User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
This book was kinda a bummer. Not in terms of the writing or the quality of the story. It’s just really depressing to basically watch someone go above and beyond to help the people she loves, and then have those people reject her...or stab her (although I guess that was book one).
Also, this book was more predictable than the first in the series. Like, I should’ve seen the twist coming that Vixor Rae (still a silly name) was Kassian, and I’m mad I didn’t. This time around, I accurately predicted the ending to this book pretty early on. It honestly would’ve been more interesting if she had joined the rebels and ended up fighting against her best friend/werewolf prince.
Anyone else annoyed at how that magic invisibility cloak has not really been a story element?
This book would probably be much more compelling with alternating POV chapters. Kassian - i refuse to call him that other name in my head - is the most complex and internally conflicted character in the books, and seeing things from his perspective would be really interesting. Also, sometimes he would just be somewhere doing something, and I just want to know what a self-loathing werewolf does in his free time.
Rating: really liked it
The Sworn Saga by Kate Avery Ellison: Red Rider, Silver Wolf, Black Veil, White Mask and Crimson Heart.This will be my review for all 5 of the books that have been published.
It has been a long time since I've read anything by Kate Avery Ellison. She was one of the first indie authors I ever read and for the most part, I liked her
Frost series and her
Secrets of Itlantis series. I had forgotten how easily I get sucked into her books, until I picked up
Red Rider, and holy cow! I could hardly put it down. That isn't to say that I thought it was without flaws though. In fact, there was something really frustrating about the fact that I found this so compelling but also pretty flawed.
I'll start with the things I liked. I like the easy, compelling writing style the author has. When I saw that she had written a Red Riding Hood retelling I had to try it, because I love Red Riding Hood retellings. I enjoyed certain aspects of the story because of that, and I liked that this put a bit of a different spin on Red Riding Hood as well. I liked the main character a lot, and also absolutely loved Vixor Rae. Also, I liked that there was one twist later in the series that I didn't see coming at all, and I always appreciate when a book surprises me.
One of the things I didn't like so much was the constant back and forth between Red and Vixor. They go in circles with their relationship constantly throughout the series and it drove me crazy! I expected this to be resolved in the second book, certainly by the third, but no, it is still going on 5 books in! Overall, there is too much repetition in the series, and I don't think the series needed to be as many books as it is. I also thought that the Wolves didn't do enough as wolves in the series. They rarely change into werewolf form and they didn't feel as threatening or sinister as they should have. I felt like they were kind of upstaged by the tree crawlers, and I'm not really sure why the tree crawlers were included in the first place. There are also some things that I would like more of an explanation for. Why are there werewolves and tree crawlers? What happened to our world to make all this happen? Instead of focusing on answering these questions, the back and forth relationship was focused on too much.
So normally this stuff would be enough for me to abandon a series after a couple of books, but this one is so compelling that I am loving it despite myself and it's kind of infuriating! So, hats off the Kate Avery Ellison for writing such a compelling series. There is one final book to be released later this year and honestly, I can't wait to read it, flaws and all.
Rating: really liked it
Alright, I have never anticipated a Kindle Unlimited Release so much in my life! I adored Red Rider earlier this year and I cannot wait for the 3rd installment. Also, it is one of the most enjoyable New Adult Fantasies I have EVER read!
The cliffhanger was very intense and these last few months wait have been AGONY!
This next novel picks up right where we left off and right away we know Red is in for some trouble. Her name is stripped away and she is given a number and thrown into the Handmaid's Tale like situations we were warned of in the previous novel.
Red is determined to find out about her mother's whereabouts but she has no idea how she will make contact with the Crimson spies within the Capitol. Enduring torture, training, and the possibility of marriage to a Sworn, there is danger in every breath.
The Silver Wolf, Vixor Rae, who we now know is her long lost best friend, Kassian, is no where to be found, so she just might be on her own. Again.
I was very surprised where this novel went in the list 10%, I was starting to wonder where it could go after a certain event at about 200 pages in, and then, wow. I never expected it to go that way until right before hand. It has me so pumped.
I really enjoyed this read and I am so wish I could get my hands on a physical copy of these babies. I hope the author makes that possible in the near future. I want to own these and borrow them to people very soon.
My only critique, is that it did lean in a little TOO much to the Handmaid's Tale set up. There was literally an exact replica of an "Aunt Lydia". I just wish it had been a little more creative in that aspect, but novel had things to say, and I ended up loving it, just wanted to point out why this isn't a 5 star for me, and this is the main reason.
Also, in regards to the New Adult status that this novel has. It has no sex, yet, and is mostly rated this way for the age of Red and there is some pretty violent scenes, but nothing gratuitous.
I give this 4/5 stars and I hope you enjoy yourself as
Rating: really liked it
Can book 3 come out tomorrow?!This book was just as amazing as the first! I read in in one day and now I’m sad because there isn’t more! Also this slow burn romance🤦🏽♀️ why do I do this to myself!!!!
Rating: really liked it
Holy canoli, the need for the next book is real! This was even better than its predecessor. My rave's already begun and I haven't gotten to the pros and cons. Here we go:
Pros
-Separation from inspiration and source material
*The Goodreads blurb from Red Rider admits this is Red Riding Hood+The Handmaid's Tale, and while there are similar elements (stripping the girls-the Chosen-of their identities by giving them numbers and nondescript white gowns and masks, conglomerating them into one for a single purpose, Red's hunt for her red cloak), but unlike many dystopian works, the society is run by a female Alpha, and they're are instructed to fight (however weakly) during the pre-wedding ceremony, and are promised the chance to decline their mate and choose their own if defeat the Sworn soldier
-Notion of Red's village restricted library/book usage to scholars spilling over into Sworn Society: reading is dangerous in the hands of the lower classes because if they truly understood, they'd rebel
-Animal comparison
*Mother Shade's invasive examination into Red's nooks and crannies brings to mind a perspective horse rider searching out the purebred, as well as the tracking device implanted in each of the Chosen resembles a dog's microchip
-Red's plan to blend in with the other girls/hide her rebellious nature resembles how women feel they must act the "right" way in order to succeed in life/the workplace, as well as the system of rewarding those who exude beauty, submissiveness, and fertility is a scary metaphor for how we as a society determine who's good enough
-Hesitate to call this a pro... Violent imagery
*I'm not a fan of violence for shock value, but in dystopias, it has its place. Once Red is captured, she is whipped for her defiance, starved in solitary confinement, and one unlucky Chosen is forced to eat the pages of contraband book. Jesus, it was downright disturbing, but necessary to show just how dire their straits.
-The Alpha likening herself to "a big bad wolf"
-Bribing the Chosen with food/security for their families only after submitting to a mate explains why so many intentionally lose the fight
-Conflict
*Red knows Kassian (Vixon) is both gone and still around; and while Vixon is kind, feeds/shelters Red, he still serves a society that punishes her.
-Vixon's reason for wearing silver armor
*True to werewolf legend, silver stings the Sworn. But pain is the only thing that reminds Vixon of his vulnerability, his humanity. And for him, that sensation is worth feeling.
-Red wielding a knitting needle as a weapon
*One, that's a big middle finger to those who consider crafting to be women's work and promotes docile nature, and second, it took me back to The Marvelous Land of Oz.
-Streamlined story telling
* So much happens in less than 300 pages and there are many settings, but they all get their due
-The end
* Red wins the sword fight against a Sworn set on having her as a mate, and chooses Vixon as her own. Makes me happy she's decided to follow her heart in being with him, and not taking the easy way out, instead taking down the system from the inside.
Cons
-Repetition of certain internal lamentations: "my stomach was tied in knots" is said one too many times.
Would you look at that? One measly con. You know I'm carrying on!
Rating: really liked it
Dang! This kept me glued to the pages and I just flew through reading this one. This picks up right where the first book ends (so glad it was already out for me to read). Red has been taken to the capitol and is expected to be trained as on official Chosen. Her nightmares are confirmed when she begins her training and sees how the Chosen are truly treated. Which is pretty bad.
Red is on a mission to find her mother and will do anything, even go along with the horrid Chosen training to accomplish that goal. She wont let handsome and dangerous Vixor get in her way either.
Red was great in this book, I liked how she was always planning and being defiant in her own ways and how she tried to help the other girls around her. Good story development, I realize now this is a six part series so the romance, and the overall story is slowly unfolding. Vixor is a great tortured hero, never quite sure what he is thinking...he has been through so much and has become successful and his loyalty to the Alpha seems unwaivering, but Red is his weakness and I am dying to know what will happen next. Love me the tension between these two!
Content Rated PG13Romance: Kissing
Language: Same as book one, mild
Violence: Moderate, abusive treatment, some fighting, death - nothing graphic
Rating: really liked it
Again I really enjoyed this book! The middle slowed down a bit but the ending brought it home! I can not wait to continue.
Once again my biggest remarks are editing. There are things misspelled that could have easily been fixed. In this one there were also mentions of people or things that didn't necessarily make sense. Like it was a sentence but for no reason the person was never brought up again.
If you look past all this and think about the story as a whole though it is really good and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rating: really liked it
I oddly liked the first book better. I have a feeling this series is way to long and it’s going to be put on “repeat mode”. I need something more solid from these characters. They’re too fluid for me.
Rating: really liked it
Cannot get enough of this series, I absolutely loved this as much as the first book!!! Starting the next book in the series right now!!!!!!!
Rating: really liked it
Wow. ok now we're talking!
This book was much better than the first. I couldn't put it down. It has major Handmaid's Tale vibes but still with the red riding hood twist.
I was creeped out and also on the edge of my seat and Red is a total badass. I'm completely hooked now and I thought the writing in this one was much better and there wasn't the awkwardness the first one had. I've already made a huge dent in book 3 as I'm writing this. Highly recommend.
Rating: really liked it
"I longed to reach out and touch him, to let him feel the wordless communication that said he was not alone."
Silver Wolf is the second book in The Sworn Saga series. It follows Meredith after she enters the Sworn city and is being groomed to be a future mate. In the midst of this she doesn't forget why she is really there, to find her mother. The Silver Wolf, aka Vixor Rae, has continued to confuse her since their departure from the woods. He may not be in her line of sight but she still feels the echo of his touch and the torture of his memory. She's not there to fall in love, she's there to rescue her mother.
So, this book wasn't that great. Mainly it was pretty boring, a filler book of sorts. Dragged out unnecessarily. Once Meredith, aka Red, aka Erie, enters the Sworn city she is put under the loving guidance of Mother Shade. Just kidding. Mother Shade is over her yes, but she is cruel and tortures these girls without good reason.
Not a lot happens during this time, as we wait for the girls to be ready to be presented to society and for a Sworn to declare his intentions as her mate. The ceremony/wedding for mates was really neat. They meet as faceless people (wearing masks and nondescript clothing) and the wolf draws first blood with a sword/dagger declaring them married. Now, if the girl fights back and wins she can deny his claim and choose her own mate. (See where this is going?)
To keep from spoiling too much, I will just say that I didn't care for the direction looking for her mother went and how it turned out. It felt almost like a waste unless something more will come of it in the future books. Also, I felt like she thought of the Silver Wolf
way too much. It was almost constant.
Even though I didn't really care for this one I am interested in the future books. The world is intriguing, I really like the treecrawlers, and I want to know why the Silver Wolf tortures himself so.
It's safe to say I'm here until the end.
If you liked this book try one of these werewolf themes:
Cry Wolf
Descendant
Black Dog
*~~~~~~
Ages 16+
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: (view spoiler)
[she thinks about kissing the Silver Wolf a bunch, they kiss a few times but it's not overly detailed (hide spoiler)]
Rating: really liked it
I gave the first book in this series 4 stars because I liked the story idea and hoped it would come together despite its frequent inconsistencies of descriptions and characters. However, this second book seems even worse and I could not even finish it after getting halfway through. The author is repetitive and the book is drawn out too much as if she tried to make it longer than it should be. The romantic element is poorly written and the interactions between Red and the Silver Wolf are too few and far between to keep me interested. I have heard some of the authors other books are more popular and well-liked so maybe I will try one of them instead. I sincerely hope she gets an editor for this series because it could be A LOT better.
Rating: really liked it
Mistakes This book had so many mistakes in it :( like saying one thing and then a few pages later contradicting what you just said. I was really looking forward to reading this. The beginning was so boring. It definitely got better at about 55% through. But it was just lacking. I will continue with the series bc I think it is a good story and has potential but this book was not as good at the first. It felt like the author rushed writing it. I hope book 3 has a more umph to it. And less repeating!
Rating: really liked it
Has potential just not enough So I read book one, I wasn’t real happy with the ending being a kind of a cliffhanger but the characters were likable the story a bit interesting, so why not read book 2. After reading book 2 , I quickly realized that the both of these books including any future books could really all combine into one book to make a complete story. While the story is interesting I feel like it’s been drawn out to the point where I’m not even looking forward to the next book because I feel like it will be more of the same.
Rating: really liked it
Disappointed. That's all I can say. The 1st book was off to a great start, intriguing enough to get me into the series, even though some parts were quite easy to guess. However, the 2nd book couldn't be more predictable - starting with the tower or whatever it was that Red was imprisoned in, through the training, to the mating at the end. The characters were simply plain and I seriously don't know what's with this Vixor name. It's like the charcter was meant to be portrayed as strong and vicious, but Victor was too bland of a name for his royal highness.
