Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. This was a unique take on fairytales, and I enjoyed all of it! The romance was swoon-worthy, and I am obsessed with the forbidden love trope. Overall, I suggest reading it!!!

The forest is Grimm, as Grimm as the brothers and as twisted as their tales. This is a marvelous retelling of several Grimm tales while Clara, Axel, and friend Henni head off on a quest to save others lost in the woods and return them while to their village. Clara is ostensibly Little Red Riding Hood, and she does rescue a few others, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel, along with the Big Bad Wolf. But others remain and it is likely a sequel is brewing. Absolutely a delightfully noirish deep dive into childhood folk tales by an author with a vivid imagination.

I received an eARC of this book for review from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
• The Brief: Clara is eager to make a wish… one carefully crafted to free her mother and her town. She will have to journey through a vindictive magic forest with her best friend to get the opportunity.
• If you liked Once Upon a Time, this YA novel featuring characters from familiar tales by the Brothers Grimm may just be up your alley.

This fairy tale mashup features Little Red Riding Hood along with numerous other recognizable characters. Told in 3rd person past-tense, this is a coming of age fantasy romance with a heavy emphasis on the fantasy. There is disability representation, the protagonist Clara has scoliosis. I can’t speak to the quality of the disability rep, but it was present throughout her travels in the forest.

The world-building is interesting – linking the mostly mundane village with the dark fae-inspired magic filling the unknown magical woods and all those inhabiting it. The blending of new ideas modifying familiar tales was the best aspect of this book for me.

The plot was interesting if somewhat convoluted. Still, the author did a good job twisting the familiar in interesting and entertaining ways.

3.5 Stars rounded up

This story was much creepier than I anticipated! The forest was home to some very sinister villains - the murderous Cinderella and her menagerie of dead animals comes to mind. It was fun to see the twists on classic Grimm characters like Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel.

These weren’t some of my favorite characters I’ve ever read, but I think a lot of that has more to do with me being a 32 year old lady reading books about 17 year olds than the characters themselves. They felt young and naïve to me, but they ARE young and naïve. I admired Clara’s courage and Axel’s optimism. Henni is who I struggled with the most - her complaints annoyed me, especially since she forced herself into this entire situation.

I thought the writing was a bit simple and the story could have benefited from a more descriptive style. The conclusion left me slightly confused, and I’m hoping that maybe in the second book of this duology we’ll get a bit more of a clear understanding of the curse and how Clara’s magic works.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of THE FOREST GRIMM by Kathryn Purdie.
Things I liked:
1. The creepy, twisted take on the more innocent characters from fairy tales. Just so, so great.
2. The romance once it really got going and was sweet and even kind of hot at a few points.

Main thing I didn't like as much:
It took too long to get to the good parts. I'll be honest that I ended up skimming a bit. Once it got to the creepy fairy tale people, I got more into it, but still kind of had to skim to get to the real good parts. I kind of wish the atmosphere of the whole book had fit with the creepy parts. A lot of it felt a little too much like overdone YA fairy tale retellings or YA fantasy in general, and not enough like the cool, different, twisty stuff. I just wanted more of that.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Forest Grimm!

This was such a unique story about a girl willing to risk everything to save the people she loves, with some twisted fairytales added in! I loved the concept of this book, but the overall plot and writing style were not for me. I found certain elements to be very repetitive and cheesy, but it was an intriguing story.

One of the things that most intrigued me about this story was the idea of a magical forest filled with twisted versions of well-known fairy tales. I was just talking with someone the other day about how many of the versions we’re most familiar with are very different from the darker original versions. I liked the idea of including references to those darker stories in a new tale.

And that’s one of the elements I enjoyed most about reading this book. I really liked the forest, too. It felt old and dark and filled with deadly magic. The story centers around Clara and her developing relationship with Axel, a plotline that I also followed with interest. I think I would have enjoyed a little bit more focus on Henni’s relationship with Clara. The way the story ends left me hopeful that Henni would be a critical character in a follow-up tale. All I can say to that is, yes, please!

On the whole, I think readers who enjoy reimagined fairy tales or books like THE GREYMIST FAIR by Francesca Zappia will definitely want to give this one a read.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. This book is Little Red Riding Hood meets The Grimms Fairytales (hence the Forest Grimm). Our main girl Clara lives in a small village on the outskirts of the forest where magic runs wild. Thanks to the magic of the forest her village was blessed with a magical book called Sortes Fortunae. Once a villager turns 16 they are given the opportunity to make one wish using the book, but when someone uses their wish and it results in someone’s death the forest becomes angry and curses the village. The curse results in people wandering into the forest never to be seen again. When her mother becomes the first lost one Clara vows to bring her home, and now she finally has her chance when she discovers a way to enter the forest. Now Clara and her friends must find all the lost ones who believe they are characters from Grimms Fairytales (including Rapunzel, Hansel & Greek, and more..). But entering the forest comes to save her mother comes at a great cost, because Clara’s fate says she will die in the forest.

This book was filled with all the dark fantasies! Cinderella, little red, Rapunzel, sleeping beauty and Hansel and Gretel, with all the little twists and turns. I really enjoyed reading this book. This reminded me of the brothers Grimm, and it kept me in ruptured in the story from start to finish.

Going into this book, I knew it was going to be a fairy tale mashup and that actually worked better for me as a reader. I didn't try to figure out what parts of the story were going to be part of a strict retelling and I just turned off my brain and let it all go. The beginning was a little slow, but once I was about 25% of the way in, the story picked up and I was ready to find out what stories Purdie would use.

One jarring moment was Clara using a character's name despite never having met the character or the character introducing themselves. Hopefully this issue is caught in final edits.

I did not know this book was pitched as Grimm's fairy tales meets The Village, but I picked up on The Village aspect quite early. Clara's grandmother speaks French, but no one in their village knows this language. The setting seems to be a forest, but no country or economy is given. It's like this little village just exists beside the forest, which gave some wonderfully creepy vibes.

The book's tone is distinctly YA (this is a good thing) and I feel that it is appropriate for younger teens. It was nice to read a YA book that felt geared towards teens both in content and story structure.

The book is the first in a series, but I felt that it could have been a standalone. The main story was done, and it felt like the epilogue was tacked on to make a duology. I'm not sure if I'll read a second book because the story did feel completed.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc for review purposes.

The moment that I read the synopsis for this book I knew I was going to absolutely love it, and it held up to that expectation. I'm a sucker for a fairytale kind of vibe or retelling. It's always drawn me in, and snares my attention and interest real quick.

Page after page I never wanted to put this down. It's so good, and I've heard so many great things about this author. I own some of her other books, but haven't had the chance to read them yet. I definitely want to soon. I love the way she tells a story, and how she creates and builds the world within the story and the characters.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

I think this book had some good ideas, but at times the plot seemed to slow to a crawl.

I liked the interesting dark twists on some of the classic fairy tale characters. Cinderella was especially creepy.

Thought that the relationship between Axel and Clara was sweet.

Unfortunately I had major problems with the plot. It meandered all over the place, and had some sections that didn’t seem to propel the story forward. I also really didn’t like the cliffhanger and the tease of the next book at the end. It was so obvious I felt like I was hit over the head with it.

Overall, this was just an ok read for me.






Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Forest Grimm is a fantasy romance—with a twist on the Grimm’s fairytales. I thought the way the different tales were worked into the Little Red Riding Hood inspired main story was really clever and well done. The fantastical with an edge of creepy definitely lives up to the original Grimm’s vibe.

I liked the main characters and their interactions with each other and I found the writing style and world building really easy to get into which made for a quick, enjoyable read. I’m really looking forward to the next book after that cliffhanger epilogue!

I love this, spooky forest is one of my favorite tropes, love the old fairytale inspiration, feels like a dark fairytale with cameos of beloved characters like Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel but made them creepy.

Clara is sure that she knows how and when she is going to die, as the cards have told her, and when The Forest Girmm begins to enchant people, Clara looks for a way to enter it, recover the magical book, and break the curse.

She lives in a special town because they have the Book of Fortunes, the residents can make a single wish, and the book will help them fulfill it; someone used their wish to kill someone, but now the book disappeared and the forest cries out for revenge and lore people to enter and never return. The town sends people to appease the forest but they have no success in entering it until Clara finds a way, using a rare flower. She will not go alone, Axel and Hanni accompany her. They have someone lost, Clara her mother, Axel his fiancée and Hanni her sister (who is Axel's fiancée)

Love the setting, it's creepy, the forest is not what it used to be, the trees have a life of their own, the roots attack you, everything moves from place, there are also poisonous mushrooms and berries, a wolf that does not stop following them and when they find the lost people, they are no longer what they were, now they are murderers; what an adventure.

The characters are likable, the friendship is sweet and the romance is a slow burn. The ending is not completely closed, but it does not have a shocking cliffhanger, it can be enjoyed alone. This was atmospheric and perfect for autumn if you want something with fairytale vibes, romance, mystery, and spooky. Also, this is a Young Adult and feels younger than adult.

Read it if you want:
• Creepy Forest
• Dark Fairytale inspiration
• Cursed town

This is a dark re-imagining of the Grimm fairy tales. I likes how the story weaves some of the popular Brothers Grimm's fairy tales like: Little Red Riding Hood; Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel. This dark story focuses on Clara who travels into the forest with Axel in search of something that will help her village that is cursed. By going into the Forest Grimm, Clara tries to find out the secrets of the Garden in hopes that she will be able to help her village.
This book is a Duo logy series, and I am looking forward to book two of this series. I'm a fan of dark YA tales when they are done right.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.

The Forest Grimm takes those familiar fairy tales you know and turns them upside down. Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood all make an appearance, and they’re all delightfully dark and twisted.

At the center of the story is Clara, a young woman who is desperate to find her mother. Clara’s only thoughts have been about taking on this monumental task. But when she finds herself alone with Axel, she realizes there’s more to her fate than just saving her mother. Clara’s fairly single-minded when it comes to her destiny. She’s thought things through. But she’s only been looking at them one way. With Axel comes a new way of thinking and a future Clara never dared to dream about.

Author Kathryn Purdie deftly intermixes familiar tales with her own imagining, creating something entirely new. Her pacing is solid and there are some nice surprises in store

The Forest Grimm is a fast-moving adventure, mystery, fantasy and romance all mixed into one. The book ends with a big twist, and I’m excited to see where Purdie takes the story next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Wow this was a fun fantasy read!

Loving the incorporation of familiar and dark Grimm’s fairy tales with a totally new and original story. Twisty and dark. Very good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want a generic YA fantasy romance that's a fairytale retelling sprinkled with YA horror, but it's not scary at all?

Pre-reading:
The original cover with the world and the wolf is so much better than the people cover. Another book box pick for me to suffer through.

Thick of it:
Is the magic book allergic to ands? You can’t just wish for a multi-hyphenate thing? Even if that's the case, just say I want my family to live forever then, you know?

What idiot started this Hunger Games lottery system? It doesn’t even kind of make sense.

It’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire right now.

Scoliosis rep

I love tarot cards.

What in the world? He won’t wake up, so you’re gonna straddle him? Sinful.

A piney boy because this stupid joke never gets old.

This book is extremely heavy-handed with the romance, and forcing the plot, and so YA, but it’s also kind of fun.

Wow, horny jail, kids

He has a girlfriend. Actually not just a girlfriend, a fiancé. But lowkey, I feel like the fiance wished to not marry him. (wrong)

She’s not like other girls, she’s gonna die!

They’re really going to sleep alone in the dangerous woods rather than risk their delicate sensibilities? Just share the grass, you dumbasses.

They sleepwalk to somewhere else in the forest, so obviously, their plan is bondage.

That's super rude to be like what if my friend slows me down?

These are the least secure objects. Just knot some friendship bracelets on.

crenellations

Oh, so they’re def just acting out the fairytales. Do fairytales exist in this world?

What kind of bullshit is that? It's not like y'all are naked. A blindfold is a bad, bad idea.

Is the Grimm Wolf her mom? (Her grandmother, Samantha. It's Red Riding Hood. What is this guessing game amateur hour?)

It's like the volleyball with a face.

She's not like other girls, she doesn't know how to eat neatly.

Say it. Out loud.

That's kind of lame. I don’t want a heartbroken girl. I would’ve liked her to not have wanted the wedding.

I’ll be there for you 🎶

Beauty and the Beast to close it out?

Oh, Sleeping Beauty.

Don’t call your mom hot and sexy. I don’t like that.

I mean, it’s cute for YA horror? All the fairytale references are cute. Like it’s not well done, but I see what it was going for.

I love Dracula.

Man, I hope her mom doesn’t die. That would be lame.

It’s the way I thought this book was a standalone, but it’s 100% going to be continued me.

Post-reading:
I’m giving this a very generous three stars, but I think that’s because I read it at exactly the perfect time when I’m in the mood for fairytales and horror.

I’m also being more lenient because this book is so aggressively YA, and it’s got to be for the younger side of YA readers. This is for your advanced reader middle schoolers. This is not for adults.

It’s not scary. The pacing is a mess. The book is mostly just a handful of fairytale references and horror movie clichés. It’s readable, but you’ve read this before. It’s nothing new. There’s no nuanced discussion of generational trauma. There’s no unique magic system or twist on fairytales. The romance feels insta lovey even though it’s not. The characters feel very one-dimensional.

The main character is technically disabled, but it never really disables her in the book, so it’s pretty poor rep. Fourth Wing has more disability rep than this book, and that’s a low, low bar.

I wanted more from this book. If you’re gonna do horrific fairytales, I need you to actually give me the horror. The original stories are so wonderfully dark. This story is tame. Sure, there may be teenage cannibals, but there are no threats and stakes for the reader to enjoy if they can essentially be scared off by some theater kids.

The new cover with the people on it is definitely closer to this book’s vibe than the original cover, but it makes you think it’s gonna be some huge romance and it’s really not.

It’s readable. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Who should read this:
YA fairytale romance fans
YA horror fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow-YA fairytale retelling
* Cinder by Marissa Meyer-YA fantasy retelling
* Dust City by Robert Paul Weston-YA fairytale retelling mystery
* Zhara by S. Jae-Jones-YA fairytale retelling
* Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer-YA fantasy romance, camp

I really loved the idea behind this book. A Dark Retelling of Grimm's Fairy Tales? Yes, Please! But I must admit the stories didn't seem to flow at times. It follows a girl named Clara who goes into the forest to save her mother, one of many who have ventured into the forest and never returned, and to break the curse that has befallen her town. Things aren't as expected... cue Dark Grimm Fairytale sequence. The story feels just a fairytale with delightful twists. Overall, I enjoyed the Red Riding Hood retelling with other stories thrown in there. It was dark, and the characters were luscious, just a little clumsy at times. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and an ending to keep you up at night.

I really wanted to love this... I loved the heart of this, the concept is strong and all of the things I love in a YA fairy tale. All the elements of a great YA are present but perhaps there was a little difficulty threading them together. The story starts slow and then feels pretty stilted throughout. It's interesting and I consistently wanted to know what was coming next, but it also slanted a little young. The concept was really cool, I love a forest that eats people, but where I was expecting the vibes of Uprooted or Crimson Bound, it's not quite there. There are moments of serious creepiness but they're fewer than you'd expect for a book that takes place entirely in a haunted forest.

Character wise, Clara is a super believable protagonist. She's impetuous and self-centered and definitely acts like a sixteen year old, which at times gets irritating but also makes sense. I haven't read many fantasies where a trio of teens are set to save the world but actually consistently act like teenagers. Her love interest and best friend though are both pretty one-note.

This is definitely the start of a series but it does have the feel of a book that can be read standalone. I don't know if I'll read the next one and don't feel like I *have* to.