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A Noble Intent
A dethroned prince wants his kingdom back. His enemy’s granddaughter stands in his way.
Prince Max and his elite warriors, the Wolves, have lived in hiding since Lady Vermilion and her Huntsmen conquered the kingdom of Cadmium over ten years ago. He has spent his time training, planning, and strategizing for the day he can take back his kingdom and avenge his family. But to do this, he must find the legendary red diamond that is said to bear the power to appoint the true ruler and remove those in power who wish to use the throne for their own purposes.
Gisela’s grandmama, Lady Vermilion, has made no secret of her disappointment in Gisela’s scholarly pursuits. But now, Gisela has a chance to redeem herself in her grandmama’s eyes as she’s sent on a journey to find the ancient sage--The Owl--and use her gifts of language translation to decipher ancient texts that will lead her to the powerful red diamond. If she can help her grandmama solidify her place on the throne, Gisela will become what she always has dreamed of being. Wanted.
When Max masquerades undercover as a guide to lead Gisela on a journey to find the red diamond, they must face trouble neither of them anticipated. And learning to trust their darkest enemy, might become their brightest hope.
A Noble Intent is a New Adult Christian fantasy Little Red Riding Hood retelling and is Book #12 in Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Prince Max and his elite warriors, the Wolves, have lived in hiding since Lady Vermilion and her Huntsmen conquered the kingdom of Cadmium over ten years ago. He has spent his time training, planning, and strategizing for the day he can take back his kingdom and avenge his family. But to do this, he must find the legendary red diamond that is said to bear the power to appoint the true ruler and remove those in power who wish to use the throne for their own purposes.
Gisela’s grandmama, Lady Vermilion, has made no secret of her disappointment in Gisela’s scholarly pursuits. But now, Gisela has a chance to redeem herself in her grandmama’s eyes as she’s sent on a journey to find the ancient sage--The Owl--and use her gifts of language translation to decipher ancient texts that will lead her to the powerful red diamond. If she can help her grandmama solidify her place on the throne, Gisela will become what she always has dreamed of being. Wanted.
When Max masquerades undercover as a guide to lead Gisela on a journey to find the red diamond, they must face trouble neither of them anticipated. And learning to trust their darkest enemy, might become their brightest hope.
A Noble Intent is a New Adult Christian fantasy Little Red Riding Hood retelling and is Book #12 in Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone.
- GenresRetellings
120 pages, Paperback
Published January 14, 2025
About the author
Kendall Hoxsey
6 books20 followersKendall Hoxsey can be found amongst the vineyard rows in wine country dreaming up stories to hopefully find their way onto the page when she's not reading, cooking, or chasing after her two children and two French bulldogs. A lifelong lover of history, Kendall loves to weave her fascination with history into romantic historical tales. Luckily her own dashing hero husband provides plenty of inspiration.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 17, 2026
✧ . 🐺 . ✧
𝒜 𝒩ℴ𝒷𝓁ℯ ℐ𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓃𝓉...
✧ . 🐺 . ✧
RATING: 4/5 🌟 (An absolutely amazing, brilliant take on the original fairytale with wonderful characters!)
✧ . 📜 . ✧
📜 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒫𝓁ℴ𝓉...
✧ . 📜 . ✧
Lady Gisela has spent her entire life hidden away in libraries, completely isolated under the strict, critical eye of her grandmother, the tyrannical Lady Vermillion. But her quiet life is upended when she is given a high-stakes quest: venture into the dangerous wilds to track down the legendary Owl, recover the lost royal red diamond, and assassinate the exiled rebel Prince Max of Moritz. To survive the trek, she relies on a rugged, arrogant hired guide named Rolf. Unbeknownst to Gisela, "Rolf" is actually Prince Max himself, using the journey to infiltrate the kingdom, reclaim his stolen throne, and enact his ultimate revenge.
✧ . ✨ . ✧
✨ ℋℴ𝓃ℯ𝓈𝓉 𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊ℊ𝒽𝓉𝓈...
✧ . ✨ . ✧
"The House of Moritz will survive... The red diamond will be kept safe in a place where the sun shines on the world."
This book was absolutely amazing! I completely loved the characters and their brilliant dynamic. Watching the layers of deception slowly unravel while real, slow-burn trust and love formed between Max and Gisela around the nightly campfires was beautiful. Gisela has so much unexpected grit and integrity for a sheltered academic, while Max balances his fierce warrior instincts with genuine devotion. Also, such a unique take, switching up the protagonists and antagonists' roles compared to the og tale.
The fast pacing keeps you completely hooked, and the world-building is deeply atmospheric.
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
🐺 The "Wolf" Persona: Instead of a literal animal, the wolf represents Prince Max, the leader of an elite royal warrior tribe known as the Wolves.
👑 The Grandmama Figure: Rather than a sweet, vulnerable grandmother, Lady Vermillion is a ruthless, power-hungry villain who usurped the throne, imprisoned the hero's family, and acts as the story's main antagonist.
🎯 The Red Riding Hood Role: Instead of a helpless girl delivering treats, Gisela is an academic princess sent on a dangerous, forced political mission to locate an ancient scholar and assassinate her family's enemy.
⚔️ The Huntsman Role: Sir Hugo and his huntsmen are not heroic saviors, but a corrupt group of loyal mercenaries executing Lady Vermillion's violent orders.
.・゜゜・ ・゜゜・．
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 / 𝑪𝑾𝒔
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
🪓 Violence & Murder: descriptions of war casualties, family executions, historical torture, and a gruesome throat-slitting confession.
🔒 Forced Captivity: Multiple instances of severe political confinement, including characters being bound, gagged, locked in wooden trunks, or thrown into dungeon prisons.
🩸 Physical Injury: A graphic scene where an archer shoots an arrow completely through a character's shoulder, causing heavy bleeding and a near-death infection.
🧪 Attempted Poisoning: a malicious attempt to poison a character by secretly mixing toxic substances into their food.
❤️ Romance & Kisses: An emotional central romantic arc that culminates in a soft and loving kiss.
✧ . 𝄢 . ✧
ℱ𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝒱ℯ𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉
✧ . 𝄢 . ✧
A masterfully woven, entirely clean fairytale retelling that balances political intrigue, clever fairytale dialogue, and a stunningly unique setup. Perfect for readers who adore clean books, protective heroes, and resourceful heroines!
𝒜 𝒩ℴ𝒷𝓁ℯ ℐ𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓃𝓉...
✧ . 🐺 . ✧
RATING: 4/5 🌟 (An absolutely amazing, brilliant take on the original fairytale with wonderful characters!)
✧ . 📜 . ✧
📜 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒫𝓁ℴ𝓉...
✧ . 📜 . ✧
Lady Gisela has spent her entire life hidden away in libraries, completely isolated under the strict, critical eye of her grandmother, the tyrannical Lady Vermillion. But her quiet life is upended when she is given a high-stakes quest: venture into the dangerous wilds to track down the legendary Owl, recover the lost royal red diamond, and assassinate the exiled rebel Prince Max of Moritz. To survive the trek, she relies on a rugged, arrogant hired guide named Rolf. Unbeknownst to Gisela, "Rolf" is actually Prince Max himself, using the journey to infiltrate the kingdom, reclaim his stolen throne, and enact his ultimate revenge.
✧ . ✨ . ✧
✨ ℋℴ𝓃ℯ𝓈𝓉 𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊ℊ𝒽𝓉𝓈...
✧ . ✨ . ✧
"The House of Moritz will survive... The red diamond will be kept safe in a place where the sun shines on the world."
This book was absolutely amazing! I completely loved the characters and their brilliant dynamic. Watching the layers of deception slowly unravel while real, slow-burn trust and love formed between Max and Gisela around the nightly campfires was beautiful. Gisela has so much unexpected grit and integrity for a sheltered academic, while Max balances his fierce warrior instincts with genuine devotion. Also, such a unique take, switching up the protagonists and antagonists' roles compared to the og tale.
The fast pacing keeps you completely hooked, and the world-building is deeply atmospheric.
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
🐺 The "Wolf" Persona: Instead of a literal animal, the wolf represents Prince Max, the leader of an elite royal warrior tribe known as the Wolves.
👑 The Grandmama Figure: Rather than a sweet, vulnerable grandmother, Lady Vermillion is a ruthless, power-hungry villain who usurped the throne, imprisoned the hero's family, and acts as the story's main antagonist.
🎯 The Red Riding Hood Role: Instead of a helpless girl delivering treats, Gisela is an academic princess sent on a dangerous, forced political mission to locate an ancient scholar and assassinate her family's enemy.
⚔️ The Huntsman Role: Sir Hugo and his huntsmen are not heroic saviors, but a corrupt group of loyal mercenaries executing Lady Vermillion's violent orders.
.・゜゜・ ・゜゜・．
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 / 𝑪𝑾𝒔
♩ 🎕 ┈┈┈┈ 🎵 ┈┈┈┈ 🎕 ♩
🪓 Violence & Murder: descriptions of war casualties, family executions, historical torture, and a gruesome throat-slitting confession.
🔒 Forced Captivity: Multiple instances of severe political confinement, including characters being bound, gagged, locked in wooden trunks, or thrown into dungeon prisons.
🩸 Physical Injury: A graphic scene where an archer shoots an arrow completely through a character's shoulder, causing heavy bleeding and a near-death infection.
🧪 Attempted Poisoning: a malicious attempt to poison a character by secretly mixing toxic substances into their food.
❤️ Romance & Kisses: An emotional central romantic arc that culminates in a soft and loving kiss.
✧ . 𝄢 . ✧
ℱ𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝒱ℯ𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉
✧ . 𝄢 . ✧
A masterfully woven, entirely clean fairytale retelling that balances political intrigue, clever fairytale dialogue, and a stunningly unique setup. Perfect for readers who adore clean books, protective heroes, and resourceful heroines!
February 27, 2025
3 stars, personally. ✨ Christian Fiction - Fairytale Retelling
About this book:
“A dethroned prince wants his kingdom back. His enemy’s granddaughter stands in his way.
Prince Max and his elite warriors, the Wolves, have lived in hiding since Lady Vermilion and her Huntsmen conquered the kingdom of Cadmium over ten years ago. He has spent his time training, planning, and strategizing for the day he can take back his kingdom and avenge his family. But to do this, he must find the legendary red diamond that is said to bear the power to appoint the true ruler and remove those in power who wish to use the throne for their own purposes.
Gisela’s grandmama, Lady Vermilion, has made no secret of her disappointment in Gisela’s scholarly pursuits. But now, Gisela has a chance to redeem herself in her grandmama’s eyes as she’s sent on a journey to find the ancient sage--The Owl--and use her gifts of language translation to decipher ancient texts that will lead her to the powerful red diamond. If she can help her grandmama solidify her place on the throne, Gisela will become what she always has dreamed of being. Wanted.
When Max masquerades undercover as a guide to lead Gisela on a journey to find the red diamond, they must face trouble neither of them anticipated. And learning to trust their darkest enemy, might become their brightest hope.”
Series: Book #12 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Click on the books to be taken to that review: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, Book #6, Book #7, Book #8, Book #9, Book #10, and Book #11!
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God; Most ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; In the beginning chapter from the point of view of Max, he says he’s killed Lady Vermillion’s huntsmen, but God will forgive him and he will “restore order to this kingdom and then dedicate [his] life to His penitence [after he has avenged his family]”; *Spoiler* ; Gisela doesn’t understand how her grandmother can tell her to kill someone when that is a sin & that only God has the right to “strike someone down”; Gisela hasn’t prayed since her parents died because her grandmother didn’t insist on prayer; Someone tells Gisela that God will be with her and will always listen and help her (“though, it just may not be the help you are specifically asking for”); The red diamond was a gift from God that whoever possesses it is the king or queen of the country as God bestowed it as a gift to the ruler; Mentions of God & praying; Mentions of prayers & praying, & thanking God; A mention of someone feeling as if God ignored his plea; A couple mentions of the devil being on someone’s heels; A mention of a Bible;
*Note: Max thinks about someone competing with the demons from his past; There are talking birds and a talking fox; Mentions of a talking dragon; A mention of a superstition.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: ‘curse that woman!’ is exclaimed once & a ‘drat’ is also said; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; A mention of a curse (said, not written); Being attacked, being shot with an arrow, being held at sword-point, holding someone at knife-point, knocking someone unconscious, pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & passing out (up to semi-detailed); Having the opportunity to kill someone and holding a knife to the person’s throat (*Spoiler* ); Planning to poison/kill someone *Spoiler* ; Max hates Lady Vermillion and her family for killing his family and wants revenge (major plot point as it’s consumed his life); Gisela’s grandmother has ordered her to kill Max, but Gisela doesn’t think she can do that and questions her grandmother about it (which makes her grandmother grab her; Later, Gisela thinks about if Max is really her enemy just because of family ties and history and knows that nothing will bring her mother back; Gisela knows she can’t do it); It’s implied that Gisela has been physically abused (slapped) by her grandmother as well as the verbal abuse she’s been subjected to for years; Despite this, Gisela has tried to win her grandmother’s approval; A story is shared about a young girl almost being eaten by a dragon after her family was attacked by the dragon (but ultimately, the dragon adopts the young girl has her daughter); Many mentions of killing, murders, deaths (including of parents), and an order to assassinate someone; Many mentions of revenge & hatred; Mentions of attacks; Mentions of kidnappings & ransoms; Mentions of prisons & prisoners; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deceit; A few mentions of a dragon killing someone & someone killing the dragon; A few mentions of grief; A few mentions of alcohol & drinking (Lady Vermillion has a glass of brandy in her POV); A few mentions of gossip; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of hunters; A couple mentions of hangings; A couple mentions of someone being tortured; A couple mentions of stealing; A mention of someone falling to their death; A mention of a young boy seeing his family murdered; A mention of the huntsmen leaving a child to die in an abandoned well; A mention of a blood oath; A mention of slave labor (by dwarves who kidnap humans for this);
*Note: A couple mentions of the death of a mother and young sibling in childbirth.
Sexual Content- A jawline kiss and a not-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Nearness, & Smelling (including muscles, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Wanting to embrace; Noticing (including muscles, barely-above-not-detailed; Gisela’s grandmother has wanted all the male attention on herself, so Gisela has never spent time with a man; A few mentions of feelings & attraction; A few mentions of flirting & blushes; A mention of wooing someone; A mention of a man being frantic about producing a child with his new wife; Some attraction, love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Gisela
-Max
P.O.V. switches between them, Lady Vermillion (x2), & Hugo (x1)
114 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I have to say that some things didn’t make sense to me at times, which may have been due to missing punctuation and typos, unfortunately. I will also add, however, that this is probably one of the ones in the series so far that I didn’t feel like the ending was rushed.
I thought it was interesting how Gisela wasn’t sure if the missing prince was her enemy like her grandmother views him, but then Max automatically views Gisela as his enemy because of her connection to the woman who killed his family. I could understand Max (as much as I could) with his desire for revenge, but that was definitely his main personality trait. I honestly didn’t care for Max even besides his plan for and focus on getting revenge. At one point he purposely pushes Gisela’s buttons and thinks about how fun it is to tease her, but it didn’t feel like teasing to me and definitely not to her. I struggled with his character for the majority of the book. I didn’t love the faith content with Max as it didn’t feel like a satisfying ending in that regard where it was a clear change from what he was the rest of the book.
I’ve noticed some similarities between Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White before, but especially with this retelling. I had to keep reminding myself it wasn’t a Snow White retelling because it felt like one often. The author will be sharing a novella that is collected to this story that is a Snow White retelling (well, after the main events of story), however, so it made sense that I was seeing nods to that classic tale as well.
Despite the small page amount, the events in this book were well paced throughout the story. I liked the different elements of the classic Little Red Riding Hood story that came to play. I didn’t personally greatly enjoy this short story, but I liked different parts and think it would be enjoyable for some other readers as well.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“A dethroned prince wants his kingdom back. His enemy’s granddaughter stands in his way.
Prince Max and his elite warriors, the Wolves, have lived in hiding since Lady Vermilion and her Huntsmen conquered the kingdom of Cadmium over ten years ago. He has spent his time training, planning, and strategizing for the day he can take back his kingdom and avenge his family. But to do this, he must find the legendary red diamond that is said to bear the power to appoint the true ruler and remove those in power who wish to use the throne for their own purposes.
Gisela’s grandmama, Lady Vermilion, has made no secret of her disappointment in Gisela’s scholarly pursuits. But now, Gisela has a chance to redeem herself in her grandmama’s eyes as she’s sent on a journey to find the ancient sage--The Owl--and use her gifts of language translation to decipher ancient texts that will lead her to the powerful red diamond. If she can help her grandmama solidify her place on the throne, Gisela will become what she always has dreamed of being. Wanted.
When Max masquerades undercover as a guide to lead Gisela on a journey to find the red diamond, they must face trouble neither of them anticipated. And learning to trust their darkest enemy, might become their brightest hope.”
Series: Book #12 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Click on the books to be taken to that review: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, Book #6, Book #7, Book #8, Book #9, Book #10, and Book #11!
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God; Most ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; In the beginning chapter from the point of view of Max, he says he’s killed Lady Vermillion’s huntsmen, but God will forgive him and he will “restore order to this kingdom and then dedicate [his] life to His penitence [after he has avenged his family]”; *Spoiler* ; Gisela doesn’t understand how her grandmother can tell her to kill someone when that is a sin & that only God has the right to “strike someone down”; Gisela hasn’t prayed since her parents died because her grandmother didn’t insist on prayer; Someone tells Gisela that God will be with her and will always listen and help her (“though, it just may not be the help you are specifically asking for”); The red diamond was a gift from God that whoever possesses it is the king or queen of the country as God bestowed it as a gift to the ruler; Mentions of God & praying; Mentions of prayers & praying, & thanking God; A mention of someone feeling as if God ignored his plea; A couple mentions of the devil being on someone’s heels; A mention of a Bible;
*Note: Max thinks about someone competing with the demons from his past; There are talking birds and a talking fox; Mentions of a talking dragon; A mention of a superstition.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: ‘curse that woman!’ is exclaimed once & a ‘drat’ is also said; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; A mention of a curse (said, not written); Being attacked, being shot with an arrow, being held at sword-point, holding someone at knife-point, knocking someone unconscious, pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & passing out (up to semi-detailed); Having the opportunity to kill someone and holding a knife to the person’s throat (*Spoiler* ); Planning to poison/kill someone *Spoiler* ; Max hates Lady Vermillion and her family for killing his family and wants revenge (major plot point as it’s consumed his life); Gisela’s grandmother has ordered her to kill Max, but Gisela doesn’t think she can do that and questions her grandmother about it (which makes her grandmother grab her; Later, Gisela thinks about if Max is really her enemy just because of family ties and history and knows that nothing will bring her mother back; Gisela knows she can’t do it); It’s implied that Gisela has been physically abused (slapped) by her grandmother as well as the verbal abuse she’s been subjected to for years; Despite this, Gisela has tried to win her grandmother’s approval; A story is shared about a young girl almost being eaten by a dragon after her family was attacked by the dragon (but ultimately, the dragon adopts the young girl has her daughter); Many mentions of killing, murders, deaths (including of parents), and an order to assassinate someone; Many mentions of revenge & hatred; Mentions of attacks; Mentions of kidnappings & ransoms; Mentions of prisons & prisoners; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deceit; A few mentions of a dragon killing someone & someone killing the dragon; A few mentions of grief; A few mentions of alcohol & drinking (Lady Vermillion has a glass of brandy in her POV); A few mentions of gossip; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of hunters; A couple mentions of hangings; A couple mentions of someone being tortured; A couple mentions of stealing; A mention of someone falling to their death; A mention of a young boy seeing his family murdered; A mention of the huntsmen leaving a child to die in an abandoned well; A mention of a blood oath; A mention of slave labor (by dwarves who kidnap humans for this);
*Note: A couple mentions of the death of a mother and young sibling in childbirth.
Sexual Content- A jawline kiss and a not-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Nearness, & Smelling (including muscles, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Wanting to embrace; Noticing (including muscles, barely-above-not-detailed; Gisela’s grandmother has wanted all the male attention on herself, so Gisela has never spent time with a man; A few mentions of feelings & attraction; A few mentions of flirting & blushes; A mention of wooing someone; A mention of a man being frantic about producing a child with his new wife; Some attraction, love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Gisela
-Max
P.O.V. switches between them, Lady Vermillion (x2), & Hugo (x1)
114 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I have to say that some things didn’t make sense to me at times, which may have been due to missing punctuation and typos, unfortunately. I will also add, however, that this is probably one of the ones in the series so far that I didn’t feel like the ending was rushed.
I thought it was interesting how Gisela wasn’t sure if the missing prince was her enemy like her grandmother views him, but then Max automatically views Gisela as his enemy because of her connection to the woman who killed his family. I could understand Max (as much as I could) with his desire for revenge, but that was definitely his main personality trait. I honestly didn’t care for Max even besides his plan for and focus on getting revenge. At one point he purposely pushes Gisela’s buttons and thinks about how fun it is to tease her, but it didn’t feel like teasing to me and definitely not to her. I struggled with his character for the majority of the book. I didn’t love the faith content with Max as it didn’t feel like a satisfying ending in that regard where it was a clear change from what he was the rest of the book.
I’ve noticed some similarities between Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White before, but especially with this retelling. I had to keep reminding myself it wasn’t a Snow White retelling because it felt like one often. The author will be sharing a novella that is collected to this story that is a Snow White retelling (well, after the main events of story), however, so it made sense that I was seeing nods to that classic tale as well.
Despite the small page amount, the events in this book were well paced throughout the story. I liked the different elements of the classic Little Red Riding Hood story that came to play. I didn’t personally greatly enjoy this short story, but I liked different parts and think it would be enjoyable for some other readers as well.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
April 23, 2025
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). I was really excited for this Red Riding Hood retelling, especially when I realized it was from the POV of the wolf! The retelling elements—the wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, the huntsman, the grandmother—are all delightfully topsy-turvy and well done, and I had such fun picking up on each one! I also really enjoyed the slight Snow White/Sleeping Beauty feels with the owl, the ravens, and the dwarves... The romance is really cute, with all the banter and the adorable ending. And while the villains were a little cliché, who am I to complain? Cliché villains are fun. ;) This was my first read by Kendall Hoxsey, and I'm eager for more!
Fantasy Level: 4/5 (higher). The birds (and only some of them, apparently?) can talk to humans and serve a mysterious wise man named the Owl.
Fantasy Level: 4/5 (higher). The birds (and only some of them, apparently?) can talk to humans and serve a mysterious wise man named the Owl.
February 1, 2025
This was a very interesting twist on the Red Riding Hood story, and I was intrigued to see how it was going to play out. Unfortunately, the book was badly in need of an editor, and the resulting frustration and distraction diminished my enjoyment from what it might have been. The tense flipped from past to present too many times to count, often in the same paragraph, and sometimes in the middle of a sentence, which was the biggest issue for me--I just couldn't ignore it no matter how much I tried. At one point there was a repeated chapter; at several points there was missing text with parenthetical notes left in (e.g. "her [descriptor] hands"). Setting that aside, I did like both main characters, although I felt like their change was a little bit rushed. I would have liked to see a little more gradual change for both of them, or at least a little more growth of their relationship before they became willing to sacrifice everything for each other. Overall, I think the bones of the story were definitely good, and if not for the lack of editing, it would probably be at least a three-star story. But I just couldn't really settle in and enjoy it as it was.
May 24, 2025
I loved the characters and the setting!!
The storyline was so interesting and I adored the folklore woven into it. The lessons and themes were SO good too!
The Owl and his helpers were also one of my favorite parts!
The scene with the closest nod to the fairytale made my heart so happy, was humorous but also gave such a neat twist!
I think the story itself is one of my favorites of the series that I’ve read so far!
However. The tense was so strange… and there was a need for an extra round of editing and formatting that would’ve made a huge difference.
I think there was great potential here, I look forward to more from the author!
Edit: having read other reviews I’m wondering if the kindle version just isn’t the most updated as the ones stating they were ARC versions didn’t mention this? -shrugs-
The storyline was so interesting and I adored the folklore woven into it. The lessons and themes were SO good too!
The Owl and his helpers were also one of my favorite parts!
The scene with the closest nod to the fairytale made my heart so happy, was humorous but also gave such a neat twist!
I think the story itself is one of my favorites of the series that I’ve read so far!
However. The tense was so strange… and there was a need for an extra round of editing and formatting that would’ve made a huge difference.
I think there was great potential here, I look forward to more from the author!
Edit: having read other reviews I’m wondering if the kindle version just isn’t the most updated as the ones stating they were ARC versions didn’t mention this? -shrugs-
February 10, 2026
3.5 stars
Very cute retelling of Little Red Riding Hood!
My first read from Kendall.
This book needed an editor badly. Missing words drove me nuts. But the story was so good! I truly enjoyed it!
Very cute retelling of Little Red Riding Hood!
My first read from Kendall.
This book needed an editor badly. Missing words drove me nuts. But the story was so good! I truly enjoyed it!
January 29, 2025
Kendall Hoxsey's A Noble Intent probably wins the prize for the most creative retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that I've read.
Here's the setup: the grandmother and her huntsmen has taken control of a kingdom that had been ruled by the king and his "wolf" soldiers. The son of the old king (a.k.a. the Big Bad Wolf) wants his kingdom back. The queen's granddaughter (a.k.a. Little Red Riding Hood) is a currently neutral party he can use to overthrow the queen.
I found the whole premise of the story was just so perfect!!!!!! I love how it incorporated every character from the fairy tale and was so unique and just made me want to read more!!!
Max -- the Big Bad Wolf character -- wants his kingdom back. He's willing to do what he needs to protect his friends and avenge the wrongs done to his family. I love how he still has a heart, in spite of all of the wrongs done to him. It is so sweet how he's willing to do anything to keep Gisela safe!!! I love his resourcefulness and quick wit.
Gisela is sweet and innocent and wants a simple life. She doesn't want to go on a quest, but doesn't argue with her grandmother. Her sweet nature made her lovable. I also enjoyed how she always looks out for those around her and is so considerate of others. It was amazing seeing how good of a person Gisela is, even if she didn't always have the best role models.
My favorite scene was one that was the most similar to the Red Riding Hood fairy tale. It was so funny, and I love how quickly Gisela saw through Max's antics *I'm trying so hard not to spoil too much.*
Overall, I loved Kendall Hoxsey's A Noble Intent! The premise was intriguing, the characters were amazing, and there were so many sweet and funny scenes! If you enjoy fairy tale retellings that will keep you reading all hours of the night, you should definitely read this book!!!
I received an advance copy of this book. A positive review was not required. My opinions are my own.
Here's the setup: the grandmother and her huntsmen has taken control of a kingdom that had been ruled by the king and his "wolf" soldiers. The son of the old king (a.k.a. the Big Bad Wolf) wants his kingdom back. The queen's granddaughter (a.k.a. Little Red Riding Hood) is a currently neutral party he can use to overthrow the queen.
I found the whole premise of the story was just so perfect!!!!!! I love how it incorporated every character from the fairy tale and was so unique and just made me want to read more!!!
Max -- the Big Bad Wolf character -- wants his kingdom back. He's willing to do what he needs to protect his friends and avenge the wrongs done to his family. I love how he still has a heart, in spite of all of the wrongs done to him. It is so sweet how he's willing to do anything to keep Gisela safe!!! I love his resourcefulness and quick wit.
Gisela is sweet and innocent and wants a simple life. She doesn't want to go on a quest, but doesn't argue with her grandmother. Her sweet nature made her lovable. I also enjoyed how she always looks out for those around her and is so considerate of others. It was amazing seeing how good of a person Gisela is, even if she didn't always have the best role models.
My favorite scene was one that was the most similar to the Red Riding Hood fairy tale. It was so funny, and I love how quickly Gisela saw through Max's antics *I'm trying so hard not to spoil too much.*
Overall, I loved Kendall Hoxsey's A Noble Intent! The premise was intriguing, the characters were amazing, and there were so many sweet and funny scenes! If you enjoy fairy tale retellings that will keep you reading all hours of the night, you should definitely read this book!!!
I received an advance copy of this book. A positive review was not required. My opinions are my own.
January 20, 2025
A Noble Intent by Kendall Hoxsey
What I liked about this book:
❌ A scholarly heroine
❌ A scheming grandmother
❌ A powerful jewel
❌ A group of elite warriors
❌ Sweet and clean romance
A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I liked how the original elements were used. This is a quick, cute read.
A standalone in the Cornerstone series, a multi author series of Christian fairytale retellings
Favorite scene: Infiltrating the ball
Noteworthy character: Lady Vermillion, the evil grandmother
Read on KU
Needed a bit more editing (typos, missing words, unclear sentence structure, etc)
Also I wasn't sure why Lena existed as a character? She and Selena could easily have been the same character. Even their names are super similar.
What I liked about this book:
❌ A scholarly heroine
❌ A scheming grandmother
❌ A powerful jewel
❌ A group of elite warriors
❌ Sweet and clean romance
A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I liked how the original elements were used. This is a quick, cute read.
A standalone in the Cornerstone series, a multi author series of Christian fairytale retellings
Favorite scene: Infiltrating the ball
Noteworthy character: Lady Vermillion, the evil grandmother
Read on KU
Needed a bit more editing (typos, missing words, unclear sentence structure, etc)
Also I wasn't sure why Lena existed as a character? She and Selena could easily have been the same character. Even their names are super similar.
June 6, 2025
Pros:
The characters were really, really interesting. The queen was VERY evil, and with an actual narrative to back it up instead of just being broad-brush evil. She doesn't wanna get old, she wants to have every man around fawn over her, and it's pretty well-shown, despite you getting told so.
I liked the minor inclusion of talking animals and the history of the stone/succession rules, and the ancient prophet guy. He now lives in my head rent-free!
Cons: The frequent switching between tenses made it very hard to read, as well as the typos and several repeated pages in the book.
I feel as though it could've used another round of edits, or perhaps two.
The characters were really, really interesting. The queen was VERY evil, and with an actual narrative to back it up instead of just being broad-brush evil. She doesn't wanna get old, she wants to have every man around fawn over her, and it's pretty well-shown, despite you getting told so.
I liked the minor inclusion of talking animals and the history of the stone/succession rules, and the ancient prophet guy. He now lives in my head rent-free!
Cons: The frequent switching between tenses made it very hard to read, as well as the typos and several repeated pages in the book.
I feel as though it could've used another round of edits, or perhaps two.
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