Rehash

Hey, guys!

If any of you have read my review of Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, you know that I love new takes on Beauty and the Beast. You probably wouldn't be too surprised to discover that I love rehashes of classic stories, period. Especially Grimm stories.

And this review is for a rehash of the classic story of a girl in a red hood taking a walk through the woods to her grandmother's house, the nasty wolf who gets in her way, and the woodcutter who saves the day in a rather gruesome ending.

Yes, I am talking about Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright. This book is actually based on the screenplay by David Leslie Johnson for the major motion film directed by Catherine Hardwicke. You guys may have seen the movie starring Amanda Seyfried.

So, unlike many people, I read the introduction to the book written by Catherine Hardwicke because I am that nerdy. Turns out that work on the movie started before the novel was written. Hardwicke had a writer friend take a look at the screenplay and write a novel based on it so that there could be a novel released before the movie. Just an interesting little factoid.

As I said, this novel is a rehash of the classic story. So, what's the twist?

The big bad wolf is actually . . . a werewolf. Dun dun DUN!

Well, Valerie lives with her family in a small village called Daggorhorn that has always lived in fear of the wolf, so much so that they leave one of their livestock as a sacrifice every full moon. The village has been spared for many years and the villagers are content enough.

But Valerie wants more. She is different from the other girls and wants more than to marry Henry, the blacksmith's son who will love and support her. She loves Peter, a mere woodcutter who wants to run away with her. But her mother wouldn't allow it. The situation can't get much worse.

That is, until Valerie's older sister is killed.

The villagers are in a panic; maybe the animal sacrifices are no longer enough and they'll all be next. The local priest sends for help from a werewolf hunting priest who informs the good people of Daggorhorn that they are beset by a werewolf . . . and that he lives among them.

And the worst part? He's after Valerie next.

Dun dun DUN!!

It's an interesting read and suspenseful. But I must warn you guys: the ending is extremely ambiguous. That was left for the movie. So, if you're thinking about reading the book at all, I would read it before you see the movie. Reading the book after seeing the movie would just result in disappointment.

But still, definitely give it a whirl.

Hope you enjoyed and check again within the next few days for more. Almost done with Pet Sematary and Life of Pi, so those reviews will be up and coming.

Happy reading!!