Sunday, August 11, 2019

Kelsey and the Burdened Breath, by Darcie Little Badger

[Anthology]
★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Alternate Reality Fantasy Thriller) She makes a living finding the spirits of the dead, sending them up into the sky, and encouraging the reluctant ones. But can she handle one that can’t ascend—and which keeps on killing. (5,771 words; Time: 19m)


"Kelsey and the Burdened Breath," by (edited by Nisi Shawl), appeared in (RSR review), published on by .

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Review: 2019.278 (A Word for Authors)

Pro: It’s a cute alternate-world concept, and I loved the matter-of-fact way Miss Bride went about her business. The “burdened soul” posed enough of a threat to inject some real tension, and I read this one eagerly to find out what happened next.

Separately, Miss Bride herself is somewhat like a spirit that can’t let go, still hanging around her parents’ house long after she should have gone elsewhere. The story is at least as much about her learning to let go as it is about finding a murderer.

Con: After the buildup, it’s a huge letdown when the burdened spirit just turns itself in to the police.

And as for Miss Bride’s decision to move on, it’s not clear what she’s going to move on to. By letting Pal go, she’s abandoning her career, and it doesn’t seem that she’s got any actual plans.

Other Reviews: Search Web, GoodReads.com
Darcie Little Badger Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline

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