FictionLeisureHobbies

Just Read It... MCKay!

Elizabeth James

Welcome to your newest fantasy obsession✨📚

Join us each week for cozy chaos, magical deep dives, and unhinged fangirl energy as we break down our favorite fantasy books chapter by chapter.

Hosted by a couple of 30 something fangirls who are equal parts emotionally attached to fictional characters and wildly overcommitted to fan theories, this is the ultimate virtual book club for fantasy lovers. From swoon-worthy romances and morally gray villains to heartbreaking plot twists and jaw-dropping reveals, nothing is off limits here.

We'll recap sets of chapters, obsess over character arcs, unpack hidden details, spiral over fan theories, and yes... there will be spoilers 👀 Whether you're here for the dragons, the shadow daddies, the found family, or the emotional damage, this podcast is your safe space to scream about fantasy worlds with fellow readers who totally get it.

Grab your copy of the book, your favorite drink, and prepare to overanalyze fictional characters like it's our full-time job💖✨

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35 episodes
Avg 1 hr 8 min
English

Episodes 35

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#14
Tuesday · 1 hr 28 min
Ep. 14 CC2 Chapters 1-8
Welcome back to Crescent City! We have officially survived House of Earth and Blood! Apparently we learned nothing, because we're immediately picking up House of Sky and Breath and jumping in! We've got new mysteries, new threats, new characters, and hopefully a few answers to the approximately one million questions we were left with at the end of book one. But this is an SJM book, so we're fully expecting that every answer will come with 3 more questions, at least 1 emotional breakdown, and a detail we won't realize is important until 400 pages later. Grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and get ready to return to Crescent City with us!
- Transcript
#5
October 16 · 38 min
Ep. 5 Get to Know Us!
Welcome back to the podcast! We have officially finished House of Earth and Blood, which means it's time to put down the highlighters, step away from the conspiracy board, and pretend we have emotionally recovered enough to answer some questions. Today's episode is a special Crescent City Q&A, where we're talking about everything from our favorite characters and moments to our biggest surprises, wildest theories, and of course, all the questions we still haven't had answered in this massive book. So grab your favorite bookish beverage, curl up with your favorite fictional character; because let's be honest, they're probably more interesting than the people in our real lives; and get ready to revisit the chaos, heartbreak, romance, and mystery of House of Earth and Blood.
- Transcript
#13
October 16 · 1 hr
Ep. 13 CC1 Chapters 90-End
Welcome back to Just Read It… MCKay? Somehow, against all odds, we have made it to the final episode of Crescent City House of Earth and Blood. We've survived the murders, the secrets, the betrayals, questionable decisions, enough emotional trauma to last several lifetimes, and approximately seven thousand moments where we thought, "Surely things cannot get worse!" And then they did. Now we're starting chapter 90 and finally making it to the end of the book. Lunathian is on the brink, Bryce is about to discover just how powerful that light inside her really is, Hunt is making some truly questionable choices involving helicopters and self sacrifice, and we are about to find out whether all of this heartbreak, chaos, and detective work is actually going to pay off. This is the episode where everything comes crashing together, the final battle, the drop, Danika, the aftermath, and all the little pieces of this story finally clicking into place. So grab your emotional support bookmark and maybe keep a box of tissues nearby, because this is it! The final chapters of House of Earth and Blood! Let's light it up!
- Transcript
#12
October 14 · 44 min
Ep. 12 CC1 Chapters 82-89
Welcome back to our dive into House of Earth and Blood! We are going into chapters 82-89 today, so let's buckle up! Somewhere between Bryce getting pulled deeper into the mystery, the danger around her escalating, and the thoughts of wait, can we trust anyone feeling? Finally we've officially stopped reading this book like a normal person and started reading it like a stress scroll. The anxiety? Immaculate. The anticipation? Cruel. Every chapter had me thinking, "surely we're about to get answers", and instead we got more questions, more theories, and that awful feeling of something that is about to go horribly wrong. Books and emotional support beverages at the Ready? Good, let's tackle these chapters.
- Transcript
#11
October 13 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 11 CC1 Chapters 73-81
Welcome back to the podcast! Today we are diving into chapters 73-81 of House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. And we are officially entering the "Everything is Falling Apart and Nobody has Time to Process it!" portion of the book. There are new discoveries, questionable decisions, suspicious behavior, and plenty of moments when we're sitting here thinking, okay, surely that has to mean something! And while Bryce is trying to piece together the truth, Hunt is dealing with his own complicated history and loyalties, and the deeper we get into the mystery, the more it feels like we're heading straight towards something very, very bad. So grab your drink, buckle up, and prepare yourselves for some serious emotional whiplash. We're getting closer to the end, the theories are getting wilder, and there is absolutely no way SJM is going to let us enjoy these chapters peacefully.
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#10
October 6 · 49 min
Ep. 10 CC1 Chapters 66-72
Welcome back and thanks for joining us! Last time we left Bryce starting at a betrayal she never saw coming and every clue she spent weeks chasing suddenly feels like one giant lie. These chapters are where the investigation takes a hard left turn, loyalties are questioned, motives get a whole lot messier, and the line between hero and suspect becomes almost impossible to find. Every conversation feels like an interrogation, every secret has another secret hiding behind it, and the deeper Bryce digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes. So dim the lights, pin another photo to your evidence board, and join us as we investigate chapters 66-72 of Crescent City. The killer may not be caught yet, but someone is about to make a move that changes everything.
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#9
September 22 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 9 CC1 Chapters 57-65
This is Just Read It… MCKay? And that's what we're here to do. Previously in Crescent City, we have 1 brutal murder, or possibly more, approximately four hundred unanswered questions, and a cast of suspects whose emotional baggage is probably enough to fill an airport. Today we are opening chapter 57-65, where the investigation picks up speed, masks are starting to slip, and every revelation somehow makes the mystery even bigger. Grab some fresh pens because you're gonna need the extra ink. Make sure you have your ever building chaos notebook close by. And I would recommend enough snacks and beverages to prepare you for the mental overload of joining us in solving the newest quandaries. Let's get into it.
- Transcript
#8
September 12 · 1 hr 7 min
Ep. 8 CC1 Chapters 51-56
Welcome back to the podcast. Today we're diving into chapters 51-56 of House and Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas, where the mystery is somehow getting bigger, the stakes are getting higher, and we're only one bad decision away from accidentally summoning a Prince of Hel. Honestly at this point, that might answer some of our questions faster than this investigation. Every new conversation feels like a clue, every side character seems suspicious, and every time we think we've figured out the mystery, another twist shows up just to humble us. Bryce and Hunt are carrying the weight of the world, everyone seems to be hiding something, and our conspiracy board has officially reached red string on the wall status. So light a candle, but don't read any ancient spell books. Grab your favorite drink, and join us as we head back to Crescent City to overanalyze every clue, every suspicious conversation, and every emotional gut punch. Let's dive in.
- Transcript
#7
September 11 · 59 min
Ep. 7 CC1 Chapters 43-50
Welcome back to another episode. We're picking up right where we left off in Crescent City and covering chapters 43-50. These chapters feel like the moment in every great murder mystery where the detective realizes they've been looking in the wrong direction the entire time. Just when Bryce and Hunt think they're getting closer to the truth, the ground shifts beneath them and suddenly the story isn't nearly as straightforward as it seemed. But it's not all shocking twists and impossible theories. We also get a glimpse of one of Bryce's most vulnerable moments as she's alone on a rooftop, overwhelmed by the weight of everything she's been carrying, and she wonders what would happen if she simply let go. It's a powerful reminder of just how deeply Danika's death shattered her and how dark those days truly were. Of course, Sarah J. Maas doesn't let us sit with our feelings for long. Another attack sends the investigation spiraling once again. Refill your coffee and prepare to rewrite your suspect list, again! Let's see where the investigation takes us next.
- Transcript
#6
September 3 · 1 hr 20 min
Ep. 6 CC1 Chapters 36-42
Welcome back viewers and friends! We're super excited to have you here as we continue tackling chapters 36-42 of House of Earth and Blood. Or as we like to call them, wait, who did what now?! These chapters have everything; suspicious people being even more suspicious, clues hiding in plain sight, emotional whiplash and at least 3 moments where we had to stop and say "Sarah, respectively, rude." As always, we'll be sharing our favorite moments, our completely unhinged theories, and probably changing our minds halfway through the episode at least twice. So grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and join us as we head back to Crescent City; where the coffee is strong, secrets are stronger, and trusting anyone literally feels like a terrible idea. Let's get into it!
- Transcript
#5
September 1 · 1 hr 21 min
Ep. 5 CC1 Chapters 28-35
Welcome back to the podcast! Today we're diving into chapters 28-35 of House of Earth and Blood. Where Sarah J. Maas continues to casually introduce new information like we're all supposed to know what's going on. The mystery is getting murkier, the danger level is steadily climbing, and our theory board is officially held together with caffeine and wishful thinking. We're over here highlighting every other sentence, convinced that it's going to matter 300 pages later. So grab your favorite drink, prepare to question everyone's motives, and join us as we overanalyze every clue, every suspicious conversation, and every piece of world building that Sarah definitely included for a reason. Let's head back to Crescent City.
- Transcript
#4
August 27 · 59 min
Ep. 4 CC1 Chapters 21-27
Today we are heading back into the neon lit chaos of Crescent City, breaking down chapters 21-27. Last time we left off with Bryce and Hunt stepping into a meeting with Ruhn that felt like it was bound to shake a few things up. In today's episode, the investigation is getting messy. We've got clues, we're got attitude, and the tension is thicker than a brooding angel's scowl. Honestly, we are all just trying to survive the sheer volume of the alpha males in this city. So grab your pastry, secure your chimera, and settle in folks. Hunt Athalar is already annoyed and we are just getting started.
- Transcript
#3
August 25 · 1 hr 35 min
Ep. 3 CC1 Chapters 14-20
Welcome back! Secrets are surfacing, alliances are shifting, and the chemistry is undeniable. Somewhere beneath all of the banter, there's also a killer still walking free. This is episode 3 of our Crescent City House of Earth and Blood review of chapters 14-20. On today's episode, Bryce avoids her feelings by solving murders, Hunt discovers that sarcasm is definitely his love language, and the plot begins plotting so hard you're gonna need a board for your own conspiracy theories on top of what we go through. Grab a tea, soda, or coffee, something caffeinated so you can keep up with all of the mind boggling spinning, and let's jump into it!
- Transcript
#2
August 24 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep. 2 CC1 Chapters 8-13
Welcome back to Just Read It… MCKay? We're back in Lunathian for our second deep dive of House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. If you've been reading along with us today, we're going through chapters 8-13. Last episode Sarah wasted absolutely no time breaking our hearts and completely changing the trajectory of Bryce Quinlan's life. Now, as the dust begins to settle, we're starting to see what life looks like in the aftermath. And let's just say nothing is ever simple in Crescent City. Today's chapters give us plenty to unpack, new dynamics, new questions, familiar faces, and a few moments that remind us why this book is so much more than a fantasy mystery. We'll be talking about the emotional weight these characters carry, the clues Sarah sneaks in, the characters we're warming up to, and a few we're still side-eyeing. And of course, all the theories that started spinning through our heads. Because oh my gosh, just you wait! So grab your favorite drink and settle in to your comfiest reading chair and join us as we dive in.
- Transcript
#1
August 19 · 1 hr 51 min
Ep. 1 CC1 Chapters 1-7
Welcome back to Just Read It… MCKay? We have officially closed one chapter of our journey and are opening the gates to a brand new world. Today we're kicking off our deep dive into a House of Earth and Blood, the first book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas. If you're joining us for the first time, welcome! And if you've been with us through Prythian, Thank you for coming along for another adventure! It's time to say goodbye to the courts, for now, and hello to the bustling streets of Lunathian. A city where the magic is modern, the world is massive, and the first hundred pages might have you wondering if you accidentally skipped a chapter. Don't worry, we promise you didn't. Grab your drinks, your snacks, and maybe a notebook because Sarah has once again decided that names, places, history, politics, and emotional trauma should all be introduced before chapter 3. We'll do our best to keep up and hopefully help you keep up too. Let's head into Crescent City!
- Transcript
#4
August 9 · 37 min
Ep. 4 Get to Know Us!
Welcome back to our 4th special episode, where we discuss some questions after we finished one of our books. We have officially finished A Court of Wings and Ruin, the 3rd book in the ACOTAR or A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. We'll be answering some fun questions inspired by the book, sharing our favorite moments, debiting impossible what-if scenarios, talking about the characters we love, those that test our patience, and probably revealing a few unpopular opinions along the way. So grab a snack, settle in, and join us for a fun trip back to Prythian. Let's jump in one more time.
- Transcript
#27
August 7 · 1 hr 11 min
Ep. 27 ACOWAR Chapters 74-End
Hello fellow fantasy fanatics and romantic readers alike! We've made it to the point of dread and anticipation, our final episode of A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. We've made it through the impossible odds, emotional damage, questionable decisions, and enough dramatic entrances to keep the night court busy for a lifetime. When we left off last episode, Amren had everyone holding their breath with a plan that was a little bit concerning. So let's jump in, but not into the cauldron, and figure out what Amren's plan really is as we dive into the final chapters of A Court of Wings and ruin. Grab your tea, your tissues, and maybe a therapy bill, 'cause we definitely have an ending to unpack. Let's get into it!
- Transcript
#26
August 5 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 26 ACOWAR Chapters 66-73
Welcome back to the podcast! We are officially in the home stretch of A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. And somehow we're already at the second to last episode of our deep dive. We're not emotionally prepared at all. And honestly, we don't think the cauldron is either. Then again, the cauldron has made some pretty questionable decisions at this point, so maybe we shouldn't be taking life advice from an ancient magical soup pot. Today we're diving back into the chaos as the story races toward its conclusion. There are impossible choices, emotional reunions, and enough twists to keep us guessing everyone's motives. So grab your favorite drink, tighten your Illyrian leathers, and join us as we head back to Prythian for one more step towards our epic finale. Let's get into it!
- Transcript
#25
August 3 · 1 hr 8 min
Ep. 25 ACOWAR Chapters 57-65
Welcome back to our deep dive of A Court of Wings and Ruin. We are officially in the endgame now and the stress levels are off the charts. We're covering chapters 57-65 and if you are reading along with us, you already know that this block of chapters is an absolute roller coaster. We're got shifting alliances, looming battles, and a heart stopping rescue mission. And honestly, we just need to scream about it all for the next hour. So grab your drink, settle in, and in honor of our beloved Suriel, let's spill the tea.
- Transcript
#24
July 30 · 1 hr 11 min
Ep. 24 ACOWAR Chapters 47-56
Welcome back to another installment as we immerse ourselves in A Court of Wings and Ruin. We are finishing up our High Lord's meeting that had our emotional walls crumbling this time. Jump in as we experience more than we ever could have bargained for. And remember, when in the Maasverse, things may not appear as they are for long.
- Transcript

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