Sally Bend's Blog, page 15

Finding My Way With The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy

Title: The Sapling Cage
Author: Margaret Killjoy
Publication Date: September 24, 2024 by The Feminist Press at CUNY
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Female

The Sapling Cage is a book I very nearly gave up on. In fact, I consigned it to the DNF pile within a few chapters of starting it, but I hated the thought of allowing the tale of a transgender witch to fall slip through my hands, so I gave it a second chance. It was still an awkward, abrupt beginning that reeks of plot convenience, and I still struggled with some of the early chapters, but at some point, Margaret Killjoy found her footing and her voice, and I was swept up in the tale.

This is the story of Lorel, a young transwoman who takes her best friend’s place with a coven of witches, just as determined to be accepted as a witch as a woman. In many ways – at least thematically – this is a story of gender as well. Sometimes it’s subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, but gender, gender roles, and gender expectations are important to the story. We’re in a very medieval-like fantasy world, but for all that the witches are gender exclusive, the knights are gender inclusive, and while same-sex and polyamorous relationships still have their naysayers, as a whole the society is largely tolerant. Lorel spends much of the book fearing discovery and rejection but, without getting into spoilers, this is not a story of biology.

As for the story itself, we’re presented with a world in which a magical blight is killing trees, monsters of old are roaming the land, and children and travelers keep turning up dead – and, of course, the witches are blamed for it. There’s a political aspect to the story as well, with a Duchess looking to consolidate power, pitting knights against renegade knights and witches, but that felt a little underdeveloped for me. It was magic that propelled the story forward, with a new kind of magic – one that comes at a cost – playing a significant role in the wider conflict.

For all of that, though, Lorel and her sister whelps – witches in training – never get to actually cast a spell throughout the book. They learn to see the ley lines, to recognize where power resides, but not how to tap into it. Instead, their growth is more about working together, recognizing their own inner strengths, and outwitting their opponents. Of course, this being a book with strong YA vibes, they save the day more than once, undermining and overriding the witches around them. It’s preposterous and frustrating, but one of those tropes you just have to accept.

For Lorel’s sake alone, I’m glad I gave The Sapling Cage a second chance because I think Killjoy did a superb job of exploring a transgender heroine, acknowledging her physical challenges, and confronting her inevitable outing, but never losing sight of her as a young woman. The story started to come together about halfway through as well, and by the time we were hit with the twists and reveals in final arc, I was invested enough to feel the same sense of shock and betrayal as Lorel and her sisters. Maybe not the great read I always hope for when transgender characters are involved, but definitely a good read.

Rating: 1/2

My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Weekend Freebies – Queer Kink & Cozy Romance

Well, if it’s another weekend, then it must be time to bend our hearts and minds around preparing for the week ahead, and how better to do that than with some Weekend Freebies!

Every weekend I search through the free titles on Amazon, looking for those that might interest visitors to the ruins. Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can still download the titles through one of Amazon’s free reading applications.

Please do be sure to check the price before downloading anything, as most freebies are limited time offers, and some are specific to certain regions.

Enjoy!

Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post

Stacking The Shelves (Reading Reality) and The Sunday Post (Caffeinated Reviewer) are both blog memes about sharing the books we’re adding to the shelves and sharing news of the week ahead.

New Purchases

I finished 2 books off my shelf this week, which meant I was justified in buying 3 more . . . right?

The Last Days of the Dinosaurs by Riley Black – I met Riley and their emojis in the eXodus to Bluesky, and when I found out they are an award-winning author of science books and an cool-ass fossil hunter, I had to pick this up immediately!

The Starless Crown by James Rollins – With dinosaurs in my hand and thoughts of adventure in my head, I guess it was no surprise that I was drawn to Rollins’ epic fantasy debut, since I’ve long been a fan of his SIGMA Force novels.

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher – This one came my way via a recommendation from Pearl O’Leslie, a wonderful woman and an astounding author who has turned me on to some of my favorite novels of the last few years.

For Review

A trio of review titles this week, 2 from NetGalley and 1 direct from the author:

Rule of Extinction by Geoff Jones – a post-apocalyptic science-fiction adventure filled with unforgettable heroes, terrifying monsters, and heart-pounding action [Feb 25, 2025]Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff – this cozy horror novel set in modern-day Toronto includes phenomenal characters, fantastic writing, and a queer romance–the perfect balance of dark and delightful [Apr 1, 2025]Mistletoe Bound by B.J. Frazier – Mistletoe Bound is the kinky hallmark of a wonderful life Christmas tale [Dec 24, 2024]Currently Reading

Finally, as for what I’m currently reading, The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy is a DNF that I’m giving a second chance; with a new Southern Reach novel on the shelves, I’m stepping back into Area X by Jeff VanderMeer; and I’m enjoying the latest 3 episodes of The Dominion and the Sugilite by B.J. Frazier.

A Long Slow Journey through The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams

Title: The Witchwood Crown
Author: Tad Williams
Publication Date: February 26, 2019 by Daw Books
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Various

Sometimes you really can’t go home again.

I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn back in high school, which was 30 years ago, and while I don’t have strong memories of it, I enjoyed it. Otherland didn’t work for me at all, but I chalked that up to my not being a fan of the whole virtual reality/gaming genre. The War of the Flowers was an OK read, but I figured my lack of enthusiasm was due to my preference for epic, multi-volume sagas. In light of that, Shadowmarch should have been a near-perfect fit, yet I’ve been stuck on book 3 for years now. I abandoned it, returned to it, and abandoned it again more times than I can count.

Anyway, that brings us back to The Last King of Osten Ard and The Witchwood Crown. I was looking forward to it, but when my read of the original ARC fell flat, I blamed it on an ugly pre-presss PDF format. Call me old-fashioned, but when it comes to epic fantasy I like to hold a big, thick book in my hands, flipping back and forth between maps, glossaries, dramatis personæ, and the story, so I went out and bought the hardcover for myself . . . and still found myself underwhelmed.

I spent a little over a month with that hardcover, willing myself to find my way into the story, but couldn’t get past the glacial pacing or unlikable characters. As interesting as it was to see Simon and Miriamele having grown older, all they’ve seemed to do is suffer, bicker, and linger on as royal figureheads. Whatever spark they had in the original saga is sadly absent here. It was Miriamele who bothered me the most, having gone from one the strongest women I can remember in epic fantasy to a sad Shakespearean figure, terrified by dreams, and wallowing in self-pity. And don’t even get me started on Prince Morgan, perhaps the most distasteful, most tiresome character Williams has ever crafted. He, more than anything, was the breaking point for me, and I consigned that hardcover to the DNF stack in the corner.

And yet, even then I wasn’t ready to call it quits. At some point, craving a deep, dense, thick epic fantasy in which to immerse myself, I picked up the mass market paperback and decided to give it one more try. After all, it took me 4 tries to get into Steven Erikson’s first book, and other authors have benefited from waiting for the right place, right time.

That was two years ago – September 2022 – and I just finished it today.

I’m glad I did it, and I will likely give Empire of Grass a read at some point, but I’ll either need Simon and Miri to wake up or Morgan to step up and become a character worthy of his grandparents for me to finish that. This was such a long read, such a repetitive read, and very little actually happened. The actual plot developments could have been covered in a novella, and if you cut out Morgan’s drinking scenes and Simon and Miri’s bedroom bickering scenes, I’m sure you could cut 100 pages from the book. There are so many POVs that the narrative feels constantly interrupted, and being that it was a book I only returned to between other books, I sometimes had trouble remembering who they were or why they mattered.

As for the end, there are a few exceptionally strong plot developments that really feel like a kicking off point for the series, but then there’s a massive twist that certainly had shock value . . . but which leaves me with way too many questions. For a POV character to change so drastically, with no hint as to those thoughts in any of their chapters, feels like a cheat. So in addition to needed more from Simon, Miri, and Morgan for me to finish with the next book, I also need some valid explanation for that twist.

The Witchwood Crown wasn’t a horrible book. It wasn’t even necessarily a bad book. It just wasn’t a good book.

Rating:

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Rule of Extinction by Geoff Jones

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

My choice this week is pitched as ideal for fans of sci-fi mysteries like Wayward Pines, monster horror like Jurassic Park, stories of everyday people banding together like The Mist, and first contact sagas about visitors with a hidden agenda like V and V: The Final Battle . . . and that’s pretty much my teenage years!

Rule of Extinction

by Geoff Jones
Horror | Sci Fi & Fantasy
447 pages, Kindle Edition
February 25, 2025 by Breakaway Delusions

A civilization-ending comet is headed for Earth.

Two days before impact, thousands of mysterious pods land in a swath across North America. When people touch them, the pods open. Anyone who climbs inside is carried away.

No one knows where the pods came from and no one knows where they go, but finding one is David Williams’ only chance to save his family from the end of the world.

… and escaping Earth is just the beginning.

The Preservation of Species trilogy begins with Rule of Extinction, a post-apocalyptic science-fiction adventure filled with unforgettable heroes, terrifying monsters, and heart-pounding action.

Falling in Love with Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

Title: Bride of the Shadow King
Author: Sylvia Mercedes
Publication Date: November 12, 2024 by Ace
Genres: Romantasy
Protagonist Gender: Various

Bride of the Shadow King captured me from the opening chapter, with a princess consigned to a convent, sibling bickering during a wild carriage ride . . . and an attack by fae riding unicorns with flaming horns atop their heads! With my curiosity already stoked, Princess Faraine quickly endeared herself to me, and King Vor ensured I’d see this through to the end.

What I appreciated most about this was that Sylvia Mercedes crafted a proper romantasy, a book that would be entirely serviceable as either a fantasy or a romance, but which becomes completely captivating in how she intertwines the two, weaving a story that’s stronger than the sum of its parts. Both Faraine and Vor are strong characters, equally capable of carrying the fantasy, and their slow-burn romance really worked for me. It helps that they both have a strong cast of supporting characters who grow and evolve over the course of the book – although, I am sad to say, the woman who excited me the most does not live to see the story through to the end.

There’s magic and mythology here, along with a wonderful degree of worldbuilding, especially in the underground realm of the troldfolk. Usually, when it comes to fantasy, I’m all about the forests, the mountains, and the seas, but here I was utterly consumed by the crystal lighting, the racing rivers, the gaping chasms, and the construction underground. I wanted to wander down there and explore their world, even with the terrifying dangers stalking the depths. Both the humans above and the troldfolk below have something they need from the arranged marriage, an alliance against their own enemies, but the truth is, there are evils within both ruling families that make me very uncomfortable.

As for what I want from the next book? Some answers about what lies beneath Mythanar, the truth about Vor’s step-mom and her creepy priest, to know whether Faraine’s father intends to honor the alliance; and (hopefully) more of the fae and their flaming steeds.

Well-paced and perfectly detailed, Bride of the Shadow King is a book worthy of its characters. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, but coming out the end, I’m eager to pick up the next two books in the series.

Rating: 1/2

My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Weekend Freebies – Fantasy & Romance

Well, if it’s another weekend, then it must be time to bend our hearts and minds around preparing for the week ahead, and how better to do that than with some Weekend Freebies!

Every weekend I search through the free titles on Amazon, looking for those that might interest visitors to the ruins. Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can still download the titles through one of Amazon’s free reading applications.

Please do be sure to check the price before downloading anything, as most freebies are limited time offers, and some are specific to certain regions.

Enjoy!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

My choice this week is a Gaslamp-lit romantasy of hags, ogres, and three magical queens in an uneasy alliance.

Wooing the Witch Queen

by Stephanie Burgis
Romance – Fantasy
304 pages, Paperback
February 18, 2025 by Bramble

In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.

When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…

Little does Saskia know that the “wizard” she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he’s in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?pletely original novel and further cements his status as a “horror master” (NPR).

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Asylum by Una McCormack

Title: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Asylum
Author: Una McCormack
Publication Date: November 5, 2024 by Pocket Books/Star Trek
Genres: Sci-fi
Protagonist Gender: Various

My only previous experience with Una McCormack was the Deep Space Nine relaunch novel The Missing, which was merely an okay science fiction novel of first contact and a poor Star Trek novel, so I wasn’t sure what to expect of Asylum, her Strange New Worlds novel . . . but I’m delighted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Where I felt as if character voices were almost entirely unrecognizable in her DS9 entry, here they were so strong that I could ‘hear’ the episode in my head.

For those wondering when the story takes place, it’s sometime during or after the most recent season, with Una Chin-Riley’s trial looming large over both the current and flashback narratives. This is a story of refugees, oppression, racism, and isolationism that brings to mind memories of Let That Be Your Last Battlefield from the original series, only here it’s the presence or absence of a dew claw on the cat-like species that separates them.

In many ways, it’s a quiet, personal, low-stakes story focusing on the consequences of cultural oppression for one small Euxhanian family and one lone Illyrian woman. Their struggles parallel one another, with the fears and anxieties of the past having a surprising influence on the reality of the present. It takes a while to understand why the narrative is split the way it is, and to appreciate how it all comes together, but I loved how McCormack brought them together.

As is often the case in the series, Captain Pike is largely a secondary character here, although the story does establish how he and Una met, why they became friends, and how she helped him through a dark period in his career. We don’t see a great deal of the rest of the crew, but La’an Noonien-Singh and Nyota Uhura get their moments, and we get some fabulous exposure to the wonderfully eccentric Pelia.

If, like me, you’re itching for season 4, Asylum will definitely satisfy your Strange New Worlds cravings and help tide you over until the new year.

Rating:

My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Weekend Freebies – Queer Fiction

Well, if it’s another weekend, then it must be time to bend our hearts and minds around preparing for the week ahead, and how better to do that than with some Weekend Freebies!

Every weekend I search through the free titles on Amazon, looking for those that might interest visitors to the ruins. Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can still download the titles through one of Amazon’s free reading applications.

Please do be sure to check the price before downloading anything, as most freebies are limited time offers, and some are specific to certain regions.

Enjoy!