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Skyestone
Predator. Prey. And an ancient talisman with the power to change the course of everything.
A modern fairytale and retelling of Robin Hood's tale, with light battling dark and starcrossed lovers meeting in the most unusual circumstances.
At the Great Tree of life, nine winged creatures called The Hunters reside. When a prophecy foretells the birth of a new Werewolf, one hunter is sent to Earth with a mission: slay the wolf and protect the village. When dark forces breach the tree’s defenses, he is forced to flee with the Skyestone: a talisman that could change the world if wielded by the wrong hands.
A modern fairytale and retelling of Robin Hood's tale, with light battling dark and starcrossed lovers meeting in the most unusual circumstances.
At the Great Tree of life, nine winged creatures called The Hunters reside. When a prophecy foretells the birth of a new Werewolf, one hunter is sent to Earth with a mission: slay the wolf and protect the village. When dark forces breach the tree’s defenses, he is forced to flee with the Skyestone: a talisman that could change the world if wielded by the wrong hands.
- GenresFantasy
350 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 18, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly "Skyestone" balanced elements of both fantasy & real life. The story struck a perfect chord, reminding me of one of my favourite shows "Once upon a time" that I used to binge-watch when I was younger. It included just enough fantasy to get that magical feel - minus the overload of details that are hard to keep track of. Combined with its steady pacing, it had everything I needed to enjoy this book & turn it into a proper reading experience.
The themes of trust & fear stood out most to me. Shannon suffers from major anxiety & trust issues following her break-up with Matt. She’s left reeling from a relationship that ended without having any closure, wandering through life in a ghostlike state — watching life unfold around her, but unable to truly live it herself. Matt seems to be struggling with anxiety himself, but tries to cope with it in his own, unhealthy way, such as "wooing" the ladies (well, not exactly "wooing", but you know what I mean, right? 🫣😉)
Both Shannon & Matt felt incredibly real & relatable. Their emotions seemed to be mirroring my own from way back when - everything always seemed heightened & overwhelming. I used to think that, no matter what I went through, I couldn't possibly feel worse. This story shows that, in the end, time truly has a way of healing everything, whether by dulling the intensity of our emotions or by looking at situations from a different perspective. At the end of the book, both characters seem to have turned a corner & are stepping into new chapters of their lives — whether that's together or separately. ✨
With that being said, I would have loved to have more details on Evan (or Emmanuel) & his heritage 😍. While the book provided enough context in order to follow the story, I was really intrigued by this particular fantasy element & wanted to delve deeper. Honestly, I half-expected Evan & Shannon to become an item at some point. It would've definitely been interesting to see how that might have impacted the story overall 🫢.
The writing style was one of my favourite aspects! It was like reading an extended piece of poetry - which isn't at all surprising, given the author's background in poetry. She has a way with words & uses very descriptive terms, turning the writing in something so elegant & melodic it painted the most vivid pictures of the characters & settings in my mind.
I would definitely recommend "Skyestone" to other readers. Whether you're into fantasy, fairy tales or modern stories with a magical twist, this one offers a perfect blend of love, despair & enchantment. A retelling that resonates deeply while still sparking the reader's imagination. What more could you possibly want? 🫶🏻👌🏻✨
The themes of trust & fear stood out most to me. Shannon suffers from major anxiety & trust issues following her break-up with Matt. She’s left reeling from a relationship that ended without having any closure, wandering through life in a ghostlike state — watching life unfold around her, but unable to truly live it herself. Matt seems to be struggling with anxiety himself, but tries to cope with it in his own, unhealthy way, such as "wooing" the ladies (well, not exactly "wooing", but you know what I mean, right? 🫣😉)
Both Shannon & Matt felt incredibly real & relatable. Their emotions seemed to be mirroring my own from way back when - everything always seemed heightened & overwhelming. I used to think that, no matter what I went through, I couldn't possibly feel worse. This story shows that, in the end, time truly has a way of healing everything, whether by dulling the intensity of our emotions or by looking at situations from a different perspective. At the end of the book, both characters seem to have turned a corner & are stepping into new chapters of their lives — whether that's together or separately. ✨
With that being said, I would have loved to have more details on Evan (or Emmanuel) & his heritage 😍. While the book provided enough context in order to follow the story, I was really intrigued by this particular fantasy element & wanted to delve deeper. Honestly, I half-expected Evan & Shannon to become an item at some point. It would've definitely been interesting to see how that might have impacted the story overall 🫢.
The writing style was one of my favourite aspects! It was like reading an extended piece of poetry - which isn't at all surprising, given the author's background in poetry. She has a way with words & uses very descriptive terms, turning the writing in something so elegant & melodic it painted the most vivid pictures of the characters & settings in my mind.
I would definitely recommend "Skyestone" to other readers. Whether you're into fantasy, fairy tales or modern stories with a magical twist, this one offers a perfect blend of love, despair & enchantment. A retelling that resonates deeply while still sparking the reader's imagination. What more could you possibly want? 🫶🏻👌🏻✨
October 4, 2024
Skyestone is a Relationship focused young adult fantasy that puts the tale of red riding hood on its head.
I think this book will really resonate with teens since characters experience their emotions very intensely, which is typical for that age. Matt I found to be a little bit frustrating at times especially when his jealousy takes the upper hand, but this is further explored in the book. On the other hand you have Shannon who is dealing with a lot of emotions and search of her true identity. As for the characters, my favourites were probably Evan and Abigail.
The worldbuilding provides the story with so much potential. The titular ‘skyestone’ is a magical stone that can transport the holder to any time and place. I personally wish the characters would have explored a little more, especially with the time aspect, but that was not the focus of this story. I will say I thought it was very unique to start a book with a breakup and have it taken very seriously. Also, without spoiling anything, I did like the way this book ended, which may also be different from what some may expect…
Overall I think this is an enjoyable fast paced YA fantasy, with a complicated relationship.
Thank you to the team at Halley Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
I think this book will really resonate with teens since characters experience their emotions very intensely, which is typical for that age. Matt I found to be a little bit frustrating at times especially when his jealousy takes the upper hand, but this is further explored in the book. On the other hand you have Shannon who is dealing with a lot of emotions and search of her true identity. As for the characters, my favourites were probably Evan and Abigail.
The worldbuilding provides the story with so much potential. The titular ‘skyestone’ is a magical stone that can transport the holder to any time and place. I personally wish the characters would have explored a little more, especially with the time aspect, but that was not the focus of this story. I will say I thought it was very unique to start a book with a breakup and have it taken very seriously. Also, without spoiling anything, I did like the way this book ended, which may also be different from what some may expect…
Overall I think this is an enjoyable fast paced YA fantasy, with a complicated relationship.
Thank you to the team at Halley Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
November 4, 2024
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: It’s by no means a retelling of Robin Hood!
=> It’s a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood & mostly focusses on the bond between the girl and the Wolf(he falls hard)
=> I recommended this to anyone who loves a nostalgic YA (think age 15-17 since the characters are around that age and make decisions/have feelings most young adults would)
=> inspired by the movie ‘Red Riding Hood’ and influences of ‘The Iron King’ by Julie Kagawa, ‘Passion’ by Lauren Kate and ‘Twilight’ by Stephenie Meyer
=> Dual pov!
Also, It’ll take you back to highschool in a small village surrounded by mountains and pinetrees, sorrynotsorry…
ACTUAL BLURB:
Predator. Prey. And an ancient talisman with the power to change the course of everything.
At the Great Tree of life, nine winged creatures called The Hunters reside. When a prophecy foretells the birth of a new Werewolf, one hunter is sent to Earth with a mission: slay the wolf and protect the village. When dark forces breach the tree’s defenses, he is forced to flee with the Skyestone: a talisman that could change the world if wielded by the wrong hands.
Shannon Bellissario has been plagued by nightmares since she can remember. Recently betrayed by a life-long friend and trapped in a village she longs to escape, she finds it hard to stay sane. Can she overcome the dark obstacles that come her way? Or will she stray too far from the right path?
=> It’s a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood & mostly focusses on the bond between the girl and the Wolf(he falls hard)
=> I recommended this to anyone who loves a nostalgic YA (think age 15-17 since the characters are around that age and make decisions/have feelings most young adults would)
=> inspired by the movie ‘Red Riding Hood’ and influences of ‘The Iron King’ by Julie Kagawa, ‘Passion’ by Lauren Kate and ‘Twilight’ by Stephenie Meyer
=> Dual pov!
Also, It’ll take you back to highschool in a small village surrounded by mountains and pinetrees, sorrynotsorry…
ACTUAL BLURB:
Predator. Prey. And an ancient talisman with the power to change the course of everything.
At the Great Tree of life, nine winged creatures called The Hunters reside. When a prophecy foretells the birth of a new Werewolf, one hunter is sent to Earth with a mission: slay the wolf and protect the village. When dark forces breach the tree’s defenses, he is forced to flee with the Skyestone: a talisman that could change the world if wielded by the wrong hands.
Shannon Bellissario has been plagued by nightmares since she can remember. Recently betrayed by a life-long friend and trapped in a village she longs to escape, she finds it hard to stay sane. Can she overcome the dark obstacles that come her way? Or will she stray too far from the right path?
October 2, 2024
3.5!
This book follows Shannon who is in her last year of high-school who has intense nightmares. We also quickly learn that she recently got broken up with via text (ew) by Matt her ex-boyfriend because he moved away.
The story follows her as she figures out her dreams might not be completely limited to dreams and tries to figure out if she could ever trust Matt again.
Now hear me out, this story combines fantasy with magical realism with a retelling of little red riding hood. This makes it a perfect book if you want to dip your toes into fantasy but are not ready to commit to a high fantasy multiple book series, which is fine.
The book is written in a way that makes it easy to follow and a nice quick read! the characters are lovable (especially evan ;-;) and their actions are (kind of) understandable. The retelling part is nicely done with a nice twist on the little red riding hood classic.
Overall I probably would have enjoyed this more if it was less realism and maybe some older characters so the fight scenes would have been able to be more fighting (yanno?) But I still really really liked this book and I am glad I was able to read it earlier than the release date ! Thank you hamleybooks and adriana m giovanni!
3.5/5⭐️
fav quotes:
"He's followed me into the unknown, and that means more to me than I care to admit to myself, and more than he'll ever know"
"It teaches a valuable lesson. That love requires sacrifice. And that we sometimes have to let it go for a while in order to find it again"
This book follows Shannon who is in her last year of high-school who has intense nightmares. We also quickly learn that she recently got broken up with via text (ew) by Matt her ex-boyfriend because he moved away.
The story follows her as she figures out her dreams might not be completely limited to dreams and tries to figure out if she could ever trust Matt again.
Now hear me out, this story combines fantasy with magical realism with a retelling of little red riding hood. This makes it a perfect book if you want to dip your toes into fantasy but are not ready to commit to a high fantasy multiple book series, which is fine.
The book is written in a way that makes it easy to follow and a nice quick read! the characters are lovable (especially evan ;-;) and their actions are (kind of) understandable. The retelling part is nicely done with a nice twist on the little red riding hood classic.
Overall I probably would have enjoyed this more if it was less realism and maybe some older characters so the fight scenes would have been able to be more fighting (yanno?) But I still really really liked this book and I am glad I was able to read it earlier than the release date ! Thank you hamleybooks and adriana m giovanni!
3.5/5⭐️
fav quotes:
"He's followed me into the unknown, and that means more to me than I care to admit to myself, and more than he'll ever know"
"It teaches a valuable lesson. That love requires sacrifice. And that we sometimes have to let it go for a while in order to find it again"
October 2, 2024
I really tried to like this one, I really did but it just didn't deliver for me sadly.. I had such high hopes as well because the cover is stunning and the premise sounded soo promising🙁
Writing this pains me because I can only guess how much effort went into this story but sadly, for me, it was all over the place. Some things didn't make sense, a few plotholes here and there and overall the story didn't flow very well to me. Felt like a lot of different stuff happened all at once, some things that were relevant but also a lot of stuff that just seemed thrown in there for the sake of it. I don't know how to word it properly but it just felt messy to me🥺
I will keep this short because I don't like being this negative but there was barely anything positive there for me..
I'd still say; if the premise interests you and you haven't read a lot of fantasy yet you should give this a go! But as a fantasy reader this just wasn't it.
Writing this pains me because I can only guess how much effort went into this story but sadly, for me, it was all over the place. Some things didn't make sense, a few plotholes here and there and overall the story didn't flow very well to me. Felt like a lot of different stuff happened all at once, some things that were relevant but also a lot of stuff that just seemed thrown in there for the sake of it. I don't know how to word it properly but it just felt messy to me🥺
I will keep this short because I don't like being this negative but there was barely anything positive there for me..
I'd still say; if the premise interests you and you haven't read a lot of fantasy yet you should give this a go! But as a fantasy reader this just wasn't it.
Read
September 23, 2024I’m not rating this because I don’t feel comfortable giving someone’s debut such a low rating in one of the first reviews.
It is like the author wrote a romance book and a fantasy book and then closed their eyes and mashed the two together. It’s totally directionless. The fantasy element loses all purpose halfway through and the book becomes uninteresting.
The author assumes knowledge and there are information gaps.
The writing is confusing and there are a lot of contradictory statements and plot holes. I can’t get a grip on when this is set and how much time passes.
This is definitely written accurately from a teenagers perspective and the settings are fun and vivid. You can read it super fast.
It is like the author wrote a romance book and a fantasy book and then closed their eyes and mashed the two together. It’s totally directionless. The fantasy element loses all purpose halfway through and the book becomes uninteresting.
The author assumes knowledge and there are information gaps.
The writing is confusing and there are a lot of contradictory statements and plot holes. I can’t get a grip on when this is set and how much time passes.
This is definitely written accurately from a teenagers perspective and the settings are fun and vivid. You can read it super fast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2024
This book really surprised me and I really liked it! The story is perfect for those who just started reading fantasy because it feels like you're reading a romance story with some fantasy aspects. There is a love triangle in this book but it didn't really bother me except Matt his annoying moodswings and jealous behavior hahah. This book takes place in the real world with fantasy aspects woven into it, it also is a fairytale retelling (little red riding hood)!
The extra Evan and Abigail POVs were so nice and I can't wait to see if there will be more books in this world!
The extra Evan and Abigail POVs were so nice and I can't wait to see if there will be more books in this world!
October 27, 2024
First, I want to say - Adriana, I am so proud of you! <3
I think this might be the prettiest book on my shelf, everything from the cover, to the sprayed edge (GOREGOUS!!), to the interior drawings... I've already read it as a eBook, but now I want to read it again in physical form so I can really appreciate the beautiful package.
Skyestone is an emotional, relatable love story for the younger YA reader, set in a fantasy-inspired world with Red Riding Hood elements. I would've loved having this book as a teenager, watching Shannon and Matt navigate the ups and downs of first love whilst embarking on a wonderful adventure.
I especially loved the way the book ended, which made it feel even more real and carried a great lesson, and getting to dive into the extra POVs was also a lovely touch.
It's got romance at its heart, with characters fighting between their head and heart, but also enough fantasy elements to take you on an escapist adventure.
I can't wait to see how your writing develops with your next story - and congratulations on your debut!
I think this might be the prettiest book on my shelf, everything from the cover, to the sprayed edge (GOREGOUS!!), to the interior drawings... I've already read it as a eBook, but now I want to read it again in physical form so I can really appreciate the beautiful package.
Skyestone is an emotional, relatable love story for the younger YA reader, set in a fantasy-inspired world with Red Riding Hood elements. I would've loved having this book as a teenager, watching Shannon and Matt navigate the ups and downs of first love whilst embarking on a wonderful adventure.
I especially loved the way the book ended, which made it feel even more real and carried a great lesson, and getting to dive into the extra POVs was also a lovely touch.
It's got romance at its heart, with characters fighting between their head and heart, but also enough fantasy elements to take you on an escapist adventure.
I can't wait to see how your writing develops with your next story - and congratulations on your debut!
October 5, 2024
✨Skyestone review✨
My biggest thanks to @uitgeverijhamleybooks for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The premise of the book hooked me immediately: a Little Red Riding Hood retelling with winged guardians of nature, a magical talisman and - of course - werewolves.
The book starts with a prologue that emerges us into the magical vibes of the story. The first few paragraphs are even from the POV of a magical tree! A lot of names are mentioned here, but it’s not necessary to remember them that well. It serves more as an introduction of the elusive and mysterious Hunters.
Then the story shifts to Shannon and Matt, two high school students in a contemporary (& super cozy) Canadian village. At first it seems like a normal setting, but then the danger and magic start to seep in, making the story relatable, but also full of suspense.
About halfway, the pacing gets a huge boost as the characters start traveling while facing more and more problems. When the danger and the magic are at their peak, Shannon and her friends prepare for an epic end battle where they’ll have to fight for their lives (& for the world).
The main themes are grief, self worth and finding your voice.
I have given this book 3,5 ⭐⭐⭐💫
The story has 3 parts that are cohesive, but have a very different feeling to them. This kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat.
The writing, and the dialogue in particular, feels smooth and flows well.
I really liked Shannon’s personality and temperament. It reminded me very positively of Scarlet from The Lunar Chronicles.
Even though I enjoyed the overall story, I feel like it has more untapped potential and that it would have benefitted from a few more rounds of editing.
The reason behind certain decisions wasn’t always clear and I didn’t really get why it was important that the enemies didn’t obtain the Skyestone, other than it "being bad”.
Also, the many spelling mistakes and errors in characters' names and age were quite distracting.
✨
In conclusion, I’d recommend this book to people who like fairytale retellings with a fierce FMC and are looking for a quick & easy read.
✨
My biggest thanks to @uitgeverijhamleybooks for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The premise of the book hooked me immediately: a Little Red Riding Hood retelling with winged guardians of nature, a magical talisman and - of course - werewolves.
The book starts with a prologue that emerges us into the magical vibes of the story. The first few paragraphs are even from the POV of a magical tree! A lot of names are mentioned here, but it’s not necessary to remember them that well. It serves more as an introduction of the elusive and mysterious Hunters.
Then the story shifts to Shannon and Matt, two high school students in a contemporary (& super cozy) Canadian village. At first it seems like a normal setting, but then the danger and magic start to seep in, making the story relatable, but also full of suspense.
About halfway, the pacing gets a huge boost as the characters start traveling while facing more and more problems. When the danger and the magic are at their peak, Shannon and her friends prepare for an epic end battle where they’ll have to fight for their lives (& for the world).
The main themes are grief, self worth and finding your voice.
I have given this book 3,5 ⭐⭐⭐💫
The story has 3 parts that are cohesive, but have a very different feeling to them. This kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat.
The writing, and the dialogue in particular, feels smooth and flows well.
I really liked Shannon’s personality and temperament. It reminded me very positively of Scarlet from The Lunar Chronicles.
Even though I enjoyed the overall story, I feel like it has more untapped potential and that it would have benefitted from a few more rounds of editing.
The reason behind certain decisions wasn’t always clear and I didn’t really get why it was important that the enemies didn’t obtain the Skyestone, other than it "being bad”.
Also, the many spelling mistakes and errors in characters' names and age were quite distracting.
✨
In conclusion, I’d recommend this book to people who like fairytale retellings with a fierce FMC and are looking for a quick & easy read.
✨
November 5, 2024
I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing Adriana M. Giovanni while reading her debut “Skyestone”. And I am so happy with the debut’s success.
I was really itching for a read with a true YA-feel this year. I wanted to go back to the cheesy YA’s of the 2010s and decided to read “Fallen”, hoping I’d have fun and feel nostalgic. What a mistake that was.
It was a real bummer until I got the interview with Adriana and heard she’d written a Little Red Riding Hood retelling with just the vibes I was looking for. And it did not disappoint.
“Skyestone” is a great debut. It’s a really easy read and easy to jump into. Despite it reading like a typical YA Adriana truly writes wonderfully. Her focus on the emotions and experiences of the characters and their environments is beautifully written, I could feel the sun prickling on the skin or the sounds of things just alongside the characters.
“Skyestone” also does things differently to a lot of YA-books. I truly dislike miscommunication in a lot of books and especially with romance and fantasy I can’t stand when authors don’t just let the characters have a breather and talk. Because if the book solely relies on only feelings or near death situations to drive its characters closer, I can’t get a feel of what these characters truly mean to each other. “Skyestone” lets its characters talk, have fights, ask important questions and it lets them be complicated. Because of this dialogue and moments these characters feel like real people.
It does have an ending I did not expect. With that, I finished the book with one thought: People are just complicated. And to me that fully summarises the book. But it didn’t make my reading-experience any less fun. It’s truly a character-driven story.
Easily one of my favourite debuts of this year.
Thank you for telling your story Adriana and I can’t wait for more.
💚❤️
I was really itching for a read with a true YA-feel this year. I wanted to go back to the cheesy YA’s of the 2010s and decided to read “Fallen”, hoping I’d have fun and feel nostalgic. What a mistake that was.
It was a real bummer until I got the interview with Adriana and heard she’d written a Little Red Riding Hood retelling with just the vibes I was looking for. And it did not disappoint.
“Skyestone” is a great debut. It’s a really easy read and easy to jump into. Despite it reading like a typical YA Adriana truly writes wonderfully. Her focus on the emotions and experiences of the characters and their environments is beautifully written, I could feel the sun prickling on the skin or the sounds of things just alongside the characters.
“Skyestone” also does things differently to a lot of YA-books. I truly dislike miscommunication in a lot of books and especially with romance and fantasy I can’t stand when authors don’t just let the characters have a breather and talk. Because if the book solely relies on only feelings or near death situations to drive its characters closer, I can’t get a feel of what these characters truly mean to each other. “Skyestone” lets its characters talk, have fights, ask important questions and it lets them be complicated. Because of this dialogue and moments these characters feel like real people.
It does have an ending I did not expect. With that, I finished the book with one thought: People are just complicated. And to me that fully summarises the book. But it didn’t make my reading-experience any less fun. It’s truly a character-driven story.
Easily one of my favourite debuts of this year.
Thank you for telling your story Adriana and I can’t wait for more.
💚❤️
October 5, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️'5
If you love the little red riding hood, this book is definitely for you!
Skyestone is about nine winged creatures called hunters. The hunters protect nature from evil. When they hear that a werewolf has entered the human world, the oldest hunter is given the task of killing the werewolf. To do this he must go to the human world.
Skyestone is based on the little red riding hood and is a true romance. In the story, romance reigns supreme and you will find a touch of fantasy here and there. So the story is ideal if you are a romance lover and just starting to read fantasy or want to try fantasy. In addition, the book reads really very smoothly. From the very first page you are completely sucked into the hunters' story.
The story perhaps could have been set a little more in the fantasy world and perhaps told a little more about the Skyestone and the hunters themselves. That being said, it would be a great opportunity to write other books on this story where the powers of each hunter are more highlighted and where perhaps a little more is told about the history of the Skyestone. You could already sell me on reading the possible sequels!
In short, if you enjoy reading a romantic story and love a bit of fantasy here and there you really should put this book on your TBR!
Ps: the cover alone is just to fall in love with.
If you love the little red riding hood, this book is definitely for you!
Skyestone is about nine winged creatures called hunters. The hunters protect nature from evil. When they hear that a werewolf has entered the human world, the oldest hunter is given the task of killing the werewolf. To do this he must go to the human world.
Skyestone is based on the little red riding hood and is a true romance. In the story, romance reigns supreme and you will find a touch of fantasy here and there. So the story is ideal if you are a romance lover and just starting to read fantasy or want to try fantasy. In addition, the book reads really very smoothly. From the very first page you are completely sucked into the hunters' story.
The story perhaps could have been set a little more in the fantasy world and perhaps told a little more about the Skyestone and the hunters themselves. That being said, it would be a great opportunity to write other books on this story where the powers of each hunter are more highlighted and where perhaps a little more is told about the history of the Skyestone. You could already sell me on reading the possible sequels!
In short, if you enjoy reading a romantic story and love a bit of fantasy here and there you really should put this book on your TBR!
Ps: the cover alone is just to fall in love with.
October 2, 2024
This book follows Shannon, a high school senior dealing with intense nightmares and the recent heartbreak of being dumped via text by her ex-boyfriend, Matt. As Shannon navigates her dreams and reality, she starts to question whether her dreams are more than just figments of her imagination and whether she can ever trust Matt again. The story weaves fantasy with magical realism and adds a clever retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, making it a great option if you are new to fantasy or if you aren’t ready to commit to a full-fledged high fantasy series.
The writing is easy to follow, and the characters are likable. I really enjoyed the retelling aspect. It adds a fresh twist to the classic tale. If you're new to the genre or enjoy a mix of contemporary and fantasy elements, this could still be a fun, quick read for you.
The writing is easy to follow, and the characters are likable. I really enjoyed the retelling aspect. It adds a fresh twist to the classic tale. If you're new to the genre or enjoy a mix of contemporary and fantasy elements, this could still be a fun, quick read for you.
October 15, 2024
This book pleasantly surprised me. I knew it was a retelling of Red Riding Hood, but in my experience, that can sometimes make it difficult to deliver a truly unique story. Yet Adriana managed to bring something entirely new to the table with this book. If I had to describe it, I would say: Red Riding Hood meets Beauty and the Beast, with a touch of Tinkerbell in a modern world. Yet it was unpredictable and refreshingly different. The book takes you on a journey to different countries and a magical world. It revolves around friendship, love, family, forgiveness, and unconditional acceptance. It also contains inspiring and meaningful messages.
𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 ��𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞. 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞.
I’ve never read a fantasy book before where thoughts and emotions were expressed the way they were in this one, without it feeling long-winded. I really enjoyed reading this. For those who truly enjoy YA or are new to the fantasy genre, I wholeheartedly recommend this, and I can’t wait to read more from this author. That being said, I was also surprised to learn that this was the author’s first book. If you told me she already had experience, I would easily believe it.
𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 ��𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞. 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞.
I’ve never read a fantasy book before where thoughts and emotions were expressed the way they were in this one, without it feeling long-winded. I really enjoyed reading this. For those who truly enjoy YA or are new to the fantasy genre, I wholeheartedly recommend this, and I can’t wait to read more from this author. That being said, I was also surprised to learn that this was the author’s first book. If you told me she already had experience, I would easily believe it.
November 11, 2024
Juist dit boek uitgelezen. Het was niet persoonlijk mijn ding. Ik ben zelf niet echt een romance-reader, waar dit boek voornamelijk om draait. De fantasy aspecten vond ik dan wel helemaal top. Ik kon me toen wel heel erg inleven in de wereld en het magie-systeem. Het was goed geschreven maar niet echt iets voor mij persoonlijk.
December 19, 2024
I really wanted to like this book because it has many aspects that I like. Winged creatures, dark forces, a werewolf. A modern take on the tale of little Red Riding Hood.
Unfortunately I think this book was all over the place. Some things didn't make sense.
I wanted to know more about the hunters and their world, more about what exactly the skyestone is,...
It felt unfinished and rushed for me.
Unfortunately I think this book was all over the place. Some things didn't make sense.
I wanted to know more about the hunters and their world, more about what exactly the skyestone is,...
It felt unfinished and rushed for me.
December 3, 2024
3/5⭐️
Sprookjes retelling / easy read / niet echt diepgaand / no hard feelings / zou het niet meteen nog eens willen lezen, maar het was wel ok
Sprookjes retelling / easy read / niet echt diepgaand / no hard feelings / zou het niet meteen nog eens willen lezen, maar het was wel ok
October 3, 2024
The concept sounded really good , fun and promising, but it wasn’t my cup of tea, unfortunately🥺 The first half I didn’t quite understand what I was reading, After that I started to get into it and understand it more and I thought it was getting better😌 The writing style took some time to get used to, and it took a bit longer than hoped. But besides all this, I think the cover is really beautiful 😍😍
Short: the concept could have been better developed, which would have helped me understand the story better. Too many things were happening at the same time, which sometimes caused me to lose track
I like the whole human and werewolf thing but I was just missing something, I didn’t really feel the vibe🥺
Short: the concept could have been better developed, which would have helped me understand the story better. Too many things were happening at the same time, which sometimes caused me to lose track
I like the whole human and werewolf thing but I was just missing something, I didn’t really feel the vibe🥺
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