Member Reviews

*The Grimm Society* was a fun and engaging young adult audiobook, perfect for fans of supernatural mysteries with a dark fairy tale twist. Seventeen-year-old Everly Hart’s world changes when she becomes a “griever,” someone who can see supernatural creatures known as grimms. Her journey takes her to Gravemark, an elite academy where she’s trained to track and reap these creatures—while also trying to survive deadly school assignments and solve a string of eerie murders.

The mix of magic, mystery, and danger kept the story moving at a fast pace, and Everly’s determination made her a compelling protagonist. I enjoyed her bright and smart character, but I found her all too powerful from the beginning—her knowledge and skill seemed almost too advanced, making some challenges feel less intense than they could have been.

Despite this, the audiobook remained an entertaining listen. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, making it easy to stay immersed in the story. The production was crisp and clear, making for a smooth listening experience. If you're looking for a fresh take on fairy tales with a supernatural twist, *The Grimm Society* is worth the listen!

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I really enjoyed this dark academia book. I think Chanda Hahn did an excellent job with creating the story and characters. The writing was also well done. I loved the werewolf theme with the found family trope.... and some mystery weaved in. I thought the character were well written, and I enjoyed the story. I also thought the narration of this book was done well. It added a nice layer of depth on top of an already interesting story. I can't wait to read more from this author. I recommend this book to the fantasy/dark academia readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Tantor Audio, and Chanda Hahn

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Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC

This was an interesting and fun dark academia fantasy novel feautering werewolves and found family. I liked the mystery aspect and thought our fmc was feisty and fun. Good cliffhanger as well

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Dark academia with a fairy tale twist? Perfect combination. Everly is a interesting character and I eagerly followed her through the story. The different take on Grimm fairy tales was refreshing and intriguing. There is a mystery built into the story and the twist was pretty surprising. Amy McFadden was an excellent narrator who brought the characters' voices to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

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A training school for fighting fairy tale baddies!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book like this, and I enjoyed being transported into this fun and adventurous world.

It’s a little silly and formulaic, but it’s enjoyable and I thought the world building unusually good for the subgenre. I would have liked more school and less love triangle, but I can’t fault the author for this as I know love triangles are what sell YA books.

In all this is an inventive spin on the magical school theme, and it was well-paced and light. I’d read another.

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This was the perfect mix of fantasy and thriller! The story was so intense and very fast paced. And the plot twist was perfect!

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Normally I love magical school settings but it didn’t work here. Barely anything happens at the school because it’s so centred on the main character and her ‘boy troubles’ (more on that later). I wasn’t bothered by the book being character-driven; I just think it’s silly to fully focus on the characters when you’re attending a magical boarding school and have to battle all sorts of creatures. We do get sections and glimpses of the world-building but then the attention swings back to the main character. An issue I had for the first 40 or so percent is I kept getting confused between Grimm and Grievers. Grimms are the creatures that the Grievers often have to battle. A Griever is what Everly is. There are Grimms at the academy but they’re good/instructors for the Grievers. I kept getting confused because in the (excellent) tv series Grimm – Grimm is the name of those who hunt down the creatures. I don’t really have much to say about the worldbuilding, other than I was rather let down. I’m guessing more will be revealed and explored later in the series but I’m not going to carry on.

I didn’t feel much of anything for the main character, Everly. She tried to act really smart and the book kept telling us she was smart but it never really showed her intelligence. All the characters felt the same. When they said a name I had to wrack my brain to figure out ‘best friend? Best friend’s brother? Quiet girl?’ etc. I don’t want to do that. None of the characters felt like they were fleshed-out – not even Everly and she’s the main character! You would expect the main character, her best friend, and her twin brother to be well-rounded characters because we know they all know each other before the book. It’s not as if they’ve just met at the school – they’ve known each other for years now. So why did it feel like they knew nothing about each other?

Now because I know YA books and series, I can tell there’ll be a love triangle. Everly, the apparent ‘bad boy’ at the school (who’s not? bad at all? He’s slightly arrogant but you could probably chalk it up to him being a guy or the best student in class), and the best friend’s brother (Hunter). Now Hunter has a girlfriend who’s a bit of a bitch towards Everly (why do we have to have this?). There’s a scene where he says “I love you” to his girlfriend on the phone and then strokes Everly on the face or something. And then BLAMES HER for ‘tempting him’? Everly, if I were you I’d be running away. But no, she CONTINUED to be attracted to him. Honestly even Ian, the ‘bad boy’ wasn’t a great contender either. I have a feeling this will continue on into the trilogy – which I won’t be carrying on with. I don’t know what I dislike more – best friend’s brother or love triangle.

I also can’t tell you what the plot was about because I just… had no idea. I couldn’t firmly grasp it, it seemed to be all over the place. Even near the end it didn’t feel like anything had really happened. A girl goes missing from the academy earlyish on in the book (I think early) and then it’s not really spoken about until the end mark. But you can clearly tell it’s the first book in a trilogy. Plot points are started with the intention of carrying on in the next book. Characters are set up with the bare bones of personalities so you have to read the next book to see their story. At 89% it still didn’t feel like anything really happened. I had an hour left in the audio and it felt like I was halfway.

Another thing I didn’t understand why it even happened was they have to set up fake social media accounts. So it looks like they’re doing normal things at their boarding school (that’s it, that’s the reason). Everly, of course, doesn’t have social media accounts (#notlikeothergirls) and they have to create ones for her. For some reason Everly gets paired with Ian and the whole thing… is just to have them ‘act’ like a couple in the photos. Which brings tension because “he’s a bad boy. Holland and Hunter told me so.” They then give her a book and she just… sits down and reads and they snap pictures of her because she’s giving the perfect casual look while reading? They also allow her to only read the book… when she’s taking photos in the on-campus photo studio. I think this happened like once in the book so I really didn’t understand why.

Throughout the book I kept getting this feeling that the book reminded me of something. And then it dawned on me – a (bad) CW tv show. Classic paranormal, school setting, love triangle, mystery. Holland was annoying in that CW best friend way.

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This was a fun start to a new YA paranormal series. Everly’s story, training to become a “griever” and hunt down Grimms, had a lot of twists and action that kept me hooked. I loved the magical academy setting and the mix of fairy-tale-inspired creatures, it gave the story a unique vibe, even if some parts felt a little familiar.

The audiobook narration by Amy McFadden was fantastic. She really brought the characters to life and made it easy to stay engaged. My only complaint is that some parts of the story felt rushed, especially the relationships and how quickly things developed at the academy. The love triangle wasn’t my favorite either, but overall, it was a fast-paced and entertaining read. I’ll definitely check out the next book to see where the story goes!

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Following a tragic death, Everly discovers she’s a “griever” and is invited by the Grimm Society to train to track and reap grimms. Readers are thrown into Everly’s new life as we learn about the magic everyone possesses, her father’s past, and the building mystery of new deaths. This book is gripping, fast paced, and reminded me a bit of The Inheritance Games. While I could’ve done without the YA romance, I still enjoyed the mystery, academia, and monsters!

Thanks NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the arc!

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This is a great beginning to a new YA mystery paranormal series. The overall premise is that certain teens become “grievers” to hunt down and keep the peace between magical creatures and the normal world, and attend a special school for training. The plot follows Everly as she becomes a griever and finds out about this and her family’s long history of fighting monsters, while unraveling the mystery surrounding the recent attacks. There’s also an added drama element of teen angst, friendships, and romance. Everything went together really well to make for a great read that kept me interested and guessing up until the end. As an audiobook it was narrated very well with great inflections and no confusion on character changes. I am looking forward to the next book for sure. Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

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I feel like I might be getting a little bit too old for these kinds of books. There are some tropes I simply fell out of love with over the years and some plot twists that just aren't surprising to me anymore.

BUT I know that I would have absolutely loved this book as a teenager. The adventure, the secrets, the forbidden feelings - I would have adored all of it.
I appreciate that, despite it not being a standalone, this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger.

Also, Amy McFadden is a wonderful narrator and she made it easy for me to immerse myself in the story.

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This is the first novel in a new YA series. The main character, Everly, becomes a griever after she experiences a tragic death. She ends up attending a school specifically for grievers, Gravemark Academy, where she learns how to reap fairytale creatures, grimms.

I listened to the audiobook and Amy McFadden' narration was great. She was able to separate all the different voices well, which some narrators struggle with. She fully engrossed me.

This book engaged me from the start. The characters were well written, and the plot was intriguing and kept me listening. It was fast-paced, with very few spots that got boring or repetitive. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series!

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Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

Omg YES YES YES , I cannot say how much I was obsessed with this book. I couldn’t sleep until I finished it and that NEVER happens cause I love my sleep. But I really was just like omg I need to know whats happening. Ian and Hunter made me BLUSH, Steven’s a little tooooo. I just haveeee to read the next books and I love this world and the mysterys. But esspecially the romance it’s just a really good like nothing much is happening but it makes me blush sooo much! Like all giddy. Okay I love it amazing writing and characters and atmosphere and plot and I just am the biggest fan.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 6th December and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of January

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The Grimm Society by Chanda Hahn, narrated by Amy McFadden, is a gripping entry into a world where fairy tales meet urban fantasy with a dark twist. Everly Hart’s journey as a newly minted "griever" is both thrilling and emotional as she balances high-stakes supernatural training with a murder mystery that keeps listeners hooked.

Amy McFadden’s narration is a standout element. Her voice seamlessly transitions between Everly's teenage vulnerability and the eerie tension of the grimms. McFadden’s pacing and character differentiation enhance the story, adding depth to the suspenseful and often heart-pounding scenes.

The world-building is immersive, with Gravemark's Gothic atmosphere and intricate rules for grievers creating a vivid setting. While the story occasionally falls into familiar tropes, its clever twists on classic fairy tales and engaging mystery make up for it.

Fans of dark academia and supernatural sleuthing will find The Grimm Society a delightful listen. It’s an audiobook that combines humor, danger, and a dash of romance, leaving just enough breadcrumbs to entice readers into the next installment.

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This caught me by surprise!!

A YA paranormal / mystery / thriller, set at a secret school for teens who have the capability to track and reap grimms. Filled with adventure, mystery, twists, murder, family legacies, and hidden secrets. Def plan to continue the series.

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A great start to a fun YA fantasy series!

Everly has been trained to escape any situation by her father, a detective. But when he dies, saying "it's Grimm" Everly discovers a whole new world of monsters- literally. The monsters the Grimm Brothers wrote about are true and now she attends a school to hunt them.
Full of a collection of monsters, a minor love triangle, and some mean girls too, this first book is a great start and I hope to read more

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

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An absolute delight! "The Grimm Society" captured my heart completely. A truly promising new series that skillfully weaves fairy tales into fresh storylines.

I love how the author merged the Grimm world with our reality, infusing it with angst, mystery, and paranormal elements. I loved the academy setting, and the enthralling drama that unfolded had me hooked. This one had me reading into the early hours, unable to put it down!
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The audiobook has become available and I had to listen to it! It was such a delightful listen! Amy McFadden does a wonderful job portraying Everly. She truly brought the story to life and I was engaged till the very end. Loved it!

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I grew up watching a tv series called "Grimm". I loved the concept of special people who can see supernatural creatures. This book feels the void I have had since the TV show ended.

The only complaint I have is the love triangle. This girl just lost her father, was thrown into a weird world, and there is a killer on the loose. A love triangle just isn't necessary. But, they are all teenagers, and teenagers do stupid things. So, I understand it, even if it annoyed me.

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Everly, destined to become a Griever after suffering a tragic loss, must attend Gravemark Academy to learn how to reap fairytale creatures, known as "Grimms"—though surviving the experience is no guarantee. This dark academia tale is fast-paced, filled with emotional and surprising twists that made the reviewer cry, gasp, and laugh.

The audiobook narration by Amy McFadden was praised for her skill in distinguishing numerous character voices, creating an immersive experience.

Thanks to NetGalley, RBmedia, Neverwood Press, and Chanda Hahn for the audiobook ARC!

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The Grimm Society by Chanda Hahn is a YA academia fantasy that was pretty entertaining. I like the 'creatures' in this book - fairies, werewolves, etc. I also like Everly and her willingness to never quit. I will say I found this book to move really fast and sometimes just too fast. The first quarter of the book is a great introduction to Everly and her family and starts to build background and then boom suddenly she is thrust into a special school with an entirely new group of friends. It feels like she is super close to them right away but it didn't feel really authentic. I also think miscommunication is a trope that I dislike for romance so that bothered me. That being said - this is a good YA book and I think I will pick up the second one. It was great on audio! 3.5 stars rounded to 4. Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for this audio ARC.

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