The Grimoire Grammar School PTA by Caitlin Rozakis

---

✦ BLURB ✦

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 and 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…

---

---

✶ PRE-READING ✶

Magical momcom? Yes, please. I went in expecting a witchy blend of Suburban Hell and Nevermoor, with a side of PTA absurdity and enchanted elementary school chaos. The premise was delightfully bizarre, and I was curious to see how it would handle the mix of humor, lore, and maternal panic.

---

✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought... This was funny, weird, and packed with magical mishaps. The chaotic energy of parenting meshed well with the high-stakes fantasy world, and Vivian's narration was warm, bewildered, and often hilarious. I loved the off-kilter worldbuilding and the balance between school drama and looming prophecy.

It surprised me by... …how long it took to really get its footing. You’re thrown straight into the deep end with magical jargon and social rules, and explanations are doled out sparingly. But because Vivian and her family are new too, the disorientation mostly works—it just requires patience. Once the story found its rhythm, it really sparkled.

---

✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

Book: Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer
Suburban moms vs. literal demons, PTA pettiness meets paranormal panic—equal parts horror and hilarious.

TV: Motherland (UK)
No monsters, just playground politics, social warfare, and the kind of chaotic energy that feels right at home in a magically fraught PTA meeting.

---

✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

• A colour palette: Burnt orange, plum, and glittery black

• A soundtrack: “Heads Will Roll” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs + The Good Place score

• A season: Autumn, just before Halloween

• A mood: Frazzled, feral, and festively cursed

• A scent: Pumpkin spice latte with a hint of brimstone

---

★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

The Tower – from the Cosy Witch Tarot
Vivian’s life is turned upside down by one small bite, and it’s all downhill (and into a fiery abyss) from there. This card represents sudden upheaval, revelation, and the clearing of false foundations—perfect for a mother finding her footing in a magical mess. The comforting artwork of the Cosy Witch Tarot softens the chaos, much like Vivian’s love for Aria softens the looming doom.

The Grimoire Grammar School PTA publishes on the 27th of May, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.