Ride: a Dark Fairytale Retelling

by Logan Black

Wonderland isn't just a strip club. It's a home for the wayward, abused, and forgotten. So when Carmen showed up looking for help, I couldn't turn her away.

I'd known her a lifetime ago. I was head bouncer at Wonderland now, but before I'd been a stunt cock in her grandmother's porn movies. At the time, Carmen had been a teenager with an unhealthy fixation.

Now, here she was all grown up, even more beautiful, and just as fixated.

She'd pissed off some very bad people and needed a place to hide. I wanted to be the hero in her story—to save her from the big bad wolf. But it was more complicated than that. It always is.

We all want to be the hero in someone else's story. But all too often, we end up being the wolf instead.

Each book in the Wonderland After Dark series takes a classic fairytale and twists it into a depraved retelling. "Ride" reimagines the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hoodas a dark and spicy crime tale that will leave you wondering… Just who is the wolf after all?

93 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Logan Black is a husband, father, and corporate wage slave living in South Carolina. His moonlighting gig is way more interesting than his day job. His primary artistic endeavor is the Danny Diamond series of erotic mysteries set in 1940s Los Angeles—an erotic take on hardboiled and Noir classics like The Maltese Falcon. He has a penchant for old books, good whiskey, and everything kinky, and he shares them with his followers on Twitter. Find him there under the handle @LoganBlackAuthr or visit him at his website, https://loganblack.me.

Reviews

[Danielle Nielson, Book Therapist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broken Book Therapist Reviews

Spicy-ish little novella about when the past comes to the present. While the age gap bothered him, I was (as I have been in other books in this series) more bothered by the use of race as a plot line by an author that best I can tell is not a BIPOC. The plot line of this one wasn't as enticing as the second one was either. But, if you need a quick read to keep pace with an ambitious reading goal, this meets that.

[Sheila M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logan Black is an excellent writer and has once again magically woven a fantasy tale worth reading. Black excels in noir, and I felt like I was watching a noir film as I was reading this book about Derek, Scarlett, Carmen, and the rest of the characters in Wonderland. Derek is the macho guy many men want to be. He is in the skin industry and has a big you know what and wants to be everyone’s hero. He has an unrequited love he still yearns for and a thankless job as a bouncer/handyman. His life is ho-hum until Carmen shows up…and life takes a quick right turn and is never the same.

I enjoyed the storyline - it was quite good; with twists I didn’t see coming. The pacing is well done, starting off slowly, just like Derek’s life, and rapidly increasing as the story progresses, again, just like Derek’s life. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. They are wonderfully flawed, unique characters that you can’t help but cheer for and hope they get their HEA. The story was a steamy suspense tale that is worth your time.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black continues to impress

I’ve read and enjoyed several of Black’s previous series—each with its own unique flavor and style. But I’m really liking how these darker, edgier Wonderland stories hit.

Set against the backdrop of a strip club that wants to be more than it is, we get to meet characters that have been scuffed and dented by the lives they’ve led. Now Wonderland is their home where they fulfill the fantasies of the downtrodden and form a makeshift family. The spice is there, to be sure, but it’s seasoning rather than the focus of the story.

In Ride we learn more about Derek, his past, and the man that lies beneath. Sometimes a wolf can be a man—and sometimes he can’t.

The only thing better than Noir Blanc’s rich voice is his delivery in narrating this story. I could listen to the man read a grocery list.

I hope there are more Wonderland stories to come as I am not ready to say goodbye to this group.

I received a copy of this book from StoryOrigin and am leaving my review.

[Dark Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ride is a very fun short story that's loosely Little Red Riding Hood-based. Carmen, the FMC, has known Derek, the MMC, since she was a teenager, roaming the sets of her grandmother's porn movies (yes, her family is....unhealthy). But she finds him years later, when she needs help hiding, and asks for his help to keep her safe.

Carmen is a firecracker - even though she is the damsel in distress at first, she's fierce, sexy, and unpredictable. She knows what she wants - and it's Derek. The chemistry here is very well done, and it's definitely not a slow burn. As a short story, this is heavy on the spice and a bit lower on the plot, although a lot does happen. The spice is steamy hot, and it's fun to read.

Overall very fun and a wild ride!

Thanks to the ARC team for an advance copy.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ride felt like a wild ride into Derek's past. While this wasn't my favorite of the Wonderland After Dark books, I think it was the one that told me the most about Derek's personality. I wasn't expecting things to go the way they did, but it was a surprise all on its own. The lengths Derek goes through to make Wonderland his home are heartwarming. If you go into this book expecting another club girl, you'll be slightly disappointed; however, this shows the more tender side to Derek Ryder than the other books.

4.5/5 stars with perhaps the most complicated storyline of the books so far. Still very much enjoyable.

Would love some more books in this series :)

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another fun and spicy read that gives us more insight to Derek's (D's) life. He may be a bouncer in a strip club now, but he was a p0rnstaar in the past and this loose retelling of Little Red Riding Hood brings that past to the present. Carmen needs help to hide and she seeks out D's help. She starts off as a damsel but she's fiery, fierce and knows what she wants...and that's Derek ;P This is a high heat read with great chemistry and still has lots going on. I enjoyed it, and the whole series, and look forward to what's next by this author :D

[Lianna Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in The Wonderland After Dark series, Ride, is loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood and such a great read! There's a bit of mystery, spice, tension, found family, a wild ride and the most perfect HEA. Logan never fails to create reads that have you turning page after page in one sitting. This one had me laughing entirely too loudly past everyone's bedtimes, including my own.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book from logan black

This book is loosely a recreation of little red riding hood taking place in a strip club, with spice that will make you hot under the collar, which ones the big bad wolf well ill let you decide

I loved the FMC she's firey, sexy and fun and definatly knows what she wants, this book is heavy on spice lower on plot but still such an enjoyable short read that will always leave you wanting more

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The past comes calling

When Carmen appeared at Wonderland she brought the past and trouble to his his door.  She was no longer the teenager he remembered and instead she was a woman on the run. 

This story is not your typical red riding hood. It's dark and spicy. Plus there's an epic motorcycle chase in it. 

Oh and there are some just deserts handed out as well. 

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, another 5-star book! I loved this one just like the other two. I couldn't get enough of this series, and you HAVE to read it! Seriously, a 5-star series, easy peasy! I didn't want it to end, and I can't wait for book four!
P.S- Logan ...your writing skills are bomb 💣 and your books are amazing 👏 🤩 ✨️
Keep up the awesome work!

[Kristina Schurmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star read by Logan Black. This is my favorite one of the series. I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting. There definitely were some shocking twists in this story that I did not see coming. It was a perfect quick and spicy read. I highly recommend!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this series - Derek is re-united with a girl from his past. I love how he helped her with her algebra and now she's there for a different kind of help. She causes issues for Derek and Wonderland, part of the solution is VERY hot! Great series.

[Sammye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Wonderland After Dark series. Someone from Derek’s past comes back and causes trouble for him. It’s a short story full of drama, mystery and spice. This one had me turning pages non-stop.

[Lisa Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly short but extremely steamy listen that is a continuation of Wonderland after dark. This particular one is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and leaves you trying to figure out who the wolf really is. I look forward to more in the series.

[.mynewbookshelf. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good, spicy series.

[Kymmie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ride is based on Little Red Riding Hood and is such a great read! There's a bit of mystery and spice. Good book! Recommend reading it.

[Terisa Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ride is about Derek's past and how is comes back to haunt him and what he does to protect wonderland ❤️‍🔥...

[Frankie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes!!!! I’m not a audiobook girly but now I am. The narrators voice was perfect and easy to understand. I was definitely sucked in and didn’t want it to stop!!!

[Jennifer Bollnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Wonderland After Dark series continues with a Red Riding Hood retelling in a strip club setting. This time, an old friend of D's rides into town needing a favor. This spicy tale offers surprises and excitement. D's past collides with his present and the temptations he didn't expect. In this version, who is the big bad? Is it the wolf, grandmother, or Red Riding Hood herself? I recommend this series and hope this isn't the end of the crew from Wonderland.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 of the Wonderland After Dark series. Another fairytale retelling - Red Riding hood. Another piece to "D" - Derek's life. He is the head bouncer of the strip club. The granddaughter of a past coworker comes back into his life asking for help and so much more. Carmen is all grown up and beautiful. But Derek needs to stand his ground.
The kink in this book was a surprise and not in my taste. But the story around it was very good and entertaining. Just who is the wolf? I recommend this book and this series. It's very fun and clever.

Update: 9-25-25 I just finished listening to the Audible version. The narrator, Noir Blanc has a perfect voice for Derek. So deeo. So sexy. He brings good feels to this sexy story.

[Courtney Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logan has the gift of blending mystery, action and spice into his books. He makes sure there is never a dull moment. I’m excited to see what he has planned for the part of this series.

🖤 Str1p Club
🖤 Bouncer
🖤 Retelling
🎧 3:05 Noir Blanc is a fabulous narrator. He did an amazing job with this book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
📍 FL