Happy Sunday, mis internet amigxs,

Today I invite you to pour your cafecito, have a seat and buckle in for a LONG introduction before we get to today's releases.

If you've been following me on Threads this week, first of all, sorry. I've been feeling a bit discouraged by many publishing headlines/how BIPOC authors are cast aside by an industry that seemingly doesn't value us and our stories, unless it's convenient for them or creates positive press. It's been wearing me down and robbing me of my creativity and desire to create. This has been a constant in my almost 11 years on social media and it's hard not to let myself grow jaded. However, I am old enough to understand that my happiness on social media is guided by MY hand and not by publishing. I want to take some happiness back not only for myself, but so that I can bring you more joy with my content as well.

For a while now, I've been thinking about leaning into the Textiles part of my account name. I love fashion and I think featuring more of that side of myself would not only enable me to express myself more authentically and creatively on social media, but also allow me to explore Latinx fashion brands and to support them in addition to Latine authors. To that end, I've tentatively started a new series on Tik Tok highlighting my favorite Latine brands on TT shop. I'll also be sharing more of my outfits and make-up in stories and little wrap-ups like this on on Threads this morning.

Many of you found me because of my love of Latine books, so let me be clear, the goal of Bien Leidos hasn't changed, just the method in which I interact and show up on social media. Allowing myself the freedom to fully express who I am and everything I love should help me beat this social media slump I've been feeling for quite a while now. You'll still receive this weekly newsletter of upcoming Latine releases. Bien Leidos book club and Discord is literally part of my DNA, so don't expect any changes on those 2 fronts. I appreciate you being along for the ride and for your support. It means the world to be me; you have no idea.

Regarding this week's releases, there is only 1 Latine releases this week, so I'm going to share all the remaining March Latine releases on my radar with you so you can get ahead on pre-ordering. But before we do that, let's catch up where all the action and conversations happen...

BIEN LEIDOS BOOK CLUB & DISCORD UPDATES

WE HAVE MODS! After a short application process, I have added 5 moderators to help me continue to make our Discord safe and fun space to talk books, life, hobbies, and more. Be on the lookout to improvements and changes to your Discord experience!

Already mentioned on Discord, but I wanted to give you a quick heads up to expect The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia as our August book club pick. She mentioned this week on Threads that when she writes outside of horror/fantasy genres, her numbers aren't as strong. I've fallen off my SMG train a bit with everything going on in the world, so I wanted to remind you that The Intrigue releases July 14th. You can pre-order on Bookshop or LibroFM.

We will be voting on upcoming June and July picks, but here are upcoming book club selections so you can get your TBR in order.

FICTION

March: Now I Surrender by Alvaro Enrigue and translated by Natasha Wimmer (we will be chatting with Alvaro on Monday, April 6th in lieu of sprints at 8:00 PM--invite to register will go out soon)

April: The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

May: Asiri and the Amaru by Natalia Hernandez

June: TBD -- will be voting on Discord soon

July: TBD -- will be voting on Discord soon

August: The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

NONFICTION

March - April: Everyone Who Is Gone is Here by Jonathan Blitzer

May - June: Accordien Eulogies by Noe Alvarez

I'll do a formal post updating all our upcoming reads, but wanted you to have the latest list of upcoming reads.

Finally, this is your evergreen reminder that we meet every Monday night on Discord and sprint--whether you're trying to get ahead with your current read or need to clean the house, we're chatting, working, chatting, working, all evening long if you ever want some virtual company.

March 17th Latine Releases

ROMANTASY

Daughter of the Hunt by K. Arsenault Rivera (Audiobook) Retelling of Iphigenia and Artemis myth from Puerto Rican Romantasy author, Rivera. Second book in the Oath of Fire series.

March 24th

MARVEL SERIALIZATION

Enemy of My Enemy: A Daredevil Marvel Crime Novel by Alex Segura: Streets-to-courtroom noir tale of the Punisher on trial for the murder of the Kingpin—with Matt Murdock as his defense attorney. Book two in the Marvel Crime series of thrillers for adult readers.

PICTURE BOOK

Ways Papi Says I Love You by Delia Ruiz : Picture book about the 5 love languages

ROMANCE

The Love Feud by Janine Amesta (Audiobook) second chance romance between 2 exes who pretend to have a feud between their 2 family businesses as a marketing ploy

ROMANCE - MARCH 26th

Home Runner by Millie Perez: Baseball romance featuring grumpy/sunshine and best friends to lovers trope? Yes, please.

CONTEMPORARY FANTASY - MARCH 27th

Bastard of the Alpha by Karina Espinosa: The Damned Return book 1 -- Urban fantasy from Colombia American author.

March 31st

TRANSLATED ECOLOGICAL FICTION

Only A Little While Here by Maria Ospina (Audiobook) Colombian author, Ospina, weaves interrelated animal stories in this truly unique work of ecological fiction from the POV of migratory songbird, orphaned porcupine, two dogs grieving their human companions, and a determined beetle.

POETRY

the light of your body by ire'ne lara silva: Indigenous spiritual poetry collection

xoxo,

Carmen

PS--There is a pretty big March 31st release by a Latina author missing from this list because if you don't want to claim your Latinidad, I'm not here to force an identity on your. Please keep that in mind before commenting on this missing release and any others moving forward.

Hi there book bestie,

Welcome back for another weekly reading update. I wasn't quite sure if I would make this a weekly thing, but the response to last week's little update was very positive. All last year I created a Sunday Evening Post series, featuring my current reads along with other fun bookish and non-bookish updates. That ended in December, and truth be told, I kinda miss creating a weekly update. But rather than spend hours filming and editing a short-form video, I'm going to stick with newsletter style weekly updates which are much easier to create. And Bindery is the PERFECT place to share those. So, buckle up, buttercup! 😜

I started the week last Sunday on the sofa, recovering from one of the absolute worst travel experiences of my life. The partial government shutdown has made traveling a nightmare at some airports. Unlucky for me, George Bush International (IAH) was one of those airports last weekend. I always connect through Houston when flying to/from Baton Rouge, but I never experience delays other than the occasional summer storm. Well, last weekend I spent a VERY long time in the terminal waiting to board my flight home to Los Angeles, only to finally leave nearly 5 hours after I was originally scheduled to leave. I spent that time editing Youtube videos, but I would have much rather have been home. I finally crawled into my bed at 5am PST Sunday, which means I spent much of that day recovering.

Needless to say, my Monday was rough! I didn't get much reading done after work because I could barely keep my eyes open. Actually, that was me much of the week thanks to Daylight Savings Time. I finally hit my stride later in the week, just in time to finish What Ever Happened to Lori Lovely and make good headway into The Secret Lives of Murderer's Wives. Both are perfect summer vacay reads but for very different people. More on that in my forthcoming March monthly wrap-up!

After finishing Lori Lovely on audio I dove straight into Lady Tremaine, and, boy, it did not disappoint! I devoured it, just like I said I would in my March new release video. Mothers of daughters are going to LOVE this one, as will anyone who enjoys a book with a fierce female main character who has some age and experience under belt. There's a scene toward the end of the book that had me SHOOK! It was fun to tag the author, Rachel Hochhauser, in my stories and see her engage! I'll never get over the access we have to authors who are active on social media.

I'd originally planned to drive to Tucson this weekend to meet some BookTok friends and attend the Tucson festival of books. But, as you can imagine, I said "no way" to more travel, opting instead to stay home. I had taken the day off work on Friday in anticipation of that travel, so I decided to spend it doing some spring cleaning and grocery shopping, prime audiobook time. I managed to finish Lady Tremaine on audio and dove straight into The Hired Man on Saturday while cleaning the house and prepping for company. It's really great, but I don't expect anything less from Sandra Dallas. Listening to this one reminds me that I still owe my Youtube subs a Dust Bowl Historical Fiction vidoe, so stay tuned for that soon.

Today, I plan to record a few videos and then settle down to finally start the BBFL Book Club March book, Before We Were Yours. I'm way behind (as usual), but I just haven't had much time to sit down with a physical book which is how I prefer to read my book club reads. It's much easier to engage with folks along the way in the chat rooms when I'm reading the book with my eyes. I'll be setting my book aside this evening to watch The Oscars, knowing full well that my vote for Best Picture won't win.

Well, that's a wrap on this past week. Stay tuned for a few more book recs next week, and be sure to let me know what you're reading so I can add it to my TBR!

This Week in SBB:

• This is who...a trendy throwback series

• Unbox a Portland Leather bag with me

• Book Review: Fireflies in Winter

• Booktube Anniversary: Meet Me In 5 Books

• January Reading Wrap-up: Three 5⭐️ Books

• Updated Post: How/Where to Find Free Books

Hear it Here First:

I'm giving away a bundle of Tiffany McDaniel books to one lucky winner! Enter to win here.

Ok folks, a little late, but better late than never. I'm participating in the trans rights read-a-thon this week and here is a list of 66 sapphic books you can choose from. I'm going to try and read five or six this week depending on time and work schedule!

Are you participating?

To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose

I waited two years for the second book in the Nampeshiweisit series and To Ride a Rising Storm did not disappoint!

Anequs, Theod, and their dragons are reconnecting with their communities on Masquapaug during their summer break after a taxing first year at Kuiper’s Academy. Their hopes for some relaxing time with family & space to define their relationship are dashed when the Anglish begin encroaching more and more on the island.

I love that we got a chance to get to know Anequs, her family, and her culture more in this book. Through Theod, we get to unpack European conditioning and think about what love and family could look like outside of those standards. Although I continued to enjoy the ways that Anequs pushes back against the status quo, I like that Liberty keep her grounded by explaining the ways that bucking the system in such a way can cause harm, too.

We also get a bit more of a peak into Liberty’s world, which I’d hoped would be fleshed out more. Although we learn more about her concerns and community, I would like to see a lot more of them integrated into the storyline of the third book. The Black community in New England (IRL) were no strangers to the struggles of the Indigenous tribes around them, so it would be cool to read that in the Nampeshiweisit series, too. Do they have dragon-culture? Are there other creatures they are bonded with? I hope we find out!

Pacing-wise, I think this book picks up a bit sooner than the first one with Anglish political conflict pushing the plot forward. It was really thrilling to see the way it all comes to a point and the plot definitely left me excited to get into book 3.

I think this series is on par with my love of N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Trilogy and The Greenbone Saga by Fonda Lee.

Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow

Read the full review here: https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/4uuLHyJmLqIWL060tu5F/

The People's Library by Veronica G. Henry

This book had me on a rollercoaster of emotions! Veronica G. Henry blends speculative fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery in The People’s Library. 

Our main character is a Black woman librarian named Echo London. At the start, she’s the head of a public library in near-future Cleveland until her boss informs her that it will no longer receive funding from the cit but she’s a top contender for the position of curator at the brand-new People’s Library. A place where patrons can check out a virtual historical figure/thinker and learn directly from them. To many, this seems like a pretty cool place to learn, but Echo is skeptical. With no other viable options, that she could see, Echo takes the job and begins to see its appeal. That is, until mysterious woman attacks her on behalf of the anti-tech rebellion. This rouses her suspicions and sends the librarian on a journey of dark discoveries.

As a Black librarian, I vacillated between despair, suspicion, annoyance, and sadness as I read The People’s Library. In Echo’s world, AI is embedded in just about everything, which is a big fear of mine as I know how detrimental that will likely be. While I related a lot with her natural curiosity, I kept thinking that my girl was not being skeptical enough!! I was writing comments to her in my book like she could read it somehow. Despite my feelings, I found that this book was clever and engrossing. I felt like I could not put it down because I needed to know what would happen next! 

If you’re interested in discussions of the future of AI, utopias, privacy, surveillance, knowledge preservation, and what it means to be alive, this is a fantastic book to read.

*Note: I chatted with the author about her book on IG Live thanks to Sistah SciFi, so if you want to hear more of our thoughts on it, you can head over to their social media or watch our panel discussion on Saturday, April 25th, 2026.

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

The audiobook of The River Has Roots is incredible!  The story is entrancing but the music elevates the experience and gave me the feeling of being transported into it. 

It’s about two sisters with an unbreakable bond and powerful magic they were gifted by the ancient trees that they care for. This includes a queer main character and a suitor who refuses to take, “no” for an answer.

I love that their magic system is literary and musical. It’s beautifully unique! I hope y’all listen to it when you get the chance.

I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker (Accidents Happen #3) by Jessica Cage

I love that each of the books in the Accidents Happen series has a Black woman main character who is a badass at her job and is guaranteed to be pampered by her loved ones. 

Jericha Brown owns her own security firm and is dedicated to all of its inner workings. When a lead agent leaves the firm, taking some of her other employees with him just as she's landed her dream contract, she's put in a precarious situation. All Jericha can think of to save her ass is reaching out to the backstabbing ex-bestie who stole her ideas in college for a temporary partnership. Turns out, Miss Klepto up and sold her company to an annoyingly gorgeous man named Raymond Statton. What Jericha doesn't know is that this man is a Shadow Walker.

This is a super entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of spice, hilarious banter, and found family. The book is a bit too long for my liking but it's worth it.

If you haven't already, get your hands on the Accidents Happen series so you can kick your feet and cackle to your heart's content!

Here are 10 horror books written by women I'm looking forward to:

1. She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang

   Avery and Carlos Tam have built their lives on logic, not legends. Carlos, the host of a hit reality show that exposes paranormal hoaxes, has made a name disproving the supernatural.

   But when they travel to his ancestral home in the Philippines, darkness clings to every corner. The mirrors are shrouded. The housekeeper won't stay in the house alone. And no one will speak of the tragedies the family has seen.

   Then a brutal car crash leaves Carlos trapped in his own body―silent, helpless, and utterly vulnerable. As Avery tends to him, the house begins to stir. It watches. It listens. And it speaks―in a voice only Carlos can hear―offering a twisted kind of comfort.

   And as the lies buried by Carlos and his family begin to surface, Avery must confront the truth: if the past won't rest, their future may never begin.

   Some inherit memories. Others inherit monsters.

2. Not Your Final Girl by Mikayla Rudolph

   A feminist slasher novel fueled by female rage and haunted by gruesome murders, in this contemporary reimagining of Tess of the D’Urbervilles there can only be one Final Girl.

3. The Temptation of Charlotte North by Camilla Bruce

   A rebellious young woman desperate to escape her predetermined life.
   
   The handsome but married priest who has caught her eye.
   
   And the resolute schoolteacher who values science above all.
   
   In 1910, on a small, remote island that boasts more sheep than people, the fates of Charlotte North, Jasper Hill, and Ruth Russel are perched on the edge of a cliff, and a strange wind is blowing. . . .
   
   When an ancient tower—rumored to have once imprisoned a witch—crumbles, it releases something powerful: a restless spirit that knocks inside the walls and sends household objects flying. A spirit that seems to be drawn to Charlotte, who sees in it a potential for power and change.
   
   But first she must overcome Jasper’s piety and Ruth’s fierce determination to banish the terrifying entity. Only then will she gain the power to claim the life that she desires.

4. Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka

   A twisty, searing, conversation-starting novel about a filmmaker-turned-housewife who moves into her dream house and is forced to consider whether it's the house or herself that is haunted.

5. We Could Be Anyone by Anna Maria Mclemore

   Two teen con-artists must execute an almost impossible scam at an exclusive mansion in this thriller that's White Lotus meets Mexican Gothic - for teens.

6. The Girl With The Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean

   a stunning Gothic tale set in a historical Hong Kong that meshes ancient myths and local legends into a haunting story of ghosts, grief, and women who will not forgive.

7. Neon Moon by Grace Reynolds

   Darlene Boone is a survivor. For more than a year, she’s been bartending at the famous Teegarden Saloon, a honky tonk in the Texas Hill Country, while attempting to put her life back together in the wake of an abusive past. But when an axe-wielding maniac descends on The Teegarden during one of the bar's busiest nights of the year, Darlene, along with everyone else in the crowded establishment, will have to put down their whiskeys and take up the nearest weapon if they're to survive this unexpected night from hell. No one knows if they'll make it out alive, least of all Darlene, but one thing's for sure no matter what: Texans don't go down without a fight.

8. Doe by Rebecca Darrow

   Thrilling crossover YA Horror perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland and Tiffany Jackson, where the captain of a high school cheer team is caught in a bitter rivalry and turns to an ancient, supernatural creature for help, not knowing she’s just made a deal with a devil and could lose everything that matters, including her life.

9. The Summer of the Serpent by Cecilia Eudave

   This surreal, horror-tinged, Guadalajara-set work of Latin American “literature of the unusual” is a kaleidoscopic descent into the small violences and hidden horrors of one sweltering summer, forming a coil of vignettes that slither under the skin for a strange, deeply human portrait of memory, myth, and family.

10. Muneca by Cynthia Gomez

    A vivid, surreal Gothic about a queer, Latine, working class witch who sets out to rescue a bespelled heiress and loses control of her powers and her heart in the process.

My dream for this community is that we come together to support Indigenous creators, authors, bookstores!

Together we have the power to make a real difference.

Each month, I will tell you about the bookshop I am supporting for the month and create a community shopping day. I try to make these around paydays! Buy a book (or two or five) from the bookstore directly, or get a two-for-one and buy the book through my bookshop link in Bindery and support me and the bookshop!

This month, we are supporting Black Walnut Books, an Indigenous queer woman owned bookstore! Let's give her the best day.

I've added some of my favorite reads for you to order, or if none of them are your taste (or you already own them!) click through and then search for any book you want! I still will get a small commission!

Happy Book Shopping! (And request a bookstore to support in April below!)

With the weather turning nice and spring-like this past week where I live I've been going for more nature walks on a trail close to my house. It's peaceful and beautiful. I love listening to audiobooks while I walk and take in nature.

The below books all deal with horror centered around hikes and nature walks!

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

A young girl goes for a hike with her mother and brother and winds up getting lost.

The Woodkin by Alexander James

A man trying to run away from his past decides to hike a long trail only to come across a dead body and a strange mountain town.

The Hike by Drew Magary

While hiking on a work retreat, a man stumbles into a whole new reality.

Hunted by Darcy Coates

A hiker goes missing and her friends take to the woods to try and find her before it's too late.

The Extra by Annie Neugebauer

A hiking/camping trip turns odd when ten hikers become eleven. However everyone seems to know each other. So who is the extra?

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

A hiking/camping trip goes wrong when a group of friends decide to cut through the woods to get home.

The Woods are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

Two best friends take a hiking/camping trip as one last hurrah before they go off to college. However something sinister awaits them in the woods.

What's your favorite out door activity during sping/summer?

Thank you GP Putnam’s Son of Books for Young Readers  for the advance reader copy 🤩

This debut YA fantasy explores heavy topics such as grief and loss as well as finding your way through uncharted territories.

Mikaela has to reckon with what’s in store for her next. Going to college? Ascending to Witch Queen? Or, will her vision come true?

It’s hard to consider the future when death is in the cards.

This book does have some similarities to Legendborn, but definitely not a copy. This is how you properly showcase inspiration.

This book had so many things I loved! I love that it is set in Louisiana, tarot cards, and all the witchery!

This is a great, decent read for the YA audiences but for me it was still a little bit underwhelming. But I would still recommend to young adults & anyone who wants to give it a shot.

Death Card by Jasmine Smith releases August 11th

The Underworld is Calling: The Bond of Hercules Book Club Kit is HERE! ⛓️💀

If you thought the drama at the Spartan War Academy couldn’t get any more intense, Jasmine Mas just proved us all wrong. Alexis is back, she’s officially bound to the Underworld’s dark heirs, and she is done playing nice.

Whether you’re team Burn Olympus to the Ground or you’re just here for the brooding husbands, one thing is certain: you cannot read this book alone. You need to talk about it. You need to vent about it. And you definitely need to smash some plates because of it.

That’s why we’ve put together the Bond of Hercules Book Club Kit to help you host a night that even the Fates couldn't predict.

What’s Inside the Kit?

We’ve designed this kit to be as dark, moody, and chaotic as Alexis herself. Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll get when you download it:

• 🍷A Themed Assembly Feast Menu: Featuring recipes for our signature Manacled Blackberry Mule and Vengeance Braised Short Ribs.

• 🗣️Spicy Discussion Questions: We’re diving deep into the marriage bond, the Assembly of Death, and that monster vs. god power dynamic.

• 🏟️Interactive Academy Activities: From a cathartic "Wrecking Vengeance" smash session to a high-stakes Caesar Cipher code-breaking challenge.

• 📜 Official Initiation Certificates: Formalize your rank as a Gladiator, Underworld Heir, or Rogue Monster.

• 🎁 Door Prize Inspo: Curated ideas for the perfect Bound jewelry and Underworld-themed gifts.

Ready to Join the Assembly?

Don’t host a boring meeting. Make it an initiation. Whether your book club meets in a cozy living room or a dimly lit Underworld (your basement), this kit has everything you need to set the mood.

👉 [LINK TO ACCESS THE BOND OF HERCULES BOOK CLUB KIT]👈 https://tinyurl.com/42kxhu2d 

Tag us in your photos using @thepageladies so we can see your feasts and your smashed plates!

Just when we thought Olympus couldn’t get messier, Hercules came back married. 🔥💍⚔️

Our book club devoured Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas, and let me tell you the chaos level? Elevated!

Here’s how the group broke down:

👩🏻The Drama Lover: “Eternally bound to the Underworld’s dark heirs in a marriage that shakes Olympus?? I live for divine mess.”

👩🏽The Revenge Girlie: “Alexis joining the Assembly of Death for vengeance? That’s my girl. Burn it down.”

👩🏼The Romance Defender: “Are the husbands morally questionable? Yes. Am I still emotionally invested? Also yes.”

👩🏾The Mythology Nerd: “The politics of Olympus unraveling while gods scramble to control her power? Perfect.”

👱🏼‍♀️The Softie: “Under all that rage, Alexis is still trying to figure out who she is beyond everyone’s expectations. That hit.”

👩🏻‍🦱The Chaos Instigator: “A god can’t be manacled. A monster can’t be caged. And apparently neither can my feelings.”

If you read Blood of Hercules, you already know Alexis is not built to sit quietly. In this sequel, she’s reeling from a bond she didn’t choose, tied to dark heirs who blur the line between ally and enemy. Instead of crumbling, she sharpens. She trains. She plots.

The tension? Immaculate.

The vengeance arc? Satisfying.

The morally gray men? Unfortunately compelling.

What we loved most is that Alexis refuses to be defined by fate, marriage, or Olympus itself. She’s done surviving. She’s claiming power even if it terrifies the gods.

By the end, half of us were ready to join the Assembly of Death, and the other half were still arguing about which Underworld heir deserves redemption.

❓️If you were magically bound to a powerful and possibly dangerous immortal are you plotting revenge or leaning into the chaos? 👀🔥

❗️Do you want the full book club kit? The come join The First Editions!

• 🍷A Themed Assembly Feast Menu: Featuring recipes for our signature Manacled Blackberry Mule and Vengeance Braised Short Ribs.

• 🗣️Spicy Discussion Questions: We’re diving deep into the marriage bond, the Assembly of Death, and that monster vs. god power dynamic.

• 🏟️Interactive Academy Activities: From a cathartic "Wrecking Vengeance" smash session to a high-stakes Caesar Cipher code-breaking challenge.

• 📜 Official Initiation Certificates: Formalize your rank as a Gladiator, Underworld Heir, or Rogue Monster.

• 🎁 Door Prize Inspo: Curated ideas for the perfect Bound jewelry and Underworld-themed gifts.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Are you looking for a book with ... 👀

This is just in time for Ramadan ending and the post is scheduled to go out to the public on Monday so here is a sneak peak to the post for all 12 books that I'm showcasing here! This isn't all my books by Muslim authors but I picked a few to keep this manageable and share some with you guys before Ramadan ends🥹

Happy Friday! Another week that we have gotten through and my reading has been like the weather in my area, wacky and inconsistent.

With the promise of spring weather and seeing sprouts of the Ren Faire content ramping back up, I am longing and missing my own home faire as well as the honey shop that I work at.
And in that moment, I thought it would be a perfect segue into this week's spotlight!

🥁🥁🥁🥁

🎉Sydney J. Shields!!!!!🎉

I adored the book The Honey Witch. As a honey shop witch myself, I loved how Sydney created powerful women in her debut novel who just craved to experience life to the fullest, yet are constrained by the curse placed on their family. While out MC Marigold's mother chose love, Marigold herself wants more than the rigidity of Regency societal pressures, and chooses power.

And I love the duality of these choices as Marigold goes through a journey of finding herself and her power.

This novel was cozy and delightful and, as an eldest daughter who loves honey, it was right up my alley. I cannot wait to read more from Sydney!

If you want more of an indepth analysis on the themes and motifs within the novel, I made a post in August for you to check out:

https://brilefae.binderybooks.com/item/iTZtry4VmnygRevX7TaO/

For more about Sydney, you can check out her website:

https://www.sydneyjshields.com/

Happy Friday 🐸🍄

I just finished book three of the Halfling Saga and I’m about to start the fourth book, and I went down the rabbit hole of reading reviews. A lot of people are upset about the direction of the male lead, saying that in the last book he basically becomes a “lap dog” for the main character and loses his edge.

And TBH… I’m confused by that criticism.

To me, Riven/Killian never felt like a traditional shadow daddy character in the first place. Yes, he’s powerful and mysterious at times, but once you really get to know him he feels much more like a soft but strong type of character. Loyal, protective, a little emotionally vulnerable, and very centered around the main character.

So seeing people complain that he isn’t dominating the story or acting like the classic morally gray alpha male is interesting to me. I feel like some readers expected one archetype and got another.

And i got me to thinking about my own reading preferences.

I actually like two very different types of male leads:

Soft & steady – the loyal, emotionally grounded characters who support the heroine and let her shine. They’re strong but not performative about it.

Think:

• Peeta from Hunger Games

• David from Uglies

• River from the Halfling series

Shadow daddies – the dark, morally gray, intimidating characters who carry power and danger with them.

Think:

• Xaden from Fourth Wing

• Caz from Vicious Bonds

Both can be great, but I don’t necessarily think every fantasy series needs the second one.

Now I’m curious where everyone else falls.

When you’re reading fantasy or romantasy, which type of male character do you prefer?

The soft and steady ones…
or the shadow daddies?