I had a rough start with this one. I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version by netgalley and the publisher (thank you!!). I was quite excited by the synopsis! Victorian era, Gaelic folklore, seances....um. yes please! However about 30 minutes in, I would fall asleep. Even though the story was interesting. I quickly learned it was simply the narration that was ruining it for me. It was just read SO SLOWLY. Which, ok I get jt.. it's a spooky atmospheric novel.. slowly cadence and a softer voice make sense... but it didn't make for good listening for me. I even upped the speed to 2x and I still fell asleep.

HOWEVER... I downloaded the Kindle version when I was about 25% into the audio... and boom, problem solved.. I wasvery quickly engaged and flew through the remaining story. So, was the story good? Yes, a four star read for me. The audio, not for me. So, I'm settling on a 3 star rating. I won't be adding this specific review to any bookseller sites etc, but instead I will giving a 4.5 star review of the Kindle / paperback version.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an audio Arc in exchange for my honest thoughts. I very much enjoyed this and found myself getting lost in the mysticism of this story. We follow dual timelines of Lottie and Neirna. Lottie has just lost her husband and finds herself in a sanitorium. Neirna and her father Tavish travel the lands reading cards for people and other psychic "party tricks". That is until Neirna proves that she does have a connection to the "other side" and can see things she shouldn't be able to. Over the course of the story Neirna learns just how powerful she is, as does Lottie. The first half of the book was intriguing to me and that's what kept my attention. The second half of the book though shattered my heart and I found myself sobbing in my car on my way to work. This book had powerful themes of heart break, the sad reality of women at these stages in history, how mental health was looked at, the power of a mother's love, the bonds of family and so much more. Neirna's story offered hope while Lottie's showed a bleak, excruciating reality. I highly recommend and they were spot on recommended for fans of Sarah Penner. The narrator was also absolutely wonderful and gave such voice to the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!
The Entirely True Story of The Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey by Kathleen Kaufman
3.5 Stars
This was a fantastic story of a Scottish girl who started out turning tricks with her father, only to discover she actually had abilities to summon the dead. Two stories, interwoven, provides a grand story that transcends time. The audiobook draws the reader in from the very first. It's a good story that comes full circle and I enjoyed it.

(Advance Listening Copy courtesy of NetGalley and HighBridge Audio.)

<b>DNF @ 28.8% but also… 5⭐ @ 28.8%</b>

I've never given a star rating to something I DNF'd before, and certainly not a glowing 5⭐. I'm sure there's reviewer etiquette against it… but this is how I feel, so this is what I'm going with.

Kaufman write an absolutely INCREDIBLE story. The narrative is raw and visceral and flowing and I was so interested in Nairna’s half especially. I still am. Until I am able to bring myself to read through to the end, I probably always will be.

This is not a problem with the talented author or the equally as talented narrator, it's just a case where my heart can't take the story. 💔

From the jump, the promised female rage arrives in full force, and it hit me right in the softest parts of my justice-bruised self. Lottie’s sections are devastating—so precise and so honest about misogyny, class struggle, and institutional cruelty that I found myself in furious tears, speeding the audio up past 2x just to push through a chapter I especially couldn’t bear to linger in. It felt too important to look away from… and I tried so hard to stick it out, but here we are...

Maybe some day. Just not now.

<b>🎧 Audio-Specific </b> – Narrated by Mhairi Morrison, who is PHENOMENAL. The accent work is gorgeous—Scottish, British, American, with distinct dialects that feel lived-in. She has the most beautiful voice. Somehow soothing despite the tragedy of the story. She is so damn talented. Her baseline pacing is very slow though. I normally listen at 1 - 1.25x and bumped this to 1.75x. That’s preference, not a flaw—if you like a lush, unhurried delivery, you’ll love it.

<b>📌 TL;DR </b>—If you have the bandwidth, this is SO worth your time. I just didn’t have the armor.

First of all, I thought the audio was very well done. I thought the voice fit the storyline and characters very well.

I loved stepping back into this old Victorian era amongst the elite and their interest in the other side. Nairna was an easy girl to feel for and to follow and hope the best for as she worked so hard, trying to survive in general. Lottie and her story, broke my heart, and by the end I was very attached to Lottie.

One of the best dual storyline/timelines that I've read. Without spoiling, let me tell you, this was fantastic how these two POV's worked. A very rewarding end, with intrigue sprinkled throughout. Loved the ode to Boston and the Seven Gables.

This was magical in its realist form. I was thoroughly entertained.

Thank you to Netgalley and Highbridge Audio for the gifted ALC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey! This was a slow-burn, feminist gothic tale that entwines the lives of two Scottish women across time and space during the peak of the Spiritualist movement. The feminine rage and emotional depth of both Nairna and Lottie Liath are exquisitely written. The plot takes its time meandering through the various aspects of the Spiritualist movement and the cultural norms of the time, taking Nairna from a chaotic, nomadic lifestyle to a young woman with wealthy connections and a place to call her own. The pacing was a bit too slow for me at times, and I didn't really feel that the reader was left with a clear idea of why Lottie and Nairna were connected in the way that they were, but overall it was an interesting read with a unique twist on the mesmerist story.

The audio was very nicely narrated by Mhairi Morrison; her diction, pacing, and accent(s) were spot on. She embodied each character well, and perfectly intoned the emotional depth of each scene.

Overall - 3.5⭐️
Plot - 3.25⭐️
Characters - 3.5⭐️
Character Development - 3.5⭐️
Setting - 4⭐️
Writing Style - 3.75⭐️

This is a great atmospheric read. It definitely feels like a book that would be great to read on a stormy day. The narrator did a great job at making you feel like you were apart of the story. This isn’t a book I would normally read so I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as other people would. But I know there are many people out there that would absolutely love this.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a mix of historical fiction and magical realism.

This story was written really beautifully. I liked meeting Lottie and Nairna/Nora. I am getting increasingly irritated with the historical (and probably true) phenomenon of women that speak up for themselves being labeled as witches/crazy/ need a firm hand.

The paranormal/psychic aspect was interesting enough. It just took too long for me to be invested in the story and too long for any real action to happen. I could have done without some of the lead up and gotten more into the action.

I often read that Kathleen Kaufman writes feminist gothic horror which led me to believe that this novel would be more spooky. I was disappointed in this regard, but this is probably on me. "The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey" is an athmospheric tale, but I've read similar stories several times and this one adds nothing new. However this once again is not necessarily a critique of the novel. It just depends on what you prefer reading and how many seance/feminist Victorian stories you have read. However I found the story very predictable. The narrator did a great job though and if you are new to this subgenre there is much to enjoy here.

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey is a truly magical book that will completely suck you in from the first chapter. Author James P. Sullivan has created a vibrant, imaginative world where magic is real and anything feels possible. This isn't just another fantasy novel; it's a deep dive into a world that's both a blast to read and a great way to get students thinking.

Teen readers will find a hero they actually relate to in Nora Grey. She starts out a bit skeptical, but her journey to becoming a mesmerist is a fantastic ride. As a reader you are right there with her as she discovers her powers, faces down incredible challenges, and figures out what it really means to believe in yourself. The story is packed with amazing descriptions, from fantastical creatures to incredible magical performances, and the plot keeps you guessing until the very end. It's the kind of book you'll want to stay up all night to finish and then immediately recommend to all your friends.

For the Literature Teacher:
This book is a goldmine for the classroom. Beyond the thrilling plot, it offers rich opportunities for discussion. The themes of self-discovery, the power of belief, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion are perfect for analysis. Nora's character arc provides a great example of a classic hero's journey, and the novel's vivid imagery and unique world-building can spark conversations about literary devices and creative writing. It's an engaging way to explore complex ideas without sacrificing student interest. Plus, the book's pacing and accessibility make it a fantastic choice for encouraging reluctant readers. This is a novel that doesn't just tell a story; it starts a conversation.

A unique tale told from two merging viewpoints, this book will keep you interested throughout. It takes you to different places and times, and shows you a world not possible today.

★★★★★ — I would rate this 6 stars if I could.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this audio ARC.

I loved this story. Originally, I was drawn to it for the title and the cover but I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it, since historical fiction can be hit or miss for me. It can be great, but too often I’m pulled out of it by anachronisms or characters with far too modern points of view. This book didn’t suffer from that at all. I loved it so much I sobbed during the last few chapters.

Nora/Nairna is a lovely protagonist, she was easy to connect to and I really appreciated that her relationships weren’t black and white. Her relationship with her father, especially, was so well done. It was complicated and nuanced, and I thought it was explored with a lot of care. I also loved that there was no romance. The story focused on familial bonds, between Nairna and her father, and between Nairna and her grandmother Lottie, whom she never even met.

Lottie’s storyline especially had me messed up. I cried so hard for that woman, because I know the kind of suffering she endured reflects what many women actually went through. She was a fantastic character. I normally don’t really like books that feature pregnancy, but I didn’t mind it here at all.

I also have such a weak spot for classical occultism and psychic stuff, and I found this book to be well researched and totally delightful in that regard. It’s a great blend of history and occult fantasy/supernatural elements.

A wonderful book with solid writing and an amazing narrator that made it even more immersive.

This book was exactly what I hoped it would be, moody, ghost-soaked, and quietly angry in all the right ways. It blends historical fiction and gothic spiritualism with a strong undercurrent of generational trauma, but it does it with grace and a bit of grit. If you like your heroines scrappy, haunted, and learning to take back what’s been stolen from them, this one delivers.

Nairna Liath (later Nora Grey) is a girl who sees more than she should. Her gift is real, though the world keeps telling her she’s either a fraud or a threat. Her father is a con artist, dragging her across the Scottish countryside for staged séances and tarot readings, but Nairna’s connection to the spirit world is no act. That quiet, simmering ability to know what others can't see makes her both compelling and dangerous.

As the story moves from rural Scotland to spiritualist circles in Edinburgh and eventually to Boston, it unfolds like a tarot spread, one layer at a time, always building toward something heavier. Nora’s transformation isn’t flashy or fast. It’s slow, scarred, and earned. And behind her is the voice of her grandmother Lottie, whose own story of institutionalization and exploitation adds a deeper emotional weight to everything Nora experiences.

The book leans heavily into atmosphere, but it never drags. There’s something unsettling on every page, whether it’s the fake smiles of rich spiritualists, the creeping threat of being exposed, or the ghosts themselves, both literal and metaphorical. The séances are deliciously tense, and one scene in particular had my skin prickling.

At its heart, though, this is a story about rage, the kind passed down through bloodlines, the kind that's been silenced for generations. It’s about women being pushed into corners and finally clawing their way out. I loved how the spiritualism wasn't just a gimmick,it was a medium (pun intended) for grief, connection, and rebellion.

If you like stories where women refuse to stay quiet, where the dead refuse to rest, and where the past keeps scratching at the walls of the present, The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey is worth your time. It’s eerie, emotional, and quietly powerful

What a wonderful book. I loved the story with the spiky timelines. The characters and their development was great. I enjoyed listening to the narrator. I found it went at a great pace

I'm loving all of my feminine rage, but make it cozy, reads this year.
This gives "Weyward", but better!, and Peregrine's School vibes with additions of the cruelties mostly focused on women in history, but this time there's justice.
Lorna and her theories were the best comedic relief too 😂

The entirely true story of the fantastical mesmerist Nora Grey was truly a joy to read. The has the perfect balance of awe, magic and whimsy with a touch a mystery that keeps you engulfed in the story. In the book, we follow two POVs, namely, Lottie Liath and Nairna Liath, both characters are well developed and well rounded, in a manner which makes all their actions understandable while also making the reader grow attached to them. I also enjoyed the particular details added that gave us readers a glimpse into Scottish culture. This book is truly fantastic.

I honestly thought that this was going to be a 5 star review right up through last hour-ish of the audiobook because it was lovely and fantastical, without ever attempting to be a romantasy, and then Kaufman started introducing new elements just to dump exposition that was better off left fantastical. It's still a 4 star book because it didn't indulge in this behavior until quite late, but it was so close to rounding up that I almost feel robbed.

The narrative voice is absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend it for the Gaelic at the very least.

Audio ARC provided by NetGalley.

I throughly enjoyed my journey with Nora Grey, a young women gifted with the ability to see spirits. Told in a dual timeline with two FMCs, Nairna/Nora and Lottie, who are connected in the spiritual realm by their familial ties and their shared experiences at the hands of manipulative men.

Kaufman weaves a well-told story with deftly crafted characters, tense pacing, heart-pounding suspense and heart-breaking trauma. I loved Kaufman’s choices of time and locations, her addition of news articles, letters to the editor, correspondences and paranormal associations.

Clever and realistic while also supernaturally interesting, I loved every moment of this book. Morrison is an excellent narrator and her lovely voice and well-executed accents transported the reader from the UK to the East Coast of the US.

4 stars first off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this audioARC of the book. I enjoyed this one. It was beautifully written and I liked the dual timeline aspect. This historical fiction/fantasy was thought provoking and well told. It follows a young woman who has psychic abilities in the early 1900's and her grandmother who is sent to a psychiatric hospital in Wales in the 1860's after her husband dies in a mine accident and how they become known to each other through their abilities. There's love, loss, grief, mesmerism, psychic abilities, ghosts/spirit guides, overcoming odds, mystery, and shady doctors. Yes I would recommend this to readers.

This story follows two women and two timelines. Both Nairna (Nora) and Lottie are drawn into the world of spiritualism in their respective time periods. I appreciated how each women's experience showed a way that women were controlled and taken advantage of by the "science" of mesmerism. Ultimately the story leads to a satisfying conclusion, particularly in Nora's timeline. As she grows more savvy and takes control of her own situation. I found the connection between these two timelines to be somewhat confusing, and the magic system was not clearly explained. Lottie's experiences are extremely dark and disturbing. Mhairi Morrison provided excellent narration that brought the audiobook to life. Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy gothic, mystical stories and women's stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for providing an ALC in return for my honest thoughts.