Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got an eGalley for this for review through NetGalley.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this, it's a well done dark fairy tale read. The story follows Veris, the only woman to enter the forbidden forest and return. When the tyrant ruler's children go missing, he forces Veris back into the forest to find them, else her family's life is forfeit.

I enjoyed the dark and twisting secrets of the forest which intersects with the fae realm. This has a very traditional dark fairy tale feel with it. Dangerous bargains are made and deals sealed in order for Veris to navigate the forest safely.

This ended up being a bit darker than I expected. Veris has some very dark secrets of her own in her past and these are unveiled as she tries to survive the forest.

The writing was easy to read and flowed well. There is some adventure and a lot of dark fae in here. I enjoyed Veris as a character and liked her resourcefulness. The story wraps up nicely with a bit of a mystery still unanswered at the end.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this was a quick read that I enjoyed. I think if you are a fan of traditional dark fairy tales you will enjoy this. It was engaging and well written and I look forward to future books the Mohamed writes.

so incredibly immersive, emotional, creepy, and just plain good. I do NOT like horror but oh boy, this doesn't deserve anything less than four stars.

some things I liked:
- story building in novellas can be kind of hard because most things end up being a little rushed or just info dumped on you, but the world building here made total sense to me.
- you can tell the entire time veris isn't giving you all the information but you can really empathize with her - her fear, her determination, her anger, her sadness. she's smart and clever and persevering, and you're cheering her on the entire time. when the truth comes out at the end, you can't even really be mad at her for holding back because it's so heartbreaking and you've felt so many of her emotions this entire time.
- mohamed's writing literally gave me the goosebumps. the only other horror author I really read is t kingfisher and both authors have this vivid way of describing things in a way that is so inexplicably unnatural and creepy, which really lends itself to the atmosphere of the novella. (I had to read this during the day tbh.)

the ending felt a little abrupt to me - I'm torn over liking certain aspects of the ending and disliking other aspects, and the fact that this is a novella and it ended where it ended made me feel almost cheated? but I loved this anyway, and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a novella they can only read when the sun's out.

"A world-weary woman races against the clock to survive a deadly forest in this dark, otherworldly fairytale from Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning author Premee Mohamed.

At the northern edge of a land ruled by a merciless foreign tyrant lies a wild, forbidden forest ruled by powerful magic.

Veris Thorn - the only one to ever enter the forest and survive - is forced to go back inside to retrieve the tyrant's missing children. Inside await traps and trickery, ancient monsters, and hauntings of the past. One day is all Veris is afforded. One misstep will cost everything."

If this book hasn't been on your radar I think it's time to get it checked.

Dark little fairy tale horror where our hero tries to save two children trapped in a dark forest while plagued with nightmares of a child she couldn't save.
I can't wait to read more by this talented author
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Thank you to NetGalleg for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Minor content warning/spoilers ahead.

A delightful little horror-esque fairy tale that brings in a lot of delightful classic fairy tale themes and tropes. A very quick easy read with beautiful imagery. The overly detailed use of sexual abuse was unnecessary and out of place in such a short piece- it can be done well but only when it’s part of a rich nuanced character development and serves a purpose more than shock value, which this did not. Otherwise I’m glad I picked it up.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor, and Premee Mohamed for providing this arc in exchange for a honest review!

I came across this book while scrolling on Netgalley and was immediately intrigued in this gothic fantasy novella especially after reading and absolutely loving One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns — i was just itching for another gothic fantasy book.

Well, this book definitely delivered on gothic fantasy. it delivered above and beyond. Despite being under 200 pages this novella packs a punch and kept my attention fully (i literally read this in less than 2 hours bc i couldn’t put it down).

If you’re a fan of dark and twisted fairytales, this is definitely for you. The best way i can describe the vibe is if the Grimm Brothers wrote hybrid of Alice in Wonderland and Hansel and Gretel but like make it very horror. This book is whatever the opposite of cozy fantasy is — it’s unnerving basically.

The only critique i have is that the writing some times inhibited the story for me. I sometimes would read something and then have to go back a few more times before i felt like i had an understanding of what was being said — however, i think that’s partly a stylistic choice, so if you are into more flowery and metaphorical prose than you should have no problem with it.

Such a fun & spooky read! The immersive story, richly detailed, draws the reader into a dark fairy tale of lost children and their would-be savior.

Premee Mohamed's 'The Butcher of the Forest' offers a dark, Grimm-like twist to the fairytale genre, creating an atmosphere that is both hauntingly beautiful and filled with tension. Set on the edge of a mercilessly ruled land, the story follows Veris Thorn, the only person to have entered the ominous, magic-ruled forest and survived, as she ventures back into its depths.

The book shines in its ability to weave a sense of foreboding and eeriness throughout the narrative. The forest is not just a backdrop but a character in itself, alive with ancient monsters and echoes of the past. Mohamed's writing encapsulates the essence of dark fairytales, making each moment in the forest feel like a step deeper into a beautifully crafted nightmare.

Veris Thorn is an exceptionally compelling character. Her journey through the forest and the challenges she faces are portrayed with a richness that makes her character arc both believable and engaging. Her interactions with the forest and its inhabitants add layers to the story, heightening the sense of mystery and danger.

However, the book occasionally stumbles in its use of descriptive prose. At times, the extensive descriptions, though beautifully written, become a bit cumbersome, slowing the pace of the narrative. A lighter touch in some sections would have maintained the book's atmospheric tension without sacrificing the story's momentum.

Overall, 'The Butcher of the Forest' is a captivating read, especially for fans of dark fantasy and those who appreciate a more sinister take on fairytales. The book is a testament to Mohamed's skill in creating a world that is both terrifying and alluring. It's a solid 4 out of 5 stars for its gripping storyline, complex characters, and the evocative, eerie setting that will linger in the reader's mind long after the last page is turned. This novel is highly recommended for those who relish a journey into the darker side of fantasy.

Butcher of the Forest reads like a fairytale of a particular sort: atmospheric, violent, and unsettling. I like the balance Mohamed has struck here between providing enough detail to follow along while leaving much of the mysterious setting unknown and unexplained. Her writing is wonderfully descriptive.

I do have a significant criticism though, which I’m leaving behind spoiler tags as it relates to the ending. I really, really do not appreciate when <spoiler>a character’s history of having survived childhood sexual abuse & assault is used as a “big reveal” or a twist or whatever happened here. It doesn’t feel even remotely survivor-centric or trauma informed.</spoiler> As a reader, I felt let down by this, and cannot recommend this beautifully written novella on this basis.

Content warnings: violence, blood, body horror, gore, sexual abuse of a child (mentioned, not on-page)

Thank you to Tor Publishing & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Welcome to Elmever forest, where no one is supposed to go and no one ever gets to leave.

“The Butcher of the Forest” by Premee Mohamed is a haunting, atmospheric fairytale novella that plunges through ancient wood and never once takes a breath to make sure you’re going the right way. We are introduced to Veris, a woman with mysteries, who is summoned to the Tyrant’s court. As the only known person to have entered Elmever forest and returned alive she is tasked in rescuing the Tyran’ts two children who have gone missing. If she fails everyone she loves will die.

Rich and full of magic I loved every part of this novella. The forest is brutal and full of deadly rules and bargains and creatures from your nightmares. If you make the slightest error, you feel absolute dread that it will claim you if you don’t remain focused. Veris was a wonderful character and we slowly peel back the layers to unravel her mysteries. The ending only felt slightly rushed, and I would have loved to learn even more about the forest’s creation and the outer world we only got a peek at, but as a self-contained story everything was superb. If you like your fantasy dark and slightly sinister, this will be for you. Premee Mohamed’s writing is exquisite.

Thank you TOR and Netgalley for sending me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️

This is beautifully written dark fairytale. Veris is the only person to enter the woods that has been capturing children and come out alive. Therefore the Tyrant of their village has forced her to re-enter to save his children. Since this book is very short we get glimpses of them man he is and what he is known for. It made me wondering were they really in the nightmare and the forest the salvation.

This book does read quickly because of its overall length but there are times that it does drag out and I found myself skimming some.

I see this book having a specific audience and it will be loved by this group. Readers who enjoyed The Last Tale of the Flowerbride I think will really enjoy this novella.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

Part fairy tale, part nightmare, Mohamed takes you by the hand into a topsy-turvy wonderland where the miraculous and menacing live side by side. She plots a tight path in and out of the woods, but you can't be sure you're really ever out. A fun journey. For certain values of "fun."

Genre: fantasy, dark fairy tale

Veris once rescued a child from the Forest, so when the Tyrant ruler's children go missing, he threatens her life and that of everyone in her village and forces her to go in after them. She faces challenges to get them back, because those who dwell in the forest are creatures of magic and power.

A dark tale of adventure, despair, trial, and heroism. Veris, our heroine, knows she is walking a fine line between life and death, but as we learn through the story, she’s already so far down the path of despair herself that she can look death in the eye and greet challenges head-on. Despite the fact that the story is both dark and bittersweet, there are many reflective moments which keep the reader engaged. Every challenge, every new creature faced, is a chance to pause and play a game of logic.

This slim novella is simplistic in its execution. It has no real chapter breaks (there are natural writing breaks however), and I found myself reading the entire story in one sitting, then spending several days reflecting afterwards.

The Butcher of the Forest is perfect for fans of T Kingfisher and Emily Tesh’s dark fairy tales. It’s not an “all vibes” book, because a tidy plot holds the narrative together.

The fluid boundary between mystery and puzzle

Veris lives near an enchanted forest, the Elmever. Children who get lost in the forest never come out. People of the villages have learned to mourn those who go lost in the wood as if they were dead, for those who enter the forest to search for their lost children also never come out. With one exception: Veris herself once went into the forest to search for a child and returned with the child. That was years ago.

The Tyrant who rules over the country where Veris lives has two children. Last night they snuck out of the castle and went into the forest, looking for adventure, probably. The Tyrant has Veris brought to him and tells her

“You are to go into the woods again, and recover my children.”*

He will kill her family and raze her village if she fails. He is a cruel man who has done such things for far less reason in the past.

Veris walks into the forest. This description intrigued me:

"Really, the problem was that people believed that there was some kind of . . . door, or gate, or at any rate some visible thing that let you enter the Elmever, and it was thought that this lured children in some way, tempted them with sparkle or song to step through it.

The truth was much more dangerous, Veris knew. For the world of those others was not at all through a doorway that alerted you to its presence, but was instead adjacent to the real one in a way that could not be perceived by human senses, and that was precisely why people went missing into it. At some point, you took a step, and you were simply there, and you would not see the difference between it and the true woods, and you would never take another step that led you back home."*

There are two kinds of questions that are hard to answer -- more, really, but we start with these two: mysteries and puzzles. It has been pointed out (by Malcolm Gladwell, among others) that these are different things. A puzzle has a right answer. A mystery does not -- it is an unknowable thing. But if you know anything of the history of ideas, you know that sometimes puzzles become mysteries and mysteries puzzles. Sometimes you have to find a different way of knowing. (The history of mathematics is full of examples.)

Here is the story as I saw it: to bring the children out, Veris must make puzzles of some of the mysteries of the Elmever. Although I doubt it is what Premee Mohamed had in mind, her description "At some point, you took a step, and you were simply there, and you would not see the difference between it and the true woods" felt to me like the imperceptible slip from puzzles -- things unknown -- to mysteries -- things unknowable. And to return Veris must do the opposite -- move from mystery to puzzle.

The actual story of what happens to Veris in the Elmever is far more concrete than that abstract question makes it sound. In fact, Veris meets things and fights things and talks to things and makes bargains. It becomes clear as the story progresses that we will not understand what Veris is doing unless we also know the story of her past foray into the forest, why she went, who she was pursuing, how she succeeded and how she failed. We do eventually learn these things.

I was left with a puzzle, and this is definitely a puzzle rather than a mystery: why is the book called Butcher of the Forest? Nothing that Veris encounters in the forest is referred to as a butcher, nor does anything obviously merit that description. I am left puzzled as to where the title of the book comes from. I am pretty sure Mohamed knows why she called it that, but I am clueless.

I really enjoyed this. It was not like anything I had read before. It is just the right kind of weird. Different readers will see different things in it.

I thank NetGalley and Tordotcom for an advance reader copy of Butcher of the Forest. This review expresses my honest opinions. Release date 27-Feb-2024.

*Quotes are from an advance reader copy of Butcher of the Forest and may change before publication. If necessary, this review will be corrected on the release date.

This book sounds so good, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get invested into the story when I picked it up. May be a moody thing and I’ll most likely give it another shot in the future.

The Butcher of the Forest is a haunting dark-fairytale with twist and turns that will have you second guessing what happens next. The story is fast paced and has you eager to read through it and find out where the story leads. The description of the forest and the beings that are native to it clings to the edges of your mind like whips of shadows, immersing you in a completely wistful reading experience. I greatly enjoyed reading this and seeing the strength and determination that the MC - Veris - exhibited throughout the book, her conviction and care towards securing the safety of Eleanor and Aram was heartwarming and real.

This book is definitely worth the read, although it is a novella, it’s brimming with emotions, well-built characters and a story that will last with you.

I would to thank the publishers, the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review! It was a wonderful reading experience!

Epically written dark fairy tale. Thanks for the arc as this novella was utterly beautifully done. High stakes and quick character growth. Thanks for the afc

I’m a sucker for “deep, dark woods” books. I see that pop up in a book summary and you’re already halfway to me requesting the book immediately! Add on top of that a creepy, fairytale-like cover, an adult leading lady, and the mention of “traps, riddles, and monsters,” and yeah, I didn’t hesitate to slot this one down for review. And man, it was both everything I expected and wanted, and yet somehow also much more.

There was so much that I loved about this book that I don’t even know where to start! I will say, this is a novella, so readers are plopped down fairly quickly into this world and left to piece together an understanding of its politics and dangers fairly quickly. To accomplish this, the book relies on fantasy readers’ knowledge of some of the tropes commonly found in this type of book: a deep, dark cursed forest that everyone know not to enter; a cruel, tyrannical lord who is as brutal as he is unpredictable; and, of course, a leading character with a particular set of skills and a mysterious past. But while all of these elements are familiar, the fantastic skill of the author deploying them raised it all to a new level, allowing me to not only easily orient myself but to also find myself quickly invested in Elmever’s story.

She’s the exact sort of character I love: brave, but not foolhardy; sad and worn down by a cruel world, but unwilling to forfeit all hope; willing to take action, but also capable of dealing with the blows dealt to her. I also loved the slow reveal of the mysteries in her past, with the final clincher coming late in the story in a way that completely took me by surprise. Not so much what the reveal was itself, but how it played into the current events unfolding on the page.

This book is also incredibly dark and would comfortably fit under the “horror” umbrella. And while “horror” isn’t my preferred genre, I do like seeing aspects of the genre pop up in books like this. There’s nothing more disappointing than a fantasy book with a cursed forest that turns out to be fairly…tame. This is not that. Scene after scene buffets the reader with gruesome creatures, terrible choices, and the inevitable feeling that there’s no way Elmever can possibly keep this up much longer. The stakes always feel high, and by the midpoint of the book, I was frantically reading at a pace that could almost be described as “frenzied.” And on top of these horror elements, this book is dark in the sense that it tackles some very tragic themes. These characters have not had easy lives, and no one is safe. I was honestly surprised by just how willing the author was to fully go there with some of these scenes.

It’s hard to say I “enjoyed” this book per se, given how tragic and tense it was for much of the time. But I did love it and was incredibly impressed throughout the story. For such a short book, it packs a powerful punch. I never felt like a scene was wasted, unnecessary or not fully explored. Instead, the book felt succinct, sharp, and incredibly poignant at times. I highly recommend this one to readers who enjoy dark fantasy novels and are looking for a short, satisfying read.

Rating 9: Heart-breaking and fear-striking, this book will catch you up in its claws and wring you out, all in the best possible way!

(Review will go live February 7 on The Library Ladies)

The only thing wrong with this novel is that it's too short! The woods were so real that I felt as though I were right there with Veris. A real "Into the Woods" vibe like The Year of the Witching, or The Wolf and the Woodsman, but with more descriptive oomph when the forest atmosphere tilts to become more hopeful or more menacing or just more magical. A smattering of real gore and horror kept me riveted but not revolted. Unlike some forest fairytale novels, I had no inkling what would happen next, and the ending was not what I would have guessed at all. Would absolutely love a sequel and Mohamed has certainly paved the way for one with that ending.

Do you like scary fairy tales? Fae deals that are much more than you bargained for? Fairyland that is dark and ominous? Then The Butcher of the Forest is for you. It's set in a medieval-inspired fantasy land. We don't know much about it other than that "the Tyrant" subjugated the land years ago, and still rules with an iron fist. There's also a frightening Forest that serves as a border between the real world and an uncanny fairyland. Years ago, Veris managed to go into the Forest and rescue a child. Now, she's pressed into the service of the Tyrant, whose two children have disappeared.

The bulk of the novella follows Veris as she navigates "fairyland" while dealing with her own trauma, both from her previous time spent there and from her experiences under the Tyrant's rule. Her sense of self and her own hard-won principles in the face of so much adversity make this more of a character study than an adventure story. It packs a punch! It's not an easy read, but it's worth the journey.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.