Recs if you like A Magic Steeped in Poison...

JK Rowling is a bigot who uses her platform to hurt transfolks and other marginalized groups (plus she literally just quoted Mein Kampf on the bird site). If you're still supporting her in 2025, don't bother talking to me.

Fantasy novels where magic systems involve some sort of practiced craft (painting, baking, bookbinding, and beyond)

I'm sure some of these are already on your TBR, so might as well add some more! Let me know if I am missing any of your favorites!

books set in tea shops, with a tea shop as a primary location, or centered around tea.

fantasy books where cooking and baking or some other form of culinary art are the main focus, a large part of the plot, or part of the magic system!

it's all about the ✨ aesthetic ✨

(some other emojis that didn't make the cut: 🥡🥢🐲🧧🏮)

psa: this only consists of books i've read, or that a trusted friend who's also chinese has read. i don't make it a habit to seek out chinese-inspired fantasy written by white authors these days, but feel free to leave any relevant titles in the comments and i'll check them out!

Fiction featuring sisters, because sisters are the best. (Note that not all sister relationships are easy, they are complex and layered and sometimes difficult.)

Please leave your additions in the comments!

Books in this list are in at least two quests. Thus helping to earn more badges. Books will span different genres. Once I scan through all the quests, I plan to further organize the list. I am thinking of creating a seperate list and moving the books with three or more quests to the new list and keeping the two badge books in this list. Are there other ways you would organize a list this big?

Books set in an Asian or Asian-inspired setting or incorporates elements of an Asian culture or mythology. Only the first book in a series is listed.

Eclectic choices of stories to forget life sucks.

This list is a comfort-reads pantry of low-stakes fantasy where food and drink are the magic. Every pick centers a kitchen, café, tea room, coffee bar, bakery, cocktail or anything food as the heart of the story, with conflicts that stay gentle, community-minded plots, and endings that leave you soothed rather than stressed. Cozy, sensory escapes and character growth over battles!

We have a lot of requests in our library for these, so I figured I would provide the page bound community with our list!

Beautiful books for when your monthly reading roundup needs a little facelift 😉

Books with pink covers!

Books that I think have beautiful front covers. Open for recommendations!

Books with tea involved (and possibly cute animals, mostly cats, why do they keep showing up)

Suggestions welcome please and thank you

I asked readers in the Club forum What was your first read for Pagebound? Allowing for it to be either their first recorded book on Pagebound or the first they read for a badge. These were the answers I got. Additions are always welcome.