The Devil In A Forest by Gene Wolfe

Set in a harsh, medieval backwater, the story follows a young villager who becomes entangled in a brutal struggle among occupying authorities, a zealous religious faction, and a charismatic outlaw. As local politics, superstition, and faith clash, his coming-of-age experience forces him to navigate shifting loyalties, violence, and moral ambiguity, leaving the true nature of good and evil uncertain.

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