The Butcher of the Forest feels like a dark fairy tale filtered through cosmic horror—a story of grief, loss, and duty wrapped in a breathless, eerie narrative. I loved the atmosphere: the malevolent forest is richly described, full of tricks, bargains, and lurking evil both supernatural and human.

Veris Thorn is a compelling protagonist, worn down but resolute, and the slow unraveling of her past adds real emotional weight. Mohamed weaves in sharp commentary about power and entitlement—especially in the way the Tyrant’s heir treats Veris’s sacrifices as expected, even deserved. It's a fantastic exploration of grief; of what it means to live rather than just exist.

A short but lingering read, with Grimm vibes and modern resonance.

Ok, so this is a quirky little dark fantasy novella. It’s part horror, part fairytale and I was all about it. The writing is what threw me. The way the FMC character is portrayed makes her seem deft and the overall movement and flow is a little disjointed.

I like the idea of the book more than the actual book unfortunately and I think that had a lot to do with the way it’s written.

The story itself is fun, with dark magical woods that capture children, never to return. Our would be heroine is an older local village woman (which I enjoyed) but the author didn’t give her the attributes I would consider to be likeable (the kind where the reader attaches themselves as cheers for her). It kind of reminded me of a Grim brothers fairytale without the artful storytelling.

The writing is my hangup in the book but others may like the way the author chose to make this seem fairytale like.

Some woods are not to be trusted. They are at once here and there, a part of our world and a part of theirs. No one enters the northern woods, except that Veris has, and now she is forced to go back in by a tyrant to rescue his children. What could go wrong, except everything? I had a good old time with The Butcher in the Forest, which is a grim kind of fairy tale. Thanks to Tordotcom and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My sincere apologies for the delay!

Adaptations of fairy tales, either direct ones of individual tales or those that take a freer approach to the whole genre, had something of a heyday a while back, but they still remain very popular. A downside to their initial popularity, for me at least, was that I began to get a little tired of all the "Beauty and the Beast but with horny elves", "Cinderella like you've never seen it", "Rapunzel, but make it kick-ass" kind of tag lines. I think what got to me was that desire to somehow top the original tale, to make it "right" by making it more modern, or more feminist, or more fair, etc., which I believe belies the actual purpose of these kind of fairy tales. What I enjoy about fairy tale adaptations is not this kind of sanitisation, but rather when authors dive deep into the darkness of the tales, which has always been there and through which they actually gain much of their beauty. Think of Angela Carter's Bloody Chamber collection, for example, where the explorations of power and sexuality created a stunning, if bloody, atmosphere. With The Butcher of the Forest, Premee Mohamed also looks the darkness of fairy tales straight in the face. In this novella, she plays with the whole genre, its loose set-up and worldbuilding, its beautiful darkness and horrifying beauty, and the agency which weaves its way through.

Veris is dragged out of her bed one morning by the men of the Tyrant, who has been reigning over her land for a while now. She has no idea what he wants from her, until he reveals that during the night his two children wandered into the woods. No one goes into those woods, which he would have known had he been from there. Veris, however, has been into those woods, years ago, when she went to retrieve a child who had been lost. When someone is lost in the woods, you have one day to retrieve them before they are forever gone. Veris doesn't want to go back, but with death hanging over her family if she does not succeed, she gathers her supplies and heads into the woods. The woods are not what they appear, shifting from normal woods to a quasi-fey realm in which various creatures and monsters wait to lure you into their trap. To tell any more would be to ruin the suspense of the tale, but I can say that I was very pleasantly surprised by what Mohamed did with her tale. Veris is an intriguing protagonist as well, who holds many of her cards close to her chest. I really enjoyed finding out more about her through her actions and responses, rather than through being told things about her. When, towards the end, we do find out more about her past, it is heart-breaking and brings a painful clarity to her previous behaviour.

This is my first work by Premee Mohamed and I absolutely adored her writing in The Butcher. She strikes a really good balance between painting a detailed picture and leaving some of the edges blurry enough that the reader gets to keep asking questions. I loved the creatures she came up with, how they play with traditional images and give them a new twist, and I also really appreciated Mohamed's willingness to go hard with the plot. Towards the end, there is something of a shock, which I wouldn't call a twist necessarily, but which did provide a really nice moment of "even in fairy tale-esque stories happy endings are very far from guaranteed". As such, there are some content warnings worth giving for the novella. It includes war violence, body horror, sexual abuse of a child/teen, and discussions of death. I think these difficult themes are handled well in The Butcher, with Mohamed neither flinching away from the darkness nor using them for shock. As such, The Butcher becomes something of a meditation of imperialism and war, the generational aftershocks, the small trauma and the large. I cannot wait to read more my Mohamed in the future!

The Butcher of the Forest is a beautiful, dark fairy tale, written with an excellent eye for fairy tale traditions and the ways in which to innovate the genre. Both the themes raised and imagery crafted by Mohamed will stay with me.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this arc!!

5/5 stars

This was a fantastic quick read. The lush and terrifying woods were so creepy, I really want to read more about this place and these settings! Veris was such a strong lead character, I really want to read more about her! The way this ends could easily have a sequel, and I really hope we do get another book or novella either about what could happen next, or even just set in these woods. I loved this!

I wish this was longer. The story had all the potential to be a full book length, or even a duology, because it was good AND I did not want it to end. This is was a missed opportunity to write and explore a dark world that readers would have loved. The story suffers of bit because there are elements that are rushed but overall, Mohamed excelled in this work.

On the edge of a land ruled by a cruel tyrant lies the Elmever, a deadly forest no one dares to enter—because no one who does ever returns. Except Veris Thorn. Years ago, she somehow rescued a child from the Elmever’s clutches, becoming a local legend. Now, she’s being forced back into its depths to save the Tyrant’s missing children. If she fails, she’ll pay with her life. If she stays too long, she’ll be trapped forever. Racing against time, Veris faces the forest’s riddles, monsters, and traps once more, knowing every step could be her last.

This novella is a dark and gripping mix of horror and fantasy, perfect for anyone wanting to dip their toes into something eerie yet magical. The atmosphere is chilling, and the ending is far from ideal—but that’s what makes it stick with you.

That said, I couldn’t help but wish the story was longer. The forest and Veris’s past feel so rich, and there’s a lot that could’ve been explored. This could’ve been an incredible duology: one book diving into Veris’s earlier journey and current venture, and another focusing on the rescue mission (if you know, you know.) It’s clear there’s more to the story, and a longer format would’ve made it feel more fleshed out.

Still, "The Butcher of the Forest" delivers a memorable and haunting read. I hope to see more stories like this from Premee Mohamed because she’s got something special here.

An interesting and very unique fantasy. It was a really quick read, but jam-packed with plenty of world building and magic. Very interesting writing as well. I don't know what I was expecting with this, but I definitely didn't get it. However, this was not it, but that I mean that in a good way. An overall really nice read!

I featured this book in a new release video prior to publication and was very excited to read this. The description is so atmospheric but what I'm most drawn to is the promise of a quest! Plus I cannot tell you how much I crave shorter fantasies THANK YOU. Will update when final review posts, but I'm expecting 5 stars!

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended

The best of both horror and fantasy. Premee Mohamed engages with colonialism and its cruelty and disregard for human life, adding nuance and texture to a fairy-tale search-and-rescue story. Revisionist fantasy rules!

‘The Butcher in the Forest’ by Premee Mohamed is a dark fairy tale where there is probably no happy ending.

Veris Thorn braved the woods of Elmever once and is the only known survivor. When a local tyrant’s children disappear into the forest, he threatens Veris into returning. The problem is that those who remain in the forest for more than a day are doomed to remain there in some form or another. Another problem are the traps and riddles that the woods hold and the bargains she will have to make once she finds the children. Failing to rescue these two children will mean death for her village.

I liked this dark fable and its dark main character. There is interesting worldbuilding in the creation of these doomed woods and I really enjoyed this one.

Why did I wait so long to read this?

A perfect, quick read just in time for spooky season.
Our heroine Veris is ripped from her home in the middle of the night and brought to the Tyrant. He demands she go into the north woods and fetch his children who got lost that evening. If she fails - he will destroy her entire family and village. The problem - the north woods are not just any woods and have their own rules. Even though Veris is the only person to have ever survived the woods, she will need all her wits and meager magic to survive this time.

I love the writing style - it is a little different than I'm used to (lots of semi-colons) but it works. The world building is not complex but done well, sprinked throughout the story in ways that make sense. I love the sentient/mysterious forests and feel this one is done particularly well.

Highly recommend!

this is exactly my type of eldritch nightmarescape, but I wished for more of this story. the ending could have been the start of a second half!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It has dark fantasy, and some twisted elements that will keep you craving for more while turning the pages. The plot is pretty interesting and alluring, creating a narrative with a beautiful prose and magnificent terrifying situations.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

Ugh, so gorgeously perfect. I just finished rereading my purchase copy and came on to see I had not left a NetGalley review. If you can, go into this one without any prior knowledge! You'll want to eat it in one delicious gulp.

A Haunting Masterpiece: "The Butcher of the Forest"

In the depths of the Elmever woods, where darkness reigns and terror lurks, lies a tale that will leave you breathless and unsettled. This mesmerizing novella masterfully weaves dark fantasy, cosmic horror, and grimdark elements, crafting a narrative that's both beautiful and terrifying.

Premee Mohamed has created a world that's as eerie as it is enchanting. The lush prose, though sometimes lengthy, perfectly captures the fever-dreamlike atmosphere of Veris' perilous quest. Our protagonist, a wise and resilient 40-year-old woman with a haunted past, is a refreshing change from the usual romanticized heroes. As Veris ventures into the heart of the forest, the lines between reality and nightmare blur. The Butcher of the Forest becomes a metaphorical exploration of confronting inner demons, transcending the literal tale of monsters and terror.

While this novella may not be for the faint of heart – trigger warnings include body horror, gore, violence, child sex abuse, and loss – its artistic depth and unsettling beauty make it a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and cosmic horror.

To fully immerse yourself in this world, I recommend devouring this novella in one to four sessions. Don't expect cosy fantasy feel-good vibes; instead, prepare for a deeply unsettling, thought-provoking experience.


Rating: 5/5 stars


Recommendation: For fans of dark fantasy, cosmic horror, and grimdark fiction. If you enjoy authors like Jeff VanderMeer, Caitlin R. Kiernan, or Joe Abercrombie, this novella is a must-read.


Final Thoughts: "The Butcher of the Forest" is a masterful blend of genres, crafting a haunting tale that will linger long after you finish reading. Embrace the darkness, and let this novella consume you.

Thank you both NetGalley and Tor publishing group for this amazing ARC. It was a wonderful experience.

In this dark fairy tale, a woman living under a tyrannical ruler is forced to return to the dangerous, supernatural forest she ventured into once before. Only Veris has survived going into the forest, Veris and the child she brought back with her. But Veris doesn't like to think about what happened to the child. Now, the Tyrant promises to kill everyone she loves if she doesn't somehow retrieve his two young children from the forest. Even if the children have somehow survived, Veris knows none of them will return unchanged.

Premee Mohamed can write a wonderfully creepy tale full of all the things you worry might lurk in the forest. It's dark and horrifying in the way all real fairy tales should be.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Clever and a unique twist on the classic fairytale style story! I know it’s been out for a while, but I hope readers are enjoying it!