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Beloved Villains #6

Blue Beard, Red Hood

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A spicy, adult romantasy retelling of "Bluebeard" and "Little Red Riding Hood," two of Charles Perrault's most famous stories.

Sybil Fallon has a habit of summoning demons unintentionally and at the most inconvenient times. When she, her mother, and her sister are invited to an upcoming dinner at the estate of the mysterious Theron Beresford, Sybil is desperate to ensure that her ability won't manifest and ruin the evening. But when she seeks help from her reclusive former mentor, Grandmother Riquet, she discovers that the old woman has changed in dangerous and disturbing ways... and so has the forest in which she lives.

As Sybil struggles to control an ability she doesn't understand, she becomes strongly attracted to Beresford, the brawny, handsome estate owner. His distinctive blue beard isn't his only unusual trait. In addition to socially acceptable dinner parties, he also likes to host secret gatherings in the refurbished barn on his property. Sybil's first invitation to one of his naughty midnight parties opens her mind to a world of new pleasures. But with local disappearances inciting the suspicion of the neighbors, and Beresford's secretive nature raising questions in her own mind, Sybil must navigate an increasingly treacherous path through the forest of her circumstances in pursuit of the future she wants.

Content guidance can be found in the front matter of the book or on the author's website.

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

228 people are currently reading
2618 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca F. Kenney

77 books3,039 followers
Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
Profile Image for Miranda.
307 reviews7,169 followers
December 5, 2025
Probably one of the most fun books I read this year because I truly didn’t know where the romance or plot was going so I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!! It is SPICYYY!! And truly unhinged I was sitting up saying “WTF” several times 😂

If you want an easy-to-read book that’s super fun I’d definitely recommend this one!
Profile Image for Koisty.
468 reviews1,174 followers
December 18, 2025
4 Summoned Demon Stars ⭐️
Spicy Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Blue Beard, Red Hood was a delightful little present that I honestly did not expect, which is surprising because Rebecca F. Kennedy is my favourite romantasy author. I often move away from her writing when I go down contemporary rabbit holes, but every time I am drawn back into one of her romantasy books, it reminds me how much I love her writing. She has this excellent ability to write an amazing story, to take inspiration and make it so unique and so unashamedly hers, while still keeping the elements of the traditional stories that you know and love.
“I love you, you fucking idiot. I love who you are at your core, and I love who you try to be. Neither of us will be the same souls in ten years, or twenty, or thirty, but I’m willing to change together, if you are.”
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This is a twist on two fairy tales. The tale of Bluebeard, which I did not know much about going in, and the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, which I think everybody has heard. Sybil is our Little Red Riding Hood. She lives on the edge of the forest with her sister and her mother, and life is a little difficult for them. She is ostracised by the society around her because whenever she experiences heightened emotions, she summons a demon, and naturally people find this strange and unsettling. One day, she meets a mysterious man, Theron Beresford, who invites her family to a dinner party. From there, Sybil and Beresford instantly hit it off. The attraction is immediate and intense, and when he later invites her to a secret party where she can finally unleash her desires, she is drawn even deeper into his world of charm and forbidden pleasure. At the same time, strange things are happening in the forest. People are going missing, including her mysterious grandmother who lives in a cottage in the woods, and all the while, Sybil is falling madly in love with the man with the blue beard.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
If the introduction has not already made it clear, I have genuinely never read a Rebecca F. Kennedy book that has disappointed me. This one is very fast-paced in terms of the instalust. They jump together quickly. It is raunchy, it is spicy, it is going to make your toes curl, and it does it in the kinkiest ways possible. This is definitely one of the spicier books I have read from Rebecca F. Kenney, almost to the point where it toes the line of erotica, but not quite. BUT what I really love is that she still manages to balance the spice with plot and characterisation.

Sybil is innocent in a sheltered, naïve way. She is not the smartest girl in the class, but she is hardworking and she loves her family. She has this innate curiosity about things, but she is scared to act on it because of the demons she summons, and that fear constantly holds her back and makes her feel incredibly real and human.

Beresford himself is the sweetest little cinnamon roll villain. He is charming, sexy, and endearing, and I absolutely adored him and his backstory. I thought he was an excellent and intriguing character and really well written. The chemistry between him and Sybil is intense, even though for most of the book it feels unsettling because of this reader-known foreshadowing that he is a bad guy. That same unsettling feeling carries into Sybil’s romance. I mean as the reader, you know something is not right. You can see the red flags, and I found myself wanting to scream at Sybil because she is not seeing them. You know this man has a hidden agenda. You know he is the villain. The series is literally called "Beloved Villains"... So you sit there watching this innocent girl fall for him, waiting for the moment when she finally realises that he is not who he says he is and that she needs to ask the hard questions.

The entire story exists in this strange push and pull between creepy and sweet, dark and sensual, innocence and corruption, and it just solidified why I have always loved the way Rebecca F. Kenney balances her descriptive, almost poetic prose with actual story progression so that neither ever feels too heavy. What you are left with is this rich embodiment of a sentence that has the best of both worlds. It never feels like it is waffling, but it is also never so minimal that it feels juvenile or lacking depth. It honestly feels like a Goldilocks situation where everything is just right.

I also really want to commend the worldbuilding in this book, because the descriptions of the animals and the demons Sybil summons are both delightful and terrifying at the same time. You get these vivid images of twisted, deformed creatures made up of different animal combinations, and imagining them being pulled into the world through Sybil’s magic is equal parts cute and deeply unsettling.

There were numerous twists and turns. Some I saw coming, some I did not, and it kept me on my toes. This book has such an intriguing and erotically charged twist to it, but it is balanced with this constant unsettling tension about what is happening in the background. It is darkly sensual and atmospheric, and it feels like a blend of creepy and sweet. You are constantly pulled back and forth between the two. Especially because the book is told almost entirely through Sybil’s point of view, you experience everything through her innocent eyes and her simplistic way of seeing the world.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨, 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨:
▶ Fairytale Retelling
▶ Villain Gets the Girl
▶ Public Sex and Voyeurism
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Sex/Kink Club
▶ Fast burn
▶ Demons
▶ Potato Sack over his Shoulder
▶ "You taste like", "More", "Beg Me", "It Wont Fit", "Look at Me"
▶ Pushes it Back In

Overall, I loved the way the story progressed. I loved how it balanced the writing, the plot, and the spice, and it felt so full-bodied. If you are looking for a very easy-to-read, standalone romantasy that you just want to get lost in, this is absolutely the kind of book I would recommend. You are going to get spice, excellent worldbuilding, and cute but weird animals that are twisty and strange.

Thank you so much to Rebecca F. Kenney for this gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Profile Image for Chasing Silhouettes.
306 reviews29 followers
February 16, 2026
'His breath heaves through his clenched jaws, and for a moment I feel infinitely fragile and consumable, like delicate prey in the grip of a powerful predator.' (Pg 56)

Dark Fairytales Reimagined | Spicy Romantasy | Horror | Blue Beard x Little Red Riding Hood

Was riding the fence on this one. It was interesting, but at the same time, I wasn't sure where it was going. There were mysterious elements, Beresford was sus with all his secrets, and Sybil was shrouded in curiosities. Those things kept me reading.

'But my attention keeps straying to the tallest and broadest man in the room, the one with the blue beard and the devouring eyes.' (Pg 57)

The last third of the book gets more thrilling, makes up for it, and is worth the read.

And IDK, if I were Sybil, could I keep my curiosity at bay and leave things in the dark? Umm... probably not, I'd probably fail that test, lol. I think any normal person would be too curious to be cautious.

'“You’re deeper than they are. Richer where it counts. I could dive into you, swim for years, and never reach the bottom. I could swallow your soul for ages, and yet no matter how much I consumed, you would remain wholly yourself....”' (Pg 162)

Warning, there is a little bit of grotesque horror.

eARC voluntary review
Profile Image for nerdy.bibliomaniac.
261 reviews9 followers
December 1, 2025
As many know I am a sucker for retellings, they make up like 45% of my reading personality.

A Blue Beard and Red Riding Hood mash up was not on my bingo reading card and yet…it belongs there. How Kenney tied them together was genius and I loved every minute of this book.

Sybil, the FMC, is the youngest daughter and not the son her father so desired, despite going to great lengths to try and assure it. As a result she is cursed and has no idea how to reverse it, leaving the villagers weary of her asa result.

Beresford, the MMC, is as mysterious as he is handsome…blue hair and all. Wealthy, charming, and with eyes only for Sybil. But he has secrets and he does not want to share them.

Yet, their connection is immediate and all-consuming. Their feelings for each other impossible to ignore. Can a marriage be successful when they agreed to keep their secrets? Can their love be enough? Are they connected in more ways than they realize?
Profile Image for Caitlin.
213 reviews1 follower
December 6, 2025
Sybil Fallon has a talent for summoning demons at exactly the wrong moment, so when her family receives an invitation to dine with the enigmatic - and undeniably alluring - Theron Beresford, she’ll do anything to keep her unruly magic under control. Seeking help from her reclusive mentor only leads her into a forest that’s turned strange and sinister, and Sybil realizes the dangers surrounding her go far beyond a few ill-timed demonic manifestations. Drawn into Beresford’s world of refined charm by day and forbidden pleasures by night, Sybil must navigate desire, unease, and a rising body count if she hopes to carve out a future that’s actually hers.

This is an intriguing, erotically-charged twist on two classic fairy tales, and while it isn’t my personal favorite from Kenney, it still delivers the dark, sensual atmosphere she excels at. Her ability to blend erotic tension with genuinely unsettling undertones remains unmatched, and the plot strikes a surprisingly effective balance between creepy and sexy. The writing is smooth and vivid, with excellent scene-setting and tension-building that makes it easy to binge. I particularly liked Sybil’s magical abilities and the relationship she has with her mother and sister, which added a warmth that contrasted nicely with the darker elements.

The pacing wobbles a bit in the middle and toward the end, and Sybil herself felt a little bland compared to other Kenney heroines, but neither issue stopped me from enjoying the experience overall. Beresford, meanwhile, is a fantastic MMC: magnetic and mysterious. This is the kind of book that’s perfect when you want something quick, spicy, and just edgy enough to keep you on your toes. Fans of fairy-tale retellings and darkly erotic fantasy will find plenty to savor. Many thanks to the author for this ARC. This is my honest review.

3.5/5 Not your local farmer’s barn parties.
Profile Image for Danielle's.
Author 1 book169 followers
February 15, 2026
A fun mash up of Red ridding hood and Blue beard. This story was entertaining from start to finish.
Profile Image for Shelby (Grace with Books).
903 reviews226 followers
February 25, 2026
I kinda just devoured this book like I’d like Beresford to devour me 😋 I just thoroughly enjoyed the meshing of these two fairytales, that you wouldn’t think would work well together but do!

The way Rebecca Kennedy injects the most addictive gothic atmosphere into her Romantasy, and it makes it impossible it put down. I loved the setting, plot, mystery woven through, and elements of magic. It was just an easy book to read and extremely entertaining and spicy 🥵
Profile Image for Rachel Kwiatkowski.
187 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2026
3.5 stars! This was one of the weirdest but spiciest books I’ve ever read. And I’ve read a lot of weird shit lol
Profile Image for Tay_is_reading_again.
531 reviews61 followers
December 23, 2025
Another fun, smutty fairytale retelling by Rebecca Kenney! Her books are always entertaining and I love a standalone book! This is a Blue Beard and Red Riding hood retelling which is obvious from the title of the book.

Sybil is our FMC and accidentally summons demons on occasion. Sybil is also in a marrying age and lives in poverty, so her marital prospects are lacking. The mysterious fellow townsman, Beresford, reappears and Sybil is shocked by his stunning looks and electric blue hair. Like most of Rebecca’s books, the spice starts quick and gets spicy quick after Beresford invites Sybil to a spicy party at his house. These two fall hard and super quick and each have their own secrets they don’t want the other to know about.

Read this if you like:
❤️ red riding hood retelling
💙 blue beard inspired MMMC
❤️ forced proximity
💙 insta love/lust
❤️ accidental demon summoning
💙 complex world with mythical creatures and demons
❤️ spicy parties/exhibitionism

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️


Thank you so much to Rebecca Kenney for the eARC!!
Profile Image for Erin | the.gremlin.reader.
251 reviews31 followers
November 26, 2025
Blue Beard, Red Hood by Rebecca F Kenney is a spicy blend of two dark fairytales and filled with folklore, debauchery, uncontrollable magic, ominous mysteries and otherworldly creatures.

Sybil, our FMC, struggles to suppress her demon summoning powers, which are unpredictable and seemingly tied to her emotions. Theron Beresford is our mysterious, wealthy and charming MMC with a distinct allure and dangerously magnetic pull.

I read this in one night as a quick stand alone and palate cleanser. I struggled connecting with the characters in a meaningful way, though, and would’ve liked Beresford’s perspective introduced earlier and more frequently. The chemistry and spice was well done (and plentiful) but at times the story felt off in its pacing.

Blue Beard, Red Hood releases on December 5th, 2025. I recommend this for fans of spicy fairytale retellings, standalones, morally grey MMCs, age gap, debauched secret parties and obsessive & devoted MMCs!
Profile Image for Kristin O'donoghue.
162 reviews7 followers
December 8, 2025
RATING 4.5 (rounded up).

In the world of fantasy retellings, Rebecca F. Kenney is one of my absolute favorites and I am always on the lookout for anything new that she puts out. In her latest release, Blue Beard, Red Hood, Kenney takes on a combination of two French fairy tales by Charles Perrault. It is a standalone in her Beloved Villains series and she delivers a dark goth tale set amidst the Winter chill of a small village.

In Blue Beard, Red Hood, we meet Sybil, a young woman who is 'cursed' with a gift that has kept her isolated from most, never having the chance to experience true freedom. In times of heightened emotion, Sybil summons demon like creatures, whose appearance is otherworldly. Amidst the shame of a power she cannot control, Sybil hides many of the creatures in the mysterious woods near her house. However, much like the demons she summons, Sybil finds herself burdened by the secrets of dark magic that is building in the woods and past bargains that she does not yet understand.

Soon, Sybil finds herself drawn to the mysterious and magnetic Theron Beresford, a wealthy neighbor who until recently has lived on the fringes. Beresford with his blue beard and extravagant parties, opens a world to Sybil that she had never envisioned for herself. With a voracious appetite for pleasure and enjoyment, Beresford allows Sybil to indulge in fantasies and needs that she has never been able to before. She feels an inexplicable pull to Beresford and the attraction between them is instantaneous and profound.

However, Beresford is not all he seems with a past cloaked in a darkness that he lets no one near. As Beresford and Sybil grow closer, the weight of the secrets they carry threaten to destroy the tenuous foundation of their relationship. All the while, there is a growing evil spreading in the woods and Sybil cannot help but fear that it may be linked to the magic flowing in her veins, to the unknown of who Beresford truly is, and to the evil deity known as the Barrow Man, whose gateway lives deeps within the forrest.

While I am familiar with the Little Red Riding Hood tale, I did not know the story of Blue Beard and I almost preferred it that way because it really helped build the suspense of Kenney's story. I really adored the way that Kenney slowly unravels the dark layers of mystery behind Beresford's past. The atmospheric quality to the story telling was very Poe-like and left me unable to put the book down as the twist and turns left my hair standing on end and goose bumps breaking out on my skin. I never saw the twist coming and I always love that!

Amidst the painful and traumatic themes of Sybil and Beresford's pasts, I adored the way that Kenney represented the relationship between the women in Sybil's life. The way that her sister Anne and her mother are always there to protect herand show up for her is beautiful. Each is fierce and powerful in her own way and it is a touching part of the story. Also, without spoiling, there is a side character who definitely snuck up on me and by the end of the book had absolutely gained a place in my heart. Their steadfastness and sacrifice are a much needed counterpoint to all of the darkness that threatens to drown our main characters.

Once again, Kenney has given us a retelling that balances perfectly between themes and tropes that are dark and even at times a touch horrific, with a message of perseverance, acceptance, hope and love. It is another one to add to your to read list!
Profile Image for Daphne.
Author 2 books36 followers
February 9, 2026
This book was so good. Like… oh my god.

I genuinely don't even know where to start. I think what impressed me most was the worldbuilding and the way the plot took such unexpected turns. Nothing felt predictable. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, it completely surprised me.

This story put me through every emotion possible. I cried, I laughed, I was scared, I was upset, and at certain scenes I nearly threw up. You know a book works when you're alone in your dark bedroom at 2 a.m. and actually feel scared, and mind you, I never get scared. What kind of magic is in these pages? 😭

I went into this completely blind. I did not know the genre or the themes. I had only seen some art from the author and thought, sure, I will read it. Best decision ever.

The characters were unique and incredibly well written. They pissed me off sometimes, but in a way that felt intentional, not because of bad writing.

SPOILERS BELOW

My paranoia was through the roof. And when she opened that door, I genuinely stared at my wall in shock for a solid five minutes. From that moment on, it only got worse in the best way. The plot twists absolutely destroyed me.

I loved how the reader is kept just as unsure as Sybil. You feel everything she feels, the fear and the confusion, and once the secrets come out you're suddenly dealing with the exact same internal conflict as her: This man could be dangerous, BUT he's hot though...

ALTHOUGH ☝🏻 some of the things he said were so obvious, I was screaming at her to connect the dots.
And honestly, I cannot even blame her. I too would stay and ask questions instead of immediately taking a carriage to the next town over.

The spice was well written, though it was not really needed past a certain point. It worked best earlier on and felt especially effective when Beresford was still hosting his special parties. Still, it never felt out of place, more like a fun side addition than the main focus.

Before I upload this review and leave this world behind, I would like to thank a few people.

- Thank you to my friend Giulia for listening to my rants and crash outs.
- Thank you to my dog for staying with me at night so I would not get scared.
- Thank you to my dad for letting me sit at the dinner table with my Kindle.

(and thank you to the author for writing this book)
Profile Image for M.E. Aster.
Author 4 books50 followers
December 9, 2025
(Actual rating: 4.5 stars)

It’s been a while since I read one of Kenney’s books and I forgot how much I love her writing style.

This story immediately sucks you in. I really enjoyed the melding of the two fairytales and how I was left wondering how everything was going to tie together. The setting almost felt Gatsbyish at times with rich, decadent parties, just with a lot more sex.

And of course the spice was 10/10.

My only time complaint (I can’t even really call it that) is that the ending came really fast and everything tied up very quickly. Which isn’t a bad thing I just wasn’t ready for it to end and I was hoping the villain would get more screen time.

Overall I really loved this story and it makes me want to dive into another of Kenney’s books.

*I received and ARC from BookFunnel and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
Profile Image for Laura Wilson.
10 reviews4 followers
December 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this one!

I always love a Rebecca F Kenney book and this one did not disappoint.

I adored the vibes of Wormsloe and the forest and the twist on the Blue Beard story. Beresford was an amazing MMC, and I really liked Sybil as well.

Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a dark fairytale retelling.

The plot was plotting and spice was spicing!

Thank you so much for the ARC. ❤️
Profile Image for __boundbybook__ 🥀Shaunie🥀.
271 reviews8 followers
November 17, 2025
I could not put it down! It was so good!

Every page had me guessing and I loved it so much! This is absolutely a recommendation!
I immediately fell in love with the characters even when the secrets got revealed! The writing was beautiful and the story was incredible

I cannot wait to read more of her books🖤

Tropes
🥀Dark Fantasy
🖤Otherworldly Powers/Beings
🥀Secrets
🖤Touch her and unalive
🥀Lots of Steamy Scenes
🖤Poor FMC x Rich MMC
Profile Image for Sam.
213 reviews19 followers
November 27, 2025
I devoured this and the opportunity to have eARC of this because I’m a sucker for reimaginings/retellings of fairytales and folklore. Add in dark romantasy and plenty of spice it checks all my interests with plenty of magic, intrigue and plot to keep me interested. It’s my first book by this author and now I want to read more.
Profile Image for Brenna.
43 reviews
November 22, 2025
I got the opportunity to read this as an eArc and I ate it all up! I loved the combination of two stories and did not see several things coming (in a good way). Sybil is the FMC and I adored her!

Fave quote:
“I love you, you fucking idiot. I love who you are at your core, and I love who you try to be. Neither of us will be the same souls in ten years, or twenty, or thirty, but I’m willing to change together, if you are.”
Profile Image for Karla Marie.
127 reviews11 followers
December 3, 2025
The vibes were immaculate. This was such a creative, chaotic twist on two fairytales that absolutely shouldn’t go together… and yet somehow totally did. I had so much fun with it. I love Rebecca F. Kenney and this book just reminded me why.
Profile Image for Sheila Teetor.
58 reviews20 followers
December 13, 2025
this was insanely interesting book about people abs creatures who can love and accept their secrets together and grow. I had my what in the world moments to aw moments. wonderful job Rebecca
Profile Image for Krista Donahue.
120 reviews2 followers
January 9, 2026
I just couldn’t with this book. It’s my fault for choosing it I suppose, I read the description. Just not my kind of book.
Profile Image for Klau_reads.
73 reviews46 followers
May 3, 2026
My girl Sybil saw every red flag known to mankind and still said “mommy but I love him”
Profile Image for Lisa Villarreal.
413 reviews11 followers
December 31, 2025
I got to read this while on the beach in Cabo and it was much spicier than I was prepared for haha but man, did I love it. I LOVED it so much. The retelling was perfection. It was so much fun and I was highly entertained the entire read through. I had fun telling my hubby all about what was happening and my theories as I went. I was excited when some theories came true while others I missed FAR. I love all Rebecca Kenney books and I was so excited for the invite to read this one for free. It made my time in Cabo even better.

Phenomenal retelling!!! I loved all the red riding nods and the twists and turns. The worldbuilding was so good. Absolutely everything about this was great.
Profile Image for Nedelitta.
437 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2026
⭐️4.75

✨ARC Review✨

Blue Beard hosting orgy parties at his house barn was something I didn't know I needed until I read this.

I loved this from start to finish. I really like fairytale retellings, so I was wondering how the Red riding hood and Blue beard stories would come together, but honestly, this was pure genius. I loved the dark undertones, the whole woods part as well with the Barrow-Man, I loved that everything felt so thought-out and it was the perfect mixture of tense, funny, mysterious, dark and cute (that's literally my favourite mixture).

I loved all the characters in this, with Sybil's mother being my favourite. I find that most of the fantasy books I've read have either dead parents for the main characters, or they're just shitty/evil people (there's always an evil king isn't there..) so it's always so refreshing when I stumble upon a parent who is actually alive and cares for their child and will sacrifice anything to help them.

I also absolutely loved how I couldn't decide until near the end if our MMC is gonna be proper evil like the fairytale or if there's gonna be a twist and he'll turn out nice. I was gonna be happy either way to be honest, but I thought the ending was fantastic and how everything tied up together ✨
Profile Image for Bex.
496 reviews
December 11, 2025
Being 100% honest, this one threw me for a loop for a while. I had no clue how to come out the other side of a Bluebeard story without him being the villain. Rebecca Kenney managed it in an interesting way, and in a way that feels fairytale-ish. I also learned about a new folkloric creature I hadn’t heard before, which is saying something for me. Felt almost surrealist at points and definitely veered into botanical horror, and until explanations were had, I was genuinely thinking it might veer into cosmic horror. Always an interesting spin on a story you think you know, and impressed how well the mashup was managed, but I definitely prefer some of her other works more.
Profile Image for dupibi.
57 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2026
A blue beard cannot be attractive to me no matter how handsome the character is. Just like how you would not find a neon green cat attractive.
Profile Image for Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance).
2,235 reviews76 followers
November 30, 2025
Rebecca F Kenney has taken two classic tales, dusted them off, mixed them together and put wonderful new twists on them to give us Blue Beard, Red Hood. This book was an unexpected delight of exotic mystery that is still woven with threads of the original classic tales. It was truly the best of both worlds and I loved the sensual new tale.

Sybil visits her grandmother in the forest, swinging a basket of goodies, and wears scarlet, like Little Red Riding Hood in the classic fairytale. However, where the tale deviates, Sybil's forest is filled with demon-like creatures that she herself has conjured and has no idea how her magic works. She lives with her sister Anne and her mother who support her, knowing her oddities, knowing her future of a prospective husband are most likely limited, and yes...this has the classic tale feel of living in the late 18th century where one hopes for such things. The desolation and potential of starvation, the bleak and cold winter felt very real, for which the writing was excellent. It contrasts nicely for when Sybil meets Beresford and attends his parties which are grand and lush by comparison.

Theron Beresford is the second part to this mashed-up fairytale as he has a blue beard. No, he doesn’t like when people ask him about it nor when people ask him questions about his past, and he adores that Sybil doesn't do either. She too doesn’t like talking about her oddness of summoning demons, so she doesn't ask about what upsets him. Is that all kinds of red flag warnings...sure, but does she care...not really. Sybil likes him. He's the first man to pay attention to her, to cherish her, to want her in a deep, almost obsessed, way. So, she's willing to overlook one red flag after another.

Beresford is the "it" man within their small town. He is known for hosting lavish parties, along with midnight naughty parties. Once Sybil enters Beresford's world, it was like falling down into Wonderland. I loved the juxtaposition of this book feeling like an early 19th century piece mixed with a smutty fantasy. It was fantastic 👏 😍 I loved all the great twists that popped up, I honestly never expected any of them. As a matter of fact, all the secondary characters were great, but kudos to Sybil's mother 👏 IYKYK 😉

Theron Beresford is a dirty-bedroom talker🥵, or even out of bedroom 😏Theron is obsessed with Sybil and I 👏was 👏there👏 for👏 it! I love an obsessive man. 💖 Can I get an amen?! 🙌 What drew out the want and need of this plot was the mystery and single view point for most of the book. We hear Sybil's frame of reference for the majority of the book and since she too is obsessing over Beresford it leads to this very singular focus which heightened everything else that had been hiding in the background jump to the foreground with an "aha" when it occurred. It made for wonderful plot twists that I never saw coming. This was truly a delightful, spicy, twist on some classic tales.
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432 reviews20 followers
December 4, 2025
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 (rounded up for rating)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

This was my second book by Rebecca F. Kenney and I feel like I’ve done myself a disservice by not devouring everything she’s ever written. I mean, the ingenuity with this fairytale mashup blew me away! I had never read the story of Bluebeard and did so prior to reading, and the way the author took inspiration from both fairytales, and then blended them into something equally dark, compelling and intriguing was incredible!

💙Blue Beard x Little Red Riding Hood Fairytale Mashup
🔥Secret Spicy Parties
🖤Whirlwind Romance
💀A Rotting Forest Full Of Monsters
🥰He Finds Her Injured & Bridal Carries Her
🪴Fun Times in the Greenhouse
🕯️Wandering Through Mansions With Candles At Night
🗝Unraveling Secrets

Sybil Fallon has the uncanny ability to unintentionally summon demons at very inconvenient times…fingers crossed she doesn’t summon anything at the dinner being held at Theron Beresford’s estate. To help her try and control her ability, Sybil goes to visit Grandmother Riquet, but she’s not the old woman she remembers – much like the forest surrounding her home, she’s become darker and disturbing.

Trying to put her worries aside, Sybil’s thoughts are consumed by Beresford, and her infatuation grows once she attends one of his naughty midnight parties. While their connection grows, so does the danger surrounding Sybil – local disappearances, a forest under siege by a malevolent presence, and Beresford's secretive nature has her questioning his motives. Will Sybil be able to navigate the treacherous path ahead, or will the future she desires be ripped away by what she uncovers?

I was all in on Beresford once he was properly introduced to Sybil 👀 *IYKYK* Would I have tried to fight the pull to him? Absolutely not. Would I stake my claim like Sybil did? Sure would. Would I be able to let the man have his secrets? LOL I am nosy AF…I know, I know…“curiosity killed the cat” and all that, BUT it turned out great for everyone involved…eventually. Do I stand by Beresford’s methods? Yes. Yes, I do. Did he do anything wrong? Not in my book. All I saw was a man determined and I was here for it! I loved being taken on this journey to see if Sybil could claim the life and love she so desperately desired, and all of the magic and eerie twists along the way kept me on my toes!
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