Beneath Ceaseless Skies #162, December 11, 2014

Reviewed by Michelle Ristuccia

In “A House of Gold and Steel” by Marissa Lingen, the narrator becomes a nurse’s aid for a mute invalid who is being taken advantage of because of her unique magical powers. The moral dilemma and the strength of the narrator’s character effectively drive the story but lead to an anti-climactic ending that could use more of an emotional punch.

In “Goatskin” by K. C. Norton, shape shifter Shanzi becomes an indentured servant for the most beautiful woman in the world, who soon requires Shanzi’s help in an unexpected emergency. The plot comes off as unnecessarily lengthy because of Shanzi’s many ineffectual attempts to save her mistress, a common structure for fairy tales. The characters and the magic are intriguing, written with a thoughtful flair of internal dialogue such as one comes to expect from K. C. Norton.

Michelle Ristuccia enjoys slowing down time in the middle of the night to read and review speculative fiction, because sleeping offspring are the best inspiration and motivation. You can find out more about her other writing projects and geeky obsessions by visiting her blog.