[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, November 4, 2024

“The Butcher’s Heart” by AnaMaria Curtis

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

In “The Butcher’s Heart” by AnaMaria Curtis, a witch purchases the hearts of animals from a butcher’s apprentice. In return, the witch offers the apprentice a favor. The unhappy apprentice wants to give her own heart to the witch, but first she must perform three tasks.

As may be apparent from the above synopsis, this is an allegorical love story with the mood of a somber fairy tale. The witch has no heart of her own until the apprentice offers hers to be devoured; the metaphor is clear. The three tasks are more opaque. The fact that the apprentice must collect the tears of her sister appears to be symbolic, but the meaning escapes me.

Victoria Silverwolf got her car back from the repair shop yesterday.