Magic, Mischief & Mushroom Mayhem: A Return to "Fern’s School for Wayward Fae"
- Kim Bartosch
- May 6
- 4 min read
There’s something uniquely cozy and wildly exciting about returning to a magical world where the rules of reality are just slightly bent—and The Grim Adventures (Fern’s School for Wayward Fae #2) by Piper CJ nails that feeling.
Told through the fictional narrator Fern Forgettable—who feels like the lovechild of Lemony Snicket and Luna Lovegood—this story draws you in with a voice that’s both quirky and clever. Piper’s narration adds a whole other layer of charm, bringing humor, urgency, and the occasional eerie twist to Rosemary Thorpe’s latest adventure.
Thank you to the author and Random House Books for Young Readers for the books, my honest review, and the book tour sponsored by TBR and Beyond Tours. Scroll down to read and learn more!
Title: The Grim Adventure (Fern's School for Wayward Fae), Book 2
Author: Fern Forgettable (Fictional Author), Piper CJ (Author)
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Date: May 6, 2025
Genre: Middle grade Fantasy
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Synopsis:
Return to Fern’s School for Wayward Fae—where students are part human and part magical. In book 2 of this peculiar series, one demifae girl discovers that Death itself has Fern’s students in sight . . . and the fate of the whole school is looking grim.
A girl who’s trapped in another realm. Her school, full of the peculiarly magical. And a hunt for Death itself. . . .
The month leading up to one’s thirteenth birthday can be exciting, but rarely does that thrill come in the form of a perilous chase. Nearly thirteen-year-old Rosemary Thorpe is on the run from a wicked statue come-to-life as she fights to discover what’s happening with the fae courts. She can see the future . . . and right now, it’s looking grim.
Out of nowhere, legions of mushrooms threaten to overwhelm Fern’s School for Wayward Fae. Someone tries to drown all the plants in the greenhouse. And as Rosemary searches for answers, it becomes clearer that something sinister is after the students and their curious gifts . . . and it’s closer than she might think.
My Review of "The Grim Adventure: Fern's School for Wayward Fae, Book 2" by Piper CJ
This time around, the stakes feel higher, the world more vivid, and the magic even more delightfully weird. Nearly-thirteen-year-old Rosemary is on the run from a statue that’s somehow come to life (hello, nightmare fuel!), and things at Fern’s are getting more dangerous by the day. From floods in the greenhouse to mushroom invasions (yes, actual mushroom armies), there’s no shortage of chaos.
What I really loved was the structure of the magic system. It’s not just wild wish-granting—it has rules, consequences, and limits, which makes the world feel so much more immersive. There's a clever balance between whimsical and serious, and Forgettable knows just how to build tension while keeping that middle-grade magic sparkle.
On a personal note, this book reminded me of how much I loved stories like The Spiderwick Chronicles and Coraline as a kid—where the magic was equal parts beautiful and a little scary. Reading The Grim Adventures brought that exact nostalgic feeling back, with a fresh twist.
And let’s talk about tone—this book strikes that perfect middle-grade balance: spooky, silly, heartfelt, and mysterious. It respects its young readers while taking them on a truly thrilling journey. The pacing zips along, with just enough quiet moments to catch your breath before the next magical curveball.
Whether it’s for a young reader in your life or you're just a fan of imaginative, slightly eerie fantasy worlds (guilty ✋), The Grim Adventures is a perfect pick. The characters are lovable, the world is bursting with magic and mayhem, and Piper CJ's fictional commentary makes it even more entertaining.
Final Thoughts:
This book is like a warm cup of magical mischief—comforting, a little wild, and packed with flavor. If you haven’t started the Fern’s School for Wayward Fae series yet, now’s the time. And if you have? You're in for one grimly good sequel. 😉
About the author:
Author, folklorist, french fry enthusiast, and wannabe international woman of mystery. Let’s see, what do people like to learn in this sort of portal? Where I grew up? North Dakota. My age? Thirty or forty probably. A fun fact about me? I used to do speed runs of Ocarina of Time. What kind of music I listen to? Here’s my unhinged spotify, have at it. What was I doing before I was a full time author? Photography and teaching in Vietnam and stuff. Where did the “chaos goblin” fan club get its name? The offspring of Mr. (David Bowie) & Mrs. (Me) Jareth the Goblin King. Where I got my M.A. in folklore? Newfoundland. My dogs’ names? Arrow and Applesauce. My hobbies? Being an RPG Gamer (Mass Effect is the way to my heart), a hockey fan, and a hobby linguist.
When I’m not knocking it out of the park with award-winning “About the Author” bios, I’m binging cartoons (I’ve seen every episode of Hazbin Hotel, Lower Decks, Helluva Boss, and Rick and Morty a normal, sane amount), making tiktoks about cryptids and fae, rewatching Labyrinth, or disappointing my parents.
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