Book: Little Red Shadow by S.C. Grayson
Reviewed by Suzy Wickedly Good Reads
Rating: 4/5
Apparently, I'm completely hooked on these fairytale retellings because the second book of The Talented Series, written by S.C. Grayson, was just as much fun as the first! This time we're getting Little Red Riding Hood. Except Red is a blade-wielding badass who willingly walks into the wolf's house because she's planning to take down bascically the whole pack herself. Yeah. This is my kind of Red. 😂
Scarlett's friend Georgette has been receiving death threats from the Wolves, a dangerous street gang trying to take over the Lions' territory. Rather than let her friend become their next victim, Scarlett does what any reasonable fairytale heroine would do. She pretends to be Georgette and goes looking for the assassin herself.
Scarlett also happens to be one of the Talented, people born with enhanced abilities who are hunted and feared in this world. Her particular talent allows her to manipulate shadows; which makes our knife-wielding Red even more dangerous. Then she discovers the supposed assassin is Benedict Pierce, and Pierce might be one of my favorite parts of this book.
For someone who's supposed to be a hardened killer, this charming man has some serious golden-retriever energy. He repeatedly comes charging in with every intention of rescuing the damsel in distress...only to discover his "damsel" is perfectly capable of rescuing herself and occasionally him, too. There will be no damsels in distress here, thank you very much!
I loved Scarlett and Pierce together. Their dynamic is fantastic, and as someone who will always fall for good witty banter, Grayson absolutely delivered. They're both well-developed characters, and the slow burn gives their relationship time to build before things finally heat up.
We also get appearances from Contessa and Woodrow from the previous book, along with other familiar characters. This story absolutely works as a standalone. Scarlett and Pierce receive their complete story and HEA, but I'd still recommend reading the series in order. The returning characters and connections have more impact when you already know their stories. And just like the first book in the series, Grayson gives us a little opening into what's coming next. Am I ready for Book Three? It's already on my TBR. Bring it on. 🖤🐺🗡️