The Grimlore Game

by Kalyn Josephson

New York Times bestselling author of Ravenfall Kalyn Josephson’s The Grimlore Game, pitched as a middle-grade Knives Out meets Wednesday.

When thirteen-year-old Kit Devlin finds herself in a competition against her devious extended family to inherit her late grandfather’s fortune, she discovers the puzzles and clues he left behind in his mysterious gothic manor are actually tied to an ancient family curse.

Genres: Middle Grade

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Kalyn Josephson is the NYT bestselling author of THE STORM CROW duology, RAVENFALL series, and upcoming THIS DARK DESCENT. By day, she's a Technical Writer, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She lives in the Bay Area with two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an even tinier owl).

Reviews

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Grimlore Manor is a magical house, although none of the characters are stereotypical back-stabbing relatives. The curse causes scenes to change and memories to be shared. These visions offer information that can be used to solve puzzles and end the Grimlore Game. Kit is shocked to see a fancy-dressed cat open the front door when she first arrives, and even more surprised to learn no one else can see him. Carmine is an aloof character and feels no need to speak with Kit. Her luggage floats up to her suite, and meals are prepared by bowls and utensils guided by Carmine’s instructions. Kit’s best friend is a tarantula named Gregor with an insatiable love for sweets. He’s not magical, but he adds color to the story.
Kit is full of emotions that will take readers on a rollercoaster adventure. Her parents were victims of the curse, and Kit desperately misses her father. They used to solve all kinds of puzzles together, and Kit uses that knowledge to unlock new clues. She doesn’t really have a home anymore, since her relatives only tolerate her because she might inherit Amos’s money. Kit doesn’t hide her disdain for them, and they treat her like a rude, disobedient little girl. Readers will wonder what will become of Kit once the Grimlore Game concludes. No one shows her any kindness, so who will become her new guardian? Kit slowly comes to realize the game may be more about solving the curse than locating the family wealth.
Mystery and puzzle lovers should enjoy this book, as that’s the driving force of the plot. All of the Devlin relatives gather for the reading of their grandfather’s will, hoping to inherit his wealth. Kit never met the man, but he seemed to favor her over all of her aunts and uncles. She encounters a puzzle box, riddles, and other confusing clues that lead to other mysteries. Kit gets reluctant help from her cousin Harlow, but he has low self-esteem and is afraid of almost everything. Initially, Kit thinks she needs to do everything herself, but she’s forced to admit she needs Harlow. All the while, Kit doesn’t understand why her Grandfather Amos took an interest in her.
What didn’t work as well:
Excerpts from “A Guide to Curses” follow some of the chapters. They often repeat information readers already know, but they also add some food for thought. However, they don’t add much to the overall story.
The final verdict:
The book’s charm comes from Kit’s journey to break the curse and find a home where she can feel wanted and safe. The search for clues will appeal to mystery lovers, and the plot builds to an unexpected resolution. I recommend you try this book for yourself!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read this was! The Grimlore Game by Kalyn Josephson takes readers on an adventure that includes curses, magic, a talking cat, puzzles and plenty of family drama. Kit, our main character, is an orphan who's passed around between family members because she comes with money for her care. However, no one REALLY wants her and she's feeling the weight of being alone. When her grandfather passes, the entire Devlin clan gathers together for his funeral - something they NEVER do because a Devlin dies every three years from a family curse. As the family gathers, eager to know what happens to all the money, they quickly learn only a select few family members have been invited to come hear the will - and Kit is one of them.

What follows is a story full of twists and turns, set in a Scottish manor with rooms that behave mysteriously, plenty of puzzles to solve, scheming family members to get to know, and a talking cat that runs the house. (Literally. He's the butler and cook, all rolled into one.) I enjoyed the evolving story and found Kit to be a really interesting protagonist who is trying to find her place in a world that doesn't seem to have space for her.

This book is part of a series and I'm excited to see what comes next!

[SueB50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of The Grimlore Games by Kalyn Josephson.

I loved The Inheritance Games series, so when I saw this one and heard it had a similar feel, I knew I had to read it. I loved this book!! I am already waiting for the next one.

There is lots of magic, curses, and so many puzzles to figure out. Kit has been passed from one relative to the next after her father died, and now she has to win the Grimlore Games to inherit the family fortune. If she doesn't, she could end up out on the streets. The problem is that she's competing against a bunch of selfish, evil relatives who only care about themselves.

My favorite character was the talking cat. What a fantastic character! I laughed out loud at his attitude so many times. And did I mention Kit has a pet tarantula? He loves cake, which cracked me up every time it came up.

There's also a cousin with so many phobias that I lost count, and every challenge seemed to bring a new surprise.

If you like magical competitions, family drama, puzzles, curses, and characters you'll fall in love with, I HIGHLY recommend this one. I can't wait for the next book!

[Sabrina Lemus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kit has been passed between Devlin family members following her father’s death feeling like she has no one left. When her grandfather passes away and she is invited to the family manor to participate in puzzles to win the inheritance she makes it her mission to win to be able to keep having a home. We follow Kit as she slowly uncovers her family’s curse and trying to solve the puzzles to the inheritance.

Ok this was so much fun. I was not sure what to expect since it is a middle grade book, but this was well written and fun to read. This was my first book by Kalyn Josephson and I cannot wait to read more from her and to see where this series continues.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants a fun book with a bit of mystery, suspense and enjoys riddles and puzzles.

**Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review**

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really fun! The Grimlore Game is an interesting take on the archetypal gothic novel. You have a creepy girl protagonist, a grand manor full of secret rooms, and a large, dysfunctional family burdened with a mysterious curse. But there are also riddles, puzzles, and a shapeshifting talking cat. Honestly, the cat was probably my favorite character, but I'll wait until book two before making a firm decision.