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, Young Adult, Fantasy, Queer, LGBT, M M Romance

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😭

[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-...

[♡♣ Shivani ♣♢ { Fly high estelle ♥ } #narlie4everr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[ren ౨ৎ (rozanov's version) · 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.

[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

[⋆˙⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

yearn forest boy yearn

[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 !.

[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

[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. "

[Freefall (back on aug 2nd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was lovely asleep, his honey-gold hair mussed, his body drained of its usual taut anxiety, the perfect curve of his slack jaw so wretchedly beautiful that Thomas had to look away. It hurt too much, all the things he felt about Andrew.

He had always felt there was something otherworldly about Andrew, about his slender elegance and melancholy mouth. He was a matched set with Dove in that way.
...
They were his.

He’d protect them with teeth bared.

A sudden wildfire fury split through Thomas’s chest. He could barely hold it down, this indigo ink monster of pure vitriol and rage. One look at a single blemish on Andrew and Thomas wanted to burn down the whole world.

dove is not my cup of tea but i do miss her 😢

He hoped Andrew finished the story soon.

He wanted to know how it ended.

I SAID I WAS TIRED OF BEING TORTUREDDDDUHHH

[coco's reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Whereas the other Drews short story functioned as a bridge between her most recent YA novels and had an actual narrative and showed a new side to the POV character Laurie, this one...what was the point? I loved seeing more of Dove, but I didn't find this story added anything to Don't Let the Forest In. I don't know Thomas any better; I didn't get a deeper sense of the codependency between him and Andrew. However, I'm excited to reread DLtFI again one day!

[Kaya Beabout · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story gave me a whole new perspective that I have never considered before when looking into the mind of Thomas. It was interesting, seeing his view on the twins, on the lengths that he would go to protect Andrew, and even how he truly feels about Dove. I was so excited when I learned about this small little chapter and found it very enjoyable, I wish there was more content about these two.

[maddy decarvalho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really love this short story! I enjoyed getting to see dove actually SPOILER alive in this story, definitely makes her fate in the book hit even harder than it already did. Obviously enjoyed getting to see Thomas’s POV and how much he and dove cared for Andrew. Also loved getting to read some more of Andrew’s short tales at the end! Definitely worth the $3!

[Rebecca Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small POV from Thomas at the end of their junior year. I liked his POV but not much came from it. I was honestly expecting more. I was expecting at least the build up to the major conflict but we didn't get that much. I still enjoyed it and it cemented Thomas' feelings. The extra stories of Andrews that were included were really good. The best part of these extra chapters.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This left me wanting so much more from Thomas's perspective.

I wish this had taken place a little closer to the plot of Don't Let The Forest In so we got to see a bit more of that. I also wish it had so much more to it

If C.G. Drew's ever wanted to publish a book containing all of Andrew's stories I'd likely consume that.

[Carmen DaVinleam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes Yes Yes! My heart for Thomas, Andrew, Dove... these characters... you ache for them, you would bleed for them like they would bleed for each other. You feel it with every word!
Another amazing read by CG Drews!

[Adhana Tapia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this look into the devotion and equal obsession it looks like Thomas shared with Andrew. After the devestation I know the ending of DLTFI is about to leave me with, this was a nice sweet little tidbit of knowledge and POV.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

plot ⭐️5/5⭐️
tropes ✔️botanical horror, “i’ll be a monster for you”✔️

🥀 this is a prequel to “don’t let the forest in”! i missed these characters, and the ending had me reliving what it was like when i finished the book haha

✨bookstagram @whatsvictoriareading