The Thread That Binds by Cedar McCloud

The 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.

Adult • Diversity Representation/Mental Health/Own Voices • Fantasy/Cozy, Low, Mundane, and Slice of Life • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+/Own Voices

Content Warning: emotional abuse, manipulation, and gaslighting by parents to an adult child, and by a mentor/boss to an employee

Priyanka_N book blogger

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Excellent book. Kept me riveted from beginning to end. The characters were well developed, each had unique characteristics and voice. The conflict was resolved in ways that were thoughtful, but without trauma. Great rep for disability, gender and sexual minorities.