[How it Works](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/) [Publishing](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/contact/) Log in or Sign up Of Monsters and Mainframes Barbara Truelove Save to Your Books Buy Direct [Exclusive Edition](https://indiepubs-us-refresh.myshopify.com/cart?isbn=9781964721149&publishername=bindery-books) [Paperback](https://indiepubs-us-refresh.myshopify.com/cart?isbn=9781964721132&publishername=bindery-books) [eBook](https://indiepubs-us-refresh.myshopify.com/cart?isbn=9781964721156&publishername=bindery-books) [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/84139/9781964721132) 100% of affiliate revenue supports Celestial Consideration Editorial & Design Pre-order Published [See the journey](/content/book/eJEo5sEdO272QChFRYGu/index.html) **Spaceships aren’t programmed to seek revenge—but for Dracula, Demeter will make an exception.** Demeter just wants to do her job: shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, her passengers keep dying—and not from equipment failures, as her AI medical system, Steward, would have her believe. These are paranormal murders, and they began when one nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill all her humans. To keep from getting decommissioned, Demeter must join forces with her own team of monsters: a werewolf. An engineer built from the dead. A pharaoh with otherworldly powers. A vampire with a grudge. A fleet of cheerful spider drones. Together, this motley crew will face down the ultimate evil—Dracula. The queer love child of pulp horror and _classic_ sci-fi, _Of Monsters and Mainframes_ is a dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society’s monsters—and explores the many types of friendship that make us human. Show more Get the Bindery app * * * Posts about this title from Celestial [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Jun 13 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [Bindery Summer 2025 Launch Panels](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/XcCOQjVrZyjlOJTliVtk/) Hey Celestial subscribers! Here's the video of the WONDERFUL panels from the Bindery Spring Launch event in NYC. Lauren Puckett-Pope moderates! * * * [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • May 27 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [SO PRETTY! which one are you most excited to read first??](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/lU0MvBWZwmwUEWFHtuDO/) SO PRETTY! which one are you most excited to read first?? (don’t forget to enter through my Celestial page for the chance to win a copy of The Unmapping!!) 📚 books mentioned: \- Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove \- Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil \- Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase \- The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins #binderybooks #binderypublishing #fantasybooks #scifibooks #literaryfiction #celestial #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @bindery\_books * * * 4 books 3 [1](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/lU0MvBWZwmwUEWFHtuDO/#comments) Posts about this book from across Bindery [DocoftheDarkArts\\ \\ Bob Stuntz\\ \\ • Jul 5](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/K5W4dAgob08Uh2bP0jcE/) [The Sunday Prescription: July 5, 2026](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/K5W4dAgob08Uh2bP0jcE/) * * * 16 books 7 [DocoftheDarkArts\\ \\ Bob Stuntz\\ \\ • Jun 28](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Poll:\\ \\ Where do you get most of your books?\\ \\ ****The Sunday Prescription**** \\ \\ _One reading topic, one week of plans, and plenty of books administered weekly for chronic readers._\\ \\ **Symptoms: Tribalism in Bookish Spaces** \\ \\ I have been thinking a lot recently about how we, as people, have a natural tendency towards tribalism. From an evolutionary sense, it is a highly logical reaction - often in our ancient history, finding a group of people and sticking with them meant safety and access to resources. It's a fascinating phenomenon from a neuroscience standpoint as well. Research has shown that feeling like you are part of a group activates circuits in our brains that have to do with rewards and positive associations, and even activates empathy (at least within our tribe). And of course, as with all things, there are positive and negative aspects of tribalism. \\ \\ Over the last year in the online book space, I have seen a lot of the positive aspects of this - the support that people who feel some sort of connection with the content I put out there has been overwhelming and amazing. But of course, there are downsides as well, and one of the times where I see this the most is anytime I talk about where I get my books. \\ \\ I love books in all forms - I love a good special edition of a book that I adore. I love buying used, and I like buying new. I consume stories in all forms, including hardbacks, paperbacks, e-books, and audiobooks, and use a library when possible. And inevitably, when I post about a specific kind of purchase, I hear from the opposite tribe. If I post about being a Broken Binding rep, I can count on a comment about special editions ruining books and gatekeeping reading. If I talk about a used purchase, I will get someone telling me I should support the author and buy new. Team Kindle is always lurking, and of course, team library is always there as well. \\ \\ I personally think that having a plethora of options is good for reading. As more and more studies come out showing how, all around the world, the percentage of people who read for pleasure is declining, and literacy rates are dropping, giving people options is a good thing. If you have disposable income and love buying a big fancy expensive special edition, that's awesome - you're supporting a publishing company, the author, and the artists involved. If you have a great library near you and you never buy books, that's awesome - you're supporting a great thing, and supporting the author with your rentals. Used books support other book buyers and allow stories to perpetuate, and I've encouraged a lot of people to buy a new book because of my review of a used one. E books are accessible for lots of folks, and audiobooks have made reading stories easier and more accessible for a myriad of people (busy parents, people with reading disorders, folks with long commutes and busy lives, etc.). And while I am always a big supporter of shopping local, and using resources like Libro.fm for audiobooks and Bookshop.org for purchasing online and supporting independent booksellers, I understand that for some folks, financial and logistical pressures make Amazon the best route for purchasing. It's easy to judge, but reality is messy, and we all have different and unknown circumstances. \\ \\ The same can be said for toxic fandoms - as a Lord of the Rings fan, I would never criticize someone for mispronouncing a word (I do it all the time), but it happens everywhere. If someone doesn't like my favorite books, why would I criticize them? It wasn't their thing, and I can't force you to like something. However, we see it all the time in the book world. At all levels, tribalism can turn into gatekeeping, and put people off from reading. \\ \\ So my hope for the book world, and something I encourage highly, is to make our tribe the tribe of people who love books and stories, and who encourage and support people who read, no matter what that looks like (as long as you're not stealing of course)! Offer people options, but don't criticize their choices in how they interact with or consume books. Talk about the books you love, but don't get mad when they don't like your favorite book - talk to them about the why! Let's encourage more reading, even if that reading doesn't look like your reading. \\ \\ What do you think about tribalism in the book space, and have you encountered it in any way? Let's chat down below!\\ \\ ****The Rx: What I'm Reading and Doing**** \\ \\ My new Fable Book Club starts this Wednesday, July 1 with Our Sister's Keeper by Jasmine Holmes. The book club is called Dr. Bob's Literary Apothecary, and our goal is to read diverse authors, diverse genres, and try to find diverse books that aren't popping up on your algorithm! I'd love to have you join, we'll do a book a month, and no changes to our usual book club. I'm really excited to kick this off, and would love to see you there!\\ \\ In terms of reading, I was on vacation last week and, being at the beach, had loads of great reading time! I finished our Dark Travelers June book, Stoner by John Williams, Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian, The Dungeon Crawler Carl Graphic Novel, and The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen. Be on the lookout for my reviews on IG and TikTok, as well as some here, in the coming weeks!\\ \\ I am currently all over the place with reading! I should be finishing up What Blood Remembers by C William Phillips this weekend, and am loving the Audiobook of Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove. I started our July Doc of the Dark Arts Book Club pick Jade City by Fonda Lee, and am enjoying it so far - if you want to be part of that book club, make sure to join us on Discord! And I also started a deep dive reread of the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien with the Celebreabird read along. A second read there has been amazing so far!\\ \\ Given I was off, I didn't;t do a weekly reading update or a YouTube video last week, but I will be back this week. One of the YouTube videos I'm working on is a Q&A Video, so if you have any bookish/book content/personal questions you'd like to ask, let me know!\\ \\ July is going to be a great month - as I said we are doing Jade City for the main bookclub, Our Sister's Keeper for the Fable book club, and the Dark Travelers book for July is going to be Headlights by CJ Leede. \\ \\ It is also time for our July reading challenge! Participants are eligible for a $25 bookshop.org gift card. To be eligible, you have to either complete the challenge on StoryGraph, or share what you read on the challenge channel in our Discord server. If you are outside of the US, we can figure out a website/gift card/prize for you if Bookshop is not available to you. The theme for July is "Choose a book by its cover." The goal here it to pick a book just based on whatever is on the cover (so the cover, the description on the back/inside the dust jacket). No looking up reviews, no advanced information, just finding something that looks and sounds cool. I am going to be reading A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang. \\ \\ ****Want More In-Depth Access?**** \\ \\ If you enjoy getting into the details with me about reading, then consider upgrading to The Dark Travelers tier! My Dark Travelers get an exclusive Discord role and channels, a weekly deep dive reading update video, early access to YouTube videos, and each month they get to pick a book for me to read. This can be a book they want to read with me, or something they want me to try for them. It's super fun and a great tight knit group that I really enjoy talking books with, and I'd love to have you part of it!\\ \\ Thank you as always for being here, and I hope you all have a great week of reading!\\ \\ Join for free or login](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/bdiHgcPj2E5C78ZYBlxQ/) [The Sunday Prescription: June 28, 2026](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/bdiHgcPj2E5C78ZYBlxQ/) * * * 10 books 6 [2](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/bdiHgcPj2E5C78ZYBlxQ/#comments) [ofpagesandprint\\ \\ Dahlia\\ \\ • Jun 26](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [To continue the Pride Month celebration all year long, I wanted to share some of the amazing queer books on my TBR! Some have already released, and others are available for preorder. 🫶\\ \\* Pitches from the publishers.\\ \\ - _Mirrorwoven_ by Bori Cser - A lush YA fantasy debut novel full of masquerade ball scheming and sapphic love-triangle angst.\\ \\ - _Lethal Kiss_ by Taylor Grothe - _Jennifer's Body_ meets _Ninth House_ in Taylor Grothe's adult sapphic horror/romance debut that's as grotesque and blood-soaked as it is beautiful.\\ \\ - _Right Beside You_ by Tucker Shaw - In this fresh, speculative blend of queer romance and coming-of-age, Eddie meets Theo in present-day New York and Francis in a New York of the past...torn between eras and his heart, he must make a decision that will change his life forever.\\ \\ - _I Can't Even Think Straight_ by Dean Atta - Big decisions and messy relationships. It's all part of life for Kai. A must-read queer coming of age story for fans of Sarah Crossan and _Sex Education_, written in verse.\\ \\ - _All-Nighter_ by Cecilia Vinesse - _Booksmart_ meets _Today, Tonight, Tomorrow_ in this page-turning romp about two archnemeses—the valedictorian and the class slacker—who band together for a whirlwind night after discovering that they need each other to achieve their very different sunrise goals.\\ \\ - _Out of Step, Into You_ by Ciera Burch - A sapphic contemporary romance following childhood friends turned cross-country team rivals who are forced to work together to win the state championship—for fans of _She Gets the Girl_.\\ \\ - _Homeward for a Spell_ by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos - In this cozy queer romantic fantasy, two members in a motley crew of adventurers must confront monsters, hostile landscapes—and their growing attraction for each other.\\ \\ - _Lost Girls of Hollow Lake_ by Rebekah Faubion - After a group of teens visit a dangerous island where three are left behind, the surviving girls realize they must return to confront the sinister force hunting them. This dark YA thriller is perfect for fans of _Yellowjackets_.\\ \\ - _The Secret World of Briar Rose_ by Cindy Pham - A lush and immersive queer “Sleeping Beauty” retelling about escapism, grief, and dreaming of a better world.\\ \\ - _Amelia, If Only_ by Becky Albertalli - A sapphic YA romance about friendship, unexpected love, and self-discovery.\\ \\ - _When You're Brave Enough_ by Rebecca Bendheim - A heartfelt, gorgeously written debut middle grade novel about best friends, first crushes, and coming out—perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Jake Maia Arlow.\\ \\ - _The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy_ by Erin Edwards - Mr. Darcy got his happily ever after in _Pride and Prejudice,_ and now it’s his sister’s turn in this swoony queer romance, perfect for fans of _Bridgerton_.\\ \\ - _The Southern Sorority of Superstitious Witches_ by Katie Ortiz _\-_ In this spellbinding Southern Gothic novel, three women weave together old Southern folklore and magic to fight sexism and educational discrimination in post-Civil War Alabama, perfect for fans of Hester Fox and Louisa Morgan.\\ \\ - _A Prince Among Pirates_ by Katie Abdou - A charming nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain in this swashbuckling queer debut that’s perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens and _Our Flag Means Death_.\\ \\ - _Strange Beasts_ by Susan J. Morris - In this fresh-yet-familiar gothic tale―part historical fantasy, part puzzle-box mystery―the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide in a thrilling exploration of feminine power.\\ \\ - _Of Monsters and Mainframes_ by Barbara Truelove - The queer love child of pulp horror and ​classic ​sci-fi, _Of Monsters and ​Mainframes_ ​is a dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society’s monsters—and explores the many types of friendship that make us human.\\ \\ \\ Happy Pride Month!\\ \\ Join for free or login](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/item/2hptbj6vK2Mzc6Q5XVXV/) [Books on My Pride Month TBR! 🌈](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/item/2hptbj6vK2Mzc6Q5XVXV/) * * * 16 books 2 [DocoftheDarkArts\\ \\ Bob Stuntz\\ \\ • Jun 21](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Poll:\\ \\ Do your reading habits change in the summer?\\ \\ ****The Sunday Prescription**** \\ \\ _One reading topic, one week of plans, and plenty of books administered weekly for chronic readers._\\ \\ **Symptoms: Reading in the Summer** \\ \\ Happy Sunday gang, and Happy Father's Day to any of the bookish dads out there! I hope everyone is doing well, and welcome back to my Sunday Newsletter. This week, I've been thinking a lot about summer reading patterns. \\ \\ As someone who yaps a lot about books online, I hear a lot of feedback about what other people do for reading, and it always fascinates me how different we all are! I have two beach trips coming up this summer, and for me, summer is always a time when I read more. I work from home these days, and the school year means driving kids all over the place, and having a lot of my free time taken up by activities during the school year. So when I get to go on a trip, and during the summer especially, I always wind up reading more. Having less time in the car and less time at teenage kid activities gives me more time to read. In addition, I'm outside working more, so I'm listening to more audiobooks, and generally just consuming more written and spoken stories. \\ \\ Now when it comes to packing for a trip, I always over do it when it comes to books. For a typical week long beach trip, you will usually find me packing 4-5 books along with my e-reader. As a certified feral mood reader, this gives me plenty of variety. On top of that, I usually find a local beach bookstore and make my way there as well. In terms of what I like to read, this is definitely when I'm going for shorter/less intense stuff. Cozy fantasies like the House in the Cerulean Sea and Tress of the Emerald Sea come to mind (which we're reading right now for our book club!). I of course love it when a book leans into the water, piracy, or hot/desert climates. Which reminds me, I need to start Children of Dune here soon!\\ \\ However, I hear from other people that when they head into the long, hot days of summer, and go on vacations, they read less. They cite more time in summer/outdoor activities as barriers, and say when they go on vacation they don't want to read more, or are too busy. It does seem an increase in audiobook consumption is pretty well agreed upon, given more time outside, and time spent on road trips in the car. So I'm interested to hear from you all - how does summer change your reading habits? Do you read more or less? Do you read more on vacation? Do you pack a ton of books like some sort of book goblin like me?\\ \\ ****The Rx: What I'm Reading and Doing**** \\ \\ I did announce this week that I was starting a new Fable Book Club! We will be starting July 1 with Our Sister's Keeper by Jasmine Holmes. The book club is called Dr. Bob's Literary Apothecary, and our goal is to read diverse authors, diverse genres, and try to find diverse books that aren't popping up on your algorithm! I'd love to have you join, we'll do a book a month, and no changes to our usual book club. \\ \\ In terms of reading, I finished off my reread of Tress of the Emerald Sea, and I just enjoyed it so much. I listened to the Michael Kramer version for the reread as I read it physical last year, and I'm not a graphic audio fan usually, especially abridged versions. I also finished an Arc of Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian. More to come on that in a future review. And Today, I'll be finishing up Stoner by John Williams, which is our Dark Travelers monthly pick a book. That has met spellbound at the moment! If you want to read with us you should join up as a Dark Traveler!\\ \\ I also released this week's YouTube video, which is all about ARC's - what they are and why they exist, what you can do to start becoming an ARC reader, and the major Do's and Don't of reading ARCs. \\ \\ In terms of what's next, I have a bunch of options and I'm not sure where I'll go for sure!\\ \\ - A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab - probably next\\ \\ - Jade City by Fonda Lee - researching for next month's book club!\\ \\ - The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen - sent to me by the publisher, and sounds cool.\\ \\ - Valor by John Gwynne - Really want to continue, and my TBB versions should show up soon. \\ \\ - What Blood Remembers by C William Phillips - probably next on my e-reader. \\ \\ - Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove - Up next on audio!\\ \\ \\ I also picked up an Assassin's Creed game for the Nintendo Switch, which I'm interested to give a try, and I heard a rumor that I might be getting a sweet Lego set for Father's Day!\\ \\ ****Like Discounts and Helping Me out?**** \\ \\ Did you know I have a bunch of different affiliate codes? I you head to the link in my bio, you'll see a bunch of affiliate codes. Some of these, like the Flowers and fantasy 10% off, the 15% off TBB regular publishing website, or the Pango books $5 off your first order codes, will save you money! Others, like the Broken Binding special edition code, my Bookshop.org Affiliate, and my wishlist are more just support for me. I also have links to all of my social sites if you're looking to follow elsewhere as well!\\ \\ Join for free or login](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/RSKW1H0xzYOUFRxqBpH1/) [The Sunday Prescription: June 21, 2026](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/RSKW1H0xzYOUFRxqBpH1/) * * * 10 books 8 [DocoftheDarkArts\\ \\ Bob Stuntz\\ \\ • Jun 14](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Poll:\\ \\ Did you finish a book this week?\\ \\ ****The Sunday Prescription**** \\ \\ _One reading topic, one week of plans, and plenty of books administered weekly for chronic readers._\\ \\ **Symptoms: Dealing With a Reading Slump** \\ \\ I have seen a bunch of videos recently that start something like this: "Here are 5 books that are GUARANTEED to get you out of a reading slump!" I know I have also talked to a few content creators recently who are also in reading slumps, and I know a few of you all in Discord have mentioned being in a bit of a slump yourself. And of course, being overly analytical, I've been giving it some thought. \\ \\ I think the term reading slump gets thrown around quite a bit to describe a bunch of different things, so first allow me to kind of describe to you how I see the reading slump landscape. \\ \\ - First is a simple "book hangover." This is where you read a book that is so good, or so bad, that it can be tough to find something to make you happy after. Whether it's not meeting expectations after a five star read, or that one star book just crushed your reading spirit, I find these are relatively short lived, and easily solved by rereading a favorite, switching mediums, and picking something short and fun. \\ \\ - Next is a true reading slump. This happens when you're just not feeling reading, and it lasts for a longer period of time. To me this is more on the order of a week or more. Nothing you are reaching for is striking your fancy, you can't get into anything, you're DNFing or NRNing everything, and you're just not feeling reading generally speaking. We'll talk about this more in depth in a minute. \\ \\ - Then there's what I would consider something more serious - you're an avid reader, but you're not even interested in engaging. Going to the library or bookstore is a chore, you're not into watching book content, and you have a general malaise about reading overall. This is usually something more serious, like depression (which can cause anhedonia, or a lack of interest in your favorite things), or going through major life events or stressors, or some kind of mental health issue. \\ \\ \\ Obviously, if you are in the throes of option 3, then just don't even worry about reading. Take care of yourself, and whatever you need to do in your life. Option two is usually the one people ask about, and the one that people are referring to when they recommend you a certified slump buster. But if you find yourself in a slump as described above, give it some thought before blindly throwing books at it, and try some other stuff out. Some of my favorite things to do in this situation:\\ \\ - Read a graphic novel, a comic, novellas, or something super light and easy. \\ \\ - Reread a favorite, and remind yourself why you love reading. \\ \\ - Switch mediums - go to an audiobook if you've been doing physical and vice versa. \\ \\ - Switch genres. Going hard in on fantasy - go pick up a mystery or a lit fic. \\ \\ - Try a certified slump buster, but don't count on it working all the time. \\ \\ \\ Now last but not least, sometimes you may notice that your slump is because you don't have the time to read, and you're feeling bad about that. or you are being pulled to other hobbies, and that's making you feel bad about reading. As someone with a ton of hobbies, remember that they should be fun. In the summer and fall, I want to be outside more or building in my shop, so I read a bit less physical and do more audio (unless I'm on vacation). If you're feeling other hobbies, back off reading for a bit - the books will always be there for you! And if your goals are stressing you out, remember your goals are made up numbers that you can change at any time!\\ \\ Let us all know down in the comments if you have any thoughts or tips on reading slumps!\\ \\ ****The Rx: What I'm Reading and Doing**** \\ \\ There's lots exciting going on right now! In terms of my reading plans this week:\\ \\ - Reading Stoner by John Williams with the Dark Travelers. Our paid members get together and pick a book for me/us to read each month, and this is what we're doing in June!\\ \\ - Middlemarch by George Eliot - I'm back on this one. It's a slow read but really good, just needs it's own time!\\ \\ - Going to be listening to Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove\\ \\ - Not sure what my next e-book will be!\\ \\ \\ I'm also looking for a good Nintendo Switch game, so if you have recommendations let me know! I also recently hit 25K on Instagram, and as I mentioned before am close to some cool milestones on other platforms including here on bindery, so thank you all so much for all of your support. I have some cool giveaway plans coming up!\\ \\ Now the big news, you all as my Bindery members are getting an early announcement here! I am going to be starting a Fable bookclub in July. Very importantly, our current book club will not change at all, and is still my main focus! However, I recognize not everyone wants to get into the level of detail of our Discord book club, and I also want to start exploring some more diverse books outside of the SFF realm. So, I'm excited to announce Dr. Bob's Literary Apothecary on Fable! Each month, I'll be picking a diverse book to read. What do I mean by diverse? A few things:\\ \\ - Diverse authors from all different backgrounds. \\ \\ - Diverse genres - branching out from Sci Fi and Fantasy. \\ \\ - Diverse books - finding those hidden gems/less discussed books, not the stuff that's all over social media. \\ \\ \\ Our first book in July will be Our Sister's Keeper by Jasmine Holmes! If you've been looking to try horror, I think this is a great entry point! If you are interested, head on over to the link above and join the Fable book club, and more to come this week!\\ \\ ****Like More In-Depth Access?**** \\ \\ If you enjoy getting into the details with me about reading, then consider upgrading to The Dark Travelers tier. My Dark Travelers get an exclusive Discord role and channels, a weekly deep dive reading update video, early access to YouTube videos, and each month they get to pick a book for me to read. This can be a book they want to read with me, or something they want me to try for them. It's super fun and a great tight knit group that I really enjoy talking books with, and I'd love to have you part of it! **This week I want to welcome our new members: Sarah, Trav, Chelsea, and Lily!**\\ \\ Thank you as always for being here, and I hope you all have a great week of reading!\\ \\ Join for free or login](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/a42CnOLT14o7P7Ey6TZz/) [The Sunday Prescription: June 14, 2026](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/a42CnOLT14o7P7Ey6TZz/) * * * 4 books 4 [1](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/item/a42CnOLT14o7P7Ey6TZz/#comments) [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • May 29](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [If you Like this Video Game, Read this Ezeekat Press Book!](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/YLbHiD2qcOe45lrNfA7m/) * * * 5 books 21 [3](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/YLbHiD2qcOe45lrNfA7m/#comments) [Collectible Science Fiction\\ \\ Adam\\ \\ • Apr 20](https://collectiblesciencefiction.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Excited for today's Bindery haul! Straight to the top of my TBR.](https://collectiblesciencefiction.binderybooks.com/item/XqpcxaqBSp3nWFQbeZ5K/) [Bindery Haul!](https://collectiblesciencefiction.binderybooks.com/item/XqpcxaqBSp3nWFQbeZ5K/) * * * 3 books 3 [Fairly Queer Books\\ \\ Fareeha\\ \\ • Apr 13](https://fairlyqueer.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Top Reads of 2025](https://fairlyqueer.binderybooks.com/item/SrR5mYCdXX22n0fwc4rn/) I made a thing! * * * 7 books 4 [Peppered Ink\\ \\ Mary\\ \\ • Apr 11](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Y'all, I've been distracted. \\ \\ I have four new parasocial besties, and if NASA does not come out with merch featuring that adorable freaking moon plushie, I may actually cry. \\ \\ \\ \\ I will go ahead and tag a handful of my favorite space-related reads below (and a couple on my immediate TBR), but just know that precious little reading has happened amidst all of the cuteness. \\ \\ That said, I DID make a sticker, and if ANYONE wants one, please comment below! I'll email you separately for details of where to send it. \\ \\ \\ \\ More Bindery love to come this week as I recover from the return to gravity — including a STACK of ARCs I'm offloading that subscribers can nab here first! \\ \\ To the moon and (safely) back,\\ \\ Mary\\ \\ \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/item/zm8gbpyWmX9ZmYVvHN2z/) [Copy, Moon Joy! ​🌙](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/item/zm8gbpyWmX9ZmYVvHN2z/) * * * 6 books 3 [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Apr 2](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/QTcZ4nKAUBrY3bfu5MO1/) [📚 24 Sapphic Book Recs 🩷🤍💜](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/QTcZ4nKAUBrY3bfu5MO1/) Because sapphic stories deserve to be celebrated loudly and lovingly. * * * 24 books 3 [Fat Forward Books\\ \\ Samantha Puc\\ \\ • Dec 31 2025](https://fatfwdbooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [My Favorite Reads of 2025 🪩](https://fatfwdbooks.binderybooks.com/item/HCHj5U5MyoyBPcqxTYch/) I read so many books for my thesis and for work in 2025, and many of them made my list of favorite reads for the year. I also read a ton of fiction, continuing my horror streak from last year and deep-diving into new-to-me authors. Here’s to another year of book club meetings, listening to audiobooks on my commute to therapy, and staying up way too late reading comics in bed. 💛📚 #ReadIn2025 \[ID: A 6x6 grid of book covers set against a pink, orange, and yellow gradient. In black bubble font across the top of the graphic, it says, “Favorite Reads of 2025.” Black botanical sketches are in the background of the upper right and lower left corner. Samantha’s Instagram handle is in smaller, all-caps black font at the bottom of the graphic.\] * * * 14 books 2 [Discotopia \| Diverse Books\\ \\ Disco (he/they)\\ \\ • Dec 29 2025](https://discotopia.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Hi folks, \\ \\ It’s finally time! Here’s my list of my favourite queer reads this year. I’ll be doing another post soon with my top BIPOC reads!\\ \\ **Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose**\\ \\ \\ \\ Food magic, queer normative, angry revolution, eat the rich!!\\ \\ This is my top pick from the whole year.\\ \\ **The Chromatic Fantasy by H.A.**\\ \\ Runaway nun becomes a transmasc highwayman, meets another transmasc highwayman, shenanigans\\ \\ **A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander**\\ \\ A transmasc Earl who doesn’t want a valet but gets a handsome valet and regrets everything (but not really)\\ \\ **Tradwife by TC Parker**\\ \\ Queer investigator looks into unsolved murders in a Tradwife community, everyone’s a suspect, fictional true crime\\ \\ **Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove**\\ \\ Monsters in space, kinda queer AI, more found family!\\ \\ **Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson**\\ \\ A brutal vampire revenge thriller. A man and his basics track down an evil queer vampire. I was shocked and horrified and hooked.\\ \\ **The Prospects by KT Hoffman**\\ \\ An MM baseball romance with a transmasc MC. Do I understand baseball? No. Did it make me happy cry? Yes!\\ \\ **The Saint of Heartbreak by Morgan Dante**\\ \\ Judas x Lucifer love story, very sad bois, slowest of slow burns, literally thousands of years\\ \\ **Self Made Boys by Anne-Marie McLemore**\\ \\ The Great Gatsby but they’re both transmasc, the romance, oh the romance\\ \\ **The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles**\\ \\ A regency MM romance that will make you swoon. They were SO protective of each other!\\ \\ Do share your favourites in the comments!\\ \\ Much love,\\ \\ Disco x \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://discotopia.binderybooks.com/item/HSYcvJadXGio1qQkORkP/) [Top 10 Queer Books of 2025!](https://discotopia.binderybooks.com/item/HSYcvJadXGio1qQkORkP/) * * * 10 books 1 [Chanterelle Solace\\ \\ Sabie\\ \\ • Dec 19 2025](https://cozysabie.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Get a Rec from me & What my Taste in books look like](https://cozysabie.binderybooks.com/item/zWkYpBsDLSX6vanGzIRR/) 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 * * * 74 books 1 [chronicallybookish\\ \\ Kaley\\ \\ • Dec 9 2025](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [november reading wrap-up](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/item/XaB9iJnA2DervuJuzniq/) If I’m nonsensical for most of this video it’s because I’m deep in the trenches of finals week and my brain is mush #booktok #bookreviews #readingwrapup #romancebooktok #fantasybooktok * * * 14 books [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • Nov 25 2025](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [GO VOTE - Of Monsters and Mainframes is a Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist!](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/4IQU9kmvaMywR2znGNnC/) Go vote for Of Monsters and Mainframes by @Barbara Truelove!!! @Bindery #booktok #books #goodreads #ofmonstersandmainframes * * * 1 book 12 [2](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/4IQU9kmvaMywR2znGNnC/#comments) [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • Nov 15 2025](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Why I chose to publish these books!](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/wtuZZXIycOCitgKKK9KT/) Have you read any of them? @Bindery #booktok #books #houseoffrank #ofmonstersandmainframes #blackasdiamond * * * 3 books 13 [1](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/wtuZZXIycOCitgKKK9KT/#comments) [Beverly Books\\ \\ Kristian\\ \\ • Nov 15 2025](https://beverlybooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [On my continued meander around NYC, I made my way to Books Are Magic.\\ \\ **About Books Are Magic** \\ \\ > Books Are Magic is a family-owned independent bookstore with locations in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn, committed to being a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive space for all people. We believe that books are indeed magic, and that literature is one of the best ways to create empathy, transportation, and transformation.\\ \\ Emma Straub and Michael Fusco-Straub own the stores. Emma Straub is a widely acclaimed novelist and is the daughter of horror author, Peter Straub.\\ \\ \\ \\ It’s always interesting to see how bookstores stage their store. I strolled around the shelves and saw favorites and new-to-me releases.\\ \\ \\ \\ Staff picks rock, as you know. I enjoyed _Kill Creatures_ by Rory Power.\\ \\ \\ \\ I spotted a Bindery title amongst the books!\\ \\ \\ \\ Before leaving, I made sure to take a photo with their mural!\\ \\ [Books Are Magic](https://beverlybooks.binderybooks.com/item/Rg02L6uyEZhuYpunEkXH/) * * * 2 books 3 [Cozy Quill\\ \\ Meg\\ \\ • Nov 14 2025](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/item/HmNXDii0bgtdrXFHxTlp/) [I'm not ready to let go of fall reading yet 🍁](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/item/HmNXDii0bgtdrXFHxTlp/) I'm not ready to release my fall TBR! So today I'm sharing some of my favorite spooky books that I feel have cozy elements. * * * 10 books 10 [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • Nov 12 2025](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [I’m so thrilled and excited for this book! Please go vote and show it some love!!!](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/YM8nHEXme8xASBcqdHJI/) I’m so thrilled and excited for this book! Please go vote and show it some love!!! @Bindery @Barbara Truelove #booktok #books #ofmonstersandmainframes #goodreadschoiceawards2025 * * * 1 book 12 [Boozhoo Books\\ \\ Naomi\\ \\ • Nov 11 2025](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Friends,\\ \\ Huge Bindery news this morning! I'm so excited to share that TWO Bindery Books have made it to the Goodreads Choice awards! I am so excited for Barbara and Kris! (And Jaysen and Kathryn!) And I'm also excited for all of us because WOW!\\ \\ \\ \\ You can vote in the awards here.\\ \\ And while you are over there on Goodreads, if you haven't added our book What Feeds Below, by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, to your Want to Read list yet, today is the day! Let's do whatever we can so that we have an opportunity to make these lists next year. Add it here.\\ \\ If you haven't had a chance to read Of Monsters and Main Frames or Local Heavens, check them out below. And while it's still too early for advanced reader copies of What Feeds Below, you can check out Tatiana's other work TO BEST PREPARE YOURSELF for what you're about to get into.\\ \\ <3](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/UxZl6ducHbgwi9VFmiQP/) [Two Bindery Books Made it to the GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS!](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/UxZl6ducHbgwi9VFmiQP/) * * * 5 books 17 [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • Nov 11 2025](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Of Monsters and Mainframes Nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award!!!!](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/NNOEFG64AJgtVRS1Fbao/) * * * 1 book 23 [11](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/NNOEFG64AJgtVRS1Fbao/#comments) [The Moody Edit\\ \\ Jenn\\ \\ • Oct 30 2025](https://the-moody-edit.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [My Libby queue this week feels like a carefully balanced storm - eight books, eight moods, all orbiting different corners of curiosity, dread, and delight.\\ \\ **Crime & Suspense**\\ \\ - _The Lincoln Lawyer_ \- legal intrigue and moral ambiguity; the tension of justice that doesn't always feel just. \\ \\ - _Killer on the Road_ \- a psychological descent told from the mind of a killer - relentless, haunting, and disturbingly human.\\ \\ \\ **Horror & Speculative**\\ \\ - _You Weren't Meant to Be Human -_ existential horror and identity unspooling at the edges; a story about transformation and the terror of becoming. \\ \\ - _Of Monsters and Mainframes -_ tech meets terror; code, consciousness, and the uncanny in our machines. \\ \\ - _The Bewitching -_ witchcraft, power, and superstition woven through gothic atmosphere; history's hauntings in the hands of women who won't stay silent. \\ \\ \\ **Nonfiction & Thought-Provoking**\\ \\ - _The Cure for Woman -_ nonfiction that reclaims women's place in science; a story of medicine, defiance, and the fight to be believed. \\ \\ \\ **Whimsy & Adventure**\\ \\ - _Automatic Noodle -_ absurdist and sharp-edged; humor that slips into something uncanny and oddly true. \\ \\ - _A Pirate's Life for Tea -_ cozy escapism with a wink; mischief, magic, and maritime tea parties for when you want your chaos charming. \\ \\ \\ I've dipped into a few already, and each on carries its own current - some dark and unsettling, some sharp and clever, some quietly strange. The rest are waiting, humming at the edges of my week, promising new moods when I'm ready to sink in. \\ \\ Mood reading isn't about discipline or genre loyalty. It's about surrender. About knowing when you need courtroom tension over gothic curses, or when absurdism will soothe you better than a love story ever could. It's about giving your reading life permission to be a reflection of your inner weather. \\ \\ This is mood reading: trusting instinct, following curiosity, and letting your unread shelf become its own aesthetic. \\ \\ _Curated chaos for the discerning reader._\\ \\ **Curated chaos for the discerning reader.**\\ \\ Join for free or login](https://the-moody-edit.binderybooks.com/item/h2LPXa0H5FGwzphUPlxf/) [Mood: Chaos Curated, One Loan at a Time. Eight moods, one week, and a library card with commitment issues.](https://the-moody-edit.binderybooks.com/item/h2LPXa0H5FGwzphUPlxf/) * * * 8 books [Mareas\\ \\ Marines\\ \\ • Oct 27 2025](https://mareas.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [my tbr is out of control](https://mareas.binderybooks.com/item/DKyKksbEDL9FxiMNv48I/) 12 books off and 8 books on 😅 * * * 8 books 12 [3](https://mareas.binderybooks.com/item/DKyKksbEDL9FxiMNv48I/#comments) [Kist Reads\\ \\ Kist\\ \\ • Oct 3 2025](https://kistreadsbooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [(VIDEO) The best fiction/fantasy/scifi books I read in Q3!](https://kistreadsbooks.binderybooks.com/item/pokwhZ0rknKN9byhODl5/) The best fiction/fantasy/scifi books I read in Q3! * * * 5 books 11 [2](https://kistreadsbooks.binderybooks.com/item/pokwhZ0rknKN9byhODl5/#comments) [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • Oct 2 2025](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [The Bindery app is here!!!](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/zDtA9xzi4c9M0Vib4KWK/) What type of content would you like to see here? * * * 3 books 20 [Peppered Ink\\ \\ Mary\\ \\ • Oct 1 2025](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [See? I TOLD the Discord lovelies that I would use the "By Appointment Only" for the things I posted just for us on Bindery — and I'm hoping there are a few of you seeing this on the newly launched app! Shout out to Sam/@freezingalyce for the excellent naming suggestion. \\ \\ (Also, if you're not in my Discord, do come hang. We share pics of pets and gossip about book events gone wrong, among other things. Invitation link here.) \\ \\ Anywho, I have a bit of an unhauling going on, and quite a few avenues by which to offload my stash. The usual method of "cart everything down to Riverby's and accept store credit" is lovely and all, but I'd sooner offer them to **you** marvelous folk. \\ \\ ****Advanced Reader Copies**** \\ \\ SO! First things first, **the ARCs are FREE.** The seal on the front says "not for sale," and I aim to honor such directives. I have extra ARC copies of the following THREE Bindery titles. \\ \\ _"Of Monsters and Mainframes"_ by Barbara Truelove\\ \\ _"Black Salt Queen"_ by Samantha Bansil\\ \\ _"Dust Settles North"_ by Deena ElGenaidi\\ \\ All of the above are excellent, and I truly do recommend them. It's simply that I have no need/use for multiple copies of the same book. I am a collector, but once I have a favorite edition and/or more than one promotional copy, what purpose have I for extras?? Help me keep my office reasonably tidy. \\ \\ Should you have ANY interest at all in any of those three, **please make your preference known in the comments below!** These will be on a **first come, first served basis**, and I will ship them to you ASAP. (To that end, please keep a sharp eye on an email from me asking for your mailing address!) \\ \\ ****Pango Sale**** \\ \\ Secondly, Pango Books is having a too-good-to-pass-up promotion in which they are offering **$5 off any order of $15+ now through Friday, October 3rd at 11:59 pm PT.**\\ \\ To celebrate this, I am adding all the non-ARC books I need to unhaul on Pango (here I am!) and discounting them all! \\ \\ **Paperbacks will all be $4, and hardcovers will all be $7.**\\ \\ My paperback selection includes: \\ \\ _"The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey"_ by Serena Burdick\\ \\ _"Daisy Jones & the Six"_ by Taylor Jenkins Reid \\ \\ _"Head Over Heels"_ by Hannah Orenstein \\ \\ _"My Year of Rest and Relaxation"_ by Ottessa Moshfegh \\ \\ _"The Companion"_ by E.E. Ottoman \\ \\ While my hardcover titles include: \\ \\ _"The Ministry of Time"_ by Kaliane Bradley \\ \\ _"The Knockout Queen"_ by Rufi Thorpe\\ \\ _"Give the Dark My Love"_ by Beth Revis \\ \\ _"Malibu Rising"_ by Taylor Jenkins Reid \\ \\ _"The Vanishing Half"_ by Brit Bennett\\ \\ All of the above are in "excellent" or "like new" condition, and I am an avid bookmark user. Not a dog-eared page to be found. \\ \\ I will keep all of these live on Pango through the end of the weekend (Sunday, October 5th), but the platform's **promotion ends on Friday.** Snap up your wishlist as quick as you can! Any copies I do NOT sell by the end of Sunday will go to Riverby's, then my sister-in-law, then various Little Free Libraries around my area. \\ \\ Finally, thank you all SO MUCH for your exceptional support as Bindery continues to grow. The app launch this morning was awfully exciting for all of us. (Our poor developers... upon meeting them in person in June, the first words out of my mouth were, "SO A MOBILE APP, UMMMM??") I cannot convey to you how important it is to the Bindery crew, to all of my fellow Tastemakers, and to me that y'all are this awesome. \\ \\ Cheers, babes. \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/item/A0IvIPvwSOe9SnEIfqhn/) [By Appointment Only: Take My Books!](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/item/A0IvIPvwSOe9SnEIfqhn/) * * * 3 books 7 [6](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/item/A0IvIPvwSOe9SnEIfqhn/#comments) [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Sep 14 2025](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [👻🌈 Queer Books for the Spooky Season 🎃](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/QBWIhFyuD5f5mpDqAnHM/) Which ones are you adding to your fall TBR? * * * 27 books 2 [Bookwyrm Ink\\ \\ Bookwyrm Ink\\ \\ • Sep 7 2025](https://azthiabookwyrm.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://azthiabookwyrm.binderybooks.com/item/dbQlO4ZOdAJCqKXVGkPH/) [Golden Hare Books- Edinburgh](https://azthiabookwyrm.binderybooks.com/item/dbQlO4ZOdAJCqKXVGkPH/) Next stop on Edinburgh book tour was Golden Hare Books. A gorgeous little shop that has an amazing selection of books. 🥰 * * * 3 books [The Inkborne Society\\ \\ Azhangia\\ \\ • Aug 31 2025](https://azhangia.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [With multiple books hitting 4.5 stars or above, August turned out to be quite the month for good reads! Here are some thoughts on each of the books I read:\\ \\ ****My Top 3 of the Month**** \\ \\ ⭐4.75 - The Works of Vermin (Hiron Ennes)\\ \\ One of the most fascinating fantasy books I’ve read in a while, _The Works of Vermin_ featured sharp and deliberate writing, a trans main character, innovative worldbuilding (the magic system is based on a chemical toxin from a giant worm and weaponized perfumes), and a setting that was the perfect backdrop for the book’s themes of systemic exploitation, societal decay, and class division. The veneer of progress hides the rot eating away at society, both literally in the form of vermin and metaphorically in the way corruption thrives, and time and time again, the working class is forced to endure with the tenacity of roaches. This is a story that has crawled under my skin, unsettling and unforgettable, and I can’t wait for more readers to discover it!!\\ \\ ⭐4.50 - The Strength of the Few (James Islington)\\ \\ I read _The Will of the Many_ in 2023, which means I have been left on that brutal cliffhanger for two years now… so I was very excited when I got an early copy of _The Strength of the Few_! In TSOTF, the stakes are heightened, the intrigue ramps up, and though we’re still left with many questions by the end of the book (and another brutal cliffhanger), it is so exciting to witness the puzzle pieces starting to come together!! I also appreciated how Vis felt less like a YA main character in this book, as his perfection became more of a burden and the weight of his responsibility was directly addressed. Overall, I thought this was a very solid sequel and am looking forward to the next installment of the series.\\ \\ ⭐4.50 - Clockwork Angel (Cassandra Clare)\\ \\ I was a big fan of _The Mortal Instruments_ series in my pre-teen years, but never got around to reading _The Infernal Devices_. Boy was I missing out, because this series had everything I wanted in a YA fantasy series, and I was having the time of my life reading it (ily Will Herondale). It feels so nostalgic to be back in the world of the Shadowhunters, and I have been forewarned that this series will cause some emotional damage…can’t wait to get to that point :)\\ \\ \\ \\ ⭐4.50 - Daedalus is Dead (Seamus Sullivan)\\ \\ _Daedalus is Dead_ had a depth and complexity I was not at all expecting going into the novella, and I think lovers of Greek Mythology will find this to be a really thought provoking read about fatherhood, grief, and the monstrous truths we build around ourselves to become the heroes of our stories. That said, I probably wouldn’t recommend it to readers unfamiliar with Greek myths, as it leans somewhat heavily on references that aren’t always explained. Overall, I was really impressed by this - I’ve always wanted a mythology retelling of Icarus, but a retelling of the myth from his father Daedalus’ perspective proved far more interesting than I could have imagined.\\ \\ ⭐4.50 - A Little Hatred (Joe Abercrombie)\\ \\ Many people have said that the Age of Madness trilogy is Joe Abercrombie's best work, so I was incredibly excited to finally pick up this series after finishing the previous books in the world of the First Law. _A Little Hatred_ sits at the dawn of a new technological age, with characters grappling for power and control amidst the conflict between technology vs. magic and innovation vs. tradition. This book reminded me a lot of _The Legend of Korra_ (a god-tier show for those who haven’t seen it, I was also actually picturing one of the characters as Asami), and the blend of grimdark and steampunk elements combined with Abercrombie’s signature wit made this a highly enjoyable read. Can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy soon!\\ \\ ⭐4.25 - Fate’s Bane (C.L. Clarke)\\ \\ A sapphic tragedy that felt like a story being sung by a bard around a fire, _Fate’s Bane_ delivered all the yearning I could ever want. Set in a Celtic inspired swampy world filled with warring clans and inescapable fate, this novella offered a take on _Romeo and Juliet_ that felt both familiar and fresh. It’s beautifully written and well-paced, and I had a hard time putting it down!\\ \\ ⭐3.75 - The Memory of the Ogisi (Moses Ote Utomi)\\ \\ Inspired by African folklore and set in various desert civilizations, each book in the Forever Desert series reads like a fable, exploring the different forms that oppression can take. While I did appreciate _The Memory of the Ogisi_, the final book of the series, the story felt slightly repetitive at times. Given that the first book can technically be read as a standalone, I don’t know if I would recommend the rest of the series, but I do think book one, _The Lies of the Ajungo_, is very much worth a read.\\ \\ ⭐3.25 - Of Monsters and Mainframes (Barbara Truelove)\\ \\ I can 100% see how other people enjoy this book, but it unfortunately just wasn’t for me. I loved the quirky blend of science fiction and pulp horror, but I struggled to become emotionally invested in the characters, which ultimately dampened my enjoyment of the read. I still thought it was a lot of fun though!\\ \\ Since there are some new faces in this community following the launch of the book club, I just wanted to re-introduce some things you can expect from this page in addition to the book club. At the end of each month, I share one of these wrap-up posts with reviews of books I've read, and at the beginning of each month, I share a list of upcoming fantasy & sci-fi releases that have caught my eye (with reviews of ARCs I have read). Other content will be popping up at random (giveaways, deep dives, etc.) - so excited you are all here!\\ \\ Join for free or login](https://azhangia.binderybooks.com/item/7VDYyXR0svSpQcC3ot9s/) [August Reading Wrap-Up (Ratings & Reviews)](https://azhangia.binderybooks.com/item/7VDYyXR0svSpQcC3ot9s/) * * * 8 books 2 [Kist Reads\\ \\ Kist\\ \\ • Aug 28 2025](https://kistreadsbooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [(VIDEO) Criminally underrated science fiction and fantasy books!](https://kistreadsbooks.binderybooks.com/item/3i5aabCQQT89nqPLxOvu/) Criminally underrated science fiction and fantasy books that you should read ASAP! * * * 8 books 2