Grimdark Magazine Issue #43

by Ryan Cahill, Beth Tabler (Editor), Sarah Chorn (Editor)

Grimdark Magazine presents the darker, grittier side of fantasy and science fiction. Each quarterly issue features established and new authors to take you through their hard-bitten worlds alongside articles, reviews and interviews. Our stories are grim, our worlds are dark and our morally grey protagonists and anti-heroes light the way with bloody stories of war, betrayal and action.

FICTION

Bravery by Michael R. FletcherThe Blacksmith of Lothar’s Cross by R.S. FordDeath Beneath the Dread Sleeper by Lucy A. SnyderThe Name by Abhishek SenguptaWe are Vignettes by Tlotlo TsamaaseWhen the Skies Cried Crimson Rain by Ryan Cahill

NON-FICTION

An Interview with Martina and Hansi from Liminal Monster by Luke TarzianOriginality and the Importance of Passion in Storytelling by Aaron S. JonesAn Interview with Jackson Dickert by Beth TablerAn interview with Editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene and anthology contributors by Beth The Gryphon King by Sara OmerProject Thinner, Stronger, The Two-Dimensional Future of Starship Design by Meghan Leger

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2025

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great issue of stories. The gems to me in this issue were: The Blacksmith of Lothar’s Cross by R.S. Ford, When the Skies Cried Crimson Rain by Ryan Cahill (I actually liked this enough to try one of his books). Recommended

[Kaustubh Dudhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Only violent folk who choose peace can truly be called ‘peaceful’. Those with no capacity for violence aren’t peaceful. They’re just harmless."

Another issue! Another powerful pack of entertainment!

I have enjoyed most of the stories and non-fiction pieces. Some of them are -
🎈The Blacksmith of Lothar’s Cross by R.S. Ford
🎈Death Beneath the Dread Sleeper by Lucy A. Snyder
🎈A follow up piece on Issue #42 from Aaron S. Jones

There are a couple of unique interviews which I enjoyed and then I loved their Youtube channels -
📹 Nerdforge
📹 Between Two Perns

However, the best one for me was When the Skies Cried Crimson Rain by Ryan Cahill. Absolute cinema!

[Wolfmantula · Rating 5 out of 5]

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MY ⭐️ RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: Kindle eBook

I’m not surprised to say this, but Cahill has done it again, and this time it has nothing to do with The Bound and the Broken. When the Skies Cried Crimson Rain is a howling masterclass in short-form fantasy, blending gore, horror, and heart. This standalone short story, that I hope ends up being part of a new series, drops us readers into a war-ravaged world where the main POV, Markan, is a Varkin warrior blessed by the wolf-god Varkin. If this sounds familiar to Cahill readers, the Varkin have some similarities to the Knights of Achyron with their honor, loyalty, and all-around elite badassery, Markan honestly reminds me a bit of Kallinvar. My favorite thing is that the werewolf-like Varkin are our protagonists, and with Cahill’s love of doggos, it makes total sense to portray them as the story’s soul.

“A wolf needs no path but his own and no weapons but the gifts he was given.”

Cahill’s worldbuilding is perfection, painting a grim continent torn by a godwar with just a few details, like the stench of a chaotic city or the crunch of dirt as soldiers trek through the eerie woodlands. Markan’s wolf senses make every scene pop, catching whiffs of danger or hearing trouble in the distance. His dry humor adds a lighter playful tone to the darkness, and his fierce loyalty to his pack, especially his brother Ravik, makes him a standout, while Solise, a battle-hardened Aegisar guarding a young prince, adds grit and heart. The story’s got a dark, creepy edge that keeps you glued to every page.

While he has already written another short story, this tale proves Cahill’s got the chops to craft a lean, mean story in a new world that hits as hard as his already beloved novels. The mix of visceral action, loyalty and dread feels like a teaser for something bigger, maybe a new series once The Bound and the Broken is completed. It’s a quick read that lingers, perfect for grimdark fans and those who love werewolf or vampire stories, though these creatures aren’t your typical fare. Get ready for a thrilling good time.

[Wes Tyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is for Ryan Cahill’s novella: When the skies cried crimson rain. It was a fantastic entry point in this world. Can’t wait until he writes more in this series.

[Guillaume Rho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my review for WHEN THE SKIES CRIED CRIMSON RAIN by Ryan Cahill.

“Markan had one rule: never kill a dog. Well, that wasn’t quite true. He has many rules: never kill a child, don’t eat yellow snow, never trust a fart after Gourath’s stew, if you stab something and it moves, stab it again. The list was actually qui an extensive one when he thought about it. But ‘never kill a dog’ took precedence above all others.”

What a phenomenal discovery! The world Ryan Cahill has created here is well-developed in so few pages and feels immensely large and lived in. This is a very cool and unique take on vampires and werewolves, and it feels ripe with potential for storytelling (he’s announced that this would be the world for his next series, which is extremely promising).

The writing style is what stood out the most for me. It was very reminiscent of Joe Abercrombie, which is always the highest level of praise I can give about anyone’s writing. The characters were fully fleshed and convincing in very few lines.

The action was dark, gore and very bloody! I loved every second of it.

I’ve had The Bound and the Broken series on my TBR for a while now but always kept pushing it back because of how massive the books are, but after reading this short story, I just know I have to dive into Ryan Cahill’s world asap!

[Pedro Marroquín · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solo me he leido dos historias. Una de Ryan Cahill sobre hombres lobo y vampiros que está muy bien, y del que me gustaría leer más. Y otro de J.S. Ford que es algo peor, porque ya he leído cosas parecidas, pero que funciona bien. B-

[Jeff Pena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 specially for When the Skies Cried Crimson Rain by Ryan Cahill.