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Grimoires of London
Grimoires of London 1
A wizard's mansion. A menagerie of magical creatures. One grimoire bonded to a seemingly ordinary young man from London.
When Joe Ramsey took a job in a quaint yet otherwise ordinary part of London, the last thing he expected to find was a house filled to the brim with magic. The peculiar man who called himself a wizard has now offered Joe a job. He's to be caretaker to the magical creatures who live in the wizard's house.
It's not long, however, before Joe finds himself bonded with one such a grimoire. Good thing, too, because if he's going to ensure all the other creatures remain safe on the grounds, he'll need to learn magic.
And if there's one thing the grimoire can teach him, it's magic.
But the grimoire holds other secrets, ones the darker side of the supernatural world would do anything to uncover.
When Joe Ramsey took a job in a quaint yet otherwise ordinary part of London, the last thing he expected to find was a house filled to the brim with magic. The peculiar man who called himself a wizard has now offered Joe a job. He's to be caretaker to the magical creatures who live in the wizard's house.
It's not long, however, before Joe finds himself bonded with one such a grimoire. Good thing, too, because if he's going to ensure all the other creatures remain safe on the grounds, he'll need to learn magic.
And if there's one thing the grimoire can teach him, it's magic.
But the grimoire holds other secrets, ones the darker side of the supernatural world would do anything to uncover.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2023
365 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 23, 2023
I was hoping that I’d like this better than I did
So do the familiars not have any choice in who they bond with? Could Grim not simply chose not to bond with Lucius despite everyone’s machinations?
Doesn’t the fact that Joe could bond with Grim mean that he’s not a prole? And what, exactly, is the point that the Iron Order is trying to accomplish? They want to control the UK, but don’t they already basically do so? What will being openly in charge get them that they don’t already have? And what are the chances that they will continue to have such influence once it’s out in the open? If they get what they want, wouldn’t the EU, the USA, and most of the rest of the world sanction them into a completely ruined economy and resultant loss of influence?
So do the familiars not have any choice in who they bond with? Could Grim not simply chose not to bond with Lucius despite everyone’s machinations?
Doesn’t the fact that Joe could bond with Grim mean that he’s not a prole? And what, exactly, is the point that the Iron Order is trying to accomplish? They want to control the UK, but don’t they already basically do so? What will being openly in charge get them that they don’t already have? And what are the chances that they will continue to have such influence once it’s out in the open? If they get what they want, wouldn’t the EU, the USA, and most of the rest of the world sanction them into a completely ruined economy and resultant loss of influence?
August 30, 2023
Very underrated, underhyped book! A young boy becomes an apprentice of a wizard and bonds with an unexpected magical creature. Read to explore more! They live in a magical castle and have dwarves and trolls as maids and cooks. Very wholesome magical vibes! AND the dialogues are so funny and incredibly whimsical!
January 4, 2024
Not Dreadful, Just Not As Exhilarating As Expected
I’ve determined, in order to provide the best review possible, I need to start with the ending, rather than the beginning.
The closer I had gotten to finishing book 1, the more disappointed I became. It just felt as if things could’ve progressed on a more dramatic and faster level than they had.
There’s a lot of unnecessary filler and fluff (personal pet peeve) that does nothing more than add page count. I’m usually not one for overly complex, dramatic scenes, one after the other, but in reality, this one could’ve use a good swift kick to speed it up, and make it more appealing quite a few times in the course of progression.
For myself, one of the most distressing components, is that the final wrap-up is overly complex and dramatic, with one intense punch right after another.
Whereas the pacing throughout the majority of the book has rambled along at a sluggish jaunt, suddenly it seems as if you’re whipped into the death throes of rapid fire nonstop, over the edge action. I kept having to stop and come back later, in order to just take a breather, and to process all that was suddenly happening.
This is listed as Epic, Paranormal and Urban Fantasy. I’m personally of the opine it would’ve been better suited under Coming Of Age Fantasy, more so than any of the ones it’s listed under.
It’s obviously also meant for a younger generation than I fit into, but that doesn’t make subpar content any less acceptable.
If anything, I’m entirely convinced it should be knocked up a notch in order to grab the younger audience early on toward the thrills, exhilaration, and stimulation, in which reading can provide!
As with most Fantasy novels, regardless of the subgenres, all the typical tropes are present, which is generally predictable, and this one is no different.
I didn’t get a strong sense of character or world-building either, which is always a key component in the genre of Fantasy. I myself like to sink into a new world, and fall in love with the MC’s I intend to be reading about in the unveiling of a series. Don’t most of us that prefer this genre??
None of this was enough to put me off in continuing with the series though. In a week or so, I’ll pick up the next one, and move forward. Just not right away.
I’ve determined, in order to provide the best review possible, I need to start with the ending, rather than the beginning.
The closer I had gotten to finishing book 1, the more disappointed I became. It just felt as if things could’ve progressed on a more dramatic and faster level than they had.
There’s a lot of unnecessary filler and fluff (personal pet peeve) that does nothing more than add page count. I’m usually not one for overly complex, dramatic scenes, one after the other, but in reality, this one could’ve use a good swift kick to speed it up, and make it more appealing quite a few times in the course of progression.
For myself, one of the most distressing components, is that the final wrap-up is overly complex and dramatic, with one intense punch right after another.
Whereas the pacing throughout the majority of the book has rambled along at a sluggish jaunt, suddenly it seems as if you’re whipped into the death throes of rapid fire nonstop, over the edge action. I kept having to stop and come back later, in order to just take a breather, and to process all that was suddenly happening.
This is listed as Epic, Paranormal and Urban Fantasy. I’m personally of the opine it would’ve been better suited under Coming Of Age Fantasy, more so than any of the ones it’s listed under.
It’s obviously also meant for a younger generation than I fit into, but that doesn’t make subpar content any less acceptable.
If anything, I’m entirely convinced it should be knocked up a notch in order to grab the younger audience early on toward the thrills, exhilaration, and stimulation, in which reading can provide!
As with most Fantasy novels, regardless of the subgenres, all the typical tropes are present, which is generally predictable, and this one is no different.
I didn’t get a strong sense of character or world-building either, which is always a key component in the genre of Fantasy. I myself like to sink into a new world, and fall in love with the MC’s I intend to be reading about in the unveiling of a series. Don’t most of us that prefer this genre??
None of this was enough to put me off in continuing with the series though. In a week or so, I’ll pick up the next one, and move forward. Just not right away.
April 22, 2025
Some good ideas and pacing, but the humour felt somewhat forced.
October 21, 2025
One of the (possibly unintentially) funniest books I've read in a long time. It's not a comedy. it's a magical page turner that holds its own. But the one-liners and self deprication of British "Tofferry" thrown in add an extra something that makes it even more of a read worth adding to the list.
August 21, 2023
Grimoires of London, Book 1, by DB King.
I read a fair bit of YA fantasy, and sometimes note “Designated as YA but Great for Grownups!” This YA novel.... well, it’s a YA novel! Very (very!) Harry Potter-like.
Joe, the main character, is out of high school, so likely 18-20 years old. Joe is apprenticed to his Uncle Steve, working in Uncle Steve’s HVAC company. Like everyone else, Joe knows that magic is not real. Until the day when he finds himself in a strange house that is just filled with magic... and then the wizard offers him a job as caretaker for the magical menagerie caged in the basement of the house.
Every witch and wizard bonds to a magical creature. (Everyone knows that, right?) But to everyone’s surprise, Joe bonds with a magical grimoire – perhaps the most powerful of all magical creatures.
Of course there are bad guys – a whole organization of them. Of course there are battles – lots of battles.
Overall... a very easy read, but I won’t be going back for the sequel. (But this book would make an *excellent* gift for a young reader!)
I read a fair bit of YA fantasy, and sometimes note “Designated as YA but Great for Grownups!” This YA novel.... well, it’s a YA novel! Very (very!) Harry Potter-like.
Joe, the main character, is out of high school, so likely 18-20 years old. Joe is apprenticed to his Uncle Steve, working in Uncle Steve’s HVAC company. Like everyone else, Joe knows that magic is not real. Until the day when he finds himself in a strange house that is just filled with magic... and then the wizard offers him a job as caretaker for the magical menagerie caged in the basement of the house.
Every witch and wizard bonds to a magical creature. (Everyone knows that, right?) But to everyone’s surprise, Joe bonds with a magical grimoire – perhaps the most powerful of all magical creatures.
Of course there are bad guys – a whole organization of them. Of course there are battles – lots of battles.
Overall... a very easy read, but I won’t be going back for the sequel. (But this book would make an *excellent* gift for a young reader!)
January 12, 2025
Absolutely wonderful.
Great storytelling. Has made me properly snort with laughter a few times and it’s been a while since a books done that. Slightly different and interesting take on wizardry which helps build its own world. Really enjoying it so much more than I expected. How this book is not known by everyone and on the shelves in local bookstores and supermarkets is shocking to me.
Really enjoyable book with some real good lore throughout.
Great storytelling. Has made me properly snort with laughter a few times and it’s been a while since a books done that. Slightly different and interesting take on wizardry which helps build its own world. Really enjoying it so much more than I expected. How this book is not known by everyone and on the shelves in local bookstores and supermarkets is shocking to me.
Really enjoyable book with some real good lore throughout.
December 27, 2023
Almost brilliant
I liked this book, the story is fun and it’s well written. Had a bit of a fantastic beasts feel to start with which I loved and I thought it would develop in a similar vein, but in the end it was just too American and lost its authenticity.
The book is supposed to be set in London with the main character a Londoner, but after too many Americanisms crept in it stopped being charming and just felt like a cheap knock off of itself. For a start, we don’t even use the term HVAC!
The story became too Hollywood simplistic: beat the bad guy who is overly black & white evil whilst giving ‘fun’ quips and awful cliche cockney references (like all Brits are all slapstick parodies) and it all resolves neatly ready for the next instalment.
That in itself would be ok if it was done really cleverly, and it’s not done badly but there are too many see through moments-like the ‘im sorry for my past behaviour’ bro talk at the end as heavy handed character development.
It’s annoying because there is a lot that was great & innovative and it was overall enjoyable, but I actually preferred it before the story ramped up. The slower paced beginning was more detailed and vibrant in the mind than the action section which dropped quality for pace.
It probably wouldn’t have annoyed me so much if it was set in the US, but if you’re going to set something in London it needs to always feel like it should be there, rather than just occasionally.
It’s so close to being a Harry Potter esque novel, and could be just as good if it stayed on the path it started & developed ideas a little more rather than just tearing off into big fights. It seemed dumbed down in places, whereas HP doesn’t.
I liked this book, the story is fun and it’s well written. Had a bit of a fantastic beasts feel to start with which I loved and I thought it would develop in a similar vein, but in the end it was just too American and lost its authenticity.
The book is supposed to be set in London with the main character a Londoner, but after too many Americanisms crept in it stopped being charming and just felt like a cheap knock off of itself. For a start, we don’t even use the term HVAC!
The story became too Hollywood simplistic: beat the bad guy who is overly black & white evil whilst giving ‘fun’ quips and awful cliche cockney references (like all Brits are all slapstick parodies) and it all resolves neatly ready for the next instalment.
That in itself would be ok if it was done really cleverly, and it’s not done badly but there are too many see through moments-like the ‘im sorry for my past behaviour’ bro talk at the end as heavy handed character development.
It’s annoying because there is a lot that was great & innovative and it was overall enjoyable, but I actually preferred it before the story ramped up. The slower paced beginning was more detailed and vibrant in the mind than the action section which dropped quality for pace.
It probably wouldn’t have annoyed me so much if it was set in the US, but if you’re going to set something in London it needs to always feel like it should be there, rather than just occasionally.
It’s so close to being a Harry Potter esque novel, and could be just as good if it stayed on the path it started & developed ideas a little more rather than just tearing off into big fights. It seemed dumbed down in places, whereas HP doesn’t.
August 3, 2023
brilliant new series, sharp wit and beautiful world crafting
This book was a stonking good read, a new series of books that I am sure will only go from strength to strength. The first chapter had me laughing like only Douglas Adams and Jasper Carrot have achieved previously, real world observations that do not ridicule or belittle the sources so much as celebrate them.
The world crafting was skillfully described and now we understand the mechanics of the situation I am sure we will encounter the team in more scrapes going forward. The story did give more than a passing nod to an adventure video game but this was acknowledged and embraced - there is a reason why this format is addictive 😊
The author has a style that I could read all day, I’m looking forward to consuming more of their work. Hats off to the editor, I did not notice a single typo or grammar error in the whole book, a rarity in the current climate of self-published books.
This book was a stonking good read, a new series of books that I am sure will only go from strength to strength. The first chapter had me laughing like only Douglas Adams and Jasper Carrot have achieved previously, real world observations that do not ridicule or belittle the sources so much as celebrate them.
The world crafting was skillfully described and now we understand the mechanics of the situation I am sure we will encounter the team in more scrapes going forward. The story did give more than a passing nod to an adventure video game but this was acknowledged and embraced - there is a reason why this format is addictive 😊
The author has a style that I could read all day, I’m looking forward to consuming more of their work. Hats off to the editor, I did not notice a single typo or grammar error in the whole book, a rarity in the current climate of self-published books.
May 29, 2023
Magic and magical creatures? Yes, please!
Huge fun. I really enjoyed the characters, humour and adventure. The magic system is very interesting and gives the novel interest and some originality.
I hope the characters and their relationships develop further in future books. It would be good to gain a better understanding of the Iron Order so they appear less like a cartoon bad guy and more a real threat.
I look forward to the next in the series.
Huge fun. I really enjoyed the characters, humour and adventure. The magic system is very interesting and gives the novel interest and some originality.
I hope the characters and their relationships develop further in future books. It would be good to gain a better understanding of the Iron Order so they appear less like a cartoon bad guy and more a real threat.
I look forward to the next in the series.
February 1, 2025
4.5
I really enjoyed this book and plan to read the next 2 immediately.
I only took 1/2 star because of the overuse of the word "sardonic".
Magic, hilarious creatures/characters, London and an interesting and new plot/type of magic.
The book is heavy on descriptions, which I love, that would make it an excellent book to read aloud.
I could "see" every detail of this book and loved all of it.
I really enjoyed this book and plan to read the next 2 immediately.
I only took 1/2 star because of the overuse of the word "sardonic".
Magic, hilarious creatures/characters, London and an interesting and new plot/type of magic.
The book is heavy on descriptions, which I love, that would make it an excellent book to read aloud.
I could "see" every detail of this book and loved all of it.
June 1, 2024
This one was just okay. It was an interesting idea or take on magic and how everything is done. Typical idea of bad guys trying to take over the world with magic because they don't like the current conforming ideology.
The talking book as the grimoire was a fantastic character.
Buuuutttt...
I had absolutely no need to read the next books.
Hope you like it more than I did.
The talking book as the grimoire was a fantastic character.
Buuuutttt...
I had absolutely no need to read the next books.
Hope you like it more than I did.
April 16, 2023
This was, to quote a fictional magical character "bloody brilliant". The modern-day, urban setting sets it apart from other book by the same author. It's a very welcome change of pace with fun characters and great world-building. I can't wait for book 2
May 25, 2023
More please!
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I like how Joe catches on fast and how brave he is. I was surprised the betrayal at the end and I need more. Please please write a sequel to this one!
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I like how Joe catches on fast and how brave he is. I was surprised the betrayal at the end and I need more. Please please write a sequel to this one!
August 20, 2023
Excellent start to a new series
I very much enjoyed this book for its interesting characters, good dialogue, and sense of humour. I found it refreshingly non-formulaic, with a good bit of action and over the top villains.
I very much enjoyed this book for its interesting characters, good dialogue, and sense of humour. I found it refreshingly non-formulaic, with a good bit of action and over the top villains.
February 8, 2024
Excellent
Really good read. Humorous and adventurous all at the same time! Loved the characters. Can't wait to see how they develop and am looking forward to the next part of the adventure and magic of course!
Really good read. Humorous and adventurous all at the same time! Loved the characters. Can't wait to see how they develop and am looking forward to the next part of the adventure and magic of course!
March 7, 2024
This book was such a slog to get through which was so disappointing after reading the blurb and the reviews.. A really cool premise and interesting story but the writing style was like wading through mud
Read
May 9, 2024DNF
This was a bit of a struggle for me. I tried but personally there was a lot of unnecessary language to wade through. So much description with nothing actually happening as well as one sided conversations that hinted at something but led nowhere. Not my cup of tea.
This was a bit of a struggle for me. I tried but personally there was a lot of unnecessary language to wade through. So much description with nothing actually happening as well as one sided conversations that hinted at something but led nowhere. Not my cup of tea.
May 22, 2024
DNF 35% The high rating for this book is frankly baffling. So much tell not show. Flat characters, zero tension, magical cliches strewn about. All it needs is tea and cakes and it’d be firmly in cozy territory.
So, in summary, if you hadn’t guessed, not for me!
So, in summary, if you hadn’t guessed, not for me!
April 12, 2023
Hrimoires of london
Good read enjoyed the characters and the ßtoryline flowed well. Looking forward to book hope it isnt to long in coming and is as good as the first.
Good read enjoyed the characters and the ßtoryline flowed well. Looking forward to book hope it isnt to long in coming and is as good as the first.
April 14, 2023
Interesting plot line
I really liked this plot line and the characters were wonderfully snarky. I hope the stories continue in pursuit of the other grimoires.
I really liked this plot line and the characters were wonderfully snarky. I hope the stories continue in pursuit of the other grimoires.
April 14, 2023
More please!
I really enjoyed this one, and can't wait to see what's next for the characters involved! Good story, good banter, and all around a good book.
I really enjoyed this one, and can't wait to see what's next for the characters involved! Good story, good banter, and all around a good book.
May 16, 2023
This was an absolutely phenomenal book to listen to and I look forward to hearing the next one when it does come out. Loved the narrator that was chosen for the job. They did an awesome job. :)
June 8, 2023
Jolly Good
As a Yank that lived and worked in London for more than thirty years, much fun but the use of London/Cockney is well off. Me ol' china!
As a Yank that lived and worked in London for more than thirty years, much fun but the use of London/Cockney is well off. Me ol' china!
June 14, 2023
It was cute I kept putting it down for others so it didn't hold my interest
June 18, 2023
Was a goodread
I enjoyed this book. For most part time got away from me. There were a few parts that dragged a long. Wonder what the next one will be like.
I enjoyed this book. For most part time got away from me. There were a few parts that dragged a long. Wonder what the next one will be like.
February 19, 2024
Cracking read
Strong characters, great story. Plenty of humour and excitement. Plot moves at a good pace. Thoroughly enjoyable read. Looking forward to more
Strong characters, great story. Plenty of humour and excitement. Plot moves at a good pace. Thoroughly enjoyable read. Looking forward to more
May 30, 2024
Cardboard characters, poor writing. And hey - whoever told D.B.King that people in London talk like that, lied to you, ok?
September 7, 2024
great fun
A lighthearted romp full of magical creatures, combat, and hilarity set in London. What a great book. Off to read the next one.
A lighthearted romp full of magical creatures, combat, and hilarity set in London. What a great book. Off to read the next one.
October 1, 2024
Charming characters, a fun premise that escalated a little too fast for me but over all enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews