Grimmworld: The Witch in the Woods – Michaelbrent Collings

Steph Warren - Bookshine

March 5

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Blurb: Strange and terrifying things are happening in New Marburg: people are disappearing and changing into characters from the Grimm fairy tales.

When twins Willow and Jake Grimm move to the isolated town where their parents work for a top-secret Think Tank, they are amazed to discover a place where people jetpack to work, robots direct traffic, and senior citizens battle with lightning-swords.

But after a freak lightning storm, which transforms the twins' school into a medieval castle--complete with a moat, drawbridge, and a giant who looks strangely like the school's overly aggressive hall monitor--the twins discover the truth: just like their ancestors, the original Brothers Grimm, Willow and Jake are Grimmwalkers. And just like their ancestors, they have been transported to the place where all fairy tales are born. The most dangerous place in existence: Grimmworld.

But before the twins can figure out how to get home, they learn their best friends have been transformed into the fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel and have been imprisoned by a candy-obsessed wicked witch.

Now, aided only by their wits, their courage, and their love for each other, the twins must venture deep into the Cursed Forest to save themselves and their friends. And maybe--just maybe--save the universe from falling into the clutches of the witch in the woods.

What a great middle-grade fantasy adventure story!

I've read and enjoyed previous, adult works by Michaelbrent Collings but this has jumped straight into my favourites spot. The main character, twins Jake and Willow, are really engaging with their love of science and fantasy respectively and it was easy to immediately empathise with their struggles of a new town, new school, distracted parents and a horrible Trunchbull-esque bully of a new teacher. And that's before things start getting weird and fantastical.

The blend between familiar fairytale tropes, characters and tales and the new Grimmworld slant created here is just perfect and had me completely hooked on wanting to read more about both New Marburg (laser battles, odd pets and hover-cars) and the fictional reality bleeding into it.

My personal favourite parts of the story were the witch's challenges to the twins and how they tackled them in their own unique and resourceful ways, conquering their personal inner struggles alongside the ones presented by their enemy.

Nothing is 'dumbed down' here and there is no silliness or potty humour like some authors use when appealing to children - just an exciting story, interesting worldbuilding and characters you can really identify with and root for. And excitingly, this is only the introduction to a new, hopefully long-running, series.

I plan on picking up a paper copy to share with Minishine (11) and Babybows (8) and highly recommend you do the same, whether for your own children or for yourself!

Both Jake and Willow were upset about Dad, too, but to be clear, neither wanted to be grounded until death or adulthood (which, in their minds, were pretty much the same thing). Willow grumbled and Jake moped. Both tried to think of ways they could get out of the grounding, but neither one came up with anything good. How could you explain a situation to someone who literally couldn't hear what you were saying?

But they needn't have worried. They wouldn't be grounded long. You can't be grounded, if you don't even exist.

- Michaelbrent Collings, Grimmworld: The Witch in the Woods

Purchase Link: Grimmworld: The Witch in the Woods on Amazon

About the author

Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally bestselling novelist, produced screenwriter, and speaker.

Michaelbrent has also received critical acclaim: he is the only person who has ever been a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award (twice), a Dragon Award (twice), and a RONE Award, and he and his work have been reviewed or featured on everything from Publishers Weekly to Scream Magazine to NPR.

An engaging and entertaining speaker, he is also a frequent guest at comic cons and on writing podcasts like Six figure Authors, The Creative Penn, Writing Excuses, and others, and is a mental health advocate, TEDx speaker, and the creator of the writing instruction platform Bestseller Life.