Sally Bend's Blog, page 22
July 12, 2024
Freebie Friday – Putting the TG in TGIF!
Well, if it’s Friday, then it must be time to bend our way into the weekend with Freebie Friday!
Every Friday I search through the free titles on Amazon, looking for those that might be of interest to similarly bent readers, fans, and lovers. 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!
July 11, 2024
Book Tour: Song of Howls by M.D. Grimm.
M.D. Grimm has a new FF fantasy romance out, Sisters of Song book 2: Song of Howls. And there’s a giveaway!
As Alaiya reclaims her life, she never intended to capture the heart of a she-wolf.
Alaiya was trained by her parents to be the perfect wife. Due to her beauty, they knew they could entice a wealthy man to wed her and raise their status. She was a trophy, a prize, brought out to entertain like an obedient dog. Their efforts were rewarded when Lord Salazem claimed her to become his next wife, intent on adding her to his harem. But when two mighty dragons and her sister save her, Alaiya is given a new chance at life.
Determined to stand on her own and discover who she truly is, Alaiya has little interest in relationships. Even when she meets the silver-haired Talla, Alaiya pushes down her desire, unwilling to be caged again.
Talla is the alpha of her large wolf pack in the Firestar Mountains and knows Alaiya is her mate. She is entranced by Alaiya’s strength, courage, and loyalty, and is determined to prove herself as a worthy mate. But first she must overcome Alaiya’s barriers, which might prove to be her greatest challenge.
As Alaiya and her sister adjust to their new lives, they must secure their home from those who would take it from them. Including their parents. As Alaiya struggles to stand on her own, she learns that true strength lies in letting others stand beside her.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Venya and Alaiya are sisters born to greedy and selfish parents. One is neglected and the other exploited. Despite this–or because of it–they cling to each other, best friends as well as family. They find freedom in the mountain range beyond their city of birth… as well as unexpected chances at love with extraordinary beings.
Forging a new future is never easy, but with their unbreakable bond, and lovers and allies at their side, the impossible just might be attainable.
Giveaway
M.D. is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47312/?
Excerpt
For a moment, Alaiya forgot her own troubles and lived in the moment. She’d seen many such beautiful places in the Firestar Mountains but this one beat them all.
Wolves watched them descend, and Alaiya tried not to cower under their piercing stares. The valley was filled with adults, adolescents, and pups. No one approached them, and she had a feeling something significant was happening. Though she couldn’t determine what it was.
The mask she’d learned to wear as a child, that of societal pleasantries, slipped on as they stepped off the trail. Alaiya slid off Talla’s back and inclined her head to those nearby.
“Good evening. I am Alaiya. Thank you for watching over my sister, and for welcoming us into your home. We are in your debt.”
A few of the pups ran up as several adults approached. Tails were tucked, heads were down. Talla stayed beside her, watching them but also glancing at her. If Alaiya allowed herself to indulge in fantasy, she would have sworn she saw pride in Talla’s bright gaze.
Of course she stroked the puppies and offered the adults her hands to sniff. Feeling welcomed and trying not to be overwhelmed, Alaiya resisted reliving the recent dangers again. This was an extraordinary moment that shouldn’t be tarnished by the past. If spending her entire life under the thumb of her parents had taught her anything, it was to savor the good and beautiful for as long as possible.
When Alaiya’s stomach grumbled, Talla nudged the others away and jerked her head, wanting her to follow. Clearly, she was the alpha. Or one of the alphas. Didn’t wolf packs usually have a male and a female leader?
Alaiya tried to decipher if any of the others gave off the alpha vibe but she didn’t sense anything. Talla took her to a pile of fruit that appeared to have been recently picked and washed. There were apples, oranges, and grapes. When she hesitated, Talla nudged her forward lightly. She took a grape, and Talla’s mouth dropped open in a lupine grin.
Alaiya couldn’t resist smiling a little. “Thank you.”
Talla huffed and trotted off. Alaiya sat next to the fruit and munched. She curled into herself, feeling a bit chilled. Her clothes had seen better days, they were dirty and torn. She mourned the state of them. They were ones she’d found in the palace, and she liked the style. She was grateful for the variety of clothing for ladies in the palace, and since she was handy with needle and thread, it was a simple thing to make modifications as needed to fit her, and her sister’s, shapes better. Her parents had insisted she be adept at all manner of womanly tasks and pursuits, including how to sew her own clothing. She’d needed to be a prize catch after all.
She scowled at the memories.
The adult wolves left her alone, though a few pups crept closer, curious. She coaxed them nearer and ended up with four pups draped over her lap and cuddled at her sides. Their fluffy, warm bodies and playful squeaks calmed her. But despite her best efforts, recent events wouldn’t let her settle.
“What disturbs you?”
She jerked and looked up. Talla stood there, naked, hair like silver silk draped over her. Alaiya quickly turned away and cleared her throat. She flushed hot when Talla sat beside her. Though she didn’t touch her or draw closer, Alaiya felt her gaze like a touch. It itched. It burned.
“I… I’ve been through a lot.”
“I gathered that from what Venya said. Do you wish to speak about it?”
“No.”
Talla nodded and when one of the pups nuzzled her hand, she plucked him up and rubbed her face against his. Alaiya softened at the adoration.
“Is he yours?”
Talla smiled. “No. All my pups are grown with pups of their own. I have no desire for more.”
Alaiya frowned. “How old…? Never mind.”
Rude. Very rude question. All those weeks away from society had made her social skills rusty. She used to be far better at small talk and charming all she met.
Talla chuckled. The sound danced pleasantly along Alaiya’s skin. Damn.
“We age differently than humans. Though I can still have children, I have chosen to stop. Let the younger, stronger of my pack produce the next generations. This way, I get to enjoy the pups with little burden.”
So saying, she rubbed the pup’s tummy, and he wiggled with delight.
Alaiya grinned.
“Make sure to drink the water from the falls. It will cleanse you and heal you of any injuries or discomforts.”
“How?”
“This place was blessed by the gods long ago. A hint of their divinity remains.”
Their gazes met and held. Alaiya was struck with the directness of Talla’s stare. She exuded calm and confidence, a steadfastness that encouraged trust and dependency.
And that was a problem. Alaiya needed to stand on her own. She’d obeyed her parents for most of her life. Then she’d depended on Venya to rescue her. But now she had the freedom to be whoever she wanted to be. And she had no clue who that was. So she needed to find out and having a liaison with anyone—even this sexy she-wolf—was not part of the plan.
“That’s amazing. I wouldn’t have believed that a month ago. But after meeting the dragons and… This is a good place to live.”
“Yes. These mountains are sacred and must be protected.”
Alaiya sighed. “And our presence brings danger. If my parents hadn’t sold me to that no good—”
“‘Sold’?” Talla’s voice turned low and menacing.
Author Bio
M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!).
After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier. Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.
Author Website: https://www.mdgrimmwrites.com
Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/mdgrimmwrites
Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdgrimmwrites
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4574220.M_D_Grimm
Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/
Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/
Author Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.D.-Grimm/e/B00I0KZMY6/
July 5, 2024
Freebie Friday – Putting the TG in TGIF!
Well, if it’s Friday, then it must be time to bend our way into the weekend with Freebie Friday!
Every Friday I search through the free titles on Amazon, looking for those that might be of interest to similarly bent readers, fans, and lovers. 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!
July 2, 2024
Book Review: I Dream of Dancing by Gwen Leonhard (romance)
Author: Gwen Leonhard
Publication Date: June 30, 2024
Genres: Romance
Protagonist Gender: Female
I Dream of Dancing was just a lovely story, a character-driven romance that’s full of relationship drama, but with the promise of fulfillment ahead. Gwen Leonhard has a wonderful style of writing that makes the story feel immediate and intense, with so many curious aspects of magic and mythology simply taken for granted, rather than being dwelled upon to the point of distraction.
The character arc of Acelina is delightful, even with her pain, trauma, and transition. She’s hurt others and been hurt herself, but all as part of finding herself and coming out as herself. Admitting her feelings for Florence means risking rejection and possibly ruining a friendship, but it’s something she’s ready to do. As for Florence, she welcomes the potential for romance, but she’s afraid of being hurt as Acelina’s lovers have been in the past. There’s jealousy and anxiety intertwined in both their feelings, but while so many authors create an artificial catalyst for unnaturally leaping past such an obstacle, Leonard takes the time to work through it naturally, forcing the characters to talk . . . to think . . . and to feel.
Watching these two women come together, explore their feelings, and choose to risk what they’ve had for what they could have is fabulous. Instead of racing through the date to get to bed, the story immerses itself in the date, makes the date the point of the story, and allows the reader to empathize and identify with both women. The longer the night went on, the more I wanted to know about them both, and when it comes time for the kiss . . . perfection!
Rating: 
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2024
Book Review: No Road Home by John Fram (horror)
Author: John Fram
Publication Date: July 23, 2024 by Atria Books
Genres: Horror
Protagonist Gender: Male
No Road Home was a dark, creepy, atmospheric work of supernatural-laced horror with enough hate-worthy characters to carry the weight of reader anger, and just enough tolerable characters to do the same for reader sympathy. For the most part, this was a solid 5-star read, one that kept me reading late into the night. It captured my imagination, played upon my emotions, and triggered my intellectual curiosity.
I picked this up knowing nothing about John Fram, but the blurb sounded almost as if the book were written for me – a young father, his queer son, and a murdered televangelist, complete with family’s dangerous, a freak storm, and a spectral figure in a black suit – but I feel like it went even deeper than that. I was already prepared to loathe the Wright family, but their brutal hypocrisy and petty infighting added an element of glee to watching their house come tumbling down. They’re such a melodramatic group, like a family from a gothic soap opera, and the house is a suitably creepy maze of forbidden wings and locked doors. Add in the threats scrawled in blood-red lettering, the torn-up mysterious notes, and the conveniently interrupted would-be-confessions, and this is a book to keep you guessing and engaged.
So why just a 5-star read for the most part? The climax goes on for far too long, dragging out what should have been a tight, powerful, confrontational finale. After being a single-POV story for 85% of the read, it suddenly leaps into multiple POVs, with their narratives overlapping, to show every single part of the resolution when some would have been fine left to tell. Finally, after a prolonged (sometimes tiresome) theme of locked doors and repressed memories, we find out our narrator isn’t as reliable as he seems, and the big secret/spoiler feels like a cheat, given he knew it all along.
One thing I will say for the story is that it avoids the tendency toward children who turn out to be special in some way, supernaturally destined to save the day. At the same time, it gives Luca enough personality to make him and his queerness more than just a plot device, although I wish we’d gotten to see more of him prior to the climax. No Road Home was a really good read that could have been great, but that’s a comment, not a complaint.
Rating:
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2024
Freebie Friday – Putting the TG in TGIF!
Well, if it’s Friday, then it must be time to bend our way into the weekend with Freebie Friday!
Every Friday I search through the free titles on Amazon, looking for those that might be of interest to similarly bent readers, fans, and lovers. 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!
June 26, 2024
Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Doors of Midnight by R.R. Virdi (fantasy)
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 for this week is the sequel to a well-written book that sucked me in, weaving its layers of nested tales about me, and leaving me wanting more.
The Doors of Midnight
by R.R. Virdi
Epic Fantasy
832 pages, Hardcover
August 13, 2024 by Tor Books
Myths begin, and a storyteller’s tale deepens, in the essential sequel to R.R. Virdi’s breakout Silk Road-inspired epic fantasy debut, The First Binding.
Some stories are hidden for a reason. All tales have a price. And every debt must be paid.
I killed three men as a child and earned the name Bloodletter. Then I set fire to the fabled Ashram. I’ve been a bird and robbed a merchant king of a ransom of gold. And I have crossed desert sands and cutthroat alleys to repay my debt.
I’ve stood before the eyes of god, faced his judgement, and cast aside the thousand arrows that came with it. And I have passed through the Doors of Midnight and lived to tell the tale.
I have traded one hundred and one stories with a creature as old as time, and survived with only my cleverness, a candle, and a broken promise.
And most recently of all, I have killed a prince, though the stories say I have killed more than one.
My name is Ari. These are my legends.
And these are my lies.
June 25, 2024
Book Review: The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons (fantasy)
Author: Jenn Lyons
Publication Date: July 9, 2024 by Tor Books
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Female
The incomparable Jenn Lyons has done it again, only this time it’s with a standalone fantasy, so if you’ve been reluctant to immerse yourself in the gloriously bewildering saga that is A Chorus of Dragons, The Sky on Fire is your chance to see what you’ve been missing.
The cover blurb will tell you this is a story about a rescue from a warlord and a heist from a dragon, but don’t let that deceive you – nothing about this is that simple. It’s also a story about regrets, resentment, and revenge, with personal motives driving the narrative. Nobody is all good or all bad, it’s just that their objectives are sometimes violently at odds with one another – so much so that even villains can end up becoming heroes.
The world-building here is simple but nicely detailed and well thought-out. Below, we have the jungles of the Deep, humid lands where air, foliage, and danger all lie thick and heavy. Above hang the cloud cities, home to the ruling classes, merchants, nobility, and dragons. So many dragons! This isn’t just a book with dragons, it’s very much a book about dragons – their history, their mythology, and their overbearing presence in the lives of tiny humans. While we don’t get too deeply into human politics, we do explore a lot of dragon politics, which makes sense because everything in this world is subservient to their whims.
Very much like A Chorus of Dragons, The Sky on Fire is wonderful in its casual, no-big-deal, assumed diversity in gender, sexuality, and relationships. Characters wear garden rings and social that communicate their identity, preferences, and personality, and I loved the way it’s done as much as I loved the language around it: a ring to denote “male, both by birth and inclination“; another to show “a committed, monogamous relationship“; and yet another to communicate a preference for “both feminine and masculine partners.” Anahrod, our protagonist and POV, is a bisexual woman who begins exploring a polyamorous triad, and all people can say about it is that it’s about time they admit their feelings for one another. There are also some casual kink references sprinkled throughout that, again, aren’t a big deal for the characters, but refreshing to see as a reader.
If I were to have one complaint about the book it would be that it flounders for direction in the middle, with the pacing suffering as goals, alliances, and agendas are established. However, at this point, I know Lyons never does anything accidentally, never just fills pages for the sake of exposition, so I trusted that it would all come together and that we’d see how and why it all fits together – and we do. Along those lines, there were some questions I had early on about aspects of the story that seemed too simple, too convenient, but they’re all satisfyingly explained by the end as well.
The Sky on Fire doesn’t feel as grand or as poetic as A Chorus of Dragons, but that may actually play in its favor for new readers. It’s a narrative style that fits the urgency of the tale, and had I not read anything else by Lyons, I’d never notice anything missing.
Rating:
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2024
Book Review: The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond (fantasy)
Author: Charlotte Bond
Publication Date: May 28, 2024 by Tordotcom
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Female
For the most part, The Fireborne Blade is a very simple, straightforward slice of fantasy. It’s the story of a knight, her squire, the quest for a sword, and the slaying of a dragon. It embraces all the classic elements, without the weight of prophecy, chosen ones, or the fate of the world hanging in the balance. What makes it stand out is Charlotte Bond’s telling of the story, which gives it a freshness I wasn’t expecting.
This is a story told in pieces, with the narrative slowly bringing things together as the flashbacks creep closer to the current story, but it’s also told in layers, with a series of testimonies and reports of other knights’ encounters with dragons. It may sound like too much for a novella that clocks in at under 200 pages, but it’s perfectly balanced, and it kept me engaged throughout.
Maddileh is an interesting character, and her seeming simplicity is as deceptive as that of the story. She’s a woman in a man’s world, an unwanted and unwelcome knight who is unfairly constrained by what patriarchal structures of epic fantasy. And it’s not just her – there’s a secondary character who plays into this trope as well, a woman with a flair for magic in a world where women can’t be mages – and how/why their stories come together is where the hidden heart of this lies.
There is a lot of humor to The Fireborne Blade, but it’s the subtle kind that makes you smile rather than laugh out loud. Okay, so perhaps I did laugh aloud at the cowardice of Maddileh’s squire in the face of ghosts, but it didn’t take me out of the story like the humor of a few recent reads. What Bond does so well is drop the humor in and move on, neither commenting upon it nor dwelling upon it, and while I’m sure some naysayers will protest that it all comes at the expense of men, it’s all part of quietly fighting back against that patriarchy.
While I will say nothing more about the plot for fear of even hinting at some of the surprises in store, I will say this is a story that’s satisfyingly full of those classic fantasy elements I mentioned earlier. We’ve got dragons and drakes, ghosts, magical talismans, enchanted swords, and more. It feels so comfortably familiar, and yet it’s satisfyingly different in ways that you don’t fully appreciate until after it’s done. Reading it, I was thinking this was a 3-star tale; upon reaching the climax, I was leaning towards 4 stars; but after thinking about it for a few days, I’m all-in on the 5 stars. Bring on The Bloodless Princes!
Rating:
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2024
Book Review: Roasted by B.E. Wolf (erotica)
Author: B.E. Wolf
Publication Date: December 25, 2023
Genres: Erotica
Protagonist Gender: Male/Female
Roasted is a story about secrets, success, caring, and kink. It’s dark and intense, full of emotion, and sometimes unsettling in a very good way. B.E. Wolf has a style that fans will recognize, favorite themes and tropes that they expect, but this book is a bit more forward about its traumas, and that is something that I think makes it more immediately accessible.
Joseph (never just Joe) is a melancholy man who wanders into the start of the book like a silent shadow on a cold autumn morning. We don’t know much about him to start, but there’s a heaviness to him that tugs at you. Holly is a fierce goth barista (and business owner) who doesn’t so much clash with Joseph as crashes through his reserve. Their first meeting is one of emotional, physical, and sexual tension, but it’s clear that this is not going to be an easy sort of courtship.
I loved the way Benson intertwined the past and present of two storylines, the very different journeys of two people who never crossed paths, but whom we learn have a common connection. It’s a history that takes time to be revealed, and for every secret that is exposed, another is teased. By the time we understand that connection and all of its consequences, we’re fully invested in claiming that well-deserved happily-ever-after.
Part of what makes this such a fun departure from the usual tropes is the fact that the relationship is deliberately set to simmer until after the holidays, pushing the romantic and sexual aspects deeper into the book. That makes the BDSM-themed explorations a bit sharper, a bit more dubcon and dangerous, because there’s so much simmering tension beneath them.
I hesitate to call either Joseph or Holly damaged, but those traumas I mentioned are important to the story-they don’t define the characters, but rather refine them. Holly especially has a darkness to her past, one that still looms over her in many ways, and it’s powerful to see how violence can be so cathartic. Roasted is like the drink Holly makes for this tall, dark stranger, sweet and bold, with a hint of bitterness, but sprinkled with spice.
Rating:
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
