Hey, you're the designer. I don't even play one on TV.

As it exists right now, "Illuminated" does an excellent job of hearkening to a book that is painstakingly crafted by the cloistered elites for the occasional, ceremonial enjoyment of the cloistered elites. I certainly approve of the (decidedly bourgeois) intent, but readability could go up a titch.

For one thing, quoted text is like 6 point right now - but only sometimes. Sometimes its in like 15-point Elvish. Oh, but wait. You already fucked with that. Now it's like 32-point courier new.

You know, at this point I say up the contrast a little (pale out the background a bit, throw a bit more black into the text), up the standard font a point or two to make up for the fact that it's distressed, bring the quotes back down to earth and let it simmer. I'll run it for a while and see what I hate. How's that sound?

EDIT: Hyperlinks should be more discernible as well. Maybe riff off the teal and gold in the side banners? Hey, you could even extend them to the wheels.