Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.75/5
Grimm Curiosities had me hooked from the start with its charming writing style and atmospheric descriptions. The mystery was so intriguing and unravelled wonderfully. I adore the main two characters and their relationship, with all their great chemistry and banter. Each POV had their own distinct voice. The only thing that keeps me from rating this book five stars is that the resolution was a little confusing, and a certain character accepted Lizzy a little bit too easily and I would've liked to see a proper conversation and apology.

Cozy, magical, and perfect wintertime read. The historical fiction element woven with folk tales and the not-so-easily-explained really is a fun combination. It transports you both in setting and then in subject matter. Your immersion in each one of these aspects helps it feel so much more otherworldly, a true escapist novel. Lovely!

This was such an interesting read, and not what I was expecting! I had a bit of a hard time with the middle, but the beginning and end were both incredibly strong. Lizzy was a wonderful main character and I always love a story with magical/mysterious books.

I would definitely read more from this author!

The cover is very pretty but it was the title that caught my attention. Whenever I see "Grimm" I get excited hoping for some good folklore or fairytale plot. I was not disappointed. This was a nice winter read. So much so that I am kind of sad that my first read was in the fall since that wintery vibe is so apparent in the story I wanted to match it. The slow burn romance is well integrated into the storyline and the paranormal was well done.

What a delightful story! Loved the atmospheric setting; the spooky, ghostly going ons; and the slow burn romance. And the element of magical fantasy, with doorways and ancient scepters and Norse myths all wrapped up in a beautifully rendered story. This makes for the perfect winter/Christmas time - or any time, really - read!

I really enjoyed this. It had a creepy-whimsical (whimsicreepy?) vibe that is right up my alley. This would be a great book to curl up with by the fire around Christmastime. I love the ghosts and the curiosity shop, and I found Lizzy to be a charming narrator.

Thank you to Netgalley and 47North Publishing for gifting me this book. My opinions are my own. Grimm Curiosities will be available on November 5th, 2024.

To be honest, the first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. It spoke of mystery and magic. Grimm Curiosities more than delivered both, with a story that is perfect for cooler days and late-night reading when wintery stories tend to deliver both chills and enchantment.

It’s the mid-1800s, in England, and Lizzy Grimm is barely scraping by. She’s taken over her father’s curio shop after his death, while also caring for her mother who descended into a strange almost-comatose state right after he died. Lizzy and her mother are in pretty dire straits when they start receiving some unexpected visitors, setting off a chain of events both eerie and fun.

It starts with an old set of books (aren’t I always saying that books contain magic of one sort or another?) that, after sitting in a back room for way too long, suddenly become objects of interest to several people. There’s Mr. Stoke, who’s loaded, persistent, and offers financial solutions to pressing concerns. He’s quite clearly the villain of the story. Then there’s Antony Carlisle, quite obviously the “good guy”. This isn’t a book that deals in subtleties of character, yet it really doesn’t need to be. The heroes are heroic, the villain a smooth-talking slimy git, and the side characters fun in their own right but never overstepping their not-main-character roles.

Lizzy herself was a fun character to read. She was plucky and clever. She also didn’t mind admitting when she could use a little help. I’ve read several books where “strong female character” meant “lonely island with no emotional range”. Everyone needs help sometimes, but Lizzy was far from a damsel in distress. She was pretty dang resourceful, which I liked.

The magic of the books is a mystery best left foggy in a review like this, but it had that wonderful fairy tale feel that I love so much. I will say that I enjoyed the first half of the book much better than the last. I liked watching the characters solve the mystery of the books and discover the unexpected and magical. Once the answers were given, the feel of the story shifted rather abruptly. It made sense, but it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. That happens sometimes, and it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book.

The romance angle avoided straying into saccharine territory, much to my appreciation. Instead, it takes on more of a happily-ever-after feeling, but not replacing adventure and mystery. Grab a cup of something warm, a nice blanket, and Grimm Curiosities and that’s an evening well spent!

Lizzy Grimm has had to take over her father's shop, Grimm Curiosities, when her mother is sticken with an affliction where she is unresponsive but only able to eat and move around. But when she meets Antony Carlisle, who's sister seems to have the same affliction, she's determined to bring them back to normal.

This was a cozy read and I enjoyed it just as much as I did Salt & Broom. The Christmas element, folklore, mystery and romance was all put together very well. At one point, I did find the pacing to be slow nevertheless I still found it to be fun and exciting. I also loved the Narnia inspired cabinet.

I admit this book gave me serious pause when I read the forward about it being similar to Jane Eyre. Despite risking my English degree by saying I am not a fan of the Bronte sisters AND especially NOT Jane Austen, I nearly put the book down. However, the premise of the fairy tales intrigued me and I figured I could always DNF it later.

This book was a wonderful surprise of German folklore and fairy tales. There are other cultures mentioned as well but I say predominantly German in that Krampus has a strong role in the story. Lizzy Grimm has been taking care of her family's shop, Grimm Curiosities, since the loss of her beloved papa 3 years prior. Her mother was bringing in money for a bit as a medium, but she became struck with a sudden affliction that basically left her catatonic and Lizzy has had to soldier on afterward.

A chance meeting with a lord's son, who comes in seeking counsel from her mother as a medium, turns into a friendship that is obviously frowned upon in Victorian times between a shopgirl and a well-to-do. Rumors fly and Lizzy's struggle to keep her family's legacy alive increases. As do the strange happenings in the store surrounding the fairy tale books by anonymous author A.A. and a nefarious gentleman's quest to obtain the books.

The language in this book is exhausting, though I have no doubt accurate for the time period. The formalities these people went to with the class system is maddening. There is a lot of frippery and flowery language required to converse in such periods, which is normally why I avoid classics.

I very much enjoyed the creativity the author employed with creating a fun, exciting and charming story and trying to keep with the time period.

A strongly recommended book for any lover of fairy tales.

Thank you to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC.

I did enjoy this book and the setting was interesting and immersive. I liked the pace of the tale and the characters but the last part felt a bit rushed opposed to the more gentle pace throughout the rest of the book.

Superb. I feel like this book was written just for me. Set in Victorian York, Lizzy runs her family curiosity shop after her dad dies and her mother suffers a mysterious malady. There’s a bizarre set of books, handsome men, charming and funny women, mystery, ghosts, magic, fairytales, and folklore. Oh, and it’s snowing most of the time.

I was engaged the whole time. Never wanted to put it down. I liked getting some chapters from another character’s perspective as well. There was one point that started to stress me out but it took a good turn. 😏 I could easily read more stories if this wasn’t a standalone!

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I can’t wait to get a print copy to read again!!

It’s 1851 in old York. Lizzy Grimm struggles to save her late father’s charmingly creepy yet floundering antique shop, Grimm Curiosities. Then, during a particularly snowy December in this most haunted city in England, things turn…curiouser. In the author's acknowledgements, Sharon Lynn Fisher recounts her love of Victorian antique shops and Christmas ghost stories. I'll admit, it was the Victorian antique shop that drew me to this book and with the title and synopsis, I assumed this would be a great Halloween ghost story. Clearly I missed the line about December. But I am so glad that I was mistaken. This is fantastical winter fairy tale with Christmas ghost stories and a immersive snowy city setting.

I really felt for the plight of Lizzy and I grew very fond of her very quickly. I loved the slow burn romance, which sometimes doesn't work for me, but this was so sweet and sincere and I really enjoyed the twists and turns that the protagonists went through. The ghosts were interesting, but by far the Bavarian fairy tales were what really pushed this read to 5 stars, for me. I highly recommend this book, especially for a December read.

Thank you NetGalley, Sharon Lynn Fisher, and 47 North for a free copy of this eARC in return for an honest review. I am so glad I got a copy of this wonderful, slow burn, winter fairy tale and I truly look forward to digging into Fisher's back catalog.

A delightful Christmas ghost story that blends Victorian romance with enchanting folklore. Set in the haunted city of 1851 York, the novel follows Lizzy Grimm as she struggles to keep her late father's curiosity shop afloat while caring for her mother, who has fallen into a trance-like state after a supernatural encounter.

Brimming with gothic atmosphere, charming characters, and a touch of romance, this is a delightful read perfect for fans of Christmas ghost stories and Victorian-era fantasy.

‘I know this isn't a fairy tale, but you must admit it feels like one. ‘

Lizzy's mother, formerly a well-known medium, has been in a vegetative state for a year in which she seems mentally absent. As a result, Lissy must manage the curiosity shop she inherited from her father on her own - along with all the mysterious books and ghosts. The sister of the charming Lost Carlisle, who is looking for a medium when he turns up in her shop, finds herself in a similar state as Lissy's mother. A joint search for ghosts of the past and beings from fairy tales begins – and a love story unfolds.

The story is a sweet Christmas ghost story that is wonderfully kitschy and perfect for the festive season. I loved the gothic ambiance and the suppressed and formal Victorian flirting very much.

This was a very weird story, but in a good way!
The first half felt pretty slow and I did find myself a bit bored at times but the story definitely picked up in the second half. Based on the description I was surprised to find that romance actually played a major role in the story. I really enjoyed watching the sweet romance develop between the two main characters. Zero spice. The magical elements weren’t super prevalent until around the 75% mark where they really came into play. The ending of this story was chaotic but overall satisfying and left me with a warm fuzzy feeling.
Definitely a very unique tale with a cozy, magical and slightly creepy vibe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc for review.

What a exciting, cozy and well paced read this was.



Set in 1851 York, the most haunted city in England, this novel introduces us to Lizzie Grimm, the daughter of a woman who can communicate with spirits and a deceased father who once owned and operated the now struggling curiosities shop. When Lizzie’s mother falls into a trance after a ghostly encounter, Lizzie must manage the household and the family’s flailing business to make ends meet.

Such a great story! Loved reading this just in time for halloween! Overall a cute and quick read for halloween

This was a fun cozy winter read! Set in a historic York with ghosts and myths and Christmas, a little romance ties it all together.

Grimm Curiosities is a spooky Yuletide tale that takes place in Victorian London. After the death of her father and incapacitation of her mother, Lizzy has taken over responsibility of a curiosity shop started by her parents. In the midst of these struggles a greater mystery arises that connects her mother's ailment to another young girl in town. Together with the young lady's older brother, Mr. Carlisle, the two follow clues to figure out what happened to their loved ones and how to cure them. Full of both mysterious and festive atmosphere lends the story an almost fairytale feeling. I truly appreciated Fisher's portrayal of the characters and time period. Lizzy and Mr. Carlisle both shared a trait of being forthright and honest in a way I found refreshing. Highly recommended read, especially in fall/winter.

Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of Grimm Curiosities in exchange for review.

4.5 stars!!!!

Holy mackerel!!! The VIBES of this book are everything I could ever ask for. Victorian era England, spooky objects, ghosts, mysteries, family secrets, strong FMC, semi forbidden romance, folklore and Narnia-esque magic.

Like I literally could not ask for more, I ate this up. Lizzy is so wholesome working nonstop for her family doing everything she can to set things right. I also adored how caring the MMC was, he did everything in his power to help Lizzy even though he was fairing the same situation.

It was such a spooky atmosphere but without being horror by any means. The perfect book to read to get into the autumn spirit. There was even queer representation.

The only semi con I will state that the ending gave me some whiplash. Like dear Sharon, why couldn’t this book just be longer? The pacing was so steady (in my opinion) for the first 85% of the book and then it spirals so fast it was almost hard to follow. I do wish this book was longer I want more and I’m not ready to set this world aside. I could totally picture everything in my mind which just signifies the great writing.

Thank you again! I am zooming over to add the authors other books to my library.