army of dark daughters to help him corrupt humanity . . .
As children, Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea dreamed of a strange otherworld: a nightscape of mists and fog, perpetually falling leaves and hungry ivy, lit by an unwavering moon. Here, in this shadowland of Everwhere, the four girls, half-sisters connected by blood and magic, began to nurture their powers together. But at thirteen, the sisters were ripped from Everwhere and separated. Now, five years later, they search for one another and yearn to rediscover their unique and supernatural strengths.
To realize their full potential, the sisters must return to the land of their childhood dreams. But Everwhere can only be accessed through certain gates at 3:33 A.M. on the night of a new moon. As Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea are beset with the challenges of their earthly lives, they must prepare for a battle that lies ahead.They have thirty-three days to discover who they truly are and what they can truly do, before they must fight to save themselves and those they love."
The concept for this story is fantastic, fallen star soldiers, elemental sisters, dreamscapes and misty Cambridge nights. Unfortunately we are never given enough explanation to make the story understood. As a matter of fact, a lot of things are not explained at all. This leaves the world feeling flat.
I also found myself disappointed. When I pick up a book with Grimm in the title, I have fairy tales, red hoods and thick German forests come to mind. However we get nothing that even closely resembles anything thing to do with Grimm other than Liyana occasionally likening her sisters to fairy-tale characters.
Sisters Hecate would have made more sense.
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 have something to do with 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.
Unfortunately this disassociation from the characters was also true for the girls. I felt very little for them. I think it was due to the constant POV change, as soon as I was really getting to know them I was whisked away. I also have a small gripe that kept on dragging me out of the story. All of this girls are supposedly 17, about to turn 18. That's a large plot point. But they all act well into their 20s? Bea is studying at Cambridge and is having an affair with her Teacher?? I mean... really ...at 17?? Goldie as well is still a minor, yet is the sole guardian to her brother yet they never comment on having to hide that fact to avoid child services. All the girls have sex like bunnies with seemingly grown ass adult men, I mean. It was just really odd to me.
The plot style is definitely up to preference. It moved and unfurled achingly slowly. All of the action is crammed into the last chapter, with the sisters only meeting right at the end. 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. It never really does. The constant jumping back and forth from past to present without any Then vs Now made for an uneven, bumpy switch in narrative.
When we eventually get some action, the sisters defeat of their father is lacklustre and unbelievable. 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.
I would have really enjoyed this novel if it had been longer, the girls meet in the middle of the book and started training then, and there was way more world building.
The writing itself is very good, and I am thankful for it. I would be interested to pick something else up by this author, purely from the writing and unique concepts. 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.
Age Rating 16+. Sex, sexual abuse of minors, murder.
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