadly turn when it’s revealed her baby has wings, a truth so dangerous the Inner Circle decides to keep it from her entirely. Nesta agrees to try scrying again—knowing the cost may be steep.That cost becomes horrifyingly clear at the Bog of Oorid. When Azriel disappears and Nesta is dragged beneath the water by a Kelpie, instinct and power collide. She claims the Mask, raises the dead, and emerges not just alive, but bowed to. Cassian and Azriel recognize death when they see it… and they kneel.Back in Velaris, the truth of the Mask comes out: only someone Made from the same dark source can control it. Nesta can—and that realization scares her more than anything. As training continues, the Valkyries grow stronger through mind-stilling, swords, and sheer will. Nesta conquers the stairs, the rain, and the forge itself—sparking strange, freezing embers that even Lucien can’t ignore.Because Nesta Archeron isn’t just training anymore.She’s becoming something forged...and the world is starting to feel it.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#038: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into a LIVE reading of the bonus chapter you’ve all been waiting for—Cassian & Nesta in Wings & Embers.Happy Holidays, Bunchies! Buckle up… because feelings will be felt. 

#037: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 19–29 of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas—where sexual tension detonates, ancient magic comes roaring back, and Nesta accidentally starts a quiet revolution in the House of Wind.*SPOILERS AHEAD*These chapters open with Nesta and Cassian doing what they do best: colliding. Their chemistry boils over in a sharp, unbalanced encounter that leaves Cassian reeling and Nesta retreating—but it’s clear the power dynamic between them is shifting, even when neither wants to admit it.At the River House, the larger threat comes into focus. The human queen Briallyn is hunting the Cauldron, aided by the death-god Koschei, and together they’re after the Dread Trove—three terrifying Made objects: the Mask, the Harp, and the Crown. Nesta finally speaks about the Cauldron, admitting she doesn’t know what she took… only that she meant to. Cassian’s quiet pride in her says everything.Elaine steps forward as a key player, Feyre reveals she’s pregnant—with a boy—and Nesta’s self-loathing crashes hard against the people still trying to love her. Meanwhile, Cassian and Azriel circle questions of legacy and children. But the real heartbeat of these chapters lives in the library. Nesta trains, manipulates the system (brilliantly), and creates something radical: a safe, joyful entry point into strength. Gwyn signs her name. Then Emerie shows up. And suddenly, this isn’t just training—it’s the beginning of the Valkyries.As the trio grows, so does Nesta’s resolve. She challenges Merrill, draws priestesses out of hiding, and finally decides she can’t ask others to be brave if she won’t face her own terror. When she turns to bones and stones once more, the past overwhelms her—and her power erupts.The night ends in silver fire. Nesta screaming. Cassian anchoring her. Rhysand shaken to his core after feeling the Cauldron through her mind.Because Nesta Archeron didn’t just survive the Cauldron.She took death—and it’s awake.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#036: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into chapters 10–18 of A Court of Silver Flames— a stretch of chapters where Nesta finally eats, finally trains (kind of), makes a friend or two, pisses off everyone else, uncovers brutal new truths, and accidentally becomes besties with a sentient house.*SPOILERS AHEAD*We open with Nesta’s slow, reluctant climb out of rock bottom: talking to the House (which is absolutely alive and absolutely over her nonsense), nightmare spirals, failed attempts at the 10,000 stairs, and the kind of sexual tension with Cassian that could power Velaris for a century. But when Cassian hits her with a quiet, devastating please, Nesta freezes — and the distance between them deepens.Meals with Cassian and Azriel are a disaster, but something shifts after Cassian’s talk with Feyre. He tries again, offering Nesta training on her terms — no Windhaven spectators, just an hour on the rooftop and a bargain sealed between them. One lesson becomes two, breath work loosens her tongue, and she lets slip the first raw truths about her mother, her noise-filled mind, and the shame that stalks her.Meanwhile, the library gives Nesta something she didn’t know she needed: Gwyn. A friend who doesn’t flinch, doesn’t judge, and carries trauma of her own from Sangravah. Between stolen books, whispered nightmares, Valkyrie lore, and protective stones, their bond becomes the first real light Nesta’s let in. And the House? It keeps rewarding her for it — romance novels, warm food, baths, and enough chocolate cake to fix anyone’s inner child.Outside Velaris, the threat rises: Eris pushes for alliances, the human queens are scheming with something ancient and wrong, and Tamlin is brooding in beast form. Cassian and Rhys can feel the danger sharpening — and Nesta? She’s more tangled in it than she realizes.But the moment that truly cracks these chapters open? Cassian telling Nesta he doesn’t judge her — and her admitting she’s never hated him. That, and that rooftop confession: “Your power is a song, and one I’ve waited a very, very long time to hear.” A line that shifts everything, even if neither of them dares say what it means yet.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!

#035: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re cracking open A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas with Chapters 1–9,  a raw, brutal, addictive plunge into Nesta Archeron’s spiral, her silver-flame power, and the very first sparks (and snarls) of her new… let’s call it arrangement with Cassian. *SPOILERS AHEAD*We open with a nightmare — Nesta’s memory of being forced into the Cauldron, the death-promise she made to the King of Hybern, and the moment she bit into that ancient magic and took what it didn’t want to give. From there, Part One: Novice thrusts us into the mess she’s made in Velaris: cheap wine, mediocre sex, and a whole lot of self-loathing wrapped in a male’s shirt. Feyre and Rhys finally say what everyone’s been thinking: she’s done tearing herself apart on their dime. Move into the House of Wind. Train with Cassian. Work in the library. Or go back to the human lands. Nesta, unsurprisingly, chooses violence.Cassian steps in as trainer, babysitter, and long-suffering daddy warrior who absolutely does not have the patience for Nesta’s bullshit — but still can’t help wanting her. Their first days are pure chaos: Nesta publicly humiliating him at Windhaven, Cassian snapping back that she’s not the only one who’s suffered, Mor cutting her to pieces with one brutal line, and the House itself refusing to serve her wine like it’s staging an intervention. But cracks start to show — memories of holding Cassian as he lay dying, her first kind interactions with Emerie and Gwyn, and a bowl of soup the House basically force-feeds her like a protective auntie.Meanwhile, a storm is brewing outside Nesta’s personal apocalypse: human queens scheming, Eris sniffing around for alliances, soldiers disappearing without a trace, Koschei the deathless stirring in his cursed lake, and Beron aligning himself with the wrong side of history. Cassian knows the danger is growing — and that Nesta, whether she likes it or not, is right in the center of it.But the biggest spark of these early chapters? The moment Cassian quietly leans down, offers Nesta his hand, and reminds her: keep reaching out yours. A single line that shifts everything — not enough to save her, but enough to make her wonder if she wants to be saved at all.Let's get into it, Bunchies! Grab this month’s book: amzn.to/3Er9cuF#booktokreads #acourtofsilverflames #bookclub #bookclubdiscussion #bookreview #acotarseries #booktube #booktok #bookstagram

#034: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re celebrating Solstice in Velaris with Chapters 15–28 of A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas — a cozy, glittering, gift-filled chapter set that gives us peak Inner Circle warmth, laughter, and just the right amount of emotional depth.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Feyre searches for the perfect gift for Rhysand while rediscovering her own creative spark, the Bat Boys head to the sauna for their annual tradition of snowball wars, steam, and brotherly chaos, and the Inner Circle exchanges gifts that are heartfelt, hilarious, and so perfectly them. Even Nesta shows up, and Cassian can’t help himself — he walks her home, sparks flying even as tempers flare. Their moment may end with Cassian tossing the thoughtful gift he spent months finding into the Sidra, but the tension between them says everything: there’s still fire there.But the biggest Solstice highlight? Feyre tells Rhysand she’s ready to try for a baby, turning the celebration into something truly magical. And in a surprise that softens the edges of the season, Tamlin asks Rhys a simple, powerful question — one that asks whether forgiveness might someday be possible.A tender, glowing Solstice — full of hope, healing, and new beginnings.Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#033: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re kicking off A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas with all the wintery vibes, Solstice prep, and Inner Circle chaos your heart could want. Feyre and the gang are easing into post-war life—and trust us, it’s every bit as sweet, messy, and magical as you’d hope.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Feyre settles back into Velaris as snow settles over the city, reconnecting with Rhys, her sisters, and the rhythms of a world healing from war. Elaine grows steadily stronger, Lucien drifts between courts, and Nesta… keeps her distance while quietly stealing every scene she’s in. Rhys handles Illyrian drama with High Lord patience, Cassian stirs up trouble with his usual charm, and Mor pulls Feyre into a trip to the Court of Nightmares that reminds us how far she’s come.Feyre returns to painting, pouring the truth of herself—Ouroboros and all—onto canvas. Meanwhile, Rhys visits the Spring Court, where Tamlin is a hollow echo of who he once was, offering a quiet reminder of how much has changed.As Solstice approaches, the Inner Circle bustles with gift-giving, teasing, unexpected tenderness, and more found-family warmth than anyone can wrap in ribbon. Az and Elaine share small moments, Amren is equal parts chaos and charm, and everyone is just trying their best to make the holiday meaningful.Let's get into it, Bunchies! 📚✨

#032: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into the final chapters of A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas—and Bunchies, this is it. The war, the heartbreak, the redemption, and the moment Feyre finally faces herself. Grab your Illyrian blades and a box of tissues, because this finale is everything.*SPOILERS AHEAD!*We open with Mor’s truth—no more lies between her and Feyre—as she finally reveals the part of herself she’s kept hidden for centuries. Her confession is raw, tender, and a reminder that love—real love—means letting yourself be seen. But there’s no time to dwell. Hybern’s army looms, and our High Lords must decide if humanity is worth saving. Cassian’s vow to protect the helpless, even if it kills him, seals the deal, and then, Amren drops a bomb: she’s cracked the code to end Hybern once and for all.From there, it’s a race against time. Feyre faces the Ouroboros mirror—alone, but the monster staring back isn’t Hybern. It’s herself. But she doesn’t run. She endures. And that’s what makes her worthy. When she returns, the Bone Carver and the Weaver join the fight, side by side with Bryaxis, and for one heartbeat, it feels like maybe—just maybe—they can win.Then the battle begins. Shields fall. Blood rains. Tamlin and even Beron’s army arrive (shocking, we know), and the lost queen Vassa takes to the skies as a firebird of vengeance. Feyre and Amren race to the Cauldron, while Nesta and Cassian make their final stand—a stand that ends with one of the most gut-wrenching, beautiful promises in the series: “I will find you again in the next world.”Just when it seems all is lost, it’s Elaine—sweet, quiet Elaine—who strikes the killing blow, ending the King of Hybern once and for all. But victory comes at a cost. Amren unleashes her true form to save them, obliterating Hybern’s army and herself with it. Feyre remakes the Cauldron… but in doing so, loses Rhysand. His death shatters the court—and us—but the High Lords join their power, one by one, to bring him back. Even Tamlin.And when Rhysand finally breathes again, he’s got one last surprise: Amren returns, now fully Fae—and maybe, for the first time, fully human at heart.Feyre calls for peace among the courts, for new treaties and a new start. And as she and Rhysand return home to Velaris, she realizes that though everything has changed, love—messy, hard, hopeful love—is still the heart of it all.Because in the end, as the Suriel said, only you can break you.Let's get into it, Bunchies! 

#031: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 53–65 of A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas—and Bunchies, grab your tissues and your battle armor. Because this week we’re saying goodbye to one of Prythian’s most unexpected heroes, watching Nesta and Cassian bring the heat, and heading straight into enemy territory for a rescue mission that’ll leave your jaw on the floor.*SPOILERS AHEAD*It begins at the human estate, where Jurian—yes, that Jurian—turns out to be not the unhinged villain we thought. Instead, he’s been playing a dangerous game to send warnings to Drakon and Miryam. Turns out, our boy’s been undercover this whole time. And when he drops the bomb that Tamlin’s gone running back to Hybern? Yeah… Tamlin’s choices aren’t doing him any favors these days.From there, things escalate fast. Elaine’s heartbreak over Grayson sparks Nesta’s iconic slap heard ’round the continent, Jurian feeds them intel on Hybern’s next move, and then—boom—the first major battle of the war erupts. Cassian and his Illyrians tear through the enemy in a brutal dance of death, Nesta’s eyes never leaving him, and Feyre realizes that even victory feels like loss. But when the tide turns, Feyre sets off to find the one being who might still help them: our beloved gossip queen, the Suriel.And that’s when Sarah J. Maas rips our hearts out. Feyre finds the Suriel near the Weaver’s woods, only for Ianthe (ugh, her) to ambush them. But our girl outsmarts her, luring Ianthe straight into the Weaver’s waiting claws—just in time to hold the Suriel as it dies in her arms. “Leave this world a better place,” it tells her. And if you didn’t sob, you might be the Cauldron itself.Back at camp, tensions flare—Mor and Feyre clash, Nesta channels her magic with bone and stone to find Hybern’s army, and Varian and Amren share that kiss (finally!). But then—silence. The Cauldron calls. And when it takes something from Nesta, it takes what she loves most: Elaine.Feyre and Azriel infiltrate Hybern’s camp in disguise, only to find Elaine bound, gagged, and moments from execution. Enter Tamlin—yes, Tamlin—whose green eyes tell her one thing: run. And in that heartbeat, we remember—he was the one who helped her. Who gave her the chance to escape. What follows is chaos and courage, blood and fire, until Feyre spreads her wings and flies home.And when it’s over, the Archeron sisters are side by side once more—curled together like they used to be, but this time holding on tight.Let's get into it, Bunchies! 

#030: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 40–52 of A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas— and buckle up, Bunchies, because the long-awaited High Lords’ meeting is pure chaos. Tempers flare, secrets explode, and Feyre’s powers are put on full, fiery display.*SPOILERS AHEAD*It starts quietly enough, with a glimpse of the Bone Carver, a haunting vision of Feyre and Rhys’s possible future son, and Elaine… baking (progress!). But peace doesn’t last long. Nesta shocks everyone by joining the mission to the Dawn Court, where the long-awaited meeting of Prythian’s most powerful begins. Enter the High Lords— Kallias and his fierce mate Viviane, Helion in all his golden glory, and finally, Tamlin. His entrance? Explosive. His insults? Even worse. Let’s just say Azriel’s shadows have never been closer to striking.What follows is chaos laced with politics, pride, and power. Accusations fly, Feyre literally bursts into flame, and the Court of Dreams proves why they’re not to be messed with. Nesta steps into her power, demanding unity against Hybern, and one by one, the High Lords rise beside Feyre... six out of seven ain’t bad.But the biggest revelation? Helion isn’t just a flirt, he’s Lucien’s real father. The gasp heard ‘round Prythian. And just when the dust settles, Nesta feels it: a shudder in the Cauldron. The wall has fallen. Hybern has made his move. Feyre strikes a bargain with the monster beneath Velaris, Bryaxis, and the Inner Circle heads to war— starting with a visit to Elaine’s ex, Graysen. But when they arrive, there’s already a traitor waiting.And then it hits, the figure in the doorway isn’t a stranger. It’s Jurian.Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#029: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re doing a live reading of the High Lords’ Meeting—Chapter 44 of ACOWAR!!Buckle up, Bunchies! 

#028: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re diving into Chapters 27–39 of A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas — and peace in Velaris doesn’t last long. The Inner Circle fractures, secrets surface, and the shadows of war are closer than ever.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Tensions ignite when Rhys’s secret deal with Keir and Eris nearly tears the Court of Dreams apart. Mor’s heart breaks, Amren reveals her chilling origins, and Elain’s eerie visions begin to blur the line between prophecy and madness. But as always, Feyre and Rhys find their way back to each other — this time through honesty, vulnerability, and a shared fear of what’s coming.Then the focus shifts to the sisters. Feyre trains with Cassian and Azriel (cue wing lessons and brooding tension), while Nesta and Elain start to reveal just how deep the Cauldron’s touch runs. When Hybern’s Ravens infiltrate the library, Feyre unleashes the monster beneath Velaris — and it’s gloriously horrifying. In its wake, we learn the truth: the Cauldron is broken because Nesta stole something from it.As Elain’s power sharpens, we discover what she is — a Seer — and Lucien steps up to find the lost firebird queen, Vassa. It’s a dangerous mission, but his goodbye to Elain says everything.And just when the dust settles, Amren bursts in with the news no one’s ready for: Hybern has attacked the Summer Court. Feyre, Rhys, and the Inner Circle fly into battle — and war truly begins.Let's get into it, Bunchies!