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otherwyrld's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't really know what to make of this story - I enjoyed it but it didn't really stick, and I'm already forgetting it just a few days later. It's not that there was anything really wrong with it either, the story is good, the characterizations are good, and it fits in well with the Grimm universe, but there was just something lacking. Maybe it's because the series has just ended and I'm still looking for a fix, and this didn't quite hit the mark?
Dead bodies start turning up in Portland - nothing new of course, but these bodies have had all their flesh removed by a skilled butcher and then the bones have been cooked. Nick Burkhardt, the local Grimm, immediately suspects Wesen involvement, and he's not wrong of course. Meanwhile Monroe runs into an old friend, a Blutbad like himself but one who hasn't turned away from eating flesh like Monroe has. Needless to say, if you have two disparate plot elements, its pretty likely that the two are connected in some way.
The story is set during season two, the one where the actor who played Hank Griffin injured himself and spent several episodes hobbling around on crutches. This is played to comedic effect in the story, but it also moves the plot along at times as Hank is rendered, if not exactly helpless, is at least less effective than usual. Being the second season, this means that Juliette is in the know about Wesen but Wu is not, and the unfortunate amnesia story-line for Juliette is still in the recent past. The ongoing story in the series (the zombie one if people have forgotten) is mentioned but only in passing.
All of the main characters come across as well written here, and it's nice to be reminded that Juliette actually has a career as a vet, which tends to get forgotten in the series. The only issue I had is that there is a tendency by the author to over explain everything and in far too much detail, which tends to hold the story back at times.
The story itself is about a secret society of Wesen (is there any other kind?) who meet every 25 years to gorge themselves on human flesh lovingly prepared by a master chief, and which contains as wide a variety of meats as possible. Two issues here - are Wesen human, and if they are not can they really be cannibals? Also, age and gender might have an impact, but would the different ethnicities of the victims really affect the taste, especially as it is eaten raw? There is a lovely contract between the elegant surroundings in the mansion house as the guests prepare to dine, and the squalid conditions that the victims are spending their last days in. Of course, police forces all over the world take a dim view of kidnapping, killing and eating people, so naturally Portland Police are all over this case. It doesn't particularly have to be a Wesen crime to make this true, especially as they then kidnap Hank as the final course, one where he is eaten alive by the guests. Also, not very bright of the Wesen society to pick a city where a Grimm is known to live.
Monroe's interaction with his old running mate Decker eventually ties in to the story, as Decker is involved with the society of course. Monroe certainly gets into a lot of trouble given he is a civilian, and if I were him I might be rethinking my friendship with the Grimm at this point.
The story ties up nicely naturally enough, and it's a good addition to the Grimm universe, even if I wasn't wholly impressed with it.
Dead bodies start turning up in Portland - nothing new of course, but these bodies have had all their flesh removed by a skilled butcher and then the bones have been cooked. Nick Burkhardt, the local Grimm, immediately suspects Wesen involvement, and he's not wrong of course. Meanwhile Monroe runs into an old friend, a Blutbad like himself but one who hasn't turned away from eating flesh like Monroe has. Needless to say, if you have two disparate plot elements, its pretty likely that the two are connected in some way.
The story is set during season two, the one where the actor who played Hank Griffin injured himself and spent several episodes hobbling around on crutches. This is played to comedic effect in the story, but it also moves the plot along at times as Hank is rendered, if not exactly helpless, is at least less effective than usual. Being the second season, this means that Juliette is in the know about Wesen but Wu is not, and the unfortunate amnesia story-line for Juliette is still in the recent past. The ongoing story in the series (the zombie one if people have forgotten) is mentioned but only in passing.
All of the main characters come across as well written here, and it's nice to be reminded that Juliette actually has a career as a vet, which tends to get forgotten in the series. The only issue I had is that there is a tendency by the author to over explain everything and in far too much detail, which tends to hold the story back at times.
The story itself is about a secret society of Wesen (is there any other kind?) who meet every 25 years to gorge themselves on human flesh lovingly prepared by a master chief, and which contains as wide a variety of meats as possible. Two issues here - are Wesen human, and if they are not can they really be cannibals? Also, age and gender might have an impact, but would the different ethnicities of the victims really affect the taste, especially as it is eaten raw? There is a lovely contract between the elegant surroundings in the mansion house as the guests prepare to dine, and the squalid conditions that the victims are spending their last days in. Of course, police forces all over the world take a dim view of kidnapping, killing and eating people, so naturally Portland Police are all over this case. It doesn't particularly have to be a Wesen crime to make this true, especially as they then kidnap Hank as the final course, one where he is eaten alive by the guests. Also, not very bright of the Wesen society to pick a city where a Grimm is known to live.
Monroe's interaction with his old running mate Decker eventually ties in to the story, as Decker is involved with the society of course. Monroe certainly gets into a lot of trouble given he is a civilian, and if I were him I might be rethinking my friendship with the Grimm at this point.
The story ties up nicely naturally enough, and it's a good addition to the Grimm universe, even if I wasn't wholly impressed with it.
delliomellidom's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
teshara's review against another edition
3.0
in he novels why is Monroe the only vegetarian? its driving me insane.
much better than the first novel, but Juliet's side story was pointless.
much better than the first novel, but Juliet's side story was pointless.
crazycatgeek's review against another edition
4.0
This one is the best Grimm novel yet, in my opinion. It feels most like the characters we all know and love and the story has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It keeps up the tension and it fits into the Grimm universe, being gruesome and challenging Nick, Hank, Monroe, and the others until they figure it out and fix it, with a scary twist and very close call near the end. I loved it!
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