This novel is a retelling of many fairytales! I love the twists in each of them! I did think that this story felt like many short stories combined into one but it was still a great read! I love how it ended with a cliffhanger! I can’t wait for a sequel! This novel is sure to please fans of Marissa Meyer!

Actual Rating: 2.25/5
The Forest Grimm has all the right ingredients for a dark fairy tale retelling—an enchanted forest, a cursed village, and a heroine determined to uncover the truth. It weaves together elements from multiple classic fairy tales, giving them a darker twist, which initially seemed promising.

The setup is intriguing, and the eerie atmosphere is well done. The journey into the forest feels like stepping into a haunted storybook, and I appreciated the effort to blend familiar tales in a new way. But as the story went on, it just didn’t bring anything particularly fresh to the table. The plot unfolds in a way that feels expected, and while there are some twists, most of them are easy to see coming.

The characters were fine but not particularly memorable, and the dialogue had some corny moments that took me out of the story. The romance especially felt over-the-top, which made it hard to invest in. The pacing was steady, but it never quite built the kind of tension or excitement that would have made the journey truly gripping.

By the end, I was left feeling a little indifferent. It wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t stand out either. And knowing it’s the start of a series, I can’t say I’m eager to continue. If you’re a fan of dark fairy tale retellings, you might enjoy the atmosphere, but it’s not one that will stick with me.

I am deeply grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this opportunity to read a digital ARC and provide my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for a free eArc in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a fun ya fantasy retelling! I really enjoyed the dark fairytale vibes. There were definitely parts that dragged a little, but I felt like the twists were really good. I especially loved the romance. I actually really like where it ended and probably won’t read the next book despite it leaving off as a cliffhanger. I would’ve liked it as a standalone more.

I was excited for this book but it felt very disjointed to me. I wasn't sure where it was headed or what it's main goal was. There are a lot of different fairytales that are trying to weave together and I just don't think it works very well for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital arc

I enjoyed this book! It and the sequel are both good, clean reads for younger teenagers. The story is cleverly interlaced with fairytales of old, putting a new spin on folklore we’re all familiar with.
Happy reading!

A teenager braves the dangerous forest close to her village so she can try to save her mother and the other villagers who have gotten lost. As she does her best to fight the unlikeliest of monsters, she’ll also have to navigate complicated friendships and a budding romance even as the forest tries to keep its secrets to itself. Seasoned author Kathryn Purdie celebrates all things beloved about fairy tales while creating her own in the excellent book The Forest Grimm.

It's been three years since 17-year-old Clara Thurn has seen her mother. Three years of wondering whether she’s even alive. Despite the promise Clara made to her mother when she was a young girl to watch out for her, Clara was unable to do so. Her mother was the first of the Lost—the people from Grimm’s Hollow who went into the Forest Grimm and never came back out.

Knowing she’s not the only who has lost a family member to the forest almost makes things worse for Clara. She begs her grandmother to read her fortune through the mysteries cards Grandmere brought with her long ago from the old country, but Grandmere refuses. Once was enough—the one time that foretold Clara’s untimely death. Yet Clara is determined to bring her mother and the other villagers home.

Everything went wrong when someone whispered a murder wish into Sortes Fortunae, the village’s Book of Fortunes. Before the mysterious killing, people only used their single wishes for simple things. Then an unknown wish caused a death, for no apparent rhyme or reason. The next day, the Book of Fortunes disappeared, and the forest itself has claimed the villagers one by one ever since. Worse, Grimm’s Hollow itself is dying.

In an attempt to bring back the book and the lost villagers, the residents of Grimm’s Hollow have begun holding a monthly lottery of those still in the village. Every month a name is drawn, and the person chosen tries to enter the forest but the forest flat out refuses to let anyone in. When the chairman of the village council draws the name of Axel Furst, Clara is relieved and terrified. Axel is a friend; he was due to marry the older sister of Clara’s best friend, Henni. Since Ella’s disappearance the previous year, Axel has been despondent. If anyone’s force of will can match Clara’s in finding the Lost, it’s Axel’s. But Clara also wants to warn Axel not to go, not to subject himself to the forest’s horrors.

It's not just enough for Axel to promise Clara that he’ll look for her mother too, though. She knows that she really should go looking for her mother herself. A complication forces Axel and Clara to leave in the middle of the night on their quest with supplies in hand and determination in their hearts. Even if her grandmere foretold her death, Clara knows nothing can stop her until she finds her mother and Ella and everyone else the Forest Grimm has taken.

Author Kathryn Purdie uses a deft touch to build the world of Grimm’s Hollow. Readers will be delighted at all the fairy tale nods and downright mentions even before the famed retellings appear. Purdie finds ways to subvert the expectations of traditional fairy tale characters while also illuminating them in new and nuanced ways.

Some references might be obvious from the start; others are complete surprises. It’s clear that Purdie has taken considerable time and effort to delve into the most recognizable details of the fairy tales and highlight them in a brand new way. Doing so is impressive enough, yet Purdie also stays true to Clara’s story without jeopardizing the importance of her quest. The more famous fairy tale characters are truly supporting ones here, a writing juggling act that keeps all the balls in the air while the magician winks at the audience and then makes the pattern even more complicated in a lead-up to a breathtaking end.

Readers who love a good fairy tale retelling that is truly fresh and innovative will certainly enjoy this one.

The Forest Grimm is book one in the The Forest Grimm series by Kathryn Purdie.
And it’s quite the start to a atmospheric YA fantasy series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and feel like it’s an easy story to read in one sitting.
Not because it’s a simple story but because it’s addicting.
The world is unique and so is the magic system. I was blown away by the vivid details and storytelling.
I was pulled deep into Grimm’s Hollow and became fully invested in Clara and Axel’s journey. The characters are astoundingly well written.
Where fairy tales come to life with a dark, deadly twist!
The Forest Grimm is filled with action and adventure, magic, intrigue, fairy tales and a strong female character.
Easily five stars! Incredibly unputdownable!
I can't WAIT for the next book in this series!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

If you are a fan of dark Grimm Brothers' Fairy tales, then this may be a duology for you to look into. I picked this up with the hope of Black Forest vibes, magic, supernatural, and the like, and that's exactly what I got. I was pleasantly surprised by this book though I could probably do without the love triangle situation where Clara is pining after Axel but Axel is pining after Ella who vanished into the forest.

The story starts with Clara wanting to know her fortune and to be able to find "The Lost Ones" who have been taken or wandered into the forest. Clara's mother disappeared and she was the first and many others have also disappeared since the forest became cursed. Overall, it's a mysterious romp through classic dark fairy tales with unique twists on each of them. Even if you feel you know them, they will be presented in a different way which, I personally, enjoyed.

This is a YA fantasy book, so the overall writing style is not perfect but I did find it entertaining and engaging. I do plan to pick up the next installment of the duology to see what happens next.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the different take on the Grimm tales and the creepy setting of the forest. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance happening on the side in this story. I'm not sure you could really call the end of this book a Happily Ever After, but it was still a satisfying ending that leads into the second book, which I cannot wait to read!

This author really knows how to spin a tale that is fantasical, but still resonates with the reader as honest and true-to-life.

I loved the world that this took place in. The new interpretations of Grimm’s tales were fantastic, and wove together really well. The overarching concept was really unique and had me hooked right away. Some of my predictions were correct, but many unpredictable things happened as well, which made the story far more addicting. The prose was quite sophisticated for a young adult novel, but still highly comprehensible for younger readers. The love story was very sweet and not unrealistic, which added to its charm. I will definitely check out the sequel. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this in exchange for my honest review.

This was an exciting fantasy read for lovers of fairy tales, especially some of the classics. The beginning reminded me a little bit of 'Hunger Games' but with a twist. There were a couple of surprises throughout and I did enjoy the FMC!

One of the best aspects of fairy tales is that they can be both universal and timeless as well as being adapted to the time they are being re- written for without losing heir essence and message. Although this is often a hard point to balance a story on, this edge is something that Kathryn Purdie has accomplished in the duology. I was also very appreciative that this book didn't rely on the darker shades of fairy tale to create tension. This was delightful PG fairy tale reimagining that would be perfect for a reader of any age. Keeping the essence and feelings of the Grimms Tales that we grew up with present, at all time, Purdie allows for something new, modern, and vibrant in this imaginative retelling while weaving together of her own storytelling and world building to create the most delightful framework for the characters I knew and loved.

I am reviewing only book one of the duology here.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Kathryn Purdie and NetGalley for sharing this book with me!

This story had its moments, and I think I liked it enough to read the second book when it comes out, but while I love fairy tale retellings, this one was kind of a mashup of several fairy tales making things a bit muddled when it came to plot--like I couldn't understand why a character did something on one page, and then later did something else. Still, if I ignored inconsistencies or questions, it was interesting enough that I wanted to read until the end and I will probably check out the second book.

I think it also took me some time for the characters to warm up with me, and the romance was very predictable, though sweet. Without getting into details, I didn't like how Marra felt she had to lie to her grandmother in order to trick her into doing one final reading that would force a result that she wanted. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I didn't love the characters, but I also didn't dislike them. It just took longer than I wanted to root for them.

Perhaps it's unfair, but I read another fairy tale inspired story a couple weeks before this one, so I couldn't help but make comparisons. Moreover, the other story was written by an author whose works I love this particular one had such interesting characters, both the MC and the supporting characters. So that may have influenced my expectations/experience with this book.

Either way, I will say that this was a solid read, but it wasn't my favorite when it comes to fairy tale inspired stories.

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

Although I liked the first book, I found the pacing for this one a bit slow. I also found Clara and Axel's relationship in this one to be frustrating! I noticed he was mean to her and did not believe in or support her. The author does a good job mixing in magic, and mystery. romance, and fairytales so I recommend it to younger YA readers.

This was a great YA fantasy! It took a bunch of the Grimm’s fairytales and reimagined them in a completely new and unique way. It was dark, spooky, atmospheric, mysterious, a little unhinged, and so much fun. Clara lives in a small village on the edge of a magical forest that has turned against its inhabitants. People go into the forest and never come back. Clara decides to go into it to save them, and she’s accompanied by Axel, her best friend and the boy she’s secretly in love with. Once inside, they discover that the villagers have become twisted versions of themselves. Axel and Clara have to work together to break the curse on her village and rescue everyone. I loved the way to story played out and how all the fairytales were connected together. If you want a dark and eerie fantasy with fortune-telling cards, curses, adventure, and true love, I highly recommend this one!
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Read if you like:
▫️fairytale retellings
▫️enchanted forest and magic
▫️YA fantasy
▫️strong heroine
▫️childhood friends to lovers
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Thank you to Wednesday Books, Kathryn Purdie, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I finished this a while ago and I guess I closed the tab on the computer before I submitted the review. This is really good. You absolutely want to read it.

Twisted fairytales!

Clara is determined to save her lost mother from the Forest Grimm where she wandered into three years ago. Her best friends Axel and Henni join Clara and they want to save Henni’s lost sister also. The Forest Grimm changed when a curse happened in Grimm Hollow and twisted the magic that used to be helpful to the villagers. The three are in danger of becoming lost themselves because the Forest moves and changes. They are surrounded by creatures who want to cause them harm. They can only trust each other and hope that trust is enough to save them.

Likes/dislikes: Axel’s gift for finding silver linings in any situation is charming. I enjoyed the story of the young ghost, Ollie. It adds a bit of spookiness and melancholy. The author wove a creepy tale of twisted magic.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG for 3 swears.
Violence: PG for death.
Ethnicity: falls to white.

I have a soft spot for fairy tale retellings, and Forest Grimm delivers an intriguing, yet ultimately disappoint story. The story begins with a strong setup and quick introduction to the cast—Clara, Axel, Henni, and the various townsfolk. Unfortunately, the beginning was the best part. The middle and ending were not cohesive or as strong.

It is a solid YA book and thoughtfully explores themes of grief, friendship, and uncertainty.

The writing felt clunky, and the repetition—especially in how Clara’s scoliosis was described—became frustrating. As someone with scoliosis and corrective surgery, I appreciated the disability representation is a great thing. However, I found that it did not enrich Clara's character as it was one-dimensional.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

THE FOREST GRIMM, as in Grimm fairy tales....the real ones.....was an interesting retelling/mixed up version of many of the tales. It begins with Red Riding Hood who must find the way to break the curse on her home, family and community. The beginning sets the tone and then she travels.....to the forest. At this point, it seemed as if the writer had every intention of including a scene from as many of the tales as she could. It wasn't bad, just not necessary. The synopsis doesn't say so, but the ending paves the way for another book. This was a good, not great read but I'd read the next one to see if it gets better.

I love how many fairy tales are incorporated into this story and how each of them is told with a different twist. I am excited to see what happens in the second book, which fairy tales are incorporated, and the twists the stories will take.