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@jva_writes

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cat person | UFO enthusiast | Sunday Times bestselling author 👿✨THE DEMON STAR out now with @dawbooks / @tbbpublishing

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We just might be friends. Maybe. Are we?

#tbrpile #bookstatrend #bookrecommendations #bookstagramchallenge #bookstababe

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👻 THURSDAY THRILLS: HORROR ON THE TBR 🎃

💬 QUESTION: If you could only pick ONE horror book to read before Halloween, what would it be? 👀📚

Spooky season is well and truly upon us, and I’ve got some incredible horror books practically begging to be read! 💀🩸

Unfortunately, my reading plans have other ideas. With the SPFBO competition taking up most of my reading time, I’m beginning to think October might come and go without me picking up a single horror novel! 😭

That certainly hasn’t stopped me from admiring these gorgeous editions, though. From the stunning cover artwork to those ridiculously beautiful sprayed edges, they’re making it very difficult to resist abandoning my entire reading schedule. 😂🔥

I’m still holding out hope that I’ll manage to squeeze in at least one spooky read before the month is over, but the ever-growing TBR might have the last laugh! 👀

So, horror readers, help me out! Which of these four would you recommend I prioritise, or is there another horror book I absolutely NEED to read? 🖤

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10 Before the End.
I’m in my Robin Hobb era and I’m not mad about it. 🐉⛵️🐺

#bookstagram, #bookish, #booktok, #books, #booktalk,

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Finally opened my @thebrokennbinding a few weeks ago!
The Echoes Saga by @philipcquaintrell.author look stunning on my shelf! Can’t wait to get the next ones 🔥

Thank you @thebrokennbinding for these stunning editions! 🫶

#thebrokenbinding #specialeditionbooks #fantasybooks #scifibooks #fantasyseries

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The “10 before the end” posts are officially out in force!

Now, as someone who’s read approximately 10 books all year, the sheer delusion required to believe I could double my tally before December is quite something.

So here’s my 5 before the end instead. Even this assumes I quit my job, abandon my social life and temporarily suspend all other responsibilities.

Let’s see how many of these actually make it off the TBR and into my hands 🤔

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Guess what we didddd?

Chatted about The Demon Star mostly. And Jesse’s career and what publishing has been like and upcoming projects that may or may not be VERY COOL. #scifibooks #fantasybooks #bookstagram #horrorbooks #podcast

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We’ll be hosting debut sci-fi fantasy author Jesse Aragon at our store on November 7th! If you’re a fan of Red Rising, Dune, or Gideon the Ninth, THE DEMON STAR is the perfect read for you! There will be copies available to purchase in-store for Jesse to sign. Make sure to stop by for this stellar read!

#debut #readlocal #scififantasy #booksbooksbooks #readersgonnaread

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Latine Futures - Matt Shafi-Aragon

In the modern era of AI-slop and disconnection, Matt Aragon-Shafi and West Side Books play an important role in keeping us connected to community, to the written word, and our shared humanity. Matt was a long-time bookseller and manager at West Side Books before taking over as owner in January 2026.

When he took over the store, they made one major change: they shrank their footprint; the used books that once made up the majority of their inventory are mostly gone. (Take heart, the store plans to expand back into part of the original space in 2027.)

Instead, Matt and his staff have worked to build a highly curated experience where he hopes that customers feel seen. As a supporter of queer authors and writers of color, he said it’s important that people see their experiences jump off the page. He has been able to explore his own multicultural Latine identity thanks to writers like Kali Fajardo-Anstine.

For Matt, a North High graduate, it was important to buy the book store and keep it on 32nd Avenue as a reminder of the Latino community that mostly has been displaced by gentrification.

If you’re in the Northside, stop by West Side Books, say hi to Matt and his team and see yourself on their shelves.

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Review: The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon (@jva_writes)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨️Summary✨️

The planet is controlled by six gods, whom decide the fate of its citizens through what is called The Harvest. People fear it, yet religiously protect it.

An exorcist priest named Jacen, struggling with his own inner demons, is simply trying to perform the daily rituals his job requires of him (which includes telepathic exorcism). That is until a man shows up at his door holding something that will send Jacen, and his novitiate Nines, on a world-changing journey across The Scar.

Our second protagonist, Ysira, who survived The Harvest, is trying to reconnect with her estranged son, Neri, who will have powers beyond anyone's imagination. Their destiny lies beyond The Scar.

Gods, god-killing demons, aliens, cults, and more are all something they will face.

They will all change the world and beyond.

✨️Discussion✨️

I really enjoyed the character development in this book. We see characters that are broken and are seemingly beyond repair. Throughout the tough journey to their destinies, we see them fall, but consistently get back up and fight onwards.

I liked the dark themes and gory combat scenes in this novel. The majority of which are focused on Ysira, which is understandable given she has a demon who can repair any wound rapidly.

The plot is slow to begin, but builds up to an epic finale in the last third. The book's ending leaves space for a sequel or prequel, and even questions to be answered.

Why 4 stars? I was often confused with the plot at times. At times, I found it hard to understand what was going on. Everything started to come together in the end, but it took some time for me to understand what was going on. Also, some of the characters mentioned at the start then appear near the end, leaving hundreds of pages to forget who they are.

✨️Recommendation✨️

I would highly recommend The Demon Star to anyone into dark, horror sci-fi with a cast of characters with troubled pasts and a journey that will change them all forever. Despite the slower paced beginning, it is worth it for the final third.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#bookstagram #books #bookreview #thedemonstar #novel

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How fit is The Demon Star?? by @thebrokennbinding & @tbbpublishing @jva_writes
With art by Kieran Yanner @kieranyanner & John Barry Ballaran

Horror, Scifi AND Fantasy in one. Buy it, you'll love it.

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🍂📚 FALL FANTASY & SCI-FI TBRs 🚀🍁

Autumn is here, the nights are getting darker, and there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and getting lost in another world. 🍂✨

But here’s the question… 👀

📚 If you could only choose ONE TBR, which colour are you picking? ❤️🤎🧡💛💚

👇 Drop your colour in the comments!

Save this for your autumn reading inspiration and tag a bookish friend who needs to choose their next read! 🍁📖

#Bookstagram #FallReads #FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #AutumnTBR

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If your fantasy shelves look like this then we should probably be book 📖 friends.

#bookfriend #fantasybooks #fantasybookstagram #epicfantasy

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