After having read and enjoyed several of this author's books, I was interested in checking out this upcoming release. In terms of narrative, this novel has a distinctive style. I appreciated the sense of atmosphere, which felt right for a dark fairy.

Yet despite the nice prose, I struggled to immerse myself in the story itself. I felt very detached from the characters which left me in different to their fates.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Though obviously set in a dark and deadly forest I spent way too much time wondering who the butcher is and still don't know. That didn't prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this short tale and its grotesque and magical creatures. Veris is a refreshing female character who uses her intellect and tangible skills when ordered to rescue the Tyrant's children from the devouring Elmever woods that she successfully escaped from once before with child in tow (a feat no one has ever accomplished). I clung to her instantly and wanted her to succeed, even more so upon learning of the hardship she experienced after the death of her parents. There are unexpected layers of trauma and family bonds/expectations here, suspense and danger are ever-present, and the vivid images of every awful creature were so unique and terrifying and certainly put that horror element to work. This is not a light fantasy, more of a Grimm that went even farther over the edge, bloody and nightmarish.
I wasn't planning for a sequel but with an ending like that I look forward to it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Premee Mohamed for the e-copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

This book was a very good mixture of horror and fantasy. The author showed how to balance the two and still produce a worthwhile story. The journey is with a strong-willed main character who survives all odds to ensure the safety and well-being of the children who are in danger.

This was well-written and very interesting! But ultimately I don’t usually connect well with novellas because I don’t get super engaged with the characters, and that’s what happened here. But I will recommend it for purchase at my bookstore, and I know the type of person to recommend it to! It just wasn’t really for me.

The Butcher of the Forest is a dark and twisted fairytale with a forbidden forest. Our main character is Veris Thorn the only person who has ever made it out of the Elmever, so the task of retrieving the Rulers children falls on her. If she fails she'll lose everything.

I found myself skimming the support waiting for more action to occur. While Veris does have to figure out riddles, make bargains and the stakes of her journey are extremely high for a 160 page story the pace seemed to drag. I kept waiting for a battle to occur even a small one and it never happened. By the end I found I didn't care at all what happened to any of the characters.

That being said the writing was beautiful, and I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy this read it just wasn't for me unfortunately.

This was a very interesting read. The main character Veris is tasked with searching for the Tyrants children who have gone missing into the woods. He has sent some others to search for them but they did not come back. If she does not bring them back her family and town will be harmed. She is put in a very difficult position.

Throughout her journey she comes across different obstacles and fairytale like monsters. This is definitely on the darker side of what I enjoy reading, but it kept my interest. This was a quick read and the action began pretty quickly, I think that is what grabbed me when I started reading.

This is more of a novella and not a typical fantasy read. I enjoyed the story and this is not a typical book I would have grabbed to read. The writing was amazing and I would have to say the only thing I didn't like about it is that it just was a little too dark for me.

2.5* — The vibes of the book are totally there: a dark, grim fairytale/horror. That's something the author really succeeded with, in my opinion. The main character is another aspect i enjoyed, in that she was complex, relatable, brave, and overall, just stood out. Unfortunately, a lot of the plot lacked luster and fell short at times (especially the ending) because of the overt lyricism.

I see what this was going for and while I love the vision, I’m not really sold on the execution. The author clearly had a goal in mind for the type of language and prose, but I think the way it read was slightly mismatched and just seemed really long at times. As a result, the pacing seemed off as well. Though in terms of the plot, we are thrown directly into the start of the story, the excessive descriptions makes the hook lose some of its shine.

I would love for this plot to be expanded not in terms of prose, but backstory and life. That's what would make me, and I'm sure a lot of other readers, enjoy this much more. The plot is very enticing though, and I definitely love how the author's voice shines through.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the arc!

For those that love a Bite Sized Book of horror, this is a fun example. The setting is not innovative however, Mohamed is able to layer the expected with small elements that make the story engaging. Layers that are when put into practice make for a thrilling ride, magic forests, risen dead, fungus creations, the desperation that comes from the possibility of losing loved ones, and chases. There is less death in this than in many similar horror offerings, instead it is the possibility of being trapped and of loss that makes this horrific. Don’t worry there are intestines and severed heads as well…

I was happy to read something that I didn’t see the entirety of the ending coming. It wasn’t a hard fake out, it makes sense, but it is still surprising the choices made and the consequences of those choices.

Thank you to NetGalley & Premee Mohamed for a copy of this ARC, for which I'm providing an honest review!

While this book wasn't exactly within the realm of genres that I typically enjoy reading - this story was quite good. The prose took some getting used to, as I'm not as familiar with the lyrical-style, but it remained engrossing as I continued on. The story was whimsical, eerie, and filled to the brim with mythical creatures - and the attention to detail painted a beautiful atmosphere all the way through.

My main (and really, only) criticism, would be that I would have liked the characters and settings to have been a bit more fleshed out. Starting right from the rip with action-packed adventure left a little to be desired.

Give it a try! Even if you think it might be too far out of your comfort zone, you might be pleasantly surprised!

What a gorgeously-written novella! "The Butcher of the Forest" is a classic fairy tale "lost in the woods" story with a few twists to liven it up. Our protagonist, Veris, is a refreshingly older woman who has escaped the terrifying forest once, and now she must return to save the children of the Tyrant who has conquered her country. If she fails in this quest, the Tyrant will kill her.... if the forest itself doesn't kill her first.

Anyone enjoying the darker aspect of the fae will appreciate this work; it reminds me of a mix of Schwab, Gaiman, and deliciously wicked little stories that used to scare you as a kid. I was engaged throughout as we travelled with Veris, and read through the whole thing as quickly as I could to get to the end. My only complaint is that it ends somewhat abruptly; I enjoyed it so much that I was sorry it was over and I was ready for more adventures! Would absolutely read anything else this author cares to write, such was the overall quality of the work.

"I have returned. I am one known to you. Please allow me safe passage to bring back those who are lost."

[Review contains spoilers]

I've really enjoyed some of Premee Mohamed's books in the past and so was excited to be given the chance to pick this one up. The Butcher of the Forest is such a tantalizing title. Combine that with the blurb which gives off strong dark fairy tale vibes and of course I was immediately sold. Sadly, this felt very much like a writing exercise or story outline rather than a fully fleshed out novella.

The Tyrant's children have disappeared into the Elmever, a menacing forest from which no one has ever returned. Except for a woman named Veris - who is now tasked with bringing the Tyrant's missing heirs home or face the decimation of her family and village. As Veris once again journeys into the forest she may be forced to confront all the parts of her past she had abandoned so long ago in the depths of the Elmever.

With a premise like that you'd expect that the setting would have to be top notch. Unfortunately, I found it to be lackluster and didn't feel any of the supposed dread. The Elmever just consisted of a series of encounters (undead animals, lost feral children, evil unicorn on steroids etc) that felt like they were all trying a little too hard to be eerie or gruesome. The author was definitely hearkening back to those old dark Grimm fairy tales with some of the aesthetics of the forest. I think I was hoping for a more...phantasmagorical experience? One where the events that transpired in the forest would be increasingly intertwined and difficult to disentangle from Veris' own personal history. Veris' actual journey through the Elmever was nowhere near as hallucinatory. Tragic back stories were dumped on the reader last minute and most attempts at imparting some nuance to the plot ended up feeling pretty slipshod. Maybe any of the events would have made a more significant impact if I had actually cared about any of the characters.

Classic fairy tales were sometimes avenues through which morals were questioned or imposed on the reader. The reason I bring this up is I felt like this story had the potential for the exploration of such interesting moral quandaries. There were so many times when I thought "yesss the author is really going THERE" but then she never really does. I was expecting there to be this grand emotional reckoning with Veris about her saving the children of the man who essentially murdered her entire family and razed her country and who are being raised to continue this bloody lineage but everything just kind of fizzled out. In the end, what were we supposed to get out of all of this? That the sins of the father should not be a burden bequeathed to his children just by nature of blood? Nah. The only thing I really got after turning the last page was "damn life kinda sucks." The Butcher of the Forest is not Premee Mohamed's best work.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

The Butcher of the Forest is so gripping and intense it was very hard to put down. This is the first book I’ve read in a long time that really captures what I imagine a fae forest to feel like. The prose is so lush and descriptive, you can really feel the stress and turmoil of the characters. The creatures are so unique - they reminded me a lot of Annihilation in the way that beauty was mixed with horror. I wish this book was about three times longer, but it is also perfect as it is.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed;
This is a dark fairy tale that harkens to the Grimm fairy tales of old. It’s horror adjacent and the atmosphere has me on edge. With atmospheric prose that for me is similar to Winterset Hollow.

No one enters the north forest and if they do they never come back. Only one woman, Veris, has gone in to save a child and come back. Now two children are missing. There’s only one day for her to not only save them but prevent the consequences of their father’s wrath if she fails.

I highly recommend this novela for those who love dark folk/fairy tales. That cover being gorgeous is just a bonus. I couldn’t put this one down. I’m already recommending it to those I know who will love it.

Butcher of the Forest is an engrossing dark fairy tale about a woman trying to save two young kids from a dark, twisted, and menacing forest. The prose in this book is beautiful and haunting. I loved Premee Mohamed’s writing style and would love to check out more of her work in the future.

This book is a fast paced novella that packs in a gripping story and enough world building to have some context for the harrowing adventure our main character has to encounter. This book has a creepy, unsettling tone that reminded me of watching an A24 film. It contains elements of gore and body horror that will not be for everyone.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the writing style. I wanted more from the plot and did find that the themes could have been explored more deeply if the book had been a little longer.

Overall - 3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beware the forbidden forest!

Dark and twisted woods have trapped the innocent children of a Tyrant, leaving weary Veris forced to enter and save them, or risk certain death.

I love twisted fairy tales, and this book vividly captures the feeling of youthful innocence lost to danger and grim death. Majestic fictional creatures are not to be trusted, and your words are always used against you. Dreary atmospheres where danger lurks in every corner are a favorite of mine, and this book satisfies the urge to go exploring where no man would venture.

Despite the alluring atmosphere and fast paced narrative, the story was short, and I was left wanting more. I know all stories don’t require a happy ending, but this one might need a bit more resolve. I will also say, the book’s prose can be too flowery and illusive. It’s filled with constant metaphor, working against the flow of the story at times. I’m sure some will love the descriptive writing, so take this critique with a grain of salt.

All in all, I enjoyed the immersive dark forest and blood thirsty mythical creatures. Stories like this are for fans of Brothers Grimm, like myself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC.

As a lover of fantasy, fairy tales, and dark books this was right up my alley. I liked that the author just jumped right into the story and kept it short. Felt like a cross between Kingfisher and Vandermeer. Grotesque, descriptive, original.

Rating: 2/5 ⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This novella started out with promise, and continued to have great potential. The prose was what ruined it for me and made it difficult to follow the story itself. To much crypticism and lyrical content.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF @ 52%.

While this style of writing was not for me, I’m sure it is fantastic for others as the story itself seems to be interesting.

Now, I love a cozy, whimsical fantasy like any other person. But lately, call it the dark winter days, or the closing of the year, I've been itching for something more substantial and gripping. Something that doesn't guarantee a happy ever after. A fantasy that boasts unconventional characters and plot formula and then actually delivers.

And Premee Mohamed does that in "The Butcher of the Forest." Personally, I thought the length was perfect, as it ended up heightening the stakes and elevating the grim tone of the story. I really enjoyed that the worldbuilding was revealed in so much as it related to the characters and quest.

The prose and character's were my favorite part. I love when a setting or an action is described so talently that you can see it coming to life off the page. I'll be adding Mohamed's books to my TBR list for the new year for sure!

This is a weird review. There were things I loved about this novella and things that I was left wanting more.

What I liked: I loved the fae-horror aspects. It was creepy and unsettling and more twisted than the traditional faerie stories I’ve enjoyed in the past. Any story with a malevolent forest is also a draw and I think Premee Mohamed nailed the atmosphere.

What I didn’t like: the story felt unfinished? There were lines that I felt hinted at more but never went anywhere and overall I was let feeling like I would have enjoyed this story more if it had been a full length novel. I was really intrigued by the world and politics of the world but sadly those things were not fleshed out.

Not a spoiler: while I understand why the ending was the way it was, I did not like it. Just a personal thing and again it fit the storyline and the message of the novella.

I will definitely be keeping an eye on Premee Mohamed’s career and any other stories she may be writing. She holds such promise and I look forward to reading more by her!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this novella about the woods, the quilt with live with, the lies we tell ourselves, and a fox with a clever set of dice.

The are not really lovely, but the are dark and very, very deep. One might have miles to go, but one should not sleep. Nor take a drink. Or eat any food, nor share one's name. Or engage in games of chance. For the woods are controlled by powers that few understand, and none have ever escaped. Except for one. And now she has to go back in. The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed is fairy tale, maybe a parable, with a dash of body horror, survivor's guilt and a bit of life in post-COVID America.

Veris Thorn has lost her parents and her love to war, living, surviving with her grandfather and her aunt. The village they reside in lives on the knives edge of starvation, controlled by a Tyrant from a distant land, whose war of conquest left Thorn almost alone in the world. Veris is awoken by savage knocking, and taken to the Tyrant's throne room, where Veris is told something never wants to hear again. Two children, the Tyrant's heirs are missing, thought to have wandered into the Woods. The Woods where nobody goes into, for no one ever comes out. Except Veris. Once another child had gone missing, Veris had brought the child back, which died. The Tyrant makes it clear, return my children or all you know will die. Slowly. By sundown. Veris makes plans to reenter the woods, but as soon becomes clear the Woods have been waiting for Veris, and escape will not be allowed.

A novella that has more story, development of characters and themes, than most trilogies. Every word seems perfectly planned to move the story along, while sometimes breaking one's heart. Guilt, the loss of children, surviving, fear of surviving, facing one's fears, and continuing when one loses. And also the knowing that everything one has can be taken away by someone with power, more money, in a fit of pique, just because they can. The story unfolds carefully, throwing one right in action wise, but unfolding carefully. There is some that is unexplained, and that is fair. Veris for all her bravery, and skill knows that her lot in life is the village. Veris knows there is a whole world out there, but like what the true power of the woods is, she will never know about it. Mohamed is a very skillful writer, able to convey the stakes of the story in just a few words, and character actions. This is a quest for Veris, that will lead to death somehow. Veris might be too late to safe the children, or fail in bringing them out. And because of her hundreds will die, knowing it was her fault. A really powerful story.

Recommended for readers who like fairy tales, or tales of dark woods, and disgusting creatures that live within them. Also for readers who like strong women characters. And great writing. This is my first book by Premee Mohamed, and I can't wait to explore some more.