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The Ruby Realm #1
Crimson Claws
A girl and her grandma... separated by an entire pack of beasts.
A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
Roisen Karro and her grandmother run the most beloved bakery in the province of Omaira. Ever since her father disappeared seven years ago, Ro has decided there is no place for a man in her heart, especially an obnoxiously flirty woodcutter. Unfortunately, her granny has no issue encouraging the young man’s advances toward her.
At the far end of Omaira, a strange foreigner washes up on the shores and finds himself amongst the ranks of a nefarious group of beasts. With no knowledge of the Ruby Realm or even a grasp on their language, the foreigner agrees to do their dirty work until he gets back on his feet. All they asked him to do was kidnap some girl from a bakery, anyway...
As Ro discovers there is more behind her father’s disappearance than she knew, she finds herself entangled in the schemes of a sly new foe. With only the clothes on her back and a pack of wolves on her heels, Ro must find her way back to her granny before it’s too late for them both. Will Ro be able to survive the hunt? Or will the beasts swallow her family whole...?
The Ruby Realm is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, inspired by classic fairy tales.
A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
Roisen Karro and her grandmother run the most beloved bakery in the province of Omaira. Ever since her father disappeared seven years ago, Ro has decided there is no place for a man in her heart, especially an obnoxiously flirty woodcutter. Unfortunately, her granny has no issue encouraging the young man’s advances toward her.
At the far end of Omaira, a strange foreigner washes up on the shores and finds himself amongst the ranks of a nefarious group of beasts. With no knowledge of the Ruby Realm or even a grasp on their language, the foreigner agrees to do their dirty work until he gets back on his feet. All they asked him to do was kidnap some girl from a bakery, anyway...
As Ro discovers there is more behind her father’s disappearance than she knew, she finds herself entangled in the schemes of a sly new foe. With only the clothes on her back and a pack of wolves on her heels, Ro must find her way back to her granny before it’s too late for them both. Will Ro be able to survive the hunt? Or will the beasts swallow her family whole...?
The Ruby Realm is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, inspired by classic fairy tales.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2022
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426 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 9, 2025
Oh boy. Where do I even start?
🚨Warning! Please note this is totally written sarcastically and exaggeratedly—this is not a bad book nor is the author a terrible writer, it just wasn’t for me AT ALL and I’m not shy about all the problems I had with it. So take all this with a grain of salt and have fun at my expense, ‘kay?🚨
Let’s start with the plot that had more weirdness then you could shake a stick at. At first it was fine but then Ro gets kidnapped and suddenly people seem to be jumping around and getting ahead of people they shouldn’t be ahead of plus all they did was seemingly run in circles, villains and heroes alike. Which means if they could get around so quickly and easily why didn’t our heroes just run and get help? Because it seems like they could have done this quite easily…oh wait they can’t because if they did the plot would stop them and suddenly they wouldn’t have time! 🤦🏼♀️ And this just kept happening, good grief…
The magic made no sense and wasn’t explained which is fine for a fairytale retelling like this but also it felt very generic and kinda boring? Like I guessed right off the bat what Ro’s magic was and I wasn’t even excited about getting it right it was so boringly obvious.
I found the villain’s motives really weak, like there wasn’t another herbalist you could bully in SEVEN YEARS?!?! There HAD to be other herbalists in the area, right? So why keep tracking down the same one for SEVEN YEARS? It made no sense! There wasn’t even a “they need that person’s particular magic” excuse because NO MAGIC WAS INVOLVED IN MAKING THE STUFF!!!! So why not find someone else in SEVEN YEARS?! Good grief, there’s no way this overlord villain will fail at taking over the world with these kinds of stellar minds working for him. 🙄🤦🏼♀️
But now let’s get into my biggest gripe about the whole book and the reason I skimmed the last few chapters and nearly rolled my eyes out of their sockets: Ro. Ah yes, our Girl Boss hero who’s only flaws are her snarky mouth (which is ✨charming✨) and that she’s directionally challenged (which is probably also ✨charming✨ they just forgot to mention it along her other stellar qualities) though that shouldn’t have mattered since this plot’s timing and places made no sense anyways. Otherwise she’s basically perfect and told so by everyone she meets, so much so I’m told how ✨awesome✨ she is about every other page until I was grinding my teeth so hard and rolling my eyes so much I should have been admitted to the hospital for correctional operation. She escapes with narely a scratch from her incompetent kidnappers more then once, rescues her man more then once (he gets to rescue her, uh, *checks notes* I think a whopping one time), tells everyone what to do more then once because she’s clearly the smartest one here, and did I forget to mention she’s ✨awesome✨? So ✨awesome✨ in fact her own stupid stubbornness nearly got her, her man, her grandmother, and everyone else in this book killed because she refused to listen to common sense because she ✨knew best✨ and couldn’t be told no in her life because she’s the main character and therefore must always be right! Good grief, I wanted to throw her off a cliff by the end of this book, the insufferable cow! 98% of this book wouldn’t have happened if she’d listened to those who actually knew better then her!
Zac was fine. I had no issues with him aside from him agreeing to do everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) his dear little Ro wanted and heaven forbid he cross or disagree with her. Wouldn’t want him to have any agency in this story now would we? And I don’t know why he loves her, like seriously he could find someone SOOO much better, but I digress.
I skimmed the last few chapters just to see if my predictions on everything were correct (they were) but that was after my ears were already spewing smoke and I wanted to strangle the ✨awesome✨ Ro.
This was so totally not for me.
‼️Content‼️
Language: geez
Violence: knives are held to women’s throats; wolves chase and nearly attack characters; a character hits a man on the head with a pot; injuries and blood (not detailed)
Sexual: kissing (not detailed)
Drugs/Alcohol: a woman is poisoned; death by poison; a person is forced to make poisons for people
Other: magic; magical powers/objects; an immortal man; characters are kidnapped and tied up
🚨Warning! Please note this is totally written sarcastically and exaggeratedly—this is not a bad book nor is the author a terrible writer, it just wasn’t for me AT ALL and I’m not shy about all the problems I had with it. So take all this with a grain of salt and have fun at my expense, ‘kay?🚨
Let’s start with the plot that had more weirdness then you could shake a stick at. At first it was fine but then Ro gets kidnapped and suddenly people seem to be jumping around and getting ahead of people they shouldn’t be ahead of plus all they did was seemingly run in circles, villains and heroes alike. Which means if they could get around so quickly and easily why didn’t our heroes just run and get help? Because it seems like they could have done this quite easily…oh wait they can’t because if they did the plot would stop them and suddenly they wouldn’t have time! 🤦🏼♀️ And this just kept happening, good grief…
The magic made no sense and wasn’t explained which is fine for a fairytale retelling like this but also it felt very generic and kinda boring? Like I guessed right off the bat what Ro’s magic was and I wasn’t even excited about getting it right it was so boringly obvious.
I found the villain’s motives really weak, like there wasn’t another herbalist you could bully in SEVEN YEARS?!?! There HAD to be other herbalists in the area, right? So why keep tracking down the same one for SEVEN YEARS? It made no sense! There wasn’t even a “they need that person’s particular magic” excuse because NO MAGIC WAS INVOLVED IN MAKING THE STUFF!!!! So why not find someone else in SEVEN YEARS?! Good grief, there’s no way this overlord villain will fail at taking over the world with these kinds of stellar minds working for him. 🙄🤦🏼♀️
But now let’s get into my biggest gripe about the whole book and the reason I skimmed the last few chapters and nearly rolled my eyes out of their sockets: Ro. Ah yes, our Girl Boss hero who’s only flaws are her snarky mouth (which is ✨charming✨) and that she’s directionally challenged (which is probably also ✨charming✨ they just forgot to mention it along her other stellar qualities) though that shouldn’t have mattered since this plot’s timing and places made no sense anyways. Otherwise she’s basically perfect and told so by everyone she meets, so much so I’m told how ✨awesome✨ she is about every other page until I was grinding my teeth so hard and rolling my eyes so much I should have been admitted to the hospital for correctional operation. She escapes with narely a scratch from her incompetent kidnappers more then once, rescues her man more then once (he gets to rescue her, uh, *checks notes* I think a whopping one time), tells everyone what to do more then once because she’s clearly the smartest one here, and did I forget to mention she’s ✨awesome✨? So ✨awesome✨ in fact her own stupid stubbornness nearly got her, her man, her grandmother, and everyone else in this book killed because she refused to listen to common sense because she ✨knew best✨ and couldn’t be told no in her life because she’s the main character and therefore must always be right! Good grief, I wanted to throw her off a cliff by the end of this book, the insufferable cow! 98% of this book wouldn’t have happened if she’d listened to those who actually knew better then her!
Zac was fine. I had no issues with him aside from him agreeing to do everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) his dear little Ro wanted and heaven forbid he cross or disagree with her. Wouldn’t want him to have any agency in this story now would we? And I don’t know why he loves her, like seriously he could find someone SOOO much better, but I digress.
I skimmed the last few chapters just to see if my predictions on everything were correct (they were) but that was after my ears were already spewing smoke and I wanted to strangle the ✨awesome✨ Ro.
This was so totally not for me.
‼️Content‼️
Language: geez
Violence: knives are held to women’s throats; wolves chase and nearly attack characters; a character hits a man on the head with a pot; injuries and blood (not detailed)
Sexual: kissing (not detailed)
Drugs/Alcohol: a woman is poisoned; death by poison; a person is forced to make poisons for people
Other: magic; magical powers/objects; an immortal man; characters are kidnapped and tied up
March 24, 2023
Best Red Riding Hood retelling I've read!!! Lovable characters(especially Granny), sweet romance, and great adventure!!! Ro is such a strong female heroin!!!! Absolutely loved this book!
October 7, 2022
I was able to score an advanced copy and greatly enjoyed this start of the Ruby Realm series. It started off a bit slow it seemed to me at first, but hey its a new world, or "Realm" we are building here.....then the accelerator hit the floor. I've finished Manning's previous series of the Emerald Realm and this start to the Ruby Realm did not skip a beat. There was more action and twists I didn't expect and didn't want to put it down. There are a few references to the previous series, and like that series, no foul language and a clean read, but the Ruby Realm Crimson Claws stands on its own. Now I need some fresh bakery goodies.
January 24, 2023
This book was super good! I loved it so much I was given an arc but this is my honest opinion of this book, it’s addictive and so suspenseful! The romance was soooo cute and I love little red riding hood re tellings and this one was amazing! The banter between the two characters was so cute and funny, and I love Ro’s character development, I also may have shed a tear!❤️❤️ definitely want to read more from this author
October 9, 2022
I was given an advanced copy of this manuscript in exchange for my honest review. The following review has not been influenced by other’s opinions & includes my own thoughts.
Do you remember the Red Riding Hood that you were told tales of as a child? Yes? Well, take that memory and be prepared to enjoy as Abigail Manning takes those same characters and brings them to life as you never expected!!
The story begins with a bit of background details laid out so that we can understand a small piece of the villains backstory, however, I must honestly say that when I opened the book then I came into it with an expectation of how I ‘thought’ it would begin. I was wrong & because of this my brain immediately was confused and I stubbornly refused to go with the twist in how the story began.. So do not go into this story as I did and have expectations of how you think it will begin!
Shortly after I got to the first part of the story and I began to see the characters I knew from my childhood brought to life. That is when I settled in for an enjoyable adventure full of clean romance and details that made me feel as if I were standing in Granny’s Bakery. I loved that in this rendering the female characters are shown to be strong and not fearful of the ‘wolves’ in the story!
I loved this story and when I finished it even went back to the beginning and reread the backstory that I stubbornly glazed over and then it all made sense to me. The only thing that could make me love this story even more would be if the Author had included recipes at the back of the book to share the yummy recipes we read of being made in Granny’s kitchen!
I look forward to more from Abigail Manning!
Do you remember the Red Riding Hood that you were told tales of as a child? Yes? Well, take that memory and be prepared to enjoy as Abigail Manning takes those same characters and brings them to life as you never expected!!
The story begins with a bit of background details laid out so that we can understand a small piece of the villains backstory, however, I must honestly say that when I opened the book then I came into it with an expectation of how I ‘thought’ it would begin. I was wrong & because of this my brain immediately was confused and I stubbornly refused to go with the twist in how the story began.. So do not go into this story as I did and have expectations of how you think it will begin!
Shortly after I got to the first part of the story and I began to see the characters I knew from my childhood brought to life. That is when I settled in for an enjoyable adventure full of clean romance and details that made me feel as if I were standing in Granny’s Bakery. I loved that in this rendering the female characters are shown to be strong and not fearful of the ‘wolves’ in the story!
I loved this story and when I finished it even went back to the beginning and reread the backstory that I stubbornly glazed over and then it all made sense to me. The only thing that could make me love this story even more would be if the Author had included recipes at the back of the book to share the yummy recipes we read of being made in Granny’s kitchen!
I look forward to more from Abigail Manning!
October 10, 2022
What a great introduction to the Ruby Realm. I really enjoyed this twist on The Little Red Riding Hood and found it to be very unique, which is always fun. Since I was reading it specifically to give my opinion, I didn’t skip to the end (yes, I like spoilers) and I read it through in a day. The dialogue throughout is very witty and is my type of humor. As usual, I can’t wait for the next installment.
It’s very clean romantically, with only minor kissing a time or two, and clean language-wise. As for violence, there is some death and some wolf attacks, but nothing gruesome.
I did receive a free copy of this book as an advanced reader, but these opinions and thoughts are my own and I will be re-reading it when it releases.
It’s very clean romantically, with only minor kissing a time or two, and clean language-wise. As for violence, there is some death and some wolf attacks, but nothing gruesome.
I did receive a free copy of this book as an advanced reader, but these opinions and thoughts are my own and I will be re-reading it when it releases.
October 7, 2022
WARNING: This book may prove too addictive for readers to put down! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
This book sucked me in right from the beginning, and I think this is Manning's best book yet! I will always pick up a good fairytale retelling, but Ro and Zac's snarky/ flirty banter was so hilarious and perfect that I wanted the book to never end. I love a tough and confident FMC and a MMC that is man enough to not just handle her, but keep coming back for more.
The romance was very satisfying for me. I love a good, clean romance, and this book delivered! Zac was adorable, and I laughed to myself that Ro had to rely on the one person whose advances she had spurned for so long. I also enjoyed that Ro was able to be confident in herself and not depend 100% on the big, strong man to solve the problems for her.
I loved Granny and Ro's relationship with her. She is so like most little matchmaker grandmothers who think they are all clever setting up their granddaughter, and I had the PERFECT picture of her in my head. Seriously, Abigail Manning does such an incredible job of building a vivid world that is easy for the reader to imagine. It was as if I could see, smell, and taste (c'mon, they are in a bakery!) everything throughout the book.
The realm that this book is set in is very intriguing, the villain(s) were very well-written, and I loved seeing how their tale was interwoven with Ro's estranged father. I can't wait for more books in this series (bring on the dragons!!!)
There were definitely twists in this story that I didn't see coming, and surprised me (in a good way!) and I was very satisfied with how everything wrapped up! I ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to any reader who loves clean romance, fairytale retellings, and sassy female leads!
This book sucked me in right from the beginning, and I think this is Manning's best book yet! I will always pick up a good fairytale retelling, but Ro and Zac's snarky/ flirty banter was so hilarious and perfect that I wanted the book to never end. I love a tough and confident FMC and a MMC that is man enough to not just handle her, but keep coming back for more.
The romance was very satisfying for me. I love a good, clean romance, and this book delivered! Zac was adorable, and I laughed to myself that Ro had to rely on the one person whose advances she had spurned for so long. I also enjoyed that Ro was able to be confident in herself and not depend 100% on the big, strong man to solve the problems for her.
I loved Granny and Ro's relationship with her. She is so like most little matchmaker grandmothers who think they are all clever setting up their granddaughter, and I had the PERFECT picture of her in my head. Seriously, Abigail Manning does such an incredible job of building a vivid world that is easy for the reader to imagine. It was as if I could see, smell, and taste (c'mon, they are in a bakery!) everything throughout the book.
The realm that this book is set in is very intriguing, the villain(s) were very well-written, and I loved seeing how their tale was interwoven with Ro's estranged father. I can't wait for more books in this series (bring on the dragons!!!)
There were definitely twists in this story that I didn't see coming, and surprised me (in a good way!) and I was very satisfied with how everything wrapped up! I ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to any reader who loves clean romance, fairytale retellings, and sassy female leads!
October 28, 2022
Crimson Claws breathes new life into the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale and takes readers on an exciting ride! This is the first book I’ve read by Abigail Manning, but it won’t be the last.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story because of the way they challenged and complimented each other. Ro, our heroine, is a wonderful blend of feisty and vulnerable. And while the hero, Zac, first comes off as a flirt when we meet him (and Ro is having none of it) we soon learn that there’s much more to him than meets the eye. Needless to say, the banter between these two was great!
This story pulled me in right away and was very fast-paced with some great twists and turns. I also really loved the whole premise of the villains being in control of the wolves versus the wolves being the villains themselves. It added a much more sinister, human side to the danger and made it feel more realistic.
If you’re looking for a fun new take on Red Riding Hood with a heroine who doesn’t let herself get led astray in the forest but rather forges her own path to save those she loves (with a handsome, witty, brave woodcutter by her side) give this one a try!
*I received an ARC of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story because of the way they challenged and complimented each other. Ro, our heroine, is a wonderful blend of feisty and vulnerable. And while the hero, Zac, first comes off as a flirt when we meet him (and Ro is having none of it) we soon learn that there’s much more to him than meets the eye. Needless to say, the banter between these two was great!
This story pulled me in right away and was very fast-paced with some great twists and turns. I also really loved the whole premise of the villains being in control of the wolves versus the wolves being the villains themselves. It added a much more sinister, human side to the danger and made it feel more realistic.
If you’re looking for a fun new take on Red Riding Hood with a heroine who doesn’t let herself get led astray in the forest but rather forges her own path to save those she loves (with a handsome, witty, brave woodcutter by her side) give this one a try!
*I received an ARC of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 20, 2023
Honestly, I had kinda forgotten that the whole "what big ears you have" deal was part of little red riding hood, so good thing this book included that...to some degree.
I will give this book credit for originality. The way that aspects of the original fairytale were retained and reshaped into something new was very fun to read. For example, the red cloak Ro wears is improvised by Ro when escaping Qullian. Zac radiated golden retriever energy, and honestly I think he deserved better than Ro (more on that later). Conan was...an enigma. More on that later too. Yeah, I think that's really the only positive thing I can say for this book.
I'm just gonna go through my Kindle notes and address them here because the more I think about this story the more annoyed I get.
1) Fact: Readers hate info dumps. Info dumps are boring. Bear, beets, Battle Star Galactica. In the middle of the third chapter (or something) Ro is talking about her "fear of abandonment" because her dad "betrayed her heart." Which, valid. What's not valid is the sudden shift to 2nd POV. The narration randomly switches and says, "It was hard not to think that way when you knew the full story..." [sic]. WHO IS YOU. WHY YOU. The next paragraph is an immediate info dump. Not cool beans.
2) Ro's whole thing with why she doesn't like Zac is because he is annoyingly persistent in pursuing her affections, even though she is blatantly rude to him (not just politely declining). YET STILL Granny hardcore ships Ro and Zac together, and tells Ro as much. But why? Why does Granny like Zac? Because Ro is right, you can't blindly trust someone based on a smile and kindness alone. Maybe it's genuine, but then again, you catch more flies with honey...
3) Like I said before, Ro can be pretty rude to Zac. So why is he still chasing her affections? At this point in the story, we don't know much about Zac (worded to avoid spoilers). When I was reading this, my thought was, "If Zac only likes Ro at this point because he likes girls who play hard to get, that's a red flag in and of itself."
4) This book mentions "a cherry Danish" and "chocolate." My question: would a pastry in an imaginary fantasy world still be called a Danish, if an IRL Danish is named after Denmark? And how did chocolate enter this land?
5) I raged at the whole scene with the music box. Why would Ro a) dig up a mysterious hidden box from her parents, who at this point she presumes betrayed her b) decide to show it to her grandmother DURING THE BAKERY'S RUSH HOUR??? Get your ass to the counter and start helping your grandmother with those hangry customers.
6) "Why? It's only M-mother's jewelry b-box."
7) Sorry, one other thing I did like about the book. I love conniving, so that scene where Ro showers Zac with affection in order to signal that she needs help was *chef's kiss*
8) I'm really mad about how quickly Ro jumped to conclusions that Zac is just because of how (checks notes) knew the villain's name, knows how to use an ax, and knows about Ro's father. What qualifications for such an assumption! But you know what they say, assuming makes an ass out of you and me.
9) I forgot that magic existed in this world. I forgot that Ro has some quirkl little hair stripe that the 2000s kids would be envious of. So when all this talk about Magic and hair and her father entered the fray, I was hella confused.
10) Look, I'm all for female empowerment and I love a good heroine. However, I cannot stand MCs who rush headfirst into danger without using a single brain cell for critical thinking. I commend the character's loyalty to XYZ, but bravery without analysis is stupidity. Ro is brainless at points. She wants to rush back to the bakery to "save Granny" BUT she doesn't know anything about her opponents. Are they tracking her? How fast is their network system? Are they too late? etc. BUT when Zac makes an attempt to point out how Ro needs to assess the situation before charging on, Ro accuses him of wanting to "run back to Daddy." And what annoys the heck out of me is that this is a continued theme throughout the book! Anytime Zac has a semi-coherent thought that might make sense irl, it's shut down for some silly decision Ro makes because GIRL POWER.
11) "The vials clattered against each other" [sic]. Why is this singular onomatopoeia italicized?
12) The characters have a very loose control of their emotions and relationships with one another.
13) Oh, wait, Ro doesn't have feelings! No one in this book does! Maybe I am just an extremely pessimistic person, but why is everyone in this book so gourd damn forgiving? The Duke is really like, "Sorry for all the trauma and pain I inadvertently caused your family" and Granny's like, "aight bet, we cool now." All the emotions in this book are either good or bad, there's no spectrum of it. They either love each other or hate each other, they are either happy or sad, etc. RO IS THE WORST CULPRIT OF THIS. Her little "change of heart" is really more like a flip of a switch since it happens so fast with no regression or hesitance. One day she's like, "I hate all men because my dad left me" and the next she's like "I love this guy who's been annoying me for months now." Maybe this really isn't my place to make any judgement calls, but I would assume that anyone whose pain is that deeprooted can't just uproot it overnight. Grief and growth are a roller coaster with ups and downs, not flipping a light switch.
14) All of the terrorist organizations' names should've been capitalized. It got mega confusing to read any scene with Quillan or Conan because "beast" could've referred to the terrorist group or the wolves. There's really no reason why it wasn't capitalized when referring to the group, it would've saved a lot of confusion.
15) They got married at the end of the book. I'm mad. RO AND ZAC KNEW EACH OTHER FOR A MONTH. RO HATED MEN FOR MOST OF THE BOOK. WHY DID HE ASK HER IN FRONT OF THE COURT. WHY WAS HE REFERRED TO AS A "GIFT" TO HER. WHY DID THEY GET MARRIED. I'm so angy because WHY was there a marriage? I get that it ties the story up nicely, but we didn't need it! Also, back to Ro's character arc, no way she would agree to that at this point in her life! Literally two weeks ago she was still "scarred by men" or whatever.
16) We needed more Conan in this book. We saw more of Zac in this book (duh) than we did Conan, and Conan was the one actually mentioned in the blurb of the book. Conan was made out to be some big important character who would have a major role, but instead he gets swept under the rug for later.
I have recently learned that the sequel does not follow Ro, but instead changes to focus on Mirabel. This resolves some questions for me (like why they get married so fast), but all my other points still stand.
This wasn't a bad book, I actually liked it sometimes. But all these small grievances added up in a way to really just make me annoyed when I think about reading the book. I'm reading the sequel, but only because it's a B&B retelling and only because Conan gets more screen time (I'm assuming).
I will give this book credit for originality. The way that aspects of the original fairytale were retained and reshaped into something new was very fun to read. For example, the red cloak Ro wears is improvised by Ro when escaping Qullian. Zac radiated golden retriever energy, and honestly I think he deserved better than Ro (more on that later). Conan was...an enigma. More on that later too. Yeah, I think that's really the only positive thing I can say for this book.
I'm just gonna go through my Kindle notes and address them here because the more I think about this story the more annoyed I get.
1) Fact: Readers hate info dumps. Info dumps are boring. Bear, beets, Battle Star Galactica. In the middle of the third chapter (or something) Ro is talking about her "fear of abandonment" because her dad "betrayed her heart." Which, valid. What's not valid is the sudden shift to 2nd POV. The narration randomly switches and says, "It was hard not to think that way when you knew the full story..." [sic]. WHO IS YOU. WHY YOU. The next paragraph is an immediate info dump. Not cool beans.
2) Ro's whole thing with why she doesn't like Zac is because he is annoyingly persistent in pursuing her affections, even though she is blatantly rude to him (not just politely declining). YET STILL Granny hardcore ships Ro and Zac together, and tells Ro as much. But why? Why does Granny like Zac? Because Ro is right, you can't blindly trust someone based on a smile and kindness alone. Maybe it's genuine, but then again, you catch more flies with honey...
3) Like I said before, Ro can be pretty rude to Zac. So why is he still chasing her affections? At this point in the story, we don't know much about Zac (worded to avoid spoilers). When I was reading this, my thought was, "If Zac only likes Ro at this point because he likes girls who play hard to get, that's a red flag in and of itself."
4) This book mentions "a cherry Danish" and "chocolate." My question: would a pastry in an imaginary fantasy world still be called a Danish, if an IRL Danish is named after Denmark? And how did chocolate enter this land?
5) I raged at the whole scene with the music box. Why would Ro a) dig up a mysterious hidden box from her parents, who at this point she presumes betrayed her b) decide to show it to her grandmother DURING THE BAKERY'S RUSH HOUR??? Get your ass to the counter and start helping your grandmother with those hangry customers.
6) "Why? It's only M-mother's jewelry b-box."
7) Sorry, one other thing I did like about the book. I love conniving, so that scene where Ro showers Zac with affection in order to signal that she needs help was *chef's kiss*
8) I'm really mad about how quickly Ro jumped to conclusions that Zac is just because of how (checks notes) knew the villain's name, knows how to use an ax, and knows about Ro's father. What qualifications for such an assumption! But you know what they say, assuming makes an ass out of you and me.
9) I forgot that magic existed in this world. I forgot that Ro has some quirkl little hair stripe that the 2000s kids would be envious of. So when all this talk about Magic and hair and her father entered the fray, I was hella confused.
10) Look, I'm all for female empowerment and I love a good heroine. However, I cannot stand MCs who rush headfirst into danger without using a single brain cell for critical thinking. I commend the character's loyalty to XYZ, but bravery without analysis is stupidity. Ro is brainless at points. She wants to rush back to the bakery to "save Granny" BUT she doesn't know anything about her opponents. Are they tracking her? How fast is their network system? Are they too late? etc. BUT when Zac makes an attempt to point out how Ro needs to assess the situation before charging on, Ro accuses him of wanting to "run back to Daddy." And what annoys the heck out of me is that this is a continued theme throughout the book! Anytime Zac has a semi-coherent thought that might make sense irl, it's shut down for some silly decision Ro makes because GIRL POWER.
11) "The vials clattered against each other" [sic]. Why is this singular onomatopoeia italicized?
12) The characters have a very loose control of their emotions and relationships with one another.
13) Oh, wait, Ro doesn't have feelings! No one in this book does! Maybe I am just an extremely pessimistic person, but why is everyone in this book so gourd damn forgiving? The Duke is really like, "Sorry for all the trauma and pain I inadvertently caused your family" and Granny's like, "aight bet, we cool now." All the emotions in this book are either good or bad, there's no spectrum of it. They either love each other or hate each other, they are either happy or sad, etc. RO IS THE WORST CULPRIT OF THIS. Her little "change of heart" is really more like a flip of a switch since it happens so fast with no regression or hesitance. One day she's like, "I hate all men because my dad left me" and the next she's like "I love this guy who's been annoying me for months now." Maybe this really isn't my place to make any judgement calls, but I would assume that anyone whose pain is that deeprooted can't just uproot it overnight. Grief and growth are a roller coaster with ups and downs, not flipping a light switch.
14) All of the terrorist organizations' names should've been capitalized. It got mega confusing to read any scene with Quillan or Conan because "beast" could've referred to the terrorist group or the wolves. There's really no reason why it wasn't capitalized when referring to the group, it would've saved a lot of confusion.
15) They got married at the end of the book. I'm mad. RO AND ZAC KNEW EACH OTHER FOR A MONTH. RO HATED MEN FOR MOST OF THE BOOK. WHY DID HE ASK HER IN FRONT OF THE COURT. WHY WAS HE REFERRED TO AS A "GIFT" TO HER. WHY DID THEY GET MARRIED. I'm so angy because WHY was there a marriage? I get that it ties the story up nicely, but we didn't need it! Also, back to Ro's character arc, no way she would agree to that at this point in her life! Literally two weeks ago she was still "scarred by men" or whatever.
16) We needed more Conan in this book. We saw more of Zac in this book (duh) than we did Conan, and Conan was the one actually mentioned in the blurb of the book. Conan was made out to be some big important character who would have a major role, but instead he gets swept under the rug for later.
I have recently learned that the sequel does not follow Ro, but instead changes to focus on Mirabel. This resolves some questions for me (like why they get married so fast), but all my other points still stand.
This wasn't a bad book, I actually liked it sometimes. But all these small grievances added up in a way to really just make me annoyed when I think about reading the book. I'm reading the sequel, but only because it's a B&B retelling and only because Conan gets more screen time (I'm assuming).
October 15, 2022
First, I want to thank the author for sending me the ARC of this book and giving me the opportunity to read it! I feel honored to be a part of this journey!
If you like retellings of any kind then you're gonna love this! It's a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and it was told so well!
I also loved that this was a clean romance and a bit of a slow burn, but not too slow. Zac and Ro are so cute together like UM where can I find a guy like him???
This story also makes me want baked goods and the power to communicate with wolves. The details in this were so well done! I literally wanna go to Ro's granny's bakery.
This was SUCH A COZY READ too, perfect for this time of year! So if you're looking for a cozy read with a clean, cute romance filled with wolves, a very interesting magic - did I mention magic?? - system and more? You should definitely give this a go!!!
Again, thank you to the author for giving me this opportunity and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work!!
If you like retellings of any kind then you're gonna love this! It's a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and it was told so well!
I also loved that this was a clean romance and a bit of a slow burn, but not too slow. Zac and Ro are so cute together like UM where can I find a guy like him???
This story also makes me want baked goods and the power to communicate with wolves. The details in this were so well done! I literally wanna go to Ro's granny's bakery.
This was SUCH A COZY READ too, perfect for this time of year! So if you're looking for a cozy read with a clean, cute romance filled with wolves, a very interesting magic - did I mention magic?? - system and more? You should definitely give this a go!!!
Again, thank you to the author for giving me this opportunity and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work!!
October 7, 2022
This book starts off the Ruby Realm series with a bang! Little Red Riding Hood and the heroic woodcutter get a fresh twist in this new story. The characters are strong and well-developed, the villains are mysterious, and the world building is intriguing. I’m so excited to see what comes next in the Ruby Realm!
Ro and Zac’s relationship is a great mix of banter and sweet moments. I loved that our little red riding hood has a bit of a bite—she’s strong and capable and confident—but also a vulnerability that allowed her developing feelings to be totally believable. Zac was a great male lead, strong enough to stand with her but smart and caring enough to let her shine on her own.
With a cast of great supporting characters and twists and surprises that kept me hooked until the very end, this is a book (and future series!) that I would heartily recommend!
Ro and Zac’s relationship is a great mix of banter and sweet moments. I loved that our little red riding hood has a bit of a bite—she’s strong and capable and confident—but also a vulnerability that allowed her developing feelings to be totally believable. Zac was a great male lead, strong enough to stand with her but smart and caring enough to let her shine on her own.
With a cast of great supporting characters and twists and surprises that kept me hooked until the very end, this is a book (and future series!) that I would heartily recommend!
October 27, 2022
Wow. This was amazing! I’ve loved Abigail’s Emerald Realm series, but Crimson Claws is probably her best work!
This book kept me guessing at every turn. I never knew what to expect! Zac surprised me a lot, since I originally assumed he was a Gaston character (which, I’ll be honest, he gave off very strong Gaston vibes at the beginning), but I’ve never been more happy to be wrong! He’s probably my favorite of all of Abigail’s heroes, which is saying a lot because she’s had some awesome heroes in her other books.
I loved Ro’s journey. She’s not your typical Little Red Riding Hood character, strong and determined, yet you can still see elements of the original tale woven in. The set up for the villains was incredible, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see what happens next!
I highly recommend Crimson Claws to fans of Camille Peters, Melanie Cellier, and K.M. Shea. This amusing, unique fairy tale retelling is one that all fairy tale fans should read!
**I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book kept me guessing at every turn. I never knew what to expect! Zac surprised me a lot, since I originally assumed he was a Gaston character (which, I’ll be honest, he gave off very strong Gaston vibes at the beginning), but I’ve never been more happy to be wrong! He’s probably my favorite of all of Abigail’s heroes, which is saying a lot because she’s had some awesome heroes in her other books.
I loved Ro’s journey. She’s not your typical Little Red Riding Hood character, strong and determined, yet you can still see elements of the original tale woven in. The set up for the villains was incredible, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see what happens next!
I highly recommend Crimson Claws to fans of Camille Peters, Melanie Cellier, and K.M. Shea. This amusing, unique fairy tale retelling is one that all fairy tale fans should read!
**I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 26, 2022
If you love cozy winter baking vibes, sweet romance, and fairytale retellings, you will love Crimson Claws by Abigail Manning!
Spoilers!
Ro is just a girl living peacefully with her grandmother above their cozy bake shop. But her absent father has a terrible secret, and one cold winter day, that secret threatens to destroy everything Ro loves.
To protect her grandmother, Ro must face her father’s sordid past.
But in the Ruby Realm, no one is as they seem.
I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from Manning! (I was given the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, and I honestly thoroughly enjoyed it!)
Spoilers!
Ro is just a girl living peacefully with her grandmother above their cozy bake shop. But her absent father has a terrible secret, and one cold winter day, that secret threatens to destroy everything Ro loves.
To protect her grandmother, Ro must face her father’s sordid past.
But in the Ruby Realm, no one is as they seem.
I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from Manning! (I was given the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, and I honestly thoroughly enjoyed it!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2023
it’s ok, not great, but ok
It’s not great, it’s mostly well written but the author uses many words that don’t fit well. They’re either too modern and throw off the story, not quite the right meaning, or the biggest annoyance to me -she persists in calling the son of a duke a duke. Umm no. This is not correct. At best he would be the dukes heir, NOT the duke. This was driving me crazy . Also the characters are far too modern and casual for a society that relies on horses for transportation. The dialogue is a bit out of place too. It’s just not quite realistic for the situations. Oh, and the lead… she’s apparently supposed to be witty, intelligent, and funny. But she’s rather a dumb, rude, careless, reckless, unthinking, girl. This was an ok fast read but if the other books are similar I’m not sure I’ll continue the series.
It’s not great, it’s mostly well written but the author uses many words that don’t fit well. They’re either too modern and throw off the story, not quite the right meaning, or the biggest annoyance to me -she persists in calling the son of a duke a duke. Umm no. This is not correct. At best he would be the dukes heir, NOT the duke. This was driving me crazy . Also the characters are far too modern and casual for a society that relies on horses for transportation. The dialogue is a bit out of place too. It’s just not quite realistic for the situations. Oh, and the lead… she’s apparently supposed to be witty, intelligent, and funny. But she’s rather a dumb, rude, careless, reckless, unthinking, girl. This was an ok fast read but if the other books are similar I’m not sure I’ll continue the series.
April 13, 2023
I really loved this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I absolutely loved this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood! I will be reading the next book in this really wonderful series!
November 1, 2022
3.7 stars
MINOR SPOILERS
Really good book. Quick read. And definitely one I will remember
Not a favorite but it did get me to laugh out loud a few times. Made me stop to really see what was going to happen.
Plus its short enough so why not? If you want to get into reading this is a good book to lead you. Or if you have been reading for years it’s a good book.
This is a red riding hood retelling and I love the twist it has on it and how it portrays different characters from the original stories and gives them new life.
The book had many twists and does end with a SPOILER happy ending. So all the happy ending lovers this book is great for you.
The book did really surprise me. There were times I thought I knew exactly what was gonna happen and BOOM it changed.
And I love the way the book starts, how it introduces people. And the banter between Ro(main character) and her grandma is amazing. It brings a comfort reading about how they talk and how they want to protect each other.
The book also has some bigger words so it’s not just simple vocabulary over and over but it’s not big words that are confusing and hard to understand and grasp what they mean.
These are some quotes from the book that I really liked or thought were notable
And yes, there is romance in the book, it’s a fantasy romance. Kinda a rival to lovers' books. Not slow burn but doesn’t go at that annoyingly fast pace
So BEWARE these kinda give of SPOILERS
“Ever since Father ruined our family, I had pretty much given up hope on all men. When the one man you look up to more than anyone destroys your entire view of them in a single night, it makes it hard to trust anyone else.”
“If I was going to protect myself, my walls had to be solid.”
“Is bloodshed always your immediate answer to every problem? I think you and I could be fabulous friends.”
“You’ve proven yourself in one realm. Now do it again in mine”
“Ugh! If I ever did marry a man, it would have to be an ugly one.”
“Oh, he definitely has a sister; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so skilled at souring your mood. It’s a job all siblings have to master at some point”
“My shrouded heart flinched as the fresh memory picked at the old scar”
“It's easy to look perfect. Anyone can fake a laugh or a smile, and anyone can pretend they have your best interests in mind.”
“I’m far too adorable for him to give up that easily. ”
“Most days, I never even left the house.”
“Every fiber of my body burned with disgust and fear toward my father ”
“The scar across my heart burned from all the endless picking as I replayed the painful memory through my mind.”
“He’s nothing to me, he can’t hurt me anymore”
“My heart urged me to stop speaking as the pain of his betrayal broke open the fragile scar and flooded me with a numbing amount of agony.
“ I couldn’t stop the tears as they spilled from my eyes, hot with the resurfaced misery.”
“I knew him as a father before I knew him as a criminal, and the little girl within me still yearned to know why her daddy never came home...”
“My father’s innocence was still too fresh to comprehend. It was so much easier to keep hating him, to keep pretending that he was the reason for my stone heart.”
“But he doesn’t have to be the villain anymore... He can be my father again”
“His deep blue eyes gripped me with a sense of fulfillment. ”
“My guarded heart had refused to accept that I wanted to feel cared for or even appreciated,”
“I should have known it was all fake... I’m simply fated to have everyone run away from me.”
“At one point, my dreams felt as if they were suffocating my conscious mind as well,”
“I would just have to continue being the red stain in the pure white realm for a little while longer.”
“but somehow, I had unlocked a piece of me I had never been able to make contact with before.”
“Am I even ready to see him? To face the man who had shattered my heart, only to piece it back together with a single explanation? He had been a beast in my mind for so long... but can he truly still be my father?”
“Was his smile always so dreamy...? Surely the lack of sleep is getting to me by now, especially if I thought of a word like ‘dreamy’...”
“I wanted to deny it; I wanted to lock it away before it could try to scar me like others had before, but the more I pushed it away, the more it spread through my consciousness. ”
“I’m not ready, but I suppose I never will be.”
Also here are some of my COMMENTARY that I noted for the book
“Well that’s a twist”
“Dude. Cliffhanger.”
“Okay big shock. Just go and stab my heart with shock. I can’t believe this.”
MINOR SPOILERS
Really good book. Quick read. And definitely one I will remember
Not a favorite but it did get me to laugh out loud a few times. Made me stop to really see what was going to happen.
Plus its short enough so why not? If you want to get into reading this is a good book to lead you. Or if you have been reading for years it’s a good book.
This is a red riding hood retelling and I love the twist it has on it and how it portrays different characters from the original stories and gives them new life.
The book had many twists and does end with a SPOILER happy ending. So all the happy ending lovers this book is great for you.
The book did really surprise me. There were times I thought I knew exactly what was gonna happen and BOOM it changed.
And I love the way the book starts, how it introduces people. And the banter between Ro(main character) and her grandma is amazing. It brings a comfort reading about how they talk and how they want to protect each other.
The book also has some bigger words so it’s not just simple vocabulary over and over but it’s not big words that are confusing and hard to understand and grasp what they mean.
These are some quotes from the book that I really liked or thought were notable
And yes, there is romance in the book, it’s a fantasy romance. Kinda a rival to lovers' books. Not slow burn but doesn’t go at that annoyingly fast pace
So BEWARE these kinda give of SPOILERS
“Ever since Father ruined our family, I had pretty much given up hope on all men. When the one man you look up to more than anyone destroys your entire view of them in a single night, it makes it hard to trust anyone else.”
“If I was going to protect myself, my walls had to be solid.”
“Is bloodshed always your immediate answer to every problem? I think you and I could be fabulous friends.”
“You’ve proven yourself in one realm. Now do it again in mine”
“Ugh! If I ever did marry a man, it would have to be an ugly one.”
“Oh, he definitely has a sister; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so skilled at souring your mood. It’s a job all siblings have to master at some point”
“My shrouded heart flinched as the fresh memory picked at the old scar”
“It's easy to look perfect. Anyone can fake a laugh or a smile, and anyone can pretend they have your best interests in mind.”
“I’m far too adorable for him to give up that easily. ”
“Most days, I never even left the house.”
“Every fiber of my body burned with disgust and fear toward my father ”
“The scar across my heart burned from all the endless picking as I replayed the painful memory through my mind.”
“He’s nothing to me, he can’t hurt me anymore”
“My heart urged me to stop speaking as the pain of his betrayal broke open the fragile scar and flooded me with a numbing amount of agony.
“ I couldn’t stop the tears as they spilled from my eyes, hot with the resurfaced misery.”
“I knew him as a father before I knew him as a criminal, and the little girl within me still yearned to know why her daddy never came home...”
“My father’s innocence was still too fresh to comprehend. It was so much easier to keep hating him, to keep pretending that he was the reason for my stone heart.”
“But he doesn’t have to be the villain anymore... He can be my father again”
“His deep blue eyes gripped me with a sense of fulfillment. ”
“My guarded heart had refused to accept that I wanted to feel cared for or even appreciated,”
“I should have known it was all fake... I’m simply fated to have everyone run away from me.”
“At one point, my dreams felt as if they were suffocating my conscious mind as well,”
“I would just have to continue being the red stain in the pure white realm for a little while longer.”
“but somehow, I had unlocked a piece of me I had never been able to make contact with before.”
“Am I even ready to see him? To face the man who had shattered my heart, only to piece it back together with a single explanation? He had been a beast in my mind for so long... but can he truly still be my father?”
“Was his smile always so dreamy...? Surely the lack of sleep is getting to me by now, especially if I thought of a word like ‘dreamy’...”
“I wanted to deny it; I wanted to lock it away before it could try to scar me like others had before, but the more I pushed it away, the more it spread through my consciousness. ”
“I’m not ready, but I suppose I never will be.”
Also here are some of my COMMENTARY that I noted for the book
“Well that’s a twist”
“Dude. Cliffhanger.”
“Okay big shock. Just go and stab my heart with shock. I can’t believe this.”
March 12, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. There are wolves chasing people in this, and bites/scratches with minimal blood described. Threat of death always in the background.
Sexual: Mild. Hugs/hand-holding/kissing all chaste and not steamy at all. Language like "butterflies in my stomach" and such.
Triggers: Parental abandonment portrayed. .
Really a 3.5 rating.
First, I'm not a fan of Red-riding hood retellings. The only ones I've truly enjoyed have been mash-ups where it's coupled with other fairy tales, or it's a 'inspired by' Little Red Riding Hood more than a retelling. So, the lower rating is influenced by my general apathy toward this fairy tale.
BUT
I am SOOOOOO glad Conan wasn't the love interest. My heavens-to-betsy! At the end of the Emerald Realm series, I just knew that he was going to be one of the POVs in this book, so I automatically assumed he was the love interest. My relief that he wasn't was palpable. If he does end up getting redeemed at some point, it's going to take the whole series for me to believe he can change. He's still a proud, hard-headed, power-mongering murderizer. He needs more humbling. A lot more.
With Conan being the other POV in the book though, I was sad I missed out on Zac having his own chapters. I like seeing the male character's thoughts, and that cut down on my enjoyment of this book.
My favorite parts of the book were Ro's character arc with her father and her trust issues. That was absolutely lovely. They were the parts that emotionally connected me to the story. Her relationship with her Granny was cute too, I enjoyed their banter.
I didn't enjoy the romance. It was built on a borderline mean-spirited teasing that just isn't my cup of tea. Ro does tell Zac he's a masochist for liking her though, and that made me calm down a bit. I just didn't care much for their romance. I just hate that type of teasing.
The world building made me a bit impatient too. In the Emerald realm series it's a straight-forward multi-kingdom country with kings/queens ruling. In the Ruby realm there's an emperor, but in each province there's a Duke that's basically the king ruling under the emperor's total rule. Then there is the bad emperor-like guy, The Golden King, with his minions in each province named after animals (beasts, dragons, griffins, basilisks etc). My brain did not want to accept this layout. I'm assuming once I get used to it there won't be an issue, but I all I could think was...what is the purpose of this hierarchy? To be different? I didn't find it necessary at all, as there wasn't much shown of the reasoning why they had a high ruler or how any of it came about (therefore making it make sense to me).
Ah well, I'll keep reading to see how things play out though. I enjoy Abigail's twisty retellings. The unique way she spins things is always entertaining!
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. There are wolves chasing people in this, and bites/scratches with minimal blood described. Threat of death always in the background.
Sexual: Mild. Hugs/hand-holding/kissing all chaste and not steamy at all. Language like "butterflies in my stomach" and such.
Triggers: Parental abandonment portrayed. .
Really a 3.5 rating.
First, I'm not a fan of Red-riding hood retellings. The only ones I've truly enjoyed have been mash-ups where it's coupled with other fairy tales, or it's a 'inspired by' Little Red Riding Hood more than a retelling. So, the lower rating is influenced by my general apathy toward this fairy tale.
BUT
I am SOOOOOO glad Conan wasn't the love interest. My heavens-to-betsy! At the end of the Emerald Realm series, I just knew that he was going to be one of the POVs in this book, so I automatically assumed he was the love interest. My relief that he wasn't was palpable. If he does end up getting redeemed at some point, it's going to take the whole series for me to believe he can change. He's still a proud, hard-headed, power-mongering murderizer. He needs more humbling. A lot more.
With Conan being the other POV in the book though, I was sad I missed out on Zac having his own chapters. I like seeing the male character's thoughts, and that cut down on my enjoyment of this book.
My favorite parts of the book were Ro's character arc with her father and her trust issues. That was absolutely lovely. They were the parts that emotionally connected me to the story. Her relationship with her Granny was cute too, I enjoyed their banter.
I didn't enjoy the romance. It was built on a borderline mean-spirited teasing that just isn't my cup of tea. Ro does tell Zac he's a masochist for liking her though, and that made me calm down a bit. I just didn't care much for their romance. I just hate that type of teasing.
The world building made me a bit impatient too. In the Emerald realm series it's a straight-forward multi-kingdom country with kings/queens ruling. In the Ruby realm there's an emperor, but in each province there's a Duke that's basically the king ruling under the emperor's total rule. Then there is the bad emperor-like guy, The Golden King, with his minions in each province named after animals (beasts, dragons, griffins, basilisks etc). My brain did not want to accept this layout. I'm assuming once I get used to it there won't be an issue, but I all I could think was...what is the purpose of this hierarchy? To be different? I didn't find it necessary at all, as there wasn't much shown of the reasoning why they had a high ruler or how any of it came about (therefore making it make sense to me).
Ah well, I'll keep reading to see how things play out though. I enjoy Abigail's twisty retellings. The unique way she spins things is always entertaining!
October 28, 2022
Reader’s Notes:
– this is the first of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone (this is connected to The Emerald Realm series – because of one character- but you don’t have to read it before this one)
– this is told from Ro & Conan’s points of view
– there is some fantasy violence
Review:
This was a very interesting Little Red Riding Hood retelling! I loved seeing the little nods to the original tale and how Abigail Manning crafted the tale for her world. It was very interesting and entertaining to follow Ro’s story and the people around her! I loved Ro and Granny’s banter. I loved how Granny anticipated Ro trying to get out of the matchmaking she was attempting and got a few steps ahead of her. I loved Zac and Ro’s banter too! Zac was so funny and great at deflecting Ro’s comments and aggravating her. I also loved how their love developed throughout the entire story and the journey it took to get back to Granny. And while I didn’t love the villain in the same way as these characters (though I’m not supposed to anyways XD), I loved how sneaky and slick he was. I loved that he left out just enough information that the characters would be surprised. And I love that he thought ahead on how to catch Ro when she escaped. Some of my favorite scenes included: waking up to a wolf, the pantry jail, snark and banter with Zac, the inn, Granny’s matchmaking, escaping her hostage, the reunion, and the end scene.
Summary:
With her mother having passed away and her father may as well being dead with how he left them all those years ago, Roisen only needs her Granny. She certainly doesn’t need a man, let alone the lone woodcutter who refuses to be put off by her snarky demeanor. But when the wolves kidnap her and threaten both Ro and Granny’s lives, he may be their only hope.
Ro refuses to stand down with her Granny’s life in jeopardy and an even worse enemy on her heels who wishes to take over the Ruby Realm for their own gain. When surprising new information comes to light, Ro wonders what is true: who she’s believed her father to be in the past or is he the man the rumors say? With the help of her flirty woodcutter, can Ro save Granny, the realm they both love, and discover who her father is?
– this is the first of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone (this is connected to The Emerald Realm series – because of one character- but you don’t have to read it before this one)
– this is told from Ro & Conan’s points of view
– there is some fantasy violence
Review:
This was a very interesting Little Red Riding Hood retelling! I loved seeing the little nods to the original tale and how Abigail Manning crafted the tale for her world. It was very interesting and entertaining to follow Ro’s story and the people around her! I loved Ro and Granny’s banter. I loved how Granny anticipated Ro trying to get out of the matchmaking she was attempting and got a few steps ahead of her. I loved Zac and Ro’s banter too! Zac was so funny and great at deflecting Ro’s comments and aggravating her. I also loved how their love developed throughout the entire story and the journey it took to get back to Granny. And while I didn’t love the villain in the same way as these characters (though I’m not supposed to anyways XD), I loved how sneaky and slick he was. I loved that he left out just enough information that the characters would be surprised. And I love that he thought ahead on how to catch Ro when she escaped. Some of my favorite scenes included: waking up to a wolf, the pantry jail, snark and banter with Zac, the inn, Granny’s matchmaking, escaping her hostage, the reunion, and the end scene.
Summary:
With her mother having passed away and her father may as well being dead with how he left them all those years ago, Roisen only needs her Granny. She certainly doesn’t need a man, let alone the lone woodcutter who refuses to be put off by her snarky demeanor. But when the wolves kidnap her and threaten both Ro and Granny’s lives, he may be their only hope.
Ro refuses to stand down with her Granny’s life in jeopardy and an even worse enemy on her heels who wishes to take over the Ruby Realm for their own gain. When surprising new information comes to light, Ro wonders what is true: who she’s believed her father to be in the past or is he the man the rumors say? With the help of her flirty woodcutter, can Ro save Granny, the realm they both love, and discover who her father is?
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July 24, 2023This book didn't land for me. I think part of it was that I'm not a huge fan of Little Red Riding Hood as source material. I picked this one up, because I wanted to read a later book in the series, but I didn't think they were stand alones.
In terms of the plot, and what worked for me: I think it was a good retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. It manages to include most of the elements of the original fairytale in new and original ways. The main character has the titular red cloak with hood. She had the basket over her arm. She has to travel through the forest. She is attacked by wolves. She is trying to get back to Granny, she encounters the beast in Granny's chambers, and she is rescued by the woodcutter. There are even baked goods involved.
I didn't mind the romance, although I admit to being a little confused at first, since Conan* was a POV character, and I thought he was going to be the love interest. I thought Ro's attitude towards romance at the start of the book was fairly believable considering her backstory. I wouldn't call it enemies to lovers,** though, so if you're looking for that, maybe another book might be a better fit. Zac was suitably sweet and caring, and I felt like the development in their relationship was natural enough, and definitely not toxic.
In terms of plot, and setting up the world, I think this did a pretty good job.
My main issue with this story was the odd vocabulary choices. There were quite a lot of words used that were close, but not quite there in terms of meaning. I also struggled with the sheer number of adjective-noun/ adverb-verb combinations, which drew my attention away from the story.
If you are someone who loves Little Red Riding Hood, and doesn't notice syntax issues, this might just be the book for you.
* The blurb mentions the mysterious foreigner who washes up on the shores of the Ruby Realm, but Conan doesn't actually play a huge role in this book. I have heard that he appears in subsequent books in the series.
** I saw this marketed as a sweet enemies to lovers romance, which is the only reason I mention this.
In terms of the plot, and what worked for me: I think it was a good retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. It manages to include most of the elements of the original fairytale in new and original ways. The main character has the titular red cloak with hood. She had the basket over her arm. She has to travel through the forest. She is attacked by wolves. She is trying to get back to Granny, she encounters the beast in Granny's chambers, and she is rescued by the woodcutter. There are even baked goods involved.
I didn't mind the romance, although I admit to being a little confused at first, since Conan* was a POV character, and I thought he was going to be the love interest. I thought Ro's attitude towards romance at the start of the book was fairly believable considering her backstory. I wouldn't call it enemies to lovers,** though, so if you're looking for that, maybe another book might be a better fit. Zac was suitably sweet and caring, and I felt like the development in their relationship was natural enough, and definitely not toxic.
In terms of plot, and setting up the world, I think this did a pretty good job.
My main issue with this story was the odd vocabulary choices. There were quite a lot of words used that were close, but not quite there in terms of meaning. I also struggled with the sheer number of adjective-noun/ adverb-verb combinations, which drew my attention away from the story.
If you are someone who loves Little Red Riding Hood, and doesn't notice syntax issues, this might just be the book for you.
* The blurb mentions the mysterious foreigner who washes up on the shores of the Ruby Realm, but Conan doesn't actually play a huge role in this book. I have heard that he appears in subsequent books in the series.
** I saw this marketed as a sweet enemies to lovers romance, which is the only reason I mention this.
May 25, 2024
>> ARC review; ACTUAL RATING: 2.5*
I feel like a lot of the reasons I didn't enjoy this book were personal preference based, so I'm giving it an extra 0.5*, to be fair. But I can't rate something that had me skimming practically the entire second half any higher.
So, please keep in mind that I disliked this so much because of set-up / not met expectations, and a general lack of attachment to most of the characters.
If your preferences differ from mine, you'd probably enjoy this.
RATING: ⭐⭐✨/5
SPICE: 🌶️/4
VIOLENCE: 🩸/4
✅🆗 World
✅🆗 Writing
🆗 Characters
🆗 Plot
❌ Romance
***
This book actually started out well. I even liked Roisen, the MC, at the beginning because she was well-fleshed out very quickly, her voice was engaging, and I liked how much she cared despite being an emotionally constipated ISTJ. I'm not sure exactly where her character arc was going (at least she had one, though), but I didn't like the direction personally. The only part I could appreciate was that she ended up becoming more straightforward and aware of her emotions. But most of her dialogue, or Zac's words to / about her, toward the end were just very cringeworthy to me. I think they were meant as endearing teasing, but they turned me off even more.
Speaking of Zac, I wholeheartedly wished he would've stayed the unrequited, simpy third wheel. I honestly, genuinely, did NOT expect him to be the main love interest at ALL, after the first few chapters, and I feel like that's the expectation that ended up ruining most of this book for me. Idk, he's just so far removed from what I consider attractive that I ended up hating the entire romance.
If you're into protective, romantic, doting guys who are fine with being little more than the support role for the FeMC, then you'll probably love him. I personally hate this specific type of love interest (especially if he falls first, which he did), potentially more than any other kind, even more so with his history of being a simp for so long. So I couldn't care less about him or the romance.
He didn't change much either, after his true agenda was revealed, at least not personality-wise (not to mention that I ended up predicting that part too), so his true identity didn't end up fixing anything for me. He just tries way too hard the entire time, which is off-putting as hell. Give me a man who doesn't have to try, to catch the FeMC's attention... please... or at least try significantly less. It just seems so desperate, on his end...
I don't know how many of these false expectations I carelessly created for myself by jumping to conclusions (I completely acknowledge that this is partially my fault too), but also not exclusively because I also know that this book has been advertised to me as, for example, enemies to lovers. Frankly, it was not. Which isn't a bad thing per se, of course, but it made me mentally rule out Zac as the main LI in the first place, because he's not Roisen's enemy at any point, nor did he even so much as dislike her, ever. I actually had my eyes on Conan for this same reason (that and the fact that he was a POV character, which I found to be an even stronger misleading indication.)
So, just to clarify: this is NOT an enemies to lovers romance. It's more like... "friends / allies where the girl used to be annoyed by the guy's advances" to lovers. Not even remotely a bad idea as a concept, just not for me.
To be frank: had I known Zac was going to be the main LI, I would not have been interested in reading this book. Perhaps you can see why I'm so frustrated, now.
That being said, I did enjoy some aspects of this book. The magic system and the worldbuilding were interesting. Quilian was a fairly stereotypical but decent villain who served his purpose well and the plot was simple but engaging, albeit decently predictable, for the most part. For example, was an extremely predictable outcome, even for me who usually doesn't care much about actively predicting plot.
But who really ended up carrying the book for me, and preventing me from DNFing it because I really found myself wanting to know what happened to him next, was Conan. His POV was like a breath of fresh air in the latter half. I have heard he is a recurring character in the connected Emerald Realm series which I may still read, and that he may recur in the Ruby Realm series as well, and I can absolutely not stress enough how much I need more of him.
I think I liked him from the very beginning; there's just something about the cunning badass who keeps being the smartest in the room even if you really think they finally have him cornered that makes me go weak. Though I expected him to be Roisen's love interest, part of me actually ended up liking that he wasn't because this means he could potentially get a different love interest in a later book (pretty please?) whom I may end up liking more than Roisen.
Facts: if Conan gets his own book and his own romance, I'll be there to sign up for the ARC in 0.2 seconds, tops.
I also really ended up loving Roger Karro, by the way. I don't think I expected him to make an appearance at all, but he quickly became one of the two characters in this book I actually cared about (the second being Conan.) It was slightly obnoxious to me that Roisen never once questioned her made-up mind about him but it's in character for her (Si dom things, sigh), so I'm not complaining about that. It was just very predictable that
I do genuinely love the message of not jumping to conclusions and allowing yourself to believe there is more to people than often meets the eye, though. That was a really good one.
***
Sigh, I stopped counting how many expectations this book disappointed, but I'll keep an eye on the series overall (especially if it involves more Conan).
Yes, to reiterate: the main reasons for my lacking enjoyment were personal preferences and wrong expectations. I'm NOT telling you to not read this book. Just make sure that you actually enjoy the relationship dynamic and characters that ended up putting me off. If that sounds like your thing, by all means, you'll probably love it. The story is simple but the book is short and well paced, and not boring whatsoever.
I hope you have a better time with it than I did.
I feel like a lot of the reasons I didn't enjoy this book were personal preference based, so I'm giving it an extra 0.5*, to be fair. But I can't rate something that had me skimming practically the entire second half any higher.
So, please keep in mind that I disliked this so much because of set-up / not met expectations, and a general lack of attachment to most of the characters.
If your preferences differ from mine, you'd probably enjoy this.
RATING: ⭐⭐✨/5
SPICE: 🌶️/4
VIOLENCE: 🩸/4
✅🆗 World
✅🆗 Writing
🆗 Characters
🆗 Plot
❌ Romance
***
This book actually started out well. I even liked Roisen, the MC, at the beginning because she was well-fleshed out very quickly, her voice was engaging, and I liked how much she cared despite being an emotionally constipated ISTJ. I'm not sure exactly where her character arc was going (at least she had one, though), but I didn't like the direction personally. The only part I could appreciate was that she ended up becoming more straightforward and aware of her emotions. But most of her dialogue, or Zac's words to / about her, toward the end were just very cringeworthy to me. I think they were meant as endearing teasing, but they turned me off even more.
Speaking of Zac, I wholeheartedly wished he would've stayed the unrequited, simpy third wheel. I honestly, genuinely, did NOT expect him to be the main love interest at ALL, after the first few chapters, and I feel like that's the expectation that ended up ruining most of this book for me. Idk, he's just so far removed from what I consider attractive that I ended up hating the entire romance.
If you're into protective, romantic, doting guys who are fine with being little more than the support role for the FeMC, then you'll probably love him. I personally hate this specific type of love interest (especially if he falls first, which he did), potentially more than any other kind, even more so with his history of being a simp for so long. So I couldn't care less about him or the romance.
He didn't change much either, after his true agenda was revealed, at least not personality-wise (not to mention that I ended up predicting that part too), so his true identity didn't end up fixing anything for me. He just tries way too hard the entire time, which is off-putting as hell. Give me a man who doesn't have to try, to catch the FeMC's attention... please... or at least try significantly less. It just seems so desperate, on his end...
I don't know how many of these false expectations I carelessly created for myself by jumping to conclusions (I completely acknowledge that this is partially my fault too), but also not exclusively because I also know that this book has been advertised to me as, for example, enemies to lovers. Frankly, it was not. Which isn't a bad thing per se, of course, but it made me mentally rule out Zac as the main LI in the first place, because he's not Roisen's enemy at any point, nor did he even so much as dislike her, ever. I actually had my eyes on Conan for this same reason (that and the fact that he was a POV character, which I found to be an even stronger misleading indication.)
So, just to clarify: this is NOT an enemies to lovers romance. It's more like... "friends / allies where the girl used to be annoyed by the guy's advances" to lovers. Not even remotely a bad idea as a concept, just not for me.
To be frank: had I known Zac was going to be the main LI, I would not have been interested in reading this book. Perhaps you can see why I'm so frustrated, now.
That being said, I did enjoy some aspects of this book. The magic system and the worldbuilding were interesting. Quilian was a fairly stereotypical but decent villain who served his purpose well and the plot was simple but engaging, albeit decently predictable, for the most part. For example, was an extremely predictable outcome, even for me who usually doesn't care much about actively predicting plot.
But who really ended up carrying the book for me, and preventing me from DNFing it because I really found myself wanting to know what happened to him next, was Conan. His POV was like a breath of fresh air in the latter half. I have heard he is a recurring character in the connected Emerald Realm series which I may still read, and that he may recur in the Ruby Realm series as well, and I can absolutely not stress enough how much I need more of him.
I think I liked him from the very beginning; there's just something about the cunning badass who keeps being the smartest in the room even if you really think they finally have him cornered that makes me go weak. Though I expected him to be Roisen's love interest, part of me actually ended up liking that he wasn't because this means he could potentially get a different love interest in a later book (pretty please?) whom I may end up liking more than Roisen.
Facts: if Conan gets his own book and his own romance, I'll be there to sign up for the ARC in 0.2 seconds, tops.
I also really ended up loving Roger Karro, by the way. I don't think I expected him to make an appearance at all, but he quickly became one of the two characters in this book I actually cared about (the second being Conan.) It was slightly obnoxious to me that Roisen never once questioned her made-up mind about him but it's in character for her (Si dom things, sigh), so I'm not complaining about that. It was just very predictable that
I do genuinely love the message of not jumping to conclusions and allowing yourself to believe there is more to people than often meets the eye, though. That was a really good one.
***
Sigh, I stopped counting how many expectations this book disappointed, but I'll keep an eye on the series overall (especially if it involves more Conan).
Yes, to reiterate: the main reasons for my lacking enjoyment were personal preferences and wrong expectations. I'm NOT telling you to not read this book. Just make sure that you actually enjoy the relationship dynamic and characters that ended up putting me off. If that sounds like your thing, by all means, you'll probably love it. The story is simple but the book is short and well paced, and not boring whatsoever.
I hope you have a better time with it than I did.
July 7, 2025
⭐⭐ (2 stars — for Granny and Quillian. That’s it.)
Crimson Claws — or as I call it, The Betrayal of Ro and the Rise of Rye Boy
I went in expecting a fierce Little Red Riding Hood retelling. What I got was a masterclass in disappointment.
🌟 Ro (Roisen) — I had hope. I really did. She was smart, snarky, and tried to escape her kidnappers. But in the end? She betrayed me. She chose the worst option.
🌟 Conan — King Idiot. Challenged an IMMORTAL king to a fight, called everyone’s power structure dumb, and generally made me yell ENOUGH in Arabic at my poor cousin’s house.
🌟 Zac — Rye bread boy. Called her “Rosy” (INSTANT HATE). Flirted like a clown. Laughed at Ro’s epic bakery burns like they were compliments. AND SHE PICKED HIM. I rest my case.
🌟 Granny — A secret agent in the storage cupboard. The only one with sense.
🌟 Quillian — The highwayman who roasted Conan, offered friendship, and deserved better. I would have been fine if Ro ran off with him.
🌟 The Golden King — The one I spent the whole book waiting for, who stayed in the shadows and left me to suffer.
💔 Final Thought:
If you want a tale of fierce heroines and worthy heroes, look elsewhere. If you want to watch a girl with potential get stuck between an idiot king and a flirty woodcutter, and pick the worst one… welcome to Crimson Claws.
Crimson Claws — or as I call it, The Betrayal of Ro and the Rise of Rye Boy
I went in expecting a fierce Little Red Riding Hood retelling. What I got was a masterclass in disappointment.
🌟 Ro (Roisen) — I had hope. I really did. She was smart, snarky, and tried to escape her kidnappers. But in the end? She betrayed me. She chose the worst option.
🌟 Conan — King Idiot. Challenged an IMMORTAL king to a fight, called everyone’s power structure dumb, and generally made me yell ENOUGH in Arabic at my poor cousin’s house.
🌟 Zac — Rye bread boy. Called her “Rosy” (INSTANT HATE). Flirted like a clown. Laughed at Ro’s epic bakery burns like they were compliments. AND SHE PICKED HIM. I rest my case.
🌟 Granny — A secret agent in the storage cupboard. The only one with sense.
🌟 Quillian — The highwayman who roasted Conan, offered friendship, and deserved better. I would have been fine if Ro ran off with him.
🌟 The Golden King — The one I spent the whole book waiting for, who stayed in the shadows and left me to suffer.
💔 Final Thought:
If you want a tale of fierce heroines and worthy heroes, look elsewhere. If you want to watch a girl with potential get stuck between an idiot king and a flirty woodcutter, and pick the worst one… welcome to Crimson Claws.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5 🌶️ 1/5 (clean)
Thank you to Abigail Manning for giving me this ARC!! This does not influence my review. This was a great read, the book had great worldbuilding and writing style. Overall this was a mostly feel-good twisted fairytale with a HEA. I loved the plot twists, they were unpredictable and added more depth to the original fairytale! The POV was mostly 1st person FMC and some 3rd person limited POV (I personally prefer only 1st person FMC).
Moving on to the characters, I loveddddd the FMC’s rigid personality, she knew her worth and was wary of guys after the betrayal of her dad (loved it!). She reminded me of Misaki from the anime KWMS. And damn Zac!!! He was a flirty tall dark and handsome guy who wouldn’t stop pestering FMC, and we love men who fall first😏🤌🏾. They had great banter, and this book was so good. I loved Granny!!! She was such a sweet scheming woman, I was cackling at her attempts at match-making, and Zac playing along with her.
Tropes: Guy falls first, clean fairytale retellings, witty banter, hate to love, feel-good HEA fairytale, slow burn romance
Thank you to Abigail Manning for giving me this ARC!! This does not influence my review. This was a great read, the book had great worldbuilding and writing style. Overall this was a mostly feel-good twisted fairytale with a HEA. I loved the plot twists, they were unpredictable and added more depth to the original fairytale! The POV was mostly 1st person FMC and some 3rd person limited POV (I personally prefer only 1st person FMC).
Moving on to the characters, I loveddddd the FMC’s rigid personality, she knew her worth and was wary of guys after the betrayal of her dad (loved it!). She reminded me of Misaki from the anime KWMS. And damn Zac!!! He was a flirty tall dark and handsome guy who wouldn’t stop pestering FMC, and we love men who fall first😏🤌🏾. They had great banter, and this book was so good. I loved Granny!!! She was such a sweet scheming woman, I was cackling at her attempts at match-making, and Zac playing along with her.
Tropes: Guy falls first, clean fairytale retellings, witty banter, hate to love, feel-good HEA fairytale, slow burn romance
October 29, 2022
I had the opportunity to be an ARC reader for Crimson Claws and I am so glad I did! I absolutely love fairytale retellings and Abigail Manning did a great job when she was writing this Little Red Riding Hood retelling.
I love the funny banter between Ro and her Granny. Granny is trying to set up Ro with the woodcutter who keeps showing up at their bakery to buy some baked goods. Ro is not open to the flirtatious advances of Zac, the woodcutter, and dismissed him everytime. One day Ro is in the kitchen and finds some mysterious bottles that belong to her father. But these are normal remedies, her father,a herbalist, had created poisons. Once she discovered the poisons a stranger shows up and tries to take her and the poisons with him to his leader. Right before they are leaving the bakery, Zac shows up to check on Ro and finds out Ro is in trouble.
This book is really amazing! You will absolutely love the chemistry between the two main characters!
I love the funny banter between Ro and her Granny. Granny is trying to set up Ro with the woodcutter who keeps showing up at their bakery to buy some baked goods. Ro is not open to the flirtatious advances of Zac, the woodcutter, and dismissed him everytime. One day Ro is in the kitchen and finds some mysterious bottles that belong to her father. But these are normal remedies, her father,a herbalist, had created poisons. Once she discovered the poisons a stranger shows up and tries to take her and the poisons with him to his leader. Right before they are leaving the bakery, Zac shows up to check on Ro and finds out Ro is in trouble.
This book is really amazing! You will absolutely love the chemistry between the two main characters!
November 5, 2022
📖Crimson Claws by Abigail Manning is a spin on the classic Red Riding Hood fairytale. It has twists, turns, laughter, and suspense. Also it’s a clean read so bonus! This book is apart of a larger interconnected series but can also be read as a standalone. Can I just say that I love stand-alone books that connect into a series? Seriously, the satisfaction of an ending and the promise of future glimpses into the characters lives is perfection.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
📚A baker named Ro, her beloved grandmother, a flirtatious woodsmen, and a kidnapping beast makes for an interesting read. If you’re looking for a unique and exciting retelling of classic fairytales check out Abigail Manning’s book series!
🐺 “A girl and her grandma... separated by an entire pack of beasts.”
- A Retelling by Abigail Manning
🎧Also a reminder that text to speech technology is an excellent way to listen to books that don’t have audio versions. It’s great if you’re busy or injured like myself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
📚A baker named Ro, her beloved grandmother, a flirtatious woodsmen, and a kidnapping beast makes for an interesting read. If you’re looking for a unique and exciting retelling of classic fairytales check out Abigail Manning’s book series!
🐺 “A girl and her grandma... separated by an entire pack of beasts.”
- A Retelling by Abigail Manning
🎧Also a reminder that text to speech technology is an excellent way to listen to books that don’t have audio versions. It’s great if you’re busy or injured like myself.
![Profile Image for Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1766269624i%2F169222098._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 7, 2025
🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
This one was good, but I didn’t enjoy it or like it as well as the other fairytale retellings that I’ve read by Abigail Manning. It wasn’t my favorite Little Red Riding Hood retelling either. Ro was kinda annoying to me. I mean, she got better as the book went on. I don’t know what exactly. But she just rubbed me the wrong way. Zac was alright. I didn’t really love him and couldn’t really see the two of them together. It felt a bit forced and awkward. Overall, it was a good read and I would read it again because it is the start of this series. I’m excited to continue it. Although it’s Conan’s story next so I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to feel about that one. 😬
🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
This one was good, but I didn’t enjoy it or like it as well as the other fairytale retellings that I’ve read by Abigail Manning. It wasn’t my favorite Little Red Riding Hood retelling either. Ro was kinda annoying to me. I mean, she got better as the book went on. I don’t know what exactly. But she just rubbed me the wrong way. Zac was alright. I didn’t really love him and couldn’t really see the two of them together. It felt a bit forced and awkward. Overall, it was a good read and I would read it again because it is the start of this series. I’m excited to continue it. Although it’s Conan’s story next so I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to feel about that one. 😬
🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
October 15, 2025
Words cannot describe how awesome I thought this book was.
So here are quotes that I loved:
“I think you may have stolen something from me.” A boyish grin swept across his strong jaw. “I’ve felt like a piece of me has been missing ever since I met you, and I feel rather incomplete when we’re apart.”
“I was wrong about the people around me, and I was even wrong about myself. I assumed the worst out of everyone, so I had no shame in flaunting the worst in myself... but the truth is, everyone makes mistakes and everyone has a story behind the beast they’re hiding from.”
“I’m not going to let him scare me. Father needs to see the daughter he raised, the one who could out-stubborn even a beast.”
So here are quotes that I loved:
“I think you may have stolen something from me.” A boyish grin swept across his strong jaw. “I’ve felt like a piece of me has been missing ever since I met you, and I feel rather incomplete when we’re apart.”
“I was wrong about the people around me, and I was even wrong about myself. I assumed the worst out of everyone, so I had no shame in flaunting the worst in myself... but the truth is, everyone makes mistakes and everyone has a story behind the beast they’re hiding from.”
“I’m not going to let him scare me. Father needs to see the daughter he raised, the one who could out-stubborn even a beast.”
October 12, 2022
First book in the Ruby Realm series. A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling.
Ro, our leading lady, is distrustful of any and all things male. After her father abandoned his family and committed treason, she has developed a prickly personality, especially towards men. She helps her "Granny" in the family bakery, where she meets Zac, a woodcutter that is to charming for his own good.
The adventure and truths discovered make this a great retelling.
I will be rereading this in the future and look forward to the rest of the series.
I was given an ARC by the author for a fair and honest review.
Ro, our leading lady, is distrustful of any and all things male. After her father abandoned his family and committed treason, she has developed a prickly personality, especially towards men. She helps her "Granny" in the family bakery, where she meets Zac, a woodcutter that is to charming for his own good.
The adventure and truths discovered make this a great retelling.
I will be rereading this in the future and look forward to the rest of the series.
I was given an ARC by the author for a fair and honest review.
October 22, 2023
An enjoyable little red riding hood retelling!
One of the biggest disconnects for me was that the pacing seemed to be too fast for me to really get to know the characters, but I could see that as being a positive for some people. It is YA, which accounts for the shorter length & faster pace, but for me personally, the relationships and the plot seemed a bit rushed. Could be due to this being a little different than my typical read though! I think if I had read this as a teen, I probably would’ve loved it!
One of the biggest disconnects for me was that the pacing seemed to be too fast for me to really get to know the characters, but I could see that as being a positive for some people. It is YA, which accounts for the shorter length & faster pace, but for me personally, the relationships and the plot seemed a bit rushed. Could be due to this being a little different than my typical read though! I think if I had read this as a teen, I probably would’ve loved it!
March 19, 2025
Clean and sweet take on a twisted fairy tale
A fascinating story with a prickly, grumpy heroine and a sunshine hero. The author drew me in and made me care about the characters and what made the heroineso prickly. I can't wait to read about what happens next in this intriguing world. I was a bit thrown off by some of the odd descriptive word choices. Some were flat out wrong. And the heroine spent almost a week in the same dress, with no mention of her disheveled state. But overall, the writing was inviting with good pacing.
A fascinating story with a prickly, grumpy heroine and a sunshine hero. The author drew me in and made me care about the characters and what made the heroineso prickly. I can't wait to read about what happens next in this intriguing world. I was a bit thrown off by some of the odd descriptive word choices. Some were flat out wrong. And the heroine spent almost a week in the same dress, with no mention of her disheveled state. But overall, the writing was inviting with good pacing.
October 28, 2022
Wow wow wow! I absolutely LOVED this book. I didn't think it was possible for Manning's books to get even better but here we are. This is her best book yet! The characters are fun and interesting. Ro and Zac’s chemistry is great. They have a fun back and forth relationship with their banter. I love a strong female lead with a love interest who isn't threatened by her strength. I highly recommend this book. It's a fun book that will suck you right in!
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