Ink & Ether | Black Salt Queen

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Black Salt Queen

Samantha Bansil

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There can be no victory without betrayal.

Hara Duja Gatdula, queen of the island nation of Maynara, holds the divine power to move the earth. But her strength is failing and the line of succession gives her little comfort. Her heir, Laya, is a danger—a petty and passionate princess who wields the enormous power of the skies with fickle indifference.

Circling the throne is Imeria Kulaw—the matriarch of a traitorous rival family who wields recklessly enhanced powers of her own—with designs to secure a high-ranking position for her son and claim the crown for her family. Each woman has a secret weakness—a lover, a heartbreak, a lie. But each is willing to pay the steepest price to bring down her rivals once and for all.

Filled with passion, romance, betrayal, and divine magic, Black Salt Queen journeys to a gorgeous precolonial island nation where women—and secrets—reign.

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Posts about this title from Ink & Ether

Ink & Ether\ \ Michelle, The Keeper\ \ • Jul 9

Welcome to the Ink & Ether July '26 Dispatch \ \ Hi Book Friends!\ \ I know it's been a minute since you heard from me. I admit I haven't exactly been staying on top of keeping you updated. But that's about to change so expect monthly updates with all the details of what's happening at I&E. Let's go!\ \ What's been on my mind \ \ There’s been a lot happening for Ink & Ether in recent months. Doing consistent weekly pop-up events has been amazing and exhausting (in the best way of course). It’s definitely shown me that there are people who like this thing that I’m creating and for that, I am extremely grateful. I had to take a small break to reset and enjoy time with my family, but I’m back and I have some great plans for the future of Ink & Ether.\ \ What's new on the shelves \ \ The bindery books section has exploded! I’ve added some new titles and restocked some old ones so please be sure to find the new Bindery collection on my website. Catch a glimpse of some of these titles below.\ \ Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes: If Beloved and Get Out had a baby in 1920’s Mississippi and gave her a coven.\ \ The Devil Of The Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois: If Pirates of the Caribbean was Haitian, queer, and had something to say about blind faith in corrupt gods.\ \ Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil: If Game of Thrones was set in precolonial Philippines, centered women entirely, and actually made you root for the villain.\ \ From the grimoire \ \ Anyone who knows me, knows I enjoy dabbling in the mystic arts. Since Ink & Ether began, I have wanted to find a way to incorporate my esoteric knowledge in some way and I think I've come up with something.\ \ Every month I will draw a tarot card to select a title to spotlight. \ \ This month's card pull is drawn from The Good Tarot by Colette Baron-Reid. \ \ The card pull: 8 of Earth (8 of Pentacles) - the card of the devoted craftsperson\ \ This card reminds us Rome wasn't built in a day. Sometimes success is built from daily acts of devotion. Incrementally. By showing up day after day, doing the work, putting in the time, and mastering your craft. Every small act of devotion compounds. The work is the magic.\ \ For your reading life this month I'm pairing this card with You Were Born For This by Chani Nichols. This read is a reminder that your purpose isn't found in a single moment but excavated slowly, through honest self-study and the willingness to keep going.\ \ And for fiction, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. After Sera Swann loses her power, she tends the Inn and keeps working to reclaim her magic. \ \ This month the card is asking, what are you building quietly that deserves more of your attention?\ \ Find Ink & Ether this month \ \ I am making a concerted effort to have more events outside of pop ups. After all, how else is one supposed to build community? This month you can expect the first meeting of our Silent Reading Group. And soon we’ll be adding a Sunday Letter Writers group too! More on that to come.\ \ July 17 - Summer Night Market @ Communitea Coffee\ \ July 19 - Pages & Pour: Silent Reading Group @ Communitea Coffee\ \ July 25 - Bagels and Boutiques @ Rekindle Coffee\ \ July 25 - Mystic Night Market @ Lunam Love\ \ You read that right I have 2 pop ups on July 25! What can I say, I felt bad for taking a few weeks off. I figured this was a good way to appease the bookselling gods LOL\ \ Beyond this month there are already some big book events in Ink & Ether's future. Look out for us at Dragons & Dreamers and The OC Book Fair: Vol. 3!\ \ For more events, visit the Ink & Ether website.\ \ The Letter Corner \ \ The Sunday Letter Project is something I discovered on Instagram. Started in 2025 by a couple in the UK with a stationery shop, The Sunday Letter Project is an analog path to connection with our neighbors in a digital world. I started writing letters on Sunday’s and have come to really enjoy the ritual of recounting my week to no one in particular.\ \ Soon, Ink & Ether will become a full fledged “Letter Keeper” as they’re called, and will act as a poste restante for letter writers seeking a pen-pal. Write to friends and family, or your future self, or find a pen-pal on the other side of the world, the point is to find connection and slow down.\ \ You can learn more about The Sunday Letter Project here and I’ll keep you posted on what’s next. It's my deepest hope that in the coming months we can create gatherings around letter writing and build network outside of this part of the country and world.\ \ Before you go \ \ Whew! That was a lot but thanks for getting through that with me. I’m manifesting magic for you this month.\ \ With gratitude,\ \ The Keeper

✦ THE INK & ETHER JULY DISPATCH✦

magic, feminism, and rebellion — delivered monthly

5 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Rachael's Reads\ \ Rachael\ \ • Jul 15

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June was WILD! It kicked off with Big Ohio Book Con where I did very little reading but met some of

June was WILD! It kicked off with Big Ohio Book Con where I did very little reading but met some of my favorite authors as well as some new-to-me writers. I also had such a good time hanging out with my Booksta-turned-IRL friends! Do I still need to publish all the content from that weekend? You bet!

My reading felt a little chaotic this month. I DNF'd two books in a row, bringing my DNF total to four for the year. DNFing always seems to throw me into a funk.

I Buddy Read three books: The Bright Years, My Friends, and The Last Letter. I definitely enjoyed this and want to make more room in my reading schedule to read with friends!

Romance remained my top genre, but not by any kind of landslide - I even snuck a memoir in there!

I'm back in class with the start of July, but I'm hoping to stay on top of my reading goals!

🗨️ What's the number one thing that will make you DNF a book?

🏷️ Monthly Reading Wrap Up, June Reading Wrap Up, Romance Recommendations, Fantasy Recommendations, Advanced Reader Copy, Advanced Listening Copy, ARC Reviewer, ALC Reviewer, LibroFM Influencer, Gallery Books Partner, BookSparks Ambassador, Bloomsbury Creator Circle

#SRC2026 #TheBookOdyssey

11 books

Ink & Ether\ \ Michelle, The Keeper\ \ • Jul 9

✦ THE INK & ETHER JULY DISPATCH✦

magic, feminism, and rebellion — delivered monthly

5 books

Casey the Reader\ \ Casey\ \ • Jul 3

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[Now that I'm doing weekly reading roundups on Mondays, it doesn't really make sense to do a fave of the week on Fridays. I don't know exactly what I'm gonna do yet (I KNOW it doesn't have to be the same every week. But my brain does not! It likes routines!), but today I've got my June wrap up and a look forward at some books I hope to pick up in July. (Books marked with a * were gifted to me and books marked with a ^ I was paid to read.)\ \ For June reads, it's no surprise that all my faves (starred) were books I read for Pride Reading Bingo. Queer books forever!\ \ \ \ THE QUARTER QUEEN^\ \ WHY ARE PEOPLE INTO THAT?\ \ LONDON FALLING*\ \ ⭐️ SEVEN DEVILS\ \ ESCALA'S WISH^\ \ ⭐️ THE MAIDENHEADS*\ \ DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL (reread)\ \ ⭐️ SEASONS OF GLASS AND IRON*\ \ DIVERGENT (reread)\ \ POOL HOUSE*\ \ LOVE IS AN EX-COUNTRY\ \ RAISING ARTEMIS^\ \ THE FOREST ON THE EDGE OF TIME*\ \ ⭐ ONE OF THE BOYS*\ \ DEATH OF THE AUTHOR*\ \ ⭐ SHAPES OF LOVE*\ \

- *\ \ Here's what's on deck for July. (Ish...you know how that mood reading life goes.)\ \ \ \ MOSS'D IN SPACE* - This is the July Found Family Book Club pick!\ \ CHAOS* - This space romance series is a fave of mine and I've been saving this latest installment for when I needed a treat.\ \ MAKE ME BETTER* - Gailey is a fave author and normally I would have gobbled this up by now but for some reason I thought it was a fall release and therefore I didn't prioritize the ARC. Whoops!\ \ BLACK SALT QUEEN* - I've been meaning to read this fantasy about royalty, romance, and betrayal for awhile and the sequel recently came out so I better get to it!\ \ I LOVE YOU DON'T DIE* - I'd intended to read this for Pride Bingo and didn't get there. I adored Song's debut CHLORINE and am looking forward to more of that.\ \ THIS PRINCESS KILLS MONSTERS* - Another Pride Bingo fail. I've been very into cozy, comedic fantasy lately so I'm ready to wrap myself up in this one.\ \ OUT OF STEP, INTO YOU* - The last of my Pride Bingo intendeds. I thought Burch's debut YA novel a few years ago was seriously underrated, so watch out for me yelling about this one soon.\ \ Books I'm carrying over from June: My current reads are Love In A F-cked Up World by Dean Spade and Coldwire* by Chloe Gong.\ \ Other miscellaneous July reads: I run an in-person book club that reads spicy books and I our July pick is The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, which will be a reread for me. I also read the first chapter of Murder In The Dressing Room* by Holly Star yesterday. There will be other audiobooks because I can't commute without them, but I haven't picked any yet.\ \ Is that a packed enough TBR for you or what!\ \ Join for free or login](https://caseythereader.binderybooks.com/item/RjgobKuiwId4ySBsPVwi/)

June Wrap Up + July Hopefuls

26 books

Stardust Books\ \ Joy\ \ • Jun 4

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Good morning Readers!!\ \ I am so excited. I just placed an order for a bunch of Bindery books. I am so happy to finally have them at the shop and share them with my readers. We will have \ \ House of Frank by Kay Synclair\ \ Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil\ \ Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase\ \ Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois\ \ Our sisters Keeper by Jasmine Holmes\ \ Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston Munden\ \ To Bargain with Mortals by R. A Basu\ \ Just to start! Ill keep you posted on when these increbible books come in.

Bindery Titles on the Way!

7 books

Violetear Books\ \ Kevin\ \ • Feb 24

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\ \ The official cover of the sequel to Black Salt Queen! I am obsessed.\ \ Join for free or login](https://violetear.binderybooks.com/item/dgKiZRl6Va8hpayfkHHX/)

COVER REVEAL!

2 books

Violetear Books\ \ Kevin\ \ • Oct 29 2025

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[Meet the sapphic couple of Black Salt Queen: Duja & Imeria! \ \

Mean Lesbian Mommies

1 book

Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • Oct 1 2025

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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

By Appointment Only: Take My Books!

3 books

Sunny's Book Truck\ \ CJ\ \ • Aug 15 2025

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[Poll:\ \ Are any of these on your TBR?\ \ Hi nerds,\ \ Last night we held our second installment of the Sunny's Salon—a monthly addition to our event programming that is like a book club with no assigned reading. We kicked off the night by doing a 15 minute reading sprint with some lofi music playing in the background and then went into a larger discussion centered around or Last, Now, and Next. It was so fun hearing about what people were reading or had on their radar (weirdly three people wanted to read Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh next) and seeing where reading taste overlapped and differed. Below you will find 50 (!) book recommendations gathered from the Yuma community.\ \ \ \

Endling: Set in Ukraine, an eccentric scientist breeding rare snails crosses paths with sisters posing as members of the marriage industry to find their activist mother. As Russia invades, they embark on a wild journey with kidnapped bachelors and a last-of-its-kind snail. This darkly comic novel explores survival, love, and hope in times of encroaching darkness.\ \
Hot Girls with Balls: In this outrageous and deeply serious satire, two star indoor volleyball players juggle unspoken jealousies in their off-court romance ahead of their rival teams’ first rematch in a year.\ \
Mayra: An eerie, hypnotic debut about friendship, desire, and memory set against the sultry backdrop of Florida’s swamplands.\ \
Empire of Pain: A grand, devastating portrait of three generations of the Sackler family, famed for their philanthropy, whose fortune was built by Valium and whose reputation was destroyed by OxyContin.\ \
Say Hello to my Little Friend: Scarface meets Moby Dick in Say Hello to My Little Friend following a young man’s attempt to capitalize on his mother’s murky legacy—a story steeped in Miami’s marvelous and sinister magic.\ \
I'll Make a Spectacle of You: This heart-pounding horror debut from Beatrice Winifred Iker takes listeners to Bricksbury University, the oldest and most storied HBCUs in the nation. But as one student is about to find out, a long history comes with a legacy of secrets.\ \ \ \ \
Before Elvis: In this thought-provoking book, the Black musicians who influenced Elvis Presley's music finally receive recognition and praise.\ \
Nineteen Minutes: Jodi Picoult pens her most riveting book yet, with a startling and poignant story about the devastating aftermath of a small-town tragedy.\ \
Pageboy: With this evocative and lyrical debut, Oscar-nominated star Elliot Page captures the universal human experience of searching for ourselves and our place in this complicated world.\ \
Follow My Voice: This spellbinding #BookTok sensation from internationally bestselling author Ariana Godoy follows a nineteen-year-old battling agoraphobia as she forms an unexpected connection with the host of her favorite college radio show.\ \
Wild Love: She's been driving him wild for years. The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild. But mostly, the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.\ \
The Possession of Alba Díaz: When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn’t trust…from bestselling author Isabel Cañas.\ \ \ \ \
The Colossus of New York: Here is a literary love song that will entrance anyone who has lived in—or spent time—in the greatest of American cities.\ \
Is Mother Dead: A cat and mouse game of surveillance and psychological torment develops between a middleaged artist and her aging mother.\ \
The Metamorphosis: This is not just a novel about physical transformation but also a deep reflection on alienation and loneliness.\ \
Time and Time Again: In this debut YA speculative romance perfect for fans of Rachael Lippincott, two queer, disabled, Jewish teens find themselves stuck in a time loop--and falling love.\ \
The Fellowship of the Ring: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.\ \
The Library at Hellebore: A deeply dark academia novel from USA Today bestselling author Cassandra Khaw, perfect for fans of A Deadly Education and An Education in Malice who are hungry for something more diabolical.\ \ \ \ \
A Resistance of Witches: As World War II rages around her, a witch abandoned by her coven must journey to find a book of unspeakable power before it lands in Nazi hands.\ \
Ruthless Vows: The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.\ \
Tender is the Flesh: Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans - though no one calls them that anymore.\ \
Our Share of Night: A woman’s mysterious death puts her husband and son on a collision course with her demonic family.\ \
Heart of Darkness: The story is narrated by Charles Marlow, recalling his obsessive quest to locate the ivory trader Kurtz, who has become ensconced deep in the jungle managing a remote outpost. As he ventures further and further down the Congo, Marlow finds himself and his surroundings become increasingly untethered.\ \
Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed: A "harrowing, incendiary" exposé of the real Kennedy Curse—the family’s generations-long legacy of misogyny, murder, and mayhem.\ \ \ \ \
The Summer I Turned Pretty: As the summer seasons pass, Belly has to choose between two brothers who love her…and she’ll have to break one of their hearts.\ \
Releasing 10: A devastatingly raw, achingly beautiful love story that will rip your heart out and patch it back together.\ \
Tropic of Orange: Irreverently juggling magical realism, film noir, hip hop, and chicanismo, Tropic of Orange takes place in a Los Angeles where the homeless, gangsters, infant organ entrepreneurs, and Hollywood collide on a stretch of the Harbor Freeway.\ \
Atmosphere: An epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.\ \
Starving Saints: A transfixing fever dream of medieval horror following three women in a besieged castle that descends ravenously into madness under the spell of mysterious, godlike visitors.\ \
Black Salt Queen: Filled with passion, romance, betrayal, and divine magic, Black Salt Queen journeys to a gorgeous precolonial island nation where women—and secrets—reign.\ \ \ \ \
American Scare: A vital exposé for both our history and our present day, American Scare tells the riveting story of how the Florida government destroyed the lives of Black and queer citizens in the twentieth century.\ \
Can't Get Enough: Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry's rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it.\ \
Ship Fever: The elegant short fictions gathered hereabout the love of science and the science of love are often set against the backdrop of the nineteenth century.\ \
Lapvona: In a village buffeted by natural disasters, a motherless shepherd boy finds himself part of a power struggle that puts the community’s faith to a savage test.\ \
Smothermoss: A haunting, imaginative, and twisting tale of two sisters and the menacing, unexplained forces that threaten them and their rural mountain community.\ \
Everything is Tuberculosis: A deeply human story illuminating the fight against the world’s deadliest infectious disease.\ \ \ \ \
City of Quartz: In City of Quartz, Davis reconstructs L.A.’s shadow history and dissects its ethereal economy.\ \
The Coin: A bold and unabashed novel about a young Palestinian woman's unraveling as she teaches at a New York City middle school, gets caught up in a scheme reselling Birkin bags, and strives to gain control over her body and mind.\ \
How to Read a Book: A heartfelt, uplifting novel about a chance encounter at a bookstore, exploring redemption, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories.\ \
Razorblade Tears: A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for vengeance.\ \
All the Dangerous Things: A totally gripping thriller about a desperate mother with a troubled past.\ \
Lock Every Door: A young woman whose new job apartment sitting in one of New York’s oldest and most glamorous buildings may cost more than it pays.\ \ \ \ \
Compound Fracture: A queer Appalachian thriller that pulls no punches—following a trans autistic teen who's drawn into the generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them.\ \
This is Me Trying: Inevitably drawn back together by circumstance and history, Beatriz and Santiago navigate grief, love, mental illness, forgiveness, and what it means to try to build a future after unfathomable loss.\ \
You Weren't Meant to be Human: Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew Joseph White about identity, survival, and transformation amidst an alien invasion in rural West Virginia.\ \
Bright Young Women: Don’t miss this “breakneck thriller” that examines “our culture’s obsession with serial killers and true crime” ( Harper’s Bazaar) as it follows two women on the pursuit of justice against all odds.\ \
The Changeling: With a new introduction by Karen Russell, the 40th anniversary edition of The Changeling is a visionary fairy tale and a work of mythic genius by one of our best writers.\ \
Choke: Victor Mancini, a medical-school dropout, is an antihero for our deranged times.](https://sunnysbooktruck.binderybooks.com/item/P7WfIPf3S2q1NS4tNJ2v/)

What Sunny's Customers Are Reading

What we're reading in Yuma

12 books

Violetear Books\ \ Kevin\ \ • Aug 10 2025

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My Top Book Rankings

6 books

The Inky Phoenix\ \ Kathryn Budig\ \ • Aug 6 2025

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All of our Bindery Books Babies thus far ...

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Boneyard Picnic\ \ Natalie Meagan\ \ • Jul 10 2025

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\ \ Join for free or login](https://boneyardpicnic.binderybooks.com/item/sqGNMmsB4RHDXRtmRL9H/)

Books, Cats, Tea | A Chill, Chaotic Vlog

Enjoy this fun little vlog of me making tea and showing off the special editions of the Bindery spring releases!

5 books

Fantasy & Frens\ \ Zoranne\ \ • Jul 8 2025

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Support Independent Bookstores, Not Billionaires

Enjoy free shipping AND 15% off all Bindery titles from 7/8-7-11 using code LOVEBOOKSELLERS!

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Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 26 2025

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\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/o398xglpHGAqTm1eiK8N/)

NEW YORK CITY BOOK HAUL | 💖 Zoran Mamdani for NYC mayor 💖

all the books I grabbed while in NYC for the Bindery Spring Launch!

27 books

Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • Jun 17 2025

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Two weeks ago, I went on an adventure to little ol' NYC

Incredible new books AND a marvelous party? 🥂

4 books

Cozy Quill\ \ Meg\ \ • Jun 17 2025

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Poll:\ \ Which spring Bindery book was your favorite to curl up with?\ \ You're here! I'm so happy to see you and spend some time with you and share all the fun behind the scenes moments of the Bindery Spring Launch Party! 🎉\ \ \ \ I apologize that it's been a bit since an update. In the weeks since I have been back, we've been walking through the loss of a close family member. All of our hearts are still healing, but I'm finally home and deeply appreciate all the love sent our way. \ \ Now, let's recap, shall we? \ \ \ \ Arriving in NYC was so exciting, knowing in just a few hours I would be reunited with some of my favorite Bindery and online friends. The real fun began as we met up at a local brewery for a little welcome party and pre-celebration. \ \ \ \ Being surrounded by the Bindery team and all these incredible tastemakers always gets me teary. I'm just so proud of these humans. There's SO MUCH WORK that goes into the publishing process, and to know we're all gathering to celebrate all the hearts and radical shifts in the industry feels both overwhelming and fulfilling. This little hang was sweet and got us all amped for the night to come!\ \ \ \ The next morning Marines (@mynameismarines), Natalia (@nataliahernandezauthor), and Rachel (@readswithrachel), and I grabbed breakfast and headed out for a day at the natural history museum! \ \ \ \ If you haven't been in NYC, I couldn't suggest it enough! We were all giddy, running around like 7 year-olds having the time of our lives in each exhibit. Honestly, it brought out the best in all of us and was such a lovely little spot of joy in our day. It also gave us more opportunities to celebrate Marines and the launch of The Unmapping that day.\ \ Next up: It was party time!\ \ \ \ We headed down to P+T Knitwear where everything was decked out in Bindery trim and trappings! As always, I was so anxious walking into a big crowd. However, this time I was immediately greeted by our own Sara (@sarasbookishmacarons)! She surprised me with custom Cozy Quill macarons including our dear mascot, Quilliam. The best part? Some of these macarons were made out of my Cliche tea! What a gift Sara is to our community and to all the authors she baked for that day. It was a joy having her with us. \ \ \ \ We all gathered to listen to the Spring authors and tastemakers share their experience working with Bindery, as well as writing and launching these stories. \ \ \ \ If you're not familiar with the Spring launches, they include:\ \ BLACK SALT QUEEN by Samantha Bansil, Published by Violetear Books\ \ \ \ CRUELER MERCIES by Maren Chase, Published by Fantasy & Frens\ \ \ \ THE UNMAPPING by Denise S. Robbins, Published by Mareas\ \ \ \ OF MONSTERS & MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove, Published by Ezeekat Press\ \ \ \ I've almost finished every book on this list and can honestly and enthusiastically say they're incredible. They're all so unique, each a fresh breath of air into their genre. I highly recommend working your way through the Bindery titles this year because, truly, they each bring something new and exciting to the page. Longer form video reviews coming soon! 😉\ \ The party continued and I loved getting to spend time with the people working so tirelessly behind the scenes to make these dreams come true. \ \ Matt Kaye is the co-founder and CEO of Bindery. His vision for this work is really what led me to my big "yes" and he's such a beautiful encourager to the tastemakers. \ \ \ \ Meghan Harvey (right) is the co-founder and president of Bindery. She's such a gift, as well, steadily guiding all our ships and giving us big breaths as we take on this new venture. And we all know Charlotte Strick (left), our creative director here at Bindery! She's the genius behind our stunning cover designs, as well as a HUGE support system as we begin the publishing process.\ \ \ \ And finally, a crowd favorite: CJ Alberts, marketing director extraordinaire. Basically every book box, big creative promotion idea, or party planning falls into her hands. She's always readily available with the most creative ideas and pitches, helping us showcase our authors with heart and impact. We adore her!\ \ \ \ This party truly feels like a family reunion each year. So many relationships have been built through this opportunity, from authors to content creators. \ \ \ \ It was such a lovely night of celebrating these authors and all the work that went into these launches. As always, I was just really grateful to be in the room where it happened. \ \ But the fun didn't end there...\ \ The next day was also filled with joy! It started with a little jaunt around Central Park with best friends. \ \ \ \ Then Lizzy (@bumblebeezus) and I met up with some other friends for a private tour of Harper Collins! What a DREAM!\ \ \ \ They showed us around the local office and at the end brought us to a table FILLED with books! As they handed out tote bags, it hit me...we got to fill them up with any and all books on that table. SO GENEROUS!\ \ \ \ It was such a special afternoon, day, week, ahhhh! Every time I am around the Bindery crew I'm reminded how rare and special this group is. It feels very precious and I'm just deeply grateful to be a part of all of it. Congratulations to all four of the amazing authors releasing this month, as well as the tastemakers! It was a joy celebrating you!\ \ Now, I can't believe I get to say this — it's time to start planning OUR release! Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston Munden is launching in just a few months, can you believe it? Pre-orders are still open and yes, it's on Netgalley for those of you looking to give an early review. It helps so much with the promotion process, so thank you to everyone already investing in this cozy story. We're so grateful! \ \ Alright my friend, I'm off to dream about the dress I'll wear for the event in October! Any suggestions? Should I keep it cozy fantasy or go full glam? Help!\ \ Join for free or login

A Cozy Look Back at the Spring Bindery Book Launch 🚀

5 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 13 2025

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Bindery Summer 2025 Launch Panels

Hey Celestial subscribers! Here's the video of the WONDERFUL panels from the Bindery Spring Launch event in NYC. Lauren Puckett-Pope moderates!

Fantasy & Frens\ \ Zoranne\ \ • Jun 13 2025

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Bindery Summer 2025 Launch Panels Recording!

Shoutout to Jaysen for recording both panels and giving me permission to share with Frens!

4 books

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 12 2025

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BINDERY SPRING LAUNCH PANEL RECORDING!! So you can watch as if you were there yourself!

Jaysen was so wonderful and got both panels from the event last week recorded so here they are for your enjoyment!

4 books

Ezeekat Press\ \ Jaysen\ \ • Jun 9 2025

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Bindery Spring 2025 Launch Event Panels

These are the two panels featured at the Bindery Launch event on June 3, 2025. First up is the speculative and sci-fi panel. Second is the Fantasy panel.

4 books

Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Jun 6 2025

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Bindery Spring 2025 Launch Party

Obsessed with you all. Let’s get together again soon, okay?

Congrats again to @chasethemaren, @barbarartruelove, @sam_bansil, and @denisesrobbins. And thanks to @bindery_books for the invite and for hosting such a wonderful week of events!

#bookevent #indiepublishing #smallpress #bookishevents #booklaunchparty #binderybooks #booktoker #bookstagrammer

4 books

R&R Reads\ \ Ebony\ \ • Jun 6 2025

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HAPPY JUNE EVERY ONE!!

BRBF, JUNE BOOKS AND WRITING STUFF OH MY!

20 books

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jun 4 2025

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\ \ 06.04.2025 journal entry #24 \ \ Hello loves! It’s been awhile and I apologize for the break in content—it’s been a busy month for me and things only keep getting busier!\ \ I’m currently on day 2 of my trip to New York for the launch of the Spring Bindery Books!! They’re all currently out now and after hearing each of the tastemakers talk about the books and after meeting and hanging out with the authors, I am THAT much more excited to read them. If you're interested in grabbing the exclusive editions for 25% off then you can use the code BINDERYINSIDER to grab them here: https://binderybooks.com/books/bindery/\\ \ The event itself was just so lovely and I filmed some clips here and there which I will definitely share soon. There was a wonderful panel discussion moderated by the lovely Lauren Puckett-Pope from Elle followed by some fun aura readings and tarot card readings (though I was too busy chatting to get mine done, saddd) to represent the future of publishing that Bindery hopes to embody. I met so many people for the first time in-person but also got to see so many of the Bindery tastemakers again which was so nice because I do feel like it’s much easier to connect to people in person sometimes for me. I was definitely overstimulated by the end of the night and after the B&N meet up today but overall had such a great time that I cannot complain.\ \ Here’s some photos as a sneak peek!\ \ \ \ ME AND DEENA!! REUNITED <3\ \ \ \ I’m in New York for a few more days this week—filming content with Deena (the author of Dust Settles North), meeting with publishers, and catching up with some friends in the city. I’ll also be attending the book launch for TEN INCARNATIONS OF REBELLION by Vaishnavi Patel on Friday at The Strand Bookstore which I am SO hyped for—many of you know she’s the author of one of my favourite books ever, KAIKEYI. \ \ Like last fall after the first Bindery book launch, I’m just feeling super grateful for the space that I have here and the community and support you’ve all given me. I never would’ve imagined that any of this would be possible and it’s all thanks to you. So THANK YOU again from the bottom of my heart. \ \ I’ve also extended the deadline to upgrade to the STAR tier to get the Dust Settles North goodies mailed to you so please do so by Monday, June 9th and I will start packing those to send to you later that day.\ \ More behind-the-scenes to come soon!! Love you all and hope you’re excited as I am for all the things to come! \ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/z8hZnuvmKTtDwniPrGt5/)

06.04.2025 journal entry #24 BINDERY SPRING LAUNCH (OPEN FOR DISCOUNT CODE INSIDE)

open for photos and fun from the launch event in New York!!

5 books

Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Jun 4 2025

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Subscriber Exclusive DISCOUNT CODE for the Bindery Spring releases!

4 books

Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Jun 4 2025

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The Bindery Spring releases are OUT NOW!!!

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 27 2025

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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

Peppered Ink\ \ Mary\ \ • May 25 2025

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Remember how I said I wasn't a book club person...? 📚

In fairness, I'm still not...

4 books

Trash Panda’s Universe\ \ Trash Panda Leon\ \ • May 22 2025

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Special Edition Book Haul

I’m too tired to edit out the camel 🐪 toe sooooo enjoy fellow trash pandas. Thank you @Bindery @HarperCollins and @Satisfiction for my amazing special editions. Can’t wait to read all these lovely books. #bindery #theunmapping #blacksaltqueen #hisfaceisthesun #mayadivineawaken #celestialbodies #cruelermercies #ofmonstersandmainframes #shieldofsparrows #whenthetidesheldthemoon #thepoppywar #lordoftherings

8 books

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • May 20 2025

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new and upcoming books you NEED on your radar | 2025 MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES

what books are you looking forward to this year??

16 books

Cozy Quill\ \ Meg\ \ • May 17 2025

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Little Free Library Haul + Big Book Unhaul 📚

We're blessin and borrowin, y'all.

15 books

Violetear Books\ \ Kevin\ \ • May 16 2025

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\ \ Isn't it absolutely GORGEOUS!\ \ You can grab a copy here before they run out: https://foxandwit.com/products/adult-lit-tunes](https://violetear.binderybooks.com/item/vQ6UlYCjAlJtLRV2LZ8Q/)

Fox and Wit Exclusive Black Salt Queen Cover Reveal!

1 book