Book Review: Red (Transplanted Tales #1) by Kate SeRine

 

Red
(Transplanted Tales #1)
by Kate SeRine
Published August 2nd 2012 by Kensington Publishing Corp.
Received via the author and Caffeinated PR

“My name is Tess Little. But everyone calls me Red.”

Once upon a time, a spell went awry, stranding Make Believe characters in the ordinary world. Since then, Tess “Red” Little—a/k/a Little Red Riding Hood—has worked as an Enforcer for the Chicago branch of the Fairytale Management Authority. But, consider yourself warned—she’s not just some waif with a basket of goodies. All grown up and with nothing to lose, a gun and combat boots is more her style. And Red’s new assignment threatens to be short on happily ever afters…

Someone is murdering transplanted Tales in gruesome fashion. The list of fictional characters capable of such grisly acts is short and includes more than one of Red’s old flames. And if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s another complication, in the form of sexy, enigmatic Nate Grimm, the FMA’s lead detective and part-time Reaper. Used to following her own rules and living life on the edge, Red has managed to avoid taking on a partner until now. But Nate’s dark side makes him perfect for a case like this. That is, if she can trust him. Because if there’s one thing Red knows for sure, it’s that believing in the wrong person can have big, bad consequences…

Book Review: Little Red Riding Hood is all grown up and kicking butt. 

I loved the idea behind this story, literary characters have been brought to the real world. Tess "Red" Little also known as Little Red Riding Hood is an Enforcer for the Fairytale Management Authority. Think the police force for Tales, that's what they call people transplanted from the books. The world building is decent, although I would have like to know more about how they ended up in this predicament. I mean we learn that it had to do with Cinderella's Fairy Godmother and Aladdin's genie, but what actually happened? The mystery aspect of the plot was ok, it kept me reading so it did it's job but I figured it out pretty quickly. 

The characters were good, I liked Red's spunk and wit, but she had some issues. Mainly I found her a bit overdramatic and I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a character flaw or the writing style. If it was a character flaw kudo well done, if it was writing style maybe tone it down. I like it when a heroine is both tough yet can show a vulnerable side, it makes it easier to empathize with them. Red was this she had the tough girl persona down, yet had a soft side which we saw time and again. The sexual tension between her and Nate was electric. I thought the romance aspect of the book was well done. 

This was a fun entertaining read. I liked how it entwined literary characters into the real world and it's problems. It was a new take on the fairy tale trope and it was overall well done.