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Helen | Bookstagram

@pagesofhelen

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💌 I talk about books. A lot.
🕰 Curating @livedliterature
☁️ Join my Substack

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Reading is personal.

We can read the same story, and have completely different experiences. We can read the same story, and have different favorite characters, different heartbreaking moments, different complaints.

However, as someone who is on a journey of reading more intentionally, here are five things I look for in a book ➡️

What are yours?

#bookstagram #booklover

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Imagine a world in which William Shakespeare had a sister who possessed evey ounce of his genius, his razor-sharp mind and his way with words.

What would have happened to her?

Would she have attended a prestigious univeristy, taken the literary world by storm, and set the stage ablaze?

Enter Virginia Woolf.

✉️ In my newest Substack, I explore her life and craft, so I invite you to take a peek.

I also provide a short guide for reading, if you are unsure where to start.

#virginiawoolf #mrsdalloway #aroomofonesown

A short guide to Virginia's major works 📖

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If you enjoy dark, atmospheric books, a bit of science and broken family dynamics, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy might be your cup of tea.

This essay is my take on it.

Check out the link in my bio 💌

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i still can’t believe there are 500 of you 🤎🤎 thank you so much for being here! for every follow, like, comment, message and recommendation 🫶🏼

to celebrate, i wanted to share some of the bookish accounts I’ve loved discovering along the way! ✨

which bookish account should i check out next?

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I have recently read the widely-celebrated The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. 📖

I think I belong to the rare group of readers that simply found it mild. Underwhelming, if you will.

My expectations for this novel were high, and not just because of the current 4.4 ranking on Goodreads (based off of 811,120 ratings).

I fell in love with the premise, and I will be the first one to admit that I am a sucker for epistolary novels, but I struggled to get into and through it.

Nevertheless, The Correspondent made me pause and think—of Sybil Van Antwerp and her life, of the importance of accepting yourself and all the imperfections and mistakes you carry, and of letters we rarely write and send today.

To read the whole (slightly unusual) review, visit the link in my bio ✉️

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Convincing you to read my first newsletter in three slides ➡️

Comment 'Link' and I'll DM you the link for easier access.

#substack #bookstagram #almostlife

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I caved in and started Literature, Lived ☁️

A cozy corner of the internet dedicated to books and the pure joy of reading. It's where I want to share book reviews, reading notes, literary essays, and reflections on the books that changed my life in one way or another.

That being said, I believe reading is more than simply finishing your current read. It's approaching the written words with attention, asking thoughtful questions, and discovering new ways of seeing the world. Some books are there to make life more fun. Others are there to challenge us, offer us comfort, or quietly change the way we think. Those are the conversations I want to have here.

In the era of short-form content, I am offering:
💌 Thoughtful book reviews
🏛 Deep dives into literature and recurring themes
☁️ Reading notes and marginalia
✨️ Reflections on the reading life
🫂 Recommendations for books worth your time

Whether you are an avid reader or someone looking to read more intentionally, I hope this newsletter feels like a conversation with a book bestie you always wanted.

So grab a cup of your favorite beverage, find a comfortable chair, and stay awhile. There are always more pages to explore.

You can subscribe to Literature, Lived by checking the link in my bio. ❤️‍🔥

#substack #bookstagram

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🪽🌙🐈‍⬛🗡️ — a guide to the magic of By Blood and By Shadow. Which power would you want?👀👀👀

BY BLOOD AND BY SHADOW is an epic political fantasy set against the backdrop of a world where magic determines governance + hierarchy is a justified protection to keep its citizens submissive to the powers at be.

In the Seven Realms, magic determines a person’s worth. Each year, the Blood Rite assigns the young to positions of power, or obscurity, reinforcing a caste system justified as protection against war. Those who fail to manifest their magic are sent to the lower provinces, where their lives sustain the comfort of the elite Higher nobility.

Seraphina expects to disappear quietly within this system.

Instead, she manifests with fate-weaving, a magic believed eradicated centuries ago after a devastating rebellion led by the dark sorcerer.

Available with AST soon.

🔗ADD BY BLOOD AND BY SHADOW on Goodreads

Stay tuned for publishing updates!

Post by @pagesofhelen

#fantasybookstagram #dystopianbooks #fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #booksbooksbooks

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Share the love 💕

And here we go again for 19 bookish content creators that I love. Vibes, lifestyle, graphics, recs… take your pick! ✨

Love 💌

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— 𝙖 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘

which power would you have?👀

the magic system in by blood and by shadow is something that i’m really proud of—i spent the most time on this side of the book specifically because i wanted it to be different than anything i’d seen before (in terms of how the characters wield their powers). and i couldn’t think of a better person to share some of the magic featured in the book than @pagesofhelen we’ve worked together plenty of times in the past and she always does such an amazing job capturing my mind for this post

on another note, i hit 50k words on draft two—which means the book is nearly ready for beta readers!

𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚
🦇morally grey characters
🕯️ dark academia/gothic books with slight horror elements
🗝️ “i hate you” but i would burn the world for you
🏛️ marauders/harry potter
🗝️ babel, the atlas six, or fourth wing
🧺 the witcher, game of thrones, his dark materials, and shadow and bone
🖤 complex magical systems/fantasy worlds
🕯️ found family/six idiots vibes

Then By Blood and By Shadow is definitely the book for you! Set against the backdrop of an ancient academy where secrets lurk around every corner, nothing is as it seems, and fate is written in blood—By Blood and By Shadow examines the lines between life and death, fate and free will and the ruins of war.

FAQ:

🕯️ Will this be a series or a standalone: Surprise it’s a series!

🏛️ When will it be released: August 25th, 2025!

🗝️ What is the age range: By Blood and By Shadow is a New Adult Gothic Fantasy

🖤: When will beta reader signups be available? Now, linked in my bio!

Also stay tuned for ARC Signups, Character Art (👀) and so much more!

ADD BBABS TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR

[tags🖤🦌]: #moodboards #moodedits #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #bookstagram #casestudy #aesthetic #ａｅｓｔｈｅｔｉｃ #pinterestaesthetic #pinterest #marauders #remuslupin #darkacademiaaesthetic #darkacademia #darkaesthetic #novel #fantasyart #moodboards #autumn #indieauthor #kindleunlimited #kindleunlimitedbooks #bookrecommendations #bookreview #fyp #fypシ #fypage #fantastynovels #fantasybookstagram #fantasy

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𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 — 𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠 🦌🗝️

Augustus is a character whose quiet depth anchors the narrative, embodying the tension between doing what’s right and doing what’s necessary to protect the people he cares about. His journey is one of emotional discovery as he grapples with love, loss, and the thin line between loyalty and self-preservation.

ic (inspo/credits): @__cafeculture + @pagesofhelen

book tropes:
🪵 found family
☁️ small town mystery
🦌 morally grey characters
🦔 forbidden love/mutual pining
🍂 mystery/thriller
🎧 dark academia

whispers of deception, is coming coming to KU and paperback, november 11th 2024. please feel free to add the wod to your goodreads tbr list! link in my bio. arc sign ups available also linked in my bio

if you ENJOY this you’ll LOVE this book:
🫶🏼 the ttpd album
🦌 the marauders/found family trope
☁️ dark academia
🪵 autumn/cozy books
🍂 mystery/thrillers
🎧 if autumn is your fave season
☕️ if you love pretty little liars, dead poets society, or agggtm
🦔 morally grey characters

[tags🖤🦌]: #moodboards #moodedits #nichecommunity #nichememeaccount #bookstagram #casestudy #aesthetic #ａｅｓｔｈｅｔｉｃ #pinterestaesthetic #pinterest #marauders #remuslupin #whispersofdeception #darkacademiaaesthetic #darkacademia #darkaesthetic #novel #moodboardaccount #moodboards #autumn #indieauthor #kindleunlimited #kindleunlimitedbooks #bookrecommendations #bookreview #fyp #fypシ #fypage #mysterynovel

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— they were liars🦌🦉

ah! i cannot thank @pagesofhelen enough for collaborating with me on this post. i’ve always loved their graphics, and post so much. she did a wonderful job bringing this book to life 🥺🤍

Whispers of Deception will be available on Amazon + KU on November 11th and is available for pre-order now! also, feel free to add Wod to your Goodreads TBR lists as well! it’s linked in my bio! Beta Reader signups are also in my bio and those close on August 25th

If you LOVE these, you’ll LOVE my book
🦉small town romances/setting
🎞️ mystery/thriller novels
☁️ morally grey mmcs
🧦 pretty little liars + cruel summer
🧳 books set in autumn
🍂 slow burn romances

ARC Signups will be available in September via @lovenotes.pr

all my love,
ana x

[tags]: #writingcommunity #writinginspiration #writinglife #darkacademia #poetry #creativewriting #foryou #explore #bookishreels #bookstagram #booklover #wipintroduction #wip #foryoupage #viral #poertycommunity #darkacademiavibes #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #writingislife #indieauthors

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