I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed Published by Tordotcom on February 27 2024
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Horror
Pages: 160
Format: Finished paperback
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Monsters both supernatural and human populate the pages of this short but thrilling dark adventure tale.
I always hear good things about Premee Mohamed’s books, but this is my first experience with her writing. Now I can see what all the fuss is about, because I loved everything about The Butcher of the Forest. A lot of the story elements will be familiar to readers: the dangerous forest, the evil ruler, the intrepid main character who risks everything to save some children. But Mohamed has twisted these familiar tropes into something fresh and exciting, adding impossibly high stakes to create a story that seethes with emotion.
Veris Thorn is the only person in the kingdom who has gone into the north woods and returned alive, and it isn’t something she ever wants to do again. When the Tyrant—the evil ruler who has conquered her home—demands that Veris return to the woods to find and bring back his two lost children, she’s filled with dread. Not only is it a nearly impossible task, but he’s put a terrible condition on his request. She only has one day to locate the children and bring them back alive, and if she fails, the Tyrant will kill everyone in her village.
Armed only with a bit of food and three magical charms to help guide her way, Veris sets out on her journey. Within the forest await terrible creatures who do not want her to leave, and the forest itself plays tricks that make it hard for Veris to stay on track. With the clock ticking and the woods becoming more dangerous the deeper in she goes, Veris fears she may never find her way back.
I have a fondness for stories about magical or cursed forests, and I’m happy to add The Butcher of the Forest to the list of books I love. Mohamed’s north woods have a fae quality to them, especially because there is a hidden place within the forest called Elmever, and that is where the missing children have ended up. Elmever is full of unnatural horrors and creatures who try to bargain with Veris, and during her stay there she’s forced to make a couple of bargains with some of the residents of Elmever. Mohamed’s descriptions of these creatures are vivid and horrifying: decaying dead things that still move and talk; fox creatures with missing parts; monsters that hide in the trees and wait for prey to walk by. Veris has some experience, having been here once before, but Elmever changes all the time so you never know what to expect.
And because Veris is racing against time, the story has an urgency to it that made it hard to put down. The hidden dangers in the forest, Veris’s determination to find the children and then figure out how to escape Elmever with both of them, and her fears about what might happen if she fails, all these elements add up to a thrilling, tense story that had me holding my breath.
As if that weren’t enough, Mohamed infuses her story with emotional layers. We know that Veris rescued a child from the north woods once before, and the circumstances of that adventure are only hinted at until the end, when we learn the devastating truth. I also loved the bits we get about Veris’ aunt and grandfather, who she lives with and cares for. Both her parents are dead, thanks to the Tyrant, and these two relatives are so important to her, but in order to keep them safe, she must uphold her bargain with the Tyrant.
Then there’s the Tyrant, the true monster of the story, who hovers over everything like an angel of doom. Even when Veris encounters hideous things in the forest, there’s really no comparison. The ending surprised me, since I really had no idea which way it would go, and I loved the sweet, uplifting moment at the end between Veris and another character (to say who would spoil things!)
Premee Mohamed is such a skilled writer and storyteller. She has taken a fairly simple plot and fleshed it out with interesting characters and very high stakes, and I cannot wait to read more of her work.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
I’d not heard of either the author or the book before but this sounds so good. The monsters you’ve described remind me a little bit of some of those in An Enchantment of Ravens. Definitely going to add this one to my TBR list. Great review 😀
Thank you! I highly recommend her, she’s very good.
I don’t know why this wasn’t on my radar, i love the sound of it and it would definitely my type of read.
Away I go to investigate.
Lynn 😀
I need to go back and read some of her backlist now, she’s so talented:-)
A new name in the fantasy genre I was not aware of – until now, of course… 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…AN EDUCATION IN MALICE, by S.T. Gibson
I’ve been seeing her name around, mostly from UK bloggers, so I’m glad I was finally able to read one of her books:-)
This sounds great! Glad you loved it so much.
Thanks Barb!
Great review, Tammy! This is a new-to-me author but I really want to read her work now. I’m also really fond of books about magical or cursed forests. There just something about them that attracts me!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood
Thanks Stephanie! There’s so much you can do with forests, right?
This sounds terrific! And for such a short book, it sounds like there’s so much there to explore!
She packed a lot into it, but it doesn’t feel overly crowded.
Sound similar to The Hollowing by Robert Holdstock.
Snapdragon recently posted…The Black Unicorn by Tanith Lee
I haven’t read that, but I’m familiar with that book. I may have to read it now;-)
It seems like you had an amazing time with this one! Thanks for sharing!!
It was really good, thanks Susy:-)
I once had a friend tell me original thought is dead, there are no new ideas under the sun. And though I still disagree with that, I love that it really doesn’t matter, that even if it were true there are those authors who can take a tried and true and very used idea and turn it into something fresh and enjoyable. Loved your review, Tammy.
Thanks so much Todd. I always appreciate authors who can do this, take something familiar and make it feel new.
I was tempted to request this one because it sounded really good! Glad to see it was just as good as it sounded! 😀
Rebecca @ Powder & Page recently posted…The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter – Review
I’m glad I finally read a Premee Mohamed book:-)
Great review, Tammy! It makes me wish I’d requested this one, but I did not so that I wouldn’t feel as overwhelmed with ARCs. I’m definitely going to keep one eye on this book in the hopes I choose to pick it up one day soon. Glad you enjoyed it!
Celeste | A Literary Escape recently posted…Mountains Made Of Glass by Scarlett St. Clair
I know the feeling. There are way too many books to read them all, and you have to let some of them go…
This sounds so good! I just found out about the book today and added it to my TBR, but I’m moving it up my TBR after your review!
Haze @ The Book Haze recently posted…Sunday Post | All the Legends, All the Lattes
Oh cool. I hope you get to read it, it’s very short!
I’ve never heard of this author, but I’m loving what you’re telling us about this story. Great review, Tammy! 😀
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Thanks Lashaan:-)
Thank you for a cracking review, Tammy. This one sounds fantastic – the description of the woodlands put me in mind of Susan Dennard’s Luminaries forest, it that right?
It’s sort of like The Luminaries, but there’s a lot more stranger things that just weird creatures. But yes, lots of fun and she’s such a good writer.
Your review makes me want to give this another chance. It’s possible that I simply picked it up at the wrong time, because I didn’t feel the urgency in it despite knowing the protag has limited time to find the kids… I’ll give it another go before really giving up. I started it in January and January was not a good month.
Your review is the first I’ve heard of this, but it sounds really good! And what an awesome cover too. Great review, thanks for sharing!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…ARC Review: Promchanted by Morgan Matson