An uncanny school. Four best friends. A murder. The Grimrose Girls is a dark fairytale retelling and urban fantasy. I loved the concept of this book. It has a creepy, mysterious undertone and a great dark academia aesthetic/atmosphere that I loved so much.
The pacing was ok but the characters felt a little flat for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Laura Pohl, Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a great read. I loved the fast pace of the story and the setting was so well done. What really kept me enthralled though were the characters. They were well written and even the more minor characters were really intriguing. The cast of characters was also really diverse and I appreciated that there were a few conflicts this added to the story that felt very natural. It also really added to the boarding school aspect of the book, even with all the magic and curse related plot points there were still some very normal school problems the girls faced. I am really looking forward to the next book.

Modern day novel with a fairy tale premise. I felt like a lot of basic information about the main characters was to be inferred and kind of off. And the ending was definitely abrupt - WAY too abrupt.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well paced and the characters were fully formed. I would enjoy reading other work by this author in the future.

I loved the concept of this one. Four best friends, one is murdered, dark fairy tales reimagined and an elite school has everything I love, however the ending fell a little flat for me. With that being said I am invested enough to read a sequel.
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Thank you #Netgalley and #sourcebooks for an advanced copy.

The Grimrose Girls follows the lives of four young women enrolled at an elite boarding school. The book begins with the news that one of their friends has committed suicide. The story centers around their quest to solve the mystery of their friend’s death and the strange book she left behind.

It took a few hours of reading this book before I was truly hooked. Once the theme became apparent, I was totally reeled in. I won’t discuss the theme here, because I don’t want to spoil the surprise for other readers, but it’s a really fun concept.

I had some difficulty following the characters, as each chapter was told from a different character’s point of view. Most of the main characters had unique four-letter names, and I was often confusing them as the points of view jumped from character to character.

Overall this was a really good book, and I was shocked when it suddenly ended. I hope there will be a sequel, because I want to find out what happens to the Grimrose Girls!

Dark academia, but make it hella queer? UM YES PLZ.

It's been more than a month since I read it and there are still moments when I think of scenes that happened in The Grimrose Girls. That means a lot coming from someone who has a shite memory and forgets everything that happens in a book the moment she finishes it. Anyways, TGG has one of the most interesting concepts I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I went into it knowing absolutely nothing other than it's queer dark academia and as I was reading through the first few chapters I thought to myself ''huh, it would be so cool if [my theory] was the plot.'' And said theory actually came true and I was not disappointed.

So, I loved the premise, but I *also* think this would've been top notch as a thriller/mystery without any fantasy elements, which I originally thought the situation was ngl. Just imagine: the murderer being so obsessed with classic fairytales with their original gruesome endings that they want to recreate them on real people. Now that's a thriller I'd love to read. Anyways, it wasn't until 60%ish that mentioned fantasy elements really started to have a play in the story and I was honestly just confused and was left with so many questions and it annoys me to no end that I have to wait for another year to get the answers in the sequel.

4.5 stars

Introduction

In this fairytale retelling, teenagers are dying at the prestigious Grimrose Academy, and friends Yuki, Rory, Ella, and newcomer Nani need to get to the bottom of it before whatever is coming for their fellow classmates, comes for them next.

Characters

I liked all the characters, but it times, it felt like their personalities fell a little flat. It felt like while this is not a middle grade novel, that the characters and their personalities were pulled from a middle grade novel and dropped in a young adult storyline.

Plot

I really enjoyed the plot. Pretty much all fairytale retellings hold a special place in my bookworm heart, and this story isn't an exception. The only gripe that I really had was Nani's original plotline about her father seemed completely forgotten by the second half of the book. A lot of her drive came from wanting to know about what her father had been doing and once that disappeared, it was hard for me to care about her as an individual character rather than just as part of the core group.

Pacing

For the first half of the book, the plot and it's pace was moving very slowly. There were a lot of points where nothing was really going on and those parts were very hard to read passed. The saving grace is that it definitely picks up in the second half, and reading through the slower parts is 100% worth it.

Conclusion

As I said, dark fairytale retellings hold a special place in my heart and that statement includes this book. Overall I really liked the story and I'm looking forward to the future books in the series.

My university dissertation was based around fairytales so I absolutely jumped at the chance to be able to review this book straight from the mention of ancient fairytale curses. The Grimrose Girls is a fast-paced adventure set in a highly prestigious boarding school; it gave me all of the dark academia vibes and its links to some of the more ancient, classic fairytales gave this story a powerfully dark and gripping atmosphere.

For me, the best thing I loved about The Grimrose Girls was that Laura Pohl sort to showcase the original fairytale stories in all of their dark, twisted glory and break the glass slipper mould of 'Disney-fied Happy Endings'. From The Little Mermaid and Snow White to Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, the ancient curses connecting this group of characters revealed the origins of these stories in their most brutal forms. It was quite a refreshing take on a genre which I love so much.

The characters themselves were each intriguing in their individual ways. I had so much fun working out which fairytale fate each character was destined to take up, some were slightly more obvious than others. Through Yuki, Ella, Rory and Nani, we are given a range of identities and representations to connect to. Be it parental expectations, grief, sexual identity or just working out who the hell you're supposed to be whilst growing up - there were plenty of cultural and lifestyle character facets here to bring about diversity amongst this group of girls. It was interesting to see the range of emotions each one went through as they dealt with the death of a friend and sought to reforge and re-establish their fractured friendships. Even though the setting isn't actually a single-sex girls' school and there a couple of male characters in the story, sometimes the catty dialogue and humorous interactions between the girls sent my mind right back to my own education at an all-girls' school!

I have to admit, I wasn't totally aware that this book was going to be a series when I first started reading so the cliffhanger ending right at the end was abrupt in the best possible way. Although one or two mysteries get solved within the final pages, there's still so much more to come from this fantastic plot. I'm already eagerly awaiting the sequel as it feels like these girls are just getting started on their epic fairytale-debunking quest!

Why Should I Read This?
For the representation of original fairytales in all their twisted, brutal glory.
For a diverse range of fierce female characters who bond together to overcome an ancient evil.
For the dark academia vibes of The Grimrose Académie setting.

[Review to be posted on blog on: 03/11/21

This started off so good and I was so excited to read this, but after awhile it got to be a chore to read because nothing was happening. I got about 60% into it before anything really started to happen plot wise but by then I just didn't care enough to continue. I enjoyed the idea of a modern day fairy tale retelling story, especially having the heroines of each fairy tale being the victim of a mysterious murder, but lack of action and movement of the plot so far into the book just made me not want to finish.

The characters themselves seemed very one dimensional as well. Rory's the angry one, Ella's the kind one, Yuki is the perfect one, and then there's the other one. The author definitely tried to give them defining characteristics but it wasn't, in my opinion, written well enough to really distinguish themselves. The chapters were so short and we switched POV's each time a new chapter began that we really never got to sink deep into a POV to experience each character's individuality Had the chapters been longer or the POV's stayed the same for a chapter or two together, I feel like it would have distinguished each person a little better. .

I do have to give the author credit because she made the characters very inclusive when it came to gender, sexuality, physical ableness, and mental health. We had someone with OCD and anxiety, someone with anger issues, Fibromyalgia rep, a pansexual, a lesbian, a transgender girl, an asexual girl, and I believe a bisexual girl. The inclusivity was chef's kiss but the lack of momentum and forward moving plot just ruined it for me.

Laura Pohl’s The Grimrose Girls was initially described as Pretty Little Liars meets Once Upon a Time, which is actually pretty accurate and more likely than not to draw in a lot of curious fans. But to be honest, though I liked both of those properties quite a bit, the comparison actually does Pohl’s book a disservice – The Grimrose Girls is a page-turning thriller that’s much more than it initially appears to be.

Yes, it’s a fairytale retelling, sort of. And yes, it’s a teen-focused murder mystery in which a group of girls must survive a deadly killer. Again, sort of. But Pohl deftly combines both into something that feels fresh and new – and nothing like you’d expect.

The Grimrose Girls follows the story of Ella, Yuki, and Rory, three friends at the prestigious Grimrose Académie for Elite Students in the Swiss Alps. The fourth member of their friend group, the vibrant, red-haired Ariane, died under mysterious circumstances just as their senior year began. While the school is convinced her death by drowning was a suicide, her friends aren’t so sure, And their discovery of a strange fairytale book among Ariane’s belongings hints at something darker – and a much older pattern may be at work.

The novel is effortlessly diverse, featuring major characters of multiple races, ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities. There are both queer and heterosexual romances and one of the main group identifies as asexual. Other characters struggle with a variety of health and disability issues, from anxiety to chronic pain. And, perhaps most importantly, the friendship between our core group of girls feels lived-in and genuine, the sort of relationships that maybe you’re only ever able to form at this point in your life, when you’re learning – and accepting – the people you’ll become, together.

This book ties my love to fairy tales, mysteries, and drama all into one. It offers a unique perspective with modern themes and characters. Definitely a must read!

"Fairytales were warnings, things that happened to girls if they're not careful."

*4.5 stars*

Summary
Ella, Yuki, and Rory are all reeling after their best friend drowns in the lake at Grimrose Academy. When Nani arrives as their newest roommate, a series of events is set into motion. The girls determine that Ari's death was no mere accident - and set out to find out what really happened. They retrace Ari's last steps, and uncover dark secrets about themselves and their own fairytale fates.

Review
If you are a fan of dark fairytales, this is definitely the book for you! I loved how Pohl took the gruesome and dark Grimm fairy tales and intertwined them with a dark academia boarding school setting. This story is told from four different perspectives, so each character is very well defined. I loved how diverse this book was, and each girl explores their identity as the story progresses. I really felt for all of the girls by the end of the story!

Grimrose Girls definitely gives dark Disney Channel movie vibes and I loved every second of it. I couldn't put the book down because the mystery kept me reading - I needed to know what was going to happen to all of the girls. I felt like this book wrapped up in a satisfactory way yet left the story open ended enough that I'm excited to read the sequel and continue to see the mystery of Grimrose Academy unravel.

I don't know if define this as a mystery or a urban fantasy, I know it was gripping and highly entertaining.
The fantasy side mixes well with the creepy atmosphere of the school, the girls'POVs are a pleasure to read and the characters are fleshed out.
The LGBT+ part was really part of the plot, an aspect of the characters and not just a detail for any inclusivity checklist.
I loved this gripping story and can't wait to read the next novel.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Grimrose Girls, had me hooked. I absolutely loved this book. It’s described as descendants meets pretty little liars, and it was delivered as such.
I adored the characters, Nani, Ella, Rory and Yuki were all very different but still best friends. (Also sword lesbians)
I loved the LGBTQ+ and disability representation!! I’ve only read one book with demisexual rep before, so that was really awesome to see!
I really liked that the book has short chapters alternating between POVs, because it made me feel more connected to the characters.
In conclusion, 5/5 stars. The Grimrose Girls has everything I want to see in a book.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really adored the premise of Grimrose Girls. The blurb alone made it one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Set at an isolated and elite boarding school/castle, the novel follows a close-knit group of girls as they investigate the mysterious death of their best friend and unwittingly discover the dark secrets that lurk inside the castle’s walls.

One of the things that really makes Grimrose Girls stand out is that it’s a dark academia murder-mystery that doubles as a contemporary reimagining of classic fairytales. As the story unfolded, I loved seeing how Pohl incorporated elements of these tales into both the plot and the characters. Rather than relying on the more well-known versions that end in "happily ever after", Pohl draws inspiration from the darker, gritter fairytales written by the Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Andersen, which only adds to the eerie atmosphere that persists throughout the novel.

The book also has a great cast of diverse and queer characters. The four protagonists—Ella, Yuki, Rory, and Nani—all come from different backgrounds and each one identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Ella and Rory also deal with mental health issues (anxiety and OCD) and chronic pain respectively. The story itself is told through multiple points of view and I really enjoyed getting to read about each girl's unique character arc. I just wish that the chapters for each POV were either a bit longer or that the novel itself didn’t switch between the protagonists as frequently. I was a bit thrown whenever the perspectives switched, especially near the beginning of the story, because it felt like I didn’t get to spend long enough with one girl before I had to start reading about the next one.

My only other issue with this book is the pacing. The story, at least for me, was slow to start and it took me a while to become really engaged. And because it took a bit for the plot to get moving, I felt like certain aspects of the world, specifically the magical elements, were not as explored as much as I would have liked. However, the ending of this book does give me hope that the sequel will delve more into this side of things and what it means for Ella, Yuki, Rory, and Nani!

Content warnings: suicide, parental physical and emotional abuse, self-harm, parental death, anxiety, OCD, and light gore.

I was initially excited to get into this book, especially since it is a dark academia that takes place at a boarding school in a castle. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The Grimrose Girls has a lot of potential, but it felt as though there was too much going on at once. The book offers the perspectives from four different girls, after their friend allegedly commits suicide. This is where I feel the book really falls flat, as the characters don’t come across as relatable or authentic. I think the book as a whole would have benefitted with a single perspective, or even just spending longer chapters or time with a single character. There were also times when the writing was strong, and then others when it felt chunky and unpolished.

The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl begins a new series. The story follows friends Ella, Yuki, and Rory after their friend Ariane’s death. The police rule her death a suicide, but the girls do not agree. They are determined to find out what really happened to their friend. Newcomer Nani soon joins the girls. The deeper the girls investigate, they discover that not only was Ariane not the first dead girl, but every past death has been connected to fairy tale curses. They soon realize that their own lives are connected to these curses and they are doomed if they don’t find a way to stop it.

This thrilling story is full of mystery, fairy tales, and friendship. It is a great spooky read.

The Grimrose Girls is the kind of story that sinks its teeth into you and wraps you with its thorned vines around you, and just does not let you go. That’s how it felt reading this book – when I started reading it, I was merely intrigued, but the deeper and deeper I fell into this fairytales-inspired murder mystery, the deeper I fell in with the girls of Grimrose Académie and their own secrets, I was hopelessly attached to the book. For all its dark and macabre moments in this book, The Grimrose Girls is an unexpected delight that I loved.

I loved that The Grimrose Girls took place in a boarding school. I’ve never really understood the love for boarding school stories (only that it was appealing to others), but The Grimrose Girls showed me what was so appealing: a setting so removed from everyday normal life, a place steeped in history and intrigue that elevate the mystery and drama and suspense to a whole new level. And inside Grimrose Académie isn’t just secret passageways and castle towers, but also secrets, death, and something dark and dangerous.

Coupled with extraordinary character arcs with distinct voices, the mystery of this story pulled me right in and I could not stop reading. The story begins with the funeral for our main characters’ best friend. While her death is ruled as a suicide, her best friends, Yuki (aroace and Japanese), Ella (has OCD and anxiety), and Rory (has chronic pain and is demiromantic) have different ideas – because how could your best friend have committed suicide, out of the blue? Wouldn’t you have known? Or did you miss something? For what begins as a mission intent on understanding why their best friend died, slowly transforms into an eerie and terrifying mystery thriller with so many twists and turns. Was it murder, or was it magic? I was in awe of how the story slowly transforms, getting darker and more eerie and more sinister and more terrifying – and it really creeps up on you.

One of the highlights of The Grimrose Girls was how it integrates fairytales and princesses in such a unique way. And when I say fairytales, I don’t mean the Disney ‘happily-ever-after’ kind, but more the Brothers Grimm ‘people die and awful things happen!’ kind. To be clear, The Grimrose Girls isn’t a fantasy story; it has a contemporary setting with magical and fantastical elements. Without giving away too much – because I had so much fun guessing and discovering things for myself – I loved how the girls and their destinies were intertwined with gruesome fairytales. It was such a refreshing and fascinating take, and I am truly excited to see how this is developed more in the sequel. (This is not a standalone!)

Though this is indeed a mystery with all the thrills and chills that come with it, The Grimrose Girls also carefully balances a nuanced exploration into friendships and grief, particularly the spaces left by our dead loved ones. I loved how the friendships in this story aren’t entirely wholesome and perfect, but rather, that sometimes friendships are messy, out of sync, misunderstood, and sometimes a little jealous. Moreover, with the introduction of Nani (who is Hawai’an and queer), we also see how her friendship blooms with the other girls, and how Nani finds belonging with them. The most beautiful thing about The Grimrose Girls is that, even though friends might fight or disagree or see the absolute worst parts in each other, they still love each other and will protect each other fiercely. And I think that’s what made The Grimrose Girls such a wonderful read – it’s scary, pulled taut with so much tension, and incredibly dark and at times macabre, but it’s still all of the above with heart and is about how we fight for our friends, even if it’s to our very last breath.

At times eerie, at times terrifying, yet wholly fantastic, The Grimrose Girls is a refreshing and fascinating reimagining of fairytales. Its nuanced exploration of friendship and grief, as well as its carefully and thoughtfully developed characters and voices make this an engaging read that readers will fly right through.

I found this book to contain underdeveloped characters and plot. In an attempt to appeal to all of the current “trends,” the author neglected to maintain the plot, as well as created characters that were flat and unremarkable. The storyline was disjointed and the primary protagonists were far too similar and none were engaging or relatable. I can not recommend this title to be included in collections. There are other contemporary titles which are far better at connecting to fairy tales and/or representing teens search for connection and identity.