Tuesday Reviews: Little Red Shadow

 

She wields shadows. He wields charm. A Little Red Riding Hood retelling where a fake courtship is the most dangerous lie of all.

Perfect for readers who love the glamour of Bridgerton and the criminal underworld of Six of Crows.

Scarlett killed the girl she used to be. What survived is a gang operative who moves through London's underworld like smoke, protecting her best friend from the shadows and trusting no one.

When death threats target the one friend she allows herself, she hunts for the source of the danger—determined to end it before more blood is spilled.

Instead, she finds Lord Benedict Pearce. Not an assassin, but a charming aristocrat.

When the truth comes out—that they’ve both been manipulated by the ruthless Wolves gang—they realize the only way to survive is to work together.

Their arrangement is simple: pretend to court each other while they dismantle the criminal conspiracy threatening everyone they love.

But fake affection has a dangerous way of turning real. Behind the effortless smile and aristocratic charm, Benedict is a man who sees too much and protects too fiercely—even when Scarlett makes it clear she doesn’t need saving.

As their investigation drags them deeper into the Wolves’ brutal world, Scarlett must confront the past she thought she’d buried for good. When the Wolves force her hand, she must decide whether survival is enough… or whether Benedict is the first thing she’s ever wanted enough to risk it all.

I really enjoyed how the Little Red Riding Hood elements were woven into this story, especially the Wolves, Granny’s place, the red cape, and even the almost wolf-like way Scarlett’s abilities manifest.

 Scarlett was easily one of my favorite parts. She’s strong, capable, and definitely doesn’t need anyone swooping in to save her, which made her dynamic with Benedict even more fun. He’s charming, cheeky, and just enough of a pain in her ass to keep their interactions entertaining, while still having a vulnerable side that gave their relationship more depth. 

Their romance is definitely a slow burn, and while I enjoyed the tension and payoff, I found myself wishing there had been a little more focus on their relationship along the way. Some of the action sequences also ran longer than I personally needed and could have benefited from more dialogue and character interaction to break them up. 

Overall, this was another creative spin on a familiar fairytale with a great FMC, a fun relationship dynamic, and enough connections to the first book to make the series feel cohesive. I’m especially curious to get to Rhosyn’s story next.