Sally Bend's Blog, page 2

Call for Submissions: Gender Ever After (Gender-Affirming Sapphic Romance Stories)

Gender Ever After is a sapphic romance (and erotic-romance) anthology celebrating the full, beautiful spectrum of gender expression and identity.

Call for Submissions: Gender Ever After (Gender-Affirming Sapphic Romance Stories)

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

A pair of new purchases this week:

The new adult edition of Pantomime by L. R. Lam (Micah runs away from a debutante’s life at home and joins the circus, harboring two secrets–one: he was born between male and female, and two: he may have powers last seen in mysterious beings from an almost-forgotten age)Chasers by Mariah Darling & Eve Harms (When Lenora, a black trans woman in her thirties, finally finds a decent apartment in Los Angeles, she’s excited to have a safe place to live and focus on her music career. But that all changes when she discovers the peephole).For Review

Nothing new on the review front this week.

Currently Reading

Last week, I quickly breezed through my advance copy of The Ethical Werewolf Society by B.J. Frazier & Jessie Spectre (review to come), and largely skimmed through Teenage Girls Can Be Demons by Hailey Piper (which was blandly YA).

As for this week’s reads, it appears I’ve unconsciously settled on a stormy grey/blue theme in paperback, with the Anne Rice classic The Witching Hour and Her Subtle Investigations, the new release by Scarlett Gale, although my current e-read, Thrill of the Chase by Kathryn Nolan, is very much of the pastel persuasion.

Call for Submissions

Gender Ever After is a sapphic romance (and erotic-romance) anthology celebrating the full, beautiful spectrum of gender expression and identity.

Check out the official Call for Submissions and feel free to submit.

Weekend Freebies – Gender Play & Power Play

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

A trio of new purchases this week. First up is Her Subtle Investigations, the surprise new entry in the Warrior’s Guild series by Scarlett Gale—a sequel to one of my all-time favorite reads, His Secret Illuminations.

Next up is the Stephen King-inspired The End of the World As We Know It, a gorgeous hardcover collection of stories set in the world of The Stand, edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Joining it on the shelves is a used paperback copy of Black House by Stephen King & Peter Straub, the second book of what is soon to be The Talisman trilogy.

For Review

Just one review title this week, but a very exciting one!

Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree

November 11, 2025

Return to the cozy fantasy world of the #1 New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes series with a new adventure featuring fan-favorite, foul-mouthed bookseller Fern.

Currently Reading

Two books on the go this week, splitting my time between them. On the off-the-shelf paperback front, we have Darksong Rising, the third Spellsong book, by L.E. Modesitt Jr., and plucked from the digital review shelf, it’s an advance copy of The Ethical Werewolf Society by B.J. Frazier & Jessie Spectre.

In Other (BIG) News…

And the reason I’ve been a little behind in my reading and reviewing is that I have officially signed the contract and will be editing my first professional anthology for Bold Strokes Books!

Gender Ever After is a sapphic romance (and erotic-romance) anthology celebrating the full, beautiful spectrum of gender expression and identity.

I’d love to give equal space to both established voices and rising stars in sapphic fiction, so whether it’s your first story or your hundred-and-first, please don’t be shy.

Check out the official Call for Submissions and feel free to submit.

Weekend Freebies – Gender Play & Power Play

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

Two purchases this week, but they just shipped, so I’ll wait until they arrive to feature them.

For Review

A pair of highly anticipated review titles this week – both of the horrific variety:

Herculine by Grace Byron

October 7, 2025

A “paranoid, self-annihilating” (Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Manhunt and Cuckoo) horror debut following a woman who seeks refuge at an all-trans girl commune only to discover that demons haunt her fellow comrades—and she’s their next prey!

Teenage Girls Can Be Demons by Hailey Piper

September 16, 2025

13 terrifying coming-of-rage stories from the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth, perfect for fans of Clive Barker, Mariana Enriquez and Eric LaRocca

Currently Reading

Two books on the go this week, splitting my time between them. On the off-the-shelf paperback front, we have Darksong Rising, the third Spellsong book, by L.E. Modesitt Jr., and plucked from the digital review shelf, it’s Blood and Treasure by Ryan Pote.

Weekend Freebies – Gender Play & Power Play

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!

Strolling The Witch Roads with Kate Elliott

Title: The Witch Roads
Author: Kate Elliott
Publication Date: June 10, 2025
Genres: Epic Fantasy
Representation: Transgender

An altogether enjoyable read, Kate Elliott’s The Witch Roads is a wonderfully imagined epic fantasy that combines stellar worldbuilding, a fantastic concept of magic, and one of the strongest casts of characters I’ve encountered in recent epic fantasy.

The heart of the story is Elen, a courier whose job is to patrol the perilous Witch Roads—ancient pathways with a strange, enduring magic that holds back the deadly Pall, a fog that spreads Spore infections and mutates everything it touches. As loyal to the memory of her dead sister as to her nephew, Kem, she still feels like an outsider in so many ways, but loves the open road of her rounds. Things look rough when her journey intersects with a haughty prince, but enter a mysterious spirit known as a haunt, and suddenly things get very interesting.

The characters are where this book truly shines. Elliott makes every relationship matter—whether it’s the complicated family bond between Elen and Kem (who is quietly transgender), the fraught trust-building with the haunt, or the tense clashes with members of the prince’s retinue. Their conversations, secrets, and shifting loyalties create a sense of intimacy that balances beautifully with the scale of the epic world around them. The characters really come alive, and while some remain enigmatic mysteries (deliberately, I suspect), others grow and evolve throughout the journey.

The mythology and magic are equally compelling. The Witch Roads themselves are steeped in mystery, the Pall and its Spore outbreaks create a subtle sense of dread, and the lingering echoes of sorcerer-kings and long-buried histories add a layer of mystery. Rather than relying on heavy-handed exposition, Elliott reveals her lore in fragments, letting the reader piece it together like a puzzle—which makes the setting feel both ancient and alive.

The narrative momentum flags a bit entering the second half, with travel sequences and repeated interactions beginning to blur together, but not so much that I felt myself growing impatient or dissatisfied—especially not with the big reveals near the end. It’s a captivating start to the duology with its vivid characters, fresh take on fantasy mythology, and quietly powerful relationships. If you enjoy character-driven epic fantasy with unique magic and a strong emotional core, this is absolutely worth the read.

Rating:

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Promo Blitz: He Should Be Mine by Jessica Jackman

PROMO BLITZ – He Should Be Mine by Jessica Jackman

Length: 98,000 words
Series: My Mobster, book 1
Prior Reading: n/a
Genre: Dark Mafia
Tropes: Grumpy / Sunshine, Opposites attract, Forced proximity (only one apartment), Rich / Poor, Age gap (Nine years. Early twenties & early thirties), Sexual awakening, A boy who needs a firm hand, and the man who is willing to give it to him, Slow burn (Not because they don’t want to, because they can’t), Pining, so much pining, Hurt / Comfort, “I will burn the world for him”
Trigger/Content Warnings: as expected for a dark mafia romance
Designer: Jessica Jackman

https://getbook.at/MyMobster1

The only man I want is the one man I can’t have.

Molly is beautiful. Feisty. Sensual. Passionate. 

A pretty boy who knows his trade.

He is also the very epitome of high-maintenance. Rude. Stroppy. Always aiming to unnerve people with his brazen words and attitude.

It makes me want to hold him tight and show him he doesn’t need to put on an act. Not with me.

But he belongs to my boss. And when your boss is a mafia capo, that’s a line you do not cross.

My role is to guard Molly. Keep him safe. Stop him running away. Prevent anyone from knowing my boss has a boy.

I’m not supposed to crave him. 

I’m just supposed to watch him. Day after day. Night after night.

Watch and never touch.

I’m his jailer. 

He’s my damnation.

AVAILABLE NOW

PreOrder the series now!

My Best Friend is Broken (Friends to Lovers) → getbook.at/MyMobster2

[image error] Absucted by the Femboy (Captive and Captor) → getbook.at/MyMobster3

The Wrong Man (Possessive Romance) → getbook.at/MyMobster4

about the author:

Coffee, spicy books, and a profound disrespect for tomorrow (aka reading until four in the morning). My three favorite things.
I write the kind of stories that keep you up way too late, while squealing, kicking your feet, and falling hopelessly in love with your new book boyfriend (or two… I don’t judge).
Grab that triple-shot brown sugar shaken espresso. Trust me, we’re both going to need it.
My debut novel, He Should Be Mine, hits shelves in August 2025.
Let’s spread those pages.
Love,
Jessica Jackman.
Books to ruin your sleep schedule and raise your standards.

Newsletter sign up:
https://subscribepage.io/JessicaJackman

https://gayromancereviews.com/

Lingering Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon

Title: Among the Burning Flowers
Author: Samantha Shannon
Publication Date: September 16, 2025
Genres: Epic Fantasy
Representation: WLW

Samantha Shannon once again proves why she’s one of the most exciting voices in epic fantasy. Among the Burning Flowers is a beautifully written, richly atmospheric prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree, filled with the same detailed worldbuilding and polished prose that’s made her a must-read. Even at novella length, she makes the world feel expansive, detailed, and alive.

It should be no surprise that the strength of this story is to be found in its female perspectives. Marosa, the imprisoned princess of Yscalin, is the beating heart of the book, her story a darker take on a fairy-tale like situation. Her chapters are layered with grace, intelligence, and quiet defiance that grows into something extraordinary. Estina Melaugo’s sections add some wonderful depth, expanding the scope of the narrative while keeping women at the center of the tale. Together, their points of view are the ones that linger long after the final page, and they give the story its emotional weight.

By contrast, Prince Aubrecht’s storyline is less compelling. While it helps to flesh out the broader political stakes, his chapters lack tension and drama. Since this is a direct prequel to Priory, ending where it began, his perspective feels inevitable rather than suspenseful.

That said, this novella—and at 300 words it is a novella, at least compared to the others—succeeds as both a companion piece and an introduction to Shannon’s world. It doesn’t quite stand on its own—there are threads left dangling, and the ending slides directly into Priory without offering a full resolution—but as a glimpse into the fall of Yscalin and the origins of key players, it’s rewarding and satisfying.

Overall, this is a gorgeously crafted expansion of the Roots of Chaos universe. The female-led storylines shine the brightest, making this a must-read for fans who want more context (and more time in Shannon’s world). It’s not as powerful or complete as a standalone, but still a richly immersive addition.

Rating:

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.