The Beholder: A Short Story

by Sam Skyborne

Love, when beheld, can break the strongest curse.

A sexy, surreal, speculative short story about a woman with an extraordinary skill finally being granted her greatest wish. When Caela and Rae met, neither knew how profoundly it would change their lives.

If you liked "Unbroken", and enjoy stories with a Victorian, Steampunk, Gaslamp feel about dusty bookshops and curio shops that are not quite what they seem, then you'll like this.

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2025

Reviews

[AC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another creative, out-of-the-box, story idea from Skyborne. I think my disappointment is that it is such a short story, so I don’t get enough of the characters. But don’t we always want more—just sayin’.
I’m intrigued by the setting and characters; and that one is a metalsmith, truly made my day. I love seeing characters in non-typical career areas. The limits of the story also allow me to expand my imagination surrounding the time—as in historical or dystopian.
Skyborne paints a brilliant vision surrounding Caela’s family history. No, no spoilers. For me, it is a story of self-discovery and being able to see in ourselves what others see. It’s a lovely short-story romance for a nice afternoon pick-me-up.

[Donna Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful  read. It took me longer than an hour to read because I slipped down the rabbit hole of Specularii. I adore books that make me do that.
The cover is appealing and I went back to it as I was reading. I wanted  to find an era but then realised it did not matter to the story. The title is very appropriate.  Short stories are difficult  to write but I connected with the three characters.  The sensual writing comparing the touch of the bodies to the heat of the forge is gorgeous.  I loved the use of short, sharp sentences as Caeli saw into the mirror. Very powerful.

[Idgiemia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this is a historical-like short story and I’ll freely admit short stories aren’t my usual thing. But this story really grabbed my attention from the start and I found I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to know more about the main characters. It’s hard to avoid spoilers in a short story, but suffice it to say that you won’t regret getting this one and the author is definitely imparting a lesson to us readers. Get and read today!

[Heather Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and Erotic

I love this short story. The scene is set beautifully, the story line original, fascinating and very sensual; the characters really pop out. I just wish it was a novel! Highly recommend.

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[Mary E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quickly hooked by this short story, and found myself surprised by the twist. I find that many stories are formulaic and easy to predict. That's not the case with Sam Skyborne's writing. I found myself smiling at the end, and have taken time to reflect on both the story and the underlying moral. You'll just have to read it yourself to behold the sweet tale.

[Alison C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful tale from Sam Skyborne, a delicate and beautifully written short story.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is thought-provoking, spicy, and really good! Caela and Rae are strong, sexy, powerful women - characters you suddenly know and enjoy. Drop into their world and out of yours!

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a beautiful erotic short story it was described beautiful i can imagine the scene playing out definitely want more just pure perfection congratulations

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Beholden, by Sam Skyborne, is a lovely, fairytale-like short story. It reads more like a vignette than a fully developed story. I enjoyed the writing style and beautiful imagery. It felt rather atmospheric, with a light, soft, and airy feel—very cozy. I would have preferred that it had been longer or structured as a fuller story to allow for greater character development and a clearer exploration of their relationship. It serves as a sweet and steamy palate cleanser, leaving the reader with a warm feeling.
I also want to mention the very attractive cover.
#fairytakelike #atmospheric #HEA #sweet #steamy #cozy #metalworker #sapphicromance #shortstory
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.