Candy, Blood, and Sex (The Scarlett Little Ryder, #1) by Hydra M. Star

Candy, Blood, and Sex (The Scarlett Little Ryder, #1) Reviews

• 
  melissa

  Rounding this up from a 2.5 to a 3 because I really did want to like this.
  
  The "adult content warning" should really include a trigger warning. If you have issues with rape scenes, this really isn't a good idea for you.
  
  That said, I loved the reimagining of Red Riding Hood. I have to admit that I didn't see it outright as it's a bit subtle until we get to Grandma's house.
  
  There are often books that speak of the male's initiation into werewolf packs through violence but never really any talk of the women. It's generally that the woman is bitten and is now the mate of X pack member, nothing more. The author tackles this but sadly it was a bit much for me and the illustration afterwards just kind of doubled the trigger so I had to set it down for a bit.
  
  In fairness, this was my first reading of Hydra's works so I wasn't quite prepared. It was kinda like sitting down to watch a Skinamax flick then being blindsided by A Serbian Film. This is not a bad thing, but one that definitely requires a bit of mental preparation to be able to read, at least on my end.
  
• 
  Rajeev Singh

  I'm fascinated by lycanthropy, in literary or cinematic form. This one is an erotic retelling of the Red Riding Hood story, an indispensable part of folklore in several cultures. As is probably the fate of tales brought down by word of mouth, there are several versions of what transpires with the girl and the wolf, making some interesting reading on Wikipedia. Hydra M. Star has pushed the envelope here, bringing the story into adult territory without losing the spirit or the backbone that has helped it survive the test of time and multiple tellings and retellings. It's a heady combination of horror and erotica, bottled in a legend that refuses to grow old. A good beginning to a series that I look forward to reading more of.
• 
  W. Tinkanesh

  "Stockholm syndrome with a twist, or twisted retelling of Little Red Riding Hood? Scarlett Little was 3 when her parents were killed by a bear during a camping trip. Now 18, Scarlett finds her grandmother –Beverley Hood– murdered, and is kidnapped by the murderer.
  Hydra M. Star originally wrote this tale of horror and erotica for an anthology in 2013. Here she offers the readers a slightly expanded version illustrated by her partner in publishing crime David Lipscomb. They left nothing to the imagination, but the ending still takes an unexpected turn, making the readers reconsider the meaning of happy endings.
  (I was given a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.)"
  
  (Rating is more like 3.5 as I am not into erotica, but this novella definitely has qualities.)
• 
  Patricia Kaniasty

  Good but I wish there was more. This could soooo be made into a full length novel.
• 
  Joe Bonadonna

  This is a pretty neat little horror novella, the kind of story that would be a perfect match for a really good, serious indie horror film. I will tell you right off the bat that it's also a very sexually graphic and bloody tale of lust, jealousy, rage, and murder. It begins with a dark, fairy tale feel to it, like a creepy reboot of Little Red Riding Hood or Hansel and Gretel. And it retains that otherworldly, dream-like quality all throughout.
  
  We first meet the main character, Scarlet, when she's a little girl. One day, while Scarlet's family is camping in the woods, she and her mother see what they think is a bear. Later, Scarlet's entire family is horribly murdered, but she is spared for a reason we won't find out about until later in the story. Scarlet then goes to live with her grandmother, and over the years she is watched over by more than just grandma's big eyes. Years pass and Scarlet, now an adult, comes home one day to find her grandmother has been murdered in the same ghastly manner as were her parents. And while Scarlet once again escapes the claws and fangs of death, she is abducted and taken in by a weird family who are part of a strange community of even stranger people. A young man named Gib watches over Scarlet, teaching her about his family and the others who live in this eerily idyllic community, a place originally founded long ago by runaway slaves and Native Americans who had been displaced by the white man. Gib is an alpha male, a leader of the pack in this village of strange outcasts. He has been watching over Scarlet since she was a child, watching her grow into a beautiful and desirable young woman -- a woman he wants for his own. And when he takes her, he makes her a full-fledged member of his clan and community through a terrifying and unholy initiation that involves violence, blood, and gang rape. (I told you, this is a very graphic story.)
  
  The story then twists and turns as Scarlet is allowed to recover, allowed to heal. But all through her convalescence Gib is there . . . watching, waiting, seducing her little by little. As time drags on for Scarlet and the horrific reality of her situation sets in, she learns that Gib, his family, and their entire community are much more than a pack of sexual sadists. They may look human and have human needs, but they have other needs, as well, and those needs have teeth, for inside the skins of these people lies something bestial, something primitive and inhuman. In a bizarre play on Patty Hearst and the whole Stockholm Syndrome thing, where a victim of kidnapping begins to sympathize with their abductors, Scarlet gradually falls in love with Gib, which causes her to suffer a conflict of emotions for her when she discovers that he had butchered and slaughtered her family. What happens after that becomes a grim tale of savage love and lust versus rage and revenge. It's a tale of human against inhuman, of the natural and the supernatural as ancient Native American legends turn out to be very alive and very well, and very, very real.
  
  This short novel hits the ground running right from the get-go, then continues to pick up steam and rushes along like a locomotive. There isn't much characterization in the first part, but after Scarlet has been with Gib's pack for awhile, her character emerges and we see her gradually grow from a weak and helpless victim to a strong mistress of her own fate. As for Gib . . . at first he comes across as fairly kind and decent, but slowly emerges as a pretty nasty character. Hydra M. Star manages to do a nice balancing act between Scarlet and Gib, as we learn who is really the master and who is the slave. I won't go into the negatives about this story because they are too few, in my opinion, to mention. I will say that the story could have benefitted from a stronger first act, with more of a build-up of character, and a slightly slower pace. A few foreshadowing events in Scarlet's childhood before her parents are killed, and the same for her later years prior to her grandmother's murder would have added tension and a growing dread leading up to her abduction. Both the full-color cover art and the black and white interior illustrations by Dave Lipscomb have a grotesquery about them that is perfectly suited to the story. They remind me of the classic EC horror comics, and Creepy and Eerie magazines. All in all, I enjoyed this unique horror tale, and I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Check it out. It's available in paperback and Kindle editions.
• 
  Chris Valdes

  An interesting read
  
  This is the first time reading this author's work. First ill start with the negative aspects. 1. The first half of the story was very bland and felt too rushed. As if the author was too excited to get into the meat of the story. There really wasn't much character development or world building. So as we got into things it was hard to relate or connect with the character. No way to gauge what was she feeling. 2. At times it felt like the author was being to analytical and detailed with her descriptions. instead of describing the situation she listed details which made it feel less of a story and more or like someone giving a play by play to police which made it difficult for me to stay within her world. Now ill go into the aspects I found appealing. 1. Her character building became more defined in the second half. The packs history was unique. As well as her description of the pack leaders father and his history. 2. I found Gib and his grandmother endearing. 3. I found the authors word choice and description of the main characters initiation refreshing. She was able to describe something sexually violent with dignity and class without leaving it to feel as if she was censoring herself. 4. The ending was joyfully surprising. Didn't expect it to go that way. And her choice of misdirection was so natural i can honestly state I fell for it. Over all even with a rough start I did enjoy the story And the hints to the homage to a classic fairy tail. I do see myself suggesting this book to others and enough interest in the author to read her other books. Ill give this story a 4 out of 5
• 
  Angie Lisle

  Parental Advisory: This story contains strong language and depictions of violence and sex not suitable for minors.
  
  I received a free copy in exchange for a review and I admit a bias - Hydra M. Star is who I turn to when I'm looking for a darker story to read.
  
  The illustrations are graphic but I love how they portray the main character, Scarlett Little, as a voluptuous gal -someone I could pass on the street- instead of the surgically-enhanced stock-character depicted by most erotica. Showing real women is a nice change of pace.
  
  Wild, primitive instinct -not romance- directs the flow of this gruesome tale, which has more in common with the original, uncleaned versions of fairy tales than the typical Paranormal Romance stories undulating the market right now.
  
  I spotted a couple typos but nothing that distracts from the concept. I wish the story was more fleshed out - I want more than a brief glimpse into this dark world. If this [spoiler not given] is what happens when meeting... then, what happens when there's a reason to be ticked off? Inquiring minds want to know and I hope to see more stories filling in the dirty details.
  
  
  
  
• 
  Rick Powell

  I originally did a review for this when it first appeared in The Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror 2013 and I was blown away by it then. Now, it comes expanded with an additional passage and even more amazing artwork by Dave Lipscomb (who also lent his talents for the knock-out cover).
  An erotic retelling of 'Little Red Riding Hood' that is not for the kiddies. Oh no, this version does not just push the boundaries of that immortal tale...it thrusts through it with the goliath-like intensity of a one megaton phallus.
  The tale revolves around the character Scarlett and after the gruesome deaths of her parents at a young age, puts in motion the destiny that leads her to the enigmatic Gib, a man who has a destiny all his own. A fast paced, sexually charged tale of Lycanthropy that you will not soon forget. The adults-only interior illustrations by Mr. Lipscomb add to the eroticism the will be sure to give you some hot, steamy nights. For 18+ and older only.
• 
  Eden Strandberg

  I received a courtesy copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I love that the author took the time to provide a relatively robust back story to this deliciously dark fantasy. As one other reviewer mentioned, there is one scene in this book that contains what I consider (after some mental debate of non-con vs. dub-con) one non-consent scenario. With that being said, I did find myself wishing that the sexual parts/scenes of this read (at least the other parts if not the non-con) were as robust and "fleshed out" as the rest of it. Overall though, I thought this was a great read and definitely look forward to reading other works by Hydra M. Star.
• 
  Rex

  Hydra never ever disappoints with any of her work especially and including her erotic fictional stories. This one as you can tell from the front cover is a new modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. It's a very short read but from page one to the very end it keeps the reader's attention. While the subtitle reads "erotic" to describe the story, it's really a mix between that and porn. Ladies and gentlemen you will certainly not be bored by this one! Please go on Amazon to pick up this wonderful expanded version of Hydra M. Starr's Candy, Blood, and Sex.
• 
  Lori

  This story is a great read. I loved the twists, and the way the story takes you for a loop. I didn't see it coming really. Written in good taste, it's not for children. Definitely an adult book, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. It's a great dark spin on a classic fairytale. I would recommend this book to other mature readers looking for dark erotica.