Wednesday, November 30, 2016

The Knight, The Witch, and the Vacuum Cleaner: A Futa Fairy Tale by Roxy Katt

The Knight, The Witch, and the Vacuum Cleaner: A Futa Fairy Tale is a very silly story. It is so corny it will have you in a perpetual eye roll, and so gleefully anachronistic that more sensitive readers may find themselves with whiplash from recoiling in offended horror.

It is also a very sexy story, one that was so thoroughly amusing and arousing that I wanted to interrupt everybody around me and share it with them. Roxy Katt clearly had a lot of fun playing with fairy tale conventions here, and oh, boy does it show.

The storytelling and the dialogue shine brightest here, cleverly playing with the style of a fairy tale, and blending it with a cheesy sort of pornography. Nearly every paragraph has at least one clever bit of phrasing that is guaranteed to make you smile, with the banter between the two characters almost painfully cute.

Roxy Katt somehow manages to turn medieval armor into a fetish, lovingly detailing how the knight has to be greased into it, and drawing BDSM thrills out of its constrictive nature and lack of visibility. I loved the idea of this bold, brave knight, so carefully attired in her protective armor, being put at the witch's mercy by her own naive nobility. Her inability to understand what it going on, and her genuine shock at impending orgasm is comic, but also very cute.

Yes, you will groan and moan as you read The Knight, The Witch, and the Vacuum Cleaner: A Futa Fairy Tale, but like Lady de Plumtarte herself, you will come to enjoy it despite any initial skepticism.


Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Passion Undiminished by Shaun Putaine

The opening chapter of Shaun Putaine's Undiminished series (although each story can be read on its own), Passion Undiminished introduces us to Tom and Lisa, coffee shop strangers who embark on the first tentative explorations of lover and adventure.

Tom has been admiring Lisa from afar, and when he finally gets up the nerve to sit down and strike up a conversation, things go better than he could have expected. She's as charming as she is beautiful, and they really do seem to hit it off. There are a lot of little things in the scene that I thought Putaine did well, not the least of which is the way Lisa innocently sends Tom to run a quick errand for her. It demonstrates a natural, wholesome side of female domination that helps set the stage, even if she doesn't know it.

Their first few dates are lovely, romantic affairs, with Tom pulling out all the stops to impress his new date. Before things go too far, however, he realizes that he is going to have to risk everything if there is to be any chance at long-term happiness. Lisa is open to the idea of a female led relationship, but she doesn't really understand what's involved or how it all works. Again, I thought Putaine crafted the conversation exceptionally well here, deftly explaining how female led relationships differ from fantasies of female domination, and illustrating what Tom's vision of true submission looks like.

What makes the story believable is the involvement of Tom's mentor and his wife, a couple who have been married in a female led relationship for years. They take a guiding hand in helping Tom to set the stage, and they also help Lisa to cope with her fears and doubts when the prospect of marriage leaves her so uncertain. It is there where the story falls into its only real cliché, with Lisa's uncertainty less about kink and more about sexual compatibility, but I liked the way it was handled. There is some talk about toys and techniques, and the seeds are planted for the idea of cuckolding (which is revisited in Love Undiminished).

The final punishment scene might seem a bit too much for those readers who fell in love with the romance of the first half of the story, but I like that it explores the breaking of physical and emotional barriers, leading to true dominance and submission. A well-written story, with love and admiration at its heart, Passion Undiminished is a wonderful story for lovers of female domination and female led relationships.


Monday, November 28, 2016

Finding Love Down Under by Donna Jay

A sweet and sexy erotic romance, Finding Love Down Under is a story that soars on the strength of its characters and the sincerity of their relationship. Claire and Zoe are such a wonderful couple - real women with pasts and personalities. They both come into the story with some serious trust issues from their last relationships, and that pain is dealt with honestly and openly. As much as we want them to open their eyes, see what's before them, and dive headlong into love, Donna Jay knows that would be a recipe for disaster.

While the two strangers quickly become fast friends, those trust issues make it difficult for them to admit their feelings for one another, especially when neither is sure the other is even a lesbian. It makes for a slow, sweet tale, but it is one that's a joy to read. Watching these two women get to know one another, come out of their respective shells, and settle into a life together is just wonderful. By the time they are ready to test the waters of love, it is already clear they are meant to be together, and even then they take it slow. Trust issues mean patience and safewords, and both women respect that.

As for those safewords, the story does start out on an exceptionally hot note, with a scene that starts kinky, but which quickly goes dark. In it, we are introduced to Claire and her fiancée, two women who seem to be very much in love, with some kinky ageplay and BDSM tying them together. Claire likes to play mommy to her brat, tying her up, spanking her, and verbally dominating her. Amy has a secret, however, and the only thing more painful than Claire's discovery of that secret is Amy's nonchalant disregard of her concerns, and her refusal to acknowledge the betrayal. While we don't find out her story until later, Zoe's own kinky, BDSM-fueled relationship was torn apart by a similar betrayal of trust, with an arrogant, possessive lover who refused to see acknowledge how deeply she wounded her submissive.

Love of any kind requires trust, but the love between a dominant and her submissive requires absolute trust. It does not come easily, as is tested by interference by past lovers, but that just makes their happily-ever-after that much sweeter. The sex, when it does come, is hot and kinky, but also tasteful and lusciously detailed. By keeping the characters at the forefront, Donna Jay does femdom erotica just as well as she does lesbian romance. Even if you're just bi-curious or an erotic voyeur, you will come out of Finding Love Down Under wanting what Claire and Zoe have.


Friday, November 25, 2016

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.

                                  

Enjoy!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Just Your Average Guy by Paul Jason

I have read a lot of transgender biographies and memoirs over the years, but I must say that Just Your Average Guy is one of the most unique. It is not so much a story about crossdressing as it is about a man who crossdresses. That may sound like a small distinction, but it really does loom large over the text, especially towards the end.

Paul Jason writes with a comfortable, engaging style that is honest and sincere - sometimes painfully so. Although he has lived the story, he almost writes from outside it, ensuring that his tale is accessible to all readers, and not just those who consider themselves a part of the transgender community. Similarly, while he is not shy about sharing his personal thoughts on crossdressing, he avoids getting too deep into the self-psychoanalysis that can often weigh down these kinds of stories.

Overall, Just Your Average Guy has a sad, melancholy feel to it, but it also filled with moments of humor and happiness. Paul invites us on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting back on the lonely struggles of coming to terms with his crossdressing in a pre-internet era. His earliest crossdressing is marred by the guilt he feels for wearing his mother's clothes, and plagued by the constant fear of getting caught. Even once he moves out, gets a place of his own, and starts building his own closet, that fear and that guilt never goes away . . . it just changes focus. The lengths he goes to in protecting his secret are incredible, but he does a fantastic job of conveying the terror all crossdressers share at some point. My heart raced alongside his when mom suggested using his flat while he's on vacation, and I shared his gut-wrenching sorrow at being forced to discard everything to protect himself.

As for it being a unique tale, I appreciated that there was no sexual element to his crossdressing, and no deep-seated gender confusion behind his identity. He was never aroused by crossdressing, and never felt the urge to become a woman. In fact, when talking of his earliest experiments, Paul is very clear about not feeling the need to stuff a bra, cinch his waist, or do anything else to fabricate a feminine figure. He takes comfort in the clothes and the cosmetics, and finds a sense of peace in his crossdressing, but he never loses sight of who he is beneath it all.

When Paul and I chatted a bit about the book, he warned that it was a little controversial in places and at first glance it is, but it really shouldn't be. Yes, some readers may take issue the terms and how he feels about them, but you have to take it in context of growing up in a pre-internet era where those terms came with heavy baggage. Other readers may take issue with his thoughts on why cross-dressers should not call themselves a femme name, any why it's crazy to want to be accepted as someone else. I have to admit, that initially struck a chord with me, but I can't necessarily disagree with his reasoning, especially when he talks about double standards, and most certainly not when he shares his idea of freedom:
"My ideal is that I could wear my hair long, dye it vivid colours, wear make-up and feminine clothes, and still be called ‘sir’ without it being used in a derogatory ‘I’ve read you’ kind of way. "
For me, 'Sally' is something of a different identity, but one borne out of necessity. If f we lived in a world where we could crossdress comfortably, be socially accepted, and not have to wrap ourselves in fear every time we step outside the house . . . well, being Just Your Average Guy could have a whole other meaning, and I think that could be wonderful.


Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Book of Sluts by Veronica Vinyl (The House of Sissify)

A little something different for you again today, brought to you by the gracious and lovely ladies over at The House of Sissify - Your House of Feminization. If you have never been, it is quite a lovely site, complete with online erotica, comics, training material, and even a sissy social network.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Book of Sluts by Veronica Vinyl is a glorious, full-colour comic that chronicles the House of Sissify’s emasculation and feminization of its (mostly) willing students.

I initially fell in love with the artwork (just check out the sample to the right), but it was the opening narration that really excited me. It talks about the House of Sissify’s being a proper house, hidden and isolated from the cruel judgment of society. Just 3 small blurbs, but they really speak to the reader.

It is a very sensual, visually kinky comic, but it has its moments of humor as well. The sissy panels are so bright and vibrant, full of innocent pinks and whites, while the Mistress Alex panels are dark, stark, and full of blacks and reds. The dialogue is simple and straight to the point - something comics can do so well - but very exciting.

When story and artwork come together, especially with such a clear understanding of the fantasies and fetishes behind it all, you really do have something magical.


Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Curse of the Kathoey by Lyka Bloom

While I always look forward to new stories from Lyka Bloom, I do believe Curse of the Kathoey is her best in quite some time, right up there with The Lipstick Lounge and Muffy the Demon Slayer.

For starters, the characterization of Gene and Ron is established very well in the opening scenes. They have authentic, distinctive personalities that suggest precisely what kind of roles they will ultimately play in the story. I liked genuinely Gene, and found him even more endearing after his nervous, tentative exploration with his petite kathoey lover. At the same time, I knew Ron was going to be trouble, and I looked forward to his comeuppance - even though I knew Gene was going to get dragged into it. While I thought the Bangkok setting could have used a little more sensory detail, there was enough there to clearly orient the reader in the story.

As for the heart of the story, the transformation from American boys into Thai kathoeys, it is wonderfully done. Bloom has the transformation happen gradually, over the course of a couple of days, with Gene and Ron changing physically, emotionally, and even culturally. There were a few nice twists on observations other people made, that they themselves were not aware of, that really sold me on the curse. As has been the trend for her most recent stories, the erotic scenes here are brief, with most of the sex happening off the page, but they are still lovingly detailed, driving home the true consequences of Ron's misbehavior.

Friday, November 18, 2016

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.

                      

Enjoy!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Trans Art: Annabelle B. and The Martin Hastings Saga

I have had the great pleasure of chatting with Annabelle B. over the past few months, and she has helped me to rediscover something that I feel has been neglected here at Bending the Bookshelf. While the advent of self-publishing and e-books has certainly made trans fiction more accessible (and that is what drives most of our readers to stop by), it was trans artwork that many of us discovered first - and I can honestly say it is responsible for some of my most vivid memories.

It was those conversations with Annabelle that inspired me to reach out and look for other comics, graphic novels, manga, and artwork for us to feature, so it is only fitting that we allow her to kick things off with some gorgeous character sketches she did for Rikki's forced feminization tale, The Martin Hastings Saga.

Click on any of the images below to see them at full-size, but be warned the last one is rather naughty! :)







Annabelle B. is a fan of erotica literature, particularly crossdressing and feminization writings. Her introduction to feminization was Miss Donna's "Adventure at the Mall" short story. Annabelle's art was introduced through Rikki's forced feminization tale, The Martin Hastings Saga, a fan favorite in the genre. While not working at her day job. she enjoys working in her mini studio either writing or drawing for her blog, Forced Feminization Illustration Art.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Letter to the Staff by Vickie Tern (The House of Sissify)

A little something different for you today, brought to you by the gracious and lovely ladies over at The House of Sissify - Your House of Feminization. If you have never been, it is quite a lovely site, complete with online erotica, comics, training material, and even a sissy social network.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Letter to the Staff is presented as just that, a letter to the staff of Sissify, detailing how Annie's life has changed as a result of it. The story itself is written by Vickie Tern, a long-time author of transgender fiction who you may know from such sites as Crystal's Story Site, FictionMania, BigCloset TopShelf, and more. I have always been a fan of Vickie's work, so I was very excited to find something I have never read before.

The opening to the story is quite lovely, with Andy's girlfriend accidentally discovering his fetish, and then encouraging him to explore it with her. Kate comes across as the perfect sort of dominant, a woman who understands that is not cruelty or humiliation that her sissy seeks, but the thrill of transformation itself. She also understands, however, that sissies need to be pushed beyond their fears and uncertainties, and that they can only find their true selves through complete ownership and utter submission.

"I have in mind some things you may love in fantasy but not like in reality at all. Not until you become the creature of *my* fantasy."

Through a combination of chemical, hormonal, and surgical intervention, Andy becomes Annie, waking up several days later to discover that it wasn't a brand, a collar, or a cage that Kate had in mind as her special pledge, but a pair of breast implants. She also finds a note from her newly christened Mistress, explaining just what kind of girl she expects Annie to become. Not surprisingly, Annie rebels against her new role, realizing she has no safe word with which to escape a scene gone too far. Even if Kate's role has been a bit exaggerated, and her efforts a tad accelerated, Vickie keeps things real with her sissy.

Without spoiling the final chapters, Annie's first tentative steps towards womanhood are related with lovely detail, including some surprising displays of confidence and strength, and the erotic awakening that comes with Clarie and Wilmer puts a lovely finishing touch on the story. This Letter to the Staff may be fiction, but it is a dream we all share.



Tuesday, November 15, 2016

The Sissy Upstairs by Lyka Bloom

A rather small-scale tale from the pen of Lyka Bloom, taking place almost entirely in an upstairs bedroom, The Sissy Upstairs is a sexy, suspenseful story of forced feminization.

Wilson and Lara have been married for years - not necessarily happily, but with an awkward edge of comfort. When the erotic promise of an anniversary date turns out to be nothing more than a sour setup, Wilson discovers just how unhappy his wife really is, and just how much she resents his complacency. Unfortunately for him, the accomplished geneticist has been working on something special at the office, and her hubby is about to become her guinea pig.

What follows is an intimate, almost claustrophobic, story of intense feminization. Wilson finds himself subjected to physical, psychological, and genetic manipulation, driving him towards a new life as The Sissy Upstairs. Even if there's little sex to speak of, the transformation itself is powerfully erotic, and Lara proves herself to be a cunning sort of domestic dominatrix.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Fifty Two Weeks of Murder by Owen Nichols

As murder mysteries or thrillers go, Fifty Two Weeks of Murder was a fascinating read, a novel that breaks all the rules. It all begins with a wealthy socio-political vigilante who has chosen to expose the criminals and hypocrites he feels are most deserving of justice. Each week he will reveal a new target, and the first person to track them down, capture them, and murder them in the most gruesomely innovative manner will be paid 5 million pounds.

Not surprisingly, between those interested in it for the cause, those for the payday, and those for the thrill of the kill, there is no shortage of would-be-killers ready to murder on his behalf.

Assistant Chief Constable Anders, a transplanted detective from the US, is part of the task force looking to put a stop to Lord Buckland’s plans. She is a wonderful character, and not just because she is a heroine who happens to be transsexual. Seriously, I loved how that was such a positive part of her character, but not what defined her. In fact, we already know her as a woman, and admire her as a detective, long before we learn the truth about her gender. You cannot help but admire her ruthless pursuit of justice . . . but it is just as tempting to at least understand (if not appreciate) the cause against which she has pitted herself. As much as we know that murder is wrong, Lord Buckland dangles targets the world could certainly do without, even without the added incentive of 5 million pounds.

Owen Nichols's novel is a gruesome, action-packed thriller, driven as much by the characters as the cause. It is one of those entirely compelling books where you always want to read just one more chapter, no matter how dark it gets, and the climax resolves the story in a manner that is entirely satisfying.


Friday, November 11, 2016

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.

              

Enjoy!