The cover alone made me want to read this book.... I really should not judge books by it's cover. While it was a fun little elemental twist of a little brothers Grimm stories it just kind of falls short for me. You get to follow four "sister" who have a power of an element, but forget it after they turn 13? Only to remember when they turn 18 to (spoiler alert) fight for their life....and pick if they want to be good or evil. I do enjoy that this book centers around finding yourself and never forgetting it even when people try to make you be less than what you are, buttttttttt they is also a lot of repeating in this and it kind of muddies up the story and makes it drag.

I wanted to love this book. I just could not get into it. I love that it was clear who’s viewpoint you were reading from but they changed too often. Not only between character, but between worlds. I found myself having to go back too often. If they viewpoints had changed every chapter it may have been an easier read. The writing, however, is beautiful and descriptive. I may try again in the future. Just a side note: this may be my most favorite book cover ever.

I think most of us grew up reading Grimm's fairytales. I know I have a special place in my heart for it, so I was very excited for this book. Considering most fairytales registered by the brothers Grimm were women's, passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, the idea of Sisters Grimm instead of Brothers makes perfect sense.
The book follows four sisters who forgot about their power and each other overnight and years later have to piece together their life from washed away memory. It's a good concept, we have elemental sisters, stars in human forms and demons. But it's not explored as it could be. It's a very confusing read and hard to get into. You have too many narrators - some of them are in first person, others in third person and even an omniscient second person narrator. Overall I expected more but still an interesting read.

The story line for this book is fantastic. We've all read or had read to us Grimm's fairy tales. So when you take the fairy tale and add new Grimm sisters in, it sets the stage for a story that will be read through several lifetimes. Sadly, this book did not reach that goal. It is indeed a very good story set inside a world and time altering background. Once I completed the book, I found myself thinking of the sisters and their battles hoping there is another book coming to show us where their battles take them. The sisters are an excellent core to dominate a book, the rest of the characters just needed the strength the sisters had. While this may not be the next summer blockbuster, it's a unique story that will leave you thinking about it long after you finish.

This fantasy about four young women discovering their strengths and gifts had great world-building and an intriguing premise. I really wanted to know about the coming war between the stars and the Grimm sisters. But. This book was not for me. I found the pacing to be incredibly slow and repetitive. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!

The Sisters Grimm is the story of four young women discovering their own strengths. There's good world building but it was slow paced. I'm giving three stars because the idea and premise of this book is fantastic but unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me. I really struggled to keep invested and I think it was the changing POVs throughout the whole book. The timeline jumps also just didn't flow easily for me. I really wanted to love this book because the idea for the premise and plot is epic. Sadly, this authors writing just didn't vibe with me. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!

Nothing can push fairy tales off of their own classic shelf. They've evolved and grown over the years, and nowadays we have plenty of retellings to fill our reading preferences. I am, however, not sure if that's what was attempted with The Sisters Grimm.

The concept for this story is fantastic, but we are never given enough explanation into it to make it well understood. As a matter of fact, a lot of things are not explained. We know that there are soldiers, who are originally stars and somehow are either born into human bodies on earth or appear, and as they grow they are somehow trained to one day kill Grimm girls once they turn eighteen or they will stop existing since the death of these girls/women replenish their light...

Throughout this novel, I felt that I was ambivalently moving along while waiting for action to jump into the moment, any moment, and save the day. And the constant jumping back and forth from past to present made for an uneven, bumpy switch in narrative.

Books are often either character-driven or plot-driven. Were I to choose one, I would go with plot. And in the moments when the author gives me both, I find myself on cloud nine. The Sisters Grimm is extremely character-driven, which works for a lot readers. As that, it is a very well written. But because it is so character-driven, sometimes in mundane ways, most of the novel moves along at the pace of melted molasses. There is barely any action to be seen, save for the end, where we are subjected to the longest chapter in the novel so that the reunion of the four “sisters” is packed into one lengthy stretch to allow us the outcome of them returning to Everwhere.

That last chapter gives Bea, Goldie, Ana and Scarlet a brief section each, where they then all have the opportunity to defeat the soldier that is meant to kill them. I will say, I was surprised to find out who the soldiers for both Bea and Scarlet turned out to be, but that doesn't take away from the fact that even once they get to their father, it's all lackluster. Even their defeat of their father is lackluster. These girls have a spark of magic that grows and forms mostly in dreams, and suddenly it is all re-awoken, embraced and used so very knowledgeably.

And as for Wilhelm Grimm... I am still confused as to his character. Is this one of the Grimm brothers turned demon (somehow), or is this a demon/devil who happens to be named Grimm and commands all of these girls who happen to be part of fairy tales? His existence, as is the brief and repetitive view that we get of Everwhere, are not expanded enough for me to feel any impact from this character or setting.

A setting, which, given the type of story this attempted to be, could have been so powerful and beautifully dark.

The writing itself is good, and I am thankful for it. But I was far too confused in things that I wanted more understanding of, as well as lacking any real investment in the characters and the pace at which they moved, to be fully immersed and enjoy the tale.

I am going to caveat this review with this: I love books that have multi POVs, break the 4th wall, and have erratic timelines. These are books that I seek out. The issue comes when these type of books are poorly executed it is painfully obvious. There is no saving the plot because it depends too much on these specific qualities to be done perfectly.

By all accounts, this book should have been amazing. The basis of the story was fascinating, the plot was strong, but if I hadn't known better I would have thought this was a debut novel by an indie author that needs a strong developmental edit.

The 6+ POVs should have been written stronger, really sucked you into to all of their worries, and had you rooting for characters by the end, but the abrupt short scene cuts were jarring, like flipping channels on a tv just catching snippets of conversation. Many of the characters didn't get enough time for you to even remember their name much less qualities about themselves to make you want to root for them. The forth wall breaks were strange and didn't really add to the plot over all, I would have rathered more time with the characters. Learning more about their magic, more about their mothers, just more to make us want them to survive and better understand the dynamics of the world.

I feel like this author was attempting to write literature. I personally am a strong believer in the fact that a person can't sit down and try to write literature, it is only through reader acknowledgement that a fiction book can become literature. When someone tries to specifically write literature it turns out much like this book. Confusing, boring, and lacking in all the wrong places. There are good bones here, just not an enjoyable, engulfing story that leaves you book drunk contemplating life meaning etc.

The entire book was building to what seemed would be a very climaxing life shattering ending, but it ended up being very lackluster. One chapter later and business as usual, no major shake ups or lasting outcomes from what they discover on their birthday.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. I received this book via NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I had really liked the first page, then had a really hard time getting into the story. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series and had no idea what was going on.
I liked Leo, and Goldie. Everyone else I kinda of plodded through to get back to Leo and Goldie.. I don't mind reading books with different character perspectives, or ones that change timelines, but in this book it was just to much..
The last few chapters, and the epilogue even though it wasn't labeled as one were really enjoyable. Lots of action and was def. faster paced.
I think other people might enjoy this story and the world was really cool. I just couldn't really get into the story..

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this work!***

I can't do it. I'm quitting at 18%. I am bored and confused. The Sister's Grimm had SUCH a strong first few pages. But as soon as the story started I found myself not caring at all about what was happening. I tried to power though and just couldn't

“The Sisters Grimm” has engaging multiracial characters with superpowers but it makes the reader work far too hard. Fantasy requires some structure, and a lack of it is just bad writing. A writer can’t leave everything for the reader to intuit or put together bit by bit. It makes it seem as though a character’s sexual desires and hair color (revealed and reinforced) are more important than her powers (left mysterious), which I’m sure was not the author’s intent.

The author is already asking for suspension of disbelief, with a premise that’s a little corny and a Twilight-esque primary romance.. On top of that, Praag requires the reader to:

-leap back and forth in time with all four primary characters
-manage multiple narrators (first and second person)
-leap around in time with random secondary characters and let them narrate their own little sections (why?)
-check the countdown until the great battle

If you don’t read the book jacket or publisher’s description, you have to infer every major plot point from random vague insinuations. The character that blows out light bulbs with her mind and spills hot coffee is the Fire sister. Oooo-kay. The chapters are tiny, so on almost every page you have to figure out who/when/where/with whom, and reorient yourself. It’s exhausting. So this is the sister about birds (and maybe water? Plants? With the grandma?) No, this one is narrating in first person, so she must be the blonde, white, straight, and most important/powerful/promising one (so much for all the woke pretensions).

The whole book read like I was binging some third-rate fairytale TV miniseries, and I finally became so irritated that I gave up without minding not knowing the outcome. The book will probably be optioned for a lousy TV miniseries since some people know the word “Grimm.” The white straight blonde will be the star. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Four young girls, who seem to be connected in a way they do not understand, are trying to piece together events from the past long forgotten. Trying to understand powers that seem to be right at their fingertips, and navigate their lives through love, loss, and victory.

I loved how this story flowed from person to person and past to present. The descriptions of the Everwhere were so vivid I could picture it as if it were my own magical backyard. The twisty turns of relationships were thrilling and tense. I definitely enjoyed this read and would highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the free e-arc in exchange for an even review.

At first, I found it incredibly difficult to follow along with the constantly changing perspectives and time lines in this book. I LOVED the idea of it, the modern good vs evil aspect and the little details throughout, but as I was only reading a bit at a time when I had a chance it was hard to get into the flow of it. Every time I picked the book back up I was confused. Once I finally was able to sit down and read it all at once it was much easier to get into the flow of it and really enjoy the story line.

In some ways, the way the book flows makes you want more information, more back ground. I want to know more about Goldie, Scarlet, Bea, and Liyana. Van Praag provides many hints and tidbits that I would love to delve deeper into. If she wrote a sequel I would definitely be interested, just to see what happens to the girls, and see their bond grow.

Definitely a interesting book to read, just make sure you have the time to devote to it so you don't get frustrated with the changing perspectives.

The premise of this book is fantastic and unique. Four sisters are physically, emotionally, and magically very different. At the age of fourteen they are separated, forget each other and who they themselves are, and are thrust into the “normal” world. Being born on the same day, they are all turning eighteen and finding strange things and long-forgotten memories reappearing. They can only access the land from their memories in very specific circumstances. What they have to look forward to are soldiers sent by their father to challenge them, and if they live, make the choice between good and evil. I enjoyed the character diversity, intriguing plot, and darker tone this novel provided.

Unfortunately, there were a lot of concepts I struggled with. There were too many characters: four main characters, side characters, biological family, adopted family, lovers, acquaintances, etc…), and I lost track several times. There were also many switches between times, realms, and point-of-views that didn’t always transition well for me. I also came to detest some of the characters. I think this book has a lot of deep, dark lessons that it wants to provide, but it was almost too heavy with some aspects that may be hard for others to read about (triggers).

The Good: Modern fairy tale about magical sisters and their fight for survival in a magical land
The Bad: Similar protagonists and complex rules
The Literary:Alternating POVs, perspective, timelines, and chapter countdown

Four little girls, half-sisters by magic, uncover their elemental powers in Everwhere, a land of mists and fog, muted colors, and ever-falling leaves. But at the age of thirteen, the sisters forget their special powers, their relationship to each other, and the existence of Everwhere overnight. Now, on the eve of their eighteenth birthdays, Goldie (earth), Liyana (water), Scarlet (fire), and Bea (air) begin to rediscover their strength.

One of the first things you’ll notice is the quick perspective rotation through the five protagonists in each chapter. In addition to the four sisters, the reader gains an additional perspective of one of the magical brothers as he tracks down Goldie. Since very few character viewpoints describe overlapping events, the chapters fly by. Tension successfully builds as chapters count down the span of a month towards their eighteenth birthdays, with frequent flashbacks in time. I also really enjoy the climax of the book, when the girls finally figure out who they are and are forced to fight for their lives before they really understand their powers. It’s surprisingly empowering and feminist.

While I appreciate the multiple POVs, there are some elements that don’t work for me. First, the ambitious yet confusing shifts in perspective—some characters are written in first person, some in third, with an added omniscient narrator in second person. Second, the all will become clear in time quick switching between four female characters of the same age and voice is very difficult to keep track of, especially in the first half of the story. Eventually the personalities coalesce, but you’ll want to pay attention to the characters’ hair and skin color. Goldie is white, blond and blue-eyed; Liyana from Ghana has black hair and skin; Scarlet is the fiery white red head; and Bea is the brunette latino with brown skin.

The girls do come from different economic backgrounds, the fixtures of their lives are drastically different, and they are each subject to their own dose of real life, including neglect, abuse, and exploitation. But their voices are virtually indistinguishable in the first half of the book. I think it comes down to their character arcs. Each is trying to survive, ignorant of her own power, but none wants anything specific. Except maybe Goldie, who is the sole provider for her little brother— she stands out as the strongest.

My last gripe is about the magical rules, which are intricate but not satisfying. Instead of adding to the story, they seem randomly convoluted for the sake of being complex. Everwhere can only be accessed through certain old gates throughout London and Cambridge at 3:33 AM on the night of a new moon. The girls were allowed to discover their gifts until the age of thirteen. On their eighteenth birthday, they must fight to the death with their magical brothers, who have been training since their own thirteenth birthdays. These sisters and brothers in magic are all offspring of their father, a demon, who will celebrate the survivors only if they decide to turn evil and serve alongside him. Why set all these rules, evil dad?

Recommended as a young adult feminist fantasy for fans of short chapters!

So much yes! To first, it wasn't really what I expected, but I began to enjoy it the more I went along. I loved all of the different perspectives including the male lead. Very interesting.

Wow. This was just bad. I’ve been trying to get through this book since December. At 20 percent today I called it quits. The changing points of views told in first, second, and third person was headache inducing. The girls in this story are insufferable for the most part. And we have a whole storyline about “stars” (I don’t know...demons?) hunting the sisters I just ceased to care. It doesn’t help the time line is all over the place too.

I love magical realism books, but they have to have an actual plot and world building you can follow. We’re not getting any idea of this world that Praag is trying to build. I can hazard a guess that some of these “girls” are built upon fairy tale characters from the Grimm Fairytales (we have a Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea). If I cared at all I would try to figure out Liyana and Bea’s fairy tale equivalents. I do not not though so moving on.

The flow is awful with the a decade before and the a countdown to I guess a quarter moon or something? Seriously it’s just a lot happening with zero explanations.

The setting is I guess modern day London, but it seemed to not matter at all. It could have taken place in Timbuktu.

This is my last book by this author.

Interesting premise but I struggled to keep up with the alternating POVs and figure out what was happening. Longer RTC.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

The sisters Grimm is one of my most anticipated reads this years and the plot and the writing style are Amazing.

Four half sisters, connected by Blood and magic, lived in the land of Everywhere while growing their elemental powers. Ripped away from their land and separated years later they search and find one other. Goldie can manipulate plants and life, Liyan water, Scarlet can control electricity and Bea can fly. Trying to come back to Everwhere, they have to live a earthly life and prepararing themselves for the future challenges.

Interesting, evocative and brilliant

I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The magic was beautiful! It was creative and invoked feelings of mysterious delight and wonder. I adored the way the author built up Everwhere, from this dream-like hazy fantasy to a forest of sorrow and danger lurking around the corner. The sisters were all diverse and fleshed out, (some more than others) but they each had their moments and sorrows that shaped them. The story felt timeless for the majority of the book, with only a few bits reminding the readers of the time period. I honestly wish it had maintained that timeless feeling. The few period references were a shock to my system while reading. Like seeing Ed Sheeran randomly pop up in Game of Thrones!

The only issue I had with the book was the alternating POVs. It caused the story to be disjointed at times, and downright confusing at others. I honestly lost track of just how many POVs there are in the book. However, the book does take place in 2 timelines so some of it is to be expected. I do feel like I should give a warning; there are incestuous themes as well as sexual abuse scenes in this book.

*I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher, HarperCollins via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*