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!

"Bookstores: the one place in the entire kingdom that promise something beside dull conversations about economics and local politics and whatever else I'm meant to be thinking about. Books promise you that your life can change in an instant. And bookstores? Bookstores offer refuge, a home away from home. No matter how far you travel, you can always find a little piece of home inside a bookstore."

GENRE: Cozy Romantasy
RATING:4.25/5
FORMAT:eBook ARC

Review:

I love when we have books about books and Stay for a Spell was a lovely combination of Cozy fairy tale vibes with an FMC that loves books and wants to own a bookshop. Her dream comes to life through a curse, which she can't undo unless she unlocks her heart's desire essentially.

Tandy (our FMC) was lovely to get to know as she moves into her bookshop ins the small town of Little Pepperidge, which again SO cute. This is a tale of Tandy learning to not be a people pleaser and to put herself first for once, despite feeling the weigh of her responsibility as a Princess. As another people pleaser (not exactly like Tandy because I don't have a bookshop), I felt that a lot of this was relatable. She got to slow down and learn what she wants from life, even if it takes her a while to admit it to herself.

We also get to see her blossom in her friendships with Sasha and other characters plus we get to see her blossoming romance and the start of her falling in like with her pirate, Bash. The setting is so fitting for Tandy as a person to allow her to breathe in for the first time in her life and realise who she is and what she wants.

I think the only thing I wanted a bit more of is a bit world building and an understanding of where the various Princes came from and how they differed. I feel we got this a little as we they were all unique and stood out, with some of them being funny, some droopy...etc.

All in all, this was a lovely Cozy book that features a bookshop and I look forward to reading more by the author.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

We have kindly been given three audiobook giveaway codes by C. L. Clark! Open to our First Swords and Bright Stars :). Comment down below if you would like to enter. 3 winners to be drawn soon!

Shots from SRG happy hour on Tuesday💕

The mistake all my Ivy-bound clients make is admitting they lovvvvve like-minded people.

Every season, when I'm editing nepobaby college essays I have to tell them: "Stop writing that you're excited to meet like-minded people. Why would you announce that? You can't wait to meet other rich kids who went to prep school? I puh-romise you the admissions team already knows that, so you should be dispelling rather than confirming it. Literally, just announce you're racist why dontcha? Do you even want to go to Yale?!" (I like to yell at my clients every now and then so they know who's in charge😇)

One of my kids had never pondered the phrase "like-minded" before, and my tirade blew his mind.

Teenage boy: Wait. Woah. I thought 'like-minded' was, like, a positive thing ... but it doesn't make any sense. Why does everyone say it like it's a good thing?

Me: ...why does anyone say anything?

Teenage Boy: You're so smart.

It's great to work with kids. They're quick to change their minds when presented with new information. They rarely double down or dig their heels in because they don't have egos about their beliefs (yet). And when I answer with an evasive rhetorical question they assume I have Confucian wisdom.

But, boy oh boy, it sure is swell to hangout with like-minded people.

As long as your clique has some racial diversity, you can be as like-minded as you want- right?

If I'm being real

While I know pro-echo-chamber sentiments aren't a wise thing to advertise in a college essay, I can't say I'm a great role model for puncture-thy-own-echo-chamber. It's comfy cozy to be in an echo chamber and what's the idea anyway-- that I'm constantly surrounding myself with people whose values disgust me?

What's the FDA recommended dose of getting out of your echo chamber? Say your hometown and family are conservative and you are not (in this scenario, you have blue hair)and for one holiday weekend you have to go "home" and stew in the juices of that place you left for a reason-- is that good enough for the year? Is that sufficient to puncture your bubble? Or do you need to seek out your political foils once a quarter? Monthly? ... Weekly? DAILY?!

These efforts are for self-betterment and self-awareness. I'm deliberately exiting my echo chamber in order that I'm reminded that my way of thinking isn't intrinsically "better" than any others (but it is-- why else would I believe in it if that weren't the case? whatever, i'll table this for now). So, in theory, I can choose to take my medicine by spending time with the "apolitical" crowd. The people who take pride in not reading the news and who keep unscripted TV in business--I definitely don't have the same world view as they do.

The apolitical crowd = people who are voluntarily learning about this ^^ completely manufactured "feud"

I am a coastal elite

Even worse, I am a coastal media elite. I live in Manhattan AND I make art.

Who is more different from me: a) an "apolitical" person or b) a right-wing bigot?

Not rhetorical. I'm trying to assign a point system so I can do my echo-chamber homework efficiently. I want to the get maximum number of points while spending the least amount of time interacting with people whose views I find objectionable--but does that defeat the point?

I think "the point" is to sincerely, earnestly be open-minded when you speak with someone outside of your echo chamber. You can't just "agree to disagree" and check the box and pat yourself on the back. But let's imagine sincerely listening to an Andrew Tate acolyte. Picture this scenario-- someone is explaining "high value man" to you. Could you listen to this dross with a straight face? This is a waste of time-- this is not the thing that's going to heal a fragmented world.

If you are familiar with The Comments Section, you will understand why I think "engaging" with (majority of) people is futile. Xavier's substack essay (which quoted my essay lol this is becoming an ouroboros) perfectly explains why the idea of having a discourse with, let's call them, "the other side" is fatuous. "Other side" is not really political -- it's the "other side" of intelligence. When people say, You should listen to what they're saying, I want to be like: Have you been on the internet lately? Have you seen the staggering stupidity?

I feel like a WWI soldier returned from the trenches: you haven't been out there like i have. you don't know how bad it really is - what it's really like. thousand yard stare

To be online is to get un-educated

Let me show you 2 examples that are not even hate-filled (no name calling. no malintent. just people feeling so free to be so dumb). This is baseline idiocy of the average person, whose viewpoint i am supposed to be entertaining and taking seriously on my beyond-the-echo-chamber adventures.

Example 1:

Why reply "i don't know what [satire] is not gonna lie" when you can look up "satire"? it's not as if "satire" is a nebulous, zeitgeisty concept that you have to know to know. it's a word with a definition. But it gets worse because the explanation provided is not an accurate definition of satire [FMJ rifle gif] This is where we are: the uneducated educating the uneducated, amplifying and disseminating uneducation to the masses.

Example 2 (from this vid about Reese Witherspoon grifting for AI)

The commenter didn't watch the video but "had to" comment (FRAUD - 8th circle crime according to Alighieri). She thinks she's adding something but it's literally the main point of the video. the OP points this out. instead of just shutting up and realizing I'm stupid, the commenter has to justify her inanity by saying she was in "car line pick up" ... does one go deaf blind and dumb from being in car line pick-up? And the kicker is the self-awareness-but-zero-self-awareness of the final statement "i had to get my comment out" Had to. She had to, folks. But why? Why do so many people feel a NEED to broadcast their stupidity? It's a sickness.

I earn my points the old-fashioned way

As I'm typing this, I realize that by pursuing a career in the arts and having an Asian family, I am thrust unceremoniously out of my echo chamber every. single. time. I interact with someone I'm related to. They fundamentally believe work should be suffering and if you enjoy what you do, you are doing life wrong (more than therapy, I wish they'd read Bullshit Jobs).

In fact, if I add up all the familial browbeating I've endured over the years-- I'm confident that should put me above the Average Expected Lifetime Total of oustide-of-the-echo-chamber time. I've already paid my dues. I've frontloaded it all (not by choice but still) and, now, I can coast for the rest of my life. Thanks to the fam, I am WELL aware that some people believe "art is not a real job" and, also, some way more problematic things that I'm embarrassed to admit they espouse.

How much homogeneity is acceptable?

At what point are you being self-indulgent if all of your friends and co-workers and acquaintances agree with you on the important matters? (Is "self-indulgent" the right criticism?)

When I hosted the first Sad Rich Girl Salons (back when it was called Unemployed Girls Club and we met at the park on Tuesday afternoon) I was surprised--and thrilled--that we all had the same cultural touch points.

I loved that I didn't need to explain west village girl because everyone had read the essay. And knew who Jonathan Cheban was. And had seen The Bling Ring (which I don't recommend). These are not highbrow references or worth "learning" if you don't know them (my husband would not recognize any of these 3 things), and the world would not be a remotely better place if everyone was aware of these things -- but it allowed the conversation flow right off the bat between strangers.

As we discussed status seeking and social climbing and out-of-control destination weddings, we could reference Sofia Richie Grainge's Antibes ceremony and instantly knowing nods (also, You stole my f---ing wedding country). The shorthand is invaluable when we're talking about abstract topics like class and taste. If I have to explain Flamingo Estate to you, I'll just move on because it's not worth it. To be so on the same page when we had never met before almost felt miraculous.

The attendees at SRG Salon are diverse in many ways, but we do seem to consume the same media, as evidenced by the fact that we have tremendously overlapping cultural touch points -- does that make us homogenous? Does that make my Salon an echo chamber?

Echo chamber has a negative connotation

Echo chamber means delusional. (The meme that's like: 2 idiots telling each other 'exactly' to everything they say. Jerry sends me every single version of this)

A like-minded but open-minded group -- does that still constitute an echo chamber? (Is there a positive-connotation version of echo chamber?)

What does life look like if you're someone who spends majority of their time NOT in an echo chamber? Does the world then feel like a vicious and hostile place?

Everyone has a reason to defend their echo chamber or say it's "not as echo-y" as the worst types of echo chambers (manosphere etc). I can feel myself starting to write in that direction and I won't because it's terribly dull to hear someone defend something that is convenient for them to believe (all prejudices).

Fun

My previous essay was about friendship and how fun is an underrated metric of friendship. On Tuesday, I hosted a happy hour with 9 lovely people who've been to Salons and it was a wonderful, like-minded time. (And further proving our like-mindedness, there was a 0% no-show rate. Everyone who said they would come, came. This is how I know for certain these are my people. A+ no notes.)

I'm finding that the most like-minded thing about Salon attendees, the main thing that ties everyone together, is the desire for rigor. Even when it's a happy hour, we want a little rigor (and not pabulum). Nothing crazy (though I am reading Distinction with one of my Salon friends because we love homework), but also who else is showing up to a discussion group where the main topics (race/class/money) are things that most people are incapable of talking about maturely (if we're to go by internet intelligence), besides people who have rigorous minds?

I'm not praising myself for bringing together the Smartest People in NYC, nor am I saying that Salon is god's work, but it's a huge win to look at who is not coming to my discussion group. The crowd who always asks, "how do you dress old money? how do you masquerade your way into these groups?" in the comments -- mercifully, those people are not interested in interrogating😙 anything, and they stay away. Self-selection is a beautiful thing.

Rigor and a willingness to interrogate your own prejudices are the prerequisites to having any hope of existing outside of a bubble.

hey so I finished the book and haven't thought of anything else since??? About to buy the official Hollywood Lights merch from 831. I did also buy the matching "Sports Romance" hat from them at BookCon heheheheheh

"Cosmic," Bronwyn said, squeezing her friend's hand. "Nothing is a coincidence."

"Our lives are full of these magical moments if we pay attention to them."

If you haven't read the first book in the inter-connected series, check out the review in here first!

GENRE: Romance with magical realism
RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: eBook ARC
Tropes: Women in Sport, Magical Realism, Second Chance & Rekindling

Review:
Can I just say that I really enjoyed Struck Speechless so much? Yes, I know I can in this review but it's worth emphasising it because this book was funny, wholesome and filled with so much warmth and emotions that I had the best time reading it!

I read Losing Sights first and then read Struck Speechless and Tati Richardson has a way of maintaining a perfect balance between the emotional aspects that our MCs go through while adding just the right amount of humour, spice and friendship. Truly, both books would are amazing as books and would be AMAZING as tv shows/movies.

Jackie is the group's "strong" friend. She doesn't need love or anyone in her life, aside from her friends and her dog. She is an independent, strong woman we all strive to be and is not scared to say what she thinks. So the impact of her losing her voice? It's BIG and forces her to deal with a lot of emotions she spends a long time avoiding.

And Antonio? Oh, what a perfect man for Jackie. I loved how we got to see his life outside of Jackie, seeing him interact with his family and the people in his life as well. We get a perfect balance of both of our MCs in my opinion. AND (x2) the way Antonio treats Jackie? So well deserved AHHH!

Essentially, Struck Speechless is a story that allows us to watch both characters explore who they are and be more vulnerable with each other in a fun, humour filled story while focusing on the same concept we had in Losing Sight: That things are destined for us and nothing is a coincidence!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

"That's always the problem with watercolor, of course. You have to know when to stop. The temptation to add just one more wash is so strong sometimes..."

GENRE: Horror (Botanical x Parasitic Horror)
RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc

Overall Impression: Honestly? Just read it and enjoy this creepier version of T.Kingfisher's work that has the same humour and wittiness we have come to expect and enjoy

Review:
T.Kingfisher has done it again and this time it's a parasitic x botanical horror and guys? This one is CREEPY in the best of ways with the typical humour that we get in all of the author's book and the wittiness we have come to expect from all of T.Kingfisher's books

Let me start by saying the description of bugs, plants and colours is done so beautifully and lyrically in here. I think this makes it so much more imaginative, even for someone like me who has hypo-aphantasia and could still very much imagine the bugs as well as I could

The story itself is a combination of historical horror with us following Sonia, a scientific illustrator and getting to know her setting, employer and the people she works with. We slowly have the story unravel, as we go through the adventure with Sonia to find out what is happening? And the ending, where we understand what's been happening, was in a lot of ways UNEXPECTED

This is definitely one of my favourite T.Kingfisher books and I love how it slowly builds up over time and delivers an amazing tale for us to enjoy throughout. I think if you enjoyed What moves the Dead, then this one is perfect for you (AND its creepier).

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.