S2E8 - The Final Empire Ch. 26-38: The Rest of the Book from 2023-06-18T15:03:30

We're back to close out the first Mistborn book! We recorded this a week or two ago but that's just how busy we've been, unfortunately. Still a good episode, though, so we hope you enjoy!

The Book of Three from 2023-05-25T13:00

In which we talk about Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three, the first in The Chronicles of Prydain. It's a great book and a great conversation that gets pretty far afield.

We'll be back ...

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England from 2023-04-25T12:25:16

In this episode, we talk about Book 2 of Brandon's secret projects, The Frugal Wizard's Guide to Surviving Medieval England. We found it to be a real mixed bag, but despite having a lot of objec...

Tress of the Emerald Sea from 2023-03-23T13:01

We're back! The year of Brandon has begun and we had no choice but to talk to you about the first book of this kickstarter, which we really enjoyed. Here's hoping the rest are as good as this. Listen

S2E7 - The Final Empire Ch. 21-25: The Part With The Sexual Assault from 2022-02-10T23:03:37

We're back! We get...a lot to talk about this time. Some sexual assault/murder, a lot of weird race science shit, and a ball! We also talk about Brandon starting beef with G.R.R. Martin over Eld...

S2E6 - The Final Empire Ch. 16-20: Sazed Threepio, Human Cyborg Relations from 2022-01-20T18:46

We're back! Autumn couldn't make it this week but rest assured there's plenty for us to talk about without them. What a chunk of book, huh? It's got everything. There's just too much to summariz...

S2E5 - The Final Empire Ch. 12-15: Kelsier's A Fuckup from 2021-12-30T14:00

Howdy! This episode had a bunch of weird technical problems, so let me kno wif there's any remaining weirdness! Anyway, we learn a lot this week. We see the future with the help of the Ninth Met...

S2E4 - The Final Empire Ch. 9-11: Rusty Venture, Victorian Gentleman from 2021-12-16T08:38

We're back! And we moved! This week we are coming at you from Chicago with a whole host of book talk (it's been a little extra time since the last one and we've been busy) then we dive into a so...

S2E3 - The Final Empire Ch. 3-5: I Wanted Forcemasc Vin from 2021-12-02T20:21:04

Hiya! This one is coming at you a bit late because of our move but rest assured the next episode is already in the can. This time around we talked about the introduction of the Terrismen, a quic...

Is Sherlock Holmes Science Fiction? from 2021-11-18T13:31

Autumn got home from work and was very tired so we just neglected to talk about Brandon Sanderson and instead just talked about what else we had been reading. And then.................... that r...

S2E2 - The Final Empire Ch. 3-5: One Of The More Powerful Varieties Of Wife Guy from 2021-11-05T03:43:57

We're baaack! And recording from abroad! So if we sound different that's why. This time around we get to learn more about Allomancy and Kelsier, as well as see Brandon do his best to write about...

S2E1 - The Final Empire Prologue + Ch. 1-2: Dakhor Monks? BORING. from 2021-10-21T19:12:34

Don't tell anyone this one is late! It's because I quit my job and wasn't paying attention to anything else. So thank you so much, patrons. Hopefully the big move goes smoothly. 

Anyway w...

S1E23 - The Hope of Elantris: A Waste Of Everyone's Time from 2021-10-07T19:42:13

You can find Nora on twitter @NeitherNora and you can find more of zir work on nor...

S1E22 - Elantris Postscript&Annotations: Thanks, Brandon from 2021-09-23T16:12:16

Hoo boy. Okay. Well, we did it. We finished Elantris and all its little additional bits. We also read SO many things in the past 2 weeks holy shit. This is a long one for us! Please enjoy our ta...

S1E21 - Elantris Ch. 61-63: Ars Arcanum's Mormon Correspondant from 2021-09-09T13:00

It's here! We finished the core book. We'll be back in 2 weeks with the bonus material in the Tenth Anniversary Author's Definitive Edition of Elantris! Thank you so mu...

S1E20 - Elantris Ch. 58-60: I Wonder Why This Beggar's Name Is Hyperlinked On The Wiki from 2021-09-02T13:00

It's getting hot and heavy in Elantris this week! We get a truly bizarre and frantic set of chapters that leave us wishing the rest of the book had this level of energy. We also pitch you on our...

S1E19 - Elantris Ch. 55-57: I Just Want There To Be More Room For Cool Things To Happen from 2021-08-26T13:00

A coronation! The king reclaims his throne! Weird magic? We get ever closer to the endgame as the pages start to run out! We also argue a lot over whether or not Dilaf is an Elantrian. We want e...

S1E18 - Elantris Ch. 52-54: You Don't Bring The Mayor To An Arrest from 2021-08-19T13:00

Things are shaking up! But it's kinda hard to care. But hey! At least the secret is finally out! Does Prince Raoden is dead? Find out! Also, what is up with Hrathen. The minute his arc gets a re...

S1E17 - Elantris Ch. 49-51: Both Of These Options Truly Suck from 2021-08-12T13:00

What is HAPPENING in this book? Brandon hits us with a fake nothing twist, some deeply weird racism, and a just depressingly mediocre Hrathen scene. It's another Ars Arcanum!

We want emai...

S1E16 - Elantris Ch. 46-48: Hrathen Hates For His Ass To Be Comfortable from 2021-08-05T11:00

We're back with another action-packed...set of chapters...okay so we aren't. Raoden & Sarene are whiny and in love, Hrathen's butthurt, and Telrii is somehow the smartest guy in the room. It...

S1E15 - Elantris Ch. 43-45: The Chad Wyrn VS The Virgin Domi from 2021-07-29T11:00

Things start spinning up in this week's chapters! As Raoden & Sarene have the most pointless drama possible, Hrathen is standing just offscreen collecting Ws and popping the biggest bottles....

S1E14 - Elantris Ch. 40-42: I'm Sorry I Don't Understand Your Goo Metaphor from 2021-07-22T14:00

In this episode, we spend some time discussing Helicopter Story by Isabel Fall and the transphobic harassment campaign that was raised up against her after its publication. We want to firmly voi...

S1E13 - Elantris ch. 37-39: Sarene Hates The Gay Pope from 2021-07-15T14:00

Hi folks! Thanks for being patient with this episode as we adjust the schedule.

In this episode, Raoden continues to be Raoden, Sarene is a homophobe, and Hrathen wins. Hrathen always win...

S1E12 - Elantris ch. 34-36: ah-RAY-Lone? Screw this from 2021-06-30T23:12:53

Content warning for this episode! A character commits suicide and other characters casually joke about it. It's bad. Also the running joke about marital rape rears its head.

We change our...

S1E11 - Elantris ch. 31-33: CSI Dilaf from 2021-06-24T14:00

Raoden is the most detestable protagonist in all of fiction. I loathe him. I despise him. I hate him so much.

On a lighter note: we've decided to go weekly from now until we finish this b...

S1E10 - Elantris ch. 28-30: The Fortnite Archive from 2021-06-08T13:00

Brandon very nearly got one over on us again. He tried to make us say the book is good by giving us a fun Hrathen chapter, but we know the truth! We know Raoden is a jerk and a tyrant, and Saren...

S1E9 - Elantris ch. 25-27: Cosmore from 2021-05-25T13:00

Actually this book is good sorry. (it's really not. there's just one good Hrathen chapter this week. the other two are really... questionable)

You can find Nora on twitter Listen

S1E8 - Elantris ch. 22-24: There's Still Good In Him from 2021-05-11T11:49

This week on Ars Arcanum, Brandon has the brilliant idea to have two protagonists speak to each other! Hooray! Also Hrathen broods in his armor.

You can find Nora on twitter Listen

S1E7 - Elantris ch. 19-21: Uncle Squad from 2021-04-27T13:00

Episode Notes

We're back! After a brief hiatus the trio is once again reunited to talk about Elantris, an alleged book by Brandon Sanderson. This time, things happen! Characters do thin...

S1E6 - Elantris ch. 16-18: Forton, a subject of Hrovell from 2020-11-17T13:49

This week we are joined by Jackson, who had the unenviable task of both filling Tili's shoes while they take a short break and also trying to talk about this book coherently by having only read ...

S1E5 - Elantris ch. 13-15: ...And Other Arts from 2020-11-03T13:41

Elantris is a desert. Please Brandon. Write a better book.

Harrow the Ninth spoilers from 21 minutes to 46 minutes!

You can find Nora on twitter Listen

S1E4 - Elantris ch. 10-12: Is Raoden a Lelouch? from 2020-10-20T13:00

We return from brief medical hiatus to get mad about Elantris. Maybe someday this book will be good, but not today. We open on a spoiler-free discussion of Gideon the Ninth—Listen

Bonus Ep: Perfect State (2015) from 2020-10-09T15:17:59

Episode Notes

Hey there! While Autumn recovers from surgery, please enjoy this bonus episode from Nora & Tili! We read the novella Perfect State by Brandon Sanderson and wanted to s...

S1E3 - Elantris ch. 7-9: The Poster's Honor from 2020-09-22T15:00:45

We cross the 100 page mark in Elantris and ask the important question: Brandon, where is the plot? Despite there nothing happening, we do our longest episode yet as we get really in the weeds tr...

S1E2 - Elantris ch. 4-6: Igor Coded from 2020-09-08T13:00

It's our sophomore episode! We buckle in this week for 3 very exposition-heavy and conflict-light chapters of Elantris. But that's okay because we're already starting to spot some Themes that mi...

S1E1 - Elantris ch. 1-3: I Love A Girlboss Princess from 2020-08-25T16:52:09

Hello and welcome to Ars Arcanum! Every other Tuesday, we will be here to talk about Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere books! We are of course starting with Elantris, going 3 chapters at a time. This ...