Dropping the latest Sketch-a-Wish, voted on by my lovely Patreon members for January! Featuring a tense scene from Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo!

Spoilers for Hell Bent below!

This is one of the few examples of me putting in the WORK for the background, only because it's such a character itself. Il Bastone is a real world setting from Ninth House / Hell Bent, and even though they are scant, there were luckily a few interior photos available for me to reference to create the Virgil bedroom, where Alex and Darlington are having a tense conversation in this scene. I took some liberties on the design but a lot of the structures, accents and patterns were either pulled from the interiors or exterior facade of the Anderson Mansion. (especially the stained glass windows and painted tile fireplace!).

I spent a ridiculous amount of time on the painting over the fireplace to capture a small world-building segment from Hell Bent that I think has a modest symbolism of Alex's and Darlington's new relationship here. A fun little puzzle for those who want to try to research it!

“mors irrumat omnia

death fucks us all”

 Ninth house by Leigh Bardugo

galaxy stern

This is a photo of books I've read so far in April!

I enjoyed each book thoroughly!

I often think that I'm not an "actual" reader since I'm not constantly reading classic novels but then i think of all the women that came before me that weren't allowed the privilege of learning to read or enjoy all kind of book genres! I'll continue reading whatever I want <3

This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins - 4.5 stars

Beach Read - 5 Stars

Ninth House - 4.5 Stars

I'm thrilled that I'm enjoying everything that I'm reading !!!

Love always

★ What are your most anticipated 2023 releases? HELL BENT 👏🏼 HELL BENT 👏🏼 HELL BENT Actually, I have a lot of most anticipated books, but the sequel to @lbardugo’s Ninth House is near the top of that list. I NEED ANSWERS! It’s been an arduous three years of waiting to see if my dear Darlington is happy and getting enough sleep. 🤣 This gorgeous High Priestess tarot candle was featured in @fictionbathco’s Autumn Pamper box! The winter box is currently available for purchase and it features some of my favorite fandoms. 🖤 Use LIBRARY10 to save! ★ HASHTAGS // #booksofinsta #bookish #booksbooksbooks #bookcommunity #igreads #booksuggestions #bookseverywhere #fictionbathco #bookstagram #darkacademia #alexstern #leighbardugo #ninthhouse #flatironbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck3p6CmP9Lp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“She read paperbacks too, one after the next like she was chain-smoking—romance, science fiction, old pulp fantasy. All she wanted to do was sit, unbothered in a circle of lamplight, and live someone else’s life.” —Leigh Bardugo, Hell Bent •——————————————————————————————• Same Alex.. same.. •——————————————————————————————• #hellbent #ninthhouse #leighbardugo #darkacademia #bookworm #constantreader #booknerdigans #bibliophile #bookaddict #booklove #newbooks #bookaholic #bookshelf #bookcase #library #bookish #bookcommunity #reader #readingislife https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnn62Cnufzp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Unexpected layover in Waco, Tx. @oyo.usa . . . . . #waco #wacotx #wacotexas #ontheroad #roadtrip #texas #traveltexas #oyohotels #hotels #texashotels #southwest #southwestern #southwesterngothic #travel #9thhouse #ninthhouse #travelandphilosophy #adventure #confessionsofamusicfanatic #musicjournalism #layover #adventure #notallwhowanderarelost #herebedragons #travelphotography #jsimpson #musicjournalists #sxsw #sxsw2023 #sxsw23 https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBf-ddvp5m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It's been a roller coaster of a day. But I've got my book, my show and I can't decide if I need a glass of wine, a few shots of whiskey, or a whole bottle of moonshine Decisions, decisions Is it too early to go to bed? #bookworm #ninthhouse #bookwormstruggles #itsbeenaroughday #you https://www.instagram.com/p/CpREgRaLsKG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Can we talk about how Aaron Warner has the same tattoo as some hooker in Ninth House. IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT

Making Alphonse Mucha ladies into ladies of The Locked Tomb 🖤 link in bio if you want her on a sticker or a shirt! Lady Ninth first, other houses coming soooon #tlt #thelockedtomb #lockedtomb #ninthhouse #ninthhouseskull #skullpaint #jawlessskull #artnouveau #mucha #alphonsemucha #alfonsmucha #reveal #artreveal #bmth #bringmethehorizon #parasiteeve #gotafeelinginyourstomach #cuzyouknowthatitscomingforyou #redbubble #threadless #artistshops #threadlessartistshops #clipstudio #clipstudiopaint #digitalart #digitalwatercolor (at New York City, N.Y.) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChFgEEng8pD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Today's fun fact: the media that inspired me as I wrote Wraiths and Wanderings! 🌷Lakesedge by @lkclipstone 🌷Ninth House by @lbardugo 🌷Buzzfeed Unsolved (check @shanemadej and @ryanbergara at @wearewatcher for some really cool actual ghost hunters! 🌷Anna Dressed in Blood by @kendareblake These are the bad boys that got me pumped up about writing about ghosts, the occult, and writing my weird little children! Charlotte is, as always, the beautiful @tica_jules #wraithsandwanderings #charlotteblythe #charlotteandwade #amwriting #indieauthor #mortlockwing #Victorianlibrary #ghosthunting #darkacademia #aesthetic #debutauthor #debutbook #urbanfantasy #occulthorror #paranormalfantasy #buzzfeedunsolved #lakesedge #ninthhouse #annadressedinblood #writinginspo #witch #hunter #supernatural https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp9oFheuOY_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My March #tbr ! 📖 I’m currently reading Kingdom of the Cursed and I’m obsessed. Wrath owned my heart the first time he was on the page. It’s also a buddy read! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #rattlethereads #kingdomofthecursed #kingdomofthefeared #lessonsinchemistry #ninthhouse #currentlyreading #books #ilovebooks #bookaddict #toomanybooks #toomanyhashtags https://www.instagram.com/p/CpWXocVr3nL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The little reading moments are the best reading moments. Where do you enjoy reading the most? / / / / #bookstagram #booksta #bookstagrammer #bookgram #whatimreading #bookstagramfeature #booknerdigans #bookworm #reader #read #booksarelife #bookholic #ilovebooks #instaread #bookishgirl #amreading #booktok #amreading #carreading #ninthhouse #sunset #winterreading (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoOOlWNrULX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🧭MAP MONDAY🧭 I started reading Ninth House yesterday in hopes of finishing for a Tuesday discussion. So I’m reading along, and I’m at page 50. But opposite page 50 is page 19. Not good! 😫 Turns out there’s a whole section missing. And I am not willing to just skip it. Fortunately I remembered that I also owned Ninth House on Kindle. Crisis averted! I have also ordered fancy special editions of Ninth House and Hell Bent. Now instead of gifting my original copy, I can use it for some crafty book project. ❓Are you crafty? Have you ever destroyed a book for a project? Any cool book crafts I should consider for my misprinted Ninth House? #ninthhouse #leighbardugo #mapmonday #darkacademia #fantasyreads #bookswithmaps #yaleuniversity #secretsocieties #honeydukesbookclub #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CoDAizQrFXm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

She was a cannonball. She wasn't good for much at rest, but give her a hard enough shove, let her build up momentum, and she'd punch a hole through anything. - Hell Bent by @lbardugo ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~ ☆Have you read any books this year?☆ So this happened. This book. I'm so glad I went back for a reread of Ninth House before diving in to Hell Bent, there are a lot of little details I had forgotten. The rabbit on the cover was a bit weird for me, but it makes sense in the end. Watching Galaxy Stern embrace who she is, fight against her past, and demand what she wants from the universe, it made for a wild ride. I'm not sure I realized this was going to have another book, but now I begin my impatient wait for book 3..... ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~ #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookswelove #bookaholic #booklover #booklife #bookaddict #ninthhouse #hellbent #leighbardugo #galaxystern # https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn11PInr-C2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

★ Would you want immortality? Today I am unboxing @illumicrate’s October ‘From Beyond Death’ box! As per usual, this box featured a gorgeous book, as well as lovely, usable items! The book of the month is The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew and features all exclusive: cover, reverse dust jacket art by @avendellart, endpapers by @rosdottir, stenciled sprayed edges, foil embossing on the hardback, and it is signed by the author! Also included in the box was: - Super cozy Strange the Dreamer inspired blanket designed by @yoshiyoshitani - Hades and Persephone inspired Greek Mythology teacup and saucer set with art by @niallcgrant - Ninth House inspired papercraft designed by @rosiethorns88 - In the Ravenous Dark inspired cable ties with artwork by @stacey.mcevoy.caunt Swipe to get a closer look at everything! This was such a great box—and I know everything in it is going to be put to good use. Use code LIBRARY5 to save on 3&6 month subs and check @illumicrate’s recent post about the upcoming Black Friday sale! ★ HASHTAGS // #illumicrate #illumicrateoct2022 #illumicrateunboxing #thewhisperingdark #kellyandrew #fantasybooks #hadesandpersephone #ninthhouse #strangethedreamer #readingchair #librariesofinstagram #booksandflowers #allthebooks #booksallover #booklover https://www.instagram.com/p/ClP26aBLDTP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=