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The Grimm Chronicles #4-6
The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 2
200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm changed everything. With the help of a little magic, fairy tales were made real, manifesting all over the world. Charming princes. Gold-hunting dwarfs. Terrible step-mothers. Heroic animals. Then, slowly, they began to change. Everyone—from Prince Charming to the old miller—grew more evil. Corrupted. A hero was chosen to stop them, hunting them down one by one and destroying them with the help of a magic pen and a special rabbit assistant. For 200 years, the hero’s magic pen has been passed on from generation to generation. The newest hero is Alice Goodenough, an 18-year-old junior from Washington High School. While her friends spent their summer working and having fun, Alice found herself doing battle with creatures most human beings don’t even realize exist. A giant snake. A blood-sucking prince. A terrifying half-man, half-hedgehog. Dastardly dwarfs intent on mind-controlling everyone who uses a cell phone. Now, senior year has begun. With it comes a new challenge at school, where bullies have grown bolder and classes more challenging. As if that’s not enough, Alice must face off against a collection of Corrupted who all share a terrible secret, one that might awaken a creature capable of doing untold damage. To uncover the secret, Alice will have to face off against a man-eating lizard, a bloodthirsty sea captain, and a mysterious wizard who can see into the future … This book Episode The Orphanage of Doom Episode Blood and Thunder Episode The Order of the Golden Dragon Bonus The Lost Journal of Eugene Washington Assorted fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm A Legacy of Red
544 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2013
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1257 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 29, 2020
Originally I hadn't planned to read the second installment in The Grimm Chronicals series. I was browsing through my kindle after reading the first and saw I had it, so I thought, why not? The storyline of the first wasn't bad, and maybe they made an extra effort to correct the grammar.
Nope! Not a chance.
At first, I was enjoying the volume. It's a good spin, and hey, who doesn't like a silly rabbit? But there are some things that really killed it for me. These things are bad enough, I won't bother to get the next. I've added a few examples below.
The story: Besides the annoying cliffhanger endings for every book, there were several inconsistencies. Past events didn't match the explanations from the first book, villains were often out of character, and the authors' grasp on how certain things work was flawed. For example, the main character asks if coal builds furnaces...huh? What kind of a lame question is that?
And the sports seasons were skewed. Baseball is a spring sport, not fall. And having Football start halfway through the semester is weird.
Then there's the nail gun.
Most nail guns need power and/or an air compressor to work. They are not as portable as one would think, and the Adam Sandler Happy Gilmore version of using one for target practice obviously inspired this little segment. It made it hard to take the storyline seriously when the weapon of choice shouldn't have been an option. Shooting a nail gun from far away, with any accuracy, and enough force to do what is described, is nearly impossible. Nail guns are designed to be placed against the wood, then shot. Seth would have done a lot more damage to people. And by the way, nails for nail guns come in cartidges. It's not exactly plausible that they would be small enough to fit in a purse along with all the other stuff she had packed in there. But hey, maybe her "purse" was actually a duffle bag. I'm sorry, this flaw more than derails it for me, and the nail in the coffin(pardon the pun) is the grammar.
The grammar: This one was worst than the first. It really really rankles deep when there are so many grammar mistakes. I can handle a few here and there, but this was so frequent it killed me. Do a read through before you publish. In fact, do SEVERAL read throughs. This many mistakes should not happen. Over 35! And it wasn't just missing or added words this time. There were punctuation mistakes galore!
For my clean readers:
The language was toned down in this one, but still had some. Mentions teen drinking, but doesn't actually have scenes with it. Violence and bullying seems to be the main theme here. It isn't too bad on cleanliness however.
Nope! Not a chance.
At first, I was enjoying the volume. It's a good spin, and hey, who doesn't like a silly rabbit? But there are some things that really killed it for me. These things are bad enough, I won't bother to get the next. I've added a few examples below.
The story: Besides the annoying cliffhanger endings for every book, there were several inconsistencies. Past events didn't match the explanations from the first book, villains were often out of character, and the authors' grasp on how certain things work was flawed. For example, the main character asks if coal builds furnaces...huh? What kind of a lame question is that?
And the sports seasons were skewed. Baseball is a spring sport, not fall. And having Football start halfway through the semester is weird.
Then there's the nail gun.
Most nail guns need power and/or an air compressor to work. They are not as portable as one would think, and the Adam Sandler Happy Gilmore version of using one for target practice obviously inspired this little segment. It made it hard to take the storyline seriously when the weapon of choice shouldn't have been an option. Shooting a nail gun from far away, with any accuracy, and enough force to do what is described, is nearly impossible. Nail guns are designed to be placed against the wood, then shot. Seth would have done a lot more damage to people. And by the way, nails for nail guns come in cartidges. It's not exactly plausible that they would be small enough to fit in a purse along with all the other stuff she had packed in there. But hey, maybe her "purse" was actually a duffle bag. I'm sorry, this flaw more than derails it for me, and the nail in the coffin(pardon the pun) is the grammar.
The grammar: This one was worst than the first. It really really rankles deep when there are so many grammar mistakes. I can handle a few here and there, but this was so frequent it killed me. Do a read through before you publish. In fact, do SEVERAL read throughs. This many mistakes should not happen. Over 35! And it wasn't just missing or added words this time. There were punctuation mistakes galore!
For my clean readers:
The language was toned down in this one, but still had some. Mentions teen drinking, but doesn't actually have scenes with it. Violence and bullying seems to be the main theme here. It isn't too bad on cleanliness however.
April 2, 2013
If I could give this a 3.5, I probably would. This is the second installment, and it was better than the first. But I am still not impressed. If you like fantasy, this may be the book for you. If you like fairy tales, this may be the book for you. If you like reading about really weird stuff, this is definitely the book for you.
I will admit that I was not too happy about reading the second installment. I really did not care too much for the first. However, there is not as much graphic violence in this book. And I have grown to love Briar. He is my favorite character, and I think I would enjoy reading an entire series written about him. The more he is featured, the more I like him. His sense of humor is wonderfully sarcastic, and he always lightens things up while being sober-minded as well.
My complaints with the book are the gratuitous profanity (though it's not hardcore) and the story line that is truly off-the-wall. I really would like to see more familiar fairy tales featured because I almost didn't figure out the fish. I'm not sure how Captain Ahab all of a sudden showed up. But there I go again analyzing a young adult fantasy and making it what it should not be. Maybe I am just too analytical for my own good. But for the fantasy-lover, this is probably the ideal book.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated,and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I will admit that I was not too happy about reading the second installment. I really did not care too much for the first. However, there is not as much graphic violence in this book. And I have grown to love Briar. He is my favorite character, and I think I would enjoy reading an entire series written about him. The more he is featured, the more I like him. His sense of humor is wonderfully sarcastic, and he always lightens things up while being sober-minded as well.
My complaints with the book are the gratuitous profanity (though it's not hardcore) and the story line that is truly off-the-wall. I really would like to see more familiar fairy tales featured because I almost didn't figure out the fish. I'm not sure how Captain Ahab all of a sudden showed up. But there I go again analyzing a young adult fantasy and making it what it should not be. Maybe I am just too analytical for my own good. But for the fantasy-lover, this is probably the ideal book.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated,and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
June 17, 2020
Better than the first story arc collection, though it still feels like the writers were finding their feet. A couple of inconsistancies dogged the content, especially weird when they were so forcefully put across in the first box set (any purple fan will tell you that indigo and violet are not the same thing), but nothing grammatical that I noticed in this updated edition. The tone is also a little strange, trying very hard to be funny early on but then cutting down on it (which I found made it a lot more readable). Occasionally the writing gets into a description rut, listing of a characters artciles of clothing or what they've got on a snack plate, which just slows things down with the mini info-dump.
I found the first episode the weakest (and with the weirdest cut off cliffhanger ever), but the following episodes were much stronger in terms of story, side character progression and building on themes. Yes, there are some "real world" parts that shouldn't require you to suspend your disbelief (like using a nail gun like a gun-gun? Erm...) but generally it's just a load of silly YA fun. Alice is being your mouthy Buffy-a-like, Seth is picking up the mantle of Xander with his backchat, and new boy Chase may seem a bit vanilla at first, but I like where his friendship chemistry is going with the gang. High school drama and very weird fairy tale mashups abound.
Also included is a companion story of Briar's origins at the penmanship of a former slave turned Grimm hero. It's a good little companion piece, though sadly doesn't answer a rather important question (or inconsistancy?) from book 5.
Honestly though, if this series had a re-editing to work out the kinks, it'd be worthy of more stars. Because it's very readable and just... fun.
I found the first episode the weakest (and with the weirdest cut off cliffhanger ever), but the following episodes were much stronger in terms of story, side character progression and building on themes. Yes, there are some "real world" parts that shouldn't require you to suspend your disbelief (like using a nail gun like a gun-gun? Erm...) but generally it's just a load of silly YA fun. Alice is being your mouthy Buffy-a-like, Seth is picking up the mantle of Xander with his backchat, and new boy Chase may seem a bit vanilla at first, but I like where his friendship chemistry is going with the gang. High school drama and very weird fairy tale mashups abound.
Also included is a companion story of Briar's origins at the penmanship of a former slave turned Grimm hero. It's a good little companion piece, though sadly doesn't answer a rather important question (or inconsistancy?) from book 5.
Honestly though, if this series had a re-editing to work out the kinks, it'd be worthy of more stars. Because it's very readable and just... fun.
May 4, 2021
Excellent
I am truly loving this series. Alice is a wonderful all American teenager dealing with everything teenagers deal with plus an invisible rabbit, a magic pan and Corrupteds popping up every time she turns around, Boyfriend troubles, School troubles, Job troubles, Parent troubles and of course school bullying. And through it all she maintains a spirit of grace, humor and dogged determination. Alice is my girl!
I am truly loving this series. Alice is a wonderful all American teenager dealing with everything teenagers deal with plus an invisible rabbit, a magic pan and Corrupteds popping up every time she turns around, Boyfriend troubles, School troubles, Job troubles, Parent troubles and of course school bullying. And through it all she maintains a spirit of grace, humor and dogged determination. Alice is my girl!
September 3, 2019
Good
Alice has really grown into the hero role, well except ya know......
She has friends who are willing to jumping down this rabbit hole with her. Plus she is learning to stand up for herself and others with out using violence. Overall this is a good series with interesting plots.
Alice has really grown into the hero role, well except ya know......
She has friends who are willing to jumping down this rabbit hole with her. Plus she is learning to stand up for herself and others with out using violence. Overall this is a good series with interesting plots.
January 28, 2019
the Grimm brothers fairy tales came alive, thanks to the magic pen used to write the tales.
The pen passes down from hero to hero.
The heroes fight the Grimm characters,
Alice Goodenough, a high school student, is the current hero
The pen passes down from hero to hero.
The heroes fight the Grimm characters,
Alice Goodenough, a high school student, is the current hero
April 3, 2020
After fighting to get a handle on the tasks at hand, the hero realizes she doesn't always have the knowledge to make her magic work. She needs to research, something she likes to do but has to understand how things work In order to make the magic better.
November 14, 2017
Cute
I enjoyed this story. I love the bonus stories at the end that deal with the characters in this book! It has been a long time since I read the Grimm Brothers!
I enjoyed this story. I love the bonus stories at the end that deal with the characters in this book! It has been a long time since I read the Grimm Brothers!
October 9, 2018
Fun
Lots of fun to read, entertaining and keeps you wanting more I enjoyed the take on the various faerie tales
Lots of fun to read, entertaining and keeps you wanting more I enjoyed the take on the various faerie tales
March 28, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
April 13, 2019
I love this strange way about telling Grimm Fairy Tales. I am up to book 12 and hoping things get better for our Hero.
April 16, 2019
Read volume 1 first
You certainly can pick up this collection and read it, but some quirks will make more sense if you read them in order.
You certainly can pick up this collection and read it, but some quirks will make more sense if you read them in order.
Read
May 31, 2023Kept me up reading until the wee hours of the morning.
April 5, 2013
There are no words to express how much I loved this book.
The Grimm Chronicles, Vol. 2
is the best Grimm-based book I can recall having read recently. Alice Goodenough is fast becoming one of my favorite heroines. She's no angst-ridden or naturally insecure teenager. She wields a saber and is all brains and sass. Although she starts to begin question herself and her purpose in this book, she has a good head on her shoulders, and I could understand her struggle to make the right choice as she deals with all the stress of high school and being The Hero who kills the Corrupted Grimm characters in a modern-day setting. Her voice was so clear in the narration. I could hear her, feel her, from the pages.
The secondary characters and relationships in this book were also fabulous. I don't know who I loved more—Briar the rabbit sidekick, Seth the geeky best friend, Chase the popular athlete who ends up in a wheelchair because of a drunk driver. They each have strong, unique personalities, as well as their own struggles, and added to the storyline. They were individuals who somehow also complete one another. I can't imagine the circle of friends without any one of them.
The pacing of the plot, action, and theme was better in this volume, too. While each book in the Grimm Chronicles series has three episodes, all three in The Grimm Chronicles, Vol. 2 were joined more fluidly in a single arc. There was separate conflict in each episode, but they all built up and added to the next, heightening the reader's experience. The action only became more intense, and I found myself unable to put the book down. I was actually disappointed when I reached the last page.
I also loved how no detail was left unchecked or unused in the grand scheme of things. The little factoids interspersed throughout were fantastic—not only did they add to the story, but I learned a few things on a variety of subjects, too. Along with all the humor and wit, the little kernels of knowledge made this book FUN. Yet there were lovely life lessons, as well. I appreciated how the authors weaved the issues into the storyline and how they captured both sides of an ordinary teen and a world hero's life.
Everything about this book was great. It couldn't have been better written; there isn't one thing I wish would have been done differently. I want a hardback copy of it to reread and hopefully share with my kids. The Grimm Chronicles, Vol. 2 is a timeless read. It's a meaningful adventure full of suspense, mystery, some horror and gore, but also laughs and a little romance. It's the Grimm's Fairy Tales meets The Princess Bride meets Pirates of the Caribbean. A definite must-read series for fans of fairy tale retellings in a modern day setting, with story twists and strong characters, especially a strong, lovable heroine.
*eARC provided by the authors via I Am Reader Promotions in exchange for a review. Thank you!
*Review also posted on the The LUV'NV blog.
The secondary characters and relationships in this book were also fabulous. I don't know who I loved more—Briar the rabbit sidekick, Seth the geeky best friend, Chase the popular athlete who ends up in a wheelchair because of a drunk driver. They each have strong, unique personalities, as well as their own struggles, and added to the storyline. They were individuals who somehow also complete one another. I can't imagine the circle of friends without any one of them.
The pacing of the plot, action, and theme was better in this volume, too. While each book in the Grimm Chronicles series has three episodes, all three in The Grimm Chronicles, Vol. 2 were joined more fluidly in a single arc. There was separate conflict in each episode, but they all built up and added to the next, heightening the reader's experience. The action only became more intense, and I found myself unable to put the book down. I was actually disappointed when I reached the last page.
I also loved how no detail was left unchecked or unused in the grand scheme of things. The little factoids interspersed throughout were fantastic—not only did they add to the story, but I learned a few things on a variety of subjects, too. Along with all the humor and wit, the little kernels of knowledge made this book FUN. Yet there were lovely life lessons, as well. I appreciated how the authors weaved the issues into the storyline and how they captured both sides of an ordinary teen and a world hero's life.
Everything about this book was great. It couldn't have been better written; there isn't one thing I wish would have been done differently. I want a hardback copy of it to reread and hopefully share with my kids. The Grimm Chronicles, Vol. 2 is a timeless read. It's a meaningful adventure full of suspense, mystery, some horror and gore, but also laughs and a little romance. It's the Grimm's Fairy Tales meets The Princess Bride meets Pirates of the Caribbean. A definite must-read series for fans of fairy tale retellings in a modern day setting, with story twists and strong characters, especially a strong, lovable heroine.
*eARC provided by the authors via I Am Reader Promotions in exchange for a review. Thank you!
*Review also posted on the The LUV'NV blog.
April 2, 2013
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy in return for an honest review*
Author
Ken Brosky was born in Milwaukee. He has a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin and a Master's degree in writing from the University of Nebraska. His first novel was published in fall 2007. He has more than a dozen short stories published in magazines including Skyline and World Audience.
Isabella Fontaine lives in Winsconsin with her cats. The Grimm Chronicles is her first book.
Review
Though I ended up feeling ok about the first book in this series which contained the first three episodes I felt a bit reluctant. I had a hard time getting into the first book and was afraid about the way the authors would develop the story in these episodes. But I did not have to worry at all. The authors picked up where they left with Alice needing to get back to school for her senior year. She is having several dreams with Corrupted in "The Orphanage of Doom" and her best friend Trish is trying to hook her up with a guy named Ted. Ted is not really your dream guy and I love the way Alice tells him at some point. I like both the stories surrounding the Corrupted, there are two of them who are harassing Alice in this story. Liking them both I do not have the feeling they get enough attention. I think it would be way nicer to get more on one Corrupted than a bit of two Corrupted. What I did find disturbing though it gets better to is Alice her parents. If I would have come home in a limousine my mum would be all over me and not to tell me to clean my room.
The second book Blood and Thunder (episode 5) is really good. Finally we get just one corrupted and everything is moving towards defeating this corrupted. Alice her normal life is getting proper attention too and I like how she develops in school and with her new friends. I did hate Alice though for a big part of this episode... She hurt the feeling of the bunny rabbit... that is not right.
Episode 6 holds on to the one corrupted story though there is a lot of background with this specific corrupted. A lot of it is explained in one of the extra features, The Journal of Eugene Washington. It was very nice to get that background story. In Alice her real life a lot of things are happening too and I like the way the situations in school are treated and how the kids in school take matter in to their own hand, showing that if there is enough support (and it usually comes from people you would not always expect) you can achieve things.
I like Chase as an addition to the friends. One remark on this story though. Alice describes she thinks Constance is in Germany and later she reads a sign saying "Toverschool" which is Dutch. Two different countries and languages.
Again I loved that the original Grimm stories where there too. I did not know them all and it is nice to read what it is exactly about. I was surprised to read in the Journal of Eugene Washington that male can be heroes too. I had the idea there where only female heroes. Loved the graphics in A Legacy of Red.
The Grimm Chronicles are entertaining and a fun read for people who love the fairy tales of Grimm. I think if you know them very well it can be fun to try and guess which of the Corrupted go in which stories.
Author
Ken Brosky was born in Milwaukee. He has a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin and a Master's degree in writing from the University of Nebraska. His first novel was published in fall 2007. He has more than a dozen short stories published in magazines including Skyline and World Audience.
Isabella Fontaine lives in Winsconsin with her cats. The Grimm Chronicles is her first book.
Review
Though I ended up feeling ok about the first book in this series which contained the first three episodes I felt a bit reluctant. I had a hard time getting into the first book and was afraid about the way the authors would develop the story in these episodes. But I did not have to worry at all. The authors picked up where they left with Alice needing to get back to school for her senior year. She is having several dreams with Corrupted in "The Orphanage of Doom" and her best friend Trish is trying to hook her up with a guy named Ted. Ted is not really your dream guy and I love the way Alice tells him at some point. I like both the stories surrounding the Corrupted, there are two of them who are harassing Alice in this story. Liking them both I do not have the feeling they get enough attention. I think it would be way nicer to get more on one Corrupted than a bit of two Corrupted. What I did find disturbing though it gets better to is Alice her parents. If I would have come home in a limousine my mum would be all over me and not to tell me to clean my room.
The second book Blood and Thunder (episode 5) is really good. Finally we get just one corrupted and everything is moving towards defeating this corrupted. Alice her normal life is getting proper attention too and I like how she develops in school and with her new friends. I did hate Alice though for a big part of this episode... She hurt the feeling of the bunny rabbit... that is not right.
Episode 6 holds on to the one corrupted story though there is a lot of background with this specific corrupted. A lot of it is explained in one of the extra features, The Journal of Eugene Washington. It was very nice to get that background story. In Alice her real life a lot of things are happening too and I like the way the situations in school are treated and how the kids in school take matter in to their own hand, showing that if there is enough support (and it usually comes from people you would not always expect) you can achieve things.
I like Chase as an addition to the friends. One remark on this story though. Alice describes she thinks Constance is in Germany and later she reads a sign saying "Toverschool" which is Dutch. Two different countries and languages.
Again I loved that the original Grimm stories where there too. I did not know them all and it is nice to read what it is exactly about. I was surprised to read in the Journal of Eugene Washington that male can be heroes too. I had the idea there where only female heroes. Loved the graphics in A Legacy of Red.
The Grimm Chronicles are entertaining and a fun read for people who love the fairy tales of Grimm. I think if you know them very well it can be fun to try and guess which of the Corrupted go in which stories.
April 8, 2013
Source: ARC received from the authors in exchange for an honest review
Summary: Alice Goodenough is a hero, selected to wield a magic pen and hunt down the Corrupted characters from the Brothers’ Grimm fairytales. She is also, however, a high school student and must also navigate the trials of senior year, including maintaining her grades, facing a bully, dealing with crushes, and competing in the upcoming fencing tournament.
Volume 2 includes Books 4, 5, and 6 of The Grimm Chronicles, as well as “The Lost Journal of Eugene Washington,” and the original Grimm fairytales that inspired the stories.
Review: Since readers can buy each book of The Grimm Chronicles separately for their e-readers, I reviewed Book 4: “The Orphanage of Doom” alone last week, to get the experience. It was exciting, but it’s great that readers get all three books in this one volume, or that it’s so easy to purchase the next in the series online because I wanted to read more, and a few of the books end on cliffhangers!
I really enjoyed Volume 1 of The Grimm Chronicles, and Volume 2 lived up to my expectations. Alice is still a spunky heroine who can exhibit her courage, her intelligence, and her limitations as a teenager and human in turn. Briar also continues to be fantastic—cute, funny, and heroic, as well. I am already adopting his habit of referring to a certain search engine as “The Google” in his honor because it’s hilarious. Now I just need to convince more of my friends to read these books so they’re in on the joke and stop staring at me oddly.
Romance fans will find Volume 2 “better” than the first. The authors introduce Chase, a spirited and athletic boy Alice is definitely interested in, even if she can’t see it herself at first. Their feelings grow naturally, adding to the action of the book but not stealing from the spotlight—the Corrupted, who are back creepier and more powerful than ever. Alice has her work cut out for her, but her hero skills are increasing with her challenges, and she is ready for action. Even more beautifully, she finds a way to apply her heroics to a real-world situation at her school, and it is arguably the most moving scene yet.
I have only one complaint: the history lessons are a little heavy-handed. Readers unfamiliar with some aspects of the Underground Railroad, the American Civil War, and the following period of segregation will undoubtedly find the characters’ explanations useful and, of course, fascinating. I think, however, Fontaine’s and Brosky’s audience are probably an intelligent bunch, and these stories will be a bit obvious and repetitive to many. Finding a good balance in explaining historical aspects without turning a novel into a textbook is always a difficult task, however, and of course there will also be some history buff reader who thinks any explanation is too much, so this is not at all a major flaw.
The Grimm Chronicles, Volume 2 is an exciting and fast-paced story that proposes knowledge can lead to adventures and solutions to problems. I can’t think of any reader who would argue with that.
Summary: Alice Goodenough is a hero, selected to wield a magic pen and hunt down the Corrupted characters from the Brothers’ Grimm fairytales. She is also, however, a high school student and must also navigate the trials of senior year, including maintaining her grades, facing a bully, dealing with crushes, and competing in the upcoming fencing tournament.
Volume 2 includes Books 4, 5, and 6 of The Grimm Chronicles, as well as “The Lost Journal of Eugene Washington,” and the original Grimm fairytales that inspired the stories.
Review: Since readers can buy each book of The Grimm Chronicles separately for their e-readers, I reviewed Book 4: “The Orphanage of Doom” alone last week, to get the experience. It was exciting, but it’s great that readers get all three books in this one volume, or that it’s so easy to purchase the next in the series online because I wanted to read more, and a few of the books end on cliffhangers!
I really enjoyed Volume 1 of The Grimm Chronicles, and Volume 2 lived up to my expectations. Alice is still a spunky heroine who can exhibit her courage, her intelligence, and her limitations as a teenager and human in turn. Briar also continues to be fantastic—cute, funny, and heroic, as well. I am already adopting his habit of referring to a certain search engine as “The Google” in his honor because it’s hilarious. Now I just need to convince more of my friends to read these books so they’re in on the joke and stop staring at me oddly.
Romance fans will find Volume 2 “better” than the first. The authors introduce Chase, a spirited and athletic boy Alice is definitely interested in, even if she can’t see it herself at first. Their feelings grow naturally, adding to the action of the book but not stealing from the spotlight—the Corrupted, who are back creepier and more powerful than ever. Alice has her work cut out for her, but her hero skills are increasing with her challenges, and she is ready for action. Even more beautifully, she finds a way to apply her heroics to a real-world situation at her school, and it is arguably the most moving scene yet.
I have only one complaint: the history lessons are a little heavy-handed. Readers unfamiliar with some aspects of the Underground Railroad, the American Civil War, and the following period of segregation will undoubtedly find the characters’ explanations useful and, of course, fascinating. I think, however, Fontaine’s and Brosky’s audience are probably an intelligent bunch, and these stories will be a bit obvious and repetitive to many. Finding a good balance in explaining historical aspects without turning a novel into a textbook is always a difficult task, however, and of course there will also be some history buff reader who thinks any explanation is too much, so this is not at all a major flaw.
The Grimm Chronicles, Volume 2 is an exciting and fast-paced story that proposes knowledge can lead to adventures and solutions to problems. I can’t think of any reader who would argue with that.
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March 28, 2013To keep things as spoiler-free as possible (which is hard when you consider the fact that the first two volumes ofThe Grimm Chronicles spans 6 of the 12 novellas making up the series), the series revolves around Alice, a girl who finds out that she's a hero. A hero is someone who comes along once in a generation (this reminds me of the way the Slayer is constantly reborn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and is gifted with a magic pen and the ability to rid the world of fairy tale creatures gone wrong. The pen is more than it appears (Sort of think Riptide, Percy Jackson's pen that becomes a sword), infused with magical ink that allows its heroic bearer to create tools able to vanquish the Corrupted. It's the very same pen used by the Brothers Grimm when creating their now-famous stories. The only problem? The same magic used to bring the stories to life and into the real world was dark, and over time, the characters have become corrupted. From minor characters we barely remember to the heroes, heroines, and villains of each tale, no one is exempt. It is Alice's destiny to rid the world of these characters; a hero can't rest until no character remains.
It was a lot of fun to see which fairy tales and characters were going to make an appearance in The Grimm Chronicles next. Sometimes, I was guessing for a while; there's definitely a factor of mystery involved as readers discover who the Corrupted are alongside Alice. Not every character we meet is evil, either, creating a complex, shadowed nuance not often seen. There's a lot of gray space and little black and white, which makes Alice's trials even more burdensome. The stories interconnect in arcs, and I liked seeing fairy tale characters pop up in earlier volumes only to come back in big ways later on. I also enjoyed the small nod to non-Grimm tales in the series, such as the way Alice (to me at least) pays tribute to Lewis Carroll, and while she is aided by a rabbit, it's the lesser-known Br'er Rabbit, which was a fun addition for me. Alice is a strong heroine who evolves and goes through a lot of character development as the series progresses.
I'd recommend buying the stories as compilations if you're starting out. There are a lot of fun goodies thrown in such as short stories, "lost" diaries from former heroes, and the referenced Brothers Grimm tales. While at time, sentences and dialogue felt very formal against the light, easy tone of Alice's voice as a narrator, the series was still easy to read and engaging. I like the formula Fontaine and Brosky are using and find the use of novella story arcs to be solid and easy to follow. While readers could jump into later volumes without having read earlier ones, it's encouraged to read from the beginning for a full understanding of the world of The Grimm Chronicles.
It was a lot of fun to see which fairy tales and characters were going to make an appearance in The Grimm Chronicles next. Sometimes, I was guessing for a while; there's definitely a factor of mystery involved as readers discover who the Corrupted are alongside Alice. Not every character we meet is evil, either, creating a complex, shadowed nuance not often seen. There's a lot of gray space and little black and white, which makes Alice's trials even more burdensome. The stories interconnect in arcs, and I liked seeing fairy tale characters pop up in earlier volumes only to come back in big ways later on. I also enjoyed the small nod to non-Grimm tales in the series, such as the way Alice (to me at least) pays tribute to Lewis Carroll, and while she is aided by a rabbit, it's the lesser-known Br'er Rabbit, which was a fun addition for me. Alice is a strong heroine who evolves and goes through a lot of character development as the series progresses.
I'd recommend buying the stories as compilations if you're starting out. There are a lot of fun goodies thrown in such as short stories, "lost" diaries from former heroes, and the referenced Brothers Grimm tales. While at time, sentences and dialogue felt very formal against the light, easy tone of Alice's voice as a narrator, the series was still easy to read and engaging. I like the formula Fontaine and Brosky are using and find the use of novella story arcs to be solid and easy to follow. While readers could jump into later volumes without having read earlier ones, it's encouraged to read from the beginning for a full understanding of the world of The Grimm Chronicles.
April 5, 2013
Volume 2 begins shortly after Volume 1 ends. Alice has battled numerous Corrupted and with the assistance of Br’er Rabbit, trained and prepared to battle on. Alice and her friends are entering their senior year of high school so not only does Alice need to fight the Corrupted popping up, she has to keep up her grades and deal with a group of bullies set on dominating the school through fear.
The authors have really improved on the storytelling with this volume. The action moved briskly and I was definitely engaged in each story. I loved that Alice wasn’t alone in her battles. Her friend Seth becomes a bigger help as well as a new love interest, Chase. I know some people might want it to be all about the hero but a little comedic relief through sidekicks is what makes a hero story tick ;) And I couldn’t imagine dealing with this craziness without having people to talk to about it.
The creatures Alice deals with are a little more tricky than in the last volume which makes sense. If a Corrupted has lasted this long, then they are tough to kill. I wondered at the inclusion of Capt Ahab from Moby Dick. Last I checked, he was not a Grimm Fairy tale creature. I think it would have been better to choose another story to weave the magic fish and the fisherman characters into. I also thought considering all the havoc the wizard in the final story caused and the mental/psychological weapons he wielded against Alice, he was dispatched by her a little too easily.
I was quite pleased to see Sam Grayle pop up now and again. And it looks like he will have a huge part to play in Volume 3. I just hope when his end comes, he’s a tough guy to kill!
Besides just battling Corrupted we have an additional story line taking place at Alice’s school. For years a bully has terrorized the school. He’s a star football player and the principal also serves as the coach so he never gets punished sufficiently. Alice and her friends have enough and stage a walk out of the school. I think that particular story line is well placed considering all the real life issues schools have with bullies and students taking their own lives because the terrorizing is so horrible. This particular volume would be perfect for a class to read, just for that one aspect. Sometimes, you don’t have to use violence to make a difference.
Overall, great stories that kept my interest and made me want to keep reading. I can’t wait to read Volume 3!
4.5 out of 5 stars.
The authors have really improved on the storytelling with this volume. The action moved briskly and I was definitely engaged in each story. I loved that Alice wasn’t alone in her battles. Her friend Seth becomes a bigger help as well as a new love interest, Chase. I know some people might want it to be all about the hero but a little comedic relief through sidekicks is what makes a hero story tick ;) And I couldn’t imagine dealing with this craziness without having people to talk to about it.
The creatures Alice deals with are a little more tricky than in the last volume which makes sense. If a Corrupted has lasted this long, then they are tough to kill. I wondered at the inclusion of Capt Ahab from Moby Dick. Last I checked, he was not a Grimm Fairy tale creature. I think it would have been better to choose another story to weave the magic fish and the fisherman characters into. I also thought considering all the havoc the wizard in the final story caused and the mental/psychological weapons he wielded against Alice, he was dispatched by her a little too easily.
I was quite pleased to see Sam Grayle pop up now and again. And it looks like he will have a huge part to play in Volume 3. I just hope when his end comes, he’s a tough guy to kill!
Besides just battling Corrupted we have an additional story line taking place at Alice’s school. For years a bully has terrorized the school. He’s a star football player and the principal also serves as the coach so he never gets punished sufficiently. Alice and her friends have enough and stage a walk out of the school. I think that particular story line is well placed considering all the real life issues schools have with bullies and students taking their own lives because the terrorizing is so horrible. This particular volume would be perfect for a class to read, just for that one aspect. Sometimes, you don’t have to use violence to make a difference.
Overall, great stories that kept my interest and made me want to keep reading. I can’t wait to read Volume 3!
4.5 out of 5 stars.
December 31, 2015
In case you missed it last month, I absolutely loved The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 1 by Ken Brosky and Isabella Fontaine. It exceeded my expectations – by far. Very far. My only complaints were minor errors that needed fixing (mostly typos) and some things I found annoying about Alice. I am happy to say that both were much improved. I liked Alice even more than I did last time. She’s a hero, but she’s not perfect. She’s still human. Real. I like that. A lot. And she said gawd a LOT less than she did in the first volume. She said it little enough that I didn’t find it annoying this time around. As for the errors and such, this second volume is much cleaner (meaning it has fewer errors/typos). There were still a few things here and there, but not nearly as many as before.
These new stories are just as unique and exciting as the ones in the first volume. Extra bonus, we have some Melville thrown in there for good measure. As a lit. major, I loved that added in there! My only question is how his characters were able to appear in Alice’s adventures. Had Melville once had possession of the magic pen and paper? If not, how was it possible for his characters (and, really, largely his story) to have become real? That is one thing that maybe should be explained. Still, I loved seeing a classic American author’s work show up!
As with the first volume, I loved all of the extras. A Legacy of Red was probably my favorite of the extras. It’s a great little story (although a little gruesome). The Grimms’ tales at the end were quite helpful to me in better understanding the Corrupted encountered by Alice. Most of these tales are ones with which I’m not familiar, so it was nice to be able to read them after seeing the characters in the book. They’re actually done in such a way that you could easily read the related tale before encountering the corresponding Corrupted, but I’m not a fan of trying to jump around on my Kindle so I just waited until the end. I think this is one set of books I’d prefer to have a physical copy of in order to make flipping around easier.
Overall, if you are a fan of fairy tales, I highly encourage you to give these books a try. Unless you’re a rigid purist, I’m confident saying you’ll be glad you did. I am very much looking forward to Volume 3!
These new stories are just as unique and exciting as the ones in the first volume. Extra bonus, we have some Melville thrown in there for good measure. As a lit. major, I loved that added in there! My only question is how his characters were able to appear in Alice’s adventures. Had Melville once had possession of the magic pen and paper? If not, how was it possible for his characters (and, really, largely his story) to have become real? That is one thing that maybe should be explained. Still, I loved seeing a classic American author’s work show up!
As with the first volume, I loved all of the extras. A Legacy of Red was probably my favorite of the extras. It’s a great little story (although a little gruesome). The Grimms’ tales at the end were quite helpful to me in better understanding the Corrupted encountered by Alice. Most of these tales are ones with which I’m not familiar, so it was nice to be able to read them after seeing the characters in the book. They’re actually done in such a way that you could easily read the related tale before encountering the corresponding Corrupted, but I’m not a fan of trying to jump around on my Kindle so I just waited until the end. I think this is one set of books I’d prefer to have a physical copy of in order to make flipping around easier.
Overall, if you are a fan of fairy tales, I highly encourage you to give these books a try. Unless you’re a rigid purist, I’m confident saying you’ll be glad you did. I am very much looking forward to Volume 3!
April 3, 2013
I feel like Alice has grown in the second set of stories, yet still has more growing to do, which makes sense since she is still a teenager and learning everyday. I liked that a lot! It made Alice more realistic since she made mistakes but learned from them as well.
Many of the situations Alice faces (not the supernatural ones) are common themes that many children, teens, and even adults face everyday in society. And the authors did a great service by showing us how human Alice really is; she learned by trial and error the right way to face these problems.
I also enjoyed the fact that Alice's parents were more in the picture in this Volume and had some meaningful conversations from them as well. Although, I did get a little upset that they weren't more on Alice's side the first time about the altercation between her and Joey.
Besides having to save the world, orphans, and her friends, Alice faces the worst kind of peer pressure and the ways she handles it is a great moral incentive for the teens (or anyone for that matter) reading the stories. So yeah, I LOVED the morals we learn from this book in a fun way.
I think her friends, Seth and Briar, as long as some new characters introduced, help keep Alice grounded so the "hero" stuff don't go to her head. Chase seems like a pretty good guy and I like that he brings another perspective to the table for Alice to learn from.
The plot of the story is just plain good. It will keep you glued to the book,going from page to page until you are up in the early morning light, almost done with the novel. It flows so well I never wanted to put it down. I also liked that some Corrupted weren't quite as bad as others and that we learned some Corrupted's background on why they went bad.
If you are interested in stories with great morals, an uplifting and very personable heroine, and a theme that is really interesting this is the book you need to get. This is definitely a way for us adults to enjoy the fairy tales we loved as kids but with a twist that will keep you hooked from the beginning to the end.
Definitely five hearts~
Many of the situations Alice faces (not the supernatural ones) are common themes that many children, teens, and even adults face everyday in society. And the authors did a great service by showing us how human Alice really is; she learned by trial and error the right way to face these problems.
I also enjoyed the fact that Alice's parents were more in the picture in this Volume and had some meaningful conversations from them as well. Although, I did get a little upset that they weren't more on Alice's side the first time about the altercation between her and Joey.
Besides having to save the world, orphans, and her friends, Alice faces the worst kind of peer pressure and the ways she handles it is a great moral incentive for the teens (or anyone for that matter) reading the stories. So yeah, I LOVED the morals we learn from this book in a fun way.
I think her friends, Seth and Briar, as long as some new characters introduced, help keep Alice grounded so the "hero" stuff don't go to her head. Chase seems like a pretty good guy and I like that he brings another perspective to the table for Alice to learn from.
The plot of the story is just plain good. It will keep you glued to the book,going from page to page until you are up in the early morning light, almost done with the novel. It flows so well I never wanted to put it down. I also liked that some Corrupted weren't quite as bad as others and that we learned some Corrupted's background on why they went bad.
If you are interested in stories with great morals, an uplifting and very personable heroine, and a theme that is really interesting this is the book you need to get. This is definitely a way for us adults to enjoy the fairy tales we loved as kids but with a twist that will keep you hooked from the beginning to the end.
Definitely five hearts~
September 29, 2013
I was excited to start reading the second volume of the Grimm Chronicles because the first volume was great! In this set, I was introduced to other fairy tales that I was not aware of, as well as new characters that made the stories more interesting. The three stories that make this second volume were enjoyable reads.
I really liked reading more about Alice's character. She remained strong, independent, and brave yet she was still able to maintain her personality of being a teenager. I even came to admire her character and I found her to be a great role model for teen girls. Not only could Alice kick butt, but she had a compassionate heart and had brains!
Also, the Corrupted in this volume became more "evil." The villains became more sadistic, and the details of their actions sometimes gave me shivers. When Alice was getting ready to meet the Corrupted and do her hero duties, I found myself gripping my Nook and I felt my heart beat fast. I found this to be great!
My one complaint about this set was the lost journal of Eugene. Eugene was an important character but I found myself not caring for him. I think this had to do with the fact that, even though he was Black during the slave years, his journal read like that of a modern teenage boy. It did not feel real to me. Sorry to say, I even found myself skimming through his journals. This was the only thing I did not like.
However, what I love most about this volume is the theme of bullying. The authors brought up the point of how bullying is really bad in today's schools, not just on campuses but also online. Alice encountered a few bullies in her school and she was brave enough to stand up against them. I was angered on what little was done to protect students from bullying at first. The chapter on how bullying was finally being dealt with had me cheering. I was glad that this important issue was brought up.
In all, this was a great sequel and it is obvious that there are more books coming soon. I am looking forward to getting my hands on these.
I really liked reading more about Alice's character. She remained strong, independent, and brave yet she was still able to maintain her personality of being a teenager. I even came to admire her character and I found her to be a great role model for teen girls. Not only could Alice kick butt, but she had a compassionate heart and had brains!
Also, the Corrupted in this volume became more "evil." The villains became more sadistic, and the details of their actions sometimes gave me shivers. When Alice was getting ready to meet the Corrupted and do her hero duties, I found myself gripping my Nook and I felt my heart beat fast. I found this to be great!
My one complaint about this set was the lost journal of Eugene. Eugene was an important character but I found myself not caring for him. I think this had to do with the fact that, even though he was Black during the slave years, his journal read like that of a modern teenage boy. It did not feel real to me. Sorry to say, I even found myself skimming through his journals. This was the only thing I did not like.
However, what I love most about this volume is the theme of bullying. The authors brought up the point of how bullying is really bad in today's schools, not just on campuses but also online. Alice encountered a few bullies in her school and she was brave enough to stand up against them. I was angered on what little was done to protect students from bullying at first. The chapter on how bullying was finally being dealt with had me cheering. I was glad that this important issue was brought up.
In all, this was a great sequel and it is obvious that there are more books coming soon. I am looking forward to getting my hands on these.
April 3, 2013
I love this book! Seriously insanely love it. It is even better than Volume 1, if that is possible. It is so cute, so fun, so exciting, so funny, so everything good about a book :) Alice and Briar Rabbit are back for more Corrupted fighting. There is more action and more backstory as well.
Let me just say, that the characters in this book are so endearing, that I just want to have them over for pizza. They are so real. My daughter is Alice's age, and I so feel like they would be friends. Alice is such a great hero(ine). :) She wields that magic pen like she's been the hero for years rather than months. She takes down Corrupted like it's second nature to her. If you haven't read Volume 1, the Corrupted are Grimm's Fairy Tale creatures who are living in our world. The longer they live, the more corrupted they become. And it's Alice's job as the hero to destroy them. And Briar is B'rer Rabbit. Trust me, it will make sense when you read it :)
I love the secondary characters in this book. They feel more like main characters now. I love Seth. He is the ultimate best guy friend a girl could ask for. He is hilarious. And the inclusion of Chase is amazing. Their little group of 4 could not be better. Rachel and Clyde are excellent secondary characters as well. I am hoping they become more involved in the next volume. And I seriously hope Trish comes to her senses!
My favorite scene has got to be where Seth and Briar are trying to sing "Dancing Queen" by Abba. “Seen that girl,” he (Seth) sang out of tune, “watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen." Briar waited for the next chorus. “I do believe they’re saying Sea that curls, within seas, tickle the dancing queen.” I was totally cracking up! So not only do you get kick-butt action, you also get serious comic relief in this book.
Trust me when I say, you need to buy both volumes of The Grimm Chronicles. You don't know what you are missing!
Let me just say, that the characters in this book are so endearing, that I just want to have them over for pizza. They are so real. My daughter is Alice's age, and I so feel like they would be friends. Alice is such a great hero(ine). :) She wields that magic pen like she's been the hero for years rather than months. She takes down Corrupted like it's second nature to her. If you haven't read Volume 1, the Corrupted are Grimm's Fairy Tale creatures who are living in our world. The longer they live, the more corrupted they become. And it's Alice's job as the hero to destroy them. And Briar is B'rer Rabbit. Trust me, it will make sense when you read it :)
I love the secondary characters in this book. They feel more like main characters now. I love Seth. He is the ultimate best guy friend a girl could ask for. He is hilarious. And the inclusion of Chase is amazing. Their little group of 4 could not be better. Rachel and Clyde are excellent secondary characters as well. I am hoping they become more involved in the next volume. And I seriously hope Trish comes to her senses!
My favorite scene has got to be where Seth and Briar are trying to sing "Dancing Queen" by Abba. “Seen that girl,” he (Seth) sang out of tune, “watch her scream, kicking the dancing queen." Briar waited for the next chorus. “I do believe they’re saying Sea that curls, within seas, tickle the dancing queen.” I was totally cracking up! So not only do you get kick-butt action, you also get serious comic relief in this book.
Trust me when I say, you need to buy both volumes of The Grimm Chronicles. You don't know what you are missing!
April 15, 2015
I've been waiting to read this book since I finished the first collection of three volumes. It completely made my day when I noticed it was free on Amazon. That being said, I thought the second volume didn't *quite* hold up to the first one.
Don't get me wrong - Alice is still an awesomely kick-ass character. But she spends a lot of this book moping (from the last quarter of the first book to the first half of the second book). I mean, I understand why she was upset, and at least it wasn't over some guy. But that's time that could have been spent going after Corrupted. Maybe that's it. There's a distinct lack of Corrupted in this book as compared to the first one.
Briar and Seth were fun, and even better when they were put together. They're pretty effective, as far as sidekicks go - they don't just quip, they're actually useful! And the introduction of sidekick #3 was a well-done modern adaptation of a fairy tale itself.
Some of the best writing in this volume is definitely when the Order of the Dragon is finally introduced, at the end of the second book. It was also nice to finally get the story behind Briar's creation, from the diaries of his creator.
Out of all three, Orphanage of Doom was definitely my favorite. I mean...just from the title, how could you say no?
So, yeah. I guess my biggest complaint about this book was the Corrupted shortage. The first three books had villains leaping at Alice left and right - each of the stories in volume two basically focused around one group of Corrupted, and that was it. The stories were all leading up to the (semi)final confrontation in the last book, but it left the volume feeling less action-packed than the first one.
As always though, I loved the collection of original fairy tales in the back. The inclusion of the Moby Dick chapter makes me wonder, though...didn't Eugene use the pen to make an incomplete copy of Moby Dick? I wonder if that had anything to do with how the magic fish story turned out. Hmmm...
Don't get me wrong - Alice is still an awesomely kick-ass character. But she spends a lot of this book moping (from the last quarter of the first book to the first half of the second book). I mean, I understand why she was upset, and at least it wasn't over some guy. But that's time that could have been spent going after Corrupted. Maybe that's it. There's a distinct lack of Corrupted in this book as compared to the first one.
Briar and Seth were fun, and even better when they were put together. They're pretty effective, as far as sidekicks go - they don't just quip, they're actually useful! And the introduction of sidekick #3 was a well-done modern adaptation of a fairy tale itself.
Some of the best writing in this volume is definitely when the Order of the Dragon is finally introduced, at the end of the second book. It was also nice to finally get the story behind Briar's creation, from the diaries of his creator.
Out of all three, Orphanage of Doom was definitely my favorite. I mean...just from the title, how could you say no?
So, yeah. I guess my biggest complaint about this book was the Corrupted shortage. The first three books had villains leaping at Alice left and right - each of the stories in volume two basically focused around one group of Corrupted, and that was it. The stories were all leading up to the (semi)final confrontation in the last book, but it left the volume feeling less action-packed than the first one.
As always though, I loved the collection of original fairy tales in the back. The inclusion of the Moby Dick chapter makes me wonder, though...didn't Eugene use the pen to make an incomplete copy of Moby Dick? I wonder if that had anything to do with how the magic fish story turned out. Hmmm...
November 14, 2013
A talking sausage, a fish that grants wishes and an evil step-mother…these are all characters that Alice Goodenough must find the courage to face.
The Grimm Chronicles Volume 2 continues to follow our hero Alice through her adventures fighting against the corrupted fairy tale characters that the Brothers Grimm have brought to life.Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky have taken the fairy tales we all know and love and have given them a “corrupted” twist. No longer do we always have happy endings, in fact you never know exactly what to expect.
Although I did find this Volume more difficult to follow than the first, it was still a great story to read. In case you don’t know the tales being referenced, they have included them in the back of the book for you to read. The authors have chosen more obscure tales for this story, many of which I have never read. They have also injected the tale of Moby Dick, which wasn’t a required read in my English Lit. class (thank heavens).
I love how Alice is just like the rest of us in her every day life. She has no super powers but she has courage. In the story, there is a bully who terrorizes the school. He never receives consequences for his actions because he is a star football player. The authors have taken the time to show how just one person can make a huge difference when it comes to changing the world. By having the courage to stand up for what you know is wrong, others will follow.
I would highly recommend reading the Volume 1 of the Grimm Chronicles first. Volume 2 is compilation of three novella’s:
Episode Four: The Orphanage of Doom
Episode Five: Blood and Thunder
Episode Six: The Order of the Golden Dragon
If you are looking for a great read, that has a "twist" to the fairy tale characters that you know (or may not know) this is a great book for you.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Grimm Chronicles Volume 2 continues to follow our hero Alice through her adventures fighting against the corrupted fairy tale characters that the Brothers Grimm have brought to life.Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky have taken the fairy tales we all know and love and have given them a “corrupted” twist. No longer do we always have happy endings, in fact you never know exactly what to expect.
Although I did find this Volume more difficult to follow than the first, it was still a great story to read. In case you don’t know the tales being referenced, they have included them in the back of the book for you to read. The authors have chosen more obscure tales for this story, many of which I have never read. They have also injected the tale of Moby Dick, which wasn’t a required read in my English Lit. class (thank heavens).
I love how Alice is just like the rest of us in her every day life. She has no super powers but she has courage. In the story, there is a bully who terrorizes the school. He never receives consequences for his actions because he is a star football player. The authors have taken the time to show how just one person can make a huge difference when it comes to changing the world. By having the courage to stand up for what you know is wrong, others will follow.
I would highly recommend reading the Volume 1 of the Grimm Chronicles first. Volume 2 is compilation of three novella’s:
Episode Four: The Orphanage of Doom
Episode Five: Blood and Thunder
Episode Six: The Order of the Golden Dragon
If you are looking for a great read, that has a "twist" to the fairy tale characters that you know (or may not know) this is a great book for you.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 25, 2013
Background: Volume 2 of the Grimm Chronicles follows our hero Alice Goodenough through her modern day crime fighting against the corrupted fairy tale characters of the Grimm's Brothers. Alice must battle evil doers, a high school bully, a group of Mean girls and finish her last year in high school without dying or failing.
Review: Volume 2 was wonderful. I really enjoyed the characters that were showcased in these episodes more so than the ones in the first volume. In these episodes the Corrupted are all linked together in various ways and Alice and Briar Rabbit must figure out the underlying scheme. It was a mystery, a fairy tale, and an action flick all rolled into one (volume). I really enjoyed Alice's character growth and she becomes a stronger individual. She finds friends that support her for who she is. This volume also really linked her back to her age, high school bullies and just trying to get through it all. I think that made it more realistic when it needed to be, showing her fighting battles of fairy tales and real life. It was inspirational and important to her growth.
As for those characters/Corrupted I liked, they were more of the creepy, send shivers down your spine types, unlike Vol 1. These were spooky mysterious people, evil stepmothers who burn children for fun, and a thief. There were also some very much enjoyed laugh-out-loud points, that had me giggling and my husband asking what was up.
I very much enjoyed the series. I am actually excited to see that there also will be more, the ending of Volume 2 leaves a bit of a cliffhanger and I am interested to see how it goes.
Review: Volume 2 was wonderful. I really enjoyed the characters that were showcased in these episodes more so than the ones in the first volume. In these episodes the Corrupted are all linked together in various ways and Alice and Briar Rabbit must figure out the underlying scheme. It was a mystery, a fairy tale, and an action flick all rolled into one (volume). I really enjoyed Alice's character growth and she becomes a stronger individual. She finds friends that support her for who she is. This volume also really linked her back to her age, high school bullies and just trying to get through it all. I think that made it more realistic when it needed to be, showing her fighting battles of fairy tales and real life. It was inspirational and important to her growth.
As for those characters/Corrupted I liked, they were more of the creepy, send shivers down your spine types, unlike Vol 1. These were spooky mysterious people, evil stepmothers who burn children for fun, and a thief. There were also some very much enjoyed laugh-out-loud points, that had me giggling and my husband asking what was up.
I very much enjoyed the series. I am actually excited to see that there also will be more, the ending of Volume 2 leaves a bit of a cliffhanger and I am interested to see how it goes.
April 3, 2013
I liked this second installment of The Grimm Chronicles better than the first. The main character, Alice, has been defined better. She finally gets what she is doing and is a little more comfortable in her role as a hero. She is not happy with it, just knows more of what the job entails.
In this installment she has picked up a few sidekicks that know of her secret life and are able to offer advice and help when she needs it. I like the camaraderie better, I like how the boys tease and play off of Briar, the bunny, err rabbit. Briar is the character that holds everything together. When things get crazy, he is there to help save the day and add a little comic relief.
I like the excerpts from diaries of past heroes. I feel that it adds quite a bit of character to the book and shows how heroes have worked in the past 200 years. I did have a minor issue with Eugene, the ex-slave from the 1800's saying anywho, but that is a minor annoyance.
In this series of novella's, Alice is faced with a magical creature who plagues her dreams. He is the head of an order that is set to bring a dragon into the modern world. The stories at the beginning store up clues that bring the reader to an understanding of what the plans of the fairy tale creatures are.
There is some swearing and violence in the book.
In this installment she has picked up a few sidekicks that know of her secret life and are able to offer advice and help when she needs it. I like the camaraderie better, I like how the boys tease and play off of Briar, the bunny, err rabbit. Briar is the character that holds everything together. When things get crazy, he is there to help save the day and add a little comic relief.
I like the excerpts from diaries of past heroes. I feel that it adds quite a bit of character to the book and shows how heroes have worked in the past 200 years. I did have a minor issue with Eugene, the ex-slave from the 1800's saying anywho, but that is a minor annoyance.
In this series of novella's, Alice is faced with a magical creature who plagues her dreams. He is the head of an order that is set to bring a dragon into the modern world. The stories at the beginning store up clues that bring the reader to an understanding of what the plans of the fairy tale creatures are.
There is some swearing and violence in the book.
May 18, 2013
Let me start by saying that I am in love with these books, the cover of this one I'm not a fan of. It just didn't connect me to the story. :/ But thinking about the story- that I loved!
As usual, we get the best kind of heroine- a brave one that isn't weak and doesn't back down from things, even if she's scared. What a great freaking role model! We need more female characters like Alice.
Ken and Isabella have done an amazing job at creating this amazing story. The work that they've invested into combining a unique story with old classic stories and fairytales is amazing. The detail and development is just as good as the first book.
I absolutely LOVE their character arcs. They really know how to develop the story as they go. It isn't just a standard retelling of old stories, no, these guys have thrown amazing character with great personalities and complex ideas. The entire concept surrounding Alice and the Corrupted is great and it doesn't get old!
I cannot wait to see what will happen in future stories. I know that there is a set amount for this series, but I hope that Ken and Isabella will keep writing together and come up with something just as amazing when it ends! KEEP THEM COMING! I LOVE THEM and recommend them to EVERYONE! That's right, that means you, so go get a copy now!
August 13, 2016
I really enjoyed the first Volume in this series and looked forward to see what Alice get's into next. I was not disappointed. Alice has to search for the Corrupted and kill them. Before she really just had the help of Briar but in this volume she has the help of more friends. Seth her friend plays a bigger part in helping her battle the Corrupt and helps her with day to day life. A new character Chase has a big part to play as well. At times I will say I wasn't sure about him. However he learns a big lesson in this book. Alice searches for clues in her dreams as to where the next Corrupt will be. It does effect her in other ways with her sleep all messed up. She also has regular issues to deal with being a teen. She has to face the school bully and some teachers as well. She grows even more in this book as she has to search deep down as to whether she wants to be the one to keep hunting the Corrupt. She see that not all Corrupt are ready to be killed as there may be some good left in them yet. This book has several funny scenes as well as action and learning lessons. I think it does a great job in teaching little lessons while being entertaining. If you have ever wondered what happens to Grims Tales be sure to check this out. Each story is very good and you just keep wanting more.
February 22, 2014
The Grimm Chronicles second volume picks up with Alice and her side kick Briar Rabbit continuing to hunt the Corrupted. As Alice faces the normal everyday teen challenges, such as bullies, school and even teachers, in her senior year, readers will see her grow and change. Volume two continues to have stories broken up into their own segments. Each encounter that Alice and Briar Rabbit face is more exciting and engaging than in volume one.
Alice and Briar Rabbit align with new friends, Seth and Chase who help them fight the Corrupted. The long standing survival of the Corrupted make them tough to find and defeat. Alice and her band of friends soon learn that not all of the Corrupted are completely bad, at least not yet. Alice faces many dangers in this volume, one in particular is the creature who finds her in dreams. This creature's plans are to bring a dragon into the modern world.
As Alice's character grows in her everyday life, which then allows her strengths to be mirrored in her super hero-life, readers will continue to engage in her battle with the Corrupted and other Grimm and not so Grimm characters. Fontaine and Brosky have done an excellent job with this series. The characters we know are now viewed with different eyes and keep readers engaged. Vivid imagery is woven throughout the story and the mystery and fights scenes are riveting.
Alice and Briar Rabbit align with new friends, Seth and Chase who help them fight the Corrupted. The long standing survival of the Corrupted make them tough to find and defeat. Alice and her band of friends soon learn that not all of the Corrupted are completely bad, at least not yet. Alice faces many dangers in this volume, one in particular is the creature who finds her in dreams. This creature's plans are to bring a dragon into the modern world.
As Alice's character grows in her everyday life, which then allows her strengths to be mirrored in her super hero-life, readers will continue to engage in her battle with the Corrupted and other Grimm and not so Grimm characters. Fontaine and Brosky have done an excellent job with this series. The characters we know are now viewed with different eyes and keep readers engaged. Vivid imagery is woven throughout the story and the mystery and fights scenes are riveting.
February 25, 2016
Alice Goodenough is an 18-year-old high school senior, who happens to also be the latest in a 200-year line of heroes whose mission it is to destroy the ‘corrupted’ creatures of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales. She does this with the help of a magic pen passed from hero to hero and a sometimes invisible rabbit named Brian. Alice, beset by strange dreams, finds herself squaring off against a deadly dragon, a maniacal ship’s captain, and an odd collection of characters out to awaken a creature that could seriously upset everyone’s day. As if that’s not enough, in the ‘normal’ world she has to cope with a school that is infected with an epidemic of bullying.
The Grimm Chronicles: Volume 2 by Isabella Fontaine and Ken Broskey is a fascinating modern take on the classic Grimm Brothers tales, complete with excerpts from the journal of Eugene Washington, the creator of Brian during the Civil War period. Anyone who has been entertained and amused by the old classic fairy tales will be astounded by the authors’ take on them. Chock full of humor and non-stop action, overlaid with a large dollop of present-day teen angst. A fun read for anyone of any age.
The Grimm Chronicles: Volume 2 by Isabella Fontaine and Ken Broskey is a fascinating modern take on the classic Grimm Brothers tales, complete with excerpts from the journal of Eugene Washington, the creator of Brian during the Civil War period. Anyone who has been entertained and amused by the old classic fairy tales will be astounded by the authors’ take on them. Chock full of humor and non-stop action, overlaid with a large dollop of present-day teen angst. A fun read for anyone of any age.
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