Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶/5
Content Warnings can be found at: gmfairyauthor.com
This Little Red Riding Hood retelling is a solid four-star read. These werewolves take on a more magical nature than most shifter romances I’ve read. They have powers that range from controlling the weather to controlling/reading the mind. Werewolves have extremely strong mental abilities that female werewolves can determine when they become pregnant—I thought this was such a fascinating and awesome ability. The names of our characters are so on the nose—last names only—that it’s so hilarious it borders on off-putting if you focus too long on it, so just don’t and you find this will be an extremely enjoyable read.
This is a first-person story that follows our female lead, Mildred Christine Hoodson, better known as Red. Red is a New York journalist returning to her hometown, Dayton, Washington, to find the truth behind a series of suspicious attacks. As Red delves deeper into the story, she discovers she's more entwined with the case than a hometown happenstance.
I really enjoyed how dreams, the weather, and scent were used as foreshadows. I also enjoyed how you get to know everyone but the male main character's full name as soon as you meet them—although if you caught onto a conveniently introduced side character you’d put two and two together early on. Side characters were clearly written as side characters, but Carmen, whose book I’m excited to read, made me laugh and didn’t seem as thrown in for the sake of world-building. Ex-childhood friend/crush Jack was an interesting character. I liked the beginning scenes that incorporated him, however, further into the story his demeanor changed so drastically that it was like a poorly introduced new character. It was foreshadowed with the repeated mention of how strained the relationship between Red and Jack was before she left for New York, that they could never be an established couple, but I was a bit disappointed in the cliche “evil” love interest and got whiplash from the “I love you, my feelings are true” to “I never loved you like you loved me” to “I fell in love with the new you.” Jack went from a well-developed character to obvious cannon fodder.
Personal preference, I don't like cocky men so the male main character’s behavior of dark, mysterious, easily-irritable male was not up my alley, however, surprisingly—and much to my delight because I loathe not liking a character who is supposed to be the main love interest—he grew on me. Cameron is all wolf, and I enjoyed the scenes in which he wasn’t giving off airs.
Red was a well-written character. She had a backbone and wasn’t a damsel in distress. I'm usually frustrated with how female characters, such as Red, act when only knowing one side of the story, but surprisingly I was 100% on board with Red's actions and thoughts. She repeatedly asked for information—answers—and no one would give it to her straight, so what else was she to do except to come to her conclusions based on what she's experienced and what she's been told? Anyone she went to for answers already had their assumptions about her, which was frustrating for her and frustrating for me as the reader. I loved how she came to her conclusions after getting all the facts after extreme difficulty.
Red and Cameron’s banter is actually funny when they aren’t at each other's throats or trying to hurt/annoy one another. The acknowledgment of their relationship—being mates and not knowing one another fully—was refreshing. Their relationship moves fast once Red accepts her wolfy parts and both Cameron and Red acknowledge that transition.
The ONLY issue I have with this story was how Hunters are able to brainwash people. It was thrown in as an explanation for Granny (Red’s Grandmother) and her memory loss, but it was never explained. Is it done via magical ability or drugs/machines? Anyway, it’s not something necessary to understand but I would have liked more explanation on the matter.
This is a great Red Riding Hood retelling. I definitely recommend reading this story if you're in the mood for some quick fantasy romance. I ADORE a good title drop, and this one was icing on the cake. I received an ARC from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
A few of my favorite quotes:
“Between thinking I’m going to be eaten alive to being completely disappointed in men—I can’t take it anymore.”
I’m so bored I’m about to smother myself with one of Cameron’s pillows.
A knock sounds on the door.
“I hope you’re here to kill me now.”
Cameron cracks the door open, but I don’t lift my head from lying flat on his mattress. “I was here to see if you wanted to take a walk, but I am feeling rather peckish, so maybe roasting you over a fire is a better idea.”