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 Caterpillar assures the girls that he thinks a bakery would do well in this location; Cath jokes that to ensure her bakery’s success, she’d even hunt down the treacle well, a mythical place said to exist in the Looking Glass maze. Mary Ann and Cath visit the Duke of Tuskany, and Cath realizes that he’s not as arrogant as she previously thought; he’s just awkward and lonely. He is at first reluctant to consider them to fill Caterpillar’s lease, but he agrees to it on the condition that Cath put in a good word for him with Margaret Mearle, whom the Duke harbors deep affection for. Cath, although astounded by this request, agrees.

Chapter 10 Summary

Cath dreads the upcoming tea party with the King but cannot help feeling excited at the prospect of seeing Jest again. She feels conflicted over the amount of time she spends fantasizing about Jest, particularly given that she should be focusing on her bakery. Cheshire appears and informs Cath that the bodies of the courtiers who were taken by the Jabberwock have been found—torn to shreds. Cath is horrified and wants to believe that the Jabberwock isn’t real, although Cheshire advises her that it’s unwise to “unbelieve” something just because she’s afraid of it. Cath feels that something must be done about the Jabberwock, but she knows that the complacent people of Hearts would rather ignore the disturbing truth than address it.

Chapter 11 Summary

At the King’s tea party, Cath searches for Jest but is disappointed when she doesn’t see him. Cath talks with Margaret and the Duke; Cath highlights the Duke’s positive qualities in front of Margaret, but Margaret treats the Duke haughtily. Jest finally appears, to Cath’s elation; however, her excitement dissipates when Jest delivers a summons to her from the King.

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.

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 and ends up in the rose garden, where she encounters the mysterious Joker, Jest. Jest’s golden eyes and demeanor match the boy from her dream, deepening Cath’s fascination. After fainting upon seeing a hooded figure with an axe, Cath awakens to Jest’s care and a surprising act of kindness—he secretly steals the strings to her corset to help her breathe. Upon returning home, Cath learns that a terrifying Jabberwock attacked the ball after she left. Her mother and even Mary Ann pressure her to accept the King's proposal, dismissing her bakery dreams as unrealistic. Cath is left torn between a life of comfort and a future that follows her passion.

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 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' wishes for her to marry into royalty. After baking lemon tarts from a dream-induced lemon tree, Cath attends a royal ball where she catches the attention of the King of Hearts—thanks in part to a striking red gown forced upon her by her domineering mother. Though the King is smitten, Cath finds him dull and feels conflicted about his admiration. The ball takes a mysterious turn when a captivating Joker, accompanied by a raven, performs an enchanting and magical act, during which Cath feels an inexplicable connection to him, and his mysterious golden eyes.

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.