The Sapling Cage
Daughters of the Empty Throne Book 1
A trans woman guards her secrets and fights dark powers in Margaret Killjoy’s novel The Sapling Cage.
Lorel wants to become a witch, learn to use magic, and travel the world. But she was assigned male at birth, and witches are always women. Thus she takes the place of her friend, promised to witches since birth, and begins to learn their ways. However, her initiation is fraught, not only because she worries about being found out as an impostor, but because a strange blight is killing forests and leaching away magical power. The persecution of witches is also ramping up. The coven Lorel joined is under attack, and her training is interrupted as enemies invade every safe haven the witches know.
Among her peers, Lorel finds both friends and bullies. Her mentors hint at the existence of a spell that may allow her to alter her body to match her gender. But Lorel’s ability to learn this spell is threatened by the war breaking out among witches, knights, nobles, and the faceless enemies causing the blight and summoning monsters. Lorel refuses to stand by as her new allies are imperiled. If she joins the fight, though, she risks being discovered and losing access to the witches who might help her in her pursuit of transformation.
The book’s complex characterizations and in-depth worldbuilding are distinguishing. Herein, witches govern by consensus while nobles rule by might. And Lorel’s own ethical stance is complicated; she does not wish to kill and must decide how far she will go to protect her new community.
In the fantasy novel The Sapling Cage, a young woman learns about the many types of power, including friendship, in her quest for discovery and acceptance.
Reviewed by
Jeana Jorgensen
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
