The Butcher's Lot by Cate Baumer SFINCs3 Book Review
- Tabitha Tomala
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
This review is part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”. This is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.).
To see more information on my team TBR check out this post!
Blurb for The Butcher's Lot
A folkloric sapphic gothic romance for fans of A Dowry of Blood and A Study in Drowning.
Outcast Marguerite spends her nights fishing in violent waters and her days hiding from the judgment of her backwater island community. The painful monotony is broken with the arrival of the Butcher of Galiness, a captured vampire general sentenced to a season of labor and penance in the hometown of each person who died at her hand.
Shared work is better than working alone, even with a monster, especially with an attractive monster. But Marguerite learns the vampire has her own reasons for accepting her punishment. Aiding her could give Marguerite back the freedom she's lost and a path to the revenge she desires. But the Butcher’s trust is harder won than the rest of her, what she seeks may no longer exist, and if their dalliance is caught they’ll both burn.
The Butcher's Lot Review
Two characters share the spotlight in The Butcher’s Lot. The first, Marguerite, grew up trusting the priesthood, yet when she turned sixteen, an unthinkable event forever changed her life. Now she lives shunned and judged by her community, forced to never be free of the past. And the second, The Butcher, a captive vampire who has been continuing her undead life, is punished by the priesthood and forced into labor. While she carved her way through humanity, she in turn watched as each of her sired children were destroyed as humans struck back.
When The Butcher’s penance brings her to Mauguerite’s village, Mauguerite finds herself faced with a creature many call a monster, yet is it possible she was also wronged by the priesthood? The two characters may be ostracized for different reasons, yet they are both lonely and seeking connection. And despite the dangers of such a partnering, Marguerite has little to lose if she ends up with her throat torn out.
As the story unfolds, the two characters will lead readers into a painstakingly emotional tale. One where dark desires and untold horrors play no slight part. And yet small kindnesses will find their way into the characters’ lives, making them seek futures and opportunities once forbidden to them. But if anyone suspects their true intentions, The Butcher will be burned at the pyre.
The Butcher’s Lot is for readers who enjoy LGBTQ+ tales of forbidden romance with gothic overtones and settings.
To Purchase: Author's Website
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