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Grimm - Grumme eventyr genfortalt #1
Grimmové: Ponuré pohádky převyprávěné pro staré i mladé
Autoři si vybrali deset pohádek bratří Grimmů a předkládají nám je v podobě, v jaké je zpravidla neznáme. Bratři Grimmové svoje pohádky poprvé uveřejnili v letech 1812 a 1815 a v pozdějších vydáních mnohé z nich upravovali a uhlazovali, aby nebyly tak děsivé a pohoršlivé a lépe vyhovovaly dobovému vkusu vztahujícímu se na četbu pro děti. Většina čtenářů tyto pohádky zná ve verzích z posledního vydání bratří Grimmů z roku 1857. Z mnohých příběhů se ale za více než století a půl vytratila původní síla, nezkrotnost a drsnost. Autoři se v této knize vracejí k původním verzím a zároveň je vypravují vlastním hlasem, který mocně zesiluje světově proslulý a nezaměnitelný kreslíř John Kenn Mortensen.
236 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2018
About the author
Kenneth Bøgh Andersen
84 books299 followersI was born in Denmark on a dark and stormy night in November 1976. I began writing when I was a teenager. My first book was a really awful horror novel titled Nidhug's Slaves. It didn't get published. Luckily.
During the next 7 years, I wrote nearly 20 novels-all of which were rejected-while working as a school teacher. The rest of the time I spent writing.
In 2000 I published my debut fantasy book, The Battle of Caïssa, and that's when things really took off. Since then I've published more than thirty-five books for children and young adults in genres ranging from fantasy to horror and science fiction.
My books have been translated into more than 15 languages and my series about the superhero Antboy has been adapted for film, which is available on Netflix. An animated tv series is currently in development.
A musical of The Devil's Apprentice opens in the fall 2018 and the movie rights for the series have also been optioned.
I live in Copenhagen with my wife, two boys, a dog named Milo and spiders in the basement.
You can read more on my English website www.kennethbandersen.com
During the next 7 years, I wrote nearly 20 novels-all of which were rejected-while working as a school teacher. The rest of the time I spent writing.
In 2000 I published my debut fantasy book, The Battle of Caïssa, and that's when things really took off. Since then I've published more than thirty-five books for children and young adults in genres ranging from fantasy to horror and science fiction.
My books have been translated into more than 15 languages and my series about the superhero Antboy has been adapted for film, which is available on Netflix. An animated tv series is currently in development.
A musical of The Devil's Apprentice opens in the fall 2018 and the movie rights for the series have also been optioned.
I live in Copenhagen with my wife, two boys, a dog named Milo and spiders in the basement.
You can read more on my English website www.kennethbandersen.com
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May 17, 2026I received this book through NetGalley.
GRIMM: Book One was as dark as I expected. This is not the cute, cleaned-up version of fairy tales. These stories have that unsettling Grimm feeling, which is so much better than the watered-down Disney versions.
I liked that it started with Hansel and Gretel, something familiar, but then also included stories I had never heard before, like The Singing Bone. That made the collection more interesting for me because it was not just the same fairy tales being retold again.
The atmosphere was a strong part. It had that old, eerie, something-is-definitely-wrong feeling through most of the stories. Some worked better for me than others, which I expect with any short story collection, but the overall darker tone stayed consistent.
The illustrations were also great. They added to the creepy gothic feel and made the collection stand out even more.
Overall, this was a good dark fairy tale collection. I’d recommend it to readers who like Grimm stories, dark folklore, eerie short stories, illustrated books, and fairy tales that do not always come with a happily ever after.
GRIMM: Book One was as dark as I expected. This is not the cute, cleaned-up version of fairy tales. These stories have that unsettling Grimm feeling, which is so much better than the watered-down Disney versions.
I liked that it started with Hansel and Gretel, something familiar, but then also included stories I had never heard before, like The Singing Bone. That made the collection more interesting for me because it was not just the same fairy tales being retold again.
The atmosphere was a strong part. It had that old, eerie, something-is-definitely-wrong feeling through most of the stories. Some worked better for me than others, which I expect with any short story collection, but the overall darker tone stayed consistent.
The illustrations were also great. They added to the creepy gothic feel and made the collection stand out even more.
Overall, this was a good dark fairy tale collection. I’d recommend it to readers who like Grimm stories, dark folklore, eerie short stories, illustrated books, and fairy tales that do not always come with a happily ever after.
December 24, 2024
Ak mate radi rozpravky, ale nehladate nic sladke, nestitite sa kanibalizmu, rozsekanych tiel v kadi plnej krvi, rodicov ktori nemaju problem svojim detom odtat ruky zo sebeckych dovodov, tak tato kniha je stvorena pre vas... P.S. Karkulka si zamiluje "fazulovu" polievku, ktoru ale nevarila jej babicka :^[
December 30, 2023
Pohádky mi nepřipadají ani tak hrozné, Andersen mi připadá bezútěšnější . Nebýt těch děsivých obrázků, tak mi nejhororovější připadal Jeníček s Mařenkou. Kdyby to mělo být zfilmované, asi vyhraje děsivostí Bezručka.
Inu, ony jsou ty nejznámější pohádky docela drsné, ale většinou aspoň dobro vítězí a zlo je potrestáno. Ne jako u Andersena, kde holčička se sirkami umrzne, nebo děťátko je "do týdne na márách". Takže za sebe vybírám Grimmy před Andersenem.
Inu, ony jsou ty nejznámější pohádky docela drsné, ale většinou aspoň dobro vítězí a zlo je potrestáno. Ne jako u Andersena, kde holčička se sirkami umrzne, nebo děťátko je "do týdne na márách". Takže za sebe vybírám Grimmy před Andersenem.
May 25, 2026
This is a beautifully written and illustrated book of fairy tales. I love to read the classic fairy tales because they're all so different and it's wonderful for the imagination.
October 17, 2019
Jeg forventede faktisk mere grusomhed. Der var et par af eventyrene jeg ikke kendte, såsom Den syngende knogle, men de fleste af dem har jeg læst før og jeg synes ikke umiddelbart at jeg bemærkede nogen forskel i “grumhed” i forhold til de andre udgaver, jeg har læst.
Når det så er sagt, så kunne jeg godt lide bogen. Jeg er vild med når eventyrsamlinger tager de “klassiske” folkeeventyr og bringer mindre kendte historier frem, såsom “Røverbrudgommen” som kan lige så meget som de velkendte (eller måske ikke så velkendte) fortællinger som “Hans og Grete” og “Rødhætte”.
Et must-have for eventyrelskere og jeg glæder mig til bind 2.
Når det så er sagt, så kunne jeg godt lide bogen. Jeg er vild med når eventyrsamlinger tager de “klassiske” folkeeventyr og bringer mindre kendte historier frem, såsom “Røverbrudgommen” som kan lige så meget som de velkendte (eller måske ikke så velkendte) fortællinger som “Hans og Grete” og “Rødhætte”.
Et must-have for eventyrelskere og jeg glæder mig til bind 2.
April 20, 2024
Asi jsem čekal trošku víc :(
Knížka je to pěkná, perfektní jsou ilustrace, a kdyby byly všechny pohádky takové, jako Bezručka, Ženich vrah nebo Červená Karkulka (bez toho přilepeného konce), dal bych bez řečí pět hvězd a zdálo by se mi to ještě málo. K těm pohádkám by mi také asi víc sedělo, kdyby byly nebyly vyprávěné moderním jazykem, nevím, jestli je to překladem nebo je to tak i v originále. Když chci jít ke kořenům a hledám verze pohádek z počátku 19. století, nebudu přece používat jazyk 21. století.
Ale jak jsem říkal na začátku, knížka to pěkná je a stojí za přečtení, nechte se trochu postrašit.
Knížka je to pěkná, perfektní jsou ilustrace, a kdyby byly všechny pohádky takové, jako Bezručka, Ženich vrah nebo Červená Karkulka (bez toho přilepeného konce), dal bych bez řečí pět hvězd a zdálo by se mi to ještě málo. K těm pohádkám by mi také asi víc sedělo, kdyby byly nebyly vyprávěné moderním jazykem, nevím, jestli je to překladem nebo je to tak i v originále. Když chci jít ke kořenům a hledám verze pohádek z počátku 19. století, nebudu přece používat jazyk 21. století.
Ale jak jsem říkal na začátku, knížka to pěkná je a stojí za přečtení, nechte se trochu postrašit.
May 20, 2026
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the oppurtunity to read this ARC!
Illustrated by John Ken Mortensen and written by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker, Grimm is not a collection of reimagining of the classic tales from the brothers Grimm, but a reawakening of the folklore and culture in which these tales were originally spun. The collection will transport you through the woods of the stories of Grimm, the further you walk, the darker it gets.
The collection consists of 10 stories, some classics like “Hansel and Gretel” and some more obscure such as “ Godfather Death.” The collection does not aim to rewrite these stories but rather bring them back to life in their original nature, and re-explore the superstitions of their time. Not afraid to contradict the “Disney” approaches to these classic tales Anderson and Bødker do not step back from the gory details.
The illustrations are haunting and wicked providing an added element to the gruesome nature of the tales and add to the tone of the collection. The collection successfully takes you into the woods of the Grimm’s tales. Starting with tamer stories and moving through the extreme, and ending with the classic “Little Red Riding Hood,” a story about not getting lost in the woods, fully encapsulating the aim of the collection wrapping the collection tightly. The tales are clever in their narration with a narrator who leads you into each new tale. The writing is intentuon, capable of setting a dark tone. Not wanting to limit the audience of this collection, the writing is suitable for children in the 9-12 range and adults alike.
At times, the language used felt lacking and neutral. Feeling like reading events rather than experiencing the tale, leaving some desires unsatisfied and the illustrations doing some of the heavy lifting. With the collection being listed as a graphic novel, the illustrations are too few in between. The reading experience is that of a novel with illustrations rather than that of a graphic novel.
Grimm is an enchanting read for lovers of fairy tales, classics, and the macabre.
Illustrated by John Ken Mortensen and written by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker, Grimm is not a collection of reimagining of the classic tales from the brothers Grimm, but a reawakening of the folklore and culture in which these tales were originally spun. The collection will transport you through the woods of the stories of Grimm, the further you walk, the darker it gets.
The collection consists of 10 stories, some classics like “Hansel and Gretel” and some more obscure such as “ Godfather Death.” The collection does not aim to rewrite these stories but rather bring them back to life in their original nature, and re-explore the superstitions of their time. Not afraid to contradict the “Disney” approaches to these classic tales Anderson and Bødker do not step back from the gory details.
The illustrations are haunting and wicked providing an added element to the gruesome nature of the tales and add to the tone of the collection. The collection successfully takes you into the woods of the Grimm’s tales. Starting with tamer stories and moving through the extreme, and ending with the classic “Little Red Riding Hood,” a story about not getting lost in the woods, fully encapsulating the aim of the collection wrapping the collection tightly. The tales are clever in their narration with a narrator who leads you into each new tale. The writing is intentuon, capable of setting a dark tone. Not wanting to limit the audience of this collection, the writing is suitable for children in the 9-12 range and adults alike.
At times, the language used felt lacking and neutral. Feeling like reading events rather than experiencing the tale, leaving some desires unsatisfied and the illustrations doing some of the heavy lifting. With the collection being listed as a graphic novel, the illustrations are too few in between. The reading experience is that of a novel with illustrations rather than that of a graphic novel.
Grimm is an enchanting read for lovers of fairy tales, classics, and the macabre.
June 4, 2026
Grimm's fairy tales told in a grim fashion, accompanied by grim illustrations.
This collection ensembles 10 stories, some surely beloved, with red-hooded girls, young tower-trapped maidens named after vegetables, hungry siblings lost in looming forests, others at least familiar, with multiple murderous husbands-to-be, a boy devoid of fear, gold-creating fey, and some likely unusual, with death as a godparent, a girl without hands, and singing bones.
Retold by the authors, a few liberties are taken to make some stories more cohesive (e.g. how Hansel and Gretel are able to find their way home after the witch's encounter, or why Death would be interested in godchildren), but finally, all stories return to their honest, cruel origins. Even if those stories were already changed by the Grimm Brothers themselves.
The art is ghastly. Perfect.
A joy to revisit the fairy tales of my childhood and meet a few new ones. Thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for an ARC for an honest review.
This collection ensembles 10 stories, some surely beloved, with red-hooded girls, young tower-trapped maidens named after vegetables, hungry siblings lost in looming forests, others at least familiar, with multiple murderous husbands-to-be, a boy devoid of fear, gold-creating fey, and some likely unusual, with death as a godparent, a girl without hands, and singing bones.
Retold by the authors, a few liberties are taken to make some stories more cohesive (e.g. how Hansel and Gretel are able to find their way home after the witch's encounter, or why Death would be interested in godchildren), but finally, all stories return to their honest, cruel origins. Even if those stories were already changed by the Grimm Brothers themselves.
The art is ghastly. Perfect.
A joy to revisit the fairy tales of my childhood and meet a few new ones. Thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for an ARC for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
De klassiske eventyr som man kan kender, dog en anelse mere uhyggeligt - det er jo trods alt grumme eventyr. Jeg synes den var hyggelig og velskrevet, men fangede mig ikke særlig meget.
February 10, 2021
De fineste, uhyggelige genfortællinger med skræmmende, smukke illustrationer.
May 30, 2026
***ARC from NetGalley***
A new take on the famous Grimm's Fairytales. It starts with a well know story, Hansel and Gretel but the story is different from the one we hear as children. This novel chooses to tell the stories closer to their original telling, which is closer to horror than a children's bedtime story.
Beautifully told (translated from Danish) with stark black and white line drawings for each story.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants the adult (original) version of these stories.
A new take on the famous Grimm's Fairytales. It starts with a well know story, Hansel and Gretel but the story is different from the one we hear as children. This novel chooses to tell the stories closer to their original telling, which is closer to horror than a children's bedtime story.
Beautifully told (translated from Danish) with stark black and white line drawings for each story.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants the adult (original) version of these stories.
April 13, 2019
Fantastisk fortolkning af eventyrerne og fedt at læse nogle af dem jeg ikke kender lige så godt som andre. Virkelig en stor bedrift af to af dansk børnelitteraturs store forfattere for tiden. Pligtlæsning for alle!
May 12, 2026
Dark and deeply unsettling illustrations by John Kenn Mortensen set the perfect tone for these classic Grimm's fairy tales.
This collection of ten includes:
Hansel and Gretel
The Singing Bone
The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear
Rapunzel
Godfather Death
The Robber Bridegroom
Fitcher's Bird
The Gifts of the Little People
The Girl Without Hands
Little Red Riding Hood
Thanks to Fantagraphics for the opportunity to read this eARC!
This collection of ten includes:
Hansel and Gretel
The Singing Bone
The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear
Rapunzel
Godfather Death
The Robber Bridegroom
Fitcher's Bird
The Gifts of the Little People
The Girl Without Hands
Little Red Riding Hood
Thanks to Fantagraphics for the opportunity to read this eARC!
August 18, 2020
3.5****
Kenneth Bøgh Andersen og Benni Bødker er gået sammen om at genfortælle Grimms Eventyr - lidt grummere end vanligt.
Samlingen hedder Grimm - Grumme Eventyr Genfortalt for Gamle og Unge og forfatterne gør i den grad op med disneyficeringen af de berømte folkeeventyr.
Jeg havde glemt, hvor stygge Grimms eventyr rent faktisk er, så jeg har haft en fest med at læse gamle kendinge som Hans og Grethe, Rapunsel og Den Lille Rødhætte😃🙌
De to Grimm brødre indsamlede eventyr og folkesagn og oprindeligt var historierne ikke til børn. Med tiden blev de dog bearbejdet og gjort mere egnet til de kære små.
Det er en fantastisk god idé, vores to gyserforfattere har fået med at genfortælle eventyrerne i deres mere rå og barske form.
I bogens efterskrift er der noter til hvert eventyr, hvor der bl.a. bliver forklaret, hvad der er gravet frem fra de oprindelige eventyr.
Den fremragende John Kenn Mortensen er prikken over i’ et og har selvfølgelig illustreret denne pragtfulde samling. Han formår altid at sætte læseren i den helt rette stemning🤓👍
Grimm er en mustread for alle, der elsker eventyr og det er vigtigt at pointere, at denne grumme samling lige så meget er for de voksne som for børnene.
Nogle af eventyrerne er blevet lidt ekstra ubehagelige, så jeg vil anbefale at børnene er fra ca. 11 år eller totalt hårdføre gysernørder (som jeg selv var, da jeg var lille😆).
Blodet flyder blandt siderne og der er bestemt ingen mangel på afhuggede lemmer. Men ofte er det mest uhyggelige, de vanvittige forældre, der stort set altid er villige til at ofre deres egne børn😮😱
PS. Der er også udkommet en toer, så det er bare med at komme igang😃👍
📖Læseeksemplar lånt fra mit arbejde📖
Kenneth Bøgh Andersen og Benni Bødker er gået sammen om at genfortælle Grimms Eventyr - lidt grummere end vanligt.
Samlingen hedder Grimm - Grumme Eventyr Genfortalt for Gamle og Unge og forfatterne gør i den grad op med disneyficeringen af de berømte folkeeventyr.
Jeg havde glemt, hvor stygge Grimms eventyr rent faktisk er, så jeg har haft en fest med at læse gamle kendinge som Hans og Grethe, Rapunsel og Den Lille Rødhætte😃🙌
De to Grimm brødre indsamlede eventyr og folkesagn og oprindeligt var historierne ikke til børn. Med tiden blev de dog bearbejdet og gjort mere egnet til de kære små.
Det er en fantastisk god idé, vores to gyserforfattere har fået med at genfortælle eventyrerne i deres mere rå og barske form.
I bogens efterskrift er der noter til hvert eventyr, hvor der bl.a. bliver forklaret, hvad der er gravet frem fra de oprindelige eventyr.
Den fremragende John Kenn Mortensen er prikken over i’ et og har selvfølgelig illustreret denne pragtfulde samling. Han formår altid at sætte læseren i den helt rette stemning🤓👍
Grimm er en mustread for alle, der elsker eventyr og det er vigtigt at pointere, at denne grumme samling lige så meget er for de voksne som for børnene.
Nogle af eventyrerne er blevet lidt ekstra ubehagelige, så jeg vil anbefale at børnene er fra ca. 11 år eller totalt hårdføre gysernørder (som jeg selv var, da jeg var lille😆).
Blodet flyder blandt siderne og der er bestemt ingen mangel på afhuggede lemmer. Men ofte er det mest uhyggelige, de vanvittige forældre, der stort set altid er villige til at ofre deres egne børn😮😱
PS. Der er også udkommet en toer, så det er bare med at komme igang😃👍
📖Læseeksemplar lånt fra mit arbejde📖
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for an advance copy of this retelling of the classic fairy tales that have shaped so much of modern fiction, stories that still scare, still delight, and still have a power even in these most modern of days.
My mother read to me at night before I went to bed, mostly Disney stories, Richard Scarry, and of course Go Dog Go!. Much of the Disney stories were adaptations of fairy tales, a little Grim but a lot of that Mickey Mouse magic. I was also Irish, so every weekend was a birthday, a funeral a wedding, or a remembrance, with songs and tales, mostly dark, about bold deceivers, bad British, and tales of ghosts and things that bumped in the night. So I grew up with a love of the darkness of stories. As I grew old I began to find the classic Grimm's tales, the brothers who collected the dark stories, before they were cleaned up for mass consumption. Gosh darn were they dark. Cannibals, corpse desecration, murders and more. Stories about the darkest parts of the human soul, told as lessons to keep people in line. These stories have served as fertile ground for many of the stories, books, movies even songs we love today. And even now still have the power to shock and awe. Especially when illustrated as well as this collection is. GRIMM: Book One is an adaptation of the classic stories by the Brothers Grimm written by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker with illustrations by John Kenn Mortensen and translated from Danish by Steve Schein and Jennifer Russell featuring a mix of classic tales, and and some not so well known, tales to make one look at the dark, at the sounds in the forest, and even one's one family differently.
The book features 10 tales, adapted and updated in ways to make the stories clearer, and answer some long-standing questions. How certain characters find their way home, what happens after, even some motivation. The tales are a mix of known, a young girl trying to get to Grandma's. A brother and sister cast out of home, finding a witch and a tasteful cottage. Another young woman with long hair and problems. Some of the other tales might not be as well-known. The Girl Without Hands and The Singing Bone are two examples. The stories feature a illustration that sets the scene, with an afterward that explains the stories, and what future collections might be like.
What always amazes me about fairy tales is that even now, in times of streaming movies, and all sorts of world problems, the fact these stories can still scare, still unsettle and still entertain is a testament to the strength of good storytelling. These stories carry a punch, especially the ones that never were Disney-ed. The stories are good, little changes are made to answer a few plot holes, or questions. Nothing over the top. Just little things. The translations are really good, no odd words, or oddness to the writing as sometimes happens in translations. Considering how many languages these might have passed through, again speaks to the story. This is not a graphic novel, with only an illustration for the stories, but are really quite good, scary again, but beautiful in a way. My only complaint would be I wish the art was in the front of the stories, not the middle, as it stops the flow of the story.
For fans of classic fairy tales for fans of Mortensen's artwork. Or for people who just like really nice book collections. I eagerly await the rest of the books in this series.
My mother read to me at night before I went to bed, mostly Disney stories, Richard Scarry, and of course Go Dog Go!. Much of the Disney stories were adaptations of fairy tales, a little Grim but a lot of that Mickey Mouse magic. I was also Irish, so every weekend was a birthday, a funeral a wedding, or a remembrance, with songs and tales, mostly dark, about bold deceivers, bad British, and tales of ghosts and things that bumped in the night. So I grew up with a love of the darkness of stories. As I grew old I began to find the classic Grimm's tales, the brothers who collected the dark stories, before they were cleaned up for mass consumption. Gosh darn were they dark. Cannibals, corpse desecration, murders and more. Stories about the darkest parts of the human soul, told as lessons to keep people in line. These stories have served as fertile ground for many of the stories, books, movies even songs we love today. And even now still have the power to shock and awe. Especially when illustrated as well as this collection is. GRIMM: Book One is an adaptation of the classic stories by the Brothers Grimm written by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker with illustrations by John Kenn Mortensen and translated from Danish by Steve Schein and Jennifer Russell featuring a mix of classic tales, and and some not so well known, tales to make one look at the dark, at the sounds in the forest, and even one's one family differently.
The book features 10 tales, adapted and updated in ways to make the stories clearer, and answer some long-standing questions. How certain characters find their way home, what happens after, even some motivation. The tales are a mix of known, a young girl trying to get to Grandma's. A brother and sister cast out of home, finding a witch and a tasteful cottage. Another young woman with long hair and problems. Some of the other tales might not be as well-known. The Girl Without Hands and The Singing Bone are two examples. The stories feature a illustration that sets the scene, with an afterward that explains the stories, and what future collections might be like.
What always amazes me about fairy tales is that even now, in times of streaming movies, and all sorts of world problems, the fact these stories can still scare, still unsettle and still entertain is a testament to the strength of good storytelling. These stories carry a punch, especially the ones that never were Disney-ed. The stories are good, little changes are made to answer a few plot holes, or questions. Nothing over the top. Just little things. The translations are really good, no odd words, or oddness to the writing as sometimes happens in translations. Considering how many languages these might have passed through, again speaks to the story. This is not a graphic novel, with only an illustration for the stories, but are really quite good, scary again, but beautiful in a way. My only complaint would be I wish the art was in the front of the stories, not the middle, as it stops the flow of the story.
For fans of classic fairy tales for fans of Mortensen's artwork. Or for people who just like really nice book collections. I eagerly await the rest of the books in this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
Authored by Andersen & Bodker, as translated from the Danish, and illustrated by Mortensen, Grimm is a retelling of ten famous tales by the Brothers Grimm (not a reimagining, as some are assuming here). The collection opens with what is probably one of the most well-known tales: 1. Hansel & Gretel. It's been decades since I read the originals, but one thing's for sure: Andersen & Bodker kept the teeth and horror of the original tales, and it's all the better for it. I had no idea Hansel & Gretel were so hungry that they ate the family dog! The illustration is amazing for this one, but comes a bit too early in the story, spoiling the text reveal.
2. The Singing Bone: Three brothers, a killer boar ravaging the lands, and 'blood will have blood,' as everyone knows. Great illustration and one of the better retellings, with an ending that's a bit elusive, requiring some reflection on 'what comes around, goes around.'
3. The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear: By far my favorite story of the ten, filled with humor and the realization that fear cannot exist outside of love. I enjoyed the 'Here the story could end... but it doesn't' part.
4. Rapunzel: 'Once we lived among you. You called us witches, or sorceresses or fairies, but these were simply names for what you couldn't understand.' Again, we follow two lesser known tales with one popularized by Disney, but this one has some horrific imagery near the end, rightly so, leaving the reader with the statement that 'you can never hide anything forever.' I enjoyed it but felt like the ending was a bit rushed.
5. Godfather Death: Another one of my favorite stories here, full of elbow grease and silver tongues and a man in black who casts no shadow. God, the Devil, and Death gambling with each other, a version of the Job story maybe, highlighting how Death treats everyone fairly. The ending was particularly good, though the illustration could have come later in the text.
6. The Robber Bridegroom: I read a lot of horror, but this one kind of shocked me--it was super brutal and maybe a precursor to the modern day serial killer story. Unfortunately there's a formatting issue on page 115 here, where the illustration is overlaid on the text so you can't read the page at a crucial juncture in the story. I'm sure it'll get fixed in edits.
7. Fletcher's Bird: a second, and even more brutal serial killer story, reminiscent of "Blue Beard," where a character is given a key and told not to use it. As fairy tales go, of course she uses it. Amazing illustration for this one.
8. The Gifts of the Little People: Includes one of the best illustrations in the book, a cautionary tale about gold and greed that I enjoyed. The mention of a 'flashlight' pulled me out of the story for a bit, perhaps a translation issue.
9. The Girl Without Hands: A brutal story about a miller (lots of miller stories here) who trades his daughter to the Devil for riches, another great illustration that maybe could have come a page later. When I got to the end I though, 'well, that was okay,' but it was a false ending and the story continued. I loved the ambiguity of 'perhaps we didn't know, because that's how it is sometimes. We don't know. And perhaps that's alright.'
10. Little Red Riding Hood: A great story to bookend this collection, 'where wolves can speak and bones can sing,' and an opening regarding the nature of wolves I hadn't heard before. A fantastic illustration of a brutal and gory story, and hearing LRRH say, "The beans are rock-hard. I can hardly chew them," turned my stomach.
Standout stories include The Singing Bone, The Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear, Godfather Death, and Little Red Riding Hood.
Thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics for granting my wish to review this title.
Authored by Andersen & Bodker, as translated from the Danish, and illustrated by Mortensen, Grimm is a retelling of ten famous tales by the Brothers Grimm (not a reimagining, as some are assuming here). The collection opens with what is probably one of the most well-known tales: 1. Hansel & Gretel. It's been decades since I read the originals, but one thing's for sure: Andersen & Bodker kept the teeth and horror of the original tales, and it's all the better for it. I had no idea Hansel & Gretel were so hungry that they ate the family dog! The illustration is amazing for this one, but comes a bit too early in the story, spoiling the text reveal.
2. The Singing Bone: Three brothers, a killer boar ravaging the lands, and 'blood will have blood,' as everyone knows. Great illustration and one of the better retellings, with an ending that's a bit elusive, requiring some reflection on 'what comes around, goes around.'
3. The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear: By far my favorite story of the ten, filled with humor and the realization that fear cannot exist outside of love. I enjoyed the 'Here the story could end... but it doesn't' part.
4. Rapunzel: 'Once we lived among you. You called us witches, or sorceresses or fairies, but these were simply names for what you couldn't understand.' Again, we follow two lesser known tales with one popularized by Disney, but this one has some horrific imagery near the end, rightly so, leaving the reader with the statement that 'you can never hide anything forever.' I enjoyed it but felt like the ending was a bit rushed.
5. Godfather Death: Another one of my favorite stories here, full of elbow grease and silver tongues and a man in black who casts no shadow. God, the Devil, and Death gambling with each other, a version of the Job story maybe, highlighting how Death treats everyone fairly. The ending was particularly good, though the illustration could have come later in the text.
6. The Robber Bridegroom: I read a lot of horror, but this one kind of shocked me--it was super brutal and maybe a precursor to the modern day serial killer story. Unfortunately there's a formatting issue on page 115 here, where the illustration is overlaid on the text so you can't read the page at a crucial juncture in the story. I'm sure it'll get fixed in edits.
7. Fletcher's Bird: a second, and even more brutal serial killer story, reminiscent of "Blue Beard," where a character is given a key and told not to use it. As fairy tales go, of course she uses it. Amazing illustration for this one.
8. The Gifts of the Little People: Includes one of the best illustrations in the book, a cautionary tale about gold and greed that I enjoyed. The mention of a 'flashlight' pulled me out of the story for a bit, perhaps a translation issue.
9. The Girl Without Hands: A brutal story about a miller (lots of miller stories here) who trades his daughter to the Devil for riches, another great illustration that maybe could have come a page later. When I got to the end I though, 'well, that was okay,' but it was a false ending and the story continued. I loved the ambiguity of 'perhaps we didn't know, because that's how it is sometimes. We don't know. And perhaps that's alright.'
10. Little Red Riding Hood: A great story to bookend this collection, 'where wolves can speak and bones can sing,' and an opening regarding the nature of wolves I hadn't heard before. A fantastic illustration of a brutal and gory story, and hearing LRRH say, "The beans are rock-hard. I can hardly chew them," turned my stomach.
Standout stories include The Singing Bone, The Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear, Godfather Death, and Little Red Riding Hood.
Thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics for granting my wish to review this title.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I requested this on NetGalley when I saw it classified as a graphic novel with illustrations by John Kenn Mortensen. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a prose work with Mortensen's illustrations limited to one full-page picture per story with some small, still-life spot illustrations to keep some pages between stories from being entirely blank. My enthusiasm for the work immediately dwindled.
But after a period of sulking I picked it up again and gave it a go.
These are adaptations of the original fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm that keep all the gore and horror elements and even amp them up a little bit -- so much cannibalism! -- while smoothing out the narrative flow a smidge and adding some macabre humor.
It seems to me you could just read the original versions, but these were pretty good considering they were translated from German to Danish, fiddled about with, and then translated from Danish to English.
If you are new to Mortenson's art, I recommend trying one of his other books first, as this is far from his most gruesome and eerie work. Indeed, he often seems to purposely avoid moments of action and gore in favor of people just standing around in the woods. The pictures are moody, sure, but they aren't nearly as shocking or striking as the stories they seek to illuminate.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents:
• Hansel and Gretel / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Steve Schein
• The Singing Bone / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Steve Schein
• Rapunzel / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Godfather Death / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Robber Bridgegroom / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Fitcher's Bird / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Gifts of the Little People / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Girl Without Hands / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Little Red Riding Hood / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Afterword / Benni Bødker and Kenneth Bøgh Andersen
But after a period of sulking I picked it up again and gave it a go.
These are adaptations of the original fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm that keep all the gore and horror elements and even amp them up a little bit -- so much cannibalism! -- while smoothing out the narrative flow a smidge and adding some macabre humor.
It seems to me you could just read the original versions, but these were pretty good considering they were translated from German to Danish, fiddled about with, and then translated from Danish to English.
If you are new to Mortenson's art, I recommend trying one of his other books first, as this is far from his most gruesome and eerie work. Indeed, he often seems to purposely avoid moments of action and gore in favor of people just standing around in the woods. The pictures are moody, sure, but they aren't nearly as shocking or striking as the stories they seek to illuminate.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents:
• Hansel and Gretel / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Steve Schein
• The Singing Bone / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Steve Schein
• Rapunzel / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Godfather Death / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Robber Bridgegroom / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Fitcher's Bird / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Gifts of the Little People / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• The Girl Without Hands / Retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Little Red Riding Hood / Retold by Benni Bødker; translated by Jennifer Russell
• Afterword / Benni Bødker and Kenneth Bøgh Andersen
May 27, 2026
Many thanks to Fantagraphics Books & NetGalley for granting my wish for an ARC of this book so far ahead of its publication, I was delighted to be able to read it and will absolutely be buying a copy come March 2027 too!
I am always a sucker for a good fairytale that balances whimsy & magic with gore & cruelty, and this book of retold Grimms' stories has quickly become one of my favourites. The descriptions are evocative, the characters are so much fun to read about, and the illustrations are also so intricate and eerie - I couldn't get enough.
All of the stories featured are fantastic, but my top four would have to be:
- Godfather Death is surprisingly moving story that you can very quickly get swept up in;
- The Robber Bridegroom was really fun; although my ARC (i.e. not finalised) copy has an error hiding one page of text behind an illustration (p115 in my copy), I still worked out what I'd missed on that page and loved how this story ends - no spoilers though!;
- Fitcher's Bird is always a delight to read, a fairytale far closer to horror than whimsical children's tales (a superior version of the Forbidden Room story to Perrault's Bluebeard in my opinion), and this version is excellent;
- The Girl Without Hands is gruesome and compelling, and not a story I was familiar with beforehand, but one of my new favourites!
I highly recommend this to all fans of darker fairytales who aren't afraid of a little body horror - speaking of which, there are quite a few sensitive topics covered in this anthology so I'm including a list of Content Warnings below for those who want them. But reader beware, HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!
Content Warnings:
I am always a sucker for a good fairytale that balances whimsy & magic with gore & cruelty, and this book of retold Grimms' stories has quickly become one of my favourites. The descriptions are evocative, the characters are so much fun to read about, and the illustrations are also so intricate and eerie - I couldn't get enough.
All of the stories featured are fantastic, but my top four would have to be:
- Godfather Death is surprisingly moving story that you can very quickly get swept up in;
- The Robber Bridegroom was really fun; although my ARC (i.e. not finalised) copy has an error hiding one page of text behind an illustration (p115 in my copy), I still worked out what I'd missed on that page and loved how this story ends - no spoilers though!;
- Fitcher's Bird is always a delight to read, a fairytale far closer to horror than whimsical children's tales (a superior version of the Forbidden Room story to Perrault's Bluebeard in my opinion), and this version is excellent;
- The Girl Without Hands is gruesome and compelling, and not a story I was familiar with beforehand, but one of my new favourites!
I highly recommend this to all fans of darker fairytales who aren't afraid of a little body horror - speaking of which, there are quite a few sensitive topics covered in this anthology so I'm including a list of Content Warnings below for those who want them. But reader beware, HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!
Content Warnings:
June 27, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
New translations of Grimm’s fairytales, but they don't differ from the OGs and they're just as misogynistic, so what's the point?
On my do not read list.
Pre-reading:
Love fairytales but I definitely signed up for this arc thinking it was a graphic novel.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
So these aren’t retellings. They’re literally just the exact children’s stories.
This collection is just misogynistic and fatphobic.
These are not good. Like they’re child friendly, but I don’t think an adult would enjoy reading this to kids because it’s so anachronistic.
Why are we putting rape in a children’s book, my guy?
There’s a page of text covered by an illustration so you can’t read it in this arc.
Post-reading:
I don't get the point of this collection. The language used obviously makes this a book for children, but then they include rape in one of the stories while dancing around sex and childbirth in the others. It doesn't make sense, and I don't think it's appropriate. The retellings are annoyingly anachronistic and not in a childishly accessible way. It's jarring and discordant. We’re using goldsmith and millers but then conversational snarking that the plague is raging. There’s a Christian slant to these which is especially odd to me because that was added in later and was not part of the original stories. So what are we translating and updating? It's keeping the worst parts of the revisions-a religious agenda and raging misogyny. Why are we continuing to push that? And it can't be because this was written in an effort to remain faithful to the original texts. I prefer other collections of these stories, and I wouldn't recommend this for children.
Who should read this:
Grimm fairytale fans.
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link-short story collection, fairytales, various genres
* The Merry Spinster by Daniel M. Lavery-short story collection, fairytales, various genres
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
New translations of Grimm’s fairytales, but they don't differ from the OGs and they're just as misogynistic, so what's the point?
On my do not read list.
Pre-reading:
Love fairytales but I definitely signed up for this arc thinking it was a graphic novel.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
So these aren’t retellings. They’re literally just the exact children’s stories.
This collection is just misogynistic and fatphobic.
These are not good. Like they’re child friendly, but I don’t think an adult would enjoy reading this to kids because it’s so anachronistic.
Why are we putting rape in a children’s book, my guy?
There’s a page of text covered by an illustration so you can’t read it in this arc.
Post-reading:
I don't get the point of this collection. The language used obviously makes this a book for children, but then they include rape in one of the stories while dancing around sex and childbirth in the others. It doesn't make sense, and I don't think it's appropriate. The retellings are annoyingly anachronistic and not in a childishly accessible way. It's jarring and discordant. We’re using goldsmith and millers but then conversational snarking that the plague is raging. There’s a Christian slant to these which is especially odd to me because that was added in later and was not part of the original stories. So what are we translating and updating? It's keeping the worst parts of the revisions-a religious agenda and raging misogyny. Why are we continuing to push that? And it can't be because this was written in an effort to remain faithful to the original texts. I prefer other collections of these stories, and I wouldn't recommend this for children.
Who should read this:
Grimm fairytale fans.
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No
Similar books:
* White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link-short story collection, fairytales, various genres
* The Merry Spinster by Daniel M. Lavery-short story collection, fairytales, various genres
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2021
Glimrende genfortællinger af nogle af Brødrene Grimms gamle folkeeventyr. Læst til The Fantasy Fellowship.
Jeg havde på forhånd hørt at disse historier skulle være virkelig grumme, så jeg blev faktisk lidt skuffet over at de ikke var grummere end de var, især de første af dem. Måske er det bare fordi jeg som ung har læst mig gennem en hel Grimm eventyrsamling jeg ikke syntes disse var noget særligt på grumhedsskalaen, men i hvert fald syntes jeg de første var meget standard Grimm.
De blev dog grummere og mere makabre med Røverbrudgommen og Fitchers fugl, som går over i horror-eventyrgenren. (Mange eventyr har dog et aspekt af horror i sig; det er ganske normalt for gamle folkeeventyr, det glemmer folk bare, når de har vænnet sig til Disneys versioner af selvsamme eventyr).
Generelt var jeg godt tilfreds med genfortællingerne og måden de to forfattere har håndteret dem på. For de har ret i at mange af eventyrerne er blevet omskrevet og ændret nærmest til uigenkendelighed, og at vi skal tilbage til de mere barske eventyr, der fortæller noget om grådighed, hævn, savn, kærlighed, listighed, naivitet, uvidenhedens farer, og hvordan det at bruge sit hoved og tænke sig om er vejen til et godt liv. I disse eventyr er det dem, som holder hovedet koldt, tænker sig om, besinder sig, og som ikke bliver for grådige og nærrige, som har heldet med sig, mens dem som vil gøre sig til herre over mere end tilkommer dem eller bringe andre i ulykke oftest møder en grum skæbne.
Jeg kunne godt finde på at skaffe bog to og også læse eventyrerne deri.
Bogen er hurtigt læst, da den er trykt på ekstremt tykt papir, og selv med efterskrift er den stadig ikke på mere end 220 sider.
Jeg havde på forhånd hørt at disse historier skulle være virkelig grumme, så jeg blev faktisk lidt skuffet over at de ikke var grummere end de var, især de første af dem. Måske er det bare fordi jeg som ung har læst mig gennem en hel Grimm eventyrsamling jeg ikke syntes disse var noget særligt på grumhedsskalaen, men i hvert fald syntes jeg de første var meget standard Grimm.
De blev dog grummere og mere makabre med Røverbrudgommen og Fitchers fugl, som går over i horror-eventyrgenren. (Mange eventyr har dog et aspekt af horror i sig; det er ganske normalt for gamle folkeeventyr, det glemmer folk bare, når de har vænnet sig til Disneys versioner af selvsamme eventyr).
Generelt var jeg godt tilfreds med genfortællingerne og måden de to forfattere har håndteret dem på. For de har ret i at mange af eventyrerne er blevet omskrevet og ændret nærmest til uigenkendelighed, og at vi skal tilbage til de mere barske eventyr, der fortæller noget om grådighed, hævn, savn, kærlighed, listighed, naivitet, uvidenhedens farer, og hvordan det at bruge sit hoved og tænke sig om er vejen til et godt liv. I disse eventyr er det dem, som holder hovedet koldt, tænker sig om, besinder sig, og som ikke bliver for grådige og nærrige, som har heldet med sig, mens dem som vil gøre sig til herre over mere end tilkommer dem eller bringe andre i ulykke oftest møder en grum skæbne.
Jeg kunne godt finde på at skaffe bog to og også læse eventyrerne deri.
Bogen er hurtigt læst, da den er trykt på ekstremt tykt papir, og selv med efterskrift er den stadig ikke på mere end 220 sider.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Grimm: Book one” is a Beautifully gory and unapologetically adult book
What immediately sets this anthology apart is its willingness to embrace the darkness. Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker do not shy away from the visceral, gory details that modern, sanitized versions of these tales usually scrape away. It serves as a stark, fantastic reminder that these stories were originally meant to caution and terrify, making this collection a perfect match for adult readers who appreciate a more macabre tone.
While I absolutely loved the grim and bloody atmosphere, the book fell just a bit short of being what I was looking for or expecting. I knocked off one star primarily because I expected a true retelling—something that injected a distinct, personal imprint or a fresh perspective into these classic fables. Instead, it felt like the same stories we have all read and re-read dozens of times, just with the violence dialed back up.
Furthermore, the narrative pacing occasionally created a barrier to full immersion. At times, rather than being pulled deep into the world, it felt like I was standing on the outside, listening to a quick reiteration of events rather than experiencing them.
Many, many thanks to Benni Bødker & Kenneth Bøgh Andersen, Fantagraphics Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
What immediately sets this anthology apart is its willingness to embrace the darkness. Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker do not shy away from the visceral, gory details that modern, sanitized versions of these tales usually scrape away. It serves as a stark, fantastic reminder that these stories were originally meant to caution and terrify, making this collection a perfect match for adult readers who appreciate a more macabre tone.
While I absolutely loved the grim and bloody atmosphere, the book fell just a bit short of being what I was looking for or expecting. I knocked off one star primarily because I expected a true retelling—something that injected a distinct, personal imprint or a fresh perspective into these classic fables. Instead, it felt like the same stories we have all read and re-read dozens of times, just with the violence dialed back up.
Furthermore, the narrative pacing occasionally created a barrier to full immersion. At times, rather than being pulled deep into the world, it felt like I was standing on the outside, listening to a quick reiteration of events rather than experiencing them.
Many, many thanks to Benni Bødker & Kenneth Bøgh Andersen, Fantagraphics Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
GRIMM features dark fairy tales retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker, with disturbing and vivid art by John Kenn Mortensen. There are stories familiar ("Rapunzel," "Hansel and Gretel") and unfamiliar ("The Singing Bone," which is my favorite), and all of them are told with dark imagery and beautiful prose.
Check out this introduction to "The Singing Bone:"
"Back when animals could speak and humans could understand them, back when the mountains were given their names, the fields had not yet been cultivated and the vast forests were the world's mightiest towns, back when magic was not simply illusion or sleight of hand but the art of bending the world to one's will, pulling the stars down to earth and changing the way the wind blew."
That introductory paragraph keeps going but I didn't want to spoil the whole thing for you. Such beautiful, lyrical writing!
The illustrations are notable, too. They give me Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark vibes with their stark black and white drawings of disturbing and grim things...but they also remind me of centuries-old etchings from ancient books, too. It's a remarkable style of art.
There wasn't a single story in this book that I didn't like, and as I collect fairy tale anthologies, I will be adding this one to my permanent collection. And since this is merely Book One, I'll be looking forward to future volumes, too. I highly recommend this work to fans of dark, original fairy tales with equally dark, fantastic art. I had an enjoyable experience reading this book.
Check out this introduction to "The Singing Bone:"
"Back when animals could speak and humans could understand them, back when the mountains were given their names, the fields had not yet been cultivated and the vast forests were the world's mightiest towns, back when magic was not simply illusion or sleight of hand but the art of bending the world to one's will, pulling the stars down to earth and changing the way the wind blew."
That introductory paragraph keeps going but I didn't want to spoil the whole thing for you. Such beautiful, lyrical writing!
The illustrations are notable, too. They give me Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark vibes with their stark black and white drawings of disturbing and grim things...but they also remind me of centuries-old etchings from ancient books, too. It's a remarkable style of art.
There wasn't a single story in this book that I didn't like, and as I collect fairy tale anthologies, I will be adding this one to my permanent collection. And since this is merely Book One, I'll be looking forward to future volumes, too. I highly recommend this work to fans of dark, original fairy tales with equally dark, fantastic art. I had an enjoyable experience reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From the blurb, I was promised ‘dark, illustrated collection of classic fairy tales. Instead of family-friendly adaptations, the book digs into the grim, eldritch roots of folklore’.
This was not that. There was one illustration per story. The writing style was simplistic and to the point. There was no horror.
If you have any knowledge of fairytales, you’ll be well-versed in their twisted roots (lol). These weren’t happily-ever-after, yet they weren’t as gruesome or dark as they were promised to be.
"I would like a large tankard of fear," the boy replied, "plus a portion of anxiety and a bit of dread for dessert."
"Huh?" The innkeeper stared at him in confusion.
"I want to learn to be afraid," said the boy, "because I have no idea what it's
like. Potatoes and gravy would also be nice."
The short stories were easy to read and had that fairytale cadence, but if you’re expecting something unique; this is not that.
Arc gifted by publisher.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
This was not that. There was one illustration per story. The writing style was simplistic and to the point. There was no horror.
If you have any knowledge of fairytales, you’ll be well-versed in their twisted roots (lol). These weren’t happily-ever-after, yet they weren’t as gruesome or dark as they were promised to be.
"I would like a large tankard of fear," the boy replied, "plus a portion of anxiety and a bit of dread for dessert."
"Huh?" The innkeeper stared at him in confusion.
"I want to learn to be afraid," said the boy, "because I have no idea what it's
like. Potatoes and gravy would also be nice."
The short stories were easy to read and had that fairytale cadence, but if you’re expecting something unique; this is not that.
Arc gifted by publisher.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
August 29, 2021
Klassiske Grimm eventyr, mere eller mindre kendte, har fået en lille genfortællings makeover i denne samling af Kenneth Bøgh Andersen og Benni Bødker.
Overordnet set hyggede jeg mig med at genlæse af par af eventyrene samt stifte bekendtskab med nogen, som jeg ikke mindes at have hørt eller løst før. Jeg fandt, jeg overordnet set nød de eventyr Benni Bødker genfortalte mere end dem KBA genfortalte men det kan meget vel også skyldes selve eventyrene og ikke deres evner til at genfortælle.
Eventyr har ofte en form for moral eller lektie man skal lære fra dem. En ting jeg synes, gik meget igen blandt de valgte eventyr i denne bog var; verden er et grumt sted, men hvis du bruger hovedet så skal det nok gå – hvilket jeg egentlig synes er en ret god lektie at tage med sig videre.
Overordnet set hyggede jeg mig med at genlæse af par af eventyrene samt stifte bekendtskab med nogen, som jeg ikke mindes at have hørt eller løst før. Jeg fandt, jeg overordnet set nød de eventyr Benni Bødker genfortalte mere end dem KBA genfortalte men det kan meget vel også skyldes selve eventyrene og ikke deres evner til at genfortælle.
Eventyr har ofte en form for moral eller lektie man skal lære fra dem. En ting jeg synes, gik meget igen blandt de valgte eventyr i denne bog var; verden er et grumt sted, men hvis du bruger hovedet så skal det nok gå – hvilket jeg egentlig synes er en ret god lektie at tage med sig videre.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book feels like the Brothers Grimm dug themselves out of their graves, punted Disney into a river, and said “no actually the children should be traumatised.”
It's seriously creepy. Rotten forests. Terrifying little kids. Suspicious af birds. Casual murder. Vibes so rancid I could almost smell damp moss and bad decisions through the pages. Every story feels like it was told to you by a medieval peasant who most definitely cursed somebody last Thursday.
And I mean that as the highest compliment imaginable.
The authors completely commit to the horror hiding underneath these fairy tales. The stories are cruel, strange, bloody, and serve as a warning that wandering into the woods is consenting to psychological damage. Just stay inside. Don't leave your bedroom. Ever. The bad things probably can't get you there.
The atmosphere is amazing. 10/10.
I was reading this like:
“oh this is a bit weird"
Then:
“WHY IS THERE A ROOM FULL OF CORPSES?"
“WHY ARE THE CHILDREN ALWAYS IN MORTAL DANGER.”
“PUT THAT BIRD AWAY.”
"wait... are we resorting to CANNIBALISM... ALREADY??"
“WHO GAVE THIS OLD WOMAN ACCESS TO MAGIC???"
"PUT THAT BIRD DOWN OR SO HELP ME."
Meanwhile the illustrations look like they escaped from a haunted Victorian orphanage and I spent so much time studying each one. They're all cursed, like the sort of stress dream your brain might come up with after eating too much cheese during a storm.
Not every story hit the same for me, but even the weaker ones still had me feeling like I was trapped in a candlelit nightmare while someone whispered folklore directly into my ear. I had a great time.
Thank you to Fantagraphics Books for the ARC
It's seriously creepy. Rotten forests. Terrifying little kids. Suspicious af birds. Casual murder. Vibes so rancid I could almost smell damp moss and bad decisions through the pages. Every story feels like it was told to you by a medieval peasant who most definitely cursed somebody last Thursday.
And I mean that as the highest compliment imaginable.
The authors completely commit to the horror hiding underneath these fairy tales. The stories are cruel, strange, bloody, and serve as a warning that wandering into the woods is consenting to psychological damage. Just stay inside. Don't leave your bedroom. Ever. The bad things probably can't get you there.
The atmosphere is amazing. 10/10.
I was reading this like:
“oh this is a bit weird"
Then:
“WHY IS THERE A ROOM FULL OF CORPSES?"
“WHY ARE THE CHILDREN ALWAYS IN MORTAL DANGER.”
“PUT THAT BIRD AWAY.”
"wait... are we resorting to CANNIBALISM... ALREADY??"
“WHO GAVE THIS OLD WOMAN ACCESS TO MAGIC???"
"PUT THAT BIRD DOWN OR SO HELP ME."
Meanwhile the illustrations look like they escaped from a haunted Victorian orphanage and I spent so much time studying each one. They're all cursed, like the sort of stress dream your brain might come up with after eating too much cheese during a storm.
Not every story hit the same for me, but even the weaker ones still had me feeling like I was trapped in a candlelit nightmare while someone whispered folklore directly into my ear. I had a great time.
Thank you to Fantagraphics Books for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me the ARC! I'm a huge fan of fairy tales and have read many translations and adaptations. This one was pretty good - 3.5 rounded up - but nothing that really wowed me. The strongest parts of this collection were that it includes tales I've never heard before, and the illustrations that were included were dark and moody, which was perfect for the tales that were selected. I could have used more illustrations throughout, honestly; the translations were pretty neutral, so having more illustrations would have brought some more atmosphere to the book. Overall, good but not great!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Several authors tackle fairy tales as originally collected by the brothers Grimm, with added “grim” (get it) illustrations. I loved that many of the fairy tales covered here aren’t the ones in the public consciousness. I’ve read the “original” fairy tale collections and there’s usually a reason those didn’t stick around as well, but the authors managed to update the story lines and prose towards modern sensibilities. The language does try to mimic the typical fairy tale voice, of course with a focus on the more gruesome and cruel – when the shoe fits...
Several authors tackle fairy tales as originally collected by the brothers Grimm, with added “grim” (get it) illustrations. I loved that many of the fairy tales covered here aren’t the ones in the public consciousness. I’ve read the “original” fairy tale collections and there’s usually a reason those didn’t stick around as well, but the authors managed to update the story lines and prose towards modern sensibilities. The language does try to mimic the typical fairy tale voice, of course with a focus on the more gruesome and cruel – when the shoe fits...
October 23, 2025
2,5/5 ✨
Keď som siahla po tejto knihe, čakala som krv, kosti a morálne ponaučenie vyryté do duše ako nožom do jablka. Veď sa kniha volá “Grimmové”! No zdá sa, že tieto prerozprávané rozprávky prešli cez filter z cukrovej vaty. Pôsobia... krotko. Ako keby sa báli vlastného tieňa.
Napriek tomu sa v knihe nájdu momenty, ktoré stoja za to — napríklad príbeh “Fitcheruv vták”, (pre mňa známy ako Bluebeard), ktorý si zachoval svoju zlovestnú atmosféru a mal presne ten chlad, aký som dúfala, že nájdem v celej zbierke.
Keď som siahla po tejto knihe, čakala som krv, kosti a morálne ponaučenie vyryté do duše ako nožom do jablka. Veď sa kniha volá “Grimmové”! No zdá sa, že tieto prerozprávané rozprávky prešli cez filter z cukrovej vaty. Pôsobia... krotko. Ako keby sa báli vlastného tieňa.
Napriek tomu sa v knihe nájdu momenty, ktoré stoja za to — napríklad príbeh “Fitcheruv vták”, (pre mňa známy ako Bluebeard), ktorý si zachoval svoju zlovestnú atmosféru a mal presne ten chlad, aký som dúfala, že nájdem v celej zbierke.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: GRIMM by Benni Bødker & Kenneth Bøgh Andersen
GRIMM is a collection of ten short stories that rework classic fairy tales in a darker, grittier, and more old-world style than the polished versions most of us know today. These are not the softened bedtime stories or cheerful adaptations that have become common over time. Instead, the book reaches back toward the harsher roots of folklore, where danger feels real, cruelty is common, and happy endings are never guaranteed. I initially expected something closer to a graphic novel, but it is actually a prose anthology with occasional illustrations. Once I adjusted to that format, it suited the material well.
What stood out most to me was the atmosphere running through the entire collection. The woods feel threatening, strangers feel suspicious, and every promise sounds like it may come with a hidden price. Even stories readers know well regain some of their power when told with this much menace and unease. The book does a strong job of reminding you that many fairy tales began as cautionary stories meant to unsettle as much as entertain.
As with most anthologies, some stories were stronger than others, but the consistent tone helped tie everything together. The illustrations add to the gothic mood whenever they appear, even if they are used sparingly. Ending the collection with Little Red Riding Hood was a smart choice, since it is one of the most recognizable tales and leaves the book on a strong final note.
Overall, GRIMM is a solid pick for readers who enjoy folklore, dark fantasy, and short story collections with teeth. It may not have been exactly what I expected at first, but once I settled into what it was doing, I found it stylish, memorable, and impressively atmospheric. 4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
GRIMM is a collection of ten short stories that rework classic fairy tales in a darker, grittier, and more old-world style than the polished versions most of us know today. These are not the softened bedtime stories or cheerful adaptations that have become common over time. Instead, the book reaches back toward the harsher roots of folklore, where danger feels real, cruelty is common, and happy endings are never guaranteed. I initially expected something closer to a graphic novel, but it is actually a prose anthology with occasional illustrations. Once I adjusted to that format, it suited the material well.
What stood out most to me was the atmosphere running through the entire collection. The woods feel threatening, strangers feel suspicious, and every promise sounds like it may come with a hidden price. Even stories readers know well regain some of their power when told with this much menace and unease. The book does a strong job of reminding you that many fairy tales began as cautionary stories meant to unsettle as much as entertain.
As with most anthologies, some stories were stronger than others, but the consistent tone helped tie everything together. The illustrations add to the gothic mood whenever they appear, even if they are used sparingly. Ending the collection with Little Red Riding Hood was a smart choice, since it is one of the most recognizable tales and leaves the book on a strong final note.
Overall, GRIMM is a solid pick for readers who enjoy folklore, dark fantasy, and short story collections with teeth. It may not have been exactly what I expected at first, but once I settled into what it was doing, I found it stylish, memorable, and impressively atmospheric. 4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
John Kenn Mortensen’s dark illustrations are a perfect match for these Grimm fairy tales.
This collection includes ten stories:
Hansel and Gretel
The Singing Bone
The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear
Rapunzel
Godfather Death
The Robber Bridegroom
Fitcher's Bird
The Gifts of the Little People
The Girl Without Hands
Little Red Riding Hood
This book feels like the Brothers Grimm rose from the grave, shoved Disney aside, and reminded everyone these stories were meant to disturb.
It is genuinely creepy: rotten forests, eerie children, suspicious birds, casual murder, and an atmosphere so foul you can almost smell the damp moss. Each tale feels like it came from a medieval peasant who probably cursed someone last week.
I mean that as the highest praise.
The book fully embraces the horror in these fairy tales. The stories are cruel, strange, and bloody, making the woods feel less like adventure and more like a warning. The atmosphere is excellent.
The illustrations look as if they escaped from a haunted Victorian orphanage, and I could have studied them for hours. They feel wonderfully cursed, like a storm-fueled fever dream.
Not every story worked equally well for me, but even the weaker ones felt like a candlelit nightmare whispered in my ear. I had a great time.
This collection includes ten stories:
Hansel and Gretel
The Singing Bone
The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear
Rapunzel
Godfather Death
The Robber Bridegroom
Fitcher's Bird
The Gifts of the Little People
The Girl Without Hands
Little Red Riding Hood
This book feels like the Brothers Grimm rose from the grave, shoved Disney aside, and reminded everyone these stories were meant to disturb.
It is genuinely creepy: rotten forests, eerie children, suspicious birds, casual murder, and an atmosphere so foul you can almost smell the damp moss. Each tale feels like it came from a medieval peasant who probably cursed someone last week.
I mean that as the highest praise.
The book fully embraces the horror in these fairy tales. The stories are cruel, strange, and bloody, making the woods feel less like adventure and more like a warning. The atmosphere is excellent.
The illustrations look as if they escaped from a haunted Victorian orphanage, and I could have studied them for hours. They feel wonderfully cursed, like a storm-fueled fever dream.
Not every story worked equally well for me, but even the weaker ones felt like a candlelit nightmare whispered in my ear. I had a great time.
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