Powerful
and compelling, this high-stakes, feminist reimagining of Little Red Riding
Hood is perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber and Meagan Spooner.
For as long as sixteen-year-old Adele can remember, the village of Oakvale has
been surrounded by the dark wood—a forest filled with terrible monsters. A
forest that light itself cannot penetrate.
Unlike her fellow villagers, Adele cannot avoid the dark wood.
Adele is one of a long line of guardians: women who secretly take on the form
of a wolf, in order to protect their village.
But when accepting her fate means giving up the boy she loves, abandoning the
future she imagined for herself, and breaking her own moral code, she must
decide how far she is willing to go to keep her neighbors safe.
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Audiobook (US) ~ Hardcover (US)
HarperTeen
Erica
– ☆☆☆☆
Red Wolf is a fantastical retelling of Little Red Riding Hood,
from the imaginative mind of Rachel Vincent.
To be honest, I'm no fan of retellings, doesn't matter if it's my favorite
tale. However, I am a major fan of Vincent's, so I couldn't pass up the
opportunity to escape in the Little Red Riding Hood world as she sees
it.
I'm also intrigued by the dark and mysterious air that wafts around stories
featuring primitive villages, with their intriguing folklore to explain the
inexplicable.
There truly is a strong likeness in the overall feel between Red Wolf
and The Village, which is an amazing thing, as I enjoy rewatching the
film over and over.
Read from cover to cover, a dark and ominous vibe causing the pages to turn at
a rapid rate, I immersed myself in the tale Adele has to tell. Longing to
create a life of her own, with the loss of her father, the grief ever hanging
over her, Adele wishes to settle down with the boy of her dreams, surrounded by
family.
Traipsing through the Dark Wood to visit her grandmother at her mother's
behest, Adele is put to a test, one she didn't even realize she was taking, the
twists and turns creating an intriguing read.
On the cusp of her birthday, Adele learns of a world she never knew existed,
altering her plans for the future. She is now the protector of her village,
keeping the villagers safe from the monsters in the Dark Wood. What she wants
and desires no longer matters.
While Red Wolf is a retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood,
there are few similarities, ensuring the story has a brand-new feel, allowing
the reader to be surprised, to experience the unexpected.
Word of warning, Adele is sixteen, growing up in an isolated village, the story
told with a young adult mindset. Some grown adults may find her personality
immature or grating, as she has a know-it-all type personality and a stubborn
streak a mile wide. Keep in mind, she is a child, even if in her world she
would be considered an adult. Her upbringing and the age of the era influences
her personality and how she views the world. Strong and capable, Adele is
innocent, thrust into a world where werewolves and monsters exist. It was easy
for me to be empathetic, understanding why Adele was making the decisions she
was making, even if I didn't agree with them, because I have the advantage of
looking at the situation as an adult who had access to an education and a wide
world view. Adele is an isolated teen in a fairytale, who sometimes rubbed me
the wrong way, but I appreciated the authenticity of it.
Is this a romance? No. While there is an undercurrent of romance influencing
Adele's choices, the story itself is supported by the fantasy, whimsy, and
folklore surrounding Oakvale and the Dark Wood.
While not a cliffhanger, the ending is rather abrupt, which is both satisfying
as a standalone while leaving the door cracked open for a sequel.
Honestly, I was surprised in how much I enjoyed it. Not because Red Wolf
is Rachel Vincent's creation, but because it was a retelling (not a fan) and I
was thoroughly absorbed.
RACHEL
VINCENT is the New York Times bestselling author of several
pulse-pounding series for teens and adults. A former English teacher and a
champion of the serial comma, Rachel has written more than twenty novels and
remains convinced that writing about the things that scare her is the cheapest
form of therapy. Rachel shares her home in Oklahoma with two cats, two
teenagers, and her husband, who’s been her number one fan from the start.
Connect with
Rachel
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Website ~ Goodreads
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided
a free copy of Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent to read and review.
