Gothic Fairytale | ART TREE

Hatched is the first book of the Grimstones story by Asphyxia. This book is based on the Hatched play. If you are unfamiliar with The Grimstones it is a Gothic Fairytale and you can look at my reviews of the plays Hatched and Mortimer Revealed. The book was the same as the play but in greater detail. The book is a combination of a picture book and novel. The book is actually Martha’s Diary and you can see where she has drawn pictures and stuck in photos.

Martha wants to become ‘Lady Martha the Magnificent.’ She is not sure how, but experiments with sewing however her favourite room of the house is Grandpa Grimstones apothecary. I am not going to reveal all Martha’s diary secrets here.

I read the book in a day because I couldn’t put it down. The book was EXCELLENT! I recommend the story for 7+ (even mum loved this story). I can’t wait to read Mortimer Revealed (Book #2).

I went to a book reading of Hatched at Readings in Carlton last week. I enjoyed it. Here is a picture of me with Asphyxia signing my copy of Mortimer Revealed. Stay tuned for a book review on Mortimer Revealed coming soon.

Hatched is the first story of the Grimstones by Asphyxia. Now I’ve seen the whole Grimstones series it makes more sence to me. Now I know why Crumpet has 3 legs and had a tuft of hair when he was born. The tuft of hair meant that Crumpet was magic. The Grimstones is a gothic fairytale, told by marionettes. There were two people Asphyxia and Paula who controlled the marionettes. Since Asphyxia is deaf she signed and Paula tells the story.

In Hatched, Martha created her brother in Elcho’s (Grandpa Grimstones) apothecary. When she was making a spell for a baby she spilt extra drops of one ingredient. Martha put the egg in a safe spot in Mama’s sewing room. She watched the egg grow and it soon hatched. Crumpet was born. Crumpet was born with an extra leg because of the extra drop.

I think Hatched is suitable for ages 5+. I loved this play just as much as Mortimer Revealed. It is magical. Asphyxia please, please keep writing more Grimstones tales.

Martha and Crumpet