This is a great overview of important historical figures. I love the way Johnson writes, taking broad ideas and laying them out succinctly without minimizing them. 

This was a Libro.fm ALC

My first thought as I started this book was that this was this is the story of Alanna's brother Thom (by Tamora Pierce) if he were instead a trans girl-- Trading places with a friend who would rather be a knight, Lorel leaves home to learn to be a witch. I mean this comparison affectionately as I have a lot of love for the Alanna series. I've read that story as an excellent examination of gender, because Alanna dress s like a boy but maintains her identity. It's not about how you dress or look, it's about who you are. I love that The Sapling Cage dives more deeply into this, talks freely about transness, and Lorel finds herself and friends she can trust with her identify throughout the book.

Witches are hunted in this world, and it is only through learning to protect themselves and banding together that the covens survive. The magic system is interesting and beautiful, though not without potential for darkness. I love the youth who aren't afraid to stand up for what they know is right and the authority that eventually listens and stands with them.

I'm going to affectionately compare this to red white and royal blue, but just know it frustrates me when books are compared exclusively along similar plot points. This is two "rival" nations And two princes falling in love and a PR nightmare. But the tone is also similar to red white royal blue. The reverence with which love is spoken, the desire to do something more and better, to undo the mistakes of the past and build something more with the future. The sibling and friend relationships. So much of what I loved about rwrb is also in this.

The prince of Christmas is a fuck up who finds out he isn't as messed up as he thought, who grows into his good ideas and learns to stand on what he believes, which is anticapitalist, anti comidification of holiday and traditions. He fights to get back to when many traditions could all exist in their fullness, and I like that a lot.  He learns hes worthy of love.

The king of Halloween married the Queen of Dia de los muertos, and I like the aspects of both that were brought in through their son, the prince of mischief and finding joy in hard times. The prince who loves ofrendas and reconnecting to those passed. The prince who can't swear without magically producing a jack-o'-lantern. Who isn't above using a little magic to tease a friend. Who is fiercely devoted to his duty, but learns to find love anyway.

These two are silly and mischievous and sickenly cute together. A great read, one I will want to revisit every year when the weather starts to turn towards fall and winter.