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Ringing in at 480 pages, Grim is a compilation of suspenseful and dark short stories, by 17 of today’s hottest young adult authors. Even though the stories only span between 20-30 pages each, the authors; such as Kimberly Derting, Tessa Gratton, Julie Kagawa, and Rachel Hawkins, all manage to create vivid worlds with solid characters that you find yourself instantly rooting for. In a lot of cases, you’re rooting for the character’s survival of a potential, grim fate…
All the stories in Grim, were entertaining, but there were a couple in particular that really struck me. The Key for instance, is the opening story in Grim and really sets the bar. The tale was short but provocative. Once the plot built-up steam and I got a sense of the direction of the story, I couldn’t read fast enough. If you like high stakes and suspense, this will instantly become a favorite of yours.
Light It Up, another favorite of mine, is a twist on a morbid and well-known fairy tale. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out which one, because I hope you’ll be as delighted as I was when it clicks. In Light It Up we have two abandoned siblings in the woods. I got a huge ‘Wrong Turn’ vibe when reading this story which made the creeped-out factor skyrocket. This story is action-packed and fast.
A Real Boy stands out among the rest because it takes place in a dystopian future where robots are very common and utilized. Although not at the top of my favorites list, I enjoyed A Real Boy for its change of pace. It wasn’t eery or gross or another dark-like adjective, mostly just suspenseful.
The final story I’ll comment on is Skin Trade. This story was all-kinds of eek and made me squeamish. Which I loved of course. When it ended, I really had no clue what had transpired, just that intense feelings of horror stuck with me. Skin Trade is a whirlwind story, graphic and chock-full of Poe-like macabre.
If you’re a fan of Poe, HP Lovecraft, or just like short, dark and twisty stories, checkout Grim. It’s a great way to past the time and get a little horror-loving fix.
A copy was provided by Harlequin Teen for review.
