The Grimmer

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3.3

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Author(s)

Naben Ruthnum

Publisher

ECW Press

Genre(s)

Mysteries & Thriller

Age Range

13+

Release Date

September 26, 2023

ISBN

978-1770417045

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The small-town mysteries of John Bellairs are made modern with a dash of Stranger Things in this spine-tingling supernatural horror-thriller

After his father returns from treatment for addiction, highschooler Vish — lover of metal music and literature — is uncertain what the future holds. It doesn’t help that everyone seems to know about the family’s troubles, and they stand out doubly as one of the only brown families in town. When Vish is mistaken for a relative of the weird local bookseller and attacked by an unsettling pale man who seems to be decaying, he is pulled into the world of the occult, where witches live in television sets, undead creatures can burn with a touch, and magic is mathematical. Vish must work with the bookstore owner and his mysterious teenage employee, Gisela, to stop an interdimensional invasion that would destroy their peaceful town.

Bringing together scares, suspense, and body horror, The Grimmer is award-winning author Naben Ruthnum’s first foray into the young adult genre. This gripping ride through the supernatural is loaded with vivid characters, frightening imagery, and astonishing twists, while tackling complex issues such as grief, racism, and addiction.

Editor review

1 review

The Grimmer Review

January 27, 2024

Overall rating

3.3

Plot

4.0

Characters

3.0

Writing Style

3.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

This book was interesting. Looking at the plot alone, I thought it was a very interesting concept. Every time they dug a little deeper into the past and what was going on, I was completely enthralled. I do wish this book would have been a tad bit longer just so it could the story could have been a little more flushed out. I felt like in certain areas, the story flourished and other areas it felt stagnant. I know this is meant for a younger audience as well but the writing seemed very mediocre to me. The dialogue felt a little forced and not so natural. But the plot itself is really what carried this book. And that ending!!! Kudos on that twist I never saw coming.

The characters were okay. Very generic and not too memorable. They all serve their purpose in the story but don't really add anything new. There wasn't any really growth between any of them which led to some of that stagnant writing. However, none felt out of place and I didn't dislike any of them - there was just no spark.

Overall, The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum was a decent read. The plot and the story were definitely interesting enough to carry me through this whole book. And a huge win on the author for the end twist which I definitely did not see coming. The writing and characters didn't really spark anything for me. While it wasn't horrible, it just wasn't anything too memorable as well. I do think that if you are the intended age that this book is meant for, to definitely give it a go! For more adult audience, it might be better to find something else. However, this book will not be a waste of any ones time if you decide to read it.