Beneath Ceaseless Skies #413, August 8, 2024

“One Ear Left Over” by Jonathan Olfert

“An Isle in a Sea of Ghosts” by J. A. Prentice

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

Two tales featuring characters suffering under curses and those who try to help them appear in this issue.

“One Ear Left Over” by Jonathan Olfert is a sequel to the author’s story “On Slate and Skin,” which I reviewed previously.

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Knowledge of the earlier work is not necessary to enjoy this one.

A man who is cursed to write the contents of a grimoire over and over, including on human skin and, eventually, on his wife, is captured by a church that seeks to obtain all magical knowledge. The protagonist is a woman serving the church, who sacrificed her connection with her family and her people in order to join the sect. She offers him the chance of lifting the curse in exchange for his knowledge, but goes on to aid him in an unexpected way.

The story starts quietly and builds slowly to a dramatic conclusion. The two main characters share a sense of guilt. The woman, in particular, seems to have very ambiguous feelings about her position in the church, forcing me to wonder why she joined in the first place. The fantasy concepts are original and imaginative, but seem arbitrary at times.

In “An Isle in a Sea of Ghosts” by J. A. Prentice, a boy is cursed to become a different animal every day, never returning to human form. His much older sister, who has cared for him since he was born, undertakes a dangerous journey to lift the spell. They encounter a sorceress who seeks to bring a dead lover back to life.

As with the first story, the main characters share a sense of guilt. In this case, they both feel responsible for the fate of those they loved. This theme continues when they seek aid from a supernatural being, who has a similar sense of guilt. The situation leads to a bittersweet conclusion. The fantasy content of this work is well integrated into its emotional plot.

Victoria Silverwolf hopes to avoid being cursed.