The Butcher of the Forest

by Premee Mohamed

[Quirky Cat]

Summary:

Veris is the only person known to walk into the northern forest and survive. Naturally, she's ordered to repeat the process when the cruel overlord, the Tyrant, realizes his children have gone missing into those very woods.

Unfortunately, Veris understands those woods – and the poor odds those children face. Yet she has no choice in the matter. She must face her nightmares once again or see her village burn.

Review:

The Butcher of the Forest is an ethereal and haunting story. Veris' tale has a way of getting under your skin. This is true, even before you know the truth of her history. Likewise, the woods are dark and fascinating – in equal measure.

To be clear, The Butcher of the Forest leans into the gothic fairy tale world. The creatures in the woods may very well be fae, but they're not the type you want to meet (nor would you likely survive the encounter). Personally, I love these darker takes, so I was happy to see it here.

The subtle realization and character development elevated The Butcher of the Forest's point. While I wish there was more of a conclusion on the Tyrant side of the story, I can't complain about how the rest of this story wrapped up.

I would love nothing more than another half dozen stories set in this world. But I'd settle for one more! Is anyone else curious about whether or not another venture happened and how it went?

Highlights:
Fantasy Horror
Fae & Creatures of the Forest
Complex Characters

Trigger Warnings:
War-torn village
Missing children

Thanks to Tor.com and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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