The Red Rider

This was a very fun book that kept me entertained the entire time I was reading it. I never felt like like I was over the book or wanted it to end, which is nice for this type and style of book.

Overall, there are some changes and development that need to be addressed here; pacing is off at times, certain story elements are glossed over and become non-events just a few pages later and generally the book feels like it was written by a first time author. The book also has a strange set of divisions in it. It reads like the author was trying to write a novel that would be VERY easy to turn into a weekly television series. There are a handful of story arcs that make up the total of this book, the simple introduction, the meeting of friends, show more the traveling and the final climactic battle. If you were to tell me this was a novelization of a TV show, I would believe you.

That being said, great time. Enjoyed the heck out of it!!! show less

I received this book through a LibraryThing giveaway. It sounded interesting as I have been enjoying the reworking of fairy tales. In this one Little Red Riding Hood has become an itinerant professional werewolf hunter. It has a LOT of action and violence, but not so much gore as I expected.

The main character is a young woman, but she reads like a young man in her dialogue and thought processes. She has been disfigured, but the cause doesn't make sense(view spoiler). Eventually she gains a side kick, but it isn't completely convincing. About halfway through modern slang appears in the dialogue, which would have been fine if it had been there from the start, but it comes out of the blue. The other women in the book also seem like males show more in that they are all too ready to start brawling at the drop of a pin and are virtually indestructible.

I suspect the best audience for this book is teen and young males. The author didn't really think through much of his story or action sequences, but there is so much going on that they are carried by momentum. The effort for Red to grow is pretty flat an unconvincing, and some of the weapon use doesn't make sense, especially the purpose and use of crossbows. However, the book was entertaining and a fast read. show less

Werewolves of all types - true lycanthropes, half-breed werewolves, werewolf kings, this story has them all! Add in the numerous fight scenes, and you have an action-packed adventure tale. The writing is good, and the fighting is well done. I liked that Red was a strong female character, but I just have a hard time getting into a main character that doesn't seem to struggle with much aside from the physicality of fighting creatures much stronger than herself. Her character doesn't seem to have a lot of depth, but if that doesn't bother you, you will love this book. It is a good story overall, though, and will probably appeal to the Young Adult audience.

3.5 Stars
A more violent reinterpretation of the story of Red Riding Hood, or more accurately, what happened after. The fight scenes are detailed very well but the story seems better described as a collection of several smaller adventures instead of one huge one. I wouldn't mind seeing this work as a graphic novel. Would work well as a serial story in a Sci-Fi magazine too. I bumped up the star rating by a 1/4 star just because the butt-kicking heroine shares my name :)

LT Member Giveaway

I got a review copy of this book. It was a rambling tale of a young woman in a red cape and hood on a quest to kill werewolves since one ate her grandmother. She meets various people on the way, including a violent giantess, a fat former knight, three friendly mercenaries, three guys and a girl who has the hots for her, a wannabe king with a cruel right hand man who likes to rape men, some werewolf kings, and a man who thinks he can become a god. It's got lots of graphic violence in it. Too much for me. Not enough character development to make up for all the constant brutality.

There are extensive fight scene in this book but they are very well written and excitement is maintained throughout. I liked Red and enjoyed her sidekicks. Will read more of Billy Wong's books.

The Red Rider was an interesting book. I enjoyed the rivalry and grudging respect with Red and Leviatha throughout the book. There were a lot of Werewolves and if I have a criticism then it would be that the many battles did feel a bit same-y after a while but I liked how Red stuck up for herself. I must say that I rather like Wolves and even though they would be terrifying, I liked the Warofs and I would love to see them on TV or films. Some bits I thought were a little unnecessary and didn't fit into what my idea of a fantasy book is but I liked the book as a whole and would like to read more. I did think it ended a little suddenly though but a good overall book.