Grim Folk Tale

The Unorthodox Chronicles #4

by James J. Butcher

Grimsby, a junior Auditor in the government-sanctioned, magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs, must do all he can to fight for the innocent in this riveting urban fantasy.

When a magical illness begins to afflict children in Boston, the Department of Unorthodox Affairs tasks junior Auditor Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby with uncovering the source and—together with his partner, the grizzled veteran Huntsman Mayflower—putting a stop to it by any means necessary.

But their efforts to determine the origin of the spreading malady are soon complicated by the emergence of ancient and strange beings that Grimsby and Mayflower have never encountered before. To uncover the truth, they will have to turn to old acquaintances and allies and delve deep below Boston, into the city of monsters that lies beneath, and travel to the unfathomable reality of the Elsewhere.

Burdened by his own troubles, both past and present, it will take all Grimsby’s skill, iron, and no shortage of magic to stop this apparent plague and save those who have been afflicted.

Assuming it’s not already too late.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

James J. Butcher spends most of his time in places that don’t exist; some of which he even made himself. What little time he has left is usually spent writing or exercising. He is the son of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher, who introduced him to books, movies and games. He lives in Denver, and is working on his next novel.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another banger from James Butcher. I've read the first two in the Unorthodox Chronicles, and was in the middle of the third book, Cold Iron Task, when I received an advance review copy of this one. So I maybe kinda sorta skipped the last quarter of Cold Iron Task to devour this book (don't worry, I went back to finish the other one).

This book, like the first three, still have faint echoes of the Dresdenverse. Even certain beats within book to book, and I guess if someone grows up with the creator of the Dresdenverse, a few tropes might carry over.

Even the dog?

Especially the dog.

Without giving spoilers, Butcher's character development, world building and systems of magic are solid. Four books into the series, and the way magic and other realms work is plausible. I am particularly fond of Mayweather, seeing as he wrestles with his duties as a father in this book -- both a surrogate father figure to Grimsby, and his abandonment of his own daughter. Butcher captures the emotional torment of Grimsby and Mayweather well, without reducing them to stereotypical Manly Men Who Must Never Reveal They Have Feelings.

There was a bit of a loose end that really bugged me about the whole thing, but maybe that will lead to a short story or novella, or even set the stage for a fourth book. However, there was no indication of what happened to a certain character at the end -- no foreshadowing, no "hey, this is why they did the things they did," and I was a bit annoyed at that character's inclusion at all. If he doesn't return, he will have only served as a foil for Mayweather's internal conflicts, and to provoke Grimsby. But hopefully, James Butcher will wrap that up in a later story and give them the comeuppance they wholly deserve (and maybe the forgiveness they seek).

In all, James Butcher is on my very, VERY short list of authors I buy physical copies of their books (I worked in a bookstore for 8 years -- shelf space is at a premium in my house these days). This book solidifies his well-earned position on the shelf next to Patricia Briggs, Matt Dinniman, and Seanan McGuire (and yes, Jim Butcher).

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5

An unusual magical illness is affecting the children of Boston. Junior Auditor Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby and his partner, the veteran Hunstman Mayflower, are tasked by the Department of Unorthodox Affairs with uncovering the cause and putting a stop to it - by any means necessary - before it spreads even further.

It doesn't take long into the investigation, however, before Grimsby and Mayflower encounter some strange beings that appear to have ancient origins and a heck of a lot of magic power. The duo will visit a depth far below the streets of Boston to face off against unbelievable monsters and then off to a completely different reality, drawing on every bit of knowledge and strength they can muster to protect the humans on earth.

This series actually is getting better and better with each book.

The character of Grimsby has grown nicely through the series so far and while I've read the previous three books, I don't think it's necessary to have read them in order to enjoy this volume. In fact I might recommend this book before one of the others.

Part of what makes this a stronger book is the fact that the relationship between Grimsby and Mayflower has grown to a point that they seem to work together and play off one another in a fashion that makes the read fun. While the other books were good, I definitely enjoyed this partnership best to date.

The threat which drives the story is strong which creates good tension and keeps the reader anxious to turn the page. The fact that Grimsby pushes himself beyond his normal limits is appropriate but it does also feel a bit over-played. Still I enjoyed this quite a bit. A mature (or maturing) Grimsby is more fun than a truly new and struggling one.

Looking for a good book? Grim Folk Tale by James J. Butcher is the strongest book in The Unorthodox Chronicles and well worth reading for Urban Fantasy fans.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Franky · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a former auditor who loves fantasy and science fiction, a story about a magical auditor immediately grabbed my attention. Sure, I didn’t know what a magical auditor did, but Grimsby quickly showed me.

Grim Folk Tale is a story where the magical lives alongside the non-magical. There is no hiding, only a somewhat peaceful coexistence. Auditor Grimsby spends his days investigating when magic negatively interferes with the world around it, doing his best to set things right. Along the way, he is driven by a deeply personal quest centered around the mysterious locket he wears around his neck.

Grimsby and his cast of companions all have clear motivations, and each plays a unique role in the story. Grimsby’s investigative work gives the fantasy setting a refreshing structure that helps it stand apart from more traditional quest-driven tales. The story takes several twists and turns, all of which weave together by the end. At times, however, the pacing caused my interest to wonder, and I found myself wanting the story to move forward more quickly. While the ending was not predictable, it still felt rushed and somewhat anticlimactic.

Overall, Grim Folk Tale is an entertaining fantasy with a refreshing premise and a memorable protagonist. Although the pacing occasionally slowed the story's momentum and the ending felt somewhat rushed, readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with an investigative twist will likely find plenty to enjoy.

I received a free eARC of Grim Folk Tale from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grim Folk Tale, the fourth book in The Unorthodox Chronicles Series, sees Auditor Grimsby and his partner Mayflower return to familiar ground in this very fun read. The previous books have all largely been self-contained mysteries, but Grim Folk Tale breaks from that tradition by interweaving its story and characters through a number of well plotted reveals and story beats. Characters from previous books make reappearances and have growing importance, our main heroes receive the most character growth yet as they face challenges that make them question who they really are, and the ongoing mysteries grow the more we learn about them.

There are some things I could see being done better, largely revolving around wishing the reader got to see more about a certain budding relationship, but overall Grim Folk Tale is a fantastic book and up for contention for the best book in the series.

James J. Butcher entered a genre that would put the shadow of his father's work over his own, and through each book James has shown that he has created a world and a cast of loveable and yet deep characters that can stand on their own and feels fresh in a genre that often feels borrowed. I cannot wait to see where he takes the reader next.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me an ARC.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grim Folk Tale continues the adventures of Grimsby and Mayflower as they look into children who are sickened and can’t be awakened. The book delves into new background from Grimsby’s childhood and features Arianette, Wudge, Goode, and some new characters that illuminate Wudge’s world as well. It leaves some of the former mysteries behind and resolves some of the challenges Grimsby and Mayflower face in their personal lives.

For me this is the strongest book of the series so far. Relationships deepen and the characters truly gain new depth. I had a hard time putting this book down, as I kept wanting to see what would happen next. James Butcher has me hooked on Grimsby for the ride with this novel. I am already anxious to read the next one.

[Chuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is quite good, follows the urban fantasy formula somewhat but there are two main viewpoint characters. Some of the magical rules seem somewhat arbitrary but it makes for a fun story, also I like the moving forward of the main characters' relationships and the resolution to one of the big problems the characters had.