I fell for the first in this duology, and dare I say the second was even better!

More of the Forest Grimm being crazy and dangerous— and showing us our childhood fairytales in nightmarish ways.

More romance, friendship, and family holding to one another tightly.

The story picks up where we left off - Clara and her friends made it out of the forest… but the town has questions.

And Clara has a killer to find.

With a not-so-fun card reading (poor Clara, they never seen to go well for her) and fear for her friends, not to mention new villagers being lured into the forest— Clara and Axel now have to go back.

Their relationship is tested as well as their wits. They have a curse to break, after all!

I couldn’t get enough of this, truly. The plot is sharp as a tack while the writing is lovely and descriptive— even when the visual is a bit macabre.

At a fast clip that will keep even the most ADHD among us (hi, it’s me) tuned in, we start to pick up breadcrumbs like Hansel and Gretel to solve this mystery, and I loved every moment!

This was well balanced with the romance, which always gives me the warm fuzzies.

Axel and Clara are young and flawed, but that’s why their loyalty to each other is so meaningful. I am so here for these two and their relationship!

If you want a YA fantasy romance that has all the fairytale retellings and can absolutely cross over into adult fiction for those inclined, this is for you!

I’m willing to bet this will surprise you in the best way, just like it did for me!

This is a fine follow-up to the first book. I think my biggest problem with this book is the fact that the first book would have been better as a stand-a-lone. There just wasn't really material for a second book. This felt very similar to the first book so it had a hard time keeping my attention throughout. All of the characters don't really change much throughout the book and I didn't find the mystery to be compelling. I think the duology was a good idea, but it could have and should have been condensed down to a singular book.

Firstly, this is the sequel for a duology. The first book is The Forrest Grimm. If you haven't read it, you definitely should!!

I loved this duology. I had such a fun time with the Grimm fairytale elements that were twisted in such a way as to become new to me again. The idea of a magical forest which turns people into the Grimm fairytales was so clever to me!

My one issue (which admittedly is a big one), is that a magical book/forest that curses the whole town due to the whims of one individual doesn't seem right to me. This may be the teacher in me talking, but group punishment just makes the good kiddos feel alienated. This felt the same way to me (especially since a lot of people died!! Not a spoiler if you've read the first book already).

But the friendships of the characters in this book is beyond amazing so I can look past my one complaint in this case. 😅 I'm a sucker for an adorable relationship/friendship.

Thanks @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

4.75 ⭐️s rounded up for Goodreads.
I was lucky enough to get an eARC and audiobook to read in tandem, via NetGalley.
This was such a fun fairytale mash-up Duology. Emphasis on "mash-up" because these tales don't always follow the originals, which I enjoyed. It felt original, regardless of enlisting well known characters and stories.
In The Deathly Grimm, we meet new characters and find our MCs in the middle of more mysteries/adventures that weave seemlessly within the overall plot of The Forest Grimm. Clara and Axel's relationship is expanded on throughout another bout of drama, AND we get to see some favorites from TFG.
The audiobook, narrated by Sarah Ovens, is perfection. Her voice lends to the whimsy of the tales, setting, and is my preferred medium of consumption.
My one criticism is that Purdie used "my S-curve" toooo many times. Like 12 times! 🙈 I don't recall this being such a distracting substitute for back (part of a back) in the first book? Anyhoo, thats legitimately why TDG wasnt a full 5 star read for me. Still loved it and will be adding to my shelf.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for the advanced audiobook!

My favorite part of this was that the romance wasn't really there and instead focused more on Clara's relationship with her grandmother. The first book pushed Clara and Axel too much and it felt forced and awkward. There was a bit of jealousy and some manipulation, but it was hardly there.

The pacing is slow and a lot of the plot felt like filler to me. I think the two books could have easily just been one standalone that I might have enjoyed more. It also seems like these should have been middle-grade instead of YA, as they read super young and the characters can be too childish even for sixteen year-olds.

Maybe the next Purdie book will land better for me.

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

4.5/5
Absolutely loved the conclusion of the series. It built on Axels and Clara relationship. I do wish that her friends were in it more but the 2 of them are so sweet. The mystery of the forest and the book. The inclusion of so many fairy tales into one story was splendid. It made for an epic conclusion that kept you guessing on why the forest was the way to was. The magic and world are amazing and great ending.
I received an E-arc and thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review.

The Deathly Grimm is just as atmospheric as its predecessor! I love when an author can execute a setting - it really immerses you in the plot and gives you a connection to the story. While I love the style and elements (especially folklore twists!) in this writing, the plot itself felt slow, and I found myself skipping ahead. Meanwhile the last 10% of the book felt like it held the majority of the content and plot heavy moments.
A good conclusion to this duology, and a solid read if you enjoyed The Forest Grimm!

I really enjoyed the conclusion to this duology! I enjoyed this book more than the first one, I thought the charcaters were more developed in this one and the conclusion felt satisfying for this story. I also really love the spooky fairytale atmosphere that this book had. I did feel like the pacing was a bit off for me throughout the book, but overall a fun read that ended an enjoyable duology well!

I will say out of the two books, I felt like this one was better compared to the first. I did mention in the review of the first book I felt like there were some plot holes and I was hoping that they'd be fulfilled in this one I feel like some were still left unfinished. The stories pacing was also all over the place, and at some points it'd be super slow then all of the sudden fast. I was right on the fact we got more Grimm fairytales and I enjoyed this selection of them this time around.
I am wondering though if the ending of this book potentially set it up for another story? I know this is supposed to be the sequel but it's starting to make me wonder if there is more.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had a lot of fun with this book and thought it wrapped up the duology really nicely. It brought back the characters and stories it had already begun in the first book while also introducing even more twisted fairy tales.

There was a good amount of action and more tension in the romance this time around, although at times I found their disagreement a little frustrating.

Overall this duology is a lot of fun, and perfect for fans of fairy tale retellings.

Thanks to the publisher for the copy.

The Deathly Grimm is a great conclusion to this duology!
We are back with Clara and Axel starting where the previous book left off. They survived the forest, but there is more left to do. Including going back into the forest and trying not only to save as many lost ones as they can, but also to find the missing page and the killer that caused the curse.

There is so much to love and enjoy about this book. The fairy tales were completely reimagined and came across fresh and new. Clara and Axel are working together to break the curse for good, and falling even deeper for each other, even when events conspire against them. I loved the riddles, and the vibes of the forest are eerie and perfectly portrayed.
This is a great duology and one I'll reread again and again.

Thank you Net gallery for the copy of this book. The story is a follow up mash up of various fairy tales into an original story. There were some resolutions to the stories of the first book as well as new characters, both good and bad. I enjoyed the sequel and would recommend.

I had high hopes for this conclusion to the Grimm duology and it unfortunately did fall a little flat. The story seemed to drag on, and they were pages of descriptions and events that just seemed unnecessary and were added just to pull in more stories. There were a lot of of Different characters from the Grimm fairytales and I did like how the author incorporated them into the villagers as people. I kept on because I felt committed to Clara and needed to see her put everything to rest and find happiness. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t imagine going through an epic adventure to break a curse…only to find it didn’t fully break. Clara and her friends are back in the forest to finally discover the truth. Using her visions and other characters who have been lost, new challenges arise.

I loved discovering all the new characters and how they relate to fairy tales, but it’s the beautiful growth that Clara endures that makes this story legendary. This tale is woven together in such a clever way and I adored the unexpected twists through this concluding journey in the Forest Grimm.

Wonderful characters, an exhilarating journey, perilous situations, and dangers galore, this is such a fun ride in the fantasy world.

Content: mild romance; mild+ perilous situations/violence

Conclusion to the Forest Grimm twisted fairytale duology!

Clara and Axel follow a group of sisters in a trance as they’re being called into the cursed forest. Clara and Axel want to save the sisters from the curse which will cause them to go mad or die. As they follow them, Clara meets Harlan, an enchanted frog, and she frees him with a kiss that turns him back into his human form. Harlan helps Clara have visions which give her clues to the person who murdered a Grimm Hollow villager, causing the curse. Clara and Axel sift through the clues to discover the murderer, which will ultimately break the curse on their village and they need all the help they can get. Harlan seems to be helpful but can he be trusted?

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed how the author incorporated fairytales into the story and how she twisted them a bit. I liked unraveling the mystery behind the curse and how the author used Clara’s incomplete visions to create uncertainty about the suspects. Axel is still so kind and caring but he also shows insecurities and frustration.
Mature content: PG-13 for kissing.
Language: PG for 2 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody violence.
Ethnicity: Clara and Henni have pale skin and Axel has tawny skin. Lila has bronze skin.

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. The first book was just okay for me, and so was this one. I love fairytale retelling, but I just didn't care for this one as much as I wanted to. Some stories grab you in and you can't put them down, while others, like this one, drag.

Thank you Kathryn Purdie and Net galley for allowing me to read this ARC

I loved this duology. I feel like it was the perfect combination between a Grimm Brothers story and a fairytale of it own originality. This story was more focused on Clara and her growth within herself after her first journey into the forest. She had to learn to trust herself and her magic along with learning her relationship with Axel. There was a lot of twists and turns and some may find it confusing but I loved it. At times I felt like I was a Lost One myself trying to learn what was true and what was fiction through Clara’s point of view. Throughout the whole book there was so many people who I thought would be the murderer but at the end I was shocked at who it was and enjoyed being wrong.

This is a book that will stick with me for a long time. I wish I could go into the Grimm Forest again for the first time and get that feeling. But for now I will highly recommend this duology to anyone who asks.

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie seamlessly blends dark fantasy with elements of mystery and eerie fairy tales. The story continues to follow Clara and Axel as they reenter the cursed Forest Grimm, determined to lift the lingering curse threatening their village.

The story is fast-paced and action-packed filled with unexpected twists and turns. The evolving relationship between Clara and Axel adds emotional depth, with their romantic tension enhancing the narrative without overshadowing the central quest.

Purdie’s lyrical prose and vivid descriptions effectively convey the eerie beauty of the Forest Grimm, immersing readers in its haunting ambiance.

The Deathly Grimm is a satisfying and thrilling conclusion to the duology, with its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and evocative setting.

First I would like to thank Netgalley for approving this arc for me to read.

I will be honest I quite enjoyed the first book, but this one was even better than the first and honestly probably should have been the story of the first book. We delve more into lore, the mystery of who the killer is, and the family line of our main character Clara. We meet more famed Grimm fairytale characters, and how the lost became them. I do honestly wish what was led in this book was a bit more in the first as then so much more texture and story building could have been added. I really loved the lore, and the exploration we have of Clara's power in this one. I won't go into more details so not to spoil the book, but I will say I loved this one a lot more than the first.

Epic finale to a dark leaning fairytale retelling
Things I liked
-tarot cards (these are a big focus because her grandma reads tarot)
-a lot of fairytales with a dark twist including Rumplestiltskin, Snow White, Pied Piper, and more
-Some less common fairytale characters are included in the retelling (not many pied piper and Jack and the beanstalk retellings so this is unique)
-cursed village/woods
-rare magic abilities
Things I didn’t enjoy
-some parts were hard to figure out had to keep going back to see if it was present day or a vision