Here’s the thing:

There are too many books and not enough time in the world. My ADD is outrageous, and if you can’t grip me in 2 chapters, I will lose the plot I fear. Now here we are still waiting for a review. Well, here is what I have right now. Even if I were to “choose not to review” it counts that ratio so let’s chat about it.

This was sadly a DNF for me. I could never get into the story. I’ve read others in the series but this one just lost my interest and couldn’t get back into it.

Is it too high fantasy? No. Did I dare dream of how book 1 was? Possibly. If I return I will provide additional updates and thoughts.

This book was lyrical and magical and super unique. I enjoyed this quite a bit and I think Premee Mohamed has a very unique writing style. Thank you for the opportunity!

The Year of Evil Forests continues!!!!!!!!!! This time, I had lots of fun with the breathless run-on prose, the evocatively described malevolent forest with its tricks and tests and bargains, and the sense of evil lurking both within the woods and without.

But there just isn't quite *enough* to carry everything else I think it’s trying to do, and things unravel a bit at the end. To start with, our protagonist Veris, who has been a very distant, practical character throughout, suddenly reveals a large amount of tragic backstory in a tiny amount of page time, including her mother and father dying, sexual exploitation by soldiers as a child, and the death of her daughter.

What’s also a bit wonky is that she shares a memory that she knows is not her worst memory in a situation where she is aware that she has to share her worst memory in order to save everyone. She is then devastated by what happens because of her failure, and there’s no real exploration of why she did what she did. Then, at the very end of the story, she does decide to tell her real worst memory to the conqueror-dictator who has been depicted as a figure of one-dimensional evil throughout, and he is persuaded to spare her life because of it.

With all of these elements, I feel like some additional thoughts from Veris about her decision-making and some more robust character moments throughout could have made it a bit less strange, but as it stands in the text, it just all feels a bit sudden and awkward.

I see the bones of a story about the generational legacies of violence and loss and tyranny and the ways that children grow up too quickly into adults who are oppressors or survivors, but this was too short and action-packed for me to really feel like I was able to sink my teeth into any of that. It’s still definitely a very cool, interesting novella, and I definitely say that anyone else looking for Evil Forest books should add it to the list.

The Butcher of the Forest is an amazing tale. I can’t believe it just…ended. Dear Author, please let us know what happens to Veris, Leo, and Aram. Magnificent writing. Like plunging into a pool of clear water.

Veris Thorn had my attention from the very beginning of this short - yet long - read. There was an eerie beckoning that persisted even when I had to back-track to try and find lost bits only to not find them. When it happens over and over, a short read becomes long. This reader was lost in the fog often, I must admit.

Having issued that admission, I still claim the ability to wave the 3-star flag - having read and re-read and feel confident that I wrapped my head around at least the gist of this dark, fairytale-ish account of a tragic, heroic woman who repeatedly put her own life (head, body, existence) up as collateral in exchange for other creatures not able to save themselves. Even ones who didn't appear to be on her side of things, or any other side - random lost souls caught in the same kind of enslavement she felt in her own life outside the Forbidden Forest. (She's been sent on a Find-My-Kids-or-All-Your-People-Die quest by a villainous Tyrant who has the power to do so.)

Confusion is not my friend, and has been known to throw a book out of my hands and send me off to the library in search of new reads. So, in spite of the confusion I felt with this read, the writing kept me in. . .often there were observations that evoked an uncanny familiarity with my not-at-all-in-a-fairytale life. Here's my favorite - Veris' thoughts as she looks at the woebegone faces of some of the creatures in the thrall of her enemies:

Monsters, the children of monsters. But innocent. You do not inherit what you are born to; and you do not inherit your own theft. Their innocence will not save them from harm. And it has not. Still it must be remembered.

Nice, eh? Doesn't that rise up your backbone and make your hair stand a little, thinking of darkest actions arising from your own dna (ya don't get to choose your ancestors, do ya?). . .it did me that way. . . whether it was 500 years ago or 50. . .hmm.

Bottomline, 3 stars, and I'll stay open-minded on this author, or any other third-party persuasions.

*A sincere thank you to Premee Mohamed, Tor Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

Not what I was expecting based on the title.

Some sections of the Forest was overly descriptive where I would have appreciated more time with the characters.

Interesting (hopeful?) ending. Curious enough to pique my interest to return if it were ever fleshed out to a full novel.

What a beautiful story! A fairy tale made complete with a dark wood, monsters of wood and bone, magic and missing children. You must know the rules and keep your wits to make it out again. #editionsbookstore #premeemohammed

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

So I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded so good and I thought it would be so entertaining, but I was completely wrong. There are no chapters in this book. That’s right, just one long chapter. For someone with ADHD that is a bad combination. It was so hard to get myself to want to pick up the book and I felt like I had to force myself to finish it. I just wasn’t drawn to the book and I probably should have just DNF it. I know there are so many people that have enjoyed this book and consider it to be a dark fairy tale but for me it just unfortunately fell flat.

The Butcher of the Forest grabs your attention from the beginning. The premise follows a woman who is the only survivor of a cursed forest. She has been tasked with finding the cruel emperor's children after they disappear from their castle. I was deeply invested in the characters and desperate to find out what happened next.

Premee Mohammad writes with such a sense of wonder. I will keep searching out work from this author. Highly recommend.

This was a decent fantasy novel. It wasn't my favorite one i have ever read however there wasn't anything i felt was wrong with it, it just wasn't for me.

I would recommend this to others who like this style of writing.

I really liked the atmosphere in this book, and the idea it self was great. The sentences were really long which made me have a hard time focusing on multiple occasions. As I said, the vibe and concept in general was great but I really feel like it needed something more.

This was short and sweet but so atmospheric and engrossing. The writing was so beautiful from the first page I could tell this was some of my favorite things. Just like a dark fairy tale with adventure, the story was interesting, the mystery full of tension and puzzles reveling many a metaphor. But the writing is what captured my attention. Can’t wait to look through this author’s other titles

Dark, moving, and riveting. I would say that I felt haunted by this book after I read it. We will be ordering for our library.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for e-arc!
It is a dark and twisting fairytale with ominous forests and missing children. Veris is the only survivor of the deadly forest and is forced back in. Forced to find the tyrant's missing children with only one day, Veris must survive the ancient and evil forces that wait inside the forest.
This a fantastic selection for someone who wants a great blend of horror and fantasy. I don't love most horror, but this focused mainly on fantasy's dark and ominous parts. It is the perfect amount to create an eerie and brutal story without petrifying me. This is what I want when I think of creepy magic forests.
The story itself is immaculate. The pacing is extremely fast and I finished the book in two days because I simply couldn't put it down. There is so much more to this story than what you expect when you start. Definitely worth a read!

Reading The Butcher of the Forest felt like moving through a forested nightmare. It has the accordion pace and geography of a dream, both contracting and expanding throughout the story, and the plot, imagery, and characters of a horrific fairy tale. I loved it.

In the book, orphaned village woman Veris is forced by the Tyrant to recover his children from The Wood. Nobody has ever gone into The Wood and returned, you see, except Veris. The bulk of this novella follows Verís as she navigates the maze of the forest trying to find and rescue the children. She encounters many types of beast and fae, and must use her strength and cleverness to endure all kinds of horrors and survive various bargains. It’s dark (heed the content warnings), it’s wandering, and it’s delicious.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the arc!

The Butcher of the Forest is a dark, deeply rich fantasy that engrosses you from the beginning. The cover of it almost perfectly enmeshes the feel of the book.

It's full of magical mythical creatures, danger, fantasy, and a forest that makes you feel like you're actively walking in it. A fantastic read!

I really enjoyed this dark and twisty story. For me it was very reminiscent of Pans Labyrinth which is one of my favorite movies. I enjoyed the world building, especially once Veris entered the North Woods. The author did a wonderful job of setting an ominous tone, as well as keeping you holding your breath. As someone who enjoys a bit of fantasy horror I liked the guardians in all their splendid rotten glory. Mix in some riddles and mayhem and this made for a really fast paced exciting read. I will say that I was surprised by the ending and have some really mixed feelings as to the events at the conclusion. I don't know if this book will have a second installment or if it is something that I will forever be milling about in my head. Either way really enjoyable peculiar story!

So, look… I somehow got the impression that this book was horror and I was a little apprehensive about it because (so I keep saying) horror just isn’t my thing. Nevermind that when it’s done like this? Baby, if this is horror you can keep it coming.

This dark fantasy story felt raw and harrowing and it was so, so beautiful. From the outset, I was hooked. Veris is dragged in front of the Tyrant who demands she return to the North Woods to rescue his missing children. The same place that nobody has ever returned from, except her - one time, a lifetime ago. She goes, reluctant but determined. She knows more, better now and knows the sooner she gets it done, the sooner she goes home. The magic, the creatures, the world of the North Woods demand a careful consideration of our words, our bargains and our intentions. There’s trickery and danger and hard choices. All the good stuff.

This story is short and aching, in the best way. It made me think of how much exploitation and colonization cost us all. Every single one of us paying a horrific price, whether we see it or not, when it doesn’t have to be this way. You know it’s good when you’re completely captivated and then thinking expansively about the meaning of life after.

I absolutely loved it. Absolutely loved it. I hope you read it.

Thank you to the author, B2Weird BookClub, Tor and Netgalley for this terrifyingly tender book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this quick fantasy read. The writing was lush and had the perfect pace.

Overall, enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by this author!