This was perfection! I had a great time reading this story and wish it were a whole full-length novel, but it is great as a short story/novella. I felt a lot of sympathy for the main character. Her family doesn't treat her well and she feels left behind as her friends all go off and get married. The man she does try to find happiness with is faithless. She keeps making poor life choices but you also feel for her. I especially loved the supernatural elements to the story and the ending was so much fun. I definitely want this book in my library and can see myself reading it every spooky season as a new tradition.

You know that gif from Arrested Development with the mom saying "Good for her"? Yeah, that pretty much sums up my thoughts on this short story! Because it is a short story, I won't be giving a review so much as a short reflection. I read this book in one sitting and was entranced the entire time. Moreno-Garcia is a master of atmosphere and character development, and that is on full display in these pages. In such a short amount of page space, Moreno-Garcia was able to fully realize themes of female rage, vengeance, sisterhood (or lack thereof), and desire. It was perfectly subversive and a little morally corrupt but that's what made it so GOOD!

The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an eerie short story that I could not put down. It made me feel like I was reading one of those those old fairytales that end in a gory way. Even in a short story such as this one, the author manages to give you the creeps, while making your root for the main character. The only downside to this story is that I could see the ending coming early on but in my opinion, the atmosphere and characters make up for this. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick way to get to know this author's style. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for giving me this advanced copy.

The Lover is my first Silvia Moreno-Garcia book. Mexican Gothic has been on my TBR list for years, but I just haven’t been motivated to read the book. While The Lover is only 43 pages, the author is able to develop fully-formed characters in a short time. I’m not always a fan of magical realism, but it works for this book. My only complaint is that book is extremely predictable. Not that I better understand, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s style of writing, I may be more tempted to read her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very short but a very atmospheric gothic story about sisterhood and love.

This was my first time reading Silvia's work and it definitely made me want to read more! It's quick and dark, I loved the writing style and especially the gothic, woodland atmosphere the author created. It immediately grabs your attention and holds it with claws until you finish reading. I loved the dynamic between the two sisters, one being looked down upon and the other imposing herself as superior. I admire authors that manage to write a fully developed story in so little pages. The only 'flaw' for me is that I thought the ending was predictable, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment one bit.

Highly recommend to everyone who wants a beautifully written, dark, fairytale story!

What a dark little tale that will leave you with a wicked grin.

This is me sticking my toe into the water that is the works of Silvia Moreno-Garcia (I know - I’ve been sleeping on this author and I get it now) AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE!

For such a short story, this tale pulled me in quickly and left me feeling like I deeply knew these characters. The author real knows how to get into the inner workings and root aspects of a person that let you see them so clearly. And there’s just something about the chosen dialogue in this story that not only had me giggling mischievously, but let me picture the characters personalities and physical quirks so clearly.

If you’re looking for something short and wicked that will leave you feeling deliciously smug at the end, The Lover is your book.

Thanks NetGalley and Amazon Original Stores for and ARC of this read.

This lupine short story is a super quick read and a fun dark fairytale. If you’re a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia this is a great little snack-size portion of her writing. Grab a glass of red wine and read it on a dark winter night! 🐺

The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was a lovely wee treat. A red Riding Hood retelling, with a hint of Cinderella, this story touches on the complexities of family and romantic relationships. There was plenty of foreshadowing, without the red herrings that can be prevalent in this genre. A really quick and engaging read.

Two sisters live together, but lead very different lives. One was raised by their grandmother to be a lady and marry well (Alice), while the other (Judith) was raised as the help, minding her sisters’ children and doing all the chores, and gaining nothing out of this other than work-roughened hands and a desire to be free.

Judith dreams of her true love arriving from the woods and marrying her, and one day a hunter arrives, and Judith knows this is the man.

But he has eyes for Alice, and soon that pair are married, and Nathaniel transforms himself into a merchant, but still hopes to catch and kill the large black wolf who howls in the woods.

Meanwhile Judith meets a mysterious vagrant with wild black hair and a black coat, who intrigues her with talk of monsters, but Judith continues to pine for Nathaniel.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s prose has the cadences of a fairy tale, and the darkness of the original Grimms’ works. “The Lover” is a fierce story of wanting, strangled hopes, illicit and dangerous desires. And the ending was good!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this advanced copy.

The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia had so much potential! A magical Little Red Riding Hood retelling … yes, please!! However, as a short story, it did not do anything for me.

I found myself frustrated in the beginning as things the pace and scenarios were moving so rapidly it almost didn’t make sense. A certain phrase was repeated several times and it took me a minute to realize the repetition was done intentionally and not by mistake. I mean, I should have realized that, but with ARCs sometimes the reader DOES catch errors like that. Towards the end of the story, I knew what was going to happen, but then the story just ended. Poof! Just like that! The ending felt very abrupt and the entire plot line felt way too rushed and thrown together. It only took me about 1.5 hours to read, but I think so much more could have been done with this story as a full length novel instead of a short story.

Judith was a compelling character, someone I immediately sympathized with despite the brevity of the story and the fairy tale nature. I was frustrated with her situation and her sister, and at first I wanted her to win the attention of the huntsman, then was reasonably outraged with her over the way he treated her. I enjoyed the brutal ending too, a satisfying end to Judith's tale.

“It was like trying to revive a fire when water has been poured on it: there was only smoke”

This short story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia follows Judith, our heartfelt protagonist, who casts a spell to try and discern who may be the person whom she will share herself with, her lover. Given the clue of a twig, the story follows Judith in the journey of her heart as she looks towards the forest for the man who is meant to be hers. Two men appear from the forest catching the eye of the town in different ways but only one may truly encase Judith’s heart.

Given the context of this story, while taking into account the limited amount of pages, I wasn’t sure how the plot would unfold as many short stories may seem rushed or too confusing. This story eased my worries as Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a way of writing that entrances the reader into a moment they won’t forget. From the first sentence to the last line I was hooked into the story and I didn’t want it to end. The author did a fantastic job pacing the story in a way that didn’t feel rushed while still building up the tension that made you want to fly through the pages.

Every detail was necessary to allow the reader to imagine Judith’s confusion as she navigates her emotions while also balancing between her morals and desires. Moreno-Garcia did a great job connecting the reader with the character in such a short amount of time by making you feel for her early on and only wanting her to succeed. Each character was unique in their own way and made you want to dive into their past to figure out their motives and if they truly were Judith's lover. Through their actions, I was reminded of the classic tale of Cinderella at times but the author took a different spin and made it her own which I enjoyed.

The only reason I didn’t give this story a 5 stars was because I felt I could predict certain aspects. I felt as if I knew who the lover was early on in the story and what may have been occurring behind the scenes at some point but it never deterred my reading.

Overall I would rate this short story a 4 out of 5 stars. I truly wish I could go back into this story and continue from the end as it left off with an interesting twist! Silvia Moreno-Garcia did a great job weaving this story together and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This was a one sitting read, and I absolutely adored it. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is fantastic at these gothic stories, and this had big fairytale retelling vibes. By the end I was wishing for more (so much more!)

3.5 rounded up! For a short story of only 43 pages, The Lover really packed into its narrative a great deal of story. I felt for Judith, distrusted Nathaniel, hoped for the reckoning of Alice, and remained woefully curious about the stranger pestering Judith in his free time.

I was hooked immediately from the line: “She’d always known her lover would come from beyond the forest. It was foretold when she cast a divination spell” and appreciated how the line echoed throughout and at the story's conclusion.

A deliciously enjoyable short story about a young women waiting for her lover who is foretold to come from beyond the forest. Author Garcia-Moreno has a talent for subversive storytelling and I’m absolutely here for it. This book is a whole mood so if you’re looking for a quick, satisfying read with dark fairytale vibes definitely check it out!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors, and her latest short story The Lover showcases her unique talent in combining different genres into a beautifully written Grimm-esque fairy tale with questionable characters and charming monsters. Who doesn't like monsters??
I loved the dark ending so much, I wanted more!

* I'd like to thank Silvia Moreno-Garcia and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It's very fast paced and action packed. The writing is gorgeous and there's depth to the characters despite the short amount of time we have with them. It's one of those stories that has no real purpose, but is probably written for pure enjoyment. I would say it's perfect for an atmospheric, fairy tale-esque read on a winter evening!

Moreno-Garcia has such a talent for creating atmosphere and mood and The Lover is no different. The problem with a short story from a favourite author is you just want more, but that’s not a bad thing is it?!

Told like a fable it has the makings of a great dark fairytale. A fun little escape read.

A dark magical twisted tale of a young lonely woman tangled in her feelings and hope for better future. There are two options before her, which one will she choose because if she choose wrong the outcome can be devastating.

This book managed to tell a riveting tell in so few pages. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for something dark and fairytale-esque.

{Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review}

Sensual, dark and strange: Silvia Moreno-Garcia is consistent.

This read like a quick, old fashioned fairytale. The story follows Judith who lives under the thumb of her beautiful and widowed sister, Alice. After performing a superstitious ritual that would provide a clue to her future husband's identity, years later Judith and her sister Alice take in a hunter and eventually add him to the household through Alice's marriage to Nathaniel, the hunter. Judith's desire for love as well as her desire for satisfaction carry the story. She is lonely, overlooked, and unappreciated by her family, easily falling into the role of both prey and predator.
I enjoyed how smoothly the story unfolded, how much detail was provided about both the village and characters in such a short time, as well as the insidious nature of the story.