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A review by scrooge3
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
2025 Hugo Award finalist - Best Novella
The Brothers Grimm would be proud to call this their own: a fairytale with endangered children in a dark and mysterious forest, a plucky heroine, and where there's not necessarily a happy ending for everyone (or perhaps anyone). It grabs the reader with the first paragraph and doesn't let go, letting the characters and events unfold at the right pace until the final revelation at the end. The protagonist, Veris, is a 40-something woman whose only claim to fame is that she is the only one in history to return from the evil Elmever forest. Now, the tyrant king, aptly (really?) named The Tyrant, forces Veris to go back into Elmever to rescue his missing children. Can she do it? The Elmever is a weird and dangerous place to be sure, and even if they can escape, what will be the long-term effects? Mohamed writes with picturesque language that flows well. I hope she writes more in this intriguing universe.
The Brothers Grimm would be proud to call this their own: a fairytale with endangered children in a dark and mysterious forest, a plucky heroine, and where there's not necessarily a happy ending for everyone (or perhaps anyone). It grabs the reader with the first paragraph and doesn't let go, letting the characters and events unfold at the right pace until the final revelation at the end. The protagonist, Veris, is a 40-something woman whose only claim to fame is that she is the only one in history to return from the evil Elmever forest. Now, the tyrant king, aptly (really?) named The Tyrant, forces Veris to go back into Elmever to rescue his missing children. Can she do it? The Elmever is a weird and dangerous place to be sure, and even if they can escape, what will be the long-term effects? Mohamed writes with picturesque language that flows well. I hope she writes more in this intriguing universe.