Review: Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd

Title: Grim Lovelies

Author:  Megan Shepherd
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date:  October 2nd, 2018

Pages: 376
Genre: YA Modern Fantasy/Fairytale

Series:  Grim Lovelies #1
Source:  Audio

 

Seventeen-year-old Anouk envies the human world, where people known as Pretties lavish themselves in fast cars, high fashion, and have the freedom to fall in love. But Anouk can never have those things, because she is not really human. Enchanted from animal to human girl and forbidden to venture beyond her familiar Parisian prison, Anouk is a Beastie: destined for a life surrounded by dust bunnies and cinders serving Mada Vittora, the evil witch who spelled her into existence. That is, until one day she finds her mistress murdered in a pool of blood—and Anouk is accused of the crime.

Now, the world she always dreamed of is rife with danger. Pursued through Paris by the underground magical society known as the Haute, Anouk and her fellow Beasties only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away. If they fail, they will lose the only lives they’ve ever known…but if they succeed, they could be more powerful than anyone ever bargained for.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.

I have been wanting to read this book for a while. It looks creepy, it's a dark type of fairytale. It really had my name all over it... but I it took me forever to read it. Now that it came out on audio... I no longer had an excuse and I fit it. It was a good read. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I had some issues with it but all in all. I enjoyed it. 

Once upon a time in an alternate present day, witches were alive and well and they ruled the lands... sort of. Once of the spells they performed regularly was turning animals into servants and companions. Beasties as they were called. That is what Anouk is. A beastie. She doesn't quite know what animal she came from but she does know that she once was an animal..The witch that holds her hide controls her. She has never left the house. She is a perfect little servant girl for cleaning and cooking. She does have some friends. Other beasties. She has been happy ... until now. Her witch mother was killed, one of her beastie friends has disappeared... and if they don't find another witch to continue the spell... Anouk and all he friends will turn back to beasties. So she and her friends have to venture out into the world and figure out how to ensure that they survive beyond the next 72 hours. 

I really don't know what I thought this book would be but it wasn't quite how I think I imagined it. I think I thought it would be darker and creepier. I will say I love the concept, I love the story. It fell short in a few areas... the romance, the character development, and the pacing. I did enjoy it, it just wasn't what I imagined... let me explain. 

So the one thing I loved. The one thing that will keep me interested in reading the next installment. This story was creative and smart and the setting, the world, well developed. The actual writing was smooth and beautiful. Even though the characters lacked some development I could feel for these characters. I could imagine this world and what it would be like to be a beastie. 

The story also had quite the excitement towards the end. There was a heist of sorts going on and this kept me on the edge of my seat. It was so exciting and very well through through. There were parts of the book that I just loved. But that brings me to one of my complaints. 

The pacing was not well done in this book. For me, I was very into the story at times and at other times I was bored and distracted. I felt there was a lot of down time in this book and normally when that happens, character interaction and relationship building can fill this void. But in this book those also lacked. I didn't feel any of the relationships. I didn't find the spark or the chemistry in the romance and the friendships lacked some too. 

I liked the main character for the most part. I mean I get that she has been locked up most of her life and so she lacked in quite a bit of real life experience which made her a bit naive and frightened. She did grow quite a bit. She was for sure the best character in the book. I think if there would have been more development in the other characters and in the relationships... I would have loved her. I felt she had something missing. she needed a bit more for me to fall for her. 

There was romance but it felt more like a non romance. I didn't feel there was any build up and so it felt forced and just fit in. There was nothing then it was there. I just didn't feel it at all. I think it would have been better to focus on friendships and left the romance to build on its own or just not show up at all. Not all stories need a romance. 

So I enjoyed parts of the book... the parts I enjoyed was about a 4 heart, the slow and boring parts a 2 heart... so I went with the middle. I do want to read the next installment as the ending was great and ended without sufficient closure. I do need to know what is going to happen. SO I am reading the next book and hope it keeps the momentum of the ending of this book. 

It was good but not great. 

New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of several young adult and middle grade novels. She now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, two cats, and an especially scruffy dog.