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Grimm - Grumme eventyr genfortalt #1

Grimm - Grumme eventyr genfortalt for gamle og unge

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Nogle historier er så modbydelige, at de næsten ikke bør fortælles …

Brødrene Grimms eventyr er kendt og elsket af både børn og voksne i hele verden. De oprindelige eventyr udkom første gang på dansk i 1821 – og de var bestemt ikke særligt børnevenlige. De var smukke, forunderlige og fantasifulde, men de var også grusomme, blodige og uhyggelige.

Nu har forfatterne Kenneth Bøgh Andersen og Benni Bødker, der begge har stor erfaring med at skrive både eventyr og gys, gendigtet ti af Grimms bedste og mest grufulde historier. Det er de oprindelige eventyr – med forræderi, frygt, ondskab og død – men skrevet på en måde, så man kommer helt ind i fortællingerne og ind i den farlige verden, der var engang. De ti fortællingerne er til alle, der har lyst til en god historie, der både er gammel og samtidig helt ny – oplagt familieunderholdning fra ca. 12 år.

De ti eventyr er:
Hans og Grete
Den syngende knogle
Historien om drengen der drog ud for at lære at blive bange
Rapunzel
Dødens gudsøn
Røverbrudgommen
Fitchers fugl
Højboernes gave
Pigen uden hænder
Rødhætte

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2018

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About the author

Kenneth Bøgh Andersen

84 books298 followers
I was born in Denmark on a dark and stormy night in November 1976. I began writing when I was a teenager. My first book was a really awful horror novel titled Nidhug's Slaves. It didn't get published. Luckily.

During the next 7 years, I wrote nearly 20 novels-all of which were rejected-while working as a school teacher. The rest of the time I spent writing.

In 2000 I published my debut fantasy book, The Battle of Caïssa, and that's when things really took off. Since then I've published more than thirty-five books for children and young adults in genres ranging from fantasy to horror and science fiction.

My books have been translated into more than 15 languages and my series about the superhero Antboy has been adapted for film, which is available on Netflix. An animated tv series is currently in development.

A musical of The Devil's Apprentice opens in the fall 2018 and the movie rights for the series have also been optioned.

I live in Copenhagen with my wife, two boys, a dog named Milo and spiders in the basement.

You can read more on my English website www.kennethbandersen.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for GCR | Book Realm.
211 reviews40 followers
Read
May 17, 2026
I received this book through NetGalley.

GRIMM: Book One was as dark as I expected. This is not the cute, cleaned-up version of fairy tales. These stories have that unsettling Grimm feeling, which is so much better than the watered-down Disney versions.

I liked that it started with Hansel and Gretel, something familiar, but then also included stories I had never heard before, like The Singing Bone. That made the collection more interesting for me because it was not just the same fairy tales being retold again.

The atmosphere was a strong part. It had that old, eerie, something-is-definitely-wrong feeling through most of the stories. Some worked better for me than others, which I expect with any short story collection, but the overall darker tone stayed consistent.

The illustrations were also great. They added to the creepy gothic feel and made the collection stand out even more.

Overall, this was a good dark fairy tale collection. I’d recommend it to readers who like Grimm stories, dark folklore, eerie short stories, illustrated books, and fairy tales that do not always come with a happily ever after.
Profile Image for miria_ma.
59 reviews4 followers
December 24, 2024
Ak mate radi rozpravky, ale nehladate nic sladke, nestitite sa kanibalizmu, rozsekanych tiel v kadi plnej krvi, rodicov ktori nemaju problem svojim detom odtat ruky zo sebeckych dovodov, tak tato kniha je stvorena pre vas... P.S. Karkulka si zamiluje "fazulovu" polievku, ktoru ale nevarila jej babicka :^[
Profile Image for jaroiva.
2,134 reviews56 followers
December 30, 2023
Pohádky mi nepřipadají ani tak hrozné, Andersen mi připadá bezútěšnější . Nebýt těch děsivých obrázků, tak mi nejhororovější připadal Jeníček s Mařenkou. Kdyby to mělo být zfilmované, asi vyhraje děsivostí Bezručka.
Inu, ony jsou ty nejznámější pohádky docela drsné, ale většinou aspoň dobro vítězí a zlo je potrestáno. Ne jako u Andersena, kde holčička se sirkami umrzne, nebo děťátko je "do týdne na márách". Takže za sebe vybírám Grimmy před Andersenem.
Profile Image for Reading Rachel .
290 reviews50 followers
May 25, 2026
This is a beautifully written and illustrated book of fairy tales. I love to read the classic fairy tales because they're all so different and it's wonderful for the imagination.
Profile Image for Regitze Xenia.
953 reviews103 followers
October 17, 2019
Jeg forventede faktisk mere grusomhed. Der var et par af eventyrene jeg ikke kendte, såsom Den syngende knogle, men de fleste af dem har jeg læst før og jeg synes ikke umiddelbart at jeg bemærkede nogen forskel i “grumhed” i forhold til de andre udgaver, jeg har læst.

Når det så er sagt, så kunne jeg godt lide bogen. Jeg er vild med når eventyrsamlinger tager de “klassiske” folkeeventyr og bringer mindre kendte historier frem, såsom “Røverbrudgommen” som kan lige så meget som de velkendte (eller måske ikke så velkendte) fortællinger som “Hans og Grete” og “Rødhætte”.

Et must-have for eventyrelskere og jeg glæder mig til bind 2.
Profile Image for Vít.
806 reviews57 followers
April 20, 2024
Asi jsem čekal trošku víc :(
Knížka je to pěkná, perfektní jsou ilustrace, a kdyby byly všechny pohádky takové, jako Bezručka, Ženich vrah nebo Červená Karkulka (bez toho přilepeného konce), dal bych bez řečí pět hvězd a zdálo by se mi to ještě málo. K těm pohádkám by mi také asi víc sedělo, kdyby byly nebyly vyprávěné moderním jazykem, nevím, jestli je to překladem nebo je to tak i v originále. Když chci jít ke kořenům a hledám verze pohádek z počátku 19. století, nebudu přece používat jazyk 21. století.
Ale jak jsem říkal na začátku, knížka to pěkná je a stojí za přečtení, nechte se trochu postrašit.
Profile Image for GB.
78 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2026
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the oppurtunity to read this ARC!

Illustrated by John Ken Mortensen and written by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker, Grimm is not a collection of reimagining of the classic tales from the brothers Grimm, but a reawakening of the folklore and culture in which these tales were originally spun. The collection will transport you through the woods of the stories of Grimm, the further you walk, the darker it gets.

The collection consists of 10 stories, some classics like “Hansel and Gretel” and some more obscure such as “ Godfather Death.” The collection does not aim to rewrite these stories but rather bring them back to life in their original nature, and re-explore the superstitions of their time. Not afraid to contradict the “Disney” approaches to these classic tales Anderson and Bødker do not step back from the gory details.

The illustrations are haunting and wicked providing an added element to the gruesome nature of the tales and add to the tone of the collection. The collection successfully takes you into the woods of the Grimm’s tales. Starting with tamer stories and moving through the extreme, and ending with the classic “Little Red Riding Hood,” a story about not getting lost in the woods, fully encapsulating the aim of the collection wrapping the collection tightly. The tales are clever in their narration with a narrator who leads you into each new tale. The writing is intentuon, capable of setting a dark tone. Not wanting to limit the audience of this collection, the writing is suitable for children in the 9-12 range and adults alike.

At times, the language used felt lacking and neutral. Feeling like reading events rather than experiencing the tale, leaving some desires unsatisfied and the illustrations doing some of the heavy lifting. With the collection being listed as a graphic novel, the illustrations are too few in between. The reading experience is that of a novel with illustrations rather than that of a graphic novel.

Grimm is an enchanting read for lovers of fairy tales, classics, and the macabre.
Profile Image for Sarah.
82 reviews8 followers
September 15, 2020
De klassiske eventyr som man kan kender, dog en anelse mere uhyggeligt - det er jo trods alt grumme eventyr. Jeg synes den var hyggelig og velskrevet, men fangede mig ikke særlig meget.
Profile Image for Kenneth.
162 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2019
Fantastisk fortolkning af eventyrerne og fedt at læse nogle af dem jeg ikke kender lige så godt som andre. Virkelig en stor bedrift af to af dansk børnelitteraturs store forfattere for tiden. Pligtlæsning for alle!
Profile Image for M.
81 reviews2 followers
May 12, 2026
Dark and deeply unsettling illustrations by John Kenn Mortensen set the perfect tone for these classic Grimm's fairy tales.
This collection of ten includes:
Hansel and Gretel
The Singing Bone
The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear
Rapunzel
Godfather Death
The Robber Bridegroom
Fitcher's Bird
The Gifts of the Little People
The Girl Without Hands
Little Red Riding Hood


Thanks to Fantagraphics for the opportunity to read this eARC!
Profile Image for Marlene Bentsen (Boggrippen).
753 reviews28 followers
August 18, 2020
3.5****
Kenneth Bøgh Andersen og Benni Bødker er gået sammen om at genfortælle Grimms Eventyr - lidt grummere end vanligt.

Samlingen hedder Grimm - Grumme Eventyr Genfortalt for Gamle og Unge og forfatterne gør i den grad op med disneyficeringen af de berømte folkeeventyr.

Jeg havde glemt, hvor stygge Grimms eventyr rent faktisk er, så jeg har haft en fest med at læse gamle kendinge som Hans og Grethe, Rapunsel og Den Lille Rødhætte😃🙌

De to Grimm brødre indsamlede eventyr og folkesagn og oprindeligt var historierne ikke til børn. Med tiden blev de dog bearbejdet og gjort mere egnet til de kære små.

Det er en fantastisk god idé, vores to gyserforfattere har fået med at genfortælle eventyrerne i deres mere rå og barske form.

I bogens efterskrift er der noter til hvert eventyr, hvor der bl.a. bliver forklaret, hvad der er gravet frem fra de oprindelige eventyr.

Den fremragende John Kenn Mortensen er prikken over i’ et og har selvfølgelig illustreret denne pragtfulde samling. Han formår altid at sætte læseren i den helt rette stemning🤓👍

Grimm er en mustread for alle, der elsker eventyr og det er vigtigt at pointere, at denne grumme samling lige så meget er for de voksne som for børnene.

Nogle af eventyrerne er blevet lidt ekstra ubehagelige, så jeg vil anbefale at børnene er fra ca. 11 år eller totalt hårdføre gysernørder (som jeg selv var, da jeg var lille😆).

Blodet flyder blandt siderne og der er bestemt ingen mangel på afhuggede lemmer. Men ofte er det mest uhyggelige, de vanvittige forældre, der stort set altid er villige til at ofre deres egne børn😮😱

PS. Der er også udkommet en toer, så det er bare med at komme igang😃👍

📖Læseeksemplar lånt fra mit arbejde📖
Profile Image for S.H. Mansouri.
Author 2 books2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 13, 2026
3.5/5

Authored by Andersen & Bodker, as translated from the Danish, and illustrated by Mortensen, Grimm is a retelling of ten famous tales by the Brothers Grimm (not a reimagining, as some are assuming here). The collection opens with what is probably one of the most well-known tales: 1. Hansel & Gretel. It's been decades since I read the originals, but one thing's for sure: Andersen & Bodker kept the teeth and horror of the original tales, and it's all the better for it. I had no idea Hansel & Gretel were so hungry that they ate the family dog! The illustration is amazing for this one, but comes a bit too early in the story, spoiling the text reveal.

2. The Singing Bone: Three brothers, a killer boar ravaging the lands, and 'blood will have blood,' as everyone knows. Great illustration and one of the better retellings, with an ending that's a bit elusive, requiring some reflection on 'what comes around, goes around.'

3. The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear: By far my favorite story of the ten, filled with humor and the realization that fear cannot exist outside of love. I enjoyed the 'Here the story could end... but it doesn't' part.

4. Rapunzel: 'Once we lived among you. You called us witches, or sorceresses or fairies, but these were simply names for what you couldn't understand.' Again, we follow two lesser known tales with one popularized by Disney, but this one has some horrific imagery near the end, rightly so, leaving the reader with the statement that 'you can never hide anything forever.' I enjoyed it but felt like the ending was a bit rushed.

5. Godfather Death: Another one of my favorite stories here, full of elbow grease and silver tongues and a man in black who casts no shadow. God, the Devil, and Death gambling with each other, a version of the Job story maybe, highlighting how Death treats everyone fairly. The ending was particularly good, though the illustration could have come later in the text.

6. The Robber Bridegroom: I read a lot of horror, but this one kind of shocked me--it was super brutal and maybe a precursor to the modern day serial killer story. Unfortunately there's a formatting issue on page 115 here, where the illustration is overlaid on the text so you can't read the page at a crucial juncture in the story. I'm sure it'll get fixed in edits.

7. Fletcher's Bird: a second, and even more brutal serial killer story, reminiscent of "Blue Beard," where a character is given a key and told not to use it. As fairy tales go, of course she uses it. Amazing illustration for this one.

8. The Gifts of the Little People: Includes one of the best illustrations in the book, a cautionary tale about gold and greed that I enjoyed. The mention of a 'flashlight' pulled me out of the story for a bit, perhaps a translation issue.

9. The Girl Without Hands: A brutal story about a miller (lots of miller stories here) who trades his daughter to the Devil for riches, another great illustration that maybe could have come a page later. When I got to the end I though, 'well, that was okay,' but it was a false ending and the story continued. I loved the ambiguity of 'perhaps we didn't know, because that's how it is sometimes. We don't know. And perhaps that's alright.'

10. Little Red Riding Hood: A great story to bookend this collection, 'where wolves can speak and bones can sing,' and an opening regarding the nature of wolves I hadn't heard before. A fantastic illustration of a brutal and gory story, and hearing LRRH say, "The beans are rock-hard. I can hardly chew them," turned my stomach.

Standout stories include The Singing Bone, The Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear, Godfather Death, and Little Red Riding Hood.

Thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics for granting my wish to review this title.
Profile Image for Siobhan M.
206 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2026
Many thanks to Fantagraphics Books & NetGalley for granting my wish for an ARC of this book so far ahead of its publication, I was delighted to be able to read it and will absolutely be buying a copy come March 2027 too!

I am always a sucker for a good fairytale that balances whimsy & magic with gore & cruelty, and this book of retold Grimms' stories has quickly become one of my favourites. The descriptions are evocative, the characters are so much fun to read about, and the illustrations are also so intricate and eerie - I couldn't get enough.

All of the stories featured are fantastic, but my top four would have to be:
- Godfather Death is surprisingly moving story that you can very quickly get swept up in;
- The Robber Bridegroom was really fun; although my ARC (i.e. not finalised) copy has an error hiding one page of text behind an illustration (p115 in my copy), I still worked out what I'd missed on that page and loved how this story ends - no spoilers though!;
- Fitcher's Bird is always a delight to read, a fairytale far closer to horror than whimsical children's tales (a superior version of the Forbidden Room story to Perrault's Bluebeard in my opinion), and this version is excellent;
- The Girl Without Hands is gruesome and compelling, and not a story I was familiar with beforehand, but one of my new favourites!

I highly recommend this to all fans of darker fairytales who aren't afraid of a little body horror - speaking of which, there are quite a few sensitive topics covered in this anthology so I'm including a list of Content Warnings below for those who want them. But reader beware, HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!

Content Warnings:
Profile Image for Maria.
177 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2021
Glimrende genfortællinger af nogle af Brødrene Grimms gamle folkeeventyr. Læst til The Fantasy Fellowship.

Jeg havde på forhånd hørt at disse historier skulle være virkelig grumme, så jeg blev faktisk lidt skuffet over at de ikke var grummere end de var, især de første af dem. Måske er det bare fordi jeg som ung har læst mig gennem en hel Grimm eventyrsamling jeg ikke syntes disse var noget særligt på grumhedsskalaen, men i hvert fald syntes jeg de første var meget standard Grimm.
De blev dog grummere og mere makabre med Røverbrudgommen og Fitchers fugl, som går over i horror-eventyrgenren. (Mange eventyr har dog et aspekt af horror i sig; det er ganske normalt for gamle folkeeventyr, det glemmer folk bare, når de har vænnet sig til Disneys versioner af selvsamme eventyr).
Generelt var jeg godt tilfreds med genfortællingerne og måden de to forfattere har håndteret dem på. For de har ret i at mange af eventyrerne er blevet omskrevet og ændret nærmest til uigenkendelighed, og at vi skal tilbage til de mere barske eventyr, der fortæller noget om grådighed, hævn, savn, kærlighed, listighed, naivitet, uvidenhedens farer, og hvordan det at bruge sit hoved og tænke sig om er vejen til et godt liv. I disse eventyr er det dem, som holder hovedet koldt, tænker sig om, besinder sig, og som ikke bliver for grådige og nærrige, som har heldet med sig, mens dem som vil gøre sig til herre over mere end tilkommer dem eller bringe andre i ulykke oftest møder en grum skæbne.

Jeg kunne godt finde på at skaffe bog to og også læse eventyrerne deri.
Bogen er hurtigt læst, da den er trykt på ekstremt tykt papir, og selv med efterskrift er den stadig ikke på mere end 220 sider.
Profile Image for Rhea.
109 reviews27 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 29, 2026
“Grimm: Book one” is a Beautifully gory and unapologetically adult book

What immediately sets this anthology apart is its willingness to embrace the darkness. Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker do not shy away from the visceral, gory details that modern, sanitized versions of these tales usually scrape away. It serves as a stark, fantastic reminder that these stories were originally meant to caution and terrify, making this collection a perfect match for adult readers who appreciate a more macabre tone.

While I absolutely loved the grim and bloody atmosphere, the book fell just a bit short of being what I was looking for or expecting. I knocked off one star primarily because I expected a true retelling—something that injected a distinct, personal imprint or a fresh perspective into these classic fables. Instead, it felt like the same stories we have all read and re-read dozens of times, just with the violence dialed back up.

Furthermore, the narrative pacing occasionally created a barrier to full immersion. At times, rather than being pulled deep into the world, it felt like I was standing on the outside, listening to a quick reiteration of events rather than experiencing them.

Many, many thanks to Benni Bødker & Kenneth Bøgh Andersen, Fantagraphics Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
Profile Image for Kristina Butke.
Author 2 books56 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 24, 2026
GRIMM features dark fairy tales retold by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen and Benni Bødker, with disturbing and vivid art by John Kenn Mortensen. There are stories familiar ("Rapunzel," "Hansel and Gretel") and unfamiliar ("The Singing Bone," which is my favorite), and all of them are told with dark imagery and beautiful prose.

Check out this introduction to "The Singing Bone:"

"Back when animals could speak and humans could understand them, back when the mountains were given their names, the fields had not yet been cultivated and the vast forests were the world's mightiest towns, back when magic was not simply illusion or sleight of hand but the art of bending the world to one's will, pulling the stars down to earth and changing the way the wind blew."

That introductory paragraph keeps going but I didn't want to spoil the whole thing for you. Such beautiful, lyrical writing!

The illustrations are notable, too. They give me Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark vibes with their stark black and white drawings of disturbing and grim things...but they also remind me of centuries-old etchings from ancient books, too. It's a remarkable style of art.

There wasn't a single story in this book that I didn't like, and as I collect fairy tale anthologies, I will be adding this one to my permanent collection. And since this is merely Book One, I'll be looking forward to future volumes, too. I highly recommend this work to fans of dark, original fairy tales with equally dark, fantastic art. I had an enjoyable experience reading this book.
Profile Image for Maja Helena.
740 reviews
August 29, 2021
Klassiske Grimm eventyr, mere eller mindre kendte, har fået en lille genfortællings makeover i denne samling af Kenneth Bøgh Andersen og Benni Bødker.

Overordnet set hyggede jeg mig med at genlæse af par af eventyrene samt stifte bekendtskab med nogen, som jeg ikke mindes at have hørt eller løst før. Jeg fandt, jeg overordnet set nød de eventyr Benni Bødker genfortalte mere end dem KBA genfortalte men det kan meget vel også skyldes selve eventyrene og ikke deres evner til at genfortælle.

Eventyr har ofte en form for moral eller lektie man skal lære fra dem. En ting jeg synes, gik meget igen blandt de valgte eventyr i denne bog var; verden er et grumt sted, men hvis du bruger hovedet så skal det nok gå – hvilket jeg egentlig synes er en ret god lektie at tage med sig videre.
Profile Image for Sadie E .
267 reviews57 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
May 17, 2026
This book feels like the Brothers Grimm dug themselves out of their graves, punted Disney into a river, and said “no actually the children should be traumatised.”

It's seriously creepy. Rotten forests. Terrifying little kids. Suspicious af birds. Casual murder. Vibes so rancid I could almost smell damp moss and bad decisions through the pages. Every story feels like it was told to you by a medieval peasant who most definitely cursed somebody last Thursday.

And I mean that as the highest compliment imaginable.

The authors completely commit to the horror hiding underneath these fairy tales. The stories are cruel, strange, bloody, and serve as a warning that wandering into the woods is consenting to psychological damage. Just stay inside. Don't leave your bedroom. Ever. The bad things probably can't get you there.

The atmosphere is amazing. 10/10.

I was reading this like:

“oh this is a bit weird"

Then:

“WHY IS THERE A ROOM FULL OF CORPSES?"

“WHY ARE THE CHILDREN ALWAYS IN MORTAL DANGER.”

“PUT THAT BIRD AWAY.”

"wait... are we resorting to CANNIBALISM... ALREADY??"

“WHO GAVE THIS OLD WOMAN ACCESS TO MAGIC???"

"PUT THAT BIRD DOWN OR SO HELP ME."

Meanwhile the illustrations look like they escaped from a haunted Victorian orphanage and I spent so much time studying each one. They're all cursed, like the sort of stress dream your brain might come up with after eating too much cheese during a storm.

Not every story hit the same for me, but even the weaker ones still had me feeling like I was trapped in a candlelit nightmare while someone whispered folklore directly into my ear. I had a great time.

Thank you to Fantagraphics Books for the ARC
Profile Image for Jenny.
439 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 27, 2026
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me the ARC! I'm a huge fan of fairy tales and have read many translations and adaptations. This one was pretty good - 3.5 rounded up - but nothing that really wowed me. The strongest parts of this collection were that it includes tales I've never heard before, and the illustrations that were included were dark and moody, which was perfect for the tales that were selected. I could have used more illustrations throughout, honestly; the translations were pretty neutral, so having more illustrations would have brought some more atmosphere to the book. Overall, good but not great!
Profile Image for Dominica ⚔️.
114 reviews4 followers
October 23, 2025
2,5/5 ✨

Keď som siahla po tejto knihe, čakala som krv, kosti a morálne ponaučenie vyryté do duše ako nožom do jablka. Veď sa kniha volá “Grimmové”! No zdá sa, že tieto prerozprávané rozprávky prešli cez filter z cukrovej vaty. Pôsobia... krotko. Ako keby sa báli vlastného tieňa.

Napriek tomu sa v knihe nájdu momenty, ktoré stoja za to — napríklad príbeh “Fitcheruv vták”, (pre mňa známy ako Bluebeard), ktorý si zachoval svoju zlovestnú atmosféru a mal presne ten chlad, aký som dúfala, že nájdem v celej zbierke.
Profile Image for KC.
154 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 13, 2026
Book Review: GRIMM by Benni Bødker & Kenneth Bøgh Andersen

GRIMM is a collection of ten short stories that rework classic fairy tales in a darker, grittier, and more old-world style than the polished versions most of us know today. These are not the softened bedtime stories or cheerful adaptations that have become common over time. Instead, the book reaches back toward the harsher roots of folklore, where danger feels real, cruelty is common, and happy endings are never guaranteed. I initially expected something closer to a graphic novel, but it is actually a prose anthology with occasional illustrations. Once I adjusted to that format, it suited the material well.

What stood out most to me was the atmosphere running through the entire collection. The woods feel threatening, strangers feel suspicious, and every promise sounds like it may come with a hidden price. Even stories readers know well regain some of their power when told with this much menace and unease. The book does a strong job of reminding you that many fairy tales began as cautionary stories meant to unsettle as much as entertain.

As with most anthologies, some stories were stronger than others, but the consistent tone helped tie everything together. The illustrations add to the gothic mood whenever they appear, even if they are used sparingly. Ending the collection with Little Red Riding Hood was a smart choice, since it is one of the most recognizable tales and leaves the book on a strong final note.

Overall, GRIMM is a solid pick for readers who enjoy folklore, dark fantasy, and short story collections with teeth. It may not have been exactly what I expected at first, but once I settled into what it was doing, I found it stylish, memorable, and impressively atmospheric. 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Marcy Lewis Glover.
107 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2026
***ARC from NetGalley***

A new take on the famous Grimm's Fairytales. It starts with a well know story, Hansel and Gretel but the story is different from the one we hear as children. This novel chooses to tell the stories closer to their original telling, which is closer to horror than a children's bedtime story.

Beautifully told (translated from Danish) with stark black and white line drawings for each story.

Highly recommend for anyone who wants the adult (original) version of these stories.
Profile Image for Cindi.
1,562 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 18, 2026
John Kenn Mortensen’s dark illustrations are a perfect match for these Grimm fairy tales.
This collection includes ten stories:
Hansel and Gretel
The Singing Bone
The Story of a Boy Who Went Out in the World to Learn Fear
Rapunzel
Godfather Death
The Robber Bridegroom
Fitcher's Bird
The Gifts of the Little People
The Girl Without Hands
Little Red Riding Hood
This book feels like the Brothers Grimm rose from the grave, shoved Disney aside, and reminded everyone these stories were meant to disturb.

It is genuinely creepy: rotten forests, eerie children, suspicious birds, casual murder, and an atmosphere so foul you can almost smell the damp moss. Each tale feels like it came from a medieval peasant who probably cursed someone last week.

I mean that as the highest praise.

The book fully embraces the horror in these fairy tales. The stories are cruel, strange, and bloody, making the woods feel less like adventure and more like a warning. The atmosphere is excellent.
The illustrations look as if they escaped from a haunted Victorian orphanage, and I could have studied them for hours. They feel wonderfully cursed, like a storm-fueled fever dream.

Not every story worked equally well for me, but even the weaker ones felt like a candlelit nightmare whispered in my ear. I had a great time.
6 reviews
March 5, 2022
Så uhyggeligt og smukt og præcist. De gamle eventyr bliver fortalt med en indlevelse og uhyggelig konsekvens, for hvor er det egentlig nogle hårrejsende fortællinger, og det klæder dem at gå planken ud. Ikke for de sarteste sjæle, skønt alle faktisk burde læse dem. Som vanligt flot illustreret af John Kenn Mortensen, hvis stil er et godt cast til den gotiske uhygge.
Profile Image for Amanda.
729 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 23, 2026
An illustrated and unsanitized collection of retellings of Brothers Grimm stories.

Fairy tale collections are a dime a dozen, so why choose this one over any other? First, Benni Bødker's and Kenneth Bøgh Andersen's renditions are engaging and imaginative. They aren't trying to reinvent the tales, but they put a personalized spin on them that makes them feel fresh.

The second reason to get this collection is John Kenn Mortensen's illustrations; they give a dark, slightly creepy feel that fits well with the stories.

Anyone looking for a collection of classic fairy tales which haven't been Disneyfied should give this one a try.

Received via NetGalley.
Profile Image for Jannie Erlandsen.
11 reviews
January 20, 2020
En smuk nyfortolkning af de gamle eventyr. Jeg elsker at de har holdt sig så tæt på de originale eventyr og jeg erkæmpe fan af illustrationerne. Som er lavet af John Kenn Mortensen, der er min favoritillustrator.
Profile Image for Markéta Forejtová.
Author 8 books711 followers
August 8, 2024
Děsivá verez známých i neznámých dětských pohádek nakonec nebyla až tak děsivá, jak jsem se obávala. Bavily mě krásné ilustrace i závěrečné vysvětlení toho, proč autoři zvolili danou verzi adaptace.
3,5/5*
Profile Image for Adéla Stanislavská.
104 reviews4 followers
January 29, 2025
Známé pohádky tak trochu jinak :) ponurejší, ne s tak dobrým koncem. V knize je 10 převyprávěných pohádek od Grimmů, některé jsou velmi známé a některé méně. Celou knihu provází úžasné ilustrace :)
Knihu doporučuji.
Profile Image for Jindřich.
77 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2026
Milé a surové. Nejsilnější z nich je bezesporu Jeníček a Mařenka. "...posunula se blíž k ohni, ale proti chladu, který cítila v duši, to nepomohlo" Proto. Někdo říká, že tady příběh nekončí... těm ale nevěřte. Deal with it, protože život je boj.
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