Thomas

by C.G. Drews

This is a prequel short story, told by Thomas and it is set the summer before Don't Let The Forest In.

It happens one day before the flashback on page 208 in the book. Contains the slightest of spoilers for Don't Let The Forest In but it is a prequel so technically you can read it without reading the book first.

It's told by Thomas Rye (which means you get to see Andrew through his eyes) and it's set the summer before the events of Don't Let The Forest In, aka before everything went very very badly!

I hope you enjoy letting the forest in once more and spending just a little more time with Andrew, Thomas, and Dove. I don't imagine i'll ever write more of them so this is the bittersweet last time.

You can read the story for free on the authors website.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fantasy, Young Adult, Queer, LGBT, Novella

32 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

CG Drews is the award-winning NYT Bestselling author of Don’t Let The Forest In, Hazelthorn, and You Did Nothing Wrong. Their work has been translated into over 12 languages, was nominated for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal, and won the B&N 2025 YA Book Awards, and are also Indie Next Picks and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. CG lives in Australia under a pile of unread books. Find on Instagram as @paperfury and TikTok as @cgdrews or at cgdrews.com.

Reviews

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Once again, I am genuinely amazed by the way this author writes. It's a masterpiece in itself, captivating the reader instantly from the very first lines with its subtle yet powerful presence.

This story is a short prequel set before the events of "Don't Let the Forest In," told from Thomas's point of view. Let me tell you, he remains as unhinged as ever, his mind teetering on the edge of chaos.

Thomas’s love for Andrew is portrayed with delicate intensity, full of symbolic throwny roses, soft as feathers, and seemingly fragile yet deeply rooted. His affection is a complex mix of tenderness and turmoil, a dichotomy that reveals both his vulnerability and obsession.

This portrayal further confirms that Thomas would gladly destroy himself if it meant keeping Andrew safe and carefree, shielded from the ugliness and harsh realities of the world.

In conclusion, this story embodies the intense, painful yearning that this author is renowned for. It vividly rekindled the obsessive and slightly unhealthy love shared between these two intertwined boys, highlighting the depths of their emotional entanglement and the darkness lurking beneath their passionate connection.

[Youssra (semi ia- shelving books don't mind me) · Rating 4 out of 5]

They had no idea how far he’d go to protect Andrew, what he’d do.

“I’d be a monster for you,” Thomas whispered, “if you asked.”

over too soon🤧🤧





I can't get them out of my head plsssss😭

[romi (s.ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’d be a monster for you,” Thomas whispered, “if you asked.”

I CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW MUCH I ADORE THIS GUY

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

⋆.˚ᛝpre-read.✦.ᐟ ݁˖
I CAN'T GET OVER THOMAS SO OF COURSE I'M READING THIS RIGHT AFTER DLTFI

[j☆ke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never felt more hollowed out, and I mean that as the highest compliment
────────────────────────────────────
https://www.cgdrews.com/blog/prequel-...

[ren ౨ৎ (in a tiny slump) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"i'd be a monster for you," thomas whispered, "if you asked."

the chokehold that thomas and andrew have on me really needs to be studied.

[♡♣ Shivani ♣♢ {Nick & Charlie's ver.♥} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[ullianachase · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’d be a monster for you,” Thomas whispered, “if you asked.” 😩😩

[niuuu]

aww man this is so swee- *gets shot 57 times*

[laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

uh hello? i am so incredibly late to the party?
don’t let the forest in is one of my favorite books that i read in 2024 and yet i only heard about this little prequel days ago…? better late than never i’d say! so of course i had to run and read it even after all this time. i loved getting to reunite with this story and these characters. thomas and andrew still have my heart but reading about them kind of made me want to re-read don’t let the forest in though…

“i’d be a monster for you,” thomas whispered, “if you asked”

[Grace Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Thomas and Andrew so fucking much BYE

[~ bri ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

moje misie mimimimi ☹️❤️

[⋆˙⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

yearn forest boy yearn

[Rachael ༊·˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’d be a monster for you," Thomas whispered, "if you asked."

Ooh I love love loved this, especially because we can finally see once and for all exactly how equally (and honestly obviously) dark and twisted Thomas is :D But yes, I loved reading more of Drews's work, and I loved the chance to see another perspective of the story (or a tangent of it) through Thomas's eyes. And have I mentioned that I love how he is depicted, and especially in his descriptions for the twins (especially Andrew)? If I haven't, now I have.

Definitely never reading DLTFI again without stopping before the flashback to read this now. 5 stars, because it was short and anything but sweet because now I am left craving more, but noooo there isn't going to be more.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read a thousand short stories about Andrew and Thomas and never get my fill of them.

This was perfect. It made my heart feel twisted up in knots and as short as it was it still managed to make me cry.

I have 12 highlights, 12 and it’s only 32 pages long.

Favourite quotes; “Dove stopped and shot a pointed glare back at Thomas. It said: Do Not Start Anything. Thomas gave her a smile that was all teeth.”

“One look at a single blemish on Andrew and Thomas wanted to burn down the whole world.”

[Reading_whimsically · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Diversity: American-Asian sc
Queerness: Queer MCs
Content warnings : bullying , borderline body horror , use of homophobic language

I need more. I know im currently reviewing the more content but I need more

The fact so much detail is put in this short stories in insane ! Also reading though the short story and seeing that foreshadowing had me like👀


This short story has left me with so many questions and even got me considering doing a re-read of dont let the forest in !.

[Sofii · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ «Sería un monstruo por tí», Thomas susurró, «Si me lo pidieras.» ”

4.5⭐ Ay Thomas, te amo tanto, mereces todo lo bueno del mundo😭😭😭

Esta mini precuela, a diferencia del libro, está narrada desde el punto de vista de Thomas y me parece que era MUY necesario. Ahora lo amo más incluso🥹 Yy mi perspectiva de un hecho en particular del libro acaba de cambiar completamente🧐 Igual deja bastantes preguntas pero esa es la esencia de esta historia so es un buen complemento, me gustó✨


(Los cuentos de Andrew me siguen dando mucho yuyu💀)

[Evy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That would be a sin most cruel against a glass prince left to sleep for a thousand years amongst the roots of a wild red oak.”

A beautiful short story that took place before ”Don’t let the forest in”.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

“i’d be a monster for you, if you asked.”

FINDING THIS PREQUELS WAS SUCH A TREAT

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas is a wild passionate thing. I live for his devotion, his reckless fists, and his longing heart.

[Madeleine Eleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 4 🌟 because it was too short and I wanted more !

[Laila Panek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when people beat people up and it's so satisfying and yes blood lust. Thomas is awesome and has issues but in an endearing way. Like me <3

[Ace Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I fear I wanted more than what was given. Not bad just meh

[Walindor · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4/5

[archivist13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ive decided. cg drews is my favourite author

[✧ iva · Rating 4 out of 5]

„I‘d be a monster for you if you asked“

only c.g. drews could make that sound romantic

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

NECESITO MAS DE ELLOS😭😭😭😭

[Naomi]

hold on i gotta spend $5 to read it and im not prepared to spend that right now. I'LL GET BACK TO IT IN A MOMENT I SWEAR <333

[Danii · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up Thomas immediately after finishing Don't Let the Forest In because I was convinced I was finally about to get answers.

Instead, I got more character insights, more fairy tales to overanalyze, and somehow even more theories.

The strongest part of this short story is easily the additional time spent with Thomas, Andrew, and Dove before everything falls apart. Seeing the trio together again gave a lot more context to their relationships, especially Thomas's fear of being left behind and the different ways he cares about both twins. I also loved the fairy tales woven throughout the story. Reading them after finishing Don't Let the Forest In felt like finding extra clues hidden around the edges of a puzzle.

My biggest frustration is that this story feels more interested in adding layers to the mystery than answering any of it. I finished Don't Let the Forest In with a notebook full of questions, and I finished Thomas with that same notebook somehow even fuller. While I appreciated the character moments and extra context, I was still hoping for at least one concrete answer. Instead, I walked away with stronger theories, a better understanding of Thomas, and absolutely no idea whether I'm any closer to solving what actually happened.

[Whimsy -`♡´- · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love how much the characters will do to protect the ones they deeply deeply care about in the books that CG Drews lovingly gives us!
Just like all of their other books, loved it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Getting to see Thomas POV for a bit like we did in Laurie was so nice, and brings you right back into the stories!

"But it hurt to share them and he hated it. Hated how vulnerable acknowledging the jealousy made him feel. He was terrified that Dove and Andrew would find better friends, people who were interesting and nice and agreeable and charismatic-and then they'd leave him in the loathsome muck where he belonged. He'd never even had friends before them. He'd never been liked."

This hits hard.

"When the fox attacked, it was swift and precises. A flurry of fur and claws and elongated fangs. The boy barely had time to cry out before his throat was opened, his chest torn asunder. As the fox's bloodied snout rooted through the boy's rib cage for soft, warm innards, he chided the boy.
"Why would you think your wings are the only coveted thing about you?" he said. "

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas - C. G. Drews

I just started reading Don’t Let the Forest In, but I just had to read Thomas, it’s prequel first. I love that we’re in Thomas’s point of view before the summer and the events of Don’t Let the Forest In. And I love how moody, dark and just atmospheric it is. I’m already so obsessed with these characters and I haven’t even known them long and the writing is just so beautiful. I can’t wait to continue reading Don’t Let the Forest In and know these characters more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

# of Pages 🌙 30 Pages

Reading Dates ✨ 8/7/26 - 8/7/26

Release Date 🌟 2/17/25

Format 💫 Digital

Series 🌙 Don’t Let the Forest In, #0.5

Genre/Tropes ✨ Young adult, horror

Triggers ⭐️ blood, gore, violence, homophobia, bullying.

Representation 🌙 Queer Characters

Favorite Character ☀️ Thomas

Favorite Line 🌟 ‘Drawing wasn’t just his deepest joy, it was a compulsion bound so tight to his bones that he couldn’t go a day without bleeding the outline of a monster across a page.’

Vibes 💫 dark academia, gothic

Moods ⭐️ moody, dark