Okay. So. I'm really sorry, Melissa, but this was.... not it for me, unfortunately. I couldn't stand Ruby as a main character and I felt like her relationship with wolf guy only revolved around sex. I didn't feel the chemistry, unfortunately. Sometimes we just don't connect with a book, and this was the case for me with A Curse for Blood and Wolves...

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of A Curse of Blood and Wolves. I was intrigued by the synopsis, which seemed right up my alley. However, while this book had some good plot ideas, it just didn't grab me. I found myself repeatedly putting it down and not connecting with the plot or characters. I finally decided to DNF at the 40% mark because I just wasn't interested. I'm sure many people will enjoy this story, but it just wasn't for me.

Title:A Curse of Blood and Wolves
Author: Melissa McTernan
2.5/5
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Looking for a dark and steamy reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood? Look no further! "A Curse of Blood and Wolves" by Melissa McTernan is perfect for romantasy readers and SmutTok lovers alike.

When Ruby feels the eyes of a stranger in the woods, she knows she should be scared. She knows she should run. But instead, she feels a thrill. She yearns for his eyes on her every night as she walks home, hoping to hear the crunch of leaves under his feet that signals he’s there. Will he ever reveal himself? After all, fate doesn’t make mistakes.

Melissa McTernan’s retelling of Red Riding Hood is steamy, though a bit repetitive at times. While the writing is good, the story could use more character development and a bit more plot or relationship conflict. The tortured man-to-wolf transformation of the character is reminiscent of James Dean’s performance in "Rebel Without a Cause"—sometimes over the top but still relatable. The sexual tension is intense, keeping readers on the brink of release.

This story has so much potential, but it just fell a bit flat for me. As a sucker for a good retelling, I wanted more. The writing style is easy to follow, but it became repetitive after a while. I had to push myself to keep going. While I admire the strength displayed by Ruby, I couldn’t quite connect with her personally. If you love a driven female main character, this book might be for you. The romance is palpable, and you can feel the deep connection between the characters, though it sometimes doesn’t quite click. This is a great starting point for those new to the romantic fantasy genre who want an easy-to-follow story.

Who doesn’t love a paranormal romance with werewolves, fated mates, and a touch of mystery? Add in a loose retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, and you’ve got a fun read. This is the first book in a trilogy following three alpha werewolf brothers. Set in the present, the book follows Ruby, our main female character, and Rafe, our dark and delicious werewolf.

Ruby is struggling to support her unwell sister, Lena, who is a Seer. She works a job she doesn’t particularly like but does it out of necessity. Ruby has always been a bit different, known as "Goth Girl" growing up. One night, on her way home, she meets a dark stranger in the woods. She knows she shouldn’t walk through the woods, but it’s quicker, and she’s drawn to them. This is when she meets Rafe. Rafe is a centuries-old tortured soul who has been living in the woods, trying to escape his barbaric past under his father’s rule. Yes, this was a very cliché read, but you know what? I didn’t mind it. Some books you either love or hate, but this was a fun read. There is insta-love, but with fated mates, that’s pretty standard. Rafe is a bit of a tortured soul who finally realizes he and Ruby are meant to be. While this book focuses on Ruby and Rafe’s journey, it also sets up the storyline for the next couple of books. It was a quick, enjoyable read, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with Theo, the second brother, who promises to bring a bit more humor.

There’s a bit of spice in this book, with a slow burn until Rafe finally pulls his tail out of his... well, you get it. If you’re in the mood for a dark, steamy, and fun paranormal romance, give "A Curse of Blood and Wolves" a try. You might just find yourself drawn into this world of werewolves and fated mates.

I was really drawn into this read by the blurb but I felt that it didn't accurately portray the book. I had expected more but felt that the writing was a little lazy and overall juvenile. I was really hoping this would be a great book.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't it for me. Felt like it was all about the smut and no story whatsoever.
Congrats on the deal with Fairyloot nonetheless !

A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this book.

This felt a little like a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood but a steamy spicy version where Little Red Riding Hood falls for the big bad Wolf.

Ruby lives with her sister in a small cottage in the woods. Ruby is a strong independent young woman who doesn’t need any help. One day she meets Rafe, who is a shifter and instead of being afraid of him, she falls for him. We get to follow Ruby and Rafe and see how their relationship develops, we also get to know Lena, Ruby's sister a little. She is having visions showing danger is coming. Is the danger the other wolves that are lurking outside the cottage?

I must admit I picked this book by its cover and I was a little disappointed after I finished reading it. I would have wanted to know more about the characters, about their granny and Lena about the backstory.

I read this is a first book in a series. I don't think I will continue.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable. The plot is one that is engaging and I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

2.5 stars!

this was....interesting. I wasn't sure how I would feel about a shifter romance, but after reading Bride by Ali Hazelwood, I felt more confident about giving it a try. The funny thing is that there were some similarities between this book and Ali Hazelwood - number one being the main male character being SO BIG. I do think additionally there wasn't really any plot but just meandering from one spice scene to another.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest reason!

A retelling of Red Riding Hood. A little steamy but also a little repetitive in some aspects. Melissa writes well but there could have been more character development and a little more plot or relationship issues. The tortured of the character and shifting from man to wolf was reminiscent of James Deans performance in Rebel without a cause. Sometimes over the top but relatable. Although the female longs and wants the attention of the mysterious man/wolf who follows her, it often leads to a highly sexual tension that keeps you on the brink of release.

Unfortunately had to DNF this one at 20%. I really couldn’t get to grips with the storyline and really struggled to follow the flow for some reason.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. This a good story and the characters were great. I really liked this retelling.

This was a run ride. I couldn’t stop reading it. I was sucked in from the start to the end. The characters were well developed and the story had good pacing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>A Curse of Blood and Wolves</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>A Curse of Blood and Wolves</i> by Melissa McTernan presents itself as a dark and gripping fantasy tale, but unfortunately, it falls short of its ambitions. It leaves one feeling underwhelmed and disappointed.

<h4>The Details</h4>

One of the main issues with the novel is its lack of originality. The story follows the tired tropes of the fantasy genre without bringing anything new or innovative to the table. From the brooding anti-hero to the predictable plot twists, <i>A Curse of Blood and Wolves</i> feels like a rehash of countless other fantasy novels, failing to carve out its own identity.

Furthermore, the characters in the novel are thinly developed. They do not inspire any real emotional investment from the reader. The protagonist comes across as a generic archetype rather than a fully realized individual. This makes it difficult to empathize with their struggles or root for their success.

The world-building in <i>A Curse of Blood and Wolves</i> is similarly lackluster. While the author attempts to create a rich and immersive fantasy world, the setting feels flat and uninspired. It lacks the depth and complexity needed to truly captivate readers. As a result, the story fails to transport readers to a new and exciting realm. It instead leaves them feeling disengaged and uninterested.

Additionally, the pacing of the novel is inconsistent, with long stretches of exposition and world-building interspersed with brief moments of action. This uneven pacing makes it difficult for readers to stay engaged with the story. There is a sort of teeter-totter nature of moments of boredom and frustration.

One more thing: I really do appreciate retellings of classic fairy tales, but I can’t really warm up to the idea of making it a smutty retelling, when I have not been forewarned. I felt a little tricked, to be honest.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>A Curse of Blood and Wolves</i> fails to deliver on its promise of a dark and gripping fantasy tale. With its lackluster characters, uninspired world-building, and inconsistent pacing, the novel ultimately falls flat, leaving readers searching for a more compelling and original fantasy experience.

Spicy 🌶️ Read with a little red riding hood retelling. Expect this book to be on the darker steamy side of things. However don't expect a real plot/character development it does fall flat and more one dimensional in my opinion but I believe that's due to the nature of the retelling and the wanting to be a spicer fantasy so it leaves little plot depth and things I wish was elaborated more on such as the magic, shifting, curse. Overall it was okay and some may love it but it just wasn't for me.

This is another story that I so desperately wanted to connect with. The premise of this novel left a door open to many possibilities but it just fell flat for me. I am such a sucker for a good retelling but to me this one didn’t quite bring what I needed to the table. The writing style was easy to follow, but it became repetitive after a while. I really had to fight with it a little bit to keep going. I do admire the strength that was displayed in our main character, but I couldn’t connect to her personally. If you love a good, driven female main character, then this book would definitely be for you. The romance was definitely there and you could feel that both characters felt for each other on a deep level, but there were certain times it didn’t quite connect. I would definitely recommend this to people looking to start their romantic fantasy journey and want a story that is easy to follow along with.

If you're looking for a spicy version of Red Riding Hood then look no further! A Curse of Blood and Wolves was a addictive and fun read that I found myself flying through.

I really liked all of these characters, with Ruby and Rafe being amazing main characters. I liked getting to learn their backstories, especially Rafe's and I loved the chemistry between the two of them. I also really liked the introduction of certain side characters and I'm so intrigued to learn more about them in upcoming books!

I do wish that their had been a bit more to the main storyline but otherwise I really enjoyed this one and recommend it to anyone looking for a new romantasy series to start!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

- dark vibes, romantasy
- steamy, spicy
- little red riding hood retelling
- paranormal romance with werewolves
- fated mates
- stalker mmc
- suspense
- touch her and d** vibes

The book cover is what sold this book for me - it's gorgeous and so fitting for the genre. Little Red Riding Hood has been my all time fave fairytale and the amount of retellings I've read and watched of this tale is, well, absolutely ridicilous, and I love a paranormal retelling with spice of this concept. Fated mates is also a comfort trope for me so this was overall a great, enjoyable, though a little predictable, read. ✅

I found the book not to my liking because of the premise of having werewolves and mates behind this.

I am giving this one three stars. I didn’t get to it in time to give a full review and I apologize for that

Who doesn't love a paranormal romance read with Werewolves, Fated Mates and a little mystery thrown in? Oh wait don't forget the loose retelling of little red riding hood as well.

This is the first book in a trilogy which I believe is going to follow three brothers who are all Alpha Werewolves. Set in the now the book follows Ruby our main Female MC and Rafe our dark and delicious Werewolf and main man. Ruby is struggling, she is trying to support her sister Lena who is unwell and we later find out is a Seer. She is working a job she doesn't particularly like as she has to interact with others, but she does it. She has always been a bit different and call Goth Girl when growing up, and upon returning home one night from work she meets a dark stranger in the woods. She knows she shouldn't walk through them but its quicker to get home but she is drawn there and this is when she meets Rafe. Rafe is a bit of a tortured soul. He is centuries old and still can't get other how barbaric his Pack was whilst under his father's rule but he is no longer alive and he has been living in the woods minding his own business when he senses Ruby.

OK, so this was a very cliché read but you know what I didn't mind it. with many books people are either going to love or hate it but it was a fun read. Yes there is insta love but you know what Fated Mates, from my understanding this is pretty standard. As I mentioned Rafe is is a bit of a tortured soul and goes back and forth a little but finally pulls his tail out of the kink its in and realises he and Ruby are meant to be.

There is a storyline running through this book but it is more to do with the whole character cast as a whole rather than Ruby and Rafe. This book focuses on them and their journey but also adds in some clues to where the next couple of books are going to go. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing what happens with Theo the second brother as I feel that this one will be funnier.

There is a little spice in this book, it was more of a slow burn until Rafe as I mentioned pulled his tail out of his a**.