A Fable of Moonlight and Memory: Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood

Dungeons and Legends

by Ashley Evercott

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2026

About the author

Ashley Evercott is a Southern California author of fairytale retellings and romantasy fiction. Known for her no-spice romance, she specializes in weaving stories of magic and star-crossed lovers.

When she isn’t writing, Ashley can be found dreaming of enchanting worlds under a backyard palm tree. She lives with her husband, toddler, and a formerly feral tabby who has fully embraced the quiet life of an indoor cat.

Reviews

[Tash Reads]

(4.5) ARC Review - A Fable of Moonlight and Memory by Ashley Evercott.

A Red Riding hood inspired story with interesting Moonstone magic and a big mission to save their village and forest.

The book follows the story of Mira who had terrible parents! And her lost Grandmother. On her journey to find Granny, she met the Wolf and some other very interesting and cute creatures.

Falimir or “Familiar” as I just called him because I couldn’t wrap my head around his name… was a stubborn character. I had mixed feelings about him.

But my favorite of all time was Kipp and I gasped so hard when his little breath became labored!! I couldn’t deal with it. If you know you know.

This is a no spice, kisses only romance. A bit darker but a fun read that leaves you on the edge of your seat. The book had a perfect ending though.

I received the free arc from the author and leaving my personal review voluntarily.

[Lisa Dawn]

A Fable of Moonlight and Memory by Ashley Evercott is the second ARC I received from the upcoming Dungeons and Legends series. This book is closer to the LitRPG format that the series uses for its aesthetic than the first one was. It is also a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood," which makes for an interesting combination. The plot reminded me of the storyline of Final Fantasy XIII, but with werewolves. Like the first book in this series, it's a fun, spooky read for Halloween with some darker themes.

Mira lives in an enchanted fae-like world and notices a dangerous rot poisoning the enchanted plants, which should be an ill omen for everyone living in her kingdom. The trouble is, nobody believes her or cares what she has to say about it. After her grandmother goes missing following monster sightings in the woods, she decides to investigate the disturbances on her own. Her search leads her to Falimir, a werewolf who knows the truth behind these mysteries and leads her to the source of the problem while restoring pieces of his broken moonstone.

This book is a spooky adventure story perfect for the Halloween season. Mira's journey through the dark forest is fraught with danger and mystery. She is a brave heroine with an even braver companion with a secret past. It takes place in a rich fantasy world full of fae, shifters, and RPG-style monsters. Fablemoor is a fleshed-out world with whimsical imagery and a delicate magic system that is maintained by a barrier controlled by outside forces.

As much as I enjoyed the whimsical setting, I found the lore difficult to follow at times. It uses a lot of Final Fantasy logic, in which the player must accept the rules of the world at face value and trust that everything will work out as long as they can defeat the next boss. The book had a few parts that really toyed with the reader's emotions, which is also in line with Final Fantasy and other similar games. Because of that, the romance felt a little forced at times.

Overall, this is a unique take on "Little Red Riding Hood" with some LitRPG elements that appear mostly in the second half of the story. It turns a classic fairy tale about avoiding strangers into a paranormal myth set in a mystical forest filled with magic and danger. I recommend this book to fairy tale fans looking for a spooky Halloween story that isn't too scary.

[Bess]

This was the best Little Red Riding Hood retelling ever!
Mira is considered odd in her tiny town. 23, still living at home, dodging marriage proposals, and seeing doom before it strikes. Her parents belittle her and treat her as if she's nothing. It's very sad!
Falimir is a guardian of the woods! It's his job to see that the darkness doesn't take over. However, the darkness has overtaken the forest and continues to grow.
There are the most adorable sidekicks in this book! Kipp the brownie is so freaking adorable! Brumble is hilarious!
I totally loved this story! And I didn't cry! Emotional week has met its end!! The book was so good!!
Oh, I was reading this while knitting a picot edge bind-off. The book went faster than the bind-off. I'm still knitting it!

[Ariel]

*I received an ARC from the author, and all opinions are my own.

A Fable of Moonlight and Memory is an interesting Little Red Riding Hood retelling, with a unique magic system, a determined FMC, and a sweet romance!

I really enjoyed this book! It is definitely darker, atmospherically, than I am used to. I loved the setting and the atmosphere; it was unique and different. The forest was eerie and that shown through. The author did an incredible job of transporting the reader into this world! The author also did a really good job of showcasing how the character’s felt about the forest, and the love they had for it.

There were brownies! Brownies are definitely becoming some of my favorite mythological creatures and I was so happy they made an appearance in the story. Kipp was especially fun, and I loved his antics, as well as how much he cared for Mira and Falimir.

The magic of this book was really incredible! I don’t think I have read a book with a shifter in it before, so that aspect of the story was especially interesting to me. I wish it was discussed and shown a little more. Again, this book is inspired by video and RPG games, and I could see it in the way the magic manifested. The lore behind the curse and the magic was well done and intriguing. I loved how everything was set up and the history given to this world. The moonstones were interesting as well, and I wish there was more about them.

The village was interesting and played a key part in the history of this book. I did like how everything played out, but I wish the village played a little bit more of a part. I also love political drama and felt like the story could have benefited from a little more of this.

The characters were amazing! I loved Mira! She was so sweet and determined. She also was scared of things, but worked through her fear to do what needed to be done. She was a bubbly character and a nice match of Falimir.

Falimir was interesting and had a really intriguing backstory. I wish we got to see a little more of his backstory and gotten his perspective. I still really enjoyed him! He was very stern and he brooded a lot. He also carried a lot of grief and guilt over the past, and I liked that aspect of his storyline and him trying to gain peace and forgiveness.

The romance between Mira and Falimir was sweet! It was maybe a touch sudden, but they were really cute together. They got to know each other on a deeper level and fought to protect each other. I also really like how the saw each other as they truly were.

I enjoyed how the author incorporated aspects of the original story into this book. The grandmother played a small part, and I enjoyed how they rescued her. I also loved how the wolf was incorporated into this story.

A Fable of Moonlight and Memory is an interesting Little Red Riding Hood retelling with an eerie setting, a sweet romance, and unique magic!

A Fable of Moonlight and Memory releases on September 19, 2026.

[Thoroughly Clean Indies]

{261 print pages}

Genre: Fantasy, fairy tale retelling [of Little Red Riding Hood]
Tropes: Shifters, hidden powers, forced proximity
Setting: Woods
Writing style: Single POV except for a second in one chapter and in a few flashbacks, 3rd person, past tense
Tone: Desolate, grim
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven

Romance: Yes
Clean level:
• 1 fairly-minimally described mouth kiss with some light-ish build-up, including “dizzying sensation” and ending in ragged breathing
• 2 lightly described kiss, 1 preceded by a sharp breath
• 1 instance of staring at lips before a near-kiss, 1 recall
• 1 instance of kisses to each finger and knuckles
• 1 forehead kiss
• 1 desire to run her fingers through his hair
• 1 instance of resting foreheads against each other

*Generic references to “the Divine”

This is one of those darker spins on the fairytale, where the wolf takes on a more metaphorical version of the role he plays in the original tale. The happy ending does not come without loss, though the sadness for the reader is tied to what the character means for another, not for the character in their own right.

Favorite Quotations:
• They would not remove the blinders from their sight, but Mira had discarded hers long ago.
• “He’s kind of a self-important toad if you ask me. He’s just as blind as the rest of them.” Falimir’s lips quirked, and he let out a humorless chuckle. “A toad is no match for you. You deserve more than to be trapped in his pond[.]”


(I received a free ARC of this book via Booksprout and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)

[Samantha Jones]

Thanks Ashley Evercott, for providing me with an Advanced Review copy of this book!

As always I enjoy reading fairytales retellings and this book was no different! It had all of the thrills and the exciting things that you’d want in a book! Their romance was really cute! And I was heartbroken to hear what had happened about the mmcs sister and how she ended up sacrificing herself so that Mira and Falimar could remain together and fix saving the world!

One of the parts I really liked about the book was just learning more about the magical creatures in this book like the brownies and I loved how one of the little brownies named Kipp ended up following them on their adventure as I always love a cute animal companion/creature/helper in stories.

I also loved the twist on the expectations. In the beginning of the book, we’re told that something might be wrong because the crops are infested with a blight and leak “wild magic.” But when she goes into the forest and encounters the very wolf she’s been told to be afraid of turns out to be the one to keep her safe and ends up guiding her through a magical journey to help heal the land and teach her to use the wild magic that has been lying in her soul.

[PumpkinPi]

Little Red Riding Hood, but as you've never heard it before.

Set within the framework of a high-stakes quest, Mira's tale passionately explores themes of light vs darkness, ignorance vs remembrance, and above all, truth. Mira herself demonstrates time and again that true bravery is found not in being unaware of how dangerous a situation is or unafraid despite the danger, but rather in doing the right thing despite recognizing danger and fearing it. Mira and Falimir are both flawed but compelling characters who undergo satisfying growth over the course of the story.

The world building was fabulous, and left me hoping for more in this story world!

Just in case there's some genre-confusion with the Dungeons & Legends series tagline ("Your adventure starts here—press start to play"), I want to clarify that this is not a litRPG. There are some nods to classic RPGs – memories that read like cut scenes, a strong quest-driven plot, etc – but this is principally a fairytale-inspired adventure story.

I received an ARC from the author; these are my honest opinions on the book.

No bad language, no graphic violence, non-descriptive kisses only, moderate to high stakes.

[Jennie Jae]

This story was absolutely gorgeous! From the beautiful way the world and its inhabitants were described, and the creative way the tale of Red Riding Hood was reimagined, to the sweet romance that grew as the main characters discovered their own strengths and true purposes, the descriptions, dialogue, themes of duty and sacrifice, and even the ultimate conclusion of the story were all poetically beautiful.

This book is part of a multi-author series of standalones meant to feel like you are reading in the world of video game RPGs, and this story really delivered upon this. There is a noble quest, new fascinating characters met and joined with, exciting battles with various foes, truths revealed and new abilities unlocked along the journey, and a final showdown with the big foe at the end.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings, video game RPGs, sweet no-spice romance that will still make you swoon and give you butterflies, and noble heroes who fight against darkness and corruption.

Thank you to the author for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given willingly.

[Chere Gruver]

A very entertaining retelling of Little Red Riding Hood!

In our current story of the Dungeons & Legends Series, we have a very different Little Red Riding Hood. Our heroine, Mira, lives in a village by a forest with her mother and father. However, Mira has noticed something lately, something wrong and when her grandmother’s owl shows up one night, Mira knows she has to find out why. After all, her grandmother lives alone in a cottage in the forest. So Mira dons her red cloak and off she goes. Of course, there is also a wolf in our story, but not exactly the same threatening wolf as in the original tale. I really did enjoy reading this story. It’s pretty much a story of light versus darkness. We have delightful little creatures along the way, like Brownies. Of course, there are also those same delightful little creatures infected with the darkness who are not quite so delightful. The world building is spot on, the writing pulled me into the story and the plot kept me there.

I received a free advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[M. K. Jacobs]

This fantasy story is not a full retelling of Little Red Riding Hood; it's inspired by the original, but more of its own story - for example, the wolf part is very minor. Mira is the youngest daughter and the family disappointment, and she is the only one who recognizes the danger to the forest. She heads out to rescue her hermit grandma and realizes she has some magic as she and her companion Falimir make difficult choices to save the forest from the rot. I found the worldbuilding and magic system fascinating but underdeveloped; I had so many questions that did not get answered. There were a variety of interesting creatures, but they were mostly brief appearances and we didn't get to see much interaction except with brownies. I found it hard to believe that her family wouldn't come to her wedding but would randomly come meet her husband a few months later? There were some great moments, and I felt like this was well-paced overall.

Thank you to the author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

[Leah]

A Quest to Save the World When No One Recognizes the World is in Danger

Mira knows something is wrong, but no one believes her. When she takes matters into her own hands, a quest path begins. On the way, she will meet an ancient being who agrees to be her guide, gradually learn the truths that her world kept hidden, and level up her magical powers. Since this book is meant to feel like an RPG world, I think the plot and characters really fit the atmosphere and theme.

I thought Falimir and his sister shared a fascinating history, and I enjoyed learning more about the world's history beyond Mira's small village through them. The romance between Falimir and Mira felt a little forced to me since he was also playing the role of the wise mentor and had many more years of existance than her. However, it lines up with what I might expect in an RPG character backstory and romantic plot line.

Altogether, great book that has it all: mystery, magic, romance, and ancient wrongs set right. Clean in language and no spice. Would recommend to readers looking for a high stakes story with RPG vibes.

*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Taylee Dane]

My rating is between 2.5 and 3 stars. It had it's moments. I thought the beginning was good and hoped it would continue to be good. It dipped when it got to the forest. I know it's supposed to be a 'Little Red Riding Hood' retelling but I did not care for the grandmother. Most of the times I did not care about Mira. It didn't make sense to me that she went into the darkness with a wolf to save her grandmother. There was not enough depth to Mira and I couldn't connect to her. Also, falling for Falimir while on a mission to save her grandmother?? Talking about kissing?
The turning point for Falimir was discovering he has a twin sister. Yesss! That gave this story life. The epic fight at the end? Yesss! However Falimir going from devastation to "I want to spend the rest of my life with you" was too soon. We needed to sit with the grief.

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

[Ashley]

I could not put this book down! It was an amazing adventure and fight between the light and darkness. The FMC Mira was regularly dismissed by her family feeding into her fears and insecurities. But when danger threatened her grandmother, she was determined to help save her. On her journey, she encountered Falimir, a wolf shifter whom she learned is a Guardian of the forest. He was tasked with maintaining the barrier against the Fallen World. However, the barrier had weakened and rot and corruption had begun to infect the forest. Together, they had to find a way to stop it. Both Mira and Falimir grew in confidence as they learned to trust each other.

I loved how the story dealt with themes of light and dark, truth and lies, and where true peace can be found. It was an emotional story, and by the end of it I was tearing up. It was a fantastic story.

ARC Review - I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest opinion.

[Barbara]

The second standalone book in the Dungeons and Legends series. It is a closed-door, slow-burn romantasy inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, featuring forced proximity, hidden powers, and themes of sacrifice. The story follows Mira as she enters a forbidden forest to save her grandmother after the Elders of Fablemoor ignore a poisonous black resin corrupting her family’s nettles. She teams up with Falimir, the feared Wolf of Fablemoor, who guides her through the rot using forgotten magic. As they grow closer, Mira discovers Falimir is hiding a devastating truth about the corruption, forcing her to choose between saving her grandmother and losing the man she trusts. This high-stakes reimagining explores light versus darkness and truth versus ignorance, featuring compelling character development and rich world-building. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzie]

ARC Review
"You are my moonlight--the truth within my heart. If the truth of loving you ruins me, then let it be so."
Thanks to the author for letting me be part of the ARC team for this Red Riding Hood retelling. While it's not my favorite fairy tale, I really enjoyed this retelling! I was enchanted by the mysterious forest and the journey to heal it of the darkness that plagued it. I loved that Mira wasn't afraid to jump in and help, much to the chagrin of Falimir. I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow and the friends they made along the way.
Full of magical descriptions, this story swept me away to the forest, where I felt like part of the light to banish the darkness.
“Do not make yourself small for their narrow world…Do not allow them to subdue your light.”

[Alura Heindel]

I NEED more stories like this one! From the very first page where she mentions us Solavellan fans. To the yearning between Mira and Falimir. I LOVED every minute and moment in this book! And that ending!! My heart was breaking for each of the characters. If you love slow burn romance, wound tending, or protective MMCs. Then you’re going to love this book!

My favorite quote from this book:

“You are my moonlight—the truth within my heart,” he murmured, the sound a shuddering sigh against her skin. He placed her hand against his jaw, anchoring her to him. “If the truth of loving you ruins me, then let it be so. I will meet my end with peace, knowing I could have this moment with you. Never doubt or forget it, Mira.”

I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Mandy Prather]

I received an ARC for  the Dungeons and Legends series this is a awesome new series with multiple authors. They and all Fairy and RPG game Vibes.
This one is A Fable of Moonlight and Memory by Ashley Evercott. A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood
This is Mira and Falimir's story...
When Mira's family garden becaoke overrun by nettles that show up over night the counsel doesnt believe her. When her grandmother owl shows up she knows her grandmother is in trouble. She goes into the Dark Woods to save her her only help is the Wolf everyone is warned about. But he is more helpful and seem to know what is happening. She asks him to help find her grandmother.
I love this one it was unique. This one was more RPG them book one. I cant wait to see what happens next.

[Sarah Wolfe]

It took me about half the book to really get into it, but once the FMC and MMC started having meaningful interactions, I was hooked. I like the twist on Little Red Riding Hood, pulling in recognizable elements while still allowing the story to be its own.

I love the word pictures and imagery the author paints in this book, particularly of the rot. The world is vibrant and descriptive that the characters are operating in, and it makes for an elevated reading experience.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this sweet, no-spice romantasy.

I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Becca]

The enchanted forest worldbuilding was magical, and the concepts of poisonous plants and moonstones were intriguing, clever elements. However, I thought the POVs were somewhat inconsistent because it wasn't clear if the book was meant to have a single or dual POV. I really admired that Mira was so willing to find solutions to problems even if nobody sees it and so devoted in finding her grandmother, who had been kicked out by the Elders.

*I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Jennalee Conner]

This was a unique retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that includes fun mythical creatures like brownies! At the beginning of the story, I was feeling a little of “The Village”. Then, it morphed into a true Red and wolf in the woods retelling. While I found the end and the enemy a little confusing at the end, I really enjoyed the overall plot and character interaction. And, I absolutely loved Kipp!

[S. King]

This is a sweet and magical tale about a young woman following her heart towards healing the darkness in her world and becoming her true self, even though it means leaving her old way of life behind.

There are plenty of delightful fairy tale creatures here. I love Kipp the brownie! What a fun, tiny companion!

I highly recommend this Little Red Riding Hood retelling!

I read an advance copy of this book.

[Jo Fouracre]

I loved this take on red riding hood. It was full of fae and the woodland fae too which I adored. It was exciting and addictive. With so much lore and world building. I wish that it has carried on I didn’t want it to end. You fall in love with the most important characters with your whole heart especially one very special brownie 🩷

[Haylee Crow]

I loved this book! It had an engaging story, a heart warming romance, and intelligent animal friends.
I especially loved that it took inspiration from "Little Red Riding Hood" but was still its own story. I love fairytale retellings that have nods to the original tale, but include an interesting twist.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy romance stories with a heroine that walks the hero's journey and grows into her magic.

[Doris Plank]

Loved the story!
Gripping and entrancing, couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting!
Miri is never giving up in spite of always having been dismissed, and is helping fighting the rot with the Guardian of the land. There's forgotten magic, lots of action keeps you spellbound!
I read a free ARC book from the author and this is my voluntary opinion!

[Nicole Lehr]

This was such an intriguing story with magic in the forest while also taking aspects of Little Red Riding Hood with a DnD part. Mira had so much growth as she learned about herself and her family. Falmir also has a such a heart of gold in caring for others while also dealing with his own tragedies.
Well written and a fun twist.

Was given an ARC copy by the author but the review is all my own

[Bryanna]

A really interesting take on Red Ridding hood. Some of the scenes seemed a little disjointed but the overall plot was compelling and unique. A sweet love story great for people who enjoy retellings and clean love stories.

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

[Keri]

I really enjoyed this story!!  Falimir is very stubborn and sacrificing.  But thankfully Mira is very stubborn as well.  The story is extremely engaging and pulls the reader along the whole journey.  It has such a beautiful ending!!  I highly recommend reading it!!

I received an ARC from the author, but this is my honest opinion.

[Ami Jacobs]

This fairytale mix-up involved a quest to overcome fear & a race to defeat an insidious rot of darkness and evil! As I read I recognized several fairytales hinted at as the story unfolded. I found evidence of Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, The Snow Queen, and Thumbelina. I loved the clean romance and the true love that won in the end! I received an ARC copy and this is my review.

[Martelize Schütte]

Falimir and Mira's slow burn and forced proximity is agonizing! I love how Mira is staying stubborn and herself even when it is not really the right time🫣😂 Also, how Falimir is soft to the inhabitants but closed off to Mira. Kip and Barnaby are the best side companions/animals as they fit the main characters' personalities so well😂!

[Linda]

This was a light read that was easy to get lost in for an afternoon. The characters were enjoyable although the plot was predictable to align with the series theme. I recommend if you are looking for a light, clean, and enjoyable diversion.

I received an ARC from the author.