Let's Talk Books

Last year I read Caitlin Rozakis’ debut novel, Dreadful, a fun, subversive, fantasy romp, and I knew then that she had a real talent for crafting characters, and writing against tropes, without ever crossing the line into ‘I’m not like other books’ territory. The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association has the same heart of subversive anti-trope fantasy as Dreadful, and is just as, unexpected, vibrant, detailed, and emotive. With bitchy magical PTA mums, and the looming spectre of a prophecy, GGSPTA is everything you want in a humorous urban fantasy, but with added Rozakis emotional flair that makes her characters, and stories, so compelling.

Vivian and Daniel are coping pretty well with the Kindergarten stage. Or they were, until their beloved daughter Aria was bitten by a werewolf. Suddenly, temper tantrums come with claws, and their family has no choice but to move out of the city, and into the small, hidden, magical community of Veilport, Connecticut. Overnight Viv and Daniel go from being fish out of water, to being two very small, very human, fish in the big pond of the supernatural world. To make matters worse, Aria’s new school isn’t just any magical Kindergarten, it’s Grimoire Grammar, where the wealthy, privileged, and powerful battle it out for the best futures: sometimes literally. Turns out Veilport is an exclusive community in more ways than one, and Viv has never felt more left out. As she desperately tries to find her way into their new world, for the good of her daughter, Viv must contend with bitchy mothers, unexpectedly serious school events, the werewolf pack, a looming prophecy, her own husband, and, perhaps worse of all, the little voice in her head.

I largely enjoyed this read, my overwhelming impression, by the end, was positive, that being said in places this felt almost too busy, crowded with events and tangents which I sometimes found hard to place within the wider narrative. Viv was also afflicted with lack of agency, in lots of places it seemed that things were happening to her, and she was making no real attempt to deal with those things proactively. This was frustrating to read, but did fit within the characterisation – I think ultimately it’s just something that I, personally, don’t enjoy reading. 3.5 stars out of 5, would make a great beach read.