It’s time to vote on our February book club pick! We have three awesome options here. I’ve heard wonderful things about Red City, a new fantasy romance and the first book in an incomplete series. A few people in the book club have also requested to read Daughter of the Empire, the first book in a complete science fiction fantasy trilogy written by two widely respected authors! We can also choose to continue on with The Dandelion Dynasty series together. Full disclosure—I’ve already read Wall of Storms and I LOVED IT. It’s better than Grace of Kings and very action packed.

Happy voting everyone!! Can’t wait to see what you pick!

Red City by Marie Lu

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Blurb: The Godfather meets The Magicians in the sweeping adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab, Red City is a dark and deadly contemporary fantasy of magical warfare, star-crossed ambition, and the pursuit of perfection at any cost, set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles.

Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. First and Janny Wurts

Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy

Blurb: Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan.  Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni.  While in the opulent Imperial courts, assassins and spy-master plot cunning and devious intrigues against the rightful heir.  Now Mara, a young, untested Ruling lady, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival.  But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja, and marry the son of a hated enemy.  Only then can Mara face her most dangerous foe of all--in his own impregnable stronghold.  An epic tale of adventure and intrigue.  Daughter of the Empire is fantasy of the highest order by two of the most talented writers in the field today.

Wall of Storms by Ken Liu

Genre: Silkpunk Fantasy

Blurb: Kuni Garu, now known as Emperor Ragin, runs the archipelago kingdom of Dara, but struggles to maintain progress while serving the demands of the people and his vision. Then an unexpected invading force from the Lyucu empire in the far distant west comes to the shores of Dara—and chaos results. But Emperor Kuni cannot go and lead his kingdom against the threat himself with his recently healed empire fraying at the seams, so he sends the only people he trusts to be Dara’s savvy and cunning hopes against the invincible invaders: his children, now grown and ready to make their mark on history.

We’re voting on our January book club pick a little later than usual because I got distracted during the holidays 🤭 We have three great options lined up! Vote here on Bindery by Sunday, December 28th and check the Discord on the 29th to see who our giveaway winner is this month. Can’t wait to start the new year with you all!

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Genre: Epic Fantasy (Series)

Blurb: An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.

To Ride Hell’s Chasm by Janny Wurts

Genre: Epic Fantasy (Standalone)

Blurb: When Princess Anja fails to appear at her betrothal banquet, the tiny, peaceful kingdom of Sessalie is plunged into intrigue. Two warriors are charged with recovering the distraught king's beloved daughter.

As the princess's trail vanishes outside the citadel's gates, anxiety and tension escalate. But was the high-spirited princess taken by force, or did she flee the palace to escape a demonic evil?

The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri

Genre: Sapphic Romantic Fantasy (Standalone)

Blurb: In a Britain fuelled by stories, the knight and the witch are fated to fall in love and doom each other over and over, the same tale retold over hundreds of lifetimes.

Simran is a witch of the woods. Vina is a knight of the Queen's court. When the two women begin to fall for each other, how can they surrender to their desires, when to give in is to destroy each other?

The December book club pick is The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker! I’m so excited to start this trilogy with you guys. I’ve heard amazing things, including that it’s dark, gritty, intense, and inventive. A word of warning—I’ve heard a lot of people say the first 100 pages can be pretty confusing. Barker tends to throw you in the deep end of his world-building and you have to teach yourself how to swim 😅 The glossary will be our best friend!

Just a reminder that we have a virtual book club meeting scheduled for Sunday, November 30th at 8pm PT 📱

Check the Discord for the zoom link and for this month’s giveaway winner!

It’s time to vote on our December book club pick! I know so many of us have been struggling through massive reading slumps—here’s to hoping that the holiday season will give us lots of opportunities to rest and read 🤞🏼 I am super excited about all three of these book club picks and will be so happy with whatever we choose! Voting will close on Saturday, November 22nd 🗳️

The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu (The Dandelion Dynasty Book 2)

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Blurb: I don’t want to spoil anything for those of us who haven’t finished The Grace of Kings yet, so I won’t include details here. If we vote on this we’ll be continuing to read The Dandelion Dynasty series together which could be so fun!

The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Blurb: Two nations at war. A prize beyond compare. For generations, the Hundred Isles have built their ships from the bones of ancient dragons to fight an endless war. The dragons disappeared, but the battles for supremacy persisted. Now the first dragon in centuries has been spotted in far-off waters, and both sides see a chance to shift the balance of power in their favour. Because whoever catches it will win not only glory, but the war.

Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Fiest and Janny Wurts

Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy

Blurb: Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan.  Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni.  While in the opulent Imperial courts, assassins and spy-master plot cunning and devious intrigues against the rightful heir.  Now Mara, a young, untested Ruling lady, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival.  But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja, and marry the son of a hated enemy.  Only then can Mara face her most dangerous foe of all—in his own impregnable stronghold.  An epic tale of adventure and intrigue, Daughter of the Empire is fantasy of the highest order by two of the most talented writers in the field.

Our November book club pick is The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu! I’m so excited to start this series with you all. I’ve heard really great things about The Dandelion Dynasty and hope it’s just as good as everyone says it is 🤞🏼Love that we’re starting a new fantasy series just in time for the chilly months and holidays! Also, don’t forget to check the Discord for our giveaway winner this month 📱

I hope you all are having a fantastic October! While doing a lighter horror read for Halloween has been so fun, I’ve been feeling a pull to go back to our fantasy roots for November. With that in mind, here are the three options for this month! Voting will close in one week and the giveaway winner will be announced then too 📖

The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

Genre: Epic High Fantasy

Wily, charming Kuni Garu, a bandit, and stern, fearless Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke, seem like polar opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, the two quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures fighting against vast conscripted armies, silk-draped airships, and shapeshifting gods. Once the emperor has been overthrown, however, they each find themselves the leader of separate factions—two sides with very different ideas about how the world should be run and the meaning of justice.

Heart’s Blood by Juliette Marillier

Genre: Folktale Retelling

Whistling Tor is a place of secrets—a mysterious, wooded hill housing the crumbling fortress of a chieftain whose name is spoken throughout the district in tones of revulsion and bitterness. A curse lies over Anluan's family and his people; those woods hold a perilous force whose every whisper threatens doom.

For young scribe Caitrin it is a safe haven. This place where nobody else is prepared to go seems exactly what she needs, for Caitrin is fleeing her own demons. As Caitrin comes to know Anluan and his home in more depth she realizes that it is only through her love and determination that the curse can be broken and Anluan and his people set free.

Silvercloak by L.K. Stephen

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice. But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.

The people have spoken and we are reading The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in October! So excited to read this one with you all—though I might have to read it during the day so I don’t freak myself out and lose sleep at night 😆

Don’t forget to join in on our book club discussions in the Discord!

It’s time to vote on which book we’re reading in October!! Thank you for all the amazing books you nominated in the Discord. There were so many awesome stories to choose from and I narrowed it down to three. All of these options are slightly spooky/dark and I know that we'll have a great time no matter what we choose!

Also, Inner Circle members—keep an eye out for book giveaway details in the Discord after voting closes📱

Read more about each option below than cast your vote in the poll. Our October book will be announced next week ☺️

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong

Genre: Fantasy

Blurb: Step into the House of the Beast in this dark fantasy debut from The Legend of Korra graphic novel illustrator Michelle Wong, about a young woman who strikes a deal with a mysterious and alluring god to seek revenge on her aristocratic family—featuring illustrations throughout by the author. A gripping fantasy novel marked by divine rituals, intense combat, and twisted romance, House of the Beast is a tale of revenge, resilience, and the power of love to see us through the darkness.

The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy

Genre: Magical Realism/Mystery

Blurb: From the author of Girl One comes a spellbinding adventure about a strange power lurking in the Arkansas Ozarks, and the group of friends obsessed with finding it. Told in two enthralling timelines, The Wonder State is a gorgeous, immersive, speculative Gothic tale about searching for home. Sara Flannery Murphy has created another brilliant, genre-blurring novel―an adventure story laced with nostalgia, exploring belonging and the lasting power of community.

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Genre: Horror

Blurb: Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves a multi-generational horror story across three timelines, connecting the fates of Alba in 1908 Mexico, a disappearing girl in 1930s New England, and Minerva, a graduate student in 1998 Massachusetts, all haunted by a powerful and malevolent witch. As Minerva delves into the diary of a long-gone horror writer who also studied the same campus, she uncovers the dark history of a true-life disappearance and begins to fear she's falling victim to the same supernatural force.