Blood Coven

by Sabrina Voerman

“There was no breeze that evening, but the trees whispered in the voices of girls…” Red only dreams of escaping her abusive home in her Silvanian village until a mysterious young woman invites her to join her coven. Just as she begins to seize her autonomy back by way of witchcraft, her devious father decides to sacrifice her to the Wolf–a legendary creature that has haunted their town for over four hundred years. Refusing to be a pawn in her father’s plan, Red uses her newfound strength and takes control of her destiny. Instead of succumbing to her fate, she wields it, and in the process, she unearths the true history of the Wolf, and the man he once was.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Witches, Audiobook

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2023

About the author

Sabrina Voerman is a West Coaster who spends her time hiking and exploring all the richness of the island she lives on. With a profound love of fairy tales and all things witchy, she draws her inspiration from the nature around her, allowing it to bleed into her storytelling. She is always seeking new adventures and places to explore, either in life or in her writing. When she isn’t traversing all Vancouver Island has to offer, she can be found with a cup of coffee either reading a book or writing one.

She lives alone with her three plants she never asked for but somehow inherited. Thankfully, they thrive on neglect.

Reviews

[Alyson Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark, haunting tale, losely based on Red Riding hood but so far away from the tale we know. Trigger warnings need to be heeded as this is not an easy read but so worth the time. The characters are beautifully described that you can relate to the emotional states they are in. There isn't a happy ending but one that entirely satisfied me after learning the characters' story. Just read this book. It's so good! I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[1000_books_1000_lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this- a darker late of vengeance, betrayal and friendships. The plot was well driven and the multiple POVs helped create a richer, deeper story. The pacing in the fist 1/2 was a little slow, but just World building but not much happened though it definitely picked up. I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book from the original release and absolutely loved it. A couple years later...I still feel the same. Was a wonderful revisit and Blaez is that everlasting character. Didn't think it was possible, but I love him even more the second time around.


"Though he still loved her, Blaez decided that he had to leave because he hated her."

A dark story beautifully told from two different timelines(16th and 19th century). Though centuries apart, the stories are connected and come together for more than one reveal in the end. It flowed perfectly as the timeline changes through each chapter. Werewolves, Witches, love, hate, vengeance, selfless and selfish acts. You get so much from these characters and I couldn't help but feel invested in several of them. They each have many layers and as you dive deeper Into the book, some unexpected traits come to the surface. There was so much I LOVED about this book.

That was part of my original review. Since then I've read almost everything to date from the author. Sabrina has become one of my favorites. I'll jump on anything she releases. Synopsis unnecessary.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No one ever helps me off my knees; people only put me there.”

Blood Coven by Sabrina Voerman is a tale that begs the question: Who really is the villain and how far can we go before becoming villains ourselves?

I love the multiple POVs. It’s rare I find myself caring about every POV, but I absolutely did in this one! Sabrina Voerman masterfully navigates the reader’s path through different characters, time periods, and generations of trauma. The entire town is threaded deep with evil and generational curses that keep the reader hooked through each perspective and era.

Every character in this book is ensnared by webs of trauma, and it’s how they each cope with it respectively that really fleshes out the characters. Blood Coven is laced with overarching themes of abuse, and taking back their power.
I loved this fresh take on the Red Riding Hood classic!

🩸Witches
🩸Werewolves
🩸Generational Curses
🩸Red Riding Hood Inspired
🩸Sapphic Rep
🩸Monstrous Humans
🩸Female Friendship & Coven

“Throughout her life, she had never been harmed by an animal… but had been struck many times by a man. Men are more dangerous than wolves.”

[Stephanie Kemler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches in the woods. Family curses. Stalking wolves. Blood Coven covers all the dark fairy tale elements I love in such depth and completeness I am left fully sated like a cursed witch with blood on her hands. Enthralling, mystical, full of action, moody, haunting, melancholic, impassioned. Voerman excels in crafting a mythos that structurally works like a Red Riding Hood retelling but gives it the depth and texture I’ve always wanted from that tale. She digs deep into buried psyche, archetype, and motivation in a nuanced way that is neither obvious nor trite.

Read allegorically, Blood Coven is a meditation on generational trauma. Who hurts who and why, how that affects history, and how the key players respond as time moves inexorably on. The parchment the curse resides within is a recurring motif and a powerful one, linked inextricably with the Luca family tree. It is clutched and hidden and protected and kept secret, ensuring that healing and wholeness are impossible without its destruction. This theme was deftly handled and subtle enough that readers coming for entertainment only won’t be overburdened by it.

While certainly Red herself is the subject of the original fairy tale, in Blood Coven the Wolf, the beleaguered and cursed and melancholy and heartbroken Wolf, became the lead to me. It was his story I was most invested in and his affliction that held me rapt. In the original tale he is a villain, roughly hewn like a woodcut illustration, one-dimensional and full of sharp fangs and fear. When the Wolf appears in Blood Coven he is bedraggled and filthy, living at the edges of a society that drove him out. It’s rare to me to find a male character of such physical power who is so utterly broken. That portrayal alone was a kind of witchcraft in prose.

As for Red and her band of witches, I adored each one of their moments together. Beset with the crimes of their parents and society, they gather and cast spells and find love and fellowship with one another. Voerman paints a convincing portrait of female friendship and the many intricate ways a coven makes its magic. Their rituals remind me of The VVitch in a way that’s an homage rather than an imitation. The crackling fire, the shadows on the trees, the hidden promises and bonds, the moonlit sky. It feels familiar and fresh in equal measure.

Blood Coven crackles and sparkles bright like a bonfire in its descriptions, lore, prose, mood, motivation, and depth. An exciting beginning to the Blood Bound series and a promising introduction to Voerman’s talent and skill.

[Christine HorrorReaderWeekend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very loosely-based fairy-tale retelling of Red Riding Hood. Dual timelines, with one being the story of the first curse of The Wolf, and the other, 400 years later in the same cursed family and town.

Skilled writing in a style that brought a true feeling of time and place in a lovely hardcover edition, but the story contained some inconsistencies and over-explanations that made the plot feel a little clumsy in some place and somewhat forced in others.

[Aylin (nilyareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5/5
.
Found Family
Multiple POV
Witches
Werewolves
Red Riding Hood Retelling
Dual Timelines
.
The power blooming in the Earth was for all, but many feared it.

I was told never to stray in fear of what lurked in the woods, she thought, but what lurks outside these woods is far scarier.

There was no breeze that evening, but the trees whispered in the voices of girls...
.
I think I read this one at the wrong time because I liked the story but I couldn’t really got into it. I usually really like multiple POV and different timelines but in this one I couldn’t really follow and sometimes got confused. I don’t think you’ll be dissapointed with the story, its not just not for me at this time.
The story follows Red, who is physically abused by her father and grandmother. She don’t have any friends in the town she is living in where the local authorities justify the idea of girls must be obedient at all costs and at the brink of a witchhunt. While she was returning from her grandmothers she encounters few girls from the town and they invite Red to the group/coven saying something in her calls to them.
At the other timeline, Matthias returns home after a decade of false banishment due to the murder of his lover. He was cursed and the only way for him to live is the transfer of the curse to another willing soul by his mother.
I'm grateful for BookSirens and the author for sending me an eARC in return for an honest review!

[Kayla Hammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

DARK. semi-Red Riding hood elements. Creepy vibes that are great for the spooky season! Murder, blood, gore, feminism, lgbtq+ representation, abuse, mystical creatures, and SO SO SO much more!

The main part that makes this book so great , aside from its uniqueness, are the multiple points of views across dual timelines! The only downside is that I would have liked to have had a little more back history on some of the characters. Overall though, I really have enjoyed this read!!!! It has provided me with some aww and oh wow moments which I love! The constant turns of events are so nice.

I can’t wait for a sequel!

Note: if you are one who needs trigger warnings I strongly suggest checking twice before reading.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via BookSirens. Thank you to both Book Sirens and the author! It’s been a pleasure.

Edit: I’m changing my rating from an original 4-Star to a 5-Star because I literally can’t stop obsessing over this book!!!! I didn’t realize it would have such a long lasting impact on me after but I am not ok lol I need a Book 2!!!! Note: I rarely change ratings so this is HUGE!

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a vengeance/revenge story, even when that revenge comes centuries after the fact.

Blood Coven is a dark and thrilling ride through the woods.

I always appreciate the ability to describe something to the point where I can see, taste, and feel it. However, I had a hard time with the first couple of paragraphs. They felt wordy and bloated. After that though, I really started to enjoy the story.

Lovely themes of courage in the face of adversity, and a coming of age or a blossoming of sexuality. Red's story is tragic and powerful.

I did find a few inconsistencies that I felt were too glaring to ignore and because of that I could not give it the 4.5 stars that I wanted.

I'm thoroughly intrigued to find out where this series goes and will definitely pick it up. I'd buy this book for the cover alone (it is gorgeous!).

Thanks to BookSirens, Quill and Crow, and Sabrina Voerman for the free advanced read/review copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So dark, violent, and disturbing— not for the faint of heart!
Red is tired of the abusive family life she has waiting for her when a mysterious young woman invites her to join her coven of witches.
Red begins to take her destiny into her own hands by way of witchcraft and this is where the story REALLY takes off. A brilliant and bloody take on the tale of Little Red Riding. Loved it!

[Lee Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bewitching tale of empowerment and vengeance.

Red lives trapped by her family's abuse, only ever venturing outside to visit her grandmother's house deep in the forest.

Meeting a coven of young witches, Red realises there is far more to the world than her confinement, their allure hinting that her dreams of escape may be possible.

But when an ancient curse is enacted to sacrifice her to the werewolf of legend, Red finds herself colliding with her own destiny, faced with a fight to decide if she emerges as victim or survivor.

‘Blood Coven’ is the debut novel by Sabrina Voerman and the first in the ‘Blood Bound’ series. A dark fantasy reimagining of the classic fairy tale of Red Riding Hood, with a heart of feminist steel, we follow dual timelines - one in Red's contemporary Year of the Moon, and other four hundred years earlier in the Year of the Curse. Primarily we follow the narratives of Red and Matthias in each respective timeline, with other character perspectives at points adding to the account of the beginning and the culmination of a curse that spans generations.

Through lush and poetic gothic prose, conjuring the themes of witchcraft and the dark, brooding origins of our most beloved fairy stories, Voerman crafts an entrancing tale of deceit and revenge, of trauma and self-empowerment. Vivid descriptions draw us in from the first page, an aura of mystery and a twisting plot enrapturing us throughout. Bloodthirsty and emotive, evoking an underlying sensuality and connection with nature, as if the craft oozes between each line, there are elements reminiscent of Anne Rice’s ‘Tales of the Mayfair Witches’, and vibes of the TV series ‘Once Upon a Time’, while simultaneously building its own unique world.

The way the enchantment works out in unexpected ways for the coven is especially well done; the dynamic between Red and the Wolf leads to some thought-provoking discussion; and that hint of how love could come into Red's life, something she's never truly experienced, makes the tragedy ever more piquant. Following astutely developed characters and richly described settings, the non-linear plot maintains the pace and keeps us rivetted until the final pieces fall into place, telling a tale of victims reclaiming their own stories and fighting back against their abusers.

'Blood Coven' is a superb debut novel and opening chapter to the series; I'm very much looking forward to reading the second novel, ‘Ashen Heart’.

[Nova]

Still one of the most underrated and atmospheric books I have ever read.

This book is GRIPPING from page one and doesn’t let up at all throughout the book, with a dual timeline book I find these very hard to do well especially when it’s every chapter flips back and forth but this is done seamlessly and when things all come together it’s not predictable and still shocking to the reader.

[Kae Peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well hot dog, Sabrina’s writing is beautiful, it will bring you right into the forest. You’ll feel transported with this haunting tale, and as a fellow BC girl I could see the forests she was describing, hear the animals and wanted oh so badly for the characters to make it out unscathed. She keeps you guessing until the very end, leaving you both satisfied and wanting. And that epilogue 🥶.

[SaraJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was only very loosely based on the Red Riding Hood fairytale. This version is way more fun (though it's been a while since I've read the original Grimm's stories). Imagine if the wolf was a werewolf and Red is a young witch. It's a good read from start to finish.

[readingcactuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I like the series as a whole. The writing is engaging, the characters are well written and interesting. If you are a dark fantasy fan, definitely read this.

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

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully dark and twisted take on the Red Riding Hood fairy tale, and I loved it. If you are sensitive to trigger warnings, then please be wary because it is quite brutal. I will put a list at the end of my review in case they can be taken as potential spoilers.

I think it's pretty obvious from the synopsis that this is a fairy-tale retelling so I won't go too much into the plot. You've still got the basics; the red hood, the trek through the woods to Grandmother's, and the hungry wolf lingering in the shadows. But now, you've also got witches and their curses and blood. A lot of blood. And the set-up is fantastic! The story is told through multiple povs during two different time lines, and they actually compliment each other very well. One takes us down the origin path of the Wolf curse, and the other is 400 years later with our main girl Rose aka Red who meets a group of other witchy girls, falls in love, and meets the curse head on.

Did I mention that it's queer and feminist? No? Well it is and it's awesome! The relationship between Rose, Alina, Sorin, Lilianna, and Tatiana was so well written and empowering. This is the part of the novel that I think shines the brightest. Each of these young women are suffering in different ways because they live in a town that is so closed-minded and controlling. They come together in the woods to be who they are and to love who they want without fear of prosecution. They vow to protect each other, and it's so beautiful. It's just women coming together, supporting each other instead of tearing each other down, helping each other when everyone else turns a blind eye, and taking charge to reclaim their lives and make their town better for everyone. The romance between Red and Alina was so lovely and bittersweet. My only complaint was that there wasn't much of it. I also wish that there were a few more scenes with the entire group in the woods. When Red first finds them, dancing around the fire, she has come from a place where she was forced to endure so much pain and abuse. I really felt like I could feel the healing energy that surrounded them flow into Red and change her heart. I wanted to see more of that. The pacing was a little too quick, and I think I could have been more invested in their friendship if there were maybe just one or two more scenes before all the action takes place. That would have been enough to take it to 5 stars.

I definitely recommend if you like darker fairy-tale retellings. The plot is well crafted and engaging. The words just flew off the page as I was reading. There were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming too, and it really messes with the feelings you have for certain characters. It really added something to the atmosphere of the story. I will be picking up the next one in the series.

I recieved an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Trigger warnings include:

Violence, death, murder, sexual assult on and off page, domestic abuse, child abuse, drug use, mental abuse, manipulation, animal death

[Kate Anjou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and complex retelling of Red Riding Hood, Sabrina Voerman elevates and expands upon the folklore we all know, traversing paths where the deepest of human desires dwell and the beasts we keep hidden reside just beneath the surface.

Voerman writes with a confidence and capability well beyond the expectation of someone writing their debut novel. Her talents at creating fully developed and thought out worlds and characters, dual timelines and multiple POVs, fully embedding her vision in your mind whilst keeping her writing succinct and interesting, is very impressive to say the least.

Our main character, Rose (nickname “Red”) is relatable and multifaceted, making her a very strong MC and one younger and older audiences will connect with. As she struggles through the desperate times of her abuse, the awakening she experiences takes her away from the story we think we know to experiences and viewpoints that are intriguing and beautiful - yet what is a rose without its thorns?

In a second timeline, we have our MMC - a grudging yet desperate man by the name of Matthias, whose catalogue of misfortunes and tragedies haunt him. When an opportunity for a better life is offered, we explore what someone is willing to do for family, for survival and how far can you lose your humanity in an effort to gain it?

Set in the dark trails and clearings of the Mørke Forest, we’re given snippets of the curse and what it means for local girls who stray too far from the path. But what is the curse? Can it be wielded for good? Or does it do nothing but destroy and corrupt the innocent? These are only some of the many questions raised in this story of Red and The Wolf.

Voerman expertly spins this web across the two narratives in a way that provokes a compulsion to read on in order to sate our hunger for answers, an emotional pull to a myriad of characters regardless of where they fall ethically, and a thirst for belonging and kinship that is so innately human despite the monsters inside us, whispering in the dead of night when we’re all alone.

This book promotes so many interesting and important themes: found family, survival, LGBTQIA+, power dynamics, oppression, nature, heritage and so much more. Readers from all over will embrace this original and bewitching fairy tale - I thoroughly recommend to all.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: child abuse, domestic abuse, gaslighting/manipulation, murder/violence and sexual assault/incest (implied/ off page).

I really enjoyed this. I read it quickly over 2 days and I found myself wanting to read more, curious as to what happens next.

I couldn't help but empathise with Red and Blaez and was really invested in their stories. Sabrina does a great job of manipulating the readers feelings, I had a lot of strong feelings towards Red's family, and pity for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in their agendas. Although disagreeable at times, the characters decisions and actions feel consistent with their characters.

The book is told from multiple perspectives taking place at two different points in time. I thought this allowed the story to have a quick pace without neglecting story development. As a result, I thought the story had good depth to it. In terms of the plot, there was a balance between things that I did not see coming and things that I could which meant that towards the end, I didn't know what was going to happen. At times, my expectations were skilfully subverted by Sabrina. This makes it an interesting and compelling twist on the classic Little Red Hiding Hood story.

4 stars because: I would have enjoyed seeing more of the covens backstories and more of their relationships with I felt were central to the story. I also had some questions, particularly about the end that I think could have been answered within the book. Such as explaining, even briefly, who the man with the axe was. I also would have enjoyed some wider world building, the book mentions "the continent" and I would have liked to know more about it. I know that this is book one so I'm interested to see if the next book will expand on this story, if so I'm keen to see how the world building continues.

Overall a solid book with an interesting take on an old classic, if I could give half stars I'd give it 4.5!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Red Riding Hood re-telling. Really enjoyed the variety of women depicted. The coven members felt a little flat compared to some of the other characters. Which I think speaks to the quality of Azalea, Juniper, Matthias, and the Wolf.

[PleaseGoAwayImReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of retellings; I enjoy seeing how each author approaches the original tale and in which direction they opt to take the story. This book was no different. While it took me a minute to adjust to the alternating points of view upon which each chapter centered, I have to say that I was immediately drawn in by the ominous / creepy vibes given off by the writing. I have an appreciation for stories that begin with the end and then cycle back to show the series of events that led to the story’s conclusion. The way this story is written had me thinking— struggling internally, almost— of how I felt about some of the characters. I’ll admit to initially feeling sympathy towards Matthias in the beginning but pretty much turned a 180 and despised him at the end. I wanted to know more about Blaez and his background, as well as Ana and her own background. I consistently disliked Azalea, felt sorry for Juniper seemingly being caught in the middle of Azalea and Matthias ( and even more so on discovering the circumstances of her birth), was rooting for Red to escape her abusive circumstances and then felt anxious and worried as she showed signs of being potentially power hungry. I thought the approach to the story — using lycanthropy, and as a curse— was a clever twist. Why wouldn’t you modernize the original tale and make the woods and the trip to grandma’s scarier and more sinister? Well done, all around. I am looking forward to following the rest of the series!

*I was given an ARC of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Coven offers a spellbinding reinterpretation of Little Red Riding Hood, seamlessly interweaving witchcraft and the Wolf's curse across two distinct eras, separated by four centuries. The narrative gracefully oscillates between the Year of the Curse, with Azalea and her son Matthias, and the Year of the Moon, set four centuries later, with Red, the Wolf, and the enigmatic Morke Forest witches.

The author does an excellent job of creating the worlds of both characters and writing rich and flawed characters that I could root for as well as creating fully developed villains that didn’t follow the traditional tropes.

The story provided a rich telling of the obsession for power, abuse, deceit, superstitions, and girl power. The writing’s pace and tone had me reading late into the night I was so hooked. The author provides the right amount of visual storytelling that I was transported to the villages and the mystical Morke Forest.

Trigger warning, while the story does contain violent and graphic scenes, they serve a purpose, advancing the narrative and aligning with character motivations rather than gratuitously sensationalizing violence.

There were twists I didn’t see coming and an ending that left me feeling satisfied with a mixture of sadness and resentment (towards a character, not the book). This is without a doubt, a series I will continue reading!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Qualia Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and dove through its pages in a weekend.

I'm not normally a big fan of modern fantasy but this author tells a fantasy story in a way that made it incredible and approachable. This story has great characters, a terrific setting, and a fast-paced, mysterious plot.

The chapters are small, which makes it easier to devour in a weekend and have great pausing moments when life gets in the way of reading. I loved how this story doesn't suffer from the trope that many modern fantasy novels suffer from which is an unnecessary amount of description. The author describes the town, the woods, and the characters beautifully, but not overly so at the expense of keeping the plot moving and being exciting, which the book does terrifically.

Highly recommend this book and this author to anyone looking for a great, dark fantasy read. I will be picking up the next book in this series for sure and am curious to see where the author takes us next!

[Laura Radcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt confused at the beginning of the story but as I continued to read, I could see how the plot was unfolding and was glad I stuck with it. I think the frustration was that I couldn’t figure out in the beginning who the ‘baddies’ were as I’m usually spot on in the first few pages. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. This is a dark tale and I screamed and cried in frustration on behalf of the characters. In such a short story the world and myths unfolded in a way that did not feel rushed. I actually would have given 5 stars if there could have been a bit more to the ending but I’m hoping this is because there might be a to be continued…

All in all a very enjoyable read, the writing style is fluid and easy to read. I don’t think I’ve come across a book in a while that literally has me stopping after each chapter to try and figure in my head who’s who and who the good ones and bad ones are. Well done! And now I’m changing my review to 5 star from 4!

[Cat Bowser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC and am leaving a review voluntarily.

The world building here is excellent. It’s delivered gradually as the story progresses which helps it flow naturally. It’s also helped by the fact we have two timelines! Not only do we see the present and the past but we get to make the connection between the two which is additional development of the world and it’s history that I don’t usually see. It’s a pleasure to have it here!

Our main character is interesting and you certainly feel for their plight. But the development they undergo feels way too fast. It makes sense for the character and the development is certainly well set up but I would have liked some more time to just sit in the emotions and events.

All in all, a great adventure in a creatively interesting world. I will certainly want to see future installments!

[Vanessa Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I got the hang of how the chapters went back and forth to different time periods, I loved how it telling two separate stories simultaneously and how they both intertwined in the end. This reimagining of “the little red riding hood”’ was definitely better than I expected. Almost all the adult characters in this story I have no love for at all. With that being said I surprised myself loving Blaze,the wolf. How these women came together to help each other when things aren’t how they should be, even knowing the town would burn them if they were found out, was great! Overall it was a good book. Without giving spoilers away, the ending was EVENTFUL to say the least! Loved it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the world building in this book and how the author made use of family connections. The format of the plot really helped to build tensions and kept me connected with the story. However, the main character's development moved little too quickly to be convincing and some elements of the side plot seems to only be present to make a point in the story, without any really purpose. All in all a very good story but the character development was not my favorite.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melisa Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely a different take on the girl in red and the wolf.

The author used a lot of vivid imagery and included some very interesting storylines to move the narrative along. I fiercely hated so many of the adults in this book because of their selfish and irredeemable behavior, but that made for some spectacularly satisfying outcomes.

I would recommend this for fans of dark fairy tales, magic, and fantasy.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars--Just finished Blood Coven, and wow! Voerman's fast-paced and lush writing drew me in right away, and I soon found myself thinking, "Just one more chapter," over and over. This is a dark, Gothic horror reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, and I loved seeing the story told through this lens. There were a couple instances where the language felt a little too "modern" for the story's setting, but that's more of a personal preference. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series :)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

With just the kernels of the Red Riding Hood fairytale, this story turns into one of darkness, revenge, and witchcraft. But the way it is written is mesmerizing. The author tells of two parallel tracks separated by time which come together with a harrowing link between generations and leaves you with feelings of sadness for a character who was truly the victim, the Wolf. If the next books in the series resemble this one, we are in for a treat!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique, immersive and thrilling retelling of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf but with witches and dark magic/supernatural elements.

The story is told from four perspectives- that of a young woman called Red, a man called Matthias, a married man called Blaez and an old crone known as Azalea.

This story had me enthralled from start to finish with its breakneck pace and horror/supernatural elements and I cannot wait to see what the author has in store next with this series.