If I’m not mistaken, this is the debut novel from Laura Kat Young. I wasn’t sure what I was going to read when jumping into this, or even if it was going to hold my attention.

Did it hold my attention? Yes. Yes it did. And there are elements in here that don’t normally hold my attention. For example, there is a romantic sub-plot happening, with suspense.

We can get to that a little later. Here we travel to a town named Settlement Five. This town gave me sort of a dystopian feel. I didn’t sense too much happy in this town. And really the motto for this town could very well be “An Eye for an Eye.”

When the people of Settlement Five do the wrong thing, they get punished. We’re not talking about jail time. We are talking about atonements. Atonements that involve maybe losing a finger, or a hand, or being shocked, or other sorts of punishment, carried out by “The Butcher.”

No one by the way is exempt from punishment. And that little tidbit is crucial to the story.

Our main character, Lady Mae knows she will take over being The Butcher eventually. Right now her mother Winona is The Butcher. And the whole town knows this, and they hate this family because of her mothers “job.”

We run into a situation where The Butcher refuses to carry out a certain atonement, and we find Lady Mae now taking over the job, if you can call it a job, or maybe being The Butcher is an actual punishment. We have Lady Mae constantly fighting with the stress and inner turmoil that comes along with the job. And at parts her conscience catches up to her. We have an encounter where she has to make a big decision. We will keep it there to not give too much away.

This story kept me pretty involved, and I don’t think I expected that to happen. This is one of those chances I took and it paid off. There is a lot packed in this novel. A lot of different emotions. It has the drama. It has the suspense. It has the thrills. It has the cruelty and viciousness in the form of people’s body parts being butchered. With some pretty graphic descriptions, and I know a lot of you like that. And yes Like I said earlier, it has a romantic sub-plot that isn’t too in-your-face being all kissy kissy. Its there, and subtle at times. That part also carries a lot of suspense in it.

I’m a fan of dark things, so I think that is why I got wrapped up in this story so easily. It’s the right amount of oddness and weirdness. All of the broken rules and broken laws go to trial automatically. And every time we go to trial, you get a feeling someone committed murder.

The writer did a magnificent job creating this town. I think it felt a little dystopian. I got the feeling it was always cloudy, and damp. I didn’t however care too much for the speech. The way the characters talk. I’m not sure if this was just a language the writer made up. But the characters used short sentences, and talked in ways we would normally correct a young person who doesn’t know the right grammar. I could have missed the meaning or reason behind this. It doesn’t take anything away from the story though.

This one will have you holding your breath at times in anticipation of what’s next. It has the right amount of edginess and grittiness to keep you glued. And expect to be uncomfortable at times.
I probably would have liked a little more character development, but still if this is a debut from Laura Kat Young, it’s pretty remarkable.

The Butcher is a journey into a psychologically disturbing dystopian world, full of different smells of blood and different sounds of bones cracking and breaking. It’s a battle between love and commitment for our main protagonist. It’s a coming-of-age story for someone who knows their future is bleak because of the job they are required to do. It has a great mix of rawness and love and despair and survival. The Butcher is a fast-paced page turner that will have you cheering for Lady Mae until the very end.

Teenager Lady Mae stands to inherit her mother’s position as Butcher in a small town. But not the kind that serves up sausages. Settlement Five has its own justice system, featuring “atonements” in the form of severed digits, limbs, etc, all of which the Butcher is expected to administer.

When Lady Mae’s mother is brutally murdered after refusing to disfigure a child, Mae is thrown into her new position, while seeking revenge on the Deputy who killed her mother. Her only friend is another outcast, Arbuckle, and as the walls close in on Lady Mae, her relationship with Arbuckle blossoms.

The Butcher is a great novel. I was immediately enraptured by the hypnotic prose, which is sporadically broken up by incidents of extreme violence. The concept of a town bent on tangible, long-lasting consequences for “violations” is interesting. Be warned, this book is not for the faint-of-heart. The especially brutal sections are quick, but incredibly impactful. Young certainly knows how to mentally scar her readers.

My favorite part of this novel was how Lady Mae and Arbuckle’s relationship slowly blossomed. Lady Mae has led such a horrific life, and is such a strong character, so to see these two outcasts cling to each other through all the trauma is particularly beautiful. But grab a tissue, things never run smoothly…

Highly recommended for those who enjoy feminist dystopian fiction, and folk horror.

I didn’t know what to expect when starting this book, it was the cover and title that drew me in.
I enjoyed reading this book, the way it was written, the storyline, the characters. I was intrigued throughout the whole story and couldn’t wait to discover how it would end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for allowing me an ARC to review.

TW/CW: blood, gore, bodily harm, mutilation, murder, knives

The Butcher is a story that follows a young woman named Lady Mae who is about to take over her mother's job as "The Butcher". However, in this small town, this is not a simple matter of butchering animals to eat. Oh no, this job is to carry out "justice" in the form of atonements. When a crime is committed, the guilty person is sent to the butcher to have one (or more) fingers and toes chopped off to atone for their crimes. Oftentimes resulting in townspeople with no hands or feet.

When Lady Mae's mother refuses to perform an atonement on a six-year-old child, they find out just what kind of justice the deputies care about.

This book was dark and gritty and quite a page-turner. It has everything you could want from a dark story + a romantic subplot that really rounded out the characters.

It takes place in a sort of dystopian world, but beyond that, we don't learn much about it. This for me is the only reason it isn't 5 stars. I couldn't place where we were or when we were. Perhaps that was the intention as it could be anywhere at any time. But for me, it bothered me not knowing exactly where we were or how we got to this point. Why did we start with atonements? Who is in charge? How does this world even operate?

Other than some clunky world-building and unanswered questions, this book was a thrilling read that I didn't want to put down.

Highly recommended to those who like revenge stories, angry women, gore, or want something a little different for their spooky/scary reads.

This one wasn’t for me, on the surface the blurb sold it. But there’s just not enough going on in this world for it to be worth the time to read. Maybe with some broader world building, this felt very 1995 video game.

This is the dystopian novel I have been waiting for.
The writing in this book is impeccable. It is equal parts vibes and plot. I have never read a book that can execute this dynamic so well.
This story follows Lady Mae as she fulfills her legacy to become the settlements new Butcher. I dont want to go into too much detail because the atmosphere of this book will give you the guidance you need.
A great aspect of this novel is that the author didn't baby you through the story line. Secrets weren't explicitly said, the author trusts the reader to interpret the clues for themself. That is not typical of dystopian novels and it is done so fantastically well here.

This book was a perfect read for me. It is a dystopian story, a love story, a literary story, and absolutely beautiful wiring. Definitely making a top book of the year for me.

My sincere thanks to the author and Titan Books for the gifted review copy via NetGalley. This book is available September 27th and I absolutely recommend you pick it up.

I received an ARC copy of The Bitcher from NetGalley and Titan books in return for an honest review. Thank you for the chance to read and review this book.

This book follows Lady Mae, a young woman on the cusp of her eighteenth birthday when she'll take over her mother's role as Bitcher. This is an inherited job where she'll be taught to dismember people of her community for crimes they commit. Usually fingers and toes (up to twenty) sometimes entire hands or feet for more severe crimes.

Lady Mae has been told all her life to be forgiving, but she finds herself confused when her mother first seeks retribution for when Lady Mae is beat up by the local teens (called children because they are but it did cause some confusion when I was reading what age they were) but then refuses to do her job and carry out four retributions on a young boy.

This story all sounded fascinating to me, and even though it was taking me some time to get into how the story was being told, the twang of the story was not something I was used to reading as I'm not one to read Westerns often as I think that's what this story was going for, I thought I'd get the hang of it easily, but it was more than that. It was the repetition of the story. It was how Lady Mae seemed to be completely obsessed with herself. I got why her mother kept her from the other people in the community, but it left me wishing for more points of view and I usually only want one if I can.

But I felt like I was kept at bay from really experiencing this world and its philosophy and tragedy. Not that I needed it explained, but that every time we'd get a glimpse. A moment in the courthouse where the girl freaks out, the woman who speaks cryptically, the books that talk about how it doesn't matter how many atonements someone gets, fear is immediate and creates a reaction within the person it's assigned to.

I see where other people could connect with the story, but for me, I just found the story too disconnected from the people of the village and isolated to characters that wandered on the outside of it.

A grim and often bloody story that will fill some people's need for dystopian horror, but just didn't quite scratch that itch for me.

Young does a great job of bringing these characters to life while also forcing the reader to confront our own morals and ideas of what is right/wrong.

As others have said, there are unsettling elements to this books and some graphic descriptions of mutilation. However, this really lends itself to the themes of dystopian horror and corruption.

I found some parts of the novel a bit slow and tough to keep focused on but overall this was a thought provoking read!

I loved the concept of this book. It really makes you think about what you would do if you lived that world.
Lady Mae was a fantastic character. Her and Arbuckle were cute. Her feelings and thoughts made you feel sympathy towards her and I would never want to be in her position.
The deputies were horrible! But that can relate to our modern world where people take advantage of their high position.

when the law does not quite see eye to eye with morality, how do you reconcile the two? when you are set to succeed the heavy burden of mutilating your sinning community, how do you find it in your heart to forgive? more so, how do you ask for it from a village that crucified you for obeying your lawful orders?

this book showcases a ruthless imposition of justice in the form of atonements—convicts basically choose which body part they are willing to give up & be chopped by the “butcher.”

it also follows the musings of lady mae whose family has served as butchers for generations & is set to inherit the same title when she comes of age. however, as her eighteenth year draws nearer, she also grows more & more affronted by the influence of a rotting government in driving its own populace to the hems of crime proliferation; by how easy it is to lose your humanity in a society that is so outrageously unforgiving.

this book makes you question your own thoughts & principles. or at least, it made me question mine. i found it disturbing at times; unsettling for most parts. but, i also found myself reeling into it. it was a wise concept & an even wiser execution.

The Butcher is a dystopian mystery wrapped in a cloak of family & oppression.

Laura Kat Young introduces us to a desolate town in a world of subjugation, where crime is punished in a very extreme way. In the form of atonements. This basically means that a court of ‘Deputies’ will judge your crime and punish with a number of atonements, this involves the removal of the appropriate number of body parts by ‘The Butcher’. Imagine a town where a majority of the inhabitants wander about their daily business with any number of missing limbs! Savage right?

The story follows Lady Mae the apprentice butcher and her journey from child to adulthood. We follow Lady Mae through all sorts of trials and tribulations as she aims to deal with her approaching future as the butcher of settlement 5. Along the way we meet Lady Mae’s mother and a boy called Arbuckle. Amongst these as the supporting cast of townsfolk and the ever present, ever intimidating Deputies.

Laura Kat Young does a stellar job of building a fantastic set of characters and an extremely unsettling environment in which the characters live. The story is full of twists and turns that will deeply unsettle and test the limits of Lady Mae to the extreme.

If you are looking for a new dystopian trip through a horrifically oppressed society then Laura Kat Young has just the book for you. An engrossing storyline coupled with deep, memorable characters ensure a thrilling adventure through the lives of the inhabitants of settlement 5.

[Thanks to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion]

This wasn’t really my cup of tea but the mysterious buildup really gets to you. The butcher’s duty is to obey the law by butchering anyone the Deputies see fit, without ever questioning it. Lady Mae will inherit this unpleasant job from her mother, but of course, there’s more to it…

In my opinion, a little more world building was needed, to be able to focus on the plot and not on questions about the setting. Other than that, the story is captivating in the same way a closed chest splattered with blood is, there’s no other way to explain it.

A chilling read, perfect for the autumnal season, it was very graphic, really quite terrifying in places so if you plan on reading it be careful, because if you have a fear, then this book will most likely touch upon that!

I can’t talk about it too much without giving it away, but if you want a very graphic, unsettling thriller/mystery for Halloween, then look no further.

I find that the more realistic a dystopian novel is, the creepier it is too. Perfect for fans of THE GRACE YEAR, THE WOLF ROAD, THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING, and THE WATER CURE, THE BUTCHER is a great way to kick off your spooky season reading.

Heart-wrenching, gritty and dark, this book hooked me from the first chapter and didn't let go. A poignant coming-of-age tale of social oppression and one girl's duty to her mother and her love. I highly recommend THE BUTCHER for horror fans and beyond.

The Butcher by Laura Kat Young is one of the most heart wrenching, dark, and phenomenal books I have read in such a long time.

At the beginning of the book, Lady Mae is awaiting the day when she will inherit her mother’s job as the town Butcher. Her mother, Winona, goes against the law and chooses not to butcher a young boy. The Deputies, who uphold the law and lead the town, come to Winona and Lady Mae’s home, to confront Winona and ask why she chose to disobey the law. A struggle ensues and Winona is killed in front of Lady Mae.

Years pass by, Lady Mae is now the town's Butcher. A childhood friend has returned to their town and back into Lady Mae’s life. The long ago feelings for one another never left. The rest of the story follows along the choices the two make. In the end, a heartbreaking decision is made that will alter every person in the town's life. Nothing will ever be the same for Lady Mae and everyone in the town.

This is truly a magnificent piece of work. I can feel the love and time spent in forming these words to make a special story come to life.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and #TitanBooks for sending me this ARC to read and review.
#TheButcher

I'll be honest, it wasn't really the book for me. I did find myself lagging a bit after a while and had to push myself to finish this book. I can't say why, exactly - the writing was descriptive, the characters were relatable. Dystopian fiction isn't always my cup of tea. While the concept of the Butcher is quite gruesome, for the most part the book doesn't go into too many gory details, and while there is a bit of suspense I wouldn't really consider it horror so much as science fiction/fantasy.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers/author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

“Sometimes ones got to do the wrong thing for the right reason”

Lady Mae is a teenager who’s family has the gruesome inheritance of being the town’s “Butcher.” It is a job that has been passed down in her family since her great-great grandmother. Their job is to dismember residents in town for their major and minor infractions. Cutting off fingers, toes, and giving electrocutions is what they have to deal with on a daily basis. Nobody is above the law.

This story had a lot more depth then what I had expected. There was a lesson about love, acceptance, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding. You see hatred and fear in people who don’t understand that Lady Mae and her family are just following the rules for what they have to do to survive. When Lady Mae’s mother goes against these rules, she’s punished for it.

I enjoyed that this was a period piece. You feel a genuine isolation in their surroundings. I wanted to understand more about where they were. Why was it called “settlement five?” Some of the Deputies claimed they came from other settlements. Was this a thing that happens in all of them? Are they all different or the same? Why were Arbuckle and Lady Mae’s families such targets? I was curious why Lady’s Mae’s inheritance had even started in the first place.

This was a very gory and well done debut. I’m very interested to see what else the author has in store in the future.

Loved the premise, a really dark and gritty debut novel. The gory details were well done and the sense of foreboding was heavy from the first page. I thought the world building was great and would read more set in this world.

First of all, I can’t believe this is Laura Kat Young’s debut novel. I always used to think that debut novels would be unpolished, a bit rough, with room to grow. But recently, some of the best books I’ve read have been debut books, and this definitely falls into that category.

The images Laura creates are gruesome and bloody and gave me the heebie-jeebies. I’ve never been good with the idea of blood, but because there’s no pictures, I thought it would be okay, but she’s painted it so vividly, the amputations, the sounds of saw through bone, the smell of the blood….I felt myself holding my breath for most of the book, particularly the first half, which in my opinion was more explicit.

It is a proper gruesome, sit on the edge of your seat thriller, like a classic horror - the like I haven’t read in a long time.

I don’t particularly like comparing a book I like (this one) to one I didn’t, but this reminded me of The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi in that they both star a young woman forced into an uncomfortable job due to reasons out of their hands. What makes this one better in my view, is that she’s hit the right balance between the reader being thrilled and uneasy and the. Feeling so uncomfortable they can’t read on. You want your reader to be a bit grossed out, but you also want them to finish the book.

There is a lyrical, poetic nature to the writing. It’s not jarring or stilted, each sentence flows naturally into the next. This may not be something most people even care about but I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to syntax and word formation, so I really liked this.

It’s really easy to read. At 320 pages, it’s my ideal length, but I thought I’d probably read a few chapters then put it down and get on with my day. But I was so engrossed that the first time I looked down to see how much I’d read, I was almost half way through, and to me that’s one of the clearest ways of telling if a book is good.

This is for all intents and purposes, a thriller. A bloody thriller. But I found it really moving. On more than one occasion I found myself tearing up, out of sadness, anger, pride and joy. This is so much e than a story about punishments. It’s a story about forgiveness. A story about love.