In this episode we finish Stalking Darkness by Lynn Flewelling. Seregil and Alec have a water park show down, Irtuk wins most horrible lizard, and we still don't know who the vanguard is? This arc ended in a very satisfying way and we discuss our favorite moments. 

The other big announcement in this episode is that we will not be continuing the Nightrunner novels. This felt like a good place to leave off and explore something new. We're going into our traditional end of summer break as we prepare for con season but stay tuned for continued coverage of the Assassin's Apprentice comic and we also plan on reading the Nightrunner short stories as suggested by our listeners. 

Timestamps:

Ch 49: 12 min 15 sec

Ch 50: 40 min 5 sec

Ch 51: 1 hr 2 min

Ch 52: 1 hr 18 min 20 sec (CW for mention of suicide in this chapter)

Next Episodes: Glimpses by Lynn Flewelling (the Nightrunner short stories) and we will finish up the Assassin's Apprentice Comic issues

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 144: Stalking Darkness Ch 49-52 Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Elena, Jenny, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

Time for VarGHOUL! We're running as fast as we can towards the conclusion of Stalking Darkness. Much awaited reunions (and confessions!) we're worried about Micum and we debate the true Morduvation of Mordus.

Timestamps:

Ch 45: 19 min 20 sec

Ch 46: 38 min 40 sec

Ch 47: 54 min 18 sec

Ch 48: 1 hr 10 min 40 sec

Next Episode: Stalking Darkness Ch 49-52 (Conclusion!)

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 143: Stalking Darkness Ch 45-48. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Elena, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

It's All Happening! The figures of prophecy are traveling to their appointed places. The old gods are waking up. Mordus has 10,000 gallons of blood to bottle before morning and Vargul is hard at work in this section of Stalking Darkness.

Content Warning: Torture, a lot of gore and some other horror imagery in this section

Timestamps:

Ch 41: 26 min 20 sec 

Ch 42: 7 min 40 sec

Ch 43: 1 hr 5 min 45 sec

Ch 44: 1 hr 23 min 39 sec

Next Episode: Stalking Darkness Ch 45-48

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 142: Stalking Darkness Ch 41-44. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Elena, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

In this section we read the horniest chapter, the grossest chapter, the most vanguardy chapter, the most piratical chapter! It's a section of mostly and the horse body count grows as we continue Stalking Darkness.

General CW for multiple depictions of torture, gore and battle violence. Chapter 39 in particular for sexual assault.

Timestamps:

Ch 36: 12 min 5 sec

Ch 37: 33 min 25 sec

Ch 38: 44 min 10 sec

Ch 39: 1 hr 02 min 55 sec

Ch 40: 1 hr 17 min 20 sec

Next Episode: Stalking Darkness Ch 41-43

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 141: Stalking Darkness Ch 36-40. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Elena, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

There will be blood! In this episode covering Stalking Darkness Chapters 31-35. The plot has ARRIVED. Risen soldiers, human hearts, talking heads (stop making sense!), secret cyphers, and we ask the most important question, "was Vargul there, and how sexy was he being?"

CW for death scenes and multiple descriptions of gore (which may continue for the rest of the book?) 

Timestamps:

Ch 31: 20 min 20 sec

Ch 32: 37 min 30 sec

Ch 33: 56 min 54 sec

Ch 34: 1 hr 9 min 55 sec

Ch 35: 1 hr 30 min 40 sec

We sneak in extra birdmail at 1 hr 46 min 55 sec

Next Episode: Stalking Darkness Ch 36-40

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 140: Stalking Darkness Ch 31-35. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Elena, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

We've got beef with King Shrewd's decisions, more plans for ROTELand and we relate a lot to Fitz's travels to the Mountain Kingdom in this episode covering the next issue of the comic book adaptation of Assassin's Apprentice. 

Our discussion of the comic book adaptation is All Spoilers for the RoTE Series (our book read-alongs are spoiler free). Enjoy and we recommend having your issues to read along with our discussions.

Timestamps:

Summary begins at 8 min 5 sec sec, Discussion at 12 min 30 sec.

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 139: Assassin's Apprentice III comic Issue 4. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Jenny, Eli, and Elena

The Realm of the Elderlings novels are written by Robin Hobb.

The comic book adaptation is published by Dark Horse Comics. 

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

In this episode we cover Chapters 26-30 of Stalking Darkness.  This is a bit of a set up section but we've got necromancer shenanigans, a couple convos that could have been emails, and we learn how to measure barrels of beer!

Timestamps:

Ch 26: 17 min 25 sec

Ch 27: 29 min 24 sec

Ch 28: 41 min 10 sec

Ch 29: 1 hr 7 min 42 sec

Ch 30: 1 hr 21 min 45 sec

Next Episode: Assassin's Apprentice III Issue #4

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 138: Stalking Darkness Ch 26-30. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Elena, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

In this episode secrets are revealed! We see the return of the Hot to Go monster, our Nec-Romance plot is heating up, we ramble a bit about battle narration styles, and make an important addition to RoTELand. It's Stalking Darkness, Chapters 21-25.

Timestamps:

Ch 21: 10 min 50 sec

Ch 22: 26 min 30 sec

Ch 23: 36 min 30 sec

Ch 24: 56 min 30 sec

Ch 25: 1 hr 16 min

Next Episode: Stalking Darkness Ch 26-30

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 137: Stalking Darkness Ch 21-25. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Jenny, Elena, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

In this episode we talk first talk about how we met Robin Hobb at Emerald City Comic Con 2025. Then, take a sewer tour with us! Seregil and Alec go spelunking in the Rhiminee tubes in this episode covering Stalking Darkness Chapters 16-20.  It's time for skeletons that can do The Worm, Trash Fashion, and the rat-pocalypse!

Timestamps:

Ch 16: 14 min 35 sec

Ch 17: 32 min 40 sec

Ch 18: 58 min 20 sec

Ch 19: 1 hr 8 min 40 sec

Ch 20: 1 hr 16 min

Next Episode: Stalking Darkness Ch 21-25

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 136: Stalking Darkness Ch 16-20. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Jenny, Elena, Joey and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine

Love and Luck is in the air for this episode covering Stalking Darkness chapters 11-15. Tune in for off the cuff riffs, hot to go predictions, Itemized Receipts, and Alyssa covers THAT chapter.

Time stamps:

Ch 11: 18 min 55 sec

Ch 12: 35 min 35 sec

Ch 13: 1 hr, 2 min, 35 sec

Ch 14: 1 hr, 9 min, 40 sec

Ch 15: 1 hr, 30 min, 35 sec

NEXT EPISODE: Stalking Darkness Ch 16-20

Buckkeep Radio - Episode 135: Stalking Darkness Ch 11-15. Featuring Rachel, Alyssa, Eli, Jenny, Elena, and Ashley.

The Nightrunner Series is written by Lynn Flewelling

Our theme is The Streets of Sant-Ivo by Mid-Air Machine