I’ve got some exciting bookish merch news to share! Ink to Novel is heading back to Etsy on October 1st, and there’s a game-changing twist coming your way on November 1st. But before we dive into the details, let’s talk about what this means for you, our wonderful bookish community.
The Etsy Homecoming
Our bookish merch story began on Etsy, almost 2 years ago! It’s a place filled with creativity, and it’s where our love for all things bookish merch blossomed. So, on October 1st, we’re closing our shop website and moving everything back to Etsy, and we’re coming back with a bang!
Faster Deliveries, More Happiness
One of the most exciting changes is our switch to a trusted supplier for our apparel items. Starting November 1st, your favorite bookish attire will be printed and shipped directly to your doorstep. So, what does this mean for you? Faster lead times! No more impatiently waiting for your bookish goodies to arrive. The transition will be gradual over the month of October, but once November hits, all apparel will officially be printed and shipped professionally. Just in time for the holiday shopping season!
More Time for Creativity
With all of the apparel being handled by experts, I’ll have more time to do what I love most—creating new products and designs that celebrate the magic of books and writing. Expect new and exciting additions to the Ink to Novel merch line that will make your bookish heart skip a beat.
Dive Deeper into the Literary World
The commitment to connecting with the bookish and writing community remains as strong as ever. In fact, it’s getting stronger! I’m excited to start sharing more book recommendations, shining a spotlight on incredible authors, and giving a big shoutout to some amazing bookish shops!
More Time to Connect
But that’s not all. I’m planning to hang out more with the fantastic Ink to Novel community. I’m ready to get back to chatting, connecting, and geeking out about all things books with you again!
A Little Twist with Stickers
Now, here’s a small twist. While apparel will be handled by our trusted supplier, our stickers will continue to be processed at the Ink to Novel HQ directly. So, if you decide to order both apparel and stickers, they will be shipped separately. (But don’t worry, you won’t be charged twice for shipping!)
A Glimpse into the Future
I can’t wait for this next chapter for Ink to Novel. But that’s not all! There are some other fun things that I’m working on behind the scenes, that I can’t wait to share! Get ready for the upcoming release of a brand-new digital reading tracking journal and other digital products designed to enhance your reading and writing experiences. Also, a little birdy may’ve told me that mugs were coming back! Just in time for cozy season!
Join me on the adventure!
So, there you have it, the big news. Although, closing the Shop website is a bit bittersweet, I’m thrilled to be able to focus more time and energy on the heart of Ink to Novel, and I’m even more excited about the next level bookish experience that awaits you. Your support means the world to me, and I can’t wait to continue this journey together.
Keep an eye on the blog for more exciting updates and surprises!
Boo, bookworms! Halloween is creeping closer, and we brewed up something wickedly delightful just for you. 👻📚 I’m thrilled to unveil our brand new Bookish Halloween Collection, and trust me, it’s spooktacular!
Here for the spooky, bookish, vibes
Our Bookish Halloween Collection is all about celebrating the season in our signature minimalist kinda style. Picture cute ghosts, enchanting black-on-black designs, and an overall vibe of spooky, bookish, perfection. Whether you’re a fan of all things scary, a lover of literature, or simply adore Halloween, you’re in for a treat.
We all love a bookish sale
But wait, there’s more! To make this Halloween season even more magical, we’re running a special, spooky sale! Starting today and lasting through the weekend, you can snag your favorite spooky pieces at a bewitching price. (No code needed, but the sale is only for the Spooky Collection)
Choose your favorite place to shop
You can find the Bookish Halloween collection in two spooktacular places: directly on the Ink to Novel shop website and on the Ink to Novel Etsy store. However, if you’ve been around for awhile, then you know that the best deals are always directly on our website. So don’t miss out on those extra savings.
All the spooky details
The Bookish Halloween Collection features 7 spooky design options, all available on either a super soft t-shirt or extra cozy crewneck sweatshirt. The black-on-black designs are perfect for embracing the spirit of Halloween, in our signature minimal way, while staying true to your bookish soul. And the cute ghosts and doodle design are both fun additions that your closet needs this season. Whether you’re into cute ghosts or prefer a dash of spooky subtlety, we’ve got something that’ll tickle your fancy.
Ready to shop?
Ready to join in on the Halloween fun? Head over to the Shop and explore the entire Bookish Halloween collection. Remember, the sale lasts only through the weekend, so don’t miss your chance to snag these spooktacular styles at a great price. And then come back and let me know which design is your favorite!
Looking for a spooky read to add to your TBR? Check out my review of Skulls & Stitches by N.J. Weeks.
Disclosure – All reviews and opinions, are my own. If you make a purchase through my referral links, I may earn a small commissions from Amazon, and/or other retailers at no extra cost to you.
***I received an advance review copy of The Throne of Broken Gods from Rose & Star Publishing and the author, Amber Nicole, but am leaving this review voluntarily***
Disclaimer – This is an adult fantasy romance. Triggers include loss of a loved one, grief, profanity, sex, death/murder/gore. Please make sure to be mindful of your triggers.
Blurb
“Then, Samkiel, you will know this is how the world ends.” But it was not this world. No, it was mine. It was Dianna.
The world quakes in fear as the last shred of Dianna’s humanity is ripped from her. As it should. Grief consumes Dianna, burning away any semblance of good within her and threatening the budding relationship between her and Liam. Now, Liam must pull her back from the brink of complete damnation before time runs out.
My Review
First off, thank you so much to Rose & Star Publishing and Amber Nicole for an eARC of this chaotic masterpiece.
After the heartbreaking cliffhanger in Book 1, Dianna is on a bloodthirsty rampage, seeking to destroy any and everyone who played a part in what happened to her sister Gabby. Her emotions were all over the place, and she truly started to become the monster everyone believed her to be. But I absolutely loved Dianna as the villain. Through everything, Samkiel never once gave up on her, even though she was constantly pushing him away, attempting to unalive him, and destroying everything in her path while seeking her revenge.
Side Characters for the Win!
I fell in love with the side characters through their POVs. And watching Dianna work through her grief, feelings of betrayal, and moments of vulnerability, while trying to develop relationships with members of The Hand and figure out her feelings for Samkiel really brought out all of the feels, and left me wanting to climb into the book and take away her pain.
Although both book 2 was LONG, (I’m talking 700 pages long), Amber thoroughly immerses you into the story and the characters’ world, making it incredibly difficult to put the book down and adult.
Prepare Yourself
Book 2 picked my heart up off of the ground after book 1s cliffy and proceeded to shred it to pieces before slowly putting it back together again. And right when things started falling back into place and my heart felt somewhat whole again, plot turns hit, leaving me with more heartache, another cliff hanger and so many questions. So grab your tissue box, and prepare yourself for another emotional ride.
Have you read The Book of Azrael yet? If so, are you ready for the pain of The Throne of Broken Gods? Let me know in the comments below, and we’ll chat soon!
Disclosure – All reviews and opinions, are my own. If you make a purchase through my referral links, I may earn a small commissions from Amazon, and/or other retailers at no extra cost to you.
I received an ARC copy of Under Darkened Skies from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer – This is an Upper Young Adult Fantasy. Triggers include fantasy and magical violence, references to parental death, imperialism, war, gambling, and drug use, alcohol consumption, panic attacks and anxiety, and stalking. Please make sure to be mindful of your triggers.
Blurb
A librarian with a secret. A prince looking for redemption. A dark discovery that will force them to confront their truths.
Astrea Sovna is destined to die. As a Lightbringer, she’s expected to serve the Helosian government as a battlefield healer. But when the court seer—Astrea’s uncle—has a vision of her being killed in the line of duty, he forbids her to reveal her powers.
Until now, Astrea has gone unnoticed as a junior librarian. But when she gets reassigned to a diplomatic project to strengthen ties between Helosia and one of its neighbors, she finds herself saddled with her past, in the form of returned war hero and her ex-best friend, Prince Varojin Auris.
Forced to work together, Astrea soon learns that although Varojin has been out of her life for years, he’s still the kind, patient friend she remembers. As they navigate old friendships and imperial politics, the pair discovers that the mysterious shadows stalking the city are leaving a trail of murder victims in their wake. And when Astrea becomes a target, a dear friend gets caught in the crossfire…
As Astrea and Varojin begin searching for answers, they realize there is more to the emperor’s project than political niceties. If the shadows aren’t stopped, Astrea’s future—and the security of the entire continent—hangs in the balance.
My Review
If you take some royal political drama, elemental magic, secret magic, sloooooow burn romance, and a bit of a mystery and mix it together, you get Under Darkened Skies. UDS is an upper YA debut novel from H.E. Bauman and although I tend to stay away from YA, I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. (The author has also promised us some spice in the future!)
The beginning of the novel did feel a bit slow. However, the pacing of the world building, and learning about the magical and political systems were perfectly timed. Although there was a lot of information to try and grasp, it never felt overwhelming or like the author info dumped it on us.
Our FMC, Astrea, is a junior librarian who is also best friends with the royal family. She has a powerful magic that she’s been keeping hidden her whole life. If the Emperor ever found out about Astra’s secret, it could be the end of the life as she knows it.
The world and emotions were all so vivid. I felt truly immersed into the story even while I was waiting on the action to start. Once I got to about to 40-50% mark, things really started to take off.
We love a good forced proximity story
Jin is one of the royal siblings, and former best friend to Astrea. But after leaving for the war several years ago, without even saying goodbye, Astrea tries to avoid him at all cost when he comes home. (she does have her childish moments, but don’t we all?) But when the emperor assigns Jin and Astrea to work together on a special project, she has no choice but to finally begin addressing her hurt feelings and issues with Jin. (It takes her awhile to get to that point, but she eventually begins to let her guard down and open up to Jin)
The magic system and the relationship between Astrea and Jin were by far my favorite parts of the book. But Cressida’s sass was a close second.
Book 1 was character driven, with plenty of plot points and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Now that we know the characters, and have fallen in love with a few of them, I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series plays out for Astrea and her friends. Book 1 did end on a slight cliff hanger, but thankfully nothing that completely ripped my heart out. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with a vivid magical system, found family, and slow burn romance, I suggest checking out Under Darkened Skies.
What to expect
✔️ 1920s Vibes
✔️ Elemental Magic
✔️ Unsolved Murders
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ One Bed
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
0 🌶️ – but again, the author has promised spice in future books, so prepare yourself for a slow burn
Don’t forget to check out H.E. Bauman’s website and follow her on Instagram to stay up to date on the entire Under Darkened Skies series.
Be sure to check out the Under Darkened Skies playlist on Spotify to give you all the vibes while you’re reading!
Let’s Chat!
Does the Under Darkened Skies series sound like your jam? If you’ve read it, let me know your thoughts in the comments, but keep it spoiler free! Until next time…
