Skip to main content

Red Riding Hood


Red Riding Hood is the YA novel based off the new movie coming out - written by Sarah Blakely-Cartwright, based off David Leslie Johnson's original screenplay.

Valerie has lived her whole life in a tiny village where everyone know everyone, and where every full moon the villagers barricade themselves and their livestock inside their homes, leaving but one sacrifice out of doors. This is the way it has been for generations. This is the way they appease the Wolf that otherwise would terrorize the entire village, as it had in the days of old.

When Valerie was only seven, she did the unthinkable and stepped outside one of those dreaded nights, hoping to think of a way to save her pet goat, who was to be that night's sacrifice. That night Valerie came face to face with the Wolf and felt the depth of its evil down to her very core. Since that night, Valerie has always been different from other village girls. She doesn't become breathless at the sight of the town's most handsome (not to mention most rich) boy their age, Henry, or have all that much interest in romance at all.

But then Peter is back. Her childhood friend, whom she had always felt a deep connection and whom had left years ago under a shroud of dark mystery. Suddenly Valerie is slammed with feelings she's never felt before. Intense feelings. Yet before they have a chance to really acknowledge each other's presence, the Wolf attacks.

And this time it is not scheduled. This time it is a human that has been brutally slain.

This time it is Valerie's sister.

The Wolf no longer is abiding by the longtime held customs, and seems to seek Valerie out. But this is a village that does not handle "odd" well. So, Valerie becomes the focus of the townspeople's suspicion, and in the midst of Valerie's grief, she finds herself in danger from all sides.

With Red Riding Hood's disturbing opener, we are introduced to a refrshingly headstrong and independent protoganist in Valerie. There is something kind of cool and gothic about the story and the way it is written - with a definite creepy vibe. Plus, there's a simmering sexiness and barely restrained feeling of danger that kept me interested and ramped up the pace.

One thing, though, was the romance felt superficial, though certainly strongly presented. And at times I felt like the story stalled a bit in the second half and wandered without purpose. However, the question of the idenity of the Wolf was a most intriguing puzzle - and as the village dips into the madness of panic, things really got spooky.

There is something very ominous about Red Riding Hood, as the paranoia drips over everything like heavy, thick, sticky syrup. And the way people became sick with violence and fear was quite effective. But the ending, which is missing and requests the reader to visit a website to read, is a tad disappointing. I was left a bit annoyed, I admit.

But all in all Red Riding Hood was a very good tale and twisted new take on that fable we all know. And I can't help but be curious in seeing it on the big screen. Will you join me in that sentiment? Check out the book!

*I received a review copy of Red Riding Hood from Hatchette Book Group. Their generosity in no way influenced, nor sought to influence, my opinion of the novel.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Might see this one in the movies, thanks! for the great review.

Popular posts from this blog

First Step: Admit You Have a Problem

Hi fellow Bibliophiles! I have been rather neglectful to this blog... instead continuing to stay buried in a book as I have during the holidays. I'm hopeful that most of you have been doing this too and can easily accept my apology. Have I been reading? Um, yeah! (Translation: duh.) Just haven't been able to pull myself away long enough to actually WRITE about what I'm reading. Lol. But that's me, a bibliophile, an addict, an addict who's fallen off the wagon and fully embraced her love of reading - especially with all this free time to do so!!! I've also been watching awesome holiday movies, eating yummy, but bad-for-me, food and hanging out with the people I love best! You too? I hope! ;) Anyway, I will return with a new book review next week, most likely on Monday or Tuesday. Thanks for your patience and keep reading!!!

Promotion Celebration for Maximum Ride!!!

Do you love the series Maximum Ride ? How about James Patterson? Are you a huge fan of action-packed books? Well, I’m thrilled to bring to you an opportunity to stock up on some awesome reading!!! ENTER TO WIN A SET OF JAMES PATTERSON PAGETURNERS! MAXIMUM RIDE – IF SHE LIVES, THE WORLD LIVES, IT’S THAT SIMPLE. Read “MAX” - the newest book in the bestselling Maximum Ride series. On sale in paperback 09/01/09! Still reeling from their most recent adventure, Maximum Ride and the rest of the flock must head out to sea to uncover the secret behind a brand new series of disasters—fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii, hundreds of ships are being destroyed. As if that weren’t enough, they’re also being tracked by a criminal mastermind with, oh yeah, an army of mercenaries. Can the flock save themselves and the ocean, and the world, from utter destruction? Now for the rules : The Maximum Ride: Max Promotion is open to legal US residents who are at least 13 years of age as of August 24, 200

Author Q & A - Jan Eldredge Stops By!

Next Wednesday y'all will be getting my oh-so-humble opinion of Evangeline of the Bayou , the Summer 2018 Kids' Indie Next List selection! (That means it was picked via booksellers at independent bookstores countrywide.) Until then, I have a Q&A with the Louisiana born and raised author herself: Jan Eldredge! (Don't forget to come back next week for my review!!) A Conversation with JAN ELDRIDGE Author of Evangeline of the Bayou 1) The glossary in the back of the book is so helpful! Where did you learn about all these creatures? Which creature from the book is your favorite? I have a small, but growing, collection of books about mythical creatures around the world. If I couldn’t find what I was looking for there, I researched library books, online websites, and the occasional documentary. Something that really surprised me as I started learning more about mythical monsters was the number of different cultures that share very similar