Long Game: a Heated Rivalry Podcast

Declan and Silvan are joined by author Dorian Ravenscroft to talk about their debut novel, The White North Has Thy Bones, a queer Victorian Gothic horror story involving a doomed Arctic expedition, unreliable narrators, morally questionable characters and more than a few ghosts. Dorian takes us behind the scenes of the novel, from its unlikely beginnings after watching The Terror to the rather cha...

Declan is back for Part 2 of our Common Goal discussion, and is joined by Brittany from the Long Game Book Club to finish unpacking Rachel Reid's fourth Game Changers novel. This time, we're asking some bigger questions, like does the age gap between Eric and Kyle really matter? Why is Eric so emotionally self-aware but so terrible at communicating? And did Common Goal miss an opportunity to explo...

Declan is joined by Kirsty from the Book Hashira as we move on to Common Goal, the fourth instalment in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series. This is one of the most divisive books. In Part One, we dive into Eric and Kyle’s relationship and ask whether their romance really feels like a happily-ever-after, or whether “happy for now” might be a better fit.  We explore the book’s significant age gap, E...

Silvan is joined by actor and musician Justin Stanek for a conversation about acting, music, Next Door and the reality of pursuing a creative career in Los Angeles. Justin takes us back to where it all began, from community theatre and an unexpected first commercial to packing up his life and moving across the country to LA. He opens up about the less glamorous side of being a working actor: endle...

Declan is joined with Jenn from The Book Refuge for Part 2 of our deep dive into Tough Guy by Rachel Reid. This time, we’re putting Ryan and Fabian to the ultimate test and discussing how they actually compare to Shane and Ilya? Declan and Jenn go head-to-head across everything that makes a romance work, including chemistry, emotional intelligence, romantic gestures, sex, conflict resolution and,...

Declan is joined by Jenn from The Book Refuge to dive into Tough Guy, the third book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, and it’s quite the change of pace after Heated Rivalry. This time, we’re talking Ryan Price and Fabian Salah, two characters who couldn’t seem more different, but who might be exactly what the other needs. We unpack Ryan’s anxiety and complicated relationship with hockey, Fab...

Declan and Silvan are joined by author Alex Cross, creator of Echoes of Us, Becoming Us, When We Ignite and From Our Ashes. Alex takes us right back to the beginning of her writing journey, from growing up as a chronic daydreamer and discovering fanfiction, to writing her first novel on her phone while nap-trapped with her daughter. We talk about the leap from fanfiction to publishing, learning th...

Just when you thought we we were finished with Heated Rivalry, Rachel Reid has one more dinner waiting for us. In Part 14, Declan and Silvan dive into the bonus chapter, My Dinner with Hayden, as Shane and Ilya attempt something arguably more challenging than professional hockey, namely hosting Hayden and Jackie for a civilised dinner party. We unpack the tension between Ilya and Hayden, Ilya’s su...

Declan and Silvan make it to the end of Heated Rivalry, but does Shane and Ilya’s story get the ending it deserves? In Part 13, we dive into Chapter 27 and the epilogue, as Shane and Ilya begin to imagine what a future together might actually look like. We explore Ilya’s changing idea of “home,” the significance of Shane finally letting him further into his life, a semi-proposal disguised as a jok...

Declan and Silvan finally reached that chapter. In Part 12 of our Heated Rivalry deep dive, we tackle Chapter 26, and despite our best intentions, manage to spend an entire episode on just one chapter. We start with the newly announced Season 2 casting and the conversation surrounding Harris, body representation and the expectations fans bring to adaptations. Then it’s back to the cottage, where S...

Declan and Silvan are joined by one of the most talked-about voices in MM romance. In this special interview, we're joined by bestselling author Scarlett Drake to discuss the phenomenal success of Oleander, her haunting queer reimagining of Great Expectations.  Scarlett shares the twelve-year journey that took her from posting fanfiction on Wattpad to becoming one of the genre's most celebrated in...

Declan and Silvan break down the Heated Rivalry book review in part 11. We dive into one of the most talked-about chapters and it is every bit as steamy as its reputation suggests. We explore how Rachel Reid balances intimacy with emotional depth, discussing why these scenes feel so much more than just spice. From playful video game rivalry and unforgettable chemistry to conversations about consen...

Declan and Silvan are at The Cottage in Part 10 of our Heated Rivalry book review. We unpack one of the funniest chapters in the novel, from eight burgers and "stupid Canadian wolfbird" to the effortless comedy Rachel Reid gives Ilya throughout these scenes. Beneath the laughter lies one of the book's most important emotional turning points. We explore Shane's hesitation about coming out, what it...

Declan and Silvan break down the start of Shane and Ilya’s cottage escape in Part 9 of our Heated Rivary Book review. This week we are joined by Bri, who is a long-time listener of the podcast. Together, we explore why this chapter feels like such a turning point in their relationship, from the emotional significance of Shane inviting Ilya into his most personal space to the honesty, vulnerability...

Declan and Silvan dive into Part 8 of the Heated Rivalry book review. We explore how Rachel Reid uses crisis as the catalyst for emotional growth in Shane’s injury. We compare the novel with the TV adaptation, unpack why Shane and Ilya react so differently in each version, and discuss the psychology behind fear, avoidance, and the moment Ilya realises he cannot walk away. As always, we go off on a...

Declan and Silvan go deeper into our Heated Rivalry deep dive in Part 7. We unpack one of the novel's most intimate and emotionally revealing chapters. What begins with a simple Skype call quickly becomes something far more significant, as Shane and Ilya move beyond physical attraction into a longing for domesticity, comfort, and a shared everyday life. We explore why Shane's glasses become such a...

Declan and Silvan unpack Part 6 of the Heated Rivalry novel. Here, Shane finally says the words he's spent years avoiding, and everything between him and Ilya begins to change. We examine one of the novel's biggest emotional turning points as Shane comes out to Ilya, leading to a conversation that's surprisingly understated and deeply significant. We explore why Rachel Reid's character writing fee...

In Part 5 of our Heated Rivalry book club series, Silvan is joined by special guest Alicia, long-time listener and book club member. Together, we unpack Shane’s honest conversation with Rose and the realisation that the future he imagined for himself may not be the one he truly wants. Our discussion explores the differences between the book and the TV adaptation, from Rose’s role in Shane’s journe...

Declan and Silvan sit down with Caroline Plyler, director of the hit vertical romance Next Door, to discuss her journey from actor and script supervisor to first-time director. Caroline shares how her own experiences  shaped the story, why she wanted to create the "queer Disney Channel movie we never got," and what it has been like seeing audiences around the world connect with Kit and River's lov...

Declan and Silvan dive into Part 4 of our Heated Rivalry book review series. This is one of the most important introductions in the entire story, Rose. We compare Rachel Reid's novel with the TV adaptation, and explore why Rose feels different on the page versus on screen. I’m e discuss how Sophie Nélisse's performance elevated the character and why Shane and Rose's relationship serves such an imp...

Declan and Silvan are joined by Jenn from the Book Refuge for Part 2 of our Fan fiction and AO3 episode. We go deeper into the world of AO3 and fancition.  We cover tags such as hurt/comfort and soulmate Alternate Universess to secret marriages, social media disasters, and the infamous plane crash fic. Jenn guides us through the stories that have captured the Heated Rivalry fandom's imagination. W...

Silvan is joined by special guest Jenn from The Book Refuge for a deep dive into the passionate world of Heated Rivalry fandom, fan fiction, and the phenomenon of AO3. Jenn shares her journey into fan fiction culture, including how Heated Rivalry became one of the biggest fandoms on AO3. We unpack why these characters inspire such devotion, what makes romance adaptations so emotionally powerful wh...

Declan and Silvan dive into Part 3 the Heated Rivalry book review. We finally reach one of the most emotionally charged turning points in Shane and Ilya’s relationship and we had a lot to say about it. From the aquarium scenes with Hayden and the subtle hints about Shane’s fears around family, to the infamous penthouse chapter, ginger ale, tuna melts, and one devastating use of first names, we unp...

In part two of our Heated Rivalry book review series, Declan and Silvan dive deeper into the emotional chaos, yearning, and tension that turns Shane and Ilya’s relationship from a physical rivalry into something far more dangerous. What started as criticism in part one quickly becomes obsession as the pair unpack chapters 9–11 of and realise this is where the story truly finds its rhythm. We discu...

In this episode of the podcast, Declan and Silvan dive into the Heated Rivalry book. Covering the first eight chapters, we begin a multi-part deep dive into how the original story compares to the TV adaptation, and whether the book lives up to the hype. Coming to the story from two very different perspectives, Declan as a longtime reader and Silvan as a first-time book reader shaped by the show, o...