Beneath Ceaseless Skies Audio Fiction Podcasts · Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online Magazine

BCS 310: The Changeling and the Child

·22 min·2 clips

Discover literary adventure fantasy by authors like Marie Brennan in this audio fiction podcast.

This episode features the fantasy short story "The Changeling and the Child" by author Pooja Paravali, read by narrator Tina Connolly. The story is a literary adventure fantasy originally published in issue 377 of the *Beneath Ceaseless Skies* magazine. Paravali is also the author of *Sun and Shadow* and holds a degree in health science from Boston University. The narrative centers on a changeling named Kaelen who is left in place of a human child taken by the fae. Kaelen lives with the human parents, Anya and Tomas, who are unaware of the substitution. The story explores Kaelen's internal struggle with their dual nature and the lingering connection to the fae realm. A central conflict arises from the human parents' growing suspicion that their child is not their own. Kaelen possesses subtle magical abilities, such as an affinity for plants and an understanding of hidden pathways. The fae who orchestrated the exchange, referred to as the Gentry, maintain a distant but palpable influence over Kaelen's life. The human village operates under superstitions and old warnings about the fae, which heightens the tension. A poignant insight is Kaelen's genuine, though complicated, affection for the human parents despite being an impostor. The story examines themes of belonging, identity, and the definition of family from a non-human perspective. Kaelen's magic is portrayed not as overt power but as a deep, instinctual bond with the natural world. The narrative suggests the fae's motives are inscrutable and follow a logic alien to human understanding. The human parents' grief and suspicion create a constant, low-grade danger for Kaelen within the home. Paravali builds a quiet mythology around the rules and consequences of a changeling's existence. The tone is lyrical, atmospheric, and introspective, focusing on character and emotion. The style is narrative fiction, delivered as a single, voiced story reading. Listeners who enjoy character-driven fantasy, fae folklore, and poetic prose will appreciate this episode. Those seeking fast-paced action or epic world-building might find the story's deliberate pace less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Beneath Ceaseless Skies Audio Fiction Podcasts