In Premee Mohamad's slim The Butcher of the Woods, the hope that dies among the trees wasn't very strong in the brightest of sunlight. That doesn't stop its main character from plodding on and on along its treacherous paths.

This isn't a fairy tale, nor does it read like one, exactly. But it does carry the weight of all the tricky and capricious forests of every fairy tale ever told; are the prince and princess walking through the trees all that different than Hansel and Gretel? The house Veris encounters deep in the woods doesn't stand on chicken legs, but it carries as much danger as Baba Yaga's. The talking creatures might say they mean no harm, but there's little more foolish among the trees than trusting a person or thing you didn't carry in with you. If The Butcher of the Forest were a story based entirely on vibes, Mohamad would have already succeeded.

But the trauma at the heart of The Butcher is something wound as tightly around every detail as tightly as ivy on a tree. At every turn, Veris is reminded of her last trip through the forest, which starts a cascade of memories that she has tried very hard to forget. There's a difference between surviving something and coming back whole, Veris notes early in the book, and it while it initially seems that she was referring to the child she retrieved on that first trip into the woods, it becomes increasingly clear that she's the one who hasn't been the same since. That growing clarity underscores just how slim the odds are for the children, who, despite being groomed to take the place of their bloodthirsty father, are not yet anything but innocents.

In a way, the forest is a metaphor for internal trauma, where the very air can twist the most innocent things, and where stepping off the few safe paths means instant peril. It's just a patch of woods, nothing very significant, except for its power to swallow anything that ventures too deeply into it, and goes far darker and deeper than what appears possible on the face of it. For Veris to tread every path perfectly with two unruly children only partially tamed by the danger they've put themselves in is impossible, and Mohamad does Veris the honor of not bending narrative time and space to overcome the odds. Instead, the ending is unexpected, and stranger and sadder in the absence of the magic that coats so much of the rest of the story. In Veris's world, there never was a happily ever after her—but the alternatives aren't all uniform in their unhappiness.

(A version of this review with summary added will post on https://ringreads.com/2024/02/27/butcher-a-fairy-tale-of-trauma/ at 2:44 p.m. MST)

A wonderful dark fantasy in the style of a fairytale. Monsters and bargains and a dark woods make an interesting story of a race against time. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A hauntingly beautiful tale of perception and how few things are actually what they seem. A brave protagonist, two lost children, an angry Tyrant (literally) and a forest with beings which cannot be trusted. Elegant descriptions and an interesting twist on the hero, er heroine's journey. If you like dark fairy tales, this is one not to be missed.

The Butcher of the Forest is like a dark Alice in Wonderland retelling, if Alice was a middle aged woman forced to save the children who wandered down the rabbit hole.
It's as whimsical as it is dark with it's tricky forest and mythical beasts. It was an enjoyable read with beautiful descriptions that put you right in that awful forest, seeing it through Veris' eyes. If you enjoy dark fairy tales, this novella will not disappoint.

This is my first Premee Mohamed and it will not be my last. I love the premise of a dark fairy tale, the promise of an even darker forest, and the author's haunting prose.

The Butcher of the Forest is a dark, underworldly fairytale novella. The tale follows the misadventure of Veris, who is voluntold by the Tyrant to enter a dark forest full of nightmares to bring back his missing children. My favorite part of the story was Premee Mohamed's beautifully descriptive prose. It gives some dark Alice in Wonderland vibes and was perfectly creepy. It was the perfect quick read to slip in between the longer fantasy books I've been reading lately. This is the first book I hav read from Premee Mohamed and now I definitely want to try out her Beneath the Rising trilogy.

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed, a strange read for a strange book. A good story told with enough suspense to keep you coming back for more.

Probably 4.5 stars.

This is a fairy tale that knows that magical woods are terrifying, deadly and alien. The main character, Verity, is told by the tyrannical conqueror of her land that she WILL retrieve his children (who have strayed into said wood) or she will die, her family will die, her village will die, everybody dies. He's terrifying too.

Verity is the only person who has gone into the woods and emerged whole. She knows some rules for survival in there and has some talismans that give her just a bit of guidance but she also knows she was very lucky the first time. She doesn't have time to despair or she would. She's got to find these children within a day because after a day the woods claim you forever.

This book feels like a lushly goth fever dream. The forest is otherworldly and it feels like it. Verity is a level headed forty year old woman (a nice change from a young maiden!) and her no-nonsense ways keep her from falling into some of the verbal traps that are laid for her by the denizens of the wood. Things get more difficult as she goes.

I removed one star because the ending felt extremely abrupt and I wasn't sure what to think of it. I'm also not sure about the title.

5/5 Stars

TL;DR - A fever-dream fairytale fantasy unlike anything I’ve ever read. Simple and yet complex, straight-forward and yet twisty-turny. An amazing, atmospheric little novella that pleasantly surprised me.

Big thanks to Tor and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

***Trigger warnings for: off-page war and colonization, child endangerment, mentioned childhood sexual abuse, mentioned death of a parent, mild gore, and mentioned death of a child.***

‘The Butcher of the Forest’ by Premee Mohamed is a fairytale-esque fantasy novella that tells the story of one of the worst days of Veris Thorn’s life. We follow her as she’s rather rudely awoken and forced to return to the Elmever, the eerie, magical forest from which she’s the only one to have ever escaped. In her search for the two children who’ve disappeared within, she encounters all manner of dangerous, eldritch creatures and must survive on her wits and will alone.

Oh wow, this book, y’all. I absolutely loved it. I would have gladly read twice or even three times as much of this book if the author had written it as a novel, because it’s just so perfectly up my alley.

Strong, clever female protagonist? Check. Forbidden forest inhabited by strange and terrible fey-things? Triple check. Beautiful and sharp prose to top it all off? A million checks!

First off, the prose is just so gorgeous. I could literally highlight this whole entire book because the prose is just so evocative and well-written. It’s clean and smart, there’s a lot of depth to it, and it’s so perfectly atmospheric of both rich fantasy and subtle horror.

Speaking of atmosphere, I’m always here for spooky forests and the beasties lurking within, and let me tell you, the vibes in this novella are IMMACULATE. I didn’t know what to expect in terms of the weird things living inside the forest, but I’m happy to report that the actual weirdness both met and exceeded my expectations! Fey-beasties asking for your name, tempting you with food, making deals, trying to eat you - yes to all of this! I was so concerned for Veris from start to finish because literally anything could - and did! - emerge from the trees to get in her way. Absolutely amazing.

(Haunted tablecloths? Haunted tablecloths!)

The more I read, the more I realized that this book really feels like a Miyazaki movie in all the best ways - utterly strange and nonsensical and terrifying, but beautiful and enthralling and weirdly charming. Is it the stuff of nightmares? Sure, but it’s also wildly entertaining.

Veris is a capable main character, and I really enjoyed watching her journey through the book, especially in hindsight when we learn about the first time she entered the Elmever and how it affected her. I love that she’s forced to use only her wits to evade danger, and even though I was afraid for her at every turn, I was also comforted by the fact that she's very cunning and I knew she could figure a way out. Not as much character depth as I prefer, but given that it’s a novella, I’ll give it a pass, and with that in mind, I’m still happy with the amount provided.

Final Thoughts:

I loved this, and I will be adding it to my list of books to buy physical copies of!

What a beautiful and horrifying fever dream of a fairy tale. I loved this. I’m not sure if it’s meant to be a prequel but I believe it sets the premise nicely for a longer novel, possibly a trilogy. Either way, just beautifully done. Thank you to Tor and Premee Mohamed for the opportunity to read this.

We all love a dark, twisted fairytale, but this was much more unnerving than usual. One part dark fantasy fairytale novella, one part cosmic horror, with a good pinch of gruesome grimdark, this macabre novella juxtaposed with lush beautiful prose combines a few of my favourite elements. Set in a deep, dark forest, where nightmarish fantastical forces lurk, the Elmever woods are full of the uncanny and ominous. In this twisted realm, nothing is as it appears, and venturing too far might mean never coming back.

Unfortunately, our main character Veris, is tasked with retrieving the Tyrant's wayward children who ventured too far into this perturbing forest, under the threat that everyone Veris loves will die if she fails. Right from the beginning the author builds up a sense of dread, doom and tension, blurring the lines between the familiar and unfamiliar on the protagonist’s fever-dreamlike quest. I also really liked Veris’ character, a wise, 40-year-old, no-nonsense, and resilient woman with a haunted past (and especially appreciate her character after reading many romantasies this year).

If I have any critique, it's that the sentences can be lengthy and the prose can lean towards flowery, but in this case, it worked for the world-forest-building and it worked for me. It might not work for others depending on how you prefer your prose.

🚨If you intend to read this novella, it’s best to avert your eyes from the rest of this review due to the mild spoilers + trigger warnings below:

The Butcher of the Forest transcends a literal tale, delving into metaphorical layers that go beyond physical monsters versus confronting one’s inner demons, which I thought was quite artistic. There are a few trigger warnings to be mindful of including: Body horror, gore, violence, child sex abuse and the death/s of a loved one.

-End of mild spoilers-

NGL, I think I liked this, but I have been travelling a lot so didn’t get to immerse myself in this world in longer stints as I would’ve preferred. I would recommend reading this novella in one to four sessions to get maximum enjoyment, not in many short sessions, as I did.

All in all, I definitely recommend this one if you’re into deeply unsettling cosmic horror grimdark fairytale fantasy (sorry I’m not sure how to classify it, but I had a go). If you’re looking for cosy fantasy feel-good vibes, I would stay away!

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group and author Premee Mohamed for the opportunity to read this work in exchange for an honest review.

The Butcher of the Forest is a great read if you:
- like enchanted forests filled with horrific beasts
- want to consume a read in one sitting
- are looking for middle aged main characters
- want to be immediately swept up into a different world
- don't mind gore and violence
- like Canadian authors

Overall I personally found this novella fascinating and I couldn't put it down once I started. However, it was too scary for me at times. If anything, I now want to explore more of Mohamed's work!

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy.

We follow Veris, a woman from a village conquered by invaders many times over, as she is forced to search the mysterious and dangerous Elmever forest for the children of their current monarch. She must find the children and get out before time runs out, and they are all trapped in the forest’s grasp forever.
The story was brilliantly written, with descriptions that give everything an air of eeriness that prompts thoughts of danger at every step. The ‘rules’ of interaction with the forest that Veris has seems to indicate that the forest is perhaps some sort of Faerie realm. And with each passing creature we meet, the lines between monstrous and humanity are blurred.
I thoroughly enjoyed the strange and sinister journey through the dark fairytale forest this story took me.

At the northern edge of the land there is a wild forest that people can enter, but never escape. All except Veris, the only person who’s escapes. So, when the Tyrant’s two young children go missing, Veris is commanded to enter the forest to get them out. If she fails, Tyrant will kill her, and if she stays longer than a day, she will be trapped. Will she be able to survive?

This was an interesting and immersive novella about a haunted forest. Because this is a novella, it is pretty fast paced, and we are taken right to the action. I wish that we would have had a little more time to get some of Veris’s back story, there was just a lot that could have been done. This book has dark fairytale vibes, and it has some pretty dark elements. I enjoyed them and felt that they worked well with the story and helped build the atmosphere that the author seemingly wanted to portray. Veris is an unlikeable main character, but with the vibes it worked. I didn’t really dislike anything about this one, but just wish I could have had more overall. I loved the writing style and would read more from this author in the future.

If you are looking for a book about a dark and enchanted forest, then I suggest you check this one out.

Thank you so much to Tordotcom @tordotcompub and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a whirlwind of fantastical horror and suspense. I really branched put of my comfort zone with this book, but I enjoyed it. There were parts that had me squirming with discomfort and fear right along with the characters. But I was wrapped up in the suspense of it all and invested in whether the MC would make it put of the forest. Some of the creatures she encountered were terrifying, and the author did such a good job of describing the strangeness of them. Although this isn't my usual kind of read, I'm giving it 5 stars because Premee was such a good storyteller.

TW of Note: mention of SA towards the end of the book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was excellent--a lush dark fairy tale with gorgeous prose. I devoured this novella in one sitting and wish I could read it for the first time all over again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

This book feels very much like a dark fairy tale in the best way possible. It's one of those stories that's going to stay with me a long time after I've put the book down. At no point was I sure what would happen next, and I loved that!

A fast paced, dark fantasy that immediately pulls you in!

Veris, an unlikely heroine, is the only person who has successfully entered the deadly forest and not only returned alive, but also retrieved someone else. This information reaches the ruling tyrant’s ears, compelling him to force her back into the forest once more. This time, her mission is to retrieve his own children, who have run away. Throughout her journey to accomplish this near impossible task, she encounters deliciously twisted creatures who will stop at nothing to prevent her from succeeding.

At only 160 pages, this story is incredibly unique and will leave you wanting more. If you enjoy nail biting dark fantasy, with horror elements, this book is for you!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stunningly written dark fairytale. This small but mighty package packs a punch with engaging plot, magic, and well developed characters. I absolutely love dark fairytales and horror novellas so this was a perfect match for me. Only critique is world building is a little lacking, but completely acceptable and understandable when confined to the page length of a novella. I just wanted more of the world, Veris, and everything! Thank you NetGalley and Premee Mohamed for this ARC.

Premee Mohamed's "The Butcher of the Forest" presents a dark fairytale wrapped in stunningly beautiful prose and an immersive atmosphere. Set against the backdrop of the Elmever, a wild forest notorious for consuming those who enter, the novella follows Veris Thorn, a seasoned woman forced into a perilous mission to rescue the tyrant's missing children.

This short yet intense narrative unfolds with a mix of fantasy and horror, featuring an enchanted forest where children vanish, mythical creatures, challenging decisions, magic, high stakes, and a time limit of 24 hours for the daring rescue operation. The story is more somber than expected, creating a sense of anxiety throughout, which adds to the overall tension and intrigue.

Despite its brevity, the characters, particularly the wise Veris, are well-drawn, and their connections to a tyrannical ruler enhance the depth of the narrative. The pacing is relentless, thrusting readers into the action without respite, maintaining a constant sense of urgency. Mohamed's mastery in creating an enticing world, rich in magic and dark themes, is evident, making readers yearn for more.

The novella masterfully blends elements of fantasy and horror, exploring themes of tyranny, imperialism, and the blurred lines between the outside world and the mysterious Elmever. Veris's journey unfolds with cosmic horror, presenting inescapable foes and a sense of powerlessness that heightens the suspense.

While "The Butcher of the Forest" concludes leaving some threads unexplored, it aligns with the thematic undercurrents of the story. The narrative keeps readers on edge, challenging expectations and presenting a macabre tale that lingers in the mind. Mohamed's skillful storytelling and the atmospheric blend of fantasy and horror make this dark fairytale a compelling read for those who enjoy stories that defy traditional boundaries.