#017 | Accio Alphabet: The N - Z of the Harry Potter world

Accio Alphabet: The N - Z of the Harry Potter world

Welcome back to our Harry Potter alphabet episode, part 2. We’re continuing on from episode 15 by picking up where we left off halfway through the alphabet. Sophie kicks us off with N and while we had a hard time near the end of the alphabet, we get there in the end. Stay tuned to hear about some of fantastical, magical aspects of the wizarding world from N through to Z. 

Currently Reading

Each episode of Rants and Reviews we’re going to be sharing what we’re currently reading, so you can discover our favourite genes, add some books to your TBR pile, and hear us rave and rage about characters, plot, setting and more. 

Anjali is currently reading:

• Just finished Evermore by Sara Holland
• Hoping to pick up King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo next

Sophie is currently reading:

• The Binding by Bridget Collins
• Mary Poppins audiobook, read by Olivia Colman
• The Steel Prince, a graphic novel by V.E. Schwab, illustrated by Andrea Olimpieri

Main feature

Like the last alphabet episode, we’re not going to share too many details in the show notes so as not to spoil it for you. Here’s a sneak peek of the episode! 

(13:45) Sophie kicks us off with a recap of the past Accio Alphabet episode, and then begins the episode with the letter N. While Anjali first thinks of Narcissa Malfoy, for reasons unbeknownst to both of them, Sophie goes with something else. Clue: it’s a fantastic beast! Can you guess? 

(24:30) There’s a big discussion about Quidditch when we get to the letter Q, but if you want to here other people rant and rage about this ludicrous sport, check out Mike Shubert’s Potterless podcast. We also talk about ‘real’ Quidditch and how it’s a ‘real’ sport these days. Check out the Wikipedia article about real-life Quidditch to see what the rules are. 

(32:00) Anjali has 9 shoutouts for S. Enjoy. 

(34:55) Sophie’s choice for T is an excellent one, and we have a chat about the dynamics of said choice and whether or not it’s actually useful. There’s a hint. 

(37:30) While the obvious choice for U is the unicorn, Anjali chooses something else for this letter.

(39:20) Sophie manages to have V, X and Z, which at first seems unfortunate, but Sophie manages to choose something for each of them. Anjali interrupts the programme to talk about Voldetort, a Tweet sent out by @scphietab about her tortoise. Also, if you haven’t seen A Very Potter Musical, you need to watch it. 

(45:25) The only thing Anjali could think of for Y was Yaxley, who is one of the Death Eaters … but the main point of this mini chat is about Yaxley’s first name. Join us in this hilarity. 

(46:55) Sophie ends with a great Z option, which had completely forgotten about. And then Anjali brings up the fact that Newt Scamander has a profession that starts with Z and we have a whole min conversation about how to say Zoo-magiologist, even though we realise after we edit the episode that it’s actually a Magizoologist and we’re just really bad at remembering Harry Potter names. Enjoy our failure. We sure do.

Outro

Do you agree with the characters we chose? If not, let us know your favourites over Twitter or DM us on Instagram!

Books mentioned in this episode

Evermore by Sara Holland, King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo, The Binding by Bridget Collins, Mary Poppins audiobook read by Olivia Colman, The Steel Prince graphic novel by V.E. Schwab, illustrated by Andrea Olimpieri, A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, Beast by Lisa Jensen, The Truth and Lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr, The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr, Renegades by Marissa Meyer, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan.