This story is definitely one of a kind and impressively well-written. Despite its short length, it manages to feel just as complete and impactful as a full-length novel. The post-apocalyptic setting is immersive, the emotions hit hard, and the haunting atmosphere lingers even after finishing. The writing is top-tier, making this an unforgettable read that truly stands out. It’s definitely worth picking up if you're in the mood for a short story that leaves a lasting impression.

Alix E. Harrow, I owe you my life.

I loved this. I want this as a series, I want a whole built world and plot developed further around this. I’ve loved all of Harrow’s books so far and this is no different. There’s something familiar yet strange with all her worlds that no one else ever seems to match. The plot? Amazing. The characters? Love it. This kind of stuff is what good dystopian fiction is made of and I wish more authors took note of it and learned from this. I feel so very charmed and honored to read my current favourite author yet again. It feels surreal and beautiful.

If I had a nickel for every stunning Alix E Harrow short story about a knight I'd have TWO NICKELS. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.

The Knight and the Butcherbird brings post apocalyptic knights, monsters, grief, and somewhat unconventional love stories. Like with her other short fiction, Harrow skillfully balances creating characters, a world and story that are compelling and well developed, without leaving you feeling like this was just a concept for a longer novel.

Thank you to Alix E. Harrow, Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the e-arc in return for an honest review.

I loved this! My only gripe is that it isn’t a fully fleshed out novel. Alix E. Harrow is so incredibly talented - I can’t wait to read the rest of her backlist.

Kinda sorta considered rounding up on this one, actually. Because of the uniqueness of this story. The gentle loops of how Harrow ties references in to previous moments. The sheer heartbreak of the love stories these two characters endure. But as interesting as it was, I'm not sure it gripped me, if that makes sense. So, no, not rounding up.

But.

I am obsessed with Harrow and her love of knights. And I think we have even more knight content to come?

If you're looking for a short story that packs a whole lot of real world and timely discourse in (at least I thought!) pretty subtle ways with a dystopian/societal collapse setting, queer representation, Witcher-adjacent vibes, all undercut with the importance of storytelling and oral history, well. Then you need this on your TBR.

3.5 stars

3.5 stars 🌟

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a haunting story that reads like a dark fairytale. thirty-something pages of lyrical writing and it did not leave anything lacking.

“She came to us as any apocalypse does: slowly at first, and then all at once.”

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a hauntingly beautiful dystopian fairy tale of the lengths you would go to protect your love…including hiding your now demon wife from the one person who could kill them.

Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars.

Did I drop everything to read this becuase I saw it was Alix E Harrow? You bet.
I loved Ten Thousand Doors, Once and Future Witches, and Starling House and her shorter novellas are just as achingly beautiful.
This was a story about love plain and simple, written in her lyrical, whimsical writing. It’s a story about a post apocalyptic world where people keep changing into something unworldly. A knight comes to save them from these demons.
But what the book is really asking is: What wouldn’t we do for the people we love?

Read this one! And then if you haven’t, go back and read Six Deaths of the Saint too.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Amazon Original Stories for the ARC of The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow.

I am a HUGE Alix E. Harrow fan, and she does not disappoint in this short story.

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a layered, dark urban fantasy set in a future dystopian version of America where some live safely ensconced in theocratic gated cities, and the remainder of Americans live out in the wild, subject to the dangers of a world that has been destroyed through the impacts of (presumed) climate change, loss of vaccines/medicine, poisoned/polluted water systems/air, etc. In the wilds, sometimes neighbors begin to turn into demons, vicious changing creatures that endanger all.

Shrike, a 17-year-old old beyond her years, is trying to protect her wife, May, who has turned into a demon. When the city sends a well-known, dangerous knight to eliminate May for the safety of all, Shrike fights back.

On the surface level, this is an entertaining, dark short story about what we will do for love. On a deeper level, Harrow has so much going on - the causes of the dystopia, the rise of theocracy, the historically stubborn survivors of Appalachia still waging the same battle against having their own land poisoned, the ideas behind what is evil and what is survival. I would love to spend more time in this world and more time with its people, but Harrow's small dose still packs a heavy punch that leaves you reflecting on it long after finishing it.

A wondrous magical world built by Harrow in a short span of pages. I absolutely adored the characters and development of the knight and the butcherbird. John and Shrike were both compelling character's. The overall moral of the plot was accepting those who are different, the monsters being deserving of love. This was a love story in the end - a touching one at that ❤️

A beautiful short story about monsters in love. Harrow just has a way with words in such a short span of time, it's a magical feeling to be immersed in a world as this ✨️

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
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I adore Alex’s writing, but this is my first short story of hers. She does such an amazing job creating atmosphere in her books, and this one sucked me right in. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a short but impactful read.

The Knight and the Butcherbird is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a knight arrives in a small town called Iron Hollow after being hired to get rid of a demon problem. The towns storyteller just so happens to be protecting the very thing the knight was hired to destroy.

This was an engaging and haunting short story. The descriptions of the world and characters were easy to follow while still providing intruige. Both of the MCs had their own layers and reasons, but it was easy to see how their choices were parallel in ways. Overall, I would recommend this to any reader who loves short stories and post-apocalyptic settings.

—Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for sending this book for review consideration. All thoughts are my own.—

A perfect short story. There was enough world building to allow you to understand without being bogged down and slowing the pace. The characters were so well realised for how little time we spent with them. Beautifully written as all the authors works are

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a quirky short story. It has apocalyptic elements to appeal to the fantasy readers, but also pulls at your heartstrings with its romance aspect. It tackles the question - what would you do for the one you love? A perfect palate cleanser by one of my favorite authors.

Final rating: 4 Stars

Recommended if you like: fantasy short stories

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a fantastic dystopian fairy tale that follows Shrike, a small-town storyteller, who is determined to keep a knight from killing a local demon - a demon that used to be Shrike's wife.

Wow - I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I don't know how the author managed to fit so much story, worldbuilding and intrigue into such a small amount of pages.

The short story format is really where Alix E. Harrow shines!

‘In this gritty, haunting tale about doing whatever it takes for love, a small-town storyteller resolves to keep the local monster—and her own secrets—safe from a legendary knight.’

This was like a harrowing adult fairytale. The Knight and the Butcherbird is a short story that packs a punch and is downright imaginative from start to finish.

Thank you NetGalley and AOS for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub date: 3.11.2025.

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a post-apocalyptic short story that packs a powerful punch. I felt a strong range of emotions and thoroughly enjoyed this short story. At its heart, the Knight and the Butcherbird is a love story, and I found the ending to be utterly satisfying.

I received an ARC from Amazon Original Stories via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling short story from the new to my auto buy list, author Alix E. Harrow. The Knight and The Butcherbird is a haunting and desolate dystopian fantasy fairytale of survival, resilience and love.

Vivid and bold imagery and descriptions quickly create a world filled with fully realized characters in this well paced, magical tale.

I can’t get enough of Alix E. Harrow’s writing!

Many Thanks to NetGalley, Alix E. Harrow and Amazon Original Series for access to an eARC. All opinions are my own.

Wow, I absolutely loved this. For such a short story, it delivered an incredible emotional punch. The writing was beautiful, and I was completely drawn into its world. I love post-apocalyptic stories, and this one explored themes of change, resistance to change, and resilience so well. It also captured the lengths we go to for love. Honestly, I’d love a longer version set in this world. And the Animorphs reference was great!