I am SO super excited to be a part of the GRIM blog tour today!
I am a huge lover of fairy-tale retellings, and I am really excited to share my three mini-reviews with you...
I will be reviewing 3 of the short stories:
A REAL BOY by Claudia Gray,
SKIN TRADE by Myra McEntire, and
BEAUTY AND THE CHAD by Sarah Rees-Brennan.
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| GRIM blog tour by Kismet Book Tours |
A Collection of Dark and Twisted Fairy Tales
Edited by Christine Johnson
Release date: February 25th, 2014
Published by: Harlequin TEEN
Genre: Young Adult Fairy Tale Retellings
Format: Hardback, eBook
SUMMARY
Inspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, Grim contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today:
1. THE KEY by Rachel Hawkins
2. FIGMENT by Jeri Smith Ready
3. THE TWELFTH GIRL by Malinda Lo
4. THE RAVEN PRINCESS by Jon Skrovan
5. THINNER THAN WATER by Saundra Mitchell
6. BEFORE THE ROSE BLOOMED: A Retelling of the Snow Queen by Ellen Hopkins
7. BEAST / BEAST by Tessa Gratton
8. THE BROTHERS PIGGETT by Julie Kagawa
9. UNTETHERED by Sonia Gensler
10. BETTER by Shaun David Hutchinson
11. LIGHT IT UP by Kimberly Derting
12. SHARPER THAN A SERPENT'S TONGUE by Christine Johnson
*13. A REAL BOY by Claudia Gray
*14. SKIN TRADE by Myra McEntire
*15. BEAUTY AND THE CHAD by Sarah Rees-Brennan
16. THE PINK: A GRIMM STORY by Amanda Hocking
17. SELL IT OUT by Jackson Pearce
BOOK TRAILER - Grim by Various YA Authors
MY REVIEWS
An ARC was received for an honest review.
A REAL BOY is a dystopian retelling of... I really wanted to say Pinocchio, but because it's suppose to be based on a Grimm story, I am going to have to go with Little Red Riding Hood...
In this future world, the rules have changed - humans can no longer go outside without breathing filters and the risk of being severely burned within 20 minutes of being exposed; they must get a license to pro-create by medical standards and they're babies are raised in a "c" until they are 5 years old, which is when they can go home to be with their families. At 12 years of age, all humans must take an assessment test to decipher their future. Meanwhile, there are robots all around being programmed to do most things that humans can no longer do. As perfect and near human that they look, they are still stiff in movement and lack personality and compassion. And Blue has no problem working with them and lacking in making any connections with anyone, including the humans around her.
For the last 5 years, Blue has been working as a cybernetics apprentice for Professor Jafet and is determined to work as hard as she can to get ahead in her career; she agrees to work with the Professor on a new "experiment".
Imagine her surprise when the Professor's experiment is named Rowan. A robot like no other; and no human comes close to what he is either.
"You don't realize how selfish a feeling love can be until it calls you to do something selfless."
- Blue, GRIM (ARC, page 351)
At first, because of the set up and the characters names, I had a strong feeling that the story was based on Pinocchio - The Professor being Geppetto (she created Rowan), Rowan is Pinocchio (robots aren't suppose to tell lies) and Blue, "the conscious" (struggling with what is right/wrong or following her heart).
But, I also feel that this story could be a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Blue being Little Red, The Professor being the Grandmother, and Rowan the Wolf. The forbidden love between Blue and Rowan mimicking Little Red and the Wolf because of society not accepting what Rowan/Wolf is and the indecision of Blue/Little Red with doing what is right and following her heart.
I hope that Claudia Gray decides to expand on this short story sometime in the near future! Rowan is definitely someone (something?) that I would like to see more of!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Claudia Gray
* * *
SKIN TRADE is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel... Locke and Britt.
Oh my, this one is dark. So very dark, it made knots in my stomach.
It's a bit gory. There is blood and other stuff; not too graphic, but definitely enough for my over-active imagination... I really don't want to say more, if I do, I will definitely give the story away.
"Strip the marrow from the bones."
- Doris, SKIN TRADE (ARC, page 394)
And if you like twisted, dark tales - you would buy this book just to read this one!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Myra McEntire
* * *
BEAUTY AND THE CHAD is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast in the most comical way! The author has flipped their personalities making the Beast easy-going, witty, sincere and quite funny. He was transformed by some "broad" while at his fraternity, and he misses his Xbox most of all. He speaks like a 'surfer dude' and is very eager to do most things himself. He does not care for magic or whimsical beauty.
Beauty, is straight-forward, a rule follower and does not understand a word that the Beast speaks of, saying things like 'high five' and referring to her as a dude. She is surprised by the Beasts ways, and even more surprised over his willingness to share his exact feelings with her.
Can this Beauty tame the unruly Beast and help him learn his lesson???
"This whole 'Beast' deal? Kinda hurtful," said the Beast.
"Call me Chad."
- The Beast aka Chad, GRIM (ARC page 406)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Sarah Rees-Brennan
* * *
ABOUT THE EDITOR/AUTHOR - Christine Johnson
GIVEAWAY
TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, February 17th - Harlequin Paranormal Blog
Tuesday, February 18th - Stories 1, 2 and 3 - Two Chicks on Books
Wednesday, February 19th - Stories 4, 5 and 6 - Book and A Latte
Friday, February 21st - Stories 7, 8 and 9 - Fiction Freak
Monday, February 24th - Stories 10, 11 and 12 - Mundie Moms
Wednesday, February 26th - Stories 13, 14 and 15 - Bumbles and Fairytales
Friday, February 28th - Stories 16 and 17 - Fiktshun
