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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a cute little story with lots of silly little moments. While a lot of it was silly there were still several heartfelt moments and relatable feelings within Vivian. As a mom, I felt her turmoil when she couldn’t make everything right for her daughter. The strain it had on her marriage was realistic and it was beautiful watching her grow. The ending wasn’t overly predictable. I really enjoyed all of the side characters. It was a clever story and so witty and whimsical.
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heartwarming, charming and a very great story!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was a really cute book. It delightfully captured the relatable chaos of a mom navigating the challenges of a new school year alongside her young daughter. What made it extra special was the unique twist of the school being paranormal! While the setting was fantastical, the core struggles of fitting in, dealing with schoolyard dynamics, and the general whirlwind of daily life resonated deeply. As crazy as the paranormal elements seem, the heart of the story lies in the very real drama that faces any parent – making new friends, supporting your child's development, and conquering the small (and sometimes not-so-small) anxieties that come with a new environment. The author cleverly highlights that while the specifics might be monster-related in this case, the underlying emotions and anxieties are universally familiar to anyone who's ever navigated the school system.
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Vivian and her husband Daniel have just uprooted their lives, moving to a new town and enrolling their kindergartener, Aria, in what turns out to be... not your average school. Aria’s the new kid and a newly minted werewolf, which means she’s now spending her after-school hours transforming into a small, furry rage monster. Fortunately, Grimoire Grammar isn’t your average school either—it caters to the magically gifted: selkies, vampires, antlered children, sirens. You get the idea.
Vivian, meanwhile, is 100% human and 100% trying to keep her kid safe while navigating a world of supernatural PTA meetings, magical bake sales, and growing whispers of a looming apocalyptic event known as the Reckoning. No pressure—except some very creepy clues are starting to point at Aria as the potential cause of said Reckoning.
Vivian is exactly the kind of character I love: out of her depth, in over her head, and doing her absolute best anyway. She reminded me a lot of Gav from Dreadful—totally relatable, a little lost, but deeply likable because of it. Her relationship with Daniel is especially well done—it’s messy, tender, and so recognizable if you’ve ever been in a long-term partnership while also just... trying to keep everything from falling apart. And Aria? A little werewolf icon. She’s sharp, vulnerable, funny, and absolutely breaks your heart.
The setting is pure gold. Grimoire Grammar is full of classic magical school charm, but it also nails the specific chaos of real-life elementary schools with way too many over-involved parents. The social pecking orders, the silent competition of bake sales—it’s all here, just with more curses. And the side characters are genuinely great. (Special shoutout to Steve, Sasha, Madhuri, and Cecily—who is the kind of deliciously awful PTA villain you love to hate.)
And while this book is funny—often very funny—it doesn’t skip out on the stakes. The Reckoning isn’t just background noise; there are real, tense moments that hit especially hard if you’re reading as a parent. The flashback to Aria’s werewolf bite is brief but packs a punch—it’s not graphic, but it got me right in the gut.
In the end, Grimoire Grammar is smart, heartfelt, and unlike anything else I’ve read in a while. If you once devoured magical school stories and now find yourself awkwardly lurking at pickup with a coffee in hand and a thousand-yard stare, this one’s for you. Rozakis writes with a wink and a lot of heart—think Pratchett vibes with parental anxiety. It’s a quick read, but one that lingers—especially in its take on motherhood, otherness, and the weird, wild world of community. Just like with Dreadful, I’ll be first in line for whatever Rozakis writes next.
Vivian, meanwhile, is 100% human and 100% trying to keep her kid safe while navigating a world of supernatural PTA meetings, magical bake sales, and growing whispers of a looming apocalyptic event known as the Reckoning. No pressure—except some very creepy clues are starting to point at Aria as the potential cause of said Reckoning.
Vivian is exactly the kind of character I love: out of her depth, in over her head, and doing her absolute best anyway. She reminded me a lot of Gav from Dreadful—totally relatable, a little lost, but deeply likable because of it. Her relationship with Daniel is especially well done—it’s messy, tender, and so recognizable if you’ve ever been in a long-term partnership while also just... trying to keep everything from falling apart. And Aria? A little werewolf icon. She’s sharp, vulnerable, funny, and absolutely breaks your heart.
The setting is pure gold. Grimoire Grammar is full of classic magical school charm, but it also nails the specific chaos of real-life elementary schools with way too many over-involved parents. The social pecking orders, the silent competition of bake sales—it’s all here, just with more curses. And the side characters are genuinely great. (Special shoutout to Steve, Sasha, Madhuri, and Cecily—who is the kind of deliciously awful PTA villain you love to hate.)
And while this book is funny—often very funny—it doesn’t skip out on the stakes. The Reckoning isn’t just background noise; there are real, tense moments that hit especially hard if you’re reading as a parent. The flashback to Aria’s werewolf bite is brief but packs a punch—it’s not graphic, but it got me right in the gut.
In the end, Grimoire Grammar is smart, heartfelt, and unlike anything else I’ve read in a while. If you once devoured magical school stories and now find yourself awkwardly lurking at pickup with a coffee in hand and a thousand-yard stare, this one’s for you. Rozakis writes with a wink and a lot of heart—think Pratchett vibes with parental anxiety. It’s a quick read, but one that lingers—especially in its take on motherhood, otherness, and the weird, wild world of community. Just like with Dreadful, I’ll be first in line for whatever Rozakis writes next.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced