Cover Image: The Grass People

The Grass People

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Member Reviews

Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

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The grass people live in small villages, surrounded by giant creatures and mowers - always in danger. In this story people travel to escape dangers, build new homes and challenge their beliefs.

This story was a wonderful time if you want to step into the world of little people as tall as bugs. Living the life similar to a Minimoy or Tinkerbell without wings. It's a lot more like Arrietty to be honest, that is the reason i picked up this book. The characters are very indearing, I loved hanging out with them!

This is a very slow story, one to relax to and just dip into the world and forget everything else.


Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I loved the premise of this book. The world building was wonderful and intriguing. I didn't care too much for the characters, but I pressed on and finished the book. Good story overall.

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First, I must say that I caught up on a lot of (long over due) reading over lockdown but I did not keep up with my reviewing.
There is a lot going on in this tale, a lot of characters (which at times had me checking back to make sure I wasn't confusing things), and a lot to unpack with the new dangers, old ways, prophecy, and the expanse of time covered, but it is wonderfully written, and more often than not, enjoyable.

For me however, as a child growing up in the 80's/90's I really struggled to separate this tale from The Borrowers (which I absolutely adored!) and for me this left me drawing almost constant comparisons.

I would recommend it to everyone who likes a good, well written, fantasy story, and for people who want a more adult fairy tale, but if you were ever a fan of the borrowers I would worry that, like me, you would struggle to truly separate the childhood tales from this, essentially, adult version.

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With thanks to Netgalley and Radiant press

The Grass People is a lovely fantasy/fairy tale book that I really enjoyed. Make sure you check it out

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It is rather a very peculiar book. I was intrigued about the blurb, but then finishing the whole book, I couldn't make anything of it. Really loved the world-building, yet I couldn't relate to the story.

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Remember the tales of the borrowers from a child? Mainly they set up shop in the more comfortable old Victorian houses where they could live a life of leisure & stay hidden but am sure some had to go more modern even a quest as far as condos&such. The grass people are their ancestors and them in their real form. his was a delightful book with the undercurrent of how far can a society go&still hold on to their roots. & keep their essence. II don't feel we need to go into our primitive form to remain human beings but do feel we need to hold onto these ideas of constructiveness to the rest of earth and it's creatures to be whole. Many people lose sight & touch of these very simple elements losing part of their soul or having it buried under poison.

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"The Grass People" is a somewhat predictable but overall enjoyable story. I enjoyed the characters and the writing more than I expected to.

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I enjoyed the concept and ideas behind this. Unfortunately I couldn't stand the characters and I couldn't finish the book.

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A quaint, pastoral fantasy. This would be a good title for children or adults with a taste for secret worlds right beneath our noses.

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gp

The Grass People live in small villages, surrounded by the constant threats of mowers and giant four-legged creatures. But their life is not governed by these massive machines and beings. They live and die happy, passionate about their crafts, full of love for family and friends, and finding adventure and resources in everything they come across. Throughout the course of this story, the people travel to escape danger, craft new homes and villages, challenge the traditions of the past, and meet with the elusive beings who surround them. It's a fantastical story of survival and the challenging of the past, full of a melding of tradition and new ideas, of thoughts – and of stories...

This book is full of thought-provoking themes regarding progression and growth. Many of the grass people are determined to keep life as it's always been – but the younger ones see their traditions as outdated and worthless. The people must come together to find the right balance between progression and tradition – keeping themselves safe and honouring the past, whilst moving on to better ways of surviving and living. It's quite a thought-provoking concept; pushing the reader to challenge the things they're told and to stand up for their own beliefs – but presented of tiny, borrower-like beings.

"I want him to love Life and to question everything."

I loved reading 'The Borrowers' when I was younger – and was delighted to discover that these books were also full of tiny people and villages. Throughout, my head spun with the delights of these tiny people's world – their traditions and religions, languages, relationships... It was all very sweet and wholesome – from widowed women being 'adopted' by other grass people to the very sweet courting process the grass people had. They took great joy in nature, and in the smallest things - such as finding a pretty seed or discovering a new source of food - and I really enjoyed experiencing such an innocent approach to the world around us.

Oh, and I adored this definition - "'cuddlies': one-piece pyjamas with feet, worn by young children."

"She danced for the pure joy of the morning."

Some parts did feel very sad – death was a very normal part of these people's lives – as almost everything around them was a threat – horses, lawn-mowers, humans, birds – even a grasshopper was big enough to break the leg of a small person. But throughout, they came across as a resilient group of people, who mourned, lived, laughed and cried together – always supporting one another and filling the pages of their book with family, spirit, and love. Whilst the deaths were sad, and in some instances, heart-breaking, the way that the people drew together dulled the pain a little, filling the empty space with kindness and companionship, and coming together to comfort the bereaved.

"It's like a field of flowers. If you go too fast, you may forget to notice them."

One of my favourite things in the book was the design of the grass people's homes. As one village was situated close to a lake (which would swiftly flood if too much rain fell, the houses were designed to act like rafts. If necessary, the grass people could cast away and float with the water, to avoid being submerged alongside their houses. Another fun idea was that one grass person built her house around a tree, having the trunk go right through her house and arranging her décor around it – what a fantastic idea!

"Words cannot bring back the memories I cherish and want so badly to record."

This book was delightfully inventive, and was a lovely glimpse into the author's head. The world within was crafted with care and love, full of interesting words, traditions and people – and I had a lovely time reading it!

*I recieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinons expressed here are entirely my own*

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I was attracted to this as it sounded a little reminiscent of The Carpet People but this is so much more complex and layered. Kay has created an in-depth world of tiny people, yet they are technologically advanced in their habitats. Fairies and Elves are in the mix but their presence is dealt with as a matter of fact, so whilst in possession on some magic, it feels ultimately possible that you could one day, bend down and find a village of Grass People with a fairy boat floating nearby. The inter-generational focus allows Kay to develop a dilemma for both the Grass People and the Reader - at what cost comes Progress? A delightful, original, thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining book.

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Beautiful writing with rich details and character development. The twist on a fairy tale was refreshing and new to read. I admit I lost sleep many nights either reading this novel or thinking about it. Wonderful!

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To say that I loved the book would be an understatement. The Grass People by Kay Parley was is the best book that I have read in a really really long time. I love the way Kay merges both parts of two worlds. How two types of beings both young and life size exist together. Ones actions affecting the other. I just couldn't put the book down. Definitely a book I would recommend that others read as well.

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This book was definitely well written and enjoyable to a certain point; however, it had issues especially in the second half.

I feel like the author was not faithful to the narration line she chose and to the true heart of her characters; what could have been a nice slice of life of "the grass people" turned out to be the take of an elderly about "the good old times". Nothing bad about that, just not what we were promised from the beginning.

Love the fairies though 💕

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The grass people is a charming and wonderful look at the world as it or before us. We could ask learn something by the Way these little people live their lives. Wondering book.

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The Grass People by Kay Parley focuses on a tiny civilization that lives in the grass. There used to be a delicate balance between the grass people and the faeries and elves, but no one has seen one in a long time. To solve all the Grass people's problems, a new spiritual leader is prophesied: Dokrimalitza.

The idea for this story is very unique, which I like a lot. There are many different characters, which keeps the story interesting, but also makes it harder to keep track of it all. Especially because a lot of the characteers also have complex names that are hard to remember.

The writing style of the book is very dreamy. This makes it easier to understand the grass people's own language, but it is definitely not something I enjoy. I like a more straightforward book, as opposed to this.

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Actual Rating = 3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley, Kay Parley, and Radiant Press, for a copy of this ARC. Receiving this ARC in no way influences my opinions upon reading this story.

This was an interesting tale. What impresses me even more, is that Kay Parley took 20 years to completely realize and bring this tale to fruition. She crafted her own world of the Grass People, and the way they live their Life in Truth by living the Way. They also live amongst the Elves, and Fairies. When they choose to be seen and heard of course.

The Grass People is told primarily in the voice of Dyra, who grows discontent with his village Dolentar (similar to what we humans would call a Priest/Father). At a village meeting, he hears the voice of Radd, an Elf, who warns him he, and his family must leave their village. Dyra trusts his intuition and he, his wife Koalee, and their baby son, Hoyim, back only what they can carry in their trail runner (think of a wheelbarrow, but possibly deeper, and more sturdy), and backpacks.

Following Radd's instruction, an inquisitive Dyra head up trail to the tall woods, to satisfy Dyra in being able to see all of do-lan (the lands of where all Grass People live), and in hopes to see the four legged shadow that threatens them. Along the way, the dreaded mower obliterates another settlement they come upon, and kills many, and injures many more.

Dyra, Koalee and little Hoyim eventually break new trail, and start their own village/settlement. Dyra becomes Chief Councillor of this village. As an old friend, Lenk and his surviving children; Rels, Balink, and Tuje, decided to follow Dyra. Plus a few of the surviving villagers from the mower attack. Dyra's Village thrives, and eventually some of their younger people break off and start a new settlement half a day's march.

This was a very slow burn read. There was no real climax to the story. And I found I didn't mind that so much. It was still a joy to read. These villages, especially Dyra's, were close-knit. Everyone helped everyone else. There were many trades, special occasions, tradition, and even some new ways of thinking. Radd pops in from time to time, usually with a message, and we come to learn about the Domkrimalitza (like our Pope), how the Grass People haven't had one in 50 years. How there may be on in the future, and why Dyra's family is connected to this future.

I don't know if Kay Parley realized this when she wrote it, but there were very strong political undertones to this story. How power can go over one's head, and people can lose their Way, and lose their Truth. It was also a book about Balance. How you can still keep to tradition, and yet have wiggle room to also grow with the times, without losing oneself, or what makes being Grass People special. Or how the Dokrimalitza factors into this re-balancing.

The biggest drawback I had with this book was the amount of descriptions, and the never ending list of names, and familial relations to everyone. I was also a little miffed with some of the more patriarchal-traditional men/women stereotypes. However, I did like seeing some of those stereotypes in a more real setting with characters like Flon, Koalee's sister. Who live's alone, and takes a younger man (Tuje) as her husband.

Overall, I did enjoy this read, and I would totally recommend it to pretty much anyone of any age.

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I found this book incredibly frustrating. The characters were hard to love and continued on that way. The writing and the world building was impeccable but even that couldn’t save the whole.

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The Grass People felt like a fairy tale for adults. This is not a typical read for me, but I'm so glad that I decided to request a copy. The style of writing, the world building, and the unique story made this an overall wonderful story, and I highly recommend!

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

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