Join us for the second half of Season 1, where we get literal and discuss Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse!

In this wrap-up of the first half of the season, Steph, Sidney, and Sam reunite to revisit major problems from the season. All (tellingly?) involve female characters exerting agency and male characters being problematic.

In this episode, Steph, Sidney, and Sam discuss the hard choices made by women in Shadow and Bone, bemoan the invisible hand of the economy snatching souls, and look lustily and critically at the "cold-cave-naked" trope.

In the final part of a miniseries on magic systems and world building, Steph, Sidney, Sam, and special guest Grace discuss the repercussions of power, and Grace sketches the major fantasy tropes of each Shadow and Bone episode.

In the second part of a three-part miniseries on magic systems and world building, Steph, Sidney, Sam, and special guest Grace zoom out into the history of YA magic, as it parallels female coming of age with learning to use magic. A summary: "woman enters man-space" and "Tamora Pierce did it first."

In the first of a three-part miniseries on magic systems and world building, Steph, Sidney, and Sam question the differences between science and magic in Shadow and Bone. In the process, Sidney psychoanalyzes the Volcra, Sam redecorates the Fold, and Steph breaks the podcast with the physics of the Cut. 

In this "episode," Steph, Sidney, and Sam get a little bit elemental by discussing Leigh Bardugo's Grisha categories, but mostly they talk about themselves and what Grisha they want to be after taking "Which Grisha are You?" quizzes (links below). Other topics include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a Grisha musical, and their deepest, darkest fears. You've been warned.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/kirbybeaton/grisha-quiz-shadow-and-bone

https://bookriot.com/grisha-quiz/

In this episode, Steph, Sidney, and Sam perfect their crow noises (well, Sidney and Steph do, anyway) as they discuss how the Crows' plot line does not make any sense. Spoiler: they enjoyed the fantasy Ocean's 11 of it all far too much to care.

In this episode, Steph, Sidney, and Sam go against their darker inclinations to get into the many virtues of Mal. Along the way, they look (too closely?) at horse anatomy, love triangles, and how Alina and Mal "match." You're welcome, Mal fans.

All aboard The Twisted Ship! In this episode, Steph, Sidney, and Sam roll raucously on the tides of the Unsea as they discuss the Darkling's villainous twist in episode five and the reasons why they will or will not get their hands on deck.