Grimbound

by Brooke Elden, McCallum J. Morgan (Illustrator)

In a macabre retelling of the classic tale of Red Riding Hood, Eirwen is a whimsical young woman in a crimson cloak who lives in a vivid world of gardens and flowers, even as autumn turns to the dead of winter. One day, while delivering baked goods to her beloved grandmother, she witnesses the horrific aftermath of her death at the hand of wolves. Now, The Grim Reaper follows her, delighting in showing Eirwen various ways in which she could die, while simultaneously becoming a place of refuge. Can Eirwen vanquish The Grim Reaper’s tantalizing and terrifying yet dreamy and romantic dances, or is she doomed to a grim fate?

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2019

Reviews

[Chrys Fey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark retelling of Little Red, Grimbound features Eirwen, a young woman with a big imagination and a gift for seeing magical things, who finds her grandmother dead one day in her cottage.

Brooke Elden writes about grief, death, heartbreak, and manipulation in a very raw way, but it's also poetic. She has a lovely way with descriptions that reads like poetry. Actually, there are verses in this book, and I think it's my favorite thing about it. She's an amazing poet.

In the beginning, I liked Keayr, a stranger Eirwen meets in the woods, because he's dark and mysterious. And, well, I like dark and mysterious guys. ;) His constant terms of endearments comparing her to baked goods started to drive me bonkers (lol), but later you learn just why they're used and so often.

When The Storybook came in, it reminded me of the TV show Once Upon a time and their Storybook and The Writer. I loved that show, and I enjoyed what Brooke Elden did, bringing fairy tale stories to life.

Eirwen learns "not all is as it seems," and that's the perfect way to describe this book! Get ready for some twists!

If you enjoy dark retellings of fairy tales, give Grimbound a try!

***Trigger Warnings: self-harm (cutting), grief/death, depression, mentally abusive relationship/manipulation.

[Kayla Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story! I like the way the author kept the reader guessing until the end. This tale is a dark fairytale, and it pulls us into a world of enchantment and danger. The author expertly uses fiction to shed light on mental issues and leaves the reader in contemplation long after the last page is turned.

Totally fresh, this book is perfect for fairytale lovers who yearn for a bit of darkness and intrigue as well. A deliciously dark take on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Captivating gothic suspense at its finest.

[McCallum Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and dark story poignantly told