The Seaglass Blade

by J.C. Snow

A home at the end of the world. The bonds that shape a family. The sacrifices demanded by love.

Aili Fallon has spent three hundred years of her unexpected immortality building a safe place for all those she cares about – her phoenix lover; their dragon son; their renegade demon daughter; and the shape-shifting spiritual creatures who come to Aili to learn the sword. She's determined to protect them from human captivity and demonic corruption.

But the patterns of the natural world, the source of spiritual power, are inexplicably failing. When Aili's lover is attacked, her phoenix healing disappears. A curse killing dragons targets their son, while growing demonic power threatens to destroy their daughter.

And hidden deep, a traitor is waiting.

Piece by piece, a long-laid plot of vengeance, betrayal, and cruelty is tightening around Aili and her family. The home that's been a sanctuary is now a trap, and Aili will risk everything she’s built, and everything she is, to break them free.

Everything will not be enough.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Queer, Dragons, Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 1, 2026

About the author

J. C. Snow (she/her) is a queer fantasy author who lives with her wife, child, dog, and a wild garden in the Bay Area. She writes novels and stories centering queer characters, usually with plenty of fight scenes, love stories, trauma and healing. She holds a doctorate in Religious Studies from Columbia University and has also published extensively on the history of race and religion in the United States. Her current non-fantasy-writing life goal is to be certified as a scuba diver.

Reviews

[Geetha Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d previously read and loved The Crane Moon Cycle which is a queer cultivation fantasy duology by this author and had loved it. When I saw this kickstarter, and the author shared the early chapters in her newsletter and asked me if I wanted to be an early reader, I was like fuck yeah!

And!

This book! This amazing, brilliant, masterpiece of a book!

The story takes place 300 years after the end of the duology, and there are not many references to the earlier series, so readers who haven’t read it can also read this and enjoy it, but me, I re-read the duology and cried a lot yet again before starting this.

Let me just say that if your book makes me cry, it’s gonna be my comfort read for all time. I love books that makes me feel, that makes me cry so much I have to stop reading because I can’t see the words anymore.

So, on to the review for The Seaglass Blade.

300 years after the end of The Crane Moon Cycle, Aili and Liu Chenguang are still married, still in love, but living apart. Aili runs a Sect for spiritual creatures, teaching them cultivation, while Liu Chenguang spends her time in Easterly, being a doctor. Yisue, the dragon child they had adopted is all grown up now, and they have also adopted a demon child called Sanmer who wanted to escape her demonic roots, to be able to love, to find peace, to cultivate spiritual energy instead of corrupted one.

Liu Chenguang is coming home and Aili is eager to see her, but everything goes haywire when demons attack Liu Chenguang just outside the wards of the new Crane Moon Sect and stabs her with a crystal dagger that vanishes but Liu Chenguang doesn’t heal. Searching for answers, Yisue goes to visit Beilong, and learns that there’s a demonic spell targeting dragons. A Cat spirit called Majen helps Yisue despite being a demonic spy. Aili accepts Majen as a disciple, and with the information from Majen, Zhu Guiren is able to create a counterspell that wakes Liu Chenguang and heals her.

But when Yisue learns he may be the only dragon left, and Tainu and Liu Chenguang comes up with a risky counterspell to the demonic one, it’s only the start of events that cascade to tear apart the lives of everyone in Crabe Moon.

Fuck, I loved Yisue in this, and I loved his dynamic with Majen too. Majen is pretty much a cinnamon roll, and I adore him. Zhu Guiren is still my favouite though Yisue comes close now! Aili and Liu Chenguang and their love for each other is transcending everything once again, and I loved how everything resolved for them.

And Sanmer! Omg, her character arc had me in tears, and I don’t want to spoil things, but her last conversation with Majen had me tear up. I want to see more of her, and I hope we get a book that’s focussed on her next.

At many times, I had to stop reading because I was getting so anxious for the characters and was tempted to ask the author for spoilers, lol.
This is queer cultivation fantasy at its finest and is both heart wrenching and gut churning.

Go read it! You won’t regret it AT ALL.

[Yaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant indie fantasy from J.C. Snow!
I found out that this actually started as a kickstarter and I really wish I'd known about it back then.

I think this is a standalone book but set in the same universe as Snow's previous duology The Crane Moon Cycle. Yes! That means I've an extra two books I can read in this world! I can attest you don't need to have read The Crane Moon Cycle before reading The Seaglass Blade.

The book's centred around queer found family - with a core sapphic relationship between a phoenix and a phoenix(ish) woman, and an M/M relationship between another phoenix and a (reformed) demon. Together, these adults founded and run a sanctuary called Crane Moon Sect - where spiritual creatures can come and learn to cultivate spiritual energy from pure sources.

In this world, demons are creatures who cultivate corrupted energy from suffering and pain. And boy is there plenty of it. Extreme pollution, climate change - all these things are causing havoc in our world, and causing pain not just to humans but also to the spiritual creatures who lives in nature.

The adults in Crane Moon Sect, as well as their teaching duties, spend their time hunting down and killing demons and undoing their work. And then one day....they realise the demon leaders have spent a long time forming a plan to bring them down, and it's been set in motion.

I loved all the couples in this book - Liu Chenguang and Aili (who is a human bonded to Chenguang the phoenix, giving her phoenix-like powers). They have a couple of adopted kids - Yisue a dragon who's newly an adult, trying to find his place in the world; and Sanmer, a demon who ran away from her demon clan as a child and was raised by Chenguang and Aili to cultivate pure spiritual energy, but who feels like no matter how much good she does it'll never be enough to make up for being a demon.

There's Zhu Guiren a reformed demon who's partnered with Tainu, another phoenix. I loved them both so much and I so wish we'd gotten so much more of them!

And I can't forget about Majen. I LOVED Majen's character arc and if there's another book I really hope he's in it!

There's a lot of talk of the emotional and physical pain and trauma that a lot of these characters have gone through. But there's also so much love - familiar, platonic & romantic - that to me it almost feels like a cosy book, although there's too much violence for it to be so (but it's still cosy to me!)

The pacing was fantastic and especially towards the end, I just couldn't stop reading!

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC and for helping me discover a new queer author to follow and read!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Seaglass Blade is a standalone novel that takes place centuries after The Crane Moon Cycle duology. While this is a standalone novel I believe it would be beneficial to have read The Crane Moon Cycle duology first. I wish there had been a prologue to sum up the previous books and also a glossary of characters. I went into this book blind as I haven’t read the previous books and did feel a little out of the loop. That being said, I actually really enjoyed this book! It was an epic high fantasy full of queer romance and fascinating creatures including phoenixes, dragons, animal shifters, demons, and more. The writing was very easy to read and understand. None of it was confusing for me but also I didn’t feel like the writing was dumbed down. It was just really well written. I became invested in the characters and wish I could have known more about each of them individually. This might be where reading the other books first would have helped.

There are several main characters but I feel like the story mostly centers around one established Sapphic couple and a potential queer couple. Chenguang Is a phoenix who has somehow bound herself and her power to the human Aili. At the start of the story Chenguang is returning home to Crane Moon, leaving Easterly where she is a physician. She brings her human aid Lanse with her but Lanse didn’t know Chenguang was a phoenix or about the existence of other mystical creatures. Aili runs Crane Moon where she teaches creatures to cultivate spiritual powers. Chenguang and Aili are partners and have two children they took in, Yisue a male dragon and Sanmer a female demon.

The safe bubble that Aili has created for their lives becomes threatened by outside forces and they must fight to protect all they hold dear. Not only is Crane Moon in peril but so are all the dragons across the land. The outside forces are targeting dragons and using their bones for nefarious purposes. Yisue adventures outside of Crane Moon to try to find and warn other dragons. He meets a male cat shifter named Majen who might not be the friend he appears to be.

The romance was tender and believable without open door spicy scenes. While this book is labeled as adult it felt more like a young adult story. Overall I really enjoyed this story and would like to see a sequel. I also want to go back and read the Crane Moon Cycle duology. Thank you J.C. Snow and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jayli Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 rounded up!!!

The Seaglass Blade is breathtaking. It filled my heart so many times I lost count.

This book has beautiful demons, absurdly devoted phoenixes, powerful dragons, a cat spirit (who I adore), and found family. It’s about building a home at the end of the world and then doing absolutely everything in your power to keep it from being torn apart. It’s tender, stressful, magical, and queer *with love so intense that it borders on reckless!

I was INVESTED.

I absolutely adore how alive everything feels, even the water. Yisue’s relationship with the element is deeply intimate. He doesn’t just hear it; he understands its language and its weight.

“He let himself sense the water’s life… Here, just behind the dam, the water was captive.”

Again, I adored Majen (the cat.. forever 🐾). My heart went out to him again and again.

Special mention for how this story highlights the importance of environmental care AND how that topic is woven seamlessly into the narrative. The discussion of dams, turbines, and water being taken beyond its limits. Humans take without considering consequences because “their lives are so short.” So many lines rang true for the issues we are facing in regards to Mother Earth.

There’s a line about dragons being intimate with sacrifice and that idea reverberates everywhere in this book. In grief. In love. In what we give up to protect what matters.

As a death doula, I was really moved by the quiet reflections on grief: how every human is a tiny world of their own. Each with a beginning and an end.

There is so much I want to say, and I apologize if this review is a bit all over the place. But after thinking on it, I reckon why this book hit me so deeply is that I struggle with feeling as if I can’t find my place. And this story is about pattern and belonging.

“I don’t feel connected to the world. I’m the most useless dragon that can be, since I don’t have a pattern. I’m just still drifting. More or less.”

I so often feel as if I am drifting ‘until I find the shape of the world that matches me.’

This was a beauty of a novel.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!



I walked into J.C. Snow’s standalone novel without realizing it was actually the afterparty for "The Crane Moon Cycle" duology. It turns out, this is a "standalone" in the same way a sequel is a standalone. (Also, the plot summary felt misleading...I wouldn't describe the book in that way - at all.)

We are in Crane Moon, a remote spiritual hotspot currently being pummeled by demons. Why? Apparently, Aili killed some clan leaders back in the day (read: in the previous books). Because I missed the duology, the demons' motivation felt a little flat—basically, "we want negative energy because we’re bad guys." I felt like I arrived at the movie theater 30 minutes late and was just nodding along.

The pacing had a limp. At one point, Aili goes into seclusion for six weeks to "cultivate energy." Did we need to sit through that? Probably not. If you trimmed about 10% of the fluff, this story would snap, crackle, and pop. Instead, it just kind of meandered.

Between Aili, Chenguang, and a revolving door of POV shifts, I needed a spreadsheet to keep everyone straight. Because I missed their origin stories in the duology, I had zero emotional attachment to the main couple. A character glossary would have been a lifesaver here.

Thank god for Majen. He was funny, fully realized, and actually had a personality I could root for. His chemistry with Yisue was the highlight of the book, and I loved the deep dive into dragon traditions.

“Don’t you ever feel as though the dragon is bigger than you are?” – Majen asked, just to add another stupid question to his collection.

I'd also like to award some bonus points, because everyone in this book is gay. It's amazing.

There were cool elements here (Dragon lore! Majen!), but mostly I just had questions. Like, what is Guiren’s deal? He lost an arm and can’t cultivate? Tell me more! Sadly, the book did not. If you plan to read this, do yourself a favor and read the Crane Moon Cycle first.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, epic fantasy romance! It is a follow-up to The Crane Moon Cycle duology, but it can be read as a standalone since the story takes place hundreds of years later.

FMC Chenguang is a phoenix healer who merged her life with human FMC Aili centuries ago. Together, they have built a sanctuary and school to help other magical beings learn to cultivate their magic. They have two adoptive children, Sanmer, a demon, and Yisue, a dragon. Both are adults, but they are still learning how to function in this vast magical universe. When danger and demons threaten the sanctuary, Yisue must go in search of other dragons. Along the way, he meets Majen, a cat shifter with secrets, and it’s unclear whether he is friend or foe.

I adored this story. It is beautifully written, and the cultivation based magic system is fascinating. I’ve never read a book quite like this before. I loved the worldbuilding, the variety of creatures, and the way the magic works. I also appreciated that there are really two love stories, the established, older couple and a new, developing relationship. While there are many sweet, heartfelt romantic moments, this is primarily a high-stakes fantasy. The story moves beyond the school setting into travel across a wide range of locations, and even different magical planes of existence.

I’m a little mad at myself for not reading the first two books sooner, because I clearly missed out on something special. Still, I’m glad I now have them to look forward to. This book was fantastic and is a new favorite!

Spice 2/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
My Enjoyment: 5+/5

*** I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Gealach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Seaglass Blade is a brilliant standalone adventure set in the same world of the author's previous series The Crane Moon Cycle and featuring much of the same characters. Despite this, it's very easy to follow, as relevant old events are mentioned and explained without being infodumpy. It's a wuxia-inspired novel, with cultivation, demons, and shapeshifting dragons and phoenixes. It pulls the reader in with a very cozy atmosphere and a lovely queer found family, but there are also really harsh emotional beats and betrayal. At its core, it is a story about grief, family, and the cost of surviving.

The many PoV characters include the main sapphic relationship, made from a phoenix and her long-time companion, and a nascent achillean relationship. Chenguang and Aili are at the core of the book, their love tested and found true, and the both of them are fantastic, well-rounded characters. A definite highlight is the young dragon's quest for self-actualization against a terrible tragedy, as he matures and reaches a new understanding.

The worldbuilding is phenomenal and really stands out. It's one of my first forays into this subgenre, but the rich imagery and the complex relationships make for a vivid and solid novel. The sections about the dragon and the sea were especially beautiful. The demons are of course not the christian stereotype but a nuanced exploration of the cycle of abuse, and the girl demon especially has a captivating, heartbreaking arc.

The Seaglass Blade is a delightful read.

[Scarlet Tempest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snow has made a stunning sapphic fantasy that will take readers on a journey - both physical and emotional. The cultivation based magic system is well-developed and serves as an interesting metaphor and statement on the characters who use it. The world is complex, described with rich detail, and filled with imagery that reminds me of the West coast of the USA.

Snow's characters are interesting and distinct from each other. I can feel whose "head" I am in, and their narrative voices are all clearly defined. I love the different backstories, and I feel everyone will find someone they love and relate to.

Personally, I love the demon character cast and the emphasis that Snow places on establishing that Sanmer, Guiren, and Majen have survived great trauma and approach their lives after differently. The statement on cycles of abuse and trauma survivors in the demons made me feel seen as a reader, and I cried several times.

Aili and Chenguang, the center of their found family, show readers that love will face challenges of all types --- internal and external, but can endure through even the greatest threats and hardships. I was rooting for them from the first moment that Aili screamed Chenguang's name.

Readers who love epic Sapphic fantasy with emotional depth and beautiful imagery should read The Sea Glass Blade.

Keep an eye out for The Sea Glass Blade as a coming release and ARC opportunity.

[Denisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this advanced copy.

This one didn’t quite work for me overall, even though so many elements should have been a perfect fit on paper. The premise, a found-family crew navigating a world scarred by demonic corruption, trying to protect a fragile home at the end of the world, is genuinely compelling, and there are stretches where the pacing and action absolutely deliver. The battles are vivid, the stakes feel tangible, and there is a real sense of looming ruin that gives the set pieces weight and urgency. There is also a strong thread of slow-burn, complicated love woven through the story, the kind that simmers quietly alongside guilt, responsibility, and long-standing wounds, which adds emotional depth without tipping into melodrama.​ The worldbuilding feels big and ambitious, with rich lore, layered magic, and a focus on how corruption touches not just landscapes and bodies but also institutions and spirits. Readers who enjoy sprawling ensemble fantasy, intricate politics, and morally messy characters trying to right a world drowning in darkness will likely find a lot to appreciate here, especially in the way the story tackles sacrifice, found family, and the cost of hope. For those who love sinking into dense, character-driven epics with high emotional stakes and plenty of action, this is absolutely worth sampling to see if the voice and structure click.​

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one feels like salt air in your lungs and a blade hidden beneath silk. 🌊✨

The Seaglass Blade blends coastal fantasy with sharp political tension and a romance that simmers just under the surface. The setting is one of my favorite parts — windswept shores, shifting tides, old grudges that run as deep as the ocean. The atmosphere is immersive without being heavy, and the magic feels tied to the land (and sea) in a way that makes the world feel alive.

The heroine carries quiet strength. She’s not reckless for the sake of it — she’s deliberate, observant, and shaped by loss in ways that inform every decision she makes. Watching her navigate loyalty, betrayal, and destiny gives the story real emotional weight.

And the romance? Slow-building, tension-laced, and rooted in complicated history. There’s mistrust. There’s longing. There are moments where you’re not sure if they’re about to kiss or draw steel. That constant edge makes every interaction charged.

The pacing leans thoughtful rather than frantic, which works beautifully for the layered worldbuilding and character development. When the action hits, it hits hard — but it earns those moments.

[En · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started following this author when I saw that her list of inspiration included Chinese BL writers like Priest, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu and Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou alongside Ursula K. Le Guin. Immediately jump onto the ARC when I saw it on Netgalley.

Though I have not read the duology, The Seaglass Blade offered sufficient context to the world, magic systems and cast of characters.

The world of Crane Moon blends the mystic and modern, offering a fresh experience while delivering everything that makes cultivation and its adjacent magic systems work.

Expect a fast-paced, action heavy journey alongside charming characters, morally grey casts who’ll capture your heart and downright wicked villains.

[Quantum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only an epic tale of guilt, suffering, and heart-rending betrayal but also one about the slow sizzle of true love. Be immersed in imperfect and deeply nuanced characters fighting to right a world drowning in a tidal wave of demonic corruption that pollutes not only the planet but spirits as well.

(I made a pledge for the kickstarter as well!)

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is lots to love about this book, the shape changing characters, the strong female leads and gay family. I love fantasy and am drawn to detailed world building, political intrigue and complex characters. This book felt for me a little on the cozy end of the spectrum. It will have many fans. Thanks to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a science fiction and fantasy book fan, but this book is so well written and the imagination is brilliant, the magical world wonderful and otherworldly, the love between the magic beings real and moving. A great distraction from our current daily life.

[KateJoanna]

Such a pretty cover and great synopsis that gave me high expectations, unfortunately this just wasn’t a good read for me. I found the writing and dialogue quite poor and flat, I did like the concept and characters/story but just couldn’t get on with the writing.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeously lyrical book with some fantastic vibes and incredible plotting that I really think deserves more intention than it probably will get. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.