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dragongirl271's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“No one has ever interrupted her explanation and finished her deduction. She had to convince Delfina to be her detective partner. Or maybe marry her.”
This may be one of the most fun and creative concepts for a fiction anthology book that I've ever come across. Alkaf and Owen brought together 18 different authors to collectively tell a murder mystery, but also still kept it in a short story format. I loved listening to this book. I would 100% read again. I want a separate book that's just all about the making of this one. Give me all the behind the scenes information about this collaboration.
The Grimoire of Grave Fates is a YA fantasy murder mystery that takes place at a traveling magical school. A professor that many hated has died and 18 students, working both together and separately, decide to look into what happened. Each chapter follows a different student during a different hour following the murder and it's all so creatively done.
“...three steps to solving a murder: step 1- break into murder victims home. Step 2- ??? Step 3- solve climate change”
I love the humor. I love how well-developed each character is. I really love all the different types of magic each author designs (someone sign me up for the embroidery magic courses). This is just a gem of a book.
3rd-person POV following a different student each chapter.
Mixed pacing across the chapters.
This may be one of the most fun and creative concepts for a fiction anthology book that I've ever come across. Alkaf and Owen brought together 18 different authors to collectively tell a murder mystery, but also still kept it in a short story format. I loved listening to this book. I would 100% read again. I want a separate book that's just all about the making of this one. Give me all the behind the scenes information about this collaboration.
The Grimoire of Grave Fates is a YA fantasy murder mystery that takes place at a traveling magical school. A professor that many hated has died and 18 students, working both together and separately, decide to look into what happened. Each chapter follows a different student during a different hour following the murder and it's all so creatively done.
“...three steps to solving a murder: step 1- break into murder victims home. Step 2- ??? Step 3- solve climate change”
I love the humor. I love how well-developed each character is. I really love all the different types of magic each author designs (someone sign me up for the embroidery magic courses). This is just a gem of a book.
3rd-person POV following a different student each chapter.
Mixed pacing across the chapters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Transphobia, Ableism, Racism, Murder, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Classism, and Colonisation
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
First of all, I love the concept of this. I wish more short story anthologies were more collaborative stories like this because I feel like I'm more invested. I also think teens would be more drawn to them than the regular short story anthologies that are being published (of which there are too many in my opinion, but I digress!).
My main issue is I think there are a tad too many characters in this one. There's a lot to remember between the stories, and widdling it down to fewer authors (which means maybe they get to write more parts?) would help with the overall clarity. And maybe a character map if you're going to have this many characters.
The mystery intertwined with the fantasy though, I enjoyed that! I loved the magic school setting, too. Such a fun concept that just needs a little bit of tweaking to really put it over the edge.
My main issue is I think there are a tad too many characters in this one. There's a lot to remember between the stories, and widdling it down to fewer authors (which means maybe they get to write more parts?) would help with the overall clarity. And maybe a character map if you're going to have this many characters.
The mystery intertwined with the fantasy though, I enjoyed that! I loved the magic school setting, too. Such a fun concept that just needs a little bit of tweaking to really put it over the edge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Sexism
aileron's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Racism, Sexism, Ableism, Classism, and Transphobia
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