Review: Low Red Moon

Low Red Moon

By Ivy Devlin

Publication date: September 14, 2010

My review:

This modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood tells the story of Avery Hood who witnessed the brutal murder of her parents but can't remember what happened. When she meets Ben, the new student at her school, he seems to understand her and they connect in unexpected ways. Then Avery finds out Ben's secret and she fears that he may be involved in her parents' deaths.  

Avery's family issues and the unusual way she grew up in the woods added some depth to the story. Her grief over the loss of her parents, her home, and the refuge of the woods felt very real to me. The romance between Ben and Avery develops very quickly but their intense bond is explained later in the book. I think there is a lot more to Ben's story so hopefully that will be explored in the next book. One of my favorite characters is Avery's grandmother. She is quirky, fiercely protective of Avery, and she does her best to be there for her granddaughter even though things are strained between them. I liked how the dynamics of her relationship to Avery and her late son were explored. The woods were also a character in the novel and they definitely added a presence of mystery to the story.

Low Red Moon was not quite what I expected. It is not a strict retelling of Little Red Riding Hood but I liked the twist on the original story. I also liked the suspense plotline though I did figure out who the killer was early in the book. This is the second retelling of Little Red Riding Hood to be published this year. I think the wolf lore and the romance would appeal to fans of Maggie Stiefvater. Ivy Devlin is the psuedonym of a well known YA author making her foray into the paranormal genre. I am looking forward to her next book.

Readalikes: The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater, Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguie, 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

I received a copy of this ARC for review as part of an ARC Tour from Star Book Tours