"How could she say that her greatest love - the ocean - had almost killed her and that she didn't know if she could ever trust it again?"

GENRE: Romance
RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: eBook ARC
Tropes: Olympic surfer FMC x Accountant MMC, Burnout, Spanish x Welsh, Cinnamon Roll MMC, Found Family, Life Altering Injury

Review:

After reading and loving Salacia Project, I was so excited to read Above Water and dive into Alejandra's story and what a journey it was🥹

Both books are perfect to read for summer, with the setting and the vibes! Above Water is different than Salacia Project though, in that it tackles other themes and the dynamic between Alejandra and Callum was different than Sofia & Ilias (which definitely makes sense given how different Sofia and Alejandra are)

Above Water takes us on a journey of what it means to lose the thing you centre your identity around and how you learn to love yourself again after the loss. It's a different kind of grief, one that is about finding who you are and understanding that you are you, no matter what you do or where you live. This is mainly through Alejandra's POV but we get it with Callum too.

At the same time, it takes us on a journey to see how important our family are to us and what it means to have people surrounding you that love you unconditionally. I feel like both Callum and Alejandra's chapter dive into these themes and give us insight into how things change. We also get to focus on burn out and feeling like the thing you enjoyed doing as work no longer fits you through Callum's POV.

And their dynamic is SO cute and wholesome. Callum shows Alejandra that she can be loved just the way she is and Alejandra fully accepts Callum for who he is without wanting to change him. They both help each other mend old wounds and build a new life

I can't wait to read more in this universe and find out more about the other characters👀 I was provided a free advance reader copy and I’m sharing my honest thoughts.

It's been a while!!! I've been super busy with everything from panel discussions and lesson planning to reading, parties, and a family emergency. So I'm taking some time to catch up on my book reviews now.

Here is what I finished reading in April and May:

Fire Sword & Sea by Vanessa Riley

• Afro-Caribbean & Queer • Historical Fiction •

If you've ever seen movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and wondered if there were any Black a Queer pirates, this is the book for you! Fire Sword & Sea is based on the life of Jacquotte Delahaye, a mixed-race pirate who was likely born in modern-day Haiti. In this book, author Vanessa Riley depicts Jacquotte's journey from the daughter of a wealthy tavern owner in Tortuga to the captain of a ship filled with diverse pirates seeking riches and liberation.

I felt pulled into the story almost immediately, thanks to the audiobook narrator Robin Miles. There was great world building and I found the plot moving. There's conflict, abandonment, love, and much more. It was also awesome that Riley included the inner workings and dynamics present in pirate crews in the 18th century. We need more stories like this!

Guilt and Ginataan (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries, Book 5) by Mia P. Manansala

• Filipina • Cozy Mystery •

The Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries series has consistently delivered cozy stories filled to the brim with delicious foods, sweet moments, and creative deaths and Guilt and Ginataan was no exception. I actually think this is my favorite book of the series, so far!

It takes place in the fall (my fave season) at the annual Shady Palms Corn Festival where Lila, Adeena, and Elena aka the Brew-Ha Cafe crew pull up to sell an spread of delicious food and drinks. All is going well until the trio's corn maze challenge ends with Adeena passed out with a bloody knife in her hand next to the dead body of a local politican's wife. Knowing that her best friend couldn't have committed this crime, Lila and her crew conduct their own investigation to find the person who framed her.

If you're looking for entertaining reads with recipes for dishes from the book, check out this series!

An African-American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz

• U.S. History •

I'm really happy that I finally read my copy of An African-American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz because the author approaches this information as a storyteller. Ortiz utilizes his experiences as U.S. military veteran and Professor of Labor History at Cornell University to share the often hidden connections between Black American and Latinx oppression beginning with the American Revolution and ending with 2017.

This is a fantastic book! I listened to the audiobook and had to keep pausing to grab my physical copy and highlight the concepts and stories that jumped out at me. I was pulled in from the author's note and knew as soon as I read the first page of the introduction that this was going to be a text I'd return to over time.

I think I'm going to make a separate post just to break down those parts! I need y'all to pick up this book expeditiously.

The Secret World of Maggie Grey (Drew Collins, Book 1) by Granger

• Black American • Adult • Dark Academia Fantasy •

To all my bookish friends who recommended this book left and right a few years back, 🫣 I'm sorryyyy! I should have read it immediately, like y'all said, but I'm stubborn. Now, I'm all in because Granger created a world for all the folks who have been begging for adult fantasy, especially Black women. If you've also had this book on your TBR for more than a year, now is the time to dive in, my love.

The Secret World of Maggie Grey takes place at a magical HBCU called Drew Collins University. The students vary in age, but Maggie and her crew are in their late 20s and early 30s. This school—based below the city of Atlanta—is host to sirens, shapeshifters, and more. Maggie always thought her grandma's stories about a vampiric civil rights leader responsible for her white tresses were just some weird, made-up tales until she tells one of them in her grad school classroom and her professor recommends she visit Drew Collins.

Originally suspicious of the school, Maggie meets other outcasts of the community while attempting to figure out why she's here and what she is. Meanwhile, she tries to fight her growing attraction to Coach Namir, the annoying-ass werewolf who believes her to be part of the First Family, a bloodline of vampires that also happen to be his family's enemy.

This book is steamy, funny, and mysterious which is perfect for me! I devoured the other two books, too, so I'm impatiently waiting for the next one. ~reviews to come~

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa

Young Adult • Queer • Rom-Com • Graphic Novel

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa is a nuanced but sweet graphic novel follows Belle Hawkins, the super shy school mascot, who finally works up the nerve to ask out her crush Regina Moreno. Regina is a popular girl at their high school as the head cheerleader with her sights set on getting into a prestigious college. Her brave moment comes crashing down when one of the athletes, Chloe Kitagawa, makes it clear that she's already dating Regina. Just as Hawkins thinks she blew her chance, Regina convinces her to be Chloe's English tutor so they can get into the same college after graduation. With the hope of getting closer to Regina driving her, Hawkins agrees.

What Regina doesn't realize is that her girlfriend had a crush on Belle Hawkins when they were little kids and she used to dress as a princess everyday. As the school year progresses, an unexpected romance begins to sprout!

I loved reading this book. The storyline is adorable and the cast is diverse. The colors and illustrations are also super cute. I definitely recommend this short but sweet story to everyone!

As always, thank you for reading my reviews and make sure to check the content warnings on TheStoryGraph before you read these titles!

Wronggggggg.

Now, we can have a conversation about how publishing house conglomerates and the trend-led mass-market led by an overwhelming white, straight, etc, majority creates a homogeneity of stories...sure. We can talk about that all day long.

But if we do, we also need to talk about how consumers drive that market, and how our choices -- on social media feeds, on review platforms, at the bookstore -- make an impact on those publishing trends. That, I think, is a more interesting conversation.

Because if we put in the effort to follow book reviewers from a diversity of perspectives, to support indie and underrepresented authors, to review the books we read with critical self-reflection, to support our local book vendors, libraries, etc...then we will find a huge, wide world of weird and wonderful literature just waiting for its audience. And in doing so, we can make an impact on publishing as a whole, too.

So, here are a few unique books that I think you might love, featuring cannibalistic nuns, Faustian bargains, shape-shifting mermaids, talking animals, alternate futures, parasitic aliens, swampcore haunted cabins, cryptids, and more.

Herculine by Grace Byron: an all Trans girls commune haunted by demons.

The Reformatory by Tanarive Due: a segregated reform school and the evil inside.

Wife Shaped Bodies by Laura Cranehill: the trad wives are sprouting mushrooms.

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft: a dark academia quest for a magic spring.

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell: a new world where all the white people have disappeared.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones: A Blackfeet vampire seeking vengeance.

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling: a medieval castle under siege and the cannibalistic fever dream that unfolds inside.

What We Feed to the Manticore by Talia Lakshmi Kolluri: a collection of compelling short stories all told from the perspectives of animals.

After Love by Tanya Byrne: a fantastical lesbian love story that literally transcends death itself.

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris: a grief-stricken Indigenous artist who arrives at a cabin in a remote, swampy forest, before strange things start to happen.

Fate's Bane by CL Clark: sword-wielding, star-crossed lovers from rival clans, inspired by Celtic folklore.

As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel: a Faustian Bargain between a witch and a demon, and their game of cat-and-mouse that spans multiple lifetimes.

A Feast for the Eyes by Alex Crespo: four teenagers hunting the local cryptic that feeds on secrets.

They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran: a red algae bloom causes strange mutations in a small Louisiana town.

The Seep by Chana Porter: a parasitic alien invasion that creates a strange utopia, and one woman's quest to stop its spread.

The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan: a hungry sea, a family beset by grief, and a strange woman who climbs up from the water.

Happy reading!

-B

Hello Star and Galaxy members! Below you'll find the form link to opt-in for the JUNE Mail Club and provide your mailing address <3

June Mail will include a letter from me, a set of journal prompts, stickers, and a sneak peek into my book PUBLISHERS SUPPER. It will be sent via stamped lettermail around June 30th. It will take up to 3 weeks to arrive.

FORM LINK

*this perk is available to International (i.e. non US or Canada) members BUT keep in mind that lettermail can get severely delayed and replacements will not be sent due to the monthly nature of the content

PREVIOUS MAIL CLUB DIGITAL VERSIONS:

December 2025
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026

Okay ya’ll! As you know our first mini goal is 650?

Drum roll, please?

We are at 548! That’s just 102 away from our first mini goal! And the COOL PEN!

If you haven’t preordered yet, here are some options:

Barnes and Noble- 25% off sale. Here’s the reality: we need BN preorders to make sure the book gets stocked there. Our short goal is 100 preorders from Barnes, we have 62!

Praire Lights, Mysterious Galaxy, The Twisted Spine- these are our indie partners and if you order from them you also get a free book cover poster! Our goal here is also 100 per shop!

Don’t want to spend money right now? The ebook is 3.99 EVERYWHERE! It’s the most affordable way to help us hit a best seller list and to help us all get a What Feeds Below pen and moth sticker!

Huge thanks to early readers and those who have preordered! Arcs for paid members are coming SOON!

Let the community know down below if you’ve preordered yet!

Last weekend was Capital Pride in DC and I still feel all discombobulated from that busy weekend. But that won't stop Friday Faves! Be sure to jump into my Discord channel and share your own faves!

My favorite book I read this week was The Maidenheads by Benny B. Johnson. This book is about Jamie and Mari, who were in a DC punk band in high school in the early 2000s and were also girlfriends. They had a horrible breakup, and ten years later they are back in each others' orbit.

Listen. As a girl who grew up in the DC suburbs who was very into the local music scene and didn't understand her sexuality at the time...I AM IN THIS PHOTO AND I DON'T LIKE IT. But also, hell yeah. Johnson name checks all my favorite venues in DC and Baltimore and perfectly recreates the grimy love we all had for our local faves.

The Maidenheads is messy and mean and full of yearning and good god please go to therapy, my guys. Everyone makes the worst decisions at every turn and I loved them for it.

My non-bookish fave this week was Pride weekend. I didn't go to any of the official events. To be honest, I haven't gone to the parade in several years because I'm over watching four hours of mega corporations pretend like they care about us. Instead, I went to a friend's party. I hosted a picnic. We had some friends over to hang out in our pool. Just queer folk spending time with queer folk, and it was the best.

Let's see what this does.

Testing...

Let's see how this goes.

Imagine reading a thriller where the threat isn't a serial killer, a secret organization, or a government conspiracy. Instead, it's a drought, a contaminated water supply, or a collapsing ecosystem.

A future that feels uncomfortably possible. That's the power of an eco thriller.

These books take the suspense, danger, and high stakes we expect from thrillers and connect them to environmental issues that already exist in the real world. The result is a genre that can feel terrifying precisely because so much of it feels plausible.

🌎 What Is an Eco Thriller?

An eco thriller is a suspense-driven story in which environmental issues play a central role in the conflict.

The danger may come from climate change, water scarcity, pollution, habitat destruction, extinction, ecological collapse, resource shortages, or corporate exploitation of the natural world.

The environmental issue is what drives the story forward. While some eco thrillers imagine near-future scenarios, others take place in the present day. What unites them is the way environmental pressures create the central threat.

And contrary to what many people assume, nature itself usually isn't the villain. More often, these books explore what happens when people ignore warnings, exploit resources, or place profit ahead of long-term consequences.

🌱 Why Readers Love Them

The best eco thrillers operate on two levels.

On the surface, they're incredibly compelling suspense novels. There are mysteries to solve, disasters to prevent, conspiracies to uncover, and impossible choices to make.

Beneath that, they're asking bigger questions:

• What happens when critical resources become scarce?

• How much are we willing to sacrifice for convenience?

• Can humanity solve the problems it creates?

Those questions add weight to the suspense because the stakes often extend far beyond a single victim. Entire communities, ecosystems, and generations may be affected by the outcome. The result is a genre that feels both entertaining and deeply relevant.

🌊 Why Eco Thrillers Feel Different

Most thrillers focus on a specific threat, but eco thrillers zoom out. The threat is often systemic rather than personal.

• A drought impacts millions.

• A changing climate reshapes entire regions.

• A damaged ecosystem creates consequences that ripple outward in ways nobody anticipated.

Eco thrillers have a unique sense of scale and the danger often feels bigger than any one character can solve alone.

📚 If You Usually Read Other Genres...

One of the reasons eco thrillers are so accessible is that they overlap naturally with several popular genres.

🚀 Science Fiction Readers

Start with: The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi

A near-future thriller where water has become America's most valuable resource. Fast-paced, brutal, and frighteningly believable.

🌎 Climate Fiction Readers

Start with: The Deluge by Stephen Markley

A sweeping look at climate change and its societal consequences. Ambitious, emotional, and one of the defining environmental novels of recent years.

☠️ Post-Apocalyptic Readers

Start with: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

A quiet but deeply unsettling survival story that explores what happens when modern systems begin to fail.

😱 Horror Readers

Start with: Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer

Part mystery, part eco thriller, and increasingly unnerving as it explores extinction, environmental collapse, and human obsession.

📖 Literary Fiction Readers

Start with: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

A beautifully written novel following the last migration of Arctic terns in a rapidly changing world.

📚 Beginner Pick

The New Wilderness by Diane Cook

In a future where much of the world has become unlivable, a group of people are selected to live within one of the last remaining wilderness areas.

Why it works:

• accessible writing

• survival elements

• environmental themes without heavy science

• strong emotional core

This is an excellent entry point for readers who are curious about eco fiction but don't typically read science fiction.

📚 Advanced Pick

Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson

When one billionaire launches a controversial climate-engineering project, the consequences quickly become global.

Why it works:

• massive scope

• complex environmental questions

• geopolitical intrigue

• no easy answers

This is the kind of eco thriller that rewards readers who enjoy ambitious, idea-driven stories.

🌙 Final Thoughts

The best eco thrillers remind us that environmental issues aren't abstract problems happening somewhere else. They're forces capable of reshaping communities, economies, ecosystems, and individual lives.

This is the content.

The Curse of Chalion.

Empire of Storms!

Empire of Storms is where it really is at for me. This book gave so much more that the first few were missing, SJM filled in the gaps and evidently asked herself the same questions I was by the end of Queen of Shadows. I was struggling to understand "Why Aelin?" and "Why Terrasen?" We know she's special and we know her kingdom is important to her, but why is it important to her allies? Her friends? The rest of the known world?

SJM leaned on those questions and got me so much more than I expected by way of answers. Out the gate, we see Lord Darrow ask the same thing - why you?

I took the controversial stance that Darrow was completely correct to deny Aelin the throne. Especially the way her entire court went about it. I was so frustrated at Aelin's entitlement and haughtiness and complete ignorance to the customs and laws of her own people that I cheered when Darrow shut her down. Here's the thing: just because Aelin is traumatized by her past, doesn't mean she should be given the throne. In fact, it means the opposite of that.

A traumatized leader who steamrolls her court, responds to denial with threats and bullying, has a volatile temper, and is known to literally scorched-earth whoever she deems an enemy is not someone who should be blithely handed a kingdom. Aelin does not collaborate with her court, she won't process her temper, she refuses to be accountable for her behavior, and she chose to surround herself with people who never hold her responsible for herself. So when Darrow bluntly denies her and then tells her how she appears to the rest of the world, it blindsides her. Because that's what happens when you surround yourself with sycophants who never tell you when you're in the wrong.

I'm most angry at Rowan during this exchange, however. He's 300+ years old, has seen empires rise and fall, has been a part of courts throughout history, and he doesn't coach her on anything related to politicking or political maneuvering? He Provides no insight on how men like Darrow and the other lords might push back on her? No strategy for countering it? In fact, Rowan does exactly the thing Darrow denies Aelin the throne for - he resorts to threats of violence immediately when he doesn't get what he wants.

That reaction from both of them is why she shouldn't have the throne. Aelin won't be making decisions just for herself anymore, she will be making them for a nation. Her people will be the ones to suffer for her behavior, her outbursts, her decision to blow away anyone she disagrees with. And Terrasen is already in tatters. No army, fighting poverty tooth and nail, and the one man who held it together and kept them from destitution or genocide is being told he didn't do enough and has to hand over the country to a 19-year-old who did, in fact, abandon her people for ten years while they suffered.

Yes. I said it. Aelin was traumatized and endured so much. But from the perspectives of her people, she also spent a decade lounging in finery and indulging a career of murder. These lords and probably many of her people - Ren included! - see her having indulged herself in Adarlan's finery while they starved. Regardless of what we, the reader, know about her past, this remains true of everyone else's perception of her. She has to contend with that. She has to, unfortunately, prove them wrong. And marching in demanding a title and her throne without regard to the laws or customs of her own nation fails to do that.

I want to talk a little about Aelin's decision to give Lysandra land and title without thinking it through because Aelin's whole theme is not thinking things through. I agree she was right to give Lysandra that gift. But she should have recognized the limits of her power and posited it as a plan when she has the throne. By tipping her hand to Darrow about how she intends to reward a court he doesn't approve of, she opened the door to be blockaded by the men who already hold power there.

I understand that Darrow is stuck in the old ways, but you have to consider this from the perspectives of people holding on by a thread. They have been brutalized, subjugated, and impoverished. Darrow and their customs have likely kept them alive. Those customs kept Terrasen safe and secure for centuries before Erawan ripped the nation apart by force. I know Aelin wants to create a new kind of court, but the world her people are in has depended and succeeded with the old one. In fact, the "new court" of Adarlan rule is what put them in this horrifying state. Why on earth would or should they be receptive to ANOTHER "new court"?

I also want to point out that Aelin later in EOS agrees that she isn't ready for rulership and Darrow was right to deny it to her. So. Vindication.

Let's be very clear though: this doesn't mean I am pro Darrow speaking how he did and calling Lysandra a whore and dragging Aedion's reputation into this. Both of them approached that discussion completely incorrectly and did more damage to each other than anything else. Neither of them helped Terrasen in that room, but Darrow was right to deny her power.

What's so funny about that scene to me though?

If Chaol were there, he could have helped Aelin navigate it better than any of them. He knows court intrigue by exposure. He knows customs and rules and how to facilitate those conversations. Chaol could've saved that meeting. I'll die on this hill.

ANYWAY. The rest of this book.

Lysandra? Damn. She really rocketed to the top of my list. I loved Lysandra so much. The sea dragon fight in Skull's Bay made me shout about things while I read this book. I locked in for her. I would ride or die for Lysandra. I love her and Aedion's relationship and how much he respects her autonomy. His lack of caring about her former profession? Very attractive behavior. He understands intimately what you have to do sometimes. Also, Aedion pansexual king? We love that.

Elide and Lorcan, though. Let me tell you what. I loved them. A lot. I love Lorcan and Elide, I hope everything works out for them because they would be so cute and sweet. Elide is such an amazing FMC because she takes everything about keenness, insight, knowledge of human conditions, perception, and turns it into strength that outmatches a fae warrior sometimes. That is just such a cool spin on "weakness" in characters.

Manon continues to be the house fave. She was less present in Empire of Storms, I noticed, but I loved her in it anyway. And her and Dorian? Adorable. I like them together with their deeply parental trauma. Manon remains a mirror arc to Chaol, honestly. She's gravely injured and has to decide to rebuild her sense of justice. So does Chaol. They're two sides of the same coin.

I have THINGS to address, however. And you're going to hear them!

I don't appreciate or respect how Aelin and Rowan weaponize Aedion's parentage to their own advantage in one hand while telling him it's his choice with the other. They both took away Aedion's autonomy in this situation. They actually take it away from him a lot, which makes me very angry because Aedion is so mindful of everyone else's only for his to be removed at every turn of the dial.

Rowan weaponized Aedion against Gavriel when it suited him, robbing Aedion of the decision to tell his dad or not on his own terms. Aelin did the same. By the time Gavriel and Aedion encountered each other, there wasn't really much choice left for him except "talk to your dad or don't talk to your dad". I'm glad he got out his feelings at him and I love how Lysandra considers everyone else's perspective and accounts for their thoughts as well. I love a generosity of spirit thinker. However, I'm angry and begrudging at Aelin and Rowan for telling Aedion it was his decision and then making it for him.

In the end of the book, I went back to being frustrated with Aelin because, honestly, her being captured by Maeve is mostly her own design. I know that's not popular to say either, but Maeve was alerted to her whereabouts by Lorcan because Lorcan didn't know the fleet was Aelin's. His idea was to draw Maeve to them and then spark a fight between what he thought were two enemy armadas. It was actually a smart plan, I respect Lorcan for it. He did exactly what he should have with the information he had. Information Aelin denied to everyone. At any point, her capture could have been avoided if she had just shared her plans with the class. Her capture was very much one of her own making, which angers me for her and for everyone else. Not trusting her court made everything significantly worse for her and for everyone who trusted her.

I know she's traumatized, but here's the thing: trauma isn't an excuse. At some point, we are responsible for repairing damage that was done to us. No, we didn't cause it and it isn't our fault, but we are still obligated to repair the damage. This capture is a direct result of Aelin refusing to repair that damage or confront it with loved ones. I feel bad for her, I'm scared for her, I know this is going to be VERY BAD, but I also am frustrated that she did a lot of it to herself because she wouldn't take responsibility for her actions.

Finally (I swear), I need to talk about... The Plan.

Yes.

That Plan.

The Plan that Lysandra and Aelin made that relied on lying to two of the men in Aelin's life she says she loves. That plan... was fucked up. I can't even apologize for this. Autonomy and self-determination are two of my core personal values. They are immovable for me. Anytime someone denies information to someone that would affect choices they could make or robs someone of autonomy over their body or life, my walls slam shut and I will never make space for that person ever again in my life. Trust is irrevocably broken and I will remove that person from closeness with me forever.

That plan robbed both Aedion and Rowan of autonomy. Completely and entirely. It relied on rape by deception of Aedion to succeed. And Lysandra agreeing to it caused me grievous harm to my love for her. Aedion would never in a million years have accepted a plan that turned her into a breeding mare, but she turned around and agreed to one that made one of him. Aedion was right to be furious. If anything, he wasn't furious enough. And Rowan. Would they think he wouldn't know? He would just go along with it? I know there's a prevailing theory that Rowan would have known immediately, but it would be too late to stop Aelin and so they would work it out. However, I can only ever go on information I have that is said to me, not on what someone doesn't say to me. If it isn't said, I can't use it as information. They didn't say that. I'm hoping it gets expanded more in Kingdom of Ash so I'm reserving my decision to be furious about it or not, though, until I see the fallout.

When you're making a plan like that and it involves the bodily autonomy of another person, that person needs to be in the room. Full stop. The only person you can ever make decisions about with regard to their life and body is yourself. You can never make those decisions for another person. I am shocked and frankly kind of put off that Aelin, who had her autonomy robbed at every turn, would then do the same to people she loves. Again, hoping for more expansion on this insane plan in Kingdom of Ash, but right now I think Aedion was right to be furious and Rowan should've been more mad.

This book though? My favorite so far. I loved it. This was so sharp and snappy and paced so well. I loved the twist about Why Aelin (not going to spoil that bit for folks, that's just mean), actually. I think that is so tragic and frustrating and I liked it a lot. I am officially Elena's enemy, that's for sure. I loved how they mirrored Elena's irresponsible, reckless behavior and belief she was always right with Aelin's and how it resulted in all this. SJM handled that very interestingly and smartly.

I'm moving onto Tower of Dawn and so far? SO good. Can't wait to blast my love for Yrene into the sky forever.

And remember: Chaol could've changed the whole course of Empire of Storms with his quiet pragmatism and understanding of nonmagical folks. Yup. I stand on this. Chaol not having magic would've been a boon in that mountain tavern discussion and that's why it went to shit. Fight me.

Hi besties,

As part of your paid subscription, you'll be getting first dibs on new historical fiction notices. That's right! Each month I'll send you a link to a password protected blog post that ONLY you can know the code to access. It will remain password protected until the first of the following month. Use that list to plan your TBR, request library holds, or just be in the know.

Making these lists each month brings me so much joy because I know how long those library/Libby hold lists can be. Hopefully this gives you an edge so you can be first in line!

August Historical Fiction Releases Blog Post:

https://shesbecomingbookish.com/new-historical-fiction-books-august-2026/

Password = newbooks

Let me know your thoughts on this fun new feature! I'm hoping to share this mid-month moving forward, so watch for those Bindery alerts.

Happy Reading!

xoxo

C

P.S. I've got big plans for another fun subscribers-first series centered around trips to my local library, so stay tuned for that.

Hi all - at this point, my personal celebrations of the Wheel of the Year are just disappointing. I was all geared up after the move to be ready for summer solstice. I have great outdoor space, I'm close to a number of friends at my new location, and I had plans for a little bonfire. The weather had been lovely the day before. I woke up on the day of the Solstice to.... rain. And 65 degrees F. I tried to still muster up the energy to do something to celebrate, but not being able to even see the sun in the sky, it just didn't happen for me. Bonfire plans were cancelled and I spent the day inside working on an editing project. Maybe this year is just not going to work out for me for witchy holiday celebrations, since I have not yet been able to celebrate one this year. Thankfully, they are a season and not just one day, even though we do tend to celebrate on one day. So let's see what the focus is of this season.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE: SUMMER SOLSTICE/MIDSUMMER

The Solstice is, you guessed it, another fire festival. These spring and summer holidays especially tend to be fire festivals. The Solstice is the longest day of the year and a celebration of the sun and the peak of summer. This has always thrown me off, as for me, June never seems like the peak of summer. Instead it seems like the very beginning. So knowing the days get shorter from here is not my favorite. But we still have plenty of sunlight ahead and that is what this celebration is for. Much like Beltane before it, this is a holiday that is a celebration of fertility (particularly the peak of the growing season), as well as the connection to the fae. When thinking of the wheel of the year, I like to think of balance. The light half of the year tends to be about fertility and the fae while the dark half of the year is about rest and the dead.

For reading during this season, focus on action - whatever that means for you. Maybe a fast-paced thriller or scifi. Or maybe continue the romance streak you had earlier in the year. Maybe a book with short chapters that is easy to fly through. Or a short book altogether. For non-fiction, the focus should be action as well. Maybe a how-to, or something more action-based than just theory.

Outside of reading, this time of year is about being outside and soaking up as much of the warm weather as possible (even if you hate being hot like I do). Go out and commune with nature. Spend time in a garden if you have one, or have access to one. Go to a local body of water. Make the most out of the extra hours in the day.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: WINTER SOLSTICE/YULE

On the other side of the world, you are experiencing the darkest days of the year. From here, the sun will start to come back. Winter Solstice is about the hope of welcoming the sun back. But there's still rest to be had. Now is not the time for a lot of movement or action. It is instead about sitting on the lessons you learned during the rest of the year, and contemplating them. You aren't even to the point that you are planting the next seeds yet. Instead, you are reflecting.

For reading, I recommend something slow, whether that's fiction or non-fiction. Something you can take your time with and absorb. Maybe something you've been putting off for a while. Now is the time.

Outside of reading, this time is all about rest. Don't try to make winter anything that it isn't. You are a mammal. Mammals are supposed to rest. Everything in nature is resting and storing up energy. Indulge in more naps if you need to. Do quieter hobbies or activities. Don't fill up your calendar. There is time for all that action during the rest of the year.

xoxo Sam