Eternal Library

2023 INDIE INK AWARDS WINNER: BEST MENTOR CHARACTERThe books are restless. At the Eternal Library, books are more than the paper, ink, and thread they're made from--they're full of spirits. Only a handful of people will ever be invited to the Bindery to learn the craft of Illumination: the magical creation of intricate illustrated manuscripts, bound with a secret that will make them last forever.Tabby is a dreamwalker, a witch who escapes into the stories of sleep to avoid a birth family that's never loved em enough. Amane is a cartomancer, a medium who speaks for the Unseen, but doesn't know how to speak her own needs. Rhiannon is a psychic, an archivist who can See into the past, but only has eyes on the future.Their stories intertwine as they discover the secrets of Illumination, the Library's archives, and those of their mentors--the three of whom are competing to be the next Head Librarian, the Speaker for all the books. How do you know who's truly worth being part of your family? Sometimes we must forge connections in order to heal; other times, those bonds must be broken...The Thread That Binds is an adult fantasy novel about queer bookbinding witches learning their magical craft, forming a found family, falling in love, and keeping the library out of dangerous hands. It also has a companion divination deck called the Threadbound Oracle; the characters are on the cards, and the cards appear in the novel.You may like The Thread That Binds if you like:Found- and bio-family dynamicsEntirely queer cast of charactersAroace narratorQueernorm societySlow burn workplace romanceMain characters in a long term queerplatonic relationshipPolyamoryDeep topics with cozy endingsWelcome to the Eternal Library!

Fire speaks in song. At the tender age of sixteen, Aeronwy Silverdream married the spirit of the great volcano, Mount Cináed. But the mantle of Flamekeeper is a heavy one, and the cult known as the Fellowship of the Ardent is an unkind place to grow up for an autistic child. It's only when Aeronwy runs away to the modern capital of Caspora City and the Eternal Library that e finds freedom to be emself-with the help of new friends Siobhan, Inyene, and especially Mairead Moonsea.Years later, Aeronwy becomes apprenticed to Illuminator Catrina Rosefall, a quirky artist and former circus actor who is determined to help Aeronwy face eir past. Their personalities couldn't be more different, but friction starts fires, and isn't fire what Aeronwy needs the most right now? Throw in an ancestor spirit with an unfinished story, confusion over what "romance" really means, and an increasingly toxic best-friendship, and what started as a spark threatens to blaze out of control.Creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin, and death is necessary in order to be reborn. As the Flame of Ashes, Aeronwy knows this, but after a life of lies and deception, how does one relearn how to recognize the truth?For readers who like:- Found family- Entirely queer cast of characters, including many aro & ace-spectrum- Autistic narrator & AuDHD love interest- Queernorm society- Two aro-spectrum leads figuring out their romance- Polyamory and neopronouns- Magical art, writing, & traditional crafting- Fantasy 1980s setting- Intergenerational mentor/student friendship- Trauma healing- BIG LIBRARY

INDIE INK AWARDS 2023 FINALIST: NEURODIVERGENT REPRESENTATION BY NEURODIVERGENT AUTHORChosen to be Head Librarian Opaline Sweetfrond's last apprentice, Juniper Starstitch arrives at the Eternal Library looking to discover the magical manuscript art of Illuminationand to recover the memories lost to the trauma of the massive earthquake that killed one of eir parents a decade earlier.June quickly discovers that these memories can be recovered through the ancient art of reading etheric Threads, the spiritual ties that link the world together. But remembering can be painful, and living in the past means missing out on the present. Even to the point that June's beloved apprenticeship is threatened by eir inability to let go.It will take the help of friends both old and new for June to untangle the knotted threads of time, including the mysterious and stern Aeronwy Greengrove, who June may or may not be falling in love with, one song at a time...The Tale That Twines is an adult fantasy novel about queer bookbinding witches, found family, memory, fandom, and the power of story to heal from trauma! It is the second book in the Eternal Library Series and the first of two prequels. It also has a companion divination deck called the Threadbound Oracle; the characters are on the cards, and the cards appear prominently in Book 1, The Thread That Binds.For readers who like:- Found and bio-family dynamics- Entirely queer cast of characters, including many aro & ace-spectrum- Autistic ADHD narrator & neurodivergent main cast- Queernorm society- Extremely slow burn friends to lovers romance- The power of friendship and fandom- Deep thoughts, cozy vibes- Magical art, writing, & traditional crafting- Fantasy 1970s/80s setting- Intergenerational mentor/student friendship- Trauma healing- BIG LIBRARY