[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, August 19, 2024

“BRIDE / BUTCHER / DOE” by Lowry Poletti

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

“BRIDE/BUTCHER/DOE” by Lowry Poletti takes place in a fantasy world where a serum derived from the bodies of ageless deer can be used to keep people young, and change their bodies in almost limitless ways. The protagonist provides this service for a member of the aristocracy, with whom she has a love/hate relationship. An encounter with a prisoner kept chained in a cave in the forest leads to a violent conclusion.

Despite the fantasy content, the setting for this novelette also contains modern technology, and even some that seems futuristic. The author manages to handle this blend of genres gracefully. The text contains a great deal of vivid imagery, much of it disturbing.

The behavior of both main characters makes them seem mentally ill. One of them admits that she may be insane, but the other is apparently supposed to be a person with whom one can empathize. What she does near the end makes this difficult.

Victoria Silverwolf has to take some cats to the vet tomorrow.