It's Independent Bookstore Day and I know I'm late on getting this post out, but that's because I did a crawl to ten bookstores today with my friends!

If you don't have a local store, please consider making us your home store on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm!

Here are some books we recommend for today!

Ryn:

• Lethal Kiss by Taylor Grothe (Out October 20, 2026)

• Seek the Traitor's Son by Veronica Roth (Out May 12, 2026)

• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (yes, we adore Star Wars in this house)

• The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

Tori:

• The Sluts by Dennis Cooper

• Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

• The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty (this is Tori's favorite book of all time)

Friends,

our first book hasn’t even hit the shelves yet, and now our second book has back copy! I don’t know if I’m supposed to share this (lolz, always choose asking for forgiveness/ permission) and it’s not final but check her out!

I’m so excited to share because I feel I haven’t been able to share much!

Cracks in an Ocean of Glass by Kristy Park Kulski

Wherever she goes, the dead walk with her.

Some histories have the power to possess us.

 Dark strands of hair crack the corners of my sight, suspended as always in the air, spidering and floating as if in liquid. Mul-gwishin. Water ghost.

Korean-American teen Gracie Russell feels she belongs nowhere. In suburban 1990s Washington, she is constantly at sea, struggling with her biracial identity, her father’s violent alcoholism, and her mother’s looming mortality. When Ji-eun dies, Gracie will lose the chance to mend their uneasy relationship. But Gracie can feel Ji-eun slipping away, pulled by the tides of memory back to authoritarian 1970s South Korea and a past so drowned in sorrow it conjures a mul-gwishin—a Korean water ghost.

As Ji-eun’s body weakens and the autumn rains fall in torrential sheets, the sound of dripping water haunts Gracie, bringing with it unsettling visions. Cracks form in the basement wall, exposing a crumbling passageway to a sea of liquid darkness, and Gracie is running out of time. And the mul-gwishin is coming for her.

For readers of Catriona Ward and Han Kang, Cracks in an Ocean of Glass is a new vision of heritage, violence, and the histories that possess us from Korean-American author Kristy Park Kulski.

 Ahhhhhhh! Thoughts? Hopefully early cover art coming soon!

Thank you so much for supporting this imprint!

Finally (knock on wood) I am diving back into the world of Eahbridge. For those of you that have joined me on this lengthy journey, thank you so much for sticking with me, even when I have been stuck. As this book is intertwined with loads of firsts, first artwork commissions, first sharing of snippets and such, as well as the first time truly connection with a narrative as a nonbinary writer. I think all of that has contributed to my writer's block, because my imposter syndrome kicks in, giving me doubts in my creative abilities.

But, then I will either chat with one of my friends who has an understanding of the narrative, or re-read small passages for myself, and I fall in love all over again. With the characters, their motivations, the world, and the desire to share that with the world hits me all over again, superseding my imposter syndrome and desires for perfection.

The first draft does not need to be perfect. It just needs to be written.

And so, as I bring you along in this journey, I am going to continue to be patient with myself and my writing, knowing that there is an audience out there that wants to hear my words and how creative I can be.

If you continue joining me, I thank you, and promise to not only do better with delivering the content, analysis, and content, but do better with embracing the block not as a dead end, but an opportunity to explore a new path.

Thank you so much and I cannot wait to bring you more!

If you haven’t had a chance to see the arcs yet, prepare yourselves!

One of my favorite parts of the book are the epigraphs! Each chapter adds so much to the Void lore!

I want to share one of my favorites!

Let me know if you’re ready to dive into the Void!

Friends,

I'm back from New York and slowly adjusting! I've got Bookcon updates and more for you! I admit I am behind on EVERYTHING and might be that way for the next month! I'm behind on bookclub- our readalong- our calendar- and content LOL (though I do have TWO BIG surprises for paid subscribers later today)

Each month, I select one day for us to support an indie bookshop as a community and what more perfect day that INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY!

This month, we are supporting Quiet Quail Books, an Indigenous owned bookstore located in San Bernardino! All purchases through bookshop support both Quiet Quail Books (an Indigenous bookshop) and this imprint!

One of the things I love about being a book content creator is sharing curated lists! I've attached some books to this post for easy clicking, but I've also created some lists. And if you don't like any of those, once you click on my bookshop link, you can buy anything and it will support Quiet Quaill!

Must Read Women in Horror

Must Read Indigenous Horror

Must Read Indigenous Romance

Must Read Indigenous Fantasy/Sci Fi

Must Read Indigenous Thriller and Mystery

From The Mixed Up Desk Indigenous Faves

Also, what a perfect day to pre-order What Feeds Below! <3 (Speaking of What Feeds Below, paid subscribers- give me an hour and a very cool sneak peek is coming!)

Welcome back to another author interview! Today I'm joined by author A.M Shilling to talk about her debut novel The Devouring.

1. I always use this first question as an introduction. Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm an indie author from Maryland writing horror, fantasy, and romance—usually a mix of all three. I've been writing stories since I was a kid, mostly fanfiction, but didn't start writing professionally until 2024. I love books with morally gray characters, themes of monstrosity and humanity, and romances featuring couples who are already committed to each other.

2. I see you just recently released your debut book, The Devouring. Care to tell us a little bit about it?

The Devouring is a cosmic horror thriller about the monsters we choose. It follows Jason, a professional assassin, and his wife Ayana, a doctor who conducts autopsies, as they investigate his brother's murder and an impossible illness she found in her cadavers. Along the way, they uncover an occult conspiracy at the heart of their city—and the malevolent god lurking beyond its veil. It is told from the perspective of the story's villains, unreliable narrators with questionable morals.

3. What was your inspiration when writing it? Any specific novels or movies that helped inspire this book?

I wrote The Devouring as a homage to the cosmic horror genre and was specifically inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft, one of the genre's original authors. In particular, his short story "The Colour Out of Space" is a huge influence on The Devouring. Additionally, I'm a big fan of action thrillers like the John Wick movies. I wanted to blend the existential dread of cosmic horror with the fast pace, high stakes, and criminal underworld of that franchise. Finally, I took a small amount of inspiration from the Delta Green tabletop RPG, which depicts a secret government agency that fights eldritch horrors.

4. If your novel ever became a movie, who would your dream cast be?

I struggle a lot with dream casts and took a long time coming up with the answer for this question, but I settled on Lewis Tan for Jason and Tahirah Sharif for Ayana. As a bonus, my dream director is Denis Villeneuve, and I would love for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to make the soundtrack.

5. Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

I am! My main WIP is a romantic space fantasy called Crucible of the Broken Moon, the first book of a duology. It's about a princess who runs away from her home planet and arranges her own marriage to a warlord's son so that they can overthrow her tyrannical father. I also have a couple of WIPs simmering on the back burner: a vampire novella that I'm not sure I'll publish, a werewolf horrormance inspired by the Midsommar movie and an urban fantasy about a secret society of mages.

6. What are some of your favorite books?

My favorites change as my tastes do, so right now they are Spread Me by Sarah Gailey, The Course of Honour by Lindsey Davis, and My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Honorable mentions go to Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer and There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm.

7. Any upcoming releases you are excited about?

Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle, At Your Pace by Hope Engel, and A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-young are my top three right now.

8. What are some of your favorite horror movies?

Alien is my favorite horror movie of all time. I also recently enjoyed Nosferatu and Sinners. I don't watch nearly as many horror movies as I read horror books, though; I'm a big baby when it comes to film and TV.

9. Do you have a writing process? Any routines or rituals you do to help you focus?

I try to write 500 words every day, with a 1-2 day break every week. I especially like to do writing sprints using the Pomodoro Technique—25 minutes focused writing, 5 minutes short break, repeat. Most important, though, is making sure I balance writing with other activities, like reading or playing video games, to avoid burnout.

10. Who are some of your favorite authors?

Chuck Tingle, Kevin Kwan, Hailey Piper, Paisley Rose, Mimi Matthews, Emily Klotz, and Junji Ito, to name a few.

Hi everyone it is that time to vote for which books we will be reading in May! As always we have 3 fantasy and 3 thriller books to choose from! Voting will end on 4/30

Everyone will have two votes so that you can vote for both genres if you would like

Make sure to join the discord so that we can discuss all our reads!

Happy Friday to you, my dears and Froomies!

What a hectic week for me, and I am certainly happy for the end of the work week. Not that it was too taxing, we just wrapped up book faire at my job. I totally miss the book faire days when I was a kid, but it is nice to return to a sense of normalcy!
But now it is Friday and time for the author shout out!

So, today's author spotlight goes to......

(Drum roll please)

AZALEA CROWLEY!

If you have never had the chance to read a book by Azalea, you are missing out on a beautiful and unexpected blend of genres that fit together so seamlessly. "Cozy" Horror romance isn't something that I would have ever had on my radar, but they have a way with words that encapsulates my attention. Monster romance is a marketable genre in this day and age, the parallels between man and monster is not a new concept, but hardly do I ever see the monster paired with someone who is often known as the "weird girl". The person who is often ostracized by societal norms for either being labeled as the creep, or has a disability that causes them to be othered by society. But the romance is never portrayed as the "thing that saves the FMC", however in the context of Wicked Flavors for example, the love of the monster makes the FMC "worse" but in all the best ways. She becomes weirder, grows more into herself, and embraces the newness her encounters with her monster paramour, becoming a sort of pink cozy horror being that transforms into the "monster" herself.

Neon pastel cozy horror romance is a jumble of words, but it works so well!

As a creative and a reader, Azalea wears many hats. One is also as a sensitivity reader, of which they go into detail on their page.

To learn more about the books Azalea writes, including fantasy with TTRPG aspects, check them out at:

https://www.azaleacrowley.com/

Let’s vote on our book club pick for May! Several of you said you’d love to read a good fantasy standalone, and some people also showed interest in continuing on with the Shadow of the Leviathanseries. With that in mind, here are the three options I’ve come up with for next month. I can’t wait to see what we pick! Voting will close on Monday, April 27th. Once voting closes, don’t forget to check the Discord for virtual meetup details and our monthly giveaway winner ☺️

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Book 2 of the Shadow of the Leviathan series)

Join Ana and Din as they set out to investigate another seemingly impossible murder case, facing a cunning adversary who can predict every move they make.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

In this character-driven fantasy standalone, Maia—a half-goblin prince—unexpectedly ascends the throne of the Elflands after his father and brothers die in a mysterious accident. Despite his attempts to rule with kindness and integrity, Maia finds himself tied up in court intrigue, racial tensions, and his own loneliness. Can he uncover the mystery behind his family’s death whilst confronting his own trauma and isolation?

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

This debut dark fantasy novel is a reimagining of the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan in 18th century France. Blending horror, fantasy, and romance, the book follows Sebastian—an immortal monster slayer—who is hunting down a creature that evaded him years ago.

The Page Ladies Book Club: A Deep Dive into His & Hers

This month, we’ve been completely obsessed with a story that proves there are truly two sides to every lie. We’re talking about Alice Feeney’s gripping thriller, His & Hers.

With the 2026 Netflix limited series adaptation officially taking our screens by storm, it’s time to settle the age-old debate: Does the screen version live up to the page?

The Source Material: Alice Feeney’s Masterpiece

If you haven't finished the book yet, be warned: Feeney is the queen of the unreliable narrator. The novel is a dark, claustrophobic look at the village of Blackdown.

• The Hook: A woman is murdered. Newsreader Anna Andrews doesn’t want to cover it; Detective Jack Harper doesn't want her there.

• The Vibe: It’s quintessentially British gloomy, secretive, and incredibly twisty.

• The Narrative: The book thrives on the internal monologues of Anna and Jack. In print, you feel the paranoia of not knowing which narrator to trust. Are they victims of a dark past, or are they playing us?

The Netflix Adaptation: A High-Stakes Shift

The 2026 limited series brings some heavy hitters to the table. With Tessa Thompson as Anna and Jon Bernthal as Jack, the chemistry and the tension is off the charts.

What Changed?

• The Setting: While the book feels rooted in its British village atmosphere, the series leans into a more cinematic, noir-style thriller aesthetic.

• The Casting: Thompson and Bernthal bring a grit to these roles that feels a bit more action-forward than the internal, psychological dread of the book.

• The Supporting Cast: Having Pablo Schreiber in the mix adds a layer of intensity that kept us glued to our seats.

The Comparison: Page vs. Screen

✨️Atmosphere

The Novel: Small-town British dread.

The Netflix Series: High-tension, dark cinematic noir.

✨️Perspective

The Novel: Expertly drawn, competing narrators.

The Netflix Series: Visual cat-and-mouse game.

✨️The Big Twist 

The Novel: A psychological gut-punch.

The Netflix Series: A shocking reveal involving Anna’s mother.

✨️Pacing 

The Novel: Slow-burn suspense.

The Netflix Series: Fast-paced, binge-worthy episodes.

The Verdict: Did the Ending Stick?

One of the biggest talking points in our club meeting this week was the ending. Without giving away too many spoilers for the late-to-the-party readers, the TV series leans hard into the family trauma, revealing that the killer was Anna’s mother.

While the book keeps the His vs. Hers perspective as the primary engine, the show transforms the story into a sprawling web of dark secrets from their past.

Our Take: The book is a must-read for the psychological depth and the way Feeney manipulates your trust. However, the Netflix series is a masterclass in acting Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal make the estrangement between Anna and Jack feel incredibly raw and real.

Discussion Question: Do you think the TV show’s ending was more or less shocking than the book?

Next Month’s Pick: What do you think we should watch and read next? Until then, keep reading and watching!

Hunted by the Demon’s Vow by A.N. Caudle, narrated in duet by Brandon Francis and Laura Horowitz.

This is a standalone in the Immortal Hunters collection.

This was SO much fun to read. If you like standalone dark romantasy, a good “f*ck it” moment, Hunger Games vibes but with masked demons, this is definitely for you.

🎧 The duet narration was spectacular, but honestly, what do you even expect when you have two powerhouses like Laura Horowitz and Brandon Francis? I was completely immersed in this world. Laura has such an incredible voice and verve, you can’t help but fall in love with her narration. And Brandon Francis? Those sound effects were a 10/10, and his ability to switch between the demon voice and his human one was absolute perfection.

“Your vow is to protect me. Mine is to never leave you, whether in your ruin or your death.”

Tropes you can find here:

• Brother’s best friend

• Frenemies to lovers

• Touch her & die

• The hunt

• Demon x human

• Masked MMC

• Slow burn

• Secret identity

Overall, this was such an entertaining, addictive read/listen and I had a great time with it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ story
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ narration
🌶️🌶️🌶️

A reminder to join us this weekend for a cozy catch up with Twig's Traveling Tomes author, Gryffin Murphy! 📚

We'll be hosting a LIVE Q&A on Sunday at 2pm ct/3pm et with Gryffin to celebrate where we're at in the publishing process, offer a few updates, and chat all things Twigs!

This discussion will be spoiler-free, including the Q&A portion of the interview. I just ask that we save those specific questions for our next live after the book has released.

I'm hosting it on Zoom this round so that we can record it for those who can't make this one. I'll post it early next week right here on Bindery for anyone who missed out.

Is it Sunday and you're ready to join us?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ZOOM

See you soon, Quillers! 😘

Meg

Now for the discussion of the fourth and final section of Good People by Patmeena Sabit (Judgment Day, pages 251-end) as well as the book as a whole.

I think this is what really sold me on the book...we don't get resolution just like we don't in life. In full transparency, I remembered that we found out that it wasn't an honor killing, though on re-reading I realized that was just my interpretation. That said, having the opposite assumption on re-read helped me notice all the times we're clued in to the accusations being groundless.

What was uncomfortable for me (and thus an opportunity to grow) is how easily I was willing to believe it was an honor killing, even though the evidence at most was weak and circumstantial. This playing on stereotype draws attention to Islamophobia in a way that creeps up on you.

What are your thoughts?

"He looked at the photo of Lauren again and thought about all the strange coincidences and seemingly otherworldly things that had happened since meeting Tanika. Was this predestined? Maybe she was right. Perhaps someone was pushing them together. Helping them to write a new chapter in their lives."

GENRE: Romance
RATING:4.75/5
FORMAT:eBook
Tropes:MCs over 40s, Sport Romance, Magical Realism

Review:
Losing Sight is the first book in an inter-connected series and we get to follow the journey of Tanika and Gideon, both older MCs and watch them fall in love while finding the one.

I really enjoyed getting to know both our MCs in here. Tanika is a Sports reporter who is currently struggling because she loss her spot in her Thursday Night football and we get to dive into this throughout the story, seeing how she works and copes with different individuals in her work as a Black woman.

We also get to see her as part of her friend group, which is called Boss Chick Village and see how Tanika fits in with her best friends. Their friendship is a lovely group and you can see the love they have for each other plus the support and trust that is there.

And through her friend group, Tanika meets Gideon, our MMC. Gideon is an optometrist and recently widowed. I think the way we get to know Gideon through his POV was lovely as you get to see him struggle with his grief and balancing that with moving on with Tanika. We get to see him try to build his life after his loss and I think the development that happens throughout the story is done in a way that is very much a reality of the ups and downs of losing someone you love.

And them getting to know each other and learning to be vulnerabilities together? That was a lovely read and journey as we got to know both Tanika and Gideon separately and then together and just watched how they come together and build a life together.

If you're looking for book 2 review, check it out here!