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Scarlet Moon
The True Face of Love
Ruth's grandmother lives in the forest, banished there for the "evil" that the townsfolk believed she practiced. But if studying the stars, learning about nature, and dreaming of flying is evil, then Ruth is guilty of it too. Whenever Ruth took food and supplies to her grandmother, she would sit with the old woman for hours, listening and learning.
When she wasn't in the woods, Ruth was learning the trade of her father, a blacksmith, now that her brother would never return from the Crusades.
Amidst those dark days, a new man enters Ruth's life. William is a noble with a hot temper and a bad name, and he makes her shiver. But the young man is prey to his heritage, a curse placed on his family ages ago, and each male of the family has strange blood running in his veins. Now Ruth must come face-to-face with his destiny at Grandma's house
157 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
11 people are currently reading
5872 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Viguié
91 books1,040 followersDebbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character on the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
November 5, 2012
1.5 stars.
I liked Stephan!! I wanted a awesome brother\sister relationship where Stephan helps her figure out what to do about William and is there for her and protective and awesome.....But no. Just kill off the brother and all the potential for greatness. Thanks a lot.
So I like the idea of the wolf being a were wolf, or something really similar, but I wish that it would have been more of a mystery to figure out. As it is, you can tell by reading the back cover and by page 3. Real subtle.
I wanted to like Ruth and William as a couple but a few things were against them.
A.
What? No. I can assure you, Ruth, that that would not be good.
That sounds like a super great start to a healthy life long relationship.
(Also, "Touched one of his eyeteeth"? Who does that?)
B. Ruth is afraid of William....and is still considering marrying him without actually knowing him? Sure, she knows that he's cursed and he seems nice....right? But since he met her, he can't control his wolfy actions. He blacks out after being a wolf. He thinks that having Ruth would be worth the death of a hundred people, but he's not sure he can make that decision, condemning a hundred (or more) people to death all so that he can be loved and love in return.
I'm all for helping the poor guy but he's got issues. A lot of them. And until he resolves them, don't get too close.
C. He practically killed you as a kid. That's gotta be off putting.
D.
Pages 121 and 122 in the mass market paperback by "Simon Pulse."
At this point in the story, I no longer cared about them as a couple. I didn't like nor did I respect William. He doesn't love Ruth. If he loved her, regardless of personal pain, misery, or effort, he would want her to be happy and safe. And if that meant losing her in his life, he would have done it; had he loved her. As for what these two have.... Attraction? Infatuation?
Ruth is just silly. This, in a real life situation where all is not fairytales and gumdrops, is not a safe relationship. Get the heck of out his life. He needs help. He is controlling, possessive, and dangerous. He would force you to marry him! What part of that is in any way good?
This should have been her reaction to all that:
and then ran like hell.
Also, ending a sentence in a preposition: She was pinned between him and the wall with nowhere to go even if she had wanted to.
is grammatically incorrect.
And then there was Peter. Heard that coming from a mile away. It was blowing a horn and wearing tap shoes.
And then there was the anti-freaking-climatic ending.
Ruth: "Oh, yeah, we still need to break the curse else William nom me to death one night he gets a little too excited but there is only two pages left. What to do?"
William: *nomming on Ruth's neck*
Grandmother: "Idiots. You're cured now, William. Happy wedding present, you two. I never want to see you again. It was Magic."
The End.
Not recommended. The very few things that made this interesting and different were sunk like the Titanic by the truly horrendous romance and characters.
I liked Stephan!! I wanted a awesome brother\sister relationship where Stephan helps her figure out what to do about William and is there for her and protective and awesome.....But no. Just kill off the brother and all the potential for greatness. Thanks a lot.
So I like the idea of the wolf being a were wolf, or something really similar, but I wish that it would have been more of a mystery to figure out. As it is, you can tell by reading the back cover and by page 3. Real subtle.
I wanted to like Ruth and William as a couple but a few things were against them.
A.
"What if I devour you?" he asked at last. She pulled back slightly and touched one of his eyeteeth with her fingertip. "I hope that you do," she breathed.
What? No. I can assure you, Ruth, that that would not be good.
That sounds like a super great start to a healthy life long relationship.
(Also, "Touched one of his eyeteeth"? Who does that?)
B. Ruth is afraid of William....and is still considering marrying him without actually knowing him? Sure, she knows that he's cursed and he seems nice....right? But since he met her, he can't control his wolfy actions. He blacks out after being a wolf. He thinks that having Ruth would be worth the death of a hundred people, but he's not sure he can make that decision, condemning a hundred (or more) people to death all so that he can be loved and love in return.
I'm all for helping the poor guy but he's got issues. A lot of them. And until he resolves them, don't get too close.
C. He practically killed you as a kid. That's gotta be off putting.
D.
She glared at him as he stepped closer. "We should never see each other again," he said.
"That is fine with me," she said, stepping back again until her back hit the wall.
She stared deep into his eyes, and suddenly she saw something, a change in them. His voice was little more than a growl. "Unfortunately that doesn't work for me."
Than his hands were on her waist and his lips were on hers. She moaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave in to his embrace. She was pinned between him and the wall with nowhere to go even if she had wanted to. But I don't want to go anywhere. I want to stay here with him, be a part of him.
He gently bit her lip, tugging on it slightly with his teeth, and she closed her eyes. "It's no use," he said, pulling away ever so slightly. "I tried to forget you, but I can't, not now, not ever. I need you, I don't care what the consequences. Just knowing you, loving you, makes me crazy. If that is my fate, I'd rather go mad with you by my side."
He kissed her cheek and then trailed kisses down her throat.
"We are only going to destroy each other," she whispered. "I should leave now and never return."
"It's too late for that," he said, gazing at her fiercely.
"Why?"
"You love me, don't you?"
"Yes," she whispered. "God forgive me, I do."
"Then I shall never let you go, for I love you."
"I could run."
"I would catch you," he growled against her lips.
"I could kill you."
"Only your absence could do that."
"You can't make me stay with you."
"I will marry you and then you will have to," he said.
"What if I don't agree to that? something inside her forced her to ask.
He pulled away from her, and his green eyes bored into hers with an intensity that made her quake. "Then I'll make sure your father forces you to marry me."
"And how will you do that?"
"I don't know. I will not lose you, though."
She felt white-hot flame explode throughout her being. "I have no choice but to marry you?"
"None."
She smiled slowly. "Then kiss me again."
Pages 121 and 122 in the mass market paperback by "Simon Pulse."
At this point in the story, I no longer cared about them as a couple. I didn't like nor did I respect William. He doesn't love Ruth. If he loved her, regardless of personal pain, misery, or effort, he would want her to be happy and safe. And if that meant losing her in his life, he would have done it; had he loved her. As for what these two have.... Attraction? Infatuation?
Ruth is just silly. This, in a real life situation where all is not fairytales and gumdrops, is not a safe relationship. Get the heck of out his life. He needs help. He is controlling, possessive, and dangerous. He would force you to marry him! What part of that is in any way good?
This should have been her reaction to all that:
and then ran like hell.
Also, ending a sentence in a preposition: She was pinned between him and the wall with nowhere to go even if she had wanted to.
is grammatically incorrect.
And then there was Peter. Heard that coming from a mile away. It was blowing a horn and wearing tap shoes.
And then there was the anti-freaking-climatic ending.
Ruth: "Oh, yeah, we still need to break the curse else William nom me to death one night he gets a little too excited but there is only two pages left. What to do?"
William: *nomming on Ruth's neck*
Grandmother: "Idiots. You're cured now, William. Happy wedding present, you two. I never want to see you again. It was Magic."
The End.
Not recommended. The very few things that made this interesting and different were sunk like the Titanic by the truly horrendous romance and characters.
January 30, 2009
I generally enjoy re-tellings of fairy tales, so was excited to hear about this young adult version of the Red Riding Hood story. I regreat to say, I was wrong. This is your basic Harlequin romance with a werewolf in it. Poor, but feisty young woman meets rich, handsome man and they fall instantly in lust. But wait... he has a terrible, deep, dark secret - once a month, he turns into a wolf and rips people's throats out - gasp! But he's so handsome and charming and he bites her lips when he kisses her and growls in her ear that she has no choice but to marry him, so what can she do? Oh dear, I hope it all works out in the end and they live happily ever after! Maybe Grandma, who has been banished by the townsfolk to live alone in the woods because they *think* she's a witch, will save the day. Ya think??? I wish Grandma could give me back the time (short tho it was) that I spent reading this.
January 20, 2016
I loved other books in the Once upon a time series, but this one.. No just no. Red riding hood is my favorite fairytale, but it is my least favorite fairy tales to read retellings of, Why? Because everyone thinks it is a bright idea to make the wolf love interest!!!
( Author, "Hmm, I am writing a books based on Red Riding Hood, and I need a love interest for Red. Hmmm let me see, There was this woodsman guy, who came in and saved Red and her Grandmother and left without a reward, he just wanted to do the right thing. There is also this creepy wolf that tricks a little girl into leading him to her grandmother,s house and eats said little girl and her grandmother. Hmmm ooh I know I'll make this wolf guy like a werwolf, that is a danger to every one. It will be really romantic!") Every single Red Riding Hood retelling I see does this, and this book is no different. I mean Ruth, girl grow a brain already, William almost killed you TWICE! If he really loved he would run off so he couldn't hurt you.
I do not recommend. And a note to authors, STOP MAKING THE WOLF LOVE INTREST ALREADY!!
( Author, "Hmm, I am writing a books based on Red Riding Hood, and I need a love interest for Red. Hmmm let me see, There was this woodsman guy, who came in and saved Red and her Grandmother and left without a reward, he just wanted to do the right thing. There is also this creepy wolf that tricks a little girl into leading him to her grandmother,s house and eats said little girl and her grandmother. Hmmm ooh I know I'll make this wolf guy like a werwolf, that is a danger to every one. It will be really romantic!") Every single Red Riding Hood retelling I see does this, and this book is no different. I mean Ruth, girl grow a brain already, William almost killed you TWICE! If he really loved he would run off so he couldn't hurt you.
I do not recommend. And a note to authors, STOP MAKING THE WOLF LOVE INTREST ALREADY!!
April 15, 2009
2-6-08
Debbie Viguie is an established author with several books under her belt and she is the co-author of a successful book series called Wicked. She has her bachelor of arts degree in creative writing, and she says she has been writing most of her life. Most of her books fall into the fiction/fantasy genre and that is precisely where her book Scarlet Moon can be found. Scarlet Moon, along with her book Midnight Pearls, is part of the 'Once Upon a Time Series' published by Simon Pulse. This is a series of classic fairy tales that have had a new twist and a deeper story line put into them.
Scarlet Moon is a modern retelling of Little Red Ridding Hood that you would necessarily want to tell your little girl. The book starts out with a young Ruth, the main character of the book, walking through the woods with her brother on the way home from their grandmother’s house. Disaster hits when the two young children are suddenly come upon by a mysterious black wolf with piercing green eyes. Ruth’s leg is mangled by the savage wolf and her brother luckily saves them both, but even though Ruth is in extreme pain she can’t get the image of those green eyes out of her mind, in fact, she didn’t even know that wolves had green eyes. The book soon progresses into chapter two and it is now nine years in the future making Ruth around eighteen years old. She works in her father’s blacksmith shop, which is frowned upon in this time of the Crusades. Soon a strange man enters the shop and helps Ruth deal with a troublesome customer. This man happens to be William, the Earl of Lauton. William is know to have a bad and dangerous reputation but Ruth doesn’t think to much about it. However, she does notice his strange strikingly familiar green eyes…
The story line of this book takes off on the first page of the book so it doesn’t give you any time to get bored in the sometimes dull background overview of other books. The story not only hooks you with the action and mystery from the first page but I also think the it progresses nice. It doesn’t move so fast that you don’t have time to get involved or connected to the story; it also doesn’t move so slow and get into so much detail you feel like putting it down and never picking it up again. Scarlet Moon is definitely a book for fantasy lovers especially if you like books that involve spells, curses, and mystery. If you are a fast or avid reader this book won’t take you long to finish. Its fairly short, so if you are looking for something to keep you occupied for a while it probably shouldn‘t be your first choice, but if you’re looking for a quick read you might pick it up. I would also say that this book is more geared toward teen readers so if it’s an in depth story line your looking for its probably not for you either. Over all I think Scarlet Moon is a good read with a captivating story line that keeps you turning the pages and keeps you entertained down to the last page.
Scarlet Moon, which was written by Debbie Viguie, is a mystical, romantic, and thrilling retelling of the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Ruth, who is portrayed as the Liggle Red Riding Hood characted in the book, is living her life without fear even thought she was attacked and her leg was mangled by a wolf when she was a child. This story takes place in a small villiage in the times of the Crusades which her brother and cousin left to fight in leaving her to help her father in his blacksmith shop. I love the mystry and courage in thes book and the story always has you guessing what is going to happen next. Scarlet Moon is a must read for any fairy tale lover especially if you like the movie The Brothers Grim.
Debbie Viguie is an established author with several books under her belt and she is the co-author of a successful book series called Wicked. She has her bachelor of arts degree in creative writing, and she says she has been writing most of her life. Most of her books fall into the fiction/fantasy genre and that is precisely where her book Scarlet Moon can be found. Scarlet Moon, along with her book Midnight Pearls, is part of the 'Once Upon a Time Series' published by Simon Pulse. This is a series of classic fairy tales that have had a new twist and a deeper story line put into them.
Scarlet Moon is a modern retelling of Little Red Ridding Hood that you would necessarily want to tell your little girl. The book starts out with a young Ruth, the main character of the book, walking through the woods with her brother on the way home from their grandmother’s house. Disaster hits when the two young children are suddenly come upon by a mysterious black wolf with piercing green eyes. Ruth’s leg is mangled by the savage wolf and her brother luckily saves them both, but even though Ruth is in extreme pain she can’t get the image of those green eyes out of her mind, in fact, she didn’t even know that wolves had green eyes. The book soon progresses into chapter two and it is now nine years in the future making Ruth around eighteen years old. She works in her father’s blacksmith shop, which is frowned upon in this time of the Crusades. Soon a strange man enters the shop and helps Ruth deal with a troublesome customer. This man happens to be William, the Earl of Lauton. William is know to have a bad and dangerous reputation but Ruth doesn’t think to much about it. However, she does notice his strange strikingly familiar green eyes…
The story line of this book takes off on the first page of the book so it doesn’t give you any time to get bored in the sometimes dull background overview of other books. The story not only hooks you with the action and mystery from the first page but I also think the it progresses nice. It doesn’t move so fast that you don’t have time to get involved or connected to the story; it also doesn’t move so slow and get into so much detail you feel like putting it down and never picking it up again. Scarlet Moon is definitely a book for fantasy lovers especially if you like books that involve spells, curses, and mystery. If you are a fast or avid reader this book won’t take you long to finish. Its fairly short, so if you are looking for something to keep you occupied for a while it probably shouldn‘t be your first choice, but if you’re looking for a quick read you might pick it up. I would also say that this book is more geared toward teen readers so if it’s an in depth story line your looking for its probably not for you either. Over all I think Scarlet Moon is a good read with a captivating story line that keeps you turning the pages and keeps you entertained down to the last page.
Scarlet Moon, which was written by Debbie Viguie, is a mystical, romantic, and thrilling retelling of the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Ruth, who is portrayed as the Liggle Red Riding Hood characted in the book, is living her life without fear even thought she was attacked and her leg was mangled by a wolf when she was a child. This story takes place in a small villiage in the times of the Crusades which her brother and cousin left to fight in leaving her to help her father in his blacksmith shop. I love the mystry and courage in thes book and the story always has you guessing what is going to happen next. Scarlet Moon is a must read for any fairy tale lover especially if you like the movie The Brothers Grim.
October 9, 2014
This is a retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood, a story that I have never really been that found of. However, I actually loved this book! It really brought the whole fairy tale to life, and gave the characters so much more depth. Ruth isn’t your typical girl. She is very pretty, but knows how to fight. She has a love of learning and nature, but works as a blacksmith. William is a great character and you really feel for him and the trails he has to live through. They have great chemistry together. You fall in love with Grandma, and I couldn’t help picturing walking through the beautiful woods to go for a visit at Grandma’s house. The story was full of love, passion, adventure and mystery. There are some parts which are a bit violent, so I wouldn’t recommend it to a young audience. My only complaint is that the book was too short; I would have loved it if it had been a full length novel and really delved into the characters and the story. Since the author was limit to page count, some parts did feel a little rushed, or tied up too quickly. Those were all easy to overlook though, the story as a whole was just fantastic.
Of all the Once Upon a Time books this is by far my favorite. Some of the others seemed to be out there, but this one was more along the lines of a traditional fairy tale and yet was still unique
Of all the Once Upon a Time books this is by far my favorite. Some of the others seemed to be out there, but this one was more along the lines of a traditional fairy tale and yet was still unique
July 21, 2013
I now understand why Bethany sort of looked abashed when I asked her if this book was any good. Didn't care much for this one, and Elevetha sums it all up perfectly in her review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This is the author who brought us:
Midnight Pearl (eww...why did I give that 3 stars? got to change that)
Violet Eyes (disappointment of the year)
And now I've read Scarlet Moon. Not that impressed. Romance was mediocre until they confess their love for one another and then the cute(ish) romance went sketch. Figure out your audience. This was not that appropriate.
Plus, the ending was hugely lame.
This is the author who brought us:
Midnight Pearl (eww...why did I give that 3 stars? got to change that)
Violet Eyes (disappointment of the year)
And now I've read Scarlet Moon. Not that impressed. Romance was mediocre until they confess their love for one another and then the cute(ish) romance went sketch. Figure out your audience. This was not that appropriate.
Plus, the ending was hugely lame.
June 29, 2018
I thought this was such a great re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood. I loved Ruth as a main character. I thought she was different and fierce. How she loved working along her father in the blacksmith shop and how she would learn about healing from her grandmother. I have a little bit of problem with William and Ruth's romance like it was rushed but in the end it worked out.
March 20, 2021
This was a quick read, it I didn’t find it to be super engaging. I didn’t love the idea of the wolf being a werewolf. I did like the love story, even if it did feel a little rushed. I don’t know that I’ll continue to read more in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
She is being cut by a knife during a kiss, but she doesn’t care because she’s being kissed my HIM! 🤢🤮 Need I say more?
August 4, 2018
This was a short, quick read. It great for a quick read when on vacation or an airplane ride.
March 6, 2012
Hahahaha!!
I'm sorry, but this is the second "Little Red Riding Hood" retelling I've read whose synopsis ends with "facing their destiny at Grandmother's house" and I think it is the most hilarious thing ever. When I think of my grandmother's house, I do not envision any "showdowns" happening. Funny stuff.
Anyway... Scarlet Moon is a really neat retelling of a fairy tale that you don't know much about. Besides the obvious "don't talk to strangers" lesson in "Little Red", we don't know much about the characters and their lives. I especially enjoy retellings of "Little Red Riding Hood" for this reason; there is so much you can do with them and so many different interpretations. It is interesting to see how different authors interpret this fairy tale.
Ruth is a very endearing protagonist. She is strong, smart, and forward thinking. And William... well, he is about as dreamy as one might expect a charming, young nobleman with a dark past to be. (The answer is too dreamy.)
My issue with this retelling, and most of the other retellings in Once Upon a Time, is that it spends a ton of time on exposition and the result is that the rest of the book feels rushed. At less than two hundred pages, Scarlet Moon does a good job of fitting everything into a very small page number, but it suffers from this problem more than the rest of books in the Once Upon a Time series.
I'm sorry, but this is the second "Little Red Riding Hood" retelling I've read whose synopsis ends with "facing their destiny at Grandmother's house" and I think it is the most hilarious thing ever. When I think of my grandmother's house, I do not envision any "showdowns" happening. Funny stuff.
Anyway... Scarlet Moon is a really neat retelling of a fairy tale that you don't know much about. Besides the obvious "don't talk to strangers" lesson in "Little Red", we don't know much about the characters and their lives. I especially enjoy retellings of "Little Red Riding Hood" for this reason; there is so much you can do with them and so many different interpretations. It is interesting to see how different authors interpret this fairy tale.
Ruth is a very endearing protagonist. She is strong, smart, and forward thinking. And William... well, he is about as dreamy as one might expect a charming, young nobleman with a dark past to be. (The answer is too dreamy.)
My issue with this retelling, and most of the other retellings in Once Upon a Time, is that it spends a ton of time on exposition and the result is that the rest of the book feels rushed. At less than two hundred pages, Scarlet Moon does a good job of fitting everything into a very small page number, but it suffers from this problem more than the rest of books in the Once Upon a Time series.
April 28, 2024
Reading Journal/review no. 3! This is Scarlet Moon by Debbie Vigué! It's part of the Once Upon a Time series, which covers nineteen different fairytales retold by several different authors. This book is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
I did not like this one. 🫤 First off, it's much more grim and less magical-feeling than others in the series. It also has an insta-love story that comes off as creepy and abusive, at least through the wording the characters use. It really doesn't make any sense; there's no time given for the relationship to properly develop. I also felt some of the wording was racist. While it might have been historically accurate to the time period, I felt it could have been handled better. Finally, there's one character with obvious PTSD who is written horribly and insensitively. The character is monsterfied, and the way they're written is hurtful and inaccurate. One ⭐.
What's a book that disappointed you and why?
#scarletmoon #debbieviguié #debbieviguie #fairytaleretelling #littleredridinghood
#redridinghood #fairytale #bookreview #bookreviewer
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #onceuponatimebooks #onceuponatime #bookjournal #readingjournal #onestar #2024readingchallenge #readinglist2024
I did not like this one. 🫤 First off, it's much more grim and less magical-feeling than others in the series. It also has an insta-love story that comes off as creepy and abusive, at least through the wording the characters use. It really doesn't make any sense; there's no time given for the relationship to properly develop. I also felt some of the wording was racist. While it might have been historically accurate to the time period, I felt it could have been handled better. Finally, there's one character with obvious PTSD who is written horribly and insensitively. The character is monsterfied, and the way they're written is hurtful and inaccurate. One ⭐.
What's a book that disappointed you and why?
#scarletmoon #debbieviguié #debbieviguie #fairytaleretelling #littleredridinghood
#redridinghood #fairytale #bookreview #bookreviewer
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #onceuponatimebooks #onceuponatime #bookjournal #readingjournal #onestar #2024readingchallenge #readinglist2024
February 23, 2013
Once Upon a Time Series
Okay I'm all for retelling classics but the story and ending seemed soooooo stretched to me! Duke William's family has been werewolves for generations and the secret has been closely guarded. But William meets Ruth (a female blacksmith during the Crusades) and the next day he spills the beans! I would like to think that a dark secret that big would take longer than a couple glances and witty exchanges to come to light, but maybe that's just me.
Here's my other pet peeve and this is a spoiler. William's family has had this curse for generations and generations and generations and generations - you get my point. No one has been able to figure out how to break the curse. Oh but of course they didn't ask Granny because she would tell you all you have to do is burn the original cursed Duke's portrait and all would be well! Really. Come on. Really?
So overall this reads like an old gothic romance novel which is different but with all the story flaws, it wasn't for me.
Okay I'm all for retelling classics but the story and ending seemed soooooo stretched to me! Duke William's family has been werewolves for generations and the secret has been closely guarded. But William meets Ruth (a female blacksmith during the Crusades) and the next day he spills the beans! I would like to think that a dark secret that big would take longer than a couple glances and witty exchanges to come to light, but maybe that's just me.
Here's my other pet peeve and this is a spoiler. William's family has had this curse for generations and generations and generations and generations - you get my point. No one has been able to figure out how to break the curse. Oh but of course they didn't ask Granny because she would tell you all you have to do is burn the original cursed Duke's portrait and all would be well! Really. Come on. Really?
So overall this reads like an old gothic romance novel which is different but with all the story flaws, it wasn't for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2019
It's not a bad version of Red Riding Hood, but it wasn't anything amazing either.
It is nice to read fantasy with a sprinkling of historical fiction, and I like that Ruth had a reason for being different from other girls, with her brother off fighting the Holy War. Her wearing more manly clothes and being skilled at blacksmithing were out of necessity, and not just because she didn't want to be feminine.
As for the romance, it was kind of eh... I liked where it was going until Ruth and William had that super eloquent conversation about how much they loved one another, halfway through the book... It wasn't believable both because it didn't sound like spur of the moment talking (I mean, I get an eloquent phrase here or there, especially if you've been thinking it for awhile, but these words seemed to come out of nowhere), and because it left me confused as to what the rest of the book is about. It's so great when characters finally confess their love to each other, but that usually happens towards the end of stories for a reason. If it does happen earlier, there also needs to be a clear reason this confession still might end in them not being together, so that the tension is still there.
Not to say I was ever super invested in the relationship, as sometimes William did seem a little controlling, and I think that was the author's idea of making him more interesting/intriguing, but... It would just tick me off if somebody tried pulling that same stuff with me.
I also had a problem with the werewolf thing. You have a curse that affects a family for ages, but those in the area aren't aware the three days surrounding the full moon is a dangerous time to be in the woods alone? I mean, the village all thinks the grandmother is a witch, so why don't they have any legends about a beast that haunts the woods during those nights? I get that the amount of deaths that happen are quite small, but still... A superstitious village would know not to venture into the woods during those three nights, after generations of this curse.
In some ways, it felt like this book wanted to be a steamy romance, but it couldn't because it's YA. There were several times the characters thought about sex (wanting to do it, thinking someone else may have done it, etc.), but it was always in the vaguest of ways, so it didn't really bother me. But then there was that one moment where Ruth moaned during a kiss... That went a little too far for me, and seemed so weird, to have that one moment and nothing else in the whole book. Looking back on the book after finishing it, while the book itself is clean, all of those little instances add up to make it feel like it wanted to be steamier.
I have a lot of negative to say about this book (and more in the spoiler section), but it did keep me reading until the end, and there were a few times I wasn't entirely sure where the story was going to go, which is always great when reading a fairy tale retelling. Ruth was an interesting character, and the historical bits served the story well, fleshing out the setting. However, this isn't a book I'll ever re-read, so I'll be getting rid of my copy.
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
So, William. I'm not quite sure why he had such a bad reputation, when he rarely seemed to behave in a way that fit said reputation. I get he might act like a better person around Ruth, but even when in his POV, I didn't really see it. I mean, he certainly is controlling (at one point he tells Ruth he'll force her to marry him), but people talked about him like he got angry at the drop of a hat, rather than simply being controlling.
Then, what about William's father? I get they can control themselves (most of the time) when werewolves, but I had to wonder about the logistics of being a noble out fighting a war, and disappearing at the same time each months for three nights/days in a row. Though, I would say this could be applied to the entire family line, and not just William's father. It really didn't seem like anybody knew the family secret, but that's a long period to be gone at the same time every month to not draw questions, even if you are royalty.
Then we have Ruth's grandmother. There was that one point in the story, where she comes across William naked, and it seems from their conversation she has a guess about what he is, but then she acts like she's learning new information when Ruth tells her later. Also, if she's an actual witch, why didn't she cure William right away, rather than acting like she's helping Ruth search for a cure? Also, why did she decide to cure William at the end, anyways? Nothing seemed to have changed between them, so it wasn't like she was waiting for him to pass some kind of test or anything. It just... happened.
Lastly, we have Peter. He felt very random at the end. So, he has the mind of a beast and is attacking/killing people? I get James and Mary were out of jealousy, but it was also kind of weird how nobody seemed to care about Peter's confession of killing them. Honestly, even before learning Peter felt like a wolf, I had wondered for awhile if maybe Stephen had actually died from William's father, while he was a wolf. I thought this was the reason Peter was so against William. Then, for a brief moment at the end, I thought somehow maybe part of the curse had been transformed to Peter, hence his feeling like a wolf. However, instead, he feels like a wolf simply because of PTSD. I know PTSD is anything but simple, and everything Peter did can fit into it, but it was weird to mention how he felt like a wolf on the inside while William was a wolf on the outside, but then to not go anywhere with that. Maybe William could have talked to Peter, helped to calm him, to tame the wolf inside. Something.
So, the book had a good start, and a fairly good first half, but the romance-side of things felt off once it came to that eloquent but cheesy love confession, and the ending just didn't tie things up as well as I had hoped.
It is nice to read fantasy with a sprinkling of historical fiction, and I like that Ruth had a reason for being different from other girls, with her brother off fighting the Holy War. Her wearing more manly clothes and being skilled at blacksmithing were out of necessity, and not just because she didn't want to be feminine.
As for the romance, it was kind of eh... I liked where it was going until Ruth and William had that super eloquent conversation about how much they loved one another, halfway through the book... It wasn't believable both because it didn't sound like spur of the moment talking (I mean, I get an eloquent phrase here or there, especially if you've been thinking it for awhile, but these words seemed to come out of nowhere), and because it left me confused as to what the rest of the book is about. It's so great when characters finally confess their love to each other, but that usually happens towards the end of stories for a reason. If it does happen earlier, there also needs to be a clear reason this confession still might end in them not being together, so that the tension is still there.
Not to say I was ever super invested in the relationship, as sometimes William did seem a little controlling, and I think that was the author's idea of making him more interesting/intriguing, but... It would just tick me off if somebody tried pulling that same stuff with me.
I also had a problem with the werewolf thing. You have a curse that affects a family for ages, but those in the area aren't aware the three days surrounding the full moon is a dangerous time to be in the woods alone? I mean, the village all thinks the grandmother is a witch, so why don't they have any legends about a beast that haunts the woods during those nights? I get that the amount of deaths that happen are quite small, but still... A superstitious village would know not to venture into the woods during those three nights, after generations of this curse.
In some ways, it felt like this book wanted to be a steamy romance, but it couldn't because it's YA. There were several times the characters thought about sex (wanting to do it, thinking someone else may have done it, etc.), but it was always in the vaguest of ways, so it didn't really bother me. But then there was that one moment where Ruth moaned during a kiss... That went a little too far for me, and seemed so weird, to have that one moment and nothing else in the whole book. Looking back on the book after finishing it, while the book itself is clean, all of those little instances add up to make it feel like it wanted to be steamier.
I have a lot of negative to say about this book (and more in the spoiler section), but it did keep me reading until the end, and there were a few times I wasn't entirely sure where the story was going to go, which is always great when reading a fairy tale retelling. Ruth was an interesting character, and the historical bits served the story well, fleshing out the setting. However, this isn't a book I'll ever re-read, so I'll be getting rid of my copy.
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
So, William. I'm not quite sure why he had such a bad reputation, when he rarely seemed to behave in a way that fit said reputation. I get he might act like a better person around Ruth, but even when in his POV, I didn't really see it. I mean, he certainly is controlling (at one point he tells Ruth he'll force her to marry him), but people talked about him like he got angry at the drop of a hat, rather than simply being controlling.
Then, what about William's father? I get they can control themselves (most of the time) when werewolves, but I had to wonder about the logistics of being a noble out fighting a war, and disappearing at the same time each months for three nights/days in a row. Though, I would say this could be applied to the entire family line, and not just William's father. It really didn't seem like anybody knew the family secret, but that's a long period to be gone at the same time every month to not draw questions, even if you are royalty.
Then we have Ruth's grandmother. There was that one point in the story, where she comes across William naked, and it seems from their conversation she has a guess about what he is, but then she acts like she's learning new information when Ruth tells her later. Also, if she's an actual witch, why didn't she cure William right away, rather than acting like she's helping Ruth search for a cure? Also, why did she decide to cure William at the end, anyways? Nothing seemed to have changed between them, so it wasn't like she was waiting for him to pass some kind of test or anything. It just... happened.
Lastly, we have Peter. He felt very random at the end. So, he has the mind of a beast and is attacking/killing people? I get James and Mary were out of jealousy, but it was also kind of weird how nobody seemed to care about Peter's confession of killing them. Honestly, even before learning Peter felt like a wolf, I had wondered for awhile if maybe Stephen had actually died from William's father, while he was a wolf. I thought this was the reason Peter was so against William. Then, for a brief moment at the end, I thought somehow maybe part of the curse had been transformed to Peter, hence his feeling like a wolf. However, instead, he feels like a wolf simply because of PTSD. I know PTSD is anything but simple, and everything Peter did can fit into it, but it was weird to mention how he felt like a wolf on the inside while William was a wolf on the outside, but then to not go anywhere with that. Maybe William could have talked to Peter, helped to calm him, to tame the wolf inside. Something.
So, the book had a good start, and a fairly good first half, but the romance-side of things felt off once it came to that eloquent but cheesy love confession, and the ending just didn't tie things up as well as I had hoped.
August 28, 2014
Reviewed on Kathryn Cooper Writes
I love the Once Upon a Time Fairytales! They are so much fun to read. Some I give 4 stars, and some I give 5. This one was a 5 star book! It was such a fun read.
Ruth was so entertaining to read about. She had learned so much in her life. William was so cute. Their relationship was the best. The romance was amazing and took my breath away. There were a few cheesy romance lines, but I loved them.
Scarlet Moon was a book I loved! I wished it wasn’t such a short read though. It could have carried on much longer for me.
Content Ratings: (content details found at kathryncooperwrites.com)
Sexual: mild
Language: none
Violence: mild/moderate
I love the Once Upon a Time Fairytales! They are so much fun to read. Some I give 4 stars, and some I give 5. This one was a 5 star book! It was such a fun read.
Ruth was so entertaining to read about. She had learned so much in her life. William was so cute. Their relationship was the best. The romance was amazing and took my breath away. There were a few cheesy romance lines, but I loved them.
Scarlet Moon was a book I loved! I wished it wasn’t such a short read though. It could have carried on much longer for me.
Content Ratings: (content details found at kathryncooperwrites.com)
Sexual: mild
Language: none
Violence: mild/moderate
February 18, 2013
The story is set during the crusades and centers around Ruth. Ruth's brother and cousin leave to fight shortly after she has been attacked by a wolf with unusual eyes. Without the boys to help RUth's father, the blacksmith, is short handed. Ruth works as his apprentice. Years pass and only her cousin returns from the war, but it has changed him for the worse. Ruth meets the nearby Lord and they fall in love. They have to overcome many challenges to be together, namely the fact that William is the wolf that attacked her as a child.
I enjoyed this book. As well as others by this author and in the series itself. SOme of the twists on the classic tales are intriguing and unexpected.
I enjoyed this book. As well as others by this author and in the series itself. SOme of the twists on the classic tales are intriguing and unexpected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2013
I felt like I was reading someone's fanfiction. Throw together some moderately gory murders, a prince who spends half the novel unclothed running through the forest, a lunatic grandmother, a confusing heroine and several repetitive descriptions and what do you get? Why, Scarlet Moon, of course! The author attempted to set the "horror novel mood" by giving many descriptions of bloody deaths and dark forests, but failed. It was comical. My sisters and I refer to this novel as "The Bloody Moon". If you enjoyed it, then great. Just know that I did not.
Oh, and just a side note: "face-to-face with destiny at grandma's house"? I literally laughed out loud when I saw that...
Oh, and just a side note: "face-to-face with destiny at grandma's house"? I literally laughed out loud when I saw that...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2016
Okay, so I read more of this than I did Beauty Sleep (part of the Once Upon a Time series), but although it was worthy of 2 stars rather than 1, I still had some serious issues with the development of the story. I loved that Ruth was a blacksmith and her badass Grandmother Giselle, but that was sort of it. When the Wolf was revealed to be [SPOILER] William, to us the reader, it was then revealed to Ruth a few pages afterwards and it felt just like a rehashing of the information we'd just been given. Then, after the whole Wolf thing was revealed, they have this weird insta-love, after only having met 2/3 times previously. No. Nope.
June 26, 2023
This is a wonderfully written Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood filled with love and Romance as well as a touch of mystery and some unexpected twists and surprises that will keep you entertained and interested throughout the story. All the characters are very well written as well as all the different relationships that are present throughout the story. I particularly enjoyed reading about the relationship between Ruth and William and seeing how it developed.
January 20, 2015
3.5 stars
A very intriguing book! From the beginning crazy scene where Ruth got attacked (and nearly killer) by a wolf, to the final scenes were all was revealed about what had caused the murders in the forest, this book held my attention.
The one thing that I didn't care all that much for was the romance -- it just seemed to happen a little too quickly. Still, I enjoyed Scarlet Moon and, if you enjoy Fairytale Retellings, I think you might too.
A very intriguing book! From the beginning crazy scene where Ruth got attacked (and nearly killer) by a wolf, to the final scenes were all was revealed about what had caused the murders in the forest, this book held my attention.
The one thing that I didn't care all that much for was the romance -- it just seemed to happen a little too quickly. Still, I enjoyed Scarlet Moon and, if you enjoy Fairytale Retellings, I think you might too.
May 10, 2016
I really liked this retelling of Red Riding Hood. There were no big surprises in it, but I loved the story anyway. There was plenty of romance and passion but it was still a clean love story which was nice. Some of the dialog between the two main characters got a bit cheesy during the romance scenes, but I was able to ignore it. Overall I thought it was a fun, quick read.
July 12, 2010
Scarlet Moon is probably one of my top three favorites in the "Once Upon a Time Series" of retellings! I love this unique, fresh twist on "Little Red Riding Hood." Don't let the Little Red Riding Hood thing scare you...this one is VERY romantic!
March 10, 2025
Rather simple
December 29, 2024
Scarlet Moon is of course another retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with some werewolf motif thrown in for good measure. These are the type of stories I like with some romance and horror mixed together but I have read many of these in the past.
I don't know whether I'm getting jaded with that angle or not...
When Ruth is nine years old, she is attacked by a wolf but saved when her brother Stephen stabs it. It does not kill her but leaves her with scars on her legs and the flesh torn off by the teeth marred by scar tissue. A wolf is found and her cousin Peter cuts off a paw from the animal's dead body to give to Ruth but she doesn't want it.
It is because the wolf was not the one that attacked her...that one had green eyes and not the yellow ones of this slain wolf.
I am not sure how old young men were sent off to fight but soon after, Peter and Stephen leave to go to Jerusalem and fight in the Crusades. Ruth learns how to be an apprentice blacksmith to her father Jacob while her brother is away once she becomes well again after her attack.
She is aided by her grandmother Giselle sneaking in potions and salves to treat her wounds. Long ago, Ruth's paternal grandmother was banished from the village because the people thought she was a witch and almost burned her at the stake. Ruth doesn't believe it and heads to her home in the forest over the next nine years to learn her knowledge.
When Ruth is eighteen, her cousin Peter returns home but he has been changed by the horrors of battle. He also brings word that Stephen was slain while protecting their king and has brought back the breastplate armor her brother was wearing, a stain of blood on the crescent moon insignia.
Not long after Peter's return, Ruth is having a disagreement with one of her father's customers while he is away. Armed with her temper and her brother's dagger, Ruth almost attacks the village tanner when a young man appears on horseback to try and keep the fight from escalating to more blood shed just as Ruth breaks his nose.
Simon, the village tanner, soon pays for his knives and leaves once the young man reveals his identity. He is William, Earl of Louton, son of the marquis away at war and he pays Ruth to reshoe his Stallion as there are obvious sparks between them. Ruth tells her father and cousin of William at dinner and both of them tell her to stay away from him for there are rumors that he is dangerous.
The back of the book doesn't sugar-coat it so I won't either: there is a curse on William's family.
I know there were seven crusades fought in Jerusalem so I am not sure which one this is focused on but in the First Crusade, William's bloodline was cursed by a witch who had her husband slain by his namesake ancestor.
Guess what the curse is?
To turn into a wolf at the cycle of the full moon did you say? Good guess.
The connection between Ruth and William is heavy-handed and vaguely hinted at with a forbidden romance plot. When people start to be attacked and killed by wolves, we are surrounded by red herrings and red hands and a red cloak.
The specialty of this red riding hood is that Ruth's grandmother has fashioned the inside with bits of late brother Stephen's breastplate which I do admit was touching as well as clever. We also get just a little more Grandmother in this version as Giselle is clearly a witch but the good kind as she is a healer and versed in astronomy.
Both Giselle and Ruth are strong-willed women so that is another positive aspect while the men are more of the tortured variety with the exception of Ruth's father Jacob. He lost his son in the Crusades but accepts it while Peter is shell-shocked to say the least and William is suffering for evil he did not do and can't remember what the curse has made him do.
As we get toward the ending, there is more tension and excitement but we truly get saved from a downer ending. I never was one for Red Riding Hood ending on such a dour tone and appreciate a writer that can truly weave a happy ending out of the tale.
If you are big on the more wolfly versions of Red Riding Hood and prefer her not to be a small child in peril but a young woman more than capable of saving herself...Scarlet Moon is one book I can certainly howl about.
I don't know whether I'm getting jaded with that angle or not...
When Ruth is nine years old, she is attacked by a wolf but saved when her brother Stephen stabs it. It does not kill her but leaves her with scars on her legs and the flesh torn off by the teeth marred by scar tissue. A wolf is found and her cousin Peter cuts off a paw from the animal's dead body to give to Ruth but she doesn't want it.
It is because the wolf was not the one that attacked her...that one had green eyes and not the yellow ones of this slain wolf.
I am not sure how old young men were sent off to fight but soon after, Peter and Stephen leave to go to Jerusalem and fight in the Crusades. Ruth learns how to be an apprentice blacksmith to her father Jacob while her brother is away once she becomes well again after her attack.
She is aided by her grandmother Giselle sneaking in potions and salves to treat her wounds. Long ago, Ruth's paternal grandmother was banished from the village because the people thought she was a witch and almost burned her at the stake. Ruth doesn't believe it and heads to her home in the forest over the next nine years to learn her knowledge.
When Ruth is eighteen, her cousin Peter returns home but he has been changed by the horrors of battle. He also brings word that Stephen was slain while protecting their king and has brought back the breastplate armor her brother was wearing, a stain of blood on the crescent moon insignia.
Not long after Peter's return, Ruth is having a disagreement with one of her father's customers while he is away. Armed with her temper and her brother's dagger, Ruth almost attacks the village tanner when a young man appears on horseback to try and keep the fight from escalating to more blood shed just as Ruth breaks his nose.
Simon, the village tanner, soon pays for his knives and leaves once the young man reveals his identity. He is William, Earl of Louton, son of the marquis away at war and he pays Ruth to reshoe his Stallion as there are obvious sparks between them. Ruth tells her father and cousin of William at dinner and both of them tell her to stay away from him for there are rumors that he is dangerous.
The back of the book doesn't sugar-coat it so I won't either: there is a curse on William's family.
I know there were seven crusades fought in Jerusalem so I am not sure which one this is focused on but in the First Crusade, William's bloodline was cursed by a witch who had her husband slain by his namesake ancestor.
Guess what the curse is?
To turn into a wolf at the cycle of the full moon did you say? Good guess.
The connection between Ruth and William is heavy-handed and vaguely hinted at with a forbidden romance plot. When people start to be attacked and killed by wolves, we are surrounded by red herrings and red hands and a red cloak.
The specialty of this red riding hood is that Ruth's grandmother has fashioned the inside with bits of late brother Stephen's breastplate which I do admit was touching as well as clever. We also get just a little more Grandmother in this version as Giselle is clearly a witch but the good kind as she is a healer and versed in astronomy.
Both Giselle and Ruth are strong-willed women so that is another positive aspect while the men are more of the tortured variety with the exception of Ruth's father Jacob. He lost his son in the Crusades but accepts it while Peter is shell-shocked to say the least and William is suffering for evil he did not do and can't remember what the curse has made him do.
As we get toward the ending, there is more tension and excitement but we truly get saved from a downer ending. I never was one for Red Riding Hood ending on such a dour tone and appreciate a writer that can truly weave a happy ending out of the tale.
If you are big on the more wolfly versions of Red Riding Hood and prefer her not to be a small child in peril but a young woman more than capable of saving herself...Scarlet Moon is one book I can certainly howl about.
October 7, 2017
This book was...OK. Short and quick read but felt kinda...meh? I didn't have it in me to write a summary because I didn't know what to leave out without making the story sound uneventful.
I noticed this is from a series called Once Upon a Time and the tone reminds me very much of the TV series of the same name. Very similar elements. Wolf is a werewolf, Granny knows what's up, and they snuck Peter and the Wolf in this story, like the TV show did.
The answers to the stories questions didn't seem complex enough and of course some questions were just never answered. James & Mary could have been left out and not changed the story at all. Peter behaving like an animal could have been elaborated upon WAY more and replaced all the time Ruth is in the shop and having conflicts about marrying William. If books are like movies, this story felt like a preview. Buildup, buildup, buildup-BOOM Drama Bomb! End scene.
I guess a lot of character motives weren't exposed enough for me to be emotionally curious to where I would care why they were doing what they did. Seemed a bit choppy. Peter, James and Mary were too much on the fringes to adhere smoothly and make this more well-rounded story.
Well, I'm still gonna read the other 20 books in the series 'cause I'm not a quitter!
I noticed this is from a series called Once Upon a Time and the tone reminds me very much of the TV series of the same name. Very similar elements. Wolf is a werewolf, Granny knows what's up, and they snuck Peter and the Wolf in this story, like the TV show did.
The answers to the stories questions didn't seem complex enough and of course some questions were just never answered. James & Mary could have been left out and not changed the story at all. Peter behaving like an animal could have been elaborated upon WAY more and replaced all the time Ruth is in the shop and having conflicts about marrying William. If books are like movies, this story felt like a preview. Buildup, buildup, buildup-BOOM Drama Bomb! End scene.
I guess a lot of character motives weren't exposed enough for me to be emotionally curious to where I would care why they were doing what they did. Seemed a bit choppy. Peter, James and Mary were too much on the fringes to adhere smoothly and make this more well-rounded story.
Well, I'm still gonna read the other 20 books in the series 'cause I'm not a quitter!
July 13, 2020
3 stars!
Taking into account all the retellings I've managed to read in the Once Upon a Time series, I can safely say that Scarlet Moon is one of the better stories. However, I do feel that the book (similar to others in the series) suffers from not being as fleshed out as it could be. Firstly, I like the setting that was chosen; medieval Europe in the middle of the Crusades is always an interesting time period. This particular choice of setting helps differentiate this story from others of the series that just feel like they're taking place in another generic fairy tale land. I really like the main plot points of the story: Ruth working as a blacksmith, her relationship with William, how the family deals with a traumatized cousin who has returned from the Crusades etc. Yet, because these points aren't given enough time to be explored they ultimately feel rushed, including the romance, subplots, and especially that ending. The conflict was resolved so suddenly that it made no sense. I just don't think 157 pages sufficed in communicating the effective and engrossing retelling it was aiming for.
Overall, despite my gripes this is a short and sweet retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that was creative and still entertaining.
Taking into account all the retellings I've managed to read in the Once Upon a Time series, I can safely say that Scarlet Moon is one of the better stories. However, I do feel that the book (similar to others in the series) suffers from not being as fleshed out as it could be. Firstly, I like the setting that was chosen; medieval Europe in the middle of the Crusades is always an interesting time period. This particular choice of setting helps differentiate this story from others of the series that just feel like they're taking place in another generic fairy tale land. I really like the main plot points of the story: Ruth working as a blacksmith, her relationship with William, how the family deals with a traumatized cousin who has returned from the Crusades etc. Yet, because these points aren't given enough time to be explored they ultimately feel rushed, including the romance, subplots, and especially that ending. The conflict was resolved so suddenly that it made no sense. I just don't think 157 pages sufficed in communicating the effective and engrossing retelling it was aiming for.
Overall, despite my gripes this is a short and sweet retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that was creative and still entertaining.
December 27, 2019
Before I get anywhere with this review i'm going to let you all know that I imagined William, one of the title character, as Dyson Thornwood from Lost Girl
Yummy!!! hahaha
Okie dokie back to the book, I loved Ruth and I loved her strong personality, the way they dove into her background in such a small book really made me more connected if you may say so to the character. I am a sucker for romance and the last two books I read in this series really didn't have the romance that I didn't even know I was looking for. It was semi insta love but I mean as much as I am not a fan of it there are a few exceptions. I liked the playful relationship between Ruth and William and how protective he was over her, even when she didn't really need protecting lol
I would recommend this book. It's by far my favorite in the series. I don't think there is a chronological way to read this series, so I'm just going by which one I might want to read next.
-A
Yummy!!! hahaha
Okie dokie back to the book, I loved Ruth and I loved her strong personality, the way they dove into her background in such a small book really made me more connected if you may say so to the character. I am a sucker for romance and the last two books I read in this series really didn't have the romance that I didn't even know I was looking for. It was semi insta love but I mean as much as I am not a fan of it there are a few exceptions. I liked the playful relationship between Ruth and William and how protective he was over her, even when she didn't really need protecting lol
I would recommend this book. It's by far my favorite in the series. I don't think there is a chronological way to read this series, so I'm just going by which one I might want to read next.
-A
August 25, 2020
A very quick read with a lot of adventure!! I truly enjoyed this book!! The plot line felt nice and solid and the twist on the original tale was extremely interesting!
One teeny tiny flaw was that the author made her main character almost ditzy in a way, that doesn’t make sense to her character. The main character is an independent tough and tender girl who lives with her father.
At a young age she had an encounter with a wolf who nearly killed her, and the one thing she notices about the wolf was his unnatural green eyes. Then she meets a handsome prince with green eyes, and then she encounters the wolf with green eyes, again!! And, she keeps asking herself (to be said in a ditzy voice) “Where have I seen those eyes before...? Hmmm...” 🙄🙄🙄
HOWEVER, besides that teeny character flaw, like I said, I really did enjoy this book! It has a cool storyline and a very cool moral to the story!! I really really loved this book!
One teeny tiny flaw was that the author made her main character almost ditzy in a way, that doesn’t make sense to her character. The main character is an independent tough and tender girl who lives with her father.
At a young age she had an encounter with a wolf who nearly killed her, and the one thing she notices about the wolf was his unnatural green eyes. Then she meets a handsome prince with green eyes, and then she encounters the wolf with green eyes, again!! And, she keeps asking herself (to be said in a ditzy voice) “Where have I seen those eyes before...? Hmmm...” 🙄🙄🙄
HOWEVER, besides that teeny character flaw, like I said, I really did enjoy this book! It has a cool storyline and a very cool moral to the story!! I really really loved this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2017
I was going to give it 3 stars because it wasn't really very good. But the end was so ridiculous it dropped to 2 stars. It was really violent and didn't make much sense.
It was like the book was accidentally published before all the details which would tie it together and let is make sense could be added.
Also the people were complete idiots. *Spoiler Alert* No one, not even the one who could turn into a wolf, recognized that the toothmarks on the victims were made by human teeth and not an animal. Also the wolf prints were apparently made by a one legged wolf since they were all from the same paw.
It was like the book was accidentally published before all the details which would tie it together and let is make sense could be added.
Also the people were complete idiots. *Spoiler Alert* No one, not even the one who could turn into a wolf, recognized that the toothmarks on the victims were made by human teeth and not an animal. Also the wolf prints were apparently made by a one legged wolf since they were all from the same paw.
September 21, 2020
Not a bad story, but not the best. It’s overly angsty. If William (or any of his male ancestors for that matter) wanted to not worry about hurting his people, why wasn’t there a reinforced dungeon in the manor for the wolf to be kept in during moon nights? Self-discipline is all well and good, but to get moody about falling in love, hug each other so tightly you cut yourselves, and then go sweat over a bu ch of horses and their shoes without cleaning up or bandaging anything? Ridiculous. But aside from the angsty-ness, the story wasn’t bad. Maybe the young readers won’t be as annoyed as I was at melodrama.
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