The Knight and the Moth

Welcome to Season 6 Episode 7 of That Pretentious Book Club! 

In this episode, the hosts dive into The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig—a lush, atmospheric fantasy filled with prophecy, devotion, and an overachieving heroine. For once, the hosts find themselves surprisingly aligned on most of the book… except for the love interest—which, yet again, sparks some spirited disagreement. 

Expect some swooning, side-eyeing, and lively debate as the group unpacks this story, the amazing worldbuilding, and characters that range from beloved to loathsome. 

☕ Pour yourself a cup of tea 

📚 Grab your copy 

🦋 Join the club for our discussion of The Knight and the Moth! 

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Transcript

Wheezy & Spoons 0:06

Hello everyone and welcome back to that Pretentious Book Club. Hi. I honestly wish this had started recording at like one second sooner, like one Mississippi sooner, because Kendall went, no, right before it started. I scrambled right after I said, is everyone ready to record? And she fully said, yeah, yep. And I was like, wait, no I'm not. Yeah, that. By the way, that's, uh, Dr. Spoons Palermo, also Kendall, if you wanted to call her by her Christian name, but, uh, for heathens here, so we're not gonna do that. Hi, howdy. Um, below me here is below me socially, economically, height wise, seating wise today. Asha Roy, can call her wheezy. It ain't easy being wheezy. And then that beautiful soul over there who's totally rocking her adorable haircut. This might be the first time they've seen this haircut, I don't know,

Gino 0:59

It is.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:01

Gino. Oh, and you can call her Gino.

Gino 1:05

You may not address me. Actually, don't look me in the eye. Don't speak to me directly.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:10

eye. Oh my gosh.

Gino 1:13

You can address wheezy and she will relay messages if she deems them worthy.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:19

I will address, I will, I will move the messages along. Um, but I'm gonna give them my own like fun spin. So you never know what's actually gonna get through.

Gino 1:27

That is very true.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28

Excellent. That is, yeah. how it would work if you were like a

Gino 1:33

It's on brand. Yeah, that's on brand.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:36

I'd be like, this is what they said. This is what I think they meant. This is, I'm like, they said it. They said it, but they kind of said it like this, so, oh my gosh.

Gino 1:46

Goodness. So how ha, how have you been, uh, wheezy? Any updates?

Wheezy & Spoons 1:50

large.

Gino 1:52

Large.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:53

Um, I'm

Gino 1:54

So you've finally come to terms with your pregnancy.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:58

Yeah, I figured I don't think I'm getting like that fat in just one place. I think maybe there's like a baby in there also. I would be like, what's constantly like body slamming me from the inside. I know what's body slamming me from the outside. It's my 2-year-old son, the size of a 4-year-old. He's had another growth spurt. You know, you weren't even here that long ago, but when you come back, I feel like you're gonna be like, he's the size of a 5-year-old. He's, it's crazy. And, but he's not getting fat. He's still so skinny. His pants fall off, but whatever. That's a different problem. Um, but yeah, so fully the, my child is body slimming me from the outside constantly because he's like a two and a half year old boy and the baby on the inside is responding and, um, not, not in a, not in appreciation. fighting back. Yeah, I was telling spoons and also was telling Ri today I was like, if this baby's a boy. going to inevitably be bigger than you'cause it's your little sibling and it's gonna kick your ass. was like, if it's a girl, she's gonna destroy you psychologically in revenge

Gino 2:59

I think,

Wheezy & Spoons 3:00

of this.

Gino 3:00

think she's still gonna physically kick his ass as a girl as well. She might not be bigger than him, but I think she's still, I think she's gonna be like, uh, very

Wheezy & Spoons 3:10

rough

Gino 3:10

f

Wheezy & Spoons 3:11

she's

Gino 3:11

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 3:11

rough and tumble and he is my very sweet, sensitive soul. And he also is a bean bowl. So like inevitably, like, I mean his much shorter cousin Saidi is, uh, has been like sitting on him

Gino 3:25

I mean.

Wheezy & Spoons 3:25

end all fights for months, many, many months.

Gino 3:29

I did, I, I know I'm not the first person to say this, but I did say when I was there, I was like, well, Riley's not gonna be a football player. So took him outside to play ball with him and I was like, I, and I was like, we can rule out baseball and football. And I forget because I was like, he had this giant ball and I was like, just throw it at the fence, you know?'cause the fence was, I was like, we can bounce it off the fence. I was like, throw it at the fence. And he proceeded to first just like, try to throw it, but it just dropped straight in front of him. The second time he did it, it went over behind his head. And like the third time I was like, okay, nope. Yeah. So why don't we go read some more books?

Wheezy & Spoons 4:12

We definitely had a, um, he went to a little friend's birthday party last weekend and, uh, of the slightly older boys came in with a, um, plastic baseball bat. And I was like, this is gonna go really, really well. I can't wait to see what happens with the plastic baseball bat. And this room full of boys between the ages of 18 months and five years old. Just, it was just like a ton of little boys. And, um, ri at some point picked up the bat and I shouldn't have, I shouldn't have ever worried about him with the bat.'cause then he proceeded to try and golf swing a ball that was on the ground with it. And I was like, this is good. This is, he's probably not gonna hit anyone too hard with it doing this. But a number of times that my sweet child missed the ball that is sitting on the ground, not moving on the ground stationary. Excellent. Excellent. I was like, so, mm. Great stuff. So no golf either. That's okay. Just crossing them off the list. Okay. There's still okay. Tennis. I don't know. Yeah, exactly, exactly. He likes to run. He'll probably just be a runner. He's a prank

Gino 5:12

we did say running. Running was a possibility and soccer's not ruled out yet.

Wheezy & Spoons 5:18

Yeah, we can definitely, yeah. Can certainly try about soccer. Yeah, we can certainly try. Anyways, I feel like that's, that's been my life. Um, owning a bookstore is really fun and also really stressful. Uh, support your independent bookstores. You guys we're dying and by we're dying. I don't just mean the industry. I mean, independent bookstore owners are dying. They're dropping like flies, they're dropping like flies. stress on your heart on a daily basis, it's crazy. Um, but still fun. So, is that it? I'm low on iron now. You guys all know that. Oh my. Um, she's iron deficient.

Gino 5:56

Be fair. I've

Wheezy & Spoons 5:56

deficient.

Gino 5:57

been iron deficient. I've act, I actually remembered to take my iron pills today, so.

Wheezy & Spoons 6:03

Oh, so did I only,'cause my doctor called me and was like, why are you, why are your blood tests iron deficient? And I was like,'cause I've not been taking my medication again. You're like, well that's probably just the lack of medication. I just don't, I don't typically, I mean, even when I'm not pregnant, I'm also iron deficient. So I'm like, this isn't new. but they were like, well, you have to care about it because you're pregnant. And I was like, do I, that's, I feel like that big of a problem the way that I'm just like, I'm at the point where I'm like. I referenced this the other day that, you know the episode of the office where Pam's very pregnant. She's like, at this point in the pregnancy, like, I just don't care. I spit out my gum on the carpet. I'm like very much at that point, I'm in the third trimester now. And they called me to be like, Hey, you're, why are your iron levels bad? And I was like, my bad. that's why. And it was not a priority for me. And then, um, they're like, also, you might have gestational diabetes.'cause your blood test came back and it was sort of like just above the borderline. So now you have to go in and do this really long three hour blood draw. And I was like, do I have to, like, if I'm just like slightly above like the borderline to be concerned and the baby's only measuring in the 31st percentile, I'm like, how vital is this that I go do this test? What. What level of concern should I end you be that I don't wanna do this. I mean, like at the beginning of this pregnancy, they were like, you might have this super complicated thing that's kind of like, um, what do you call it, the high blood pressure thing that's really dangerous that I suddenly can't remember the name of. Yes, yes, yes. And then they were like, and also you have arcade umbilical cord now n now none of those things are true. So I'm like, now you want me to care

Gino 7:45

So is this true?

Wheezy & Spoons 7:46

diabetic? Like,

Gino 7:48

Sounds like another lie,

Wheezy & Spoons 7:50

you like heard that one before. I was like, is it, is this a problem? Hmm. And they were like, well you do have a placental lake. And I'm like, just add one more thing. And then I was

Gino 8:00

like they're just making up words at this point.

Wheezy & Spoons 8:02

to be worried? Right. Yeah, that sounds great. And they were like, placental lakes are almost always not a problem unless you have a lot of them. I was like, well, I have apparently one placental lake. I've never heard this term. Right? Me either.

Gino 8:14

made up.

Wheezy & Spoons 8:15

it is, because it's apparently somewhat common and not dangerous. So again, I'm like, so I don't need to worry about that. Well, I know the things I have to worry about. I mean, I think number one should be but I feel like the child is fine. I mean, it's continually growing. It gets, I do get regular growth scans because of the weird placental lake thing. Oh, that hard. Placental lake, you know, add it again with the placental lake. What is a placental lake? You may ask. Apparently it's like a pocket of blood or something in the placenta. I was kinda like, I thought the whole thing was kind of a pocket of blood, but like, and other things, other viscera. when Lacey was on here and she was like, Ooh, blood play. That was one of the crazier things we've ever said on this time. I think about it all the time that she did not read. It's just like, oh god. We should have had her back so she could react to those. Oh, I

Gino 9:11

Well,

Wheezy & Spoons 9:12

like book. I think she'll like, I think should read this book actually. Yeah.

Gino 9:15

I wanna, um, go through our list and figure out which ones that we're gonna do that for with her and just on and

Wheezy & Spoons 9:22

yes.

Gino 9:22

reacting to,

Wheezy & Spoons 9:22

her just sit and listen

Gino 9:24

yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons 9:25

anyways. Um, that's, uh, oh, sorry. Continue.

Gino 9:29

no, it's fine. Just cut me off. I don't, I'm not important.

Wheezy & Spoons 9:33

Okay, cool. So Spoons, how's your whatever? Um, my day is, my, my week is good. What did I do? Oh, I helped host a birthday party weekend for my friend and the theme was Medieval Tea Party. So fun. That was great.

Gino 9:52

Interesting.

Wheezy & Spoons 9:53

tag. And that

Gino 9:56

What makes a Medieval tea party Medieval

Wheezy & Spoons 10:00

um, everyone, it's just a handful of dried leaves just off the ground. And these crusted bread. Yeah, crusted

Gino 10:07

So, so, so

Wheezy & Spoons 10:09

cup

Gino 10:09

Carissa's Dream.

Wheezy & Spoons 10:11

Yeah, exactly. Everyone's teeth, a few of their teeth have to be blacked out. Mm-hmm. And you, like, you can't attend if you're over the age of 15'cause you would've died by them and you can't take a shower for at least two weeks beforehand. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. That's kind of where we're at with that, so. Excellent. No, it was just like, everyone dressed like we're gonna the ren fair and we like made flower crowns and stuff and we had like, know, John t like fife music playing in the background and stuff like that. Like, and I put up, um. What I deemed to be medieval esque decorations. It was fun. Amazing. Um, and then, and then laser tag. And then we did laser tag. that part of the medieval theme as Weller tag? That was just

Gino 10:53

Besides medieval themed

Wheezy & Spoons 10:54

Side

Gino 10:55

medieval laser tech,

Wheezy & Spoons 10:57

that the medieval laser tag, it was with art, like archery. It's a crossbo.

Gino 11:02

actually shot arrows at each other. Thank God no one's a good aim.

Wheezy & Spoons 11:05

actually murdered, we tried to kill each other. Um, this weekend I'm going to a Big Bend. Mm-hmm. So that'll be fun. Um, yep. Those are my updates and Okay. What is going on? Why? I dunno. Just the way you're like, yeah. So I'm going to Big Bend and those are my updates. Well, I was gonna say a K-pop related one. And then I was like, nobody wants to hear that. Let me hear that. I love hearing your K-pop related update. It's so much drama in the K-pop world this week. But tomorrow they're releasing a video from my K-pop band and they're all playing with these children. And there's so many videos of like this, and I'm always kind of like, where are they getting these children? Who's baby is this? But they're just like, I just trust this group of K-pop idols to play with my babies. I trust for kids. Yeah, that's what they're called. And like I am, the thing is, I know I'm not gonna survive it'cause it's gonna kill me dead. Like, but then I do, I am constantly wondering this. I mean, I do trust them to take care of these babies, but it's just like why? Who is offering their baby up for content? You know what I mean? Yeah. And I always wonder about this for like movies too, who's like, I need to get my child into acting Age, age two days old. Yeah. I don't know.

Gino 12:28

Listen, I could go into a side rant about that because. I'm going to, um, I've been recently reading

Wheezy & Spoons 12:37

Oh,

Gino 12:37

these books written by like, you know, Jette, Jeanette, Jeanette McCurdy's book, like yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 12:44

Mm-hmm.

Gino 12:44

and then, um, a Allison something. But all these like child actors that are writing books now exposes on being a child actor. And this is my hot take on this, which could sound very insensitive as I'm not someone who's been a child actor, but a common thing in all these books and that all these child actors are saying later on in life, they're like, I realized, or they say from the beginning, they're like, I never wanted to act like my parents put me in acting. My parents put me in commercials, my parents put me in this and I was reading there's books and realizing it.'cause I always wanted to be in movies and acting and all that stuff. Um, but. I was like, I, yes, there's definitely parts that are dark of child acting, but a lot of what they went through too also has to just do with the fact that they were like not happy'cause it wasn't what they wanted to do. And I was like, if, but then you hear stories from some actors who were in it young and they were like, you know, I begged my mom to like, take me to New York. And we got there and I was like, I'm never leaving. And I actually saw an interview with, um, the girl that plays Megan from Drake and Josh, I don't remember her name, but,

Wheezy & Spoons 14:06

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Miranda

Gino 14:07

she was talking to another, yeah, she was talking to another girl and I don't know who it was. And she was like, how did you get your start in acting? And she was like, I mean. I asked my mom to take me to auditions. How does anyone, like who does it? And they were like, wait, like you asked, you wanted to be there. Like, it was such a shocking thing. I was like, this is the big, this is the big, like all these very traumatic child actors. I'm not saying there wasn't other stuff going on too, but that are like, it was horrible. It was horrible. It was horrible. Their parents forced them into it from the beginning. Whereas people who are like, no, I'm, I had a great time and I'm still doing it. It's'cause they wanted to from the beginning. So it's not necessarily only the industry is the issue, it's a lot of the parents, which allows the industry to be that way. But yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons 14:55

is it, it's Cole Sprouse. He's the one who's still doing a lot of acting. Right. The Sprouse twins.

Gino 15:00

I don't know which one.

Wheezy & Spoons 15:02

Yeah. Yeah. Cole. Cole Sprouse. Um, he's the one who played Cody in Sweet Love, Zach and Cody, um, which is how I will always remember him. But although he's done a lot of other things, that's since then and he's really great. Yeah. Cole Sprouse is, he's quite talented, but he's done some interviews too.'cause he was like, yeah, being like twins as a baby is like, kind of like gold for your parents basically. So obviously we didn't choose to be in it. were babies. But like then you can get around a lot of like the weird labor laws about kids.'cause you've got, you know, twins. Yeah. Because they played,

Gino 15:32

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 15:33

Ross's son

Gino 15:34

Yes. Ross's son and friends.

Wheezy & Spoons 15:37

Yep. Exactly. Yeah. And they did a couple of their suit, they were in, uh, what is that, that Adam Sandler movie, which was adorable. And clearly Cole still is passionate about acting, even though he was like, yeah, there was some dark stuff. And we definitely like, were put into it and like And he was basically, he was like, yes. Like I, my mom is, I think, I think he basically, he described it as like quite the narcissist. Mm-hmm. And a woman who is like very broken in detention seeking mm-hmm. Making money off of her children. And I think that's probably also somewhat common of parents who are like really into their kids' acting careers. But then Cole also enjoys acting. So now he still does it'cause he enjoys it. um, I wonder what Dylan Sprouse is doing? Well he in, so that's an interesting, he, he was in some like really bad looking movie recently I thought, or Dylan. But, um, I

Gino 16:24

He still acts just poorly.

Wheezy & Spoons 16:26

Cole's Cole was also in weird stuff. They're not, they're not in any Oscar winning films. No, no, no, no, no. But that's interesting though.'cause I'm like, well, they've continued at least, and I don't, I don't, I have no idea how Dylan's Ross feels about his career or childhood. Yeah. Because I haven't seen any interviews with him, but Cole's done a few of'em that I've

Gino 16:44

Yeah, it's just, cause I've been reading those lately, so it's just a hot, it's been on my mind, the sort of interpretation.'cause again, like I was thinking during reading it, certain parts I was like, where they're like, oh, I had to do this. Oh, I had to do that. I would've killed to have had to do that. Like I would've loved to be doing that. And then in the end they're like, I realized my mom forced me into it. I never wanted to be there. And I was like, that's

Wheezy & Spoons 17:10

that

Gino 17:10

the difference.

Wheezy & Spoons 17:10

why you maybe hated it. Yeah.

Gino 17:12

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 17:13

forced my brother into football, even though he did not wanna play football and he was miserable. Like, he literally could have just let him do swim and dive. Like

Gino 17:22

That was it. That was the bit skipping. That was the bit when you texted me, uh, you put Caleb and I in a group chat the other day and you were like, I just wanted to put my brother in this group chat with you. Um, I stared at that message for so long trying to decide which bit I was gonna go with.'cause I really wanted to start by texting and being like, uh. Hey, this is Caleb. What's up? Or something like that. Like just be pretending I was Caleb in

Wheezy & Spoons 17:54

have been good.

Gino 17:55

the conversation'cause like none of the numbers are. And I was like, no, what'd I go with? So then finally I was like,'cause I was deep in a book at that point. So it's like, I'm sorry, Gino's not here right now. She's on the ever seas hanging out with pirates. So, but

Wheezy & Spoons 18:11

Amazing little Gina can't come to this. I feel like I could sense your indecision that you were working on a bit.'cause I was like, she's taking a

Gino 18:18

I was, I was like, what?

Wheezy & Spoons 18:19

that way and I was like, she had a bit percolating.

Gino 18:22

Yeah, I was like, which one do I go with? Which one do I go with?

Wheezy & Spoons 18:26

And my brother is like always down to try and join in a bit. So he said something similar.

Gino 18:31

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 18:31

why it wasn't as clever. No, no offense, Caleb. It was still and almost happy birthday Caleb, by the way. Yeah. We might not do another one

Gino 18:44

All right.

Wheezy & Spoons 18:44

your birthday. I'm gonna be birthday Ash.

Gino 18:47

Oh, you mean, you mean you guys aren't gonna, you guys aren't gonna listen to the 48 hour audio book before her birthday, 48 hour audio book that someone chose.

Wheezy & Spoons 18:59

Hey, don't send me with a good time. Hey, what we doing?

Gino 19:03

You didn't see my text?

Wheezy & Spoons 19:06

I don't

Gino 19:06

Yes. The next book, the next book, it's in the group chat. The next book,

Wheezy & Spoons 19:12

Oh my gosh.

Gino 19:13

48 hours

Wheezy & Spoons 19:15

hours.

Gino 19:15

audiobook.

Wheezy & Spoons 19:16

you do that? Why I think I did that. Why did you do that? cause I am bound and determined to pick books that everyone else hates. I this you count of Monte Crito? Yeah. damn it.

Gino 19:30

it's 48 hours on.

Wheezy & Spoons 19:31

so

Gino 19:32

I've listened to 12 hours and I'm 23% in.

Wheezy & Spoons 19:36

I gotta get on it like today.

Gino 19:39

I was like, well, we'll do this in 2027.

Wheezy & Spoons 19:42

can my birthday of the podcast, I'll just be Lacey for the episode and you guys can explain this book to me.

Gino 19:49

I'm fine with that actually.

Wheezy & Spoons 19:50

present. I would do that. Solid. We'll see if I get around to reading it. There's a good, yeah, we'll see. There's a good chance I do. You and Lexi both peanut gallery and me and Gina are like, have for sure different opinions.

Gino 20:04

I actually dunno about that mostly

Wheezy & Spoons 20:07

oh,

Gino 20:08

Anyways. Speaking of books,

Wheezy & Spoons 20:10

how I'll feel about it. I might wait. Gina, did you tell us about your life?

Gino 20:14

I mean, I told you that I did a bit and I've been thinking about child actors.

Wheezy & Spoons 20:20

Yeah. She, oh, you're like, that's it. That's what I was, that's what I just said.

Gino 20:25

yeah. I don't know what more there is to say other than I'm very injury prone lately. If you can see video,

Wheezy & Spoons 20:31

That sucks.

Gino 20:33

multiple band-aids on, um, just slicing myself up. Slicing and Dyson.

Wheezy & Spoons 20:39

Slice it in

Gino 20:40

I know.

Wheezy & Spoons 20:40

over here. Oh God. my goodness. Okay. I am actually very excited to talk about this book, though. She has, she's been like teasing, talking about it all day. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I'm like,

Gino 20:52

So

Wheezy & Spoons 20:52

and Ash ignores me and I'm like, so what about this? She's

Gino 20:55

she just walked away

Wheezy & Spoons 20:57

move fantasy to this shelf. I have the

Gino 20:59

the,

Wheezy & Spoons 21:00

to have conversations with

Gino 21:02

I mean, you're not the worst because I, uh, I'm the, that says, get whatever. Ash not listening what you're saying. Yeah, whatever. Ash, can you cut up this stuff? So we, we read, uh, the Night in the Moth by Rachel Gillig.

Wheezy & Spoons 21:19

Yes. Rachel Gillick. Yeah.

Gino 21:22

Um, I know that you guys dunno anything about Rachel Gillig. So

Wheezy & Spoons 21:26

I don't,

Gino 21:27

can you guess what her, can you guess what her,

Wheezy & Spoons 21:30

lovingly today.

Gino 21:32

um, Zodiac Sinus

Wheezy & Spoons 21:34

Scorpio.

Gino 21:36

whiskey or, wait, see,

Wheezy & Spoons 21:38

have no idea.

Gino 21:39

so her birthday is September, September 22nd.

Wheezy & Spoons 21:43

Oh, she Libra. She's a Virgo.

Gino 21:45

Virgo.

Wheezy & Spoons 21:47

What

Gino 21:47

She's a Virgo. She's a Virgo. Libras. Before

Wheezy & Spoons 21:51

I

Gino 21:51

that, no, after that Libras, after that

Wheezy & Spoons 21:54

Libra is

Gino 21:54

must start like the 23rd or something.

Wheezy & Spoons 21:57

no.'cause the, yeah, Libra is, it must start the 23rd then, because

Gino 22:02

Yeah, because usually it's split somewhere around there. Okay. Then yeah, it must start the 23rd. So she's a Virgo.

Wheezy & Spoons 22:08

a

Gino 22:08

Um, actually, I just realized, um, that she wrote another pretty popular book that has been on my TBR for a long time that I've still not read,

Wheezy & Spoons 22:19

Oh,

Gino 22:20

which is One, one Dark Window.

Wheezy & Spoons 22:23

Oh,

Gino 22:25

Have you all seen heard of it? No,

Wheezy & Spoons 22:27

I know what

Gino 22:28

it's on,

Wheezy & Spoons 22:29

'cause I think I

Gino 22:29

yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons 22:30

it once.

Gino 22:32

it's on so many lists that are like, read this. And so it's on my TBR, but I've not read it. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 22:38

I knew I recognized her name a hundred percent. that one was fantasy as well. Mm-hmm. I listened. I remember, I enjoyed it. I just, I was really distracted when I was listening to it, so I just stopped listening to it.'cause I was like, I'm gonna have to go back and basically start from the beginning of it. But it was really good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like one dark window and then the second book is like two something or other. I don't know.

Gino 23:01

Twisted Crowns. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 23:03

Yeah, yeah,

Gino 23:04

crowns. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 23:06

Crazy. my God. I'm gonna have to read that because I think I'm a fan now. And by I

Gino 23:11

um,

Wheezy & Spoons 23:13

alert. Love the book.

Gino 23:16

oh, another thing that I'm just gonna disclose real quick is that I've been having lots of weird fillers in my speech lately, so I apologize if this is horrible. The other day I was, the other day I kept saying, I don't know, actually, I do know like everything was like, and so I don't know. No, I do know.

Wheezy & Spoons 23:35

I dunno. Wait, no, I'm lying to you.

Gino 23:38

Yeah, exactly.

Wheezy & Spoons 23:40

I dunno.

Gino 23:41

So this, this

Wheezy & Spoons 23:42

That's so

Gino 23:43

whole podcast might go that way, but you were gonna say some of these spins?

Wheezy & Spoons 23:47

Oh, I was just gonna say, what are uh, first impressions?

Gino 23:51

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 23:52

I wasn't gonna make it. We have more about Rachel. Sorry. Oh yeah. Is there more about

Gino 23:55

Oh, um, there wasn't really a lot about her. She lives in California with her husband and her poodle named Wally. And she wrote those books? Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 24:03

Cute dog named Strange

Gino 24:05

Oh, and I think she was, or is a, I think she was a preschool teacher, or she was some sort of teacher, like middle school or something. But

Wheezy & Spoons 24:15

Cool.

Gino 24:15

that's it.

Wheezy & Spoons 24:16

brave. Wow. She's so

Gino 24:18

I, I don't remember which school. Some sort of school.

Wheezy & Spoons 24:20

Oh, well that's okay. She was a teacher. Some sort of teaching. Okay. First impressions. I thought I was gonna not like it. I don't know why. I always think I was just, I've been like so weird about fantasy for the last like several years that every time like I pick up a fantasy that everyone says is really good. I'm always like, eh. It fine.

Gino 24:38

Really

Wheezy & Spoons 24:38

Like I just haven't been

Gino 24:39

interesting.

Wheezy & Spoons 24:40

away by a fantasy. And then, um, I really liked the cover art though. I was like, well, the cover art's stunning and gives me a bunch of ideas for like, new books, like writing prompt. Like if someone was like, here's your picture for a writing prompt. Mm-hmm. I'd be like, there's so much material there. Very evocative. Yeah. Very evocative. That's the word for it. A whole word for the long thing that I said. It is one word, but I thought it was gonna be a let down'cause I've just not like a, in a big wave. Just in a way where I'm like, I haven't been like super, like gripped or stunned by fantasy in a while. But also I've been listening to primarily audio books and I prefer to read fantasy. Mm-hmm. I don't love fantasy audiobook typically, but this one was also an exception in that way. So that was my first impressions.

Gino 25:20

I do make an effort to read fantasy and not listen to the audio books. So I did read this one. Um, I, I don't know what my first impression was. It definitely wasn't like excited, but it wasn't like dreading. I, I was very neutral about it.

Wheezy & Spoons 25:40

Didn't you pick this book?

Gino 25:42

No.

Wheezy & Spoons 25:43

I didn't pick it. I didn't pick it. I think you did. No, I didn't.

Gino 25:48

Yeah, I think you did.

Wheezy & Spoons 25:49

GTO picked it.

Gino 25:50

No, I'd never even heard of it before. I'd never even heard of it before. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 25:56

feel like maybe it and you were like, that could be something.

Gino 26:00

Maybe someone recommended it.

Wheezy & Spoons 26:02

Maybe someone recommended it. Y'all, this is so hard to be me. He called me fully gaslit me for 30 minutes into the thingy that I'd opened and eaten a whole thing of cookies. And I believed him. After 30 minutes of protesting, I started to question myself. Only for him to go, nah, I'm just kidding. And I was like, what? What if we were both like, nah, just kidding. We take the book. be like, I give up. We did not though,

Gino 26:29

No, I had never heard of it. Um, yeah, no, I,

Wheezy & Spoons 26:34

I fully have been thinking this was a Gino Pick the whole time.

Gino 26:37

no,

Wheezy & Spoons 26:38

All right. My first impression was, for some reason I thought it was gonna be gay. I don't know why I thought this. I thought I'd heard that it was lesbians. And so I was like, woo-hoo. Sic fantasy romance. And then, um, you

Gino 26:54

listen. I could even see that from the cover.

Wheezy & Spoons 26:57

Stuff started and I was, and I was like, okay, lots of ladies. And then she was like, that night is hot. And I was like, oh. I was like, okay, well that's fine. It's like, it's like we accept all types. It doesn't like, it was fine. I was just like it. I just thought it was gonna be yay. So I kind of went in with a whole different sort. It's so funny how to kind of adjust. I was like, oh, okay, okay. Interesting. And then I was like, wait, maybe it's a fake out. Maybe it's like, maybe she is. I think she is bi, but I was like, yeah. Anyway, I don't know why I thought that. think most of the, I've already forgotten what they're called'cause I finished this. It's divine, I think, I think feel like all the diviners were bi. It seemed to be very bi uh, bi forward over there.

Gino 27:41

I don't know if you're just like locked in, uh, away with nothing but women for that long in your developing years,

Wheezy & Spoons 27:51

You know, you know, nature

Gino 27:53

you gotta love'em a little bit.

Wheezy & Spoons 27:54

ourselves. But yeah, no, in fact, there was a very hot, uh, man love interest, so.

Gino 28:01

Okay? Very hot is questionable, but all right.

Wheezy & Spoons 28:04

Interesting. Fascinating. We were literally discussing this like right before we sat down. I was like, if you really like the, the main guy, I feel like Gino's knocking like the main guy that much.

Gino 28:17

I did not like the main guy that much.

Wheezy & Spoons 28:20

This is insane. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I was into him. I was into him hot, hot, hot. I felt pretty neutral about him actually. We, we can get into that, you know? What was your first impression of the book that you didn't recommend about? Oh, she already

Gino 28:35

I said I was just neutral. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 28:38

You guys, it's

Gino 28:40

Hi, and welcome back to that.

Wheezy & Spoons 28:42

I legitimately, the other day I was like. I have so much sympathy for stupid people now. Like it really is so much harder to be stupid. I've never been so dumb in my life.

Gino 28:54

At least you're pretty.

Wheezy & Spoons 28:57

Yeah, you're really pretty. Thanks. I'm really, really round right now. Thanks.

Gino 29:03

Yeah. But that's really, that's really attractive in medieval times.

Wheezy & Spoons 29:07

Oh, round and stupid. Hell yeah, queen. We get it. Oh my gosh, y'all, it's so bad. That won't even, I'm sure that won't even be the last time that I do that in this episode. Like, all right, so should we talk about the author or what book are we doing again?

Gino 29:25

The count of monteau give up.

Wheezy & Spoons 29:28

Oh, oh my gosh. I just really think Percy Jackson,

Gino 29:32

I made a drink,

Wheezy & Spoons 29:34

I, Oh, literally

Gino 29:36

we've.

Wheezy & Spoons 29:37

drink

Gino 29:37

We've been, um, slacking on the drink a little bit, but we did make an effort this time and we will get into why the drink is what it is, I guess. Well, no, I say, okay, so it's water, gin, grenadine and honey, um, and coconut, um, cream on top if you put that. But I did not because I had my hand on the bottle of coconut cream in the store and I hate coconut. And I was like, do it for the thing. But then I was like, I'm not buying a whole bottle of coconut cream just for one thing. I'll never use it. So

Wheezy & Spoons 30:13

I didn't wanna buy the coconut cream you're supposed to.'cause I was like, this is gonna go to waste sooner. And I love coconut, so I was like, I got a big squeeze bottle of coconut stuff.

Gino 30:22

yeah, that's why I had the squeeze stuff, but I hate it. So, um.

Wheezy & Spoons 30:26

I was watching. See what would happen. She just wa was trying to walk away with her headphones on. Amazing.

Gino 30:33

So it is water because, uh, water has a very significant role in this

Wheezy & Spoons 30:39

Oh, that's so smart.

Gino 30:41

Um, so it's like five ounces of water or something, and then Grenadine, not just because somebody here really likes it, but because drops of blood, it's like four drops of Grenadine. So drops of blood in the water also have a very big significance in this book. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 31:01

with this recipe?

Gino 31:03

I like took from a couple different cocktails, um, and m mashed them. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 31:10

And it's delicious by the way.

Gino 31:13

and it's honey and gin because you have to have flavors. That's really mostly it. And the coconut cream is the, um, veil, the white, there's like white veils and white, uh,

Wheezy & Spoons 31:25

This is so clever. Spoons has missed

Gino 31:27

So.

Wheezy & Spoons 31:28

on the explanation. I think it's

Gino 31:31

is like, that's fine. I'll just drink it.

Wheezy & Spoons 31:32

I'll have, so mineral water, because of the, because of the spring. Yes.'cause of the spring. And then the drops of Grenadine because of drops of blood and then I know. And then honey and gin, because you have to have flavor. That's a direct quote from Gino. Well, um, we're very flavor forward. And then the coconut cream for the veil, for the white veil. Oh my god. Genius. It was y'all. This was real good. It's also real good as a mocktail, which is nice. so smart, Gino. So smart and pretty. And really pretty.

Gino 32:08

Okay.

Wheezy & Spoons 32:09

Okay. She was like, I don't know what She's like, okay. She's like, shut the hell up. Um, can't say the same thing for Ash. I know. dumb and round reciprocated. Wow. Literally so dumb and round. I'm like, how do we get up now? Hold us. Okay guys.

Gino 32:26

Please stand by.

Wheezy & Spoons 32:27

did it. You're

Gino 32:29

Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 32:30

'cause I wanted to sit on my child's, uh, Lenny McQueen chair. Mm-hmm. The ground was too hard. High quality video we're doing. Yeah.

Gino 32:38

I know, I was like, I don't know if you have pants on or not. Or if that's a dress because it's, yeah, the videos like, okay.

Wheezy & Spoons 32:48

also wearing, um, a sweater dress. It is fully like, been like 85 degrees outside. I was just like, I wanna put on something cozy and I, there's no makeup on this face. You guys, there's

Gino 33:01

So

Wheezy & Spoons 33:02

this is the best I could do.

Gino 33:03

one more thing before we get into the story disclaimer, is that I realized with the Prince in the Popper that apparently I'm not great with names in books. Um. And I cannot remember the names of any of the characters in this book, except for that The Gargoyle Kills calls everyone bar. Ew. Because I love that. We'll get into that. But um,

Wheezy & Spoons 33:27

uh,

Gino 33:28

so I don't remember names of anyone and I'm literally reading a book right now because I thought about that and I was like, wait, who are the characters names in the book I'm reading? I don't know.

Wheezy & Spoons 33:38

I'll be honest, you're just describing my life in every single episode. That's why I always wait for you guys to say the character's names first,

Gino 33:44

what?

Wheezy & Spoons 33:44

will forget.

Gino 33:46

I don't remember the names.

Wheezy & Spoons 33:47

I've already

Gino 33:48

So

Wheezy & Spoons 33:49

I

Gino 33:50

the girl's name? What are their names? Go ahead. Spoons. You can kick us off.

Wheezy & Spoons 33:53

I finished it an hour ago, so it's fresh. I know

Gino 33:58

I did read it two weeks ago.

Wheezy & Spoons 34:00

I also read it like two weeks ago. That's my fault. Um, that I made everyone wait, and then I still almost didn't finish it in time. So, you know, that's just the way, that's just the way we roll. That's just the way Kendall likes to do things. Uh, being a real inconvenience to Oliver Ette, I'm procrastinate forward. That's what I like to do. Um, I think we all are. So our main character, her name is, well, we learned actually pretty

Gino 34:27

Oh yeah, we don't know her name. Her. Oh yeah. Her name is Six

Wheezy & Spoons 34:30

But they, yes. Mm-hmm. She is six because she is one of six Diviner Divine. And they are these ladies who, um, kind of tell the future for people at this. They walk around wearing pretty robes and veils over their eyes. Yes. They, you can't see their eyes, uh, at this place called Ashland Cathedral. Mm-hmm. Um, in this fantasy world where. They have these, this special ability to like see sort of like, oh, it's a

Gino 35:01

from the Gods. Yeah, there's like five, there's like five gods that all each have a symbol that represents them and like what they worship or what people should worship to worship them. And then there's like five boroughs, I don't know, towns, whatever in the kingdom, in each town. Uh, worships that one God. So like one worships the God of coin and then one worships like the,

Wheezy & Spoons 35:27

The

Gino 35:27

um, what are any of the other ones?

Wheezy & Spoons 35:31

there's

Gino 35:32

There's yeah, Weaver

Wheezy & Spoons 35:33

the briend, who's the, the ink one? Yeah. There's like a

Gino 35:38

ascribe like knowledge ascribe essentially.

Wheezy & Spoons 35:41

Yeah. There's a, like the chisel, I think, or there's like a hammer. Oh, the wood cutter. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Gino 35:48

Yeah, so there's like a symbol for each of these. The diviners people come to the cathedral, they pay money to get their fortune read, and then a diviner, um, gets drowned.

Wheezy & Spoons 36:02

Dies.

Gino 36:03

They die. They get pulled, pulled out of the water, and then

Wheezy & Spoons 36:09

after drinking the blood too. Ugh.

Gino 36:11

yeah, after drinking the blood of the person they're divining for, and then they see visions of like the coin and this and the ink. Well, and different things. And depending on what they see, they know like, this God favors you. This God doesn't favor you. Um, and then they tell people and then they go back to their room and throw up and then chitchat with the other diviners because it's normal.

Wheezy & Spoons 36:38

They're taken as children. They're foundlings. Yeah. They're all these little like sickly orphans when they're taken in. Yeah.

Gino 36:44

And they're supposed to do this for 10 years and then they're released. Um, yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 36:50

What about you guys? I pretty immediately was like, that's some bullshit.

Gino 36:53

Oh yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 36:54

didn't think they were gonna be released for sure. No way.

Gino 36:57

Oh yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 36:58

no, for sure. no way we can just let these, these women go walking around. way. So our kind of inciting action is that the king shows up with all of his nights and the king, the little boy 17. Can I just listen spoilers? But I was immediately like, I don't trust this little mofo, this little blonde haired little boy. Prince. King man. I was

Gino 37:20

See,

Wheezy & Spoons 37:20

I don't trust him at all. I'm too sensitive about it right now. I can't discuss it. I am

Gino 37:24

see, I wasn't, it wasn't that I didn't trust him. I didn't like him though. Like I, I didn't not trust him, but I was like, he's whiny and annoying and bothersome and also not like. He's a child and he is bothering me.

Wheezy & Spoons 37:41

I felt ambivalent personally about him. just like, you can't trust him. I liked him. I knew you would. kind of suspected you might. I was like, I thought he was pretty okay. To be fair, I, there were like, there really weren't warning signs for like the first like 50% of the book or more, like there were no red flags for him. My distrust of him was completely like. of the blue. I was like, eh, it's'cause he is blonde and nice. And so you guys were like, no way. Well, no, not this, not this one. I don't think, I can't trust, I don't trust an adult. An adult male blonde. Well he's only 17, so. well close enough. I thought he was doing his best. I was like, oh, what a cute little friend group. You know, he's making some mistakes, but he is trying to learn. And then a rug pulled out from under me, and the last literally is like two pages of the book. The way I screamed, I knew it. I went like, oh, I was so validated in my hatred. It's not often that I get to be so validated in my completely unam hatred here. You get everything you want. Because of course, he was the character who was gonna turn evil because he was nice and blonde and I never get anything I want. But then the guy I wanted to be like more and more legal, what's his name? That's our love interest. Rory. Rory. He's one of the knights. He's like dark, brooding, mysterious guy. And I was like, Ooh, are we gonna be morally gray? Are we gonna be, we gonna be spicy? Then I was like, uh, he's kind of just a nice guy. He's actually super nice, I thought, but, and so that's why Spoons is like, I like him. I was like, eh, I again, with like, I thought like I didn't dislike him. I was like, I like him for Sybil slash

Gino 39:26

from the moment he showed up, I was like, I don't like this guy. Uh, like they're all on the wall or she's on the wall and looking at him on his horse. And I was like, Ew, that's who. Ew, I'm gonna have to, ew.

Wheezy & Spoons 39:38

Okay. also thought that because I thought she was gonna be gay, so I was like, at that point I still thought it was sic, so I was kinda like, oh, who's the doctor night? The girl. I was like, sick. And then it became increasingly more clear that no, she's into this boy night. I think I was initially with the whole like first interaction, like she, there, the girls are on the wall, the diviner like watching like the king and his possession approach. Rory's one of them, Rory and six, the girl, other girls, girl off and Rory and six get into a little, a little chitchat, little tiff. um, she was like, he has like dark as like night eyes and his hair's dark and his eyes are rimmed with coal. And I was like, oh my god, emo much. And he is got a

Gino 40:21

I think that's,

Wheezy & Spoons 40:21

got a pierced ear. That's what it,

Gino 40:23

yes,

Wheezy & Spoons 40:25

I basically was like, I'm not against it, but we're gonna have a really hard time basically proving that you, that your personality is enough to like hold up this whole exterior you've got going on.

Gino 40:39

that's exactly it.

Wheezy & Spoons 40:40

you're just kind of a nice guy. Like

Gino 40:43

That was

Wheezy & Spoons 40:44

like,

Gino 40:44

exactly it. It was like,

Wheezy & Spoons 40:46

about all this stuff. Go ahead,

Gino 40:49

no, that the, the description from the beginning of like, he's got dark coal under his eyes and three gold earrings and like long curly black hair. I was like, uh,

Wheezy & Spoons 41:00

mean

Gino 41:01

I was like,

Wheezy & Spoons 41:02

I either want him to then actually be like what he looks like or, maybe we could have made him look a little bit more normal. He was actually such a ureter and a simp. It was actually a huge simp.

Gino 41:14

yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 41:15

it. I did not dislike him. I just. I, the, it's the exterior. It didn't, I didn't feel like we were given what we were promised in him based on his first,

Gino 41:26

I did feel a little bit better when they explained the coal why, like there was a reason behind it. I was like, okay,

Wheezy & Spoons 41:33

I did

Gino 41:33

that's a little bit better than him just being like, I like to look pretty like this. You know?

Wheezy & Spoons 41:38

Yeah. Well, yeah. And well, the fact that, um, uh, mod also had, it made me be like, this is probably something cultural or ritual or something. Yeah. That made me hope for sure. If he had just been like eye, like eyeliner, I would've maybe had

Gino 41:51

exactly,

Wheezy & Spoons 41:51

of an

Gino 41:51

that's exactly what I.

Wheezy & Spoons 41:53

plus the ear piercings, plus the darkest night eyes, plus the long black hair. I was like. I just, not a lot of guys who can pull it off. You've gotta have the personality to go with that. And I, shade. I love him for Sybil, he was very sweet. I would've liked him more. I think if he had looked more normal than us female then mean he would. I either want him to somewhat more like how he dresses and looks or, or I want him to look more normal since he was end ended up being more normal. If he had looked more normal, you would've really not liked him. I think, no, I would've liked him more. I think like I think I would've liked him a little bit more. For sure. Y'all are just determined to Never, like anybody I liked, unless it's Wendle, ba movie. Oh, and that's it. I liked Windle, but who could not? You

Gino 42:42

Like dwindle.

Wheezy & Spoons 42:43

I did not dislike Rory. just, it was so funny, his just first description, I was like, this is bold. It was bold. Um, I was like, unless we're recent from, is that how you say it? From aar?

Gino 42:59

Oh, yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 43:00

like, sorry. Sorry everyone. I didn't

Gino 43:02

Except for he. Except for no, because he matches his look like he has the darkness. Broodiness. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 43:08

you

Gino 43:08

Oh, have that attitude. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 43:11

then like you cannot like tone it down with like the emotion. Yes. That's all I'm saying. Okay. Got it. Got it, got it. That's all I'm saying. I zero problems with Rory personally. He's very sweet. Attractive man. Nice guy. He does just seem like a nice guy. And I

Gino 43:24

Oh,

Wheezy & Spoons 43:25

for her.

Gino 43:26

okay. But no, also, I, I don't know if we'll ever get to the story, but the, the names kind of threw me off a lot. Like Rory, I

Wheezy & Spoons 43:35

I did not like the

Gino 43:36

like no

Wheezy & Spoons 43:37

Sybil. I

Gino 43:38

First Sybil.

Wheezy & Spoons 43:39

liked the

Gino 43:39

When at the beginning she was like

Wheezy & Spoons 43:42

Whatcha talking about?

Gino 43:44

beginning when she was like, trying to remember my name. It's Sybil, whatever. I was like, Ew, why would you try, remember?

Wheezy & Spoons 43:51

my reaction. I was like, you can always change that civil,

Gino 43:55

like, I'm like dark Rudy eyeliner earrings. My name is Rory. I'm like, no.

Wheezy & Spoons 44:03

I was surprised by Rory because it's like actually like Roderick Mendacious Mendacious. And so she calls him that like the whole book, but I thought it was so hot. Basically that basically what it comes down to, I thought it was hot that she didn't call him by his real name or his preferred name and he, uh, didn't know her real name. Mm-hmm. I was like, as soon as we figure out each other's names, it's over for y'all. Like we can stop messing around. Y'all are gonna be in love. I knew I

Gino 44:32

What's the King's name

Wheezy & Spoons 44:34

with Rod recommendation. Yeah. What's the Benji? Yeah, Benji.

Gino 44:37

again? Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 44:38

one.'cause

Gino 44:38

No, it doesn't fit. These names are all over the place in a world. No.

Wheezy & Spoons 44:45

felt like Benji because that was his nickname. Benji Fit. What? What? The character. The character was trying to pass himself off as, which is also part of why I didn't trust him. I was like, you're this cute little blonde sweet king boy and her name's Benji. We definitely can't trust you like a hundred percent. Not with the name like Benji, the teddy bear. It was root for, I feel like that Tyra Banks me's rooting for you. We're all rooting for you. Except for apparently we weren't. It was abused you. I liked it'cause it was kind of infantalizing and a lot. I think that he was using that to, well, in hindsight, he wanted, yes, he was. God, what a dick. I'm so pissed off. I'm literally so mad. How could he do this?

Gino 45:31

So

Wheezy & Spoons 45:33

but I.

Gino 45:34

the king comes with all his knights to get his fortune read,

Wheezy & Spoons 45:38

it.

Gino 45:39

Sybil pulls the short straw, which we find out she does on purpose a lot because she wants to protect her sisters from having to drown. So she's also the A, the Abby Abey. I dunno, the lady Abby. Uh.

Wheezy & Spoons 45:55

Mm-hmm.

Gino 45:56

Her favorite because she's the best at drowning. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 46:00

Mm-hmm.

Gino 46:01

she goes there and she gets drowned and tells the king's fortune, which is that all the gods hate him. They're all against him.

Wheezy & Spoons 46:11

It's

Gino 46:11

And

Wheezy & Spoons 46:12

omens,

Gino 46:13

we also,

Wheezy & Spoons 46:14

portents.

Gino 46:14

we also during this time find out that like the gargoyles in the cathedral are all living things. And um, there's this one gargoyle that hangs out

Wheezy & Spoons 46:26

but I

Gino 46:27

with six a lot.

Wheezy & Spoons 46:28

it,

Gino 46:28

My, I loved was hangs out with six a lot and, uh, he calls everyone Bartholomew, um,

Wheezy & Spoons 46:37

Yep.

Gino 46:38

is just kind of like this, uh, I don't even know how to describe him. Do you guys have good,

Wheezy & Spoons 46:44

old

Gino 46:44

like.

Wheezy & Spoons 46:45

but also kind of like a 4-year-old child. He's sort of ancy and like Yeah. But he'll also, like, he definitely will like a little bit Yeah. But also like, we'll throw a tantrum and like cry if you leave him. Yes.

Gino 46:57

also like just skip through flowers.

Wheezy & Spoons 46:59

wrong.

Gino 47:01

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 47:01

yes. A hundred percent. He, he can say it's multitudes. He

Gino 47:04

Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons 47:05

like, I loved him. He's a very ancient kid.

Gino 47:10

It is the ultimate sidekick for a story. Uh, just like in a, in a reading musing way.

Wheezy & Spoons 47:16

is.

Gino 47:17

he is exactly what you want to be on the journey to. Just like give the correct everything. Give the um, like wise, wise things when wise things are needed, and comic relief when comic relief is needed. And just like, not, not, not for sakes necessarily. Like he's not the perfect sidekick. If you were six, he would be very annoyed and like troubled by a lot of the stuff. But as a reader, as someone watching the story go along the perfect sidekick like,

Wheezy & Spoons 47:45

I was so hoping he would stick around, but he was like, take me with you. I was like, oh, thank God. I was like, I really wanted you to come. Was like, I don't see how she, how they can not take him at this point. Like she was so, I don't see how this book can continue. I loved him. We're gonna lose all the humor. Yeah. We need him, please.

Gino 48:03

um,

Wheezy & Spoons 48:04

So basically, oh, go ahead.

Gino 48:06

No, you go ahead, tell the story.

Wheezy & Spoons 48:08

Oh, I was just gonna keep going. So she, all bad omens and then, uh, basically, uh, Rory's kind of like nagging her, like you don't even know anything about the outside world.'cause he's kind of like not into all this omen shit and stuff. And he's being obvious in man about it. And she's like, ah, whatever. And then she's thinking about it. She's like, well, he is correct. And so she basically blackmails them into taking her and the others on a field trip, like to see outside. so they do. Um, and then when they get back all of the, when they get back, um, Rory has lost a bet and so he has to be divined for. so she crazy, uh, goes and does this for him, but which he hates. But while she's drowning, it's like different than usual. And she actually doesn't see any of the normal omens and she only sees the moth. Mm-hmm. And she doesn't say anything while she's like in her sleep trance or whatever. And it's crazy. And then the king and the knights all leave and she's like, well that's mess. That's crazy. And then while they're gone, all the other diviners start disappearing one by one. That was crazy. It was so stressful. Yeah, I was very stressed. And so they're kinda like, what's

Gino 49:23

I mean, at that point, what did you think was happening?

Wheezy & Spoons 49:28

at that point? Oh, I knew that Abby was like evil as hell. No, I did not. I was like,

Gino 49:33

Oh, really?

Wheezy & Spoons 49:33

girls going?

Gino 49:34

thought you knew the king in the end, but you didn't know that was evil?

Wheezy & Spoons 49:39

I didn't, yeah, didn't, I didn't like the Avis. I didn't think she was good. I thought she was probably bad. I didn't realize that she was responsible for the diviners going missing.

Gino 49:48

I thought she was taking them and turning them into gargoyles. I thought she was turning them one in by one into gar coils.

Wheezy & Spoons 49:55

I wasn't sure exactly what she was doing, but I was like, they're definitely dead. Probably. I didn't think we were ever gonna see'em again. I really was like. I was like, six is gonna go find these girls. She's gonna save me. I'm sure they're alive and well. Same care. I'm so, so sure that they were being lied to this whole time about like, when you hit your 10 years you can leave that. I was like, the whole time I'd been like, well, they're just killing them off. Yeah. So I kind of thought they were

Gino 50:20

Well,

Wheezy & Spoons 50:21

off like slowly.

Gino 50:23

well, and then I was a hundred percent sure, which I was still kind of right, but mostly wrong that they were being turned into gargoyles. Um, when the last one, like one or four or whatever, um, like lifted up her veil and looked in the mirror and was terrified by what she saw. I was like, she has stone eyes. She's turning into stone. They're all turning into stone. So,

Wheezy & Spoons 50:43

Yeah, I, that's what I thought too. I did think that, oh, I did not

Gino 50:47

yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 50:47

at all. I was not in the loop on that one. I definitely did, but I kind of like, just forgot about like the, their free after 10 years thing until like halfway through the book and then all of a sudden I was like, oh, wait a minute. Oh, oh no. They're all, they're all dead for sure. at that time you were like, we have to find them. Yeah. And then I was like, wait a minute. I forgot a really Bible piece of information.

Gino 51:09

Nevermind Quest.

Wheezy & Spoons 51:09

wow. I'm

Gino 51:10

Everyone go home.

Wheezy & Spoons 51:11

Everyone go home.

Gino 51:13

No.

Wheezy & Spoons 51:13

whenever it's, all gone except for six, um, shows up? But Rory, and he's like, we gotta go, we gotta blast. And she's like, my friends are gone and I know you did it. And he's like, I literally don't know what the hell you're talking about, but we gotta go. And so they head out and they take the gargoyle with them and there's like this whole thing with, they get chased. She takes the hammer and chisel because she's a stone worker as well. They all have like little hobbies that like all of the diviners think that they're gonna get to do when they go out into the world, RIP. Um, and so basically after that, they all hang out with, they're back with like the king and Maude and everybody. And,

Gino 51:59

and ma in an alley, and they're like, we gotta go now. Um, where, and she's like, where are we going? They're like, you'll see. And then they end up, um, in the scribe, God's study

Wheezy & Spoons 52:15

Yeah.

Gino 52:15

and she's like, what is going on? And they're like, oh, the Gods are actually just people. They're real. They're just people, but they're like kind of immortal. Uh, they were just blessed with these special tools, which by the way, Rory has the coin from the coin God. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 52:33

freaking out about that. Bri,

Gino 52:35

and they were like, we're challenging you.

Wheezy & Spoons 52:36

the artful brigand sounds like the artful dodger? No, but I did enjoy that the, I did notice that similarity. I would've liked him anyway. Gotcha.

Gino 52:47

so they were like, we're here to challenge you, uh, for your ink. Well, and he's like, ha ha ha, I am a God. You can never win. And then he steals, uh, six and brings her up to the top of a bookshelf and is like, I'll ask you questions. Ha ha ha. And he asks'em three questions and they're, they're like, 100% down there. They're like, we don't know what that is. I don't know. I dunno.

Wheezy & Spoons 53:11

like,

Gino 53:11

they even kind of prepared? Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 53:14

I

Gino 53:15

They like, they weren't even,

Wheezy & Spoons 53:17

plan?

Gino 53:17

they weren't even stressed about it. They like,

Wheezy & Spoons 53:19

very

Gino 53:19

were like,

Wheezy & Spoons 53:20

Yeah.

Gino 53:21

were like, um, three, I don't know, like.

Wheezy & Spoons 53:25

The answer is C it's always the Yeah, for real. Yeah. They really weren't as stressed about that as they should have been. Yeah. Meanwhile, six was like, I'm incredibly stressed. What is happening? They end up, um, he starts like throwing ink on them and stuff, which like burns them and it's crazy, but they end up getting out of it because he doesn't know, or the, the scribe

Gino 53:45

They get to ask him a question,

Wheezy & Spoons 53:47

real name. Yes.

Gino 53:50

like, they, they get to ask him the question and it's not like, like they were so confident, but they just come up with that question on the spot too. Like, they were so confident you would've think they were like, oh, we have a question to stump him. I know they had zero plan. Although it kind of becomes evident for the rest of them that they don't really have plans either. They're just like, eh, we're good at what we do.

Wheezy & Spoons 54:12

Unconfident squad is, despite him being the king and the, them being like official knights, they are very casual. Oh my gosh. They're really just like, we're just hanging out. They're like, we're gonna figure

Gino 54:21

yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons 54:22

there, they're gonna drink. Like they, yeah, they kind of were just hanging out. They drink a lot. They took a lot.

Gino 54:27

Which that kind of anno, that annoyed me too, but like, only because I,

Wheezy & Spoons 54:33

the

Gino 54:33

I dunno. No, just the whole casualness of all of it. Like, they're like, yeah, we just call him Benji. We just hang out. Because I feel like if that's the vibe, it has to be, because when like the shit hits the fan, they're like, boss, you know? Like they can just like go around and, uh, whatever, da da. Because when it comes down to it, it's like, oh my gosh, he can like kill a man by just, you know, with a pencil or he whatever. Like, they like,

Wheezy & Spoons 55:04

Something

Gino 55:04

but no, they were, they Exactly, exactly. They were still like, oh, okay, well, I, well now we'll get through it. It's fine. I don't know. Well, it should be okay. I was like,

Wheezy & Spoons 55:16

of like. Things just sort of worked out for them a lot. It

Gino 55:19

yes,

Wheezy & Spoons 55:19

like, like that whole

Gino 55:21

yes.

Wheezy & Spoons 55:21

found family thing except Yeah. Yeah. It was a king in his nights, so it's like, that's why I'm so mad because it was so fun. Like I was something a lot of fun for most of it. It was not as like dark as I thought it would be. Yeah, same. It's a lot. We're all hanging out and I was like, woo. What a fun squad. Yeah. This book was great'cause it was, it felt dark enough that it felt really substantial, but also it was like very funny and whimsical in parts. Yeah, it was

Gino 55:47

It was very,

Wheezy & Spoons 55:49

I thought parts of it were really funny. Yeah. But yeah, so she like freaks out and so well, okay. Can I just say it? Once I figured out that I realized that this was like what we're doing, we're going and killing all the gods and taking their items. I was like, oh hell yes. I was so exci. I did not read the back of this or anything obviously.'cause I thought it was, I also did not,

Gino 56:08

I.

Wheezy & Spoons 56:09

I truly was so pumped by this. I was like, this is the kind of like monster of the week kind of shit I love. Mm-hmm. Like let's just get into it. I was so excited. I really wanted Rory to secretly be the artful brigand. know why they just got, maybe'cause that would've justified the looking so weird justified like the audacity. This is how he rolls. See, I thought it was so fun that they had already been doing it. Like they already took care of the Artful Bergen. They already took care of the other one that Mod got years ago. Mm-hmm. Like, she kind of was thrust into this like mid adventure and I thought that was so fun. I did like that

Gino 56:46

That was, yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 56:46

was just like really, really into it. I like that, that as well. So anyway, she freaks out and then she and the gargoyle are hanging out, and then eventually they get in a fight with these, um, guy like creepy guys. And then turns out the ki like Benji and Rory have like put out like a arrest warrant for them basically so they can find them again, because she's like, I don't know, what's the thing? And so anyway, they get arrested and they get taken back and they're like, oh, hey guys, how's it been going? And so now the squad's back together. Mm-hmm. And while they're hanging out, um, this is when we start to see what a simp Rory is. He is so, I mean, he's

Gino 57:25

We find out that, I mean, we do find out

Wheezy & Spoons 57:28

on her. Yeah.

Gino 57:29

that

Wheezy & Spoons 57:30

out.

Gino 57:31

we do find out that he was also an orphan and was like raised by the,

Wheezy & Spoons 57:36

Mm-hmm.

Gino 57:37

artful,

Wheezy & Spoons 57:38

Mm-hmm. The artful brigand, which is crazy, right? Yeah.

Gino 57:42

um, and

Wheezy & Spoons 57:45

as well.

Gino 57:46

raised by him and abused by him. I don't know. So they're like, feel bad for him.

Wheezy & Spoons 57:50

He's got a tragic past. He did, and then he makes her armor and it's very sensual. Sensual. I was like, okay. Covered a bees wax, like be in like, alright, we're having wax play in here. Like for real. That's basically what it was. It was. And she was like, wow, you're so good at sewing and. Wendell Ble, but did at this point. I did feel like after this, I thought like this was the last sort of like broody sort of moment. We kind of had with him Uhhuh after this. We definitely skewed more Wendell. He was so sick as far as yearning goes, oh my god. Yearning. Yearning. He wasn't goofy like Wendell. He was just like, it was just yearning after that. He is so obsessed with her, but she is so mean to him. They were mean to each other, but it was so obvious that Yeah, but he wasn't like mean enough. I felt like. No. Well,'cause he's clearly Yeah. Down bad. But um, and then they have like some funny running jokes. I don't know. I thought it was cute. They're very cute. Yeah. They were cute. Get cute together. I was just, I was disappointed. I was also like, way to go girl. She could really hold her own. Oh yeah. I feel like she she'll fuck you up. I love that. She was like, really, like she was strong. Mm-hmm. She like, that was like one of the things because she was like literally like a stone worker.

Gino 59:08

Yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons 59:08

is so interesting and fun. Yeah. She's like kind of ripped and he kinda liked that she was ripped. Oh yeah. I like when MOD was like, girl, you got a great body. And she was like, what? And she's like, I'm just saying like, I good for you. Girl didn't like that so much. she wasn't, she wasn't a wa no. Often in these ethereal magical worlds like are like yeah they're usually wa fish. They're usually quite wa fish. She's like, no, I'm kind of built, actually I work with a lot of stones. I'm gonna become a knight too. She's like, I've literally picked up that gargoyle,

Gino 59:38

I did not like that. I did not like when she became a knight.

Wheezy & Spoons 59:44

You weren't into it. I thought that that was, I thought she was gonna like, did the last second be like, no, actually

Gino 59:51

Yeah, same. Because I mean, they even say,

Wheezy & Spoons 59:54

with it.

Gino 59:55

they even say it in the book where she's like, you know, I was imprisoned as, uh, essentially in the, as a diviner. And then I was like, stuck here and do I just wanna become like someone else, like I was

Wheezy & Spoons 1:00:10

Someone

Gino 1:00:11

else's play thing, now I'm someone else's tool. Like, do I just wanna become the King's tool? And she's like, I don't really want to. And then she's like, but it's fine. I'll become a knight. And I was like, no, like stay free.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:00:23

yeah. I

Gino 1:00:24

You don't have to do that.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:00:25

gargoyle was gonna change her mind.'cause he basically pointed all that out and she was like, you make a really good point. I'm gonna go ahead and become a knight

Gino 1:00:33

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:00:34

I was like. Well, what I feel like the qualifications for night here are so loose. They're very loose. Like Rory was literally like, we can just F off whenever we want. And she's like, okay, cool. Like, because they thought Benji was kill. So at this point it was like, I don't know. He really did. And Benji be like, we're having a meeting of the nights. Where's Rory and Rory's? Like, I'm walking along the beach at Sunset waiting for my girlfriend. Like, yeah, thanks so much for the invite. I'm gonna go make out with my boyfriend real quick. He's waiting for me by this. By the seashore? Yeah. So he's writing my name in the sand. Oh my God. He literally was Mr. Rory Divider. Yeah. Whatever her last name was. Yeah. Symbol something or other. Sacious. R. Yeah, diviner. He totally was. Oh my God. So funny, but oh, she does end up saving Benji's life from one of the, we forgot to mention the sprites. They're like all these Oh yeah. The, the whole kingdom has like a Sprite problem basically. And they're like, you know, berries basically. But then we kind of are like learning that maybe it's because they're being like starved to death and mm-hmm. Maybe the whole

Gino 1:01:44

From

Wheezy & Spoons 1:01:44

of

Gino 1:01:45

the immediate beginning, I was like, the humans are wrong. I'm sure the Sprites are great.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:01:50

Oh, for sure. Oh, yeah. Are always, yeah, for sure. A hundred percent for sure. But, and then again, when Rory was like, they're just hungry, they're not monsters, and he is like the only one saying that. I was like, you the artful Bri, once again, I'm gonna,

Gino 1:02:04

Read book two and be like,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:02:06

empathetic. So waiting for that artful brigand reveal, that or he needs to like, I don't know, he needs to wash the dye out of his hair. Like just, so just pick a direction. And the sec in the second book, he's gonna have like a rat tail or something like that. whatever. It's better, I think

Gino 1:02:26

It was just very piratey for not being on the ocean at all. You know his vibe,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:02:32

I wonder if the second book will have ocean. I don't know.

Gino 1:02:36

um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:02:37

so anyway,

Gino 1:02:38

si six fights.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:02:40

as we said.

Gino 1:02:41

Yeah. And she ends up having to fight the one, uh, God, whatever person of the water.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:02:49

like

Gino 1:02:49

Oh, the or yeah, he has a or and because yeah, that's actually when she finds out that, uh, all the diviners are dead because he's like, you want something from me? Uh, then I'm gonna fight you.'cause she said, I wanna know what happened to the diviners. Because she found one of them there already. No, she didn't find one there.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:03:11

if it was there

Gino 1:03:12

No, it wasn't there.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:03:13

oh, like

Gino 1:03:14

She found.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:03:14

to taste her blood. Also, the other ones, the other quote, unquote Gods they've met with have also tried to taste her blood.

Gino 1:03:20

Yeah. But, so she was like, what happened to the other diviners? And then she beats him and he's like, they're all dead. We eat them every 10 years. They bring us a diviner and then we just like suck all of their blood dry because it has the water in it.'cause y'all drown so much and we need the water to live. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:03:41

Yep.

Gino 1:03:42

she was like, well, f And then they end up finding the other gods and killing them, kind of. And then they get to the last one, who is the god of the heart? Yeah. Like the weaver.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:03:59

weaver, whatever. The

Gino 1:04:00

Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:04:02

Yeah.

Gino 1:04:03

and

Wheezy & Spoons 1:04:04

but yes.

Gino 1:04:05

they like go down into her cave essentially, and she finds a.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:04:09

forgot that this is Rory and, um, Sybil, um, get together before this. They're like, oh yeah, we're having good old time. And it was, they're getting jiggy with it. They got jiggy with it. They didn't even try and hide it at all. They were just being very cute. And at that point, oh, and she'd also taken her shroud off. Oh yes. Love. And so now

Gino 1:04:29

Oh yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:04:30

out that she

Gino 1:04:30

that she has stone ice.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:04:32

right. She's so cool. And then she was like, oh my God. Oh, could you say I'm beautiful? And he's like, you are beautiful.

Gino 1:04:40

It would be like, no.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:04:42

I, I knew this was gonna happen. I was like, I couldn't wait for her to take off the shroud.'cause I was like, this is gonna be like a moment where she's like, you know, reclaiming her identity and everything. But I was like, so I was at once, I can't wait for this. And at the same time I was like, I know what's gonna effing happen. She's gonna take it off and be like, I'm hideous. And he is gonna be like, no, you're beautiful. And I was like, I know exactly what's gonna happen. And then that moment happened and I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. I get it. My, as was eating it up, I was like, whatever. There's like a super hot woman in a movie and she's like, but I actually wear glasses. And I'm like, you're still a hot woman. wearing glasses now. We still have, I mean, you just don't have

Gino 1:05:24

No,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:05:24

girl.

Gino 1:05:25

I,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:05:26

Like anything you look more ethereal. Shut up. Simple. Some of us have real problems over here, like fat and dumb. Okay. I wish I had.

Gino 1:05:36

oh, no, I see. I didn't, I, I couldn't, I don't know.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:05:42

You

Gino 1:05:43

knew all that was coming.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:05:44

Not at all.

Gino 1:05:46

I couldn't believe him. I couldn't believe that. You're just gonna see someone who has stone eyes and be like, you're even more beautiful. No, they're not more beautiful. Their eyes are made out of stone. It's freaky.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:05:56

You're like, stop lying. You free. See, I thought it was, I thought it was like, that was honestly cool. That looks like ethereal and magical. Oh my

Gino 1:06:05

No,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:06:06

I had

Gino 1:06:06

I just keep picturing these like freaky stone, like bulging eyes.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:06:10

sure she does look scary. I was like,

Gino 1:06:14

like

Wheezy & Spoons 1:06:15

like, yeah. I picture them more

Gino 1:06:16

can, you can, no, I pictured them like stone like, but like,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:06:23

like dark gray stone.

Gino 1:06:25

yes. And like, like kind of like popping out of, you know, like very 3D out of the head.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:06:31

I wasn't thinking that. Well, yeah,

Gino 1:06:32

Like a gar Like, I mean like if you, if you had a gargoyle. If you had a gargoyle, that's eyes were, I mean. A stone gargoyle with stone eyes, like their eyes are kind of like 3D, you know, a little bit like out like round balls that are like, and that's like what I was seeing.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:06:52

hundreds of years of progression into becoming gargoyles. I, this point, I was like, at this

Gino 1:06:58

You're saying that gargoyles, gargoyles have evolved to have hot eyes at this point?

Wheezy & Spoons 1:07:04

No, no. I'm saying the opposite. They get uglier. As they evolve. She's still

Gino 1:07:09

No, I'm just talking about, I'm thinking of, I'm thinking of the hunchback of Notre Dame Disney version,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:07:15

yes, yes.

Gino 1:07:16

Gar Coil eyes. That's what I'm seeing.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:07:19

know what you're thinking of. I just disagree.

Gino 1:07:23

And I just think like, I think, I think he can still,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:07:28

eyes with

Gino 1:07:29

I,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:07:30

nothing.

Gino 1:07:30

I think he can still love her, but I don't think he can think that you're more beautiful that way. Like.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:07:37

I think he can love her. She still love her. Debating can't. She's more beautiful. That's the, I've heard blinded by love. He doesn't know. else is like, oh shit. He can still love her. Yeah. God, that was funny. Oh my God. I'm gonna stick with my version. I think kinda like marbled marble stone. She's still in the process of slowly turning stone, so I think that if hers were gonna be like full of gar, like protruding and everything, I think the rest of her would be showing more signs. Ew.

Gino 1:08:21

We're gonna, we're gonna find, we're gonna find each, find a photo online of what we think her stone eyes look like, and we're gonna make a collage of all three of them and put it on the Instagram and have people vote on, which

Wheezy & Spoons 1:08:37

Did you? I like that idea. I think that's perfect actually. We'll do that. I know exactly what you're thinking. It's deeply horrifying. How freaky do

Gino 1:08:45

I was like.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:08:46

You guys okay? My gosh. God, can't think she's more beautiful. Come on. Also, like what was he, what was he expecting under there? I think also I was like, not surprised he responded that way.'cause I'm like, I mean, I think we're all assuming there's something weird going on. Yeah. Like he, he must have probably thought of even worse stuff, you know? Like, yeah. Yeah. Well she has eyes. I mean he's like, oh, thank God. There's eyes there. Oh my God.

Gino 1:09:13

I don't know. I think from what I'm picturing, if they were, she was just eye, it might've been better

Wheezy & Spoons 1:09:19

For what you're picturing Yes. Picturing, you're picturing the most horrifying thing. I just don't believe that that was Rachel killing. I Oh my God. That's insane. They were very cute and I was happy for them. I'm sorry that I'm the only one here who appreciates love and I mean a little bit. Yeah,

Gino 1:09:42

gross.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:09:43

it's just one of those things where Little Rose, you have like decent standards. Like, well, I'm like extremely picky in my real life and I'm like, you know, disgusting. And then when I'm reading a book I'm like, ah, I love it. And we're like, you guys are like, Ew. Like, I don't know. His hair doesn't really match his personality. It's gonna turn off for me personally next.

Gino 1:10:05

Like

Wheezy & Spoons 1:10:06

yeah, they were crazy.

Gino 1:10:07

the, kind of like that.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:10:09

Yeah, that's what I know. Exactly. Yeah. I simply think you're wrong. She looked like that. I agree with you. I mean, I guess he's allowed to love her, but he still loves her. Certainly can't lie to her like that. Oh my gosh, that is so funny. It was cute how, um, the gargoyle kept being like, okay, so when are you gonna tell her you're in love with her? Like, in front of everyone. Oh yeah. A hundred percent. It was so funny. Everyone was like so funny. Literally like, guys, this is a place of business. Like, please, we have to keep

Gino 1:10:41

I also loved how um, the gargo would always get like cranky or whatever, and she's like, oh, he just needs a nap. He needs his nap, and he needs a blankie to sleep. He needs a.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:10:54

Yeah. So cute. Well, so can we talk about how when we get to the weaver, the last one? Mm-hmm. Um, basically this is the only one who's like, I've been trying to die forever. I'm not a God, I don't wanna be here. Like, and so this is the only one of them who has turned fully to stone, much like the gargoyles. Mm-hmm. It looks like a gargoyle. And she's like, this is what happens when you stop drinking the spring water. And I've been just hoping that I would die and it hasn't happened, but maybe you can help me with that. Mm-hmm. And they're like, we need answers. And they're like, so they're, the way that all the gargoyles come into existence, including our gargoyle that we love, is at the end of every 10 years, the diviner that is the Abba's favorite gets selected to stay and basically be turned into a gargoyle. And then That's crazy. Yeah. To serve the abba. And so we find out that the particular gargoyle who, um, has been with them on their journey, the one who calls everyone Bartholomew, sorry, I hearing my mouth. It was the first, um. Was the first Diviner? Yes. A little foundling boy named Bartolom. Oh, I was devastated. And that's why he is so childlike is because he

Gino 1:12:10

He came.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:12:10

a child,

Gino 1:12:12

Yeah, he came with the, gosh dang it. What is she called?

Wheezy & Spoons 1:12:17

the Abbu.

Gino 1:12:18

Abba, he, she, he came with the Abba, who is actually the person who came and gave like all these gods that aren't actually gods, were just leaders of the kingdoms. And they were there fighting over who should rule and whatever. And she came and she was like, Hey, I am gonna give you all magic, which wasn't really magic kind of, and or she said, I'm gonna turn you all into Gods or something like that. And gave them all that. And um, then she's like, basically you just have to like worship me and it's fine. And they were like, yeah, we'll do that. They,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:12:53

I'll keep sending you diviners every 10 years that have the spring water in their blood so you can continue to live

Gino 1:13:00

and um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:13:01

your gross selves.

Gino 1:13:03

yeah. So then the Barolo gargoyle, who was a child with a name at that point, what's his name? Barth. Is that what he calls it from Barth? Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:13:12

yeah,

Gino 1:13:12

Um, he. Was like, Hey, I kind of don't wanna like do this anymore, like keep dying. And she was like, dare you. Um, and

Wheezy & Spoons 1:13:23

child

Gino 1:13:23

yeah, so then she turned him into a gar oil and then he forgot everything and he like saw befuddled and that's why he says phrases wrong and calls everyone birth all on you and stuff. And then the heart weaver reminds him of this and he is like, oh yeah, I was a little boy. Um, and then also that is why the Abby picks girls because she says they was, they tolerate pain better and that's also why she gets rid of them after 10 years because she realized with him that after about 10 years, uh, they start get, getting sick of defining

Wheezy & Spoons 1:14:02

Yeah. Mm-hmm. It messed

Gino 1:14:04

so,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:14:05

every day. Crazy. Messed up. Yeah. Shelf life of 10 years, which is bad. Yeah.

Gino 1:14:11

Then they go to a march on the, the, uh, cathedral that the

Wheezy & Spoons 1:14:17

Mm-hmm.

Gino 1:14:18

Abu

Wheezy & Spoons 1:14:18

On

Gino 1:14:19

and uh.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:14:20

Oh. And they kill, she kills the, uh, the, the weaver later lady. Yeah. Not like maliciously. She's like, please kill me. And then she gives her list, like the last bit of information or whatever that she needs. And we find out, yes, all of the diviners are dead and um, for sure confirmed and yeah. So then they go and they march on the Abes, who's the last of the gods? So Benji's like, let's go take her out. And Sybil's like, I wanna be the one to do it. And I'm like, you go girl. Yeah, let's go Queen. And then that's what happens. And then they get her Basically. They get her. Yeah, they get her. But after they get her, that's when Benji beatres their asses. Yeah. They get her. And I was like, there's too much book left. Oh, I was so upset. I'm actually still upset about it. Like I was literally rooting for him. Mm-hmm. And then he goes over here and he. Injures Rory and the, and Bartholomew. I was so scared that he killed Bartholomew. I, I literally was like gonna freak, freak out. I was like, don't you effing dare if he had killed Bartholomew. Oh my God. And he's like, okay, so here's my new plant. I'm gonna take all the stuff we got, and also I need six to be my queen because then everyone will respect me because I'll have a divine, everyone has not been respecting the kingship very much because it's all about the AB and all that shit. And he's like, no more. And uh, yeah. So anyway, that's my deal and otherwise I'm just gonna kill you. And she's like, okay, well I guess I'll go with you then. And then meanwhile, Rory's like freaking the hell out and mod eh, has like dragged both of them out. Yeah. And Mod was also seriously injured not long before almost died. Sucks. Like, so we don't know what will happen. And that's the end of the book. I was a little excited'cause I'm like, now we have a. Forced like engagement, forced marriage situation going on with this little Benji brat. I can't wait to see how this goes in the next book. I'm so excited for Rory to kick his ass. I know. I'm excited for s Civil to kick his ass too. I'm like, you know, she will, you know, she can beat you up. He's like weak. Like, no offense to my son, but like Benji too simple as my child is to his cousin's son. Like she could crush him. Okay. He's, he's a bruiser, he's weak. Like, there's just no way around it. I mean, he's just a, a sweet little skinny boy. Well, my child is Benji's not sweet. He's just a little skinny boy. He is an owl. Oh, I'm so mad. Either way. Very breakable. And I'm mad because like he was right. Like they did need to get rid of this horrible system. Oh yeah. He's just still being a dick. Yeah. He was like, I'm gonna be evil in a different way. He was like being cool up until now, and I'm like, oh god dang it. I knew it. I knew he was gonna, you can never test a politician.

Gino 1:17:10

I,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:17:10

it. Yeah.

Gino 1:17:12

see, I didn't, I saw it coming before Spoons did, but I didn't see it from the beginning. Like whiskey. I saw like about halfway through the book, I was like, Hmm, something with the king. And also I knew Bartholomew was that first little boy way early on too.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:17:28

God. Oh, I did not see that one. Literally anything on this book, that one broke my heart. I, I had no

Gino 1:17:34

Actually. As soon as, as soon as they told the story about the, because they don't tell you who tells the story about the, um, the first I.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:17:45

guy was like, does anyone know the name of the first, uh, divine? That was one of his questions. The first di Diviner. Yeah. And well, and before every divining, the Abby would tell this, like

Gino 1:17:55

No, but it's not when, it's not her version that I got it. But someone told the actual version when they were like, oh, the, the, um, a God came and gave these mortals these things.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:18:08

Well, um, well,

Gino 1:18:11

I feel like,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:18:12

had figured it out and gave her a bit. Oh, yeah. Because Benji's grandfather

Gino 1:18:16

yeah, that's what it was when the grandfather's his, his journal or whatever. That's yeah. I was like, oh, okay. That's Barmy. Yeah, I saw that then when they talked about that, but.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:18:26

did not, Benji was carrying out his grandfather's desires. I truly didn't. I was so shocked by the Benji reveal that at first I didn't understand what had happened. I was like, wait, who? Who just hurt Rory? I had to rewind it like three times because I could not fathom that it was Benji. knew it. it. I was like this little sociopath. I knew this from the start. Me like, never trust. Don't trust the monarchy. Don't trust politicians. I know, I know. But I love the monarchy. This is America. We know not to trust the monarchy. I just love it in a book. I like it when it's a noble guy, but he wasn't that noble. But I thought he could work his way up. I was like, power corrupt. He's got a good circle of friends, you know? I was like, he's really trying. That's what I thought. came and then it turns out he was just a dick. So yeah, that's too bad. but I am so excited for the second one. I'm also excited. I'm like, what can it come out? Now it, I did pre-order some for the bookshop, so we'll have some What it coming out? I don't remember,

Gino 1:19:25

think it's like

Wheezy & Spoons 1:19:25

did pre-order

Gino 1:19:26

the end of summer,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:19:27

Thank God.

Gino 1:19:29

July or

Wheezy & Spoons 1:19:29

wanna pick up your

Gino 1:19:30

September.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:19:31

thank Good luck. You can go pick one up at the Story Emporium and Bookshop in HU Texas. Or you can order through us on bookshop.org or libro fm, which is what I did. If you wanna listen to audio books, and this will bring me back to what I was gonna say about the audio book, which is I usually don't listen to fantasy audiobook because there's so much world building and then I just feel like it, it really feels like it cheapens it when you listen to the audiobook. Like everything for me is harder to believe. For some reason when I listen to a fantasy and audiobook, I dunno why, but the actress who did Sybil's voice for some reason I was like, this is her. Like this is totally Sybil. I was just like, I completely believe you. was, I did like the narrators. It's very, very well cast and you two can enjoy it on li events and slash the storyboard a bookshelf. I may not have a heart attack this month, y'all. I'm

Gino 1:20:18

So,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:20:19

Come on. She's

Gino 1:20:20

um, favorite and least favorite characters.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:20:24

Okay. Favorite character Barolo. Me. I loved him. Fair. I also loved Sipple. Yeah. Least favorite. I did not like the Abes. She was just, oh, yeah. Like, I'll say the AB was like, I can't even say Benji, because I, he was, I liked him up until the last two pages, so I can't say that. But I feel like my favorite was Sybil very closely followed by Bartholomew. Mm-hmm. And then least favorite was Abes, closely followed by Scribe guy. Oh, he was real gross. I didn't like him either. I mean, all of them were gross, but he was real gross. He was like licking her blood off the floor. That was so gross. Real nasty.

Gino 1:21:02

Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:21:03

was also just overall creepy. He ate her hair too. I was like, yeah. Ew. Okay. Yeah, you, Gina.

Gino 1:21:10

favorite Bartholomew by far, like by like probably one of the only people I liked in the book. Um, and then I

Wheezy & Spoons 1:21:19

I was gonna be like, you picked this book but you didn't.

Gino 1:21:22

take this one. Um. My least favorite. I remember when I was reading it thinking like, I think this person is my least favorite. And everyone's gonna be like, what? Really? Um, but I don't remember at this point, and I wanna say it was mod, but it was because, wait, let me explain.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:21:42

the only one she's that she couldn't possibly say is Maude, and then

Gino 1:21:45

I think it was because like, just for quite some time, especially in the middle, I was real bothered by her and her attitude. And then she like was killing the Sprite and I was like, you're not supposed to kill the Sprite. And then they were like, MOD's dead. And I was like, that's fine by me. Um, but then

Wheezy & Spoons 1:22:03

Oh my

Gino 1:22:03

she wasn't dead and then I was like, okay, I don't know. She's okay. But yeah, I Benji then probably the Abby is like the obvious one. Like she's evil and was evil the whole time and I never liked her, but at least she just owned up to it the whole time. Um. Maude was, like I said in the middle, she really bothered me. Benji, from the start, I was like, you're annoying. I don't like you. And I never really liked Rory either, so there you go.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:22:34

I feel like I actually ate everyone.

Gino 1:22:36

I loved Baral on me though. I loved him like

Wheezy & Spoons 1:22:41

Amazing. Oh my goodness. least favorite parts.

Gino 1:22:47

Wait, you know what? I think I took notes on this.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:22:49

the cathedral at the end, which was like, not even like a huge super like, mean, I guess it was pivotal in that it was like the end of the book, but I just really enjoyed the destruction. I was fully channeling my son who was like. cars. Yay. I was like, destroy the cathedral. It was fun with me, the cathedral. I like that. It was so fun. I, um, I was so into Rory and simple. I enjoyed a lot of their, like, middle of the book, like mm-hmm. And like little running jokes and banter and stuff. I really enjoyed the walks. Wax all day, hand sex. And I enjoyed the wax. Wax. Wax was good. It was really good. I liked how anytime she was in danger, he freaked out. Um, what a great trope, you know? Mm-hmm. Like, let's make Mormon scared. Uh, I love that. I really like, it's my goal every day, honestly. Even though I was so upset by it, I did enjoy the, uh, evil reveal at the end, just because it's like, ugh, I love a twist, you know? Yeah. I mean, I guess everyone else saw it coming, but. I love a twist and I did not like, um, I don't know. I liked all of it. least favorite part was the weird mismatch between Rory's appearance and his personality. I was so weird. like should look more like a so like this. Yeah, you're gonna act like this. Like, yeah, you should, or you should be more broody. Like one or the other. Like, other than that though, I would als I would also say I really enjoyed like the fashion element of this. Like the way she described, like the robes and like the veils and even like the armor. I was like, it's all very well described except for Rory's. Everything about him visually, especially the eyeliner. Well, here's what I think about Rory. I think that he has a heart of gold. is very like, that's probably what it is. I need the heart to be a little tarnished. But he has his, his, his nurture was really bad Yeah. For a lot of the times. But he's got a really good nature and so that gives him a little bit of an edge. But he's really genuinely more like a sweetie. Like Yeah. His, his nature is very sweet. Yes. That, I think that's very true. You make a good point. But that still does not account for the hair and the eyeliner. And the earrings altogether. Okay. I like her You're an adult. His cultural, um, the, I could look past the eyeliner if it was just one, gimme one out of those three things. I'm begging you. That's all 3D I'm like, you are an adult man. You can decide these things. You don't have to look like this. Fine. I'm alone of my principles. Once again, it's fine.

Gino 1:25:38

I did find in my notes it does say,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:25:40

Favorite parts.

Gino 1:25:41

uh, no, but I did find in my notes it does say Benji's, my least favorite character. I was like, he keeps acting like he's 12. Uh, it's not cute.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:25:50

Mm-hmm.

Gino 1:25:52

I also have in my notes, six different,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:25:54

it true.

Gino 1:25:55

I literally have in my notes six different times, it says, love the gargoyle, loves that he calls everyone Bar you, Gar Goyle is my favorite character.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:26:04

You like favorite part? Gargo. Favorite character? Gargo like Gino Plus Gargoyle. Gino Barth. You charming.

Gino 1:26:13

Um. Yeah, my favorite part, uh, is between the diviners, like just the girls hanging out in their banter. I liked that. Or,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:26:29

their dynamic too. It was really sweet.

Gino 1:26:32

um, or every time like, Bartholomew got cranky. I liked. And then my least favorite part, um, not like story or not like writing or anything wise, but just like, I dunno, is the, is the fight with the scribe when he was being all weird like that, you know, I was like, eh mm, creeping me out.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:26:55

Yeah,

Gino 1:26:56

But

Wheezy & Spoons 1:26:57

he was real creepy.

Gino 1:26:58

yeah. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:00

learned. Lessons learned. Um, there's a lot of different ways to interpret the idea of eyes made of stone.

Gino 1:27:09

um. If you're gonna dress away, live up to it.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:13

Yeah, that feels fair. Never trust the monarchy. Never trust an adult blonde male. Even a young adult blonde male. Oh my God.

Gino 1:27:23

Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:23

gosh. Um, sometimes you have to wear shoes.

Gino 1:27:27

oh my gosh.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:28

remember?

Gino 1:27:29

I also hated that. I hated that she did put shoes on. I wish she had never put'em on. I was like, you go girl.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:36

That's

Gino 1:27:36

Like no shoes. I'm not wearing them.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:38

shoes. I was stressed for her. I was like, we're doing too much adventuring now, sweetie. Like we, you're

Gino 1:27:43

didn't even like her wearing the armor. I really hated that. She wore armor too.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:47

Really?

Gino 1:27:48

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:48

so psyched. so funny. like, this isn't whimsical anymore.

Gino 1:27:54

I was like, oh, I, you're,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:27:56

a flowing

Gino 1:27:56

really not living up to your, um, manic pixie dream girl.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28:02

She's like, well, I like lift stones. I'm a stone worker. Oh my God.

Gino 1:28:07

She's like, I'm gonna conform and wear armor and be a knight now, and put on shoes and just be like everyone else. And I was like, no.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28:14

No, don't conform. No conform. Just be like everyone else. We learned that being ripped can totally be hot. Oh yeah. She's hella rich. For sure.

Gino 1:28:24

Mm-hmm.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28:25

I love that for her. Wait, I had a good one. Oh, what was it? know. Many lessons to be learned.

Gino 1:28:33

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28:34

Um, yeah. Don't trust people in power. You, you should learn to swim.

Gino 1:28:41

Oh yeah, she did notice one.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28:43

in their mid twenties,

Gino 1:28:44

mean, yeah. But if, if your job is being drowned, I mean, how helpful is learning to swim? There was a really good point in that.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28:50

That's

Gino 1:28:51

was like, like literally, why would I learn,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:28:53

Yeah, that's true. That's so true. I was like, God, it's, I feel like it'd be way more violent than they were describing it to drown that many times, you know? Yeah. I'd be like fighting for my life. Like I feel like percent. You instinctually whatever. Yeah. That's crazy. I

Gino 1:29:11

um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:29:11

Um,

Gino 1:29:13

pinkies.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:29:13

many pinkies up? Four and a half. I really enjoyed this. I feel like I had a lot negative to say, but it was mostly just about Rory and his weird personality versus his exterior, the way he presented himself. I was like, there's too much clashing here. I really enjoyed it. I'm also gonna go somewhere around four and a half because I loved it. I definitely would read it again. Like now I'm really excited for the second one. I'm also excited. I have a feeling I'm gonna love it. I'm so excited to see what happens with this whole forced mare. Oh my God. But I'm literally thrilled. Uh, so yeah, probably for 4.75. Ooh, we're getting really into it. We always know Gino's is gonna be the lowest Gino's like two,

Gino 1:29:57

Am I, am I not negative?

Wheezy & Spoons 1:30:00

just not as I just know where we all like rate on scale. It's pretty easy to produce. It's like on story graph. You can rate a book, whatever, but then when you go to your account, it'll tell you like the average of like what your ratings are. And some people it's like really low and some people it's really

Gino 1:30:16

Yeah, my average is probably pretty low for these, uh, that we've read. So I'm gonna go,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:30:22

have high standards.

Gino 1:30:24

I, I think I might. Um, I'm gonna go with 3.2.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:30:31

Okay. It feels decent for you?

Gino 1:30:32

Yeah, three is like my, um, it, I didn't hate it. Three is,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:30:39

Mm-hmm.

Gino 1:30:40

so it's a little above. Like I didn't hate it. It's a little better than neutral, but not much better than neutral. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:30:47

Mm-hmm.

Gino 1:30:47

that's where I'm at.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:30:49

Gotcha. That feels decent.

Gino 1:30:50

I, I have no desire to read this. I can book, um, I would read it if we put it on the pod without being like frustrated that I have to read it, but on my own, I wouldn't read it.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:31:02

sure. Gotcha. You, you feel ambivalent. sense. I think for me, like if a four means, I would probably read this again at some point if prompted, but I dunno that I would pick up a sequel for me. Four and a half. I'll probably pick up the sequel. Basically three and above, I'm like. Great. Liked it a lot. That's kind of where I'm at,

Gino 1:31:24

Yeah, I think that's also part of the rating system difference is like where we like level things. It's like I'm not giving it like a four unless, yeah. Unless I would definitely read it again, uh, or recommend it to people and yeah, I, I think I've,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:31:41

rating system is based almost entirely on, would I read this again and how soon would I read this again? I don't think, and would I buy this sequel? I feel like you don't reread that much, so it doesn't factor into my rating very much. I'm a huge reread, so

Gino 1:31:53

I usually don't, but this past year I have reread quite a bit. Like this past year has been, um, reread year for some reason.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:32:02

Pery Jackson, the Olympian series. Oh, well that's different. 12

Gino 1:32:06

I was gonna say I've re reread Harry Potter series every year. So

Wheezy & Spoons 1:32:10

Yeah. There are like some books like that where you just do, you're like, yeah, Tiger's Curse. Um. Have you read the first one? Probably like eight times

Gino 1:32:20

she is like.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:32:20

day I was like, I'm gonna reread the selection. Yeah, just I just ordered some of those for the shop too. Thank God. I know, I know.

Gino 1:32:29

All right. Well,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:32:30

that's, this was great.

Gino 1:32:31

yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:32:32

it. Excellent. What? Well done everyone. Alright, well done everyone except Rory's hair and makeup

Gino 1:32:39

until next time, which, um, I'm gonna say will not be, well no, if we're just doing it without wheezy reading the kind of Monte Cristo, that could be our next book. But otherwise, I was gonna suggest we might do one in between,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:32:53

me. We

Gino 1:32:54

we'll see.

Wheezy & Spoons 1:32:55

do a shorter one. Yeah, we'll see. You guys could do that when I am, um, have just had child so I don't have to do it. You guys could save the account. You just tell me about it while I'm nursing a baby or something. I mean, it'll, it's been there for a while. It'll still be there when week, unfortunately. alright, well, we'll, we'll discuss it. Don't worry squad. come back. We're all so worried about not reading the account of Monte Crito, but

Gino 1:33:22

Until next time,

Wheezy & Spoons 1:33:23

know that. Yeah. But next time, keep your tea cups full, your pinkies high

Gino 1:33:29

send your book club for.