I love me a Grimm fairytale in any way and this was perfect. I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

First of all, super excited that this will be a duology. The epilogue left me wanting more, and I’m glad that Purdie is planning to give that to us.

I wouldn’t say that The Forest Grimm is necessarily a fairytale retelling, it’s more of a dark original version mash up. It has all of the same ingredients that a normal fairytale would have. It has magic, conflict, an evil force that is wreaking havoc, a rescue of sorts, and love (chivalric, familial, or romantic—this has all three). If mainstream fairytales were a birthday cake, this one is far more of a black forest. A deep decadent chocolate with tart bursts of cherry. If you find that mouth watering, sink your teeth into this one.

Fate and magic are woven deeply into the village of Grimm’s Hallow, a cursed place that was once full of light and magic…until someone took advantage of that magic to kill. Now, the forest surrounding Grimm’s Hallow has pulled back the roots of its magic that once nourished it, sometimes stealing villagers in the night and killing or maiming those who try to enter it to find the Lost. Every few months, there is a lottery that determines the next person who may try to enter the forest to save the lost villagers and find the magic book that was once used as a weapon, and reverse the curse.

Clara’s mother was the first to be Lost three years before. Her grandmother, a seer, has already foreseen Clara’s early death in her cards. She’s prepared to die if it means she can get into the forest and trade her life for her mother’s. When she tries to cheat at the next lottery and her friend, Axel, is chosen instead, Clara is determined to go with him into the forest. But the forest is forbidding and foreboding, and Clara only finds a way into it through happenstance. Axel and Clara steal into the forest to find both Clara’s mother and Axel’s Lost fiancée, Ella. When they are joined by Clara’s best friend and Ella’s sister, Henni, the three travel deeper into the vicious woods protected only thinly by a loophole in the forest’s magic in the shape of a red rampion flower.

As they travel through, they find that the very forest moves in the night when they are asleep, and the Lost have become much more than just Lost—the magic has had a very profound affect over their bodies and minds, dangerous shadows of who they once were. They have been twisted into dark versions of the fairytales that we as the audience know well (Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, a bit of Little Red Riding Hood), becoming people and creatures that make you look sideways at some of the Disney movies or fairytale books we grew up with.

What’s more, there are secrets amongst the group that will have a profound effect on the outcome of their journey. The heavy hint here is romance, but whether that romance will manifest or is doomed from the beginning is yet to seen—to you, because you haven’t read it. But also to me, because I can see this story completely changing with a second book on the way.

Overall, I thought this book was a fantastic dark survival fantasy, which I’m all about. Have you even READ my reviews before? If not, hint: survival thrillers/fantasy are my jam. I can’t wait to see what Purdie has in store for us in the second book. I’ll need a special edition of this one on my shelf.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kathryn Purdie for the advanced copy in exchange for this early and honest review. Blog post scheduled for 9/5/23

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. It wasn't that it was bad, hence my three star rating, I just wasn't intrigued. I couldn't get into the story or the characters. The cover really put me off (I personally thing that the cover is a really important aspect of the book) and then I just wasn't drawn into the plot or the world. I might give it another chance if my library gets a physical copy, but for now I just can't get through it. I won't force myself through something I'm not really enjoying—there are too many books to read.

I really enjoyed the Forest Grimm! I loved how the Kathryn Purdie wove together several of the classic fairy tales and gave them an interesting and dark twist in her book. This book is well written and very intriguing. I couldn’t put it down! A twisted fairy tale indeed!
The people of Grimm’s Hollow have been cursed, and it is up the main characters to figure out what they can do to end the curse while living with all the tragedy they have endured because of it. The main characters Clara and Axel embark on a journey to the Forest Grimm that will change their lives, and the lives of the people of Grimm’s Hollow forever. My favorite quote- “You should not tempt fate.”

Eh…
Classic ya retelling.
Kinda cringey with the female character ogling the male character love interest.
Not my thing.
I didn’t hate though. It was surprisingly easy to read and flow.
I don’t know my entire thoughts on this book but I recommend to those who are in their ya retelling era. I’m not in that era so…

A village is cursed by the forest when a wish is made to end someone's life. For years, the village has suffered at the hand of one of their own, but will they ever know who wished for murder? Who has made them suffer? Fore those that make a wish are never to speak of it or it will be undone.

Since the curse has befallen upon them, the village attempted to make amends with the forest, but their offerings have been denied. Until one day, Clara discovers the mystery on how to enter the forest.

The forest reminds me so much of Into the Woods, and I love it! The author weaves a twist into each of the darker tales within the forest that make the story unique.

If anything, my one complaint would be not knowing who cursed the village. But, apparently, it's not Clara's story to discover the murderer and there will be a sequel, so my unanswered question may be answered later on.

DNF at 66%
Here is my feedback based upon what was read.

A mashup of fairytale retellings with the center character being Red Riding Hood. RRH is one of my favorite tales and I just like The Brother's Grimm in general so I was very excited to read this. I even found Purdie's Bone Criers duology to be very enjoyable.

However, I just found this to be entirely cringe-worthy. From the objectification of the young man by the female protagonist's constant ogling whilst simultaneously denying she was into him, to the very juvenile dialogue, motives, and third-wheel tag-along... I don't enjoy juvenile storytelling and pandering to a young crowd is no excuse.

Overall disappointing and annoying.

Content: What I read was clean of sexual content and cussing, so there's that at any rate. But there is thinly veiled drug use.

Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t put this down! There’s so many fairy tale retellings regarding a forest, but this one really stands out amongst the crowd. It had that perfect level of darkness - not to dark that it becomes scary, but dark enough that you feel those creepy chills. I loved the innocence in the love story; it’s pureness brought a nice light counterbalance. I wish we could have explored more of the forest, more of the fates of the lost villagers, but I guess that’s where the sequel comes in! I’ll definitely be picking it up when it comes out.

I had high hopes for this and was completely disappointed. I truly wished it had been a Red Riding Hood retelling, but…it didn’t feel like that. More a mish-mash of other fairy tales.

And the story just never took off. It felt far too long (with not much taking place) with a cliffhanger to entice potential readers.

It just didn’t work for me.

I received a e-book copy of this more for a honest review via NetGalley.. I love this 5 stars!!!! It’s a retelling of little red riding hood with other fairy tails mixed in. Every character has a role that they play into it. The book shows us that it’s ok to not be perfect and try our best to do what need to done. Also, it shows to deals we can change fate if you work on it. I can’t wait until the second book comes out. At least that is my two cents! Lol

Bone criers dawn was one of my favorite books when it was published for the year.
So, my hopes may have been too high- and it fell pretty flat. I wish I could have enjoyed it more- I’ll still be on the look out for the sequel as it ended on a cliffhanger.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a copy in exchange for a honest review!

If you like twisted fairy tales, The Forest Grimm is a must read. This book was so original, while including many pieces of the tales that we already know.
The characters had depth, and I loved seeing their relationships grow. The only problem is the long wait for book 2!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.

This book turned out to be better than I expected.
There were moments I could have strangled Clara but her mistakes made her relatable. The underlining love story with Axel was not a cheap plot line to further something with no substance. It was truly necessary for the story even though it was also heartbreaking.
The creative use of fairytales that we all know was very well done and as each was revealed it gave you an "I know this story" moment.
Very well done and I will look forward to book 2.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to start off by saying, I think I've been sleeping on Kathryn Purdie. Her subject matter has never really interested me before, but this book has changed my mind and I think I'd like to read her other work now.

The Forest Grimm, is like The Village meets Once Upon a Time meets The Brothers Grimm. Our main character is Clara who is (obviously from the book cover) Little Red Riding Hood. Her focus is saving her who mother who has become lost due to a curse placed on their village after someone used a magical book gifted by the Forest Grimm (which grants wishes) to murder another villager. Since the murder, many villagers (like her Clara's mother) are Lost and the village suffers.

I have and always will be a fan of fairytales and fairytale retellings. I specifically like them when they play into the creep factor and really go ham on bringing up the creepy parts that in the original fairytales. Purdie does an excellent job in this regard. The story takes entirely within this magical forest that moves, and there are a few characters we know that show up from time to time. The whole story has a great spooky and (no pun intended) grim vibe.

I loved every character apart from Henni. I'm not entirely sure how her and Clara even friends? They don't really have much in common, and while Clara is brave and stubborn. Henni is fairly timid and whines quite a bit throughout the whole book. Henni is supposedly 15, but she comes off as much younger and I truly don't think she added much to the story. I think it was just Clara and Axel, not much would've changed and I would've enjoyed the book even more.

The romance in this is done well, it's definitely subplot but the chemistry between Axel and Clara is there. When done right, a friends to lovers trope is great and I love it in this story.

I'm shocked this is a duology. I'd say with how the whole story is wrapped up, this easily could've been a great standalone. The ending line of "she must return to.... The Forest Grimm" came off a bit cheesy to me. Most things were wrapped up, but I will be interested to see what exactly happens in book two.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read. I think I'll even buy a physical copy when it releases later this year. I'm rating it 3.5 stars but I'll round up to 4.

Absolutely phenomenal first book in hopefully a series! The fairytale inclusions were interesting interpretations and I really resonated with the MC. I also appreciate the fact that she has disabilities, but they aren't something she's scorned for at any point. The premise is interesting and I just couldn't put it down, to be honest. Worth a read if you like fantasy and YA!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and provide an honest review.

This was definitely a fun little story! I devoured it in a single day, so it kept my attention well enough.

The good:

The idea of haunted or twisted or magical forests is always intriguing to me (thank you Tolkien and Fangorn Forest!) and that features prominently in this tale. The author, Kathryn, paints a very interesting picture and makes the forest its own character.

The weaving of different Grimm Fairytales wrapped in to the plot. First, who doesn't enjoy Grimm's Fairytales? As I'm at my computer desk, I have the whole "Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales" tome sitting next to me. So, shockingly, a book incorporating those tales drew me in immediately. I enjoyed Kathryn's take on these tales and fit them in to this world that she created.

The bad:

The characters. I enjoyed some of the dialogue, but I still don't feel like I know these characters. I didn't feel any particular connection with them, or between them. That's a little disappointing to me because the friendship between Hennie and Clara was described at the start of the book very similarly to my relationship with my best friend. I thought for sure I would connect with that! Unfortunately, it didn't happen beyond that initial description.

The romance. In a book that has a heavy emphasis on romance and love, I really thought it'd be more fleshed out. I thought we'd see more inside Clara's head regarding the romance and the build up of their love, and while I could see some honest attempts, they fell a little flat. It's like a flip was switched and they went from "nope, nope, nope. Can't do this," to "yes, yes, yes we can," without much to encourage this flip. I yearned for more.

Overall, I think this is definitely meant for younger readers. I still enjoyed it, but I'm definitely not the target audience.

Thank you netgalley for the arc. I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings and this was interesting take on them. I really enjoyed this.

#TheForestGrimm #KathrynPurdie #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel. Excellent book!

*I received a Copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review*


This Creepy Spin on the a Grimms Fairytale was done quite well, I like that it was easy to follow along and that the romance was not intsa-love. The Slow-burn fit perfect with the adventure and travel aspect of this book, and the creepy cursed town was a aspect of the book.

I have not read a book by Kathryn Purdie before but I will be on the lookout for more books by this author. The Forest Grimm is a fantasy that is original with an imaginative twist on Fairytales. Clara was a great main character. I felt she was strong, smart, and focused. Even though her fortune-teller grandma has warned her of untimely death from early on, Clara accepts this and decides to use her short time to go on a quest into the deadly and dangerous Forest Grimm to save loved ones. Well written with likable characters. This is a great read for young adults and I would say 13 and up readers also.

From the Publisher:
A spellbinding YA fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie, where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists.

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

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book—Sortes Fortunae, the Book of Fortunes—with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose—to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm’s Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel—who is fated never to be with her—have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest—alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales—has a mind of its own.