Season 2 of our BookClub The Booksworn is kicking off with the Modern Classic that is THE WOLF DEN by Elodie Harper!

Thank you to all who voted and we can’t wait to chat about this with you over on Discord at the end of the month. We are organising some special things for this!

In the meantime, don’t forget to upgrade your Tier to either a FIRST SWORD or a BRIGHT STAR to have exclusive access to the Bookclub Threads over on Discord!

We’re off to meet Brandon Sanderson next week! If you have a question for him, drop it below ⬇️

We will also be at MCM ComicCon next week in London so come and see us at The Broken Binding stall and we will ruthlessly interview you about why Papa Gwynne is your favourite author!

Truth and Courage

Ed & Will

Happy Humpday and Wellness Wednesday! I hope all is well for you all!

Over in my neck of the woods, we are wrapping up the school year, so it is a busy busy time at the library. As it comes to a close, I find myself reflecting and looking forward to all my summer plans! I will be returning to my local Ren Faire for the summer, so I'm planning to bring back Fantasy Fridays!

I will need recs for any books/audiobooks that you would like for me to cover this summer!

I also plan on adjusting my posting schedule again. With summer activities and all, I want to not overwhelm myself and be able to get back to posting again!

Here's what I am looking at starting June:

Monday: Bi Weekly reading goals/plans. Planning to give myself more than just a week for any goals as well as time for the fun and short reads!

Wednesday: I am still planning to do the weekly check ins, using this for any book reviews/book unboxing/writing updates so that I can prep for Saturday snippets for my Fairy Circle friends!

Friday: Fantasy Friday. It'll be in fuller swing in July but during June, I will continue the flowers Friday where I give authors their flowers.

Saturday: As previously stated, I will be posting snippets and character analysis on my writing.

Speaking of writing, I have been mostly been working on fan fiction for the TTRPG campaign that I am a part of. Really, I have tried as much as possible to get any writing done, whether it isn't just my story that I have been working on and I am loving it!

So, this is what is going on in my world. I am doing pretty good actually. Taking things day at a time and just finding the whimsy in it all. I hope you are all doing well! What are you reading? Any recommendations?

I hope the best in this incoming summer weather and will be seeing you soon!

Yesteryear

“A perfectly fermented version of America”

Disclaimer

Let me start by saying I have zero qualifications to critique a book. I read a fair few books and talk about them online, but I’m not a professional book critic. I don’t know jack about writing a book or the fancy tools professionals use to analyze a book. I know what I like and can usually articulate that in a succinct way. But something about this book sparked a fire in me (and many others) that led me down a rabbit hole that ultimately resulted in pen to paper. Now that we have the disclaimer out of the way, let’s proceed.

As I mentioned, I read a fair few books, and I usually rate books based on how they make me FEEL (again, not a professional). Usually, the stronger the positive feelings, the higher the rating. With Yesteryear, I walked away with more negative vibes than positive; yet, I’m left compulsively thinking about the book. Was it brilliant? Was it lazy? Was it innovative? Was it recycled from previous works? Was it all those things? Most of all, did I like it?

Let’s be real, Yesteryear is on track to be the Book of the Year. It’s one of the most talked about books I’ve encountered since starting Bookstagram six years ago, and I think it has the potential to win all the popularity contests and awards. But does it deserve the attention and praise being showered across ALL the platforms?

In the author’s own words, Yesteryear is “a perfectly fermented version of America,” (4) effectively capturing the ills of our society in a short 400 pages. 

My Immediate Reaction

OK, so I finished the book in roughly 36 hours. I listened to 75% of the book as an audiobook and finished the last 25% in physical format. It’s now been more than a week since I turned the last pages, and I am still totally obsessed.

It’s the first book in a very long time that I have COMPULSIVELY thought about since finishing. I’ve been obsessively consuming content about this book in an effort to 1) validate my own experience and 2) help me articulate exactly how I’m feeling. I’ve read articles, read & watched reviews, listened to podcasts, and engaged other readers in discourse all in an effort to formulate the following sentence:

I am obsessed with this book.

I vacillate frequently between “Is this the next Great American Novel?” and “What the fuck did I just read?”

And after talking to so many other people about this book, I think that’s the consensus of most readers. Yes, there are a lot of rave reviews out there. There are also a fair few negative reviews. A lot of people hated this book. But I think the majority of people land somewhere in the middle.

IF Burke purposefully set out to achieve this polarizing effect, then this book was brilliant. Mission accomplished. But that assumes Burke wrote this book with divisive (or derisive) intention. Personally, I’m leaning toward “she knew what she was doing.” And if so, I think it was kind of brilliant.

What Is Yesteryear Actually

Before we get into some of my thoughts, let’s talk about the book itself.

Yesteryear was published in April 2026, so if you find this thesis months or years from now, the whole point is to help you understand if you should drink the Kool-Aid. Honest answer: that depends. 

Yesteryear is contemporary literary fiction with some speculative qualities. In my opinion, it’s another victim of mismarketing, which this time is unfortunate for the reader rather than the book. Some pick up the book expecting to get a dual timeline historical fiction (no, just no) or a fast-paced thriller (also no) or a light, funny read akin to watching The Simple Life with Nicole and Paris. All those readers will be sorely disappointed.

As Jananie of This Story Ain't Over (2) so eloquently said, it’s “a chillingly, uncomfortable satire.”

Described by The Guardian (3) as “high-concept,” in my (humble) opinion it’s schadenfreude, a train wreck of a story we can’t and don’t want to look away from despite a visceral reaction. We go in expecting to be able to hold the plot at a distance but ultimately end up recognizing uncomfortable truths about our current culture…and maybe ourselves. 

And in my opinion that’s the assignment. 

We aren’t supposed to get close. We aren’t supposed to connect. We aren’t supposed to empathize or relate to the characters or the story. 

The Premise

As noted in the synopsis, Natalie is a Tradwife influencer living a seemingly perfect life until “she wakes up in a life that isn’t hers.” The house looks like her house but is shabby and without charm. The children look similar to her children but aren’t. She’s married to a man that looks vaguely like her husband, but his dead, dark eyes tell her otherwise. 

In a desperate search for answers, she stumbles onto etching on the doorframe marking the height of various household members. The year: 1855.

What happened? How did she get here?

In the words of The Talking Heads, “This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife.” (5)

Now she’s forced to truly live the life that, as my new friend Harry at Harry’s Book Café (1) so eloquently noted, she’s been “cosplaying for profit.” 

The entire book is built around the key question: how did this happen? And ultimately, that is the question that will keep you flipping pages if you choose to read this book.

Natalie as a Character

Let’s take a minute to dissect Natalie. The entire book is told from her point of view, so by the end of the book we’ve spent A LOT of time in her head. And, well, Natalie’s thinking is a little…how we say clinical terms, pathological. Unhinged at best.

What we very soon learn after meeting Natalie is that she’s a sociopath. And what happens when you spend six to eight hours with a sociopath? Chances are you’ll recognize that you’re in the presence of a maladapted person and will likely experience a strong desire to run far, far away from said person. 

Burke WANTS you to feel uncomfortable with this character. Those moments when your skin is literally crawling and you’re making cringe faces, you’re experiencing what it might be like to be in the presence of a sociopath.

Because you spend so much time in the mind of this truly vile character, your worldview is extremely narrow. She’s narcissistic, at times histrionic. She views herself as morally and intellectually superior. She is without compassion. She’s unable to emote and unable to empathize like a “normal” human being. Again, Natalie is a sociopath. THIS is what most readers are picking up on but just are struggling to articulate. 

And unlike most books where the MC attempts to understand, learn or grow, our FMC makes no attempts to do any of the above. Like a true sociopath, Natalie sees NO reason to change. The complete lack of character growth in this story is challenging for many readers. There is no warm fuzzy feeling of satisfaction at the end of this story, so know that going in.

Many have criticized Burke’s lack of character development as lazy, but I think she perfectly illustrated the pathological perspective from which our FMC approaches life. Since we spend all of our time from Natalie’s narcissistic world view, our view of the other people in her life (i.e. our side characters) is heavily influenced by her lack of human decency, emotional connection, empathy, or feeling. We are being asked to see through the eyes of one of the most pathological characters ever. She has the emotional depth of a thimble, with no real capacity to connect with her fellow characters. Therefore, we feel the same lack of connection, which MANY interpret as a failure on the part of the author. There was no reason for Burke to flesh out those characters; she was writing Natalie’s story, and we’re along for the weird, wild ride. It’s not her character development that’s lacking, it’s her storytelling (more on that in a bit). 

A Bit on Style

This is Burke’s debut novel, and at times it did feel very much like a debut. It’s almost as if she threw the proverbial spaghetti at the wall to see what stuck. Her plot feels chaotic, not always well supported. Her writing style is tense, sometimes erratic. But it’s also witty, with razor sharp satire (albeit more attuned to liberal senses of humor). It’s twisted and dark throughout and purposefully designed to create conflicting feelings in readers.

Burke describes the book as a very “voicey” book (4). You spend the entire book in Natalie’s head, directly exposed to her pathological thought processes. It’s written the way this character talks and thinks, even down to her tics. You feel as though you’re being swept up in Natalie’s downward spiral every single time the author repeats a word or phrase (“bark, bark, bark”), as though there’s a glitch somewhere in the wiring.

This is one of the things I appreciated the most. The book is narrated to you by this character, not by the author. Natalie’s inner dialogue places you right in the moment. All of the action is happening within the character as opposed to around the character, again making for a richer experience for the reader. There’s a lot of telling rather than showing, but showing would require Natalie to critically think about her choices and actions, something totally foreign to her.

I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews specific to pacing. Some people found it very propulsive, encouraging compulsive consumption of the book. Other people found it slow and tedious, with too much cyclical storytelling and jarring time shifts. At times, it feels almost dizzying.

I’m of the belief that Burke set out to achieve that level of chaos. Yes, there’s a lot of tedious, mind-numbing moments followed closely by sharp shifts in time or action. I think those are intended to highlight the juxtaposition of online vs offline life and modern vs olden times, as well as to illustrate Natalie’s worsening mental health. Reflecting on this use of structure, as well as the character’s observations about her dual life, is where I believe Burke’s true message lies.

Caro as Natalie

We already know that Burke is super smart. She’s a cohost of a podcast, Diabolical Lies, where she regularly talks politics and culture with a great degree of insight and consideration (again, albeit liberal leaning). She speaks like your super smart friend, you know the one that kind of makes you feel not so smart but you keep talking to her anyway because maybe a little of her smarts will rub off. That’s the vibe I get from Caro Claire Burke. 

In the Yesteryear episode of Diabolical Lies(4), Burke explains that she, like Natalie, was sort of floundering around for a while, not sure how to get where she wanted to be. And, like Natalie, it was not for lack of vision or lack of trying.

By the time she sold Yesteryear, she’d already written two novels, both of which were rejected. She was freelancing, writing copy that her co-host lovingly described as beneath her (skills, intellect, etc). At some point, she created a TikTok account, where she began sharing her observations about various cultural phenomena (including TradWife culture). Suddenly, she has tens of thousands of followers seemingly overnight. A month or so later, she’s pitching this novel and the rest is history. 

I find it incredibly fascinating that Burke’s career very much mirrored Natalie's viral growth. I also find it entirely too coincidental to believe that Burke was not directly influenced by her meteoritic rise when conceptualizing this book. In fact, I venture to say THAT is the point of this book, not tradwives as one is led to believe after reading the synopsis. In the book, Natalie struggles to find a voice and an audience online, even attending a “how to go viral” course (which was totally a waste of HER time), only to stumble into a vortex of virality after an ultraconservative influencer showcased her profile for its portrayal of good Christian values, the ideal wife, dutiful mother, etc. 

Suddenly, she’s got power. And she wields that power to create a fairytale universe in which to live (or maybe hide). While I’m not saying Burke is Natalie, I am very curious if she intentionally wrote her own story but from a much more warped, twisted perspective. I think some may argue that for a debut author to be riding such a high wave of success MIGHT feel like a fairytale. She’s the next pub house darling, with multiple publishing houses vying for the rights to the book. That she gives credit to actress Anne Hathaway in the author’s notes (reportedly she bought the film rights before the book was finished) could lend one to believe the very things about this book that are sparking ire and fascination in equal measure were a purposeful money grab. I’ll leave that there for now. 

In the meantime, let’s hope Burke’s fairytale has a better ending. 

Online Culture & Influencer Commentary

I’ll be honest: the commentary on social media culture, influencer culture, and online culture in general were the most compelling for me. In fact, I think they were THE POINT of the book. Yesteryear is a vehicle for Burke’s statement on social media culture rather than a book about tradwives. She, like many others, may be fascinated by tradwives, but I don’t think that is what drove her to write this book. Hear me out. 

Natalie could’ve been ANY type of influencer. Trade tradwife trapped in a traditional nightmare for a beauty influencer who wakes up grossly disfigured and scarred. Or maybe a fitness influencer whose body is eating all her muscles. A chef who burns everything. You get the point…

Tradwifery had very little to do with this book in my opinion; it was simply a vehicle to deliver the underlying parable of the dangers of influencer culture. Burke shares few insights about why tradwives are the way they are, what motivates them to live this traditional, seemingly pious lifestyle. There are hints. There’s some conversation around it. But readers walk away having learned little about tradwife culture in the end. 

Burke allows you to directly observe said influencer, giving you a glimpse into what influencers MAY be like. And by now, we’ve all seen enough tell-all influencer documentaries to know that once the cameras aren’t rolling, the real show begins. Burke expertly illustrates that exact experience in Yesteryear. Jekyll, meet Hyde.

Whether or not that’s how Burke views all influencers, that’s for her to say. Personally, I thought it was extremely introspective, and as someone who creates content online, there were several uncomfortably relatable moments. 

Her introspective analysis of influencer culture is frightening, glimpsing behind the proverbial curtain to get to the ugly truth. It’s all about power. Likes are power. Fame is power. Recognition is power. And when we give ghouls power, they tend to get more ghoulish. Burke is challenging you to explore your relationship with online culture, to realize the currency of your likes while asking you to use them for something more meaningful than supporting someone’s falsehood or fairytale.  

There is a portion of the book where she talks about the tedium of Natalie’s offline life. It’s messy. It’s disordered. It’s disorganized. It’s chaotic. It’s boring. In this, Burke captures the jarring nature of online vs offline life, and how frustratingly normal offline (ie real) life can be. In doing so, she highlights the motivation of consumers and the snake oil of influence that propels influencer culture, the slippery slope of fantasy.

Politics and Womanhood

I won’t get too deep here, but I will add a few thoughts. Not so subtle hints at radical feminism, anti-feminist sentiment, conservatism, fundamental Christian beliefs, and even racist beliefs are instantly recognizable, yet are they really the point? A universe of truths about the widening gap of political beliefs lives in this novel, yet the author doesn’t bang you over the head with a viewpoint. In Burke’s own words, “it’s a book, not a policy platform.” (4)

Regardless of their personal politics, most readers will read this and find off putting aspects despite being highly entertained. The satirical stance will likely be offensive for more conservative readers. Burke’s FMC is designed to be a reflection of a particular type of woman, and while satirical, it can also feel accosting, bordering on bullying to some readers. 

Frankly, I think it’s best suited for readers who enjoy darker, more introspective novels. Just like Severance, it’s a novel of our time…about our time. It’s not designed to be palatable to a wide audience.

One thing Yesteryear does well is to depict the extraordinary weight of womanhood and the constant pressure for perfection, applicable to all women, faith or politics aside. It’s holding up a mirror to the perfectionist tendencies that we assume for the benefit of others. It’s a parable of how romanticizing the “perfect” lives of influencers can lead one down a dangerous path in pursuit of a lifestyle that exists only in a fantasy.

There’s also commentary on agency that I’m not smart enough to articulate. The dinner scene in particular was an intense and heartbreaking exploration of Natalie’s complete lack of agency, perfectly capturing the caged feeling women experience in response to loss of control.

And all the while, we’re slowly descending into madness alongside Natalie, fueled by anger and emotional exhaustion and driven by the duality of “online” life and the constant need to perform. Hit your mark, once again, smile for the camera, rinse and repeat.

Interpretation

Ok, so let’s go with the “it’s brilliant” theory. What does that say about me as a reader? I actually asked myself this question over and over, particularly after an interaction with someone who hypothesized that any woman who feels this book is profound or deep is outing themselves. This same person went on to call the book, and I’m paraphrasing, mediocre at best. 

That exchange really took me aback. In one sense, I completely see where she’s coming from; I think there are very valid arguments about the writing, structure, and pacing that would lead one to question WHY it’s so wildly popular. Still, I found myself fascinated with the book, so much so that I began to wonder “am I a mediocre reader?” 

We could dialogue about this type of discourse, but we’ll save that for another episode. Needless to say, I see where she’s coming from, but I also feel like there’s enough complexity in this book that it, perhaps, lends itself to a complex response. In summary, I don’t think it’s fair to lump any one group of readers together to cast judgment on their reading and deduction skills. 

What Burke does TO readers was absolutely fascinating. It’s one of the most meta aspects of this book, and if purposeful, then Yesteryear is probably one of the smartest things I’ve read in a while. Most readers will be repulsed by Natalie, as they should. And while some will find sympathy for her (she’s a victim of systems designed to oppress and brainwash, blah blah blah), I doubt many will find empathy for her. And it’s THIS that I found the most interesting. We’re reading about a sociopath who lacks empathy while we fail to find any for her. It’s the same mirror that Victoria Christopher Murray held to our faces in Harlem Rhapsody, though Burke turns it up to 11. 

There are many loose threads in Yesteryear. A lot is left to the audience to interpret, something I’ve seen widely criticized. This left me wondering, does a book have to beat us over the head with expressed meaning or intent to be “good literature”? Or is critical thought too much to ask in the modern age?

Likewise, are we allowed to have a meaningful connection with or find enjoyment in books that may not be “good literature?” Or are we somehow flawed readers for our fascination?

Reading fiction is subjective. Interpretation of a book is a deeply personal experience.

Who are we to say that someone’s deep meaningful experience with a book is any more or less valuable than our own? Likewise, who are we to judge others for assigning meaning in something we feel falls short of the mark. 

There’s no doubt about one thing: this book is highly polarizing. And, sure, there are some highly triggering themes and discourse, but what does it actually say? And, more importantly, what does it say about me if I enjoyed it? The discourse around this book IS the point in my opinion. It’s a book written to enrage and/or entertain. I don’t think it was written to be life changing literature, though the author’s life certainly did change. And for some, that’s the core issue at hand. Did she see a chance to profit on sensationalism or is she a true artist? Frankly, I think it’s a bit of both. 

Final Thoughts

I’m not as smart as I may (or may not) sound, and I don’t often do as much reflection (or writing, frankly) as I did for this book. But it feels like a moment.

Is this the next Great American Novel? Maybe. 

I think there are some things that would qualify it as such. It takes the pulse of the times in the way many celebrated works of literature have in the past. 

Yesteryear is an allegory about online life, anger, perfectionism, conformity, performance, agency, and the seductive danger of idealized identities. The story is filled with foreshadowed warnings about the future state of unchecked influence. It’s a cautionary tale about being attracted to the romantic fairytale, an “ideal” state of being that forgets to find beauty in our flawed existence. It tells of the risk of holding too tightly to control at the risk of skewing your own reality, detaching from the time/space continuum of your “real” life.

Especially as women.

Natalie mirrors for us the dark side of the “having it all” mentality; her righteous anger and self-loathing feels all too familiar. She represents us should our morals and principles fail to guide us gently to shore.

Every time I read or hear other reviews, I'm struck by one thing: I had a very different experience with this book than I normally have with fiction. I was simultaneously terrified and fascinated, deeply engrossed in the pathology of the character (what can I say…I’m a mental health professional). I thought it was brilliant, yet flawed. It’s one I struggle to recommend without a cautionary warning: read at your own risk. For me, it was a deeply unsettling meta-analysis of authenticity, control, influence, agency, and mental health that I found absolutely fascinating!

It's not relatable.

She’s not relatable.

And if she is, God help us.

A Personal Note

I have NOT written anything like this in years, so I hope it makes some sense. 🤣 I will be summarizing this into a Youtube and Instagram post, but I needed to share more of an in-depth analysis of my reaction to this book somewhere.

If you've read this book, please let me know your thoughts either here in Bindery or message me on social media!

thanks for reading ❤️

xoxo

C

References:

1. Harry's Book Cafe review

2. This Story Ain't Over analysis

3. Guardian review

4. The Caro Episode of Diabolical Lies

5. Talking Heads "This Must Be The Place"

🕯️the library is looking so fine tonight - pt 2

Hello my friends! Thank you for joining me on another library reveal tour! This one is going to have the details, the dogs, and of course, the books! I've decided to do an additional round-up post later of all the things I bought or received for my library so you can purchase them too if you're looking to change things up in your own spaces, but they'll also be included here for your convenience!

I definitely should have counted how many boxes of books I brought up to the house, as these stacks can't really be understood in their depth and breadth and sheer... weight. Here's a few more photos that might help you get a better idea of just how many books my collection has amassed:

This is just the HARDCOVERS. Vin was trapped for a bit in the stacks. (actually she wasn't, she's athletic enough to jump out of pretty much any containment, ask me how I know that)

It took me two+ days to get the books shelved (i have timelapse proof, which I'll post here eventually or you can head to https://www.instagram.com/p/DYP3Q-JpbjE/ to see part one of the adventures.

Of course my famous rainbow shelves have returned! I love the cheerful rainbow, don't you??

All right, on to the details! I've got some incredible window clings from Geek Orthodox - LOOK at this one of Narsil 🤩

And these ones that are Rivendell inspired:

Additionally, I knew I wanted some fancy outlet covers/ switchplates and I found the very best Etsy creator who had already created exactly what I was looking for: Gothic Cover Plates (also Rivendell inspired)

I am so lucky to be a part of the Wayfair Creator Program, which provided me with these rechargeable lights:

And also this incredible library ladder:

The stepstool is an antique but here's one that's eerily similar from Wayfair as well: Library StepStool

The desk and table are both antiques I was gifted by my inlaws, (but this gives YOU the perfect excuse to go antiquing/thrifting this summer) + the rug was a gift from my aunt 💛

Here's a final photo! I hope you enjoyed this little tour with me! Did I miss anything that YOU would add to YOUR dream library??

💛💛 - Amanda

Tagging @pxw1 to see what happens here.

Good morning, mis internet amigxs,

Bien Leidos Discord is cooking up some activities for the World Cup that you won't want to miss! Announcements will be coming soon, but if you'd like to find out more, head over to Discord.

If you'd like to volunteer and get in on planning activities, we have a poll up that ends later today (Wednesday, May 13th).

Either way, we'd love to have you in community with us over on Discord.

xo,

Carmen

Hello! And welcome to Not A Phase Books, and our inaugural post!

I just wanted to highlight some things you can expect from me here:

• Book content (Mainly queer, but what I'm currently reading, too.)

• Exclusive WIP content.

• Giveaways.

• Monthly queer bingo boards (We all deserve to have some fun.)

• Discord community (to expand our Bindery conversations further.)

• Monthly zoom meet-ups for Collaborators.

• Trans joy shenanigans!

• And more!

Does any of this sound appealing?

Become a Friend or Collaborator and slide on over to Discord to join in on the fun.

Can't wait to see y'all there!

With all my trans joy,

Sawyer Cole

My loves,

I am here and I am resting but I miss you so much. I have seen all of your lovely, kind comments and well wishes and they have brought me peace. I don't like not working, I hate feeling like I'm letting people down but y'all have put my mind at ease on that front. I am so thankful.

ALSO Rachel, the MVP, best friend ever has been really coming through with content in the meantime. She is re uploading videos that have been demonetized by YouTube, she is splicing together the entire Never King and Haunting Adeline series as big, long videos for you to enjoy in my absence.

It is very important that I can keep my job during this break so I hope you will be here to help transition into the next phase of my life because long story short, I will be moving into my own place and it has never been more important for me to be able to work... and I have been too sick to do so.

I will share more about the move etc. in the future but for now, I am just trying to navigate this shift the best that I can and your support means the world to me.

I am not appealing to you to sign up for my Patreon or anything like that. I know times are tough for everyone. But I would so appreciate engagement on my public videos, past, recent and re releases. I almost make enough on Patreon ALONE to afford rent on a few places I've found but for a free way to support me, watch the videos, share them, comment, etc. All of this helps me get that ad revenue! ;)

As for my health, I am still trying to find answers to what is ailing me. I've been to a few doctors and specialists, I am taking this break to rest, go to therapy, try to take care of myself and just make it through the days the best I can. I feel horrible and even though I've known this for a while, I've never been more aware of how horrible the healthcare system is but I am trying my best. I am ready to feel better, I am trying to manage my stress too because I know that won't help matters. It's just all very isolating; thankfully I have y'all, my incredible friends and support system in place.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this and hear me out. If you're still here with me, I can't express the love I feel and the gratitude I have for you. I hope wherever you are, the day is being kind to you.

I love you, you don't have to say it back.
xo Natalie

Welcome Inner Circle Members!

We are so happy to have you here! Today we are posting one of our Remus Recommends!

I have no doubt you have heard of Micha Brown. He is also known as yourbestiemisha on social media. Not only is he now a New York times best selling author, he is kind, funny, thoughtful and supportive of so many around him. When he calls you his bestie you truly believe it. He also just has the best come backs! Lol.

Come along with us as we read this. And let me know if you would like to know what Remus thinks of the book and we can have a fun discussion!

I am so excited that I get to be an ARC reader for "Of Swords and Starlight" by Wren Jones!! She is one of my favorite authors and she is incredibly kind. I will be posting a long form review on here if you would like to hear my thoughts. I mean, does it get any better than a fantasy novel about a reincarnated warrior princess balancing university life with fighting monsters using starlight powers, featuring themes like magical girls, strong female friendships, a love triangle and a magical cat?

As you guys know, I am in a war with social media. Which is ironic given my brand. But I'm trying my best to limit the amount of time I am on social media, and one way I'm doing that is through my book journal, like I told you all before.

This year, I stopped using Goodreads the way I used to and started tracking my reading in a physical book journal instead. It feels good to track things in an analog way.

I do try to journal creatively, looking up Pinterest inspo and trying to recreate it in my own style. But I’m not going to lie… it’s not super aesthetic. Well, not all of it.

Some pages are creative, feel like me, and are super pretty. Other pages are… flops. And it’s okay.

The picture above is one of my favorites.

I’m learning to just accept it and move on instead of trying to make everything perfect. I’m taking the layouts I don’t like as learning curves and trying to do better next time.

Currently, I think I finally found a layout that works for me. But more than that… I’ve found joy and peace in slowing down and just getting my thoughts out on the page.

I don’t know how to explain it, but sitting at my table, cutting papers and picking out different colors, printing images I think would go well on the spread… it’s healing something in me.

And after I finish decorating and journaling, I feel calm. Like… really calm.

And I’m lowkey proud of myself for creating something with my hands again. It feels like my own little masterpiece. Both the nice aesthetic spreads and the not-so-nice ones.

This year I've read 17 books far.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is our winner for May!

As I'm only just now getting this out, we will be pushing back our meeting a week, so it will be Wednesday, June 3rd at 8pm. I apologize for not getting this out sooner, busy week!

Good news! I have been sent yet another copy of The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. This time it's the new paperback edition. Seeing as I already own two other copies, I'd love to find this one a new home with a second giveaway of this tremendous book from one of my favorite authors. In return all I ask is that you consider upgrading your sub while you're here to support the publishing imprint, but either way I appreciate y'all :D

To enter the giveaway, be a "Kist Reads" Follower, Sicko, Mega Sicko or Sicko Society tier in the US or Canada and leave a comment on this post (it can be an emoji or whatever you like, it's just so we can expedite the winner selection & shipping). And yes, I cover the shipping costs. Terms & conditions* at the bottom. Here she is:

Since I'll be at BookNet Fest this Friday & Saturday, this is gonna run a little longer than usual. I'll randomly draw the winner by 5/21 and reach out via email if you've won. Good luck!

Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds.

Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Holy City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters. The mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends.

Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it's a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.

*No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the United States and Canada, 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited by law.

How to enter:
Open to all “Kist Reads” Bindery members – any tier (including free “Follower” members). Comment to enter (limit 1 entry per person).

Prize Value: $19.99

Timing: Runs 5/12/26 - 5/18/26

Winner Selection & Notification:
Winner will be selected at random and notified via email within 3 days of the giveaway’s end. The winner must respond within 3 days to claim their prize.

Canadian Requirement:
If the selected winner is a Canadian resident, they must correctly answer a time-limited skill-testing question to claim the prize.

Other Details:
By entering, you agree to these rules and all applicable federal, state/provincial, and local laws. No cash substitute. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries or for delivery issues. Any applicable taxes, duties, or customs fees are the responsibility of the winner.

Sponsor:
Kist Reads, Sun City Center, FL
Kistreadsbooks@gmail.com

Let’s get into the real tea! 

What can you expect from your resident bookhoarder? Tons of Black content!

Black authors, Black stories, all BLACK EVERYTHING!

I’m so excited to use my platform to highlight Black authors because we all know how underrepresented they are in traditional publishing. My space will be to uplift, celebrate and cherish the stories these authors put so much of their time and heart into.

Let’s set expectations:

1. I’ll be posting about all genres and you’ll get a peek into my weekly life and what I’m reading.

2. I’ll be doing in-depth reviews and real time updates on my current TBR.

3. Exclusive content here of course!

4. Real thoughts, real feeling, real emotions on all the books taking up space in my brain. I want to be as unfiltered as possible and authentic as possible.

5. My discord will be a safe space.

I want to try to maximize this space as much as possible while being true to myself.

This is about setting the standard for the beauty that is Black authors & Black stories.

Join me over in Discord whenever you’re ready and let the fun begin!!!

Can’t wait to see what this platform has for me.

As of right now, I’m currently in the thick of Reel by Kennedy Ryan.. in anticipation of her release of Score. So far? The YEARNING KR writes is so unbeatable. Her MMCs are always so down bad and I just cannot get enough of them. I also enjoy Neevah. She creates such a bubbky feeling in me, even though she is going through SO MUCH. I can appreciate a strong FMC because I see that in myself. However her family? yeah.... NO. F them.

Im also reading an advanced copy of To Catch A Sinner by Lucy Wilson-Tagoe and I have some early thoughts, but I want to savor them for when I finish... sorry for teasing. It is a friends to lovers romantic susoense that is taking me THROUGH THERE already.

I started If I Ruled The World by Amy Dubois Bennet, however im not graavitating towards it at this moment, but its not a DNF yet.

I also started The Art of Scandal by Regina Black and... YEAH, her pen is vicious MY GOODNESS. I'll talk about that more seperatly though.

Anyways, I hope you love it here and are ready to celebrate all these Black books im going throw your way!

Dont forget to join my Discord to get the real feeling of community. I made this specifically for Bindery and want to enjoy it to the FULLEST extent.

- KISSES,

KiaTheBookHoarder

My friends, after listening to feedback from members of our community, I've decided that Harry Potter discussion and references will no longer be permitted in the Cozy Quill discord server.

I understand this series holds deep, personal touchstones for many, but I know this community and believe you'll process this choice with respect and care.

This decision is specifically due to J.K. Rowling’s ongoing and very vocal stance against the trans community. We want this server to feel safe and welcoming for our lgbtq+ members, and we are noting that the uptick in references lately to HP has been difficult for some to process.

To be clear, I am not interested in building exhaustive “problematic author” lists. That’s a muddy and often subjective line. But in situations where there is overwhelming and consistent concern from our fellow Quillers, we may choose to remove certain authors, works, or topics from this space over time.

We know not everyone will agree with this choice, and that’s okay. Our priority is creating a server that's rooted in kindness, care, and consideration for one another. This means that if you do see an HP reference in the server, I also ask that you kindly remind them of the rules (or bring it to myself/mod team) and do not shame them in any way for not knowing or misremembering.

This decision has been made and will not be up for debate with my mod team or myself. If you strongly disagree with this boundary or feel Cozy Quill is no longer the right fit for you, I ask that you quietly remove yourself from the server respectfully. Thank you all for helping make this space what it is. 💕

Meg