Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores, February 2022

“Love Potion” by Anne E. G. Nydam

“Maggoty Meg Flies Up the Mountain” by Jonathan Lenore Kastin

Reviewed by Kevin P Hallett

This month, Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores has two stories, with one a special release for Valentine’s Day.

“Love Potion” by Anne E. G. Nydam

In this short and quick fantasy, Abby needs a love potion. She doesn’t want others to know or gossip about her, so she goes into Xyblik’s Cosmic Emporium when it’s deserted. But Xyblik, the near-immortal cephalopod, is unwilling to sell her what he feels is a potion that’s little better than snake oil. His remedy is more than a little bizarre and has no chance of working to Abby’s mind.

The author’s story snippet was a pleasure to read with a light touch and an engaging style.

“Maggoty Meg Flies Up the Mountain” by Jonathan Lenore Kastin

The village children ridicule ugly Meg in this short fantasy. And she’s fed up with being that way and having the beautiful kids throw stones at her whenever she walks through the village.

Finally, Meg is so desperate that she visits the local witch to find a spell for beauty. But the witch has no such remedy. After all, she isn’t that kind of witch. However, the witch does offer Meg an alternative if she dares to follow it.

This was a pleasing story to read, though it offered little new for the fantasy genre.

You can follow Kevin P Hallett’s writing on www.kevinphallett.com