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Burn the Sea

Mona Tewari

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To protect her homeland, one queen must fight her people's historic enemy—once and for all.

Abbakka Chowta never expected to be queen. The youngest of Ullal's two rajkumaris, Abbakka has spent years in rigorous combat training to become her sister's blade. But when the monstrous Porcugi attempt to lay claim to Ullal, Abbakka's world—and fate—are upended.

The Porcugi—giant half-men, half-snakes who attack from the sea—haven't been seen in Ullal since their failed invasion more than fifty years ago. But now, they're back with vengeance and a choice: pay their tithes or suffer total devastation. Soon, Abbakka's definitions of strength, subterfuge, and statecraft are put to the test.

Will marriage to a neighboring king give her the resources she needs to protect her people . . . or will she watch her homeland be crushed beneath the waves of would-be colonizers?

A lush historical fantasy that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s and the fierce real-life queen's story, Burn the Sea is an electrifying exaltation of female power and the value of freedom.

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Posts about this title from Boundless Press

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jul 29

[](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/9t99nW5TOQqsvIqybme8/)

EXCLUSIVE FIRST CHAPTER PREVIEW for Before I Bow [spoilers for BURN THE SEA ahead]

OPEN TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jul 9

[](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/aFBzBCfefyWNkQcRh7jE/)

Get 25% Off BURN THE SEA from 7/9 to 7/13 [CODE IN POST]

open for the link and code!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 1

June 2026 Newsletter! New Perks & Reminders!

open for important updates!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • May 21

Poll:\ \ Would you like to do a Zoom call to discuss BURN THE SEA? If so, would you like to have the author join the discussion session? \ \ Hello everyone! I wanted to schedule a Zoom call for some time in the first two weeks of June to discuss BURN THE SEA by Mona Tewari together as a Bindery community! But first I wanted to ask if you want Mona, the author, to join or to do a discussion on our own—there are perks to either option and I would love to hear your thoughts!\ \ But either way, I will be giving those who join the zoom some sneak peeks on the next book and maybe even the cover!! 👀

BURN THE SEA Book Discussion Over Zoom?

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • May 1

GIVEAWAY!!! ENTER TO WIN THIS EXCLUSIVE BOOK BOX FOR BURN TH SEA BY @monatewariwrites 🔥 out now fro

GIVEAWAY!!! ENTER TO WIN THIS EXCLUSIVE BOOK BOX FOR BURN TH SEA BY @monatewariwrites 🔥 out now from @boundless_press via @bindery_books 🥰

To enter: 1. Follow @monatewariwrites and @boundless_press 2. Add Burn the Sea to your Goodreads or Storygraph 3. Become a free follower at boundless.binderybooks.com and comment on the pinned post there! 4. [bonus] reshare this post!

Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only! (Sorry international friends!) Giveaway ends on May 5th at 11:59 PM ET!

#bookgiveaway #bookbox #burnthesea #fantasybooks

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 30

AAPI Asian Heritage Month Book Recs

watch for some recs to read in May!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 26

Was Book Con 2026 As Bad As People Are Saying? My experience at Book Con 2026 vs 2019!

Let's talk about Book Con! I would love to hear the experiences of those who went! Obviously this is MY experience and everyone is different, but in this video I go through what Book Con was like in 2019 vs 2026 and how things have changed plus my take on the whole situation.

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 21

On the strength of community and plot twists you never expect\ \ A bit less than two years ago in October of 2024 while I was in New York celebrating the release of the first EVER Bindery books and meeting Deena (the author of our first Boundless Press book, DUST SETTLES NORTH) for the first time and freaking out over the book being in a PW cover ad - I had the immense pleasure of also taking a call at a random coffee shop in NYC that would change my life forever.\ \ The call was to meet Mona Tewari and discuss her incredible book, BURN THE SEA, for publication with Boundless Press.\ \ I knew from the moment I spoke to Mona on our call that she was an author that I wanted to publish. She had such kindness to her soul and integrity to her character much like the characters of her book. I was excited by her absolute passion for this story about women who uplift each other, standing up against colonialism, and learning to be strong in more ways than one. I remember we both got a little teary over wanting to have stories out there that brown girls like us (and like Mona’s beautiful daughters) could see themselves in and know that they could be heroes too. \ \ BURN THE SEA is everything I love in a fantasy book - incredible characters you can’t help but root for, political machinations, epic battles, excellent twists that will leave you reeling, and just a touch of romance that will leave you longing for more. It’s a book I wish I had years ago so that I could’ve realized that I, too, was worthy of love and acceptance, and that strength comes in so many forms. That leaning on the women in your life is so important and that just because someone wants to bring you down does not mean you need to bow to their oppression. \ \ I love Abbakka’s story with my whole heart and I am so happy that we get to share it with you now. BURN THE SEA is out today because of YOUR unwavering support of me, this community, this imprint, and of Mona. YOU made this happen just as much as I did and I hope you are proud of that achievement and of changing so many people’s lives.\ \ THANK YOU for everything and I hope you enjoy BURN THE SEA when you have the chance to pick it up and that you can share your love and support for it in the weeks and months and years to come 💖\ \ Love, Jananie

Thank you for making BURN THE SEA possible 💖 Happy Pub Day! 🌊🔥

i am so emotional today 🥹

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 13

RSVP & Grab Tickets for BURN THE SEA Events!

RSVP before tickets are gone!!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 7

Is Bindery working? How traditional publishing works & how I run my own imprint, Boundless Press 📚

open to find out if you won the giveaway!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 2

GIVEAWAY! Enter to Win the Bindery SPRING 2026 ARC Box OR the ARCs of Burn the Sea & Dust Settles North!

Open to find out how to enter!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 1

BURN THE SEA is a Goodreads & Amazon Editors' Pick!!!

exciting news!!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 28

March Mail Club Reveal! Last chance to OPT-IN by April 2nd 11:59PM ET

Open to opt-in if you haven't already!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 24

B&N PREORDER SALE: Get 25% off BURN THE SEA!

the sale you've been waiting for!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 17

Behind BURN THE SEA: Fire Arrows, with author Mona Tewari 🌊

a look behind some of the historical inspiration for the book!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 11

BEFORE I BOW Reading Vlog! | My thoughts on the sequel to BURN THE SEA

Preorder BURN THE SEA: https://bookshop.org/a/10458/9781967967063

Submit your receipts to win a preorder bundle! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0Pb-sB1fLPKOtdoq10s83oZf4aUfesNRYm4RYo5xwuwJzXQ/viewform

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 3

Behind BURN THE SEA: Matrilineal Inheritance, with author Mona Tewari 🌊

a look behind some of the historical inspiration for the book!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Feb 19

Featured with Boundless Press and Bindery Books in the Los Angeles Times!

I'm so incredibly honoured by this feature <3 Read more: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2026-02-18/bindery-books-influencer-led-publishing-model

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Feb 11

Behind BURN THE SEA: Stepwells and their historical importance, with author Mona Tewari 🌊

a look behind some of the historical inspiration for the book!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Feb 9

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY REVIEW of BURN THE SEA!!!

Open to read more!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Feb 5

Anti Brain Rot Reading Challenge 🧠 Month 1 January Reading Update 📚

how did your first month go? let me know in the comments!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jan 25

BURN THE SEA Readalong! Get featured on Social & ENTER TO WIN an Exclusive PRIZE!

open for EXCITEMENT!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jan 7

Anti Brain Rot Reading Challenge: Announcing the 2026 Boundless Book Club Picks 📚📖

watch for the full list of picks for 2026!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Dec 31 2025

25% off BURN THE SEA for the Barnes & Noble Preorder Sale!

and make sure to submit your receipts to enter to win a prize bundle!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Dec 19 2025

Poll:\ \ When would you like to read BURN THE SEA together? The live zoom discussion + Q&A with Mona would happen shortly after the timeframe finishes.\ \ Hello my lovely Bindery members! It's a very exciting day today because you should've received an email from CJ from Bindery today about your EXCLUSIVE early copies of BURN THE SEA by Mona Tewari, i.e. the next Boundless Press book which is out April 21st!! \ \ \ \ Here's the email again in case you missed it!\ \ "Hi there,\ \ As part of your member benefits with Boundless Press you are eligible to receive an early digital copy of Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari. The book is now available for download on Bindery, months ahead of its public release.\ \ \ \ To access your ebook, visit__https://binderybooks.com/account/ , sign in, and download your copy. If you encounter any issues accessing your copy, please contact us at hello@binderybooks.com .\ \ If you are an eligible US/Canada based Star or Galaxy member who has been active in your membership as of 10/31, your physical copy has shipped as well.\ \ Early reviews play a crucial role in a book's journey, so we would greatly appreciate your feedback on Goodreads , Storygraph , or Amazon . Posting on your social channels has a huge impact. Let’s lift up Burn the Sea together! "\ \ Now PLEASE IGNORE THE DATE OF THE ARC Q&A— that was a placeholder date and I'd actually like to get y'all to vote on WHEN you'd like to read the book together and discuss on discord, and later have a Q&A with Mona. \ \ My hope is to set up some channels in the discord so we can all chat about our reactions to the book as we read, and then also set up a zoom call for a conversation with Mona after we're all done reading. \ \ SO SO excited for all of you to experience this story and I hope that you can leave a glowing review on retailers when you're done reading as it'll really help Mona, the imprint, and me out <3

Your ARC of BURN THE SEA has landed! VOTE on buddy read timing!

open for more info and to vote on when to read the book together!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Dec 2 2025

getting REAL & HONEST about the publishing process for Boundless Press 💖

please please please go leave a review for Dust Settles North on whatever retailer you can!! ❤️

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Nov 17 2025

BI-MONTHLY PUBLISHING UPDATE! November 2025 edition

open to find high level updates on what's happening with Boundless Press!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Nov 8 2025

Interview with Mona Tewari, author of BURN THE SEA 🌊

open to watch this exclusive interview that we filmed back in April!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Nov 4 2025

[The moment you've been waiting for!! We're announcing publicly in another hour!\ \ Congrats to Karla for guessing the correct title :) (please email me with your email and username on bindery and I will get your account upgraded to being a free Galaxy member for 6 months)\ \

BURN THE SEA SEQUEL TITLE REVEAL!!!

open to find out!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Nov 3 2025

Poll:\ \ do you care about praise blurbs? do they influence your decision to pick up a book?\ \ I'm so so excited to share the praise blurbs we've gotten for BURN THE SEA by Mona Tewari so far. I'll be sharing these slowly across the next few months on social (so please keep these to yourself) but I'm sharing them early for all of you here as a little sneak peek! <3\ \ but first, what the heck are praise blurbs anyways?\ \ Praise blurbs are essentially quick bite-sized review quotes from authors who have read the book early and loved it, and who want to "endorse" the book as one that they believe in. Usually, we want to get as many praise blurbs for our book as possible to put on the book jacket when it gets printed and also to use in the marketing. Although regular readers may not particularly care about praise blurbs (unless it's one from an author they really like), it does help with getting the book stocked by retailers and helps the move the needle with sales reps.\ \ now without further ado!\ \ \ \ Let me know which one is your favourite!\ \ And please remember to add the book to your Goodreads Want-to-Read shelf if you haven't already! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238615737-burn-the-sea

revealing the PRAISE BLURBS for BURN THE SEA! 🌊

open to see them all!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Oct 28 2025

[BURN THE SEA (and its sequel!) is getting an AUDIOBOOK!! \ \ As someone who gets most of their reading done through an audiobook, I am SO pleased that we were able to secure an audiobook deal for BURN THE SEA and it's sequel. \ \ We've been listening to audiobook narrator auditions (they were all SO GOOD) and have finally confirmed our narrator. So, in the spirit of the sequel reveal—I thought I'd see if you can guess who the narrator of the books will be! \ \ The FIRST person to comment on THIS post with the correct narrator name will be gifted a Libro.fm audiobook title that was narrated by the same narrator!\ \

more fun BURN THE SEA news!! 👀🎧 win a free audiobook!

open to find out how to win a free audiobook!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Oct 27 2025

BURN THE SEA IS GETTING A SEQUEL!! Guess the title + an extra hint for followers!

open for an additional hint on the title!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Oct 24 2025

🚨How to get an ARC of BURN THE SEA!🚨

Upgrade your membership by October 31st!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Oct 20 2025

[Hello loves! I just wanted to send a reminder that you can get YOUR NAME printed on the THANK YOU page at the back of the final copy of BURN THE SEA, our next Boundless Press title! \ \ See the example from Dust Settles North below!\ \ All you have to do is UPGRADE* your Bindery membership to the STAR or Galaxy tier by OCT 22nd and make sure to add your name to your account or edit it as needed to be credited properly. It's that easy—and you get to show off to people that you helped support the book <3\ *If you're already part of the Star tier then you're already secured! check out you name below 👀\ \

Get you name PRINTED in the back of BURN THE SEA! Upgrade by Wednesday!

open for instuctions!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Oct 2 2025

it's my birthday! here are 28 books that have shaped my life 🫶🏾

open for book recs <3

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 26 2025

Burn the Sea ARC GIVEAWAY!

Comment on this post to be entered to win an ARC copy of BURN THE SEA!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 24 2025

UNFILTERED unboxing of BURN THE SEA advanced reader copies!!

I AM UNWELL!!!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 24 2025

BI-MONTHLY PUBLISHING UPDATE! September 2025 edition

open for high level updates on the publishing process with Boundless Press!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 24 2025

why the publishing industry isn’t interested in publishing GOOD books…from an ex publishing employee

let me know your thoughts on the topic!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Aug 28 2025

[](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/HmsqVDmyM0mBc2J2pEAq/)

BURN THE SEA is now on NETGALLEY! [Link in post]

open for the link to request!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jul 18 2025

Tackling Edits — Guest Post from Mona Tewari, author of BURN THE SEA

Open for a fun guest post from Mona Tewari!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jul 15 2025

BURN THE SEA COVER + PUB DATE + DESCRIPTION REVEAL!!

open to see the beautiful cover and find out the official pub date before anyone else!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 19 2025

mid year book freakout tag 2025 | ranting about sunrise on the reaping | best & worst books so far

i love this tag so much! enjoy!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • May 9 2025

[Poll:\ \ WHICH COLOURWAY DO YOU PREFER?\ \ HELLO FOLKS! We just got an extremely exciting update for the cover of BURN THE SEA!! \ \ Below you'll find multiple colourways for the main protagonist (Abbakka)'s outfit on the cover of the book! The first image is the artist's preferred version and it also has the added details of two options for the dagger placement and the fully rendered tambura instrument that Abbakka is playing. \ \ I would love to hear what you all think of it so far!! vote in the poll and leave your comments below!\ \ *as a reminder this is just the cover ILLUSTRATION and NOT the FINAL cover. The title and other elements will be added after we finalize the colours and placements of things, but this is a cool little sneak peek 🤩 \ \ AND I will also do a video going through the meaning behind each of the small elements of the cover once we have the final version!!\ \ Option 1: TEAL/GREEN - Artist's preferred version (+ the added details on the tambura + dagger placement that would be on the final cover) Option 2: Yellow Option 3: Purple Option 4: Magenta Option 5: Orange Option 6: Emerald

VOTE ON THE BURN THE SEA COVER ART!! 🤩

OPEN TO SEE THE GORGEOUS OPTIONS AND VOTE!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 30 2025

Burn the Sea RE-READING Vlog | YOU ARE NOT READY!!

Thank you all for supporting this journey and for your patience!! Cannot wait for you to read this book!!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 27 2025

Monthly Publishing Update — April 2025 Edition!

Open for another monthly publishing update for Boundless Press!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 9 2025

04.09.2025 journal entry #22

open for a little chatty journal entry where I tell you about the highlights and the lowlights of my week 💖

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 26 2025

\ \ Use the code LOVEBOOKSELLERS and this link to preorder Dust Settles North for 15% off! \ \ Head to https://binderybooks.com/pitchfest/ for more on Pitchfest and how to submit!\ \

Monthly Publishing Update — March 2025 Edition

Open for another monthly publishing update for Boundless Press!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 12 2025

\ \ Hello friends! I wanted to give you a cool little sneak peek into the publishing journey for Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari by sharing a generalized & modified version of the official publishing schedule that Mona and I received from Girl Friday Productions (the publishing and production company that handles the editorial and production phases of the process).\ \ This schedule breaks down the different sections of the process in the blue headings and shares the approximate dates for each stage in the right column. \ \ Now please keep in mind.... this is a rough, approximate schedule and it is subject to change at any moment for any number of reasons. \ \ However, I thought it was still a really interesting way for those of you who are unfamiliar with the publishing process to understand all that goes into the making of a book, and for all of you to get a sense of what's to come in the months leading up to Burn the Sea’s publication.\ \ I know some of the terms in the schedule may be confusing or new to some of you so I've created a little glossary that should hopefully shed some light. However, if you have any questions about the schedule or would like something explained further, please let me know! I will do my best to reply to any questions in the comments or follow up with additional posts to dig into any topics you'd like to hear more on.\ \ Glossary \ \ Manuscript — this is the book in full text document format!\ \ ARCs — advance reader copies (i.e. review copies for media, influencers, other authors, etc)\ \ Dev Editor — a developmental editor provides an in-depth edit letter and works with author to make structural and developmental changes to improve the book\ \ Praise quotes/blurbs — These are favourable quotes from other authors (or publications) who have read the book, and which are often printed on the cover of a book or used in ads/media headlines/general marketing to speak to how incredible the book\ \ Line edit— this is a sentence level edit that is tackled by the Dev Editor and the author together\ \ Copy edit — this is a word, spelling, grammar & syntax level edit that is done by a Copyeditor or Production Editor. This can also include ensuring the internal logic of the book makes sense (ex. all instances of a made up term are used correctly or spelled in a consistent way)\ \ Proofread — this is a pure and simple triple-check of the manuscript for any last typos or spelling errors or issues in the typeset book (i.e. the book in it’s final layout as it will appear printed/rendered digitally in the eBook)\ \ Metadata — this is the information you usually see in the book details on retail sites or on Goodreads. This can include the ISBN (unique barcode number), the title of the book, the author name, the description, the BISAC codes (i.e. the broad topics/subjects it covers or the categories under which it can be filed), the release date, etc.\ \ ​\ \ I'll be sharing parts of the official edit letter from our Dev Editor very soon so keep an eye out for that 👀](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/IiNv64i94PAKKaZoBEai/)

PUBLISHING SCHEDULE for BURN THE SEA! 🔥

here’s a little sneak peek into what’s to come for the publishing process for BURN THE SEA!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 5 2025

Spilling the tea on the process for BURN THE SEA!!! Acquisition, announcement, COVER ideas!!

Can't wait to hear what you all think of the cover ideas!!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Feb 17 2025

Monthly Publishing Update — February 2025 Edition

Welcome to the monthly publishing update!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jan 21 2025

SHE'S HERE!!! 🔥🔥🔥 The Next Boundless Press Book is.....

More details to come this week for my Bindery members!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jan 20 2025

New book loading.... 🤭 REVEAL COMING TOMORROW 🤩

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Sep 9 2024

Boundless Press Submissions Episode Ten | the women in this book are too fantastic i tell you

If you're confused about which submission I'm talking about, please go watch the previous episode of the submissions process here: https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/NRdo4tOzJTbFa5r1OVZq/

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Aug 6 2024

Boundless Press Submissions Episode Nine | a hot new submission has entered the chat 🥵🔥

I just so desperately want this one to work out because it could be so great 😭 Let me know your thoughts in the comments!!!

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Posts about this book from across Bindery

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jul 29

[\ \ Join for free or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/9t99nW5TOQqsvIqybme8/)

EXCLUSIVE FIRST CHAPTER PREVIEW for Before I Bow [spoilers for BURN THE SEA ahead]

OPEN TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER!

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Fairly Queer Books\ \ Fareeha\ \ • Jul 28

Join for free

Back on Youtube ! Help me choose my next read

It's been a while! Here's a short video to slowly make my way back onto youtube.

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jul 9

[\ \ Join for free or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/aFBzBCfefyWNkQcRh7jE/)

Get 25% Off BURN THE SEA from 7/9 to 7/13 [CODE IN POST]

open for the link and code!

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Books Right Now\ \ Rashi Dembi\ \ • Jun 14

Join for free

I'm very excited to share our first Books Right Now book club pick: Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari!\ \ Burn the Sea is a historical fantasy novel that retells the story of the South Indian queen Abbakka Chowta. A story of survival, political machinations, and colonial resistance, Burn the Sea hits all of the right marks!\ \ This book will be our selection for July, and I encourage all book club members to discuss the story in both the spoiler and non-spoiler channels on the Discord!\ \ Early in August, I’ll be conducting a virtual interview with Mona Tewari, which will be available to subscribers within the week. As an exciting exclusive opportunity for Bindery subscribers, I will be asking you to submit any questions you may have for Mona, which I will then ask her during our interview. The only guidelines are to keep your questions positive and limit them to two per individual.\ \ Thank you so much for being a part of the Books Right Now community, and I’m so excited to kick off our book club in July!

July Book Club Pick: BURN THE SEA by Mona Tewari

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Books Right Now\ \ Rashi Dembi\ \ • Jun 4

Join for free

Read South Asian books!

This is your reminder to read South Asian books all year long!

If you’re looking for book recs, I’ve got you! Here are two pages of my favorite South Asian books as well as two pages of the South Asian books on my TBR.

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Wild Card Reads\ \ Samia (bookaroundandfindout)\ \ • Jun 1

Join for free

[Hi friends — and welcome to the very first Wild Card Dispatch. This is my newsletter to share with you my thoughts and book rants and updates to how this Bindery works! First of all, thank you so much for being here, it really means the world to me. 🥹\ \ So I literally just moved to new apartment this weekend after six years. Moving has been chaos in the best way, but the part I'm genuinely obsessed with is plotting out my little reading nook with bookshelf galore and my plants and a cosy sitting spot and ahhh!!! \ \ Because May was AAPI Month, I made a real point of filling my stack with AAPI authors. And because I'm physically incapable of staying in one genre for more than five minutes, the haul ended up being a horror, a satire, two romances, a literary mystery, and a historical fantasy epic — which is the most "me" sentence I've ever typed and exactly what Wild Card Reads is supposed to feel like.\ \ So let's get into it, in literally no particular order at all. \ \ The Winged Game — Sophie Kim ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ \ \ You know that feeling when you need a book to just remind you that reading is fun? This was that book for me. It's a fantasy SPORTS romance — yes, both of those things, together, and I had no idea I needed it — with enemies-to-lovers banter so good that Taissa and Kion's internal monologues had me cackling out loud. There's real depth under all the humor too, with backstories and a found family I got genuinely attached to, plus I learned an alarming amount of Scottish slang along the way. I'm a Sophie Kim girl now, no notes, and I will be reading 800 more pages in this world if she'll let me. It really brought joy to my heart. \ \ Out of Her League — Ava Rani ⭐⭐⭐ \ \ A cute, sparkly beach-day read, and I'm being honest with you the way I always am: it was a solid time, not a life-changer. What I loved was an FMC who refuses to sacrifice her career for anyone, real rep for women in medicine, a genuinely sweet and understanding MMC, and that supportive-best-friend energy I'm always a sucker for. It lost a little shine for me with some repeated lines and an ex-boyfriend storyline I expected more tension from. But if you want something low-stakes and warm to read with an iced coffee in the sun, this does the job nicely.\ \ Yellowface — R.F. Kuang ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ \ \ The moral of the story? White women are crazy. June steals the work of her Asian friend Athena (who's dead) and then somehow convinces herself she's the victim, and watching her gaslight everyone — including herself — was a hilarious ride. It's a razor-sharp look at how publishing decides which books are "bestsellers" and how Asian authors basically have to be brilliant just to get in the door. I listened on audio and cannot recommend it enough; the narrator's sarcasm is hysterical. This is literary satire for sure and I know a lot people didn't like it but I think I came in with such low expectations that I ended up being surprised. \ \ The Girl with a Thousand Faces — Sunyi Dean ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ \ \ This one starts as a ghostly detective tale set in 1940s Hong Kong, post-invasion, and slowly unfolds into something so much bigger — a story about war's scars, revenge, and how generational trauma lingers even thirty-plus years later. The layered structure absolutely hooked me, and the blend of real history with the supernatural felt both completely fresh and deeply moving. There were parts of the book told in second person as well and it was weird because I don't think I've read that much second person POV. If you're drawn to ghost stories that actually have a beating heart and historical weight behind them, this might be for you. It's not really scary or horror I would say, so if you were apprehensive let that change your mind and try it out! \ \ Men Like Ours — Bindu Bansinath ⭐⭐⭐⭐ \ \ Let me be upfront: this book made me deeply uncomfortable, and I think that was entirely the point. It's set in a South Asian suburban enclave in New Jersey where a man is found dead in his BMW and the women of the neighborhood get pulled into figuring out what happened. The mystery kept me turning pages, but what it's really about is what happens to people when community becomes a pressure cooker of unfulfilled lives. It takes some of the most painful tendencies that can exist in South Asian culture and concentrates them all into one street, and it's stressful precisely because none of it is invented — but it's also not all of us. One of the main characters, Anita, lived in my head rent-free because you wanted to hate her but you also deeply sympathized with the cards she got. It was bleak, dark, strange, but oddly hard to put down. \ \ Burn the Sea — Mona Tewari ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ \ \ I genuinely did not expect a book about Portuguese colonizers reimagined as giant half-snake sea monsters to wreck me this much, but here we are. Watching Abbakka go from a reluctant queen shoved onto a throne she never asked for into an actual hero for her whole country was everything — you feel every ounce of her doubt and grief, so by the end she's earned every inch of that strength. What stuck with me most was how the book handles grief: the way sometimes you don't get to stop and fall apart, you just keep moving until you're somewhere safe enough to actually feel it. The South Asian culture on the page was so beautiful I felt genuinely seen, and knowing this is Mona's debut, written because she wanted to see herself in fiction, makes it land even harder. (Tiny proud-aunt moment: this one's a Bindery Books title, and championing debuts like this is exactly why I'm here.)I am THIRSTING for book two. \ \

Newsletter: Wild Card Dispatch ✦ AAPI Month Recap + Hello!

6 books

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 1

\ \ Join for free or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/NkTU5NJlaS7gKSPGTfYY/)

June 2026 Newsletter! New Perks & Reminders!

open for important updates!

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Books Right Now\ \ Rashi Dembi\ \ • May 30

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Some quick reviews of my recent reads!

I've had a record number of 5 star reads this year!

6 books

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • May 21

BURN THE SEA Book Discussion Over Zoom?

2 books

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ofpagesandprint\ \ Dahlia\ \ • May 20

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[With a little over a week left in May, I wanted to share some of the incredible AANHPI stories on my TBR to continue celebrating AANHPI voices all year long!\ *Pitches from the publishers.\ \

AANHPI Books on My TBR!

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Books Right Now\ \ Rashi Dembi\ \ • May 15

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[I absolutely love reading Indian fantasy books, particularly when they’re written by Indian authors who portray our culture with the love and care it deserves.\ \ Here are five of my favorite Indian fantasy books of all time and their synopses!\ \

  1. Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari\ \ \ \ Abbakka Chowta never expected to be queen. The youngest of Ullal’s two rajkumaris, Abbakka has spent years in rigorous combat training to become her sister’s blade. But when the monstrous Porcugi attempt to lay claim to Ullal, Abbakka’s world―and fate―are upended.\ \ The Porcugi―giant half-men, half-snakes who attack from the sea―haven’t been seen in Ullal since their failed invasion more than fifty years ago. But now, they’re back with vengeance and a choice: pay their tithes or suffer total devastation. Soon, Abbakka’s definitions of strength, subterfuge, and statecraft are put to the test. Will marriage to a neighboring king give her the resources she needs to protect her people . . . or will she watch her homeland be crushed beneath the waves of would-be colonizers?\ \ A lush historical fantasy that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s and the fierce real-life queen’s story, Burn the Sea is an electrifying exaltation of female power and the value of freedom.\ \
  2. To Bargain with Mortals by R.A. Basu\ \ \ \ In the colonized nation of Viryana, Poppy Sutherland lives between cultures. As the brown-skinned adopted daughter of the Viceroy, she is both rejected by white high society and alienated from the people of her native island. When she discovers her opportunistic fiancé’s plot to exile her, Poppy flees—straight into the clutches of the Jackal. \ \ Hasan Devar, the ruthless criminal known as the Jackal, has long been targeted for his family’s divine magic, a gift the colonizers have tried to stamp out. When his brother is arrested, he seizes Poppy as leverage. But Poppy has powerful secrets—and political ambitions—of her own. As allies, they could do more than just free Hasan’s brother and keep Poppy safe. They could topple the very power structures that hold them all back. \ \ The first book in the Reckoning Storm duology, To Bargain with Mortals is a stunning reflection on politics and purpose, blood and allegiance—and what we do with the histories we inherit. \ \
  3. The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma\ \ \ \ The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.\ \ Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something.\ \
  4. Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel\ \ \ \ A mother and a son. A goddess and a prince. A curse and an oath. A river whose course will change the fate of the world.\ \ Ganga, joyful goddess of the river, serves as caretaker to the mischievous godlings who roam her banks. But when their antics incur the wrath of a powerful sage, Ganga is cursed to become mortal, bound to her human form until she fulfills the obligations of the curse.\ \ Though she knows nothing of mortal life, Ganga weds King Shantanu and becomes a queen, determined to regain her freedom no matter the cost. But in a cruel turn of fate, just as she is freed of her binding, she is forced to leave her infant son behind.\ \ Her son, prince Devavrata, unwittingly carries the legacy of Ganga’s curse. And when he makes an oath that he will never claim his father’s throne, he sets in motion a chain of events that will end in a terrible and tragic war.\ \ As the years unfold, Ganga and Devavrata are drawn together again and again, each confluence another step on a path that has been written in the stars, in this deeply moving and masterful tale of duty, destiny, and the unwavering bond between mother and son.\ \
  5. The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao\ \ \ \ Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.\ \ When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he threatens everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.\ \ Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. This first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.](https://booksrightnow.binderybooks.com/item/7x7r46ffqBBdkLFMRRHA/)

5 Indian Fantasy Books by Indian Authors!

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Betty's Bookish Thoughts\ \ Betty\ \ • May 10

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Upcoming Asian books (2026) ✨

The ARC gods have been good to me ✨ 2026 is already looking FABULOUS for our Asian-authored reads and I’m not taking any moments for granted about how lucky I am to read them early! 🤍

Spread the word, alllll of these books are worth the read, add them to your TBR asap 🫶🏻

Thank you @netgalley and all the publishing groups for making the first few months of the year so full and fruitful. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve learned from history, contemplated existential philosophy, and I’ve grieved friends I’ve never met. So much love for every single one of these authors who’ve had me lost in their gorgeous stories 💝

☁️Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim 7/28 ☁️This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars 11/10 ☁️Kitten by Stacey Yu 8/4 ☁️Just a Highland Fling by Naina Kumar 7/21 ☁️The Typing Lady by Ruth Ozeki 6/2 ☁️The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung 5/5 ☁️Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu 4/28 ☁️The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue by Zoulfa Katouh 6/2 ☁️Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari 4/21 ☁️The Winged Game by Sophie Kim 6/30

10 books

Fat Forward Books\ \ Samantha Puc\ \ • May 7

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\ \ Join for free or login](https://fatfwdbooks.binderybooks.com/item/zLMnPNfXDNSd9wpYYjwk/)

1 Year of Fat Forward Books 🎂

What's in a year? Lessons learned and plans for the future on Fat Forward Books' first anniversary.

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Jana’s Book Recs\ \ Jana\ \ • May 6

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Happy AAPI month friends! (Asian American Pacific Islander)\ \ Here are some book recommendations for the month, more to come!\ \ Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari\ \ My first book by this author, not my last. I was blown away by this historical Indian fantasy that reimagines the 16th century Portuguese attacks on South India. \ \ Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang\ \ Feminine rage at its best, this standalone fantasy was my favorite read of last year!\ \ Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis\ \ Debut novel that follows Nadia, a British academic who takes a UN job in Iraq.\ \ Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang\ \ A satirical thriller about a supermarket cashier who assumes the identity of her deceased influencer twin sister Chloe to escape her own life.\ \ We Dance upon Demons by Vaishnavi Patel\ \ Contemporary fantasy novel with an iconic cover. A burnt out reproductive health worker gains supernatural powers.\ \ If we cannot go at the speed of light by Kim Choyeop\ \ A collection of Korean sci-fi stories that will take you on such an amazing journey.\ \ Cleo Dang would rather be dead by Mai Nguyen\ \ Dark humor explores a grieving mother who deals with the loss of her daughter and struggles to heal.\ \ The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen\ \ \ \ Space opera? Say less

AAPI Month

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • May 1

GIVEAWAY!!! ENTER TO WIN THIS EXCLUSIVE BOOK BOX FOR BURN TH SEA BY @monatewariwrites 🔥 out now from @boundless_press via @bindery_books 🥰

Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only! (Sorry international friends!) Giveaway ends on May 5th at 11:59 PM ET!

#bookgiveaway #bookbox #burnthesea #fantasybooks

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 30

AAPI Asian Heritage Month Book Recs

watch for some recs to read in May!

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The Cavanaughts\ \ Kate\ \ • Apr 30

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[Hello friends!\ \ I'm home. I'm home. After one week, two cities, and four different bookstores, I'm home from my very first book tour.\ \ There hasn't been enough time to recalibrate that this incredible life is, somehow, my reality. So instead, I'd like to chat about books. Specifically! All the books I bought while on tour. :)\ \ Because that was one of the most delightful parts of the trip. Getting to meet so many new-to-me faces and explore new-to-me places. And what friendlier faces and places than at independent bookstores???\ \ Here's a look at my fifteen best purchases:\ \ \ \ (Samwise is also happy I'm home so he can become the star of all my pictures again.)\ \ \ \ (I'm so ready to cozy up and get my puzzle on, perhaps with an audiobook for company.)\ \ Please excuse the preponderance of stats I'm about to throw at you. The books I bought were:\ \

All the Books I Bought on My 1st Book Tour

15 books

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 26

Was Book Con 2026 As Bad As People Are Saying? My experience at Book Con 2026 vs 2019!

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Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Apr 25

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Friends, \ \ I'm back from New York and slowly adjusting! I've got Bookcon updates and more for you! I admit I am behind on EVERYTHING and might be that way for the next month! I'm behind on bookclub- our readalong- our calendar- and content LOL (though I do have TWO BIG surprises for paid subscribers later today)\ \ Each month, I select one day for us to support an indie bookshop as a community and what more perfect day that INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY!\ \ This month, we are supporting Quiet Quail Books, an Indigenous owned bookstore located in San Bernardino! All purchases through bookshop support both Quiet Quail Books (an Indigenous bookshop) and this imprint! \ \ One of the things I love about being a book content creator is sharing curated lists! I've attached some books to this post for easy clicking, but I've also created some lists. And if you don't like any of those, once you click on my bookshop link, you can buy anything and it will support Quiet Quaill! \ \ Must Read Women in Horror\ \ Must Read Indigenous Horror\ \ Must Read Indigenous Romance\ \ Must Read Indigenous Fantasy/Sci Fi\ \ Must Read Indigenous Thriller and Mystery\ \ From The Mixed Up Desk Indigenous Faves\ \ Also, what a perfect day to pre-order What Feeds Below! <3 (Speaking of What Feeds Below, paid subscribers- give me an hour and a very cool sneak peek is coming!)

Community Event: Support Indie Bookstores Day

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 21

Thank you for making BURN THE SEA possible 💖 Happy Pub Day! 🌊🔥

i am so emotional today 🥹

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Books Right Now\ \ Rashi Dembi\ \ • Apr 14

Join for free

April South Asian Releases!

Here are some new South Asian books (+ their blurbs) coming out in April!

These upcoming releases are by South Asian authors, feature South Asian main characters, or are set in South Asia or in worlds inspired by South Asia.

—

What new releases are you looking forward to? 📚

#bookstagram #southasianbooks #newreleases #booktok #books

10 books

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 13

RSVP & Grab Tickets for BURN THE SEA Events!

RSVP before tickets are gone!!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 7

open to find out if you won the giveaway!

2 books

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Children of Diaspora\ \ Rae the Reviewer\ \ • Apr 7

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April Releases by BIPOC!

What are you looking forward to reading in April?

There are so many great books coming out this month including some from independent publishers like Devil of the Deep and Burn the Sea from @bindery_books and The Mystery of the Bitten Peach from @neonhemlock that you can support by ordering for yourself, a friend, or requesting through your local library 📚

I’m also super excited for The Genie Game by @jordanifueko (which I have an ARC of but I’ve been waiting for the audiobook that she narrates herself) and A Fishboy Named… Sashimi by @dsantat which I went to a virtual @macmillanusa event for and it sounds absolutely hilarious 😁

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by @j0hnchu is also high on my anticipated reads. I’ve gone to a couple of his author readings at ICFA and he’s so good at blending in the speculative with the mundane of day to day life in ways that are super entertaining

And shoutout to @thereadingblackgirls whose recent list made me realize I’d missed the release date of To Steal a Throne by @queryqueen339 👑

#booklist #newreleasetuesday #newbooks #diversebooks

7 books

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The Alchemist Society\ \ Shay\ \ • Apr 6

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[March was Women's History Month, and I had some great reads that I need you to read too). One was my second 5-star read of the year (and was only 164 pages). \ \ Just a reminder, as with any other month of the year, whether it's Black History Month, Pride Month, Women's History, or any other month recognizing a marginalized group of people... these months are given these titles in order to allow for the opportunity to highlight and be intentional about celebrating them! It doesn't stop once the month is over. Keep reading diversely and continue to open up your world!\ \ Ok, first up; I want to highlight my 5-star read, which was I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. \ \ \ \ This book was only ~164 pages, yet it packs quite the punch. This book is a speculative dystopian work of fiction following a young women who can not remember her past and who relies on the memories of the 39 other women of varying ages who are imprisoned with her, to shape her knowledge of the world "before" and provide perspective into their imprisonment and their current existence. \ \ I Who Have Never Men explores the world where there are no men. Initially, there were guards but they disappear and we don't see another man again. The story itself explores life without men, both through the lens of our MC who really has never known any men, and through the perspective of the 39 other women who have their memories and are able to miss the companionship and presence. One of the things I found the most interesting was in the novel was the way in which the women work together and have their small community together, while working to survive. The lack of men helps to subtlety highlight how each sex "lacks" in a way. \ \ The novel is an incredibly moving look into a foreign world where we never know what is going on. The loneliness, despair, confusion all cut like a knife, and regularly choked me up or caused me to tear up. It is a look at the human spirit to persist, or choose not to. To survive, and how community shapes how that survival looks. \ \ The author was a Belgian Jewish refugee. Her family fled from Belgium during the Nazi occupation, moving to Morocco, where they had built a successful business exporting fabrics and laces. The book itself never explicitly references the holocaust, but we can see the effect it had on her writing and imagery in I who have Never Known Men, especially when discussing the guards and their treatment, the prison and the various ways in which other prisoners were found. The novel was originally published in its original French and translated into English in 1997. \ \ I'm so happy to see so many people talking about recently. The exploration of female friendships, intimacy, support, community and friendships, which are only highlighted by the setting and events, are devastatingly moving, heartbreaking, and beautiful. I can only hope that it will receive similar treatment to Lord of the Flies and get its own adaptation someday. \ \ \ \ Burn the Sea is an upcoming novel (1st in a planned duology) which will be released on April 21, 2026. The novel explores a reimagining of the Portuguese invasion of southern India in the 1500's and the efforts of the warrior queen, Abbakka Chowta at repelling them. In Burn the Sea, the Portuguese are replaced by sea monsters half man half snake. We see her fight for her family and her country's freedom from these invaders, rising to the office of ruling, something which Abbakka's sister was born to do. \ \ The novel features a love triangle, lush imagery, moving friendships and a look into the female support that surrounds Abbakka, and political intrigue and machinations that are essential for preserving the sanctity and freedom of Ullal. \ \ Growing up, I devoured books about the Tudor women, Boudicca, Zenobia, and Cleopatra. The Royal Diaries were well-read in my household. This is a fictionalized version of events, but it takes heavy inspiration of the real world events that Rani Abbakka Chowta went through while fighting the Portuguese invaders. I can't wait to see what happens in book two. If you want some follow up reads to learn more about the history and events that inspired Burn the Sea, see the following: \ \

Women's History Month Reads: Female rage, loneliness, and empathy

4 books

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She's Becoming Bookish\ \ Carlie Dayle\ \ • Apr 4

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\ \ Join for free or login](https://shesbecomingbookish.binderybooks.com/item/yKGWoN2ALP70b21R5Sfj/)

ICYMI: The April Historical Fiction Heads-Up is Live!

Looking for the best April historical fiction releases? You're in the right place!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 2

Open to find out how to enter!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Apr 1

BURN THE SEA is a Goodreads & Amazon Editors' Pick!!!

exciting news!!!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 28

\ \ Upgrade for $12 or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/qBH9c96BU1IEk2VUwZaf/)

March Mail Club Reveal! Last chance to OPT-IN by April 2nd 11:59PM ET

Open to opt-in if you haven't already!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Mar 24

B&N PREORDER SALE: Get 25% off BURN THE SEA!

the sale you've been waiting for!!

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