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The Maid and the Crocodile: A Novel in the World of Raybearer
Jordan Ifueko
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A romantic standalone fantasy set in the world of Raybearer, from New York Times bestselling author Jordan Ifueko. The smallest spark can bind two hearts . . . or start a revolution.
In the magic-soaked capital city of Oluwan, Small Sade needs a job—preferably as a maid, with employers who don’t mind her unique appearance and unlucky foot. But before she can be hired, she accidentally binds herself to a powerful being known only as the Crocodile, a god rumored to devour pretty girls. Small Sade entrances the Crocodile with her secret: she is a Curse Eater, gifted with the ability to alter people’s fates by cleaning their houses.
The handsome god warns that their fates are bound, but Small Sade evades him, launching herself into a new career as the Curse Eater of a swanky inn. She is determined to impress the wealthy inhabitants and earn her place in Oluwan City . . . assuming her secret-filled past—and the revolutionary ambitions of the Crocodile God—don’t catch up with her.
But maybe there is more to Small Sade. And maybe everyone in Oluwan City deserves more, too, from the maids all the way to the Anointed Ones.
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Posts about this title from Celestial
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 18
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!!
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!! part one has science fiction, too, but this round is focused on happier fantasies. :)
stay tuned for many more parts!!
📚 books mentioned: - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
👗💄: - earrings are from Art by Mesoma - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite and The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Lip Glaze Elixir (Midnight Lychee) from Sacheu Beauty - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Titan Books for the gifted copy!
#disabledbooks #fantasybooks #disabilityrepresentation #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @abramskids @titanbooks @fiercereads @artbymesoma @glamlite @dandylionsco @nyxcosmetics @sacheubeauty
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fantasy books • science fiction books • books with disabled characters • books by disabled authors • disability representation in literature • disabled fantasy characters • disabled sci fi charactres • diverse books • Amulet Books / Abrams Books • Fierce Reads • Fiewel and Friends
3 books
2
here are some of my favorite fantasy & science fiction books that I read in 2025!
here are some of my favorite fantasy & science fiction books that I read in 2025!
honestly, it was very hard to narrow down because I had SO many incredible speculative reads.
📚 books mentioned: - Fate’s Bane by C.L. Clark - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez
👗💄: - dress is from Free People, rented from Nuuly - eyeliners are Vegan Longwear Liners (Lilac and Ocean) from Pacifica Beauty - shimmer is Eyeshadow Single (Sparklepuff) from Half Magic - lip combo is Lip Lingerie Liner Stain (Up To No Good) from NYX Cosmetics and Bisou Jelly (Aissa) from Violette FR - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thanks to Tor and Tordotcom for the gifted copies!
#bestfantasybooks #readingwrapup #bestbooksof2025 #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @tordotcompub @abramsbooks @abramskids @flatiron_books @torbooks @freepeople @nuuly @halfmagicbeauty @nyxcosmetics @violette_fr @pacificabeauty
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top books of 2025 • favorite yearly reads • annual reading wrap up • favorite SFF books • SFF book recs • favorite books of the year • best books of 2025 • best reads of the year • fantasy books • science fiction books • fantasy book recommendations • science fiction book recommendations • diverse books • Tordotcom • Amulet Books • Flatiron Books • Tor Books
5 books
2
top 10 books of 2025 | my favorite reads from the year
it’s time …. let me tell you all about my favorite books from 2025!
10 books
2
💭 what were your favorite reads from 2025?
💭 what were your favorite reads from 2025?
TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2025!! the first of my wrap up posts has ARRIVED! be on the lookout for a long form video where I go into each of these reads in depth, plus some favorites broken out into genres.
📚 books mentioned: - You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad - Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones - Model Home by Rivers Solomon - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi - The Children by Melissa Albert
👗💄: - dress is from Aqua (thrifted) - eyeshadow is: In A Trance Palette from Colourpop, The Lord of the Rings Middle-Earth Palette from Glamlite, and You Make Me Happy Palette from KimChi Chic Beauty - eyeliner is Epiphany Glow Melt-On Eyeliner (Sea Sparkle) from Kaleidos - shimimers are duochrome singles from Ourbella - lip combo is Lip Lingerie Liner Stain (Send Nudes) from NYX Cosmetics and Jelly Job High Shine Gloss (Honey, It’s Jelly) from NYX Cosmetics - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thanks to Saga Press, Tordotcom, Tor Books, Amulet Books, Knopf, Flatiron, MCD, Get Underlined, and William Morrow for the gifted copies!
#favoritebooks #readingwrapup #bestbooksof2025 #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @sagapressbooks @tordotcompub @torbooks @abramsbooks @abramskids @aaknopf @flatiron_books @mcdbooks @getunderlined @williammorrowbooks @colourpopcosmetics @glamlite @kimchichicbeauty @kaleidosmakeup @ourbella.us @nyxcosmetics
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top 10 books of 2025 • favorite yearly reads • annual reading wrap up • favorite books of the year • best books of 2025 • best reads of the year • fantasy books • science fiction books • horror books • nonfiction books • diverse books
10 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 21 2025
it’s Wicked: For Good day!!! watch out world, I’m about to be super annoying!
here’s a little treat for the theatre kids.
📚 books mentioned: - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi - Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa - Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino - Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
👗💄: - dress is from For Love & Lemons, rented from Nuuly - eyeliner is from Kaleidos - eyeshadow is the Wicked: For Good Ozian Forest Palette from r.e.m. beauty - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Tordotcom, Avon, and Berkley for the gifted copies!
#bookrecsfrommusicals #ifyoulikethismusicalreadthisbook #wicked #wickedforgood #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #romancebooks #scifibooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #TorPartner #AvonPartner #BerkleyPartner @wickedmovie @wicked_musical @tordotcompub @avonbooks @harpercollins @berkleypub @fsgbooks @abramsbooks @forloveandlemons @nuuly @kaleidosmakeup @r.e.m.beauty
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 11 2025
11/11 is 👹STEPH DAY 👹!!
📚 books mentioned: - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi - Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei - The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez - You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones - The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta - Model Home by Rivers Solomon - Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad - The Reformatory by Tananarive Due - These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa
👗💄: - dress is from Chelsea Reece - eyeshadow is Mírame Eyeshadow Palette from Aora - duochrome eyeshadow is from Ourbella - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Tordotcom, MIRA Books/HTP Hive, Get Underlined, Flatiron, Tor Books, Saga Press, and Disney Hyperion for the gifted copies!
#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #bookrecs #birthdaybooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #FlatironPartner #SagaSaysCrew #sagapressbooks #SagaSays #TorPartner #FlatironPartner #GetUnderlinedPartner #HTPHivePartner @tordotcompub @readmirabooks @htp_hive @getunderlined @flatiron_books @torbooks @sagapressbooks @abramsbooks @aaknopf @disneybooks @mcdbooks @groveatlantic @bychelseareece @aoramakeup @ourbella_cosmetics
14 books
5
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 26 2025
it’s a midyear best list!! here are my favorite books that i’ve read in 2025 so far.
it’s a midyear best list!! here are my favorite books that i’ve read in 2025 so far.
📚 books mentioned: - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko
thank you to Tordotcom, Get Underlined, and Saga Press for the gifted copies!
#favoritebooks #bestbooks #midyearreading #bestbooksof2025 #favoritebooksof2025 #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram #nycbookstagram #sagasays #sagapressbooks #sagasayscrew #getunderlinedpartner @tordotcompub @delreybooks @getunderlined @sagapressbooks @abramsbooks @hotkeybooks @abramskids @piquebeyond
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 5 2025
hey hey hey! it’s your local disabled book creator clocking in for disability pride month!
hey hey hey! it’s your local disabled book creator clocking in for disability pride month!
📚 books mentioned: - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn - The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
thank you to Peachtree Teen for the free copy!
#disabilitypridemonth #disabilitypridemonthbooks #disabledbooks #disabilitybooks #disabilityrepbooks #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #nycbooktok #bookstagram #disabilitybookstagram #nycbookstagram @abramsbooks @abramskids @peachtreeteen
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 22 2025
get to know my book taste tag | will we vibe or FIGHT?
get to know my reading taste and see how closely it matches yours! i feel like this could become the new booktube newbie tag, no?! definitely make your own video versions of this tag, but also feel free to sound off in the comment section and share anything you want to about your own reading taste!
12 books
1
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 13 2025
FANTASY BOOKS I LOVE AND THAT I WANT YOU TO LOVE (PLS)!
FANTASY BOOKS I LOVE AND THAT I WANT YOU TO LOVE (PLS)!
📚 books mentioned: - The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez - To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi
thank you to Tordotcom, Penguin Random House, and Get Underlined for the free copies!
#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #fantasybookreviews #diversefantasy #GetUnderlinedPartner #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @delreybooks @tordotcompub @abramsbooks @ireadvintage @penguinrandomhouse @getunderlined
6 books
1
Posts about this book from across Bindery
ofpagesandprint\ \ Dahlia\ \ • Jul 15
Join for free
[Happy Disability Pride Month! To celebrate, I've gathered some stories I adore written by and/or featuring disabled authors and characters:\ \
- Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz - A twisty, atmospheric YA contemporary fantasy brimming with Norse mythology and enemies-to-lovers romance.\ \
- One for All by Lillie Lainoff - An empowering, sweeping YA retelling of The Three Musketeers with sisterhood and swordfights. \ \
- The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - A spellbinding, tender YA cozy fantasy perfect for fans of Howl's Moving Castle. \ \
- The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew - A haunting, gripping YA dark academia novel with mystery, horror, and romance.\ \
- This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede - A charming, laugh-out-loud funny YA fantasy with a bodyguard romance, found family, and magic. \ \
- Behooved by M. Stevenson - An adventurous, enchanting cozy fantasy perfect for fans of My Lady Jane.\ \
- Tarnished by Erica Rose Eberhart - A lush, cinematic fantasy with magic, sapphic romance, and an action-packed plot.\ \
- Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman - An immersive, twisty YA fantasy with found family, faerie lore, and twin bonds.\ \
- To a Darker Shore by Leanne Schwartz - A captivating, beautifully monstrous YA fantasy with a friends-to-lovers romance, perfect for fans of Hadestown.\ \
- The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs - A heartfelt, addictive medieval cozy fantasy brimming with adventure, romance, mythical beasts, and magic. \ \ \ What are you reading this Disability Pride Month? 🫶\ \ Join for free or login](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/item/XU59rbdjMcI0yzfSsUSL/)
Disability Pride Month Book Recs!
10 books
2
The Lost Souls Coven\ \ LeAnna Ehrsam\ \ • Jun 3
Join for free
Love our little book club and excited to get deeper into both of these. I’m in a magical, fable, and cozy space right now.
What is your favorite cozy read??
#cozybooks #fantasy #fables #bookclub
2 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 18
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!!
yippee for more fantasy book recs with disabled characters!! part one has science fiction, too, but this round is focused on happier fantasies. :)
stay tuned for many more parts!!
📚 books mentioned: - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
thank you to Titan Books for the gifted copy!
.
3 books
2
here are some of my favorite fantasy & science fiction books that I read in 2025!
here are some of my favorite fantasy & science fiction books that I read in 2025!
honestly, it was very hard to narrow down because I had SO many incredible speculative reads.
thanks to Tor and Tordotcom for the gifted copies!
.
5 books
2
top 10 books of 2025 | my favorite reads from the year
it’s time …. let me tell you all about my favorite books from 2025!
10 books
2
💭 what were your favorite reads from 2025?
💭 what were your favorite reads from 2025?
thanks to Saga Press, Tordotcom, Tor Books, Amulet Books, Knopf, Flatiron, MCD, Get Underlined, and William Morrow for the gifted copies!
.
10 books
Cozy Quill\ \ Meg\ \ • Dec 31 2025
Join for free
\ \ \ \ JANUARY: THE MAID & THE CROCODILE\ \ In the magic-soaked capital city of Oluwan, Small Sade needs a job - preferably as a maid, with employers who don't mind her unique appearance and unlucky foot. But before she can be hired, she accidentally binds herself to a powerful being known only as the Crocodile, a god rumoured to devour pretty girls. Small Sade entrances the Crocodile with her she is a Curse Eater, gifted with the ability to alter people's fates by cleaning their houses.\ \ The handsome god warns that their fates are bound, but Small Sade evades him, launching herself into a new career as the Curse Eater of a swanky inn. She is determined to impress the wealthy inhabitants and earn her place in Oluwan City . . . assuming her secret-filled past - and the revolutionary ambitions of the Crocodile - don't catch up with her.\ \ But maybe there is more to Small Sade. And maybe everyone in Oluwan City deserves more too - from the maids all the way to the Anointed Ones.\ \ \ \ FEBRUARY: THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE\ \ Rival ornithologists hunt through England for a rare magical bird in this historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.\ \ Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon.\ \ For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals.\ \ When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.\ \ \ \ MARCH: SWORDHEART\ \ Halla has unexpectedly inherited the estate of a wealthy uncle. Unfortunately, she is also saddled with money-hungry relatives full of devious plans for how to wrest the inheritance away from her.\ \ While locked in her bedroom, Halla inspects the ancient sword that's been collecting dust on the wall since before she moved in. Out of desperation, she unsheathes it—and suddenly a man appears. His name is Sarkis, he tells her, and he is an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel.\ \ Sarkis is sworn to protect whoever wields the sword, and for Halla—a most unusual wielder—he finds himself fending off not grand armies and deadly assassins but instead everything from kindly-seeming bandits to roving inquisitors to her own in-laws. But as Halla and Sarkis grow closer, they overlook the biggest threat of all—the sword itself.\ \ \ \ APRIL: I GOT ABDUCTED BY AN ALIEN AND NOW I'M TRAPPED IN A ROM-COM\ \ Dorothy Valentine is close to getting her PhD in wildlife biology when she’s attacked by a lion. On the bright side, she’s saved! On the not-so-bright side, it’s because they’re abducted by aliens. In her scramble to escape, Dory and the lion commandeer an escape pod and crash-land on an alien planet that has...dinosaurs?\ \ Dory and her new lion bestie, Toto, are saved in the nick of time by a mysterious and sexy alien, Sol. On their new adventure, they team up with the equally hot, equally dangerous Lok, who may or may not be a war criminal. Whether it be trauma, fate, or intrigue, Dory can’t resist the attraction that’s developing in their trio....\ \ As this ragtag group of misfits explore their new planet, Dory learns more about how and why they’ve all ended up together, battles more prehistoric creatures than she imagined (she imagined...zero), and questions if she even wants to go back home to Earth in this hilarious and steamy alien romance adventure comedy romp.\ \ \ \ MAY: THE HALFLING'S HARVEST\ \ For most halflings, the annual harvest festival is a time to revel in life's simple pleasures—hearty feasts, flowing wine, and warm hospitality. But for Marigold Bramblefoot, owner of the Dew Drop Inn and Vineyard, it’s the busiest—and most stressful—time of the year.\ \ Juggling an inn full of quirky guests, preparing for the bustling festivities, and managing her vineyard would be enough to overwhelm anyone. But Marigold has her sights set on something bigger: winning first place in the annual wine competition and finally stepping out of her father’s shadow.\ \ The only problem? Her rival, Darkroot Cellars, has dominated the competition for a decade thanks to the druidic magic behind their wines.\ \ With her hands full and her heart set on success, Marigold must balance the chaos of the festival, a budding romance, and unraveling the vineyard's hidden mysteries, all while discovering what it truly means to craft her own legacy. Because in Willowbrook, the harvest festival is more than a celebration—it’s a season for transformation, and Marigold’s is long overdue.\ \ \ \ JUNE: SCORCERY & SMALL MAGICS\ \ Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.\ \ He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.\ \ That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.\ \ Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.\ \ Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.\ \ \ \ JULY: FOR WHOM THE BELLE TOLLS\ \ Lily isn’t exactly thrilled with her arrival in the Afterlife, but what awaits her there is more fantastical than she ever could have imagined: Deities wait in line at the coffee shop. Fae flit between realms. Souls find ways to make death a beginning.\ \ As she explores the many corners of the Afterlife, Lily finds herself surprisingly drawn to a place most people would avoid at all costs: Hell. Armed with years of customer service experience and pent-up sarcasm, Lily carves a job out for herself amongst Hell’s demons, sending souls to their rightful circles with more than a hint of sass.\ \ Lily’s expectations are subverted every day in Hell—especially by Bel, a demon general with a distractingly sexy voice. The two meet by chance and form an immediate, deeply healing friendship, but the undeniable heat between them threatens to combust.\ \ Meanwhile, something stirs beyond the boundaries of their world, threatening to destroy everything they’ve known and everything that could be…unless they fight like Hell to stop it.\ \ This debut novel from BookTok sensation Jaysea Lynn invites you to lose yourself in a world where love ignites in the unlikeliest of places, magic defies the rules, and the Afterlife proves more thrilling than anyone could imagine.\ \ \ \ AUGUST: A WITCH'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING\ \ An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches .\ \ Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.\ \ When she learns about an old spellbook that holds the secret to restoring her power, she turns to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous historian who might just be able to help her unlock the book’s mysteries. Luke, who has his own reasons for staying at the inn, never planned on getting involved in the madcap goings-on around him and certainly had no intention of letting certain grumpy innkeepers past his icy walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he not only agrees to help, but also finds himself thawing .\ \ Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.\ \ \ \ SEPTEMBER: THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE\ \ Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.\ \ This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.\ \ But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.\ \ This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.\ \ \ \ OCTOBER: THE GHOSTS OF ROSE HILL\ \ Sent to stay with her aunt in Prague and witness the humble life of an artist, Ilana Lopez—a biracial Jewish girl—finds herself torn between her dream of becoming a violinist and her immigrant parents’ desire for her to pursue a more stable career.\ \ When she discovers a forgotten Jewish cemetery behind her aunt’s cottage, she meets the ghost of a kindhearted boy named Benjamin, who died over a century ago. As Ilana restores Benjamin’s grave, he introduces her to the enchanted side of Prague, where ghosts walk the streets and their kisses have warmth.\ \ But Benjamin isn't the only one interested in Ilana. Rudolph Wassermann, a man with no shadow, has become fascinated with her and the music she plays. He offers to share his magic, so Ilana can be with Benjamin and pursue her passion for violin. But after Ilana discovers the truth about Wassermann and how Benjamin became bound to the city, she resolves to save the boy she loves, even if it means losing him—forever.\ \ A love letter to Latin American and Jewish diasporas, based on the author's experiences working to maintain Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe. The Ghosts of Rose Hill is a tender and empowering read that you will devour in one sitting. Steeped in history and the experiences of immigrant families, especially Jewish families, each carefully-chosen word of this magical verse novel casts a spell.\ \ \ \ NOVEMBER: RECIPES FOR AN UNEXPECTED AFTERLIFE\ \ Rottgor is worn out. Literally. Barely held together by dark magic, he has protected the Necropolis for centuries. When he’s forced into retirement, he’s faced with a new to forge a future guided not by obligation, but by passion.\ \ Following his heart (and stomach), he decides to open a restaurant where the city’s undead and living residents can share food and community. He’s helped in his quest by an unlikely assortment of neighbors, including elves, skeletons, vampires—and a young orphan girl named Astra, whose ancestry, if discovered, could put her and the entire Necropolis in danger. To protect Astra and the life he’s building, Rottgor must face his past and form new alliances built on friendship, loyalty, and love. As comforting as warm pumpkin bread, this gentle fantasy traces how even a dark history can rise into a bright future.\ \ \ \ DECEMBER: BRIGANDS & BREADKNIVES\ \ Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop. What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails her!\ \ If only things were so simple…\ \ It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, nor as easy as a change of scenery and a lick of paint.\ \ A drunken and desperate night sees the rattkin waking far from home in the company of a legendary warrior surviving on inertia, an imprisoned chaos-goblin with a fondness for silverware, and an absolutely thumping hangover.\ \ As together they fend off a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells trying to claim the bounty the goblin represents, Fern may finally reconnect with the person she actually is when there isn’t a job to get in the way.](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/item/SXvI8XIDHVBUeXDjIGUn/)
12 books
8
chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Nov 29 2025
Join for free
Buried under the weight of my TBR but I couldn’t be happier #booktok #bookhaul #indiebookstore #romancebooktok #fantasybooktok
22 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 21 2025
it’s Wicked: For Good day!!! watch out world, I’m about to be super annoying!
here’s a little treat for the theatre kids.
thank you to Tordotcom, Avon, and Berkley for the gifted copies!
5 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 11 2025
11/11 is 👹STEPH DAY 👹!!
thank you to Tordotcom, MIRA Books/HTP Hive, Get Underlined, Flatiron, Tor Books, Saga Press, and Disney Hyperion for the gifted copies!
14 books
5
The Inkborne Society\ \ Azhangia\ \ • Jul 30 2025
Join for free
July Reading Wrap-Up: Ratings & Reviews
9 books
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 26 2025
it’s a midyear best list!! here are my favorite books that i’ve read in 2025 so far.
it’s a midyear best list!! here are my favorite books that i’ve read in 2025 so far.
thank you to Tordotcom, Get Underlined, and Saga Press for the gifted copies!
5 books
Cozy Quill\ \ Meg\ \ • Jul 10 2025
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\ \ Join for free or login](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/item/C9IYW8DeTcOcLQXf2q2T/)
My Standout Reads of 2025 (so far) 📚
Join me as I recap the stories that healed me, haunted me, or had me wondering why I even have a TBR if I’m just going to reread that one again.
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 5 2025
hey hey hey! it’s your local disabled book creator clocking in for disability pride month!
hey hey hey! it’s your local disabled book creator clocking in for disability pride month!
📚 books mentioned: - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn - The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
thank you to Peachtree Teen for the free copy!
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 22 2025
get to know my book taste tag | will we vibe or FIGHT?
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 13 2025
FANTASY BOOKS I LOVE AND THAT I WANT YOU TO LOVE (PLS)!
FANTASY BOOKS I LOVE AND THAT I WANT YOU TO LOVE (PLS)!
thank you to Tordotcom, Penguin Random House, and Get Underlined for the free copies!
6 books
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Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • May 5 2025
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Hey Large Creators, it's time to let go of Harry Potter
I've seen so many large creators jumping on the Harry Potter train and I am begging y'all to find another ride. That one's broken.
8 books
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Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Feb 17 2025
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Black Authors Who I Think History Will Remember
I started this post as a Bluesky thread a few days ago, but I realized I needed more space than a social media post would allow. So here are some of my favorite Black authors! Enjoy!!!
27 books
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Ezeekat Press\ \ Jaysen\ \ • Dec 30 2024
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Early Bird Viewing! Reading Wrap-Up - December 2024
How was your December?? Did you end the reading year on a high or low note? What are you excited to read in 2025??
Books Featured in this video:
The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko The Silmarillion J.R.R. Tolkien Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson Hidden Nature by Alys Fowler Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad A People's History of the United by Howard Zinn All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly
My Other Places:
Discord: https://discord.gg/5QqNANjdc7 Ezeekat Press Subscriber Community: https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/ Fable Book Club: https://fable.co/club/ezeekats-book-club-with-ezeekat-332055432165 Fable Anime Club: https://fable.co/club/ezeekats-anime-club-with-ezeekat-513994156898
8 books
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Cozy Quill\ \ Meg\ \ • Nov 26 2024
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3 Books I’ve Been LOVING Lately 📚
Truly obsessed with each of these! Would love to know if you’ve read them as well? Any thoughts?
4 books
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Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Nov 14 2024
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There is a large conversation happening about the lack of representation for boys in YA, and I want to offer my thoughts on why that problem exists, and on how to fix it! Enjoy!!!
11 books
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Written Reveries\ \ Krystal\ \ • Jun 21 2024
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Shevles and the City & book mail/haul
Quick life update on what I've been up to and some books I've acquired. The ones that aren't out yet are available for preorder.
15 books
Left Unread Books\ \ Michael LaBorn\ \ • Jun 14 2024
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Just got the ARC for Jordan Ifueko's newest book! AHHH!
I just got the ARC for The Maid and the Crocodile and I am so excited! Click the photo below to read a little bit about the book and my guesses for what themes it will cover! Also, come hang out with us on discord! Here is a link: https://discord.gg/BT93vqnTXM
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