Book Series · 3 Books

A Tale Dark & Grimm Books

In order from A Tale Dark & Grimm to The Grimm Conclusion.

Adam Gidwitz links familiar and lesser-known Grimm tales into a darkly funny trilogy about children facing monsters, terrible parents, and the hard work of finding a better home.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated August 12, 2026

Reading order

How to Read A Tale Dark & Grimm

Read A Tale Dark & Grimm, In a Glass Grimmly, and The Grimm Conclusion in numbered order. The second book follows a new pair of children, but characters and consequences cross between the stories before the trilogy's conclusion.

The complete-trilogy boxed set collects these same three novels; it is not a fourth book.

Sources: Penguin Random House's official trilogy set.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

The narrator jokes with readers and warns them away, but the violence is intentionally gruesome. The books include beheadings, dismemberment, child death and resurrection, cannibalism, torture, blood, monsters, and frightening or murderous adults.

The exaggeration and humor give many readers useful distance, and the deeper story is about children recognizing harm and choosing compassion. Still, this is best for middle-grade readers who enjoy genuinely scary fairy tales rather than gentle retellings.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Sale price

$858

Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2010

A Tale Dark & Grimm

By Adam Gidwitz, Hugh D'Andrade (Illustrator)

Hansel and Gretel escape their tale, facing witches and dragons to rewrite their destiny.

288 pages· 42,572 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Hansel and Gretel break free from their story, venturing into a forest filled with witches, warlocks, and dragons. Guided by a witty narrator, they uncover the truth behind classic fairy tales and learn to shape their own fate. As they navigate this perilous world, can they craft their own happily ever after amidst the chaos? Discover a fresh twist on timeless tales where danger and destiny collide.

In reading order

A Tale Dark & Grimm Series

3 books · Published 2010–2013

#1 in Series

Sale price

$858

A Tale Dark & Grimm

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2010

Hansel and Gretel escape their tale, facing witches and dragons to rewrite their destiny.

#2 in Series

Sale price

$1697

In a Glass Grimmly

Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2012

Jack and Jill face eerie creatures and twisted tales beyond happily ever after.

#3 in Series

Sale price

$858

The Grimm Conclusion

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2013

Discover fairy tales darker than you ever imagined.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the A Tale Dark & Grimm series?

There are 3 books in the A Tale Dark & Grimm series. It began with A Tale Dark & Grimm in 2010, and the newest book, The Grimm Conclusion, was published in 2013.