I loved this book! I loved the style of writing, the world building and the characters.
The book is lovely and entertaining.
A very good discovery.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

The grass people have forgotten how to listen and follow the way; the elves and fairies have disappeared from the tall prairie grasses. Their once Idyllic existence is now fraught with danger. They must evade or defeat wild beasts, predators, and four legged shadows. It also rumored that tall men exist and may arrive soon. Dyra leads his village with great courage while some grass people await the return of their spiritual leader, Dokrimalitzla, and the restoration of magic.

This is a story about a family in a small village, the grass people. They are tiny and live alongside men, although they rarely come in contact with the big people. The village consists of a few families of the grass people, they all know each other and love traditions.

One day, another grass person arrives from the big town. He wants to know everything about the village's way of life and traditions.. thats where the members of our family get a little suspicious. The son, Hoyim, goes out to find out why all of a sudden there's interest in the little village. He finds out the government of the big village is trying to gain power of all the little villages...

This is a sweet story! Loved the grass people and their traditions. In the beginning it feels like nothing happens for a long while and now I'm done I'm still asking myself, did anything happen? Not really. But it's not boring, just not very eventful. A little troublesome was the great amount of characters, I found I couldn't keep up. The main characters are very relatable and great to follow. You really feel you get to know them.

Anyway, I enjoyed this, would recommend if you love fairy tales and stories as a grown up. Also love the little drawings at the end!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC!

This was an unusual fantasy book that I really liked. It was an intriguing read with great writing, although it was a little tricky to keep track of all the characters. The world building was interesting and I really enjoyed the world overall. The plot was engaging throughout, however I would say that there were too many sub plots going on. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend checking it out, if you are interested.

*I received an ARC by Netgalley but all opinions are my own. The fact that I got to read this book for free does NOT influence my rating. (Thanks for the free book though!)*

I am not sure what to do with this book. There are grasspeople in it, fairies, elves, prophecies, tall people, dangers from wildbeasts (= badgers) and wheelers (= birds), but even after finishing I still have no idea what I just read. Odd. Interesting world building but I couldn't immerse myself into the story as there were too many characters and too many sub-plots. The story somewhat lacked focus it was more of a narrated genealogy plus fantasy. I don't know. 2,5 stars because I actually skipped some pages...

Aside: The cover is beautiful!! I mean, look at it!
Aside 2: The author is over 90 years old. I am very impressed.

Excellent writing was obvious right out the gate. Interesting characters and world-building. I don't much fantasy (which is where I'd put this), but I liked this. I found it engaging and pleasantly complex. Recommended.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy.

This is a charming book reminiscent of the world created in ‘The Little Grey Men’ and ‘Down The Bright Stream’ by BB. Whereas the books by BB are more of an adventure, The Grass People provides the reader with a small slice of history of the characters as they grow older and confront the changes and everyday dangers during their life such as floods, the ‘longbeast’ and the tall men (us humans).
Kay Parley has built a world of the Grass People with their own philosophy, religion and society which should be recommended to any reader of fantasy.

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.

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.

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.

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.