The Nethergrim by Matthew Jobin (review)

Tom is an abused slave, Katherine is a girl who resists the traditional expectations her small village places on her gender, and Edmund is boy whose wizarding interest and fascination with books have only ever caused him trouble. When the Nethergrim’s minions begin to kidnap local children, however, the trio springs into action as unexpected heroes. They know that the kidnapped children don’t have long to live, so they decide to not leave things in the hands of the adults, even while realizing the limitations of their approach, which is to set off and hope for the best. This is a surprisingly quiet (and occasionally languid) novel for its subject, and the character development is careful and methodical, lending depth to a story that’s more about people than adventure. The Nethergrim itself is indeed the stuff of nightmares, and Jobin judiciously doles out details about it, heightening suspense further. Patient fantasy fans will find much to enjoy in this elegant gem of a novel, and the haunting message that the monstrosity of some humans can rival even that of ageless creatures is so carefully and effectively inlaid that it will likely linger even after other details fade.