Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold

Romance a Medieval Fairytale #15

by Demelza Carlton

A witch's vow. A knight's quest. A wolf hunting to kill.

Once upon a time...

Seven years ago, Rosa lost her family to a wolf attack during the coldest winter in living memory. But now the wolf is back, as bloodthirsty as ever, and she vows vengeance.

Work is hard to find in the dead of winter, and Sir Chase welcomes the chance to slay wolves if it means he'll have a warm bed and food for the winter. He never counted on having to compete with a woman for his prize.

When the wolf proves more than one hunter alone can handle, can the unlikely pair join forces to defeat the menace?


Romance a Medieval Fairytale series:
Each book is a standalone, so they can be read in any order:
(#1) Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
(#2) Dance: Cinderella Retold
(#3) Fly: Goose Girl Retold
(#4) Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold
(#5) Silence: Little Mermaid Retold
(#6) Awaken: Sleeping Beauty Retold
(#7) Embellish: Brave Little Tailor Retold
(#8) Appease: Princess and the Pea Retold
(#9) Blow: Three Little Pigs Retold
(#10) Return: Hansel and Gretel Retold
(#11) Wish: Aladdin Retold
(#12) Melt: Snow Queen Retold
(#13) Spin: Rumpelstiltskin Retold
(#14) Kiss: Frog Prince Retold
(#15) Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold
(#16) Reflect: Snow White Retold
(#17) Roar: Goldilocks Retold

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Retellings, Audiobook, Fairy Tales, Witches, Fairy Tale Retellings

137 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2018

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.

Reviews

[*❆ Kαɾҽɳ ❆* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sad and yet a heartwarming tale!

Rosa loves her wonderful family, a in a quiet village. But when Rosa comes home from visiting her grandmother, she finds all she ever owned and loved is lost to her forever.

In a journey for vengeance, Rosa swears that she will use her powers to hunt and kill the wolf that slaughtered her family. But what she didn't know was that someone else will want to hunt the wolf as well.

Sir Chase is looking for a quest, to be the hero of the day, but when he finds his quests, he didn't expect to share it with a beautiful young woman who is far too knowledgable.
Will they work together to kill the beast and find happiness together ?

Wonderful tale of love and vengeance, I loved how Rosa wanted to hunt the wolf and prove her worth. Chase was also a great man who honoured and respected Rosa for who she is and what she does!

Wonderful tale indeed!

[Sophie Koufes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold takes a diverse twist on a medieval fairytale. With the exception of the rogue wolf, a grandmother, and the red cloak this fairytale is its own. A romantic tale that revolves around magic, potions, and pagan rituals. Passion and romance seep through the web of death, murder, and tragedy that glooms over the forest. Rosa portrays a young witch who is heroic, audacious, brassy, bold and able to withstand. Sir Chase A Knight proves to be a admible force as well as a sexy one. Cameo appearances from other characters in previous medieval fairytales brightens the tale. World building details & descriptions are detailed. Good addition to the medieval fairytale series.

[Coco.V]

🎁FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (4/20/2021)! 🎁

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never one to disappoint, Demelza Carlton has created another masterful retelling of a classic fairytale, with an erotic twist. This shared elements of the original Little Red Riding Hood, but those separate elements were disassembled and reassembled in such a way that the story barely resembled the original. In fact, it wasn't until the very end that there was the “oh my, what big eyes you have moment,” which caused me to burst out laughing because it was so very different from the children's fairy tail (and definitely not for children).

Hunt was an original tale. It was so different from the inspiration that I forgot about the original upon which it had been based. There were some characters in this story who were previously introduced via Demelza Carlton’s retellings of Embellish (Brave Little Tailor) and Spin (Rumpelstiltskin), which made me wish that I could remember some of those characters a bit better. However, I felt that I remembered them well enough to have some familiarity with them.

Overall, I would argue that this is an original tale, told in an engaging manner, and filled with unforgettable characters. I highly recommend it, particularly for those readers who enjoy fairy tales with an extra sprinkle of spice.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌿 Rosa and Chase, sitting in a🌳 tree, will they end up happily? 😱
September 12, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
🐺 Totally unique twist to the traditional Red Riding Hood fairytale! It retains the rogue wolf, a grandmother and the red cloak but is its own fairytale, with the heroine Rosa a young woman who's suffered great loss. Wandering knight Chase is a fighting man for hire whose latest assignment puts them initially at odds. I liked Rosa's strength of purpose and bravery and felt for her loneliness and the ridicule she endured when venturing into the village.. I also liked the passion and romance, but I found the wolf's origin and purpose in his murdering and marauding unclear. Still, Rosa's and Chase's run-ins with the wolf provided thrills and chills.

Rosa's life revolves around magic, potions and pagan rituals. I had no problem with that; if you do, this is not the story for you.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve really loved the prior books in Demelza Carlton’s Romance a Medieval Fairytale series, do I frankly expected this Book 15, Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold, to be great. I was not disappointed. Once again we get all the core elements of the classic fairy tale - Grandma, Red, Hunter, Big Bad Wolf - but (once again) the author has taken these elements and spun them off into a wildly imaginative direction (great elements of Wicca and prophesy, a High Priestess to be anointed, etc) that works beautifully plus, of course, the romance part, and here she’s done a great job with Rosa (I love this version of Red) and Sir Chase. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Shawna Sears · Rating 5 out of 5]

So... Wow. This was just amazing.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of these fairy-tale retellings (some more than others, of course, but none have I not been happy to have read), but Hunt has to rank high on my favorites. Right beside Embellish for top spot I think. All of these tales have magic in them to some degree or other, and this is one that is STEEPED in it and I LOVED it. Lots of new lore for this northern land and a character we met a few books back. Chase gets his story!

Now I didn't much care for Chase in Spin, and honestly it took me a while to like him in this book, but I eventually did. If nothing else, the man is straightforward, I'll give him that. I liked how Rosa was very much not the damsel but a powerhouse. The book was heartbreaking, much like Spin; just a heads up. Definitely worth a read and making it to the happily ever after, however.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunt is a creative, grownup twist to the story of Red Riding Hood, the Huntsman, and the Wolf. The characters are interesting. Red Riding Hood is a witch. The huntsman is a knight. The Big Bad Wolf is a king with a curse and a vendetta. This is not the story you heard as a child. Rosa and Chase have two missions to fulfill. They have to kill the monster wolf that killed her family and threatens the village, and they have to perform the Midwinter ritual that will make Rosa the High priestess of the forest gods. First, she has to save his life. They have a plan to kill the wolf, but will it work? What happens if they don’t complete the ritual? What happens if they do? Great story. 5 stars!

I received an ARC of this book from the author. I voluntarily reviewed it.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of a down on his luck knight looking to make a name for himself by killing a monster to complete his first quest and a village witch who has pledged to kill the wolf that's taken her whole family. It was supposed to a be a simple team up to accomplish the killing of the beast. He'd get to claim the reward for ridding the town of it's monster, she'd finally see the end of the beast but the gods had other plans.
Like all of Carlton's fairy tales, this one's based loosely on a classic tale - in this case the classic tale of Red Riding Hood and the wolf - but also like her other tales, this one's full of humor, romance and a healthy dose of star-crossed love.
A great tale for a cold winter's night ... and perhaps a glass of mid-winter mead.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent retelling of Red Riding Hood is the latest in the series of fairytales by Demelza Carlton, and I enjoyed it very much. It's definitely an adults only book, with its sexual content, but it's got a good storyline, excellent characters - I LOVE Rosa, who is funny and brave and strong, and the randy Gods of the Forest had me in fits of giggles! - and is a very enjoyable read. So whether you read it as part of the series (and see how many links to previous books you can spot!) or as a standalone story, give Hunt a read today if you like your adult fairytales with a twist of romance, a sprinkle of magic, and (of course!) a happy ever after!

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this adult version of Little Red Riding Hood and found it quite fascinating.
This book is about: a young woman (Rosa) who vows vengeance after finding her family savaged to death by a white wolf but she discovers competition when a knight (Sir Chase) also wants to hunt the wolf.
There is: twists & turns, some suspense, magic, wolves, adventure, actions, rumors, verbal conflict, humor, insults, lies, debts, death, shock, amazement, rites, happiness, love and a little steam.
I found the story-line well-thought out & written. The characters are distinctive and quirky with individual personalities. I would recommend this book

[Mella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I read a completely different book to everyone else.

I love Red Riding Hood, it's one of my favourite fairytales but I wasn't particularly whelmed by this. It was alright and readable enough but the plot just wasn't there. There wasn't enough depth to the characters or the plot for me to really care. It's not bad - it's just not particularly good. Plus for a standalone novel there did seem to be an awful lot of references to unexplained elements - like about whatever happened with his brother and sister or why he's so unlucky with magic. It seems like these stories may be more interconnected than implied. Still, not the worst book I've ever read.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Familiar, Retold, and Enchantingly New

I have read many of the books in this series and find them, as a whole, to be refreshing spins on well known tales. There is a great world view consistency in the stories and enough connections to make the sum greater than the parts.

Rosa is the protagonist in this book and we follow her from a miserable start to trying to fulfill her destiny. Chase enters her life as more of an adversary. The twists of fate lead them both down paths they did not expect.

The character development is great. Even the wolf evolves as a complex character.

This is not the Little Red Riding Hood of our childhood.

[Alex L Criddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fairytale retelling was a far departure from the Little Red Riding Hood of my childhood—very creative and dark, with a healthy dose of romance. I enjoyed this novel, but it didn’t completely captivate me like so many of the others in this series. As always, Carlton writes strong, capable female characters. The banter between Rosa and Chase added an amusing element to their relationship. The story was well-written, though at times, I felt that the plot was rushed, especially towards the end. I would caution readers that there are some intimate scenes and thoughts throughout the novel.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC and volunteering my honest review. Demelza Carlton does it again. She turned Red Riding Hood's story around. Rosa is Red Riding Hood and she is a witch, Sir Chase needs a job now that his sister and his friend is gone. They are both hunting the wolf. This story catches your attention from the start to the finish and was well written. You even get to hear from some of the characters from previous books. I would recommend this to all who love fairytales with a twist.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall rating: 4.6

I thoroughly enjoyed the path this story took Chase and Rosa on. Rosa’s veiled insecurities made seeking the resolution of this tale even sweeter. I was very happy that Chase was not written as stupid prideful. The threat these two characters faced brought the tale to ominous levels. This fairytale told is a definite page turner! A winner in my book! All of my reviews are always voluntarily written.

[Suez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely captivating retelling!! I thoroughly enjoyed the entire time I spent absorbed in these pages. This story, along with the entire series are beautifully written, the characters are incredibly likeable and these adult storylines just flows sooo well. I recommend you take the time and read the entire series it will transport you into a world you’ll never forget. This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy

[Susan May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demelza does such a great job putting her own unique twist on these stories. Each one has great characters and twisted plots. This one was a version of Red Riding Hood. Rosa's family was killed when a wolf broke into their house while she was at her grandmother's house. She found her family and was attacked as well. She got away and watched her home burn to the ground. She went to live with her grandmother and honed her magic. She vowed to kill the wolf. A great story.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars on the merit of potential and characters that were intriguing, but boy was this a lot of wasted potential (at least for me). By the time it ended I was left feeling as if literally nothing had happened. The wolf completely irrelevant for the most part. And I felt that something far more interesting was set up with that particular aspect of the plot and it was a shame that it didn't remotely pay off.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't your mom's Red Riding Hood although I think mom might approve if she enjoys great writing, action and some steamy passages. I know I really enjoy Ms. Carlton's Midieval fairytales that put a mature spin on things. With smart characters, magic and action Hunt is a great twist on the old tale, and is well worth reading.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free book and voluntarily chose to review it. I have enjoyed most I (if not all) of this author’s retold fairy tales. For some reason my mind doesn’t want to give this story 5 stars. I really don’t why. So, I expect you will enjoy this story, if you enjoyed the previous retold fairy tales.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique, sexy and intriguing spin on a classic fairy tale. Rosa is such a complicated and yet intricate character. The author did such a wonderful job creating this character. Sir Chase is both an excellent back-up to her, but he does a great job standing on his own too. I also enjoyed the snippet of Mistress Kun's past. I volunteered to read this book.

[Ola Adamska · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always retelling written by Ms. Carlton are n0t you usual tales. They can be read as standalone but I Would recommend reading previous books as secondary characters appear Also There.
This book is not funny but Has some sharm in itself. It was taken more serious than few others.
This read is Full of emotions and for sure its Great addition to The Series.

[Katie Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This retelling of Red Riding Hood is fantastic! I loved the whole premise of Rosa being a witch and avenging the deaths of her family by the white wolf. Sir Chase is a wonderfully bad huntsman. The way they grow and learn about each other and themselves adds great depth to the story. Another amazing retelling by Ms. Carlton!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Red Riding Hood as you never read it before. There are witches and magic and the gods of old and definitely not for the children. This is another great retelling of the classic tales we all grew up with.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Twist on the Wolf Tale

The story of Rosa and Sir Chase takes Little Red Riding Hood to a different level. Rosa is bold and determined to defeat the evil wolf, and Chase is a knight looking for his purpose. They meet as only Demelza's characters do.

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great retelling of a classic story that has Red Riding Hood grown and determined to avenge her family. I love fairytale retellings that expand the story and make the characters more complex and this does a good job of that.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Story.

As always, Demelza Carlton kept me enthralled. I spent the whole day reading Hunt. It was so good I almost forgot my laundry. I live a good fairytale and have never been disappointed.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic tale. Rosa and Chase are a pair of delightful characters. I truly enjoyed the story. I hope that you do as well.

[Sandra Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3DGDZ1...