This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome Sara Raasch, author of The Entanglement of Rival Wizards.

About The Entanglement of Rival Wizards: Sebastian Walsh: Evocation Department. Human. The first of his family to pick college over the military.

Elethior Tourael: Conjuration Department. Half-elf. Pretentious asshole. The latest legacy Tourael at Lesiara U.

Both: Mageus Research Grant finalists.

Sebastian refuses to let anyone snatch this away, least of all a snob riding on old money. But what’s worse than a nemesis stealing your grant? You could both get it. Under the condition you work together.

Sebastian is in hell. Thio’s broody. Takes up their shared lab space with his projects . . . and biceps. Brings treats for Sebastian’s familiar . . .

. . . and is nothing like Sebastian thought.

When Sebastian’s past with the Touraels forces him to choose his research or Thio, the decision should be simple. But while working with his rival is volatile . . . falling for his rival might blow up Sebastian’s future.

About Sara Raasch: Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures.

She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of multiple books for teens, including the historical romantasy duology WITCH AND HUNTER, cowritten with Beth Revis; as well as romances for adults, such as THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMAS, GO LUCK YOURSELF, and THE ENTANGLEMENT OF RIVAL WIZARDS.

This week’s picks:

• Sara: A Normal Week At Home with the Fam
• Tracy: Othello (game)
• Patrick: Critical Role’s The Mighty Nein (Prime)

Links:

• Sara Raasch on Instagram
• Tracy Townsend on BluSky
• Patrick Hester on Instagram
• The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

© 2025 Patrick Hester

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