Red

A Novel of Alameth

by Evelyn M. Exley

"The wolves of the Wood do more than hunt you… they know your name."

Red has always had questions about the Dark Wood and its plagued People, her Gran included, but it isn’t until she meets the Prince of Alameth and his bodyguard, the Huntsman, that she begins to learn about the wolves. When one wolf seeks to break her spirit as his kind has broken so many others, only a King can bring freedom, hope, and a destiny beyond the darkness.

**For readers drawn to the allegorical depth of C.S. Lewis and the haunting beauty of classic fairy tales, Red is a story where wolves and a sinister Wood mirror the unseen spiritual battles of life. It is a tale of darkness and light, shadows and illumination, and of a love strong enough to overcome the powers that seek to break us.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2025

About the author

I fell in love with mythic fantasy as early as age five, when my minister father had me tested and discovered I was reading over two hundred words per minute. Seeing the need to feed my thirsty young mind, he placed epic fantasy books (most of them beyond my comprehension) in my hands. I like to say I have lived most of my life seeing the world through a coke-bottle-thick lens of metaphor and imagination.

My fascination with stories that impact the soul comes from my own need for it. That need has shaped both my life and my writing far more than any list of qualifications — which include being a licensed minister, a professional pianist and cinematic composer, and now a published author. In all my creative work, I seek to use imagery with intention, believing that art can teach the heart without preaching, heal the soul without patronizing —ultimately changing culture through the divine work that takes place within.

I reside with my husband in the Southeastern United States in a musical and somewhat magical house, where conversation is often full of talk about real-life legends, fantasy stories, and other timeless tales.

Reviews

[Arizona · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I start this review, the temptation is to wax long and eloquent so that I could try to get across how impactful this book is. However, for fear of boring you and sounding a little too inhuman, I will say this instead:

Reading RED is an experience you will not want to miss. It hooks you as an easy read with it's simple writing style and familiar-ish plot line, but keeps you tightly tethered as it somehow makes you feel like this fantasy story has perhaps once been your own story in some small way. It's atmospheric and leaves you quiet by the end of it, rejoicing in the empowering and beautiful finish, while also examining your own life in light of the many truths and delicate nuances contained within the story.

Exley addresses the complexities of family, community, romance, betrayal and abuse throughout Red's journey, yet doesn't fail to end it without addressing the Light that heals and sets her free.

I don't recommend this book if you are looking for something casual or intellectually stimulating. But I do highly recommend it if you're hungry for something a little more meaningful and are longing for your heart and soul to be fed.

Also, might I add...the character Jacobe? Incredible.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. "Red" reads strikingly familiar and very personal while the details and events are foreign and the storyline full of little twists and turns that keep you guessing as to what is coming next. It’s an easy, fluid read that flows with great creativity and beauty, of love and redemption, of justice and freedom.
It left me quiet in the following hours of reading it, pondering my own story with a grace I needed to look at my own life with...and thinking on the kind of love Exley weaves throughout the story that answers all of the hidden things of my heart.

[Evelyn Exley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for something different than your usual fantasy? This dark, reflective story promises to move you, not just thrill your senses. RED is a standalone novel everyone can relate to, blending elements of allegory and literary fairy tale fantasy. Expect lyrical prose, symbolic storytelling, and a cinematic tone both haunting and hopeful. Contains no explicit content. Ideal for readers who appreciate introspective, spiritually rich fiction that reveals the world around us. ~the author

[Evelyn Exley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for something different than your usual fantasy? This dark, reflective story promises to move you, not just thrill your senses. RED is a standalone novel everyone can relate to, blending elements of allegory and literary fairy tale fantasy. Expect lyrical prose, symbolic storytelling, and a cinematic tone both haunting and hopeful. Contains no explicit content. Ideal for readers who appreciate introspective, spiritually rich fiction that reveals the world around us. ~the author

[Shawna Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the most magical retellings of Little Red Riding Hood I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It was fantastical and whimsical yet deep enough to leave you thinking long after it's over. I'm excited to read more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.