Grim

Out later this month from publisher Harlequin Teen, Grim puts a dark and twisted spin on a number of classic fairy tales spanning the globe. A vast array of some of the most talented young adult authors put their unique stamp on these once innocent stories. Containing 17 retellings, Grim is not only a fantastic collection for readers wishing to explore fairy tale past, but also a great way to be introduced to some authors you may have otherwise missed.

Edited by Christine Johnson (Claire de Lune series), this anthology features contributions from a number of New York Times bestsellers and award winners including Ellen Hopkins (Crank & Impulse series), Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey series), Amanda Hocking (My Blood Approves series), Claudia Gray (Evernight series), and Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall series) - among others. The book doesn't include any sort of information about the original tales, so it's up to the readers to do a bit of research if they don't recognize the fairy tale lore. Well known tales such as The Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio, and The Pied Piper are told with brand new approaches alongside other stories most readers might not be familiar with like Cat-Skin and The Shroud.

Grim seems to be cashing in on popular TV programs like Grimm and Once Upon a Time and in that aspect, feels late to the party. Fortunately, the high-quality stories more than make up for the fact that the subject matter feels trite. Depending on the author, some of the stories feel like they could have been expanded into a novel (The Key), while others feel underdeveloped (The Twelfth-Girl). Without providing any spoilers for potential readers, my personal favorite stories were The Brothers Piggett with its interesting deviation from the original tale and Better due to my love of science fiction. For those interested in Brothers Grimm or those simply looking for an anthology to read a story or two before bedtime, Grim is a great selection. On a side note, Grim would also make a suitable gift for teenagers who prefer darker subject matter. Highly Recommended.