Thank you to ECW, Naben Ruthnum, and NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of The Grimmer.

This was an enjoyable read for anyone who has interest in anything scary or creepy. Gosh was a fantastic character and I really enjoyed seeing him grow throughout the book. The rest of the characters were pretty well written and I enjoyed nearly everyone,

I think this would be a fantastic introduction to a teen audience to get into horror novels!

I thought this book was okay. I couldn't really get into it at first, but when I got past a certain point it was nice to read. It wasn't my favorite, but I still liked it! I also wish we got more from the villain's pov, as I think that would be very interesting.

I will be honest, I am not sure I was the intended audience for this YA horror-thriller, being a female fantasy fan in her thirties, but I gave it a good go.

In ‘The Grimmer’, it is 1996 and Vish is returning from 2 years at boarding school, where he was sent after he disclosed to friends that his dad was a drug addict. Emotions are still raw and there is some family trauma to be explored, but we get into the horror action pretty quickly when he witnesses a supernatural altercation in his local bookstore, is then told that he is fated to assist the bookstore owner in stopping the horror and subsequently gets a summer job at the bookstore to cover his tracks. I cannot say more because that would be too spoilery, but I feel that is probably enough for you to decide whether this book is for you or not.

It was not for me, though I think it was because I am too old to relate to a teenage boy but too young to feel nostalgia for 1996. The characters and the writing style annoyed me - how many times did it have to be mentioned that Vish is just so much more alternative than everyone else, the constant half formed opinions about bands he knew little about and the need to discuss every persons clothing style even while the end of the world was happening? There was such a self indulgent teenage masculinity about the writing, you could feel that teenage boy anger simmering about how the world was unjust underneath the surface and for that reason, I think this book could be very popular with the teenage boys it is aimed at. Even the horror was very juvenile, teenage boy - very reminiscent of the type of movies they think makes them grown up to watch, very visceral and obvious. I appreciated that there was no love story, but of course there wouldn’t be if it was aimed at 15 year old boys - instead we have the cool, unobtainable witch girl who could front a band and hold her own with the boys.

Like I said, I am not the intended audience, I think it’s probably a very good book to aim at the growing teenage boy market and I would recommend it to my stepson for example, but it wouldn’t be one I would recommend to anyone over 18 who cannot relate to that time in their lives.

Rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads/Netgalley feedback.

When high schooler Vish, a lover of metal music and literature, is confused as a relative of the local bookstore owner he is thrown into the world of the occult. He learns that the occult isn’t what he thinks- it’s witches in tv sets, creatures burning with a single touch, and magic is all math and physics. He must work with the bookstore owner and his employee, Gisela, to stop an invasion that could wreck their town.

I want to start by saying I loved the idea of magic in this story! Magic is all physics, math and biology and it was fascinating to learn and read throughout the story. I will say that the first 50% I spent a lot of time confused about why Vish specifically was so important to stopping the events that were at play, and at one point went back to reread parts of the beginning to make sure that I hadn’t missed an explanation. However, once I got towards the last half it was explained and made sense why it was setup the way it was. The ending was a twist I absolutely did not see coming which was great, and the development that we see from Vish was also nice.

P.S. I absolutely love the cover!!

It is nice when a fantasy author writes a book suitable for teenage readers (and up). This is an entertaining read. A ‘save the town from’ book of fantasy, magic through biology and maths (don’t worry Gisela will do the math for you), horror, teenagers, parents, bookshops and cats. Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and ECW Press for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read YA anymore, but the plot, cover, and title pulled me in.

Great character work here, and I love how it touches on some serious topics such as family trauma, addiction, and racism. I also enjoyed the small town vibes.

The pacing was good, although the ending felt a little bit rushed. Would have preferred more villain POV too, but I always want that, and it may just be a me thing.

An overall good choice for younger readers, or anyone looking to get into the horror genre but don't want anything too crazy.

"The Grimmer" offers a pulse-pounding and captivating experience that will delight fans of horror-thriller novels. This small-town mystery infused with a dash of "Stranger Things" vibes takes readers on an unforgettable journey filled with suspense and a lurking sense of dread.

Right from the opening pages, the reader is whisked away to a small town teeming with dark secrets and hidden horrors. The air of mystery is palpable, and the author effortlessly intertwines various elements to create an intricate tapestry of suspense that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

One of the book's standout features is its ability to capture the essence of a small town, complete with its charm and tightly-knit community dynamics. This familiar backdrop is skillfully merged with supernatural elements, providing an irresistible blend of nostalgia and otherworldly suspense. Fans of "Stranger Things" will find themselves right at home, as "The Grimmer" embraces the same nostalgic allure and sense of wonder that made the TV series so beloved.

Furthermore, "The Grimmer" evokes a bone-chilling atmosphere that seeps into every page. The author's descriptive prowess brings the town and its sinister secrets to life, enveloping readers in a world of shadows and haunting imagery. The story unfolds like a vivid cinematic experience as if you're watching the events play out before your very eyes.

Thank you, Naben Ruthnum and ECW Press, for providing me with an Arc through NetGalley! An e-book was provided before the release date in exchange for an honest review.

The Grimmer is a supernatural horror-thriller small-town mystery from award-winning author Naben Ruthnum. This is described as a paranormal YA story which tackles complex issues such as grief, racism, and addiction.

While this is a Young Adult and marketed as such, it read younger at times which pulled me from the story occasionally. I enjoyed the descriptions of the supernatural elements as it was pretty eerie, and how the magic was explained away as scientific - a refreshing new look at magical systems.

We’re following Vish, a 15-year-old boy just returning to his home town after two years away in boarding school due to his father's recovery from addiction. Vish’s interests were very close to my own (metal music and literature), and I enjoyed this quite a bit as I rarely see this in books. I also enjoyed seeing how the family relations developed and Vish dealt with his trauma of dealing with a father with addiction. This part of the story I believe was very well thought out and plotted, however there was a few discrepancies of time usage with the plot.

The book itself is around 300 pages, but I feel like they aren’t used to the best of their capabilities. Our introduction is both long and too short. There is no conflict between Vish and the knowledge of magical elements. I would have enjoyed a little more back and forth as it seemed unrealistic how quickly he was just handed information. Then the ending was a little rushed as well.

Overall I did enjoy the story and it was a great standalone but left open in a way that there potentially could be a second book. If there did end up being a second I believe I would pick it up.

I liked this book! It did some interesting things with how characters handled grief & trauma that wasn't too heavy handed. Loved the 90's setting and could easily see this as a movie. Some of the chapter breaks were a little weird, but since this is targeted at younger readers it does keep them short. Will definitely recommend to students and friends who read this genre.

Naben Ruthnum - The Grimmer
I enjoyed The Grimmer, although I have a feeling it might struggle to find a YA audience as not enough happened to get the pulses racing of your average fourteen or fifteen-year-old (unless they like chilling out in second-hand bookshops that is). It also felt like it spent too much time setting the scene for further instalments and in reality the main supernatural villain did not hold my attention at all and appeared in the book too infrequently. Naben Ruthnum AKA Nathan Ripley is an established adult writer, with The Grimmer being his first foray into YA, and to be truly successful this book needed more action and slightly less talk. Many adult writers have come up short when switching to YA (it is not easy) and as a first attempt this is not bad and is saved by its excellent central character, enjoyable nineties smalltown feel and quirky coming of age drama with an odd supernatural twang which encompasses Physics and Science.

This engaging horror-thriller opens with fifteen-year-old Vish returning home to his small Canadian town after two years in a boarding school. He was sent away as his doctor father was an addict and was trying to get clean, at the same time Vish fell out with his two oldest friends Danny and Matt. The Grimmer makes a lot of interesting observations of the fact that Vish is of Indian heritage and is one of the few ‘brown’ kids in the town, he is also a heavy-metal fan, which is also predominately ‘white’. With his band t-shirts and leather jacket Vish feels like an outcast and when he returns home visits his favourite bookshop and gets chatting with the owner Agastya, who is also Indian Canadian. After witnessing a strange confrontation in the shop Vish is sucked into a complex supernatural/fantasy drama where he finds himself stalked by a being trying to force itself into our world. I much preferred the non-supernatural aspects of The Grimmer, Vish going to his first gig, connecting with Gisela and his old friends and his complex relationship with his overbearing parents. This novel will certainly have its fans, but it lacked some bang. AGE RANGE 12/13+

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are my own.

I was pretty interested in this book just from the blurb and the comparison of Stranger Things. As for the horror elements within it, they were very mild. So it's likely a book for someone who wants to try getting into that genre. The supernatural parts of this book were very soft. I didn't love the descriptions in all honesty. The magic system was also very confusing.

I really liked the premise and the setting which initially peaked my interest. I'm happy to say that the begining portion of the story was really easy to follow and did a good job at laying down all the characters and making them seem believable.

Half way through the story I realized that nothing interesting was really happening or at least nothing that hooked or compelled me.

A lot of times I was left wondering when the plot was going to pick up and reach the point in which the story unfolds and truly breaths but I personally don't think that point ever came.

The antagonist was ok and creepy enough but I don't feel they ever had enough "stage time" and was barely ever present.

With all that being said I did enjoy the ending which was totally unexpected. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave it there :)

I have to admit, I saw someone describe this book as YA and was a bit wary of reading it, but I have to say: I found it an absolute joy to read,

The protagonist is a young dude called Vish.. Asian, into metal, with a recovering alcoholic father and a family still reeling from that father's actions. He loses himself and escapes through books and music.

It's through his love of books and a visit to his local bookstore that he ends up in an epic battle of good versus evil after partnering up with Regina (who has a long history of the occult) and the recently bereaved owner of the bookstore.

Escapes and cats and metal and evil shapeshifters and magic - all set in the 90s and just horror-y enough to keep me entertained on a Stranger Things level, and I didn't even notice a lack of swearing. I relate very much to Vish on a few levels and his character arc, and that of all of the characters (including that cats) was really well crafted.

It was a riproaring read and I really recommend it for horror fans that may need a little light relief from the hardcore stuff. Get it in your eyes!

I was intrigued by the cool cover and the plot sounded good. It was a fun and easy to read book with some horror elements, but the ending felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic. Most of the characters were interesting, including the villain, but he felt very absent and we didn't get to see him enough.
It would be a nice introduction to YA horror for some readers!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book about 20% through, I saw it through up until we were told what was going on, how there was magic and what the villain was but thats when I knew this wasn't a book I was going to enjoy. I don't have any complaints regarding the writing, I just couldnt continue reading as it didn't interest me.
I wasn't liking the bookseller character or how he was told about the supernatural stuff happening, I dont think the magic system is to my liking.

This reminded me of the stories by John Bellairs and Christopher Pike that I would seek out during summer reading as a teen. A little supernatural adventure, a touch of mystery, and a bit of heart added up to an extremely easy to read tale that left me feeling nostalgic for the types of books I would devour whole on a summer night. The ending feels like a set-up to a series, and I am hoping that's the case since I ended it feeling invested in the characters and their future endeavors both fantastical and mundane. I know exactly the type of patron I would recommend this book to, and can see this being a hit with our YA Horror crowd who are also looking for a little dark humor.

This was such a good supernatural horror-thriller going through this, it had everything that I was hoping for in the description. It does everything that I was looking for. I enjoyed the body horror elements in this and thought it worked overall. It was a captivating feel to it and I was hooked in the way it was written. I look forward to more in from the author as I enjoyed this a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for giving me the digital ARC to review!

I was interested in this from the blurb, with the Stranger Things association particularly intriguing. I'd say this is very horror-lite, probably a good jumping point for young adults to get into horror as there's nothing majorly grim or bloody in it. The antagonist was creepy and the whole concept of him was, admittedly, terrifying. I've never read, or seen, this type of creature in any media before, so it was interesting to see something new.

The main character is Vish, a 15-year-old Indian-Canadian boy who has come back to his hometown after 2 years at a boarding school due to his dad's addiction. It's set in 1996, so there's references to things like VHS and old metal bands, which Vish is a fan of. Our other characters include Gisela, a German teenager who knows more about all the strangeness going on, Danny and Matt, Vish's former best friends, and Agastya, an Indian-Canadian bookstore owner who, like Gisela, knows more.

The introduction of the supernatural stuff is quiet, and if I have to be honest...I didn't hugely care for how it was all described. Magic is more like maths and physics, from what I can gather, and there's some confusing descriptions that kind of made my mind shut off sometimes. I wish I had understood it, but I didn't and it made me wonder if this was a bit too high level for young adults if I couldn't understand it well.

The characters themselves were will written and developed, so no issues there, but the whole supernatural side was just too confusing for me to properly understand.

This is a soft horror/ coming of age story with elements of the metaphysical and paranormal that would be an excellent choice for YA or readers that want a spooky/ creepy read without the terror or gore aspects of other books in the genre. I appreciated that the author managed to steer clear of the romantic tropes that tend to go hand in hand with YA fiction and rather focused on some rather mature and topical family dynamics. The characters were well written, believable and ultimately very relatable. The pacing was good and the plot was well thought out. This was a solid stand alone read, but there is just enough wiggle room that I imagine (hope) a sequel will be written as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC of this title free of charge. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

The Grimmer is a perfect novel for younger readers or those who want to start reading horror fiction without it being too bloody or extreme.

I loved the relationship of the main family. The feelings of hurt, betrayal, forgiveness, and acceptance were all fully explored and really made you want to root for them.

This book gets into the spooky stuff rather quickly, which is fantastic, and we're all along for this wild scary ride with our main protagonist almost from the get go.

The supernatural antagonist is quite frightening and the author conveyed how absolutely terrifying it would be to run into this thing. With the addition of two other characters with our main protagonist, we're going to learn about magik and spells and other things in a way that hasn't really been written about before.

While I prefer my horror a bit more "raw", I truly enjoyed this story. If you know any younger people or someone who wants to start reading horror fiction without anything extreme, this is definitely a book to recommend.