The Red Rider

Red Rider Saga #1

by D.A. Randall

Little Red Riding Hood is heading back into the woods to meet the big bad wolves …
But she’s not little anymore.

When she was seven years old, Helena Basque was attacked by a savage wolf that killed her Grand’Mere. Helena survived with triple scars that disfigured her face, and strange tales of a wolf that stood upright and spoke to her.
Now at age sixteen, she knows it was no wolf. And it was not alone. A pack of similar animals banded together to kill Francois, the woodcutter who saved her from the first wolf. These creatures now threaten Helena’s family and everyone in the French province of La Rue Sauvage. To stop them, Helena must do things she never planned to do, and become something she never planned to become. Donning a red hood and cloak like the one she was forbidden to wear after the first attack, she arms herself with a repeating crossbow and other assorted weapons. She then wages a private war against the wolves, refusing to stop or slow down until she wipes them out. She only hopes she can somehow defeat the monsters when she confronts them … whatever they actually are.

THE RED RIDER
The New Action-Adventure Fairy Tale Thriller
by Randall Allen Dunn
Come along for the ride.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Werewolves

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2013

Reviews

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book my first thought was: Oh no! Not another first person female POV. I had read so many lately, and I was hoping for a change. But, to my surprise, Red’s voice wasn’t annoying, and she easily pulled me into her story. The book is well-written; a retelling of the old Red Riding Hood story with a twist and a much stronger Red. The action was steady and built to a good climax.

I did have a hard time with the amount of death that surrounded Red and the devastation to her spirit. I also questioned the level of maturity and language usage of Red and her little sister at quite young ages. Other than those two sticking points, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal thrillers or reimagined fairy tales.

[Elizabeth Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this different take on the Red Riding Hood story. The heroine, Helena, was an intriguing character, as she struggled between seeing herself as the helpless little girl again and then was forced to be the fearless protector to bring down the monsters in the night. Scars line her face from the attack, but it’s clear they have gone much deeper as time has passed. Ones that will destroy her if she’s not careful. That is if the “wolves” don’t tear her to pieces first. The story is fast-paced, thrilling, and we see the face of darkness, the fullness of terror in the “wolf” that she is forced to face again. She has to decide who she will be, the frightened little girl from years ago or the hunter that finally gets her revenge. Or maybe neither because it’s not that simple. As you continue with her, you begin to wonder who must emerge to defeat the darkness that began in the woods those years ago. I’m eager to read the next book in the series and see more from the author’s world, especially Helena.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fresh and different twist to an old story. It was really good. Very impressed with the creativity. It isnt easy to take a classic and reinvent it. The twists in the story was creative. Characters were well thought out and easy to connect to. Can not wait to read more books by this author.

[Andrea Facchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the cat and mouse game trope then this book is perfect for you. it was a quick read and kept me engaged.

[J.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Rider is a fun retelling of Little Red Hiding Hood. But Red, or Helena, isn't a helpless little girl. Not anymore. The little girl who found her grandmother dead and was attacked and left permanently scarred by a wolf is now the hunter...

And the wolves aren't typical wolves. They are Lycanthru. Human by day. Unnaturally large wolves by night. They have come to fear Helena. She has learned the secret of how to kill them. One touch from a silver-tipped bolt from her crossbow will take them down--for good.

But there is a new Lycanthru in town. One of the largest and craftiest Helena has ever seen. And he sees through her courageous exterior to the scared little girl that still remains.

If you enjoy action-packed fairytale retellings in a horror style that will keep you on the edge of your seat, read The Red Rider.

[Coco.V]

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[C.S. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting twist on an old fairy tale! Helena Basque is the Red Rider, a scarred child who lost her grandmere to the Werewolves who still threaten her village. The story is very well paced, with plenty of action and some great character moments.

[Sarah Ashwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into this story not knowing what to expect, but sort of thinking it would be "just another" fairy tale retelling. Instead, it's a slam bang of a tale, full of grit and fire and fight and excitement, coupled with a young woman's struggle to be brave in the face of horrific fear. I really, really enjoyed the book's vivid descriptions. Overall, this is just a fresh, fantastic take on an old story. Can't wait for the sequels.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can’t wait for the next one to come out.

[Crystal Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dark but fun reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood!

[A. Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

In kindle speak, a real screen swiper.

I woke up too early this morning to go back to sleep, so I started this book to pass a little time, then never put it down till I finished it. Missed breakfast and lunch, except for a handful of almonds and pistachios and a couple of glasses of water.

I can't wait to see what new inventions Pierre comes up with to help his favorite werewolf slayer.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very loosely based on the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood.

In this story, Red (Helena) grows up and takes revenge on the wolves who scarred her, killed her Grand’Mere, and then the rest of her family.

The Red Rider is dark, action-packed, and suspenseful. It has many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Red is a strong and determined character, but she also has an innocent and vulnerable side. I was rooting for her from the beginning of the book right up to the last page, and am looking forward to reading book 2 of the Red Rider saga, Red Rider Revolution.

[Hannah Avem Lepus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that the main character, while definitely not perfect, was of such a strong character that she took on what was basically a suicide mission, to save a town full of people that really just seemed to want her dead. And the fact that she found someone who loved her seemingly for the reason everyone else hated her, it was great. I loved all the danger and action. And I always love it when the main character is the hero who everyone underestimates until they witness their strength and ability first hand.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Rider was different from most of the fantasy I pick up, but it was a fantastic adventure! Helena, the protagonist, is an engaging heroine, and I really enjoyed the relationships she had with others in her community. Those relationships evolve considerably over the course of the story, and seeing how people respond to Helena coming into her own was quite rewarding. While I guessed the nature of Helena's enemies early in the story, the battles that resulted between Helena and the wolves were well crafted, and I found myself turning (well, swiping) each page eagerly!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helena lives in a small village that has been plagued by wolf attacks, she herself having been a victim but saved by a woodsman when she was a child. The scars on her face make her life difficult as she is teased by the other children. Now, as a woman, she is alone, and she has to find a way to defeat these wolves since they've killed her family and many that she loves and they are coming after her.

The blacksmith's son is helping her and together they discover what will stop the wolves - who are really men who have found a potion that will change them into wolves.

I enjoyed this series. It's a bit dark, but it is clean.

[Norman Hirschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent in the nature of Red Riding Hood. Helena Basque left scarred by a wolf when she young swore to settle her score with the wolves as she grew older. It would would not be and easy chore since she was female but she was a fast learner with the cross bow and when her parets and little sister were killed it made her stronger but could she stand against all the wolves after she found out they were really citizens of the village who could change into wolves. Well worth reading.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wolves might have taken her face, her friends, and her family but they will never take her will to fight. She will not rest until every last one of them is accounted for and defeated.

This Red Riding Hood has far more in common with Van Helsing than the children's fairy tale and the heroine's aim puts Katniss to shame.

Although taking place in 18th century France, this reminded me a bit of Buffy as well. This story is action filled, fast paced with interesting character interaction. Given the subject matter it does get a bit violent at times veers into horror, but does not get overly graphic. A light romantic theme but clean, no shifter romance.

[Seth Klessig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm starting the third book in the series and Randall Dunn hasn't let me down yet! A very fast paced and fun take on what happens when a very pissed off, crossbow wielding, Little Red Riding Hood grows up.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because the timeline of the books is kind of confusing. The second book is listed as a prequel to the first book, but in reality only the first half of the second book is a prequel. The second half of the second book takes place after the first book. I only figured this out because I Facebook messaged the author and he was kind enough to explain the timeline.
Otherwise I would highly recommend this series. So far it's a really fun read!

[Tania Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, suspenseful brilliant retelling of Red Riding Hood. How the beautiful, innocent child Helena, becomes the scarred, determined, skilful hunter of wolves. How the stuff of nightmares becomes reality for a whole community, and a young woman's strength and overwhelming desire to completely destroy the terror that haunts her dreams and waking moments. A dark tale of wolves and black magic.
Powerful imagery, wonderful storytelling
I was given this book for an honest review, and thoroughly recommend it

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I read recently. The history is so well done, and give another look of the Grim's Brother fairytale. ;)
Helena is a realistic heroine with fears and insecurity.
I started my reading and if I didn't have anything more to do, I probably could read all book in a day, because it's a reading holds you and makes you lose track of time.
I'm curious of the second book, what Helena will do with the Lycanthru? Will she meet another wolf as Grenault?
Starting now, the second book to discover it. ;)

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becca Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read this author before and as I had the chance to read it for free I wanted to give it a go.
It might just be the copy I had but there was no clear chapter divide, no starting on a new page, it just continued. Page numbers also appeared half way through a sentence and this did affect the flow a bit.
I liked the flash backs of Helena's life and how she became the Red Rider.
It was a quick read and something different. Overall, worth a read. I would consider continuing the series.

[Chelsea Moreton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, a twist on an old tale!
When I started reading this book I couldn't put it down!
The Little girl red or Helena isnt the same little girl who found her grandmother dead, she's now a hunter, after the wolf that changed her life, but when the wolf is hit by her silver tipped arrow, they get a little more than hurt!
I loved this book and would recommend it!
#booklounvereviewteam

[Jason McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red isn’t running anymore!

Buffy isn’t slaying vampires in this Red Riding Hood retelling. She is hunting wolves and protecting a French town though. Alright, it’s not Buffy, but you’ll understand my glee when you pick up this action packed adventure.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark new twist in red riding hood. A young girl is raised by wolves. Once a teen she has to protect the wolves from what attacked her as a young girl.

The development of the main character, Helena, was fantastic. Page turner for sure!!

[Catie Zuckerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. I couldn't put it down. An imaginative re-imagining of Red Riding Hood where Red saves herself and her friends not needing a hunter to save her.

[Vonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sequel Little Red Riding Hood very much.

[Amanda Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not typically info retelling but this was good. I enjoyed the twist and the strong female lead. Supporting cast was pretty good too.

[Caitlin O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this spin of a more badass little red riding hood. I wish the story was longer and a little more in depth because it was a really fun read.

[Montana Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes a talented author to take a Grimm Brothers tale, and in only 100 pages, produce a new character and story you’re actually invested in.

Fun little read.

4/5 stars.

[A.K. Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of us have probably come across the story of Little Red Riding at some point during our childhood. The Red Rider can be read as a legitimate sequel that takes things in an entirely new direction. Get ready to see the classic tale reimagined as you’ve never seen it before. What if the “wolf” was something else entirely? Something far more sinister – and only one of many?

What if Red Riding Hood hunted werewolves?

The above premise is what instantly drew me in to this book. I consider The Red Rider an outstanding example of what Hollywood screenwriter John Truby calls “undercutting the genre.” Basically, every story genre makes use of a “symbol web” composed of images (symbols) with special power that has value to the audience. Arthurian lore, for example, has the recognizable symbols of the Round Table, Excalibur, etc. A masterful storyteller can take advantage of audience familiarity and twist these symbols around so they defy expectations – in this case transforming a children’s fairy tale into a supernatural action thriller with a Zorro-style vigilante. The idea of re-purposing classic stories is one that has always fascinated me – what if you allowed a reader to simultaneously experience a familiar childhood wonder right alongside the more heightened emotions of the thriller genre? I hope to explore this concept in my own writing someday, and I congratulate author Randall Allen Dunn for blazing the trail.

A “werewolf” theme actually fits quite well with the original Little Red Riding Hood story when you think about it. The Red Rider further expands things by taking the werewolf legend itself back to its original roots. Hollywood has so transformed the concept in modern times that we often entirely forget that the werewolf of historical folklore is not the unwilling victim of a curse but a sorcerer acting out of malevolence. The book is therefore not simply a monster story but an epic clash of good and evil portrayed in overtly Christian spiritual terms. I was reminded at many points throughout the narrative of the following passage from Proverbs:

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. (Proverbs 30:14)

In my view, a well-written monster or horror story takes the imagery of this verse and portrays it in concrete terms. Taken literally, terms like “teeth as swords” and “jaw teeth as knives” imply an image quite close to things like vampires, werewolves, and all manner of imagined beings. It illustrates a key point – all these things are merely externalized manifestations of the evil existing within human beings.

The narrative itself immediately drew me into the heroine’s story. Haunted by a nightmarish encounter with a “wolf that spoke” Red Riding Hood – “Helena” - carries physical scars marking her as an outcast in her village community. She soon becomes the only one who can defend her home against a monstrous force - the same that devoured her grandmother and marred her own face. The character’s arc is well-drawn and compelling. One can literally feel her frustration and rage at the passivity of those around her in the face of evil running rampant. This actually made the book itself a somewhat frustrating experience due to the constant resistance the protagonists faces from those on her own side. Ultimately, there is only one person with the will to stand up and fight back: Helena herself. It reminded me of a point I’ve made elsewhere: horror is passive - outrage is active.

One other thing I appreciated is that the story avoids reliance on profanity or graphic sexual content (there is one scene where a villain character is clearly contemplating rape, but that’s as far as it goes). There is a high degree of violence, which more sensitive readers might find to be a bit much, but I wouldn’t call it gratuitous.

I do have some quibbles, of course. The characters’ dialogue tends to lapse into 21st century language and terminology, which lessens reader immersion in an otherwise well-constructed setting (18th-century France with some obvious historical liberties). It was clear at times that the characters were taking certain actions because the author needed them to instead of as a natural extension of who they were. Key plot elements were revealed rather quickly, such as the identity and nature of her enemies, which affected narrative tension and drive. The main villain’s plans and motivations came off as slightly cliched. These are all ultimately minor details, however, in the grand scheme of the story. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good action thriller with spiritual overtones and some balanced elements of horror. I look forward to cracking open the next installment in this saga.