Grimwell — Michael Belanger

Grimwell is a hilarious adventure through a Tolkien-esque tale about the powerful ways books reflect and shape our lives. Derek Winnebaker is a down-on-his-luck barista who loves nothing more than a good book and a strong cup of coffee. Unfortunately for him— but fortunately for this novel— his next read ends up taking him on an unexpected journey. Inexplicably drawn to a novel about a fantasy creature called a grimkin, known for their luxurious tails and excellent sense of smell, Derek begins using the book to shake up his life, marching from plot point to plot point with the surefootedness of a bona fide protagonist: asking out his crush, standing up to his boss, even leveling a giant— or at least an extremely tall guy— in a bar. But then Tolkien turns to Kafka and his grimkin fantasy takes a sinister detour. Will Derek end up turning the pages of his story or will he be doomed to live at the whims of an outside narrator? Part comedy, part love story, part twisted fairy tale, Grimwell will make you think twice about opening your next book.