Happy Monday! Well…not happy if you have to be back at work and don’t like your job. Speaking of job…the store is coming along, the warehouse and office spaces at least. We have a desk in there now, as well as chairs. Our Facebook live sale table is all set and we’ve successfully continued lives at the new space. Soon we will have a brick and mortar metaphysical store and I am beyond excited! This might be exciting but it also means I have been crazy busy. Really, Really busy! I hope you all understand that is why I have not been active. Sometimes life gets in the way and that’s ok! However…I’m excited today because I am a part of a blog tour for an amazing book!!
I’m sure you can tell by the title of this post that I am a part of yet another blog tour hosted by Fantastic Flying Book Club! I have to thank them again because they are the most amazing tour group I’ve worked with. They also don’t charge authors for tours which are, let’s be honest, amazing!! I am so comfortable working with them and I think I will forever remain on the review team.
So…the book I am talking about today is one that I have been anticipating for a while now! Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold….I’ve been waiting to read this book since I first heard about it. Before we get started, let’s learn a little more about the novel itself.
Don’t forget to check out all the other great posts for the tour here.
Red Hood 
Author: Elana K. Arnold
Published: February 25th, 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Book Length: 368 Pages
Genre: Fantasy (YA), Retelling
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Buy the book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository (Use my referral ID: TheBibliophagist)
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
And the wolf is angry.
Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone.
Many times a more simple cover goes a long way. I LOVE the texture of the fur on this cover with the subtle hint of blood on the bottom. I just think the textured look on the cover gives it so much more depth. This is for sure a book that would catch my eye in the store. Especially with the contrast of the dark fur and yellow lettering. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I’m a sucker for the simple yet detailed covers. And this one is a retelling!! If you’ve read my reviews in the past, you know that those are a weak spot of mine also.
Alright, stop me from gushing about this cover so we can learn a little bit about the author behind this book.
About the Authors
Review
Let’s start with a content warning: sexual assault, domestic violence, death, sex scenes, murder, and menstruation. This is not a book for children and is not one you want to read if you are easily offended.
I loved her novel Damsel so I already knew that I would enjoy this! I know that many might be put off by this blatant display of toxic masculinity and feminine power but I devoured this book. Now, that doesn’t mean there weren’t things I didn’t love. At times the book almost became preachy and it began to bother me but Arnold always tried pulled it back.
Bisou wanted her revenge at all costs…she would make those men pay. That is one thing that didn’t really sit well with me. The story has a feeling that it is alright to meet hate with more hate. To fight violence with more violence. It almost seemed that Bisou fell into the same line of violence and hate that she set out to destroy. This was my main complaint about the novel. For a story that was meant to empower women, it really didn’t convey the message I thought would.
I did enjoy the story and it for sure kept my attention. Bisou was often covered in blood that wasn’t hers, not taking crap from anyone. I also loved that she was so connected to the moon because in truth all women are. The moon cycle is 28 days and so is our menstrual cycles. The author describes periods and the blood in detail which might turn many away from this. However, I love that she was open enough to do so. It is something natural most women go through and I am tired of being shamed for it in society. The constant sneaking pads or tampons around, not talking about it around men or in public…it is as natural as breastfeeding and it is about time someone was open about it. That being said, I acknowledge not all women menstruate, such as transgendered women. This is nothing against anyone, it is only showing those who go through this that it can be empowering. Women are powerful but unlike Bisou, we need to know when to use it and when to walk away.
Young love…something we all experience. That and the uncomfortable first sexual experience. I was happy to see some light shed on that subject as well. The imagery was superb, vivid and detailed. I really could picture every event throughout, almost as if I was living in the book. I mentioned I devoured it…the book was very fast-paced and I never felt bored or as if I was forced to turn the page.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but I still feel a bit unsettled by what happened after Bisou and the others formed their coven so to speak. It became an all-out hate-fest on the men. It was a good read but I think the storyline could have been handled a bit better. I loved Damsel but I just did not love this one as much as I hoped for.
Giveaway
Prize: Win a copy of RED HOOD by Elana K. Arnold (US Only)
Starts:18th February 2020
Ends:3rd March 2020
Embed Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
What do you think? Is this book something you’d enjoy to read? Have you read it, what did you think? Have you read Damsel? Is this one you would read or is this book too controversial?
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