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A review by charlielea
Song of the Dark Wood by Sheila Masterson
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of this book, in return for an honest review.
I can't believe I didn't realise this was a Little Red Riding Hood retelling - it's actually a little embarrassing how long it took me to figure that out, especially considering the girl in a red cloak on the actual cover. So this a fairytale retelling with a darker twist, featuring a strong FMC and a slowburn romance.
I really liked how this was dual POV and I thought that both narrators did a great job in bringing the characters to life. If you have the option to listen to the audiobook, then I'd highly recommend it! (But it's also on kindle unlimited too!)
I saw a review on goodreads that said something about the main character being weak and giving her power to a guy, which honestly, are we even talking about the same book? Rowan, the FMC, is such a strong character - we literally follow her progression from being someone being trodden all over to someone who takes no shit and has so much power. If you also have an issue with men thinking they have power over women and their lives, then you'll feel the same rage that Rowan does and it will make your blood boil. But seeing how they're dealt with makes it all worth it, trust me.
I really enjoyed this, and I definitely want to check out more works by the author because I just loved the writing, the worldbuilding and the characters in this!
The ending was perfect, particularly the epilogue - it felt right and earned after the events of the book.
I can't believe I didn't realise this was a Little Red Riding Hood retelling - it's actually a little embarrassing how long it took me to figure that out, especially considering the girl in a red cloak on the actual cover. So this a fairytale retelling with a darker twist, featuring a strong FMC and a slowburn romance.
I really liked how this was dual POV and I thought that both narrators did a great job in bringing the characters to life. If you have the option to listen to the audiobook, then I'd highly recommend it! (But it's also on kindle unlimited too!)
I saw a review on goodreads that said something about the main character being weak and giving her power to a guy, which honestly, are we even talking about the same book? Rowan, the FMC, is such a strong character - we literally follow her progression from being someone being trodden all over to someone who takes no shit and has so much power. If you also have an issue with men thinking they have power over women and their lives, then you'll feel the same rage that Rowan does and it will make your blood boil. But seeing how they're dealt with makes it all worth it, trust me.
I really enjoyed this, and I definitely want to check out more works by the author because I just loved the writing, the worldbuilding and the characters in this!
The ending was perfect, particularly the epilogue - it felt right and earned after the events of the book.
“You know I would make the whole world dark for you so that you can be the only bright light.”