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

My obsession with sentient forests has no bounds, no matter if they're malicious or gracious. The concept of this story is what first drew me to The Forest Grimm. Oddly enough I didn't quite grasp that the book was going to be an amalgamation of Grimm Fairy tales. However, I will give two thumbs up to how Purdie integrated the other main characters into her story about Clara and Axel. It was a little like being Hansel and Gretel. Purdie left breadcrumbs throughout the story for us to follow along and guess at which fairytale they were going to encounter next.

There are two pieces of constructive criticism. First, there were a handful of typos throughout the book that need cleaned up. Some of the sentence structure is a little convoluted in places and could use some editing. Separately from that, my biggest frustration is that Clara is 17.


****SPOILERS BELOW****

The world of fairy tale adaptations is plentiful, but why do we continue to have literal children be the main protagonist. There were several distracting parts in the narrative where Clara is spiraling because she fails to process what is in front of her face and instead has this childlike mentality where the world can only be one thing. Instead of building suspense and bringing the reader along this journey of growth and maturity, it's distracting from the overall story. While Axel is only a year older than Clara, it also makes their relationship feel a bit...icky. Clara reads very young, throughout the book. Throughout the story, her actions are growing to become that of a more experienced young lady, but her internal dialogue and perception of herself do not progress at the same rate.

such a fun fantasy adventure but i felt that the characters fell a little flat. the setting was lovely but i just found myself a little bored.

3.5 stars

This was a fun story! It involves a spooky forest with a mind of its own, a cursed village, a wish granting book, tarot cards that truly read your fate, and a girl determined to change hers. I loved how it incorporated all of the different fairy tales with a darker edge. I thought Clara was great and I admired her determination to save her loved ones despite the cost to herself.

The romance was childhood friends to lovers, which was sweet but not really overly memorable. I thought the ending was going to be predictable but it actually wasn’t which was a nice surprise. While this isn’t necessarily a book I would return to, it was still an enjoyable read and I would continue the series.


Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the arc!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Book/Netgalley for the eARC!

So, while I have not read Kathryn Purdie's debut series (BURNING GLASS), I was a big fan of her follow-up series (THE BONE CRIER'S MOON.) This was one of my most-anticipated reads of this year, and I have to say, I enjoyed it a lot. Fairy tale "retellings" (in this book's case, I use that term loosely, and that's a good thing!) are often a mixed bag, but I felt this was done well for the most part. Close enough to the original stories that inspired it, yet different enough to remain interesting and engaging. I should add that this felt like it drew inspiration from many Grimm tales instead of one. I enjoyed that.

One of the sticking points was the main character, Clara. I didn't particularly like or connect with her, and my enjoyment of a work usually hinges on the protagonist. She felt very young--more so than a YA requires--and I wonder if teens these days will relate to her. As an adult, I never know if I should comment of things like this--that's for teens after all!--but I mostly wondered if there's a disconnect with Clara and real-life teens (whom I work with every day.)

I also wonder if this book isn't too "late" when it comes to YA fairy tale retellings. As a whole, I feel like the industry is moving (or has already moved ) away from this trend. Nor did I find this book as unique as THE BONE CRIER'S MOON, with its fantastic use of cultural folklore and concepts woven into a neat, interesting duology.

While disappointing, certainly, it was a decently solid read. I'll likely pick up the sequel and I'm eager to see what Purdie will write after.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read The Forest Grimm as an ARC! I was excited to see what this book is all about, and I can definitely see how this would appeal to fans of gothic YA literature and fans of classic fairytales. The Forest Grimm exhibits a unique blend of chilling mystery, dark fairytale retellings, and a fast-paced setting with a strong YA voice. I rated this title three stars only because although it kept me entertained, I'm not sure it was entirely for me. However, I highly recommend at least checking this out and giving it a shot, if it seems like something you might enjoy.

The Forest Grimm comes out in September of 2023!

I thought that the mysterious aspects of this book were really compelling--I found myself thinking about it at work when I *should* have been doing other tasks, haha. I also think that the fairy-tales and the Grimm Wolf and the cute love story worked really well together to create a tightly plotted, interesting story that I devoured in just a few sittings. I cannot wait to get physical copies of this for my library--I already have ideas for a fairy-tale themed display rattling around in my noggin.

I really enjoyed this book and found myself wanting to pick it up all of the time to keep uncovering the mystery of the Forest Grimm. Between the love story, the fairy tales playing out amongst its pages and the secret of the Grimm wolf, it kept me up late trying to race to the end. I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read an ARC of this book!

Solid 3 storage. Nice fantasy retelljng for young adults. Quick read. First in a series. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

the idea of the story is definitely interesting with the whole a darker side to fairy tales & a book of magic that grants wishes, but I don't think there's enough plot to make it a series. I originally thought this was a standalone book until the end where it left off on a cliff hanger. It was definitely an interest read and I did like it at some parts, but overall there's a lot of open ends and not a lot is explained. I also disliked and thought it was unnecessary for the weird romantic tension between the two childhood best friends, Overall if you want a fun little read this was okay, just not super memorable.

I didn't post this review on GoodReads, because I didn't want to give it any negative commentary or reviews. I love Kathryn Purdie's other books, which is why I requested this book.
I feel like it started as a retelling, but then sort of borrowed from all sorts of fairytales. The characters weren't near as likable as the other duology Kathryn wrote. I couldn't finish this book, but maybe I'll pick it up again later.

Fascinating and lyrical, this story pulled me in with all the vibes of a fairytale both old and new.

Familiar fairy tales take a dark spin in a read with many layers and action until the very end.

Clara's life in the village once was wonderful as a magical book granted each person a wish, and the magic surrounding them made everything thrive. Then, things changed. After a murderous wish, the book had gone missing and a curse has settled in its place. Villagers, along with Clara's mother, have disappeared into the forest, one by one, never to return again. Many villagers want to find a way to change the fate, but the forest keeps anyone who tries out. When Clara discovers a red cape from her mother and finds that it allows her access into the forest, she's determined to make everything right. Besides, she's long known that her fate is tied to the darkness beyond the trees and knows she's destined to die.

This one hails from the darker side of fairy tale retellings and builds in several well-known characters, while only loosely reminding of the originals. Each direction takes cruel turns in a magical and vicious forest. The author lets imagination flow, while weaving in many layers and meanings. There are quite a few symbols, sub-sub-plots, and meaning-meant nods piled in, and a few of these lost me a time or two, but with the action at such a rapid speed, there isn't much time to worry about these because the next one arrives even before the last ones end. One dangerous situation after the next keeps those pages turning and creates a tangled whirlwind of sub-plots and strings. Action fans won't catch a breath of boredom.

I did read through this in one sitting and was held in the pages until the end. It was impossible to guess what would happen next (although the romance side was more predictable), and while some connections or purposes remained a bit blurred, it was exciting until the end. The variety of characters slide into the retellings smoothly and carried variety. There were a couple, which I would have enjoyed getting to know better and, again, found some frayed ends, but it was rich enough on this end to make Clara and those around her easy to root for.

This is the first in a series/duology (?), which caught be a little off-guard, since this book wraps up well on its own, and I can't really see where another book would even want to go from here. A lot happened (too much, maybe), and these pages did hit fast and furious...and a little all over the place. But it is fun and entertaining, cruel but not gruesome, and has heart without diving overly deep.

[This review is for the ARC of The Forest Grimm.]
Be careful what you wish for. The wish granter might judge you for it.

While I enjoy reading YA, I am no longer the age of the main characters, so I usually find it difficult to fit into their shoes. In the case of The Forest Grimm, I didn’t find this to be a big problem. The stakes were high enough that even as an older adult, I was as invested as the leads. I love reading retellings of Grimm’s fairy tales, and I found this book to be a refreshing take on the genre. Kathryn Purdie managed to keep the heart of these dark and often gory tales, but write a new story. I had a lot of fun speculating while I was reading. I highly recommend this book in general, but specifically to readers who enjoy Grimm’s fairy tales, dark stories, and stories about determinedly selfless older teenagers.

The villagers of Grimm’s Hollow were granted one wish each any time after they turned sixteen. Instead of simply giving someone what they wished for, the Sortes Fortunae, or Book of Fortunes, gave instructions on what to do to get what they desired. As with all tales centered on magic wishes, nothing is straightforward. After a villager takes advantage of the magic forest and Book of Fortunes to murder a someone, the forest takes its book back and punishes the village. Crops die, water becomes rancid, and everyone slowly starves in general. This is the condition the village is in when people begin becoming Lost. Villagers enter the forest and are never seen again. Enough people disappear that the village begins to send in people after them to both save the Lost and retrieve the Sortes Fortunae so the village can be saved with a new wish.

Three years after the murder incident, the Forest Grimm has been violently rejecting most villagers that attempt to enter it. If someone does get far enough into the forest to be considered successful, they are never seen again. Clara’s mother was the first to become Lost and Clara’s finally ready to enter the forest, save her mother and the village, and then die. That’s what she believes the cards are telling her, anyway.

Clara is seventeen, never had a chance to make a wish because the book was already missing by that point, and has known all her life that she will die unexpectedly. Her grandmother can read fortunes and is always correct. This is partially why Clara is such a fatalistic character. She believes in fate so much that it’s difficult for her to interpret her own card reading of a forbidden decision and death to mean anything but the obvious. She is overly kind and values her own life below everyone else’s. She is also clever and able to change her strategies quickly when her initial plans aren’t a success. While she has untreated scoliosis and constant back pain as well as a limp, she never lets this become a true hindrance.

One of her best friends is Axel, the village heart throb. He is as kind as Clara, charming, and as physically fit as a circus performer. Unlike her, he doesn’t believe in fate. They end up journeying through the forest together and make a great team. They also help each other grow as characters. He also Lost someone, the sister of Henni.

Henni is Clara’s other best friend. She is nice, timid, and a big pushover. Because she’s an artist and makes her own paints, she has vast botanical knowledge. She’s just as determined as Clara, but not for the same reasons. I found I didn’t really like her as a character, but I did appreciate her character growth.

As for the romance, I liked the natural pacing of it and how it was tied to the plot’s various revelations. I felt like the level of steam was appropriate for a YA novel with mostly underage characters and did not slip into New Adult territory.

In conclusion, this book was fantastic. Purdie put obvious care and attention into even the smallest details, and it really gives the book a strong foundation. The ending is a satisfying HFN, and I’m already looking forward to a sequel.

The Forest Grimm is a spectacular fantasy story. I really loved everything about this one. The story is about a girl named Clara who goes on a journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to find a magical book called Sortes Fortunae. She takes a local boy named Alex with her and they run into several characters that you will be familiar with, like Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Rapunzel. However, those characters are super dark and not at all like the old Grimm stories I remember. There are twists and turns and plenty of action. I enjoyed the Grimm Wolf storyline and really liked the romance between the two mains. They had me totally rooting for them. The ending leaves the door open for another book so I am thrilled. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel.

I had high hopes for this after falling in love with Kathryn Purdie’s series THE BURNING GLASS. And yet, THE FOREST GRIMM proved to be a very different — somewhat underwhelming — reading experience. It’s just one of those books where you try and try to engage with the plot but for some unidentifiable reason, face little success.

Although the end result isn’t compelling enough to stick around to see the story through to fruition, Purdie gives it her best shot with THE FOREST GRIMM, which aims to give new life and meaning to age-old fairytales.

This is a decent YA spin on a well known fairy tale. Purdie builds an intricate forest setting in which magic (both beautiful and dark) and illusion thrive. Although the story setting is whimsical and enjoyable to imagine, the adventures the protagonists take on as the main plot thread seemed a little scattered. Some parts of their journey felt a little dragged out and others felt as though they jumped around and the pace was confusing. There was almost an overload of details to the point where wild and whimsical became slightly chaotic and difficult to stay invested in.

I did enjoy the love story between the two (an ultimately satisfying slow burn), the dreamy characteristics of the nature and animal creatures, and the blurred line between illusion and reality. The story as a whole read a bit like a blend of Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland. It was an interesting plot and enough to make me look forward to what’s next from the author!

loved this romance and finding oneself and the how the couple worked out their problems . loved all of the side characters and the friendships. Good book.

Sorta reminds me of the Into The Woods musical. Not that it takes the story of Into The Woods (far from it since there is murder and mystery involved in this book) but rather that it leads one to believe that it is a Little Red Riding hood story when it actually is a hodgepodge of other characters..

I do like the bits of Grimm stories that were mentioned in this book, from Rapunzel to Little Red Riding hood , Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and Briar Rose and how they were twisted by that curse from the book but I grew very tired of Clara's S-curve. Yes, I get that she has scoliosis, but it does not need to keep being mentioned. It kept pulling me out of the story every time it was mentioned. As one who also is afflicted with this, I can assure you I do not go, "ow my s-curve". It is silly.

I do feel that this should have only been one book and I don't really care enough about Clara and the rest of the folks in that cursed town to continue.

If you like YA stories, fairytale mashups, curses, creepy magical forests, and long adventures this is for you.
The plot moves quickly. I enjoyed seeing which fairytale twists were going to be incorporated.
There were times that information was repeated too much. It took me out of the story a little to be reading the same details over and over. I also did not realize when I signed up for the arc that it was going to be a series. That said, this book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.
Overall, it was a fun read. I was invested.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.