His friends are still there, but they’re a little different and he doesn’t fit in no matter how many T-shirts he wears. And being one of the only brown kids in the area he is automatically assumed to be the son of the bookstore owner. This is not unusual, but it is an entrance into a world of mathematical magic and danger. Time can stop, but also fast forward. This was very interesting and entirely worth it. I wouldn’t mind visiting this world again, but it’s so unique that I understand why it’s a bit of a sleeper. But those who give it a chance most likely going to find something they like.

3.5 stars

This was a pretty good book. I do feel like it read as more of a middle grade book, though, and I'm not usually a big fan of middle grade books. But at the same time, the vibes and plot were more New adult/adult levels. Very confusing but still a decent read.

i love everything spooky and creepy this book was just that and more. it was perfect i listened to the audiobook and it kept me intrigued while i was at work.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

So I think this is better suited to Adult Horror than YA. But despite that, this was an interesting horror/sci-fi/fantasy mashup. I enjoyed the premise, thought the twist at the end was good, but I was left wishing Ruthnum fleshed out the characters and the sci-fi/fantasy elements a little more.

Jacob Machin does a good job with the audiobook narration.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and ECW Press Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book did not hold my attention. The story was a little too all over the place for my liking and I just could not connect with any of the characters.

The Grimmer is an incredibly unique YA horror story. Told to the reader through the eyes of Vish, we get to experience a world of supernatural intrigue.

The main character, Vish, is easy for the reader to relate to from the start, as we learn about his family troubles and the struggles he continues to face. Vish is then thrown into an otherworldly situation that he must learn to navigate with a cast of fun secondary characters. I genuinely loved all of the characters in this book and getting to watch them bicker and interact.

The world building was a bit confusing for me at first as I tried to understand the intricacies of the supernatural/magical parts of this story. Thankfully, our main character had just as many questions as I did, which led to Ruthnum providing plentiful details.

There is a fun retro horror vibe to this book, which I think makes it perfect for readers of all ages!

🎧: I ended up listening to this one on audio, which I think really made the experience come to life. If you’re looking for something to sweep you into the story while you handle the mundane tasks of life, like chores and commuting, this is one to try!

Read this book but it was a bit of a struggle. Enjoyable at parts, but didn't really grip me. Love the start of the book when the MC started becoming aware of what was happening, I don't think they did enough with it though. The narration was a bit monotone I thought, which didn't help. Perhaps physical book would have been more enjoyable to me.

I didn't know what to expect from this one, but it was a really compelling, frequently creepy and often heartfelt story that I enjoyed a lot. I thought the family dynamics with Vish and his parents were really nuanced and the exploration of addiction was well handled. I also thought the magical elements of the story were originally tackled with the focus on the physics and biology of magic, making the practice into a science. Overall, this was a great read and I will definitely pick up books from this author in the future.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: small town mystery, timeywimey, actually creepy vibes, books, own voices, a modern take, good plot, metal music, well written YA

The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum
My Rating: 3.875
GR Rating: 3.62
Pages: 256

Vish is your typical high schooler; humiliated by his parents, feels like his friends stabbed him in the back, and just wants to get lost in a book. He has just returned from two years of boarding school and wants to make as little waves as possible. One trip to the book store shatters that possibility and sends him into a world where he may control the fate of everyone in the town. A combo of witches, shapeshifters, and a promise for immortality to over twelve thousand souls by an entity built from the body pieces of others.
What really got to me with this story is that with everything going on around Vish, he still has lots of issues to deal with. That really makes this a great YA book, life does not just stop when you have to deal with a problem, supernatural or not. Everyone has demons that they are fighting. Sometimes those demons are mental, sometimes they are real.

I found myself liking the book more than I anticipated. Of course it had my interest from the description (and cover) alone, but as I read more of Vish, a kid already struggling in a town where most of the other Indian people are his parents, I loved it. He's a young teen and while he already has to deal with what what can be considered normal teenage woes, he's also unlucky in the fact that his father had an addiction that wrecked his world. You meet him after he returns from being sent away, a mistake on his parents part, and in just the first pages you see so much of the struggle and his dynamic with the people who should have been in his corner, like his friend who is the reason that the news of his father spread and part of the reason he had to spend two years isolated.

But even if this new start in the town he grew up in should be a restart and the beginning of his healing, he's thrown into the mix of a magical horror story involving an entity that's the face (and body parts) of nightmares. He hasn't had time to even come to terms with everything else, but now he has to help save himself and the town he lives in, all with very little time and with people who aren't always giving him the full picture. But watching him try to throw himself into being a solution and now come out of it with everything fixed, but on the right path makes me happy.

And that plot twist at the end, THAT PLOT TWIST, I didn't actually see it coming, I gasped out loud and it broke my heart a little more, because it gave so much insight to what leads people to certain lives. How choices made for people and that they make because of those choices shape you. Make you someone you wish you weren't. Also the thing that comes after the plot twist, the thing I did guess, does leave room for a sequel maybe? I wouldn't mind.

If I have to say the one thing that bothers me a little is that I wish there was more time taken for him forgiving his friends. They all are kids, but what they did crossed a major line and really messed up his life. Even after all of this he still has to deal with the looks and whispers. There will probably also be some mild bullying and while they can stand up for him, it wouldn't be this way if they hadn't made the choice to tell a teacher.

I'm thankful to have had the chance to read this via NetGalley.

The Grimmer is a YA fantasy horror set in the 90s. It was a decent enough listen in audiobook format but I didn't find the overall story that engaging. I ended up more interested in the setting of the 90s and Vish working in the bookshop, dealing with his father's addiction, small town racism and the general creepiness than the overall "big bad". Although Mr Farris made for a very creepy villain I just wasn't that invested and ended up zoning out during the showdown and having to rewind to listen again, even now I can tell you the outcome of the book but I'm still not sure how we got there.

I would be interested in reading more from this author in the future as I think he has a unique thing to say and I loved his setting, I just found that the fantasy part wasn't for me.

Thank you to ECW Press Audio and Netgalley for a chance to listen to The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum in exchange for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed this quick and spooky read.

I feel that I have to first give a disclaimer and say that I am very likely not the intended audience for this book, which probably contributed to my low, 2-star rating. In saying that, I'm not entirely sure who the intended audience of this book is considering how self-indulgent and cringy it reads (or sounds, in this case). It was very very obvious that this was a "young adult" debut novel (although personally, I think it's far better suited for children) because it was a struggle to get through and I found myself getting second-hand embarrassment on more than one occasion. It's set in the 1990s for no apparent reason at all, yet the author refuses to let you forget it, and in fact seems to be on a mission to fit in as many useless "cool" facts about the '90s as they can, from what the characters are wearing to what obscure music that they're listening to. The premise of this book looked very promising, as well as the blurb which stated that it would address topics such as racism and addiction (which the book 110% did not) so I was severely disappointed by it. It reads like the first draft that you burn after writing, full of useless descriptions that don't advance the story as well as major plot holes that weren't even given a cursory mention by the end of the last page. The only reason I gave it two stars and not one was because it's fundamental, stripped-down basic idea was quite intriguing. The final product, however, is most certainly not something I'll ever be reading/listening to again.

I'm a bit torn about this book. On the one hand, I was curious enough to go along with Vish's adventure. Along with what was going to happen with Mr. Farris and the rest of the characters. On the other hand, the story itself felt so mismatched at times that it was hard to follow. More like, not pulling me enough to want to follow. Gisela and Agastya were fun characters on their own, but not enough to where I wanted to invest in them. Agastya mourns his wife, in which Vish gets to talk to her for a bit, but then that didn't drive much into the story.

Then they’re the best friends, Danny and Matt, whose personalities were kinda vapid and didn't develop as much as I wanted. Yes, there're teenagers in the 90s, but give them some sort of personality beyond this. I loved that it was set in 90s, but boy, did the author make sure you KNOW it by telling us over and over of the bands on all of the boy's shirts or posters. I get it -- we're in the 90s. It was just one too many references of brands. Enough with the brands!

I was excited to refer to magic as mathematics, but somehow the description just wasn't that intriguing. This was more fantasy-driven rather than horror. Yes, some creepiness factor, but it felt like the focus needed to be tightened a bit. I'm all for Vish, but just need more solidified storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A quick, enjoyable read. I'd say this is more YA lite horror. I was more grossed out than anything. Read this and you'll understand why. Hint: teeth are involved.

I want to know how the heck I can get a job in a book store this easily? Please someone tell me how.

I loved the representation in this book. And I felt Vish's issues with his father's addiction bleed through the story. Some of the books I've read had addiction as the forefront of the main character. It was different reading it from the struggles of someone who loves an addict. Job well done.

Now this was fun. A clean but creepy magical realism tale with real trauma and real teen angst. I loved the 90s nostalgia and really appreciated that it wasn't overdone or cliche.
I did figure out some ties in the book but that's pretty typical.
Great book. Will definitely read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was creepy and interesting. The system of magic was interesting and grounded in the real world. The creepy Mr. Farris was just so darn scary and made this book the perfect creepy Halloween read. This was a fun and exciting thriller.

I received an audio ARC of this via NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to give this a listen!

The synopsis of this book caught my eye after the title did and it was a perfect spooky season book for sure. The Grimmer is the story of Vish, a teenager back from a few years away at boarding school. Things have changed since he’s been gone and he’s trying to figure out the world where he is now. He meets a bookstore owner and his employee and gets sucked into a wild fight against evil with these two people he barely knows.

I enjoyed the plot and story concept of this book. I myself haven’t heard anything quite the same so it was interesting. Vish is written as very much a teenage boy. Sometimes a little clueless or a lot clueless. I appreciated that he wasn’t written much smarter than a fifteen year old boy would be. And that’s not to say other characters can’t have that intelligence but I liked how sometimes I’d be like, ‘Really? Oh right… you’re a kid.’ And his new friends don’t really tell him everything at once. And of course we don’t really want to know it all at once anyways but the way they held back gets mildly frustrating. But in the end, it makes a bit more sense as to why.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book because it was a bit different from my normal YA choices, but if you like fantasy, horror, and magical realism, then I think you’d like this one.

This was good. I honestly really didn't enjoy the narration. But the story was fun and kept my interest.