A review by laurareads87
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed

dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

Butcher of the Forest reads like a fairytale of a particular sort: atmospheric, violent, and unsettling. I like the balance Mohamed has struck here between providing enough detail to follow along while leaving much of the mysterious setting unknown and unexplained. Her writing is wonderfully descriptive. 

I do have a significant criticism though, which I’m leaving behind spoiler tags as it relates to the ending. I really, really do not appreciate when
a character’s history of having survived childhood sexual abuse & assault is used as a “big reveal” or a twist or whatever happened here. It doesn’t feel even remotely survivor-centric or trauma informed.
As a reader, I felt let down by this, and cannot recommend this beautifully written novella on this basis. 

Content warnings: violence, blood, body horror, gore, sexual abuse of a child (mentioned, doesn't occur on-page) 

Thank you to Tor Publishing & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. 
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