This was a really fun read. The plot moved quickly without feeling rushed or confusing. The plot is very action-based, which is exactly what I would expect from a children's book. It was easy to understand Eva's wonder and how she was easily drawn in by magic and possibly. I loved the starting point as a medium and how it connected back into her story in a new and unexpected way. I found myself unable to stop reading once I read the last quarter of the book fully drawn in my the tension in the conflict and how Eva would manage to get free. A very solid and enjoyable read. I also enjoyed the addition of Henry's illustrations, which helped me to better imagine the story, and also the subtle way a certain undrawable character somewhat resembled a lion in some sketches.

This is a well written book. It has some fine lines, a few well conceived set pieces, a fair share of perceptive and insightful observations, and some lean dialogue. Atmosphere and setting is top drawer. That said, try as I might I found neither the characters, nor their situations, nor the overall narrative engaging enough to arouse or hold my curiosity and attention. As a consequence, it doesn't seem fair to write much more of a review, apart from encouraging inquisitive readers to give the book a try.

This book took me a while to read. When I started, I just couldn't get into it. It wasn't bad but was slow paced. About half way through, it really picked up. I could hardly put it down. I found the book to be unique and well written, a very enjoyable read. I'm not sure I can compare it to any other books I can think of. If you like magic, and an older feel (it takes place primarily at the Chicago World's Fair) it's a great choice

I went into this knowing it was a middle grade books, which I do often still enjoy. This one was fun. It gave me the feeling of a younger Night Circus in several ways. The historical fiction aspects were very interesting and done very well. Overall I think it was a wonderful book.

Savrit's writing tends to be mystical and magical, which usually adds to the atmospheric take of the story. However, this was more difficult to get into and I ended up not finishing, unfortunately. I almost wonder if Savrit's writing style would better lend itself to adult writing, rather than middle grades.

This book is too short for what it is. I want more historical atmosphere OR more magical dimension. I worry Gavriel will never top Anna and the Swallow Man.

This is an unforgettable story. I was completely transported to the Chicago World's Fair, which I really wish I could have been at.
I'm here for everything Gavriel Savit writes.

Come See the Fair is a middle-grade read that follows a 12-year-old named Eva Root. Eva is faking the medium ability but starts to hear voices that push her to head to Chicago where the fair is. Eva isn't the only one who is hearing these voices and being drawn to head to Chicago, Henry is dealing with the same urgings. Once they get to the fair Eva is sucked into a different alternate universe that is controlled by someone dark and dangerous.

I enjoyed the writing style of this story, I think it targets a great audience. The relationship/dialogue between Eva and Henry flows nicely, and their friendship.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

Eva is a child medium who breaks away from her adult. On her train ride away, she meets Henry, an artist of some esteem. Henry is bound for the Chicago Worlds Fair and Eva is enticed to go with him. From there the story unravels into a hard to follow, very dark story of magic, deceit and….friendship? I guess. The story was hard to follow and the magic was random with very little basis for existing. I have loved Savit’s other books and thought them brilliant. This one was just confusing.

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge history nerd and absolutely love books that deal with the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (here’s looking at you Devil in the White City). So I jumped at the change to review “Come See the Fair” by Gavriel Savit. This middle-grade read follows 12 year old Eva Root, a fake medium who starts hearing voices that urge her to head to Chicago to see the fair. Along the way she meets Henry, whose mysterious sketches are drawing him to Chicago, and to Eva. As they begin to explore the fair, Eva is drawn into alternate worlds controlled by a dark magician whose promises of magic bring a heavy price.

I think the premise of the World’s Fair is an excellent setting for a spooky middle grade, but this story didn’t really work for me. The beginning had a lot of promise and I was really interested in the magic and world-building, but as the plot unfolded it became hard to follow. The overall story is engaging but I feel like the complicated story lines could be difficult for the target age group. The story also gets pretty dark and while I’m all for that as an adult, I don’t think all middle grade readers will be ready for it. Overall this could be an enjoyable story for the right reader, but I wanted a bit more substance and a less complex plot.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhousechildrens for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy!

Imagine if the Chicago World’s Fair had included a secret shadowy magic exhibition, hidden from all but a select few. That’s the premise of this haunting story. Eva has spent her life pretending to be psychic, performing for the benefit of the woman who found her in an orphanage years ago. But then she feels the World’s fair calling to her, and her whole life changes. Eva finds herself caught in a web of alluring magic that starts to seem more chilling as the days pass. This is one of those books where the MC has no idea who is truly good or who to trust – she has one friend she relies on, but when he starts to have doubts about the magic surrounding them, she isn’t sure if she should follow his lead or not. The story takes many twists and turns and heads into some darker territory, but it’s perfect for upper MG readers who are often forgotten!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was very intrigued by the description of "Come See The Fair" and was excited at the start of the book. The story had elements that reminded me of Charlie and the chocolate factory and Something Wicked This Way Comes. I was truly invested in the beginning of this story, but as the book went on, I felt like it fumbled to keep my attention, and I struggled with following the story. For what would should be a middle grade read, I felt that it did not flow as easily as I expected it to.

The World's Fair is a solid setting for historical fiction, given that it brought together people from all over in one place. And I do like how this one ties in the collective trauma of the Great Chicago Fire. With a heavy dose of magic and mysticism we're well set up for an exciting read. The execution left a little to be desired. The plot is a bit meandering, taking random shifts and introducing characters without significant follow through.

Dark and fantastical middle grade historical fiction, filled with magic. Eva is an orphan under the care of Mrs. Blodgett, who has molded her into the perfect charlatan medium. Though she performs seances daily, she's never felt the touch of real magic, until one day when she hears a voice from nowhere, telling her to "come to the fair". She's obviously intrigued, and once she hears of the World's Fair happening in Chicago, she quickly heads there. Along the way, she meets Henry, a boy also drawn to the fair by seemingly mystical means. At the fair, they are wowed by the beautiful art and architecture, and soon discover that there's real magic behind the scenes. The enigmatic Mr. Magister opens their eyes to this new world... But something dark might be lurking underneath this magic. Will Eva discover the truth before it's too late?

This story hooked me from page one. The descriptions of the Chicago World's Fair were so evocative, I could easily picture each scene. I enjoyed watching as the characters had their eyes opened to the beauty of the magic, and then was fully held in suspense as things started getting darker. What a turn this story takes! As other reviews state, this story gets surprisingly dark, and the villain is quite terrifying. The lead up and the ending confrontation were fantastic. The ending was a little more nuanced and less happily ever after than I would have preferred, but I think it fits this story well. I really enjoyed reading, and would pick up again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I liked this book, but didn’t love it. The descriptions of the World’s Fair were mesmerizing and the magical world within was fascinating. The art work throughout added to the story to help the reader see what was being described. I liked the characters of Eva and Henry. However, the story became too complex with the magic and how it all worked, making it difficult to follow. I understood what was happening, but wasn’t able to be fully immersed in the story. I also felt that the story overall was too lengthy.

I’m glad that I read the book, but it’s not one that I will read again.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #ComeSeetheFair in exchange for an honest review. - 3 stars

Savit does an incredible job with atmosphere in this book, enveloping the reader in the world of the Columbia Exposition, a fair that screams for the existence of magic. As Savit's author's note explains, he clearly did an immense amount of research making the environment highly realistic. The character development and interactions though, the meat of the story, as well as any attempt at explaining the magic fell flat. I found myself wrapped up in the world yet somehow disconnected.

Eva is a powerful young seer who never knew her parents. After she runs away from her mentor, Eva's adventures start as she stumbles into a mysterious building at the Chicago Worlds Fair. Here time doesn't work the same. Once her best friend is killed, Eva escapes from the building that has a hold on her, and must solve the mystery of her friends death.

First of all...thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Second...this is not my normal type of book/genre/style. But I wanted to give it a try. It's set at the World's Fair in Chicago and involves children and magic. Again, not my usual style. Initially I was very interested and read it pretty quickly but then it got a little repetitive with their many trips to the fair and not much happening. Around the 50% mark, things finally picked up and I was able to finish it in a day after that. It was good enough but not something I'd reach for again.
I was a little confused by all of the names of characters that actually never made appearances, in fact by the time I got to the end of the book, I had completely forgotten about one of them completely.

Mood: You want a world where things can be different and brighter, and you want to follow a mysterious voice to a carnival to find those wonders and magic. You want to feel this world in your hand, smell the sweetness of it and taste dreams on your tongue.
If you're a mood reader and this is your mood, then this is the book for you to pick up.
Conclusion: By the end, the story hasn't lost its magic built in the by beautiful line, but character motivation is elusive. The world seemed to hold all the magic, and the characters got just a few drops in the ink that failed to paint the entire picture. I think I will come back to this book one day and see what exactly I missed, lost in the magic.