Customer Reviews

Red Riding Hood

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

This story is genuinely wonderful and well written, HOWEVER, I highly recommend to everyone out there that you save your money and not purchase this edition of the book. The story is incomplete and its pretty much just a rip off. In this edition the ending is not included, even though there is no waning of that on the front. You have to go on the website and read the end AFTER the movie is released because that`s when the ending will be up. The average price of this book anywhere, is around $10. So you pay ten bucks for an incomplete product? Can you say rip-off? You wouldn't buy a book in the used bookstore with the end ripped out, would you? So why buy a full priced book with no ending? This is just a jacked up ploy to get people to buy movie tickets. Yeah sure, if you're thinking of buying this book you could look around on the internet and find out that there was no ending included in this edition, but the average person just going through the bookstore won't know that. There is no warning that the book is incomplete on the front, thus its set up to take advantage of people and suck them in, to where they'll be dying for the ending so bad that they will be most likely to just go to the movies when it comes out. I personally think this is soooooooooo wrong! Not only is this set up where people pay for incomplete merchandise, it also makes it to where if you really want a complete edition of this book to put on your shelf, and already bought this edition, you'll have to buy it twice. If the author/publishing company wanted to do it that way, they should have at least have been honest and have a blurb on the front of the book warning people about this, instead this is set up to be misleading and take advantage of someone who really wants to know the end. They purposely don't warn you of there being no ending because they know that far less people would buy it that way, but if they don't tell people, people wanting the full version will pay twice. I myself returned my copy when I found the page, at the END of the book, where it informed me that I couldn't read the end until AFTER the movie released. I encourage people to also return their copies of this edition. It would be a shame if this sort of thing turned into a trend with books; sucking as much money as they can from consumers just so people will pay twice what they would have so they can know the ending or have a complete book. You wouldn't pay for a pair of socks with the toes cute out, or a wagon with only three wheels, would you? So why should people have to pay good money for incomplete books? Its really unfair, dishonest, and just plain wrong.

I was pleased to see this book arrive, and started reading it at the first opportunity. While it isn't one of the best, most well-written books I've ever read, the premise is interesting, and I liked that it was likely to be very close to the upcoming movie, having been based on the screenplay.

Imagine my surprise when I turn to page 330 and instead of reading the final chapter, all it says is- "Is this truly the end of Valerie's story? Visit Redridinghoodbook.com to find out." Feeling irritated, I follow the directions, only to find that nothing will even be put up for another FORTY DAYS!

What the heck (and a lot of other bad words I can't put here)! So, I paid $10 for a book that has no ending? Everytime I want to read it in the future (when they finally deign to post the final chapter apparently), I'll have to read 329 pages and then go online to finish it?

This is really infuriating. I would have at least appreciated SOMETHING on the cover or at the beginning stating that the ending would be online, rather than buying a book presuming that, gee, it will have the ending. After all, every other book I purchase always seems to come with one.

Don't waste your money buying this. Just see the movie when it comes out. Then at least you hopefully will get an ending, although at this point, I'm not counting on it. We'll probably have to go to youtube after we get home from the theater to see the ending.

I buy a book to read a complete story. NOT a partial one. This kind of blatant marketing ploy is disgusting. I gave this book one star because I couldn't give it none. While the idea is intriguing, it wasn't written well enough to forgive the jarring reference on the last page instructing the reader to visit the website for an ending that is not even there! I believe I will return the book to the store I bought it at. Not much point in seeing a movie directed by the woman who so awkwardly botched-up Twilight either.

I bought this book a few days ago, I had always love retellings of old fairytales. I loved the story, but as I finished the book and turned the page I found this note:

Is this truly
the end of
Valerie's story?

Visit
[...]
to find out.

??? - What!!!

[Closes book and goes to website] - It's not there!!!

This has been the only time in my life that I've shouted a string of explicatives at a book. I feel cheated and a host of other negative emotions that make my blood boil. I don't know whos bright idea this was, but whoever it was should be shot for their stupidity. My only hope is that the publishers will realize their wrong doing and re-release a completed version FREE for everyone who bought this before completion. And as for the movie...it makes blood shoot from my eyes.

Wish I didn't pick this up at the bookstore on a whim and had read these reviews! NO ENDING!!! Really?!? I just paid $10 for an advertisement to a movie, I want my money back and I am planning on trying to return the NON-book!!!!!!!

This book had promise. It is a quick read, but engaging, a seemingly adequate read for those preparing to see the movie and make comparisons. However, I have NEVER read a book that becomes, all too shockingly, a commercial gimmick. There is no end to the book. It leads you up to the climax, and then stops, with a cheaply printed page declaring, "Is this truly the end of Valerie's story?" with the website [...] offered. So, somewhat miffed, you go to the website, only to find that the final chapter will be revealed online when the movie comes out. Now, I am a patient and loving person, but WHAT? I payed money for half a book, and a mediocre one at that? I fell victim to a cheap trick of merchandising? Is this legal? Perhaps they will release a complete edition of the book after the movie. I would wait to purchase the book for an edition like that.

Very ANGRY about this book not being finished! You have to wait until after the movie comes out before you get to read the ending on the Internet!?! I like to share books & reread them. I want a refund because I feel like this should have been printed in large writing on the cover of the book before I bought it! That or anyone who purchases the book gets an updated copy after the movie is released. What happens if this becomes a regular thing? Must we skip forward and read the endings first to see if they are complete? There is something very wrong about this.
Now, besides being angry about the ending...the book is very hauntingly written. Beautifully done. Very rich characters that you fall in love with. Keeps you guessing to the very end...AND BEYOND!

I enjoyed the story, but not the writing, it felt as though it was told to a child, and they wrote down what they remembered in the order that they remembered, I was disgusted when I got to the last page and seen there to be no last chapter, I wanted to throw the book away, even if they do eventually put it online I can never put this on my book shelf unfinished, and I don't want to wast the ink to print it off! If in 50 years I have a granddaughter and she picked up this book from my shelf I wouldn't remember the ending it probably would no longer be online she would be left wondering, and for this reason, and the reason that it is the most inconsiderate thing I have ever had happen to me when getting to the end of a book I am going to throw this book in the garbage! Don't buy it, if you had, throw it out now!

I really feel sorry for the author of this book. For a first attempt this book is not bad, that is to say it's not good, but it is a first attempt at a novel. If it wasn't linked to the campaign of the movie, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright might have had more opportunity to develop her talent before being thrust into the lime-light. Although, the copy I have doesn't even list her name anywhere on the cover of the book - which might be a blessing in disguise for her.

The writing is trite, the overuse of metaphors and similes in the beginning is annoying, and the character development is mediocre at best. The main 'love interest' has no depth to him at all, and the lead-in to their romance seemed thrown together. The other love interest is more interesting, but just seems a little bit too much of the 'perfect guy' to relate to. Valerie herself had the potential to be quite interesting, but just never seems to reach that point of likability, and remained more a concept for the storytelling than a person. The mystery element is actually interesting, although not very original. I will give props to the author however for keeping us guessing without being overly vague.

Then there's the ending. I have never been as annoyed at the ending of a book before in my life. All the build-up to the solving of the mystery, all my time I put in to finishing the book, to have it thrown in my face at the last page is just appalling. Way to say "you're just another sucker giving us your money", not a valued reader of the story. I paid money for this book, they should provide me with the entire story I paid for. In the book I paid for. I was interested in seeing this movie, but to hell if I'll be giving them any more of my money now. If I wanted a romance story and not a mystery story (with a solved ending), I'd go and buy myself a harlequin novel.

I really enjoyed this story and found it easy to read and was recommending it to all of my "book" friends and now had to race around calling people and posting to FB to wait to read this book if you think you are going to finish it before 3/11/11 as the last chapter is not published and won't be until the movie is released. They are not forth coming with this AT ALL and they really should have been. Shame on the publishers. This book should come out with a warning and a voucher for a complete edition!