I enjoyed this book much more than THE FOREST GRIMM, the first book in the duology. Clara and Axel have made their way home iwth the book, but the murderer's page is missing, so the curse is not broken. As these two brave hearts enter the forest again, their fear is greater but so is their consequences. They must either find the page and identify the killer or they will never find their way home. Kathryn Purdie left open enough plot lines to anchor another book. Will we find ourselves in Grimm again?

3.5 stars

Age rating: 12+

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Kathryn Purdie, and NetGalley for the e-book ARC!

This book picks up shortly after The Forest Grimm left off—in the village, after Henni, Clara, and Axel returned.
However, they are not greeted with the reception they expected. Even though they came back with four of the Lost (sanity restored) and made great progress in breaking the curse, the villagers are bitter that the curse wasn’t fully broken. Things escalate further when Henni’s wish is denied, once again, in front of the entire assembly. Fear fueling the fire, the villagers become angry and Henni is forced into hiding. The only way for her to be safe again is if Axel and Clara return to the forest and vanquish the curse. Unfortunately, this proves more difficult as time wears on. The Forest is far from sated by the efforts they are making; the curse is stretching further and further into the village by the day. Just like the villagers, it’s patience is wearing thin, quickly.
Also standing in their way are more of the Lost, and they are more aggressive than before. Finding out who murdered Bren Zimmer and then containing them are two jobs that seem impossible. Every time they think they’ve found a lead, it turns into a dead end.
Making things worse, Clara had her fortune read once more before their trip—and drew a card telling of Love Lost. When things become flinty between she and Axel, she wonders if this could be what it signified.
Will they succeed in their mission? Will their relationship last in the face of adversity?
And will the curse ever be broken?
I didn’t find this book to be incredibly moving or ground-breaking, but it was fast, fun, and had enough of a mystery element that it kept my brain engaged. And, let’s face it, I’m a sucker for any book that is able to weave together folklore and fairytales into a story so cleverly.
Happy reading!

A curse to be broken, a murder mystery to solve, and a fate to change. The sequel picks up immediately after the first book and now Clara and Axel have escaped the Forest Grimm, Axel and Clara have become a couple but questions from the forest still haunt them. Clara is haunted by the guilt of killing her mother while also dealing with the fact that the forest is luring more villagers into the forest and the villagers demand Clara go back in and break the curse. Clara's grandmother is also dying... and gives her an ominous last fate reading... that could spell the end of Clara's relationship with Axel if she isn't careful. Clara becomes plagued with visions she can't control and one of them involves Axel's missing father who could still be alive in the forest. Then there is the mystery of who is behind the murder of a particular villager... and it could be anyone including Clara's grandmother or Axel's father.... when entering into the deadly forest again, they don't know who they can trust and if they can make it out alive again. This was definitely an interesting sequel to the first book that played with a lot of different fairytales from Rumplestilsken, Snow White, the Pied Piper and more! I will say the romance had a very forced love triangle introduced and then there was the whole third act makeup, and it just didn't really feel all that necessary. Overall it's a fun fairytale series for fans of Grimm's Fairytales and retellings. I definitely think YA readers will have a fun time with this and if you enjoy unique fairytale spins, definitely give it a go.

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Loved this! Definitely worth the read!

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

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie is a first person-POV conclusion to The Forest Grimm duology. Life seems to have gone back to normal for Clara, Axel, Henni, and Ella after returning from the forest, but when Henni makes a wish to end the curse once and for all, Clara learns that their business in the woods isn’t over. She and Axel head back into the woods to finally finish what they started and uncover who the murderer was that started it all.

All is not well for Axel and Clara’s relationship in this book. While they do fulfill the traditional romance structure and end up together, they have a lot of struggles before they can finally get the happily ever after. Axel was kicked out of Ella and Henni’s parents’ house as he is no longer Ella’s fiance and he wants to live with Clara as husband and wife but she’s not quite ready for that step. Axel isn’t disrespectful towards her at all for not being ready, but it is obvious he is a little disappointed. I think a lot of this is because he’s been aware of his feelings for Clara longer than Clara has been aware of her feelings for him. Once they are in the woods, there’s also someone else trying to get between them and it is frustrating but also makes sense that it would create an issue when there’s already this bit of tension going on.

The fairy tales featured this time include the Twelve Dancing Princesses, the Princess and the Frog, and Snow White as well as further expansion on Red Riding Hood. The way Snow White was integrated within the plot was really interesting and I appreciated how it used white, black, and red in repeating prophecies that slowly revealed the truth the more they were told. It felt like something I would read in an actual fairy tale as the Rule of Three and changing things ever so slightly every time they come up is something I have read in at least one collection.

The mystery elements continue with Axel and Clara needing to unravel who is who and what their motivations are. Clara’s grasp of the truth gets further and further obscured as she receives visions that don’t tell her everything but reveal bits and pieces. This contributes to her struggles with Axel as she becomes convinced that his father was the murderer who set everything in motion and Axel refuses to believe it. Nothing is quite what it seems and Clara will need to learn how to trust Axel’s instincts more.

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy that mash-up fairy tales and readers who like a strong mystery element in their fantasy

I was a bit bummed that this book did not live up to the first one. I remember being more engrossed in the first book than this one. I actually found myself annoyed in multiple spots with the two main characters and considered giving up. I'm glad I didn't but once again this is a book that suffers from being a tad too long.

The curse that holds Grimm Hollow has been partially broken but more is needed to set the town free. Once again, Clara takes it upon herself to don her red cape and enter the Forest Grimm to find the answers they need to break the curse. Along the way, she meets multiple Lost villagers, none of whom are friendly, a frog with an interesting backstory and (my favorite fairy tale) 12 Dancing Princesses (aka the Worn-Out Dancing Shoes according to the original Grimm tales).

The author does an excellent job of weaving fairy tale lore into her prose and I was enthralled by that. However, the dynamic shared between Clara and her beau, Axel, became tiring. I thought both were behaving unreasonably and some of the story needed to be tightened up. This was another story that suffered from a long way to the end, only to be tidied up in 3 chapters. Since this is an ARC, perhaps a skilled editor will tweak the final product.

Either way, I enjoyed the book itself and was glad I stuck it out until the end.

My thanks to Wednesday books and St. Martin's Press as well as Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Deathly Grimm is such a fabulous conclusion to The Forest Grimm duology! From the very first page, it pulled me right back into its dark, enchanting, and dangerous world, and I loved every minute of it!

The story picks up with Clara and Axel navigating all of the consequences of the curse and what happened at the end of The Forest Grimm. A sinister force tied to the dark magic of the forest threatens their village, their friends, and their own lives. And when Clara’s visions grow more intense, the line between past and present begins to blur, revealing secrets that could be the key to breaking the curse. With the forest luring in more people than before, Clara knows she must act, even if it means going back in. It's an intense journey filled with danger, intrigue, and a few mysteries that took me by surprise more than once.

The atmosphere throughout the story is rich and vivid, much like the first book, and the forest feels alive and almost like a character itself. Purdie’s writing is dark and atmospheric and sets the tone for the story and for Clara and Axel's perilous journey. I love her writing style. It's so easy to get pulled into the story with such fantastic dialogue, character development, and imagery.

Clara and Axel’s experiences in this sequel felt even more intense than in the first book, and I liked how their relationship grew under the weight of the curse and the secrets unraveling around them. Their feelings for each other and the strength of their bond are really put to the test, and there were times when I wondered if they would make it, not only as a couple but just physically out of the forest. I have to say, I think I liked Axel even more in this book than I did in the first one. He's loyal and strong and caring, and there's nothing he wouldn't do for Clara, which he proves over and over again.

The plot unfolded like a dark fairytale, full of riddles, ghostly figures, and heart-pounding moments. And Clara’s visions add a fascinating layer to the mystery. I loved how those glimpses into the past revealed new pieces of the puzzle while raising the stakes for what they faced in the present. There were definitely a few twists I did not see coming. I think the blending of familiar fairytale elements with the darker twists was intriguing and gave the story a sense of familiarity while still feeling wholly original.

The author's use of dualities is also worth mentioning, especially how the setting and tone often contrasted the character's emotions. Axel's loyalty and steadfastness, for example, contrasted the unpredictability of the forest and their journey. The love story between Axel and Clara is a great contrast to the heavy and cursed situation that surrounds them. Many of the characters contrast each other well in disposition and motives. And the ending was fabulous. It tied everything together beautifully in a way that felt wholly satisfying.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

As far as the end of a duology goes, Purdie’s follow-up ties all of the loose ends from The Forest Grimm in a neat bow. I got to go back in the eerie forest for another literary romp, and dark forest settings are among some of my favorites, but this time the forest didn’t have quite the same feel. The story structure, as writers often do when a series follows the same characters and settings, changed from a search and rescue quest to a curse-breaking, whodunnit mystery. I may have enjoyed this one a bit less than the first, but I still feel it’s worth giving it a read.

Coming in at a hefty 48-page surplus over The Forest Grimm from about 18 months ago in September of 2023, The Deathly Grimm will also have a different cover design (with matching artwork from the gorgeous watercolor art designs of the UK covers) and a simultaneous paperback release. The first book will be getting a rerelease with a matching cover as well. As I completely loathed the cover for the first release, I’m almost happy about this, but since the rerelease isn’t going to have a matching hardcover as well, it’s a huge eh for me. Here’s hoping FairyLoot will be announcing a matching edition to go with their copy of the first one.

Purdie serves up some genre variety here and switches from the atmospheric forest setting where the characters search for missing villagers to a mystery/thriller in which Clara must now find the reason for the curse and the one(s) who brought it upon the village. I don’t really like murder mysteries because of how predictable they can be for me, and this one fared the same as all the others; I pegged almost immediately whodunnit. On a positive note, it took until the end for the how and why to come through. As I mentioned in my review for the first book, it is a YA; so some aspects of storytelling come across as juvenile to me. The drawback here would have to be the content matures more than the characters do.

Clara and Axel team up again and go into the forest and take on a monumental task of solving the mystery of the curse instead of simply rescuing a few of its victims, and though the book’s plot had a tight structure, the sheer amount of events create a breakneck pace. The shifts and transitions happen in a blinking whirlwind, and I backtracked more than a couple of times to reorient and continue. Add in the relatively immature character interactions, and the plot here didn’t have the same charm for me as it did in The Forest Grimm.

As for content—Clara and Axel got together in the first book, they kept their paws off each other, and the book was appropriately YA. Here, they do quite a bit of snagging and heavy petting, and some of it certainly pushes some boundaries. This one has a bit of language as well (I’d say mild, but I know some readers don’t like any, so just a heads up there). It’s one of the tamer selections I’ve read in the B5 YA market lately, so I won’t complain too loudly.

My thanks to Wednesday Books and Macmillan via NetGalley for the DRC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

#kathrynpurdie #thedeathlygrimm #theforestgrimm #wednesdaybooks #netgalley #bookreview #yafantasy #yaromance #retelling

A good continuation of where we left off in The Forest Grimm. This definitely felt way slower than Book 1. The story really started pacing super slow halfway through, but I wanted to see what happened.

This duology had an interesting concept, but something felt missing in the story telling. It felt very jumpy and a bit all over the place at times. I did find myself having to re-read parts to understand what was going on.

I definitely still recommend this duology! It still was a fun journey!

This story is a retelling of some Grimm fairy tales (this takes place in a living Forest Grimm, see what Kathryn Purdie did there?), and serves as the conclusion to the Forest Grimm duology. Keep in mind the protagonist Clara is seventeen and the audience is young adult, as this did feel geared towards that audience as compared to a T. Kingfisher novel (for example). Clara works with Axel to solve the murder mystery, find book pages, riddles, and brave the forest.

I think this book left some plot point questions unanswered, but it did wrap up the ending for the main characters' storylines. We meet several storybook creatures and characters from a variety of fairytales, which at times felt a bit distracting but it was fun to meet them. I think I wanted a bit more from Clara and Axel's interactions, but this duology will be a hit with young adult readers.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book to review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press | Wednesday Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The 2nd and final book in this series. Find the missing page to the magical book and break the curse that plagues the town and steals the townspeople to the forest. Easy peasy, right?!

I enjoyed it as much as the 1st. We met more interesting (and just as sinister) characters as we revisit the forest. We’ve added more to the magic system with Clara being able to “visit” the past. I devoured both of these books. I would’ve liked to have spent more time in the town getting to know those characters a little more. All in all the plot was interesting, the story moved along at a great pace, and I was along for the ride untwisting the story with the MCs.

The Deathly Grimm is the second and final installment in author Kathryn Purdie's The Forest Grimm Duology. This sequel picks up where The Forest Grimm left off, delivering a haunting blend of Grimm-inspired horror, romance, and a satisfying resolution to Clara and Axel’s cursed journey. The story thrusts us back into Grimm’s Hollow, where Clara Thune and Axel Furst, fresh from defeating the Wolf, thought they’d secured safety behind the forest’s borders. But the Forest Grimm has other plans.

After surviving the Forest Grimm and the dangers that lie within, Clara and her friends are devastated to find that they have not fully broken the curse. They must find the missing page from Sortes Fortunae, the Book of Fortunes and find who was responsible for killing Bren Zimmer. When villagers start vanishing into the woods, lured by an escalating curse, it’s clear the duo only scratched the surface of the darkness in book one. Armed with unsettling visions of the past and navigating their fragile new romance, Clara and Axel re-enter the forest to uncover the murderer whose actions birthed the curse centuries ago.

What follows is a gauntlet of murderous woodsmen spouting riddles, ghostly maidens threatening eternal dances, and phantoms wielding the forest itself as a weapon. Purdie incorporates fairytale motifs like Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Jack and the Bean Stalk, and Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, and even Princess and the Frog twisted into something sinister yet enchanting. Clara’s visions add a fresh layer of mystery, driving a plot that’s equal parts murder investigation and survival quest.

Her growth from a determined dreamer to a fierce, flawed heroine is compelling, while Axel’s steadfast loyalty and princely charm make their slow-burn romance a beating heart amid the chaos. Will they be able to find the missing page for the magic book and bring it home along with the murderer to break the curse? Which villager is responsible for the chaos that has engulfed the village for three years? Supporting characters like Ollie bring a bit of feelings and emotions to the novel, especially the ending. The murder mystery unfurls cleverly, tying back to the duology’s origins with a satisfying, if slightly predictable, reveal.

Purdie weaves in new fairytale elements seamlessly; however, the middle occasionally lags with repetitive forest perils, and a few side characters feel underutilized, their arcs left dangling like loose threads in a tapestry. The romance, while sweet, might not fully satisfy readers craving more heat after book one’s buildup. The ending ties up the curse’s loose ends beautifully, offering triumphant and bittersweet closure, though a touch was clichéd in its happily-ever-after vibes. At 352 pages, the story is not flawless, but its eerie beauty and emotional resonance make it a worthy farewell to the Forest Grimm.

I typically don’t read books out of order, especially fantasy books for obvious reasons. However, I didn’t realize that this was book two when I started it. The beginning was slightly slow for me, which makes sense since I hadn’t read the first book. But after that, it really did pick up and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. The whole fairy tale stories weaved throughout was very interesting. I thought the adventure aspect was fun and I wasn’t expecting the ending at all. This turned out to be a really good book for me. It felt a little long at times, but overall was a good read. If you love fairy tales, fantasy reads with adventure, then you might enjoy this one.

What a great conclusion to this duology. I definitely liked this one better than the first. There was a lot more action and the story and plot line were already well developed. The pacing was a little off at times, but other than that, I really enjoyed the conclusion of the story.

Note: This is a YA story and it reads like a YA story, if you don’t really like YA this may not be the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Deathly Grimm was a great conclusion to the Forest Grimm. Some of the pacing felt a little wonky, but for the most part I really enjoyed it. I loved feeling like a was reading a fairy tale murder mystery! And the incorporation of more of Grimm’s fairytale characters was fun to watch unfold!

I began this not long after finishing the first book and was pulled into the story. Book two of *The Forest Grim duology is significantly slower paced, to forewarn readers.

I enjoyed this, seeing the majority of things resolved (not all however), but I was disappointed with the repetition, as well as the romance (which felt forced). I think this might work better for younger readers.

I recommend this duology for ages 10-12+; with cozy autumn reading vibes and bound to appeal to lovers of Grimm’s fairy tales.



*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the DRC*

The Deathly Grimm deepens the eerie, fairy tale-inspired world of The Forest Grimm, weaving a dark, immersive tale filled with danger, riddles, and supernatural horrors. Kathryn Purdie delivers an atmospheric sequel where the cursed forest is even more menacing, and Clara and Axel’s fight for survival grows more desperate. The stakes are higher than ever as the trees themselves begin pulling villagers into the depths, forcing the duo to confront the sinister forces at play.

The novel thrives on its rich, haunting imagery and tension-filled storytelling. The forest’s mysteries—from spectral maidens to deadly woodsmen—create a gripping sense of unease, making every twist unpredictable. Clara and Axel’s bond remains central to the narrative, their relationship tested by the very forces they’re trying to defeat.

While the pacing slows at times, the intricate worldbuilding and steadily rising tension keep the story engaging. Fans of dark fairy tale retellings, cursed landscapes, and high-stakes adventure will find The Deathly Grimm a worthy continuation of the series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

I didn't realize this is the second book in the series, but I read it anyway, haha. The writing and world building are great, but I think I'd have enjoyed it more if I'd read book 1 first! I managed to muddle my way through, though, because I didn't want to put it down.

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

The Deathly Grimm takes place shortly after the end of The Forest Grimm. The village is in slight chaos due to the curse not being broken and not all of the lost having been returned. Determined to set things right and end the curse once and for all, Clara and Axel return to the forest to find the missing page and hopefully break the curse once and for all.

What I loved about this book was watching the different character dynamics. Clara and Axel have an established relationship, even if it is new. Throughout The Deathly Grimm we got to see them navigate the dynamic shift from best friends to lovers, and sort out how to effectively communicate with each other. Now this is not a miscommunication trope, but rather, just two people trying to learn how to discuss how they are feeling, which is a learning curve in any new relationship. I also liked seeing how the addition of two new characters effected their relationship as well. The plot was also a lot of fun, though at times things felt easy, like the answers were given to them. All-in-all I loved being back in this world and reading the end of this wonderful duology. I loved being back with the characters and honest had a good time while reading it. I even read it in one sitting, which is not something I do with fantasy books anymore. If you are a fan of the first book, I highly recommend the sequel and seeing how it all ends.

3.5 stars - I really enjoyed the first book in this duopoly; however, the second fell a little short for me.

Book 1 was action packed and so fast paced - I ate it up! I immediately started Book 2. The Deathly Grimm started off a bit slower and I felt myself getting a little confused as to where we were in the story but that could just be a me thing as I was listening to it. There were also some elements from The Forest Grimm that I really loved that didn’t carry over into The Deathly Grimm. The forest felt more mellow/calm in Book 2 vs Book 1.

Overall, I enjoyed this duology as a whole. I enjoyed the author’s world building and overall writing style. I think everything wrapped up nicely with this story.