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The Grimm Curse #1-3
The Grimm Curse Trilogy
From the creator of NBC’s acclaimed Grimm series, Stephen Carpenter presents the entire Grimm Curse origin saga collected in one volume, along with special Author’s Notes about the creation and development of the series.
Beginning with Once Upon A Time Is Now, and including The Girl In The Red Hoodie, and Snow White, this collection follows Jake Grimm from troubled teen to manhood as he discovers his destiny and battles the harrowing creatures from the Grimm Tales.
It’s all the Grimm you’ll ever need, in one book.
Beginning with Once Upon A Time Is Now, and including The Girl In The Red Hoodie, and Snow White, this collection follows Jake Grimm from troubled teen to manhood as he discovers his destiny and battles the harrowing creatures from the Grimm Tales.
It’s all the Grimm you’ll ever need, in one book.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2013
89 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 2, 2021
Really enjoyable take on three of the more well-known Grimm Fairy Tales. And as a fan of the TV series, Grimm, I liked the nod to the series with the main character in the books being a hunter (or Grimm). Easy, enjoyable read.
September 12, 2013
I thought that it was a very good book, and that the concept was very creative. I loved this book so much.
July 9, 2018
Easy read, good summer escape
November 10, 2022
The Grimm Curse Trilogy by author Stephen Carpenter. This is wonderful addition to the Grimm saga.it's not a prequel but tells the tale of a young Huntsman learning the trade. This trilogy is an updating of the eternal Grimm's Fairy Tales with more Twists than a plate of spaghetti. Of the three tales my favorite was Snow White the way the characters were brought into the modern world with the use of cell phone and gender swapping was neatly done! Now I'm off to continue the adventures with The Grimm Curse Vellas on Amazon.
March 15, 2020
Jake Grimm Tales
The Brothers Grimm Tales given an updated setting. Jake is a descendant who must protect the town of Woodland from the Otherworld people. The modern twists on the stories of "Hansel & Gretel", "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella " are fascinating. The adaptation of the stories are creative and follow the plots of the originals. The book is entertaining. It definitely hits the horror elements. I would recommend this book.
The Brothers Grimm Tales given an updated setting. Jake is a descendant who must protect the town of Woodland from the Otherworld people. The modern twists on the stories of "Hansel & Gretel", "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella " are fascinating. The adaptation of the stories are creative and follow the plots of the originals. The book is entertaining. It definitely hits the horror elements. I would recommend this book.
May 16, 2020
Grimm fairy tales.
What can I say? I loved book one when I read it that I immediately went & bought this trilogy to devour all 3 books. I wish there were more than just 3. The modern day twists put into these tales of old are just perfect. How does a modern Queen talk to her Mirror? How do you pull children in & fatten them up? You have to read these books to see how this author brought these tales into a new era. These books were great. Don’t take my word for it ...READ IT!
What can I say? I loved book one when I read it that I immediately went & bought this trilogy to devour all 3 books. I wish there were more than just 3. The modern day twists put into these tales of old are just perfect. How does a modern Queen talk to her Mirror? How do you pull children in & fatten them up? You have to read these books to see how this author brought these tales into a new era. These books were great. Don’t take my word for it ...READ IT!
July 21, 2022
Delightfully dark with a touch of hope
Fairy tales never get old, especially when they are as skillfully refashioned as these were. It was an adventure to see Jake "grow up" into his destiny, and who doesn't love to hate an arrogant villain with a cell.phone instead of a mirror? I'll definitely be rereading this one!
Fairy tales never get old, especially when they are as skillfully refashioned as these were. It was an adventure to see Jake "grow up" into his destiny, and who doesn't love to hate an arrogant villain with a cell.phone instead of a mirror? I'll definitely be rereading this one!
September 20, 2025
This is a trilogy of Stephen Carpenter’s Grimm novellas which would eventually become the TV series Grimm. I haven’t seen the series and apparently there’s no connection between the novella characters and the show characters. These were fun, definitely teen-oriented, and would have liked more novellas. Guess I’ll just have to go watch the tv series.
May 9, 2023
Great read!
Great read! Love the twist on the fairy tales. Could have been better edited, but an awesome read. Would have been nice to see a happier ending for Jake, but maybe another book will appear and Jake and Becca will reunite. Stranger things have happened.
Great read! Love the twist on the fairy tales. Could have been better edited, but an awesome read. Would have been nice to see a happier ending for Jake, but maybe another book will appear and Jake and Becca will reunite. Stranger things have happened.
August 20, 2024
The Grimm Curse Trilogy, A Review. LAS
These stories were written by a master storyteller. There's an energy to the writing and the story that kept me reading and finishing the book in one session.
Highly recommend. 5 stars.
These stories were written by a master storyteller. There's an energy to the writing and the story that kept me reading and finishing the book in one session.
Highly recommend. 5 stars.
January 3, 2025
Absorbing Read
The stories in this trilogy are ones we are familiar with, but Carpenter gives them a modern, and at times grisly, twist. The descriptions are enthralling as we watch Jake, the main character, grow in his wisdom of the fairy tales. This book was hard to put down.
The stories in this trilogy are ones we are familiar with, but Carpenter gives them a modern, and at times grisly, twist. The descriptions are enthralling as we watch Jake, the main character, grow in his wisdom of the fairy tales. This book was hard to put down.
March 30, 2024
Grimm but wonderful
The Grimm Curse Trilogy make
s you want more. More from both of the main characters , Jake and Maddie and more evil fairy tales revisited.
The Grimm Curse Trilogy make
s you want more. More from both of the main characters , Jake and Maddie and more evil fairy tales revisited.
March 12, 2022
Tales You Thought You Knew
You know the basis for the stories, but the writing brings them to a modern time. Excellently written and very enjoyable reading.
You know the basis for the stories, but the writing brings them to a modern time. Excellently written and very enjoyable reading.
January 11, 2016
Fairy tales hold a special place in many people's lives, but most don't give too much credence to what the tales tell. But in The Grimm Curse Trilogy by Stephen Carpenter, what's portrayed in the tales is of the utmost importance to survival.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Jake Grimm has spend the first 14 years of his life away from any real family, not even knowing that he has an uncle still living in a small town in Oregon. When Jake is finally fed up with his foster parents and runs away to the town he was born in, his reality is forever shifted. Arriving in town a few days after the death of his Uncle Eustace, Jake is confronted with knowing no one in town and having no place to go--that is, until Miss Madeline, a fellow teen and apprentice to Eustace, takes Jake under her wing and shows him the ropes of his heritage. Coming to grips that fairy tale creatures exist is one thing, but battling against them to keep unsuspecting humans safe? It's a bit much to ask, but it needs to be done. Covering tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White, the trilogy follows Jake's evolving skills and experiences.
An enjoyably quick read, there were plenty of the "original" aspects to the tales that Carpenter played off of in building his version of reality. I think that it's an interesting take on the tales but it was also reminiscent of NBC's Grimm with a particular family line able to see and fight off the evils of the creatures from the tales. As a whole, the writing was pretty solid and true to character, but there was a rather large jump in age from the first two books to the third, which was a bit jarring--as was the difference in cars that Jake has between them--and had me question the continuity, which could have easily been remedied in a few select lines.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Jake Grimm has spend the first 14 years of his life away from any real family, not even knowing that he has an uncle still living in a small town in Oregon. When Jake is finally fed up with his foster parents and runs away to the town he was born in, his reality is forever shifted. Arriving in town a few days after the death of his Uncle Eustace, Jake is confronted with knowing no one in town and having no place to go--that is, until Miss Madeline, a fellow teen and apprentice to Eustace, takes Jake under her wing and shows him the ropes of his heritage. Coming to grips that fairy tale creatures exist is one thing, but battling against them to keep unsuspecting humans safe? It's a bit much to ask, but it needs to be done. Covering tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White, the trilogy follows Jake's evolving skills and experiences.
An enjoyably quick read, there were plenty of the "original" aspects to the tales that Carpenter played off of in building his version of reality. I think that it's an interesting take on the tales but it was also reminiscent of NBC's Grimm with a particular family line able to see and fight off the evils of the creatures from the tales. As a whole, the writing was pretty solid and true to character, but there was a rather large jump in age from the first two books to the third, which was a bit jarring--as was the difference in cars that Jake has between them--and had me question the continuity, which could have easily been remedied in a few select lines.
December 6, 2015
I was intrigued by this, mainly because I love the show Grimm, and wanted to see how Stephen Carpenter originally conceived of the story before the Hollywood writers got their hands on it.
Well, I'm very glad the Hollywood writers did get their hands on it. The premise of the Grimm curse works much better as played out on TV than in this book.
Though maybe I'm unfair in comparing the book to the TV show. So let's take the show out of the equation. This book was really three novellas telling three different stories. It's a coming-of-age story of Jake Grimm, who discovered he was a foster care child and runs away to find his real family. At least I assume he was in foster care - the author kept saying he was "adopted" though why his adopted family would get checks from the CPS is beyond me.
The writing was a bit amateurish, and the plots, particularly for the first book, went by too fast and verged on info-dumping at times. The stories would have benefited greatly from more fleshing out and turning each section into a full novel.
However, I did really enjoy the world building, and the premise. And I really liked that last story, "Snow White." I wish Carpenter had spent more time talking about the "templates" that the Otherworld creatures and their victims tended to adhere to - instead, it was mentioned vaguely, and you read between the lines to realize that the templates were the old Grimm fairy tales. But why? And why was the current Grimm's birthplace where the Otherworld congregated - what happened when a Grimm died somewhere that wasn't the new Otherworld center, or what happened before there were Grimms?
Well, I'm very glad the Hollywood writers did get their hands on it. The premise of the Grimm curse works much better as played out on TV than in this book.
Though maybe I'm unfair in comparing the book to the TV show. So let's take the show out of the equation. This book was really three novellas telling three different stories. It's a coming-of-age story of Jake Grimm, who discovered he was a foster care child and runs away to find his real family. At least I assume he was in foster care - the author kept saying he was "adopted" though why his adopted family would get checks from the CPS is beyond me.
The writing was a bit amateurish, and the plots, particularly for the first book, went by too fast and verged on info-dumping at times. The stories would have benefited greatly from more fleshing out and turning each section into a full novel.
However, I did really enjoy the world building, and the premise. And I really liked that last story, "Snow White." I wish Carpenter had spent more time talking about the "templates" that the Otherworld creatures and their victims tended to adhere to - instead, it was mentioned vaguely, and you read between the lines to realize that the templates were the old Grimm fairy tales. But why? And why was the current Grimm's birthplace where the Otherworld congregated - what happened when a Grimm died somewhere that wasn't the new Otherworld center, or what happened before there were Grimms?
December 7, 2015
These aren't your childhood stories
I got this book because I am a fan of the television series, Grimm. Then as I started reading it I realized that it wasn't exactly like the series, but it had a certain style to it that was appealing to my taste in supernatural/horror stories. The hero is a bit reluctant to take on the mantle of a hunter of the Others, but he does because it is his destiny. Now I have a problem with the hero being a teenager, who is way smarter than an adult in the story. In this book that is not the case. Jake Grimm is a teenager, who has the job more or less forced on him by his late Uncle Eustace, The Hunter before Jake. Jake has a lot to learn before the three stories in this book end. If you are looking for the fairytales of your childhood don't look here they aren't them. There is a bit more of an edge to these due to their modern settings. I would recommend this book to anybody, who likes tale that has a bit of humor to offset the carnage.
I got this book because I am a fan of the television series, Grimm. Then as I started reading it I realized that it wasn't exactly like the series, but it had a certain style to it that was appealing to my taste in supernatural/horror stories. The hero is a bit reluctant to take on the mantle of a hunter of the Others, but he does because it is his destiny. Now I have a problem with the hero being a teenager, who is way smarter than an adult in the story. In this book that is not the case. Jake Grimm is a teenager, who has the job more or less forced on him by his late Uncle Eustace, The Hunter before Jake. Jake has a lot to learn before the three stories in this book end. If you are looking for the fairytales of your childhood don't look here they aren't them. There is a bit more of an edge to these due to their modern settings. I would recommend this book to anybody, who likes tale that has a bit of humor to offset the carnage.
December 28, 2015
Two/thirds OK
I enjoyed the first two novellas. I appreciated the attempt to update the stories, but I think adding as much bloody gore as possible was more fun for the author than it was for this reader. I think the author wasn't able to escape writing his characters as cliches, however; and perhaps that wasn't his intent. Does every young hero in the making have to start out tall and skinny and wind up with the body of a superhero? But those aren't the cliches which really irked me. The third novella was based on a pun and cliche based character thoroughly denigrating to gay men. If a "fairy" tale is based on a wicked and jealous stepmother who just happens to be a Queen, why not reverse genders and turn the villain gay? But just because one can, should one? I think the author should ask young men like some I teach, who have been bullied throughout adolescence because of their sexuality.
I enjoyed the first two novellas. I appreciated the attempt to update the stories, but I think adding as much bloody gore as possible was more fun for the author than it was for this reader. I think the author wasn't able to escape writing his characters as cliches, however; and perhaps that wasn't his intent. Does every young hero in the making have to start out tall and skinny and wind up with the body of a superhero? But those aren't the cliches which really irked me. The third novella was based on a pun and cliche based character thoroughly denigrating to gay men. If a "fairy" tale is based on a wicked and jealous stepmother who just happens to be a Queen, why not reverse genders and turn the villain gay? But just because one can, should one? I think the author should ask young men like some I teach, who have been bullied throughout adolescence because of their sexuality.
March 21, 2015
The Grimm Curse Trilogy
The first story seemed a bit amateurish which I thought was rather surprising considering Stephen Carpenter's background. I'm not sure if it's just the first time he tried his hand at YA novels or what (i have not read his other series). The series does get a bit better if you have patience. However the final book seemed to end rather abruptly. There is not a huge amount of character development aside from repeating what has been said about the characters in previous books. The world building is pretty basic and again is repeated throughout the series. I'm not sure how much I would recommend this book. If you like new twists on fairy tales you might enjoy this. I don't know if I would be interested in reading further books by Carpenter, maybe if they were free.
The first story seemed a bit amateurish which I thought was rather surprising considering Stephen Carpenter's background. I'm not sure if it's just the first time he tried his hand at YA novels or what (i have not read his other series). The series does get a bit better if you have patience. However the final book seemed to end rather abruptly. There is not a huge amount of character development aside from repeating what has been said about the characters in previous books. The world building is pretty basic and again is repeated throughout the series. I'm not sure how much I would recommend this book. If you like new twists on fairy tales you might enjoy this. I don't know if I would be interested in reading further books by Carpenter, maybe if they were free.
November 12, 2014
Didn't know who this author was or that he was connected in anyway with the TV show. I've never watched it either though I just might after reading this book.
It's a story of Jake Grimm - last living descendant of the the Brothers Grimm - only he doesn't know it yet. It centres around Jake finding out who he is and what he has to learn/do to replace his uncle Eustace as "the Huntsman" keeping all the faeries in check, cause they ain't no tales, they are real.
I loved this. It's supernatural and full of pace. It's certainly not the gruesome, gory type of book I would normally go for but a nice read. Well recommend.
It's a story of Jake Grimm - last living descendant of the the Brothers Grimm - only he doesn't know it yet. It centres around Jake finding out who he is and what he has to learn/do to replace his uncle Eustace as "the Huntsman" keeping all the faeries in check, cause they ain't no tales, they are real.
I loved this. It's supernatural and full of pace. It's certainly not the gruesome, gory type of book I would normally go for but a nice read. Well recommend.
August 15, 2014
I had previously read the middle story of this trilogy "Girl in the Red Hoodie" all on its own and didn't really like it. I made some crack in my review about vampires which really was just a catch-all for fantasy/Otherworldly creatures. After being questioned about my review, I discovered to my surprize that there were two other parts to the story, and, though I love the TV series Grimm, I hadn't made the connection with Stephen Carpenter, its writer. Suffice it to say, after having read "Hoodie" in context, I like the trilogy quite well, though it is pretty gory at times.
March 24, 2013
I was very happy to read The Girl in the Red Hoodie and Grimm Curse: Snow White after enjoying the first tale Once Upon a Time is Now. I was not disappointed! Red Hoodie gave a great perspective of what the creature was thinking and feeling. The unusual twist to the Snow White story which I won't give away was very interesting and original. I do hope Stephen Carpenter writes some more installments because I would love to go on more adventures with Jake and Madeleine.
November 12, 2016
Accomplishes what it sets out to do
In other words, would definitely be suitable and appealing to preteen boys. As a middle-aged mom, I didn't hate it. I found parts of it fun and interesting. But, too juvenile for me. Surprise, surprise.
DISCLAIMER: I only read the first of the trilogy, "Once Upon A Time Is Now."
In other words, would definitely be suitable and appealing to preteen boys. As a middle-aged mom, I didn't hate it. I found parts of it fun and interesting. But, too juvenile for me. Surprise, surprise.
DISCLAIMER: I only read the first of the trilogy, "Once Upon A Time Is Now."
August 1, 2013
Meh. Great premise (as others have pointed out, it's VERY similar to the premise of the TV series; I haven't cared enough to dig to try to find out if one is based on the other officially or not, or which came first), but I wasn't at all impressed with the actual writing.
August 30, 2013
This was amazing! Three short stories about the idea of fighting things that came from fairy tales. I would suggest it to anyone who enjoys watching the TV series Grimm or anyone who enjoys reading fairy tale parodies or twisted fairy tales.
July 15, 2014
Awesome
I really like the awesome twists and bends to the classic fairly tales the 3 stories made! I can say these are modernly awesome with a classic base fairly tales... just what I like!
I really like the awesome twists and bends to the classic fairly tales the 3 stories made! I can say these are modernly awesome with a classic base fairly tales... just what I like!
May 5, 2013
I enjoyed all of the trilogy and could not put my kindle down. I would love to see more from Carpenter in the future.
May 15, 2013
I enjoyed the three stories. I wish the stories were longer. Don't know if Grimm is still on or not. If so would defiantly want to watch.
June 10, 2013
Fairly good. I can see where the concept of Grimm comes in. The story is a quick, easy read. Character development is slow, but steady and reveals growth in "real" time.
August 17, 2014
Once upon a time is now...
April 20, 2015
Fun read. Great concept. Wish for more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews