3.75 stars
This book has a pretty low average rating on GoodReads—especially for a book that’s not even out yet. The entire time I was reading it I was stressed, because I was like… <i>I’m enjoying this? This is good? Why is the rating so low is something really awful going to happen and ruin it</i> The good news is, at least by my opinion, that didn’t happen. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
Was the main character kind of annoyingly stupid in her stubbornness at times? Yes. She just refused to believe the objective truth in front of her and then kept making decisions that you as a reader knew were stupid, and her friends knew were stupid. It did get a little annoying to read, but she was also acknowledging in her internal monologue that she was making stupid decisions but she just needed her beliefs/hope to be true. I think that acknowledgment was what kept my mild annoyance from dipping into an unenjoyable level of annoyance. However, aside from that annoyance, I did really enjoy the characters and Clara as a narrator. She was interesting, voicey, and easy to root for (except for in very specific decisions). Henni did really annoy me at times, but at other times she was completely lovable. Axel was my favorite of the group. He was sweet and swoony and I fell for him right alongside Clara.
The world building, however, was pretty underdeveloped. You were kind of just meant to not question anything. There’s an explanation of why they must go into the forest and why it is evil, but when it came to all the fairytale aspects it was kind of just “the fairytale aspects are a part of it because they are. Don’t question it.” There’s no reason, no explanation, no way to tie fairytales into the existing worldbuilding. You simply have to not question it at all, or else you’ll be pulled out of the story. I felt similarly to the references of good/bad luck superstitions. The characters are obsessed with symbols of luck, and there’s no real explanation for that either, and I felt like their needed to be, especially because it was so constant. Thankfully I was able to just, not think about the plot and developmental holes and enjoy it anyway. It was an interesting world as long as you don’t ask questions.
I think this book would have done better in a middle grade market. The specific ways that fairytales were incorporated felt a bit more in vein of MG than YA to me, and I think the less-developed worldbuilding would work better for MG than YA as well. The romance would have needed to be toned down a little (less descriptions of making out), but everything else felt more suited to a younger audience and MG standards. The characters were supposed to be upper teens, but they (and especially Clara) acted much younger.
On a craft level, the one aspect that I have no complaints on is the pacing. This was fast paced without ever getting too much so. It balanced action and reaction, progress of plot and character and emotion very well. I was never bored, and I never felt like I had whiplash, either. It kept me fully engaged from the first page to the last, and I ended up finishing the book in a day.
Last but not least, the absolute BEST part of this book was the disability rep! When I started this book, I had absolutely no idea there was going to be disability representation. Then, a few pages in, we learn that Clara has scoliosis. Because this is a fantasy book, the condition is described instead of named, but Clara says she has an S-curve in her spine that causes her hips to not be level with each other. The portrayal of this is exactly what I want more of in fantasy. It’s what I consider “casual disability rep”. It isn’t a plot point, it isn’t a huge ordeal that the characters are constantly being dramatic about, Clara simply is disabled. It’s a part of her character and it regularly affects her, but it’s not this huge thing, it’s just how she is. I wish we could have had a little bit more in depth discussions of the bigger picture of what it’s like to live with chronic pain, since it was mostly passing mentions of a twinge of pain here, a stumble there, but I still really enjoyed what was there. I also really, really loved the inclusion of an accessibility/mobility aid. Clara uses a lift in her shoe to make her feet even on the ground and help lessen her pain. These types of aids are often completely overlooked in fantasy, and when they are there, it’s often of the magical variety. And while I enjoy fantasy versions of accessibility devices, there’s something refreshing about seeing a simple, real world accessibility device in a fantasy setting.

I did enjoy this book, and I definitely recommend it. But if I’m being entirely honest, I’m not certain I’ll end up picking up the sequel next year. This one wrapped up pretty nicely. Despite the fact that the ending made it clear that there will be a sequel, I’m not itching to know how the last loose threads tied up. I think it was maybe wrapped up a little too nicely for the first book in a series. Who knows, maybe when it releases I’ll be more intrigued but right now I feel satisfied.

Welcome to The Forest Grimm, a world where fairytales have come to life, only they aren’t the sweet fairytales with happy ever afters, but the dark, gritty fairytales that bite.

Clara has always known she would die young. She’s resolved to her fate because she knows she will also save her mother. You see, Clara’s town isn’t normal; it has magic. Only someone used the magic for evil—to kill another person—and now the magic has cursed them all. Over the years, loved ones have gone into the Forest Grimm only to never return. Clara’s mother was the first to go missing. Now, Clara is ready to go into the forest to save her mother, break the curse, and accept whatever fate befalls her. However, nothing can prepare Clara for the people she will encounter in the forest and the challenges she will face.

The Forest Grimm was such a pleasant surprise! Kathryn Purdie’s prose was perfect for this story; decadent and lyrical, it felt as if I was reading a classic fairytale. Not only do we get hints and nods to fairytales, but we actually meet characters who believe they are fairytale characters. Purdie does a fantastic job weaving her spin on classic stories we all grew up loving. I had so much fun trying to figure out which fairytales would pop up and what they would mean for the story!

Rich in beautiful prose, a strong female lead, alongwith hints of romance, The Forest Grimm is a must-read fantasy this fall!

Also…Kathryn Purdie…that ending. WHEN CAN I GET BOOK 2???

My thanks goes to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for an ARC. All opinions are my own; I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Fairy Tale Retellings, Fantasy
Age: YA

From the cover, I was already getting fairy tale vibes, but this story twists German tales in a unique way. It's incredibly clever and somewhat gruesome at times. (Honestly, kids like to have it extreme, so this is a positive thing.)

I kept thinking about how would I have lived my life if I knew I'd die young. That's the root for all of Clara's choices. I thought she was interesting, and I wanted her to survive! But once she goes into the forest, I was worried for her every minute. She also has a disability with a curved spine that adds a layer of problems as she's going through the forest. I was glad she had Axel because he seemed so capable, but then…another person arrives, and that seemed to just put everything into more trouble.

I loved how intense this book is. And all the twisty tales. Nothing went like I expected. And the ending, surprised me—but I won't mention it. (I don't think you'll guess even with that hint.)

I recommend this book!

Happy (spooky) reading!

Sortes Fortunae is the Book of Fortunes. Years ago it granted the deepest desires to those of the village until someone used it to kill another person. After that, the Forest Grimm hid it away and the village of Grimm's Hollow suffered. Anyone going into the forest to make amends never returned. While Clara's grandmother warned her to keep away from the woods, she now dares to enter with her friend Axel to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother. The forest is alive, with twists on the Grimm fairy tales.

Clara is sure she's cursed, as her grandmother uses oracle vards to divine futures and hers always contained the forest and death. Because of this, she heads into the forest to save her mother and the village. The forest has a consciousness of a sort, turning prior wanderers from the village into characters from fairy tales we know. Axel follows to save his former fiancee, as well as their friendship, and her best friend also follows. But the transformed villagers play the roles the forest gives them, adding to the danger that Clara faces. Finding the book and her mother might be the primary purpose for her journey, but Clara realizes along the way uncomfortable truths about those she loves, and that as much as tries to defy it, fate will have to happen.

I loved the flashes of fairy tales as the book went along, as well as the magic inherent in the village and woods. Clara keeps telling herself that she is going to do whatever it takes for the village and to get her mother back, but she doesn't realize that the magic doesn't answer directly. This leads to a different kind of ending than she thought she would have, and the possibility of more stories in this world. It was a fun ride to the end, and I look forward to other books in this universe.

Although a fairly complex story with many characters from several fairy tales, Purdie does well to uniquely "retell" the stories. The Forest Grimm is complete with a magical world, unlikely protectors, young love, betrayal, an unexpected prince, and their truest desires. Clara and her friends set out on a life-changing and often life-threatening journey to save their village and rescue the Lost. Clara will learn what her heart truly desires as she and her friends meet reimagined confused and crazy fairy tale characters in the Forest Grimm.

I was unsure about this book when I first started and truly unsure about it until the end. There are so many elements that seem overwhelming and hard to keep track of. However, I was surprised and pleased with the ending. Although this is a planned duology and I would like to read the sequel, The Forest Grimm could also stand alone as a novel.

Fairytale retelling? Sign me up!

Except... it really wasn't what I wanted. Clara seemed both too young and too old at the same time for a YA novel, Axel is just average (I feel like their friendship wasn't played up enough beforehand), and Henni was TOO childish at times. I don't understand how she and Clara are supposed to be best friends - it just didn't make sense to me.

The forest itself didn't really make sense (SPOILER - how was Clara's mom a vampire??? how did the twins age up?? Why was Ella trying to poison them??). Clara's grandma is kind of the worst, but also her backstory makes no sense to the plot. Overall, everything just felt half-hazardly thrown together and I felt bored by most of it.

I wish this had just been a standalone. There is not enough plot to turn this into a duology/series. Not horrible, but ultimately just not my cup of tea.

*Received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

4/5 Star Rating!

Wow, this was a fun one. I really enjoyed how Purdie wove all these different fairytales together into a story all it's own, yet reminiscent of the dark tales told by Brothers Grimm. This YA dark fantasy retelling was obviously meticulously planned. I however, didn't get hooked from the beginning. After about 20% of the way in I was drawn in, and couldn't stop reading it.

I do wish that there was more character development from the main character, Clara. I felt like I understood why she was doing what she was doing. But, I still felt a bit disconnected to her.

She as a character has Scoliosis, or an 'S' shaped spine. This obviously causes her discomfort because it is brought up over and over again. I found it a little agitating, with it being constantly dragged up. No need to repetitively mention it. A few times will suffice, but beyond that it's a bit much. This is me being nitpicky.

I overall really enjoyed this, and look forward to visiting the people of Grimm Hollow again! If you love retelling's with huge dashes of irony, fate, and cute romance. This is a great one to read. I love the more sinister twist on the story, and I appreciated Purdie's huge head nod to Brothers Grimm, and how she went about her own take on their stories, without any of the dark vibes lost!

Well done, Kathryn Purdie!

-Megan

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I really liked the premise of a darker twist on some of our favorite fairly tales. I think the author did a good job of using some of my favorite tales and putting a nice twist on all of them to make them all a little bit darker and more sinister. If you have ever read the original fairy tales they all lean on the darker side in an attempt to teach children a lesson and deter them from doing certain actions or going certain places. I think the author did a good job staying true to the darker side of the original tales, while still putting her own fresh spin on them.

This follows Clara on quite and adventure to find a lost book as well as the villagers who were lost in the magical and dangerous forest that borders her village. The book holds the secrets to reverse the curse on the village and Clara is determined to find the book, save the village, and find her mother. You see Clara's grandmother is a fortune teller, and she has foretold that Clara is going to meet and untimely death in the Forest Grimm. Clara driven by the cards her grandmother has drawn, enters the forest aided by her best friends Axel and Henni to find what was lost. There they encounter a forest with a mind of it's own, dangerous creatures, and unexpected enemies.

One of the criticisms I have about the book is that the author often repeats certain phrases over and over as if you forgot them from the previous chapters. The other thing I wasn't a fan of is that our main character Clara is an act first think later kind of person and it felt like she had no agency of her own. All of her actions were driven by what she thought was her fate based on the cards drawn for her, and I felt like she lacked common sense much of the time because of it. After some reflection, I think that means I'm not the target age group for this book. It read a bit too juvenile for my taste, and I love a good middle grade or YA book. The characters were a bit too impulsive for my taste and the book lacked the world building and character development that I personally like to see in a book despite the target age group. I do think younger readers are really going to enjoy this. The magic system isn't overly complicated, there is a decent amount of action, and the plotline is entertaining.

This is the first book in a duology from what I've read, I am looking forward to finding out where the series goes next. This does end on a slight cliffhanger, but the main storyline of this book does end and I felt we got closure on this installment and brief preview of where the next book is headed.

***ARC received from Wednesday Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Everything about the concept of this book sounds great, a heroine waiting to die, a magical book that turns on those that use its magic and a forest that has twisted the fairy tales using the imprisoned to tell its story. When the book is on its on and its really good and can be quite creepy. Unfortunately its not a fully balanced book that left me with wanting a lot more.

The book pulls from traditional fairy tales and gives them a dark twist that I really enjoyed. We are introduced to Rapunzel and Cinderella with a dark twist to their story which was very interesting. The author created good tension in those scenes. I love a darker take on traditional fairy tales and this was executed well. Rapunzel was very creepy, the use of hair and its movement through the forest was so well done. Cinderella was probably my favorite. While she is not a creepy as Rapunzel, she has a sadness to her story that combined with the darker aspects. Hansel and Gretel also get a darker retelling but it basically just shifts the roles around so its not nearly as well done as the previous stories.

Unfortunately when they move on from these sections the book really falls apart. The tension from the previous scenes gets dropped and unfortunately it really slows the book down and for a book that already feels short it doesn’t help. It is where we get to explore more of the characters and in Henni’s case its either whining or throwing a fit about something inappropriate. She felt incredibly immature for someone who had made a pretty brave decision.

Clara and Axel don’t fare much better, they had inappropriately timed flirting or Clara is not being honest about something. I can understand this when they first enter the forest but they seemed to get less concerned about their safety than before. It just doesn’t make any sense and it just made me so frustrated to read. Especially as it pulled me out of the tension I previously felt in the scenes with the fairy tale characters. I know the book is structured to need a romance for the plot but I wish it had been handled a little less clumsy

Honestly, I hated the end of this book. I get that they have to set up the second book since one of the main plot lines did not get resolved but it was done in such a clumsy manner. One of my biggest complaints throughout the book was the characters felt like they had no survival instincts and the ending proved its a trait of the town not just those characters. They learned nothing from what they previously experienced and its incredibly frustrating as a reader and it makes me really not want to go back for the second book.

This isn’t a terrible book, its got some really great moments that are very creepy. Unfortunately it just isn’t a fully balanced book which distracts from the really good parts of the book.

Dark and atmospheric, The Forest Grimm is a unique and entertaining reimagining of the Grimm fairy tales. The story weaves in tales like Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel in a new and fresh way.

Much of the story takes place in the Grimm Forest, which is a dark, twisted, and sentient entity. It almost feels like a character itself in how it manipulates and works to thwart its inhabitants. In unique, magical, and dangerous world, Clara and Axel never know what to expect, and their journey to rescue their loved ones is treacherous. I love the wild twists and turns the story takes as Clara and her friends venture deeper and deeper into the forest.

I loved Clara’s journey as she uncovered the secrets of her village and the Forest Grimm. With a curse upon her village and her mother lost to the forest, Clara is determined to find her and bring magic back to the people. Clara travels with Axel and encounters people in the forest who are twisted versions of the classic fairy tale characters, barely reminiscent of the villagers they once were. It was so cool how the author took classic pieces of the original tales and twined them together with new material.

The story also has a slow-burning friends-to-lovers romance that I totally adored. It wasn’t the main focus of the novel, but it definitely raised the stakes for Clara and Axel. The story delves into their relationship from when they were kids, and you can see how important the relationship is to both of them. I liked seeing this couple slowly admit their feelings to themselves and each other.

This is the first in a duology, and after what happened at the end of the book, I can’t wait to read the next one. I would definitely recommend The Forest Grimm to readers who enjoy younger YA fantasy. Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was just so boring. I wanted to DNF it as I predicted the bit regarding the FMC's mother (which is really rare because I hardly ever predict stuff correctly), but continued on because I did like the twists (or reality?) of the fairytales and how the author tied those things within the story. The main problem is that I simply didn't care about anything else or really anyone. The romance between the FMC and Axel felt so forced and to be honest, quite weird throughout the entire story. I felt bad for Henni and the fact that she really couldn't seem to accept what happened to a family member while in the forest.

Unfortunately I really don't have much else to say. The writing was not the best either--kind of boring and non-descriptive with nothing to recommend regarding the characters--and you sort of grasped the realistic setting (the town the FMC lived in) and had an excellent grasp of the Forest Grimm itself.

Clara lives in Grimm Hollow, a town surrounded by the magical Grimm forest that has turned on the town after they used it's magic for evil. The people of the town were allowed one wish from the Book of Fortunes once they came of age but someone used their wish to murder another town member. After this time, the book disappeared into the forest and town members also began going missing in their attempt to retrieve the book and lift the town's curse.

Clara's mother is among the missing, and thus Clara is determined to enter the forest and retrieve the book. Once 17 years old, she embarks on her quest with her friends Axel and Henni and discovers the mysteries it contains.

I found this book very interesting; I loved the weaving in of the Grimm fairytales into the storyline once they are in the forest. It is well written and gripping.

THanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC

The Forest Grimm is fully of creepy forests and twisted fairy tales, and teens acting like teens.

Clara has been told that she'll suffer an untimely death, but when the town's magical book goes missing and a curse is laid over the town, she embarks into the dangerous forest that runs next to her village to find it and save her town. She's obviously followed by her best friend and her love interest (not that she'll admit that's who he is).

I didn't mind the haphazard mashup of the fairytales so much as I minded that we - the audience - obviously knew who was who, but the stories didn't seem to be part of the characters' world at all, so their inclusion just left me scratching my head. It felt a bit like the author was pointing out something to us going "hey! do you GET IT??".

I also found Clara and her love interest's will-they-or-won't-they very annoying, but that's because I'd say this is younger YA than I'm used to.

That being said, if you like creepy forests and stories that are a little dark and a little weird, you might like this one.

3/5 stars.

The Forest Grimm by Katherine Perdie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A spellbinding story of star-crossed lovers, fate, a curse, danger, adventure, and magic. The small village of Grimm's Hollow once blessed by the Grimm Forest is now cursed by the actions of one selfish villager. Every year they loose more people to the forest, becoming Lost. The town is slowly dying and time is running out. Clara embarks on a quest to save her mother, the first Lost, and village. She enlists the help of Axel who stirs feelings she has long buried. Within the forest they come upon an unlikely She is destined to die on. This quest is more than worth her life if everyone else is free, or is it? Everything these three intrepid journies will be questioned and tensions run high. Can they do what they came to do or give up hope when the journey gets too hard?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Even though at times the pacing felt a little off, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I loved the twists on the classic fairy tales and the foreshadowing. I am looking forward to the next part of the story.

This book is perfect for lovers of Grimm’s Fairytales. I loved the way the fairytales were intertwined throughout the story, even subtle details. The romance was sweet and a nice addition to the overall storyline. The ending is also set up for a potential sequel so I will definitely read it if there’s more.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Forest Grimm is about a village who becomes cursed and several village people become lost to the nearby magical forest. Clara loses her mother and decides she is going to quest to find her along with her long time friend who lost his fiancé.

The book is very cute and creative. The author takes the fairy tales we all know and produces a dark story for close to the Grimm version. The way the author connects the lost to the fairy tales was so fun to read along the way. I thought I could guess how the story was going but was pleasently suprised several times.

The book has elements that are more on the young side of the YA and the main characters friend Henno (while the same age as Clara) comes off quite young compared to Clara.

I really enjoyed the book and the creativity of it. It was a quick read that kept my attention. I am looking forward to the next book.

"Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die."

Clara lives with her fortune-teller grandmother in Grimm’s Hollow, a small town nestled at the edge of The Forest Grimm. The Forest has always sustained the town with magic and granting wishes, until a heinous crime turned the Forest away from the villagers. Now, the villagers are disappearing into the Forest, including Clara’s mother. Her grandmother read her fortune, and she knows she is destined for an early death, the same as her mother. But, if Clara can change her fate, perhaps with the help of her friend Axel, she can enter the Forest Grimm and rescue those who are Lost, before the fortune reading comes true.

The Forest Grimm weaves in classic fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel with this unique tale of a young girl, Clara, and her search to rescue her mother from the Forest Grimm. Clara has always known since her grandmother first read her cards that her fate was to die in the forest. But she hopes that after finally drawing the Red Card that she can change her fate. We follow Clara and her friends as they travel the forest, trying to find the Lost ones and break the curse to bring peace back to the forest and Grimm’s Hollow.

I enjoyed this book, though at times it felt a little repetitive. Clara and her friends encounter multiple people who have been lost in the forest and who now resemble characters from classic fairy tales, though they are twisted and not quite like the fairy tales we know and love. By trying to weave in multiple characters and adventures with each new person they meet, the story can feel a little like it is losing sight of the main narrative. At times I felt as lost in the forest as Clara, and perhaps that is intentional. But towards the end, things come together in a unique and somewhat unexpected way. This book felt to me to be on the younger end of YA, and we see how Clara is learning about herself and how the journey into the forest is a moment of growth and acceptance for her. In order to change her fate, she needs to accept the past and focus on the future, and not forget to live in the moment. We also have a little romance blossoming between two characters, which adds a nice bit of tension to the story. The ending at first seems like things have wrapped up, but then leaves us a nice opening to continue the story in a second book.

Overall, I enjoyed the unique take on classic fairytales, and I liked Clara’s growth and strength as a character. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an electronic advanced copy of this book.

This was quite the atmospheric read! I loved being in the world of Grimm’s Hollow and the Forest. I went in without too many preconceptions and I think that worked to my advantage. I liked the fairy tale hints and vibes a whole lot. I thought they were done in a subtle and fresh way, especially the darker tone. I did feel like this was equally plot and character driven, which is always a plus in my book. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Clara and the story itself was really compelling and interesting. This book is YA, but it definitely felt a little younger at times. It wasn’t a bad thing, but just something to note for readers who prefer older YA. I did also think that this could have been a standalone if the author wanted it to be. There was certainly enough room to wrap things up, but at the same time, I’m not complaining about getting more time in this world and with these characters. Overall, a fun fairy tale-esque read perfect for fall!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Take all your classic fairytales, grind them to a pulp, make everyone the cliche “opposite” to who they emotionally were, wander aimlessly through an incomplete and jumbled plot, and end on a cliffhanger.

I’m so sad I didn’t enjoy this one. I wanted to. SO bad. I thought the cover was cute and it’s style was unique.

But the story? 😭😭😭

Maybe it’s a me thing. But this one was nothing like I thought it would be. I was thinking a slightly sinister fairy tale but this was twisted and exaggerated.

𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚. 𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮.

Honestly I'm disappointed. I like the weaving of the Grimm stories, truly I do. I hate that after the first everything was predictable. "Everything is going fine, we find a clue and it's a good omen, we find a Lost person they also seem fine, they go crazy and try to kill us and we get away practically unscathed." And it doesn't even only happen once, or twice, not even only 3 times but like 5. And the ending. Don't even get me started on that being the STUPIDEST ending I've ever heard of, ever. It's getting 2 stars because I am a sucker for the pierced swans and that's it, nothing else is even redeemable.