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Empowering the Wolf's Heart
What would you do if you knew what everyone needed, but no one knew what you needed?
Born in a world at war between the Reds and the Wolves, Alia knew her life would be simple. Her family had one kill magic. But Alia has a secret—one her family has painstakingly kept from their tribe. A secret that marks her for death.
Shen never wished to kill, but his fate was decided long before his birth. Trained since childhood, he became a whisper on the Reds’ lips, a nightmare they told their children to terrify them into Sicario Hood, the assassin trained to kill assassins. Shen, however, had only one wish. He wanted to be free. As the strongest Shifter in the empire, his leash was short—and if his mother had the choice, it would be shorter.
When Alia and Shen clash on a battlefield and are forced to fight together or die, something stirs between them. Beneath their lifelong war, they realize they are much the same. In Alia, Shen finds the one person who fights for his freedom when he’d given up hope. And in Shen, Alia finally finds someone who knows her needs… and meets them.
In a world where Reds and werewolves have never seen peace, are Alia and Shen doomed from the start?
Slow-burn romance, snarky pet sidekicks, and killer secrets collide in this fantasy retelling for the whole family.
Empowering the Wolf's Heart is one of eleven novels in the INTO THE ENCHANTED series—a standalone collection of no-spice fairytale retellings where magic-born heroines discover their happily ever after. Brimming with magic, mystery, twists, and swoon-worthy moments, these full-length novels can be enjoyed in any order!
Born in a world at war between the Reds and the Wolves, Alia knew her life would be simple. Her family had one kill magic. But Alia has a secret—one her family has painstakingly kept from their tribe. A secret that marks her for death.
Shen never wished to kill, but his fate was decided long before his birth. Trained since childhood, he became a whisper on the Reds’ lips, a nightmare they told their children to terrify them into Sicario Hood, the assassin trained to kill assassins. Shen, however, had only one wish. He wanted to be free. As the strongest Shifter in the empire, his leash was short—and if his mother had the choice, it would be shorter.
When Alia and Shen clash on a battlefield and are forced to fight together or die, something stirs between them. Beneath their lifelong war, they realize they are much the same. In Alia, Shen finds the one person who fights for his freedom when he’d given up hope. And in Shen, Alia finally finds someone who knows her needs… and meets them.
In a world where Reds and werewolves have never seen peace, are Alia and Shen doomed from the start?
Slow-burn romance, snarky pet sidekicks, and killer secrets collide in this fantasy retelling for the whole family.
Empowering the Wolf's Heart is one of eleven novels in the INTO THE ENCHANTED series—a standalone collection of no-spice fairytale retellings where magic-born heroines discover their happily ever after. Brimming with magic, mystery, twists, and swoon-worthy moments, these full-length novels can be enjoyed in any order!
476 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2024
44 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 28, 2025
Fairy tale retellings are some of my absolute favorite books. I adore most of this book. Alia is hilarious and her inner monologuing was the best out of a lot of FMCs. However, this book is so long. I felt it after about 30% in. I kept having to put it down and stsrt again because I didn't want to read it. The plot was bogged down by everything else going on, yet after about the 50% mark, everything picked back up. There was a lot of betrayal, pain, and crazy going on. I adore Shen and Alia! Their characters kept me going when I didnt want to. The end had me simultaneously in love with it but also sad in some ways. I wanted to read more. While not everything was perfect, I still really loved this book and will read more by this author.
December 18, 2024
A clean fantasy romance retelling with a creative twist on red riding hood, merging magic, shifters, assassins, animal companions, scheming and love.
The story explores dark themes of loss, trauma, control and betrayal, but it's balanced well with the humour, banter, resilience of characters and empathy.
Alia and Shen are a fun duo, I loved their back and forths and witty remarks, the ways they try to kill each other, and the way they helped heal and save each other.
Alia's gift and empathy for magical creatures and the people around her was enchanting, and it helped her become a strong leader and rally change even against adversity.
I enjoyed the 'who hurt you' energy from Shen, his sarcasm, and the way he riles up Alia, particularly about her kidnapping him.
This story has lots of twists and surprises, and a whole host of magical creatures you'll adore, including powerful bonds.
It's a sweet slow burn with pack dynamics, enemy to lover tension, hidden magic, and plenty of banter.
🐺"Who hurt you, little one?"
🐺"We don't control who lives and dies. We only control how we live"
🐺"Only you, Little Red, could snap my wolf form from a murderous rage with a death threat"
🐺"I would burn the world to see you live. Do not dare leave me here alone after I just found you"
The story explores dark themes of loss, trauma, control and betrayal, but it's balanced well with the humour, banter, resilience of characters and empathy.
Alia and Shen are a fun duo, I loved their back and forths and witty remarks, the ways they try to kill each other, and the way they helped heal and save each other.
Alia's gift and empathy for magical creatures and the people around her was enchanting, and it helped her become a strong leader and rally change even against adversity.
I enjoyed the 'who hurt you' energy from Shen, his sarcasm, and the way he riles up Alia, particularly about her kidnapping him.
This story has lots of twists and surprises, and a whole host of magical creatures you'll adore, including powerful bonds.
It's a sweet slow burn with pack dynamics, enemy to lover tension, hidden magic, and plenty of banter.
🐺"Who hurt you, little one?"
🐺"We don't control who lives and dies. We only control how we live"
🐺"Only you, Little Red, could snap my wolf form from a murderous rage with a death threat"
🐺"I would burn the world to see you live. Do not dare leave me here alone after I just found you"
February 21, 2025
Ava’s book “Empowering the Wolf’s Heart” is a retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood” with some twists and turns along the way. It feels like a blend of “Romeo and Juliette” and “Beauty and the Beast” in some ways as well. There are magical creatures, war, romance, family turmoil, and mystery all mixed into the story. Ava’s heart for the hurting and downtrodden is apparent through the reading of this book. The book deals with some deeper issues but touches on them with gentle care. The spunky, sassy, and sarcastic tone of Alia isn’t overpowering and doesn’t tone down Shen’s character. There were some elements of Christianity in the book as well which came as a pleasant surprise.
September 2, 2025
My first read by Ava.
This book wanted so much to be an epic adventure.
The story was okay. But the things that made me give this 2 stars were some crassness.
There were so many mentions of self-defecation. Why?! Just gross. And if it were once, I would have read over it without an issue. But it was multiple times.
She used "freaking", "dude", and "heck" in a time when Latin was used a lot! The disconnect was jarring.
I don't like paranormal at all. But this didn't really "feel" like paranormal even with the werewolves.
Adult language: one word used twice.
No trigger warning for the psychological abuse. This was traumatic as I didn't know about this going into the read and wasn't prepared.
Light gore; ending battle.
I think a good editor and someone who could gently direct the author would have been very beneficial. I would be willing to try another book by Ava. We'll see.
Longest ~500-page book ever!
This book wanted so much to be an epic adventure.
The story was okay. But the things that made me give this 2 stars were some crassness.
There were so many mentions of self-defecation. Why?! Just gross. And if it were once, I would have read over it without an issue. But it was multiple times.
She used "freaking", "dude", and "heck" in a time when Latin was used a lot! The disconnect was jarring.
I don't like paranormal at all. But this didn't really "feel" like paranormal even with the werewolves.
Adult language: one word used twice.
No trigger warning for the psychological abuse. This was traumatic as I didn't know about this going into the read and wasn't prepared.
Light gore; ending battle.
I think a good editor and someone who could gently direct the author would have been very beneficial. I would be willing to try another book by Ava. We'll see.
Longest ~500-page book ever!
February 19, 2025
This book is a thrilling fantasy full of action, mystery, and a slow-burn romance. Alia, hiding a deadly secret, and Shen, a fierce assassin looking for freedom, are forced to team up on the battlefield and discover an unexpected bond.
The romance is real, with great chemistry between the characters. The world-building and action keep you hooked, and the snarky pet sidekicks add a fun touch. Even though it’s part of a larger series, it works perfectly as a standalone. If you love magic, mystery, and swoon-worthy moments, this one’s for you!✨
The romance is real, with great chemistry between the characters. The world-building and action keep you hooked, and the snarky pet sidekicks add a fun touch. Even though it’s part of a larger series, it works perfectly as a standalone. If you love magic, mystery, and swoon-worthy moments, this one’s for you!✨
March 29, 2025
Oh, this was a good one! But a seriously SSSSLLLOOOWWWWW burn of a romance. Action, drama, and intrigue galore, though. Along with a healthy amount of ridiculous humor to have you chuckling.
March 18, 2025
"Retelling" is a loose term regarding this book. The whole book is an elaborate ruse to introduce a play on words that I saw coming as soon as I saw that Shen's assassin name is Hood. All that being said, the incorporation of the classic fairy tale elements into this very reimagined story is clever and creative.
I really liked the set up of two warring factions that completely hate each other and are raised to perpetuate these harmful beliefs even though no one knows how those prejudices began. Shen is very much a man written through the female gaze, and while I admired his character growth and realization, I did not think that "evil backstory Shen" was ever established well enough to necessitate his character transformation. However, I loved Alia. I think she's the perfect example of a strong and dangerous assassin who isn't characterized by rude quirks and a pick me energy. Instead, she's characterized by her kindness and femininity, something that modern media seems to look down upon as weak. Her gentle spirit is her greatest strength, and she had to learn how to be altruistic without being naive. She reminded me of Cinderella in that way; both characters are sweet and kind in an aware and active way.
However, I think the pacing was all over the place. The book is about 500 pages and divided into two parts, but the second part seemed unfocused and unorganized. The action moves quickly at the beginning and the end of the book, but the thing which you think is the main conflict is resolved at the end of Part I. I went into Part II unsure what the plot would be, and there wasn't a conflict established until like 2/3 of the way through Part II. Events and characters are introduced briefly, then forgotten or resolved immediately. A monumental thing would happen and I'd be like, "Ah! That was the true conflict of the book!" and then turns out I was only 67% done with the book. I think if Part II had narrowed in on an issue sooner, it would have helped the pacing and meandering issues. The book also came across as very preachy at moments. I'm sure the author's words resonated with someone, but for me personally, it interrupted the narrative. I don't need a lecture in the middle of a battle scene explaining why it's good for people to love themselves. An important message? Yes. But the wrong timing.
Honestly, I think I would've enjoyed the book more if it weren't for the pacing issues. I got to a point where I felt like I was just chipping away at an endless mountain of words. All that being said, I loved Alia and I want more FMCs like her.
Edit: I feel the need to correct another review. They said that this book is an Alpha MMC book because of Shen, and NO IT IS NOT. Shen is so wholesome and kind and wonderful, and the alpha of a pack but NOT AN ALPHA MMC. Whoever wrote that review does not know what an Alpha MMC is T-T
I really liked the set up of two warring factions that completely hate each other and are raised to perpetuate these harmful beliefs even though no one knows how those prejudices began. Shen is very much a man written through the female gaze, and while I admired his character growth and realization, I did not think that "evil backstory Shen" was ever established well enough to necessitate his character transformation. However, I loved Alia. I think she's the perfect example of a strong and dangerous assassin who isn't characterized by rude quirks and a pick me energy. Instead, she's characterized by her kindness and femininity, something that modern media seems to look down upon as weak. Her gentle spirit is her greatest strength, and she had to learn how to be altruistic without being naive. She reminded me of Cinderella in that way; both characters are sweet and kind in an aware and active way.
However, I think the pacing was all over the place. The book is about 500 pages and divided into two parts, but the second part seemed unfocused and unorganized. The action moves quickly at the beginning and the end of the book, but the thing which you think is the main conflict is resolved at the end of Part I. I went into Part II unsure what the plot would be, and there wasn't a conflict established until like 2/3 of the way through Part II. Events and characters are introduced briefly, then forgotten or resolved immediately. A monumental thing would happen and I'd be like, "Ah! That was the true conflict of the book!" and then turns out I was only 67% done with the book. I think if Part II had narrowed in on an issue sooner, it would have helped the pacing and meandering issues. The book also came across as very preachy at moments. I'm sure the author's words resonated with someone, but for me personally, it interrupted the narrative. I don't need a lecture in the middle of a battle scene explaining why it's good for people to love themselves. An important message? Yes. But the wrong timing.
Honestly, I think I would've enjoyed the book more if it weren't for the pacing issues. I got to a point where I felt like I was just chipping away at an endless mountain of words. All that being said, I loved Alia and I want more FMCs like her.
Edit: I feel the need to correct another review. They said that this book is an Alpha MMC book because of Shen, and NO IT IS NOT. Shen is so wholesome and kind and wonderful, and the alpha of a pack but NOT AN ALPHA MMC. Whoever wrote that review does not know what an Alpha MMC is T-T
March 29, 2025
This is a Romantasy I could not put down! I love the dynamic between the FMC and the MMC. Two strong and determined characters on opposite sides of a war. The found family in this is really special and feels like it was earned by healing brokenness together and seeing each other through trials. The ways this book broke my heart and put it back together ❤️🔥 Incredible!
What’s also great about this book is that it feels like you get book one and book two all in one place. Part one and part two are complete books on their own and I LOVED them. It’s like getting ACOTAR through ACOMAF all in one book. You get a slow burn romance, amidst fast moving high stakes events.
🐺 Little Red Riding Hood Retelling
🐺 Darkish Magic System
🐺 Trained Assas!ns
🐺 Fated Mates
🐺 Slow Burn
🐺 Enemies to Lovers
🐺 Forbidden Love
🐺 One Horse (or Unicorn)
🐺 Banter
🐺 Who did this to you?
🐺 Caretaking
🐺 War
🐺 Magic System
🐺 Magical Creatures
🐺 Wolf Shifter
🐺 Dragon Bonds
🐺 Nicknames
🐺 Forgiveness
🐺 Tension
Has the found family, bonds, training, rebellion, and dangerous encounters feels of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame even though it’s a completely different and amazing story of its own.
5⭐️ 🫑🫑 (slightly steamy feeling, no spice)
What’s also great about this book is that it feels like you get book one and book two all in one place. Part one and part two are complete books on their own and I LOVED them. It’s like getting ACOTAR through ACOMAF all in one book. You get a slow burn romance, amidst fast moving high stakes events.
🐺 Little Red Riding Hood Retelling
🐺 Darkish Magic System
🐺 Trained Assas!ns
🐺 Fated Mates
🐺 Slow Burn
🐺 Enemies to Lovers
🐺 Forbidden Love
🐺 One Horse (or Unicorn)
🐺 Banter
🐺 Who did this to you?
🐺 Caretaking
🐺 War
🐺 Magic System
🐺 Magical Creatures
🐺 Wolf Shifter
🐺 Dragon Bonds
🐺 Nicknames
🐺 Forgiveness
🐺 Tension
Has the found family, bonds, training, rebellion, and dangerous encounters feels of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame even though it’s a completely different and amazing story of its own.
5⭐️ 🫑🫑 (slightly steamy feeling, no spice)
December 20, 2024
5/5
Genre: Fantasy/Fairytale retelling
🚨TW: betrayal, dark magic, using powers to control minds
Read it if you like
🧣 Kidnapped meet-cute Enemies to lovers
🧣 Unicorn, Wolf and little wolf.
🧣 Hidden Powers
🧣 Little Red Riding Hood Retelling
🧣 Loving Family
🧣 Fated Mates
🧣 Forbidden Love
Favourite Moments
🧣 They first time they met.
🧣 Them bickering and flirting with each other.
🧣 Moments with Ran
🧣 Him opening up to her of what he did
🧣 Moments with her family
🧣 Her being the leader that listens and lead her people
🧣 Everyone work together to destroy evil.
🧣 He makes sure that she is safe and well
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🧣 He do whatever to keep her safe
🧣 He respected her and didn’t take advantage of her
🧣 He cares for his people and also the people he loves
🧣 He shows his vulnerable side to her.
🧣 He loves to tease her.
🧣 He loves and cares for her and protect her with his life.
Synopsis:
Aurelia (Alia) a Red who wanted to be the best assassin as she can be to make her grandmother approved of her to be the heir to the tribe. However, to be able to many innocent lives will be destroyed which Alia doesn’t like that to happen. Her mission now is to capture Hood who had killed her grandfather and the only way to lure out hood is to use a werewolf. She managed to kidnapped a werewolf and her life will never be the same. One day, she found out that everything that she had learn about is all a lie. What is she going to do? Will she able to protect her people and the innocent? Will the people she loves work alongside with her to protect everyone? Read Empowering the Wolf’s Heart to find out!!
Review:
The 3rd book of the Into the Enchanted series a Fairytale retelling series. Love these two so much. This kidnapped meet-cute enemies to lover’s story. They got to know each other and even care for each other. Love their bickering and flirting each ot She felt sorry that she had to use him to lure out the person that she wanted to captured. In both of their hearts they felt that they are being tied up by their tribe values which is killing and mostly what they killed are innocent and they don’t like one bit of it. Love that they worked together to their battles along with the people they love and know that they are not alone. They always have each other’s back. Love the way he protects her and cares for her eventhough he is away he make sure someone take care of her because she tends to forget to eat and overwork herself. Love her unicorn/dragon who is always bickering and teasing her with him haha… and her family is just the sweetest.
Her clumsy brother is also smart, he loves to find out things and he came across the The Red’s Rule Book which she found out that whatever the grandmother is doing is just so wrong. It’s hard for her to be a leader but she did her best to win the hearts of many and she learn to rely on others too because with the power of many they can win the battle. This book made me smile, laugh, cried and also feel the warmth of the love that she received from her family, her mate, her unicorn/dragon and her little wolf. And also love that it is full of action pack.
P.S Would love to have a unicorn, dragon and also little wolf hehe… they are just so cuteeee….
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own Thanks to @avagracebentley for the ARC.
Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.
Genre: Fantasy/Fairytale retelling
🚨TW: betrayal, dark magic, using powers to control minds
Read it if you like
🧣 Kidnapped meet-cute Enemies to lovers
🧣 Unicorn, Wolf and little wolf.
🧣 Hidden Powers
🧣 Little Red Riding Hood Retelling
🧣 Loving Family
🧣 Fated Mates
🧣 Forbidden Love
Favourite Moments
🧣 They first time they met.
🧣 Them bickering and flirting with each other.
🧣 Moments with Ran
🧣 Him opening up to her of what he did
🧣 Moments with her family
🧣 Her being the leader that listens and lead her people
🧣 Everyone work together to destroy evil.
🧣 He makes sure that she is safe and well
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🧣 He do whatever to keep her safe
🧣 He respected her and didn’t take advantage of her
🧣 He cares for his people and also the people he loves
🧣 He shows his vulnerable side to her.
🧣 He loves to tease her.
🧣 He loves and cares for her and protect her with his life.
Synopsis:
Aurelia (Alia) a Red who wanted to be the best assassin as she can be to make her grandmother approved of her to be the heir to the tribe. However, to be able to many innocent lives will be destroyed which Alia doesn’t like that to happen. Her mission now is to capture Hood who had killed her grandfather and the only way to lure out hood is to use a werewolf. She managed to kidnapped a werewolf and her life will never be the same. One day, she found out that everything that she had learn about is all a lie. What is she going to do? Will she able to protect her people and the innocent? Will the people she loves work alongside with her to protect everyone? Read Empowering the Wolf’s Heart to find out!!
Review:
The 3rd book of the Into the Enchanted series a Fairytale retelling series. Love these two so much. This kidnapped meet-cute enemies to lover’s story. They got to know each other and even care for each other. Love their bickering and flirting each ot She felt sorry that she had to use him to lure out the person that she wanted to captured. In both of their hearts they felt that they are being tied up by their tribe values which is killing and mostly what they killed are innocent and they don’t like one bit of it. Love that they worked together to their battles along with the people they love and know that they are not alone. They always have each other’s back. Love the way he protects her and cares for her eventhough he is away he make sure someone take care of her because she tends to forget to eat and overwork herself. Love her unicorn/dragon who is always bickering and teasing her with him haha… and her family is just the sweetest.
Her clumsy brother is also smart, he loves to find out things and he came across the The Red’s Rule Book which she found out that whatever the grandmother is doing is just so wrong. It’s hard for her to be a leader but she did her best to win the hearts of many and she learn to rely on others too because with the power of many they can win the battle. This book made me smile, laugh, cried and also feel the warmth of the love that she received from her family, her mate, her unicorn/dragon and her little wolf. And also love that it is full of action pack.
P.S Would love to have a unicorn, dragon and also little wolf hehe… they are just so cuteeee….
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own Thanks to @avagracebentley for the ARC.
Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.
May 15, 2025
What I thoroughly enjoyed:
- the twist on the elements of the Red Riding Hood fairytale but into something entirely it’s own thing. I loved having the shifters and Red assassins pitted against each other and the twist on the grandmother was excellent.
- the message about finding what you’re good at, trusting yourself, and doing it to the best of your abilities. It’s uplifting and empowering and such a great point.
- the exploration of how damaging it is to want to eradicate a group of people for their perceived differences and how easily that devolves into “tit for tat” vengeance-seeking behaviour.
- how Red kidnaps the wolf and that shifts into the enemies-to-lovers trope but with some interesting and unexpected moments.
- Alia being a mostly believable stabby FMC. There were moments where she irritated me, but for the most part I enjoyed experiencing this story from her perspective (well, most of it).
- lots of memorable quotes.
What made reading this novel a slog:
- there are a lot of small inconsistencies
- there are plot moments that felt totally forced and weren’t integrated into the “weave” of the story. Plot twists, in particular, were just thrown in without any foreshadowing or explanation after. Like how did Alia’s brother get hold of THE BOOK that changed EVERYTHING? Just to put out one example.
- lots of things were presented as a “given” by the author, but never really explained as an integral part of the worldbuilding.
- the author couldn’t seem to decide if this ought to be a single point of view or dual point of view narrative. I found the switching around between the two options distracting and jarring. Pick a structure and stick with it, please.
- I felt like here was a lot of scope to tighten things up. I think it could have been brilliant if it had been about 150 pages shorter, with more focus on keeping the important elements clear and bringing all the disparate plot points together with more finesse.
- the final battle was painful to read. Parts are so chaotic it was hard to follow what was going on and who was doing what or even what precisely happened, and then there were moments where characters were having long drawn-out conversations in the middle of the battle without any issue or urgency or anything. The disjointedness made most of the final battle sequence simply irritating.
- the twist on the elements of the Red Riding Hood fairytale but into something entirely it’s own thing. I loved having the shifters and Red assassins pitted against each other and the twist on the grandmother was excellent.
- the message about finding what you’re good at, trusting yourself, and doing it to the best of your abilities. It’s uplifting and empowering and such a great point.
- the exploration of how damaging it is to want to eradicate a group of people for their perceived differences and how easily that devolves into “tit for tat” vengeance-seeking behaviour.
- how Red kidnaps the wolf and that shifts into the enemies-to-lovers trope but with some interesting and unexpected moments.
- Alia being a mostly believable stabby FMC. There were moments where she irritated me, but for the most part I enjoyed experiencing this story from her perspective (well, most of it).
- lots of memorable quotes.
What made reading this novel a slog:
- there are a lot of small inconsistencies
- there are plot moments that felt totally forced and weren’t integrated into the “weave” of the story. Plot twists, in particular, were just thrown in without any foreshadowing or explanation after. Like how did Alia’s brother get hold of THE BOOK that changed EVERYTHING? Just to put out one example.
- lots of things were presented as a “given” by the author, but never really explained as an integral part of the worldbuilding.
- the author couldn’t seem to decide if this ought to be a single point of view or dual point of view narrative. I found the switching around between the two options distracting and jarring. Pick a structure and stick with it, please.
- I felt like here was a lot of scope to tighten things up. I think it could have been brilliant if it had been about 150 pages shorter, with more focus on keeping the important elements clear and bringing all the disparate plot points together with more finesse.
- the final battle was painful to read. Parts are so chaotic it was hard to follow what was going on and who was doing what or even what precisely happened, and then there were moments where characters were having long drawn-out conversations in the middle of the battle without any issue or urgency or anything. The disjointedness made most of the final battle sequence simply irritating.
December 25, 2024
An exciting and intriguing fairytale-inspired story! This is Ms. Bentley's first story and I had so much fun reading it. It definitely had a classic fantasy feel to the story, partially from the structure with the way the story is split up. Elements of the story did not fully unfold until the very end!
Alia was an interesting character to follow. She had a lot of emotions and cared so much about the people around her,it flowed into her decision making. She tried so hard to adhere to the rules and expectations of the Red’s. At the same, she wore the weight of secrets and how it endangered her family. I loved her care for her family and her protector’s heart. All those factors did make her emotional and I felt her youth at times. She could swing from emotions with all the changes and secrets revealed and there were a lot of them revealed!Alia constantly gave from herself and it drained on her.
Shen was so fun to read about! He was a lot more stoic than Alia, but at the same time he still cared deeply about his people and he discovered in Alia a partner. I loved his care for those who were not strong or powerful and how it propelled him to action. Both Alia and Shen had such a heart for those hurting and in need. I loved the way he supported and protected Alia, even if it was from herself! I adored them together and how they pushed each other to let go of fears and to pursue what they knew was right.
I loved the twist on Little Red Riding Hood and the magical world. It was so interesting and I really enjoyed being in it. There were also faith elements that also inspired the world. Overall, this is a no-spice fantasy romance with some darker elements, I think is suitable for older teens and up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Alia was an interesting character to follow. She had a lot of emotions and cared so much about the people around her,it flowed into her decision making. She tried so hard to adhere to the rules and expectations of the Red’s. At the same, she wore the weight of secrets and how it endangered her family. I loved her care for her family and her protector’s heart. All those factors did make her emotional and I felt her youth at times. She could swing from emotions with all the changes and secrets revealed and there were a lot of them revealed!Alia constantly gave from herself and it drained on her.
Shen was so fun to read about! He was a lot more stoic than Alia, but at the same time he still cared deeply about his people and he discovered in Alia a partner. I loved his care for those who were not strong or powerful and how it propelled him to action. Both Alia and Shen had such a heart for those hurting and in need. I loved the way he supported and protected Alia, even if it was from herself! I adored them together and how they pushed each other to let go of fears and to pursue what they knew was right.
I loved the twist on Little Red Riding Hood and the magical world. It was so interesting and I really enjoyed being in it. There were also faith elements that also inspired the world. Overall, this is a no-spice fantasy romance with some darker elements, I think is suitable for older teens and up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
December 20, 2024
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Empowering the Wolf’s Heart was not at all what I was expecting. First of all, it is MUCH longer than I thought. If my kindle is to be believed, it’s over five hundred pages. I thought I was going into a three hundred page novel. Second, I was surprised by the themes in this book. At first, I thought it was going to be a romping adventure with a lot of comedy. There was a playful side and humorous language for the first hundred or so pages. It quickly became apparent that there is much more to the story than humor. Forgiveness, healing, and redemption are focal points throughout Empowering the Wolf’s Heart.
The two main characters Alia and Shen are both deeply scarred. They face a lot of trials and tribulations before seeing their happily ever after. This story delves deep into their hurts and how they come to rely on each other and those in the community around them. This couple was very sweet and a couple of scenes had me a bit teary eyed.
The plot was well thought out. There is so much going on. Honestly, that storyline had to have taken forever to plan. There are multiple foes to face in this story. I really loved the world Alia and Shen forged as they fought to make a change. Ran is a fabulous addition to the group and a great part of the book.
One thing that threw me off was the language at times. Some of it seemed very modern. I felt that it added to some of the humor though. Also, is Mongolia a fantasy place in this story or the real Mongolia with a fantasy twist? Other than those two things, this story was a fantastic debut novel.
I want to thank @avagracebentley for an ARC of this lovely novel!
No-spice level: low
Language: a couple of minor insults
Faith elements: (some mentions of the creator and forgiveness)
-there are many mentions of killing and the consequences
Empowering the Wolf’s Heart was not at all what I was expecting. First of all, it is MUCH longer than I thought. If my kindle is to be believed, it’s over five hundred pages. I thought I was going into a three hundred page novel. Second, I was surprised by the themes in this book. At first, I thought it was going to be a romping adventure with a lot of comedy. There was a playful side and humorous language for the first hundred or so pages. It quickly became apparent that there is much more to the story than humor. Forgiveness, healing, and redemption are focal points throughout Empowering the Wolf’s Heart.
The two main characters Alia and Shen are both deeply scarred. They face a lot of trials and tribulations before seeing their happily ever after. This story delves deep into their hurts and how they come to rely on each other and those in the community around them. This couple was very sweet and a couple of scenes had me a bit teary eyed.
The plot was well thought out. There is so much going on. Honestly, that storyline had to have taken forever to plan. There are multiple foes to face in this story. I really loved the world Alia and Shen forged as they fought to make a change. Ran is a fabulous addition to the group and a great part of the book.
One thing that threw me off was the language at times. Some of it seemed very modern. I felt that it added to some of the humor though. Also, is Mongolia a fantasy place in this story or the real Mongolia with a fantasy twist? Other than those two things, this story was a fantastic debut novel.
I want to thank @avagracebentley for an ARC of this lovely novel!
No-spice level: low
Language: a couple of minor insults
Faith elements: (some mentions of the creator and forgiveness)
-there are many mentions of killing and the consequences
January 10, 2025
Thank you to Book Sirens and Ava Grace Bentley for the ARC.
Plot 3.75/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 4/5
Interest 3.5/5
Overall 3.5/5
-Overall I rather enjoyed this book and the retelling aspect of it all. I was intrigued at first however as the book went on, I kind of started to lose interest more and more. I love retellings and deepening how things are being turned, I will enjoy it more or less and this one and some really redeeming points. I liked the different clans which also felt kind of like Romeo and Juliet style retelling but mixed with Little Red Riding Hood. Although unfortunately that wasn’t enough to keep me intrigued the entire way through.
-The characters were alright. Again, I liked the different clans and how each of the two main characters were important people from each clan. Furthermore, I have to admit that I don’t particularly like the fated mates trope but I don’t actually mind reading it when it comes down to it but in this book, I felt like they didn’t actually “love” each other until Shen said they were mates. I guess I would have liked more banter and yearning between the two.
-The ending was when I kind of started tor regain some interest to the book. I liked the fact that everything was not all perfect and happy. I prefer these types of endings to the typical happily ever after where everything ends up perfectly tied with a neat little bow. I like when books with the possibility for a sequel but there isn’t. And I feel like this book had that aspect to it even though it wasn’t as much as I’d hoped for.
Plot 3.75/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 4/5
Interest 3.5/5
Overall 3.5/5
-Overall I rather enjoyed this book and the retelling aspect of it all. I was intrigued at first however as the book went on, I kind of started to lose interest more and more. I love retellings and deepening how things are being turned, I will enjoy it more or less and this one and some really redeeming points. I liked the different clans which also felt kind of like Romeo and Juliet style retelling but mixed with Little Red Riding Hood. Although unfortunately that wasn’t enough to keep me intrigued the entire way through.
-The characters were alright. Again, I liked the different clans and how each of the two main characters were important people from each clan. Furthermore, I have to admit that I don’t particularly like the fated mates trope but I don’t actually mind reading it when it comes down to it but in this book, I felt like they didn’t actually “love” each other until Shen said they were mates. I guess I would have liked more banter and yearning between the two.
-The ending was when I kind of started tor regain some interest to the book. I liked the fact that everything was not all perfect and happy. I prefer these types of endings to the typical happily ever after where everything ends up perfectly tied with a neat little bow. I like when books with the possibility for a sequel but there isn’t. And I feel like this book had that aspect to it even though it wasn’t as much as I’d hoped for.
February 7, 2025
This was such an action packed and intriguing twist on Red Riding Hood. I greatly enjoyed this take on the classic.
The passing ebbs and flows until about halfway mark then it rolls pretty fast. I got a little confused with the timeline further in the book. There was plenty of twists, betrayal, mystery, and battles.
The characters were interesting, funny, and fairly relatable. You definitely feel for them and cry with them as they experience and deal with betrayal, loss, hurt, and abuse in different forms. I love Alia and Shen’s developing relationship. Their meet-cute is so funny and one of my favorites. I also love *most* of Alia’s family and the restoration of it as the story progresses. Also, Ran is the best side kick ever! Love her snark and banter💜
This book covers some hard topics and deeper/darker themes. Loss, pain, betrayal, torture, feelings of worthlessness, etc, but also shows resilience, growth, empathy, humor, overcoming obstacles, healing, and loyalty.
Overall very good read. Good for young adults and up.
Read if you love:
✨fairytale retellings
✨Red Riding Hood
✨enemies to more
✨she kidnaps him
✨touch her and ☠️
✨who hurt you
✨banter
✨fated mates
✨trained monster hunters
✨magical sidekicks
✨shifters
✨wound tending
✨magic
✨magical creatures
✨slow burn
✨forbidden love
Strong language: 2 uses of ba…
Violence: fighting, wounds, death - nothing super gory/detailed
Spice: none - a few kisses and plenty of slow burn moments
The passing ebbs and flows until about halfway mark then it rolls pretty fast. I got a little confused with the timeline further in the book. There was plenty of twists, betrayal, mystery, and battles.
The characters were interesting, funny, and fairly relatable. You definitely feel for them and cry with them as they experience and deal with betrayal, loss, hurt, and abuse in different forms. I love Alia and Shen’s developing relationship. Their meet-cute is so funny and one of my favorites. I also love *most* of Alia’s family and the restoration of it as the story progresses. Also, Ran is the best side kick ever! Love her snark and banter💜
This book covers some hard topics and deeper/darker themes. Loss, pain, betrayal, torture, feelings of worthlessness, etc, but also shows resilience, growth, empathy, humor, overcoming obstacles, healing, and loyalty.
Overall very good read. Good for young adults and up.
Read if you love:
✨fairytale retellings
✨Red Riding Hood
✨enemies to more
✨she kidnaps him
✨touch her and ☠️
✨who hurt you
✨banter
✨fated mates
✨trained monster hunters
✨magical sidekicks
✨shifters
✨wound tending
✨magic
✨magical creatures
✨slow burn
✨forbidden love
Strong language: 2 uses of ba…
Violence: fighting, wounds, death - nothing super gory/detailed
Spice: none - a few kisses and plenty of slow burn moments
February 18, 2025
This a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I love fairytale retellings and this one doesn’t disappoint. It has your typical Red Riding Hood character, Red, the Wolf and Grandma but they are not the characters you’re used to but they are very believable. There is the usual “oh what big teeth you have” but it not til the end of the story.
Our protagonists Alia (Red) and Shen (Wolf) each tell the story from their point of view (POV). The POV change with each chapter and sometimes within each chapter. The author does. Very good job at each POV change of letting you know which character is speaking.
I loved the interaction between Alia and Shen. Their relationship progresses throughout the story and takes a few turns. I didn’t like the Grandmother character at all. You’ll understand why when you read the book. I also loved the interaction with Alia’s family and their acceptance of Shen.
There are lots of fantasy creatures in this book werewolves, unicorns, dragons, hydra, sphinx, fairies, mages, dryads, sprites and elves. I may have missed a few as there are so many. I won’t go into details about them as I don’t want to spoil the story.
If you like fantasy, action and a little romance thrown in then you won’t be disappointed by this book. The author does a good job of ending the story and providing a prologue to give you that satisfying finished story feel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Our protagonists Alia (Red) and Shen (Wolf) each tell the story from their point of view (POV). The POV change with each chapter and sometimes within each chapter. The author does. Very good job at each POV change of letting you know which character is speaking.
I loved the interaction between Alia and Shen. Their relationship progresses throughout the story and takes a few turns. I didn’t like the Grandmother character at all. You’ll understand why when you read the book. I also loved the interaction with Alia’s family and their acceptance of Shen.
There are lots of fantasy creatures in this book werewolves, unicorns, dragons, hydra, sphinx, fairies, mages, dryads, sprites and elves. I may have missed a few as there are so many. I won’t go into details about them as I don’t want to spoil the story.
If you like fantasy, action and a little romance thrown in then you won’t be disappointed by this book. The author does a good job of ending the story and providing a prologue to give you that satisfying finished story feel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 28, 2025
I really wanted to like this being a “clean read”. 😭
The first half of the book i liked, It wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever read but I didn’t have to force myself to get through it. The second half of this book however felt like it is written by a different author. Suddenly I felt like the characters change who they are. It was very hard for me to follow and even harder for me to be interested.
I begin to really dislike both main characters in the second part of this book. FMC just rubs me the wrong way. she tells her “fated mate” when asked to forgive him, that she can’t and that he must go fix himself and forgive himself on his own so that way they can be together yet She still won’t fully admit that she even cares about him. She feels wishy-washy and noncommittal.
At one point when he transforms into his wolf (who is named lycus) she says to him “hey baby boy, it’s good to see you too” 🤔 baby boy? you’re calling the wolf version of a grown adult male shifter baby boy? Well that’s cute, Or demeaning! 🤨
The timing of completing their mating bond when war is literally in the tree lines?
How does Grandma go from killing all magical beings to having a huge army of magical beings willing to help her? I don’t know… some of this probably gets explained and I missed it as I started speed reading but seriously the further this book got towards the end the more confused I was.
The first half of the book i liked, It wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever read but I didn’t have to force myself to get through it. The second half of this book however felt like it is written by a different author. Suddenly I felt like the characters change who they are. It was very hard for me to follow and even harder for me to be interested.
I begin to really dislike both main characters in the second part of this book. FMC just rubs me the wrong way. she tells her “fated mate” when asked to forgive him, that she can’t and that he must go fix himself and forgive himself on his own so that way they can be together yet She still won’t fully admit that she even cares about him. She feels wishy-washy and noncommittal.
At one point when he transforms into his wolf (who is named lycus) she says to him “hey baby boy, it’s good to see you too” 🤔 baby boy? you’re calling the wolf version of a grown adult male shifter baby boy? Well that’s cute, Or demeaning! 🤨
The timing of completing their mating bond when war is literally in the tree lines?
How does Grandma go from killing all magical beings to having a huge army of magical beings willing to help her? I don’t know… some of this probably gets explained and I missed it as I started speed reading but seriously the further this book got towards the end the more confused I was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2025
Thr best fiction book for personal development and growth
This amazing, well thought out, clean retelling of Llittle Red Riding Hood is one of the best books I have ever read. The themes covered in this book, unmet needs, grief, longing for approval, blind faith in tradition, forgiveness, redemption, ignorance and hate, love and support, chefs kiss! I highlighted so many quotes that resonated with me from how the characters develop and grow from an almost cult mindset to open respectful conversation about different viewpoints. This book is so well written and I love how it feels like it could have ended 40% of the way through, but then we explore the after of the decisions and consequences of choices. I enjoyed thr twists in the plot and felt like all the characters were well written as complete with goodness and faults. There is also conversations around verbal domestic abuse and rescuing then confronting the abuser and I think it's depicted well. I also love that the story ends with a realistic happy ever after and that although some found redemption as mentioned in the story you can't force someone to heal they have to choose it and the mix of characters choices to heal the brokenness or stay bitter and angry is well thought out and portrayed. 10/10 reccomend will be re-reading it soon!
This amazing, well thought out, clean retelling of Llittle Red Riding Hood is one of the best books I have ever read. The themes covered in this book, unmet needs, grief, longing for approval, blind faith in tradition, forgiveness, redemption, ignorance and hate, love and support, chefs kiss! I highlighted so many quotes that resonated with me from how the characters develop and grow from an almost cult mindset to open respectful conversation about different viewpoints. This book is so well written and I love how it feels like it could have ended 40% of the way through, but then we explore the after of the decisions and consequences of choices. I enjoyed thr twists in the plot and felt like all the characters were well written as complete with goodness and faults. There is also conversations around verbal domestic abuse and rescuing then confronting the abuser and I think it's depicted well. I also love that the story ends with a realistic happy ever after and that although some found redemption as mentioned in the story you can't force someone to heal they have to choose it and the mix of characters choices to heal the brokenness or stay bitter and angry is well thought out and portrayed. 10/10 reccomend will be re-reading it soon!
December 15, 2024
Okay Alia and Shen were really cute. I really enjoyed their back and forth banter. And I got a kick out of Alia kidnapping Shen, and all the times he reminded her that she kidnapped him. 🤣🤣🤣
The humor through out the book was a pleasant surprise. Empowering the Wolf’s Heart deals with some heavy issues, but the humor and Alia’s outlook on life keeps it from feeling too heavy.
I also enjoyed the writing. It flowed really well, and painted a clear mental picture. Some of the language used is geared more towards YA, which is not a bad thing at all. I wouldn’t have minded it at all in my teens and early 20’s. With the exception of the use of “freakin’”, lol that word has always bugged me.
I also really liked the world building, I’m hoping we see more stories out of it.
Content: clean, no spice, no swearing except like the use of freakin’ and made up words, and one use of prick
Some favorite quotes that made me smile: “What are you doing kidnapping innocent men, anyway? You don’t seem the type.”
“Do you not know it’s impolite to stare?” “Do you not know it is impolite to stab and kidnap a person?” His voice was droll. 🤣🤣🤣 Shen has a point there lol
I received an ARC, but all opinions are my own!
The humor through out the book was a pleasant surprise. Empowering the Wolf’s Heart deals with some heavy issues, but the humor and Alia’s outlook on life keeps it from feeling too heavy.
I also enjoyed the writing. It flowed really well, and painted a clear mental picture. Some of the language used is geared more towards YA, which is not a bad thing at all. I wouldn’t have minded it at all in my teens and early 20’s. With the exception of the use of “freakin’”, lol that word has always bugged me.
I also really liked the world building, I’m hoping we see more stories out of it.
Content: clean, no spice, no swearing except like the use of freakin’ and made up words, and one use of prick
Some favorite quotes that made me smile: “What are you doing kidnapping innocent men, anyway? You don’t seem the type.”
“Do you not know it’s impolite to stare?” “Do you not know it is impolite to stab and kidnap a person?” His voice was droll. 🤣🤣🤣 Shen has a point there lol
I received an ARC, but all opinions are my own!
December 22, 2024
Empowering the Wolf’s Heart by Ava Grace Bentley is a story that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the final page. At first glance, I expected just another fantasy novel to escape into—but this book shattered all my expectations.
Set in a world teeming with mythical beings and moral ambiguity, this tale takes you on a journey where right and wrong blur into shades of gray. The FMC, Alia, is a Red assassin, tasked with eliminating all magical creatures. Opposing her is Shen, a Werewolf bound by duty to hunt Reds. Both characters are deeply flawed, carrying the weight of past traumas that shape their every move.
When fate intertwines their paths, these sworn enemies begin to question everything they’ve ever believed. Can there be another way?
If you crave a story filled with breathtaking knife fights, power-hungry magical beings, and a romance that prioritizes selfless love and redemption, this book will not disappoint. With its heart-pounding action and emotionally charged moments, Empowering the Wolf’s Heart is a story you’ll want to revisit time and time again. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable adventure!
Set in a world teeming with mythical beings and moral ambiguity, this tale takes you on a journey where right and wrong blur into shades of gray. The FMC, Alia, is a Red assassin, tasked with eliminating all magical creatures. Opposing her is Shen, a Werewolf bound by duty to hunt Reds. Both characters are deeply flawed, carrying the weight of past traumas that shape their every move.
When fate intertwines their paths, these sworn enemies begin to question everything they’ve ever believed. Can there be another way?
If you crave a story filled with breathtaking knife fights, power-hungry magical beings, and a romance that prioritizes selfless love and redemption, this book will not disappoint. With its heart-pounding action and emotionally charged moments, Empowering the Wolf’s Heart is a story you’ll want to revisit time and time again. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable adventure!
January 9, 2025
This book was absolutely amazing.
It definitely has more world building and politics than some of the other fairy tale retellings that I have read, but it was SO MUCH FUN.
The author is so clever and creative..this take on little Red Riding Hood was so unique. I love how the author incorporated the different pieces of the tale in such an imaginative way.
Alia is such a likable Hermione. Her altruism and desire to help and protect others is admirable. She is strong and sassy, but kind and caring as well.
Our Hero, Shen, is amazing. He is so complex and realistic. He is a gentleman, but a monster at the same time. Stunning character dynamics.
It is so beautiful watching the characters learn and grow. The messages of courage, love, and forgiveness are beautifully woven through this story.
The faith elements are incorporated wonderfully.
I cannot recommend this book enough..please, please if you want a good, no spice Romantasy with some religious symbolism, READ THIS BOOK! There are so many beautiful quotes in this story as well.
Thank you for letting me read this book & once again I apologize for the delay.
It definitely has more world building and politics than some of the other fairy tale retellings that I have read, but it was SO MUCH FUN.
The author is so clever and creative..this take on little Red Riding Hood was so unique. I love how the author incorporated the different pieces of the tale in such an imaginative way.
Alia is such a likable Hermione. Her altruism and desire to help and protect others is admirable. She is strong and sassy, but kind and caring as well.
Our Hero, Shen, is amazing. He is so complex and realistic. He is a gentleman, but a monster at the same time. Stunning character dynamics.
It is so beautiful watching the characters learn and grow. The messages of courage, love, and forgiveness are beautifully woven through this story.
The faith elements are incorporated wonderfully.
I cannot recommend this book enough..please, please if you want a good, no spice Romantasy with some religious symbolism, READ THIS BOOK! There are so many beautiful quotes in this story as well.
Thank you for letting me read this book & once again I apologize for the delay.
February 1, 2025
This is a really good, really long book. I think it would have been better to release it as two books, as there is already a part 1 and part 2 division of the story. There is a lot of action going on, and great backstory, but the worldbuilding was spotty. There were some mentions of real places (Mongolia) thrown in that were discordant with the medieval European feel of the settings.
I liked the FMC Alia and the MMC Shen, but the rest of the characters could have been fleshed out a little better, especially the grandmother and the fellow Reds that were comrades-in-arms with Alia. This made the deceptions and betrayals in the last part of the book shallow, as no motives were even hinted at earlier.
The plot itself was excellent, fresh and exciting. The author wove in Red Riding Hood references cleverly (with the exception of one "It's a Little Red Riding Hood" groaner) and the banter between the main characters was amusing and realistic. I really enjoyed reading this book despite the length and a few dry spots where the story dragged. It definitely is worth the reading time.
I read an advance copy and am voluntarily writing a review.
I liked the FMC Alia and the MMC Shen, but the rest of the characters could have been fleshed out a little better, especially the grandmother and the fellow Reds that were comrades-in-arms with Alia. This made the deceptions and betrayals in the last part of the book shallow, as no motives were even hinted at earlier.
The plot itself was excellent, fresh and exciting. The author wove in Red Riding Hood references cleverly (with the exception of one "It's a Little Red Riding Hood" groaner) and the banter between the main characters was amusing and realistic. I really enjoyed reading this book despite the length and a few dry spots where the story dragged. It definitely is worth the reading time.
I read an advance copy and am voluntarily writing a review.
January 16, 2025
This book has everything. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster.
The main characters pulled me in from the start. I really liked how everyone grew and learnt through the book. How being fair, helpful, caring and understanding goes a long way.
Some of the side characters made me laugh out load.
Can’t go wrong with a unicorn with attitude 😜.
This book made me think about my life and from now on my outlook will be different.
It’s not a bad thing to ask for help, support when needed.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tales and different takes on them. I enjoyed this take on Little red riding hood.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
I don’t give many 5 stars to my reviews but I couldn’t put this book down and it made me think, feel a whole lot of different emotions and cry at some points. So a book that can do that deserves 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main characters pulled me in from the start. I really liked how everyone grew and learnt through the book. How being fair, helpful, caring and understanding goes a long way.
Some of the side characters made me laugh out load.
Can’t go wrong with a unicorn with attitude 😜.
This book made me think about my life and from now on my outlook will be different.
It’s not a bad thing to ask for help, support when needed.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fairy tales and different takes on them. I enjoyed this take on Little red riding hood.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
I don’t give many 5 stars to my reviews but I couldn’t put this book down and it made me think, feel a whole lot of different emotions and cry at some points. So a book that can do that deserves 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 14, 2025
This was a fun, romantic fantasy filled with hilarious banter, witty lines, heartfelt emotion, and tender, slow-burn enemies to lovers romance. Allia was a worthy heroine who grows into a powerful leader. Shen was a swoon-worthy hero in his own right and had made his own share of mistakes but still fought to do the right thing. Both had integrity and cared about their people.
However, this book was super long, I felt like it could have been split into 2 or maybe even 3 separate books. The author also throws us into the middle of things expecting us to pick up the lingo as we go along. While it becomes relatively more easy to understand the world of Reds, werewolves, and other magical creatures as you keep reading, it definitely doesn’t info-dump a bunch of knowledge on the magic system right at the beginning.
Fun moments: the unicorn sidekick, Ran; the wolf puppy; and the general ‘buddy cop’ vibe of the book.
Thanks to the author for my arc; all opinions are mine.
However, this book was super long, I felt like it could have been split into 2 or maybe even 3 separate books. The author also throws us into the middle of things expecting us to pick up the lingo as we go along. While it becomes relatively more easy to understand the world of Reds, werewolves, and other magical creatures as you keep reading, it definitely doesn’t info-dump a bunch of knowledge on the magic system right at the beginning.
Fun moments: the unicorn sidekick, Ran; the wolf puppy; and the general ‘buddy cop’ vibe of the book.
Thanks to the author for my arc; all opinions are mine.
June 5, 2025
DNF @ 64%
So there are several reasons why I DNFed this book.
1. It was super long and it felt like things just kept popping up and they weren't really going anywhere.
2. It was dark and kinda gory.
3. Several scenes that I wasn't really comfortable with,
4. There was a lot about torture that was really dark
5. There was a part about someone being verbally abused.
That's just a few of the things I didn't like, but I did kinda like the MMC. Though, Ran and Fenbutt were my favorites.
So there are several reasons why I DNFed this book.
1. It was super long and it felt like things just kept popping up and they weren't really going anywhere.
2. It was dark and kinda gory.
3. Several scenes that I wasn't really comfortable with,
4. There was a lot about torture that was really dark
5. There was a part about someone being verbally abused.
That's just a few of the things I didn't like, but I did kinda like the MMC. Though, Ran and Fenbutt were my favorites.
June 11, 2025
5 of 5 Stars
The author did a remarkable job on this book. I haven’t read many Red Riding Hood retellings, but I bet that this book is one of the very best. Ava Grace Bentley put the most insane spin on the fairytale. I was hooked from the beginning. The characters were so different from the Red Riding Hood and Wolf that we all know. Alia is a sweet, but fierce warrior, looking out for her family, while her grandmother isn’t the sweet old lady from the fairytale. The wolf, Shen, was a super interesting character with his mother ruling the pack and forcing him to kill for her. They’re paths collide in an amusing way and the book only gets more interesting from there. Definitely a must read for fairytale retelling lovers.
The author did a remarkable job on this book. I haven’t read many Red Riding Hood retellings, but I bet that this book is one of the very best. Ava Grace Bentley put the most insane spin on the fairytale. I was hooked from the beginning. The characters were so different from the Red Riding Hood and Wolf that we all know. Alia is a sweet, but fierce warrior, looking out for her family, while her grandmother isn’t the sweet old lady from the fairytale. The wolf, Shen, was a super interesting character with his mother ruling the pack and forcing him to kill for her. They’re paths collide in an amusing way and the book only gets more interesting from there. Definitely a must read for fairytale retelling lovers.
October 7, 2025
This book was a wild ride from start to finish! A fascinating retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Alia and Shen are so complex, their stories deeply interwoven in ways most don’t even realize. It makes it even more poetic that they are destined mates. Alia’s compassion and warmth are beautifully done in how she finds it in her soul to forgive others and herself. Shen’s dark past turning into a fierce and gentle protector is the exact type of thing I love to read. 💖 Ava has done a marvelous job writing this book. I LOVE the inclusion of faith based elements and the show of people learning from their mistakes. Not to mention…WEREWOLVES!!! Who doesn’t love werewolves? Those who love vampires I suppose.🙄(lol) I definitely recommend reading this book! 😁
January 2, 2025
A fun read, an interesting take on the story of The little Red Riding Hood.
It did feel at times the plot was all over the place, and I had no idea where it was going. I think the main plot points could have been made more clear, and broadened a bit. But I overall was entertained and curious to find out what happened to the story and characters. I appreciated the depth the author was going for, and the growth she put the characters through. This could have been a great story had it had just a bit more development and editing.
If you want a fun retelling of a fairytale give this a try, it’s entertaining and has great moments.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It did feel at times the plot was all over the place, and I had no idea where it was going. I think the main plot points could have been made more clear, and broadened a bit. But I overall was entertained and curious to find out what happened to the story and characters. I appreciated the depth the author was going for, and the growth she put the characters through. This could have been a great story had it had just a bit more development and editing.
If you want a fun retelling of a fairytale give this a try, it’s entertaining and has great moments.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 5, 2025
🐾Empowering the Wolf's Heart by Ava Grace Bentley was such an intriguing Red Riding Hood Retelling! Everything you thought you knew about the wolf, the grandmother and the girl in a red cloak is about to change! This emotionally gritty tale is full of angst, hope and perserverence during dark circumstances. I loved the elements of faith interspersed through this story, and the light of the truth shines beautifully through the dark in Ava's creative retelling.
💙I loved this No Spice Fairytale Retelling and would highly recommend it! Thank you Ava for the honor of reading your book as an arc!
✨🐾🐺🐾✨
💙I loved this No Spice Fairytale Retelling and would highly recommend it! Thank you Ava for the honor of reading your book as an arc!
✨🐾🐺🐾✨
January 16, 2025
very long and quite a slow burn but a decent retelling
Holy hell that was a long book. 500 pages! It’s full of action and violence and a very very slow burn romance. Many different types of magical creatures and definitely a lot of twists and turns and sudden plot twists. It started off quite slow and difficult to get into but about halfway thru the plot starts to pick up. All in all it was a decent book but it definitely felt like hard work during the first half. The author can definitely paint a beautiful picture with her words though and I enjoyed the way she ended the book!
Holy hell that was a long book. 500 pages! It’s full of action and violence and a very very slow burn romance. Many different types of magical creatures and definitely a lot of twists and turns and sudden plot twists. It started off quite slow and difficult to get into but about halfway thru the plot starts to pick up. All in all it was a decent book but it definitely felt like hard work during the first half. The author can definitely paint a beautiful picture with her words though and I enjoyed the way she ended the book!
January 17, 2025
Imaginative Retelling
There were many good things about this story.The unique take on the retelling with the Reds being werewolf killers who wore red hoods. The inclusion of so many magical beings.
While the society of the Reds was well-constructed, the romance didn’t get the same attention. It went from hate to love, we were supposed to accept that because they “saved” each other. Of course, I don’t really like the enemies to lovers trope.
Some things happened too conveniently. Other things happened without enough groundwork going before them.
The book felt very long in places. Still, worth a read if you want an unusual and interesting reimagining of this fairy tale.
There were many good things about this story.The unique take on the retelling with the Reds being werewolf killers who wore red hoods. The inclusion of so many magical beings.
While the society of the Reds was well-constructed, the romance didn’t get the same attention. It went from hate to love, we were supposed to accept that because they “saved” each other. Of course, I don’t really like the enemies to lovers trope.
Some things happened too conveniently. Other things happened without enough groundwork going before them.
The book felt very long in places. Still, worth a read if you want an unusual and interesting reimagining of this fairy tale.
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