Devoured

Tainted Fables #1

by Aurelia Knight

I want his head mounted on my wall and he wants a ring on my finger.

There’s something very wrong in Grimm Groves.

The bodies pile.

The mountain soaks with blood.

And everyone in my small town acts like I’m insane.

They smile in line at the general store. People I’ve known all my life die by the dozen and I’m helpless to stop it.

Then I find the villian waiting in my bed and he’s taken everything from me.

Since I’ve got nothing left, I’ve also got nothing to lose.

In this tiny town where nothing seems real maybe we can both get what we want.

Devoured is a dark Little Red retelling, please check the beginning of the book before reading.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Ebooks

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2025

Reviews

[Emmy Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good fairytale retelling and this one was amazing, a perfect mix of male yearning, feminine rage and tension. But I’ve never read a Little red riding hood retelling before, but I can’t say I haven’t thought about it. So much tension, can it really be enemies to lovers if the guy is crazy in love but the girl hates him? Tell me what you call that. Either way lots of tension, and it’s hilarious how she keeps trying to fight her feelings for him. What I don’t get though is why she hates him when he killed the person who was abusing her while she sleeps (so Roman Rivera btw), but I also get that he’s a serial killer who’s killed many other innocent people (many were for touching her). So be warned there are on page murders and arson and pretty graphic gore. This plot was good, especially how the plot takes a huge twist halfway through. I could not put it down! And I’m addicted to their chemistry, the way he’s obsessed with her but also so delusional is the perfect combination. He calls her his wife even though she rejected his proposal, his logic being that she still kept the ring. They’re so cute together, and are more alike than they think. I really enjoyed this and give this a 4/5

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

Dark, twisted and mysterious Little Red retelling set in a small town in 1970s.

I love dark and twisted fairytale retellings and this one was amazing! Filled with feminine rage, mysteries, murder, tension, family secrets, delusional MMC and enemies to lovers.

I loved the dynamic and tension between Redley and Wolf, he was crazy in love with her and she hated him with passion. Their chemistry was amazing! The plot was full of twists and turns, and I love it when you never know what’s going to happen next.

Check the TW/CW before reading!


“How was I supposed to be prepared for the devil to come disguised as a man?”
“I’ve got my own gun. I don’t need a man to shoot for me.”
“My morals being different from yours doesn’t mean I don’t have them.”
“You can’t fix my problems when you are my problems.”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

[Alex Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A million 🌶️s
10/10
All the⭐️s in the world
#1 Red Riding Hood retelling
I could not give this book enough praise!!


“What’s the point in washing your victory off your skin when you can wear it for a little while instead?”

This is officially my favorite Red Riding Hood retelling. The one-liners in this story are EVERYTHING. I annotated this book like a mad woman. Redley is the most bada$$ character of all time. She really leveled up from the fables of childhood. You guys…. THE WOLF! I would let him eat me up all sorts of ways. He could actually bite me and I’d be down. Incredible! As always thank you to Aurelia for her stunning work and allowing me to always be a part of her team.

*check trigger warnings, beware of the big bad wolf.

[MortyPie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was crazy. They are crazy!
It’s a twisted little red riding hood retelling. I absolutely loved Redley and Wolf. Redley is a strong but slowly grows into a little unhinged FMC. Wolf is an obsessed but a lot unhinged MMC.
It starts off when they are younger but there is a time skip pretty early on in the story. This story had me questioning everything. I couldn’t really guess any of the outcomes besides the ending, but that’s kind of obvious since it’s a romance.

Fav Quote: “I’m proud of the vicious little monster she’s becoming.”

Tropes:
Stalking
Touch her and die
Feminine rage
Little red riding hood retelling
Possessive/obsessive
Mystery Dark Romance

[bitterheat · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf 70% was forcing myself to finish it until I realized no one's is making me

[whatthesmutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re still following me?”
“Why would I stop one of my favourite hobbies, Red? That doesn’t make any sense.”

If you are after something dark, mysterious with an unhinged MMC and a badass FMC fuelled by feminine rage, then Devoured is it for you. A dark vintage 1970s romance that follows Red who has lost everyone she loves and hated to The Wolf. Fuelled by hatred and a need to end the killings, Red loaded with a shotgun and feminine rage hunts the wolf. And finds more than she bargained for.

“Im not your wife you psychopath, I shot you.”

This is something vastly different to Aurelia’s past writings and I have to say it did not disappoint. It had me my toes, turning pages and trying to put puzzle pieces together as the mystery unfolded and the romance developed. I honestly couldn’t have put it down.

The world building was fantastic and the plot was sublime and tangible with substance rather than a lot of reimagining books that are all spice and no plot. If you love a dark retelling and little red riding hood was a childhood fave. The this one is for you.

“ I despise him. Im going to kill him. I’ve never been so turned on in my life.”

- 1970s Vintage romance
- dark red riding hood retelling
- feminine rage
- possessive, unhinged MMC
- touch her and die (literally)
- mystery

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 'Little Red Ridinghood' retelling is somewhat twisted in a way that makes you question a lot about the world this girl lives in. It starts when she is just 15, and had already lost her parents and currently lives with her grandma. Red knows the story about the Wolf and how he is to blame for all the deaths that take place in their small mountain town, even if the local 'doc' says otherwise. The police can't be bothered to investigate. Well, no one claims to have jurisdiction for the area. Most never even heard of the town. She's the only one trying to get someone to look into the deaths and bring an end to it all. She takes it upon herself to hunt the monster in the forest. Wolf enjoys the chase, but he also has his own agenda with Red. She shows Red his gentle side as well as his ferociousness, and that messes with her head at times. It fast forwards a few years until she's 20 for most of the book. There are twists and suspense. And yeah, there is some dirty raw sexual content (intended for mature readers.) There is killing on the pages and some dub-con, as well as physical abuse. This takes place in the late 60's early 70's so it lacks the modern day amenities such as cell phones or internet. There is lack of outside influence towards the townsfolk and Red. They are kinda living in their own little bubble. They all have one thing in common though... they all think Red is insane. (At times she questions her sanity as well.) She's quite fierce and willing to die in her hunt for the person or thing responsible for her families deaths. Wolf is possessive and willing to hurt anyone who hurts her, even if she is trying to kill him. Such an interesting read.

[ThatsSomeGoodSmut · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’m not your wife, you psychopath. I shot you.”

If that line makes your heart beat faster… welcome to Grimm Groves.

Devoured is a gorgeously deranged Little Red Riding Hood retelling that drips with blood, obsession, and tension so thick it chokes. Redley is not your classic fairy tale heroine—she’s feral with grief, rage, and righteous vengeance. Her town thinks she’s insane. Her enemies keep dying. And the Wolf? Oh, he wants her heart in every way imaginable—still beating or not.

Set in a grim, isolated mountain town in the 1970s, this book is packed with vintage horror vibes, feminine fury, and the kind of possessive, absolutely unhinged love interest who might murder your enemies… or become your biggest problem. Red and Wolf’s dynamic is a high-octane mix of hatred, lust, and something twistedly tender underneath. The man is obsessed—and somehow, despite your better judgment, you’ll root for him.

The story unfurls like a fever dream, rich with mystery, psychological suspense, and one liners that slice. It’s not just dark romance—it’s knife-sharp, blood-soaked, and unapologetically wild. Every page left me wide-eyed, breathless, and slightly feral.

Please be sure to check the trigger warnings! There’s gore, murder, dubious consent, trauma, and a whole lot of “touch her and die” energy. If you’re into high-stakes, morally gray monsters and fierce heroines who won’t go down without a fight, you need this one.

Thanks to the author for sending me this ARC to read.

[Ashley Bolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Aurelia Knight and this story was no different. She had great character development and had a story that kept you invested in the stories outcome. She knows how to create story lines that keep you engaged from start to finish. Expect the unexpected always. I have never read a Little Red Riding hood retelling before and I will say this was a pretty good story. I was not expecting all the twist and turns. There are so many mysteries for the main character to uncover but in the mean time she also unlocks a piece of herself that she never knew existed until she met the wolf and he helped her unlock parts of her soul she never imagined she had. She is lied to by everyone and no one wants to help her. By helping her unravel the mystery those around her cease to exist. She is forced to be alone. No police or town people will help her. She is considered the crazy lady but little does she know that the whole town and everything in it is not as it seems. Only she can unravel the mystery surrounding her families demise and the town secrets. She is instantly drawn to the wolf as he is drawn to her; however, he is hiding so much from her. Can she find a way to forgive him and live happily ever after? You will have to read the story to find out the answers.

[Priscilla Herchold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooooooow. I devoured that (pun intended).

Like, damn, Aurelia Knight. This was amazing! I didn't know what to expect with this retelling but whatever expectations I had were blown out of the water. I definitely wasn't expecting the mystery, but there it was, and it worked, it worked really well.

The relationship between Red and Wolf is unhinged in so many ways - they each have their own obsession with one another. The enmities between them and their mutual histories work to keep them apart but push them together at the same time. There was spice, but not an overwhelming amount. There was also a lot of blood, I wouldn't necessarily say gory but just prepare yourself. Wolf doesn't have shame or much of conscience.

Add this to your TBR!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured is a Red Riding Hood retelling set in the 1970's in a small town called Grimm Groves that no one has heard of. The police do not go there. The book has 2 timelines, one where Redley is 15 and one where she is 22.

The littles family has been being killed off by a mysterious wolf for generations. Redley starts to question things such as who is this wolf or who pays the power or why has no one outside of Grimm Groves never heard of Grimm Groves.

Wolf is a killer. Redley meets him in her bed at 15 years old. He is stubborn and obsessed with Redley.

I loved this book! There's male yearning, a strong female, murder, he falls first and spicy scenes.

[Simone Ramos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started strong—dark, eerie, and dripping with twisted fairy tale vibes. I was hooked on the setting, the opening tension, and that delicious promise of villainy in the shadows.

But somewhere around the halfway mark, the spell broke. The characters felt flat, their choices didn’t stir anything in me, and I realised I just… didn’t care who lived, died, or got devoured.

The spice? Messy. Not in the fun, chaotic way—I mean messy in a way that left me confused, not turned on. I don’t mind wrong or dark, but I need to feel something. This one didn’t deliver.

Still, the concept had bite, and the writing wasn’t bad—I just wasn’t the right reader for it in the end.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this 70’s-era Little Red Riding Hood retelling!

This is a great, unhinged enemies-to-lovers story filled with more than enough violence, mystery and spice to keep you hooked through the very last page!

I will be thinking about Red, Wolf, and the small Appalachian town of Grimm Groves for a while to come! ♥️🐺💋

Big thanks to @aureliaknightauthor for the chance to ARC read this amazing story!

🏷️ #devoured #aureliaknight #taintedfablesseries #arcread #arcreview #littleredridinghood #bigbadwolf #femininerage #70sera #serialkiller #darksmalltown #mystery #revenge #primal #red #wolf

[kindlequeenandcoffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEVOURED this in one sitting, dark mysterious man who’s unhinged and LITERALLY “touch her and die” vibes. 1970 vintage vibes, dark red riding hood retelling must read 🐺 😍💀

“You deserve better. I’ll get you better,” he promises, and his fingers dig into my hair, massaging bar soap into the lengths.

4.5/5 ⭐️ 4/5 🔥

“Let me make it better. Tell me what’s bothering you.” “You can’t fix my problems when you are my problems,” I tell him

[Sami Zavoral · Rating 5 out of 5]

70's era Little Red Riding hood retelling - yassssssss. I gobbled this up. It pulled me out of a book slump and probably ruined me for future red riding hood retellings. Delicious, spicy, dark, and so very fiesty. Redley is a badass bitch but falling for your big bad wolf was never in the plans. Wolf tricks, steals and lies but promises to make it all better (with some licking...the good kind)

5 stars

~ Virgin FMC
~ Small town
~ Fiesty FMC/ Feminine Rage
~ 70's era
~ Murdahhhhh
~ Primal Play

[Lora · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I could not get into this one. I like the little red riding hood concept. The dynamic between the characters was insta-lusty and weird. The spicy scenes felt awkward, like they were trying too hard to be dark romance. The rationale for why she left the trauma and was free and then needed to come back was not explained well. How does she make money to keep her 600 acres? Maybe it is just me. This one isn’t for me.

[Teresa A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redley and Wolf, a fairly literal little red riding hood retelling with a twist. This one is set in the 70’s and although it’s stated it’s not overly obvious from the story other than the price of gas. To be fair Redley lives in a small town and up on a mountain so the amenities are lacking so that helps create a better picture.

Redley’s family has a history of murdered members and they have always blamed a wolf monster but the town thinks she’s crazy; even when townspeople start dying. Once she finds out who is behind all of the death, life gets complicated and she has some choices to make. There’s mystery and secrets to be discovered in this story.

Overall a really enjoyable dark romance with some delectable spice thrown in.

4/5 stars
3/5 chilli peppers

[Manic D0ll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a unique take on the Little Red Riding Hood story. I loved Redley and her tenacity, and Wolf was the perfect mix of unhinged and sexy. The setting of the Appalachian mountains makes it feel like this could have really happened, and I loved uncovering the mystery with Red. Overall a bloody, spicy good time that I recommend you read.

[Ashley Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic new retelling of Red Riding hood complete with mystery, so much spice, and a unique vibe. I had so much fun reading this and trust me this one is for anyone who likes a little crazy in their romance. I really enjoy the way Aurelia writes and this retelling was an absolute blast to read!! It's such a unique twist on the classic and one you should absolutely read!

[Alexandra Phipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big Bad Wolf is after Red but she isn’t making it easy.

This dark and twisty retelling of a classic set in small town 1970s will have you captivated from the moment you start reading.

Filled with feminine rage, murders, secrets and a man obsessed, Devoured will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. An absolute must read.

[Kim Torrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf and Red were pure unhinged goodness (please check TW before you read). I did not want to put this book down and if I was a faster reader I would have read it in a day. This book was a ride with so many twists i wasn't expecting and little hidden eggs the lead you deeper into the plot of Red and Wolf's family history and how Wolf came to be in Red's life.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! It gave me the feels of psychological thrillers and horror movies from the 70s but with some added dark romance in the story.
Our FMC is rageful and fierce in the best ways. While our MMC is obsessed and unhinged.
This is a red riding re-imagining you don't want to pass up! Check your CW's as always. This is so worth it!

[LovelyLady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously Dark Red Riding Hood Retelling! Loved the 70s setting with its lack of technology and vintage vibes. Wolf is the best kind of morally black hero, who is only good for his girl. Most of the time. Red was strong and determined, which I admired. Lots of intrigue to keep me flipping pages, and plenty of spice! Their banter was also top tier! Highly, Highly Recommend!

[Keisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your average retelling

There's alot of fairy tale telling out there, but I've never read one like this. This is a deliciously dark story, made better by the time in takes place (1970s) and the story that unfolds. The spice is perfect. I'm looking forward the the other books in this series.

[Nichole Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, The Big Bad Wolf was definitely into Little Red. These two were insane to read, and I loved every minute of it. There was drama, intrigue, mystery, and even a little romance. I couldn't ask for more!

[Angela Hankins Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t give 5 stars often but this one takes the cake. I absolutely love this book and wish I could read it for the first time all over again!!! I definitely fell in love with Wolf and Red & the charming city of Grimm Groves. Hands down the best read I’ve had this month!

[Tiffany Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a red riding hood rework this book is for you. Loved the twist and turns in the book. You never knew what the wolf was up to or going to do. Red she was something else, very fierce kinda girl.

[Sheila Ryals · Rating 5 out of 5]

😻

This was good! Has me thrown for a bit. Almost thought it was a pnr. Kinda sad that she was kept so in the dark that she believed about certain things. Wolf may be a bit a serial killerish but he was perfect for her! The timeline was kinda cool!

[Taylor Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I liked the story all around. It had a great pace, but everything I pictured in my head seemed dirty or unclean, especially their clothes. It's not a book of choosing to read again. I like verity and the perfect divorce as my favorites still.

[William P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book like Wolf devours his muffin. This book had me absolutely hooked and I could not stop reading. The mystery surprised me and the spice was hot!