As a big fan of Octavia Butler and Tananarive Due, I was intrigued with this story. It sent chills down my neck. The horror was inescapable. No, it was not pleasant, nor was it easy. But it was gritty and real. The horrors of slavery should make us all queasy. It begs the question, who are you willing to sacrifice to survive, to be free? The main character is willing to do what needs to be done to survive, but she also knows the shame and guilt of it. No one is virtuous....slavery demands both master and slave make awful decisions. The tree where my great, great, great grandmother was sold still stands in South Carolina. You can visit remnants of holding cells where slaves were brought ashore to be sold in Savannah and Charleston. This story reminds me that Granddaddy used to say the "buzzards walked the streets" in those cities. There is something cannibalistic about slavery, consuming a life for profit. This story explores that concept deeply and expertly. Powerful story. Strong work Escape Artists for hosting Artemis Rising!!