Silvia Moreno Garcia cannot write a bad story and this a fascinating dark fairy tale. I think there's enough for a novel but I enjoyed it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Lover is the first story I've read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I liked it. However, it did feel like it ended when it started to get really good. I would have loved to read more, to find out what happens next for Judith. This short story is well-written and interesting, it just lacked something to really get my interest up. I'm looking forward to reading the books I've got by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

I recently read a collection of British and Irish folktales and as I was reading this all I could think was that it wouldn't be out of place alongside those stories.

It was the perfect little dark fairytale for this time of year. The writing was beautiful and the setting and atmosphere were so vivid. I didn't really connect that much to the characters, but that could be more because the story was so short than anything else.

Silvia Moren0-Garcia has been on my TBR for a while and this was a great way to get a taste of her writing!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This short story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia reads like a Grimm’s fairytale: there is a hut in a forest, an evil sister, a wolf and a love story. It’s brilliantly written and the ending was everything I could have hoped for.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want to read a short story retelling of Little Red Riding Hood where Red falls in love with the wolf?

Pre-reading:
Am I a coward and reading a novella so I can securely hit 200 books while I struggle through Sons of Darkness? I’m a busy gal, mind your business.

Thick of it:
Trousseau

Why am I like immediately yes to the pervy demon Wolf Man?

Iniquity

Post-reading:
It’s like fine. It’s a short story retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Red falling in love with the wolf is nothing new. Their chemistry is dark and intriguing but there’s not enough story to make you truly invested. I’ve only read one other book by this author, Silver Nitrate. I do think it’s interesting that both feature unrequited romances where the love interests, who the audience is supposed to like, actively tell their partners that they’re ugly. What’s up with that? Want more for yourselves, girlypops. It’s nothing I would discourage people from reading, although I think you’ve probably read this story before if you’re a fan of dark fairytales. I also think it’s very skippable.

Who should read this:
Dark fairytale fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie-YA Little Red Riding Hood retelling, fantasy romance
* The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo-short story collection of dark, fairytale retellings
* Starling House by Alix E. Harrow-gothic romance, Alice in Wonderland retelling
* Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater-YA werewolf romance
* The Merry Spinster by Daniel M. Lavery-short story collection of dark, fairytale retellings
* The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi-gothic romance, fairytale vibes
* Through the Woods by Emily Carroll- dark fairytale graphic novel collection
* A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow-gay Sleeping Beauty retelling
* Dust City by Robert Paul Weston-Grimm fairytale retelling, big bad wolf main character
* Scarlet by Marissa Meyer-YA sci-fi retelling of Little Red Riding Hood

A dark fairytalesque story makes for a nice short read but ultimately feels a little hollow. I've read other books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, such as Certain Dark Things and Mexican Gothic, and author's strong suit is definitely the setting and the idea of a story, but the character work and details always leave something to be desired, so I wasn't really surprised when The Lover struggled with same problems. By no means bad read and I will surely still be reading more by her.

The gorgeous cover drew me into this story but the atmosphere kept me. This story had a feel of a fairy tale as it was described and kept me turning the page. The length of a short story was perfect for it because it gave the right amount of character and story development which felt to come to a decent conclusion. With my enjoyment of the writing, I will be seeking out other books that Silvia Moreno-Garcia has written! Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

What a pocket rocket little story. Only a little over an hour read on my kindle (40ish pages?) this dark twisted little fairytale inspired narrative packs a punch.

I really liked the writing style which bodes well for Mexican Gothic on my TBR.

An interesting and engaging short story. Perfect for between longer reads, and a must for fans of Moreno-Garcia’s other work. An interesting twist in a classic mythology, and well-written. Recommended.

A really enjoyable dark fairytale, I always enjoy a good werewolf story. Great atmosphere and well told.

This is a short fairytale that I loved reading in one sitting. The ending is very powerful. I would recommend this, not only to fantasy readers, but also for litfic fans who love feminism/female centric themed stories.

Oh, this short story could have been so much more with a little more poetry to it, considering the Company of Wolves vibes… but I’d read the hell out o fit again anytime, anyway. The ending doesn’t surprise the experienced fairytale reader, but isn’t the comfort of met expectations what makes a story a fairytale?

A short story from the author of Mexican Gothic about Judith, who has long dreamed of love. When a stranger comes to her village, she is excited to finally have a chance. However, he marries her sister. Later, they start having an affair but there is another stranger who also draws her in.

Being a short story, this was pretty easy to read because it was short. I do wish it had been a bit longer so that Moreno-Garcia could have amped up the suspense/intrigue. I wish she had built up Judith's relationship more with the mysterious vagabond (maybe werewolf?).

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I set myself up for this one. I like the author's novels, but as a short story I did not like it. It may have more to do with me because while I knew it was a short story to begin with, I sill wanted more. The ending was too rushed and I just have too many questions.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for providing me with a copy.

I've read novels by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, which were all great, and it turns out she writes great short stories too. This had great characters, and a great story. Will continue to look forward to anything new from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. #TheLover #NetGalley

I will always read anything Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes because I simply just love her writing style. This short story was very different than anything she's written before. It had the subtle magic that she writes so well and the characters that have questionable intentions, but you can't help but root for them. I was surprised about how quickly I got attached to the main character and yet I was still internally screaming at her for the decisions she was making. This was short and sweet but still very well wrapped up. The thing that would've made this a 5 star for me was if it was a little longer. I wanted more backstory between the main character and her sister, more information on the magic in this world, and maybe even a POV from the mysterious man that keeps popping up. Otherwise, I enjoyed the world, the characters, and the tiny touch of magic.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's short story THE LOVER is an ultimate story: transported me to that winter forest, that young Judith longing for more -- and finding it in the stranger with no name. A truly dark and wonderfully satisfying fairy tale for grown-ups. If there is a moral, it includes this: follow your heart and live with consequences you cannot possibly imagine. I've admired other work by this writer and this short story was a marvelous find, demonstrating her deft hand with short stories as well as longer forms. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This was alright. I would say that she did the best with the limited amount of pages/words etc that she had, but many a short story writer has done much better. It was readable, but no better than that and the ending didn’t feel open ended like so many books & stories do, it just felt unfinished. Like cut off abruptly & ended. Not my particular cup of tea tho I still adore Silvia Moreno Garcia. As much as I have loved some of her books (Certain Dark Things, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau) what kept them from being 5 star books was they didn’t feel fully fleshed out, so does it surprise me that her short stories suffer from same problems? No it does not. It’s the same critique I’d have for her other books…. It has very, VERY strong bones now we just need a lil more meat to fill it out!

2.5 stars bc the ending made it all seem futile & meaningless.

I loved this. It was a dark, sensuous, and twisted fairy tale with hints of Little Red Riding Hood. I loved the writing style and the overall vibe. I felt like it was just the right length to pull you into the story and then it came to a perfect ending. I haven't read anything else by this author, but now I want to check out more.

I really, really wish I could buy a paperback version of this book. The cover is amazing and I would love to have a physical copy on my shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for a review ARC.

A creepy, chilling short story that packs a punch...
This was an anticipated read even though I am not really a short story reader I wanted to give this one a go - it was fantastic

4 stars