Welcome to another First Impression Friday. In case this is your first time, here’s the rundown:
• Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions
and predict what you’ll think by the end.
• Did you think you’d love and ended up hating it? Or did you think
you’d hate it and wound up loving it? Or were you exactly right?
• Link back to Storeys of Stories so I can enjoy reading all the
First Impression Fridays out there!
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of this one, thanks to HMH Books for Young Readers and Raincoast Books. I’ve been seeing some fairly strong hype, so the fact that I got one was surprising. I do wish I received it before publication day, but I can’t complain.
Let’s talk about Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd.
“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.“
This is going to be something! I’m only 2 chapters in, but I can tell. It just has that feel to it. There isn’t a single hole that I can poke a finger through. It’s the kind of prose that just pulls you in and you forget you’re supposed to be critical. Hell, with what I’ve read so far, I forgot that I was reading at all. Just. Pulled. Right. In.
I’m getting vibes of many different things mixed together. A little Cinderella with the animals turned to people, a little Harry Potter with the magic set in the current world, and some other things that I haven’t been able to put a finger on as of yet. And it’s all done very well so far. Shepherd has taken the very core of witch’s magic and made it her own thing. I’m very much looking forward to reading more!
My Prediction: At least 4 stars.
This one sounds like a perfect October read, with a little of everything thrown in. I’ve added it to my wish list and see if I can’t find a copy.
I hate when new books just drop themselves in our laps and screw up all your plans…
I am glad this is grabbing your full attention though! I have seen it everywhere, but haven’t heard too much about it yet. Can’t wait to see what you think in the end!
Right? I probably shouldn’t be complaining about a free book, but still!
This book sounds really interesting! I like it when books pull you in from page one 🙂
(www.evelynreads.com)