[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, February 7, 2022

“The Heartless Woman” by Shakirah Bourne

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

The narrator of “The Heartless Woman” by Shakirah Bourne is a mother whose son has accidentally killed another boy while playing a cruel game that involved kicking the loser. She literally cuts her heart out and gives it to the mourning mother of the dead boy.

The fantasy premise is clearly intended as a metaphor for the process of grieving. The loss of her heart eases the pain the narrator feels over her son’s crime, but also makes the world a drab, lifeless place. Receiving the heart allows the mother of the dead boy to share her sorrow, but eventually becomes too heavy a burden for her to bear.

The story is narrated in a local dialect of Barbados, which is used in a very effective manner. Much of the text consists of flashbacks to the narrator’s memories of her son, from infancy to the crime that led to his incarceration. Although emotionally powerful, some readers may find that these sections unnecessarily extend the length of a tale with a fairly simple plot.

Victoria Silverwolf has never been to Barbados.