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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
dark
emotional
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
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a great standalone. I feel like I really got immersed into the world where faith can create gods, decide fate and destiny seems pre-determined.
Woman have little rights and even less if you are a spirit singer. You are supposed to be an obedient little girl, stay a virgin and live in a monastery until you are old enough or the current servant of death doesn't make it the full 5 years of her service.
We follow one of the soon to be "red maidens" find her way in a world that is designed to be against her. And overcome her fears when she eventually meets the god of death.
Read as an ARC.
Woman have little rights and even less if you are a spirit singer. You are supposed to be an obedient little girl, stay a virgin and live in a monastery until you are old enough or the current servant of death doesn't make it the full 5 years of her service.
We follow one of the soon to be "red maidens" find her way in a world that is designed to be against her. And overcome her fears when she eventually meets the god of death.
Read as an ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Gaslighting
Minor: Grief
“Let’s keep asking questions that tear down the worlds, Rowan.”
If that quote doesn’t hook you immediately I don’t know what will. What a powerful quote in a truly beautiful book. A little red riding hood retelling that I didn’t know I needed and that I can’t wait to reread. This was my first Shiela Masterson book but it absolutely will not be my last. Please read this book, it’s definitely something special.
If that quote doesn’t hook you immediately I don’t know what will. What a powerful quote in a truly beautiful book. A little red riding hood retelling that I didn’t know I needed and that I can’t wait to reread. This was my first Shiela Masterson book but it absolutely will not be my last. Please read this book, it’s definitely something special.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Song of the Dark Wood
This is a top read for me this year and I’m telling you, you’ll want to read it.
“Let’s agree to keep asking each other questions that challenge us to see beyond everyone else’s expectations. Let’s keep asking questions that tear down world’s, Rowan.”
This was my first book by Sheila and it won’t be my last.
The writing was just phenomenal, pure magic that for me is similar to how I feel when I read Adalyn Grace and Rebecca Ross- pulled in, emotional and as if I’m in the actual story. I read this in two sittings that’s how much I didn’t want to put the book down.
The Feminine Rage in this book was done SO well. It’s a “coming of rage” character driven gothic fairy tale fantasy romance that follows Rowan as she grows up in what I consider a cult type culture who sacrifices women to be “devoured” by The Wolf. Her “job” as set by The Elders is to seduce The Wolf and figure out why the blight is spreading and threatening the village and the food supplies.
“Rowan chuckled a muffin at him. ‘I’m angry because you didn’t trust me to be able to handle a conversation about it. You didn’t trust me to be reasonable.’”
Read if you like:
*Grumpy MMC
*Music based magic (which was wicked awesome!)
*Haunted forest
*Seeing ghosts
*He falls first
And I would say if you liked The Foxglove King or A River Enchanted then you should read this standalone. Just trust me.
This is a top read for me this year and I’m telling you, you’ll want to read it.
“Let’s agree to keep asking each other questions that challenge us to see beyond everyone else’s expectations. Let’s keep asking questions that tear down world’s, Rowan.”
This was my first book by Sheila and it won’t be my last.
The writing was just phenomenal, pure magic that for me is similar to how I feel when I read Adalyn Grace and Rebecca Ross- pulled in, emotional and as if I’m in the actual story. I read this in two sittings that’s how much I didn’t want to put the book down.
The Feminine Rage in this book was done SO well. It’s a “coming of rage” character driven gothic fairy tale fantasy romance that follows Rowan as she grows up in what I consider a cult type culture who sacrifices women to be “devoured” by The Wolf. Her “job” as set by The Elders is to seduce The Wolf and figure out why the blight is spreading and threatening the village and the food supplies.
“Rowan chuckled a muffin at him. ‘I’m angry because you didn’t trust me to be able to handle a conversation about it. You didn’t trust me to be reasonable.’”
Read if you like:
*Grumpy MMC
*Music based magic (which was wicked awesome!)
*Haunted forest
*Seeing ghosts
*He falls first
And I would say if you liked The Foxglove King or A River Enchanted then you should read this standalone. Just trust me.
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I LOVED IT!
The ending is heartbreaking, yet positive. It gave me a book hangover even though it’s a standalone!
The premise is dark+romance, but the atmosphere is hopeful. A standalone fairytale retelling. Little Red Riding Hood x Beauty and the Beast x Phantom of the Opera x Hades and Persephone.
Rowan is a fierce female hero that fights back against male oppression and works with her friends to try to fight against the evil lurking under the calm exterior of their seaside village.
Strong themes of abandonment. But also fortitude in the face of isolation. Feminine rage.
Tropes:
- eyes on me
- he washes her hair
- he kneels for her
- touch her and die
I received an advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.
Update: ALC received and below is my honest review
The narrators did an excellent job pulling out emotions in their words. The ACCENTS got me right from the dedication to the end.
Oh and the heartbreaking 💔 is worse on audio. Aoife, the narrator, she was spectacular! And Dermot made kneeling in the Wolf’s temple not only believable 😏 but sexy 😘
The ending is heartbreaking, yet positive. It gave me a book hangover even though it’s a standalone!
The premise is dark+romance, but the atmosphere is hopeful. A standalone fairytale retelling. Little Red Riding Hood x Beauty and the Beast x Phantom of the Opera x Hades and Persephone.
Rowan is a fierce female hero that fights back against male oppression and works with her friends to try to fight against the evil lurking under the calm exterior of their seaside village.
Strong themes of abandonment. But also fortitude in the face of isolation. Feminine rage.
Tropes:
- eyes on me
- he washes her hair
- he kneels for her
- touch her and die
I received an advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.
Update: ALC received and below is my honest review
The narrators did an excellent job pulling out emotions in their words. The ACCENTS got me right from the dedication to the end.
Oh and the heartbreaking 💔 is worse on audio. Aoife, the narrator, she was spectacular! And Dermot made kneeling in the Wolf’s temple not only believable 😏 but sexy 😘
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Thank you Sheila Masterson and Behind the Pages PA for the gifted review copy!
A captivating romantasy that blends beloved fairy tales with powerful social commentary. Rowan, a complex and fierce protagonist, navigates a world where women's autonomy is threatened. This enchanting story combines steamy romance with thought-provoking themes, making it a memorable read that goes far beyond typical genre expectations.
A captivating romantasy that blends beloved fairy tales with powerful social commentary. Rowan, a complex and fierce protagonist, navigates a world where women's autonomy is threatened. This enchanting story combines steamy romance with thought-provoking themes, making it a memorable read that goes far beyond typical genre expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Gaslighting
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-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:
Yes