Good morning lovelies!
I am proud to share with you today's stop on the Grim Lovelies Blog Tour, hosted by Raincoast Books. I read this one last month, and the concept was magical.
Tour Schedule:
Book Details:
Title: Grim Lovelies
Author: Megan Shepherd
Publisher: HMH Teen
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
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.
Q & A with Megan:
Kat: Would you want Grim Lovelies to become a movie? Why or Why not?
Megan: Of course! I’d love to see it on the big or little screen. My publisher designed a book trailer for it that is so gorgeous it leaves me dying to see what a live-action trailer would look like. The book has lots of action scenes, shots of Paris, and magical elements. It could make a very fun visual experience.
My Review:
Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐
Grim Lovelies is a haunting story following Anouk, an animal brought to life, called Beasties, to serve a high class witch. After her mistress is found dead and Anouk is suspected to be guilty, she and her fellow Beasties flee. With an underground magical society known as the Haute chasing them, these dark creatures only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away.
The concept of this novel intrigued me the most. The enchantment of animals to humans is a magical and unique idea for a story. I like the significance of the pelts for Anouk and the other Beasties, and their 3 day timeline created urgency and suspense.
The variety of characters in Grim Lovelies was well done. I liked Anouk's, in a couple of ways she reminded me of myself. Cricket's character however was my favourite. She was strong and bold, and I like her spunky attitude. She made the story amusing and enjoyable! Beau was okay, but at times could be a bit pushy. His protective attitude of Anouk was sweet though, and the last scene in the book was heartbreaking for me. In the next book I hope for more scenes and interactions with Prince Rennar. His character was my second favourite, and I would like to see more of his intentions with the Beasties.
However, I found parts of this book very slow and choppy. There were moments that seemed to come out of nowhere, leading to a disconnect from the story. Scenes seemed rushed and out of place at times. These parts might have been fixed for the finished copy, but unfortunately, it really impacted my enjoyment of the novel.
The ending of the story, approx. the last quarter of the novel, was my favourite part. I am glad the novel picked pace. It was bold and emotional, and will entice readers to reading the conclusion, Midnight Beauties, when it releases.
Review on Goodreads