Reporting back after 2 weeks of going no-contact with IG and TikTok

First, I'll tell you the good news. I read a lot. I finished Didion's YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING and Rose Macaulay's KEEPING UP APPEARANCES and A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES (which I made a TikTok about today). And I'm almost done with part 2 of Henry IV. Plus, I knocked a bunch of books off my tbr (by deciding I didn't want to read them).

The main good news is hard to say in a clever way: I just felt way better without content in my life. Many times I thought, How was I living like that for so long?? But I also knew I'd go back to it.

The bad news

is that the terrible habit of mindless phone unlocking is so engrained that my pickup stat (the # of times I opened my phone) didn't go down at all. I'm still clocking 90-100 pickups per day, even without IG/TikTok on my phone.

In their absence, I was using apps I haven't used in ages.

I was a menace on poshmark the past 2 weeks. I wish I were joking. I sold 7 listings (I bought some stuff too.) I was at the post office practically every other day to ship them. (Sidebar: I love the post office. I mail a lot of stuff. I am very worried about the recent headlines.)

I am stalking individual pairs of shoes and sweaters on TheRealReal, which is something I haven't done in years.

I bought 6 pairs of shoes (2 pairs of Tod's heels, 1 pair of Tod's boots, 1 pair of rag&bone boots, 1 pair new balance sneakers, 1 pair hunter short rain boots) mostly at Nordstrom Rack (I downloaded the Nordstrom Rack app😳).

I got these silver david bowie-ish boots because they were $65 on clearance (they retail for $498). They're not really my taste but for 87% off I can cosplay Dorian Greene.

I'm not framing this as shopping addiction ("All I did was sub 1 vice with another!") Truth be told, I desperately needed to go shopping for a while. I was looking sha-bby. Also, I did really need to address my plantar fasciitis situation (I bought 4 diff kinds of orthotics).

So shopping a lot and averaging 2 hrs/screentime per day isn't exactly good but it's not bad either. If anything, it just shows that as soon as some free time opened up I finally attended to tasks that I'd been putting off. I took 2 pairs of boots to the cobbler. I got a haircut. I'm not calling this SeLf-CaRe - but some people would.

What's bad is that I couldn't stop reaching for my phone. And when I opened it and discovered no IG, most of the time I didn't do the right thing and just re-lock it. I opened other apps. I was browsing listings on Airbnb with absolutely no intention of going anywhere. This is mortifying behavior.

What a colossal waste of time that I know where to stay in Naples, FL and also Naples, Italy if someone wanted to take a trip next week.

Just stop

I had a compulsion to scroll: rental houses, jeans, platform sandals (that is a real shoe that I have my eye on). It sounds like it didn't matter what I was looking at because that was indeed the case. The unlocking/checking behavior was agnostic of any rational motivation.

Why did I keep looking at junk on my phone when I was sitting in front of work that needed to be done? This is the real question. This is the nexus of my problem.

Because I wasn't craving short-form content. It's not like i had to fight the urge to check my stats or look at TikTok in my browser. I wasn't jonesing for brain rot. Going on poshmark and airbnb wasn't a methadone thing-- it was an unthinking thing.

It was out of habit that I kept reaching for my phone when I was in the middle of working on my book or a pitch or a essay -- any time I came to a point where I needed to stop and think (pick the right word, figure out what I'm really trying to say, make a decision)-- before I could do that, I would open my phone and kill a few minutes.

I thought taking the apps off my phone would cure this self-sabotaging instinct but it didn't🙃

The unconsciousness of it

is what's bothering me. I wouldn't call it lack of self-control because when I thought ooh you're reaching for your phone again, I would stop myself. But mostly, I found myself looking at my phone already unlocked thinking, damn, it happened again... might as well see if there are any good listings in Paris on the weekend of my birthday. just for fun.

I wasn't on airbnb 3 hours a day, though. In this 2 week period, I did sit with my thoughts more. I brought my kindle with me every time I went out. I (mercifully) had fewer ideas/hooks for videos running through my mind. But what I'm mad at myself for is how I couldn't get rid of the automatic unlocking aka I am so addicted and not even getting any pleasure out of it.

"Successful People"

I'm always wary of so-called studies about "successful people" but I saw this thing (which seems to be attributed to Jeff Olson's The Slight Edge) that says successful people (whatever that means) don't have better willpower, they just create situations in which their willpower is not tested. They remove temptations rather than resisting them.

That feels legit to me because my screentime did decrease a ton (compare with the screenshot at the top) and I felt like I "got my life back" when I took the social apps off my phone.

I didn't screenshot my screentime before I deleted IG/TikTok so I can't show a precise before/after but pre-hiatus I was averaging 3hr16min without IG. So it must've been, what, at least 4 hours of daily screentime pre-hiatus?

I always think of this bit in 30Rock where Jack Donaghy is lying in a hospital bed, imagining he might die, and he says, "I have only one regret: I should have worked more."

I have only one regret: I should have scrolled more.

2 weeks

wasn't enough for me to change my habits. Gemini says it takes 66 days. I'm better smarter and more talented than the average person so I think I could make a dent in a month but alas - I just shot and edited a tiktok (in 7 minutes : this is not a brag. it's a warning to not waste your time watching it) in the middle of writing this.

Casual as this sounds, I am editing these posts. The formatting and punctuation is a little wonky because I want you to know it's written with love, not with AI (this is gonna be my next topic-- the way writing, esp on substack, is getting a weird because people are trying to make it clear they are not using AI). I do not subscribe to Kerouac's "first draft best draft" for anything except short form content.

I'm not going straight back to posting in full-throttle mode. I'm going back reluctantly with a healthy respect for how much I hate it and how mind-numbing (this is such a great phrase) content is. Great art isn't mind-numbing. Good art isn't mind-numbing. Even pop art isn't mind-numbing.

Anything that numbs your mind, takes you out of reality without giving you something to chew on, that's dangerous. That's soma.

Hello friends! Just a few fun updates for you on our Twig's Traveling Tomes process. It's been an active month behind the scenes and we have SO MUCH to celebrate. Here's a few highlights:

COVER DESIGN:
As we were wrapping up the cover art, we realized that Everett wasn't standing out as much as we'd like. So with a few key adjustments we went from this:

To THIS:

I think the pop of blue really helps highlight our scrappy rogue and can't WAIT to see this in person and in YOUR hands! What do you think of the change?

BLURBS:

We were so fortunate this year to receive DREAM blurbs for Twig's! You'll begin to see them used in our marketing and you'll see them on your physical ARCs soon, which is exciting.

One of my FAVORITE moments of this entire process was hopping on the phone with Gryffin the moment I heard a very special blurb come in.

If you'd like to see the video of that call, CLICK HERE!

Here's what our favorite cozy authors are saying about Twigs:

"Whimsical and wonderful, Twig's Traveling Tomes is a delightful treat for book lovers in search of a charming escape!" - Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of THE SPELLSHOP

"Have you ever fallen in love while tumbling into a comfortable armchair with a crackling fire, and cup of tea waiting for you? If not, then this is the book you should read to experience it!" - Delemhach, bestselling author of the House Witch  

"Full of found family and flirty banter, Twig’s Traveling Tomes puts a fun spin on the idea that books really can take you anywhere. This world-hopping quest with a charming band of misfits is delightfully chaotic and inventive, and will make you wish for your own magical traveling bookshop (and a good grappling hook)!" - Julie Leong, USA Today bestselling author of The Keeper of Magical Things

And we have MORE where that came from! Such a joy seeing this sweet story land with authors that have championed the genre. I couldn't be prouder of Gryffin and all the work that's led her here. She deserves every bit of this celebration and praise!

AUDIO BOOK:
I'm DELIGHTED to announce that there will be an audio book releasing for Twig's as well! We're over the moon about this news and will be partnering with RB Media (Recorded Books imprint) to publish later this year. I will keep you updated as we start the narrator hunt, but I'm confident that this team will find the perfect person to voice Louella's adventures. More to come!

BOOK BOX WINNER:
And finally, it's time to share our March Book Box winner! If you're new to SBC, each month I randomly choose a winner to receive a curated book box I make just for you. It's one of my favorite things we do here!

Today I'm delighted to announce that mickeybooklore is our March winner! Mickey, you should see an email in your inbox already, but all you need to do is fill out that form and I'll get you your box asap. Thank you so much for being a part of this cozy community!

That's all for now, friends. Looking forward to more updates soon and a LIVE interview with Gryffin to catch up and answer any questions about the process so far. Will keep you in the loop once that's scheduled.

xx,

Meg

I'm having a hard time. NOTHING IS HITTING.

I am all caught up on our bookclub assignments.

The Year of the Witching is really missing something for me. I am not connecting with this one at all. When I put it down, I'm not looking forward to picking it up again.

The Night Watchman? I'm into it when we are hearing what is going on with Patrice. When we switch over to Thomas? I zone out. Erdrich usually has multiple storylines going on at once and they usually blend well, but this one isn't working for me.

I thought why not pick up a quick thriller? I grabbed How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield. I listened to one chapter and this was the first book to hit my Goodreads DNF shelf.

I do not feel like reading on Kindle. I don't feel like picking up my physical books.

600 books and nothing to read!

Someone please recommend the best audio book you've read! Immediately!

Bindery is sometimes difficult to get all the names for each category. Please let us know if you are not on this graphic or with the right role on Discord :). Apologies for any errors!

Hey Guys,

Some important deadlines for What Feeds Below:

Upgrade to a paid subscriber to guarantee your WFB arc. $5 subscribers get e*arcs, $12/$25 will get physical arcs (US ONLY).

Deadline is March 30.

Paid Members fill out this form to get sent a What Feeds Below bookmark ($5 subscribers and Coloring postcard ($12/$25 subscribers). Deadline this Friday.

As a paid subscriber, you are directly supporting our publishing projects (meaning we get to publish more books!) and have access to exclusive content.

I have a very big stretch goal of 100 new paid subscribers by April! If you can afford to upgrade (for the cost of a cup of coffee or a salad) and support an indie, Indigenous led press, please do!

Lastly, preorders are so important! I just read that paperbacks typically need 4,000 sales by week one! I'd love to have at least 2,000 preorders! If you have not purchased What Feeds Below yet, now is the time! (Please purchase from bookshop)

Your 2026 Spring Reading Guide & Much More!

As the flowers begin to bloom and the days stretch longer, there’s no better feeling than clearing off your winter TBR pile to make room for fresh adventures. Whether you’re looking for a twisty mystery, a royal reimagining, or a charming read-aloud for the little ones, our Spring Reading Guide has something for every shelf.

Grab a cold drink, find a sunny spot, and dive into our top picks for the season!

For the History Buffs & Bold Reimagining Fans

The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann

Imagine if Anne Boleyn woke up the day after her execution, sewed her head back on, and decided she wasn't going down without a fight. This is a sharp, mouthy, and vengeful reimagining of history that feels like a collaboration between Kelly Link and Hilary Mantel.

A Lady for All Seasons by T.J. Alexander

A riotous Regency romp and a marriage of convenience. When Verbena Montrose tries to save her family from poverty by marrying her queer friend Etienne, she runs into a mysterious poet who might just be the one to actually win her heart.

Grown-Up Dramas & Elite Mysteries

Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

Set in 1977 Rochester, this is a wise and probing look at a midlife awakening. When Nina Larkin’s suburban life is upended by a scandalous fling, the ripples affect her daughter Clara for decades to come. It’s a beautiful exploration of what we owe the people we love.

A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmad

Think Gatsby meets My Sister, the Serial Killer. Ali Azeem moves from Mumbai to Manhattan after marrying into a real estate empire, only to find himself caught between two sisters and a dark family secret that might involve a serial killer.

ZigZag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton

A noir-tinged feminist thriller set in the haunted magic underworld of Atlantic City. Magician Lucy Moon must solve a murder that mirrors a tragic sawing in half trick from the 1940s. It’s The Prestige meets Knives Out.

Tales of Healing & Heart

The A to Z of Everything by Debbie Johnson

Two estranged sisters are brought back together after their mother’s death by a final gift: a box of letters and recordings titled The A to Z of Everything. It’s a moving story about the hardest letter of all F for Forgiveness.

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

What if you woke up inside your favorite dark fantasy novel? Maggie knows every plot point and character secret, which is lucky, because while she apparently can’t be killed, the characters she’s grown to love certainly can.

Young Adult: Secrets & Supernatural Romance 

If We Never End by Laura Taylor Namey

A vintage gold watch, a ghost boy named Penn, and a summer of road trips. This epic romance spans life and death, but as Sylvie helps Penn solve the mystery of his passing, she discovers secrets that put her own life at risk.

A Thousand Perfect Lies by Monica Murphy

Billie Vale infiltrates England’s most elite boarding school under a fake identity to clear her sister’s name. In a world of golden princes and brooding outcasts, she learns that at Wickham Academy, the truth is the most dangerous thing you can find.

Middle Grade Adventures

Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery

A heart-tugging quest about a boy named Tick nicknamed Small Wonder, his little brother, and their faithful horse. With an assassin on their heels, they must cross a dangerous kingdom to deliver a vital warning.

Landslide by Betty Culley

Ten-year-old Nathan Savage sees movement others don't and he’s convinced the massive landfill across the street is about to collapse. With his father working at the top of the heap, Nathan has to find a way to stop a literal force of nature.

Picture Books & Early Readers

• The True Ugly Duckling by Sandra Nickel: A stunning paper-cut biography of Hans Christian Andersen, exploring how his neurodiversity fueled his legendary storytelling.

• If This Were the World by Stephen Barr: A clever recess-time philosophical journey where a class tries to find the perfect world, only to realize the one they have is worth protecting.

• Rumble! by Lola M. Schaefer: A perfect Ready-to-Read book for budding astronauts just learning their first words.

• The Pie-Rat on Seventh Street by Cam Higgins: Join Ratnip the city rat as he turns a rainstorm into a pirate adventure on a pizza-box ship!

• Start Your Engines! by Katy S. Duffield: A high-energy, rhyming tale about Frankie the ATV and the importance of helping a friend, even when the finish line is in sight.

Templates: Reading Logs & A Spring Reading Journal & Planner 

What’s Inside Your Digital Download?

• The Spring Reading Journal & Planner: More than just a list, this planner includes a monthly reading log, reading journal arc tracker and individual book reviews! Everything in one place to track your spring reading journey!

• Reading Log: A one-page snapshot to record titles, authors, and star ratings. It’s the perfect way to see your progress at a glance as the season unfolds

Tap the link to download each template!

Reading Log https://tinyurl.com/45sbu8w4 

Spring Reading Journal & Planner https://tinyurl.com/238cksfa

Which of these is going on your spring wishlist first? If you're looking for a specific genre recommendation to match your mood, let me know and I can help you narrow it down! 

Hi everyone! Our book club sprints are this Saturday, March 21st from 11am to 1pm EST.

CLICK HERE to access the stream.

For book club sprints, my one rule is to please bring your book club pick since these are specifically book club sprints, not my usual productivity sprints. March's theme is "Family." I'll be reading Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo.

For more information on the book club, CLICK HERE.

The stream will always be here if you want to rewatch it.

See you on Saturday!

If you follow me on other platforms you know I have been raving about The Gael Song Trilogy.

But what makes it so special? Let me tell you.

First thing is we are set in true 10th century Ireland and a lot of the key characters in this story are real people who existed. (Do not look up anything about these people till after you finish.) So we have the setting, the plot is also rooted in some historical truths as well. But then, lets go ahead and throw in some Irish mythology of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians. They are magical immortals who have been at odds with each other and have been warring with each other.

Shauna Lawless expertly takes this story and weaves in all of the fantasy elements to seamlessly connect it all together.

Now, lets talk the characters. Most of our POVs come from two characters, Gormflaith, a fomorian, and Fodla, a Tuatha De Danann. Both of these characters are opposite of each other but offer two perspectives of what strength looks like in women.

For me, I could not put these books down. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next and all of the politicking and scheming, the tiny subplot of romance, and the emotional attachment to these characters had me up late at night reading.

These series is severely underrated and it is one of my favorite series I've read! I get to interview and talk with Shauna Lawless this weekend and I cant wait to ask her all about her current and future books!

The First Swords and Bright Stars voted for Operation Bounce House to be one of my (Will's) reads in March! So far, it is very different from Dungeon Crawler Carl simultaneously Dinniman-esque in many respects. It is sharp and witty, with some crazy creativity and confidence, but definitely a different type of story, which is great!

Hey, Everyone,

Welcome to part one of our examination of "Thread the Needle" by Sleep Token from their first EP "One." This is part one of ??? because I don't want to overwhelm anyone. It can be a lot. And I'm chatty. Really chatty. The point of this series is to teach you how to analyze texts in a chunkable, digestable fashion. Songs are basically "mini" texts to practice on, but that doesn't mean they lack depths of meaning.

Haven't heard "Thread the Needle" before? Click this link to listen to the song before we dive in: "Thread the Needle" by Sleep Token

If you aren't familiar with the history of Sleep Token, their earliest interviews, and their history, consider checking out these two videos by Glen Joseph Robinson, a very passionate Sleep Token fan and vocal coach:

Sleep Token History Part 1 by Glen Joseph Robinson
Sleep Token History Part 2 by Glen Joseph Robinson

For my part in all of this lore building, I'm going to be looking specifically at the auditory nature of the song in addition to the lyrics themselves. While I know that all Sleep Token fans have their own theories and such, this is all just my interpretation and a way to teach analysis skills in real time by looking at something very manageable: a six minute and 22 second song (okay so it's a long song, but a lot of it is instrumentals! not a ton of lyrics... not really, anyway.)

That said? Let's go.

When the video for Sleep Token's "Thread the Needle" opens up, we are almost immediately treated to Vessel's lyrical voice. At this point in the band's history, Vessel was the only consistent member (back in the olden days of 2016). Vessel II, or just II, would not join until EP "Two".

LYRICS:

Bury me inside this
Labyrinth bed
We can feel that time is
Dilated

In addition to the song, we are also greeted with the visual of a candle flame. These are all things to keep in mind as we start analyzing.

So we have music, we have Vessel's voice, the image on the screen, and we have the words in front of us. Where to now?

Well one of the things I look for when I'm going to analyze a song is where are the points of emphasis. Where does the singer take a breath? Where does the volume go up? Where does the pitch change?

If we were to apply this to the first stanza or verse of "Thread the Needle" it might look something like this:

What does this mean by itself? Well, nothing yet. We're just noticing things. That's step one. What seems important here? What isn't important?

From listening to this first part of the first verse, two things jump out at me, likely at you, too, since we're looking at the same image. First: two words have exaggeration on the pronunciation, breaking the them down into their syllabic count (three syllables each). Second: each of those exaggerated words are preceded by an extended beat, almost like a breath.

Well, that seems like a good place to start to me. "Labyrinth" and "Dilated" are the two words that are seemingly emphasized.

From here, the question becomes, what do we know about either of these things? What's a labyrinth? What does dilated refer to?

Depending on who you are, how much reading you've done, what your cultural upbringing has been, etc... will determine how you answer these questions. For me, with an academic background, I play word association pretty quickly.

Labyrinth makes me think of the story of the minotaur and King Minos from Greek mythology— the inescapable "maze" that Theseus only manages to find his way out of with the aid of Ariadne's thread. Dilated, particularly when attached to the word time, means one of two things to me: either Einstein's theory of relativity or how time functions in narratives (time dilation versus time compression).

So, what does that matter when listening to a song? Potentially nothing, but when added back into context, we can consider some potential paths forward to either research or ruminate:

Bury me inside this,
Labyrinth bed.

So, the singer, Vessel as both character and vocalist, is asking for someone, some unseen presence, to bury him inside a bed that is likened to a labyrinth. Normally, when we think of beds, we think of comfort, of safety, of sleep (no, this is not a pun, I'm sure some will occur), of intimacy, of sex, of bodies. But this bed isn't all of those things: this is a burial plot, or what Vessel as a character wishes to be his burial plot.

At this point, I could go all Freudian and insist that this is the Eros and Thanatos drives at work, which maybe is an allusion worth exploring (Eros= life/sex drive; Thanatos= death drive, though it's a bit more complicated than that), or I could think: why is a labyrinth bed where Vessel, as a character in a musical theatre production, wants to be buried? What does my current knowledge about labyrinths lend to this discussion? What does the labyrinth have to do with death?

And honestly? I don't have much to add to this without using outside sources. I know the story of the labyrinth, and I know that labyrinths are meant to be "inescapable". That doesn't really contribute much to the conversation (though I would argue the idea of escape versus being trapped adds something, but where we're at right now doesn't say what it adds).

Want to see more? Make sure you subscribe to at least my free tier to see this content before I break it down for social media!

It's been a while. No really, since November.

Since the new year, I have had a few life changes. One, I had a career change! Prior to that I spent time in Boston with my family for my younger cousins wedding and my birthday the next day (I miss Boston).

I've primarily been able to listen to audiobooks. I'm in a season of Malazan and Robin Hobb in that format more recently, and had a short detour into Heated Rivalry (which I DNFd but may pick up again at a later time).

Back to Malazan though. Malazan is considered by many to be one of the most intimidating fantasy series you could read. I'm here to say don't let that stop you from giving it a try. It is rich and intense and has a great depth to it that I absolutely adore, but I find it captivating and even sometimes fun! Not Deadhouse Gates (book two is brutal and I still cry thinking about it).

I was lucky enough to be able to obtain a set of the first six books in the series from The Broken Binding.

and a little moment for the covers

So I listened to the first three of these books on audio, of course on Libro, my favorite audio book platform where purchases support local indie bookstores and I actually own my books (and am not just purchasing the license to the books, unlike some big global retailers).

Unfortunately, the narrator, Ralph Lister is replaced after book three with another narrator and I am not transitioning well. Nothing against Michael Page but Ralph was just so good. I did a bit of a deep dive and found out that he was replaced because he was a union member and was more expensive so I am participating in an act of boycott 15+ years too late. Just kidding, I just can't get used to a new author yet.

Anyhow book one, Gardens of the Moon was a fun adventure introducing us to the world of Malazan.

Book two, Deadhouse Gates, is a brutal 180. Emotional and complex, it further expands the universe all while giving us a glimpse into another working limb of the Malazan Empire. We are able to see how the Empire has expanded and grew into the Empire it is while also seeing the civilizations and cultures that are both around them (unconquered) and within, adapting to fit within the Empires mold. There is a heavy influence from both the Roman and Ottoman Empires, visible in the way that once a place is conquered, the local people are set up to govern again, though they are now within the Empire itself. No spoilers but book two show a visceral and maddening look at a Malazan refugee train moving across a continent, all while attempting to survive a holy war keen on exterminating them. We also see some friendly faces from Book 1 in the only slightly, lighthearted storyline in this god damed (excellent) book.

Finally, I got to Memories of Ice which was EPIC. It had a lot of the emotional depth that Deadhouse Gates had, without nearly as much of the distressing heaviness (though there was still some of that). Memories of Ice has a bit more of the adventurous "fun" vibe that I felt in Gardens of the Moon. I was also really happy to see more of the humor that we caught glimpses of in the previous two books, giving some moments of levity and showing very real interactions where the worst possible thing you can think of can be happening to a character, and yet they still make a little quip. I've been told by quite a few people that it is the fan favorite of the series and I can see why. It brings together multiple characters with incredible arcs and plot progression, not to mention a shocking and insane final chapter. I can't wait to dive into Book 4, House of Chains, and I'm interested in seeing if the experience changes while reading a physical copy myself, vs listening to the audio for the previous three books. I will of course still hear Ralph's voice in my head.

While listening to the Malazan books, I was also reading physical copies of The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb. I don't want to get too much into it here because I full plan on writing a full post about it but it was incredible and I loved everything about it so much. It is without a doubt one of the best fantasy series I have ever read.

In February, I finally got around to reading The Strength of the Few, after I finished reading my physical copies of the Farseer Trilogy. Again, I don't want to get too deep into it but I did enjoy it overall and I am really excited to see where it goes. I really enjoy how Islington really gets into the nitty-gritty of good vs. evil and doing the wrong thing for the right reasons and vice versa. I think we will see more of this in book three, The Justice of One.

Now, I am listening to The Liveship Traders Trilogy, by Robin Hobb. I am losing my mind. I find there is more exposition in Ship of Magic which was quite a change in my opinion fromThe Farseer Trilogy. BUT also, the maddening part, I am a certified HATER of Kyle fucking Haven. It actually hurts to read anything this man does or says, and also, Keffiyah needs to grow a damn spine. Jeez. But all that to say I am still interested in the plot.

Lastly, I need to touch on the Poet Empress by Shen Tao. This debut dark fantasy novel was excellent (I read in February), and it follows a young women who is set to become the future empress of her country. She is searching for a way to save it from famine and her people from starvation, which is actually how she ended up in the Crown Princes harem and was then chose as future Empress. Her new husband, the next Emperor is a despot, with a magical penchant for violence and weapons (and several brothers with other varying magical abilities). Wei Yin decides she must kill him, but the only way she can kill him is to write a spell, and that spell requires that she love him in order to kill him. We see deep and heavy familial bonds and and the breaking of those bonds, court politics, difficult decisions, magic and lies, but also moments of kindness and empathy. I can not wait to see more from Shen Tao in the future because this was a wonderful and moving standalone novel.

That's what I've been up to recently, but next, I will be going through the Spring 2026 Bindery Arcs that I just received, starting with my most anticipated, Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari. This is a fantasy novel inspired by the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500's, but in this story, the Portuguese are half men and half sea creature. I've really been enjoying it so far and can't wait to see where the story goes so I can share more:)