In general, I am a one book at a time reader. But over the last few months, I have started a number of books that I ended up putting down for one reason or another, despite really enjoying them. So this is me holding myself accountable. I am GOING TO FINISH THEM!

And I want to be clear, I didn't put any of these books down because I wasn't enjoying them. I am VERY comfortable DNFing books I am not having a good time with. But unfortunately, I am an out-of-sight out-of-mind kind of person. So I accidentally DNF books I love all of the time.

For these specific books, it mostly came down to me losing them. lol. I have moved multiple times in the last few months, and in the midst of unpacking, etc, I keep forgetting where I put them down and I end up moving on before I find them.

Anyway, here are the books I have started over the last few months that I am currently working to finish!!!

Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark

Futurerland by H.D. Hunter

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

I Don't Wish You Well by Jumata Emill

Now, there are also a few books I accidentally DNF'd that...well...I am comfortable leaving wherever I lost them. lol. But these are the ones I was having a really good time with and plan to pick back up. So let's talk about each of them real quick!

Disclaimer: I am linking all of the books I talk about down below. If you want to grab a copy of any of them, please click the attached photo and order from one of my links. Thank you.

Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark

In 1922, the Klan is as strong as ever. But thanks to an evil witch, white people aren't the only thing our young heroes have to worry about. Ku Kluxes are actual demons who have infiltrated the ranks of the Klan in order to feed on the hatred and violence being directed toward Black people in America. Our main characters are young, Black and supernaturally gifted to see the demons walking among their neighbors. Which is why they have made it their mission to fight back and to stand between their community and the evil that threatens them.

Progress: Page 37

Thoughts so far: I am not very far in, but considering this is a novella, I feel I've gotten a pretty good feel for the characters and story already. And I have to say, I'm in love. I have wanted to read this book for MONTHS, but for some reason, I had never ordered a copy. But thankfully, my good friend Naomi (@fromthemixedupdesk) knew that and decided to grab me a copy when she met with P. Djeli at one of his events in San Francisco. Which is how I ended up with a personalized copy.

I know, that is the funniest author note I've ever seen too. But let's move on, we have other books to talk about.

Futureland by H.D. Hunter

Cam Walker is the child of the tech geniuses who created Futureland, the traveling amusement park of the future. He has spent his life in the park, watching them build the future. But when they make a stop in Atlanta, everything goes wrong. A string of children go missing and somehow, it seems connected to tech issues happening in his parents park. If he wants to clear their name and save the missing children, he is going to have to take matters into his own hands.

Progress: Page 76

Thoughts so far: I had the privilege of sitting down with H.D. Hunter a few months back and one of the things that really struck me about this series was his passion for having real conversations about the reality of being Black in America. And more specifically, being Black in Atlanta. While this is a story about a young boy solving a mystery and saving a group of fictional kids, the reality is, there are many kids just like Cam in the real world. Kids who are surrounded by culture and identity that is building the future...and is under constant assault.

I don't read a ton of Middle Grade, but I loved what I read so far. The writing was light and fun, but also clearly saying something. I found myself picturing Atlanta as I read. And that is what I love. A book that can take me somewhere. And Hunter definitely delivered.

It's also important to me that I note that H.D. Hunter's publisher recently made the decision to pull the third and final book from circulation. I will probably talk about that more later in a dedicated post, but for now, one thing you can do to support H.D. is to buy his books. Help demonstrate that we believe he has a voice that needs to be heard. Go grab copies of this series while it's available, and pre-order his next book as well! They are all linked below.

So Let Them Burn by H.D. Kamilah Cole

A few years after Faron used her Divine access to the gods to save her island from an aggressive neighbor, she is entangled with them once again when a peace summit goes wrong. Her sister ends up bonded to the soul of a dragon and, as far as anyone knows, the only way to break the bond and ensure she can't be used as a weapon against her own people is for her sister to die. A path neither of them are particularly eager to pursue.

Progress: Page 159

Thoughts so far: This one is my great shame of 2026. I was supposed to finish this book for MY OWN book club in JANUARY. But, I was moving and I lost the book. I grabbed a new copy on ebook, but I am a historically slow ebook reader. But I am chugging along! I am hoping to finish it this week.

Typically, if I don't finish a bookclub book in time, I just move on. But So Let Them Burn is so fucking good! I have to finish. I love a story where our hero is already established in their power. It's even better when they already have some accomplishments under their belt and are well-known for their power and invulnerability. Which is the case with Faron. She has direct access to the gods. Not one of them. All of them. As a result, she is unmatched in power. Which she has more than proved by defeating an aggressive empire that attempted to colonize them before. The very empire that her sister is now connected to as one of their bonded dragon riders.

This book is messy, it is fun, and I can't move on. So we are finishing this book and then we gone talk about it!

Head over to our community discord for access to our dedicated bookclub rooms.

To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

Poppy is the adopted daughter of the most powerful man on the island. The Viceroy. As his child, she was raised in privilege. Power, money, influence...she has access to all of it. But she also has access to something else. Something she is not supposed to have...the divine power that belongs to only her people. When her island was colonized, those who could practice their ancestral magic were cut down, their culture and identifies actively erased. But when Poppy is taken captive by a local criminal whose family has been targeted for generations for their access to the very powers she has been hiding, she has to decide if she is going to side with their colonizers, or prepare to become the hope her people need.

Progress: Chapter 26 (43% of the audiobook)

Thoughts so far: This one is not on my list of accidental DNFs. I have been reading it slowly whenever I am in the car. And I'm having a solid time with it! I love a story that is having big conversations about colonialism and marginalized identity. Especially through the lens of Indigeneity. Poppy is stuck between two worlds and if she is going to be useful to her people, she is going to have to firmly decide to let go of the world that was built to oppress them. That is an important conversation and so far, I think Basu is having it brilliantly. Can't wait to see what the second half of the book brings!

I Don't Wish You Well by Jumata Emill

Five years before the start of our story, four football players from Moss Pointe High were killed by a serial killer. A serial killer that everyone thinks was one of their classmates, a young Black gay boy who they had outed and bullied prior to their deaths. Now, years later, Pryce Cummings has questions after seeing an online conversation where someone claimed to have evidence of his innocence. As an aspiring journalist, he cant let it go. Especially considering the impact that entire situation had on him,a young Black gay man who has spent years in the closet after watching the way his community villainized the suspected killer because of his sexuality. Now, to get to the truth, he is going to have to face people who would much rather leave the past in the past and ask questions that no one will take kindly to having to answer.

Progress: Page 50

Thoughts so far: This book is phenomenal so far! I was enraptured within a few paragraphs!!!

It is my February book club pick and the only reason I haven't finished it is because I put it down and couldn't remember where I put it for a few weeks. But I found it last night and am ready to dive back in! So expect updates soon!

Conclusion

I have found myself so busy these days that it is very difficult for me to get significant reading time in. But I am working on it. Consider this permission to bully me if you don't see me talking about books soon! I miss when my content was primarily about what I was reading! So that's my goal. To get back to talking more about my reading than I do my work. So get ready for plenty of book content! AHH!

While you're here, I want to remind you that I do not only use my Bindery to talk about incredible Black and brown books, but also to publish them. And I am able to do that because of this community's involvement and investment. If you are able to do so comfortably, please consider subscribing at the $5 tier in order to help fund our publishing projects. Our current goal is to grow this community and make this imprint more sustainable so that we can increase our publishing efforts with even more authors. Thank you.