Neo Edmund

This was a thoroughly entertaining read out of the Storm Kids publishing house. It was a new take on the classic Hansel and Gretel tale, that makes them the kids in the Grimm family of fairytale legends. This book was both heartfelt and funny. It provided light scares and tons of adventures. I hope this series lives on for a while as I can not wait to read the next installment.
#FairyTaleReadingChallenge
#musicReadingChallenge - Creep
#RadingGraphics - 2021 release
#middlegradeReadingChallenge - staring siblings
#popSugarChallenge - Family Tree -
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When I first approached this book for a read for review program, I thought it seemed worth a read. While the synopsis was written with some clichés, it seemed like it could be interesting, and the cover was really cool. I detest writing negative reviews, but unfortunately, that's what I'm going to have to do for this book.

First off, the plot was somewhat interesting. The story was original enough, being a re-telling of the Grimm Fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood. It was the main thing that intrigued me in the first place- I generally enjoy a good fairy tale re-telling. This story does have the potential to be good, and I can see where the author was going with it. Unfortunately, that's basically the only thing I liked about the book.

The characters were one of my two main issues with this book. Mainly the lead character, Red Riding, who was completely undefined and confused. She was written to be a young teen, orphaned for over a decade and lost in the cold care of a city orphanage system, having to practically provide for herself. Despite her childhood, she spoke and carried herself with the attitude and tone of a spoiled, selfish brat. A 20-year old spoiled, selfish brat, at that. Her conversations with one of the other main characters in particular, were completely unrealistic. In general, nearly-starving orphans tend to be grateful for clothes, help, food, family, etc. Red looked to each of these things with a spoiled, arrogant eye, not fitting for the character she was supposed to be. This issue could be easily fixed, if her character was changed to be several years older, and not necessarily an orphanage-hopping kid.

My other main issue with this book, were all the random assumptions the reader is made to accept. Such as the fact that an orphanage-hopping 13-year old, with barely enough money to put food in her stomach or clothes on her back, somehow has her own motorcycle? Not only that she has a motorcycle, but one that someone apparently sold her years before, and she can ride it around in the city, alone? Uh hu. Too many things make me head scratch with that, and that's just one of many examples. From the very first page, this book had me thinking “Hu? That made no sense, did I read that right?” A lot of the details just down-right didn't make sense, if you were actually paying attention. There were several other issues I had with this book, such as the dialogue, but without revealing spoilers, I'll leave it at what I've explained already.

Overall, I'm disappointed by this book. It has the potential to be a pretty cool story, and an interesting fairy tale re-telling. The flaws in it, however, make it something I sadly didn't enjoy, and don't think I'd recommend to others.

*I was given an ecopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.… (mehr)