Seeing Red: A Fairy Tale Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood

by Rachanee Lumayno

In the forest, there’s a fine line between hunter and hunted.

Claret Pangati is content with her quiet life in the village of Woodside—baking bread, visiting her grandmother beyond the forest, and avoiding anything resembling danger. But when a series of brutal attacks shatter the calm, a stranger arrives with secrets of his own.

Sheriff Hunter Tavish is handsome, mysterious, and far too interested in the dark history that runs through the woods—and through Claret’s bloodline. As the forest’s secrets unravel, Claret finds herself at the heart of a story older than she ever imagined. One with a red cloak, a hungry predator, and a girl who may not be as innocent as the tale suggests.

A dark and atmospheric retelling of Little Red Riding Hood—where the line between hunter and hunted blurs with every heartbeat.

325 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2026

About the author

Rachanee Lumayno is an actress, voiceover artist, screenwriter, avid gamer and amateur dodgeball player. She grew up in Michigan, where she spent way too much of her free time reading fantasy novels. So when she decided to try her hand at writing a book, it made sense that it would be in her favorite genre.

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Reviews

[Rose Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love Seeing Red. The premise, a darker, atmospheric retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, sounded right up my alley. The idea of blurred lines between hunter and hunted, family secrets, and a mysterious sheriff in a quiet village had so much potential.

I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator, Rachanee Lumayno, did a good job. Her performance was solid, and she handled the tone and pacing well. The production quality wasn’t the issue at all.

For me, the challenge was connecting with the characters. I just couldn’t fully get invested in Claret or Hunter. On paper, their dynamic is intriguing, secrets, tension, hidden history, but emotionally, it didn’t quite resonate with me. I found myself listening without feeling deeply pulled into their journey.

The atmosphere is definitely there. The forest setting feels moody and mysterious, and the story has that slow-burn, fairy-tale darkness woven throughout. I can see how readers who love brooding retellings and subtle suspense might really enjoy it.

Overall, I’d give it three stars. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, it just didn’t click with me personally. If you enjoy dark fairy tale retellings and don’t mind a slower, more atmospheric pace, this one might be a better fit for you.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good crossover from a fairytale to a romantsy story. Claret lives on the outskirts of the Littlewood Forest. Her grandma lives on the other side of the forest in a neighboring town. Claret visits her grandma every Sunday. When she was little she believed she saw Elves at her grandmother's, her mother denied it and forbid her from talking about it. A new sheriff comes to town to solve the issue of all the animals being killed. Is this sheriff more then what he seems? Can Claret come to terms with what she is?

[Janet Smith McHardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant reworking of the Little Red Riding Hood story. Claret Pangati life changes when her grandmother tells her about her family history and the future she needs to embrace. But there is danger on the horizon. Claret need to work out who she can trust. Is the handsome new Sheriff a friend or not. This is a great listen. I look forward to more books in this series. The narration is excellent.

[Rija · Rating 5 out of 5]

​I couldn't put this down and finished it in just a couple of sittings!

Seeing Red is a fantastic fantasy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. The author has done an incredible job with the world-building, the setting is set so well and perfectly establishes the moody, immersive atmosphere of the book.

I also loved the unique twist on the cape; it brought something totally fresh to a classic story. Highly recommend if you love engaging fairy tale retellings!

[Lisa Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. I like the story of Little Red Riding hood, so this had my attention from the get go. It was a new to me author, but I really enjoyed the character and world building and look forward to more at some point.

[Summer Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good retelling of Red Riding Hood. It brings in the Fae world and does have good world building to it. It does a good job in building scenes and having depth to it. So if you're looking for a well rounded story you'll enjoy this.

[Laura Ruetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love fairy tales when they get redone, to see a different take on an old tale. I really enjoyed this take on little red riding hood.