Review: Short story: "The Cairndale Orphan" by J.M. Miro

The Cairndale Orphan by J.M. Miro
Published July 2026 via Amazon Original Stories

Something is wrong in London, and Bromley knows it. A friend is missing, a school up north has burned down, and a child has turned up looking for help. Bromley just doesn't know how complicated things might get before they improve.

This is one of a collection of stories full of mysteries and magic and, in this case at least, monsters. It's been interesting to see some of the differences and similarities across the stories; they're all by different authors and with different settings (some more overtly magical than others, some more contemporary than others); this and another one both feature animal herds at crucial moments.

I like the complexity built in here, including that one character is queer. It's a time and place that is not so kind to queerness, but it stays a mostly understated part of the story (acknowledgement of potential for danger, but the focus stays elsewhere), which is nice. If I understand correctly, though, this is a standalone story set in the established world of the author's other books, and though it can comfortably be read without having read those books (I am living proof!), I think I would have enjoyed this more with that deeper history and context. A decent quick read, but one best enjoyed as part of a larger parcel.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.