Aaaaaand - this wraps up my Hugo Awards 2025 nominated novella reading, and it says something that I’m just so relieved that this one wasn’t bad. A few novellas I’ve read prior to it set the bar pretty low, but at least this one I didn’t dislike, and even enjoyed, actually. The setting here is a haunted forest that is mostly across the border into another world, that of kinda-Fae, where hallucinatory horror intertwines with nightmarish surrealism, and some fae-style bargaining. Veris is a villa...

Okay, so *The Forest Butcher* is a quirky little dark fantasy novella. It’s part horror, part fairytale, and I was totally into the concept. The writing style is what tripped me up a bit. The way the main character is portrayed makes her seem skillful, but the overall movement and flow of the story felt a little disjointed to me. I liked the idea behind *The Forest Butcher* more than the actual execution, unfortunately, and I think that had a lot to do with the writing. It just didn't quite cli...

Imagine a blend of Jeff VanderMeer's *Annihilation* and Peadar Ó Guilín's *The Call*. That's the vibe I got from *The Forest Butcher* by Premee Mohamed.And I absolutely loved it!! I'm craving more horror fantasy like this. My favorite aspect of *The Forest Butcher* was the utterly seamless world-building. The world simply *existed*; there were few explanations, and you’re instantly enveloped in gorgeous prose, unique descriptions, and incredibly high stakes. Dark, creepy, intense, and short!! I ...

I absolutely loved this book! It gave me serious Labyrinth meets The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe meets Alice in Wonderland vibes. Honestly, who *doesn't* want a dark fairytale set in a creepy, atmospheric woodland with an evil unicorn, reanimated animal corpses, a sly fox-man, and danger lurking around every single corner? Premee Mohamed's *The Forest Butcher* is just so much fun. If you're looking for thrilling fantasy book reviews, definitely check this one out!

4 StarsIf you're after a light, adventurous, almost fairy-tale kind of story, then look elsewhere.The world Premee Mohamed has crafted is anything but gentle or pretty. It's a world where lands have been conquered with savage force by the Tyrant, and his will is absolute, brooking no argument or hesitation. Resistance means death for you and everything you cherish.So, when Veris is tasked with finding the Tyrant's children, who've wandered into the perilous Elmever woods, her chances of success ...

The rules were vague but should not be broken: don't cut living wood; don't shed any animal's blood; trade if you must, but do not negotiate. And certainly never accept any "gifts."The deep, dark forest, home to magical creatures both good and evil, is a staple of many fairy tales, and in Premee Mohamed's *The Forest Butcher* that involves a quest to rescue two missing children, it looms larger than life; it becomes a character almost. Veris has ventured into these woods once before, and managed...

The Forest Butcher by Premee MohamedDark Fantasy NovellaNetGalley ARCTor Publishing GroupPub. Date: Feb. 27, 2024Ages: 16+To the north lies Elmever, a forest bordering the land, where monsters dwell. Venture beyond the first few trees, and you'll never find your way back. Veris Thorn once braved those depths to rescue a child and is fabled as the only person to have ever entered and escaped.When the Tyrant's two children vanish, with all trails leading into Elmever, he commands Veris to find the...

I'm giving "The Forest Butcher" by Premee Mohamed 4 stars, docking one only because I didn't love the ending. Yes, I know, I'm being a little petty.But honestly, this book is absolutely beautiful! I will always adore well-written, dark fantasy Alice in Wonderland retellings. (I loved American McGee's Alice video game and Christina Henry's Alice.) While "The Forest Butcher" isn't quite as violent and gruesome as those examples, there's still plenty of darkness and despair to touch my cold, dead h...

Happy publication day!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 t...

"The Forest Butcher" is a dark fairytale novella with stunningly beautiful writing and an immersive atmosphere. It's the perfect book for a spooky season read. This book has everything you could want: - An enchanted forest where kids disappear - Creepy and mythical creatures - Difficult decisions - Magic - High stakes - A 24-hour limit to the saving operation This was much darker than I was expecting, and I was anxious the whole time, but I really liked it! Despite its short length and the li...