There’s always a point during these walks with Link where I stop thinking about whether I liked a book and start thinking about why it’s still sitting with me.

Not necessarily the perfectly plotted books. Not even always the highest rated ones. Just the stories that quietly linger. The ones that leave behind an emotion, a question, or a scene that randomly resurfaces while I’m making coffee or driving down the highway a week later.

And this reading week was full of those kinds of books.

Some worked for me almost immediately. Others took their time. A few frustrated me while I was reading them only to fully settle into my brain afterward. But almost every book I picked up this week was exploring some version of identity, survival, healing, or the terrifying things people will do in pursuit of control.

Which feels…accidentally thematic for one reading week.

Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth

My love for Veronica Roth goes all the way back to my complete obsession with Divergent, so the second I heard she was writing an epic fantasy, I knew I was going to read it regardless of what it was about.

Thankfully, this absolutely delivered for me.

This is very much the kind of fantasy that asks you to fully sink into the worldbuilding. There’s lore, prophecy, political tension, shifting alliances, layered magic systems, and enough terminology early on that I definitely found myself flipping back through pages trying to reconnect dots. But once I settled into the rhythm of the story, I became completely consumed by it.

What really made this work for me, though, wasn’t just the scale of the world. It was the emotional core running underneath all of it.

Elegy became one of my favorite female characters of the year almost immediately. She’s fierce and protective, but also funny and deeply human in the ways that matter most. Watching her reclaim the prophecy tied to her identity instead of allowing it to consume or define her was incredibly satisfying.

And then there’s Theren, who honestly hurt my feelings a little.

I appreciated so much that Roth allowed his trauma and guilt to exist as something more nuanced than simply “sad backstory for emotional angst.” His healing felt gradual and messy and believable in a way that grounded the larger fantasy elements beautifully.

Also: the audiobook deserves its flowers. The full cast narration added so much emotional texture to the story and made the quieter moments hit even harder.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

This was my first Alex Finlay book and absolutely will not be my last because I flew through this.

The structure alone made this impossible for me to put down. Dual POVs, multiple timelines, intersecting lives, short chapters — it constantly created that perfect push and pull where I never wanted the current chapter to end but was equally desperate to see what happened next.

The story follows Jules and Quinn, whose lives were forever altered after one horrifying night in 1992, and I loved watching the ripple effects of that trauma continue shaping them over the next decade.

There’s something especially compelling about stories that explore how people become trapped in the gravitational pull of one singular moment. How lives continue moving forward while emotionally remaining tethered to the past.

And this book absolutely nails that feeling.

The suspense itself was addictive, but what surprised me most was how emotionally invested I became in Jules and Quinn individually. Their journeys felt dark, intense, and deeply human beneath the mystery elements.

I also just really loved the 90s atmosphere woven throughout this. It added such a distinct texture to the reading experience.

Make Me Better by Sarah Gailey

This is one of those deeply complicated reading experiences where I still don’t entirely know whether I “liked” the book… but I know with absolute certainty that it affected me.

Because while I was reading it, I often found myself frustrated.

There are a lot of timelines, POVs, and narrative shifts happening here, and at times it created a distance between me and the characters that made it difficult to feel fully emotionally anchored in the story. I also think this could have been significantly shorter without losing any of its impact.

And yet.

I cannot stop thinking about it.

There was a moment this week where I was literally driving down the highway replaying the emotional climax of the story in my head and just quietly went, “Damn. That’s actually horrifying.”

At its core, this is a story about belonging. About grief. About vulnerability. About the dangerous human desire to feel chosen by a community no matter the cost.

As someone who has personally experienced harm within community spaces, there was something deeply unsettling and emotionally recognizable about parts of this book, even when the actual circumstances were wildly different from my own experiences.

I think that’s why it stayed with me.

Not because it was perfect, but because it understood something uncomfortable and deeply human.

How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings by Cynthia Timoti

After several emotionally heavy books, this felt like exactly the kind of palate cleanser my brain needed.

The setup alone is delightful: Kimiko needs a boyfriend in order to keep her grandmother’s yarn shop, except she doesn’t actually believe in love. Then Rob (professional matchmaker, emotional golden retriever, walking green flag) inserts himself into her life with a plan to help her find a soulmate across five weddings.

And obviously things become complicated immediately.

What I loved most about this was the dynamic between Kim and Rob. Kim is trying so hard to keep everything controlled, logical, and emotionally contained, while Rob operates almost entirely from instinct, kindness, and emotional openness.

Watching those two personalities collide was genuinely so much fun.

I also absolutely adored Opa. Every scene with him added warmth and heart to the story in a way that made the emotional moments land even better.

This really does feel perfect for readers who love 27 Dresses-style wedding chaos mixed with slow-burn romance and emotionally guarded female main characters.

Soon By You by Dahlia Adler

This one completely surprised me.

I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to become so emotionally invested in Ari and Judah specifically.

The chemistry between them felt incredibly natural — sharp banter, emotional tension, genuine vulnerability underneath all the flirting — and I loved how much emotional intimacy anchored the romance itself.

Ari and Judah both felt flawed in ways that made them more lovable rather than frustrating. They’re messy. Guarded. Trying to figure themselves out while navigating complicated expectations around relationships, community, and identity.

And speaking of community: one of the strongest aspects of this book was the setting within New York City’s Modern Orthodox Jewish community.

It felt immersive without ever feeling inaccessible. The traditions, matchmaking expectations, family dynamics, and social pressures all added such richness to the story while still allowing the romance itself to remain central.

Also this book is genuinely funny. Like actually laugh-out-loud funny in several scenes.

The wedding chaos. The awkward encounters. The side character commentary. It all balanced beautifully against the more emotionally vulnerable moments.

The Mediator by Robert Bailey

This book stressed me out in the absolute best way possible.

Max Ringo was once a brilliant lawyer until addiction and personal tragedy completely derailed her life. Now newly in recovery, she’s trying to rebuild herself when her son is kidnapped, and the ransom becomes her cooperation in a vicious, high-stakes divorce mediation case.

This story moves FAST.

The entire thing unfolds over just a few days, and Bailey keeps the tension constantly escalating through hidden agendas, shifting loyalties, and perfectly timed reveals.

But what really made this work for me was Max herself.

She’s exhausted, flawed, desperate, brilliant, angry, and absolutely refuses to give up despite having every reason to collapse under the weight of what’s happening.

There’s something incredibly compelling about characters who have already hit rock bottom and are forced to keep fighting anyway.

Watching Max weaponize every legal skill she had left while desperately trying to save her son made this impossible for me to put down.

And honestly? I desperately hope this becomes a long-running series.

The Dorians by Nick Cutter

How do I even begin explaining this book?

Imagine Jurassic Park, The Thing, Frankenstein, body horror, anti-aging science, existential dread, and deeply questionable medical ethics all thrown into a blender together.

That’s basically the vibe here.

The premise alone is fantastic: five elderly patients who have elected medically assisted suicide are instead offered an experimental treatment on a remote island that can supposedly reverse aging.

And because this is a Nick Cutter novel, absolutely everything goes horrifyingly wrong.

This definitely starts slower than I expected, but once the horror elements begin creeping in, the atmosphere becomes deeply unsettling in that distinctly Cutter way where you simultaneously want to look away and keep reading.

The body horror here is VERY Cronenberg-inspired. Gross, invasive, fleshy, deeply uncomfortable horror.

But underneath all the gore, Cutter is also exploring genuinely interesting questions around humanity’s obsession with youth, scientific hubris, consent, mortality, and the terrifying pace at which technology evolves beyond our ability to ethically control it.

Also: I weirdly loved following an older cast of characters in horror. It felt refreshing and emotionally distinct from the genre norm.

Heir of Illusion by Madeline Taylor

I read this in basically one sitting.

The magic system hooked me almost immediately because it felt distinct without becoming overly complicated, which is honestly harder to pull off in romantasy than people give credit for.

Ivy was such an easy main character to root for. She’s resourceful, strong-willed, emotionally resilient, and trying desperately to reclaim autonomy from an emotionally abusive king who has controlled far too much of her life.

Then enters Thorne.

A shadow-wielding morally gray man whose deadly shadows turn into snakes.

Which honestly tells you everything you need to know about why the romantasy community is going to eat this up.

I really enjoyed the gradual progression of their relationship from reluctant allies to something much more emotionally layered. The pacing moves quickly enough that the tension never drags, and the ending absolutely leaves things positioned for chaos moving forward.

And yes, the cliffhanger did emotionally attack me.

Somehow this entire reading week ended up orbiting around people trying to reclaim themselves.

From prophecy and trauma to cults and community to legal desperation and experimental immortality, almost every story I picked up was asking some version of the same question:

Who are we when the world (or other people) try to define us first? Apparently that was my accidental reading theme of the week. And honestly? I’m not mad about it.

Morning besties!

Greetings from the bayou. 🐊 I've been here since Wednesday and really enjoying the slower pace. Dad is doing better than I thought after a tough update from the doctor and after losing his little dog to old age. He sure is a tough old bird, but I still like to pamper him a bit. This morning it was a full breakfast, Cajun-style. Grits with crawfish, shrimp, and andouille, croissants from Wildgrain (get your first box on me), and scrambled eggs. The gator really loved it! 😜

Since we last chatted I finished Mrs. Benedict Arnold and really enjoyed it (4⭐️s). As I mentioned last week, it has a Regency romance feel but jam-packed with history much like a Diana Gabaldon story. I really appreciated the showing rather than telling, with Parry taking us into the heart and mind of her character rather than sharing through a third or second-person perspective. I'm not sure how it will compare to Stephanie Dray's latest, A Founding Mother, but I intend to find out soon. That is next up for me!

I'm still reading The Woman and Her Stars on my Kindle and finding it very enjoyable, but it's been hard to find time to spend reading, more so than usual. I am hoping to finish soon though! It's a tad slower and much more of a character-driven story, with Haw's narrative style really endearing you to the FMC. There's a hint of romance, but it hasn't been distracting.

As requested, I started Cleopatra a few days ago on audio, and WoW! It's so transportive. It's also told in a first-person perspective, but it's an interesting mix of story-telling, breaking the fourth wall, and narration. I am really digging it and want to spend ALL my time with that one right now. I'm very curious to see where it goes. I think it will be the perfect gateway to a fun project I have planned for this summer.

My mission over the next few days to start The Island of Sea Women, the BBFL book club book for May. I really need to start our book club books sooner in the month! I feel so behind and neglectful of our book club chat. Speaking of book club, help me vote on the June theme below!

ICYMI:

• April reading wrap-up (long form)

• April reading wrap-up (short form)

• A fun twist on meet the Book creator

• Monday bookmail

• My Yesteryear thesis

Hear It Here First:

I've been tinkering around with ideas of what to share exclusively with my paid subscribers, and I think I finally have it! I've been really wanting to read more backlist books, so I think I'm going to start a series featuring backlist library finds. It will be more vlog-style content, coming along with me to the local library and exclusive reviews. I've got a few other things up my sleeve, too! I'm excited about the opportunity to connect with readers in a fun new way. ❤️

Until next time, happy reading!

xoxo

C

Hi friends and happy Saturday!

I just wanted to let you know, in case you haven't joined the Not A Phase Books discord community yet, I just dropped my entire merch order form (including exclusive and limited edition Pride merch) there!

You will have until June 1st to shop before anyone else lays eyes on it! Starting June 1st, I will link it to my website for the public to kick off Pride Month!

I still have some stickers coming in next week that I will add to the order form, but 95% of my merch is with me and ready to ship to YOU!

Hope you have a great weekend.

All my trans joy,

Sawyer Cole

I know I fell off the face of the earth in April, but it was for good reason. I exhibited at BookCon last month (with my husband) for the first time since they shut their doors in 2020, and let me tell you, it was a TIME. I sold out of my newest release, ALL WE KEEP HIDDEN, before noon on the second day, which was absolutely phenomenal. My husband and I arrived a day early for registration and check-in, which allowed for some much-deserved "couple time" in Central Park. We definitely did this trip justice with first class flights, upscale dinners every night, and Uber Black transportation ,which might seem over the top to some, however, this was our first trip away together in THREE YEARS. It was also our first overnight trip away from the babies. So yeah, go big or go home.

Between BookCon, my birthday, Mother's Day, teacher appreciation week, and all of the end-of-year celebrations for school, I feel like I haven't been able to come up for air. Needless to say, I haven't quite finished our April Book Club read, but I am 70% of the way through and definitely plan to finish it before the end of this month so we can start fresh with a new indie book come June! I know our first Book Club read was fantasy and we're reading a thriller right now, so I'm kind of thinking to kick off summer, we could find a cozy mystery or cozy contemporary romance. If you have any indie recommendations in either of these categories, let me know!

Special thanks to R A Moreau for the advance reader copy! Here is my genuine review:

6 stars. I absolutely enjoyed this book!

You know when people say it had them “giggling and kickin’ their heels”? Well, that doesn’t happen for me often. Like RARELY. There I was gasping, laughing, swooning, AND kicking my heels while reading this book. 

Iris Ashbourne and Elliot Cross (the two main characters) were so well written. I could feel their relationship build throughout the story, and it just made every dialogue, scene, and detail feel intentional. These are two “monsters” who come together to ensure everything doesn’t fall apart while keeping their own secrets.

This adult paranormal romance is set at a university, and I devoured it. I loved it. This is the beginning of an interconnected standalone series, and I cannot wait to continue the journey.

Welcome back to another author interview! Today I'm joined by author Mikayla Randolph as we talk about her debut novel, Not Your Final Girl.

1. I always use this first question as a chance for you to introduce yourself. Say as much or as little as you want.

Hello! I’m an author based out of California who writes horror, fantasy, and thrillers. My favorite stories blend genres, invert tropes, and feature complicated characters, all while being a bloody good time. Beyond writing, I love adding too many books to my TBR pile, reading while cuddling with my dogs, and waffling between wanting to travel the world and wanting to never leave the house. 

2. Your debut book Not Your Final Girl released May 5th. How have you been feeling? Excited? Overwhelmed? Everything in between?

Yes! Absolutely everything, and it changes by the second. I’m frazzled, but mostly I’m feeling incredibly grateful. It’s a lifelong dream coming true, and I’m blown away by the support I’ve received. Close friends, family, former teachers, authors I've never even met, and so many members of the horror community, like you, have been so kind. The generosity and camaraderie have been astounding, and I appreciate it all so much.

3. What made you choose a slasher for your debut novel?

A slasher has been on my bucket list for a long time. My first stab at it was in college, and I think it frightened my poor roommate, who was not a horror fan. Since then, I’ve written a few other novels, from a post-apocalyptic story to a western, but once this idea clicked, there was no turning back. It was such a smooth writing process, too; it bled right out of me. 

4. Any specific films or media that helped influence your novel?

There were so many influences, and most don't seem like they belong together. Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’urbervilles was a primary inspiration, with this being a partial retelling. Beyond that, Scream, Heathers, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, and Men, Women, and Chainsaws by Carol J. Clover. Plus every slasher novel, movie, show, or game that I’ve enjoyed since I was far too young for them to be appropriate. 

5. What was your favorite scene to write? The hardest? 

Oh, that is difficult to answer and remain spoiler-free! For my favorite, I’ll say there is a scene with a shed, a wheelbarrow, and a surprise that was a lot of fun to write. The hardest was most likely the opening pages because I wanted to immerse the readers in that epic Final Girl climactic moment while introducing new characters.

6. Who was your favorite character to get inside the mind of? 

I loved them all, and bouncing between them was such a fun experience. It felt like I got to write five books in one! If I had to choose, I'd say Ashley because she challenged me the most. She is so confident and unrelenting that writing her perspective made me question how I phrase things and second-guess myself. I hope a bit of her spirit has stuck with me.  

7. Are you currently working on any other projects at the moment? If so, can you drop us any hints?

I’m currently querying my next novel, which I think of as a witchy X-Men horror noir. I'm also revising an "Eat the Rich" haunted house novella. 

8. Tell us what you've been reading lately? Your favorite 2026 book? What books are on your backlist?

I finally caught up on Something is Killing the Children and am enjoying Look What You Made Me Do, the Taylor Swift inspired horror anthology from Sobelo Books. My favorite book thus far is probably King Sorrow by Joe Hill. Sadly, I have far too many on my backlist, like Little Eve by Catriona Ward, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, and Writhe by Abby Vail. I'm a terribly slow reader and can't seem to stop buying more books. But I refuse to feel bad about it because even if I can never read them all, they look pretty on my shelf, and I’m supporting those authors and publishers. 

9. What books are you looking forward to releasing this year? How about movies?

I’m so excited for Worry Box by Chris Panatier, Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle, and, of course, Kiss Slay Replay from Rachel Harrison, who is an autobuy author for me. Movie wise my most anticipated was Ready or Not 2 and I loved it! I’m also looking forward to Supergirl though Woman of Tomorrow wrecked me at times. 

10. Did you have a playlist that you listened to when writing your book?

Yes, and I have a Spotify playlist available for it here. In particular, Chvrches’ Screen Violence album features a lot. 

Thank you again, Mikayla, for allowing me to do this interview! You can follow Mikayla on Instagram at mik_randolph.

This week has been a productive one, and it's really exciting to see the progress I've made on Death by TBR Books Press. The updated version of Small Town Slasher has been formatted. I will do one more pass on it before the publication date, but ePubs are now being sent out! One benefit of the FIRST VICTIM TIER (or higher) is digital ARCs! So if you sign up for it, you can receive an eARC of both Small Town Slasher and Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology. If you are already a member, just message or email me and I'll send it over.

If you haven't heard, the third Twisted Tales is Yuletide Horror, and after making some changes and receiving more support, I was able to move the release date back to THIS November. That means the next anthology will have an open call, most likely this summer. I'll be sending out a separate email over the next few weeks asking FIRST VICTIM TIER (and higher) what subject they would be excited to see as an anthology. One of the perks of being part of a paid tier is being involved in publishing decisions. Vampires? Werewolves? Witches? Liminal Spaces? Slashers? There are so many options and ideas I have and I don't want to release one in an area that has already had an anthology recently.

In between doing all of that I did find time to read and watch things.

BOOKS I update my Storygraph (deathbytbrbooks more than my GR Stephanie Rose)
The Dorians by Nick Cutter
Molka by Monika Kim
The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

All of these kept me engaged in the story and that's the biggest trouble I have when reading.

Currently reading: Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle and Tea You at the Altar by Rebecca Thorne

Next Up - I received an uncorrected bound manuscript of The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives by Barbara Truelove and I cannot WAIT to start it this weekend!

SHOWS
NEW
24 in 24 Love cooking shows
Widows Bay Fun and hilarious. Cozy horror.
Euphoria I do NOT love this season but I have to finish it.

FILMS - I'm on LetterBoxd - horrormaven13
Faces of Death First horror film I've seen this year that I lived up to the hype.
Project Hail Mary Amaze amaze amaze!

Rewatches that I'm enjoying as I pretend to live in the late 90s/early 00s.
Daria
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The X-Files
Law and Order: SVU
The Hills

That's all for this week! I hope you get some time to read and watch and relax. Oh and I started a new Instagram for my personal nerdom. If you're interested my handle is: stephanieisspooky

xoxo

Spooky Girl

Hi!

I know just last month I switched our requests over to Bindery's Request a Rec feature...but it's still in Beta and I'm not a huge fan of how it functions yet so I am switching us back over to Google Forms. However, instead of sending out one form for two requests each month, I will have this one standing form that you can find HERE or in the #book-rec-requests channel over on Discord. You can fill this form out whenever you want, no deadlines, and expect a response within one week. You can fill it out as frequently (or infrequently) as you desire, though I can't guarantee I will be able to respond to more than two requests per month.

I should have gotten to everyone's requests from April by now, but if I haven't please either drop a comment here or reach out over on Discord and let me know so that I can get your recs to you ASAP!

Hi! Happy Friday to those who celebrate. (This is my long weekend to work, so I am typing this from my desk.)

With some recent answers in the poll (see previous post - it’s still live for voting), it appears as if y’all want a quarterly book club - to which I can make happen. I know we’re a month and a half into Q2, so I have chosen a small book in length but rich in history and importance:

Our inaugural Not A Phase Books Quarter 2 book club pick will be Merle Miller’s On Being Different: What It Means To Be A Homosexual; originally published in 1971 as an essay in The New York Times in defense of an article by Joseph Epstein condemning homosexuals written for Harper's Magazine.

In a time where being part of the LGBTQIA+ community is dangerous, I felt compelled to recall this book and how, in a period where The Stonewall Riots were happening on the cusp of The Civil Rights Movement, changes were happening, people were speaking out and speaking up, and fighting for our very rights that are being stripped away today that they fought so hard to receive.

I'd love for you to join me on Discord to discuss this book further. We will go in depth from the two articles that started it all, to what it means to be part of a growing queer community in 2026 and beyond.

I look forward to seeing you all over there.

With all my trans joy,

Sawyer Cole

I absolutely love reading Indian fantasy books, particularly when they’re written by Indian authors who portray our culture with the love and care it deserves.

Here are five of my favorite Indian fantasy books of all time and their synopses!

1) Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari

Abbakka Chowta never expected to be queen. The youngest of Ullal’s two rajkumaris, Abbakka has spent years in rigorous combat training to become her sister’s blade. But when the monstrous Porcugi attempt to lay claim to Ullal, Abbakka’s world―and fate―are upended.

The Porcugi―giant half-men, half-snakes who attack from the sea―haven’t been seen in Ullal since their failed invasion more than fifty years ago. But now, they’re back with vengeance and a choice: pay their tithes or suffer total devastation. Soon, Abbakka’s definitions of strength, subterfuge, and statecraft are put to the test. Will marriage to a neighboring king give her the resources she needs to protect her people . . . or will she watch her homeland be crushed beneath the waves of would-be colonizers?

A lush historical fantasy that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s and the fierce real-life queen’s story, Burn the Sea is an electrifying exaltation of female power and the value of freedom.

2) To Bargain with Mortals by R.A. Basu

In the colonized nation of Viryana, Poppy Sutherland lives between cultures. As the brown-skinned adopted daughter of the Viceroy, she is both rejected by white high society and alienated from the people of her native island. When she discovers her opportunistic fiancé’s plot to exile her, Poppy flees—straight into the clutches of the Jackal. 

Hasan Devar, the ruthless criminal known as the Jackal, has long been targeted for his family’s divine magic, a gift the colonizers have tried to stamp out. When his brother is arrested, he seizes Poppy as leverage. But Poppy has powerful secrets—and political ambitions—of her own. As allies, they could do more than just free Hasan’s brother and keep Poppy safe. They could topple the very power structures that hold them all back. 

The first book in the Reckoning Storm duology, To Bargain with Mortals is a stunning reflection on politics and purpose, blood and allegiance—and what we do with the histories we inherit. 

3) The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma

The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.

Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something.

4) Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel

A mother and a son. A goddess and a prince. A curse and an oath. A river whose course will change the fate of the world.

Ganga, joyful goddess of the river, serves as caretaker to the mischievous godlings who roam her banks. But when their antics incur the wrath of a powerful sage, Ganga is cursed to become mortal, bound to her human form until she fulfills the obligations of the curse.

Though she knows nothing of mortal life, Ganga weds King Shantanu and becomes a queen, determined to regain her freedom no matter the cost. But in a cruel turn of fate, just as she is freed of her binding, she is forced to leave her infant son behind.

Her son, prince Devavrata, unwittingly carries the legacy of Ganga’s curse. And when he makes an oath that he will never claim his father’s throne, he sets in motion a chain of events that will end in a terrible and tragic war.

As the years unfold, Ganga and Devavrata are drawn together again and again, each confluence another step on a path that has been written in the stars, in this deeply moving and masterful tale of duty, destiny, and the unwavering bond between mother and son.

5) The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao

Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.

When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he threatens everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.

Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. This first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.

Welcome to a new segment of my Bindery! Case Files will cover my weekly reading updates: finished books, current reads, and even book mail.

For now, consider this a beta newsletter—I’m going to see how it works with my content schedule before I fully commit. But I’m hoping it sticks, because I would love to refresh my Bindery with some exclusive content for Book Snoops and Novel Sleuths.

Psst, this was also a Cluesletter week! ICYMI, here’s a link.

This week’s reads:

• The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego (finished): I love an ambitious mystery and this one about a tour group stuck in a famous—and potentially haunted—labyrinthine library is as ambitious as they come. While slightly over-complicated, this was highly entertaining, and wonderful for fans of old books and dark curses.

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (currently reading): Better late than never, right? I’m not a huge fan of domestic suspense, but I felt an obligation to try the book that more or less defined the genre, at least in this century. I’m enjoying the audio so far.

• The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley (currently reading): Just barely started this one, but I do love a public domain classic crime novel with a well-rounded, refined cast of characters. I also somehow forgot that Berkeley also wrote The Wintringham Mystery (1927), which I enjoyed, so it’s fun to return to his witty writing style.

• Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay (currently reading): Also just barely started this one, but I so love a Parisian setting! And the premise of this one—of a sommelier who lost her sense of taste after COVID—is quite special.

This week’s book mail:

• The Inklings Detective Agency by John R. Kelly (out now!): In 1936 Oxford, England, literary greats including J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis team up with Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers to unravel a mystery. Yes to all of this. Yes, please.

• You’ll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner (out Aug 4): A standalone thriller from an author I’ve always wanted to try! An abandoned lodge in a small mountain town? Sign me up.

• Beyond Honor by K.B. Brodsky (out Sep 1): A political thriller involving a paramilitary operative, a CIA analyst, and a Russian agent. First in a new series!

• Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley (out Sep 22): One of my most highly anticipated releases of the year! The first Miss Marple outing since 1976. Filling Agatha Christie’s shoes is no easy task, and I’m looking forward to seeing Foley’s take on our favorite older sleuth.

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

happy friday, friends!

I've been incredibly busy finishing final projects for school, but I'm still reading!

I've started All My Rage, leaning into an immersive read as I want to annotate as I'm reading, and I'm drawn into the story told from multiple POVs. If you aren't following along, make sure you check in for updates and to join the discussion!

I've also started Judge Stone on audio, and am loving Viola Davis as the narrator!

What are you all reading this weekend?

Vote for one of the books Will reads in June....