Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings, #1) in Into the Forest

May 21, 2011 Christine rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-and-new-adult-fairy-tales, red-riding-hood

I'm no longer the age for this book. I doubt I ever was. ...more

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Jul 26, 2010 Julia rated it really liked it

Shelves: based-on-folksong-myth, urban-fantasy, ya, werewolves

Scarlett and Rosie March’s grandmother was killed when they were young by a Fenris (werewolf). Ever since, they are Fenris hunters. Pa Reynolds, their nearest neighbor, and his many children, but particularly Silas help them out. When this book begins, Silas has just returned to their small Georgia community from living with his uncle for a year in San Francisco. There are a lot more Fenris around than usual, and the two girls and the boy move to a squat in Atlanta, to kill more werewolves, wher ...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Lacey Louwagie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: retelling, youngadult, fairy-tales, youngadultfantasy, paranormal

I probably wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't a fairy tale retelling, since a story about two sisters who are werewolf hunters wouldn't particularly appeal to me. So maybe it's not the book's fault that it fell a little flat ... as a retelling it has an interesting premise, but the setting and tone felt disjointed. Although it takes place in modern times, there's an element of it that still feels pastoral and rustic, and then another that makes it feel as though it takes place in the fift I probably wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't a fairy tale retelling, since a story about two sisters who are werewolf hunters wouldn't particularly appeal to me. So maybe it's not the book's fault that it fell a little flat ... as a retelling it has an interesting premise, but the setting and tone felt disjointed. Although it takes place in modern times, there's an element of it that still feels pastoral and rustic, and then another that makes it feel as though it takes place in the fifties or sixties. Granted, the sisters are poor, so maybe the lack of cell phones and other modern devices can be chalked up to that ... but I couldn't totally buy that they were able to live as long as they did without social services showing up a little more often, or that they could fend them off as easily as they did. The Fenrys (werewolf) aspect also strained credibility a little bit. Would there really be so many werewolves hanging around a small Georgia town? And if so, why would "moving" (as one character does to be kept safe from them) help? Are we to assume that there are fewer werewolves out in the rest of the U.S.?

The love story that is central to the plot didn't really do much for me, and the age difference even made it a little yucky, although it obviously wasn't supposed to be. But I honestly lose a little respect for 21 year old men who hook up with 16 year olds, even if I was once a 16 year old pining after a 21 year old man (who was decent enough not to take me up on it). What redeemed this book for me was the (mostly) believable relationship and tension between the sisters as they realized that they wanted different things out of life, and as they struggled to establish an identity separate from one another. The book is told in alternating perspectives between the older and younger sister, and the older one (Scarlet) was my favorite character. Still, I don't think her narrating the whole book would have made me like it more, as the "softness" Rosie brings to the story seems an appropriate balance. Perhaps one good thing about this book (although not enough to make it worth another star) is that it did inspire me to start working on my Red Riding Hood concept album again. Let's see what I can do with the story. ;) ...more

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Jan 30, 2010 Mir rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, fairy-tale

This story of werewolf-slayings sisters is heavy on heartache and hatchet-fights.

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Sep 27, 2010 Ginny marked it as attempted-to-read

I just have to say that I'm disappointed in this book. Or the author. Or the editor. Whoever it was that decided that it was ok to throw in all those unnecessary ugly words. I can see that anyone would think I'm childish for not wanting to have cuss words in the books I read, but hey, I have standards. If you throw in one or two, maybe--I won't like it, but I can get passed it. But after a while, I can't take it. Especially after you add in the "F" word, just after the character says, "pardon my ...more

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Jul 18, 2010 Danyelle Leafty rated it liked it

Shelves: bookshelf

3.5 stars. I really loved the premise of the book. I loved the two people one heart, not knowing where one began and the other left off. And I adore the cover. Too much violence/gore and language for me to feel completely comfortable with it.

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