If you’re looking for a light adventuresome quasi-fairy tale, then this is not it.

The world that Mohamed has created is far from kind or picturesque. It is a world whose lands have been conquered with brutal force by the Tyrant, and what he wills, goes without argument or hesitation. To resist means death to you and all you hold dear.

So, when Veris is tasked to find the Tyrant’s children who have wandered into the dangerous Elmever woods, the chances of her success are pretty much zero, but she must venture forth to have a miniscule shot at saving not only herself, but also her family and ultimately, her village from the retribution if she fails.

What Mohamed reveals is a dark sinister place within the forest, full of all sorts of horror ready to trap and bind or pounce and consume. Beware unseemly gore, menacing creatures beneath a benign facade, and an oppressive feeling of inevitable doom for all those who have never made it out.

Here, Veris is another heroine to root for. She’s brave, steadfast, and with an iron will to continue on in the face of failure and hopelessness. On the surface, this is a quest in an alternate fantasy realm, but it also seems an outlet for a contrasting commentary on what’s left behind war’s conquering annihilation. What Veris and her people have suffered shows the tragic inhumanity and the justified compartmentalization of evil that is doled out and the evil that is endured.

Overall, despite this book’s grim atmosphere, the ending is impactful with its not so neat, imperfect unidealistic ending. It shows that there is triumph in survival and though at times nebulous, the drop of hope given represents a balm to possibly start healing, and that’s what left a mark on me having read this.

Thank you to the author and Tordotcom via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a honest review