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yenteb's review against another edition
3.0
Liked the story disliked the romance. It was too fast and unbelievable.
jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
This is another fairytale retelling. This time it's an original take on Little Red Riding Hood. I always really liked this fairy tale, because it wasn't really a romance and Little Red Riding Hood had a great deal of agency in terms of fairy tales. It was also a lot darker than most.
This particular story follows Rachelle, who's chosen by her Aunt to protect the forest. Unfortunately, Rachelle is too reckless and forced to make a choice that binds her to the evil she hoped to defeat. Three years later she is fighting to protect the realm and the king forces her to protect her least favourite prince. Together the two become unlikely allies and work to find the mystical sword, that will kill the evil.
This is pretty far from the original tale, with just the general idea and the occasional nods to the original fairytale. This has a lot more medieval royalty elements than the original tale. I liked the changes though and think it made for a richer novel. I'm a sucker for mystical forests, and I think this novel did a great job with that. The whole world building was great. Rachelle as a protagonist was really good I though. I also didn't mind the romance in the novel. I mean we all knew it was going to happen, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this novel.
4/5 stars.
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes Little Red Riding Hood or fairy tale retellings. Or YA fantasies in general. It's a very well done novel. If you like retellings to be close, this probably isn't for you.
This particular story follows Rachelle, who's chosen by her Aunt to protect the forest. Unfortunately, Rachelle is too reckless and forced to make a choice that binds her to the evil she hoped to defeat. Three years later she is fighting to protect the realm and the king forces her to protect her least favourite prince. Together the two become unlikely allies and work to find the mystical sword, that will kill the evil.
This is pretty far from the original tale, with just the general idea and the occasional nods to the original fairytale. This has a lot more medieval royalty elements than the original tale. I liked the changes though and think it made for a richer novel. I'm a sucker for mystical forests, and I think this novel did a great job with that. The whole world building was great. Rachelle as a protagonist was really good I though. I also didn't mind the romance in the novel. I mean we all knew it was going to happen, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this novel.
4/5 stars.
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes Little Red Riding Hood or fairy tale retellings. Or YA fantasies in general. It's a very well done novel. If you like retellings to be close, this probably isn't for you.
mickachoo's review against another edition
4.0
It started out a bit slow, IMO, but it soon picked up. And the world building lacked a little so it was kind of hard to pick up on certain things happening, but it doesn't quite take away from the story so it's all good.
The characters are greatly flawed in a way that makes you both love and hate them. Everything makes you angry, also.
It's a rollercoaster ride. I enjoyed it.
The characters are greatly flawed in a way that makes you both love and hate them. Everything makes you angry, also.
It's a rollercoaster ride. I enjoyed it.
imanilehte's review against another edition
Had an emotional connection to it because I was hoping for it to be as good as Cruel Beauty, but it just misses the mark.
drridareads's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed buddy reading this book with Ahmed Ejaz
I think it's the first fairy tale retelling I read..
This book was a retelling of Red Riding Hood. But it's not really that similar I mean it could do fine as an original book I thought.
We follow Rachelle who is supposed to become the next woodwife and protect everyone from the evil of the Great Forest but she is not very careful and becomes bound to the that evil as she becomes bloodbound.
What I loved:
• The setting. It was magical and it had that fairytale feeling to it. It’s dark and grim. The imageries for the forest were breathtaking. All credit to her beautiful writing.
• How Rachelle was a survivor first and foremost. Even though she was haunted with her guilt, she admitted that to herself.
• Armand. I have a thing for people with silver hands maybe.
• The chemistry between Rachelle and Armand.
• Zisa and Tyr’s story. I devoured (:P) those parts. It was gloomy.
•
What I did not love:
• I felt like most of the characters besides Armand were very one-dimensional. Our protagonist Rachelle had such potential but I feel like that wasn’t fully explored I mean we should’ve gotten to see more of monstrous side and basically just more of her. Erec who was one of main characters; did not exactly have much personality for most of the book, except that he teased her. Amelie and the King felt more like plot devices than actual characters.
• There was a whole chunk in the start where they looked for the DOOR; it was dragging on too much.
• The Devourer. Our main antagonist and sadly we don’t know much of him.
•
After this review I'm going to be a bit inactive.
Overall I enjoyed this. 3.5 stars!
P.S guys what is with the ugly cover? :P
I think it's the first fairy tale retelling I read..
This book was a retelling of Red Riding Hood. But it's not really that similar I mean it could do fine as an original book I thought.
We follow Rachelle who is supposed to become the next woodwife and protect everyone from the evil of the Great Forest but she is not very careful and becomes bound to the that evil as she becomes bloodbound.
What I loved:
• The setting. It was magical and it had that fairytale feeling to it. It’s dark and grim. The imageries for the forest were breathtaking. All credit to her beautiful writing.
• How Rachelle was a survivor first and foremost. Even though she was haunted with her guilt, she admitted that to herself.
• Armand. I have a thing for people with silver hands maybe.
• The chemistry between Rachelle and Armand.
• Zisa and Tyr’s story. I devoured (:P) those parts. It was gloomy.
•
Spoiler
When we find out that Erec is the forestborn, I was so surprised even though now I see that there were hints, and he becomes more interesting specially with his love for Rachelle.What I did not love:
• I felt like most of the characters besides Armand were very one-dimensional. Our protagonist Rachelle had such potential but I feel like that wasn’t fully explored I mean we should’ve gotten to see more of monstrous side and basically just more of her. Erec who was one of main characters; did not exactly have much personality for most of the book, except that he teased her
Spoiler
he became interesting when we found it his mad obsessive love for Rachelle• There was a whole chunk in the start where they looked for the DOOR; it was dragging on too much.
• The Devourer. Our main antagonist and sadly we don’t know much of him.
•
Spoiler
When Rachelle manages to put the Devourer it just seemed too easy, I don’t understand if that was the solution why didn’t Zisa think of it?After this review I'm going to be a bit inactive.
Overall I enjoyed this. 3.5 stars!
P.S guys what is with the ugly cover? :P
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I finished this book this afternoon and ever since I've been thinking about how the hell I'm going to find words to describe what I thought of this book. Obviously, I did like it. I started this morning and I flew through it and before I knew it I was already halfway and really had to get some other things done. But it's one of those books where my head and heart can't come to an agreement. And usually I let my heart win, but in this case, I think I'm going with my head.
The strength of this book, for me, is without a doubt the atmospheric writing style. The writing style feels part of the plot and part of Rachelle, our main character. It clearly carries a certain feel. It aren't just the words telling the story, but it's also the way they're woven together, the way they form sentences and the way they create this unique and bizarre world.
The writing style also really feels like Rachelle's personality. For most of the book Rachelle keeps her distance. From other characters, from herself and from the reader. My heart therefore has a little trouble truly connecting with her and truly feeling for her. The chemistry didn't blow me away, because Rachelle was so afraid to let it all in and out. Because the writing enhanced that distance even more.
And the writing also really fits the plot. The world and story are in a way bizarre. Within this world everything makes perfect sense and the way all the different ingredients eventually come together in the finale is beautiful. And the writing never even tries to make the connection to our world and our minds. It doesn't do infodumps, it doesn't do explanations Rachelle would never do. It demands that you, as a reader, go with the flow and enjoy the ride.
It turned reading this book into a unique experience. One I'd happily repeat with other books of this author. Because the total package and how everything fits together and completes each other really impressed me and I'm curious if she can do the same in her other stories!
The strength of this book, for me, is without a doubt the atmospheric writing style. The writing style feels part of the plot and part of Rachelle, our main character. It clearly carries a certain feel. It aren't just the words telling the story, but it's also the way they're woven together, the way they form sentences and the way they create this unique and bizarre world.
The writing style also really feels like Rachelle's personality. For most of the book Rachelle keeps her distance. From other characters, from herself and from the reader. My heart therefore has a little trouble truly connecting with her and truly feeling for her. The chemistry didn't blow me away, because Rachelle was so afraid to let it all in and out. Because the writing enhanced that distance even more.
And the writing also really fits the plot. The world and story are in a way bizarre. Within this world everything makes perfect sense and the way all the different ingredients eventually come together in the finale is beautiful. And the writing never even tries to make the connection to our world and our minds. It doesn't do infodumps, it doesn't do explanations Rachelle would never do. It demands that you, as a reader, go with the flow and enjoy the ride.
It turned reading this book into a unique experience. One I'd happily repeat with other books of this author. Because the total package and how everything fits together and completes each other really impressed me and I'm curious if she can do the same in her other stories!
rebeccazh's review against another edition
3.0
i liked the feel of the book a lot; dark fairy-tale with evocative descriptions.
ellieg2604's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I had a really hard time connecting this book with the first. I wouldn't even say they had that much to do with each other. You could read one without the other and be completely fine.
haileereads's review against another edition
5.0
This book surprised me! I loved Cruel Beauty but I think Hodge outdid herself with Crimson Bound. It’s a dark new take on Little Red Riding Hood. If this ever became a movie then it probably would be too scary for me to watch but the book did a good job of making it creepy but in a bearable and fascinating way. I loved it!!!