Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia

Summary

Greymist Fair is a village hidden within a dark and magical forest, where the people know better than to step off the road. When Heike, a young tailor, discovers a dead body along that road, her search for answers uncovers a series of strange and unsettling events that ripple through the town.

Told through multiple points of view, Greymist Fair unfolds as a collection of interconnected short stories inspired by lesser-known Grimm fairy tales. Each chapter follows a different character, gradually revealing the secrets, fears, and folklore that bind the village together.

What Worked

• A strong, eerie premise – The setting is undeniably compelling. A forest filled with dangerous magic, strict rules for survival, and a town steeped in folklore creates an immediate sense of unease that feels very true to classic fairy tales.
• An inventive structure – The short-story format, with each chapter inspired by a Grimm tale, is a bold and creative choice. The shifting perspectives and fairy-tale influences help the book stand out in the YA fantasy space.
• Atmosphere and presentation – The chapter decorations and map add to the reading experience and reinforce the story’s moody, folkloric tone. On a scene-by-scene level, many moments are intriguing and well written.

What Didn’t Work

• A confusing timeline – The constant jumping between characters and moments in time made the story difficult to follow. I often struggled to understand when events were happening in relation to one another, which made it hard to stay grounded in the plot.
• A weak narrative throughline – Although the discovery of the body serves as the inciting incident, that mystery is resolved relatively quickly. After that, I found myself unsure what the novel was building toward. The stories never fully come together in a cumulative or satisfying way.
• Lack of clear structure – Despite the creative format, the book lacks a clear beginning, middle, and end. By the time I finished, I couldn’t identify a true climax or emotional payoff, which left the reading experience feeling directionless.

Final Thoughts

Greymist Fair is an ambitious and visually beautiful novel with a clever concept and strong atmosphere. Unfortunately, the confusing timeline and lack of a cohesive narrative arc made it a frustrating read for me. While individual stories were often delightful, they never fully united into a satisfying whole.

⭐ 2/5 stars.