Beneath Ceaseless Skies #185, October 29, 2015

“Demons Enough” by Ian McHugh

Reviewed by Michelle Ristuccia

This issue of Beneath Ceaseless Skies features two horror stories in time for Halloween.

“Demons Enough” by Ian McHugh tells of a domain whose peace treaty with demon leeches is falling apart. When a new type of demon murders innocent humans, the treaty shatters in a convoluted story of revenge and double crossing that pits three sides against each other. McHugh uses Old English names and terminology to set the tone.

In “Bloodless” by Cory Skerry, Kamalija has sworn to protect her descendents from other Bloodless who, unlike her, willfully prey on the living. However, a few decades of peace have lulled her relatives into neglecting their duties towards her, which in turn leaves her more vulnerable to the wiles of a strange new bloodless visitor who wants her to leave her village.

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.