Blue Morphos in the Garden

by Lis Mitchell

Read Lis Mitchell's magical realist tale, Blue Morphos in the Garden, a Tor.com original short story. When Vivian and her daughter witness the family matriarch die without leaving a corpse, Vivian can no longer ignore the family "gift" or the choice that lies before her.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Science Fiction, Magical Realism

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2019

Reviews

[Fiona Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am elbows-deep in dishwater and morning sunlight when Lily brings me the news.

“Gray-Granna’s down by the river,” Lily says. “She’s turning into butterflies.” She delivers this with a mixed air of authority and awe.

Death for the Karners is something very different than it is for you and I - Lis Mitchell uses magical realism to examine death and life, family and choices, in a story that I really enjoyed. I think Dash's character could have used some work, maybe even just some sympathy, but overall a solid short.

Free from Tor: https://www.tor.com/2019/04/04/blue-m...

[Katie Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and others on my blog!

This week I returned to Tor.com for another look at their original fiction. Lis Mitchell’s “Blue Morphos in the Garden” was published just a few days ago, and the beautiful illustration and the promise of magical realism was enough to hook me. You can read the short story right here!

I liked this story quite a bit! It centers around death, tradition, and what it means to be part of a family—don’t want to give anything away, but the family members in the story have a particular heritage relating to death. Every sentence felt purposeful and necessary, and the language itself was beautiful and evocative.

The outer edge of the wing resembles split wood with whorled knots, but each butterfly unfolds itself into a slice of fluttering blue sky and dark stormshadow. Open—sky, closed—wood.

I will say that I liked the story from start to finish, but felt that the opening imagery was the most compelling, I think because after that readers basically have a sense of what’s going on. I don’t want to know all the ins-and-outs with magical realism—would rather preserve a hearty dose of ambiguity. I also thought that Dash, the MC’s partner, was a very weak character personality-wise, leaving me to wonder what the MC sees in him—they seemed very ill-matched, not just because they don’t see eye to eye on the one issue central to the story. I couldn’t help wondering if it weren’t for their child whether they would still be together.

So some interesting things to contemplate while reading this story, coupled with a lot of beautiful imagery and sentence-craft. If magical realism is your thing, definitely give this story a shot.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll also put the name of the story here, in case Goodreads decides to merge it into some other work...
Blue Morphos in the Garden by Lis Mitchell - 3.5+/5★

Interesting take on death and the ‘afterlife’, I liked the idea and the execution.

The short story is found in Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2019 edition and can also be read on Tor.com.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has a very interesting plot, but I hate to say that despite having a promising beginning, it doesn’t deliver! The climax leaves the reader dissatisfied and wanting for more. Full marks for the concept and quality of writing while negative marking for a boring climax.

2.5/5🌟.

[Sasha Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

to be about death and what might be some form of reincarnation this was oddly poetic. blue butterflies are my favorite and lily's bravery and maturity was a breathe of fresh air.

[Rebecca Crunden]

“I know,” I say to him, taking his hand. “Butterflies aren’t the same.”

The premise of this story is so interesting and tackles the question of choice and death in a really unique way. I read it on a whim and ended up quite liking it! Available here.

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out very interesting and very strong but then it fizzled out towards the end. It's about a woman who has a daughter and a partner and makes a choice not to marry him because marrying him will mean becoming family and dying in a certain way which is not the way normally people die. Her partner's family take a passage upon dying which means they morph into other things like Gray-Granna is slowly passing into the blue butterflies. Some morph into wood, some into plates and so on. It was a nice and different set up and I like the message it was trying to send which was to have a choice in life and choose whatever you want whether good or bad.
3.5 stars

[Narmeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't love this as much as I wanted to but for a magical realism junky it is a great fix. Still, I did enjoy Blue Morphos in the Garden enough to give it a ‘3 likeable stars’ rating.

[Xan Rooyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this idea and the whole story right up until the end. Was hoping for something a little stronger.

[Rakib Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story had a rather promising beginning, but eventually the story did turn out a bit underwhelming. The concept was interesting, giving the normal experience of facing death a fantasy twist. The author also tried to blend in the woman's perspective of the turmoil of joining a new family into her version of altered reality.

'Blue Morphos in the Garden' tells the story of Viv, whose partner's family has a mysterious way of death surrounding them. With the protagonist we get to experience one such death and get to understand why our main character refuses to accept such a fate.

Viv was a strong and well visualized character and her views regarding everything is quite easily understandable. Lily was enjoyable like a breath of fresh air. Janet had that air of sophisticated antagonist going for her. But I rather found the character of Dash to be bland, uninspired and one dimensional. It is really quite hard to see why Viv fell in love with him in the first place.

I really need to mention the drawing by Mary Haasdyk which gives the story a strong bit of flavor.

All in all an enjoyable yet underwhelming read and an unsatisfying finish.

3 out of 5 stars.

For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/

[Lizabeth Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivian does love Dash and Lily, their daughter, but she continues to refuse to marry him, unable to deal with what his family goes through upon death. If she officially marries into the family, she will become a Karner in all ways. When it appears that Viv may be dying, she will need to make a decision sooner than she had hoped. Stay, but remaining a terminal. Marry and, once she dies, becomes something else. Leave, with or without Dash and Lily.

There's a beauty to having one's death transform into something useful or beautiful or both. Frankly, I don't understand Vivian's concerns about that. 4 out of 5.

[JM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story about a a family whose members transform into something else - usually inanimate objects - when they die. The family home is full of furniture that used to be family members, and the main characters are the current generation, couple with a small daughter. The story centers on the great-grandmother passing a way and how the mom doesn't want to marry the dad because that means she'll also transform into something else when she dies instead of simply passing away like everybody else. The family's inability to grieve is examined a bit.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise but it ended kind of awkwardly with not enough being filled in. The writing was good but I didn't quite see the meaning or direction the author was pointing me in. All in all, it's okay.
Content: There are a few swear words and non-sexual nudity.

[Verity Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The tiny patter of falling pebbles sounds like the first drops of rain before a sudden downpour."

Is it possible for a story so short to be this suspenseful, enchanting, and morose?

Yes. It is possible.

[Unidragonfrag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. I understand Viv's reluctance to let go of her autonomy with death, but what a gorgeous way to go. I'd do it.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very unusual story which was both interesting and well written. However, the main premise of the story is so unlikely/impossible that it takes something away from the story.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A melancholy, dark fantasy tale about a family with a very special enchantment. I really enjoyed this one, it set a mood and stuck to it well, and left me satisfied.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be generous and give this three stars. I liked its take on family traditions and medical secrets.

[Sanaa Hyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, cute, magical short story - within easy reach on Tor’s website!

Ending was a tad bit underwhelming but I can see some merit on the note it ended on #pun?

[JR Dabbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story about choosing they way we die through family and health drama. I was really into this one.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting idea and I love the voice of the narrator. Hoping to see more from this author someday!