Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Wow this was a fun fantasy read!

Loving the incorporation of familiar and dark Grimm’s fairy tales with a totally new and original story. Twisty and dark. Very good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want a generic YA fantasy romance that's a fairytale retelling sprinkled with YA horror, but it's not scary at all?

Pre-reading:
The original cover with the world and the wolf is so much better than the people cover. Another book box pick for me to suffer through.

Thick of it:
Is the magic book allergic to ands? You can’t just wish for a multi-hyphenate thing? Even if that's the case, just say I want my family to live forever then, you know?

What idiot started this Hunger Games lottery system? It doesn’t even kind of make sense.

It’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire right now.

Scoliosis rep

I love tarot cards.

What in the world? He won’t wake up, so you’re gonna straddle him? Sinful.

A piney boy because this stupid joke never gets old.

This book is extremely heavy-handed with the romance, and forcing the plot, and so YA, but it’s also kind of fun.

Wow, horny jail, kids

He has a girlfriend. Actually not just a girlfriend, a fiancé. But lowkey, I feel like the fiance wished to not marry him. (wrong)

She’s not like other girls, she’s gonna die!

They’re really going to sleep alone in the dangerous woods rather than risk their delicate sensibilities? Just share the grass, you dumbasses.

They sleepwalk to somewhere else in the forest, so obviously, their plan is bondage.

That's super rude to be like what if my friend slows me down?

These are the least secure objects. Just knot some friendship bracelets on.

crenellations

Oh, so they’re def just acting out the fairytales. Do fairytales exist in this world?

What kind of bullshit is that? It's not like y'all are naked. A blindfold is a bad, bad idea.

Is the Grimm Wolf her mom? (Her grandmother, Samantha. It's Red Riding Hood. What is this guessing game amateur hour?)

It's like the volleyball with a face.

She's not like other girls, she doesn't know how to eat neatly.

Say it. Out loud.

That's kind of lame. I don’t want a heartbroken girl. I would’ve liked her to not have wanted the wedding.

I’ll be there for you 🎶

Beauty and the Beast to close it out?

Oh, Sleeping Beauty.

Don’t call your mom hot and sexy. I don’t like that.

I mean, it’s cute for YA horror? All the fairytale references are cute. Like it’s not well done, but I see what it was going for.

I love Dracula.

Man, I hope her mom doesn’t die. That would be lame.

It’s the way I thought this book was a standalone, but it’s 100% going to be continued me.

Post-reading:
I’m giving this a very generous three stars, but I think that’s because I read it at exactly the perfect time when I’m in the mood for fairytales and horror.

I’m also being more lenient because this book is so aggressively YA, and it’s got to be for the younger side of YA readers. This is for your advanced reader middle schoolers. This is not for adults.

It’s not scary. The pacing is a mess. The book is mostly just a handful of fairytale references and horror movie clichés. It’s readable, but you’ve read this before. It’s nothing new. There’s no nuanced discussion of generational trauma. There’s no unique magic system or twist on fairytales. The romance feels insta lovey even though it’s not. The characters feel very one-dimensional.

The main character is technically disabled, but it never really disables her in the book, so it’s pretty poor rep. Fourth Wing has more disability rep than this book, and that’s a low, low bar.

I wanted more from this book. If you’re gonna do horrific fairytales, I need you to actually give me the horror. The original stories are so wonderfully dark. This story is tame. Sure, there may be teenage cannibals, but there are no threats and stakes for the reader to enjoy if they can essentially be scared off by some theater kids.

The new cover with the people on it is definitely closer to this book’s vibe than the original cover, but it makes you think it’s gonna be some huge romance and it’s really not.

It’s readable. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Who should read this:
YA fairytale romance fans
YA horror fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow-YA fairytale retelling
* Cinder by Marissa Meyer-YA fantasy retelling
* Dust City by Robert Paul Weston-YA fairytale retelling mystery
* Zhara by S. Jae-Jones-YA fairytale retelling
* Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer-YA fantasy romance, camp

I really loved the idea behind this book. A Dark Retelling of Grimm's Fairy Tales? Yes, Please! But I must admit the stories didn't seem to flow at times. It follows a girl named Clara who goes into the forest to save her mother, one of many who have ventured into the forest and never returned, and to break the curse that has befallen her town. Things aren't as expected... cue Dark Grimm Fairytale sequence. The story feels just a fairytale with delightful twists. Overall, I enjoyed the Red Riding Hood retelling with other stories thrown in there. It was dark, and the characters were luscious, just a little clumsy at times. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and an ending to keep you up at night.

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. Her love interest and best friend though 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.

I enjoyed how the Grimm fairytales were used as a basis for new characters. It was captivating and I constantly wanted to keep going just to know what was going to happen. I look forward to the next installment.

If you ever watched the “Once Upon a Time” tv show and wished it was spookier, then this is the book for you! Kathryn Purdie’s “The Forrest Grimm” weaves together classic fairytales into a spooky story set in an ominous forest.

Clara’s fortune has always warned her of an untimely death, but she doesn’t let that stop her from venturing I to the deadly Forest Grimm in search of a magical book. The Sortes Fortunae is the only thing with the power to break the curse on her village—and to save her mother. With her close friend Axel, she sets off into the Forest Grimm, determined to save Grimm Hollow and their missing loved ones. But the forest has a mind of its own…

I expected a fun retelling of classic Grimm Brothers fairytales in “The Forest Grimm” but beyond that I wasn’t sure what else there would be. As it turned out, the story was your classic fantasy quest through an enchanted forest in order to save their village and return their Lost loved ones. There were a lot of clever twists to the original fairytales, which worked to preserve the integrity of the original tales while giving them a clever twist to suit the plot’s needs and prevents readers from growing bored of the same tales.

The only element that didn't really land was the romance. It felt rushed and superficial, despite the two having a long history together. Although it wasn’t the worst romance I’ve read in a YA fantasy, it could have benefitted from a little more slow burn.

“The Forest Grimm” is the perfect book for anyone wanting a spooky fairytale-inspired book to kick off their Fall reading. I’m Looking forward to what happens next when the sequel comes out in 2024!

I loved the way Kathryn Purdie combines different fairy tales in this fantasy best suited for tweens and young teens. The author has done a great job creating a spooky atmosphere and a suspenseful plot that held my interest and kept me guessing. The story emphasizes the importance of family and friendship, while also featuring a very sweet, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance.

Our main character Clara can be frustrating with her stubbornness and sometimes-foolish decisions, but she means well and her actions are consistent with her personality and values. I liked the way her disability (scoliosis) was incorporated into the story. I loved Axel, and appreciated that all of the characters learn and grow over the course of the story.

I was disappointed that we are left with so many unanswered questions. We never learn who committed the murder that triggered the curse in Grimm’s Hollow, nor why the Forest Grimm affects the villagers in the peculiar way it does. I can only hope that the answers will be provided in the sequel that is expected to be published in early 2024.

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

Wow! This reimagining of Grimms' Fairy Tales is one of the best dark and twisted YA fairytales that I've read in a while. It's filled with magic, myths, folklore, missing villagers, and so much more. The small village of Grimm's Hollow has been cursed because of an unforgivable act... even though the villagers try to make amends, the forest is not so quickly appeased. Clara and her friends brave the deadly forest in hopes of defying fate, rescuing the lost villagers, and restoring the health of the village despite the danger that awaits them. This book was surprising and magical with the right amount of darkness. I eagerly await book 2 The Deathly Grimm because the mystery is not over.

Firstly, I think any book that centers a lot of the plot around different fairytales and stories is a great central plot. I really liked how the main characters encountered distorted versions of fairytales most people grew up with. It helps make the story a lot different than just a one story retelling. The story its self was dark and you could really imagine the aesthetic of the main village and the forest. To me the characters were all really well described and when a character based off rapunzel was introduced it was easily recognizable as rapunzel even though it was quite different than how she’s normally described.
Personally, while this is a YA book, it did lean a little more toward the younger end of YA which is great but also I’m not the target audience for it so it was a little bit harder for me to get through. Overall I Forest Grimm is a well done take on fairytales.

This is fun as a pastiche of fairy tales, but some of the connections are tenuous and don't totally work. I respect the moments of terror in the forest that Kathryn Purdie creates, though; I felt a sense of dread every time Clara, Henni, and Axel met a new figure.

I had liked this author’s previous duology and wanted to give this one a try! The cover is very pretty.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Clara. She was an alright character but she did tend to annoy me. Clara is definitely flawed and only has one thing on her mind which is to save her mother. This causes a lot of problems between her and her grandmother and her two friends Axel and Henni. Her feelings were more important than theirs at times and I didn’t like it, especially when it came to Axel.

I’m not going to lie, I hated the romance. Spoilers are incoming! I don’t care if Axel didn’t actually love the one he was betrothed to. I care that even though Clara knew he was looking for his fiancé she still put him in compromising situations and I would definitely consider it cheating whether they knew they would find her again or not. I also don’t like that Ella was okay with all of this and actually blamed herself for being in the way of this new budding romance. The only one with sense was Henni and was disappointed in her friend from the beginning but did get over it by the end. We didn’t even find out about a letter explaining things until later on. Maybe knowing that in the beginning would have changed my mind. Who knows! Spoilers are done!

There are a lot of different fairytales in this book and I am still not sure how they all go with each other besides the forest having the name Grimm. The fairytales used were different from the originals and that at least made them interesting to read about but they also didn’t have huge parts either. There is also talks of a murder that adds mystery to the plot but we never actually learn anything about it. You will have to read the sequel to find out what happens next. I personally won’t since there wasn’t much that kept my attention and I feel like there should have been more clues or something about it.

Overall, this wasn’t for me. I can see the appeal though and if you like fairytales this may be for you!

I enjoyed the twists on fairy tales in this, making them a bit creepy and dangerous. I also liked that we were following Clara and company on a quest to find the lost villagers and break the curse on them. It gave the characters a purpose to work towards and finding little clues was fun.

The romance in this was not for me and I hoped maybe it would go in another direction. The way we're introduced to the love interest set a tone that I had a difficult time getting over. I also thought this read a bit young with how juvenile the characters acted, especially Clara.

Since this is a series, I do plan on continuing and seeing what other Grimm characters we encounter.

I voluntarily read and reviewed each book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

4.5 stars to an amazing new series. 17 year-old Clara just wants to save her mother from the dark Grimm Forest. The people of Grimm's Hollow were blessed w/ a Book of Fortunes and yet, somehow, someone still used it for a horrible purpose. Now Grimm's Hollow is being punished over and over again for the misuse of the book and anyone who tries to enter the Forest, disappears. Clara is determined to get her mother out. Together, with her best friends Axel and Henny, who also lost someone close to them to the Forest, she discovers a way in. But the Forest changes those who enter it. And there are more dangers than they know hidden in the Forest Grimm.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for this e-arc.*

A new fantasy romance featuring a new take on a few of the classic fairytales while following the journey of one girl as she tries to change her fate, save her mother, and discover romance she never expected, all the while trying to escape death. Clara has known all her life that she was destined to die, ever since she was young and her grandmother read her fortune, Clara knew she was connected to the deadly Forest Grimm and that she would die by a fanged creature. When Clara's mother suddenly disappears Clara is willing to do anything to get her back. Clara leaves in a world where there is the Forest Grimm and a magical book called Sortes Fortunae, the Book of Fortunes, which has the power to reverse the curse that has been set on her village and allow her to save her mother. The Forest Grimm has become deadly after a evil wish was made by someone to the Sortes Fortunae, and now the book itself has become lost, and in order to reverse the curse on the village, someone will have to find the book. Clara has only one goal in mind: find her mother, but that means venturing into the deadly forest which has been killing people and driving them mad. Along for the journey is her childhood friend Axel, a handsome and charming boy who is determined to find his fiancee who disappeared into the forest the day before their wedding. Henni, Axel's fiancee's sister and Clara's best friend also comes along, hoping to get her sister back. The trio venture into the woods in hopes of breaking the curse and finding those they lost, yet the forest is dangerous and the tensions rise. Will what they find kill them or are will they be able to survive? Clara has a curved spine and it was a nice little detail to add in, however if I'm being honest she was a bit annoying. Axel on the other hand also was a bit irritating, the romance kind of comes out of nowhere but then he explains everything and I guess I understand, but honestly it just didn't feel that organic or well, romantic. Henni was the worst of the bunch, for someone claiming to be Clara's best friend she was just a hindrance during the entire journey. The story itself had a bit of odd pacing and a lot of the character decisions were not the best, but I want to say it's because they are teens.... but still. The ending leaves way for the sequel (but it can also be read as the end since it wraps up in a nice way). I am interested in seeing where the second book goes and how the characters grow from here. I did find the unique twist on fairy tales a fun thing about this book and would say, if you're a fan of young adult fantasy romances with fairytale twists, give this a go, it definitely would be for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Beyond the borders of the mysterious Forest Grimm, deadly secrets and lost souls haunt the forest, where one brave girl with a red cape must venture into its depths to break the devastating spell cursing her entire village.

The atmosphere of the novel was absolutely impeccable! Right from the beginning, along with the dark, eerie ambiance and suspenseful undertones, Purdie lured me in with her beautiful fairytale-like prose and nature-filled elements. The inclusion of fate, destiny, and fortune in the details of card readings and their meanings added to the overall bewitching mood, and I LOVED it. It was set up like a classic dark fairytale, and I couldn’t help but enamored.

I adored the different fairytale components and how they were woven into the story. From Little Red Riding Hood to Rapunzel to Briar Rose, all the classic Grimm fables were reimagined in a dark and twisted way as pieces of the overall puzzle to Clara’s journey. I especially loved the spin on Little Red Riding Hood and how close it was to the heart of the book.

With a touch of nostalgia, romance, and mystery, The Forest Grimm is the perfect forestry escape for fall, and I am so curious to see what’s going to happen next!

3.5/5

*Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this novel.

17-year-old Clara is fated by her Grandmere's tarot cards that she is going to die young. Growing up, she held herself back from living as she felt that there was no point. Her family lives in a village that housed a magical book - everyone over the age of 17 was granted one wish to whisper secretly to the book, and the pages would reveal how to obtain their deepest desire. All wishes must be kept secret, otherwise they would be reversed. All was well in the village until someone used their wish for murder, and the book disappeared and misfortune fell upon the village. People became Lost - they wandered into the nearby Forest Grimm, never to be heard from again.

Clara lost her mother to the forest and is determined to save her, even at the cost of her own life. Together with her friend Axel, who lost his fiance, and her best friend Henni, they discover a way of safely entering the Forest to search for the Lost.

The Forest Grimm by Katherine Purdie is a well written tale that weaves friendship, romance and family in with fairytale stories. It's an engrossing book and it definitely is set up for a sequel. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next one!

This book was amazing. I loved the magical and fairy tale elements woven throughout the story. So many fairy tales were involved in such unique and kind of creepy and dark way. I loved the characters, especially Clara. She is such a strong main female lead who will do anything to save her mother. I'm so happy that I picked this book up. It was fun and brought out so much emotion in me. I loved the adventure and the magic. The ending was crazy and I couldn't imagine it ending in any other way. I'm also really excited for a sequel because how it ends is crazy and I need to know what happens next.

“Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die.”

Grimm's Hollow was cursed when someone made a wish for murder on the Sortes Fortunae (Book of Fortunes). Sixty-six people from the village have walked into The Forest Grimm and never returned, The Lost Ones. The first Lost One was Clara's mother and Clara's determined to be picked in this month's Devotion Day. Once a month the village holds The Lottery, once someone turns sixteen their name is written on a piece of paper and put into a goblet, which then is drawn from. If your name is picked, you're allowed to try and enter the Forest to search for the Lost Ones. For three years people have been missing and going missing but the Forest has yet to allow anyone from the lottery to enter. Clara decides to try and rig the system, adding more than one piece of paper of her name but her friend Axel is chosen instead but narrowly misses being killed when the Forest rejects him.

I’ve done the forbidden. Crossed the line without the sanction of the lottery. I don’t turn back.

The Forest Grimm was more story driven than character and the beginning really focuses more on giving you the story about what has been happening in Grimm's Hollow. Even though its all in first person pov from Clara, I still felt we didn't get a strong feeling for her character. We learn that her grandmère is a fortune teller and is scared for Clara as her cards delivered the message that she will die. Constantly thinking she is going to die, Clara kind of develops a personality of living for others and is why she is so willing to sacrifice herself to the Forest to try and save her mother. Eventually, Clara learns that a red cloak made by her mother, will protect her from the Forest and allow her to enter. Figuring out that its the red rampion plant that dyed the cloak red, she shares a scarf with her friend Axel as he joins her in the search.

“Because fate never lies.”

When Clara enters the woods, the story then becomes a mish-mash of altered fairy tales, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, and etc. As Clara, Axel, and her other friend Henni who joins in later, encounter village people that have gone missing, each then represents a fairy tale. It's not a bad concept but none of this ever seems to come together and gel. Clara entered the woods to mainly look for the Book of Fortunes because, even though she's already made her one wish you get, she plans on making a wish that will somehow save the village and her mom. The Book had disappeared and left a cryptic message for how to find it when the unknown person wished for a murder. While the Forest is constantly changing, disorienting them when they wake up, there still didn't seem to be much organized searching for the book, it's more of in sections surviving the fairy tale villagers, Clara constantly saying she has to save her mom, and then a friends-to-boyfriend/girlfriend.

This is the story of how I save my mother. And, as it has been from the beginning, this remains the story of how I die.

This is tagged as YA (Clara is 17 and Axel 19) and I definitely think it fits it, the romance consisted of Clara ogling Axel's looks/chest and longing looks from Axel towards Clara. They have some kisses but it's definitely more in the sweet blush of kid's first romance. There was a decent amount of focus on their relationship, as Axel was engaged to be married but his fiancee became one of the Lost Ones. He's in the woods to search for her but it's obvious that there is more to the story of why he feels the need to search for her and Clara needing to open her eyes.

“Sortes Fortunae, hear my voice,” I say. “Understand my heart and its deepest desire. My name is Clara Thurn, and this is my one wish.”

Eventually, Clara finds the book and her mom and we get a mini little battle scene where suddenly there was shapeshifters and vampires (a ghost is also in the story). Like I said, the concept was there but the elements were jumbled together and the story lacked some cohesiveness. With this being more story driven and the plot needing some more working out, the lack of fully connecting to the characters hurt my enjoyment. The ending does have a continuing the story thread cliffhanger, as the curse on Grimm's Hollow hasn't fully been lifted yet and Clara needs to venture back into the woods. If you won't mind lack of cohesiveness and just want to read some new spins on old classic fairy tales, this would give you that this Fall season.

Set I a world where fairytales come to life in a magical fantasy. Clara embarks on a dark journey through the Midnight Forest, where nightmare live. She’s set to find the magical book that grants fortunes, to help her fellow villagers. She sets out with her best friend Axel to right all the wrongs.

I love retelling’s, especially fairytale ones, and this book definitely has the magic of that. What fell flat for me is the WoW factor. The book was jumbled with different tales to weave into one so at times I felt loss. But I did like the adventure and creepiness that was told.

dnf 21%

I really enjoyed the author's other series "Bone Crier's Moon", but I was very bored reading this book. I never picked up this book.

For such a short fantasy novel, I'm surprised that the plot hasn't really started yet. Not a lot is going on, so there was nothing compelling me to read it.

I wish I could have loved this book, but unfortunately I had to dnf it :( I have so many books to read and I don't want to be put in a reading slump