My Review (4 stars out of 5)
The classic story of the girl in the red hood gets a makeover in this tale of woodcutters, wolves, witches, fae folk and magic. Following the great shaking of the Earth, a multitude of characters gather in a quest to find the Chosen One and stop the red darkness rising beneath the earth.
This is book #1 in the Retold of Old series by G. Lawrence and the first one I’ve read by this author. I must admit to buying the book mainly because of the cover, which I love, though as a big fan of traditional folk tales I was also looking for something a bit different. And different is what we get in this mammoth tale that brings together dozens of folktale tropes, building a fantastical world where anything can happen. Ms Lawrence writes in a style that is very much in the tradition of classic tales, adding cleverness and wit to keep us entertained. Having said that, the book does feel too long, and I’d have liked the action to move a bit quicker, especially in the initial stages. But that aside, it’s an interesting and clever read that’ll appeal to anyone who loves folk tales that veer away from the expected.
A well-written book that reminded me of epic tales by the likes of Tolkien and CS Lewis.
Colin Garrow 