BiblioKaty's Bookshelf

I love all kinds of fantasy and speculative fiction, and I try to prioritize reading marginalized authors, women authors, and debut authors.

Each month, I post reading journal update videos on my YouTube channel! I mostly read fantasy and romantasy books, including ARCs and both traditionally and independently published works.

My journaling style takes inspiration from my scrapbooking and creative background. I prioritize using stickers and washi from small, independent stationery shops.

I'm passionate about creating a welcoming community, inspiring people to be creative and escapist, and advocating for mental health and chronic pain awareness.

You can find all my links at cozywithkaty.carrd.co.

Want to work with me or send me an ARC/PR book to feature? Please contact me at [email protected].

Whether you're a longtime viewer or just passing by, thank you so much for checking out my content. I'm so grateful for my little corner of the Internet and the support I've received. ♡

I am very grateful to the following artists from whom I've commissioned channel art and animations! Please check them out.

🐑 FEATURED SPREADS 🐑

🐑 BOOKS READ 🐑

🎀 January ☁️ Fourth Wing (Reread) ☁️ Iron Flame (Reread) ☁️ Onyx Storm ☁️ Faithbreaker (ARC) | ✩✩✩✩✩ ☁️ A Language of Dragons | ✩✩✩✩✩

🎀 February ☁️ Rebel Witch | ✩✩✩✩✩ ☁️ Wooing the Witch Queen (ARC) | ✩✩✩.5 ☁️ Lore of the Wilds ☁️ Unlock the Dark | ✩✩✩✩

🎀 March ☁️ The Rose Bargain | ✩✩✩✩✩ ☁️ Dating and Dungeons | ✩✩✩.5 ☁️ A Dawn of Onyx

🐑 MATERIALS USED 🐑

It's a long one today!

🎀 Journal 🎀 January Notebook Therapy - Tsuki Lunar Spells Bullet A5 Journal

🎀 January ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Winter Plants Washi ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Winter Witch and Book Stickers ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Moonlit Alchemy Washi ☁️ Kingdom of Threads - Forth Wing Washi ☁️ ParenteIllustration - Forth Wing Dragon Stickers ☁️ Laurdraws - Fourth Wing Violet Stickers

🌸 Onyx Storm ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Moonlit Alchemy Washi ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Moonlit Alchemy Stamps ☁️ CoralieRenards - Forth Wing Violet & Xaden Stickers

🌸 A Language of Dragons ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Purple Flower Washi ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Books and Dragons Stickers ☁️ Simply Gilded - Purple Bookshelf Washi

🌸 Faithbreaker ☁️ TheCreepingMoon - Fantasy Washi ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Whimsical Botanics Washi ☁️ Mushie Works - Stickers ☁️ Taratjah - Warrior Sticker

🎀 February ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Sakura Washi ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Bookish Girls Stickers ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Pink Book Stickers

🌸 Rebel Witch ☁️ Bloomsical - Moonlight Dance Washi ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Moonlit Blush Washi ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Book Witch Stickers

🌸 Unlock the Dark + Wooing the Witch Queen ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Lunar Delivery Washi ☁️ Simply Gilded - Purple Cloud Washi ☁️ Bloomsical - Bookshelf Washi ☁️ Scribble Prints Co - Stickers *GIFTED

🎀 March ☁️ Bloomsical - Ireland Sheep Washi ☁️ Simply Gilded - Sheep Washi and Stickers ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Holiday Witch Sticker

🌸 Dating & Dragons ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Fairytale Washi ☁️ ParenteIllustration - D&D Dragon Stickers ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Summer Witch Sticker

🌸 The Rose Bargain ☁️ Bloomsical - Moonlight Dance Washi and Stamps ☁️ Smoustart - Pride and Prejudice Sticker ☁️ Taratjah - Dancing Sticker ☁️ Artimation - Stickers

🎀 Pens ☁️ MY FAVORITE PENS: Ohuhu Fineliner Drawing Pens ☁️ Pigma Micron Fine Line Pens ☁️ Tombow Dual Brush Pens (Colors 623, 673, 603, 942) ☁️ Uni-ball Metallic Gel Impact Pen Gold

🐑 YouTube: @CozyWithKaty

📖 2025 Reading Journal Playlist

Thanks for tuning in! ♡

Bianca ships off to a neighboring kingdom to prevent a war by fulfilling an arranged marriage to the studious and aloof Aric who seems to hate her and the prospect of their marriage. On their wedding night, Bianca tries to save Aric from an assassin and accidentally turns him into a horse and gets herself framed for his murder. The two must now work together to break his curse, take back the throne, and save their kingdom.

So, that's a fun set up.

There were a lot of puns and tongue-in-cheek moments. I really enjoyed their banter and their romance (although, I wouldn't really consider it that slow burn), and Aric is a genuinely good guy which was refreshing compared to many romantasy heroes.

Bianca's own struggles with a mysterious chronic condition (a fantasy version of celiac disease) help her empathize with Aric, and for me, her chronic illness rep was a standout feature of the story. It was refreshing to see a chronic condition NOT get magically "cured" in a fantasy book.

Some of my favorite quotes from my advanced copy of Behooved (text not final):

"Relieving pain seemed a much more worthy use of magic than inventing new ways to kill people."

"I knew firsthand that one could appear collected while falling to pieces inside."

"Wounds, like words, like magic, always left a mark."

Overall, Behooved was different, fun, and refreshing. I laughed out loud, I swooned, and I'd recommend it to any former horse girls looking for a whimsical rom-com.

☁️ Tags & Key Words: Cozy Romantasy • Arranged Marriage • Queernorm World • Bi Rep • Chronic Illness Rep • Bookish MMC

Thank you, NetGalley, Bramble, and Tor, for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

🐑 SPREADS 🐑

For this year's readathon, I decided to keep the same character but try a new calling — bard!

🎥  Magical Readathon was created by BookRoast!

🐑 MATERIALS USED 🐑

✨ Journal ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Tsuki Lunar Spells Bullet A5 Journal

💜 Year of Adventure ☁️ Simply Gilded - Cloud Washi ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Moon Witch Stickers

💜 Spring Equinox ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Purple Flower Washi ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Spring Flowers Washi ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Books and Dragons Stickers ☁️ Marigona Suli Art - Books and Flowers Pink Stickers

✨ Pens ☁️ MY FAVORITE PENS: Ohuhu Fineliner Drawing Pens ☁️ Tombow Dual Brush Pens (Colors 623, 673, 603, 942) ☁️ Uni-ball Metallic Gel Impact Pen Gold

🐑 YouTube: @CozyWithKaty

📖 2025 Reading Journal Playlist

Thanks for tuning in! ♡

🐑 FEATURED SPREADS 🐑

Here are some of my favorite spreads from my 2024 reading journal!

I decorated more than one hundred pages in my 2024 reading journal, including yearly set up pages, monthly covers and book reviews, creative journaling spreads, bookshelf trackers, magical readathon spreads, and more.

🐑 MATERIALS USED 🐑

Please refer to the description boxes of each of my monthly reading journal videos to find a list of the exact materials used.

✨ Journal ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Tsuki Night Time Bullet A5 Journal

✨ Stickers ☁️ Marigona Suli Art ☁️ Mushie Works ☁️ ArtimationCo ☁️ Coraline Renards

✨ WASHI TAPE ☁️ Notebook Therapy ☁️ Marigona Suli Art ☁️ Simply Gilded ☁️ Bloomsical Paper Co

✨ Pens ☁️ MY FAVORITE PENS: Ohuhu Fineliner Drawing Pens ☁️ Tombow Dual Brush Pens (Colors 623, 673, 603, 942) ☁️ Uni-ball Metallic Gel Impact Pen Gold

🐑 YouTube: @CozyWithKaty

📖 2024 Reading Journal Playlist

Thanks for tuning in! ♡

We follow Elia Tallis, a conjurista who can open nearly any lock with her key-conjuring magic. By siphoning her dying father's door-conjuring magic and taking magical commissions, she is the sole provider for her younger siblings. The god of death, however, is displeased by this disruption in the natural order and takes her youngest brother as one of his servants. This concept of keeping her dying father alive to use his magic and provide for the family was quite interesting to me and unexpected for a YA book, but I thought it was handled well.

Prince Trys commissions Elia to help him find a magical scroll in the far off land of Serratura that would bring peace to their war-torn kingdom, in exchange for his hand in marriage and security for her siblings' futures.

The magic was unique, if not a little odd at times, and I really appreciated the whimsical and expansive world building. The two set off on their adventure to Serratura, and we're introduced to a different culture, language, and customs. On their journey, Elia is confronted with the choice to protect her family or her new friend/betrothed Trys.

One of my favorite themes in this was that of memory, as we learn some lore about Serratura and Elia's past which has caused individuals to forget their loved ones. I also appreciated how the author portrayed learning about a culture through a textbook versus actually experiencing culture while being in that place. This led to funny moments and blunders from the scholar prince, who had done extensive research on Serratura, when he was confronted with how Serraturans actually speak and dress and act.

The romance was very wholesome and cute (instalove), and I liked most of the characters. Elia acted her age, which is great, but unfortunately she frustrated me a bit. I would have appreciated her arc to be a bit more fleshed out. Some parts felt a bit rushed and there were a lot of different subplots happening at once, but overall I thought this was a great debut!

(Also, a plus: my favorite artist did the cover for this book!)

☁️ Tags & Key Words: Young Adult Romantasy • Standalone • Debut • Unique Magic • Stellar World Building

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

(Personal note: My best friend's brother's name is Fabian, so that took me out of the romance a bit. 😅)

A lot of this I really enjoyed, including the quirky side characters, library setting, crow familiars, and a bi main character! The dynamic between grumpy Saskia and soft Felix felt fresh, and they both made me giggle as they danced around their feelings for each other.

The ending felt a bit rushed and convenient, and I did not feel satisfied by the political storyline. I had not been expecting the set up for a second book, but that was fun, if not a little random. The writing style was also not my favorite, and I struggled with the overuse of ellipses.

☁️ Tags & Key Words: Cozy Fantasy Romance • Series of Connected Standalones • Bi Rep • Library Setting • Fun & Tropey

Thank you, Bramble and NetGalley, for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

This series explores faith in a unique way that truly made me feel seen. The story and themes are so poignant for our world right now, even more so for me as I navigate deconstruction.

Faithbreaker offers a satisfying conclusion, including an epic finale to the greater war and emotional endings for our characters’ arcs. I have grown to love these characters (MULTIPLE bi main characters!)

Kissen has become a favorite character of all time for me. I love her bullheaded nature, her soft spot for her friends, her disability rep, and her romantic storyline that flourishes in this final book.

Elogast the baker-knight and his god emperor Arren made my heart hurt in a good and satisfying way. I felt the emotions right alongside Elo.

Inara showed such growth and really ended up stepping into her own since we met her in book one. I love her love for her friends and family and people, and I hurt with her during her experience of meeting her father and learning that things are not always as we wish them to be.

The little god Skediceth had my favorite arc over the whole series. I went from disliking him in book one to crying over his character arc and appreciating his role at the end of this story.

Kaner's writing is so beautiful and thought-provoking as she explores the themes of faith, belief, power, sacrifice, and humanity. I appreciate her rich prose, complex world building, and dedication to queer, disability, and mental health representation in her fantasy world.

Some of my favorite quotes from Faithbreaker:

‘Everyone dies!’ she yelled. ‘People and gods, lions and sheep. Storms pass, winds howl, the sun sets, and the night grows dark. We all go to dust and nothing. Everybody dies.’

‘I have frailty in me, and cruelty too. I live in pain because pain is what the world gave me, and I am powerful with it.’

This couldn’t be faith. This bloody, frightening, appalling thing. This thing that washed decks with blood and killed good women who missed their home.

‘And “prosthesis” is not a dirty word.’

☁️ Tags & Key Words: Adult Epic Fantasy • Queernorm World • LGBTQIA+ & Disability Representation • Humans vs. Gods • Commentary on Faith, Power & Control

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperVoyager, for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

🐑 MATERIALS USED 🐑

✨ Journal ☁️ Notebook Therapy - Tsuki Lunar Spells Bullet A5 Journal

✨ Marigona Suli Art ☁️ Book Witch And Owls ☁️ So Many Books ☁️ More Books ☁️ Book Witch ☁️ Spring Witches ☁️ Books And Flowers ☁️ Winter Witches ☁️ So Many Books ☁️ Divination

✨ Notebook Therapy ☁️ Moonlit Blush Washi ☁️ Lunar Delivery Washi ☁️ Moonlit Spells Stamps

✨ Michaels Craft Store ☁️ Space Stickers by Recollections

✨ Pens ☁️ MY FAVORITE PENS: Ohuhu Fineliner Drawing Pens ☁️ Pigma Micron Fine Line Pens ☁️ Tombow Dual Brush Pens (Colors 623, 673, 603, 942) ☁️ Uni-ball Metallic Gel Impact Pen Gold

🐑 YouTube: @CozyWithKaty

📖 2025 Reading Journal Playlist

Thanks for tuning in! ♡