That’s right, Nils and Beth are back once again for another buddy read! 2025 is proving an excellent year for publishing, and there are a great many books they’ve both been eager to read together – not least Caitlin Rozakis’ new cosy fantasy THE GRIMOIRE GRAMMAR SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION:

Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them – ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale.

When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys, and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.

As Vivian careens from hellhounds in the school corridors to demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with all the arcane secrets of her new society—shops only accessible by magic portal, the brutal Trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents’ WhatsApp group.

And looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it’s about Aria. Vivian might be facing the end of days, just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out of the door…

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association is out today from Titan Books! You can order your copy HERE

After loving Dreadful, what were your expectations for a second novel by Caitlin Rozakis? What did you think of the book’s premise?

Nils: Dreadful was such a clever concept for me – an evil wizard with memory loss who essentially gets to redefine who he is, was so compelling to read. Rozakis sprinkled in humour, subverted many tropes, made a villain loveable and generally gave readers a fun, cosy time. 

Beth: Dreadful was a fantastic read, I loved it so much! You sum it up perfectly Nils.

Nils: Going into Grimoire Grammar School, I was expecting much of the same even though the premise sounded wildly different. From the moment I saw the cover for Grimoire I realised we would get a magical school and I was all up for that because the magic school trope is something I find myself drawn to. Then when I found out it would feature a mother with a kindergartener who is also a werewolf, well I had a “yes please” moment, because that sounded like such fun! I mean imagine dealing with a five year old’s temper tantrum when they can also literally wolf out! What did you think, Beth? 

Beth: Well, what I loved about Dreadful was the way in which it exceeded my expectations; I was expecting an easy, light, cosy fantasy about a dark Lord, so I was also expecting it to be humorous. I wasn’t expecting it to have such depths and on-the-nose observations on humanity and the nature of what we consider good and bad via expectations compared to actions. 

So when it came to Grimoire, I didn’t look too closely at the blurb and premise (I try not to, generally), and instead just expected a great read because Rozakis had done such a great job with Dreadful. I expected a cosy primary school setting, with small children learning magic being the focus of the humour, and just looked forward to the ride! Especially since I myself am on a PTA, and have been involved in various community committees over the years…

Did your first impressions meet your expectations?

Nils: In some ways yes and in other ways Rozakis took me by surprise. We start with a school notification at the beginning of every chapter and the tone of these, the language used, perfectly conveyed the kind of light-hearted, tongue in cheek, yet in many aspects realistic read we were going to get and it was just what I expected. Beth I know these notifications particularly impressed you, didn’t they? 

Beth: So immediately, they set the tone for me. I have two children, one in his penultimate year of primary, and the other in her second year of secondary (I don’t know how these match up to the American school system sorry!). But suffice to say, I have had my fair share of school notifications over the years and I recognised a fellow mother in Rozakis straight away and thought ah yes. Here is one who knows the score. I can’t tell you how accurate those notifications were and how much they made me laugh. The one that particularly got me was the series of three or four which kept correcting and changing details, as they were dealing with responses coming in to the previous one. That was a sublime glimpse into school life right there.

Nils: Oh I remember that one! They kept changing how and where the meeting would be held!!

When we meet Vivian Tanaka, our main protagonist, she’s dealing with a lot. Having recently moved house she’s not only coping with trying to fit into an entirely new town but also a magical one. We see her struggle to make friends, to understand her daughter, Aria’s, werewolf abilities and needs, and we see her struggle to openly communicate with her husband, Daniel. This was an aspect I wasn’t expecting, to see the emotional turmoil of a mother just trying to do her best but having no idea what that was. Rozakis’ juxtaposition here of a very raw representation of a contemporary new mother and the array of bizarre magical elements was just fantastic. Although there wasn’t quite the subversion of tropes which I enjoyed in Dreadful, the tropes here were still used in humorous ways to balance out the poignant parts, allowing this book to still fall into the cosy fantasy genre. 

Beth: I think Rozakis displayed a completely different skill set here, and that was creating a magical world that existed in a modern world in a way which was believable. Just because someone can do spells doesn’t mean they’re not also going to make use of the convenience of modern technology, and it doesn’t mean they’re going to be above judging your offerings for the school bake sale. Because people are judgemental and cliquey regardless of things like mortality and magical acumen. My expectations for a well-written story with depth were met, and then the world of a modern magic school far exceeded them!

Let’s discuss Vivian’s character in more detail. What did you think of her character growth throughout the book? Did you find yourself relating to her? 

Beth: I related to Viv in so many different ways. No, I haven’t had to raise a werewolf (although it’s bloody felt like it sometimes), but parenting is hard, and no matter how much people will try to warn you and give you tips on what to look out for, there’ll be something that will blindside you, that you hadn’t accounted for.

Nils: You have a teenager, Beth, they’re all werewolves! But on a more serious note, you make an excellent point. There is no guide book to parenting that can give you all the tips on the right way to parenting, there isn’t really a right way and it’s all about learning as you go. It was so insightful to see Vivian’s doubts and fears because I’m sure that made most parents also feel seen. 

Beth: You are so right Nils, this story was very much focused on Viv learning how to be a parent – and when you’re in that space, you forget the other parents around you are also learning.

You think, we’re all parents, we’re all on this hellish sinking ship together, let’s help each other – but as Viv learns, not every parent has that mentality and they will watch you go down to feel better about themselves. Reading Viv trying to learn that lesson, reading her desperately trying to navigate those waters, the pressures of not just being a parent and raising a child, but being the right kind of parent that means your child is then accepted… it was achingly familiar. I wanted to take her under my wing. I wanted to give her a hug and tell she’s doing a good job, and babe just put Bluey on for half an hour so you can scroll Instagram and centre. She did things that made me cross, but they were things I’ve done and now stand on the other side of, so I could see what led her to do them. 

Yes, this is a cosy funny fantasy about trying to raise a werewolf. Honestly 😂

Nils: Haha, yes, we promise this book is cosy and believe me there’s plenty of werewolf fun too. Though this is also about Viv’s journey, and I’m not a mother so I didn’t relate to her in the way Beth did, but Viv accepting her daughter’s needs, accepting they had to raise her differently and finding a way to give her the best support, well that was something I did relate to. If we look at Aria being a werewolf as a metaphor for her having a disability or being neurodivergent and then we view the magical Grimoire Grammar School as a special needs school, well being disabled myself, I’ve been through this experience, as have my parents. My parents found the best school for me, a school where there were others like me, teachers and staff who accommodated for all our various needs, and seeing this process from a parents pov made me realise just how hard that would have been for my parents. There were times when Vivian wasn’t quite doing things which would have benefited Aria greatly, understandably for fear of losing her or her being hurt and this wasn’t made any easier with other parents judging her, shunning her for having a daughter who was a bit more wild than their kids were, but she learns throughout that sometimes you have to put aside your own feelings and put your child first. I loved seeing this as I’m sure it’s something my own parents went through and I am thankful to Rozakis for highlighting the importance of special needs schools and teachers trained to help disabled children because honestly, they’re lifesavers.

Beth: The real life Magic Schools Nils! As much as I related to Viv as a parent in general, I think this book will have a great deal of potential to relate to people with either neurodivergent children, or who themselves are neurodivergent, as you said Nils. I think it’s amazing you were able to relate to Aria in that way in see similarities in your situations and your childhood! 

There’s quite a large cast, did you have any other favourite characters?

Beth: We both fell in love with Aria, didn’t we Nils? Not like that’s hard to do. We felt so protective of her!

Nils: Oh little Aria needs to be protected at all costs! We got so annoyed when the other kids were leaving her out of their games, didn’t we Beth?

Beth: Some of the kids were properly awful to her, and I know kids can be surprisingly mean sometimes, but it still riled me up so much! I thought this was great representation too – like yes they’re five-year-old little girls but that doesn’t mean they don’t, unfortunately, have the capacity for cruelty. 

Nils: Absolutely!

Beth: I also loved Orphne, there was a lot about her character I felt sympathetic to as well. Again, the amount of representation Rozakis just seamlessly includes is incredible: Orphne is in a relationship where her partner is a high earner, but she feels she needs to contribute to the family unit too, and again that’s something as a mother I myself and certain friends of mine have struggled with. 

Nils: You also have a friend who sells products like Ophne and they shared similar traits didn’t they? 

Beth: Ha yes! I know a couple of mums who sell beauty products and host parties at their homes just like Orphne’s! There were just so many hilariously recognisable moments of real life!

Nils: For me it had to be Madhuri and not only because she makes one of my favourite Indian snacks, dhokla! At first you think Madhuri is this uptight businesswoman who has no time for anyone and comes across a little snobbish but Rozakis fools us here because in actual fact, Madhuri is pure fun! She craves adventure, she clearly wants to rekindle some of the freedom and excitement of her youth and she’s basically up for anything! 

So motherhood is a fairly prominent theme throughout but what other important themes did you enjoy seeing?

Nils: I think for me it was the theme of loneliness and fitting in, which ultimately shapes a lot of Vivian’s choices. Viv’s desire to fit in, her desperation to make friends of high status and influence leads her to latching on to Moira and Cecily. She becomes dependent on their advice, their approval and even their opinions, which were not always the nicest. This then leaves her blindsided to the other parents, the ones who are less judgmental and all round kinder people, and I really wanted her to wake up and see their worth. It is a realistic portrayal though, Viv is essentially lonely, she can’t see that she deserves happiness, she can’t even see how much she’s pushing her husband away. How many times have we ourselves been blinded to our own flaws or not seen people for who they truly are? Rozakis shows us through these themes that yes, even adults have their social cliques and struggle to find their place, but with a little help, we can get there. 

Beth: I think judgement was a very strong theme too, what do you think Nils? We have so many societal pressures pushing us in various directions that we’re then quicker to make harmful judgements. As much as Viv felt she and Aria were being judged by this new community, she also fell into the trap of judging others, like Raidne and Orphne.

Nils: Great point Beth. We both saw Vivian judging others and also comparing them to the people who her own mother would or would not approve of. 

Beth: There was also a very interesting argument throughout on the education system. This one was based on American education systems, but ours in the UK similarly relies on tests and exams to measure learning, and I loved Rozakis’ exploration of the pitfalls of this system, the pressure it puts on children to perform, and their parents in turn, and whether it’s actually beneficial to them or not.

Nils: And the pressures of having your child get placements in good schools. 

And without giving away spoilers, how much fun was it theorising about the Reckoning prophecy? 

Nils: If you put a prophecy in a book then I’m one happy reader because I love them. Rozakis uses the Reckoning prophecy here as the main narrative arc and as a way to show the history surrounding Veilport, where they live. Viv’s research into the prophecy uncovers a lot and it was so much fun discovering which parts of the prophecy was being played out and then trying to predict which part would happen next and which characters it hinted at being involved. We had some fab WhatsApp chats, didn’t we Beth? 

Beth: We really did, we had so many theories, and it’s always a fun way of engaging your readers in the story when you give them something like that to puzzle through! It was satisfying being able to work things out, without it being so easy that we worked it out completely! But you can’t have a magical community without a scary doomsday prophecy!

Favourite Quotes

Nils:

“We cannot control our fate, only how we meet it.” 😭

Beth:

What would make her feel competent? Aria being accepted into first grade, being accepted by her peers. But that wasn’t her accomplishment, was it. She’d never meant to be one of those moms who lived entirely through their children. She still felt like the same person inside. But she could see how somehow, over the years, she’d stopped showing the Vivian part of herself to the world until only Mrs. Aria’s Mommy was visible.

That quote above hit me so hard, it’s something I’ve spoken a lot about with my friends who are also mothers; your entire identity tilts and becomes something new. I went through a phase where I didn’t feel like Beth, I was Ffion’s Mammy (the other parents call you that when they can’t remember your name, the teachers call you it, the other kids call you it – you hear it from every direction). And then I felt a real sense of disassociation with the person I was before having a child, to the point where I was scared of going back to work because I couldn’t remember how to be that person anymore. It’s safe to say this book hit so many nerves. But, it was also pretty funny:

Mar 7 3:31 pm

Show and tell next week! Remember to write your child’s name clearly on any objects brought in. No cursed or culturally insensitive objects, please.

Mar 7 3:33pm

Living creatures do not count as objects.

Mar 7 3:36pm

Unliving creatures also do not count as objects.

Overall thoughts:

Nils: The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association is a funny, raw and incredibly heartfelt read. It’s one I’m sure parents, carers and teachers will easily relate to and feel seen. Yet it’s also a tale about werewolves, sorcerers, cloud boats, grumbling ghosts and a prophecy of doom. I applaud Rozakis for combining the two and for delivering something so quirky yet so warming.

Beth: We focused a great deal on the themes of parenting, and Viv’s growth, throughout this review, because it’s what we connected to so strongly, but in doing so I think we’ve done something of a disservice to all the other amazing aspects of this story! I adored Rozakis’ humour throughout, including the digs at a certain other magical school (which was also a great way of addressing whether secretly-magical people in a modern world would know about that other famous series of secretly-magical people in a modern world that also involved a school). The humour was witty and intelligent, and drew a lot from observations of human nature. There’s a huge amount of magic and magical creatures, so if that’s something you look for in your fantasy then you will certainly be more than satisfied!

Ultimately, this book appears so jolly and unassuming, but it packs a huge amount of magic, humour, and heart. Rozakis is proving herself a most accomplished storyteller, expertly representing some serious themes in a cosy and fun tale that will stay with you long after. I can’t wait to see where she’ll take us next!

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association is out today from Titan Books! You can order your copy HERE