Grim Begins: A Novel

by Wiktor Miesok, Felix Charin

Can a novel be both raw entertainment and a guide for life? Can deep truths and hard-won wisdom be woven into a story that grips your heart? This is where you find out.

Welcome to the GRIM Series. From the creators of Grim Hustle comes a crime saga walking the edge between myth and reality. Inspired by real testimonies and experiences, and infused with the knowledge of highly accomplished men, it is a story about power, survival, and the cost of becoming a man, but also a manual for finding one’s path in grim times.

With nothing left to lose, and every bridge smoldering behind him, Andrej makes a dark choice.
He begins as a rebellious youngster. But the man he becomes is something else a weathered mafia boss, hardened by prison, dispensing hard-earned truths and ageless wisdom.

This is the beginning of that

In 1985, Andrej defies an order he was never meant to question. Branded a threat by the Stasi, he flees his homeland, only to be swept into a fate darker than he ever imagined. From the back alleys of East Berlin to the brutal existence of a Soviet Gulag, Andrej is dragged deep into the underworld.

In this first act, Andrej will face betrayal, violence, and loss. He’ll learn that freedom comes at a price, and that no one walks through hell unchanged. In the darkness, he will make a choice that seals his fate.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2025

Reviews

[Amazing Kimmoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of this book is the introspective thoughts of a young man as he deals with an oppressive father and escapes into a life of crime. He gets wrapped up with criminal activity he would not have agreed to if his criminal “friends” were honest. He slowly gets acclimated into prison life, and due to being naïve, he realizes he must become what he swore he would not.

Well written, with lists of how to live one’s life in a more honorable way.

[Luis Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, it was good in the beginning, but I was wondering how much longer he's going to be in prison. I hope there is a part 2 cause I want to know when he's out of prison.

[Ian Zedwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an insight into how choices define someone and their future

I thought this book was very interesting. It gave insights into how a GDR Stasi Border Guard during the 80's made some simple choices, a few mistakes and how his life was changed forever. How the criminal underground worked a little bit back then in those turmoilish times.

This was a great read, I read the book whenever I had the chance, hard to put down. I can't wait for the next installment in the GRIM SERIES of books!

[Monica Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

How to survive in a Grim world. This is the story of a young idealist boy who learns the hard way about becoming a man in the Soviet era world. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the brutality was tempered with hope and the tone of the narrator was - uplifting? The story felt like swimming in deep dark waters, surfacing briefly for a glimpse of light and breath of air before plunging back down (or being forced down) in search of the passage that will lead out, hopefully to a beautiful waterfall. The next books will tell. I hope we don't have to wait long for the next installment. I'm going to give this to my 17 year old son to read. Perhaps it will help him as he makes his way in these times.

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The Times

I find this book spectacular and oozing with wisdom. I’ll flesh out this review later but really looking forward to the next installment.

[Daniel Tomoiaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for the soul

A must read by anyone, young or old. You always learn something in your life as you go along. The more you know in life you find out you barely know anything.
First 50 pages of the book, makes you drop some tears, as you find a part of yourself in this story as you didn't imagine before.
It truly seems like a Grim story from the brothers Grim.
Keep doing the good work.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both entertaining and educational

I just found this YouTube channel and really liked what I was hearing. So for a few bucks, bought the kindle version. It's a simple and quick read. Yet, as the title says, it's entertaining and there's something to be learned. In fact it was so good, I'm looking forward to the rest of the story.

[Beth G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't stop reading.

Wow, the author's journey is amazing, and it's just getting started. Talk about an Origin story. This reads better than any comic book on the market because it is real. Also, it has great life advice.

[Rosa T Colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!

Great story! Quite inspiring!

Can’t wait to see it in a movie!!

Hope to start Book 2 soon!!

Honor will come!!

[D S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grim Begins was a deeply personal experience for me. It’s not just a compelling story it’s a mirror. At many points, it reminded me of moments in my own life decisions I regret, actions I’m proud of, and values I didn’t even know I held until pain revealed them.

The author doesn’t just tell the story of an antihero. He offers a path a path through darkness toward honor. Each chapter holds a simple but powerful truth, and within those truths, I found something that resonated more than I expected.

This book opened up questions I hadn’t asked myself in a long time. And some of the answers will echo within me for a while. I would recommend Grim Begins to anyone who’s ever felt lost or stood at a crossroads. It’s more than a book it’s a torch carried through the shadows.

[Bernd Lühmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a book whose story takes place in the old GDR and Soviet Russian times. Having lived through the time of the GDR and the fall of the Wall and reunification, I can understand many things. It describes the development of a young person who has to make decisions that have consequences for his future life, which he also has to bear painfully. It is an exciting read and at the same time universally instructive and I am very much looking forward to the second part.

[Paweł Nejman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! It is well-written, with an interesting story and plot. It reminded me of one of my favorite books, Five Years in Concentration Camps by Grzesiuk. It's about honor, difficult choices, and important values.

I also find it interesting to read a book set in the late Soviet era in countries such as East Germany, Poland, and Russia.

I recommend it to everyone and can't wait to read the sequel!

[Muhammad Izzatullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the transition from the light into darkness

I’m always fascinated by how a well and decent person can be turned into the opposite of his own nature. Like turning water into wine. Light into darkness. In the end, these two are just two sides of a same coin. This series demonstrates this well. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves to dive deeper into human psyche.

[Adriana Gianina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel easy to e read. A fluid language easy for everybody, frmo the English matter language speakers to people , like me, not mother language.
Impssible not walking alongside the character and feel his emotioms, feel with and like him ... if you have lived those periods and those times brings you back, if not ... well, just prepare yourself , you are going to jump inside.
Simply, BEAUTIFUL.
Loved it from the first world to the last.

... astar has born ...

[Paul Hedeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to find anything in this book to feel "good" about. This book reads like something written by a pro-western bot, everything is so steadfastly down and depressing--in a word, "grim." If a tenth of this book is true, Eastern Europe is a downtrodden place of corrupt people. No joy, and that is the biggest problem: how to look forward to or identify with something that is a carnival of corruption. Read if you dare.

[Jason McCabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Extremely well written. This book is the beginning of one man's journey into darkness and the effect that it can have on one's soul. Inspiring and motivating, a truly great read that I would highly recommend to anyone, but especially men. I am highly anticipating the next book in this series.

[शाश्वत Shashwat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biggest lesson that i learned apart from brotherhood and network being what makes you prosper and survive in the world, was to stay true to your inner self and inner voice. Never be corrupted by the system and always do what your values dictate right.

Thank you droog for this book

[C. Denver Mullican · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, hard to put down.

Well written with great characters. The story has interesting twists and turns that made me want to read it all in one sitting.I look forward to the next book.

[Ryan Brinkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this first installment! how long do I have to wait for the next one?!

Very well written and a page turner. I’m excited for the next book!
If you are already familiar with Grim then you will love this one!

[Kerry M Milliken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating journey of a disillusioned young soldier

I found this work to be very hard to put down. Engaging character development and plot twists are interwoven with priceless lessons. Recommended!!

[Web Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Lots of practical tips woven into a story about Cold War Germany and Russia. I can’t wait for the next book. I couldn’t stop reading this book and was sad when I finished it. I am glad it is a series with more to come!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic novel that really brings you in mentally and emotionally into the life and memories of a man who faced some really terrible moments. It’s one way to find peace with yourself and your soul.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the other side of the coin looks like for those of world that have lived through less harsh experiences. There are deeper lessons to be learned from this work and so much inspiration that can be gleaned.

[Cameron Tempest · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not have any complaints tbh. It wasn’t too flowery and was easy to read but also a little complex with like morality and prison and stuff. But it also wasn’t like an insane read. Like it was fine. I think I’d give 3.5 if I could.

[Enrique Bassas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel. Intense.

I love the rules for living. This isn’t just a novel. It’s a manual for living. I anticipate the next installment will be just as good.
Be honorable.

[Sam Haddad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Origins Story

GRIM Begins is a fantastic read and story - I look forward to reading all the books in the GRIM series.

[Yuri Talalaev · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of very few books that besides making a great and entertaining read, make you think: what would I do if it was me?

Really great book and lessons learned.

[Kamil Lolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read. It was hard to put down, and I can’t wait for the next part. Full of deep reflections on life — something everyone can take something valuable from.

[Jason Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This an amazing story about life and how the choices we make lead us to where we are. It is about honor and integrity even in Grim circumstances...

[Tim Carney · Rating 1 out of 5]

About 3 pages in I became convinced this book was written at least in large part by AI.