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Daughters of the Empty Throne #1
The Sapling Cage
In the gripping first novel in the Daughters of the Empty Throne trilogy, author Margaret Killjoy spins a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention in an own-voices story of trans witchcraft.
Lorel has always dreamed of becoming a witch: learning magic, fighting monsters, and exploring the world beyond the small town where she and her mother run the stables. Even though a strange plague is killing the trees in the Kingdom of Cekon and witches are being blamed for it, Lorel wants nothing more than to join them. There’s only one problem: all witches are women, and she was born a boy.
When the coven comes to claim her best friend, Lorel disguises herself in a dress and joins in her friend’s place, leaving home and her old self behind. She soon discovers the dark powers threatening the kingdom: a magical blight scars the land, and the power-mad Duchess Helte is crushing everything between her and the crown. In spite of these dangers, Lorel makes friends and begins learning magic from the powerful witches in her coven. However, she fears that her new friends and mentors will find out her secret and kick her out of the coven, or worse.
Lorel has always dreamed of becoming a witch: learning magic, fighting monsters, and exploring the world beyond the small town where she and her mother run the stables. Even though a strange plague is killing the trees in the Kingdom of Cekon and witches are being blamed for it, Lorel wants nothing more than to join them. There’s only one problem: all witches are women, and she was born a boy.
When the coven comes to claim her best friend, Lorel disguises herself in a dress and joins in her friend’s place, leaving home and her old self behind. She soon discovers the dark powers threatening the kingdom: a magical blight scars the land, and the power-mad Duchess Helte is crushing everything between her and the crown. In spite of these dangers, Lorel makes friends and begins learning magic from the powerful witches in her coven. However, she fears that her new friends and mentors will find out her secret and kick her out of the coven, or worse.
329 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2024
210 people are currently reading
6194 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Killjoy
57 books1,458 followersMargaret Killjoy is a transfeminine author and editor currently based in the Appalachian mountains. Her most recent book is an anarchist demon hunters novella called The Barrow Will Send What it May, published by Tor.com. She spends her time crafting and complaining about authoritarian power structures and she blogs at birdsbeforethestorm.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews
September 4, 2024
Trans witch d&d, it’s perfect
September 26, 2024
Hmmm. So. I liked this book. I actually liked it quite a bit. But also I have some really mixed feelings towards the end.
This was a lovely fantasy story featuring a trans witch by a trans femme author. I loved the characters and the worldbuilding.
Lorel, the main character was lovely and I was rooting for her so much. And members of her Coven were wonderful side characters too. I listened to the audiobook so I don't actually know how to spell the names of some of the characters, but I particularly loved the love interest, the witch trainer, Dame Rose, and Hex. They were all very different and- made Lorel grow in different ways, and I appreciated them all.
This book was also heavy in metaphor, which I have no problem with- even enjoyed. It's heavy in anarchist philosophy and transness
But at the same time that comes with my main criticism of this book, and this isn't necessarily Killjoy's fault. But as a trans woman, I have some concerns with how Lorel's identity was discussed especially towards the end of the book. I understood the messaging Killyjoy was going for in her conversations of intrinsic identity vs changing your body. This is all obviously a discussion and metaphor about medical transition vs intrinsic identity, but I feel like a lot of non trans (and even non transfemminine) people who read this will take the wrong message from how the book ends with . And this might be setting up events for future books in the series, and I'm looking forward to that, but just I worry that non-transfeminine readers might take this metaphor at face value and disregard other things that are also in this book. .
I might be overthinking that point, but seeing a couple other early reviews talking about Lorel should be accepted as she is, it just raises my eyebrows. Anyway, no one will probably read this review anyway so.
All that to say, I did really enjoy this book, and am looking forward to Killjoy continuing the series. 4.5/5
This was a lovely fantasy story featuring a trans witch by a trans femme author. I loved the characters and the worldbuilding.
Lorel, the main character was lovely and I was rooting for her so much. And members of her Coven were wonderful side characters too. I listened to the audiobook so I don't actually know how to spell the names of some of the characters, but I particularly loved the love interest, the witch trainer, Dame Rose, and Hex. They were all very different and- made Lorel grow in different ways, and I appreciated them all.
This book was also heavy in metaphor, which I have no problem with- even enjoyed. It's heavy in anarchist philosophy and transness
But at the same time that comes with my main criticism of this book, and this isn't necessarily Killjoy's fault. But as a trans woman, I have some concerns with how Lorel's identity was discussed especially towards the end of the book. I understood the messaging Killyjoy was going for in her conversations of intrinsic identity vs changing your body. This is all obviously a discussion and metaphor about medical transition vs intrinsic identity, but I feel like a lot of non trans (and even non transfemminine) people who read this will take the wrong message from how the book ends with . And this might be setting up events for future books in the series, and I'm looking forward to that, but just I worry that non-transfeminine readers might take this metaphor at face value and disregard other things that are also in this book. .
I might be overthinking that point, but seeing a couple other early reviews talking about Lorel should be accepted as she is, it just raises my eyebrows. Anyway, no one will probably read this review anyway so.
All that to say, I did really enjoy this book, and am looking forward to Killjoy continuing the series. 4.5/5
April 20, 2025
You wouldn't know it by my recent reads, but I've been in a bit of a slump lately, owing to a stupid freelancer gig where I have to read so much bad / generic text my eyes hurt in the evening. And so, gosh, this was such a good time for me and my eyeballs! (audiobooks have been easier) I vibed with this one instantly and it read like butter melting on the tip of my tongue. Which isn't to say it doesn't have depth, not at all.
It's so really lovely to read an anarchist writer like Killjoy, because the political / life values just seep through in everything that's happening. It's one of my favorite witchy books ever now because of how it deals with matters of power, authority, autonomy and hierarchies / political systems. It's all there, in the details in how conflicts are resolved and how group dynamics unfold. The details make it shine though, cause I can admit that the bare bones of it might make it seem like your normal YA / coming-of-age book. For me it felt very special, though.
I really loved Lorel as a protagonist and the very diverse array of characters. First of all, the witches of the coven are all pretty fucking cool, the magic was specific and earthy in just the right ways for me (expressing the idea of diffuse power, that can't be accumulated and um... caged). Then there's a complex system of types of knights - of which the best are the outlaw knights, the Ilthurians, who are basically just chaotically good friendly neighborhood anarchists, and the worst (but funniest) are the Tax Knights. I loved the way the more experienced witches treated the new recruits, whelps (btw, a new recruit brigand in this world is called a baby, and I find that hilarious), with respect to their autonomy as their own people. No shitty hierarchies here.
Above all I loved this vibe of really nice people who just want to enjoy their lives but uuuugh something like fascism / capitalism is rising and so they can't really do that. But they do find the time to enjoy themselves. Some of the best, most emotional parts of the book for me were the ones in which our characters would just take time to braid each other's hair, build sandcastles partly with magic, play kid games - and the adults do that too!
As for Lorel's transness, I really enjoyed the representation and really liked that she was not the only trans / non-binary character present and how that was done and how the different characters are presented (not saying more because spoilers). There's also sweet crushes - Lorel is bisexual and she has multiple crushes over the course of the book and it's delightfully complicated. In general, I loved how little anarchist concepts found their way in the pages. It's a world where queer people are accepted (it's more complicated when we have a trans witch though) and thriving - Lorel has a mom and two dads, and many many characters are queer without it being a big deal. It also seems that non-monogamy is widely accepted and chill, and I loved hearing from an asexual dude that there are other ways of connecting outside of sex and romance, jeez.
I assume this is going to be a trilogy because of the rule of three in magic mentioned in the book and so I am excited to see what happens next!
It's so really lovely to read an anarchist writer like Killjoy, because the political / life values just seep through in everything that's happening. It's one of my favorite witchy books ever now because of how it deals with matters of power, authority, autonomy and hierarchies / political systems. It's all there, in the details in how conflicts are resolved and how group dynamics unfold. The details make it shine though, cause I can admit that the bare bones of it might make it seem like your normal YA / coming-of-age book. For me it felt very special, though.
I really loved Lorel as a protagonist and the very diverse array of characters. First of all, the witches of the coven are all pretty fucking cool, the magic was specific and earthy in just the right ways for me (expressing the idea of diffuse power, that can't be accumulated and um... caged). Then there's a complex system of types of knights - of which the best are the outlaw knights, the Ilthurians, who are basically just chaotically good friendly neighborhood anarchists, and the worst (but funniest) are the Tax Knights. I loved the way the more experienced witches treated the new recruits, whelps (btw, a new recruit brigand in this world is called a baby, and I find that hilarious), with respect to their autonomy as their own people. No shitty hierarchies here.
Above all I loved this vibe of really nice people who just want to enjoy their lives but uuuugh something like fascism / capitalism is rising and so they can't really do that. But they do find the time to enjoy themselves. Some of the best, most emotional parts of the book for me were the ones in which our characters would just take time to braid each other's hair, build sandcastles partly with magic, play kid games - and the adults do that too!
As for Lorel's transness, I really enjoyed the representation and really liked that she was not the only trans / non-binary character present and how that was done and how the different characters are presented (not saying more because spoilers). There's also sweet crushes - Lorel is bisexual and she has multiple crushes over the course of the book and it's delightfully complicated. In general, I loved how little anarchist concepts found their way in the pages. It's a world where queer people are accepted (it's more complicated when we have a trans witch though) and thriving - Lorel has a mom and two dads, and many many characters are queer without it being a big deal. It also seems that non-monogamy is widely accepted and chill, and I loved hearing from an asexual dude that there are other ways of connecting outside of sex and romance, jeez.
I assume this is going to be a trilogy because of the rule of three in magic mentioned in the book and so I am excited to see what happens next!
March 9, 2025
they’re putting ley in the water and turning the witches transgender
August 30, 2024
EXCUSE ME?! NEW MARGARET KILLJOY NOVEL?! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
After reading: 3.5 or 4 stars. I'm honestly not sure if this is meant to be Adult or YA, but it was very readable with lots of cool themes. Rtc!
After reading: 3.5 or 4 stars. I'm honestly not sure if this is meant to be Adult or YA, but it was very readable with lots of cool themes. Rtc!
September 10, 2025
Recommend-O-Meter: I wish I could recommend this but I’d be lying
You know how there are those books that enthrall you so much that you just can’t put them down? Yeah, this one was the exact opposite of that. I couldn’t STOP putting it down, so much so that I kept forgetting what I’d even read. Even this review was written late, simply because I couldn’t bother to think about the book again.
The thing is, the premise is so good! Lorel is a trans girl who takes her friend’s place in a witch coven because it’s always been her dream. But because only cis women are recognized as witches in this world, she has to hide her true identity while also learning the ways of witchcraft. Like???? That’s such a good concept, and it makes me really, desperately wish I liked it. But GOD, was I bored. I don’t even know how to describe it, it just felt like an endless monotonous stream of events. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and even the action scenes took me by surprise because I felt so little build-up leading to the climax.
I don’t know. I think other people could like this book, and I’d be really happy if you did. But as for me, I don’t think I’m gonna be reading the rest of this series.
You know how there are those books that enthrall you so much that you just can’t put them down? Yeah, this one was the exact opposite of that. I couldn’t STOP putting it down, so much so that I kept forgetting what I’d even read. Even this review was written late, simply because I couldn’t bother to think about the book again.
The thing is, the premise is so good! Lorel is a trans girl who takes her friend’s place in a witch coven because it’s always been her dream. But because only cis women are recognized as witches in this world, she has to hide her true identity while also learning the ways of witchcraft. Like???? That’s such a good concept, and it makes me really, desperately wish I liked it. But GOD, was I bored. I don’t even know how to describe it, it just felt like an endless monotonous stream of events. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and even the action scenes took me by surprise because I felt so little build-up leading to the climax.
I don’t know. I think other people could like this book, and I’d be really happy if you did. But as for me, I don’t think I’m gonna be reading the rest of this series.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 24, 2024
"You can't just learn and observe forever. The troubled times aren't coming, they're already here. You don't throw your lot in with anyone, you'll face those times alone."
THIS BOOK!
If you're looking for an adult mash-up that feels like Juno Dawson's Her Majesty's Royal Coven series meets Tamora Pierce, THIS IS THE BOOK.
It follows Lorel, who has always wanted to be a witch and yet can't, because only girls can be witches, and as much as she feels like a girl, she was born a boy. There is a lovely exploration of gender identity alongside the true dangers of magic and resource grabbing and evil knights, and this book was just so, so good.
ALSO, if you're the kind of person who is like WHAT cheese, WHAT bread, Killjoy goes a step FURTHER and TELLS YOU THE KIND OF TREES IN THE FOREST. She mentions madrones, my literal favorite tree, and yeah sure that immediately gave this book an extra star (it was already cruising towards 5).
It's a fun romp, it has a nostalgic feel, and it's a lot of fun and danger while being a really solid crossover into adult fantasy for young adult readers.
THIS BOOK!
If you're looking for an adult mash-up that feels like Juno Dawson's Her Majesty's Royal Coven series meets Tamora Pierce, THIS IS THE BOOK.
It follows Lorel, who has always wanted to be a witch and yet can't, because only girls can be witches, and as much as she feels like a girl, she was born a boy. There is a lovely exploration of gender identity alongside the true dangers of magic and resource grabbing and evil knights, and this book was just so, so good.
ALSO, if you're the kind of person who is like WHAT cheese, WHAT bread, Killjoy goes a step FURTHER and TELLS YOU THE KIND OF TREES IN THE FOREST. She mentions madrones, my literal favorite tree, and yeah sure that immediately gave this book an extra star (it was already cruising towards 5).
It's a fun romp, it has a nostalgic feel, and it's a lot of fun and danger while being a really solid crossover into adult fantasy for young adult readers.
June 6, 2025
4.25/5
I love a good witchy book, especially when it is queer. And I’d previously enjoyed Killjoy’s anarchist novella A Country of Ghosts and short story Into the Gray (about a trans girl thief in love with a killer mermaid). So, I was very excited to pick this up, and am happy to say it did not disappoint…though I’m waiting to award the last 0.75 star depending on where some of the plot threads go in book 2!
For starters, the world-building in this is rich and creative. There are monsters and uses of magic I’d never seen before, as well as tangible detail in terms of what the caves look like and what kind of trees are in the forest, and so on. I love that some witches not only have monstrous feature, but that there is a reason for it. And I enjoyed the way the political complexities of the world gradually unfold themselves as you read. In fact, noting that the dedication says “Thank you, Ursula. Hey, while I’m at it, thanks to the other Ursula too, the Le Guin one, who cut the path that we walk today” inspired me to re-read Le Guin’s The Language of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction, and Fantasy. In that book, Le Guin says: “The general assumption is that, if there are dragons...in a book...then it's a fantasy. This is a mistake. A writer may deploy acres of sagebrush and rimrock without achieving a real Western, if he doesn't know the West...To create...a 'secondary universe' is to make a new world...The only voice that speaks there is the creator's voice. And every word counts." Well, THIS book, by that standard, is a true fantasy!
The one odd exception to this is in the physical description of characters, which is a bit spotty. I know way more about what one minor Ilthurian Knight who shows up for 2 pages looks like than the love interest, for instance, which just felt a bit weird. Mind you, I DID have a clear mental image of Araneigh…but there was no “her curls blew in the wind” or “her brown eyes sparkled” after the initial introduction to let me know if I was drifting WAY off base or not. Likewise, I was a bit unclear on what characters were wearing sometimes. For instance, Lorel passes herself off as the son of one of the older witches by putting her hair in a masculine topknot…but it doesn’t say she changes her clothes. And last we heard she was wearing a dress, and we know she doesn’t want to change in front of anyone because that would give away her transness. So…do boys wear dresses in this world? Or did she change and just not mention it? But your mileage may vary on whether the rest of the physical world being described in more detail than the characters bothers you.
The character we follow in this coming of age story, Lorel, is quite loveable: a (justifiably) somewhat anxious bisexual trans girl who is not down with violence (she hesitates even to kill animals for food) but will fight to protect the people she cares about. I really enjoyed seeing her figure out how to stand up to bullies, make friends and allies, fall in love, and ponder what it really is she needs to live as her authentic self. For example, is the idea of maybe being able to magically gain a female body appealing because that’s what she intrinsically wants, or does she want it because it will make being recognized as a woman easier, or some combination of the two? (And different trans people in the real world seem to reach different answers on that) I did wonder a bit at the fact that the local culture is clearly 100% fine with gayness but doesn’t seem to recognize trans people, given that homophobia and transphobia (or their lack) often seem to go together to some extent across many cultures. But that’s one of those details that may be expanded on in book 2.
"For an hour or more, I watched witches argue. Half the time, I was convinced that the witches' leaderless ways were going to doom us all - if Alectoria had been in charge, it would have been sorted out easily enough. Then I remembered if there were a leader who was not Alectoria...things might have gone a lot worse. These witches were used to arguing, but...they actually listened to one another."
Anarchist ideas and ways of doing things are woven into this book more subtly than in ‘A country of ghosts’, particularly through the witches and the Ilthurian knights. I’d love to learn more about how the country stopped being a monarchy but retained a role for nobles…at least one of whom is interested in the empty throne! For example, does the fact that they went straight from medieval concepts of the commons to (at least in some areas) collectivization mean that there was a peasants’ revolt that succeeded? I hope we find out!
I love a good witchy book, especially when it is queer. And I’d previously enjoyed Killjoy’s anarchist novella A Country of Ghosts and short story Into the Gray (about a trans girl thief in love with a killer mermaid). So, I was very excited to pick this up, and am happy to say it did not disappoint…though I’m waiting to award the last 0.75 star depending on where some of the plot threads go in book 2!
For starters, the world-building in this is rich and creative. There are monsters and uses of magic I’d never seen before, as well as tangible detail in terms of what the caves look like and what kind of trees are in the forest, and so on. I love that some witches not only have monstrous feature, but that there is a reason for it. And I enjoyed the way the political complexities of the world gradually unfold themselves as you read. In fact, noting that the dedication says “Thank you, Ursula. Hey, while I’m at it, thanks to the other Ursula too, the Le Guin one, who cut the path that we walk today” inspired me to re-read Le Guin’s The Language of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction, and Fantasy. In that book, Le Guin says: “The general assumption is that, if there are dragons...in a book...then it's a fantasy. This is a mistake. A writer may deploy acres of sagebrush and rimrock without achieving a real Western, if he doesn't know the West...To create...a 'secondary universe' is to make a new world...The only voice that speaks there is the creator's voice. And every word counts." Well, THIS book, by that standard, is a true fantasy!
The one odd exception to this is in the physical description of characters, which is a bit spotty. I know way more about what one minor Ilthurian Knight who shows up for 2 pages looks like than the love interest, for instance, which just felt a bit weird. Mind you, I DID have a clear mental image of Araneigh…but there was no “her curls blew in the wind” or “her brown eyes sparkled” after the initial introduction to let me know if I was drifting WAY off base or not. Likewise, I was a bit unclear on what characters were wearing sometimes. For instance, Lorel passes herself off as the son of one of the older witches by putting her hair in a masculine topknot…but it doesn’t say she changes her clothes. And last we heard she was wearing a dress, and we know she doesn’t want to change in front of anyone because that would give away her transness. So…do boys wear dresses in this world? Or did she change and just not mention it? But your mileage may vary on whether the rest of the physical world being described in more detail than the characters bothers you.
The character we follow in this coming of age story, Lorel, is quite loveable: a (justifiably) somewhat anxious bisexual trans girl who is not down with violence (she hesitates even to kill animals for food) but will fight to protect the people she cares about. I really enjoyed seeing her figure out how to stand up to bullies, make friends and allies, fall in love, and ponder what it really is she needs to live as her authentic self. For example, is the idea of maybe being able to magically gain a female body appealing because that’s what she intrinsically wants, or does she want it because it will make being recognized as a woman easier, or some combination of the two? (And different trans people in the real world seem to reach different answers on that) I did wonder a bit at the fact that the local culture is clearly 100% fine with gayness but doesn’t seem to recognize trans people, given that homophobia and transphobia (or their lack) often seem to go together to some extent across many cultures. But that’s one of those details that may be expanded on in book 2.
"For an hour or more, I watched witches argue. Half the time, I was convinced that the witches' leaderless ways were going to doom us all - if Alectoria had been in charge, it would have been sorted out easily enough. Then I remembered if there were a leader who was not Alectoria...things might have gone a lot worse. These witches were used to arguing, but...they actually listened to one another."
Anarchist ideas and ways of doing things are woven into this book more subtly than in ‘A country of ghosts’, particularly through the witches and the Ilthurian knights. I’d love to learn more about how the country stopped being a monarchy but retained a role for nobles…at least one of whom is interested in the empty throne! For example, does the fact that they went straight from medieval concepts of the commons to (at least in some areas) collectivization mean that there was a peasants’ revolt that succeeded? I hope we find out!
September 26, 2025
Queer Anarchist Witches. Do you need more? This novel is wonderful, with creative and smart world-building, a complete and satisfying story even as it is setting up for a series, and, most importantly, remarkably complicated and sympathetic characters that feel genuine, robust, and who you really want to spend time with. The general world is in many ways your standard second-world fantasy, with something resembling medieval/feudal western Europe, but it is layered with various types of magic and fantastical creatures, as well as engaging and intentional politics and political/social factions and ideologies, making it much more than standard. The pacing feels a little soft at times, not circular but like it is following the power of the story where it may go, which isn’t always rushing forward boldly, but it never drags, it never feels slow. The story has the room to breathe, especially as our main character and the whole wonderful cast of rotating ancillary characters get the chance to go deeper into themselves on this journey.
The inner journey really is the heart of this story, and I love it. I think what is done so well is that the main character, Lorel, doesn’t just have a revelation at the end. She goes through a series of revelations, both internal and external, so to speak. It isn’t a matter of just building up tension until a climactic final scene, but rather constantly releasing pressure, letting the character grow in stages, which makes for a much more compelling read. It combines narrative and character tension, which pulls the reader along, with epiphany and growth, which effectively makes all the characters’ actions make sense and not be mere narrative necessity. At first I felt like things were moving a bit slowly, but after a handful of chapters when I felt how the story was serving the characters and paralleling their journeys it all fell into place and worked really well for me.
This isn’t a cozy story, there is violence and death on the page, and each instance of it feels earned and appropriate. The novel is marketed as YA, and the main character is sixteen, but the story feels timeless and crosses generations, with smart writing that is evocative for all ages. This definitely feels like an example of how hopepunk aesthetics can craft a dangerous world where what’s right and virtuous may not always win every battle but can still be filled with determination, optimism, and a gentle ferocity, all the same. There are a lot of ideas that this story is grappling with, but it never feels like it is preaching but rather exploring. There are obviously ideas of gender, identity, performance, and acceptance, which are common in stories that feature queer and trans protagonists. But those are combined with ideas about responsibility, accountability, honor, power, self-control, autonomy, social expectations, camaraderie, found family, and more. I especially appreciate how the witches as well as renegade knights are governed by anarchist principles (though not called as such), and while those inside those groups praise this as the best and most natural mode of organizing it isn’t presented as perfect or without its own sets of challenges. This goes a long way to make the world and the characters’ experiences feel honest, which just makes the ideological wrestling all the more personal.
The writing is strong, with curved edges hiding sharp blades. The characters are great and the world they have been loosed in is expansive and exciting. I see a dozen ways this series could go, and I would be more than happy to follow any of those paths.
(Rounded from 4.5)
The inner journey really is the heart of this story, and I love it. I think what is done so well is that the main character, Lorel, doesn’t just have a revelation at the end. She goes through a series of revelations, both internal and external, so to speak. It isn’t a matter of just building up tension until a climactic final scene, but rather constantly releasing pressure, letting the character grow in stages, which makes for a much more compelling read. It combines narrative and character tension, which pulls the reader along, with epiphany and growth, which effectively makes all the characters’ actions make sense and not be mere narrative necessity. At first I felt like things were moving a bit slowly, but after a handful of chapters when I felt how the story was serving the characters and paralleling their journeys it all fell into place and worked really well for me.
This isn’t a cozy story, there is violence and death on the page, and each instance of it feels earned and appropriate. The novel is marketed as YA, and the main character is sixteen, but the story feels timeless and crosses generations, with smart writing that is evocative for all ages. This definitely feels like an example of how hopepunk aesthetics can craft a dangerous world where what’s right and virtuous may not always win every battle but can still be filled with determination, optimism, and a gentle ferocity, all the same. There are a lot of ideas that this story is grappling with, but it never feels like it is preaching but rather exploring. There are obviously ideas of gender, identity, performance, and acceptance, which are common in stories that feature queer and trans protagonists. But those are combined with ideas about responsibility, accountability, honor, power, self-control, autonomy, social expectations, camaraderie, found family, and more. I especially appreciate how the witches as well as renegade knights are governed by anarchist principles (though not called as such), and while those inside those groups praise this as the best and most natural mode of organizing it isn’t presented as perfect or without its own sets of challenges. This goes a long way to make the world and the characters’ experiences feel honest, which just makes the ideological wrestling all the more personal.
The writing is strong, with curved edges hiding sharp blades. The characters are great and the world they have been loosed in is expansive and exciting. I see a dozen ways this series could go, and I would be more than happy to follow any of those paths.
(Rounded from 4.5)
March 27, 2025
I wanted to like this book so badly. The concept overall is incredible. But I really did not click with the writing style.
The author really leans into “telling you” instead of “showing you” plot points or interpersonal dynamics. For example, there was a lot of announcing the narrator’s emotions or the emotions of other characters without describing their behavior or even their internal experiences. “I was shocked” could be so much more engaging if the narrator described how she physically FELT that shock. Was it in her stomach? Her chest? How did her facial expression or body language change? Other times, the narrator would announce the emotions of others, sometimes with little to no description of their body language - HOW do you KNOW they’re feeling that emotion?
It’s almost like the author doesn’t trust the reader to draw these connections themselves.
The author has a specific style that leans into repetition to make a point. Throughout the whole story, moments of “revelation” or strong emotion would be shown with 2-3 repetitive phrases. Personally, I just felt like these moments were redundant and they pulled me out of the story.
Example: “I didn’t like him. I didn’t want to like him. But I wanted to want to like him.”
Example: “I learned something new to be afraid of. I learned to be afraid of hurting people. I learned to be afraid of my own strength.”
Pacing and world building were confusing and inconsistent throughout the story. Tiny bits of background info or lore would be sprinkled in and some just never came up again. I still have no real understanding of the political structure even though it’s a major plot point. The history of the witches isn’t super clear either. We learn a little about their social structure and philosophy but not how they started or what brought about covens or anything like that.
Moments of conflict or tension were usually over within 2 pages, from fights amongst the whelps to full blown battle scenes - they just flew by.
Finally - and this a is a bit of a personal pet peeve - ALMOST ALL the dialogue was described as “SAID.” For most conversations, said and asked were the only dialogue descriptors.
Example in a single conversation with only 3 lines of dialogue all back to back:
“No one knows,” Araneigh said.
“Dark magic, I bet,” Hex said.
“Couldn’t be,” I said.
So, cool concept, but the writing style was a bit of a barrier in trying to really engage with or enjoy the story.
The author really leans into “telling you” instead of “showing you” plot points or interpersonal dynamics. For example, there was a lot of announcing the narrator’s emotions or the emotions of other characters without describing their behavior or even their internal experiences. “I was shocked” could be so much more engaging if the narrator described how she physically FELT that shock. Was it in her stomach? Her chest? How did her facial expression or body language change? Other times, the narrator would announce the emotions of others, sometimes with little to no description of their body language - HOW do you KNOW they’re feeling that emotion?
It’s almost like the author doesn’t trust the reader to draw these connections themselves.
The author has a specific style that leans into repetition to make a point. Throughout the whole story, moments of “revelation” or strong emotion would be shown with 2-3 repetitive phrases. Personally, I just felt like these moments were redundant and they pulled me out of the story.
Example: “I didn’t like him. I didn’t want to like him. But I wanted to want to like him.”
Example: “I learned something new to be afraid of. I learned to be afraid of hurting people. I learned to be afraid of my own strength.”
Pacing and world building were confusing and inconsistent throughout the story. Tiny bits of background info or lore would be sprinkled in and some just never came up again. I still have no real understanding of the political structure even though it’s a major plot point. The history of the witches isn’t super clear either. We learn a little about their social structure and philosophy but not how they started or what brought about covens or anything like that.
Moments of conflict or tension were usually over within 2 pages, from fights amongst the whelps to full blown battle scenes - they just flew by.
Finally - and this a is a bit of a personal pet peeve - ALMOST ALL the dialogue was described as “SAID.” For most conversations, said and asked were the only dialogue descriptors.
Example in a single conversation with only 3 lines of dialogue all back to back:
“No one knows,” Araneigh said.
“Dark magic, I bet,” Hex said.
“Couldn’t be,” I said.
So, cool concept, but the writing style was a bit of a barrier in trying to really engage with or enjoy the story.
October 28, 2024
Okay, so there were some good moments in this book — like the discussion of gender norms, trans existence and acceptance, and the discussion of morality. However, that was all completely overdone. There were the same conversations over and over again. It made the pacing of the book feel so completely off. There would be pages and pages of Lorel talking about herself being trans and then they would skip over an entire battle in two sentences. I just didn’t understand the goal…?
Like I said previously, those conversations about Lorel’s gender were fantastic. It just clearly took precedent over the plot of the story. I have NO idea how this world works or why the spent chapters and chapters talking about starting their witch training and never actually learning how to use magic. I was so confused and lost during most of this because there were also WAY too many characters. I don’t think there was actually any ounce of character development besides a clear indication of Lorel’s self acceptance.
I was very close to DNFing this book, but I really loved the gender norms, trans acceptance and the different layers of the witches in society. Unfortunately, the pacing, lack of character development, and the lack of world explanation really made this a difficult book to finish. I’d say it’s safe to say I won’t be continuing with this trilogy.
Like I said previously, those conversations about Lorel’s gender were fantastic. It just clearly took precedent over the plot of the story. I have NO idea how this world works or why the spent chapters and chapters talking about starting their witch training and never actually learning how to use magic. I was so confused and lost during most of this because there were also WAY too many characters. I don’t think there was actually any ounce of character development besides a clear indication of Lorel’s self acceptance.
I was very close to DNFing this book, but I really loved the gender norms, trans acceptance and the different layers of the witches in society. Unfortunately, the pacing, lack of character development, and the lack of world explanation really made this a difficult book to finish. I’d say it’s safe to say I won’t be continuing with this trilogy.
May 20, 2025
This book feels like it was written directly for me almost and as such, I just... I don't know how to review it!
This happens to me with Margaret Killjoy stuff A LOT.
Anyway, this is a book about trans girl becoming a witch in a world where only women can be witches. And the witches are a bunch of anarchists and it's just perfect!
I feel like this should suffice as a review? This book has been great and I do want to get a physical copy and re-read it. And also read everything Margaret Killjoy ever wrote, because she is my fave.
I BRed this with Ruxandra at StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/buddy_r...
This happens to me with Margaret Killjoy stuff A LOT.
Anyway, this is a book about trans girl becoming a witch in a world where only women can be witches. And the witches are a bunch of anarchists and it's just perfect!
I feel like this should suffice as a review? This book has been great and I do want to get a physical copy and re-read it. And also read everything Margaret Killjoy ever wrote, because she is my fave.
I BRed this with Ruxandra at StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/buddy_r...
June 2, 2024
"My mother never thought any higher of brigands than she did of knights, and her low opinion of both had rubbed off on me [...] As my mom put it, knights rob people in the name of whatever noble rules the area, who sort of gives back by protecting the borders from invasion and by killing the worst of the brigands. Brigands rob people for themselves, and they sort of give back by maintaining some of the roads—the roads they patrol to demand tolls—and by killing the worst of the knights."
Let me start by saying that I adored this book! I remember when Margaret Killjoy first described the premise of The Sapling Cage six or seven years ago: a trans girl risks her life to become a witch, facing both witch hunters and narrow minded elders. It sounded fun—and very on brand for Margaret—but I sort of forgot it was coming until, suddenly, a review copy finally landed at my bookstore.
The Sapling Cage is an epic fantasy set in a world with rich lore, lots of characters, and a constellation of political factions, but it's written in an accessible manner that puts it squarely in the realm of "fun book." The dialog is quippy and playful while the story benefits from tight pacing and some well-played twists. Unsurprisingly, Margaret has written a great lead, Lorel, whose development arc centers in no small part on gender and body issues (mostly other people's issues). And while the world of The Sapling Cage is just as unfriendly to trans people as our own, Lorel finds a host of people who care for her and, in some cases, are willing to outgrow their own biases. There's bullying and witch burnings and people being stabbed with spears, but the book never tips over into horror or gruesomeness.
Like all of Margaret's writing, the story explores ethics without the stench of moralizing. An anarchic essence flows through the book, celebrating the lives of common folks, underdogs, and pranksters in a world where the one thing nearly everyone agrees on is that the kingdom doesn't need another monarch. I loved the thoughtful, cooperative nature of the witch covens and the absurdist, individualistic spirit of the Ilthurian Knights (a group of anti-knight knights who exist to oppose all authority while following their own sometimes silly tenants). Speaking of philosophy, there's even a nod to the antifascist concept of three-way fight in chapter eighteen.
While The Sapling Cage wraps up pretty neatly, I can't wait for the next book in the series! Definitely don't miss this if you're looking for a smart fantasy with YA-crossover coming-of-age vibes, casual queerness, an authentic trans femme protagonist, ace/demi representation, and a little romance!
"It wasn't quite as simple as that, even my mother sometimes admitted [...] Brigands have always been better friends to witches than knights have been. There's always been a fine line between witch and outlaw."
July 20, 2025
This was honestly really sweet, and i enjoyed it immensely. An excellent coming of age with a trans heroine and lots of magic and evil. This was the third book i finished at Book Camp, 2025!
dnf
May 21, 2025I've recently promised myself I'd get back into the habit of dnf-ing books I'm not enjoying, so here's me keeping that promise. Killjoy's writing style in this YA novel felt extremely dry and emotionless to me, and I just felt bored reading this, which is not something I want to feel about a story following a coven of witches.
June 23, 2025
I really liked this book! I liked how it talked about gender and relationships and connections to people. Aside from Lorel there are a handful of other queer characters.
The magic system and all of the political maneuvering was cool. Witches have a lot of skills... spells, negotiating, and hitting things with swords.
I will be keeping an eye out for the sequel, not sure when it's coming out though.
The magic system and all of the political maneuvering was cool. Witches have a lot of skills... spells, negotiating, and hitting things with swords.
I will be keeping an eye out for the sequel, not sure when it's coming out though.
Read
September 10, 2025Review to come
October 21, 2024
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!
Narrator and Production was fantastic!
This was just okay for me - I enjoyed it, but it felt very episodic. Meaning it was clear the Killjoy had a clear picture of where the story started and where it needed to go, but the transition didn't feel smooth - very plot point to plot point. Not horrible, but very juvenile in terms of plot progression.
I also never felt super connected to the characters - they were definitely interesting but there was a lack of depth that kept me from feeling fully invested. I wasn't shocked or hurt or overly excited when things happened to them, making me feel very detatched.
I think that Margaret Killjoy has a great talent for story creation, but just needs a bit more time to hone her craft and bring it to maturity. The bones are there and they're good - but the character development and plot progression needs work. I would definitely read more from her and be excited to see how she grows!
Narrator and Production was fantastic!
This was just okay for me - I enjoyed it, but it felt very episodic. Meaning it was clear the Killjoy had a clear picture of where the story started and where it needed to go, but the transition didn't feel smooth - very plot point to plot point. Not horrible, but very juvenile in terms of plot progression.
I also never felt super connected to the characters - they were definitely interesting but there was a lack of depth that kept me from feeling fully invested. I wasn't shocked or hurt or overly excited when things happened to them, making me feel very detatched.
I think that Margaret Killjoy has a great talent for story creation, but just needs a bit more time to hone her craft and bring it to maturity. The bones are there and they're good - but the character development and plot progression needs work. I would definitely read more from her and be excited to see how she grows!
November 29, 2024
An amazing fantasy novel about a trans girl who wanted to become a witch, so she let herself be recruited to the coven in disguise. The MC is in her teens but the novel doesn’t read as a typical YA, which I loved. I also appreciated that her gender isn’t the sole focus of the novel - it is of course an issue for her because she’s scared of being found out (all the witches are women) but it’s not just a source of worries but also a self-discovery and hope - and the plot is driven more by the dangerous situation the witches are in.
Thoroughly enjoyed - why isn’t the author more widely known?
Thoroughly enjoyed - why isn’t the author more widely known?
March 6, 2025
Who knew someone named Killjoy could write such good entertainment? I bet she's never heard that joke before!
June 4, 2025
This is a really nice coming-of-age fantasy story about a transgender Witch. The character Lorel is interesting and I like that she's still figuring out who she is and how she wants to be perceived in the world. Even though I am not transgender I think there was still things to relate to here when it came to discussion of our bodies, what they do for us and the relationship we have with them.
Being as it's the first book of a triology I wasn't necessarily expecting this book to feel complete, but it actually stands pretty well on it's own. I appreciate there's not some ridiculous cliffhanger ending since there isn't a release date for the next book yet. But whenever that sequel comes out, I will be sure to pick it up.
Being as it's the first book of a triology I wasn't necessarily expecting this book to feel complete, but it actually stands pretty well on it's own. I appreciate there's not some ridiculous cliffhanger ending since there isn't a release date for the next book yet. But whenever that sequel comes out, I will be sure to pick it up.
June 3, 2025
DNF at 54% because I wanted to like this so much but the damn thing won't end.
I couldn't get into the world building, some characters motivations felt really inconsistent, and things would happen in a way that put everything on the same level of importance so none of it mattered. I wanted to read about a trans witch hiding her identity to join this coven and save the dying trees, but it needed a few more rounds of editing or something.
Like, how can you have one characters saying:
"Some magicians serve magic. Some, like the blighters, I presume, force magic to serve them. The Order of the Vine does neither. Magic is neither our master nor our servant. We let it flow, and we work with it to do what we feel needs done. Magic runs free, throughout the world, for anyone to use. Blighters put it under lock and key."
And then someone else writing:
"I guess is probably said that on the envelope, above the super cool seal of the Knights of the King's Tower."
So while it's not the worst writing I've encountered, the best I could hope for with this book would be 3 stars, and at this point I just don't trust the plot to get me there.
I couldn't get into the world building, some characters motivations felt really inconsistent, and things would happen in a way that put everything on the same level of importance so none of it mattered. I wanted to read about a trans witch hiding her identity to join this coven and save the dying trees, but it needed a few more rounds of editing or something.
Like, how can you have one characters saying:
"Some magicians serve magic. Some, like the blighters, I presume, force magic to serve them. The Order of the Vine does neither. Magic is neither our master nor our servant. We let it flow, and we work with it to do what we feel needs done. Magic runs free, throughout the world, for anyone to use. Blighters put it under lock and key."
And then someone else writing:
"I guess is probably said that on the envelope, above the super cool seal of the Knights of the King's Tower."
So while it's not the worst writing I've encountered, the best I could hope for with this book would be 3 stars, and at this point I just don't trust the plot to get me there.
March 19, 2025
4.5 rounded up!! This book is INCREDIBLE. I wanted so badly to keep learning more about the world, and tbh I reeeeally wanted more about the side characters (unfortunately, even with unique descriptors like goat eyes, translucent skin and skeleton body, a lot of the witches blended together, but if more time had been dedicated to them, I would have benefitted greatly from that) and the political aspect of the book was brushed off a bit (I would've loved to explore that more, but I also understand that we were viewing them from the perspective of a teen girl who resented them. But like, the ilthurians!! Come on. Give me a book about Hex and Espen). Additionally, it did suffer from the stylistic decision of short repeated sentences, which is something I don't like in any quantity, but I doubt it would be too off-putting for anyone. It works well for the YA style.
Also, it must be stated that the MC's journey was beautiful and well rounded and dug into my heart to stay. A wonderful representation of trans experience. Highly relatable and personal. HEW :'>
Also, it must be stated that the MC's journey was beautiful and well rounded and dug into my heart to stay. A wonderful representation of trans experience. Highly relatable and personal. HEW :'>
November 4, 2024
3,5/5
I was hoping for a 5 stars read here so I have to admit I'm a little bit disappointed.
It's mostly a me thing and not the book in itself as it's a really nice coming of age fantasy novel about a trans girl trading places with her friend, joining a coven of witches to learn magic in her place while she goes to be a knight. I was so excited at this premise!! But even though it's a great novel and now that I finished it I understand many of the choices, I just would have prefered more magic to the story. Because the main character actually does not learn magic in this first book:(((
It also reads more like a classic novel, the writing style is I think intentional but wasn't my favourite.
It was still a very good novel but some things just didn't work for me. Despite this I'd still recommand it and I'm sure the next books will have more of what I might have expected from this first book.
I was hoping for a 5 stars read here so I have to admit I'm a little bit disappointed.
It's mostly a me thing and not the book in itself as it's a really nice coming of age fantasy novel about a trans girl trading places with her friend, joining a coven of witches to learn magic in her place while she goes to be a knight. I was so excited at this premise!! But even though it's a great novel and now that I finished it I understand many of the choices, I just would have prefered more magic to the story. Because the main character actually does not learn magic in this first book:(((
It also reads more like a classic novel, the writing style is I think intentional but wasn't my favourite.
It was still a very good novel but some things just didn't work for me. Despite this I'd still recommand it and I'm sure the next books will have more of what I might have expected from this first book.
December 4, 2025
More 3.5/5 stars.
Lorel works the stables with her mother, but she has always wanted to be a witch. However, she cannot because being witches is only for girls and women and Lorel was born a boy. When her friend Lane is selected to be a witch against her will, Lorel switches places with her and begins a long journey about herself, the world of witchcraft, and the corruption and hatred that lays within her world. A corrupting magic called the blight is taking of the land and destroying it and the Duchess who is attempting to become queen is blaming the witches for it. Lorel becomes in broiled in a quest found out who the blighters are and discover which witches are friend or foe. And she desperately hopes no one will discover her secret.
This is my first read from Margaret Killjoy and while there was a lot to like, there were something that held this book back from being a better read. The Sapling Cage is the first in a trilogy, and despite my forthcoming criticisms, I am interested in reading the rest and seeing where Lorel's story goes, because this book definitely did feel like set up. However, I think I will read one of Killjoy's Adult works before the second book comes out.
The Sapling Cage is a fast-paced and very readable book. Killjoy writes with a very accessible prose and doesn't unnecessarily drag out Lorel's thoughts or actions. I will say that sometimes I would've liked a little bit more of Lorel's thoughts on certain events, because sometimes it felt like things went by way too fast or were passed over briefly. One issue I did have with Lorel, and with the dialogue sometimes, is that her maturity level felt...off.
Yes. I know it's a YA book. Yes, Lorel is sixteen and teens aren't always the most mature and put together. What I mean is that there are times where The Sapling Cage is too juvenile and feels more like a Middle Grade book than a Young Adult one. For example, there's a scene near the beginning of the book where one of the other witches, Hex, pushes Lorel down to the floor. Lorel responds with, "Why are you so mean?" Given how Lorel narrates how this physically and mentally hurt her, along with with the fact that Hex had been cruel to her before, if feels like such a underwhelming moment. I'm not sayin Lorel needed to curse like a sailor, but would this be something a teenager girl exactly say in this moment? Especially a trans girl like Lorel who throughout the first half of the book is worried about the other witches discovering her gender and wonders if some know already.
The dialogue suffers from this as well, almost to the point that, to paraphrase Ursula K. Le Guin, I was pulled out of Elfland and reminded I was in Poughkeepsie. This is a secondary fantasy world, but sometimes the characters spoke with a certain quirkiness that just frayed that perception. At one point a character calls something "super cool" and another character makes a remark that, although perceptive, sounds like it was taken out of a modern academic setting. These moments are not on every page, but it happened enough that it got distracting. I'm not saying that I needed Killjoy to write with florid prose or anything, but given that the characters often said, "To rot with (fill in the blank" to express their frustration at certain things, people, or moments, it shows she has the ability to write phrases and colloquialisms that still fit within the world she crafted.
Anyway, back to Lorel.
So, that criticism about Lorel's maturity aside, she's actually a fairly-well written character. I liked that we got to see her struggle and fail before she became more knowledgeable and stronger. YA has a habit of giving us characters who struggle very little or overcomes their flaws quite easily. What surprised me about Lorel was that, even after learning that not everything in her world is black and white, how she did believe that there was some good things worth fighting for. She desperately wanted friendship from those around her and did eventually get it. And I think she did get some sort of love interest, or at least the beginnings of a loving relationship, by the end of the book.
Some of the side characters are forgettable, but some others like Lane, Araneigh, and Dam Lament, and Espen were memorable. Lament was probably my favorite of the side characters. She was a firm but fair young woman who was also just tired of everyone's nonsense. I'm glad she stayed on as a kind of mentor/big sister figure to Lorel and the other witches. These are memorable because of how Lorel thinks of them. Some of the other characters she only dwells on briefly. For example, when she learns Lane has a boyfriend she immediately hates him we are told, not shown, that he spoke with her and Lane, but by the end of the book she thinks he's alright. Given how much Lorel missed Lane throughout the book, and even possibly hoped for love from her, it felt so odd that this grievance was briefly addressed.
One thing that was handled really well in the book was the queerness, from Lorel's transness to the showing of other queer identities. I liked that this was mostly a queernormative world and that nobody explained their gender identity or sexual orientation to the readers. Some characters did say how they felt about attraction or attraction to certain people, but it didn't come off in a lecturing way. Lorel's struggle with keeping her trans identity a secret from the other witches in first half of the book, and then her reflection on how and if she wanted to magically transition in the second half, were done very well. Her fears were palpable given how at least one of the other witches felt that witchcraft belonged to the realm of women and her internal thoughts on transitioning were interesting given how she felt about defining her girlhood.
However, the aforementioned witch who says that witchcraft belongs to women only also mentions that the men of this world do not treat women equally and that a previous king hunted witches because he feared feminine power. There' very little of the men in this book being cruel to women in this book, so I never got the feeling that this was a patriarchal world. Also, after this witch is rebuked by the others she never brings this topic back up again and I guess changed her mind?
The magic is very interesting too and is probably the best part of the book. The witches follow the course of the seasons of spring, summer, and fall which are represented by action, words, and magic respectively. As such, Lorel and the other witches have to learn actions for a set a months, then words, and then magic. Lorel and her classmates don't use magic themselves as they haven't been trained for it by the end of the book, but the other witches use it. Their power drawn from the ley, which only they can see and based on color can do different things. Early in the book Lament states that anyone can see the ley if they trained hard enough, however, how they perceive the ley will be based on their culture and how they were taught to see the preternatural. Interesting stuff!
I actually didn't mind that Lorel really didn't use much magic in the book, but I would've liked to have seen her use it more before the end.
Killjoy is an anarchist and some her philosophy can be seen throughout the book. Although the older witches do teach the younger witches, the covens and covenants don't really have leaders. The kingdom doesn't really want to go back to having an overall monarchical ruler. And so forth.
I think these anarchist themes--and granted I'm not very well versed in this philosophy, so apologies if I mess something up--also apply best to how the witches think about magic and the ley. Nobody owns the ley and when they use it in magic it is only for that period of time until the spell or ritual is over. Anyone in the book who tries to "own" or cage magic does harm to the world around them. It's a "resource" that everyone and anyone can use, so to speak.
One last gripe is the final battle which ends WAY too quickly. Like, the threat it had didn't even feel severe and was quickly conquered. Kind of disappointing really. Still, the ending has shown that Lorel has grown and I am curious to see where her story goes for a great pact of friendship is made at the end.
Lorel works the stables with her mother, but she has always wanted to be a witch. However, she cannot because being witches is only for girls and women and Lorel was born a boy. When her friend Lane is selected to be a witch against her will, Lorel switches places with her and begins a long journey about herself, the world of witchcraft, and the corruption and hatred that lays within her world. A corrupting magic called the blight is taking of the land and destroying it and the Duchess who is attempting to become queen is blaming the witches for it. Lorel becomes in broiled in a quest found out who the blighters are and discover which witches are friend or foe. And she desperately hopes no one will discover her secret.
This is my first read from Margaret Killjoy and while there was a lot to like, there were something that held this book back from being a better read. The Sapling Cage is the first in a trilogy, and despite my forthcoming criticisms, I am interested in reading the rest and seeing where Lorel's story goes, because this book definitely did feel like set up. However, I think I will read one of Killjoy's Adult works before the second book comes out.
The Sapling Cage is a fast-paced and very readable book. Killjoy writes with a very accessible prose and doesn't unnecessarily drag out Lorel's thoughts or actions. I will say that sometimes I would've liked a little bit more of Lorel's thoughts on certain events, because sometimes it felt like things went by way too fast or were passed over briefly. One issue I did have with Lorel, and with the dialogue sometimes, is that her maturity level felt...off.
Yes. I know it's a YA book. Yes, Lorel is sixteen and teens aren't always the most mature and put together. What I mean is that there are times where The Sapling Cage is too juvenile and feels more like a Middle Grade book than a Young Adult one. For example, there's a scene near the beginning of the book where one of the other witches, Hex, pushes Lorel down to the floor. Lorel responds with, "Why are you so mean?" Given how Lorel narrates how this physically and mentally hurt her, along with with the fact that Hex had been cruel to her before, if feels like such a underwhelming moment. I'm not sayin Lorel needed to curse like a sailor, but would this be something a teenager girl exactly say in this moment? Especially a trans girl like Lorel who throughout the first half of the book is worried about the other witches discovering her gender and wonders if some know already.
The dialogue suffers from this as well, almost to the point that, to paraphrase Ursula K. Le Guin, I was pulled out of Elfland and reminded I was in Poughkeepsie. This is a secondary fantasy world, but sometimes the characters spoke with a certain quirkiness that just frayed that perception. At one point a character calls something "super cool" and another character makes a remark that, although perceptive, sounds like it was taken out of a modern academic setting. These moments are not on every page, but it happened enough that it got distracting. I'm not saying that I needed Killjoy to write with florid prose or anything, but given that the characters often said, "To rot with (fill in the blank" to express their frustration at certain things, people, or moments, it shows she has the ability to write phrases and colloquialisms that still fit within the world she crafted.
Anyway, back to Lorel.
So, that criticism about Lorel's maturity aside, she's actually a fairly-well written character. I liked that we got to see her struggle and fail before she became more knowledgeable and stronger. YA has a habit of giving us characters who struggle very little or overcomes their flaws quite easily. What surprised me about Lorel was that, even after learning that not everything in her world is black and white, how she did believe that there was some good things worth fighting for. She desperately wanted friendship from those around her and did eventually get it. And I think she did get some sort of love interest, or at least the beginnings of a loving relationship, by the end of the book.
Some of the side characters are forgettable, but some others like Lane, Araneigh, and Dam Lament, and Espen were memorable. Lament was probably my favorite of the side characters. She was a firm but fair young woman who was also just tired of everyone's nonsense. I'm glad she stayed on as a kind of mentor/big sister figure to Lorel and the other witches. These are memorable because of how Lorel thinks of them. Some of the other characters she only dwells on briefly. For example, when she learns Lane has a boyfriend she immediately hates him we are told, not shown, that he spoke with her and Lane, but by the end of the book she thinks he's alright. Given how much Lorel missed Lane throughout the book, and even possibly hoped for love from her, it felt so odd that this grievance was briefly addressed.
One thing that was handled really well in the book was the queerness, from Lorel's transness to the showing of other queer identities. I liked that this was mostly a queernormative world and that nobody explained their gender identity or sexual orientation to the readers. Some characters did say how they felt about attraction or attraction to certain people, but it didn't come off in a lecturing way. Lorel's struggle with keeping her trans identity a secret from the other witches in first half of the book, and then her reflection on how and if she wanted to magically transition in the second half, were done very well. Her fears were palpable given how at least one of the other witches felt that witchcraft belonged to the realm of women and her internal thoughts on transitioning were interesting given how she felt about defining her girlhood.
However, the aforementioned witch who says that witchcraft belongs to women only also mentions that the men of this world do not treat women equally and that a previous king hunted witches because he feared feminine power. There' very little of the men in this book being cruel to women in this book, so I never got the feeling that this was a patriarchal world. Also, after this witch is rebuked by the others she never brings this topic back up again and I guess changed her mind?
The magic is very interesting too and is probably the best part of the book. The witches follow the course of the seasons of spring, summer, and fall which are represented by action, words, and magic respectively. As such, Lorel and the other witches have to learn actions for a set a months, then words, and then magic. Lorel and her classmates don't use magic themselves as they haven't been trained for it by the end of the book, but the other witches use it. Their power drawn from the ley, which only they can see and based on color can do different things. Early in the book Lament states that anyone can see the ley if they trained hard enough, however, how they perceive the ley will be based on their culture and how they were taught to see the preternatural. Interesting stuff!
I actually didn't mind that Lorel really didn't use much magic in the book, but I would've liked to have seen her use it more before the end.
Killjoy is an anarchist and some her philosophy can be seen throughout the book. Although the older witches do teach the younger witches, the covens and covenants don't really have leaders. The kingdom doesn't really want to go back to having an overall monarchical ruler. And so forth.
I think these anarchist themes--and granted I'm not very well versed in this philosophy, so apologies if I mess something up--also apply best to how the witches think about magic and the ley. Nobody owns the ley and when they use it in magic it is only for that period of time until the spell or ritual is over. Anyone in the book who tries to "own" or cage magic does harm to the world around them. It's a "resource" that everyone and anyone can use, so to speak.
One last gripe is the final battle which ends WAY too quickly. Like, the threat it had didn't even feel severe and was quickly conquered. Kind of disappointing really. Still, the ending has shown that Lorel has grown and I am curious to see where her story goes for a great pact of friendship is made at the end.
December 7, 2024
in retrospect, reading any sort of fantasy after wind & truth was never going to end well
Rep: pan trans mc, sapphic li
CWs: misgendering, transphobia
Rep: pan trans mc, sapphic li
CWs: misgendering, transphobia
April 19, 2025
This made me feel so much joy. A beautiful coming-of-age adventure. It's exciting, it's queer and deeply personal. Some of the descriptions reminded me of Tolkien - if he could write an engaging journey.
I love this story and can't wait for it to be continued.
I love this story and can't wait for it to be continued.
May 18, 2025
Love the concept of this book but I don’t think fantasy is my genre and I didn’t love the writing style/lack of character development tbh
October 27, 2024
Lorel is a sweet and likable main character. She genuinely wants to be friends and help people. And overall I think that this is a good story about a trans girl and I would recommend it to someone looking for stories about trans girls.
I was incredibly bored though. By about 40% I still felt like not much had happened and that’s really when I considered stopping. There were also so many characters. I still didn’t have a good grasp on who was who and that made the reveals less surprising because I had no idea who it was anyway.
If someone could tell me what the name of Lorel’s love interest actually is I’d appreciate it! I spent the whole book thinking this girl was named mRNA, which I know is not right but it stuck in my head. *I had an arc of the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
I was incredibly bored though. By about 40% I still felt like not much had happened and that’s really when I considered stopping. There were also so many characters. I still didn’t have a good grasp on who was who and that made the reveals less surprising because I had no idea who it was anyway.
If someone could tell me what the name of Lorel’s love interest actually is I’d appreciate it! I spent the whole book thinking this girl was named mRNA, which I know is not right but it stuck in my head. *I had an arc of the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
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