[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, July 20, 2026
“Burning Hope On Auntie Regina’s Breast” by Chris Kuriata
Reviewed by Philip Hutson
“Burning Hope On Auntie Regina’s Breast” by Chris Kuriata is a short fantasy story of 2580 words. The narrative does not indicate the time frame or location, but seems to be before the internet but after the invention of the TV. The story is told in first person from the point of view of a young girl (probably in her early teens).
This was one of the harder reviews to do, not because of the content or the writing, both were good; it was simply because the story had so much packed into so few words. At first, it felt like it was just a simple vignette of life, but with the second reading more details revealed themselves. In the end, I liked the story and feel it is worth reading.
The story starts with the unnamed protagonist, her mother, and sister having just arrived at a butcher where they are having a goat slaughtered for a meal with Auntie Regina. The protagonist is trying to live the life of a vegetarian in a family of carnivores without much success. We soon discover that the sister is an avid carnivore, and that she relishes blood and gore in other aspects of her life as well, including certain questionable film selections.
The story continues with the meal preparation, and the reader is introduced to Auntie Regina. Auntie is described as demanding, entitled, and vain.
When Auntie arrives, she eats the prepared meal, and they retire to the living room, where the mother gives Auntie a bottle of old, expensive cognac to drink.
The story reveals its fantasy nature at this point. The saying “pin your hopes” is used literally in the story. Auntie invites the sisters to “pin your hopes on my breast.” Their hopes in this case are two offerings (similar to voodoo gris-gris) that the sisters created, each representing their desires (wishes). Rebecca’s wish was created using bird bones, while the protagonist’s wish was carved from a chestnut. They each pin their hopes to Auntie, where they become burnt offerings on her, with the help of purposefully spilled cognac and a match that Auntie produces.
During the lead-up to the offering, it is revealed that the after-dinner cognac was so expensive that the father had to sell his work truck. The reader never finds out if the cognac was a wish by the parents or if the bestowal to the girls was their only aim.
The nature of Auntie Regina is never revealed; we are only given hints. She seems to be a mix of a Romani witch and voodoo priestess.
Auntie Regina is fine afterwards, and she says, while the sisters are attending to her, that: “The aftercare always hurts worse than the burning.” The burnt offerings are obviously a regular occurrence, and is how Auntie Regina grants her blessings.
Philip Hutson’s ramblings and poor attempts at storytelling can be seen at https://tr8t.com