The Knight and the Butcherbird Audiobook By Alix E. Harrow cover art

The Knight and the Butcherbird

A Short Story

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options
Buy for $10.18

Buy for $10.18

In this dystopian fairy tale from the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, a small town’s storyteller struggles to protect a local demon from the knight hired to kill it.

Hundreds of years after the end of the world, the Appalachian community of Iron Hollow finds itself beset by demons. Such horrors are common these days in the outlands, where most folks die young—if they don’t turn into monsters first.

When a legendary knight is summoned to hunt down the latest unearthly beast to haunt their woods, the town’s new oral historian, Shrike, has more reason than most to be concerned. Because that demon was her wife. And while Shrike is certain that May still recognizes her—that May is still herself, somewhere beneath it all—she can’t prove it.

Determined to keep May safe, Shrike stalks the knight and his demon-hunting hawk through the recesses of the forest. But as they creep through toxic creeks and overgrown kudzu, Shrike realizes the knight has a secret of his own. And he’ll do anything to protect it.

©2025 Alix Heintzman. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Fairy Tales Fantasy Dystopian Scary Science Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

“Aida Reluzco narrates a postapocalyptic tale of knights, shape-shifting demons, and a woman who is willing to do anything to protect her wife. Reluzco conveys Shrike's grim determination when she discovers that the knight who has come to slay the demon plaguing her village is none other than Sir John of Cincinnati, a legendary demon killer.… Reluzco does an excellent job portraying wily Shrike and noble John, who has his own secrets. Listeners will be drawn into this captivating short story about love, survival, and desperation in a deadly Appalachian forest.”—AudioFile Magazine
Beautiful Storytelling • Compelling Plot • Fabulous Narration • Lyrical Prose • Complete Closure • Great Performance

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
Now THAT is how a short story is done. Less than 100 pages and PACKED with story. The way Harrow was able to build a believable post-apocalyptic world with a tragic love story was incredible. It was a quick listen- I suggest it!

Amazing post-apocalyptic fantasy short story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A wonder, lyrical story of the end of the world...or is it? Listen to the story and find out.

Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Packed a bunch for such a short read! I love this author so much. My heart is sore.

Wow

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
thought provoking and pulls the heart strings. really a great story and the writer summed it up perfectly without dragging it out

great short story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
short and quick listen. a fairy tale. lived, died, evolved. happy and sad ending. enjoyed.

a fairy tale as it is meant to be

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews