The Butcher of the Forest

The Butcher of the Forest is a dark fantasy novella by Premee Mohamed. At the northern edge of a country ruled by a cruel foreign tyrant lies a forbidden forest, a wild place governed by old and dangerous magic. Only one person has ever gone into it and come back: Veris Thorn. When the tyrant's young children wander into the forest, Veris is ordered to bring them home, and she knows exactly what refusing or failing would cost. Returning to a place she has spent years trying to forget, she must navigate traps, deceptions and ancient creatures while carrying memories she would rather leave behind. The story blends folklore, survival and the weight of the past. The novella was a 2025 Hugo Award finalist.