Book Review: Bended Loyalty

Reviewed by Samantha Hui

A raw and compelling look at the cost of self-sacrifice and personal growth

Jealousy and resentment can never be a substitute for passion. Through the lens of a young man caught between his fading dreams of stardom, the weight of family obligations, and his own fractured identity, Kat Caldwell’s Bended Loyalty delves deep into the complex emotions that come with trying to escape the shadows of those we love. 

“He had been dreaming about watching Meegan singing on stage. At one point in the dream, he was hooting and clapping for Meegan, and in the next, he was shrinking in size with every note that she sang. And no one noticed.”

Tristen Levisay is on the verge of stardom. His rock band, The Seethers, which he co-leads with his twin brother Talon, is opening for the popular rock band The Art of Rendering. Together, Tristen and his beautiful and talented girlfriend Meegan are destined to be famous musicians—at least, that’s what Tristen believes. Everything changes when The Art of Rendering makes a surprise announcement: Talon will be replacing their lead singer. 

“He preferred a girlfriend with high expectations over one who wouldn’t fit where he was eventually going. Because at some point, he would be on top, far from where he was now.”

As The Seethers fall apart, so do Tristen’s dreams of becoming a famous musician. Things take a turn for the worse when Meegan’s wealthy and powerful father forces her to kick Tristen out of her house unless he can prove he can support himself. With no other choice, Tristen moves back in with his erratic mother, Ivy.

Discovering that Ivy is deep in debt due to poor investments, Tristen returns to his childhood gig—fighting in illegal underground boxing matches as one half of the Pelton Vikings—to pay off her debts. Meanwhile, he takes on a day job as a freelance music producer to appease Meegan and her controlling father. 

As Tristen’s commitments pile up, he finds himself trapped in a cycle of resentment toward his brother, his mother, and his painful childhood. He must confront whether his struggles are the result of external forces or his own choices.

“Tristen hated being told stuff like that. Forgiveness is better and all that. Walking away from people who are incapable of treating you like a person is better.”

Bended Loyalty is a gripping exploration of addiction, poverty, and personal growth. Tristen makes for a sympathetic protagonist, one whose frustrations with unwanted responsibility and emotional restraint will resonate with many readers. 

Throughout the novel, he’s often seen as the “loser twin,” overshadowed by his self-absorbed brother. Tristen is left to pick up the pieces and solve everyone else’s problems, yet as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this mentality, though rooted in good intentions, acts as a crutch that prevents him from moving forward.

“How many times had a teacher or neighbor or someone in town told him in not so many words that he was a loser. Just because of who his mom was, how poor they were, or any other number of things.”

Caldwell’s writing is ambitious, creating complex, multi-dimensional characters within rich, intricate storylines. Told entirely from Tristen’s perspective, the novel offers glimpses into the insecurities of the other characters at the same time as Tristen uncovers them. 

Tristen is an unreliable narrator to not only the audience but also to himself. As an unreliable narrator, Tristen’s obsession with proving himself distorts his perception of his career, his relationships, and his own identity. He longs for things not because they are what he truly wants, but because he believes they are what the person he thinks he should be would desire. 

“Tristen shook the memories away, but they stubbornly clung to him.”

Bended Loyalty is dramatic, entertaining, and thoughtful. Caldwell’s skillful writing builds tension, leaving readers turning the pages with gritted teeth, hoping for Tristen to finally find the redemption he so desperately seeks. This book is a must read for those who feel trapped in the self-destructive cycle of obligation and people-pleasing. 

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