Red Wolf is described as a feminist retelling of the Red Riding Hood story. Adele is a normal village girl looking towards the prospect of marriage and family when her world is turned upside down. Vincent weaves together an interesting story with an enjoyable pace. It unfolds in a typical YA fashion with some interesting twists to red riding hood. This book deals with some tough topics and decisions from an ethical standpoint that I found interesting - how far does duty extend and to what lengths should we go to support our duty. I think that aspect was unique in this genre. Overall, I enjoyed the book, however, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. There is quite a bit going on with the plot that really getting to know any of the characters on a deep level just wasn't possible. Sometimes characters just seemed to accept the goings-on without much hesitation. As the main character, you get to know Adele best. I think readers of all YA ages would enjoy this title.

A fun reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood. The chapters are engaging and the plot is well thought out.

I adore books that look at fairy tales in a different way. This book imagines Red Riding Hood in a completely different manner and it worked fabulously.

Adele is a 16 year old girl whose town is surrounded by the dark wood, a terrible place filled with monsters, the most feared being werewolves. She lost her father to the woods 8 years earlier and can sometimes hear him calling to her. The town is protected from the wood by special guardians, one of whom is Adele's boyfriend. As the book begins, Adele's mother gives her a red cape and sends her into the woods by herself for the first time. Normally, the two go in together once a month to bring supplies to her grandmother who lives in the wood. What she learns on this trip is that her trips into the woods are not just to bring her grandmother supplies. The Duval women come from a long line of guardians that turn into wolf form. They are the reason that the village has stayed safe, but no one can know what they do. Obviously all of this impacts all of the facets of Adele's life and she has to discover what she is willing to give up to protect her family and her village.

Red Wolf was an enjoyable, fast-paced book that I didn't want to put down. Adele's character was fascinating and believable. The decisions she had to make when finding out that not only did her mother think she wasn't suited to marry Grainger, but that she was betrothed to someone else, did not seem forced as they easily could have. While some parts of the plot were obvious quickly, many things were surprises and kept the story progressing perfectly. A great fantasy re-imagining of a classic tale.

Well that was unexpected. This is one of those books that's a little hard to classify, as an adult reader of YA this was 3.5 star for me (I rounded it up to 4 Stars as I definitely think teen readers will love it), as it reads a little young (especially in the first half), but then the latter half definitely developed more mature themes (not sexual FYI) and much darker elements.

Going from the blurb and reading the first half I was sort of settled into a slightly fluffy (but with some gritty elements) youngish fairy tale retelling, and didn't expect for the latter half of the book to go where it did, and definitely not that last 30 pages or so. Now having finished it I would definitely classify it as a Dark Fairy Tale Retelling, almost YA Fantasy/Horror (not that its scary per say, but dark). All that being said, I think teen readers will gobble up this retelling in a heart beat.

And where I found the very end too abrupt, YA readers will definitely enjoy the dramatic punch.

Verdict: I will definitely recommend to Teen readers who like fantasy, dark fantasy, faiy tale re-tellings, and horror as well as those who don't normally gravitate towards fantasy. Inspite of its more mature themes and darker elements its still one of those YA novels that reads "youngish", so I probably wont recommend to adult readers unless I know they are particular fans of retellings, dark fairy tales or werewolf mythology.

Fairytale retelling are a favorite genre of mine, and this title fits the bill. Spinning Little Red Riding Hood into a secret society of shapeshifting guardians provided an exciting narrative. The forest is like another character, threatening the existence of the villagers as it grows and creeps into their living spaces. It's a fight for survival.. 16 year old Adele thinks her future is planned out, but gets is surprised to find she's going to move away from home, marry a strange boy she's only just met, and guard a village miles away from her mother and sister. The story follows along as she begins to understand the gravity of her new role in life, wrestles with the choices she sees in her future, and grapples with the complexity of understanding how to keep a secret that would mean her death but also keeps her from the man she loves.

Review: This is a standalone reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood by Rachel Vincent that I would love to see created into a sequel or series.

Adele is nearly 16 and is dreaming about accepting a proposal from the boy of her dreams, one of the village protectors and definitely well-regarded in town. She doesn’t understand why her mother keeps putting off her blessing when her friends are announcing their engagements.

Sure, some people find it strange that Adele and her mother have to venture into the Dark Wood every month to visit her grandmother. Especially when considering the danger from the monsters in the forest and the tragic death of her own father because of one of them. When her mother tells her it’s time to visit her grandmother on her own, her whole world changes. Not only does she have to accept her destiny as a protector and guardian, but she’ll have to meet a boy she’s been engaged to for most of her life. And taking the little boy she found in the forest after her visit with grandmother might have more consequences than she expects. The storyline and plot are well-paced and draw you in, leaving you wanting more after an ending that just might surprise you.

Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own. #RedWolf #NetGalley

**I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

I really enjoy fairy tale retelling and this was a good one of Little Red Riding Hood. The only thing I had a bit of an issue with was Adele. At moments her character came across as a bit more obtuse than how she was mostly written.

A fantastic and unique take on a classic fairytale that's anything but classic. A new favorite from heavy hitter Rachel Vincent.

I received this free eARC novel from the author and NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I love Rachel Vincent so getting the chance to read this novel early was really exciting! I think the beginning of this story was a bit slow, but it was creating this very unique world to ensure that reader understand the stakes.

Adele is a complicated character. She's spent the last year thinking about how her future was going to be, just for everything to completely change when she turns 16. To not only finding out that she's a wolf, but that she is expected to go to another town is a bit much for one person to handle.

And then everything just sort of falls apart from there. I can get why she is fighting what is right in front of her face, but at the same time, many lives are in danger while she tries to figure her life out.

I really liked Max and his ever loving patience and understanding. I was definitely Team Max.

The ending was really unique and I would honestly love to see more in this world and how things progress in the Woods, or maybe even Sophie's story when she gets older! But I can be connect with this ending, too :)

I'm really glad I got the chance to read this novel and I look forward to more by this author!

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperTeen, for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is what I call the perfect book: exciting concept, fast-paced, beautifully written, and gorgeous cover! But the story indeed darker than I thought it would be.

I usually don’t read the entire blurb. I only read about the dark woods and monsters for this book, and that was all I needed to ask for the book. That’s why I was amazed and excited when Adele turned into a wolf, and I immediately thought about the man she loves, Grainger, and I felt sad as I understood the reason behind why they couldn’t be together.

The town’s mood was brilliant, and I felt that I was really walking inside a cold, dark forest. Rachel answered all the “What If” questions you could ever think of.

The characters were likable; Adele, Sophia, Mam, Max. But Grainger would always have a special place in my heart. He was the only one who didn’t call Adele a “Witch” or even cared for what others thought of her. That’s why I was so frustrated at Adele for not telling the truth about what Grainger really saw- about Romy and the fox.
“A wolf is a wolf, whatever face it may wear in the daytime.”

I understood where Grainger came from, and he was right, of course, because we read about how the forest was playing with Adele’s mind, too. Even though she was a “redwolf.” As in, the suitable type.

However, I thought if she could talk some sense to Grainger, he may understand, and because he loved her, he might forgive and try to make things out with her, just as she thought in the very beginning.

I know it was a hard choice to make; if Grainger knew the truth, kids were going to be burned alive. But I was shocked to learn that Romy’s parents already knew that a wolf infected their daughter. I couldn’t help but think why the whole family didn’t just leave the village? Because Tom and Romy would eventually grow up, what would Adele do then? Was it okay for her to kill them when they get older?

The story ended with a cliffhanger, and I am looking forward to reading the next book, although Rachel didn’t say it would be a series.

Overall, the book was enjoyable, and I think many teens and even adults will like it.

First of all I would like to thank Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Red Wolf. Unfortunately, I only enjoyed the first half of the book. The plot was simple and I did not enjoy the characters. Adele for me was extremely stubborn and immature. I also hate love triangles and I hate the fact that Adele betrayed her first love interest and her best friend. This book was not for me. I would still inform my students about this book. I’m sure a couple of them would still enjoy this.

An interesting retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Rachel Vincent always does a great job crafting a story and this one is no exception.

Rating: 2.5

I haven’t read a retelling for Little Red Riding Hood before and so I was looking forward to starting this one. Although there are certain things I did like about this one, there were still things I didn’t like that left me questioning a lot of what the main character did.

When it comes to the retelling aspect of the book, I thought it was unique. You can definitely see where it is similar to the original but the author does take creative liberty to make it her own and she does that well.

Adele is a character that I just couldn’t get behind when it came to her actions. She was set in her ways and didn’t want to listen to others opinions about situations that would cause harm to her loved ones or even the village. It felt like she didn’t take her job seriously and cared more for those she should be killing than the ones she was meant to protect, aka the village she lived in.

I also didn’t care for the love triangle that she found herself in. Grainger was very controlling and Max was a bit to enamored by Adele’s abilities to where it was borderline creepy. Sure, he knew about them coming from a family who also has guardians but it still was odd. Adele also turns on one rather quickly and basically does what her mother did but berates her mother for the choice she chose.

The plot at times was intriguing but I did get tired of all the marriage and bearing children talk. It took up too much space where I think it would have been better to see Adele become more adept with her abilities. I also felt like the beginning of the book was rushed through to get to the point of her turning into a guardian which took away most of the mystery. There were some good plot twists but one I saw from the beginning and couldn’t help but think, “What an idiot you are, Adele.”

Overall, it was okay but for a unique retelling it was good which is why I bumped it to a 2.5 instead of just a 2. I’m sure others will enjoy it more than me but I just couldn’t get behind Adele and when you don’t like the main character that much it makes it hard to fully enjoy the book.

I want to thank Net Galley and HarperTeen for providing me with a early review copy of this book.
I've not read any Rachel Vincent before. But I have heard good things about her writing and I was looking forward to seeing how she spun this Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale.
I will say, I was not expecting the main character to be the hunter in this book, When I first started it, I thought for sure it would be her beau. But the twist made the book more interesting for sure!
I love that Vincent still kept major parts of the story intact: red cloak, grandma, the wolf theme. But she adds many more elements, particularly the monsters that surround Adele's village of Oakdale and the threat they pose to the villagers.
What a fantastic twist to make a wolf a guardian of peace and safety.
Definitely a fast read with some twists you would not expect and a bit of a cliff hanger ending leaving you wanting the next intstallment yesterday. I'm definitely interested to see where the story turns in the future.

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fast paced and imaginative, this Red Riding Hood retelling-with-a-twist had me hooked from the very beginning and I devoured it in one sitting. I'm such a sucker for fairy tale and folk tale retellings and boy did this one hit the mark! Throw in some supernatural creatures and you've got yourself a thrilling tale! I loved what Rachel Vincent did with this classic story. I found Adele to be headstrong and fierce, though a bit stubborn(but in an endearing way). I loved the dynamic between the Whitewulf and Redwulf at the end! I also really felt for Adele as she struggled in wanting to confide in her friends about her Guardian status but couldn't be certain who to trust based on the past and her families warnings. I really liked Max, and the love triangle aspect had me hooked. I'm really hoping for a book two or more books like this from this author!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood?
Well, think again!
Rachel Vincent weaves a tale so fabulous with Red Wolf, and I am here for it! What a fantastic read!
Red Wolf tells the tale of Adele, her village of Oakdale, and the dark forest surrounding them. Terrible monsters lurk in the dark woods, so no one is supposed to linger there, but does everyone follow the rules?
Vincent delivers such delightful twists to this ages old fairy tale, and I could hardly keep my pulse rate down as I flew through the pages! You'll want to add this one to the top of your TBR pile for sure!!

#redwolf #netgalley

Sixteen-year-old Adele lives in the village of Oakvale with her mother and younger sister. The village is surrounded by the dark woods, a forest filled with monsters and darkness that claimed her father's life. On the way to visit her grandmother, who lives in a cabin in the dark woods, Adele is attacked by a wolf and changes into one herself. Adele is a redwulf, a guardian, a member of a long line of women who transform into wolves to protect their villages from monsters in secret. If the other villagers discover what Adele's family can do, they will be burned alive at the stake as witches. Not only was her status as a redwulf kept a secret, but she also finds out that she is betrothed to a man from another village whom she has never even met! How will she manage to keep her new secret from her friends and village? And who will she choose as her husband: Grainger, the member of the watch whom she has loved since they were children, or Max, her betrothed whom she just met but doesn't have to keep secrets from?

I loved this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood! She is hit with two big secrets at once: by the way, you can turn into a wolf and have to protect your village, and oh yeah, did I forget you're betrothed and have been since before you were two years old! She has to navigate becoming a guardian and also choose who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. I suspected Tom when she found him in the dark woods. I am glad she decided to give the whitewulfs a chance. The ending was brutal!

Soon to be sixteen years old, Adele wants nothing more than to settle down with the boy of her dreams and live in peace with her family in the village of Oakvale. Her father’s death still haunts her, and she has much to learn about her family history. On a trip to her grandmother’s cabin through the dark wood, she’s troubled with a surprise encounter, and now must grasp and accept her newfound responsibilities as a guardian and protector of Oakvale.

I’d never been alone in the dark wood before, and I felt my mother’s absence like the loss of a limb. She’d grown up in my grandmother’s cabin, though back then before the forest had encroached so boldly upon Oakvale, it was just inside the dark wood. So she was far more familiar than I was with the dangers and with ways to avoid them.

The book is written well, and it’s a quick read. If I didn’t have other things to do, this probably could've been finished in half of a day. The story is unique and inventive being that it’s nothing like the original Little Red Riding Hood but still follows along with connections to the woods, wolves, grandmother, and of course: the red cloak. Some interesting twists take the story in new directions, making it impossible to predict. Albeit rather subtle, certain parts of the story reminded me of some of my favorite movies, including Twilight and The Village, which was an added plus.

The pacing was spot-on for the most part, but there was one event that seemed to drag on for too long. There’s a bit of a love triangle going on in the story, but it was minor and surprisingly worked without bothering me too much, given that this isn't one of my favorite tropes. The romance was kept very minimal. Finally, the book ties together perfectly and leaves the reader with questions. What a cliffhanger too! I was left to ponder which person was involved in the shocking end. It leads me to believe there may be a second book.

As far as characters, Adele was my favorite. She’s the main character and extremely likable, in my opinion. Multiple things are going on here, and Adele has a great deal on her plate, including the need to maintain secrets and relationships, fight monsters, and solve mysteries. Adele is courageous—always putting one foot forward and doing what’s right, regardless of the circumstances. She’s consistently wary--trying to make the right decisions--willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family and the village of Oakvale. Some of Adele’s choices made me question her at times, but in the end, they seem to be the right ones. Other favorites included Grandmother and Max. Grainger was a favorite from the very beginning too, and I’m left to wonder what’s going to happen to his character if there are future installments.

This is a new author to me, and I have to say I was very impressed with this book. Anyone who enjoys retellings should try it. I’m hopeful for a sequel!

4-4.5-stars

Publication date: July 20th, 2021

I’d like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for sharing a copy of this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the strong female representation, but the writing style just didn't work for me. I did enjoy the ending and the cover. The retelling was creepier than I expected, but that was okay. The love triangle? I could've done without. There were also a few plot points that weren't resolved. Perhaps there's a sequel in the works.

This book surprised me in the best way possible. It starts out as a story of a girl learning the truth about her family's past and delves deeper into themes of community, duty, what it means to be a monster, and the lengths people will go to protect the people they love - and their secrets. The characters and world are fully fleshed out and I care about the (interwoven) fates of all of them. I found myself transported to the village of Oakvale, reminiscent of The Crucible or some other Colonial America tale which gives the book a familiar feel while still adding a new twist.
I do wish the story went into a little more detail about Adele's guardian training rather than us just hearing about it after it happened, but I also liked that not all of the mysteries of the dark wood were explained.
Also, THAT ENDING. I loved it.