by Angela Slatter

Absinthe Books, out now

Selke keeps a predator at bay with an unusual weapon – telling tales…

You may feel a little on the back foot with this story initially if you’re not familiar with Angela Slatter’s previous stories featuring Selke – the author’s note at the end explains where they fit in the chronology – but I suspect, like me, you’ll be wanting to seek them out once you’ve read this novella, which comprises two short tales and a framing sequence that are more interlinked than first meets the eye. The first story feels like a fairy tale, but one with the rose-tinted glasses removed; the second has a harder edge, and you’re very much rooting for the protagonist. And then there’s the start and finish and who and what it is that Selke represents…

This is very much a dark fantasy story, and Slatter quickly paints the picture of the society in which it’s based for those unfamiliar with it. Human nature – with its desires and jealousies, its judgements and ill-thought through actions – is at the heart of all three tales.

Verdict: An appetite-whetting peek into a fascinating dark fantasy world. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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