Assessment:
Plot/Idea: This revenge story starts with a familiar World War II scene but swiftly changes with an unexpected twist. The plot is creative, comfortably merging the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale with a war story in a fresh way.
Prose: The narrative uses the experiences of Little Red Riding Hood in the background to reveal Rose’s story, providing readers with a dose of familiarity alongside Sawh's nimble prose.
Originality: Merging a familiar fairy tale with a war story is compelling, and Sawh's willingness to dive into the main character's inner turmoil adds a deeper layer.
Character/Execution: Sawh effectively captures the hardships of his characters. Rose, a 17-year-old Jewish girl who witnesses her father being shot by Nazis, endures unimaginable ordeals and is understandably changed. That transformation is admirably delivered, and Rose brings a unique power and passion to this story.
Date Submitted: May 04, 2023
V.M. Sawh has written a short, exciting story about vengeance during World War II. What begins as a familiar scenario in which a young Jewish girl witnesses atrocities happening to one of her parents by Nazis from the hidden safety underneath floorboards evolves into a unique and unexpected tale of revenge.
The narrative takes place in France, and Sawh does an excellent job of conveying the dismal horrors of war. The fight displayed in each of the three main characters, for good or evil, is admirable. They forge on with bravery despite their bleak existences.
After watching her father die, Rose ventures out on her own and comes in contact with a rough sort of guy who is a bit untrustworthy but capable of helping protect her on a journey to her grandmother’s cabin. For a while, he makes young Rose feel safe — that is until she finds out, from another character who comes out of nowhere, who this person really is.
I don’t want to give too much of the plot away. I read “The Hunted Rose” quickly because I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen. It’s pretty much nonstop action, and each of the characters has an interesting backstory that kept me engaged. In addition, Sawh adds a supernatural element to the story that makes it a unique read.
