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

The Knight and the Butcherbird

A Short Story

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Knight and the Butcherbird

By: Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by: Aida Reluzco
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $1.99

Buy for $1.99

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

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. Dystopian Fairy Tales Fantasy Science Fiction Heartfelt Scary

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 Writing • Captivating Storyline • Lyrical Prose • Emotional Depth • Complete Closure
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.
I might need to listen to this again, or read it instead; I feel like I missed something though...🤔

Interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This story was great, my only complaint is that it wasn't long enough for me, however it was just the right amount to get the story across

I need a longer story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I hope, whether in the same grouping/region/story line or just within the same world, or even universe... However Harrow would do it, I would just....love, love, love a whole series of these.

Loved, loved, loved... more please?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I don't know another author that can write as beautifully and make me feel deeply about characters in such few words.

Alix E Harrow is one of my favorite authors

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautiful, compelling from the first few sentences, surprising. I wish it was longer! A few more words for the algorithm (whatever happened to brevity?).

Such a gorgeous story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The narrator was awesome! The story was difficult to follow in the beginning until I really started understanding the symbolism.
Overall good, short read that makes you think

Great Audiobook Performance!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Now this is a post apocalyptic story I can get behind! Loved every second. Did not disappoint AEH!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This author has an outstanding command of the language and the narrative did a most excellent job of bringing this language and the captivating story alive.

Excellent narration

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