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The Truth According to Ember

Danica Nava

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Posts about this title from Boozhoo Books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Jun 24 2025

Poll:\ \ Have you read The Truth According to Ember?\ \ GIVEAWAY! I am giving away one copy of The Truth According to Ember by @danica_nava to one lucky winner and the Foxglove special edition of The Truth According to Ember! To enter, be a free member of my Bindery and comment on the pinned post! Winners selected Sunday June 29 US ONLY.\ \ \ \ Ive confirmed a partnership for a giveaway of Love is a War song which is our bookclub read for August!

CLOSED Giveaway- The Truth According to Ember

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • May 18 2025

Do Our Tastes Align? Indigenous Edition.

Indigenous edition! How many of these have you read and how many are on your TBR! Add them up and drop your score below! Also, if you’re seeing this and you haven’t followed me on Bindery yet for free, can you please do that? It’s quick and simple and would make an impact! #boozhoobooks #indigenous books #booksrecs

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Apr 21 2025

Shelves and The City Influencers Recommend Indigenous Books (Part One)

At Shelves and the City, I asked influencers to give me an Indigenous book they would recommend! Shout out to Joshua who wasn’t the only influencers to admit he hadn’t read one, but suggested he talk about it on film! You’ll also notice a lot of repeats! Nothing wrong with that! Great books! My hope is to get people to expand and read more books by Indigenous authors. At an event with over 100 readers, I passed out about 50 book bingo cards and if you didn’t get one and were there, drop a note in our chat and I will mail you one if you want! If you aren’t a member of my reader community on Bindery, joining is free (first 🔗) and I’ll be posting about my entire SATC experience and a post with all the books mentioned here to make them easy to check out! My goal with my publishing imprint, Boozhoo Books, is to help make sure people have several options in the genres they love to read #readindigenous #shelvesandthecity #bookinfluencer #bookrecommendations @steph ✨ 📚 ✡︎ (@starrysteph) @zach•booksthatslay @aubrei @priyanka 📚✨ @Alex @Amivi⁷ @serareadthat 🌿📖🤠 @SARAH @Rae @Mari - booktok + media reviews @maya @A Very Queer Book Club @Rachel Skye @EmmaSkies @Greekchoir🧋| Bailey @IG/YT: ashunti_reads @Seth | dramakingbooks @Emma Ann (@theaceofbooks) @Joshua @Michael LaBorn

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Feb 25 2025

I recently finished The Art Thieves by Andrea L. Rogers for my book club “Good Day To Read Indigenous” (Fantastic read. Without a doubt will make my top ten this year.  Full review coming soon.) In the book, a Cherokee artist is asked why his tribe isn’t listed on the museum label and in response he asks, “Am I only a good artist if I’m Indian?”\ \ It made me recall a Twitter conversation some time back, started by Morgan Talty, author of Fire Exit. Talty asked what is Indigenous literature and why don’t we have white literature? Well, the short and easy answer to that is - white supremacy. The question of who do these labels serve now, well, that’s a bit more complicated and is dependent on when and why they are used.\ \ I’ve frequented some bookstores that have Native American sections (oddly enough with mostly history books written by non- Native people). I’ve seen multiple Barnes and Nobles stores with Black shelves (usually shelf) with a variety of books in different genres. Were copies of these books also placed on the genre specific shelves? Does it hurt the authors to have their books separated by race or does it make it easier for the target audience to find the book? And who is the target audience? Author of the first Indigenous rom-com, The Truth According to Ember, in response to Talty, tweeted wondering if her romance book was going to be in Native sections of the store or next to all of the contemporary big name romances.\ \ While I find the ideas of shelving books in bookstores by identity potentially harmful, as a Native reader and book content creator, I feel the markers necessary for marketing and simply, to know whether or not I want to pick up a book. I am interested in reading (and publishing) Indigenous books.\ \ WHAT is an Indigenous book?\ \ I think oftentimes people believe that Indigenous people are a monolith. Even within tribes we have unique histories and perspectives. (I know it's a crazy concept, but we even have different opinions! 5 different Indigenous folks could read this post and have 5 very different opinions!)\ \ “There was no one way to be an Indian”\ \ I want to read rez stories. I want to read urban stories. I want the reconnecting stories. I’d even take a pursposefully disconnected learning a lesson story. I want the horrors. I want the joys. I want the cozy (MYSTERY, FANTASY, all OF IT). I want stories that represent us. All of us.\ \ Is an Indigenous book a book written by an Indigenous author or a book with Indigenous characters.\ \ You’ve heard me talk of that horror book (Stolen Tongues) written by a racist white dude that includes Native characters.  I’ve had to correct people multiple times. Despite having Native characters, this is definitely not an Indigenous book.\ \ An Indigenous book is a book WRITTEN by an Indigenous author WITH Indigenous characters.\ \ So then, is a book Indigenous if none of the characters are Indigenous? In my opinion, NO. The author is surely still Indigenous, that didn’t change. But I wouldn’t categorize the book as Indigenous with the lack of any Indigenous characters. I have a lot of feelings about this, but in the interest of space and time, the one I will share today is: if you have talent, time and the privilege of being able to secure an agent and publish, why would you center ambiguous or white people? That is an active choice that I cannot understand. It’s a waste. We have so few opportunities and so little representation.\ \ Speaking of so little opportunities, IS THAT AUTHOR REALLY Indigenous?\ \ Yesterday I was tagged in a post questioning an author’s identity. It wasn’t the first time and, unfortunately,  won’t be the last. I get privately messaged on a fairly regular basis.\ \ White authors faking their identity is not new. Frankly, I think they’d be foolish to think they’d get any sort of leg up in publishing pretending to be in a marginalized group (we know where marketing spends the money) and yet do they persist. Hi, Freydis Moon.\ \ Coming off the heels of the most recent scandal with SMP, it’s easy to get swept up in the drama of it all.\ \ And yet:\ \ 1.        I do not like it when non-Indigenous (including non Indigenous BIPOC) question Indigenous identity. Believe me when I tell you that you are not culturally competent enough for the conversation. Treating it like gossip, tea or a report on the latest book industry news is harmful. If you cannot answer the question, “Who gets to decide whether or not someone is Indigenous or Who has the AUTHORITY to decide whether or not someone is Indigenous”, it is not a conversation for you. You haven’t the slightest clue how to determine the credibility or ethics of the source. The questioning itself is harmful.\ \ 2.        I am not authority on anyone’s identity but my own. (And neither is anyone else for that matter.) You should not tag me in posts that question anyone’s identity. It serves no purpose. Thinking one Native influencer would somehow be able to serve up a stamp of approval is concerning. I will block you if you tag me.\ \ This community and imprint are dedicated to uplifting Indigenous stories, which are diverse and plentiful. Historically, colonizers have told our stories and publishers have only been interested in hearing our traumas. Indigenous led imprints ensure that our stories are handled with us in mind, with authenticity, with care, with respect.\ \ We deserve to be able to go into any bookstore and have multiple choices of books to read in our preferred genre by people who share our lived experiences.\ \ Your support of this imprint and movement is critical.\ \ f you are reading this outside of Bindery, please subscribe at whatever level you can afford. If you cannot subscribe at a paid tier right now, please consider subscribing for free.  Each new member helps me make a case for publishing more than one book per year.\ \ If you are in a position to upgrade to the $5 or $12 level, please do so today. Your support goes into the production of the books and you to participate in the publishing process.\ \       I promise The Art Thieves review is coming soon.\ \ <3

“Am I Only A Good Artist If I’m Indian?” and “There Was No One Way to Be an Indian”  and “Is that Author REALLY Indigenous?”

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Feb 14 2025

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!\ \ Valentine's Day has always been a day to celebrate love and life. This Valentine's Day feels heavy.\ \ It has already been an incredibly difficult year and we are only just beginning. In order to survive the next four years, we cannot live in a state of perpetual fear and dread. We have to make joy for ourselves and loved ones. \ \ Today, I am going to give you two simple ways to fight back against the Trump administration. \ \ I want us to center love. Today, I want you to consider Indigenous love and how often you see Indigenous love represented in media. As you know, the first traditionally published Indigenous rom-com came out last year. Currently, it is the only Indigenous romance on shelves at bookstores. Imagine walking into a bookstore to buy a book in the genre you prefer, written by an author who shares your background and life experiences, and you had only one option. \ \ What if I want an enemies to lovers? A friends to lovers? A rom-com or historical romance? Too bad. You get what you get. We need to change this. And it's going to take work to get there. \ \ Every person deserves to see themselves represented on bookshelves. \ \ Here's what you can do today:\ \ Step One: Support Indigenous authors in publishing TODAY. Danica Nava, the author of The Truth According to Ember, the first traditionally published rom-com, has another book coming out this year! Love is a War Song is a love story about a pop star and a cowboy who couldn't be more different. I want you to pre-order this book today. You can do so by clicking the link below. If you cannot afford to pre-order today, request the book from your library. \ \ Step Two: Upgrade your membership today. Help support the work that I do. As you may have heard me say, unlike many content creators, I am not getting continued offers for paid partnerships from traditional publishers. Even supporting at the $5 tier would help tremendously.\ \ We are looking for our first Indigenous book to publish. Paid members to this community get a behind the scenes look at the publishing industry and get to participate in imprint decisions. (A great time to join, as I have an update to our search coming this weekend!). Paid members also are vital to growing our imprint. I would like to have enough paid members to be able to publish multiple books per year. I WANT AS MANY INDIGENOUS BOOKS ON THE SHELVES AS POSSIBLE and I know that you share this vision, too. \ \ Today I'd like us to choose love by taking action towards making publishing more equitable. \ \ <3 you, \ \ Naomi

How You Can Fight The Trump Administration This Valentine's Day

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Feb 4 2025

In our reading community Discord, I asked members to share their favorite Indigenous reads of 2024. You can check out the synopsis by clicking on the books below. If you run into me out in the wild in 2024, be prepared to answer this question on camera!\ \ Here are some of the recommendations from the community:\ \ Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger\ \ Recommended by reader Jazz\ \ "I loved so much about this book. The storytelling was fantastic. I loved all the characters."\ \ A Vicious Game by Melissa Blair\ \ Recommended by reader Rhys\ \ 'This series is one full of twists and turns. The third in the series throws you in for LOOP after LOOP. They keep smacking you in the face until you finish the book and then you're desperate for the fourth."\ \ There There by Tommy Orange\ \ Recommended by reader ryn\ \ "I loved how you follow 12 people whose lives all intersected and came to a head at the pow wow. The storytelling was beyond compare and Tommy Orange really knows how to craft a beautiful sentence."\ \ Stolen by Ann Helén Laestadius\ \ Recommended by reader DonutDog\ \ "FANTASTIC. AMAZING. PERFECT murder mystery about a reindeer."\ \ Bad Cree by Jessica Johns\ \ Recommended by reader bookedaroundtheworld\ \ "Great characterization and imagery. Had the perfect amount of creepiness."\ \ Calling For a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah\ \ Recommended by reader: BookishBlue\ \ "This novel had a unique structure, learning about Ever from those around him before finally getting his perspective. Despite a lot of tragedy along the way, this one ended with a hopeful future."\ \ Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice\ \ Recommended by reader: Tracy\ \ "This is a detailed, slow burning post-apocalyptic thriller with the eerie realism of human nature."\ \ The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava\ \ Recommended by reader: Ilona\ \ "It was so funny and had a lot of heart. It was nice having Oklahoma represented in a way that wasn't tied to how awful it can be instead of showing the joy that can be found here."\ \ Never Whistle At Night edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr\ \ Recommended by reader: MythicalReadsReviewer\ \ "Even though horror isn't my usual genre, I absolutely loved it. It was hard to believe that there were so many stories that were that good, but I'd be hard pressed to name another anthology that had such range while still holding mostly bangers."\ \ I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones\ \ Recommended by reader MichelleMyBelle\ \ "I loved the way this book played with the genre. It was so nostalgic of teenage slasher movies.\ \ Disintegrate/dissociate by Arielle Twist\ \ Recommended by reader: geekydorken\ \ "A stunning poetry collection that dives into grief, trauma and identity in a captivating way."

Indigenous Books Recommended By The Boozhoo Books Community

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Nov 19 2024

How Traditional Publishing Fails Authors Of Color, Berkley Influencer Program Edition

I got declined from the Berkley influencer program this year and I went from grief to anger rather quickly. Read a prime example of one of the ways traditional publishing is failing marginalized authors.

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Nov 12 2024

Indigenous Book Bingo Check-In

Update on my personal Indigenous Book Bingo Card, includes a blank card for new members

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Oct 1 2024

[Hi Friends,\ \ We are so excited to get to spend an hour chatting with author Danica Nava tomorrow about her new romcom (the first traditionally published Indigenous romcom!)\ \ Below you will find the zoom link. We start at 5:30PST.\ \ ​\ \ Naomi Darling is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.\ \ ​\ \ Topic: Meet Danica Nava\ \ Time: Oct 2, 2024 05:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)\ \ ​\ \ Join Zoom Meeting\ \ https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82860324716?pwd=zJkbMmQMabwTcaSvhCAmCh9ijhzoi2.1\\ \ ​\ \ Meeting ID: 828 6032 4716\ \ Passcode: 143977\ \ ​\ \

Author Chat With Danica Nava Tomorrow 530Pm PST (Zoom Info)

Find the zoom info for the chat with author Danica Nava below.

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Sep 23 2024

Author chat, Special Editions, Readathon!

Click on the photo for more details about; The author chat Bindery Books special editions our next readathon!

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Sep 1 2024

Hello Friends,\ \ Good Day To Read Indigenous is reading the first traditionally published Indigenous Romance: The Truth According To Ember by Danica Nava\ \ Join here on the Fable App\ \ Women in Horror is reading The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry\ \ Join here on the Fable App\ \ If you didn't know, **WE HAVE A DISCORD! **We do a weekly Monday Quiet Time Book Club on Zoom, share our pets, talk about book tok tea, talk about BOOKS, buddy read and more! We are doing a discord Reading Marathon on Friday Sept-2 through the end of the day Sunday. We will all be reading all weekend and chatting in the Discord, so if that sounds like fun join the Discord here\ \ ​

Book Club September

links to bookclubs and book club selections

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Aug 18 2024

Hello Friends,\ **I read four books this week **(I am including my current read because I will be finishing it tonight).\ \ Pretty: A Memoir by KB Brookins (memoir, black, trans) 4 stars\ \ We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kilewer (horror) 5 stars\ \ A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt (indigenous lit fic, Indigenous Book Bingo book) 5 stars\ \ Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutano (cozy mystery) 5 stars\ **My TBR for this upcoming week **includes these hopefuls:\ \ Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris ( Bindery book!)\ \ House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias (horror)\ \ Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plans (non-fiction, Indigenous, Indigenous Book Bingo book)\ \ A ROMANCE. Maybe a Beverly Jenkins? A Kennedy Ryan?\ **Giveaway Updates: **tomorrow I will be announcing the third and final free 3 month account upgrade, which is perfect timing because I am going to start giving early access to paid subscribers to Indigenous Book Bingo book reviews.\ \ On Friday, I will be giving away the signed copy of Six of Crows and the copy of **Mirrored Heavens. **\ \ This past week, Quiet Time Book Club met on zoom. It was so fun we are doing it again this coming Tuesday at 5pm. Will you make this one? This time I am going to include a summary of all the books we chatted about in a Bindery post so everyone will get an email with all the books listed at the end of the week.\ \ Speaking about chatting about all the books, Spetember 20-22 I will be hosting **Pumpkin Scares and Spice Readathon **in my Discord. We will be reading as much as possible, drinking all the fall drinks and chatting on a Discord channel. You can join the Discord here: https://discord.gg/S6vwHnjfZh\ \ Good Day to Read Indigenous Book Club will be reading the first tradionally published Indigenous romance in September, The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava (also an Indigenous Book Bingo book), you can join the book club on Fable here: https://fable.co/club/good-day-to-read-indigenous-with-fromthemixedupdesk-125290577858\ **Women in Horror book club **has one day left in voting.\ \ The House That Horror Builtby Christina Henry: 32%\ \ Thirst by Marina Yusczuk-29%\ \ White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi- 25%\ \ It's too close to call! You can join now and vote: https://fable.co/club/women-in-horror-with-fromthemixedupdesk-534117318256\ \ I still want to do a **Discord Horror Movie Night **and think September would be a good month to start. The movie will be on the Netflix Platform and discussion will be in Discord. If you have any movie ideas, drop them below. I will put a poll up later this week here.\ \ I did a solo **Tik Tok live **tonight for the first time. I was there for an hour. Is that something you'd enjoy coming to if I planned it in advance? Any particular topics or just free style? Anyone you'd like to see join? Today I just sort of rambled about anything and everything books and then my friend who works at a bookstore and held a spicy bookshop night joined.\ \ Tell me everything you read this week and what your TBRs look like next week. So many of you have already started tagging me in your Indigenous Book Bingo cards! I'm excited that so many people are already participating!\ \ ​\ \ ​\ \ ​

Notes From The Mixed Up Desk, Sunday August 18

quick weekly update, giveaway update, future events

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Aug 7 2024

This morning I announced Indigenous Book Bingo, which will run from this Friday 8/9 until the end of Native American Heritage Month 11/30.\ \ I have attached all of the books that are on the Bingo card for easy access.

Books Included on Indigenous Book Bingo

Here is a list of the books included on Indigenous Book Bingo.

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Jul 26 2024

Hello friends,\ \ I've got four new Indigenous books on my shelf!\ \ My most anticipated arc came in! As you may have heard me talk about, the first traditionally published Indigenous romance comes out next month (it will also be my bookclub pick in September). The book is called The Truth According to Ember, by Danica Nava.\ \ I was also sent a copy of The Indian Card: Who Gets To Be Native in America, this is a non-fiction book by Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz. This book is an exploration of Tribal enrollment and what it means to be Native in the US. I can't wait to read this one.\ \ I bought Good Medicine by Nedi Nezu. This is a book of sensual poems written by an Indigenous woman.\ \ I bought Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr. This is an Inidgenous western featuring two cousins who make a plan to capture bison for a national park and release them into downtown Edmonton.\ \ Let me know if any of these sound interesting to you!

Indigenous Book Mail

A list of Indigenous books that came into my house this week

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Jun 29 2024

You may not have heard this, but Bindery Books signed a first look deal with Bad Robot. That’s super exciting news for the first four books coming out this October.\ \ It’s hard not to get excited about the possibility of an Indigenous Imprint. I read in every single genre, but I would be super excited about fantasy, thriller, horror and romance! The popularity of Stephen Graham Jones and the success of Never Whistle at Night is an undeniable force. White Horse by Erika T Wurth, Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris and Bad Cree by Jessica Johns are some of my favorite horror books!\ \ Indigenous romance is also on the rise! My book club is reading indie Indigenous romance Lizards Hold The Sun by Dani Trujillo in July and the first traditionally published Indigenous romance, The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava, will be out from Berkley this August. (Spoiler Alert: It will be the pick for book club in September!)\ \ Rebecca Roanhorse! Cherie Dimaline! Darcie Little Badger! Moniquill Blackgoose! all have had massive success in the fantasy arena.\ \ And I think Vanessa Lillie’s thriller would lend itself great to television!\ \ Speaking of television: Dark Winds and Rez Dogs are two Indigenous tv series that people can’t stop talking about.\ \ And I want to see Lily Gladstone IN LITERALLY EVERYTHING.\ \ I feel like a studio would JUMP at the opportunity to have the next big Indigenous tv show or movie with an already built in audience - and that’s US! Fans of the future Bindery published book (fingers crossed!)\ \ I know that there are Indigenous writers out there who are writing and waiting for the opportunity to be published and I know that their books are not getting prioritized like their contemporaries. We can help to change that.\ \ You are already helping by just being here.\ \ I saw Jenn Harper, Ceo of Indigenous makeup brand Cheekbone Beauty speak at an Indigenous women’s conference not long ago and she said, “I don’t come from generational wealth, I come from generational poverty” and that is something that has stuck with me and I repeat often, because I find it all too relatable.\ \ I come from poverty, so I want to make it clear, though I would love everyone to eventually become a paid subscriber, I know that is not feasible for everyone and I want to make sure I always have free content available. You being here supporting is important to me and I am happy to have you along on this journey to imprint.\ \ If you can afford to buy me a coffee once a month, please consider subscribing at the $5 level.\ \ If you can afford to buy me a lunch once a month (okay, you buy the salad, I will buy the Diet Coke LOL), please consider subscribing at the $12 level.\ \ Please don’t forget to join the Discord and come chat with others who are passionate about Indigenous books and making this Indigenous imprint with Bindery a reality. I have a channel in there now dedicated to the journey to imprint.\ \ https://discord.gg/7feMCgFEuK\ \ Miigwech,\ \ Naomi

Imagining an Indigenous Imprint

click here to read the entire blog about our dreams of an Indigenous imprint with Bindery Books.

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Feb 1 2024

3 Indigenous Book Releasing This Year

Here are 3 Indigenous Books releasing later this year that I cant wait to get my hands on! #

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Posts about this book from across Bindery

Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • Jan 4

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Happy New Year folks!\ \ Here’s what I read over the festive period, an eclectic mix of genres, with some real gems.\ \ The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava\ \ \ \ This was our December book club book, over on the Discord! \ \ A Native American rom com about a Chickasaw woman who lies on her CV to get a corporate job, with a very hot Native coworker, but then her lies spiral out of control.\ \ I loved this book. I wasn’t expecting it to be so political (of course I expected a bit), but I loved the discussions around racism, poverty, financial insecurity and so on. And the romance is super sweet.\ \ A Rather Vengeful Accord by Danielle Knight\ \ \ \ A YA dark academia / action fantasy about a grumpy necromancer who has to collaborate with her rival and compete in magical sword fights against eldritch horrors to enter a prestigious university. Fun banter, horrible monsters! Really enjoyed this, though the ending felt a bit too much like it was artificially setting up for a sequel.\ \ The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin\ \ \ \ A martial arts sci fi fantasy about a world where warriors are trained to fight deadly one on one MMA battles instead of countries going to war. It follows a young fighter riding through the ranks, trying to survive against a punishing regime.\ \ I’ve nearly finished this and I love it!! It’s wild and very very violent and brutal, but so fun and action packed.\ \ Love,\ \ Disco \ \ Join for free or login

Indigenous Romance and Martial Arts Sci-Fi

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Chanterelle Solace\ \ Sabie\ \ • Dec 19 2025

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Get a Rec from me & What my Taste in books look like

What are some books that represent your taste overall and do we have any in common? 👀

Before we dive into this, Bindery now has an option to request recs and you can go to the 🔗 in my bio and click “Get a Rec” and ask for details of what you’d like from the books I’ve read! I’m also making lists of 2026 releases in fantasy, romance and horror so far so happy to share some of these early on with you guys (these will be recs of what I’m looking forward to rather than what I’ve read) so GO GO GO 🤎

As for my taste in books, I’m never going to be the type that picks only 5 top books for the year guys and I’ve learned to accept it because honestly, what do you mean my top 5 books in one year? I would have to host a meeting with myself for a whole month to decide that 😭 So instead, you guys get my taste in books throughout various sub-genres that I yap about all the time!

Here is a list of the books (if you prefer to read through it or for accessibility needs)🤎: Cottagecore: 🍄 Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries 🍄 After the Forest by Kell Woods 🍄 A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison by Aamna Qureshi 🍄 The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton 🍄 The River has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar 🍄 An Arrow to the Heart by K.R. Bacher

Cozy Fantasy: 🍄 The Baby Dragon Cafe by Aamna Qureshi 🍄 Legend & Lattes by Travis 🍄 The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong 🍄 The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong 🍄 Watermoon by Samantha Sotto Yambao 🍄 The Spellshop by Sangu Mandanna

Witchycore: 🍄 The Hedgewitch of Foxhall by Anna Bright 🍄 House of Frank by Kay Synclaire 🍄 The Lone Wolf Cafe by Sydney Wilder 🍄 The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore 🍄 A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna 🍄 Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi

Retellings, Fairy Tale & Historical Fantasy: 🍄A Sorceress comes to Call by T.Kingfisher 🍄 What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez 🍄 Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross 🍄 We Shall be Monsters by Tara Sim 🍄 The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G Slatter

The rest is in my pinned comment!

#fantasybooks #topbooksof2025 #favoritebooks

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Wanderland Reads\ \ Sayer\ \ • Aug 8 2025

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[Want to feel more confident in your relationships? I think this one is actually just for me. Great communication is the foundation of any healthy connection, whether it’s a date, a casual fling, or a long-term partnership. Talking openly about boundaries and desires isn’t just for ‘big’ moments — it’s an everyday practice that builds trust and safety. I literally just did it like 10 minutes ago.\ \ Here’s my beige flag: I don’t like small talk, and small talk while dating is inevitable. So the “good morning” text, the “what are you up to today” text…I HATE THEM. Tell me the things and I’ll tell you the things. Like, when I have something to tell you, I’ll text you, but please, for the love of god, don’t ask me how my day is. But really, I used my healthy communication skills to let this woman I’m seeing know that I get overwhelmed with daily texts. Let’s just save it for the dates right now. And she responded wonderfully.\ \ Consent is more than just for sexy times. It’s a broader concept that applies to pretty much every interaction. It’s about ensuring everyone involved feels safe, respected, and comfortable. \ \ Here’s what consent is about beyond the sex stuff: \ \

Book recommendation:\\
"Come as You Are" by the GOAT, Emily Nagoski — A supportive guide to understanding your body and mind, and communicating effectively about your desires and boundaries. It helps you build confidence that your needs are valid.\\
"That Prince is Mine" by Jayci Lee: I love that Michel’s character openly understands how the power of his station might create issues around consent, and as a result, he’s hypersensitive about making sure Emma calls the shots. It could so easily tip into irritatingly patronizing territory, but Jayci Lee handles it deftly so that the pair’s love story can unfold with all the sweetness (and a good deal of spiciness) it deserves.\\
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“The Truth According to Ember” by Danica Nava: The novel highlights Dan's patience and support, particularly during their growing intimacy, where he consistently seeks Ember's verbal consent.\\
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“The Charm Offensive” by Alison Cochrun: Dev's sensitivity to Charlie's physical triggers and consistent consent-seeking make their romance a refreshing exploration of communication and boundaries. Charlie also learns to articulate his own desires, creating a beautiful dynamic.\\
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“The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang: Stella struggles with dating and physical intimacy due to her logic based brain and being on the autism spectrum. Her journey to explore intimacy and dating includes navigating consent and communication in a unique and important way.\\
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“Never Loved” by Charlotte Stein: Beatrix,, after escaping an abusive environment, learns to navigate a healthy relationship where consent is respected and valued. \\
\\
“Swift and Saddled” by Lyla Sage: The second book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, this  is chock full of sexy consent. Ada, recovering from an emotionally abusive marriage, and Wes, dealing with middle child syndrome, approach their relationship with tentativeness. Wes respects Ada's initial desire for no romance or intimacy, showing the strength of his commitment to her boundaries before their relationship develops further.\\
\\
“By the Book” by Jasmine Guillory: This modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast has a huge focus on consent. It is a prime example of positive consent in romance.\\
\\
“Her Best Friend's Sister” by Meghan O'Brien: Claire has a long-standing crush and is navigating a relationship where consent and clear communication are key.\\
\\
"Take the Lead" by Alexis Daria: This romance focuses on a professional dance competition setting and is noted for its integration of enthusiastic consent during intimate scenes.\\
```\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/qxArHIH2oDk3TI8TNEVC/)

[Consent & Communication — The Power Duo](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/qxArHIH2oDk3TI8TNEVC/)

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10 books

2

[Not So Well Read\\
\\
Courtney\\
\\
• Jun 29 2025](https://notsowellread.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[In a world in which we’ve seen boycotts and outrage towards almost every major corporation, it’s always fascinated me that Barnes & Noble has been seemingly left untouched. Sure, the occasional online grumble will work its way through Threads or TikTok or Instagram or whatever, yet the only time I can remember an actual mobilization was against their in-house Starbucks-owned cafes.\\
\\
It’s shocked me the number of people I meet who have given up shopping at Amazon and Target, but still love B&N. Whenever I ask, they can never quite articulate why they give B&N a pass. It’s usually a combination of nostalgia or convenience or selection or exclusive offerings.\\
\\
And when it comes to “bad” corporations, Barnes & Noble really isn’t at the top of that list. They disclosed no lobbying in the 2024 election. Their CEO, James Daunt, isn’t a borderline-insane human being. Some, not me, might even argue that he’s had an overtly positive impact on the bookselling and publishing industry for decades.\\
\\
Yet, when we look at B&N’s actual policies and, more importantly, their impact, there’s nothing of substance. They have no public-facing statement on DEI or on book banning–they did join Penguin in opposition of Texas HB900 in 2023, but have been eerily quiet ever since–and while they claim to donate to “pre-K-12 schools and not-for-profit arts, literacy, humane and community service organizations”, they don’t appear to actively advocate for any cause.\\
\\
Nearly every interaction they have with any sort of cultural or political movement comes with capitalistic intent. Their website and socials boast about ‘Pride Month Reads’ and ‘Books to Read on Juneteenth’, a performance only brought out when it’s trendy or when it benefits their image. Yet, when it comes to actually supporting marginalized authors, they fail to show up.\\
\\
Take Danica Nava, a romance author and member of the Chickasaw Nation, for example. Her first book The Truth According to Ember was the first traditionally published romance by an Indigenous author. It received rave reviews from readers, was a USA Today bestseller, and a Goodreads Choice Nominee. In May, Nava posted on threads that her newest book Love is a War Song (7/22) had not recieved any retailer placements, meaning no big-box stores had placed a chain-wide order–this includes B&N.\\
\\
While she went on to confirm that a few B&N employees had reached out letting her know that they had ordered a few copies with their discretionary store budgets, there is no widespread guarantee that the book will be available or prominently promoted on release day.\\
\\
Nava wrote, “ _Stores have and will continue to prioritize white romance, especially in (the cowboy) genre that has contributed to the erasure of my people and perpetuated harmful stereotypes for decades. My fun, hilarious romcom isn’t the right cowboy._”\\
\\
Pair this with the release of Oathbound (Legendborn 3) by Tracy Deonn, which was somehow still overshadowed by Onyx Storm in stores, despite being released almost 2 months later. Readers complained that stores were severely understocked, had no promotional materials or displays, and claimed that staff were almost completely uninformed about the highly-anticipated release.\\
\\
Additionally, just this week Publisher’s Weekly published an article about the challenges Indie Publishers have faced since Daunt took over the chain. They state that his decisions to remove “‘boring’ and ‘tedious’ books” from Barnes & Noble’s shelves disproportionately affected them vs. big 5 publishing houses. One publisher even commented that Amazon ordered 25x as many copies of a recent hardcover release than B&N’s NYC-based buyers.\\
\\
_“Nearly every one of the dozen well-established independent publishing leaders interviewed by PW said that their business with B&N has dropped significantly since Daunt took over. Some indies said that the bookseller is no longer even their second-largest account”._\\
\\
And this lack of impact and support extends past authors and publishers and into the communities in which their stores operate. They’re a favorite amongst larger publishers for event stops, often beating out smaller local indies in the event request process, due to their market leverage. Yet, these events are riddled with inconsistencies in their planning, marketing, and overall experiences.\\
\\
Even their beloved Onyx Storm suffered from B&N’s lack of community-centricity. Many attendees of their January midnight releases complained publicly about the chain’s lack of planning, saying that they were left to wander around the store for 2 hours without food, drinks, or promised activities. B&N’s booksellers stated that corporate offices gave them no direction on these events and left them to plan and execute entirely on their own.\\
\\
More recently, S.A. Cosby visited B&N’s Cumberland, GA location on his King of Ashes tour. According to attendees, this event sold well over 100 tickets, but crammed attendees into a small space with only 12-13 chairs, provided no microphone to Cosby, and did not bring in a conversation partner. The latter point alone is a gross misstep in planning, especially from the perspective of an indie bookstore owner who is paying for the travel expenses for moderators and venue rentals for 4 debut author events happening at our store over the next 3 months. Details like this aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re requirements for engaging and meaningful reader-author interactions.\\
\\
James Daunt has made it clear that he plans on running B&N with an emphasis on profitability and sales, which is not unlike any Fortune500 CEO, so why do readers keep turning to them with expectations beyond the transactional? Why does the industry consider them a third space or a champion for readers and authors?\\
\\
Are they just a study in staying quiet and flying under the radar? Or are we just unwilling to view their complacency as harm?\\
\\
So, sure, continue to kill time in their stores or even buy books from them if you want, but don’t expect more from them than you expect from Amazon, Walmart, or Target. Stop giving them opportunities you don’t give libraries, non-profits, and community-run bookstores, and, more importantly, start holding them accountable for the ones they do get.](https://notsowellread.binderybooks.com/item/XKCHSTPzRCMoXrBR7nm5/)

[Barnes and Noble is not a community organization. Stop treating them like one.](https://notsowellread.binderybooks.com/item/XKCHSTPzRCMoXrBR7nm5/)

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4 books

5

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Jun 24 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[CLOSED Giveaway- The Truth According to Ember](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/MnnHB6bYHaHIFjBKxNd3/)

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2 books

7

[42](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/MnnHB6bYHaHIFjBKxNd3/#comments)

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Jun 19 2025](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[mid year book freakout tag 2025 \| ranting about sunrise on the reaping \| best & worst books so far](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/WlMn1gM2DvZ3tqJMIuW9/)

i love this tag so much! enjoy!

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14 books

7

[3](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/WlMn1gM2DvZ3tqJMIuW9/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• May 18 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Do Our Tastes Align? Indigenous Edition.](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/bed70UExKoOZczoVPpB6/)

* * *

35 books

8

[2](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/bed70UExKoOZczoVPpB6/#comments)

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Apr 26 2025](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[the honest truth about the book community & publishing \| why i'm tired as a creator of colour](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/VbixP12XIqTKOaKFOa5o/)

* * *

1 book

9

[1](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/VbixP12XIqTKOaKFOa5o/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Apr 21 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Shelves and The City Influencers Recommend Indigenous Books (Part One)](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/SXAI24D8Q1KFjn3gom5Y/)

* * *

19 books

2

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Apr 7 2025](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[the 13 books i read in march \| monthly reading wrapup + reading stats](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/HILtwMU2NEP6mTYw6G8V/)

🎀 My Etsy Shop 🎀 https://thisstoryaintover.etsy.com

My Everand Affiliate link: https://everand.pxf.io/6yAjxG

JOIN as a FREE follower on my Bindery Community and get access to my discord server for reading challenges, reading sprints, and more! https://boundless.binderybooks.com/

🔗 ALL MY LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jananie
📚 Boundless Press & DUST SETTLES NORTH: https://linktr.ee/boundlesspress

💌 business/sponsorship inquiries: tamara@smallscreenmarketing.com
💌 anything else: thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs
📇 how do you pronounce your name? JEN-nuh-nee (like a knee!)

sub count:
📊 103,180

* * *

12 books

4

[The Bibliothecary\\
\\
Samantha\\
\\
• Mar 26 2025](https://bibliothecarybooks.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Recent Fiction Reads Wrapup \| 2025](https://bibliothecarybooks.binderybooks.com/item/6ftreZn2ZOOMdn1KqTRq/)

In which I discuss the fiction books I've read recently...

* * *

7 books

3

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Mar 19 2025](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[if you like this book, read this one! 🩷 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS 📚](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/0zUng4oKaxqGiIWjJD88/)

hope you enjoy these recommendations 💖

* * *

24 books

4

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Mar 12 2025](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/9rV3B17ZTcRTp7H1Fxdh/)

[03.12.2025 journal entry #21 - yes, journal entries are still here 🥹](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/9rV3B17ZTcRTp7H1Fxdh/)

I'm so sorry this took so long 🥹 but we're back. we're surviving!

* * *

2 books

5

[2](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/9rV3B17ZTcRTp7H1Fxdh/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Feb 25 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

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3 books

19

[2](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/KH3zGLHhzcQcHrLa0W0C/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Feb 14 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[How You Can Fight The Trump Administration This Valentine's Day](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/cLgzNU4x65t7mkFW2Rhz/)

* * *

3 books

11

[2](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/cLgzNU4x65t7mkFW2Rhz/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Feb 4 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Indigenous Books Recommended By The Boozhoo Books Community](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/2B8KTlmJdSjbOfg5FRzI/)

* * *

11 books

8

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Nov 19 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[How Traditional Publishing Fails Authors Of Color, Berkley Influencer Program Edition](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/J8zDXHtll89wfdFE0tSq/)

* * *

3 books

21

[5](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/J8zDXHtll89wfdFE0tSq/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Nov 12 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Indigenous Book Bingo Check-In](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/WzA5U9aeywciErMO7vMH/)

Update on my personal Indigenous Book Bingo Card, includes a blank card for new members

* * *

11 books

7

[Left Unread Books\\
\\
Michael LaBorn\\
\\
• Oct 2 2024](https://leftunreadbooks.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Author: Danica Nava\\
\\
Book: The Truth According to Ember\\
\\
Location: Zoom\\
\\
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82860324716?pwd=zJkbMmQMabwTcaSvhCAmCh9ijhzoi2.1\\
\\
Meeting ID: 828 6032 4716\\
\\
Passcode: 143977\\
\\
​](https://leftunreadbooks.binderybooks.com/item/AkgAdlMEUC8sOvUJojrP/)

[Author Event: Danica Nava](https://leftunreadbooks.binderybooks.com/item/AkgAdlMEUC8sOvUJojrP/)

The Truth According to Ember is the FIRST Indigenous romance novel to be picked up by a traditional publisher. That is both a travesty and an incredible moment of history. Come join us tonight at 7:30 CST to celebrate it's author, Danica Nava and to discuss her book and her career! Zoom info below!

* * *

1 book

2

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Oct 1 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Author Chat With Danica Nava Tomorrow 530Pm PST (Zoom Info)](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/9l1z5sieRARvS71mWjt1/)

Find the zoom info for the chat with author Danica Nava below.

* * *

1 book

2

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Sep 23 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Author chat, Special Editions, Readathon!](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/IJNRpFyh25EaPMYbksqe/)

Click on the photo for more details about;
The author chat
Bindery Books special editions
our next readathon!

* * *

7 books

3

[1](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/IJNRpFyh25EaPMYbksqe/#comments)

[The Black Bird Commons\\
\\
Tim\\
\\
• Sep 23 2024](https://blackbirdcommons.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[September 23: What have I been Reading?](https://blackbirdcommons.binderybooks.com/item/Gmj163feAEXLNR2kBKJO/)

What am I Reading?

* * *

10 books

2

[Left Unread Books\\
\\
Michael LaBorn\\
\\
• Sep 22 2024](https://leftunreadbooks.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Joint Bindery Event: Meet Danica Nava!](https://leftunreadbooks.binderybooks.com/item/LXqrmIBAXMjMpV9Z83Xc/)

Naomi from Boozhoo Books and I will be hosting a virtual event on October 2nd, celebrating Indigenous romance author Danica Nava! Save the date! We want to see you there!

* * *

1 book

3

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Sep 1 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Book Club September](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/nhUNQok7pi0PYKFFx6Ep/)

links to bookclubs and book club selections

* * *

2 books

4

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Aug 18 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Notes From The Mixed Up Desk, Sunday August 18](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/uS8iJIH88KgDaUvnX4zR/)

quick weekly update, giveaway update, future events

* * *

13 books

5

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Aug 7 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Books Included on Indigenous Book Bingo](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/ZL3CIXhlh8GnteFKutAH/)

Here is a list of the books included on Indigenous Book Bingo.

* * *

25 books

14

[1](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/ZL3CIXhlh8GnteFKutAH/#comments)

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Aug 7 2024](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[UPCOMING BOOKS that you NEED to Preorder \| Anticipated Releases 2024](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/EM98EQ7Pj2QfmwSKriwh/)

Let me know which of these books you're excited for!

* * *

13 books

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Jul 26 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Indigenous Book Mail](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/80jayYe0aPqwPzCKglL6/)

A list of Indigenous books that came into my house this week

* * *

4 books

13

[3](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/80jayYe0aPqwPzCKglL6/#comments)

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Jun 29 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[Imagining an Indigenous Imprint](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/rX9G0qdNdPZeXJCZVNg7/)

click here to read the entire blog about our dreams of an Indigenous imprint with Bindery Books.

* * *

7 books

10

[Boozhoo Books\\
\\
Naomi\\
\\
• Feb 1 2024](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/)

[3 Indigenous Book Releasing This Year](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/ErerNO3WuRRvpVH0JTR0/)

Here are 3 Indigenous Books releasing later this year that I cant wait to get my hands on! #

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3 books