[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, March 21, 2022

“What Anger Breaks and Builds” by Devin Miller

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

The three characters in “What Anger Breaks and Builds” by Devin Miller are a witch/midwife, the transgendered child she rescued from intolerant parents, and her lover, who left her husband to live with her. The townsfolk buried the lover alive as punishment for consorting with a witch. (They leave the witch alone because they need her services as a midwife.) The witch uses her rage to create a storm, in order to make use of a fallen tree to enter the underworld and rescue her lover. The journey below also promises to change the child’s body to match her gender identity.

The author writes in a clear, vivid style, and the fantasy world created in this story is a believable and interesting one. From the synopsis above, it is obvious that the plot is intended as an allegory for struggling against homophobia and transphobia. Even readers who share the author’s passion for these issues may find the parable a little too obvious.

Victoria Silverwolf is eagerly awaiting a tax refund.