SICKOS, it's Monday, and that means I wanna know what you're reading this week in the comments while I update you on what I got done last week and plan on working on this week!

READING

REVIEW

DAISY JONES & THE SIX by TAYLOR JENKINS REID (oral history fiction)

Progress: Finished

After very much enjoying Atmosphere, this makes TJR 2-for-2. I dug the interview style that bopped around multiple POVs, highlighting how the same interactions and stories can be told so many different ways, and the overall vibe of the music industry and the personal struggles that come with it. Only took a small tick off the rating for the ending, which mostly boils down to my personal preference, but ultimately this falls in the 4.5-plus star range and I've already got The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising on the way via Pango.

WE ARE LEGION (WE ARE BOB) - [Bobiverse #1] - by DENNIS E. TAYLOR (space science fiction)

Progress: 208/302

I took this on as a lighter read and while it has a reputation for being humorous, that's more so in the way that Project Hail Mary has elements of lightheartedness, which I prefer because it's not desperately trying to land joke after joke. I started this on audiobook (also, like PHM, narrated by Ray Porter) on the way to a book festival and independent bookstore hopping on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to get into despite some early hard science. It's not totally mind blowing or emotional yet but it's still a damn good time so far.

PREVIEW

I got zero nonfiction done last week but I do still plan on taking down War Against All Puerto Ricans this week before transitioning to the History Sickos book club winner for May, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. Speaking of book clubs, the Fiction Sickos book club will be reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler which I'll probably get to after my current read.

PUBLISHING IMPRINT NEWS

Still working on acquiring our second title for Kist Reads and we should have an official audiobook announcement for A Complement of Scoundrels by SV Lockwood up this week.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Getting reacclimated to climbing and hockey playoffs took up the majority of my free time last week, so I didn't make much progress into an series.

I did start the adaptation for Daisy Jones & the Six to see how it stacked up against the book. Early doors but the book felt much more confident in the quiet moments and leaving things left unsaid whereas the show is amping up the drama a touch in every scenario. That's more of an observation than a criticism as that's probably a better fit for the medium and I'm still invested enough to throw that in the rotation.

I'm pumped for the recently announced Assassins Creed: Black Flag Resynced, which will release on July 9th of this year so that may put a nail in my Valhalla playthrough.

Another reminder that I'll be at BookNet Fest in Orlando, May 15-16 as a panelist and hotel bar fly. Get your tickets and swing through!

It's been a busy few months and I haven't been on Bookclub like I'd like to be but I'm ready to lock in to Cleopatra. Head over to discord for updates, and I'm going to plan a night next month to discuss on live as well.

Here are some April 28th new book releases on my radar (and should be on yours!). Though I've asked the publishers for these, I haven't gotten my hands on any of them yet...let me know if you have!

Fat Swim by Emma Copley Eisenberg

Why it interests me: a collection of stories exploring bodies, queerness, size, and more? Okay.

Liar's Dice by Juliet Faithfull

Why it interests me: a coming of age story set in 1970s Brazil.

Dreamt I Found You by Jimin Han

Why it interests me: A retelling of a tragic love story set in the Korean immigrant community. I already have her The Apology on my physical TBR so I'm interested in this one too.

The Original by Priya Parmar

Why it interests me: a novel about Katharine Hepburn, exploring the cost of fame.

Break Room by Miye Lee

Why it interests me: translated from Korean, a gripping and incisive psychological game-show drama.

Molka by Monika Kim

Why it interests me: The Eyes are the Best Part was one of my favorite horror books last year, so when I heard she had a new one coming out, I immediately preordered it.

If you’ve been craving a book club night filled with secrets, suspense, and a little royal chaos, this is your official sign. The Royal Scandal Book Club Kit by Aimee Carter is finally here, and trust me you’re going to want in on this one. 👀

👑 What’s Inside the Royal Scandal Experience?

We didn’t just create a guide; we created a full-blown royal takeover! Whether you’re hosting a crowd, reading with a bestie, or flying solo, we have a kit tailored for you:

✨ The Main Book Club Kit: Turn your meeting into a palace event with a deep-dive discussion guide, Who's the Traitor? game, themed recipes, and a dramatic Royal Trial Debate setup.

✨ The Individual Member Kit: Your personal palace companion! Use the included Suspect List and Tabloid Brainstorming pages to track your theories while you read so you’re ready to bring the heat to the meeting.

✨ The Buddy Read Kit: Navigating the monarchy is safer with an ally. This kit includes a Palace Protocol reading schedule, shared prediction trackers, and part-by-part check-in questions to keep you and your reading partner in sync.

✨ The Solo Deep Dive Kit: For a private audience with the crown. This kit helps you set the ultimate Dark Royalty atmosphere with soundtrack tips, themed solo snacks, and an Investigation Journal to track every leak and lie.

📰 Why You’ll Love These Kits

Royal Scandal takes everything you loved about book one and turns it up a notch more danger, more secrets, and way more tension. These kits match that energy by helping you:

👀 Question every character

🕵️‍♀️ Uncover the Unknown Insider

👑 Debate like you’re in a royal court

😂 And survive the headlines along the way!

👑 Ready to Enter the Palace?

Your next unforgettable reading experience is just one click away. Choose the kit that fits your vibe and start uncovering the truth.

👉 Tap the link to access the full Royal Scandal Kits now!

Book Club Kit https://tinyurl.com/2ztnfjxz 

Individual Book Club Member Kit https://tinyurl.com/4ftddj2x 

Solo Deep-Dive Reader Kit https://tinyurl.com/yyeym4h6 

Buddy Read Kit https://tinyurl.com/nfbu4hjm 

Trust me... you don’t want to miss the secrets waiting inside.

💬 Tell me: Are you Team Evan, or do you think the palace might be hiding something even darker? 👀

If there’s one thing Royal Scandal proves, it’s that the crown doesn’t just sit heavy it can be downright dangerous. In this gripping sequel, the drama of royal life escalates into something far more sinister, blending media scrutiny, political tension, and life-threatening stakes into a story that’s impossible to put down.

👑A Sequel That Raises the Stakes

Picking up after the explosive events of the first book, Royal Scandal wastes no time throwing Evan Bright back into the chaos. Now firmly entrenched in the public eye, Evan isn’t just navigating life as an outsider in the royal family; she’s become a full-blown media villain. The constant headlines, the rumors tying her to the President’s son, and the narrative that paints her as a threat to the monarchy all create an atmosphere that feels suffocatingly real.

What makes this installment stand out is how Carter evolves the conflict. This is no longer just about reputation or fitting into royal expectations. The introduction of anonymous threats and the looming possibility of a tell-all biography adds a psychological edge, while the attempted assassination shifts the story into full thriller territory. The tension becomes sharper, darker, and far more urgent.

💔Evan Bright: A Heroine Under Pressure

Evan continues to be one of the most compelling aspects of the series. She’s not a perfect protagonist and that’s exactly why she works so well. She reacts emotionally, makes impulsive decisions, and struggles under the weight of constant scrutiny. But through it all, she shows resilience and determination that make her easy to root for.

In Royal Scandal, we see a more vulnerable side of Evan. The fear of her past being exposed and the realization that someone within the palace walls may want her dead forces her to confront not only external threats but also her own identity. Her growth feels authentic, even when it’s messy, and her refusal to back down adds a satisfying layer of defiance to the narrative.

🔍Intrigue, Suspicion, and a Palace Full of Secrets

One of the strongest elements of this book is its atmosphere of distrust. Carter masterfully creates a sense that no one is entirely safe or entirely innocent. The palace, which might traditionally symbolize security and power, becomes a setting filled with tension and unease.

As more information about Evan leaks, the question isn’t just what is being revealed, but who is behind it. The story thrives on this uncertainty, encouraging readers to question every character’s motives. It’s the kind of book that makes you second-guess your assumptions and keeps you turning pages just to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.

⚖️The Balance of Drama and Thriller

While the first book leaned heavily into royal drama and social dynamics, Royal Scandal successfully blends those elements with a darker, more suspense-driven plot. The media frenzy, interpersonal conflicts, and romantic undertones are still present, but they’re now intertwined with high-stakes danger.

That said, the complexity of the plot can occasionally feel overwhelming. With multiple threads media manipulation, political implications, personal secrets, and the central mystery some aspects may feel slightly underdeveloped. However, this also contributes to the book’s fast pace and sense of urgency, making it an engaging, if occasionally chaotic, reading experience.

👑Final Thoughts

Royal Scandal is a compelling continuation of the Royal Blood series that leans into its strengths: high drama, complex characters, and a setting ripe with intrigue. By raising the stakes and introducing darker elements, Aimee Carter delivers a sequel that feels both thrilling and emotionally charged.

For readers who enjoy stories about royalty with a modern twist complete with scandal, danger, and a heroine who refuses to be silenced, this book is a must-read. It not only expands the world of the series but also leaves you eager and maybe a little desperate to see what happens next.

🏰 Elevate Your Reading Experience

Ready to dive deeper into the palace secrets? Whether you’re reading alone or hosting a royal gathering, we have the perfect companions for your journey through Royal Scandal.

Tap here to download our FREE Royal Scandal Starter Kit! https://tinyurl.com/52tywxd3  

Get a taste of the drama with our mini collection, including:

• Mini Book Club Kit: Featuring our top 5 discussion questions and the Crown Jewel Sparkler recipe.

• Mini Member Guide: A suspect tracker to keep notes on the palace's most suspicious players.

• Mini Solo Reader Kit: Tips for setting the perfect Dark Royalty reading atmosphere.

• Mini Book Buddy Kit: A Part 1 reading schedule to keep you and your bestie in sync.

✨ Want the Full Royal Treatment? ✨ Don’t leave your survival to chance. Join The First Editions membership to unlock the Full Complete Kits. Members get exclusive access to:

• The Full Party Experience: Royal Record Tabloid, the Royal Trial Debate, and the full Who's the Traitor? game.

• Interactive Digital Guides: Deep-dive reflection journals and comprehensive suspect boards.

• The Full Reading Schedule: Step-by-step buddy check-ins and prediction trackers for every chapter.

• Extended Menus: Full recipes for the Palace Pasta and Scandalous Tartlets.

Join The First Editions & Unlock the Full Kits Now 👑

✨ ️ Thank you Charles J. Malone and Aimee Carter for sharing the Royal Scandal with us!

💬 If you were in Evan’s place, would you stay and fight for the truth or escape the royal chaos while you still could? 👀

I shared a post on Instagram recently but wanted to give even more book recs on here for Pocahontas characters and the reasons I chose each one.

THOMAS
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling & Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
Both stories center control, repression, and systems that look orderly on the surface but are quietly rotting underneath. That tension between logic and something deeply wrong mirrors Thomas perfectly.

KOCOUM
Never Whistle at Night: Back for Blood & Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
These both ground horror in ancestry, land, and generational memory. Together, they reflect Kocoum’s connection to community and the idea that the past is never truly separate from the present.

JOHN
The Hacienda by Isabel Canas & The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
Both books trap their characters in controlled, domestic spaces that slowly turn hostile. That loss of authority in the face of something supernatural lines up with John’s need for certainty.

RATCLIFFE
Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin & The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson
These are both brutal, society-breaking narratives where survival requires adaptation to constant violence. They match Ratcliffe’s world, where chaos isn’t an anomaly, it’s the baseline.

FLIT
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede & A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
Both lean into indulgence, performance, and female rage with a sharp, self-aware edge. That mix of chaos and control fits Flit’s unpredictable, almost theatrical energy.

MEEKO
Nothing Tastes As Good by Luke Dumas & Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
These stories start soft and intimate before shifting into obsession and transformation. That progression mirrors Meeko’s curiosity and loyalty evolving into something more complicated.

PERCY
Diavola by Jennifer Thorne + Rouge by Mona Awad
Both focus on vanity, image, and identity unraveling under pressure. They reflect Percy’s arc from surface-level entitlement to a more self-aware, fractured perspective.

POCAHONTAS
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth + Shutter by Ramona Emerson
These both center cultural memory, spiritual responsibility, and connection to land. Together, they align with Pocahontas’s role as someone who carries history rather than escapes it.

I'm definitely going to do more of these types of posts. Everyone has their own niche on Instagram and I think since I love watching and reading so much it's a great way to combine the two. Also, the books for each character are readalikes so generally if you like one you'll like the other.

It's time to wrap up Monster Blood II and Kick off Deep Trouble!

WRAP UP

I enjoyed Monster Blood II more than part I. It didn't seem as far fetched as the first one! And while its still not my all time favorite in the series, we at least did get a mega mutant hamster out of it which is cool.

Questions:

1. What was your favorite part?

2. What animal would scare you the most if it ingested monster blood?

KICK OFF

And now it's time to clear the beaches and stay out of the water! Our next book is Deep Trouble.

Synopsis:

Billy and his sister, Sheena, are visiting their uncle Dr. Deep on a tiny Caribbean island. It's the perfect place to go exploring underwater...and Billy's ready for an adventure.There's only one rule to remember: Stay away from the coral reefs. Still, the reefs are so beautiful. So peaceful. Billy can't resist.But he's not alone in the water. Something's lurking deep below the surface. Something dark and scaly....Something that's half-human, half-fish...

Coming to YouTube & Bindery next week...

My week in NYC for BookCon was jammed packed with events leading up to the event and I was keeping a little secret. I was invited by Simon Maverick and Scarlett Press to come to their offices and sit down with H.M. Wolfe to discuss all things Daggermouth and what we can expect next. The interview will be live next week, with early access to Bindery subscribers.

Morning besties!

I'm going to be quick this week since we are about to head out the door to go see the Dodgers and Cubs face off. But I wanted to give you a little reading update as per usual.

I'm deep into the audiobook of This Book Made Me Think of You, which you all voted for last week. I get why so many people love it, but I'm finding the writing a little simple for my tastes. It seems like the type of book that begs for beautiful prose in addition to heartfelt moments of grief, but the prose is lacking a bit. We will see how it all ends and where my ranking falls, but right now I'm not wow'd.

The Fourth Wife on the other hand is knocking my socks off! I am so drawn to this book that I have lost interest in several of my other reads, including my April BBFL book, Go as a River, which I NEED to finish stat. The Fourth Wife is about a young Mormon bride in a polygamous marriage who's realizing she married into something more than she bargained for. It's set in 1880s Utah and is the perfect accompaniment to Trust Me, the brand new FLDS documentary on Netflix (which is a must watch by the way).

This week I finished Royal Spin, a contemporary romcom my IRL bookclub chose for May. Shockingly, I really enjoyed it! I mean, one of the co-authors is a real Royal journalist, so it's got to be good, right? It's perfect for anyone who wants a fun workplace romance and loves all things The Crown.

I have SO much new content coming soon, so watch for updates in your inbox if you're a newsletter subscriber!

ICYMI:

• March reading fully wrapped

• The Mountains We Call Home unboxing

• Sapphic novel perfect for summer reading

• Last Monday's bookmail haul

Hear it Here First:

Discord server coming soon!!!! I can't wait to show y'all what I've created. I hope you love it!

xoxo

C

This week’s reading mood? Strong women carrying entire plots on their backs… and men making choices that had me yelling out loud.

Let’s start with Burn the Sea because I am fully in my historical fantasy era right now.

I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Abbakka Chowta, and now I’m sitting here like… how did I not already know about this woman?? A queen fighting the Portuguese in the 1500s?? Immediately obsessed.

Tewari blends real history with fantasy elements like half-man, half-snake tyrants (yes, really), and somehow it all works. The political tension, the stakes, the way Abbakka has to constantly prove herself in a world that underestimates her… it just hit.

Also: the men in this book?? Some of them need to take a deep breath and reevaluate. Respectfully.

I cannot wait to talk to Mona Tewari on May 1 because there is so much to unpack.

Blind Date Agreement was such a fun shift in tone.

If you’ve read Cunsolo before, you already know the vibe: high school drama on the surface, but with real issues layered underneath. And the blind date premise? It just kept getting better the more chaotic (in a fun way) the dates became.

But what surprised me most were the side characters. They absolutely carried some of the emotional weight of the story for me. And the ending? Way more grounded and realistic than I expected, which I appreciated.

Okay but let’s talk about Victim or Villain.

I picked this up for the audiobook because anything Teddy Hamilton narrates, I’m listening. No questions asked.

But Gwen Kane?? She’s the reason you stay.

A woman who escaped an abusive marriage, rebuilding her life on a ranch, trying to figure out who she is now… and then everything gets complicated. Fast. Add in a hot vet and a situation that keeps escalating, and you’ve got a romantic suspense that is tense, fast-paced, and very easy to binge.

Morally gray women will always win for me.

Now Blood Bound.

This is the one that made me go, okay… romantasy is back.

You’ve got dragons, witches, talking animal familiars (with actual personalities), layered history, and twists that kept me fully engaged. But the real highlight? The dual POV between two women who are not romantically involved and don’t exist to compete with each other.

It gave me that Aelin and Manon energy where they’re powerful, complex, on different sides, but there’s still this underlying respect. I loved that dynamic so much.

The romance was cute, maybe a little fast for me, but honestly? The female relationships were the heart of this story.

I do wish we got a bit more depth in certain parts of the worldbuilding, and the ending felt a little rushed with everything it tried to wrap up… but overall this was just a really fun, engaging read that pulled me right back into the genre.

Break Room is one of those books I almost wish was longer… which is wild because it’s just over 100 pages.

It’s a translated novel that quietly gets under your skin. The author’s note alone had me sitting there like… oh. Oh no.

It really digs into workplace dynamics, assumptions, and how we perceive the people around us. Like, do we actually know our coworkers? Or are we just filling in the gaps with our own biases?

Uncomfortable in a way that feels very intentional.

South of Somewhere was my in-person book club pick, and this one felt very close to home. Literally.

It’s set in my area, and I kept recognizing locations which made the reading experience so fun. But beyond that, it’s a clean romance with a faith element that takes its time exploring recovery and healing in a way that felt honest.

It’s quieter than some of the other books I read this week, but it stuck with me.

And then there’s Dark Is When the Devil Comes.

I don’t even know how to explain this reading experience other than: I was yelling. The entire time.

The atmosphere is so creepy, the twists just keep coming, and at no point did I feel grounded in what was real and what wasn’t. Which I think is exactly the point.

But also? This book reinforced a very important life rule for me:
Do not get in the car.

Ever.

If you’ve read any of these, I need your thoughts immediately. And if not… what was the best book you've read recently?

It's almost time! ⏰ Join me for 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.

Ready to join us?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ZOOM

See you soon, Quillers! 😘

Meg

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

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

Here are some books we recommend for today!

Ryn:

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

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

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

• The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

Tori:

• The Sluts by Dennis Cooper

• Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

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

Friends,

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

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

Cracks in an Ocean of Glass by Kristy Park Kulski

Wherever she goes, the dead walk with her.

Some histories have the power to possess us.

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

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

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

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

 Ahhhhhhh! Thoughts? Hopefully early cover art coming soon!

Thank you so much for supporting this imprint!

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

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

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

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

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

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