Review: Scarlette: A Gothic Folktale by Davonna Juroe

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Book Blurb

Ninety years before the Brothers Grimm penned their version of "Little Red Riding Hood," an historic, gruesome series of events shocked all of Europe. Starting in 1764, an unidentified wolf-like animal ferociously mauled dozens of peasants in the Gévaudan region of France. Whispered rumors of unnatural creatures blended with age-old superstition to cause mass hysteria. Alarmed, King Louis XV sent his best huntsmen to rid the province of the beastly scourge, but this legendary massacre had only just begun.

Scarlette, a 19-year-old seamstress who is laboring to make ends meet, lives under this dark threat. Although fearful of the nightmarish monster lurking in the surrounding forest, she remains naive and skeptical of the supernatural gossip. Until her grandmother is attacked.

Scarlette learns her grandmother has been infected by the animal's bite. Desperate to save her, Scarlette begins to uncover the dark secrets of her village and finds there are those who wish to keep their pasts hidden. As time grows short, Scarlette is befriended by a local nobleman and a woodcutter who both share an eerie history with the wolf. Scarlette must unravel the men's connection and solve a long-forgotten crime before her grandmother's infection spreads.

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Toot's Review by Stacy Sabala

Scarlette lives with her mother and grandmother.  Her mother is cruel, but her grandmother is the loving presence in Scarlette’s life.  She would do anything for her grandmother. Scarlette’s life is full of threats from her mother and warnings of the forest.  A werewolf prowls the forest attacking people in the surrounding areas. The story comes across very dark as the characters live in fear. No one dares travel to the village, so no trading is being done.  The people have nothing. The king has attempted to send hunters to kill the wolf without success.

Scarlette is pretty innocent but gets pulled into the dangerous world when her grandmother is attacked by the wolf.  The woodcutters get involved and Scarlette becomes a target.  She is alone and the author gives her help from the most unlikely place.  Secrets and stories swirl around Scarlette throughout the whole story. 

Scarlette was a bit annoying for me.  She frustrated me as I read the story.  She came across as weak and she stubbornly refused to believe anything.  She eventually grew a backbone when she had to go in search of the truth. The secrets get revealed and are shocking, especially the final one.  It wasn’t what I was hoping.  The relationships built were completely damaged and the ending wasn’t what I expected.  However, it was an interesting play off of Little Red Riding Hood.  I liked the werewolf angle and how Scarlette needed to save her grandmother.  I give the story a 3 out of 5.

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