I'm so glad I live in the universe where Alix E Harrow is a writer.
The Knight and the Butcherbird is a marvel of post-apocalyptic fiction. Set in Appalachia, it feels both farfetched and yet entirely, painfully plausible. I found myself highlighting every other sentence. Some simply because the prose was beautiful, and others because they hit home in some way. And a few I highlighted because they made me chuckle, just a little, in the midst of such a solemn story.
Though it takes less than an hour to read, I believe this story will stick with readers for a very long time. It's full of such raw emotion, and people just trying to do their best under the circumstances.
I once said Alix E Harrow's works will one day be studied in high school English classes, and I stand by that. The Knight and the Butcherbird left me with the same wonder I felt when I first read stories such as The Yellow Wallpaper or The Lady or the Tiger. It's a work I believe everyone should read, and I know I'm bound to read it over and over.

Thank you to Amazon Originals and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is my second book by Alix E. Harrow, and it just keeps getting better! The writing is absolutely masterful, and I can hardly believe it was only 36 pages. The story, the mystery, and the world-building are so rich and compelling in such a short tale. It's a beautiful tale about monsters, love, sacrifice, and the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

A big thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think writing a good short story is a VERY hard thing to do, probably harder than writing a longer form story, because you have to keep the whole thing so tight. There is no room for excess in a good short story, and characters and world and plot all have to be developed as well. Alix E. Harrow does that marvelously here. It's a post-apocalyptic Appalachian fairytale, and the way Harrow builds this world is incredibly clear. Her description of the knight's armor sets the tone so perfectly and I loved the way the demons were handled. There are some Tam Lin-like aspects here but it's not a direct take or retelling of that story. It also has one of those endings that perfectly fits the story. Extremely satisfying all around, and a wonderful little bite of a story.

5/5

In a post apocalyptic world the people who live in the outlands must contend not only with scarcity and harsh conditions, but also with demons: monsters that anyone can transform into. A legendary knight has come to Iron Hollow to defeat a demon, but Shrike, the town's young storyteller, is set on sabotaging him. After all, the monster is none other than her wife. But Shrike isn't the only one with a secret, the knight has something to hide, something that could change everything.

Alix E. Harrow you have done it again, never stop writing short stories. It's like the more restrictions you give her the better her output. This very short story managed to develop not one but two believable love stories. With small short brushstrokes, she constructed the possibility of a bigger world outside Iron Hollow, enough for a perfect backdrop. The prose is strong and flowy, and the feelings abound. 10/10, no notes.

Excellent short story!! I enjoyed the worldbuilding and how well it was done in such a short space. Overall the story is intriguing and the ending was wonderful. Another excellent piece of writing from Alix Harrow!!

In The Knight and the Butcherbird Alix E. Harrow has created a fantastical dystopian future that feels oppressive but ultimately hopeful.

In this story we follow Shrike, a seventeen-year-old girl who serves in an integral role of her community as their storyteller. She is dealing with the loss of her wife but when a knight enters their village we discover that not everything is as it first seemed.

Shrike's actions and choices mystified me but Harrow managed to make me understand her and to root for both Shrike's and the Knight's happiness.

Some of the details of the world Harrow set the story in was unclear to me, whether it was supposed to be our world's future or a more fantastical alternate world to ours. Ultimately it didn't matter to me because Harrow is wonderful at creating an atmosphere that you can't help but be drawn into.

Todos esperamos ansiosamente la nueva novela de Alix E. Harrow, pero si mientras tanto podemos echarnos al coleto un relato tan deliciosamente retorcido como The Knight and the Butcherbird, la espera se nos hará mucho más corta.


De sobras es conocida la capacidad de la autora para los relatos, pero esta vez me ha sorprendido con una historia que puede considerarse ciencia ficción aunque tenga un entorno que parece fantástico, con caballeros que persiguen demonios en un mundo post apocalíptico. En apenas treinta páginas Harrow es capaz de mostrarnos las cosas que se pueden hacer por amor, alabar la cultura oral y sus enseñanzas y aderezarlo todo con body horror. Y no se nos debe pasar por alto el mensaje que lanza sobre abrazar el cambio y las adversidades para salir reforzados.

La narradora de esta historia reside en uno de los asentamientos de la frontera, en una zona peligrosa donde la muerte es una constante compañera, pero no solo por el acecho de los demonios si no porque la propia naturaleza se vuelve en contra de los humanos. Su labor como Secretaria es ser portadora de los conocimientos que habrán de pasar por generaciones, pero cuando un afamado caballero llega a su hogar para acabar con el demonio que ha aparecido, no todo será tan claro y sencillo como podríamos esperar de un cuento de hadas. Es un libro oscuro y como decía anteriormente, retorcido, pero no por ello menos atractivo y embaucador.

Un relato fascinante que sin duda, está destinado a copar las listas de lo mejor del año.

The Knight and the Butherbird by Alix E. Harrow was absolutely fantastic! I enjoyed every page of this short story. I'm not surprised because Alix E. Harrow is the best at conveying so much with so little. I loved it. I loved the characters and found it to be a very unique story. I cannot wait to continue to read whatever Alix E. Harrow publishes. This was great and I will be recommending it to everyone.

I know when I pick up a book by Alix E Harrow that I’m going to immediately fall in love and this was no exception. Even in her short stories she still entrances me and leaves me wanting more.

I'm not usually one for short stories -- I like longer books, usually, because you have time to sink into the setting, to get to know the characters, and all that. I mostly requested The Knight and the Butcherbird because I absolutely adore Alix E. Harrow's writing. This was fantastic. A nice little bite-sized piece of excellence, just like I suspected it would be.

The Knight and the Butcherbird takes place in what we assume to be an post-apocalyptic Appalachia. There's no real explanations at what caused said apocalypse, but there are hints enough to guess. Cancer and illness is everywhere -- people aren't expected to live past 40. But despite that, this story has an overwhelming feeling of hope.

"Demons" are the primary cause of fear in this little rural town that we're set in. A knight -- an older gentleman with fighting experience -- has come to town to deal with the demon that's plaguing Iron Hollow. The story takes on twist after twist, and gah. For being quite short, this is was just so well done. I would have read a whole length novel set in this world. Five stars.

Wow! I loved this! This is a short story set in our post-apocalyptic world where people turn into demons and knights are sent to kill them. It’s gritty, funny, heartfelt. It’s about love, identity, and what it takes to survive.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an ARC. This comes out March 10th, 2025.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review!

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5 stars - she did it again, and I am left not so speechless seeing as I probably won’t shut up about this for a while

I’m gonna be honest, I barely even looked at the cover and description before picking this up, just kind of blindly trusting the author who wrote my favourite short story of all time. And I’m so glad, because that made every little detail hit so much harder (and funnier). The way I was gasping and laughing and clutching my heart!

The world we get introduced to is intriguing, harsh, heartbreaking and yet also fun. The characters are complicated and loveable. The writing style is perfect for the story that is being told.
This was exactly what I hoped for, and also so much more. I’m going to be thinking (and talking) about this a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am quite new to short stories, though not new to some of Alix E. Harrow’s other works. I think so far, this might be my favourite of hers works that I have read.

This short story reads like a dystopian fairy tale with elements of horror and sci-fi, and I really loved it!

I commend the authors ability to build this world and characters as much as she did. I felt attached and invested to the characters and the world, as well as the story. The ending was particularly beautiful.

The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow is A beautifully written and atmospheric short story that blends elements of fantasy with deep emotional undertones. Harrow’s prose is poetic and expressive, drawing readers into a world filled with rich imagery and haunting themes of fate, loss, and duty. The interplay between the knight and the butcherbird is compelling, with the bird symbolizing death and inevitability in a way that leaves a lingering impact.

The story's themes are heavy, but the plot can feel too abstract at times, leaving certain emotional beats and character motivations underexplored. The symbolism, while powerful, can be a bit heavy handed, and the pacing suffers slightly from this focus on atmosphere over plot.

Ultimately, The Knight and the Butcherbird will resonate deeply with those who appreciate emotional storytelling and themes of pragmatic reflection. It’s a hauntingly beautiful tale, but it doesn’t quite fully land emotionally or narratively for everyone. If you’re looking for a story that’s more plot-driven or action-oriented, this might feel a bit too slow or elusive. Still, for those who love reflective fantasy, it offers a glimpse into a world of mystery and heartache

A dystopian story with a fantasy twist!

This short story had everything I love about the dystopian genre which is a strong main character who is determined to do the right thing for love. The fantasy element of demons was well balanced that I still felt I was reading a dystopian story. My favorite part was learning what the knight Sir John had in common with Shrike Secretary.

I can’t wait to read more from Alix E. Harrow!


Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

At this point, writing a review for an Alix E. Harrow story can be opened with: My God, that was great!!
The talent and skill of this woman never ceases to amaze me. Jn this tale, we follow a young woman, Shrike Secretary, as she relates the events unfolding on herbpost-apocaltptic world. The earth is dead, plants are full of toxins, it's pretty dire... The wold building is nothing short of stunning, especially considering this is "only" a short story.
What's even better is its heart. I don't want to spoil anything, but Harrow had me near tears several times. Just read it.

4.4 stars!

The day that Alix E. Harrow comes out with a short story collection is a day that I endlessly await. This was lovely.

Three hundred years ago the world ended, but today a knight rides into the village of Iron Hollow and Shrike Secretary has been expecting him. Once again Alix E. Harrow has torn my heart out with a short story (Six Deaths of the Saint, this is about you), but this time it's a post-apocalyptic fairytale about transformation and the lengths we go to to protect the ones we love. Yeah I cried. What about it? I'm a sucker for stories about people who really love their wives, even when their wives are rapidly transforming into inhuman eldritch creatures. Also, radiation fantasy? We need to make that more of a thing asap.

Short review for a short story, but wow I am in pieces!

Thank you to Alix E. Harrow and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!

I love Alix Harrow's writing, but I especially adore her short stories. (I go a little bit feral for them). They are vicious and beautiful and gut-wrenching in the best way., and The Knight and the Butcherbird did not disappoint.

This short story took me less than an hour to read and I would reccomend it to anybody who likes an eldrich-flavoured love story with just the tiniest hint of body horror; set in a dystopian world, filled with grief and the lengths people will go to to hold on to the ones that they love.

I'm immediate adding Alix E. Harrow to my must read authors list. This beautiful yet dark tale packs a punch in under 40 pages. With so many themes explored including grief and just how far you would go for the ones you love. That ending...just beautiful. 4.5 stars rounded up

I loved the dark and relentless romance of a woman determined to keep her demon wife safe regardless of the possible consequences. Thank you Alix. E Harrow for another doomed but devoted love story.