Title: The Calyx Charm
Author: May Peterson
Publication Date: July 13, 2021 by Carina Press
Genres: Fantasy
Protagonist Gender: Trans Woman
The Calyx Charm is a book I've wanted to read (and wanted to love) for what seems like ages now, but every time I've attempted it, I've struggled to make it past the opening chapters. They're very slowly paced, full of more tell and show, and told almost entirely in memory and flashback. This time, I managed to persevere, to stick with it, to trust that the narrative would improve as the current story unfolded... and I'm glad I did.
The central relationship between Violetta and Tibario is the book’s greatest strength. Their bond—best friends from rival families who have secretly been pining for one another—is built on care, consent, humor, and emotional honesty. Watching Violetta, who has been forced to be brave far too young, slowly allow herself to be seen and cherished is genuinely moving. Tibario’s loyalty, self-doubt, and gradual reorientation of what (and who) he owes allegiance to make him a worthy partner, not just a love interest. Their intimacy feels earned, vulnerable, and warm, with moments of levity that cut beautifully through the darkness.
Violetta herself is unforgettable. Her transness is not an add-on or an “issue” to be explained, but the core through which the story understands magic, power, trauma, and becoming. The novel’s exploration of gender feels lived-in and authentic, suffused with both pain and joy. The idea that reclaiming one’s body and identity is inseparable from reclaiming one’s power is handled with real care, and the book’s compassion for trans survival and hope resonates long after the final page.
Equally powerful is the found family element. The Fragrant Rose and the queer community around it offer a counterpoint to the cruelty of the wider world: a space of solidarity, humor, protection, and chosen kinship.
As I mentioned at the start, the opening takes its time settling into the story. While the ideas are fascinating, they can feel overwhelming, and those early sections demand patience. The pacing improves dramatically after that... until the end, where the conclusion stretches long past the point where the emotional arc feels resolved, with extended explanations, monologues, and increasingly abstract magic that dilutes some of the impact. The stakes remain high, but the momentum softens, and the ending could have been sharper without losing its meaning.
All that said, The Calyx Charm is imperfect, occasionally exhausting, but ultimately rewarding: a romance that blooms against all odds, a trans narrative full of truth, and a reminder that love and revolution are, at their core, communal acts.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
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