I could NOT put this book down. Once I started it, I was caught up in the story, turning pages a quickly as I could, as if that would assist the characters. I want Mmmmoooorrrreeee.

First, thank you for sending me a copy! Overall, there is a lot of potential in this story and the world!

I very much enjoyed the concept of the world, but feel that the integration of tales could have been smoother overall. There were interactions that felt very forced.

Overall I look forward to seeing more from this author!

This was such a fun twist on retelling some of the most iconic fairytales. I wasn’t expecting how this story would develop but I was pleasantly surprised with each layer added in as we met someone new in the forest. Clara and her friend Axel go on an epic journey to find a magical book that can bring their loved ones home after being lost to the forest and save their village. If you love a good fairytale retelling like I do then this book needs to be on your TBR ASAP.

I received an e-arc of The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I was not engaged in the story - I gave it a few chapters but wasn't hooked. The premise of the lost grimoire and tarot card readings was a little interesting and the setup for entering the forest by lottery felt a bit like Reaping Day in The Hunger Games.
DNF @ 12%

"The Forest Grimm" by Kathryn Purdie is a captivating tale that immerses readers in a richly detailed world filled with magic and mystery. Purdie's descriptive prose brings the enchanted forest to life, making it almost a character in itself. The protagonist's journey is both thrilling and heartfelt, as she navigates through dark secrets and dangerous adversaries.

What sets "The Forest Grimm" apart is its unique blend of folklore and original storytelling. Purdie weaves together familiar fairy tale elements with her own imaginative twists, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own motivations and flaws.

While the pacing occasionally falters, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag on, overall, "The Forest Grimm" is a page-turner that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. Fans of fantasy adventures won't want to miss this enchanting read.

DNF'ed it, unfortunately. I thought the premise was interesting but after starting, I found I was not invested in the story.

A very unique and interesting fairytale like YA novel, that I would recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

Thank you to the publishers for this eARC to review. I will be withholding a full review until St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books addresses the harmful comments an employee made publicly on social media pertaining the genocide in Palestine. I actually DNF'ed this book but I do love Katherine Purdy.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

"The Forest Grimm" by Kathryn Purdie was a book that I struggled to get through. I found myself almost DNF-ing the book multiple times, but I pushed through because I was already more than halfway finished. The book follows a retelling of a well-known fairy tale, but it took a different direction than what I was expecting.
The characters in the book felt flat and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them and become invested in their story. The plot seemed to drag on at times, with unnecessary details and subplots that did not add much to the overall story. Additionally, the pacing was off, with certain moments feeling rushed while others dragged on.
Overall, "The Forest Grimm" was not the retelling I was hoping for. While the writing was descriptive and evocative, the lackluster characters and pacing issues left me feeling underwhelmed. I would recommend this book to fans of fairy tale retellings who are looking for a different take on a familiar story, but for me, it fell short of my expectations.

I htought this would be a little red redding hood retelling especially because of the cover but it seems to be confused about what fairytale it's based on.

The idea of this was great but the execution didn't quite work for me. It had far too many tales trying to be worked in. It just wasn't my favorite, I expected to like it a lot more.

This romantic fantasy was a mash-up of multiple fairytales- and as much as I love fairytales and re-tellings, this was not for me.

{3.5 stars}

This story features a dark haunted forest with a Hunger Games like selection to enter the forest to break the curse. Years ago Clara’s mother went into the forest and never returned. Many others in the village have done the same. Clara is determined to be chosen to enter the forest. When she is not but her love interest Axel is, she follows him anyway. What they encounter trying to save Axel’s betrothed and her mother is the horrors of many classic Grimm's characters including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Briar Rose and Sleeping Beauty. These characters' fates are all weaved together and it's not clear if Clara can save them all.

I loved the dark vibes and the retelling aspect. Clara is smart and plucky and only a little lovestruck. I like a female main character that we don't have to roll our eyes at for following a boy. The way the various stories fit together was really cool, it reminded me of the TV show Once Upon a Time, albeit a YA version. Fair warning there is a bit of an open ending, I wouldn't call it a cliff hanger but it is clear that Clara's mission is not over.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

I am a big fan of reimagined fairy tales, and this was the perfect mix of the horror of the original Grimm tales, as well as having some of the fantastical elements of a princess, a castle, and a star-crossed romance. The forest itself was a character and it was hard to know who to trust. So many elements came together to make this such a wonderful tale of the love a daughter has for her mother, a son for his father, and a sister for her sibling. But the dark side of love can come back to haunt these relationships and sometimes one must make a sacrifice or do something unthinkable to sever the relationship.

This was so good on so many levels, and I hope to read more by Kathryn Purdie. It was fast-paced, swoonworthy, and scary which is a perfect combination for me! I highly recommend for all Teen librarians!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was a fun fairytale retelling, slightly slow, but overall enjoyable.

We get several fairytales mixed in and they both work and don't work at the same time. I was able to get lost in the story and the writing is good. This would be perfect during the fall when you want to relax with something easy to read

This was an entertaining tale rooted in classic fairytales. When the small town by the Forest Grimm gets cursed, the villagers try to break the curse. Clara, Axel and Henni have all been affected by the curse so they decide to take it into their hands to save their town. It's an adventurous and entertaining tale.

This was an interesting twist on the Red Riding hood story, ans I enjoyed how it had a lot of other fairytale characters mixed in.

I enjoyed how the author tied all the character stories in.. The characters were quirky and fun.

I don't think this was especially memorable, but I had a good time with it! The story itself was a hint predictable, but that didn't really ruin my enjoyment of it. The characters were good and the romance was as swoony as promised! The overall aesthetic was probably my favorite part of the entire thing though as it felt so inviting and perfect for this story