{3.5 stars}

Thanks to Wednesday Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

This story features a dark haunted forest with a Hunger Games like selection to enter the forest to break the curse. Years ago Clara’s mother went into the forest and never returned. Many others in the village have done the same. Clara is determined to be chosen to enter the forest. When she is not but her love interest Axel is, she follows him anyway. What they encounter trying to save Axel’s betrothed and her mother is the horrors of many classic Grimm's characters including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Briar Rose and Sleeping Beauty. These characters' fates are all weaved together and it's not clear if Clara can save them all.

I loved the dark vibes and the retelling aspect. Clara is smart and plucky and only a little lovestruck. I like a female main character that we don't have to roll our eyes at for following a boy. The way the various stories fit together was really cool, it reminded me of the TV show Once Upon a Time, albeit a YA version. Fair warning there is a bit of an open ending, I wouldn't call it a cliff hanger but it is clear that Clara's mission is not over.

Venture through a dangerous forest to unweave the mysteries of a curse in “The Forest Grimm.” This darker fairytale retelling features an isolated village surrounded by woods with similar concepts to “The Hazel Wood” and “Small Favors.” Clara seeks to find her mother and break the curse that is bound to the town, expecting to fulfill her fated death along the way. The intrigue compelled me to continue reading each time a chapter ended. I’ll be anticipating the next book in the series for the conclusion of this story!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

.lI really liked the concept of this book. This enchanted Forest has swallowed up local villagers and turned them into grotesque versions of fairy tale characters. It will be interesting to see where the sequel goes next.

I love all things fairytale so of course I jumped for joy at the opportunity to read The Forest Grimm. As the name suggests it’s heavily influenced by the Brothers Grimm, incorporating their dark and twisted tales into one overarching plot.

I was immediately pulled into the story - fortune-telling and a girl fated to die. A magical book that grants wishes and a sentient forest. That’s exactly the recipe for a dark and enchanting fairytale. The setting is so unique - a magical forest has turned its back on the villagers it used to bless after its magic is used to harm. The villagers need to make amends in order to lift the curse that’s fallen over their land. I absolutely adored our cast of characters - Clara, Henni, and Axel all have their own strengths and weaknesses, but are bound together by their desire to bring their loved ones and the rest of the lost villagers home. The slow-burn romance was also a highlight of the story.

This is one of the first books I’ve ever read with scoliosis representation. I loved the simple mentions of Clara’s S-shaped curve and the modifications to her shoes to help take some of the pressure off her back. This is not something you often read about, especially not in fairytales, and as someone who has two minor curves of my own, I appreciated the inclusion.

Overall, The Forest Grimm is a beautifully written and fast-paced story. The author did an amazing job taking the tales we’re all familiar with and turning them into an enchanting story of her own. I’m already eagerly awaiting the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A modern YA retelling of the Grimm fairy tales but twisted in a nightmare.

Grimm’s Hollow has been cursed and Clara Thurn ventures into the Midnight Forest to save her mother, find the book of fortunes and lift the curse plaguing the town. This is a dark and magical adventure with engaging characters and many gripping action scenes that kept me invested in the story.

The twists to classic Grimm fairy tales were layered and woven delightfully, you knew what to expect but also not! I enjoyed the friends to lovers plot but it wasn’t over the top, it’s more of a fantasy than romance. Our protagonist, Clara, has disabilities and while they are mentioned a few times, they certainly do not slow her down.

Wonderful world building and supporting characters - Henni and Axel, the trio had an easy going camaraderie and I just about died of cuteness when Henni took out a sewing kit for emergencies!

A bit of a slow burn novel but overall well written, quite enjoyable and unique!

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. These three are consistently teenaged the entire time, though with the immaturity of a modern teenager which possibly doesn't make sense for the experiences they've lived? Her love interest and best friend 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.

All this said, I'm certainly older than the target demographic. The things that annoyed me might be completely minor to an actual teenager who can see themself in the character!

Overall 3.5 rounded up for me.
If you enjoy fairytale retellings you will love this book. It does a great job of mixing the fairy tales into the adventure of finding their lost people in the forest.
If you are a 100% happy ending kind of person this may not be for you, I personally enjoyed that not everything played out in a predictable way and not everything was tied up with a pretty bow at the end.
overall the main character was likable if not a little naive (but that ok when you consider her age).