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The Binding of Bloom Mountain
“One fool in search of money wins a cursed mountain and a lifetime of nightmares...”
When Celeste Foster loses her job with the US Forestry Service, she finds solace in drinking herself stupid every night. But when she sees an ad that says “ADVENTURERS WANTED” and “compensation upon completion”, she pulls herself together to head for the town of Milton.
In the mountains of Northwest Virginia, she enters a portal to an alternate Shenandoah Valley. Here monsters and gods live alongside humans, and every family has magic in their blood. But a curse festers on the slopes of Bloom Mountain. A decade has passed with no one to bind the magic, and soon the curse will destroy Milton.
Armed with a recording, a bag of ritual items, and fresh scones from the cute barista that housed her, Celeste starts up Bloom Mountain. The Binding tests her endurance, sanity, and ability to adapt to this new world. If she can survive the horrors on the mountain, there might be more than just money waiting for her at the end.
When Celeste Foster loses her job with the US Forestry Service, she finds solace in drinking herself stupid every night. But when she sees an ad that says “ADVENTURERS WANTED” and “compensation upon completion”, she pulls herself together to head for the town of Milton.
In the mountains of Northwest Virginia, she enters a portal to an alternate Shenandoah Valley. Here monsters and gods live alongside humans, and every family has magic in their blood. But a curse festers on the slopes of Bloom Mountain. A decade has passed with no one to bind the magic, and soon the curse will destroy Milton.
Armed with a recording, a bag of ritual items, and fresh scones from the cute barista that housed her, Celeste starts up Bloom Mountain. The Binding tests her endurance, sanity, and ability to adapt to this new world. If she can survive the horrors on the mountain, there might be more than just money waiting for her at the end.
328 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2023
20 people are currently reading
1133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 30, 2024
4.5 stars :)
This book was intense, complex, heartwarming, and full of fantasy. The story follows Celeste Foster’s last chance at saving herself from financial ruin after being laid off from her forestry job. However, she soon learns the simple mountain hike she signed up for is anything but when she arrives at the secretive mountain town of Milton. Celeste quickly finds herself lost in a world of magic, curses, and possibly her family's buried past. Can Celeste find it within herself to bind Bloom Mountain and save the town? Or will self-doubt and fear force her to back out of the challenge? All the dark forest fantasy and more in The Binding of Bloom Mountain.
Celeste is one of my favorite MCs in a fantasy book ever. Not only is she a great representation of an autistic lesbian, but she didn’t take herself too seriously through everything. Including fending off an ancient rogue mountain god, which made her feel so real despite the fantasy setting. Paired with the high-stakes plot in a world of lore so deep I wanted to do a Google deep dive after reading to check if any of it was true makes for a great read. The characters were fleshed out and complex, the story was unique and the writing style was easy to read but not juvenile. Not to mention a sweet sapphic subplot with a hot, witchy, bisexual barista. This book would work even if you aren’t a fantasy fan as it blends so well with the contemporary world. My only critique is the pacing, which felt a smidge slow in places.
All in all this forest-loving fantasy is a fall must-read. From the harrowing journey to the freaky monsters, you will not want to put this down. Not to mention you will immediately want to book a ticket to Milton to visit Witch Peak Brews. If you like magical small-town mysteries and sapphic love stories, you are in the right place. Happy reading!
CW: Alcoholism, animal abuse (discussed), animal death (discussed), anxiety, blood, death (discussed), cancer (SC), demons, depression, emesis, violence.
Thanks so much to Vesper Doom for sending me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For more sapphic reviews follow @the.lebian.library on Instagram, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and Tiktok
This book was intense, complex, heartwarming, and full of fantasy. The story follows Celeste Foster’s last chance at saving herself from financial ruin after being laid off from her forestry job. However, she soon learns the simple mountain hike she signed up for is anything but when she arrives at the secretive mountain town of Milton. Celeste quickly finds herself lost in a world of magic, curses, and possibly her family's buried past. Can Celeste find it within herself to bind Bloom Mountain and save the town? Or will self-doubt and fear force her to back out of the challenge? All the dark forest fantasy and more in The Binding of Bloom Mountain.
Celeste is one of my favorite MCs in a fantasy book ever. Not only is she a great representation of an autistic lesbian, but she didn’t take herself too seriously through everything. Including fending off an ancient rogue mountain god, which made her feel so real despite the fantasy setting. Paired with the high-stakes plot in a world of lore so deep I wanted to do a Google deep dive after reading to check if any of it was true makes for a great read. The characters were fleshed out and complex, the story was unique and the writing style was easy to read but not juvenile. Not to mention a sweet sapphic subplot with a hot, witchy, bisexual barista. This book would work even if you aren’t a fantasy fan as it blends so well with the contemporary world. My only critique is the pacing, which felt a smidge slow in places.
All in all this forest-loving fantasy is a fall must-read. From the harrowing journey to the freaky monsters, you will not want to put this down. Not to mention you will immediately want to book a ticket to Milton to visit Witch Peak Brews. If you like magical small-town mysteries and sapphic love stories, you are in the right place. Happy reading!
CW: Alcoholism, animal abuse (discussed), animal death (discussed), anxiety, blood, death (discussed), cancer (SC), demons, depression, emesis, violence.
Thanks so much to Vesper Doom for sending me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For more sapphic reviews follow @the.lebian.library on Instagram, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and Tiktok
June 9, 2025
Another book checked off my TBR! I found The Binding of Bloom Mountain had an almost Ghibli-esque feeling to it (something about the way the protagonist navigates/reacts to the magical world she finds herself wrapped up in reminded me of the few films I've seen). It was a pleasantly light read, intriguing, and the budding sapphic romance between Celeste and Marta was cute ☺️ Abram and Ellie were a curious pair I would've loved to see much more of, too! I want to know more about their and the mountain's past.
Props to Doom for picking such a fantastic cover artist too! Juniper Lake Fitzgerald always does such stunning work and it makes me really happy to see her work popping up more and more in publishing.
Props to Doom for picking such a fantastic cover artist too! Juniper Lake Fitzgerald always does such stunning work and it makes me really happy to see her work popping up more and more in publishing.
March 28, 2023
Sooooo is Cozy Horror a thing???? Cause it's a subgenre I didn't know I needed. The vibe at Witch Peak Brews, the coffee shop at the foot of Bloom Mountain, were absolute perfection. I was lucky enough to be gifted a Stormwalker Talisman from the book - which is good because I have totally added Stormwalkers to my belief system and will be leaving them offerings this hurricane season.
This adult portal fantasy is a true genre bender with strong horror elements cropping up around half way through and an adorable budding sapphic relationship that gave me the warm fuzzies.
The OwnVoices Autism representation was phenomenal. Celeste's neurodivergence was clear from the get go without it ever having to be explicitly stated on page. Her feelings towards social interactions and following directions were painfully relatable and I found myself laughing along with her often.
I love a reluctant hero and my gods did I love Celeste's griping along the way, and how she dealt with Abram's fuckery. Cause fuck that guy.
Huge thanks to the author for my gifted copy. This is another book that has been added to my "absolutely need an extra copy to annotate" list, I HIGHLY recommend this one to portal fantasy fans!!!
This adult portal fantasy is a true genre bender with strong horror elements cropping up around half way through and an adorable budding sapphic relationship that gave me the warm fuzzies.
The OwnVoices Autism representation was phenomenal. Celeste's neurodivergence was clear from the get go without it ever having to be explicitly stated on page. Her feelings towards social interactions and following directions were painfully relatable and I found myself laughing along with her often.
I love a reluctant hero and my gods did I love Celeste's griping along the way, and how she dealt with Abram's fuckery. Cause fuck that guy.
Huge thanks to the author for my gifted copy. This is another book that has been added to my "absolutely need an extra copy to annotate" list, I HIGHLY recommend this one to portal fantasy fans!!!
September 5, 2024
Edit : I just finished the revised version, and it’s even better that’s the original. Can’t wait for it to be out on the 20th !!
It's Bloom bday !!! Go to the author insta for a super cool giveaway !!!
(It’s been a week and I’m still thinking about Celeste journey. I’m probably gonna reread )
If you ever want to read a book that is both creepy AND cozy. I have the perfect book for you.
The book start with Celeste at her lowest point, she’s desperate and ends up answering an add for a paid hike. Her whole world will shift and a new one will open up for her.
While she’s wary of everything, she’s still going along with the flow. She’s one of the funniest protagonist I’ve read this year. She’s going through so much but she’s still ends up taking time to collect leaves or rocks. I love her. She’s going on my “burrito blanket” shelve.
Her blooming relationship with Marta was so cute. I wanted to swoon.
What I loved the most was the way the mountain felt like its own character, there was so much going on and honestly I wouldn’t mind another book to explore the forest !
Also : Lorna and Matches are the best characters. Yes they’re both kitties. I’m aware 🥰
I just bought the physical copy so I can throw it when it’s scary without hurting my kindle 😂
It's Bloom bday !!! Go to the author insta for a super cool giveaway !!!
(It’s been a week and I’m still thinking about Celeste journey. I’m probably gonna reread )
If you ever want to read a book that is both creepy AND cozy. I have the perfect book for you.
The book start with Celeste at her lowest point, she’s desperate and ends up answering an add for a paid hike. Her whole world will shift and a new one will open up for her.
While she’s wary of everything, she’s still going along with the flow. She’s one of the funniest protagonist I’ve read this year. She’s going through so much but she’s still ends up taking time to collect leaves or rocks. I love her. She’s going on my “burrito blanket” shelve.
Her blooming relationship with Marta was so cute. I wanted to swoon.
What I loved the most was the way the mountain felt like its own character, there was so much going on and honestly I wouldn’t mind another book to explore the forest !
Also : Lorna and Matches are the best characters. Yes they’re both kitties. I’m aware 🥰
I just bought the physical copy so I can throw it when it’s scary without hurting my kindle 😂
Read
January 29, 2023I've read this book at least 15-20 times and I think it's pretty neat. I hope you do too.
January 22, 2024
An absolute gem of a book.
January 31, 2024
An oddly cozy mix of folk horror, personal discovery, and light sapphic romance.
The story follows a discontented young urbanite who leaves Washington, DC to seek work in the mountains near where her family's from. She discovers an other world, a town that can't be real but somehow is, a mysterious barista she's dying to know better, and a mountain that's definitely not not alive. Witchery, folklore, and some surprisingly creepy horror intertwine with a sweet little romance I wish we'd gotten more of as she delves into the mountain's secrets and those of her own family. The author manages to take familiar figures and tropes and create something that feels fresh and welcoming, and I highly recommend this well-balanced tale to anyone looking for nature vibes and spooky moments where you know it's going to come out all right in the end.
The story follows a discontented young urbanite who leaves Washington, DC to seek work in the mountains near where her family's from. She discovers an other world, a town that can't be real but somehow is, a mysterious barista she's dying to know better, and a mountain that's definitely not not alive. Witchery, folklore, and some surprisingly creepy horror intertwine with a sweet little romance I wish we'd gotten more of as she delves into the mountain's secrets and those of her own family. The author manages to take familiar figures and tropes and create something that feels fresh and welcoming, and I highly recommend this well-balanced tale to anyone looking for nature vibes and spooky moments where you know it's going to come out all right in the end.
January 30, 2024
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is such an immersive tale, where the setting is rightfully its own character. Celeste Foster is a main character I could easily root for and her transformation from start to finish as she goes through the mountain’s trials was so wonderfully written.
Side note: Chambers writes food in the same thoughtful way that Studio Ghibli animates it; this book made me HUNGRY
Side note: Chambers writes food in the same thoughtful way that Studio Ghibli animates it; this book made me HUNGRY
May 31, 2024
If you like horror that is more tense than scary, TBoBM is for you. It's very atmospheric with lots of natural wonder (and terror) mixed in with a sapphic MC and an adorable mountain lion friend. I loved the little twists and mysteries, and I am looking forward to book 2.
September 21, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this read. Loved the autistic rep and the descriptions of the various creepy elements were great
July 22, 2024
I was given a digital copy of this book to judge as part of the Indie Ink Awards. Thank you to the organizers and the author for my copy. My review is honest and my opinions are my own.
The main character of The Binding of Bloom Mountain, Celeste, is set on a hero’s journey – a magical quest she was destined to pursue, due to her family heritage. Little did she realise, when she answered a newspaper advertisement for someone to undertake a hike, that she would be returning to a mysterious valley she often visited as a child, without ever realizing its true nature.
I enjoyed Celeste’s character very much, a broken woman who has just lost her job and was cheated on a year ago by her girlfriend, who then left her to go to a faraway university. When she arrives at the place in which the job she applied for is located, Celeste meets a woman called Marta, for whom she feels an instant attraction, despite trying to suppress it. Marta is a cafe owner, who helps to make her feel at home and explains that witchcraft is a large part of the valley she now finds herself in. There are detailed descriptions of the food at the bakery and also at the local restaurant which sounded delicious.
“Celeste felt herself salivate at the sight of the cinnamon roll bread, but there were also a variety of cheese scones. Her stomach growled loud enough for Marta to hear her.“
There was also another eatery in town owned by Jed which Marta and Celeste visited. I’d like to meet Jed who was able to faultlessly predict exactly what flavour of pie a customer needed at any one time.
The job Celeste agrees to accept is this: the town needs someone to ascend the mountain and bind its magic which has got out of control and caused all manner of chaos since its binder, Marta’s aunt Selena, hurt her hip and has not been able to climb it for a few years.
Celeste takes on the job, despite misgivings about her capabilities and the weirdness of suddenly being surrounded by magic and also monsters. Her ascent up the mountain follows a number of tasks she must complete with spirits trying to stop her and other unusual beings helping her. Of these, I really liked Lorna, the mountain lion and witch’s familiar, who came along to help Celeste, and I also enjoyed the trolls she encountered on the mountainside.
This is an imaginative tale and I highly recommend it. I do think it would benefit from a good proofreader, but apart from that it was well-paced, had intriguing characters and I was happy that Celeste and Marta seemed to be equally attracted to one another and that they appeared to be embarking on a relationship at the end of the book.
The main character of The Binding of Bloom Mountain, Celeste, is set on a hero’s journey – a magical quest she was destined to pursue, due to her family heritage. Little did she realise, when she answered a newspaper advertisement for someone to undertake a hike, that she would be returning to a mysterious valley she often visited as a child, without ever realizing its true nature.
I enjoyed Celeste’s character very much, a broken woman who has just lost her job and was cheated on a year ago by her girlfriend, who then left her to go to a faraway university. When she arrives at the place in which the job she applied for is located, Celeste meets a woman called Marta, for whom she feels an instant attraction, despite trying to suppress it. Marta is a cafe owner, who helps to make her feel at home and explains that witchcraft is a large part of the valley she now finds herself in. There are detailed descriptions of the food at the bakery and also at the local restaurant which sounded delicious.
“Celeste felt herself salivate at the sight of the cinnamon roll bread, but there were also a variety of cheese scones. Her stomach growled loud enough for Marta to hear her.“
There was also another eatery in town owned by Jed which Marta and Celeste visited. I’d like to meet Jed who was able to faultlessly predict exactly what flavour of pie a customer needed at any one time.
The job Celeste agrees to accept is this: the town needs someone to ascend the mountain and bind its magic which has got out of control and caused all manner of chaos since its binder, Marta’s aunt Selena, hurt her hip and has not been able to climb it for a few years.
Celeste takes on the job, despite misgivings about her capabilities and the weirdness of suddenly being surrounded by magic and also monsters. Her ascent up the mountain follows a number of tasks she must complete with spirits trying to stop her and other unusual beings helping her. Of these, I really liked Lorna, the mountain lion and witch’s familiar, who came along to help Celeste, and I also enjoyed the trolls she encountered on the mountainside.
This is an imaginative tale and I highly recommend it. I do think it would benefit from a good proofreader, but apart from that it was well-paced, had intriguing characters and I was happy that Celeste and Marta seemed to be equally attracted to one another and that they appeared to be embarking on a relationship at the end of the book.
June 30, 2022
[Spoiler-free]
WOW. The Binding of Bloom Mountain will take you on a literal journey that you won't want to put down. Imagine hiking on a mountain where creepy and amazing things are happening all around you. But this is no ordinary magical hike... An entire town is depending on you to perform a life-or-death task, and the clock is working against you.
That's the situation Celeste Foster finds herself in when she takes a seemingly innocent, one-off job from an ad she finds in the paper. What she doesn't realize is that she's about to learn so much more about her childhood, family secrets, and the truth about magic.
The author, Siggy Chambers, takes you on an adventure that will have you at the edge of your seat. This book is unputdownable. The suspense, the imagery, the characters...everything is absolutely incredible. And it doesn't hurt that there's a cute romance, adorable kitties, and heartwarming sisterhood thrown into the mix. The balance of horror and beauty will keep you guessing what's around the corner, and the way the two come together on Bloom Mountain makes it a truly unique and otherworldly place while still feeling familiar for us nature lovers.
Well done, Siggy! Can't wait to read ALL of The Valley books and get even more of this world you've created. And I lost count of how many times The Binding of Bloom Mountain gave me LITERAL goosebumps!!
WOW. The Binding of Bloom Mountain will take you on a literal journey that you won't want to put down. Imagine hiking on a mountain where creepy and amazing things are happening all around you. But this is no ordinary magical hike... An entire town is depending on you to perform a life-or-death task, and the clock is working against you.
That's the situation Celeste Foster finds herself in when she takes a seemingly innocent, one-off job from an ad she finds in the paper. What she doesn't realize is that she's about to learn so much more about her childhood, family secrets, and the truth about magic.
The author, Siggy Chambers, takes you on an adventure that will have you at the edge of your seat. This book is unputdownable. The suspense, the imagery, the characters...everything is absolutely incredible. And it doesn't hurt that there's a cute romance, adorable kitties, and heartwarming sisterhood thrown into the mix. The balance of horror and beauty will keep you guessing what's around the corner, and the way the two come together on Bloom Mountain makes it a truly unique and otherworldly place while still feeling familiar for us nature lovers.
Well done, Siggy! Can't wait to read ALL of The Valley books and get even more of this world you've created. And I lost count of how many times The Binding of Bloom Mountain gave me LITERAL goosebumps!!
August 13, 2022
Truly captivating and brilliantly written!
The descriptions and details when setting up a scene made it feels like you were there. There were moments when I just closed my eyes to picture it all, and I swear I could even smell the pine trees, they were just described so well.
Celeste just had so much depth to her, the character development on her and how she interacted with others, and the new relationship she forged with them was done superbly.
One of my favorite elements of this story was the pacing, especially in the beginning. The writer really let the story unfold and introduced new characters gradually to us, rather than hitting us with everything.
Although when reading I felt I had a bond with Celeste, some of the other characters like Ellie and Abram also left an impression and had me wanting to know everything about them.
The journey itself was beautifully done, the ritual steps fit so well, and again the detail when describing the mountain was just breathtaking at times.
I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to beta-read this book!
I really look forward to the end result and more to come from Siggy!
Awesome job!
The descriptions and details when setting up a scene made it feels like you were there. There were moments when I just closed my eyes to picture it all, and I swear I could even smell the pine trees, they were just described so well.
Celeste just had so much depth to her, the character development on her and how she interacted with others, and the new relationship she forged with them was done superbly.
One of my favorite elements of this story was the pacing, especially in the beginning. The writer really let the story unfold and introduced new characters gradually to us, rather than hitting us with everything.
Although when reading I felt I had a bond with Celeste, some of the other characters like Ellie and Abram also left an impression and had me wanting to know everything about them.
The journey itself was beautifully done, the ritual steps fit so well, and again the detail when describing the mountain was just breathtaking at times.
I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to beta-read this book!
I really look forward to the end result and more to come from Siggy!
Awesome job!
July 13, 2022
This was such a wonderful, binge-worthy adventure through a winding, magical world that I couldn't help but compare to the story-based games of Firewatch and Until Dawn.
Celeste's journey starts out fairly normal, but quickly tips into bizarre and unsettling at times (in the best way possible!!). Her escape from mundane life was a refreshing fall into the weird town of Milton, where everything is steeped in superstition.
The scenery of the mountain really brought this story to life with each step Celeste took through it's unnatural paths, but I definitely don't discount the supernatural encounters she had along the way. Every turn became a question of what she might run into next, along with whether or not it's a new friend or enemy.
There's so much more I want to say, but at the risk of accidentally spoiling something, I'll leave it at that! I'm excited to see how her journey continues in the next book!
Celeste's journey starts out fairly normal, but quickly tips into bizarre and unsettling at times (in the best way possible!!). Her escape from mundane life was a refreshing fall into the weird town of Milton, where everything is steeped in superstition.
The scenery of the mountain really brought this story to life with each step Celeste took through it's unnatural paths, but I definitely don't discount the supernatural encounters she had along the way. Every turn became a question of what she might run into next, along with whether or not it's a new friend or enemy.
There's so much more I want to say, but at the risk of accidentally spoiling something, I'll leave it at that! I'm excited to see how her journey continues in the next book!
September 9, 2022
I was lucky enough to get an early review copy of this book. I devoured it in less than a week (as someone with a family, a full-time job, and several hobbies made this an impressive feat). The Binding of Bloom Mountain was hard to put down.
It read like less of fantasy novel and more of a series of folk stories handed down from generation to generation. The story revolves around a multi-step process to bind a cursed mountain. Each step is well thought-out and has some serious backstory to it.
I loved this book and I think fantasy-lovers will too!
It read like less of fantasy novel and more of a series of folk stories handed down from generation to generation. The story revolves around a multi-step process to bind a cursed mountain. Each step is well thought-out and has some serious backstory to it.
I loved this book and I think fantasy-lovers will too!
January 5, 2024
This was a really delightful read. Celeste’s journey to bind Bloom Mountain is a fun, fantastical slow burn adventure with some outright creepy moments and a few twists that evokes a folkloric vibe. The setting descriptions are absolutely gorgeous and I loved the autistic rep. I really enjoyed how Celeste developed over the course of the book, working through coming to terms with herself, her past, and her growing feelings towards Marta. I definitely recommend this one!
February 25, 2025
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is pure magic trapped inside the pages of an amazing, compelling novel that hooked me from the first line.
Cozy horror sounds like an oxymoron, yet Vesper Doom succeeded amazingly in making it real. From the beautiful scenery to the mysterious atmosphere of Appalachian mountains, from the fantastic descriptions of food (really, this book made me even hungrier than I usually am) to Celeste’s incredible journey, this book is authentic horror paired with the coziness of a picturesque village in the mountains. It’s a comforting hug hiding treacherous shadows, a warm cup of tea soothing the reader while hidden horrors are happening outside and getting dangerously close.
The writing style is so immersive I could almost feel everything Celeste was experiencing. She’s one of the most relatable characters I’ve read so far and I love her deeply.
Also, I LOVED the lore and folklore depicted in this story, the rituals and customs thoroughly described, the mysterious creatures making their appearance and leaving me eager to learn more about these fascinating legends and traditions. I was absolutely mesmerized.
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is a fantastic read I truly recommend, a gem from one of the best indie authors I’ve ever read. If you’re a fan of cozy settings, mysterious magic, hidden folklore, unexpected horrors, and the endless beauty of mountains and forests, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
May Ice, Ember, Stone and Gale watch over you!
Cozy horror sounds like an oxymoron, yet Vesper Doom succeeded amazingly in making it real. From the beautiful scenery to the mysterious atmosphere of Appalachian mountains, from the fantastic descriptions of food (really, this book made me even hungrier than I usually am) to Celeste’s incredible journey, this book is authentic horror paired with the coziness of a picturesque village in the mountains. It’s a comforting hug hiding treacherous shadows, a warm cup of tea soothing the reader while hidden horrors are happening outside and getting dangerously close.
The writing style is so immersive I could almost feel everything Celeste was experiencing. She’s one of the most relatable characters I’ve read so far and I love her deeply.
Also, I LOVED the lore and folklore depicted in this story, the rituals and customs thoroughly described, the mysterious creatures making their appearance and leaving me eager to learn more about these fascinating legends and traditions. I was absolutely mesmerized.
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is a fantastic read I truly recommend, a gem from one of the best indie authors I’ve ever read. If you’re a fan of cozy settings, mysterious magic, hidden folklore, unexpected horrors, and the endless beauty of mountains and forests, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
May Ice, Ember, Stone and Gale watch over you!
August 10, 2023
"The Binding of Bloom Mountain" is so good and when I say so good, I mean SO GOOD! I loved the characters, I loved the plot and I loved the setting.
However, I must admit that I've recently sworn off series, which is more of a personal bias. While this book stands alone and possesses a captivating narrative, not all loose ends were tied up. The conclusion left me grappling with unanswered questions and a frustrating "the end… for now." As an overly curious reader, this has been quite the torment 😭
Furthermore, the intermittent moments of spine-chilling horror caught me off guard. Despite mentally preparing myself, I found myself occasionally seeking refuge beneath my blanket. It's important to note, though, that I am an absolute sensitive soul when it comes to horror.
To be honest, the scary elements were a perfect fit for the book, yet, due to the reason just mentioned, it personally caused a sense of detachment from the story for me.
What I liked about the book was that while magic was involved, it was kept quite grounded in reality. They still had cars, trains, and shotguns. It was a perfect match for the overall setting and kept it mysterious rather than magically overloaded.
However, I must admit that I've recently sworn off series, which is more of a personal bias. While this book stands alone and possesses a captivating narrative, not all loose ends were tied up. The conclusion left me grappling with unanswered questions and a frustrating "the end… for now." As an overly curious reader, this has been quite the torment 😭
Furthermore, the intermittent moments of spine-chilling horror caught me off guard. Despite mentally preparing myself, I found myself occasionally seeking refuge beneath my blanket. It's important to note, though, that I am an absolute sensitive soul when it comes to horror.
To be honest, the scary elements were a perfect fit for the book, yet, due to the reason just mentioned, it personally caused a sense of detachment from the story for me.
What I liked about the book was that while magic was involved, it was kept quite grounded in reality. They still had cars, trains, and shotguns. It was a perfect match for the overall setting and kept it mysterious rather than magically overloaded.
March 10, 2023
A tale of self discovery
Bloom Mountain is unique in many ways, but especially because of its blend of beauty and horror.
You can almost feel yourself living in the green landscapes of this book, or walking through its cozy little town, but you will also find horrifying details in hidden places – a mix I greatly enjoyed.
I loved how Celeste went on this unexpected journey and ended up finding herself (and love).
Will definitely return to this world if there's a sequel!
Bloom Mountain is unique in many ways, but especially because of its blend of beauty and horror.
You can almost feel yourself living in the green landscapes of this book, or walking through its cozy little town, but you will also find horrifying details in hidden places – a mix I greatly enjoyed.
I loved how Celeste went on this unexpected journey and ended up finding herself (and love).
Will definitely return to this world if there's a sequel!
July 11, 2025
100% a (sapphic-version) epitome a "natural-world's unnatural horrors" thriller!! Remember that scene in *The Fellowship* (novel, obvs) just after they got into Moria? Half this book reads with *that* level of suspense!
April 9, 2024
A fun and solid read even if it does move a bit quickly.
April 27, 2023
If I could describe THE BINDING OF BLOOM MOUNTAIN in one word, it would be immersive.
It was the first thing that stuck out to me as I kept getting sucked into the vast landscapes and delicious sounding cafés & dinners of this world, how incredibly tactile and enveloping these places were. The reader understands the greatness of Milton's scenery and village, you smell the scones and coffee lovingly made by the cute barista who might possibly be a witch. It's all breathtaking, and I'm always a SUCKER for sensory language and this novel uses it extremely well.
It was so hard to read this book while hungry, but that's on me!
The novel follows Celeste, who we join at a pretty low point in her life. She's lost her job, a partner, and all sense of "The Real World" as she hits an alcoholic-fuelled depressive episode before she stumbles on an anonymous sign seeking people longing for adventure. With nothing else to lose, Celeste takes it, not knowing she's about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.
I don't want to spoil any more than I have to because going on this journey with Celeste is part of the appeal of this book. We are also Outsiders who enter Milton with a sense of curiosity and dread, and Celeste as a main protagonist captures these feelings excellently, along with a churning sense in her gut that something is Ominously Wrong. The small-town feel of Milton gives it a unique charm that is cozy and slightly off-putting. (You'll have to figure out what I mean by this! This strictly falls under Cozy-Horror, which works MUCH better than what you think it will.)
One of the most unique things about BLOOM is that there's a sense of scale in an Epic Journey sort of way when the narrative turns more into an adventure/survival book. It works extremely well thanks to the atmosphere Chambers was able to infuse in the setting, along with the ominous presence that Celeste encounters along the way. The reader takes the journey up the mountain with Celeste and you feel for her every dangerous and agonizing step of the way.
One of my favorite details about this world is the folkloric tale aspects it's embedded with. This novel reads like an old tale of people persevering, of encountering magic, mischief, and mayhem that works for one's benefit sometimes and in others where it doesn't. It makes the reader experience the awesome power of Bloom Mountain and might even get you to start believing in magic too.
Siggy Chambers' THE BINDING OF BLOOM MOUNTAIN is epic in its scale, immersive in its world, grounded in its characters, and feels like a comfy hug after a hard day. The heart and love ingrained in its story can only be matched by its equally talented writing in bringing this world to life.
It was the first thing that stuck out to me as I kept getting sucked into the vast landscapes and delicious sounding cafés & dinners of this world, how incredibly tactile and enveloping these places were. The reader understands the greatness of Milton's scenery and village, you smell the scones and coffee lovingly made by the cute barista who might possibly be a witch. It's all breathtaking, and I'm always a SUCKER for sensory language and this novel uses it extremely well.
The novel follows Celeste, who we join at a pretty low point in her life. She's lost her job, a partner, and all sense of "The Real World" as she hits an alcoholic-fuelled depressive episode before she stumbles on an anonymous sign seeking people longing for adventure. With nothing else to lose, Celeste takes it, not knowing she's about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.
I don't want to spoil any more than I have to because going on this journey with Celeste is part of the appeal of this book. We are also Outsiders who enter Milton with a sense of curiosity and dread, and Celeste as a main protagonist captures these feelings excellently, along with a churning sense in her gut that something is Ominously Wrong. The small-town feel of Milton gives it a unique charm that is cozy and slightly off-putting. (You'll have to figure out what I mean by this! This strictly falls under Cozy-Horror, which works MUCH better than what you think it will.)
One of the most unique things about BLOOM is that there's a sense of scale in an Epic Journey sort of way when the narrative turns more into an adventure/survival book. It works extremely well thanks to the atmosphere Chambers was able to infuse in the setting, along with the ominous presence that Celeste encounters along the way. The reader takes the journey up the mountain with Celeste and you feel for her every dangerous and agonizing step of the way.
One of my favorite details about this world is the folkloric tale aspects it's embedded with. This novel reads like an old tale of people persevering, of encountering magic, mischief, and mayhem that works for one's benefit sometimes and in others where it doesn't. It makes the reader experience the awesome power of Bloom Mountain and might even get you to start believing in magic too.
Siggy Chambers' THE BINDING OF BLOOM MOUNTAIN is epic in its scale, immersive in its world, grounded in its characters, and feels like a comfy hug after a hard day. The heart and love ingrained in its story can only be matched by its equally talented writing in bringing this world to life.
November 6, 2023
CW: death of children, animal death, alcohol use, drowning, death
My thoughts:
Cozy Horror might just be my new favourite genre, I didn't know I needed that. That was such a nice mix of cozy/sweet scenes and really unsettling ones. Also sentient mountain and the cutest mountain lion? Fuck yeah.
But I'm just not really a fan of Insta love.
My thoughts:
Cozy Horror might just be my new favourite genre, I didn't know I needed that. That was such a nice mix of cozy/sweet scenes and really unsettling ones. Also sentient mountain and the cutest mountain lion? Fuck yeah.
But I'm just not really a fan of Insta love.
"The trees knew I was coming. They felt me below the mountain." "More than that, Celeste. They were calling you home."
February 3, 2023
Can a book be both cozy and terrifying?
I have to preface this spoiler-free review by saying this book made me both hungry and scared.
Hungry, because Siggy Chambers writes the BEST food descriptions. I’m telling you, you will want all the pie while reading this.
Scared because, well, this is a portal fantasy book that mixes in monstrous folklore.
The. Monsters. Are. Scary.
The only reason I didn’t devour it in one sitting, is because at about 1/3 of the way into the book, I could no longer read it right before bed, which is my typical reading time.
Overall, while this isn’t my usual genre, this book was a well crafted dark adventure with an autistic MC, and a cute f/f romance to offset the horror bits. I really enjoyed tagging along on Celeste’s adventure and am jealous of all the baked goods she got to eat along the way.
I have to preface this spoiler-free review by saying this book made me both hungry and scared.
Hungry, because Siggy Chambers writes the BEST food descriptions. I’m telling you, you will want all the pie while reading this.
Scared because, well, this is a portal fantasy book that mixes in monstrous folklore.
The. Monsters. Are. Scary.
The only reason I didn’t devour it in one sitting, is because at about 1/3 of the way into the book, I could no longer read it right before bed, which is my typical reading time.
Overall, while this isn’t my usual genre, this book was a well crafted dark adventure with an autistic MC, and a cute f/f romance to offset the horror bits. I really enjoyed tagging along on Celeste’s adventure and am jealous of all the baked goods she got to eat along the way.
August 30, 2024
I got to read a pre-release version of this wonderful contemporary, folky fantasy book, and I loved it! If you like magic and nature entwined into a story that spans across an Appalacian setting, you are in for a treat!
Celeste was a fantastic character to follow, equal parts tough and sweet, meeting an at times charming, at times dangerous cast of characters along her journey to bind Bloom Mountain, a mysterious ritual that unfolds throughout the course of the novel in more and more interesting, twisty, and dangerous ways.
Highly, highly recommend this book when it's available for purchase! Can't wait to have a copy on my shelf instead of just my inbox.
Celeste was a fantastic character to follow, equal parts tough and sweet, meeting an at times charming, at times dangerous cast of characters along her journey to bind Bloom Mountain, a mysterious ritual that unfolds throughout the course of the novel in more and more interesting, twisty, and dangerous ways.
Highly, highly recommend this book when it's available for purchase! Can't wait to have a copy on my shelf instead of just my inbox.
April 19, 2023
A fun, cozy read that is easy to fall in love with. Chambers has created a lovely world to just exist and spend time in. Delightfully Gaimanesque, there is a real sense of internal logic to the fantastical elements. It reminded me a lot of the Ocean at the End of the Lane.
The prose is great throughout, with some good dialogue and brilliant, engaging world building.
I loved following Celeste on her journey to bind bloom mountain and face the spirits that inhabit the magical spaces.
The prose is great throughout, with some good dialogue and brilliant, engaging world building.
I loved following Celeste on her journey to bind bloom mountain and face the spirits that inhabit the magical spaces.
July 23, 2023
If you’re looking for an example of cozy horror, you’ve found it with The Binding of Bloom Mountain.
This story follows Celeste as she unknowingly returns to the Valley she once knew after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper. In the Valley, she learns of the town’s history and its curse. She agrees to take on the task of binding the mountain before she really knows what it means. She meets some townsfolk who help her prepare for this day and a half journey. Then, we follow Celeste as she takes on the mountain and the town’s curse.
This story has cozy elements, such as a small town hidden away in the mountains, cafes, scones, an animal familiar. The sapphic romance in this book isn’t really a main focus, but it does encourage Celeste to keep going on her quest. The love interest is a super sweet woman. I hope we see more of her in book two.
I really loved the magic of the connection Celeste uncovers with the forest. The further she goes on this journey, the deeper the connection becomes. I felt like I was in Celeste’s shoes while reading this. The author does an amazing job of immersing the reader into this world. I read this book in the middle of summer and multiple times while reading, I found myself looking up and expecting to see autumn leaves outside my window. I was extremely impressed with the way the forest and nature was written, it was clear the author has a lot of love and passion for supporting nature and respecting it.
I know the book probably sounds really cute and cozy right now, and on one hand it is, but it is also deeply unsettling as Celeste continues on her journey. There are multiple scenes where forest spirits and creatures and spooky happenings occur. The descriptions of the events that happen truly made me feel shocked and afraid at times. I could imagine myself as Celeste, experiencing the horrors she did. Don’t expect this book to be just cozy. It’s also quite chilling.
Lastly, I wanted to add that I really appreciated the autism representation in this book. Celeste is, according to the author, an undiagnosed autistic woman, and it was clear in the book while reading it. If you want to see an autistic being a badass and connecting with the soul of the forest/the Valley, this is the book for you.
Overall, I’m really excited to see if another book happens. I rated this book as five stars, I truly enjoyed myself the entire time I read this story. The prose was beautiful and I highlighted numerous passages. My favorite descriptions were all describing how beautiful the autumn forest was.
This story follows Celeste as she unknowingly returns to the Valley she once knew after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper. In the Valley, she learns of the town’s history and its curse. She agrees to take on the task of binding the mountain before she really knows what it means. She meets some townsfolk who help her prepare for this day and a half journey. Then, we follow Celeste as she takes on the mountain and the town’s curse.
This story has cozy elements, such as a small town hidden away in the mountains, cafes, scones, an animal familiar. The sapphic romance in this book isn’t really a main focus, but it does encourage Celeste to keep going on her quest. The love interest is a super sweet woman. I hope we see more of her in book two.
I really loved the magic of the connection Celeste uncovers with the forest. The further she goes on this journey, the deeper the connection becomes. I felt like I was in Celeste’s shoes while reading this. The author does an amazing job of immersing the reader into this world. I read this book in the middle of summer and multiple times while reading, I found myself looking up and expecting to see autumn leaves outside my window. I was extremely impressed with the way the forest and nature was written, it was clear the author has a lot of love and passion for supporting nature and respecting it.
I know the book probably sounds really cute and cozy right now, and on one hand it is, but it is also deeply unsettling as Celeste continues on her journey. There are multiple scenes where forest spirits and creatures and spooky happenings occur. The descriptions of the events that happen truly made me feel shocked and afraid at times. I could imagine myself as Celeste, experiencing the horrors she did. Don’t expect this book to be just cozy. It’s also quite chilling.
Lastly, I wanted to add that I really appreciated the autism representation in this book. Celeste is, according to the author, an undiagnosed autistic woman, and it was clear in the book while reading it. If you want to see an autistic being a badass and connecting with the soul of the forest/the Valley, this is the book for you.
Overall, I’m really excited to see if another book happens. I rated this book as five stars, I truly enjoyed myself the entire time I read this story. The prose was beautiful and I highlighted numerous passages. My favorite descriptions were all describing how beautiful the autumn forest was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2024
"Be careful, Outsider. Things here are not always what they appear to be."
------
Book 1, but this is a standalone.
Content warning (not a complete list): autistic shutdowns, meltdowns, overstimulation, swearing, body horror, alcohol use (unhealthy drinking), and vomiting.
For more information check out the content warning in the book or the author's website.
Spice: no spice.
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Reading The Binding of Bloom Mountain felt like an adventure. I pleasantly got lost in Vesper Doom's eerie yet cozy world. I was intrigued by the mystery and magic of Bloom Mountain.
This book is a cozy horror-fantasy about a woman, Celeste, who answers an ad that seeks someone to do an overnight hike. But of course, there is more to this hike that what Celeste is told.
I liked Celeste as a main character. I was easily invested in her journey to and up Bloom Mountain. Celeste felt relatable and realstic. I loved that she was an autistic lesbian. I enjoyed her connection with Marta. They were cute together. I also liked the animal characters. I loved Matches and Lorna.
I loved the cozy yet spooky and witchy atmosphere of this book. It gave me some studio ghibli movie like vibes. I was delighted by how much I enjoyed this. This is a good book to read if you want to read a horror book, but don't want anything too extreme.
------
Book 1, but this is a standalone.
Content warning (not a complete list): autistic shutdowns, meltdowns, overstimulation, swearing, body horror, alcohol use (unhealthy drinking), and vomiting.
For more information check out the content warning in the book or the author's website.
Spice: no spice.
-----
Reading The Binding of Bloom Mountain felt like an adventure. I pleasantly got lost in Vesper Doom's eerie yet cozy world. I was intrigued by the mystery and magic of Bloom Mountain.
This book is a cozy horror-fantasy about a woman, Celeste, who answers an ad that seeks someone to do an overnight hike. But of course, there is more to this hike that what Celeste is told.
I liked Celeste as a main character. I was easily invested in her journey to and up Bloom Mountain. Celeste felt relatable and realstic. I loved that she was an autistic lesbian. I enjoyed her connection with Marta. They were cute together. I also liked the animal characters. I loved Matches and Lorna.
I loved the cozy yet spooky and witchy atmosphere of this book. It gave me some studio ghibli movie like vibes. I was delighted by how much I enjoyed this. This is a good book to read if you want to read a horror book, but don't want anything too extreme.
November 9, 2024
This was cute! It's a semi-cozy Appalachian fantasy with some mystery elements. I think, because I read it over the course of *checks notes* 16 months, I read the first 40% or so of the old version, and the rest of it as the updated draft. I'm actually glad I waited, because there were some issues with the original edition, and the current version was more polished. (I did go back to reread several things and noted that there had been changes.)
A large portion of this book (roughly half) includes the main character walking around in the woods and engaging with some fantastical mountain magic. Even during the creepy bits, I found the vibe of this to be affectionate and cozy and kind.
I have somewhat mixed feelings regarding the epilogue, as the book is more focused on Celeste and the town and the family history and the magic with some romance sprinkled in, and the epilogue is almost exclusively romance but has no magic at all, so that felt a bit mismatched. But I do enjoy a cozy sapphic witchy/bakery/woodsy romance, so I did enjoy it, even if it felt a bit tacked on.
My usual comment about how sanity is treated in genre fiction applies here, to some degree. But overall, I like following Celeste's journey through this world and around these interesting characters.
A large portion of this book (roughly half) includes the main character walking around in the woods and engaging with some fantastical mountain magic. Even during the creepy bits, I found the vibe of this to be affectionate and cozy and kind.
I have somewhat mixed feelings regarding the epilogue, as the book is more focused on Celeste and the town and the family history and the magic with some romance sprinkled in, and the epilogue is almost exclusively romance but has no magic at all, so that felt a bit mismatched. But I do enjoy a cozy sapphic witchy/bakery/woodsy romance, so I did enjoy it, even if it felt a bit tacked on.
My usual comment about how sanity is treated in genre fiction applies here, to some degree. But overall, I like following Celeste's journey through this world and around these interesting characters.
December 3, 2024
Queer horror fantasy with a dash of mystery and romance wrapped in a cozy little town.
This book starts off and it feels like an adventure is about to happen and one for sure does. This book is a page-turner that will keep you guessing on what will happen next. We meet Celeste who just lost her job with the US Forestry Service. When she finds an adventurer's wanted ad that pays she's left with no choice but to take the job in the mountains of Virginia. She soon realizes that this cute little cozy town is more than just that.
I had a blast while reading this. Not only did I enjoy Celeste as a lead the side characters as just as entertaining. There is a dash of romance that was so adorable!
The magic and curse it's all thought out and well done. The world felt different and one of a kind.
I quite enjoyed the writing style. I will be reading more from Vesper Doom. This is very much a cozy horror and I want more of it!
This cozy horror with a dash of romance, will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering how the curse will unfold.
This book starts off and it feels like an adventure is about to happen and one for sure does. This book is a page-turner that will keep you guessing on what will happen next. We meet Celeste who just lost her job with the US Forestry Service. When she finds an adventurer's wanted ad that pays she's left with no choice but to take the job in the mountains of Virginia. She soon realizes that this cute little cozy town is more than just that.
I had a blast while reading this. Not only did I enjoy Celeste as a lead the side characters as just as entertaining. There is a dash of romance that was so adorable!
The magic and curse it's all thought out and well done. The world felt different and one of a kind.
I quite enjoyed the writing style. I will be reading more from Vesper Doom. This is very much a cozy horror and I want more of it!
This cozy horror with a dash of romance, will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering how the curse will unfold.
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