R.I.P. FOMO

ANOTHER book show?! After last week's show where I talked about what I've been reading, it's like my book era made a u-turn and smacked me in the face! But it's definitely not how it was before. As you'll see and hear.

Today, I'm joined again by Sara! You may remember her from a previous book show back in December of 2023, where we discussed her ever-growing discord server dedicated to special edition books and reading in general. But more recently in May of 2024, we also got together - along with Autumn Miller of @TheAutumnBookReads - for a book show all about different monthly book boxes and their appeal.

This time though, we got together as more mature minded lovers of books. In both our previous shows we were all about collecting and having the new hotness whenever it came out. Which most of the time, was on a steady monthly basis. But after more than a year since the last episode together, we found ourselves in a different boat.

In this episode, we talk all about the burnout of all these book boxes. How so many monthly subscriptions add up, and how we ultimately don't really need them. We still have a love and appreciation for Special Edition books, but it's not anywhere near the level of need that it once was.

FOMO is dead. The bubble feels like it popped. And if anyone says otherwise, remember denial is not just a river in the Amazon.

But that's not to say the industry is dead. Fairyloot and Illumicrate are not shutting their doors down. It still seems like they are very much thriving. There are always people knocking down the doors of waitlists in hopes of getting in. But know also, there are many out there just like Sara and myself who don't feel the need to keep up anymore.

We still love to read though! And we get into what we've been into as well. What we've been enjoying and not enjoying. And how audiobooks have helped us keep up when our busy eyes can't.

It was a great show, packed with all sorts of discussions about books and monthly subscription boxes. It was a pleasure to have Sara on again and hopefully we don't have to wait another year to have her on again.

Until next time!

Links and Info Discussed

• Here is the monthly subscription book box link dump! There are more than this, but here are the ones we discussed on this episode. If you're really curious, every site has a catalog/past book database where you can see the offerings they've had in the past. If you want to really dive into it and have more questions, the link to the discord is below. Every subscription is going to have a waitlist you have to sign up for, some of which could be as short as a few weeks to as long as 10+ months. Heck, maybe even longer. So keep that in mind!
  • Fairyloot (the Epic Fantasy Subscription discussed can be found here)
  • Illumicrate (the Evernight Horror Subscription discussed - Sara's current favorite - is here)
  • Owlcrate
  • The Bookish Box
  • The Broken Binding
  • Lit Joy
• Here is the link for Waterstones - the UK equivalent of Barnes & Noble - where Sara got her exclusive signed copy of Katabasis from.
• Here is Charlie Read a Book - the YouTube book vlogger Sara spoke of.
• I mentioned I was almost done with Katabasis. Well... I'm finished now. Here is my review on Goodreads! No spoilers, though it may spoil your excitement lol.

Below you'll find Amazon Affiliate links/other store links for all the books we discussed on the show! Remember, if you use any of these links, I'll get a small percentage back (especially for audiobooks!). So thank you for supporting my blog/podcast!

• Katabasis by R.F. Kuang - Limited Hardcover - Audiobook
  • Broken Binding's Special Edition
• Babel by R.F. Kuang - Hardcover - Audiobook
• Saint of Steel Series by T.Kingfisher - Hardcover - Audiobook
• Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang - Hardcover - Audiobook
  • Broken Binding's Special Edition Sold out
• Legends & Lattes Series by Travis Baldree - Hardcover - Audiobook
  • Broken Binding's Special Edition Trilogy
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (my favorite book!) - Hardcover - Audiobook (you NEED to audiobook this)
• Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino - Paperback - Audiobook
• Floating World by Axis Oh (Sara's top 5 of the year) - Hardcover - Audiobook
• Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang (Sara's favorite book!) - Paperback - Audiobook
• Howl's Moving Castle by Jenny Sterlin - Limited Hardcover - Audiobook
  • Amazon AUS Special Edition almost identical to Fairyloot's
• Emily Wilde Series by Heather Fawcett - Hardcover - Audiobook
• The Dead Take the A Train by Richard Kadrey (Sara recommended to her partner) - Hardcover - Audiobook
• The Library of Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw (Sara's buddy read with her partner) - Hardcover - Audiobook
• Little Thieves Series by Margaret Owen - Hardcover - Audiobook
• House of the Beast by Michelle Wong (Sara top 5 of the year) - Hardcover - Audiobook
• Once was Willem by M. R. Carey - Paperback - Audiobook
• The Legendborn Series by Tracey Deonn - Hardcover - Audiobook
• The Singing Hills Cycle Series by Nghi Vo (the book discussed about a Monk sharing tales) - Paperback - Audiobook
• Circe by Madeline Miller (my DNF) - Hardcover - Audiobook
• Heretical Fishing Series by Haylock Jobson (the fishing LitRPG) - Paperback - Audiobook
• Dungeon Crawler Carl Series by Matt Dinniman - Hardcover - Audiobook (you NEED audiobook)

If you're not subscribed and want to sign up for a trial of Audible, check out my link here to get started!

Don't be afraid to utilize your local library to read or listen to almost all of the titles above! It's what I do if it's not an exclusive to somewhere.

Where to Find This Week's Guest

• You can follow Sara on Instagram @OldKingdomandBeyond
• Here is the invite link for Sara's Discord! Remember, do not be a jerk. She WILL cut you.
  • Fairyboot Discord invite link

General Information

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