Sunday, February 9, 2020

The Candle Queen, by Ephiny Gale

[BCS]
★★★☆☆

(Dark Fantasy) The young narrator has just become the new Candle queen, which means by wearing the crown and robe, she prevents the end of the world. But she won’t be able to do much else for fifty years. (2,279 words; Time: 07m)

Recommended By: πŸ‘GTognetti+1 (Q&A)


"," by (edited by Scott H. Andrews), appeared in issue 295, published on .

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Review: 2020.064 (A Word for Authors)

Pro: The cruelty of the tradition makes it imperative that someone rescue the poor protagonist from her fate of 50 years sealed in the same robe.

It’s nice that we see Anne make the little elephant first, which makes it quite plausible that she could make a wax human too.

Con: I had trouble believing in the whole Candle Queen idea. I could see people taking turns doing it a few hours at a time, but fifty years? If they were serious about it, that’s so much time that there’s every risk of the person going crazy and tearing the candles off. If it’s not serious, why torment a person like this?

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1 comment (may contain spoilers):

  1. Yes, I had trouble with the Candle Queen idea too. Keep all 26 trainees and have them rotate in shifts. And sewing her into the dress seemed like overkill too.

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