Sally Bend's Blog, page 35

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

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 cozy little tale of high fantasy, first queer loves, and second-hand books.

Bookshops & Bonedust

by Travis Baldree
Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Paperback and eBook, 352 pages
November 7, 2023 by Tor

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek.

In Bookshops & Bonedust, a prequel to Legends & Lattes, New York Times bestselling author Travis Baldree takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Goodreads

Book Review: Hands of the Morri by Heather K. O’Malley (fantasy)

Title: Hands of the Morri
Author: Heather K. O’Malley
Publication Date: October 10, 2023
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Female

Hands of the Morri is a truly wondrous book. It’s a rollicking fantasy novel, a strong tale of feminism and feminine friendship, a sweet romance, and a very different coming-of-age story. There’s magic and mythology, sweeping action scenes, and a clever narration trick that I’ll say more about in a moment. Heather K. O’Malley drops us deep into her world, holding back some answers or insights until we’re a few chapters in, and while that unsettled me a bit and had me wondering what I was reading, I quickly came to appreciate her narrative approach.

What drew me to the story was the promise of a young man abused because of his gender, who joins up with an all-female group of warriors, and who comes to be recognized as a Lost Sister. Female-fronted epic fantasy with a transgender protagonist? Sign me up! That said, I was initially disappointed in how the story approached the transgender angle, almost feeling as if it were glossed over, disregarding the experience of struggling with your gender, until we got the acknowledgment I was looking for:

This change and the time spent becoming her new self had broken free long forgotten memories as a little, running about the village, trying on a friend’s dress and declaring that she was a girl…But she was found now, in the skin she should have always worn, more whole by the day.

Not only does O’Malley address the gender issue, but she makes it significant without falling into the trap of making this a story about gender. I loved the idea of Lost Sisters, the aspect of being touched by the Goddess, and loved even more that women like Asche were wholly accepted and embraced by the Hands. That simplicity speaks volumes.

The other thing that unsettled me a bit at first was the clever narration trick I mentioned, making a raven named Nibs a POV character. It made for some awkward reading initially, but the more we settled into the story, and the more of a character Nibs became, the more I loved it. His bond with Asche is integral to the story, and watching them learn and grow together is a delight. He’s used for comic relief at times, no doubt, but never at his expense – he’s a companion, a friend, and a hero, and the Hands embrace him as easily and enthusiastically as they do Lost Sisters.

As for this being a feminist story, it is indeed feminist to its very core, but never in an overbearing or preachy way. This is a story about women in a man’s world, following a Goddess in a world of Gods, who follow a traditionally feminine purpose in protecting the weak and wounded, but who do so in the traditionally masculine role of warriors. It’s not so much that the story subverts or challenges gender roles and gender norms as it simply disregards them. Oh, sure, it acknowledges the sexist arrogance of men who underestimate women, thinking of them in terms of objects, but the women aren’t looking to prove men wrong, they’re simply living life as they choose.

A pleasant surprise that grew on me more and more with each chapter, Hands of the Morri is a fantastic read that I hope is only the first of many in this world. I need more Asche and Nibs in my life!

Rating:

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

Fetish & Fantasy 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 Fetish & Fantasy 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.

While you’re on Amazon, if you’d like to support my stories, could I kindly ask that you give these a read/review? 

Enjoy!

Book Review: The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon (fantasy)

Title: The Gilded Crown
Author: Marianne Gordon
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Female

I think my problems with this book start with the cover blurb. When you’re comparing yourself to The Priory of the Orange Tree, one of my favorite books of the last few years, you’re setting certain expectations. That was an epic fantasy in every sense of the word, beautifully told, and utterly compelling. It had a very mature exploration of romance between women, a relationship that felt natural and significant – a slow-burn that developed into fires-of-passion, and I loved it.

Sadly, The Gilded Crown lacks the depth, maturity, or significance of Priory. It’s a much thinner tale that, despite its categorization as Adult Fantasy, feels very much Young Adult. While it has emotion, it shies away from the visceral horror of death – a key aspect of the book – and that takes away from its impact. As for the central relationship, it’s a tentative thing that goes out of its way to suggest it may be more tied to the price of resurrection than any romance or passion, making it seem a forced sort of tease that’s structured so as to be easily dismissed. I won’t call it queer-baiting because there is another relationship that’s much more definitively accepted as queer, but the fact that it’s secondary lessens the impact.

Without the expectations of Priory, this is an okay read, but one that I likely would not have picked up otherwise. It has interesting roots, and plenty of opportunity to explore some very deep questions of faith and morality, of religion versus mythology, but it never does more than ask questions. There was a point halfway through where I thought it was beginning to turn, which is all that kept me going, but the exploration never goes any deeper. Ultimately, it’s a frustrating read that doesn’t quite seem to know where it’s headed or, more importantly, why.

Rating:

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

Fetish & Fantasy 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 Fetish & Fantasy 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.

While you’re on Amazon, if you’d like to support my stories, could I kindly ask that you give these a read/review? 

Enjoy!

Book Review: Eli Book One – The Seduction by B.J. Frazier & Jessie Spectre (erotica)

Title: Eli Book One – The Seduction
Author: B.J. Frazier & Jessie Spectre
Publication Date: November 11, 2022
Genres: Erotica
Protagonist Gender: Male

The Seduction, the first book of the Eli series by B.J. Frazier & Jessie Spectre, is one of those stories that kind of sneaks up on you. Almost as soon as we’re introduced to Eli Shaw, we just know he’s blissfully oblivious to the truth of his own sexuality. He’s pining for a girl who is clearly using him, paying far too much attention to his hunky, well-hung roommate, and never questioning any of it.

We know there’s a moment of hurt coming, a broken heart at the very least, a brutal public humiliation at the very worst, but we also see opportunity all around him. How will he recognize it? Where will it lead him? Who will it be with? Those are the questions this opening volume begins to explore, and the answers are fabulous.

There’s such a curious cast of characters and personalities here, with surprises to be found in each scene. You really get the sense that Frazier & Spectre have built a world around Eli, especially as we get hints as to the truth of his new job, his new romance, and his new friends. Bernie, the catalyst behind Eli’s world of opportunity, is a kindly sort of mentor who excites all sorts of feelings, but there are also glimpses of a darker edge beneath his personality that Eli is too naive to see. And then there’s Clem, Eli’s new landlady, whose stern exterior raises all sorts of questions, but whom I suspect may have some tenderness still to be revealed.

There are some explicit sexual moments in the story, a few of which are even a bit kinky, but they’re also full of tenderness and the thrill of discovery. We see Eli emerge and grow, begin his journey into something new, something more, and we have 4 more books ahead to see where it leads.

Rating:  

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

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Spirit of the Wood by Kristen Britain

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 not the anxiously awaited final novel of the Green Rider saga, but still an excellent way to mark the series’ 25th anniversary.

Spirit of the Wood

by Kristen Britain
Adult, Fantasy
Hardcover and eBook, 208 pages
November 7, 2023 by DAW

This short novel set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Green Rider series tells the backstory of fan-favorite character Laren Mapstone

Perfect for longtime Green Rider fans eager for more of the world or new readers discovering the realm of Sacoridia for the first time, this action-packed, feminist fantasy is a must-read for lovers of the genre.

After years of leading the battle against the vicious Darrow Raiders, Lieutenant-Rider Laren Mapstone has built a fortress around herself to conceal her emotions and the deep scars she carries. When she is made mentor to Tavin Bankside, a Green Rider trainee on his first message errand, her cold and brooding exterior quickly earns her the moniker the “Ice Lady.”

Only after Laren is severely wounded in an attack on the North Road by a gang of bandits—including some former Darrow Raiders with vengeance on their minds—do the fortress walls fall. Even as they seek refuge from danger in a Rider waystation, Tavin’s natural empathic gift leaves him vulnerable to the assault of the lieutenant’s emotions. Tavin must save Lieutenant Mapstone’s life and master his empathic gift before it destroys them both.

However, an ancient power lurks deep within the Green Cloak, and its aid or hindrance could mean survival for the Riders or the downfall of Sacoridia and all the free lands.

Goodreads

Fetish & Fantasy 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 Fetish & Fantasy 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.

While you’re on Amazon, if you’d like to support my stories, could I kindly ask that you give these a read/review? 

Enjoy!

Book Review: The Queen of Days by Greta Kelly (fantasy)

Title: The Queen of Days
Author: Greta Kelly
Publication Date: October 24, 2023
Genres: Epic Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Male/Female

An epic adventure. A flawed-but-lovable family of thieves. Fallen gods. High stakes. Greta Kelly promises a lot with The Queen of Days, but even if the tone was much darker than I anticipated, it was still a solid read.

If I were to have any complaints about the book, they would be pacing and emotional balance. It starts off so good, sucking you right into the story, with Tass (the Queen herself) a character who commands your attention, but then it becomes mired in backstory, squabbling, and really heavy emotional turmoil/manipulation. It picks up again before the end, with some great action scenes to close it out, but I struggled to remain engaged during the middle of the book.

As for the main character, Balthazar, I’m very much of two minds about him. I like that he’s a sort of fallen royalty desperate for revenge, a man who is decent and caring and loyal, but also given to following his heart rather than his head. He’s flawed in so many ways, and there are times it’s hard to respect him, much less like him, but he’s realistic. There’s also the issue of his tragic romance which I thought was going to be pivotal, with a late-stage betrayal of change-of-heart transforming the relationship and giving the story some life, but it never goes farther than convenient plot point. Otherwise, Zee and Edik weren’t really standout characters on their own, but I liked the portrayal of their marriage within the context of this found-family band of thieves.

That said, when it was fun it was tons of fun, with some great action scenes involving the promised heists and battles with fallen gods. It’s often intense, almost cinematically so, and the climax contained a few surprises that I thought worked very well. I wish it’d had a different tone, either less darkness and angst or more focus on redeeming those emotions, but that’s the reader in me who prefers hopeful, awe-inspiring fantasy to grimdark gloom.

Rating:  

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

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Queen of Days by Greta Kelly

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 new standalone release from an author I have quite enjoyed, a fantasy tale of deadly magic, dangerous heists, and found family.

The Queen of Days

by Greta Kelly
Adult, Fantasy
Hardcover and eBook, 384 pages
October 24, 2023 by Harper Voyager

From Greta Kelly, the author of the Warrior Witch duology, comes The Queen of Days, an epic adventure that weaves together a flawed-but-lovable family of thieves, a battle between fallen gods, and stakes high enough to cause vertigo—perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora and Six of Crows.

For Balthazar and his family of thieves, stealing a statue during the annual celebration of the god Karanis was just a good bit of fun…or a way to stick it to the governor who murdered his parents. And yeah, the small fortune in reward doesn’t hurt—even if his boss also hired the mysterious Queen of Days to join the crew as “the weapon of last resort…”

Whatever that means.

But Bal doesn’t know the ceremony isn’t simply empty words and dusty tradition; it’s true magic. The kind of magic that rips open a portal for the god himself. Only the idol that Karanis planned on using for a body now lies broken at the Queen of Days’ feet. And half of it is missing.

With the aid of a lovable brawler, a society lady turned bomb maker, a disgraced soldier, and a time-eating demon, Bal must hunt down the missing half of the statue if he has any hope of earning his money, keeping his crew alive…and perhaps even saving all of humanity. But as his journey sends him racing through the city—and across realities—he discovers that doing all this might just doom the city.

The city be damned. It’s time to kill a god.

Goodreads