I love all things fairytale so of course I jumped for joy at the opportunity to read The Forest Grimm. As the name suggests it’s heavily influenced by the Brothers Grimm, incorporating their dark and twisted tales into one overarching plot.

I was immediately pulled into the story - fortune-telling and a girl fated to die. A magical book that grants wishes and a sentient forest. That’s exactly the recipe for a dark and enchanting fairytale. The setting is so unique - a magical forest has turned its back on the villagers it used to bless after its magic is used to harm. The villagers need to make amends in order to lift the curse that’s fallen over their land. I absolutely adored our cast of characters - Clara, Henni, and Axel all have their own strengths and weaknesses, but are bound together by their desire to bring their loved ones and the rest of the lost villagers home. The slow-burn romance was also a highlight of the story.

This is one of the first books I’ve ever read with scoliosis representation. I loved the simple mentions of Clara’s S-shaped curve and the modifications to her shoes to help take some of the pressure off her back. This is not something you often read about, especially not in fairytales, and as someone who has two minor curves of my own, I appreciated the inclusion.

Overall, The Forest Grimm is a beautifully written and fast-paced story. The author did an amazing job taking the tales we’re all familiar with and turning them into an enchanting story of her own. I’m already eagerly awaiting the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Kathryn Purdie did it again!! I absolutely love this world. I read this in one sitting and I was completely enveloped with story and romance. Must read for fantasy readers.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a wonderfully entertaining and twisty fantasy book, I had a lot of fun reading it!

Based on the cover I had assumed that it was a Red Riding Hood retelling, which I guess it is, in a sort of way, but the book also includes a bunch of other retellings (which I'll refrain from naming since it'll be delightful if you discover it on your own). The different retellings were combined in such a cool way, and I'm really looking forward to more of those in the next book!

I also loved the development of characters and relationships in this book, it was really emotional and _real_. The ending was so cool, I'm excited for book 2 (and I hope we see a certain Oliver again 😭)

--- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book!

This tale is an adventure through different fractured fairy tales. Clara lives in a village that used to have a magic book that granted wishes, but when someone uses the book to commit murder, the book disappears, the village is cursed, and the nearby forest becomes a trap for villagers that enter including Clara's mother. After three years of her mother missing, Clara has a plan to get into the forest and rescue everyone. Will she be able to break the curse and save the villagers?

I absolutely loved the story and cannot wait to read book two! This book has some romance, but would be good for grades 7 and up.

I really enjoyed this series, both books are very well written. I can't wait to share with readers at our store.

The Forest Grimm

A YA novel filled with dark fairytale retellings and Into the Woods/Wish vibes, but better, in my opinion.

A village with a magic wish granting book that goes missing and a forest that turns on them. I love when things in nature become their own character and the forest in this novel really shined.

An intriguing storyline with lives on the line. Could be scary/too gory for younger audiences (I’d recommend 14+) but fit the vibes really well.

A fantastic creepy but not too dark fall read.

I really enjoyed The Forest Grimm! The dark, fairy tale-inspired world was so unique and full of surprises. It’s a magical, mysterious read that kept me hooked until the end. I highly recommend. The romance was fantastic, by the way.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I've been a fan of Kathryn Purdie and this one did not disappoint—lush, atmospheric, dark. This fairytale re-telling was inventive and interesting.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

To sum this book up, take several Grimm fairy tales, make an evil forest that will transform people into interpretations of the fairy tales, and then put it in a place where there is a village that has people go missing to the woods. I know that might seem like a lot, but this book beautifully puts you in the shoes of the main character where they are trying to find their missing mother and end the curse of the forest. As a fan of the original Grimm fairy tales this book took me by surprise, and I fell in love with the unique way the author tied in the original feeling of the fairy tales into this YA novel.

To start, the characters of this book are fun to follow. The main character Clara is a bit obsessed with being able to shape her fate, but she makes reasonable decisions, and also I got invested into her plight. You also have Axel who lost his fiancé to the woods, and is trying to find her alongside Clara. Throughout their journey they will run into the victims of the forest to see they have changed since they were abducted by the woods and transformed into the characters of the dark fairy tales.

The vibes of this book are dark, as you might be running into cannibal kids, women that try to trap you, and drugging, but if you are looking for a fresh take on fairy tales I highly recommend this book. I will say there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the first book which leads me to believe that there are more books coming, but other than that, I found myself immersed in the world of dark magic, and if that is what you are looking for I would highly recommend!

An absolutely spellbinding twisted retelling of several classic Grimm tales. that acknowledge the dark backround of the original tales, while still making them new and fresh. With it's cast of fascinating characters and an unforgettable and creative plot, The Forest Grimm, is a story that probes into the idea of wish fufillment and sacrifice, because not everything is what it appears to be in the Forest. I enjoyed the each and every creative twist Kathryn Purdie put into her story and became invested with the characters who, by the end, I felt i really understood. This was a true fantast masterpiece and I simply cannot wait to read the sequel.