The Stygian Lepus 24

by Jodi Christensen (Editor), Dean Shawker (Editor), Kara Hawkers (Editor)

The Stygian Lepus Magazine is a thrilling foray into dark speculative fiction. In each new edition, readers explore the depths of imagination, where fear and fascination intertwine.

Offering diverse genres from horror to science fiction, each story pushes the boundaries of reality.

Talented authors craft tales that transport readers to new dimensions, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. The magazine is a vessel for exploring the human psyche, embracing darkness as a means to understand ourselves.

Join this journey into the unknown, where the bizarre and unsettling captivate, all within the pages of The Stygian Lepus Magazine.

FEATURED AUTHORS
We Made This by Justin Carlos Alcalá
The Final Voyage of the Venerable Saucy Nancy - Part One by Glynn Owen Barrass
Sin Eater - Part One by Paul W. La Bella
38 Weeks by Paul W. La Bella
Beneath by A.J. Dalton
Mia's Bird by Andreas Flögel
Kiss of Death by Avery Hunter
White Heaven by E.E. King
A Penny Saved by Dennis McFadden
The Goddess of Boston by Luna McNamara
Verdugo - Part One by Elliot Pearson
Seeds of the Future by Elliot Pearson
Ambivalence by Ritzi
Tap, Tap, Tap by M.M. Schreier
And On the Story Spins - Part One by S.J. Townend
Phaëthon - Part Two by Tyler Whetstone
Malediction by Nick Young

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2025

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am rounding up to three stars. I'm not going to discuss any of these stories individually because none were outstanding or that memorable. Which is a shame. I really wanted to like these stories more. On the other hand, the production values of the magazine are outstanding, and at $1.99 as an eBook one can't object to the price. All of the stories seemed reasonably well written, but they all had fairly elementary rookie mistakes. Not typos, just writing problems. Situations would be discussed as though they had been set up, but they weren't. Characters without characteristics would float into a story and say things but the reader wouldn't know the motivation. Stories would be told, but who the protagonist was and what they wanted were made clear only late in the story, if ever. That sort of thing.

I get it. The magazine only pays $5 to writers per story, and then only upon publication. So, the editors are actually getting slightly more than is being paid for. It's not like I would out of hand reject the idea of reading another issue. I might. I'm kind of curious about issue 1. Was it better and they were not able to maintain that standard? Has the magazine actually improved? Or are they at their peak and maintaining? Still, there are so many better things being written right now vying for my attention. The magazine Cosmic Horror Monthly, Issue 1, July 2020 is one example in a similar subject matter that's being printed just as often, but they print distinctly better stories.

There's potential here. Maybe I'll check back in another 24 issues and see if there have been improvements.