24 Comments
User's avatar
Michael S. Atkinson's avatar

Oh, very nice, very nice. I figured she would keep climbing or running; I did not expect that! That ending was so cool.

Bridget Riley's avatar

Between fight, flight, and freeze, she definitely went for fight. 😅

Ben Woestenburg's avatar

Oh, that was a great story, or should I say: A-may-zing! Great tension, and build up. I loved it!

Bridget Riley's avatar

Thank you so much, Ben! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

Ben Woestenburg's avatar

I love Greek mythology and was gob-smacked at the idea of a gardener in the Minotaur's Maze. What a great idea!

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

You did this in less than 48 hours? This is fantastic! Really well done. Loved the action.

Bridget Riley's avatar

Thank you so much, Sean!

Jennifer James's avatar

Riveting story! Kept my eyes glued to my screen.

Bridget Riley's avatar

Thank you, Jennifer!

Kathrine Elaine's avatar

Wow wow wow! 🩶 What an excellent, action-packed piece. YOUR STORY SHINES! I love it. Thank you! Please, write more fantasy! (Have you written long-form epic fantasy? If its anything like this, I’d just devour it!☺️)

Bridget Riley's avatar

Thank you so much, Kathrine!! I haven’t written any long-form fantasy, as worldbuilding for anything longer than a short fantasy story kind of scares me. 😬 But your comment is so encouraging - thank you!

Kathrine Elaine's avatar

You should definitely try! You already did - the myth can work as a good base for worldbuilding. ☺️

K.M. Carroll's avatar

Very good read! I kind of wish it was longer, but that's flash fiction for you. I like the idea of somebody having to do upkeep on the hedge maze ... despite there being a monster in there. Welp, no more monster! Fire up the grill, everybody!

Bridget Riley's avatar

Thank you for the read and the kind comment! That would be quite the barbecue! 😂

Caitriana NicNeacail's avatar

Superb buildup of tension there!

Liz Zimmers's avatar

What a fabulous retelling of the Minotaur! A fantastic re-imagining. I loved this. And as a gardener I can say, sometimes it feels like this fighting everything that wants to eat or kill a garden!

Bridget Riley's avatar

I’ve only barely dipped my toes into gardening, and, now that you mention it, maybe this story is a personification of my experience. 😂

Georgina Doel's avatar

Great stuff!

Evelyn K. Brunswick's avatar

Mesmerising and captivating! Obviously I have no idea what the other stories in this competition are like but the two you've shared so far are exceptional and if you don't win there's simply no justice in the world.

Bridget Riley's avatar

Oh, thank you, Evelyn! Haha the two stories each did well in their respective rounds, but there are so many wonderful stories in the competition. And it seems like they get better every year!

Evelyn K. Brunswick's avatar

Is there a place we can read those other stories?

Anyhow - good luck!

Bridget Riley's avatar

They’ll be trickling into my newsletters over the next few weeks until the next Judith Temple story arrives!

Evelyn K. Brunswick's avatar

Yay! And I am so definitely excited about Judith's next adventure!