SFF

The Crane Husband

by Kelly Barnhill
Tor.com. Feb. 2023. 128p. ISBN 9781250850973. $19.99. FANTASY
COPY ISBN
A teen in a fading Midwestern farm town takes care of her younger brother while their artist mother is preoccupied with work and lovers. Their mother’s attention strays further with the arrival of an enormous crane that she welcomes into the family. Threatened by the crane’s violent intrusion, their mother’s growing obsession with her newest artwork, and an investigating social worker, the narrator tries to protect her family. The novella is inspired by the folktale of the crane wife but what at first seems like a straightforward gender swap evolves to explore the boundaries between love and obligation. Readers are likely to grasp the sympathetic narrator’s situation much earlier than she does.
VERDICT Beyond retelling a folktale, Barnhill (When Women Were Dragons) constructs nuanced characters with conflicting motivations and loyalties. The plot is sometimes slow-moving as readers wait for the narrator to catch up, but it arrives at a thought-provoking conclusion.
Reviewed by Erin Niederberger , Oct 01, 2022
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

Lightfall
by Crocker, Ed
FICTION

An Honored Vow
by Blair, Melissa
FICTION

We Lived on the Horizon
by Swyler, Erika
FICTION

Glow of the Everflame
by Cole, Penn
FICTION

The Martian Contingency
by Kowal, Mary Robinette
FICTION

Galaxy Raiders: Abyss
by Douglas, Ian
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?