Thursday, April 27, 2017

Girltown by Lyka Bloom (#feminization #mindcontrol #femdom)

Lyka Bloom is always a fun read, but it has been a while since she last offered up a story as perfect as Girltown.

Honestly, I loved everything about this - the characters, the scenario, the story, the details, everything. It got into my heart early on, with Trevor's clandestine explorations of his femininity, and then made its way into my head with the slow burning mystery of what Girltown is and what it takes to get there.

I have to admit, our first glance of that industrial paradise was not at all what I expected, but that is just another element of what made the story so memorable. Similarly, Vanessa was not quite what I expected from a professional feminizer, especially with how her motives are slowly revealed, ever-increasing the contrast with her bubbly personality.

The early tentative crossdressing scenes are a lot of fun, but the ultimate feminization - complete with well-meaning hypnotic mind control - is the real thrill. It is a sensual tale, and a surprisingly happy one, that gives way to erotic excess in the final pages. As she always does, Lyka Bloom takes the clichéd elements of forced feminization erotica, puts her own spin and polish on them, and teases out a story that is far more than the sum of its parts.


Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Bitch by Mistress Jessica (#femdom #feminization #bisexual #pegging)

Although it definitely crosses a few 'ick' lines for me, Bitch was a surprisingly powerful, sexy read of female domination and forced feminization. I quite liked the process of seduction, breaking, and conditioning here, and must give Mistress Jessica full credit for writing a story that gets as deep into your head as it does your panties.

Pete is a married man who has enjoyed some extramarital dalliances with professional Dominatrices, but who has no idea what it truly means to submit. When a beautiful ex-employee half his age gets him to confess to his experiences with being feminized and pegged, she invites him back to her specially equipped dungeon, fully intending to make him her Bitch. The poor man has no idea what he is in for, but all of his deepest, darkest, most depraved desires are about to come true.

Let me dispense with the 'ick' items before I move onto what I enjoyed about this. For one, the use of poppers here is so heavy and so constant, I was surprised Pete that survived. Second, there are several scenes of Pete being used as a human urinal, and that just turns me right off. Third, and maybe this is just a part of the scene that I am too timid to enjoy, the emphasis on associating pleasure with pain kind of irks me, especially when it approaches what I would consider to be abuse.

As for what I enjoyed, the psychological aspects here are superb. I loved how Mistress Rachel & Mistress Claire get Pete to slowly admit to his past experiences, before deconstructing them to make him realize what he truly enjoyed about each. The way his submission builds is wonderful, and even if it is a bit quick, that is a minor quibble. The bondage elements were exquisite, with some really novel restraints and equipment used, and the array of sexual toys was mind boggling. Sexually, I loved how the Mistresses used chastity to disconnect Pete from his manhood, ultimately leading him to the holy grail of his first sissygasm, before introducing him to his first men. The finale is rather messy, and that is just how I like it.

Bitch was a good introduction to the world of Mistress Jessica, and I can honestly say the positives outweighed the 'ick' factor enough that I am eager to read more.


New and Notable - Trans* Reads

On the last Wednesday of every month we take a few moments to look ahead and admire some of the books coming to shelves. There is nothing quite like the joy of anticipation, of pre-ordering a book that speaks to your heart, and of then having it arrive in your hot little hands. It is like a present to yourself, and there is just something a little more special about a book you have waited for.

So, without further ado, here are the New and Notable releases coming to shelves in May.


Straight Expectations: The Story of a Family in Transition by Peggy Cryden

Available May 18, 2017 from Jessica Kingsley Publishers 

Ever since they were young, Peggy Cryden noticed her children's gender expression did not correspond with society's expectations of their biological gender. In this moving and honest memoir, Peggy details the experiences and challenges of raising both a gay son and a gay, transgender son and shares her family's journey of adversity and growth, which has helped inform her work as a psychotherapist.

Each chapter explores a particular year in the family's life, following the children from birth to adulthood and through their numerous experiences including coming out, depression, hate crime, relationships, school and various aspects to do with transitioning (legal, physical, medical, social) as well as their appearances in the media as a family. This book is insightful, charming and thought-provoking, and through levity and humour, offers a positive approach to parenting outside of convention.
I like the idea that this family's story is coming from both a mother and a licensed therapist, a woman who can share the intimate details of her family's development, and also look clinically at the implications for us all. - Sally

My Name is Ayla by Phetra H. Novak

Available May 1, 2017

Everyone should be safe in a liberal country like Sweden.

But, Peter Andreasson, a Police Officer with the Gothenburg Police, knows that isn't always the case. The day he walks into the hospital emergency room and meets a badly beaten woman, Ayla Aydin, he is heartbroken but drawn to her strength.

Ayla knows who she is.

She’s proud of the person she has become.

It’s her third generation Swedish family that cannot accept her transformation from male to female and she is not prepared for what comes next. She has dishonoured them, and for this, she must pay the ultimate price.

When two cultures collide, Ayla’s life is put at risk, will she run or stay and fight? Will she escape their wrath even with Peter by her side?
As much as I wish to see a day where society does not suffer from such ugly prejudices, stories of finding true love and rising above those horrors will never get old. - Sally



Available May 30, 2017 from Penguin Random House Publisher Services

Debunks the twenty-one most common myths and misperceptions about transgender issues

From Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner to Thomas Beatie (“the pregnant man”) and transgender youth, coverage of trans lives has been exploding—yet so much misinformation persists. Bringing together the medical, social, psychological, and political aspects of being trans in the United States today, “You’re in the Wrong Bathroom!”: And 20 Other Myths About Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People unpacks the twenty-one most common myths and misconceptions about transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Authors Laura Erickson-Schroth, MD, a psychiatrist, and Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW-R, a psychotherapist, address a range of fallacies:

Trans People Are “Trapped in the Wrong Body”
You’re Not Really Trans If You Haven’t Had “the Surgery”
Trans People Are a Danger to Others, Especially Children
Trans People Are Mentally Ill and Therapy Can Change Them
Trans People and Feminists Don’t Get Along
While I wish books like this were not necessary, I like the approach here, and early reviews are very positive. - Sally


The Diary of Menorah Horwitz by Menorah Horwitz

Available May 6, 2017 from Floating World Comics

From the creator of Miss U.S. of Heya comes a true story about gender, Judaism, and gel nail polish.

Michael Horwitz, a shy 29 year-old gay illustrator, combines Judaism and a love of drag in all the wrong ways when he becomes Menorah, Portland's premiere Anne Frank impersonator. Dressed in a puke colored school-girl's uniform, stripper heels, and nails made from burning candles taped to his fingers, Michael explores Portland's queer and punk party scene, one bad lip synch at a time. He falls in with drug happy club kids, hot tempered local divas, and some of the world's most famous drag queens (sometimes disastrously)—all while waking up at 6 am the next morning to bag groceries. But not everyone is happy with Michael's new alter ego, specifically his very supportive family. Michael's creative detour takes a detour of its own when he realizes that Menorah isn't a persona but a suggestion of the person he's always wanted to be. What began as an imitation of someone famous for speaking their truth becomes a transition into his—or rather her—authentic self.

An autobiographical comedy about finding your authentic self in the artificial world of drag.
A first person account of gender transitioning.
An exploration of traditional Jewish identity intersecting with new gender norms.
Sure, this sounds a bit surreal, but it also sounds like a lot of fun, with some original ideas on gender. - Sally

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Lost and Found by J. Holland (#fantasy #lesbian #asexual)

Lost and Found by J. Holland was a wonderful little story, a sweetly romantic fairy tale that really opened my eyes to the beauty of being asexual, and yet wonderfully romantic.

Nerissa is a selkie who, having grown up on her grandmother's stories, is fascinated with humans. So much so, in fact, that she has taken a part-time job at the library in order to earn enough money to buy herself sweets, clothes, and other human conveniences. Lorelei is a human whose fascination is with the sweets of her bakery, leaving her with a few extra pounds and some sadly all-too-familiar body image issues.

The relationship between these two women is delightful, a true case of love-at-first-sight. Despite her initial attraction, Lorelei only invites Nerissa into her home as an act of well-meaning charity, never knowing that her beach discover is the reason the young woman cannot go home. The two form an almost immediate bond, even as Nerissa's innocent desire for a warm embrace tests Lorelei's restraint.

What makes this story work is Lorelei's acceptance of her lover's asexual nature. Never once does she try to pressure her or make her feel guilty for how she demonstrates her affections. Should Nerissa ever feel ready, she would be eager to take their love to a different place, but she is very much okay with that never happening. Instead, they sleep in each other's arms, watch TV in each other's arms, and share loving embraces wherever and whenever they can. At the same time, while she may be asexual, Nerissa does a wonderful job of helping Lorelei with her body image, making her understand just how beautiful she is, and allowing her to see the strength and the power beneath those extra pounds.

Like any fairy tale, Lost and Found does have a happy ending, but only after their love is tested. For such a short tale, I was surprised at how emotionally invested I became. These are wonderful characters in a unique story that never bows to convention, and never betrays their identities. I loved it.


Monday, April 24, 2017

Sissy Maid: Cleaning My Man by Kella Z. Driel (#sissy #erotica #maledom)

The Maidfit-1, a prototype from RJ3 Industries, is a neural-interface costume that transforms the wearer into a prissy, sissy maid by adjusting brain chemistry, DNA, and behavior. Sadly, it will not be on the market for another 5 years, but young Mickey simply cannot wait. He is so obsessed with the idea of becoming a perfectly feminine maid that he uproots his entire life to spend months stalking the inventor before breaking into the lab to do a little experimentation of his own.

That is where Sissy Maid: Cleaning My Man begins, but there is a twist. What he does not know is that the choice of a maid's costume for a prototype was not an accident. Reclusive billionaire, Richard Johnson III, and his assistant, Franklin Chambers, are both very interested in sissification. In fact, both have sissies of their own at home! Their invention marks the next step in that particular fetish - they just need the right test subject.

In case you did not guess it from the title, both Mickey and Richard are about to realize their dreams. How Kella Z. Driel managed to tease this dream out of my brain, I simply do not know, but I feel a deep and abiding kinship with Mickey/Mikki . . . not to mention a fair bit of jealousy over her adventures!

Everything about this story is fantastic, but it is the transformation of Mickey into Mikki that is sure to put a wrinkle in your ruffled skirt. I loved the physical details of the costume, the last-minute second thoughts, and the playful mAId interface. In the space of a single weekend, all of Mickey's most feminine dreams come true, leaving Mikki the sexiest, most submissive sissy in the world. Of course, making a Sissy Maid is only half the story - there is still the matter of Cleaning My Man to be dealt with. I do not want to give away all Kella's secrets, but the relationship here between sissies and alpha males here is wonderful and sex/gender positive, with pleasure going both ways.



Friday, April 21, 2017

Freebie Fiction 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 Fiction Friday.

Every Friday I search through the weekend's free titles on Amazon, looking for those that might be of interest to readers, fans, and lovers of bending gender and sexuality. 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.

                                        
   
  Enjoy!