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The Slantwise Histories: Collected Stories
From the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Everlasting and Starling House comes a new fantastical collection of stories about tricksters and ghosts, magics ordinary and spectacular. Alix E. Harrow spins tales never-told and seen just outside the periphery of reality--in the tradition of Angela Carter, Anne Sexton, and Carmen Maria Machado, these hauntingly resonant and defiant stories leap from the page and dance in and out of a history that never was (but could have been) and into a future startingly like our own.
Before I was a liar I was a historian, which is a kind of storyteller who doesn’t make any money and likes footnotes.
These are stories about the past as it wasn’t quite, but might have been, from ancient battlefields all the way up through roadside attractions off I-70. They’re about the people caught in the mean jaws of history: the women and workers, the soldiers and mothers, everyone shoved into the margins of the world.
But these aren’t singular tragedies―these are the stories of the ones that got away. The ones who defected and dissented, who broke the rules, who ran and tossed a match behind them. SLANTWISE HISTORIES AND OTHER STORIES collects the best known short fiction of Alix. E. Harrow, including the Hugo-award winning "A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies" and for the first time in print, Amazon original titles "The Six Deaths of the Saint" and "The Knight and the Butcherbird". Updated to reflect the author's preferred editions, Slantwise Histories also includes "The Long Way Up", "Roadside Attraction", "Mr. Death", "The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly", "The Sycamore and the Sybil", "Do Not Look Back, My Lion", "The Whisper in the Weld", "Dustbaby", and four all-new short stories.
Before I was a liar I was a historian, which is a kind of storyteller who doesn’t make any money and likes footnotes.
These are stories about the past as it wasn’t quite, but might have been, from ancient battlefields all the way up through roadside attractions off I-70. They’re about the people caught in the mean jaws of history: the women and workers, the soldiers and mothers, everyone shoved into the margins of the world.
But these aren’t singular tragedies―these are the stories of the ones that got away. The ones who defected and dissented, who broke the rules, who ran and tossed a match behind them. SLANTWISE HISTORIES AND OTHER STORIES collects the best known short fiction of Alix. E. Harrow, including the Hugo-award winning "A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies" and for the first time in print, Amazon original titles "The Six Deaths of the Saint" and "The Knight and the Butcherbird". Updated to reflect the author's preferred editions, Slantwise Histories also includes "The Long Way Up", "Roadside Attraction", "Mr. Death", "The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly", "The Sycamore and the Sybil", "Do Not Look Back, My Lion", "The Whisper in the Weld", "Dustbaby", and four all-new short stories.
12 pages, Audiobook
First published October 20, 2026
About the author
Alix E. Harrow
49 books28.6k followersa former academic, adjunct, cashier, blueberry-harvester, and kentuckian, alix e. harrow is now a full-time writer living in virginia with her husband and their semi-feral kids.
she is the hugo award-winning and nyt-bestselling author of THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY (2019), THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES (2020), a duology of fairytale novellas (A SPINDLE SPLINTERED and A MIRROR MENDED), STARLING HOUSE (2023) and various short fiction. her next book, THE EVERLASTING, will be out on october 28th, 2025!
her writing is represented by kate mckean at howard morhaim literary agency.
newsletter: https://buttondown.com/alixeharrow
email: alixeharrow at gmail.com
insta: alix.e.harrow
bsky: @alixeharrow.bsky.social
**I AM NOT ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER, nor will i ever offer to connect you with my "marketing team." this is a scam.
she is the hugo award-winning and nyt-bestselling author of THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY (2019), THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES (2020), a duology of fairytale novellas (A SPINDLE SPLINTERED and A MIRROR MENDED), STARLING HOUSE (2023) and various short fiction. her next book, THE EVERLASTING, will be out on october 28th, 2025!
her writing is represented by kate mckean at howard morhaim literary agency.
newsletter: https://buttondown.com/alixeharrow
email: alixeharrow at gmail.com
insta: alix.e.harrow
bsky: @alixeharrow.bsky.social
**I AM NOT ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER, nor will i ever offer to connect you with my "marketing team." this is a scam.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
October 16, 2026
“Rules last exactly as long as people follow them and not a second longer”
Someone help, my eyeballs are leaking! I’m pretty sure Alix sprinkles fairy dust in her stories. And why has it taken me so long to read one?
I’ve heard many people say her stories are beautiful, and I’ve also heard they can be slow. Which made me draw the conclusion they must be slightly cozy, a label I’m usually hesitant to get excited about. But here I am eating my assumptions. This collection has teeth. It’s heartbreaking and angry and desolate, but also breathes with life and determination. I went through the gamut of emotions while listening to these, usually in tears at some point.
These are all stories of the oppressed and downtrodden, barely managing to survive the unfair circumstances they call daily life. Ranging from fantasy/paranormal to dystopian to contemporary, or a mishmash of the three, this collection feels so profoundly relevant to the struggles of life across time.
One of the shorter stories that starts with the kidnapping and ransom of a child, but is really about the highs and lows of parenthood, had tears streaming down my face in its 10 short minutes. But I don’t want to imply that these stories are all the same or that they all feel hopeless, because hope is infused in some way into each one. These are stories about families, romantic and platonic love, and unexpected second chances. About individuals rebelling against tyranny.
I think about half of these are new, and a few you can find individually on KU. I have two of Alix’s full length books sitting on my Kindle/Audible shelves and this is definitely the push I needed to read them.
One of the elements I loved most is that almost every story has a twist on direction or character stereotypes, with some being obviously retellings of old fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood. Very queer normative, and with many stories portraying women in traditionally patriarchal roles, this collection feels like a celebration of women standing up and defying oppression regardless of the cost.
What else can I say except that I feel both broken and uplifted at the same time?
Jeanette Illidge and Jenn Lee brought each story to life beautifully.
A big thank you to Macmillan Audio, Alix Harrow, and NetGalley for the ALC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre: A collection of short fantasy stories where the marginalized and oppressed rebel against the fate they’ve been dealt. My first Alix Harrow, but definitely not my last. I may be 3 stories in and haven’t escaped at least a few tears yet 🥹
Someone help, my eyeballs are leaking! I’m pretty sure Alix sprinkles fairy dust in her stories. And why has it taken me so long to read one?
I’ve heard many people say her stories are beautiful, and I’ve also heard they can be slow. Which made me draw the conclusion they must be slightly cozy, a label I’m usually hesitant to get excited about. But here I am eating my assumptions. This collection has teeth. It’s heartbreaking and angry and desolate, but also breathes with life and determination. I went through the gamut of emotions while listening to these, usually in tears at some point.
These are all stories of the oppressed and downtrodden, barely managing to survive the unfair circumstances they call daily life. Ranging from fantasy/paranormal to dystopian to contemporary, or a mishmash of the three, this collection feels so profoundly relevant to the struggles of life across time.
One of the shorter stories that starts with the kidnapping and ransom of a child, but is really about the highs and lows of parenthood, had tears streaming down my face in its 10 short minutes. But I don’t want to imply that these stories are all the same or that they all feel hopeless, because hope is infused in some way into each one. These are stories about families, romantic and platonic love, and unexpected second chances. About individuals rebelling against tyranny.
I think about half of these are new, and a few you can find individually on KU. I have two of Alix’s full length books sitting on my Kindle/Audible shelves and this is definitely the push I needed to read them.
One of the elements I loved most is that almost every story has a twist on direction or character stereotypes, with some being obviously retellings of old fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood. Very queer normative, and with many stories portraying women in traditionally patriarchal roles, this collection feels like a celebration of women standing up and defying oppression regardless of the cost.
What else can I say except that I feel both broken and uplifted at the same time?
Jeanette Illidge and Jenn Lee brought each story to life beautifully.
A big thank you to Macmillan Audio, Alix Harrow, and NetGalley for the ALC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre: A collection of short fantasy stories where the marginalized and oppressed rebel against the fate they’ve been dealt. My first Alix Harrow, but definitely not my last. I may be 3 stories in and haven’t escaped at least a few tears yet 🥹
October 20, 2026
Alix E. Harrow writes stories that feel centuries old, yet entirely new in the way they capture character and are woven together by her singular, ethereal, haunting, clever, and deeply emotional prose. Just as you begin to settle into the feeling of a moment, she alters it enough to evoke something deeper and altogether unexpected. The Slantwise Histories is a remarkable collection of stories that reimagines the familiar while challenging our understanding of the world and our place within it.
Harrow draws upon traditional fairy-tale figures and folklore, including werewolves, demons, saints, scholars, reapers, and knights, but transforms their familiar traits and settings into something entirely her own. These tales seem to inhabit worlds that are simultaneously ancient and futuristic, where history, mythology, and imagination exist without conventional boundaries. From a pair of brothers who con their way into debt, only to discover that reality may be closer to fiction than they believed, to a humorous correspondence from the Queen of the Black Realms negotiating the return of a rambunctious child, the collection demonstrates Harrow’s extraordinary range as a storyteller.
If you’re looking for fairy tales in which gender, genre, or even time and space fit neatly into prescribed boxes, you will be disappointed. These stories are more than imaginative; they are transformative. Harrow dismantles familiar stereotypes, challenges entrenched social hierarchies, and reexamines the symbols and conventions that shape our understanding of ourselves and others. In my opinion, the brilliant writers of our time will be remembered not simply for the worlds they create, but for the assumptions they compel us to question. Harrow is precisely that kind of writer.
Her characters travel across oceans, descend into the depths of hell, venture beneath the sea, and traverse unknown centuries. Yet the distance is ultimately inconsequential. As fantastical as these journeys may be, their emotional foundations remain deeply recognizable. From seemingly inexplicable depression to the devastating consequences of repression, Harrow explores experiences that are profoundly human in both the best and worst ways. Beneath the magic and mythology are familiar longings for love, freedom, belonging, and the opportunity to become something more than the world permits.
The audiobook performances by Jeanette Illidge and Jenn Lee are exceptionally well matched to Harrow’s writing. Their command of tone, emphasis, characterization, and accent brings individuality to each story while preserving the collection’s emotional depth. Their performances are so versatile that I was genuinely convinced more than two people were narrating. The shifts between humor, tenderness, dread, and sorrow feel natural, allowing each tale to establish its own atmosphere.
Whether you’ve encountered some of these previously published stories or are discovering them all for the first time, The Slantwise Histories is a collection I would not miss. Harrow has assembled something that feels both timeless and startlingly contemporary, reminding us that the most extraordinary stories often illuminate the most ordinary truths about being human.
Harrow has remarked on the difficulty of publishing short-story collections, but perhaps that’s simply because she hadn’t written them yet.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Harrow draws upon traditional fairy-tale figures and folklore, including werewolves, demons, saints, scholars, reapers, and knights, but transforms their familiar traits and settings into something entirely her own. These tales seem to inhabit worlds that are simultaneously ancient and futuristic, where history, mythology, and imagination exist without conventional boundaries. From a pair of brothers who con their way into debt, only to discover that reality may be closer to fiction than they believed, to a humorous correspondence from the Queen of the Black Realms negotiating the return of a rambunctious child, the collection demonstrates Harrow’s extraordinary range as a storyteller.
If you’re looking for fairy tales in which gender, genre, or even time and space fit neatly into prescribed boxes, you will be disappointed. These stories are more than imaginative; they are transformative. Harrow dismantles familiar stereotypes, challenges entrenched social hierarchies, and reexamines the symbols and conventions that shape our understanding of ourselves and others. In my opinion, the brilliant writers of our time will be remembered not simply for the worlds they create, but for the assumptions they compel us to question. Harrow is precisely that kind of writer.
Her characters travel across oceans, descend into the depths of hell, venture beneath the sea, and traverse unknown centuries. Yet the distance is ultimately inconsequential. As fantastical as these journeys may be, their emotional foundations remain deeply recognizable. From seemingly inexplicable depression to the devastating consequences of repression, Harrow explores experiences that are profoundly human in both the best and worst ways. Beneath the magic and mythology are familiar longings for love, freedom, belonging, and the opportunity to become something more than the world permits.
The audiobook performances by Jeanette Illidge and Jenn Lee are exceptionally well matched to Harrow’s writing. Their command of tone, emphasis, characterization, and accent brings individuality to each story while preserving the collection’s emotional depth. Their performances are so versatile that I was genuinely convinced more than two people were narrating. The shifts between humor, tenderness, dread, and sorrow feel natural, allowing each tale to establish its own atmosphere.
Whether you’ve encountered some of these previously published stories or are discovering them all for the first time, The Slantwise Histories is a collection I would not miss. Harrow has assembled something that feels both timeless and startlingly contemporary, reminding us that the most extraordinary stories often illuminate the most ordinary truths about being human.
Harrow has remarked on the difficulty of publishing short-story collections, but perhaps that’s simply because she hadn’t written them yet.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A collection of 5 new fantastical stories and 2 previously published, told through the voices of those who were overlooked, silenced or denied.
Some of the stories I really enjoyed! I think Mr Death is my favorite one out of all.
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW! Will expand on each story! 🧡
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Alix E. Harrow for the ALC!
Narrator: Jeanette Illidge, Jenn Lee
Duration: 11 hours 52 minutes
Speed: 1.75-2.25x
Publication date: October 20, 2026
Some of the stories I really enjoyed! I think Mr Death is my favorite one out of all.
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW! Will expand on each story! 🧡
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Alix E. Harrow for the ALC!
Narrator: Jeanette Illidge, Jenn Lee
Duration: 11 hours 52 minutes
Speed: 1.75-2.25x
Publication date: October 20, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I began listening to this audiobook before the hurricane hit my area also listening sporadically during clean up and on walks surveying the damage. It was an experience unlike any other. I've read tons of novels and experienced many of these dangerous storms, but this time around felt unique. I enjoy fantasy as a genre, but it is not my favorite. However, I was so grateful for the reprieve that stepping out of my reality and into the worlds featured in this anthology provided. It was a break for my soul and in that became special to me.
What is a legend, except a history told slantwise?
These stories are for anyone who has ever longed for more....
A new place in time.
A new beginning.
A new dream.
Or an old home.
This contains a few previously published works, but they were all new to me. I enjoyed the wide variation in these stories exploring vulnerability, determination, inclusivity, and hope. The atmosphere was permeated with a quiet bravery and grit that felt grounded despite the fantastical elements.
There was a sense of humanity from these characters that I always find shines particularly bright in fantasy.
If you enjoy anthologies keep an eye out for this one. The narrators went above and beyond with their performances the cadence and tone were spot on ensuring that the audio version is fantastic! 🤌🏻
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for inviting me to listen to an ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What is a legend, except a history told slantwise?
These stories are for anyone who has ever longed for more....
A new place in time.
A new beginning.
A new dream.
Or an old home.
This contains a few previously published works, but they were all new to me. I enjoyed the wide variation in these stories exploring vulnerability, determination, inclusivity, and hope. The atmosphere was permeated with a quiet bravery and grit that felt grounded despite the fantastical elements.
There was a sense of humanity from these characters that I always find shines particularly bright in fantasy.
If you enjoy anthologies keep an eye out for this one. The narrators went above and beyond with their performances the cadence and tone were spot on ensuring that the audio version is fantastic! 🤌🏻
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for inviting me to listen to an ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
My favourite collection of short stories this year.
Alix E Harrow is able to change her writing style, tone, and aesthetic to match the story she wants to tell.
From fairytales to dystopian, to resistance and hopelessness, from love to hate.
But what’s a legend, except a history told slantwise?
Some of these stories were five stars, most were strong four stars.
My favourites include:
The Tale of the Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide!
My favourite overall. This has a satisfying plot, interesting characters with strong voices, and a heartbreaking arc.
"Why not men?" Jack asked, stung. "Because men are so often the reason we need teeth in the first place."
Mr. Death
I recently read Grim Tidings by BK Borison, and this reminded me of that. Despite its title, this might be one of the more hopeful ones.
The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly
The tongue in cheek tone reminded me of Lemony Snicket. Funny, sweet, and short told in epistolary form.
Miss Connelly is toddling through the obsidian halls of my palace in the world-below like a misplaced sunbeam, all golden curls and freckles, pestering the troll-guard and chattering with the ravens.
Shout out to two short stories I’ve reviewed separately previously:
The Knight and the Butcherbird - a gritty dystopian tale with a demon and her wife.
"Everyone thinks you get sick because you begin to change, but it’s the opposite: You change because you get sick. Because you have to."
The Six Deaths of the Saint which inspired The Everlasting. Heartbreaking and timey-whimey (gotta get that Doctor Who reference in).
The Final Voyage of The Good Ship Fortune
I, too, had been angry. I, too, had wanted to bully the world into better behavior. But it isn’t the world that changes when you throw yourself against it.
The Long Way Up
A Orpheus and Eurydice retelling. I watched Hadestown last month and I love seeing all the different adaptions.
A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies
This is a love letter to libraries and reading. For all the readers who rely on escapism.
Anyone could see that kid needed to run and keep running until he shed his own skin, until he clawed out of the choking darkness and unfurled his wings, precious and prisming in the light of some other world. His caseworker was one of those people who say the word escapism as if it’s a moral failing, a regrettable hobby, a mental health diagnosis. As if escape is not, in itself, one of the highest orders of magics they’ll ever see in their miserable mortal lives, right up there with true love and prophetic dreams and fireflies blinking in synchrony on a June evening.
My least favourite was Dustbaby which was also the shortest and most unsatisfying.
Overall, I love how Harrow can comment on our society and culture through all her stories. She isn’t heavy-handed, but her stories carry motifs, messages, lessons.
Resistance, reclaiming power, and being brave to go against the grain and repeating themes.
I almost gave this five stars, but there were a few stories near the end that I didn’t find quite as strong.
4.25 stars.🌟
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Alix E Harrow is able to change her writing style, tone, and aesthetic to match the story she wants to tell.
From fairytales to dystopian, to resistance and hopelessness, from love to hate.
But what’s a legend, except a history told slantwise?
Some of these stories were five stars, most were strong four stars.
My favourites include:
The Tale of the Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide!
My favourite overall. This has a satisfying plot, interesting characters with strong voices, and a heartbreaking arc.
"Why not men?" Jack asked, stung. "Because men are so often the reason we need teeth in the first place."
Mr. Death
I recently read Grim Tidings by BK Borison, and this reminded me of that. Despite its title, this might be one of the more hopeful ones.
The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly
The tongue in cheek tone reminded me of Lemony Snicket. Funny, sweet, and short told in epistolary form.
Miss Connelly is toddling through the obsidian halls of my palace in the world-below like a misplaced sunbeam, all golden curls and freckles, pestering the troll-guard and chattering with the ravens.
Shout out to two short stories I’ve reviewed separately previously:
The Knight and the Butcherbird - a gritty dystopian tale with a demon and her wife.
"Everyone thinks you get sick because you begin to change, but it’s the opposite: You change because you get sick. Because you have to."
The Six Deaths of the Saint which inspired The Everlasting. Heartbreaking and timey-whimey (gotta get that Doctor Who reference in).
The Final Voyage of The Good Ship Fortune
I, too, had been angry. I, too, had wanted to bully the world into better behavior. But it isn’t the world that changes when you throw yourself against it.
The Long Way Up
A Orpheus and Eurydice retelling. I watched Hadestown last month and I love seeing all the different adaptions.
A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies
This is a love letter to libraries and reading. For all the readers who rely on escapism.
Anyone could see that kid needed to run and keep running until he shed his own skin, until he clawed out of the choking darkness and unfurled his wings, precious and prisming in the light of some other world. His caseworker was one of those people who say the word escapism as if it’s a moral failing, a regrettable hobby, a mental health diagnosis. As if escape is not, in itself, one of the highest orders of magics they’ll ever see in their miserable mortal lives, right up there with true love and prophetic dreams and fireflies blinking in synchrony on a June evening.
My least favourite was Dustbaby which was also the shortest and most unsatisfying.
Overall, I love how Harrow can comment on our society and culture through all her stories. She isn’t heavy-handed, but her stories carry motifs, messages, lessons.
Resistance, reclaiming power, and being brave to go against the grain and repeating themes.
I almost gave this five stars, but there were a few stories near the end that I didn’t find quite as strong.
4.25 stars.🌟
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Initially I had planned to write tiny little paragraphs for each short story, which is also what I tend to do for collections like these, but admittedly I’ve deleted a few as either I didn’t have much to say or I didn’t enjoy them enough to bother; usually this went hand in hand. I’ll list the ones that I’ve skipped at the end. But overall? Overall I think there’s probably a sixty/forty split between what I would say are winning stories and some non-winning (for me, but maybe you’ll feel differently!) stories.
THE TALE OF TWO BROTHERS, OR, THE FAMOUS FOLKLORIST CONFESSES FRATRICIDE! is the perfect example of why Harrow is so good and also, side note, why I love every single sibling relationship she creates. I don’t know what else to say except I adored every beat of this one. Four stars.
MR. DEATH woof this got me misty eyed a few times. Four stars.
A WHISPER IN THE WELD not a favourite but there’s one element of this (not spoiling) that delighted my mind’s eye as I pictured it. Three stars.
THE KNIGHT AND THE BUTCHERBIRD this one isn’t new to me but I had maybe hoped to love it a little more on a second read. I find it’s a really interestingly set-up concept and love the dialogue around change but I still don’t find I love the story for some reason. Three stars.
THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT is a story that rocked my world, changed my life, when I first read it. And once we knew The Everlasting was coming I didn’t revisit it, before or immediately after, so this is the first time since experiencing what came next and wow. Wow. This still stands on its own and is its own masterpiece. Infinity stars (okay but really five).
THE RANSOM OF MISS CORALINE CONNELLY short and sweet and an utter delight in how things unravelled. Also, having just recently watched (rewatched? it’s fuzzy) Labyrinth this was even more fun to see a similar story, though also totally different, play out. Four stars.
THE LONG WAY UP there was something simple and painful and heart wrenching and very sweet about this premise. Not a straight forward thing to enjoy but certainly leaves you somewhat.. melancholy and thoughtful. Three stars.
Up in Flames (Working Title) this was fun and also sorta romantic? Three stars.
A WITCH’S GUIDE TO ESCAPE: A PRACTICAL COMPENDIUM OF PORTAL FANTASIES woof this got me hard in the feels. A story that is a love letter to librarians. People need books and books need to be read and sometimes we find what we need at the right time; or maybe there’s someone there helping to make the connection, watching over us, caring for us. Magical. Four stars.
ROADSIDE ATTRACTION I love them, yer honour. Also obsessed with this concept. Four stars.
Stories I didn’t include reviews for are : THE FINAL VOYAGE OF THE GOOD SHIP FORTUNATE, DO NOT LOOK BACK, MY LION, DUSTBABY, THE SYCAMORE AND THE SYBIL, and THE LAST ARCHIVE.
I would say this is worth owning just for THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT but because there’s also so many other great stories it’s really just a huge win overall. As always, I am here for anything and everything this author writes.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
-------
we're getting THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT in p r i n t.
THE TALE OF TWO BROTHERS, OR, THE FAMOUS FOLKLORIST CONFESSES FRATRICIDE! is the perfect example of why Harrow is so good and also, side note, why I love every single sibling relationship she creates. I don’t know what else to say except I adored every beat of this one. Four stars.
MR. DEATH woof this got me misty eyed a few times. Four stars.
A WHISPER IN THE WELD not a favourite but there’s one element of this (not spoiling) that delighted my mind’s eye as I pictured it. Three stars.
THE KNIGHT AND THE BUTCHERBIRD this one isn’t new to me but I had maybe hoped to love it a little more on a second read. I find it’s a really interestingly set-up concept and love the dialogue around change but I still don’t find I love the story for some reason. Three stars.
THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT is a story that rocked my world, changed my life, when I first read it. And once we knew The Everlasting was coming I didn’t revisit it, before or immediately after, so this is the first time since experiencing what came next and wow. Wow. This still stands on its own and is its own masterpiece. Infinity stars (okay but really five).
THE RANSOM OF MISS CORALINE CONNELLY short and sweet and an utter delight in how things unravelled. Also, having just recently watched (rewatched? it’s fuzzy) Labyrinth this was even more fun to see a similar story, though also totally different, play out. Four stars.
THE LONG WAY UP there was something simple and painful and heart wrenching and very sweet about this premise. Not a straight forward thing to enjoy but certainly leaves you somewhat.. melancholy and thoughtful. Three stars.
Up in Flames (Working Title) this was fun and also sorta romantic? Three stars.
A WITCH’S GUIDE TO ESCAPE: A PRACTICAL COMPENDIUM OF PORTAL FANTASIES woof this got me hard in the feels. A story that is a love letter to librarians. People need books and books need to be read and sometimes we find what we need at the right time; or maybe there’s someone there helping to make the connection, watching over us, caring for us. Magical. Four stars.
ROADSIDE ATTRACTION I love them, yer honour. Also obsessed with this concept. Four stars.
Stories I didn’t include reviews for are : THE FINAL VOYAGE OF THE GOOD SHIP FORTUNATE, DO NOT LOOK BACK, MY LION, DUSTBABY, THE SYCAMORE AND THE SYBIL, and THE LAST ARCHIVE.
I would say this is worth owning just for THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT but because there’s also so many other great stories it’s really just a huge win overall. As always, I am here for anything and everything this author writes.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
-------
we're getting THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT in p r i n t.
October 3, 2026
Let me state for the record, I don’t do short story collections. They’ve never been my thing. Most of the time I’m bored to death. However, I have a deep love of Alix E Harrow’s writing so I gave this a shot. I have never been so mesmerized by an anthology before and I don’t think I ever will be again. Each story is quintessentially Alix E Harrow and simultaneously feel made of the same stuff while being entirely their own. It’s genuinely some of the most impressive short stories I’ve ever read and most if not all of them will stick with me. Cannot recommend it more.
*thank you to the publisher for providing an early copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review
*thank you to the publisher for providing an early copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Such a fun perfect book for Halloween season!
My favorites stories were
The Six Deaths of the Saint
Mr. Death
A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies
The Tale of the Two Brothers
My favorites stories were
The Six Deaths of the Saint
Mr. Death
A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies
The Tale of the Two Brothers
Read
October 16, 2026Alix E. Harrow's writing matures like fine wine, and I loved this fantasy short story collection. The sheer breadth of creativity in each one is amazing! These all came from the same mind?
Some of these stories mae me incredibly heartbroken, and others incredibly hopeful. They were fierce, queer, filled with characters defying the odds and opression, or striving to find themselves. And mostly, characters loving each other beyond death and more.
My favourites were:
The Tale of Two Brothers
Mr. Death
The Long Way Up
A Witch's Guide to Practical Escape
Some of these stories mae me incredibly heartbroken, and others incredibly hopeful. They were fierce, queer, filled with characters defying the odds and opression, or striving to find themselves. And mostly, characters loving each other beyond death and more.
My favourites were:
The Tale of Two Brothers
Mr. Death
The Long Way Up
A Witch's Guide to Practical Escape
October 7, 2026
I don’t know how Alix does it every time. Makes each new book my favorite of the year. But here we are again. Many of these stories I’d already read as a long time follower, but some of them are new to me. I think I’ll be haunted by them for a long time. And aren’t the best fairy tales always that way?
Want to Read
December 24, 2025Looking forward to reading these stories, and especially excited to finally have
The Six Deaths of the Saint
in print!
October 31, 2026
I LOVE the way Alix E. Harrow writes. Full stop. There's something so genuine and deeply human about her storytelling that I struggle to even put into words. Whether her characters exist in a fantastical world or one that resembles our own, she just captures the human experience with an authenticity that gets me every time.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was how many of these stories had dystopian undertones, which felt a little different from the historical fiction and fairytale-inspired fantasy I typically associate with Harrow's writing. Although, now that I think about it, maybe they're a conglomeration of all three? Whatever it was, it WORKED.
And the range of emotions these stories put me through! Mr. Death had me in awe with its ending, The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly had me laughing out loud, and I cried my way through the end of The Long Way Up. I also loved how many queer main characters were featured throughout this collection, something I've come to appreciate and expect from Harrow's work.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jeanette Illidge and Jenn Lee, and they were both fantastic. The sheer range they demonstrated in bringing so many different stories and characters to life is impressive. You could have told me there was a whole cast of narrators, one for each story, and I would have believed you.
I already knew I loved Alix E. Harrow's work, but this collection reminded me just how talented she is at making you feel so much in relatively few pages and I so highly recommend.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review The Slantwise Histories as an advance listening copy.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was how many of these stories had dystopian undertones, which felt a little different from the historical fiction and fairytale-inspired fantasy I typically associate with Harrow's writing. Although, now that I think about it, maybe they're a conglomeration of all three? Whatever it was, it WORKED.
And the range of emotions these stories put me through! Mr. Death had me in awe with its ending, The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly had me laughing out loud, and I cried my way through the end of The Long Way Up. I also loved how many queer main characters were featured throughout this collection, something I've come to appreciate and expect from Harrow's work.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jeanette Illidge and Jenn Lee, and they were both fantastic. The sheer range they demonstrated in bringing so many different stories and characters to life is impressive. You could have told me there was a whole cast of narrators, one for each story, and I would have believed you.
I already knew I loved Alix E. Harrow's work, but this collection reminded me just how talented she is at making you feel so much in relatively few pages and I so highly recommend.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review The Slantwise Histories as an advance listening copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There was nothing new in this anthology of Alix E. Harrow’s short fiction, as far as I can tell, but a lot of it was new to me and all of it was delightful. Not to get click-baity, but I would certainly call this a must-read for fans of Harrow (which everyone should be. It’s an objective fact.)
The themes are exactly what I would have expected from Harrow. Feminism. Rural poverty, especially of the Appalachian coal country kind. The power of stories. Witches causing problems.
There were two stories that I want to highlight as favorites.
“The Six Deaths of the Saint” was published in 2022, and was later expanded into *The Everlasting* (one of the best fantasy books in recent years, and which won Alix her second Hugo). “Expanded” isn’t the right word - “developed” maybe? It’s a similar premise. It felt like an early draft of the ideas, and I ate it up.
"A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies” was published in 2018, and won Alix the first of her two Hugo awards. It’s about a witch librarian (all the good librarians are witches) guiding a struggling young man to the books that might best help him (which does not include anything from the self-help section). I can see why this won a Hugo; not only is it an excellent story, but it’s also one that ticks a lot of boxes for the reading-lovers that make up the WorldCon crowd.
My blog.
The themes are exactly what I would have expected from Harrow. Feminism. Rural poverty, especially of the Appalachian coal country kind. The power of stories. Witches causing problems.
There were two stories that I want to highlight as favorites.
“The Six Deaths of the Saint” was published in 2022, and was later expanded into *The Everlasting* (one of the best fantasy books in recent years, and which won Alix her second Hugo). “Expanded” isn’t the right word - “developed” maybe? It’s a similar premise. It felt like an early draft of the ideas, and I ate it up.
"A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies” was published in 2018, and won Alix the first of her two Hugo awards. It’s about a witch librarian (all the good librarians are witches) guiding a struggling young man to the books that might best help him (which does not include anything from the self-help section). I can see why this won a Hugo; not only is it an excellent story, but it’s also one that ticks a lot of boxes for the reading-lovers that make up the WorldCon crowd.
My blog.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A very solid short story collection! The Slantwise Histories collects the short stories of Alix E. Harrow, along with a few new ones. Many of them offer a different lens through which to see history, be it magical or just a matter of perspective or things happening a little differently. A fair number of them center queer characters and many of them are about people trying to find their way to happiness or love in life, despite serious and often tragic obstacles. They are about women fighting for space and voice, and so much more. Definitely worth a read if you've enjoyed Harrow's work. The audio narration is very good as well. I received a copy of the book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
October 20, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC! Alix E. Harrow can do no wrong — 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is a collection of short stories & each are simply beautiful. I have my favorites, but there’s not a dud in the bunch.
I cannot wait to read whatever comes out of Harrow’s brain from here on out.
This is a collection of short stories & each are simply beautiful. I have my favorites, but there’s not a dud in the bunch.
I cannot wait to read whatever comes out of Harrow’s brain from here on out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
alix e. harrow can't do no wrong in my eyes, it doesn't matter the length of her novels she is capable of encapsulating so much even in such short stories. you'll definitely find her at her usual best in this one, i'm usually not the biggest fan of collections because you get that one good story and ten barely enjoyable ones, but i've gotta say this one is strong even when they're not favorites, her writing is absolutely outstanding every time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I first fell in love with Alix E. Harrow after Ten Thousand and have since found a little trouble with her other books. She is incredibly well received and absolutely should be as I think it may be a “right book, right time situation.” With that being said, this is the first I’ve read in full by her in years and my god…. I’m excited I have others to revisit now because I have been revitalized.
In collections of short stories I tend to break down star ratings and little reviews for each but as this is one collection by a singular authour and given my individual ratings, it feels unnecessary. There was one singular story in this collection that didn’t absolutely move me, that’s it, ONE. The rest broke me into little pieces and then put those pieces back together again.
The overall theme of this collection tends to be strikingly similar to what Harrow tends to write about so if you’re coming from her others, you will love this. We focus on grief, love, queerness, otherness, breaking boundaries and guidelines that society has set for us. There are mythological stories, fantasy, historical fiction and just about everything you’d expect from Harrow.
It’s interesting she starts and ends with footnotes on how it’s so hard to get short stories published. She’s not wrong. Publishers, editors, marketing are all anathema to the form of short stories but she just blew away all of that noise with this collection. It is truly a spectacle to witness and one of the best I’ve ever had the privilege of reading.
In collections of short stories I tend to break down star ratings and little reviews for each but as this is one collection by a singular authour and given my individual ratings, it feels unnecessary. There was one singular story in this collection that didn’t absolutely move me, that’s it, ONE. The rest broke me into little pieces and then put those pieces back together again.
The overall theme of this collection tends to be strikingly similar to what Harrow tends to write about so if you’re coming from her others, you will love this. We focus on grief, love, queerness, otherness, breaking boundaries and guidelines that society has set for us. There are mythological stories, fantasy, historical fiction and just about everything you’d expect from Harrow.
It’s interesting she starts and ends with footnotes on how it’s so hard to get short stories published. She’s not wrong. Publishers, editors, marketing are all anathema to the form of short stories but she just blew away all of that noise with this collection. It is truly a spectacle to witness and one of the best I’ve ever had the privilege of reading.
October 22, 2026
Alix E. Harrow I am obsessed with your mind. How does it feel to be so creative? I am truly blown away by how unique every story was and how emotional I could feel in a matter of pages. I really liked or loved every single story with them ranging from 3.75 - 5 stars (I rated each one individually for myself).
My absolute favorites were:
- The Tale of Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide!
- Mr. Death (I sobbed)
- The Six Deaths of the Saint
- The Ransom of Coraline Connelly
- Up in Flames (Working Title)
- A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies
I would absolutely love to see a full length novel inspired by A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies. This one in particular blew me away.
Thank you Tor for thr ARC of The Slantwise Histories!
My absolute favorites were:
- The Tale of Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide!
- Mr. Death (I sobbed)
- The Six Deaths of the Saint
- The Ransom of Coraline Connelly
- Up in Flames (Working Title)
- A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies
I would absolutely love to see a full length novel inspired by A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies. This one in particular blew me away.
Thank you Tor for thr ARC of The Slantwise Histories!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Alix E. Harrow has the map to my soul.
Short story collections are rarely five-star reads for me. Even the ones I love usually have a few stories that don’t quite hit. But Alix E. Harrow has once again spun some kind of magic and written one of the most beautiful, cohesive, devastating, and lovely collections I have ever read.
There is something about Harrow’s prose and storytelling that I genuinely struggle to put into words. She lulls me into this little reading trance where I become completely immersed in whatever story she is telling. I don’t want to pick up my phone. I don’t care what time it is. I just want to wriggle deeper into her words and stay there.
And these stories have SO MUCH to say.
Throughout The Slantwise Histories, Harrow explores censorship, death and grief, greed, power, the patriarchy, and the ways political systems shape individual lives. But none of it ever feels like commentary pasted on top of a story. These ideas live inside the characters and the worlds she creates. Despite moving between different places, people, and kinds of magic, the collection feels remarkably cohesive, like every story is speaking to the others from a slightly different angle.
Several of these stories have been published previously, including The Knight and the Butcherbird and The Six Deaths of the Saint, both of which were five stars for me the first time around and, unsurprisingly, remain five stars. I loved getting to revisit them here alongside stories that were completely new to me.
My favorites:
Mr. Death — A look at grief through the eyes of a very nice reaper. Tender, strange, and quietly devastating.
The Sycamore and the Sybil — An absolutely perfect story about women surviving by seeking out one another. This one burrowed directly into my heart.
A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies — A story about the importance of books and libraries, but even more importantly, about recognizing when a child needs a safe harbor and giving them one. Obviously this destroyed me.
The Knight and the Butcherbird and The Six Deaths of the Saint — Both still five stars. Both still incredible. I’ve written about them before, and revisiting them only reinforced how much I love them.
I could probably write something about every story in this collection, but ultimately it comes down to this: Alix E. Harrow writes the kind of stories that remind me why I love reading. Her work can be furious and political and devastating, but there is always this current of tenderness running underneath it. Again and again, she writes about people finding some small piece of hope, love, or freedom in worlds determined to deny it to them.
Five stars. No notes. Alix can continue writing directly onto my soul forever.
Thank you so much to Tordotcom and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies. The audiobook narration is absolutely perfect and only made it easier to disappear completely into these stories.
Here are some of my favorite quotes
“At six, I’d thought love was a full belly; at sixteen, I’d thought it was wildflowers and gooseberries and Mayapple’s mouth on mine. At seventeen, I knew better: Love is whatever you’re willing to kill for”
“It wasn’t fair that we were always the ones who had to lose, to change, to become-something-else. To give ourselves up. It wasn’t fair that all we had in our defense were these few, desperate magics that hurt no one but ourselves”
“Sometimes when I sink down into the deep-down sleep of trees I can almost remember the wild times in the land-before, when we painted ourselves in madder and clay and danced around solstice bonfires, when every witch had a familiar loping or slinking or winging beside her, when we flew through the night on strips of alder and ironwood. I remember when our magics turned outward rather than inward and the wolves stayed in the shadows, fearful of our flames and the words bright and sharp as knives on our tongues”
“They came for us, and then there were no more midnight bonfires. Burning was for books, then, and for witches.”
“They’ve taken our cemeteries and libraries, our newspapers and documentaries and baby pictures. They’ve taken our histories. But they haven’t taken our stories. Listen: When they burn the books and drown the land—when even our gravestones are cracked, dug up, washed away—when they have won—then all we have left is what we remember, and what we whisper to one another.”
Short story collections are rarely five-star reads for me. Even the ones I love usually have a few stories that don’t quite hit. But Alix E. Harrow has once again spun some kind of magic and written one of the most beautiful, cohesive, devastating, and lovely collections I have ever read.
There is something about Harrow’s prose and storytelling that I genuinely struggle to put into words. She lulls me into this little reading trance where I become completely immersed in whatever story she is telling. I don’t want to pick up my phone. I don’t care what time it is. I just want to wriggle deeper into her words and stay there.
And these stories have SO MUCH to say.
Throughout The Slantwise Histories, Harrow explores censorship, death and grief, greed, power, the patriarchy, and the ways political systems shape individual lives. But none of it ever feels like commentary pasted on top of a story. These ideas live inside the characters and the worlds she creates. Despite moving between different places, people, and kinds of magic, the collection feels remarkably cohesive, like every story is speaking to the others from a slightly different angle.
Several of these stories have been published previously, including The Knight and the Butcherbird and The Six Deaths of the Saint, both of which were five stars for me the first time around and, unsurprisingly, remain five stars. I loved getting to revisit them here alongside stories that were completely new to me.
My favorites:
Mr. Death — A look at grief through the eyes of a very nice reaper. Tender, strange, and quietly devastating.
The Sycamore and the Sybil — An absolutely perfect story about women surviving by seeking out one another. This one burrowed directly into my heart.
A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies — A story about the importance of books and libraries, but even more importantly, about recognizing when a child needs a safe harbor and giving them one. Obviously this destroyed me.
The Knight and the Butcherbird and The Six Deaths of the Saint — Both still five stars. Both still incredible. I’ve written about them before, and revisiting them only reinforced how much I love them.
I could probably write something about every story in this collection, but ultimately it comes down to this: Alix E. Harrow writes the kind of stories that remind me why I love reading. Her work can be furious and political and devastating, but there is always this current of tenderness running underneath it. Again and again, she writes about people finding some small piece of hope, love, or freedom in worlds determined to deny it to them.
Five stars. No notes. Alix can continue writing directly onto my soul forever.
Thank you so much to Tordotcom and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies. The audiobook narration is absolutely perfect and only made it easier to disappear completely into these stories.
Here are some of my favorite quotes
“At six, I’d thought love was a full belly; at sixteen, I’d thought it was wildflowers and gooseberries and Mayapple’s mouth on mine. At seventeen, I knew better: Love is whatever you’re willing to kill for”
“It wasn’t fair that we were always the ones who had to lose, to change, to become-something-else. To give ourselves up. It wasn’t fair that all we had in our defense were these few, desperate magics that hurt no one but ourselves”
“Sometimes when I sink down into the deep-down sleep of trees I can almost remember the wild times in the land-before, when we painted ourselves in madder and clay and danced around solstice bonfires, when every witch had a familiar loping or slinking or winging beside her, when we flew through the night on strips of alder and ironwood. I remember when our magics turned outward rather than inward and the wolves stayed in the shadows, fearful of our flames and the words bright and sharp as knives on our tongues”
“They came for us, and then there were no more midnight bonfires. Burning was for books, then, and for witches.”
“They’ve taken our cemeteries and libraries, our newspapers and documentaries and baby pictures. They’ve taken our histories. But they haven’t taken our stories. Listen: When they burn the books and drown the land—when even our gravestones are cracked, dug up, washed away—when they have won—then all we have left is what we remember, and what we whisper to one another.”
October 24, 2026
I often enjoy short story collections but rarely do they move me to the point of tears like The Slantwise Histories did. Every single one of these stories is individually a 4 or 5 star read. If you've read The Six Deaths of The Saint (included in this collection but floating around the internet for years) then that won't surprise you.
Particular favourites included Mr Death, The Ransom of Coraline Connelly, Up in Flames and A Witches Guide to Escape - all of which were tender and magical and deeply human. If I was to pick a gripe, I'd say that the "weaker" stories were at the beginning and end with the stronger ones in the middle... but that's still a reach.
The narrator did an excellent job with the different accents and tones of the characters and stories. Would highly recommend both the audiobook and the physical text. Congratulations to The Slantwise Histories for being the first book I've ever given a full 5 star rating to.
Particular favourites included Mr Death, The Ransom of Coraline Connelly, Up in Flames and A Witches Guide to Escape - all of which were tender and magical and deeply human. If I was to pick a gripe, I'd say that the "weaker" stories were at the beginning and end with the stronger ones in the middle... but that's still a reach.
The narrator did an excellent job with the different accents and tones of the characters and stories. Would highly recommend both the audiobook and the physical text. Congratulations to The Slantwise Histories for being the first book I've ever given a full 5 star rating to.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars! Alix E Harrow’s writing is truly magnificent. She knows how to write the human experience and conveys emotion so beautifully. This collection of 15 moving short stories was a perfect listen and a few of them brought me to tears.
The standout stories to me were:
The Tale of the Two Brothers
Mr. Death
The Six Deaths of the Saint
The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly
The Long Way Up
Highly recommend!
The standout stories to me were:
The Tale of the Two Brothers
Mr. Death
The Six Deaths of the Saint
The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly
The Long Way Up
Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
September 28, 2026"What's a legend but a history told slantwise?"
Alix E Harrow cements herself as one of the greatest writers of our generation through these short stories. To make readers feel something in only a few pages is a talent not many have. Not every story landed for me, but more often than not, they did.
The themes explored throughout this collection of short stories include love (especially queer love), sacrifice, ego, and so many other deep and complex topics. They're explored in such a creative way that I'm struggling to find the words to express how magnificent of a storyteller this author is.
Do yourself a favor and pick this up! Oh, and consider the audiobook. Narrators smashed it!
Alix E Harrow cements herself as one of the greatest writers of our generation through these short stories. To make readers feel something in only a few pages is a talent not many have. Not every story landed for me, but more often than not, they did.
The themes explored throughout this collection of short stories include love (especially queer love), sacrifice, ego, and so many other deep and complex topics. They're explored in such a creative way that I'm struggling to find the words to express how magnificent of a storyteller this author is.
Do yourself a favor and pick this up! Oh, and consider the audiobook. Narrators smashed it!
October 21, 2026
4 stars. Lyrical, enchanting, and filled with the exact kind of salt-of-the-earth fairy tales Alix E. Harrow is known for, The Slantwise Histories: Collected Stories is a gorgeous compendium of stories that demonstrates what this author does best.
Want to Read
December 24, 2025"Six Deaths of the Saint" in print? SAY LESS.
October 24, 2026
I’m for this trend where our favorite authors embrace short stories.
If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have grumbled about short stories because I wanted more! But now I see them for the special nerdy delights that they bring to us fans.
And while many of of my favorite authors play off of 1st drafts, cut scenes, beloved characters and/or magic world building adjacent stories- Alix E. Harrow decides to give us a charcuterie board of creativity with surprising depth. She does play off The Everlasting in one story- but the others felt like things that she’s been happily brewing in the back of her mind.
I was nodding along, appreciating these creepy/cool nuggets and then I was unexpectedly weeping in “The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly”. It was an emotional sucker punch I wasn’t expecting. I was laughing one minute but crying the next.
Oh, there’s a solid reason Alix E. Harrow is an autobuy author for me.
Slantwise Histories is out now. TY Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. These are stories I think will still in my long term memory.
If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have grumbled about short stories because I wanted more! But now I see them for the special nerdy delights that they bring to us fans.
And while many of of my favorite authors play off of 1st drafts, cut scenes, beloved characters and/or magic world building adjacent stories- Alix E. Harrow decides to give us a charcuterie board of creativity with surprising depth. She does play off The Everlasting in one story- but the others felt like things that she’s been happily brewing in the back of her mind.
I was nodding along, appreciating these creepy/cool nuggets and then I was unexpectedly weeping in “The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly”. It was an emotional sucker punch I wasn’t expecting. I was laughing one minute but crying the next.
Oh, there’s a solid reason Alix E. Harrow is an autobuy author for me.
Slantwise Histories is out now. TY Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. These are stories I think will still in my long term memory.
October 20, 2026
“What is a legend, but a history told slantwise?”
Alix E. Harrow is truly a master at their craft. Her stories are imaginative, lyrical, and impactful. Each story in this collection brought something different yet each story flowed perfectly into the next one. My favorites and 5⭐️ reads of the collection were The Six Deaths of the Saint (will forever be a favorite no matter how many times I read), Mr. Death (made me cry and hit hard), The Knight and the Butcherbird, and A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies. All of the narrators do a fantastic job telling each story and definitely recommend the audiobook for this collection!
Thankful to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my review!
Alix E. Harrow is truly a master at their craft. Her stories are imaginative, lyrical, and impactful. Each story in this collection brought something different yet each story flowed perfectly into the next one. My favorites and 5⭐️ reads of the collection were The Six Deaths of the Saint (will forever be a favorite no matter how many times I read), Mr. Death (made me cry and hit hard), The Knight and the Butcherbird, and A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies. All of the narrators do a fantastic job telling each story and definitely recommend the audiobook for this collection!
Thankful to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think this book solidified Alix E Harrow as one of my favorite authors of all time. She is unique in her writing. Beautiful lyricism, powerfully punchy stories. She adapts her voice to suit the narrative. I am in awe. There are so many standouts in this collection: Mr Death, Up in Flames, The Ransom of Coraline Connelly, Six Deaths of the Saint, to name a few.
Just wow.
Just wow.
September 4, 2026
Updated October 20, 2026: Happy publication day!
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This is weird and parasocial to say, but every time I read something by Alix E. Harrow, I think man, we’d be such good friends.
With every allusion, I feel like we’re just on the same wavelength, and we could talk about Greek mythology or the magic of libraries or the philosophy of portal fiction all day.
I’d already read “The Knight and the Butcherbird”, “The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly”, and “The Six Deaths of the Saint”, and I was thrilled to get my hands on this collection. And the great news, if you love “The Six Deaths of the Saint”, you can see the story fully fleshed out in novel The Everlasting which is came out in the last year.
I loved them all but thought something was particularly special about “Do Not Look Back, My Lion” and “The Sycamore and the Sybil”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor!
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This is weird and parasocial to say, but every time I read something by Alix E. Harrow, I think man, we’d be such good friends.
With every allusion, I feel like we’re just on the same wavelength, and we could talk about Greek mythology or the magic of libraries or the philosophy of portal fiction all day.
I’d already read “The Knight and the Butcherbird”, “The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly”, and “The Six Deaths of the Saint”, and I was thrilled to get my hands on this collection. And the great news, if you love “The Six Deaths of the Saint”, you can see the story fully fleshed out in novel The Everlasting which is came out in the last year.
I loved them all but thought something was particularly special about “Do Not Look Back, My Lion” and “The Sycamore and the Sybil”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor!
September 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan/Tor UK for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5⭐️
Alix E. Harrow is such a talented writer, and this collection really showcased the incredible quality and range of her writing. This is the strongest short story collection I've ever read, and by far the highest rated. With her signature vivid and lush prose, this collection explored stories of such poignant emotions, with a particular focus on moving and nuanced explorations of grief and the love that persists in the face of it. There was also theming, with relevant and beautifully woven political commentary, critiquing themes such as empire, industry, corporations, censorship, environmental destruction, and patriarchy, but above all, the power of stories and histories and the hands and voices that shape them. This collection of stories worked so very well together, both thematically and emotionally.
Below I will give individual ratings and some brief thoughts for each short story! Just to note though, that I had previously already read 'The Knight and the Butcherbird' and 'The Six Deaths of the Saint', so I have only included their ratings here (both 5⭐️) and you can find my individual reviews for them elsewhere on my social media/Goodreads/Storygraph!
The Tale of the Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide -> 4.5⭐️
- a fun twist on the classic fairytale structure and history, playing with truth and lies, and the corruption of greed
Mr. Death -> 5⭐️
- a really moving exploration of grief and life and the value of love even after death
A Whisper in the Weld -> 4.25⭐️
- another beautiful exploration of life and death and the fierceness of a mother's everlasting love
The Knight and the Butcherbird -> 5⭐️
- see individual review!
The Six Deaths of the Saint -> 5⭐️
- see individual review!
The Final Voyage of the Good Ship Fortune -> 4⭐️
- not as stand out as some of the other stories, but still a fun structure, playing with an unreliable narrator, and fun characterisation
Do Not Look Back, My Lion -> 5⭐️
- an absolutely stunning and emotional short story, with intriguing and vast worldbuilding, excellent characterisation, and an exploration of the violence of empire. This absolutely works as a perfect short story, but I would love to see this world again in longer form!
The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly -> 4.5⭐️
- a really fun format and excellent humour, but I wished this had been longer!
The Long Way Up -> 3.75⭐️
- I was enjoying this, a wonderfully devastating Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, with a nuanced exploration of grief, but then it ended a bit suddenly when I thought there was more story left to tell
Up In Flames (Working Title) -> 4.5⭐️
- I really enjoyed this and the discussions of censorship and the political power of writing from queer and diverse voices! I also really enjoyed the structure, and I probably would have rated this higher if the formatting of my E-ARC didn't so badly mess up the story's structure (which was vital to the piece)
A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies -> 5⭐️
- a stunning, moving, and deeply relevant story of the importance of libraries and the vital power of reading and escapism
Dustbaby -> 3.75⭐️
- there was nothing particularly wrong with this one, I just didn't connect with it like I did the others, but interesting commentary on agriculture and the environment
The Sycamore and the Sybil -> 5⭐️
- fans of The Once and Future Witches will love this! A beautiful story of the power of women and female solidarity, and the desperate things we must do to survive.
Roadside Attraction -> 4.5⭐️
- a bit predictable, but not in a bad way, with a very sweet romance of two people finding a home in each other, and a bonus side of time travel!
The Last Archive -> 4.25⭐️
- a poignant story of censorship and the power of stories and archives as resistance
4.5⭐️
Alix E. Harrow is such a talented writer, and this collection really showcased the incredible quality and range of her writing. This is the strongest short story collection I've ever read, and by far the highest rated. With her signature vivid and lush prose, this collection explored stories of such poignant emotions, with a particular focus on moving and nuanced explorations of grief and the love that persists in the face of it. There was also theming, with relevant and beautifully woven political commentary, critiquing themes such as empire, industry, corporations, censorship, environmental destruction, and patriarchy, but above all, the power of stories and histories and the hands and voices that shape them. This collection of stories worked so very well together, both thematically and emotionally.
Below I will give individual ratings and some brief thoughts for each short story! Just to note though, that I had previously already read 'The Knight and the Butcherbird' and 'The Six Deaths of the Saint', so I have only included their ratings here (both 5⭐️) and you can find my individual reviews for them elsewhere on my social media/Goodreads/Storygraph!
The Tale of the Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide -> 4.5⭐️
- a fun twist on the classic fairytale structure and history, playing with truth and lies, and the corruption of greed
Mr. Death -> 5⭐️
- a really moving exploration of grief and life and the value of love even after death
A Whisper in the Weld -> 4.25⭐️
- another beautiful exploration of life and death and the fierceness of a mother's everlasting love
The Knight and the Butcherbird -> 5⭐️
- see individual review!
The Six Deaths of the Saint -> 5⭐️
- see individual review!
The Final Voyage of the Good Ship Fortune -> 4⭐️
- not as stand out as some of the other stories, but still a fun structure, playing with an unreliable narrator, and fun characterisation
Do Not Look Back, My Lion -> 5⭐️
- an absolutely stunning and emotional short story, with intriguing and vast worldbuilding, excellent characterisation, and an exploration of the violence of empire. This absolutely works as a perfect short story, but I would love to see this world again in longer form!
The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly -> 4.5⭐️
- a really fun format and excellent humour, but I wished this had been longer!
The Long Way Up -> 3.75⭐️
- I was enjoying this, a wonderfully devastating Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, with a nuanced exploration of grief, but then it ended a bit suddenly when I thought there was more story left to tell
Up In Flames (Working Title) -> 4.5⭐️
- I really enjoyed this and the discussions of censorship and the political power of writing from queer and diverse voices! I also really enjoyed the structure, and I probably would have rated this higher if the formatting of my E-ARC didn't so badly mess up the story's structure (which was vital to the piece)
A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies -> 5⭐️
- a stunning, moving, and deeply relevant story of the importance of libraries and the vital power of reading and escapism
Dustbaby -> 3.75⭐️
- there was nothing particularly wrong with this one, I just didn't connect with it like I did the others, but interesting commentary on agriculture and the environment
The Sycamore and the Sybil -> 5⭐️
- fans of The Once and Future Witches will love this! A beautiful story of the power of women and female solidarity, and the desperate things we must do to survive.
Roadside Attraction -> 4.5⭐️
- a bit predictable, but not in a bad way, with a very sweet romance of two people finding a home in each other, and a bonus side of time travel!
The Last Archive -> 4.25⭐️
- a poignant story of censorship and the power of stories and archives as resistance
October 23, 2026
I've read every book Alix E. Harrow has written, and every single one has been a five-star read for me. Her stories are always so rich and atmospheric, her prose is gorgeous, and she has this amazing ability to weave so much emotion, meaning, and depth into her storytelling. I'd read a couple of these stories before, like my fave, "The Knight and the Butcherbird," but many were new to me, and all of them were impactful and thought-provoking.
Something that really stood out to me while I was reading was how much Harrow managed to explore within the confines of a short story. It's incredible. She takes elements of folklore, fantasy, and history and uses them to explore and examine power, injustice, grief, freedom, and the ways our histories are shaped by those who have the power to tell them. Each story leaves you with a lot to think about for different reasons. I also like how Harrow can make a story feel both steeped in fantasy and totally relatable to the world we live in. It's a fine balance, and it's done so well throughout this collection.
There were several favorite stories for me, including "The Knight and the Butcherbird," "Mr. Death," "The Tale of the Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide," "The Six Deaths of the Saint," and "Roadside Attraction." If I were still a high school English teacher, I would want to add so many of these stories to my curriculum! lol I feel like these are stories that teens and adults alike can relate to, from the themes and symbolism to the social commentaries, and they would definitely generate some interesting class discussions.
Alix E. Harrow has an exceptional gift for telling poignant, layered stories that stay with you, and this is another five-star read from an author whose work I will always be excited to pick up. The stories have a lot to say about the world, but they also have something to say about being human. They made me feel, think, and appreciate just how much a talented writer can accomplish in a relatively small number of pages.
Something that really stood out to me while I was reading was how much Harrow managed to explore within the confines of a short story. It's incredible. She takes elements of folklore, fantasy, and history and uses them to explore and examine power, injustice, grief, freedom, and the ways our histories are shaped by those who have the power to tell them. Each story leaves you with a lot to think about for different reasons. I also like how Harrow can make a story feel both steeped in fantasy and totally relatable to the world we live in. It's a fine balance, and it's done so well throughout this collection.
There were several favorite stories for me, including "The Knight and the Butcherbird," "Mr. Death," "The Tale of the Two Brothers, Or, The Famous Folklorist Confesses Fratricide," "The Six Deaths of the Saint," and "Roadside Attraction." If I were still a high school English teacher, I would want to add so many of these stories to my curriculum! lol I feel like these are stories that teens and adults alike can relate to, from the themes and symbolism to the social commentaries, and they would definitely generate some interesting class discussions.
Alix E. Harrow has an exceptional gift for telling poignant, layered stories that stay with you, and this is another five-star read from an author whose work I will always be excited to pick up. The stories have a lot to say about the world, but they also have something to say about being human. They made me feel, think, and appreciate just how much a talented writer can accomplish in a relatively small number of pages.
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