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Damsels of Distress #1
Red X Wolf
Know when to hold your ground. When to walk away. But especially when to run.
Lily Red, known as ‘Little Red’, has trained her entire life to become a system-acknowledged scout under her Grandmother’s guidance. Hunting, tracking, and trap-making—she’s a master of her craft. But her dreams of joining the elite Scout forces are repeatedly blocked by a leader of the Wyld with a grudge against Grandmother.
When Lily uncovers an impending invasion by Wolf Warband, brutal raiders from the frozen north, a deadly challenge offered by their war leader sets her pulse racing. She's his partner in prophecy, so as far as he’s concerned she’s the only person in the way. Little Red races away to warn the Wyld, but the city’s rulers mock her warnings as fairy tales, dismissing the threat entirely. Undeterred, she vows to protect the people of Canu Moch herself.
But Lily isn’t about to back down. She’ll be the competent protector of the people of Canu Moch—whether they want her or not. With the three city-states planning to ignore the danger, she strikes out on her own, quickly finding herself on the razor’s edge between duty and ambition as Little Red pits herself against the Big Bad Wolf.
Stay on the path. Don’t stray or roam. Lest the forest decides you shan’t find your way home.
Lily Red, known as ‘Little Red’, has trained her entire life to become a system-acknowledged scout under her Grandmother’s guidance. Hunting, tracking, and trap-making—she’s a master of her craft. But her dreams of joining the elite Scout forces are repeatedly blocked by a leader of the Wyld with a grudge against Grandmother.
When Lily uncovers an impending invasion by Wolf Warband, brutal raiders from the frozen north, a deadly challenge offered by their war leader sets her pulse racing. She's his partner in prophecy, so as far as he’s concerned she’s the only person in the way. Little Red races away to warn the Wyld, but the city’s rulers mock her warnings as fairy tales, dismissing the threat entirely. Undeterred, she vows to protect the people of Canu Moch herself.
But Lily isn’t about to back down. She’ll be the competent protector of the people of Canu Moch—whether they want her or not. With the three city-states planning to ignore the danger, she strikes out on her own, quickly finding herself on the razor’s edge between duty and ambition as Little Red pits herself against the Big Bad Wolf.
Stay on the path. Don’t stray or roam. Lest the forest decides you shan’t find your way home.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2025
226 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Dakota Krout
79 books2,887 followersAuthor of the best-selling Divine Dungeon, Completionist Chronicles, and Full Murderhobo series, Dakota Krout was chosen as Audible's top 5 fantasy pick of 2017, has been a top 5 bestseller on Amazon, and a top 6 bestseller on Audible.
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 24, 2025
Interesting, but not as compelling as the other books from this author i've read.
it's not so much of a retelling as a litrpg but more a book where ocassionaly you get a nod to the old fairytale in names or jokes.
All in all entertaining, but not very special.
it's not so much of a retelling as a litrpg but more a book where ocassionaly you get a nod to the old fairytale in names or jokes.
All in all entertaining, but not very special.
March 24, 2025
Even though the description calls this romantasy, it’s more on the game-lit or fantasy side of things. Very light on the romance. That said, it was such a fun story! The whole family enjoyed listening to it on a recent road trip. It has enough action to keep my teenage son’s interest, but the awesome main character is female, which my daughter enjoyed.
May 30, 2025
Romance:
July 14, 2025
This book was action packed and ended up being cute, but it just wasn't for me. There is nothing wrong with it, but for whatever reason it just didn't hold my attention.
August 9, 2025
Clever concept, mixed execution for this Krout fan
What initially drew me to Red X Wolf was the promise of an RPG version of classic fairy tale retellings—and Dakota Krout absolutely delivers on that concept. Having read most of the author's other works, I was excited to see how he'd tackle this genre blend.
What Worked: Krout's integration of various classics and nursery stories into the world-building was genuinely clever. The author's signature creativity in reimagining familiar tales within a system-based framework shows his storytelling evolution, and the premise itself is engaging.
Where It Fell Short: As someone who went in expecting a solid romance element, the ending left me feeling underwhelmed. The relationship development between Red and the Big Bad Wolf didn't quite land for me, despite knowing that was the intended direction. The climactic fight scene also felt overly drawn out, which affected the pacing in the final act.
RPG Mechanics Comparison: While the system integration serves the story, I found myself missing the tighter world-building and more engaging RPG mechanics from Krout's other series. The game elements here felt less polished compared to his previous work.
Bottom Line: A creative concept with moments of brilliance, but not quite up to the standard I've come to expect from this author. Krout fans might want to temper expectations, though the fairy tale reimagining concept has potential for future books in the series.
Recommended for: Fairy tale retelling fans willing to try LitRPG, completionist Krout readers
Skip if: You're looking for Krout's strongest RPG mechanics or a satisfying romance
What initially drew me to Red X Wolf was the promise of an RPG version of classic fairy tale retellings—and Dakota Krout absolutely delivers on that concept. Having read most of the author's other works, I was excited to see how he'd tackle this genre blend.
What Worked: Krout's integration of various classics and nursery stories into the world-building was genuinely clever. The author's signature creativity in reimagining familiar tales within a system-based framework shows his storytelling evolution, and the premise itself is engaging.
Where It Fell Short: As someone who went in expecting a solid romance element, the ending left me feeling underwhelmed. The relationship development between Red and the Big Bad Wolf didn't quite land for me, despite knowing that was the intended direction. The climactic fight scene also felt overly drawn out, which affected the pacing in the final act.
RPG Mechanics Comparison: While the system integration serves the story, I found myself missing the tighter world-building and more engaging RPG mechanics from Krout's other series. The game elements here felt less polished compared to his previous work.
Bottom Line: A creative concept with moments of brilliance, but not quite up to the standard I've come to expect from this author. Krout fans might want to temper expectations, though the fairy tale reimagining concept has potential for future books in the series.
Recommended for: Fairy tale retelling fans willing to try LitRPG, completionist Krout readers
Skip if: You're looking for Krout's strongest RPG mechanics or a satisfying romance
February 8, 2026
I admit that I was hopeful about this book because I miss when RWBY was a watchable show. Seeing someone else doing a sort of retelling of Red Riding Hood in the LitRPG world sounded worth trying out. And, I've read others of Dakota Krout's works and enjoyed them.
Lily Red did not disappoint about feeling a lot like the show's version of a retelling and my review might be leaning kindly on it due to that. The character was a much more appropriate retelling as a Ranger of the Woods being taught by her Grandmother about how to survive.
That leans into the elements which are inspired by the Fairy Tale; and they are there but in a loose way which shows that they were worked into the storytelling more than dominate it. In fact, sometimes they kind of feel tacked on while the story progresses, which was fine to me. Other times, such as where she gets help from a character who I will not discuss - was amusing since they followed the Fairy Tale but not in the way you'd expect. It's scaffolding for a story which is fun. And, if you notice it then the elements help the book a bit more entertaining. If not, then you're not really missing anything important anyways.
I have to admit that if you're more hardcore about the LitRPG elements where you get character sheets vomited up on pages to fill out space then you wont find this to your liking. Frankly, those parts of LitRPG are miserable and boring; I glaze over and skip them anyways. And, the system in the world helps force her to make decisions which Lily might not have made otherwise.
I'm interested in working my way through the others and cannot wait for the moment where I expect they all end up as a team somewhere. I'd bet money on it.
Lily Red did not disappoint about feeling a lot like the show's version of a retelling and my review might be leaning kindly on it due to that. The character was a much more appropriate retelling as a Ranger of the Woods being taught by her Grandmother about how to survive.
That leans into the elements which are inspired by the Fairy Tale; and they are there but in a loose way which shows that they were worked into the storytelling more than dominate it. In fact, sometimes they kind of feel tacked on while the story progresses, which was fine to me. Other times, such as where she gets help from a character who I will not discuss - was amusing since they followed the Fairy Tale but not in the way you'd expect. It's scaffolding for a story which is fun. And, if you notice it then the elements help the book a bit more entertaining. If not, then you're not really missing anything important anyways.
I have to admit that if you're more hardcore about the LitRPG elements where you get character sheets vomited up on pages to fill out space then you wont find this to your liking. Frankly, those parts of LitRPG are miserable and boring; I glaze over and skip them anyways. And, the system in the world helps force her to make decisions which Lily might not have made otherwise.
I'm interested in working my way through the others and cannot wait for the moment where I expect they all end up as a team somewhere. I'd bet money on it.
June 23, 2025
Red X Wolf
Lily Red “Little Red” has been training as a scout and trapper under her Grandmother’s tutelage since she was only 4. Though she is far more skilled than most scouts, one of her Grandmother’s rivals keeps preventing her from joining the island’s scouts. This was when she discovered that the infamous Wolf Warband has just landed on their island. Lily decides to warn her people and pits herself against the Warband’s leader, Big Bad.
This is the start to a really fun LitRPG series that retells and blends classic fairy tales. It’s a stand alone, but I’m hoping that all of the Damsels team up at the end. Red is such a powerful character! She is just a joy to read. Since this is Dakota, the puns are woven masterfully into the story and not to the point where they detract from the experience. I’m looking forward to the next book! Emily Woo Zeller did a great job with the narration!
Content warning: none
Lily Red “Little Red” has been training as a scout and trapper under her Grandmother’s tutelage since she was only 4. Though she is far more skilled than most scouts, one of her Grandmother’s rivals keeps preventing her from joining the island’s scouts. This was when she discovered that the infamous Wolf Warband has just landed on their island. Lily decides to warn her people and pits herself against the Warband’s leader, Big Bad.
This is the start to a really fun LitRPG series that retells and blends classic fairy tales. It’s a stand alone, but I’m hoping that all of the Damsels team up at the end. Red is such a powerful character! She is just a joy to read. Since this is Dakota, the puns are woven masterfully into the story and not to the point where they detract from the experience. I’m looking forward to the next book! Emily Woo Zeller did a great job with the narration!
Content warning: none
March 19, 2025
New stuff from a favorite author!
This is mostly a fun fantasy story with some game mechanics added in. The “romance” portion only shows up at the very end, which is just fine with me. The story is mostly an exhausting chase back and forth across the island home of the main character.
I’m curious how the next editions of this will go, as the names sound like they will focus on other characters. But the final bits of this story make it clear there will be some connections in the future.
This is mostly a fun fantasy story with some game mechanics added in. The “romance” portion only shows up at the very end, which is just fine with me. The story is mostly an exhausting chase back and forth across the island home of the main character.
I’m curious how the next editions of this will go, as the names sound like they will focus on other characters. But the final bits of this story make it clear there will be some connections in the future.
March 21, 2025
Excellent fairytale reboot!
Unlike other fairy tale reboots, this one keeps you guessing! The actual bits about Red and Grandma are handled fairly early on, leaving a lot of book of "what's gonna happen?".
I love Dakota Krout's books, and this was no exception. The transition from lots of stats pages was great for keeping the story moving, but I was a little bummed that there wasn't a "log" that Red could look through.
The magic system was consistent, the puns made me snort, and the life lessons about balance and freedom refreshing.
Now hurry up with the next 4!
Unlike other fairy tale reboots, this one keeps you guessing! The actual bits about Red and Grandma are handled fairly early on, leaving a lot of book of "what's gonna happen?".
I love Dakota Krout's books, and this was no exception. The transition from lots of stats pages was great for keeping the story moving, but I was a little bummed that there wasn't a "log" that Red could look through.
The magic system was consistent, the puns made me snort, and the life lessons about balance and freedom refreshing.
Now hurry up with the next 4!
March 23, 2025
fuuuuuun, light, clean adventure, filled with somewhat familiar yet reinterpreted characters and the usual tropes for a damsel in (of) distress story.
In a world full of stereotypes, Red is a ranger, Wolf is a barbarian, the piggies' city states are fighting among themselves, on an isolated island, all while the evil witch skin-walkers are roaming amok and causing trouble in the world.
"Where is Romantasy? Me not find! Me searching?"
I'm curious how this story will evolve as both protagonists look to be overpowered already. onwards!
In a world full of stereotypes, Red is a ranger, Wolf is a barbarian, the piggies' city states are fighting among themselves, on an isolated island, all while the evil witch skin-walkers are roaming amok and causing trouble in the world.
"Where is Romantasy? Me not find! Me searching?"
I'm curious how this story will evolve as both protagonists look to be overpowered already. onwards!
May 17, 2025
3.5 stars. Part of the issue is I went in with super high expectations since I really enjoyed other Dakota krout books. The first 25% was a bit painful for me, I don't like getting too stressed out in my entertainment. It was't as funny as I had hoped overall, but still generally compelling as a story. Also wasn't thrilled with the end mostly because, *spoiler below warning*
it makes sense they'd have a crush on each other but getting married that quickly when so much is still not known about the other slightly horrified me
it makes sense they'd have a crush on each other but getting married that quickly when so much is still not known about the other slightly horrified me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
Amazing adaptation of classic fairy tales!
Epic rendition of interwoven traditional fairy tales recreated in a wonderful "coming of age" style story.
Not only did all the classic elements get consistently and comprehensively amalgamated, but it was funny, entertaining, and even with the reversal of roles between the big bad wolf and the huntsman, still kept intact the intrinsic morality tale of its origins.
Well done, I anticipate great things from this series!
Epic rendition of interwoven traditional fairy tales recreated in a wonderful "coming of age" style story.
Not only did all the classic elements get consistently and comprehensively amalgamated, but it was funny, entertaining, and even with the reversal of roles between the big bad wolf and the huntsman, still kept intact the intrinsic morality tale of its origins.
Well done, I anticipate great things from this series!
March 25, 2025
Review: Dakota delivers again with the best LitRPG world building out there.
Red is a solid character whose POV you share as she moves through the story line. The paths are varied but the culmination of those paths is not surprising. I still had a good time evidenced by early morning bed times.
4.5/5
Red is a solid character whose POV you share as she moves through the story line. The paths are varied but the culmination of those paths is not surprising. I still had a good time evidenced by early morning bed times.
4.5/5
August 25, 2025
DK-IS-GR-eight
I loved all the hidden gems in this book such as the DK is great hidden messages and all the puns. It was an interesting and exciting take on an old classic that left me excited to see what the future holds... And definitely wanting some bacon for some strange reason.
I loved all the hidden gems in this book such as the DK is great hidden messages and all the puns. It was an interesting and exciting take on an old classic that left me excited to see what the future holds... And definitely wanting some bacon for some strange reason.
March 20, 2025
Great start to what looks to be a fun series!
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. Love the different nursery rhyme tie-ins and the fun way Dakota Krout has with words. A thoroughly enjoyable read - can’t wait for the next one!
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. Love the different nursery rhyme tie-ins and the fun way Dakota Krout has with words. A thoroughly enjoyable read - can’t wait for the next one!
March 21, 2025
fun twist of several old fairy tales
I was delighted to read this book the play and twist of so many old stories was very enjoyable. I highly recommend and even the lit-rpg aspects were light and moved the story forward. Check it out. I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
I was delighted to read this book the play and twist of so many old stories was very enjoyable. I highly recommend and even the lit-rpg aspects were light and moved the story forward. Check it out. I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
March 28, 2025
genius
I had never heard of this series before and stumbled onto this book. The inner weaving of the big bad Wolf Little red riding Hood, and the three little pigs was nothing short of genius. The end seemed a little rushed, but the rest of the story was greatly entertaining.
I had never heard of this series before and stumbled onto this book. The inner weaving of the big bad Wolf Little red riding Hood, and the three little pigs was nothing short of genius. The end seemed a little rushed, but the rest of the story was greatly entertaining.
April 17, 2025
A lot of fun!
This is more of a traditional LitRPG than I'm used to from the author, and I think it's an improvement. The plot is tight, the pacing good, and the rules consistent. The ending feels earned, which is a bit of an achievement given what it was! Definitely recommended.
This is more of a traditional LitRPG than I'm used to from the author, and I think it's an improvement. The plot is tight, the pacing good, and the rules consistent. The ending feels earned, which is a bit of an achievement given what it was! Definitely recommended.
June 2, 2025
I'm usually a big fan of Dakota's writing, but this one fell flat for me. It's a cute idea, but the litrpg elements didn't really feel like they did anything, and was more a afterthought than a feature. And the overall plot didn't make much sense.
January 12, 2026
Take four-ish fairytales and smush them together with some game mechanics, shake vigorously, and get the Damsels of Distress series.
Read for: Lighthearted comfort
Avoid if: You hate when a story sometimes chooses “humor” over “believability.”
Read for: Lighthearted comfort
Avoid if: You hate when a story sometimes chooses “humor” over “believability.”
January 19, 2026
Good read
Enjoyed this book immensely. Wonderful characters, the more despicable ones made for wonderful antagonists. The retelling of Little Red Riding Hood was a wonderfully unexpected find. Can't wait to read the others in the series.
Enjoyed this book immensely. Wonderful characters, the more despicable ones made for wonderful antagonists. The retelling of Little Red Riding Hood was a wonderfully unexpected find. Can't wait to read the others in the series.
March 20, 2025
Dakota Krout at it again ^^ Fairytales, a hint of romance and a nice lit-rpg system. Cannot wait for the next books!!
March 22, 2025
enjoyed it
It was an enjoyable book. Not a huge fan of reboots, but this one was fun, I recommend it for a light read
It was an enjoyable book. Not a huge fan of reboots, but this one was fun, I recommend it for a light read
March 26, 2025
Love the nods to fairy tales
March 26, 2025
it was fun
Interesting world with interesting characters. No cringe moments. Very lite on the romance (like 5 pages at the end). I enjoyed it and I’m gonna read the next one
Interesting world with interesting characters. No cringe moments. Very lite on the romance (like 5 pages at the end). I enjoyed it and I’m gonna read the next one
March 27, 2025
A very fun and light hearted lit-rpg adventure. Very light on the romance but it felt right for the setting of the story. Hopeful for the next installment.
March 31, 2025
4.5 stars!!
April 1, 2025
Love this book and would happily recommend this to anyone looking for a good read with laughs a fun story and what seems to be a promise for more books like this in the future!
April 26, 2025
Loved this book
This is a great take on an old childhood story. I loved the litrpg aspects of this story and how courageous Red is, always standing up for what she believes in
This is a great take on an old childhood story. I loved the litrpg aspects of this story and how courageous Red is, always standing up for what she believes in
June 25, 2025
This author is quite imaginative to take an old fables and turning them into amazing deep background novels of the characters we grew up with this is not only a good read. It’s a must read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews