The Bookish Hour
Your new literary podcast!
We talk about all things BOOKS, in all genres; romance, fantasy, thrillers, romatasy, mystery, dark academia, book recommendations, our favorite books (and our least favorite books) buddy reads (that hopefully you want to join along in), bookstagram/booktok with the drama that comes with it and lots interviews with people in the book world.
You might know us from Thirty Talks but after a few weeks we realized that we really still talk about books mostly so we needed a new name. We have combined the best parts from The Smutty Book Podcast (no longer available) and The Thirty Talks Podcast and come up we a NEW and IMPROVED podcast.
Third time is a charm, right? And trust us, this will be the last change (its hard changing a podcast).
Welcome to The Bookish Hour with Jor & Fab...
The Bookish Hour
The Syndicater by RuNyx
BOOKCLUB TIME!!
WE ARE HERE WITH ALL OUR THOUGHTS FOR THE SYNDICATER!!
Aka the last book in the Dark Verse series by RuNyx, we discuss the book in its entirety so buckle up and get ready...
We talk about the hidden links that bind RuNyx's "Gothikana" and the "Dark Verse" series, and indulge in our mixed emotions over her latest book, "The Syndicater." From intricate character arcs to unforeseen plot twists, our review paints a vivid picture of the series' strengths and shortcomings.
Its an episode you do not want to miss!
Cover Art by: Fabienne and Jordan
Contact email: thebookishhourpod@gmail.com
Intro/Outro music: Season Two: Ramaramaray by Aiyo via Epidemic Sound Season One: Sweet Psycho via TikTok’s Offical Sound Studio on Capcut
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Podcast: @thebookishhourpod
Fabienne: @oxonheart
Jordan: @sipsoffiction
welcome to the bookish hour with joran fob. Okay, there we go. I like finally figure out. Nothing was like popping up for me and I was like geez I know, I know, girl, it is so cold here. Same, same. It is so cold, horrible. How dare the weather do that to us?
Fabienne:I know, I know. How dare the seasons change, how dare does the temperature drop.
Jordan:I know, yes, and it's fine if there was snow, but there's no snow. So how dare it just be cold for no reason?
Fabienne:Disappointing, disappointing, disappointing. One huge, big-ass disappointment. How are you?
Jordan:Oh, I am great. I'm like all jittery. So the reason I had to be a couple minutes late was because I follow this like one girl. She like makes ceramics and she does these like cute to go cups. I've like posted about one before, but she makes basically just however like what's on her website is what is available. So she'll post like the same cup like three times, but that's because there's literally only three of them because she like makes them. So she was doing a drop at noon today, but since she only had like she had like 15 cups available. So I'm like sitting here refreshing my page until noon hits and I was I was able to.
Jordan:I wanted two cups. I wanted like um, this like stripe to go cup and this bow cup. She made um, but I had to do it as two separate orders because I wanted the stripe, one more. So. But what's really nice is she refunds you on like the like shipping if you order more than once, because she knows like things sell out. But I feel like I'm still running on that, like I'm like sweating but I got the cups.
Fabienne:You know salad excuse. Then you are excused. You got the. Oh, yes, you got them. Oh, I'm like, so I delay in the recording, so I wasn't sure if you did get them, but you did. Okay, oh, I did.
Jordan:I did. But I knew, because that's what happened to me before. I didn't realize she sold out that fast. So when I tried to get one the first time, it was like sorry, it's already sold out. And I was like what? And so I knew that she was doing and this was her last drop for this year and so I was like I need, I need it like I need to get it. So I got it. We're good, good. All's well with the world now all is well.
Fabienne:Everything has come full circle. No, I do remember, like the um. I remember you posting about like one of those ceramic mugs, like when you went into the office and you posted a story of it on Instagram. It's the one with like a little straw holder, right?
Jordan:Yes, but it's like it is, but it's like I use it for hot coffee, so it's like my little drink spout thing. Yeah, so I bought like a different one because I feel like as much as like yes, I did spend money on this cup, but when I was going into the office even though it's only once a week I would go to the coffee shop before and I would spend like $8 because I'd get like a coffee and then I'd get something to eat because I was hungry. So I was usually spending like eight something. I'm like yes, I spent money on this cup, but now I'm not going to the coffee shop because I want to use my new cup. Spent money on this cup, but now I'm not going to the coffee shop because I want to use my new cup, so I only use it at work.
Jordan:I can only use it at work to keep it like fun and exciting. So then I had to get another one that will still be used for work, but this way I can like switch between.
Fabienne:Of course, we do need, like cups, to switch between right, I mean one week you might feel like the bow, the bow cup and the other one, you know, like the next week you want to feel like the stripy cup.
Jordan:So yeah, yeah, I get that. Well, the bow cup I'll use more often because it doesn't have the lid. It's like just like a normal cup, but it's so cute, I can't wait for them. Okay, so cute though. Exactly, exactly, oh, exactly. I think I better have like the little spout on the other one. I'll have to take a screenshot and like send it to you, just so you like. Yes, please, because it's just so cute, yes please.
Fabienne:Honestly, I'm always so impressed with like people who make like things from scratch, like with their bare hands.
Jordan:I know she like shapes it, and then she like.
Jordan:I don't know how you make these like ceramics, but the fact that it's like and that's what I think threw me off too, because I was like you know how you go on a website and like you can, there's usually only one to buy, but there's like multiples so you could go and like it doesn't matter when you go on, but me not realizing like, oh no, like that is the only one, isn't it? So, yeah, it is adorable, right, it is so cute. And then this is the bow one, but you can see like I mean this this one's kind of blurry, but there's no like little lid for this one, so it's, it's just like. Yeah, just like a normal cup is like this one that I just sent you, but I think they're so cute and exactly, I like supporting her because she's making them and this is her business.
Jordan:And I think it's so cute, I had to get it.
Fabienne:I would love to go to a ceramics class or something, or even like a pottery class me too. Are those the same, by the way, like pottery and like ceramics, or is it just like a whole difference there, that I'm just like heaping them all together? No, okay, but I would love to go. I would love to like make a mug you know that I made my, you know that I, that I'm actually made myself and then just like have it like all glazed and then like paint it and, and then it's yours, and then you can like put stuff in it or use it yeah I would love that.
Fabienne:That'd be cool, as I, you know, I'm too chicken to actually like sign up for a class. I know that we have a few classes down here at the harbor, like the ndsm where we went to the ferry, where we had like the little drinks when you were here. I know that there is like um, like huge warehouses that are like divided into like little different stores, and one of those, I'm just going to say stores for the, for the like, for the sake of explanation or like for the sake of example, but all these stores they have like um, like a training that they can give, like either a pottery class or like a ceramics class or whatever, like a painting class. It's all very like cultural over there and I would love to go, but I am too chicken to go by myself, fair.
Jordan:So I would be too. I would be too. I I read okay, side note. I went to the bookstore a couple weeks ago and I bought a book, naturally, and I bought a book and the book I bought, they gave me a piece of paper and were like we're having a book club which is I don't want to say dates, but which is technically tomorrow, but which is technically tomorrow.
Jordan:So if you like want to come to this book club, come and so I finished the book and I want to go to this book club, but I have a feeling I'm gonna end up chickening out, but I like want to go, but it's like I read the book so I could go to this book club, but I could just be like I don't know, I could, like I could totally see myself chickening out because it's just like I've never like you know, you like haven't done that before and I'm like yeah, for some reason, like the threshold is just too high, I just don't dare to like cross it and it feels so silly because we're like 31 years old, I know Finally.
Fabienne:But it's like you know, you're like an adult, you know like. You're a mature person, you are a strong woman. Just just just sign up for these classes, just go there. There is nothing to be like embarrassed about and you know what, even if you are the well, maybe there's a little bit. You know what if you end up being the only one? Oh, that's a little bit embarrassing.
Jordan:I think that's what I fear I think that's the fear.
Fabienne:I think that's the fear because you will get all the attention and you do not want to get all the attention.
Jordan:Yeah, but even if there's like four of us, including me, like that's different, but it's like what if I am?
Fabienne:Honestly, I guarantee you oh, I'm sorry. Yes, guarantee me.
Jordan:Well, I guarantee you like I will. The thing is is, like I will get myself there, like I will drive there, I will park, but I will sit in that, sit in that parking spot. Like I will sit in my car until the time is passed. Yeah, and they'll be like, ah, too late, gotta go home now.
Fabienne:What if you do drive up there tomorrow and then just like scoop the place? You know, like scout it a little bit, just see if, like anyone else just like decides to show up and see what the vibe is, and then if it's for you, just join, and if it's not, you can just like drive back.
Jordan:That's what I was thinking, because it is like the bookstore.
Jordan:So I could go in just thinking I'm going to buy some books. It's not like we're meeting at like and I could just keep the book in my in my bag. The only thing is I just don't want them to think I'm stealing it. So I've been like, highlighting it. I've highlighted maybe like 25% of it, cause I just don't want them to think, cause if there's no way, I could have highlighted it with my tabs and so long for them to think I'm stealing it.
Fabienne:That's true. That's true, that's true. Got to cover all the bases in that sense, yep, what book is it?
Jordan:Hexed by Emily McIntyre, oh really which, I have to say, was very freaking good. Like I was not, I want to start it too. You have started it. No, no, no, I want to start it too. You, you have started it.
Fabienne:No, no, I want to start it.
Jordan:Oh, I have it on kindle oh, but I haven't read any well. I read hooked a while ago because we definitely did like an episode on it, but then I kind of was like I don't know how I feel about her, but I liked hooked but it wasn't like anything special. But then I skipped all of the other ones because I wanted to do this book club. So I literally just read Hexed but then I was like, wait, this is actually really freaking good. So then when I was at the bookstore the other day the same bookstore that I'd have to go to I bought Scarred. So I want to read Scar.
Fabienne:I know that the majority of people they love Skard the most. Really, to be fair, hex has just come out recently, so maybe Hex is now like a crowd's favorite. But I think Skard back in the day, Skard was like the top choice.
Jordan:So I feel like I used to see her books all the time but for whatever reason I'm not seeing hexed a lot and I don't know if it's just because the people I follow aren't really into it or into books or into like, but I feel like I just don't see it at all.
Fabienne:I mean, she's been you mean like in other people's socials? No, that is true. I will say, though, that I you're not on a threats. No, you're not on a threats yet, or like period.
Fabienne:Okay, she's really she's really active on threads and I am like one of those fly on the walls there. Sometimes I post um you know, like little snippets about my runs. Sometimes I'm just like there to just like enjoy like all of that content that is on there. But she posts a lot about um hex on that as well and a lot of people engage with it. So I see it more on threads, ironically, than on instagram. But I I do agree with you.
Jordan:I don't see a lot of people like post about hexed yeah, I mean, you saw like one person like reading it like on their story maybe they posted it to their grid, I don't even know but like other than that, the things I've seen are her reels about text like emily, but other than that, like, because I feel like certain books like especially like hooked and scarred and even whatever the one came after that, I saw those everywhere like people posting about yeah, and now I just don't see anything well then, we just gotta up the game here.
Fabienne:We have to post about it we gotta do it. We got stuff. No, I actually want to read it also. I just love the cover so much. It is so pretty twisted, very, very, very, very loose retelling of the little mermaid.
Jordan:But then yes but like all twisted yeah millfields it's just like the nods to the fairy tale, which I loved because I'm not a fairy retelling kind of gal no, but those are all of her books, like I remember reading um, what was it, I think, twisted not too long.
Fabienne:Well, a little little while back I shouldn't lie like was in a summer or so, and that was again not a retelling. And she's, she prefaced her books by saying that like explicitly too.
Fabienne:Like this is not a retelling it's just like it's drawn some inspiration from those um fairy tales. You know like names, little story lines, you know like little elements here and there, and that one was based on Aladdin, but more specifically On Jasmine, and then if she gets like With Jafar, yes, Because I know Hooked Was like Captain Hook, it's like all the villains and so, like I just read Hex, so it's like Ursula. Yes, exactly, I like it, and I like how vibrant the cover is too With this one.
Jordan:So pretty With the purple and the pink.
Fabienne:It is really pretty.
Jordan:Yes.
Fabienne:Agreed, but Hex, oh wait, no wait, what's your good week? Was this the book club thing like a semi good thing? Like you want to participate maybe yes or no, oh no, no.
Jordan:Well, that will be next time to see if I actually go or not. Um, I'd say the cups, I got the cups, okay.
Fabienne:Okay, fair, now that I talked about my 15 minutes um, no, no, please, please, talk about everything for 15, 50 more minutes, even no, um, what's my good week? We, we set up the crossbow street. We purchased things for the new house because you know black friday sales, uh. So I got tiles for the bathroom, I got a new rug and towels, because you know prime necessities. Well, you need them. That is true, that is a valid point. That's what I said too. But then again people looked at me weirdly because they were like you don't need those in the first week because you still have, like, a rug and you still have towels. But I'm like yeah, but you know Black Friday deals, but you don't. No, yeah, but you know black friday deals, but you don't know. So I got those and, um, oh yeah, my birthday, I turned 31, not not of it, you know, like not no big or anything, but um, oh, no big deal.
Fabienne:Did you do anything exciting, uh a little, yes, I will say, though, and actually, uh, sabina um asked me too, like, what did you do for your birthday? And I said every year it gets a little less magical. I remember, like growing up and I was like, oh, it's my birthday like next week, and I would just feel like all these butterflies in my body and just like anticipating for, like the day. But this like my birthday fell on a sunday this year, and it was just a regular old sunday. That's not to say that it wasn't a fun day, though, because jay had planned this entire thing.
Fabienne:We went into the city center, um, we just like browsed, like walked around, went to a bookstore, got a coffee, got myself a book, um, got a new coat too, which is a really pretty one from, and then we got back, we it was a very relaxed sunday, like generally speaking, and then we had like a you know like some wines here, and then we went out for dinner very, very fancy restaurant, and, um, yeah, it was just a really nice, nice day, but it it didn't feel like my birthday. I think that has just gone with the wind, in a sense of when I turned 30 last year. Granted, we did celebrate that, like in a different country, but the magic is just like it's gone.
Fabienne:You don't like really feel that sparkle anymore when it's like your birthday, it's no, and it is.
Jordan:It's like almost like the day is I don't know. I don't want to say it's a disappointment, but it's like. I feel like you think it's supposed to be something but and it's not, because that's kind of how I felt, too like.
Jordan:I feel like you think it's supposed to be something but, and it's not Because that's kind of how I felt too Like I don't actually like my birthday in the sense of like the day itself, because it's you're right, it's just nothing Like, even though I don't know, like same. Like when I turned 30, it was a great trip, but like the actual day, like we did stuff which was nice, great trip, but like the actual day, like we did stuff which was nice, but I feel like it still wasn't like the day itself was kind of yeah, yeah, it's silly and I also feel like I'm a little bit sad about it because, well, sad is maybe not the right word choice.
Fabienne:But, like I said, like the magic and I feel like that's like a key word here the magic, like it just gets less and less every single year. But I also don't really look forward. I've never looked forward to my birthday specifically. I do always look forward to other people's birthdays. So when you know when it was Jay's birthday, when it's your birthday, when it's my mom's birthday, etc. Etc. I that anticipation, like that magical feeling of like I don't know Like it being their day.
Fabienne:Yeah, yeah, that I do still often. But again, that's not to say that the day itself was a fun, because it really was. And, um, we also like the day before, on saturday, we did celebrate it like together, because you know that jay's birthday is not too far from mine. Um, we always like celebrated together, so like we had just our family over for dinner and drinks, and it was just a really lovely time. Yeah, so my good week is actually like a big jumble of a few things, as it should be.
Jordan:As it should be.
Fabienne:I mean no mugs, no ceramic mugs involved. But it was a good week too for me, so yeah, yeah.
Jordan:No mugs, no mugs.
Fabienne:But you know, no win for me in that sense. But yeah, do you want to? Oh, I feel Okay. No win for me in that sense. But yeah, um, do you wanna? Oh, I feel okay, wait, can I, you take it away? Okay, so we're gonna talk about this and no, nothing, we're gonna oh, I'm making this so awkward, um, because I have mixed feelings actually.
Jordan:I've been shot.
Fabienne:I've been shot right in the heart, yeah, okay, oh, it hurts, stop it hurts. I am so sorry I was. I felt like, um, not scared, but I was like, yeah, I am so sorry, sweetheart. I have just really I have doubts about scared, but I was like, yeah, I am so sorry, sweetheart, I have just really I have doubts about this book, but I can just still talk about it.
Jordan:No, I think that's actually a good thing.
Fabienne:Okay, so do you want to take it away with my silly intro.
Jordan:Well, okay, so I feel there's so many things Bob.
Fabienne:Yeah, I can see that. I can see that. I'm actually really glad at this point that you live far from me and strangle me with a cord now I know. Yeah, holy shit.
Jordan:Okay anyway. So yeah, you go. No, I think that. And Shadow man went to the same Morningstar for Morningstar home for Lost Boys. I think the Shadow man is Vlad's friend. I hold up my phone like this is Gothicana right here.
Fabienne:But we're just going to, we're going to, we're going to go with that.
Jordan:We're just going to. We're going to go with that Cause a morning star home for lost boys is brought up in here, which it was also brought up in here when he found cause. He was talking about how, when he was talking to Corvina, saying how, oh, the home I was in burned down and I was trying to find my friend who said he would eat flames and Shadow man burned down the home he was in, which was Morningstar, oh my god, yes. So I was like what? Also, I think, because you know, how he is.
Fabienne:You are literally the first person who makes this connection that I've seen making this connection.
Jordan:No one's really talking about it. I feel like I feel like people aren't really like I. I think people are more like. I feel I feel like the people that love the dark verse don't really love gothicana, so they're not putting the two together. But I think because because we read gothicana first, so we didn't realize that it was connected and in the same universe, and until like way later we had already started reading the dark verse series. But then I think runix had talked about how she connected, the like they're all in the same universe.
Jordan:But then it wasn't until I was rereading Gothacana, this spooky season, that I was like oh my God, yes, tenebrae, like it's mentioned a few times throughout the story. Then I remember reading Morningstar, home for Lost Boys, which Morningstar is another name for the devil, which I just want to point that out too. But then Morningstar, yes, yes, star is another name for the devil, which I just want to point that out too. But then morning star, yes, yes, so I thought that was and he's called like the devil of. Uh, thank you, I was gonna say nevermore and I'm like that's not right. Um, but then thank you. But then when they talk about, when you get to this one. It literally the shadow man mentions, or somewhere in here it mentions Morningstar, home for lost boys, and I was like wait a minute. And then I go to my Kindle and I'm searching Morningstar and, yes, that's the same home that Vad was in before his uncle saved him.
Fabienne:Yeah, oh, my God, mind blown, honey, honey, I didn't even make the connection.
Jordan:Not that's not to say that if I don't make the connection no one's going to make it, but I mean, I, I, it didn't even occur to me I, but I think it's because we read gothicana so long ago that, like we, I forgot so many things in gothicana that I felt like I was reading it again for the first time. So you know how, like we've all, there's those reels being like I would sell my left arm yes to like read this book again for the first time.
Jordan:I was like, oh my god, it's like I sold my left arm to read gothicana again because I forgot so many things and I was living for that, but anyways, so that was like my scream, so I have to say, granted, I hope everybody's read the syndicator at this point, because this is gonna be killed yes, but I I feel like the reading order, you should go in the publication order that runix has given us because there's hints in everything.
Jordan:So I feel like, or at least read the first five dark first, then read gothicana, then read this, just so you can get all the and I have a feeling all her books are going to be like that. Because someone was talking about the um kinetic book and something about how that main male main character was friends with one of these people in the dark verse or that or something. And then runix mentioned something of like not agreeing but not disagreeing with what them they said, but I don't remember exactly and I couldn't, couldn't tell you and I don't think anybody knows for sure, because that book's not out, um, but I was like, but I do think, in a way, like the universe that she has created is all intermingled. Yeah, okay, anyways, back to the syndicator. Back to the syndicator. Okay, I just want to say I loved it, I loved good, I loved it. Okay, but then now, what do you? What do you? What are your thoughts?
Fabienne:I did enjoy it and, um, no, I'm just gonna, okay, wait. I, I did really enjoy it, let's get that out first. Okay, I really I really did, also because I was just so, it was just like one of these highlights of my year to just like wait for this book because he knew that it was going to come. And when it did come, I can't, I can't read it yet because, like, my anticipation is like, like my level of anticipation is like skyrocketing in this moment and I just want I don't want to, you know, I just wanted to push that back. I wanted to prolong that feeling because I just didn't want the series to be over.
Fabienne:When I read it, I was, I loved. I didn't realize how much I missed reading in Runix's typical third person perspective, like she writes it like no other and the story just like really sucked me in. Writes it like no other and the story just like really sucked me in. I also felt I really, oh, I am like I want to. I want to say this right, because I don't want to sound like a bitch, and you know how I can get if I'm just like on this bullet train of like spewing out things. Um, I did enjoy it, but I did not love the book. Okay, I was actually. You know what I'm just gonna say. It and I mean yeah, rune, rune is honey. If you listen to this, this is not against you in any way whatsoever, um, also not towards you as a person or as an author. It's just like, maybe maybe it was me, maybe it was just like wrong, wrong time, wrong, maybe you're just wrong. Yeah, yeah, okay, maybe I'm just wrong. Let's just, let's just get that. Yeah, I'm just wrong, let's just, uh, go with that.
Fabienne:Um, I don't know, it felt disjointed and also maybe it because it had been like so long since we read like these characters. I've read about these characters like I didn't feel connected to them anymore, even though runix like did give like her best, in a sense of like providing us with little snippets throughout, like the last two years since the annihilator came out, um the newsletters, um all of these like arts and like these visuals that she provided with us or, like you know, provided us with, and. But all of a sudden I was like okay, who was lex? Who was vin? Um some storylines in this book. They didn't make sense to me, um, like, for example, when zephyr's mom died, like by her, by the hands of her father, like. That's such like a really awkward storyline to just like throw that on us in the last zephyr, zephyr's mom killed her dad.
Fabienne:Oh, the other way around. See, it doesn't even like land like I was like so confused entire story. I'm like it doesn't do anything for the story um well, because he was working for this yeah, yeah, but it was just all just.
Fabienne:I don't know. That's why I say this joined it even like my explanation really disjointed. But the first two parts of the book it was just trying to reconnect the reader with the characters is how I feel about it. And then the actual climax of the Syndicator being the book that it is happened just in the last four or five chapters.
Fabienne:Yeah, like the actual plot line. Yeah, like like the actual, like the actual plot line, and I was like the first few, um, like the first two halves of the book, like the first two parts. It was just, I don't know, just getting.
Jordan:I am explaining this so poorly and I I do apologize for that you see what you mean though, because I feel like we got so much of the storyline and then when the annihilator ended, it was almost like this, happy for now, yeah, type of thing, that when, when we got to the syndicator, it almost needed, we almost needed that storyline again, type thing. If that makes sense. So it was kind of this disconnect of how do we bring back these?
Fabienne:characters.
Jordan:Because it almost seemed like, in a way, it kind of felt like none of the other characters were needed besides the Shadow man, because he's the one that took down the main syndicate, the main guy. So it was almost like these other characters were no longer needed type thing. So I, I can, I can, I mean I was still, I still am obsessed with it, but I okay. But then how did you feel about like there were certain moments? I okay, I do have to say this one thing I was and this is on me, this is definitely on me because I was like, but I was waiting for the I love you to morana from tristan and and we never got it. I do I do have to say he was so against the I love you, but the fact he said it so soon to Luna, yeah, and I was kind of like thrown off there.
Fabienne:I was kind of mad about it. Actually, I read that sentence like Luna, really Not even your woman.
Jordan:Yeah, and I think I was a little bit angry, I was thrown off. I was a little angry because if he was like, if he would have I don't know if what he would have done, I don't, I don't know.
Fabienne:It just seemed a little out of place there if I felt very out of character for him to say that to a woman that he, that he only basically knows by means of memory because he doesn't know Luna. At that point he just sees her and is like, oh, that is my sister and therefore I love her and therefore I'm just gonna see it. It just felt so out of character. I did love, though I will say, did really love and this was like a few chapters before that moment, where there was this one chapter where it was all like oh my God, she's alive, oh my God, she's alive From Kristen's perspective.
Jordan:Oh, I did love that and.
Fabienne:I loved the meeting, yes.
Jordan:I loved the meeting. I thought that was everything, because it's like he was such a he kept all his emotions in and then he finally finds her and sees her and is like I can be, I can let it out now. So I did love that, but I did feel and maybe that's just because I had so many feelings towards Tristan to begin with Like he was my favorite, but I felt like he did more on a dirty in this book.
Fabienne:Oh, he did, because I feel like he— Also, we were robbed from like the engagement scene. They were just married. At the one point we didn't see like him asking her to marry him. Well, we saw it through— yeah, the epilogue and him sliding on the ring on the finger.
Jordan:But I'm like dude, you should work at this point. Well, we saw it from the Shadow Man's perspective. The engagement, yeah.
Fabienne:Even more sad.
Jordan:I did love the Shadow man and Lila's POVs. I loved their Dory arc. In a way, I did love that and I was here for that. I was here for, like, I was waiting for this meeting with Luna and Tristan, so I was here for that. Yeah, luna and Tristan, so I was here for that. Um, I totally missed the baby announcement that Morana and Tristan were having a baby. In the epilogue someone like posted about it and they posted that it's like a girl and I was like wait what.
Jordan:I literally was like wait, where did you read that? All I saw was a wedding and she was like the girl that like comment, it was her post. She was like, oh, it was in linus chapter.
Fabienne:However, you say her name now uh, I also did not like, oh, my god, can I just say that I didn't really love? Yeah, I, I was. Oh, and I know that runix is all for symbolism and I love the girl for it. I, I really I. You know that I love symbolism in books. I know that you love it because it has, like this reference to, like you know, gothicism and you know, again, gothicana, and we know how much runix enjoys like gothic stories.
Fabienne:But the fact that it was her actual name is luna, like her birth given name is like Luna, and then it was like, basically from like the whole entire syndicate, it was like Lila, and then I'm going to reclaim the woman that I am by naming myself this one weirdest name that no one in the world has ever heard, but like her friend back in the syndicate has given her that name because it means light Lina, I'm like that literally lila, and crammed together she has so many names. I'm like can you just make up your mind, please for this, can you just, just, just for me, please? Just just one name is more than enough. There are so many urges that we need to take into account. You know what fuck this? I'm on a rant right now, but I also do not laugh at me. What I also did not like was all those intimate scenes right after, like right after one another, at after the party, like four or five seat, like chapters. I was like okay, okay okay.
Jordan:But okay, I told I get it, because that's not typically runix's thing. But I lived for those because did you not see her newsletter? Her newsletter had four spicy scenes. So from each character those scenes were the like those spicy things she'd had drawn were from here. So I was living as soon as I read Tristan and Morana's and I was like, wait, this is what was in her newsletter. I I then knew every spike, I knew all the spicy scenes. What was in her newsletter. I I then knew every spite. I knew all the spicy scenes were coming. So, maybe because I knew that they were coming, I was like, okay, get ready for four chapters of spice. But I was like living for it because she basically drew them for us. Well, she didn't, but she had them drawn for us. But it technically fits in the storyline because finally there's a lull, there's no, there's no like conflict at that time. So that would have been the time to fit in a spicy scene for everybody.
Fabienne:That is true, now she could have had it be where not everybody got a spicy scene, but I felt like she owed it to each of the characters, so I understand why she did it I would have loved to see it better as like an epilogue, or like an extended epilogue, like half those spice scenes, like as an afterthought in that sense, and then just have like drawn out the entire syndicate explanation for a few more chapters, because that was just so fast I did that was just really fast I think this is like the tough part.
Jordan:I guess I kind of thought the takedown of the syndicate was going to be a bigger, grander thing, and it wasn't yeah but I understand too that sometimes you build up these like things.
Jordan:That because, even like another series, I read the last book, the final book it was. I still loved it, still like five stars. I'm not going to mention the series on here, but I'll tell you after um, but the ending was very anticlimactic. It was definitely not. But I think it's so hard because you think of another series that is amazing, but the ending was this big giant battle scene, like that's what I think people kind of expect, and if you don't really give that, this is like same with the other series. Am I confusing you?
Jordan:no, I'm following perfectly sort of it's like I think sometimes drawing an ending to something can be very, very hard it is hard because you have to live up to all these expectations from your readers.
Fabienne:You can't like, obviously, like you know, make everyone happy and as a storyteller, you know, like Rooney's being Rooney's, you have to just like write what you think is right and for her this works. So, again, like you know, I can't only applaud her for that and it's just so damn hard to like. I said, like make everyone happy. It can't please everyone in the crowd and you loved it. I didn't just love it as much, but I still really enjoyed it and I'm really sad to see this series has ended, um. So again, it's still like a good book and the storyline overall is just really well written. You know, like runix again writes beautifully and just you know, did you notice like all the um, um, oh, my goodness, what's the word? When it all starts like with the same letter? Oh, my god, I studied literature.
Jordan:For christ's sake oh, oh, uh, the fuck. Alliteration, alliteration, holy shit that took me so long to figure. I was like okay, anyways.
Fabienne:Yes, but she like again, like I loved seeing her right, like because she really does that like no other. And yeah, just because I was a little bit disappointed, to say the least, about the storyline and how it just like ended, I still enjoyed the book and I would still recommend it, just because the overall feeling that I have it's so grotesque.
Jordan:But the thing is is you're not the only one. A lot of people thought this story fell flat for them. Like a lot of people didn't like this story, I do think there are some. There are some holes in the story, but I almost feel like it. It fits in the sense of like a runix is like writing, like if you, especially if you've read gothicana you don't have every, you don't have every plot hole filled, like there's so many questions unanswered and I kind of felt like that's like same with this. Like I, yeah, granted, I would have loved to know morana's real name, but we don't know it and because moron it doesn't want to know it. So, like the shadow man knows, you know what I mean.
Fabienne:So I feel like there's certain things, that's actually one of the things that I do, that that I felt like, okay, this is the consistency that I was hoping for, like the other characters too, because she didn't want to know, like, from um, because when did we uh, suffer? Um, zenith, um, um, um, the real morana? Yes, like what? What? Oh, my goodness, what is the? Uh, what's the name of the book from? Yes, holy shit, wow, okay, did not do my homework, apparently. Um, I like, since that book, we found out what that talk about being disjointed. Um, since when did we know? Or since long? How? Wow, holy shit, I'm gonna edit this out since how long? Or for how long? That's one. For how long have we known that Morana isn't the Morana's real name?
Jordan:Oh no, Since the Reaper, because she meets her real dad and is like you're not Morana Vitellio, because you're my daughter. Ok, wait, let me. Let me rephrase that again.
Fabienne:OK, give it to me again. Ok, this is like a quiz show. You have to just guess the right answer. With me, it's always like so fun. Since what book? Since what book do we know that Marana doesn't want to know her real name? Is that also the Reaper? That's not the Reaper that is like later on in the series. Isn't that, then, the finisher?
Jordan:Well, I don't know if she necessarily doesn't want to know her name. I think it's more of she doesn't know it. So it's like, oh, like, like we find out the Reaper in the Reaper that she's not actually Morana but Tristan, I think, is like that's a name, like that is your name, you are Morana, and she's like that's a name, like that is your name, you are Marana, and she's like okay, but I don't think, I think, because there's no, like they don't know the answer. I think it's more of like I don't know, like I don't think it's actually, like I don't want to know it until this book, when the Shadowlands that's so silly because I always thought that she didn't really want to know, like wanted to know her name.
Fabienne:Since she found out that she's not like the actual marana, for some reason, I have this feeling that she never wanted to know. Anyways, because it doesn't matter me because, because tristan said that she is marana, so you know again. Therefore, she is um. But I love that little um bit of consistency where he was like so you know my real, my real name. And then Dane is like yes, do you want to know? No, I'm good yeah.
Jordan:Yeah.
Fabienne:I did love that and I think wait, I was going somewhere with this Nope, nope, the train has passed, unfortunately.
Jordan:The train has left the station no, I like it. I like it, I'm on, I'm bored, I'm on board, uh, but yeah, I just like it's.
Jordan:I'm sad it's over I do have to like I read these like bonus scenes, which I do. I am excited for her to put together like all the bonus scenes like I'll definitely be buying that. Will I read them? I don't know, because I feel like I I stayed away from the bonus scenes. Um, wow, I stayed away from the bonus scenes from her, like her newsletters, like if I didn't need to read them.
Fabienne:I didn't want to oh no, I get that. It's like epilogues. To me, the fact that I read the epilogues, by the the way, is like a miracle in itself, because I never read epilogues.
Jordan:I was curious if you were going to.
Fabienne:Actually, I was curious myself, I surprised myself.
Jordan:Sometimes you do that. We like to see that. Did you read the bonus scenes?
Fabienne:No, no, no, no, I did not. You know what.
Jordan:I also didn't like.
Fabienne:I sorry, I'm sorry, I just have to say it. Give it to me. Everyone has a freaking baby, except for lylan uh and dean dane, not dean dane, dean winchester actually I'm re-watching supernatural now so like name is such a good show I need to get back into it.
Jordan:I'm still on chapter.
Fabienne:I'm still on like well, to be fair, I think the episodes are called chapters. Oh, really, yeah, I think so.
Jordan:Oh, that's cool. Anyways, I'm on chapter some, some, some some I Some, some, some.
Fabienne:I don't even know where I was. I don't even know where I was like left off with the seasons.
Jordan:I think I'm on season like nine.
Fabienne:maybe I jumped in at nine because I was like you know this. Maybe just like start with nine and then just like see where the road takes us. I like it.
Jordan:I like it.
Fabienne:And then the thing with Supernatural is you could just like really start any random series, like episode, and you're like, oh, ok, this is where we're at. And then you just like, follow along and it makes sense. Yeah, but screw Supernatural back to the syndicator. So yeah, I have a lot of mixed thoughts about it, as you can tell. And but yeah, like yeah, I don't know, I just, I just would have loved to see the end fleshed out more, like also with kiara being apparently, you know um, part of the syndicate. Yeah, also, why? Why did she? Why did she go to Lex?
Jordan:Oh yeah.
Fabienne:Sanders' friend, that didn't really make sense for me. I think maybe to give. I think it was only written out like that to give Dante, or have Dante more suspicious, be more suspicious of of. Yeah, I think so maybe at first at first I thought it was going to be Lila, you know, pretending to be Miss Maroney. I thought he was going to see.
Jordan:I thought he was going to see Lila on, like the footage me too and I thought like it was going to be like a super big twist or something. And she was actually going to be like. I do love the scene with her talking about her time of like, yeah, you had something to live for talking to her brother, because you were technically living for me, but I didn't know you like I had nothing. So, like I loved that scene for her, loved it where she was like going off talking about her time and stuff and stuff and stuff no yeah, yeah, yeah, do we ever?
Fabienne:do you remember um her? No wait, sander doesn't know that he uh, she's his real mom does she?
Jordan:well, he, no, now he does. Now he does see, I wasn't sure. Shadow man told him and he's like well, do I have to call her mom? And he's like no, or do I have to live with her. When does this happen? I think in the hospital. He's like do I have to live with her? And he's like no, no. And like even she's like I don't know if I could take care of him. Like leave him with my brother and Morana, like they're better at it or something. Huh.
Fabienne:You know what else I didn't like? Why are they? They like blood relatives. Why?
Jordan:why did she have to make them not blood related? Yeah, curious that like they're technically like let's just fuck with tristan as much as we can.
Fabienne:Oh, mission accomplished I know, poor dude, poor dude has trauma for the whole lot now and he embarrassed dad.
Jordan:Yes, oh my god. And to think that he, I thought she was gonna make kiara his like blood sister and I was like oh you, almost you fucked her sister kiara.
Fabienne:I thought it was wait oh.
Jordan:Because, like technically they have the same mom, but like technically Tristan's mom is not. She died. So, like, the person he thought was his mom is actually Lila, and I thought her name was C-H-I-R-A but maybe it's Chiara, chiara.
Fabienne:Is that how you pronounce it? Yeah, yeah, it's an italian name, kiara. Yeah, yeah, yeah oh do you? She has like one. Oh, is that with missy elliott ciara, the song I thought you were gonna like? Oh no lapse and just into song.
Jordan:Oh yeah, my bad, my bad trust me, you don't want to hear me sing I do actually.
Fabienne:Can you sing, can you, can you hum? No, can't do any of that. I can. I could just say I I can only dance along to the beat. That's all I can do.
Jordan:I can barely do that.
Fabienne:I have no rhythm you know how hard it is to dance like off rhythm, really, really hard oh, just watch me. I make it real easy anyways the syndicator easy, anyways okay the syndicator would still recommend, but did not love it would recommend.
Jordan:Well, hopefully, everybody that's listening to this has actually already read it uh-huh. I am happy to finally have it in my hand.
Fabienne:So paperback yeah, me too. Me too. It is a beautiful paperback. I will say that. I will say that, ending on a positive note for me. I just love the color of the paperback, which is black. It's not even a color, it's a tint color of my soul.
Jordan:Anyway, thank you so much for listening and please don't forget to rate and review wherever you can find us.
Fabienne:So catch you next time.
Jordan:Bye.