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Eternal Library #1
The Thread That Binds
The books are restless. At the Eternal Library, books are more than the paper, ink, and thread they're made from--they're full of spirits. Only a handful of people will ever be invited to the Bindery to learn the craft of etheric bookbinding: the creation of intricate illuminated manuscripts, Bound with a secret that will make them last forever.
Tabby is a dreamwalker, a witch who escapes into the stories of sleep to avoid a birth family that's never loved em enough. Amane is a cartomancer, a medium who speaks for the Unseen, but doesn't know how to speak for her own needs. Rhiannon is highly psychic, an archivist who can See into the past, but only has eyes on the future.
Their stories intertwine as they discover the secrets of etheric binding, the Library's archives, and those of their mentors--the three of whom are competing to be the next Head Librarian, the Speaker for all the books. How do you know who's truly worth being part of your family? Sometimes we must forge connections in order to heal; other times, those bonds must be broken.
Tabby is a dreamwalker, a witch who escapes into the stories of sleep to avoid a birth family that's never loved em enough. Amane is a cartomancer, a medium who speaks for the Unseen, but doesn't know how to speak for her own needs. Rhiannon is highly psychic, an archivist who can See into the past, but only has eyes on the future.
Their stories intertwine as they discover the secrets of etheric binding, the Library's archives, and those of their mentors--the three of whom are competing to be the next Head Librarian, the Speaker for all the books. How do you know who's truly worth being part of your family? Sometimes we must forge connections in order to heal; other times, those bonds must be broken.
440 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2020
20 people are currently reading
785 people want to read
About the author
Cedar McCloud
8books44followersCedar McCloud is a queer and nonbinary author, Tarot deck illustrator, and art witch. They are best known for their debut Tarot deck and guidebook, the Numinous Tarot, as well as the Threadbound Oracle and its accompanying novel, The Thread That Binds. Cedar lives on the west coast of the USA with their partner and cat, where they spin yarn, dye, weave, cook, bind books, make paper, play the mandolin, and do five million other fun things.
Cedar used to publish things under the name Noel Arthur Heimpel, but no longer goes by that name for gender-related reasons. If you see them, they are the same person!
Cedar used to publish things under the name Noel Arthur Heimpel, but no longer goes by that name for gender-related reasons. If you see them, they are the same person!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 24, 2020
I am a big fan of author Cedar McCloud's work in tarot/oracle -- Numinous Tarot is a favourite so when The Threadbound Oracle was announced I supported it right away on Kickstarter. This was my first opportunity to read any of their writing (other than a tarot guidebook of course) and I was happy to add their novel The Thread that Binds to my pledge. I got the e-book version.
The Thread that Binds is magical. Cedar has created a world that is so immersive and fully developed that it's easy to sink right in. As a lover of divination, magic, fantasy, and books, I fell in love with this world quickly - who doesn't want to explore a magical library where books' spirits come alive? Cedar's writing is lovely, and their settings are really described in ways that make them easy to imagine. As a queer reader I also appreciated all the diverse 2slgbtq+ representation in this book, including of ace-, aromantic, pansexual, nonbinary, and trans characters (to name a few) as well as polyamorous families and a range of relationship structures, and the creation of a world where gender-neutral pronouns are used by a majority of the characters (and sharing pronouns is a standard part of introductions for everyone, which is wonderful). Cedar's inclusion of content warnings as well as notes on terminology -- most of which I was familiar with but some will be new to many readers -- are also so appreciated.
The Thread that Binds is also a heartwarming story about finding voice and finding family. I will say at a few points the message of the story -- a message I loved -- felt a bit heavy (like, a few bits of dialogue here and there really felt like "here let me tell you the message"), and the younger characters (who are described as late 20s / early 30s) at times felt significantly younger than that to me. Overall, though, I loved the way The Thread that Binds explores themes of mentorship and support, struggles with identifying gaslighting and recovering from experiences of abuse, partnership and friendship, spirituality divination and magic, and creating family that I could really, really relate to and connect to personally (which is rare in a book, and feels really special to me - I am grateful to Cedar for their book in this sense).
I really enjoyed reading The Thread that Binds with my Threadbound Oracle in hand, being able to connect the novel to the deck, finding different characters depicted in the cards; however, I will note that enjoying this novel does not require the deck, nor does it require any background in tarot/oracle at all. (Though, obviously, given my biases, I say... get the book and deck!) I was very happy to see at the end of the novel that this is a world that Cedar intends to return to -- I will absolutely be adding any future books in this series to my wishlist. ❤️😊
The Thread that Binds is magical. Cedar has created a world that is so immersive and fully developed that it's easy to sink right in. As a lover of divination, magic, fantasy, and books, I fell in love with this world quickly - who doesn't want to explore a magical library where books' spirits come alive? Cedar's writing is lovely, and their settings are really described in ways that make them easy to imagine. As a queer reader I also appreciated all the diverse 2slgbtq+ representation in this book, including of ace-, aromantic, pansexual, nonbinary, and trans characters (to name a few) as well as polyamorous families and a range of relationship structures, and the creation of a world where gender-neutral pronouns are used by a majority of the characters (and sharing pronouns is a standard part of introductions for everyone, which is wonderful). Cedar's inclusion of content warnings as well as notes on terminology -- most of which I was familiar with but some will be new to many readers -- are also so appreciated.
The Thread that Binds is also a heartwarming story about finding voice and finding family. I will say at a few points the message of the story -- a message I loved -- felt a bit heavy (like, a few bits of dialogue here and there really felt like "here let me tell you the message"), and the younger characters (who are described as late 20s / early 30s) at times felt significantly younger than that to me. Overall, though, I loved the way The Thread that Binds explores themes of mentorship and support, struggles with identifying gaslighting and recovering from experiences of abuse, partnership and friendship, spirituality divination and magic, and creating family that I could really, really relate to and connect to personally (which is rare in a book, and feels really special to me - I am grateful to Cedar for their book in this sense).
I really enjoyed reading The Thread that Binds with my Threadbound Oracle in hand, being able to connect the novel to the deck, finding different characters depicted in the cards; however, I will note that enjoying this novel does not require the deck, nor does it require any background in tarot/oracle at all. (Though, obviously, given my biases, I say... get the book and deck!) I was very happy to see at the end of the novel that this is a world that Cedar intends to return to -- I will absolutely be adding any future books in this series to my wishlist. ❤️😊
January 6, 2021
This book BLEW ME AWAY. Self-published books can be kind of a gamble, but this one is so, so, so good. If you have been looking for a book that feels like walking through a curtain strung with amethyst beads and silver bells into a dreamy incense-infused metaphysical bookshop on a rainy fall day with a steaming mug of tea in one hand and a rainbow umbrella in the other, this is the book you have been waiting for.
First: it's queer af, centered around a whole society of people who don't have the concept of a gender binary at all and use agender neopronouns, plus the story is full of lots of endearingly familiar queer themes like chosen family, qprs, trauma & healing, and intergenerational mentorship. The worldbuilding is a goddamn delight, with a magic system and theology so inventive that it caused me to suddenly drop the book several times and shout with joy at my very startled cat (sorry buddy) "ARE YOU SERIOUS, THIS IS SO F*ING GOOD." I mean, most of the story takes place in a MAGICAL LIBRARY where the books themselves have spirits and memories and dreams, there are glowing crystals and trailing plants and vibrant colors and fields of wildflowers and soft floor pillows everywhere, and I just want to live inside of this book, okay? You want sensorial storytelling, this book has got it: scents, sounds, textures, colors, flavors, energy signatures -- the world is rich and vivid and I swear I can actually smell it. The characters are crisply and lovingly rendered (and somehow I relate to almost all of them, but especially former child genius Rhee), with aro/ace & poly rep front and center without being Their Defining Features, as well as positive disability rep and a cast of characters with varying body shapes, ages, and races. This book intentionally and artfully addresses sensitive issues related to trauma and recovery, and at its core is a story of solidarity, hope, and healing. I loved loved loved it, and I implore every library in the world to buy at least one copy.
Also, something very cool is that one of the characters is a cartomancer, and the deck of Oracle cards that character uses to do magic ACTUALLY EXISTS, because the author MADE AN ENTIRE ORACLE DECK to accompany the book. How cool is that? So cool.
First: it's queer af, centered around a whole society of people who don't have the concept of a gender binary at all and use agender neopronouns, plus the story is full of lots of endearingly familiar queer themes like chosen family, qprs, trauma & healing, and intergenerational mentorship. The worldbuilding is a goddamn delight, with a magic system and theology so inventive that it caused me to suddenly drop the book several times and shout with joy at my very startled cat (sorry buddy) "ARE YOU SERIOUS, THIS IS SO F*ING GOOD." I mean, most of the story takes place in a MAGICAL LIBRARY where the books themselves have spirits and memories and dreams, there are glowing crystals and trailing plants and vibrant colors and fields of wildflowers and soft floor pillows everywhere, and I just want to live inside of this book, okay? You want sensorial storytelling, this book has got it: scents, sounds, textures, colors, flavors, energy signatures -- the world is rich and vivid and I swear I can actually smell it. The characters are crisply and lovingly rendered (and somehow I relate to almost all of them, but especially former child genius Rhee), with aro/ace & poly rep front and center without being Their Defining Features, as well as positive disability rep and a cast of characters with varying body shapes, ages, and races. This book intentionally and artfully addresses sensitive issues related to trauma and recovery, and at its core is a story of solidarity, hope, and healing. I loved loved loved it, and I implore every library in the world to buy at least one copy.
Also, something very cool is that one of the characters is a cartomancer, and the deck of Oracle cards that character uses to do magic ACTUALLY EXISTS, because the author MADE AN ENTIRE ORACLE DECK to accompany the book. How cool is that? So cool.
December 7, 2020
Magical library! Genderless culture. People learning boundaries with family of origin and finding family of choice. Platonic life partners. And did I mention the magical library?
The genderless culture was one of the most interesting and also hard to wrap my head around aspects of the world. I am thankful for it.
Recommend to anyone who likes fantasy, and it will especially resonate with book lovers and people who are LGBT+.
The genderless culture was one of the most interesting and also hard to wrap my head around aspects of the world. I am thankful for it.
Recommend to anyone who likes fantasy, and it will especially resonate with book lovers and people who are LGBT+.
August 1, 2021
I want to live in this world where libraries are the most revered and cherished of all human creations and folx are gently and wonderfully diverse and find the support they need on all levels of reality. I am in love with these characters, compelled by their interweaving stories, and CAN'T WAIT FOR THE PREQUEL!!! I started reading this from the beginning as soon as I was done, meanwhile�
OK, I read it again, and it was even better than the first time. So� I'm reading it a third time now!!!
Third time I slowed down even more to enjoy the nuances of the different voices of the three protagonists. Noticed even more special little details and even a few significant ones that I'd missed the first two times through.
I study this book like an instructions manual, because it teaches as it tells the tale. From how to practice grounding and centering techniques to how to heal from trauma and develop trust in relationships to how to grind ink or bind a book and so on, basic skills are described in a way that can actually help someone understand the how of the what the characters are doing. I suspect many sections were edited out to move the story forward, however I would be delighted to read all the outtakes!
OK, I read it again, and it was even better than the first time. So� I'm reading it a third time now!!!
Third time I slowed down even more to enjoy the nuances of the different voices of the three protagonists. Noticed even more special little details and even a few significant ones that I'd missed the first two times through.
I study this book like an instructions manual, because it teaches as it tells the tale. From how to practice grounding and centering techniques to how to heal from trauma and develop trust in relationships to how to grind ink or bind a book and so on, basic skills are described in a way that can actually help someone understand the how of the what the characters are doing. I suspect many sections were edited out to move the story forward, however I would be delighted to read all the outtakes!
February 6, 2021
CN: emotional abuse, inferred physical abuse (see front of book for full list of content notes)
Before I even got into the actual story part of this book I was delighted by the fact that it includes an explainer about pronouns and gender in the story AND a comprehensive content note list. This was so good going in. One of my triggers is exactly the type of emotional abuse described in the book, and knowing to prepare for it going in was such a big help and far easier than being hit by it unexpectedly. I would love it if other authors and editors could pick up on this.
The story and setting were lovely and magical. I found the plot extremely captivating and really wanted to know how the stories unfolded. The characters were lovely and very relatable and characters I genuinely cared about. I loved how the method of producing books was as important and magical as the stories themselves.
It was also a real joy to read about characters with genders, sexualities and neurodiversity that reflected my own experience and that of my friends.
At times the writing felt a little clumsy and naïve but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.
Before I even got into the actual story part of this book I was delighted by the fact that it includes an explainer about pronouns and gender in the story AND a comprehensive content note list. This was so good going in. One of my triggers is exactly the type of emotional abuse described in the book, and knowing to prepare for it going in was such a big help and far easier than being hit by it unexpectedly. I would love it if other authors and editors could pick up on this.
The story and setting were lovely and magical. I found the plot extremely captivating and really wanted to know how the stories unfolded. The characters were lovely and very relatable and characters I genuinely cared about. I loved how the method of producing books was as important and magical as the stories themselves.
It was also a real joy to read about characters with genders, sexualities and neurodiversity that reflected my own experience and that of my friends.
At times the writing felt a little clumsy and naïve but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.
December 28, 2020
I loved the world of The Thread that Binds so much that I stretched out reading the last 100 or so pages across a month!
McCloud beautifully builds a world where every main character is skilled in their own kind of divination—from cartomancy to dream walking—and most characters use e/eir pronouns. The narrative interweaves stories of facing and processing trauma, choosing your own family, and creating intricate artwork.
It has been a lovely, real escape to an unreal world surrounded by books.
—�
I give it five out of five stars, for I expect I will get a lot out of rereading and pondering how its characters approach their lives. I recommend it to fans of libraries, intentionality, and forgiveness of yourself and your loved ones.
McCloud beautifully builds a world where every main character is skilled in their own kind of divination—from cartomancy to dream walking—and most characters use e/eir pronouns. The narrative interweaves stories of facing and processing trauma, choosing your own family, and creating intricate artwork.
It has been a lovely, real escape to an unreal world surrounded by books.
—�
I give it five out of five stars, for I expect I will get a lot out of rereading and pondering how its characters approach their lives. I recommend it to fans of libraries, intentionality, and forgiveness of yourself and your loved ones.
December 20, 2020
A beautiful story full of magic, bravery, chosen family and healing. I love the queerness, the vibrant characters and their meaningful connections to one another as they navigate attraction, betrayal, boundaries, and honest communication together.
February 18, 2021
I couldn’t put this book down! If you want to read about queer magical librarians who are often asexual, this is for you. I loved the themes in this book: chosen family, healing from abuse, and unlearning perfectionism. I wanted to join this fam. Ugh. Looking forward to the prequel.
Shelved as 'listed'
March 3, 2021
January 25, 2025
god this was a glorious book! i was telling rosey and millie that it took me awhile (five days lol) which normally makes me get sick of a book but i think for this one it was nice to sit with it and read it in small batches and just revel in the richness of the world.
the worldbuilding was FABULOUS. the descriptions were beautiful, i loved the history of the country and how you could really tell the world was full of different cultures and countries but like we didn’t need to hear about everything to know that. the best part for me was the religions tho! i really like when people get religion involved in their worldbuilding and this one had three main religions that felt so rich and worked so well with the world. i really liked how we saw the clashing between the two sects. i also liked how everything was pretty book/library centric but never got too excessive or cheesy. i think part of that was how diverse the jobs and interactions with the library were. like omg the book illustration stuff was fanfuckingtastic oh my god. there was also a decent balance with other parts of the world (relationships, food, culture, family, etc) but you could tell that it made sense that books/the library are so central in their culture.
the characters really worked for me as well. amane was very relatable and i loved all of their arcs, but especially tabby’s. the plot lines about abusive families was so nuanced and really well handled and i liked that there were two characters that dealt with that, but they didn’t feel like a monolith. the emotional manipulation done by the villain was really well done too, just such fine application of the writing craft. i also especially loved the two mentors and their relationship. they felt maybe even more real and just solid in such a satisfying way.
the relationships too???? fucking yes?????? so aspec friendly in a casual and deeply validating way. like, everyone at one point said their identity which is helpful but it wasn’t like, excessively talked about But it was really shown in their character and relationships. i really loved their marriage, esp the name combination thing, and how platonic partners are put on the same level with no question. like actually so fucking cool. and then the poly ness was great and handled well, each of the three characters had a different but good (and healthy!) relationship with the others. so cool!!!
plot was good, sometimes a little slow and slice of life-y. also a lot of time jumps? and things happening off page and discussed later. i think that did make the book slower to digest but it also made it feel really full and like a whole world. no complaints, but def not a fast paced super action-y book.
also gender! almost every character is “gender less� which was so interesting. 1) i liked that while their country had no gender, other countries did. like that nuance of culture is great. and 2) i liked the line that was like “yeah they added she/her to our language, a neopronoun� i was like fuck yeah you know what? she/her would be a neopronoun! like i can’t even describe the pronouns the characters use (e/eir) as neopronouns bc in their world that’s the pronoun you use! really cool stuff.
overall, wonderful book with so much diversity and beauty and just gorgeous writing, characters, worldbuilding, relationships, etc. def recommend for a slow but satisfying reading!
the worldbuilding was FABULOUS. the descriptions were beautiful, i loved the history of the country and how you could really tell the world was full of different cultures and countries but like we didn’t need to hear about everything to know that. the best part for me was the religions tho! i really like when people get religion involved in their worldbuilding and this one had three main religions that felt so rich and worked so well with the world. i really liked how we saw the clashing between the two sects. i also liked how everything was pretty book/library centric but never got too excessive or cheesy. i think part of that was how diverse the jobs and interactions with the library were. like omg the book illustration stuff was fanfuckingtastic oh my god. there was also a decent balance with other parts of the world (relationships, food, culture, family, etc) but you could tell that it made sense that books/the library are so central in their culture.
the characters really worked for me as well. amane was very relatable and i loved all of their arcs, but especially tabby’s. the plot lines about abusive families was so nuanced and really well handled and i liked that there were two characters that dealt with that, but they didn’t feel like a monolith. the emotional manipulation done by the villain was really well done too, just such fine application of the writing craft. i also especially loved the two mentors and their relationship. they felt maybe even more real and just solid in such a satisfying way.
the relationships too???? fucking yes?????? so aspec friendly in a casual and deeply validating way. like, everyone at one point said their identity which is helpful but it wasn’t like, excessively talked about But it was really shown in their character and relationships. i really loved their marriage, esp the name combination thing, and how platonic partners are put on the same level with no question. like actually so fucking cool. and then the poly ness was great and handled well, each of the three characters had a different but good (and healthy!) relationship with the others. so cool!!!
plot was good, sometimes a little slow and slice of life-y. also a lot of time jumps? and things happening off page and discussed later. i think that did make the book slower to digest but it also made it feel really full and like a whole world. no complaints, but def not a fast paced super action-y book.
also gender! almost every character is “gender less� which was so interesting. 1) i liked that while their country had no gender, other countries did. like that nuance of culture is great. and 2) i liked the line that was like “yeah they added she/her to our language, a neopronoun� i was like fuck yeah you know what? she/her would be a neopronoun! like i can’t even describe the pronouns the characters use (e/eir) as neopronouns bc in their world that’s the pronoun you use! really cool stuff.
overall, wonderful book with so much diversity and beauty and just gorgeous writing, characters, worldbuilding, relationships, etc. def recommend for a slow but satisfying reading!
December 19, 2020
I so enjoyed this book. McCloud does such an excellent job with world building. I never felt like we were left with too little information or given too much. And I was so excited to read about the world they created, where gender neutral pronouns and experiences are the norm and many relationship structures are embraced. It’s not a world I’m familiar with, and it took my brain a bit to adjust. I feel like I’ve grown and expanded as a result of this novel, which is what the best literature does. I felt there was a good balance between plot, character development, and issue driven themes. I appreciated each element of the story. Also: magical library! Magical book binding! Oracle cards! I can’t wait to open my own copy of the Thread that Binds Oracle and go through the story again.
March 3, 2021
It's been a while since I've read such an atmospheric book! The world building in this was so inventive and in-depth. I love the story as a book but I also think there's something about the characters and world, especially Tabby's dreamscape and eir garden, that would make a really visually engaging animated series.
Bonus points for having one of the rare fictional depictions of librarians/archivists that seems rooted in reality (odd for a fantasy novel? I stand by it.). The subtle archive vs library differences were a nice touch (and maybe only something I saw because I wanted to?).
Bonus points for having one of the rare fictional depictions of librarians/archivists that seems rooted in reality (odd for a fantasy novel? I stand by it.). The subtle archive vs library differences were a nice touch (and maybe only something I saw because I wanted to?).
July 20, 2023
I'm not always the biggest fan of high fantasy because it takes me a minute to understand the world, but I greatly enjoyed this book. I loved the magic system of the world and how each person had their own unique style. The meta of the major religion is sometimes a little jarring, but make sense for a world where books are the most important things.
The relationships between Tabby, Rhiannon, and Amane are wonderful to watch develop and grow. Mairead gave me the creeps from the get-go. The Stargroves' relationship is goals.
I really want to see Amane's oracle deck, and I would love to read all of the myths and folk tales for the world. McCloud did a fantastic job worldbuilding and I want to spend more time in it.
The relationships between Tabby, Rhiannon, and Amane are wonderful to watch develop and grow. Mairead gave me the creeps from the get-go. The Stargroves' relationship is goals.
I really want to see Amane's oracle deck, and I would love to read all of the myths and folk tales for the world. McCloud did a fantastic job worldbuilding and I want to spend more time in it.
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April 30, 2025DNF � J'ai adoré le début du livre qui s'annonçait hyper prometteur tout en étant extrêmement inclusif. Malheureusement, j'ai trouvé, vers la moitié, qu'il traînait en longueur et l'ai mis de côté. Je dois avouer qu'après un mois de pause l'envie de m'y remettre n'est plus là. Je garde bien évidemment l'autrice en tête et peut-être quand je serais dans un bon mood je reprendrais ma lecture ! 💕
January 18, 2024
This book surprised me in a lot of ways. The worldbuilding was fascinating and unique, with an interesting mesh of magic and technology. We got a really good look into this world, it's history and how it worked, but still had enough focus on the characters to make them feel fleshed out and endearing. It was heavier than I expected, but in a wholesome way.
Things I liked:
-The worldbuilding! Not just the magic system, but the languages, cultures, and especially history.
-I absolutely love how queernormative this book is. Not only regarding sexuality, but gender too. The neopronouns threw me a bit at first, but I think they really helped get into the mindset of the genderless society most of the main characters are from.
-I was especially happy to see asexuality and aromanticism not only mentioned, but treated as just as normal as anything else.
-Each of the different narrators had such a different vibe and offered unique insights into the events happening. I like that they're all complex characters. Of the three Rhiannon is my favorite, followed by Amane, but they're all likable and interesting.
-There's a good amount of body diversity in this book, which is refreshing to see.
Things I didn't like:
-This book was maybe a bit heavier than I was looking for. Everything was well written and handled well, with applicable warnings given. The heaviness just made the book seem longer than it was at times, because of how draining certain scenes were to read. That being said, the book isn't dark or gratuitous.
Things I liked:
-The worldbuilding! Not just the magic system, but the languages, cultures, and especially history.
-I absolutely love how queernormative this book is. Not only regarding sexuality, but gender too. The neopronouns threw me a bit at first, but I think they really helped get into the mindset of the genderless society most of the main characters are from.
-I was especially happy to see asexuality and aromanticism not only mentioned, but treated as just as normal as anything else.
-Each of the different narrators had such a different vibe and offered unique insights into the events happening. I like that they're all complex characters. Of the three Rhiannon is my favorite, followed by Amane, but they're all likable and interesting.
-There's a good amount of body diversity in this book, which is refreshing to see.
Things I didn't like:
-This book was maybe a bit heavier than I was looking for. Everything was well written and handled well, with applicable warnings given. The heaviness just made the book seem longer than it was at times, because of how draining certain scenes were to read. That being said, the book isn't dark or gratuitous.
July 15, 2022
Gosh, where do I start?
I read this book over a year ago, so I'm a bit rusty on all the details, but I can tell you that this book is for you if you:
a) are LGBTQ+ or an ally
b) love literature/books/mystic tomes
c) have ever wanted to work in a library
d) like HP but loathe JK
e) are hungry for either femme or nonbinary main characters
f) are a fan of adorable romance (not explicit)
g) are a Tarot card-slinger
h) persist with hopeful dreams as an antidote to the cruelty of the world (this is the cinnamon roll of books)
Cedar McCloud is also an amazing person. They're super sweet and kind and their customer service is A+. I recommend buying the eBook or paperback from their website, rather than a big chain store. If you like this book, check out their decks - The Numinous Tarot and the Threadbound Oracle (created as part of the book!), also available on their site:
I read this book over a year ago, so I'm a bit rusty on all the details, but I can tell you that this book is for you if you:
a) are LGBTQ+ or an ally
b) love literature/books/mystic tomes
c) have ever wanted to work in a library
d) like HP but loathe JK
e) are hungry for either femme or nonbinary main characters
f) are a fan of adorable romance (not explicit)
g) are a Tarot card-slinger
h) persist with hopeful dreams as an antidote to the cruelty of the world (this is the cinnamon roll of books)
Cedar McCloud is also an amazing person. They're super sweet and kind and their customer service is A+. I recommend buying the eBook or paperback from their website, rather than a big chain store. If you like this book, check out their decks - The Numinous Tarot and the Threadbound Oracle (created as part of the book!), also available on their site:
January 28, 2025
Absolutely Fantastic!
I am completely obsessed with everything about this book. From the beautiful culture and world building to the amazing Library (I may be a little biased as a librarian), I wanted to transport myself into this book.
I really appreciate the explanation in the beginning of the book about the neo pronouns and the familial titles. It was a little difficult to get down at first because of the way I read, but it very quickly became the norm and not noticeable. This story was also unexpectedly healing for me. As several of the characters go through personal journeys and relationships, each one has to confront their own darkness and toxicity in their lives before they can truly heal. The shadow work must be done. The way McCloud wrote these really resonated with me and truly made me emotional and felt seen at times.
I am definitely buying the oracle deck and book two next. Highly recommend this book!!
I am completely obsessed with everything about this book. From the beautiful culture and world building to the amazing Library (I may be a little biased as a librarian), I wanted to transport myself into this book.
I really appreciate the explanation in the beginning of the book about the neo pronouns and the familial titles. It was a little difficult to get down at first because of the way I read, but it very quickly became the norm and not noticeable. This story was also unexpectedly healing for me. As several of the characters go through personal journeys and relationships, each one has to confront their own darkness and toxicity in their lives before they can truly heal. The shadow work must be done. The way McCloud wrote these really resonated with me and truly made me emotional and felt seen at times.
I am definitely buying the oracle deck and book two next. Highly recommend this book!!
May 19, 2024
A read for anyone who needs something uplifting. Cathartic for anyone escaping or healing from emotional abuse.
This is a character-driven story about overcoming through truth and relationships of all kinds. A lesson in trust - trusting yourself and trusting your loved ones.
This is also a diverse book great for ace and aro spec folk and anyone who prioritizes non-traditional relationships, including platonic relationships and queerplatonic relationships and found family.
It's a bit slow and expositional sometimes, which is not a bad thing, but it something that keeps it from five stars for me. There had to be quite a bit of worldbuilding at the beginning, so it was a bit of a slow start.
The accompanying tarot cards you can purchase additionally look wonderful, though! Great compliment to the story.
This is a character-driven story about overcoming through truth and relationships of all kinds. A lesson in trust - trusting yourself and trusting your loved ones.
This is also a diverse book great for ace and aro spec folk and anyone who prioritizes non-traditional relationships, including platonic relationships and queerplatonic relationships and found family.
It's a bit slow and expositional sometimes, which is not a bad thing, but it something that keeps it from five stars for me. There had to be quite a bit of worldbuilding at the beginning, so it was a bit of a slow start.
The accompanying tarot cards you can purchase additionally look wonderful, though! Great compliment to the story.
July 25, 2022
"Some of us are able to alchemize our hurt into kindness and trust. Others repeat the cycle, weilding their wounds as a weapon." -- Aeronwy Stargrove
For Pride Month 2022, I had the pleasure of being the first person to order queer creator Cedar McCloud's Threadbound Oracle Deluxe Package, which includes a signed paperback of The Thread That Binds, The Threadbound Oracle deck with art based on the book, the Oracle guidebook, a holographic bookmark set with art from the deck, a rainbow book enamel pin, and a silk charmeuse Reading cloth with a book-making theme!
This was a cozy read with relatable themes and inclusive characters in a magical library! I had extra fun immersing myself in the book by laying out The Threadbound Oracle in the same Spread as the character Amane whenever she Read the cards! Despite a few typos, everything about the book was perfect -- from the pacing to the world-building.
Despite being part of a series, I appreciated getting a full story in one book with well-developed characters and lore!
For Pride Month 2022, I had the pleasure of being the first person to order queer creator Cedar McCloud's Threadbound Oracle Deluxe Package, which includes a signed paperback of The Thread That Binds, The Threadbound Oracle deck with art based on the book, the Oracle guidebook, a holographic bookmark set with art from the deck, a rainbow book enamel pin, and a silk charmeuse Reading cloth with a book-making theme!
This was a cozy read with relatable themes and inclusive characters in a magical library! I had extra fun immersing myself in the book by laying out The Threadbound Oracle in the same Spread as the character Amane whenever she Read the cards! Despite a few typos, everything about the book was perfect -- from the pacing to the world-building.
Despite being part of a series, I appreciated getting a full story in one book with well-developed characters and lore!
February 25, 2024
This was an amazing book. The three main characters are all in the 20-30 age range which is a rarity in young adult literature, and there was a variety of representation which was exciting to see. There was a main character who was from another country and spoke the main language as a second language, there were characters who relied on sign language to comunicate, and a character who used a wheelchair. In addition to this, many of the prominent charactes, including two of the main characters, are A-spec, and two of them are platonic partners which is something that I have seen in only one other book. The world building of the genderless society that the book takes place in is incredibly interesting. More people should read this book.
April 10, 2025
A cozy fantasy with an important message
Incredible novel with strong found family vibes and SO much representation! I absolutely loved it. It took a while to get used to e/em/eir pronouns but by 15% in, I was wondering why more societies don't use them. The lack of gender set everyone on equal ground and highlighted the books more important topics- manipulations by authority figures, indigenous erasure, and the black and white views that are highlighted by religions and politics worldwide.
I highly recommend if you want the cozy fantasy vibes, but also a book that's going to make you think about the morals and views of today's world.
Incredible novel with strong found family vibes and SO much representation! I absolutely loved it. It took a while to get used to e/em/eir pronouns but by 15% in, I was wondering why more societies don't use them. The lack of gender set everyone on equal ground and highlighted the books more important topics- manipulations by authority figures, indigenous erasure, and the black and white views that are highlighted by religions and politics worldwide.
I highly recommend if you want the cozy fantasy vibes, but also a book that's going to make you think about the morals and views of today's world.
November 15, 2022
I wanted to love this book. It's queer and diverse, and I enjoyed the story overall. That being said, the writing is often awkward. The combination of fantasy and realism felt clunky, like elements had been added after thinking "wouldn't it be cool if..." but without considering how it would fit into the rest of the world building. I would have preferred a lot more moral nuance throughout. Instead of "earnest and optimistic," I just got "awkward and naïve." I was disappointed. 3/5 stars is after rounding up for maybe just having conflicting expectations at the start.
January 27, 2023
I loved this book!
I loved the universe, the setting of the magical library, the representation of fibre crafts, representation of asexuality and aromanticism and queerplatonic relationship, polyamory. I also loved and found a lot to relate to in the characters, the magic of their craft, and the author's thoughtful and considered representation of manipulation and abuse, and moving on from it.
I'm most excited that this is the first in a series and that I will get to visit this universe and hang out with these people again :)
I loved the universe, the setting of the magical library, the representation of fibre crafts, representation of asexuality and aromanticism and queerplatonic relationship, polyamory. I also loved and found a lot to relate to in the characters, the magic of their craft, and the author's thoughtful and considered representation of manipulation and abuse, and moving on from it.
I'm most excited that this is the first in a series and that I will get to visit this universe and hang out with these people again :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2025
This is a nice book that places most of its focus on the relationships rather than on the plot. Through its various characters, the novel highlights different relationships with parents, partners, and mentors. While the plot is there, it's secondary to how the characters learn to be gentle with themselves, perform self-care, and grow in their bonds with other people (while also choosing not to grow other bonds--instead breaking them when necessary).
Oh, and the book is extremely, delightfully queer.
Oh, and the book is extremely, delightfully queer.
March 29, 2024
A cozy fantasy about characters who work for a Library as Illuminators (they bind books for a living, which is 100% my dream job!) The world is queer-norm and gender-neutral (most of the characters use “e/em/eir� pronouns), which is lovely to read. This was a sweet read with minimal stress but a lot of interest, character growth, and lovely found family moments.
September 21, 2023
This was such a beautiful and heart-wrenching story. I loved the relationships and the magic and the whole world. There was a point in the book I had to put it down as I couldn't read any more as it hurt too much. But the ending was beautiful and full of story. And isn't that what we strive for?
Shelved as 'featured'
November 22, 2021
October 29, 2023
The most underrated and beautifully written book. I can’t believe it’s not viral. So healing, so magical. A must read for queers, crafters and book lovers. So much found fantasy and cosiness
December 22, 2023
Read December 2023
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