Bending the Bookshelf: 2015

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Bending the Bookshelf's Best of 2015

Wow, this was like really super hard - I don't necessarily mean to sound like a gender-swapped bimbo, but I will take full credit for the delicious double entendre!

The team posted 132 reviews over the course of this year, and that's not including the 32 reviews I wrote for Frock Magazine, Transformation Magazine, and the Rainbow Awards. Needless to say, we read a lot of books during the course of the year, so coming up with a traditional 'Best of' list was not easy.

Instead, I decided to divide our reads into a few different categories (which will also streamline things going forward), and highlight the top 3 books in each. So, without further ado, I present you with Bending the Bookshelf's Best of 2015!

Best Crossdressing Fiction
♥ Girly Weekend by Lyka Bloom - an overall lovely story, one that's more about identity than any sort of sexual longing

♥ Pride and Prettiness: A "Reluctant Transgen" Tale from Arcadia Island by Kit Scarbrough - Scarbrough does a remarkable job of building an entire society in which we can both believe and even envy

♥ The Sissy Next Door by Courtney Captisa & Claire Bear - As crossdressing fantasies go, this is about as dreamy and adorable as they get

Best Forced Feminization Erotica
♥ Corporate Takeover: Brothers to Sisters by Lyka Bloom - Bloom engages our hearts, our minds, and our unmentionables in a well-thought out story

♥ The Crime and Punishment Collection by Kylie Gable - brings together three of Gable’s sexiest tales dealing with sissies who have sinned and who deserve to be punished

♥ High-Heeled Coup by Kylie Gable - she has a knack for quickly establishing believable, instantly recognizable characters that few within the genre can match

Best Futanari Erotica
♥ My Futanari Stepsister by James Oenemal - Now this, bois and gurls, is how you write an erotic over-the-top futanari fantasy

♥ Roommates by Soie Minou - a passionate, well-written tale about two young women who are able to see beyond social taboos and enjoy one another's companionship in a most intimate, imaginative way

♥ The Succubus' Sub: Two-Volume Collection by John Dylena - an erotic adventure, a BDSM romance, and a paranormal fantasy all at the same time

Best Shemale Erotica
♥ T-Girl Tales #1: Hardcore Shemale and Crossdresser Erotica by Crystal Veeyant - a nice sampling of genres and fetishes for fans who are new to Crystal's work, while also rewarding long-time fans with something different

♥ I Was an Amazon's Bride! by Lyka Bloom - the imagination she puts into the story, coupled with her attention to detail, really does make this a delight

♥ Shipwrecked on the Island of the She-Gods: A South Pacific Trans Sex Adventure by Lacey Noonan - one of the most well-rounded pieces of transgender fiction I've read in a very long time, complete with erotic highs and brutal low

Best Transgender Biography
♥ The Complicated Geography of Alice by Jules Vilmur - a poignant and well-told tale concerning the life and interactions of this very special child who apparently had a conduct problem and gender dysphoria, exacerbated by polysubstance use

♥ Tea and Transition by Nicola Chase - of all the transgender stories I have come across, Nicola Jane Chase’s may be the most fascinating . . . a story of acceptance and transition, as well as recognition

♥ The Walker Journals by gypsey teague - a riveting account of the gender struggles of a type "A" male whose nearly successful suicide triggers the start of a mid-life transition to a female gender role

Best Transgender Romance
♥ Be My Queen by RayeAnn Carter - a lovely story that that's well-told, with remarkable characters, and a genuine feel for the art of romance

♥ Coffee Date by K. Lynn - rises above the tropes is in its final scene, concluding with a difficult conversation that promises a better day tomorrow

♥ Everybody Knows: 15 Transgender Love Stories by Giselle Renarde - takes us from a world of fear where we worry that Everybody Knows, to one of acceptance and understanding where nobody cares

Best Transsexual Erotica
♥ From Martin to Martina by J.S. Morbius - that rare erotic novella that manages to genuinely surprise and delight from beginning to end

♥ Roommate's Delight by J.C. Winchester - a realistic story that deals sympathetically with transgender issues, further distinguished by some genuinely touching erotic moments

♥ Slumber Party Succubus by Sakura von Sternberg - one of those rare stories that strikes that perfect balance, matching the atmosphere of horror with the human element of erotica

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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Prison Rules by Sally Jupiter

Prison Rules by Sally Jupiter is a Kafkaesque tale of a young man, ostensibly wrongly convicted of the stabbing murder of his wife. It is an extremely complex novel, as evidenced by the feelings it evokes. I believe that most of us have had the disappointing experience of getting hooked on a book, only to have it conclude with the trite “it was all just the protagonist's dream” ending.

As I read this novel, becoming completely immersed and mesmerized by the horror of it, I actually found myself wishing that it would end that way, as just some terrible dream. However, this is a book that is so far out there, yet so possible and reality-based, that reading it was, as they say, like watching a train wreck.

Prison Rules generates extreme contrasts and evokes mixed feelings certain to play on the mind of those who are gender dysphoric. I was going to say that what happened to the main character at San Quentin Prison was beyond belief, but upon reflection, it actually was not. Rest assured this is a novel that titillates the readers' wildest fantasies.

Reviewed by

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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Prisoner on Futa Island by J.A. Dolan

If there is one thing rarer than authors who know how to portray futanari characters properly (their dual genitalia is key) it is those authors who willingly dabble in the realm of futa-on-male erotica. Seriously, take a look on Amazon and you will find over 1300 stories dealing with futa-on-female encounters, but less than 150 dealing with futa-on-male relationships. It is definitely something of a niche fetish, which is what makes a collection like Prisoner on Futa Island so exciting.

J.A. Dolan has collected all 5 of their Prisoner on Futa Island stories in this heavily-discounted collection, offering up over 100 pages of well-written futa-on-male erotica, complete with a decent story arc to pull it all together.

When a storm leaves him shipwrecked on an unknown island, Peter discovers that the price of his eventual freedom is a year of service to the first woman who finds him - an incredibly well-endowed futa Mistress who is very excited to have collared her first slave. Despite his reluctance to serve, he eventually makes the best of his situation, especially since the alternatives include being left to die in the jungle, or being collared by a far more aggressive Mistress.

Dolan does a lovely job of evolving Peter's submission, taking him from frightened and reluctant, to passionate and appreciative. He comes to understand that he is property, a slave to be used by any of inhabitant of Futa Island, and develops enough genuine affection towards Mistress Denra to want to make her proud. It is not an easy life, especially when he is made the centerpiece of a ceremonial gangbang or sent to serve Mistress Denra's angry sister, but he accounts himself very well. This is an extremely sexual tale, and I daresay readers will have a hard time finishing it before finishing themselves - if you know what I mean!

There is a legitimate story arc here, and some real character development, but it is (of course) the erotic aspects that drive it. Dolan does a superb job of taking us through Peter's evolution, watching as he learns to accommodate both the size and passion of the island's inhabitants, and spends enough time on the intellectual and emotional aspects to really justify the depths of his physical submission. More importantly, Dolan walks that fine line between sex and gender, allowing Peter to enjoy being penetrated by the massive endowments of his futa Mistresses, without losing sight of their exquisite femininity.

Prisoner on Futa Island is a fun and sexy story that does have some dark aspects, but which also puts a surprisingly empowering twist on the idea of happily-ever-after. There is enough variety in the scenarios to keep the 5 chapters from becoming repetitive, and enough plot/character development to really justify Peter's ultimate submission. It is an exaggerated fantasy, no doubt, but that just makes the final satisfaction that much more intense.

Reviewed by Sally

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Monday, December 28, 2015

Help Us Grow #GIVEAWAY

Well, here we are, fast approaching the end of another year.

It was a year that had its share of challenges and sorrows, but one that also saw moments of happiness and joy. When I was forced to take an extended sabbatical to deal with the illness (and eventual passing) of my father, the rest of the team stepped up to keep things running. When one of our more active reviewers chose to remove herself from the trans* community, some new faces stepped in to add even more diversity to the shelves.

On behalf of myself, the review team, and all of our authors, I want to extend a hearty 'thank you' to everyone who helped make the year such a success.

With the prospect of a new year dawning bright, I plan to invest a lot more time and effort in making Bending the Bookshelf a success. We are working on some new features, looking to add even more reviewers, and are planning some new activities. At the same time, I would love to make this more of a community, and encourage more discussion.

To that end, I am delighted to offer a big end-of-year giveaway to say thanks to everyone who made 2015 such a success, and to help make 2016 even bigger and better.

All you have to do is help spread the word about our little blog - every post/share/like will earn you an additional entry in the giveaway. At the end of the giveaway I will draw one luck winner who will receive a $25 gift card to the winner's choice of Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, or Chapters.ca.

For those of you who are new to Bending the Bookshelf, welcome to our little community! Our mission is one of bending gender identities, gender expressions, and gender roles. Here you will find transgender biographies, intersex adventures, crossdressing guides, transsexual romances, futanari fantasies, tales of female dominant societies, and so much more.

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Friday, December 25, 2015

Freebie Fiction Friday - Putting the TG in TGIF!

Well, if it's Friday, then that must been it's time for Freebie Fiction Friday . . . time to put the 'TG' in TGIF (and the 'FD' in Friday)!

Every Friday I take the initiative to search through thew newly free titles on Amazon, and to identify those that might be of interest to trans* 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, and covert it (if need be) with Calibre. I can tell you I do most of my reading on my tablet, using Kindle for PC, and it works beautifully.

Please do be sure to check the price before downloading anything, though, as most freebies are limited time offers, and some are specific to certain regions.