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A review by thecomedydeva
Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #270 by Alix E. Harrow, Scott H. Andrews, Natalia Theodoridou
3.0
Short Story 1 (To Stab with a Rose, to Love with a Knife):
This was a very short story, and I found didn't have much going for it plot wise. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't long enough to truly engage me. Good ideas, good thoughts, good promise, and then it was over. There was setup, but not enough space for any execution.
Short Story 2 (Do Not Look Back, My Lion):
I didn't find the writing style particularly agreeable, however given that I'm not much of a fan of present-tense fiction, this may just be me. Again, it had enjoyable aspects, and some of the ideas were very engaging, however I think the reader is expected to know things in advance, or is expected to figure out the worldbuilding for themselves, which I don't think works all too well for a story of this size. Also, waaaaaay too many names. It's like a half-hour read, and there's a ton of fantasy names. I can remember like three or four, and after that I amalgamate all the characters,
This was a very short story, and I found didn't have much going for it plot wise. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't long enough to truly engage me. Good ideas, good thoughts, good promise, and then it was over. There was setup, but not enough space for any execution.
Short Story 2 (Do Not Look Back, My Lion):
I didn't find the writing style particularly agreeable, however given that I'm not much of a fan of present-tense fiction, this may just be me. Again, it had enjoyable aspects, and some of the ideas were very engaging, however I think the reader is expected to know things in advance, or is expected to figure out the worldbuilding for themselves, which I don't think works all too well for a story of this size. Also, waaaaaay too many names. It's like a half-hour read, and there's a ton of fantasy names. I can remember like three or four, and after that I amalgamate all the characters,