Grim Lovelies

September 17, 2018
The first book in this fairy tale–inspired series by Shepherd (The Gauntlet) overflows with intricately imagined characters in a contemporary world flavored with hints of Alice in Wonderland–style action. Anouk is a beastie—an animal turned human servant via magic in a world ruled by witches. She and the house’s other beasties serve their creator and cruel mistress, Mada Vittora, in modern Paris, despite their inability to go out of doors and their abuse at the witch’s hands. When Luc, the unofficial leader of the house’s five beasties, goes missing and Mada Vittora is found dead, Anouk and the others must flee the ruling class known as Shadow Royals to escape being blamed and to discover the spell that will keep them human in three days—before the witch’s soul, and her enchantments, disappear. This deliciously dark tale examines societal norms while imagining the darker side of fairy tales. Ages 14–up. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary.

In this audiobook narrated by Gabrielle Baker, Anouk has spent her one year of conscious life dreaming of exploring the streets of Paris outside her window. Anouk and her companions are Beasties, animals transformed into the bodies of humans by a witch's magic. Bound to their mistress, Anouk and her fellow Beastie servants are doomed to turn back into thoughtless animals 48 hours after her mysterious death. Baker is a skilled narrator, differentiating character voices cleanly and clearly and smoothly weaving French words and names into the English narration. The listener will be eagerly pulled along as this fast-paced adventure unfolds with Anouk and the other Beasties racing against the clock and a magical world that denies their power. H.C. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine