I absolutely loved The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey by Kathleen Kaufman. It is a dual story line of two remarkable women, one from 1860's in Wales, and one from 1900's in Scotland. These two women share a psychic connection that is developed and explored throughout the book. I've always enjoyed listening to stories set during these time periods, especially those involving spiritual mediums. This one provided something more than others before it; it includes a storyline about the quasi-scientific studies performed on non-consenting victims who shared any sign of the supernatural.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story narrated by Mhairi Morrison, who performed amazingly. The writing was engaging, heartfelt, and well paced, and the narration was simply sublime! It's been a few weeks since I finished this story and I'm still thinking about it! Do yourself a favor and pick up and listen to this engaging novel!

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey is split into two timelines. We have Nora's story, which begins in Scotland where she and father, Lavish, work the fairs and neighbourhoods by Nora reading cards and giving a purely manufactured show of Nora being spoken to by spirits. This ends one night when Nora is booked by a rich client who sees something in her that her father has not noticed - that she can actually see spirits.

The second timeline deals with Lottie Liath who is used to fighting for her rights and those of other miners' wives. That is until there's a tragedy at the mine in Aberdare when her husband is killed. Lottie's reaction is considered unreasonable and she finds herself locked in an asylum. Pregnant and afraid Lottie comes under the "care" of Dr Bothelli who sees a psychic ability in her and sees a way to make his name.

The historical part of the book is a well worn one - women who are strident or speak up are locked away or burned as witches; men rule everything and must be obeyed. We follow both Lottie's and Nora's stories as their connection becomes stronger despite being decades apart.

It is certainly clear enough who the "baddies" are in this story and it's left up to the characters of Nora and Lottie to carry the story. There are a few surprising helpers to both women, which made a nice change and both the women have strong characters.

However I found the story somewhat repetitive and drawn out. The inclusion of a devilish aspect seems lost in the narrative and I'm not sure what I was meant to conclude. There were also certain trigger words that began to irritate me - settle, for one - perhaps it was more noticeable on the audio. There was also a strange obsession with people's accents, which didn't seem to play any part in the plot but was mentioned.

As I say I listened to the audio and read the book alternately. The narration by Mhairi Morrison was, on the whole, very good. Ms Morrison has a lilting and pleasant Scottish accent. The only thing that let it down were other accents - which was made much of in the story - which were often confused and odd. Otherwise it was a pleasure to listen to.

On the whole, I would recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction and those interested in psychical phenomena.

Thankyou to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and RB Media for the advance review and audio versions of this novel.

3.5 stars, rounded up. I don’t always love dual timelines, but this one was handled well and added meaningful depth to the story. Some parts dragged a bit, but the writing was vivid and the atmosphere had a moody, gothic feel that pulled me in. Overall, a well-crafted and engaging read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!

2.75/5 stars

About the narrator and production: quality was good, but the narrator would sometimes make their words choppy when speaking as different characters....it was slightly annoying but didn't take away from the overall experience.

This was just okay for me - I felt far more invested in Lottie than Nora, and even then it was really only because I'm a mom so I usually feel connected to moms or expectant mothers. The writing was good, this was just a mismatch of tastes, I think. I do believe there are people that will LOVE this book, I'm just not one of them.

I think it was just fairly obvious to me what would happen, and the "how" wasn't interesting enough to me to rate it higher. I don't love it when a book's answer is "just because....magic!" and that's sort of what this felt like.

But again, the premise interested me but it turned out to not be my cup of tea - it was still well written and I do recommend to it people that are very into tarot and spiritualism and those sorts of things!

“The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey” is exactly what the title promises. The story of Nora, or Nairna, as she grows into her power at the dawn of the 20th century. As a young lass she travels through the Scotland's countryside with her father, deceiving whoever they can in order to get a coin and some scraps to eat. But soon she is discovered, for her talents exceed the parlor tricks they perform, and her life becomes much more than the constant struggle for survival. Becoming a famous medium comes with luxuries and hard decisions.

Kathleen Kaufman beautifully crafted for us a fictional tale that reflects some of the universal struggles of women, the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of familiar connections. Slow paced, filled with lovable characters and some more or less expected turns, this story will not blow you away with every page, but it is guaranteed to take your hand and gently sit with you even after you are done reading.

The perfect mix of historical fiction and fantasy that Mhairi Morrison brilliantly brings to life in the audiobook.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for the e-ALC for my review.

I was excited for this book based on the summary, but I don't really feel like I got the same book. I've read several books dealing with mesmerism and spirituality, both fiction and non-fiction, and I found the alternative fraud vs true mystic angle interesting. But overall it felt flat for me. Maybe due to others I've read.

Also, is it just me, or does there seem to be a big uptick in the use of Nora and/or Lottie in books? Or am I just getting them all in one big group?

2.5 stars.

Nairna Liath and her father Tavish travel rural fairs and towns to earn money by interpreting tarot cards. A hard life and Nairna is half starved when she comes to the attention of people involved in the study of mesmerists.

Nairna was the granddaughter of Lottie Liath, Scottish by birth but left widowed in Wales after her husband dies in a mining accident. Lottie tried to get justice but gets sent to an asylum. Despite being pregnant doctors there experimented on her as she had mesmerise skills.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in a novel set in tow time periods. Nairna goes to America and changes her name to Nora Grey. She hosts seances and becomes in great demand. Lots of twists, visions, greed, manipulation, injustice and power. Enjoy.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
🌟🌟🌟.5
Now, while I enjoyed this story, at the same time, I also felt like it dragged a lot during the middle and the ending. I like that we get dual POV (past and present) and also dual POV!

The audiobook is narrated by Mhairi Morrison; she did a great job telling the story and bringing the story alive. Her Scottish accent was a major point. Easy to listen to and also understand. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and HighBridge Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the magical realism and multiple points of view in this book. The newspaper clippings and journal entries were a great addition. I was a little confused at the beginning of the povs switching and Lottie just could not get one single break! I think this would be an excellent fall/spooky season read for anyone looking for a dose of feminine rage and occult.
I listened to the audiobook, which is so well done and the narrator's Scottish accent is such a great addition.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy.

Unfortunately the pacing was too slow without much plot, so I wasn't able to finish this one. I did really like the main character, and the premise was promising, but more substance was needed in order for this to be a good read for me. Thank you so much for the ARC!

Follow Nairna and her father Tavish, original Victorian tricksters, although it soon becomes apparent that Nairna may not be faking her abilities. A talent inherited from her grandmother, this book tells their story.

I enjoyed the dual POV storyline between the main characters, Nairna and Lottie, I also liked the way the author introduced some chapters with exerts from newspapers and journals to fill in some of the background story.

I was drawn to the book from the cover, title and description and felt the book had a very strong start. I loved the story telling of Nairna and Tavish’s life on the road and coming to Edinburgh, but there is a point where the book goes in a different direction to what I was expecting. It’s not a bad thing, it just felt like the book was maybe trying to do too much and it took away from the magic that drew me in at the beginning.

The story gets back on track towards the end and overall the pacing is good and I enjoyed the ending which felt satisfying and thought out.

I listened to the Audiobook and the story telling was great although I felt the Welsh accent wasn’t quite there.

If you like historical fiction on the Victorian era, or books featuring strong woman characters you’ll definitely enjoy this book. The characters are interesting with real personality and I cared what happened to them.

This was a great physic medium historical story. Nora and Lottie are the main characters and if it was easier on the audiobook to discern whose mindset we were in it probably would have got five stars. This was so uniquely crafted it will be perfect for a cool fall day! The narrower did a great job and the accents and nuances of each character talking was distinctive.

A tragic tale of women trying to simply claim what is theirs, to just have a piece for themselves and the men who would seek to exploit them. I'm not really sure what to label this as. It isn't quite gothic, its not horror... It's a ghost story in a way, a ghost story in both directions, as time and space drops away. Everyone is a ghost to everyone else, and its haunting at times, albeit struggling a little under its own weight.

The dual PoV does work but after a while there are certain scenes that start to feel a little like padding. Whenever we have a scene with Nora and Lottie interacting, it is played twice, from each perspective. Once or twice is fine, but after a while it does start to drag, there is no need to go into such detail.

The length in general is a little bit on the long side, there were pages and pages where nothing much happened, and I think it could have done with a little more editing, just to get the pacing right and keep the story going.

However, I'm not ashamed to say that I cried at the end, I had grown to care for these characters and even though it was pretty obvious how one of the stories ended, to have it confirmed was like a series of gut punches. The characters deserved so much better than what they got, just as certain male characters deserved so much worse. It was history repeating itself, men using these two main characters for their own gain, and although Nora wasn't in as bad a place as Lottie, she was, at times, almost as helpless.

Sister Theresa was a hidden delight, and was my favourite minor character, I would happily read a book about her adventures in their own right.

The narrator was good, her lilting voice calmed and stressed at all the right moments and really got me engrossed in the characters and their struggles. She made the world really come to life.

3.5 🌟 rounded up

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey - the title rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?

The book is told from two POVs - Nairna and Lottie. Slowly, the reader learns of their connection. I enjoyed this story and both FMCs. I felt Lottie's frustration in the asylum and Nairna's need to belong somewhere. It went on a bit too long, though. Overall, the book could have been condensed by about 15-20%. It was heading towards a 5-star rating for me until the last third or so started to feel sluggish.

Mhairi Morrison narrates the audiobook. Her voice reminds me of a Scottish Phoebe Judge (IYKYK). I like her voice, but sometimes I struggle with understanding Scottish accents. I did have to listen to this at a slower speed to ensure I could understand everything she said. If that's not generally an issue for you, then you'll likely enjoy the narration.

Recommended for readers who don't mind a slower-paced historical fiction/magical realism story.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC.

Thank you Highbridge Audio for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Joining the ranks of genre fluid books, The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey, cannot be categorized. The author's thorough research into the time period easily qualifies the book as historical fiction, but it also incorporates a significant amount of fantasy, a touch of horror, and a hint of mystery. The book tells the tale of Naima (Nora) and her grandmother Lottie, at the same ages 40 years apart. Both are magical and being exploited by everyone around them for their abilities. Nora is being raised by her sketchy father and performing on the streets. After several magical mishaps involving her father and her temper, Nora is discovered by upper-echelon society and rescued to a higher quality of life... sorda. Lottie, has no such luck. Lottie has also lost her temper, but her situation has landed her in an asylum, being poked and prodded, hurt and scared.

I think if I had to use one word to describe this book it would be melancholy. The themes of women being used, taken advantage of, disregarded, having no rights, etc, etc, it all felt really heavy and maybe just a bit too "on the nose." Considering the dual POV timelines spanning from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, it's interesting that some of the scenarios are still happening in some way, shape, or form now. The book does not shy away from hard-hitting topics, powerful moments, or the terrifying horrors of antiquated medical treatments. As a female, I felt all the things reading this book.

The audiobook is impeccably well done. The narrator's accents and tone were engaging and I found the pace easy to relax into and easy to digest. She also sounds great at various speeds, which if you're an audiobooker, you know isn't always the case.

If you're looking for a dark atmospheric read, if you're in the mood to get angry and then feel better and then get angry again, if you want a tale of female redemption, rage and rights. If you love magical realism and love a witch tale set in Victorian/20th century Scotland, this is a solid pick. Maybe skip if you're feeling fragile, looking for uplifting read or needing something light.

🎧4⭐️

I had the audiobook read of this historical fiction by Mhairu Morrison. I love her accent, she infuses so much drama into the storytelling. The locations vary from Scotland, Wales and the US which I felt the narrator coped with effectively.

The title is a mouthful and must admit it caught my attention. The blurb is right up my street, historical fiction with intriguing psychic abilities. There are two main characters Nora and Lottie who have paranormal gifts set in dual time frames spanning the height of the Victorians fascination with spiritualism.

I found it got off to a great start however the storytelling pace is too slow and drawn out, I feel could benefit from being shorter and more concise, it got sidetracked with stories of other renown practitioners/grifters of the time.

I found Nora’s story far more compelling than Lotties, although my heart went out to Lottie. It took me a good while to gel with the women. The father daughter relationship adds interest. I enjoyed Nora’s determination to be an independent woman in an era where women are first regarded as the property of their father and then their husbands.

I enjoyed the ending, except for one small aspect which I couldn’t get behind. This book is somewhat of a sandwich for me, thoroughly enjoyed the beginning and end but found the filling a bit lack lustre. Overall it’s a good listen especially if you enjoy a touch of historical fiction with magical realism.

Thank you NetGalley! The audiobook narrator was excellent! The story itself was simply written and not unheard of tragedies were addressed from history. Presented in dual timelines 1800 and early 1900s we follow Nairna Liath, a young woman. She assists her father Tavish, a charlatan until Nairna’s true skills as not only a card reader but is a skilled mesmerist are revealed. The earlier timeline focuses on Lottie, Nairna’s grandmother. A heartbroken widow, who is pregnant and finds herself institutionalized at an asylum. The nuns are caring, the doctor seems stern and a bit indifferent but trouble arises when her skills are discovered and another obsessive doctor comes on the scene. I’m not sure why I wasn’t invested in this book. Nothing wrong with it per se but was a bit far fetched in areas. I would say give it a read and see for yourself!

Dearest book lovers, prepare to be utterly captivated by a story that feels like a secret garden blooming under a moonlit sky! 🌸✨ The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey is an exquisite tapestry of magic, history, and the beautiful strength of the feminine spirit. 💖

Imagine stepping back to the turn of the 20th century, where the air hums with spiritual energy, and a young Scottish girl, Nairna Liath, possesses a gift as delicate and powerful as a butterfly's wing. 🦋 She journeys with her charming, if sometimes mischievous, father, reading fortunes that hint at destinies far grander than simple coins can buy. Yet, her true connection to the spirit world, a legacy from her grandmother Lottie, is a shimmering secret, both wondrous and perilous. 🌿

Lottie's poignant echoes from the past, from the shadowed confines of a notorious asylum, call out to Nairna like a siren's song. It's a tale of resilience, a quiet rebellion against the chains of manipulation and deceit. Can our sweet Nairna embrace this ancestral wisdom and truly unfurl her wings? 🌼🕊️

Swept into the glittering, often deceptive, world of Edinburgh's elite Spiritualist circles, Nairna becomes a beacon, her unique talents drawing every curious gaze. But a séance, oh, a séance that sends shivers down your spine, ignites a scandal that forces our brave heroine to flee, seeking refuge and a new identity as Nora Grey in a tranquil American haven. 🏡✨

But fate guides her onward! When the captivating Dorothy Kellings offers a grand stage, Nora knows she must answer the call. And at Boston's historic Old South Meeting Hall, amidst the hushed anticipation, she will finally encounter her truest spiritual guide: the courageous Lottie. Their profound connection, a dance of past and present, promises a revelation that will resonate deep within your soul. 💫📖

This novel, gentle readers, is a breathtakingly atmospheric embrace, rich with evocative details and a tender yet fierce exploration of a woman's journey to reclaim her voice and power. Suppose your heart yearns for the intricate historical magic of Sarah Penner, the soulful whispers of Alice Hoffman, or the haunting beauty of Hester Fox. In that case, this fantastical adventure is waiting just for you. Come, let the enchantment begin! 🌟💖

Thank you so much to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for ALC of The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey.

The cover of the book is really what drew me in originally. It is absolutely gorgeous. The story itself is just as good. It is such a fantastic and unique book! The dual timelines that built on one another were so interesting and definitely kept me guessing how the two were connected. The ending had me in tears. Highly recommend reading this one.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job. I loved the accents.

The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey, genuinely has the most intriguing title I think I’ve ever seen. Based virtually on the title, with a skim read of the synopsis, I knew I wanted to dive in between the covers.

The book is narrated by two women, Nairna and Lottie, both of whom are struggling in their lives. These young women find themselves frustratingly dependent upon men, for various reasons, despite their innate independence and strength.

I love a book that leans towards what some may think of as supernatural, but I prefer to think of as having an otherness, something that science can’t pigeonhole. Spiritualism was hugely popular around the turn of the 20th century, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a devoted believer, as many were. Women who, just a few generations before, would have been viewed as witches, were now welcomed into polite society. This book gives a glimpse into that era, it doesn’t shy away from the cruelty of the time.

Unsurprisingly for anyone who knows me well, I’m always drawn to strong female characters, particularly in historical settings, times when women would have struggled to be heard and seen. Despite Nairna and Lottie’s predicaments, I loved the strength of their characters, other characters I felt far less charitable towards. The narrator, Mhairi Morrison, gave a lovely sense of place to all of the locations featured in the book, it felt authentic.

I think readers, who are open to reading a story which is a little off the beaten track, will enjoy this atmospheric dark tale, just as I did.