Clara, Axel, and Hennie head into The Forest Grimm to find their lost villagers and a missing grimoire. They find much more. Some of the villagers have become fairy tale archetypes like Cinderella and Rapunzel. These aren't the Disney versions either, but something much darker. I like that Clara had a disability (scoliosis), yet still manages to achieve her goals. However, the reader is beat over the head about her back issues with every tumble she takes. The romance was sweet and of a PG13 variety. 4 stars.

This isn’t a retelling so much as a mashup of fairytales, the darker Grimm versions all coming together in a malevolent forest. Our FMC Clara wears a red cloak to protect her from being rejected by the forest, with the wolf stalking her throughout her journey to save her mother. Her best friends Axel and Hennie join her, both trying to rescue [Cinder]Ella, their fiancé/sister(respectively). They are looking for the Grimoire that grants one wish to each person in their village, but after a wish was used for murder it cursed the village and shut down the borders of the forest, but they are slowly losing friends who wander in at night and are never heard from again. Clara wants to use her wish to lift the curse and save the Lost.

Once they are in the forest it is a constant journey of stumbling into different fairytale characters, some of which they recognize, but whom do not remember anything of their past lives, only that they are missing something. It was interesting how each character was portrayed, but it was almost too on the nose to be calling them by their actual fairytale names when it seemed to be just alluding to the stories.

I enjoyed the touch of romance development we got with the MCs -this is safely in the YA level. Clara has scoliosis and it was portrayed well with the chronic pain and her having a harder time doing everything but still fully able. This ends with closure, and I wasn’t sure how much more could happen for the second half of the duology, but the epilogue opens it back up with a fun cliffhanger.

I tandem read this with the audiobook and liked the narrator for Clara, but had a hard time differentiating the other character voices so wasn’t always sure who was speaking. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC for my honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I went into the book a little blind I understood more or less what the book would be about. But the story definitely didn't go the way I thought it would.

I love that Kathryn took inspiration from the Grimm's Fairytales. But I feel like the storylines didn't blend well. In the end looking back it felt like walking through a house of horrors and just opening a random door, walk in, get spooked, walk out and onto the next door. I understand why the characters had to flea but I wish the transition was smoother.

I love the twists and turns that this book put me through. It had me gasping and chuckling the whole time.

I can't wait for the second book to be release because we left off on quite the cliff hanger.

#TheForestGrimm #NetGalley

This was a clever book with a twist on the classic Grimm fairy tales blended into the storyline. Main character, Clara is obsessed with finding her missing mother in the Forest Grimm. When the opportunity presents itself, she ventures into it along with her close childhood friend, Axel. But things definitely aren't always as they appear in the woods here and they are constantly rearranging themselves. You'll be lucky to find your way out when the time comes.
Yet, Clara and Axel each have their own reasons for being there - - their own burdens so to speak. And then another friend finds her way to them as well and their search gets even more complicated.

In addition to looking to rescue other people, Clara is desperately trying to resist the pull she feels to Axel. She tells herself that he isn't meant for her but for another. But is that really true? And how does Axel feel?

Of course, you have a big wolf, a red cape, some other scary fairy tale characters and some that aren't supposed to be scary. It all blends together to be a twisty and fun read.

Apparently this is the first book of a duology. I could have been very content with this being a standalone. I hope that the second book doesn't take away from the nice feeling of completion that I had when I wrapped up this first book.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I toggled back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook. I didn't mind the narrator's voices, but I did struggle to keep up with the storyline when I was listening to it as opposed to reading it. I'm not sure what made this book different from others for me, but I found myself reading it to finish because it was easier for me. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for ARC's of both the ebook and audiobook. I voluntarily chose to read/listen to and review both of them.

An entertaining fairytale read. It felt overall a cohesive story with touching on a few classic fairytale stories within it. It for sure is an interesting concept for a story. And I enjoyed the characters overall!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie is a first person-POV YA fantasy imagining of Little Red Riding Hood and other European fairy tales, many documented by the Brothers Grimm. Clara has always known she’s going to go into the Forest Grimm and will die young. When her mother and her childhood friend’s fiancee both wander into the forest and the forest refuses to let others in, Clara and Axel find a way to get them back.

Clara and Axel have a childhood-friends-to-lovers romance that is complicated by Axel’s former engagement to Ella. Clara doesn’t realize her feelings for him and even struggles to reconcile that she has them due to guilt and her belief that Axel loved Ella. For his part, Axel isn’t nearly as confused as Clara is, but he also feels guilty for Ella wandering into the forest, which leads to him struggling to open up to Clara about his feelings. It’s a bit of a slowburn and it’s more on the sweet side, but it’s got that twinge of angst.

Most of the fairy tales used are Germanic with a few French ones (such as Cinderella) also being utilized. All of them are fairly obvious if you’re familiar with the stories but have a darker tone and don’t shy away from the implications of their stories (cannibalism and trying to force someone to marry you). Of all the fairy tales utilized, I liked the spin on Red Riding Hood the most, especially the spin on the wolf. The use of red rampion as a way to gain access to the forest was also a nice twist that fits in with several fairy tales.

The pacing was actually perfect for me. The plot moved at a brisk pace without glossing over anything that could lead to confusion or dragging. The romance was threaded in very nicely and Clara’s growth felt natural as she slowly peeled back the various mysteries of the forest. This is possibly my favorite YA fantasy I’ve read so far this year because it not only hits on a lot of things I love, it also does it well.

Content warning for brief depictions of cannibalism and coercion

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy who love a slowburn and fairy tales and readers looking for a new take on Red Riding Hood

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this E-ARC!!

What an amazing and dark fantasy novel!!! I am so in love with stories like this!!!! I was so excited to be able to review this and then jump straight into book 2 to review also!

A captivating fairytale that shines brightly, sharp as teeth, and brimming with heart. The clever intertwining of classic stories.

Final score 3.5

The forest Grimm is a new take on some classic fairy tales. We have quests, found family, some mysteries to solve and some magic. I really liked the initial premise, a village trapped in a forest in which if you enter you may never leave. The plot was there, and some people may enjoy the reference to classic tales, but I wish we had spent further time delving into them.

Treading carefully I will say, I found the references to a condition our character has, a little too much. I would have loved to see her more empowered, but with so many comments she lost some power and tripped towards damsel category.

If you like a fairy tale retelling, YA trope adventure this is a book I do think many folks will enjoy!

Recently I realized that I hadn’t read any YA in quite some time, despite the fact I enjoy it—and since I’ve been suffering through a reading slump lately, now seemed like the perfect time to maybe get back on board. Luckily, I had The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie waiting in the wings.
This story has a pretty classic set up. Young girl enters the enchanted woods in a desperate bid to save her cursed village and find her missing mother. Overall, it isn’t anything new, but what makes The Forest Grimm special is how it seamlessly integrates more traditional iterations of fairy tales to act as the sinister magical element that is corrupting the woods, as well as bringing the whole “fairy tale” idea back to its roots… fables and morality tales.
What I enjoyed about this book is how the narrative used warped versions of classic characters like Rapunzel and Cinderella without making them derivative. There was just enough there to recognize these monsters as versions of those original heroines without overdoing it, and The Forest Grimm certainly kept that malevolent edge present in the prototype versions of the fables, as opposed to the Disney-ified adaptations.
Moving on to something that didn’t work as well for me. There was a lot of unnecessary exposition in dialogue that made the character conversations feel clunky and awkward. This also somewhat extended to Clara’s internal monologues.
Personally, I would still probably recommend this to people who enjoy fairy tale reimaginings. However, while I found it neither a pro nor a con, the language of this book is incredibly simplistic, which makes it read on the younger side of YA despite the character ages being around 17. So, keep that in mind if that’s something that affects you.

I wanted to love this book because of the description, but some things stopped me from being enthralled. The world-building was good and I liked that multiple fairytales were woven throughout. The characters were interesting and I wanted to root for them. However, it was way too much telling rather than showing and many repetitive phrases which made me want to skim through pieces, which took me out of the story..

I loved this book! Ahh! 4.5 out of 5 stars rounded down.

I love how the author reworked Grimm fairytales to fit this story AND feel right for the story at the same time. I loved the relationships between the characters and how the story ended (for the most part). Overall, this story felt fun. Yeah, it involves some dark stuff, but I still had fun reading it. I recommend this book for anyone that loves dark fairytales and a brave female protagonist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

An amalgamation of the most famous Grimm fairytales, this book is perfect for a younger YA reader. I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the fast pacing. The characters were interesting and I loved that the author gave us representation of scoliosis and how that disability affected our FMC. I don't think there are enough disability representations in fantasy and this was a refreshing perspective. What I found challenging was the repetition and flow of the story. We fall into similar scenes multiple times and not all the fairytales feel well fleshed out. I think this story has great potential and for a younger reader, would be a great intro to retelling fantasy. But to make more appealing for an adult palate, I feel it could have benefitted from some minor additional editing.

I have always loved fairytales and legends, so retellings are right up my alley. This story is as beautiful as it is haunting, with a protagonist who knows what she wants and focuses on it. She is far from being perfect, but she is perfectly developed! She is also far from being the insecure little girl who doesn't know what to do with her life. Clara is determined to do whatever she must to get to where she wants to be.

Clara and Axel are so human that it's easy to sympathize with them, not to mention the world they live in. The rules and magic are well-constructed, and the writing style is pure awe. This is an atmospheric reading that doesn't let you go the moment you start it—the kind of reading I love! The level of detail and the building are high-class, but there is enough room for exploring in the next book.

I did feel, however, that Clara's inner dialogue regarding her fate was a bit repetitive at times. It wasn't a real problem, but it happened often enough for me to notice. I'm curious about how this will play out in the next book, anyway! The stories included were twisted in the best of ways, to the point of creating a new universe that I'm eager to get back into.

All in all, The Forest Grimm is a book that stays with you after you finish it. You´re still daydreaming about sweet Henni, the mature Clara, and brave Axel. You still remember how difficult it was for them to reach that final page, and wonder what will be of them in the next installment of this duology. Lucky me, then, that I happen to have a review copy, hehe.

We have a smart and brave FMC followed by a lovable MMC. The best kind! Ienjoyed the twisted way old fairytales were used in this story and how each one tied into the overall journey. There was adventure, mystery and a smidge of romance. The way this one ended leaves an exciting start to book two!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Kathryn Purdie, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of The Forest Grimm in exchange for my honest review.

This was a reread for me and let me tell you, this book hits just at much on the second go-around as it did on the first go-around. It is rare that I find a book where the character development and the plot are a 50/50 split that I truly enjoy. From the prologue of this book I was smiling and craving more. The dynamic between Clara and Axel was a lot of fun to watch. It is clear that while the two are friends, there is something more, but things have gotten in the way. In some ways, it feels a lot like young love. This book truly feels like a young adult book, not in a bad way, but where you can tell the characters are teenagers. Yes, they do live in a culture where they are of an age where marriage is common and they are "adults" in some sense, but they act their age still. The impulses that they have feel very appropriate for how old they are. Clara is so determined to get her mother back, she is not afraid to make decisions that many would consider to be dumb. What I appreciated about Clara was in many ways her age. Some of her actions would not have landed the way they did if this was an adult novel, which is why I had so much fun I think. I loved the plot, I loved the romance, and I loved that it felt like it was meant for the age group that it was marketed for. I cannot wait for The Deathly Grimm and to see how all the characters have grown and what the plot has in store for us next. Oh and the world-building, outstanding. I felt like the forest was real and could feel the fear that the people had over this forest being a live entity.

This was an entertaining tale rooted in classic fairytales. When the small town by the Forest Grimm gets cursed, the villagers try to break the curse. Clara, Axel and Henni have all been affected by the curse so they decide to take it into their hands to save their town. It's an adventurous and entertaining tale.

This was an enjoyable read! There were parts of this book that did flow as well I would have liked but it was still a fun read!

I really wanted to love this book. Sadly, a 2.5. Possibly 3 stars for the premise alone.

Pros
Liked the world itself. And the incorporation of different fairytales.
The characters felt distinct from each other.

Cons
Too much telling, not enough showing. We are told too much about past events, but because we never see them play out it makes the characters and especially their changing relationship dynamics, lack any sort of resonance.

Repetitive statements.

Characters move on too quickly from moments that should have some lasting emotional impact.

We are specifically told in chapter 1 that something is impossible, only for that EXACT thing to happen towards the end of the book. With zero explanation as to why it was suddenly possible.

This novel is half adventure story and half Grimm's Fairy tale characters come to life. I like how the author incorporates the Grimm's fairy tale characters into her storyline, but at the same time I felt that it was an easy way to develop characters into a story, instead of making them up.

In this novel we find a young woman who is quite at a loss. Her mother left long ago into the "Forest Grimm" to try to find her father who had gone missing. Her mother and various people from the village who have seemingly been called or lured into the forest have never been seen again once they enter.

This used to be a happy village, once a year,( when you become of age), you could go to this massive book that was on a pedestal at the entrance to the forest speak a saying, ask one question, and the book would open to the answer. Sadly, it was used to murder someone which was totally against the rules and the book disappeared into the forest and the village has fallen into ruin. The forest also rejects anyone who attempts to enter it to search. The main character Clara and her friends Axel and Henni find a way to enter the forest to search for Henni's sister, Clara's mother and many others lost to the forest. This is a part "Alice Through The Looking Glass", part Grimm's Fairy Tales and part fantasy adventure. This was released as an ARC in anticipation of the second novel, "The Deathly Grimm".

All in all it was an Okay novel for me. I would rate it teen to very young adult reading.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are strictly my own.