I read it in less than half an hour — which is exactly what a companion short story should do: entertain you, make you fond of a character, and leave you wanting to read the real book.
Galindra and the Troll tells the story of the meeting between a young dragoness just named (a ceremony that allows her to assume human form) and Grolf, a troll soldier with a heart too tender for his profession. She ends up in the net, he's supposed to cook her. Spoiler: he doesn't cook her.
The Good
Murphy has a talent for functional and clean writing — the text flows without hitches, the dialogue has rhythm, and the action scenes (the escape, the arrival of the father dragon, the epic avalanche) are choreographed with clarity. There's a subtle sense of humor that works: Blister accidentally inventing snowboarding while tumbling down the mountain made me smile.
Grolf is the real strength: a troll who hides a superior education behind his comrades' dialect, who loves stray animals, who decides to risk everything to save a creature he has no reason to help. He's a character who would work very well in a novel, and I hope Murphy gives him more space in the series.
The Problem
The problem is that nothing will stick. The prose is competent but anonymous. Galindra is a protagonist-function (young, impulsive, determined) without her own voice. The worldbuilding is present just enough — dragons, trolls, frozen mountains — but there's nothing that makes me think "I need to know more about this world."
The Cover
Troll in medieval armor with a combat staff, blue dragon in the background, castle ruins, warm/smoky palette. The troll protagonist at the center is an interesting choice — it makes it clear that this isn't the usual "dragon protagonist." Professional looking. The weakness: the dragon gets lost in the smoky background at small sizes.
The ending does its job: Slasher survives, swears revenge, and "thus began the second dragon-troll war." It's an effective setup for Fury. If you're already interested in the ForeSender Chronicles series, this short story will give you what you're looking for. If you're looking for something unforgettable, look elsewhere.
Recommended for those who love traditional fantasy with a light touch, in the vein of Tamora Pierce or Brian Jacques. Not for those seeking grimdark or moral complexity.
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