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The Grey #2
Grey Lore
Despite the perks of living with her rich aunt, Ella’s new life in Napper, Indiana, is pretty much tragically boring.
Until Ella starts hearing strange voices.
As rogue wolves begin to stalk the edges of town and a serial killer with a penchant for silver bullets draws closer, the city of Napper seems to wake up.
Ella, with her new friends, Sam and Sarah, might be able to find out what the strange occurrences mean. Except that they’re all being pulled in different directions by people who love them; and some who don’t.
Before they lose their way to the whispers they hear from the past, or the call to a future they’re not sure they want to create, the friends will need to confront who they really are and figure out what’s hiding in the silence of their sleepy little town.
Until Ella starts hearing strange voices.
As rogue wolves begin to stalk the edges of town and a serial killer with a penchant for silver bullets draws closer, the city of Napper seems to wake up.
Ella, with her new friends, Sam and Sarah, might be able to find out what the strange occurrences mean. Except that they’re all being pulled in different directions by people who love them; and some who don’t.
Before they lose their way to the whispers they hear from the past, or the call to a future they’re not sure they want to create, the friends will need to confront who they really are and figure out what’s hiding in the silence of their sleepy little town.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2017
9 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Jean Knight Pace
25 books80 followersJean Knight Pace is the author of the young adult novels Grey Stone and Grey Lore. She has had work published in Puerto del Sol, The Lakeview Review, and other literary magazines. She’s also written for Dollar Stretcher and Authors Publish. She has a BA in music and an MFA in creative writing. She lives in southern Indiana with her husband, four children, ten ducks, and a cat. She blogs at jeanknightpace.com and tastycheapskate.blogspot.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 4, 2018
3.5 Stars...
Here's the truth, I like this book but there are just some things that keep bugging me making me not to like Grey Lore.
The synopsis really caught my interest that's why I requested this book from Netgalley. And maybe first quarter of the book, I felt contented and somehow enjoying the reading. In fact I thought the this is so fairytale-like. I liked it. The tone that was set at the beginning was so mysterious, the chapters were divided into different parts, each part seemed cut so abruptly that I was always left wondering and asking what was that about or what will happen next. And so it was thrilling and of course I couldn't help but keep on reading.
Sadly, I grew tired of it. Sometimes, not revealing many things about the story or plot keeps the mystery going on but I think the approach used in this book isn't just very appealing and satisfying. See, each chapter is composed of many parts and most of the times each part was told in different POVs. Like in one chapter, there would be at least three POVs. Multiple POVs are okay but putting few or several POVs in one chapter isn't just that appealing especially if in every cut of POV the reader wasn't left satisfied.
Maybe after first quarter reading this, I'm not anymore thrilled to know the what's and why's, instead I'm frustrated. And Jesus Christ there are just too many POVs. I think it would have been better if the story sticks with Ella, Sara and Sam's POV... Besides the synopsis said, and I quote:
Ella, with her new friends, Sam and Sarah, might be able to find out what the strange occurrences mean. Except that they’re all being pulled in different directions by people who love them; and some who don’t.
If the story, whole story, was told thru their eyes, and little by little reveal to the readers what they FIND OUT, that would be more exciting. And I'm more interested on THEM, and what the occurrences in their town affect them...
I'm sorry I can't stop talking about POVs because really it made the story less beautiful and interesting. Because of this problem, the significance of Ella and her friends being the protagonists have been degraded. Not to mention I didn't get to connect with these three as well. They seem so bland.
On the other hand, I loves wolves. And like I said earlier I love the tone of this book and the idea of the wolves in their town was very thrilling. The mysterious killings. I also love the pace of this story. It's fast paced and maybe that's why I still got to finish this one. Now you may ask how on earth does a fast paced book have a bland protagonists.
I already said why... It's the multiple POVs... There is always something happening in the story but that doesn't mean our main characters are always doing something interesting.
Overall though I still recommend this book. If you want to be in a fairytale mood, this one is for you, with it's mysterious and dark tone.
I got this book from the publishers thru Netgalley. Thank you..
Here's the truth, I like this book but there are just some things that keep bugging me making me not to like Grey Lore.
The synopsis really caught my interest that's why I requested this book from Netgalley. And maybe first quarter of the book, I felt contented and somehow enjoying the reading. In fact I thought the this is so fairytale-like. I liked it. The tone that was set at the beginning was so mysterious, the chapters were divided into different parts, each part seemed cut so abruptly that I was always left wondering and asking what was that about or what will happen next. And so it was thrilling and of course I couldn't help but keep on reading.
Sadly, I grew tired of it. Sometimes, not revealing many things about the story or plot keeps the mystery going on but I think the approach used in this book isn't just very appealing and satisfying. See, each chapter is composed of many parts and most of the times each part was told in different POVs. Like in one chapter, there would be at least three POVs. Multiple POVs are okay but putting few or several POVs in one chapter isn't just that appealing especially if in every cut of POV the reader wasn't left satisfied.
Maybe after first quarter reading this, I'm not anymore thrilled to know the what's and why's, instead I'm frustrated. And Jesus Christ there are just too many POVs. I think it would have been better if the story sticks with Ella, Sara and Sam's POV... Besides the synopsis said, and I quote:
Ella, with her new friends, Sam and Sarah, might be able to find out what the strange occurrences mean. Except that they’re all being pulled in different directions by people who love them; and some who don’t.
If the story, whole story, was told thru their eyes, and little by little reveal to the readers what they FIND OUT, that would be more exciting. And I'm more interested on THEM, and what the occurrences in their town affect them...
I'm sorry I can't stop talking about POVs because really it made the story less beautiful and interesting. Because of this problem, the significance of Ella and her friends being the protagonists have been degraded. Not to mention I didn't get to connect with these three as well. They seem so bland.
On the other hand, I loves wolves. And like I said earlier I love the tone of this book and the idea of the wolves in their town was very thrilling. The mysterious killings. I also love the pace of this story. It's fast paced and maybe that's why I still got to finish this one. Now you may ask how on earth does a fast paced book have a bland protagonists.
I already said why... It's the multiple POVs... There is always something happening in the story but that doesn't mean our main characters are always doing something interesting.
Overall though I still recommend this book. If you want to be in a fairytale mood, this one is for you, with it's mysterious and dark tone.
I got this book from the publishers thru Netgalley. Thank you..
March 5, 2018
When Jean Knight Pace contacted me and asked if I’d like to read this book for review and I read that intriguing blurb, I knew I couldn’t pass it up! While this wasn’t my favorite read, it was definitely a unique one! I can’t say I’ve ever read a book with this flavor and style before. And I do love finding original tales!
THE RUNDOWN
Grey Lore is a companion novel to Grey Stone (which I also reviewed a while back, if you’re interested). While both can absolutely be standalones, I did very much enjoy all the many nods to Grey Stone in this book. But where Grey Stone is set far in the past during more primitive days, Grey Lore is a contemporary. Somewhat on the urban fantasy side of things…ish. (This book is really hard to explain, so bear with me!)
We start out with Ella, who just lost her mother and is moving in with her rather stiff aunt in a strange little town in Indiana. Napper is full of the rich—the citizens seemingly only interested in shallow things. But with the coming of wolves and some odd happenings, Ella begins to wonder if there is more to Napper than meets the eye.
Sam, too, has just moved into the little town. Though he and his dad, who sells vacuums for a living and barely scrapes by, don’t exactly fit in this ritzy streets of Napper. But when Sam meets Ella and a girl named Sarah, he finally feels like he has a home.
Just as things are starting to look brighter for the three oddball friends, dark plots and mysterious circumstances turn their world upside down.
An old woman in the woods who seemingly vanishes at will, wolves running rampant, talking animals, and a killer on the loose who always takes his victims’ teeth—Napper is anything but a boring little town in Indiana.
CHARACTERS
There were a number of characters in this novel. Often they seemed random, but eventually you see the connections which was a lot of fun. But the main focus was on Ella, Sam, and Sarah.
Unfortunately, I found the characters a little flat. Not too much. They did have some depth. But for some reason I just could not seem to connect to them as much as I would have liked to.
Ella did have a pretty interesting arc, but I never felt like her personality really jumped off the page. While Sam…I don’t know. At first he seemed like the type I’d love—the kind, broken boy who just wants some friends. But a few times he made some really dumb decisions that annoyed me. And, again, I couldn’t get a full grasp on his personality. Sarah was probably my favorite of the three. Which surprised me, because I didn’t much like her at first. But she ended up being much deeper than I expected. Sadly, she wasn’t “on screen” a whole lot. I would have loved more time inside her head!
The other characters I didn’t feel much for. As I said, there were a lot of them, and the book kind of jumps from one to the other so fast, I never really felt like I got to truly know any of them. Each scene was a bit too short for me to get a full grasp on each person…if that makes sense.
I don’t know. The characters weren’t bad. I didn’t hate any of them. I just didn’t really love any of them either. They were a bit mediocre. Though I will say, despite there being a ton of characters, I rarely got confused who was who. Kudos to the author for that!
Also, there’s a character named Zinnie and her cat who I did totally like. But that’s all I’m saying. *smile, smile*
OTHER THOUGHTS
- The narrative style was slightly omniscient. Which I think is the main reason I didn’t just love this book. It wasn’t fully omniscient. Each scene was in the point-of-view of one character, but it was a distant POV, and had a bit of a omniscient flavor. For basically the whole book I felt like I was being told a story instead of experiencing it. And that’s just not my thing. I want to be right in the thick of it, feeling everything the character is feeling. Instead, this story was more like watching the events from the sidelines. Kind of an interesting style, but not really my thing.
- Each scene was really short and there were a ton of POVs. Another problem I had with it and probably the big reason why I never really felt much for the characters. The scene jumps were so fast and frequent, I couldn’t get a feel for one person before we’re off to the next one. And instead of really experiencing the moments, it was more a series of a bunch of different quick moments all thrown together. Again, it was kind of an interesting style. It added a touch of uniqueness to the whole story—getting to see little snippets of each person (including antagonists) and slowly watching the whole picture come together. Like a bunch of little puzzle pieces that form a whole picture by the ending. I don’t think there was anything wrong with telling the story this way, I’m just picky and would have liked deeper, longer scenes instead of short bursts. I very much enjoyed the few scenes that did linger. They felt fuller and more in depth. And I think if the whole novel had been that way, I would have liked it a lot more. But the majority of the story was a progression of short scenes with not much deep POVs, making me a little indifferent to the whole thing.
- I will say, the writing was very good! Even though I wasn’t a fan of the style the story was told in (though I think that’s a personal thing, nothing against the authors at all), the sentence structures and wording choices were very beautiful. It was a smooth, pleasant read itself. I very much enjoyed the author’s choices of wording.
- It got a lot better halfway through. The first half was rather slow with not much going on. But once things picked up, I did get into the story a lot more!
- The small town was fun! As mentioned, Napper is full of the rich, but with dark secrets underneath. I’m a bit of a sucker for such things. I enjoyed the overall feel of the ritzy (but possibly sinister) town. What made it even more fun (or…creepy, but creepy is fun!), was the fact that a psychiatric institution is a major part of the town. People seem to accept that a ginormous insane asylum sits in the middle of their town. In fact, lots of joggers go there to run around the perfectly kept grounds. But what they do inside the institution well… *wriggles eyebrows* It was all very delightfully chilling.
- It’s a sort of Hansel and Gretel retelling. Which I found so unique and fun! It’s a very, very loose retelling. But there were absolutely some Hansel and Gretel threads woven throughout. There were also hints and mentions of other fairytales and folklore. In fact, folklore was a huge factor in the story. And that’s something I’m totally on top of!
- The whole thing is quirky and unexpected. That’s always a plus for me! I really don’t even know how to explain this story. The entire feel and events were unlike anything I’ve ever read. I never knew what to expect. Each page was a surprise, with a lot of great twists along the way. It’s a very original story!
CONTENT CAUTIONS
The story was fairly clean in that there was no language or sexual content. But it definitely had a gritty feel to it that I would be cautious of for younger readers.
There were a few mentions of alcohol, some characters accused of being drug addicts, and a fair amount of violence. Though, again, the story was told in a distant POV, so a lot of the violence was more mentions than the reader actually being there and experiencing it. Some of it was gruesome though, and there were definitely a few scenes of people being beat up and bloodied.
The whole flavor is rather dark and grungy. It’s by no means a lighthearted tale. So do keep that in mind.
CONCLUSION
This wasn’t my favorite story. The constant scene changes and multiple POVs threw me a bit. BUT, I’ll say again, that is a personal preference. I think it was a fun idea telling the story that way and having all the little puzzle pieces thrown together and slowly forming until we had the whole picture. The focus was more on the town’s secrets and each person being a player than the characters being the driving force. And since I’m all about characters, I didn’t click with it.
But, overall, it was an extremely unique story with lots of fun fantasy elements and a touch of the paranormal. The mystery of what was going on kept me intrigued and the writing really was beautiful.
If you like urban fantasy filled with wolves, folklore, secrets, quirky events, and a unique flavor, I’d absolutely say give this book a try!
NOTE: I received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for a honest review.
Review originally posted on my blog:
Musings of an Elf
THE RUNDOWN
Grey Lore is a companion novel to Grey Stone (which I also reviewed a while back, if you’re interested). While both can absolutely be standalones, I did very much enjoy all the many nods to Grey Stone in this book. But where Grey Stone is set far in the past during more primitive days, Grey Lore is a contemporary. Somewhat on the urban fantasy side of things…ish. (This book is really hard to explain, so bear with me!)
We start out with Ella, who just lost her mother and is moving in with her rather stiff aunt in a strange little town in Indiana. Napper is full of the rich—the citizens seemingly only interested in shallow things. But with the coming of wolves and some odd happenings, Ella begins to wonder if there is more to Napper than meets the eye.
Sam, too, has just moved into the little town. Though he and his dad, who sells vacuums for a living and barely scrapes by, don’t exactly fit in this ritzy streets of Napper. But when Sam meets Ella and a girl named Sarah, he finally feels like he has a home.
Just as things are starting to look brighter for the three oddball friends, dark plots and mysterious circumstances turn their world upside down.
An old woman in the woods who seemingly vanishes at will, wolves running rampant, talking animals, and a killer on the loose who always takes his victims’ teeth—Napper is anything but a boring little town in Indiana.
CHARACTERS
There were a number of characters in this novel. Often they seemed random, but eventually you see the connections which was a lot of fun. But the main focus was on Ella, Sam, and Sarah.
Unfortunately, I found the characters a little flat. Not too much. They did have some depth. But for some reason I just could not seem to connect to them as much as I would have liked to.
Ella did have a pretty interesting arc, but I never felt like her personality really jumped off the page. While Sam…I don’t know. At first he seemed like the type I’d love—the kind, broken boy who just wants some friends. But a few times he made some really dumb decisions that annoyed me. And, again, I couldn’t get a full grasp on his personality. Sarah was probably my favorite of the three. Which surprised me, because I didn’t much like her at first. But she ended up being much deeper than I expected. Sadly, she wasn’t “on screen” a whole lot. I would have loved more time inside her head!
The other characters I didn’t feel much for. As I said, there were a lot of them, and the book kind of jumps from one to the other so fast, I never really felt like I got to truly know any of them. Each scene was a bit too short for me to get a full grasp on each person…if that makes sense.
I don’t know. The characters weren’t bad. I didn’t hate any of them. I just didn’t really love any of them either. They were a bit mediocre. Though I will say, despite there being a ton of characters, I rarely got confused who was who. Kudos to the author for that!
Also, there’s a character named Zinnie and her cat who I did totally like. But that’s all I’m saying. *smile, smile*
OTHER THOUGHTS
- The narrative style was slightly omniscient. Which I think is the main reason I didn’t just love this book. It wasn’t fully omniscient. Each scene was in the point-of-view of one character, but it was a distant POV, and had a bit of a omniscient flavor. For basically the whole book I felt like I was being told a story instead of experiencing it. And that’s just not my thing. I want to be right in the thick of it, feeling everything the character is feeling. Instead, this story was more like watching the events from the sidelines. Kind of an interesting style, but not really my thing.
- Each scene was really short and there were a ton of POVs. Another problem I had with it and probably the big reason why I never really felt much for the characters. The scene jumps were so fast and frequent, I couldn’t get a feel for one person before we’re off to the next one. And instead of really experiencing the moments, it was more a series of a bunch of different quick moments all thrown together. Again, it was kind of an interesting style. It added a touch of uniqueness to the whole story—getting to see little snippets of each person (including antagonists) and slowly watching the whole picture come together. Like a bunch of little puzzle pieces that form a whole picture by the ending. I don’t think there was anything wrong with telling the story this way, I’m just picky and would have liked deeper, longer scenes instead of short bursts. I very much enjoyed the few scenes that did linger. They felt fuller and more in depth. And I think if the whole novel had been that way, I would have liked it a lot more. But the majority of the story was a progression of short scenes with not much deep POVs, making me a little indifferent to the whole thing.
- I will say, the writing was very good! Even though I wasn’t a fan of the style the story was told in (though I think that’s a personal thing, nothing against the authors at all), the sentence structures and wording choices were very beautiful. It was a smooth, pleasant read itself. I very much enjoyed the author’s choices of wording.
- It got a lot better halfway through. The first half was rather slow with not much going on. But once things picked up, I did get into the story a lot more!
- The small town was fun! As mentioned, Napper is full of the rich, but with dark secrets underneath. I’m a bit of a sucker for such things. I enjoyed the overall feel of the ritzy (but possibly sinister) town. What made it even more fun (or…creepy, but creepy is fun!), was the fact that a psychiatric institution is a major part of the town. People seem to accept that a ginormous insane asylum sits in the middle of their town. In fact, lots of joggers go there to run around the perfectly kept grounds. But what they do inside the institution well… *wriggles eyebrows* It was all very delightfully chilling.
- It’s a sort of Hansel and Gretel retelling. Which I found so unique and fun! It’s a very, very loose retelling. But there were absolutely some Hansel and Gretel threads woven throughout. There were also hints and mentions of other fairytales and folklore. In fact, folklore was a huge factor in the story. And that’s something I’m totally on top of!
- The whole thing is quirky and unexpected. That’s always a plus for me! I really don’t even know how to explain this story. The entire feel and events were unlike anything I’ve ever read. I never knew what to expect. Each page was a surprise, with a lot of great twists along the way. It’s a very original story!
CONTENT CAUTIONS
The story was fairly clean in that there was no language or sexual content. But it definitely had a gritty feel to it that I would be cautious of for younger readers.
There were a few mentions of alcohol, some characters accused of being drug addicts, and a fair amount of violence. Though, again, the story was told in a distant POV, so a lot of the violence was more mentions than the reader actually being there and experiencing it. Some of it was gruesome though, and there were definitely a few scenes of people being beat up and bloodied.
The whole flavor is rather dark and grungy. It’s by no means a lighthearted tale. So do keep that in mind.
CONCLUSION
This wasn’t my favorite story. The constant scene changes and multiple POVs threw me a bit. BUT, I’ll say again, that is a personal preference. I think it was a fun idea telling the story that way and having all the little puzzle pieces thrown together and slowly forming until we had the whole picture. The focus was more on the town’s secrets and each person being a player than the characters being the driving force. And since I’m all about characters, I didn’t click with it.
But, overall, it was an extremely unique story with lots of fun fantasy elements and a touch of the paranormal. The mystery of what was going on kept me intrigued and the writing really was beautiful.
If you like urban fantasy filled with wolves, folklore, secrets, quirky events, and a unique flavor, I’d absolutely say give this book a try!
NOTE: I received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for a honest review.
Review originally posted on my blog:
Musings of an Elf
April 27, 2021
Not my cup of tea
February 4, 2018
Hey, book dragons! So guess what I finished another book and I am actually getting my review up sooner than later. So Jean Knight Pace was kind enough to ask me if I would like to review her second book. I read and reviewed her first book so you know I was excited to read this one as well. But here let me give you the summary off Goodreads so we are on the same page.
Despite the perks of living with her rich aunt, Ella’s new life in Napper, Indiana, is pretty much tragically boring.
Until Ella starts hearing strange voices.
As rogue wolves begin to stalk the edges of town and a serial killer with a penchant for silver bullets draws closer, the city of Napper seems to wake up.
Ella, with her new friends, Sam and Sarah, might be able to find out what the strange occurrences mean. Except that they’re all being pulled in different directions by people who love them; and some who don’t.
Before they lose their way to the whispers they hear from the past, or the call to a future they’re not sure they want to create, the friends will need to confront who they really are and figure out what’s hiding in the silence of their sleepy little town.
Now I really do love any story that has wolves in it, and let's say Jean writes books right up my alley. I really do love Jean and Jacob Kennedy writing style. It is so easy to read and understand. They create such captivating worlds and characters. Sam and Ella were characters that made me laugh but also tear up once and a while with them. And just the experiences they when though. I mean neither of them had a good life. That alone connects some many people with them. But I also have to say just the fact that I couldn't guess the identity of the shooter in the ned was a great thing. Keep me on my toes.
Myself, I really have to say that this book is my favorite of the two books that I have read of theirs. And I know I am looking forward to any more Jean writes. Also, i want to be a part wolf now too lol.
So if you like a book set in our world with supernatural things happening and you also like wolves. You are going to love Jeans and Jacobs work. So go get your self a copy of Amazon and let me know what you think about it after your done! (I do suggest you read Grey Stone first!)
Till next time here at the nook!
E.
Ps. if you have Instagram go and Follow Jean Jean Jean on it, I love her pictures!
Despite the perks of living with her rich aunt, Ella’s new life in Napper, Indiana, is pretty much tragically boring.
Until Ella starts hearing strange voices.
As rogue wolves begin to stalk the edges of town and a serial killer with a penchant for silver bullets draws closer, the city of Napper seems to wake up.
Ella, with her new friends, Sam and Sarah, might be able to find out what the strange occurrences mean. Except that they’re all being pulled in different directions by people who love them; and some who don’t.
Before they lose their way to the whispers they hear from the past, or the call to a future they’re not sure they want to create, the friends will need to confront who they really are and figure out what’s hiding in the silence of their sleepy little town.
Now I really do love any story that has wolves in it, and let's say Jean writes books right up my alley. I really do love Jean and Jacob Kennedy writing style. It is so easy to read and understand. They create such captivating worlds and characters. Sam and Ella were characters that made me laugh but also tear up once and a while with them. And just the experiences they when though. I mean neither of them had a good life. That alone connects some many people with them. But I also have to say just the fact that I couldn't guess the identity of the shooter in the ned was a great thing. Keep me on my toes.
Myself, I really have to say that this book is my favorite of the two books that I have read of theirs. And I know I am looking forward to any more Jean writes. Also, i want to be a part wolf now too lol.
So if you like a book set in our world with supernatural things happening and you also like wolves. You are going to love Jeans and Jacobs work. So go get your self a copy of Amazon and let me know what you think about it after your done! (I do suggest you read Grey Stone first!)
Till next time here at the nook!
E.
Ps. if you have Instagram go and Follow Jean Jean Jean on it, I love her pictures!
February 7, 2018
I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great blend of fantasy ans realism as these characters try to figure out where they fit in the world. Im a sucker for anything that adds a paranormal twist to it so this was a quick and wonderful read.
This is a great blend of fantasy ans realism as these characters try to figure out where they fit in the world. Im a sucker for anything that adds a paranormal twist to it so this was a quick and wonderful read.
Want to read
December 15, 2017Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2017/12...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2017/12...
January 16, 2018
“It seems to me that great sacrifices bring about great gifts. Unusual gifts. Miraculous gifts.” ~ Grey Lore
Pace and Kennedy deliver a fast-paced, gripping story in Grey Lore that blends reality and folklore so masterfully that the two seem inseparable.
Summary:
When Ella’s mother dies in a tragic accident, she’s sent off to Napper, Indiana, to live with her aunt. The town is small, with seemingly nothing much going for it. Ella doesn’t exactly fit in, but then again, neither do the two friends she makes. Sam lives in a trailer, the son of a traveling vacuum salesman with hardly a dollar to his name, hoping to make enough sales in Napper to keep food on their table. Sarah is the daughter of fairly well-off parents, but is bored with her lifestyle and looking for something exciting or, at the very least, something more to life than her current humdrum existence.
Things don’t stay dull for very long. Ella is sure she’s hearing dogs talk during the full moon, and afraid of being thrown in the local asylum, she tells no one. Instead, she seeks solace in the few things she has left that were her mother’s. Namely, the stories her mother had written down and hidden, the ones she used to tell Ella at bedtime. Lore about werewolves and metals and darker times. She’s comforted to have pages her mother wrote in her own hand, stories that had been told from her own lips, but things like that don’t happen in reality, right?
Still, there are wolves roaming the woods in and around the town, not to mention a serial killer whose MO includes a silver bullet and the removal of the victim’s teeth. One thing’s for sure: Napper isn’t nearly as boring as the three kids had first believed.
The Good:
- The character voices were great. They were easy to read, engaging, and sounded very much like teenagers, which made me laugh sometimes at their teen brain (in a good way) and their sarcasm. They were all very relatable, and I found myself rooting for them.
- The mystery! My goodness, the mystery. Or mysteries, since there were a lot of them. The story was masterfully written so that it unfolds, little by little, while still keeping its secrets. Try as I may, I didn’t quite piece it all together until I was obviously meant to, even though I’m usually really good at guessing endings. I find the unpredictability refreshing, and I just had to keep reading so I could solve everything.
- The folklore and themes that are woven through the story are fantastic. They’re meaningful and give a lot of depth to the story. Some of them are retellings of stories that we know and love, like Little Red Riding Hood, but sometimes retellings don’t have happy endings, right? The folklore motif played a big part, and I really enjoyed not only the depth it added to the story, but the questions it surfaced and the way it made me, as a reader, really think about both the lore and the overall book.
- The world-building is wonderful. It’s actually quite in depth, and I loved learning how rich this alternate world is, but it wasn’t cumbersome. There were no giant info dumps that had my eyes glazing over. The tidbits were slipped naturally into the story, and I found that I was eager to learn more every time they came up.
- I don’t know, everything? As far as books go, this had it all. Mystery, puzzles, action, romance, lore, and wolves. I happen to be a big fan of wolves. If you’re more of a cat person, there’s also a cat, and he’s snarky and fantastic.
The Bad:
- There were still some loose threads. One of the villain’s motives didn’t make sense to me. I wasn’t sure what their endgame was or what they were hoping to gain from their actions, because it actually seemed to be contrary to what they said motivated them to do the things they did. (I’m being intentionally vague. Is it working?) There was also one character in particular that stood out as having been alluded to serving a very important purpose, and it seemed like they had the potential to be a vital fulcrum, if you will, someone to turn the tide of the story. All that setup, however, seemed to sort of just fall by the wayside, and he never appears again in the ending, and there’s no real conclusion to his arc.
- The ending. I mean, it wasn’t bad, I suppose. It was happy, which is more or less what I might expect for a YA novel. But it was too neat and clean. With how high the stakes were and how dramatic the climax was, there was no real denouement, just an epilogue that feels a little too “happily ever after,” but not in the neat sort that would tie into the folklore feel. It just felt too unrealistic, too rainbows and sunshine for me after everything.
- This wasn’t really a negative for me (but it wasn’t necessarily a positive, either), and I know that some people likely will find it annoying, so I’ll mention it. The point of view in this book is all over the place. There are no markers for what point of view it’s in until a name is used, and in some instances, to up the suspense factor, no names are used (like in the antagonist point of views). Because there’s no steady rhyme or reason to the switching of the point of views, it was sometimes hard to know whose point of view I was in or where/when things were happening, so I was occasionally confused. That being said, the changing point of views were highly effective in building the suspense and unfolding the mystery little by little, so I think the book would have lost a lot of the power it had were it written any other way. So this isn’t so much a bad as a heads up. If you can’t stand the constantly switching point of views, then this maybe isn’t for you.
Overall:
I simply could not put this book down. To the point where my husband threatened to divorce me if I didn’t turn the light off so he could get some sleep. I considered it, I really did, just to find out what happens. But, you know, he’s kind of handy to have around, and I’ve put all this time into training him.
From the very start of the book, I was hooked, and I remained hooked through the whole thing. There were very few, if any, slow sections, and no parts that jumped out where I thought, Well, I could probably put it down here and take a break. Very rarely does that ever happen.
Grey Lore definitely earned its five-star rating, and I can’t recommend it enough. I enjoyed it so much, in fact, that I will be checking out Grey Stone, the other book Jean Knight Pace and Jacob Kennedy wrote together. I just hope there will be more books in the future, as this is a world I would love to revisit.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pace and Kennedy deliver a fast-paced, gripping story in Grey Lore that blends reality and folklore so masterfully that the two seem inseparable.
Summary:
When Ella’s mother dies in a tragic accident, she’s sent off to Napper, Indiana, to live with her aunt. The town is small, with seemingly nothing much going for it. Ella doesn’t exactly fit in, but then again, neither do the two friends she makes. Sam lives in a trailer, the son of a traveling vacuum salesman with hardly a dollar to his name, hoping to make enough sales in Napper to keep food on their table. Sarah is the daughter of fairly well-off parents, but is bored with her lifestyle and looking for something exciting or, at the very least, something more to life than her current humdrum existence.
Things don’t stay dull for very long. Ella is sure she’s hearing dogs talk during the full moon, and afraid of being thrown in the local asylum, she tells no one. Instead, she seeks solace in the few things she has left that were her mother’s. Namely, the stories her mother had written down and hidden, the ones she used to tell Ella at bedtime. Lore about werewolves and metals and darker times. She’s comforted to have pages her mother wrote in her own hand, stories that had been told from her own lips, but things like that don’t happen in reality, right?
Still, there are wolves roaming the woods in and around the town, not to mention a serial killer whose MO includes a silver bullet and the removal of the victim’s teeth. One thing’s for sure: Napper isn’t nearly as boring as the three kids had first believed.
The Good:
- The character voices were great. They were easy to read, engaging, and sounded very much like teenagers, which made me laugh sometimes at their teen brain (in a good way) and their sarcasm. They were all very relatable, and I found myself rooting for them.
- The mystery! My goodness, the mystery. Or mysteries, since there were a lot of them. The story was masterfully written so that it unfolds, little by little, while still keeping its secrets. Try as I may, I didn’t quite piece it all together until I was obviously meant to, even though I’m usually really good at guessing endings. I find the unpredictability refreshing, and I just had to keep reading so I could solve everything.
- The folklore and themes that are woven through the story are fantastic. They’re meaningful and give a lot of depth to the story. Some of them are retellings of stories that we know and love, like Little Red Riding Hood, but sometimes retellings don’t have happy endings, right? The folklore motif played a big part, and I really enjoyed not only the depth it added to the story, but the questions it surfaced and the way it made me, as a reader, really think about both the lore and the overall book.
- The world-building is wonderful. It’s actually quite in depth, and I loved learning how rich this alternate world is, but it wasn’t cumbersome. There were no giant info dumps that had my eyes glazing over. The tidbits were slipped naturally into the story, and I found that I was eager to learn more every time they came up.
- I don’t know, everything? As far as books go, this had it all. Mystery, puzzles, action, romance, lore, and wolves. I happen to be a big fan of wolves. If you’re more of a cat person, there’s also a cat, and he’s snarky and fantastic.
The Bad:
- There were still some loose threads. One of the villain’s motives didn’t make sense to me. I wasn’t sure what their endgame was or what they were hoping to gain from their actions, because it actually seemed to be contrary to what they said motivated them to do the things they did. (I’m being intentionally vague. Is it working?) There was also one character in particular that stood out as having been alluded to serving a very important purpose, and it seemed like they had the potential to be a vital fulcrum, if you will, someone to turn the tide of the story. All that setup, however, seemed to sort of just fall by the wayside, and he never appears again in the ending, and there’s no real conclusion to his arc.
- The ending. I mean, it wasn’t bad, I suppose. It was happy, which is more or less what I might expect for a YA novel. But it was too neat and clean. With how high the stakes were and how dramatic the climax was, there was no real denouement, just an epilogue that feels a little too “happily ever after,” but not in the neat sort that would tie into the folklore feel. It just felt too unrealistic, too rainbows and sunshine for me after everything.
- This wasn’t really a negative for me (but it wasn’t necessarily a positive, either), and I know that some people likely will find it annoying, so I’ll mention it. The point of view in this book is all over the place. There are no markers for what point of view it’s in until a name is used, and in some instances, to up the suspense factor, no names are used (like in the antagonist point of views). Because there’s no steady rhyme or reason to the switching of the point of views, it was sometimes hard to know whose point of view I was in or where/when things were happening, so I was occasionally confused. That being said, the changing point of views were highly effective in building the suspense and unfolding the mystery little by little, so I think the book would have lost a lot of the power it had were it written any other way. So this isn’t so much a bad as a heads up. If you can’t stand the constantly switching point of views, then this maybe isn’t for you.
Overall:
I simply could not put this book down. To the point where my husband threatened to divorce me if I didn’t turn the light off so he could get some sleep. I considered it, I really did, just to find out what happens. But, you know, he’s kind of handy to have around, and I’ve put all this time into training him.
From the very start of the book, I was hooked, and I remained hooked through the whole thing. There were very few, if any, slow sections, and no parts that jumped out where I thought, Well, I could probably put it down here and take a break. Very rarely does that ever happen.
Grey Lore definitely earned its five-star rating, and I can’t recommend it enough. I enjoyed it so much, in fact, that I will be checking out Grey Stone, the other book Jean Knight Pace and Jacob Kennedy wrote together. I just hope there will be more books in the future, as this is a world I would love to revisit.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2018
I’ve never seen this before. The first book was high fantasy. The sequel is urban fantasy. And they work together so well.
I can’t go too much into the plot without spoiling the first book. Let’s put it this way:
Grey Lore is Vampire Diaries with werewolves minus the steamy angst, interwoven with fairy-tale retellings.
The protagonists may be in high school, but the cast of POV characters ranges through the age spectrum—all the way to the centuries’ old. We are, after all, dealing with a world filled with werewolves, magic, and talking cats.
Author Jean Knight Pace gave me a copy for an honest review, so here’s the rubric I put my official reviews through:
☆☆☆☆ Characters: The three main characters—Ella, recently orphaned and now with her aunt in small-town Indiana; Sam, new kid with a past but no roots; Sarah, rich girl with a love for theatre and outcasts—are compelling and easy to root for. The side characters are layered and intricately involved with the story, though cookie-cutter at times.
☆☆☆☆ Conflict: There’s a good balance between internal and external conflict, which mess with each other plenty. The antagonist(s) were believable and frightening and appropriate to the story.
☆☆☆☆ World-building: It’s set in our world but with elements of the world in the previous book, and they blend well together. It didn’t wow me, but it did its job.
☆☆☆☆ Voice: The voice is engaging. The pacing and tension of the story is well-balanced with stakes, mystery, and revelation. The dialogue is pretty believable and generally moves the plot forward.
☆☆☆☆ Professionalism: Professional but with a small-press feel.
☆☆☆ Worldview: No religion or philosophy is really discussed aside from the magic of the world-building. The magic is explained as bloodline rather than occult, though it can feel blended. Values championed: friendship, loyalty, family, compassion, and storytelling.
My Rubric:
♥ Characters – Was I invested in the protagonist throughout? Was I invested in the side characters?
♥ Conflict – Is there an appropriate balance between internal and external conflict? Is the antagonist worth fearing or fighting?
♥ World-building – Is the story world well and appropriately developed?
♥ Voice – Is the author’s voice fresh and engaging? Did the pacing and tension keep me gripped? Does the dialogue develop the world and move the plot forward?
♥ Professionalism – Is the book well-made (grammar, typos, binding, cover, etc.)?
♥ Worldview – Does this book make me think deeply? Is it poignant without being preachy?
☆ didn’t like it
☆☆ it was okay
☆☆☆ liked it
☆☆☆☆ really liked it
☆☆☆☆☆ it was amazing
I can’t go too much into the plot without spoiling the first book. Let’s put it this way:
Grey Lore is Vampire Diaries with werewolves minus the steamy angst, interwoven with fairy-tale retellings.
The protagonists may be in high school, but the cast of POV characters ranges through the age spectrum—all the way to the centuries’ old. We are, after all, dealing with a world filled with werewolves, magic, and talking cats.
Author Jean Knight Pace gave me a copy for an honest review, so here’s the rubric I put my official reviews through:
☆☆☆☆ Characters: The three main characters—Ella, recently orphaned and now with her aunt in small-town Indiana; Sam, new kid with a past but no roots; Sarah, rich girl with a love for theatre and outcasts—are compelling and easy to root for. The side characters are layered and intricately involved with the story, though cookie-cutter at times.
☆☆☆☆ Conflict: There’s a good balance between internal and external conflict, which mess with each other plenty. The antagonist(s) were believable and frightening and appropriate to the story.
☆☆☆☆ World-building: It’s set in our world but with elements of the world in the previous book, and they blend well together. It didn’t wow me, but it did its job.
☆☆☆☆ Voice: The voice is engaging. The pacing and tension of the story is well-balanced with stakes, mystery, and revelation. The dialogue is pretty believable and generally moves the plot forward.
☆☆☆☆ Professionalism: Professional but with a small-press feel.
☆☆☆ Worldview: No religion or philosophy is really discussed aside from the magic of the world-building. The magic is explained as bloodline rather than occult, though it can feel blended. Values championed: friendship, loyalty, family, compassion, and storytelling.
My Rubric:
♥ Characters – Was I invested in the protagonist throughout? Was I invested in the side characters?
♥ Conflict – Is there an appropriate balance between internal and external conflict? Is the antagonist worth fearing or fighting?
♥ World-building – Is the story world well and appropriately developed?
♥ Voice – Is the author’s voice fresh and engaging? Did the pacing and tension keep me gripped? Does the dialogue develop the world and move the plot forward?
♥ Professionalism – Is the book well-made (grammar, typos, binding, cover, etc.)?
♥ Worldview – Does this book make me think deeply? Is it poignant without being preachy?
☆ didn’t like it
☆☆ it was okay
☆☆☆ liked it
☆☆☆☆ really liked it
☆☆☆☆☆ it was amazing
February 7, 2018
Living in a small town in Indianapolis with her dull, distant aunt was never Ella's plan. But then again, neither was it to become an orphan after her mother's accident. Life in Napper is slow, quiet, and definitely uneventful. Until Ella starts hearing voices from creatures that are not supposed to talk. Is she slowly losing her mind? Or are there things out there she never had imagined would be true?
Along with her two new friends, Sam and Sarah, the young girl will find herself in the middle of more action than she had expected in this place. Fate seems to have a lot in place for all of them, and not everyone on their road to discovery is there to help them. A peculiar and unique past unravels for each of them, but their choices are what will ultimately define them!
Prepare yourself for some of the most intricately woven plot you will ever find in a book. Gorgeous storytelling, detailed narrative, unexpected twists are all woven together in this amazingly strange story. This is more than a book for the fans of fiction. This is a world of lore and tales within a larger one, a modern fairy tale that encases so many others. Grey Lore shows you how fairy tales are made. Sometimes subtly, other times less so, the reader sees how the battle of good and evil and the heroes and the villains of real life are what moves humanity to create its myths and legends.
Fast paced and with no lack of plot, the story keeps you hooked from the first page up to the very last. Expertly managing to avoid cliches, it also creates an air of mystery around characters, keeping you guessing about their pasts,as well as their intentions. There is a fun game of the reader involved, in which you will desperately try to find the culprits and the villains. It is not as easy as it looks - which makes it even more fun to be involved with. By the time the pieces of the puzzle fit together, the reader has reached the climax of the story.
As a fantasy enthusiast, I was completely engrossed in the story. Having read dozens, if not hundreds, of fantasy books, I have to admit that it is very difficult to bump into a unique structure in a book, and a different plot than what hides in most fantasy books. I can happily declare that Grey Lore was one of those rare occasions where a book absolutely (and happily) surprises you.
There's a lot more I could say about the book, but I definitely do not want to spoil any of the fun you can have with it. So I will wrap up, saying that I strongly recommend reading this, especially for the fantasy genre enthusiasts.
Along with her two new friends, Sam and Sarah, the young girl will find herself in the middle of more action than she had expected in this place. Fate seems to have a lot in place for all of them, and not everyone on their road to discovery is there to help them. A peculiar and unique past unravels for each of them, but their choices are what will ultimately define them!
Prepare yourself for some of the most intricately woven plot you will ever find in a book. Gorgeous storytelling, detailed narrative, unexpected twists are all woven together in this amazingly strange story. This is more than a book for the fans of fiction. This is a world of lore and tales within a larger one, a modern fairy tale that encases so many others. Grey Lore shows you how fairy tales are made. Sometimes subtly, other times less so, the reader sees how the battle of good and evil and the heroes and the villains of real life are what moves humanity to create its myths and legends.
Fast paced and with no lack of plot, the story keeps you hooked from the first page up to the very last. Expertly managing to avoid cliches, it also creates an air of mystery around characters, keeping you guessing about their pasts,as well as their intentions. There is a fun game of the reader involved, in which you will desperately try to find the culprits and the villains. It is not as easy as it looks - which makes it even more fun to be involved with. By the time the pieces of the puzzle fit together, the reader has reached the climax of the story.
As a fantasy enthusiast, I was completely engrossed in the story. Having read dozens, if not hundreds, of fantasy books, I have to admit that it is very difficult to bump into a unique structure in a book, and a different plot than what hides in most fantasy books. I can happily declare that Grey Lore was one of those rare occasions where a book absolutely (and happily) surprises you.
There's a lot more I could say about the book, but I definitely do not want to spoil any of the fun you can have with it. So I will wrap up, saying that I strongly recommend reading this, especially for the fantasy genre enthusiasts.
May 1, 2022
Surprisingly Clean Wolf Shifter Mystery
Parents- PG13 - pretty clean but geared towards middle to high schoolers and up
Language- PG13 not a lot and no f-bombs
Violence- PG13 some fighting but nothing too graphic
Sexual Content- PG- Crushes, Kissing but nothing to warn of
Down sides- This story starts sad with a 16 girl lossing her single mom to accident and now living with an aunt she does not know. It gets a little old the number of times they talk about the "all white rich kids" and white privilege schools. She develops a weird crush on her therapist.
Plus side - Unique spin on wolf shifters, really liked the mystery, and magic or crazy person angle was a fun one to sort out. Loved that this wasn't a sexualized story and clean enough for teens.
Narrator- 2.5⭐ 😐 sounds pretty monotone during narration, differentiation is ok but some of the voices are hard to tell apart, is a bit slow but is normal between 1.2-1.3x speed but I listened at 1.65x speed.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Parents- PG13 - pretty clean but geared towards middle to high schoolers and up
Language- PG13 not a lot and no f-bombs
Violence- PG13 some fighting but nothing too graphic
Sexual Content- PG- Crushes, Kissing but nothing to warn of
Down sides- This story starts sad with a 16 girl lossing her single mom to accident and now living with an aunt she does not know. It gets a little old the number of times they talk about the "all white rich kids" and white privilege schools. She develops a weird crush on her therapist.
Plus side - Unique spin on wolf shifters, really liked the mystery, and magic or crazy person angle was a fun one to sort out. Loved that this wasn't a sexualized story and clean enough for teens.
Narrator- 2.5⭐ 😐 sounds pretty monotone during narration, differentiation is ok but some of the voices are hard to tell apart, is a bit slow but is normal between 1.2-1.3x speed but I listened at 1.65x speed.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 7, 2018
Another werewolf book. Another trio of teens - but finally, it's not a love triangle.
Ella recently lost her mom and her aunt, Vivi, has asked Ella to come live with her.
Sam and his dad are perpetual travelers, hopping from city to state and on.
Sarah has lived her whole life in Napper, Indiana, and nothing ever happens there.
Except now, Charles Napper has fenced in a large part of his property and has brought a pack of wolves from France to live there.
Except now, wolves are starting to migrate to the midwest.
Except now, when Ella can hear dogs talking.
Except now, when Sam can hear a cat tell him off.
Except now, when Sarah realizes there's a wolf at her door.
The story starts out slow but picks up around the middle. I'd been about to stop reading when the dogs started talking to one of the wolves - that was when the story started getting really interesting to me.
I would've given this 3.5 stars so I rounded up.
Ella recently lost her mom and her aunt, Vivi, has asked Ella to come live with her.
Sam and his dad are perpetual travelers, hopping from city to state and on.
Sarah has lived her whole life in Napper, Indiana, and nothing ever happens there.
Except now, Charles Napper has fenced in a large part of his property and has brought a pack of wolves from France to live there.
Except now, wolves are starting to migrate to the midwest.
Except now, when Ella can hear dogs talking.
Except now, when Sam can hear a cat tell him off.
Except now, when Sarah realizes there's a wolf at her door.
The story starts out slow but picks up around the middle. I'd been about to stop reading when the dogs started talking to one of the wolves - that was when the story started getting really interesting to me.
I would've given this 3.5 stars so I rounded up.
January 5, 2018
This book sucked me in and was a quick read with lots of twists and turns! I ordered it at the beginning of December, and the only reason it took me more than a couple of days to read is because my 13-year-old stole it and took it to school with him :) We both thoroughly enjoyed it and loved the writing style and storyline. My son was like, "I can't wait to see how it all ties together!" And it did come together really well. Both of us read and enjoyed Grey Stone, but liked Grey Lore even more. It is a little bit easier to read, in my opinion. You don't have to read them in order. The only thing I was disappointed about was that after I read it, I wanted to order some for Christmas gifts, and it was sold out and I wasn't sure if it would be back in stock or not, so didn't order them.
December 16, 2017
Love it!
I picked this up because the cover was intrigues me and I hadn't come across the authors before, which isn't something I usually do, but this was fantastic! As an adult I sometimes shy away from YA in general and this is exactly why I'm wrong. If you enjoy animals, clean romance, adventures, paranormal or any combination of this please give this a shot!
I love that Ella, Sam and Sarah are all trying to figure out who they are in very genuine but different ways. The strength and adaptability shown by all three is remarkable and flows nicely with the story. As the story unfolds and more pieces of the puzzle start to fit together the importance of each group becomes clear. And it's difficult to not like a story with so many lovable dogs! I am so excited to see what these authors do next!
I received this as an ARC and volunteered to review.
I picked this up because the cover was intrigues me and I hadn't come across the authors before, which isn't something I usually do, but this was fantastic! As an adult I sometimes shy away from YA in general and this is exactly why I'm wrong. If you enjoy animals, clean romance, adventures, paranormal or any combination of this please give this a shot!
I love that Ella, Sam and Sarah are all trying to figure out who they are in very genuine but different ways. The strength and adaptability shown by all three is remarkable and flows nicely with the story. As the story unfolds and more pieces of the puzzle start to fit together the importance of each group becomes clear. And it's difficult to not like a story with so many lovable dogs! I am so excited to see what these authors do next!
I received this as an ARC and volunteered to review.
January 13, 2018
This story blends contemporary life / income/ identity struggles with fantastical elements.
I was pleased to receive a gift copy, and honestly enjoyed it greatly.
Poor little rich girl Sarah seems much like Hermione of Harry Potter fame. Offspring of a dentist, with acting talent and panache, but little family or personal status.
Sam and Ella have grown up in much more money poor circumstances. But Ella was lucky enough to be rich in the love of her mother, while Sam suffered from a distant Dad and no mom in the picture.
As each struggles to find their place in a small town, and as they face the challenges of their born and earned gifts and identities, they learn that loyalty and friendship are the most valuable things of all.
If you enjoy a saga that is more adventure and sweet young romance, and NOT an adult erotica, this could be your next great read.
I was pleased to receive a gift copy, and honestly enjoyed it greatly.
Poor little rich girl Sarah seems much like Hermione of Harry Potter fame. Offspring of a dentist, with acting talent and panache, but little family or personal status.
Sam and Ella have grown up in much more money poor circumstances. But Ella was lucky enough to be rich in the love of her mother, while Sam suffered from a distant Dad and no mom in the picture.
As each struggles to find their place in a small town, and as they face the challenges of their born and earned gifts and identities, they learn that loyalty and friendship are the most valuable things of all.
If you enjoy a saga that is more adventure and sweet young romance, and NOT an adult erotica, this could be your next great read.
March 23, 2018
I stayed up late just to finish this book. I am still thinking about it and even verbally recommended it to at least four people at my gym this morning. And I still do not have an idea how to convey how phenomenal this book is.
AMAZING. AMAZING AZAZING ( just keep on going with AMAZING)
I have always believed that there is a truth that the old wives tales are based on. This book makes you believe that all folklore, fairytales, etc.... might have some basis besides the moral of the story.
This book takes several folllores, fairytales etc with dogs, wolves, werewolves and even a cat and weaves a story that combines them into one. It says that our childhood stories have been retold so many times that things change in the retell I get. Kind of like the old telephone game concept. It makes you wonder what the original was. I wonder where they did the research.
How many fairytales and folklore do you recognize in the book? Let us know.
AMAZING. AMAZING AZAZING ( just keep on going with AMAZING)
I have always believed that there is a truth that the old wives tales are based on. This book makes you believe that all folklore, fairytales, etc.... might have some basis besides the moral of the story.
This book takes several folllores, fairytales etc with dogs, wolves, werewolves and even a cat and weaves a story that combines them into one. It says that our childhood stories have been retold so many times that things change in the retell I get. Kind of like the old telephone game concept. It makes you wonder what the original was. I wonder where they did the research.
How many fairytales and folklore do you recognize in the book? Let us know.
February 12, 2018
I received a copy of Grey Lore by Jean Knight Pace and Jacob Kennedy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the summary and really wanted to like this novel, but it was a chore at times to keep reading because I just did not connect with the main character, Ella. The plot could have been pulled together better - more linear and mystery shoehorned in - and the characters developed better. There were flashes of real goodness, but then the story would get bogged down or off track a little.
I would try reading another book by these authors to see if the a future novel would improve in pacing and character development, but I wouldn't recommend this novel.
I was intrigued by the summary and really wanted to like this novel, but it was a chore at times to keep reading because I just did not connect with the main character, Ella. The plot could have been pulled together better - more linear and mystery shoehorned in - and the characters developed better. There were flashes of real goodness, but then the story would get bogged down or off track a little.
I would try reading another book by these authors to see if the a future novel would improve in pacing and character development, but I wouldn't recommend this novel.
December 27, 2017
Grey Lore was a break from the typical genres I read, but it was an enjoyable break. I have to say that I got completely sucked into the story, especially nearing the end when all the pieces slowly started to come together. Fantasy, folklore, witches and werewolves … and an ending I didn’t see coming. Each character – both human and otherwise – were interesting to read about, and as the twists and turns kept coming, I kept getting more entranced. The only critique I will give is that the story was a bit long and drawn out in certain spots, but it did hold my interest all the way through. This was a very solid read and one I would recommend.
I received a review copy
I received a review copy
December 30, 2017
Adventure. Suspense. Romance. I can honestly say that Pace and Kennedy sucked this non-YA reader in during the previously written Grey Stone, making me a true fan. I originally Grey Stone to approve it for my young son who is obsessed with YA Fantasy. The writing unexpectedly entranced me and made the sequel, Grey Lore, a must-read. My son and I both enjoyed this highly anticipated book. The characters are well-developed and the story line is fascinating. It is such a thrill to find books in this genre that are actually clean and well-written...books that you don't have to worry about recommending to your children or their friends.
January 7, 2018
Wonderfully wolfy and witchy!!
Three teens, each fairly new to the town, notice strange things going on. Things like a pack of wolves are legally released on a rich guy's property. Things like hearing a dog talk, or a dad that spends every full moon hanging over a toilet, or an aunt that did not really seem able to connect with her niece?
This is my first read from these authors, and all I can say is, I WANT the next book! Fast paced, plenty of action and twists, and a bit of innocent romance make this a book you want to read right to the end.
I received a complimentary copy and freely give my honest review.
Three teens, each fairly new to the town, notice strange things going on. Things like a pack of wolves are legally released on a rich guy's property. Things like hearing a dog talk, or a dad that spends every full moon hanging over a toilet, or an aunt that did not really seem able to connect with her niece?
This is my first read from these authors, and all I can say is, I WANT the next book! Fast paced, plenty of action and twists, and a bit of innocent romance make this a book you want to read right to the end.
I received a complimentary copy and freely give my honest review.
November 8, 2018
Solid YA Paranormal Suspense
I loved watching this story unfold. The cast of characters and the changing perspectives reminded me a little of Stephen King, just with less gore.
The story is rife with mystery and suspense. There are unsolved murders, a serial killer, warring shifter factions, powerful stones and metals, disappearing people, cryptic codes, and even a (potential?) witch. Every character harbors secrets.
It was quite enjoyable trying to figure everything out before the big reveal at the end. The climax moved almost too quickly; I had to read carefully to keep all the characters and action straight. But this was a fast and entertaining read.
I loved watching this story unfold. The cast of characters and the changing perspectives reminded me a little of Stephen King, just with less gore.
The story is rife with mystery and suspense. There are unsolved murders, a serial killer, warring shifter factions, powerful stones and metals, disappearing people, cryptic codes, and even a (potential?) witch. Every character harbors secrets.
It was quite enjoyable trying to figure everything out before the big reveal at the end. The climax moved almost too quickly; I had to read carefully to keep all the characters and action straight. But this was a fast and entertaining read.
April 22, 2022
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Very good young adult fantasy about wolves and witches. Ella finds herself suddenly thrust into a new life when her mother dies in a tragic accident. A crazy world that she has been told about but not told to her on the way she expected. Then to add to the mystery people keep dying at the hands of the silver shooter every full moon.
A good adventure for young adults. The beginning can be confusing trying to keep the characters straight because there are tellings from 3 point of views. But other then this it was a very good read.
Very good young adult fantasy about wolves and witches. Ella finds herself suddenly thrust into a new life when her mother dies in a tragic accident. A crazy world that she has been told about but not told to her on the way she expected. Then to add to the mystery people keep dying at the hands of the silver shooter every full moon.
A good adventure for young adults. The beginning can be confusing trying to keep the characters straight because there are tellings from 3 point of views. But other then this it was a very good read.
June 11, 2023
Audiobook: I enjoyed book 2 of "The Grey" series even more than the first one. This story featured Ella's and her friends' journeys in a more linear way making it easier to follow than the first book. There was an additional mystery regarding a serial killer which ramped up the excitement. I liked the characters and how they portrayed, in a realistic way, the way that teenagers often act. I was entertained by the twists and turns. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Kelly Savage's narration was fine, and her performance kept my attention. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
November 7, 2017
Jean Knight Pace and Jacob Kennedy have done it again! Building on the lore they created in Grey Stone, Grey Lore address the werewolf legends in a fresh, new way. The characters are relatable, and the relationship between man and dog is stronger than ever. The underlying theme of breaking boundaries between classes, across belief systems, and ultimately delving into the strength of true friendship is expertly done in this YA novel! Can't wait to see what this duo comes up with next!
February 15, 2018
Grey Lore
Grey Stone grabbed my attention from the first paragraph and I had a hard time putting it down. When Grey Lore came out I was pretty excited.... I don’t know if I was just extra busy or what, but it did take me a little more time to get into Grey Lore. Once I got a few bites in it was the same. I really did not want to put it down. I do hope their is sequel, because I was not finished when the book was... Thanks...
Grey Stone grabbed my attention from the first paragraph and I had a hard time putting it down. When Grey Lore came out I was pretty excited.... I don’t know if I was just extra busy or what, but it did take me a little more time to get into Grey Lore. Once I got a few bites in it was the same. I really did not want to put it down. I do hope their is sequel, because I was not finished when the book was... Thanks...
December 14, 2023
Could not put this down!!!
This book is incredible and I loved it so much!!!!!!! With relatable characters whose struggles and emotions are understandable and very fun and heart wrenching to listen to.
To a story that has an amazingly well written plot and lore. This stories incredibly well written. And also, I had to say the wolves make it even better!!!! a definite must read for any urban fantasy readers!!
This book is incredible and I loved it so much!!!!!!! With relatable characters whose struggles and emotions are understandable and very fun and heart wrenching to listen to.
To a story that has an amazingly well written plot and lore. This stories incredibly well written. And also, I had to say the wolves make it even better!!!! a definite must read for any urban fantasy readers!!
December 31, 2017
Great story
This is a surprisingly different kind of werewolf book. Great characters, storyline and plenty of action. Plenty of surprises in this story which make it hard to put down. A must read for shifter lovers. I received a complimentary copy and I am giving a review voluntarily.
This is a surprisingly different kind of werewolf book. Great characters, storyline and plenty of action. Plenty of surprises in this story which make it hard to put down. A must read for shifter lovers. I received a complimentary copy and I am giving a review voluntarily.
January 27, 2018
"All fairy tales have retellings-twists and turns and whole new stories. It's part of what makes them so timeless. And interesting." - Jean Knight Pace, Grey Lore
Never has a quote sums up the book more beautifully. Grey Lore presents a unique spin on the hierarchy of werewolf culture but stays true to werewolf lore. The references to the old Grimm fairy tales, through out the story are truly enjoyable. Grey Lore has a quick pace with the characters being memorable and fun. Some of the twists were predictable but did not affect the overall feel of the book.
Would recommend this book to lovers of the supernatural and fantasy.
I received a copy of this book free in exchange for a honest review.
Never has a quote sums up the book more beautifully. Grey Lore presents a unique spin on the hierarchy of werewolf culture but stays true to werewolf lore. The references to the old Grimm fairy tales, through out the story are truly enjoyable. Grey Lore has a quick pace with the characters being memorable and fun. Some of the twists were predictable but did not affect the overall feel of the book.
Would recommend this book to lovers of the supernatural and fantasy.
I received a copy of this book free in exchange for a honest review.
February 13, 2018
#GreyLore #NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel.
Grey Lore has a dark, creepy undertone to it. Young adults will enjoy the mystery and suspense of this novel. Jean Knight Pace writes with a steady pace and makes it easy for the reader to follow and not loose interest in. I hope to see more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel.
Grey Lore has a dark, creepy undertone to it. Young adults will enjoy the mystery and suspense of this novel. Jean Knight Pace writes with a steady pace and makes it easy for the reader to follow and not loose interest in. I hope to see more from this author in the future.
April 2, 2018
For me, this wasn't a fast-paced, suck you in kind of book. I enjoyed the fairy-tale feel, but I did find some things confusing and I still don't fully understand who one of the characters is. With that being said, I still found it enjoyable enough that it was worthy of 4-stars, and I would like to read Grey Stone at some point.
August 3, 2022
A diamond in the ruff
I originally got this book on a whim...and l must have pretty good whims! Well written, well paced, this was one of the most pleasurable reads l have had in a while. True, it is considered a YA novel, but it is also pleasing to adults in their 60s. Even before finishing it l had told numerous friends that they needed to read it, as do YOU!
I originally got this book on a whim...and l must have pretty good whims! Well written, well paced, this was one of the most pleasurable reads l have had in a while. True, it is considered a YA novel, but it is also pleasing to adults in their 60s. Even before finishing it l had told numerous friends that they needed to read it, as do YOU!
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