The Forest Grimm is such an atmospheric, dark fairytale-y adventure—and it totally pulled me in from the first whisper of Grimm’s Hollow. Clara’s quest into the deadly, magic-shifting forest to recover the lost Book of Fortunes and save what remains of her village gave me those eerie, Into the Woods vibes—there’s danger and beauty in every shadow. The way the story weaves in twisted versions of classics like Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella is super clever and deliciously creepy.

Clara is a memorable heroine—brave, flawed, and dealing with scoliosis in a way that felt real and unfiltered. Axel, her childhood friend, is thoughtful and patient, making their evolving bond feel earned.

That said, the pacing felt uneven. The heart and setting are rich, but it gets a bit lost in the middle—some plot threads and fairy tale mash-ups felt choppy or scattered, which slowed me down. But the tension built back up by the end, and the final confrontation was eerie, emotional—and left me desperate for the sequel.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdue follows Clara and her friends as they venture into the scary Forest Grimm. It’s a fun and dark novel that weaves together fairy tales, romance, friendship and adventure. I enjoyed this and look forward to the sequel!

"Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die."
The Forest Grimm is the first book in this series and it's a page turning YA fantasy that fairy tales come to life, but with a sinister turn of events. The author wrote this so well and I can't wait to read more books from this author. Every character in this one was great and I enjoyed Clara the most. This would be the perfect read for Halloween! I loved the creppy vibes and every twist in this was great. The world and magic in this were well done. Overall, I highly enjoyed this read and would recommend it to any young adult or to those who likes fantasy reads. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books for this great read in exchange of my honest review of The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the Publisher, and Author for this E-ARC. I enjoyed the story and was happy to have this chance to read it.

I enjoyed this book. It kept me entertained and will definitely read more by author. Thanks yo publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read!

I cannot say if I liked it or didn't. I did finish and my interest lasted throughout the story but something was missing. I wanted something more. The summary is accurate and tells you exactly what yoy are going to read. I did not like the ending to this whole go into the cursed forest find the book break the curse. I did like all the fairytale stories Clara encounters. The lost on the forest who mysteriously wandered in never to be seen again ate characters from the stories we all know with dark twist. I woah they were tied together more instead of how it did end. Overall it was ok. If you want something easy to read with a spooky trip to a haunted cursed forest and some magical fortune telling of fates to come this is for you. I won't be reading book 2 any time soon. Probably wil forget about it anyways.

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

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 3/25/2025. I will let you in on a secret; I'm a fairy tale nut. If the book is inspired by or a retelling or just the same vibes, I'm all GIMME. So it's no wonder that I enjoyed all of the little fairy tale references and Easter Eggs scattered throughout this book. None of them were too obscure so there won't be any missed in-jokes. Purdie is careful to keep to the most familiar tales in this first book of a duology. She twists them and warps them and puts a bit of the old dark magic spin on them but you still know exactly where the inspirations come from. This makes it easier to follow the main tale as Clara and her two friends (yes, there are TWO, don't let the back blurb make you think it's just her and the Love Interest) as they try to break the curse of the Forest Grimm and return the wish-giving book and the lost villagers to their home. As for the three characters on their quest, don't worry about a love triangle. We've got Clara, her best friend Henni, and her friend Axel - all of them having Lost someone precious to the forest's influence.

Clara herself is a charming but definitely flawed character. After a lifetime of the same fortune-telling cards, she accepts her perceived martyrdom in the forest to the point of running headlong to it. While you feel her desperation to save her mother, you also want to shake the heck out of her because, seriously, how would her mother feel about her sacrificing herself? Not Good would be the sure bet answer. Clara also has an amazing ability to delude herself about certain things and ignore her own emotions. Don't worry. You can join in the yelling-at-her, too.

It is definitely a YA book and, despite some darker themes, it is straight forward and uncomplicated. The end bit shook me with some surprise but the other parts were pretty well telegraphed. As this is the first book, there is only a sense of "mostly" about the closure. You know they will have to go back in there and resolve the full story arc. After all, the book is still missing, more villagers are still missing, and the unknown person who caused this entire mess is still unpunished. Stay tuned for more!

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of The Forest Grimm from the author, and St. Martin's Press! 🫶

The Forest Grimm is amazing! 🥹💕 I truly loved the worldbuilding, disability representation, and the plotline. I'm excited to see what is to come for the sequel! 🫶

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for this gifted ebook to read and review.

I love the Grimm Brother’s Fairytales so I knew immediately this was the book for me. The Forest Grimm is dark, mysterious, and beguiling. Kathryn Purdie’s writing style is captivating with complex characters and a vivid setting. I started reading The Deathly Grimm immediately, I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Kathryn Purdie’s The Forest Grimm is a darkly enchanting tale that blends the eerie beauty of fairy tales with the emotional weight of destiny and sacrifice. With atmospheric prose and a haunting premise, Purdie crafts a world that feels timeless and unsettling.

The novel follows Clara, a young woman determined to defy fate. In her village, everyone’s future is foretold, and Clara’s mother has been condemned to an early death. Desperate to rewrite destiny, Clara ventures into the legendary Forest Grimm—a place where wishes come at an unbearable price. But as she journeys deeper, she discovers that the forest is more than a supernatural force—it’s a sentient, shifting labyrinth that feeds on those who dare to challenge its power.

Purdie’s depiction of the forest is masterful, a living, breathing force of nature that is as seductive as it is terrifying. The unpredictability of its magic keeps the tension high, and the intricate lore woven throughout the novel adds layers of mystery.

While The Forest Grimm leans into the darkness of folklore, it also wrestles with profound themes: free will versus fate, the cost of ambition, and the lengths we go to for those we love. Clara’s journey isn’t simply about surviving the forest—it’s about confronting the parts of herself she fears most. The supporting characters add richness to the story, each carrying their own burdens, secrets, and connections to the forest’s power.

Haunting and immersive, The Forest Grimm is a beautifully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of gothic fairy tales and eerie, atmospheric storytelling. Purdie’s prose is mesmerizing, pulling readers deeper into the forest’s grasp until they’re as lost in its shadows as Clara herself.

For those who love stories where magic is as dangerous as it is wondrous, this book is an irresistible read.

I loved how this book was a nice twist on the Grimm Brothers fairytales, darker and grittier and unhinged versions of the princesses and stories we have grown up with. The story had a really nice pacing, and the characters felt very realistic. The lore and building of the stories and the forest itself were really creepy and well done. It was a pleasant surprise

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
A quality fairytale retelling that had me clamoring for more, and didn’t rely on the source material to the detriment of writing something fresh and unique.

The Forest Grimm is a spellbinding blend of magic, mystery, and romance. Clara’s journey into a sentient, fairy-tale-infused forest is both enchanting and perilous, filled with unexpected twists and richly reimagined characters. The slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance with Axel adds depth to the narrative, making every moment in the forest feel both thrilling and heartfelt.

The Forest Grimm was a whimsical read full of familiar fairy tale characters and concepts. The cast of characters were likable which made going on their journey quite enjoyable. They all had their journey to go on and experienced moments of growth along the way.

I thought this was absolutely fantastic. I loved the premise and the way that it was set up. I loved the way that all the Grimms tales were put together in relation to the curse. There were a few places where the story got a little disjointed but for me it seemed to add to the story more than distract. The ending was a little sad and i had hoped for a better outcome, but I think that it was a good set up for the next book which I am really excited to start.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, and Katheryn Purdie for an advanced copy of The Forest Grimm in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such an interesting, unique take on the fairytale retelling genre. It had so many of Grimm’s original tales woven together to create a phenomenal story of family and the lengths that some will go to to save the people they love. The writing was lush and atmospheric and twisted. I loved that the characters had flaws, but I still rooted for them to succeed on their journey. And the ending! I cannot wait to pick up the next book to find out what happens.

This YA fantasy is based on a magical forest where fairy tales come to life and lure the local townspeople in to play the characters. Clara's mother disappeared into the forest along with her best friend's sister, and they attempt to rescue their family members along with the sister's fiance. As the trio attempts to survive the forest, find their loved ones, and break the forest's curse, battling fire swamp levels of danger.

Great world-building and character development. I would say this has a bit of light horror, a la T. Kingfisher.

A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with other fairytales intertwined into the main story. This made the story feel quite choppy and not cohesive. While still enjoyable, the weird flow of the storytelling made it hard to be invested.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.