Beneath Ceaseless Skies #429, April 3, 2025

“The City of Tears” by Molly Tanzer

“The Midwife in the Palace of the Forest King” by Jelena Dunato

Reviewed by Mina

Two tales of courageous yet very different women facing a distorted reality are featured in this issue of BCS.

“The City of Tears” by Molly Tanzer takes a while to get into. We follow the (mis)adventures of a disgraced Knight of the Court of Truth, Thevin Galois. But what is real and what isn’t? As we realise the truth of the situation Thevin finds herself in, and what the city is, the story takes a turn towards horror. We can’t help but become invested in Thevin’s fate, but it is not a happy tale.

In “The Midwife in the Palace of the Forest King” by Jelena Dunato, Katarina is called out by a strange creature on a winter’s night. Despite her fear, she accompanies the creature on its sleigh into the heart of the forest. As well as the tools of her trade, she takes a shard of mountain crystal with her. The woman, Vlasta, she is asked to help is human and likely to die during birth. Only Katarina’s quick thinking, selflessness and courage will save Vlasta and herself. It is a dark fairy tale but ends well.