Wolf Siren

by Beth O’Brien

A vibrant, evocative and magical debut which centres a positive, empowered disabled character at the heart of a reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood.

The woods are hiding a secret… but then so is Red…

Red is not allowed to go into the woods. Everyone knows that they are dangerous – because of their strange magic and the wolves that lurk there… But Red finds herself increasingly drawn to the woods and the place where her grandmother disappeared without a trace three years ago. When the woodcutter fails to return home one night and wolves are spotted close to the village boundary, fear drives a deep and dangerous divide between the villagers and the nature they live alongside.

Only Red seems to hold the key – but she has a secret, and exposing it could ruin her family forever …

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Audiobook, Coming Of Age, Family

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2025

Reviews

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolf Siren is a mesmerizing and atmospheric reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, infused with gothic elements, mystery, and a strong sense of empowerment. The novel follows 14-year-old Red, a determined and brave protagonist living in a village on the edge of an enchanted forest. With the disappearance of her grandmother and the looming threat of the wolves, Red finds herself drawn to the secrets hidden within the woods, secrets that challenge the fears and superstitions of her village.

One of the standout aspects of Wolf Siren is its rich, immersive world-building. The author crafts an eerie yet enchanting setting where nature and magic intertwine, creating a perfect backdrop for a tale of self-discovery and defiance against societal constraints. The writing is lyrical and evocative, making it easy to get lost in Red’s journey.

Another strength of the novel is its representation. Red is visually impaired. This adds a refreshing layer to the narrative, offering a heroine who is both complex and resilient. The novel’s themes of identity, empowerment, and the courage to embrace the unknown make it a powerful read, particularly for young readers looking for a story that celebrates strength in adversity.

At times, the pacing felt a little uneven, with some sections moving more slowly than others. Additionally, while the mystery surrounding the wolves and the grandmother’s disappearance is intriguing, certain plot points could have been explored in more depth to fully maximize the novel’s emotional impact.

Overall, Wolf Siren is a beautifully crafted fairy tale retelling that is haunting, empowering, and deeply immersive. Fans of gothic fantasy, strong female protagonists, and magical realism will find much to love here.

Thank you Times Reads for sending me a copy in exchange for honest review.

[Adele Lostinaclassicworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red vive in un piccolo villaggio molto particolare: tutto si basa sul baratto, ogni azione deve essere ricompensata, e al comando c'è il sindaco che decide per tutti, come quali persone punire o a chi diminuire le razioni di cibo.

Il villaggio è circondato da un fitto bosco, dove è vietato entrare perché i lupi attaccano gli uomini.
Red, invece, non ha paura e ama frequentare il bosco. Lì gli alberi e i lupi la fanno sentire al sicuro, libera e compresa.
Uno dei temi più importanti del libro è proprio la libertà di essere sé stessi e di seguire la propria natura, anche quando va contro le regole imposte.

In questo libro si respira magia sin dalla prima pagina: Red non ha una buona vista e gli alberi l'aiutano e la difendono. La natura è viva, potente, parte integrante della storia.
Questo porta anche a una riflessione sulla relazione tra natura e uomo, su quanto sia necessario rispettare e prendersi cura dell'ambiente che ci circonda.

Red ha un legame speciale con i lupi, un altro tipo di magia, che rende la storia affascinante e misteriosa. Il rapporto tra i vari personaggi e i lupi è un altro perno nella narrazione, ho trovato molto tenere alcune scene e altre mi hanno spezzato il cuore.
Preparatevi a un turbinio di emozioni!

Ho apprezzato le donne del villaggio, sono loro in realtà a svolgere le mansioni più importanti, a mandare avanti la comunità, non il sindaco. Mentre ho apprezzato pochissimi uomini.
Ma soprattutto mi è piaciuta Delana, che è una vera amica per Red. E poi... ha sempre un libro con sé, anche mentre lavora, come non amarla?!

Oltre alla magia e alla natura, il libro parla anche di famiglia. Red è molto legata ai fratelli, mentre il rapporto con la madre si evolve nel corso della storia.
La madre è un personaggio che non si fa apprezzare subito, ma credo che le sue scelte siano sempre fatte per proteggere la sua famiglia.
Importante è anche la figura della nonna, che aiuta Red a conoscersi, a trovare la forza per affrontare il bosco e tutti i suoi segreti.

Non posso fare altro che consigliarvi questo libro che intreccia magia, intrighi e misteri. C'è poi anche un omicidio che mette in moto tutta la storia, e soprattutto costringe il villaggio a guardarsi dentro, a mettere in discussione le proprie regole e convinzioni.

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

" It's hard to live between two worlds that do not trust one another"

" The wolves had to fight to survive, Red, like women. And yes, some people would call that dangerous"

Wolf Siren is a wonderfully gothic fairy tale. Beth O'Brien has taken the traditional tale of Red Riding Hood and created a beautifully dark modern fable.

Red lives in a village where most residents are forbidden to enter the nearby woodland as dark secrets lie and wolves can kill. Red's grandmother disappeared some years before but all is not what it seems. When a woodcutter goes missing, locals turn their suspicion and anger towards the wolves- led by a Mayor who seems to hold a power over the people. The only people who may enter the woodland safely to fetch firewood are the women of the village- but why ?

However Red won't be deterred from entering the woods with a desire to find out what is happening within and soon discovers she has a hidden secret - one that will transform her life, impact on her sister and mother and create wide divisions among the people.

To say any more would reveal too much but Beth O'Brien's story is an empowering tale of a young girl who is visually impaired but also has a strength of determination that will transform a community and finally reveal some dark truths. This is a story of female solidarity overcoming the manipulation of the men in a remote community.


Full of tension, gripping, haunting and totally original, this is a great read - the 10-14 age group(nor adult who enjoy a new twist on a traditional tale). It will be great to see what Beth O"Brian writes next

Highly recommended for Year 6-9

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful empowering fairy tale retelling , with a strong feminist main character. Our main character is also partially sighted. This book explorers how courage can show up and also what it's like to be solidary and different. And more importantly overcoming prejudice.
This book is full of magic and mystery.
The plot centres on Red and her magical abilities, but also the relationship the village has with the woods and the wolves that live there. But there is also a murder mystery to be solved.
There are some breathtaking descriptions of the woods and surrounding areas. We also get to put ourselves in Red’s shoes and see the world partially sighted.
There are some truly heartbreaking scenes especially towards the end.
This is one of those books that is neither MG or YA but sits a bit awkwardly in between, but I am still aiming to put this in my primary school library for the year 6 children.

[JEDKEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sov lite till och från men ändå en jävligt bra bok. 


Hon är delvis blind men skogen hjälper henne att hitta rätt väg.

Hon bor en by där skogens magi bara visas för en del av befolkningen och förvandlingen mellan människa och varg. 

Den före detta hövdingen som dödade vera "the woodcutter"och sen systern. 


4,5

[Chloe Sudworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely magical and empowering

[Cara Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf Siren is a beautifully written, empowering fairy-tale retelling with strong feminist energy and disability representation (the protagonist, Red, is partially sighted). I will be giving it to both my son and my daughter to read, because I think it would be valuable for both of them as an exploration of courage, difference and solidarity overcoming prejudice.

The story itself is highly atmospheric and filled with magic. The plot focuses on Red and her magical abilities, and the village's relationship with the woods and the wolves, but there's a bit of a murder mystery running alongside that as well. There are some gorgeous descriptions and a strong evocation of what it's like to navigate the world as a partially sighted person.

This book sits perfectly at that awkward spot between middle grade and YA, where children are beginning to think more deeply about real-world issues but are not ready to head into the very romance-dominated YA space. I'd say the frank discussion of menstruation (which TBH I am happy to see at any age, but does set the book a little older than your typical middle grade) and the terribly sad death of an important character both set it in that Years 6 to 8 range. It's really hard to find books that fill that gap, so I'm grateful for this one!

[Tracy Lander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red is known as such for the colour of her hair. She lives with her mother - Magenta -, sister Aerona and brother Luki. They live in a town that is bordered by forest - but the town is surrounded by a fence, with only a gate into it. The gate has a Wolf Siren tower next to it.

Only women go into the forest at all, and only women guard the tower. Usually the only person in the forest is Caragh - the woodcutter - a lowly job which was given to her by the Mayor - after she turned down his offer of marriage! The men live in fear of being attacked by the Wolves that lived in the forest although no one has seen or heard them, and the tower alarm has not been sounded for many years. Red's own father was killed by a Wolf.

One day in the forest, which she isn't scared by despite her visual impairment, she meets an old woman who says she is her Grandmother, Red takes her home. Magenta is not happy but accepts her mother in - she left when Magenta was just 14.

Grandmother loves the forest as much as Red. She shows Red there is nothing to be afraid of, she even calls four wolves to Red's side and says they will protect her. But that she should say nothing to her Mother about this! Grandmother also gives her a red cloak.
But why did Grandmother leave her own child? And why does she leave again when Red feels so close to her?

As she is delivering a parcel one day to Ms Blaeberry (a supposed witch who lives in the forest, and who lots of women visit) Red feels ill/ What is happening to her?
Ms Blaeberry explains to Red about what has happened to her, and about her Grandmother. And that this could happen to Aerona too. Red is angry does her mother know, why did she not tell them. The village must never find out.
But then Caragh is killed, supposedly by a wolf. But Red finds her and brings her out from the forest. This changes everything. The Mayor is unhappy with Red spending so much time in the forest, and with the fact that she says she saw Caragh that day, that the forest allowed her in and she found Caragh's body. They want to banish Red. The girls are listening to the village meeting because Delana, Red's best friend, told her about it. But something unexpected happens to Aerona, they have to run....
In the forest they meet Grandmother. Aerona is so happy! Red follows the trees which have all fallen from where Caragh was found to a piece of broken fencing - where they also find the dead wolf shot by Zac.
Who really killed Caragh?
Can the girls ever return?

Beth O'Brien is, like Red, visually impaired. She has looked at the Red Riding Hood story differently. Surely you would only see a Wolf in your grandmother's bed if you could not actually see very well. She has she says smiled at anyone who looks like the family member she is due to meet because her eyes see a small amount and her mind fills in the rest, but also to not recognise people when they are met unexpectedly! This is her first children's book, she has written poetry for adults.
Red in the story is a strong child, she wants to do what is right by her family. But she also feels drawn to protect the forest and the wolves.
I really enjoyed this, and even better only 165 pages, meaning it would not be of a size that is off putting for some children.

[whatbooknext · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red lives in a small village ruled by fear, rules and a tyrannical mayor. He has control of rations and who receives them, has had towers built with lookouts on the edge of the forest and has stirred a constant undercurrent of distrust amongst the townsfolk.

The lookouts keep an eye out for wolves creeping near the town's boundary with the forest. Many men have been lost to wolves over the years - even Red's father. But they need the forest too for fuel for warmth, cooking and funeral pyres, of there have been many. Magic is said to lurk amongst the trees too, just as dangerous as the wolves, and once a proud hunting town, now men and boys are banned from entering the forest.

Women and girls however, have never been harmed by anything in the forest, and despite the warnings and rules, it is Red's favourite place in the world. She knows of the wolves and magic, and neither have ever caused her harm. In fact it has always been the opposite, and with only partial sight, Red welcomes their help as she wanders amongst the trees.

Her grandmother has taught her the wonders of the forest, but just as she appeared one day after being gone since Red's mother was a child, she is gone again, leaving Red lost and lonely for someone who understands her love for all that is forbidden.

Three years of searching for her grandmother has left Red without hope of ever seeing her again. But soon Red has bigger things to deal with. She has begun her periods - and painful and scary as they first are, they signal something else in her life. Something her grandmother was trying to prepare her for.

Suddenly all she loves, both inside and outside the forest is in jeopardy, and pulling all the recent mysterious events together, Red knows she's the only one who can put things right, once and for all.


Whilst studying and during PhD research on fairytales, the spark of an idea for Wolf Siren came to author Beth O'Brien. The result is an intriguing world of magic, wolves, suspicion and love of nature.

Red inhabits two different worlds - whilst in her village, and even her home, she is careful what she says and who she speaks to, goes about her daily chores quickly and head down. But in the very place she is forbidden to be, she is free from worries, feeling safe and happy and loved by the forest around her.

This brings a compelling mixture of good and evil as in favourite fairytales, but tipped upon its head. Wolf Siren is primarily a tale of womanhood, with strong female roles, and those who stand together with loyalty and courage to defeat all the wrong in their small world.

After all... inside every girl is a wolf.

Age - 11+

[The Bookish Chimera - Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“None of us were harmed by the wolves. Not once. Many resented us for this. It was as though in not being attacked we’d exposed a weakness the men didn’t want to admit to.”

Wolf Siren was such a great little book! It is sold as Middle Grade but honestly no matter how old you are, there are things to enjoy. The story took me into the woods and I couldn’t stop until the end. Little Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite tales, but I have to say that this retelling was particularly interesting. I loved how it mixes ecology, emancipation, societal questioning and disabilities (with positive representation). About that last point, the author’s note about her own visual impairment, and how she analyzes the tale through this lens is brilliant. This is the take for Red here, and I loved how the way she feels the world was described, how it gives her a different sensibility to the world but is also a source of challenge. That balance, and the fact that it took me a few pages to realize is –IMO– one of the book’s strengths. It is carried by the writing, immersive and sensitive, and translates with a beautiful relationship to nature, some “primal” sensations that you can feel while reading. That balance feels like one of the important themes of the story and is told with a lot of tact… but also hardness.

I also loved the patriarchal society, and how men are dependent on women for their own safety and completely reject that, trying to blame the girls and take more power anyway. That truly is an interesting way to address toxic masculinity and abuse.
I also loved how the author uses menstruations as a part of her worldbuilding and to enhance her metaphor of the passage to adulthood. It isn’t something that is often dealt with, and I loved all the discourse around it.
It was such an interesting read !

Thank you to Harper Fire and the author for the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Rough Draft*

*4.25 out of 5 Stars

This was my first read from Beth O'Brien and I ate it up in just one sitting! The narrator did a great job with the audiobook so definitely check that out as well!

Wolf Siren is a charming and powerful reimagination of The Little Red Riding Hood with engaging writing, lush worldbuilding and a compelling narrative.

The story is set in a small fenced-in village at the edge of a magical forest (home to wolves), entry to which is keenly monitored and mostly prohibited. Red, our 14-year-old visually-impaired FMC, had always been drawn to the woods and its secrets despite the danger they may pose and finds reasons to venture in, much to her mother's chagrin. But Red is hiding a secret of her own and when the woodcutter goes missing, she must figure out what's going on.

It started off slow but quickly became a gripping read with fairytale vibes and themes like female empowerment and equality, ruling by fear, resisting societal norms, challenging long-held beliefs, connecting with nature and being true to oneself. I loved seeing Red question the way things were done in the village, the rules and beliefs people held for fear of being arbitrarily punished by the mayor and tried to do the right thing anyway.

Red is quite open, helpful and friendly towards others, even those she isn't supposed to be nice to. And she is no damsel-in-distress either. I think kids in their tweens and teens, young girls in particular, would really enjoy this story. I loved the imagery, the lore, the representation and the lessons in here even though that one loss at the end shocked and hurt me. It's also remarkable that the author herself was born with severe visual impairment and made the experience so easy to understand for the reader.

Lastly, I loved the vines, IYKYK!

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have read original Little Red Riding Hood and its various retellings. It’s a classic tale which never gets old not only in entertaining part but also what it teaches to us.

Wolf Siren is a fabulous retelling of this classic story but with few new creative add-ons. The protagonist Red is visually impaired. Her townspeople especially men are not allowed to go into the forbidden forest because of the wolves. There is a border fence of the village and a watch tower with a wolf siren on it, watched by a woman all the time.

Her grandmother went missing in the same forest. Later a villager gets murdered in it. But there is a charm, something mysterious that calls out to Red and pulls her to this dark and dangerous forest. What will happen to Red? Will she be able to solve the murder and uncover the mystery? What is with these wolves? Read this to find out.

Red is a strong and courageous young woman who despite her disability tries to get to the root of all this mystery. Nothing can come in her way. She is a strong feminist character ideal for young readers. Author has done a remarkable job in giving it the same eerily and mysteriously dark atmosphere which is in the original. It gives the story an authentic touch.

Like I said it’s a fabulous retelling. Once you start, its hard to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every retelling gives you something new to think about your favorite classic. This one also does the same.

Highly recommend!! If you love fairy tales and their retellings with an empowered girl protagonist, this one is for you. It can be read by both kids and adults alike. Go for it.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood. There is a girl in a red coat, a grandmother, a woodcutter and wolves in a wood, but there the similarities end, this is a very different story.
Red lives in a village ruled by a mayor who favours those who please him. Having lost lots of men to the wolves in the woods only women (who seem to be safe) are allowed to enter the woods, but this is seen as a punishment. Red often sneaks into the woods feeling at home and at peace among the trees who watch over her. It is there she meets her missing grandmother and starts to find out bits about her heritage.
It is quite a dark book- life in the village is oppressive and the woods are dangerous..Despite this, Red still manages to find joy in the world around her. She is partially sighted and her descriptions of how she perceives the world are at times almost poetical.
Ultimately this a story about fighting for what is right and about protecting the fragile ecology around us. I would have liked to have had a bit more about consequences for the mayor, who is built up as the big bad at the start, but I did like that the ending didn’t play out quite as I expected. A good debut novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is a haunting, atmospheric reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood - and I absolutely loved it. It has that eerie, misty quality of The Village (yes, the film), where fear and superstition hang thick in the air, but it’s also full of heart, courage, and compassion.

Red, our heroine, is partially sighted, and her perspective gives the whole story a fresh, intimate depth. The way O’Brien describes the forest - alive, watchful, almost breathing - is gorgeous, and the connection between Red and nature feels sacred. I especially loved how disability isn’t treated as a limitation here, but a different way of sensing and understanding the world.

The story balances mystery and folklore with family and friendship. The relationships are rich - especially between Red, her sister, and her grandmother - and I loved how the book slowly unravels its secrets about the woods and the wolves. There’s also a quiet feminism running through it: women as guardians, truth-seekers, protectors.

It’s short, accessible, and beautifully written, perfect for Year 6–8 readers who enjoy magic, danger, and emotion woven together. My only wish? That it had been longer as I wasn’t ready to leave the woods when it ended.

Lyrical, empowering, and quietly fierce.

[Jemma Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, it’s not so much that Little Red Riding Hood has been turned on its head, it’s rather looking at it from a completely unexpected perspective. I love how Red sees the world, before I had contact lenses/corrective surgery, I too recognised the world as a series of coloured blurs, recognising colour and shape as opposed to person or specific thing. I went in expecting a tale of a scary female werewolf who would protect those near and dear… it’s not that at the same time as it is. This is a story about love, about balance, about solidarity in the face of the terrifying unknown. Red is a strange little character but it’s precisely this that made me laugh with her, hurt for her, cry with her and rejoice with her. There is a harmony both in this story and to this story, the narrative brings to mind the movie The Company of Wolves, just in its simplistic elegance and the woodland depths it describes.
I will reread this one many times and am definitely going to seek out more of the authors work

[Omiai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that just feels so deep and meaningful. It has a story to tell and a lesson we need to learn.
Beautifully written version of the tale of Little Red Riding hood, but with a lot of differences. I especially loved that Red was visually impaired (as the author says at the end, perhaps this explains why she didn't recognise that there was a wolf in her grandmothers clothing). She finds her way around despite her vision being low, she had friends that help her when they can, and of course the odd bully who can't help but mock her.
But soon Red discovers there is more to her family and village than just a fear of the woods and wolves, something much deeper and darker is going on.
I adored this book. I found it so moving, especially towards the end.
I loved so many aspects of the story, but I don't want to say too much, as it gives away some of the best parts of the story!
Just give it a read, I don't think you'll regret it.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful retelling of Red Riding Hood and not the first re-telling where the wolf is actually the girl. Red is a delight and while she doesn't have full vision, friends and family (and the forest) are ready to help her, especially when she doesn't really fit it. And you can feel the huge effort it is for her to fit in. I love Areona though, she is one of my favourite characters and I was devastated over her death but her death was handled beautifully. There is a lot going on here, how we treat nature, a male lead community where really women are the ones with the power, consequences to your decisions, and not punishing children for the mistakes of their parents and it is really well done, it's not beating you in the face or man hating, it's very subtle. This is an amazing world that Beth has created and the story is well told. I will definitely keep an eye out for anything else she writes.

[Shikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve year old Red was forbidden from entering the woods. Everyone knew that woods were magical, and dangerous. There hadn't been a single wolf attack since Red was four, but the mayor instilled the fear of the wolves, and the trees, in everyone. When the woodcutter, Caragh, is mysteriously killed by the wolves,the woods have been blocked themselves with a thick layer of vines, and all fingers point at Red.Red is also hiding a secret,one that could doom her family. This is a heart wrenching marvelous success. Red's is lively, mischevious and short tempered a, visually impaired girl. Her anger fuels her determination and that's what makes Red, Red.
Her sister, Aerona, is a rebel and an artist. Her lively, playful nature, and her loyalty towards her subling makes her my favourite character. This book made me ponder over Little Red Riding Hood from a different perspective and, I quote,
"Inside every good girl is a wolf."

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗪𝗢𝗟𝗙 𝗦𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗡 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗢'𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻 is a lush and lyrical reimagining of 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱, infused with folklore, feminism, and forest magic. Beth O’Brien crafts a world brimming with tension—where fear rules a village under the iron fist of a power-hungry mayor, and yet nature, forbidden and wild, offers Red something no human ever has: safety and belonging. Red is a compelling protagonist—brave, curious, and refreshingly empowered despite her partial sight. The forest, mysterious and alive, becomes a character in itself, guiding Red as she uncovers secrets, confronts her heritage, and embraces a magic awakening within. The pacing is steady with beautiful prose and a strong message about womanhood, community, and defiance. Though the ending wrapped a little quickly, the emotional depth and atmosphere made this debut memorable. A spellbinding fairy tale for readers who love magic with meaning.

[Kayleigh Panton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, this is the first younger fiction I’ve read in a while but wow it had me hooked! Wolf Siren is described as a loose retelling of Red Riding Hood and although there are familiar aspects of the fairytale, this story is new, magical and actually quite dark in places.

I feel this would suit readers aged 11-14 due to some of the darker content and themes. The dystopian setting is very well described and the writing is absolutely brilliant. I’ve enjoyed reading this edgy forest village tale and my 12 year old self would have read it three times already!

In this story, the strong female lead Red is visually impaired. I discovered that author Beth was born visually impaired and that she is the founder of @disabled_tales a website dedicated to discussing disability in fairytales. Amazing!

[Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pulled me in with its atmosphere and its deep, vivid connection to nature. The imagery of the natural world was, in one word, breathtaking.

That said, I did wish for more description and build-up in the storytelling. Red’s first transformation, for instance, felt a little too abrupt. I would have loved some early hints or more foreshadowing to make that moment even more powerful. In general, the events moved very quickly, and I found myself wishing the book had lingered a little longer on the characters and their experiences before getting to the action. Honestly, it could have been longer, and I would have happily stayed in this alternative Red Riding Hood world for more pages.

Still, the writing itself is beautiful, and the way Beth captures the essence of nature made this such a memorable read. Even though I have small “wishes” it was a 5 star read for me.

[Lisa Tristram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Net galley, for the ARC copy. The blur on this book got me straight away... one of my favourites is a story based in a fairytale.....what can I say...this book was amazing. It's definitely a book that I couldn't put down. A twist on the Little Red Riding Hood tale the story explores Red life and what's been going on In her village....men are not allowed into the woods due to wolf attacks but there's more to it then you know. It's hard to write a review without giving too much away, but if you like a book with girl power, an awaking and the truth will come out, then this is your book. I hope this book gets nominated for Book Of rhe Year as it truly is a magical book that deserves all the praise and recommendations it can get.

[Mary Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting take on the old story of Red Riding Hood. In this version, Red (as she is called) is visually challenged. Her town lives on the edge of a forest and men aren't allowed to go in as there are wolves that live there that only seem to kill the males. Red has an affinity for the forest and goes there often, but it is frowned upon by the villagers and the mayor (a corrupt politician, if ever there was one). This book touches on our way of connecting with nature and our abuse of it. And the way leaders create fear to stay in power. It was really interesting and I loved Red as a protagonist and was sad with some of the events that happen.

[Rick Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The forest is dangerous: there are wolves. But more so is the town, especially if you're a woman. This wonderfully subversive book flips the traditional 'Red Riding Hood' story around, and gives the strength of wolves to its young protagonist. It's incredibly skilfully drawn and the plot pulls you along irresistably. Technically, this is aimed at children aged 10-14 (who will love the adventurous and powerful young woman at the heart of the story), but like the best children's books, it will appeal just as much to adults. I loved it and devoured it, well, like a wolf.

[Bookgirl888 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, atmospheric and thought provoking. I loved this book. I thought it would be more fairy tale like and it wasn't; it was so much better. Red is blind and isn't allowed into the woods because it's not safe. When her grandmother returns after years away, Red becomes more and more intrigued and things start to change for her. She makes decisions that she wouldn't have made before and begins to find herself. There are light, tender moments and some really dark moments. A super read for anyone who likes a book that they can't stop thinking about long after they've read it.

[Luna Ray]

Hauntingly beautiful and deeply original Wolf Siren completely pulled me in. Beth O’Brien blends mythology, emotion, and lyrical writing in a way that feels almost hypnotic. The main character’s voice is powerful, raw, and unforgettable.

Every page feels like a quiet storm full of longing, strength, and mystery. This is the kind of book you read with your heart wide open. Dark and poetic, but with light breaking through at just the right moments. I’m still thinking about the last lines.

Highly recommended for readers who love stories that speak to both the soul and the wild.

[Haxxunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic fantasy take on Red Riding Hood
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Take Red Riding Hood, wolves, Grandma, the forbidden woods, woodcutters and axes; add visual impairment and a feminist perspective; then shake to destruction and remix, rewrite and reframe; and O’Brien has given us a new take on Red with a strong Animal Wife vibe full of witchy empowerment. To say much more would give the whole game away, but it’s enough to say that I thought this was more YA in its graphic violence so it might not suit all early teens.

[Sam Ing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

"It's hard to live between two worlds that do not trust each other"

This book is an alternative take on Little Red Riding Hood, with a dark m9dern twist, I loved how the reader is shown how Red, the wolves and the woods all interconnect. I feel this book gave empowerment to woman within the story and the determination of a child. I will definitely be recommending this book to students and will recommenda copy for our school library.

[Emily Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable read and is easily one of my new favourite middle grade novels. I loved the take on Red Riding Hood and how the author wove in themes around gender, accessibility, and community without it being heavy handed. I also love a good author’s note, and this one did not disappoint. I think this would make for an excellent book club option for young readers… and I’d love to discuss it with someone too!

[Ardin Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was beautiful.

I cried.

I did not expect this from a Red Riding Hood inspired story, and I was delighted by every single chapter as more secrets about the woods and the village unfolded.

This is definitely my top middle grade fantasy for sure. Especially out of the ones I've read in the last 5 years. The stakes were high, there were scenes that absolutely devastated me, and it was incredibly vivid and engaging. I couldn't put it down.