Of Roses and Kings, by Melissa Marr

[Single]

★★★☆☆

(Alice-in-Wonderland Pastiche) After the events in the story, Alice became the new Red Queen, and here, in the words of her Personal Maid, Beatrice, we learn just what sort of queen she became. (8,094 words; Time: 26m)

If you haven’t read the original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this story will make absolutely no sense to you.

The Nameless, by Melissa Marr

[F&SF]

★★☆☆☆

(High Fantasy) An all-female cliffside colony spends much of its time fighting off all-male invasion forces. A woman born of rape decides to take the war back to the invaders. (5,261 words; Time: 17m)

Knee Deep in the Sea, by Melissa Marr

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Horror) The young assistant to the director of a documentary film likes Scotland, hates that her boss wants to get her in bed, and really hates waking up next to dead people. (8,334 words; Time: 27m)

The Maiden Thief, by Melissa Marr

Read this story.

(Dark Fantasy) Verena wants to stop the killer who takes one local girl every year. And she's just barely old enough to be a target herself. (9.650 words)

Rating: 3, Good, ordinary, story

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