munitum
any pronouns ☆ witch, artist, circulation clerk at my local library, perpetual student ☆ lover of folklore, sci-fi, horror, lit fic, nature nonfic, and sorting books 🐛
3841 points
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My Taste
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munitum commented on crybabybea's review of When We Lost Our Heads
3h
just a bunch of people manipulating each other and calling it revolution. it's cutting, absurd, purposely overwritten, and for me, a little boring. i didn't really care for the social commentary. very intentionally white feminist with a narrow focus on class, the politics felt performative and emotionally shallow. the performativity is obviously intentional, a cutting commentary on political groups that masquerade chaotic interpersonal conflict as radicalism without interrogating structural harm. it fell flat for me, mostly because the writing felt too on-the-nose to leave anything up to the imagination. but the toxic yuri was fun?
the communal experience of reading this book via the forum made it actually enjoyable. if it weren't for the readalong & the forum, i would have DNF'd expeditiously. since i'm probably one of the last people to read When We Lost Our Heads for the Spring 2026 Readalong, i want to celebrate a little time capsule of my favorite posts because the forum made it bearable. i did not enjoy this book, but i loved us reading this book together. so hold my hand and skip along with me while we revisit the bangers of the 2026 Spring Readalong - When We Lost Our Heads edition 🌸🌼🌻 (beware of spoilers!)
15% (dragonfriend) / 18% (Fantasy) / 19% (minsuni) / 21% (broenyn) / 22% (exploringthestacks) / 31% (darlingdearestdead) / 39% (Wombworm) / 40% (those_who_wander) / 42% (munitum) / 47% (linnie) / 51% (helli) / 53% (ranaofvoles) / 60% (Titania) / 61% (liareads) / 67% (CatherineJ) / 75% (Pageturner11) / 77% (bigbootylez) / 82% (emilyspages) / 82% (notbillnye) / 88% (sofiebug) / 99% (minsuni)
and of course, the cherry on top: the delicious, scrumptious review that perfectly sums up When We Lost Our Heads, by our mother, lucyPagebound
seeing everyone's thoughts and updates about this very polarizing book over the past 3 months brought me so much joy and made me laugh out loud. the lovely discussions in the forum encouraged me to think deeper about the strange choices the author made. the community genuinely made what would have been a mediocre reading experience better.
happy 2026 Spring Readalong, here's to many more!!
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munitum commented on munitum's update
12h
munitum TBR'd a book
1d
Living on the Earth: Celebrations, Storm Warnings, Formulas, Recipes, Rumors, and Country Dances
Alicia Bay Laurel
Celebrations, storm warnings, formulas, recipes, and country dances-renowned author Alicia Bay Laurel harvests them all in this unforgettable book first published more than thirty years ago. Living on the Earth is for people who would rather chop wood for fire than work behind a desk to pay the electric company. It's for people who want the best recipe for lavender soap or huckleberry jam. It's for people who want to make their own clothing, play guitar, learn woodcarving, gardening, canning and drying food, and natural first aid methods. The book has no chapters; no rigid structures or rules. It grew naturally out of the lessons the author has learned, and which she shares now with yet another enthusiastic generation. Living on the Earth is a beautiful book to see and read, as well as a spiritually uplifting work whose simplicity radiates warmth and promotes serenity and goodwill to all those who encounter it. The large format paperback is entirely written in Alicia's cursive script and illustrated on every page with her line drawings. Alicia's innovative illustration and book design styles have been enthusiastically emulated in dozens of books and greeting cards. Alicia Bay Laurel has passionately followed her muse since early childhood. She was just twenty years old when Living on the Earth was originally published; the book would go on to become a best-selling, trend-setting manual for natural, conscious living. The book celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2000. Alicia still sings, plays guitar, writes, and enjoys life in Hawaii.
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munitum is interested in reading...
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The Lost Flock: Rare Wool, Wild Isles and One Woman’s Journey to Save Scotland’s Original Sheep
Jane Cooper
The Lost Flock is the story of the remarkable and rare little horned sheep, known as Orkney Boreray, and the wool-obsessed woman who moved to one of Scotland’s wildest islands to save them.
It was Jane Cooper’s passion for knitting that led her to discover the world of rare-breed sheep and their wool. Through this, Jane uncovered the ‘Orkney Borerary’ – a unique group within the UK’s rarest breed of sheep, the Boreray, and one of the few surviving examples of primitive sheep in northern Europe.
As her knowledge of this rarest of heritage breeds grew, she took the bold step to uproot her quiet suburban life in Newcastle and relocate to Orkney, embarking on a new adventure and life as farmer and shepherd.
Jane was astonished to find that she was the sole custodian of this lost flock in the world, and so she began investigating their mysterious and ancient history, tracking down the origins of the Boreray breed and its significance to Scotland’s natural heritage.
From Viking times to Highland crofts and nefarious research experiments in Edinburgh, this is a so-far untold real-life detective story. It is also the story of one woman’s relentless determination to ensure a future for her beloved sheep, and in doing so revealing their deep connection to the Scottish landscape.
An unforgettable story of a heritage breed and the importance of its existence.
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munitum TBR'd a book
1d
The Untamed Witch: Reclaim Your Instincts. Rewild Your Craft. Create Your Most Powerful Magick.
Lidia Pradas
Personalized magick is the most powerful magick. The Untamed Witch empowers you to use your own instincts, intuition, and personal environment in your witchcraft. Witchcraft is not one defined, arbitrary path. Rather, it is a diversity of practices that you can curate and align with based on your lifestyle and unique gifts. Moreover, those practices are not meant to be done the same way by every witch. Someone else’s love spell is how they conjure love. Why use lavender in a ritual if it isn’t native to your surroundings or you simply don’t like it? This guide gives you the insight and tools to undomesticate your craft from formulaic—to inspired—practice. The Untamed Witch also With this book at your side, learn to use your instincts to rewild your magick.
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munitum made progress on...
1d
Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year Through Earth-Centered Sustainable Practices
Dana O'Driscoll
28%
2
0Reply
munitum TBR'd a book
1d
Living on the Earth: Celebrations, Storm Warnings, Formulas, Recipes, Rumors, and Country Dances
Alicia Bay Laurel
Celebrations, storm warnings, formulas, recipes, and country dances-renowned author Alicia Bay Laurel harvests them all in this unforgettable book first published more than thirty years ago. Living on the Earth is for people who would rather chop wood for fire than work behind a desk to pay the electric company. It's for people who want the best recipe for lavender soap or huckleberry jam. It's for people who want to make their own clothing, play guitar, learn woodcarving, gardening, canning and drying food, and natural first aid methods. The book has no chapters; no rigid structures or rules. It grew naturally out of the lessons the author has learned, and which she shares now with yet another enthusiastic generation. Living on the Earth is a beautiful book to see and read, as well as a spiritually uplifting work whose simplicity radiates warmth and promotes serenity and goodwill to all those who encounter it. The large format paperback is entirely written in Alicia's cursive script and illustrated on every page with her line drawings. Alicia's innovative illustration and book design styles have been enthusiastically emulated in dozens of books and greeting cards. Alicia Bay Laurel has passionately followed her muse since early childhood. She was just twenty years old when Living on the Earth was originally published; the book would go on to become a best-selling, trend-setting manual for natural, conscious living. The book celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2000. Alicia still sings, plays guitar, writes, and enjoys life in Hawaii.
4
1Reply
munitum commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
1d
Vegan/vegetarian readers!!’
Hello everybody! Are there any other vegan/vegetarian readers here? Have a nice day!
57
85Reply
munitum is interested in reading...
1d
The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic
Lindsey Stewart
The Conjuring of America tells the epic story of conjure women, who, through a mix of spiritual beliefs, herbal rituals, and therapeutic remedies gave rise to the rich tapestry of American culture we see today. Feminist philosopher, Lindsey Stewart, tells the stories of Negro Mammies of slavery; the Voodoo Queens and Blues Women of Reconstruction; and the Granny Midwives and textile weavers of the Jim Crow era. These women, in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously and devotedly continued their practices and worship for centuries and passed down their traditions. Emerging first in the American South during slavery, these women were thrust into the heart of national conflicts over generations of African American life. They combined ancestral magic and hyperlocal resources to respond to Black struggles in real time, forging a secret well of health and power hidden to their oppressors. As a result, conjure informs our lives in ways remarkable and ordinary—from traditional medicines that informed the creation of Vicks VapoRub and the rise of Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Mix, to the original magic of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023), and the true origins of the all-American classic blue jean. From the moment enslaved Africans first arrived on these shores, conjure was heavily regulated and even outlawed. Now, Stewart uncovers new contours of American history, sourcing letters from the enslaved, dispatches from the lore of Oshun and other African mystics. The Conjuring of America is a love letter to the real magic Black women used, their magic Black women, their herbs, food, textiles, song, and dance, used to sow rebellion, freedom, and hope.
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munitum is interested in reading...
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Plastic, Prism, Void: Part One
Violet Allen
"Delicious, insane, intoxicating." —Maya Deane, author of Wrath Goddess Sing
A riotous trans enemies-to-lovers romantasy that roars off the page—in which a magical girl-gone-bad and a renegade mech pilot must find a way to stay on a date forever...
...even if it means destroying the world.
Don't you want to help them?
An extraordinary meld of adventure, rom-com, and experimental fiction, Violet Allen’s unstoppable debut is the cosmic thrill ride of a lifetime. Give in, succumb (you know you want to) to Plastic, Prism, Void.
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munitum unpaused...
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Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year Through Earth-Centered Sustainable Practices
Dana O'Driscoll
A challenge that many earth-based spiritual practitioners face is how to integrate sustainable living with our everyday lives. This book responds to the challenge by offering a vision of “sacred actions”, or the integration of sustainable living with earth-based spirituality. Foregrounded by three ethics: people care, earth care, and fair share, Sacred Actions offers a comprehensive introduction to sustainable living through the lens of paganism. Within you will find a wide variety of accessible sustainable living activities, rituals, stories, and tools framed through the Neopagan eight-fold wheel of the year. Each chapter, tied to one of the eight holidays, offers a specific theme that deepens sustainable living practices. Topics include the home and hearth, lawns and gardens, food and nourishment, sustainable ritual items and offerings, reducing waste and addressing materialism, and much more. Consider this your manual of personal empowerment through sustainability as a spiritual practice.
Sacred Actions is the winner of the 2021 Ben Franklin Silver Medal in the Mind, Body, Spirit Category from the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year through Earth-Centered Sustainable Practices is available through Red Feather Publishing.
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munitum started reading...
2d
How to Fake It in Society
K.J. Charles
Casey McQuiston meets Queer Bridgerton in this stunning, artistic romance by genre powerhouse KJ Charles, author of The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting
"KJ Charles is, in my opinion, a titan of her genre.”
TALIA HIBBERT
It is 1821 and Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte is making a splash in London Society. The son of Jeanne de Valois de La Motte, infamous for stealing a priceless diamond necklace meant for Marie Antoinette, Nico hopes to restore his wronged mother's reputation, if only he can raise the funds. But he must operate with great secrecy, because the Bourbon dynasty murdered his mother, and he fears for his life.
At least, that's what he tells Titus Pilcrow. Titus was a simple shopkeeper, making and selling artists' paints, when he found himself suddenly married to an immensely wealthy woman who wanted to disinherit her nephew on her deathbed. As word spreads of his fortune, Titus finds himself a target of every scammer and beggar in London . . . including one Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte.
Nico is on his last legs, out of money, and on the run from some terrifying gangsters. When Titus offers Nico a space in his household, it's the perfect chance for him to exploit London's newest golden purse - until he falls in love with the man he needs to cheat. Still, Nico is sure they can have a happy ending together. If he can just find his way out of his own web of lies . . .
"KJ Charles is one of the best romance novelists writing today. Historical romance at its finest."
SARAH MACLEAN
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munitum commented on munitum's update
2d
munitum finished a book
2d
When the Tides Held the Moon
Venessa Vida Kelley
With lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley blends historical fantasy with epic romance at the turn of the 20th century in this unforgettable New York fairytale of queer identity and found family.
Benigno “Benny” Caldera knows an orphaned Boricua blacksmith in 1910s New York City can’t call himself an artist. But the ironwork tank he creates for famed Coney Island playground, Luna Park, astounds everyone, especially the eccentric sideshow proprietor who commissioned it. Benny’s work earns him an invitation to join the show’s eclectic crew of performers—his first welcome in the city—and share in their astonishing secret: the tank Benny built is a cage for their newest exhibit, a living, breathing, in-the-flesh merman stolen from the banks of the East River under a gleaming full moon.
The merman is more than a mythic marvel, though. Benny comes to know Río as a clever philosopher, an observant traveler, and a kindred spirit more beautiful and compassionate than any human he’s ever met. Despite their different worlds, what begins as a friendship of necessity deepens to love, leading Benny’s heart into uncharted waters where he can no longer ignore the agonizing truth of Río’s captivity—and his own.
A cage is no place for a merman to survive. Though releasing Río means betraying his new family, bankrupting their home, and losing his soulmate forever, Benny must look within for the courage to do what’s right, and find a love strong enough to free them both.
9
2Reply
munitum finished a book
2d
When the Tides Held the Moon
Venessa Vida Kelley
With lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley blends historical fantasy with epic romance at the turn of the 20th century in this unforgettable New York fairytale of queer identity and found family.
Benigno “Benny” Caldera knows an orphaned Boricua blacksmith in 1910s New York City can’t call himself an artist. But the ironwork tank he creates for famed Coney Island playground, Luna Park, astounds everyone, especially the eccentric sideshow proprietor who commissioned it. Benny’s work earns him an invitation to join the show’s eclectic crew of performers—his first welcome in the city—and share in their astonishing secret: the tank Benny built is a cage for their newest exhibit, a living, breathing, in-the-flesh merman stolen from the banks of the East River under a gleaming full moon.
The merman is more than a mythic marvel, though. Benny comes to know Río as a clever philosopher, an observant traveler, and a kindred spirit more beautiful and compassionate than any human he’s ever met. Despite their different worlds, what begins as a friendship of necessity deepens to love, leading Benny’s heart into uncharted waters where he can no longer ignore the agonizing truth of Río’s captivity—and his own.
A cage is no place for a merman to survive. Though releasing Río means betraying his new family, bankrupting their home, and losing his soulmate forever, Benny must look within for the courage to do what’s right, and find a love strong enough to free them both.
9
2Reply
Post from the When the Tides Held the Moon forum
2d
munitum is interested in reading...
2d
Woodworm
Layla Martínez
The house breathes.
The house contains bodies and secrets.
The house is visited by ghosts, by angels that line the roof like insects, and by saints that burn the bedsheets with their haloes.
It was built by a small-time hustler as a means of controlling his wife, and even after so many years, their daughter and her granddaughter can’t leave.
They may be witches or they may just be angry, but when the mysterious disappearance of a young boy draws unwanted attention, the two isolated women, already subjects of public scorn, combine forces with the spirits that haunt them in pursuit of something that resembles justice.
Layla Martínez’s eerie debut novel Woodworm is class-conscious horror that drags generations of monsters into the sun.
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munitum TBR'd a book
2d
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed
Mariana Enríquez
Following the "propulsive and mesmerizing" (New York Times Book Review) Things We Lost in the Fire comes a new collection of singularly unsettling stories, by an Argentine author who has earned comparisons to Shirley Jackson and Jorge Luis Borges.
Mariana Enriquez has been critically lauded for her unconventional and sociopolitical stories of the macabre: populated by unruly teenagers, crooked witches, homeless ghosts, and hungry women, they walk the uneasy line between urban realism and horror. The stories in her next collection are as terrifying as they are socially conscious, and press into being the unspoken -- fetish, illness, the female body, the darkness of human history -- with unsettling urgency. A woman is sexually obsessed with the human heart; a lost, rotting baby crawls out of a backyard and into a bedroom; a pair of teenage girls can't let go of their idol; an entire neighborhood is cursed to death by a question of morality they fail to answer correctly.
Written against the backdrop of contemporary Argentina, and with resounding tenderness towards those in pain, in fear, and in limbo, this new collection from one of Argentina's most exciting writers finds Enriquez at her most sophisticated, and most chilling.
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munitum finished a book
2d
All's Well
Mona Awad
From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny, a darkly funny novel about a theater professor suffering chronic pain, who in the process of staging a troubled production of Shakespeare’s most maligned play, suddenly and miraculously recovers.
Miranda Fitch’s life is a waking nightmare. The accident that ended her burgeoning acting career left her with excruciating, chronic back pain, a failed marriage, and a deepening dependence on painkillers. And now she’s on the verge of losing her job as a college theater director. Determined to put on Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, the play that promised, and cost, her everything, she faces a mutinous cast hellbent on staging Macbeth instead. Miranda sees her chance at redemption slip through her fingers.
That’s when she meets three strange benefactors who have an eerie knowledge of Miranda’s past and a tantalizing promise for her future: one where the show goes on, her rebellious students get what’s coming to them, and the invisible, doubted pain that’s kept her from the spotlight is made known.
With prose Margaret Atwood has described as “no punches pulled, no hilarities dodged...genius,” Mona Awad has concocted her most potent, subversive novel yet. All’s Well is the story of a woman at her breaking point and a formidable, piercingly funny indictment of our collective refusal to witness and believe female pain.
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Post from the All's Well forum
2d
