GRIMM CURIOSITIES by Sharon Lynn Fisher – Review

I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Published by 47North on November 5 2024
Genres: Adult, Historical fantasy
Pages: 299
Format: Finished paperback
Source: Author
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The nitty-gritty: Sparkling writing, a fascinating setting and time period, and a lovely, slow burn romance make Grimm Curiosities a must read paranormal mystery.

Grimm Curiosities is the perfect cozy fantasy/mystery to curl up with on a cold winter’s night. I always enjoy Sharon’s books, and her latest is an engaging historical fantasy with just the right touch of romance. If you love stories that combine ghosts, portals to other worlds, rare books, curses and more, I think you’ll love this too.

The story takes place in York, England in 1851. Lizzy Grimm and her mother run a shop called Grimm Curiosities, which belonged to Lizzy’s father until his untimely death. Without her father around, Lizzy is struggling to be taken seriously as a woman business owner, and she and her mother can barely keep food on the table and pay the rent. Even worse, Lizzy’s mother, a talented medium who helps people connect to dead loved ones, suddenly stopped speaking after one such ghostly encounter, and now exists in a sort of waking coma state, unable to communicate.

Lizzy wants nothing more than to find the source of her mother’s illness, and one day she gets her chance when a handsome man comes to the shop, asking to speak to her mother. Antony Carlisle is the eldest son of Lord Carlisle, and his younger sister Sophia, who can also see spirits, has fallen into the same state. Lizzy suggests that if they work together, they might be able to figure out what happened to their loved ones, and maybe even find a cure. Despite their differences—Mr. Carlisle comes from an important, high ranking family, and Lizzy is a mere shopkeeper—they decide to meet to solve the mystery.

Meanwhile, Lizzy gets another visitor to the store, a man named Mr. Stoke who is interested in a rare collection of books, books that Lizzy doesn’t intend to sell because they were beloved by her father. She and Antony soon discover that the books, stories about folklore and myth, may hold the answers they are looking for. 

Grimm Curiosities has many wonderful layers, including several intriguing mysteries that keep the plot moving forward. First, we have the mystery of the strange affliction of Sophie and Lizzy’s mother, which Lizzy and Antony are desperate to find a solution for. The fact that they both can see spirits and were struck by this weird malady right after communicating with one suggests the same thing happened to both of them. We also have the mystery of her father’s books, which was one of my favorite story elements. Lizzy grew up reading these wondrous stories about fairy portals, mythological creatures and even old tales about St. Nicholas and Krampus. Why didn’t her father want her to sell the books, and why is Mr. Stoke insistent on buying them from her? What exactly is Ginnel Press—the publisher’s name stamped on the spines—and who printed the books? Lizzy and Antony follow the clues and discover some shocking things about the books and her father.

I also loved the time period and setting. Fisher clearly did lots of research for her book, and she even includes a map of York with important landmarks found in the story. There’s a glossary of words that might be unfamiliar to modern readers, like the word “ginnel,” a narrow alleyway between buildings—which felt sort of magical to me, especially since doors and passageways play an important part in the story. Fisher addresses the role of women during 1850s England as well. Lizzy is looked down upon for running her own curiosity shop, even though her father has died and she doesn’t have a choice. Her wellbeing depends on being able to make connections and buy goods for her store, and of course attract buyers, and as a single woman it’s extremely hard to do. When she meets Antony and they start meeting on a regular basis, they both understand that Lizzy is way below Antony’s station, and yet they can’t deny their attraction to each other. 

And of course, there is a romance between Lizzy and Antony, although it’s a very slow burn, chaste relationship. The two grow to appreciate and respect each other in many ways, which is why their burgeoning feelings for each other felt so satisfying. The romance doesn’t take over the story, so readers who hesitate whenever that word is mentioned can rest easy: this is mostly a paranormal mystery with fascinating story elements and wonderful characters.

Speaking of which, I loved Lizzy’s plucky personality. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep Grimm Curiosities going, but she’s also convinced there is a cure for her mother and she won’t rest until she finds it. Antony is a bit different from most leading men, and I thought he was the perfect match for Lizzy. Mr. Stokes comes between them and tries to shake things up, and his character added a lot of drama to the story. Finally, we meet a woman named Charlie Croft who runs a printing press (and is an important connection to the books!) and befriends Lizzy, and I thought she was a great addition to the cast of characters.

The story takes an unexpected turn near the end, as Lizzy and Antony finally put all the pieces of the mystery together, and I don’t think it will be a spoiler to tell you they do get their happily ever after. Once again, Sharon Lynn Fisher has charmed me with her cozy writing style, lovable characters, and fascinating historical details, and I’m happy to say that Grimm Curiosities is her best book yet.

Big thanks to Sharon and the publisher for providing a review copy.