The Prince Kai Fan Pod

In which Bethanie and Ash introduce Renegades by Marissa Meyer exploring the themes, content warnings, and expectations for the series. Special Guest cameo appearance by Marissa Meyer! This podcast is hosted by Bethanie Finger and produced by Three Sisters Podcast Network. Logo Art was created by Cosmic Nova Flare and the Intro/Outro music was composed by Emma Povvo.

In which Bethanie and Soumaya discuss TLC Deleted Scene Number 3 from Scarlet. From:   Cinder,  1st draft Featuring:  Cinder and Kai Naming Notes:  Like last week’s, Adele later became Adri, Merlin became Dr. Erland, and Coen became Konn Torin. Helpful set-up:  Two semi-important things to know about this early draft to keep from being too confused: 1. Originally, the Lunar gift was much more sorc...

In which Bethanie and a special guest Katherine discuss the first deleted scene from The Lunar Chronicles. From:  Cinder, 1st draft Featuring:  Cinder and Kai Naming Notes:  For clarity, “Adele” later became Adri, “Merlin” (yes, Merlin) became Dr. Erland; and “Coen” became Konn Torin (and pssst, he was originally a villain, secretly working for Levana! DUN DUN DUN). Editing Notes:  I really debate...

In which Bethanie and a special guest Amy discuss the Heartless Musical. Heartless the Musical is a stage adaptation of Marissa Meyer’s novel, telling the tragic origin story of Catherine Pinkerton before she becomes Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts. It follows Cath, a gifted baker who dreams of opening a shop rather than marrying the King of Hearts, as she falls for the charming court joker Jest and...

In which Bethanie and a special guest Ash discuss Heartless Chapters 52-54. After her wedding, Cath visits Hatta and finds that he has lost his sanity, lashing out bitterly and revealing that he too loved Jest. Blaming Hatta, his hats, and everything connected to Chess for the tragedies that unfolded, Cath orders all production stopped and bans future travel between realms. Though Hatta insists th...

In which Bethanie and a special guest discuss Heartless Chapters 48-51. Devastated by Jest’s death, Cath begs Time to undo it, but nothing changes. She dreams of the Three Sisters, who deny responsibility and offer her a deal: they will deliver Peter Peter for revenge if she gives them “the heart of a queen” by marrying the King. Cath agrees, and the dream’s key limes remain when she wakes. Cath b...

In which Bethanie and a special guest discuss Heartless chapters 45-47. At the Crossroads, Cath must find a way to Chess without using any doors. Realizing they must pass through a looking glass, she discovers a shrinking potion and a small mirror that will serve as the entrance. Before they can continue, Cath hears Mary Ann screaming from behind a gate that leads to Peter’s pumpkin patch. Despite...

In which Bethanie and a special guest discuss Heartless Chapters 41-44. Jest explains that if Cath crosses the chessboard, she can become a queen without marrying the King. She agrees, and they prepare to journey to Chess, ignoring Cheshire’s warnings of danger. At the treacle well, the eerie childlike Sisters open the Looking Glass maze in exchange for small offerings and five minutes of Hatta’s...

In which Bethanie and a special guest discuss Chapters 37-40 of Heartless. Jest returns Cath to Rock Turtle Cove, where the King, his guards, the Marquess, Marchioness, and Mary Ann await. With Cath and Jest missing earlier, everyone suspects Jest of kidnapping, and he is immediately arrested. Cath defends him, but Jest reveals his mission from the White Queen, confesses to charming Cath, then tra...

In which Bethanie and special guest Cullen from Not My Fantasy Podcast discuss Chapters 33-36 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Chapters 33-36 Summary: Cath secretly witnesses Jest advising Margaret Mearle to accept a suitor, then apologizing to Cath for his earlier distance. Though clearly jealous of the King, Jest still urges Cath to marry him—leaving her confused. Before he can explain, the Jabber...

In which Bethanie and special guest Daurie discuss Chapters 30-32 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Chapters 30–32 Summary: Cath’s dreams of opening a bakery are crushed when both of her parents reject the idea, leaving her angry and disheartened. She reaches out to Hatta with a business proposal, hoping to secure a loan. During her visit to his shop, she accuses him of causing the Mock Turtle’s tran...

In which Bethanie and PKFP OG Host Ash discuss Chapters26-29 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Cath has a brief conversation with Jest, who notices herspecial hat and warns her that Hatta’s hats are not ordinary. Cath confrontsthe King about the Jabberwock attacks, but he avoids her questions, lookingashamed. As the Marquess’s daughter, Cath must lead the festival’s traditionallobster quadrille dance...

In which Bethanie and special guest Soumaya discuss Chapters 23-25 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Cath struggles with the King’s numerous overly sentimental love letters, which deepen her feelings of disgust, guilt, and anxiety about their courtship—especially since she knows Jest actually penned them. Cheshire visits, having learned about Cath’s attendance at the tea party, and Cath begs her to k...

In which Bethanie and special guest Katherine discuss Chapters 19-22 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Hatta urges Cath to perform next at the gathering and offers her a hat to boost her confidence. Cath chooses a white bonnet, symbolizing unconventional decisions, and instead of storytelling, she shares macarons, which earn high praise and Hatta’s respect. Suddenly, the Jabberwock attacks the hat sh...

In which Bethanie and special guest Leah from YA Book Chat discuss Chapters 16-18 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Chapters 16–18 Summary: Cath receives a white rose from Jest, who soon appears and invites her to a secret tea party. Despite her usual reservations, she agrees. Jest takes her through a magical portal system called the Crossroads to a hat shop in a forest, where the “mad” tea party is...

In which Bethanie and special guest Aunt Artist discuss Chapters 12-15 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Chapter 12 Summary Cath anxiously walks with the King, wondering if he plans to propose and if she can really say no to a marriage proposal—particularly when she considers how pleased her parents will be if she says yes. Cath worries that the King will guess her affections for Jest, whom she is un...

In which Bethanie and guest artist Aunt Artist discuss chapters 9-11 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer Chapter 9 Summary Mary Ann and Cath visit the cobbler shop of the Caterpillar, hoping to persuade him to lease his building to them, but the Caterpillar tells Mary Ann and Cath that his lease is owned by Duke Pygmalion Warthog, Duke of Tuskany; they’ll have to barter with him. However, the Caterpilla...

This week Bethanie is joined by first time guest Grace to discuss chapters 5-8 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Recap of Chapters 5–8: At the ball, Cath meets Peter Peter and his ailing wife, sensing something unsettling beneath Peter’s harsh demeanor. Soon after, she learns from Cheshire that the King plans to announce his bride—Cath herself. Panicked, she escapes the ballroom with Cheshire’s help...

In this week's episode, Bethanie is joined by Sierra to discuss chapters 1-4 of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Big shoutout to Sierra who created a magnificent spreadsheet with all of the Heartless Easter Eggs and Foreshadowing! Recap of Chapters 1–4: Catherine “Cath” Pinkerton, a noble young woman in the kingdom of Hearts, dreams of opening a bakery with her best friend Mary Ann, despite her parents...

Bethanie is joined by friend of the show Katherine to introduce the next Marissa book... Heartless! Synopsis: Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman...

Bethanie is joined by friend of the show Katherine for the final Lunar Chronicles episode! COVID-128 By Summary Due to unforeseen circumstances, The OG Rampion Crew + Winter are trapped aboard the Rampion while a new pandemic outbreak plagues Earth. Jacin alone remains on Earth, working at a medical hospital while he studies to become a doctor.  Each crew member is finding their own way to deal wi...

In this episode, Leah Stuhler from YA Book Chat joins me to discuss Cinder's Wedding Adventure. *Note* This episode was a special Patreon feature recorded at the original release date of the book, 2022. Book Synopsis: Cinder, the star of the Lunar Chronicles, is getting married! She and Emperor Kai have made it to their big day – now all Cinder has to do is show up and say "I do." But it’s not so...

In this episode, Leah Stuhler from YA Book Chat joins me to discuss Cinder's Wedding Adventure. *Note* This episode was a special Patreon feature recorded at the original release date of the book, 2022. Book Synopsis: Cinder, the star of the Lunar Chronicles, is getting married! She and Emperor Kai have made it to their big day – now all Cinder has to do is show up and say "I do." But it’s not so...

In this week's episode, Bethanie is joined by Cassie from Of Slippers and Spindles to discuss the final Stars Above short story, Something Old, Something New. Something Old, Something New By Summary After Wolf moves to the farm with Scarlet; Winter, Jacin, Cress, Thorne, Iko, Kai & Cinder arrive to attend their wedding. They are bombarded by paparazzi who want pictures of the first public wedd...

Bethanie is joined by friend of the show Katherine and Of Slippers and Spindles Host Cassie to discuss the Stars Above short story The Mechanic. Summary Kai’s android, Nansi, holds state’s secrets and cannot be entrusted to just anyone to fix, but when the royal mechanics are unable to fix her, Kai seeks out the best mechanic in New Beijing. While under disguise, Prince Kaito sneaks into the marke...