The Deathly Grimm, written by Kathryn Purdie, is a captivating fairytale that shines brightly, sharp as teeth, and brimming with heart. The clever intertwining of classic stories like Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood lays a strong groundwork for romance, while also incorporating chilling elements inspired by the Grimm Brothers' tales.

3.5 ⭐️

I liked this book much more of the first! I think for the duology overall, the retold fairytales felt too forced. The mystery that was being solved in the second book was so much more interesting and captivating to me.

I still wasn’t super impressed by the romance, maybe it’s just bc friends to lovers rarely entices me, I don’t know 😅 the intro of the love triangle trope grated on me too though 😕But! When we got to that twist, I was definitely having a lot more fun!

I think this story just would’ve worked so much better as a single book, with just the magical deadly forest and the mystery as the main plot, and then less focus on finding ways to reinvent the classic fairytales 🤷‍♀️

I love the fantasy world that Kathryn Purdie created for this book (and for the first book, The Grimm Forest). She does a great job of creating a fantasy world and integrating some of those fairy tails we know so well into it in their own unique way. I love hearing the story unfold further and kept wanting to know what was going to happen as I was reading. I felt like the book had different twist and turns along the way to keep you guessing what was going to happen. I highly recommend this set of books!

Well this was loads better than the first book. A high 3.5 stars

The pros:
-Enjoyable to see how the author incorporated new fairytales into the book
-I enjoyed the story more this time around. It felt less rushed and less sprawling.
-Characters felt more multi-dimesional. Especially our hero and heroine. I liked watching them try to work through conflict.
-Satisfying end to the duology

The cons:
-Twists were predictable. Though perhaps for younger readers this won't be such an issue.
-We were told in the first book we would get the history of Grimm Woods-especially the great war. And yet that never materialized.
-Felt like there was some retrograde rewriting to make certain plot points in this story work
-Romance scenes felt strangely sanitized. To the point it almost read like middle grade fiction.

First Thank you!

The story picks up right where The Forest Grimm leaves off, Clara and Axel complete their story in this book.
There were so many layers, plots, and twists, that I found myself almost enjoying it more than the first one. I am glad I requested this book because I was unsure if it was going to fall into the dreaded second book paradox.

I was happy with the book, happy with the outcome, and I felt so bad for Ollie goodness.

Despite my best efforts, I just couldn't get into it. The issue might stem from my lack of connection with the first book, which I didn’t love. As a result, I found myself struggling to engage with the characters and the storyline in this sequel.

a sequel, wasn't advertised as such though, loosely based on grimm fairy tales and plot line clearly stolen from the Grimm Brothers movie plot, this was gorey, supernatural thriller with some nudge nudge wink wink humor
clara and axel return to their childhood village after the events of the 1st novel? after claras mother is missing
the woods near their village have started to lure people to their deaths or turn them into supernatural beings(ghosts, zombies, undead)
clara uses her family magic of past and future visions to uncover the mystery and save the missing villagers
grimm characters: hansel & gretel, cinderella, red riding hood (clara), sleeping beauty/briar rose, rapunzel, jack & the beanstalk, snow white, 7 dancing princesses, deadly hunstman, wicked queen/ magical entity book that grants wishes to grimm character villagers? this books plot line is messy

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

3.5 Stars

The Deathly Grimm is a dark fantasy sequel to The Forest Grimm with more mystery, more dark fairy tale characters, and more intrigue as Clara and her friends race to save their village--and the forest--from an even darker fate.

I really love how Kathryn Purdie twists the original fairy tales into something even darker. The way she ties the different stories together was even better in this book than the first one. I still wish there was a little more internal logic for why certain characters became a fairy tale counterpart (like they call Clara Snow White but there isn’t any specific reason why other than to let the reader know this part is a twist on Snow White, which should be obvious anyway), but for the most part, I liked how Kathryn used the original elements to further the plot of the book.

The murder mystery plot was also compelling. The way Clara and her friends discover who was the murderer and how they set the curse into motion was fascinating. It also was cool to see Clara learn more about her memory ability.

I do wish that some of what they discovered in book two would have been set up better in book one because from what I recall most of the “new” characters who take the stage alongside Clara and Axel weren’t even mentioned in book one. But it was super interesting to see how everything actually unfolded and the ending is a pretty good “happily ever after” for the characters.

Clara reveals a deep, dark secret as she is helping Axel and herself to navigate through the forest. A variety of adventures sets them to conquer different spells throughout the forest. Many truths are discovered on their adventure.

"The Deathly Grimm" by Kathryn Purdie is a spellbinding journey that reimagines fairytales in a way that's neither Disney-sweet nor Grimm-dark, but a captivating blend of both. This YA fantasy had me hooked from the first page, and I couldn't put it down until I'd devoured every last word.

At the heart of the story is a race against time to break a curse, with our heroes navigating the treacherous Forest Grimm. This sentient woodland setting adds an extra layer of challenge and intrigue to their quest.

The characters are what truly bring this tale to life. Each one feels fully realized, with their own burdens and trials to overcome. I found myself rooting for them all, but especially for Clara, our main character. Her struggle with scoliosis adds a layer of authenticity to her journey, and her determination is truly inspiring. The bond between Clara and her grandmother is particularly touching, adding warmth to the often perilous adventure.

What sets "The Deathly Grimm" apart is how it weaves familiar fairytale elements into a fresh narrative. You'll spot beloved characters, but they're not quite as you remember them. This twist on the classic tales keeps you guessing and adds depth to the story's exploration of truth and lies.

I was surprised by how easily I fell into this world, considering I hadn't read the first book in the series. While your mileage may vary, I found it stood well on its own, pulling me into its enchanting narrative without missing a beat.

It's a must-read for anyone who loves their fairytales with a dash of danger and a sprinkle of heart.

Thank you, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for my free E-book.

I was surprised with how much I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to the second one. However, this book lacked the mystery that the first book had, and this book read significantly younger to me. The angst from the love interest got annoying enough that I couldn't finish the book - as a 32 year old, I can only handle YA to an extent. This book missed the creepiness of the first book, and there was little compelling me to want to know what would happen next. Sadly a miss for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Deathly Grimm   
Author: Kathryn Purdie        
Genre: YA, Fantasy   
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

The story hasn't ended yet.

After surviving the Forest Grimm and defeating the Wolf, Clara and Axel have made it back to their village, the one place they can be safe behind the forest's borders. But when the forest itself begins luring in more villagers, it's clear that Clara and Axel have only treated the symptoms of the forest's curse, not the cause—and it's getting worse.

Burdened with visions of the past and learning to navigate her fragile new relationship with Axel, Clara finds herself entering the forest with Axel yet again to discover the truth once and for all: the identity of the murderer who caused the curse. As they fight murderous woodsmen with incomprehensible riddles, ladies who will drag you into an eternal dance, and ghosts with the power to wield the forest against them, Clara and Axel realize the stakes are higher than ever. If they don't survive the dark, deadly twists of the forest once more, not only will they never escape, they may also no longer have a home to escape to.

I enjoyed this second book in The Forest Grimm duology. It was good seeing more of these familiar characters, and the quaint village they call home. I like the creepy fairy tale characters, too. The answer to who the murderer really was didn’t really come as a surprise to me, but I still enjoyed the story a lot and read the whole thing in one day.

Kathryn Purdie is a bestselling author. The Deathly Grimm is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 3/31.)

I thoroughly enjoyed this follow-up to The Forest Grimm. New fairytales were used in equally interesting ways, and everything was wrapped up with a perfect bow at the end. The characters were just as fun, and the love between Clara and Axel felt well deserved. It was a bit of a slower read than I'd have liked, but the audio made the book fly by, and the narrator did a wonderful job of differentiating between the different character's voices and making them all feel like distinct characters.

In The Forest Grimm Clara Thorn travels into the Grimm forest to find her mother and the other Lost Ones, and meets up with her friends Axel and Henni on her mission. The Deathly Grimm does an excellent job of wrapping up this duology. It kept me on my toes, and I think I actually enjoyed it more than the first book, which I often find unusual in a duology. I enjoyed the suspense of not knowing who started the curse, and as Clara continued to have visions it got more and more complicated. I really enjoyed Harlan's character throughout the book. I'd give this 3.5 stars, but rounding up to 4.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy for my honest review.

** spoiler alert ** Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars better then first book

To start of this is a second book that requires the first book to be read before or things just wont make sense. The book starts off where the first one ended with only half of the problem solved and just the surface scratched on what is really going on/ has gone on in this town.

Or characters must go back into the Forest Grimm this time knowing a bit more on whats is required to surviving not just the forest itself but also the Lost Ones inside it that have become living Grimm fairy tales. We got in a way less dangerous fairy tales this time.

I must admit the reminding of the "S-curve" of the characters spine mentioned multiple chapters in a row to get a break of like 6 chapters to only get reminded yet again for chapters in a row to then get a break again (repeat) very annoying like i did in the first book. The readers really dont need to be reminded over and over like it is the only thing about the character and we will forget it. The over use of it could have been replaced with just a mentioning of aching back or anything else just to make it seem like the character is more then just her disability during those chapters.

I liked the way things got wrapped up in the end almost too quickly in a way when it took so long to get there. I did how every love the ending very much since the whole first books and this one i was always thinking of Ollie's pennies.

This is the second book in Kathryn Purdie’s The Forest Grimm duology, and the books should be read in order since this book answers all the remaining questions posed in the first book. I loved the way Purdie combines different fairy tales in this young adult romantic fantasy. She did a great job creating a spooky atmosphere and a suspenseful plot that held my interest and kept me guessing.

Our main character Clara is stubborn and sometimes makes foolish decisions, but she means well, and her actions are consistent with her personality and values. I was rooting for her as she tried to solve the mystery of who murdered Bren Zimmer and triggered the curse. This book has more emphasis on Clara’s visions and efforts to solve the mystery and reverse the curse, but we also see Clara’s relationship with Axel change and grow, as well as her relationships with various villagers. The book can be quite dark at times, and not everyone gets a happy ending, but Clara’s story reaches a satisfying conclusion.

Readers who enjoyed The Forest Grimm should enjoy this sequel too.

I received a free advanced review copy of the ebook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

This was a great book! I definitely liked it more than the first boo. The setting would be perfect for the fall time and the world building was great!

A gripping second installment in the Forest Grimm series. Kathryn Purdie has a knack for twisting old fairytale lore into eerie, fast pace forest core fantasy.

This story dives into the source of the forest’s curse over Grimm’s Hollow. Clara Thurn must do all she can to find the answers and help determine the fate of all around her.

I enjoyed the first book in the Grimm duology, The Forest Grimm, so much! I love dark, fairytale reimaginings, so this was right up my alley. While the second installment, The Deathly Grimm, held up and was enjoyable, it didn’t have the same dreamy, immersive effect as book one.

In the end of book one, our FMC, Clara, breaks part of the curse holding her small town hostage, and is given a task to break the rest of the curse. Book two picks up at shortly after with a town hall meeting to determine if Clara and her friends who escaped the Forest Grimm in the last book are guilty of keeping the curse alive, even though they broke part of it. So, Clara and Axel flee to the Forest Grimm to solve the curse once and for all.

One of the major selling points in book one was the romance between Clara and Axel which was a slow and sweet burn that was brought closer by the darkness of the forest. This time around, their relationship is put to the test as Clara begins to have visions of the Lost and a new person enters the forest. With Clara’s visions guiding them, and her own internal battle over actions from book one, Clara doubts herself and pulls away from those she loves. I understood this change, but it was very frustrating at times and I found myself wishing Clara would just communicate more! However, Axel was being quite unfair to Clara and expecting her to solve everything, so again, I can see why Clara held back. The Forest Grimm is known to mess with your mind, and this is portrayed very well through Clara’s and Axel’s struggles, both personal and internal.

I read this in one sitting. So while there was a sense of something missing, I was still fully engaged and invested in the story. There were twists and turns and the dark, shifty feel of the forest’s magic and Clara’s visions really kept me from completely figuring everything out. Overall, this was a satisfying end to Clara’s story!

I definitely recommend this duology for anyone that enjoys a dark, fairytale inspired adventure fantasy with a dash of romance!

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary arc. All opinions are my own.