My Inspiration

“This book does something rare, it treats death with respect rather than spectacle.

There are no cheap shocks here. No gore for its own sake. Instead, the stories linger in the spaces people avoid. The hospital room at 3 a.m., the battlefield after the noise stops, the quiet after a final goodbye. The Grim Reaper is not cruel, nor merciful, but profoundly attentive.

What makes Chronicles of the Grim Reaper Volume 2 resonate is its insistence that every life matters, even when it changes nothing. Especially then.

The emotion is earned, not forced. When a story hurts, it’s because you can relate to it, that realization is painfully true: that love and loss are inseparable, and that caring is always a risk.

This is not a book you binge for entertainment. It’s a book you sit with, that you sip like a fine single malt Scotch (which I find helps when reading it). One that leaves echoes with you instead of answers.

If you read Volume 1, you were introduced to the Reaper, in Volume 2, you get an expansion of Grim’s existence. It moves beyond the simple witness, the empathy, the guiding of those who have passed and those left behind and into his own existence, and dare I say, his own emotions and Grim’s own existentialism.

This volume, much like the first, came at a time of personal loss. The story Held for a Moment hit me especially hard and pushed me toward introspection which I really needed. The true gift of Griz’s stories is that they are thought provoking, healing, cathartic, and heartfelt.

I would recommend to anyone who has ever faced or is facing loss that you pick up both volumes, read them, and take them to heart.”

—JOHN TOBIAS

“Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume 2 by Griz Calderon is a beautiful and soulful collection of stories that shine a new warm light onto the subject of death, and in particular the Grim Reaper. Calderon's refreshingly kind and loving perspective on death challenges readers to rethink their own fears, and to surrender to the possibility that we are all more guided and protected than we can imagine -- and that death itself is one of those loving guides. Her stories are richly descriptive, deeply moving, and, at their heart, touch upon the painful beauty of what it means to live, love, and die. The stories focus on humans, animals, fantasy, and the Grim Reaper himself. I was particularly drawn to the animal stories, the stories of love, and the stories of women who had lost their way from themselves. The book illuminates how death brings meaning to life—to all areas of life—and that it comes from a place of love. Each individual short story, while complete on its own, also acts like a chip of a block of marble. At the end, you step back and see that what has been sculpted is a whole new way of looking at the thing that human's fear the most. And what a beautiful sculpture it is. "

—SAMANTHA CHILDS

“This beautiful book is a gift. One you don't want to put down and then reread certain stories again. 

You'll shed tears again for something that touched you or new tears you needed to shed. 

Only this time it changes you. You walk away with a sense of relief, of understanding and of peace with a smile that lights up your soul.

We know there is something unknown we can’t touch or see, but it’s there just the same.

Griz gives that something a meaning, a name. 

The Grim Reaper isn't something to fear but to rejoice in.” 

—CODI CRAFT

“If I had more time in the day, I probably would've finished it in just a few hours. Putting it down to do mommy task and housework was hard to do. 

I loved every story in this part of the Grim Reapers tales. You had me tearing up once again with the animal stories and the stories during war times.

The one that I believe hit home the most for me was the Unseen Burdens. Being the oldest daughter who had to grow up too fast and do way more than my body should've had to, that one hit home for sure.

This book was absolutely amazing, and I can't wait to see more from you in the future. I'm definitely going to need a physical copy of this one to match the one on my shelf.

Thank you for letting me be part of this journey with you.” 

—ASHLEY BECKER

“One of the stories, The Shore Between Two Worlds, touched me deeply. It was so personal and so lovely that I was genuinely moved, and I feel very special that you chose to share a story that reflects something so beautiful and intimate. This will stay with me always. What a gift!

I love how the Grim Reaper is becoming more comfortable being him. At the same time, I feel like I’m getting to know him better too. His character isn’t changing he’s growing and that growth is noticeable in volume2

I enjoyed all of the characters, and the stories about the animals always make me cry, but in a good way. They’re tender, meaningful, and full of heart.

Thank you for writing such a lovely collection of stories. Each one is uniquely fun, touching, and interesting, and you can really feel the care and detail that went into them. This is a beautiful book of stories.” 

—SALLY GAMBLE

“The Chronicles of the Grim Reaper Volume 2 is a book full of short stories that are sure to touch everyone’s heart at one point in the book.  Griz Calderon has done it again with the amazingly beautiful stories that she has crafted.  

Considering this book is all short stories, you can read it at an easy and comfortable pace, reading one story a day or the whole book in one sitting.  

This book is a continuation of Volume 1 but can be read as a standalone as well.  Volume 2 brings back some of our favorite characters for us to enjoy different times of their lives.  We once again see the Grim Reaper in a role that is not normally portrayed.  In these books, he takes on more of a calming presence who comes to each person or animal when their time has come.  He speaks to their hearts to help ease them with the finality of life and to assure he will continue to watch over their loved ones.  

Both Volumes 1 and 2 have stuck with me after reading.  These are stories that I will reread time and again.  I’m constantly thinking about one of the many stories.  These are books I always recommend and also share with my friends.  They are actually uplifting and peaceful, unlike what the Grim Reaper stands for in modern day custom. 

I highly recommend not only Volume 2, but Volume 1 if you haven’t read it yet.” 

—LAWREN HADDEN 

“On the day after I finished Chronicles of the Grim Reaper: Volume II, I began rereading it (by the way, a first for me)!  The book may have ended, but my time with it surely hadn't. So there I was, finding myself with a new beginning that had evolved from an ending (so Reaper-esque!).

And here I am, in the midst of read #2, to say thank you, Griz, for your second volume of soul stories. Page by page, story by story, it connects with my heart, imagination, faith and inner thought.  The style with which you tell a story (and interweave stories) is both exquisite and absorbing. I'm in!.” 

—SHEILA ALLEN

“I really loved this book. It takes the idea of the Grim Reaper and turns it into something emotional, thoughtful, and surprisingly human. The story has a dark, mysterious feel, but there’s so much heart in it too — it really makes you think about life, loss, and purpose in a deeper way.

The writing is vivid and immersive, and I found myself genuinely connected to the characters and their journey. It’s haunting in the best way, but also meaningful and beautiful.

If you enjoy supernatural stories with real emotional depth, this is definitely worth the read.” 

—AMANDA ARNWINE

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Following the Grim Reaper through different lives and moments was emotional in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for — but in the best way.

I personally have a hard time with themes of death and grief, so some of the stories felt heavy for me. That said, they were written with so much heart and tenderness. Each one felt meaningful and intentional.

It’s a quick, easy read that still leaves a lasting emotional impact. I appreciated how reflective and human the stories felt, even when they were difficult. A thoughtful collection that will definitely stay with me.” 

—ALEXZANDRA STROUD

“There’s something hauntingly beautiful about the perspective of the Grim Reaper in Chronicles of the Grim Reaper.  

My favorite story is "Still Here". The unspoken permission to say goodbye, and especially the moment of connection with the dog—it felt raw and deeply human. That story didn’t just make me emotional; it made me reflective. It reminded me how ordinary love becomes extraordinary when time runs out. I look forward to volume 3.” 

—LIA RENAUD, Halifax, Nova Scotia

“I don’t want to finish it, which is oddly satisfying. 

Selfishly, I am taking my time enjoying the journeys contained within Chronicles of the Grim Reaper.  Each story pulls you into the ending of the character’s life, guided by Griz Calderon’s re-imagined Grim Reaper. This neutral and consoling figure sheds a new light in the darkest of places for all humans, mythical creatures and some surprise subjects. Each chapter is crafted as a short, but fully robust story painted with vivid detail. 

I am definitely looking forward to the next editions in this series.” 

—PATRICK CROWE