Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read and Listen for Free
Prime Reading
This title is also available to read and listen for free with Prime. Learn More
OR
Kindle Price: $1.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $1.74

Save: $0.25 (-14%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Lover: A Short Story Kindle Edition

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 5,937 ratings
See all formats and editions

During a brutal winter, a young woman longing for love finds more than she expected in the woods, in this wickedly sensuous short story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.

Judith knows her sister, Alice, is the pretty one—but that doesn’t stop her from wishing for love. When a handsome and gentlemanly hunter appears in their village, seeking lodging from the cold, she believes her lover has finally arrived. He does, indeed, choose to stay—but as Alice’s husband, not her own. When another stranger comes out of the woods, looking every bit a vagrant, he offers Judith something mysterious and enticingly strange. Against reason and decency, she welcomes both men into her life, in different ways. As forbidden longings ensnare each of them, an unrelenting winter storm and an evasive wolf on the prowl have everyone on edge…and ravenous. By spring thaw, will any of their hungers be satisfied?

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    43 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Amazon Original Stories
  5. Publication date
    November 1, 2023
  6. File size
    3399 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. “The name doesn’t matter. You know me. I have no silks or gold, but I’d promise to eat your enemy’s heart and tear their lungs out with my claws in exchange for your kiss, dear Judith, which is more than a prince could say.”
    Highlighted by 510 Kindle readers
  2. She’d always known her lover would come from beyond the forest. Gently she closed the door behind him and showed him the bed where a warm meal might be had.
    Highlighted by 422 Kindle readers
  3. Love! What a simple word that could not encompass her feelings, so deep and turbulent she feared she’d drown just by looking at him. Her every waking hour was yearning; the nights were sleepless sorrow. From the first moment he’d spoken to her, she’d loved him, then had to endure the agony of his loss. Now she knew a new agony, both the pleasure of his embrace and the weight of sin.
    Highlighted by 355 Kindle readers
Next page

From the Publisher

The darkest of woods are for lovers. Prime members read and listen for free.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has been a favorite author of mine for many years now. Why is that, you ask? It’s because her incredible novels, like the New York Times bestselling Mexican Gothic and Gods of Jade and Shadow (among many others), are all so unique, but all have a common thread: a rich atmosphere that immediately transports me into the world within her pages. Her short story, The Lover, a historical gothic fairy tale set in winter woods, is no exception.

In this rich, sensuous tale, a young woman named Judith is waiting on her foretold lover to appear to her, but when the life and love she’d envisioned for herself don’t go according to plan, she’ll have to follow her starving heart wherever it takes her. But in the deep of winter, she isn’t the only one whose hungers are yet to be satiated. The stark woods leave much to be desired—yet offer refuge for the darkest secrets in their frozen grasp.

Expertly blending fairy-tale style with a dash of gothic otherworldliness, The Lover is an empowering story of self-discovery, of longing and broken hearts, and (my personal favorite) of vengeance. And the ending—well, let’s just say I never saw that coming.

—Alicia Clancy, Editor

About the Author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Silver Nitrate and the Bram Stoker–nominated Mexican Gothic. She is the recipient of the Locus, British Fantasy, and World Fantasy Awards.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C9JYHY1D
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Original Stories (November 1, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3399 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 43 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 5,937 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of Silver Nitrate, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Mexican Gothic, and many other books. She has won the Locus, British Fantasy and World Fantasy awards.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
5,937 global ratings
Great short read
4 Stars
Great short read
The Lover by Silvia Morena-Garcia is a dark fairy tale with supernatural elements.When the fmc cast a spell to find her true love, she dreamt of a man who would come from the forest. Except when he came, he was not what she expected, and he married her sister instead.If you have never read a book by this author, then pick this one up. It's just 40 pages but definitely shows the writing style and how great it is. There isn't much I could say about the story itself without spoiling it. But it includes a small village, a wolf, an abandoned hut, secrets, and betrayals. Check tw!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy & Thrilling
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
To a chocolate lover, this short story is better than chocolate.

Read it whilst snuggled under the blankets early in the morning before you climb out of bed. Read it while the moon is still high in the sky, or save it for the blackness of night.

Maybe this story is like crunching into a melted smores by the campfire, where the heresys has been replaced with salted caramel chocolate. It's hot & steamy, it's gooey, it's sweet.. a little salty .. in the end, maybe you didn't want to at first, but it's Sooo good and you're glad that you did ❤️

The narration in the audible version is wonderful too! I loved her vice and her accent.

Loved this quick read ❤️
Helpful
 Report
Karissa Eckert
4.0 out of 5 stars Short, ironic, fairy tale retelling
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this on ebook through Amazon First Reads.

Thoughts: This was a decent quick read that is a twist on the classic Red Riding Hood fairy tale.

The story follows Judith who is jealous of the marriage of a visiting hunter to her beautiful sister, Alice. However, Alice's husband starts to turn away from Alice and come to Judith for his hungers. Then there is the strange man that visits Judith at random times and the huge wolf that haunts the woods. Will Judith be able to run away with the hunter in the spring, or will some of them not make it through the winter?

This was a decent enough story. I enjoyed the description and bleak winter setting. I also really loved the ironic twist at the end of the story. I don't have a ton to say about it, it was a quick read and well written. Kind of a fun read as we head into the winter months.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this was a well done, quick fairy tale retelling. I enjoyed it and am glad I read it. I have been finding that I enjoy Moreno-Garcia's short stories more than I enjoy her full length books. If you are looking for a dark, quick, somewhat erotic, fairy tale retelling in a winter setting, this is a decent one.
17 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jesus
3.0 out of 5 stars Confusing
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
It started good. The middle was good but towards the end it just felt flat. I had so many questions about the story. I feel like it had potential had the story been a little longer.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
T Roderick
5.0 out of 5 stars I really liked this
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is my first experience of this author and it was wonderful and dark and I absolutely loved the ending.
Helpful
 Report
petalpineink
4.0 out of 5 stars What a dark little tale that will leave you with a wicked grin.
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
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.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Tara K.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
I love her writing, and this short story it's fairytale like and a bit amusing story. I would have loved more from this story as in longer, but that's just me.

I'll read anything she writes.
Helpful
 Report
Sharron Grodzinsky
4.0 out of 5 stars A tale of love
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
A grownup fairy tale to entrance the reader. A tale of love and deception. Well done and entertaining to keep you in anticipation until the end.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
DAJayne
3.0 out of 5 stars Dark but conventional
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
I liked this but I should have liked it more. It begins as many fairy tales do with innocence and wishes before turning darker. It has two sisters, one pretty and spoiled while the other is plainer and made to work hard. Alice has always been pampered and got what she wanted while Judith still waits for a man. When she thinks her true love has arrived, she learns differently. Does she get her revenge?

The story is dark and lush, sensuous and emotionally painful. I felt for poor Judith who has definitely gotten the short end of the stick. Yet I also wanted to shake Judith as she falls for sweet words and promises at the same time that she dismisses a person because of how he looks. Though to be honest, I’m not sure she’d get anything good from either man. I wanted this to turn the “waiting for a man to save me” trope on its head; I wanted Judith to become her own savior. The writing is lovely but the story ends up being fairly conventional. C+
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

SAKrishnan
4.0 out of 5 stars Forbidden romance and a quest for a lover
Reviewed in India on November 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Judith knew that her lover would come from the forests. She even thinks Nathaniel, the hunter, is the one. But beyond her selfish sister and a forbidden romance, will Judith be able to find her lover?

Short and enjoyable read.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Kylie
4.0 out of 5 stars Short & easy read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
I feel there was a good background of the characters and although one character was obvious, it was dripped with mystery. I was really enjoying reading this but without spoiling the ending, it felt very much "X happened the end". I haven't read many short stories so this could just feel rushed when it isn't for a short story. Would really love a longer version!
Report
kira
5.0 out of 5 stars Reminds me of Angela Carter
Reviewed in Australia on October 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this, reminds me of the Angela Carter and Margaret Atwood I read growing up, along with the Juliet Pigoot my mother read in childhood. Only criticism: I wish it was full length.
Report
Erin Michelle Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars A deliciously good tale
Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
I love a good Silvia Moreno-Garcia tale and this short story carried with it the type of folk story told to warn young women to not be too vain or vulnerable. Nor young men to be completely arrogant. A story that ended on the perfect note.
Report
mandarama
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a fabulously told tale threading elements from known fairytales into a newly imagined story of deceit and desire. The perfect fireside read for a cold winter night.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report