3.75 stars to 4 stars (torn but rounding up)

The beginning of the story, while it was laying the groundwork for everything, was very slow, and I am glad that we set off for the forest when we did, as I needed it to hold my attention. But when we entered the woods, it was great. The characters began almost to break away from themselves (in a good way) they faltered and gave into their desires or faults, which made for some great scenes.

The use of reinvention with Grimm fairytales and the portrayal of them in the forest was fricking entertaining. I loved that spin of Rapunzel, that was when I knew that this book was going to have some excellent twists on some tales.
Another interesting concept of this book was the connection between magic as a gift and magic taken for granted becoming a nightmare. I enjoyed a magical world with balance or cost, and this had this in a revenge-ish way.

I am genuinely invested in the characters and their stories with this wicked magic wood. I cannot wait for book 2!

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! I absolutely love Kathryn Purdue’s writing and was so excited when I found out about this book! This book is totally up my alley. I love fairy tale retelling books. And this one did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the unique take that Kathryn took of this story. It felt reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village at time with the dark unpredictable forest. It was alive and constantly messing with our main characters. I loved Clara and her relationships with her family and friends. This was honestly such a great story and I can’t wait for the next one!

This one took me a little while to read. I started it back in March but didn’t finish it before my son was born so I put it down with the promise to return to it. I was also approved for the audiobook so in October, I switched to the audiobook and I really loved the narrator.

I found the story had a slower start and I feel like I’m always a little critical of younger MCs and making life altering decisions. This book definitely has historical vibes so I have to be mindful of the fact that societies used to be that way and younger people were making big life choices at 15-16.

Anyway, I’m done ranting 😂. I really liked the premise of this story and it reminded me of Cursed by Marissa Meyer and I’d enjoy reading a sequel. Trope that I liked were star crossed lovers, friends to lovers, and fairytale retelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the characters and the fairy tale characters aspects. I really loved the story. I cant wait to add this to my collection. I cant' wait for the next book in the series!

17-year-old Clara lives with her fortune-telling grandmother in a cursed village surrounded by the dangerous woods-- the Forest Grimm. When villagers try and leave through the forest, they become lost forever. Clara's mother is one of the forest's victims. Clara receives a reading from her grandmother that indicates an untimely death, but she'll be able to save her village and her mother by venturing out into the forest to retrieve the Book of Fortune, which has the power to reverse the curse on the village. Clara ventures out with her childhood friend, Axel, who also wants to venture into the forest to save his betrothed.

Kathryn Purdie takes a bunch of fairy tales and twists them into the Forest Grimm. Clara herself represents Little Red Riding Hood as she ventures into the forest with the protection of her magical Red Rampion cape. Within the forest she and Axel meet many other classic fairy tale characters, like Rapunzel and Cinderella, but are creepier or more sinister-- like Rapunzel's hair being somewhat spider-web-like, ensnaring victims. They were each done creatively, and I think will attract readers looking for classic fairy tale twists.

The plot and romance were very predictable. It's clear this book is meant for young adult readers, so I think the tension will be stronger if you more strongly relate to the age of the characters within this story. I was slightly hoping that the fact that Axel was betrothed to someone else would cause more tension in the romance, but it's mostly pushed aside.

I recommend it for young adult readers who want creepy fairy tale retellings and enjoy strong romance plotlines. The creepiness/horror factor isn't too scary, either, so I think it's a good steppingstone if you wanted to try dip your toes into horror to see what your tolerance is.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free eARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This story had the potential to be an amalgamation of a bunch of other, possibly better-written books, and yet it managed to be something new while pulling from some of the most retold stories in Western media. THE FOREST GRIMM takes the fairytale and twists it into something more reminiscent of the original while decidedly sinister in its own way. The romance is entirely cheesy and not quite my taste but it still has some classic romantasy vibes that I know are exactly other people’s vibe. A lot of the elements of the book remind me of other pieces of media (Ever After High and Once Upon a Time to name two), but the story itself is definitely distinct. And despite it all, I was compelled by the main character and appreciative of the way her scoliosis continues to show up within the narrative, both a traditional heroine and not at the same time. This wasn’t necessarily a favourite and the pacing of the plot is a little bit wonky at times, but if there happens to be a sequel I will be at the front of the line waiting to see where this story goes next.

If you like/love:
- romantasy
- friends to forbidden lovers
- twisted fairytale retellings
- slightly weird but fun magic systems
- trying to change fate
- and a little bit of a cliffhanger
Then I would definitely recommend picking this one up!

"A murderous wish
An end of peace
The curse is wrought
My blessings cease.

Falling water
Lost words found
A selfless wish
The curse unbound."

Young Clara lives in a village on the edge of a mysterious forest, called the Forest Grimm. Once, the village was blessed by the Forest with a book that granted each inhabitant one wish, called the Book of Fortunes. But then one village inhabitant used their wish to murder another. The book disappeared and the Forest turned against the village and its inhabitants, trapping them beyond the Forest and not allowing them to leave. And then, people from the village began wandering off into the woods and didn't return. They are called "the Lost". Clara's mother was the first person to do this. Clara has promised herself since it happened that she will go into the Forest and save her mother. When she finally finds the means to enter the woods and does so with the help of her best friend, Henni, and a village boy named Axel, Clara may find more than she bargained for is involved in locating and saving the Lost.

This book by Kathryn Purdie has an excellent setting. The way the Forest works as sort-of an antagonist and a guard in and of itself is very interesting, and the book's setting of the Germany/Austria area plays very well into this. I also enjoyed the way many well-known fairy tale characters had their stories updated to coincide with the tale being told. Murderous princesses will definitely always be a win in my book. For the original characters in the book, I grew very fond of Clara and Axel. Clara is a very human character with failings who makes mistakes, and she does have a disability with which I am very familiar, being a sufferer of scoliosis myself. Axel is the kind of boy I like to write myself - confident and charming with a touch of snark and a heart of gold. In my head, I can't help picturing him as a more handsome version of Kristoff from Frozen. I like the idea of Axel and Clara being thrown together and finding their way through these woods, trying to rescue the people they love, and finding a bit of romance along the way. As for the character of Henni, I found her to be a little bit of an annoying third wheel most of the time, and I wasn't quite sure why she was there, except to be a chaperone of the other two. I also felt like it was out of character for someone who is so timid and frightened of the woods, as established very early in the novel, to suddenly decide she wants to enter the woods to go after someone dear she has lost. It seems a bit too daring.

Other than these elements, I do have to mention that I'm not a fan of a lot of supernatural contrivances in a story. Yes, I realize this is a fairy tale and has magic in it. And I know that it might seem like supernatural elements shouldn't be much of a stretch in such a wold, but Clara's reliance on tarot-like cards and predictions seems excessive, and the sudden addition of ghosts midway through the story, seem to me like they really don't have a place in the setting . Since the book did end on a cliffhanger, I am curious enough to pick up the next book in the duology and see how everything ends. But ultimately, since this book had elements I wasn't crazy about, I probably wouldn't recommend it. Three out of five stars. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the free advanced reader copy. My review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Sadly, I do not vibe with Kathryn Purdie.

I have previously read her Bone Crier's duology, and I while I enjoyed those, they were not memorable. I remember being very upset because the concept was so interesting, but the execution just wasn't there. I decided to give Purdie another chance when I was approached to read this ARC.

I felt the same about The Forest Grimm, even though I do think this one is slightly better. I didn't care for the romance, and while there were some interesting takes on fairytales, I think it could have been done better. I truly think Purdie just loves French culture, because it was included in this book, and it made absolutely zero sense. However, this cover is beautiful!

I don't think this is necessarily bad, just easily forgettable.

Thank you for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up.
I really loved this book. The Forest Grimm is full of twisted fairy tales with a hint of the dark without being too dark and creepy. I could've used a dash more romance, but this was a great true YA with no language, kisses only, and the cutest boy next door. Can't wait to see where the next book takes us!

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc of the book. All opinions here are my own.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this story! Everything about it worked for me. Clara was such a compelling character, and I couldn’t help but root for her along the way. My only complaint about her was her blind acceptance of her supposedly foretold untimely death. But that’s a very small complaint in the scheme of the whole story. I loved Axel with all my heart. And Henni was both lovable and frustrating. But my favorite part of the book was the fairytales that were woven into it. I thought it was so well thought out and executed. Everything fit together in a way that made for such a fun, creepy, dark ride. I honestly cannot wait for the next book. I’m ready to go back into the Forest Grimm.

4.5/5 Stars

I liked the concept of the book, but could not get really into it. It is a nice addition for those who do like Grimm retellings.

The Forest Grimm is a novel inspired by the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm; readers familiar with the tales with recognize various characters, if in different contexts and with different back stories, but those unfamiliar with the tales will still enjoy this book.

In a village near a wood - the Grimm Forest - lives a girl named Clara. Like many in her village, Clara has lost loved ones. In her case, her father died in a fishing accident, and her mother, who had gone to look for him before his body was recovered, is one of the Lost: one of the many villagers who entered the Grimm Forest, once accessible to all, to try to discover why the forest has turned against them, and, in the process, caused the land around their village to lose its vitality, leaving the villagers living on the edge of starvation. Only near the edge of the forest do plants thrive - but crossing the line into the forest either leads a person to be lured into the forest and become one of the Lost, or the forest rises up and ejects them, forcefully. Clara, determined to find and rescue her mother, finds a way to enter the forest, and begins to search, finding unusual variations of familiar fairy tale characters along the way. Recommended for readers middle school to adult.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of The Forest Grimm from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fairy tale retellings are my bread and butter, and I'm so sad that I didn't love The Forest Grimm as much as I hoped. The story itself was dark and gritty, and I loved that aspect. While I didn't entirely understand how the fairy tales fit into everything, I loved the darkness of it all. They were creepy and weird, and honestly? That's what kept me coming back. While I was curious about the plot, I stayed for the fairy tales, and I wish they had played a more significant role than they did. On top of that, I did think that the story was good, despite my complaints, of which I have a couple.

Firstly, I wasn't a fan of the main character, Clara. She had a single-minded focus to save her mother, and, while admirable, was so focused on that task that, by the end of the book and after some supremely questionable decisions on all of the characters' parts, I did not care about her quest at all. I wanted her to fail, as terrible as that sounds. I can't say much else about it without giving spoilers, but at one point, Clara gets angry with a friend for wanting to save their loved one because it's not what they went into the forest to do, and the friend is like, "but you want to save your mom," and Clara's all "it's not the same, though." And I'm like, so, it's okay for you to want to save your mom, but it's not okay for anyone else to want to save their loved ones? That, on top of half of the decisions that she makes, literally made me want to shake her. Also, why does Clara get to break all the rules with seemingly no consequences? I didn't understand, and I didn't like her.

Secondly, if I had to read one more time about how Clara was the changer of fate because the "Red Card" said so ... I almost lost my mind. I knew. I got it. I didn't need to be reminded every other page. The repetition in this book was seriously off the charts, and I skipped paragraphs because it felt like a copy/paste of earlier information. Enough said.

Thirdly, I wanted more. More of everything. I wanted more development in the romance. I wanted more creepy vibes. I wanted more depth to the characters. I wanted more world-building, especially in the beginning when we're trying to understand why everything happened. The Forest Grimm was sparse on details I so desperately wanted but repeated useless information 300 times. It was very unbalanced.

After writing all of this, I should give the book a lower rating than what I initially did, but because I kept coming back and was genuinely interested in what was happening, I'm going to leave it at three stars. Will I read the next book? Probably.

Fun rendition of some Grimm Brothers classic tales. Fans of any retold fairy tale stories will enjoy this.

I’m all for anything Brothers Grimm related, so I did enjoy this book while I was reading it. However, it’s not one that I think will stick with me. I felt like a lot of the plot was predictable, given that the author took from well known stories and fables (Rapunzel, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel). I liked the slight twists to the original stories, but I didn’t feel like the author was being original in her writing, if that makes sense. With that being said, if there is a sequel, as the epilogue hints at, I wouldn’t mind reading it - what can I say, I have to figure out who set the curse upon the village to begin with.

It was a okay read for sure. I think this is a red riding hood retelling and I would say it was kinda good in a sense but it could have been better. I also think this is my first book from this author and I wouldn’t mind reading her author books.

I enjoyed this fairy tale retelling that made feel like I was reading a Grimm's fairy tale. I'm looking forward to more books by this author.

"The Midnight Forest" is a page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to uncover the secrets of the forest and the fate of its characters. The writing is vivid and descriptive, creating a brilliant picture of the eerie and magical world within the Forest Grimm. The pacing is excellent, with just the right balance of action, suspense, and character development.

Well that was interesting. So it’s very fitting to its name. It follows the dark side like the original Grimm fairytales. But it was lacking for me.

I decided to read this book because of the cover. I really was looking for a good retelling with a bit of found love. The twists and turns in the story were definitely intriguing but it didn’t give me enough to pull me back when I wasn’t reading it. I just didn’t feel connected. The story felt off. Like it was missing something.

It’s a YA fairytale retelling for sure. I asked my daughter to try and it she didn’t finish it. So for me it was just lacking some sort of lure to pull me back.

In short:
Did I like it? Not enough to make it worth it.
Would I recommend it? To a ya reader sure.
Would I read more by this author? Nope.

Clara was excited for her 16th birthday and the coming-of-age rite in which she would make a secret wish on the Book of Fortunes, just like every person in Grimm’s Hollow. However when she was 14, someone used their wish to commit murder, now the Book of Fortunes is missing, and a curse plagues the village. Clara’s mother was among the 67 Lost Ones who have since disappeared in the forest. It is a dark and sentient forest. Now the villagers have a lottery: The chosen person must enter the forest in search of the Lost and the missing book. Clara hopes to be chosen in the lottery so she can save her mother. Instead Axel Furst, whose fiancee became Lost, is selected. Clara has created a map of the forest based on information from those who entered it before the curse. takes off in pursuit. Clara is a strong and capable protagonist who has lost both her parents and is in chronic pain from scoliosis.

The journey written by the author is an original take on Western European fairy tales. The characters’ rich and detailed backstories and the ominous, atmospheric prose are well written. It is a story that pays attention to the dark narratives of fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.