Bound to Dine for Readers with Author Maithree Wijesekara
Dinner for the Readers
Good food, new bookish friends, and maybe even your next favourite read!
Join Bound & Co for an intimate evening at Rose Read Bookshop followed by dinner at Postino Osteria, celebrating Australian author Maithree Wijesekara and her soon to be completed fantasy series, The Obsidian Throne Trilogy.
Bound to Dine is a social experience for readers of every kind. It’s an opportunity to step away from the usual book event format, share a beautiful meal, meet fellow readers and support an Australian author in a relaxed setting. Come because you already love fantasy, come because you’re curious about it, or come simply because dinner with a table full of book people sounds like your kind of night!
You'll get a glass of wine before we settle in for Jacquie Pham in conversation with Maithree, getting to know the person behind the books and exploring the world of The Obsidian Throne Trilogy (spoiler free!!). Following this we head as a group to Postino Osteria, an elevated Italian restaurant where we share a set menu (below).
Throughout the evening, there’ll be plenty of time to chat, connect and talk books beyond just the one we’re celebrating. You might arrive devoted to romance, literary fiction, thrillers or something else entirely and leave having discovered the fantasy series that finally converts you.
And, as always, solo guests are at the heart of how Bound & Co events are designed. You don’t need to organise a friend to come with you. We’ll make the introductions and create a table where arriving alone doesn’t mean spending the evening alone.
What's Included:
A hosted Bound to Dine experience with Maithree Wijesekara at Rose Read Bookshop
An intimate author in-conversation hosted by Jacquie Pham
Glass of wine on arrival
A gift to take home thanks to our sponsor Poco Vino
Set menu dinner at Postino Osteria
An evening designed for you to meet fellow readers
Whether Obsidian Throne is already on your bookshelf or fantasy has never made it onto your TBR, there’s a seat at the table for you!
Come for dinner. Meet your fellow readers. Discover something new.
Gallery
Lineup
Author Maithree Wijesekara
Maithree Wijesekara is an Australian-Sri Lankan author based in Melbourne. Graduating with a Master’s degree in Dentistry in 2021, she splits her time between telling people to please brush their teeth, and writing stories inspired by the fantastical and the real world. When she isn’t writing, you can find her attempting to finish her never-ending TBR pile and ingesting unhealthy amounts of coffee. If given the chance, she will slip in a mention of her dearly departed Labrador during conversation.
Hosted by Jacquie Pham
Jacquie Pham is a Vietnamese-Australian writer of adult fiction. She currently lives in Sydney with two very goofy dogs. Don’t tell them, but Jacquie also loves cats. Those Opulent Days, her debut novel, was published in 2024. She is represented by Danya Kukafka at Trellis Literary Management.
The Prince Without Sorrow (Obsidian Throne, Book 1)
WELCOME TO THE RAN EMPIRE. Where winged serpents fly through the skies. Giant leopards prowl the earth. And witches burn blue as they die. A prince born into violence Prince Ashoka is considered an outcast for opposing his father Emperor Adil Maurya’s brutal destruction of the Mayakari witches. A witch seeking revenge Shakti vows retribution for the murder of her aunt and annihilation of her village at the hands of the emperor, even though she is bound by the Mayakari’s pacifist code. A curse that will change the world In her anger Shakti casts a violent curse, the consequences of which will leave both her and Ashoka grappling for power. Do they take it for themselves and risk becoming what they most hate? Or do they risk losing power completely as the world around them is destroyed? Drawing on inspiration from the Mauryan Empire of Ancient India, debut author Maithree Wijesekara plunges readers into the first amazing book of the Obsidian Throne trilogy.
The Witch Without Memory (Obsidian Throne, Book 2)
THE RAN EMPIRE IS IN DANGER. A prince and a witch must burn it to the ground in order to raise it up out of the ashes. An empress with vengeance in her heart. Prince Ashoka’s sister, Aarya, has named herself empress and is determined to reverse her brother’s mercy for the mayakari. A witch lost in dreams. Shakti is being held by shadowy figures, drugged and forced to commit an unspeakable crime. When she wakes, she finds herself prisoner, but gaps in her memory around the curse she has cast trap her more thoroughly than any cage. The prince trying to change the world. Ashoka must find allies and quickly if he is to usher in a new dawn for the mayakari, but the tougher the decision he makes, the farther he gets from his true self. He must determine what he is willing to lose in pursuit of his vision of the future. The first blow has been dealt by Ashoka and Shakti, but the empire not only remains, it appears stronger—and more brutal—than ever. Both must find ways to fight back before nature is deprived of its spirits and guardians, and the reign of the new empress spreads its destruction and oppression to lands beyond. Maithree Wijesekara's book The Prince Without Sorrow was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller.
The Emperor Without Mercy (Obsidian Throne, Book 3)
You'll have to come and hear about it..
Yinfluence Editorial
Maithree Wijesekara is represented by Yinfluence Editorial. Yinfluence Editorial is an australian collective founded by author and editor Emma Pei Yin. They provide structural editing, copyediting, proofreading, manuscript assessments and culturally informed feedback for fiction, with a particular focus on supporting writers of colour, queer writers and neurodivergent writers. Bringing together craft expertise and cultural insight, their team offers rigorous, thoughtful editorial support that strengthens manuscripts while safeguarding the integrity of every voice. They also offer marketing and publicity packages.
FAQs
- Do I need to have read Obsidian Throne?
Not at all! This event is for readers of every genre. Whether you’re already a fantasy fan, fantasy-curious or usually read something completely different, you’re very welcome. You might even leave with a new favourite genre.
- Can I come alone?
Absolutely. Bound & Co events are designed with solo guests in mind, and many of our guests arrive on their own. We’ll help make introductions and create plenty of opportunities to meet and chat with fellow readers.
- What does my ticket include?
Your ticket includes the hosted Bound to Dine experience, an in-conversation with Maithree Wijesekara, a wine on arrival, a take home gift, and dinner at Postino Osteria.
- Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Yes. Please include your dietary requirements when completing the order form so we can arrange these with the venue ahead of the event.
- Will I get to meet Maithree?
Yes! This is an intimate event designed to feel much more relaxed than a traditional author talk. You’ll hear from Maithree during the in-conversation and have the opportunity to connect throughout the evening.
- Is this a book club?
No. There’s no required reading and definitely no homework! Bound to Dine is about bringing readers together over good food, conversation and a shared love of books.
- Do I need to be a fantasy reader?
Definitely not. Part of the fun is discovering books and genres you might not usually pick up. Come for the dinner and the company; discovering a new fantasy obsession is just a possible side effect.
- What should I wear?
Whatever you feel comfortable in. Think relaxed dinner out rather than formal event.
- What if I don’t know anyone?
You won’t be the only one. We intentionally create our events so it feels natural to meet people, without awkward networking or pressure to mingle. You’ll be seated with fellow readers and we’ll take care of the introductions.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
