The Midnight Readers Podcast

Welcome back, readers~ Happy Conscription Day, Candidates! Or are you a cadet, now? This is possibly one of our best episodes! We are fired up about this section. Meeting Xaden’s mom was… quite the ride. In this episode we discuss the arrival at Hedotis and the strange welcome that Quest Squad receives. What can we learn from the isle of wisdom? Seems like... they have a lot more to learn as well....

Welcome back, readers, and get ready for fight club with the queen of Unnbriel. We couldn’t help but dedicate an episode to the intrigue of the isle of Dunne and all it brings to the story! Tides are changing as siblings are pitting against one another (or are we overthinking things?) and secrets are revealed. Yet, this episode brings more questions than answers, as usual. Trails of what Asher lef...

Hey, readers! This week, we’re off on a beautiful island getaway. Unfortunately HALDEN has to come too. Bummer. Join us this week as we discuss the beginning of Quest Squad’s search for the Irids, starting with the isle of Deverelli. They have riches and beaches galore, but lack a certain very important facet - magic! Plus, We meet a pirate(?), bargain for priceless blades, and get into some troub...

Good evening, readers~ We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! This week’s episode rings in more revelations for Quest Squad, as Ridoc has dubbed our beloved protags. Questions are forming about magic sources, particularly for runes. Are they separate from channeling? Plus, Violet’s ex takes center stage as Violet continues to wrestle control for her mission to find the seventh dragon’s den. We...

Hey readers~ This week we finally discuss the first episode of Onyx Storm. The end of Iron Flame feels hopeless, but Violet seems determined to find solutions. This week we discuss the fallout from the last book and the possibilities at hand. Could the scribes have been harboring the enemy the whole time? Is Violet secretly a time-traveler?! And.. is there something special about Ridoc? This book...

Hey readers! This week’s episode almost had us talking in the same circles as Violet and Xaden. While the couple continues to argue over communication, Violet finally figures out how to power the wardstones and, in doing so, also incites the need for the rebellion to return to Basgiath. Chaos ensues! Dragons die! And some people lose limbs. Sorry, Sawyer. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this we...

Hey, readers~! We hope you’re ready for more dragons and magic because there’s a lot to discuss this week. Not only do we have new characters to discuss - Tic-tac? - but Violet also faces new challenges in the form of wardstones and runes! And possibly… a new rival? Plus, we question what Violet’s true signet is. Surely it isn’t as simple as lightning. We’ve got a lot of theories concerning the gr...

Welcome back, readers~ This time around, we get into more of the lore behind Navarre’s magic system and how the dragons power their magic. Where are the hatching grounds? Do different dragon colors have different magic, or different sources for magic? We also discuss the logistics of the scribes and who could secretly be a venin. We’re getting into the nitty gritty of it all! Plus, Violet decides...

Hey readers! In episode 1 of Iron Flame, we begin to see the consequences of the characters actions. Not only does the truth of the venin hang over the heads of those involved at Resson, but Violet wrestles with keeping the secrets she is now being entrusted with. Or is she? Xaden doesn’t seem too keen on letting her in… Can we blame him? Plus, major players step into the ring in the form of Colon...

As we get into this week’s episode, we’re starting to notice a theme…Yarros cares a LOT about trust and loyalty. And this one’s a doozy - who can we trust? And what happens when those we love keep things from us or turn against us? Thus begins the ongoing war of secrets in the Empyrean series. This week we discuss signets, hierarchies, and love lost. And yeah, this one still hurts. May his soul be...

Hey readers! Hang in there. This episode is a doozy. We may have gone off the rails this time. Ton of theories come tumbling out about all the ways Violet and Xaden's lives have become intertwined. We could discuss theories for days. Are the gods part of this? Was the romance part of Sgaeyl and Tairn's master plan? Could Xaden's father possibly be a barracks baby? We've got crack theories galore....

One girl, two dragons, and an academy full of enemies. Survive the Gauntlet? Check. Live to see the next sparring session? Check. Bond with a legendary war dragon? Also check! Sleep? Absolutely not. And it's all just barely begun! Join us this week to discuss.

Welcome back readers! We're finally on to the Empyrean series. We love these books and they are so dear to us as friends - and boy, do we have a lot to say about them. Join us for an exploration of dragons, signets, and some questionable discussions about Jack Barlow. We had so much to say we cut this episode in 2! WARNING: We discuss Fourth Wing at length and mention Iron Flame spoilers in this e...

🔥Welcome to Season 2 of The Midnight Readers Podcast! 🔥 After diving deep into the Zodiac Academy series, we’re turning our focus to Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series—Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm. Expect passionate reactions, in-depth discussions, and wild theories about this thrilling world of dragons, war, and rebellion!   Subscribe and join us as we unravel the mysteries of Navarre!...

Alas, the finale has arrived. For our last episode, we’re discussing quite a number of brand new tricks. The twins and their cadre have joined the last battle and we were on the edge of our seats at every turn! We got clay soldiers, fire tornadoes, bone rituals, and unreasonably powerful tiny dragons. But will we get final goodbyes for our favorite characters? Will Lionel meet his satisfying end?...

Welcome back folks! We’re closing in on the end. It’s bittersweet! In this episode some unexpected allies join the cause and many of the plans we had no clue about come to fruition. We loved discussing the beginning of the war (battle… singular?) and all the preparations! Some gifts are given, and protagonists say their potential goodbyes to their loved ones. But, sadly, so many things have yet to...

This week on the Midnight Readers Pod, we discuss some of our favorite topics around here: love, destruction of our enemies, dizzying acid trips in a muggy swamp, and embarrassing moments between siblings. This is Zodiac Academy, and it's still going strong. While there's some problems with the narrative end of this series, we are thrilled to see our protags get some wins (finally), even if they'r...

In the second episode of Restless Stars, our protagonists work together to find the missing stones. The journey leads us to a mysterious mountain with various side quests, followed by a revival of Gabriel's sanity and just in time for a major battle at the The Ugly Dragon's jade palace. This is a fun section - but we're left with just as many questions as before. What's up with Lyra? And will Cale...

Finalmente~ The last book of Zodiac Academy begins! And it starts with a bang. We ended the last book with the introduction of possibly the Biggest Bad Guy on our list. What does Clyde have up his sleeve? What could his motivations be? Will the authors wrap this up successfully? All is up in the air as Darcy and Tory escape their prison to find someone has been impersonating them.. and boy it does...

Welcome back readers! We have arrived at the final part of Sorrow and Starlight. Its a thrilling finale full of rescues, death, and horrifying shadow monsters that skitter across ceilings. Yeah, Seth is traumatized and so are we. Join us this week as we discuss Tory's brave venture into the underworld, Darcy becoming Christy's new favorite character (shadow beasts!!!), and the logistics of the upc...

Listen, readers... Don’t judge us too harshly for this one, okay? This series may have fried our brain cells in new and horrifying ways. By the end of this episode, we might be as polarizing as this book series. This week we discuss Franny’s sacrifice, Washer’s “gift” to Tory (and Caleb and Seth?), and the revelation of the bonded men. Shenanigans will occur. Will Max and "Twinklestud" be able to...

Welcome back, readers! This week's episode rings in with some new POVs and the beginnings of a plan to retrieve Darcy and Orion from Lavinia's clutches. Things are looking rough for our twin flames, but fear not. An unlikely ally (or three) may keep our protagonists out of harm's way. Plus, there are still so many questions to answer. Will Darcy be able to overcome the curse? Who will Tory turn to...

Last week, we discussed the intense loss and heartache caused by the end of Heartless Sky. The sorrow is not over, but there's definitely some light in the darkness. This week, Tory barrels her way through the Library of the Lost in search of answers to her star vow, while we learn of Lionel's plot to wield Gabriel as a toll in his war. On the upside, Leon has a plan to thwart Gabriel's visions......

After the truly devastating ending from the last episode, we return to what some say is the hardest book in the series. It looks like the first chapters live up the name. As Tory, Xavier, and the rebels grieve over the loss of many loved ones, Darcy and Orion's fates are once again thrown into peril. A deal is struck, and more lives are on the line. Tory and Gerry rescue the heirs, along with thei...

A day late and an aura short, am I right? Or in this case... we might be short many things, including some important members of the series, and a sizeable chunk of our rebel army. We may have caught the mysterious murderer, but we're not celebrating. A new prophecy unfolds as we watch our favorite moments from this book - divine or not - unravel in an instant. Join us this week for the heartbreaki...