What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unorthodox Chronicles #1
Dead Man's Hand
In the tradition of his renowned father, James J. Butcher’s debut novel is a brilliant urban fantasy about a young man who must throw out the magical rule book to solve the murder of his former mentor.
On the streets of Boston, the world is divided into the ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox. And in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs, the Auditors are the magical elite, government-sanctioned witches with spells at their command and all the power and prestige that comes with it. Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is…not one of those witches.
After flunking out of the Auditor training program and being dismissed as “not Department material,” Grimsby tried to resign himself to life as a mediocre witch. But he can’t help hoping he’ll somehow, someway, get another chance to prove his skill. That opportunity comes with a price when his former mentor, aka the most dangerous witch alive, is murdered down the street from where he works, and Grimsby is the Auditors’ number one suspect.
Proving his innocence will require more than a little legwork, and after forming a strange alliance with the retired legend known as the Huntsman and a mysterious being from Elsewhere, Grimsby is abruptly thrown into a life of adventure, whether he wants it or not. Now all he has to do is find the real killer, avoid the Auditors on his trail, and most importantly, stay alive .
On the streets of Boston, the world is divided into the ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox. And in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs, the Auditors are the magical elite, government-sanctioned witches with spells at their command and all the power and prestige that comes with it. Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is…not one of those witches.
After flunking out of the Auditor training program and being dismissed as “not Department material,” Grimsby tried to resign himself to life as a mediocre witch. But he can’t help hoping he’ll somehow, someway, get another chance to prove his skill. That opportunity comes with a price when his former mentor, aka the most dangerous witch alive, is murdered down the street from where he works, and Grimsby is the Auditors’ number one suspect.
Proving his innocence will require more than a little legwork, and after forming a strange alliance with the retired legend known as the Huntsman and a mysterious being from Elsewhere, Grimsby is abruptly thrown into a life of adventure, whether he wants it or not. Now all he has to do is find the real killer, avoid the Auditors on his trail, and most importantly, stay alive .
373 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2022
About the author
James J. Butcher
4 books423 followersJames J. Butcher spends most of his time in places that don’t exist; some of which he even made himself. What little time he has left is usually spent writing or exercising. He is the son of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher, who introduced him to books, movies and games. He lives in Denver, and is working on his next novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 718 reviews
September 26, 2023
Dead Man’s Hand
is the debut novel of James J. Butcher. The author gives readers imaginative world-building and diverse characters in this urban fantasy set in and around Boston, Massachusetts. The world is divided into those without any magical or paranormal capabilities and those that have them. Auditors are the magical elite who are government-sanctioned witches with power and prestige. Unfortunately, Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is not one of those witches.
Grimsby flunked out of the Auditor training programs and spends twelve-hour days doing janitorial work and performing at children’s parties at a restaurant for minimum wage. His evaluator from the Auditor program is murdered, and he becomes the main suspect. Can he prove his innocence?
Grimsby has tried to resign himself to being a mediocre witch, but he still wishes to prove himself worthy and capable of being an Auditor. He seems weak and inept, has no friends, and handles stress by telling bad jokes. The other main character in the novel is the legendary Huntsman, Leslie Mayflower. Before his retirement, he was partnered with the Auditor who was murdered and is pulled into the investigation by the Department’s assistant director. He has trust issues and has been spending time drinking excessively. I developed genuine feelings for both main characters and enjoyed watching them grow as the story progressed.
The dynamic between Grimsby and Mayflower was fun to experience has they got to know one another and worked to discover the murderer. Part of the plot was a little predictable, but there were layers and subplots that were entirely unpredictable. There are plenty of twists and turns combined with suspense, tension, and action as well as some uncomfortable situations.
However, the pacing was a little uneven in spots, but it was hard to put the book down because there was always something new happening that piqued my interest. The fantasy part of the world-building was terrific. However, this novel could have taken place in any city. I didn’t get a feeling for Boston as a setting. The diverse types of characters in the story were extremely creative. The story contains elements of fantasy and suspense with a murder mystery that kept me turning the pages.
Overall, this novel was engaging and entertaining with a vivid fantasy environment created to immerse readers in this new world. It highlights relationships, deaths, trust, and friendship, as well as human struggles and growth. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 11, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
------------------------------------------
My 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Grimsby flunked out of the Auditor training programs and spends twelve-hour days doing janitorial work and performing at children’s parties at a restaurant for minimum wage. His evaluator from the Auditor program is murdered, and he becomes the main suspect. Can he prove his innocence?
Grimsby has tried to resign himself to being a mediocre witch, but he still wishes to prove himself worthy and capable of being an Auditor. He seems weak and inept, has no friends, and handles stress by telling bad jokes. The other main character in the novel is the legendary Huntsman, Leslie Mayflower. Before his retirement, he was partnered with the Auditor who was murdered and is pulled into the investigation by the Department’s assistant director. He has trust issues and has been spending time drinking excessively. I developed genuine feelings for both main characters and enjoyed watching them grow as the story progressed.
The dynamic between Grimsby and Mayflower was fun to experience has they got to know one another and worked to discover the murderer. Part of the plot was a little predictable, but there were layers and subplots that were entirely unpredictable. There are plenty of twists and turns combined with suspense, tension, and action as well as some uncomfortable situations.
However, the pacing was a little uneven in spots, but it was hard to put the book down because there was always something new happening that piqued my interest. The fantasy part of the world-building was terrific. However, this novel could have taken place in any city. I didn’t get a feeling for Boston as a setting. The diverse types of characters in the story were extremely creative. The story contains elements of fantasy and suspense with a murder mystery that kept me turning the pages.
Overall, this novel was engaging and entertaining with a vivid fantasy environment created to immerse readers in this new world. It highlights relationships, deaths, trust, and friendship, as well as human struggles and growth. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 11, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
------------------------------------------
My 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
October 21, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy. This is my honest review.
Jim Butcher has made a big name for himself in the Urban Fantasy book world. He's huge! So when his son decided to throw his name into the ring as well, I knew I had to give him a shot - a fair one, of course, without judging him by his father's reputation.
I'm so happy that I did! What a fun story! The world-building was great - it was revealed as needed, and explained thoroughly without coming across as info dumps or lecturing. The cast is recognizable based off of some tropes, but also provided enough depth and characterization so that they're not JUST tropes. The plot was well-constructed, and things that seemed extraneous had huge payoffs by the end.
The author also manages to avoid some of the things that people complain about in his dad's work, namely the commentary on every female character's body.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one and will pick up book two if and when it releases. Recommended for urban fantasy fans.
Jim Butcher has made a big name for himself in the Urban Fantasy book world. He's huge! So when his son decided to throw his name into the ring as well, I knew I had to give him a shot - a fair one, of course, without judging him by his father's reputation.
I'm so happy that I did! What a fun story! The world-building was great - it was revealed as needed, and explained thoroughly without coming across as info dumps or lecturing. The cast is recognizable based off of some tropes, but also provided enough depth and characterization so that they're not JUST tropes. The plot was well-constructed, and things that seemed extraneous had huge payoffs by the end.
The author also manages to avoid some of the things that people complain about in his dad's work, namely the commentary on every female character's body.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one and will pick up book two if and when it releases. Recommended for urban fantasy fans.
April 5, 2023
2 stars. Yikes. That was...not good. The world-building is way too shallow. The humor is super juvenile. The protagonist is pathetic and wallows in self-pity. And the plot is on the clunky side.
Don't think I'm going to continue with this series, sadly.
Don't think I'm going to continue with this series, sadly.
October 30, 2022
Didn't know what to expect from this considering the circumstances, but Dead Man's Hand was an enjoyable read and a solid debut.
It's certainly not easy to live up to a legacy like that and I felt like this was a fairly good try. The comparisons with the authors father will happen anyways so in regards to that I would say that it's definitely better writing than early Dresden Files just without the connection I have built up with that series and characters over numerous entries which is natural.
My favorite aspect of the book were the characters. Grimsby is a 20 year old failed witch who has sort of given up trying after hitting a bump in the road. I felt like his age was well handled overall. He is very young, green and sometimes maybe a little useless. The feelings of not being enough and overall stagnation of his life mixed with an underlying desire to still prove himself paid off over the course of the novel. Now it is important to note that like many protagonists in the genre he copes with snarky humor which might be a hit or miss for people. I personally enjoyed it a lot, but I can see it being called a bit silly or childish and there's no way to say how it will work for everyone.
With the power of the plot Grimsby meets Mayflower. He is a weathered older professional who doesn't have that much faith in the world anymore. He's cynical, likes his liquor and is pretty badass in general. His distrust and weariness works well with the personality traits of Grimsby and seeing their relationship develop over the course of the story was pretty cool. Oh and there's this creature called Wudge who I adore.
The world itself is pretty standard Urban Fantasy with a few cool twists. Main one being the fact that magic is commonly accepted in society and not something that is hidden. There's magic police and government entities to control them, witches get hired for party tricks etc. I definitely want to see this being explored more in future entries. Same goes for the magic system itself. Had cool moments, but I don't truly grasp the way it works yet.
The thing I liked the least about this novel is probably the plot. It isn't bad but rather just 'does the job'. It works well enough to get the characters where they need to be and leads them from set piece to set piece, but on it's own the whodunnit just not something that impressed me. It's virtues come from being fast paced while letting me grow attached to all the other elements, but I can't say anything more special about it.
All in all I think this was a good debut. I'm attached to the cast and the world and there's a lot of room to grow which leaves me excited for future entries. The plot being a little standard I can work with for now - it just depends on where the author will take it next time. It has to be at least a little different considering the primary drive of the debut so fingers crossed. I'll also add that the narrator - James Patrick Cronin - was great in this so if you are an audio person probably check that version out as well.
It's certainly not easy to live up to a legacy like that and I felt like this was a fairly good try. The comparisons with the authors father will happen anyways so in regards to that I would say that it's definitely better writing than early Dresden Files just without the connection I have built up with that series and characters over numerous entries which is natural.
My favorite aspect of the book were the characters. Grimsby is a 20 year old failed witch who has sort of given up trying after hitting a bump in the road. I felt like his age was well handled overall. He is very young, green and sometimes maybe a little useless. The feelings of not being enough and overall stagnation of his life mixed with an underlying desire to still prove himself paid off over the course of the novel. Now it is important to note that like many protagonists in the genre he copes with snarky humor which might be a hit or miss for people. I personally enjoyed it a lot, but I can see it being called a bit silly or childish and there's no way to say how it will work for everyone.
With the power of the plot Grimsby meets Mayflower. He is a weathered older professional who doesn't have that much faith in the world anymore. He's cynical, likes his liquor and is pretty badass in general. His distrust and weariness works well with the personality traits of Grimsby and seeing their relationship develop over the course of the story was pretty cool. Oh and there's this creature called Wudge who I adore.
The world itself is pretty standard Urban Fantasy with a few cool twists. Main one being the fact that magic is commonly accepted in society and not something that is hidden. There's magic police and government entities to control them, witches get hired for party tricks etc. I definitely want to see this being explored more in future entries. Same goes for the magic system itself. Had cool moments, but I don't truly grasp the way it works yet.
The thing I liked the least about this novel is probably the plot. It isn't bad but rather just 'does the job'. It works well enough to get the characters where they need to be and leads them from set piece to set piece, but on it's own the whodunnit just not something that impressed me. It's virtues come from being fast paced while letting me grow attached to all the other elements, but I can't say anything more special about it.
All in all I think this was a good debut. I'm attached to the cast and the world and there's a lot of room to grow which leaves me excited for future entries. The plot being a little standard I can work with for now - it just depends on where the author will take it next time. It has to be at least a little different considering the primary drive of the debut so fingers crossed. I'll also add that the narrator - James Patrick Cronin - was great in this so if you are an audio person probably check that version out as well.
July 7, 2022
I am a fan of both urban fantasy and of Butcher’s Dresden Files, so I thought I would try this new book by Butcher’s son. I didn’t like the characters and the world building just didn’t work for me. It was supposed to be humorous, but didn’t have the touch of humorous fantasy authors like Terry Pratchett or Ben Aaronovitch. I see others liked it more than I did so I may be an outlier but I was quite disappointed. I received an advance copy from Netgalley and the publisher.
January 7, 2024
از اون کتابایی بود که میشد بهتر باشه اما با تمام کم و کاستیاش دوستش داشتم.
ایدهی جالبی داشت و به عنوان اولین کار نویسنده خوب بود.
سراغ جلد بعدی میرم؟ قطعا!
به زودی؟ احتمالا!
طبیعیه که از کل شخصیتا یه موجود عجیب غریب رو بیشتر از همه دوست داشته باشم؟ 😅
ایدهی جالبی داشت و به عنوان اولین کار نویسنده خوب بود.
سراغ جلد بعدی میرم؟ قطعا!
به زودی؟ احتمالا!
طبیعیه که از کل شخصیتا یه موجود عجیب غریب رو بیشتر از همه دوست داشته باشم؟ 😅
Read
September 29, 2022Basically a solid beginning to a series by the son of the famous writer. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the setup; I loved the odd-couple main protagonists.
While the voice isn't as polished as Butcher senior, this Butcher doesn't display the tick that finally stopped me from reading the Harry Dresden series, vis. absolutely everyone always "said softly." He said softly, she said softly, and *especially* I said softly.
Looking forward to seeing more, as JLB polishes his voice and gets his world and his long story going.
While the voice isn't as polished as Butcher senior, this Butcher doesn't display the tick that finally stopped me from reading the Harry Dresden series, vis. absolutely everyone always "said softly." He said softly, she said softly, and *especially* I said softly.
Looking forward to seeing more, as JLB polishes his voice and gets his world and his long story going.
July 2, 2022
An I-don't-wanna-be-the-Chosen-One quest-type story might appeal to readers who liked Kill the Farm Boy, especially as there is a moderate amount of silliness used to temper the darker action. This first in a series sets up an interesting new witching world with an odd-couple team. A few side characters are poised to show up again in future volumes.
Sorry to be vague, but as an objection to the plot, we do find out who killed the witch whose death opens the story, and what specific item they were fighting over, but not the killer's overall or long-term plan for the item. Presumably the two would have had a history of working against each other that culminated in that final battle, but that's glossed over, so makes the character's death feel more random, less planned, less purposeful.
Only 2.5 stars, because of the distasteful misogyny present throughout the book, directed at multiple characters. This author has a long way to go , but may be worth reading again in 5-10 years if he can outgrow this.
Sorry to be vague, but as an objection to the plot, we do find out who killed the witch whose death opens the story, and what specific item they were fighting over, but not the killer's overall or long-term plan for the item. Presumably the two would have had a history of working against each other that culminated in that final battle, but that's glossed over, so makes the character's death feel more random, less planned, less purposeful.
Only 2.5 stars, because of the distasteful misogyny present throughout the book, directed at multiple characters. This author has a long way to go , but may be worth reading again in 5-10 years if he can outgrow this.
October 25, 2022
Dead Man's Hand by James J. Butcher is a fantastic debut for the son of Jim Butcher. I have seen a few Dead Man's Hand book reviews that have compared The Dresden Files with this first entry into The Unorthodox Chronicles, and I have decided not to do that.
This book and its author should be rated and reviewed on its own merit. So, let's get to it!
Great Main Characters
Grimsby and Mayflower are a fantastic pair of main characters. A lot of the humour of this book comes from their interactions and I couldn't get enough of it!
Grimsby's character arc is fascinating, and he is the main point of view for the majority of Dead Man's Hand. He's witty, smart, and cares deeply about doing the right thing, even if he makes mistakes sometimes. And it's him learning from those mistakes, taking those lessons on board and adapting, changing and improving that make me love him.
“You can’t have pride and appropriately handle kids at the same time. It was some kind of universal, or perhaps cosmic, rule.”
Mayflower is an older, grittier character, which balances out the messy, sometimes silly nature of Grimsby. He is driven and loyal, but a little bitter. The small number of times we read from his point of view are fascinating and I kind of wish we had a little more of it.
The Plot
For a story that is essentially an urban fantasy crime novel, there didn't seem to be much crime. There is the inciting incident which drives our characters together and puts them on a path they can't get off, but not much else.
As negative as that seems to sound, I think it works really well.
Because the story wasn't always focused on the next exciting clue or whatever, we instead got to see the characters and the world. As the first book in the series, it made for a great introduction to how things work in the urban fantasy setting.
I'm sure that in later entries, when we don't need such a learning curve with the world and characters, the plot will be more heavily littered with action etc, and I'm looking forward to it!
Easy Writing Style
For a debut novel, the writing quality was pretty good. Sure, it could be improved, but if you stop comparing the book to works written by authors with over 20 years of experience, you will realise that it's actually pretty good!
I found the writing to be engaging and very easy to read. I flew through this book, and by the end of every chapter I was dying to read the next - that is all you want from a book like this!
Final Thoughts
Dead Man's Hand is the start of the next big thing in urban fantasy. There. I said it.
If you want to laugh your ass off while simultaneously being really creeped out by creatures of nightmares, read this book.
This book and its author should be rated and reviewed on its own merit. So, let's get to it!
Great Main Characters
Grimsby and Mayflower are a fantastic pair of main characters. A lot of the humour of this book comes from their interactions and I couldn't get enough of it!
Grimsby's character arc is fascinating, and he is the main point of view for the majority of Dead Man's Hand. He's witty, smart, and cares deeply about doing the right thing, even if he makes mistakes sometimes. And it's him learning from those mistakes, taking those lessons on board and adapting, changing and improving that make me love him.
“You can’t have pride and appropriately handle kids at the same time. It was some kind of universal, or perhaps cosmic, rule.”
Mayflower is an older, grittier character, which balances out the messy, sometimes silly nature of Grimsby. He is driven and loyal, but a little bitter. The small number of times we read from his point of view are fascinating and I kind of wish we had a little more of it.
The Plot
For a story that is essentially an urban fantasy crime novel, there didn't seem to be much crime. There is the inciting incident which drives our characters together and puts them on a path they can't get off, but not much else.
As negative as that seems to sound, I think it works really well.
Because the story wasn't always focused on the next exciting clue or whatever, we instead got to see the characters and the world. As the first book in the series, it made for a great introduction to how things work in the urban fantasy setting.
I'm sure that in later entries, when we don't need such a learning curve with the world and characters, the plot will be more heavily littered with action etc, and I'm looking forward to it!
Easy Writing Style
For a debut novel, the writing quality was pretty good. Sure, it could be improved, but if you stop comparing the book to works written by authors with over 20 years of experience, you will realise that it's actually pretty good!
I found the writing to be engaging and very easy to read. I flew through this book, and by the end of every chapter I was dying to read the next - that is all you want from a book like this!
Final Thoughts
Dead Man's Hand is the start of the next big thing in urban fantasy. There. I said it.
If you want to laugh your ass off while simultaneously being really creeped out by creatures of nightmares, read this book.
April 4, 2023
Idk…..RTC
October 31, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was really good! It is no secret that I am a big fan of Jim Butcher’s books so I was really eager to see if I would feel the same about his son’s writing. I was quite pleased to find an incredibly entertaining novel with fantastic characters, a lot of action, some humor, and a whole bunch of magic. I am glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Grimsby is a witch but his magic wasn’t quite good enough to get a position with the Auditors so he spends his day doing tricks for kids at Might Magic Donald’s Kingdom. His job may sound bad but it is actually even worse than you can imagine. When a respected Auditor is killed holding a note that says kill Grimsby, his life is turned upside down. He ends up tagging along with Mayflower, also known as the Huntsman, who is trying to figure out who is responsible for his former partner’s death.
I came to love the bumbling hero, Grimsby, and his grumpy partner, Mayflower, before this book drew to a close. This book was rather exciting with enough action to keep the momentum going. There were plenty of times that I believed these two were in over their heads and always had fun watching them figure a way out of these situations. I thought that the magic in the story was very interesting and I have a feeling that we have only scratched the surface of Grimsby’s abilities. I loved that the book was packed full of twists, turns, and impossible situations.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy. This is the first book in The Unorthodox Chronicles and I am excited to see where the series will go from here. I was quite impressed by this debut author’s style of storytelling and cannot wait to read more of his work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group.
Initial Thoughts
This was really quite good! I came to love the bumbling hero, Grimsley, and his grumpy partner, Mayflower, before this book drew to a close. This book was rather exciting with enough action to keep the momentum going. I thought that the magic in the story was very interesting and loved that the book was packed full of twists and turns. I will definitely be on the lookout for future installments.
.
This was really good! It is no secret that I am a big fan of Jim Butcher’s books so I was really eager to see if I would feel the same about his son’s writing. I was quite pleased to find an incredibly entertaining novel with fantastic characters, a lot of action, some humor, and a whole bunch of magic. I am glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Grimsby is a witch but his magic wasn’t quite good enough to get a position with the Auditors so he spends his day doing tricks for kids at Might Magic Donald’s Kingdom. His job may sound bad but it is actually even worse than you can imagine. When a respected Auditor is killed holding a note that says kill Grimsby, his life is turned upside down. He ends up tagging along with Mayflower, also known as the Huntsman, who is trying to figure out who is responsible for his former partner’s death.
I came to love the bumbling hero, Grimsby, and his grumpy partner, Mayflower, before this book drew to a close. This book was rather exciting with enough action to keep the momentum going. There were plenty of times that I believed these two were in over their heads and always had fun watching them figure a way out of these situations. I thought that the magic in the story was very interesting and I have a feeling that we have only scratched the surface of Grimsby’s abilities. I loved that the book was packed full of twists, turns, and impossible situations.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy. This is the first book in The Unorthodox Chronicles and I am excited to see where the series will go from here. I was quite impressed by this debut author’s style of storytelling and cannot wait to read more of his work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group.
Initial Thoughts
This was really quite good! I came to love the bumbling hero, Grimsley, and his grumpy partner, Mayflower, before this book drew to a close. This book was rather exciting with enough action to keep the momentum going. I thought that the magic in the story was very interesting and loved that the book was packed full of twists and turns. I will definitely be on the lookout for future installments.
.
March 31, 2022
A very fun read!
I was really excited to see what Jim Butcher's son had to say in the urban fantasy world and he doesn't disappoint. His take on urban fantasy has clear inspiration from his father's work, but also has a lovely layer of originality mixed with the always loved "buddy cop" trope (but with magic!)
Fans of The Dresden Files will enjoy this first book in The Unorthodox Chronicles!
**Read thanks to an ARC from ACE**
I was really excited to see what Jim Butcher's son had to say in the urban fantasy world and he doesn't disappoint. His take on urban fantasy has clear inspiration from his father's work, but also has a lovely layer of originality mixed with the always loved "buddy cop" trope (but with magic!)
Fans of The Dresden Files will enjoy this first book in The Unorthodox Chronicles!
**Read thanks to an ARC from ACE**
March 22, 2023
This is an excellent debut from the son of the author of one of my favorite series. And normally comparing this to the Dresden Files wouldn't be doing a debut book from a new author any favors, but if you compare it to say Storm Front (the first book in the Dresden Files) I'd say it's probably better than that.
Fans of the Dresden Files will absolutely like this. It's similar without being a 1 for 1 comparison. In this world magic and magic users are openly known and there is a government department that deals with it. The protagonist is not nearly as polished as we see Harry Dresden in his first appearance. Grimsby is pretty wet behind the gills and down on his luck. In my opinion that gives him a lot of room to grow in both this book and the series. I was kind of surprised of how quickly I was drawn in to this world and these characters. It really hit the spot. The plot is good as well and it keeps the pages turning while introducing the world, but it's probably nothing you have read before but it was kind of like comfort food in that way. You know what you're getting but it was still good.
I think the humor and dialogue took a little bit to find its footing in this one and I wasn't really digging that at the start. However, as I got to know the characters more and be more invested it felt more natural. It still might be a turnoff for some. I expect he'll improve as the series goes along.
Really glad I picked this up and it will definitely fill that Dresden niche in my TBR, and I'm excited to read the next entry when it comes out.
Fans of the Dresden Files will absolutely like this. It's similar without being a 1 for 1 comparison. In this world magic and magic users are openly known and there is a government department that deals with it. The protagonist is not nearly as polished as we see Harry Dresden in his first appearance. Grimsby is pretty wet behind the gills and down on his luck. In my opinion that gives him a lot of room to grow in both this book and the series. I was kind of surprised of how quickly I was drawn in to this world and these characters. It really hit the spot. The plot is good as well and it keeps the pages turning while introducing the world, but it's probably nothing you have read before but it was kind of like comfort food in that way. You know what you're getting but it was still good.
I think the humor and dialogue took a little bit to find its footing in this one and I wasn't really digging that at the start. However, as I got to know the characters more and be more invested it felt more natural. It still might be a turnoff for some. I expect he'll improve as the series goes along.
Really glad I picked this up and it will definitely fill that Dresden niche in my TBR, and I'm excited to read the next entry when it comes out.
October 17, 2022
2 stars to be kind. I am sorry to say that I am not sure this would be published if not for his "renowned father".
August 23, 2023
The author of this story is the son of the great Jim Butcher. While comparisons are probably going to happen, it won't with this review as I never have read anything by Jim (although I've always planned to). With that said, it is going to be just on the book and the author itself. The verdict is out.... I loved it! It was fun, action-packed and had great characters.
The story is set around two main characters. First we have Grimsby, a 20 year old witch whose magic is a flop. He dresses up in a tutu and sells tacos for a living all the while entertaining children with his basic magic. His dreams of becoming a great witch seem hopeless and so he trudges on in his misery. Our other character is Mayflower. He is older, wiser and just plain grumpy. These two get entangled when Mayflower's partner is killed and the only link is a paper found at the crime scene that has Grimsby's name on it with an obscure note. Together, they both clash, argue and fight side by side trying to figure out what the cryptic message means. The chemistry between them are like two polar opposites and it works. The humor that comes out in these interactions are quite chuckle worthy. On top of all that, there is this side character named Wudge and he is just awesome. I really want a Wudge!
Excited to see the next installment into The Unorthodox Chronicles is coming out soon. Definitely going to continue with this entertaining story.
The story is set around two main characters. First we have Grimsby, a 20 year old witch whose magic is a flop. He dresses up in a tutu and sells tacos for a living all the while entertaining children with his basic magic. His dreams of becoming a great witch seem hopeless and so he trudges on in his misery. Our other character is Mayflower. He is older, wiser and just plain grumpy. These two get entangled when Mayflower's partner is killed and the only link is a paper found at the crime scene that has Grimsby's name on it with an obscure note. Together, they both clash, argue and fight side by side trying to figure out what the cryptic message means. The chemistry between them are like two polar opposites and it works. The humor that comes out in these interactions are quite chuckle worthy. On top of all that, there is this side character named Wudge and he is just awesome. I really want a Wudge!
Excited to see the next installment into The Unorthodox Chronicles is coming out soon. Definitely going to continue with this entertaining story.
November 5, 2022
This is a very impressive debut and a series I'm going to be looking forward to continuing on release day for the next book which is hopefully not too far away. I did it fully in print, but I also have a feeling I would have loved the audiobook so I figure I might do that for a reread to get refreshed before the next book.
This is definitely one of the fastest-paced and most compressed fantasy books I've read -- it feels like it happens over the course of a day and a half with almost no time skips except for the occasional nap by the characters. I haven't read any urban fantasy yet besides the Dresden Files so I don't have much to compare it to, but it feels entirely different from that in pretty much every way. It's in 3rd person limited, and is multi-POV (though mostly it follows the 19-year-old protagonist Grimsby, it does give some POV time to a grizzled and cynical old badass named Mayflower).
It takes place in Boston, but Butcher admitted in the interview with his dad that he hasn't been there yet, and it feels like it could be any generic city. Where the worldbuilding really comes alive is with the magical aspects and how human society relates to them. Instead of them being completely ignored by society and doing their own thing, there's more of a Men in Black thing going on where a powerful government Department exists to police human "witches" and magical creatures, and they're not hidden from society. JJ Butcher might've taken a cue from his dad with having his main character rely on a few personal spells, and the problem solving he does with just those spells was one of my favorite parts of the book. The alternate dimension that witches can access was cool and definitely something very different from the Nevernever, and there are hints that there's a lot going in with it that Grimsby has no clue about which is cool.
While most things feel different from Dresden, I am hoping that the son can follow in the shoes of his father in terms of really leveling up across the board with the sequels (though hopefully it won't take James as long as his dad to truly find his footing with amazing-quality books). As with Storm Front/Fool Moon, the overall plotting in this one felt weak or just small-scale, the villains were underdeveloped and unimpactful, and the character relationships didn't feel maybe as meaningful as the author would have liked them to be. If it opens up into a more epic and interconnected story world like the Dresden Files did, I could see it having huge potential. Also, Grimsby was just a little bit much -- this is one thing that I feel he couldn't help try to take from his dad's Dresden characterization -- J.J. Butcher wants Grimsby to be the type of person who makes a wise-crack at any and all moments no matter how inappropriate, and there were times it felt truly forced instead of organic to the character that he had vividly realized on the page.
Grimsby was still very endearing to me, and for that reason alone I'd come back for more. I think JJ Butcher went out of his way to make Grimsby into an anti-Dresden -- he's short and physically unimpressive, less powerful magically than the other witches we meet, working in a humiliating job running birthday parties at a Chuck-E-Cheese type place for a mean boss instead of working for himself as a badass private investigator -- and I'm completely down for this, since his personal challenges and opportunities for growth are just way different from Dresden's, and it will hopefully keep the series very separate in their trajectories.
But beyond Grimsby there were some really funny moments and a few very intense emotional moments as well that worked for me, and that's a mix that Dresden gets so right and that I really enjoy.
To sum up, I think fans of the Dresden Files will definitely find a lot to like about this one, and it's a promising start to a new fantasy author's career!
This is definitely one of the fastest-paced and most compressed fantasy books I've read -- it feels like it happens over the course of a day and a half with almost no time skips except for the occasional nap by the characters. I haven't read any urban fantasy yet besides the Dresden Files so I don't have much to compare it to, but it feels entirely different from that in pretty much every way. It's in 3rd person limited, and is multi-POV (though mostly it follows the 19-year-old protagonist Grimsby, it does give some POV time to a grizzled and cynical old badass named Mayflower).
It takes place in Boston, but Butcher admitted in the interview with his dad that he hasn't been there yet, and it feels like it could be any generic city. Where the worldbuilding really comes alive is with the magical aspects and how human society relates to them. Instead of them being completely ignored by society and doing their own thing, there's more of a Men in Black thing going on where a powerful government Department exists to police human "witches" and magical creatures, and they're not hidden from society. JJ Butcher might've taken a cue from his dad with having his main character rely on a few personal spells, and the problem solving he does with just those spells was one of my favorite parts of the book. The alternate dimension that witches can access was cool and definitely something very different from the Nevernever, and there are hints that there's a lot going in with it that Grimsby has no clue about which is cool.
While most things feel different from Dresden, I am hoping that the son can follow in the shoes of his father in terms of really leveling up across the board with the sequels (though hopefully it won't take James as long as his dad to truly find his footing with amazing-quality books). As with Storm Front/Fool Moon, the overall plotting in this one felt weak or just small-scale, the villains were underdeveloped and unimpactful, and the character relationships didn't feel maybe as meaningful as the author would have liked them to be. If it opens up into a more epic and interconnected story world like the Dresden Files did, I could see it having huge potential. Also, Grimsby was just a little bit much -- this is one thing that I feel he couldn't help try to take from his dad's Dresden characterization -- J.J. Butcher wants Grimsby to be the type of person who makes a wise-crack at any and all moments no matter how inappropriate, and there were times it felt truly forced instead of organic to the character that he had vividly realized on the page.
Grimsby was still very endearing to me, and for that reason alone I'd come back for more. I think JJ Butcher went out of his way to make Grimsby into an anti-Dresden -- he's short and physically unimpressive, less powerful magically than the other witches we meet, working in a humiliating job running birthday parties at a Chuck-E-Cheese type place for a mean boss instead of working for himself as a badass private investigator -- and I'm completely down for this, since his personal challenges and opportunities for growth are just way different from Dresden's, and it will hopefully keep the series very separate in their trajectories.
But beyond Grimsby there were some really funny moments and a few very intense emotional moments as well that worked for me, and that's a mix that Dresden gets so right and that I really enjoy.
To sum up, I think fans of the Dresden Files will definitely find a lot to like about this one, and it's a promising start to a new fantasy author's career!
April 12, 2022
I never know what to expect from any new urban fantasy series, regardless of the lineage it comes from. I could absolutely see how having a really strong support system behind him made this novel a really great start to a series. I think my big flaws with it, were that it felt a little disconnected, and the Huntsman and Grimsby weren't quite.... fleshed out? enough for me to grab onto. The book gets better as it goes on, and I'm really excited for the next phase of the series and to see where it goes.
November 7, 2022
This was super enjoyable through and through. I really enjoyed the world building and the characters in this. Excellent debut!
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own
December 7, 2023
3.5 stars overall. The following review contains ✨spoilers✨ so read at your own risk!
I think this book is ultimately a solid installment for the genre. I enjoyed the plot and thought the worldbuilding was fun and easy to follow. Some of the naming conventions felt a tad unnatural to me for some reason - I feel like people would come up with more organic slang for things like impetus and unorthodox, but I liked the general shape of what the author created and that's mostly nitpickery. I really dug the whole familiar thing, especially the twist at the end with the identity of 'black skull.' I won't say I didn't see that coming, but it was the fun kind of predictable, where you were sort of meant to figure it out and be satisfied in that with the reveal.
I think what took the heaviest hit for me ratings wise were the main characters. On paper they should have been great: I'm a sucker for that bitten-and-bitter almost noir feel, so Mayflower is theoretically up my alley. I also love it when writers break the mold and make something atypical of a genre: Grimsby is physically unimposing and magically handicapped, which makes for a lot of room for growth and a refreshing POV for a genre full of monsters.
But something didn't quite click for me. It was almost like the characters weren't given enough fleshing out to be MORE than the concepts themselves. Grimsby was almost TOO far into the 'loser' trope. There was something about him that felt childish, to the point that he struck me as sixteen rather than twenty-something. There were glimmers of good shit - I really liked that showdown with Peters - but the overall shape lacked definition.
Admittedly I also hated the swearing substitutes. 'Puppy dog tails' and 'oh, jabberwocky!' takes the wind out of high octane situations. It was a bit much for me.
Likewise, Mayflower never was anything BUT his bitter-and-bitten role. He just needed more to him, more facets, I felt. He was better than Grimsby to me but I think that's because he's a more commonly used mold for a character, so it's easy to just sorta fill in the details.
I didn't dislike these characters, to be fair. There were even things I expressly did like about them: Grimsby's cleverness, Mayflower's doggedness. They just needed a little something more, that extra story magic, that OOMPH that would catapult them from 'competent but formulaic' to 'truly memorable.' There was enough there that I'm curious to see what will happen when the author has more experience under his belt.
Overall I liked it. It also makes sense that it's a debut novel, and I can certainly see room for growth. I'd pick up at least the second in the series to see where this goes and if the characters start taking better shape.
I think this book is ultimately a solid installment for the genre. I enjoyed the plot and thought the worldbuilding was fun and easy to follow. Some of the naming conventions felt a tad unnatural to me for some reason - I feel like people would come up with more organic slang for things like impetus and unorthodox, but I liked the general shape of what the author created and that's mostly nitpickery. I really dug the whole familiar thing, especially the twist at the end with the identity of 'black skull.' I won't say I didn't see that coming, but it was the fun kind of predictable, where you were sort of meant to figure it out and be satisfied in that with the reveal.
I think what took the heaviest hit for me ratings wise were the main characters. On paper they should have been great: I'm a sucker for that bitten-and-bitter almost noir feel, so Mayflower is theoretically up my alley. I also love it when writers break the mold and make something atypical of a genre: Grimsby is physically unimposing and magically handicapped, which makes for a lot of room for growth and a refreshing POV for a genre full of monsters.
But something didn't quite click for me. It was almost like the characters weren't given enough fleshing out to be MORE than the concepts themselves. Grimsby was almost TOO far into the 'loser' trope. There was something about him that felt childish, to the point that he struck me as sixteen rather than twenty-something. There were glimmers of good shit - I really liked that showdown with Peters - but the overall shape lacked definition.
Admittedly I also hated the swearing substitutes. 'Puppy dog tails' and 'oh, jabberwocky!' takes the wind out of high octane situations. It was a bit much for me.
Likewise, Mayflower never was anything BUT his bitter-and-bitten role. He just needed more to him, more facets, I felt. He was better than Grimsby to me but I think that's because he's a more commonly used mold for a character, so it's easy to just sorta fill in the details.
I didn't dislike these characters, to be fair. There were even things I expressly did like about them: Grimsby's cleverness, Mayflower's doggedness. They just needed a little something more, that extra story magic, that OOMPH that would catapult them from 'competent but formulaic' to 'truly memorable.' There was enough there that I'm curious to see what will happen when the author has more experience under his belt.
Overall I liked it. It also makes sense that it's a debut novel, and I can certainly see room for growth. I'd pick up at least the second in the series to see where this goes and if the characters start taking better shape.
January 2, 2023
Ok, so I guess this is a hot take.
This book was not good. I felt like I was reading a story one of my kids had written in high school for English class that I was tasked with red-penning. It seriously suffered from the lack of a proper editor. I would have cut at least a third of this book. It was like he rammed every adverb and adjective he knew in there, multiple times, regardless of whether it added actual value. He would even use the same word in a sentence twice. It was WAY overwritten. He told instead of showed everything. The character names were needlessly awkward. Sentences didn't flow. There was over-telling of every action, every internal debate and insecurity. Not enough actual character building or story. He was trying too hard, all around.
I think he has potential, but not if his publisher lets this level of work continue to be good enough and doesn't challenge him to do better. I read it because I'm a fan of his dad's work, and I attended a virtual book launch with the two of them. His world building sounded interesting, but frankly it was far too much like his dad's work minus the charm and quality. To top it off, a couple other authors I know and liked blurbed it. I thought I could trust their opinions, but now I feel like they were doing him a favor or something.
This was painful, sorry to say.
This book was not good. I felt like I was reading a story one of my kids had written in high school for English class that I was tasked with red-penning. It seriously suffered from the lack of a proper editor. I would have cut at least a third of this book. It was like he rammed every adverb and adjective he knew in there, multiple times, regardless of whether it added actual value. He would even use the same word in a sentence twice. It was WAY overwritten. He told instead of showed everything. The character names were needlessly awkward. Sentences didn't flow. There was over-telling of every action, every internal debate and insecurity. Not enough actual character building or story. He was trying too hard, all around.
I think he has potential, but not if his publisher lets this level of work continue to be good enough and doesn't challenge him to do better. I read it because I'm a fan of his dad's work, and I attended a virtual book launch with the two of them. His world building sounded interesting, but frankly it was far too much like his dad's work minus the charm and quality. To top it off, a couple other authors I know and liked blurbed it. I thought I could trust their opinions, but now I feel like they were doing him a favor or something.
This was painful, sorry to say.
November 22, 2023
Stars: 5 out of 5.
I think I found a new urban fantasy series to fangirl about! I picked it up on a whim because I liked to cover. Oh, and I had no clue that the author was Jim Butcher's son. Though I must admit that I was never a huge fan of Harry Dresden, though I read maybe 4 or 5 books in the series. I might even revisit that particular series someday...
Anyway, I came to this book unbiased and without trying to compare the creation of the son to the works of the father. And I must admit that I really loved it!
The world is very interesting. We have the Usuals, or people like you and me, plain Jane humans, and we have the Unorthodox. Who can be magic users (or witches), as well as other magical creatures that we heard of in legends and fairy tales (and some we've never heard of). Some can pass for human with relative ease and managed to build almost normal lives in our world. Some... not so much. All of them are controlled and regulated by the Bureau of Unorthodox Affairs, who acts like law enforcement, but also a social services organization.
Now let's talk about Grimsby, our protagonist. He is a bumbling, stumbling bundle of insecurities and misery, but I must admit that I really liked him. Because he has good reasons to be miserable and resentful, and to wallow in that misery from time to time. Life really did a number on him. He is not a hero. He is, most of the time, a coward that hates conflict and tries to avoid it at any cost. But despite all that, he has a strong backbone and a moral compass. He is willing to bend and let a lot of things slide, but when it comes to something that he holds dear, or that he thinks is plain wrong, he will stand his ground, even despite the danger to himself. He is also very loyal to his friends, probably because he doesn't have that many. In fact, by the end of this book, he really only has one.
I also liked that despite his limitations, he finds new and ingenious ways to combine the three spells he knows. And even though those are only 3 spells, he mastered them to perfection. Grimsby might not be particularly powerful, but he is very tenacious and capable of innovative thinking, because he doesn't have pure magical strength to rely on.
I also like his grudging partnership with the Huntsman, because despite the odds, they make a really good team. The Huntsman constantly pushes Grimsby to get out of his comfort zone, especially if that zone is made of self-pity and woe against the unfairness of the universe. And Grimsby acts as a tempering influence and a moral compass for a man who has done some terrible things in the line of duty and often won't hesitate to do even more horrible things if needed. Even if he would probably regret it afterwards.
It was interesting to see the Huntsman go from looking at Grimsby first with suspicion, then with derision, then with grudging respect. And they did get to the bottom of things in the end and got the bad guy.
I liked that the main storyline is resolved by the end of this book, but there are other tantalizing bits of story left dangling in front of the reader to entice me to pick up the next book. I want to know how the main villain managed to make so many human familiars without anyone noticing. I want to know who Blackskull was when it was alive. And I want to know if Grimsby will every manage to control his magic even despite the scars. So I will definitely be continuing with this series.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
I think I found a new urban fantasy series to fangirl about! I picked it up on a whim because I liked to cover. Oh, and I had no clue that the author was Jim Butcher's son. Though I must admit that I was never a huge fan of Harry Dresden, though I read maybe 4 or 5 books in the series. I might even revisit that particular series someday...
Anyway, I came to this book unbiased and without trying to compare the creation of the son to the works of the father. And I must admit that I really loved it!
The world is very interesting. We have the Usuals, or people like you and me, plain Jane humans, and we have the Unorthodox. Who can be magic users (or witches), as well as other magical creatures that we heard of in legends and fairy tales (and some we've never heard of). Some can pass for human with relative ease and managed to build almost normal lives in our world. Some... not so much. All of them are controlled and regulated by the Bureau of Unorthodox Affairs, who acts like law enforcement, but also a social services organization.
Now let's talk about Grimsby, our protagonist. He is a bumbling, stumbling bundle of insecurities and misery, but I must admit that I really liked him. Because he has good reasons to be miserable and resentful, and to wallow in that misery from time to time. Life really did a number on him. He is not a hero. He is, most of the time, a coward that hates conflict and tries to avoid it at any cost. But despite all that, he has a strong backbone and a moral compass. He is willing to bend and let a lot of things slide, but when it comes to something that he holds dear, or that he thinks is plain wrong, he will stand his ground, even despite the danger to himself. He is also very loyal to his friends, probably because he doesn't have that many. In fact, by the end of this book, he really only has one.
I also liked that despite his limitations, he finds new and ingenious ways to combine the three spells he knows. And even though those are only 3 spells, he mastered them to perfection. Grimsby might not be particularly powerful, but he is very tenacious and capable of innovative thinking, because he doesn't have pure magical strength to rely on.
I also like his grudging partnership with the Huntsman, because despite the odds, they make a really good team. The Huntsman constantly pushes Grimsby to get out of his comfort zone, especially if that zone is made of self-pity and woe against the unfairness of the universe. And Grimsby acts as a tempering influence and a moral compass for a man who has done some terrible things in the line of duty and often won't hesitate to do even more horrible things if needed. Even if he would probably regret it afterwards.
It was interesting to see the Huntsman go from looking at Grimsby first with suspicion, then with derision, then with grudging respect. And they did get to the bottom of things in the end and got the bad guy.
I liked that the main storyline is resolved by the end of this book, but there are other tantalizing bits of story left dangling in front of the reader to entice me to pick up the next book. I want to know how the main villain managed to make so many human familiars without anyone noticing. I want to know who Blackskull was when it was alive. And I want to know if Grimsby will every manage to control his magic even despite the scars. So I will definitely be continuing with this series.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
October 10, 2022
Indeed, fans of the Dresden Files and Alex Verus will find themselves cozying up to the Unorthodox Chronicles. It stands on its own and was a fantastic debut. This first in series has me excited about the stories to come.
I love urban fantasy particularly in audio format as was delighted to listen. James Patrick Cronin did a splendid job giving voice to our protagonist Grimsby, as well as Mayflower, known as the Huntsman. This narrator was new to me, but I am looking forward to hearing more from him.
We are introduced to the world filled with ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox, who live among humans and the governing body that polices them. The Department of Unorthodox Affairs whose Auditors; magically elite, government-sanctioned witches who have spells at their command, power, and prestige. There were some unique elements, such as the glasses Grimsby wore, I found fascinating.
When a powerful witch is murdered, Mayflower, the Huntsman who retired from the business, is called in. He does so because the witch was his friend. A note at the scene leads them to Grimsby. He’s a disabled usual who works at a human pizza joint that hosts birthday parties for children, complete with a castle, knights and a mote. Grimsby soon finds himself in danger and joins up with Mayflower. The tale that unfolds held me captive and entertained as auditors, familiars and danger come to call.
The pacing was well done as the world-building was woven throughout the tale. Magic lairs, strange creatures, deadly battles and character growth formed our hero. I have to say; I loved seeing the growth in Grimsby. He started out as this down on your luck dude with a solid moral code. He was flawed, noble, vulnerable and transformed out of necessity. The creature he unwittingly befriends was a favorite.
The story ended on a high note, but also dangled some knowledge that has me eager for the next audio in the series. While I received an advanced copy, I also grabbed a copy with a credit so I can listen again. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
I love urban fantasy particularly in audio format as was delighted to listen. James Patrick Cronin did a splendid job giving voice to our protagonist Grimsby, as well as Mayflower, known as the Huntsman. This narrator was new to me, but I am looking forward to hearing more from him.
We are introduced to the world filled with ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox, who live among humans and the governing body that polices them. The Department of Unorthodox Affairs whose Auditors; magically elite, government-sanctioned witches who have spells at their command, power, and prestige. There were some unique elements, such as the glasses Grimsby wore, I found fascinating.
When a powerful witch is murdered, Mayflower, the Huntsman who retired from the business, is called in. He does so because the witch was his friend. A note at the scene leads them to Grimsby. He’s a disabled usual who works at a human pizza joint that hosts birthday parties for children, complete with a castle, knights and a mote. Grimsby soon finds himself in danger and joins up with Mayflower. The tale that unfolds held me captive and entertained as auditors, familiars and danger come to call.
The pacing was well done as the world-building was woven throughout the tale. Magic lairs, strange creatures, deadly battles and character growth formed our hero. I have to say; I loved seeing the growth in Grimsby. He started out as this down on your luck dude with a solid moral code. He was flawed, noble, vulnerable and transformed out of necessity. The creature he unwittingly befriends was a favorite.
The story ended on a high note, but also dangled some knowledge that has me eager for the next audio in the series. While I received an advanced copy, I also grabbed a copy with a credit so I can listen again. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 3, 2022
It can be tough coming in as a prolific authors' son and trying to carve a name for yourself and make yourself relevant. It's almost impossible not to compare the father that came before you. But I am happy to report that James J. Butcher is a good author with a good book!
Reading the synopsis on the back of this book it's almost impossible not to be a little worried. It sounds so much like Dresden that it almost seems like JJB is trying to capitalize on the success of his dad's former series. After reading, and while there are some similarities, this is definitely a universe all its own. And characters that are unique and all there own as well. In fact, I might go so far as to say that I like Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby more than Harry Dresden. Well, at least if I'm just judging the first book of each series. Harry gets pretty amazing later on. But still, I have high hopes of continuing on in the Unorthodox Chronicles.
Where Harry is confident in himself, Grimsby is not. And it shows throughout the book. Sure, he pulls of some daring feats, but after he does he is still feeling unsure and a little like he got lucky rather than skilled. He's more relatable to me in that regard too, which makes him more endearing to me. And The Huntsman is just the perfect side character to go with him. Gruff and grumpy, he's the perfect side character.
All in all this was an incredibly fun ride and I look forward to going on another ride with Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby.
Reading the synopsis on the back of this book it's almost impossible not to be a little worried. It sounds so much like Dresden that it almost seems like JJB is trying to capitalize on the success of his dad's former series. After reading, and while there are some similarities, this is definitely a universe all its own. And characters that are unique and all there own as well. In fact, I might go so far as to say that I like Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby more than Harry Dresden. Well, at least if I'm just judging the first book of each series. Harry gets pretty amazing later on. But still, I have high hopes of continuing on in the Unorthodox Chronicles.
Where Harry is confident in himself, Grimsby is not. And it shows throughout the book. Sure, he pulls of some daring feats, but after he does he is still feeling unsure and a little like he got lucky rather than skilled. He's more relatable to me in that regard too, which makes him more endearing to me. And The Huntsman is just the perfect side character to go with him. Gruff and grumpy, he's the perfect side character.
All in all this was an incredibly fun ride and I look forward to going on another ride with Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby.
December 28, 2022
I hate to come almost to the end of the year with a terrible review, but I feel like I have no choice with this one. The first in a new urban fantasy series from the son of one of the genre’s most successful authors, this book makes it clear that sadly, James J. Butcher doesn’t come close to shining beyond his father’s shadow. There’s a glimmer of Jim Butcher-style humor and worldbuilding in this book, to ge fair, but the stakes feel lower than the earth’s core compared to the Doom of Damocles and the increasing shenanigans Jim Butcher would always put forth in each book, ever more courts of vampires and fae to go around. I do empathize with James Butcher’s protagonist Grimsby and the abominable job with which he’s saddled, but Grimsby is no Harry Dresden - he lacks charisma and agency, and frankly feels quite pathetic as a protagonist. Couple that with a dull, muddled mystery of a plot, and this book is a disaster all but guaranteeing I won’t be reading much more from Butcher the Younger anytime soon.
October 13, 2023
On paper it sounds like another urban fantasy crime procedural, of the type I'm usually not into. (I recently bailed halfway through the first Rivers of London book because it was doing nothing for me.) But I liked the cover art on this one, and the author is handsome, so I decided to give it a whirl. I'm really glad I did. The writing -- which is bouncy and playful and just plain fun to read -- and the characters -- who are full of heart, funny, and endearing -- make this story much more than the sum of its parts and elevate it past its premise. It managed to make my eyes well up with tears more than once. Our main character, Grimsby, is someone you'll want to root for. The way his character grows and evolves over the course of the book is the real story, and it's a joy.
The second book in the series just came out and I'm excited to buy it.
The second book in the series just came out and I'm excited to buy it.
October 12, 2022
I really wanted to like this book, I love the Dresden series, was hoping it would be like father like son. I even got my library to purchase the audio version of this one as that is how I like to read these kind of books. Sadly this one didn't work out for me, I'm giving up at the 50% mark. I didn't like Grimsby, who seems like a bumbling fool, barely scrapping by in life, didn't like the Huntsman either, who seems like he's given up on life and would rather spend his last days at the bottom of a bottle, despite being pretty young. Both of them seemed to have contempt for the other. The Huntsman forces Grimsby to help him because his name was bandied about. I cant' bring myself to care if they get things figured out or even manage to work together. In the end this one isn't for me.
October 19, 2022
I tried, I really did. I read and read but gave up at around half way through. The descriptives were way over done, I mean how many ways can you say the same thing? I don’t need to be beat over the head with pointless descriptions. Additionally I found the two main characters unlikable, unrepeatable and boring. In the end I just gave up. I don’t care what happens enough to continue to force myself through the book. And honestly, some of the language, one in particular that I won’t repeat, really? I mean, maybe some therapy would help.
November 28, 2022
I found this story to be almost torturously slow. The self-described "I'm not that young" man seems to have more issues than three people could deal with and his attitude screams his age is closer to mid-teens. I feel it's time to find something a bit more cheerful to read.
PS: I only managed to read 30% of this story.
PS: I only managed to read 30% of this story.
February 17, 2023
A really enjoyable first book. I loved some of the sentences and read them aloud to my husband. There was a good mix of action and humor, and I wasn’t ever bored. He created an interesting world and characters with room to grow.
February 25, 2023
Possibly an unpopular opinion, but I'm giving this a solid five. A fantastic debut, especially for having to be compared to his dad. Can't wait for book 2!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 718 reviews