Of Wolves and Wardens a Little Red Riding Hood Retelling by Sylvia Mercedes Review

After reading The Moonfire Bride and The Sunfire King by Sylvia Mercedes I just knew I had to read more of her books. However when it came time to pick a new one I was unsure where to start. At first I chose book one in her Scarred Mage of Roseward trilogy Thief and found it to be quite enjoyable. However instead of continuing to the second book Prisoner I picked up Of Wolves and Wardens which is part of the One in Whispering Wood series and a sequel to the Of Candlelight's and Shadows duology. In retrospective I probably should have started this book first since it is about Valera's (the main protagonist from the previous books) younger sister Brielle. I was glad that she got her own book since her fate in The Sunfire King was less than satisfying. 

The book opens with Brielle hunting a werewolf under the orders of her grandmother Granny Dorrel. She owes Granny seven years of service due to a bargain her sister made to save Brielle's life. During her time as a huntress she is forced through magic to obey Granny Dorrel in everything no matter how despicable. And that includes hunting down werewolves. However Brielle's hesitation to kill her target almost leads to her own death but she is saved by Dire another werewolf enslaved to Granny. Brielle believes Dire to be nothing more than a feral beast while he in turn sees her as nothing else but Granny Dorrel's kin. They are enemies and one will end up dead through the others hands. However as they reluctantly work together to complete dangerous tasks for Granny something starts to spark between them. But with Dires time of servitude coming to end he knows his fate will be sealed in blood. He has no hope of his curse being broken and he will die at Brielle's hands. Unless he can convince her to resist her grandmothers compulsion magic that is. Will she be strong enough to fight for both their lives? Will they ever be free from Granny Dorrel control over them?

I don't read a lot of Little Red Riding Hood retellings. I don't like the original story and as a result I shy away from books based off the twisted tale. However as of recently I have begun to change my tune a bit after reading The Wolf Gate by Hanna Sandvig, and The Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier. Of Wolves and Wardens further prove to me that even a tale as disturbing as Little Red Riding Hood can still be made into a enjoyable retelling. 

The story is told from Both Brielle and Dire's perspectives which was a nice change that I wish was featured in the Of Candlelight and Shadows duology. Hearing both perspectives made the story more enjoyable. One of my main complaints about Valera and Erolas's book was that I had many questions about Erolas's past that were never resolved. In Dire's case all I wanted to know was revealed which made the ending all the more satisfying. 

Truth be told I wasn't that big of a fan of Brielle in The Sunfire King but this book convinced me very early on that to rethink my stance on her. She tries to hide it but Brielle is hurting deeply inside. And it makes sense. She's been separated from her sister who may be dead after struggling so much to bring her home and has to endure seven years of servitude (or rather slavery) to her grandmother who is cruel and twisted. Dire is also hurting inside. He has been cursed to be a werewolf and forced to serve Granny Dorrel for twenty years and knows that only death awaits him once his sentence is over. He can't even remember his real name. Both of them have suffered so much and are against such a formidable foe that there were times I wondered if they would truly ever find happiness.

Granny Dorrel was such an wonderfully awful villain. She uses glamour's to make her self look young and beautiful and is creepily trying to seduce Dire. Unlike the Pale Queen in the Of Candlelight and Shadows duology the reader finds out her ultimate goal and sees more of her. Her plans and actions are sinister and she is without a doubt one dangerous ward witch. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for her downfall. 

Overall this has to be my favorite Little Red Riding Hood Retelling. I never would have thought of the grandmother being a villain instead of the wolf but Sylvia Mercedes proves that the tale of Little Red Riding Hood can be retold in many different ways. I give this book without a doubt five out of five stars.