iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 2h

#OcTBRChallenge book nine: Mortis by Lily James

illustrated cover of Mortis by Lily James
background is a dark forest. front and center is a muscular satyr cuddling a blushing (slightly nerdy-looking) human to his chest. the human is wearing glasses, light jeans, a white button down (with tie? I think?), and an olive/yellow-green sweater vest.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 17h

#OcTBRChallenge book eight: Pareidolia by Lee McCormick (Nox is officially my favorite mothman now)

illustrated cover for Pareidolia by Lee McCormick. background is a nighttime forest. a dark mothman with red and white wings holds a very tattooed and shirtless human tightly against his body.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 06/10/2026

#OcTBRChallenge book seven (look, I was taking it easy today and spent most of my time in bed reading): The Villain by Viv Allen

cover for The Villain by Viv Allen. Front and center is the naked back of a large, muscular man (I assume). everything is monochrome but the highlights of decorative.. water splashes? are a lovely teal.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 06/10/2026

#OcTBRChallenge book six: His Master by MM Farmer

cover of His Master by MM Farmer. background is money--bills in bundles, mostly. there's a green neon sign in the top left corner with the series name "Omegas After Dark" and a man as the focal piece. He's got short, upswept brown hair and is wearing an open dark suit jacket with no shirt underneath.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 05/10/2026

#OcTBRChallenge book five was a novella: Technically Tame by Arden Steele

cover of Technically Tame by Arden Steele. background is a very dark city street (small and quaint, not bustling like NYC) with a purple full moon in the sky. front and center is a man with brown hair wearing an open motorcycle jacket (shocker, he's shirtless underneath). I presume he's wearing dark pants as you can almost see a belt buckle but it all fades into shadow at the bottom of the cover.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 05/10/2026

#OcTBRChallenge book four: Painted in Wildflowers by Emmy Sanders. as expected, this book was fucking fantastic. another series ender to add to my october collection, I guess. o.0

cover for Painted in Wildflowers by Emmy Sanders. background is purple/pink/yellow/green. it's a blurry field and sky. front and center is Remi, the main character. he's got short blonde hair and is wearing a cream-colored sweater.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 04/10/2026

#OcTBRChallenge book three: Wilde's End by Saxon James

cover of Wilde's End by Saxon James

background is a misty forest of trees. front and center is a shirtless man (Wilde) standing sideways but looking at the viewer. he has wavy brown hair and a trimmed-but-full beard with a hand up to his face, index finger resting on his lower lip.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 03/10/2026

second book for the #OcTBRChallenge is How to Catch a Hellhound by Shannon Mae. very pleased to finally have Jude's book. interested to see where the next related series takes us. finished this one before bed last night with no idea what I'm going to read next, that's after-coffee-mel's problem.

cover of How to Catch a Hellhound by Shannon Mae. background is a forest in dark and orange/yellow tones. Front and center is a man with short brown hair and a light beard. his dark shirt (looks like denim to me) is open to reveal his chest. between the man and the forest are stripes of crisscrossing "crime scene do not cross" tape.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 02/10/2026

first read of this year's #OcTBRChallenge is The Beast Who Begged Me by Leighton Greene. I've been looking forward to this one for a while. it was a fantastic ending to a great trilogy and definitely makes me want to binge read the related series again.

cover of The Beast Who Begged Me by Leighton Greene. most prominent feature are a pair of hands, tattooed at the knuckles. left hand is bandaged with blood showing through the white wrapping. figure is hinted at wearing a suit (given the white dress shirt cuffs). figure is shrouded in shadow and has hints of red flowers and grey snakes around it.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 01/10/2026

check out this awesome itch.io bundle. I've got books in both tiers alongside some other fantastic creators. bundle available for the entirety of spooky month! itch.io/b/3909/the-m...

black rectangle with a shrouded figure on the left. text reads: The Monster Fun Bundle. Support indie creators directly and get 17 books and comics for $15 or get all 26 books and comics for $20

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 23/09/2026

it's not done. the back wall isn't affixed. I haven't settled on a light source. I'm still making books for the shelves. not sure what I want to put on top of all the cases. there's work to be done. but I'm pretty pleased. meet the crowboy and his little queer library.

white cube shelf converted into a tiny library for my crowboy. the boy (a dummy13 figure with a crow head, cowboy hat, converse shoes, and fancy bow tie shirt), his furniture, and all his books were 3d printed. the book covers were cobbled together with images I could find on bookseller sites and spines I had to make up on my own. the books are some of my faves, but it's nowhere near done. the walls of the library are slate blue and the floor is meant to look like wood (dollhouse floor sticker paper). bookcases are dark brown. bottom shelves are light brown. the window casing is light-light brown. eventually there will be something window worthy behind it.

close up of some of the shelves and their books.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 22/09/2026

Layla Reyne’s SIGH OF RELIEF is here! A missed connection. A second chance. Fifteen years of wondering what might have been. Sigh of Relief brings a sexy, emotional, later-in-life romance to the Table for Two series finale. DIRECT: payhip.com/b/krVpv OTHERS: books2read.com/sighofrelief/

trope arrow graphic. cover of Sigh of Relief by Layla Reyne is center. features a caucasian silver fox with a short beard wearing a dark button-down shirt that is not, in fact, buttoned.

listed tropes include:
-Only One Bed
-Missed Connection
-Light K!nk
-Later in Life
-Coming Out
-M/M Romance

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 21/08/2026

A missed connection. A second chance. Fifteen years of wondering what might have been. Sigh of Relief by Layla Reyne is coming Sept 22, bringing a sexy, emotional later-in-life romance to the Table for Two series. Preorder now. DIRECT: payhip.com/b/krVpv WIDE: books2read.com/sighofrelief/

arrow trope graphic. the cover for Sigh of Relief is center and features an "older" man (40s, maybe?) with short dark hair and a short grey beard. he's wearing an open black button-down shirt.

tropes are: m/m romance, later in life, missed connection, only one bed, light kink, coming out.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 18/07/2026

I'm taking life very seriously today. meet my daedric crowboy. he's a work in progress, but I'm having a great time. (I used bits from dummy 13 models on printables by soozafone, the wizard lizard, eutanzi, mvdesign, reni the raven, panda studio, and dummy13lab)

3d printed posable figure. lower legs are bird legs. torso is daedric chest armor. head is a raven/crow wearing a cowboy hat. hands are in finger guns pose.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 16/07/2026

mwuahahahaha! (also thank you for the nudge to buy, half of these will be gifts and I know they'll be loved!)

screen shot of order placed snippet: smut sticker, possum stack sticker, zero fox sticker, and kobold DnD sticker sheet.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 15/07/2026

Layla Reyne’s Whiskey Verse has officially arrived in Kindle Unlimited! For the first time ever, all 22 interconnected queer romantic suspense stories are now available to read in KU. Read in KU or buy here: www.amazon.com/stores/Layla... Reading Order: www.laylareyne.com/whiskey-vers...

Whiskey Verse Series Vibes. Sexy competent queer romantic suspense.

cover of the Agents Irish & Whiskey omnibus. Text reads: Partners-to-lovers. Mature characters. Secret romance. Age gap. Found family. Aiden * Jamie + Mel & Danny.

cover of Trouble Brewing omnibus. Text reads: Workplace romance. Mature heroes. Arguing as foreplay. Found family. Nic & Cam.

cover of Fog City omnibus. Text reads: Forbidden romance. Mature characters. Secret identity. Assassins/Mafia. Hawes & Dante + Helen & Celia + Holt & Brax.

cover for Perfect Play omnibus. Text reads: Marriage of convenience. Cowboy. Mature heroes. Single dad. Marsh & Levi.

laylareyne.com/whiskey-verse-reading-order

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 18/06/2026

decided to paint one of the cats from @poorlycatdraw.bsky.social's medieval cats coloring book onto a badly tie dyed pillowcase. it turned out decently even if the grey paint really didn't want to stick. highly recommend picking up a copy of the coloring book. it's good fun.

white pillowcase tie dyed badly with pink, purple, and blue. front and center is a large grey cat on a throne.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 16/06/2026

Layla Reyne’s Variable Onset is back! Undercover. Forced proximity. Lines you shouldn’t cross—but do anyway. Wide: books2read.com/variableonse... Direct: payhip.com/b/2gQKA Signed Paperback: payhip.com/b/WSDtu For more information, visit Layla Reyne's website: www.laylareyne.com

book release graphic.
background is a dark grey-blue fabric with FBI/law enforcement paraphernalia around the edges (FBI badge, crime scene tape, handcuffs). in the center is an ereader with the cover of Variable Onset by Layla Reyne.

book cover features a bespectacled man looking down to his right. he has styled short brown hair, caucasian skin, and wears a dark grey button-up shirt open at the throat and a black jacket/coat. title is made to look like fair isle knitting in blue and white with the author name below.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 12/06/2026

almost five years ago I released my debut novel Beneath the Shadow Dark. been thinking about it recently for reasons I can't explain. if you're into weird gay fantasy, maybe check it out? available for free: wildfaeriecaps.com/sub/ blurb, cw/tw, playlist, buy links: wildfaeriecaps.com/btsd/

cover of Beneath the Shadow Dark by Mel Polk (though unfortunately the published author name at the time was Melissa Polk).

cover is mostly shades of blue and black. silhouette of a cloaked figure in front of a waterfall with large mushroom trees. cover art by Jonas M. Steger

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 10/06/2026

excited to be reading this. it's been so long that it's simultaneously like reading it for the first time but also visiting with old friends I haven't seen in years. blurb and links here: www.laylareyne.com/wild-type

Currently Reading graphic. background is a white wood surface with the tail end of a blue necktie, an FBI badge, a light blue (possibly grey) scarf, and a mug of cocoa with marshmallows in it. amidst it all is an ereader with the cover for Variable Onset: A Wild Type Novel by Layla Reyne.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 13/05/2026

Layla Reyne’s Variable Onset returns with a new cover by Y’all. That Graphic! - slow-burn romance - forced proximity - mystery in a small town - fake husbands hunting a serial killer - chemistry that refuses to behave June 11 Direct: payhip.com/b/2gQKA June 16 Wide: books2read.com/variableonse...

promotional graphic. background is a blue gradient.

top left corner text reads: Layla Reyne. Sexy competent queer romance.

upper middle text: cover reveal.

two images of the book. one is a paperback the other a color ereader/tablet. the cover features a man, probably at least in his thirties, looking down and to the side. he has dark hair, glasses, and a bit of facial scruff. he's wearing a dark collared shirt open at the throat and a black jacket. the book's title, Variable Onset, is across the cover on a quasi-fair isle knitting pattern swatch.

bottom "text" is a collection of storefront icons: amazon, apple, nook, kobo, and google play.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 03/05/2026

was reminded by @maratearendel.bsky.social's post today, so I'm doing the thing.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 12/04/2026

this is the cover for Right Side of the Crossroads (released last summer). eldest and I made it in GIMP and canva using images mostly from unsplash. (I promise eldest is a whole-ass adult, no matter that referring to them that way makes them sound like a child.)

cover for Right Side of the Crossroads by Mel Polk.

black background with smoke around the sides. in the foreground on the bottom is a poker table with cards and chips. a hand reaches from the darkness in the center of the cover. title is above the hand and author name is below (and below the table). all colors are fairly monochrome in that they range from black to light grey though there is a hint of sepia.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 30/03/2026

so, I was lucky enough to get to read an early copy of The Chosen One Con by @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com, right? there's this whole thing with magic/aether/blue sugar. and it...maybe compelled me to do a thing? (the photography is terrible, but the baked goods were spectacular.)

round chocolate vanilla scone covered in blue sugar.

a metal cooling rack filled with peanut butter cookies. they feature the classic "crosshatch" pattern and are covered in blue sugar.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 17/03/2026

From Dead Draw to Bad Bishop to King Hunt—and finally Best Play—Marsh and Levi's story is a dangerous game of trust and desire. Husbands by law, partners by choice, they must fight for justice, for family, and for a love that could be their perfect play. books2read.com/PerfectPlayS...

dark rainbow background. cover for Perfect Play in the center with arrows pointing away to list featured tropes.

tropes: M/M romance. Romantic Suspense. Cowboy. Marriage of convenience. International Espionage. Single Dad.

addition text is an author "stamp" that reads: Layla Reyne. Sexy competent queer romance.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 17/03/2026

Fast-paced, tense, and tender, the complete Trouble Brewing series—Imperial Stout, Craft Brew, Noble Hops, and Final Gravity—delivers sharp banter, relentless suspense, and slow-burn romance between two men who refuse to back down. books2read.com/TroubleBrewi...

dark rainbow background. cover for Trouble Brewing in the center with arrows pointing away to list featured tropes.

tropes: M/M romance. Romantic Suspense. Tragic Pasts. Silver Fox. Competence kink. Found family. Opposites Attract.

addition text is an author "stamp" that reads: Layla Reyne. Sexy competent queer romance.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 17/03/2026

This series serves up forbidden romance, edge-of-your-seat suspense, & mature heroes and heroines who fight hard and love harder. With passion forged in danger & found family strong as blood, these stories prove that even in the darkest moments, love burns brightest. books2read.com/IrishWhiskey...

dark rainbow background. cover for Agents Irish & Whiskey in the center with arrows pointing away to list featured tropes.

tropes: LGBTQIA+ romance. Romantic Suspense. Age Gap. Forbidden romance. Found family. Opposites Attract.

addition text is an author "stamp" that reads: Layla Reyne. Sexy competent queer romance.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 17/03/2026

Layla Reyne’s Whiskey Verse series collections are out now with stunning special edition covers by the Book Brander Boutique! Buy direct: payhip.com/LaylaReyne For more information about Layla Reyne and her books, visit her website: www.laylareyne.com.

dark rainbow background featuring three book covers diagonal from top left to bottom right: Agents Irish & Whiskey, Trouble Brewing, and Perfect Play.

additional text reads: Now Live. Welcome to the Whiskey Verse. Three romantic suspense series collections featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. Layla Reyne. Sexy competent queer romance.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 22/02/2026

hmm. most recent wasn't.. all that recent (last summer). but it was Right Side of the Crossroads (a queer (mm) soulmates fantasy novella) and can be purchased on itchio or grabbed for free (along with all my other books) on my website. wildfaeriecaps.itch.io/right-side-o... wildfaeriecaps.com

Photo collage (mostly black-and-white) with burnt-orange background. Images from unsplash except the whiskey glass (from a canva search).

Top row, right to left:
Image of a man wearing a dress shirt and vest/waistcoat seated in a leather chair with cigar and tumbler.
Image of a table with a pocketwatch, poker chips, playing cards, shot glass, pistol, and coins.
Image of a multi-tiered riverboat at dusk next to a boardwalk.
Image of a bridge spanning a river. There’s fog and skyscrapers on one side.

Bottom row, right to left:
Image of a hand reaching from darkness.
Image of a tumbler of whiskey on a wooden table.
Image of a hand holding a pair of dice carved to look like skulls.
Image of a person with an animal skull over their face and both hands holding it up.

Center, rightish.
Text (with a decorative separator between) reads: Right Side of the Crossroads. Hot Wet Queer Summer Jam.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 19/02/2026

Layla Reyne is releasing more Whiskey Verse series collections—with stunning special edition covers by the Book Brander Boutique: Agents Irish & Whiskey (Aidan & Jamie; Mel & Danny) Trouble Brewing (Nic & Cam) Perfect Play (Marsh & Levi) For more information visit: www.laylareyne.com. #BookSky

dark rainbow background. trio of series collection covers in a diagonal line from top left to bottom right: Agents Irish & Whiskey, Trouble Brewing, Perfect Play.
top right text reads: triple cover reveal
bottom left text reads: welcome to the Whiskeyverse. Three romantic suspense series collections featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. Layla Reyne. Sexy competent queer romance.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 27/01/2026

despite still feeling poorly, the outside world being terrifying, and 99% of my friends forgetting, this has quite possibly been one of my very best birthdays ever. so weird. celebrated with pizza, vegan tiramisu, Twister (the movie), and dinosaurs. not bad for a tuesday.

photo of birthday loot!
perched atop a colorful blanket is a plush t-rex (with a lopsided almost smirk) cuddling a curly-haired bear (wearing a yellow hoodie with the text "hold on, let me overthink this"), and a bag of yummy cinnamon hard candies.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 18/01/2026

No new pictures. Where are you at mentally?

back of a white car. sticker says: BITE MY OVERSIZE LOAD

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 17/12/2025

look, a sale! the only way to find my work on itchio is with a direct link thanks to their bullshit shadowban/delisting spree earlier this year. the bundle is 11 books for $11 and lasts something like 19 days (until the fifth of january). itch.io/s/173419/win...

Rectangle graphic with misty background in shades of blue of tree silhouettes.
Line of 11 book covers. Titles (in order of publication) include: Beneath the Shadow Dark, Bones of the Gods (BotG1), Stones of Kerrograve (BotG2), The Trow of Duncaster (DemonThief 1), Kostya the Fallen Star (DemonThief 2), Beautiful Undone, Slight Foxing Around the Edges, That Bitter Sting, Silent Ones, Rosebane, Right Side of the Crossroads

Text from top to bottom reads:
itch.io Winter Sale
11 books for $11
From December 17th through January 5th

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 09/12/2025

Layla Reyne’s Trouble Brewing series is back! Reunite with your fave sexy duo or meet the tattooed prosecutor/brewery owner & his favorite federal agent for the first time. -MM Romance -Tragic Pasts -Silver Fox -Found Family -Opposites Attract -Workplace Romance payhip.com/LaylaReyne/c... #BookSky

black square background with fading white border. four ebook covers for Layla Reyne's Trouble Brewing series (Imperial Stout, Craft Brew, Noble Hops, and Final Gravity). Each cover features one of the main characters (Nic or Cam, alternating in that order) with the titles in the following neon colors: teal, yellow, orange, then purple.

additional text reads:
Layla Reyne
Sexy competent queer romance
now live
(logos for storefronts: amazon, apple, nook, kobo, google play)
also available in paperback

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 03/12/2025

exciting news! the Trouble Brewing series by Layla Reyne is being rereleased with amazing new covers (and light edits, apparently). aren't they gorgeous? links to buy/read blurbs/etc: www.laylareyne.com/trouble-brew...

square graphic, black background. features ebook covers for the Trouble Brewing series by Layla Reyne (new covers are dark monochrome photos of the MCs with neon-like titles and lighting)

text:
Currently Reading the Trouble Brewing Series.
(trope list)
- M/M romance
- tragic pasts
- silver fox
- found family
- opposites attract
- workplace romance

(icons on the bottom right for amazon, apple, nook, kobo, google play)

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 27/11/2025

the creator day bundle organized by the lovely @aimeecozza.com is live! there's a lot of great stuff in this collection and you should absolutely check it out. (purchase on 11/28 to most directly benefit creators) itch.io/b/3410/creat...

background is wooden planks (table? deck? who knows!) with dried tree leaves on the left side.

text on the left, from top to bottom reads:
support creators this black friday.
From midnight to midnight Pacific Time on November 28th, creators will receive 100% of their profits. Snag a bundle to show your support.
https://itch.io/b/3410/creator-day-bundle
bundle organized by Aimee Cozza

text on the right, above the cover of Beneath the Shadow Dark by Mel Polk reads:
$50 for 70+ ebooks, audio books, short stories, games, and more—including my novel!

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 11/11/2025

joining the "convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence" train. feel free to play along. this one's from That Bitter Sting (wildfaeriecaps.com/tbs/)

reads as follows:

Chapter One: A literal ghost in the machine.
Dominik

"I give up. The fucking espresso machine is haunted," Dominik said with a heavy sigh, throwing the damp coffee-stained rag onto the countertop.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 31/10/2025

well, nowhere near the end of my tbr, but I did manage a fair few. thanks for another great year. <3

books left to right, top down
Guarded by Sean Ashcroft
Boots for the Billionaire by Andy Rogue
Kiss Me for Luck by Andy Rogue
The Dragon’s Aide by Amy Padilla
Taming His Vampire Mate by Jay Castle
Shepherd’s Runaway by Michelle Frost
The Beautiful Mess by Aimee Nicole Walker
The Vampire’s Receptionist by Amy Padilla
You, Again by Lane Hayes
Map of Pain by Gale Ian Tate
Gifted by Sean Ashcroft
Glittered by Sean Ashcroft
One Cup of Daddy and a Dash of Love by Victoria Sue
Prince Charming by Sean Ashcroft
Aisle Be the Groom by Sage Abbott
Ash on the Tongue by Lee McCormick
The Alpha’s Warlock by Eliot Grayson
Captive Mate by Eliot Grayson
The Alpha Experiment by Eliot Grayson
First Blood by Eliot Grayson
Lost and Bound by Eliot Grayson
Lost Touch by Eliot Grayson
The Alpha Contract by Eliot Grayon
Twice Bitten by Eliot Grayson
The Alpha Gamble by Eliot Grayson
The Temptation by Jocelynn Drake
Seer by Bix Barrow
Wonder by Bix Barrow
Hex Marks the Spot by Morgan Lysand
Atlas & Miles by Lincoln Mercer
Love Potions and Moonlight by Kota Quinn
Vital Signs by L Eveland
Machine Metal Magic by Hanna Dare
Moody as a Minotaur by Lori Ames
Merciless by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine
Hammer & Gavel by CT Whistle
This Might Hurt by Riley Nash
Obliterated by N Boeyer
Blood and Champagne by Marian Black
Daddy’s Little Wolf by AW Scott
Reckoning by Marian Black
Kiss Me, Daddy by Quinn Ward
Black and Brown by AE Via
Starts With a Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker
Necking with a Vampire by Pat Lewis
Slay Tricksters and Silent Skeletons by TO Smith
The Demon’s Vow by LS Monroe
Devil Next Door:Obsession by Alex Jane
Brutal Crush by Evan Barnes
Nothing to Fear by Jenn Plummer
The Hellhound’s Mate by Delaney Rain
Bitten in Stone by Arden Steele
King of Hollywood by Fae Quin
Dirty Little Game by Raleigh Ruebins
Chasing Fate by Jacki James
Foxy Mates by Jacki James
Tempting Tate by Jacki James
Finding Home in Comfort by Kerry Kilpatrick
King of Lies by HL Day
The Sterling Acquisition by Gale Ian Tate

Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
The Witch’s Familiar by TJ Nichols
The Vampire’s Familiar by TJ Nichols
The Rock Star’s Familiar by TJ Nichols
My Freshman Mate by Lexie Slater
Hashtag Holidate by Lucy Lennox
Alpha Mine by Raine Gerald
Bad Blood by Lyla Dane
Kiss My Axe by May Archer
The Vet’s Christmas Familiar by TJ Nichols

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 31/10/2025

last day of the #OcTBRChallenge and here's how I spent the week.. (final count was 69 books for the month. o.0)

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is a lit sparkler with unfocused gold spots.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Foxy Mates by Jacki James
Tempting Tate by Jacki James
Finding Home in Comfort by Kerry Kilpatrick
King of Lies by HL Day
The Sterling Acquisition by Gale Ian Tate
The Witch’s Familiar by TJ Nichols

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is greyscale looking-up view of leafless tree branches against a white sky..
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
The Vampire’s Familiar by TJ Nichols
The Rock Star’s Familiar by TJ Nichols
My Freshman Mate by Lexie Slater
Hashtag Holidate by Lucy Lennox
Alpha Mine by Raine Gerald
Bad Blood by Lyla Dane

Rectangular image of two book covers. Background is a brick wall and wooden floor with three small painted jackolanterns.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Kiss My Axe by May Archer
The Vet’s Christmas Familiar by TJ Nichols

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 24/10/2025

end of week four of the #OcTBRChallenge has arrived. surprise, I read a lot of books..

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is blurry green (grass? Bushes? Foliage of some kind) with large, iridescent bubbles in the foreground.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Hammer & Gavel by CT Whistle
This Might Hurt by Riley Nash
Obliterated by N Boeyer
Blood and Champagne by Marian Black
Daddy’s Little Wolf by AW Scott
Reckoning by Marian Black

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is a fog-shrouded forest in hazy sunlight.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Kiss Me, Daddy by Quinn Ward
Black and Brown by AE Via
Starts With a Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker
Necking with a Vampire by Pat Lewis
Slay Tricksters and Silent Skeletons by TO Smith
The Demon’s Vow by LS Monroe

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is a closeup of pink flowers and green grass against a pale sky.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Devil Next Door:Obsession by Alex Jane
Brutal Crush by Evan Barnes
Nothing to Fear by Jenn Plummer
The Hellhound’s Mate by Delaney Rain
Bitten in Stone by Arden Steele
King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

Rectangular image of two book covers. Background is a full moon surrounded by dramatic clouds.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Dirty Little Game by Raleigh Ruebins
Chasing Fate by Jacki James

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 18/10/2025

so. thanks to @cjsubko.bsky.social, I made polish gingerbread biscuits. next time I'll use more ginger and less sugar. but they turned out pretty good.

polish gingerbread biscuits lined up in rows (though the image is taken sort of diagonally). each biscuit is a capybara face.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 18/10/2025

week three of the #OcTBRChallenge and I almost forgot to post. today has been not great but at least I have more books to read.

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is moss-covered rocks.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Lost and Bound by Eliot Grayson
Lost Touch by Eliot Grayson
The Alpha Contract by Eliot Grayon
Twice Bitten by Eliot Grayson
The Alpha Gamble by Eliot Grayson
The Temptation by Jocelynn Drake

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is sandy ground with hazy light blue sky.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Seer by Bix Barrow
Wonder by Bix Barrow
Hex Marks the Spot by Morgan Lysand
Atlas & Miles by Lincoln Mercer
Love Potions and Moonlight by Kota Quinn
Vital Signs by L Eveland

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is flat, roung slices of oranges, limes, and lemons.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Machine Metal Magic by Hanna Dare
Moody as a Minotaur by Lori Ames
Merciless by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 10/10/2025

end of the second week of the #OcTBRChallenge and...I read a lot? diving back into a comfort series here at the end of the week and having zero regrets. new reads that I *loved* were Map of Pain by Gale Ian Tate and Ash on the Tongue by Lee McCormick.

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is a close up of ice.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
The Beautiful Mess by Aimee Nicole Walker
The Vampire’s Receptionist by Amy Padilla
You, Again by Lane Hayes
Map of Pain by Gale Ian Tate
Gifted by Sean Ashcroft
Glittered by Sean Ashcroft

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is green and brown grasses bent in the wind under a blue sky with white clouds.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
One Cup of Daddy and a Dash of Love by Victoria Sue
Prince Charming by Sean Ashcroft
Aisle Be the Groom by Sage Abbott
Ash on the Tongue by Lee McCormick
The Alpha’s Warlock by Eliot Grayson
Captive Mate by Eliot Grayson

Rectangular image of two book covers. Background is a cloudy sky over distant mountains.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
The Alpha Experiment by Eliot Grayson
First Blood by Eliot Grayson

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 04/10/2025

<zombie pre-coffee noises> (translation: thank you for doing this. you're amazing. but my tbr is weeping.) how about queer fantasy/romance that has a propensity toward soul/fated mates, issues with authority, and found family? all free on my website or for purchase elsewhere. wildfaeriecaps.com

book cover for Beneath the Shadow Dark by Mel(issa) Polk -- a queer fantasy romance (MX) in a subterranean world of dark gods

book cover for Rosebane by Mel Polk -- a queer (FF) faux-historical gothic romance

book cover for Beautiful Undone by Mel(issa) Polk -- a queer (MM) fantasy romance re-imagining of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher

book cover for Right Side of the Crossroads by Mel Polk -- a queer (MM) soulmates fantasy novella

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 03/10/2025

end of the first week (er, three days?) of the #OcTBRChallenge and here's my check in. it's been an interesting couple of days and I won't lie--I've dnf'd a fair number of books. whoops? being a mood reader has its ups and downs.

Rectangular image of six book covers. Background is… lava? I’m not really sure, it just looked neat and wasn’t marked as ai.
Books in order, left to right, top to bottom:
Guarded by Sean Ashcroft
Boots for the Billionaire by Andy Rogue
Kiss Me for Luck by Andy Rogue
The Dragon’s Aide by Amy Padilla
Taming His Vampire Mate by Jay Castle
Shepherd’s Runaway by Michelle Frost

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 01/10/2025

not a typical tbr pile. I'm a rebel, me. I have a mess of unread books, but since I changed ereaders, I have no idea which ones they are. my goal is to go through *all* my books. eventually. (these are mostly just the queer romances...) not very aesthetic, I know. it's early. #OcTBRChallenge

screenshot of the properties of the books directory on my ereader (a boox go 6, if you're curious). the relevant information (which is circled in orange--my single nod to the spooky season. I'm still waking up, alright?) is that I have 1519 books to read through (which is a lie, there should be 1522. hmm. I should fix that, huh?)

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 30/09/2025

*finally* bought spirit city (and some cat-finding games because of course I did).

screenshot from the game Spirit City: Lofi Sessions.

male-presenting character prone on bed with feet up/knees bent while using a laptop. character is white, has point ears, and short, shaggy teal hair. room is various shades of orange with fairy lights in the background. companion spirit is a bug-eyed goldfish in trans flag colors.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 22/09/2025

fuck censorship. I don't draw, but I do write smut (romance/fantasy with graphic sex scenes). get access to free epubs of all my books by signing up on my website (or buy them from a variety of retailers). wildfaeriecaps.com a tease from That Bitter Sting:

‟On your belly, kitten,” Soren ordered, crouched at the foot of the bed between Dominik’s legs. The witch scrambled to obey, muscles flexing under the sigils across his back. With deliberate strokes, Soren dug his fingers into Dominik’s leg muscles, moving ever closer until he nipped at the firm mound of Dominik’s ass. ‟I’m coming back for this,” he murmured to himself.

The divots at the base of Dominik’s spine held a special fascination for Soren. He found himself circling each dimple with his tongue like they held treasures for him to unearth. Beneath him, Dominik began his pleas once more, though they verged on unintelligible. With reluctance, he left off his laving and climbed the arch of his witch’s spine, tongue curling over sigils and leaves and feathered wings. He traced spirals with his lips and rippling muscle with his fingers. By the time he reached the nape of Dominik’s neck once more, their bodies pressed together, his erection against the small of Dominik’s back, they were both panting.

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mel polk @wildfaeriecaps.com · 09/09/2025

finally put some patches on my shoes now that the new iron has arrived. writing burnout has pushed me into picking up a zillion other mildly creative time fillers and I'm not even mad about it.

a pair of yellow converse low-tops (us mens size 12--yes, I have big feet) sit on a wooden floor positioned so that the outside sides face the viewer. the shoes have elastic rainbow laces. the right shoe has a blue triceratops patch on the side while the left shoe has a blue-striped planet with a single ring around it. the shoes are obvious worn because, hello scuffs. but hey, I love them.

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