I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was so creative and imaginative and such a fun way to reimagine fairytales. I loved intertwining the tales with this creepy and magical forest. I don’t think there was a single part that I didn’t like or thought it could be improved. I will absolutely be buying a physical copy. This is already a contender for book of the year for me. Thank you NetGalley for access!

The Forest Grimm is a dark and atmospheric read that captured my attention from the start. The eerie forest setting is so vivid and full of surprises, making the journey feel unpredictable and intense. I loved how classic fairy tales like Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel were twisted into something new and unsettling—it's a fun mix of nostalgia and fresh takes.

Clara’s determination to save her village and uncover the forest's secrets made her a compelling protagonist, and her relationship with Axel added an emotional layer without overshadowing the action. It's a solid YA fantasy with a great atmosphere, and I’m curious to see how the story unfolds in the next book.

This is a retelling of several of the Grimm fairytales like Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Red Riding Hood. When a curse is placed upon her village and her mother is lost in the Grimm forest, Clara is determined to find her mother and reverse the curse. She journeys with her friends, Axel and Henni into this dangerous place, and they encounter many dark versions of the fairytale characters.

I loved the creepy retelling of the fairytales. I thought the pacing was good and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. The dark twists with the fairytale characters was my favorite part. If you love creepy fairytale retellings you will love this one.

This wasn't anything that I was expecting at all! This is such a good thriller and kept you to the edge of your seat!

Oh my goodness, a book about Grimm! Sign me up! I lived in the world of the fairytales and never wanted to leave!

A big thanks to Netgalley and MacMillian for providing an eARC and advance audio book in exchange for an honest review.

The book had me at the mere name drop of the Brothers Grimm, but lost me at that cover. Boy oh boy did MaCMillian win me back with that new cover.

The Forest of Grimm by Kathryn Purdie is a YA fantasy novel that follows the ill fated life of Clara, who must embark on a journey into the Forest Grimm to retrieve a magic book. Which is capable of lifting the curse of her village and saving her missing mother. With the help of her friend Axel, who is destined to never be with Clara, must face countless trials and tribulations straight out of the Grimm Brothers tales.

I REALLY wanted to love this book, given it's rich callback to plenty of Brother Grimm tales. But it was so thrown together, and haphazard I couldn't keep up. Subvert your expectations, because this book will not let you meet them.

This book was well written. A fun fantasy adventure that takes on a twist to Grimm’s fairytales. I was intrigued by the idea that a forest would be the reason a town does or doesn’t do well and the most mother trope was an interesting choice.

I really enjoyed the tarot reading aspect and the fate cards. However, I just think this one tried to do too much in one book. It felt very disjointed once the book is set up and had too many fairytales. It also dragged for me to even get to the action.

But overall, I think this will work for a lot of people, especially if they’re new to grimm’s tales or want a fresh perspective.

I really loved reading this book! I think the author did a great job of creating an engaging fantasy book with it's own storyline while adding in some of the Grimm Fairy Tales in it's own unique way. I liked the way the story was written & enjoyed the characters. She used a lot of descriptive details which helped add to the story and set the scene. This was a great book for me as a adult but would also be good for the younger adult readers as well. This was a great book to read, it kept me engaged and wanting to read more! I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in this type of story & can't wat to read the next one!

Kathryn Purdie takes the Grimm's Fairy Tales and twists portions of them into a new fantasy. The original Grimm's fairy tales were rather dark, although the later versions of them lost that dark edge. This trip into the Forest Grimm takes characters from those dark stories and gives a new twist.
As Clara has always known the destiny that her grandmother's cards predict for her, she is eager to use the life she has control over to save her mother and other villagers who have been drawn into the forest and captured by its magic. She has a plan and all the knowledge she could gather about the forest. In the past times, the villagers could happily venture into the forest and enjoy its wonders. But misuse of the magic that was given to the village is badly misused, the forest turned hostile.
Can Clara find a way to restore peace to her village? Or will the forest capture her forever in its snares?

The story will well written and the characters were relatable. There were a number of interesting twists and turns in the plot that kept it moving along. The open "ending" of the story left me a bit unsatisfied, so I hope to read the follow up to this story in the future.

Imaginative and adventurous journey through familiar tales that may be not so familiar. Grimm tales were indeed grim, although have been made lighter over time, so a return to the dark. Clever and entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

4⭐️
The Forest Grimm is everything you could want in a YA fantasy book. I liked that instead of this focusing on just one of the Brothers Grimm stories it incorporated multiple, though all were uniquely changed and told a completely different story than the ones we all know. Magic, fairy tales, star crossed lovers—definitely enjoyed this and look forward to more.

I have not read a book by Kathryn Purdie before but I will be on the lookout for more books by this author. The Forest Grimm is a fantasy that is original with an imaginative twist on Fairytales. Clara was a great main character. I felt she was strong, smart, and focused. Even though her fortune-teller grandma has warned her of untimely death from early on, Clara accepts this and decides to use her short time to go on a quest into the deadly and dangerous Forest Grimm to save loved ones. Well written with likable characters. This is a great read for young adults and I would say 13 and up readers also.
I'm going to reread this and then read The Deathly Grinm.



I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are on my own.

I was hooked from the very beginning. I read some reviews of people saying they hated the mash-up of fairytales, but I really enjoyed it. I liked the moment when you find out which fairytale figure the Lost villager has become. I loved the twist at the end with the grandmother, which I didn't see coming at all. I also enjoyed the side characters Axel and Henni. The bittersweet ending was perfect. I'm not sure I'll bite on the epilogue and read the next one, but I enjoyed this one quite a lot.

The Forest Grimm is a story of multiple classic fairytales, all with disturbing twists. Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel were all included, although it felt more like Alice in Wonderland eating wacky mushrooms at times. The main character Clara was sometimes too selfless that made it not relatable, but otherwise it was a fun ride! The book ended with another possible quest, so I am excited for a book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the Forest Grimm and its different take on classic Grimm fairytales. The twists for each were interesting and kept me on my toes, and I didn't see most of them coming. I DO feel like there were a few too many additional stories, though, making it feel a bit more stuffed than needed. This is one of the few books I've read with mentions of a medical issue, and I really appreciated the way it was handled. There are mentions of the way her spine is shaped differently and how she accommodates her disability with shoe modifications, which didn't feel overly pushed in your face. Clara and Axel's love felt hard-earned rather than just thrown in there, which I appreciated, and I'm all here for how they continue to grow as adults and as a couple. I'm curious about what happens in the next book, and though I'm not chomping at the bit for it, I AM looking forward to it! A solid read with a fun plot, and really, any time I get a Grimm retelling, I'm all there for it!

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

This was a 3.5 star read for me, there was so much potential but it just fell short in a few places. One of the main things was there was constant reference to Clara’s scoliosis (seriously it was constant) but since it didn’t play any role in the story it seemed like it was just trying to force representation of a non perfect FMC. If it had just been mentioned once or twice when describing Clara it would have just felt like you were learning about the character. Also, while I liked the way the Grimm Stories were wound together to a singular adventures they were occasionally too disjointed to flow.

Over all this was a really cute ya fantasy, probably leaning mid ya rather than older ya, and I would read the next book to see where the adventure goes.

This was good, although I think I'm searching for something a bit more complex in the fantasy area. I think this is more aimed for a younger ready and honestly I love that! I think too many books now are aimed at older audiences but this was a fun read. Great world building and magic system. I definitely would give this to someone in high school or middle school. Honestly it was a comforting read and a nice break from reality!

Kathryn Purdie masterfully weaves a spellbinding tale in The Forest Grimm, blending dark fairy tale elements with heart-pounding adventure. Clara’s journey into the cursed forest is richly atmospheric, full of deadly magic, and steeped in high stakes as she seeks the elusive Sortes Fortunae. The vivid descriptions bring the eerie, sentient forest to life, while Clara and Axel’s dynamic adds emotional depth to the narrative. Purdie’s twists on classic fairy tales keep readers on edge, crafting a world that is as beautiful as it is treacherous. A must-read for YA romantasy fans who love danger, destiny, and dark magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-ARC of The Forest Grimm!
3.5 / 5 ⭐

The Forest Grimm is an imperfect mosaic of fairytale retellings. I understand the reviews saying that it’s clunky at how it integrates the different stories, but the main narrative is still clear and engaging, and I think this is a good foundation for an even stronger second novel.

Clara must head into the dangerous Forest Grimm to seek the magic Book of Fortunes so that she can lift the curse on her village and save her mother.
The Forest Grimm is a dark retelling of the fairy tale of Little Red Riding. The Forest Grimm will appeal to readers of Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf and watchers of Once Upon A Time.