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puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Murder, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
tak_everlasting's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Body horror, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
roguesaw's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
noblelandmermaid's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Gore, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
thehushedearth's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This story is insanely unique and inventive in a sea of fairy tale retellings. It somehow seamlessly blends a Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast retelling into one.
The world: I found that the writing in this book was beautiful and lyrical. The prose reminded me of many of the dark fairy tales that I have read without being overtly dark to accomplish this feat. Whitten brings her world, setting, and characters to life in startling and fresh detail. I found that the dichotomy of beauty and darkness, light and shadow, in this novel were as fascinating as they were lovely.
The characters: All of Whitten's characters have a fierceness about them in one way or another that I loved. The cast of characters in this book are diverse and full of strong voices. Each of the cast of side characters had an interesting story and were unique to themselves. I would have liked to see a little more development or involvement of some of the side characters.
Red (Redarys) was born a second daughter and was therefore destined for the Wolf. While at first, I was a little put off by Red's attitude, her tenacity and strength won me over in the end. She can be a little crass, stubborn, and selfish at times, but overall I feel like this lends to her being human and flawed which makes her more relatable.
Neve (Neverah) is the first daughter and therefore, for the throne. She comes off as kind and cares for her sister in such a fierce way. Over the course of the book, we watch her character make an arc from a more meek and gentle girl to a powerful and determined woman.
I enjoyed the bond between Red and Neve, the fierce loyalty and protectiveness that the sisters share. It did lead to some less than smart decisions on both of their parts admittedly. But overall, I feel like the bond that they had was formidable and added much needed tension throughout the story as they were being pulled back together by the love that they shared.
The Wolf I think was my favorite character. He was the perfect mixture of brooding, mysterious, protective, and kind. He is the character type that I am the most in love with: the dark, intimidating, mysterious one that is secretly the sweetest, kindest person who only wants to take care of those that he loves. He is made flawed and more relatable in his awkwardness and his almost fundamental need to protect those that he cares for by himself.
Overall, I loved the story and cannot wait to see how it unfolds further in the second book.
The world: I found that the writing in this book was beautiful and lyrical. The prose reminded me of many of the dark fairy tales that I have read without being overtly dark to accomplish this feat. Whitten brings her world, setting, and characters to life in startling and fresh detail. I found that the dichotomy of beauty and darkness, light and shadow, in this novel were as fascinating as they were lovely.
The characters: All of Whitten's characters have a fierceness about them in one way or another that I loved. The cast of characters in this book are diverse and full of strong voices. Each of the cast of side characters had an interesting story and were unique to themselves. I would have liked to see a little more development or involvement of some of the side characters.
Red (Redarys) was born a second daughter and was therefore destined for the Wolf. While at first, I was a little put off by Red's attitude, her tenacity and strength won me over in the end. She can be a little crass, stubborn, and selfish at times, but overall I feel like this lends to her being human and flawed which makes her more relatable.
Neve (Neverah) is the first daughter and therefore, for the throne. She comes off as kind and cares for her sister in such a fierce way. Over the course of the book, we watch her character make an arc from a more meek and gentle girl to a powerful and determined woman.
I enjoyed the bond between Red and Neve, the fierce loyalty and protectiveness that the sisters share. It did lead to some less than smart decisions on both of their parts admittedly. But overall, I feel like the bond that they had was formidable and added much needed tension throughout the story as they were being pulled back together by the love that they shared.
The Wolf I think was my favorite character. He was the perfect mixture of brooding, mysterious, protective, and kind. He is the character type that I am the most in love with: the dark, intimidating, mysterious one that is secretly the sweetest, kindest person who only wants to take care of those that he loves. He is made flawed and more relatable in his awkwardness and his almost fundamental need to protect those that he cares for by himself.
Overall, I loved the story and cannot wait to see how it unfolds further in the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Confinement
Blood and self-harm used for magic purposes, not due to mental health issues.kyradannalee's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
the writing is beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
kabrahams's review against another edition
3.75
This was just your average YA fantasy novel. Enjoyable, but nothing special. I thought it was going to be a little red riding hood retelling, but it ended up being more beauty and the beast. I usually love beauty and the beast retellings and anything with a magical, creepy forest, but this just didn't give what I wanted it to give. It reminded me in some ways of "The Wolf and the Woodsman," which is much better and has rich ties to mythology that this book would have benefitted from.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
schnaucl's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Despite the main character's nickname being Red and Eammon's being Wolf, at times it reminded me more of a retelling of Beauty and the Beast than Little Red Riding Hood. I liked the characters and the world, although it times it was repetitive. I do wonder about the kingdom though since Neve never seemed particularly concerned with actually ruling it or the welfare of her subjects. I get that she's worried about her sister and not in her right mind, but it makes me less sympathetic to her. Of course, we don't really see much of the subjects in the kingdom so probably we're not supposed to care about that.
I'm not really sure how I feel about Eammon and Red becoming gods in the end and I'm not sure I want to spend a bunch of time with Neve and the Kings in the next book
I'm not really sure how I feel about Eammon and Red becoming gods in the end and I'm not sure I want to spend a bunch of time with Neve and the Kings in the next book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
ka_ke's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A new favourite! I wasn’t sure at first, but then I got to know the characters & their world more and I fell in love. A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood meets Eldritch Horrors made for an epic fantasy that can interest anyone. Bonus perk: Red doesn’t get pregnant! I can’t wait for “For the Throne!”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Cursing
Minor: Death and Death of parent
20sidedbi's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I know this is supposed to be a dark fairytale version of Red Riding Hood, but I thought it was everything I've ever wanted from a take on Beauty and the Beast. Interesting magic system, consensual romance under tough circumstances, soft and strong masculinity. Gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment and Suicide