How to put a story from The Sietch on Kindle with calibre
You can put a story from The Sietch on a Kindle without using Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. First, download the forum thread as an EPUB with WP Downloader. You can then add the file to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and copy it to your Kindle over USB.
Calibre also lets you manage the book’s metadata and cover before transferring it to your e-reader.
What you need
Before you start, you will need:
- A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
- The free calibre e-book manager
- A USB cable for your Kindle
- The URL of the story thread on the-sietch.com
- WP Downloader, a free browser-based tool that requires no installation
A story URL from The Sietch usually looks like this:
https://www.the-sietch.com/index.php?threads/some-story-name.123456/WP Downloader collects the threadmarked chapters from the forum thread and combines them into one book. It downloads the whole story from The Sietch, so you cannot use it to download a single chapter or a list.
Step 1: Download the story with WP Downloader
Open the The Sietch downloader and paste the story thread URL into the box.
WP Downloader detects the site and processes the story. Choose EPUB, which calibre can add and convert directly. You can also choose whether to include the story’s images.
You do not need to sign in for a public story. If a story is restricted to members, you can sign in with your account on The Sietch to download content that account is allowed to read. WP Downloader uses your credentials only to fetch the story you requested.
WP Downloader cannot bypass members-only access, paywalls, age restrictions, or other locks. It downloads only material your account can already open.
When the EPUB is ready, save it somewhere easy to find, such as your Downloads folder. For more help with this step, see how to download The Sietch stories.
Support for The Sietch and the other fiction archives on WP Downloader was ported from FanFicFare, the open-source fanfiction downloader licensed under Apache-2.0.
Step 2: Add the EPUB to calibre
Open calibre and select Add books. Find the EPUB you downloaded and add it to your calibre library.
The story will appear with your other calibre books. You can edit its metadata or cover if you want to change how it appears in your library, but this is optional.
You can also check the EPUB in calibre’s e-book viewer before converting it. The viewer has a Read aloud feature for listening on your computer.
Step 3: Convert the EPUB to AZW3
Select the story in calibre and choose the option to convert the book. Set AZW3 as the output format.
AZW3 is a Kindle format that you can transfer to a Kindle e-reader over USB. WP Downloader does not create AZW3 or MOBI files, so calibre converts the downloaded EPUB for you.
After the conversion finishes, the calibre library entry will contain both the original EPUB and the converted AZW3 file.
Step 4: Connect your Kindle over USB
Connect your Kindle to the computer with its USB cable. When calibre recognizes the device, select the story and use Send to device.
Calibre will copy the Kindle-compatible file to the e-reader. Once the transfer is complete, disconnect the Kindle and find the story in its library.
The file travels directly from your computer to the Kindle, so this process does not use Amazon’s Send to Kindle service.
AZW3 and MOBI over USB
Kindle e-readers can still open MOBI and AZW3 files copied over USB. Amazon stopped accepting MOBI through its Send to Kindle service, but Kindles can still open MOBI files transferred directly over USB.
AZW3 works well for this process because calibre can convert the EPUB from WP Downloader and send the converted file to a connected Kindle. WP Downloader does not provide MOBI or AZW3 downloads.
To use Amazon’s service instead of a USB cable, follow the guide to send The Sietch stories to Kindle.
Updating a story with new chapters
WP Downloader cannot add chapters to an EPUB you already downloaded. If the author posts more threadmarked chapters, download the whole story again.
Add the new EPUB to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and transfer the new version to your Kindle. You can manage the old and new files in your calibre library.
FAQ
Can WP Downloader download a story from The Sietch as AZW3?
No. WP Downloader provides EPUB for everyone and PDF after a free Discord sign-in. Use calibre to convert the EPUB to AZW3.
Do I need an account on The Sietch?
You do not need an account for public stories. Signing in is optional and lets WP Downloader reach members-only stories that your account can already read.
Does this method use Send to Kindle?
No. Calibre converts the EPUB and sends the book directly to a Kindle connected by USB.
Can I download only one chapter?
No. For The Sietch, WP Downloader downloads the whole story by collecting the threadmarked chapters into one book.
Can I use the same EPUB with a Kobo?
Yes. You can also use the EPUB with other reading workflows. See the guide to reading The Sietch stories on Kobo.