Fantasy stories with teeth This quarter’s issue is all about magic: the flourish of cards, the power of an audience’s attention, and the darkness it can awaken inside us. There are stories of community, cursed bargains and cutting ambition. Some of the creatures you’ll encounter in these pages are all about the magic of the theatre, showing how a sprinkle of supernatural help can augment the mundane, but some are less enchanting. Instead, they ask: how much would you sacrifice for the performance of a lifetime? We’re also bringing you an interview with shape-shifting indie author Elizabeth Davies and four reviews of indie novels from our review team, all on the theme of Shifters & Showbiz. So let’s turn down the house lights and open the curtains. There’s plenty here to sink your teeth into.