The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie is the second and final book in The Forest Grimm duology. I'll be honest, I was a little iffy on the first book but I also wanted to see how this duology ended so I decided to give this a try. This was a great end to this dark fairytale. I really enjoyed the twisted and dark take on so many fairytales. The plot did feel a little cobbled together but it was still such a fun journey. The audiobook was fantastic. The narration did a wonderful job at bringing this eerie story to life.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Starting this book I didn't know it was book 2, I read this as a stand alone, and read it just fine.

This eerie retellings of the Brothers Grimm’s fairytales tries to break the curse on the Forest Grimm and Grimm Hollow once and for all. There’s so many secrets and plots to uncover and each twist and reveal kept me on the edge of my seat. This book has a dark forest, cursed Village, quests and romance.

I would definitely recommend this duology to fans of YA fantasy!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really just loved every moment of this audiobook. I spent a lot of time driving the last two days and this kept me sane the whole time.
Clara and Axel are back in the Forest Grimm to help break the curse and save their friends and home. I admittedly did not pay attention to the fact this was a second book. 🙈. But honestly I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.
The authors use of all the classic Grimm characters but interwoven and used in such unique and fun ways was perfect. This book was precisely what I needed on a stressful weekend. Whimsy, a mystery, and a tiny bit of romance!
4.5/5 stars for me.
I received an ALC of this title, all opinions are my own.

The Deathly Grimm
By Kathryn Purdie
Narrated by Sarah Ovens
4 ⭐️

The second half of this duology flowed really well from the first. The books read very cohesively. A mystery needs to be solved to release the Forest Grimm from the overbearing curse that steals loved ones without warning. The lost ones present riddles to be solved. Clara and Axel need to learn to truly trust in each other. I think this story shines via audiobook. Ovens does a great job bringing it to life. The story is easy to follow and stayed interesting throughout. I had a good time.

Thank you NetGalley, Kathryn Purdie, and Macmillian audio for this audiobook ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

The Deathly Grimm is the dark, twisty conclusion to The Forest Grimm duology with romance, riddles, and a thrilling adventure.

I had a lot of fun with this one. Kathryn Purdie writes wonderfully creative stories with the sweetest endings, and The Deathly Grimm was no exception. The romance between Axel and Clara was darling, and I loved the character development. The adventure and action through the forest were entertaining, and I enjoyed the incorporation of the Brothers Grimm’s fairytales. The plot was interesting and led to a sweet, satisfying conclusion. The pacing was lovely, and Kathryn’s writing was beautiful, as always. I would definitely recommend this duology to fans of YA fantasy!

Sarah Ovens narrated this one beautifully. Her voice fit Clara perfectly, and the depth and emotion she used made the story wonderfully immersive and the characters come to life. I highly recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

Duologies are the sweet spot for YA Fantasy for me, and this conclusion did not disappoint!

Clara and Axel are not your typical YA Fantasy protagonists, and I love them for it. They’re a little more whimsical, a little more flawed, and a little more human. Kathryn Purdie has created such well-rounded characters with so much heart and hope you can’t help but root for them. Furthermore, I will always think of this book when I see a penny.

The Deathly Grimm is perfect for readers who like:
- Dark, fractured fairy tale elements
- Sentient forests
- Sentient books
- Characters who crawl into your heart
- Magic with consequences
- Murder mysteries
- Curses
- Sweet romance
- Rhyming riddles
- Satisfying conclusions

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC. I look forward to Kathryn Purdie’s next project!

4.5 rounded up
I actually enjoyed this more than the first book.
This book reminded me more of The Brothers Grimm movie from 2005. It has a darker feel to it than the first one.
The added emphasis of the mystery or catching a killer really drove the story.
Overall I really enjoyed it and felt that the ending was very satisfying and not as predictable as I originally thought it would be.
The narrator was wonderful as well.

I loved this first book, but this one fell a little short for me, in some areas of the book I felt like they drone in and it dragged. I’m glad that they kept the same narrator for the series.

୨⎯ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔 ⎯୧
rating: 3.75
narrator: 5
plot: 3..5
characters: 4
writing: 4
romance: 3.25

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“Sortes Fortunae, hear my voice. Understand my heart and its deepest desire. My name is Clara Thurn…"

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°•*⁀➷ what to expect
fairytale character references
dark magical forest
she can see visions of the past
solving the mystery
breaking the curse

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°•*⁀➷ what to expect
the narrator sounded exactly as i imagined Clara to sound like, it make listening more immersive and entertaining. Her voice was soothing and was absolutely remarkable. 10/10!

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°•*⁀➷ the rundown
this is the sequel and conclusion of The Forest Grimm, a very intriguing and magical read from start to finish! I’ve been anticipating this book since reading the last page of the first book! Clara, with her red cape, goes with Axel again through the forest to attempt to find the missing page and the m*rderer who started the curse. those who wonder in the forest with no protection usually become lost easily and succumb to the magic, becoming a dark form of what they are lost for.

in the first book we discover some characters that are lost inspired by Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and others i’ve forgotten. In this one we get Jack and the Bean Stalk, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, and even Princess and the Frog. but it’s all twisted and in a merely subtle form or mention, definitely not a disney vibe.

I really enjoyed this one for the most part, i did feel like it was a bit dragged through, i was hoping for some more forest intervention like in the first book. I was genuinely surprised from the twist in the end! and am glad Axel and Clara finally get to be happy together.

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This is a wonderful adventure! I love the romance, the fairy tale people, and the setting. I love the narration! It is weird and wonderful!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy to review. Narration by Sarah Ovens had a great atmosphere that complemented the story very well. I really enjoyed her accent and delivery for various characters. It was clear, whimsical, and captivating.

This was a great conclusion to The Forest Grimm duology. I love the creative direction and twists on well-known fairytales. The fantasy aspect really appeals to my inner child, growing up with these stories it just added a cozy feeling to the overall experience for me.

Clara went through a lot of growth in this book and came into her own magic. The murder mystery on top of all the riddles and curses created an explosive finale. The last quarter of the book was fast paced with a satisfying happy ending and I couldn’t ask for more.