Sally Bend's Blog, page 41
March 6, 2023
Book Review: I Want You to Own Me by Eve Healy (erotic romance)
Title: I Want You to Own MeAuthor: Eve Healy
Publication Date: November 4, 2022
Genres: Erotic Romance
Protagonist Gender: Male
I Want You to Own Me is an interesting novel, a sweet boys' love romance that's book-ended with some rather dark family drama, featuring both a heart-melting power-exchange dynamic and a heart-rending one. Personally, I think it works better because of the contrast, with the darker pitfalls of submission making us better appreciate the brighter heights of fated domination, but there's no question some scenes may be too much for some readers.
Since this is my first experience with Eve Healy, I just have to say something about her Dom/Sub universe. I absolutely adored the idea of a universe where people have primary and secondary genders, the first being masculine or feminine (which we're assigned at birth), and the second being dominant or submissive (which manifests on your 19th birthday). As someone who identifies as submissive first, and any gender/orientation second, this is absolutely wonderful! What makes it even more fun is how deeply biological those traits are, with Doms having almost magical powers of compulsion over Subs, and with subspace being something almost sacred.
Anyway, the story here is of Anthony, a young man whose family always assumed would be a Dom, but whose blood tests reveal is really a Sub. In the blink of an eye, his entire future is gone, his place in the family business erased, and his familial/social ties cut. He's thrown into a life of submission with only the bare minimum of training, and finds himself hating the life - at least until he's stolen away by a new Dom, one with whom he connects.
The darker power exchange still had appeal for me because, as much as it's cold and selfish, the way Anthony's body and mind react was exciting. The helpless intensity of those scenes spoke to me, and I wished he could find a way to enjoy it. The happier power exchange was softer, more subtle, lacking the overpowering domination that I found so exciting, but the romantic intimacy of it was lovely.
I thoroughly enjoyed I Want You to Own Me and am eagerly looking forward to more romances in the Dom/Sub universe.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
© 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights Reserved
March 3, 2023
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.
While you're on Amazon, if you'd like to support my weekly efforts, could I kindly ask that you give latest erotic creations a read/review?
Enjoy! © 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights Reserved
March 1, 2023
Book Review: T-Girl Tales #8 - Family Matters by Crystal Veeyant (erotica, transgender, BDSM)
Title: T-Girl Tales #8 - Family Matters by Crystal VeeyantAuthor: Crystal Veeyant
Publication Date: Feb 10, 2023
Genres: Erotica
Protagonist Gender: Transgender
Fetishes: Crossdressing, BDSM
Could this really be the 8th edition of T-Girl Tales from Crystal Veeyant? Coming from a favorite author and a dear friend who 'retired' from erotica back in 2018, last year's T-Girl Tales #7 was a very pleasant surprise, but to get another edition 6 months later is absolutely delightful.
And when your friend tells you, "I went WAY out there this time!" you just know it's going to be good.
T-Girl Tales #8 includes 4 stories that push the boundaries of shemale/sissy fetish erotica, with themes of hypnosis, chastity, prostitution, and slavery. These stories go to some dark places, with definite moments of dubious consent, but what redeems that darkness is the gleeful acceptance of our nastiest, dirtiest, trashiest kinks - something Crystal does so well.
"Hollywood Sissy Academy" feels like a vintage tale, a throwback to the days of seedy XXX shops, in-person sex shows, and outcall escort work. It's a fun story because we get to see a submissive, effeminate boy not only discover his sissy soul, but enjoy a little romance along with his sexual infatuation.
"Sister's Sissy Cheerleader" is one of those stories that gathers up some familiar erotic tropes and mixes them all up to create something fun. It seems like your standard 'crossdresser caught at the slumber party' tale, but there are levels of depravity here that catapult Jaime into sissy bliss.
As explicitly sexual as the first two stories are, it's "Teacher's Sissy Pet" where we start to get into the darker fetishes of hypnotism and total humiliation. I love stories that invite the reader to experience the mental shift from sissy to slut, and there are some twists here that bring the dungeon to life.
"White Sissy Slaves" is the crown jewel of the collection. This is the one that goes to the darkest places, crossing lines some readers may be uncomfortable with, but it does so with power and purpose. It's the story of a young man and his stepfather who get kidnapped, enslaved, and transformed. It has sissies and shemales, dominant black men, bondage and punishment, taboo trampling titillation, and a real sense of danger that gives it energy.
If you're a fan of Crystal, then you already know what to expect - and you won't be disappointed. If you're new to her world, then open your mind, adjust your panties, and enjoy T-Girl Tales #8. It's fetish fabulous.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
© 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights ReservedFebruary 24, 2023
Fetish & Fantasy Freebie Friday - Putting the TG in TGIF!
Before we get to this week's freebies, I'd like to ask one more favor - Gurls Gone Wild: Naughty in Nature is a FINALIST in the 2022 Golden Pigtail Smut Awards and it could desperately use your vote !
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.
While you're on Amazon, if you'd like to support my weekly efforts, could I kindly ask that you give latest erotic creations a read/review?
Enjoy! © 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights Reserved
February 20, 2023
Book Review: Blood of the Chosen by Django Wexler (fantasy)
Title: Blood of the ChosenAuthor: Django Wexler
Publication Date: Oct 5, 2021
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Male/Female
Blood of the Chosen is the second book of the Burningblade & Silvereye trilogy and the rare middle book that stands up to its predecessor.
I think what I enjoyed most about this second book was the way Django Wexler took us out into the world and allowed us to explore more of life outside the extremes of Order and the (literal) underground rebellion. We get to see how people live amidst plaguespawn without centarchs and legions to protect (and oppress) them. It takes us farther from the Star Wars feel and deeper into the realms of epic fantasy, and it provides us with some fantastic set pieces for conflict.
With the characters already established, we also get to explore more of their relationships, and that means Maya and Beq get to be a genuine couple, and that fills me with joy. We also get to experience a new side of Elariel, with the ghoul transformed into a human as punishment for her involvement with Gyre. The outsider-struggling-to-be-human is a tired trope of the SFF genre, but I liked that Wexler did with it here, getting past the awkwardness early on and allowing her to grow as a character.
With Gyre and Maya already established as reluctant antagonists, this second volume delves deeper into the mythology of their world, introducing new saviors, new conspiracies, new threats, and new alliances. There's a lot going on behind the scenes, with the number of characters we can trust dwindling quickly, and it all leads up to the reveal of the 'big bad' villain whose mad quest for vengeance and domination is set up to drive the final book. The siblings get time for the conversations we've been waiting for and, as I suspected, reader allegiances are invited to shift between them all over again.
There are a few weaknesses in the book that, to be honest, I only notice now because of patterns established in the first book. Some plot development are telegraphed far too soon, some twists are entirely too predictable, and the prevalence of coincidence or deus ex machina is disappointingly strong. In the end, though, I enjoyed the book too much to let any of it bother me, leaving me quite content to read along and discover the 'why' and the 'how' beneath the 'what'.
With Emperor of Ruin coming later this month, I'm glad I had to chance to get caught up with the series. It's a fun read, well-written, and nicely paced, with characters you want to follow and cheer for -perhaps even more now that we've gotten to know them. I have high hopes for the finale, with a few things I'm really hoping we get to see.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
My sincere thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
© 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights ReservedFebruary 17, 2023
Fetish & Fantasy Freebie Friday - Putting the TG in TGIF!
Before we get to this week's freebies, I'd like to ask one more favor - Gurls Gone Wild: Naughty in Nature is a FINALIST in the 2022 Golden Pigtail Smut Awards and it could desperately use your vote !
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.
While you're on Amazon, if you'd like to support my weekly efforts, could I kindly ask that you give latest erotic creations a read/review?
Enjoy! © 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights Reserved
February 10, 2023
Fetish & Fantasy Freebie Friday - Putting the TG in TGIF!
Before we get to this week's freebies, I'd love it if you voted for either of my books (Gurls Gone Wild: Naughty in Nature or Lost Ladies of the Nightmare) in the 2022 Golden Pigtail Smut Awards!
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.
While you're on Amazon, if you'd like to support my weekly efforts, could I kindly ask that you give latest erotic creations a read/review?
Enjoy! © 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights Reserved
February 8, 2023
Book Review: Who Am I? by Diana Jayne (romance, lesbian)
Title: Who Am I?Author: Diana Jayne
Publication Date: August 22, 2022
Genres: Romance
Protagonist Gender: Female
Sexuality: Lesbian
Who Am I? is a lesbian romance about love, family, and parenthood that challenges the reader's emotions the whole way through. It's a sad, sorrowful story that starts with the death of a loved one and the reveal of a painful secret, but which finds its way to a happy ending.
When Georgina (George) Wilkes loses her mother in a tragic accident, she doesn't imagine that her dying words will open an even deeper wound. Not only is she forced to confront the revelation that her dad is not her father, but she has to deal with the fact that her siblings have been party to hiding that secret for years.
Her fiancée, Tania, is her rock throughout the ordeal, the one woman on whom she can always rely. The emotional turmoil does put some stress on their relationship, but their love is so strong and so beautiful that it really is a joy watching them pull one another through. They undertake a journey of discovery together, and even if their search doesn't have the happy ending they hoped for, it ultimately brings them full circle to an acceptance of those who love them.
Who Am I? is equal parts family drama and lesbian romance, with a supporting cast of siblings, spouses, cousins, and characters who give it color and life. There are two more tiny characters introduced before the end who transform the final chapters, and while there is still an element of uncertainty to it, the happily-ever-after ending is delightful.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
© 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights ReservedFebruary 6, 2023
Book Review: Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler (fantasy)
Title: Ashes of the SunAuthor: Django Wexler
Publication Date: July 21, 2020
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Male/Female
I'm going to buck convention and skip right to the end of Ashes of the Sun to share something from Django Wexler's afterword that I think sums up the novel better than I ever could:
“This is not a Star Wars novel, but it definitely originated, back at the beginning, in a series of conversations about Star Wars."
This is epic fantasy, no question about it, but the magic is definitely used to evoke a Star Wars feel in the weaponry and even (to some extent, the races/monsters). Gyre is equipped with a blaster, which is precisely the Han Solo gun you're imagining, only it fires magical energies instead of lasers. Maya, his estranged sister, wields a haken, which is basically Luke Skywalker's lightsaber, but fueled by her inner magic rather than a kyber crystal. I'd rather not say much about the races/monsters, because there are way too many spoilers attached, but ghouls and plaguespawn definitely owe as much to the aliens of science fantasy as the races ofepic fantasy.
There are even some Star Wars elements to the plot, with a corrupt empire, an all-powerful Order, plucky underground rebels, scoundrels and rogues, and an underlying mythology of hokey religions. So, yes, the feel of it will be familiar to genre fans, comfortable even, but what Wexler does with it all is what makes for such a memorable read.
I loved the relationship between Gyre and Maya, along with the perspectives they provide into the larger conflict. Forcibly separated by an act of violence in their childhood, they've been raised on opposite sides of the war, taught to believe opposing philosophies about the empire and the Order. Both seem like good people, and both seem like they could be the hero of the story, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of room for compromise. That balance does shift towards the end of this first book, and we do begin to question one of them, but I suspect reader allegiances will shift again in the next book.
The cast of supporting characters behind them is fantastic as well, but I felt as if they were a bit stronger on Maya's side, especially with Varo and Beq. Varo provides much-needed comic relief, always telling stories of previous traveling companions who met with misfortune in a way that has you rolling your eyes, yet looking forward to the next tale. Beq is something of a steampunk arcanist (only with magic) who seems comfortably neurodivergent, and whose slow-burn romance with Maya is the most wholesome part of the story. She was very much my surrogate, my representative in the novel, and I will be very upset if she doesn't make it through to the end of the series.
Without spoiling anything, I really appreciate the world-building here - not just how Wexler slowly reveals what the Elder races left behind, but exactly what he reveals as well. I had this feeling of dread about halfway through that it was going to be exposed as another post-post-apocalyptic tale, one where all the talk of skyships, unmetal, and the Core Analytica had roots in our contemporary technology, but what we get instead is fantasy and fantastic.
With Blood of the Chosen already out, and Emperor of Ruin coming later this month, now is the perfect time to catch up with Ashes of the Sun. It's a comfortably familiar blend of epic and heroic fantasy that offers something new at the same time. I wish I'd gotten to it sooner, but there's something to be said for creating timely anticipation.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
© 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights ReservedFebruary 5, 2023
Book Review: Perchance to Dream by B.J. Frazier (erotica, femdom)
Title: Perchance to DreamAuthor: B.J. Frazier
Publication Date: March 30, 2020
Genres: Erotics
Protagonist Gender: Various
Fetishes: Femdom, Orgasm Denial, BDSM
The first Perchance to Dream bundle collects the first three stories of B.J. Frazier's six-part saga of medical and female domination. It's a story that might strike readers as a bit odd at first, and one that's almost guaranteed to make them feel deliciously uncomfortable at one point or another, but the way it develops, becoming deeper and darker as each story continues, is incredible.
Dr. Frankie is the Doctor/Domme of the series, a confident, assertive, and sometimes cruel woman who runs a rather unorthodox sleep clinic. While she is very interested in her patients' sleeping habits, she's even more interested in the fantasies, inhibitions, and buried fetishes that cause their nocturnal unrest. She takes pleasure in finding out what drives them, even (especially) if they're not consciously aware of it, and then forcing them to embrace it.
And, yes, that means watching a lot of porn, being monitored for their responses to the 'accidental' erotic touching of the staff, and participating in kinky new sexual adventures.
The scenario is fun and the sex is hot, but it's the dynamic between Dr. Frankie and Sayo, her alpha submissive, that I found most fascinating. Here we have a very intense BDSM power-exchange relationship that involves total ownership and total submission, but one that's tested when Sayo gets too forward with a virgin patient. Betrayed and denied, Dr. Frankie punishes her submissive roughly, humiliates her with another submissive, and really tests her promised obedience. It's an emotionally heavy backstory that slowly shifts our perception of the story as a whole, giving the fun sex dramatic consequences.
If you're willing to continue in the good doctor's care, then might I prescribe the second bundle? While you're at it, the seventh and final book is available as well.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
© 2022 Bending the Bookshelf All Rights Reserved
