Scarlet Huntress: Leann Mason #bookreview

Synopsis: After the death of her grandmother, who was killed by wolves, Allya is placed in the care of a family led by the patriarch named Seth. She soon realizes this family is actually a coven of shape-shifting witches who will torture, abuse, and eventually attempt to use her as a human sacrifice in order to complete a sacred ritual. Reigning in her inner strength and will to survive, Allya manages to stop the ritual, kill one of her captors, and escape from the tormented life she has been living since her childhood.

Now lost in the woods with little more than the clothes on her back, which happens include a striking red cloak, she finds herself under the protection of a lone wolf. She is eventually led to Grimm Hollow, a town full of magical creatures, and under the protection of a spell to keep the evil forces out. Through the help of a Shifter, Allya learns skills to defend herself, and prepares for a mission of revenge. She will discover secrets about herself and those around her in her attempt to untangle the mystery of her life. In the end, she will complete a journey of self-discovery and triumph, as her character transforms from being hunted to being the Scarlet Huntress.

My Review: Scarlett Huntress is a dark and thrilling re-telling and extension of the beloved Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Full of magic, witches and warlocks, wolf/human shifters, and even a little Native American lore, this tale is sure to capture the attention of the lovers of fantasy and fairy tale re-tellings. In the story, the main character Allya makes a smooth transition from being a scared, timid, and abused child, to a strong, well-rounded, and powerful woman that readers will love. She has a snarky attitude and a relatable, sarcastic inner dialogue that a reader can identify with, appreciate, and even get a few laughs out of.  The story is only loosely based on Red Riding Hood, so there are no boring moments where the reader feels as if they have heard this before. There are several unique and mind-boggling twists to Allya's story that send the tale off in a new direction.

The supporting characters are also very interesting and many play significant and fascinating roles in the story. For example, Hunter, who teaches Allya everything she needs to know in order to mount her defense against the coven, is a strong-willed and loyal servant to the town of Grimm Hollow. This story is a great example of how a character can undergo growth through their steadfastness to a cause. Growth doesn't have to mean a fundamental change in the character.

The only part that is a little underplayed is the experience that Allya had with the coven and back history of her family. Describing this more would contribute to an understanding of Allya's current mental state and explain some of her actions better. The backstory of both Allya and her family could be a novel in itself and would be an excellent prequel to Scarlet Huntress. This is the first installment of the Tales of Grimm Hollow series, and Mason has set up a nice ending that should lead smoothly into an excellent second book.

My Rating: 4 Stars

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Amazon Available October 29, 2019
Author's website: www.leannmason.com

Author: Leann Mason
Publish Date: October 29,2019