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Grim: A dark comedy about the worst reaper. Ever.
In September 1945, Death quit his job and gave it to humanity.
Within a year, the Grim Reaper was a regional council position.
In November 2015, the council give the job to the wrong guy.
"Gaiman nursing a hangover" - 5 Stars - Mike on AmazonGrim is a funny, weird little urban fantasy about a girl in a basement, an ugly manservant to a lunatic, an angry man who lost his family, and a terrible grim reaper on his first day. Things get uncomfortable. Quickly.People are saying...
"A cross between Gaiman and trainspotting" - 5 Stars - Asaph on Goodreads"This is a laugh out loud tale of some of the most unlikable characters you’re ever going to come across" - 4 Stars - Kevin on Goodreads"Fast-paced and funny, with gloom and doom and a main character who needs her mouth washed out with soap" - 4 Stars - Jessica on Goodreads"Weird book" - 3 Stars - An anonymous reviewer. I couldn’t leave it out."I will never again read something like this" - 1 Star - Courtney on Goodreads (Courtney clearly had a bad day so I just took the best part of her review)
Within a year, the Grim Reaper was a regional council position.
In November 2015, the council give the job to the wrong guy.
"Gaiman nursing a hangover" - 5 Stars - Mike on AmazonGrim is a funny, weird little urban fantasy about a girl in a basement, an ugly manservant to a lunatic, an angry man who lost his family, and a terrible grim reaper on his first day. Things get uncomfortable. Quickly.People are saying...
"A cross between Gaiman and trainspotting" - 5 Stars - Asaph on Goodreads"This is a laugh out loud tale of some of the most unlikable characters you’re ever going to come across" - 4 Stars - Kevin on Goodreads"Fast-paced and funny, with gloom and doom and a main character who needs her mouth washed out with soap" - 4 Stars - Jessica on Goodreads"Weird book" - 3 Stars - An anonymous reviewer. I couldn’t leave it out."I will never again read something like this" - 1 Star - Courtney on Goodreads (Courtney clearly had a bad day so I just took the best part of her review)
- GenresMagical Realism
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2017
9 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 15, 2018
I guess the best way to summarise Grim would be "a cross between Gaiman and Trainspotting".
Yeah, it's a bit of a mind-bender right there. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the premise looked promising. I started to read - and just kept on reading. McCallion certainly makes it explicit from the get-go what you are getting into.
What to Expect
Expect a magical-realism style of writing, with a fantastical element woven into every-day modern life in a seamless and well-executed world-building. This is the bit that reminds me of Gaiman -- at least if Gaiman was using the F-word like a drunken Scotsman in love with scatological humour.
There are more or less 3 main plot lines that interweave and build together. McCallion skillfully jumps between them and between different times, to weave an engaging story. As events unfold and the mystery is slowly revealed, you'll find yourself more and more engrossed (or grossed out by) the various characters.
What I liked
One cannot but like the narrator, with all her snide side commentary. The other characters have that perfect balance of being fully realised yet still somehow exaggerated and comical.
What to be aware of
As above, language and themes are adult in nature. While the tone is mostly humorous, there are unsavoury and downright creepy aspects to the story. Just like the movie Trainspotting was a bit harsh to watch, so can this novel be to read.
Summary
If you love witty stories, magical-realism for adults, and are not afraid of life's uglier sides (i.e. if you enjoy reading Gaiman and liked watching Trainspotting), Grim is the dark-comedy book for you.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Yeah, it's a bit of a mind-bender right there. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the premise looked promising. I started to read - and just kept on reading. McCallion certainly makes it explicit from the get-go what you are getting into.
What to Expect
Expect a magical-realism style of writing, with a fantastical element woven into every-day modern life in a seamless and well-executed world-building. This is the bit that reminds me of Gaiman -- at least if Gaiman was using the F-word like a drunken Scotsman in love with scatological humour.
There are more or less 3 main plot lines that interweave and build together. McCallion skillfully jumps between them and between different times, to weave an engaging story. As events unfold and the mystery is slowly revealed, you'll find yourself more and more engrossed (or grossed out by) the various characters.
What I liked
One cannot but like the narrator, with all her snide side commentary. The other characters have that perfect balance of being fully realised yet still somehow exaggerated and comical.
What to be aware of
As above, language and themes are adult in nature. While the tone is mostly humorous, there are unsavoury and downright creepy aspects to the story. Just like the movie Trainspotting was a bit harsh to watch, so can this novel be to read.
Summary
If you love witty stories, magical-realism for adults, and are not afraid of life's uglier sides (i.e. if you enjoy reading Gaiman and liked watching Trainspotting), Grim is the dark-comedy book for you.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
April 28, 2018
I picked up Grim following an email from Ebookskill, the book was free so I thought I’d try it. Here is my review.
The story is told, mostly, from the point of view of Cora, a gay teenage musician, whose father died when she was young and who has a stepfather, Thomas. Because of a lack of attention to detail by Judge Rabbit, a truly vile character, Cora’s father is brought back as The Reaper and is called Grim. He is utterly useless at his job but you really feel for him and the position he has been put in.
Grim soon realises that Cora has disappeared (along with many other teenagers) and he and Thomas set off to find and rescue her.
For anyone of a sensitive disposition this book is pretty graphic and there is a lot of F word use – that doesn’t bother me because it was totally fitting with the story but it might offend some so feel duly warned. There is a chapter – A Lovely Morning Walk – which although brilliant is utterly revolting, yet so vividly and compellingly is it written you can’t look away. It reminded me of a similar piece of writing by Mark Barry in the Cedar Forest chapter of Violent Disorder.
While I really enjoyed reading Grim I did feel it was perhaps a tad over long and some of the antics of some of the characters could perhaps have been tightened up a bit but I’m probably being over picky. It was very well written, darkly humorous, the type of humour I like, and filled with wonderful characters such as the long-suffering, Derek, Judge Rabbit’s butler.
If you like all the things I’ve mentioned above and reading something original, then this is for you.
The story is told, mostly, from the point of view of Cora, a gay teenage musician, whose father died when she was young and who has a stepfather, Thomas. Because of a lack of attention to detail by Judge Rabbit, a truly vile character, Cora’s father is brought back as The Reaper and is called Grim. He is utterly useless at his job but you really feel for him and the position he has been put in.
Grim soon realises that Cora has disappeared (along with many other teenagers) and he and Thomas set off to find and rescue her.
For anyone of a sensitive disposition this book is pretty graphic and there is a lot of F word use – that doesn’t bother me because it was totally fitting with the story but it might offend some so feel duly warned. There is a chapter – A Lovely Morning Walk – which although brilliant is utterly revolting, yet so vividly and compellingly is it written you can’t look away. It reminded me of a similar piece of writing by Mark Barry in the Cedar Forest chapter of Violent Disorder.
While I really enjoyed reading Grim I did feel it was perhaps a tad over long and some of the antics of some of the characters could perhaps have been tightened up a bit but I’m probably being over picky. It was very well written, darkly humorous, the type of humour I like, and filled with wonderful characters such as the long-suffering, Derek, Judge Rabbit’s butler.
If you like all the things I’ve mentioned above and reading something original, then this is for you.
March 23, 2018
Hot damn did I enjoy this book. It took me forever because it is long, but it is soooooo good. The idea of the reaper quitting his job and humanity taking over is an interesting premise and the way the author did it is so how we would do it by basically turning it into a government type job.
The characters were interesting. Grim was a complete wet noodle unless the right buttons were hit and that happened on a few occasions. Most of the time I wanted to shake him and tell him to man up. Which I imagine was the point of his character. Tom I could picture well. A once buff dude whose life fell apart so now he's overweight and a drunk, but still half believing he is still as awesome as he once was. He was very believable. I found myself rooting for both men to get what they wanted. Dereck was an interesting bad guy that you couldn't really help but sympathize with and kinda want him to be redeemed, but you know deep down it's probably not possible. The Judge was a giant sociopath who you could believe got away with everything solely because he was a man with power and he knew it. Very disturbing character.
As for Cora, her voice was very authentic. She narrated the story and her personality shone through in her word choices. I could very much imagine her sitting across from me and regaling me with this tale.
The pacing was good and often I was on the edge of my seat wondering how Tom and Grim were going to succeed and if Cora and her band would survive. There was definitely a death I didn't expect that made me say, Damn, how's this going to end the story now? Only thing that got to me was some of the injuries the characters got made me wonder if they really would still be doing what they did, but it wasn't enough to completely throw me out of the story.
The characters were interesting. Grim was a complete wet noodle unless the right buttons were hit and that happened on a few occasions. Most of the time I wanted to shake him and tell him to man up. Which I imagine was the point of his character. Tom I could picture well. A once buff dude whose life fell apart so now he's overweight and a drunk, but still half believing he is still as awesome as he once was. He was very believable. I found myself rooting for both men to get what they wanted. Dereck was an interesting bad guy that you couldn't really help but sympathize with and kinda want him to be redeemed, but you know deep down it's probably not possible. The Judge was a giant sociopath who you could believe got away with everything solely because he was a man with power and he knew it. Very disturbing character.
As for Cora, her voice was very authentic. She narrated the story and her personality shone through in her word choices. I could very much imagine her sitting across from me and regaling me with this tale.
The pacing was good and often I was on the edge of my seat wondering how Tom and Grim were going to succeed and if Cora and her band would survive. There was definitely a death I didn't expect that made me say, Damn, how's this going to end the story now? Only thing that got to me was some of the injuries the characters got made me wonder if they really would still be doing what they did, but it wasn't enough to completely throw me out of the story.
August 23, 2018
I never rate books but I’m going to try to save you all the miserable experience that I have had, thank god I didn’t pay for this title I think I’d have to commit myself and throw away the key.
I read it to the end as I read every book to the end to give it a fair go, I’ll never get the time back, thankfully I was on a long journey. This is very poorly written and hard to follow, a spelling and grammar disaster( your, you’re, there, their) basic grammar mistakes that was very off-putting, I think the author was trying to tell some kind of bad joke and turned it into a book, it’s the kind of childish humour that you would expect from kindergarten only with a potty mouth from the gutter, the whole thing is a bad day that tries to be funny and ironic but it only comes across as boring predictable and childish, I have a seven year old that’s far more creative and has better grammar too! I will never again read something like this all the way through. I hope that this can give you an honest idea, I read the other reviews and I was questioning which book they read as it wasn’t this one!
I read it to the end as I read every book to the end to give it a fair go, I’ll never get the time back, thankfully I was on a long journey. This is very poorly written and hard to follow, a spelling and grammar disaster( your, you’re, there, their) basic grammar mistakes that was very off-putting, I think the author was trying to tell some kind of bad joke and turned it into a book, it’s the kind of childish humour that you would expect from kindergarten only with a potty mouth from the gutter, the whole thing is a bad day that tries to be funny and ironic but it only comes across as boring predictable and childish, I have a seven year old that’s far more creative and has better grammar too! I will never again read something like this all the way through. I hope that this can give you an honest idea, I read the other reviews and I was questioning which book they read as it wasn’t this one!
July 17, 2018
5* just for the fun of it
This was a fun read. A little confusing at times, but fun nevertheless. Grim was sad and annoying, but l liked him anyway. I liked Tom less.
Enjoy this story in the sun,, it's easy and harmless.
This was a fun read. A little confusing at times, but fun nevertheless. Grim was sad and annoying, but l liked him anyway. I liked Tom less.
Enjoy this story in the sun,, it's easy and harmless.
August 25, 2018
"Grim" by Gavin McCallion is a smart-aleck take on the unpopular career path of a grim reaper. Fast paced and funny, with gloom and doom and a main character who needs her mouth washed out with soap, this is an entertaining twist on horror and fantasy.
August 7, 2018
I picked up this book when it was up on Kindle at my favourite price: free. I always download books that are being given away, but if I’m being honest rarely read them. But I’d just finished my last book and didn’t know what to read next, so got stuck into this. And I’m glad I did.
So the first thing that stood out about this book was the voice it was narrated in, and a use of the English language that is extremely funny and always creative. Even the most boring of stories could have been told with this narrative and still been interesting.
But of course this is not that. This is s laugh out loud tale of some of the most unlikable characters you’re ever going to come across. None more so that cartoon villain Judge Rabbit, who strangely enough made me think of Judge Doom I’m ‘Who frame Roger Rabbit.’
The protagonist is the self proclaimed most excellent girl that ever lived, Cora and her unlikely band as they try to escape the clutches of Judge Rabbit, where they are being forced to rehearse to play at the Reapers Ball. The story unfolds through not only her story, but her two dads and those very bad men I mentioned at the start.
It’s probably not like anything else you’ve ever read, or will again. It’s not my usual kind of read, but it’s a good laugh, so what’s not to like?
So the first thing that stood out about this book was the voice it was narrated in, and a use of the English language that is extremely funny and always creative. Even the most boring of stories could have been told with this narrative and still been interesting.
But of course this is not that. This is s laugh out loud tale of some of the most unlikable characters you’re ever going to come across. None more so that cartoon villain Judge Rabbit, who strangely enough made me think of Judge Doom I’m ‘Who frame Roger Rabbit.’
The protagonist is the self proclaimed most excellent girl that ever lived, Cora and her unlikely band as they try to escape the clutches of Judge Rabbit, where they are being forced to rehearse to play at the Reapers Ball. The story unfolds through not only her story, but her two dads and those very bad men I mentioned at the start.
It’s probably not like anything else you’ve ever read, or will again. It’s not my usual kind of read, but it’s a good laugh, so what’s not to like?
November 17, 2022
This book is hard to quantify: I both adore the characters and the setting and the sheer novelty of his creation - while simultaneously wanting some of the characters to fall down a very deep hole and stub every toe on the way down.
This book is a cynically hilarious take on the afterworld and nicely blends in a distinct and startling atmosphere of whimsy and humour into what is a quite dark plot.
I cannot recommend this enough!
The only thing that would make it better is if he somehow decided to do an audiobook version so I do not have to stop reading while driving!
Nine out of Ten podiatrists recommend this book!
This book is a cynically hilarious take on the afterworld and nicely blends in a distinct and startling atmosphere of whimsy and humour into what is a quite dark plot.
I cannot recommend this enough!
The only thing that would make it better is if he somehow decided to do an audiobook version so I do not have to stop reading while driving!
Nine out of Ten podiatrists recommend this book!
August 27, 2018
I enjoyed this book immensely, it’s probably the most unique start to any book that you will ever read, the characters are well rounded and fit the story beautifully, i don’t know if it’s just my sick sense of humour but I found myself laughing my arse off most of the way through, can only recommend.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews