Red Wolf audiobook

"Turn around, Adele... Just turn around and walk in a straight line until you hear the axes. Until you come out of the forest."It's been awhile since I have been this invested in a YA fantasy, but here we are. Red Wolf is the binge-worthy Red Riding Hood retelling I've been searching for, and while the foundation of the fairy tale is there, this book takes on an entirely new version of its own, which I love. Wonderfully atmospheric, perfectly paced plotting, and a tinge of romance (a love triangle, but don't worry, it's not THAT kind of a love triangle), my only complaint is that this book is billed as a standalone but ends on a total cliffhanger! Please tell me there will be a sequel? Highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy that format.*Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

What if Red Riding Hood was the predator?Or maybe it would be more accurate to say she was a protector who has a predator form?Red Wolf was a great story. Nothing was black or white and it wasn't a straight path to Grandma's house. I enjoy stories that take you on a different journey than you think you're going on when you set out, and this was definitely one of those.She ends up doing a lot of things I thought she wouldn't by the end of it, which surprised me -in a good way, mind you.I felt for her in that coming of age sort of way.You start out thinking that there's only one way to be good, but the older you get, the more you realize that you'll have to put some of those idealized values down in order to do the right thing. Or at least, the right thing for you. I've not read very many Red Riding Hood retellings, but I would certainly like to read more. And if they're a bit darker and more serious like this one, I'd really like to find them.

Q:Of course recreational hatchet throwing was really guardian training, just as her bedtime stories were actually instructional.Did learning to knead dough, darn socks, and churn butter somehow also teach me to kill something? (c)

Deliciously dark and imaginative, Red Wolf was unexpected. Fast paced, entirely enchanting, and more than anything else, it had me hooked. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There were times I held my breath, sigh in relief and gasped in shock. I truly couldn't of asked for a better read. It had all the classic feel to the original story and all the twists and turns I love in a truly well thought out story that will stand out and stand all on it's own. *ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

3'75⭐ Review coming soon...

4.3"A weapon is only as fierce as the warrior who wields it."WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?! I'm still in shock like.....what!!Anyways, ending aside, this was a lovely story that explores what really makes a monster. The story line was thorough and I like the characters (Max is 100% my favourite)! If the author ever writes a second, I'll definitely give it a go."That's what made us monsters. It wasn't the fur, or the claws, or the teeth. It wasn't the speed, or the strength, or the eyesight. It was the choices. Brutal decisions that often bad to be made in the heat of the moment.Decisions I would have to live with for the rest of my life."**OVERVIEW "For as long as sixteen-year-old Adele can remember the village of Oakvale has been surrounding by the dark woods—a forest filled with terrible monsters that light cannot penetrate. Like every person who grows up in Oakvale she has been told to steer clear of the woods unless absolutely necessary.But unlike her neighbors in Oakvale, Adele has a very good reason for going into the woods. Adele is one of a long line of guardians, women who are able to change into wolves and who are tasked with the job of protecting their village while never letting any of the villagers know of their existence.But when following her calling means abandoning the person she loves, the future she imagined for herself, and her values she must decide how far she is willing to go to keep her neighbors safe."POSITIVE ELEMENTS Adele tries to do what she thinks is right and is also very loving and loyal. Strong friendships and a cute sister relationship!SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS A few mentions of a church. Town believes in magic and witches.VIOLENCE Adele has flashbacks to a man being burned in the village square. Monsters. Fighting, hunting, attacks. Descriptions of blood and pain. Threats. Stories of werewolves who have gotten people. Weapons (crossbows, knives etc). A man is killed by a werewolf. Woman killed from an axe. Man shot in the back of the head. Rages from no detail to semi-detailed.SEXUAL CONTENT Talk of marriage and betrothals. Kisses (on the cheek and lips -- not detailed). Touching, hand holding etc (not inappropriate). To change into a wolf one has to remove all of their clothing. Man sees a girl naked after changing (not described and nothing happens).LANGUAGE "D--n" used in the literal sense.DRUGS/ALCOHOL Drugs/medicines used on wounds.OTHER NOTES Wonderful winter read! Recommended ages 13+ for violence.**~Happy Reading~

In today's episode of Why I Love Wolf Books, I will get into the nitty-gritty of my obsessions with everything Little Red Riding Hood and how you should too.But in true Celia fashion, this review may just go off the rails. Thank you, Edelweiss and HarperTeen who continue to be amazing in preventing me from reading my physical tbr with all my FOMO for unreleased YA books. Is it just me or are there A LOT of wolfy books coming out this year? I'm not complaining at all. I love them. I am in awe of how every one of them manages to be unique just when I thought there couldn't be any more unique spins of old fairytales and classics. This one gave me total Catherine Hardwicke Red Riding Hood vibes and less Stephanie Garber and Megan Spooner as the blurb suggests. What I got from this was a gothic fairytale about a girl stuck between human and wolf-a girl who loves two worlds. I bet that last line did you in, be honest. On her sixteenth birthday (THE birthday of all YA heroines coming into power lol) Adele learns she's a Guardian-a shifter who protects humans from the other beasts of the woods-and that her life isn't going to be all that she planned. To make matters poopier, she's also told she's betrothed to a boy from a neighboring village who is aware of the Guardians, unlike Adele's current beau. You see, humans fear ALL beasts and if they found out what she was, they'd kill her like they did her father. All that being said, the day she discovers what she is, she finds a boy in the woods. She assumes he's the survivor of a murdered caravan and being the sweetheart she is, brings him back to the village. Sucking up the Fun and Games part of the Save the Cat outline, we have Adele learning to kill, and trying to decide which hot dude she likes best. I immediately had my eyes on the new guy, Max, who is definitely the Peeta of this story, but I digress. It get s bit fluffy but takes a turn quickly after.I found this book fascinating because Adele is level-headed and although flawed, knows who she is down into her marrow despite being part-wolf, and will protect the innocent down to her very last breath. She's the type of girl I'd pick first at dodgeball. But down at its core, RED WOLF is a story about finding your place in the world and realizing where you belong. Read this if you like retellings, shifters, dark The Village-like settings, and boys with crossbows. I like all those things, so find me on Insta @celiamcmahonreadsHappy reading!Also, family is everything and wolves rule.

4⭐️A young girl is thrown into an incredibly intense situation only to find out a huge secret about herself and of her mother & grandmother. Nothing will ever be the same for Adele, who lives in a town who fears the wolves just outside of town in the woods, and the legends they carry.

A dark and atmospheric Red Riding Hood retelling, Rachel Vincent’s Red Wolf is a richly developed, thought-provoking novel. Surprising betrothals, secrets and lies, werewolf lore, dangerous and deadly woods, a love triangle, and fearsome journeys propel the story and make for an immersive read.From childhood, Adele is inexplicably drawn to the woods. She doesn’t know why until her sixteenth birthday, when she learns that she is a Guardian – part woman and part wolf – who is destined to protect humans from the dangers that lurk just outside their village. Adele is shocked and dismayed as her life is turned completely upside down. All of her hopes and aspirations must change as she learns about her family and their duty.Adele’s character is dynamic and well-developed. We see a teen filled with hope become a skilled fighter and protector of her people. We also see a young woman who faces tremendous responsibility and who struggles with her conscience. Adele constantly questions her fate and her influence over the lives of others. She is uncomfortable with the secrecy and lies and yearns for a simpler life. However, she is also drawn to the woods and the world inside of it. Her character is so well-layered, and her conflicting feelings highlight the tumultuous turn her life has taken.Other characters are richly developed as well. Adele’s mother, grandmother, and sister are the definition of female strength. They are close and share a strong bond, even though there are secrets between them. Friends, villagers, and two young children add interesting and often complicated dynamics to the plot. With so many strong and unique characters, there is never a dull moment in their lives.What makes a monster? This is a question that appears repeatedly throughout the story. There’s a great line that suggests that sometimes when one has to make a decision, there are no good choices. I think the story highlights this concept, as Adele is often faced with difficult choices and unexpected complications. Adele has to face the ramifications of her decisions and actions, which leads to even more difficult choices. As a guardian, this is her burden to bear, and the line between good and evil, as well as right and wrong, is often blurred.The world-building is another strength of the novel. Dark, foreboding, and atmospheric, the forest is so vividly described that it becomes a character. I love the imagery and personification, which contribute to the life-like feel of the dark woods surrounding Adele’s village. The dark wood is a scary place that humans avoid at all costs, and the author skillfully projects an ominous foreboding anytime the woods are mentioned. The dangers of the woods are a constant presence in the lives of the villagers, creating a fearful and wary mood throughout the story.Now, I’m not usually a big fan of love triangles, but in this story, it totally works. Adele is torn between her first love and a partner who is specifically chosen for her. The two men in Adele’s life contrast each other well while sharing many similarities. Both young men are honorable, intelligent, and brave, but only one can truly understand and know about Adele’s full identity. Adele’s choice isn’t easy, and I think that’s a pattern throughout the story – how people react to difficult choices. Some choose to face these problems head-on, some try to avoid making decisions, and others ignore the problems altogether. Adele doesn’t have that luxury, and she spends much of the story conflicted.Well-paced, action-packed, and immersive with a heart-pounding and shocking ending, Red Wolf makes you think about morals and ignorance and how fear of the unknown often leads to unfounded and irredeemable decisions. Thanks so much to the author and Harper Teen for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

3,5 ✨Even though it took a turn I was expecting, I was still surprised