The Sisters Grimm: A Novel

The Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag is a creative tale. Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet and Bea will soon turn eighteen and be in for a fight of their life. If these four sisters are to survive, they only have thirty-three days to learn who they are, where they are truly from and what specials powers they have as well as how to utilize them. The story is told in alternating points-of-view between Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, Bea and Leo. The four sisters each represent a different element (earth, wind, fire and air) and each possess different powers. Menna van Praag crafted a unique fantasy world and her vivid word imagery brought it alive. Unfortunately, I found The Sisters Grimm a difficult book to read with the alternating POVs (five of them and then there are the characters younger selves). The timeline counts down the days to the girls eighteenth birthday as well as going back in time to eight years earlier (can you see why it is confusing). The Sisters Grimm is a creative, original and magical story. However, it is totally confusing and difficult to read. I had to read it in small installments over a two-month period. I wish the author had written this inventive tale in the third person. The last ten percent of the book is the best part, but you need to make it through the other ninety percent first. There is a lot of repetition as each girl and Leo tells their story. While I have enjoyed Menna van Praag’s other novels, The Sisters Grimm is a miss for me because of the slow pacing, repetitiveness and alternating points-of-view. This is certainly not what I expected from one of my favorite authors. I suggest you obtain a sample to see if The Sisters Grimm in the right fit for you. The beauty of books is that each reader sees them differently. I highly recommend checking out Menna van Praag’s other magical stories.