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Greymist Fair
The people of Greymist Fair know that the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and that they should never set foot off the road. But when a young tailor discovers a body on the road, her search for the culprit reveals even more strange and dark happenings around her town. From acclaimed author Francesca Zappia, Greymist Fair is a suspenseful and inventive murder-mystery inspired by the lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. Greymist Fair will bewitch readers of Rachel Vincent’s Red Wolf, Liz Braswell’s A Twisted Tale series, and fans of Into the Woods.
Features chapter decorations by the author throughout, as well as a map.
Two roads lead into a dark forest. They meet at Greymist Fair, the village hidden in the trees, a place kept alive by the families that never leave. The people of Greymist Fair know the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and to set foot off the road is to invite trouble.
When Heike, the village’s young tailor, discovers a body on the road, she goes looking for who is responsible. But her quest only leads to more strange happenings around Greymist Fair.
Inspired by the original, bloody, lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia crafts an enthralling murder-mystery that will keep readers turning the pages. Told from multiple points of view, with each narrative building on the crime discovered by Heike, Greymist Fair examines the themes of childhood fears, growing into adult responsibilities, and finding a place to call home amid the trials of life and death.
Features chapter decorations by the author throughout, as well as a map.
Two roads lead into a dark forest. They meet at Greymist Fair, the village hidden in the trees, a place kept alive by the families that never leave. The people of Greymist Fair know the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and to set foot off the road is to invite trouble.
When Heike, the village’s young tailor, discovers a body on the road, she goes looking for who is responsible. But her quest only leads to more strange happenings around Greymist Fair.
Inspired by the original, bloody, lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia crafts an enthralling murder-mystery that will keep readers turning the pages. Told from multiple points of view, with each narrative building on the crime discovered by Heike, Greymist Fair examines the themes of childhood fears, growing into adult responsibilities, and finding a place to call home amid the trials of life and death.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 28, 2023
95 people are currently reading
10816 people want to read
About the author
Francesca Zappia
12 books3,832 followersWriter of MADE YOU UP and ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS. Represented by Louise Fury of the Fury Agency.
Also wrote The Children of Hypnos serial on Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/story/9547883...).
Social Media: @ChessieZappia
You can find links to all my social media on my website, www.francescazappia.com.
Also wrote The Children of Hypnos serial on Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/story/9547883...).
Social Media: @ChessieZappia
You can find links to all my social media on my website, www.francescazappia.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews
May 14, 2023
Greymist Fair is a mysterious place that is unreachable to some. The road to it goes through a dangerous and magical forest, a place that most of the villagers won’t step foot in. But when a body is discovered just outside the village on the road, and berries are ripe well out of their natural season, the villagers can sense change is in the air. And it may be the sort of change that destroys everything they’ve ever known.
Based on some lesser-known Grimm’s fairytales, this book is set up in a way that was unique to me. There are eight sections in the book that are each made up of a series of chapters. These sections are usually nonlinear in relation to each other and generally focus on a different character than the preceding section. Often the sections provide background or context for something from an earlier section. I absolutely loved how this was set up, and how well the author used this. Every time I encountered something and thought it wasn’t explained well or seemed like a non sequitur, I was delighted to stumble across the answer in the next section.
The writing was also quite atmospheric and set the scene wonderfully. I felt completely immersed while I read this, and there were several spooky instances that were excellently written. I would have loved if some of this attention to detail went more into the characters, though. While they were written well enough, it was a little difficult to really connect with them – they felt more like archetypes than real people. This led to a bit of a disconnect with them and their stories.
This was a compelling and engaging read overall, and I think I might have to revisit it again during the winter. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Based on some lesser-known Grimm’s fairytales, this book is set up in a way that was unique to me. There are eight sections in the book that are each made up of a series of chapters. These sections are usually nonlinear in relation to each other and generally focus on a different character than the preceding section. Often the sections provide background or context for something from an earlier section. I absolutely loved how this was set up, and how well the author used this. Every time I encountered something and thought it wasn’t explained well or seemed like a non sequitur, I was delighted to stumble across the answer in the next section.
The writing was also quite atmospheric and set the scene wonderfully. I felt completely immersed while I read this, and there were several spooky instances that were excellently written. I would have loved if some of this attention to detail went more into the characters, though. While they were written well enough, it was a little difficult to really connect with them – they felt more like archetypes than real people. This led to a bit of a disconnect with them and their stories.
This was a compelling and engaging read overall, and I think I might have to revisit it again during the winter. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read
June 28, 2022Like the summary says, this is based on lesser-known Grimms' Fairy Tales, except for Hansel and Gretel. Most people know that one.
Here are the stories it's based on, in no particular order:
- The Riddle
- The Fisherman and His Wife
- Clever Hans
- The Shroud
- Hansel and Gretel
- The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids
- Godfather Death
Each story in the book weaves together to create one overarching, original plot.
I seriously love the characters in this book. I loved telling the stories. I loved hanging out in Greymist Fair, this cozy little village in the dark dark woods.
CW: Some violence and blood, knife violence, implied child abuse, death. I'll post more if I have them later; I'm writing this the night before the Katzenjammer release and I am very tired, forgive me.
Anyways, I really really hope you enjoy this one!
Here are the stories it's based on, in no particular order:
- The Riddle
- The Fisherman and His Wife
- Clever Hans
- The Shroud
- Hansel and Gretel
- The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids
- Godfather Death
Each story in the book weaves together to create one overarching, original plot.
I seriously love the characters in this book. I loved telling the stories. I loved hanging out in Greymist Fair, this cozy little village in the dark dark woods.
CW: Some violence and blood, knife violence, implied child abuse, death. I'll post more if I have them later; I'm writing this the night before the Katzenjammer release and I am very tired, forgive me.
Anyways, I really really hope you enjoy this one!
March 31, 2023
Star Rating: —> 4 Stars
Can I just say I freaking love whimsical horror?! I mean more or less, that’s what fairytales are, right?! I’ve renamed the genre 😂😉.
Anyway; this book had just the right amount of spook, of creep, of whimsy, of so perfectly interwoven fairytale retellings… all in all this was a success for me! It could’ve accomplished just a smidgen more, or certain characters could’ve had better endings… no, outros is a better word, I think! Lol. But Francesca Zappia did just a great job interweaving these fairytales & making them so much more appealing/ interesting for newer generations, yet still keeping that old fashioned fairytale feel! I really liked this one, A LOT! 😊 I love most of Zappos’s works and this is definitely in the liked it/ loved it category!
A huge thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Can I just say I freaking love whimsical horror?! I mean more or less, that’s what fairytales are, right?! I’ve renamed the genre 😂😉.
Anyway; this book had just the right amount of spook, of creep, of whimsy, of so perfectly interwoven fairytale retellings… all in all this was a success for me! It could’ve accomplished just a smidgen more, or certain characters could’ve had better endings… no, outros is a better word, I think! Lol. But Francesca Zappia did just a great job interweaving these fairytales & making them so much more appealing/ interesting for newer generations, yet still keeping that old fashioned fairytale feel! I really liked this one, A LOT! 😊 I love most of Zappos’s works and this is definitely in the liked it/ loved it category!
A huge thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
November 19, 2025
¿PERO QUÉ ME DICES😱?
Exacto, BRUMAGRIS está basada en los cuentos de hadas menos conocidos de los hermanos Grimm y, como puedes imaginar aquí hay oscuridad, muer…te, magia y…🤫
También un cadáver, moras que maduran fuera de temporada y un príncipe, un cuchillo, una maldición, un deseo y una bruja…
Pero, OJITO, porque la estructura del libro es muy peculiar: cada personaje tiene su propio capítulo y ves cómo todos se entrelazan entre sí hasta formar una única historia: oscura, inquietante y con un toque de magia QUE NO TE DEJARÁ INDIFERENTE.
Una historia juvenil que mezcla de forma perturbadora los cuentos más oscuros de estos hermanos, donde nunca sabes qué va a pasar…
Exacto, BRUMAGRIS está basada en los cuentos de hadas menos conocidos de los hermanos Grimm y, como puedes imaginar aquí hay oscuridad, muer…te, magia y…🤫
También un cadáver, moras que maduran fuera de temporada y un príncipe, un cuchillo, una maldición, un deseo y una bruja…
Pero, OJITO, porque la estructura del libro es muy peculiar: cada personaje tiene su propio capítulo y ves cómo todos se entrelazan entre sí hasta formar una única historia: oscura, inquietante y con un toque de magia QUE NO TE DEJARÁ INDIFERENTE.
Una historia juvenil que mezcla de forma perturbadora los cuentos más oscuros de estos hermanos, donde nunca sabes qué va a pasar…
November 16, 2022
In the town of Greymist Fair you will meet several characters from many of the lesser known fairy tales that author Francesca Zappa has been able to pull together nicely, creating a tightly woven, beautiful tale that will forever be here to teach readers the lessons we need to learn about life and the business of living it. The overall lesson that I took from the book, that is now here, in print, for the next generation of children to read, are many and, as follows, below. The book focuses largely on the concept of death and deals with many issues in it.
And, throughout the whole book, as the characters from the lesser fairy tales all have their tale, all in relation to death, who they will either submit to before the end or have to combat in the end, there are lesser known lessons that we find. Ones about magic, friendship, family, there are losses, very little in gains, until the end. Throughout the book we see death as a lonely, controlling creature who all the characters either hide or flee from. One of the major points of the tale, when people die they are turned into wargs. There is even a moment in the book where a character comments that wargs do not normally go after others, and are not the harbingers, servants of death. That the wargs are only this way because of how the villagers let death control them, through their fear of him.
The protector of the village is a witch, a nice change from most stories in which a witch is normally a sinister, nefarious character, here, our heroine. The fact that she needs to keep this hidden from the villagers for the protection of herself is however, still sad. Here thought, another lesson we must learn in life. While it is nice to always be able to tell the truth, we teach our children that the truth always prevails in life, that it is always best to tell it, that truth, in fact, is still something the world might not always accept, sometimes might be better off hidden or not spoken about. And, while I would love to be able to tell the world everything about myself, the sad fact is, I'd have to make them accept me, because most of the world wouldnt accept me willingly. But, as long as I am okay with myself and I have people I love and love me. That is all that matters and that is what the author conveys here, in the story. Because the witch is loved for who she is by the people who know and love her and that is all that matters to her.
The sad fact is that I believe that the world can sometimes not want to hear the truth of the whole matter. While the woman in the story was a witch and she protects the whole village of Greymist Fair from death, she hid that fact from the villagers for the protection of herself, from what they thought and especially later, when she had a daughter, for the protection of her child (who later goes on to be the witch who protects the village). And we learn this in life too. That sometimes the world cannot deal with the whole truth of a situation and that some facts need to be kept to oneself. The witch was not harming anyone, but was, in fact, protecting the village. And, just as in life, when we have a secret that society can’t deal with, sometimes it is better to keep that secret to oneself, or, within the group of people we love, however small that group is. The world is not a perfect place and the world is not always right. Like in Greymist Fair, the world is filled with imperfect creatures!
As much as this is a book for children and young adults, I love it when I, as a forty year old woman, can read a book and find something about myself, while reading it. And really, in reflecting while writing a book review, thinking back on all the thoughts and feelings I had while reading the book, the journey in reading it, I love when I really picked up so much from a book, that I can relate it to my life and myself, as I was able to do here. And as silly as it can be for an adult to find things out about themself in a children's book, you know it's a good book, because the best ones are when anyone can find out things about themself when reading it, as I was able to do in Greymist Fair.
I can remember when I thought about what I wanted to tell my son about God, death, when I thought about how I wanted him to view his life while still having to live with the fact that these concepts are something he will have to deal with, in living. And, I wish I would have had this book or a book about life like this, at the time. Because, I would have read him this story, told him about Greymist Fair and that all the villagers, in having to combat death, had to go on with life, had to live their life to the fullest to keep him away from the town. The story of Greymist Fair teaches children (and, I have found, adults too) that in living and in celebrating life, as the residents celebrated Yule despite the fact that the wargs, and death were coming for the village, only in the celebration of life can we combat death. And it is a beautiful lesson and great to be reminded of on the occasions when we, as adults, can sometimes forget this too! But, in learning this lesson, there is still more to be shared, more to this tale, the celebration is not over yet, still one member of the town, missing the festivities.
In the end, however, it is not the fear of death that you need to forget (some of the characters in the book realize) but the acceptance that death is a part of life. Death is making room for the new, an essential part of the cycle of life. Greymist Fair, after all, is the home of death, too. He had just never been welcomed or accepted there, always feared and discouraged from being a “part of”. And so, during the villagers' celebration of Yule death is welcomed and received as a member of the party and village. Because of this, the wargs are released as the gruesomes beasts they were and are now simply, as the old tales were told, helpers to the lost and wandering. Death further promises not to harm any in the village who still fear him because he has had forgiveness and the acceptance of some of the villagers. It is a beautiful, heartwarming tale, forgiving death (as an actualy being, much like a person) and the acceptance of him!!
I will always be the type of adult who likes to pick up fairy tales and young adult books (books such as this) to be reminded of the things I learned when I was young. When you go about the business of living and so many things are happening in life, sometimes you forget those simpler lessons and need to be reminded. And, sometimes there were things that we, growing into adults, missed along the way, too busy, too anxious, too scared to pick them up. Or, maybe there was no one there to teach them, or the book we happened to read, they weren't there or we didn't pick up on them.
I want to thank Francesca Zappia for Greymist Fair and a story where I could find all these lessons and more. I can't wait to see what she does next as this book was simply wonderful and I recommend it to anyone who can take a small window of time out of their day to engage in a story worth reading, remembering and sharing! I really loved this book and it's well worth the time it takes to read to have heard the story of Greymist Fair. It's a fast read, after all, if you dont think too much about it, as I did, lol! And, the last chapter, I don’t want to ruin it for readers but the whole story works out (the last chapter, great) and like in all fairy tales, there really is a happy ending!
Happy Reading!!
And, throughout the whole book, as the characters from the lesser fairy tales all have their tale, all in relation to death, who they will either submit to before the end or have to combat in the end, there are lesser known lessons that we find. Ones about magic, friendship, family, there are losses, very little in gains, until the end. Throughout the book we see death as a lonely, controlling creature who all the characters either hide or flee from. One of the major points of the tale, when people die they are turned into wargs. There is even a moment in the book where a character comments that wargs do not normally go after others, and are not the harbingers, servants of death. That the wargs are only this way because of how the villagers let death control them, through their fear of him.
The protector of the village is a witch, a nice change from most stories in which a witch is normally a sinister, nefarious character, here, our heroine. The fact that she needs to keep this hidden from the villagers for the protection of herself is however, still sad. Here thought, another lesson we must learn in life. While it is nice to always be able to tell the truth, we teach our children that the truth always prevails in life, that it is always best to tell it, that truth, in fact, is still something the world might not always accept, sometimes might be better off hidden or not spoken about. And, while I would love to be able to tell the world everything about myself, the sad fact is, I'd have to make them accept me, because most of the world wouldnt accept me willingly. But, as long as I am okay with myself and I have people I love and love me. That is all that matters and that is what the author conveys here, in the story. Because the witch is loved for who she is by the people who know and love her and that is all that matters to her.
The sad fact is that I believe that the world can sometimes not want to hear the truth of the whole matter. While the woman in the story was a witch and she protects the whole village of Greymist Fair from death, she hid that fact from the villagers for the protection of herself, from what they thought and especially later, when she had a daughter, for the protection of her child (who later goes on to be the witch who protects the village). And we learn this in life too. That sometimes the world cannot deal with the whole truth of a situation and that some facts need to be kept to oneself. The witch was not harming anyone, but was, in fact, protecting the village. And, just as in life, when we have a secret that society can’t deal with, sometimes it is better to keep that secret to oneself, or, within the group of people we love, however small that group is. The world is not a perfect place and the world is not always right. Like in Greymist Fair, the world is filled with imperfect creatures!
As much as this is a book for children and young adults, I love it when I, as a forty year old woman, can read a book and find something about myself, while reading it. And really, in reflecting while writing a book review, thinking back on all the thoughts and feelings I had while reading the book, the journey in reading it, I love when I really picked up so much from a book, that I can relate it to my life and myself, as I was able to do here. And as silly as it can be for an adult to find things out about themself in a children's book, you know it's a good book, because the best ones are when anyone can find out things about themself when reading it, as I was able to do in Greymist Fair.
I can remember when I thought about what I wanted to tell my son about God, death, when I thought about how I wanted him to view his life while still having to live with the fact that these concepts are something he will have to deal with, in living. And, I wish I would have had this book or a book about life like this, at the time. Because, I would have read him this story, told him about Greymist Fair and that all the villagers, in having to combat death, had to go on with life, had to live their life to the fullest to keep him away from the town. The story of Greymist Fair teaches children (and, I have found, adults too) that in living and in celebrating life, as the residents celebrated Yule despite the fact that the wargs, and death were coming for the village, only in the celebration of life can we combat death. And it is a beautiful lesson and great to be reminded of on the occasions when we, as adults, can sometimes forget this too! But, in learning this lesson, there is still more to be shared, more to this tale, the celebration is not over yet, still one member of the town, missing the festivities.
In the end, however, it is not the fear of death that you need to forget (some of the characters in the book realize) but the acceptance that death is a part of life. Death is making room for the new, an essential part of the cycle of life. Greymist Fair, after all, is the home of death, too. He had just never been welcomed or accepted there, always feared and discouraged from being a “part of”. And so, during the villagers' celebration of Yule death is welcomed and received as a member of the party and village. Because of this, the wargs are released as the gruesomes beasts they were and are now simply, as the old tales were told, helpers to the lost and wandering. Death further promises not to harm any in the village who still fear him because he has had forgiveness and the acceptance of some of the villagers. It is a beautiful, heartwarming tale, forgiving death (as an actualy being, much like a person) and the acceptance of him!!
I will always be the type of adult who likes to pick up fairy tales and young adult books (books such as this) to be reminded of the things I learned when I was young. When you go about the business of living and so many things are happening in life, sometimes you forget those simpler lessons and need to be reminded. And, sometimes there were things that we, growing into adults, missed along the way, too busy, too anxious, too scared to pick them up. Or, maybe there was no one there to teach them, or the book we happened to read, they weren't there or we didn't pick up on them.
I want to thank Francesca Zappia for Greymist Fair and a story where I could find all these lessons and more. I can't wait to see what she does next as this book was simply wonderful and I recommend it to anyone who can take a small window of time out of their day to engage in a story worth reading, remembering and sharing! I really loved this book and it's well worth the time it takes to read to have heard the story of Greymist Fair. It's a fast read, after all, if you dont think too much about it, as I did, lol! And, the last chapter, I don’t want to ruin it for readers but the whole story works out (the last chapter, great) and like in all fairy tales, there really is a happy ending!
Happy Reading!!
June 25, 2024
1 Sentence Summary: A collection of short stories inspired by some of the lesser known Brothers Grimm fairytales that all take place in a village called Greymist Fair surrounded by a dangerous forest where no one ever leaves and nothing is as it seems.
My Thoughts: I loved this! I really liked the format and how the short stories all connected. There was also some cool art by Francesca Zappia included.
It wasn’t super plot heavy, but I thought that added to the fairytale quality of the stories. The writing style as well was very fairytale-esque. It was fantastically atmospheric as well, with the eeriness and the mysterious forest and a hint of magic.
I also enjoyed the nonlinear timeline, and how we’re introduced to some characters and learn more about them later, or see what they were like when they were younger, or change our minds about them when we get a story from their perspective.
This was a perfect read for spooky season!
Recommend to: Fans of creepy and atmospheric fairytales.
(Warnings: violence, death)
***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
My Thoughts: I loved this! I really liked the format and how the short stories all connected. There was also some cool art by Francesca Zappia included.
It wasn’t super plot heavy, but I thought that added to the fairytale quality of the stories. The writing style as well was very fairytale-esque. It was fantastically atmospheric as well, with the eeriness and the mysterious forest and a hint of magic.
I also enjoyed the nonlinear timeline, and how we’re introduced to some characters and learn more about them later, or see what they were like when they were younger, or change our minds about them when we get a story from their perspective.
This was a perfect read for spooky season!
Recommend to: Fans of creepy and atmospheric fairytales.
(Warnings: violence, death)
***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
February 16, 2023
Review coming soon.
December 31, 2022
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Wow this book took me by surprise. I was struggling thru the first quarter but then things started to come together and I was hooked.
This is a series of stories that all some how tie in together. It took me a bit to realize that the story isn't necessarily told in a linear timeline and does bounce back and forth from the past to present, Once I realized this, it worked really well.
These stories are all based on lesser known Grimm Fairy tales with the exception of Hansel and Grettle. I have never read the originals but I'm for sure looking them up next.
My two favorite stories were Wolf Children and Secret of Grey Lake. Wolf children was told so well with a creepy atmosphere. I loved it all around and the ending of it was perfect. The Secret of Grey Lake felt like the perfect fairy tale, with magic and consequences.
This was a unique and beautifully written dark fairy tale story. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy Grim Fairytales or Nettle & Bone. I plan to look up more work from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins. My review is voluntarily my own.
I will be posting my review to my instagram the.floofs.booknook and retail sights at/near the time of publishing.
Wow this book took me by surprise. I was struggling thru the first quarter but then things started to come together and I was hooked.
This is a series of stories that all some how tie in together. It took me a bit to realize that the story isn't necessarily told in a linear timeline and does bounce back and forth from the past to present, Once I realized this, it worked really well.
These stories are all based on lesser known Grimm Fairy tales with the exception of Hansel and Grettle. I have never read the originals but I'm for sure looking them up next.
My two favorite stories were Wolf Children and Secret of Grey Lake. Wolf children was told so well with a creepy atmosphere. I loved it all around and the ending of it was perfect. The Secret of Grey Lake felt like the perfect fairy tale, with magic and consequences.
This was a unique and beautifully written dark fairy tale story. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy Grim Fairytales or Nettle & Bone. I plan to look up more work from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins. My review is voluntarily my own.
I will be posting my review to my instagram the.floofs.booknook and retail sights at/near the time of publishing.
March 20, 2023
4.5*
This was a really unique take on fairy tales! I am not exactly a fairy tale scholar (and by that I mean I literally don't know any), so I am not really sure what exactly they are based on (though I have seen some lists on Goodreads reviews, those guys can help you if you need someone with actual knowledge) but it really doesn't dampen the enjoyment of this spinoff. For me, the atmosphere of the story absolutely nailed the creepy old fairytale vibe, which I loved.
It is told somewhat in short story style, but all the stories are certainly connected. So the points of view change, and even the time periods and settings to some extent, but they all are a cohesive story as well. It's dark, certainly, but it also has tons of very witty and funny moments that made the book very enjoyable to read. I loved the story, and definitely was intrigued by the mystery. While I definitely had favorites among the characters, I enjoyed getting multiple perspectives from key players. And since this is a mystery, I shall keep this brief, but if you dig those old school dark tales with a fresh twist, this is absolutely the book for you!
Bottom Line: Bringing Francesca Zappia's usual wit and heart to this unique and dark tale makes for a big win.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
This was a really unique take on fairy tales! I am not exactly a fairy tale scholar (and by that I mean I literally don't know any), so I am not really sure what exactly they are based on (though I have seen some lists on Goodreads reviews, those guys can help you if you need someone with actual knowledge) but it really doesn't dampen the enjoyment of this spinoff. For me, the atmosphere of the story absolutely nailed the creepy old fairytale vibe, which I loved.
It is told somewhat in short story style, but all the stories are certainly connected. So the points of view change, and even the time periods and settings to some extent, but they all are a cohesive story as well. It's dark, certainly, but it also has tons of very witty and funny moments that made the book very enjoyable to read. I loved the story, and definitely was intrigued by the mystery. While I definitely had favorites among the characters, I enjoyed getting multiple perspectives from key players. And since this is a mystery, I shall keep this brief, but if you dig those old school dark tales with a fresh twist, this is absolutely the book for you!
Bottom Line: Bringing Francesca Zappia's usual wit and heart to this unique and dark tale makes for a big win.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
November 10, 2023
Stars: 4.5 out of 5.
Now this is a fairy tale retelling done right! It doesn't try to outdo the original, just takes that inspiration and creates something new and very readable with it.
I loved the village of Greymist Fair and the atmosphere of mystery and even foreboding the author created for this place and the villagers. Imagine a village in the middle of a dense forest with only one road leading to it and back out. That's already claustrophobic enough. But now add to that the fact that there are rumored to be monsters in the forest, and those who wander under the trees rarely come back alive. Oh, and that road to the village? It can take hours, or it can take days to travel, and some travelers never find Greymist Fair at all.
The author managed to convey the magical feeling that I absolutely love in fairy tales, and she also understands the cardinal rule of those tales - no matter how fantastical the world or the events happening in it, there must be internal rules to that world that everything follows. And if those rules are broken, there must be an explanation as to why and how. Like the ever-flowering tree branch that protects the wearer from Death, or the shoes instilled with magic that allow the person to outrun Death and its wargs.
The characters are less important here than the story they are part of, but I still had fun following along with them. The story is also not told in chronological order, with subsequent stories often going back in time and shedding more light on events mentioned or implied in previous stories, but the whole paints a fascinating canvas of a village at war with Death, even if the villagers don't realize that. See, the forest around the village is Death's domain, and so was this village at one point, until something happened and Death was denied entrance.
I loved the fact that this conflict was resolved not with violence, but with forgiveness and acceptance. The main message of this story is that we are all social animals, and that even entities like Death can be lonely and long for companionship. And that it is always better to show acceptance and love to others instead of prejudice and violence. That's a message we should hear more often today.
It's a well written and heartfelt story with a beautiful message, and I would highly recommend it.
PS: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
Now this is a fairy tale retelling done right! It doesn't try to outdo the original, just takes that inspiration and creates something new and very readable with it.
I loved the village of Greymist Fair and the atmosphere of mystery and even foreboding the author created for this place and the villagers. Imagine a village in the middle of a dense forest with only one road leading to it and back out. That's already claustrophobic enough. But now add to that the fact that there are rumored to be monsters in the forest, and those who wander under the trees rarely come back alive. Oh, and that road to the village? It can take hours, or it can take days to travel, and some travelers never find Greymist Fair at all.
The author managed to convey the magical feeling that I absolutely love in fairy tales, and she also understands the cardinal rule of those tales - no matter how fantastical the world or the events happening in it, there must be internal rules to that world that everything follows. And if those rules are broken, there must be an explanation as to why and how. Like the ever-flowering tree branch that protects the wearer from Death, or the shoes instilled with magic that allow the person to outrun Death and its wargs.
The characters are less important here than the story they are part of, but I still had fun following along with them. The story is also not told in chronological order, with subsequent stories often going back in time and shedding more light on events mentioned or implied in previous stories, but the whole paints a fascinating canvas of a village at war with Death, even if the villagers don't realize that. See, the forest around the village is Death's domain, and so was this village at one point, until something happened and Death was denied entrance.
I loved the fact that this conflict was resolved not with violence, but with forgiveness and acceptance. The main message of this story is that we are all social animals, and that even entities like Death can be lonely and long for companionship. And that it is always better to show acceptance and love to others instead of prejudice and violence. That's a message we should hear more often today.
It's a well written and heartfelt story with a beautiful message, and I would highly recommend it.
PS: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
June 27, 2023
1. Love the cover!
2. Love the characters.
3. The cover!
4. Love the writing style.
5. The cover!
6. Sadly the story was disjointed and directionless, often making it hard to gage the reason or the point of the story, and this is a catastrophic flaw.
7. The cover!!
2. Love the characters.
3. The cover!
4. Love the writing style.
5. The cover!
6. Sadly the story was disjointed and directionless, often making it hard to gage the reason or the point of the story, and this is a catastrophic flaw.
7. The cover!!
did-not-finish
January 26, 2024DNF - 8% of the audiobook
I do really want to read Francesca Zappia but... Not this one. This isn't going to be the one.
I do really want to read Francesca Zappia but... Not this one. This isn't going to be the one.
Want to read
March 26, 2023"Inspired by the original, bloody, lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, acclaimed author Francesca Zappia crafts an enthralling murder-mystery"
November 1, 2025
[2.5 stars]
“he was a strange man, gottfried, and had been for as long as katrina could remember. but anyone who braved the woods as often as he did had to be at least slightly insane.”
i thought i was going to enjoy this one a lot more than i did. i was expecting a very mysterious fairytale that would for sure(!) become a new favorite of mine yet i already can’t remember half of the characters’ names.
the writing in this was very descriptive, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing (and it did make for a very atmospheric read), i think the story relied too much on the setting to engross the reader. i had such a hard time at the beginning of this book because the village, Greymist Fair, and everything in it was being overly described, yet all i knew about the characters was that they lived there; even after having finished the book, i can’t tell you much about them or their personalities. i can however tell you every single detail about the houses they lived in.
i only realized after getting through about 15% of this book that it was divided into multiple sections, each being like 5-6 chapters long, following different characters. they are all connected to the village somehow, but they took place in different timelines. now, first of all, because we spent so little time with each character as the main focus, i couldn’t really connect with any of them. as soon as you started to get interested in their story, their section would end and you would move on to someone else. because of this, it seemed like this was more of a compilation of short stories rather than a full length novel, which i didn’t really like. ultimately, i just don’t think the author did the best of jobs at intertwining the “lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm” into one story, and maybe it would’ve been better had this truly been just a collection of short stories about said fairytales.
“he was a strange man, gottfried, and had been for as long as katrina could remember. but anyone who braved the woods as often as he did had to be at least slightly insane.”
i thought i was going to enjoy this one a lot more than i did. i was expecting a very mysterious fairytale that would for sure(!) become a new favorite of mine yet i already can’t remember half of the characters’ names.
the writing in this was very descriptive, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing (and it did make for a very atmospheric read), i think the story relied too much on the setting to engross the reader. i had such a hard time at the beginning of this book because the village, Greymist Fair, and everything in it was being overly described, yet all i knew about the characters was that they lived there; even after having finished the book, i can’t tell you much about them or their personalities. i can however tell you every single detail about the houses they lived in.
i only realized after getting through about 15% of this book that it was divided into multiple sections, each being like 5-6 chapters long, following different characters. they are all connected to the village somehow, but they took place in different timelines. now, first of all, because we spent so little time with each character as the main focus, i couldn’t really connect with any of them. as soon as you started to get interested in their story, their section would end and you would move on to someone else. because of this, it seemed like this was more of a compilation of short stories rather than a full length novel, which i didn’t really like. ultimately, i just don’t think the author did the best of jobs at intertwining the “lesser-known fairytales of the Brothers Grimm” into one story, and maybe it would’ve been better had this truly been just a collection of short stories about said fairytales.
January 25, 2023
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I DNFd this book around 32 percent. I really enjoyed the first story following Heike. I was super invested and ready to see what happens. Then it just ended and swapped to the past following a prince.
At this point it started to feel like a collecting of fairy tales the author was spinning her own tale with instead of a novel she created with inspiration from certain fairy tales. I even double checked the summary for the book and it didn’t sound like it was supposed to be short stories to me. Yes they all take place in the same town but each one so far has been from someone else’s POV. Just like a fairy tale would be.
Back to the prince story, I did not really like how it ended? I guess I failed to see how the wish / solution given was the right one. Maybe I failed to see how the prince deserved that ending?
I was just really not enjoying this story and decided it was not for me.
I DNFd this book around 32 percent. I really enjoyed the first story following Heike. I was super invested and ready to see what happens. Then it just ended and swapped to the past following a prince.
At this point it started to feel like a collecting of fairy tales the author was spinning her own tale with instead of a novel she created with inspiration from certain fairy tales. I even double checked the summary for the book and it didn’t sound like it was supposed to be short stories to me. Yes they all take place in the same town but each one so far has been from someone else’s POV. Just like a fairy tale would be.
Back to the prince story, I did not really like how it ended? I guess I failed to see how the wish / solution given was the right one. Maybe I failed to see how the prince deserved that ending?
I was just really not enjoying this story and decided it was not for me.
September 19, 2023
ARC provided by NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books.
Ah, I can finally scratch this off my 'to-be read' list and it feels so good! This took me far too long to get to in reading, but I had such a marvelous time reading this book. It was interesting to see this book be broken up into stories happening in the same village that were all connected to each other. I've seen this happen with an anthology or two where all the stories connect to each other, but never inside one book by one author. It was very surprising and one I'm not disappointed by. I also loved how Death was their own character and the role they played throughout the entire book. It was just a fun enjoyable time and it gave so many feelings of Sleepy Hollow, and at times, Beauty and the Beast.
👻 The Girl Who Outran Death ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Death, loss of a parent (in the past), grief, blood, scene of emesis, brief mentions of dead animals
I loved this section so much! It was giving me all the Sleepy Hollow vibes and I was living for it. The detail we get surround the village, the cottage, and woods was beautifully executed. To top this all off, the ending was something I wasn't expecting. It was really atmospheric, very cozy haunting vibes. It was a good time! Plus, Doctor Death is very intriguing!
👻 The Prince's Riddle ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Very brief mentions of infertility, very brief mentions of miscarriages, child abuse, child abandonment, manipulation, blood, toxic obsession
Wow, okay, I loved the way this is written. The prince is a hundred percent a character that's designed for you not to like and to be honest, I wasn't really impressed by the story at all. However, seeing Hilda and the huge role she played in this story, and the way she talks about magic was everything. It really turned the story around for me and after the first story, it was so nice to see Hilda like this.
👻 Wolf Children ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of parents recounted, grief, blood, murder, death, loneliness, imprisonment, implied child abductions/kidnappings, implied cannibalism, alcohol consumption
This was giving so many Little Red Riding Hood vibes! The way the atmosphere and storyline builds with dread was so well done. Not to mention the way Tomas plays a role in all of this was interesting to see. The little details really made the story for me and the ending has left me with wonderment, and questions.
👻 Katrina 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Dead animal, brief mentions of poisoning, blood, death
I honestly expected more from this section. Instead what I got was waiting for Hans to get killed of and I got very annoyed with Katrina. I will admit, I did get a few moments of Sleepy Hollow vibes especially as we got closer to the end, but those moments were very few. I did like that we got to see Hilda again and we get to see certain things be made more clear especially after the first section in this book, and we learned about Hilda's fate through her daughter. Overall, this was okay and enjoyable, but I just wanted a little more from it.
👻 The Secret of Grey Lake ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of a parent recounted, talk of death, very brief mentions of arson, implied slavery, scenes of physical and verbal abuse, scene of flogging and torture, blood, violence, mentions loneliness
This felt like if LeFou and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast ever got their own story because those are the vibes it was serving. However, I wasn't entirely live, laugh, loving this story and I think I just wanted more than we got. I think this is a great story to show why magic can't be placed in the wrong hands, but it was just a sad story to see Fritz be treated like he was incompetent and mindless the whole story. It was nice to see Altan come back into the picture and see more of him and his story. Plus, seeing Heike in action just solidifies her truly becoming a favorite character of mine in this whole book.
👻 Doctor Death ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions of financial hardship, loneliness, medical talk, death, scene of childbirth
I'm sobbing and not okay! I loved this story so much! I knew Doctor Death was going to be one of my favorite characters the minute the story was introduced to us. I'm also glad my theories were proven right. However, this story had no right to make me so soft and mushy over the Doctor and Death at the end. How dare! I truly think this is my favorite section of this whole book so far. It'll be interesting to watch how everything will unfold for the rest of the book with the way everything played out in this story.
👻 The Wargs of Greymist 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Very brief recounted physical abuse, murder recounted, death, underage drinking, alcohol, smoking, dead animal
I was definitely expecting something different when it came to this section. While it makes sense to have a story from Wenzel, I just didn't think the majority of this section would be from Wenzel's view. Not to mention there was a character in this story that felt like they had already been killed off in a previous section. So it was really bothersome to see that character return in this. I was hoping we would have seen more of Heike and Death in this story than what we got. Taking everything into consideration, that felt like the direction this story should have gone or at least added an extra chapter or two to this section for that purpose alone. Overall, I just expected something different than what we got and the whole thing with that returned character felt unnecessary, and it felt like that character was taking the spotlight away from other important characters.
Overall, the introduction and the ending are both very short for this book, but they were both beautiful ways to introduce and conclude the book, as a whole. I really wish we would have gotten a story with Heike and Death sitting down with one another to have a more in depth conversation. However, I did appreciate the ending because it give that kind of nod that they had an off page conversation. The book as a whole, I really enjoyed this. I wish I could have loved every section of this book, but some sections just out shone others. I don't think this book will be for everyone especially due to this book feeling it's more of a middle grade read instead of young adult. I think if you're a lover of fairy tales and retellings, you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of this book like I have. As I've mentioned, the Sleepy Hollow and Beauty and the Beast vibes are very strong in this book.
Buddy read with Caro ♥
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
Ah, I can finally scratch this off my 'to-be read' list and it feels so good! This took me far too long to get to in reading, but I had such a marvelous time reading this book. It was interesting to see this book be broken up into stories happening in the same village that were all connected to each other. I've seen this happen with an anthology or two where all the stories connect to each other, but never inside one book by one author. It was very surprising and one I'm not disappointed by. I also loved how Death was their own character and the role they played throughout the entire book. It was just a fun enjoyable time and it gave so many feelings of Sleepy Hollow, and at times, Beauty and the Beast.
👻 The Girl Who Outran Death ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Death, loss of a parent (in the past), grief, blood, scene of emesis, brief mentions of dead animals
I loved this section so much! It was giving me all the Sleepy Hollow vibes and I was living for it. The detail we get surround the village, the cottage, and woods was beautifully executed. To top this all off, the ending was something I wasn't expecting. It was really atmospheric, very cozy haunting vibes. It was a good time! Plus, Doctor Death is very intriguing!
👻 The Prince's Riddle ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Very brief mentions of infertility, very brief mentions of miscarriages, child abuse, child abandonment, manipulation, blood, toxic obsession
Wow, okay, I loved the way this is written. The prince is a hundred percent a character that's designed for you not to like and to be honest, I wasn't really impressed by the story at all. However, seeing Hilda and the huge role she played in this story, and the way she talks about magic was everything. It really turned the story around for me and after the first story, it was so nice to see Hilda like this.
👻 Wolf Children ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of parents recounted, grief, blood, murder, death, loneliness, imprisonment, implied child abductions/kidnappings, implied cannibalism, alcohol consumption
This was giving so many Little Red Riding Hood vibes! The way the atmosphere and storyline builds with dread was so well done. Not to mention the way Tomas plays a role in all of this was interesting to see. The little details really made the story for me and the ending has left me with wonderment, and questions.
👻 Katrina 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Dead animal, brief mentions of poisoning, blood, death
I honestly expected more from this section. Instead what I got was waiting for Hans to get killed of and I got very annoyed with Katrina. I will admit, I did get a few moments of Sleepy Hollow vibes especially as we got closer to the end, but those moments were very few. I did like that we got to see Hilda again and we get to see certain things be made more clear especially after the first section in this book, and we learned about Hilda's fate through her daughter. Overall, this was okay and enjoyable, but I just wanted a little more from it.
👻 The Secret of Grey Lake ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of a parent recounted, talk of death, very brief mentions of arson, implied slavery, scenes of physical and verbal abuse, scene of flogging and torture, blood, violence, mentions loneliness
"We all make mistakes. The good people try to fix them. Sometimes you can't fix them, and you have to live with what happens. Then you just pray to all the gods you know that you don't have to live with it alone."
This felt like if LeFou and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast ever got their own story because those are the vibes it was serving. However, I wasn't entirely live, laugh, loving this story and I think I just wanted more than we got. I think this is a great story to show why magic can't be placed in the wrong hands, but it was just a sad story to see Fritz be treated like he was incompetent and mindless the whole story. It was nice to see Altan come back into the picture and see more of him and his story. Plus, seeing Heike in action just solidifies her truly becoming a favorite character of mine in this whole book.
👻 Doctor Death ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions of financial hardship, loneliness, medical talk, death, scene of childbirth
"He could not allow himself to be afraid of Death. This was his duty, now. He had a home to protect, and he would protect it."
I'm sobbing and not okay! I loved this story so much! I knew Doctor Death was going to be one of my favorite characters the minute the story was introduced to us. I'm also glad my theories were proven right. However, this story had no right to make me so soft and mushy over the Doctor and Death at the end. How dare! I truly think this is my favorite section of this whole book so far. It'll be interesting to watch how everything will unfold for the rest of the book with the way everything played out in this story.
👻 The Wargs of Greymist 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Very brief recounted physical abuse, murder recounted, death, underage drinking, alcohol, smoking, dead animal
"He was going on this journey to save those things. That would keep him brave. And when he returned, he'd have his own story to tell."
I was definitely expecting something different when it came to this section. While it makes sense to have a story from Wenzel, I just didn't think the majority of this section would be from Wenzel's view. Not to mention there was a character in this story that felt like they had already been killed off in a previous section. So it was really bothersome to see that character return in this. I was hoping we would have seen more of Heike and Death in this story than what we got. Taking everything into consideration, that felt like the direction this story should have gone or at least added an extra chapter or two to this section for that purpose alone. Overall, I just expected something different than what we got and the whole thing with that returned character felt unnecessary, and it felt like that character was taking the spotlight away from other important characters.
Overall, the introduction and the ending are both very short for this book, but they were both beautiful ways to introduce and conclude the book, as a whole. I really wish we would have gotten a story with Heike and Death sitting down with one another to have a more in depth conversation. However, I did appreciate the ending because it give that kind of nod that they had an off page conversation. The book as a whole, I really enjoyed this. I wish I could have loved every section of this book, but some sections just out shone others. I don't think this book will be for everyone especially due to this book feeling it's more of a middle grade read instead of young adult. I think if you're a lover of fairy tales and retellings, you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of this book like I have. As I've mentioned, the Sleepy Hollow and Beauty and the Beast vibes are very strong in this book.
Buddy read with Caro ♥
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
July 18, 2024
Don’t ask me to explain why it was a 5 star. Right book, right time.
December 24, 2022
I absolutely love the concept of a dark, enchanted wood where things are sinister than they seem. Even better if people actually reside in the wood despite its dangers and know that the only way to stay safe is to never step off the road. I love that I get to read about people residing in such a dangerous, magical, and creepy place from the comfort and safety of my couch lol. It’s so interesting to see how people live so far from the rest of the world and so close to magical danger.
“They keep one another company in the long lulls between visitors, and on the nights when they are sure evil is real, and it lives in the forest.”
I imagine if the Brothers Grimm were to write a book in modern day, it would be similar to this style. I love that this even takes place in a fairytale world with a prince as a visiting character!
“You said you like magic? You’ll like the forest, then. There is a different world inside the woods, and in that world is a village that breathes magic.”
What I didn’t expect is that this book is somewhat of an anthology, with each new chapter focusing on a different character and story in the village. I actually quite enjoyed it, having it be more of an interconnected book of short stories rather than one long story with the same characters. This also wasn’t as spooky as I was expecting based on the cover and synopsis, but I still enjoyed this! This book must be written to pay homage to the Brothers Grimm because it reads just like a Grimms Fairytale. Whimsical, dark, and reading this gives you a similar feel.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
“They keep one another company in the long lulls between visitors, and on the nights when they are sure evil is real, and it lives in the forest.”
I imagine if the Brothers Grimm were to write a book in modern day, it would be similar to this style. I love that this even takes place in a fairytale world with a prince as a visiting character!
“You said you like magic? You’ll like the forest, then. There is a different world inside the woods, and in that world is a village that breathes magic.”
What I didn’t expect is that this book is somewhat of an anthology, with each new chapter focusing on a different character and story in the village. I actually quite enjoyed it, having it be more of an interconnected book of short stories rather than one long story with the same characters. This also wasn’t as spooky as I was expecting based on the cover and synopsis, but I still enjoyed this! This book must be written to pay homage to the Brothers Grimm because it reads just like a Grimms Fairytale. Whimsical, dark, and reading this gives you a similar feel.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
January 13, 2024
Zappia .. oh zappia ... you do miracles .
Though I was never a fan of short stories but in this book it was totally different, it was like a set of short stories not in chronological order each telling its own story yet all onterwoven in some way, answering each other's plot holes and filling each other's gaps.
I had all my questions answered, all but for why was Death's house the exact same as Helda's ? Either that wasnt mentioned or I have somehow missed it, though I doubt that. Other than this I loved the book, with its eerie spooky vibes and the thrilling parts that kept me on edge .. like that story "Wolf Children" .. I felt for Death by the end of the book and felt their misery having to kill the one person who had come to accept them though I would have liked it more, had this chapter been longer and more detailed.
Being a fan of Zappia .. her first book to read was "Made You Up" and it surely left a dent in my heart and became an all time fav, I trusted her with this book as well & though it was a total different experience .. she did not disappoint at all .
Would totally recommend .
Though I was never a fan of short stories but in this book it was totally different, it was like a set of short stories not in chronological order each telling its own story yet all onterwoven in some way, answering each other's plot holes and filling each other's gaps.
I had all my questions answered, all but for why was Death's house the exact same as Helda's ? Either that wasnt mentioned or I have somehow missed it, though I doubt that. Other than this I loved the book, with its eerie spooky vibes and the thrilling parts that kept me on edge .. like that story "Wolf Children" .. I felt for Death by the end of the book and felt their misery having to kill the one person who had come to accept them though I would have liked it more, had this chapter been longer and more detailed.
Being a fan of Zappia .. her first book to read was "Made You Up" and it surely left a dent in my heart and became an all time fav, I trusted her with this book as well & though it was a total different experience .. she did not disappoint at all .
Would totally recommend .
June 8, 2023
I seriously never know what to expect when starting a new Francesca Zappia's book, and that's partially why I'm such a big fan.
But Greymist Fair was quite a disappointment.
I did like the writing and the way POV constantly changed, having each character add another layer to the story. But even that didn't prevent this book from feeling...empty. If someone asked me to tell them what this book was about in a couple of sentances, I honestly wouldn't know what to say. It was about everything...and nothing.
And the worst part was that, even though this book is labeled as YA, I would personally consider it middle grade and, if it was properly labeled, I never would've picked it up.
But Greymist Fair was quite a disappointment.
I did like the writing and the way POV constantly changed, having each character add another layer to the story. But even that didn't prevent this book from feeling...empty. If someone asked me to tell them what this book was about in a couple of sentances, I honestly wouldn't know what to say. It was about everything...and nothing.
And the worst part was that, even though this book is labeled as YA, I would personally consider it middle grade and, if it was properly labeled, I never would've picked it up.
March 19, 2024
LOVED this book so hard! This is my favorite Zappia novel to date. I loved this village and all the people in it. The storytelling was beautiful - if the characters aged up, this would easily read as an adult novel. This is one book that I plan on keeping and re-reading. Greymist Fair is a little village in the middle of the woods, some people never make it there and the villagers never leave. They know to stay out of the forests, for death lurks within. Each tale is a retelling of old Grim fairy tales and they all connect to the town. The Grim tales that are "retold" aren't necessarily the common ones and most children would never know them. I myself didn't know a few. The storytelling is beautiful, the setting is beautiful, the characters are complicated and interesting.
November 21, 2024
Fairytales should always be this dark. And uplifting. Francesca Zappia got the Brothers Grimm
October 6, 2025
3.75 stars
"A tall man in a dark coat walks the road. Death follows on his heels."
🍂
In theory this book is perfect, it is an atmospheric, fairy tale retelling set in a small town nestled amidst a dark and creepy forest, brimming with magic. In execution, it fell a little flat. I felt as if the book wanted to be a horror, or a fantasy, a creepy fantasy retelling or a fantasy retelling with some creepy elements. It was scattered all over the place.
The characters could have been the saving grace of this book but we didn't ended up spending enough time with the lot of them to get attached. The main character was strong, only because we were told she was strong. The only character I became a little attached with was Leslie, but even in her front, I was left disappointed and grasping onto nothing.
Which isn't to say that I hated it. I loved the atmosphere of the book. I loved whenever this book shifted into creepy-scary mode. And any book that employs death as a character absolutely enthrals me. The setting and vibe were immaculate. The small town was...small. So it had both the uncanny and cozy nature of one.
"Neighbors trade wares and stories. They keep one another company in the long lulls between visitors, and on the nights when they are sure evil is real, and it lives in the forest."
I also adored the tiny romance in here.
Overall, a fairytale-esque, atmospheric book that is both eerie and comforting at the same time.
"A tall man in a dark coat walks the road. Death follows on his heels."
🍂
In theory this book is perfect, it is an atmospheric, fairy tale retelling set in a small town nestled amidst a dark and creepy forest, brimming with magic. In execution, it fell a little flat. I felt as if the book wanted to be a horror, or a fantasy, a creepy fantasy retelling or a fantasy retelling with some creepy elements. It was scattered all over the place.
The characters could have been the saving grace of this book but we didn't ended up spending enough time with the lot of them to get attached. The main character was strong, only because we were told she was strong. The only character I became a little attached with was Leslie, but even in her front, I was left disappointed and grasping onto nothing.
Which isn't to say that I hated it. I loved the atmosphere of the book. I loved whenever this book shifted into creepy-scary mode. And any book that employs death as a character absolutely enthrals me. The setting and vibe were immaculate. The small town was...small. So it had both the uncanny and cozy nature of one.
"Neighbors trade wares and stories. They keep one another company in the long lulls between visitors, and on the nights when they are sure evil is real, and it lives in the forest."
I also adored the tiny romance in here.
Overall, a fairytale-esque, atmospheric book that is both eerie and comforting at the same time.
March 27, 2023
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty, I had no idea what I was getting into when I first started reading Greymist Fair. I knew I would be getting a haunting, fairytale-like novel but I didn't expect it to like it as much as I did.
I read Made You Up a few years ago so I was already familiar with Francesca Zappia's writing. I haven't read any other books but knew she went down a darker, more spookier path in recent years. Greymist Fair, just like the aforementioned book is well-written and draws you in from the first page. I was hooked and as the book progressed, I got more and more sucked into the story and it didn't let me go.
The book is separated into 7 (??) stories. They all seem different but interconnected in some way. The overarching story is discovering what is lurking in the woods and why people disappear there. My favourite stories had to be about the Prince who granted wishes, Katrina, Fritz and Doctor Death. All the stories were so interesting and fascinating to read. If this book was a TV show I think I would definitely watch it because it was that gripping and atmospheric.
When I first opened the book and saw the huge list of villagers (or characters), I immediately felt a little overwhelmed and worried this book might introduce too many people for me to keep track of. I thought the way the author tackled this throughout the book was perfect. At the end of the book you're introduced to everyone however, the characters are all introduced bit by bit so it doesn't seem too overwhelming. I loved how every villager had a personality, a story and depth. They all felt so alive and real and that really showed on the page. Even Death had a deep backstory and a unique character perspective.
All in all, this book was very enchanting, atmospheric and true to the nature of Grimm's original tales. It comes out tomorrow so be sure to check it out.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.3 STARS
In all honesty, I had no idea what I was getting into when I first started reading Greymist Fair. I knew I would be getting a haunting, fairytale-like novel but I didn't expect it to like it as much as I did.
I read Made You Up a few years ago so I was already familiar with Francesca Zappia's writing. I haven't read any other books but knew she went down a darker, more spookier path in recent years. Greymist Fair, just like the aforementioned book is well-written and draws you in from the first page. I was hooked and as the book progressed, I got more and more sucked into the story and it didn't let me go.
The book is separated into 7 (??) stories. They all seem different but interconnected in some way. The overarching story is discovering what is lurking in the woods and why people disappear there. My favourite stories had to be about the Prince who granted wishes, Katrina, Fritz and Doctor Death. All the stories were so interesting and fascinating to read. If this book was a TV show I think I would definitely watch it because it was that gripping and atmospheric.
When I first opened the book and saw the huge list of villagers (or characters), I immediately felt a little overwhelmed and worried this book might introduce too many people for me to keep track of. I thought the way the author tackled this throughout the book was perfect. At the end of the book you're introduced to everyone however, the characters are all introduced bit by bit so it doesn't seem too overwhelming. I loved how every villager had a personality, a story and depth. They all felt so alive and real and that really showed on the page. Even Death had a deep backstory and a unique character perspective.
All in all, this book was very enchanting, atmospheric and true to the nature of Grimm's original tales. It comes out tomorrow so be sure to check it out.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.3 STARS
September 16, 2023
First, one of the most morbidly adorable endings ever!
I loved the shifting stories and how they managed to merge together to carry the story along. Heike and Wenzel are by far my favorite part of the book and I wish we could have seen more of them.
I kept waiting for Hans to get what he deserved and I was so pleased that it was Wenzel who gave it to him.
I was surprised about Doctor Death, but in a good way! While all the stories had sad, it at least bittersweet endings, Doctor Death's was the most emotional for me. He and Hilda finally got to be together but he never got to tell Heike, though she eventually learned, from Death of all places.
I loved the atmosphere of the book and this would have been even more enjoyable closer to Halloween or in the fall.
I loved the shifting stories and how they managed to merge together to carry the story along. Heike and Wenzel are by far my favorite part of the book and I wish we could have seen more of them.
I kept waiting for Hans to get what he deserved and I was so pleased that it was Wenzel who gave it to him.
I was surprised about Doctor Death, but in a good way! While all the stories had sad, it at least bittersweet endings, Doctor Death's was the most emotional for me. He and Hilda finally got to be together but he never got to tell Heike, though she eventually learned, from Death of all places.
I loved the atmosphere of the book and this would have been even more enjoyable closer to Halloween or in the fall.
January 31, 2024
I’m not really sure what to say about this book other than I enjoyed it. It was a bit strange but as I continued reading I started to understand the reason for certain parts of the story that seemed out of place.
January 12, 2024
Tak trochu neznáme rozprávky bratov Grimmovcov zasadené na jedno miesto. Na toto sychravé uzimené počasie ako stvorené.
August 18, 2024
Cleverly interwoven stories riffing on Grimms fairy tales. Easy to read and just a little scary.
March 14, 2025
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! Told like old school dark fairytales that have common threads and characters. Loved the writing style!
November 13, 2023
The pretty cover deceived me.
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