Skies Press | This Poison Heart
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This Poison Heart
Kalynn Bayron
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Darkness blooms in bestselling author Kalynn Bayron's new contemporary fantasy about a girl with a unique and deadly power.
Briseis has a gift: with a single touch she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms. When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents hope that surrounded by plants and flowers, she will finally learn to control her gift.
But their new home is sinister in ways they never expected—it comes with a mysterious set of instructions, a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world, and generations of secrets. There is more to Bri's sudden inheritance than she could have imagined, and she is determined to uncover it.
From the bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead comes an enchanting story about a young woman with the power to conquer the dark forces descending around her.
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Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Feb 17 2025
Genre Fiction Books by Black American Authors (My B&N had not one single table set up)
I think a few of the booksellers at this location follow me so if you see this 👀👀👀 “accidentally” send it to your manager. 🧍♀️ There are DOZENS of tables at this store alone and not one was set up for Black History Month when I was there twice last week. We should be celebrating black voices in publishing all the time, but to not be doing so at a bare minimum of during BHM?? There’s like 4 different subgenres of romance tables but not one Black Voices table, c’mon. Anyway here’s like 30 books I quickly pulled off my own shelf, a mix of books I’ve read and loved and books on my TBR 📚 #booktok #bookrecs #tbr #barnesandnoble #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #yabooks #bookshopping #sacramento #booktoker #emmaskiesreads #books
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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Apr 2
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Because sapphic stories deserve to be celebrated loudly and lovingly.
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Wanderland Reads\ \ Sayer\ \ • Aug 14 2025
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[I interrupt our regularly scheduled programming (Sex Ed 101) for this important message. Also I can do what I want here because it’s my blog!\ \ I was scrolling threads and I saw a thread by an author Taylor Grothe:\ \
“A gentle reminder that (many) YA books are written for teens’ enjoyment and consumption FIRST, so if you’re finding YA books “juvenile” or “unrelatable” you may want to try adult books instead! It’s okay to know your boundaries in reading—but don’t penalize YA books for not being what you wanted. Thank you for coming to this PSA!”\\
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I found this to be both deeply important and telling of where many folks reading YA books are at in their personal growth journeys. The essential element of "coming of age" that fuels so much of YA fiction is often overlooked as a juvenile theme and what many adult romances—particularly those written by white authors—tend to fall into patterns of thinking. They then miss the deeper potential of storytelling. Genres like fantasy, dark academia, science fiction, and even many contemporary stories recognize that "coming of age" isn’t confined to adolescence; it’s a lifelong process, a continual cycle of learning, unlearning, growth, and self-discovery.\\
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In YA, the "coming of age" trope is palpable because society rightly perceives this period as a time when youth are especially malleable and open to transformation. But what if we expanded that concept, especially through an anti-racist lens, and viewed it as an ongoing adult experience? What if, rather than thinking we've "arrived" at a certain age or stage once we've reached adulthood, we saw growth as a perpetual journey of self-awareness, accountability, and change?\\
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As a white person committed to anti-racist work, I see this ongoing process of growth as vital. It’s not a finite task but a continuous effort — a lifelong "coming of age." In dismantling white supremacy and its insidious tendrils that influence everything from institutions to individual biases, we HAVE TO remain open to discovery. Recognizing our own inherent biases, unlearning harmful patterns, and actively divesting from whiteness is an active process that requires humility, introspection, and courage. AND ALSO, there is so much potential in learning more about ourselves as we expand our worldview, and are exposed to new language and terminology. I, at 40, am still doing the work of self-discovery as I read and learn what possibilities of identity are out there.\\
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This perspective starkly contrasts with a common misconception that stories for grown-ups should be "more serious" or "less juvenile." The truth is, the refusal to acknowledge that growth never stops is, in many ways, the hallmark of a stagnant mindset — ones that refuse to self-reflect, to change, or to learn anew. These are the same people who dismiss YA stories as juvenile because they see "coming of age" as a sign of immaturity, rather than an acknowledgment that such growth is ongoing and essential at every stage of life.\\
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In embracing the idea that adulthood is an ongoing "coming of age," we can start crafting and appreciating stories — whether romances, fantasy, sci-fi, or otherwise — that honor this evolution. These stories can reflect the process of unlearning ingrained biases, grappling with complex identities, and growing into more conscious, empathetic individuals.\\
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So, the next time we see adult stories that seem stagnant or superficial, perhaps it’s a sign of a broader cultural reluctance to confront the uncomfortable truths of ongoing growth. Let’s challenge that. Because real maturity — like true love — is a continuous process. It’s about evolving, expanding our understanding, and becoming better versions of ourselves.\\
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**Growth is never complete. Coming of age never ends. And there’s beauty in that.**\\
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I'm attaching a list of YA books, that tbh, are actually in my top tier, favorite books of all time. The MCs in these books go through incredibly relatable journeys of discovery in a multitude of ways. Also this is not an exhaustive list and I'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments. If you want a list of second coming of age books in adulthood, just scroll down!\\
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[Reframing "Coming of Age": Why Adult Romances Often Miss the Mark and How Growth Never Stops](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/oHzwcyanE507ByqM4J7Q/)
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[Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈💕](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/CqziinSZjYCFixNiDgZJ/)
Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈💕
Here are some favorites that I highly recommend, let's celebrate by adding LGBTQIA+ representation to your TBR and bookshelves.
Look out for another post for books I plan to read this month.
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[Banned and Challenged Books](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/bfNDaqCOUHSl3WxY2lsQ/)
📚✨ Join me as I kick off our ongoing series on Banned Books!
These are must-read titles that challenge censorship and spark meaningful conversations. These books often face banning for their themes of social justice, sexuality, and political dissent.
Let’s celebrate our freedom together! What’s your favorite banned book? Share your suggestions for our library!
#BannedBooks #FreedomToRead #LiteraryAwareness #representationmatters #wanderlandreads
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[Written Reveries\\
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[Vlog: The Dandelion Dynasty \| Katabasis \| What I've Read \| Book Mail \| An Author I No Longer Support](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/2cvHexXjcjdga5X80PHB/)
my first weekly vlog! I chat about a new favorite series, hopes of getting 1 of 200 Katabasis proofs, update you on what I've read so far this year, book mail and some thoughts on a recent Vulture article.
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booktube newbie tag 2025 \| new booktuber \| booktube introduction \| diverse reader \| diversify your bookshelves \| fantasy and sci fi books by marginalized authors \| bindery books \| katabasis \| rfkuang \| the dandelion dynasty \| ken liu \| chain gang all-stars \| krystallotuslang \|
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[Written Reveries\\
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• Jan 1 2025](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/)
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[Our first book for Written Reveries book club in the new year will be _**This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron**_. While I own all of her books this will be my second read of hers, I can't wait to jump into this feminist fantasy retelling of The Secret Garden with you all. Please join us on the Fable app. _Happy New Year and Happy reading!_\\
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_https://fable.co/club/written-reveries-book-club-with-krystallotuslang-320275621598_\\
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_Summary:_\\
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_Briseis has a gift: with a single touch she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms._\\
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_When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents hope that surrounded by plants and flowers, she will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they never expected-it comes with a mysterious set of instructions, a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world, and generations of secrets. There is more to Bri's sudden inheritance than she could have imagined, and she is determined to uncover it._\\
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](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/qtrgN2KLr1Psmub5b050/)
[This Poison Heart is Written Reveries Bookclub pick for January](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/qtrgN2KLr1Psmub5b050/)
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