This was brilliant. Atmospheric and utterly addictive gothic story with a heart warming romance. The mystery was very satisfying and I loved the characters.

Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher is a folklore-filled romantic mystery that is impossible to put down! Set in 1851 York, the most haunted city in England, the novel introduces readers to Lizzie Grimm, the daughter of a mother 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 an encounter with a ghost, Lizzie must manage the household and the family’s flailing business to make ends meet.

Grimm Curiosities takes place at Christmastime, and it is during an atmospheric snowfall that Lizzie encounters two men with an occult interest in what her shop has to offer. The first man, Antony Carlisle, the son of a Baron, has lost his own mother to illness and seen his little sister suffer from the same strange affliction that affects Lizzie’s mother. The second man, Ambrose Stoke, a collector of antiquities, hopes to purchase a series of old books from the shop, but the books have a sentimental value to Lizzie because they contain stories and folklore she once shared with her father. When Antony and Lizzie also discover that the books are connected to the perplexing afflictions of their loved ones, they work together to uncover the mystery all while navigating the strict social environment that would keep the son of a baron and the daughter of a shopkeeper from moving in the same circles.

Sharon Lynn Fisher has written a heartwarming, romantic story populated with engaging characters navigating a rich, winter atmosphere, but her book offers so much more than a typical read! Fisher’s novel is permeated with folklore, making specters, spirits, ghosts, and portals to other worlds a palpable part of a real-world mystery. The treasured collection of books Lizzie inherits from her father includes titles like The Krampus, The Wild Hunt, The Werewolf, and Ireland’s Merrow, and each volume blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, between the world we recognize and the worlds we dream about. The Victorian propriety of a charity Christmas Ball mingles with haunted artifacts and ancient legends as Lizzie, Antony, and Ambrose discover long lost secrets and uncover hidden family connections.

Grimm Curiosities can be enjoyed all year long, but it is sure to become a staple to be revisited each Yuletide. If you enjoy Victorian romance with well-researched folklore and a touch of mystery, then this book is for you! I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

Grimm Curiosities is a cozy supernatural Christmas mystery set in 19th century York and a Narnia-esque curiousity shop.

In 1851 York, Lizzy Grimm has taken over her deceased father's curiousity shop struggling to make end's meet while managing the care of her mother, who after a mediumship session gone wrong, is now in a catatonic state. When the aristocrat Antony Carlisle pays the shop a visit, he discovers that Lizzy's mother and his sister are both afflicted with the same strange malady. Working together to solve the mystery, Lizzy discovers a rare set of her father's most treasured books on folktales, fairytales, and Yule myths that may or may not have the answers they seek.

With a snowy charming backdrop with ghosts and folktales adding a supernatural touch, this heartwarming story would melt the coldest of hearts. Apparitions, portals, and mythological figures juxtapose nicely with the festivities of Christmas in this enchanting story. The settings were magical and the characters were sweet. It was nice to read about people who chose to do the right thing. There was a Narnia inspired element to the story and Christmas folklore as well. I liked the story because of its unique plot, lovely characters, and beguiling settings. It was a quick and easy read that both fans of historical fantasy and cozy mysteries would enjoy.

I was pleasantly surprised by Grimm Curiosities. A mix of history, mystery, and fantasy that culminated in a fascinating read.

The characters were well developed and the plot captured my attention from the first page.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers f or giving me the chance to read this ARC.

What a delight! I wish I could have found this around December so it could be one of my Christmastime reads.

A tale of a young, hardworking woman who does everything she can to keep her family business and heritage alive will always steal my heart. This story had a lace of gothic air with ghosts and magic around it and also plenty of mythology. It gave subtle nudges to more gross sides of history where women couldn’t even enter a bar alone and the misconceptions of women-owned businesses being lustful.

The romance in this was perfect, for me. It had innocent yearning and a polite gentleman. Quite a refreshing change from the factory-line of broody, dark haired bullies that us readers are getting force fed nowadays.

Thank you, NetGalley, for another wonderful ARC!

A beautifully written historical fantasy with a sprinkle of romance. But more importantly an almost perfect book. And I mean that. Everything about this book is wonderful; the characters, the descriptions, the wintery setting.

The story follows Lizzy, or Miss Grimm, as she navigates running a curiosity shop in Victorian York following the death of her Father. Full of ghosts, folklore, and friendships, Sharon Lynn Fisher's careful setting and descriptive characters sweep you through the tale. If you're looking for something fantastical to while way the cosy nights consider this a recommendation. Grimm's Curiosities is magical.

Thanks Net Galley, 47North and Sharon Lynn Fisher for the ARC 📖🌟

grimm curiosities is full of intrigue, mystery, romance, and comfort. a really cozy read set around the holidays with victorian fantastical elements. unfortunately, the dialogue was a big let down for me and at times seemed repetitive. fisher’s strength lies in environment and characterization. solid 3 star read ★⋆. ࿐࿔

thank you netgalley and sharon lynn fisher for the ARC ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

I just finished reading Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher and so here I am with the review. I received this book early from Net Galley and the publisher.

Grimm Curiosities stars Miss Grimm and Mr. Carlisle on a cozy romantic fairy tale adventure. Miss Grimm’s mother, a medium, saw something in the afterlife and then talked no more. The same thing happened to Mr. Carlisle’s sister. When the two of them realize they have something in common, they work to figure out if they can solve the mystery of their loved ones common illness. What follows is a story full of spirits, mystery, and romance. Its a fairy tale with some danger but most of all, its a cozy wonderful tale.

The book feels like a fairy tale, a light adventure with some stakes but overall, its the kind of story that you would read to get away from darker adventures. It also touches upon a common theme in books I’ve read here and there: doorways to other worlds. I never get tired of reading about that. I love those stories.

Sharon Lynn Fisher is a really good writer. She gives some description, but never too much. The dialogue is well done and the time period feels authentic while also dream like. After reading Children of the Dark, a rather bleak story, Grimm Curiosities was a breath of fresh air. It was a well told fairy tale full of twists and turns. There were some unexpected surprises and some exciting moments, but there was also romance like you’d find in a Hallmark movie. I don’t say that as an insult. I’ve seen some really wonderful Hallmark movies and this romance would fit well with them.

Grimm Curiosities was a really good book. I enjoyed it a lot.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital copy of Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher. The book releases to the world on November 5th, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sharon Lynn Fisher, and 47North for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

I really enjoyed this Gothic tale that has mystery, historical, and fantasy elements. Lizzy is a strong FMC who wants to help her mom with her affliction. That has caused her to not be able to communicate to anyone anymore. I thought this was well done Victorian tale. It talks about class and social customs. I can’t wait to read more from Sharon Lynn Fisher.

I highly recommend it!

Enjoyable cozy romantic mystery set in the Victorian era with magic. Fisher clearly did her research and the setting of York comes alive; our heroine Lizzy is plucky and intrepid in the best way as she struggles to understand her mother's sudden affliction and keep her small family afloat. That said, the book had a YA feel to me - at times Lizzy and Anthony (both of whose viewpoints we see) are sensible Victorians, and other times they are modern romance leads whose behavior and thinking makes no sense in a Victorian context. In general, though, that lends to the cozy feel; the looming threats of the Victorian era (disinheritance, asylums, etc.) feel less frightening that way, and the peril less perilous, which makes this an ideal book to read when it's cold and you have a mug of cocoa.

Engaging and inventive, this is a fun folklore mashup with a great mystery element! Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book gave me the warm fuzzies! This book had so many of my favorite components: romance, mystery, and fantasy. It gave a different twist on Grimm fairy tales, which I greatly appreciate, especially when it came to Krampus. This is story is perfect to curl up on the couch with a toasty beverage.

So this book is a tricky one to describe because it’s not quite like any of the historical fantasies I’ve read before. It’s a little like The Parasol Protectorate series yet so elegant and refined. The fantasy elements slotted so neatly within the historical setting, you can barely see the seams. Excellent world building, executed with casual skill.

On top of that, the attention paid to social classes and their limitations was such a compelling and realistic touch. It really heightened the tension of the romance and made the angst all the sweeter when the two main characters, Lizzy and Antony, longed keenly for each other in defiance of convention.

And the romance. Oh, the romance. 🥰 I adore a slow burn and the sweet, respectful way Anthony carefully pursued Lizzy, even when he didn’t mean to be or probably shouldn’t have...😘👌 Chef's kiss. 10/10

Can’t wait to read this again during the holidays!

So good. No other words needed. I love a good Grimm brothers based retelling. It was twisty and turny and just had a great time reading this

I just love Grimm stories! I just love everything that has Grimm's in it so...... obviously I devoured this book in just a day. I recommend you do the same readers.

With a nod to the brothers whose name is almost synonymous with fairy tales and a set in the Victorian England of one of the most famous Christmastime stories, Grimm Curiosities certainly set lofty goals, but came to meet and even exceed them. I choose this book ,in part, because I was mesmerized by a cover that had me longingly looking in, like a bewitched child at the window of a curiosities shop, and partly due to the title that left me, well, curious... But mere curiosity was not what enchanted me to read this book beginning to end in one sitting. This was a delight, with elements of fairytales, a touch of romance, magic, and the cozy feel of a warm cup of cocoa fireside, wrapped snugly in a favorite blanket. Fans of fairy tales, books about books, and cozy stories should definitely reach for this book and snuggle up in their favorite reading spot in anticipation of enchantment. (4.5/5 raised to 5 for bewitching cover art).
I received advanced access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, 47North) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.