Sara Lawson’s Reviews > From the Shadows: Villainous Tales of Dark Lords, Despots, and Devils > Status Update

Interview with the Dark Elf is attention-grabbing from the start as a reporter/writer comes into a prison to interview one of the villains from his own story. The Dark Elf reflects on all the things he didn't understand about heroes and their nobility as well as prides himself on a job he left half-done, er well done. It's quite an amusing tale, definitely the funniest I've read in the IFA anthology so far.

The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener

The Evil One and the Chosen One prepare to face off as prophecy demands, only to discover that things may be the opposite of what they've been led to believe. The Chosen One is a piece of work, so where does that leave The Evil One? This was a surprising shift in the "Chosen One" trope.
As always, Rachel's writing is delightful, and I found myself really enjoying her prose.

Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers tells the story of Maximiliano the Magnificent who, as the result of being half-dead or half-alive, remembers his glorious exploits, which were much less glorious in the retelling. He also meets a "necrodancer." When given a second chance at "life," will he become the hero he always wished to be?

Let the Dark In by Stacey Trombley tells the story of a boy who has been bullied all of his life and is offered a dark and ancient power to exact revenge and save the girl he loves. But what will be the cost?

Interview with the Dark Elf is attention grabbing from the start as a reporter/writer comes into a prison to interview one of the villains from his own story. The Dark Elf reflects on all the things he didn't understand about heroes and their nobility as well as prides himself on a job he left half-done, er well done. It's quite an amusing tale.

A Dragon's Guide to Hatching a Rebellion tells the story of a dragon who is drawn to the voice of a human girl. He takes on the form of a human in order to mate with her, only to discover things look different in human form. He can rescue the human settlement or destroy it, but which will give him what he's after?

The Evil One and the Chosen One prepare to face off as prophecy demands, only to discover that things may be the opposite of what they've been led to believe. The Chosen One is a piece of work, so where does that leave The Evil One? This was a refreshing shift in the "Chosen One" trope.

Ghoul Grief tells the story of Maximiliano the Magnificent who, as the result of being half dead or half alive, remembers his glorious exploits, which were much less glorious in the retelling. He also meets a necrodancer. When given a second chance at "life," will he become the hero he always wished to be?