Sally Bend's Blog, page 24
May 22, 2024
Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Welcome to Dorley Hall by Alyson Greaves (thriller)
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 an intense exploration of gender and society that promises to appeal to readers of Torrey Peters, Imogen Binnie and Gretchen Felker-Martin!
Welcome to Dorley Hall
by Alyson Greaves
Thrillers – Suspense
511 pages, Kindle Edition
October 8, 2024 by Neem Tree Press
What if the only way to fix toxic masculinity were to erase it entirely?
Mark Vogel is like the older brother Stefan never had, but one day he disappears without a trace. A year later, after encountering a woman who looks near-identical to Mark, Stefan becomes obsessed. He finds that dozens of young men have disappeared over the years, many of them students at the Royal College of Saint Almsworth, and most of them troubled or unruly. Why are students going missing? Who are these women who bear striking resemblances to them? And what is their connection to the selective student accommodation on the edge of campus, Dorley Hall?
Stefan starts studying at Saint Almsworth for one reason and one reason only: to find out exactly what happened to the women who live at Dorley Hall, and to get it to happen to him, too.
An electrifying début by Alyson Greaves, Welcome to Dorley Hall is an intense exploration of gender and society that will appeal to readers of Torrey Peters, Imogen Binnie and Gretchen Felker-Martin.
May 21, 2024
Book Review: The Dominion and the Sugilite: Episode 1-5 by B.J. Frazier (erotica)
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5
Author: B.J. Frazier
Publication Date: March 17 to May 19, 2024
Genres: Erotica
Protagonist Gender: Various
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of these first 5 installments, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
With 5 episodes available, I’m cautious about spoiling anything, but there are a few things I feel compelled to fangirl about. One is the portrayal of inter-species relations, sex work, and the power dynamic, with a visually stunning betrayal of a dominant centauress in virtual reality – and the long-reaching consequences of that act. Another is the exploration of forbidden desires, contrasting the scandalous refusal of a young woman to dominate her boyfriend with that of the naughty desires of two women whose relationship requires one to be submissive. And then there’s the uproar around the sensual, sexual, succulent dessert at a restaurant, which leads to a hedonistic orgy that threatens to upset the balance of power.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
Rating: 
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2024
Book Review: How Do I Sexy? by Nillin Lore (nonfiction)
Author: Nillin Lore
Publication Date: August 23, 2024 by Thornapple Press
Genres: Nonfiction
Protagonist Gender: N/A
How Do I Sexy? is many things. As a Guide for Trans and Nonbinary Queers, it is a book about both how and why to be sexy, with equal measures of affirmation and advice. It’s more than just a h0w-to guide, however, with Nillin Lore weaving biography and philosophy into the ‘why’ aspects of the book, leading us on a journey with them.
Nillin opens the book by talking about what they call the Ventura Effect, resulting from the transphobia-for-laughs aspect of Ace Ventura, with Jim Carrey and others gagging and vomiting over the shock/surprise reveal of Sean Young as transgender. For me, it was the Drebin Effect, with Leslie Nielsen having the same deplorable reaction to the transgender reveal of Anna Nicole Smith, but in both cases it’s representative of how we’re indoctrinated from an early age to find transgender people disgusting . . . shameful . . . even frightening. It’s a condemnation of transgender individuals that has long permeated so much of pop culture that many people are plagued with assumptions and visceral reactions based on nothing more than comedic fiction. It’s no wonder we sometimes struggle to accept ourselves and embrace our sexuality, which is why Nillin so carefully sets about undoing the damage before getting to the sexy.
Chapter 3 talks about self-compassion, shaking off unhelpful advice, and finding out what’s behind our anxieties. It’s a sort of intellectual deconstruction that allows us to better embrace the mantras of Chapter 4. What struck me most in that chapter is the idea that “It’s OK to change my mind.” As someone who has, over the years, identified as a transgender, genderqueer, nonbinary, and genderfluid . . . straight, bisexual, and pansexual . . . and often just questioning and confused about it all, that’s a powerful message.
In Chapter 5, Nillin explores the wonderful variations in the human body, and the multitude of ways in which we are free to form relationships, all outside the bounds of heteronormativity. It’s also here where they explore the idea of ‘passing’ as a privilege, of being forced to shift from one binary to another, with the expectation for a full transition (and the prejudices against not transitioning). It’s that pressure to shift within a binary that had me so questioning and confused over the years, and that prejudice against not transitioning that keeps me at arms’ length from our local transgender support group. It’s hard enough to find yourself when most of society is indoctrinated against you – we really don’t need to discriminate within our community,
Chapter 6 is where we really start to get into the idea of feeling sexy, and this was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. There’s talk of gender-affirming prosthetics, from dildos to breastforms to binders, and then we get into the wonderful world of lingerie. As someone who has only ever looked at clothing as something that forces me to hide (dressing to cover up) or allows me to express myself (dressing to feel sexy), I’d never considered the inherent discrimination against trans bodies in those very same clothes. Nillin details how lingerie is largely designed for cisgender bodies, with panties that leave no room for a penis or briefs that leave too much room for the lack of a penis. Fortunately, they share some wonderful advice on how to measure yourself, how to accommodate yourself in selecting a size, and even where to shop, and talk about the difference between
That same chapter (and it is a long chapter) goes on to explore the various cultures where sexy clothing is essential to our feeling sexy. There are some lovely groups here to explore and maybe even experiment with, if you’ve never had the opportunity, but the ones that resonated with me include kittens (one of my fondest memories is being dressed as a kitten and taken on a walk by a trans friend), femboys, twinks, witchy goths, and fetishwear (my fondest memory is being dressed in PVC bondage and tied up in the woods by my Goddess).
Chapter 7 is where we start getting into the idea of being sexy, with a fabulous discussion of the gender-affirming power of makeup (including the sensuality of having it applied by someone else) and tattoos. It’s here that Nillin also explores the challenge and the importance of finding safe spaces and inclusive communities. The only part of the book I have any disagreement with is the section here on how preferences are bigoted. I’m a little more forgiving than Nillin here, partially due to my 15 years of reading, reviewing, writing, and editing own-voices erotica. All of that has exposed me to a wide range of identities and sexualities, allowing me to vicariously explore the differences between sexual and romantic attraction, and (more importantly) appreciate the why of attraction. If you’re looking for a kinky fling involving queening, your preferences are likely going to include a vagina, and if a facial is what makes you feel sexy, a penis is going to be on the agenda. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a relationship, that’s where I agree that preferences can do more harm than good, since a lifetime together allows for a lot more learning, experimentation, and adaptation than a one-time fling.
I’ll leave you to explore the rest and determine best how Nillin’s advice and experiences suit you, but How Do I Sexy? is a fantastic read and a book that’s worth keeping on the shelf for reference or revisiting – it has a useful glossary of terms at the back (including a few terms I didn’t know) and a list of resources I fully intend to take my time exploring.
Rating: 1/2
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 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!
May 16, 2024
Book Review: Good Neighbours: Janine by Miss Irene Clearmont (erotic thriller)
Author: Irene Clearmont
Publication Date: May 6, 2024
Genres: Erotica, Thriller
Protagonist Gender: Female/Male
Janine, part 1 of Good Neighbours, is a stellar example of what Irene Clearmont does so very, very well. This is a plot-driven erotic thriller peopled by well-developed characters who actually change and develop throughout the story. There’s some mystery to it, a great deal of suspense, and equal parts anticipation, arousal, and satisfaction.
The story centers around a small suburban community with some unusual ties between owners. There’s talk of turning the whole area into a gated community, so you can imagine the quality of the homes and properties involved. An amazingly (one might say suspiciously) cheap rental property brings Olivia and Greg to the community, but unbeknownst to them, they’re being manipulated from the very start. They have been chosen, and nothing that happens to them, no matter how wild or scandalous, is an accident.
Simply put, the neighbourhood has plans for them.
In a story that’s built upon female domination and cuckolding, Miss Irene carefully establishes the relationship dynamic of the couple before beginning to drive a wedge between them. For Olivia, what follows is a breathless detour into a life of hedonism and debauchery that seems like freedom compared to her marriage, while Greg finds himself led astray from his narrow-minded beliefs, tempted and blackmailed into a nightmare of submission. Their neighbours, Janine and Dirk, have the couple’s fates clearly planned out, and their maid, Molly, will prove to be instrumental in enabling the transformation.
I’m cautious about delving too deep into spoiler territory, but the relationship between the characters is beautifully layered, and likely not what you may expect. There’s a hierarchy of domination and submission here, with characters straddling dual (almost contradictory) roles. Janine’s household is an interesting one, and her talent for training and punishment is just as delicious as the erotic aspects of the story.
There was one small reveal towards the end of the story that I saw coming, but likely only because I desperately wanted it to be coming. There’s also a nice twist in the final chapter that promises another layer of mystery in the next book (tentatively scheduled for mid-June). A fabulous read that demands you become deeply invested, and which will leave you desperate to find out how it all ends.
Rating:
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2024
Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy (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 a coming-of-age, own-voices, epic fantasy of trans witchcraft – and it’s the launch of a trilogy!
The Sapling Cage
by Margaret Killjoy
Fantasy – Epic
320 pages, Paperback
September 24, 2024 by Feminist Press
Lorel has always dreamed of becoming a witch: learning magic, healing the sick, fighting monsters, and exploring the world beyond her small town where she and her mother run the stables. Even though a strange plague is killing the trees in the Kingdom of Cekon and witches are being blamed for it, Lorel wants nothing more than to join them. There’s only one problem: all witches are women, and she was born a boy.
When the coven comes to claim her best friend, Lorel disguises herself in a dress and joins in her friend’s place, leaving home and her old self behind. She soon discovers the dark powers confronting the kingdom: a magical blight scars the land, and the power-mad Duchess Helte is crushing everything between her and the crown. In spite of the chaos, Lorel makes friends and begins learning about magic from the powerful witches in her coven. However, she fears that her new friends and mentors will find out her secret and kick her out of the coven, or worse.
In the gripping first novel in the Daughters of the Empty Throne trilogy, author Margaret Killjoy spins a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention, an own-voices story of trans witchcraft.
May 14, 2024
Book Review: The Lost Tomb by Douglas Preston (non-fiction)
Author: Douglas Preston
Publication Date: December 5, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing
Genres: Nonfiction, History
Protagonist Gender: N/A
Douglas Preston is not only one of my favorite thriller authors (if you haven’t discovered Agent Pendergast, get reading ASAP!) but also the man behind The Lost City of the Monkey God, one of the most exciting real-life adventures I’ve read in recent memory. To say my expectations for The Lost Tomb were high would be an understatement, but even if it wasn’t quite what I was expecting (I’ll get to that in a moment), I still found it to be a fascinating read.
Preston could have been a total stranger and I’d still have bought this for Chapter 6, The Mystery of Oak Island, alone – but that’s where I had to reset expectations. I’d hoped this would be a new article, a walk-through of the site and the recent discoveries, but it’s actually a reprint from way back in 1988, a full 8 years before Rick and Marty Lagina got involved. It’s still a good read, but (a) it’s old news and (b) it’s more history and research than first-person observation. It does have a short afterword that updates the facts of the story, as do all the other reprints, so no matter how familiar you may be with the stories, there’s something new to explore.
With my expectations set regarding reprints and research, I flipped back to the beginning and enjoyed this from cover to cover, exploring stories I knew, was vaguely familiar with, or knew nothing about.
The Monster of Florence (the Italian serial killer) and Trial by Fury (Amanda Knox) were two of the most chilling entries, not so much for the murders themselves, but because of the media circus, social media insanity, and police corruption surrounding them. A common theme of the book is how we define (and redefine) history, and to whom it belongs, with these being stunning examples of how we do the same to current events.
Nearly half of the stories are about skeletons, their discoveries, and the mysteries surrounding them. Contained within those stories are fascinating elements of anthropology, archaeology, multiple branches of science, and even politics. It’s amazing (and sometimes unsettling) the way one advancement or discovery can cast so much doubt on existing theories, but it’s wonderful to see how the truth of the stories comes together.
The Mystery of Hell Creek was one of the more science-heavy stories, and definitely one of my favorites, looking at the theories surrounding the end of the dinosaurs. The Clovis Point Con was another interesting story, and a rare case of deliberate forgery and manipulation of the science being used to create a story. The book closes with The Lost Tomb, which is exactly the kind of story I was craving, one where Preston does get his hands dirty participating in the excavation of the Valley of the Kings, and that’s a story I’d love to see get The Lost City of the Monkey God treatment – hopefully without the near-death experiences.
Rating:
May 13, 2024
Book Review: The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields (fantasy romance)
Author: Sydney J. Shields
Publication Date: May 14, 2024 by Redhook
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Protagonist Gender: Female
At its heart, The Honey Witch is a story of personal choice, true love, and the wonder of the natural world. On the surface, it’s a cozy fantasy, full of bees and flowers and the sweetness of honey, but there’s a heaviness looming over it, not just a curse, but a threat of fire and ash. Sydney J. Shields’ debut is as magical as the story itself, a wonderfully written book that drew me in from the first page and kept me hooked throughout. I knew there was a twist/reveal coming, and I had my ideas about what it might be, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it all played out.
The romance here is very slow burn, but that’s to be expected in a story where the heroine has been cursed to never find love. Shields does a marvelous job of contrasting the physical aspects of love with the emotional, and if you pay attention to what hurts (and why), the twist/reveal is so much more satisfying. Marigold is a fabulous heroine, a young woman who has so much to learn, so much room to grow, but she’s immediately endearing and eminently likable. Lottie was a lot harder to warm up to, initially coming across as cold and abrasive, and then stubborn and difficult, but her strength eventually won my heart.
The magic system of honey and ash, light and dark, sweet and foul, was beautifully designed and developed. I love fantasy with magic and wonder, and that’s what I felt here – a genuine sense of wonder and whimsy. It’s a beautiful aspect of a beautiful book, and the balance between plot, setting, and characters was just about perfect. I wanted to know what was going to happen to Innisfree as much as Marigold and Lottie, and I was as worried for the Landvættir as I was for them.
If I were to have one (selfish) complaint, it would be that The Honey Witch ended too soon. The climax was well-done and entirely valid, resolving all the key elements of the story, but I guess I wanted more of the happiness that follows.
Rating: 1/2
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 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!
May 3, 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!
