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.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I've been a fan of Kathryn Purdie and this one did not disappoint—lush, atmospheric, dark. This fairytale re-telling was inventive and interesting.

I really quite enjoyed this book. I love how the author was able to weave in several different fairytales to tell this story. You’ve got a selfless main character who wants to save everyone and a handsome boy who just wants to save her. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this duology!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

To sum this book up, take several Grimm fairy tales, make an evil forest that will transform people into interpretations of the fairy tales, and then put it in a place where there is a village that has people go missing to the woods. I know that might seem like a lot, but this book beautifully puts you in the shoes of the main character where they are trying to find their missing mother and end the curse of the forest. As a fan of the original Grimm fairy tales this book took me by surprise, and I fell in love with the unique way the author tied in the original feeling of the fairy tales into this YA novel.

To start, the characters of this book are fun to follow. The main character Clara is a bit obsessed with being able to shape her fate, but she makes reasonable decisions, and also I got invested into her plight. You also have Axel who lost his fiancé to the woods, and is trying to find her alongside Clara. Throughout their journey they will run into the victims of the forest to see they have changed since they were abducted by the woods and transformed into the characters of the dark fairy tales.

The vibes of this book are dark, as you might be running into cannibal kids, women that try to trap you, and drugging, but if you are looking for a fresh take on fairy tales I highly recommend this book. I will say there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the first book which leads me to believe that there are more books coming, but other than that, I found myself immersed in the world of dark magic, and if that is what you are looking for I would highly recommend!

An absolutely spellbinding twisted retelling of several classic Grimm tales. that acknowledge the dark backround of the original tales, while still making them new and fresh. With it's cast of fascinating characters and an unforgettable and creative plot, The Forest Grimm, is a story that probes into the idea of wish fufillment and sacrifice, because not everything is what it appears to be in the Forest. I enjoyed the each and every creative twist Kathryn Purdie put into her story and became invested with the characters who, by the end, I felt i really understood. This was a true fantast masterpiece and I simply cannot wait to read the sequel.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5/5 stars

This was such an interesting story with some really interesting twists on well-known fairytales. It leans very heavily into the original versions by the Grimm Brothers (which makes sense based on the title) but still manages to find points of warmth and redemption. The thing I appreciated most, actually, was how deeply it goes into the dark and creepy of the Grimm Fairytales while still maintaining the integrity of the stories. What I find so often in dark retellings is they go way too far, or it's just underwhelming - Purdie strikes a good balance here.

I'll admit, I struggled at certain points because the pacing sometimes felt sluggish. We'd go from a really interesting revelation about flowers and fortune and curses.....to walking in a forest that changes and for me it struggled to hold my attention in the lulls. But by the end, I was invested and interested to see how it all connected. I guessed most of the twists but there were a few that really made sense but weren't obvious and I definitely appreciated the craftsmanship behind them.

Overall, I think if you really enjoy fairytales and retellings, especially when they're creepy, you'll really enjoy this. It's a great fall time read and it's well written (except for a few pacing complaints) - I think it will just come down to personal preference whether you love it or just like it.

Definitely worth checking out!

I listened to this on audio when I got the fairyloot version. Overall this was a 3/5 for me. I loved the retelling of so many famous fairytales with a darker twist. I also really liked Axel and Clara together. I just wished the flow of the book was better and there was more character depth.

I love reading retellings, but I think the pacing was a bit off for me with this book- sometimes very fast paced and sometimes very slow.

I think I would have loved this when I was younger (I’m 31f), but did enjoy how reading this felt kinda nostalgic.

Enjoyed this story but didn’t love it as I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the romance. .

Tried giving this my all and it was a DNF... wrong book for the wrong reader. I just found it hard to follow and had to buy in for the main characters

Overall I enjoyed how the fairy tales were woven into the story. The characters fell a bit flat for me so I was never emotionally invested in their journey or the romances but this also could be partly due to the intended audience for the book. I was sort of right and sort of wrong when it came to the Grimm Wolf and I saw the end going in a different direction. I am not jumping to read the sequel right away but I may pick it up eventually to see how the story ends for these characters.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

I love a good Grimms Fairytale retelling; especially when it’s true to just how dark those tales actually are. The premise was interesting and the plot was fast paced. The twists were exciting (although as an adult perhaps not as shocking as if a teenager were reading this). But overall I enjoyed the story and the cliff hanger at the end. I’ll be reading book two.

I really enjoyed The Forest Grimm! The dark, fairy tale-inspired world was so unique and full of surprises. It’s a magical, mysterious read that kept me hooked until the end. I highly recommend. The romance was fantastic, by the way.