What do you think?
Rate this book
A Villain's Ever After #10
The Baker and the Wolf
A mysterious stranger, an enchantress grandmother, and an overprotective mother. Can Cerise trust any of them?
Cerise DuBois might as well be invisible. Not even her scarlet cloak attracts male interest, and her mother begins to despair of snaring a husband for a boring middle daughter with no magic ability. If not for her baking talents, Cerise would be a hopeless burden on the family.
Or so she believes until a dark man with eyes like gold appears in the family bakery to deliver an invitation from a grandmother she has never met . . . and real trouble begins. What if everything Cerise believes about herself and her family is false?
Unlike other men, the stranger gives Cerise his undivided attention, yet he has a habit of vanishing when she needs him most—for example, when a huge black dog (surely it can’t be a wolf) follows her through the city park.
Worst of all, he claims that if she follows the magical path to her enchantress grandmother’s cottage, her entire world will change. Should Cerise trust this fascinating foreign mage, or will he eat her alive?
The Baker and the Wolf is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of standalone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favorite classic fairytales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you’ve never seen them before. Who said villains can’t have happily-ever-afters?
Cerise DuBois might as well be invisible. Not even her scarlet cloak attracts male interest, and her mother begins to despair of snaring a husband for a boring middle daughter with no magic ability. If not for her baking talents, Cerise would be a hopeless burden on the family.
Or so she believes until a dark man with eyes like gold appears in the family bakery to deliver an invitation from a grandmother she has never met . . . and real trouble begins. What if everything Cerise believes about herself and her family is false?
Unlike other men, the stranger gives Cerise his undivided attention, yet he has a habit of vanishing when she needs him most—for example, when a huge black dog (surely it can’t be a wolf) follows her through the city park.
Worst of all, he claims that if she follows the magical path to her enchantress grandmother’s cottage, her entire world will change. Should Cerise trust this fascinating foreign mage, or will he eat her alive?
The Baker and the Wolf is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of standalone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favorite classic fairytales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you’ve never seen them before. Who said villains can’t have happily-ever-afters?
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2021
87 people are currently reading
995 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Stengl
12 books218 followers
Get a FREE book gift from J.M. Stengl when you visit her website!
Jill Marie is a native of southern California who, after a whirlwind life as a military wife, now makes her home with her husband in North Carolina, where she serves at the beck and call of two cats, one dog, and five adorable grandchildren. Obsessions include all things animal rescue, fairy-tale romances, collecting model horses, and perfecting the perfect pastry crust.
During her former career as a romance novelist, Jill Marie won both the Carol Award and RWA's Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. Now she prefers her novels to include a dash of magic along with the heart-melting romance.
Jill Marie is a native of southern California who, after a whirlwind life as a military wife, now makes her home with her husband in North Carolina, where she serves at the beck and call of two cats, one dog, and five adorable grandchildren. Obsessions include all things animal rescue, fairy-tale romances, collecting model horses, and perfecting the perfect pastry crust.
During her former career as a romance novelist, Jill Marie won both the Carol Award and RWA's Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. Now she prefers her novels to include a dash of magic along with the heart-melting romance.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 21, 2025
2 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Fairytale Retelling
She’s almost boy crazy in a way, but also not at the same time? For only the love interest in this book and it’s more of heightened emotions from her because of the lack of guys/men around her. Because of this, there did feel like a lot of romance, but yet detail-wise there wasn’t too much until some kisses, which is interesting because it’s often a lot of romance equals quite a bit of details. 😅
I did somewhat like her despite her kind of character usually being the kind that annoys me. Their romance was quick (like, five days) and he had his moments of cheesy lines, but it didn’t bother me too long, shockingly. Key words being “too much”.
I didn’t quite understand the magic stuff, particularly the events at the end, so that dropped my rating down a bit with all the romance parts as well. Overall, not bad and was a unique retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I don’t really care for shifter romance storylines or how the magic worked in this book, personally, so it wasn’t really my cup of tea, but it was also very different from my normal fairytale retelling and I could see why some of my book friends have enjoyed it. It was just not my thing and I didn’t care for some details. 🤷🏻♀️
Main Content-
There is magic and magical elements in this story as some people are born with magic due to genetics in this world; There are also sorcerers, faes, shifters, brownies, goblins, trolls, and dwarfs either seen or mentioned; Baro is able to freeze time (and people) for a moment; Cerise doesn’t believe she has magic abilities despite knowing both of her parents have magic; Someone put a warding spell against men on Cerise’s cloak & is stealing her magic (*Spoiler* ); Cerise goes into a portal to a pocket world to meet her grandmother (her grandmother is able to make things appear or disappear by uttering a word, this happens on page); Cerise’s grandmother goes into her mind to teach her how to protect her magic which also makes Cerise realize her magic and some memories have been hidden from her (*Spoiler* ); Cerise sees someone shift into an animal; Cerise finds her magic and is able to fight someone with it, using the power in her to blast magic at the person.
All about & many mentions of magic, magical abilities, magical items, spells (including ones for changing one’s appearance and primacy ones to block others from being seen), mages, & portals to “pocket worlds”; Mentions of evil, evil magic, & evil deeds; Mentions of an evil enchantress (also called a witch, once), a magic council, & different levels of magical abilities; A couple mentions of hags and incubi (no details).
A few mentions of churches & church going (Cerise’s mother expects her to go, but doesn’t go herself); A mention of the Lord’s Day.
No language stronger than ‘stupid’ and ‘idiot’; Eye rolling.
Fighting with magic, Seeing a dead body, & Seeing someone injured and the person’s blood (up to a few sentences); A drunk man grabs Cerise and drags her to an alley (she is afraid and is saved before anything else happens).
Cerise comments on her mother frequently reminding her about her “deficiency” (of not having magical abilities) and being envious on her children when her husband would spend time with them; Cerise has picked up on her mother treating her differently and gets annoyed by her (she also finds it “empowering” to say something that she knows her mother wouldn’t like to her); Cerise’s mother wants her and her sisters to call her by her first name; *Major Spoilers* .
Barbaro says he preyed on rats, birds, and other small animals to survive after his mother died.
Mentions of deaths & grief; Mentions of a dangerous criminal & his crimes (that included killing and injuring people which happened by his magic being used by another with ill intent); Mentions of pain & spells to cause pain if someone does something illegal; Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & hangovers; A few mentions of murder; A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of a manipulative parent; A few mentions of hunting; A couple mentions of being drugged; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of believing a wife died in childbirth; A mention of a wife disposing of her inconvenient husband; A mention of pipe tobacco; A mention of nightmares; A mention of some marriages falling apart.
1 cheek kiss,
2 kisses lasting a couple sentences each;
1 kiss lasting a few sentences,
2 kisses lasting 5-7 sentences
Wanting to kiss.
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Shivers, Nearness, Smelling, Noticing, & Staring (including muscles, up to a few sentences); Blushes; Weak knees.
Cerise is twenty years old and has never been kissed (she has a monologue about it and how it was always a curiosity but is now a need to be kissed by the love interest and wonders how to encourage him before kissing him herself); Barbaro is unable to kiss Cerise back because of the spells on him, but “delights” in her finding a loophole; Barbaro says that kissing Cerise was a “taste of heaven”; Cerise realizes later with guilt that she kissed him because it was like a game or experiment; Cerise doesn’t know how to react about male attention & is very awkward around Barbaro at first, but is very attracted to him; Cerise wonders if Barbaro is attracted to her; An old woman accuses Cerise of ogling a man at her bakery; Cerise’s stepfather is twenty-three years older than her mother; Cerise’s mother often tries to set her up with men double her age; A married couple kisses on-page.
Talks about kisses, kissing, & love; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of handsome men; A few mentions of someone believing another to be illegitimate & another actually being illegitimate; A couple mentions of crushes; A mention of an in-name-only marriage; A mention of pimps (no details).
She’s almost boy crazy in a way, but also not at the same time? For only the love interest in this book and it’s more of heightened emotions from her because of the lack of guys/men around her. Because of this, there did feel like a lot of romance, but yet detail-wise there wasn’t too much until some kisses, which is interesting because it’s often a lot of romance equals quite a bit of details. 😅
I did somewhat like her despite her kind of character usually being the kind that annoys me. Their romance was quick (like, five days) and he had his moments of cheesy lines, but it didn’t bother me too long, shockingly. Key words being “too much”.
I didn’t quite understand the magic stuff, particularly the events at the end, so that dropped my rating down a bit with all the romance parts as well. Overall, not bad and was a unique retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I don’t really care for shifter romance storylines or how the magic worked in this book, personally, so it wasn’t really my cup of tea, but it was also very different from my normal fairytale retelling and I could see why some of my book friends have enjoyed it. It was just not my thing and I didn’t care for some details. 🤷🏻♀️
Main Content-
There is magic and magical elements in this story as some people are born with magic due to genetics in this world; There are also sorcerers, faes, shifters, brownies, goblins, trolls, and dwarfs either seen or mentioned; Baro is able to freeze time (and people) for a moment; Cerise doesn’t believe she has magic abilities despite knowing both of her parents have magic; Someone put a warding spell against men on Cerise’s cloak & is stealing her magic (*Spoiler* ); Cerise goes into a portal to a pocket world to meet her grandmother (her grandmother is able to make things appear or disappear by uttering a word, this happens on page); Cerise’s grandmother goes into her mind to teach her how to protect her magic which also makes Cerise realize her magic and some memories have been hidden from her (*Spoiler* ); Cerise sees someone shift into an animal; Cerise finds her magic and is able to fight someone with it, using the power in her to blast magic at the person.
All about & many mentions of magic, magical abilities, magical items, spells (including ones for changing one’s appearance and primacy ones to block others from being seen), mages, & portals to “pocket worlds”; Mentions of evil, evil magic, & evil deeds; Mentions of an evil enchantress (also called a witch, once), a magic council, & different levels of magical abilities; A couple mentions of hags and incubi (no details).
A few mentions of churches & church going (Cerise’s mother expects her to go, but doesn’t go herself); A mention of the Lord’s Day.
No language stronger than ‘stupid’ and ‘idiot’; Eye rolling.
Fighting with magic, Seeing a dead body, & Seeing someone injured and the person’s blood (up to a few sentences); A drunk man grabs Cerise and drags her to an alley (she is afraid and is saved before anything else happens).
Cerise comments on her mother frequently reminding her about her “deficiency” (of not having magical abilities) and being envious on her children when her husband would spend time with them; Cerise has picked up on her mother treating her differently and gets annoyed by her (she also finds it “empowering” to say something that she knows her mother wouldn’t like to her); Cerise’s mother wants her and her sisters to call her by her first name; *Major Spoilers* .
Barbaro says he preyed on rats, birds, and other small animals to survive after his mother died.
Mentions of deaths & grief; Mentions of a dangerous criminal & his crimes (that included killing and injuring people which happened by his magic being used by another with ill intent); Mentions of pain & spells to cause pain if someone does something illegal; Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & hangovers; A few mentions of murder; A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of a manipulative parent; A few mentions of hunting; A couple mentions of being drugged; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of believing a wife died in childbirth; A mention of a wife disposing of her inconvenient husband; A mention of pipe tobacco; A mention of nightmares; A mention of some marriages falling apart.
1 cheek kiss,
2 kisses lasting a couple sentences each;
1 kiss lasting a few sentences,
2 kisses lasting 5-7 sentences
Wanting to kiss.
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Shivers, Nearness, Smelling, Noticing, & Staring (including muscles, up to a few sentences); Blushes; Weak knees.
Cerise is twenty years old and has never been kissed (she has a monologue about it and how it was always a curiosity but is now a need to be kissed by the love interest and wonders how to encourage him before kissing him herself); Barbaro is unable to kiss Cerise back because of the spells on him, but “delights” in her finding a loophole; Barbaro says that kissing Cerise was a “taste of heaven”; Cerise realizes later with guilt that she kissed him because it was like a game or experiment; Cerise doesn’t know how to react about male attention & is very awkward around Barbaro at first, but is very attracted to him; Cerise wonders if Barbaro is attracted to her; An old woman accuses Cerise of ogling a man at her bakery; Cerise’s stepfather is twenty-three years older than her mother; Cerise’s mother often tries to set her up with men double her age; A married couple kisses on-page.
Talks about kisses, kissing, & love; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of handsome men; A few mentions of someone believing another to be illegitimate & another actually being illegitimate; A couple mentions of crushes; A mention of an in-name-only marriage; A mention of pimps (no details).
October 17, 2021
Everyone. Can I have your attention! Jill Stengel is back and better than ever! I adored this book. Cerise and Barbaro are the cutest couple of this series yet. I love how the author takes the time to not just develop their relationship, but show them communicating in a healthy way.
Watching Barbaro help draw Cerise from her shell of lonely sadness and help her rebuild her confidence and sense of self worth as the plot thickens was so satisfying.
The action in this book is impressive too. Everything builds up to the action packed climax and Jill Stengel molds the scenes into everything we thought it would be and more. It was so fun watching everything click into place as the story goes on. Cerise is such a strong, intelligent, mature girl who not only has a guardian cat, but also uses her smarts to think ahead. We love it when the main characters are one step of the villain!
Absolutely recommend this book. It’s the best out of the series I’ve read so far which is saying something since I’ve given other books of this series my skimpy five stars before.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. (And I’m always honest even if I didn’t enjoy a book so this review shows just how much I sincerely enjoyed this book.) Read it. You won’t regret it!
Watching Barbaro help draw Cerise from her shell of lonely sadness and help her rebuild her confidence and sense of self worth as the plot thickens was so satisfying.
The action in this book is impressive too. Everything builds up to the action packed climax and Jill Stengel molds the scenes into everything we thought it would be and more. It was so fun watching everything click into place as the story goes on. Cerise is such a strong, intelligent, mature girl who not only has a guardian cat, but also uses her smarts to think ahead. We love it when the main characters are one step of the villain!
Absolutely recommend this book. It’s the best out of the series I’ve read so far which is saying something since I’ve given other books of this series my skimpy five stars before.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. (And I’m always honest even if I didn’t enjoy a book so this review shows just how much I sincerely enjoyed this book.) Read it. You won’t regret it!
November 6, 2021
I knew this book was going to be good (I have loved everything that J.M. Stengl has written) but this one turned out to be particularly good!
Barbaro was SO swoony. And Cerise was a great leading lady! This turned out to be such a twisty version of Little Red Riding Hood, and I LOVED it! So, so, so amazing!!!!
Barbaro was SO swoony. And Cerise was a great leading lady! This turned out to be such a twisty version of Little Red Riding Hood, and I LOVED it! So, so, so amazing!!!!
October 4, 2021
I truly enjoyed this tale from beginning to end! Honestly, I wasn’t aware this was part of the villain-ever-after series until after I had finished, and I’m kind of grateful because I didn’t have any preconceived thoughts. I just enjoyed and found myself surprised several times😊❤️
Fun characters, fun world, and sweet romance! And I was definitely wanting to visit a bakery by the time I finished.
Fun characters, fun world, and sweet romance! And I was definitely wanting to visit a bakery by the time I finished.
January 24, 2022
Video Review: https://youtu.be/0muCr_MClMM
I honestly didn’t expect to love this as much as I did! Intriguing from beginning to end, I was lost in Cerise’s adventure and rediscovering what she had lost while also grasping onto who she was turning into at the same time.
I loved Cerise and Barbaro surprised me in how much I latched onto him from the start. I tend to either dislike or have to warm up to the “brooding male character” but Barbaro I loved from the start and just really felt for. He and Cerise are perfect together and I utterly fell in love with them and their romance. The romance was a tiny bit more intense then the previous books in this series I’ve read so far, but it is still clean and gave me ALL the warmth and happiness.
All the characters were real even though this is such a short book—I’m super impressed at how authors can do that!—and I loved the French influence this story was set in while weaving in the magical elements so they seamlessly belong.
This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last! I loved this story and highly recommend!
Content: magic and magical abilities; violence and a bit of blood (not detailed); kissing (not detailed)
I honestly didn’t expect to love this as much as I did! Intriguing from beginning to end, I was lost in Cerise’s adventure and rediscovering what she had lost while also grasping onto who she was turning into at the same time.
I loved Cerise and Barbaro surprised me in how much I latched onto him from the start. I tend to either dislike or have to warm up to the “brooding male character” but Barbaro I loved from the start and just really felt for. He and Cerise are perfect together and I utterly fell in love with them and their romance. The romance was a tiny bit more intense then the previous books in this series I’ve read so far, but it is still clean and gave me ALL the warmth and happiness.
All the characters were real even though this is such a short book—I’m super impressed at how authors can do that!—and I loved the French influence this story was set in while weaving in the magical elements so they seamlessly belong.
This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last! I loved this story and highly recommend!
Content: magic and magical abilities; violence and a bit of blood (not detailed); kissing (not detailed)
October 17, 2021
Oh! I do love J.M. Stengl! She was the very first author that I wrote to after joining the Goodreads community, and she kindly gave me several author recommendations for fairy-tale retellings.
When I found out about the Villain’s Ever After Series, I eagerly anticipated her release, and she did not disappoint!
I find that I must admit that I am not a fan of Red Riding Hood retellings. Other than Marissa Meyer’s Scarlett, its usually one of the stories that I skip over within a stand-alone-interwoven series. The sole reason I read this book was because I knew I love Mrs Stengl’s creativity and writing style, and it has given me a new appreciation for Red Riding Hood and how well a retelling of even a less-than-favorite tale can be done.
This Red Riding Hood was nothing short of amazing! The interweaving of magic, mystery and enough shout outs to the classic story set the stage for some truly wonderful characters. The wolf was so swoon-worthy and yet met the criteria for villain with his reprobate past, and you find yourself questioning his sincerity enough times to make his villainy real despite knowing that he MUST have a happily ever after simply due to the series title, right?! But the fact that you question it makes it all the more brilliant.
Cerise’s emotional growth and how it ties into the mystery around her is perfect, though I fear I can’t say more without giving away important plot.
WARNING: before you read this book make certain you have pastries or baked good of some sort on hand, you’re going to want them.
When I found out about the Villain’s Ever After Series, I eagerly anticipated her release, and she did not disappoint!
I find that I must admit that I am not a fan of Red Riding Hood retellings. Other than Marissa Meyer’s Scarlett, its usually one of the stories that I skip over within a stand-alone-interwoven series. The sole reason I read this book was because I knew I love Mrs Stengl’s creativity and writing style, and it has given me a new appreciation for Red Riding Hood and how well a retelling of even a less-than-favorite tale can be done.
This Red Riding Hood was nothing short of amazing! The interweaving of magic, mystery and enough shout outs to the classic story set the stage for some truly wonderful characters. The wolf was so swoon-worthy and yet met the criteria for villain with his reprobate past, and you find yourself questioning his sincerity enough times to make his villainy real despite knowing that he MUST have a happily ever after simply due to the series title, right?! But the fact that you question it makes it all the more brilliant.
Cerise’s emotional growth and how it ties into the mystery around her is perfect, though I fear I can’t say more without giving away important plot.
WARNING: before you read this book make certain you have pastries or baked good of some sort on hand, you’re going to want them.
May 9, 2022
The Baker and the Wolf is the tenth installment within the A Villain's Ever After series. It has been a while since I've read a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. So, it was pretty interesting to see how the twists would come and go. It definitely helps that I enjoyed the characters but, again, I need something dark and sexy from these. Or maybe I just need another dark and sexy retelling series?
I will admit that the characters did have some swoon worthy moments. I may or may not have a favorite character within this as well. The only thing I really wanted out of this was a longer book. At times, it definitely felt like things were being rushed a bit here and there. Which is why I think a longer book would be more beneficial. Or maybe I just really want a longer book?
In the end, I'm so close to finishing out this series. So, I might as well dive into the next two books just to see what other retellings will show up. Then I will look into some darker ones.
I will admit that the characters did have some swoon worthy moments. I may or may not have a favorite character within this as well. The only thing I really wanted out of this was a longer book. At times, it definitely felt like things were being rushed a bit here and there. Which is why I think a longer book would be more beneficial. Or maybe I just really want a longer book?
In the end, I'm so close to finishing out this series. So, I might as well dive into the next two books just to see what other retellings will show up. Then I will look into some darker ones.
April 28, 2022
4 1/2 stars
October 2, 2021
This book is enchanting and captivating all at once! This is my favorite by J.M. Stengl yet! And the ending was so perfect!!!!!! Wow!!!! Five stars is just not enough.
December 24, 2021
A Tale as Delectable as the Treats Baked by the Reinvented Red Riding Hood Herself
This retelling of a classic story is just clever, clever, clever. It’s Red Riding Hood like you’ve never seen her before. There are so many wonderful details that make this story a true delight, from the names of characters—including Cerise DuBois (Cerise meaning red/cherry and DuBois, loosely meaning “from the woods”)—to the kind of goodies Cerise created in her patisserie—éclairs and chouquettes and (heaven help me) fresh bread. Goodies truly worth going after. And let’s not forget that gorgeous red cloak, a fashion statement for the ages.
Of course, setting the story in France, several centuries ago, only added to the mysterious ambience, and Ms. Stengl really brought this to life by sprinkling in a few French phrases. For me, it brought to mind the movie, Ever After, with Drew Barrymore, and it certainly made me think of my favorite Jill Stengl book, Until that Distant Day. Though my favorite aspect of the book was the “handling” of the “My, what big ______ you have,” portion of the story, which was done with great humor. Overall, I think this tale is a treat for old and young alike, and now you’ll have to excuse me—I suddenly have the urge to go out and buy a new red winter jacket, preferably something with a hood . . .
This retelling of a classic story is just clever, clever, clever. It’s Red Riding Hood like you’ve never seen her before. There are so many wonderful details that make this story a true delight, from the names of characters—including Cerise DuBois (Cerise meaning red/cherry and DuBois, loosely meaning “from the woods”)—to the kind of goodies Cerise created in her patisserie—éclairs and chouquettes and (heaven help me) fresh bread. Goodies truly worth going after. And let’s not forget that gorgeous red cloak, a fashion statement for the ages.
Of course, setting the story in France, several centuries ago, only added to the mysterious ambience, and Ms. Stengl really brought this to life by sprinkling in a few French phrases. For me, it brought to mind the movie, Ever After, with Drew Barrymore, and it certainly made me think of my favorite Jill Stengl book, Until that Distant Day. Though my favorite aspect of the book was the “handling” of the “My, what big ______ you have,” portion of the story, which was done with great humor. Overall, I think this tale is a treat for old and young alike, and now you’ll have to excuse me—I suddenly have the urge to go out and buy a new red winter jacket, preferably something with a hood . . .
February 18, 2022
When I was younger I never really loved the story of Little Red Riding Hood. It somehow lacked the touch of magic so present in other tales and therefore it kinda bore me as a kid. However, now I'm older I think Little Red Riding Hood is one of the most amazing fairytales to retell. It's filled with possibilities and you can change the story by simply tweaking a few things here and there. I was therefore quite excited to dive into this version of the tale.
This book never disappointed. The moment I started reading I finished the book in one sitting. Firstly because the story was very gripping and Stengl does an amazing job building everything up. Secondly because I was afraid that if I would put the book away I would walk to the fridge to get something sweet. All the descriptions of eclairs and other baked goods made me a little hungry, but once I finished the book it was luckily dinner time.
Stengl makes sure that all the important elements of the original tale are present. There is a wolf, there is a girl with a red hood, there is a grandmother living in the woods, there is a woodcutter and like already mentioned there are baked goods. But Stengl also adds a lot of elements of her own and while the original tale is still recognizable this new story is fresh and new and different in a lot of ways too. It's richer and therefore way more interesting.
The tale is also much more interesting because the characters present are well written. I especially could identify with our Little Red Riding Hood. A lot of things she said could have been my quotes. However, our Wolf has the most interesting tale and development. I liked how Stengl really made him someone with a dark past and with a lot of blood on his hands. I liked it even more that she showed us, and him, that even those people can be redeemed with the right help.
This book never disappointed. The moment I started reading I finished the book in one sitting. Firstly because the story was very gripping and Stengl does an amazing job building everything up. Secondly because I was afraid that if I would put the book away I would walk to the fridge to get something sweet. All the descriptions of eclairs and other baked goods made me a little hungry, but once I finished the book it was luckily dinner time.
Stengl makes sure that all the important elements of the original tale are present. There is a wolf, there is a girl with a red hood, there is a grandmother living in the woods, there is a woodcutter and like already mentioned there are baked goods. But Stengl also adds a lot of elements of her own and while the original tale is still recognizable this new story is fresh and new and different in a lot of ways too. It's richer and therefore way more interesting.
The tale is also much more interesting because the characters present are well written. I especially could identify with our Little Red Riding Hood. A lot of things she said could have been my quotes. However, our Wolf has the most interesting tale and development. I liked how Stengl really made him someone with a dark past and with a lot of blood on his hands. I liked it even more that she showed us, and him, that even those people can be redeemed with the right help.
September 27, 2021
Really great retelling of little red riding hood with a twist! I enjoyed watching the mystery’s around Cerise unfold. For a short story the characters are well developed and you will be rooting for Barbaro even as you wonder if you should root for him. This one is definitely worth reading.
January 10, 2022
Fun and mysterious. ;)
**I'm by no means a fan of insta-love, but considering that I was able to read this without having the desire to gag or roll my eyes into the back of my head, the author did a pretty good job with it. ^-^
4.5 Stars
**I'm by no means a fan of insta-love, but considering that I was able to read this without having the desire to gag or roll my eyes into the back of my head, the author did a pretty good job with it. ^-^
4.5 Stars
June 10, 2025
⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚
🐺~Genres~🐺
Fantasy/Retelling/Romance/Clean
Should Cerise trust this fascinating foreign mage, or will he eat her alive?
🥖~Characters~🥖
(Cerise) FMC I had no idea how to pronounce her name so I Googled it and it's really pretty it's pronounced Suh-ress. I liked her.
(Benoît "Ben" "Barbaro") MMC i liked him.
(Gisella Boulanger DuBois Garnier) CERISE'S MOM
I hated her
(Louis-Baptiste) CERISE'S STEP DAD
He was a lifeless brick basically.
(Charlotte) CERISE'S SISTER
She was ok.
(Suzette) CERISE'S SISTER she was alright.
(Severina DuBois) CERISE'S GRANDMÉRE I liked her.
(Gauthier DuBois) CERISE'S GRANDPÉRE Idk he ok I guess.
(Wenna) BROWNIE WHO HELPS AT THE BAKERY
I liked her.
(Othen) OTHER BROWNIE WHO HELPS AT THE BAKERY he was boring.
🐈~Quotes~🐈
Without thinking, I sneak a sideward glance at my stranger. He smiles, his gaze like warm honey, and I feel as if we are the only two people in the shop.
I stare into the shimmering coals on my hearth and remember, not my horrible attacker or those moments of terror, but gorgeous golden eyes. Sometimes they gleam from the face of a handsome man. Sometimes they belong to a black wolf.
“My,” she croaks, “what a quick temper you have, my dear.”“The better to face a mean old witch,” I mutter. When she laughs even harder, I snap, “And what big ears you have, Grandmére.” At this, she falls back in her chair, cackling like a hen. “The better to hear your insults, child.
“I don’t want to marry someone as boring as I am. Since opposites attract, I should fall in love with a dangerous man, perhaps a powerful mage or wicked barbarian.” A man with warm golden eyes, glossy black hair, and a perfect smile.
He stares into my eyes until the world seems to fade around us. “The first time I saw you, I knew I was in trouble,” he murmurs. “And the trouble has only grown stronger and more . . . more wonderful. I know exactly what it is: love.” I suck in a sharp breath. The pain in my chest is terrible and delightful. He continues, “I never loved anyone or anything more than myself, Cerise—until I met you. I would do anything for you, give up everything for you.” He smiles sadly. “I would settle down and become a family man and treasure every moment. I could sweep out the bakery and maybe learn to make éclairs with you each morning. And every day would be a delight, a gift.”
We’ve been through a lot during those days, and I believe you are a man I can trust. A man I could spend a lifetime with and never regret my choice.”
🥐~What I liked~🥐
The cover, The humor, That Cerise means cherry in french And cherries are red, It's a fantasy version of France with fea, the last line of the book
🍒~What I disliked~🍒
The magic system it was just really confusing.
🚪~Content/Trigger Warnings~🚪
Death of parent, death of grandparents, Attempted Kidnapping? Murder Recounted, Maiming Recounted, Blood, Amputation kinda, Slavery,
🌲~Language~🌲
None
🐺~Genres~🐺
Fantasy/Retelling/Romance/Clean
Should Cerise trust this fascinating foreign mage, or will he eat her alive?
🥖~Characters~🥖
(Cerise) FMC I had no idea how to pronounce her name so I Googled it and it's really pretty it's pronounced Suh-ress. I liked her.
(Benoît "Ben" "Barbaro") MMC i liked him.
(Gisella Boulanger DuBois Garnier) CERISE'S MOM
I hated her
(Louis-Baptiste) CERISE'S STEP DAD
He was a lifeless brick basically.
(Charlotte) CERISE'S SISTER
She was ok.
(Suzette) CERISE'S SISTER she was alright.
(Severina DuBois) CERISE'S GRANDMÉRE I liked her.
(Gauthier DuBois) CERISE'S GRANDPÉRE Idk he ok I guess.
(Wenna) BROWNIE WHO HELPS AT THE BAKERY
I liked her.
(Othen) OTHER BROWNIE WHO HELPS AT THE BAKERY he was boring.
🐈~Quotes~🐈
Without thinking, I sneak a sideward glance at my stranger. He smiles, his gaze like warm honey, and I feel as if we are the only two people in the shop.
I stare into the shimmering coals on my hearth and remember, not my horrible attacker or those moments of terror, but gorgeous golden eyes. Sometimes they gleam from the face of a handsome man. Sometimes they belong to a black wolf.
“My,” she croaks, “what a quick temper you have, my dear.”“The better to face a mean old witch,” I mutter. When she laughs even harder, I snap, “And what big ears you have, Grandmére.” At this, she falls back in her chair, cackling like a hen. “The better to hear your insults, child.
“I don’t want to marry someone as boring as I am. Since opposites attract, I should fall in love with a dangerous man, perhaps a powerful mage or wicked barbarian.” A man with warm golden eyes, glossy black hair, and a perfect smile.
He stares into my eyes until the world seems to fade around us. “The first time I saw you, I knew I was in trouble,” he murmurs. “And the trouble has only grown stronger and more . . . more wonderful. I know exactly what it is: love.” I suck in a sharp breath. The pain in my chest is terrible and delightful. He continues, “I never loved anyone or anything more than myself, Cerise—until I met you. I would do anything for you, give up everything for you.” He smiles sadly. “I would settle down and become a family man and treasure every moment. I could sweep out the bakery and maybe learn to make éclairs with you each morning. And every day would be a delight, a gift.”
We’ve been through a lot during those days, and I believe you are a man I can trust. A man I could spend a lifetime with and never regret my choice.”
🥐~What I liked~🥐
The cover, The humor, That Cerise means cherry in french And cherries are red, It's a fantasy version of France with fea, the last line of the book
🍒~What I disliked~🍒
The magic system it was just really confusing.
🚪~Content/Trigger Warnings~🚪
Death of parent, death of grandparents, Attempted Kidnapping? Murder Recounted, Maiming Recounted, Blood, Amputation kinda, Slavery,
🌲~Language~🌲
None
January 1, 2022
I loved this story so much 😍 Couldn’t hope for a better first read of the year! It had a “Kiki’s Delivery Service” vibe to it with a very swoon-worthy beau, and fun takes on classic elements of the Little Red Riding Hood story, all neatly wrapped in a 174-page fairy tale! Once I started, I literally couldn’t put it down, I had to keep tearing through each page to find out what part of the mystery would unravel next! Cerise and Ben are just adorable, and likely to remain as one of my top bookish couples this year ❤️
February 13, 2022
3.5
This was a fun retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I liked seeing familiar aspects of the fairytale woven into this original story. The setting and characters were good, loved the bakery and wish it were a real place I could go try out. Since it a novella, things move along quickly, including the romance. A tad rushed for my preference and I would have liked a little more time for them to get to know each other . Overall, it was an engrossing story, well written and I liked the whole fairytale vibe that it had throughout. Would recommend to fairytale fans.
Content Rated G+
Romance: Kisses
Language: None
Violence: Mild
This was a fun retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I liked seeing familiar aspects of the fairytale woven into this original story. The setting and characters were good, loved the bakery and wish it were a real place I could go try out. Since it a novella, things move along quickly, including the romance. A tad rushed for my preference and I would have liked a little more time for them to get to know each other . Overall, it was an engrossing story, well written and I liked the whole fairytale vibe that it had throughout. Would recommend to fairytale fans.
Content Rated G+
Romance: Kisses
Language: None
Violence: Mild
October 17, 2021
Mystery and Magic
This story contained nods to Little Red Riding Hood, but also built a whole new world of magic. I loved piecing their world together, the romance, and the mystery.
This story contained nods to Little Red Riding Hood, but also built a whole new world of magic. I loved piecing their world together, the romance, and the mystery.
February 6, 2022
Sweet little novella. I really think this would have benefited from being longer. Still it was a nice little remake of Red Riding Hood. There was a lot crammed in here. The hero and heroine were an interesting couple. There was quite a bit of deus ex machina. But still worth the read.
Read
May 25, 2023I’ve tried reading this one twice but can’t get into it.
November 7, 2023
I've never read a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, so this was fun! I don't have much to say except I did really like Barbaro's character, he was cool.
October 1, 2021
I've been looking forward to this series cause I think the idea is really cool! I'm a huge fairy tale nerd, and a Villain's twist on a ton of fairy tales definitely drew my interested. And I Stengl's work is always so heartwarming, so I was very excited to hear she was participating.
So, first, I'm slightly embarrassed to say that it took me a second to realize this was a Red Riding Hood story XD I mean, it clicked as soon as I read the red cloak, but for some reason, I didn't connect those dots just looking at the cover (to be fair, my kindle is in black and white). That said, I'm not actually a huge Red Riding Hood fan. I don't dislike the tale, but it's never been one of my favorites. However, I've found a few versions of retellings that I've enjoyed much more than the original renditions. And I was curious how Stengl would handle the story. I enjoyed her nods to the tale, but she also brought a fresh perspective and made the story her own.
The wood and the grandmother, the town and the bakery, the mansion and all of the setting was a lot of fun. The city was fleshed out and varied, which I really enjoyed. The whole pocket world thing was really cool, too. A very neat way to handle this tale's classic elements, for sure.
I loved that Cerise was a baker. That was really fun. I immensely enjoyed our time in the bakery (and honestly, it makes sense for Red!) and was slightly disappointed at her choice in the end. There were a few "twists" that I picked up on from page one and then there were a few surprises I certainly didn't see coming. One twist was the way she portrayed the wolf, and I struggled to see why Cerise was so shocked when she figured it out. For as smart as she was (and she even kept pointing things out that she had observed that made it pretty obvious), I just didn't love how that revelation rocked her world. But the other twist I called about the villain made sense that it took her by surprise, though she did seem to take it in stride pretty easily. So, I struggled with the believability of Cerise's character reactions in the book, but otherwise, I really liked her.
Something else I struggled with a little was the way Cerise took to her magic so instantly. She never even had to try and it didn't make sense to me that it was so natural. What training did she need? She just did it. I don't have an issue with the level of power she had (I won't say whether great or small), but I didn't think it made sense for her to manipulate it so easily so quickly. I also struggled to follow the magical elements of the climax a little at first because it was abstract and intangible, but I caught on pretty quickly and was still very much enjoying the read.
Barbaro was a lot of fun. I really love what Stengl was doing with his character, and the themes she played off of him in the story were just beautiful. And although there were enough "he's so handsome"'s to make me shake my head, I really admired that Stengl added more depth to his relationship with Cerise. It happened really quickly, but somehow it didn't quite feel like insta love. There were moments, yeah, but it was cute anyway. And Stengl took the time to show the qualities of his personality that Cerise was drawn to--and she didn't just say there were deeper qualities, either; we got to watch Barbaro interact with Cerise in a deeper way. So, that was really sweet and heartwarming. I enjoyed it.
Content: There isn't any foul language and there was very little violence. The story is a romance and there were a few kisses, but nothing explicit. The story touched lightly on a manipulative relationship, but it wasn't any more detailed or deeply depicted than any other twisted villain in your average fairy tale. I'd feel fine giving the book to a 14/15 year old.
Note: I received a free ARC from the generous author and this is my voluntary and honest review :)
So, first, I'm slightly embarrassed to say that it took me a second to realize this was a Red Riding Hood story XD I mean, it clicked as soon as I read the red cloak, but for some reason, I didn't connect those dots just looking at the cover (to be fair, my kindle is in black and white). That said, I'm not actually a huge Red Riding Hood fan. I don't dislike the tale, but it's never been one of my favorites. However, I've found a few versions of retellings that I've enjoyed much more than the original renditions. And I was curious how Stengl would handle the story. I enjoyed her nods to the tale, but she also brought a fresh perspective and made the story her own.
The wood and the grandmother, the town and the bakery, the mansion and all of the setting was a lot of fun. The city was fleshed out and varied, which I really enjoyed. The whole pocket world thing was really cool, too. A very neat way to handle this tale's classic elements, for sure.
I loved that Cerise was a baker. That was really fun. I immensely enjoyed our time in the bakery (and honestly, it makes sense for Red!) and was slightly disappointed at her choice in the end. There were a few "twists" that I picked up on from page one and then there were a few surprises I certainly didn't see coming. One twist was the way she portrayed the wolf, and I struggled to see why Cerise was so shocked when she figured it out. For as smart as she was (and she even kept pointing things out that she had observed that made it pretty obvious), I just didn't love how that revelation rocked her world. But the other twist I called about the villain made sense that it took her by surprise, though she did seem to take it in stride pretty easily. So, I struggled with the believability of Cerise's character reactions in the book, but otherwise, I really liked her.
Something else I struggled with a little was the way Cerise took to her magic so instantly. She never even had to try and it didn't make sense to me that it was so natural. What training did she need? She just did it. I don't have an issue with the level of power she had (I won't say whether great or small), but I didn't think it made sense for her to manipulate it so easily so quickly. I also struggled to follow the magical elements of the climax a little at first because it was abstract and intangible, but I caught on pretty quickly and was still very much enjoying the read.
Barbaro was a lot of fun. I really love what Stengl was doing with his character, and the themes she played off of him in the story were just beautiful. And although there were enough "he's so handsome"'s to make me shake my head, I really admired that Stengl added more depth to his relationship with Cerise. It happened really quickly, but somehow it didn't quite feel like insta love. There were moments, yeah, but it was cute anyway. And Stengl took the time to show the qualities of his personality that Cerise was drawn to--and she didn't just say there were deeper qualities, either; we got to watch Barbaro interact with Cerise in a deeper way. So, that was really sweet and heartwarming. I enjoyed it.
Content: There isn't any foul language and there was very little violence. The story is a romance and there were a few kisses, but nothing explicit. The story touched lightly on a manipulative relationship, but it wasn't any more detailed or deeply depicted than any other twisted villain in your average fairy tale. I'd feel fine giving the book to a 14/15 year old.
Note: I received a free ARC from the generous author and this is my voluntary and honest review :)
April 12, 2022
A steam-kissed story about a young woman who discovers her magic is being stolen. By who? I guess you'll have to find out in this cute tale!
Read
May 11, 20253.60. Rocky beginning with lots of questionable behavior / ideas / writing, but boy was I invested by the end, haha.
April 14, 2023
Mmmmmmokay.
2 stars felt callous, because it really isn’t a terrible read, but I did debate for quite a little moment there before selecting 3. So, disclaimer.
It’s just … boring. I don’t care very much about the characters. The pacing was weird. The world & magic were murky and ill-defined, which sucked a lot of the potential tension and excitement out of everything. I didn’t like it very much but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read. So, that’s the review, I guess.
2 stars felt callous, because it really isn’t a terrible read, but I did debate for quite a little moment there before selecting 3. So, disclaimer.
It’s just … boring. I don’t care very much about the characters. The pacing was weird. The world & magic were murky and ill-defined, which sucked a lot of the potential tension and excitement out of everything. I didn’t like it very much but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read. So, that’s the review, I guess.
November 11, 2021
I finished reading this book and was just glad that it was over.
This book was well written and I think it had a good story. I just could not connect with it. The love interest gave me creeper vibes which was not helped by his actions and background at all. The main character was instantly attracted to him without any real growth of a relationship. They had only known each other for days by the end of the book.
Since a main point of the book was the romance, it really decreased my enjoyment of the book to not care about their relationship. Everytime the main character had an inner monologue about how much she liked Barbaro, I just wanted to roll my eyes.
Also there were some details that were very obvious to the reader very early on in the book that took the main character forever to figure out. Some that she was even shocked by and I am just confused because those facts were so obvious that I thought she already knew about them. (being vague to avoid spoilers)
I might give this author another chance with some of her other work to see if this was just a dud for me. I am excited to read the next books in this villain collection.
Romance Content: Clean, just annoying. Some kisses and "hot guy, can't think" vibes felt throughout.
This book was well written and I think it had a good story. I just could not connect with it. The love interest gave me creeper vibes which was not helped by his actions and background at all. The main character was instantly attracted to him without any real growth of a relationship. They had only known each other for days by the end of the book.
Since a main point of the book was the romance, it really decreased my enjoyment of the book to not care about their relationship. Everytime the main character had an inner monologue about how much she liked Barbaro, I just wanted to roll my eyes.
Also there were some details that were very obvious to the reader very early on in the book that took the main character forever to figure out. Some that she was even shocked by and I am just confused because those facts were so obvious that I thought she already knew about them. (being vague to avoid spoilers)
I might give this author another chance with some of her other work to see if this was just a dud for me. I am excited to read the next books in this villain collection.
Romance Content: Clean, just annoying. Some kisses and "hot guy, can't think" vibes felt throughout.
November 19, 2021
Pro: interesting magic system in the book
Cons: the magic system is not explained (what is the blue light? what is a pocket world? etc), MAJOR insta-love that even the characters acknowledge (paraphrase: "I know I only knew him for five days but I want to spend the rest of my life with him" *and the bonus paraphrase* "I've been watching you for years and I fell in love with you then")
Cons: the magic system is not explained (what is the blue light? what is a pocket world? etc), MAJOR insta-love that even the characters acknowledge (paraphrase: "I know I only knew him for five days but I want to spend the rest of my life with him" *and the bonus paraphrase* "I've been watching you for years and I fell in love with you then")
December 6, 2021
Little red riding hood retelling. I liked how she portrayed the wolf's character and brought in the themes of redemption. The magic was interesting and I liked the mystery throughout. The story was a fun, quick read.
Content:
Language: none
Sexual: kissing
Violence: mild
Content:
Language: none
Sexual: kissing
Violence: mild
October 19, 2021
Well written
Entertaining and unique rendition of Red Riding-hood.
Likes:
H respects the h
No cursing
No sex scenes
HEA
**spoilers**
More Likes:
One villain repents, grows a conscience, puts education to good use and gets redeemed.
The unrepentant villain dies.
Dislikes:
The h agrees to be a prisoner with the H when they should both seek to secure his freedom.
H allows h to believe she is in danger of having multiple children per pregnancy, for his own entertainment. I guess teasing is supposed to make him have more dimension, but first, he doesn’t need more dimensions, and second, it’s pretty misogynistic to scare the h with the typical result of romantic devotion and marriage, childbirth. It’s pretty sick that the H takes joy, even momentarily, in her panic over whether she will survive having multiple kids at once as well as potential fears over her ability to care for them. Scaring her with what is uniquely hers as a woman (childbirth) and tying it to her act of intimacy, which is a symbol of devotion and faithfulness to him, means he set her up to betray herself either way. If she is scared of the outcome he portrays and ceases intimacy, then she loses the relationship and intimate satisfaction. If she doesn’t cease intimacy then she has to be terrified every time they are intimate that she will die in childbirth and leave her children without a mother or that there will be so many kids she will fail them because she cannot be everything all of them need. Obviously, the fear will be entangled with the issues she had growing up without a safe parent because the dad of any kids she had would basically have killed their mom by forcing her to have multiple kids due to his nature, which he knew about beforehand. Additionally, she had no good example of a mom growing up so she probably has some anxiety about being able to be s good mom, which would be difficult with multiple kids per pregnancy. The H doesn’t see anything from her point of view, and drags her through this misery in her thought process for his entertainment and the reader is supposed to gloss over it and think it’s fun. It’s not fun, it’s a disgusting, horrible, trauma inducing, misogynistic threat that he used because the author thinks it is okay for the best of men to denigrate a woman’s fears of childbirth and hold up threats that will affect only her as unimportant aspects of life to ridicule. If the threat could affect him, I imagine he would find it less funny. I don’t think the author did this on purpose, so I still gave the book 4 stars.
I do recommend the book, because it’s an excellent treatment of the redemptive villain theme, with the caveat that women’s fears are not proper material for ridicule. If the H wanted to be really funny, he could tell her the kids will shed as they shift so everything in the bakery could be covered with fur for a few years. It’s at least something that affects both of them equally and isn’t selected to psychologically damage the h for being female.
Entertaining and unique rendition of Red Riding-hood.
Likes:
H respects the h
No cursing
No sex scenes
HEA
**spoilers**
More Likes:
One villain repents, grows a conscience, puts education to good use and gets redeemed.
The unrepentant villain dies.
Dislikes:
The h agrees to be a prisoner with the H when they should both seek to secure his freedom.
H allows h to believe she is in danger of having multiple children per pregnancy, for his own entertainment. I guess teasing is supposed to make him have more dimension, but first, he doesn’t need more dimensions, and second, it’s pretty misogynistic to scare the h with the typical result of romantic devotion and marriage, childbirth. It’s pretty sick that the H takes joy, even momentarily, in her panic over whether she will survive having multiple kids at once as well as potential fears over her ability to care for them. Scaring her with what is uniquely hers as a woman (childbirth) and tying it to her act of intimacy, which is a symbol of devotion and faithfulness to him, means he set her up to betray herself either way. If she is scared of the outcome he portrays and ceases intimacy, then she loses the relationship and intimate satisfaction. If she doesn’t cease intimacy then she has to be terrified every time they are intimate that she will die in childbirth and leave her children without a mother or that there will be so many kids she will fail them because she cannot be everything all of them need. Obviously, the fear will be entangled with the issues she had growing up without a safe parent because the dad of any kids she had would basically have killed their mom by forcing her to have multiple kids due to his nature, which he knew about beforehand. Additionally, she had no good example of a mom growing up so she probably has some anxiety about being able to be s good mom, which would be difficult with multiple kids per pregnancy. The H doesn’t see anything from her point of view, and drags her through this misery in her thought process for his entertainment and the reader is supposed to gloss over it and think it’s fun. It’s not fun, it’s a disgusting, horrible, trauma inducing, misogynistic threat that he used because the author thinks it is okay for the best of men to denigrate a woman’s fears of childbirth and hold up threats that will affect only her as unimportant aspects of life to ridicule. If the threat could affect him, I imagine he would find it less funny. I don’t think the author did this on purpose, so I still gave the book 4 stars.
I do recommend the book, because it’s an excellent treatment of the redemptive villain theme, with the caveat that women’s fears are not proper material for ridicule. If the H wanted to be really funny, he could tell her the kids will shed as they shift so everything in the bakery could be covered with fur for a few years. It’s at least something that affects both of them equally and isn’t selected to psychologically damage the h for being female.
November 2, 2023
3.5/5
"The Baker and the Wolf" by J.M. Stengl, part of the A Villains Ever After series, is a delightful and fun retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood. As someone familiar with Stengl's works, it's no surprise to find that she weaves a fresh and unique spin on this fairy tale retelling.
The novella swiftly immerses you in a world where familiar aspects of the fairytale are skillfully blended into a wholly original story. The setting and characters are engaging, creating a vivid backdrop for this romantic retelling.
Due to its novella format, the story moves at a brisk pace, including the development of the romance. Cerise DuBois, working in her family's bakery, possesses a distinctive scarlet cloak that should make her stand out, but she has never caught the attention of a man until the arrival of a mysterious stranger. This encounter sets off a series of revelations that cast Cerise's understanding of herself into doubt. The story delves into romance, self-discovery, and a quest for truth and survival, all narrated from the unconventional side of the tale.
Stengl excels in portraying the wolf's character and themes of redemption, adding an interesting layer of magic and mystery that keeps the reader engaged. The story is a quick and enjoyable read, offering fresh perspectives while nodding to the original tale. The world-building, from the woods and grandmother to the town and bakery, adds depth and enjoyment to the narrative.
The inclusion of a "pocket world" concept to handle classic story elements is a unique and refreshing take. Cerise's role as a baker is a delightful touch, and her time in the bakery provides an enjoyable backdrop for the tale. Stengl successfully balances surprises and expected twists, making the story engaging and unpredictable.
The author ensures that all the vital elements of the original tale remain intact while introducing her own unique additions. The character development of the Wolf is particularly intriguing, as Stengl delves into his dark past and his potential for redemption, showing that even those with a troubled history can find a path to change.
The interweaving of magic, mystery, and nods to the classic story elements sets the stage for a truly wonderful and enjoyable novella. "The Baker and the Wolf," part of the A Villains Ever After series, is a charming and well-crafted retelling that keeps the magic of the original while adding new layers to the story, making it an engaging and fresh reading experience.
"The Baker and the Wolf" by J.M. Stengl, part of the A Villains Ever After series, is a delightful and fun retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood. As someone familiar with Stengl's works, it's no surprise to find that she weaves a fresh and unique spin on this fairy tale retelling.
The novella swiftly immerses you in a world where familiar aspects of the fairytale are skillfully blended into a wholly original story. The setting and characters are engaging, creating a vivid backdrop for this romantic retelling.
Due to its novella format, the story moves at a brisk pace, including the development of the romance. Cerise DuBois, working in her family's bakery, possesses a distinctive scarlet cloak that should make her stand out, but she has never caught the attention of a man until the arrival of a mysterious stranger. This encounter sets off a series of revelations that cast Cerise's understanding of herself into doubt. The story delves into romance, self-discovery, and a quest for truth and survival, all narrated from the unconventional side of the tale.
Stengl excels in portraying the wolf's character and themes of redemption, adding an interesting layer of magic and mystery that keeps the reader engaged. The story is a quick and enjoyable read, offering fresh perspectives while nodding to the original tale. The world-building, from the woods and grandmother to the town and bakery, adds depth and enjoyment to the narrative.
The inclusion of a "pocket world" concept to handle classic story elements is a unique and refreshing take. Cerise's role as a baker is a delightful touch, and her time in the bakery provides an enjoyable backdrop for the tale. Stengl successfully balances surprises and expected twists, making the story engaging and unpredictable.
The author ensures that all the vital elements of the original tale remain intact while introducing her own unique additions. The character development of the Wolf is particularly intriguing, as Stengl delves into his dark past and his potential for redemption, showing that even those with a troubled history can find a path to change.
The interweaving of magic, mystery, and nods to the classic story elements sets the stage for a truly wonderful and enjoyable novella. "The Baker and the Wolf," part of the A Villains Ever After series, is a charming and well-crafted retelling that keeps the magic of the original while adding new layers to the story, making it an engaging and fresh reading experience.
August 17, 2023
The wolf be wolfing down her pastries!
I don't get why the main character keeps flirt-shaming her cat as if it wants a human man's D and not cuddles. Please don't sexualize your pet.
I don't think this book suits the villain's happy ever after series, because we mainly follow little red riding hood and she was never the antagonist. The tale lacks a spin. The POV should have been from the wolf's perspective with red as the villain, or it should have played more with the setting. It's just too generic a tale and the protagonist is far too vanilla for my taste. She has no self-preservation skills and is a prime subject for exploitation.
The magic training part lacked ingenuity to justify it's existence. We could have skipped the whole segment with a few words and still be just as wise as before. The story needs more build-up to work. We meet the wolf too early to feel grateful for Red's changing perspective and worldview. There is no build up that makes
Also, there's no grandeur about Red's family history or luxurious holdings. The author failed to add mood to the scenes. It all read as very flat and I lacked a feel for the city and Red's surroundings. Barebones setting descriptions.
Red is so head over heels in love with the wolf that she doesn't flinch at his awful history, but only feels heartache because she knows her feelings are wrong. Girl, you should be scared shitless if a murderer and felon played cutesy games with you unless you want to die a horrible death. He didn't squash ants. He killed humans.
Giselle's way of dealing with issues was so idiotic and clumsily fed to us in the ending of the book as an afterthought.
It gets 1 star from me. I do not hate it but I didn't like it.
I don't get why the main character keeps flirt-shaming her cat as if it wants a human man's D and not cuddles. Please don't sexualize your pet.
I don't think this book suits the villain's happy ever after series, because we mainly follow little red riding hood and she was never the antagonist. The tale lacks a spin. The POV should have been from the wolf's perspective with red as the villain, or it should have played more with the setting. It's just too generic a tale and the protagonist is far too vanilla for my taste. She has no self-preservation skills and is a prime subject for exploitation.
The magic training part lacked ingenuity to justify it's existence. We could have skipped the whole segment with a few words and still be just as wise as before. The story needs more build-up to work. We meet the wolf too early to feel grateful for Red's changing perspective and worldview. There is no build up that makes
Also, there's no grandeur about Red's family history or luxurious holdings. The author failed to add mood to the scenes. It all read as very flat and I lacked a feel for the city and Red's surroundings. Barebones setting descriptions.
Red is so head over heels in love with the wolf that she doesn't flinch at his awful history, but only feels heartache because she knows her feelings are wrong. Girl, you should be scared shitless if a murderer and felon played cutesy games with you unless you want to die a horrible death. He didn't squash ants. He killed humans.
Giselle's way of dealing with issues was so idiotic and clumsily fed to us in the ending of the book as an afterthought.
It gets 1 star from me. I do not hate it but I didn't like it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews