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The Forest God
The Forest God, incarnated into the body of hare, ready to die and live again.
The Apprentice Witch, outcast and unwanted, unsure of her path.
The Young Lord, frivolous and rootless, inconsiderate of his duties.
Their three souls should be bound to a cycle of death and sacrifice, responsibility and rebirth. But the bonds lie broken and shrouded in mystery. The wood remains in precarious balance for now, but the village withers.
Only together, can they set things right.
The Apprentice Witch, outcast and unwanted, unsure of her path.
The Young Lord, frivolous and rootless, inconsiderate of his duties.
Their three souls should be bound to a cycle of death and sacrifice, responsibility and rebirth. But the bonds lie broken and shrouded in mystery. The wood remains in precarious balance for now, but the village withers.
Only together, can they set things right.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2020
5 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Lackey
113 books62 followersJamie Lackey lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their cat. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in 2006 with a degree in Creative Writing. She studied under James Gunn at the Center for the Study of Science Fiction's Writer's Workshop in 2010 and has taken various workshops with Cat Rambo. She primarily writes science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories.
She has over 200 short fiction credits, and has appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and the Stoker Award-winning After Death.... Her fiction has appeared on the Best Horror of the Year Honorable Mention and Tangent Online Recommended Reading Lists, and she's a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Her flash fiction collection, One Revolution, and her zombie novella, Moving Forward: A Novella of Life After Zombies, are available on Amazon.com. Her debut novel, Left Hand Gods, is available from Hadley Rille Books. She also has two short story collections available from Air and Nothingness Press.
She read submissions for the Hugo-winning Clarkesworld Magazine for five years and was an assistant editor for the Hugo-winning Electric Velocipede from 2012-2013. She served as editor for Triangulation: Lost Voices in 2015 and Triangulation: Beneath the Surface in 2016.
She enjoys reading, writing, tabletop role playing games, video games, baking, and hiking. Learn more about her at her website, www.jamielackey.com
She has over 200 short fiction credits, and has appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and the Stoker Award-winning After Death.... Her fiction has appeared on the Best Horror of the Year Honorable Mention and Tangent Online Recommended Reading Lists, and she's a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Her flash fiction collection, One Revolution, and her zombie novella, Moving Forward: A Novella of Life After Zombies, are available on Amazon.com. Her debut novel, Left Hand Gods, is available from Hadley Rille Books. She also has two short story collections available from Air and Nothingness Press.
She read submissions for the Hugo-winning Clarkesworld Magazine for five years and was an assistant editor for the Hugo-winning Electric Velocipede from 2012-2013. She served as editor for Triangulation: Lost Voices in 2015 and Triangulation: Beneath the Surface in 2016.
She enjoys reading, writing, tabletop role playing games, video games, baking, and hiking. Learn more about her at her website, www.jamielackey.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 4, 2021
This little novella wasn't even on my radar until a few days ago and I'm glad that I found it thanks to Badger Reads on Booktube. The Forest God is my ideal cozy comfort read. I loved everything about it. The characters, the plot, the pacing, and the setting were all perfection. That's very hard to do in less than 100 pages and I'm sooo impressed with Jamie Lackey. I've definitely found a new favorite and want everyone to read this immediately.
August 19, 2020
8/10 stars
My full review can be found on my blog here.
A wonderful little story reminiscent of works by Terry Pratchett and Diana Wynne Jones, The Forest God is a feel-good literary adventure full of witches, quests, lord’s sons, love and duty. Who wouldn’t want to read one of those?
The Forest God reincarnates once again – this time into the body of a hare. He’s been many creatures before, predators and prey, and he had tasted and given blood in the unending circle of life and death. Even the body of hare is not alien to him, and if there’s one thing he knows about it is that it never lasts long – so he should seize the day and gorge on sun ripened strawberries as if his life depended on it. As a matter of fact, it does.
It does, because the idle Young Lord Hugh from the nearby castle finally finds something that arouses his curiosity – and while looking for answers concerning a family mystery, he decides to hunt the hare as an offering to the village Witch. It certainly doesn’t help the hare’s case that he is caught eating the Witch’s strawberries – strawberries left precisely for him, though Hugh has no way of knowing it.
And so, the wounded hare and the unlucky Young Lord end up in the care of the resentful Apprentice Witch Margery – because the current Witch left for business known only to herself and did not deign to leave information concerning either her whereabouts or the time of her return. The cottage in the woods suddenly becomes very crowded indeed, and something needs to be done about it all.
So the story begins; it is formulaic, without a doubt, but comfortably so. The worn tracks of countless other fairy tales are clearly followed and cherished in their familiarity. There is a feeling of not belonging, of inadequacy, of chafing against vague loss of individual choice. There is a quest, made of three seemingly simple tasks which obviously prove to be devilishly hard. There is a budding young love, which cannot be not forbidden. A family secret, tying into the lives of all in a myriad of unforeseen ways. A difference of perspective growing between the young and the old – for the way to right old wrongs inevitably leads away from personal happiness. Or maybe not? Can happiness be found in duty and the choices not made?
The light humour and whimsy infusing this tale make it a splendidly pleasant read. The Forest God, an incredibly old and ingeniously egotistic creature, in the incarnation of a common hare finds new, unexpected delights in life. He starts to appreciate little things – like cuddling, or loving care, or the warm, soft bed and strawberries every breakfast. But he also learns a lot about those strange creatures called humans – and while they might be quite irritating, there might be nothing so wonderfully pleasant in the world as those smart soft fingers scratching behind his ear just so.
I enjoyed The Forest God a lot. If there’s one thing that comes off as heavy-handed is the beauty/ugliness issue – and the related question of stigma. While I understand where the author comes from and why she chose to include this topic in her little fairy tale, it is the one thing that makes an impression of something rushed and half-baked; a half-hearted attempt to make the story more relevant/sellable in our beauty-obsessed times, perhaps? To me, it feels unnecessary and a bit disruptive – but it’s a small enough criticism in the otherwise delightful trifle of a read. As an additional bonus, that cover is gorgeous!
My full review can be found on my blog here.
A wonderful little story reminiscent of works by Terry Pratchett and Diana Wynne Jones, The Forest God is a feel-good literary adventure full of witches, quests, lord’s sons, love and duty. Who wouldn’t want to read one of those?
The Forest God reincarnates once again – this time into the body of a hare. He’s been many creatures before, predators and prey, and he had tasted and given blood in the unending circle of life and death. Even the body of hare is not alien to him, and if there’s one thing he knows about it is that it never lasts long – so he should seize the day and gorge on sun ripened strawberries as if his life depended on it. As a matter of fact, it does.
It does, because the idle Young Lord Hugh from the nearby castle finally finds something that arouses his curiosity – and while looking for answers concerning a family mystery, he decides to hunt the hare as an offering to the village Witch. It certainly doesn’t help the hare’s case that he is caught eating the Witch’s strawberries – strawberries left precisely for him, though Hugh has no way of knowing it.
And so, the wounded hare and the unlucky Young Lord end up in the care of the resentful Apprentice Witch Margery – because the current Witch left for business known only to herself and did not deign to leave information concerning either her whereabouts or the time of her return. The cottage in the woods suddenly becomes very crowded indeed, and something needs to be done about it all.
So the story begins; it is formulaic, without a doubt, but comfortably so. The worn tracks of countless other fairy tales are clearly followed and cherished in their familiarity. There is a feeling of not belonging, of inadequacy, of chafing against vague loss of individual choice. There is a quest, made of three seemingly simple tasks which obviously prove to be devilishly hard. There is a budding young love, which cannot be not forbidden. A family secret, tying into the lives of all in a myriad of unforeseen ways. A difference of perspective growing between the young and the old – for the way to right old wrongs inevitably leads away from personal happiness. Or maybe not? Can happiness be found in duty and the choices not made?
The light humour and whimsy infusing this tale make it a splendidly pleasant read. The Forest God, an incredibly old and ingeniously egotistic creature, in the incarnation of a common hare finds new, unexpected delights in life. He starts to appreciate little things – like cuddling, or loving care, or the warm, soft bed and strawberries every breakfast. But he also learns a lot about those strange creatures called humans – and while they might be quite irritating, there might be nothing so wonderfully pleasant in the world as those smart soft fingers scratching behind his ear just so.
I enjoyed The Forest God a lot. If there’s one thing that comes off as heavy-handed is the beauty/ugliness issue – and the related question of stigma. While I understand where the author comes from and why she chose to include this topic in her little fairy tale, it is the one thing that makes an impression of something rushed and half-baked; a half-hearted attempt to make the story more relevant/sellable in our beauty-obsessed times, perhaps? To me, it feels unnecessary and a bit disruptive – but it’s a small enough criticism in the otherwise delightful trifle of a read. As an additional bonus, that cover is gorgeous!
January 4, 2021
What a gorgeous novella! I started it, thinking to read a few pages, then had to finish the whole thing in one setting. The flow is effortless, the feel incredibly cozy and warm and good. This is a book is nestle into when the real world is awful, for a necessary reminder that people aren't so bad.
The story follows three viewpoints: that of an apprentice witch convinced of her ugliness and lack of lack, a lord's son who is tactless and ignorant, and a Forest God, recently reborn as a hare. These three beings come together and change and grow, even the God. I especially love the maturity that the human characters display at the end, defying the usual happily-ever-after trope. It's truly heart-warming. I'd love to write something like this, because wow, does it evoke the deep feels.
The story follows three viewpoints: that of an apprentice witch convinced of her ugliness and lack of lack, a lord's son who is tactless and ignorant, and a Forest God, recently reborn as a hare. These three beings come together and change and grow, even the God. I especially love the maturity that the human characters display at the end, defying the usual happily-ever-after trope. It's truly heart-warming. I'd love to write something like this, because wow, does it evoke the deep feels.
May 8, 2020
A retelling of the Celtic myth of sacred land marriage, this fantasy adventure will appeal to fans of Robin McKinley's novel Chalice. Margery, the down-to-earth, quick-witted Witch's apprentice, and Hugh, the clueless, feckless young Lord, seem destined to irritate each other, especially when Hugh's arrow nearly kills the Forest God (embodied as a hare) outside the Witch's cottage. As Margery nurses the hare back to health, a grudging respect grows into a shared quest to restore the bond between the land and its care takers. Ms. Lackey skillfully weaves a complex relationship, not just between the two young protagonists, but also between the duties that each must fulfill as they accept their destiny: to restore the bond between the land and the people they love most. This novella would be appropriate for teens through adults. Highly recommended.
July 5, 2020
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for providing an e-arc for me to read!
The Forest God follows three characters:
Margery is a half-Witch: she's been apprenticing with the village's Witch for fifteen years now. Soon, she will take her vows and with it, the Witch's place. She's ready. The way she left fifteen years ago, she severed all connections to the village except for her sister.
We also meet the Young Lord Hugh, who wants to get to the end of a little mystery concerning his family.. and ends up shooting the Forest God, who is currently taking the form of a fluffy hare. With this, the trio's lives intertwine and the two mortals must choose between their duties to the land and their hearts' desire.
I loved this one!
It was kind of a surprise when I checked and saw that this was only about 80 pages. I had some free time and dove in.
I read this in one sitting, haven't once thought about putting it down.
Forest, wood, god, green man, these are all buzzwords for me. This read pretty much like a fairytale.
The only thing I was on the fence with is the representation of "ugliness". It felt weird and overly exaggerated to me, but I can kind of see the point and as I said, it read like a fairytale and we know that those are not always the most considerate.
However, it still meant a lot to me, and I would absolutely love to see similar stories!
The Forest God follows three characters:
Margery is a half-Witch: she's been apprenticing with the village's Witch for fifteen years now. Soon, she will take her vows and with it, the Witch's place. She's ready. The way she left fifteen years ago, she severed all connections to the village except for her sister.
We also meet the Young Lord Hugh, who wants to get to the end of a little mystery concerning his family.. and ends up shooting the Forest God, who is currently taking the form of a fluffy hare. With this, the trio's lives intertwine and the two mortals must choose between their duties to the land and their hearts' desire.
I loved this one!
It was kind of a surprise when I checked and saw that this was only about 80 pages. I had some free time and dove in.
I read this in one sitting, haven't once thought about putting it down.
Forest, wood, god, green man, these are all buzzwords for me. This read pretty much like a fairytale.
The only thing I was on the fence with is the representation of "ugliness". It felt weird and overly exaggerated to me, but I can kind of see the point and as I said, it read like a fairytale and we know that those are not always the most considerate.
However, it still meant a lot to me, and I would absolutely love to see similar stories!
September 24, 2020
“Even if you knew you’d start a new life tomorrow, would you want to die today?”
I was drawn to this book by its cover; for about six years now, I have made it a point to conduct an annual re-read of Richard Adams’s book Watership Down. You can probably guess why a fantasy featuring a dramatic rabbit illustration on the cover caught my eye. (Although it is in fact a hare, not a rabbit, on this cover). At a quick 80 pages, this poetic and magical little novella packs a punch.
The story is a delightful mix of magic and pragmatism — exemplified in the scene where Margery and Lord Hugh meet in the strawberry garden that the Witch maintains for the benefit of the Forest God. Lord Hugh asks how it is that she can pass through barriers that open only to the Forest God, and Margery replies simply: “Someone has to weed the strawberry patch.”
Premise:
A Witch’s apprentice, a dandy lord, and a god walk into a forest... and set out on a mission to right something broken in the world.
Characters:
The Forest God has been reborn, ready to live out this lifetime in the body of a hare. The god has lived many lives and assumed the cares and joys of all the creatures of the forest at some point during its many reincarnations.
Margery - A reluctant apprentice to the local Witch (nameless, as all full Witches are, after all, “She does not have her own separate self. A Witch needs a name no more than a tree does, or a river, or the Forest God.”). Margery actually more or less enjoys her work and the life she is currently living, but she’s deeply resentful of the fact that it was not her choice to live this way. She is kind and talented and a compassionate healer, burdened by fairly severe self-esteem issues.
Young Lord Hugh - A silly and rather notoriously useless Young Lord (back at it again with the Proper Nouns). He makes a life changing error one day, when he tries to do the Witch a favor by shooting a hare he sees eating the strawberries in her garden. He is good natured and confident, in the way of someone used to getting whatever he wants, and yet he is willing to make any effort to become the Lord his village needs.
I’m a sucker for stories about unlikely friendships, so this really hit the mark for me. It’s a love story where friendship and duty counterbalance the romance. I don’t typically go into novellas expecting them to be very character-driven, and was pleasantly surprised to find that this quiet fairy tale features a trio of cleverly well-drawn characters.
January 12, 2026
A witch in training, a prince and a forest god figure out how to mend the land. A very relaxing read. A simple, sweet story. Nice sense of humor. I appreciate very much that the author did not make the obvious choice. A story about duty, family, love and doing the right thing.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review. I apologize for letting this linger on my bookshelf for such a very long time!
🐰🐰🐰🐰☆
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review. I apologize for letting this linger on my bookshelf for such a very long time!
🐰🐰🐰🐰☆
May 7, 2020
I was lucky enough to read this novella before publication and I can't recommend it highly enough. The story is beautiful, lyrical, fun, and romantic in all the right ways.
December 18, 2023
“What does it mean to be loved by the Forest God?”
The Forest God is a fairytale that delves into the concept of duty, love, and the Ancient Celtic tradition of marriage of the land. This short novella explores its characters and their dynamics very well for 80 pages only. The narration of a God adds a unique touch to the story, and its character arc, a god’s humanisation, was something deeply interesting to see. As was its counterpart: a human’s sanctification.
The novella follows the town’s Witch Apprentice, Margery, and her feelings regarding the life she was forced to undertake as the next Witch. The Witch has a unique connection to the land and therefore it’s God, and so the town depends on her. Hence why Margery apprenticeship is so important, as the current Witch doesn’t have much time left and needs a replacement for when her death comes.
I thought the concept of the Witch as an Entity extremely interesting. The Witch is the Witch because of her ritualistic bond with the land. For one to become a witch she must not love anyone or have any mortal ties. Margery the Apprentice cannot become Margery the Witch. She must give up her life as a human, her name and everything that makes her well, Margery, to truly become the Witch and devote herself to the Forest God and the land that it oversees.
“I do not deal in names,” the Forest God said. “They are a different magic, and I find them tiresome. I will call you what you are.”
The magic chosen by the Forest God is one of ceremony and bond, theurgy at a more basic level, where the practicioner, through rituals performed with the intention to invoke a deity, aims to achieve henosis, the primordial unity – to become one with an entity.
The highlight of this story for me, aside the magic, was the narration of the God. Not only it’s perspective about the world but mainly, it’s feelings towards the two main characters, Margery and Lord Hugh. Lord Hugh is the future Lord of the land, though the Forest God doesn’t recognise him as such. Neither of the characters is particurlary warm towards Hugh, quite the contrary, so it was interesting to see their reluctant friendship take place. Specially when that friendship involves a God in the form of a hare. I forgot to mention that, didn’t I? Here’s how the book starts:
''The Forest God opened its eyes and found itself in a warm burrow, surrounded by squirming bodies. It seemed that it would be a hare in this incarnation. Being a hare was always pleasant enough, while it lasted.
It never lasted very long.''
Margery is also reluctant. She does love being a witch, or half a witch as she’s not yet performed her ceremony, but her feelings towards how she came to be the Apprentice get in the way of her happiness. Not only that, but the town’s gossip about her and specially about her looks add to her feeling extremly cold towards the village and its people. She spends her entire life believing being ugly was to blame for her fate and her separation from her family, and that is a half truth, but not all of it. I loved the gradual acceptance of her 'ugliness', and how it actually proved to be a good thing. And most importantly, how her looks don’t matter at all.
I won’t get much into it, but I thought the author did a great job of exploring the characters arcs and development in such few pages, it was definitely an original story.
The Forest God was in it’s essence a tale so full of lore that it felt like reading a medieval text only recently found.
The Forest God is a fairytale that delves into the concept of duty, love, and the Ancient Celtic tradition of marriage of the land. This short novella explores its characters and their dynamics very well for 80 pages only. The narration of a God adds a unique touch to the story, and its character arc, a god’s humanisation, was something deeply interesting to see. As was its counterpart: a human’s sanctification.
The novella follows the town’s Witch Apprentice, Margery, and her feelings regarding the life she was forced to undertake as the next Witch. The Witch has a unique connection to the land and therefore it’s God, and so the town depends on her. Hence why Margery apprenticeship is so important, as the current Witch doesn’t have much time left and needs a replacement for when her death comes.
I thought the concept of the Witch as an Entity extremely interesting. The Witch is the Witch because of her ritualistic bond with the land. For one to become a witch she must not love anyone or have any mortal ties. Margery the Apprentice cannot become Margery the Witch. She must give up her life as a human, her name and everything that makes her well, Margery, to truly become the Witch and devote herself to the Forest God and the land that it oversees.
“I do not deal in names,” the Forest God said. “They are a different magic, and I find them tiresome. I will call you what you are.”
The magic chosen by the Forest God is one of ceremony and bond, theurgy at a more basic level, where the practicioner, through rituals performed with the intention to invoke a deity, aims to achieve henosis, the primordial unity – to become one with an entity.
The highlight of this story for me, aside the magic, was the narration of the God. Not only it’s perspective about the world but mainly, it’s feelings towards the two main characters, Margery and Lord Hugh. Lord Hugh is the future Lord of the land, though the Forest God doesn’t recognise him as such. Neither of the characters is particurlary warm towards Hugh, quite the contrary, so it was interesting to see their reluctant friendship take place. Specially when that friendship involves a God in the form of a hare. I forgot to mention that, didn’t I? Here’s how the book starts:
''The Forest God opened its eyes and found itself in a warm burrow, surrounded by squirming bodies. It seemed that it would be a hare in this incarnation. Being a hare was always pleasant enough, while it lasted.
It never lasted very long.''
Margery is also reluctant. She does love being a witch, or half a witch as she’s not yet performed her ceremony, but her feelings towards how she came to be the Apprentice get in the way of her happiness. Not only that, but the town’s gossip about her and specially about her looks add to her feeling extremly cold towards the village and its people. She spends her entire life believing being ugly was to blame for her fate and her separation from her family, and that is a half truth, but not all of it. I loved the gradual acceptance of her 'ugliness', and how it actually proved to be a good thing. And most importantly, how her looks don’t matter at all.
I won’t get much into it, but I thought the author did a great job of exploring the characters arcs and development in such few pages, it was definitely an original story.
The Forest God was in it’s essence a tale so full of lore that it felt like reading a medieval text only recently found.
June 19, 2020
This is a beautifully written little novella that evoked classic folklore with every page. It was reminiscent of Emily Tesh’s Silver in the Wood with themes of sacrifice and duty to the land. For fans of mythology and folklore with a dash of romance this is a great read.
I was provided an eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
I was provided an eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 23, 2020
I am clearly biased, since I wrote the thing, but I am so happy with and proud of this story.
Influences include The Last Unicorn, Princess Mononoke, the Redwall books, and The Secret Garden, so if you love any of those as much as I do, maybe you'll love this story, too.
Influences include The Last Unicorn, Princess Mononoke, the Redwall books, and The Secret Garden, so if you love any of those as much as I do, maybe you'll love this story, too.
May 21, 2020
A breezy novella of witches, lords, and territorial gods that explores the age-old dichotomy of career vs. home life. A modern medieval fable wherein love may not conquer all....
June 9, 2020
"The Forest God would have never before suspected that simple domesticity could be so pleasant. It had never understood humans before, had never gained any insight into why they lived as they did. But now it could see the appeal of a warm hearth, of regular meals, of the company of loved ones."
— Jamie Lackey, The Forest God
----------
I'm a firm believer that there is a perfect format for every story. Some are best told over hundreds or thousands of pages, while others need only utilize the quiet power of brevity. The Forest God by Jamie Lackey is humble example of the later group.
The Forest God tells the story of a small village in an unnamed country. In this town there is a sacred duty that must be upheld between the Lord of the lands, the Witch of the forest, and the Forest God. When the story begins, the Forest God has just been reborn in its new life as a hare. In this new life, the village is in a precarious position as the fields are yielding less and less each year, but the Forest God cannot remember why. Hugh, the son of the current Lord, unknowingly injures the Forest God by shooting him in the leg with a bow. Margery, the current Witch’s apprentice, saves it and in the process completes a ritual that allows Hugh and herself to speak with the Forest God. Through their conversations, Margery and Hugh make a discovery that completely changes their understanding of their fates, their relationship, and themselves.
This nimble novella is told in the same purposeful way of a fable and contains many of the same formulaic aspects. The pace is quick, the descriptions are brief, the characters reflect established archetypes, and the message is crystal-clear. In fact, the overall style seems to draw heavy inspiration from the oral history of folk tales. There is no wasted breath throughout its 82 pages, making the story seem more suited for listening than reading. The tale is pure and comfortingly familiar. It makes mistakes in the same way a storyteller would, like skipping details or rushing dialogue. To me, that's the source of its magic.
Margery, Hugh, and the Forest God each serve a distinct purpose in the the telling of the moral, but they’re still compelling characters. Unlike many archetypal characters, they do not remain completely static. Their development, though concise, was enough to keep me invested and engaged in their relationship with one another. Our time with them is short-lived, but they themselves don’t seem ephemeral. Instead, they feel as if they’ll continue to live on, just like the lesson they aim to teach.
The Forest God sets out to tell a story of fate, love, and dedication. It asks an age old question: is your duty to your community more important than your own desires? It's not revolutionary, but it conveys its message with conviction – and like all of our favorite bedtime tales, it leaves its reader with a light heart.
I was gifted an eARC of The Forest God from Air and Nothingness Press in exchange for an honest review.
— Jamie Lackey, The Forest God
----------
I'm a firm believer that there is a perfect format for every story. Some are best told over hundreds or thousands of pages, while others need only utilize the quiet power of brevity. The Forest God by Jamie Lackey is humble example of the later group.
The Forest God tells the story of a small village in an unnamed country. In this town there is a sacred duty that must be upheld between the Lord of the lands, the Witch of the forest, and the Forest God. When the story begins, the Forest God has just been reborn in its new life as a hare. In this new life, the village is in a precarious position as the fields are yielding less and less each year, but the Forest God cannot remember why. Hugh, the son of the current Lord, unknowingly injures the Forest God by shooting him in the leg with a bow. Margery, the current Witch’s apprentice, saves it and in the process completes a ritual that allows Hugh and herself to speak with the Forest God. Through their conversations, Margery and Hugh make a discovery that completely changes their understanding of their fates, their relationship, and themselves.
This nimble novella is told in the same purposeful way of a fable and contains many of the same formulaic aspects. The pace is quick, the descriptions are brief, the characters reflect established archetypes, and the message is crystal-clear. In fact, the overall style seems to draw heavy inspiration from the oral history of folk tales. There is no wasted breath throughout its 82 pages, making the story seem more suited for listening than reading. The tale is pure and comfortingly familiar. It makes mistakes in the same way a storyteller would, like skipping details or rushing dialogue. To me, that's the source of its magic.
Margery, Hugh, and the Forest God each serve a distinct purpose in the the telling of the moral, but they’re still compelling characters. Unlike many archetypal characters, they do not remain completely static. Their development, though concise, was enough to keep me invested and engaged in their relationship with one another. Our time with them is short-lived, but they themselves don’t seem ephemeral. Instead, they feel as if they’ll continue to live on, just like the lesson they aim to teach.
The Forest God sets out to tell a story of fate, love, and dedication. It asks an age old question: is your duty to your community more important than your own desires? It's not revolutionary, but it conveys its message with conviction – and like all of our favorite bedtime tales, it leaves its reader with a light heart.
I was gifted an eARC of The Forest God from Air and Nothingness Press in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2020
I received an e-book ARC of The Forest God from NetGalley and Air and Nothingness Press in return for my honest review, which follows below. I thank both for this opportunity.
I finished this in one sitting, partly because novellas are good for quick reads by definition but also because I was swept up by this seemingly simple but incredibly moving story. I wanted to finish so I knew how it ended, but I was mourning it because well, it would be over and there would be no more words to this story. I will admit this had me bawling my eyes out for most of the second half, a sign of a good author in my humble opinion. Tears can fall for many reasons over the course of a good tale, and I feel like I cried most of them. To be that connected to characters over a short novella is a bittersweet read indeed.
So without giving away spoilers, because this is just a beautiful read and I would hate to steal any magical discovery from the next reader on purpose, this is what I can tell you about The Forest God.
The Forest God has his life cycle in the forest as a different creature each time, sometimes he will be a hunter,sometimes prey, this time he is a hare. There is a Witch that lives in the forest and takes care of the nearby village and also communes with the Forest God, serving both as healer and apothecary. There is a Lord of the land that rules the village and makes sure the rituals required for the village to prosper is carried out. The title is approved by the Forest God.
The Forest God is wounded but not killed. The Witch's apprentice is the first to speak to the Forest God in many lifetimes. The Lord's son realizes he needs to become tied to the land to right an old grievance.
This would be a good book to read to children as well I think. It teaches responsibility and the love it takes to do whats right. It does not shy away from the fact that hard decisions are sometimes the only ones to make. But it is a beautiful story and I feel better for having read it. Every part of this was just a joy to read, I am just so thrilled by it.
I gave this 5 stars because I am going to recommend this to people, I would also give this as a gift. I would love to buy a copy when this is released.
I finished this in one sitting, partly because novellas are good for quick reads by definition but also because I was swept up by this seemingly simple but incredibly moving story. I wanted to finish so I knew how it ended, but I was mourning it because well, it would be over and there would be no more words to this story. I will admit this had me bawling my eyes out for most of the second half, a sign of a good author in my humble opinion. Tears can fall for many reasons over the course of a good tale, and I feel like I cried most of them. To be that connected to characters over a short novella is a bittersweet read indeed.
So without giving away spoilers, because this is just a beautiful read and I would hate to steal any magical discovery from the next reader on purpose, this is what I can tell you about The Forest God.
The Forest God has his life cycle in the forest as a different creature each time, sometimes he will be a hunter,sometimes prey, this time he is a hare. There is a Witch that lives in the forest and takes care of the nearby village and also communes with the Forest God, serving both as healer and apothecary. There is a Lord of the land that rules the village and makes sure the rituals required for the village to prosper is carried out. The title is approved by the Forest God.
The Forest God is wounded but not killed. The Witch's apprentice is the first to speak to the Forest God in many lifetimes. The Lord's son realizes he needs to become tied to the land to right an old grievance.
This would be a good book to read to children as well I think. It teaches responsibility and the love it takes to do whats right. It does not shy away from the fact that hard decisions are sometimes the only ones to make. But it is a beautiful story and I feel better for having read it. Every part of this was just a joy to read, I am just so thrilled by it.
I gave this 5 stars because I am going to recommend this to people, I would also give this as a gift. I would love to buy a copy when this is released.
Read
November 7, 2021This is a wonderfully written and deeply affecting fantasy which stands as one of Jamie’s best works, if not her best so far.
The story is told from three point-of-view characters: Margery, a novice witch, Lord Hugh, a bored and spoiled son of local nobility, and the Forest God in its most recent incarnation of a huge brown hare. The Forest God is repeatedly reborn in a succession of wild animals, thus continuing the cycle of life and death and ensuring nature’s balance.
Margery, a young, very unattractive village girl is studying with the local witch to be the witch’s apprentice. Though Margery enjoys her studies and is eager to take her final witch vows, she harbors deep resentment and anger toward her family and the villagers. She feels they betrayed her, only giving her to the witch because Margery is so ugly.
Hugh, a young and very handsome lordling (though regarded by many as “an empty-headed idiot” because of his frivolous nature), finds himself with nothing to do on his family’s estate one day and decides on a lark, to pay a visit to the Witch. On his way, he wounds the Forest God with his bow and arrow, thinking the god’s just a big hare and would make a fine meal.
Before Hugh can finish the job, Margery, who knows the hare’s true aspect, rescues it and takes it back to the witch’s house to nurse it back to health, actions and emotions the Forest God has never experienced before. The Witch herself is away on some mystical business so Margery has the house all to herself, making salves and potions for the village and performing other witchy duties, guaranteeing she can care for the god without interference.
So she thinks. A clueless but curious Hugh follows her, insinuating himself into Margery’s life much to her and the god’s dismay.
What follows is a tenderly-told, sometimes humorous story of love and acceptance in all its forms, encompassing Margery, Hugh, both of their families, and the Forest God itself. You’ll be wishing for a sequel at the end as I was.
Extremely well done and highly recommended.
The story is told from three point-of-view characters: Margery, a novice witch, Lord Hugh, a bored and spoiled son of local nobility, and the Forest God in its most recent incarnation of a huge brown hare. The Forest God is repeatedly reborn in a succession of wild animals, thus continuing the cycle of life and death and ensuring nature’s balance.
Margery, a young, very unattractive village girl is studying with the local witch to be the witch’s apprentice. Though Margery enjoys her studies and is eager to take her final witch vows, she harbors deep resentment and anger toward her family and the villagers. She feels they betrayed her, only giving her to the witch because Margery is so ugly.
Hugh, a young and very handsome lordling (though regarded by many as “an empty-headed idiot” because of his frivolous nature), finds himself with nothing to do on his family’s estate one day and decides on a lark, to pay a visit to the Witch. On his way, he wounds the Forest God with his bow and arrow, thinking the god’s just a big hare and would make a fine meal.
Before Hugh can finish the job, Margery, who knows the hare’s true aspect, rescues it and takes it back to the witch’s house to nurse it back to health, actions and emotions the Forest God has never experienced before. The Witch herself is away on some mystical business so Margery has the house all to herself, making salves and potions for the village and performing other witchy duties, guaranteeing she can care for the god without interference.
So she thinks. A clueless but curious Hugh follows her, insinuating himself into Margery’s life much to her and the god’s dismay.
What follows is a tenderly-told, sometimes humorous story of love and acceptance in all its forms, encompassing Margery, Hugh, both of their families, and the Forest God itself. You’ll be wishing for a sequel at the end as I was.
Extremely well done and highly recommended.
June 4, 2020
I received The Forest God by Jamie Lackey for free by Air & Nothingness Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for getting in touch with this great opportunity! This review is also on my blog - Book, Blog & Candle.
https://www.bookblogandcandle.co.uk/p...
In The Forest God we follow three lives that all become entwined. Margery, the witch's apprentice, hardened and isolated from the cruel world who judge her harshly on her appearance. As a result she has low confidence in herself and doubts her abilities whilst training with the witch to serve the Forest God.
Hugh, the young clueless lord of the land is superficial and spoiled convinced that he would never fall in love with someone that looks like Margery.
And the legendary Forest God reincarnated into a hare and content with his current life cycle but wary of the young lord.
When they are all thrown into a predicament they find that they can learn so much from each other in terms of love, friendship and overcoming prejudices. Ultimately realising that no matter how much the experience has changed each of them for the better sometimes in life you have to make the hard decision as they all face the responsibilities and duties they must honour.
Although it is a short story, it is full of action, love and lessons that can be translated into the real world with some super cute illustrations too! I connected to the characters straight away and devoured the book in one sitting.
The Forest God is a gentle and humorous yet heartbreaking story with great writing that will make you swoon.
https://www.bookblogandcandle.co.uk/p...
In The Forest God we follow three lives that all become entwined. Margery, the witch's apprentice, hardened and isolated from the cruel world who judge her harshly on her appearance. As a result she has low confidence in herself and doubts her abilities whilst training with the witch to serve the Forest God.
Hugh, the young clueless lord of the land is superficial and spoiled convinced that he would never fall in love with someone that looks like Margery.
And the legendary Forest God reincarnated into a hare and content with his current life cycle but wary of the young lord.
When they are all thrown into a predicament they find that they can learn so much from each other in terms of love, friendship and overcoming prejudices. Ultimately realising that no matter how much the experience has changed each of them for the better sometimes in life you have to make the hard decision as they all face the responsibilities and duties they must honour.
Although it is a short story, it is full of action, love and lessons that can be translated into the real world with some super cute illustrations too! I connected to the characters straight away and devoured the book in one sitting.
The Forest God is a gentle and humorous yet heartbreaking story with great writing that will make you swoon.
June 24, 2020
The Forest God is a pleasant short story that I imagine could fit in any modern collection of fairy tales. I'm very fond of it as it brings me back to stories from my childhood. Not everything in the world has to be a grand epic. As I read I thought this would be a perfect story to read in class. As a fairy tale, it is enjoyable for people of all ages.
In short, it is the story about a Witch's Apprentice and a Young Noble whose paths cross one day. The Noble has injured a Hare which is the current incarnation of the Forest God. The Forest God is healed by Margery and neither of them takes to the Noble, Hugh. He insists on being part of a spell so that he can apologize to the Forest God. From there, their relationship unfolds as it is revealed Hugh's family are unapproved lords of the land and Hugh must undergo three tasks to get the Forest Gods' approval. The tasks are to collect a stone from the river, to shoot the heart of a deer mid-jump, and to collect glowworm samples. Margery has self-esteem issues due to being taken away from her family when she was ten as well as everyone remarking about how ugly she is. The Forest God and Margery bond quickly and he begins to question if becoming domesticated is good for him. As the story progresses we discover what happened to the Witch's last apprentice, why Hugh's parents are cursed, and the real reason for Margery being chosen. The two are also forbidden from falling and love and acting out on that. Margery must become a Witch and Hugh must become the Lord of the Land.
I would recommend this story particularly for fans of Neil Gaiman. It has that classic fantasy feel to it with a dash of innocence.
In short, it is the story about a Witch's Apprentice and a Young Noble whose paths cross one day. The Noble has injured a Hare which is the current incarnation of the Forest God. The Forest God is healed by Margery and neither of them takes to the Noble, Hugh. He insists on being part of a spell so that he can apologize to the Forest God. From there, their relationship unfolds as it is revealed Hugh's family are unapproved lords of the land and Hugh must undergo three tasks to get the Forest Gods' approval. The tasks are to collect a stone from the river, to shoot the heart of a deer mid-jump, and to collect glowworm samples. Margery has self-esteem issues due to being taken away from her family when she was ten as well as everyone remarking about how ugly she is. The Forest God and Margery bond quickly and he begins to question if becoming domesticated is good for him. As the story progresses we discover what happened to the Witch's last apprentice, why Hugh's parents are cursed, and the real reason for Margery being chosen. The two are also forbidden from falling and love and acting out on that. Margery must become a Witch and Hugh must become the Lord of the Land.
I would recommend this story particularly for fans of Neil Gaiman. It has that classic fantasy feel to it with a dash of innocence.
September 14, 2025
Five years ago, in 2020, I read this novella pre-publication and wrote the following blurb for it:
Jamie Lackey takes familiar fairytale elements and leads the reader into roads less traveled. In place of the familiar turns of a fairytale, she offers something truer, something heartfelt. Yet even when the story reaches a hard place, there is a gentleness to how Lackey tells it. The further I went, the more I cared about her characters. Highly recommended.
I have just re-read the novella, in a beautiful new print edition with two added short stories. I love "The Forest God," the characters, the sweetness mixed into a fairytale with dark roots. Still highly recommended.
Five out of five strawberry stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Jamie Lackey takes familiar fairytale elements and leads the reader into roads less traveled. In place of the familiar turns of a fairytale, she offers something truer, something heartfelt. Yet even when the story reaches a hard place, there is a gentleness to how Lackey tells it. The further I went, the more I cared about her characters. Highly recommended.
I have just re-read the novella, in a beautiful new print edition with two added short stories. I love "The Forest God," the characters, the sweetness mixed into a fairytale with dark roots. Still highly recommended.
Five out of five strawberry stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
September 29, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
We have a set of amazing characters: Margery, Hugh and the Forest God are not lacking a single thing. They are well developed, with complex personalities and all three of them have a different voice.
And such amazing personalities they all have! But that’s not all! We also see personal growth. For all three of them. In less than 100 pages! Isn’t it great?? And in those few pages we really learn to know our characters, and it is heartwarming to see them all grow up, in a way or another.
This story is set in a little world, almost intimate, which is bounded to the Forest God and the cycles of nature. People kept to the old ways, but they are slowly forgetting them and this is not a good thing. The Earth is suffering for it, and the small village is suffering for it, too. And even if, on an objective side, the world-building is not the most complete or accurate, it is not lacking. Sure, we don’t have a big world to explore, and sure there aren’t many descriptive parts, but… But you get all that you need to imagine this village, this forest and this world. You get the feeling of the small village, and of the forest. You feel like you really know those places.
And then we have the story. It is compelling, it is beautiful and it speaks to us in a lot of different ways. It was a heartwarming book, one that made you more optimistic, at least for a bit. And something like that is really precious!
Also, it was really really fun, and it remembered me a little of Pratchett, in the best possible way!
We have a set of amazing characters: Margery, Hugh and the Forest God are not lacking a single thing. They are well developed, with complex personalities and all three of them have a different voice.
And such amazing personalities they all have! But that’s not all! We also see personal growth. For all three of them. In less than 100 pages! Isn’t it great?? And in those few pages we really learn to know our characters, and it is heartwarming to see them all grow up, in a way or another.
This story is set in a little world, almost intimate, which is bounded to the Forest God and the cycles of nature. People kept to the old ways, but they are slowly forgetting them and this is not a good thing. The Earth is suffering for it, and the small village is suffering for it, too. And even if, on an objective side, the world-building is not the most complete or accurate, it is not lacking. Sure, we don’t have a big world to explore, and sure there aren’t many descriptive parts, but… But you get all that you need to imagine this village, this forest and this world. You get the feeling of the small village, and of the forest. You feel like you really know those places.
And then we have the story. It is compelling, it is beautiful and it speaks to us in a lot of different ways. It was a heartwarming book, one that made you more optimistic, at least for a bit. And something like that is really precious!
Also, it was really really fun, and it remembered me a little of Pratchett, in the best possible way!
June 2, 2020
Jamie Lackey's "The Forest God" reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Dianna Wynne Jones, in its charming style and themes of connection to nature and community, as well as finding one's path in life. Humorous, romantic and thought-inspiring. The three main characters were all charming, but I definitely enjoyed the apprentice witch's arc quite a bit — she struggles with finding a connection with the townspeople whom she thought had rejected her, but eventually comes to understand that they view her as strong and powerful. The theme of choosing duty to one's community versus focusing on one's personal goals was also a refreshing/unusual theme. I would enjoy reading more stories/novellas set in this universe.
June 10, 2020
This is the best story I've read in quite some time! The amount of worldbuilding that takes place in such a brief span is outstanding. Probably the thing that struck me the most was just how COZY this novella felt. While there are certainly some high stakes involved and some truly emotional scenes, the overall mood of the story is Studio Ghibli-esque levels of pure cottagecore serenity. I devoured the whole thing in one sitting after months of being too frazzled by quarantine news to read much of anything and it was like a balm for the soul. Cannot recommend it strongly enough. It was short and sweet and totally delightful.
September 22, 2020
Author Jamie Lackey tackles the retelling of a Celtic myth in the form of this novella. Fans of whimsical cottage romance with a touch of fantasy will love this. It unfortunately did not resonate with me as I found the lack of character development lessened my interest in the story.
If you like folk tales with a splash of romance you will like this.
*eArc provided by the publisher and NetGalley
If you like folk tales with a splash of romance you will like this.
*eArc provided by the publisher and NetGalley
June 16, 2020
What seems on the surface to be an extremely simple story actually turns out to be deeper and very touching.
What I liked:
I have a soft spot for hares, and I couldn't help but pick this up once I saw it involved a hare in such a main role. I was not disappointed as there were plenty of descriptions surrounding the Forest God in this form.
The characters are easy to connect to and their relationships are fleshed out more than you'd expect for such a short piece of fiction.
What I didn't like:
Honestly, I can't think of anything I'd change about this. There was maybe one character that seemed more like an afterthought, but other than that this was just a good short read.
What I liked:
I have a soft spot for hares, and I couldn't help but pick this up once I saw it involved a hare in such a main role. I was not disappointed as there were plenty of descriptions surrounding the Forest God in this form.
The characters are easy to connect to and their relationships are fleshed out more than you'd expect for such a short piece of fiction.
What I didn't like:
Honestly, I can't think of anything I'd change about this. There was maybe one character that seemed more like an afterthought, but other than that this was just a good short read.
June 3, 2020
*I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
What a simple, yet wonderful short story. Never have I ever felt so connected to the characters in so few pages. I didn't want to put it down. Jamie Lackey clearly has a talent and I'd like to see this story continue.
What a simple, yet wonderful short story. Never have I ever felt so connected to the characters in so few pages. I didn't want to put it down. Jamie Lackey clearly has a talent and I'd like to see this story continue.
June 21, 2020
This is excellent and packs a lot into a short book. The author created excellent characters and put them in a moving tale with no superfluous words. Well done and recommended. I look forward to her next work!
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
Read
June 23, 2020This is a well crafted cozy folk story full of gentle yet vivid characters. Beautiful, descriptive world building in such a short novella is really impressive. The every day magic of this really reminded me of a Studio Ghibli film.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to this ARC!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to this ARC!
October 22, 2021
**Recieved as a Net Galley from Air and Nothingness Press**
This little novella is so heartbreakingly beautiful! A completely formed and immersive story in just over 80 pages, this is a must read for anyone who loves folklore, the woods, and the bittersweet taste of love in all its forms. Lackey's prose are to the point and vivid, telling the reader a story of redemption, evolution, and the importance of Nature and its balance.
This little novella is so heartbreakingly beautiful! A completely formed and immersive story in just over 80 pages, this is a must read for anyone who loves folklore, the woods, and the bittersweet taste of love in all its forms. Lackey's prose are to the point and vivid, telling the reader a story of redemption, evolution, and the importance of Nature and its balance.
January 15, 2021
Disclaimer: The author and I are friends. But I can say honestly that when I read it I was delighted. It's like Howl's Moving Castle for grown-ups. Wry and sweet (without being sappy) and lots of fun. It does good subversions of fairy tales and witch stories.
March 16, 2021
I devoured this novella in one sitting. Partially because it is a novella and partially because I was swept up in this simple, but beautiful story. Nothing is overdone in this novella. It isn’t too lean or too heavy in certain areas. It was crafted with precision, so even though I greatly enjoyed the story, I was very satisfied with the ending. I don’t need it to be extended or changed in any way. However, because it is so short I don’t want to say too much about the plot and give anything away.
I also grew attached to the characters and their cozy setting rather quickly. While they all banter back and forth, they grow closer together and learn lessons about responsibility, love, and how what we may view as our greatest weakness may be our biggest strength. These are good lessons for people of any age to learn and I like the fact that it doesn’t shy away from the idea that sometimes it is necessary to make a hard decision. There are situations in life where we won’t get what we want because of our responsibilities.
Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this novella, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.
I also grew attached to the characters and their cozy setting rather quickly. While they all banter back and forth, they grow closer together and learn lessons about responsibility, love, and how what we may view as our greatest weakness may be our biggest strength. These are good lessons for people of any age to learn and I like the fact that it doesn’t shy away from the idea that sometimes it is necessary to make a hard decision. There are situations in life where we won’t get what we want because of our responsibilities.
Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this novella, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 16, 2020
Thank you to the publishers, Air and Nothingness Press, for accepting my request to read this as an E-ARC. All opinions are my own.
This is a short novella about .... a love story and a forest god who's turned into a hare? It's been a few days since I put this down, and I can't remember anything about the story, which tells me that nothing about it was memorable enough to keep me interested in the story, the characters or the setting.
Therefore, I can't say much about this more than I liked the cover.
This is a short novella about .... a love story and a forest god who's turned into a hare? It's been a few days since I put this down, and I can't remember anything about the story, which tells me that nothing about it was memorable enough to keep me interested in the story, the characters or the setting.
Therefore, I can't say much about this more than I liked the cover.
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