Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense Issue #23 / Summer 2025

Black Sand By JIM BREYFOGLE A young man born in the arena lives only to fight! When a plot to overthrow the Emperor fails, the daughter of one of the traitors is hidden as a slave in his ludus! Troll Fen By KEN LIZZI When a remote village on the frontier is beset by a troll, the wandering auxiliary Badulf the German takes up the call to slay the beast, but all is not as it seems! Melkart and the Rich One By MARK MELLON Having delivered sacrificial horses to the King of Pergamos, Melkart intercedes on behalf of an insolent youth! Now, he must deliver the underworld offering himself! ’Twas Bato Did It By DAVID SKINNER While on his way to Rome to petition the Emperor, Raskos meets a strongman who wishes him to help immortalize his feat of lifting a massive boulder over his head! While the Islands Slept By J. L. ROYCE A naturalist tracks down a gathering of “traveling” islands during their mating season! The islands are strange enough, but what of their mysterious inhabitants!? Double or Nothing By MICHAEL RAY After a confrontation with the goddess of rot, Tobin of Rumah Sing and his magic sword find themselves deep in gambling debt, losing their haul to another goddess! True Destiny By PAUL LUCAS At the advice of his sorcerer, an evil nobleman seeks a legendary magic sword tied to his true destiny! Can the young man he steals it from recover his patrimony?! Tigers Dream in Colors By RODICA BRETIN In guiding Kayla Blackmoon in the use of her powers, Lorena issues a challenge: can she look into the mind of an animal? Not just any animal: a Siberian tiger! Flight From Reckoning (Part 2) By MICHAEL TIERNEY Tamarick and Fastrick pursue Zoor across Kalidoh! Meanwhile, Zoor seeks to signal his allies in hopes of preparing a massive ambush to destroy the Wild Stars! Threnody Bacchant for Ruins Demoniac By MATTHEW PUNGITORE