The Shrieking Shack

Twilight/Midnight Sun epilogues (which are really chapters)

We did it! We made it all the way through the first Twilight novel and its companion, and we have over two hours of discussion about what a weird ending it all has. First, though, we touch briefly on the (developing; I'm sure we'll be back on this soon) story about Jo inserting herself into a library's Twitter controversy. Then it's onward to chatting about 2004 dance hits, vampire krumping, fantasy football, and much more!

Twilight chapter 'An Impasse'/Midnight Sun chapters 'Chores', 'Three Conversations', 'Inevitability'

We've got a mystery on our hands! We open this week's episode with a discussion of the theory circulating on book blogs that a newly released novel--teased as being written under a pseudonym by a "New York Times bestselling author"--might be an undercover Meyer novel. After that, we have a lot of chapters to get through. Technically, the end of the books, since the next chapters are epilogues? But not really, those look like they're just real chapters. Anyway, these chapters are a real roller-coaster ride, and feature some of the most striking differences and additions in Midnight Sun for better and worse. We've got reverse heist movie antics, bizarre deep lore reveals, and Bella entering her most toxic era yet!

Twilight chapter 'The Angel'/Midnight Sun chapter 'Blood'

Our chapters were very, very short this week, and we got a little rowdy. We chat about current events (respectfully), character birthdays that happen to fall on unfortunate dates (respectfully), Edward's horny blood drinking (respectfully), and much more!

Twilight chapters 'Phone Call' and 'Hide-and-Seek'/Midnight Sun chapter 'Race'

On this week's episode we've got an exciting follow-up to last episode's amazing K-pop-related discovery, but first we have to catch up with the thousand page monstrosity that's been analyzed in more detail since last week. Then we have some really fun--dare we say, good?!--chapters of Twilight and Midnight Sun to discuss. We're in the home stretch, and things are finally happening: evil guys on the phone! Daring escape plans! Hot-wiring cars and doing sick stunts! There's high-octane action all of a sudden in this story, and we discuss what works, what doesn't, and what makes a good genre crossover tick.

Twilight chapter 'Impatience'/Midnight Sun chapter 'Ambush'

We've got big news this week--literally, as early reviews have revealed that Jo's new book clocks in at over one thousand pages (Twilight talk starts at 30 mins in if you fancy skipping this). We've also got two wildly different chapters to discuss: one that is moody, plaintive, and mysterious, and one that might well be the funniest Midnight Sun change yet. Inexplicable action sequences, possible retcons, and the least observant vampire ever are just a handful of the highlights this week. Oh, and you're going to want to stick through to the very end of this episode to catch a late-breaking news bulletin that knocks us out of our chairs. Trust me.

Twilight/Midnight Sun chapter 'Goodbyes'

The classic Song of Throne and Games button gets a workout this week as we discuss dudes' heads exploding on the new one of those shows, along with the rumor that a Wizarding World HBO show is in the works (again). We've also got quite a chapter to discuss: one with a brisk, thrilling pace that falls apart the instant we prod at any of its ridiculous setup. We've got dudes running, more Tracker Lore, and spy base shutter doors (???) and much more to get through on this week's Shrieking Shack!

Twilight/Midnight Sun chapters 'The Hunt'

We ease into our new evening schedule with a check-in on the Peacock Box before discussing a truly electrifying chapter of our vampire romance novel(s). 75% of the way through the book, conflict is here! ...In the form of some French guys we've never heard of. How will Edward mind-read his way out of this one, and can he earn any boyfriend points along the way? Plus, while there wasn't time for a third segment this week, don't you worry: we take a spontaneous and extended detour in our chapter discussion this week that has massive third segment energy.

Twilight/Midnight Sun chapter 'The Game'

The Money Fandom is out of control this week and we check in with the aftermath of the latest round of WB/Discovery news and lament how close we might have come to Fantastic Beasts meeting a dark fate. Then we have a packed chapter to discuss: Billy is making veiled threats! Bella isn't understanding them! Edward is running really fast next to the freeway! And of course, the long awaited baseball game--which, it turns out, is a lot different than the infamous movie clip. It features way more oversharing from Esmee, that's for sure. Finally, we attempt to take a vampire boyfriend quiz, but are forced to improvise mid-way through when the website craps out.

cw for child death and self harm this week; no serious details (in fact the discussion is mostly about how out of the blue the scene is) but if you're not in the mood for that skip ~1:24:00 (when we start talking about Esmee at baseball) to 1:30:00!

Twilight/Midnight Sun chapter: Carlisle

It's another no news week so far for us (knock on wood) so we spend our time at the anchor's desk goofing off and talking about private planes, Star Trek: Voyager, pricing errors, and movie lengths. Our chapters this week were incredibly short (Twilight's was 10 pages!) and maybe the most pointless content in both Twilight and Midnight Sun so far, but we have a good time dissecting what little there is to this gripping story about a guy who won't stop telling his new girlfriend how cool his dad is. Then, in the third segment, we consult several of the most popular online quizzes to determine something very important: what kind of vampire are we?

(mild content warning--we don't dwell on any specifics for too long, but Edward has another Sickos monologue this week and it's just as CSI/Law and Order SVU as last time. If you don't want to bother with this, skip ahead 15 minutes or so after Liz gives her content warning to bypass the whole discussion)

Twilight/Midnight Sun chapter: Carlisle

It's another no news week so far for us (knock on wood) so we spend our time at the anchor's desk goofing off and talking about private planes, Star Trek: Voyager, pricing errors, and movie lengths. Our chapters this week were incredibly short (Twilight's was 10 pages!) and maybe the most pointless content in both Twilight and Midnight Sun so far, but we have a good time dissecting what little there is to this gripping story about a guy who won't stop telling his new girlfriend how cool his dad is. Then, in the third segment, we consult several of the most popular online quizzes to determine something very important: what kind of vampire are we?

(mild content warning--we don't dwell on any specifics for too long, but Edward has another Sickos monologue this week and it's just as CSI/Law and Order SVU as last time. If you don't want to bother with this, skip ahead 15 minutes or so after Liz gives her content warning to bypass the whole discussion)

Bella visits the Vampire Family.

After a recent run of Shriekcast After Dark recordings, we record a little earlier to beat the heat! We chat about morning television and blockbuster adventure movies based on YA movies before moving on to discuss our chapters. Edward has decided it's time to introduce Bella to his family, but how will she react to his giant windows and chessboards?