Mysterion, March 2022
Reviewed by Kevin P Hallett
There is one first-publication story in the March issue of Mysterion.
“Help” by O. Z. A. Lee
Lipsy’s Virginia family sells her to a South Carolina family in this short fantasy. She’s only twelve and not used to a slave’s life in this subtropical climate where all manner of snakes can kill you or alligators eat you. And her new mistress is a mean old woman who whips her for the slightest mistake.
So when old Skinny Gen tells her about the boohag that can suck a person’s spirit right out of them, Lipsy is torn between longing for her mistress to meet the boohag, and believing it’s wrong to wish evil on anyone. Then, one night, as Lipsy sits outside her mistress’ bedroom door, she hears the boohag approaching.
This was an entertaining story set in the slavery of the old south, which gave yet another interesting flavor to the story.
You can follow Kevin P Hallett’s writing on www.kevinphallett.com