The Deathly Grimm delivers a strong and satisfying conclusion to this darkly enchanting duology. I loved the eerie, twisted fairytale elements and how the mystery of the forest unraveled. The villain reveal was a great twist, and I appreciated how all the storylines wrapped up neatly.

Clara’s journey was especially emotional—her struggles and growth really resonated with me. I always love characters who find their strength through their brokenness, and she embodied that beautifully. Purdie’s writing captured the macabre magic of classic Grimm fairytales while staying true to her distinct storytelling style, much like in her Bone Grace duology.

If you love dark fairytales with haunting atmosphere, high stakes, and deeply emotional character arcs, I highly recommend this series!

A thrilling a wonderful sequel to the epic gothic fairytale of The Forest Grimm. We are once more reunited with Axel and Clara who are looking for the missing page from the magical book of wishes in order to break the town curse, find more missing townsfollk, and solve a murder. In order to do so, they must go back into the forest and confront new challenges anhd obstacles.

I love the unique twists Katryn Purdie weaves into the classic Grimm tales and everytime you think that you are close to knowing the truth, she throws another twist in. This story is truly fascinating and I would highly recommend it to fans of retellings who like their stories a bit on the darker side.

I adored The Forest Grimm so not surprising that I also adored #TheDeathlyGrimm by #KathrynPurdie. Its beena minute since I read #ThForestGrimm so I wasn't sure if I was going to need to have a refresher on it before plunging headfirst into #TheDeathlyGimm but as soon as I began reading The Grimm Forest flooded my senses all over again and I was swept up into Grimms Hollow with Clara, Axel, Ella, Henni, Fiora, Hansel and Gretel.

The Sortes Fortunae is still waiting for its missing page to be returned before it will allow Henni's one wish to be answered and the curse to be lifted from Grimm Hollow. Once again Clara finds herself having to don her red cape and with Axel returns to the forest to try and save her town and help her friend who now is hiding from the townsfolk who are angry and confused that only a few of The Lost Ones were returned to them the last time that Clara, Axel and Henni entered the forest. If only they new the sacrifice that it took for them to be able to return at all.

Before leaving Clara's grandmother has a moment of clarity and without asking permission reads Clara's cards for her future. Now Clara has the weight of the world on her shoulders and knows that something awful is coming and as much as she hopes that her fortune is wrong events begin to play out that lead her to believe maybe once fate is told there is no way to avoid it.

Plunge once more into the world of #TheForestGrimm, go into the woods with Clara and Axel to try and save the town. You will meet new lost ones that hark back to the fairytales so many of us grew up reading. #TheDeathlyGrimm by #KathrynPurdie is a masterpiece just as the first book was.

I want to thank #Netgalley and #WednesdayBooks for the chance to read an eArc of #TheDeathlyGrimm in return for a fair and honest review.

What I loved about the first book, a spin on the Grimm's characters, I also liked about this one. Very creative and entertaining. A good resolution to the overall mystery. Ollie the ghost is hands down my favorite character.

Welcome back to the cursed Forest Grimm; a forest full of villagers who have forgotten who they were and instead have become blood-thirsty fairytale characters. This conclusion to the duology was fun from start to finish. Kathryn Purdie’s writing is easy to fall into.

This story picks up after the events of the first book. Clara is dealing with the townspeople and explaining what she and her friends faced in the Forest Grimm. Only the townspeople are skeptical of them and wonder why Henni’s wish to break the curse hasn’t happened. Soon, Clara and Axel find themselves back in the Forest Grimm looking for the answer to the curse–which is entwined with solving who murdered Bren Zimmer.

I had a lot of fun reading this sequel! This duology would make a great movie or tv show. The writing is vivid and atmospheric; I can picture the Forest Grimm and all of its creepy inhabitants. This duology was perfect for me and my fairytale loving heart. I could read 5 more books set in this world!

This duology is perfect for fans of fairytales with a dark twist and mysteries. You can expect more unique twists on fairy tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk, the Princess and the Frog, and more!

The Deathly Grimm starts right where we left off. A village cursed, a murder unsolved, and a wish ungranted until they figure out whodunit. We join Clara and Axel on another adventure through the forest as we meet more Lost ones fated to live out strange and dark stories in the twisted magic of the cursed woods. Our couple faces dangers untold but the biggest test lies within. Can they unravel a cold case and save their town before the curse ends them all?
This duology is dark, twisty, creepy, and oh so much fun. I love how the familiar fairytales are changed by the curse and reimagined. But while we’re running for our lives from a special selection of horrors there’s still time for swoony and heartfelt moments. They all must learn the true meaning of power and the strength in acceptance. A must read if you love Grimm’s retellings and creepy magical forests.

This was such a fun conclusion to an interesting duology. I have been a huge fan of the Grimm fairytales for as long as I can remember, and to see the way that Kathryn plays with them in these books is really cool. I was a little meh over the miscommunication but they are teenagers, so I'm not shocked. And it was because of strong emotions so it is understandable. But I did knock the rating down a star for that reason. Loved this conclusion though, and cannot wait to read more by Kathryn.

I love duologies because you get a complete story in only 2 books, and when the second book is just as good as, if not better than, the first, that's a big win. Unsurprisingly, I consider The Deathly Grimm to be a huge win. The Deathly Grimm picks up where The Forest Grimm left off, so you come into it knowing what's going on. With the whole town counting on Clara and Axel to save them, the stakes are even higher here than in book 1, which adds to the tension and heightens the suspense. Every time you think things are going good, something happens to make it just a little bit more difficult. I think Kathryn Purdie does an excellent job tying everything together to give a satisfying ending to this story.

I highly recommend this book.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kathryn Purdie for the opportunity to read and review The Deathly Grimm.

Picking up right where The Forest Grimm ended, Kathryn Purdie places us back in the cursed woods and brings us back to the quest to find the lost pages of The Book of Fortunes and to help solve the mystery of who killed Brenn Zimmer. This was the perfect conclusion to this Fairy Tale inspired support and again is the perfect read for a YA reader. There is just the right amount of safe romance for a younger reader (think PG level smooching) and just a touch of appropriate language (read a few mild swears) and a pace that truly.any ages you in the storytelling. Where this book differs from the first book is that the pacing felt a little slower, maybe because I was so familiar with the world now, and romance was a little more angst than discovery driven, but this did not finish the story for me because the ending offered a wonderful aspect I had not expected.

This review is only for Book Two of The Forest Grimm Duology. Please see my review of The Forest Grimm for that review.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and Kathryn Purdie for sharing this book with me.

The Deathly Grimm is the second book in The Forest Grimm duology, and you definitely have to read the books in order. There are spoilers ahead…

Like The Forest Grimm, The Deathly Grimm takes familiar fairy tales you know and turns them upside down. Jack and the Beanstalk, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and The Frog Prince all make a dark and twisted appearance. Unenchanted versions of Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and Cinderella also return.

Clara’s first trip into the woods didn’t end the way she had hoped. The curse is only partially gone, Clara’s mother didn’t survive, and Clara’s grandmother is quickly fading. What Clara did exit with was a strong relationship with Axel. But re-entering the woods put that at risk, too.

Everything about The Deathly Grimm feels both familiar and new. Author Kathryn Purdie’s twists on what seem like innocent tales is delightfully creepy. Purdie’s world building is strong and her characters solid.

The Deathly Grimm is a driving narrative that holds interest throughout. The duology is perfect for fans of fractured fairy tales, fantasies, mysteries and adventures.

I was provided both an ARC and ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Forest Grimm duology, and don't feel this could be read as a standalone. You really do need to read The Forest Grimm first to understand what is going on and what is going on with the world and the characters. This installment drops you right back into the world where the first book leaves off and the characters pick up where they left off. With the curse on the village only partially broken, Clara and Axel must venture back into the Forest Grimm and Henni must go into hiding until they return with answers and the missing page from the Book of Fortunes. As they venture back into the forest Clara and Axel's relationship will be tested, and Clara will have to face many of her fears as they find more lost villagers and try to break the curse for good. They face

Once again the author does a great job leaning into the darker side of the fairy tales in this book and weaves them into the plot with her own reimagining. This is a bit of retelling and mystery. It has a nice twist when we finally get the full reveal of who the real villain of the story is and how the curse came to be.

Much like with the first book, I felt this read a bit young for my tastes, but the target audience is young adult so take that with a grain of salt. We do get more character development from Clara in this book, which was something I felt was lacking in the first book. In the last book I felt like everything she did was based on what the tarot cards told her was going to happen, where in this book she almost shunned the cards and what they foretold. She was able to think before she acted and solve some of the riddles without acting on impulse all the time. I would have like more character development overall, but I do appreciate the character development we did get.

Overall I felt like this was a satisfying conclusion to the duology.

The Deathly Grimm is an exciting and engaging follow-up to The Forest Grimm.

While the curse on Grimm's Hallow is breaking, it is not broken. Henni needs to make her wish, but the magic is fickle, and Clara knows she must solve the original murder and save the Lost in order to fully break the curse. Clara and Axel must return to the Forest Grimm, knowing they might not return. With her grandmother's life in the balance, and the Lost Love card hanging over them, can Clara and Axel make it through the forest once more?

I really enjoyed this sequel to The Forest Grimm. While this book still had the creepy, gothic feel of book 1, the stakes are higher, and the relationships are different. We see Clara and Axel's relationship be tested even further, as they must learn to trust and rely on one another. The character development is good too - our characters are young, and still figuring out who they are and how they fit into the world. We see this especially with Clara, who is questioning her role in the curse, and what her visions mean for her and Axel. I also loved the fairy tale spin as well - as the Lost take on characteristics of classic Grimm's tales like Jack and the Beanstalk, The Frog Prince, and the Pied Piper. While this book did not have the same kind of romantic tension with Axel and Clara, we see them navigate their relationship in this book. The end was exciting and I think wrapped things up nicely for this series. Overall, this was a fun and whimsical series, with some gothic elements and a darker spin on classic fairy tales.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Dark, twisty, and full of magic. I thoroughly devoured this story.

I was surprised at how caught off guard I was while reading Kathryn Purdie's sequel to The Forest Grimm. This story is much darker, the themes are more intricate, and showcase a much harder FMC than previously seen. There were times I had to stop and think if I was remembering the right story before this one. This isn't to say that the story wasn't good, it was! Just wholly different than what I was expecting when I started reading. My review for the first book in this duology said that it was fine for younger YA readers, I wouldn't give the same recommendation for this one.

"A curse is a riddle, One that doesn't forgive. Answer me this riddle, And I'll let you live."

Clara and those who emerged from the Forest Grimm are viewed not as heroes, but with suspicion and malcontent by the other villagers. Especially poor Henni, whose wish did not break the curse as expected. Clara's determination to break the curse and restore her friends and family hasn't changed, but she is a lot more wary of the forest and its inhabitants when she returns to the forest. And for good reason. The Lost are much more bloodthirsty and cunning, it will take all of Clara's power and insight to figure out what's real and what isn't.

I am still in awe of the author's ability to shift the Grimm fairytales we know and love into something new and, dare I say it, fun. Fun for me anyway, trying and figure out which character represented which tale! I loved the writing, the pace was on point, and I enjoyed the added layers of mystery in this book. The plot twists were soooo good! I definitely didn't see them coming! Perhaps my least favorite part of the book was the romance, but mainly because of the miscommunication trope, or one version of it anyway. I always struggle with characters not talking to the person they love because they're afraid of what the other person will say. But that's my own issue, and no fault of the author.

I'll wrap up with the ending because it was bittersweet. Yes, there is a happy ending, but not the one you may hope for. I was tearing up at the end multiple times, unable to stop reading the final chapters, wishing for different outcomes for certain characters. Especially Clara, who had fought so hard, and though not every wish was fulfilled, she discovered the strength and resilience within herself to keep loving and living, even when it hurts. I loved the message that the author wrote within this story, a reminder that even in darkness, there are big and small joys to be celebrated.

Ooh this follow-up fairy-tale story was just awesome! I loved finding the different fairy-tales within the story! I really enjoyed the characters and the forest was so crazy! I am not a huge fan of fantasy - but this author always takes me with her on her journey's and I am always there for it! Her writing is flawless and so easy to follow that I don't mind the mayhem that ensues! Enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley for this book, the opinions and thoughts are all mine!

We return to the most mysterious Forest Grimm as our leads Clara and Axel have unfinished business with the cursed otherworld lurking at their doorstep, luring their neighbors into deadly twisted tales. Mysteries are to be solved, truths are to be unearthed, and curses are to be broken, or at least they need to be in order to finally achieve peace. And so we enter The Deathly Grimm for one final adventure. An adventure that arises chills, excitement, frights, triumphs, heartbreak, and romance.

Admittedly, I wasn’t convinced in the need of a sequel. I was a bit dismayed at the end of the first book because I felt everything could have been tied up nicely! So I definitely entered this one with trepidation, but that’s not at all how I left it. Rather, I left this one with delightful surprise. Surprise because I do consider this better than the first book. The second half especially rises the occasion and leaves its mark on the reader, closing this duology on a high.

Usually when sequels come along, I feel lost if I don’t reread the first book (and I rarely do), yet there was instant familiarity as I ventured back into the Forest Grimm— into this Deathly Grimm. I never felt I missed a beat, the narrative embraces the reader right into its heart. And it allows for easy engagement and ready immersion. The beginning is a bit slow but it steadily picks up its pace and by narrative’s end you will find yourself at the edge of your seat, biting your nails, nervously bouncing your knee, and shakily holding your breath. The suspense, its build up and execution, is quite done. I felt chills down my spine at times as our leads walked through that forest. There was also a shroud of sadness, notably with how vivid even the most ghostly and lost characters came to be. I cared for these characters. And this glided me through the tale with great ease.

The forest feels wonderfully expanded in this tale. I continue to love how the author takes the most unexpected twists with familiar fairytale characters. I find it so innovative and creative— this duology cleverly sets itself apart from the mass of fairytale retellings. It prickles the goosebumps on your skin, and tantalizes as it raises the stakes and ups the ante at each turn. Every step could be a character’s last. Every choice absolutely matters, and these characters themselves know it and it weighs so heavily upon them.

I did grow frustrated at times with the miscommunication between Clara and Axel. I do think allowing tension raises those stakes, so I was fine with the taut back-and-forth between the two when it came to truths and suspicions of certain mysteries, but the narrative lost me a bit when it lightly teased a love triangle. Now it's not a triangle that ever feels threatening to the core romance, but it is still a plot point I wish was done a bit differently. It may not have felt like a threat, but it did feel like an unnecessary distraction. Nonetheless, I am a romance reader who enjoys angst-- and there's definitely a good heaping of it in this one! So ultimately, it gets the job done, and I feel other readers will appreciate what I did not.

I also want to say that in today's Young Adult Fantasy genre, there seems to be a spectrum within it-- where some are very much meant for a younger audience, and others toe the line towards Adult. PG vs PG-13, if you will. I admittedly favor the latter, but I also hold deep respect reading a YA fantasy that is content to stay well within the margins of the core genre. This is the exact type of beloved stories I grew up with, it's the type of book I'd be obsessed with, in fact! I may be outside that target audience today, but I look at this duology with great appreciation and I think it's especially perfect for younger readers. And it's one that can bring a lot of comforting nostalgia to older readers like myself!

This is a duology I will always have a soft spot for, one that brings me nostalgia and comfort.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

Thank you so much Kathryn Purdue, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of The Deathly Grimm. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Forest Grimm was an enchanting journey through a dark wood full of twisted fairytale characters, magic, and mystery! I could hardly wait to begin the next installment in the duology, The Deathly Grimm. 🐺

This book is a bit different from The Forest Grimm and the characters’ quest to break a curse. At its heart, The Deathly Grimm is a high stakes murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. Throughout the story, I found myself questioning everyone and everything. After all, it’s nearly impossible to know who, or what, you can trust in the Forest Grimm.👀

Fans of no spice romance, this one is for you! Although there is some very light romance, the main focus of the story is found family and healing from past trauma/hurt. The Forest Grimm and it’s curse was the result of a lot of generational trauma for the village, so it was amazingly refreshing to see Clara, Axel, and their companions experience some much needed emotional healing on the page.

Additionally, I loved watching Clara grow up so much in this final installment. She went from a scared young woman trying to save everyone around her to a grown woman who understood the world around her and her place in it with stunning clarity. It’s not often that you get so much emotional growth in the page, and I was here for every word!

In the pages, you will find:

🌳An enchanted, cursed forest
🪄Magic
🏰Fairytale characters
👻A friendly ghost
🔍A murder mystery
🚫No spice romance
❤️‍🩹Emotional growth/healing
🤝Found family
📕The final installment in The Forest Grimm Duology

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This wrapped up the duology so well! It introduced new characters and reimagined more Grimm’s fairytales in twisted and unexpected ways, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Clara and Axel have to return to the forest to finish breaking the curse over their village, and this time, they need to solve a murder to do it. Clara has discovered that she has the power to see the past, and she’s beset with visions. She doesn’t know what’s real or who to trust, and the forest is dark, deadly, and full of monsters. I loved the direction that the plot took and the way that Kathryn wrapped up Clara’s story. If you love fairytale retellings with a dark twist, you should definitely read this duology. It’s eerie, romantic, and beautifully written, and I loved it. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced listener’s copy from Macmillan Audio, and I highly recommend the audiobook for this one. Sarah Ovens does an amazing job with the voices and accents, and truly brings the characters to life.
🌲
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Read if you like:
▫️fairytale retellings
▫️YA fantasy
▫️dark enchanted forest and a curse
▫️murder mystery
▫️magic, visions, and prophecy
🌲
Thank you to Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, Kathryn Purdie, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. I received advanced copies for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a satisfying ending to the duology. This takes us back into the forest with our main characters Clara and Axel. They are on a new mission and trying to find more lost villagers. It is such a well done fairy tale world. It is a bit slow paced but very well told. If you are lover of fairy tales and adventure then this is for you!

A fitting conclusion to the Forest Grimm duology. Once again, Axel and Clara find themselves having to plummet back into the Forest Grimm in order to break the curse fully on the village. A perfect mix of using old Grimm fairytales to move this story along. Perfect for fans of the original Grimm stories.

*Special thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this digital e-arc.*

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie is the exciting conclusion to The Forest Grimm which picks up not long after book one ended. Clara and her friends have returned from the Forest Grimm only to learn that they haven’t broken the curse completely. To break the curse, they must return to the forest and find the missing page of the Sortes Fortunae, Book of Fortunes, and solve the murder that started it all.

Clara is irrevocably changed after dying in the Forest Grimm, brought back to life by Axel and a spindle to the heart. She feels like she has cheated fate. Why her and not her mother? The question runs through her mind constantly. Add to that she is now exploring her magic, being able to see and divine the past, and Clara is overwhelmed. She feels out of place and lost.

Axel is her anchor. He reminds her of who she is and what she fights for. But after a vision shows her his father potentially alive, Axel begins putting pressure on her to look into his past causing a rift to grow between them. Untethered, the two enter the forest to find the missing page and the killer who started the curse.

Just like with book one, there is so much I can say and unpack, but I do not want to risk spoiling anything. I loved how the author brought in new Grimm fairytales and interwove them into this story. Half fantasy half murder mystery, the plot unfolds at a breakneck pace. I loved the addition of a few new characters and the tension it adds between Axel and Clara.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Deathly Grimm. It is a fantastic conclusion to the duology. Clara and Axel come full circle, find more Lost ones, and work to solve a murder. The mystery kept me guessing right to the end. I highly recommend this one for fans of fantasy and mystery.