#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 AHEAD

Celaena 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 AHEAD

Bryce 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 AHEAD

Before we dive into the chapters, we're taking a quick detour to completely fan girl over Rebecca Yarros' Threshing Day announcement! We break down everything we know about the 13 stories, theorize whose POVs could be included, from Xaden and Naolin to Brennan, Lilith, Liam, and even Jack Barlowe, and share our wildest predictions for what could set up Book 4.

Then it's back to Crescent City as Bryce's search through the Cave of Princes uncovers game-changing truths about Theia, the Starsword, and the true history of the Fae, while the Asteri begin their full-scale assault on Midgard. Along the way, we get one of the biggest relationship moments yet as Ruhn and Lidia finally give in to their feelings, Hunt and Bryce face their toughest conflict, and Baxian's heartbreaking past comes to light.

Meanwhile, Bryce learns she's a true World-Walker carrying two-thirds of Theia's power, Hunt discovers the shocking truth about his origins and why he was created, and our favorite mirrored-world theory gets even stronger as Midgard and Prythian continue to reflect one another in fascinating ways.

As the final battle begins, alliances are tested, Hel joins the war, Hypaxia races to save the world with her antidote, and Ithan finally steps into the Alpha role he was always meant to claim.

And just when we think we know where this story is headed... Bryce opens a portal expecting Hel... and instead finds herself standing in Prythian, face-to-face with Nesta, asking for the Mask.

Let's get into it, Bunchies!

#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!