If I’m being honest, the 5 days that I took to read this book were the most painful ones of my life. I don’t think this was the right book for me.

First, everything felt very repetitive and it was just a constant cycle of “I’m a monster, she won’t ever love me.” It got tiresome at one point. Mind, the word ‘monster’ was repeated 34 times in this book, meaning that almost each chapter was just constant self deprecation.

Second, what was up with the world building. At first I thought this was set in the past and then all of the sudden Ruby has a phone and is watching Netflix. It just didn’t make any sense to me.

I liked Ruby because she wasn’t whiny AF like Rafe but I just wasn’t invested in the characters. They could’ve been killed by wolves and I would not have cared.

I was very close to DNFing but I just on pulling through. I’m kinda glad it’s over. It was high on the scale of cringiness.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

Well written but not my kind of story. The first two chapters in I was not captivated. It's a good seasonal read, just not my cup of tea.

This was a fantastic read! The tropes in this book are simply a joy to watch unfold on page: slow burn, instant attraction, fated mates, sunshine/grump, primal. I devoured this book in a night!

Rafe and Ruby are such a fun match in this book. Ruby is a head-strong, independent, loveable character who seems to hold her world on her shoulders without any help! In contrast, Rafe is closed off, over-protective, and a bit of a loner. Despite separating from his pack, Rafe is instantly drawn to Ruby and stays in the shadows, following her home from work nightly, before Ruby calls him out for being, well, weird! After an attack one night, everything changes for this couple.

As a red riding hood re-telling, I definitely thing this book does a great job in taking elements from the source inspiration and finding ways to integrate it into the details of this book without just following the beloved narrative to a T. In fact, I forgot this was a re-telling at different points in reading, but that fact isn't necessarily a bad thing! I actually think it was very original in the trend of spicy re-tellings of today!

I genuinely liked this book and can't wait to see more of Rafe and Ruby as this book ends on an attention-catching cliffhanger!

- This is a negative review.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapte**r** for an ARC of A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan

I was totally on board for a Red Riding Hood retelling, and of course, still chasing the Twilight werewolf vibes. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't connecting with me. However, it's important to note that the fault does not lie with the author. Their storytelling skills were brilliant and had an ease that was commendable. Sometimes, things simply don't align. Right Book wrong time perhaps. Therefore I will not be posting this review to any other platforms.

3.5 stars rounded up

This was my first retelling (Red Riding Hood) and I liked it! The beginning started a little slow, but then it picked up and I finished the book in one sitting. I liked that the FMC wasn’t a damsel in distress, but could really stand her own and was a little stubborn.

Things I didn’t like:
- I think the title is misleading as there is not a “curse” in this book
- I wanted more character development for the side characters, but maybe that will happen in later books (this is supposed to be a trilogy)
- I wanted more world building. This definitely read more as a romance novel, than fantasy

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read and the tension and spice was brilliant! The world building was a bit lacking, but I wasn’t expecting that to be a major part of the plot anyway. A good pick if you enjoy supernatural romance/spice!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins One More Chapter for providing me an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had seen a bit about this book, so when my request was accepted to read this book I was over the moon, aha get it? Anyway, I was excited, I sat down cosied with my ipad and tea and started reading this book.

So, like most new adult books there are parts that I found gave me the ick. Like Ruby's attraction to the mysterious and potentially dangerous man stalking her in the dark. Though, in all fairness she acknowledges this quite early on, which I think added to her character. Speaking of Ruby, the aptness of her name, reminiscent of Red riding hood, the author using a word of another shade of red. This was a fun thing to add, and we see another version as well later on in the book, which I won't spoil.

The creatures within this story as well, magic creatures such as werewolves, witches, seers and others are all very prominent in this book. Making this a perfect paranormal, spooky book to read. The nature of the werewolves too, and Rafe being a kind of lone wolf, aha get it? Okay, I'll stop with the wolf puns, but yeah, its fun to read. I loved how Ruby was oblivious and we as the reader learn alongside her about the different creatures and their world. In terms of the world and setting, it was very spooky and cosy all at the same time. The dark woods surrounding Ruby's house, the busyness of the bar she works in and the cosiness of the cottage she lives in, just like red riding hood's granny.

I also really enjoyed Rafe and Ruby's relationship, how yes it was rather instantaneous, there were bits where they would take a step back and reevaluate their relationship, especially when Ruby would learn certain things.The spice level was just right, but some of it did kind of give me the ick, but a lot of spice does that. Rafe did annoy me a few times, like stop running from your problems!

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I look forward to the next one.

If you need a quick werewolf genre book to read , this is one that you can pick up . You get to see both viewpoints of the main characters / almost getting frustrated with Rafe ! I think that’s one of the things that may want you to jump in the book and give him a nudge , or just tell Ruby that she should cut her losses. But alas, this is about Fates Mates, so I stayed to see it through. At times , it does give a sense slow burn . The steamy scenes were delivered of course. I do wish that the story could’ve gone a bit more depth with the characters and plot .

I wrote it more often, but I never really liked Little Red Riding Hood when I was a child. However, the older I get, the more I appreciate the themes of the tale and even more the way modern authors spin these themes. Because where the tale used to be a warning for girls to stay clear of strange men in the woods, modern times scream for a girl who's allowed to follow her own desires. I therefore didn't know how fast to grab my arc for this book when One More Chapter sent me the invite.

After finishing this book I have mixed feelings though and it's hard to explain why. Firstly, this book is an incredibly easy read. I flew through it and I didn't realize one moment that the book was actually almost 400 pages. Secondly, I think if you're here for the romance between the girl and the wolf you will absolutely love this book, because romance and all the physical action that goes with it is actually what you get.

However, I think I secretly hoped there would be a little more plot. There was of course a plot. There were strange wolves attacking Ruby and her sister. Her sister had these weird visions ever since she was little and Rafe has his entire history and his not so perfect bond with the rest of the pack. And yet it felt like none of those items were really explored in depth. They were more of a background to have these characters meet and to create complications.

And I think the latter is my biggest issue with the book. The complications. I don't mind complications in a relationship. I prefer them in books. In this case I just think that too many of these complications were simply the characters being stubborn or not allowing the other to explain or talk. Better said, most of the complications were misunderstandings and could have been prevented if these characters had some more meaningful conversations.

A fun and easy read, but not the groundbreaking novel I had been hoping for.

I liked this but it felt like everything was a bit rushed. Everything seemed to happen all at once.
Rafe was a bit melodramatic about everything and I know it was for dramatic effect but it got to be a bit too much until he finally realized he was being stupid.
Ruby was well written. She is strong, capable, brave and much more open minded than she was given credit for.
I was a bit confused about the back story that was playing out behind everything else but I figure that might be made more clear in the next book so I will wait to see how it so plays out.
All in all not a bad read.

A Curse of Blood and Wolves is a fantasy romance by Melissa McTernan. As the title might suspect this book will be about wolves, werewolves. In addition this book is the first in the Wolf Brothers trilogy. A Little Red Riding story mixed with werewolves, this sounds just like a typical fantasy retelling, but what will make this book stand out? What will I think of this title?

Fate doesn’t make mistakes . . .

In this book there are two main characters and therefore two POV's. Both Rafe and Ruby have their own POV, even though the most of the story seems to be written from Ruby's side. Ruby is a name you would expect in a Little Red Riding retelling, which makes it less unique. However the story itself is unique. It is a love before first sight romance with fake dating and steamy scenes. The building romance is really nice and in addition there is also enough room for devolopment of the characters.

I really liked this storyline. It is unique and has a nice vibe. This book is really a fantasy romance which I enjoyed. I loved the way the whole story was built and everything made sense in the storyline. I hope the next books in this series will give Rafes brothers a bigger role, since I am curious about their stories.

Melissa McTernan has a really nice writing style. The pace of the story is really good and also everything is worked out perfectly. The worldbuilding is great and she really knows how to build a story. I really enjoyed reading A Curse of Blood and Wolves and look forward to what else there is to come in the Wolf Brothers trilogy.

At some point in our reading experiences we were all a little bit on team Jacob right? No? Just me? Hmm Well if you were one of the ones left with a werewolf size hole in your soul then look no further. In this Red Riding Hood retelling not only does the big bad wolf get the girl, he’s also not that bad either. Definitely not bad looking by any accounts. Ruby and her sister Lena live together outside of town in the middle of the woods. While walking home one night Ruby realizes she has a very hunky stalker watching her from the shadows. Like any rational person would, Ruby found this slightly arousing, because who wouldn’t? Unfortunately not all of the hot single werewolves in her area are as into her as Rafe. It also turns out that he was the only she enjoyed the thought of chasing her and the other ones doing so is actually quite terrifying..

Oh, and her sister? Well Lena has been having a mysterious health ailment which finds her staring off into the void and mumbling incoherent things about something coming. Rafe, the furry daddy that he is sees this as his opening to move on in under the guise of protection. Now he tries to be sensible and convince Ruby that he is bad for her and they can’t be together, but like any former Twihard would be Ruby is feral for the big bad wolf. Me too, Ruby, me too. Can they figure out what these other wolves want and what Lena’s mysterious visions mean before one of them comes to harm? Does Rafe give in and become team Ruby?

Guess you’ll just have to grab a copy of this book and find out!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars - Romantasy is still a fairly new genre to me and initially I was worried the book would only contain smut but I’m so glad I was wrong! This book had a strong over arching plot as well as spice but the romance was a slow burn which I prefer. I read this book so quickly, most of it in one sitting as the pacing is fast. The ending of the plot did feel a little predictable but due to my enjoyment I didn’t mind too much.

I liked the characters and felt very intrigued by them, your classic fantasy tropes are included but there was something different about this book, in the best way!

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book and already looking forward to book 2!

A Curse of Blood and Wolves jumped out at me because of the premise: a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in a fantasy romance novel. Admittedly, I love fairy tales, so the thought of getting an adult one was very appealing to me. I was grateful to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was clear from the very first page that this book was going to be focused very closely on the romance aspects of the plot, and that it was going to contain a heavy degree of spice. It took a little while for the plot to begin to ramp up in tandem with the establishment of the spicy romance aspects, but once it did, I found the book a quick, entertaining read.

You know that feeling when you pick up a book with the explicit purpose of feeling good and forgetting reality? And you’re not fussed about what the book is about or how strong a piece of literature it is, you just want to enjoy a new story? This is what A Curse of Blood and Wolves did for me. It initially felt light on plot, and the characters were so incredibly horny at all times that at the beginning, I was a little irritated as I just wanted to get to know them on a deeper level, but I soon sunk into the story and before long, was finding it supremely entertaining.

In terms of the characters, Ruby and Rafe were fun and easy to understand. I think Ruby was supposed to be a little more goth, a little more hard-edged, but I found from page one that seemed like a front and you only know her as a softer character just trying to get by. Similarly, Rafe was also clearly supposed to be tough and vicious, but he came off as broodier and more sensitive than anything else. When they finally overcame their miscommunications, it was nice to see them come together. I felt they were stronger characters together than they were apart.
The plot was light, and so was the fantasy setting. It was contemporary fantasy, so mostly very familiar elements, and there was an overarching danger that propelled the characters forward, but the focus was more on the romance than anything else.

As a whole, I felt like this was an entertaining book. I think it would resonate well with readers who like the romance aspect of romantasy more than the fantasy aspect, and I think the plot left some interesting potential for book two. I read it between heavier books, and I felt like that added to the experience, as I enjoyed getting lost in the silly banter and romantic vibes that the book gave off. It was a quick and enjoyable read that I’m glad I had the opportunity to take in. Actual rating would be a 3.5, but rounded up to a 4 wherever I was unable to mark in .5 increments.

I liked this book but I do love a fairy tale retelling. This book is a spicy romantic version of Little Red Riding Hood. Ruby an orphaned goth bartender who takes no messing is walking home through the woods to her home she shares with her sister. On her walk she feels someone has been watching her. When the stalker is revealed and turns out to be a werewolf Ruby finds herself oddly attracted to Rafe the werewolf but knows she should be afraid . Rafe who is a wood worker and has separated from the wolf pack can’t help but watch Ruby with desire and has an instinct something is going on and he needs to protect her .

This is a sweet slow burn retelling of little red riding hood. I loved the dynamic between Ruby the tough goth girl who cares for her sister and feels she doesn’t need protecting despite the strange occurrences and Rafe the strong protective kind werewolf who insists he is staying by her side to look after her. A good quick read !!

This book was a little but slow at the start but once you give a chance, it really picks up. It’s a dark twisted version of red riding hood with plenty of spice 🔥 There is great dialogue and I love that the FMC is feisty as hell. There were times throughout the book where I would have loved a little more world building but overall I really enjoyed it.

Oh man! Where do I start?! I was completely enthralled with this book when I started reading. The main character Ruby is a badass FMC who stands up for herself and her sister. Rafe comes off as an adorable puppy, who’s very protective when he needs to be. This book is 🌶️🌶️ and I was expecting it, but it was done amazingly! This book made me sad, angry, annoyed, happy, soo many emotions and that’s what I love when reading books! I want to FEEL! If you love fantasy romance with an amazing plot and spicy scene… this book is for you!

Posted on Goodreads: Big teen wolf and twilight vibes! Had some funny moments, some cringey moments, and some exciting moments. Overall was a pretty fun read.

I can’t finish this book. I don’t know if it’s the writing, the characters, the plot, or what. I wanted to like it so bad but I cannot get into it. Reading it reminds of “Unwrap my Heart” the book written by two comedians about a girl falling in love with a mummy. It’s cheesy and just wasn’t for me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this NetGalley and publishers but again, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC. I made it 38% in to the book before I had to DNF. It’s not that it’s a BAD book, it just did not hold my attention and I found my mind wandering. It was my first werewolf book and while I was intrigued about that aspect, the overall story seemed to lack substance and was, for lack of better words, boring.

There wasn’t much of the world building I’ve become accustomed to in romantasies, and while it’s not always necessary, I do think it could have helped grip me better in the beginning if it had been there. Ruby is described as a “not like other girls” goth style but loves bright nails, wildflowers, etc. This I actually really relate to LOL. Ruby’s sister was the most interesting character to me - I’d be interested to see how her sisters story turns out if I finished the book. Rafe, on the other hand, was an annoying type of “protect her” possessive. It was overboard and eye roll inducing.

Again, it wasn’t that it’s an awful book that I never want to see again. It’s just not for me currently, and who knows, I might give it another shot later on.