Chamomile & Clove

Clovers, It's time to unpick the plot threads of The Black Bird Oracle -- the obvious, the not so obvious, the compelling, and the unfinished. In this episode, we're talking about narrative questions, narrative and narrator choices, and the impact of TBBO on the rest of what we know about the All Souls Universe. Thanks for joining us for TBBO -- it's been fun. If there's another book in the All So...

Well, well, well, Look at us! We made it to the end of The Black Bird Oracle ! We're doing wrap episodes! Welcome to the first of two book-wrap discussion episodes for The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. In this episode, we will be discussing characters, antagonists and protagonists, character arcs, themes, devices, and symbols. Also, what's going on with birds? Yes we do have a mellow (by...

Happy Sunday, Clovers. So pleased to be with you again. In this episode, we're covering Chapters 24-27 of The Black Bird Oracle . We've reached the end of the story... or have we? In this episode, we're talking about Diana's moral compass, antagonists, putting our protagonist in time out, what TBBO has to say about Higher Magic/Light and Shadow (we aren't entirely sure, guys), that damned creepy-a...

Clovers, Happy Sunday! Welcome back to our discussion of The Black Bird Oracle. We made it to Venice (what), used Ysabeau as a distraction (smart), and conducted a teensy witch heist (wait, again?), but we still haven't quite met the antagonist for this book... or have we? In this episode, we're talking about Diana's character arc (...flatter than we expected?), her moral compass (wobbly), and the...

Clovers, We have made it to part 3, or should we say book 3(?) of The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. Things are happening fast and we have a plot to finish.  Join us as we discuss family trauma, descriptions of teaching magic, use of kids in stories, favorite theories from the trilogy, and Diana's emotional intelligence (or lack thereof).  xoxo Jen

Happy Sunday(?) Covers! In this episode we are discussing Ch. 19-20 of The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. There is tea aplenty. It is hot. It is also spicy. We are suddenly serving up some Bishop family secrets with a heavy dollop of trauma. But what else is new at the Bishop house? We are reeling, but so is Diana.  How did we get here? We don't know, but we look forward to seeing what com...

Clovers, Hi, hi. Happy 2025. January is always a bit of an odd, dark time -- we're in a slow season and everything is a little... off. You know, like perhaps the forest behind your family homestead puts off hallucinogenic fumes that take you on a sensual journey full of insects. We're getting ahead of ourselves. In this episode, we're talking about Chapters 17-18 of The Black Bird Oracle and it's...

In this episode, we are discussing chapters 15&16 of The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. Honestly, we are feeling a bit unmoored by the middle of this book. In the first chapter up for discussion we're in a mystical battle, and in the next chapter we're getting ready for a garden party. Does anyone else have whiplash?

In this episode, Cait and Jen discuss chapters 13 and 14 of The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. We've quickly gotten over the romp in the woods. We get an official tour of the grounds. We gather ghosts. Matthew and Diana still aren't on the same communication page. We might be having a potluck. Is anyone worried about Tamsy the doll?

Happy er, Monday, Clovers. In this episode, we're tackling Chapters 9 and 10 of The Black Bird Oracle , which combines the witch version of a courtroom procedural with ancient mythology. We're talking about allegory, long-term relationships, continuity, structure, and more -- including whether we're setting up for another trilogy -- and we're delighted to have you with us.   See you next time! xox...

In this episode we are discussing chapters 7 and 8 of The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness. An episode so nice that we had to do it twice. Yes, the pod calamities do persist, but we're still here.  This week we're chatting about magical power point, wands?, more Stephen, our Matthew arrival countdown, oracles, cards, and more.  I left in all the giggles this time, because it feels like we all...

Oh, Clovers. Have you ever had a month (ish) where nothing went your way? Where everything went a bit to a hell and sideways and pear-shaped and you just couldn't get your feet under you? That was, in effect, the last five (ish) weeks at C&C. Between work emergencies, sickness, power outages, internet crises, and the like, it took us eons to record this episode properly and get it to you. But, fin...

You guys.   It's been two years, but with the publication of The Black Bird Oracle , we could not resist coming back. In this episode, we're catching up and finding our stride again as we cover Chapters 1-2 of Deborah Harkness's  TBBO .    We missed this, and we missed you. Looking forward to this next step into the universe of All Souls!  

Dearest Clovers, Today is a bittersweet day. In this episode, we're announcing our hiatus from podcasting. Both of us are about to embark upon major life changes and, 120 episodes and five years later, we think it's appropriate to give C&C an intermission. We hope to answer your questions in the episode, but here's a summary: we're planning a possible return if and when there's new material, but,...

Happy Sunday Clovers! Well, well, well, here we are with our penultimate discussion of A Discovery of Witches and the All Souls Universe. It's been quite the journey. We have so loved discussing this TV show with you all, and we know that it will continue to provide joy and delight for many years of re-watches to come. In this episode we're back on the trail of the great plot caper! That's right,...

We are so pleased to be here to begin our discussion of the entirety of the TV series A Discovery of Witches. The moment when we saw the series premiere of the series at All Souls Con in 2018 seems both past and present as we end this television journey. Surely some of you can relate to this feeling. For this episode we are discussing characters and their relationships throughout he series, series...

This week, we're bringing you our seventh (!?) plot discussion episode covering Season 3 of A Discovery of Witches TV. We're doing a deep dive on the plot highlights of S3 and whether (or not) they follow a structure we've ever seen before. If you have feedback, questions, or comments, make sure you send your thoughts to chamomileandclovecast@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter as  @chamomilenclove  f...

Happy Sunday, Clovers! Sorry for the brief delay in getting you this episode -- sometimes the external world plays tricks with our recording and editing schedule. Nonetheless -- we're bringing you our first wrap episode for S3 of A Discovery of Witches TV. In today's episode, we're talking about character arcs -- what makes a good arc, what makes a regressive character arc, and which characters in...

Clovers, Somehow, impossibly, we've made it here - to the finale of the adaptation of A Discovery of Witches . It's bittersweet -- we're glad to see the Bishop-Clairmont scion get their happy ending, but it's hard to close the curtain on this wonderful production and its cast and crew. In this episode, we're talking about closure -- where we found it, where we didn't, and how you pin the tail on a...

Happiest equinox, Clovers! We hope that there are glimmers of spring (or fall) wherever you are and that today finds you safe, well, and full of joy. So, HOLY ADAPTATION, BATMAN. We're delighted to talk today about the smart, courageous, and very satisfying changes the writers' room made for this episode and what that means for the end of our series. As usual, we're also talking about character ar...

Happiest Sunday, Clovers. We're nearing the end of our coverage of A Discovery of Witches TV and this episode makes it clear that we're getting ready to tie up the plot and say our goodbyes. There's a lot to love here, but we're also facing the consequences of our limited time with our favorite characters and the adaptive choices we've made along the way. In today's episode, you'll hear our take o...

Wow. As of yesterday, we've reached the finale of A Discovery of Witches TV -- it's an incredible accomplishment for the cast, the crew, the producers, and the fandom. We're sad that we won't have any more episodes to look forward to, but we're going to prolong the fun for as long as we can. In this episode, we're talking about the adaptive choices we've made that have consequences for how Episode...

Happy Sunday, Clovers. We hope that February is treating you well and that you're delighting in S3 of A Discovery of Witches TV as much as we are. In this episode, we're traveling to New Orleans to reckon with Matthew's past and the remainder of Marcus's family. Meanwhile, Diana and Phoebe are hot on the trail of the Book of Life and Gallowglass and Sarah have conspired to wreck us emotionally. Jo...