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Scarlett and the Dark Woods: A Dystopian Red Riding Hood Retelling
She is one of the protected elect. He is a shunned shapeshifter. Can Scarlett rescue her grandmother before her own heart is stolen?
When her grandmother is cast out as unworthy after facing Hamelin’s annual Shunning, Scarlett knows she must brave the dangers of Darkwood Forest if she’s to have any chance of saving her. Her perilous adventure becomes a race against time; she needs to find Gran before the previously shunned get to her first.
Scarlett’s efforts come too late. As her magic dwindles the farther into the forest she ventures, she becomes hopelessly lost and is forced to accept help from Greyson, the shapeshifting wolf who is stalking her every footstep—and who Scarlett suspects of knowing Gran’s location.
If she manages to save her grandmother, Scarlett will be faced with an impossible join Gran and live her life as an outcast or return to the rest of the elect, safe but alone. As she struggles to find the right path forward, Scarlett realizes that more than her grandmother’s future is at stake. Her heart is too.
Can Scarlett resist her inexplicable attraction to the shunned wolf she despises long enough to protect the woman who raised her?
Scarlett and the Dark Woods is a part of the Autumn Fairy Tales, a collection of eight cozy retellings of your favorite fairy tales. Each stand-alone book can be enjoyed in any order. Snuggle under your favorite blanket and get ready to “fall” in love with the romance, pumpkin spice, and everything nice of these sweet and clean novellas!
When her grandmother is cast out as unworthy after facing Hamelin’s annual Shunning, Scarlett knows she must brave the dangers of Darkwood Forest if she’s to have any chance of saving her. Her perilous adventure becomes a race against time; she needs to find Gran before the previously shunned get to her first.
Scarlett’s efforts come too late. As her magic dwindles the farther into the forest she ventures, she becomes hopelessly lost and is forced to accept help from Greyson, the shapeshifting wolf who is stalking her every footstep—and who Scarlett suspects of knowing Gran’s location.
If she manages to save her grandmother, Scarlett will be faced with an impossible join Gran and live her life as an outcast or return to the rest of the elect, safe but alone. As she struggles to find the right path forward, Scarlett realizes that more than her grandmother’s future is at stake. Her heart is too.
Can Scarlett resist her inexplicable attraction to the shunned wolf she despises long enough to protect the woman who raised her?
Scarlett and the Dark Woods is a part of the Autumn Fairy Tales, a collection of eight cozy retellings of your favorite fairy tales. Each stand-alone book can be enjoyed in any order. Snuggle under your favorite blanket and get ready to “fall” in love with the romance, pumpkin spice, and everything nice of these sweet and clean novellas!
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Published October 29, 2024
64 people are currently reading
1344 people want to read
About the author
Mary Mecham
20 books762 followersMary Mecham writes high stakes, high swoon, no spice romantasy and fairy tale retellings packed full of adventure and romances. Her greatest joy is writing snarky banter and morally grey characters.
She is a born and raised Texan with a love of theater and books overshadowed only by her passion for disability advocacy. Her favorite food is chips and queso, her favorite holiday is April Fool's Day, and her favorite trope is enemies to lovers.
When she isn't writing, Mary enjoys spending time with her family and trying out new experiences, from fire breathing and axe throwing to trapeze flying and power paragliding.
She currently lives in Texas with her husband and three children.
You can get a FREE e-copy of her Rumpelstiltskin retelling, A Curse of Gold and Beauty, when you sign up for her newsletter at MaryMecham.com
She is a born and raised Texan with a love of theater and books overshadowed only by her passion for disability advocacy. Her favorite food is chips and queso, her favorite holiday is April Fool's Day, and her favorite trope is enemies to lovers.
When she isn't writing, Mary enjoys spending time with her family and trying out new experiences, from fire breathing and axe throwing to trapeze flying and power paragliding.
She currently lives in Texas with her husband and three children.
You can get a FREE e-copy of her Rumpelstiltskin retelling, A Curse of Gold and Beauty, when you sign up for her newsletter at MaryMecham.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
May 4, 2025
A fun, sweet story that I completely enjoyed. I’d been waiting to read this one, saving it for when I needed the comfort of a Mary Mecham book. Today was one of those days and I needed it. Her writing never ceases to draw me in and her characters never cease to make me smile. Even if it wasn’t my favorite of hers, I still completely enjoyed it and would recommend. I really loved Greyson, as expected 🤭 I mean, who wouldn’t?? He was fun, lighthearted, caring, but still was rough around the edges and a bit of a rouge…intelligent and kind, with a huge streak of teasing.
Scarlett was a good character, and I liked seeing her growth and how she developed through the story.
Content:
Kissing, thinking about kissing, fighting, blood, magic
No spice romance
Scarlett was a good character, and I liked seeing her growth and how she developed through the story.
Content:
Kissing, thinking about kissing, fighting, blood, magic
No spice romance
September 21, 2023
Perfect retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood." Magical and spooky vibes. Perfect for the fall season 🍁 Let me just say how much this book made me laugh, too. The banter was on point. 😄 I've never laughed so hard at characters. What a gem! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 15, 2023
I received a free copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
Scarlett and the Dark Woods is officially my favorite Red Riding Hood retelling!! It had none of that "I'm an alpha wolf and you're my mate" crap that I despise so much in other retellings 👀 for which I am VERY grateful is absent in this book.
Plot: the plot was done very well! I thought it was a tad predictable at times but I was caught off guard by things that kept happening so it...wasn't predictable anymore?
World: I loved the dystopian aspect of this book! I was very disturbed by the concept of always walking on eggshells to avoid being shunned if you're viewed as a "danger to the community." Wow. What a horrible place to live!
Characters: Amazing. I loved Gran's fire and her love. I loved Scarlett's stubbornness and loyalty. I loved Greyson's charm and kindness. I even loved Tristan and his ridiculous "gregarious" pontification 😂. The villains were also done well. Those snakes 😡
Romance: My favorite part! I'm a huuuuge fan of enemies to lovers and it was perfect in Scarlett and the Dark Woods. Scarlett and Greyson's banter was absolutely hilarious! Even though it was a short book, I didn't feel like the romance was too rushed.
I really have no complaints with this book. It was a fun, quick read and I definitely recommend it to everyone who loves a good quick read with a little bit of danger, magic, and romance!
Scarlett and the Dark Woods is officially my favorite Red Riding Hood retelling!! It had none of that "I'm an alpha wolf and you're my mate" crap that I despise so much in other retellings 👀 for which I am VERY grateful is absent in this book.
Plot: the plot was done very well! I thought it was a tad predictable at times but I was caught off guard by things that kept happening so it...wasn't predictable anymore?
World: I loved the dystopian aspect of this book! I was very disturbed by the concept of always walking on eggshells to avoid being shunned if you're viewed as a "danger to the community." Wow. What a horrible place to live!
Characters: Amazing. I loved Gran's fire and her love. I loved Scarlett's stubbornness and loyalty. I loved Greyson's charm and kindness. I even loved Tristan and his ridiculous "gregarious" pontification 😂. The villains were also done well. Those snakes 😡
Romance: My favorite part! I'm a huuuuge fan of enemies to lovers and it was perfect in Scarlett and the Dark Woods. Scarlett and Greyson's banter was absolutely hilarious! Even though it was a short book, I didn't feel like the romance was too rushed.
I really have no complaints with this book. It was a fun, quick read and I definitely recommend it to everyone who loves a good quick read with a little bit of danger, magic, and romance!
May 26, 2024
From beginning to end, the writing style was bland—all telling and no showing with the constant use of filter words and passive voice. I could never quite form a clear picture in my mind of exactly what was going on, or get a real sense for the atmosphere, and I still don't feel like I know any of the characters.
Scarlett is impulsive and stupid and easily provoked, and none of this was ever improved upon or developed, merely treated as if an arc had occurred when it hadn't. Similarly, the "romance" progressed without any real reasoning behind their obsessions with each other, and I am left to assume it was primarily lust-based.
The dialogue and characterizations were clunky at best, with no mind paid to how a human being might realistically react within the given circumstances, and the story was riddled with frequent contradictions between characters' knowledge, opinions, and emotional states at any given moment.
Yet most disappointingly for me, the "dystopian" premise was never actually addressed in any meaningful way; there was no true moral question, and the very basic ideas that the story did try to grapple with were addressed with such childish simplicity that I cannot imagine they could ever truly be useful to anyone in the real world. While the author definitely tried harder than some to incorporate iconic elements from the source material, those elements still felt gimmicky and weak in the given context, and I found it to be a shameful waste of a neat concept within a neat genre.
All in all, this story was little more than a shallow romance dressed up in very unconvincing dystopian clothing, and I think that's a real shame.
Scarlett is impulsive and stupid and easily provoked, and none of this was ever improved upon or developed, merely treated as if an arc had occurred when it hadn't. Similarly, the "romance" progressed without any real reasoning behind their obsessions with each other, and I am left to assume it was primarily lust-based.
The dialogue and characterizations were clunky at best, with no mind paid to how a human being might realistically react within the given circumstances, and the story was riddled with frequent contradictions between characters' knowledge, opinions, and emotional states at any given moment.
Yet most disappointingly for me, the "dystopian" premise was never actually addressed in any meaningful way; there was no true moral question, and the very basic ideas that the story did try to grapple with were addressed with such childish simplicity that I cannot imagine they could ever truly be useful to anyone in the real world. While the author definitely tried harder than some to incorporate iconic elements from the source material, those elements still felt gimmicky and weak in the given context, and I found it to be a shameful waste of a neat concept within a neat genre.
All in all, this story was little more than a shallow romance dressed up in very unconvincing dystopian clothing, and I think that's a real shame.
August 30, 2025
It was a fun story and the writing style was good, but I have to say I did not really like the romance! Greyson’s initial behavior and comments only make sense in the context of a sappy romance novel, but outside of that his behavior was actually kinda gross! His wildly inappropriate comments when she was not reciprocating and clearly uncomfortable, was just so weird to me! Their relationship and his comments made a lot more sense when she teased him back and showed it was okay, but it was just not right for him to be saying all that in the beginning when she was clearly uncomfortable with it!
Ladies, that kind of teasing when you are not reciprocating is a clear red flag that he doesn’t actually care about you is just lusting and is trying to push your boundaries! Not to sound like a granny, but it’s the truth! True men know when the teasing is playful and when it’s straight up disrespectful ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ladies, that kind of teasing when you are not reciprocating is a clear red flag that he doesn’t actually care about you is just lusting and is trying to push your boundaries! Not to sound like a granny, but it’s the truth! True men know when the teasing is playful and when it’s straight up disrespectful ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
September 12, 2023
As a kid I never really liked Red Riding Hood. I don't really know why. I think the tale was simply a little bit too scary. Mostly I didn't understand what the tale was actually about. Now I'm older and my perspective on the tale has changed completely. And now I love it. Especially in retellings. I was therefore really happy with this arc.
What I absolutely loved about this book is that it took all the elements of the original fairytale and used those elements to create an entirely new story. And despite this being a fairytale retelling it also had an original world, interesting politics and really gripping finale that I hadn't seen coming when I started reading.
I should have. I'm very familiar with Hamelin and its most famous fairytale. I knew that something connected to its tale was gonna happen. I just hadn't expected this! Of course I don't wanna give too much away, but I promise that once you've reached the beginning of the finale it will be completely impossible to put the book down.
I also really enjoyed the romance in this book. Mostly because I like it when I don't get a love at first sight romance. These two people really needed time to get to know each other. They really were a little afraid of each other at the beginning and they for sure didn't trust each other. But slowly, and it's hard to say who fell first, they started falling.
I can't wait to read more fairytale retellings by this author!
What I absolutely loved about this book is that it took all the elements of the original fairytale and used those elements to create an entirely new story. And despite this being a fairytale retelling it also had an original world, interesting politics and really gripping finale that I hadn't seen coming when I started reading.
I should have. I'm very familiar with Hamelin and its most famous fairytale. I knew that something connected to its tale was gonna happen. I just hadn't expected this! Of course I don't wanna give too much away, but I promise that once you've reached the beginning of the finale it will be completely impossible to put the book down.
I also really enjoyed the romance in this book. Mostly because I like it when I don't get a love at first sight romance. These two people really needed time to get to know each other. They really were a little afraid of each other at the beginning and they for sure didn't trust each other. But slowly, and it's hard to say who fell first, they started falling.
I can't wait to read more fairytale retellings by this author!
August 24, 2023
A light fun, fall read. Scarlett is a sassy child and I loved her dedication to and relationship with her grandmother. (Grandma was my favorite; who doesn't love a badass grandma???) Scarlett and Greyson's banter will always be fun, and I liked the elements of the tale that were pulled from other stories. However, I did feel like the big "twist" in terms of the villain and his plans and the fact that said person was the bad guy was obvious, even from the beginning. So, needless to say the ending didn't really "land" for me because I felt like I knew what was going to happen. That said, the writing itself is very clean, which is nice to see as an editor. The story and its plot were a little "safe" for me, but if you like love-at-first-sass stories and magical forests, then you'll probably love this story! Interested to read more from this author in the future as it seems like she has lots of interesting characters and series.
(I was offered an ARC of this story by the author and any opinions here are my own.)
(I was offered an ARC of this story by the author and any opinions here are my own.)
January 13, 2024
Red Riding Hood falls for the wolf (a shapeshifter) in this retelling. It's also a part of the Autumn Fairy Tales, a multi-author series with retellings set in the Fall.
This definitely fits the bill if you want a retelling, an enemies to lovers trope, and all the cozy Fall feels!
Enemies to lovers can be a miss for me but I enjoyed this one: it was more based on witty banter than rudeness, which is appreciated. There were a few name callings which weren't to my taste but they were pretty mild and was at the very beginning of their interactions.The romance timeline did run kind of quickly but it is a novella, so that's to be expected. There is a super sweet epilogue, I am a total sucker for those.
Interestingly, this is also a satire on the American education system. As someone wanting to homeschool her kids one day, I appreciated and agreed with the points she made in story-form--really interesting how she wove it into the plot.
Christian fiction rating: 0/3 clean fiction
This definitely fits the bill if you want a retelling, an enemies to lovers trope, and all the cozy Fall feels!
Enemies to lovers can be a miss for me but I enjoyed this one: it was more based on witty banter than rudeness, which is appreciated. There were a few name callings which weren't to my taste but they were pretty mild and was at the very beginning of their interactions.The romance timeline did run kind of quickly but it is a novella, so that's to be expected. There is a super sweet epilogue, I am a total sucker for those.
Interestingly, this is also a satire on the American education system. As someone wanting to homeschool her kids one day, I appreciated and agreed with the points she made in story-form--really interesting how she wove it into the plot.
Christian fiction rating: 0/3 clean fiction
September 21, 2023
4.5/5 ⭐️
Scarlett and the Dark Woods was SUCH an enjoyable read! It was pretty short (I read it in a day and a half) and like most novellas, it’s like a chocolate praline - quick to eat up but delicious all the same!
I related to Scarlett a lot - her temperament was SO similar to mine! And I just LOVED Greyson! So much snark, so much fun 🤣
There was lots of witty banter, hilarious characters and just overall great fun!
The only downside, and my reason for removing half a star, is that the romantic moments were a little over what I’m comfortable with. Not steamy, but quite passionate and not what I would put in the hands of my younger sisters - at least not until they’re adults.
Scarlett and the Dark Woods was SUCH an enjoyable read! It was pretty short (I read it in a day and a half) and like most novellas, it’s like a chocolate praline - quick to eat up but delicious all the same!
I related to Scarlett a lot - her temperament was SO similar to mine! And I just LOVED Greyson! So much snark, so much fun 🤣
There was lots of witty banter, hilarious characters and just overall great fun!
The only downside, and my reason for removing half a star, is that the romantic moments were a little over what I’m comfortable with. Not steamy, but quite passionate and not what I would put in the hands of my younger sisters - at least not until they’re adults.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2024
#sfroctober23
I’ve begun to give Red Riding Hood retellings a chance after J. M. Stengl’s The Baker and the Wolf. Mary Mecham did not disappoint with Scarlett and the Dark Wood
This had the feel of The Giver alongside Red Riding Hood and Pied Piper of Hamelin. The writing was fantastic, the romance swoon worthy while also being eye-rollingly cheesy (on purpose) as the wolf constantly bantered with Scarlet.
The twist…I facepalmed. I should have caught it because there were so many amazing crumbs throughout the story that clicked into place as soon as it was revealed.
For a cozy autumn read before Christmas session hits us full force- go read Scarlet and the Dark Wood!!!
I’ve begun to give Red Riding Hood retellings a chance after J. M. Stengl’s The Baker and the Wolf. Mary Mecham did not disappoint with Scarlett and the Dark Wood
This had the feel of The Giver alongside Red Riding Hood and Pied Piper of Hamelin. The writing was fantastic, the romance swoon worthy while also being eye-rollingly cheesy (on purpose) as the wolf constantly bantered with Scarlet.
The twist…I facepalmed. I should have caught it because there were so many amazing crumbs throughout the story that clicked into place as soon as it was revealed.
For a cozy autumn read before Christmas session hits us full force- go read Scarlet and the Dark Wood!!!
October 5, 2024
Perfect fall fantasy read 😍😍
Dystopian fantasy fairytale retelling?!?
Yes.
And it was done beautifully!
I loved the fairytale aspects woven in, the whimsical magic and of course the characters.
Greyson is a witty flirt and the minute he stepped onto the page he became my favorite.
I loved the growth Scarlett went through and how her adventure challenged her thinking. It challenged MY thinking and how I perceive my life and people around me.
The romance was swoony, banter was bantering, and the ending was as epic as ever for a Mary Mecham book.
💋 One major kiss (focused on emotions and not very physically descriptive) plus some small ones
⚠️Check Mary's Instagram or Website for warnings. This is a Dystopian society with imperfect thought processes and emotional issues because of it
Dystopian fantasy fairytale retelling?!?
Yes.
And it was done beautifully!
I loved the fairytale aspects woven in, the whimsical magic and of course the characters.
Greyson is a witty flirt and the minute he stepped onto the page he became my favorite.
I loved the growth Scarlett went through and how her adventure challenged her thinking. It challenged MY thinking and how I perceive my life and people around me.
The romance was swoony, banter was bantering, and the ending was as epic as ever for a Mary Mecham book.
💋 One major kiss (focused on emotions and not very physically descriptive) plus some small ones
⚠️Check Mary's Instagram or Website for warnings. This is a Dystopian society with imperfect thought processes and emotional issues because of it
July 7, 2023
This is the first book I’ve read in the Autumn Tales series and now I’m excited for the rest! I was wondering how Mary Mecham could pull off a dystopian fairytale. I usually picture dystopian as more futuristic, but she did an amazing job. I was sucked in right from the start.
Scarlett lives in Hamblin where at each fall equinox someone in their village who is deemed dangerous is Shunned. They are exiled into the dark woods.
Events occur that lead Scarlett out of the safety of her village and into the dark forest and the dangers that lurk there.
This story had it all: danger, magic, romance, and twists and turns. I didn’t want to put it down! I loved the incredible story that was woven. I now need to go find more of Mary Mecham’s books to read!
Scarlett lives in Hamblin where at each fall equinox someone in their village who is deemed dangerous is Shunned. They are exiled into the dark woods.
Events occur that lead Scarlett out of the safety of her village and into the dark forest and the dangers that lurk there.
This story had it all: danger, magic, romance, and twists and turns. I didn’t want to put it down! I loved the incredible story that was woven. I now need to go find more of Mary Mecham’s books to read!
September 2, 2023
After reading this book, this is now my favorite Red Riding Hood retelling! The enemies to lovers theme was one of the best I have ever read. The interactions between them were sweet and cute with playful banter that seemed natural. The plot twist was unexpected and I didn't see it coming. There was never a boring moment and I didn't want the book to end. The author did a great job portraying the autumn season and the descriptions were well written and engaging. I definitely recommend this cozy fairytale retelling book for anyone to read. 👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧❤️🐺👧
I received an ARC, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 6, 2025
This was a fun mix of dystopian fantasy & fairytale magic. Mashing up Little Red Riding Hood with the Pied Piper of Hamlin, Mecham offers the perils of a dystopia/utopia society, high stakes moments, and hilarious banter.
Scarlett’s growth was lovely to see, and the romance was sweet & snarky in an annoyed-to-lovers way. If I’m being picky, it was a bit shallow because things happened fast, but the ending was a testament to sacrificial love.
Also, Tristan. Be prepared to both loathe and love him. 😂
Content: kissing only;
Scarlett’s growth was lovely to see, and the romance was sweet & snarky in an annoyed-to-lovers way. If I’m being picky, it was a bit shallow because things happened fast, but the ending was a testament to sacrificial love.
Also, Tristan. Be prepared to both loathe and love him. 😂
Content: kissing only;
October 15, 2024
Wonderful twists on the old classic tale
This was such a fantastic retelling of Red Riding Hood! Scarlett is training to be an elite in her village, one of those perfect enough to not be shunned and follows all the rules she can. She lives for her Gran, her only relative and her favorite person, also the one who instructs her to keep her magic hidden. We wouldn't want to scare the other townsfolk. That is until Gran is the chosen one who is shunned this season. As everyone turns their back on her, and her blind grandma walks out the gate, Scarlett decides she isn't going to let her go it alone. But can she and will she find her in time? Scarlett is up tight and emotional, but she truly has the best heart and only wants what is best for her grandma. When she is rescued by a wolf from the dark woods, she wars within herself, and with him, can she trust him? One that has been shunned already? I thought I knew what would happen, and I was absolutely shocked at the twists that occurred in the end. Loved all of the fun characters and Scarlett's brand of magic. Just a wonderful twist on the old classic tale!
"You are too much like me to give up without a fight. I know you won’t leave until you get what you want.” “Of course I won’t leave without you, Gran!”
This was such a fantastic retelling of Red Riding Hood! Scarlett is training to be an elite in her village, one of those perfect enough to not be shunned and follows all the rules she can. She lives for her Gran, her only relative and her favorite person, also the one who instructs her to keep her magic hidden. We wouldn't want to scare the other townsfolk. That is until Gran is the chosen one who is shunned this season. As everyone turns their back on her, and her blind grandma walks out the gate, Scarlett decides she isn't going to let her go it alone. But can she and will she find her in time? Scarlett is up tight and emotional, but she truly has the best heart and only wants what is best for her grandma. When she is rescued by a wolf from the dark woods, she wars within herself, and with him, can she trust him? One that has been shunned already? I thought I knew what would happen, and I was absolutely shocked at the twists that occurred in the end. Loved all of the fun characters and Scarlett's brand of magic. Just a wonderful twist on the old classic tale!
"You are too much like me to give up without a fight. I know you won’t leave until you get what you want.” “Of course I won’t leave without you, Gran!”
July 11, 2023
The Queen of Enemies-to-Lovers and Banter has done it again!
It’s hard to picture “cozy” and “dystopian” together, but Mecham has managed to skillfully weave together a plot that has all of the swoony romance and heartwarming moments of a fairy tale with the action and drama of a dystopian world. Add in a heaping helping of witty banter, a flirtatious rogue of a hero, and a PLOT TWIST, and you have the recipe for what is now my favorite Red Riding Hood retelling.
I cannot recommend this book enough!
It’s hard to picture “cozy” and “dystopian” together, but Mecham has managed to skillfully weave together a plot that has all of the swoony romance and heartwarming moments of a fairy tale with the action and drama of a dystopian world. Add in a heaping helping of witty banter, a flirtatious rogue of a hero, and a PLOT TWIST, and you have the recipe for what is now my favorite Red Riding Hood retelling.
I cannot recommend this book enough!
October 13, 2023
Do you love Fairy Tales retellings? Do you enjoy a story that’s as old as time thrown into the blender and an amazing new story comes out?
This is the one for you then! We have Red Riding Hood with a little Piped Piper thrown into the mix with a dystopian twist. A great story, will keep you guessing, until the very last page.
An epilogue that shows HEA are possible, no matter how long it takes to get there!
This is the one for you then! We have Red Riding Hood with a little Piped Piper thrown into the mix with a dystopian twist. A great story, will keep you guessing, until the very last page.
An epilogue that shows HEA are possible, no matter how long it takes to get there!
September 23, 2024
3.5⭐
I really enjoyed the story and the fall vibes and the mysterious magic system and how everything unfolded.
The "banter" was not to my taste. Everything they said to each other was sarcasm and teasing. I don't think they said a single serious sentence to each other. Other than that it was cute.
I really enjoyed the story and the fall vibes and the mysterious magic system and how everything unfolded.
The "banter" was not to my taste. Everything they said to each other was sarcasm and teasing. I don't think they said a single serious sentence to each other. Other than that it was cute.
September 13, 2023
This book was so fun to read! I love the twist on red riding hood and the extra fairy tale that was entwined in the story. This book was completely clean and I have no qualms letting my 12 year old read it. It easily kept my interest from start to finish.
July 18, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this Red Riding Hood retelling!
I liked the dystopian themes and the twists the author made to the original story to make it her own.
Content: innuendo and desire.
I enjoyed this Red Riding Hood retelling!
I liked the dystopian themes and the twists the author made to the original story to make it her own.
Content: innuendo and desire.
May 16, 2025
Harrowing and hopeful retelling
My first Mary Mecham book and it definitely won’t be the last! She simultaneously made little Red Riding Hood darker and yet more meaningful and I am here for it!
My first Mary Mecham book and it definitely won’t be the last! She simultaneously made little Red Riding Hood darker and yet more meaningful and I am here for it!
July 25, 2025
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🐺~Genres~🐺
Retelling/Dystopian/Fantasy/Shifter Romance/Enemies to lovers/Small Town/Cozy
🪙~Characters~🪙
(Scarlett) FMC I liked her she wasn't my favorite Mary Mechem fmc (That title goes to Tinkerbell) but I did still like her she was just kinda judgemental sometimes so I just didn't love her!
(Greyson) MMC Omg he was so funny I really liked him!
(Agatha) SCARLETT'S GRAN I didn't really like her that much she was kinda Aggressive and always hitting people with her cane.
(Tristan) TOWN FLIRT OF EDENBROOK He was so annoyingly hilarious I mean the guy says things like this “Sincerest of apologies, maiden divine. My vocabulary and mastery of the intimacies of language hold all within my physical proximity enthralled.” ( he meant intricacies not intimacies he is just a little bit dumb, lol) I liked him. He was just so funny!
(Piper) TOWN STORYTELLER OF HAMELIN I didn't really like him. He kinda wants to marry Scarlett so there's that everything else would be a spoiler so I'll leave it at that.
(Otto) HUNTSMAN OF HAMELIN i didn't like him. Otto, Piper, And Pierre are brothers. Otto is the only one in 𝐻𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛 who can hunt.
(Pierre) TEACHER IN HAMELIN He uses magic to make the kids think they like learning i didn't really like him.
🍁~Quotes~🍁
“You’re terrible,” I told him, but couldn’t prevent the smile that slowly spread over my face. “And you love me for it.” “No, I don’t.” His eyes flashed dangerously. “Oh, but you will.”
“Well, wolf or human, you need to get off, you big lug. If you squash me, you’ll have to answer to Gran.” To my slight disappointment, Greyson obeyed and rolled away.
You just wish someone liked you as much as Gran loves me.”“Are you offering?” Heat rushed up to color my cheeks and I suddenly found it difficult to find my voice. “N…no. I’m not saying that I—” Greyson flipped the hood of my cloak over my eyes. “Shame. I might’ve liked that.”
“Undoubtedly, such orifices are beyond your compatibility to comprehend.” After nodding as though lost in deep thought, Greyson responded gravely, “I don’t think either of us want to be compatible with your orifices.” I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from laughing and worked hard to keep my face straight.
“You said gregarious,” Greyson chimed in. “Scarlett said that you probably meant to say egregious.”“I don’t expect a simple creature like you to fathom the magnanimity of my vocabulary,” Tristan sniffed at him. “Ah, well. This simple creature would challenge you to a battle of wits, but alas, I don’t fight unarmed people.”
📜~What I Liked~📜
The cover so beautiful as Always!, The title page omg so pretty, The Banter, The sheep names, The firefly scene, The humor, The epilogue, The writing style, The scenery, The Ending
🧣~What I disliked~🧣
Nothing!
🏚️~Content/Trigger Warnings~🏚️
Blindness, Illness, Abuse of vulnerable population, Physical Abuse, Blood, Injury,
🍂~Language~🍂
Godforsaken,
🐺~Genres~🐺
Retelling/Dystopian/Fantasy/Shifter Romance/Enemies to lovers/Small Town/Cozy
🪙~Characters~🪙
(Scarlett) FMC I liked her she wasn't my favorite Mary Mechem fmc (That title goes to Tinkerbell) but I did still like her she was just kinda judgemental sometimes so I just didn't love her!
(Greyson) MMC Omg he was so funny I really liked him!
(Agatha) SCARLETT'S GRAN I didn't really like her that much she was kinda Aggressive and always hitting people with her cane.
(Tristan) TOWN FLIRT OF EDENBROOK He was so annoyingly hilarious I mean the guy says things like this “Sincerest of apologies, maiden divine. My vocabulary and mastery of the intimacies of language hold all within my physical proximity enthralled.” ( he meant intricacies not intimacies he is just a little bit dumb, lol) I liked him. He was just so funny!
(Piper) TOWN STORYTELLER OF HAMELIN I didn't really like him. He kinda wants to marry Scarlett so there's that everything else would be a spoiler so I'll leave it at that.
(Otto) HUNTSMAN OF HAMELIN i didn't like him. Otto, Piper, And Pierre are brothers. Otto is the only one in 𝐻𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛 who can hunt.
(Pierre) TEACHER IN HAMELIN He uses magic to make the kids think they like learning i didn't really like him.
🍁~Quotes~🍁
“You’re terrible,” I told him, but couldn’t prevent the smile that slowly spread over my face. “And you love me for it.” “No, I don’t.” His eyes flashed dangerously. “Oh, but you will.”
“Well, wolf or human, you need to get off, you big lug. If you squash me, you’ll have to answer to Gran.” To my slight disappointment, Greyson obeyed and rolled away.
You just wish someone liked you as much as Gran loves me.”“Are you offering?” Heat rushed up to color my cheeks and I suddenly found it difficult to find my voice. “N…no. I’m not saying that I—” Greyson flipped the hood of my cloak over my eyes. “Shame. I might’ve liked that.”
“Undoubtedly, such orifices are beyond your compatibility to comprehend.” After nodding as though lost in deep thought, Greyson responded gravely, “I don’t think either of us want to be compatible with your orifices.” I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from laughing and worked hard to keep my face straight.
“You said gregarious,” Greyson chimed in. “Scarlett said that you probably meant to say egregious.”“I don’t expect a simple creature like you to fathom the magnanimity of my vocabulary,” Tristan sniffed at him. “Ah, well. This simple creature would challenge you to a battle of wits, but alas, I don’t fight unarmed people.”
📜~What I Liked~📜
The cover so beautiful as Always!, The title page omg so pretty, The Banter, The sheep names, The firefly scene, The humor, The epilogue, The writing style, The scenery, The Ending
🧣~What I disliked~🧣
Nothing!
🏚️~Content/Trigger Warnings~🏚️
Blindness, Illness, Abuse of vulnerable population, Physical Abuse, Blood, Injury,
🍂~Language~🍂
Godforsaken,
February 16, 2025
This was so much fun!!!!
September 21, 2023
I was very curious how dystopian and a fairytale retelling would fit together, but Mary definitely made it a good fit!
I think it's one of my favorite Red Riding Hood versions! (And also one of my favorite books by Mary!)
I especially loved it that the wolf wasn't the villain but the love interest!!
I loved all the original elements in a total new package. It felt like a familiar, but at the same time, new and original story. Loved that!
And it has a twist I didn't see coming.
Scarlett needed to grow on me a little bit, but I ended up liking this loyal, stubborn, sassy character!
Greyson was just 👌🏻, flirty but caring!
The enemies to lovers vibe between Scarlett and Greyson was great, with the perfect amount of banter, humor, and chemistry!
The side characters were also really well written, and all of them added something special to the story! (Grandma 🥰)
It's a little bit darker because of the dystopian atmosphere. Especially the town Hamelin, with its rules and annual Shunning.
But it's still a fun story about belonging, family, and acceptance!
Get ready for an adventure in Darkwood Forest!!
-------------------
I received an e-arc from the author. Thank you @marymecham_author
I was not required to write a positive review. This is just my personal opinion.
I think it's one of my favorite Red Riding Hood versions! (And also one of my favorite books by Mary!)
I especially loved it that the wolf wasn't the villain but the love interest!!
I loved all the original elements in a total new package. It felt like a familiar, but at the same time, new and original story. Loved that!
And it has a twist I didn't see coming.
Scarlett needed to grow on me a little bit, but I ended up liking this loyal, stubborn, sassy character!
Greyson was just 👌🏻, flirty but caring!
The enemies to lovers vibe between Scarlett and Greyson was great, with the perfect amount of banter, humor, and chemistry!
The side characters were also really well written, and all of them added something special to the story! (Grandma 🥰)
It's a little bit darker because of the dystopian atmosphere. Especially the town Hamelin, with its rules and annual Shunning.
But it's still a fun story about belonging, family, and acceptance!
Get ready for an adventure in Darkwood Forest!!
-------------------
I received an e-arc from the author. Thank you @marymecham_author
I was not required to write a positive review. This is just my personal opinion.
September 15, 2023
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This book is part of the Autumn Fairy Tales Collection, which is made up of 8 standalone books by different authors. The book's blurb is straightforward and do be aware that, although it's a fairytale retelling, it's also a dystopian book so the story will have a dark tone to it. Look up dystopian books to get a better sense of what to expect. It's a wonderful Red Riding Hood retelling told through Scarlett's pov.
As one of the elect, Scarlett has grown up believing in the necessity of the annual Shunning -even if she has some qualms about it- and the warnings about the Darkwood Forest. When her grandmother is cast out, Scarlett ventures into the forest and has to confront the assumptions that she had. She's stubborn and holding on to what she knows, especially when she has no choice but to ask Greyson, a shunned shapeshifter, for help and he challenges her in more ways than one. He's flirty and loves getting a rise out of her but, the more time she spends with him, she's able to question her beliefs and take his words, and what he's showing her, to heart.
Because Scarlett was one of the elect and Greyson was one of the shunned, they both had assumptions about each other and saw each other as enemies. Scarlett was haughty in the way that she viewed Greyson and he didn't trust her. However, that didn't stop Greyson from flirting with her at every chance he got. Their banter was great and funny. I kept looking forward to what Greyson would say next to get under Scarlett's skin. I loved seeing how their banter started to shift more playfully, on Scarlett's side, as they became friendlier and began to care about each other. It's a bit of a slow burn for them to act on their feelings but the pacing of the novella is excellent and there's enough banter so you won't even notice. Their romance is a clean one with only kissing and no foul language used. I had a hunch about one of the reveals and liked how it happened. The conflict was interesting and the level of violence is pg-13. Aside from the romance and comedic moments, I also liked that this story was thought provoking but not in a way that made you feel as if the author was trying to push their ideas onto you. Personally, I liked the dark tone of the story and think the author did a great job at finding balance so the story wouldn't feel too dark. Overall, I really enjoyed this novella and it's one of my favorite reads of the year.
As one of the elect, Scarlett has grown up believing in the necessity of the annual Shunning -
Because Scarlett was one of the elect and Greyson was one of the shunned, they both had assumptions about each other and saw each other as enemies. Scarlett was haughty in the way that she viewed Greyson and he didn't trust her. However, that didn't stop Greyson from flirting with her at every chance he got. Their banter was great and funny. I kept looking forward to what Greyson would say next to get under Scarlett's skin. I loved seeing how their banter started to shift more playfully, on Scarlett's side, as they became friendlier and began to care about each other. It's a bit of a slow burn for them to act on their feelings but the pacing of the novella is excellent and there's enough banter so you won't even notice. Their romance is a clean one with only kissing and no foul language used. I had a hunch about one of the reveals and liked how it happened. The conflict was interesting and the level of violence is pg-13. Aside from the romance and comedic moments, I also liked that this story was thought provoking but not in a way that made you feel as if the author was trying to push their ideas onto you. Personally, I liked the dark tone of the story and think the author did a great job at finding balance so the story wouldn't feel too dark. Overall, I really enjoyed this novella and it's one of my favorite reads of the year.
September 16, 2023
Read my full review on my blog: https://penspagesandpulses.wordpress....
Mary Mecham's Scarlett and the Dark Woods is the enchanting (and hilarious) fourth installment of the Autumn Fairy Tales collection.
On Wednesday, I had nine pages left in the book when I went to a church activity. Nine. Well, I made up for it by exclaiming about how much I LOVED this book to anyone who would listen. Because this sweet retelling of Little Red Riding Hood is THAT good.
The banter between Greyson and Scarlett is the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!! It's like the cutest thing ever. And it is so cool noticing the tiny little changes in their dialogue that indicates that they're growing closer together. *squeals* Mary did an incredible job capturing those tiny little intricacies to show the relationship arc!!!
I found Scarlett delightfully imperfect. I enjoyed watching her struggle with her external conflicts like getting lost in a dark forest as much as I enjoyed her struggle with accepting that the world that she grew up with had more faults than she wanted to admit. It allowed her to have so much character growth AND kept her from being too annoyingly perfect at everything!
This book is about dystopian society without being like super depressing. Who would've thought that was possible??? All of my required reading from English left me with the impression that dystopias were like supposed to be depressing and gross and have no point or real ending or anything. If this book was for required reading, students might actually learn that reading doesn't have to be a chore AND they might come away feeling uplifted instead of just icky and hopeless inside. Fine, I'll get off my soapbox now.
There were so many fun pieces from the classic Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale in this story, but it was still definitely its own story! I love seeing how authors can take a fairy tale down to its essential components and change the rest to create their own retellings!
I absolutely ADORED this book!!! If you are looking for a fun, quick, enemies-to-lovers romance, I would HIGHLY recommend Mary Mecham's Scarlett and the Dark Woods. I already want to reread this incredible book!!!!!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
Mary Mecham's Scarlett and the Dark Woods is the enchanting (and hilarious) fourth installment of the Autumn Fairy Tales collection.
On Wednesday, I had nine pages left in the book when I went to a church activity. Nine. Well, I made up for it by exclaiming about how much I LOVED this book to anyone who would listen. Because this sweet retelling of Little Red Riding Hood is THAT good.
The banter between Greyson and Scarlett is the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!! It's like the cutest thing ever. And it is so cool noticing the tiny little changes in their dialogue that indicates that they're growing closer together. *squeals* Mary did an incredible job capturing those tiny little intricacies to show the relationship arc!!!
I found Scarlett delightfully imperfect. I enjoyed watching her struggle with her external conflicts like getting lost in a dark forest as much as I enjoyed her struggle with accepting that the world that she grew up with had more faults than she wanted to admit. It allowed her to have so much character growth AND kept her from being too annoyingly perfect at everything!
This book is about dystopian society without being like super depressing. Who would've thought that was possible??? All of my required reading from English left me with the impression that dystopias were like supposed to be depressing and gross and have no point or real ending or anything. If this book was for required reading, students might actually learn that reading doesn't have to be a chore AND they might come away feeling uplifted instead of just icky and hopeless inside. Fine, I'll get off my soapbox now.
There were so many fun pieces from the classic Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale in this story, but it was still definitely its own story! I love seeing how authors can take a fairy tale down to its essential components and change the rest to create their own retellings!
I absolutely ADORED this book!!! If you are looking for a fun, quick, enemies-to-lovers romance, I would HIGHLY recommend Mary Mecham's Scarlett and the Dark Woods. I already want to reread this incredible book!!!!!
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
November 2, 2023
I’ve come to realize that if I’m going to read a twisted
Fairytale retelling I’m going to read a story by Mary Mecham! She does twisted fairytales to utter perfection! I mean…Becoming Hook was one Hell of an AMAZING story and Scarlett and the Dark Woods…WOW! Just WOW!!!
Scarlett lives in fear of the yearly autumn shunning. As does the entire village. For every “crime” or “infraction” there is a punishment and those punishments come in the form of a mark against the offenders name. The Elders keep track of everyone’s marks throughout the year. Then during the shunning the Elders announce the shunned and the individual is immediately cast out of the village and into the Dark Woods to never return.
Scarlett’s worst fear comes to fruition when her grandma is announced as the shunned. And with the desperation of a girl completely alone in the world Scarlett steals herself away into the forest to find and save her grandma from the Magic stealing forest and the deadly beasts that roam.
But things are almost never what they appear and Scarlett is about to discover her world is nothing as she thought it was.
This story! OMG! This story was EVERYTHING I desire in my fantasy! It was one part cozy, one part sweet and enticing romance, one part humor, and one part completely unexpected twist. I honestly did not see that ending coming! I mean…there may or may not have been a couple of predictable moments…BUT…that conclusion was PERFECT and I was both COMPLETELY SURPISED and OVERWHELMINGLY SATISFIED by how well written and executed it was.
I absolute fell head over heels for Greyson! He was…in one word…WONDERFUL! And I couldn’t have loved him any more. As the perfect combination of sweet, swoony, and handsome MMC, humorous and fun, and beyond charming and loyal he pretty much had it all! Mecham couldn’t have created him any better!
So anyways, if you love Fairytale retellings, or just awesome stories, with amazing characters, creative and well devised world building, lots of feels but with a lovely tendril of coziness and warmth infused throughout, and one of the most interesting and well conceived twists I’ve ever read, then you just simply NEED to read Scarlett and the Dark Woods!!!
Fairytale retelling I’m going to read a story by Mary Mecham! She does twisted fairytales to utter perfection! I mean…Becoming Hook was one Hell of an AMAZING story and Scarlett and the Dark Woods…WOW! Just WOW!!!
Scarlett lives in fear of the yearly autumn shunning. As does the entire village. For every “crime” or “infraction” there is a punishment and those punishments come in the form of a mark against the offenders name. The Elders keep track of everyone’s marks throughout the year. Then during the shunning the Elders announce the shunned and the individual is immediately cast out of the village and into the Dark Woods to never return.
Scarlett’s worst fear comes to fruition when her grandma is announced as the shunned. And with the desperation of a girl completely alone in the world Scarlett steals herself away into the forest to find and save her grandma from the Magic stealing forest and the deadly beasts that roam.
But things are almost never what they appear and Scarlett is about to discover her world is nothing as she thought it was.
This story! OMG! This story was EVERYTHING I desire in my fantasy! It was one part cozy, one part sweet and enticing romance, one part humor, and one part completely unexpected twist. I honestly did not see that ending coming! I mean…there may or may not have been a couple of predictable moments…BUT…that conclusion was PERFECT and I was both COMPLETELY SURPISED and OVERWHELMINGLY SATISFIED by how well written and executed it was.
I absolute fell head over heels for Greyson! He was…in one word…WONDERFUL! And I couldn’t have loved him any more. As the perfect combination of sweet, swoony, and handsome MMC, humorous and fun, and beyond charming and loyal he pretty much had it all! Mecham couldn’t have created him any better!
So anyways, if you love Fairytale retellings, or just awesome stories, with amazing characters, creative and well devised world building, lots of feels but with a lovely tendril of coziness and warmth infused throughout, and one of the most interesting and well conceived twists I’ve ever read, then you just simply NEED to read Scarlett and the Dark Woods!!!
May 15, 2025
Little Red Riding Hood meets Shapeshifting Wolf and magic? Sign me up!
(for context: this is the second book I’ve read by MM. I say this because there will be comparisons to the first book I read by her, Midnight Blizzard)
Despite this one not blowing me away quite like Midnight Blizzard did, MM’s creativity and way of reshaping and guiding you to a new version of a fairytale has yet to disappoint!
We are introduced to Scarlett, who lives with her Gran in a semi-dystopian village that both uses and fears the magical-born abilities of its citizens. The elders decide who is a possible threat in their community, and take part in The Shunning to outcast the possible threat.
This concept was fascinating, and I truly enjoyed how MM brought us into the mind of Scarlett, both in logic and fears. As always, I am a person who appreciates when a story takes time, so I would have loved to see us spend a little longer in Scarlett’s home village, and get to know the town. Once we move to our second location, and meet Greyson, it is only a two week span of time for all of the development and romance to kindle. It is all engaging, but once again I feel as if the ending would pack more punch if we truly cared about Scarlett’s hometown, and got to sit with her new normal with Greyson and Gran.
My main complaint with Midnight Blizzard was too much telling and not enough showing, this book is a bit guilty of that as well, but more so was the repetition. Many times we were told how rare or unique Scarlett’s powers are. If there could have been a scene of her unable to control her powers, or stories of others who had terrible fates due to similar magic, we could have learned more naturally the gravity of her situation.
Even with my slight complaints, I cannot deny MM’s magnificent imagination in how she takes such familiar stories and combined or changed them to spin a new web! My enjoyment reading was still great, and the concept of this book is so cool. Can’t wait to read her other works!
3⭐️ enjoyed it, might read again
Happy reading!♥️📚
(for context: this is the second book I’ve read by MM. I say this because there will be comparisons to the first book I read by her, Midnight Blizzard)
Despite this one not blowing me away quite like Midnight Blizzard did, MM’s creativity and way of reshaping and guiding you to a new version of a fairytale has yet to disappoint!
We are introduced to Scarlett, who lives with her Gran in a semi-dystopian village that both uses and fears the magical-born abilities of its citizens. The elders decide who is a possible threat in their community, and take part in The Shunning to outcast the possible threat.
This concept was fascinating, and I truly enjoyed how MM brought us into the mind of Scarlett, both in logic and fears. As always, I am a person who appreciates when a story takes time, so I would have loved to see us spend a little longer in Scarlett’s home village, and get to know the town. Once we move to our second location, and meet Greyson, it is only a two week span of time for all of the development and romance to kindle. It is all engaging, but once again I feel as if the ending would pack more punch if we truly cared about Scarlett’s hometown, and got to sit with her new normal with Greyson and Gran.
My main complaint with Midnight Blizzard was too much telling and not enough showing, this book is a bit guilty of that as well, but more so was the repetition. Many times we were told how rare or unique Scarlett’s powers are. If there could have been a scene of her unable to control her powers, or stories of others who had terrible fates due to similar magic, we could have learned more naturally the gravity of her situation.
Even with my slight complaints, I cannot deny MM’s magnificent imagination in how she takes such familiar stories and combined or changed them to spin a new web! My enjoyment reading was still great, and the concept of this book is so cool. Can’t wait to read her other works!
3⭐️ enjoyed it, might read again
Happy reading!♥️📚
August 3, 2023
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but meant to be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Scarlett’s point of view
– there is a little bit of fantasy violence
Review:
This was a wonderfully hilarious & thrilling retelling of Red Riding Hood! I loved the flirty banter that Greyson brought to the table and was able to pull out of Scarlett. They are such an awesome couple and I loved the epilogue of them years later. I also loved the dystopian/fantasy feel of the entire book! (With a society under a strict set of rules and people fearing being shunned for their magic, even if they did everything right.) I loved that the society was broken and made something better by the end of the book. I also loved the little addition of another tale woven throughout the story (mainly seen by the end of it).
Summary:
In Hamelin, everyone is judged by the rules those in the elect decided were required for them to have a well working & safe society. And every year, Hamelin’s citizens gather to hear the results of the marks collected against them. This event, which they call the Shunning, is when the elect take into account all the citizens have done in society and if anyone is a threat to it.
Like everyone else waiting to hear who is to be shunned, Scarlett is worried that maybe she did something that would cause the elect to choose her, even though she knows that it is practically impossible for her to be chosen. But when her grannie (the only person that’s always been there for her and knows her in Hamelin) is chosen in this year’s Shunning, Scarlett feels her world unraveling. Banished to the Dark Woods, grannie won’t be able to survive. Especially with wild animals and worse shunned people than grannie roaming the woods. But by the time Scarlett is able to grasp her wits and go after her, grannie has disappeared and Scarlett in lost in the Dark Woods.
Her only hope of finding grannie is Greyson, a shifter who has been keeping an eye on Scarlett in his wolf form while she walked around in circles. But Greyson isn’t about to make it easy for Scarlett and that sets her on edge. How can she put her trust in a sneaky wolf while her grannie’s life is on the line?
– this is part of a series, but meant to be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Scarlett’s point of view
– there is a little bit of fantasy violence
Review:
This was a wonderfully hilarious & thrilling retelling of Red Riding Hood! I loved the flirty banter that Greyson brought to the table and was able to pull out of Scarlett. They are such an awesome couple and I loved the epilogue of them years later. I also loved the dystopian/fantasy feel of the entire book! (With a society under a strict set of rules and people fearing being shunned for their magic, even if they did everything right.) I loved that the society was broken and made something better by the end of the book. I also loved the little addition of another tale woven throughout the story (mainly seen by the end of it).
Summary:
In Hamelin, everyone is judged by the rules those in the elect decided were required for them to have a well working & safe society. And every year, Hamelin’s citizens gather to hear the results of the marks collected against them. This event, which they call the Shunning, is when the elect take into account all the citizens have done in society and if anyone is a threat to it.
Like everyone else waiting to hear who is to be shunned, Scarlett is worried that maybe she did something that would cause the elect to choose her, even though she knows that it is practically impossible for her to be chosen. But when her grannie (the only person that’s always been there for her and knows her in Hamelin) is chosen in this year’s Shunning, Scarlett feels her world unraveling. Banished to the Dark Woods, grannie won’t be able to survive. Especially with wild animals and worse shunned people than grannie roaming the woods. But by the time Scarlett is able to grasp her wits and go after her, grannie has disappeared and Scarlett in lost in the Dark Woods.
Her only hope of finding grannie is Greyson, a shifter who has been keeping an eye on Scarlett in his wolf form while she walked around in circles. But Greyson isn’t about to make it easy for Scarlett and that sets her on edge. How can she put her trust in a sneaky wolf while her grannie’s life is on the line?
November 22, 2024
I've read a few books by this author now with reallllly similar plots:
(generic spoilers ahead)
Girl lives in a society with family and friends. Her society is at odds with another major society which is depicted as scary, evil, and murderous.
Girl follows family/friends into an encounter with said evil society, with the intent of defeating enemies and saving loved ones.
Girl slowly realizes that this new society seems much kinder and more civilized than she thought, but she is still very suspicious
Girl begins falling for an optimistic, charming, somewhat happy-go-lucky man who is a representative or leader of this new society. This man also has the magical ability to turn into an animal form, and is therefore called by the girl as "[Animal] Boy" (Fish Boy, Bird Boy, Wolf Boy)
The two get to know and like each other with flirting disguised as insults. The animal form and man's connection to his society make the girl suspicious but she is forced to work together with him to achieve her goal of dismantling his society.
Just when she might be changing her mind and ready to love him/his society, the girl faces a betrayal by said man and learns an upsetting secret or two about him. She goes running back to people from her original society.
But all is not well there, and she discovers the evil/negative aspects in her original society (possibly in an even bigger betrayal). In the end it's the man and her relationship with him that saves her. Now she knows she will stay with him and be a part of his society.
It's not that it's a bad storyline but it's soooo weird how the last 3 books I've read by this author have it so similar (the books are Scarlett and the Dark Woods, Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice, and Hunting Sirens). It's getting old, it feels recycled! This book was the weakest of the 3 to me and I had a bit of trouble finishing it, as I was getting bored.
(generic spoilers ahead)
Girl lives in a society with family and friends. Her society is at odds with another major society which is depicted as scary, evil, and murderous.
Girl follows family/friends into an encounter with said evil society, with the intent of defeating enemies and saving loved ones.
Girl slowly realizes that this new society seems much kinder and more civilized than she thought, but she is still very suspicious
Girl begins falling for an optimistic, charming, somewhat happy-go-lucky man who is a representative or leader of this new society. This man also has the magical ability to turn into an animal form, and is therefore called by the girl as "[Animal] Boy" (Fish Boy, Bird Boy, Wolf Boy)
The two get to know and like each other with flirting disguised as insults. The animal form and man's connection to his society make the girl suspicious but she is forced to work together with him to achieve her goal of dismantling his society.
Just when she might be changing her mind and ready to love him/his society, the girl faces a betrayal by said man and learns an upsetting secret or two about him. She goes running back to people from her original society.
But all is not well there, and she discovers the evil/negative aspects in her original society (possibly in an even bigger betrayal). In the end it's the man and her relationship with him that saves her. Now she knows she will stay with him and be a part of his society.
It's not that it's a bad storyline but it's soooo weird how the last 3 books I've read by this author have it so similar (the books are Scarlett and the Dark Woods, Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice, and Hunting Sirens). It's getting old, it feels recycled! This book was the weakest of the 3 to me and I had a bit of trouble finishing it, as I was getting bored.
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