The pacing was a bit off in this book. I did love the quirky characters. I didn’t feel as though the ending was satisfactory. It was a fast paced read. Perfect for younger readers

This was a bit of a weird read. And even though I have awarded it 4 stars it's a very low 4 stars. I liked the general premise but it did feel a bit far-fetched in certain places. I felt like it could have done with another look through.

Great book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

This was a fun middle grade but it didn't grip me the same way others have, hence the lower rating. Ultimately, it was fine, and if someone was interested in reading it I would tell them to go ahead, but it won't make my recommendations list

My class loved this & the girls particularly loved that it was Mim who was the protagonist! Mystery and adventure until the very end, this book was thrilling. We couldn’t wait to see what she got up to next! The premise was one that had us hooked from the very beginning.

I really struggled to get into this, in large part due to the poor formatting of the e-ARC. Please, publishers, make sure that the mobi copies you provide still have proper paragraphs and line breaks - it isn't fair to the content of books if the reader can't read smoothly due to the presentation.

However, formatting aside, I also found it a bit difficult to connect to the story itself. I've found this with a few titles from Pushkin Childrens, that they lean very heavily on dark worldbuilding and mysterious backstory rather than opening with anything particularly hooky, which in this age range can be a tricky thing to pull off without leaving the reader feeling detached from the story. Mim should be a very engaging heroine, a young tomboy princess who doesn't want to rule, trapped in a castle and lied to about the dangers of outside, but it's almost a quarter of the way into the book before anything really happens to her outside of her day-to-day misery, and I just didn't enjoy getting into her point of view. The adventure and magic really picks up around the halfway mark, though.

I think if you're a fan of middle grade tales that feel a little bit gothic, a little bit like forgotten fairy tales, and a little bit dark, like Lampie and the Children of the Sea, this will be a big hit. It didn't click for me, but it will have many fans!

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun middle grade read and just what I needed to reset my reading between larger tomes.

Mim lives in a poor kingdom after a curse was cast over the land on the day of her birth. Can she ever find out what happened and then save the kingdom?

I found this an enjoyable romp of a story and, although nothing particularly new, it was fun and engaging throughout. 3 stars

Mim’s mother died on the day that she was born, triggering a curse and ever since then, she has been forbidden from journeying to the Outside, the world outside the walls of her father’s castle. When the awful Madame Marionette arrives, tasked with teaching Mim how to be a good princess, Mim’s curiosity reaches its peak and she becomes determined to find out what’s really going on with this curse and what’s really happening in the Outside? This is a really fun fantasy adventure demonstrating that literally anything is possible. There are some really lovely friendships too, particularly between Mim and Sam, which is perhaps an unconventional friendship but it’s handled really well. It’s a whimsical story full of bravery, alchemy and determination to do what’s right.

Poor Mim, ever since her mother died in childbirth 11 years ago she has not had a birthday due to a curse being put on the family she has to stay indoors in the castle. The day that this happened is called The Curse Day and today she gets summoned by her father The King.

He tells her that she must grow up and face her destiny and he also tells her that she spends to much time with her best friend Smith the blacksmith at the castle.

She has so many questions about Curse Day that all go unanswered and she is getting more curious and she vows to find out whatever the cost.

I really liked Mim she is a fiesty character who knows her own mind and I love this in children’s fiction. The library is a sanctuary for her and she spends her time there reading about all the things she longs to see. She discovers a mysterious book called The Three Impossibles when she sneaks away from Miss Fogerty again. She also sees outside for the very first time.

Then a visitor arrives at the castle the mysterious Madame Marionette and she is going to be Mim’s new governess. Her father wants Mim to be shaped to be a princess. Meeting Madame is only the beginning!

This is such a great read, Mim is a fantastic character and I loved the fantasy elements of the story with the strange creatures that bombard the library, the outsiders and the curse. This is such an exciting children’s book and I will be recommending it as this story has adventure, spirit and curiosity. What could be better !

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This books drew me in from the beginning, and raising a lot of questions I like Mim wanted answered.

Mim was born with a mind full of questions but nobody will answer them. Then when she has a new governess to prepare her for her role as princess things get worse, Mim does not want to do the things princesses do.

Mim longs for freedom and to be happy and she breaks the rules and runs away to gain that freedom but can she bring happiness back to her father the king?

I liked how the book slowly answered the questions about Curse Day and the secrets surrounding Mim and the ending was a brilliant twist.

Mim lives in a castle surrounded by a big wall to keep the outsiders out and the residents in. Her father, who is distant and unloving had the wall built just after Mim was born eleven years ago on ‘The Day of the Catastrophic Curse’, the day her mother died and the family’s life changed forever.

Now that she has turned eleven her father believes that she needs to start acting like the princess and removes all her shabby normal clothes and replaces them with outfits a princess should wear. He also removes the governess that has been bringing her up in replace for the governesse’s mean and horrid sister who will stop at nothing to make Mim walk, talk, and act like a princess.

When her new governess arrives at the castle she also brings with her a mysterious creature locked in a cage which she hangs in the library. Mim is intrigued by what the creature could be and with more questions than answers she sets out to discover numerous secrets that people won’t tell her, including what is outside the wall, who is in the cage, and what truly happened on ‘The Day of the Catastrophic Curse’.

The Three Impossibles is an adventurous middle-grade book featuring a young princess who just wants to be a normal child. She likes getting her hands dirty, helping her friend Blacksmith Sam, and reading. She has always wanted to know what really happened to her mother when she was born and is upset that no one will tell her the truth. She loves finding out information and educating herself, although she discovers a book hidden in the library called ‘The Three Impossibles’ which for some reason refuses to open for her.

I loved how passionate about education and being helpful Mim was. She was such a lovely girl who has gone through so much in her short life. Never seeing outside the walls, a dead mother, and unloving father.

The fantasy element to the plot felt quite magical and mysterious. It was also enchanting to see an alchemist in the book, plus a frog as a friend. This is a middle-grade book that will hook children in giving them an exciting tale featuring lots of strange and wonderful (and not so wonderful) characters.

My Thoughts: This was a really delightful read full of magic and hope and the belief that anything is possible including the impossible.

Mim is a young girl with an enquiring mind who struggles to just accept that what she is told is the only option in life, her dad is the king but she had absolutely no desire to be a princess – she would rather be left to her own devices in the library with the thousands of books that is has to offer..

But On her 11th birthday her dad decides it is time for her to become the princess he has always dreamed she would become on her own, so brings in someone to help get her there!

So in comes Madamè but she brings something with her that is hidden, but kept in the library which makes it out of bounds to mim, will she listen?

The whole crux of the story is to get the gold back to counteract what is know as “curse day” and get the kingdom back to its former glory, but with the only people out there to help being an old alchemist, a young girl with a tail and a frog, can they make the impossible happen?

I really enjoyed this book and found it quite difficult to put down!

The three impossibles is a storie about mim the princess, Her mother died on curse day and nobody told her what had really happened. She didnt see her father most of the time because of his grieve.
Mim doesnt want to be a princess and likes to learn smiths work instead. So when the governess doesnt succeed in making mim a lady who likes dresses and dancing. He hires a mean lady to teach her...

I didnt like how everyone felt it nessecary to tell Mim she wasnt pretty and she shouldnt ask so much questions.. but except for that i liked the story, i liked that mim did stay true to herself and what she would do for others.
That was untill the end. When something live changing happens and all characthers kids and adult alike were like oke totally fine , we will live our lives completely different from now. That was just to surreal to me. I actually really liked the plottwist if we just saw the character dealing with it or atleast think about it.. But nope they were all instantly fine with it. And that for me was just a dumber on a fun book. If the ending was more detailed and we got to see the characters adapt it would have been a higher 3 star

Below is the review I will be sharing on June 11th as part of the blogtour for The Three Impossibles.
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Thank you to Poppy Stimpson at Pushkin Press for having me along for the blog tour of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦 by Susie Bower.
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𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹. 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲.
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Full of mermaids, curses, would-be princesses and secrets they must unravel, the Three Impossibles is a great adventure story for young readers.
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𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿, 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲
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This book is a particularly great read for young girls, with the main character Mim being a bit of a tomboy, and very bookish, with an inquisitive mind.
Despite the fact that the grown ups around her ignore her, or tell her to shush, she knows her own mind and is determined to do what she thinks is right.
In the end she is the hero who saves the day. This coupled with the important message that nothing is really impossible, reiterates to young girls that they can do and be anything they want to be.
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𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. '𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.'
'𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱.'
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲. '𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀.'
𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲. 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆?
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The pace and suspense were good throughout, and I do think the book would keep young readers engaged.
There are also some good messages throughout the story, such as love and family being more important than material wealth, and not abandoning those who help us in their time of need.
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‘𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀? 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝗜’𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗴𝗴𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝗮𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜’𝗺 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵.
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I'd highly recommend The Three Impossibles for young readers, and wish that more female-centred adventure books like this existed when I was young.

This is an enchanting story about Mim, who’s inquisitive mind and distaste for being a princess takes her on an adventure to attempt to break a curse that started on the day of her birth and no one will tell her why. This was thoroughly enjoyed by my son, as we read this together. Great for kids who have just started to read chapter books

Mim and her enquiring mind will have young readers hooked. as they travel with her through this magical and dangerous adventure. It has everything a young reader wants, goodies, baddies, a curse, royalty, mystical creatures, a hunt for gold and so much more. This will be thoroughly enjoyed and the reader will delight in trying to solve the impossible clues and will hold their breath to see if Mim and Mac can also solve them. A great read.

This was such an enjoyable read! Bower writes really well and the fast pace of this mystery definitely will engage young readers. Though the characters were slightly stereotypical, I did enjoy following their journey and the roles they played in the story overall. The heroine will draw young readers in for sure!

The Three Impossibles is a perfectly intriguing mystery, with a deliciously dark fairytale feeling, that kept me enthralled and delighted from start to finish.
Mim was born on the day her mother died and the royal family of Galena were cursed. The town is separated from the Outside by a high wall built by the King in order to protect it from Mers and Wings, creatures of the ocean and sky. Mim has not lived the typical lifestyle of a princess as her father has lost his wealth, and neither does she behave in a princess-like manner, preferring instead to spend time with her best friend, the smith, Samuel. On her eleventh birthday, she is given a crown made of lead by her father, the King and a gold brooch by Samuel which she must keep hidden.
Mim has been forbidden to travel Outside and has grown increasingly frustrated by having her questions unanswered, and is determined to unravel the secrets surrounding the curse. When she finds her governess leaving to go to the Outside, she doubles her efforts and seeks answers in the library where she discovers a book called ‘The Three Impossibles’, a book of alchemy which she is unable to open and read. Will this be the catalyst need to lift the curse?
When Mim’s father employs Madame Marionette to tutor Mim in court etiquette and transform her into the perfect princess, Mim finds a cold, cruel and threatening woman with her own secrets.
More determined than ever to find answers, Mim breaks the rules, and leaves the castle, venturing into the Outside where she finds herself on an incredible adventure, brimming with discoveries, dangers and twists. Will she be able to use her determination and ingenuity to solve seemingly impossible problems? Will she find happiness, and a place where she truly belongs? This is a fast-paced and action-packed adventure with some fantastical creatures and wonderful world-building.
Mim is an incredibly likeable young girl: courageous, kind-hearted and ever so curious, determined to uncover the secrets surrounding her family and lift the curse that has been placed on the castle.
This is an absolutely wonderful action-packed adventure with a superb twist-in-the-tail that is sure to delight readers of 9+.

Magic, Mermen & the Oh-So-Evil Madam Marionette-all the ingredients for a perfect quest!
Great plot to analyse with younger readers, neat and with a redemptive character arc and twists in all the right places, whilst independent readers will get swept away with independent, resilient Mim & her ever 'Enquiring Mind'. KS2 bookshelves need this!

This was on the whole an enjoyable read that ticks all the boxes for young readers to enjoy - a pacy adventure full of mystery, twists, unusual creatures and a race against time finish.
And there was lots I really loved. The central part of the book as Mim leaves for the Outside, meets Mac and embarks on her quest was easily 4 or 4.5 stars - the Mers were fantastically fearsome, the Wings also a great creation (with Sky's choice of action at the castle a brilliant surprise!). I'd have relished an entire book full of the mystery, action and folklore-ish feel this part had.
However, I'm sorry to say I didn't get on with the characters in general and found them a bit flat and stereotypical, and this brought down my enjoyment and rating of the book as a whole.
So it was a mixed bag for me. An enjoyable story thst I'd be happy to recommend to readers I feel it woukd particularly appeal to, but not one I'll rave about.